Its the end of the fig season so what can we do to pass the time in the Northeast? HUNT!!!

Well, take a little fig break and then fire up
the rooting process.

Time for fall rooting.

You could tell idiots in Southern California how to put chains on their cars when they are stupid and go to a ski lodge.  JD will be out in the driveway all night figuring out how to put those things on.  Any suggestions would be welcome.  Can't wait to get to the ski lodge.  Got my ski boots packed, but JD doesn't ski.  Nor, does he know how to apply chains to the tires......

Another idea.  Orange golf balls.  Just have a neighborhood game!

Suzi

I'm doing inventory and tweaking my GH.  Found leaks in my irrigation system.  My trees are losing leaves now.  Just moved 50 or so inside a few hours ago, temps are getting down to the late 30s. 

Suzi, we have snow in the mountains of NC....about 2 hours from me.  I don't want to see that stuff yet!  We will start getting some in January for sure!  I use to live in Illinois and I'm SOOO glad I'm not there anymore!  That's some crazy weather!  I remember shoveling snow and trying to put chains on tires!  Never again for me!

working with cub and boy scouts. fall rooting. not get sick. bushcraft. and drink beer :)

Mario...

Nice rack!  Used to hunt, or more accurately...attempt to hunt.  But that was in another time, and in another place.  Now, I freeze instantly, and feel sorry for these animals.


Hate the end of fig-growing season.  Boring.  But the anticipation of seeing new varieties sprouting into leaf next season, keeps me going through the dark, cold Winter.

Frank

You make some Porters, Stouts and Scotch Ales.  Then drink them while you're rooting some more for 2013.

dominick.. good choices. all very nice hearty ales. i might try chocolate coffee triple stout this winter.. if i get some time off.

caffeinated beer.. woo hoo!

No its not a photoshop picture, coworker buys new trail camera on Thursday,sets up on Friday,hunts on Saturday,checks camera on Sunday ,and finds that on the camera!!!
You can hunt from the end of Sept. to start of Feb. with bow here. Deer photo taken in Medina,Ohio..
How bout a nice IPA to kick back with.

IPA works. I like IPA after long day of hard work in hot sun. Once I cool down, I'm back to stout or porter :)

That is a nice looking deer, makes me hungry just looking at him, prehaps a nice smoked vension with fig bbq sauce would pass the time well, of course with several beers.

Suzi,

I can't help for the short term, but for the long term......a Subaru with snow tires.  You don't need chains and the probability is you will never get stuck.  Many winters through New Hampshire and northern Utah is my testimony.  Have fun skiing.

Willow is right,,, it's time to go hunting and I'm leaving with my son on friday afternoon to meet the usual suspects at the cabin in upstate margaretville , ny. can't wait for the trip.

as much as i like outdoor, and shooting, never shot a live animal. might have to look into this.

My Toyota Highlander has 4 wheel drive so I'm good when it snows. Plenty of cuttings to root and plenty need to be shipped out yet. Plus all of my succulents need tending to and then preparation for the Philly Flower show in March. I've started potting up for that already. 

Typing from the ski lodge.  Oh my!  All my figs are at home in 85 degree temps and it's freezing up here!  Absolutely beautiful!  Redwoods in the snow!  They serve breakfast in an hour, then the day begins!  To you hunters out there, my son grabbed his uncle's deer rifle from the estate just before he went to Boston Tufts Univ. for Dental school.  There he met buddies who went moose hunting in Main.  He loved it!  Then came the call.  He got his first moose, and Tufts students ate moose meat for quite a while after that.  He was hooked!  His wife had to agree to his annual hunting trip prior to the marriage!  LOL!

Enjoy your free time you snowbirds!

Suzi

That's awesome Suzi! 
He's my hero if he can eat straight moose meat. It's like eating moss off of a stone, although my father in law will eat it.

I vote in favor of hunting and beer.  That is a nice deer on the trail cam pic, but tell your buddy not to be  broken hearted if he never sees the brute.  They don't get that big by being dumb.........but there is always a chance. 

I will be hunting as much as possible between now and Jan. 1.  Will celebrate the hunt with a cold one, or maybe even a sip of fig wine.

I have eaten moose from Alaska and Maine and it was quite good.  Both times the meat was from a young bull.  Diet and age can make or break the quality of any game.

First is time to hunt, then the processing and sausage making begins. Fire-up the smoker, follow that with a bunch of packaging and freezing. That takes up some time. When winter sets in heavy and the holidays are past, then it's time for all the indoor home improvement projects/honey do list. Can't forget to go ice fishing at least once, I wish I still lived close to some really good fishing, of course then I would probably be wishing I lived somewhere a little warmer :)
That white tail is a big SOB, likely completely nocturnal if there is any pressure. Deer of a lifetime.  >>>------>

6x6 frame
4 drop tines 
1 double plamation drop tine
29 total points( that I can count on film)
hmm......
Time for night vision >>>--------->                           
                                                                                     

i'll stat with rabbit. i fimly belive in eating what i kill and deer might be too much to eat at one sitting. i would hate to kill the deer and end up throwing all the meat away since no one will eat it. with rabbit, i can shoot, skin, dress it and just cook it in one sitting.

I know it's now the beginning of the season for some, but here are some pics from something that kept me busy for  awhile. I left out all of the most unsettling pictures for those of you who are easily disturbed.
Please excuse the mess of boxes in my garage, I am in the process of selling the house I lived in during my bachelor days(that has given me a lot to do as well, it's under contract!) and let me tell you taking care of two houses is one more than I care for.

I made 68 pounds of sausage over the last week and a half, using antelope, deer, organic pork, and all organic ingredients.

Pictures-
1) 5 different varieties-Summer Sausage, Smoked Breakfast, Patty Breakfast, Italian, Hot Link
2) Ready to start grinding meat.
3) The stuffer, loaded and ready.
4) The stuffer at the end of a push with an 8 pound breakfast sausage attached, waiting to be portioned.
5) A few of the portioned varieties after stuffing.
6) A quick drying process before smoking to help the smoke adhere to the sausages.
7) Loaded smoker.
8) Finished product of my personal favorite, family recipe revised to my liking.
9) Finished product summer sausage.