Seem the older I get the more my family tree means to me.  Memorial day and the Normandy Invasion Anniversary (D-Day) just passed, and I’m finding out about some famous, and not so famous heroes in my family tree.  The Ansel’s have a long family tradition of serving in the military.  My great, great grandfather fought in the civil war, my dad was in the Philippines and New Guinea in WWII, and two of my brothers and myself served during the Viet-Nam conflict.  I also have a niece that was in the 101st. airborne.

I’m just now finding out about my mothers side of the family, and it’s quite impressive.  First of all my Uncle Mel Douglas,from Sault Ste. Marie Canada, was part of the D-Day invasion force from Canada.  He was a tank commander, and was one of the few that made it out alive during this assault.  He was part of the Canadian liberating force, that drove the Germans out of Europe.  His son Tom (my cousin) is a writer, editor, and author of several military novels, including one about his dads experiences during the war.  There are also at least three great uncles that distinguished themselves as pilots, with Senior Captain “Duke” Schiller being the most famous.  He was in charge of the Royal Air Force Ferry Command.  He died March 14th. 1943 when his Canso aircraft crashed of the coast of Bermuda killing uncle Duke and most of his crew.  In his all to short life he was a renowned bush pilot, flight instructor, and mercy flight pilot and hero.  Duke was credited for saving many lives with his daring rescues from gold prospectors to fellow pilots.  Uncle Duke also won many awards for “air racing.”  There are many more exploits and larger than life adventures about Uncle Duke, and you can find out more about him by doing a search on “Google.”  The New York Times reported his death as “Canada’s best and most colorful pilot,” when the news of his crash hit the papers.  Uncle Dukes full name is Clarence Alvin “Duke” Schiller.  He was married to my grandfathers sister Ada Greer.

Another Uncle Al Cheesman was an adventure also.  He was one of the original pilots to fly to the South Pole on an expedition.  I’m still digging up information on him, but I did find out he and Duke were both in the “bush pilots museum” in Sault Ste. Marie.  It is reported that Uncle Al knew Admiral Byrd, and I’m quite certain he did.

I’m still doing research on my moms side of the family, so stay tuned for more revelations on those brave and daring Canucks in the family tree.

Now that turkey season is behind us, watching grand kids play sports is upon us.  Recently my wife and I went to see our granddaughter Ava play “T”-ball.  In the above picture she looks like a pro getting ready to field the ball.

The league she plays in (Carleton Mi.) has some really good ideas about the way the game is played.  Anyone who has watched kids play “T” ball knows that a 5 year old can get bored in a hurry.  Outfielders picking dandelions, chasing butterflies, kicking dirt, or talking to there friends, while the ball goes rolling past them into the outfield.

These kids play only 2 innings, where each team bats every player per inning, and keep no score.  The idea is to get them somewhat acclimated to the sport, and have fun at the same time.  Who knows, some of them may really take a liking to the game, and play it again sometime.  The kids like to “hi-five” one another after the game, and I have yet to hear a kid ask”Who won?”  The coaches have the parents take turns in bringing a snack, and of course this alone is incentive enough to keep them coming back for more “summer baseball fun!”

Mike

Six days ago we had a little 5 year old girl, Nevaeh Buchanan, disappear from her apartment complex.  The first day our local newspaper reported on her plight, there was also an article about our prison systems problem with overcrowding.  In this article it stated that the state had no choice, but to release convicted sex offenders (pedophiles) back amongst their prey.  How stupid!  It’s like putting the lion into a pen of gazelles!  If you want to push my buttons then try drumming up some sympathy for a sexual predator.  You’ll get none here, and my views on how to handle these sub-human creators from hell can’t be reported on my family friendly blog.

As this tragedy plays out, on local and national news, we are discovering that Neveah’s mother is chummy with a couple guys that happen to be convicted sex offenders.  How unbelievable asinine is that.  At this point in the investigation things are not looking good, and guess who the prime people of interest are?  In one T.V. interview Nevaeh’s aunt said she told Jenny ( the mother) that she better keep an eye on her pedophile friend.  He had been buying toys and candy for Nevaeh!  What parent, in their right mind would allow their 5 year old daughter to be anywhere near someone with a past history of preying on children?  My conclusion is that Jenny is not in her right mind, and needs some serious help!

This town has really pulled together hoping for a miracle for little Nevaeh.  The local police, state police, and F.B.I. are working around the clock searching for answers.  Many volunteers, from the community, are searching hills and dales, ditches and ponds, woods and buildings to try and find Nevaehs where abouts. That answer my be no further away than Jenny’s two so called “friends!”  They are being held as people of interest, and for the Buchanan family sake were all praying for a miracle.  There is still a glimmer of hope.

Webster’s dictionary defines memorial as “something that keeps alive the memory of a person or event.  The last Monday in the month of May is the day our country has set aside, to honor our fallen war hero’s.  We all need to take time to reflect on what those brave men and women did to insure our freedom.

