Tuesday, December 10, 2019

Pheasants and Chukars...oh my!


Our new business venture, God's Country Upland Preserve, leads us to the care and feeding of pheasants and chukars.  Two birds that are great for upland hunting with a trained dog.  

We started by building this large pheasant enclosure.  You can just see the birds through the netting.  We quickly learned that with both the pheasants and the chukars that it is necessary to screen them off from the world or they would startle and fly all over the place and injure themselves any time anyone or thing came close.  


Our pheasants are a big, beautiful Mongolian variety.  



Then the chukar pen was built.  Chukars are not native to this area and must be kept raised off the ground for them to stay healthy.  


There's alway something disconcerting about the way all those little chukar heads turn to look at you all at the same time!


Pheasants and chukars both enjoy a frozen pumpkin to keep them occupied. 


They tear them up pretty readily!


The dogs are ready to hunt!




And we're offering a great holiday gift deal!  You can hunt with your own dog - or use ours.


Happy Hunting!











Monday, December 2, 2019

It's A Winter Wonderland!


The storms sweeping across America have reached us and the snow is downright beautiful!






"What good is the warmth of summer, 
without the cold of winter to give it sweetness."
- John Steinbeck










Friday, November 8, 2019

A Hunter's Christmas Gift Idea


Our latest venture...

This is a GREAT gift for the hunter in your life!

Bring your own hunting dog or use one of ours!



Go to our website at gcupreserve.com for more information about hunts and the Preserve's human and dog team. 





Thursday, October 17, 2019

God's Country Upland Preserve Is In Business



Temperatures have finally cooled enough that we can take the dogs out to hunt.  They love going so much that they would run themselves to death if we took them out in warmer weather.  

We have 500 pheasants and chukars ready to go for your hunt.  (Photos of the pens to come)

Call us at 814-260-9009 for reservations.  


Ladybird has only one thing on her mind.... birds!









Tuesday, October 8, 2019

God's Country Upland Preserve


A new venture is underway at Fitzgerald's Family Farm.  It is God's Country Upland Preserve - an upland game hunting preserve located right here in Potter County.  We now have pens filled with pheasants and chukars in anticipation of fall hunts.  


You can find more information about God's Country Upland Preserve at https://www.gcupreserve.com and on Facebook here.



Wednesday, October 2, 2019

I've Been Away - Foodie Photos


In September, I took a two week trip to Europe.  My daughter, in the Air Force, met me in Frankfurt and she and I flew to Budapest... after time in Budapest we flew back to Frankfurt and then went to the Bad Durkheim Wurst Festival (listed as the largest wine festival in the world!), after that, my dear daughter had to go back to work and I went on to Berlin.  

I believe that most people who look at farming blogs tend to be "foodies."  So here are some lovely pictures of food!
























I hope you've enjoyed this little "bite" of my trip!





Wednesday, August 28, 2019

Project Of The Day: Tack Room Addition


We had this room added onto the end of our barn awhile ago and I've been waiting to get a door cut through from the main barn and a floor and door added.  

Yesterday, Amish workers came and got the job done.




My son asked me if this was my new "she shed".  I guess it is... albeit still quite rustic!









Thursday, August 22, 2019

Project Of The Day: Braid Onions



The onions are braided and hung in the basement for winter cooking.




Yum!



Saturday, August 17, 2019

Project Of The Day: Harvest Onions And What Is This?


Onions have been harvested.  I'll let them cure for a couple of days and the braid them and put them in the basement.  This is Copra onions - a storage onion. 



On my walks I see this strange growth on this dead hemlock.  It's rock hard and I wonder what it is.  I always think it kind of looks like some sort of french pastry...




Does anyone know what it is?






Monday, August 12, 2019

Sunday: A Day Of Rest, Relaxation And...



... a nice long, leisurely walk with Anna Belle and Ladybird.
(old boy Petey can't go because he becomes confused and tends to get lost)