Blog

An Open Letter to the American Field

February 12, 2021 | Other Things | Comments
As a long time lover of bird dogs and the field trial sport, I wish the American Field Publishing Company only success. And with that success in mind, I urge it to make available to subscribers (perhaps as a premium subscription to give it additional revenue) online access to one of its treasures: the annual records of all field trial results sanctioned by it printed in the back of Field Trial Stud Books from 1901 through 1948. Read more

1961 to 2021: Reflections on Sixty Years as a T & E Lawyer

February 9, 2021 | Other Things | Comments
On May 1, 2021, I will celebrate sixty years as a practicing T & E (Trusts & Estates) lawyer. Here are some thoughts at this milestone. First: my good luck, so much of it. I grew up on a small sheep and beef farm in Virginia’s mountains. My father died when I was fifteen, leaving my mother and me to carry on with the farm. (His federal estate tax return revealed an adjusted gross estate (net worth) of $29, 946.28). Read more

Reflections on the Second Course at Chinquapin and “27”

February 6, 2021 | Florida Open All-Age Championship | Comments
It has been my privilege to report the Florida Open All-Age Championship at Chinquapin Farm each year since 1995. In those years I have watched many great performances by the best all-age dogs competing in four decades. The memories of those races are indelible, subject to recall when least expected, sometimes on waking in the night, sometimes when driving to an appointment, sometimes on seeing a dog’s or handler’s name Read more

Too Honest

February 2, 2021 | A Little Competition, Fiction | Comments
With headlights out, the small black car rolled slowly up the live-oak-lined sand road toward the kennels and stables of Mossy Swamp Plantation. At 3 A.M. the only light came from a third quarter moon and a dusk-to-dawn pole light in the graveled parking lot where a dozen long horse trailers and a single dually pickup were parked. The car stopped fifty yards from the pickup, and two men in dark clothing emerged and walked to the dually. Read more