You wouldn't belive it if you were there...

October 1st. Bow Hunting Season... for the past 6 October 1sts, I have been bummed, because to me it meant keeping food warm for Bill until he got home, worrying about him falling out of a tree, no more going out to dinner or doing anything fun on the weekends because it doesn't get dark utnil 9:00 p.m..... and on and on...

But this year is DIFFERENT. I decided if you can't beat em, join em... so I am now officially a bow hunter... I have actually bow hunted a little bit the last few years, but this year I got serious, bought a new bow, and practiced shooting all summer...

So here it is opening morning after I have been waiting and waiting, and practicing and practicing... like a kid at Christmas I get up early and am rushing Bill out the door because I am ready to shoot Big Moe.

SIDEBAR (Big Moe is the name of all the big deer, but there is an "actual" Big Moe who lives at Badiner's where we hunt in Mattawan. I saw Big Moe the first year I bow hunted but he wasn't close enough to shoot, AND HE IS HUGE... many other have also witnessed Big Moe, but somehow he has never crossed Bill's path - probably why he is still alive).

So here I am in my stand opening morning with my new bow and my scent lock and I'm actually excited and ready... I have practiced shooting and I am confident that if Moe steps out he is going to be in serious trouble....

It was a little cold on opening morning and I was chilly but so excited to see a deer it didn't bother me at first, but by 9:30 a.m. when all I had seen so far was 2 coyotes and 0 deer, I was starting to be ready to call it a day (not to mention I didn't take a vacation day - and I needed to get to work sometime soon before everyone noticed I was absent - shh don't tell Kent)

So, I am seriously thinking about getting down, when out pops a buck.... SWEET... here he comes I think, "hmmm what is that red stuff on him... oh that's blood, dang it Bill shot that deer" BUT for those of you who don't know, this has happened before... last year Bill shot a deer and it ran in front of me and dropped over dead."

So I was READY... I'm gonna shoot the buck - blood or no blood. He goes behind a tree, I stand up and get my bow ready, and then he decides to walk right to me.. I hold stealthy still waiting.. waiting... waiting... here he comes, he goes behind a branch of the tree I am sitting in, perfect just as I planned, I pull my bow back, look through my peep sight and wait.... all he has to do is take 2 more steps and I will shoot him... at this point he will be about 8 yards from me basically right underneath me...

I wait and I wait, I wait some more and finally I pull my head back from my peep sight and look around, did he change directions, did he walk the other way... MY ARM IS SO TIRED WHERE IS THE DEER????

OK I can't hold my bow back any longer, my arm is so tired and shakey it seems like I have been holding it for 10 minutes or more, where is that deer seriously he was just right here - he only had to walk 2 more steps and I would have shot him.....

All the sudden there is a noise, "is it the deer?" "is it another deer"? What is that noise???? I turn and look and all I see is Bill popping out of the forest, tracking his deer but for some reason he is laughing so hard he can't contain himself" I can see him smiling from 50 yards away, why is he laughing I wonder??

All the sudden it hits me... the buck is dead, under the tree I'm sitting in, that's why he never stepped out, he fell over dead right under my tree... oh brother - the luck of some people...

And I have to ask myself... would I have been better off in bed?

Happy Hunting :-)

Love the Peck's

Watermelon Slushies

It all started with an idea....
What if we put cut a hole in the top of the watermelon and fill it with Vodka - we might get Watermelon Slushies .... It seemed like a good idea - so we tried it.
Bill & Daryl prepped the watermelon, Nancy and I made some appetizers and Cindi, Trevor and Lexi even found their way out of '052 for the night
it looked a little like this...




























No mom - no vodka in Lexi's watermelon - don't worry














There was some block bulding... and some fishing























And there was the watermelon...




























The food was great, the watermelon was even better and I don't think any of us have laughed so hard in a long time... the only question left to ask is... "when are we doing it again?"

