Maine to Montana.....via Oklahoma?!?

Our adventure has finally begun.  I am writing this on my iPad while Mike drives on a bumpy highway in Ohio - that's my excuse for any typos.  We pulled out from the cabin yesterday morning and finally stopped driving at midnight. We crawled into the Open Range bed, toasted the day with a little wine and the comfortable memory foam bed quickly put us to sleep.  Today we will drive another 15 hours to our destination of Oklahoma City.  What?  Well, at the core of this lifestyle we have chosen is the freedom to go and do what we want to do.  And Mike's son is competing in a rowing regatta in OKC.  Colt is the captain of the Kansas State Mens Crew this year so we are off to cheer them on and visit with him.  On Sunday we will head north to Kansas to hunt prairie chickens for a couple of days and then continue on to Montana.  The delay in getting to MT is good with us since the heat has persisted there, making bird hunting hot and tough on dogs and hunters alike.  But the forecast shows a significant drop in daytime temps beginning Wednesday.....just in time for our arrival.   Oh yeah.  :-)

I will be adding photos once I figure out how to do so with this iPad.  I was disappointed once again in the iPad when I discovered that it cannot be connected to my Passport hard drive which holds my photos.  ahhh, love technology.

Dee's home

The orthopedic specialist says that the surgery to remove the plate and screws in Dee's leg was a success, everything looked clean and no sign of that nasty infection.  We paid the ransom and picked him up today and he is feeling good.  Now the task is to keep him quiet and careful for about 8 weeks to allow the screw holes in the bone heal up.  He's a frisky 18 month old....this isn't going to be easy.

Dee Day

Today is the day that we have long been awaiting….and dreading.  Dee is down at Tuft’s University Hospital in Mass. having the plate and screws removed from the mended bone in his front leg.  So as we await word about his surgery I am looking through some photos that we took last week.  We took the dogs down to run on the oceanfront beach a bit for some fun.

The Kansas boys at the Maine coast.

 I took a photo of Mike taking a photo...notice the double shadow, from the sun's glare off the water and the sun itself. (click on any photo to enlarge)

Jack and Dee loved the surf

 Lynn Dee with Storm and Tweed

Seaweed footprints

Flashbacks.......of what's to come

Mike has made several trips to Montana and his stories and photos make me even more eager to get there.  Thought we would share some of his photos.  - ld

Sunrise sure looks different with only a single tree around.
                                         (click on any photo to enlarge)

Look closely to see the sharptails flushing

Jack has them locked down tight

Jack with sharptails

Meet the Dogs, Part IV: The Sheriff

Worf is a 13 yr old miniature Daschund.  Mike took him in as a rescue over 10 years ago and has cared for him through more than one health crisis in his life.  Worf is now healthy and strong and thoroughly enjoying life.  He is definitely the dog in charge around here and lets every visitor dog know the same.  Friends and family love the little guy and he spends much of his time snuggled in someone’s lap, or beneath the bed covers at night.  

                                            (click on any photo to enlarge)

Meet the Dogs, Part III: The Seniors Team

Patch is a 13 yr old ryman English Setter, bred by LD.  She is now retired but was an outstanding ruffed grouse dog.  She was quick but stealthy in the woods and was known for her ability to cat-walk running grouse and pin them to provide a shot.  She was beautiful on point, more than once I nearly missed (or did miss) birds because I stopped to admire her point in stead of focusing on the bird.

                                                               

                                                                (click on any photo to enlarge)

Ditto

Ditto is a 10 yr old ryman English Setter, a daughter of Patch, bred by LD.  Ditto was put on semi-retirement last fall due to a knee injury that the vet said could end up needing surgical repair.  Ditto runs hard and does not understand the concept of ‘taking it easy’ but this fall we hope to put her into birds in some carefully chosen small areas.