Target Practice

This week we indulged in one of our favorite activities, target practice.  On Thursday, our good friend, JJ, joined us at the farm for a long-overdue visit.  Jimmy Joe and I have known each other since childhood, and he and his wife, Nine, were our gracious host and hostess in Cambodia in 2012 and 2013.  We were thrilled when they moved back to Texas early this year, but haven't been able to get together because of Covid.  We missed seeing Nine, who was in Austin visiting her cousin this weekend, but we’re planning a longer visit in a month or so when it’s a bit cooler.  

But I digress.  Not only did we have time for chilled beverages, visiting on the back porch and a good steak dinner, JJ, John and I spent some time Thursday afternoon and Friday morning polishing our shooting skills.  

Targets made from sections of metal fence posts hang from the trees at our informal outdoor range below the upper stock tank and yield a satisfying “ping” when we are on the mark.

And, empty feed bags come with targets printed on the back for longer range shots.  

It was great fun, and if not especially proud of our prowess with firearms, at least we weren’t embarrassed.

JJ and John also tried to target the bass in our stock ponds, but were only able to land a couple of small ones.  Either we have harvested most of the big fish, or they were hiding out under the overhanging bushes. 

 

On Saturday, Cody and I enjoyed a different kind of target practice.  We joined friends in Bertram at Sheryl McDonald’s Destiny Farm for some sheep herding practice.  In this case, the “targets” were obstacles on the course, and the ultimate goal was penning the sheep.  

Sheryl worked sheep with Connie’s Brandy  and a couple of her smooth collies.

Pat Taylor put Trips and Claire through their paces while owners Susan and Carolyn cheered and took pictures.  (Thanks, Carolyn.  You got some good ones.)  

Cody and I had a great time, and I was pleased with his work.  (He even made his handler look good a few times.)  

Trips and Cody took turns holding sheep while the other fetched them, and both were calm and purposeful during the process.  Good dogs!  It’s hard for a dog to remain still when another dog come flying past to pick up the sheep, but both boys did well. 

Cody and I even tried a little shedding, with mixed results, but we had fun.

And Carolyn took some great photos of Trips and Cody.  (Could Trips be anticipating lamb chops for dinner?)

It was a very good day.