Blog #1
This is my big intro! The premier of my website! My first Blog!
Who am I ?
My name is Kelly Jo Engle. I live in Liminga, in the Upper peninsula of Michigan. I am the product of Appalachian hillbillies ,Angus cattle ranchers, Kentucky preachers, Ohio buckeye chicken farmers, and bait & tackle store owners . I am what the old farmers refer to as an easy keeper, I stay nice and round on very little grain. I define hard work and perseverance, I have never been fast, but I do my homework and endure. Above all, I am a God fearing woman that has more fun and adventure than Carter has pills.
The only girl out of 4 children. Single mother of 3 magnificent children, Meemaw to 3 beautiful grandchildren and counting. Registered nurse of 30 years in Labor & Delivery and Emergency Medicine. Past horse trainer, riding instructor. Mid distance sled dog racer.
Imagine my adventures! I have enjoyed the runs of a lifetime as well as some pretty impressive wrecks, fodder for stories to write about in my upcoming blogs.
I am 62 years old! I live alone with ten Epagneul Breton's, a retired team of sled dogs( don't tell them that) we try to show up for a short 15 to 30 mile race locally each year. A 13 year old mini long haired wiener dog named Bubba, (don't even ask, there is no good reason) A 22 year old Mule that has my back in all situations gone awry. A 22 yr old horse that does not have my back in all situations gone awry , but does like to stare at me in an uncomfortable manner through my bedroom window when I oversleep. A really random haphazard 3 year old Long haired German Shepherd with Czechoslovakian ancestry, aptly named Mr Magoo. 15 pigeons that help me train my Breton's, they started out as wild birds that my fellow Breton friend and hunter caught for me, then I felt sorry for them, snatched from their homes like that, long story short, they now have a house of their own and are all named. The pigeons teach the dogs to be steady to flush and shot. I use a remote pigeon launcher, I like to think they don't mind the pigeon launcher, kinda like a pigeon carnival ride, the jury is still out on that one. They always come home , we have a good arrangement , i.e. help with training, in exchange for clean digs, food, and water. Population control is in negotiations , I collect their eggs for now. Oh last but not least, two cats , I'm not really a cat person, I do NOT, however, like rodents in my house! These cats do their job well. One was thrown out of a car window, right in front of me at 55mph, I mean what was I supposed to do? I brought the little trauma victim home and tended her, with Mr Magoo's help, her name is Ruby Road Rash, now 2 years old and operates around here like a boss, bringing me dead vermin daily. The other cat is a Maine Coon cat named Elton. Elton arrived 9 months ago as a 6 week old kitten and is now 25 lbs, lean and mean, I think full grown he will be taking down small deer and such. Elton may or may not be the result of two glasses of wine in, one stormy night during the pandemic.
With loving concern, my grown children encourage me to tone down the adventure part. However this ol mare for one, feels as if new chapters of adventure are just waiting to be written. My lifestyle is not always easy and certainly not glamorous, I wouldn't trade it for the world. My goals are to share my passion for upland hunting and the ongoing stories of my Bretons. With any success, I pray perhaps my stories inspire you to begin your own adventures, and put a smile on your face.
On Bye from the yoop.
Kelly Jo
This is my home! This is also the home of the King of Upland Birds, The Ruffed Grouse.
The gift and blessing of a wonderful days winter hunt after a particularly heartbreaking day with covid in the ICU.
The pandemic was hard on all of us on the front line, seems like a bad dream now. Jesus Christ and coming home to my sweet farm full of love meeting me at the gate is what preserved my heart and rejuvenated my soul.
Mr Magoo likes to think he knows how to be a bird dog, in reality he is anything but.
I love my pigeons, I think they are beautiful!
A mile or so down the road . Paradise
We are not to be bothered during our morning time of coffee and thought. Jussi Jon is very protective of my emotional well being.
Jussi Jon is also very protective of the highly coveted blue ball
My sweet team and I coming in hot to the finish line of the Copper Dog 150.
Provision from the forest.
Cimaron is not a very good babysitter, he is known to sneak in a nip here and there.
They give me such love and joy.
Mr Beans one of the coolest pigeons ever.
Jussi Jon is very helpful with all the dogs, I love him so.
Mr Magoo gives counsel to the puppies often. The puppies love him.