Christmas day is behind us and New Years is just a couple of days away. My family is coming over New Years Day to celebrate our Christmas. All our kids and grandkids should be there with the exception of Oliver and he might still make just need to convince his Dad he needs to celebrate his Christmas with the rest of his family. Looking forward to it.
Things have been quiet around the kennels. With the holidays I haven't been able to get out and hunt any. After our problems with Gem on Christmas eve he seems to be feeling much better. He brought me his rubber toy when I got home from work Tuesday and we played fetch for 15 to 20 minutes and he is full of energy again. Even though I know that this is only temporary it is still nice to see him full of himself again.
I've sold a couple of more puppies this week which make me very happy. a couple of these are repeat customers and that makes me happy. it makes me feel like we are doing something right if people want a 2nd pup from our kennel.
I studded Gem to a female from Ohio and a gentleman got a pup from these folks and it was the best dog he ever had. He contacted me because he wanted another pup out of Gem. Since Gem is retired from breeding I told him I had a litter our of Gem's son, Herkie, He liked that and put a deposit down.
If you know anyone wanting a great English Pointer puppy give them my name and my home page, http://www.lostriverkennels.com/ and I will fix them right up. I know Morgan is expecting and am 97% percent sure Missy took. She is adding weight and her nipples are bigger and fuller so I am pretty sure she took. but I've been fooled before. So I am keeping my fingers are crossed and hope my hunches turn out true.
Pointerman
Lost River Gemstone on the left and his son Lost River Hercules on the right
Thursday, December 30, 2010
Monday, December 27, 2010
12/23 thru 12/26/10
Well another Christmas has come and gone. It was a good one as far as family goes had a wonderful time at my Mom's even though alot of the kids couldn't be there because of the weather. It gave me time to reflect on my Dad and my sister Susie I miss them both so much I know they are looking down and enjoying still seeing the family enjoying each other. We went to Tina's family on Christmas afternoon had a great time as all her family made it and got to watch the niece's and nephew's have a good time. Had great food all day long got home fed the dogs and took a long nap a lot of traveling always wears me out.
Not so good of a week as far as the dogs go. Lost my old female pointer named Maggie. She was 13 1/2 years old but in pretty good health. I hunted her Saturday on pheasant and she did great pointed a couple of birds and I got a picture of her last point. She seemed fine Monday she greeted my at the gate when I fed her and she ate good and was quite happy getting her milk bones. Her stools we good and firm and she seemed just fine. But when I fed Tuesday she did not meet me at the gate and I knew something was up I opened her dog house and there she laid curled up in a ball like she slept and she was still warm. I think she curled up went to sleep and just didn't wake up I think it was just her time. If you enlarge the picture below and look down the corn row you can see Maggie's last point it was a nice rooster and we did not get it unfortunately.
Not so good of a week as far as the dogs go. Lost my old female pointer named Maggie. She was 13 1/2 years old but in pretty good health. I hunted her Saturday on pheasant and she did great pointed a couple of birds and I got a picture of her last point. She seemed fine Monday she greeted my at the gate when I fed her and she ate good and was quite happy getting her milk bones. Her stools we good and firm and she seemed just fine. But when I fed Tuesday she did not meet me at the gate and I knew something was up I opened her dog house and there she laid curled up in a ball like she slept and she was still warm. I think she curled up went to sleep and just didn't wake up I think it was just her time. If you enlarge the picture below and look down the corn row you can see Maggie's last point it was a nice rooster and we did not get it unfortunately.
Woke up Wednesday morning and Gem was bad. Gem has cardiomiopathy and right sided heart failure and takes meds daily for his heart and to keep the fluid in check. Well Wednesday morning he was bloated and having a hard time breathing. I called the Vet and they fit him thankfully. We x-rayed him and could see the fluid build up in his abdomen but unfortunately we could also see fluid build up in lungs. This is bad as we can not drain the lungs nearly as easy as the belly. Dr. Johnson and Kelsie his RVT shaved his side and inserted a cathater needle into his lower belly and used a syringe and started pulling out the fluid. They worked for an hour and 1/2 and pulled 10 1/2 cups of fluid. He looked so much better and he lost 8 pounds all in fluid. The Dr. upped his lasics from 120 mgs a day to 180 mgs a day and he seems to be doing better he gained some fluid Christmas eve to Christmas morning but the lasics kicked in and he seems to be close to normal now. But the Doctor said his heart had enlarged more and the valves were not closing all the way now and his days are numbered. Gem was a real trooper through all this he never moved just stood like a good boy and let the doctor do his thing. With his days numbered I really am trying to spend some quaility time with him he really is a great dog and will miss him like none other. I hope he does like Maggie and goes to sleep and doesn't wake up I sure don't want to see him suffer. If he gets bad I will put him down and that is a day I will dread but he deserves to go with dignity and not suffer for days. Well thanks for listening to me go on about Gem but he is just the greatest dog to ever walk on this earth I love him so much. Below is a picture I took Saturday 12/18 on his last pheasant hunt. This is his last point and it too was a big ole rooster and Scott and I both missed him sure wish I would've got that bird.
Thursday, December 23, 2010
12/23/10
Let's all take time to remember those who have served this country and are serving at this time. There are many proud warriors serving our country and will not be with family this Christmas so take time and say a little prayer for them and their families. Let's also not forget our homeland heroes the police, fire fighters and border agents who put their life on the line every day to keep us safe. God bless you all.
Wednesday, December 22, 2010
12/17 thru 12/18 2010 (cont)
After lunch we headed out to our next field and this is where the action really happened. First trip down the field nothing on the return lap we walked the milo strip back. The dogs would flash point and were birdy all the way up the milo and this place was just packed with tracks. After the dogs catiously worked their way up the milo a rooster flushed wild and curved to the left, right by Scott he shot the feathers flew and you could tell the bird was hit hard but it continued to fly. Callin and I both let go with 2 shots each to see if we could bring Scott's bird down we both missed. But the rooster finally colapsed and fell about 100 yards out. Scott walked over to get the bird and it flushed again and Scott let that old rooster have it this time and it was down for good. This was Scott's first wild pheasant and he was quite proud. When he got to the bird this rooster had no tail it was definitely a rooster but he had lost all of his tail feathers. This just shows you how tough the birds are, this rooster flew over 100 yard with a bad wing and a broken leg. We were glad the leg was broken because instead of flushing the second time he would've run. These are tough and magnificant birds they due the respect we give them in the bird hunting world.
We started walking the rest of the milo field and the just as Ammo went point I saw the rooster running to our right I yelled rooster running and about that time it flushed Scott and Callin both shot but no feathers and no bird. We turned back down the field in the next strip of milo and about 1/2 down we flushed another rooster and Scott downed this one with one shot. Jet had a nice retrieve and Scott got his Indiana limit on his first wild pheasant hunt congratulations to him. We hunted down the field to the creek and crossed over the creek and just as we got to the other side out flushed a big rooster Callin downed it on his second shot. It was great this was his first wild pheasant too! And what a pheasant it was this is the biggest rooster I have ever seen. It has 33 bars on the tail and it is the longest tail I have ever seen. Here is a picture of the proud young man.
Jet made a nice retrieve on this rooster also. You can see a picture of Jet on the retrieve on my facebook photo album.
We continued to hunt the back part of the field when tragedy struck. Jet made a nice point the rooster ran and got up 50 yards out and Callin folded it. While we were looking for the rooster when Jets beeper went off again. We marked the spot and went to see if we could get the rooster on point by Jet but when Callin got to him he wasn't pointed he was down! I got to him and his head was thrown back and his eyes were glazed over. I thought I had lost him. Scott had water and I got his mouth open and got a little water down him and he came around a little. We waited for a while and I put the lead on him and headed for the truck. He had this seizure as far away from the truck as we could get. He walked with me until we crossed the creek and that was as far as he could go. I laid my shotgun against a tree and carried him on my shoulder the last 400 yards to the truck. At the truck he seemed pretty well back to normal but I put him in the dog box gave him a big bowl of water and some dry dog food. I have packets of moist dog food in the truck for the dogs and this is what he needed but they were little blocks of frozen dog food. but he ate and drank a little and seemed pretty good. I called Tina and told her what was going on and she googled dog siezure and it said it was hypo-glycemia or low blood sugar. It also said it was common in hunting breeds because of the energy they exert while hunting and I am sure the cold weather, snow and no available water as the streams and puddles were all frozen might have have hand in this also.
Scott and Callin went back to look for Callin's second bird but they could not find him. Without a dog they could not find him we figure he had ran after he went down and Ammo went with me back to the truck with Jet. I hate to lose a bird after it is down and they looked long and hard and unfortunately it happens sometimes. I think if we had Jet up and running he would have found this bird.
Scott and Callin hunted their way back to the truck while I took Jet back and did not see any birds but Scott found my shotgun and brought it back to the truck with him. With Jet back to normal it was now 2:30 and we only had 30 minutes left to hunt so we left him and took Ammo and walked the 2 milo strips again. But no birds.
It was quite a day Scott and Callin's first wild pheasant hunt and Scott limited and Callin took a giant all in all it was a great hunt.
As we left the field and headed back for Remington I put one of the packets of moist dog food on my defroster and by the time we got to McDonalds this was thawed and steaming. I put this moist food on his dry food and by the time we ate he had eaten all the moist and dry dog. He looked good again, his eyes were bright and we was wagging so I was quite relieved.