We need this day to remember the incredible valor, faith, and commitment these fallen comrades made on our behalf.  Scripture says “Greater love has no man than this, but to lay down one’s life for his friends.”

From the American revolution to the streets of Baghdad.  From the Argonne forest to the blood stained beaches of Normandy.  From the rice paddies of Viet-Nam to the mountain caves of Afghanistan.  Greater love has led the way!

Those “for whom the bell has told” has made it possible for our way of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness to continue from generation to generation.  Let us never forget the ultimate sacrifice that was paid for our liberty.  We should be on guard never to take that freedom, and our way of life for granite.  It cost far to much for us to forget that “All gave some, but some gave all!”  God bless you veterans and your families.  May God shower your hearts with grace and mercy this day that we honor you and yours.

We are forever indebted

SP/5 Mike Ansel 16 Eng. Battillion

This is Mary, my nephew Derek’s wife.  As a kid she wanted to be a ballerina like most little girls.  Her parents could of never imagined her beaming from ear to ear, over the huge tom turkey she just shot, all by herself!  In fact it’s hard for her to put into words the metamorphosis that has taken place, since her marriage to Derek Ansel.

Derek comes from a family that has a long heritage of hunting flowing through their veins.  His dad, grandpa, and uncles all are avid outdoorsmen.  If there were such a thing, Derek would have his Masters degree from Hunting University.  In fact Derek is one of the managers at the huge Cabala’s store in Dundee Michigan.  Derek and his dad Darryl have teamed up to be a couple of the most successful father and son duo’s in the state.  And this is what our pretty little ballerina has been dealing with for over a decade.

Mary has gone from hunters wife to hunter in the past week.  She finally gave into her wild side, and teamed up with Derek (her guide) and pulled off a feat almost unheard of.  Mary took a trophy tom turkey her first time  hunting, and the first time ever squeezing the trigger of any firearm!  Mary stayed cool and poised, as Derek gave her encouragement and instruction from behind her position.  Mary performed like a seasoned veteran and dropped a bird any hunter would be proud of.  Her gobbler weighed in at 23-1/2 pounds, had a 9-1/4 in beard, and 1″ spurs.

If you go over to blogsmonroe.com and click on “Hunting with Mike” you’ll be able to read Mary’s story in her own words.  It comes in two installment, so be sure to read “From Hunters Wife to Hunter” first.

Mary’s “Great White Hunter” husband also got a bird, but I’ve been having a hard time getting a picture of it.  If I do I’ll be sure to get it on this post for all to see.  These birds of a feather now hunt together.  Congratulations guys.

Mike

Now here’s a real turkey!  No.  The one with the feathers silly!  This big Tom fell to my model 870 Remington Tuesday morning around 9:15 a.m.  I had the third hunt, which started the day before (Monday) and was hunting on property I found at “southernmichiganhuntinglease.com.”  The property has some wet area’s to negotiate, but the birds are definitely there along with lot’s of deer.

Monday evening I had five Tom’s and two hens around my stand, but couldn’t get the long beards interested in my decoys.  I had a Jake about 40 yards away, but wasn’t that interested in shooting him my first night out.  All the Tom’s took the same route into a cut soybean field, so I figured I could set up an ambush for Tuesday evening.

Tuesday morning changed all my plans for the evening hunt  My grandson Quinn and I arrived at my “walk through the swamp blind” about 5:30 a.m.  We set 3 hens and 2 jake decoys along the fence-line adjacent to a cut corn field.  We heard very little gobbling on the roost, and at first light saw a Tom with a hen across the field.  A little later we saw another Tom and hen prancing and strutting about.  Two big raccoons snuck up on the decoy’s,but took off for parts unknown when I waved my hand out the blind window at them.  A nice big doe feed within 50 yards of us, and we spooked a Tom, coming into the decoy’s, when Quinn stepped out of the blind for a minute.  About 45 minutes later Quinn said “papa there’s a big one coming toward us.”  We switched places, as he was sitting in the only chair in the blind, and I saw a strutting Tom about 100 yards away.  Then another one, and yet another one came into view from the little dip they were walking in.  Three Tom’s all with their eye’s on my three hen decoy’s!  One of these guy’s had a great long beard, while the other two were Jakes.

Up to this point I had not called, so I gave out with some yelps followed by some soft purrs.  They went nuts, and strutted their stuff to within 40 yards.  I did a few more yelps and “old Mister Long beard” fanned his tail, puffed out his chest, and drug his wingtips on the ground to within 20 yards of our blind.  The smaller Jake’s hung back a little, but this bad boy was going to let everyone know who was going to get the girls at this “dance!”  Just as he stretched his neck out to let out a victory gobble, my 870 roared and I let out the victory yell!  “Yes.”  Ouinn and I did every handshake ever invented by someone younger than 15!  We celebrated for a few minutes, and gave thanks to our Creator for allowing us to partake of this wonderful bounty we have here in Michigan.  My bird had a 10-1/4 inch beard, 1 inch spurs and weighed a tad under 27 pounds.  We had a hump back to the trailer with all our gear, plus a nice big bird, but we smiled all the way back.  What a great moment to share with my grandson.  Neither one of us will ever forget it!

