Now, don't cut anything

One of our favorite outdoor/humor writers is Patrick F. McManus. His hilarious tales of growing up with a hero named Rancid Crabtree, driving a car in high school named Miss Peabody (after a beloved English teacher) and being constantly evaded by deer, antelope and elk while having a gun in hand keep Dave and I rolling.

A story we especially enjoy is about young Pat receiving a hatchet or knife for Christmas. Upon recipt of both gifts, he's immediately told "Now, don't cut anything." Pat says this is to make up for his mother's foolishness and lack of judgement in giving him the gift in the first place.

The other night, Dave was working on a new bow and Jed was "helping." Jed loves playing with Dave's tools--any tool that Dave sets down for a second is immediately scooped up and examined thoroughly by Jed. Dave got out the hacksaw to trim his bowstave down and once he was through with it, Jed picked up the hacksaw.

I asked Dave if it was okay for Jed to be playing with the hacksaw and Dave said "sure, we'll just tell him not to cut anything."

He didn't, either. But it wasn't for lack of trying!

Tonight, Dave and Jed were working on the bow again. After dinner, Jed went back out to play and seemed to be having a great time among the wood chips.

I like that Jed still took his favorite truck with him. That truck goes everywhere with us lately!