So after 559 miles and 11 hours of hard hunting in 40 hours we saw 12 roosters, about 8 hens and a covey of quail and I was pooped. Walking in the deep snow and packing everything into 40 hours had taken its toll. I went to bed around 10:00 and didn't do a thing Sunday other than watch the Colts win and fed and water the dogs. Plus 2 good naps in the afternoon I was tired but satisfied.
Here are a couple of pictures plus the link to my photo album on Facebook
We started walking the rest of the milo field and the just as Ammo went point I saw the rooster running to our right I yelled rooster running and about that time it flushed Scott and Callin both shot but no feathers and no bird. We turned back down the field in the next strip of milo and about 1/2 down we flushed another rooster and Scott downed this one with one shot. Jet had a nice retrieve and Scott got his Indiana limit on his first wild pheasant hunt congratulations to him. We hunted down the field to the creek and crossed over the creek and just as we got to the other side out flushed a big rooster Callin downed it on his second shot. It was great this was his first wild pheasant too! And what a pheasant it was this is the biggest rooster I have ever seen. It has 33 bars on the tail and it is the longest tail I have ever seen. Here is a picture of the proud young man.
We continued to hunt the back part of the field when tragedy struck. Jet made a nice point the rooster ran and got up 50 yards out and Callin folded it. While we were looking for the rooster when Jets beeper went off again. We marked the spot and went to see if we could get the rooster on point by Jet but when Callin got to him he wasn't pointed he was down! I got to him and his head was thrown back and his eyes were glazed over. I thought I had lost him. Scott had water and I got his mouth open and got a little water down him and he came around a little. We waited for a while and I put the lead on him and headed for the truck. He had this seizure as far away from the truck as we could get. He walked with me until we crossed the creek and that was as far as he could go. I laid my shotgun against a tree and carried him on my shoulder the last 400 yards to the truck. At the truck he seemed pretty well back to normal but I put him in the dog box gave him a big bowl of water and some dry dog food. I have packets of moist dog food in the truck for the dogs and this is what he needed but they were little blocks of frozen dog food. but he ate and drank a little and seemed pretty good. I called Tina and told her what was going on and she googled dog siezure and it said it was hypo-glycemia or low blood sugar. It also said it was common in hunting breeds because of the energy they exert while hunting and I am sure the cold weather, snow and no available water as the streams and puddles were all frozen might have have hand in this also.
Scott and Callin went back to look for Callin's second bird but they could not find him. Without a dog they could not find him we figure he had ran after he went down and Ammo went with me back to the truck with Jet. I hate to lose a bird after it is down and they looked long and hard and unfortunately it happens sometimes. I think if we had Jet up and running he would have found this bird.
Scott and Callin hunted their way back to the truck while I took Jet back and did not see any birds but Scott found my shotgun and brought it back to the truck with him. With Jet back to normal it was now 2:30 and we only had 30 minutes left to hunt so we left him and took Ammo and walked the 2 milo strips again. But no birds.
It was quite a day Scott and Callin's first wild pheasant hunt and Scott limited and Callin took a giant all in all it was a great hunt.
As we left the field and headed back for Remington I put one of the packets of moist dog food on my defroster and by the time we got to McDonalds this was thawed and steaming. I put this moist food on his dry food and by the time we ate he had eaten all the moist and dry dog. He looked good again, his eyes were bright and we was wagging so I was quite relieved.
So after 559 miles and 11 hours of hard hunting in 40 hours we saw 12 roosters, about 8 hens and a covey of quail and I was pooped. Walking in the deep snow and packing everything into 40 hours had taken its toll. I went to bed around 10:00 and didn't do a thing Sunday other than watch the Colts win and fed and water the dogs. Plus 2 good naps in the afternoon I was tired but satisfied.
Here are a couple of pictures plus the link to my photo album on Facebook
Tuesday, December 21, 2010
12/17 and 12/18 2010
The bad weather sure messed with our plans we were going to take to camper north on Thursday but a 1/4" of ice put an end to that but I got up at 3:15 Friday morning and pulled out of the driveway at 4:21 AM with Gem, Maggie, Jet and Ammo and headed north. I picked up my hunting partner Scott Williams at Bedford around 5:30 and we headed North towards Kentland IN. We arrive in Kentland around 9:00 and stopped at the little Mom and Pop resturant and had a big breakfast. After we ate we went to the local hardware store and checked out a lead on some private ground to hunt. The gentleman was quite gracious and allowed us to hunt his ground. The habitat looked really good but we did not see a bird in fact I did not even see any tracks in the snow. We asked to hunt a couple of other spots and we were turned down. They were all quite nice but didn't allow hunting so we went to railroad tracks where I have hunted for years. We've killed several roosters on this property and always at least flushed a few hens but not this year. I hunted this patch the day after Thanksgiving and again Friday and we did not see a bird not even any tracks in the snow on this area too. I hunted all 4 dogs Gem and Maggie got the short run the snow was pretty deep and the walking was hard so they both wore out pretty quick.
Scott and I got a room at the motel 8 around 3:00 and decided to call it a day and rest up for the big hunt an Saturday. The motel 8 was not pet friendly no dogs allowed, can you believe that! We went to KFC and got some supper and brought it back to the room to eat. But I couldn't let Gem sleep in the truck so I picked him up and Scott threw his coat over him and then he stayed between Gem and I and the cameras and we snuck him in. Never heard a peep out him and I didn;t even have to get up in the middle of the night to walk him. Scott conked out around 9:00 and Gem stretched out beside him and he let out a big groan and that is where I found him at 6:20 the next morning. I told Scott he stole my dog I expected Gem to sleep with me but the traitor stayed in bed with him. The rest of the dogs slept in the truck I had packed the dog boxes with straw and they were quite comfortable. Went out to walk the dogs first thing in the morning and it was 7 degrees dang cold but a great day to hunt. We ate breakfast at the hotel and headed to the DNR habitat area near Fowler around 8:00. Trent Temperly was supposed to be our third gun and he couldn't make it so he asked if his son, Callin could hunt with us and we said sure. He was running a little late so we started with out him
Callin is 20 years old and new daddy his daughter was born around Thanksgiving and he is quite the proud Papa. Callin is quite a nice young man and I even suggested that I introduce him to my daughter but that didn't fly and I am sure it wouldn't have flown with Sara and her husband too. :). He is in the reserves and going active duty in August Let's all wish Godspeed and safety while he is on active duty.
Scott and I got to our hunting spot around 8:45 and hunting time was 9:00 so by the time we got everything in order and the collars on the dogs it was time to hunt, my thermometer in my truck said 10 degrees and it was pretty chilly but by the time we walked a little bit we warmed right up. We started out with Gem and Maggie and made our first pass up the field no birds and no points on that pass but the snow was littered with tracks so we headed to the standing corn and decided to cover it on the pass back. About 1/2 way down the corn Gem pointed and Maggie backed and no bird but about 30 yards or so up the corn rows the rooster flushed wild and Scott got a shot off but no luck. While the dogs were on point the phone rang and I ignored it since the dogs were on point. But once the point was what I thought was unproductive I called back and it was Callin making sure he had his directions right. While I was talking to Callin is when the rooster flushed I yelled rooster, rooster at the top of lungs so Scott would know to shoot I yelled right in the phone and about busted Callin's ear. Then another 50 yards or so up the field Maggie pointed and Scott could see the rooster running at the end of the corn and it flushed wild we never got a shot but by that time Callin arrived and was getting ready at his truck and the rooster flew right by him if he had been 2 minutes earlier he could've been out of his truck and his gun loaded and he could've probably got a shot at that bird. Well we hooked up with Callin and the first rooster had flown to the end of the field landed so we decide to hunt the same side back and see if we could find him and we did Scott got off a shot but again he missed because he couldn't tell if was a rooster or a hen and he thinks he pulled off at the last minute. This pass up the field was all Gem and Maggie could handle the trip back to the truck they basically just stayed in front of us. The grass was deep and the snow was deeper and it just wore the 2 old warriors out de did not see anymore birds back to the truck.
We hunted the rest of the this field and did not see another rooster but while Scott was crossing the creek to hunt that corner he flushed a small covey of quail there was only 6 birds in this covey so we left it alone and hopefull they will make it through the winter and muliply this spring and be huntable numbers next year. While Scott was hunting the corner 2 hens flushed wild and we headed bak to the truck by this time it was 11:30 and we drove to Fowler and ate some lunch at the local minimart and headed back out to hunt the next field We arrived at exactly noon.
This pretty well covers the first half of the day I will finish this tomorrow my typing fingers are about worn to a nub!! I am going to post a couple of pictures now and will do the same tomorrow. I am also posting a link to facebook photo album.
This was Gem and Maggie's swan song, they are officially retired. Gem with his heart problems and Maggies age, 12, has really slowed them down. It broke my heart to watch these 2 great dogs stuggle after only 45 minutes of hunting. Both were great dogs and will always have a home at Lost River Kennels. I was not supposed to hunt Gem at all the doctors at Purdue said he shouldn't hunt but I could not keep him from what he loved so I hunted him sparingly and let him enjoy his time afield but alas the time has come to let rest and just be my best buddy. Below are the pictures I took Saturday of Gem and Maggie's last point. I hope you enjoy.
