Fishing in South Texas and Cobrabraid Review

I’ve officially lived in Texas for over a year now  and thanks to friends and coworkers we have finally figured out where and how to fish down here.  The coast is only about an hour and a half from where we live which is great because we love us some speckled trout and red fish!  Of course, we don’t have a boat, but that’s ok because Laguna Madre (the bay between South Padre Island and the main land) is very shallow and we can wade fish.

I had never been wade fishing before but now I LOVE it!  I love the salt water, the sun, and spending time with Drew.  The water is the perfect temperature.  And of course setting the hook and reeling in trout is always fun!

Speckled Trout must be between 15-25 inches to keep (except for one a day that can be greater than 25 inches).  So far I haven’t bagged a big enough fish but I still like catching and releasing the smaller ones.

Of course Drew has brought home all the bacon. I’m still learning the gear and the feel of fishing while wading. I did get to try out some new gear while fishing…

I recieved a Cobrabraid 550 Paracord (“p-cord”) Survival Bracelet from the Outdoor Blogger Network. The point of the bracelet is that you always have a good length of rope on your wrist incase you would need it in any emergency (or non-emergency) situation. The Cobrabraid Bracelet is the Small Bracelet in DigiCamo. They also sent along a Key Chain in Purple Camo which I was not expecting!  They must know me and know that I loooove purple!  The Key Chain is currently attached to my (purple) tackle bag.

As part of the Cobrabraid Bracelet review, I was asked to wear the Bracelet in the field and actually USE it! Take it apart to use the Paracord! I love that they included this in the review guidelines cause I would never have done it otherwise.

I wore the Cobrabraid Bracelet out fishing because I knew I would find a reason to use it. D and I fish side-by-side and he had both the net and live bait bucket attached to his wading belt. The rope he was using for the bait bucket was too long and getting a new shrimp involved me pulling in the bucket while D was trying to fish. Then when we would hook one, the rope that connected the net to D’s belt was too short! There was my chance to use my Cobrabraid Bracelet!

The rope holding D’s net was falling apart and way too short.

I had to take apart the Cobrabraid Bracelet while standing in the bay and holding my rod/reel. I found where to start but had to use pliers to get it going. There’s no way I could’ve done it with just my finger nails. But that’s ok because I don’t think it would ever unravel on its own while you were wearing it. Once I got it started the Bracelet unraveled quickly! I saved the connecter pieces to re-make the Bracelet later!

I was able to quickly wrap the rope around my belt and tie it to the bait bucket.   It was the perfect length.  The bucket was accessible to both of us but not so long that it was a pain to grab a new shrimp.

Then I used the long bait bucket rope for the net and used the old short net rope for my Plano dry box (which held my camera)!  Perfect!  I went back to fishing and we had a great morning out on the bay!

My Cobrabraid Bracelet is still unraveled and attached to the bait bucket and that’s where its going to stay.  I can’t wait to go back and try to get some take-home trout

I received the Paracord Bracelet free of charge from Cobrabraid to test and review. The opinions expressed above are my independent thoughts and experiences.

What I’m Wearing

• Seamless headband by Buff in Bihar.
• Fishing Shirt by Columbia.
• Most comfortable swimsuit ever by Speedo (available at Academy).
• Convertable fishing pants by Worldwide Sportsman (available at Bass Pro Shops). Yes I am wearing my husband’s pants because I don’t have a pair that fit!
• Sunglasses- not sure the brand but they are polarized and I got them at Bass Pro for about 15 bucks!

Introducing… Feathers and Antlers!

I have always loved art and creating things with my hands. I enjoy sewing, drawing, jewelry-making, paper crafts, decorating… anything to release some creative energy! As a kid I used to stay up late at night thinking about making things and then having my own storefront or even craft booth to sell them. Today I have made a part of those dreams come true!

I have been making jewelry from feathers I’ve collected from Pheasant and Duck hunting and now they are for sale!  I also like to use fishing spinner blades because they are so simple and light but so shiny.

I’m using bullet casings from our rifles and will soon be adding smaller casings from handguns. And I use some peacock feathers that I bought – I just can’t resist their beautiful colors. Yes, a bunch of other people make jewelry with peacock feathers, but few make jewelry with Lesser Scaup feathers!

I am making designs that I myself would wear. As soon as I can get my hands on a saw, I will also be adding antler to my designs and expanding to more than earrings.  I’m very proud of my work but I’m also nervous!  It’s very hard to share the things I create, it’s like showing a side of myself I normally reserve for just me.   But that’s what life is about – taking risks and sharing the things you love with others.

