Some of My Pics

November 13, 2017 / doubledacres / Leave a comment

Bourbeuse River near Union, MO

Bourbeuse River near Union, MO

This shot I took early one morning and temps were around 42 degrees and the fog was rising.

My childhood friend David Tripp

David and I have known each other since the second grade. Dr. Tripp is a retired educator who claims two passions, painting and fly-fishing. He is a very talented artist and writer. You can see some of both at davidtripp.wordpress.com.

A little dock diving.

Amazing what one can do with the photo software out there.

New addition to the farm, EJ our little cow bred filly.

Eros and Kate

I have bored you long enough. Thanks for looking and I hope you enjoyed. Spread the love.

Another Time, Another Place

November 12, 2017 / doubledacres / Leave a comment

I defy the annals of chivalry to furnish the record of a life more wild and perilous than that of a Rocky Mountain trapper.” – Francis Parkman

Have you ever wished you were born in another time? I have on more than one occasion. If I could have chose when I was going to start my journey on Mother Earth, it would have been during the era of the Mountain Men.

Mountain men were most common in the Rocky Mountains from around 1810 to 1880. They were male trappers and explorers who lived in the wilderness and were instrumental in opening various Emigrant Trails. Most mountain men worked for a major fur company however a large amount of them chose to be free trappers.

Fur trading companies implemented a system for the mountain men to sell their furs. It was called the Rocky Mountain Rendezvous, founded by William Henry Ashley, and was around from 1825 to 1840. James Beckwourth once described the Rendezvous as “Mirth, songs, dancing, shouting, trading, trading, running, jumping, singing, racing, target shooting, yarns, frolic, with all sorts of extravagances that white men or Indians could invent.” The Rendezvous is still celebrated yearly throughout the United States in honor of the mountain man. There are black powder rifle shooting contests, knife throwing, tomahawk throwing and primitive archery contests. Folks dress the part of the era and participate in primitive camping and cooking.

“A mountain man tries to live with the country instead of against it.” Louis L’Amour

The life of a mountain man wasn’t easy. It was hard and many didn’t last very long. They had to be knowledgeable about medicinal plants and be able to treat themselves when they got sick or hurt. They had to contend with bear, wolves and mountain lions to name a few. They also had clashes with the Native Americans in the area. They had to know how to trap, hunt, fish, tan hides, make their own clothes, and build sound shelter. They had to be survivors.

A few notable mountain men were:

Jim Beckwourth – (1798-1866) African American who lived with the Crow and attained the position, “war chief”.

Jim Bridger – (1804-1881) Was among the first non-natives to see geysers and the wonders of the Yellowstone Region.

John Colter – (1774-1812) One of the first mountain men and was a member of the Lewis and Clark Expedition.

A few others were, George Drouillard, Sylvan “Buckskin Bill” Hart, John “Liver-Eating” Johnson, Joseph Lafyette “Joe” Meek, Jedediah Smith and William Lewis Sublette.

“The mountains have rules, they are harsh rules, but they are there, and if you keep to them you are safe. A mountain is not like men. A mountain is sincere. The weapons to conquer it exist inside you, inside your soul.” – Walter Bonatti

There have been times that I was floating down the river and would imagine myself as a mountain man and try to imagine what it was like to look upon sites that no white man had ever saw. They had to be blown away by some of the breath taking scenes they saw. How they must have felt when they came face to face with a blizzard and endured a Rocky Mountain winter. They had to feel great accomplishment and jump with joy when spring fell upon the mountains and melted the winter snows. Pardon my “French” but they had to have “gonads” the size of Texas. They had no idea what they would face. No doctors to run to when they got hurt or sick and if something happened to your supply of coffee your were out for a long time and it was a long way to a store to get more.

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“The mountains are calling and I must go.” – John Muir

It would have been a tough life and quite a challenge but I would have loved to try it. Failure during that time usually meant a loss of life. Definitely the “ultimate challenge” that would separate men from the boys or should I say real men from the men?

Hope you enjoyed and thanks for taking the time to read my blog. Spread the love.

