Jan 2010’s “Woman of the Wild”-Kim Pezzeminti
Kim Pezzeminti, explorer, huntress and creator of things.
“Woman of the Wild” could not be a more perfect description for this explorer! As a young girl, I would create some of the most amazing places in the wild of the outdoors. The most memorable is of my playhouse underneath a GREAT big maple tree! The dirt floor was swept daily and the luscious and green moss became the carpeted areas of this delectable place. I served mud pies topped with the flowers of the Forsythia bush. My Grandmother Ruby would always be there to assist in my projects. I credit her for blessing me with creativity. She taught be how to see pictures in the clouds and how to make something out of nothing. (Which by the way has been a wonderful trait to have through my adult years!)
My Mother and Father are also very instrumental in the development of my creativity Through many years of camping, seeing, doing and just sharing added the element of honesty and integrity. My Dad would take me fishing atop Mowbry Mountain near Chattanooga, Tennessee. I caught my first 3 pound bass on a Zebco 202 rod and reel and I was hooked. I began to scream to my Dad across the pond…”Daddy, Daddy, Daddy” as I drug the most incredible, awesome fish ashore. Daddy came just a running and was so proud of me! I went home, took my hands up to my Mom’s nose and said smell…I caught a fish!
As I grew and developed into a woman, all of these experiences and skills would ultimately become the foundation for my work world success. After spending almost 20 years in the tile industry, I found it ironic that I was selling “baked dirt” for a living. (Hmmm, thank you mud pie). I was able to work with ceramic engineers from France, Italy and Spain to take clays, silica sand and glazes to make beautiful tiles for homes and buildings around the world. This job also enabled me to travel where I was constantly in sensory overload! As this Tennessee girl traveled to the West, it was if she had found her home. Wyoming became the place that every chance I got, I would go there, place my feet into the vast forests and just be on cloud nine. The grand mountains would bring my creativity out like flowing lava from a volcano! I spent several summers in the Teton National Forest on Horseback and I never returned the same person. I am so thankful for these days in the woods.
As I traveled, I became the Platinum Princess on Delta Airlines. Spending over 200 nights a year in a hotel was quite and experience. I never knew what I would receive from all these frequent flyer miles but I found out a little over four years ago…the award was my darling and precious soul mate. As we sat side by side on a flight from Las Vegas to Atlanta (thank you Delta) we talked about deer hunting, which I had never done, but my Dad loved to deer and turkey hunt. I told him about the back strap my Dad cooked every Christmas morning. Needless to say, this was love at first flight!
We married 2 years later on the Bell Tower of the Hotel Colorado ( Interestingly, this hotel became the White House of President Teddy Roosevelt, while he bear hunted…I think I must have felt his love of the West) then we jumped in our jeans and headed Elk Hunting for our Honeymoon. My hunting buddy taught me to shoot my first gun and ultimately harvesting my first deer. We make being in the WILD a priority for our extra curricular activities. I escorted my husband on this 50th birthday celebration to Namibia, Africa where I watched my mentor focus and harvest. We have Elk Hunted together in Colorado and Wyoming. Our most favorite place is our hunting camp in Georgia where we work on the many aspects of the Whitetail Deer. Living now in Merritt Island, Florida, we are anxious to someday find a little cabin hidden in the woods where I can sit on my porch and listen to the creatures sing their songs.
Once again my experiences would take hold of my creativity and I from this my company Doeville would be born. This is a place for women to come and capture items created by women and made in the USA. The products and artists are a direct result of my many years of traveling and meeting people all over the world. Our tag line is “Accessorize Your Spirit” which is what the places in the wild have done for my spirit!
My message to all women is to explore, not only places but also within you. There are many treasures to be found!
See the original article at CampWildGirls.com
August’s Woman of the Wild-Tammy Ballew
Tammy Ballew is a court reporter by profession and a huntress by passion. She has spent hundred of hours over the last 30 years hunting deer, turkey and several small game species, in addition to fishing in her home state of Missouri. An avid outdoorswoman in many respects, Tammy’s love of hunting and fishing has enabled her in her outdoor writing career also. She currently is a member of WOMA, Women’s Outdoor Media Association, and is the field staff editor for the “Women in the Outdoors—Gals with Guns and Fishing Females” section of the West Tennessee Outdoor and Michigan’s Hooks and Bullets Magazine. Tammy also writes for The WON, The Women’s Outdoor News, and contributes to their “In the Bag” reviews. Tammy recently joined the Pro Staff at HuntingLife.com
Tammy started hunting in her early 20s, and although deer hunting was her first experience, she soon grew equally as excited about turkey hunting. “I loved the vocalness of the turkeys and the amazing transformation of Mother Nature during the early weeks of spring turkey season.” She admits she knew nothing about turkey hunting, but she bought a couple turkey calls and a training tape, and read as many articles as she could on the subject, and was soon on her way to chasing gobblers. In fact, the first turkeys she called up, she was so shocked that she did it, she didn’t even shoot. Lesson learned, she has since been successful on several toms.
She and her husband have five children, and most of them hunt at least some species. One of her fondest hunts was with her son, Travis, a Marine currently serving in Iraq. They doubled up on a couple gobblers after a morning of whatever-could-go-wrong-went-wrong hunt.
They also have five grandchildren, which Tammy holds a Kuzin’ Kamp each summer where she teaches the kids to fish, shoot BB guns and .22s, catch-and-release frogs and any other critter that comes in their path.
Tammy’s goals are to pass down the traditions of hunting and fishing to her children, grandchildren, and anyone else that wants to share in the experience.
See the original article at CampWildGirls.com