Scott and I got a room at the motel 8 around 3:00 and decided to call it a day and rest up for the big hunt an Saturday. The motel 8 was not pet friendly no dogs allowed, can you believe that! We went to KFC and got some supper and brought it back to the room to eat. But I couldn't let Gem sleep in the truck so I picked him up and Scott threw his coat over him and then he stayed between Gem and I and the cameras and we snuck him in. Never heard a peep out him and I didn;t even have to get up in the middle of the night to walk him. Scott conked out around 9:00 and Gem stretched out beside him and he let out a big groan and that is where I found him at 6:20 the next morning. I told Scott he stole my dog I expected Gem to sleep with me but the traitor stayed in bed with him. The rest of the dogs slept in the truck I had packed the dog boxes with straw and they were quite comfortable. Went out to walk the dogs first thing in the morning and it was 7 degrees dang cold but a great day to hunt. We ate breakfast at the hotel and headed to the DNR habitat area near Fowler around 8:00. Trent Temperly was supposed to be our third gun and he couldn't make it so he asked if his son, Callin could hunt with us and we said sure. He was running a little late so we started with out him
Callin is 20 years old and new daddy his daughter was born around Thanksgiving and he is quite the proud Papa. Callin is quite a nice young man and I even suggested that I introduce him to my daughter but that didn't fly and I am sure it wouldn't have flown with Sara and her husband too. :). He is in the reserves and going active duty in August Let's all wish Godspeed and safety while he is on active duty.
Scott and I got to our hunting spot around 8:45 and hunting time was 9:00 so by the time we got everything in order and the collars on the dogs it was time to hunt, my thermometer in my truck said 10 degrees and it was pretty chilly but by the time we walked a little bit we warmed right up. We started out with Gem and Maggie and made our first pass up the field no birds and no points on that pass but the snow was littered with tracks so we headed to the standing corn and decided to cover it on the pass back. About 1/2 way down the corn Gem pointed and Maggie backed and no bird but about 30 yards or so up the corn rows the rooster flushed wild and Scott got a shot off but no luck. While the dogs were on point the phone rang and I ignored it since the dogs were on point. But once the point was what I thought was unproductive I called back and it was Callin making sure he had his directions right. While I was talking to Callin is when the rooster flushed I yelled rooster, rooster at the top of lungs so Scott would know to shoot I yelled right in the phone and about busted Callin's ear. Then another 50 yards or so up the field Maggie pointed and Scott could see the rooster running at the end of the corn and it flushed wild we never got a shot but by that time Callin arrived and was getting ready at his truck and the rooster flew right by him if he had been 2 minutes earlier he could've been out of his truck and his gun loaded and he could've probably got a shot at that bird. Well we hooked up with Callin and the first rooster had flown to the end of the field landed so we decide to hunt the same side back and see if we could find him and we did Scott got off a shot but again he missed because he couldn't tell if was a rooster or a hen and he thinks he pulled off at the last minute. This pass up the field was all Gem and Maggie could handle the trip back to the truck they basically just stayed in front of us. The grass was deep and the snow was deeper and it just wore the 2 old warriors out de did not see anymore birds back to the truck.
We hunted the rest of the this field and did not see another rooster but while Scott was crossing the creek to hunt that corner he flushed a small covey of quail there was only 6 birds in this covey so we left it alone and hopefull they will make it through the winter and muliply this spring and be huntable numbers next year. While Scott was hunting the corner 2 hens flushed wild and we headed bak to the truck by this time it was 11:30 and we drove to Fowler and ate some lunch at the local minimart and headed back out to hunt the next field We arrived at exactly noon.
This pretty well covers the first half of the day I will finish this tomorrow my typing fingers are about worn to a nub!! I am going to post a couple of pictures now and will do the same tomorrow. I am also posting a link to facebook photo album.
This was Gem and Maggie's swan song, they are officially retired. Gem with his heart problems and Maggies age, 12, has really slowed them down. It broke my heart to watch these 2 great dogs stuggle after only 45 minutes of hunting. Both were great dogs and will always have a home at Lost River Kennels. I was not supposed to hunt Gem at all the doctors at Purdue said he shouldn't hunt but I could not keep him from what he loved so I hunted him sparingly and let him enjoy his time afield but alas the time has come to let rest and just be my best buddy. Below are the pictures I took Saturday of Gem and Maggie's last point. I hope you enjoy.
Lost river Gemstone's last point
If you look down the corn row you will see Maggie's last point
Tuesday, December 14, 2010
12/14/10
I thought I'd better get on here and give everyone a little update. I did not hunt this last weekend we were expecting snow and frigid temps. And we got both we received about 2 inches of snow and when I got up to go to work this morning my truck thermometer said 0. Since the forecast was bad I stayed home and did a few chores that needed done. When I got up Saturday morning it was still 40 degrees and I empty all the ice out of the dog buckets and gave the kennels a good cleaning. I stopped at Burch's and bought straw on my way home from work. So all the dogs got fresh straw snf the dogs are happy. When you give them fresh bedding they are like kids in candy store they scratch and dig and get their little nests made it always makes me smile. No dog I have ever owned like fresh straw like old Rock did he would work for hours to get his straw just the way he wanted it. Boy I miss that dog but I miss all my dogs that have gone on the the big bird hunt in the sky.
Heading North again this coming weekend for the last pheasant hunt for wild birds this season. Wish me luck and I hope to have some good stuff to put in my blog and of course a few pictures.
I wanted to post this story it is a good one in my opinion and they sure pick the right breed of dog for this story read and enjoy.
"Watch out! You nearly broad sided that car!" My father yelled at me.
"Can't you do anything right?" words hurt worse than blows. I turned my head toward the elderly man
in the seat beside me, daring me to challenge him. A lump rose in my
throat as I averted my eyes. I wasn't prepared for another battle.
"I saw the car, Dad . Please don't yell at me when I'm driving.."
My voice was measured and steady, sounding far calmer than I really felt.
Dad glared at me, then turned away and settled back. At home I left Dad in
front of the television and went outside to collect my thoughts.... dark,
heavy clouds hung in the air with a promise of rain. The rumble of distant
thunder seemed to echo my inner turmoil. What could I do about him?
Dad had been a lumberjack in Washington and Oregon . He had enjoyed being
outdoors and had reveled in pitting his strength against the forces of
nature. He had entered grueling lumberjack competitions, and had placed often.
The shelves in his house were filled with trophies that
attested to his prowess.
The years marched on relentlessly. The first time he couldn't lift a heavy
log, he joked about it; but later that same day I saw him outside alone,
straining to lift it. He became irritable whenever anyone teased him about
his advancing age, or when he couldn't do something he had done as a younger
man.
Four days after his sixty-seventh birthday, he had a heart attack. An
ambulance sped him to the hospital while a paramedic administered CPR to keep
blood and oxygen flowing.
At the hospital, Dad was rushed into an operating room. He was lucky; he
survived. But something inside Dad died. His zest for life was gone. He
obstinately refused to follow doctor's orders. Suggestions and offers of help
were turned aside with sarcasm and insults. The number of visitors thinned,
then finally stopped altogether. Dad was left alone..
My husband, Dick, and I asked Dad to come live with us on our small farm.
We hoped the fresh air and rustic atmosphere would help him adjust.
Within a week after he moved in, I regretted the invitation. It seemed
nothing was satisfactory. He criticized everything I did. I became frustrated
and moody. Soon I was taking my pent-up anger out on Dick. We began to
bicker and argue.
Alarmed, Dick sought out our pastor and explained the situation. The
clergyman set up weekly counseling appointments for us. At the close of each
session he prayed, asking God to soothe Dad 's troubled mind.
But the months wore on and God was silent. Something had to be done and it
was up to me to do it.
The next day I sat down with the phone book and methodically called each
of the mental health clinics listed in the Yellow Pages. I explained my
problem to each of the sympathetic voices that answered in vain.
Just when I was giving up hope, one of the voices suddenly exclaimed, "I
just read something that might help you! Let me go get the article.."
I listened as she read. The article described a remarkable study done at a
nursing home. All of the patients were under treatment for chronic
depression. Yet their attitudes had improved dramatically when they were given
responsibility for a dog.
I drove to the animal shelter that afternoon.. After I filled out a
questionnaire, a uniformed officer led me to the kennels. The odor of
disinfectant stung my nostrils as I moved down the row of pens. Each contained five
to
seven dogs. Long-haired dogs, curly-haired dogs, black dogs, spotted dogs
all jumped up, trying to reach me. I studied
each one but rejected one after the other for various reasons too big, too
small, too much hair. As I neared the last pen a dog in the shadows of the
far corner struggled to his feet, walked to the front of the run and sat
down. It was a pointer, one of the dog world's aristocrats. But this was a
caricature of the breed.
Years had etched his face and muzzle with shades of gray. His hip bones
jutted out in lopsided triangles. But it was his eyes that caught and held my
attention. Calm and clear, they beheld me unwaveringly.
I pointed to the dog. "Can you tell me about him?" The officer looked,
then shook his head in puzzlement. "He's a funny one. Appeared out of nowhere
and sat in front of the gate. We brought him in, figuring someone would be
right down to claim him. That was two weeks ago and we've heard nothing.
His time is up tomorrow." He gestured helplessly.
As the words sank in I turned to the man in horror.. "You mean you're
going to kill him?"
"Ma'am," he said gently, "that's our policy. We don't have room for every
unclaimed dog."
I looked at the pointer again. The calm brown eyes awaited my decision.
"I'll take him," I said. I drove home with the dog on the front seat beside
me.. When I reached the house I honked the horn twice. I was helping my
prize out of the car when Dad shuffled onto the front porch... "Ta-da! Look
what I got for you, Dad !" I said excitedly.
