Learning to fly...

A great weekend, even though the North wind blustered on Friday night and Saturday. 

Pilotman flew up Friday evening ahead of the weather, while I brined Dad's catch in preparation for smoking it.

Saturday am, while we were waiting for the smoker to heat up we made a run to the airport to check the tie downs on the plane, all good & secure. 

 We smoked the salmon, which took constant refilling of the Alder chips due to the wind conditions on the patio.  10 hours later we pulled it out, sampled a couple of big strips, and declared it done.

Sunday was sunny and calmer weather, a little turbulence aloft but nothing worrying. We spent the morning scrounging through the old tools, farm implements, and camping stuff at the local antiques fair. It was fun to see if we knew what all the items were used for back in the day. We only got stumped a few times, and usually the owner of the booth could tell us the ones we didn't know.  Pilotman said it was different taking me. "What, how so?"  "You go racing by all the girly girl stuff, and make a beeline for a plane, or a draw knife or an unusual caliper or a bridle."  Sensing the possibility of trouble ahead, I kept my mouth shut. (Yes I know you find that hard to believe, but if I try very hard and concentrate, it is possible... for short periods of time.)  Pilotman laughed, and said he was having a good time.

In the afternoon we took Dad up flying to air him out... and scout the river for future fishing and kayak trips.  I got some time in pre-flighting, and assorted in-flight processes.  When we got back to the airport, as I put the steps in place, and took hold of Dad's arm to help him out, I said... "Thank You for flying Flash & Co Air, the pilot can't be bought... but the help can." 

Fish On...

YeeHaw, Dad scored this morning with the Salmon.  He has been beam'n all day.  Shared the bounty with our neighbors and we be smok'n Salmon this weekend.

A very big THANK YOU to my SIL Sass and family friend Kris.  You went the extra mile to make it a special day for the ol guy. 

cut'n bait...

Dad has not been happy with me, as I have refused to take him salmon fishing in Ol Ugly without one of the guys going along to help. 

There is adventurous and then there is foolhardy. I don't mind being the first, but prefer not to be the second.

As most of the guys are busy with other endeavors, I told Dad I would get him on a guided boat here. Nope, he insisted on a guided boat two hours travel time away.  He set it up for Thursday morning. When I spoke with the guide to get directions and time, he said, "have him here ready to go at 5 AM". I told Dad I was taking him to the guide as that was too far afield for him to drive by himself.  He was good with that, and up and ready to hit the road at 3 AM in order to meet the guide on time.  Half way there Dad said under his breath... "this was not a wise idea, I should have let you get a local guide". I cupped an ear and asked him to repeat that, as I wasn't sure I had heard him correctly the first time.

He had a good time fishing, but only got two bumps and no salmon were boated. Such is the nature of fishing and life.

Saturday is Dad's 92nd birthday. The WWW (wealth widder woman) has invited him to lunch to celebrate.

 Since  WWW doesn't drive anymore, after that crazy fellow on a bicycle somehow ended up as a hood ornament on her Lincoln, I will be ferrying them around in my SUV, again...

     

Holding Your Breath...

So what has been happening here, you asked with baited breath:

One of my SIL's gave me a fresh caught salmon.  Her late husband had the best smoked salmon recipe, so I got that recipe as well.  Nothing to smoke it in, requiring a trip to SA Thrift store. Found a like new Weber for $5.  Brined the salmon in the BIL's recipe.  Smoked that sucker with the help of the flying man. It turned out very well.  Sent some home with the pilotman, served some to Dad's poker night cronies, ate some, and stashed the rest for the return of the pilot.

Spent a day on the river in our kayaks with the pilotman.  My Kayak is too small for much touring, so he found me another, and I will get it this week. He tried it out at Tahoe and says that it "maybe" faster than his... Yes!  Not competitive at all here...

    

Willie recently got away from Dad on a return trip from the mailbox. He took out after the neighbors cat. Both went down a drain pipe, and the battle began.  Neighbor girls boyfriend bravely rescued Willie from the pipe.  From the looks of Willie he lost the skirmish big time.  Cleaned him up and took him to the vet as there was a tear in his third eyelid that I wasn't equipped to repair.  He is well now, following surgery. The girls next door (their mauler cat) brought this cute get well basket for Willie. 

 He is love'n the extra attention from Dad & the girls. He still hasn't learned his lesson about cats, especially ones twice his size.

I'm still going to Yoga... so there I was in Yoga class practicing my CCW draw from warrior two pose, wear'n my favorite tee when I was told to breathe. What!

Was having trouble with the Walther. The pilotman had me practice til I could field strip that thing in near darkness. It has been cleaned, and I have learned that it doesn't function well if it is the slightest bit dirty.  I have been spoiled by the little Sig that will keep on going no matter how dirty it is.  Have also learned that even the oldest & best shooters at the range don't know everything. The Walther wasn't firing and I had no idea why, walked it over to a couple of the regulars. They tried every thing they could think of, no go.  Took it on down the line to a couple more guys that work with many guns.  They looked at it, tried it, fiddled with it, no go. Took it further down the line to the guy that works in the gunny store, he fiddled with it, no go. Then he walks to the line and puts three down range, dead on.  We all looked around in amazement. "What did you do to it?" we asked. "I switched it off Safe," he answered.

cow cow boogie

Some songs just tug at your heart strings and make long forgotten memories come to mind...