Fish, birds, me.

If anyone was following instagram closely you know I got some time to myself this weekend. It was glorious. But let's back up to Saturday. Rachel had some things she needed to get done, something about clothes to buy and a workout and alone time. So Saturday morning she headed off to who knows where and did who knows what. All I know is I got a pair of shorts, two t-shirts and a bathing suit out of it. None of which I'd ever buy myself, regardless of how badly I need them. Clothes is something I never think about. They just happen to fall into and out of my ownership. I never really care too much about any specific article except maybe my hat.

So Saturday for me was spent 100% with the kids. It was great. They generally got along all day and there were only two memorable melt-downs. Shep was on some antibiotic last week so he cleared up yet another ear infection. He was feeling great. We now have an appointment for surgery for his adenoids. The Dr. Actually started when he put a camera up Shep's nose last Friday. He said that Shep was one tough character because he isn't sure any adult he knows could properly function under Shep's circumstances. Good to know Shep is 'under circumstances' and not just a whiny asshole. I'd like to thank all of you for your well-wishes last week.

We spent the day around the house building gardens and planting more food that will hopefully feed us all summer. They played often in the sandbox I made a week back. And even played well together. Not too many fights. My mom and aunt dropped in and took them to the cafe down the road for lunch though the kids had just eaten, they went for a chocolate milk. I went home and ate some leftovers from the unexpected trip to Muddy's Friday evening. My dad was suing to go. He loved it. It's impossible not to. Ribs, brisket and beans, mmmmmmmm.

Two garden boxes, a sandbox and two tier gardens going down the hill.

Saturday night Rachel and I went out to see The Avengers. Clearly my choice but she enjoyed it as well. The Hulk has always been a favorite character of mine and it seems they finally got him right. He's probably exactly as my mind imagined him back when I was watching those shit cartoons of him which BTW you can now watch on Netflix. It was probably the single best super hero movie of all time. But I'd suggest seeing Thor first so the dude with the big horns makes sense.

Sunday morning Rachel mentioned that I should maybe go birding since she had been out all day Saturday. YES, great idea! Bt there was one problem, I hadn't been fishing yet this year and basically missed the Rainbow Trout run. Most would be back in the lake by now. There'd still be some and the Brown Trout would certainly be out eating now. So, I grabbed my bins and fishing gear and headed to a creek nearby. It was a spectacular day. All Black-throated Green, Black-throated Blue and Yellow Warblers and Brown and Rainbow Trout. I did manage a lot of small fish with a few that would be good for the pan. I do eat some fish I catch but often just let them go again. I always make a deal with the stream when I arrive about how many I plan to keep. Sunday we agreed that all caught would be released unless injury prevented that.

Bowmanville creek. I've fished this stream since I was young.

At one log jam, there was a Winter Wren singing like the mad fools they are and I noticed a decent fish in the pool. Not huge but maybe a couple pounds. I cast upstream of it and as the loure was moving toward it, you could see it getting twitchy. This was going to happen. Would've been the days best fish for sure. Suddenly this huge friggin' Rainbow comes ripping out from under the log and grabs the bait. It was easily twice the size of the original intended catch. This was ok news and terrible news all at once. You see I use the lightest of light tackle. My line is only 4lb test and this. Fish would have easily pushed that. I use lighter tackle so I have to rely on skill a bit more. Anyone can throw heavy line on and drag a fish to shore. I prefer to have to figure out a strategy based on the stream and the cover. This however would be just unfair. The fish was at least 5-6 pounds. I did well, kept it on even as it ripped upstream to a new hole and up under a tree. My drag was set loose-ish so the sound of it running was a loud scream from my reel. Then, it ran back downstream to the original spot it bit. That was my demise. It was able to get into a snag of twigs, wrap my line up and snap it. Then, to add insult to injury, it spit my hook into the deepest part of the stream. I watched it sink out of sight. My adrenaline was really going. It was awesome, even though I lost the fight. I sat for a bit listening to the Wren and then moved upstream. Soon after I got the best Brown of the day.

A small Brown Trout.

Another small Brown. Notice the orange spots.

Small Rainbow Trout. A little bloodied but he lived.

The best Brown I landed that day.

As I headed back through the forest to my truck, I was scared nearly to death by a Ruffed Grouse. She was spitting, hissing and charging me with her tail fanned out. Like an idiot, I went toward her. She started to play the broken wing game. She seemed possessed. I followed closer and then realized that I had fallen for her game. She wasn't injured. I could hear little peeping noises and realized that I wasn't near a nest, she already had babies and they were nearby. I had never seen a baby grouse before and really wanted to. So I headed back to the spot she attacked me. Sure enough there they were. She was pissed now and started to attack again. Not wanting to stress her out any more and having seen one of the babies (so damn cute), I decided to get out of her space. On the walk back I got many birds, mostly by ear but some I saw. I met my family at the butcher and we got some meat for the week, dropped in at a farm and Shep got some yellow bean plants he wanted to grow. At home we finished up even more work on the yard. It's near done now. Then, I have to build a deck. I've been considering a living roof but don't have great knowledge of how one works. I worry most about snow. Guess I have some research to do.

Punk Rock Big Year

Paul Riss