Nelson Hares.

This is Nelson Hares.  I have known Nelson for about ten years now.  He is my best friend, Amber’s father.  Nelson is happiest when he is fishing or hunting and when you wake up in the morning he has usually already left the bungalow to head out to the lake or the woods.

Nelson loves calling people ‘dingbats’ and his favorite saying is “whatcha gonna do? ..hot pockets!”

Collecting some moss for his wife, Barb who makes beautiful terrariums.

green moss!

This day was especially beautiful.  It was the day after Thanksgiving and the air was crisp but warm enough to go out with a light jacket on.  We saw a pheasant and Nelson tried to drive it towards me so I could get a picture but it didn’t work out — I wasn’t quick enough.

On occasion Amber and I head into the woods with Nelson to bait for deer. He usually takes apples and a sack of corn. We take turns throwing the apples against the trees so that they split open and the deer are able to catch the sweet scent.

nice golden corn kernels for the deer…

When Nelson isn’t in in the woods he is usually either fishing or getting his rods and lures ready for fishing. He is in Bass tournaments every Saturday until the weather gets too cold.

Nelson is taking a bit of the weight off of his lures with a knife. He told me they’re supposed to float on the surface if they are weighted properly.

Here he is in super concentration mode testing out the flotation on his lures..

This one is floating perfectly after a lot of careful scraping.

fish outta water..

This is Molly. She loves hanging around Nelson while he works.

Getting all of his fishing gear ready for Saturday’s tournament.

some antlers hanging in the shed. Nelson makes the best venison steaks and venison jerky!

Stirring his venison stew for Friday’s family soup night, the day after Thanksgiving.  I had two bowls full.  Whenever I visit, Nelson has some beer ready for me.  We both get excited over having a beer together.  He also makes his own specialty which is a grapefruit schnapps cocktail.  Sometimes he puts gingerale in it, too.

Nelson is a great cook. When he gets home in the morning from hunting or fishing he is always hungry. If nobody has started breakfast, he makes pancakes for everybody from scratch in the cast iron pan.  Nelson loves to put Karo syrup on his pancakes.

playing with his granddaughter, Iris for a few minutes while she is getting changed.

Nelson and Barb met each other when they were kids and have been married for 30 years.  Here they are playing with their first grandchild, sweet little Iris.

Nelson and Barb’s eldest daughter, Callie and her husband, Martin just had their first baby.  They’ve named him Nelson, which makes just about everybody happy.