Goodbye October- Hello November

November 2, 2017November 2, 2017 / doubledacres / 2 Comments

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A pic I took a couple of years ago.

“What good is the warmth summer, without the cold of winter to give it sweetness.” – John Steinbeck Travels With Charley: In Search of America

October must have been in a hurry to get out of Dodge as it gets out of the way to let November in. It flew by. I don’t know if it is because I am getting older, but time seems to have accelerated the last couple of years. The new year 2018 will be upon us before we know it.

I have mixed feelings as October moves on. It always brings back childhood memories of jumping in a pile of fresh leaves, bonfires, apple cider, trick or treating, and the quest to have the perfect “hoodie”. Chili cook-offs, picking apples, searching for the right pumpkin so I can make the Great Pumpkin proud.

On the other hand I am definitely a “snow bunny”. I love to walk in the woods as the snow falls around me. If you stop and listen real hard you can actually hear it snowing. Making snow angels, drinking hot chocolate watching the snow fall, watching the fire dance in the wood stove, these are some of my favorite things about winter.

Another pic I took.

Growing up in the 50s and 60s found us being quite resourceful when it came to sledding. I remember one year we used the hood of an old Buick for a sled. I don’t remember what year car it was but it was one of those hoods that came to a point in the front. It seemed enormous to us back then. Heavy it was and took two of us to pull it back up the hill. We could get 7 of us on it then we would go zipping down the hill at speeds that seemed like 60 mph back then. Only problem was steering. It had none and one day it went farther than usual and it ended up under a parked car. We all got knocked off and thanks to all the winter clothes we walked away with just bruises.

Another favorite of winter was “snow cream”. My mom made the best “snow cream” you ever ate I tells ya. She would make chocolate or vanilla. Someone said one time you weren’t supposed to eat the first snow but it didn’t stop us and we survived. Snow ball fights, snow forts and making a snowman another few of my favorite things about winter.

“My old grandmother always used to say, Summer friends will melt away like summer snows, but winter friends are friends forever.” – George R.R. Martin A Feast For Crows

So as October make its exit and November comes to the forefront I think of all my winter friends and think how lucky I am to have them. I can smell the hot chocolate.

Thanks for reading my blog. Spread the love.

Being Responsible

October 28, 2017 / doubledacres / Leave a comment

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“You cannot hope to build a better world without improving the individuals. To that end, each of us must work for his own improvement and, at the same time, share a general responsibility for all humanity, our particular duty being to aid those to whom we think we can be the most useful.” – Marie Curie

I can’t speak for folks outside the US, but inside our borders shirking responsibility seems to be quite fashionable. It is always the fault of someone else.

One of my favorites. Six o’clock news. Interviewing the mother of a fourteen year old boy who stole a car and got injured when he lost control of the car while being chased by the police. Mother: “The police is picking on my son. They didn’t need to chase him. He is only 14 years old and that’s the first car he ever stole.” Oh no, not the boys fault. No siree. If the cops would have waited he would have probably just parked it back where he found it. After all it wasn’t like he was a career criminal. Mom said it was his first!

I hope you realize I am being sarcastic. Mother puts blame on the police not the son. I would say the parenting he is receiving could be some of the problem. What do you think?

“You must take personal responsibility. You cannot change the circumstances, the seasons, or the wind, but you can change yourself. That is something you have charge of.” – Jim Rohn

Personal responsibility! Oh yeah baby! What, you want me to be responsible for my actions? Absolutely! If you are personally responsible for something then admit it and work it out.

I am a farrier and there was the case of a horseshoer who quicked a horse when he was nailing the shoe on. He pulled the nail finished shoeing the horse and left but didn’t tell the owner what he had done. To make a long story short, the hoof got infected, the owner had a large vet bill and it took the guy quite awhile to admit that he had quicked the horse. If he had took responsibility and told the owner they could have doctored it and that would have been the end of it. If the horse had kicked him, I bet he would have let the owners know.

“We are made wise not by the recollection of our past, but by the responsibility for our future.” – George Bernard Shaw

We need to become more responsible, our future depends on it. Our actions, environment, children’s education, pets; all our responsibility and we need to be doing a better job. Schools send report cards home to show us how our child is doing. If the grades are bad, be a responsible parent and contact the school and teacher and see what needs to be done to improve his grades.

