Today is February 7 and it’s Charles Dickens Day.  Who was Charles Dickens?  Well a writer among other things, but he was the guy who invented Scrooge and the other characters in “The Christmas Story”.

I looked up his biography and he was quite the guy.  He evidently loved school and learning, but at an early age in his life, his father was thrown into prison for owing too much and not being able to pay for his debts.

Back in the early to mid 1800’s they would toss you into jail in what they called “debtors prison” for having too much money lent to you and you could not pay it back.  I don’t think that was the way it was in America at the time, but in England, where he lived that was a common thing.

So, he was forced out of school to help with the finances of his mom and family.  It must have been a very hard time back in those days.  Child labor laws were non-existent and so the young children were forced to do all sorts of dirty, ugly jobs for little pay.  Charles Dickens life was etched by this way of life and so came his stories.  The ugly tyrant boss and the little kids in the streets trying their best to find enough food for the family back in the hovel.  The disabled child, with a limp and a speech impediment, on the verge of pneumonia because of the cold and of course under nourished and near to die.  You get the picture.

And in his books there is always a good ending, so don’t fret too much, just pick up one of his books and read on.

You know, he was only 58 when he died and I suppose back in the mid 1800’s that was considered quite old.

You can see the rough life he lived in his face.  But in his day he was considered a wealthy man with a good job and time to write.

In school I was forced to read one of his novels, “David Copperfield”, I got through it, gave my book report and quickly forgot everything I had read.  Sorry Chuck!  It just wasn’t my sort of read.

He wrote stories that were published in series and they were so interesting that the children who could read, would get a copy of the weekly printing and gather up a crowd of kids and read to them.  They were so interested in hearing the next part that they would do what they could to gather enough money to buy the next printing.  I thought that was quite a remarkable thing for the kids to do.  Gathering up a half cent here and a half cent there.

Well, I have too  many things to do today to curl up with a Charles Dickens book, so this will have to do as my celebration of his day and his life.

Bears Butt

Feb. 7, 2013

Painting…still.

So yesterday was a pretty good day for me as far as painting the house goes.  It’s the last BIG room to get done and Sherry had to decide on what accent color she wanted and which wall to have as that accent wall.  She made her mind up the other day…I was glad.

So the rest of the room gets my favorite color…white!  Yes!  So I make my plan in my own mind and decided that yesterday was going to be “get the ceiling done” day.  In any room there is always more to the preparation than the actual work and the living room was no exception.  The two closets that are within the boundaries of this room were cleared of their junk and painted the day before.  Closets are always a “paint me good” pain in the butt for me.  I get paint on my back, my arms, hair….everywhere.  I will paint one of the small walls and then back into it painting another.  I hate closet painting, but it has to be done.

So now I start to prep the rest of the room for the big painting that is going to get done and it takes hours, literally, to get this done.  In fact I thought I had used up the last of the newspapers and was in a sort of a panic when Sherry suddenly unleashed a whole big old pile on me!  Again a happy guy, I proceeded to use that pile up.

For the fireplace I used a big piece of painters plastic I had, that saved several newspapers from having to be used.  I also had quite a time getting the masking tape to stick to the bricks.  The blue kind would not stick at all and the green magic kind they sold me in buying for about twice the price didn’t stick either.  Plain old white masking tape I bought at the dollar store was the winner!

You can tell I like to make sure the paint drippings are going to be caught by the paper and not end up on the carpet.

Well I got to thinking about newspapers in general.  We read the paper and then toss the whole thing into the garbage or into a recycle bin (that’s what we do).  When painting is coming up we save them for that purpose.  But what about the trend to go paperless?  Let’s talk about that for a minute.

What would I do without these newspapers?  I suppose I would buy up a big roll of painters plastic.  But that stuff is expensive.  Besides I am accustomed to using newspapers.  Someone needs to invent a replacement because newspapers will eventually fade out of vogue and quit being printed.

I’m thinking of an invention sort of like the old pull down blinds.  You fasten them up near the top of the window and pull it down and tape it at the bottom.  Then when finished they just roll back into the tube and are ready for next time.  Good idea huh?

