Bright Idea Outdoors Weblog

A Comeback for Bright Idea Outdoors?

It's been a long time since I identified myself as "Matt from Bright Idea Outdoors."  And what little blogging I've done this year hasn't had much to do with hunting or fishing.  In fact, I've put a lot more effort into this site  lately than I have on the Bright Idea Blog.

The main reason I've been away though is that I've been busy with work and my kids' baseball teams.  I go to five baseball games a week and coach two of them.  I love every minute of it, but it doesn't leave much time for fishing, turkey hunting or writing about the outdoors.  In fact, the boys and I are missing out on a big family fishing trip this week because of baseball.

The season is winding down though; just over a week left and that's if we make it to the championship!  Our normal outdoor routines will resume soon.  We let the fish off easy this spring so we've got to catch up on that.  And it's about time to start shooting the bow in the back yard.

It's also possible that I'll soon have some news that will mean Bright Idea Outdoors is back in a big way.  But even if that doesn't come to fruition, we're definitely going to make a comeback, even if it's just in a little way.

Blake Landscapes Awarded Contract to Spray for Ticks in Loudoun County Parks

Blake Landscapes has been awarded the contract for the high profile tick spraying in Loudoun County parks:

http://blakelandscapes.net/2012/04/20/blake-landscapes-to-spray-for-ticks-in-loudoun-county-parks/

Space Shuttle Video from Roof of Parking Garage at Dulles Airport

 

You Were Never Taken for Granted

As the last hours of the weekend slide by, I sit here, watching golf, Kim taking a nap on the couch beside me and the kids out and about still, supposedly playing tennis.  A strawberry cake sits on our kitchen counter, something we thought might be a good idea; today would have been my mom's 65th birthday.

I mentioned to Kim this morning that I felt guilty that I hadn't written some eloquent blog post about Mom.  I feel like I'm neglecting her in death, just as I often felt I neglected her in life.  Did I take her for granted?

No.

You see Mom, you were just always so unselfish, so interested in everything about me, and so devoted to your family, that I guess I forgot to talk about you sometimes.  But I did not, have not and will not ever take you for granted.

I know that without you--and all the sacrifices you made--I never would have made it this far.  You lived for your children and your family, and we carry the gifts you gave us and the things you taught us with us every day.

We love you Mom and just wish you could be here today.  .  .

A Long Week

Whew, it's been a tough week!  

No, nothing really bad happened.  I've just been trying to function on my own with my family out of town and four horses, two houses and a dog to take care of.  

But tomorrow's the week's last day of work, and then it's up on the mountain for the Evergreen Church Good Friday Service.  Finally, on Saturday, my family will be home.

Can't wait; Happy Easter!

First Fish of 2012

For the second year in a row, Nick landed our family's first fish of the year.  He caught this one in the exact same spot as the first fish last year.  I wonder if it was the same fish too.

This little fishing trip actually took place a couple weekends ago, the same day that we had a pink snow storm.

2012 Declared Lyme Disease Awareness Year

Click on over to the Blake Landcapes blog for some important information on action the Loudoun County Board of Supervisors took last night to fight deer ticks and Lyme disease.

An Early Spring

What little winter we had this year is behind us and spring has definitely sprung.  Here are a few things we've done so far:

Brett and I did some hiking at Ball's Bluff.

The big boys helped Granddad plant some trees.

And a whole lot of baseball!

It hasn't been all fun and games though.  Kim had a major case of the flu.  The rest of us avoided it, but nobody's been feeling great for about the last three weeks.  We also got news that Kim's grandmother is sick, and we're all praying for her.

But all told, this should be a good spring of working hard, playing hard and counting down to summer!

Common Ground

My mom and dad didn't agree on much.  They got separated about 30 years ago and communicated less and less as my sister and I grew up.  The first time my mom had cancer--in the 90's--my dad didn't even call her.  When the cancer came for him, she didn't go to his memorial service.

We're coming up on two years since we lost my dad and six months since my mom died.  It's been almost a year since she got really sick and came to live with Kim and the boys and me.

One thing Mom and Dad did agree on was baseball; they both liked it, and I wish more than anything they could see their grandsons today with all three of them suited up for the spring season.

Jake, Nick and Brett are playing in Central Loudoun Little League, the same league I played in as a kid with my dad on the coaching staff and my mom in the bleachers hollering at me to get my helmet down over my ear.  

That was when they were still together.

At the time, I loved the Orioles and wanted to play in the major leagues.  But I drifted away from the game when my parents split up, only to return when Jake started playing a few weeks before Dad died.  He never got to see any of them play.  Mom caught a few of Jake's games but was able to come less and less as her health deteriorated.  Jake had a game the day we lost her, and I was on the coaching staff.  

We both went to the game because I knew she would have wanted us to.

This season, Jake's playing in the CLLL majors.  He's a great fielder, a solid pitcher and is poised to take his hitting to the next level.  Nick's playing AA, his first shot at the great game his grandparents loved.  I'm managing the team and will be happy if I'm half the coach my dad was.  Brett's in Tee-Ball 4 (that means 4-year-olds!)  He's had his baseball pants on since about January 15th. 

I know they're watching us, and I know they agree that they've got the best bunch of grandsons to ever take the field.  I hope they're both a little proud of me too, and that they know I'm doing the best I can.

Baseball brings our family together, and I've never felt better than I did today, hitting ground balls to Nick and his teammates with Kim in the bleachers and Brett and Jake, both dressed for baseball and not far away on the grounds of Good Times Park.

The weather's beautiful; the fields are raked; and Kim and I have got a house full of baseball players.  So boys, I've got just one thing to say to you.  For Grandmomma and Grandpop:

PLAY BALL!!!

A Rough Tick Season Could Be on the Horizon

I'm living proof that Lyme disease is a common problem here in Loudoun County Virginia.  I've been infected with it twice.

Both times, I was lucky, detected the infection early and was successfully treated with antibiotics.  Because I make my living in the outdoors and spend a great deal of my free time outside too, I'm always on the lookout for they tiny blacklegged deer ticks that carry Lyme disease.  So when I came down with symptoms, I knew where the tick bites were and knew I'd better get tested and treated.

But many people overlook these ticks, and some suffer from Lyme for years before they even know what's wrong with them.

With the warm winter we've had, 2012 could be a big year for deer ticks, especially here in Loudoun County, where some have already called Lyme disease an "epidemic."  For more on what the weather means for this year's tick season, please read my post on the Blake Landscapes Horticulture Blog at www.blakelandscapes.net. . .