Sunday

Went to my father's for lunch today, as is tradition. We talked about family, told old stories, drank a beer, and ate good. My father and I then retired to the garage and loaded about 65 rounds of .38spl. After lunch, wife, son and I ran a few errands, and I picked up my hunting license (two weeks till deer season).

I dropped my wife off for her shift at the vet clinic, and me and the son went home. Did a few chores, and went 'hunting' for rabbits. More of an excuse to wander in the woods with my son, but he loved it.

Spaghetti's on the stove, and I can't wait for a shower!

Hope everyone enjoyed their Sunday.

Deer Camera

My father and I put up a deer feeder and camera on the back acre of my property. There's a little hollow with a small secluded pasture that is perfect for game passing through. We set up the feeder a few weeks ago, and I've been checking it about twice a week. Looks like the deer have found it. There's a 6 or 8 point buck that we've seen on three different days since the 23rd, as well as a few does, but there's a wily old buck that's only appeared twice, in the dead of night, between midnight and 3am. He's at least a 10 point, and probably has a roughly 24-inch spread. Check him out.

I'll be happy with harvesting any venison this year, but if he steps into my sights, I'll be proud to take him home.

Finished!

Man, I'm pleased with the way this turned out. Now, I know that someone experienced could have made a bedgown turn out much nicer, with much nicer stitching, but the great thing is that this is a project that a novice can tackle and have it turn out nicely.

A bedgown uses 'simple' construction techniques, and is basically a light jacket worn by working class women. The higher society wore them too, but more as lounge wear between getting up and getting dressed. I made this one from an old blue wool blanket. The pattern is easily cut, and there are only a few measurements needed. Bedgowns didn't have buttons, and were generally held closed either with pins, or with an apron tied around the waist.

After the basic construction, I couldn't figure out how the 'shawl' type collar worked, but in looking around, I found a few examples with a simple dished neckline, so I went with that.

Finally, I lined the neck, opening, and cuffs with some slightly lighter blue ribbon. I'm sure an experienced seamstress could find a dozen things wrong with it, but I'm pleased with the finished project!

Box pleats

Well, I finished the box pleats on Tuesday. They looked weird, with just the pattern cut, and I didn't understand how they would go together, as I am a visual person, and I was following instructions from a few online sources that didn't have many construction pictures, but I started sewing, and they turned out nicely. Actually, it's a pretty cool construction technique if you want a fitted waist on a coat, with a nice full skirt.

Bedgown

I'm making a bedgown for my wife for the December encampment at Fort St Jean Baptiste. After looking up a lot of information online, I finally broke down and emailed Nancy (look in my blogroll for Excels at Nothing, which incidentally is a misnomer... she excels at many things, 18th century clothing being one of them). She provided me with some great instruction, and last night, I cut the pattern and sewed one sleeve and an underarm gusset.

More to come over the next week!

Brass

143 once-fired .38spl cases. I love range day, for so many reasons...

Gumbo

Of course, the great weather has finally gotten me in the "fall spirit", and of course, this has gotten me in the mood for a good gumbo, and of course, the temperature has climbed back into the high 70's this evening, even though I've been planning on making gumbo for 2 days...
Alas, I'll be sweating whilst eating gumbo tonight...

Of course, there's never a BAD time for gumbo...

Scattergun

I was digging around, and came across one of those butt-stock elastic ammo holders for hunting rifles. I got to thinking about it, and since I don't have a rifle that I'd want to use one on, I put it on my wife's old H&R .410. It's super convenient for those 'Paw, the 'coons are in the trash, again!' moments. Nine rounds or .410 #7 1/2 shot, ready to go!

Traditions

Three generations, hanging deer feeders and setting game cameras. Does it get any better than that?

Moving

Well, last Sunday, I had to call the local PD due to a man with a rifle walking around in the street behind our house. Yes, that's not illegal, but it was raining, and he kept going in and out of a house, and the last time he entered, I heard a bunch of screaming, then a young child ran out of his house and bolted down the street in nothing but his underwear. That's the point at which I called the cops. Couple that with the fact that I have seen a known convicted felon aimlessly wandering my street, and my wife and I decided that it was time to move. Like, sooner rather than later. We were planning on moving out to some family land that my grandmother graciously offered to let us stay at, but we were going to wait until around Christmas. Instead, Sunday afternoon, we packed the essentials, and headed out to my grandmother's property. It's gorgeous out here, and peaceful and quiet. Think bucolic pastureland, pine trees, fruit orchards, ponds and deer stands overlooking meadows. Yeah, it's great!

Anyway, we spoke to our landlord, and since our lease was up in 2 months anyway, he agreed that if we paid for October, he would keep our security deposit for November, and let us out of December. We have almost a full month to get all of our stuff moved, and this weekend I'll go get more essential stuff.

As weird of a week as it's been, it has worked out wonderfully.