With the ceiling painted my job was done…at least my goal was obtained for the day, but it was only 3:30…still lots of day left.  I went to making sure the carpet around the edges were masked really good for painting of the walls tomorrow.  When I got done with that task, I thought, “Heck, why not slap a coat of paint on right now?  It is going to take two coats to cover up that blue/mauve color anyway and that way I will be done tomorrow”.  So on went the paint.

I cleaned up the brush and the roller and sat back with a cold one to admire my work.  Sherry, in the meantime is in the kitchen gathering up tax stuff for the meeting with the tax lady on Thursday.  As I sat there enjoying number two drink, I thought, “I wonder if the paint on the walls is dry”?  I checked and sure enough it was!  Back downstairs and up with the brush and roller stuff.  On went coat number two!  NOW I’m done!

This morning it looks great!

Well, my use of old newspapers is just one way to use them as I found out.  I went searching for just how much paper is used each day/year in the USA for newspapers in order to get a prospective on how much paper is going to be saved once everyone is on the E-read band wagon, but I found this site instead…more interesting anyway.

http://www.wisebread.com/17-ways-to-use-old-newspaper

OK, enough screwing around, I have to go clean up some of that newspaper I spread around yesterday.

Bears Butt

Feb. 6, 2013

Bones is our Booshway this year for the 30th annual gatherin of the Willow Creekers and she and I met yesterday to briefly discuss the rendezvous and some of the things we need to get done before the big weekend event.

I have been in charge of this event 2 1/2 times before but this one is almost overwhelming.  We have grown immensely over these 30 years and we have included a lot of happenings for the event that are now part of the tradition.

With time limited to 24 hours in a day and basically two days to get it all done it has become quite a hectic weekend.  We decided we might want to cut some of the events out…but what events?

Kids need the bb gun shoots, adults need the muzz shooting and don’t leave out the shotgun shoot and the mountain man limpics and knife and hawk throws!  And the turtle races are always a big deal especially for the kids.  We HAVE to have a flag ceremony and a special time to honor our mountain folks who have gone on ahead and we can’t leave out a flint and steel fire starting event (or two).  Oh and the standing of the sharnes! Would anyone care to eat once or twice?  How about hear from Reverend Billy or Sir Butt?  It would be nice to have a few moments to be able to sit down and visit with some of our friends who come to see the happenings and maybe even have a drink.  Who needs some sleep?  Who would like to sit around and BS for awhile?  Let’s include a raffle for some really good prizes and of course No Grimaces chain saw carved bears!  He says this is his last year to make them, so we can’t leave those out.  And add in the fact that Black Arrow said he would make sure the “rockin horse” was going to be here for the big event!  I love that thing and we haven’t seen it for umpteen years…It is a must to include.

Oh Ya!  We have a lot of work ahead of us.  Do any of you want to help?

We are thinking about sending out a survey of some kind to get your input on what could be done maybe differently.  Keep a close eye on your emails.

Bears Butt

Feb. 5, 2013

Crazy game last night.

Today starts a whole nuther week.  I have a lot of running around to do today and still have to paint.  My goal is to begin trapping by next Monday and a lot of that is going to be weather permitting.

Bob is going to make a trip out to the trapping grounds today or tomorrow to check things out and make sure the ice is beginning to melt away.  Without open water we can’t do much trapping.  So it’s paint, paint, paint until it is either all painted or I start trapping.

You know which way Sherry wants it to go.

For those of you who don’t know it, Dry Dog has received his order of one Bug-A-Salt weapon!  He says that now no matter how big or small the game is, it is in trouble!  I am assuming he has already taken some trophy small game animals with his new toy.  And I have offered him a seat in the blind for our hunting video.

More will come of both the trapping, painting and hunting later on.  Stay tuned for those messages.

Bears Butt

Feb. 4, 2013

YO!  February 2, 2013…Ground Hog Day…Punks-ta-wanie (Punxsutawney)Phil will pop out sometime and tell us about how much longer we have to put up with winter.

