Wordless Wednesday-Get It Blaze!

Hunting with Fluttering Fiona

Fiona has a delicate, but strong soul.  When you get her by herself, she reminds me of a butterfly that flutters with grace and joy.

We were heading off for a walk together and I used a regular walking harness, instead of her no-pull one that she doesn't like or really need and that made her feel even more special.

We start off down the road and I had already decided to let Fiona lead the way.  Once we were up the road, she turns into the woods following her active nose.  We turn this way and that way, stopping here and there and this whole time Fiona is just glowing.  It's as if she's been waiting to show and share this adventure with me all along.

A chipmunk chirps and Fiona stops dead in her racks.  Then we are off!  Bouncing around in circles.  Pausing to hear the little critter again.  Through the thick brush we jump and dodge fallen logs.  Taking sniffing breaks at the trees our prey might have been at.

And then the excitement quiets as we follow the deer trails with alert senses traipsing across the little woods.
"Chirp-Chirp-Chirp!"  I swear Fiona's heart stopped.  Then we dash through the thicket around in a circular fashion, trying to narrow in on the tiny rodent.

I can barely wipe the smile off of my face of the sheer awe and beauty I am enraptured in.  This is a side of Fiona I've never seen before.  Chasing squirrels with the boys in the backyard in one thing but watching her on her own is like watching a flowing angel.  It feels sacred and personal, as if this precious time was just for me and her.  I cherished our special time together as I watched Fiona come into their own and beautifully own it.

    

The Hunters

 I was starting to get concerned that the dogs were never going to wake up out of their summer coma.  Once the cooler fall weather started to settle in, my fears were evaded.  WHEW!

In the spirit of their energy, the Front Dogs and I were chasing squirrels.  Something I have done several times with the Back Dogs, but for some reason never engaged the Front Dogs with play hunting.  Blaze was already standing up on a pine tree, whining, as a squirrel must have recently went by.  So we ran from tree to tree, searching for that measly squirrel.  Both dogs jumped right into the game.  Blaze was so razzed up that she jumped and froze when Chance sneezed.  The whole game was fun and quite hilarious.  I wondered why I hadn't thought it before with them.  Well we did what we could, but no squirrel was to be found.

Although later when I came back out, I discovered the hunt had not been for a squirrel, but a chipmunk that Blaze had caught and was carrying in her mouth!! Which she claims is just as tasty if not more so than squirrel!!

Squirrel Patrol

The mission begins...

I began the daunting task of cleaning out the shed, or as the back dogs like to call it, the squirrel condo.  As I started pulling out boards, Brut and Zappa began casing the perimeter looking for run away squirrels.  Trying to keep them contained from reaching the higher built wood shed.

Do you see 'em?  Do you see 'em?

Every board I pulled out would start a frenzy of lapping the shed at least three times.  Keeping their noses to the ground, they searched out their prey.  They know their time is limited as the sun was fading into the night.  Round and round they go, stopping for quick checks, they had to be somewhere.

I think I smell one!!

Suddenly Brut stops, tongue hanging out, tail slowly begins to wag until it is up to full speed.  There, in the tree above, two squirrels awaiting their doom.  Zappa has now joined Brut and they both stand patiently waiting for the squirrels to miss the branches as they zoom and hop from through the tree.   Chatting to each other, they laugh at the dogs below and I think I actually saw one of them flip Brut off.

Is the camera rolling?  Is my make-up on right?

Fiona has joined the hunt by this time and keeps close tabs on the two squirrels above.  Between the three of them there can be no escape.  All eyes to the tree.  Keeping vigilant tabs on the two culprits, they execute their attack as planned.  Which seems to be running around in circles and not knowing what to do.  Hoping like a manna from heaven, the squirrels will fall.  Or at least one of them...

I just want to be friends...

As the darkness falls, so do their chances.  One squirrel hops to the wood shed for freedom up in the rafters, while the other has made a dubious escape right under their noses.  Good team work for the squirrels, good exercise for the dogs.  I could almost hear them high five each other.  Squirrels-1, Dogs-0.  Better luck next time.

Struck out again.  Tomorrow, same place, same time.

BE THERE!! 

There will always be tomorrow.  And look here comes the Commander in Chief Silver, to gather the troops and head on home where even in defeat Daddy will give us our bones of honor for putting our hearts into mission.

It's a hell of a job, but someone has to do it. 

by Mark