The Hancock-Henderson Quill, Inc.
Greetings to all in Western Illinois. I hope everyone is enjoy'n this exceptionally good Indian summer weather we have been blessed with. Isn't it Grrreat!
The first weekend in November, opened hunting season for pheasant, quail, and rabbit. The weather was conducive and pleasant for good hunting. There was only one exception-limited game left in these parts to hunt.
Now would be a good time to plan for helping the wild game. Maybe leaving a few rows of corn as winter food plots. It might be good to start plans for habitat restoration in a few areas. Joining Pheasants Forever or Quail Forever helps in the effort. Leave a few brush piles here and there for the rabbits, quail and other wildlife to find refuge.
Years ago, when I was but a lad, we fenced off the corners of our fields to keep the livestock out. These areas were good undisturbed habitat areas to nest in summer months as well as a leave feed during harsh winter months for game.
We set aside "Game Preserves" on our own land to release quail and pheasants at appropriate times. We planted trees, and other good habitat grasses for nesting and feeding.
Our farm yet has a good population of quail with several coveys scattered about.
While I'm getting a bit too old to hunt much anymore, I have many fond memories of children and grandchildren participating in those activities, that provides for God's creatures.
And my old single barrel shotgun is still well oiled and ready to go, should one of the grandchildren ask to borrow it.
It is a good pastime, to spend time in the great outdoors with family. And for me, there is no greater satisfaction that knowing you have passed along, to the next generation or two, some long standing, and yet simple, traditions. Why not give it a try?
Cornelius told me recently of an interesting story about a young woman about to finish her first year of college. Like so many others her age, she considered herself to be very liberal, and among other liberal ideals, was very much in favor of higher taxes to support more government programs, in other words redistribution of wealth.
She was deeply ashamed that her father was a rather staunch conservative, a feeling she openly expressed. Based on lectures that she had participated in, and the occasional chat with a professor, she felt that her father had for years harbored an evil, selfish desire to keep what he thought should be his.
One day she was challenging her father on his opposition to higher taxes on the rich and need for more government programs. The self-professed objectivity proclaimed by her professors had to be truth and she indicated so to her father. He responded in all his wisdom, by asking how she was doing in school.
Taken aback, she answered rather haughtily that she had a 4.0 grade point average, and let him know that it was tough to maintain, insisting that she was taking a very tough course load and was consistently studying, which left her no time to go out and party like other people she knew. She didn't even have time for a boyfriend, and didn't really have many college friends because she spent all of her time studying.
Her father listened courteously and intently and then asked, "How is your friend Audrey doing?" She replied, "Audrey is barely getting by. All she takes are easy classes, she never studies, and she barely has 2.0 grade point average. She is very popular on campus, and college for her is a blast. She's always invited to all the parties and lots of times she doesn't even show up for classes because she's too hung over."
The wise father asked his daughter, "Why don't you go the Dean's office and ask him to deduct 1.0 off your grade point average and give it to your friend who only has a 2.0 grade point average. That way you will both have 3.0 grade point average and certainly that would be a fair and equal distribution of GPA."
The daughter, visibly shocked by her fathers suggestion, angrily fired back, "Thats a crazy idea, how would that be fair? I've worked really hard for my grades. I've invested a lot of sacrificial time, and a lot of hard work. Audrey has done next to nothing toward her degree. She played while I worked my tail off."
The wise old father slowly smiled, winked, and said gently, "Welcome to my conservative values."
Catch ya later
Barnyard Bruke