Brad's Christmas Card
I just wanted to make a small post about a Christmas card Brad made me and Tressa. Just a couple of thoughts. First it makes me emotional to see him writing sweet things about me and his mom. He is such a loving and sensitive boy and he tries to hide it but cares so much about making us happy. When he got in the truck he immediately pulled it out and said he made it for me and mom. When I read it and thanked him his reaction wasn't one of "look what I did for you" it was one of "hope that makes your christmas a little better" it was a sincere look of caring. I love him for that and I am sure his mom does too.
Secondly I found it funny what a 10 year old boy is thankful for. He mentions twice how thankful he is for us making him food and buying him food. He has food on the brain all the time and eats like a horse. Thank you
Brad I love you.
Brad I love you.Ya'll be safe out there!!
Thanksgiving, Texans and TJ Yates, Holiday Dance
Thanksgiving was here and we had the normal routine. I did fry three turkey's first though. Dan Sikes and Allan Myers brought theirs over and we used Dan's new oil free cooker. It t
urned out great. W
e went to Tressa's dad's in the morning and had dinner then went to our house and everyone else met us over there for the rest of the night. It has been pretty much the same routine for the last ten years. You get stuffed twice and are miserable the rest of the day. Me and the kids usually go to deer lease about 7 after we eat but this year was the last year of the UT and A&M game so we watched the entire game. We didn't roll into lease until about 1 in the moring. It was a site watching us try and find a bed for us to sleep in that night. We did not see much deer wise but we had a great time.
urned out great. We went to Tressa's dad's in the morning and had dinner then went to our house and everyone else met us over there for the rest of the night. It has been pretty much the same routine for the last ten years. You get stuffed twice and are miserable the rest of the day. Me and the kids usually go to deer lease about 7 after we eat but this year was the last year of the UT and A&M game so we watched the entire game. We didn't roll into lease until about 1 in the moring. It was a site watching us try and find a bed for us to sleep in that night. We did not see much deer wise but we had a great time.Well the Texans are 9-3 and are really playing great defense. I have been totally wrapped up in them and the stats and the playoff picture. We just beat a good Falcon team this week and our defense is the top in the league. I am purchasing my playoff tickets and will be at every game. It has been really cool for me and Tressa to make these memories with the kids. I hope the Texans continue this run. The only thing that could possiblly go bad is our quarterback. We started with Matt Schaub and he
got hurt so they put in Matt Leinert. Everyone thought he could manage the game and we would be fine with him the rest of the way. Our defense has been playing great and leads the league. Well the fi
rst game Leinert is in he gets hit and breaks his collarbone so he is out. Our last quarterback is a rookie named TJ Yates. We drafted him from North Carolina in the 5th round. He was never expected to play. Well the kid did a great job and we beat the jags. This week we played a good Falcon team and he had another good game and managed the game. Our defense game through again. We have Wade Phillips as the DC and guys like Brooks Reed, Connor Barwin, JJ Watt and Brian Cushing are playing great and they are young players. Hopefully this will last a long time. Maybe this TJ Yates kid will turn into a Tom Brady situation and will be a great QB for years to come for us.
got hurt so they put in Matt Leinert. Everyone thought he could manage the game and we would be fine with him the rest of the way. Our defense has been playing great and leads the league. Well the first game Leinert is in he gets hit and breaks his collarbone so he is out. Our last quarterback is a rookie named TJ Yates. We drafted him from North Carolina in the 5th round. He was never expected to play. Well the kid did a great job and we beat the jags. This week we played a good Falcon team and he had another good game and managed the game. Our defense game through again. We have Wade Phillips as the DC and guys like Brooks Reed, Connor Barwin, JJ Watt and Brian Cushing are playing great and they are young players. Hopefully this will last a long time. Maybe this TJ Yates kid will turn into a Tom Brady situation and will be a great QB for years to come for us.Well The only other thing going on for Mady this month was the Holiday dance. She cracks me up. When I got home last fri
day her and Julia Savedra, Cassie Salazar and Lizzie Malek were all in the living room doing each others hair a
nd laughing and giggling about stuff. It was so cool to see and hear. My baby is growing up but to come home and hear the noise of kids and her friends and them laughing was just so awesome. Well we took them to the dance and then went to Mark Neu's birthday at a small bar by Twin Cities restaurant. She had a good time at the dance, she isn't too boy crazy right now but she has a ton of friends. It just makes me so happy and proud to come home and see her getting fixed up with her friends. That is how I always pictured it is all the kids at our house and getting ready and seeing our kids so happy going and doing things. Her and Brad both are so so big and mature now, I love it and I hate it.
day her and Julia Savedra, Cassie Salazar and Lizzie Malek were all in the living room doing each others hair and laughing and giggling about stuff. It was so cool to see and hear. My baby is growing up but to come home and hear the noise of kids and her friends and them laughing was just so awesome. Well we took them to the dance and then went to Mark Neu's birthday at a small bar by Twin Cities restaurant. She had a good time at the dance, she isn't too boy crazy right now but she has a ton of friends. It just makes me so happy and proud to come home and see her getting fixed up with her friends. That is how I always pictured it is all the kids at our house and getting ready and seeing our kids so happy going and doing things. Her and Brad both are so so big and mature now, I love it and I hate it.Ya'll be safe out there!!
Youth Weekend, No Shoes, Mady's Deer, an Elk, Huge Buck, and a Shark
Deer season started with youth weekend. Brad was torn on when he wanted to go. We usually go on friday right when school gets out. This year his buddy Brandon Meza was having a party on the saturday of youth weekend. I don't want to burn Brad out on hunting so I told him it was ok, he could go to the party. We also had the football playoff game that morning. So we would only be missing one hunt. Mady had a big party saturday night so she wanted to stay home anyway. She said it was ok and she would shoot a deer later in the year which she has done since then. I feel like it is ok and don't worry about her. She enjoys hunting but doesn't make a big 
deal about going everytime. I can see her starting to be layed back about things she likes such as hunting. She does
n't feel the pressure to please me but still has an interest in going. While Brad is so worried he is gonna let me down. I wish he understood that no matter what, he is the greatest boy in the world to me.
deal about going everytime. I can see her starting to be layed back about things she likes such as hunting. She doesn't feel the pressure to please me but still has an interest in going. While Brad is so worried he is gonna let me down. I wish he understood that no matter what, he is the greatest boy in the world to me.So I pick Brad up at Meza's and we get to lease that evening. We get up and sit in the stand. Around daybreak his feet get cold so he takes his boots off and puts themn up under my jacket to get them warm againest my stomach. He goes to sleep and I am scanning the tree line. Around 7:30 a group of does come out in front to the left toward our black feeder. I wake him up and get him the gun. Four come out. I tell him to pick the biggest one and he says ok, ok I got it. I click off the
safety and he shoots. Good hit and the does dives into the woods. Well he has shot many a deer in the last 4 years but ne
ver without his shoes on!!!!hahahaha! That was a first. So we put his shoes on and went and got his Doe.
safety and he shoots. Good hit and the does dives into the woods. Well he has shot many a deer in the last 4 years but never without his shoes on!!!!hahahaha! That was a first. So we put his shoes on and went and got his Doe.That evening we sat in the same stand. Brad did his same act of falling asleep. I watched and sure enough a small spike comes walking out. I wake him up and hand him the gun. This is the first time I didn't set it up for him. He took it and brought it to his shoulder and found it in the scope himself. All I did was pull it off safety when he was ready. He made a good shot but it was a little high. The deer fell in the woods and I had to shoot it in the head when we walked up. Youth weekend was a success. Two deer for my big deer slaying dude. He was excited and we came on home.
