Tuesday, December 31, 2013
Christmas past
Some scenes from Christmas as we file the year into history.
Aki places her jello salad onto a silver platter for her annual Christmas brunch with her friends.
A refreshing salad.
A business card holder with Larsen's likeness is a thoughtful gift from a colleague.
Some R&R during the Christmas season.
Monday, December 30, 2013
Steadying tips
You can also hand toss the birds when you want a flyer and teach the dog to stop when it sees the bird. You can also tape wing the flyer when the dog becomes reliable at stopping when the bird is thrown, then you can send the dog for the retrieve. If the dog is easy on the bird, you can recycle this bird over a period of time.
When you are tossing the flyer, the dog will not quarter well because it knows that you have the birds and you are going to toss them. That is OK. Don't fuss at the dog to get it to quarter. You are teaching it to watch you and stop on a flyer. No need to confuse the dog with trying to teach several things at once. As the dog learns this routine, you can plant a couple taped winged birds in the field for the dog to find and not toss a flyer. You can use the taped wing birds to help teach the quartering pattern and keep the flush hard, and then mix in a hand tossed flyer for a steady opportunity.
I feel that if I have the birds and the control of when the dog finds or sees one, then I stay the focus of their attention and they think I really do provide all of their "fun". When they think they can go find their own "fun", the control power starts to change a little. They will figure things out soon enough when you start hunting wild birds.
Lots of ways to get to the end result.
Thanks, and HT to SpringerDude
Sunday, December 29, 2013
Deer chase
Right away I knew something was wrong.
Larsen went to the right and then to the left of the boardwalk that led from the condo to the beach. He was tracking deer, and I knew that I was not in his mind in the least. I hit the whistle once, but that only confirmed what was obvious to both of us.
The dog disappeared deep within the tangled laurel. I walked to the end of the boardwalk and looked west in time to see a whitetail spring from the dune and onto the beach, heading east and straight toward the boardwalk.
If I'd been a smarter cowboy, I could have swung onto the back of that deer as it thundered by and rode that critter out of town three steps ahead of the posse. Hot behind the deer came that stupid dog, busting out of the sedge and sea oats and stretched flat out belly to the ground, eyes crazed with a jackpot-gleam of excitement, joy, and greed. I jumped in front of Larsen and yelled at him to stop in a most insipid attempt to end the chase.
The deer turned from the beach into the dunes, with the dog behind him, keening. Both broke into the sea oats and deeper into the spear-like spanish bayonett, weeping yucca, and the laurel where it is always dark even on a sunny day.
Running behind the two was a foolish exercise, though I did it anyway. How could I catch those animals? I could follow their tracks only by carefully picking my way through the undergrowth that they had burst through and during that time deer and dog could run the length of the island. I found my way to a couple of vantage points but of course saw nothing. I walked toward the condo to get some rain pants, figuring I was in for a day of island combing in the now-driving rain.
On my way I saw at the end of that trail, on the road, the deer. Standing still and with its head lowered. I whistled. Not for the deer, but figuring that the dog could not be far behind. That was true! Larsen came trotting up from the road and onto the pathway, sides heaving and tongue dragging.
Larsen went to the right and then to the left of the boardwalk that led from the condo to the beach. He was tracking deer, and I knew that I was not in his mind in the least. I hit the whistle once, but that only confirmed what was obvious to both of us.
The dog disappeared deep within the tangled laurel. I walked to the end of the boardwalk and looked west in time to see a whitetail spring from the dune and onto the beach, heading east and straight toward the boardwalk.
If I'd been a smarter cowboy, I could have swung onto the back of that deer as it thundered by and rode that critter out of town three steps ahead of the posse. Hot behind the deer came that stupid dog, busting out of the sedge and sea oats and stretched flat out belly to the ground, eyes crazed with a jackpot-gleam of excitement, joy, and greed. I jumped in front of Larsen and yelled at him to stop in a most insipid attempt to end the chase.
