The Occasional Ramblings of 1Sheep Dog Gal

What the???

2011-05-29T17:22:00.002-04:00

How did I find my way back here?

puppy pictures

2010-04-06T12:18:00.002-04:00

OK. So I'm computer stupid. Cant seem to get pics from one place to another. However, through some small miracle, Ive been able to accidentally get them, (puppy pics) on to my Face book site. Go check them out!
http://picasaweb.google.com/sheepdoggal1/08?authkey=Gv1sRgCLu7qL-jkZ73Kg#

On another note, word to the wise,....never get your belly button pierced! LoL

Catching up.

2010-03-31T10:31:00.003-04:00

Where have I been? What have I been doing? Where to begin!?
Lots to tell, so I will try to touch on most, at least a little bit to catch everyone up to snuff.
I'll start with the bummer heart breaking stuff first.
Last week, me and my BF took the saddles out to the horses and sheep, planning a nice long day ride. When we got there, no horses. WTF!!! We have alerted all the local authorities, but turned nothing up for over a week now. Been searching and searching the whole desert, nothing but sage brush and bunnies. I doubt I'll ever see Jewels and Cocoa ever again. Not really quite sure how they got gone, there is sign of a cougar, and a place where they went through a fence. but also there are tire tracks leading up to the gate, evidence they might have left via a trailer. Your guess is as good as mine. The cougar didn't just scare off the horses, but got two of my lambs and killed a prego ewe as well. We are also on the hunt for him. Cant leave the GLD out with the sheep, as I am pasturing my critters on a friends place, and he has a mean mule that kills dogs, so that fact makes it even worse, as I know Id not have these losses if Bruin were there to do his job.
I'm just sick with worry, and have all these horrible visions of my poor old girls starving, dehydrated....dead out in the desert. Id like to think instead, that they just joined up with a herd of wild ones, theres lots of mustang herds out there, and that some stallion has taken a fancy to them, and wont let them leave. Romantic thoughts I know, but the only one I can hold on to that gives me some hope that they are well.

Puppies. Yes, we have puppies! 7 of the little wiggly pooping babies. 4 weeks tomorrow, and I am really enjoying them now. Chris and Bear are proud parents, and Chis has been nothing short of a doting mother. So glad to see she has decided motherhood isn't so bad. She had 4 boys and three girls. Finally got a few tris too. I'm keeping two from this litter and seriously considering spaying Chris. She is 5 now, and Id really like to get back to concentrating on her working again. She pretty much has had since last Sept. off, only worked her a few times since then, and with the time off I'm hoping we can get back on the right track training. We'd be awesome if she and I can get it together. Some days I just think she'd be better off with another handler, one that is calmer and quieter than I, but I'm working on that. Bear, is the type of dog that better suits me and my way of training/and handling. Hoping these pups have the best of both in them, and cant wait till they are old enough to get going on stock.

Last weekend, I went to a ham shoot. Talk about fun! And! I actually won a ham! I was on my game and shooting well, but then, Id been practicing for weeks prior. I didn't use to care for shotguns, I'm more of a hand gun enthusiast, but I'm starting to enjoy the 12 gauge. Especially, when I can win free food!

Sheep are doing well,(whats left of them) I was suppose to pick up two new churro ewes last week, but with the search for the horses, and the cat that's been frequenting the property, that has been put off for a bit, till I can find more suitable pasture that is safer. So for now they will stay where they are at. I have 3 lambs left, and two more ewes to lamb. The desert is much more wild and unforgiving than I remember it. But we fixed a separate place for the sheep, and then attached sheep and goat fencing all the way around the paneled enclosure so the lambs couldn't get out, and it makes it harder for things to get in. Except, of course the bald eagles and golden eagles, which I see alot of around there. And lets not even talk about the ravens! As much as I love nature and its inhabitants, I'm having a real hard time appreciating either at the moment. Cleaning up lamb carcasses isn't some thing I enjoy.

Still enjoying the new job, and the gals I'm working with are great. Its nice when folks recognize the fact that one knows what they are doing, and doesn't feel the need to micro manage, just because they own the shop. After 30 years of grooming, I really don't need that.

