Pheasant Hunting at Hi-Lo

Mingo on point

This past Saturday I went with Mark and the dogs to Portage for a little pheasant hunting photo opportunity. The previous Tuesday Mark had gone with a very good friend of his, Paul, to this same pheasant farm and returned that afternoon with a huge grin and sparkling eyes---Mingo had done an awesome job that day hunting and Mark was brimming with pride. Mark already feels that Mingo is just the perfect dog (I would argue with that during those times when he doesn't listen when I call him, when he burps in my face, when he dines on a piece of cow pie....), but he was especially proud of him that day. Consequently, Mark really wanted me to go Saturday morning since it was the last day for hunting, and take some photos of our hounds in action. (Although Lily is still kept in the car during the actual hunting part because of her gun-shyness. She gets to go out in the fields after the hunt and is walked with the other dogs then.)

Mark's pride

Look, no tail feathers!

Well, I have to admit, I did not want to go. Not because I don't love my hounds, but because of the cold weather and the rain/snow mix that was predicted. All of last week was just cool, wet and miserable and I just really wanted to sleep in and stay inside, but Mark convinced me and off we went!

Lots of mud and muck

And it was rainy, snowy, cool, windy and extremely muddy...but I'm glad I went. It really is very cool to see these dogs hunt. They become so focused and get into a little rhythm of sniffiing and tracking. We went with Paul--who actually is the breeder of our Llewellins--and a couple of his dogs, Dualy and Kit. Kit is Lily's full sister and Mingo's 1/2 sister (same dad). Paul has really taught Mark a lot about bird hunting too and it is very interesting to observe Mark learning how to handle the dogs by Paul's experience and expertise.

Paul and Dualy

In all, the guys took 6 birds. I did witness Mingo and Dualy point a rooster for Mark AND Mark successfully shooting it (I guess Mark will sometimes miss:). After the hunt, we let Lily out from the truck and went on a nice walk. She is making vast improvements as there were guns being shot off in the distance by other hunters and she didn't flinch at all. Mark is encourgaged by this and is determined to make her a Great Hunter like the Mighty Mingo. I think she's going to be a mama's dog who sits on my lap on the couch and snuggles.

Lillers

I also wanted to add just a couple additional pictures of my last Colfax visit. There were so many good ones, it's hard not to show more.Emma was a dancerEmma and CocoaScouting the property

Little Lovely Leila

Leila Jane Hurlburt

First and foremost: Welcome Baby Leila! My sister, Lisa, gave birth to her 3rd child this past Friday morning. Leila's due date was March 31, but she decided she wanted to spend a few extra days chillin' inside Lisa. However, when she chose to come on out to meet the world, she did it quickly...the time it took for contractions and driving to the hospital and then delivering the baby was roughly only an hour-and-a-half! Yikes! Talk about cutting it close. Thankfully, my brother-in-law was home (his job often has him traveling) and was able to drive her and take care of Mikey and Emma's needs too.

Leila and me

Emma snuggles with little sis

Emma and grandpa

Lisa actually came home with Leila yesterday. I drove up to Colfax with John and Donnie yesterday morning. Don is in Madison for several days attending a landscape ecology convention at the Monona Terrace which begins Monday, but Don arrived a couple days early so that we could go see the new baby (not knowing she was going to be so new). My parents also drove from Rhindlander to Colfax yesterday with my brother Bob, so all of the siblings were together except for the traveling vagabond Bill WHO IS ALMOST HOME! ONLY 1 MORE WEEK!

Jonathan and newest little sis (he has 3 now)

Mom and Leila
Leila stretches in Don's hands

It really was a fun day--it also helped that it was truly a nice, beautiful day with temps finally reaching 60 or so--but I think we missed having Bill, and Mark, and Hope and the kids around. The family was not complete but it's fun being around a newborn and it was really good to see Jonathan and Jon who often are working when visits are made.

Lisa and baby

Jojo
Dad, Don and Leila (she's in his lap!)

We did not spend the night but drove back to Madison in the early evening. Bobby rode back with us, and I have to say there was lots of sports talk on the way back. LOTS of talk about some guy named Brett Favre and some debating about great Brewers players or something...Although my input into this part of the drive was nonexistent, we DID listen to the entire "Bonanza" CD on the way to Colfax, so my influence was felt earlier in the day. Your welcome, John and Don, for that! Heeheehee.

Proud papa

Dad showing pictures to a captive audience
Read the onesie!

And, Hope, I must apologize to you for this delay in the posting. I did intend to put something on as soon as we got back last night (Don really, really wanted to get pictures of Leila up for you to see because you were anxious to see her), but as soon as we walked into the house last night, a sparrow or some sort of obnoxious bird that likes to try to build a nest on our outside light by our front door flew into the house AND, as this happened, I also whiffed the distinctive odor of dog poop. Mingo had got sick and made a big gross mess in his kennel. Donnie took care of the bird problem, but I had to take care of Mingo and his mess (kennel cleaning and late-night dog bath were in order). Blick. Not something you want to come home to.

Mikey and Jonathan exploring the property

Mikey and Mom