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I don't know why it has taken me so long to post this. A very close friend of mine does stained glass work as both a hobby and a living. Several years ago, she gifted me for Christmas with this - a combination of me in my ritual garb, with my bow and a wolf's head. I just about cried when I saw it. :)
Category Mosaics / Portraits
Species Wolf
Size 964 x 1280px
File Size 145.1 kB
I have not done archery in almost 3 years as after my last move I haven't found a place with a range that is close to me. So instead I took up fencing, so now my bow is on the back shelf and my epee is on the wall.
I have done archery all my life for as long as I can remember, all the women in my family do. My grandmother at 70 still uses her 65 lb recurve bow sometimes after dinner. I have a custom long bow that I did some cosmetic work on myself. I shoot it with a 45 lb string for target practice. I have hunting arrows though I have never had the chance to use them :(
And you?
I have done archery all my life for as long as I can remember, all the women in my family do. My grandmother at 70 still uses her 65 lb recurve bow sometimes after dinner. I have a custom long bow that I did some cosmetic work on myself. I shoot it with a 45 lb string for target practice. I have hunting arrows though I have never had the chance to use them :(
And you?
That's awesome that it's a tradition with the women in your family, even with your grandma! (pack of amazons, are we? :) ) Now I'm envious :) Did you grow up in a rural area, if I may ask, or is it just something that stayed with your family over the years?
As for myself, I've always had a deep love but never had much chance to experience it. I did it for a year in high school (through a local community rec centre) and loved it. No one else in my family was interested, however, so it didn't go much further at the time.
A couple of years after I moved out, I decided to look into it again. The closest places that carried bows were 1 sports store in town (which mainly focused on fishing, so was pretty much a bust) and another one an hour and a half away. I put in the time to head down there instead, figuring the owner would have a better idea of what he was talking about. :)
Long story short, I came away with first bow: a takedown recurve with 30lb draw. Truth be told, I wasn't looking for anything more than that - something that would let me get back into shape again, but that would still feel "comfortable." I knew I didn't want a compound, and even though they had a beautiful traditional longbow there I figured that wouldn't be a smart choice for someone who was basically at beginner level at the time.) I don't use a sight, however, whenever I practice - I'd rather trust my own eyes than rely on something that needs adjusting :)
I don't know if I'll ever have the chance to do any hunting myself (though I have nothing against it) - I'm mostly satisfied with just hunting targets whenever I get the chance too. Like yourself, my city doesn't exactly have a large number of places I can go, so I take what I can get.
As for myself, I've always had a deep love but never had much chance to experience it. I did it for a year in high school (through a local community rec centre) and loved it. No one else in my family was interested, however, so it didn't go much further at the time.
A couple of years after I moved out, I decided to look into it again. The closest places that carried bows were 1 sports store in town (which mainly focused on fishing, so was pretty much a bust) and another one an hour and a half away. I put in the time to head down there instead, figuring the owner would have a better idea of what he was talking about. :)
Long story short, I came away with first bow: a takedown recurve with 30lb draw. Truth be told, I wasn't looking for anything more than that - something that would let me get back into shape again, but that would still feel "comfortable." I knew I didn't want a compound, and even though they had a beautiful traditional longbow there I figured that wouldn't be a smart choice for someone who was basically at beginner level at the time.) I don't use a sight, however, whenever I practice - I'd rather trust my own eyes than rely on something that needs adjusting :)
I don't know if I'll ever have the chance to do any hunting myself (though I have nothing against it) - I'm mostly satisfied with just hunting targets whenever I get the chance too. Like yourself, my city doesn't exactly have a large number of places I can go, so I take what I can get.
Hee hee I suppose that you could accurately call my relatives a collection of Amazons, they are all happily married to quiet, pretty men. (My father likes oil painting and re-finishing antique furniture, he also is amazing with weaving and tapestry when given the time to undertake it.)