I hope you check out my little Etsy shop!  I have much work to do still but I’m pretty happy with what I’ve done so far!  I’ve changed my blog’s name and updated my Facebook fan page to include photos of the jewelry!  If you have any constructive criticism or comments, I’d love to hear them! I’d also love to hear which designs you like the best!

Day at the Range

The handgun range.

Wow, what a great day at the shooting range! We finally found an outdoors range in the Valley. Before we were going to Hole in the Wall which is an indoor range. It’s a nice place but all 5 lanes are always full and it’s very tight quarters. Not to mention you can’t move up and down the range, you can only move your target up and down. But when D’s friend told us about this new place in the middle of nowhere we were in!

I love shooting the Springfield .40!

We shots lots of guns today. S&W .38 Special (my CC snubnose revolver), Ruger .357 (Drew’s CC revolver), Springfield XDM .40 (Drew’s newest pistol), AR-15 rifle, and a few other people’s guns. It was my first time to shoot my revolver in an open environment and I learned it’s much more enjoyable than an indoor range!

Now I want my own Semi-Auto!

D brought a friend who is new to handgun shooting so they focused on the basics. That gave me the opportunity to practice drawing my .38 from my holsters. I reminded myself that I really don’t like my inside-the-waistband holster.  It does NOT work with my curves and sticks out way too much as you can see in the picture above.   I just tossed it aside.

Shooting my little .38. Pretty fun too!

I really focused on drawing from my Flashbang. At first I wasn’t even hitting the target at 7 yards but I finally got a flow down and began to hit it continually. I learned that I should not even try to draw and shoot a person-sized target any further than 10 yards. And in a real-life situation 10 yards would be enough for me to escape danger. But inside 5 yards? I can confidently say I can eliminate a threat! That’s a great feeling. You just can’t figure these things out in an indoor range.

This is me practicing drawing and shooting from my Flashbang.

Here’s a quick video of me drawing and shooting from my Flashbang. That goofy grin on my face at the end was because I hit the target close the the bullseye!  Let me tell you, the Flashbang always gets attention at the range!  Most people are fascinated with how it works because they’ve never seen any holster like it.  I love to watch jaws drop when I draw my .38 from my bra!  By the way, ladies, if you are single and looking for a guy at the range, use the Flashbang!  It’s the easiest way to strike up a conversation and grab the attention of all the men around you!  I’m lucky I’ve already grabbed a man that knows his way around a gun ;-)

After shooting a ton of rounds through our handguns we moved over to the rifle range for some AR-15 fun!

The Rifle range with our targets at 50 yards.

Once D sighted it in we had a great time shooting at a 50-yard target.

Shooting our AR-15, another really fun gun!

Just using the iron sights (and not a scope) seems a little intimidating at first because you feel like you can’t see anything but once you shoot and see how you did, micro-adjustments can get you shooting in the right spot.  The gun range had home-made shooting bags- made of old pants legs!  How genius is that?!

My target after shooting a magazine through the AR-15. Plenty of kill shots

I was very happy with my target after shooting the AR.  It’s such a great feeling to hit that bullseye!  Now I just need to get the chance to use the AR on a hog!

It was a little hard to used to that collapsible arm on the AK-47.

Another guy that was out shooting let us try out his AK-47. It was our first time to shoot one! I only took 2 shots and it wasn’t particularly different feeling than the AR (at least with my shooting pad). But I did pretty well for standing at 50 yards with iron sights!

My two shots with the AK-47! Very happy with those shots!

It was such a beautiful day I’m glad we got to go out and shoot. With every visit to the range I get more and more confident with my gun and that’s a great feeling.  I would love for other people to experience that feeling too so next time we go out we are going to try to bring someone who’s never gotten the chance to shoot!