Thank you for taking the time to read my blog. I hope you enjoyed it. Remember to spread the love.

Finally! Frost On the Pumpkin!

October 24, 2017October 24, 2017 / doubledacres / 2 Comments

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“How beautifully leaves grow old. How full of light and color are their last days.” – John Burroughs

I have waited patiently to wake up and see the pumpkin covered in frost. I adore autumn. Bonfires are a must, with the aroma of cooking chili hurrying along to tease the unsuspecting noses of those gathered around the bonfire. Hoodies can finally come out of the closet. Animals begin growing their winter hair and the geese head south.

Halloween is just a few days off. The streets will be filled with goblins and witches seeking to fill their bags with candy. Then it won’t be long until the turkey will be sacrificed and used as the main course to fill the bellies of Thanksgiving diners.

“Autumn carries more gold in its pockets than all the other seasons.” – Jim Bishop

I had a friend tell me once, note: he hates the fall, that “fall is like the undertaker, preparing the body for burial”. I guess that is one way of looking at it. Myself, I like to take drives and admire the work of Mother Nature. My understanding is that this year the colors aren’t going to be that good due to the lack of moisture. In the fall the leaves have a chance to “wow” you like the flowers did in the spring. The squirrels begin hiding food for the winter. Drum roll followed with a Snoopy dog dance, no more grass cutting and the horseflies have left the building! Yes! Sorry. Got carried away in the moment.

It has been a long, dry, hot summer and I am ready for the snowflakes to throw themselves upon the ground until they have reached a depth of 8 inches. I will have a fire going in the wood stove with a pot of beans cooking. I will sit and watch my feathered friends eat from the bird feeders.

“October is nature’s funeral month. Nature glories in death more than in life. The month of departure is more beautiful than the month of coming – October than May. Every green thing loves to die in bright colors.” – Henry Ward Beecher

I hope you enjoyed my words and I appreciate you taking the time to read them. Wishing everyone a Happy Fall Season! Spread the love.

Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow!

Time To Rant

October 22, 2017 / doubledacres / Leave a comment

My mind is whirling with all the BS going on in the U.S. today. I see friends arguing and calling each other names over politics. Friendships destroyed and families torn apart. For what? When did we let politics become more important than friendships and family? I see people who have no respect for anything and they are quick to criticize. I see a Main Stream News Media creating a massive divide in this country that is surely going to end in disaster. Hate seems to be more popular than love. It seems to me that America is circling the drain and I say to myself, is it too late to put the plug back in the drain. I hope so.

The top 5 pastors in America have a net worth of 960 million dollars. Really? I am a christian but this isn’t religion, this is big business. I am sorry but that is my opinion and I am sure someone will ream me for it. I know some pastors that have a great ministry and they do a fine job of preaching the “Word” and helping needy communities on a lot less.

Parents with children. I am sorry when you go out to a restaurant show the other patrons a little respect. When you let your children chase each other around the tables it isn’t funny, it is annoying. To you parents who take the time to teach your child to behave, thank you. Teach your children the word “no” so that when you tell them they can’t have a candy bar they will refrain from throwing themselves on the floor, screaming and kicking.

Hollywood, get over yourself! I don’t give a rat’s arse about what your political views are just like you don’t care about mine. I even respect you less when you use your “stardom” to influence John Q Public. All the actresses that came out condemning the antics of the POTUS where are you on the subject of Harvey Weinstein? Maybe I just missed your comments and if I did please forgive me but you seem to be pretty mute about his behavior. Football players, kneeling to get attention for police brutality. Where were you when your own was expressing his christian beliefs and got blackballed from football. He was kneeling. How about the football player who killed a mother/wife because he ran a red light because he was intoxicated. He got an eight game suspension. Really? I don’t condone police brutality but you have seemed to help alienate a lot of people from your cause.