Mady waited until the second weekend. I took her to centerville just me and her. Rick was there with Devin so it was just us four. We sat in the same stand she shot her coyote in last year but we didn't see anything. Rick made a big pot of deer stew and Mady kept Devin entertained that night. Me and Rick s
at on the porch and visited for a little while an
d then we called it a night. the next morning we sat at another stand. Two small bucks came out. one looked legal and Mady kept telling me " I promise dad I promise it's legal" I looked and looked and finally said ok. The gun was up and I said wait, wait, wait, then I said ok, go ahead and shoo......BANG!!! She shot and dropped him before I could even get the word shoot out all the way.
at on the porch and visited for a little while and then we called it a night. the next morning we sat at another stand. Two small bucks came out. one looked legal and Mady kept telling me " I promise dad I promise it's legal" I looked and looked and finally said ok. The gun was up and I said wait, wait, wait, then I said ok, go ahead and shoo......BANG!!! She shot and dropped him before I could even get the word shoot out all the way.Well we cleaned him and iced him down and she was happy. We stayed that afternoon but didn't see anything so we came on home. It was a great trip especially since me and mady were there just me and her together. She is a special girl who I hope her future husband appreciates and I'll tell you why.
We are on our way home and going over the toll bridge. She says, "dad you know what I wanna do?" I say "what's that?" she says, " I want to go on a trip far away and shoot a huge buck using a guide" I said, baby we can do that and I'll start setting it up. Then she says "well that is one of my goals, I really have three" I ask what the other two are and she replies, " I wanna shoot an elk and I wanna catch a shark" I say Mady those are two things I would love to help you accomplish.
She is such an awesome kid. She makes me happy and melts my heart.
Ya'll be safe out there!!
Club Volleyball, Basketball, Football done
Mady's school volleyball ended. They got second place and lost out in the tournament. Her season was successful and she had a good time making memories with her friends. Now club volleyball has started and her team is not very good. She is on the non travel team and her and Julia Savedra are on the te
am together so that will be fun. They had their first tourtnament this weekend and they only won one match. She is playing lebero and still getting to serve. It was way out in the woodlands and her and tres had to leave at 6 in the morning. They didn't get home until 4 that afternoon. She seemed to have a good time though. Her practices are not as long so she can start golf again to get ready for tryout in april.
am together so that will be fun. They had their first tourtnament this weekend and they only won one match. She is playing lebero and still getting to serve. It was way out in the woodlands and her and tres had to leave at 6 in the morning. They didn't get home until 4 that afternoon. She seemed to have a good time though. Her practices are not as long so she can start golf again to get ready for tryout in april.Mady started basketball and made the "A" team again this year. She doesn't start right now but has a good shot and play
s the wing. She isn't as fast as some of the girls but has a beautiful shot and I am looking forward to watching her all season. They won their first game and she played alot. She even blocked a shot and got a rebound. So right now she has basketball, club volleyball and starting golf lessons again. Oh plus her social life. She is a busy girl with all her friends. One thing I am proud of is she hasn't been boy crazy quite yet and she hasn't been totally engrossed in her friends. She seems to be down to earth and have a quiet peace about her.
s the wing. She isn't as fast as some of the girls but has a beautiful shot and I am looking forward to watching her all season. They won their first game and she played alot. She even blocked a shot and got a rebound. So right now she has basketball, club volleyball and starting golf lessons again. Oh plus her social life. She is a busy girl with all her friends. One thing I am proud of is she hasn't been boy crazy quite yet and she hasn't been totally engrossed in her friends. She seems to be down to earth and have a quiet peace about her.Brad went to the playoffs in football. We had a great year and we played two tough teams in the end. We were 6-1 going into the Alvin game. They had a huge running back and they broke a few tackles and scored twice on us real fast. I am very proud of Brad and the boys for fighting back and with 43 seconds left we scored to take t
he lead 33-30. Well the first play after the kickoff we missed a few tackles and the running back went 50 to score to end the game. It was gut wrenching the kids played so hard to get back in the game and then to lose lik
e that was tough. Well they over came it and had a good week of practice. We would have to beat galveston to be the top seed. They are very athletic and after a tough game we lost 13-6. Brad did cause a fumble and his buddy Malcolm Linton picked it up and ran for our only touchdown. Brad really had a great game coming off the edge. Well we were all tied up with a couple teams for the playoffs. I had to go meet the coaches for a coing flip and low and behold I lost and we were the 4th seed. Kinda frustratinig because we would end up playing the laporte texans who had beaten us 12-6 in our first meeting.
he lead 33-30. Well the first play after the kickoff we missed a few tackles and the running back went 50 to score to end the game. It was gut wrenching the kids played so hard to get back in the game and then to lose like that was tough. Well they over came it and had a good week of practice. We would have to beat galveston to be the top seed. They are very athletic and after a tough game we lost 13-6. Brad did cause a fumble and his buddy Malcolm Linton picked it up and ran for our only touchdown. Brad really had a great game coming off the edge. Well we were all tied up with a couple teams for the playoffs. I had to go meet the coaches for a coing flip and low and behold I lost and we were the 4th seed. Kinda frustratinig because we would end up playing the laporte texans who had beaten us 12-6 in our first meeting.We played them at north campus and it was a tough game. It went back and forth. It was close at 6-6 and we just couldnt move the ball so they got the ball back on their end and p
ucnhed it in for the go ahead score. I was upset and even mentioned playing key players more in the next year on both sides of the ball. Anyway the boys got medals and we had a big banquet and everyone had a successful year. We have one more year left and I hope I can teach them alot about football and get them ready for junior high athletics. Brad is really loving it and getting alot of compliments on his play. I am looking forward to spending that time with him teaching him and building our relationship stronger. I am very proud of him.
ucnhed it in for the go ahead score. I was upset and even mentioned playing key players more in the next year on both sides of the ball. Anyway the boys got medals and we had a big banquet and everyone had a successful year. We have one more year left and I hope I can teach them alot about football and get them ready for junior high athletics. Brad is really loving it and getting alot of compliments on his play. I am looking forward to spending that time with him teaching him and building our relationship stronger. I am very proud of him.Football and Volleyball ended and we started Deer hunting.
Ya'll be safe out there!
Halloween, Sighting in gun, Finishing Volleyball
Well it is almost Halloween and the kids have been very busy. Brad is in the p
layoffs in football. The season ha
s gone great. Right now we are 6-3 and have played some tough teams. Brad has done a great job playing tight end and defensive end. In fact in the last game he got a sack and caused a fumble and his buddie malcolm picked it up and ran it in for a touchdown. I am very proud of him. He works hard in practice and enjoys being coached. In fact coach Martin at the high school told me he was very coachable.
layoffs in football. The season has gone great. Right now we are 6-3 and have played some tough teams. Brad has done a great job playing tight end and defensive end. In fact in the last game he got a sack and caused a fumble and his buddie malcolm picked it up and ran it in for a touchdown. I am very proud of him. He works hard in practice and enjoys being coached. In fact coach Martin at the high school told me he was very coachable.We are also getting ready for deer season. We went and shot his gun yesterday and a memorable life mom
ent happened. Well I shot his gun first on the target to the right three times. Then I told him he needed to shoot at the target to the left. He shot once and I looked and nothing was on the target. I told him to relax and quit worrying about other shooters around him. He tried again and I looked again. I saw nothing. Then I looked at the target I was shooting at. The knuckle head was shooting at my target. I had him shoot at his and it was close enough so we got out of there ready for this years hunting season. He has a great time at the Deer lease. I love the fact that he gets to be around Stephen's parents up there.
ent happened. Well I shot his gun first on the target to the right three times. Then I told him he needed to shoot at the target to the left. He shot once and I looked and nothing was on the target. I told him to relax and quit worrying about other shooters around him. He tried again and I looked again. I saw nothing. Then I looked at the target I was shooting at. The knuckle head was shooting at my target. I had him shoot at his and it was close enough so we got out of there ready for this years hunting season. He has a great time at the Deer lease. I love the fact that he gets to be around Stephen's parents up there.Mady is finishing up volleyball she is playing good and will soon start club volleyball we will see how that goes. Her passion is basketball though and she is ready for tryouts.
