Fool Hen

“I got home seriously hungry yesterday and decided on an early dinner. I nuked some osso bucco with linguine in a cheese and cream sauce (with sun dried tomatoes, capers and black olives) and sat down to tuck in when I heard a loud thud.

Now, I live in a former one-room schoolhouse built in 1830 and loud thuds are never a good sound. I looked out the front door and saw nothing and so I put on my shoes and walked round the house expecting to see a large branch and hoping I wouldn't have to repair the roof.

I foung a ruffed grouse (bonassa vmbellvs) dead on the ground.

Waste is the greatest sin, IMO, and I plucked and cleaned it right there on the lawn with my trusty Swiss army knife. Not only was its neck broken, but its ribs were all broken on one side. I have read of this happening in the spring, but this is the first time I've actually seen it.

I'm in Montreal this evening, but to-morrow there is grouse for dinner in the old Rockburn School #10.”

“Mmm, barbecued grouse is great stuff! They're practically all white meat. Kitties love the "leftovers" too!”

“It's that sudden stop. Gets 'em every time.”

“What are you grousing about?”

“argh.”

“Quit ruffing up the grouse.”

“I'm sorry I started this, eh?”

“Don't chicken out now, Gremlin.”

“Cool! Air kill!”

“Gremlin is a plucky little fellow!”

“And uh...............how could you tell it was a hen?

Did you, uh, look under this chicken's skirt?”

“Fool hen is an old term for grouse, mostly spruce grouse.

It was the most successful grouse hunt in a while. I wonder if I could find a way to drag the house around.”

“Ruffed grouse were always called partridge in my area.”

“sittin in pear trees?”

“Yeah in Vuh-mont they call 'em pa'tridges.”

““Yeah in Vuh-mont they call 'em pa'tridges.”
MarkO
12:47:10 PM
4/19/07

Maybe that's where I got it from. I am part Vermonter.”

“Look what I've drummed up now!”

“~groan~

that was bad, Geo.”

“Geo knows how to stay abreast of a thing like this.

My deepest sympathy, Zac.

Ha ha, my #3 kid was born there..........maybe that's it!
I knew there was something about that boy.”

“A Spruce Goose would've made a mess of that old schoolhouse.”

“"My deepest sympathy, Zac.”
mARKo
1:30:33 PM
4/19/07

I'm afraid it gets worse MarkO. There's also French Canadian in my bloodline as well.”

“Ya'll are really PLUCKY to keep picking at this.....”

“And you know what they always say about a bird in the hand.”

““And you know what they always say about a bird in the hand.”
Roam Around
1:55:08 PM
4/19/07

You end up with bird poop on it?”

“That comment is quite fowl.”

“I'm all groused out.”

“I'm afraid it gets worse MarkO. There's also French Canadian in my bloodline as well.”
lumberzac
1:35:37 PM
4/19/07

Soooooo, Gremlin really is your unca!”

“"And you know what they always say about a bird in the hand.”
Roam Around
1:55:08 PM
4/19/07

Yeah, quit playin' with yourself.”

“..ya don't wanna ruffle any FEATHERS do ya?”