In the past there has been some bias in the news world but come on. Can you be any more bias? Now tune in for the 6 o’clock opinions. Nope no news, just a bigger spoon to help stir the pot and create more hate and discontent. I find it kind of odd that you dropped the Vegas story so quickly. Did your story fall apart? Do John Q Public a favor and report the facts and be unbiased in your reporting. If you are going to be bias then at least do a better job of hiding it.

Sorry for all the ranting but I could go on all night. Folks whether you believe it or not the country is falling down around us. Our politicians are failing us. MSNM is failing us. Parents are failing their children. Most of all, we are failing each other.

We need to think about what the consequences our actions will cause. Example, protesters. Protesting is a powerful tool when used correctly. I am sorry but when you invade shopping malls screaming your demands or blocking a freeway you aren’t making friends. You are causing more hate to be cast your way. Those people can’t do anything for you. If you are protesting the government and receiving government benefits, send your checks back or don’t pay your taxes. This will get the attention of the people who can help you. Protest in front of city hall every day. We protest bullying and your protests that you are using is just another form of bullying.

Well I am going to shut up. In a world full of opinions someone is probably going to get their feelings hurt. I hope I didn’t make anyone think less of me. Bottom line is that we need to come together and heal the divide in this nation, not create a bigger abyss. We are not only destroying our planet but also respect, trust, and integrity. I am not a Democrat or Republican. I am an American(gun toting, Bible thumping, redneck I think I was referred to) that wants everyone to come together and heal this great divide within our borders. United we stand, divided we fall.

Thanks for taking the time to read my blog. Spread the love.

PLEASE, Don’t Litter

October 19, 2017 / doubledacres / Leave a comment

“Sooner or later, we will have to recognize that the Earth has rights, too, to live without pollution. What mankind must know is that human beings can’t live without Mother Earth, but the planet can live without humans.” – Evo Morales

Today I am going to address something that really gets my Scooby-Dos in a bind. Littering and pollution. Really? This a subject that we shouldn’t even have to discuss. Why do people insist on trashing Mother Earth? Has she offended you? Are you just down right lazy? Do you just not care?

If you have read any of my blogs you are privy to my romance with Missouri rivers and streams. In my journeys I have covered a lot of miles on the rivers. I can’t think of any time on the river that I didn’t find a gravel bar trashed, tires in the river, appliances, etc. and it is heart breaking.

Got this off one gravel bar on the Big River

The problem seems to be getting worse instead of better. I know there are more people that float the rivers than there were 10 years ago. However there seems to be a greater group of people who do their best trying to clean the rivers up.

In Missouri we have Operation Clean Stream. There are various teams located throughout the state that police different areas and streams and have an organized clean up once a year. Usually the fourth weekend in August. It is unbelievable the amount of trash they collect each year.

In August of 2017, Operation Stream Team volunteers removed 539 cubic yards of trash and 2,029 tires from Missouri rivers. There were 1,934 in attendance at the locations of the Arnold Area, Big River (lower and upper), Bourbeuse River, Meramec River (middle, lower and upper), Huzzah and Courtois.

You can find out more at openspacestl.org. and there is a Facebook page called Missouri Stream Teams.

“If you can’t be in awe of Mother Nature, there’s something wrong with you” – Alex Trebek

Sadly a common sight on the river.

“We won’t have a society if we destroy the environment.” – Margaret Mead

We really need to get a handle on this. It isn’t that hard to haul your trash out with you. It isn’t going to take up anymore room than it did when you took it in. Maybe we need to start charging a deposit on cans. I know folks will still leave them however there will be more people collecting those cans to turn them in instead of just leaving them. I know when I was a tad pole I would pick up soda bottles to make extra money. Just a thought. Don’t kill the blogger.

What is it going to take to get people to respect Mother Earth and keep her clean. The rivers are faced with trash and pollution problems that aren’t going to go away unless we the people do something about it. I know, I know. I hear you shaking your head thinking we have a lot of other problems that need to be addressed. Well my friends this is a serious problem and it needs to be addressed. Clean water is needed for survival on this orb and if we run out of it the outcome isn’t very pleasant. It is our life and future. Please stop destroying the waterways with pollution and trash. PLEASE!

