Jeff and Jeanne

From our house to yours, have a very merry, and safe, Christmas!

With Love,

Jeff, Jeanne, “The Kid”, Stormey, Scout and Ranger

Last week, I finally came up with an idea for my Christmas Elf project.  Yesterday I went and got some supplies.  I’m pushing my luck on whether or not I’m going to get it done on time, but I have until next Saturday!  We’ll see!

Today is Jason’s birthday.  Don’t forget to wish him a great one!

Well, the fishing trip was somewhat of a bust.  It was fun, but it didn’t produce any fish we could bring home.

On the trip up we saw a couple funny things.  One, was a porcupine in a tree.  We had to turn around and go back and look at it because at first Jeanne didn’t believe me, and then she had never seen a porcupine in a tree.

We also saw some red-neck ingenuity.  For some reason, I guy mounted his mailbox on a old push lawnmower deck.  Pretty funny.

Saturday morning, Josh and I went out and right away, Josh got a hit.  Turned out to be a sucker, or “River Whistler” as Josh called them.  Then he got a nice little small mouth bass.  It was too small (13″) and out of season.  So, that had to go back.  I also wound up pulling in a 13″ small mouth.  It was a fun fish to fight.  Josh got one more River Whistler and then it went dead.  So, we decided to move.

In the new spot, not much happened.  But I broke out the second pole.  I put a bobber and a gang hook and some of my home made dough.  It held up pretty good in the water.  It usually lasted for several casts.  Anyway, with my bobber/dough setup, I just cast it across the river and let it drift and put it into my pole holder.  While I was fishing with the other pole, I noticed the one in the holder start to bend.  I grabbed it and something was on there!  I fought it for close to 10 minutes!  I could reel it in for a bit, then it would pull a bunch of line.   It was fun!  It even rolled close to the surfaceone time.  It was big!  Josh seemed to think it looked like the catfish he caught last year.  Then, all of the sudden, the line went slack.  I thought it had broke.  I was only using 6# test.  But, I reeled it in and everything was in tact, it had just been spit out.  Bummer!

In the effort to find a better hole, I walked down stream and got quite a surprise! I happened across a goose nest.  Momma goose was NOT happy to see me!  So, I snapped a quick picture and went back were I was.

That was the last of the fish for all day.  Josh and I moved one more time once the lightning started to come down.  Then we got some lunch and Jason joined us.  Jason had previously been presenting his final project for his masters program.  Basically, all we got for the rest of the day was wet.  We bounced around a couple different spots with no success.

As a birthday present, my brothers got me some Hodgman waders.  They are neoprene stocking foot.  So, I’ll need to find some boots to wear with them.

Well, while the girls are at one of Julie’s showers this weekend, us guys are going to do some fishing.  Well, I only have the calapsable pole I got when we went to the Boundary Waters, and some of you know how well that worked for me.    So, I went out and got me a new rod/real combo from Gander Mountain.  It’s a Mitchell 300Xe spinning combo.  It’s pretty sweet.  I got the 6’6″ version.  I think the only reason I spent that much money on it was that the mail in rebate gets you a pair of Uniden 2-way radios.  There are no details on them, but what the heck!

I also picked up some line, egg sinkers, and hooks, and made up some gang hooks.  Basically they are leaders with two hooks, about 2″ apart.  Supposedly good for trout and walleye.  Wouldn’t mind getting into either one.  Here’s a picture of my finished product.

I also made up a batch of trout dough.  No idea if it will work, but the recipe said it would! How do you argue with that?

I’m pretty geeked abou this.  I haven’t been fishing in 6 years.  I’m excited.  But, I hope the weather cooperates.  Right now, it’s a 40% chance of thunder storms.  That doesn’t sound like fun!

Today is Jeff’s Birthday!

It’s Jeanne’s mom’s birthday today!

Don’t forget to wish Jeanne a happy birthday!

I’ve added the photos we used at Dad’s visitation and funeral luncheon.  At the visitation, they were running on the picture frame I made for Granny last year.  At the luncheon, it was running on a projector in the fellowship hall at the church.  You can see them all here.

During the luncheon we asked people to write down their thoughts and stories about Dad.  We got quite a few.  Mom is going to scrapbook them.  I’d also like to add them to this post as comments.  So, keep a lookout for them later.  I’m not sure when I will be able to get to them.  It might not be until sometime after Christmas.

The funeral and visitation were amazing.  I couldn’t believe how many people where there.  I met so many wonderful people that who knew Pa in one way shape or form.  Dad always said, live your life so your funeral is standing room only.  He certainly got his wish!

This is a link to Dad’s obituary as posted on the Mohnke Funeral Home website.

Below is the text, just in case the link stops working.

Big Rapids – Thomas L. Proefrock, 64, of Grant Township, passed away Thursday, December 4, 2008, at Spectrum Health Butterworth in Grand Rapids.

He was born September 2, 1944, in Detroit, the son of Theodore and Edna (Knauf) Proefrock. As a child, Tom moved with his family to the Reed City area, and graduated from Leroy High School in 1962.

Following graduation, he joined the US Air Force, and served as an airplane mechanic stationed in Dover, Delaware until his honorable discharge in 1966.

On April 14, 1973, Tom married Linda Harrison of Paris, and they have made their home in Grant Township. For nearly 20 years, they owned and operated Gone to the Birds Farm, specializing in raising Bobwhite Quail. Tom drove bus for MOISD, and also drove athletic teams for Ferris State University. He also drove truck for several local companies.

Tom was a member of St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Reed City, where he was confirmed. He enjoyed his AA Fellowship, was active with Therapy Dogs International with his Golden Retrievers KDB and Molly, and was formerly Scoutmaster of Reed City Area Troop #70. He also actively participated in the LIFT Program, reading to children at G. T. Norman Elementary School in Reed City. Tom was “Dad first”, and looked forward to the annual trips to Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness in Northern Minnesota with his family. He loved shooting sports, and built his own skeet and trap range on the family farm in Ashton.

Surviving are his wife Linda; 5 children; Melissa (James) Barns of Ft. Leonard Wood, MO, Jamie Proefrock, Jeff (Jeanne) Proefrock of Muskegon, Jason (Debra) Proefrock of Hersey, and Josh Proefrock and his fiancé Julie Feutz of Paris; his mother-in-law Audrey Harrison of Paris; and his half brother Philip Parker of Battle Creek.

Funeral services will be 11:00 a.m., Monday, December 8, 2008, at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Reed City, with Rev. Dawn Pooley officiating. Burial will follow in the Ashton Cemetery. Tom’s family will greet friends at the Mohnke Funeral Home in Big Rapids on Sunday, December 7, 2008 from 2-4 p.m. and 6-8 p.m., and after 10:00 a.m. on Monday at the church.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made for the Reed City Food Pantry or the L.I.F.T. Reading Program at G.T. Norman Elementary School, with envelopes available at the funeral home.