By October, I was ready for bird hunting and so was Tova. We were in the field early on opening day.
The sun was just starting to come up and the pheasants released by Fish and Game were trying to warm themselves in the sunlight around the edges of the high grass.
Tova put up her first one after only twenty minutes out there.
She was ecstatic and so was I.
As we neared the end of the first field, she is off to my right cutting her way through some high brush. Suddenly, she goes into a solid point. She is actually looking in my direction. At first I didn’t see what she was looking at.
There, nestled down, is a nice sized hen not realizing that Tova was behind her pointing her out to me. I had stopped so I could be ready when she took off. She wasn’t nervous or aware of our presence so she stayed put.
I had to move about four feet in her direction to get her to take flight. She went down with one shot. Tova was thrilled and ran to pick her up and bring her to me to place in my vest.
Now, we have our two birds and that is the legal daily limit I’ve mentioned earlier. So, I unload my shotgun and call her to head back to the car.
Are you serious? We just got here and there’s plenty of birds around from what I’m smelling.
Dogs do not understand legal limits.
Begrudgingly, she heads back to the car with me.
“Tova, we can come out tomorrow.” I say.
I don’t care about tomorrow. These birds may be gone by then.
And so it goes, with my eager dog and myself as we drive home. She’s really not mad just very determined.
Monday, August 30, 2010
Monday, August 23, 2010
Chapter Twelve Four Years Old
On May 14th, of 2002, Tova turned four years old. Each of her birthdays, Linda either purchased or made a cupcake and placed a candle on it to celebrate.
Remember, this is the dog she thought she couldn’t deal with, bless her.
We did our usual thing of hiking numerous peaks, walking around the pond more times than I want to count and spending time making the kids around the neighborhood happy. It seems that since we bought her, Tova became the neighborhood celebrity, especially with the children. I mean kids of all ages from three to grown ups. Of course, I count them as kids too, especially if they are in touch with their happy child self which is important.
There is one family about seven houses up our block that has three daughters ranging from three to ten. No matter what they are doing outside, they drop everything and come to the curb to pat Tova as we go by. Boy, does she ever eat up the attention. These young ladies ask my permission to get her a dog treat. I think they had their mother buy them just for Tova. They didn’t own a dog. It got so it became competition for the middle and the oldest one, to see who would ask me first. Then that one would go running off into the house and come out with a dog cookie. Boy was she ever spoiled. She would look for the girls when we got near their house, even when they weren’t outside.
Remember, this is the dog she thought she couldn’t deal with, bless her.
We did our usual thing of hiking numerous peaks, walking around the pond more times than I want to count and spending time making the kids around the neighborhood happy. It seems that since we bought her, Tova became the neighborhood celebrity, especially with the children. I mean kids of all ages from three to grown ups. Of course, I count them as kids too, especially if they are in touch with their happy child self which is important.
There is one family about seven houses up our block that has three daughters ranging from three to ten. No matter what they are doing outside, they drop everything and come to the curb to pat Tova as we go by. Boy, does she ever eat up the attention. These young ladies ask my permission to get her a dog treat. I think they had their mother buy them just for Tova. They didn’t own a dog. It got so it became competition for the middle and the oldest one, to see who would ask me first. Then that one would go running off into the house and come out with a dog cookie. Boy was she ever spoiled. She would look for the girls when we got near their house, even when they weren’t outside.
Monday, August 16, 2010
Chapter Eleven Down with the Flu
In mid-January the following year, I came down with a bad case of the flu. I couldn’t get out of bed for three days except to go to the bathroom. Linda would bring me soup and juices so I had plenty of fluids in me.
For those three days, Tova laid snuggled up next to me on the bed except to eat and to go out to do her thing. It was as if I was her child and she was protecting me. I couldn’t believe how she stayed with me the whole time. Yet, I was really glad she was there.
During the third day she would paw me at times, why I don’t know. Was she trying to get me up? Or was she sensing I was getting better and wanted some of my attention? When I sensed her pawing me; I would pet her and usually fall back to sleep. When I got out of bed the fourth day she was dancing around me as if I had gotten home from being away on a long trip.
