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I was going to log in today and do a post, complaining about how I haven’t been able to spend as much time outside this last couple weeks.

And then I opened my photos and realized that I had no reason at all to complain. But~ now that I am caught back up with domestic responsibilities I have the rest of the week to spend getting reacquainted with the outdoors~

Storms are supposed to be coming in today~ but I am not opposed to being outside in bad weather~ especially since I have Prois Hunting Apparel to protect me from the elements.

(Prois Sherpa vest~ for those warmer days when you want something a little extra, but a coat is just too much)

~ Fishing~

~ Big Horn Sheep lamb, with frost on it’s chin~

Now it is OUTSIDE time~ the horses have missed me, Willow has missed flying and I am pretty sure I can hear the great outdoors calling my name and begging me to come out and spend a little quality time

(well these antlers don’t look like they will be coming off anytime soon.. dang it! )

High country

Squirrels skitter from tree top to tree top cutting and gathering pine cones, stashing them for the cold weather and deep snow. Stopping ever so briefly to scold any and all who would get in their way.

 

Cold, frost bitten nights ~ bring a slow, nearly undetected change to the forest. Aspen leaves slowly fade from green to gold and whisper tales of weather to come before silently floating to the ground.

 

    

Fall~ a time when change is in the air.  A time to gather and prepare for the unknown of the season ahead.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

May the old live to teach the young…

and the Winner is….

(Gretchen Steele ~aka Walkin’ With the Wild Woman     )

A few photos from our weekend in Southern Illinois~ and the announcement of the Grand Prize winner of the Team Won Give away.

(Barbara Baird~ aka Babbs in the Woods ~ and The WON)

We had an absolute blast on the river with these crazy ladies and their husbands.  The Weather was perfect, not to hot, and not to humid~ but from what we were told the carp were scared and hiding.
(I think someone tipped them off that we were coming)

(Paige ~ Flying the Coop)

Paige and husband Rick dodging flying carp from the front of the boat.. Jason Baird catching all the action!

(The Hunter’s Wife ~ and her hunter Mark)

Team Won had a fun and exciting weekend on the water~ a few fish were removed from the river via bow and arrow~  so our mission was accomplished. We had a great time. Met some amazing people and learned and brought awareness to silver carp~

I would like to thank all the wonderful sponsors for their help and generosity and fantastic gifts.

Prois, Sportsman Channel, Hot Caliber, Chocolate Ammo, Big Time Bowfishing, Cajun Archery, SPairz, Hank’s Clothing – Acorn Slippers Online, Buck Gardner Calls, Casey’s General Store, My Nature Apps, The Hunter’s Wife, Women’s Outdoor News, Muzzy, House of Jerky, Flying the Coop, A Focus in the Wild and Steele Photo Services.

 

and now I will quit putting it off ~ The winner of a Grand prize package worth over $500 is ~~~~~ Barb Montgomery !! Congrats Barb! and to all who took the time to visit and leave comments on all of our web sites.. thank you !

~ back home.. recuperating from “vacation” ~ Life is full of changes and adventure.. Now where is my coffee?

 

Do pigs fly? Well no,but fish do~

Once again armed with bows and arrows, my family and I will be leaving our nice cool mountains and traveling to hot humid Mid West to join Team WON- for the first annual Carp Caper on the Kaskaskia River in Illinois. Being from Wyoming we are familiar with carp and the damage they can do, and we have spent many hours wading the shallows along the lakes helping to try to control the introduced and invasive species of carp here at home. But Illinois carp are a bit different ~ why? you may ask… because they can fly!

Flying aka  Silver Carp were introduced to Southern USA in the 1970′s in an effort to control algae in some of the sewage treatment plants and catfish farms.   Asian carp (Silver ~ grass and big heads) are considered to be highly detrimental to the environment throughout parts of the United States. They are prolific breeders and also grow extremely fast. They  consume up to 40% of their body weight each day, and are already the dominant species of fish in many water ways in the Missouri basin.  Government officials have been working to try to stop the spread of these carp and in  controlling the damage that has already been done to native species and their habitat.

 

Ok ~ so they don’t really “fly” but they can, and will jump out of the water when they are spooked.  This  can be quite dangerous for people who enjoy spending time on the water and I have read many reports of broken jaws, legs and yes even death~ caused by human ~ flying carp encounters.
My family has NO fear of the outdoors.  You can avoid bear encounters by being vigilant, keeping a clean camp and watching for sign. Staying out of thick willow patches during the rut can save you from an aggressive charge of a rutting bull moose. Shuffling your feet while bowhunting sting rays on the Gulf Coast can keep you from stepping on, and being stung by their extremely painful, and poisonous  barb.   But how does one prepare for a vicious aerial  assault, bursting forth from the waters surface in large numbers at 10 knots?  Trust me, we will be armed and on the ready~ Hawk is going into battle the same way he did when he was a child of 10yrs old~ a metal trash can lid(sheild) ~ Woofle ball bat (sward) ~ Aviator Hat ~ complete with scarf and goggles~Combat boot for land assault  and one flipper, might be needed if  he ends up over board~ and lets not forget safety.. he will be wearing floaty wings and a rambo knife~ just in case things get bad.   

Now our question to you is What would YOU wear to protect yourself from flying carp.. Enter your gear in the comments section below for your chance to win a great price package put together by our wonderful sponsors valued at over $500~ including a signed print by yours truely (and I promise.. it won’t be of Hawk )  Items from  Prois Hunting Apparel, Cabela’s, The Sportsman Channel and much more.

One entry per person(on this blog~ but follow the links below to comment on other lady’s sites to increase your chance of winning and find out what other great prizes are included)
On  Monday, August 15, 2011. we each be picking a winning comment from each of our sites and entering them in the final drawing for  the GRAND PRIZE WINNER!

Barbara Baird – Babbs in the Woods

Gretchen Steele – Walkin’ With the Wild Women

Paige Eissinger – Flying the Coop

Jody Narantic~ The Hunter’s Wife

 

Good luck all!