Any Day Now

Posted on January 21, 2017 by MaryALivingston

Tasha enjoying a beautiful winter day.

Tasha’s puppies are due any day!

Happy New Year!

Posted on January 1, 2017 by MaryALivingston

Pheasant parmesan for dinner after a bountiful day in the field. I’d love to know your favorite way to enjoy pheasant. Click to enlarge images.

Bliss pointing her pheasant.

Bliss with a nice rooster.

Bliss on another point.

Bliss bringing in her bounty.

Sailor pointing his pheasant.

Sailor bringing dinner in.

Saturday Night Redtail Phantom

Phanny’s first retrieve of the day lands in the water.

Phanny flushes a beautiful rooster.

Phanny gets another water retrieve.

Phanny relishes her pheasant.

Sailor shows his appreciation.

A nice wrap to a day at Clear Creek Sports Club.

The entire pack when we returned home. Tasha is on maternity leave so she wasn’t at the club with us. She enjoyed the birds once we got home.

Magnus Ruler of Mouse

Posted on December 8, 2016 by MaryALivingston

Early the other morning, I caught these shots of our new young hunter through the window from inside the house. Magnus, our six-month-old Manx kitten, has stepped up to the job of keeping the rodent population in check. Good job Magnus!

Click on image to open full screen.

Magnus spots movement in the leaves.

Score!

Splash Dog Bliss

Posted on September 21, 2016 by MaryALivingston

Fun times at dock jumping class with the crew from Shasta Splash Dogs. Phanny and Tasha build confidence as Bliss and Sailor take to flying off the dock with style.

Fluffy puppy Phanny builds confidence in her jumps before taking on the full run. She took 1st place in side jumping.

Tasha takes her leap from the side. Happy girl brought home 3rd for side jumping.

Bliss’ 1st jump of the night.

Bliss and Tim on her 2nd jump. She set the jump to beat.

Sailor’s jump ties him with Bliss.

Sailor’s tie-breaking jump gains another foot in distance for the longest of the beginners. Sailor brought home 1st and Bliss 2nd for the end jumps.

New Puppy Bliss

Posted on April 19, 2016 by MaryALivingston

Earlier this month, Tim and I headed north to Saturday Night Golden Retrievers in Montana with Sailor, Tasha, and Bliss. We were on a special mission to bring home the newest addition to our retrievers.
Welcome home Phanny, our little Saturday Night Redtail Phantom.
Phanny’s off to a nice start. Bliss thinks we got a new puppy just for her as a playmate. Tasha keeps an eye on her. Sailor’s worried about sharing. Phanny is taking it all in. She loves swimming and getting her start as a hunting retriever. Here are some shots of Phanny’s first week home. Click to enlarge.
When you’re done here, check out Tim’s post and photos of the road trip.

Saturday Night Redtail Phantom – “Phanny”

The two of us in the meadow by the barn at the Flament’s. Home of Saturday Night Golden Retrievers.

“Lulu” Saturday Night Shenanigans – Phanny’s Dam

“Canuck” Heads Up Run For The Border RN – Phanny’s Sire

I took an opportunity to do a few drills with Sailor once we reached Saturday Night Golden Retrievers.

Tasha, Sailor, and Bliss by the creek the day before we left with Phanny.

We enjoyed the antelope in both Idaho and Montana.

We stopped at the Gallatin River for a family shot on our way to the west side of Yellowstone while heading home.

A wintery scene from Yellowstone.

Sailor watched the scenery, especially when beasts were about.

Now that’s nothing like the cows next door.

We enjoyed stopping for photo opportunities along the way.

Snake river canyon.

Phanny sleeping in the RV on the way home.

About half way home near the border between Idaho and Nevada, Tim snapped this shot of me with Phanny.

Phanny in the Idaho desert before crossing into Nevada.

Phanny sneaks a moment with Tim.

Wait for me!

Phanny tries really hard to keep up with Sailor.

The first shot of the pack at home. L-R: Bliss, Tasha, Phanny, Sailor

Wait for me. Phanny follows the big dogs into the little pond.

The nice cool water felt pretty good.

A natural born swimmer.

Invigorated by her first swim, Phanny shares her enthusiasm.

7-week-old Phanny meets her first live bird her first full day home.

It won’t be long and Phanny won’t fit into the cats’ house.

Phanny knocked the food bag over and helped herself.

Sailor shows Phanny how to frolic on the grass.

Phanny all misty from rolling in the morning dew.

Phanny meets the chickens. Later she will learn these are “no birds.”

Phanny in the blue lupin.

Phanny

Tasha slips into the pond in an attempt to escape the pesky puppy.

Phanny and Sailor learning to share.

Planning a stick thieving strike.

Bliss plans a twig thieving strike.

Phanny is determined to snatch the ball from Tasha.

Bliss, Sailor, Tasha and Phanny in front.

Bird!

On it!

Training starts early.

Phanny carries her prize.

Keeping a sharp eye on it.

Phanny marks her first water retrieve.

Closing in.

Contact.

Better grab fast.

Proud puppy success.

Right into my hands with the bird.

Enjoying the moment. A good start for a future hunter.

First Birthday Bliss!

Gallery

Posted on March 6, 2016 by MaryALivingston

This gallery contains 42 photos.

Originally posted on THE FORESTER ARTIST:
It’s her first birthday. For a while we didn’t think she’d make it to this one. We’re sure happy she did. Click on a picture to see the full-sized gallery. Sorry there are so…

Happy Birthday Tasha

Posted on February 28, 2016 by MaryALivingston

Today is Tasha’s third birthday. We celebrated with some retrieves and photos in buttercups with her buds.

Happy Birthday Tasha!

In our area, the first showing of wildflowers happens around Tasha’s birthday.

Redtail's Hotty Toddy Tasha - turns 3 years old today.

Redtail’s Hotty Toddy Tasha – turns three years old today.

Tasha is joined by Sailor and Bliss. Bliss, Sailor, Tasha

Sailor and Bliss join the birthday girl.
Bliss, Sailor, Tasha

Wild Wednesday … The Burr Bear

Posted on January 21, 2016 by MaryALivingston

Tim and I see quite a few black bear while out and about. This young sow (see her ear to head ratio and shape of her face) was covered in burrs.

THE FORESTER ARTIST

Mary and I were driving into camp last summer and were approaching a little creek. As we rounded a bend in the road, this bear burst out of the blackberry bushes. It ran across the road in front of us and stopped in the blackberries about 30 feet away. I stopped the truck. It stared at us and we stared back. It appeared to be a young bear. It stayed there for a good 3 or 4 minutes while we took pictures. This bear was covered in burrs. unfortunately, that comes with this territory. black bear, bear, wildlife, photography Wild black bears usually run, but this one didn’t. Maybe, being a young bear it was curious. We’ve seen that before, “Curious Young Bear.” We also suspected that it might be a sow and she had a cub that was still below the road. Perhaps, she wasn’t leaving her baby.