Halloween
went well, Mady had a volleyball game then her and her two friends ran around our neighborhood trick or treating. There was also a Halloween party at the Lendo's and Mady and Cami dressed up together they were the 
hit of the party. Malcolm and Devin came over and Brad roamed the streets with them. He had a hatchet in his chest. haha!
went well, Mady had a volleyball game then her and her two friends ran around our neighborhood trick or treating. There was also a Halloween party at the Lendo's and Mady and Cami dressed up together they were the hit of the party. Malcolm and Devin came over and Brad roamed the streets with them. He had a hatchet in his chest. haha!Well the month of October was over and the kids are ready for thanksgiving and deer hunting.
Ya'll be safe out there!Makeup, Pocs, Pruneda and BWW
Just wanted to post a few pics I thought were prettyy funny. We went to Ma
r
k and Brenda Neu's house on saturday night. Well while we were all on the patio visiting the kids decided to do a little pre Halloween face painting. they all look pretty funny.
rk and Brenda Neu's house on saturday night. Well while we were all on the patio visiting the kids decided to do a little pre Halloween face painting. they all look pretty funny.
Also while me and Brad were going to football practice we saw my buddy Norman Pocs , Deer park policeman and fellow wine making enthuisiast doing his job on the street. The last thing is me and Brad went to BWW, my favorite place by the way and I try to go atleast once a week and have for about a year now, on thursday and saw Benito Pruneda, he played football and baseball here at Deer Park and played for me. He currently plays for the Atlanta Braves. Great kid.
You know what I may write a post about BWW and how I have been going there so much with Tressa, Mady , Brad and friends for the last 4 years. That post will be coming soon. Let me go take some pics of the place.
Ya'll be safe out there!!!!
Texans, Tailgating, Pre-season, and continued Tigers!!
The Texans season has started and they are 2-1 as of now. They beat a bad colts team and an ok miami tea
m. The first big test was this weekend againest the sa
ints. We started out good but they came back and beat us in the 4th quarter. I am encouraged about this season still and our defense getting better. We have been able to tailgate only one time since the last two games have been away. We had a good time. We just kept it simple and made sausage and boudain. It was the first real game with us having 4 season tickets instead of two. At first Mady didn't want to go but I think she had a good time once we got there. That was a fear of our is she getting too old to want to go to every game. I miss her being little. Anyway, Dale and Cheryl and Dave and the other guys that sit by us showed up and hung o
ut before we went inside. Dave Herring has moved to louisiana and now will just drive in on saturday and stay 
at his mom's when we have a home game. It wasn't too extremely hot that morning and we got out there fairly early. the game was on 9/11 so they had a huge flag that covered the entire field to start the game. Looking forward to
next weekend when we play the steelers at home. Maybe make some chicken.
m. The first big test was this weekend againest the saints. We started out good but they came back and beat us in the 4th quarter. I am encouraged about this season still and our defense getting better. We have been able to tailgate only one time since the last two games have been away. We had a good time. We just kept it simple and made sausage and boudain. It was the first real game with us having 4 season tickets instead of two. At first Mady didn't want to go but I think she had a good time once we got there. That was a fear of our is she getting too old to want to go to every game. I miss her being little. Anyway, Dale and Cheryl and Dave and the other guys that sit by us showed up and hung out before we went inside. Dave Herring has moved to louisiana and now will just drive in on saturday and stay at his mom's when we have a home game. It wasn't too extremely hot that morning and we got out there fairly early. the game was on 9/11 so they had a huge flag that covered the entire field to start the game. Looking forward to next weekend when we play the steelers at home. Maybe make some chicken.We also went to all the pre-season games and Brad was able to take his friend Garrett Pinault with him. He is the qaurterback for Brad's Tiger team and also goes to school with Brad. He is a good kid and the two boys had funat the game. They even played a little touch football out in the parking lot after it was over and Tressa was all time QB. 
Our Tiger team is really playing good right now. We are 4-1 and only lost to laporte texans. Mainly because of fumbles and turnovers. We can throw the ball if we need to and have been playing real good defense. We are looking forward to another good game this weekend againest the laporte cowboys.
We try and stay up to date more, bottom line is the kids are growing and maturing too fast and I feel like it is passing me by sometimes with me seeing it.
Ya'll be safe out there!!!!
Wine and Martinis!!
I have gone ahead and bought another "carbouy" that is the ozarka bottle looking deal that I use to make th
e wine I have been making. Now I can make t
wo batches in about 30 days instaed of two batches in 60 days. Right now I have "Black Raspberry Merlot" and "Pinoit Noir". The Merlot we will take to Texans games and I even made a label to go with the Texans. The pinoit Noir has some oak chips with it and that we will keep at home. I have not made a label for it yet. The last one I made was "Cranberry Malbec" it turned out good and we also bought wrappers for the top of the wine bottle to make it look even more official. I put Go Deer on the bottom of these labels. I am having a good time making the wine and really enjoying it. I have been collecting alot of bottles and trying to think of different la
bels and stuff to put on it. I want to clean out the closet under the stairs a
nd make racks to store all the wine.
e wine I have been making. Now I can make two batches in about 30 days instaed of two batches in 60 days. Right now I have "Black Raspberry Merlot" and "Pinoit Noir". The Merlot we will take to Texans games and I even made a label to go with the Texans. The pinoit Noir has some oak chips with it and that we will keep at home. I have not made a label for it yet. The last one I made was "Cranberry Malbec" it turned out good and we also bought wrappers for the top of the wine bottle to make it look even more official. I put Go Deer on the bottom of these labels. I am having a good time making the wine and really enjoying it. I have been collecting alot of bottles and trying to think of different labels and stuff to put on it. I want to clean out the closet under the stairs and make racks to store all the wine.I have also been drinking alot of Martinis lately and decided to purchase some offical martini glasses. I have four of them and they each have a cool design.
Ya'll be safe out there!
Summer over, Start of school, Tiger starts, volleyball starts!!!!
