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Skog's Nature Photography

Havray de Gracee - April 2010 Chesapeake Stripers

Schluep, Skogs, Lou and I gathered in Havre de Grace, MD last Sunday, keeping the annual spring fishing tradition alive. We awoke early, hung over and hungry, and were late to the marina where we met Captains Mark and Tom and their 21' Parkers. Any piscine deficit that we had accumulated in the past was wiped clean by the daily haul. Stripers, stripers and stripers. We landed roughly 40 a boat, with sizes ranging from 4 lbs to 25 lbs. Add to that a couple of 2' Brooklyn ethnic hoagies, and the only ingredients missing were those of you reading this blog who were not with us. Our next planned Chesapeake excursion is December of this year. Maybe we'll haul in a 2 m Hancock?

BBQ

Who has photos from the BBQ to post?

Add One More to Our Growing List of Blog Followers - Luc Dorow Mochary

Feb. 8, 2009 e-mail from Macho in Brazil
I wish I could tell you horror stories about sleep deprivation, unfortunately it just hasn’t happened. I think someone upstairs made a mistake. God didn’t send us a baby, he sent us a little Dalai Lama. He is as calm and peaceful as the wise man himself, and more than that inspires calm and peace in his own parents. What baby does that?!

The Dalai Lama himself

I’m sure the war stories will come in time.

I can tell you though, very proudly, that in my first week with Luc, I have changed somewhere between 30 and 40 diapers (I had to let Tati change at least a few, as she was starting to get jealous), been peed on once, and pooped on twice!! And I loved every minute of all of it. I am definitely obsessed with Luc!

Oh yes, and I did let my back hairs grow in …

Chest hairs evident...

Penn State 49 - Michigan State 18

Skogs, Schluep and Anh journeyed to Happy Valley for a true cultural experience.25 degrees it was...

They joined the natives in ritual statue waiting and photos.

Frozen solid, awaiting a celebratory meal of fried chicken.

After "the grouse" 2007

20 minutes after, gun returned to Schluep

I'm having a terrific hunting season, at least as far as the three upland ingredients are concerned: dog; gun, birds. The new puppy is an incredible little hunter, with the drive of my beloved Abbey but a working range (so far) that ensures she is visible most of the time and a bold point, something my labs have never had. The bird numbers are up this year, with the grouse cycle peaking. Where we used to walk and see one bird, we now see three or four, all the time. My gun (pictured in Schluep's arm above), the Parker, is working well after a trip to the smith. However, the three ingredients have yet to interact in these here Pennsylvania coverts. Such is the continuation of my shooting slump.

It all began last January, with the visit of Macho and Schluep. By all accounts, including the missus, we had an awesome time. We went rabbit hunting, as it seemed a better bet than chasing scarce grouse. And, it was during the rabbit hunt that the slump became firmly, inexorably, established. It was late in the day and we had not killed any bunnies. Just as we prepared to cross a creek the beagles treed a grouse. Schluep had the Parker, and, novice city slicker that he has become, was preparing to walk up on the treed bird to get the perfect shot. In an act of cursed impatience I snatched the gun from the do-ragged hipster, our beloved editor, and fired off a shot: a miss. No worries, the bird flushed right to left, in the wide open, my favorite and a certain kill with the Parker. Another miss. What?

Perhaps it was the curse of Schwall who still blames me for not having invited him to join us (he was, after all, nearby in Taipei). Or, perhaps it was Abbey, who had recently departed for the heavenly grouse covert. I have no idea. What I do know is that since then I have been unable to shoot anything with consistency. I am so far beyond embarrassment at this point. I am desperate. So, gods of the Parker, please send me a sign that things are going to change...