Illinois...

[Molpet]

I still have a hand-full of firecrackers in garage. Not the big stuff like Cherry Bombs, or M80.s.
Last year when a Cooper tried attacking my chickens, and I chased it,,,,, Cooper parked in tree,, and was laughing at me... I made silly noises, and nothing happened. Then,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,got one firecracker, and set it off. Cooper flew like the wind.
I need to get a handful of the bottle rockets. The small ones. They pop when about 50 feet in the air. Just IDEAL to give Cooper something to think about.
I just don't go to Indiana like I used to on a daily basis. Some places sell fireworks year-round.
Might have to ask BFF to get some for me.
DS and his friends always had a few firecrackers in their pocket, when they were camping in Yosemite State park. Camp4. Sitting around a campfire, bears occasionally did get near. One pop of a small firecracker got the bear to leave.
Everyone kept their supplies inside BEAR proof boxes provided at campground.
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Actually it's not legal to harass raptors, but if they happen to be around when a firecracker goes off. .... Too dry by me to set crackers off.
My neighbor 3 houses east, puts corn on the ground for wildlife. None of the neighbors are thrilled about this. They go on vacation and a hungry hoard comes down to my place...... they have a cabin in Wisconsin they do that at also. They like to watch the bears that come in up there. Those neighbors are as thrilled as I am down here. Can't get them to understand the problems that causes when they leave.

 

[BReeder!]

Went to Matthiessen State Park yesterday. Had a nice hike with the kids and wife. The water is low there (drought) so there's a lot more exposed sand and rock than usual down in the canyon which made walking through a lot easier, although the smooth sand on smooth rocks got slippery in places. We hiked both the upper and lower trails, spending 4 hours there. The kids were pretty wiped out after that.

 

[Molpet]

Went to Matthiessen State Park yesterday. Had a nice hike with the kids and wife. The water is low there (drought) so there's a lot more exposed sand and rock than usual down in the canyon which made walking through a lot easier, although the smooth sand on smooth rocks got slippery in places. We hiked both the upper and lower trails, spending 4 hours there. The kids were pretty wiped out after that.

One of my favorite parks.

 

[BReeder!]

One of my favorite parks.

Mine too. Starved rock is very nice too, but it's always overrun with people on a holiday weekend.

 

[BReeder!]

Anybody ever check out Garden of the Gods in southern IL? I never heard of it until yesterday, and it's about a 2.5hr drive I think. It came up on a google search for family things to do in IL. It looks amazing in the pics. I might plan an overnight trip down there to check it out.

 

[Molpet]

Mine too. Starved rock is very nice too, but it's always overrun with people on a holiday weekend.

Yes I haven't been to starved rock for decades, wall to wall people when the fish are running also.

 

[Molpet]

Beautiful place. Make sure you keep the dog on leash. Sandy soil that gives away if off trails. Trails ok just stay on them.
Had a dog break a leg when a hill gave away and leg got caught in a root....a few miles down the trail and spent the night on the trail. Vets aren't for pets but livestock....no xray machine...leg put in a cast and put unconscious in the back of my truck... didn't wake up until next morning... I was home by then.. turned out bones needed a plate.$$$$

Anybody ever check out Garden of the Gods in southern IL? I never heard of it until yesterday, and it's about a 2.5hr drive I think. It came up on a google search for family things to do in IL. It looks amazing in the pics. I might plan an overnight trip down there to check it out.

 

[cavemanrich]

My neighbor 3 houses east, puts corn on the ground for wildlife.

May be a source or reason for the plentiful raccoons in your area. Raccoons corn.

Anybody ever check out Garden of the Gods in southern IL? I never heard of it until yesterday, and it's about a 2.5hr drive I think. It came up on a google search for family things to do in IL. It looks amazing in the pics. I might plan an overnight trip down there to check it out.

Been to the Garden few times. There is a small campground for about 10 spots right there. Shawnee National Forest has many wonderful spots/area to visit in southern Illinois. If you decide to visit,, a good central location to stay at is Fern Cliff campground. have many pictures in my albums but they are not digital,,, ole skool negative prints.

 

[WhyDoILikeChickens]

Went to Matthiessen State Park yesterday. Had a nice hike with the kids and wife. The water is low there (drought) so there's a lot more exposed sand and rock than usual down in the canyon which made walking through a lot easier, although the smooth sand on smooth rocks got slippery in places. We hiked both the upper and lower trails, spending 4 hours there. The kids were pretty wiped out after that.

Took DD to silver springs state park between Yorkville and Millbrook. They have 2 great ponds to take little ones fishing and they have some hiking trails that looked great though I didn't have time to enjoy them.

 

[WhyDoILikeChickens]

I think what makes a Bresse chicken good,,, is the final weeks special feeding diet. Maybe if you tried same with the CX, you may get good/similar taste results ..

I think I will try to finish some like the breese. Breese also have genetics for intramuscular fat like a Ribeye versus a dry chicken breast. I'll set aside 5 or 10 of my CX and try it though.