We are a military family, so we moved around alot, we generally lived in rural farm towns in germany and italy and my parents commuted to the US military bases for work. But for some reason, to answer your question. Yes. Archery just stuck around. My grandmother and I are the only ones who still do it. (My aunts grew out of it after having a few kids and getting older with health problems ect.)
I moved out at 18, leaving behind an 8 year old sister and a 6 year old brother. Now I feel guilty for not teaching them archery. But my sister took after my Dad, emotional, kind-hearted and gentle (which yes, means that my mom, grandma and I look down our noses a little at her) But hey it takes all people so I gave her my maple quarter staff to grow on. I didn't teach my brother....well because he's a boy and I guess I didn't think of it. So I left him my wooden practice swords instead.
I left for america, saw them once or twice when I was in college and haven't seen them for 5 years since I graduated.
I have no idea if they ever used them.
Wow, that turned out to be a sadder story then I intended! :/
I also do not use a sight, feels so....I don't know like impersonal. That and my grandmother would have peed her self laughing at me. XD (also you cant use a sight in cloudy weather anywhoo so what good does it do you to rely on that?) 30 lb recurve sounds perfect to learn on. Really for target you don't want more then that, you don't want it to go through your target and get lost in the grass! Compound bows look like guns to me. Perhaps if I was hunting polar bears I would like one.....but a straw target doesn't bite >:3
We are a military family, so we moved around alot, we generally lived in rural farm towns in germany and italy and my parents commuted to the US military bases for work. But for some reason, to answer your question. Yes. Archery just stuck around. My grandmother and I are the only ones who still do it. (My aunts grew out of it after having a few kids and getting older with health problems ect.)
I moved out at 18, leaving behind an 8 year old sister and a 6 year old brother. Now I feel guilty for not teaching them archery. But my sister took after my Dad, emotional, kind-hearted and gentle (which yes, means that my mom, grandma and I look down our noses a little at her) But hey it takes all people so I gave her my maple quarter staff to grow on. I didn't teach my brother....well because he's a boy and I guess I didn't think of it. So I left him my wooden practice swords instead.
I left for america, saw them once or twice when I was in college and haven't seen them for 5 years since I graduated.
I have no idea if they ever used them.
Wow, that turned out to be a sadder story then I intended! :/
I also do not use a sight, feels so....I don't know like impersonal. That and my grandmother would have peed her self laughing at me. XD (also you cant use a sight in cloudy weather anywhoo so what good does it do you to rely on that?) 30 lb recurve sounds perfect to learn on. Really for target you don't want more then that, you don't want it to go through your target and get lost in the grass! Compound bows look like guns to me. Perhaps if I was hunting polar bears I would like one.....but a straw target doesn't bite >:3
I love how you didn't think to teach your brother the bow just "because he's a boy." Really makes me think it reinforces my original point. :-D It's cool though.
I am sorry to hear that you don't see your family. I still live in the same city I was born in and while I never plan on moving (since I honestly love it here), sometimes I think that having some distance from my family might have done me some extra good. We are a very close family which is great, but having interests that aren't shared by anyone else it makes it hard when it seems like you have to explain/justify everything. Of course, having an interest in archery is much easier than trying to explain being a furry...)
Impersonal's a good word for that; you have eyes that work and the end of the arrow's a big point - what more do you need? Besides, as you point out, sights can be useless in certain situations (and is a technology-based solution,) whereas training hand-eye coordination becomes a second skill and works your mind - something that's lacking a lot in a lot of life situations these days. Who's afraid of being a big bad working wolf? :)
Interesting point about losing a arrow in the grass and relates to a funny story I have: I've only lost 1 arrow in practice, but it was the shot of a lifetime as it turned out. I have some friends who live on 10 acres of rural forest. A few times I brought my gear and just took some time to shoot at a grove of trees at the top of a hill. Once, though, I missed my target wildly - I saw the arrow fly in between a couple of trees and heard it ricochet, but couldn't find it! I hunted for hours - nothing. I was afraid maybe a truck had driven by lower down the hill (where there's a road) and it had ended up in the bed and driven away.
