Biddable Calm Disposition, Windmill Hill Kennels Good Things

Good Stories

For those who love reading the types of stories found in "Gray's Sporting Journal" or remember those short stories from "Tale Feathers" you may enjoy some of the stories found here. Tempest and I are in the process of journaling our misadventures and will have excerpts of these here posted for your feed-back.

From Chapter 8 – “Puppies Everywhere”

When feeding the pups today I did what I did as a squad leader in the Infantry for many years; counted heads so I knew I had everyone. When one was missing I panicked, then realized one of our pups was off to her new home. This not so sudden realization brought me to tears again, though I knew she was with a great family who knew and loved the breed. I remembered how well she took to her new people.

Running to their “Hey, Hey, Hey” she smiled her puppy smile and wagged her puppy tail with the exuberance of youth. She let them pick her up and she licked and nuzzled them as she had me and my wife for these many weeks. I was heartbroken and felt almost cheated on. I was happy that she was happy, but I was sad knowing that I would never experience those nuzzles again. I would not see her eyes go fully from blue to brown. I would never again see her having her puppy dreams at night. She would not lick my beard or lie in my lap as I stroked her paws. I knew this all to be a hard truth. Furthermore, I knew that there would be ten more, who will go just like this, our “Twelve Puppers of Summer 2013;” whose entry into this world was not an easy one. Ten more times I will feel the pangs of loss and the joy of giving them an opportunity at a great life with a wonderful forever family. So here is our prayer for their families...

New and Forever Family Prayer

So we ask that those with whom we have entrusted much, that you love them each day as we have loved them these many weeks. When they are no longer cute little puppies, love them still. When they make a mess or cry for their litter mates, as they will, love them still. When they miss the mark on a downed bird, or pass one holding tight, love them still. When they don’t stay exactly at heel or at hup love them still. When it is too cold or too hot and they need YOU to call it a day because they will never quit, love them still. When they have run their last run, flushed and retrieved their last bird, and it is nearing their time to leave this world, love them still.

Care enough that you will not ask them to go beyond their limits, because they will always try if you ask and never quit on you. Care enough to spend the time, money and effort to train or have them trained well, so you help them reach their full potential. Care enough to know that when your patience has worn thin (as it will) it is not time to discipline them, but care enough to not let them grow to be out of control when consistent guidance would have prevented that from happening. Care for them when they are dirty, hurt, sick, tired, hungry, needy, lonely, or injured. Lastly, care enough to be with them in the end as we were their in the beginning.

Remember we held their heads, rubbed their paws, and prayed listening to those first small gasps of breath that a puppy makes when they lie on the whelping box floor; so now a sacred duty of being their when they must leave this world falls on you. Don’t leave them alone when it is their time. If you can do that, you will be worthy of being their forever person. Remember “God created a dog as the only animal who will love you more than he or she will love themselves.” You have a duty to live up to their trust.

If you can and are willing do all this, take our little ones and sally forth to do great things...

From Chapter 9 - "Our Christmas Surprise"

By Tempest Baker-Prout

The time had come and our cabin on the hill seemed a little (no a lot) empty. My puppies, save one – Brigit, were all in their new and wonderful forever homes. We sat on the porch discussing our plans for the upcoming season. I put my head in his lap and let my chestnut brown eyes speak to him for me. Our focus would be waterfowl we decided, with upland birds filling in on days that pursuing web-footers would not be wise nor productive. Brigit romped with her Uncle George in front yard where just a few short weeks before, a dozen of my puppies ran and played puppy games with each other. You could tell by her darting night sky eyes, she so wanted to get Uncle George to puppy play with her. Finally he relented, getting into his “puppy bow” stance his milk chocolate eyes fixed on her, he would dash in and bowl her over then run away for her to chase. But we both looked at the spot where the puppy play pen would be and my litter would sit or stand and look out at the new world around them. It seemed empty.

Then Dad looked at me the way he does when he has one of his crazy a_ _ ed ideas floating in his head. “Oooooh Noooooo,” was the only thing that I could think. Flipping through one of his Gundog magazines he pointed to advertisements from artists who attempted to capture the spirit and image of breeds like mine. “The eyes” he said; “They have to get the eyes right.” He asked for my opinion since I knew style, grace, and poise so well. “Look at those labs,” I told him with an earnest nudge; “See how they look to the sky or to their hunter just the way I do.” He long ago had learned not to argue with me about certain things and this was one of them. “Email her, T_O_D_A_Y,” was my sharp command. Good soldier that he is, he carried out the task diligently.

