Bearfia

Most of you have heard we brought home a bear. As you can see, Gretel wanted to steal blood, fur, tongue, and anything else she could grab while we weren't looking. It was her first large game experience! We went for a nice little hike after work, me, Tyler, and the Gretels. This was the year Tyler was going to put up a bear baiting station, so he had picked his sight and gotten his permits from the state troopers. After a long day of work, we had a beautiful afternoon and decided it would be a perfect opportunity to post his bear baiting permits at his hunting sight. We geared up, took off, and started bushwhacking to the sight (you have to be a certain distance from any marked trails, etc., so bushwhacking is always involved in bear baiting). We went up and down one ridge, then started climbing another. With GPS in hand, Tyler kept pushing me on ".5 miles to go!" Up and up we went ".2 miles to go! We're gettin close!" My chest heaved and I'm ashamed to say my legs ached quite a bit, and on we went. "0.1 mile to go! We're practically there!" I hear. 20 seconds later: "BEAR! BEAR!" I look up, confused, astonished, and disbelieving all at the same time. I hear a gunshot, grab the dog so she won't get close, then hear a few more shots. I think to myself "I can't believe this! He's really shooting a bear!" I hear crashing up ahead, and Gretel's ears are perked. Tyler shouts "Stay there! Don't come close yet!" As he fires another shot to make sure it's dead, then gets close to poke it with a stick. The poking comences and no movement ensues. "It's safe. You can come close." I let the dog loose and the minute she sniffs the bearness, she starts barking. Circling the bear, barking barking barking. Tyler pulls it into a clearing to feild dress it, and she follows, barking barking barking. She didn't stop the entire time, unless it was to steal a bit of blood or pull at the fur (for which she was promptly reprimanded). I think it was about the most exciting thing that's ever happened in her life! 

After gutting it, Tyler slung it over his shoulders to get the bear out of the woods. He looked like quite the ultimate hunter, complete with a fur muff. We barbequed the ribs the next day--quite a tastey treat!

A nice action shot of Gretel with her favorite toy. I love free frisbees!

I've started a strawberry wine--my first brew attempt! This was the wine-making process. It's now a fermenting vat of  pale pink. Pretty, but we'll see if it turns out. 

Well, that's basically our last month. We're so glad the summer's come!