Living in the city sucks. I certainly don't belong here, but its where the work is at, so I get out of the city as much as time will allow. Mostly camping out where the sheep are, but its in the middle of no where, so its quiet, and I can rejuvenate. After living in SLC for 15 years, you'd think I knew my way around, but everything has changed so much,(course I hadn't been back for 14 yrs) its like moving to a place Ive never been before. Thank God for Vera, my GPS. She has been a life saver. Do I think I'll move back to Vernal anytime soon? Nope. Not that I wouldn't like that, but there are things developing here, that may keep me from going to awful far. What u ask? Well, more like a who than a what.
I have met the strangest, sweetest little man, (back in Oct) and one that suits me to a tee. Ive, for lack of a better term, kicked all other suitors to the curb, and am head over heals smitten. The thing I like most about him is, that he allows me my independence, and yet, is always there for me. We have so much in common, and enjoy all the same things, spending time with him is never less than wonderful. I have pretty much moved in with him, and things are going extremely well. What a neat fella. A complete opposite of my over bearing, controlling, ex. What a breath of fresh air.

So, things are starting to settle down now, and we are getting into a routine. That in itself, getting back to a routine, has helped me to get better focused and relaxed. It was getting pretty insane for a bit. Bouncing all over, coming and going, moving here and there. I feel much more settled, and calm. Happy, if you will. Course, I cant say I wasn't happy bouncing around, it was exciting, and fun, but as I get older, (and I will be 48 come Easter Sunday) I'm finding that being involved in a GOOD relationship, can be just as much fun and just as, if not more rewarding than being footloose and fancy free. Wish me luck that my Aries personality, can behave herself, and keep things on an even keel.

Well, that's about it for now, I'm sure there are things Ive left out, but right now, I'm home sick with a temperature, and its time to go back and lie down. Couldn't have picked a better day to be sick, as its been snowing since 6am this morning and there is 4 inches of the white stuff already on the ground. It certainly doesn't look as though spring is in the air today.

Am I back to blogging a bit more regularly? Yeppers, that's what I be thinking. Especially with the new pups, I'm sure I'll be having lots to blog about here directly. So don't touch that dial! LoL In the immortal words of Arnold,.......I'll be back!

New sheep!

2010-03-18T09:13:00.002-04:00

So jazzed! Picking up my new Navajo Churro sheep today. 2 yearling ewes. Been looking forward to this breed. And Bear has too! These sheep,(the flock Im getting my new churros out of, has never been worked by a dog. This will be fun! Pics to follow soon.

2010-03-09T11:09:00.002-05:00

Well hello there! Long time no see. Where u been? Ive missed u! LoL
Ok, so the word slacker at this point seems completely synonymous with my name. I'm ashamed that Ive allowed this blog to go so long without an update.
Honestly, I don't even know where to start, things have just been happening so rapidly, and yet, I'm starting to settle into a pattern finally.
I have a few lambs on the ground at the moment, cuties that they are. Oh, and pups too.
Chris had 7 fat healthy pups by Bear on the 5th of March, and they are doing great. Chris is great, and I cant leave the wiggly little cuties alone.
Time has been flying by, cant believe its almost spring already. I have finally gotten my hands on some Navajo churro sheep, going to pick up a yearling ewe lamb this next weekend. Cant wait. I'm very excited to get Bear out and work some of them. My sheep are getting pretty dogged right now.
On the work front, Ive found a great shop, busy as all get out, with some fine older gals to work with, that remember what grooming dogs is all about. Its nice to work with folks that know what the heck is going on, and don't try to micro manage.
Got a fella I'm pretty smitten with at the moment, don't know where that's going, but I'm happy to hang around and see. Its kinda nice to just have one to keep up with for a change. LoL and he makes me smile. At the moment, that is very important to me.
Oh, did I mention that I moved back to Salt Lake City? Hate the city, but no work in Vernal, so Kyle and I are making the best of it.
It snowed the other day, and I fell down some steps. Gave myself a concussion, chipped elbow and one huge bruise that covers one cheek of my fanny. Ouch. But I lived, and learned a valuable lesson. Don't open the door unless u want a dog to shoot out behind you and knock you off your feet. Yea,.....thanks for that Chris.
Kyle is doing well in his new school. He made the drill team in ROTC and is very into the program. They go to California in April for competitions, that will be fun. And! He finally let me cut that mop he called hair off! So nice to see my sons face again! LoL
There is just so much to talk about, and yet so very little time this morning, so I will have to be happy with this update for now, and try to get a little better at updating and get some new pics up. Im sure some of you would like to see puppy pics, so will work on getting some up this week. They really are tooooo cute!
So Hello to all, hope everything is going well for everyone, Ive missed ya'll, and will try to keep up a bit better. Toodles fer now.

