1,354

One thousand three hundred fifty-four...

cookies.

The traditional family holiday project.

Oh, what fun...

Play, play, play.

Cracking time.

The first batch.

Tre loves knives.

Like elves making toys.

The icing goes on.

Gotta love it.

The grand total. Up from the 1,200 we made last year.

THANKSGIVING 2009

The two wild turkeys arrowed a couple of months ago didn't last so we got a 25 pounder for this day.

Oh, sooooooooooooo good.

I'm gonna carve me up some bird! Today is Uncle T's birthday.

Me first!

Honey, if you don't put away that damn camera...

My MIL. At least she doesn't have a knife in her hand this time! But she can throw a mean olive at ya!














Happy Thanksgiving!

"FULL DECK"

A deck of cards if 52 minus the jokers.

Remember the milestone birthdays in our lives?

#10
#13
#16
#18
#21
#25
#30
#39
#40
#45
#50

I guess as I get older, I want to do things on my birthdays to make them memorable. Life is short so I might as well get my living's worth in.

For the Big 5-Uh-Oh, I went to Glacier Point with my wife. Had the whole place to ourselves.

For the Big 5-One, I was sicker than a dog, but I had my Starbucks and a breakfast burrito.

So, what did we do for the ageless milestone #52?

Well, for starters, I hurt my back again. Not by lifting weights or by toting a backpack...

Nope...

Bird seed...

Yep, that's right, bird seed.

First thing I do in the morning, I grabbed the container of bird seed to take to the feeders to fill them. Gotta love the birds! I set the container down and reached up for one of the bird feeders to fill, place the feeder in the container to lessen spillage overflow, scooped up a cupful of birdseed and then...

I feel a slight twinge...

Ah, it will go away...

Well, maybe not...

I scooped up another cup of seed...

Not getting better...

Damn!

Anyhow, I started walking to see if I can walk it off...

Nope...

Great!

Anyhow, "back" to my plan of the day...

We went shooting!

BUT WAIT!

Ever had one of those moments when you anticipate an event and make careful plans to make sure you have everything you need to make your day of days special?

Yep!

My family and I were to go shooting today, but due to conflicts, my wife and I went by ourselves.
What a beautiful day. Clear skies.

Before heading out to the range, we stopped at Zanger's in Coarsegold to get some hot java. Instead of going up the drive-thru, we opted to park it and walk in. First time I had ever been in the place. Very quaint.

With our stomach's grumbling, we decided to stop to have breakfast at the Yosemite Coffee & Roasting Company in Oakhurst. For all of you "tourists" out there, this is THE place to have a nice bottomless cup of featured coffee blends, as well as feast on a hearty breakfast. We were craving a biscuits and gravy and split a veggie scramble. Daniel, the cook, is also an accomplished pianist. He learned how to play the ebonies and ivories when he was a freshman in college. He doesn't read music. He plays from memory. We are talking classical piano solos.

After feasting, we stopped by the store next door for their "going-out-of-business-sale." Note to self: Never take wife to any sale like this.

Anyhoooooo....

We finally hit the road to go to the range. We had the range all to ourselves. I unload all of the gear and realized my "brain fart": I had packed "Libby" (.270 Savage) and "Mabel" (12-gauge shotgun), but had forgotten "Freida," the .22-caliber rifle that was to be shot for the first time on my big day.

ARGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!

Senior moments today and I haven't reached age 62 yet!

We spent an hour and a half hours on the range and taking out my frustrations on the Foster's ale "oilcan" with Libby. Couldn't find a comfortable position to shoot due to my back being out of whack, but the oilcan was riddled with holes on the bottom. Love that scope on the rifle. Zeroed in. One shot, one hit.

After quitting the range, we went for a joy ride to Mariposa to look at the craftwork of Nativearth and stopped by the Mariposa Brewing Company and purchased a couple of half-gallon growlers of IPA and Bock.

Afterwards, we stopped in Oakhurst and ordered two extra large pizzas from the Pizza Factory to go.

Pizza sure was good. My wife let me order a pepperoni! Yummay!

Considering my "brain fart" it was a very nice day with my wife. She knows how to make my day very special. That is all I am going to say for now.

Freida will just have to be shot on another day. Plenty more weekends ahead. Plenty of rounds yet to be fired.

SILPADA AND SHOOTING

While the ladies partied...

























The gentlemen went out to play...


What the heck are you shooting at, TheOs?

TheOs, me and the Bossman (my wife's boss).

BRO-I-L 50LDEN BIRTHDAY

My BRO-In-Law turns the big "5-OH" today.

Happy 50lden Birthday!

BroIL and sis (my wife) in our backyard.

Contractor math...20 candles equals 50.

Welcoming the newest member to the Over 50 Club.

Having a difficult time blowing out them candles? Brit having fun with her father. Note the reddening of the face at the time this picture was taken.

Finally, the last one out. Tre helping the "5Old guy."















What looms next on the horizon for my BROIL? His fiancee coming over from the Ukraine in December.