What I’m Wearing

• Flashbang holster (not actually pictured in this post)
• South Texas Camo visor by Game Guard
• Fishing Shirt by Columbia which is perfect for a hot but windy range. No hot casings down my shirt but plenty of space for the breeze to flow through!
• Belt by Natural Reflections (available at Bass Pro Shops)
• My favorite Boots ever by Merrell
• Ear protection- not sure the brand but they were cheap and kind of hurt my head
• Eye protection- given to me by someone, no brand

Why I’m Getting Starbucks on Valentine’s Day

This article on the National Gun Victim’s Action Council (NGVAC)’s proposed boycott on Starbucks is quickly spreading through Facebook and Twitter. The advocacy group wants stricter gun laws in the US. Starbucks allows open- and concealed-carry of handguns in states that allow it. Starbucks has been asked and petitioned to ban the carrying of guns in their stores but they continue to stand by their policy of allowing legal carry of firearms, and reminding people that the focus of the company is to run coffee stores, not write legislature. The NGVAC is proposing a boycott of Starbucks starting February 14 to show their desire for the company to ban guns in stores. They even use the photo at the top of this post to show what a group of open-carry advocates look like and then reference the gun that the Tuscon shooter used in the mass shooting last year. Now I don’t know about you but in my eyes there is a HUGE difference in the men peacefully gathered in that photo and the mentally-ill shooter that targeted congresswomen Giffords at that Safeway. The Outdoor and Women’s Outdoor Sports blogs I follow have been talking about this boycott and suggesting that we, as a community of people who enjoy shooting sports and the right to carry, should in fact support Starbucks as they stand by second-amendment rights.  We should not let fear overtake common sense.  I took a minute to contact Starbucks and literally all I wrote in the comment box was “Thank you for supporting second amendment rights and my right to carry and protect myself!” I was surprised but happy to see this email show up in my inbox the next day:

Dear Christine,

Thank you for contacting Starbucks Coffee Company.

Thank you for your feedback regarding Starbucks’ policy on open carry laws.

At Starbucks, we deeply respect the views of our customers and recognize that there is significant and genuine passion surrounding the issue of open carry weapons laws. We comply with local laws and statutes in the communities we serve. Our long-standing approach to this issue remains unchanged and we abide by the laws that permit open carry in 43 U.S. states. Where these laws don’t exist, openly carrying weapons in our stores is prohibited.

As the public debate around this issue continues, we encourage customers and advocacy groups from both sides to share their input with their public officials. We are extremely sensitive to the issue of gun violence in our society and believe that supporting local laws is the right way for us to ensure a safe environment for both partners and customers.

If you have any further questions or concerns that I was unable to address, please feel free to let me know.

Warm Regards,

Kelsey F
Customer Relations
Starbucks Coffee Company
800 STARBUC (782-7282)
Monday through Friday, 5AM to 8PM (PST)

Well said, Starbucks. Oon February 14, I will treat myself by going to Starbucks on the way to work to get my favorite drink, Iced Vanilla Latte.  If you are a supporter of the right to carry, I hope you will too.

Women’s Duck Hunting Essentials Part 1: Clothes (and Haley Vines Review)

My husband saying "Where are the Ducks?"

Duck hunting is not easy.  But it sure is fun!

Me and my Bogie, pretending she's a duck dog and not a lap dog.

One of the factors restricting more women from duck hunting is lack of comfort. It’s cold, it’s wet, and it’s a lot of work before you ever even get the opportunity to pull the trigger. But it doesn’t have to be this way! All it takes is a little planning and the right gear to make sure you are comfortable in the duck blind. In this series, I’m going to tell you all the gear I wear or bring when I go hunting. This is part 1 of a 3-part post on MY DUCK HUNTING ESSENTIALS.

My first duck!

The biggest difference between me and my husband when it comes to hunting is that I am much more susceptible to being cold than he is. He is usually too hot under all his layers! Flexibility and ease of movement are also very important to me. That shotgun is not light and I need to be able to move it quickly! Many of my duck-hunting essentials are also essentials for any outdoor venture, but duck hunting also requires protection from cold water. Here are my duck-hunting clothing essentials:

Patagonia Women's Capilene 3 Midweight Bottoms in Ozonic Blue 49.00

Patagonia Women's Capilene 2 Lightweight Crew in Turquoise and Seafoam 45.00

BASE LAYER
Probably the most important of the layers I wear. I’ve tried a lot of different brands and fabrics. Obviously you do NOT want to wear cotton as a base layer and there are so many other options to choose from these days! My favorite: Patagonia Caplilene. Patagonia Capilene baselayers are all assigned a number based on the weight (aka how warm it will keep you). 1 is the lightest-weight and 4 is the heaviest-weight, for very cold conditions. I wear Capeline-2 long-sleeve top and Capeline-3 bottoms. These work perfect for any outdoor adventures in the south. And these are the ONLY base layers I own. No matter the season, they work for me! The BEST part about these Base-Layers? They are flexible don’t restrict my movement, at all! Yes they are bright blue.  If it’s cold, I don’t need a camo base-layer because I probably won’t be stripping down that far. But if it is warm enough I may not wear this base layer and go right to my mid-layer.

