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

Galena Getaway

Laughing at ourselves

After working through our busy Easter Sunday and after Mark worked all day Monday (his supposed "day off"every week), we were able to take a quick trip to Galena, Illinois for a tw0-night stay at a cozy bed and breakfast. This was a nice gift given to us from Mark's parents last year for a birthday and anniversary combo. My spring break has been this past week--I return to school tomorrow--and it's a slow enough time of year for Mark to take off for a couple days during the week from the restaurant, so we opted to go at a time when we knew it wasn't going to be really busy but also not particularly attractive outside either.

Galena, Illinois

Trolley ride through town...

Portrait of Grant at his homeGrant's dining room. Apparently, he liked his meat well-done and would NOT any wild fowl...
View from Grant's home

If you haven't heard of Galena, it's similar to towns like Hot Springs, Arkansas or Wisconsin Dells or Stillwater, Minnesota. The town itself is located in the far northwest corner of Illinois, just minutes from Dubuque, Iowa and is nestled in this really nice valley next to what used to be a very large river (Galena River). There is quite a history to the area, it being a major lead producer and a popular city for many politicians to reside, including President Ulysses S. Grant. Lincoln and Douglass both spoke there while campaigning against each other. Coincidentally Mark and I enjoyed throwing back a few cocktails at the old hotel Lincoln and Douglass spoke and stayed at, which is still running as a hotel with a full restaurant and bar. Mark actually assisted the nice bartender with removing a keg of Guiness and connecting a new line to it...he just can't get away from helping!!

Mark helping change the keg

Relaxing

We had a nice time, although both Mark and I both were getting over colds, so there was a lot of coughing, sniffling and being fairly lethargic. Pine Hollow Inn

Trolley time!Random sculpturesLions with tongues hanging out

An Easter Treat

Good morning and happy belated Easter to everyone. What made our Easter so special this year was a visit from Don and Hope and the kids AND brothers Bobby and Johnny coming out for a visit too. You see the restaurant does a huge brunch on Easter and Mother's Day (plus regular dinner service in the evening), so there was no other way to see everyone unless they came out to see us. I do feel bad though because it is such a busy day, that I didn't actually get to relax and hang out...but I think everyone enjoyed the delicious food and sunny atmosphere. We ended up serving over 575 people for brunch. I served the most people that day, at 80!



Hope assists Kenny in viewing

Anyway, we all love brunch days because they are very profitable and busy, but they are a lot of work! After all the tables are sat and served, ALL of the employees get to go through the line and eat as much as they want. After that though we all work together and rearrange the entire dining room back to its original dinner set-up (we use lots and lots of large tables in the main dining area as these are days where whole families come out to eat together, so these get taken down and smaller table get placed and set). The vacuuming alone takes a person 1 hour to do after brunch days! Messy messy messy.
Stephen




So thanks to Don and Hope and Johnny and Bobby for coming out! And sorry that you are part of the family, so ya'll get to hear extra dirt-info on the workings of restaurant life...i.e., surrendering your table after your "allotted time" so that we can turn it over to the next group. It's true folks: That is how restaurants make a profit on brunch days...turn the tables over.



Beth ponders life

I did get to spend some time with Kenny, Beth and Stephen on Saturday night though and that was just wonderful. I held Stephen for close to an hour and I just can't get over what a happy baby he is and how he is so completely mesmerized by his big brother and sister. Kenny and Beth spent quite a bit of time laughing and running around my living room playing with the dogs and dog toys, and Stephen was just soaking it all in, eyes getting round with excitement and little lips forming a smile as the kids squealed with joy.

Kenny enjoyed playing with all of the animals

Ingrid Visits!!!!!!!!

I added all of those exclamation points for a certain someone out there who just loves them. Hee hee hee!!

Anyway, Mark and I were treated last week to a special visit by Ingrid who was on her spring break (she teaches in a multiage classroom in Anchorage, Alaska). Although our visit was brief, as I don't have spring break until next week, it was still just great visiting with her for an evening and a quick breakfast. For those of you who don't know, Ingrid is also just over 6 months pregnant! I have been pestering her for awhile to start a blog (Alaska=beautiful country+amazing wildlife+ Jack the Wonder Dog)...but I think the birth of baby will be the true impetus for her...not me badgering...

Unfortunately, Mark seems to be sick with a flu and cold again. His symptoms so far, however, seem so mild compared to his horrible December illness. We hope that he will be better by the weekend, as it is Easter and we do a big brunch at the restaurant that day. Please send good well-wishing thoughts his way...