Saturday, January 10, 2009

Cabin Fever


Despite the cold Maine weather we still get out more than most. We have no choice, the animals need to be fed and their is always wood that needs to be brought in from the barn.
As I sit in the warm house I sometimes dread the thought of getting out but after I do I always feel refreshed. Staying cooped up all winter can make you nuts so when ever the opportunity arises we try to embrace the elements.

We took a ride outback with the kids in tow and tried to identify all the tracks that adorned our land. We came up with deer, squirell, fox, rabbit, coyote, and bobcat (maybe) tracks.



The kids ended the day with a pig ride.

In the last post there were some questions asking about moose meat. MM says there was approximately 400lbs of meat from that moose. What we didn't give away lasted us until the following fall. It was a HUGE savings on our grocery bill and money was tight that year because John was in nursing school. The meat is also MUCH healthier for you compared to the feed lot cow meat that most people eat. In addition I am SURE the quality of this Moose's life would not even compare to that store bought steak or hamburg. To describe moose meat I'd say it is lean and less gamey then deer. I actually prefer it over deer but the chances of getting into the moose lottery are slim. MM had applied for a permit for 20 years before getting one.

And to answer Joanna's question, we ate every bit of that moose and shared some with friends and family. MM doesn't just hunt for the sport of it, he hunts to put food on the table. We cherish that Moose's life and let nothing go to waste. As a matter of fact, when we eat dinner every night my children thank God for whatever animal we may be eating for sacrificing it's life in order to sustain our own. I know the photo can make you think otherwise but we honestly are not that type of people.

17 comments:

Ed said...

great B&W pics. Now I want to try moose burgers...:-)

Leasmom said...

Nice family photos...good memories for the kids.

Joanna@BooneDocksWilcox said...

I'd like to try moose sometime but don't know that I'll have the opportunity down here.

I can't imagine having all that meat on hand.

I think that's awesome Kim that y'all have blessings to the animal.

Anonymous said...

Nice pictures, we get pretty much snow this time of year as well!

GreyWolf said...

Nice photos and I couldn't agree more with you on the moose meat.
I haven't had any in years but I remember it well. I have also had some very good elk.
Our deer around here are pretty much grain fed and have no gamey flavor.

Jodi said...

I prefer moose meat to deer as well. It's great in stew! The only way I liked the ground meat was in chili, though (I made a LOT of chili the year T got his moose.. lol).

I hope you're able to keep enjoying the snow!

Throwback at Trapper Creek said...

Love the B & W and you are so right, once you get out there if feels pretty good.

I would like to try moose, it sounds like it similar to elk which is really good. :)

Stay warm!

Anonymous said...

Looks like the whole family had a blast. Wish we could have some of that snow to cover up all this mud we've got around here!

Paula said...

That first picture of the intertube flying through the air is great. Looks like alot of fun to me!
My Father-in-law got a moose tag a few years ago and the meat was fantastic!

Country Chick said...

I love the black and white photos. I also agree with you about game meat.. it is way healthier for a person than what you can buy in the grocery store and we never let anything go to waste either! Keep up the great work!

Don said...

I agree with you on the cabin fever! It does help to get out there even when you don't feel like it. Ruth went out to the back field today and set up my deer blind to see if she could get some good wildlife pics. She set out some "bait." I think they were on to her, no bites.

Keep on sleddin!

Linda said...

Nice pics!! Sledding looks like loads of fun!! Gotta love Maine!!! Hope you're prepared..it's going to be REALLY cold at the end of this week..better fire up the woodstove!!

citygirl said...

That looks like a barrel of fun!

Does everyone in your family have snowshoes? If so, have you made a trail for snowshoeing yet?

Country Girl said...

THANKS ED, I USED B & W TO SPICE IT UP A BIT AND THE SNOW PICTURES ALL HAD A BLUE TINGE TO THEM THAT I DID NOT LIKE.

PATRICE, YOU ARE RIGHT. I HOPE MY BLOG IS STILL ALIVE IN YEARS TO COME, IT WILL BE FUN FOR THE KIDS TO LOOK BACK ON.

JOANNA, IT IS ALOT OF MEAT. WE MADE UP LOTS OF JERKEY AND WE HAD LOTS OF HAMBURG TOO WHICH USES UP FAST IN SPAGHETTI & CHILI'S.

AMY,US TOO SNOW AND COLD. ENJOY IT WHILE IT IS HERE I GUESS.

GW & NITA, I HAVE NEVER HAD ELK, WE DO NOT HAVE THEM HERE IN MAINE.

JODI, CHILI IS ONE OF MY FAVORITES. I MADE A GREAT CHICKEN CHILI THIS WEEKEND.

JEN, WE DID HAVE FUN ESPECIALLY THE 2 IN THE SLED.

PAULA, THAT FIRST PICTURE WAS MY FAVORITE TOO. YOU ARE THE ONLY ONE TO COMMENT ABOUT IT.

DON, RUTH IS CLEVER DOING THAT BUT THOSE DEER ARE PRETTY SNEAKY. WE RARELY SEE THEM HERE BUT OUR LAND IS LOADED WITH TRACKS.

LINDA, I RATHER HAVE MORE SNOW THAN COLD AND THE WOODSTOVE HAS BEEN RUNNING NON STOP SINCE OCTOBER.

CITY GIRL, WE DID HAVE FUN. WE DO NOT HAVE SNOW SHOES BUT WE ALL HAVE CROSS COUNTRY SKIS. TONS OF TRAILS MORE THAN WELCOME TO USE.
P.S. I HAVE 2 BAGS FULL OF BOOKS FOR YOUR LITTLE MUNCHKIN.

Anonymous said...

Thanks for answering the inquiring minds about the moose Kim. Great photos btw!! :)

Anonymous said...

Back when I was a youngster, growing up in south central Wisconsin, I used to love getting out in the winter, sledding, walking in the woods, rabbit hunting, building snow forts and snowball fights. Now, I'd just as soon watch it on tv, or from a large distance, like from the Gulf Coast!

Lynnie said...

Twenty years for a moose permit????? Wow, that takes some planning-ahead skills! I'll bet the meat was delicious, though. We have a kids' book called "Hot Moose Stew" and every time I read it I lick my lips!