Prois Ultra Hoodie in Realtree 79.00

Columbia Women’s Benton Springs Vest in Palm 39.00

MID LAYERS
My mid-layer is the one that I will adjust based on the current weather. My mid-layer is my most versatile layer with several options. It will usually be camo in case I get hot and need to take off my jacket but don’t want to be seen by the game I’m persuing. For my mid-layer, I will wear a non-cotton moisture-wicking shirt with a vest on top. My favorite? Prois Ultra Hoodie and Columbia Benton Springs Vest. I like the vest because it is flexible (unlike a down vest) but I will be looking to replace it with the Haley Vines camo Soft Shell Vest (with shooting pad!).  The Prois “hoodie” is actually a long-sleeve shirt that I reviewed last year.  Now if it is really REALLY cold I will also wear my Columbia camo fleece or my lightweight down Patagonia sweater. Only problem with that down jacket is that it’s bright purple! So it’s usually saved for camping/hiking/field work and not for hunting.

I generally don’t wear a pants mid-layer but I’m eyeing these Drake Under Wader Pants that hubby has and loves.

Drake Men's MST Fleece Lined Pullover in Realtree MAX-4 Camo $79.99

OUTER LAYER
The most expensive layer is the outer-layer. The better quality jacket you have, the more comfortable you will be. I’ve tried SEVERAL different jackets. A standard canvas Carhartt jacket was not warm enough, even though it was lined, and way too bulky. The Carhartt was more suited for muddy field work when I didn’t want to destroy an expensive camo jacket. My husband’s old warm cotton jacket from when he was a kid was nice but not ideal when you may have to deal with water. I have 2 go-to otpions for a warm hunting jacket. The first is my Drake waders jacket(which I often where even when I’m not wearing waders). The bottom half is all fleece and fits nicely under chest-waders. The top-half is several layers thick, soooo warm, and even water resistant! There are 2 handy pockets on the top part of the chest, one that zips (where I keep my camera) and one that magnetically closes (where I keep spare shells).  Both are accessible when I am wearing waders. I LOVE this jacket.but if its really REALLY cold I need a jacket that is full top-to-bottom.

Diva Outfitters Natural Fleece Pants $80.00

For bottoms I have again, 2 go-to options, which both have their pro’s and cons. The first are my Diva Outfitters Fleece Pants. I love that these pants are made for women, by women.  The shop owners are super nice and passionate about hunting.  I usually hate the pink trend in women’s hunting clothes/accessories (what’s a girl gotta do to get some purple in her camo?) but the little hints of pink in these pants are sweet and perfect.  Not enough that is screams “Hey I’m a girl ya know!!” but just a little reminder that these are not my husband’s pants.  These pants are a soft and warm heavy fleece.  Now you wouldn’t normally think of fleece pants as an Outer-Layer, but these pants are thicker than normal fleece and offer amazing warmth and wind/rain protection. I don’t know the technology behind it (an inner layer? a coating?) but I know it works. The best part of these pants? ELASTIC STIRRUPS. I have NO PROBLEM putting on my waders and keeping my pant legs down where they should be. I also wear these deer hunting. My only issue is that they tend to slip down too far on my hips. This is a problem I have with most all my pants due to my body shape but these especially cause they are kind of heavy.  Wearing a belt and wide suspenders solves this problem but I still have to take off the right suspender strap when we are getting ready to hunt/shoot so I can line my shotgun up in my shoulder correctly.

Haley Vines Catalog jacket and pants $250.00

Haley Vines Catalog jacket and bib $250.00

Now, what about when it’s COLD cold? This is where my Haley Vines Waterproof Insulated Jacket and Bib come in. These are the warmest clothes I have EVER put on. I just got them late last year so I’ve only gotten to use them on two duck hunting trips but let me tell you, I am SOLD. This set is so warm, cozy, comfortable, fitted, and water-resistant I don’t know what I did before it. You can check out the entire Haley Vines collection on their website: HaleyVines.com and be sure to check out their catalog!

Me in my Haley Vines Jacket and Bib, right out the box! So warm.

