Next thing you know their leaving the nest, and finding lives of their own.  Grand kids start appearing on the scene, and retirement looms just around the corner.  Some guys look forward to it (I did) and some dread it.  I have been retired nine (9) years now, after working as a pipefitter for Ford Motor Co. for 37 years.  Those years seem like “life” threw the anchor out, and it was like I was stuck in the current!  Not moving, going nowhere; then all of a sudden “Whoosh” the ride is over.  Come ashore, get off, move on to the next phase please.

Time is time!  It really doesn’t go by faster or slower at various times in our life.  It is what it is.  The only thing we can do is be sure we don’t “waste” it, ignore it, or allow anything to take (rob) it from us.  We must honor it, value it, and use it, so in the final analysis it doesn’t come back and haunt us with regrets and “If only I had done, whatever!”

The picture at the top of the page is of me, and four of my five daughters and one son.  Between them they have ten children and some are fast approaching that dreaded 40 mark themselves.  Those days are like a blur.  Two of my kids have been out of the house longer than they were in it!  Do I have regrets?  You betcha!  It would be hard not to, but awareness of the fleeting opportunities we have, as parents, to get it right could minimize those regrets in the future.

As I write I think about Art,  Tom,  Cory and all the other young families just starting off in life.  These are trying days for this country and for the world.  If ever we needed to redeem (make it work for us) the time, it is now.  Enjoy the ride you guys, but don’t think at some point the merry go round won’t stop, and you’ll be asked to get off.  Each of us has been given a certain set amount of time by our Creator.  We don’t know how long of a ride our ticket bought, but no-matter what it is, please get your moneys worth.  Live life to the fullest, embrace it, and remember each day is given to you as a gift, so use it wisely.

Mike

I have not pheasant hunted in many years.  For one thing it is almost a rarity to see one anymore, and if your serious about it, you need a good bird dog.  We had the best when I was growing up.  She was a spaniel/setter mix, and that dog was born to hunt.  When you get one as good as old “Flopsy” you get spoiled on ever having another dog.  That is, at least another dog that measures up!  We have a pheasant preserve in Monroe, but I just can’t get into pen raised birds.  There was a day (before farmers started strip farming) that you could take a drive and see plenty of birds.  I once stopped my car and watched nine roosters fighting with one another.  They put on quite a show, and didn’t seem to mind me watching.  Sure not like that anymore!  I’m content just to see one, and try to get a snapshot if I can.

Mike

Can’t wait for those fields to be green instead of white.  Temps. have been in the high 40’s and low 50’s, so it should only be a few more days, and I’ll get my wish.  I can hear those turkeys calling me now!

Mike

My wife recently returned from visiting our daughter Meghan, her husband Mark, and grandson Logan in Chicago.  While downtown they took a little 103 story elevator ride to the top of the Sears Tower.  Once at the highest point you can then go walk on a see through observation deck.  Your actually looking down on the smaller skyscrapers. (Only 50-60 stories)  My wife said the cars and buses looked like ants crawling around.  Thanks, but no thanks.  I’ll stay in the lobby and eat a Chicago style hot-dog!

One winter killed deer ends up keeping many other woodland creatures going for the winter.  When the snow is deep and the wind is howling any carcass in a storm will do!

Turkey season opens here in Michigan in mid April.  I bought an over the counter tag for the third season which starts May third.  This year I’m going to try something new. (At least for me)  I will be hunting with a guide, who has access to hundreds of acres of Southern Michigan farmland.  I want to film the hunt, and for the fist two days will be hunting with my bow from a pop-up blind.  Britt Owen will be my guide who runs “Bolt turkey guide service.”   I checked out several guides, and was really impressed with the way Britt runs his operation.  Not only that their success last year was quite impressive.  16 Hunters took 13 birds last year, and 12 of those were longbeards.  Britt is an excellent caller, and I’m no slouch myself.  I feel confident if we get in an area with any Tom’s I will get my bird.  I am getting excited!

The flying bird in the picture is the one I got last year, and the one strutting, I got several years ago.  Check out the different colors in the tail feather plumage.  The one strutting has, what I call normal coloration, while the other has several bands of gold in its tail fan.  It also just seems to have more color throughout it’s plumage.  A very pretty bird indeed.  I’ve taken three birds that have had 11 inch beards, but never taken a coveted 12 incher.  They are out there, cause I’ve seen em.  Maybe this is the year.