A few years later when I went to visit, my friend showed me an arrow and asked if it was mine. It was faded, but sure it enough, it was the one I lost. Turns out it missed a ton of trees, managed to go about 100 meters and literally crossed the road. I have *no idea* how it could have done this, since it's natural-growth forest and there are trees everywhere, but that's one shot I'll never forget (or recreate :)
(BTW, please pardon my double-replies... I really am learning to dislike FA's comments system LOL.)
I am sorry to hear that you don't see your family. I still live in the same city I was born in and while I never plan on moving (since I honestly love it here), sometimes I think that having some distance from my family might have done me some extra good. We are a very close family which is great, but having interests that aren't shared by anyone else it makes it hard when it seems like you have to explain/justify everything. Of course, having an interest in archery is much easier than trying to explain being a furry...)
Impersonal's a good word for that; you have eyes that work and the end of the arrow's a big point - what more do you need? Besides, as you point out, sights can be useless in certain situations (and is a technology-based solution,) whereas training hand-eye coordination becomes a second skill and works your mind - something that's lacking a lot in a lot of life situations these days. Who's afraid of being a big bad working wolf? :)
Interesting point about losing a arrow in the grass and relates to a funny story I have: I've only lost 1 arrow in practice, but it was the shot of a lifetime as it turned out. I have some friends who live on 10 acres of rural forest. A few times I brought my gear and just took some time to shoot at a grove of trees at the top of a hill. Once, though, I missed my target wildly - I saw the arrow fly in between a couple of trees and heard it ricochet, but couldn't find it! I hunted for hours - nothing. I was afraid maybe a truck had driven by lower down the hill (where there's a road) and it had ended up in the bed and driven away.
A few years later when I went to visit, my friend showed me an arrow and asked if it was mine. It was faded, but sure it enough, it was the one I lost. Turns out it missed a ton of trees, managed to go about 100 meters and literally crossed the road. I have *no idea* how it could have done this, since it's natural-growth forest and there are trees everywhere, but that's one shot I'll never forget (or recreate :)
(BTW, please pardon my double-replies... I really am learning to dislike FA's comments system LOL.)
Ha! I love your arrow in the pick-up bed story! I don't have any that good about arrows (I lost them all the time and often exploded them if they hit a rock ect!!). Though I showed my mom that I was grown out of my kids bow by pulling it back so hard that I ripped off the ends of the bow that held the string in. (and AMAZINGLY I still have both my eyes after that stunt) That Yule my father accompanied me to a hunting gun/bow store and bought me my first 'big girl' bow. I then proceeded to break all my childhood wooden shafted arrows by shooting them with that bow....so my grandmother sent me those awesome metal ones that the heads screw off so that you can screw on razor hunting tips or target bullet tips ect. At first I hated them because they were neon pink, but then when I started going to the German out door range, the bow master asked me why my arrows were covered. I told him that I was embarrassed because they were pink. He pointed to his own hip quiver, to his own neon hot pink fletched arrows and asked "Whats wrong with pink arrows?" he reasoned that they were very easy to find and he always knew before having to walk up to the target, which ones in the bulls eye were his XD.
I was on the phone with my mother last sun (it being mothers day and all) and she told me that they finally gave my brother my sword I left behind, apparently he had been asking for it for years but were waiting for him to turn 16. Now the only funny thing is that I am 5,2 and wear size 4 or 2 pants (yes, tiniest amazon woman evar, even for my family) and I used a one handed sword like a bastard sword.....my kid brother is a foot taller then me. ;.; I think he will need a bigger one... also I come to find out that due to my sisters lack of interest and arm strength (hangs head in shame) He also inherited my bow. When I expressed my amusement to this my brother told me
"She [meaning our sister] does have your fighting staff in her bed room though" and So then I know she is not a total loss ;D.