Haley Vines Review for the Outdoor Blogger Network

Pro’s
WARMTH- sooo so warm. I usually have to take the jacket off on the hike in to the blind because if I didn’t I would overheat quickly.  In fact I would add a word of caution: don’t wear this suit unless you can easily take off the jacket to cool down.  It’s THAT warm.  I did wear the bib under my waders (which means I can’t take the bib off in the field) on the one day that it was very very cold and didn’t overheat as long as I could vent my head/neck/chest.

PROTECTION- I’ve worn my jacket while hunting in a flooded rice field AND while hunting in a salt-water bay. Both times I ended up face-first in the water. The first time I wasn’t wearing this jacket and I was FREEZING. Luckily we were on our way back to the trailer because if we had not been, the hunt would’ve been over. The second time I fell in the water I was wearing this jacket. I got the outside SOAKED but I barely felt it! We continued hunting and I was still warm and dry inside my jacket. Even when the sleeve cuffs got a little wet inside, it wasn’t unbearable because the jacket stayed warm.

FEEL- I cannot describe in words how amazingly soft the lining (and outside!) of this bib and jacket are. Even hubby was a little jealous when he touched it. It’s quite luxorious and feels like you are wrapped in your favorite fuzzy throw blanket instead of wearing practical hunting clothing.

FIT- Haley Vines really did their research and got the shape of these pieces just right. SO well suited for a women’s body. Tight and loose in all the right places. The big creates a very flattering shape. The pockets are also in the right places and soooo warm, especially when my hands are wet.

COMFORT- So soft and so comfortable, I don’t like to take them off! The bib’s suspenders are elastic and don’t dig into my shoulders.

STYLE- Yes, I look damn good in my bib and jacket. Even wore the bib by itself over a flannel shirt to go shopping (granted we were shopping at Mack’s Praire Wings)- watch out boys!

Me wearing my Haley Vines bib.

Con’s
COST- At $250 a piece, this set is NOT cheap. But it would be worth it to save up all year and buy at the beginning of hunting season next year. If you are going to spend top-dollar on any part of your hunting wardrobe, make it your jacket.

SIZE- I bought the largest sizes available and they are just a tiny bit too small. I’m generally a size 16-18 and all my weight is in my mid-section/torso. I struggle a little zipping the bib and the jacket on top of the bib. This tightness restricts movement a little, but I can deal with it fine. I would love to see Haley Vines sell the jacket and bib in one more size larger.

Warm and Comfortable.

Well there you have it! My Duck Hunting Clothing Essentials! Being that Duck Season is pretty much over, the next posts in this series will wait til the beginning of next duck season.  But right now it’s time to look forward to some warm weather!  Thanks for reading!

King Cake Recipe

Yesterday officially began the Mardi Gras season!!  To celebrate, I’m sharing my favorite King Cake recipe.  I think I got it from All Recipes or something but the results are delicious and taste exactly like a bakery-made King Cake!  The crappy picture was taken with my camera phone, I promise it looks better in person  Oh, and don’t be afraid of using yeast, it’s actually really easy.  Enjoy!

Ingredients

• PASTRY:
• 1 cup milk
• 1/4 cup butter
• 2 (.25 ounce) packages active dry yeast
• 2/3 cup warm water (110 degrees F/45 degrees C)
• 1/2 cup white sugar
• 2 eggs
• 1 1/2 teaspoons salt
• 1/2 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
• 5 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon lemon zest
• FILLING:
• 1 cup packed brown sugar
• 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
• 2/3 cup chopped pecans (crushed finely)
• 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
• 1/2 cup melted butter
• FROSTING:
• 1 cup confectioners’ sugar
• 1 tablespoon water
• Purple, Green and Yellow sugar sprinkles