A Girl & Her Dog.....

2009-11-24T02:32:00.005-05:00

Have a Safe & Happy Thanksgiving Everyone.
Oh, and the mantra for the week... say it with me theres power in numbers!
I wont burn the turkey, I wont burn the turkey, I wont burn the turkey.....or the yams....or the bread.....or the.....

Peace.

I guess if one blogs, and then takes a break for a while....

2009-11-02T15:28:00.006-05:00

Everyone gets a little crazy! Whats up with Darci? Why doesn't she write? Where is she? Whats she doing? Some one said she died!
Id like to think its all just an outpouring of love from my friends, but now even my mother has gotten into the fray!
OK. So here's what has been going on in my little sorted life.
Since becoming single again, it has opened up a whole new world for me, and I have to admit, Ive been enjoying it. The loss of 60lbs so far, has done alot for my ego, as well as garnered me more than a few looks from the fellas, and yea, I'll admit, it feels great! Got 20lbs more to drop, and I'll be satisfied.
So yes, Ive been dieting, that's one thing that Ive been doing.
Oh, and exercise. Lots of walking.
Dating? Yea, that too. There are several very sweet men in my life right now, and its been just a little crazy.
Ive moved, to a much neater and bigger place, with more room for horses and sheep, more room to work dogs, and more for me to clean up and take care of, so been doing a lot of yard work and getting this old house ready for winter.
The house heats with propane, but at 2.00 dollars a gallon, I am thoroughly enjoying the wood stove in the living room. It really cuts back on the usage of propane, and even though I started out a bit lame and lacking the firebug skills Id learned in Girl Scouts so many years ago, Ive had a few weeks practice and have become a regular little pyro when it comes to getting her fired up and roaring in the evening. So getting wood in and split and trees cut has been a time consumer too.
Did I mention I bought a chainsaw?
This thing is sooooo awesome! Makes me feel just a little macho! Some times I scare myself! LOL
Ive been hitting lots of yard sales, and picking up bits and pieces of furniture, and things I may or may not have any use for , but hey! It only cost a dollar! I'm sure I'll find some use for it eventually! LOL
Getting back in touch with my son. We lost some thing very special that we'd had before the marriage, and I'm glad to have it back now, and to be a big part of his life again. At 14 yrs old, I'm glad to say that the boy still loves and needs his mom, and still enjoys spending time with me. He is a good kid, and we have been having a blast together.
I went to a few good Sheepdog trials this summer, (Soldier Hollow, Meeker Classic, and a few smaller ones) and got to meet and visit with a lot of handlers and friends, new and old. Though it doesn't make me miss my old friends that are far away, any less.
On the working dogs front, not much to tell. Bear gets some work, but we haven't really been doing any real training. I feel like the real work Ive been having him do, is more fun than drilling, and he is such an easy dog to work with, that I really don't have to train, just put him to the task, and with very little direction from me, he/we get the jobs done. I had him go into the trailer to get some sheep out a few weeks ago, and my ram just beat him up. He suffered for about a minuet, and then got mad and put that ram in his place. He was a sore boy for a few days though. That ram plowed him to the trailer floor, and into the side of the trailer a couple of good times. But he is a tough dog, and came back. I still wonder though if having him go in the trailer might have been a bit to much to ask of such a young dog. I do have a tendency to put a good dog in over their head.
Chris, since coming back home, hasn't had much,...well, any work at all. Ive taken her to sheep twice since getting her back, and I think she and I will wait till spring to do anymore. Her forgetting some things I am hoping will be a blessing in disguise, and perhaps when we get back to working together, our relationship will have had a chance to heal, and we can start to do things right this time.
She is as bald as a dog can be right now, and looks a sight. Whelping those pups really did a number on her coat! She looks so small and petite with no hair! But she has been walking with me and getting herself back in shape, some one had her in their lap the other day and said she felt like one hard muscle! She may be bald, but she sure is fit!
Tucker, who's other name rhymes, is quite a joy. Feisty and sweet, tenacious, and cuddly, he is many dogs rolled into one. He will never replace my Lexy or fill the space that loosing Cain has left, but he sure tries hard to entertain me with his antics. What a neat and fun little dog.
Its been 3 months since I had to put Lexy down, and I still cant quit missing her. I think about her everyday, and wish she was still here. I just miss that ole girl so much. We had a thing, and it mattered to me. It mattered to her. And its gone. I miss the relationship we had. She was very special to me, and as long as memories of her are still intact, I guess I will always miss her.
So, still mourning the loss of my grand lass, and those are times when I seek solace in quiet, and try to stay away from the world for awhile, and just try to remember all the little things that made her so special to me. They are good memories, so I don't mind ducking out for a bit and thinking of days gone by.
Guess I'm a little weird that way.
But too, I am focusing on the future, looking forward to what life brings. Trying to slow down and make the right choices, as perhaps, looking over my past track record in life, Ive not slowed down long enough to do things exactly ....right?
So yea, Ive been doing a bit of soul searching, and trying to change while trying to remain the same.
Moving back to Vernal was a good move, (the first in many new and right choices Ive been trying to make) good for me, good for my son, good for the critters and dogs. Good for my sanity and piece of mind. But there is alot of work involved in getting ones life back in order, and I apologize for not being here updating any more than I have.
With winter coming in like a lion right now, and the days getting shorter and colder. I'm sure I will find myself back indoors and back blogging regular again.
So that's whats been going on round here. I'm sure I left some things out, probably lots O things, but eventually, I'm sure it will all come out in the end.
I appreciate the poking and prodding, really I do. I need it some times, to help me remember that my little world could use a few more windows for family and friends to see that we're OK and happy.
And at the moment, that is exactly where we are. Happy, relaxed, confident, proud, and enjoying life as it comes. Planning nothing and just seeing what life brings. Its all very exciting!