Summer is over and school has started. The summer ended pretty good. Kids got n
ew shoes and clothes and bakpacks and got ready to start 5th and 8th grade. It is crazy to say that my baby is in 8th grade. She is so funny and mature, most of the time, haha. Brad is such a big guy at school now too.
ew shoes and clothes and bakpacks and got ready to start 5th and 8th grade. It is crazy to say that my baby is in 8th grade. She is so funny and mature, most of the time, haha. Brad is such a big guy at school now too.We started football. Brad is in his junior season with the tigers. It was a grueling 3 weeks of practice to start the season. You have 3 weeks of 6 days a week. Plus it was so ho
t this year. But we made it through and now practice is only 3 days a week. He is playing tight end and defensive end. He is doing great , we have started playing games now and we 
are 2-1 we beat the rams 28-0 and Brad caught and extra point pass. He does a great job of blocking as well. I don't care what he plays but I look forward to watching him continue playing through junior high and high school. He even likes going to practice and playing three on three hitting drills. He is tall and lanky so he doesn't have alot of punch but he uses his hands real good on defense. I like watching him 
on defense because he is pretty active. and gets excited when he hits someone. I am so very proud of him , he works very hard and seems to enjoy it very much. He also started back pitching lessons on wednesdays.
t this year. But we made it through and now practice is only 3 days a week. He is playing tight end and defensive end. He is doing great , we have started playing games now and we are 2-1 we beat the rams 28-0 and Brad caught and extra point pass. He does a great job of blocking as well. I don't care what he plays but I look forward to watching him continue playing through junior high and high school. He even likes going to practice and playing three on three hitting drills. He is tall and lanky so he doesn't have alot of punch but he uses his hands real good on defense. I like watching him on defense because he is pretty active. and gets excited when he hits someone. I am so very proud of him , he works very hard and seems to enjoy it very much. He also started back pitching lessons on wednesdays.He told me on the way home the other night that he was going out for student council. I said "why?" and he said "I dunno, just figured I would try it" he told me his speech and it sounded great. That friday he got up and spoke at school and was voted to be on student council. Very cool!!
Mady is in 8th grade and has had a great start to her 8th grade year. She is ver
y social and she is always out in the circle with all her friends roaming the neighborhood. She playing on the "A" team and having a good time. The plays back row and comes in and out of the game. She is stil
l taking golf lessons and goes once a week. She is getting so old and it is all happening too fast for me.
y social and she is always out in the circle with all her friends roaming the neighborhood. She playing on the "A" team and having a good time. The plays back row and comes in and out of the game. She is still taking golf lessons and goes once a week. She is getting so old and it is all happening too fast for me.I will write another post and update everything, I don't want to fall behind too much.
Ya'll be safe out there!!!
Brad's X-ray
Ok, ok, ok, this is a pic of Brad at the orthodontist. It was his first time and I thought the x-ray was cool. You can see the little white dots that show his false teeth from when he broke his teeth in half. He gets his teeth from me as well I had to wear braces when I was young to fix my teeth.The Ranch, Old Friends, Football Camp, and Swim Party!!
Went to my bud
dy Chris Goldstraw's ranch this weekend. He has an awesome place and I am suppose to take the kids and Tressa up for hunting and relaxing. Chris has worked hard and built a big company and
can now do everything he wants. I don't want to get into what he does and the money he makes. Let's just say he has worked hard and can do anything he wants after putting in the hard work over the last ten years. Anyway I have been friends with Chris and a big group of guys for years since 9th and 10th grade. Over the years we have drifted a
part and raised families so it was great to be able to get together. It was Me, Chris, Corby Smith, Brandon Gibson and John Seele. WE had to rebuild his fishing pier. Anyway, We worked and talked and sat around and talked about football. There was a great radio station and it played old 80's rock music that really brought back memor
ies. We even talked about guys from our past growing up who have dissappeared or we have lost track of over the years. Then we sat around and had beers and shared stories. We drove around and shot raccoons and looked for hogs at night. It was great spending time with those guys. It gave me a sense of calmness to sit and visit and share old times. We really didn't do much but I just wanted to post how I felt about the weekend and how great it was to see and visit with the guys from high school. I really appreciate their company. 
dy Chris Goldstraw's ranch this weekend. He has an awesome place and I am suppose to take the kids and Tressa up for hunting and relaxing. Chris has worked hard and built a big company and can now do everything he wants. I don't want to get into what he does and the money he makes. Let's just say he has worked hard and can do anything he wants after putting in the hard work over the last ten years. Anyway I have been friends with Chris and a big group of guys for years since 9th and 10th grade. Over the years we have drifted apart and raised families so it was great to be able to get together. It was Me, Chris, Corby Smith, Brandon Gibson and John Seele. WE had to rebuild his fishing pier. Anyway, We worked and talked and sat around and talked about football. There was a great radio station and it played old 80's rock music that really brought back memories. We even talked about guys from our past growing up who have dissappeared or we have lost track of over the years. Then we sat around and had beers and shared stories. We drove around and shot raccoons and looked for hogs at night. It was great spending time with those guys. It gave me a sense of calmness to sit and visit and share old times. We really didn't do much but I just wanted to post how I felt about the weekend and how great it was to see and visit with the guys from high school. I really appreciate their company. Chris had a really cool table that me and Corby are gonna make for ourselves. We even used some of the wood leftover from the pier to frame our tables. We have to collect beer tabs from bottles and 
put them on the top of the table and then poor some clear epoxy on it. I began collecting mine last night while I had a few beers. (haha).
put them on the top of the table and then poor some clear epoxy on it. I began collecting mine last night while I had a few beers. (haha).Brad had football camp last week as well and he really enjoyed it. It wore him out though amd friday after it was over he crashed early on the couch
. He won the kicking competition and had to tell me on the phone that night. Mady went to a beach house with her friend Eden and so it was Brad and mom at home for a weeke
nd together. She got to take him to his baseball party for the Texans. It was a swim party at the coaches house and he got a trophy and had a blast.
. He won the kicking competition and had to tell me on the phone that night. Mady went to a beach house with her friend Eden and so it was Brad and mom at home for a weekend together. She got to take him to his baseball party for the Texans. It was a swim party at the coaches house and he got a trophy and had a blast.Ya'll be safe out there!!
Taxidermy and China Garden
Wanted to 
shoot one more post out because I keep rem
ebering things since it has been so long since I have last posted. Mady shot a coyote during deer season that I posted about. We sent it to Darryl Rainer's taxidermy. He did a great job and we just got it back in May. She is very proud of it. We also went to China Garden for Brad's birthday. He took a few buddies and they had a great time. I am gonna try and keep updated more often now a
nd set aside some time to 
post weekly I hope.
shoot one more post out because I keep rem
ebering things since it has been so long since I have last posted. Mady shot a coyote during deer season that I posted about. We sent it to Darryl Rainer's taxidermy. He did a great job and we just got it back in May. She is very proud of it. We also went to China Garden for Brad's birthday. He took a few buddies and they had a great time. I am gonna try and keep updated more often now and set aside some time to post weekly I hope.Ya'll be safe out there!!!
Kids Catching Fish!
I am gonna post a couple videos of Mady and Brad reeling in their stripers. I didn't want to post them on the last couple blogs. Since I haven't posted in awhile I wanted to get all caught up. Hopefully ya'll like the videos.
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Otbi7vv97Rw][youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nr4F6tR5w0Q]
The same pictures years apart!
I posted about me and the kids fishing and wanted to tell one more story abo
ut a couple of pictures. Well I g
uess about 6-7 years ago while we were camping the kids caught some perch. I took a picture of them holding them up. Well when we were fishing in May I took a picture of the kids holding up their stripers. We get home and I am putting up the drinks and notice a picture on the garage wall when the kids were young holding up their perch. By accident the old picture and the new picture are almost the same. The kids are in the same position and holding the fish up in the same position. Just thought it was a cool thing. They are both growing up to love the outdoors.
ut a couple of pictures. Well I guess about 6-7 years ago while we were camping the kids caught some perch. I took a picture of them holding them up. Well when we were fishing in May I took a picture of the kids holding up their stripers. We get home and I am putting up the drinks and notice a picture on the garage wall when the kids were young holding up their perch. By accident the old picture and the new picture are almost the same. The kids are in the same position and holding the fish up in the same position. Just thought it was a cool thing. They are both growing up to love the outdoors.Ya'll be safe out there!!
