Ring Of Fire

 This picture was taken in 2007 when Patsy gave me chickens.  I recall some were those Red Sex Linked ones which are my favorite chickens.  Richard was checking them out.  Once when I went there he had me watch a show about mules that he recorded or ordered from RFD tv.  He loved that channel.  It was a great show.  At one time a team of good mules would cost about the same as a farm!  Can you imagine!

Richard told a story of going coon hunting with Frankie Powell and Billy Joe Rudd.  The dogs often chase a coon around and around.  Coons are smart and will go through water and around in circles to try to escape.  Squirrel hunting like we do goes fast.  The dog hits the trail and soon trees the squirrel. If the dog sees a squirrel on the ground it will go up the tree quickly as on the ground the dog has an advantage and can catch the squirrel if he stays in the chase.  But coon hunting is a night time adventure.  I have gone a few times and it was not very exciting to me, but brother Richard loved coon hunting.  Richard said they were sitting under a big oak and listening to the dogs track a coon.  They bark on track and you tell where the dogs are.  Squirrel dogs are quiet on the track and bark when they are treed.  Coon dogs bark differently on the track that when they are treed.  Also, of course they bark more vigorously and in one spot.   Making the way to the tree is a treacherous walk.  Always through briars and bushes!  Remember it is pitch dark and the only light when I went was on Richard's head.

Billy Joe was a jolly sort.  Under the oak, he just went to sleep knowing Richard and Frankie would wake him if the dogs treed.  Richard said they made a ring out of oak leaves and lit it on fire in several places.  Billy Joe woke in a ring of fire and you could hear the ring of laughter even over the dogs howling in the distance!