general stuff

Going back a few weeks,  my last blog involved turkey hunting with Adam.  Since then I have scored on 2 turkeys.  Not real trophy birds.  I'm now going for the grandad of turkeydom.  Darlene and I took a 600+ mile trip last Friday and Sat.  We traveled north and west and meandered our way to Niobrara NE.  It was fairly windy and hot but felt good to get out of our routine.  A cold front passed through inn the night and Sat. morning was cold. (and windy).  We headed south and got to Norfolk and ate lunch with my Sister Sheri.  We then went to Omaha and had supper (dinner to you elites), at Omaha.  We then found our way back to Lincoln.  It was a bit frustrating trying to solve seed issues in Northern Nebraska without cell coverage.  Hope most farmers understood, but probably not.  This morning I am smoking some pork, in the rain.  Darlene is still sleeping.  I've been to starbucks and read through the paper.  Not sure what today will bring.  I was going to do yard work but it's going to have to dry out some.  I am happy our little grandaughter is growing and Jen is able to be up and around!!  Hope Fiona is feeling better Tara and Adam

Neal 

Hello:   I was setting down to write a blog and heard what I thought were hail stones hitting the house but noticed no-one else had any golfball looking objects hitting their house.  Couple kids were throwing something at our house.  I yelled at them and the scurried slowly away.  Not sure why they picked me.  Rather odd.

     Adam and I hunted the wily turkey two days.  We called several toms in to about 40 yds at Norfolk in the am.  too far to hit with a bow.  Some nice gobblers though.  We then drove to the old home place near Orleans and set up a blind  (far from our truck)  Saw about 8-9 turks.  At one point had 5 toms within 7 yds and Adam was in the only position in the blind where he could not get a shot (difficult to envision I know).  I was calling and he was the killing person.  They weren't really wanting to be called in to decoys but basically milling around with some curiosity.  It was fun though.  It was quite windy and it hurt our ability to call and them and us to hear.  I think it's been too cold and dry and they are not operating properly.  Adam could have had several shots about 20 yds but chose (like a responsible hunter to not take the shots).  Yesterday (Sat.)  we just couldn't seem to locate them til just fore-noon.  We set up near a large group but another hunting group honed in on them and spooked them.  that was pretty much the end.  We did try after noon but when we had some gobbling and yelping activity a coyote showed up near our blind and them proceeded into the turkey group nearby and we heard the alarm sound.  No more activity after that.  It then rained and we left.  we drove back to Lincoln in rain, slush, small hail, etc.  kind of an interesting drive.  Had a good time and learned some things.  Adam has gotten over his potential squeamishness about maybe not feeling good about killing a turkey but now is motivated by anger and revenge for the turkeys of the world.  Next time......they die!!

Neal 

 

another smokin day

Really, it wasn't much of a deal.  I smoked a chicken yesterday for evening meal.  Dinner for you Nashvillites.  It was quite good.  Used mesquite instead of Hickory.  I don't think it imparted as much smoky flavor as hickory.  This AM it is 30 and sunny.  May get to 43.  I think I'll crank up the Road King for a couple mile ride if the roads are dry.  Nbraska killed K-state last nite in b-ball.  That was fun.  Also watched "who the $^%# is Jackson Pollack" it was good. not great.  I'd recommend it though.  Found an old Motorcycle documentary from 1971 called "On any Sunday"  I'll be getting that on Netflix soon.  Some of you folks out there should watch it.  It has some good footage of Malcom Smith riding trials bikes over rocks, logs etc.  Plus some early motocross footage and enduro riding.  Goin to church to fite with the little kids.

Neal

Hi kids.  Took me 15 minutes to get to this little screen.  Some password problem.  I was just about to quit.  I get so disgusted, then Darlene is disgusted at me for being disgusted.  I sure am spelling disgusted a lot.  It is disgustingly cold here today and worse tomorrow.  I can't wait til spring.  I just wish it could be here tomorrow and all the work I need to have done could magically be done also.  Please pray that it will be so.  I smell the pork chops cooking so without further comments I am about to eat.  I'm looking forward to finding out whether I will have a grandaughter or grandson Jan 20.  I hope the little person will co-operate with the Doctor ow whoever is doing it.  

Happy new year!

I'm finishing a Starbucks coffee.  Went to the Groc. store to get half and half and came back with 40 beef sticks, 3 odd little cheese samples, some rib-rub and a fresh smart-chicken (brand name, not an actual smart chicken).  Darlene is preparing enchiladas for NU vs Clemson game.  Funks and Keith and DeAnne are planning to watch the game with us.  We had a nice christmas here with all the kids, spouses, friends etc. home.  Smoked some chicken in my new smoker that kids gave me. Turned out really quite good I thought. It will be used again this weekend on some meat of some kind.  Thinking of growing a beard and not shaving it off until I go over 1000 units over my corn sales goal, or until I get 100 rejections.  We watched " No country for old men" last night.  Sure wish someone would explain this movie.  Maybe there is no explaining it. Michael, fill me in if you can. If you see someone with a pixie cut carrying a bottle of compressed air, I'd steer clear until you can establish that he is only killing livestock. 

HEART ATTACK!!!!!!

get your attention?  I am preparing to cook about 3 # of Jimmy Dean sausage and 14 eggs.  For 6 people.  None are really voracious eaters either.  Went out for starbucks and groceries.  I was probably drinking about the same time as Chad in Chicago, only by my lonesome.  Saw Jonathan Beukelman, Jen knows him a little, looks like he had some Morgan Stanley info on his desk/table.  Hard to believe he has a job jet if he is working for them.  Going to Omaha for the game.  Waiting right now for Keith and DeAnne for BK.  Played disk golf with about 7 people.  We all had different frisbees and none were official disk golf disks, I had a dinky disk and a small aerobie.  We all did fairly terrible.  I think I may have won but no-one was actually trying to keep track.  Kenneth is cooking African food tomorrow so that should be fun for most of us.  Hopefully there will be enough brave people to partake.  Looks like peanut sauce is involved so it can't be too bad.  Actually I'm sure it will be good.  I did get some chiles and hot-sauce to torture DeAnne this am in her scrambled eggs.  Sure wish they would get here.

Hi folks:

Happy Thanksgiving.  I smell the turkey cooking so it looks like we will have something to eat.  It was a beautiful day yesterday.  I started sampling in the dark about 5:30.  No moon so stars were out.  I saw a shooting star very clearly which was rather neat.  I was done sampling by sun-up at 7:30.  It was cold but I had some McD. coffee waiting in the pickup so it wasn't so bad.  Had to drive 3 hrs to Lebanon KS to oversee a plot weighing then to Lincoln by about 8:30.  Ken, Carol and Betty were here.  Soon the rest of the visitors will arrive and the festivities can start.  Hope the rest of you guys have a good day.  Hopefully NU can destroy CU tomorrow (in a nice way of course) I don't make christmas lists but I did see an electric smoker in the Cabelas catalogue that looked like it would be fun.  It would be for about 5-6 family units to go together on.  Guess I don't have a relationship with quite that many family units.  I'm rambling so I'll quit.

bye for now