It's been a week since I lost my Grandpa. I made this drawing for him. I'm thankful for knowing him all my life and sharing my artwork with him when I was creating it. He loved nature and enjoyed fishing. Whenever I caught fish I would make sure to show him and he would have a big smile on his face. I always enjoyed sharing the fish with him too. I completed this drawing him for today and plan on writing a poem with it and having it framed in his memory. I just wish so much I could show it to him now.

​So this evening I headed out with my Dad to a local lake where we thought we would try our luck on some rainbow trout! At first the fishing was slow. We finally found them, and from that moment on it was on fire! We even threw some of the fish back! I look forward to catching more here in the kayak soon.

This is my first attempt at a 3D "in the round" fish carving.  It is a rainbow trout and I'm really enjoying the process so far.  I am debating on whether I want to paint it or do a wood burning with it right now.  I'm looking forward to making more of these if all goes well!

I stumbled upon a clump of some turkey feathers this week while in the woods. I'm not sure what the story behind the feathers is. I imagined a fox swiping at a turkey and just barely missing, because there wasn't any other remnants anywhere else. Another possibility is they were shed by the turkeys mating?! Regardless I'll be using these to tie some fishing fly lures!

I really didn't feel like running today. Yesterday I climbed up a maple tree that had tree steps in it going to an old tree stand of mine. I decided to remove it at a later time when I had the proper tools. I started to make my way back down and at 12 ft. I mistakenly grabbed onto what I thought was a live limb and suddenly found my body hovering backwards like a slow motion moment where you realize "oops this wasn't a good idea" and suddenly reality snaps back when your back and neck land full force on the forest floor. My knee somehow had some shocking pain in it too. The first thing I thought getting back up was did I break anything?! I was good to go and walked it off. I'm thankful nothing worse happened. That's a lot like how distance running is. You make an effort to reach a distance or time and adversity knocks you back down on your ass. Get back up and keep running.

The sunrise was pretty much spectacular the other morning when I was in my hunting blind for opening day of turkey season.  With the sun rising and the sun setting each day, it often will bring vibrant beautiful hues across the sky. It is often a gentle reminder that there is so much beauty in the world to be thankful for.  I have so many things to be thankful for and I am so happy with all that God has provided.

The Spring blossoms are returning to the tree limbs!  The Apple and Pear blossoms were both showing today and it gave such a warm feeling seeing them this morning.  I'm so thankful for this time of year.  I see God's beauty and give thanks for the love in my life that surrounds me.

This morning I woke up around 3 am when my alarm was set for 4:30 am!  That's what happens when it is a morning where I will go fishing or hunting.  Nature has a way of tugging at an internal natural alarm clock within to make me wake up way before the time I am supposed to be awake.  The anticipation is great and before I know it I have 4 cups of coffee filled in a thermos and I'm off into the dark morning with a headlamp cutting through the darkness to find my turkey blind that I will sit in for hours upon hours inside drinking coffee in my camping chair and listening to the sound of all the birds that will soon awaken.  I didn't see any turkeys today but it was a wonderful day to spend hours in nature meditating on things that are going on in life and finding answers by seeking them from God.  What a beautiful morning I spent today reflecting upon things I love in my life.

The leaves are just starting to bud on the trees this time of year making their own unique appearance.  It's almost like a second Fall with the brilliant colors that are starting all over.  Some may enjoy the striking Autumn colors, but I think the real beauty is in the vibrant colors of Spring.