The deer turned from the beach into the dunes, with the dog behind him, keening. Both broke into the sea oats and deeper into the spear-like spanish bayonett, weeping yucca, and the laurel where it is always dark even on a sunny day.
Running behind the two was a foolish exercise, though I did it anyway. How could I catch those animals? I could follow their tracks only by carefully picking my way through the undergrowth that they had burst through and during that time deer and dog could run the length of the island. I found my way to a couple of vantage points but of course saw nothing. I walked toward the condo to get some rain pants, figuring I was in for a day of island combing in the now-driving rain.
On my way I saw at the end of that trail, on the road, the deer. Standing still and with its head lowered. I whistled. Not for the deer, but figuring that the dog could not be far behind. That was true! Larsen came trotting up from the road and onto the pathway, sides heaving and tongue dragging.
Friday, December 27, 2013
Thursday, December 26, 2013
Better pizza
Making better pizza is a journey rather than a destination. One of my correspondents recommends a pizza stone of steel!
- A 1/2" thick piece of A36 steel cut to fit on your home oven rack is better than any pizza stone. Preheat for 1 hr at max temp your oven will do. Most fabricators will do this for you. Just make sure you wash the hell out of it before first use.
- All pizza/bread doughs using commercial yeasts (dry instant yeast, dry active yeast, fresh cake yeast) are MUCH better (tasting and handling) if you do a day (or more) retarded fermentation in the fridge. You'll need to cut down the amount of yeast used and take the dough out of the fridge a couple of hours before use.
I've used mine for a few years now and haven't seasoned it. However, it is VERY dry here in Denver, as I'm sure you know. Obviously, seasoning wouldn't hurt.
I'm not a steel industry guy, but have practiced environmental engineering for 30 odd years, so I'm a bit paranoid. I think all flat top grills are A36 steel, so no worries there. I did the following when I got my piece from the fabricator:
- made sure there was no slag left (knocked off any loose sh$t)
- Washed/scrubbed it in the sink with detergent until a white cloth came up clean
- put it in the oven @ 550F for an hour figuring that would burn off an[y] volatiles
So far so good. My piece weighs about 32 lbs. If I were to do it again, I'd cut the piece in half perpendicular to its long axis. It would be much easier to deal with in two 15 lb pieces!
- A 1/2" thick piece of A36 steel cut to fit on your home oven rack is better than any pizza stone. Preheat for 1 hr at max temp your oven will do. Most fabricators will do this for you. Just make sure you wash the hell out of it before first use.
- All pizza/bread doughs using commercial yeasts (dry instant yeast, dry active yeast, fresh cake yeast) are MUCH better (tasting and handling) if you do a day (or more) retarded fermentation in the fridge. You'll need to cut down the amount of yeast used and take the dough out of the fridge a couple of hours before use.
I've used mine for a few years now and haven't seasoned it. However, it is VERY dry here in Denver, as I'm sure you know. Obviously, seasoning wouldn't hurt.
I'm not a steel industry guy, but have practiced environmental engineering for 30 odd years, so I'm a bit paranoid. I think all flat top grills are A36 steel, so no worries there. I did the following when I got my piece from the fabricator:
- made sure there was no slag left (knocked off any loose sh$t)
- Washed/scrubbed it in the sink with detergent until a white cloth came up clean
- put it in the oven @ 550F for an hour figuring that would burn off an[y] volatiles
So far so good. My piece weighs about 32 lbs. If I were to do it again, I'd cut the piece in half perpendicular to its long axis. It would be much easier to deal with in two 15 lb pieces!
JM Cremps, a store for boys
Oh, sure, too late for Christmas this year, but here is a store worthy of your consideration. JM Cremps claims to be "the boy's adventure store." Gear includes walkie-talkies, scout knives, flashlights, tents, and everything a kid might ever want for a day of adventure.
Wednesday, December 25, 2013
Christmastime is here
Charlie Brown: Isn’t there anyone, who knows what Christmas
is all about?!
