Earned my buck

Running: This picture is from last Saturday 10/10 when I was up in Bayfield. The first snow of the year.

On Friday I got out for an easy five miles on my lunch break. I ran my usual 5 mile route in 40:39. Today was a hunting and work in the yard day so I took the day off from running.
My youngest daughter was to have run in the Conference XC meet this morning. She has been sick most of this week, and woke up this morning not feeling well at all. She had to take take the day off. I don't know if this will affect her chances to run varsity at the sectional meet next week or not.

Hunting:
Well this evening I "earned" my buck. I finally scored on a small doe. It feels kind of weird though. Dad would always be the first one I would call when I got one. This is the first time I couldn't do that. Anyway after a couple of mornings and evenings without getting anything it feels good to take this pressure off. Tonight is the homecoming dance at our kids high school. I had some duties including driving them to the dance so I wasn't even sure I would get out tonight. I was able to finally make it out in the back yard around 5:45. A little later than I would have liked, but on this day it would have to do. I was only there about 15 minutes when a deer appeared out of the woods. It proceeded to make it's way into the food plot I put in. I watched it feed for about 15 minutes when it started walking towards me, but out of the food plot. I was pretty sure another bigger one wasn't coming so I had to take my chance. At about 25 yards, out of my new stand I put up I took the shot. The deer ran about 30 yards and fell within my sight. Thank goodness no tracking tonight. I tagged the deer and left it there to deal with later. I had to take the kids and some friends to the dance so I took care of that first and then came back to finish cleaning and hanging up the deer. Tomorrow I will take it in for registration and processing. I'd process it myself if I had the time tomorrow, but I know I won't. It's a nice cool night so the meat will stay in good shape.

Gardening:
Today I had to clean all the leaves from my gutters. I did both stories of the house. Not many of the leaves have come down, but there were plenty to fill up all the gutters. I also got most of the lawn furniture, lawn ornaments, and planters put away into storage. This took most of the afternoon. I don't have room for everything until bring my lawn tractor in for winter storage. The local John Deere place offers free storage for the winter if you allow then to take care of any tune up or mechanical issues over the winter. I've done this the last several years. I think there could be 2 or 3 mowings yet this year.