Thanks for taking the time to read my blog. Clean water is essential for life and we just can’t keep ignoring the problem. Spread the love!

The River; A Magical Treasure (For Some)

October 18, 2017 / doubledacres / Leave a comment

“A river is more than an amenity, it is a treasure.” – Oliver Wendell Holmes

“A river seems a magic thing. A magic, moving, living part of the very earth itself.” – Laura Gilpin

I was finally afforded an opportunity to spend some time on the Big River. I decided to kayak and fish the St. Francois State Park area of the river. I went on a Thursday so I had the park pretty much to myself. I was even able to accommodate myself with some time to read some of Emerson’s work. The only distraction I had was the chirping of the crickets and the crackling of the fire.

Home for a couple of days.

The river was really low. It was hard to fish and float. I did manage to catch some fish though. Not very big but when you are fishing with an ultralite with 4 pound test they don’t have to be very big to have fun catching them. I did catch enough to consume for supper on the second day.

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My time spent on the river is always magical and mesmerizing. It has been that way since I was a snotty nosed kid. I cherish the world of the river and the way it can recharge my spirit and soul. To see the fall painting that Mother Nature had brushed onto the foliage was a site to behold.

The first day on the river I never crossed paths with another person. I had the river all to myself and it is hard to explain what a great feeling it is. My mind races trying to take in all the wonderful things that I am surrounded by everything grabbing my attention at once. Even though I have been here before I feel like a child in a candy store.

I wish I could explain the “peaceful easy feeling” that I experience upon every visit to the river. It is quite refreshing and it gives one a great opportunity to find themselves.

The downside of the river is that everything cooked on an open fire tastes amazing so therefore one tends to eat too much.

Coffee, bacon, biscuits and eggs

Funny how many times I have read this book and when I get out on the river and clear my mind of all the garbage it has accumulated since the last visit, I find something I have missed. Emerson did not believe that one could simply change society by changing the laws, or by imposing new regulations. For one to effectively change the laws of a state, the minds of the citizens must be changed first through culture or education. Forgive me for getting off subject. This is food for another blog on another day.

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I am a realist and I know the river doesn’t work as well for some as it does me. Not everyone is comfortable on the river and not everyone likes to fish. I urge you though to find your “river” in life, no matter what it is. Then share it with the rest of the world. Spread the love.

I also realize not everyone likes reading Emerson. In closing I want to thank everyone for taking the time to read my blog and I hope you enjoyed it. I wish you luck in finding your “river” and “Emerson”.

So You Want To Be A Farrier?

October 3, 2017October 3, 2017 / doubledacres / 5 Comments

I remember when one of the local colleges offered an eight week course for folks that wanted to be a farrier. Over time I had a few clients who told me,”Well this will be the last time you will have to shoe ole Dobbin.” Me: “Oh yeah. You selling him?” They would go on to tell me that they had signed up for the 8 week course at the college and they would be doing their own shoeing. Out of 6 clients that signed up for the class I only had one client shoe all four feet of his horse. He then hired me back, said he had enough.

Then there are the ones that sit there and watch you as you work and they tell you, I think I can do that. Looks pretty easy. Then there is that age old question, ever get kicked? Really?

Then there are the bargain hunters. They have no loyalty to their farrier. They are just looking to get the cheapest price they can. I remember one time while fueling my truck a guy hollers over at me and says, how much. I said $2.55 a gallon. He said no, how much? I said, well it will probably hold around 30 gallons today. He immediately says, NOOOO! How much do you charge to shoe horses. I said, do you have a farrier now? He said yes but I thought you might be cheaper at which I immediately replied, you couldn’t afford me. Yep, they are loyal to the end.

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Then you have the internet farrier. Yep you read it right. This is the group that cruises the internet to learn everything they can find concerning ” How to Shoe Your Horse”. So while you are shoeing their horse they are standing looking over your shoulder telling you what you are doing wrong. I mean geeze, these guys are pros. They learned from that all important school “Lame Horses or Us.”

