476

The Vermilion Voice September 2, 2013

6

Issue 476

Stratton

Around The Campfire Neil B. Stratton Columnist

Septemb er is so close I can feel it in the air. Not that cool stuff we’ve been seeing - just that fall feel; my favourite time of year. Kind of like a turkey feeling. Now, I know that really didn’t make much sense, but it does to me.

Maybe it’s rolling around in the wild sage that grows abundant here in the Midwest. It always reminds me of Thanksgiving turkey. I will admit folks, I am a turkey addict. Not only is the turkey the most delectable bird ever, but just the smell of turkey basting in the oven triggers many fond memories of family and the sights, sounds and aromas of autumn’s glory.

With bow hunting season starting on September 1, we are in that sage aroma all day long. In fact, I torture myself and pick several sage bunches and crush them up to release a very strong sage aroma. We put the sage in our packs and pockets and the sage scent soaks into our hands. All day long it smells like Thanksgiving. After hiking 12 miles in the morning with my hands smelling like golden brown turkey, my thumb looks a little like a small drum stick.

The fall colours, the ear ring bugle or call of a huge elk, and sitting alone in nature, all reminds me of Thanksgiving. Maybe it’s just autumn when I become one with nature and the wilderness that reminds me I have so

much to be thankful for; family, a way of life and just being alive.

While bow hunting, one has a lot of time to think and examine life. You can enjoy nature at its best, sitting on a stump with the first warming rays of a beautiful sunrise. One feels so alive, and by rights should be so thankful for that alone. As I write this I can actually visualize that sunrise and that feeling, and I can honestly say I am looking forward to being there.

Many things have to come together to have the opportunity to sit on that stump watching that sunrise; a job, sufficient funds and an understanding wife and family.

Health is also a huge factor. Aging i s a m a j o r co n si d e ra ti o n . I k n ow many that can’t walk to that stump.

I feel sorry for some because they d o n’ t eve n k n ow th e m e a n i n g of that stump, or that it even exists.

They are not even aware of the fact that we consider a wild animal that provides us with superior table-fare and substance, only as a bonus. If every person on earth could sit on that stump just for a day, the world may be a different place and we may all be that more grateful and thankful for what we have and for life itself.

Be assured, although there are no reser vations on that par ticular stump, I will be sitting there as the sun rises to greet September 2013.

Now, since I wrote this I will be thinking of this column and all of you and what you are missing...haha. Having said that, I will have to be honest and

say it will be only a brief thought as my autumn adventure 2013 will be starting at that very moment, which can materialize into a heart beating adventure in a second.

There’s nothing that will get a heart beating like sitting peacefully on a stump enjoying a sunrise when a huge bull elk with steam blasting out of his nose, red bloodshot eyes bulging, and mean drool dripping from his mouth screams an ear blasting growl and bugle with full intentions of tromping you into the ground in a puddle of mincemeat. That makes your hat rise from all your hair standing on end. Yikes! That description even kinda scared me... ha ha. Makes you feel kinda small standing there with a pointed stick, but we do fully realize the dangers, and maybe that’s even part of the appeal.

I have been saving some of the finer cuts of moose and elk from last year.

Even though I shared with family and friends that helped out, I still thought I would have lots of table-fare if this was a slow year. However, by the time I bring those cuts out to the hunting cabin, there will only be enough for a treat now and again. I do have a lot of hamburger so it’s time for more tasty lasagne, Chile, hamburger soup, or meatloaf.

Eve n th o u g h we d o n’ t wa nt to partake in any spicy meals, or any foods that make us smell like garlic when b ow hunting, one can make a real tasty Chile without extreme spices. There are a lot of ver y

tasty meals that can be made with hamburger. The hamburger pat t y itself, when broiled on a BBQ, can be mouth-watering.

The wife and I are already enjoying our freshly dug garden p otato es. “ En joy ” may b e a n u n d e rstatement; talk about tasty. I will be bringing along a five gallon pail of those gems too. We won’t forget the fresh dug carrots and onions either.