Dad looked, then wrinkled his face in disgust. "If I had wanted a dog I
would have gotten one. And I would have picked out a better specimen than
that bag of bones. Keep it! I don't want it" Dad waved his arm scornfully and
turned back toward the house.
Anger rose inside me. It squeezed together my throat muscles and pounded
into my temples. "You'd better get used to him, Dad . He's staying!"
Dad ignored me.. "Did you hear me, Dad ?" I screamed. At those words Dad
whirled angrily, his hands clenched at his sides, his eyes narrowed and
blazing with hate. We stood glaring at each other like duelists, when suddenly
the pointer pulled free from my grasp. He wobbled toward my dad and sat
down in front of him. Then slowly, carefully, he raised his paw..
Dad 's lower jaw trembled as he stared at the uplifted paw Confusion
replaced the anger in his eyes. The pointer waited patiently. Then Dad was on
his knees hugging the animal.
It was the beginning of a warm and intimate friendship. Dad named the
pointer Cheyenne . Together he and Cheyenne explored the community. They spent
long hours walking down dusty lanes. They spent reflective moments on the
banks of
streams, angling for tasty trout. They even started to attend Sunday
services together, Dad sitting in a pew and Cheyenne lying quietly at is feet.
Dad and Cheyenne were inseparable throughout the next three years.. Dad 's
bitterness faded, and he and Cheyenne made many friends. Then late one
night I was startled to feel Cheyenne 's cold nose burrowing through our bed
covers. He had never before come into our bedroom at night.. I woke Dick,
put on my robe and ran into my father's room. Dad lay in his bed, his face
serene. But his spirit had left quietly sometime during the night.
Two days later my shock and grief deepened when I discovered Cheyenne
lying dead beside Dad 's bed. I wrapped his still form in the rag rug he had
slept on. As Dick and I buried him near a favorite fishing hole, I silently
thanked the dog for the help he had given me in restoring Dad 's peace of
mind.
The morning of Dad 's funeral dawned overcast and dreary. This day looks
like the way I feel, I thought, as I walked down the aisle to the pews
reserved for family. I was surprised to see the many friends Dad and Cheyenne
had made filling the church. The pastor began his eulogy. It was a tribute to
both Dad and the dog who had changed his life.
And then the pastor turned to Hebrews 13:2. "Do not neglect to show
hospitality to strangers, for by this some have entertained angels without
knowing it."
"I've often thanked God for sending that angel," he said.
For me, the past dropped into place, completing a puzzle that I had not
seen before: the sympathetic voice that had just read the right article...
Cheyenne 's unexpected appearance at the animal shelter. . ..his calm
acceptance and complete devotion to my father. . and the proximity of their
deaths. And suddenly I understood. I knew that God had answered my prayers after
all.
Life is too short for drama or petty things, so laugh hard, love truly and
forgive quickly. Live While You Are Alive. Forgive now those who made you
cry. You might not get a second time.
And if you don't send this to at least 4 people ---nobody cares? But do
share this with someone. Lost time can never be found.
God answers our prayers in His time........God answers
Heading North again this coming weekend for the last pheasant hunt for wild birds this season. Wish me luck and I hope to have some good stuff to put in my blog and of course a few pictures.
I wanted to post this story it is a good one in my opinion and they sure pick the right breed of dog for this story read and enjoy.
"Watch out! You nearly broad sided that car!" My father yelled at me.
"Can't you do anything right?" words hurt worse than blows. I turned my head toward the elderly man
in the seat beside me, daring me to challenge him. A lump rose in my
throat as I averted my eyes. I wasn't prepared for another battle.
"I saw the car, Dad . Please don't yell at me when I'm driving.."
My voice was measured and steady, sounding far calmer than I really felt.
Dad glared at me, then turned away and settled back. At home I left Dad in
front of the television and went outside to collect my thoughts.... dark,
heavy clouds hung in the air with a promise of rain. The rumble of distant
thunder seemed to echo my inner turmoil. What could I do about him?
Dad had been a lumberjack in Washington and Oregon . He had enjoyed being
outdoors and had reveled in pitting his strength against the forces of
nature. He had entered grueling lumberjack competitions, and had placed often.
The shelves in his house were filled with trophies that
attested to his prowess.
The years marched on relentlessly. The first time he couldn't lift a heavy
log, he joked about it; but later that same day I saw him outside alone,
straining to lift it. He became irritable whenever anyone teased him about
his advancing age, or when he couldn't do something he had done as a younger
man.
Four days after his sixty-seventh birthday, he had a heart attack. An
ambulance sped him to the hospital while a paramedic administered CPR to keep
blood and oxygen flowing.
At the hospital, Dad was rushed into an operating room. He was lucky; he
survived. But something inside Dad died. His zest for life was gone. He
obstinately refused to follow doctor's orders. Suggestions and offers of help
were turned aside with sarcasm and insults. The number of visitors thinned,
then finally stopped altogether. Dad was left alone..
My husband, Dick, and I asked Dad to come live with us on our small farm.
We hoped the fresh air and rustic atmosphere would help him adjust.
Within a week after he moved in, I regretted the invitation. It seemed
nothing was satisfactory. He criticized everything I did. I became frustrated
and moody. Soon I was taking my pent-up anger out on Dick. We began to
bicker and argue.
Alarmed, Dick sought out our pastor and explained the situation. The
clergyman set up weekly counseling appointments for us. At the close of each
session he prayed, asking God to soothe Dad 's troubled mind.
But the months wore on and God was silent. Something had to be done and it
was up to me to do it.
The next day I sat down with the phone book and methodically called each
of the mental health clinics listed in the Yellow Pages. I explained my
problem to each of the sympathetic voices that answered in vain.
Just when I was giving up hope, one of the voices suddenly exclaimed, "I
just read something that might help you! Let me go get the article.."
I listened as she read. The article described a remarkable study done at a
nursing home. All of the patients were under treatment for chronic
depression. Yet their attitudes had improved dramatically when they were given
responsibility for a dog.
I drove to the animal shelter that afternoon.. After I filled out a
questionnaire, a uniformed officer led me to the kennels. The odor of
disinfectant stung my nostrils as I moved down the row of pens. Each contained five
to
seven dogs. Long-haired dogs, curly-haired dogs, black dogs, spotted dogs
all jumped up, trying to reach me. I studied
each one but rejected one after the other for various reasons too big, too
small, too much hair. As I neared the last pen a dog in the shadows of the
far corner struggled to his feet, walked to the front of the run and sat
down. It was a pointer, one of the dog world's aristocrats. But this was a
caricature of the breed.
Years had etched his face and muzzle with shades of gray. His hip bones
jutted out in lopsided triangles. But it was his eyes that caught and held my
attention. Calm and clear, they beheld me unwaveringly.
I pointed to the dog. "Can you tell me about him?" The officer looked,
then shook his head in puzzlement. "He's a funny one. Appeared out of nowhere
and sat in front of the gate. We brought him in, figuring someone would be
right down to claim him. That was two weeks ago and we've heard nothing.
His time is up tomorrow." He gestured helplessly.
As the words sank in I turned to the man in horror.. "You mean you're
going to kill him?"
"Ma'am," he said gently, "that's our policy. We don't have room for every
unclaimed dog."
I looked at the pointer again. The calm brown eyes awaited my decision.
"I'll take him," I said. I drove home with the dog on the front seat beside
me.. When I reached the house I honked the horn twice. I was helping my
prize out of the car when Dad shuffled onto the front porch... "Ta-da! Look
what I got for you, Dad !" I said excitedly.
Dad looked, then wrinkled his face in disgust. "If I had wanted a dog I
would have gotten one. And I would have picked out a better specimen than
that bag of bones. Keep it! I don't want it" Dad waved his arm scornfully and
turned back toward the house.
Anger rose inside me. It squeezed together my throat muscles and pounded
into my temples. "You'd better get used to him, Dad . He's staying!"
Dad ignored me.. "Did you hear me, Dad ?" I screamed. At those words Dad
whirled angrily, his hands clenched at his sides, his eyes narrowed and
blazing with hate. We stood glaring at each other like duelists, when suddenly
the pointer pulled free from my grasp. He wobbled toward my dad and sat
down in front of him. Then slowly, carefully, he raised his paw..
Dad 's lower jaw trembled as he stared at the uplifted paw Confusion
replaced the anger in his eyes. The pointer waited patiently. Then Dad was on
his knees hugging the animal.
It was the beginning of a warm and intimate friendship. Dad named the
pointer Cheyenne . Together he and Cheyenne explored the community. They spent
long hours walking down dusty lanes. They spent reflective moments on the
banks of
streams, angling for tasty trout. They even started to attend Sunday
services together, Dad sitting in a pew and Cheyenne lying quietly at is feet.
Dad and Cheyenne were inseparable throughout the next three years.. Dad 's
bitterness faded, and he and Cheyenne made many friends. Then late one
night I was startled to feel Cheyenne 's cold nose burrowing through our bed
covers. He had never before come into our bedroom at night.. I woke Dick,
put on my robe and ran into my father's room. Dad lay in his bed, his face
serene. But his spirit had left quietly sometime during the night.
Two days later my shock and grief deepened when I discovered Cheyenne
lying dead beside Dad 's bed. I wrapped his still form in the rag rug he had
slept on. As Dick and I buried him near a favorite fishing hole, I silently
thanked the dog for the help he had given me in restoring Dad 's peace of
mind.
