The Photoghapher

Kenton turns to photography during the finishing of his Squirrel mounting. Notice the tongue sticking out of his mouth. This trait is an inherited one from his Grandmother Gurnee. Fortunately it skipped a generation before popping out in him.

This is what he was capturing.

I was cutting angles on the habitat base that Daryl Muir was working on. I decided that I wanted it a little more classy than a square end. I cut a 45 degree andle off of each corner thus making it an octagon.

The boys and I had gathered up the leaves and sticks that were at the bottom of the tree that the squirrel was sitting on. Daryl is sorting the 3 layers: dirt, roots and growth, and then the leaves and sticks.

Here is a close up of the corners complete with the stained trim pieces.

These are the actual leaves and sticks that were laying pretty much the same way at the base of this little tree. The stick that is up in the air was in the same position almost resting against the base of the tree.

The finished product in my office.

It will go to Kenton's room once we remodel it.

Saturday Evening With the Boys at the Hunting Expo

After busying myself with church activities for most of the day Saturday, I called Julie up and had her get the boys ready to head to Erie. We picked up our neighbor and his grandson and headed to the new Bayfront Convention Center right in the Presque Isle Bay. There is literally a channel for boats 20' from the entrance.

Wayne Drury, Sam Williamson, Lacy and Aarron Harrington with little Logan.

Here is Kenton posing with a Colt AR-15. This is very similar to the M-16 used by the military.

There were allot of outfitters with mounts on display. I found out allot about bear weights by talking to the various guides. I never knew what my bear weighed, I always had an approximate figure. I guess I figured too low. They had a bear on dsplay that mine looked larger than, but the wight was quite a bit more. I gave them my dimensions and they figured my bear went 500-525 lbs. After talking it over with Dad, when I brought the bear home, one thing I left was the skeleton(ribs backbone etc.) I guess my 420lbs was conservative. Who will ever know? Who will ever care? No one.

Here are K&V posing with a huge brown bear.

This silly Owl refused to look at me. No matter where I went to take a picture, it would turn its head. One time it turned it clear around backwards.

A turkey vulture - the garbage trucks of the road kills.

Looking at an alligator.

Vincent posing with the AR-15.

Sam and the boys dreaming about 4-wheelers.

My Wonderful Mother Turns 59?

I took her to her favorite restaurant this A.M for breakfast.

We shared a steak omelette and pancake meal.

She is one of the most wonderful godly ladies I know.

I am a very fortunate to have her for my Mom!

Thanks Mom for being such a wonderful parent!

Why We Live For Eighty Years

On the first day, God created the dog and said: 'Sit all day by the door of your house and bark at anyone who comes in or walks past. For this, I will give you a life span of twenty years.' The dog said: 'That's a long time to be barking. How about only ten years and I'll give you back the other ten?' So God agreed.

On the second day, God created the monkey and said: 'Entertain people, do tricks, and make them laugh. For this, I'll give you a twenty-year life span.' The monkey said: 'Monkey tricks for twenty years? That's a pretty long time to perform. How about I give you back ten like the Dog did?' And God agreed .

On the third day, God created the cow and said: 'You must go into the field with the farmer all day long and suffer under the sun, have calves and give milk to support the farmer 's family. For this, I will give you a life span of sixty years.' The cow said: 'That's kind of a tough life you want me to live for sixty years. How about twenty and I'll give back the other forty?' And God agreed again.

On the fourth day, God created humans and said: 'Eat, sleep, play, marry and enjoy your life. For this, I'll give you twenty years.' But the human said: 'Only twenty years? Could you possibly give me my twenty, the forty the cow gave back, the ten the monkey gave back, and the ten the dog gave back; that makes eighty, okay?' 'Okay,' said God, 'You asked for it.'

So that is why for our first twenty years we eat, sleep, play and enjoy ourselves.

For the next forty years we slave in the sun to support our family.

For the next ten years we do monkey tricks to entertain the grandchildren.

And for the last ten years we sit on the front porch and bark at everyone.

Life has now been explained to you!

True Road Hunting by Darryl Quesenberry

Only DQ and Jeff Foxworthy have what it takes to act....well as Paul Meyers said the other night "stupid", but hey we all laugh so I guess we get stuck in the same category. Join DQ on a turkey hunt with Little River Outfitters. This was the video they were showing at the 2007-2008 H.A.S.(Hunters After Season) at Allegheny Wesleyan College.

Rod - Our Snowplowing Man

This is Rod.

Some pics of snowplowing.

Our neighbors VW bug under more than a foot of snow.

Don't Forget to Take out the Bore Sight

If you do not want to look like this....

Or have your gun look like this.....





Then don't forget to take out this!!

Problem with Postmodern Philosophy

The First Law of Philosophy:

For every philosopher, there exists an equal and opposite philosopher.

The Second Law of Philosophy:

They're both wrong.