As for me, I’m heading up into Wyoming for a little fishing day. Spose ta be a nice 40 degree day.  Evanston…better yet, Sulpher Creek Reservoir…there is a little fishing contest up there that starts at 7:30 a.m. and goes to 2 p.m. and it has my interest big time.

First off Shipley and I have not played in the fishing tourney in a couple of years.  Usually Edjukateer would be joining us, but he has a new job…blah..blah…blah…and can’t go….Edjukateer, this is the one you should be at, we ARE GONNA WIN!!!!  Remember, one win..we all win!  We are excited to be in this tourney and we plan on winning.

So, this little contest only costs $25 to enter and the proceeds go to a girls softball team for things like beer and clothing and stuff that young girls playing softball really need.  So why not hold an ice fishing contest and give away 60% of the total take?  Nothing wrong with that at all!

This give me an idea to hold a Bears Butt fishing contest and I’ll keep 40% of the total take for things I need, like, beer and gear!  I love the idea.  Maybe even give away a Bears Butt T-Shirt in the 50/50 raffle!  More to come on that.

Anyway, there won’t be much for sleeping time tonight.  My alarm is set for 2:30 a.m….gotta meet Shipley at 4 a.m. for the ride up there.

Now listen folks, all we have to do is land a fish bigger than 16 inches and it qualifies for the contest.  16 inches!  That’s all!  Last year the guy who caught the winning fish took a whole heap of money home and if my memory is correct his fish was just around 17 inches!  Good Grief, that’s nothing!  I use bait bigger than that!

So the goal is to catch a 22 inch fish and clinch the deal without any sort of sweat.  You know how sweating on the ice can get real sticky and cold and all sorts of things can happen to the sweat-er.  We have some secret weapons in our possession and will use them post haste once the contest starts.  We hold no prisoners!

If you are up in that neck of the woods, come and look for me and my buddy Shipley and whoever is also close by.  We will be the ones in the brown and/or black insulated bib overalls, and the warm hats and dark glasses, wearing our warmest gloves and drinking hot coffee and home made chicken broth (chicken skin and onion).  You will know it’s us because we will be right over there……..see the direction my finger is pointing?  NO!  NOT STRAIGHT UP!  It’s my index finger..do you know which one that is?

See you at the weigh in…or is it…measure in?  2:30 to 3 p.m. fellas and gals…come and see our 22 inch Rainbow!

I better go get it out of the freezer now.

Bears Butt

February 1 almost 2, 2013

After a week of snow storms, potential snow storms, potential winds and drifting snow, my excitement for snow is in the tank!  I can do without snow right now.

Yesterday morning I sat watching it snow, not big snows (new word), but snow none the less.  And my anxiety level rose higher and higher as I watched it.  Then we had to go see a doctor.  Not because of my anxiety, it was a simple check up for Sherry.  Then shopping and suddenly I found myself back at home.

A quick look at the weather and the big storm that was predicted earlier in the day had been cancelled and a warming trend was predicted as coming!  YES!  My anxiety was gone and a new ray of hope surrounded my body!

I can go back to painting!  No more snow removal (12 hours this week alone)!  My life is saved!  And so it went yesterday afternoon, a smile on my face as I prepared to paint the hall and the two closets in that area of the house!  I never thought I would ever say I was glad to paint, but here I am almost giddy about it.

As you know trapping season is on hold until I get the painting done and along with that, God has made it a little easier on me by having everything frozen solid in the trapping area.  Where usually the warm springs bubble forth and flow down toward the frozen ponds, the springs themselves are frozen over so there is no visible water anywhere.  The snow level which normally is one fourth what we have around our homes, is knee deep out there.  The cattlemen are even having to go out at night and spot light the herd to make sure they are surviving the bitter cold and the deep snows.

And so, I am back to painting and loving it.  In fact I am as happy as Dances With Deer in this picture:

Certainly a ray of sunshine!  It’s a good thing you aren’t a drinkin man Bill.   Oh my, doesn’t that green grass look nice?

Bears Butt

Jan. 31, 2013…The last day of this month!