I have never gotten over how she stayed with me knowing that I was unable to be myself and I was ill. She had an amazing sense of what was happening in our lives. You will see more of this in this chapter.
For those three days, Tova laid snuggled up next to me on the bed except to eat and to go out to do her thing. It was as if I was her child and she was protecting me. I couldn’t believe how she stayed with me the whole time. Yet, I was really glad she was there.
During the third day she would paw me at times, why I don’t know. Was she trying to get me up? Or was she sensing I was getting better and wanted some of my attention? When I sensed her pawing me; I would pet her and usually fall back to sleep. When I got out of bed the fourth day she was dancing around me as if I had gotten home from being away on a long trip.
I have never gotten over how she stayed with me knowing that I was unable to be myself and I was ill. She had an amazing sense of what was happening in our lives. You will see more of this in this chapter.
Wednesday, August 11, 2010
Chapter Ten Winter Time
In January, we were getting dumped on with snow just about every weekend. Cabin fever started affecting all three of us. Linda didn’t like to walk around much in the winter because she was afraid of falling on the ice. Owning her own business, she is cautious that she isn’t laid up and out of work where she couldn’t service her bookkeeping customers. I was cutting back on my long distance traveling as the roads were quite miserable. I found I could get more accomplished over the phone. I went to see customers only when there was a real need to do so.
Tova, started to get real antsy because she wasn’t getting the physical exercise she needed.
One night, after Linda had a tough work day, she said, “I thought you told me when she turned two she would slow down. She has as much energy as a young puppy.”
“She has slowed down some but with all of this snow it’s affecting her as much as it’s affecting us. Look at us, we feel like caged animals.”
“Yeah, you’re right, but you know if it wasn’t for her personality; I don’t think I would want to continue to deal with her. She’s lucky I love her.”
“She loves you too.”
“I know she does.”
“Tova, come on we’re going to go for a walk around the neighborhood.”
Oh, you mean I can get outside for awhile. This long winter stuff stinks.
“It’s dark outside and slippery. You might fall.”
“We’ll take a flashlight and I'll put my ice cleats over my boots.”
Guess what turning the corner a block from the house, I fell. Tova just looked at me as I hit the street.
What happened, you okay? I’ll walk slower for you.
When I got off of my butt, I brushed myself off and we proceeded to head down the street. I must remember the grade of that street; snow melts during the day, runs downward and freezes over after dark. Oh well, it isn’t the first nor the last time I’ll fall. I didn’t tell Linda I fell because I knew she would feel bad.
“Tova, when I see you getting this hyper I guess you and I are going to have to walk around the neighborhood more often so mom doesn’t get stressed by your high energy. She’s not used to dealing with a large dog, especially a high energy dog.”
Just keep walking dad, I’m picking up new smells around this snow pile.
And so the winter gave us a near record amount of snow. I learned to take out my snow shoes and walk her around Dorr’s pond. This gave her more than enough exercise if I did it twice a day compared to our summer walks around the pond three times a day. It was great exercise for me too. Whenever she saw me take out the snowshoes she would run up and down the stairs and do circles before we left the house. We would walk to the pond and then I would unleash her and put on my snowshoes. She loved it.
Tova, started to get real antsy because she wasn’t getting the physical exercise she needed.
One night, after Linda had a tough work day, she said, “I thought you told me when she turned two she would slow down. She has as much energy as a young puppy.”
“She has slowed down some but with all of this snow it’s affecting her as much as it’s affecting us. Look at us, we feel like caged animals.”
“Yeah, you’re right, but you know if it wasn’t for her personality; I don’t think I would want to continue to deal with her. She’s lucky I love her.”
“She loves you too.”
“I know she does.”
“Tova, come on we’re going to go for a walk around the neighborhood.”
Oh, you mean I can get outside for awhile. This long winter stuff stinks.
“It’s dark outside and slippery. You might fall.”
