The Partridge

[Ultradog MN]

I think I was about 8 at the time.
Grandpa had sold some lakeshore lots for cabins and part of the deal was he had to provide a new access road to them.
I went over to visit him one day. The new road had been started and I wanted to see what was going on. It had rained for several days so the project was halted because of the mud.
It was about a quarter mile away from his house and there were muddy potholes on the township road which wasn't fixed up so good in those days.
There was mud all over where the bulldozer had smashed its way into the woods and I followed the new road in, jumping from dry spot to dry spot and sometimes walking along side the road where the dirt hadn't been opened.
Once I got around the curve I saw the dozer so I went further in to see it.
It was a Red one and was huge.
I climbed onto it and sat in the seat and held the handles and thought about how big and powerful it made the man feel when he drove it and how much he must know about making roads. It could push big trees right over, roots and all.
I spent about a half hour looking things over then started back to the house.
On the way back there was a big mud puddle where a furrow had blocked the water in the road so I went to edge of the woods to try to find a stick I could use to open a path for the water to run into the ditch. I had to skirt around the puddle to get there.
That was when the partridge decided it was time to clear out of there and created an explosion of drumming wings as she flew off.
It startled me so badly I just started to RUN
and slipped and fell flat on my back in the mud puddle. The water was about 2 inches deep.
I lay there for a moment, trying to process it all. The road, puddle, woods. And how did I so quickly end up on my back in the muddy water? Then I realized it must have been a partrige that scared me so. I had heard them in the woods many times but had never been so close to one taking flight like that.
On the way back to Grampa's I wondered what I could tell him about being so wet and muddy and I felt very embarassed it was because of a partrige.
When he saw me and asked what had happened I just said I slipped and fell in a puddle but that was all. He chuckled a little and gave me an old shirt to wear that smelled like his cigars and was about 4 sizes too big but was dry at least.
And we did some fun stuff the rest of the day like bailing the rain water out of the boats and we stacked some wood in the garage.
And the mud dried on my pants and I could brush it off as it dried.
But Grandma wouldn't let me come in the house for lunch so I had to eat it on the front step.
And it was a pretty good day after all.
Now days he's long gone of course and I can finally admit that it was a humble partrige that caused all the ruckus and why I got so muddy that day.

 

[Richard G.]

I think I was about 8 at the time.
Grandpa had sold some lakeshore lots for cabins and part of the deal was he had to provide a new access road to them.
I went over to visit him one day. The new road had been started and I wanted to see what was going on. It had rained for several days so the project was halted because of the mud.
It was about a quarter mile away from his house and there were muddy potholes on the township road which wasn't fixed up so good in those days.
There was mud all over where the bulldozer had smashed its way into the woods and I followed the new road in, jumping from dry spot to dry spot and sometimes walking along side the road where the dirt hadn't been opened.
Once I got around the curve I saw the dozer so I went further in to see it.
It was a Red one and was huge.
I climbed onto it and sat in the seat and held the handles and thought about how big and powerful it made the man feel when he drove it and how much he must know about making roads. It could push big trees right over, roots and all.
I spent about a half hour looking things over then started back to the house.
On the way back there was a big mud puddle where a furrow had blocked the water in the road so I went to edge of the woods to try to find a stick I could use to open a path for the water to run into the ditch. I had to skirt around the puddle to get there.
That was when the partridge decided it was time to clear out of there and created an explosion of drumming wings as she flew off.
It startled me so badly I just started to RUN
and slipped and fell flat on my back in the mud puddle. The water was about 2 inches deep.
I lay there for a moment, trying to process it all. The road, puddle, woods. And how did I so quickly end up on my back in the muddy water? Then I realized it must have been a partrige that scared me so. I had heard them in the woods many times but had never been so close to one taking flight like that.
On the way back to Grampa's I wondered what I could tell him about being so wet and muddy and I felt very embarassed it was because of a partrige.
When he saw me and asked what had happened I just said I slipped and fell in a puddle but that was all. He chuckled a little and gave me an old shirt to wear that smelled like his cigars and was about 4 sizes too big but was dry at least.
And we did some fun stuff the rest of the day like bailing the rain water out of the boats and we stacked some wood in the garage.
And the mud dried on my pants and I could brush it off as it dried.
But Grandma wouldn't let me come in the house for lunch so I had to eat it on the front step.
And it was a pretty good day after all.
Now days he's long gone of course and I can finally admit that it was a humble partrige that caused all the ruckus and why I got so muddy that day.

Good story Sir.

