Appearances

Posted byGary FultzPosted inabundant life, accomplishment, cold, Dangerous snow conditions, deception, expectations, Fishing, Gary Fultz Blog, Humor, Nature, nature pictures, Northern Pike, outdoor scenery, perspective, Photography, snow conditions, story telling., winterTags:, , , , , , ,

Looks cold. Looks windy. It was. I opened both house doors to get outside and hung on. Our little dog Buddy whined and then said in perfect dog English “can I just use your bathroom?” We walked sideways for two miles down the 300-yard-long drive to the mailbox. Well, I walked while Buddy did one mile in his slippery booties on the hardpack icy driveway. The other mile Buddy chased a rabbit that sat under the sawmill while watching this little white dog run in place at the end of his leash. I cheered Buddy on and pulled the leash toward the mailbox in the -60 (f) crosswind.

I stood in front of the mailbox mumbling “neither rain, nor snow, nor sleet…” The mail slogan must have changed or maybe a two-day holiday I don’t know about. Maybe they are trying to work from home? When I raced Buddy home he cheated by leaving a slipper at the mailbox. I retrieved it while he watched from the picture window. I am quite sure I made him feel bad as I also picked up several sticks from the snowbanks that he refused to bring back to me over the last cold week. Buddy is the only dog I know that grins when he feels bad.

Sigh…There are so many things in this world that are not what appears to be. So many people…I had the oddest thought while buddy was running in place at the end of the leash “don’t judge me by my dog”. I suppose that goes for parents and kids, teachers and students, and yes… Jesus and his followers. I’m one of them. Sometimes I run in place and get nowhere thinking I’m somebody. Of course, none of us really mean to be who we are when we are not being nice

I did become more vulnerable as I accepted an invitation to Matt Kohrell’s podcast…The question is “do I appear competent? Do I really mean what I say? Do I? You can peek and judge here at https://jesusluvsall.org/2025/02/22/interview-with-gary-fultz-of-garyfultz-com/

I did talk fishing a bit on Matt’s podcast as it is getting warmer. I celebrated by going fishing through 33″ of ice on the lake. I even caught supper…yes, I have pictures.

Gary

By the way, fried up northern pike fish eggs this time of year are great (depends on who you ask). I caught this pike on a spoon hook with 30 lb test line tied to a stick I cut from the woods…It works…click on the fish picture to enlarge

Published by Gary Fultz

Outdoors Man, Hunter, Fisherman, Guide, Writer / Author, Photographer, Public Speaker, Musician, Song Writer, Story Teller, Follower Of Jesus. Love God and family and total strangers

46 thoughts on “Appearances”

  1. …and here I am in southwest Colorado, complaining about the cold when it’s only 12° F… You northerners are a hardy breed, Gary! Good to see another post, my friend. Stay warm! 😊

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    1. Thanks Mike. We hit a spell of -20 to -30 with wicked winds. A colder than normal winter but we were due, I guess. That mountain air can get you as well. We are getting borderline thawing temps so I’ll be fishing a bunch. 30’s will be flannel shirt weather out on the lakes.

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  2. We don’t get snow where we live in Florida, but I remember how we loved sitting in front of the fire on snowy days when we lived up north. We didn’t live as far north as you do, but we loved it as long as I didn’t have to go to work in the snow.

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    1. There is something about sitting by the fire Don. Any excuse is a good one. I agree on snowy weather…that fire is extra special. Snow doesn’t seem to bother many people here as long as it doesn’t plug your car radiator and overheat…then you wait for the plow on the roads. It’s the below zero with wind that is dangerous as you cannot tell where the ditches are with the drifting. There are times when Florida sounds really nice…Life life I guess…heaven sounds really nice…all the time

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    1. Oh ya…too funny.

      Hey that stick is free. That tree branch was sticking over a path anyway. I have literally caught thousands of pike, hundreds of perch and an occasional walleye that way since I was a very young kid.

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  4. Gary, you said something during your interview with Matt that is still ping ponging 🏓 back and forth in my head.
    “We think we are bigger than we are.”
    Walking what feels like 2 miles, down a 300 yard ice rink driveway is a good illustration of this. Add in your little dog chasing a rabbit 🐇 on a frozen treadmill, and the scene becomes downright prophetic.

    “All our righteous acts are like filthy rags in God’s sight.” Isaiah something:something

    Ok, sermon over. But God spoke to me, Gary, and He did it through your keeping it real.

    Thank you, my north woods brother.

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    1. Love your thought pattern on tying loose ends together David. There are a lot of layers to all that is involved in becoming humble enough to see how much we really do not control. How much our opinion doesn’t matter,.,. because we weren’t there How wrong we are in thinking we know the truths of the universe based upon our thimble full of knowledge we dipped out of the ocean. Yet God gives us wisdom based on how much we trust him. He leads us past the rabbits and squirrel distractions while on paths of righteousness.