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Then you have the farrier that if someone doesn’t agree with your assessment of his/her shoe job they swell up like a little bantee rooster and get their feelings hurt. Bring a horse into a room of 4 farriers and you will get 10 different ways to shoe the horse. The lovely world of horseshoeing. Also be prepared to be told you charge too much.

Then there are the great things you get to experience. I remember one such time. I was on the back end of the horse with its back leg over mine when all of a sudden the horse made a gut sound that sounded like a freight train roaring down the track. I just got out of my mouth, well he shouldn’t colic any time soon, when all at once its tail went up and yep, liquid road apples come out of the back end like it was coming out of a power washer. Before I could get out of the way it hit me on the side of the head and my back and…..never mind just trust me it was a mess.

Seriously though, I am proud of my trade. I am a firm believer in continued education. It is hard work and you have to be well disciplined. It is too easy to get up in the morning and say, I think I will call in sick today. You have to be a business man and be able to deal with the public.

I am semi-retired now. I still have around 40 head of horses on my books. I am thankful for all those who helped me better myself. Dr. Don Walsh, Dr. Amy Rucker, Dr. Joanne Kramer, Kelly Case, Bob Schantz, Dr. Thomas Loafman to just name a few. If you decide to walk the path of a farrier I urge you to seek out continued education through clinics. Bob Schantz, owner of Spanish Lake Blacksmith Shop, along with Homestead Veterinary Hospital, Dr Kramer and Dr Rucker have some great workshops during the winter months. Be sure to check them out.

Thanks for reading my blog. I deeply appreciate it. If you are considering a career shoeing horses I wish you well. It is hard work but take pride in yourself and your work and it can be a real rewarding experience. Spread the love!

Imagination: A Good Thing to Possess

September 26, 2017 / doubledacres / Leave a comment

I named this rock formation “Alien Rock”

I didn’t get on the river until around 4:30 p. m. and I knew I wouldn’t have time to do a lot of fishing. I did realize that the retreating sunlight should present some great photo ops so I began looking for those shots that would show the amazing beauty of Mother Nature.

“Adopt the pace of nature: her secret is patience.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson

My mind was working overtime and my imagination was like that of a 60s “flower child” who had taken a hallucinogenic drug. I took several pics of the rock I had named “Alien Rock” trying to capture what I was seeing in my mind. I think the above pic was the best picture to portray what I was seeing and I hope you can see it too.

To me it looks like an alien’s head slowly ascending out of the water just revealing its eyes and nostrils that had just broke the surface of the water. I imagined it rising completely out of the water revealing a body as tall as the bluffs around it.

Well, maybe I am losing it. Maybe the crazy stuff going on in the world is finally taken its toll on me. Maybe I have drank too many Jack and Cokes in my life time. Naw, one can’t drink too many Jack and Cokes. I got it, I need to quit drinking the kool-ade! That’s it!

“I believe that imagination is stronger than knowledge. That myth is more potent than history. That dreams are more powerful than facts. That hope always triumphs over experience. That laughter is the only cure for grief. And I believe that love is stronger than death.” – Robert Fulghum; All I Really Need To Know I Learned in Kindergarten: Thoughts On Common Things

Was the alien there extracting lead from underneath the river bed; after all this is part of the old lead belt, or was he looking for a McDonald’s fish filet sandwich? Maybe he is stashing green kryptonite in case he ever had a run in with Superman? Was he a game warden in disguise spying on me. Oh so many possibilities!

Hello, earth to Wayne. Well back to regular programming. Once I figured out what the alien was doing I began floating back to what the locals call the “Bone Hole” and fished as I went. I managed to catch a small largemouth and several small perch. I think the alien must have scared the fish off. Oh crap, it is getting dark. Where did that alien go? I am skeered I tells ya!

“Logic will get you from A to Z; Imagination will get you everywhere”. – Albert Einstein

I hope you enjoyed today’s blog. I am a firm believer that great artists ( painters, writers, musicians, etc.) are full of imagination. I feel it is a must to be really good at what you do. I think we need to emphasize it more than we do. One can not suffer from too much imagination; well maybe I need to rethink that one.

Thanks for taking the time to read my blog. It is deeply appreciated. Remember to spread the love.