Comments on: Keeping a promise

By: Cedric

Cedric — Mon, 04 Jan 2010 06:13:41 +0000

Really cool story man. Told like the born storyteller that you are.

By: Monte Stevens

Monte Stevens — Sun, 03 Jan 2010 22:25:54 +0000

Yes, one more time. A friend and I took him out one morning where we shot over him a a few times. We are not bad shooters but he decided the hunting was over and headed for the truck where he waited for us. That was the last time he or I went hunting. I now prefer to hunt with a camera. Makes less noise and wont kill anyone.

By: Paul

Paul — Sun, 03 Jan 2010 20:59:29 +0000

Thanks, Monte. Fortunately, for me, Hobbs doesn’t do water. I’ve smelled him when he was wet, and it’s not pleasant. I’m glad that I didn’t have to ride with him in that condition. Sometimes, on a hot day, he exudes a particular, shall we say, malodorous ‘fragrance’ that makes him difficult to be around.

Even if it is sprinkling outside, the tiniest little bit, he doesn’t want to go outside, opting instead to wait a while.

So, did you ever take the dog out hunting again?

By: Monte Stevens

Monte Stevens — Sun, 03 Jan 2010 20:48:15 +0000

An absolutely adorable story and a true event. I too enjoy your writing as well as your images or philosophical thoughts. To me you have a graceful way to integrate all of these into your writings.

The story reminds me of the Brittany Spaniel I had a few years ago. I worked to train him as a bird dog but he was not born to be a bird dog. On a cold and snowy day in October while hunting, he jumped his first rabbit and off to the races they went. He completely ignored my calls or whistles while I watched both of them disappeared over the horizon. I felt I’d just lost a dog. But a few minutes later he returned panting, covered in mud, snow and ice. Hunting was over for the day so I loaded him in the car and headed home. Not sure about you but the smell to a wet dog sitting in the car seat next to me made for a long trip home. But that was one happy and contented dog. He sat there braking ice frozen to his paws with his teeth. He was ready for home and a meal.

I like the first image because it shows Hobbs airborne just as the seagulls. No wonder he doesn’t get his feet wet.

By: Paul

Paul — Sun, 03 Jan 2010 18:27:32 +0000

Earl, I think that you’re right!

By: Earl

Earl — Sun, 03 Jan 2010 16:59:14 +0000

Dogs do remember promises, it’s just that they’re kind hearted enough to not keep nagging about them! Sounds like a good time for all.

By: Mark

Mark — Sun, 03 Jan 2010 16:53:50 +0000

Good for you Paul – and a great new years gift to Hobbs.

Happy New Year.

By: Tom

Tom — Sun, 03 Jan 2010 16:35:28 +0000

This is off the hook outstanding!!!
The top photograph captures the soul of a living being, Hobbs, with joy in his little heart. I know this sounds odd but it’s not easy to capture the soul of an animal. This does exactly that perfectly!

Wonderful story to boot, your writing has grown 100x fold and it’s just SO cool to be a viewer with that.

By: Paul

Paul — Sun, 03 Jan 2010 14:08:36 +0000

Chris: I’ve heard lots of stories about labs and water. It would be fun to hang out with a lab. I’ve seen many of them swimming at the beach and fetching toys from the water. Hobbs, as I mentioned, is having none of that.

Nine degrees, eh? Cold! Here, it was a brisk 21 degrees this morning. It has since warmed up to a balmy 24 degrees with an expected high of about 40 today! So, sometimes, it does get a bit chilly here!

By: Chris Klug

Chris Klug — Sun, 03 Jan 2010 13:54:22 +0000

That is a truly wonderful story. Dogs. play and open country go together. Our black lab LOVES mud. Water, yes, certainly, but mud in particular. When Peg and I traveled to Gettysburg recently, Omega found a spring ( Spangler’s Spring, if you know the battle) and stepped into what looked like a puddle but he sank up to his chest! He was so happy, struggled out and was dripping of stinky mud! But when we took him to the beach, he just sat near me, we couldn’t coax him into the surf at all.

Great images. I bet it was a bit brisk on that beach! As Peg and I were driving to the airport this morning, it was NINE degrees. Yikes.