A Trip to Cabela’s
I come from a family of avid hunters. My grandpa had to hunt to survive since he was very poor and his dad died when he was young. He passed his skills and love of hunting down to his sons, one of which was my dad. My grandparents bought a big piece of land in rural Ohio and built a hunting cabin for the family. I got my hunting license when I was in 7th grade, although I never really got into hunting all that much.
Mr Chiots didn’t come from a hunting family, so he was introduced to it when he joined our family. He’s really gotten interested in it this year and finally took the Ohio Hunter Safety Course and got his license.
He’s planning to go deer hunting in November with my dad. Since Mr Chiots is a new hunter, he needs a few things. Yesterday we headed down to Cabela’s in West Virginia with my parents to look around and pick up a few hunting supplies.
It’s a fascinating store, even if you’re not into hunting. They have all kinds of sporting goods from camping and fishing, to grilling and home sausage making supplies. They have all kind of animal scenes from around the world and a huge walk-through aquarium. It’s a lot like going to a natural history museum. They also have a white-tail deer exhibit featuring many award winning deer. We ate in their cafe, which features a lot of different game (we had elk burgers for lunch).
I know hunting is something that not everyone is in to and not everyone agrees with. In our area of the country it’s very popular and many people still enjoy it. Wild game supplies most of the meat we eat, except for the chicken we buy from our local farm and an occasional beef roast from the farm as well.
I’ve eaten my fair share of interesting things in my lifetime, which can’t be avoided when your dad is an avid hunter and you grow up in another country. I have eaten; bison, ostrich, elk, wild boar, venison, squirrel, alligator, and various interesting cuts of beef that aren’t popular here in the U.S. The strangest thing I’ve eaten is fried ants, they’re very popular in Colombia. They kind of taste like popcorn.
What’s the strangest thing you’ve ever eaten (fruit, vegetable, meat or insect)?
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Throw Open the Windows
Yesterday we had a nice warm sunny day, it was in the mid 60’s. When we have weather this warm I always open all the windows to get some fresh air in the house.
The cats are in heaven on days like today, and so am I. One of the things I really miss in winter is open windows and being able to hear the sounds of nature.
What are you going to miss this winter?
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From a Different Time
Mr Chiots and I went to a Newell auction on Saturday morning (actually 2). This year we started going, because I’ve been searching for old short wide mouth pint jars. I’ve also been looking for a few Griswold cast iron skillets to add to my collection.
Auctions are interesting, sad and hopeful all at the same time. They definitely herald back to a different time when people saved things they though they’d use again, not willing to buy new when they could reuse something they already had.
It’s sad to see these people lives spread out on the lawn, others looking over it decided what they want. It’s sad to see the things people valued enough to save going to the highest bidder, and sometimes not being bid on at all or going for next to nothing.
It’s also hopeful to see people in attendance willing to buy used items, placing value in something that’s been around for a while and already has a story. They don’t need to buy some shiny new homogenized item at the big box store, they want something unique, something that has already seen some life.
One thing I love about auctions is all the unique stuff you find. It’s so fascinating to me to see what people saved.
I was happy to see lots of canning jars for sale, they even had a few of the wide mouth pint jars I was looking for. Sadly, we had to be somewhere that afternoon so I couldn’t stay to buy them.
I wonder if auctions will fall out of favor when all the classic old stuff is gone. Is any of the stuff we purchase now going to last 40 years and still have enough life left for someone to want to buy it? Are we going to save anything that someone will find valuable?
I’m definitely reaching a point in my life where I’m starting to appreciate the stuff that’s been around for a while. I’d much rather purchase something used than something new. It’s not only more environmentally friendly but it’s so much fun as well.
I still buy some new things, but I’m definitely trying to focus on buying used. The things that I do purchase new, I’m trying to invest in good quality items that I’ll be able to use for the rest of my life, and hopefully someone after me will find them useful as well. So I’ll be attending more auctions trying to find those elusive short wide mouth pint canning jars and perhaps a few other treasures that can continue to live on and be useful in our home.
Do you like to buy used items, or do you prefer new?
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Quote of the Day: Humbert Wolfe
“Listen! the wind is rising, and the air is wild with leaves,
We have had our summer evenings, now for October eves!”
Humbert Wolfe, 1885-1940
October evenings are perfect for fires and smores. There’s nothing more relaxing than sitting around the fire, I especially love them this time of year when the evenings are crisp and clear.
What’s your favorite fall activity?
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A Day Off
Mr Chiots and I have the day off; well, kind of. Usually we’re working all day on Saturdays and I often don’t get time to make it to the farmer’s market. But today we don’t have to be at a shoot until early afternoon. I’m going to enjoy my day off by getting up and heading down to the farmer’s market. It’s much smaller this time of year with fewer vendors, fewer vegetables and fewer shoppers. There are still lots of wonderful things to see, the colors are so fantastic. The summer’s bright red tomatoes and green bell peppers have been replaced the mellow colors of indian corn and deep orange pumpkins.
I think one of my favorite fall seasonal things at the market are the pumpkins. They just scream fall every time I see them. I can just see the bowls of steaming pumpkin soup, the chilled pumpkin pies and the delicious pumpkin muffins coming out of the oven. Mr Chiots would probably choose apples as his favorite fall item, he’s a big fan of apple pies, apple crisp and pretty much anything that involved apples and sugar.
What’s your favorite seasonal fall item?