 

[Steve in VA]

I think I was about 8 at the time.
Grandpa had sold some lakeshore lots for cabins and part of the deal was he had to provide a new access road to them.
I went over to visit him one day. The new road had been started and I wanted to see what was going on. It had rained for several days so the project was halted because of the mud.
It was about a quarter mile away from his house and there were muddy potholes on the township road which wasn't fixed up so good in those days.
There was mud all over where the bulldozer had smashed its way into the woods and I followed the new road in, jumping from dry spot to dry spot and sometimes walking along side the road where the dirt hadn't been opened.
Once I got around the curve I saw the dozer so I went further in to see it.
It was a Red one and was huge.
I climbed onto it and sat in the seat and held the handles and thought about how big and powerful it made the man feel when he drove it and how much he must know about making roads. It could push big trees right over, roots and all.
I spent about a half hour looking things over then started back to the house.
On the way back there was a big mud puddle where a furrow had blocked the water in the road so I went to edge of the woods to try to find a stick I could use to open a path for the water to run into the ditch. I had to skirt around the puddle to get there.
That was when the partridge decided it was time to clear out of there and created an explosion of drumming wings as she flew off.
It startled me so badly I just started to RUN
and slipped and fell flat on my back in the mud puddle. The water was about 2 inches deep.
I lay there for a moment, trying to process it all. The road, puddle, woods. And how did I so quickly end up on my back in the muddy water? Then I realized it must have been a partrige that scared me so. I had heard them in the woods many times but had never been so close to one taking flight like that.
On the way back to Grampa's I wondered what I could tell him about being so wet and muddy and I felt very embarassed it was because of a partrige.
When he saw me and asked what had happened I just said I slipped and fell in a puddle but that was all. He chuckled a little and gave me an old shirt to wear that smelled like his cigars and was about 4 sizes too big but was dry at least.
And we did some fun stuff the rest of the day like bailing the rain water out of the boats and we stacked some wood in the garage.
And the mud dried on my pants and I could brush it off as it dried.
But Grandma wouldn't let me come in the house for lunch so I had to eat it on the front step.
And it was a pretty good day after all.
Now days he's long gone of course and I can finally admit that it was a humble partrige that caused all the ruckus and why I got so muddy that day.

That is a great story. It is through telling stories that we keep our past alive. Thank you.

 

[greenmech]

Good one Dog! Ron MN

 

[Old Ford Mechanic]

I once had a stand on a property belonging to a now deceased friend. I had placed my stand next to a cornfield and had to walk through a stand of hardwoods to get to it. One cold morning an hour or so before day light i was easing my way across to the stand. Now over the years i had walked upon a covey of Quail several times and yes, they will startle you when they flush. However, this particular morning the woods came alive as i came up upon several deer that had bedded down in my path. The noise of those deer scampering off in those dry leaves was something! All i saw was flags as they got up and ran. After gathering my wits i just went back to the truck and laughed about it.

 

[wd9garymn]

Good story UD, but yes those little rascals can scare the bejeebers out of you when they jump up close to you. We have hunted grouse and deer in the Two Harbors Mn. area for over 60 years and seen lots of them, more so when deer hunting. Was always told that when there is a deeper snow cover those grouse will dive right down into the snow for the night. I doubted that until i saw one do that 30 yards in front of me. Amazing, and may never see that again. Gary.

 

[cjunrau]

Good story UD, but yes those little rascals can scare the bejeebers out of you when they jump up close to you. We have hunted grouse and deer in the Two Harbors Mn. area for over 60 years and seen lots of them, more so when deer hunting. Was always told that when there is a deeper snow cover those grouse will dive right down into the snow for the night. I doubted that until i saw one do that 30 yards in front of me. Amazing, and may never see that again. Gary.

yep, and they will walk under the snow for 30-50 yards and fly right back up. Scared the crap outa me once doing that.

 

[da.bees]

yep, and they will walk under the snow for 30-50 yards and fly right back up. Scared the crap outa me once doing that.

Was that figurative or literally?
One time while some of my hunting was at camp before deer season getting things ready, they killed a huge Timber Rattler in back of the building. A picture and rattles were hanging on wall when we got out there to hunt so naturally there was a lot of conversation about rattlers.

I removed a bob white from trap one afternoon and placed it in a cage without saying anything to others in camp. That night as supper wound down I slipped out to put the quail to sleep and place it beneath loose end of pillow case in my uncles truck bed camper. When my loner uncle left for bed right after supper as he always did, I let the group in on the prank and we crept near the camper to see what would happen. Shortly after light went out the camper began moving and there was thrashing noises from within. When uncle fluffed his pillow as he laid his head down the quail took flight in the dark. About 20 minutes later uncle started his truck and drove by campfire saying he was going home. I thought he was anger so I called him when I returned home after hunt. Come to find out the quail literally scared the crap out of him and he had no spare sheets and blankets. Uncle said first few seconds he was expecting to feel fangs.

 

[cjunrau]

Figuratively

 

[Ultradog MN]

Thanks for the likes and fun replies folks.
Nice encouragement for a sometimes story teller.

 

[300jk]

Thanks for the likes and fun replies folks.
Nice encouragement for a sometimes story teller.

That was a good story ! I was out bunny hunting on a beautiful February Saturday afternoon with some friends. No dogs just us walking around in about 8 inches of snow and it was warm around 40. Well I was walking down a mowed trail about 10 feet wide and 20 feet in front of me a rabbit flushed. As soon as I saw it an owl came down and scooped it up. Large owl. Scared the living be Jesus out of me ! I guess he was watching me ! Never knew he was there ! Guess I was his flush dog that day !