I may have to buy corn as my wife is quite protective of her garden corn and I didn’t plant enough. But, for a couple of dollars I can buy a gunny sack full of fresh picked Taber corn.

We certainly won’t starve or even go hungry and we will have the satisfaction of enjoying self-sustained tablefare. We have to fuel those action packed adventures…hmmm...what’s for supper tonight?

I may be MIA for a week or so but stay tuned to see what kind of antics I get myself into on my great adventure. I sure hope you are getting out there enjoying adventures of your own.

When the Smoke Clears I was thinking- wisdom come from a quiet peaceful place…then I also think about some of my antics and realize much wisdom comes from pain.

Volunteers Again Sue Chikie Reporter August 27th was another day of volunteering for Lil Wilson and Kathy Nelson at Lakeland College. This time the table was set up for a number of causes: Tickets for The Friends of Vermilion Health Care Complex, 2014 Trip Lottery, Huntington’s Amaryllis flower sales and Meals to Seniors to mention a few.

Lil has been volunteering for many years and many causes. As of now she volunteers for seven: Friends of Vermilion Health Care Complex, H u n t i n g to n ’s D i s e a s e, T h e L u n g Association, Citizens on Patrol, Meals

to Seniors, Vermilion Continuing Care and The Canadian Cancer Society.

Kathy Nelson stepped in and helped too, including delivering meals to the seniors in our community. Betty and Bliss Dixon are a few more that help with the meals that are prepared by Lasting Impressions. All meals are home made with a main course, salad, bun or bread and a dessert. Without this service seniors would not have the nutritional value that these meals give them.

If anyone would like to help out and volunteer, please call Lil at 780-8535479.

Lil Wilson and Kathy Nelson helping out again. Photo Sue Chikie.

MUSIC

Ask the home inspector:

TIPS TO KEEPING YOUR HOME HEALTHY AND SAFE:

LESSONS

CONSIDER THE BENEFITS OF SPRAY FOAMING. PART1

Are you building or renovating your home. Have you heard about spray foam? This article will try to highlight the benefits and differences of spray foam verses conventional insulation.

I recently visited a home that was being insulated with spray foam. While this type of insulation seems new it has been around for decades and is only now catching on. While there are several manufacturers of spray foam there are two main types of foam you may come across. The first type is ½ pound, open cell foam. This foam expands up to 30 times once it is applied. This type of foam preforms better as a sound proofing material then 2 pound foam but does not have the same insulating value or vapour barrier characteristics as two pound foam. You guessed it, the second and most common type of foam is 2 pound foam. 2lb foam is applied both as an insulator and vapour barrier. This is a couple of the main advantages to spray foam insulation. This remainder of this article will focus primarily on 2lb foam.

The foam is applied between 50 -60 degrees Celsius and about 1200PSI. Once applied the foam expands to 5 or six times its volume. After a few minutes the foam is set up and has amazing insulating and vapor barrier qualities. The key to spray foam insulation is its ability to trap inert air bubbles inside the foam. The trapped air acts as a restrictive layer to radiant energy. This means it becomes a great insulation with a high R-value. Lets looks at this measuring tool we call R-value and what it means.

I always explain R-value in this way. If you are sitting inside reading this the air temperature around you is roughly 20 deg. C. If you are close to a steel or glass object such as a mirror or fridge and you touch it you will notice how much colder it appears. In reality it must be roughly 20 Deg. C if it is sitting in a room full of 20 degree air. So why does it seem so cold? The secret lies in the R-Value of the material. That means when your hand is in the air it loses heat at a certain rate because its heat energy travels through the air. When you touch a metal or glass surface the material readily transfers heat from your hand, making it feel cool. In other words it is a poor insulator. If you place your hand on a piece of foam it feels warm, this is because it reflects heat rather than absorbing it. This is the key to the sprayfoam advantage.

WWW.BORDERHI.COM/POSTS Continued to next week.

GUITAR, BASS, DRUMS, PIANO (STARTER) AGES 8 AND UP

LORDY, LORDY, LOOK WHO’S 40!!

ONCE A TRUCKER ALWAYS A TRUCKER

Vermilion Music Studio Marty Lowrie

780-853-0104