Outdoor Life

~Boundary Waters, Northern Minnesota May 2011 with "The Dunning Men"

 As I go through my photo stash it dawns on me how much of my life is centered around the outdoors. Most of the things I enjoy doing take place outside. Trees, lake water, black dirt and rocks seem to attract my attention more than wood floors, tap water, vacuum cleaners and petra-stone.

~Andre' Chevigny and Beat Schwaller from Pioneer Log Homes of BC. I took this picture at Beat's Soda Creek building yard site in the Spring of 2012, before my two friends became famous for their show TIMBER KINGS

Rarely do I run across a person who doesn't have at least an appreciation for a log cabin or log home. Not everyone wants to live in one but I know few people who wouldn't at least like to stay in one a night or two given the opportunity. No one I know fits that category of people more than these two guys. Those are two of my friends from Pioneer Log Homes of BC, Andre' and Beat (correctly pronounced bee-OTT). You'll soon be able to watch them on their new show called "Timber Kings" which airs on HGTV Canada this month and here in the states in March.

~Yellow Stone 2010

 My "Sweet Baby" and I took a 10 day driving trip through and around the Rocky Mountains a few years ago and needless to say, the scenery was just spectacular as it always has been. I recall standing on the deck of the place we were staying one night and staring out at the mountains thinking about the mountain men of the 1800's who lived out here by themselves. Now those were men!

~Our barn 2013

 There's something about a barn that causes it to get better with age. I find the same to be true with a good woman. We built our barn about 8 years ago on our place in Southwest Missouri. After it was framed up and the roof installed, I finished it out with the help of my Dad and my Uncle Raymond. It's wrapped in 1"x12"x10' western red cedar, which should last a life time or more providing the barn doesn't get blown or burned down.

~My big brother "Ace" 1960

 That's my big brother on the tricycle. He's the future star of a new reality series called, "Ace the Unbelievable". He specializes in inventions, airplanes, raccoons, deals, and telling stories about all four. The .22 rifle in that picture now hangs on the wall of our log cabin. It hung on the wall of our Rolla, Missouri home from before I was a baby until I left home in January, 1979 to seek fame and fortune. That gun originally belonged to my Uncle Pat and if I'm not mistaken, to our Granddad Robertson before him. It has a hair trigger so Mom and Dad never let us squirrel or rabbit hunt with it when we were kids. Dad had us convinced that even looking at it too long would cause it to go off. One of these days I'm going to actually shoot it....I think it's time.

~Author Estes Park, Colorado 2010

A great life long friend of mine, Randy Warren (Ran-dell), took this picture 3 years ago while on a day hike during our 8th annual "Rolla Boy Reunion". Randy and I along with two of our mutual life long friends, Rick Miller and Dave Pierson, took an afternoon hike up one of the well traveled mountain trails in Estes Park. We saw only a couple other folks while hiking that day. That's Dave and Rick in the background.

I think I'll head outside for some fresh air and maybe take a picture or two. While out there, it may not be too late for another cup of coffee.