The morning of Dad 's funeral dawned overcast and dreary. This day looks
like the way I feel, I thought, as I walked down the aisle to the pews
reserved for family. I was surprised to see the many friends Dad and Cheyenne
had made filling the church. The pastor began his eulogy. It was a tribute to
both Dad and the dog who had changed his life.
And then the pastor turned to Hebrews 13:2. "Do not neglect to show
hospitality to strangers, for by this some have entertained angels without
knowing it."
"I've often thanked God for sending that angel," he said.
For me, the past dropped into place, completing a puzzle that I had not
seen before: the sympathetic voice that had just read the right article...
Cheyenne 's unexpected appearance at the animal shelter. . ..his calm
acceptance and complete devotion to my father. . and the proximity of their
deaths. And suddenly I understood. I knew that God had answered my prayers after
all.
Life is too short for drama or petty things, so laugh hard, love truly and
forgive quickly. Live While You Are Alive. Forgive now those who made you
cry. You might not get a second time.
And if you don't send this to at least 4 people ---nobody cares? But do
share this with someone. Lost time can never be found.
God answers our prayers in His time........God answers
Friday, December 10, 2010
12/10/10
Well it is finally Friday and it has been a long week. Not much news to pass on other than it has been cold and now they are talking about snow. I have had to start carrying water to the dogs already usually don't have to start that until January or so. May go call coyotes and then bird hunt tomorrow just depends on the weather. I am trying to let my dogs rest and heal a little bit as I am going back north to hunt wild pheasants and I have run the dogs pretty hard this year so I would like them to be well rested as we will be hitting it for 2 days long and hard. It will be my last pheasant hunt of the year as season go out on the 20th so I am hoping to get another one or 2 on this little trip. I hope everyone has a great weekend and I hope to post some news the first of next week.
God Bless
God Bless
Monday, December 6, 2010
12/4/10
Woke up Saturday morning and winter had arrived. 32 degrees 2 inches of the snow on the ground and it was still snowing, raining and spitting freezing rain. A perfect day to go afield and chase a few quail. But if anyone knows me any day is a perfect day to follow your bird dog around. Picked up a friend of mine, Scott Williams and went to another friend, Brian Eagan's place to hunt. Still spitting snow and frozen rain when we left the truck, I took 3 dogs Birdie, Rosie and the pup Patch. They are works in progress and of course Patch is still just a pup but it is good to get her out in the field. after hunting for about 2 hours we had not seen a bird then while standing in a trail I seen the birds running through the briers, Scott moved down a bout 20 yards and stepped into the weeds to try to stop them from running I was trying to get the dogs to move in but the birds flushed wild, Scott got a couple of shots off and then I heard the rest of the covey fly but never did see them so I had no idea where they went. We hunted for another hour and never did find anymore birds. Patch did well when Scott shot she was not far and didn't even flinch just kept looking around through the weeds so a little preparation helps when it comes to introducing the dog to a gun. I would have liked for her to have pointed/flushed a bird just to see how she acted with a wild bird but as it worked out none of that happened.
I did not take any pictures as I did not want to get my camera out in such nasty weather. Maybe next time I will probably hunt a time or 2 this coming weekend.
I did not take any pictures as I did not want to get my camera out in such nasty weather. Maybe next time I will probably hunt a time or 2 this coming weekend.
Wednesday, December 1, 2010
11/25 thru 11/28/2010
Well I have a little catching up to do. Tina and I left home Thanksgiving morning on our way to Benton County in northern Indiana so I could hunt wild pheasants over the weekend. I took 5 dogs of course Gem with Jet, Maggie, Herkie and Ammo. It poured rain all the way up there and the driving was pretty tough at times. We arrive at the Caboose Lake Campground around 2:00 and it was still pouring but I got out in it and set things up, walked the dogs, tied them out for a while and fed them I was soaked to the bone when I came in.
Got up at 6:00 and it was 15 degrees outside with a steady 20 mph wind then I found out the camper had no water everything was frozen. The camper has a good furnace but it does not keep the water storage area warm so I took a couple of electric heaters we had and put them under the sink in the bathroom and kitchen and opened all the cabinets and by the time I left I had water to the bathroom so at least Tina did not have to get out in the cold to go to the bathroom. By the end of the day and I got home everything had thawed and we had no more problems and we had no broken pipes.
Like I said up at 6 and met my friend Trent Temperly in the town of Fowler we ate a quick breakfast and went to the piece of property we were going hunt. By law we could not start until 9:00 and had to be off the grounds by 3:00. So we got things ready and took off. This is a state owned piece of property that is planted in habitat for wild pheasants no released birds here. About 10 minutes into the hunt Gem pointed and it turned out to be unproductive. He was solid and I believe it was a rooster that run away from the point. A little further down the property a rooster jumped wild to Trent's right he took a shot but it was a little far and he missed. A point and a rooster in the first 20 minutes was very promising. We went down the first side of the tract and got nothing on the return trip up the property Jet pointed a hen and the Ammo pointed and it turned out to be unproductive also but a rooster got up ahead of us wild and we decided that the birds had their track shoes on.
Our piece of habitat is separated into 2 fields divided by a county road. With the wind blowing at 20 mph steady we decided to hunt the west tract first thinking the birds would fly with the wind and all did and flew right into our next piece of habitat. The bird that got up wild from Ammo's point landed in the same field we were in so we moved around to where it landed it got up again about 40 yards out from me and flew right past me, I had a great opportunity to get this bird but missed with the first barrel and with the wind in his tail I thought he was to far out for the second barrel. This bird flew directly into our other field and we knew we might get another chance at him. We hunted this field for about 2 hours saw a couple more hens but no more roosters. We took a quick break for lunch in Fowler and then back to the fields for the afternoon.
Started out with Jet, Ammo and Gem in the afternoon. I rarely hunt with 3 dogs on the ground usually 2 but with just 2 hunters we had a lot of area to cover and we decided to run 3 dogs. Not 50 yards from the truck Jet locked on point Trent walked in and flushed a nice rooster shot 2 times and missed but I was backing him up and dropped the rooster with the first barrel. Gem promptly went to the bird and retrieved back to me it was a nice sequence. About another 50 yard into the habitat Jet pointed again and Trent was dead on with this bird and dropped him with the first shot.
This field is divided by a creek and we hunted the front half for about an hour and crossed over to cover the back half Gem pointed and Trent tried to get out in front and stop the bird from running but he was too late we walked in on the point and no bird, Gem roaded up about 10 yards and pointed again and this went on for about 50 yards and then the rooster flushed wild from the edge of the property flew to my left I let go with both barrels and not a feather was ruffled another chance at my limit and I missed again. We hunted the back half of the field pretty thoroughly and saw one more hen.
We then moved back to front half of the field to finish covering it I walked up a rooster and a single shot later it was on the ground. I was thrilled this is the first time in about 9 years that I have limited out on pheasant but we still had 1 bird to get so Trent could have his limit. We hunt until about 2:45 and decided to call it a day we were setting things up for a few pictures and I couldn't find Gem to get him in the picture I was yelling and cussing at him but couldn't find him I walked about a cedar tree not 10 yards from the truck and there he was on point and just as I seen him a nice rooster flushed. And there I stood without a gun and Trent going nuts because he heard the rooster flush. We took pictures and called it a day I will post a link to my face book album at the end so you can see all the pictures we took.
Saturday turned out to be a bad day I overslept and did not get up until 7:00 and had all the dogs to take care of and get things loaded into the truck and I arrive at the Mom and Pop restaurant for breakfast about 20 minutes late and I hate to be late. I met up with Trent and his friend Tim Crump. We started the day out at a piece of property that follows along a railroad track and we have always seen birds here not always roosters but at least a hen or 2 but we did not move a bird. While hunting down the tracks I lost the transmitter to my collars the beepers were on but I had now way to stimulate the collars if the dogs needed any corrections so half way up the field Jet decided to make a romp by himself and away he went ignored my whistle just wouldn't listen and I couldn't "tickle" him with the collar to remind him who was in charge so I took off after him and about 1 mile later I finally caught up with him, well needless to say me and him had a heart to heart talk and I think he got the point. But it wore me out I was so embarrassed I am not used to my dogs not listening especially in front of other people I apologized for my dogs disobedience but Trent and Tim made a joke about it because they have both had dogs and they know how it is sometimes. We drove around for a while looking for some private property to hunt and get permission to hunt it we had some luck and hunted a nice looking ditch but no luck not a single bird we went to another piece of property that we had permission to hunt and hunted a long ditch line that I got 4 hens out of last year but again no luck. By this time it was 2 in the afternoon and after my extra walk I was done and we decided to quit for the day. Not a single bird and that is unusual that we don't at least see a hen or 2.
Went back to the camper and took care of the dogs and called it a night early. Got up around 8:00 in the morning and started packing things up and we headed home around 9:45 the weather was nice and we made good time arrived home around 2:00.
Heading back up to the same area sometime in December and I am going to give it one more try. Quail hunting Saturday with my friend Scott Williams and hope to have more to add and of course some more pictures.
Here is the link to my facebook photo album if you would like to see all the pictures.