In short order a conversation was struck with artist Marie Fritz Perry about our vision for a portrait. It had to capture a special moment when all my pups were together and not covering themselves with puppy food or poop. Mom had taken one picture that captured such a moment. Dad called it “the Dalton Gang” photo. Almost all were standing on their hind legs leaning on the bars of the puppy play pen and saying with their eyes, “Let Us Out!” Marie fell instantly in love with it (understandably, they were my puppies after all) and she started to send sketches back to Dad to get his and my input. He would send pictures to her of each one so she could capture the unique look each individual puppy would express to their new world.

Now, this was a covert operation. From Dad’s first career in the Army he knew that secrecy was of the utmost priority. You see, this portrait was for Mom. Yes, the woman who always knew what Christmas (and birthdays and anniversaries) had in store for her. Each year we would set off on a “Top Secret” mission only to be discovered. Not this time we vowed. Marie and Dad communicated in the dead of night, knowing if he was discovered with this other women it would be hard to explain. The returns were decided to be worth the risks. However, to make this work of art be absolutely what Mom would want, he had to get her input on what pictures of each puppy to send Marie. A ploy was hatched.

Dad would use the ruse of a calendar he wanted to create. Each of the twelve pups would have their own month. Of course Mom would have to choose the picture of the pup for each month. This was not an easy process with literally over one thousand pictures to go through. We didn’t think of that. Oh, and Mom is detail oriented so this was not an easy or short process. Marie remained steadfast and ready each time Dad had a photo to share with her that would capture the eyes the way Mom would want it. Marie would tell Dad each week about the progress and send pictures for his and my feedback. We knew she was the right artist for this project because she spoke of the pups as if they were living in her studio.

Finally the big day came and portrait of the “Puppies of Summer 2013 – Off to a Good Start” was finished and shipped to Maryland to meet us there for the holidays. Not before it got lost by UPS. Luckily, Marie was right on it and worked out that last hurdle and portrait was ready for Christmas morning. We felt overjoyed yet sad, since Marie told us how her studio was, “a little empty without those puppy faces waiting for her in her studio each morning.”

To sum things up, the mission was a success. Mom was for the first time (and likely the last) surprised by Dad. Each of my puppies faces were capture with an expression all their own. We still miss them. Dad still gets a little misty eyed when he thinks of them and our summer of 2013. But this portrait that hangs in our cabin in place for all to see reminds him of that long night and day when they came into this world. He and Mom think of warm evenings on the porch with them in the play pen or fun afternoons in the backyard exploring. They also still remember the pee and poop and the vomit and food all over the place.

But they would be puppys only once…

Marie Fritz Perry’s work as a sporting dog artist was featured in the December 2013 issue of Gun Dog Magazine. Her motto is "If you can dream it, I can paint it!" referring to her desire to work with her clients to achieve their vision for their specialized canine or equine portrait. "I take in the love and memories that they express about their dog, or horse, as well as a scene that they can feel, taste, touch, remember."

Working from photos and discussions she has with her clients, she produces works that please her clients; and, in the end, continues to stir up the emotions they hold for the animals they love through the art. To say we highly recommend her is an understatement.

Good Eats

We also eat what we kill and are constantly trying variations of recipies for all the game birds that we are fortunate enough to harvest. We will be posting some of the one's that have passed the "Donna Taste Test" for you to try out as well.

Pheasant (or Duck) Leg Confit with Sticky Rice, Fried Egg, Brocolli, & Country Gravy

Ever wondered what to do with those pheasant legs that are tough and stringy with all those tendons, or with those tiny duck legs from wild mallards, teal, or gadwalls? This is a great recipe that makes a hearty camp or home meal. It is a lot easier than I first thought it would be. But it takes a long time and can be messy, so be ready for a thorough kitchen police when you are done. It goes well with any white wine that can be chilled. I will tell you it is worth the clean up.

Ingredients

4 large garlic cloves

4 small white onions

1/4 cup kosher salt

1 bottle of lemon pepper marinade

4 pheasant legs or 6 mallard

1 six to 8 ounce container of rendered duck fat

Steps

1. Rub legs with kosher salt and rest in a covered dish in a refrigerator for 2 hours.

2. Put legs in a plastic bag and cover completely with any commercial blend of lemon pepper marinade (I use Landry’s because it is cheap) and refrigerate at least overnight up to 2 days.

3. Take the skin and ends off 4 garlic cloves and 4 small white onions (leave whole)

4. Place legs in a casserole dish of the right size, so they aren’t too crowed but aren’t too spread out.

5. Put garlic cloves and onions under the legs.

6. Melt rendered duck fat in a wide large heavy pot over low heat

7. Cover legs with melted duck fat

8. Place in oven at 250 degrees for at least 3 hours. You may go as long as 4 hours. They are done when meat pulls easily with a fork from the bone.