Stinkbait, Fishing, Garden, Tour 18, Baseball, Garner
Well it is the middle of the summer and alot has gone on since school let out. Gr
aduation was ok, Tressa got her first year as department chair closed out and the kids finished 7th and 4th grade. Me and the kids took a fishing trip during late May. I took them out of school on a wednesday and we drove
down to lake conroe. We met the guide at about 7 in the morning at the April plaza marina. We walked out on the pontoon boat and met Carl Bostic. He was about 55-60 gray messy hair and kinda dishevled. We sat as he loaded all the stuff. He took us out to the middle of the lake to try and catch some stripers. We set out about 6 rods with liver on them. About 20-30 minutes i
nto it one of the rods bent over. We jerked it up and Mady reeled in a big striper. Soon after that Brad reeled one in and I videoed both of them. After that he took us to some bulk heads and we caught a bunch of catfish. The kids had a great time. One of the funniest parts was watching them put the stink bait on the hook. It smelled so bad. It was a combination of sour chicken scratc
h, lard, coffee, and old peanut butter and who knows what else was in it. We finished the day with about 20 catfish and the two stripers. They were cleaned and we headed home at about noon. We stopped by a little burger place on the way home and had lunch. It was a good time for me and the kids we had some bonding time and it was something I never got to do with my dad.
I put in a garden this year and it has really thrived. I have tomatoes , cucumbers, peppers,cantaloupe,okra, and eggplant. I have had good success with tomatoes but I have really been impressed with my cantaloupes. I have picked about 5 already and have 3 out there right now. Not going as good with the cucumbers some have turned out to be bitter. The peppers are just now going great and I have canned about 4 jars of them. I have been freezing the okra and making ok
ra and tomatoes periodically. The eggplants are good. Tressa even took a bunch of them and made two big trays of eggplant casserole and froze them. There are about 5 on the vine now that I am excited about. It has been really good for me. I go out daily and sweat and mess around in the garden. I get a since of pride when I come in the house with a big sack full or am able to give some away to friends. I planted two orange trees and am looking forward to seeing them produce. I think I am gonna plant a fall garden. Maybe all this will help my blood pressure, LOL. Our wine making is really coming along good also. We made a batch of white chardonay that turned out great. Right now we are making another red and looking at putting a big wine rack so
mewhere to hold it all. Veggies and homeade wine what more do you need!
aduation was ok, Tressa got her first year as department chair closed out and the kids finished 7th and 4th grade. Me and the kids took a fishing trip during late May. I took them out of school on a wednesday and we drove down to lake conroe. We met the guide at about 7 in the morning at the April plaza marina. We walked out on the pontoon boat and met Carl Bostic. He was about 55-60 gray messy hair and kinda dishevled. We sat as he loaded all the stuff. He took us out to the middle of the lake to try and catch some stripers. We set out about 6 rods with liver on them. About 20-30 minutes into it one of the rods bent over. We jerked it up and Mady reeled in a big striper. Soon after that Brad reeled one in and I videoed both of them. After that he took us to some bulk heads and we caught a bunch of catfish. The kids had a great time. One of the funniest parts was watching them put the stink bait on the hook. It smelled so bad. It was a combination of sour chicken scratch, lard, coffee, and old peanut butter and who knows what else was in it. We finished the day with about 20 catfish and the two stripers. They were cleaned and we headed home at about noon. We stopped by a little burger place on the way home and had lunch. It was a good time for me and the kids we had some bonding time and it was something I never got to do with my dad.I put in a garden this year and it has really thrived. I have tomatoes , cucumbers, peppers,cantaloupe,okra, and eggplant. I have had good success with tomatoes but I have really been impressed with my cantaloupes. I have picked about 5 already and have 3 out there right now. Not going as good with the cucumbers some have turned out to be bitter. The peppers are just now going great and I have canned about 4 jars of them. I have been freezing the okra and making okra and tomatoes periodically. The eggplants are good. Tressa even took a bunch of them and made two big trays of eggplant casserole and froze them. There are about 5 on the vine now that I am excited about. It has been really good for me. I go out daily and sweat and mess around in the garden. I get a since of pride when I come in the house with a big sack full or am able to give some away to friends. I planted two orange trees and am looking forward to seeing them produce. I think I am gonna plant a fall garden. Maybe all this will help my blood pressure, LOL. Our wine making is really coming along good also. We made a batch of white chardonay that turned out great. Right now we are making another red and looking at putting a big wine rack somewhere to hold it all. Veggies and homeade wine what more do you need!Summer started an
d Mady continued to play golf and Brad continued with baseball. She has played in about 3-4 tournaments so far and has done pretty well. Me and her also played at Tour 18 together it was fun just me and her. We bought her three new clubs. A nice driver, sandwedge, and pitching wedge. Funny story is her golf coach set us up to meet a guy at Edwin Watts and we are supposed to get a sandwedge and a driver. We go in and meet a guy and and Mady hits a few drivers and we pick a cleveland driver with a 13 degree loft. Then she ask me if she can get a
picthing wedge also. Ofcourse I cave. Well we pick two out and call mom. She isn't real happy but Mady got the clubs she wanted. I
t was just too hard for me to say no when I watched her hit into the screen and doing so well. Anyway, I guess thats what dad's do.
d Mady continued to play golf and Brad continued with baseball. She has played in about 3-4 tournaments so far and has done pretty well. Me and her also played at Tour 18 together it was fun just me and her. We bought her three new clubs. A nice driver, sandwedge, and pitching wedge. Funny story is her golf coach set us up to meet a guy at Edwin Watts and we are supposed to get a sandwedge and a driver. We go in and meet a guy and and Mady hits a few drivers and we pick a cleveland driver with a 13 degree loft. Then she ask me if she can get a picthing wedge also. Ofcourse I cave. Well we pick two out and call mom. She isn't real happy but Mady got the clubs she wanted. It was just too hard for me to say no when I watched her hit into the screen and doing so well. Anyway, I guess thats what dad's do.Brad has been really improving his hitting with this select team. He doesn't like practice too much but games are fun. He has been playing right field and catcher mostly. He has started liking right field alot because he has thrown a couple guys out at first from line drives to right. It is fun to watch how he gets excited about it. His hitting has really improved just this last weekend he went 
5-8 and three walks. He had 3 doubles and 2 singles. It 
was really great watching him and I boomed with pride. The team itself has gotten better as well and we have went a little further in tournaments. The season has ended now and we are getting ready for football. As I type this he is out at football camp right now.