Then he proceeded to tell me stories of when I would staff fight with them when they were wee.....I had forgotten I had used to do that, and I certainly didnt expect him, with an at the time toddlers memory, to remember that either. I nearly embarassed myself by almost crying on the phone with him. I guess it never really struck me before that I had been missing out by not living near family.
I was on the phone with my mother last sun (it being mothers day and all) and she told me that they finally gave my brother my sword I left behind, apparently he had been asking for it for years but were waiting for him to turn 16. Now the only funny thing is that I am 5,2 and wear size 4 or 2 pants (yes, tiniest amazon woman evar, even for my family) and I used a one handed sword like a bastard sword.....my kid brother is a foot taller then me. ;.; I think he will need a bigger one... also I come to find out that due to my sisters lack of interest and arm strength (hangs head in shame) He also inherited my bow. When I expressed my amusement to this my brother told me
"She [meaning our sister] does have your fighting staff in her bed room though" and So then I know she is not a total loss ;D.
Then he proceeded to tell me stories of when I would staff fight with them when they were wee.....I had forgotten I had used to do that, and I certainly didnt expect him, with an at the time toddlers memory, to remember that either. I nearly embarassed myself by almost crying on the phone with him. I guess it never really struck me before that I had been missing out by not living near family.
Wow, that's a cool story of your own. Definitely a good way to show that you've outgrown something by pulling it apart! And I agree - there's nothing wrong with pink fletching - now, change it to a neon-pink fiberglass bow (with prerequisite hearts/ponies/unicorns/care bears/hello kitties/etc...,) pink shafts and pink fletching...um, then we might have a problem (or a statement, I'm not sure which. :)
It's easy to get distracted in our own lives once we move away - after all, 'out of sight, out of mind' is easy (countless dust bunnies can't be wrong!) I'm sorry if I said anything that brought out the melancholy; it wasn't my intention, though I'm sure it was nice to hear of these old stories. I doubt it would have been embarrassing - he is your family after all, and emotional bonds are what those are all about in the end. Blood matters, but so does tradition and so does connection.
Amusing furry archery story to brighten the mood a bit: several years ago, I went to a furry camping event (Feral!, which you've probably heard of). This was at its previous location to where it is now - one which had an archery range. It wasn't very big and it was at the back of the camp, but it was there. The camp had scheduled a couple of blocks of time for the counselors to watch over it so that the furs in attendance could shoot (myself included.)
One guy there was trying to act like a big-shot - he didn't have his own bow, but claimed/bragged that he knew how to shoot 'like they do in the desert from horseback'(however that matters.) My doubts in him were instantaneous given that he was *resting the arrow on the wrong side of the bow.* It wasn't on the rest or anything, it was literally just nocked to the string and that's it. Every time he'd pull back, the arrow would turn out and aim at the guy next to him X-D (forcing him to tilt the whole thing sharply to keep it sighted and generally looking like a doofus.) They had put up balloons as targets, which I can safely say he never hit. I was really worried he was going to hurt someone, but thankfully, that didn't happen. Still, I made sure to always stay on the other side of him whenever he was there.
If you're going to show off, at least make sure you know the basics of what you are doing first.
It's easy to get distracted in our own lives once we move away - after all, 'out of sight, out of mind' is easy (countless dust bunnies can't be wrong!) I'm sorry if I said anything that brought out the melancholy; it wasn't my intention, though I'm sure it was nice to hear of these old stories. I doubt it would have been embarrassing - he is your family after all, and emotional bonds are what those are all about in the end. Blood matters, but so does tradition and so does connection.
Amusing furry archery story to brighten the mood a bit: several years ago, I went to a furry camping event (Feral!, which you've probably heard of). This was at its previous location to where it is now - one which had an archery range. It wasn't very big and it was at the back of the camp, but it was there. The camp had scheduled a couple of blocks of time for the counselors to watch over it so that the furs in attendance could shoot (myself included.)
