Monroe, Part 2

Sorry ladies this deer slayer is taken.

Dad was proud enough of his buck that he decided to mount Monroe's head for future generations to enjoy.
To have a deer head mounted is expensive and who could he trust with his prized kill?
The answer? No one.
Dad bought a taxidermist bible and ordered his own supplies.
No internet or Youtube for help either it was hands on and follow directions from the book.

Monroe is prepped and ready to be preserved.

Dad skinned Monroe and tanned his hide. (Us boys took Dad's threats to tan our hides seriously after this.)
Taxidermy is a very slow process.
He placed the hide in different baths that smelled like the bags waiting to be picked up by the diaper service.
We waited and waited.
He ordered the Styrofoam in the shape and pose he wanted.
We got glass eyes in different shapes, colors and sizes too.
He finally finished his creation and I must say that he did a very fine job.
Monroe looked great and was ready for the wall.

Stay tuned for more.

Monroe, Part 1

My Dad shot his first buck in 1973 in the county he grew up in, Monroe County Kentucky.
That is where this deer got his name, Monroe.
I can't think of to many times that I have seen my Dad smile as big as he is the first slide.
He was proud of this deer.

These slides were taken in front of Pick's Motel in Tomkinsville, Ky.
My Dads sister and brother in law owned it and we would say there when we visited town.
My Aunt Trixie and her husband Mattie Lamont were fun people to visit and I have good memories of staying there.

Nice to see our old green station wagon too.

These are the first pictures of Monroe.
His life may be over but it has really only just begun.

This deer who roamed the country side of Monroe County, in the Center Point area, has now traveld to Indianapolis, Indiana in this slide.
I see our garage behind Dad so this is in the alley behind our house.


Monroe with his head still attached.

This story starts out so normal and it would be a normal story for many years to come until my parents had grand kids.
Then it gets weird even for our family.

Here is what I mean by that.
If you came to our house for a visit in the 80's before you left you would probably have visited our freezer.
In the freezer we would have shown you Budgie our pet parakeet.
He died in the winter and since we couldn't bury him we put him in the freezer and he is most likely still there today along with a nameless rabbit.
Fun party props for us.

Then there is Monroe. So stay tuned for the rest of his story.

Three Brothers

1973
Can you feel the brotherly love?

How about Motherly love?
Three boys wearing matching clothes, posing for a picture and smiling?
We do look young enough though that we wouldn't care if we did have matching clothes on.

I don't remember caring what I wore until middle school.

I also notice Monroe up on the wall behind us.
Look for his strange story in future posts.
No deer has ever had as much life as he has had.

Can you all help me out too?
How much should I charge when AT&T approaches me to use this pictures in their ad campaigns?
For those who need help with my humor watch this. Click HERE