Directions

1. Scald milk, remove from heat and stir in 1/4 cup of butter. Allow mixture to cool to room temperature. In a large bowl, dissolve yeast in the warm water with 1 tablespoon of the white sugar. Let stand until creamy, about 10 minutes.
2. When yeast mixture is bubbling, add the cooled milk mixture. Whisk in the eggs. Stir in the remaining white sugar, salt and nutmeg. Stir in lemon zest.  Beat the flour into the milk/egg mixture 1 cup at a time. When the dough has pulled together, turn it out onto a lightly floured surface and knead until smooth and elastic, about 8 to 10 minutes.
3. Lightly oil a large bowl, place the dough in the bowl and turn to coat with oil. Cover with a damp cloth or plastic wrap and let rise in a warm place until doubled in volume, about 2 hours. When risen, punch down and divide dough in half.
4. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Grease 2 cookie sheets or line with parchment paper.
5. To Make Filling: Combine the brown sugar, ground cinnamon, crushed pecans, and 1/2 cup flour. Pour 1/2 cup melted butter over the cinnamon mixture and mix until crumbly.
6. Roll dough halves out into large rectangles (approximately 10×16 inches or so). Sprinkle the filling evenly over the dough and roll up each half tightly like a jelly roll, beginning at the wide side. Bring the ends of each roll together to form 2 oval shaped rings. Place each ring on a prepared cookie sheet. With scissors make cuts 1/3 of the way through the rings at 1 inch intervals. Let rise in a warm spot until doubled in size, about 45 minutes.
7. Bake in preheated oven for 30 minutes.  Let cool until just slightly warm.  Frost while warm with the confectioners’ sugar blended with 1 to 2 tablespoons of water.  Sprinkle with sugar sprinkles!

My Christmas Wishlist 2011

Happy Cyber Monday!  I think I did ALL my Christmas shopping on Cyber Monday last year.  I only have a few more things to get this year and I will be done.  But if you’re still searching for a gift for the outdoorswoman in your life, check out my 2011 Christmas Wishlist.

Leatherman Juice XE6
A Leatherman is something everyone needs but you don’t know it until you have one.  I’m always asking D for his or digging through my toolbox for pliers.  I love this one because it’s small and *purple*!  $63.70 on Amazon.

Therm-A-Rest Chair Converter
I have a Thermarest Trail Lite Women’s Regular camping mattress that hasn’t gotten much use lately because I haven’t been tent camping in so long. We also have a few different kinds of ground chairs, none of which are really that comfortable. But this simple piece converts your Thermarest mattress into a super comfortable ground chair, great for camping, hunting, and just hanging out. 20″ model is $29.95 on Amazon.

Prois Ultra Fitted Pants
I don’t know if you realize it, but it’s HOT in South Texas. And all my camo is made for cold weather. The camo pants I wear down here were D’s in high school. Needless to say I need some lightweight camo pants. And Prois is an incredible Women’s brand. RealTree Max1 XL for $109.99 on Prois.

Natural Reflections brand clothing
This brand of clothing is sold at Bass Pro and just about everything they make I LOOOOOVE. Various prices at Bass Pro.

Smartwool Socks
By far my favorite brand of socks, Smartwool socks are perfect for our climate. They are wool but not super thick boot socks. They hold up really well (I’ve had one pair that I’ve been wearing at least once a week for 5 years now). And best of all, they don’t slide down your boots! I have 1 pair of ankle-length and 1 pair of knee-length but I don’t have any crew-length. I would love to get a new pair Smartwool socks, especially *purple* ones! Size medium in Lavendar $18.95 on Amazon.

Aqua Fleece Radar Cap
When D brought me duck-hunting for the first time last year I forgot to bring a warm hat. I borrowed his Uncle’s father’s super awesome camo Radar cap that he’s had for years, possibly decades. I LOVED wearing it. So warm but it doesn’t hang over my eyes like my regular beanie does. It took forever to figure out what this hat was called and then find one for sale online but I did! $14.50 on Bonehead Bowhunting.


Hammock Bliss No-See-Um Mosquito Net Cocoon
I just got this super awesome Easy Traveller Hammock recently and I love it but what I don’t love is swatting mosquitoes. And we have mosquitoes year-round down here. So I added this mosquito net to my list. $49.95 on Amazon.

Singer 151 Adjustable Dressform
Last but not least I have been really wanting a dressform. I like to sew and I want to get better at making my own clothes. But i really like making my clothes more free-form than using super complicated patterns when you need a giant table to cut fabric. Not to mention you can buy Outdoor and Camo fabrics on Rockywoods. M/L is on sale for $99 at JoAnn.

Whitetail Hunt at El Canelo

Since moving to Texas, D and I have realized there is very little public land available for hunting down here, and very few permits at that. Last year we got to hunt once, back in Arkansas, and didn’t even see a deer (or a hog!). This year we were worried the same thing was going to happen so we booked a ranch hunting trip at El Canelo Ranch. Our freezers had been empty for a whole year and corn-fed Walmart beef is just not what we want to be eating.

As the “No” notices came in for all the permits we applied for we were very happy with our decision!

