Kentucky

May 1-3

Well I made my first trip to Kentucky to hunt with Jim. I have been looking forward to this trip for a long time. It was about a five and a half hour drive, so I left work midday on Friday and made the long haul in the pouring rain for most of the time. Wow, I love that GPS, especially in the rain. I could tell as I got closer to the mountains and rivers, it was absolutely a beautifully remote area of our world. And wow at the work the Flanegan's have done in a year or so. They had fixed up an old barn, installed a well and water system, put in a garden, bought a tractor and other equipment, fixed up all kinds of roads and fields, and built a really nice home and bunk house. Again, I should have gotten more pics. It was a very impressive place. As far as hunting goes, they are loaded with turkeys. Probably more birds per acre than I have ever seen and this was evident even in the steady rain that engulfed us all weekend (but I will not complain of rain...thank you Lord!! We were able to hunt some and even had a nice bird come in, just on the wrong side and surprising us. Hind sight is 20-20 but I wish i had of just swung my gun around and shot. We had great meals and fellowship and it was well worth the drive. We spent time with Jim's dad, his sister, Jen and her husband, Toby and their three wonderful children...which was great to be around especially after Amy Grace has been born (I cannot imagine raising her let alone 3).

Some pics from the weekend:

The get to the property you get to travel down a public road which includes two ford-type stream crossings and beautiful pastures and views. I should have taken more pics.

Their barn and pond:

Jim checking the weather on the computer:
Jim's Dad relaxing after we all hunted in the rain:

End of April

April 17-18
Went to Demopolis, AL Friday after work with Walker, to turkey hunt on his place. We pulled the camper down and "boon-docked" (that is set up and stayed in and operated without hookups - water, sewer, and power). The camper did great and we had a great meal of fajitas. The morning proved unsuccessful and very little action as a storm front came in. I told myself after the last couple of years of no rain and severe drought, I will not complain about rain. I will stick to that and say, I love all the rain we have been getting this year. Sure has made for some nice screened in porch sitting at home with a good book.April 20th
Dave Matthews Band came to town for the first show in Birmingham for many years. It was hard to believe it was happening and a bit weird going home after work and then going down the street to a concert, then going back to work the next day. Usually (at least the past 5-6 years) when going to a show, it was also a vacation. But it worked out great, and was a great great show - one of my favorite if not favorite Dave show to date. We went to the show with Dave, Ian, David and Autumn. We had a nice meal (thanks Lorrie) and snacks (thanks Ian) in the parking lot. Here are some pics, I also got some good video, but will have to see how to upload it.
April 24-26
This was the last weekend of Turkey Season in Alabama and as we have done the past couple years or so, Emily's dad, Mike came down. This year her brother, Matthew joined us too. We had a good time, as always. We had red beans and rice Friday night, followed by an evening of cigars, beer, talk, stars, and snakes. That's right, snakes! Upon walking in and out of the house several times, we had managed to walk right next to a large rat snake...until the dogs discovered him a couple minutes after I had just walked outside. Mike, with a quick draw had a light on him and the snake in hand. The snake was donated to the Loop household as a pet and made the trip back to Birmingham. Saturday morning, Mike and I drove to Notasulga and I purchased some deer feed, milo, and corn to fill the feeders Emily and I have been setting up. We spent the day filling feeders and setting them to run. Only one out of five did not work right and will require a trip to the Moultrie store. We will see how they perform over some time.

It was an exciting day considering the fish were not biting at all...at one stop while filling a feeder, Mike found a water moccasin and went in after him. At first he thought it was a water snake and thankfully discovered he was wrong before his hand went to get it. He got it out with the shovel and killed it. It was added to the snake catch to go home to Birmingham. And of course this whole weekend, I forgot the camera. Saturday night, we had fried deer steak, turnips, cornbread, rice and gravy. Matthew and I stayed up and had a long, good conversation.

Sunday, Mike and I got up and went out and worked on installing a replacement gate post as the old one had been burned up. Though it was very apparent I am out of shape, it is such a good reminder of how good it is and feels to exert yourself physically. If I were in better shape I think I could do this kind of work all day and really enjoy it.