Linus: Sure Charlie Brown, I can tell you what Christmas is
all about. Lights please?
And there were in the same country shepherds, abiding in the
field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And, lo, the angel of the Lord
came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them! And they were
sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, “Fear not! For, behold, I bring you
tidings o great joy, which shall be to all my people. For unto you is born this
day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ, the Lord. And this shall
be a sign unto you: Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying
in a manger.” And suddenly, there was with the angel a multitude of the
Heavenly Host praising God, and saying, “Glory to God in the Highest, and on
Earth peace, and good will toward men.
That’s what Christmas is all about, Charlie Brown.
Tuesday, December 24, 2013
Last minute shopping
Wild colors at the sporting goods store herald cruise season for people who cruise to emerald isles, which probably exclude those with silly spaniels.
Larsen mugs for the camera below the purple and blue golf shirts.
Thursday, December 19, 2013
South Fork
A correspondent sent the following note to me:
Had a great time at South Fork Hunting Preserve’s first Continental Pheasant Shoot couple of weeks ago, and quail hunt afterwards.
South Fork Hunting Preserve is in Danielsville, Ga, which is northwest of Athens, Ga about 17 miles from Bowman and 78 miles from north Atlanta.
Thursday, December 12, 2013
Twenty something
I ran the sweet and biddable Zelda at the Cocker Spaniel Hunt Test and earned her twentieth Master leg and my first. I don't know if we qualified for an Advanced Master leg, but I intend to find out.
In the field, Zelda bounded downfield following a well-worn path. I called her back and when she got about 3 yards away, I cast her to my left, downwind, so that when I pipped her to a turn, her nose picked up the scent in the crossing wind. She established a nice pattern and flushed a fly-away. I was asked to pip her back and I did so. They tossed a bird for her, and, of course, she was stead, and the princess brought the bird back.
On the hunt dead, Zelda went far into the wind (again, to my right). Another dog had explored this end of the field so there may have been scent there. I let Zelda get way too far off and in an latch ditch effort I hit the whistle long and loud and yelled at her to sit. With exaggerated semephoric signalling, I gave her the "over" command, and got her facing the bird, though upwind from it. Zelda trotted along the treeline and found the bird and brought it back with her slow, royal retrieve.
On the water blind, Cathy told me to be sure that Zelda had no opportunity to run the bank. I was ready to really push her out, but Zelda went into the lake with no undue encouragement, hit the opposite bank just downwind from bird and so found it immediately and swam back.
The water retrieve was equally uneventful as the dog swam out, grabbed the bird, and swam back without any fooling with the semi-submerged log or other distractions.
I loved how Zelda worked for me. That's my girl!
Frank and Zelda show off their Master Hunter rosette at the Cocker Spaniel Hunt Test December 8, 2013.
In the field, Zelda bounded downfield following a well-worn path. I called her back and when she got about 3 yards away, I cast her to my left, downwind, so that when I pipped her to a turn, her nose picked up the scent in the crossing wind. She established a nice pattern and flushed a fly-away. I was asked to pip her back and I did so. They tossed a bird for her, and, of course, she was stead, and the princess brought the bird back.
On the hunt dead, Zelda went far into the wind (again, to my right). Another dog had explored this end of the field so there may have been scent there. I let Zelda get way too far off and in an latch ditch effort I hit the whistle long and loud and yelled at her to sit. With exaggerated semephoric signalling, I gave her the "over" command, and got her facing the bird, though upwind from it. Zelda trotted along the treeline and found the bird and brought it back with her slow, royal retrieve.
On the water blind, Cathy told me to be sure that Zelda had no opportunity to run the bank. I was ready to really push her out, but Zelda went into the lake with no undue encouragement, hit the opposite bank just downwind from bird and so found it immediately and swam back.
The water retrieve was equally uneventful as the dog swam out, grabbed the bird, and swam back without any fooling with the semi-submerged log or other distractions.
