Triumphs, Trials and Tribulations of Great Bay Babe and Great Bay Belle

[IRISHWISTLER]

12-27-14
Thanks to a tip by snowshoe hare hunter, Belle and I hit the woods this morning where we left off last weekend.

Didn't flush any grouse where we moved the three last week. The recent rain made it pretty wet. So we hit the high ground. We had just made it to the three way intersection at the bottom of the hill when Belle turned stage left and bolted into the cover.
Out came ole ruff offering me a wide open left to right shot. The single twenty did the deadly deed.

Good Girl Belle!



It's what's for supper.

Thanks Willy!

Dave,
Wonderful to see the team developing amongst yeself and Miss BELLE. Good on ye both!

Slainte,
THE DOG WHISTLER

[Coalman]

12-31-14
I find it fitting to end this year with a meal.

Bacon stuffed partridge breasts.



One partridge breast on a bed of sliced onions. Split the breast and add butter and bacon bits. Surround sides with more onions. Fold up foil and leave a small chimney opening. Bake one hour at 350 degrees.

A meal fit for a king by the king of game birds.

Outstanding!

Thank you all for visiting with Coalman and the Yellow Dogs in 2014. Here's to an even better 2015.

Cheers!

[Scoutpout]

My doesn't she looked pleased with herself!
happy new year to you and yours as well!

[Coalman]

01-27-15
Winter finally made it to the yellow dogs back yard. We got 30 + inches of snow today.



Finished off the evening packing down the west side of our backyard snowshoe trail. My girls really love snow baths.

Bay has a very good memory. When she saw the snowshoes you would have thought she was a puppy with her excitement.

So now I get to spend some quality off leash time with my best two canine friends!

[Coalman]

Bay, my snow alien.



Bay and Belle

[Coalman]

The snowshoe trail is now full circle. Leave via the side yard, return in the back yard.

01-31-15
My son and his new bride joined us yesterday for my wife's inaugural hike.



The trail is approx one mile start to finish with a couple side runs that end in roundabouts.



Still need to lengthen the trail to the town spring on the east and the main road to the west.

Have been concerned about the wild turkeys. They aren't suited well for deep powder snow. The first two days after the blizzard there were no tracks to be found. They stayed on the roost. Thursday night there were turkey trails in the snow and on my trail. I see where a neighbor snow blew a path into the woods and is feeding them. So the snowshoe trail serves two purposes. One, enjoyment of the workout and two solid footing for our backyard flock.







The two hens watched Bay pretty closely. Then flushed up into the pines.

02-07-15
After a day full of shoveling roofs, snow raking roofs, then snow blowing the mess away ......What's a guy to do?

Go snowshoeing with the yellow dogs of course.

First out, Miss Bay.



Kept hearing a familiar but out of season sound among the hardwoods. Stopped to try and identify.

American Robin



In one small patch of the route we found some Eastern Cottontail rabbits.



And last but not least a walk with Belle. Used the e-collar with this wrapped up bundle of energy to keep her close and on the trail.

Here is Miss Belle at the western edge roundabout.



Sunday 02-08-15 AM
Oh yippee. It is snowing again and forecast to continue until Monday night with accumulations up or over 20".

Pickup snowshoe, pack down snow. When complete.....repeat.

[Coalman]

02-08-15 PM
This spring seep is one of our property lines. It never freezes.

The song birds love it. Lots of robins there today.



Belle loves the birds.

[Coalman]

02-11-15 PM
Finished packing the snowshoe trail down again last night after last weekends latest foot of snow. The other side of the brook was a b_tch. The wind settled all the snow in the trail. Under the headlamp it was hard in some spots to see the existing trail.

Which of course I lost a couple times and was snowshoeing in virgin snow. That was a _all buster for sure.

I'll be back at it again tonight with a yellow dog. Been using the military surplus shoes because they are my widest. Now with firm footing (until the next storm),

Tonight we strap on the Tubbs.

[Coalman]

02-12-15
Awesome night on the trail with the yellow dogs. We had 2" of fluff snow this afternoon which made each step feel like walking on feathers.

I do love those Vermont Tubbs snowshoes.

Miss Bay on the start of the trail to adventure.

[Coalman]

02-15-15
As I sit here enjoying a morning cup of coffee with my wife I can only think of the job ahead. We got at least another foot of snow last night. So going forward it is time to start the snow removal process all over again. You know you have had enough snow when you have a routine down. I don't really mind it in my brain. It is my body that is complaining.

Let's put off looking forward for a few and look back on the one thing that has kept me sane so far throughout the winter of 2015...

The backyard snowshoe trail. Life does have its pleasures.

Coming home 02-13-15



Miss Bay on the trail.







Turkey Trail intersection



Coming home 02-14-15. Note the spring seep brook is still open.