“We’ll take a flashlight and I'll put my ice cleats over my boots.”
Guess what turning the corner a block from the house, I fell. Tova just looked at me as I hit the street.
What happened, you okay? I’ll walk slower for you.
When I got off of my butt, I brushed myself off and we proceeded to head down the street. I must remember the grade of that street; snow melts during the day, runs downward and freezes over after dark. Oh well, it isn’t the first nor the last time I’ll fall. I didn’t tell Linda I fell because I knew she would feel bad.
“Tova, when I see you getting this hyper I guess you and I are going to have to walk around the neighborhood more often so mom doesn’t get stressed by your high energy. She’s not used to dealing with a large dog, especially a high energy dog.”
Just keep walking dad, I’m picking up new smells around this snow pile.
And so the winter gave us a near record amount of snow. I learned to take out my snow shoes and walk her around Dorr’s pond. This gave her more than enough exercise if I did it twice a day compared to our summer walks around the pond three times a day. It was great exercise for me too. Whenever she saw me take out the snowshoes she would run up and down the stairs and do circles before we left the house. We would walk to the pond and then I would unleash her and put on my snowshoes. She loved it.
Wednesday, August 4, 2010
Chapter Nine Cornstalks
Tova is sniffing around the edges of the field, and I sense she is still uneasy about entering the cornfields.
For the first half hour she steps in and out of the cornfield going in about three or four rows each time. She is testing herself and I just keep saying, "Good girl."
Suddenly, she freezes inside of the third row. I know she has a bird there. Then she's off chasing it through the corn.
Stop running you stupid bird. You're supposed to fly not run. I'm supposed to be pointing you not chasing you.
She and the pheasant are doing circles inside of the corn and then he cackles and flies.
I was so intent on watching what she was doing I missed him when he broke the top of the corn and he stayed low right over the tops heading away from me just as if he knew I was standing there.
She comes out of the corn after hearing me shoot and is looking for the bird. I tell her I missed and she doesn't believe me. After all she heard the gun go off. I'm not supposed to miss according to her. She gives me those eyes of her's.
You got it and you're hiding it on me.
She gives up looking and jumping on me and starts jumping at my side to peek into my game pouch on my hunting vest.
Finally she settles down and resigns herself to the fact that I missed. This was so funny. The dog actually thinks besides reacting.
After all my work, you blew it, dad!
She heads back towards the cornfield and now she is going further into the rows of corn. I am not only proud of her, I am happy with myself for not having tried to force her last year. She figured it out all by herself.
We came home with two birds that morning, the legal pheasant limit for the day.
I had a happy dog who was satisfied and I was going to cook pheasant that evening.
For the first half hour she steps in and out of the cornfield going in about three or four rows each time. She is testing herself and I just keep saying, "Good girl."
Suddenly, she freezes inside of the third row. I know she has a bird there. Then she's off chasing it through the corn.
Stop running you stupid bird. You're supposed to fly not run. I'm supposed to be pointing you not chasing you.
She and the pheasant are doing circles inside of the corn and then he cackles and flies.
I was so intent on watching what she was doing I missed him when he broke the top of the corn and he stayed low right over the tops heading away from me just as if he knew I was standing there.
She comes out of the corn after hearing me shoot and is looking for the bird. I tell her I missed and she doesn't believe me. After all she heard the gun go off. I'm not supposed to miss according to her. She gives me those eyes of her's.
You got it and you're hiding it on me.
She gives up looking and jumping on me and starts jumping at my side to peek into my game pouch on my hunting vest.
Finally she settles down and resigns herself to the fact that I missed. This was so funny. The dog actually thinks besides reacting.
After all my work, you blew it, dad!
She heads back towards the cornfield and now she is going further into the rows of corn. I am not only proud of her, I am happy with myself for not having tried to force her last year. She figured it out all by herself.
We came home with two birds that morning, the legal pheasant limit for the day.
I had a happy dog who was satisfied and I was going to cook pheasant that evening.
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