This Hunting Season

As this beautiful Indian summer fades to clear, cold starry nights and hard frost mornings. Gunshots begin exploding in the many acres of woods and state lands that surround my home. Another hunting season has rolled around. Hunting season was always a big thing with the Swan family. A Swan tradition. I have fond memories of my father leaving the house all dressed in his hunting clothes. Red and black plaid wool jacket, pants and cap, shot gun in hand. I would just stand there dumbfounded at this transformation with him going from slick business man suits with the smell of Niagara spray starched shirts all the way down to his shiny black wing tipped shoes to this totally out of Gary Swan character, scratchy Woolrich almost comical mighty hunter. In his rubber hunting boots, he would meet up with his brother's Ken, Dale and Bill and my grandfather and head up to their sacred hunting ground not far from our home on Swan Hill Road...a place they called Buck's Nob. To this day I really wonder if Dad liked hunting. I tend to think not, even though I don't remember him ever complaining about it. When my brother Gary came to hunting age and showed no interest in it, Dad didn't seem upset that the tradition would end there. Though Nancy's husband Malcome was eager for the huntsman ways and Dad eagerly trained him. Our home on Swan Hill Road was a new split level house with the garage perfect for hanging the gutted deer. My job was wrapping the meat in the stiff white freezer wrap paper held together with brown masking tape. It was with great importance to be part of this family ritual and getting to hang out with the men...my Uncles. The mighty hunters. I remember them reminiscing about the old days when the deer were hung in front maple trees (for the town to see no doubt) of the maple trees that shaded my grand parents house they called the Country Side, and how they would have to set up a table outside for the meat wrapping party. It'll be a mystery forever I suppose to know if Dad really had the hunting bug. He did shoot a deer and the deer head hung over every fireplace we ever had with his kid's graduation tassels hanging from the points of the antlers. For some reason I have this picture of Dad sitting under a tree somewhere munching on candy bars, while doe's (girls he used to call them) curiously wandered up, smelling his unloaded shot gun while his brother's were out on a yonder wooded hillside hoping for the big buck to come over the rise. Dad would trudge home early afternoon's, serene from his day in the woods, empty handed but uncaring. I remember standing on the couch and looking out the big window that was over garage. The same window were I saw him get out of the car in a blizzard clutching something that was stashed in his black overcoat which turned out to be kitten's for Nancy and I. But during hunting season he always managed to save us a candy bar...if we could find it in the red and black coat of many pockets.

Time To Get Out The Stormy Kromers!

Just a little quick trip to Old Forge...lunch at Slicker's, a movie at my favorite movie theater where we saw Captain Phillips and all I can say about that movie is WOW! Hanks should win an award for that role. The snow was falling beautifully most of the afternoon and I got out to take a few shots. Here's my favorite shot!

Reverend Ross's Wood Workshop

It was a wonder to behold filled with antiques and a year of stories.

Fly Creek

Some Random Shots of Early Autumm 2013

Larry And The Pumpkin

Cedar Waxwing in my European Mountain Ash

The Back seven acres of my beloved home. The Country Side named after my Grandmother's Beloved home in Glen Aubrey NY.

Catching Up

I'm sitting here at my computer staring at all the folders with the shots I've taken and realize that I'm a pretty big slacker at blogging of late. Time to catch up a bit so I'm backing up all the way to Labor Day! I had a picnic for whats left of my family in these parts. It was nice having sister Nancy and her husband Malcom and brother Gary up to the house. My son Nick was also around and though it was certainly not the same with Mom, Lisa and Jeff here...and of course my father. We all had a great day! We got the blue swing that once hung from the back patio at the house on Foote Hill back up! Bill, Malcom, Gary and my father worked together years ago after they had moved to Old Forge and built the A frame to hold the swing. Well I ended up with the swing and its been sitting out back in the weeds for over a year driving me crazy and of course making Dad roll in his grave. So now it's up and swinging once again. Nancy brought Prince Tiko and he kindly accepted the job of clam guardian. It was a great day! Vividly I can still hear my father yelling CLAMS! As the black steam pot was pulled boiling and shaking from the burner with everyone scrambling with their folks.

I'm so looking forward to Hickory NC to celebrate Thanksgiving in my little sister's new home. That will be post not to miss.

A Covewood Wedding

When it rains it pours at Stillwater and down the dirt road I went to help Mother Marian with not one but two weddings in one day! Lucky me as I got to tend bar for the wedding held at the Covewood estate on Big Moose Lake. Covewood is one of the last old camps on Big Moose lake and owned by the late Major Bowes whom I learned just last night was a Colgate University graduate. I've kayaked past Covewood many times and have always yearned to tour it. My wish came true thanks to Marian! It was a lovely day in spite of a few misty showers and the folks were all just wonderful! Hearty tippers (as well as hearty drinkers...it has to be because of the Adirondack mountain air!) Joe and the staff at Stillwater cooked up a menu of Beef Tips, Chicken Piccata, Garlic Mashed, Shrimp and scallop stuffed crab cakes along with Stillwater's infamous cucumber salad and a few other dishes. The table ware the bride chose was all made from pressed banana leaves which Marian learned does not hold up in a dishwasher! A long day but very memorable. The weekend ended with a gig at Izzo's winery on Cayuga lake! What a fine place with fine wine and excellent BBQ. Despite being 100% exhausted I played and sang pretty darn good and have a feeling that I'll be playing back there again! Looking forward to making this weeks bank deposit. I CAN pay my Verizon bill!