Tuesday, December 28, 2010

Scanners! After The Flood.


Don't worry, kids. I went outside the immediate family for this one. I'm thinking I need to photoshop in some water snakes.

"Tech.": Combination of Picnik for the color and "HDR" effect, and ACDSee filters for the water and "mirror" effects.

Saturday, December 25, 2010

Scanners! Before the Scourge of Pantyhose!

More 1960's reality enhanced.


I'm running out of black and white prints of  Mar .... this model. Not to worry.

Friday, December 24, 2010

You Can Now Follow This Blog On Facebook.

If you're like me, you spend an inordinate amount of time on Facebook, making it difficult to surf around and read the blogs you enjoy. I've now established a Facebook page for Hare-Brained at Home. When I post something new here, I'll post the link on the Facebook page. If you follow the above link, and "Like" the page, you will then get updates in your Facebook news feed. It couldn't be easier.

Go there. Now.

It's Become A Holiday Tradition!

Ladies & Gentlemen, Boys & Girls, Lesbian, Gay, Bi, and Trans-gender- For your entertainment and amusement, presenting the undisputed Greatest Christmas Song Ever:


Enjoy the Holiday Season and be safe everybody!

Darwin's Mountaineers.

A follow up article in the local paper goes into more detail on the four "hikers" who had to be rescued from the top of the mountains last week, but it fails to make them appear any... brighter.

Take a look at this picture:


The arrow at the bottom of the mountain is the parking lot and picnic area. The arrow at the top is Florida Peak, (partially obscured by clouds in this 2009 image), some 2500' above the lot, with no trails between the two. On a day when the sun sets around 5:30, who in their right mind decides to make a climb (not a hike) at 2 O'Clock? They may be in college, but they're obviously not math majors.

Thursday, December 23, 2010

Fencing.

One of the most important abilities a hound should have when hunting jackrabbits on rangeland, aside from the obvious talent for running at high speed, turning at said speed, and catching the damn thing, is the ability to fence. No, I'm not talking about grabbing the rapier and challenging the hare to a duel. I mean the ability to clear the barbed wire without tearing up their back, and to do it at speed so as to not lose ground to the hare.

Willow demonstrates:

make gif
Make gif

She learned the hard way. On her first crossing last winter, she tried to go through the middle strands. The technique can be trained with the simple use of bait and a leash or long rope and, of course, a fence. One without barbs would be ideal, but not necessary. Two people make it easier, too, but again it's not necessary.

With the dog on one side of the fence, and you, with your bait (food, cookies, etc) on the other side, run the lead under the bottom strand of the fence and call the dog. Stop him if he tries to go come through any part of the fence except the bottom strand of wire. When he does it right, give him the treat and praise him. Do it a couple of times a day, without being excessive, then start doing it without the leash or rope. Soon you'll have a hound who can dive under the wire after the hare without even appearing to slow down. The best dogs at this are a wonder to observe.

Have fun, keep your dogs safe, and every day will feel like today was for us