Ski Jumping

February 11, 2001 I did a jump like this and ended up breaking some ribs. I let the young guys jump and I video recorded them. First one down the jump was Tim Rice and the second was Brennan Muir.

This clip all 3 guys jumped. First Brennan Muir, then Tim Rice,and then Andrew Rice.

Holiday Valley

The ski crew picked me up at 7:00 at the BP at 6N and 90. Daryl unfortunately got sick and so there were only 15 of us. Marilyn, Brennan, Dustin, and Ashley Muir; Bruce ;and 9 of the Rice family(at least part of them) and myself enjoyed over 12 hours of skiing. Here is Marilyn making us all nervous....talking on the cellphone and driving. There ought to be a law about that!! LOL!

...And Ashley thought I couldn't get her pic.

The Three Amigo's giving the sign(whatever it is supposed to mean.) I think I didn't have my fingers twisted quite right. I hope the rest of the bad dudes in the gang won't notice.

Brennan and I waiting for the rest of the skiers to get off the lift.

Riding up the lift.

Posing for the camera at the base of a lift. Tim, Brennan, Jonathan, Andrew, Dustin, Ashley and myself.

A view from the Lodge of the MardiGras People Mover.

Inside the lodge eating lunch.

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Ever Learning.....

"Ever learning, but never able to come to the knowledge of the truth."
--2 Tim. 3:7

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080227/ap_on_sc/peru_ancient_plaza

"The find also raises questions about what prompted civilizations to form throughout the planet at more or less the same time," said Ruth Shady, a prominent Peruvian archaeologist.

It is very sad that the rocks are crying out "Hello - There is a God!! We did not evolve!! We were created!!" but they cannot see the forest for the trees.

Driving through the Woods

My little nieces call the road to our house - the road through the woods. In the spring and summer the road stays cool with the long branches from the big maple trees that act as a canopy. In the fall that canopy turns into a beautiful tunnel of red, yellow and orange. In the winter, though most of the time bare, the overhanging branches load up with snow and give the most wonderful white entrance to our home.

A cool tree in my neighbors yard.

Here is Kenton last night shoveling about 6 heavy inches of snow. This morning when I got up there was about another 12" on top of that.

More H.A.S Pictures

You can read in the other post and see more pictures. Tommy Sanders just emailed these to me.

Paul Houseworth, Arnold Guntrum, Jim Gurnee and Kenton Gurnee

Kenton won a knife.

....and a video game.

Steve Giles giving away the prizes....digging in the box for the prize.

Reading the plaque: 2007-2008 Youngest Successful Buck Hunter

What a surprise for him and a huge smile!

Posing with his trophy.

A New Family Blog Member

Kenton started his new blog today. I think he will be sharing about his first trophy. Check it out at http://www.bullsbucksbullets.blogspot.com/

Winter Blues

Tim Calhoun posted this on his blog. If you are tired of the snow, watch this and enjoy the great photos from beautiful spots all over the world.

An Almost Impromptu Funeral

In speech class both in high school and college we practised impromptu speeches. As a pastor there has only been about 2 times I have had to do that. Early this morning (2 AM) I got home to find out that a brother of gentleman from our church had passed away and the viewing was at 10:00 with the funeral following at 11:00. I arrived around 10:30 and begin to visit with the family. As 11:00 neared I wanted to leave, but felt impressed to stay since the funeral was to start in a few minutes. As everyone became silent and sat there, I looked around for the pastor and could not see him. I figured he must be in the office ready to appear. By 5 after which seemed to drag on for an hour of ominous silence I begin to wonder what the hold up was. The year before almost to the day I had a funeral in the same parlor where we waited 15 minute for a daughter to show up because she was getting her hair done. I figured they must be waiting on the family to arrive. Then after 10 long minutes had passed I saw a few looking my way and whispering....Ah there is no pastor. I got up and made my way to the directors office and was immediately asked if I could have the funeral. To make along story short I asked for a bible which they managed to find a beat up old Gideon Bible. I grabbed a sheet of paper from the fax machine and began to write down verses of scripture and search through the Bible. I was handed a newspaper obituary and in 3 minutes I was ready. The director said we would wait 2 more minutes and wait till 11:15. I was praying not for myself but that the other pastor would arrive. My prayers were answered. At 11:15 when we were about to walk out he bounded in the door straightening his tie and apologizing profusely. I wiped the sweat from my brow and got seated for the 19 minute sermon and eulogy. I believe it was the shortest funeral I have ever witnessed. We were being dismissed by 11:34. All is well that ends well. I think on an impromptu I could have given a longer service. Then again, maybe the family was just as happy for the short version.

Bubblegum and Blubber

Vincent informed Alyssa today that the reason why their dad is fat is because he swallows his bubblegum. So I guess the best way to lose weight is not not chew gum, because I may be tempted to swallow it and thus get fatter.