and a strong cup of coffee

I have been gathering and reading quite a few hunting books and outdoorsy books, but I am wondering if there are any that you folks would recommend that I read?  I am thinking that I will add a section just for my book reviews. What are you reading? or what should I be reading?

I am afraid that I could really get addicted to fishing.  The only thing that is really stopping me are those images of fishing hooks embedded in fingers, thumbs, hands etc. and realizing that that could be me.  I shutter! But when Al took me out fishing on the Big Lake, I could see myself really getting into fishing.  The weather was perfect and I was eager to see if I could really land a fish.  I had struck out turkey hunting so I was hopeful that my luck would change. One of the streams leading into the lake.  Al and I met up at 8:30 and headed out.  It was perfect weather, sun and a little wind.  As we motored around, I was surprised by the lack of other boats on the water.  We talked about fishing, getting women outdoors, the status of every huntable animal around and the camps themselves.  People from all around the world fly in to stay in Grand Lake Stream and fish these waters. We had two spin casters set up and I held on...

Two days before our arrival, Sue from Chet's Camps called to see what we needed and what they could have ready for us.  How would we like the beds made up?  Did we need a pack n play? a highchair?   They were so accommodating and helpful - even before we left home, that we knew this would be a great trip. Dawn breaking over the Big Lake in Grant Lake Stream. Al and Sue Laplate own the camps and have been providing a place to people from all over the world to come and fish the lakes known for some of the world's best landlocked salmon. It was dreary during the whole six-hour drive up but it was better to be driving in the rain than having our plans ruined because of it.  By the time we got into the camp, the sun had started to come out and it was warming up.  And there were no bugs!  Our cabin  We unpacked and immediately went for a walk to stretch our legs and check the place out.  Al was coming back as we were walking so we stoppe...

I have about five blogs that I need to finish and post but here is a sneak peak of one of them. I am flirting with the idea of into fishing so we headed to Grand Lake Stream to see if I could land some of the world renounced land-locked salmon there.  This is the view from our cabin!  

Visiting a cemetery days after Memorial Day was surprisingly emotional for me.  As I pushed my almost 1-year old in his stroller past the rows of stones, I was touched by the number of those sites that had American flags next to them. I thought about those who had given their lives for the freedoms that my son will enjoy.  I also started thinking about an incredible family that I met at a Sportsmans show earlier this spring.  Paul and Dee House turned their tragedy into something that I want to support and tell you about: There is some notoriety that you don't want to have.  If you Google "Lee, Maine" you will find articles about the documentary " Welcome to Lee, Maine " and see that Lee is known for being the smallest town in the US to lose more than one soldier in war - specifically the Iraq war.  Sgt. Blair Emery, 24 and Sgt. Joel House, 22 were killed five months apart from one other.  I encourage you to watch this clip from the movie that is a l...

A little while ago, I wrote about George Smith's book, "A Life Lived Outdoors." At the time, I had not finished the book.  Now that I have I want to share more of my thoughts. If you love the outdoors and have hunting and fishing stories of your own, you will immediately connect with George and his retelling of those days in the woods.  There is an immediate smile that comes across your face as you read about camp and the sounds, smells and feel of being in a small building surrounded by the Maine North Woods.  I couldn't help but be jealous of George's ability to leave the hussle and bussle of  daily life to retreat to a place where the windows may need to be replaced but the fish bite, the moose are neighbors and the ability to read all of those books on your to-do list can actually happen.  Someday, I will have a place to call 'camp.' A few stories are focused on just day to day living in rural Maine; the sadness that spreads across those of us w...

There are few places were I live that are open and green.  There are pockets of city forests or walking trails but there are no real places to get out and explore the woods and ponds.  I forget that until I happen to see ducks or geese swimming in these ponds along side fast-food containers, rusty, broken hockey goals, empty plastic water bottles and plastic bags from department stores.  For a city full of people who claim to be passionate about wildlife, this speaks volumes.