I loved how Zelda worked for me. That's my girl!
A healthy dog with a sore back
A joyful early Christmas gift was Dr. Michelle's opinion that Larsen was a healthy dog with a sore back. Dr. Michelle thought that the x-rays looked ok. There were two maybe iffy spots where the disc could be smushed, but the indications were not alarming.
This diagnosis is far beyond the expectations that I'd set for myself when I saw that dog in pain.
Dr. Michelle recognized that Larsen is a bit long in the loin. While that grants him flexibility in the rear end, a long loin also puts more pressure on some of those vertebrae and makes him more prone to back injury.
I'm not sure what the next steps are, but I think they involve mild exercise with no twists or turns rather than complete bedrest and another round of accupuncture/chiropractic manipulation. I'll take Larsen back to Dr. Michelle next week for further evaluation and work and maybe some instructions on how to Larsen back to top shape without setbacks. Although Larsen is not ready for the field, he may be a candidate for a shorter hike on the carriage path at Lake Alatoona and possibly a swim.
Accupuncture designed to reduce muscular tension.
This diagnosis is far beyond the expectations that I'd set for myself when I saw that dog in pain.
Dr. Michelle recognized that Larsen is a bit long in the loin. While that grants him flexibility in the rear end, a long loin also puts more pressure on some of those vertebrae and makes him more prone to back injury.
I'm not sure what the next steps are, but I think they involve mild exercise with no twists or turns rather than complete bedrest and another round of accupuncture/chiropractic manipulation. I'll take Larsen back to Dr. Michelle next week for further evaluation and work and maybe some instructions on how to Larsen back to top shape without setbacks. Although Larsen is not ready for the field, he may be a candidate for a shorter hike on the carriage path at Lake Alatoona and possibly a swim.
Accupuncture designed to reduce muscular tension.
Wednesday, December 11, 2013
What's wrong with this picture?
T-Gate, Hartsfield Airport, Atlanta, Ga.
Hint: It's not the tea containers on the lower left that say "sweet," "sweeter," and "sweetest".
Hint: It's not the tea containers on the lower left that say "sweet," "sweeter," and "sweetest".
Thanksgiving pies
Mom made at least half-a-dozen pies for the 30+ people at Thanksgiving this year. As pretty as this cherry pie is, you know that it did not last long.
Winchester
Winchester is a Beetle x Reba English Cocker. Beetle and Reba are extraordinary field dogs. Both hunt in beautiful patterns with a minimum of handling. I can't wait to watch Winchester shoot-em-up.
Vickie shows off her new puppy, Winchester.
Spine tingling
Larsen is heading to Dr. Michelle's chiropractor clinic to see if there is anything we can do in addition to the pills and rest to get him back in the game. Backs are tricky. I understand that there are no guarantees, but we are in the early innings and I'm hopeful that he will fully recover.
Thursday, December 5, 2013
Update
My vet's ears must have been burning because I got a call and a report.
Vet also said that there is a combo test for tick-borne diseases for $104.40. This test will provide indications of IGC antibodies activity. If it is positive, we will start Larsen on doxycycline. If we start on the regime, we should know after the first few doses whether this is in fact the issue because he will start to recover right away.
- Blood looks good. Chemistry, liver, kidneys look good.
- CBC white blood cells slightly elevated at 1,111
- This can be caused by stress
- Could be allergy
- Or parasites.
- Fecal test last May was negative, so probably not parasites. Probably stress or allergy.
- Thyroid normal
- Non-sterile urinalysis showed:
- Concentrated sample
- 1+protein
- Protein generally is not desired in urine.
- But it could be caused by the fact that the sample was concentrated.
- Specific gravity was about 10.40, which is near the top (10.50) of the normal range.
- Normally we would look no further but given his lack of energy, he may have a urinary tract infection. It is possibly an issue.
Vet also said that there is a combo test for tick-borne diseases for $104.40. This test will provide indications of IGC antibodies activity. If it is positive, we will start Larsen on doxycycline. If we start on the regime, we should know after the first few doses whether this is in fact the issue because he will start to recover right away.