One guy there was trying to act like a big-shot - he didn't have his own bow, but claimed/bragged that he knew how to shoot 'like they do in the desert from horseback'(however that matters.) My doubts in him were instantaneous given that he was *resting the arrow on the wrong side of the bow.* It wasn't on the rest or anything, it was literally just nocked to the string and that's it. Every time he'd pull back, the arrow would turn out and aim at the guy next to him X-D (forcing him to tilt the whole thing sharply to keep it sighted and generally looking like a doofus.) They had put up balloons as targets, which I can safely say he never hit. I was really worried he was going to hurt someone, but thankfully, that didn't happen. Still, I made sure to always stay on the other side of him whenever he was there.
If you're going to show off, at least make sure you know the basics of what you are doing first.
Ha! I've seen people put the feather fletches neatly into their own thumb by resting the arrow on the wrong side and shooting! So I never made that mistake myself, even as a newb! I like the idea as balloons as targets, I will have to use that some time.
Why is there always a 'big shot', every sport/group has one, my assumption is that its for some sort of cosmic amusement, because generally they fufill the 'what not to do roll' :D
Wow a furry camp meet. That is neet, I have personally never been to one, just heard of them. Was it like a plain clothes event or were you guys fur-suiting it the whole time (just wonders how that works for doing archery and cooking!)
Why is there always a 'big shot', every sport/group has one, my assumption is that its for some sort of cosmic amusement, because generally they fufill the 'what not to do roll' :D
Wow a furry camp meet. That is neet, I have personally never been to one, just heard of them. Was it like a plain clothes event or were you guys fur-suiting it the whole time (just wonders how that works for doing archery and cooking!)
It was mostly plainclothes, from what I recall. The camp itself was in the middle of summer so fursuiting the whole time in hot sun would probably have lead to a ton of heat stroke. It was in rural Ontario, with no cities nearby, so sensible thinking was needed. The camp counselors were used to furries by then, so even though there wasn't a lot of 'suiting going on there was still enough signs to figure out just who had invaded the camp :)
It was similar to a con, in that there was workshops and events, but obviously a lot more of it was geared to the outdoors - a real blend of a con and a summer camp. Cooking wasn't an issue since everyone stayed in cabins and there was a main camphouse that did all the meals for everyone (convenient!) Some people even brought their own trailers to stay in.
There was a lake for swimming/kayaking, the archery range, murderball (hardcore tetherball), but we still had a rave/dance which was done in a clearing up a hill (but they still had a great sound and lights system.) There was a dealer's den on one day, workshops on various art techniques as well as a crafts one for making fursuit-style items (mostly tails and ears,) an improv show, Uncle Kage had a story night, and we had to also put on a skit for each cabin. We also had a game of "Predator/Prey" in one of the back fields which was a lot of fun. (and interestingly enough, no, no one wore a fursuit to that either - probably for the best, given that it might be destroy by the foliage :)
I only ever managed to go the one time but I had a great time overall - was definitely worth the experience.
It was similar to a con, in that there was workshops and events, but obviously a lot more of it was geared to the outdoors - a real blend of a con and a summer camp. Cooking wasn't an issue since everyone stayed in cabins and there was a main camphouse that did all the meals for everyone (convenient!) Some people even brought their own trailers to stay in.
There was a lake for swimming/kayaking, the archery range, murderball (hardcore tetherball), but we still had a rave/dance which was done in a clearing up a hill (but they still had a great sound and lights system.) There was a dealer's den on one day, workshops on various art techniques as well as a crafts one for making fursuit-style items (mostly tails and ears,) an improv show, Uncle Kage had a story night, and we had to also put on a skit for each cabin. We also had a game of "Predator/Prey" in one of the back fields which was a lot of fun. (and interestingly enough, no, no one wore a fursuit to that either - probably for the best, given that it might be destroy by the foliage :)
I only ever managed to go the one time but I had a great time overall - was definitely worth the experience.
