Gallantry Training Center: September 2014

Saturday, September 27, 2014

It's a Girl!

September 23, 2014 - This afternoon, we headed to my Aunt & Uncle’s to learn what the gender of our newest cousin would be…

“It’s a…Girl!”

Well, I’m officially 0 for 2 on baby predictions…when mathematically I should be 50%!

Gwen, the soon-to-be big sister finds out:

Exciting stuff!

After a slew of grandsons, (initiated by yours truly) - this will actually be the first baby girl born into the family in 17 years.

Monday, September 22, 2014

GTC Photo Featured on HunterEdCourse.com

Last week I was asked if one of our photos could be used by HunterEdCourse.com and this past weekend it was featured on their website blog and sent out to their newsletter subscribers:

You can check out the blog post here: Squirrel Hunting Tips for First Hunt After Hunter Education

While you’re on their website, check out their web course that will help you prepare for and earn your hunter’s education test completion certificate.

This photo was taken on a squirrel hunt while visiting friends in Southern Missouri:

Original Post >

Many thanks to the guys at HunterEdCourse.com for using our photo!

Friday, September 12, 2014

D-Day @ Imax, #SherlockLives, King Louis

August 29, 2014 – This afternoon we met friends at the St. Louis Science Center to watch a film on D-Day in the enormous Imax theatre.

The film was amazing and I would highly recommend it. It offered a big picture perspective of the planning, execution, and strategic importance of D-Day. The motion graphics and aerial footage in and around Normandy was absolutely breathtaking on the screen of the Imax:

Mark your calendars! A Sherlock Holmes exhibit will be coming to the Science Center this fall, and we’re definitely planning on going!

Most of our family are fans of Sherlock after reading the Doyle’s books and seeing the stories portrayed on television from Ronald Howard, Basil Rathbone, Jeremy Brett, and Benedict Cumberbatch.

The Game is On!
(Spotify & YouTube)

This red telephone booth is a reference to the iconic booth near St. Bart’s Hospital where Sherlock Holmes staged his death in the “Sherlock” BBC TV Series. The real telephone booth at St. Bart’s has become a landmark for Sherlock fans and messages are posted on the phone booth all the time.

Following the film, we had a picnic in Forest Park:

Thursday, September 11, 2014

Chicken Butchering

August 18, 2014 - We headed down to a friend’s farm to help them butcher their chickens. Despite a late night friends (almost) everybody was up and ready to go when we arrived.

Hustle and bustle ensued as prepared the butchering area and loaded the first batch of chickens.

This is one of those rare candid shots that actually turns out being awesome.

Yes, that’s a cell phone in Matthew’s mouth.

Time to pick up the chickens

Surfing? Cue: “Wipeout”

[YouTube Link]

Chickens are picked indiscriminately and with eyes closed

They’re not always happy to go

I think that they’re planning an escape…Chicken Run style:

[YouTube link]

Reinforcements arrive

Time to prep the butchering area

Reminiscent of drawings I’ve seen from the inquisition era

Readying the apron

Everybody was placed at different “stations’' so we could get organized, otherwise we’d be running around like chickens with their…wait, bad metaphor.