Rilley's 2nd Birthday

On another beautiful day in August, we had Rilley's 2nd birthday party at our house. He was much more excited this year about presents and balloons and especially his own cake to eat and crawl through! Everyone had a great time, the food was excellent and Rilley loved his presents. Here are some pics of the event... Check out all the pictures here http://picasaweb.google.com/PeckontheWebGallery/RilleyS2ndBrithdayParty?authkey=clRjkfrxUdk

Gramp's Birthday Party

Wow how time flys when you are having fun... in August we celebrated Gramp's birthday at Trevor's house, it was a beautiful day and all the kids had fun swimming in the pool, the food was great and everyone had a good time... here are a few photos!

Palin for President

Hey All,

I know it has been awhile since I last updated the blog and I do have lots of pictures to share including Grandpa's birthday party, Rilley's brithday party, some Big Moe's caught on film on our new trail camera.... and maybe even some shots of my new bow - we have been practicing every day.

So I hope everyone is having a great summer and come back and visit soon - I will add more pictures as soon as I can. PS - go PALIN for VP!

Ribfest at the Peck's

11:00 a.m. on sat.

Bill: "Ribs were on sale so I bought a few packs"

Traci: "Ok did you want to invite some friends over to party"

Bill: "Sure"

Traci: "How many ribs did you by?"

Bill "15lbs"

ohmygosh - it's summertime and the Peck's Patio is the place to be.... and what better reason to have a party than ribs being on sale... it was a great party and the weather was perfect. Everyone had a blast and all went home full... but if anyone needs some dinner this week,we

have a few leftover ribs!!! The kids had fun playing Wii. Collin built some blocks with Daryl and we all had a very competitive game of Blockus (The cheaters won)- I think this will be a favorite new passtime. Strawberry Marshmellow Smores were also a hit...

5th of July in 052

Requirements for 4th of July Bash

1. Grown Men who love fire and explosions
2. A few road trips to Indiana - the firework capital of the world
3. Fearlessness of getting caught - even when tailgate falls down and exposes an entire truck full of illegal fireworks (and that was only 1 of the trucks)
4. Big Guns, Feel the 500 Grams, Pyro for Professionals, 3" Golden Bear, Saturn Rockets and more.... most importantly ALL WITH REPORT
5. Builder Bob & homemade launch platforms (in the corn no less)
6. Brand spankin' new pool and deck (guy's don't try this at home without Builder Jim)
7. Brand spankin' new Harley (who's buying one next year?)
8. Burgers, Hotdogs, potato salad, pasta salad, cucumbers, fruit, CORN......... & don't forget the deserts - oh ya and ribs all you eat on the charcoal grill
9. 1/4 of Hershel... favorite steer of the Bennett farm (sorry Hershel)
10. No fewer than 3 grills and more chefs (men) then you could ever want or need
11. 60lbs of propane and 2 bags of charcoal
12. Free Advice - worth all you paid for it - from the many chefs regarding the propane
13. 150 lbs of ice & 16 coolers - no lack of beverages of your choosing
14. Mortar and Pestal, Fresh Mint, Rum, SUGAR, Limes & Lime Juice (and a lot of people asking Bill & Traci what the heck they were drinking)
15. An extensive guest list spanning 5 counties of some of our very best friends
    Mix this all together starting with the slowly adding some adult beverages and the best fireworks show in the state and you hear comments like this....

"OOOOhhhhhhhhhhhh AAAAAAAAhhhhhhhhhhh WoW"

Do you want to get ARRESTED?"
"You are all going to jail"
"Those were the best fireworks ever"

"DUCK and COVER the mortars are on fire"

"Look at that bucket - it melted"

"Did you see that one, what color was that?"

"There goes the sweet corn"

"Sorry about the corn Lare"

"Anybody have a hose?"

and my personal favorite - We Love BOBBY (from Bobby's new fanclub the 20 kids in attendance)

In all seriousness it was a GREAT party and the fireworks were FANTASTIC - Big thanks to Trevor and Cindi for hosting Bobby for being program coodinator (and buying most of the fireworks), and Jim & Bill for the grilling and everyone for coming, enjoying and bringing delicious food. I will let the pictures tell you the story....

To see all the pictures and watch a slideshow click http://picasaweb.google.com/PeckontheWebGallery/4thOfJulyParty?authkey=AKzjhz7yr3w