I Told Her.....

2009-10-15T23:13:00.002-04:00

She really should get her priorities straight and write some thing here. She's so Bahhhhhhhd!

Ever seen a Bear work sheep?

2009-09-20T17:32:00.026-04:00

Well, heres what it looks like!
This is at my good friend Ivans place. He generously allows me to come to his place and work Bear on his big field with his BIG woolys. This is from where I usually send Bear on his outrun.

Here on top of the hill is where I usually send him from. Its a good sized outrun, and he is starting to do a nice job with his OLF's! Im so happy with him!

These gals are thinking..."Oh no, not them again"

Nice big outrun! Lovin it!

Bringing them in.

Driving. Bear loves to drive! He will take them anywhere I ask! And has such lovly pace.

More driving. He is a lot further away from me than he looks, Im using my zoom.

Oh no little ewe. Ya dont wanna do that! Bear has never been one to inappropprietly grip, and so I have instilled a grip command in him, one in which he is waiting right now to hear

Reckon that changed their minds!

Lie Down.

Damned if Im not a lucky girl. Not only does he work stock! But he is darn handsome to view as well!

Waiting for the "Come in Here!" Bear is taking to shedding quite well.

Ivans sheep are nice to work, and its nice to have a large number of sheep to learn the shed. Bear was a bit reluctant to leave the first batch once we got the shed, but is happy to bring them along and leave the rest now. He is a quick learner.