I was practicing on my various turkey calls, and my 3 year old granddaughter wanted to give it a try.  She’s got a slate call and a wooden striker.  Actually it was making some very nice music.  Addysin watched me for awhile then started to imitate what I was doing.  As long as she had the striker at the right angle, and moved it in a circular motion, it sounded pretty good.

My other granddaughter Ava was “yelping” away on my twin hen box call, and the three of us were making quite a racket.  I could just imagine a flock of Longbeards trying to break into our house to get at those excited hens.

Hopefully I’ll have a chance this coming Monday morning in Jackson.  It’s calling for rain (bummer) but I have a ground blind that should keep most of the water off me.  My brother Brett may tag along, and that would be nice to have somebody to share the hunt with.  It’s a good thing I started packing today, cause I’m missing some very important items.  Now all I have to do is remember who I loaned them to!

Mike

This little baby bunny rabbit would of been history, had I not caught a glimpse of it just before my riding mower would of ended his young life.  At this time of year when people are cutting their grass, for the first time, some rabbits aren’t as fortunate as this little fella.  He was in the high grass, where mother rabbits often have their litters.  As soon as they can move from that initial nest they will, but that sometimes takes several weeks.  These little guys have a tough enough time trying to survive without lawn-mowers taking some of them out!

My daughter in Chicago said she saw a crow kill a little rabbit in front of her house a few days ago.  Dogs, foxes, coyotes, hawks, owls, and even cats take there toll on baby rabbits.

I picked up this little guy, and searched the rest of the yard to make certain he didn’t have any brothers or sisters hiding on me.  My grand-daughters got quite a kick out of this cute little bundle of fur.  We took some pictures and let him go.  He hopped under a pine tree with low hanging limbs, where he no doubt met up with his mother.  Just a word of caution; check your yard out before you cut it for the first time.  The rabbits and your kids will appreciate it.

Mike

Sorry about the length of time between post, but I couldn’t find anyone to fill in for me while I was in sunny Florida.  We just got back yesterday (Sunday) and unfortunately didn’t bring any warm weather or sunshine with us.  We did however bring back some wonderful memories.  The above picture is the focus of one of those glories days you hope will never end!

My son-in-law Glen, my grandson Kyle, and myself booked a bass fishing charter with “Memory Makin’ Guides,” and was Captain Reno Ally ever a good fishing guide.  I highly recommend him if anyone is interested in a quality bass charter while in the Orlando area.  His toll free number is 1-800-749-2278.  You will not be disappointed!  I will do a post on Captain Reno in the future with more information on this personable guide.

To make a long “cast” short, here are the fishing trip statistics.  Glen caught 16 largemouth bass, 2 dogfish, and 1 alligator gar.  I caught 12 largemouth bass and 3 dogfish.  Kyle hooked and landed 2 largemouth bass.  Most fish were in the 2-1/2 to 5 pound range, and did they give us a good fight.  We would of kept a “hog” (anything over 8 pounds) but have no complaints about our day.  Glen did have a very nice fish on that went under the boat, and broke Glen’s 12 pound test line.  You know “the big one” always gets away.  Except for that one fish we landed everything we hooked.  The Captain showed us how to properly set the hook, and it worked like a charm.  There will be upcoming stories about our trip, but the fishing trip was on the top of my list.  This is Kyle (driving the boat) Glen and Captain Reno.

Steelhead action heating up in Michigan, even if the weather is still cool.  These fish were caught by my pal Bill Michaud and myself on the “Big Manistee” not very far from the Tippy dam.  We put in at High Bridge then motored upstream, fishing a few holes on the way.  There wasn’t a whole lot of traffic, but the closer we got to Tippy, the more fisherman were lining the banks.  We only landed these three fish, and lost several others.  One “big boy” pulled us down stream for several hundred yards, before we landed him, only to find he was foul-hooked.  It’s in the mouth or back in the water, so released he was.

The western rivers and streams that feed Lake Michigan are experiencing some good runs of steelhead right now, and with some warmer temperatures forecast, things should get better.  In the past I’ve tried the Little Manistee, but for me the river is to narrow and brush lined.  Be sure to check your Michigan stream guide to determine if a particular stream is open to fishing.  Many of your smaller streams/creeks are closed to fishing, for obvious reasons.

As soon as I get a few more fish in the freezer I’m going to have a fish fry.  Nothing like grilled salmon, baked potato, and a garden salad.

Mike