A new link

Just to update everyone on my new granddaughter I have added a link to her webpage. It is titled "Olivia's Webpage" and is the first entry on the right side bar. Nikki's photography is amazing and does a great job posting new photos. Click on Olivia's link and check out my new beautiful grand daughter.

Back from Utah

We just got back today from Utah and boy what a blast. Olivia is the prettiest little girl in the world and really a pleasure to spoil. Olivia visited the doctor this week and everything is just perfect. She is eating really well and gaining weight right on schedule. It was fun feeding her in the car while Nikki and Michele were out shopping for a new reunion dress. Mom is really doing well and ready to get back to work on a part time basis. Jeff and Nikki have a really good deal going with work and able to juggle things around and cover all the bases. ( Jeff sold a house this week to start the month off in fashion) It was difficult leaving the little girl but all my chores were done (along with a little scouting for Elk). Enjoy the photos.

More Photos

Nikki and Olivia are home now and everything is going well. Nikki claims to have 1000's of photos of OJ but can't find time to post or build a website. Imagine that, home for one day and can't find time to build a website. What is motherhood coming to? I'll post new photos as soon as they show up.

A New Addition to the Family

On Monday July 21st at about 3:00 PM Nikki and Jeff gave Pops a new granddaughter. Olivia Jane weighed 8 lbs. 4 oz. and was 21 1/2 inches long. Olivia was four hours old when these photos were taken. Mom and baby are doing just fine and ready to come home tomorrow. More photos to come. Pops is smiling ear to ear looking at that curly red hair. Wonder where that came from?????

It's Time to Rumble

Michelle and I checked the trail camera this evening and what a blast. With 209 photos on the card we were excited to get home and check out what this week had to offer. I am really happy with the photos this year, even though the number of bucks doesn't compare with last year. Fighting does and bears get me excited and the nice three point is a bonus. We seldom see coyotes in daylight hours, so it was great to see two on the way home. One was in our hunting area and the other just up the street from the cabin.

On a different note, we installed 40 feet of culvert across the front of our cabin and we now have plenty of parking. I dug a patio behind the cabin and moved all the dirt around to the front to cover the culverts and make a level parking area. Next week we will spread the gravel and it will be party time. We have plans to build a horseshoe pit and maybe a putting green between the parking area and the front deck. (next year maybe) Stay tuned for more big buck and bear photos.

Another Nice Buck for the Album

After a smokey Fourth of July I relocated my trail cam to a location that produced some good photos last year. After three days I pulled the card today and to my excitement I recorded 339 photos! I couldn't wait to get home and I was sure I would have dozens of big bucks, but, to my suprise there was only one nice three point and lots of does. Last year this location produced photos of many nice bucks and one toad. Without looking at the photos I moved the trail cam to a new location thinking 339 photos was enough for one location. There is plenty of time left before Bow season so hopefully I can find a real trophy to chase. Stay tuned.

Smokey Last Seen Headed North

Do I Smell a Bear........

Boy has it been smokey in the Almanor Basin! Even old Smokey is making tracks looking for clean air. Herb came up and helped me move my trail camera to a new location today and to my surprise I captured a photo of my first bear on June 26th. This spot appears to be a good one so I will put up a tree stand next week and then let the area settle down for a week or two before I sneak in and try to get some video of one of the six bucks that frequent this trail. We set up the camera on a promising spot about three miles west, next to a nice stream with plenty of mosquitoes. It looks promising except for all the mosquitoes. I'll post more photos next week when I check it again.

The fires south of us are sending lots of smoke our way and with the wind kicking up in the afternoons the air quality sucks. We keep the windows closed until it starts to cool off and by morning the air is OK for outdoor activities. I hear that they are using Smokejumpers on the Cub Fire. I think they should just set a back fire on the Pacific Crest Trail and burn up the hole canyon. I talked to a couple of Forest Service guys today an they said that the fire was staying on the ground a doing a lot of good for the forest. Just hope the wind doesn't switch to the north and start blowing 40 mph. Stay tuned.