Hunting Sunday February 11, 2007 10:00AM
Valley Green Farm

Huntsman: Eleanor Hartwell

Whips: Jill Wagenknecht, John Korenak, Gene Deutsch, Lee Deutsch, Ashley
First Field: Mary Hensel (fieldmaster), Ron Ausman, Jean Mutrux, Shelby O’Leary, Leslie Ayers, Leslie Granger, Tess Fleishli

Car Follower: Marcia Gay

14 couple of hounds. I recognized (with help from Mary) Nabisco, Wonder, Cheerful, Truffle, Vice, Patton, Daphne, Jargon, Freedom, Versa, Ivy, Ibsen, Twilight, Jive, Nike, Nettle, Katherine, Kramer, Julep, Jackson, Beauty, Luge, Target, Needle, Sentry, Flanker

GPS readings 9.92 miles 1 hrs 53 minutes moving 1 hour 5 minutes stopped. Max speed 21.8 mph
Moving average 5.1 mph

It was a cool day but much warmer than previous days. Proper attire was waived in favor of warm attire. It started out overcast and then cleared. There was still snow and ice on the north slopes. The hounds had not been out in two weeks due to weather. The temperature started at 28 degrees and increased to 39 degrees. Barometric pressure was falling. The ground was still frozen and hard. Winds were from the South Southwest at 4 to 9 mph.

We parked at the clubhouse, Rocky and Belle broke away from the trailer while we were getting ready ran around for quite a little while. I guess they got the bucks out. We started out right at 10AM and headed out the driveway. We then turned north and drew along a little pond. There were some local farmers setting up to ice fish on the pond. It was quite interesting. It was a rather quiet day. There were a lot of deer moving that distracted the hounds. Most stayed steady though. The hounds spoke occasionally but I don’t think anyone viewed. It was overall a rather blank day.

After hunting we had a brunch in the new clubhouse. I fixed Gumbo and fruit salad, devilled eggs and other goodies. We had a Susie Q cake to celebrate Jill’s birthday.

When I got back to the farm, the Three Creek Bassets were out so I joined them as soon as I had put my horse away. They also had a blank day other than putting a raccoon to ground in an old rusty 55 gallon drum.

I served them the leftovers from the brunch in the farmhouse afterwards and they were delighted.