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Oh my dear friends, I really do long to be on here writing more, truly. It's just been more than a bit of a gallop trying to get caught up after being gone for basically the month of October. If I didn't have school work to do that desire would be easier to attain, but alas, I have this strange compulsion to also get good grades, thus, not seeing me around here as much is one of the exhibited symptoms.

It's also hunting season, so I have been doing a bit of patrolling. The ranch has a Forest Service easement through one part of it, so hunters can drive through, but they are not supposed to shoot through. Some people have trouble reading signs. I remember this from my librarian days. So, I patrol. Usually it's the corg and I, along with Red Velvet my 12 gauge shotgun. I used to walk with my 9mm on my hip, but in the fall and spring I tend to carry a bit more firepower. Mainly because critters get cranky this time of year and you know, there's humans about. That and I saw the biggest bear print I have seen since I lived in Alaska the other day. The griz that's roaming about is a heckin chonker!

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Yesterday, the ranch owners, a couple of their friends, and the hubs and I even went to the range for a bit of Halloween themed target practice. My favorite firearm that we shot was a gigantic .44 magnum revolver. Dirty Harriet I was! The holes I left in the target were glorious.

Actually, I am bit concerned I am becoming more than a bit feral living up here in the wilds. Which, considering my youth, is probably not much of a stretch for me to do. The poor, new Fedex rush delivery guy at the gate got a bit of a shock as I materialized out of the woods with four dogs in my company and my gun perched on my shoulder. 

Did I mention I like patrolling.

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Some of the less feral things that I have been up too besides getting settled back in, school, and hiking several miles in the beautiful, currently golden, tamarack forest that I live in is I have been experimenting with pastry that doesn't have to be rolled through a laminator. I know I did a good job on this last batch of apple turnovers I made because the Hub's said they were absolutely terrible and ate them *all.*

Poor guy, what sacrifices he makes.

This coming week I have a ton of schoolwork to do, I even have an all day Teams intensive tomorrow. But then, then I get to head to town once more to pick up last minute before winter supplies and hug on family and friends a bit since I won't be back down that way til probably Christmas.

Life has definitely given me a turn, but I just add a sprinkle of awe and curiosity to my mindset. The Kat existential Ketchup makes any situation more palatable!

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<center>*And as most of the time, all of the images in this post were taken on the author's very cozy in her patrol coat pocket iPhone.*</center>

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