If your interested in a guided turkey hunt this spring or for next year contact boltoutfitters@gmail.com or call 517-425-2666.  See ya in the turkey woods-gobble, gobble!

Mike

When I was with Scott today I saw a couple sets of “cat” tracks, coyote tracks, but very few deer tracks.  I think the deer are a little deeper in this thick swamp.  Scott also showed me several pictures of bear on his cudde/back, and one is a “bruiser!”  He’s hoping for a bear permit this year.  They hunted last year, but couldn’t get the big smart bear to commit before dark.  I shared with him a couple of the secret weapons we use on big shy bear, and he said he’d give them a try.  While looking at his pictures I came across one that really caught my attention.  It was a mountain lion, and I could tell the picture was taken where the other ones had been snapped.  Scott said they have seen the lion on a couple different occasions (always on film) and thinks it is a juvenile.  If it is momma and daddy are around somewhere.  I’m going to try and get him to send me a picture of the cougar.

It was a great day in the swamps and woods of Michigan, and I’m always amazed by the beauty and diversity of nature.  We live in a great state!

Mike

I recently got an e-mail from an old friend of mine.  He reads my blogs, but I haven’t heard from him in several months.  Well come to find out he’s had prostate cancer surgery, after a biopsy came back showing an aggressive cancer in his system.  The Dr. thinks they got it all, but unfortunately my friend had a reaction to latex.  He blistered everywhere the latex touched his body, including inside, up to his bladder!  He said the pain was almost to much to bear.  Urination was like hot molten metal flowing through his body according to his e-mail.

Guys this is not fun, and it is a serious problem if left unchecked.  I once heard that if we (men) live long enough we “Will” get prostrate cancer!  We may die of something else, but we’ll have the cancer cells in our system never the less.

Just two days ago I went for my annual check up with my Urologist.  All men over 50 should have a Prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test done, and if your family has a prostate cancer history, 40-45 years old isn’t to soon to start.  It’s a simple test done by having a blood sample taken.  A little prick with a needle sure beats major surgery, chemo, pain, and leaving your family orphans.  The PSA test needs to be backed up by a digital rectal exam.  That’s where most guys get a little squeamish, but a moment of embarrassment, and a little pain, far outweigh the alternative.

If any of you guys are having frequent urination, weak stream, trouble starting, night-time trips to the John you owe it to yourself ,and your family, to get it checked out.  It just may be an enlarged prostate (like mine) which can be helped by medicine, but then again it may not!   Don’t gamble that “It could never happen to you!”

My friend, who asked me to do a blog on prostate cancer, wishes he would of started testing when he was 50.  If any women are reading this please get your husbands to a urologist for this simple testing.  And guys it ain’t macho to be laid up in a hospital, minus your prostate, because your to stubborn or bullheaded to have it checked out.  If you want to have a good ride and stay in the saddle as long as possible, do a little preventive medicine.  Your family will love you for it.

You younger guys reading this make sure your dad or grandpa knows whats going on with his health.  Pass this around to friends and family.  You just may save a life!

Do It!  Mike

It took all this “old man” has to roll that bottom snowball where it is.  My legs are still sore today!  We had fun lifting the second one in place, and Ava did the head by herself.  Courtney has a plastic set of eye’s, buttons, carrot, etc. and the girls got a kick out of bringing “Frosty” alive.  The first thing they both did this morning is look out the window to see if “Frosty” was still there.  They remember the story about “Frosty” running away, and aren’t ready for him to leave just yet.

Also yesterday we had our first snowball fight.  I think it’s the first one the girls were ever involved in.  We had a great time.  I just had sweat bottoms on and knelt in the snow, in order to pack snowballs.  In other words I was immobilized, and the girls took full advantage of it.  They both clobbered me several times, much to their delight.  We closed the “war” after Ava dropped a 5 pound “bomb” down the back of my neck. The hot chocolate Courtney fixed us was a fitting way to end our fun in the snow.  I was starting to get a wee bit cold anyway, so old Papa was more than ready to get back in his warm house.

Addy struggling to get the carrot just right.

It was quite funny yesterday as the red rodent climbed along my decking, down the chain, and then tried to balance on the top of the feeder.  As he was swinging back and forth he tried to reach down for some seed, and flipped off into the snow.  He did several somersaults before hitting the ground, and had a startled look on his face.  He sat there for the longest time, as if to ponder what went wrong, with his “bank heist!”  He wondered off for easier pickings, but I know he’ll be back for another try.  He always does!  That’s one persistent squirrel.

Mike