Got up at 6:00 and it was 15 degrees outside with a steady 20 mph wind then I found out the camper had no water everything was frozen. The camper has a good furnace but it does not keep the water storage area warm so I took a couple of electric heaters we had and put them under the sink in the bathroom and kitchen and opened all the cabinets and by the time I left I had water to the bathroom so at least Tina did not have to get out in the cold to go to the bathroom. By the end of the day and I got home everything had thawed and we had no more problems and we had no broken pipes.
Like I said up at 6 and met my friend Trent Temperly in the town of Fowler we ate a quick breakfast and went to the piece of property we were going hunt. By law we could not start until 9:00 and had to be off the grounds by 3:00. So we got things ready and took off. This is a state owned piece of property that is planted in habitat for wild pheasants no released birds here. About 10 minutes into the hunt Gem pointed and it turned out to be unproductive. He was solid and I believe it was a rooster that run away from the point. A little further down the property a rooster jumped wild to Trent's right he took a shot but it was a little far and he missed. A point and a rooster in the first 20 minutes was very promising. We went down the first side of the tract and got nothing on the return trip up the property Jet pointed a hen and the Ammo pointed and it turned out to be unproductive also but a rooster got up ahead of us wild and we decided that the birds had their track shoes on.
Our piece of habitat is separated into 2 fields divided by a county road. With the wind blowing at 20 mph steady we decided to hunt the west tract first thinking the birds would fly with the wind and all did and flew right into our next piece of habitat. The bird that got up wild from Ammo's point landed in the same field we were in so we moved around to where it landed it got up again about 40 yards out from me and flew right past me, I had a great opportunity to get this bird but missed with the first barrel and with the wind in his tail I thought he was to far out for the second barrel. This bird flew directly into our other field and we knew we might get another chance at him. We hunted this field for about 2 hours saw a couple more hens but no more roosters. We took a quick break for lunch in Fowler and then back to the fields for the afternoon.
Started out with Jet, Ammo and Gem in the afternoon. I rarely hunt with 3 dogs on the ground usually 2 but with just 2 hunters we had a lot of area to cover and we decided to run 3 dogs. Not 50 yards from the truck Jet locked on point Trent walked in and flushed a nice rooster shot 2 times and missed but I was backing him up and dropped the rooster with the first barrel. Gem promptly went to the bird and retrieved back to me it was a nice sequence. About another 50 yard into the habitat Jet pointed again and Trent was dead on with this bird and dropped him with the first shot.
This field is divided by a creek and we hunted the front half for about an hour and crossed over to cover the back half Gem pointed and Trent tried to get out in front and stop the bird from running but he was too late we walked in on the point and no bird, Gem roaded up about 10 yards and pointed again and this went on for about 50 yards and then the rooster flushed wild from the edge of the property flew to my left I let go with both barrels and not a feather was ruffled another chance at my limit and I missed again. We hunted the back half of the field pretty thoroughly and saw one more hen.
We then moved back to front half of the field to finish covering it I walked up a rooster and a single shot later it was on the ground. I was thrilled this is the first time in about 9 years that I have limited out on pheasant but we still had 1 bird to get so Trent could have his limit. We hunt until about 2:45 and decided to call it a day we were setting things up for a few pictures and I couldn't find Gem to get him in the picture I was yelling and cussing at him but couldn't find him I walked about a cedar tree not 10 yards from the truck and there he was on point and just as I seen him a nice rooster flushed. And there I stood without a gun and Trent going nuts because he heard the rooster flush. We took pictures and called it a day I will post a link to my face book album at the end so you can see all the pictures we took.
Saturday turned out to be a bad day I overslept and did not get up until 7:00 and had all the dogs to take care of and get things loaded into the truck and I arrive at the Mom and Pop restaurant for breakfast about 20 minutes late and I hate to be late. I met up with Trent and his friend Tim Crump. We started the day out at a piece of property that follows along a railroad track and we have always seen birds here not always roosters but at least a hen or 2 but we did not move a bird. While hunting down the tracks I lost the transmitter to my collars the beepers were on but I had now way to stimulate the collars if the dogs needed any corrections so half way up the field Jet decided to make a romp by himself and away he went ignored my whistle just wouldn't listen and I couldn't "tickle" him with the collar to remind him who was in charge so I took off after him and about 1 mile later I finally caught up with him, well needless to say me and him had a heart to heart talk and I think he got the point. But it wore me out I was so embarrassed I am not used to my dogs not listening especially in front of other people I apologized for my dogs disobedience but Trent and Tim made a joke about it because they have both had dogs and they know how it is sometimes. We drove around for a while looking for some private property to hunt and get permission to hunt it we had some luck and hunted a nice looking ditch but no luck not a single bird we went to another piece of property that we had permission to hunt and hunted a long ditch line that I got 4 hens out of last year but again no luck. By this time it was 2 in the afternoon and after my extra walk I was done and we decided to quit for the day. Not a single bird and that is unusual that we don't at least see a hen or 2.
Went back to the camper and took care of the dogs and called it a night early. Got up around 8:00 in the morning and started packing things up and we headed home around 9:45 the weather was nice and we made good time arrived home around 2:00.
Heading back up to the same area sometime in December and I am going to give it one more try. Quail hunting Saturday with my friend Scott Williams and hope to have more to add and of course some more pictures.
Here is the link to my facebook photo album if you would like to see all the pictures.
Tuesday, November 23, 2010
11/23/10
Well had a great but very busy weekend. No hunting this weekend I had business to take care of Saturday and went to my Mothers for our Family thanksgiving dinner.
I tied to breed Missy to Jet Wednesday and Thursday. He was able to penetrate but not able to "knot" so I A.I.ed her Friday night and again Monday evening so it is just a wait and see procedure now. I hope it took but we should know in about 30 to 35 days. I took yesterday off woke up with a migraine and didn't feel well early but got to feeling better as the day progressed I did get all the kennels cleaned and all the dogs got fresh new bedding. They are so funny when they get fresh bedding they just dive in there and scratch and snuff abround to get ther new beds done. I always enjoy watching them. I also put a new 7 way plug on my truck getting ready to go north for a pheasant hunt hopefully lotsa news and pictures when I get back.
At my family dinner we had 33 family members attend all of moms great grandkids were there. The only 2 who could make it were my neice and nephew, Cassie and Adam. Adam is in the marines and is deployed and Cassie lives in Seattle and she couldn't make it home. It was a nice gather but either we are going to have to quit growing or my Mon is going to have to get a bigger house. I have attached pictures of my grandkids and my family if you wish to see the whole album follow the link to my facebook album.
I tied to breed Missy to Jet Wednesday and Thursday. He was able to penetrate but not able to "knot" so I A.I.ed her Friday night and again Monday evening so it is just a wait and see procedure now. I hope it took but we should know in about 30 to 35 days. I took yesterday off woke up with a migraine and didn't feel well early but got to feeling better as the day progressed I did get all the kennels cleaned and all the dogs got fresh new bedding. They are so funny when they get fresh bedding they just dive in there and scratch and snuff abround to get ther new beds done. I always enjoy watching them. I also put a new 7 way plug on my truck getting ready to go north for a pheasant hunt hopefully lotsa news and pictures when I get back.
At my family dinner we had 33 family members attend all of moms great grandkids were there. The only 2 who could make it were my neice and nephew, Cassie and Adam. Adam is in the marines and is deployed and Cassie lives in Seattle and she couldn't make it home. It was a nice gather but either we are going to have to quit growing or my Mon is going to have to get a bigger house. I have attached pictures of my grandkids and my family if you wish to see the whole album follow the link to my facebook album.
Friday, November 19, 2010
11/19/10
I tried to breed Jet to Missy again last night but no luck. They just seem to get hooked up. I am going to try again tonight and if I don't have any luck I am going to artificially inseminate her Saturday, Sunday and Monday. I have only tried AI once and had no luck but the circustance were a little different on that breeding as the female was on her way out of heat and I tried to catch her but it didn't work. Missy is in her prime time and I know how it is done so I will be trying it again. Wish me and Missy luck she should have some awesome puppies if things work out.
Wanted to post these pictures of a coworker and great friend Brian Huber and his son Drake. They had a great opening weekend of deer season. Drake got his first deer a nice 6 pointer. Drake is 9 years old and quite the outdoors man already his dad takes him on wide variety of outdoor andventures. Drake killed his first turkey this spring, his first pheasant in October, and now his first deer. Brian and Drake also like to fish, squirrel hunt and just about everything you can think of to do in the woods. Brian also has a younger son, Brax who is headed in the same direction I can't wait to see how he does as he gets older. I hope you enjoy the pictures.
Wanted to post these pictures of a coworker and great friend Brian Huber and his son Drake. They had a great opening weekend of deer season. Drake got his first deer a nice 6 pointer. Drake is 9 years old and quite the outdoors man already his dad takes him on wide variety of outdoor andventures. Drake killed his first turkey this spring, his first pheasant in October, and now his first deer. Brian and Drake also like to fish, squirrel hunt and just about everything you can think of to do in the woods. Brian also has a younger son, Brax who is headed in the same direction I can't wait to see how he does as he gets older. I hope you enjoy the pictures.
Thursday, November 18, 2010
11/18/10
Well the weather has finally change chilly gray and misting rain. I am so glad it should help the bird hunting. I bred Herkie to Morgan again last night and that is the end of that breeding now we just have to wait 63 days and then we'll have puppies. Mischief (Missy) is in heat and I put her a Jet together last night but no luck she may be alittle early but I will give it a try again tonight I hope I can get them hooked up they should make some dandy puppies.
