Fish, Fish and more Fish

It's fishing time around here...the smoker is going as well as the canner, and we have fish in the freezer. Gerard hasn't made me a "widow" but he has left early a couple mornings (up by 5) to hit the river with some other fishermen. All these guys are out sooo early, sacrificing some sleep to supply food for their families. lol. It's a great hobby for a guy to have (in my opinion) b/c there is a beginning and more importantly an end to the opening, they come home with something to eat, and it is great to do things outside in nature, (not sitting around /drinking) and also fun to do as a family. We go to a slower section of the river where there are no worries of the kids getting pulled in downstream, the only downfall is that it is impossible to catch any fish in this section. It's just about having fun and spending some time together. I always enjoy being by the river. The picture above is Timothy emptying out his "waders" and another favorite picture of mine below is of him fishing. He is learning how to cast and likes it. (at least it keeps him in one spot for some time)

Some fish he dropped off on the front steps at ten to eight and said "I got to go, I'm late for work, can you cut them up and put them in the freezer" (no question mark... as it wasn't really a question) Um...so not my thing, I am the bagging lady, I pick up the fish and put them in bags and then clean up. I have never cut them up, but it had to get done and it took forever. I kept getting interrupted by all the kids, but that's how things go with kids.

I often feel so blessed to have all this healthy food to serve my family. I was looking online as to what to do with the fish heads, and some people buy them as they are cheaper than buying a fish and then broiling the heads and eating the meat out of the cheeks and head, or making a soup stock. Everyone I talked to kinda looked at me crazy (including my dear husband "I am not going to eat fish heads when we have a freezer full of real meat" I think was the exact quote) and another dear didn't even think the question was worth returning an e-mail (she can't be serious). So no fish heads for us...but if anyone else can use them...I don't mind saving them for you next time.