memories – A Grateful Grace-full Life

A Little Brown Dog’s Winter Pheasant Hunt

Jackson is 2 1/2 now. He is both quite content as a family dog and a very driven bird hunter.

Yesterday we had the opportunity to do a pheasant hunt at Muzzy Pheasant Farm with two other Boykins and a few other people. I walked behind with those not hunting and took a few pictures which I am sharing here.

Jackson, waiting for us to get ready for the 1+ hour trip to Muzzy Pheasant Farm.

It was cold — 20 degrees, but felt like 7 with the wind. I stayed warm under 3 layers of clothes with an ice fishing parka and an orange bird vest as the outside layers.

The dogs range several yards in front of the hunters, working side to side to flush the birds, and check back in when promoted by their humans.

Jackson doing the Boykin bounce as he goes after a downed bird. When the grass is tall they do this at times, to get a look around. He looks like a bobber. 😊

Jon receiving the pheasant. The hunters got 7 out of 10 birds, and Jackson was excited to retrieve several.

After retrieving the bird, Jackson had a roll in the snow. The cold weather didn’t seem to bother him a bit!

By the end of the hunt, snow balls had been removed from his paws several times, and his rear had several icy chunks to be removed.

I wish I had taken a video so you could see just how fast and how often Jackson’s butt and tail were wiggling!

It was good to get outdoors, and fun to watch Jackson and the two other Boykins (Cove and Dot) and the hunters do what they enjoy.

As we begin 2026, I am grateful for life and health, and to know that God loves me. I pray that you will know him and experience his blessings in this coming year. As the Apostle John says:

“Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in every way and [that your body] may keep well, even as [I know] your soul keeps well and prospers.”
‭‭3 John‬ ‭1‬:‭2‬ ‭AMPC‬‬

Raising a Little Brown Dog (LBD)

You may wonder where I’ve been lately, why I haven’t been writing… It’s because of a certain Boykin Spaniel who has been taking up a lot of my free time.

His official name is Brambleberry’s Andrew Jackson, but we call him Jackson. He was born on July 28 and joined our family in early October, just 2 days after we met and were approved by his breeder. He has a dark brown soft and wavy coat and beautiful eyes. He will be trained as a bird dog as well as being our family dog.

We have enjoyed Jackson’s sweet and saucy personality from the start. He’s smart and a tad stubborn, but also wants to please, and is very food driven.

However the realities of his needs sure have changed our every day life! It’s like having a toddler in the house! Potty training, regular exercise, keeping him interested in toys and play — and out of trouble. If not sleeping or in his kennel, someone must always have eyes on Jackson. For example, one time he got the TV remote and almost ordered a new channel!

I was grateful when he started being able to make it through the night. Those 3 am potty breaks were no fun.

He is growing fast and already learning basic commands. As of Tuesday, he will be 4 months old and is 19 pounds, about 1/2 way to his adult weight. That’s all I have time for now, but I will share more of our LBD adventures again soon.

If you can’t get the toy out of the Bo’s, get in with it.

Early morning, “big dog” is sleeping, but I must play!

Of course, I can’t close without reminding you of the Father and His love. He sees you and cares for you, oh so very much. Read the book of John. Oh, how He loves you and me!

First Memories

My first memory of God is when I was six years old and in first grade at a christian school, My class memorized Psalm 100 to recite. Thank God (literally), I didn’t know any better than to believe what it said. You know what? It’s as true today as it was when King David penned it so long ago.

Here are the basics that I learned:

He made me.
I am His.
He is good.
Be thankful.

Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all ye lands. Serve the LORD with gladness: come before his presence with singing. Know ye that the LORD he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture. Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him and bless his name. For the LORD is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations. Psalm 100 (KJV)