It’s been 45 years since I graduated from High School and it’s always nice to get re-aquainted with some of the guys and gals I attended school with.  One of the guys I was in school with went on to get his Doctorate in Music and is a high rolling teacher at BYU.

As a fellow student I will never forget at a school assembly he was on stage to perform his usual with some sort of instrument.  It seemed to me like he could play them all very well.

This particular time he came on stage with a small drum, a cornet, trombone, bicycle horn, two cymbals, a harmonica and I can’t remember what else.  Each instrument was being held against his body somewhere so that he didn’t have to hold on to it, except the cornet and trombone.  He was quite a site to see.

If I recall correctly he sat on a chair and when the announcer announced him he began to play, one thing at a time, slowly at first and then the rhythm started to pick up.  Before he was done, he was playing all the instruments at the same time and the tune was incredible.  Funny I’m sure, as he was a funny sort of guy.  I assume he still is, because of this video, which was shot somewhere in France (I think).

Ladys and Gentlemen let me introduce Dr. Steve Call on the tuba.

Give it time to load it is worth the wait!

Bears Butt

Jan. 29, 2013

The weather guys got last nights storm nailed down good.  They said it would start snowing and blowing at midnight and I was up at 2 a.m. and sure enough a lot of snow and already drifted to my bottom step.  I don’t especially like a ton of snow but I really don’t like it when it drifts. (See Dream Hunt story from a few years back).

The drifting will make feeding the God-Damits (horses) tougher and will probably force the use of the big tractor to clear the road to the barn.  I had a pretty easy time yesterday, but I just bet I’d get stuck today without some road work help.

Anyway, we have our little dog MaPa’s and of course animals have to go outside on occasion.  2 a.m. was one of those times.  He didn’t stay out long and I was glad for that because I was tired from all the snow moving I’d done earlier.  When it was time to get up and have our coffee, he looked out the door and decided he didn’t have to go that bad at that time.

About a half hour later he just had to go out.  I opened the front door and this was his view of the outside world.

Not a very welcome view, but when you gotta go, you gotta go.

He ventured gingerly out on the frozen and wind blown snow only a short distance and then decided, enough was enough.

As you can see by his little tracks that the tree was just a bit far for this mornings need to go and he came back toward the house and made his decision.

I’m sorry No Grimace, but that chain saw carved bear was a tree once and to MaPa’s it was enough of a tree to make for a good three legged stand.

Bears Butt

Jan. 29, 2013

150 years ago tomorrow (Jan. 29) the U.S. Army swooped down upon the tribe of the Northwestern Shoshone camp on the bank of the Bear River and killed nearly 300 innocent men, women and children.

Tomorrow at 10 a.m. there will be a commemorative observance  marking that day in History.

From that day until today the focus of the attack has been one of  “Courageous Battle” on the part of the Army, to “Shameful Massacre”.  A sad day in history as far as I am concerned.

Sherry and I are planning on attending, but this upcoming storm may change our minds.

You can read a little bit about it at this site:

http://historytogo.utah.gov/utah_chapters/american_indians/bearrivermassacre.html

And if you are really interested in reading an historic accounting of it please pick up the book, The Shoshoni Frontier and the Bear River Massacre, by Brigham Madson.  It is really an eye opener.

Bears Butt

Jan. 28, 2013

After yesterdays snow it looks like a full day of plowing is ahead of me.  The horses will have to wait until I clear a few driveways and postal box drives.

I don’t want to waste gas and that is why I usually chose to wait until the snow has stopped falling before I head out.  Some folks don’t have the freedom I do with their time and do it two or three times.  As long as folks can get out of their drives and off to work I figure then I can get them plowed for their return home.

That was quite the snowstorm.  I told Sherry this morning, maybe I should get the chainsaw out and trim the tree branches on our two trees out front while the snow has them weighed down.

HAHAHAHA!  Notice the little “MaPa’s trail” out to the base of the tree.  That little guy cracks me up!

And here he is at the bottom of this picture with eyes the same color as snow flakes.

Enjoy your day, where ever you are!  You know what I’ll be doing!

Bears Butt

Jan. 28, 2013