5-8 and three walks. He had 3 doubles and 2 singles. It was really great watching him and I boomed with pride. The team itself has gotten better as well and we have went a little further in tournaments. The season has ended now and we are getting ready for football. As I type this he is out at football camp right now.We had vacation in Garner again this year and the kids had a blast. We went with Al and Sonja, Eddie Tamez and his family and Jody and Jennifer. We set up camp and the kids hit the rope swings and ran around. The girls got ready for the dance and Brad decided to go with them. Surprisingly he ask a bunch of girls to dance. When me and Jody got over there Allie said "hey check out your boy" and showed me a picture of him dancing with a girl. I was shocked. Then I find Brad and he is looking around for girls to ask to dance. It was cool watching him with his head on a swivel panning th
e girls. Then payton sa
id "your boy is on fire he has ask like 10 girls to dance". Then I see him ask another one and me and Mady dance and catch up to them and I get a couple pictures. He played it off pretty good and didn't seem that embarassed when we got back to camp and told everyone. Well the days were filled with loading up an ice chest and sitting in the river. Tressa made some great chicken salad that we took down daily and would eat and drink and talk until about 4-5 and then come up and cook dinner for everyon
e. We would eat then sit around talking and maybe playing poker. The kids would be off running around or watching a movie in a camper. It is a good bonding time and hopefully we are making good family memories. I am still anxious to go to disney again before they get too old. 
e girls. Then payton said "your boy is on fire he has ask like 10 girls to dance". Then I see him ask another one and me and Mady dance and catch up to them and I get a couple pictures. He played it off pretty good and didn't seem that embarassed when we got back to camp and told everyone. Well the days were filled with loading up an ice chest and sitting in the river. Tressa made some great chicken salad that we took down daily and would eat and drink and talk until about 4-5 and then come up and cook dinner for everyone. We would eat then sit around talking and maybe playing poker. The kids would be off running around or watching a movie in a camper. It is a good bonding time and hopefully we are making good family memories. I am still anxious to go to disney again before they get too old. Well we came home from Garner and everyone kinda went back to their routine and we are now trying to get ready to go back to work. Mady is finishing up stp and Brad is in football camp. Tiger football will be coming soon and Mady will be sta
rting Volleyball camp and her 8th grade year. Looking forward to her having a good year and Brad ruling the elementary school.
rting Volleyball camp and her 8th grade year. Looking forward to her having a good year and Brad ruling the elementary school.More to come soon
Ya'll be safe out there!!
Teenage Daughter, Sports, Texans Baseball, Cuts and the Alamo
Well we made it thorugh March successfully and we went top April full of things going on. I have not blogged in a
while so I may break it up into two months and two post. My bab
y turned 13 on April 13th. It seems like just last week she crying because she threw her "pappy" out the window. Now she crys cause we won't let her stay out running the streets all night (haha) She has grown up into a beautiful girl and a wonderful person. She thinks dad is the dumbest guy sometimes but we have a good relationship. We haven't done her party yet. Her and Meredith Wadsworth and a couple others are planning a party together once school is out. I am not ready for 8th grade. She will be big time and I still like my little girl. April was also very active 
with volleyball and swimming and golf. I am w
orried because volleyball became a chore for Mady this spring. She didn't like practice and it was long hours. I wanted her to get more reps at it but I don't wanna burn her out. She did participate in swimming also and that was fun to watch because she isn't a big swimmer but that was part of winning the super six award. We are still waiting for her to hit a growth spirt soon. She played on a team that traveled a little and I couldn't go alot because Brad got picked up by a select baseball team. So Madyson and Tres spent alot of time together on trips. I will tread not being able to see her as much this year because I fear she may not play club next year. She had a rough year in it also beca
use she didn't play as much and during the last week before the last tournament in San Antonio her coach ended up quiting out of the blue. It was very weird so in the last tournament Tres and Mady drive to San Antonio and play volleyball and the old coach sits in the stands and watched his daughter while some new guy coaches the team.
While all this craziness is going on in volleyball she has become a real good golfer. Her coach is Robert Upham. I got his name from Barry Talley. She goes once a week right now and I can see a big improvement. She seems to really like it. She even played in the Cotton W
atkin's golf tournament with me and her uncle Greg and Dada and she won closest to the pin and we used most of her drives. I hope she continues to enjoy it and we can play together when she is grown. She starts tournaments again this summer. Her first one is June 8th in baytown. She has to carry her own bag this year. I am excited about w
atching her.Brad was busy playing baseball with Mueller and Haltom and I got a call at work from a guy and he ask if I was Brad Milliorn's dad. I said "uh...yes I am" he said he got our name from Jimmy Reynolds at DPYBA and said Brad might be interested in playing select baseball. I said yes that would be great let me ask him. I ask Brad and he seemed very excited. That night Norris Weir called who I had went to high school with. He was head coach. We went and practiced with them on friday and played in beaumant with them on saturday and sunday. After the tournament I had Brad thank them and hand back the shirt an
d cap. No
rris said well would you like to continue playing with us? Brad said sure and he said ok well I'll get you your own jersey and hat. So we paid and have been playing with them ever since. He really likes it. There are different boys and I'm not coaching so He is getting coached form someone else. He pitches for them and has played outfield. I have really seen an improvement in his pitching and base running. I think it is because of the reps he is getting. He wasn't hitting the ball very good in the beginning in league and select so Haltom said, why don't you let him wear his glasses. We did and he has been hitting alot better. I don't know if it has helped but as long as he thinks it is helping that is the key. We even bought him some sports specs that are really cool looking. League baseball end
ed and we play two all-star games this week and then we are done. Next year we will probably move up. He can stay down because of his birthday but I think it will help him more to continue to play with his grade level. Steve Mueller is probably moving to clear creek so nick will be gone and Haltom has said maybe we should stay down. That is tempting because he does agood job with the boys but I don't want B
rad falling behind his grade because start of 7th grade he will need to move up anyway. I think we may need to do that now. Anyway I am very very proud of him. he has worked really hard at getting bettr at pitching. I stay on him probably too much and I hope someday he will see I was just wanting the best from him and for him to have the best opputunity. Brad did have a little incident during all-star practice with his buddy Nathan Lewis. They were jacking around throwing empty water bottles at each other. One hit Brad right in the face and split his niose open. It sin't too bad but I am afraid it might leave a small scar. We will see how that goes and hopefully get it fixed later if it does.Oh yes about the field trip. He went to the monument and was into Texas history a whole lot. He would tell me what he learned and what happened here in Deer Park in 1836. He was intrigued with the Alamo and all the guys that were there. So on the way to a baseball game we were talking about it and he said "you know a guy named Steve Bowie?" I said yes I do" he said "well did you know he was 
named after a knife?" I said "well I think the knife was named after him cause he used it so much" it looked like a light came on in his head and he said "oooohhh I gothca thank makes more since" It was classic Brad. Well I have really enjoyed my relatiuonship with him and spending so much time with him just me and him while Tres and Mady have been in volleyball. It is something I never had with my dad and I appreciate Tressa letting me be the one with him while she went with Mady. I hope soon me and Mady can do the same. We do spend time during golf just me and her.Brad has also reached a milestone birthday. he turned 10 and is such a big boy now. Still sleeps in our bed half the time but is growing up to be well mannered and well nehaved. He wants a paintball party for his birthday and we have to set that up as soon and baseball calms down a bit. We went to eat at China garden and he took two buddies they had a great time there and goofed off.That is enough for now, I will post the rest and get to summer in a little bit.Ya'll be safe out there!![youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KHnmBoLJ04w&feature=youtu.be]
Kids and KISS, Rodeo, Anniversary, Sports, and Garden
We had spring break and we didn't do much but babysit the puppies and try and sale the puppies. We did go to the rodeo two times and took the kids. It was our 15 year anniversary during the week as well. It started with us going to see KISS at the rodeo. It was pretty cool knowing that I went to see them in 5th or 6th grade with my mom and now at age 44 I was taking my kids to see them as well. I have seen them 5 times now. We had a good time and the kids enjoyed all the rides. They were just soooo expensive. We went to Miranda Lambert the night of our anniversary. Me and Brad dressed alike. Tres had bought me a shirt that matched his and he wore a cowboy hat. I thought it was really cool. Especially since I never was able to do that with my dad. Tres wore a pretty black shirt. She had bought some boots and wore a black dress to KISS with her new black boots. Mady looked like one of those redneck FFA girls. She had on a straw hat and and a cowboy t-shirt she wore her boots with the pink on top. She knew every song. She ate a big thing of cheese fries that covered the whoel plate. Me and Brad ate two big turkey legs.Tres had some chicken nachos at the concert. We had tickets to Alan jackson as well but decided to go to Beau and Brandee's for Beau's birthday instead. Me and Tres went to Pappas for our anniversary it was nice but it was hard to enjoy the food when I am on this diet. But it has been 15 years and I am sure we can celebrate it when I can eat a good meal I like and have a couple drinks.