Tuesday, November 16, 2010
11/16/10
Great news I have bred Lost River Hercules to Lost River Morgan that means puppies in January. Lost River Missy is also in heat and I will be breeding her to Elhew Jet Lag. So that means even more puppies. Puppies make me a happy guy. Nothing like watching a litter of pups grow and play they are great. I tried to get Missy and Jet hooked up last night but luck we will be trying again tonight. Stayed tuned the fun will be beginning in about 63 days it will be a busy time but very fulfilling.
God Bless
Jim
God Bless
Jim
Monday, November 15, 2010
11/13/10
My grandson, Payton, is a Tiger Scout which is the first rand of the Cub Scouts. they had a fund raiser selling popcorn and he sold over $1000 worth of popcorn. This won him a trip to the Old Ben Scout Reservation for an outdoorsman day. I got go with him and I also took my stepson Justin D. My son is also named Justin and he also went. We made a day out of it. They had outdoor activities planned for the day we started and the archery range and Payton did real well for a 6 year old. We then moved on to the confidence course and Payton got to play some games and got a chance to climb the rock wall he made it to the top and I was so proud of him. We then went to the gun range where they all got shoot the BB guns Payton did well but had problems aiming I think he is right handed but is left eye dominant he kept trying aim over the gun with his left eye. Justin will have to work on that. We then went to lunch and they had a nice lunch served up by the older scouts. We had sloppy Joes, tomato soup, chips and cookies. We all ate well. During lunch they had a door prize drawing and Payton won a lego race car set he was so happy. After lunch we went to the chapel and listened to a talk about "leave no trace" while you are in the outdoors it was a good talk but I don't know how much the youngers ones understood. After that they had a scavenger hunt and Payton found all the answers but 2 so he did real well. After that it was to the lake and fishing. They had a pro fisherman, Chad Morganthaler, he had his big boat with him and talked to the kids about fishing. then we went to the lake and then if started raining. I took Payton on a row boat ride and we went up and down the lake a couple of times and then we went fishing Justin, Justin D and Payton all fished but I watched helped we didn't catch anything but the lake was real low and with over 500 people fishing at one time or another thru the day I was not suprized. It continued to rain and we decided to call it a day. But all and all even with the rain it was a great day got to have a guys day out with my 2 Justins and my grandson. If you want to see the whole photo albums follow the link below to my facebook photo album..
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=33389&id=100001292875644&l=903b006fac
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=33389&id=100001292875644&l=903b006fac
11/12/10
Another Hot and dry day up to 80 degrees and no breeze and the hunting is tough on me and the dogs and it is so dry the scenting conditions are very poor. I went to a friend of mine, Jason Hedricks, house and hunted the farms around his house which is located in Alfordsville. I hunted Gem and Birdie and it was really hard on Gem hunted him a little longer and further than I aimed to. We moved on nice covey of birds and Jason got one bird on the rise and of course I missed both my shots. Then we moved on to the singles Jason picked up one bird and I got a single. Jason's dog, Duke, had a couple of nice points and Birdie and Gem did OK. In the picture Duke and Birdie pointed at the same time and Gem with the back.
I also took Patch with me. Jason has a nice 2 acre training ground and birds in a Johnny box. We turned about 6 or 8 birds out and I let patch go. The training ground is really thick and it was so hot Patch never pointed but she flushed a bird and off she went. I don't mind her chasing it helps build desire in a pup that age, she is 4 1/2 months now. I then turned Gem loose to see if he could find the birds but he was just worn out but Patch had a good time got to run thru the cover and chase it was good for her. I also continued to let her wear the beeper and she did just fine with it will probably get out some pigeons this week and let see how she does on the them. I have also put in an order for some pen raised quail that should speed things up a little. Here are a couple pictures of Patch.
I also took Patch with me. Jason has a nice 2 acre training ground and birds in a Johnny box. We turned about 6 or 8 birds out and I let patch go. The training ground is really thick and it was so hot Patch never pointed but she flushed a bird and off she went. I don't mind her chasing it helps build desire in a pup that age, she is 4 1/2 months now. I then turned Gem loose to see if he could find the birds but he was just worn out but Patch had a good time got to run thru the cover and chase it was good for her. I also continued to let her wear the beeper and she did just fine with it will probably get out some pigeons this week and let see how she does on the them. I have also put in an order for some pen raised quail that should speed things up a little. Here are a couple pictures of Patch.
11/11/10
Happy veterans day to all who have served and make this country free. And thanks to all the active duty personell who are seving away from thier family and freinds.
Weather was hot and dry it got to around 80 degrees and that is almost unbelievable for the 11th of November but I went hunting anyway. I went to my little piece of property in Martin County. I own 66 acres and it is all farm ground but has nice thick fence rows and some really good cover. I have been in birds there serveral times but not today. I hunted Rosie and Ammo it was so hot and no available water all streams are dry so I had to carry extra water for the dogs. The scenting conditions were poor at best but I had a great time I just love to watch the dogs and I love being outdoors. Below are Lost River Rosie and Lost River Ammo
Weather was hot and dry it got to around 80 degrees and that is almost unbelievable for the 11th of November but I went hunting anyway. I went to my little piece of property in Martin County. I own 66 acres and it is all farm ground but has nice thick fence rows and some really good cover. I have been in birds there serveral times but not today. I hunted Rosie and Ammo it was so hot and no available water all streams are dry so I had to carry extra water for the dogs. The scenting conditions were poor at best but I had a great time I just love to watch the dogs and I love being outdoors. Below are Lost River Rosie and Lost River Ammo
Sunday, November 14, 2010
11/10/10 II
Well went fishing tonight and had a great time the weather was phenomenal 80 degrees light breeze just beautiful for the 10th day of November. Fishing was slow caught about 8 fish but everything we caught was quality fish. Nothing under 2 1/2 lbs Scott Williams caught 2 hogs one weighed 6 lbs 2 oz and the oth 5 lbs 13 oz and I have posted the pictures here but if you want to see the whole album follow the link to my facebook album. This was probably it for the year I can't believe we will have any more days is the 70's. Bird hunting Thursday and Friday and to the Old Ben Scout Reservation with my son, stepson and my grandson Saturday.
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=33204&id=100001292875644&l=2a144c1211
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=33204&id=100001292875644&l=2a144c1211
Wednesday, November 10, 2010
11/10/10
Well I lied in a previous post and said that it was my last fishing trip and it was not, going again tonight after work. We are in the middle of Indian Summer it is supposed to be 75 degrees and sunny. So we decided to go one more time. I'll post some pictures if we get any of decent size. But it is back into the field tomorrow. I am off due to the Veterans Day holiday and will hunt both tomorrow and Friday. Saturday I am going to the Old Ben Scout Reservation with my son and grandson. My grandson sold popcorn and won this trip for selling over a thousand dollars worth so I am looking forward to spending to time with my son and grandson. I am hoping to get my grandson hunting soon as he loves the shooting part of these trips it is a BB gun but he is a pretty good shot and hopefully it is a step towards the hunting lifestyle with Pops, thats me. I'll post any good pictures I get hunting and my trip to the scout reservation so stay tuned.
Tuesday, November 9, 2010
11/9/10
I wanted to post these pictures they are friends of mine Brian Huber and Kent Gingerich, they are avid deer hunters and it looks like all the time they have spent has paid off. I designed and maintain thier webpage. If you like deer hunting, turkey hunting and kids in the outdoors please visit thier website and send them an email and let them know you enjoyed it. Thier web address is: http://www.barebonesoutdoors.com/
Kent Gingerich
Brian Huber
Monday, November 8, 2010
11/8/10
Well opening weekend has come and gone and things were really slow. I had a friend of mine and his daughter come down from Crawfordsville, IN and hunted with me Greg has a young Brit named Ben. We started across the road from house and Gem pointed a pair of woodcock and no shots were offered. Ben later bumped another woodcock again no shots. We never did find the quail, after a great lunch from Tina Hillary took the afternoon off and Greg and I hunted another piece of property that held a large covey last year but when only found one small covey with 7 or 8 birds Greg took on bird and we decided to call it a day. My dog Jet pointed the covey and I had a nice back from Ammo. Didn't get to hunt Saturday as my son and his family came up from Evansville for a visit. I went out Sunday with Kate, Morgan and Patch ran along for the experience. I did not take a gun as Patch has never been properly been introduced to the guns yet. I just wanted the other 2 dogs to get some time in the field in. I put tape over the beeper collar and put it on Patch so I could start conditioning her to the beeper. She did great after about half hour I put a slit in the tape to rasie the volume and she never even blinked by the end or the trip I had taken the tape off and it was running full volume and she never even noticed. We never found any birds but the dogs had a great romp and Patch got some time in the briars and sticks and she did really well. I have attached some pictures of Gem on point on the woodcock and Jet on the small covey of quail and one of Patch running in the field.
If you want to see the full allbums click on the link below to my Facebook account.
If you want to see the full allbums click on the link below to my Facebook account.
Monday, November 1, 2010
11/1/10
Went on a preserve hunt Saturday 10-30-10 with some buddies of mine from work, Scott Williams, Shawn Gilbert, Brian Huber and his son Drake and Kent Gingerich came along a video taped the whole. I will post videos as soon as he gets me the files. We hunted pheasant Chukar and Quail. Everyone shot alot and had a great time. the dogs I took are Jet, Gem, Maggie and Ammo all did well and pointed and honored all day long. Drake is only 8 but his dad has had him hunting for a couple of years he kelled his first pheasant he was so excited he could hardly talk. He said he liked bird hunting better than deer or turkey hunting I think I converted one young man. I have posted a few pictures but if you want to see the whole album click on the link to my Facebook site.
