Tippit's Finest Hour--Story Finished

[tippit]

I just got back from our little horse farm in Aiken, SC.  This was a week dreams where
made of for me.  My wife is there for the winter and my daughter is down for 6 weeks with her two children....grandson Eli (2 1/2) & granddaughter Tori (6 months).   I try to get down once every 6 weeks.  This past week was special in that my sons would be joining in too.  Zach (32) single and a ski patroller from Crested Butte, CO.  Matt (38 is my son-in-law) firefighter/paramedic from our home town of Carlisle, MA.  It's not often Molly & I can get everyone together for a few days so we cherish those moments.

I got there a couple days early to pick up a 4 wheeler and do a little forging before all heck broke lose.

 

 


   


Both Zach & Matt had expressed an interest in doing a day of hog hunting even though neither has ever hunted...let alone shot a longbow except in our back yard just to appease me.   On Saturday Benjy came down from Columbia to meet my family, share a few refreshments, and shoot some bows with the boys.   I outfitted each son with a longbow, arm guard, and tab.  Zach tried 3 fingers under like I shoot but Matt couldn't get the hang of it.  So I cut a split finger tab for him.   We started out by rotating/picking a target on the road around the paddocks...pine cone, clump of grass, even a horse apple!   At first they were right/left and short/long but as we neared the end both boys were nailing pine cones at 15 yards.  Zach is a skier, rock climber (search & rescue on Mt McKinley during the spring climbing season) and extreme kayaker.  Matt was in training for the Olympics as a X-Country skier/bi-athelete and later a professional bicycle racer in US & Europe...now working father.  So both have been very athletic with good hand/eye coordination.

 

 


On Sunday Zach & I drove down to the lease to put some corn out with the hopes of luring some pigs in on Monday afternoon only to find that we just missed seeing Terry who had been hunting over the weekend.  There was corn at the feeders and on the road so we just added a little to the stands I was going to put the boys in the next day.  When we got back to the farm, both boys decided to wear out my pig target while I grilled up dinner for the family.   Monday finally arrived as I rounded up three sets of camo and gear.  But an early started was not to be with grand kids needing attention.

 

 

[rastaman]

  Sounds like the start of a good story!

[Bjorn]

Sounds like a wonderful family time!      

[Guru]

[Archie]

I'm happy for you... but green with envy!

[Bowhunter4life]

[Matty]

Love me some tippit stories! And I see that blade in waiting!!

[Ragin Bull]

 Hunting, Family

This is going to be good.  

[GRINCH]

[BowHuntingFool]

Looks like a good time so far brother!!!!!!!!    

[Doug Campbell]

The beginnings of a great post Jeff just gotta point out that there is an awful lot of rust on that anvil face.  
 

[JAG]

       

[cacciatore]

WOW you had a blast with such a reunion with your boys.    great plase to be.

[Irish]

Good stuff!!    

[RUSTY1]

I was just down in Aiken for the state Catholic BB tournament!! Great looking place you have!! We should hook up sometime you have an extended stay there!

[tippit]

Doug,
This is Forgin' Southern style...outside              Let me give you a tour of my new forge...also known as Black Bear Forge.  It is built on the same style as Molly's six stall horse barn so it could be converted back to a two stall horse barn when my forging days head to the rockin' chair out front.  

My anvil & post vise live on oak stumps under the shed roof but my Little Johnny forge stays inside until it's time to work.  Besides my blades are finished out with all my rough forging marks so a little rust & pitting just add character.   They never get the luxury to be as pretty as my master's work!  Did you notice your old grinder has a prominent place.  

This is probably going to take awhile with all these side tracks...like that Black Bear mount.  It isn't the largest black bear I've ever shot although he did win the the pot at bear camp that year.  Did you notice I didn't say Bear Quest as this bear was shot with the Little Delta Bow.  That was when the idea of Bear Quest was born...very special!  tippit
 
     

     

     

     

     

       

     

[Tater]

Great thread, waiting for the rest of the story.........!.......  

[LONGSTYKES]

Doc, Thanks. Great pics and story. Glad you had a great time with the family.

[awbowman]

Can't wait for the rest of the story.  Nothing like family!

[jcar315]