I know I am a Dork,..or would Redneck be more fitting????

Okay, SO maybe I am a dork or a Redneck. I don't really know exactly what to call it or I guess me.......

For weeks now Jason has been trying to fiqure out the perfect Christmas gift for me.But has been having trouble.(This seems to happen every year) He asks me and I end up listing off things for him, the kids, the truck or our little apartment.Very few things for me , just me. The one thing I can think of that would be just for me would be a nice, rather big diamond ring. My dream ring. Somehow I don't see that happening anytime in, like the next 5 years. Spending 2 grand on a diamond ring not really logical at this point in our lives.Surely not worth going in debt for.

So, we had been out doing some shopping at Fred Meyer's for groceries and some Christmas presents.(We picked a good time to leave, it was about 5:30pm and starting to get insane there) After some of our daily errands. And decided to stop at Frontier Outfitters on our way home looking for ideas on a good jacket for me.(I want something nice and feminine and warm, very warm....not the ones I currently have that are well mens, mens coats seem to be the only ones out there to fit me correctly or be in my price range. But I look well, Butch for lack of a better word)

Okay, back to my story.No luck. But for a few months now we , especially Jason, have been looking for the perfect rifle for me. Something I can take a moose, bear, caribou...whatever, down with and still handle. Not too heavy, too much recoil,etc.All the ones we have now are well his. And mostly too powerful for me.(Women hunting up here, suprisingly common.And I have always enjoyed target shooting.)

We had been going to all our local stores, the many outfitters up here, sporting goods stores, (EVEN FRED MEYER AND WAL-MART sell rifles and hand guns up here) looking at them, holding them, talking to many people. A woman from work even let me take hers out to the range to try it out.One she had taken a moose with.( I have mainly shot pistols in the past.) So we had a good idea what I/we wanted.

We had seen it there before a Ruger 44 Magnum lever action. http://www.ruger-firearms.com/Firearms/FAProdView?model=6301

And the down payment for the lay-a-way plan was in the price range we had planned. So I filled out the necessary paperwork.(This will be our first rifle in my name). Made the down payment.And that's my Christmas present from the family.In a few short months she's all mine. This rifle is a joint Christmas present for me and Jason. So I will let Jason use it of course. No really, I will. Anyhow Jason plans to buy a Rifle for himself with some of our Tax return. 30-06 or 270 I think.

I have never been so excited before over something like this. It is really rather scary. Seriously scary. So what does that make me? A dork, a redneck or something totally different entirely?

With Love to all, Jess

Thankgiving and Sausage Making

Happy and Blessed Thanksgiving to Mom and Jerry, Dad and Sharon, Rob, Ken and Mhari,Mom and Craig,Dad and the rest of our extended family. To all are friends. Peace and Love to you.

Moose has become a new house favorite. We have eaten more moose than I thought we would eat the first year here. Moose is a very easy game meat to work with. We have done Moose Meatloaf (Super yummy) to Chicken fried moose steaks to Green Chili with Moose. So making sausage was pretty logical. Made two batches stuffed in Casing and all. One was my Chorizo Recipe.

8 Ancho Chiles soaked in water
1 Medium Onion
12 Cloves of garlic
1 Tablespoon Curing Salt
1 Tablespoon Groung Black Pepper
1 Pound Ground pork
1 Pound Bacon
7 Pounds of Moose

Grind Vegatables all together. Grind Bacon and Brunoise(1/8 Dice) the Moose. Stuff in Hog Casing. No Casing? Grind all the meat and just Bag up and Freeze. No Moose? Use Venison, Lamb, Beef or Pork. ALL YUMMY.

The other was a REALLY HOT Andoullie Sausage
Same Recipe Except:

2 Cups of Red Pepper Flakes for Ancho Chilies
1 Cup Paprika for Color

Need to find a Supply of Beef Middle Casing so I can do some traditional stuff.
Check out this Traditional Smokehouse in Louisana. http://www.cajunsausage.com/ProductDescriptions.htm

Anyhoo. We are off to our friend Roses to eat and relax.

May God Bless You
Love
Jason

Winter