The Hunting Knife

Merry Christmas from Cook'n by the Creek.

Every hunting season my husband takes out his old, very special hunting knife.  There he sets patiently and every so slowly (my opinion) sharpening it, running his thumb across the edge and working a little longer on it.  The leather case is weathered and worn from hanging from his belt as he walks through the hills of Clara.  Long ago it was Karr Hollow, Coons Crossing, Horse Run, Wapsena, Honeoye, and even Clara.  Those were his favorite places with special valleys and draws that he knew like the back of his hand.  I can not remember him not using that knife.  This year was no exception.  Although he didn't shoot a deer and never took the knife out of the sheath he will again next year set at the table and carefully sharpen it again.  It will take just as long as it did this year.  I think it is just tradition and maybe memories of so long ago come back to him as he holds his special hunting knife.  Thinking back my father had the same ritual but his was a couple times a year, he used his during beef and pork butchering time.  Every guy in my family did and still does carry their  pocket knife daily. 

The knife on the left is old faithful.  The others are used for various tasks
around Cook'n by the Creek.  The rest of the "stuff"  what is used
to sharpen the knives.

A week or so ago our grandson was telling us about a new knife for taking care of a deer in the field.  It is not the traditional old time hunting knife but the new and improved with replaceable blades like a razor for shaving.  Our son in law also is a fan of  how well the razor type works.  He saw first hand when his son/our grandson brought home his scalpel from college.  Quite amazed he was on how slick that scalpel did the job.  I'm sure the guys all have the new improved hunting tool (I can't say knife) on their Christmas Wish List. 

We rode over the hill to Coudersport today.  Not a wild animal to be seen.  We thought for sure there might be something out and Dick made the remark it was a good day for Coyotes to be in the fields looking for mice under the snow.  Nothing, just the beauty of snow, sun and wonderful views.

I saw a picture on FB today that surprised me.  It was a Humming Bird sucking juice from a frozen apple.  Who would have thought?  It's nice to know they have other options than flowers. The post was from a gal that lives in the NW state of Washington.  Very interesting that she said the Hummers stay year round there.  Not all, just a certain breed of them.