Happy Birthday!

June 26, 2009
Sandy Creek Park, GA

Tessa turned one year old today! Happy Birthday, sweet Tessa, and many thanks to Jubilee GSPs for such a wonderful dog!

I took the day off work to spend it with her. We went to the park for two hours in the morning, where she hunted, ran and swam, then we relaxed at home most of the day.

Summer Swim

June 9, 2009
Sandy Creek Park, GA

The days are getting longer, and hotter. This week we were still able to go to the rental dog park in the evening, followed by a swim in the lake. Tessa seemed to enjoy just cruising through the water, for the pure joy of cruising through the water. I can't wait to get her started on the duck search portion of the UT training.

Full Pool

May 31, 2009
Lake Hartwell, GA

Well, we made it back down from the mountains, and stopped at Lake Hartwell for a little refreshment. Everyone was glad to see the sun after a week of rain, and with the lake so close to full pool for the first time in two years, there were boats and people everywhere in the lake. Tessa joined the boat ramp fun, on a very long leash of course, so as to not disturb the peace too much.

Along An Abandoned Highway

May 31, 2009
Point Lookout Trail (formerly U.S. 70)
McDowell County, NC

Before we head back to Georgia, our friends take us to Point Lookout Trail, which was just recently established from an abandoned section of old U.S. 70. We did not make it all the way to Point Lookout due to time constraints, but we walked a bit down the trail, following the sounds of a train that passed through the gorge below, and catching up with it just as the last cars passed through the second tunnel.

Andrews' Geyser

May 31, 2009
Andrews' Geyser

The next morning we head out again and stop first at Andrews' Geyser near Old Fort, NC. It is both Tessa's and my first geyser, albeit an artificial one. It was built in 1885 near Mill Creek and during its heyday it shot 250 feet into the air every few minutes. In 1910 it was repaired and relocated to its current spot, then owned by the Southern Railway, who turned the Geyser and its land over to Old Fort in 1975, and was once more repaired. Today it shoots 80 feet into the air. I understand it is turned on every morning at 10 a.m.

Tessa's Geyser

May 31, 2009
Andrews' Geyser, NC

They Geyser's basin was drained, and Tessa claimed it to take a geyser shower.

Orbee Time!

May 30, 2009
Black Mountain, NC

After driving and running around all day, we relaxed at our friends' home in Black Mountain. They are blessed with a securely fenced back yard, where Tessa entertained us with her acrobatics and hunting skills. While we mostly played with her orbee ball and assorted tennis ball, at some point she got quite interested in the tree in the background and pointed, then flushed out a bird that was hiding there. She's just never all play.

Fill 'er Up

May 30, 2009
Chesnee, SC

Tessa Joins The Circus

May 30, 2009
Rutherford County (NC)

Life On The Sunnyside

May 30, 2009
Rutherford County (NC)

Sunnyside Orchard

On our way from Marion, NC, to Chesnee, SC, we stopped at Sunnyside Orchard for a chat with the locals who let us wander around the orchard, inclusive of Tessa, to take photos and taste the peaches and cherries (we didn't eat any, instead bought some later). Tessa has always been mighty patient with me and my photography and it was no different on this day. And she always has my back.

[First photo by Don Blankenship].

Marion, NC

May 30, 2009
Marion, NC

After leaving the trestle, we drove to Marion, NC, an old mill and railroad town. We spent an hour walking through the downtown district. Dorinda was the designated dog walker, as Don and I were busy taking photos. We stopped by Eckrod's old photo store, and while Don and I went inside to talk to the owner, Dorinda and Tessa waited outside. Dorinda was much more patient than Tessa. When the owner of the store saw Tessa's acrobatics outside the door, he invited her in.

[Eckrod's Camera Store]

:(

On our way we passed Fuzzy Wuzzy's Pet Spa, and Tessa insisted on stopping. To our dismay, it was closed, and protected by a lot of dogs that were raising hell behind the blinds, so we took a few photos for posterity and went on. I tried to explain to Tessa that she is not fuzzy enough anyway to qualify for a spa treatment here.

Stand By Me

May 30. 2009
McDowell County, NC

We got up at 4 a.m. this morning and headed off to visit friends in Black Mountain, NC. We arrived at around 9 a.m. and after a brief romp in the backyard, we squeezed Tessa's crate in the Honda Element - it just barely fit- and started on our 9-hour photo trip.


Our first stop was the tall Clinchfield Railroad trestle near Marion, NC. We had to carefully climb a steep trail through the kudzu to get to the top. Tessa didn't have any problems, her paws sticking to the gravel like velcro. I shall point out that she remained firmly attached to me via the leash the entire time.

Summer Eve

May 29, 2009
Sandy Creek Park, GA

After a week of rain, the weather has finally cleared, and I give Tessa a good long run in the park before we head off to North Carolina very early the next morning.

Border Patrol

May 27, 2009

Sandy Creek Park, GA

The rabbits have been out in full force lately, and this is the border crossing from the woods across the park, through the fence and into the land beyond. Tessa did a good job patrolling that border!

Dog Park No. 1

May 27, 2009
Sandy Creek Park, GA

While we prefer dog park no. 3, dog park no. 1 isn't bad either. Both are about the same size, 3 acres, and suit her range. Anything less has now become pointless - this dog needs space!

Whoa Boarding

May 25, 2009
[at home]

While I started Tessa on the "whoa" from the get-go, it's time to step it up some. I now need to teach her to stop dead in her tracks when I say "whoa" while she's in motion. And as before, once in a "whoa" she has to hold it until I release her, and without so much as moving one paw (they say an inch of movement at home will translate into 50 feet in the field - not a good thing!). Teaching this to be reliable involves use of a whoa board, a whoa table, a crate, a post, check cords and possibly a barrel.

Contrary to popular belief, most of a bird dog's training can be done from the safety of our home. Here she is "surfing" the living room.

Of course, I may be doing all this backwards...maybe I should have started her on the board or table earlier.

All Dressed Up And No Place To Go

May 22, 2009
[at home]

We were supposed to spend the weekend in Black Mountain, NC, however, the trip got rain-delayed. It was a major disappointment for all parties involved. Here is Tessa in her crate, after a good scrub in the tub, ear wash, eye wash, nail trim...still thinking we will embark on a great adventure tomorrow, when indeed, unfortunately, it'll be good old Sandy Creek Park again.

On Deck

May 16, 2009
Athens, GA

After spending the better part of the day in thistle fields, brush piles and duck ponds, we clean up and head to town.

NAVHA Training Day

May 16, 2009
Jersey, GA

Another fun-filled NAVHDA training day. The fields have shot up since we were here in April, and full of thistles, briars and brambles, but it didn't slow the dogs down any. Since Tessa has had so little exposure to game birds, I decided not to rush things and let her have her fun a few more months. I planted a few quail and let her go. She didn't seem as focused today, but was very birdy once she was on one.