Thursday, October 28, 2010
10/28/10
Went Fishing last night after work and the fishing was tough steady 20 MPH winds and gust much higher but at about 6:30 the wind laid and we caught 3 fish in the span of about 5 minutes and then they just shut off again. My fish weighed 3 lbs 13 oz and I caught it on a Manns 1 Minus colored green and white. Scott Williams who was fishing with me caught 2 fish the first weighed 5 lbs 8 oz and the second was 4 lbs 5 oz and he was also using a Manns 1 Minus but in silver and black. This was my last fishing trip of the year.
Bird hunting season is just 8 days away and I will be spending all my time hunting and working the dogs. I am going on a preserve hunt this Sautrday with a bunch of guys from here at work. I am really looking forward to it should be a blast. Hopefully I will have some pictures when I post about the hunt.
Bird hunting season is just 8 days away and I will be spending all my time hunting and working the dogs. I am going on a preserve hunt this Sautrday with a bunch of guys from here at work. I am really looking forward to it should be a blast. Hopefully I will have some pictures when I post about the hunt.
Monday, October 25, 2010
10/25/10
Had a pretty good weekend, went to Bardstown KY and visited my daughter her husband and my 2 grandkids. Made the trip to pick of my 95 tracker which had some mechanical problems. Had a since visit Sara made a wonderful lunch of Roast, Steamed Veggies and pasta it was delicious. Dropped by the new Bass Pro in Clarksville on the way home and bought a few new fishing lures, going to try to go fishing one more time this week.
Spent Sunday working on the Geo got part of the problems fixed but it took some good redneck engineering but I did get the fuel leak fixed and put the battery on the charger and got it fully charged. Still need to buy a new fuel filler neck the one in it rusted and when you put fuel in it most goes out on the ground. Been looking on line and found a new one but still looking for a used one.
Stormed about 4 AM this morning and it was a welcome sight and sound we got about .4 inches and we are expected to get more in the next couple of days.
Didn't mess with the pup any this weekend. I fixed one of my kennels and I am planning on moving her closer to the house so when I go out I can spend more time with her. She is doing well with NO and here plan on putting on her first birds this coming weekend.
Spent Sunday working on the Geo got part of the problems fixed but it took some good redneck engineering but I did get the fuel leak fixed and put the battery on the charger and got it fully charged. Still need to buy a new fuel filler neck the one in it rusted and when you put fuel in it most goes out on the ground. Been looking on line and found a new one but still looking for a used one.
Stormed about 4 AM this morning and it was a welcome sight and sound we got about .4 inches and we are expected to get more in the next couple of days.
Didn't mess with the pup any this weekend. I fixed one of my kennels and I am planning on moving her closer to the house so when I go out I can spend more time with her. She is doing well with NO and here plan on putting on her first birds this coming weekend.
Thursday, October 21, 2010
10/21/10
Tuesday, October 19, 2010
10/19/10
Well had a great weekend the weather was great (even though we need rain bad). Got all my summer stuff put in the shed and mowed the dust and the leaves looks pretty bare around the kennels with all the lawn furniture and pool gone.
Worked with Patch a little, boy is she a hellion. Once she gets run down a little she does pretty good. We worked on NO which is an on going process but she does know what it means you tell her NO and she quits what she is doing. Also worked on here and she is doing quite well with that. Got out a pheasant wing and played fetch and worked on here at the same time she had great fun and did real well brought it back when she was called but did not bring it back on her own yet.
Flew 3 pigeons on Saturday and as of yesterday 2 have come back so I now have homers to work Patch with.
Hunting season here is Indiana is just around the corner already have hunt planned for opening day and I am guiding a hunt at a preserve on Saturday the 30th so I am getting pretty pumped up.
Worked with Patch a little, boy is she a hellion. Once she gets run down a little she does pretty good. We worked on NO which is an on going process but she does know what it means you tell her NO and she quits what she is doing. Also worked on here and she is doing quite well with that. Got out a pheasant wing and played fetch and worked on here at the same time she had great fun and did real well brought it back when she was called but did not bring it back on her own yet.
Flew 3 pigeons on Saturday and as of yesterday 2 have come back so I now have homers to work Patch with.
Hunting season here is Indiana is just around the corner already have hunt planned for opening day and I am guiding a hunt at a preserve on Saturday the 30th so I am getting pretty pumped up.
Friday, October 15, 2010
10/15/10
Not much going on right now I did move Patch from the puppy pen to a big kennel last night she seemed to enjoy it, she has alot more room to roam and a nice cozy dog house. We have been doing some yard work been working on come, sit and stay. I know some people don't believe you should teach a pointing dog to sit because it has a tendency to make them want to sit on whoa and on point but I am going to give Patch a chance and see how it works I am sure it would come in handy sometime. No big plans for the weekend I am planning on getting the rest of the yard furniture and summer stuff put away for the winter and I would like to mow, not much grass left but the leaves need mulched. Want to get all this stuff done as bird season is just around the corner and I don't want any yard chores getting in my way of hunting.
Thursday, October 14, 2010
10/14/10
Well made in to Michigan and back had a real good time beautiful campsite right on the shore of the AuSable lake in Glennie Michigan. Had beautiful weather lows in the lower 40's and highs in the upper 60's and lower 70's. The hunting was tough we saw a ton of birds maybe 50 or 60 grouse and about the same amount of woodcock but the shooting was tough no grouse and 3 woodcock apiece. Had some really good dog work 6 to 10 points a day but those wiley grouse would get up and walk away from a point and then flush 30 to 40 yard out in front. Now the bad news I thought may camera was in the video bag and it was not so I did not get one single picture and we had some really beautiful points. Here is a list of the dogs I took Patch, Gem, Herkie, Ammo, Jet, Birdie and of course Elmer the gentleman I hunted with took a Brit and a Setter. We had great work from all of them.
Patch didn't hunt but she had a blast around the camp site and she learned alot being around people and the other dogs in an outdoor situation. She got out and about but I never took her out in the woods it is really thick up there and I didn't want to take a chance of losing her. I hunted Gem 2 times even though he is supposed to be retired I just couldn't keep him from doing what he loves. He did fine even though he tired quickly.
Tina and I are wore out 11 hour drive one way and 3 days of hard hunting finally got the best of me was really glad when we pulled in Monday night about 8:00
If any one would get a chance to hunt up there I would highly recommend it great habitat as far as the eye could see and just acre after acre of public ground all which hold birds just pick you up a map from the michigan DNR and have at it.
Patch didn't hunt but she had a blast around the camp site and she learned alot being around people and the other dogs in an outdoor situation. She got out and about but I never took her out in the woods it is really thick up there and I didn't want to take a chance of losing her. I hunted Gem 2 times even though he is supposed to be retired I just couldn't keep him from doing what he loves. He did fine even though he tired quickly.
Tina and I are wore out 11 hour drive one way and 3 days of hard hunting finally got the best of me was really glad when we pulled in Monday night about 8:00
If any one would get a chance to hunt up there I would highly recommend it great habitat as far as the eye could see and just acre after acre of public ground all which hold birds just pick you up a map from the michigan DNR and have at it.
Wednesday, October 6, 2010
10/6/10
Well I have been finalizing for our trip to Michigan for a little grouse and woodcock action. I am really pumped. Camper pretty well packed and should finish up tonight and head out in the morning. Taking 5 dogs, Ammo, Herkie, Jet, birdie and Patch. Of course Gem and Elmer are going they go anywhere we go. Don't plan on hunting patch she is a little too young but the experience should be great I will probably take her out on a couple of short runs and hope she finds and flushes a bird or 2 it would be nice to see how she handles herself I would let her knock and chase if that occasion occurred. I will update next week hopefully with some good stories and some pictures so stay tuned.
Monday, October 4, 2010
10/4/10
Finally got a 1/4" of rain Saturday was a nice relief but we need alot more than that to get us back to normal. Didn't do any dog work this weekend but continued to get things ready for our trip to Michigan. Plan on taking the camera and video cmaera to Michigan so I hope to have some pictures and videos of the dogs and the hunt. Really looking forward to going not looking forward to the drive though.
Friday, October 1, 2010
10/1/10
50 days now without a drop of rain really dry and dusty and the pollen is really bad. Took Ammo out and put out a couple of pigeons he ran right by them. I think it is so dry that the scenting conditions are horrible so let's pray for rain. Still getting things together for our trip to Michigan didn't work with Patch any I just the little hellion run for a while may is she full of energy. Hope everyone has a great a weekend.
Thursday, September 30, 2010
9/29/10
Wednesday, September 29, 2010
9/29/10
Hi,
With hunting season just around the corner I have started this blog to keep anyone interested in how the season is going and how the ongoing training of Patch is going. Hope you enjoy and feel free to comment or contact me via email. Be sure to visit my websites at http://www.lostriverkennels.com/ and http://www.barebonesoutdoors.com/
Jim Beasley
Lost River Kennels
With hunting season just around the corner I have started this blog to keep anyone interested in how the season is going and how the ongoing training of Patch is going. Hope you enjoy and feel free to comment or contact me via email. Be sure to visit my websites at http://www.lostriverkennels.com/ and http://www.barebonesoutdoors.com/
Jim Beasley
Lost River Kennels
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)