G'Day everyone, Dutch here! Welcome to my little place in the Universe!

Going to do a blog here while waiting for the temps to warm up.. Saw these two doves out on the fence yesterday

love is in the air and I thought of this song.. Sooooooooooo everyone get on board, pull up a chair and visit a spell..

got a picture of this young dove yesterday before the sleet storms…

and speaking of sleet storms…

going to talk a little about “Turkey shoots” today.. One doesn’t actually shoot turkeys.. One shoots at clay targets and in the good old days when it was first started a turkey (already butchered) would be given out as the prize for the winner.. Today it is usually used for charity events, everyone pays a fee.. The competitors compete for bragging rights and some charity or someone in need gets money, food certificates, etc.. Everyone gets something out of this and no one gets hurt.. Here is a picture of a clay target.. It is a little larger than a hockey puck…

these are used as targets… each target has a degree of difficulty.. And some are timed.. One of the difficulties is the plexiglas obstacle..

I have to apologize for my art work or lack of.. The idea, of course, is to put a projectile through the hole and hit the clay target, attached to a wood pin behind it without hitting the plexiglas.. It can either be stationary or swinging like a pendulum, hence it’s shape.. Most of the time firearms are used but of late to make it more of a challenge, archery has come into play.. Now in the past, I used what is known as a compound bow.. Here is a picture of mine..

I made my own arrows, the ones in the quiver are Port Orford cedar.. I have the equipment to do that.. And the fletching (feathers) are manufactured plastic.. Real ones do not last and are not allowed anyway… well, do to arthritis I can no longer pull the bowstring safely … so the compound is put away… the choice of weapon in it’s place, you ask… give them a hint, Giocchino Rossini, conductor.. Those that remember the Lone Ranger would say it is his theme.. actually it’s the William Tell Overture.. hint hint..

that’s right folks, the crossbow.. here is mine…

the object; to stand 15 paces (45 feet) away from the target and in the offhand position.. Picture below

put the bolt cleanly through the hole and hit the clay target behind it, the result; some needy person or persons will be helped in some manner and I will not only have helped but will have bragging rights.. Everyone is a winner..

Well better get some things done and finish the day.. Here is a recipe if anyone is interested…

Soooooooooooooo everyone have a smilin' gooooooooooooooooood day full of Peace Love and Happiness and I'll see you next time if the good Lord's willing and the creeks don't rise....

and me and Mr. Stevens agree on this…