LIBRARY

WELL THE NEW CHILDRENS LIBRARY IS UP AND RUNNING AT THE MAZEPPA UNION CHURCH WITH BERT AND HELEN STAHLS NAMES INSIDE. THANKS SO MUCH TO BETH AND CHARLIE HACKENBERG AS BETH GOT THE BOOKS AND CHARLIE BUILT THE BOOKCASE. A PICTURE OF PEYTON PHILLIPS HOLDING ONE OF THE BOOKS IS IN THE PHOTO ALBUM.

NICE DAY IN THE CREEK

HAD TO WORK TILL 11 BECAUSE OF THE HOLIDAY RUSH AT WEIS BUT GOT TO THE CREEK BY NOON. STARTED SLOW BUT ENDED UP WITH 14 FISH AND MOSTLY ROCK BASS. BLUE AND GREEN HERONS...A MOMMA DUCK DOING THE WOUNDED WING ROUTINE AND LOTS OF BIRDS. WHICH SPEAKING OF WHICH I SAW A HUGE BIRD THAT I SWEAR WAS A BALD EAGLE. WAS TOLD THERE IS ONE NESTING BETWEEN COWAN AND MAZEPPA AND CURIOUS IF THIS WAS IT. WAS A GREAT DAY IN THE CREEK AS THE TEMPS WERE MID 80'S AND THE WATER WAS PERFECT TO WADE.
THE CRAY FISH ARE FINALLY MAKING THEIR APPEARANCE. ONE THING THAT IS REALLY GREAT TO SEE IS ALL THE MULLUSKS IN THE CREEK A REAL SIGN THAT BUFFALO IS A LOT MORE HEALTHY THAN MY CHILDHOOD AND ALL THE SEPTIC TANKS BLEEDING INTO THE CREEK.

ALL WET AGAIN

WELL IT TOOK A FEW WEEKS AND A LITTLE LESS RAIN BUT I FINALLY GOT BACK IN THE CREEK. WHAT A FATHERS DAY IT WAS TOO AS I GOT 28 FISH AND 4 KINDS.....BLUEGILLS......ROCKYS.....SMALLYS AND OF COURSE CHUBS. SAW LOTS OF WILDLIFE INCLUDING A MUSKRAT.....WOOD DUCKS....BLUE HERONS AND SEVERAL DEER. 2 DOES WERE PLAYING TAG IN THE CREEK AND FUN TO WATCH.

FINALLY BACK TO THE CREEK

WELL I FINALLY GOT BACK TO FISHING AND WADING BUFFALO CREEK BUT HAVE TO SAY IT WAS STILL HIGH FROM THE RAINS. QUITE A FEW MORE TREES IN THE CREEK AND STILL VERY LITTLE WILDLIFE BY THE CREEK. A FEW DUCKS AND ONE CANADIAN GOOSE. I GOT 13 FISH TODAY AND A FUN DAY UNTIL THE RAIN CHASED ME BACK UP BUFFALO. AS I WADED TO MY SPOTS I CAME UPON A 13 INCH BROWN TROUT BELLY UP. BUT HIS GILLS WERE STILL GOING SO I TURNED HIM OVER , GRABBED HIM BY THE TAIL AND MOVED HIM BACK AND FORTH TO GET WATER THROUGH HIM. THEN NESTLED HIM IN SOME GREENERY TO KEEP HIM UPRIGHT. CHECKED ON HIM LATER AND HE WAS GONE SO HOPEFULLY HE MADE IT.
WAS NICE TO SEE SOME OF THE FARMERS FINALLY GETTING THEIR CORN PLANTED AS I DROVE OUT TO MAZEPPA INCLUDING THE BRUBAKERS WHO BOUGHT OUR FARM.

PARADE

WHAT A WONDERFUL PARADE AND CEREMONY AGAIN THIS YEAR. SPEAKER WAS RON WAGNER WHO DOUBLES AS SCOUT LEADER AND LAY MINISTER.
SOME PHOTOS IN THE ALBUM. REALLY LOVED BILL AND SANDY BAKER IN THE GOLF CART AND GRANDCHILDREN BEHIND ON THE JOHN DEERES.

FIRST WADE OF THE YEAR

I ACTUALLY GOT WADERS FOR THE VERY FIRST AND FINALLY BROKE THEM IN TODAY. NO WAY I COULD HAVE WADED IN THE CHILLY WATERS TODAY WITHOUT THEM. WATER WAS A BIT HIGH AND THE CURRENT WAS SCARY STRONG AT SPOTS.
AND LOTS OF DOWNED TREES IN THE CREEK FROM ALL THE FLOOD WATERS THIS SPRING.
SAW GEESE...MERGANZERS AND A GORGEOUS BALTIMORE ORIOLE THAT KEPT WATCHING OVER ME. I CAUGHT 18 IN ALL BUT I LANDED A MONSTER SMALLMOUTH THAT REALLY MADE MY DAY. A 17 INCH SMALLMOUTH !!!