No update
The 4:45 vet visit produced some blood work and more hypotheses. I got some Tramadol for the leg injury. The blood work and urinalysis should tell us whether the big organs are working. This morning, I gave permission to do a tick titer to look for Lyme and other tick-borne diseases.
Larsen's appetite is good. He's drinking water. He can't rear back on his hind legs and so he climbs stairs like an old man. His gait is good, with no indication of pain or limping. His energy level is low.
Larsen's appetite is good. He's drinking water. He can't rear back on his hind legs and so he climbs stairs like an old man. His gait is good, with no indication of pain or limping. His energy level is low.
Wednesday, December 4, 2013
Mystery
It's not clear whether Larsen has one or two ailments. On Sunday, he stopped mid-walk and sat. I knew by his look that he hurt. We eased our way back to the car and went home. He stood around roach-backed and did not want to walk. His appetite and energy were very low. I poked and prodded everything and found no tender spots (lip licking or turning his head toward me). I smelled his breath for any decay (stomach ache) or metallic (poison) smell but found nothing.
My initial conclusion was physical: a pull or twist to the right rear leg based on his stretching and his unwillingness to hop onto the couch.
Monday at the vets produced nothing but watchfulness. We did no bloodwork. Stools firm and no vomiting so probably no intestinal blockage. He was de-hydrated, based on stickiness of his gums, so I forced Pedialyte into him (poured it down his throat from a Coke bottle).
On Tuesday, Larsen seemed more lively. However, I noticed that he would not grab cheese from my lips because doing so would cause him to rear back on his hind legs and he did not want to do this. He ate and, at dinner time, had a huge drink to the relief of Aki and me.
On Wednesday, after a walk, he spit up. Stools a little loose. But the walk otherwise was energetic, but deliberately short. Then, at home, I set him in the back yard to chase a squirrel. He took off, leaped onto some round rocks and twisted his right rear leg.
That hurt. He cried and ran around like it really, really hurt. I caught up to him and just soothed him. Carried him into the house.
Questions: Was this a re-injury of something done on our walk on Sunday? Was the initial injury on Friday in the metropark? Is there something internal going on as well?
Vet appointment today at 4:45.
Larsen does his best to hide in the exam room.
My initial conclusion was physical: a pull or twist to the right rear leg based on his stretching and his unwillingness to hop onto the couch.
Monday at the vets produced nothing but watchfulness. We did no bloodwork. Stools firm and no vomiting so probably no intestinal blockage. He was de-hydrated, based on stickiness of his gums, so I forced Pedialyte into him (poured it down his throat from a Coke bottle).
On Tuesday, Larsen seemed more lively. However, I noticed that he would not grab cheese from my lips because doing so would cause him to rear back on his hind legs and he did not want to do this. He ate and, at dinner time, had a huge drink to the relief of Aki and me.
On Wednesday, after a walk, he spit up. Stools a little loose. But the walk otherwise was energetic, but deliberately short. Then, at home, I set him in the back yard to chase a squirrel. He took off, leaped onto some round rocks and twisted his right rear leg.
That hurt. He cried and ran around like it really, really hurt. I caught up to him and just soothed him. Carried him into the house.
Questions: Was this a re-injury of something done on our walk on Sunday? Was the initial injury on Friday in the metropark? Is there something internal going on as well?
Vet appointment today at 4:45.
Larsen does his best to hide in the exam room.
Tuesday, December 3, 2013
Hiking the Emerald Necklace
Dave, Meg, Aki, and I hiked the Emerald Necklace Metropark trail near Boston Mills in Northeastern Ohio with Trigger and Larsen on Thanksgiving. Trigger is Dave's son Geoff's Britt. There was a lot of red and white flashing by on the snow-filled trail, and happy, tired dogs afterward.
Larsen enjoys the snow-filled wood.
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