Snake Avoidance Training

Living in Texas with dogs bred to hunt, it’s a sure bet that you or your dogs will encounter a poisonous snake. My yellow labs, Lulubelle-8 and Daisy-11, both graduated from Snake Avoidance Training (S.A.T.) by the time they were a year old. It’s a good way to ensure your best friend doesn’t stick his/her nose into a rattlesnakes business. 

S.A.T. is simple; the trainer puts a shock collar on your dog, the only time I have ever allowed one on my dogs. The dog is put in a pen with a live defanged rattler. When the dog gets within striking distance and the rattler lunges at the dog, the trainer gives the dog a good shock at the moment of the strike. Fortunately, my dogs got the idea the first time. I don’t think I could watch my girls take the hit a second time. The collars were taken off and never put on again. Sometimes a refresher course may be needed.

Twice, this training has kept me from tangling with a rattler. Lulubelle encountered a rattler shortly after her training, which may have saved me from a snake bite. She was ahead of me on a seldom traveled trail, with lots of growth. She went on point…that tail went up as did the hair on her back. She didn’t bark, but made a nervous growl. There was a 6 foot long rattler curled ready to strike. She made me aware of the snake’s presence, but made no attempt to go near it. We both made a wide detour and my girl earned her treat. 

Don’t try this yourself—ask your vet, breeder, or check with a hunting club. Hire a trainer with lots of experience in S.A.T. See my next blog about snake proofing your dogs.

Why Texans Don’t Pick Bluebonnets

I had asked for pictures of bluebonnets and cousin, Ann Hinrichs forwarded one from cousin, Donna Moynihan shown below. 

The bluebonnets are in abundant supply due to the rain during the winter. Texans love bluebonnets, but, we know what may be lurking amongst them.

 Pickers beware!

Need we say more?!

South Austin Memories

My dogs (Lulubelle and Daisy) and I had a great time at the South Austin Memories (SAM) Golf Tourney and Tailgate Gathering, last Saturday at Willie’s Cut-N-Putt Golf Course near Spicewood, Texas. The Red Headed Stranger wasn’t there; but, Patty Finney was and sang many of the songs she has written, including The Lady Bird Waltz, a historically correct song about our 36th President Lyndon Johnson and the courtship of his First Lady. An appropriate song for our gathering, as the Pedernales River that meanders near the Johnson Ranch flows into Lake Travis near Willie Nelson’s Briarcliff Recording Studio and Golf Course. Patty told a neat story about why she wrote The Lady Bird Waltz.

Carolyn Crumley Grumbles provided great refreshments; David Mostesiler and his lovely wife, Carolyn organized the event. As golfers played, tall tales were told, and old friends reminisced about our days growing up in South Austin. My longtime friend, Marcia Hammer Patterson, brought a picture of me with one of my prize lambs at the Austin Livestock Show with the late Jimmy Clay, who purchased it. He owned the Wilke-Clay Funeral Home on S. Congress and always supported South Austin youth activities.

Mike Carlson keeps the South Austin Memories site (http://southaustinmemories.com/) and needs more old pictures of things south of the Colorado River. Please send Mike your SAM pictures and join the site to be notified of future fun events.

Edna Bowles-Patterson

I received this picture of my Aunt Edna Bowles-Patterson, born March 3, 1906, in Indian Territory. Edna was the first child of John and Lillie Bowles, their only child not born in Texas. Edna’s parents married July 18, 1903, their certificate was delivered to Mill Creek, Indian Territory with a 1 cent stamp. I have the original marriage license/certificate and the envelope stamped Ardmore, I.T. 4 pm, July 28, 1903.

My father told me John and Lillie homesteaded near Millcreek. Lillie received word that her father, Dan Brown, was sick. They headed to Texas; crossing the Red River in a wagon. Lillie, son Johnny Sanders (by a previous marriage), husband John and the baby Edna, camped just south of Fort Worth on the Trinity River. There Edna, only months old, became deathly sick. She miraculously recovered. They arrived in Travis County, Texas before the summer of 1907.

Edna was a survivor from an infant to being a teenage surrogate mother for four brothers. She was 2^nd great granddaughter of Austin founder, Thomas W. Smith who was the first Travis County Treasurer and was scalped by Indians near Austin on July 6, 1841. Edna married Tom Patterson, also a descendent of early Austin pioneers; they had five children. She witnessed Austin’s dynamic growth over the years, living to be 97 years old. Thanks to the Patterson family for sharing Aunt Edna’s picture.

Texas Bluebonnets

GOOD NEWS! Last summer’s drought, plentiful winter rains, and the wildfires of last year have set the state up for an abundant crop of bluebonnets, the state flower of Texas. For those that don’t know, the bluebonnet is to Texas, what the shamrock is to Ireland.

It is still early, but from the bluebonnets I have seen that have already bloomed, the plants are healthy and thick with pods. It looks like bluebonnets will be plentiful in the Hill Country of Texas, more so than in years past. Get your camera ready, load up the kids and the dog, and head to the Hill Country.

There is help to plan your outing; check out www.texaswildflowerpictures.com which is a very informative site for updates on Texas wildflower conditions. If you have an extra special photo of your trip to share, please send to www.Facebook.com/authordavidbowles and I will post it on my author’s page. While there, I would appreciate your liking my author page, and friending it.