I love how you didn't think to teach your brother the bow just "because he's a boy." Really makes me think it reinforces my original point. :-D It's cool though.
I am sorry to hear that you don't see your family. I still live in the same city I was born in and while I never plan on moving (since I honestly love it here), sometimes I think that having some distance from my family might have done me some extra good. We are a very close family which is great, but having interests that aren't shared by anyone else it makes it hard when it seems like you have to explain/justify everything. Of course, having an interest in archery is much easier than trying to explain being a furry...)
Impersonal's a good word for that; you have eyes that work and the end of the arrow's a big point - what more do you need? Besides, as you point out, sights can be useless in certain situations (and is a technology-based solution,) whereas training hand-eye coordination becomes a second skill and works your mind - something that's lacking a lot in a lot of life situations these days. Who's afraid of being a big bad working wolf? :)
Interesting point about losing a arrow in the grass and relates to a funny story I have: I've only lost 1 arrow in practice, but it was the shot of a lifetime as it turned out. I have some friends who live on 10 acres of rural forest. A few times I brought my gear and just took some time to shoot at a grove of trees at the top of a hill. Once, though, I missed my target wildly - I saw the arrow fly in between a couple of trees and heard it ricochet, but couldn't find it! I hunted for hours - nothing. I was afraid maybe a truck had driven by lower down the hill (where there's a road) and it had ended up in the bed and driven away.
A few years later when I went to visit, my friend showed me an arrow and asked if it was mine. It was faded, but sure it enough, it was the one I lost. Turns out it missed a ton of trees, managed to go about 100 meters and literally crossed the road. I have *no idea* how it could have done this, since it's natural-growth forest and there are trees everywhere, but that's one shot I'll never forget (or recreate :)
I am sorry to hear that you don't see your family. I still live in the same city I was born in and while I never plan on moving (since I honestly love it here), sometimes I think that having some distance from my family might have done me some extra good. We are a very close family which is great, but having interests that aren't shared by anyone else it makes it hard when it seems like you have to explain/justify everything. Of course, having an interest in archery is much easier than trying to explain being a furry...)
Impersonal's a good word for that; you have eyes that work and the end of the arrow's a big point - what more do you need? Besides, as you point out, sights can be useless in certain situations (and is a technology-based solution,) whereas training hand-eye coordination becomes a second skill and works your mind - something that's lacking a lot in a lot of life situations these days. Who's afraid of being a big bad working wolf? :)
Interesting point about losing a arrow in the grass and relates to a funny story I have: I've only lost 1 arrow in practice, but it was the shot of a lifetime as it turned out. I have some friends who live on 10 acres of rural forest. A few times I brought my gear and just took some time to shoot at a grove of trees at the top of a hill. Once, though, I missed my target wildly - I saw the arrow fly in between a couple of trees and heard it ricochet, but couldn't find it! I hunted for hours - nothing. I was afraid maybe a truck had driven by lower down the hill (where there's a road) and it had ended up in the bed and driven away.
A few years later when I went to visit, my friend showed me an arrow and asked if it was mine. It was faded, but sure it enough, it was the one I lost. Turns out it missed a ton of trees, managed to go about 100 meters and literally crossed the road. I have *no idea* how it could have done this, since it's natural-growth forest and there are trees everywhere, but that's one shot I'll never forget (or recreate :)
This is so amazing, someday when I build or buy a nice house I plan on putting in a stained glass window. I would love to have a furry theme window. Do you shoot all traditional or compound as well? I shoot a Mathews Outback but I've been wanting to get into traditional. I recently broke my paw though so wont be shooting for a few awhile. :c
Just out of curiosity how big is this?
Just out of curiosity how big is this?
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