Baseball has been off and on for Brad. He does a great job behind the plate and the other night he even came close to throwing a couple guys out at third and makes good throws to second. He stays in front of the bell good and really likes it. He has been kinda inconsistant with his pitching. He looks so good on sunday during lessons but on the field I guess it is the base runners and the stealing that gets him worked up. He says he is nervous. He will show a couple real good pitches then kinda struggle and walk a few guys. He doesnt look as relaxed as he has in the past. Maybe I just need to sit and watch and not coach him while he is pitching. It is just hard to se him alone out there on the mound when he is struggling. I wanna help him.
Mady is finishing up tennis and track she will start swimming last and then be done with athletics for 7th grade. It has been busier on me than I think on her. She is not liking volleyball very much right now. I hope she is not getting too burned out and will play again next year. I want to give her the best chance on making the high school team if she wants. She is done with tennis and played doubles with Arika Halling her last tournament. I think she had fun.She is really loving golf and even ask me to take her to the driving range to hit balls. I can't wait to see how much she improves I am really excited for her as well. I think she is gonna play with me and Greg and Dada in the school golf tournament. That will be fun. She went to the Shell Houston open sunday and had a great time.
I have put my garden in and hopefully it will be productive. I had the woodshop guys build me a fence across to back neighbors. Then I tilled all that up. I planted the usual tomatoes, cucumbers, and peppers. I also planted onions and eggplant. I found some okra and am going to try that. Oh and a couple cantaloupes. I have been spending alot of time back there setting it up and have enjoyed working on it. Kinda peaceful and relaxing getting your mind off all the business. I went and also bought a couple orange trees and a granny smith apple tree. The orange trees are satsuma and blood orange. I am very anxious to get some fruit in the next year.All of the puppies are gone finally. We made a little bit of money. We kept one and her name is Daisy Mae. She does a good job going in and out of the house. I think Lizzie is helping her cause she patterns herself off of her. She needs to go outside at about 4 in the morning though and that is a hassle.
Brad is going to the monument this week and has learned alot about Texas history. I will post more about his field trip and a funny story after he goes.
Ya'll be safe out there!
Super six, Pitching and Lead into spring break
Well Mady and Brad have started tennis and baseball and track. Mady is playing tennis and playing 
doubles. She was trying to throw the discus in track but hasn't been in the
top 4 yet. She wants to make the super 6 which means she plays all 6 sports at junior high so she gets an award for that. They have her running the 800 and she hates it. But I am very proud of her for making a commitment to attaining this goal. She seems to be having a great 7th grade year. She has started golf lessons. It looks like she really likes
it and I think she will be very good. It 
looks like she will be in the honor society and all sports so she is very involved.
Brad is continueing pitching lessons and baseball has started. He is the top catcher right now and we tried out all the boys who wanted to pitch. Brad finally got his change and struck out the first three batters he faced. I was very proud of him and the lessons have paid off. He also seem
s to be wanting to play more. He finally got a hit the other night. He had been struggling at the plate and hit a hard grounder to 
second. He got thrown out but it was a hard hit. He has pitched twice now in scrimmages and the second time they hit him so he got frustrated and walked a few. But hopefully he will settle down. But I am very very proud of him. The other kids dont have the mechanics and you can tell it is important to him.
s to be wanting to play more. He finally got a hit the other night. He had been struggling at the plate and hit a hard grounder to second. He got thrown out but it was a hard hit. He has pitched twice now in scrimmages and the second time they hit him so he got frustrated and walked a few. But hopefully he will settle down. But I am very very proud of him. The other kids dont have the mechanics and you can tell it is important to him.I started this post before spring break and didn't finish it I will close now add my pictures then start another about spring break and get ya'll caught up.
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bv-LlFmWZik&feature=youtu.be]
Sausage Making Weekend!
We have been making sausage at our deer lease now for about 20 years and people are always asking us how we do it and what the process is sooooooo here ya go.................
We start out b
y calling each other and finding a weekend in February when everyone can be there. Then we get a count of how much deer meat everyone has. We do this so Randy Smith or someone up in Livingston can buy enough pork fat to mix it with. Then we take out our deer meat on the wednesday before the weekend. It needs to be 
defrosted so it can mix with pork and sausage seasoning. One of us will go get the casing and our own personal seasoning. I usually go to Zach's here in Deer Park. I will buy some Bohemian Garlic or Old Tyme Rope. We then all head to the lease sometime on friday with all our stuff. We will also bring some ribs or chicken to cook while we complete the process.Saturday morning we get up about 7:30 and go to the barn. We will take some
one's meat out and start cutting it up and cutting up the pork. We dont mix all of ours together each guy will bring their own flavor and when it is his turn everyone helps him get his done and then t
he next guy and so on and so on. Anyway, the meat is cut up and the pork is cut up. You then take a big bucket and fill it with deer meat to weigh. The seasoning comes in packages that make 50 pounds so we put 30 pounds of deer and 20 pounds of pork and that makes one batch
of 50 pounds. After you weigh the deer you dump it in an ice chest for mixing. Then you put pork in the weigh bucket and get 20 
pounds and dump it in ice chest. Take your seasoning at this time and pour it in the ice chest. We have added all kinda different stuff to the mix like sage or crushed red pepper, jalepenos and garlic. Then a guy will reach down with both hands and start mixing all the pork and deer together. Do that until it is all mixed nicely. Once it is mixed then you must start the grinding process. Put the mixer from the ice chest in big plastic tubs and put it on 
the grind table. We have an old grinder that has a spot for the meat tub and an empty tub to fill while it is being ground. Someone will feed the meat into the grinder while other guys might continue more m
ixing or open a beer (haha). While the sausage is being ground you take the package of casings and put them in some hot water to moisten them up. After the sausage is ground and the casings are soft you then move to the stuffing table. Take the sausage and put it in the stuffer. A key is to squeeze a little out to get some fat on the end so the casings can easily be slid on un
til the end. once a casing is loaded then one guy cranks and another guy feeds the sausage out on the table. This part is a pretty time consuming task and your back usually starts hurting. You can't really crank real fast and sometimes the casings break and you have to tie a knot in it and slide another on
e on.