9. When legs are almost done cooking make simple white pepper country gravy using a commercial mix or if you want from scratch with milk, water, flour, butter, and of course black pepper to taste.

10. Take legs out of casserole dish (leaving garlic and onions behind) and strip meet from legs making sure you don’t get those long tendon bones if it is a pheasant. (If the legs are done enough this should be easy to do, it isn’t put them back in the oven for awhile longer).

11. Set the meat aside.

12. Cook any commercial type of white sticky rice until tender. (I use Uncle Ben’s).

13. At the same time steam fresh broccoli tops. Just use the tops, the stems are too bitter and stringy so they ruin the flavor and texture of the main course.

Plating

14. When rice and broccoli are done, put a healthy scoop of rice in the middle of a plate.

15. Fry an extra-large egg with crushed black pepper sunny-side up.

16. As you are frying the egg reheat the meat in the same pan with a little thyme and oregano.

17. Put a healthy portion of meat on the rice

18. Put a healthy portion of the country gravy on the meat

19. Put the pepper fried egg on the gravy

20. Put the broccoli around everything you just did.

Voilà you are done…You can strain the remaining duck fat in the casserole dish and put it back in the container it came from and reuse it, although you will need to add more to make up for what was absorbed by the meat. If you have the time corn bread goes great with it as well.

Bon Appetite

Good Friends

We have been extremely fortunate meeting many fine people along our personal "Hunter's Road." Many have become strong friends and others important mentors. All share a love of bird hunting and bird dogs (most of the time springer spaniels). Whether at hunt tests, hunting preserves, or with hunting guides the experiences we have shared have been and continue to be the best any true outdoorsman could ask for.

Below we are listing businesses and organizations that have provided a wealth of information and wonderful experiences. We have made many other springer and hunting friends, which for the sake of their privacy we have not mentioned here, but remain in our hearts, minds, and contact lists. The businesses and organizations listed have always provided us great experiences and have our endorsement, which doesn't come easy.

Caroline County Shooting Preserve

It was March and we were trying to escape the New England "Snowmageddan" of 2015 by going to one of our favorite spots, Maryland's Eastern Shore of the Chesapeake Bay. Long known for its premier waterfowl hunting that I have done often on the water and over fields, this area also has some fine hunting preserves, that for folks like us in the Northeast who are snowed in annually from the end of January to mid March can get to within 6 - 8 hours. I thought I had hunted them all, high end ones with valet parking, to do it yourself ones where the birds are dropped off in the bed of your truck. However, one had escaped me for the past 10 years that I have hunted this region.

Caroline County Shooting Preserve is located in Denton, Maryland; which is about 30 minutes East of Kent Island which is the last exit before you cross the Chesapeake Bay Bridge heading West. At this location and in Grasonville just 5 minutes East of there, you can find many good places to stay and eat. At this time of year off season rates are what you will find, but the atmosphere is still warm, friendly and delicious. From there you can plan a morning or afternoon hunt (or both) for upland game birds that that even by this time of year still has great cover for Springers. You can have chuckars, pheasants, or even quail planted, which are my personal favorite and a challenge to hunt over a flushing dog. All were strong flying birds that would meet anyone's approval.

When we arrived we were met by Donnie who with his father have owned and managed this preserve to be a comfortable and traditional hunting spot, which won't require you to get a second mortgage to go there. His wife was on hand and she had been my point of contact on the phone the previous day. She was wonderful to talk to make arrangements with for the hunt, which I have found is not always the case at hunting preserves. We hunted a mix of birds on a mix of cover; some reminiscent of gulley's I hunt when in search of woodcock and grouse in NH; some with cover crops still tall and strong you might find in the Heartland states; and some with second growth trees like I have hunted in NC or VA. So you can find what you are looking for no matter what type of cover.

After gunning 3/4 of the birds that flew (not bad since Tempest, Brigit and I have been snow bound since Jan 28) Donnie and his wife cleaned and packaged the birds professionally. When I say this, it is high praise since I normally do that myself because I found that the results are sometimes poor when I have this by employees of the preserve. Donna, the "kids" and I had a great time because of the care the hosts took when we were there and the care of the land that was evident for what is at least two generations. When I asked Donnie why I hadn't heard of them before, he said they used to be known as the best kept secret in the area. But now his business model includes a website so the secret is out. His website is clear, concise, and comprehensive at www.carolinecountyshootingpreserve.com.

A great time was had by all and I highly recommend this establishment even before the snow closes in. Geese in the morning and upland in the afternoon would make for a great day afield when the honkers are in season. Oh and by the way, if you get your truck stuck, Donnie will come and help you push it out and not laugh at you (at least not until you are gone.) The link to Caroline County Hunting Preserve is below.