On guard

Surveying his domain.

Oh Christmas tree

Our tree stands dark in our house.  This beautiful wreath, a gift from mom and dad, is our Christmas tree here, on vacation, at the beach.

Ben Silver

We took a walk in downtown Charleston and past a favorite men's clothier, Ben Silver.  Not only are the duds quite nice, but it is one of two (the other being Beau Ties of Vermont) clothiers that has a wide selection of fine bow ties.

Rep bow ties glow from the rack at Ben Silver.

Merry Christmas from Kiawah Island

Burge tower shoot

The first thing that you need to know about a tower shoot is that there is a hill, but no tower.  A truck filled with pheasants sits on the hill.  A handler tosses the birds into the sky, and they rocket away.  Around the tower in a large circle are gunners trying to shoot the birds as they zig and zag in the wind.

So what were Larsen and I doing at Burge Plantation during a tower shoot?  Someone has to get the pheasant when they fall from the sky, and who better than a black-nosed red & white spaniel?   Larsen fetched up a bunch of birds and had the time of his life.  He was a little confused at first as the sound of the guns came from different points on the compass, but once he saw the birds fall from the sky, he got with it.  Larsen and I hunted the easy ones and the hard ones.  We moved into the briars and got the winged ones and hunt-deaded the dead.

Things got a little wild at the end, with Larsen going rogue in order to flush the live birds in the field, but everyone (except me) had their eyes trained on the skies and it worked out well. The outing more or less "untrained" Larsen from being steady, but it was a wonderful time and the little dog was thankful from the bottom of his heart.

Clint set a Christmas-like tone with his rendition of Jingle Bells played on his bagpipe.

Puzzled but nonplussed by the bagpipes.

Larsen's first bird of the day was a nice hunt dead and retrieve.

The shooting got hot, but the little dog didn't flag. 

This hero shot is interrupted by the cackle of a cock 

Christmas bakery

Maison Robert has moved around over the years, from Roswell Road to some other place, and now across from the MARTA train at the Chamblee Station.  Christmastime or not, Maison Robert is worth the visit.

Aki inspects the tarts, cookies, and cakes at Maison Robert.

Hidden among the sweets: Christmas Stollen.

Chocolates, teas, knick knacks.

Christmas in Chicago

There's no snow this year.  But the lights and displays on Michigan Avenue let you know that Christmastime is here.

Intercontinental Holtel from Wrigley Plaza on Michigan Avenue in Chicago.

Looking southwest along the Chicago River from the Wrigley Plaza.

Operation North Pole on the Metra North line.

Angels soar above the Christmas tree at the Drake Hotel in Chicago.

You Don't Know Me

Aki's out of town, so it's time to warm up the stereo.  Here's a Christmas idea for you, and that's Willie Nelson's "You Don't Know Me: Songs of Cindy Walker."  Those songs include the timeless "You Don't Know Me," and Nelson can go toe-to-toe with Ray Charles any time.

Was she as lovely as ever?  I'm just wondering.  It's not that I care.  ("Not that I Care").

I'm seeing the past that I've wasted, while watching the bubbles in my beer.   ("Bubbles in My Beer")

I don't care if I'm not the first you've kissed, I'll never ask.  ("I Don't Care")

It's all all your fault when I'm a grandpa if our grandkids don't call you grandma. ("It's All Your Fault")

Is that country music or what?

Ready position

For field gunning.

The ready position is the starting point of your swing and gun mount. The ready position should be a comfortable and fundamentally sound way to hold the gun prior to making your move to the bird. In the correct ready position your gun is held with the muzzles just below the line of sight, with the stock tucked comfortably under your armpit. The gun is at an angle so that the barrels are up slightly. However, the stock definitely should not hang loosely below the right forearm. The right arm should gently hug the stock next to the upper chest and ribs. The left or lead hand should be extended on the forend to enhance your ability to point at the birds. Many shooters will extend the index finger along the barrels to further enhance their pointing instincts.

Tom Deck, The Orvis Guide to Gunfitting — Techniques to Improve Your Wingshooting, and the Fundamentals of Gunfit.

Cocker test at Luke Weaver's farm

I barely remember running Larsen on Saturday.  Sunday stands out in my mind, though.  I was committed to keeping on top of Larsen with the hope of stopping him if he broke.  The plan didn't work out as intended, since crowding Larsen made him move down the field all the faster.  His flush came near my feet, and when he decided to take off to the bird, I made my lunge -- a belly-to-the ground grab of his rear leg.  We were dismissed, of course.  A funny round of applause, probably for the ridiculousness of lunging for your dog in a Master Hunter run.  But it was heartfelt, since everyone in the gallery had been there at one time or the other.

Saturday's run was a bit more stylish.  I started Larsen and then pipped him to a sit almost immediately.  That got into his head.  He stuck to my feet and only slowly started to range out.  He got his bird out on the left side and broke.

I liked that pip and sit.  I'll try doing that with getting him to sit so I can walk up.

Cathy offered to let me run Zelda.  I like the idea.  I'd be able to control for the dog and thereby see how my handling affects the dog.

Larsen enjoys the outing.