y calling each other and finding a weekend in February when everyone can be there. Then we get a count of how much deer meat everyone has. We do this so Randy Smith or someone up in Livingston can buy enough pork fat to mix it with. Then we take out our deer meat on the wednesday before the weekend. It needs to be defrosted so it can mix with pork and sausage seasoning. One of us will go get the casing and our own personal seasoning. I usually go to Zach's here in Deer Park. I will buy some Bohemian Garlic or Old Tyme Rope. We then all head to the lease sometime on friday with all our stuff. We will also bring some ribs or chicken to cook while we complete the process.Saturday morning we get up about 7:30 and go to the barn. We will take someone's meat out and start cutting it up and cutting up the pork. We dont mix all of ours together each guy will bring their own flavor and when it is his turn everyone helps him get his done and then the next guy and so on and so on. Anyway, the meat is cut up and the pork is cut up. You then take a big bucket and fill it with deer meat to weigh. The seasoning comes in packages that make 50 pounds so we put 30 pounds of deer and 20 pounds of pork and that makes one batch of 50 pounds. After you weigh the deer you dump it in an ice chest for mixing. Then you put pork in the weigh bucket and get 20 pounds and dump it in ice chest. Take your seasoning at this time and pour it in the ice chest. We have added all kinda different stuff to the mix like sage or crushed red pepper, jalepenos and garlic. Then a guy will reach down with both hands and start mixing all the pork and deer together. Do that until it is all mixed nicely. Once it is mixed then you must start the grinding process. Put the mixer from the ice chest in big plastic tubs and put it on the grind table. We have an old grinder that has a spot for the meat tub and an empty tub to fill while it is being ground. Someone will feed the meat into the grinder while other guys might continue more mixing or open a beer (haha). While the sausage is being ground you take the package of casings and put them in some hot water to moisten them up. After the sausage is ground and the casings are soft you then move to the stuffing table. Take the sausage and put it in the stuffer. A key is to squeeze a little out to get some fat on the end so the casings can easily be slid on until the end. once a casing is loaded then one guy cranks and another guy feeds the sausage out on the table. This part is a pretty time consuming task and your back usually starts hurting. You can't really crank real fast and sometimes the casings break and you have to tie a knot in it and slide another one on.Once we have done a couple of guys and the stuffing and grinding is in mid process someone will light up the propane cooker and get a skillet and we will fry some up and taste it to see how it taste and how it is going. Then a few guys will go get the smoke house organized. There are a bunch of poles we hang the meat on in the smokehouse. They have been sitting up all year so we will wipe them down and
get them ready to go. Someone will als
o cut up some wood. We have used oak and pecan and hickory. Usually have found a tree around Dave's house and he has either cut it down or we do and cut it up for smoke wood. While that is going on the guys are finishing grinding and stuffing. Sometimes someone will make some summer sausage or just put some sausage in baggies for pan sausage . By the time everyone is done it is about 2:30 or 3 and we all move to the smokehouse area which is over by the ca
mphouse and campfire. The links of sausage are in coolers and we begin to hang them on the poles and slide them into the smokehouse. We take some tags with string attached and write down guys names on the
m so when we take them off we will know who's is who's and also so we can seperate sausage if someone makes different flavors. Once all the sausage is put up we will make a fire in two metal buckets. They both have a piece of tin with a whole cut in the middle we put on top so the smoke comes out. The buckets are put in the middle of the smoke house and the door is closed and sausage begins to get smoked. Once that is started we will g
o back to barn and clean all the equipment and spray everything down. The grinder is taken apart and cleaned and put in a box and put away. All the ice chest are cleaned and ready to put sausage in when we are done smoking, and all the tubs are are cleaned so we can cut up smoked sausgae in it ready for packing.
get them ready to go. Someone will also cut up some wood. We have used oak and pecan and hickory. Usually have found a tree around Dave's house and he has either cut it down or we do and cut it up for smoke wood. While that is going on the guys are finishing grinding and stuffing. Sometimes someone will make some summer sausage or just put some sausage in baggies for pan sausage . By the time everyone is done it is about 2:30 or 3 and we all move to the smokehouse area which is over by the camphouse and campfire. The links of sausage are in coolers and we begin to hang them on the poles and slide them into the smokehouse. We take some tags with string attached and write down guys names on them so when we take them off we will know who's is who's and also so we can seperate sausage if someone makes different flavors. Once all the sausage is put up we will make a fire in two metal buckets. They both have a piece of tin with a whole cut in the middle we put on top so the smoke comes out. The buckets are put in the middle of the smoke house and the door is closed and sausage begins to get smoked. Once that is started we will go back to barn and clean all the equipment and spray everything down. The grinder is taken apart and cleaned and put in a box and put away. All the ice chest are cleaned and ready to put sausage in when we are done smoking, and all the tubs are are cleaned so we can cut up smoked sausgae in it ready for packing.
It is about 4 in the afternoon and someone has started grilling ribs or chicken by now. We all sit around the campfire and relax and talk and someone will decide to make a ride through the lease. We may go skeet shooting or check traps or just sit around. Some guys take a nap some just piddle around. Once it is dark and everyone is back up and ready we usually take some food off the pit and eat and maybe take a few links out of the smokehouse and cook them. At that point the cards and dice will come out. We play poker the rest of the night and have a great time with each other. Randy will begin challengi
ng people to a dice game and someone will lose more money than they need to very quick. In years past we have s
tayed up and drank and played cards and ate all night and have taken the sausgae out the next day. This year Randy and Stephen had read or saw somewhere that we really only need 6-10 hours of smoke. Plus we are getting older and all that smoke gives us indegestion. So this year we decided to take it out later that night about 10:30.Once we decide to take it out we open th
e door and pull out the fire buckets. The first pole is take
n out and we read the tag to see who's it is. That guy will go get his bags and cooler. Some people bag them up then and some just lay them in a cooler and bag later. The links are taken off the poles and put in the tubs. Everyone gets their knife and starts cutting them up into bread size pieces. Then some guys begin stuffing them in baggies usaully about 6 per bag. The guy whose sausage it is has his ice chest ready and he stacks it in there. Sometimes a guy will just put it in his ice chest in no bags and vaccuum pack it later when he gets home. This year I took my foodsave
r up there and when it was my turn we sealed all mine up that night. I had two different flavors so I labeled all my bags so I would know what I had. Once that is done you put them in the ice chest and cover them with ice. Then sunday morning once everyone is up we make sure all the trash and whatever else was left out that night is put away. We sit and talk for awhile and everyone begins packing up and cleaning the house and leaving to go home and put up all their sausage. 
Once you get home and get ready to put your sausage in the freezer it is good to take a towel and kinda dry the water off of the bags as you place them in the freezer. This will keep them from freezing together and ripping if you try and pull them apart. As you are putting them away make sure you seperate them if you have different kind. Once you are finished close the freezer and you are set for the year with sausage.
The process is very cool and it makes you feel good about making something yourself. It is a great time at the lease and through the years we have had many friends and family come help. It is a time that I cherish and hope to share with my kids.
Ya'll be safe out there!!
Time Flys!!!!!!!
This is gonna be a ki
nda random post but for 
you guys that have kids it should be neat. Mady is really growing up fast. I found an old picture and just wanted to share. She has been friends with Miranda Neu since they were 4 playing softball. I am posting a pic of them during those softball days and one of them getting ready to go to a dance at Junior high.
nda random post but for you guys that have kids it should be neat. Mady is really growing up fast. I found an old picture and just wanted to share. She has been friends with Miranda Neu since they were 4 playing softball. I am posting a pic of them during those softball days and one of them getting ready to go to a dance at Junior high.