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  6. I love this so much! “Of course, none of us really mean to be who we are when we are not being nice”. So true! Loved the humor, loved the wisdom. Then there’s the bitter cold wind where you are, oh my goodness!! The morning temp here in Ks is 32 degrees. I’ll stop whining now. Really enjoyed the read this Sunday morning. I’ll check out the podcast later.

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    1. Our little Buddy. Sometimes he is the best little dog and other times a sinister spy. Only when he sees another animal (He wanted to chase a bear by the mailbox once…thus a leash) do I know what is going through his brain. He grins…too much

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  8. Thanks Gary. Enjoyed the post and pictures. The fishing looks fun. Regarding the cold up there (almost three feet of ice on the lake) you add a perspective most don’t have. Had a very cold week down here in Texas. Freezing temps every night including about a 36 hour freezing stretch. Lows of 17 and 18 on consecutive early mornings. I then find out these were about your recent high temps.

    I watched the video with you and Matt and enjoyed that also. Much joy in the Lord with you two. Thanks for your work and witness.

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  10. Wonderful photographs!!! Our snow is almost gone. We certainly did use the fireplace when our ‘snowstorm’ hit. (Maybe six inches of snow!!!) I have lived in colder places, but when the snow is falling, that fireplace is awesome.

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    1. Thanks Linda. We have had more cold and winds. March and April could be make-up months on the snow. I agree on a fireplace being awesome. We have a doublewide home (dad and moms old home) and the pipes will freeze if we use wood heat…Crawl spaces should be illegal in Minnesota (.my thoughts). Every winter it’s tempting to harvest logs for a log cabin on our 80 and then go to our numerous rock piles bordering the neighbors’ fields for building a big rock fireplace…sigh

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  11. Gary, you’re a wise man! Your interview, testimony, and the evidence of how you live day to day is proof that you mean what you say. Competent? You bet you are~ you give all glory to God.

    Aww, Buddy. You and Finn would be fast friends. She can’t take the cold, Gary!

    I imagine Jesus eyerolls at me when I’m on claiming to be his and I run in place or go dart at things that take me off of his guidance. He sure loves in spite of us!

    You, Cheryl, and Tania are a special family, my friend, for braving through the winter cold without the “bitterness”~ instead using that great stick to grab more blessings! Your lens, because of your eyes of the Creator, “sees” the things many cannot.

    Many things in the interview stand out, Gary. I thought of a time I jumped off the cliffs at the lake with the youth. Great analogy to how once you jump, there’s no turning back. And your friends SAW that you had and were…different. May God keep blessing you and yours my dear friend. What blessings you are!! 🙏🏻🙏🏻

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    1. Many thanks Karla. We have both been used to enrich other lives. Earlier in life, I believe in my case, that one of my brothers was on to something when he said to me “what if you find out your real purpose in life was to be an example of what not to do?” The good news is that God rewards those of us that follow and trust him with an uncommon wisdom. Some days I even. Keep trusting and growing…you are an brave inspiration in all you do

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    1. thanks Donna. The temps include wind chill factor. Wind is a killer. I think I would rather just have the actual temps without the wind. I’m not posting as much…some is just life stuff and there are too many fish to catch.

      yes, always present Jesus in all we do.

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    1. Thanks Beth. I do yearn for an occasional “Florida break” some winters when the cold spells are long. This winter being one of them. As far as the roe…I would like to try the mullet. My wife and daughter will gladly donate their part as well.

      we have had a few days of very warm weather here (high 30 to low 40s) feeling spoiled ice fishing in a flannel shirt.

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  16. Hey Gary,

    Cabela’s & Scheels wouldn’t want you to publicize your expensive fishing stick too much. Their winter angling rod sales would take a hit.

    😂

    Especially if fisherman knew how many hundred (thousands,because dad taught you) fish you’ve caught with a stick.

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    1. Thanks Peggy. I am one of those bloggers who doesn’t give out “likes” liberally. I also only visit the internet when I find myself indoors after a day of outdoor adventuring. It is rewarding to make connections with others through blogs and comments.

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  18. Love the photos. And fishing through 33″ of ice; oh, my. I wouldn’t do it–but I sure love imagining it! BTW, I just wrote a post about hiking; knowing your love of the outdoors, I think you’ll enjoy it.

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    1. Thanks Keith. Safe ice at 33 inches, as long as there are no springs or moving water nearby. Think of it as flatland for walking and driving on, only you can stop, drill a hole and catch a fish.

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