The first evening when we got there, our host and owner of El Canelo, Ray, met us at the door. We unloaded our gear and got out into the field. It was a beautiful evening and we watched does grazing with their fawns.

I ended up getting my first hog!

I really enjoyed sitting in the blind, listening to the birds, and watching the deer. We even got to see two bucks clash antlers!

Dinner at the ranch was delicious, prepared by Ray’s wife, who happens to be a Paris-trained chef. But a little too much meat for me, haha!

Our first night I got to cheer on LSU as they crushed Bama in an all-field-goal game!

On Sunday we went on the search for my mature buck. We came upon this guy:

We spot-stalked him for a while until he stopped in some brush. He was chasing a doe and acting like a buck in rut. We got right up close to him, set up the shooting sticks and pulled the trigger. Down right away!

What an experience! My first rack-buck. He was 14 points and non-typical. Beautiful big-bodied deer.

Our last morning at El Canelo we got to tour the breeding facility. Most of the deer bred are sold to other breeders. It was a really nice facility; Ray was obvsiously incredibly knowledgeable and passionate about his deer. He really cares for them. I also got to feed the baby fawns! They were so sweet and curious. Their tiny little legs were so delicate.

What an awesome weekend. We ended up with 4 deer and 2 hogs which filled both of our deep freezers. We’ve got healthy lean venison for the next few years!

This is my submission for the Sportsman Channel Writing Contest for Hunters hosted by the Outdoor Blogger Network.

Our Thanksgiving Menu

Happy Thanksgiving from the Chachalacas in South Texas!

I do not consider myself being anything close to a cook. I don’t have that natural feeling for how things work in the kitchen. I survived undergrad because my best friend and roommate Ashley was (and still is) an amazing cook. Her parents make the best food in the world. I survived grad school on fast food and frozen entrees. But now that I’m all married and adult-ish I’ve been trying to learn from my husband and try new things. And one thing I’ve learned is that I can follow directions if they are explicit! So I’ve put together our Thanksgiving menu and recipes in case you are like me and need fool-proof instructions. I think life is too short NOT to share recipes. Why wouldn’t you want someone else to enjoy a delicious meal? Have a good Thanksgiving and hopefully you won’t be ordering pizza because you burned everything!

On the Menu:
Brown Bag Turkey
Turkey Gravy
Stuffing
Mashed Potatoes
Honey-baked Ham
Crescent Rolls
Salad with homemade dressing and crispies
Pumpkin Pie
Lemon Icebox Pie
Wine

RECIPES

Brown Bag Turkey (adapted from Kidd Kraddick’s recipe)
Ingredients
18-20lb Whole Turkey
Celery Stalks, roughly copped
Carrot, roughly chopped
1 Onion, peeled and quartered
3-4 Cloves crushed Garlic (we used the minced garlic in a jar)
Olive Oil

Directions- Thawing Frozen Turkey
Refrigerator Note: place still-wrapped frozen turkey on rimmed baking sheet to catch juices
Cool Water Note: Place still-wrapped frozen turkey in a sink of cool water and change water every 1-2 hours.

10-14 pounds: Refrigerator- 2-3 days; Cool Water- 5-8 hours
14-18 pounds: Refrigerator- 3-4 days; Cool Water- 8-10 hours
18-22 pounds: Refrigerator- 4-5 days; Cool Water- 10-12 hours

Directions- Cooking Turkey
Pre-heat oven to 375F.

Take turkey bits (organs, giblets, etc) out of the turkey cavity and save for gravy. Add celery, carrot, onion and garlic to turkey cavity (they will be thrown away at the end of cooking).

Put turkey in roasting pan and rub all over with olive oil. DO NOT USE BUTTER OR SALT which will dry out the turkey. The brown bag turkey recipe does not require basting as long as all you use is olive oil.

Cover the entire turkey and roasting pan with 2 brown paper bags on each end. Staple the bags to each other to seal the turkey shut. Sprinkle/rub the whole bag with water.  Why a brown paper bag?  It seals in moisture but allows heat to circulate.  Don’t use those Reynold’s cooking bags- they will STEAM your turkey, you want it BAKED.  Seriously, this brown bag turkey comes out amazing and moist.

Put bagged turkey in the oven making sure there is no way for the paper to touch the heating elements!! The paper will not catch on fire as long as it doesn’t touch the heating element and the temperature does not reach 451F (the temperature at which paper burns).

Roast for 13-15 minutes PER POUND.  Set it and forget it, no need to baste!  Turkey is done when internal temperature reaches between 163-170 degrees (poke a thermometer right through the bag but don’t let it touch bone inside).  When the turkey is finished cooking, remove it CAREFULLY from the oven (the roasting pan will be full of hot juices).  Cut bag off of turkey.  Remove and dispose of the veggies from inside the cavity.

Turkey Gravy (Adapted from Ashley’s Mom’s Recipe)
Ingredients
Saved turkey bits- neck, gibblets, etc
Chicken Broth
Beer
Water
Salt and Pepper
Worcestershire suace
Bay leaves
Leftovers from veggies- onion skins, chopped carrots, celery bottoms
5 cans gravy

Directions
In a large stock pot fill up with about 5 cups of liquid (including the chicken broth, beer, and water).  Add turkey bits.  Season with salt, pepper, Worcestershire, skin of onions, carrots, celery bottoms, and bay leaves.  Cook 45 minutes-1 hour.

Drain in colander: SAVE LIQUID, DISCARD VEGGIES.  Return liquid to stock pot.

Add cans of gravy, one at a time until desired thickness.  Cook down on low while turkey cooks.  Add a little salt and pepper before serving if desired.

Stove-Top Stuffing (on the side)
From the box! Found on the soup isle of my grocery store.  I personally don’t like stuffing but D loves it so we just do it on the side instead of in the turkey.

Mashed Potatoes (adapted from Ashley’s mom’s recipe)
Ingredients
10 medium/small Potatoes
1 cup Half-and-Half
½ stick Butter
Salt and Pepper

Directions
Rinse and peel potatoes, cut into 2-inch chunks.

Place in large pot with 1 teaspoon kosher salt and cold water, enough to cover.  Bring to boil, then reduce heat and simmer until the potatoes are very tender, 20-25 minutes.  Drain and return potatoes to the pot to keep them warm.

Add butter and ½ cup half-and-half to pot.  Mash with potato masher.  Mix in remaining half-and-half slowly until desired texture is reached.  Add salt and pepper.  If heating, use medium/low heat.  High heat will cause runniness and ruin creaminess.

Honey-Baked Ham
Ordered by my mom from the greatest place ever- Honeybaked!

Crescent Rolls
Pillsbury, refrigerated canned rolls, yum!

Cathy’s Homemade Salad Dressing
Ingredients
1 cup Vegetable Oil (not good for you but tastes amazing; you could replace with heart-healthy extra virgin olive oil)
½ cup Vinegar
1 cup Sugar (can replace with Splenda)
1 Tbsp Soy Sauce

Directions
Combine everything.  Refridgerate and shake well before using.

Cathy’s Homemade Salad Crispies
Ingredients (portions aren’t exact, use what you like)
1 pack raw Ramen Noodles, crushed (don’t use the seasoning)
Bag of slivered Almonds
Bag of Sunflower Seeds
4 Tbsp butter

Directions
Combine all in a fry pan and cook until crispy!

Pumpkin Pies
Follow the recipe on the can of Pumpkin Pie Filling (on the soup isle at my grocery store)- One can makes 2 pies, frozen pie crusts come in two’s!

Lemon Icebox Pie (Adapted from Ashley’s mom’s recipe)
Crust Ingredients
1 ¾ cup crushed Graham Crackers
3 TBSP sugar
6 TBSP melted butter
Egg White to brush

Crust Directions
Preheat oven to 350F.

Mix all ingredients except egg white and press into a pie pan. Brush the crust gently with egg white.

Bake for 10 minutes or until light brown. Let cool completely.

Filling Ingredients
2 cans of Sweetened Condensed Milk
1/3 cup real Lemon Juice
¼ tsp Almond Extract

Filling Directions
Mix all ingredients and pour into cooled Crust. Let let in the refrigerator. Top with whipped cream or Cool Whip.

Sweet Red and Riesling Wines (I know, you’re supposed to have white wine with poultry, but these are too yummy!)

Why I Hunt

This trophy is not why I hunt.

I hunt to be closer to the earth that supports my life. I hunt because I have a deep appreciation of the meat I’m eating when I’ve taken the animal myself. I hunt because I want to know where my food came from and how far it traveled to get to my plate. I hunt because I know that the deer, hogs, and birds I kill lived wild and free, died quickly, and were treated with respect. And lastly, I hunt because it’s exciting and it’s something that brings my husband and I closer together.