And just a few more, because I can! LOL

And so we end the work with Bear taking them back up and over the hill to another pasture.

Tucking them in around the edges.

One tired, but very happy sheepdog!

And now you can tell folks, youve seen a Bear work sheep!
Happy Trials!

Where to begin?? (forgive puctuation and spelling, my spell check has gone out on me today)

2009-08-24T12:43:00.013-04:00

I really have absolutly no idea where to begin this post.
Should I start with asking you all to join me in a happy dance, cause Chris and her son are soon to be back home! Woot!

Or, how bout we do a jig because school starts for Kyle in 2 more days! Yea!

I could start to grumble, because Tucker in now 4 months old, and chewing anything he can get his mouth on.Grrrrrrr.

We could rejoyce together, because the gentleman that owns the huge feild across the street from me has, as of Sept.15th when he cuts and bales the last of the hay, has given me cart blanch to use the feild (which is huge, did I mention it is huge!) to work the dogs in anytime I want. And, he is also going to keep me in good grass alfalfa mix hay all winter at a decent price! And!! He delivers!

Lets see, where else could I start? Ummm, how bout,Darci luv's her Bear!
Did I fail in all the many posts that I have written, to mention that Bear is the absolute apple of my eye! Since Chris has been away having pups, and Lexy's, Hank's and Cain's recent departure from our little family, that dog has stepped up, and is everything a girl could ever want in a friend, companion, and fantastic working dog. He has recently earned the title Sheep Boss. Is there nothing this dog cant do!?
I am....smitten.

I could, but I wont, bemoan the fact, that having a house and yard to care for is very time consuming, and is a lot of work! Especially when ya dont have all the tools for the jobs! Like a lawn mower?? Good thing for sheep! lol

How bout, Im entering the pic at the top of this post, in a Photo contest next month that is held anually here. There are several different catagories, I may enter more than one, but I just like that pic so much, that I think its worthy of the entry fee. Its only 5 bucks, so ......

We could discuss my lawn, which looks like aliens landed on it! The sprinkler system appears to be missing a big area, so I have a big perfectly yellow circle of dead grass, and inside that, a perfectly green circle of grass, which looks really weird right about in the middle of my yard. Looks like a bullseye. All I need now is a neon sign, pointing to it with the words, land here, your among friends!
Trying to get the landlord to get some one out here to look at the system, is like pulling eye teeth!

Im thinking of downsizing my truck. What do I need with a One Ton Deisel??? Looking at half tons, gas, and maybe not so many bells and whistles. But damn, I love that truck. It'll be hard to actually let her go, but I wouldnt mind a smaller payment thats fer sure.

My vaccume broke, and then it got fixed, thanks to a more than I am, mechanically inclined friend. Guys.....like ole Red says,...If ya cant be handsome, at least you can be handy!lol

Heres a random thought. I am really loving my air mattress. Does anyone know if one can find bed frames for air materesses?

Names! I need name suggestions for the new pup. I am so not able to think of a single one! Ive always cottened to people names for my dogs, if that helps. Im thinking, the only one right now that is wanting to stick in my brain, is to call him Abel, and Abe for short. You know, honest Abe, and Abel, the good brother?
I know! Thats why Im askin! lol

Im looking forward to getting out to Soldier Hollow, and Meeker here soon. It seems to long since Ive been around working dog folks, it'll feel good to get to visit again.

For all the fun Im having here, at home. I still so do miss my friends back in NC.
Big Wave you Guys!
Now Get those dogs ready for these tough ass western woolies, and get yer butts out here trialing! Bear says he can kick any of yer dogs butts! lol (he is a bit over confident to say the least)

On the diet front. Im at an empass. Dropped 30 lbs and seem to be stuck there. Cant have that! Got 30 more to go. Suggestions?? Yea, I know, put that ice cream back! lol
Ice cream makes me weak.

Heres some thing Ive been learning to do recently. Free climbing the rock wall at the New Rec Center. Its a lot harder than it looks!

It ads an element of danger that the tredmill just doesnt hold for me!

Did I mention a few weeks ago that I went to an Eddie Money concert? Outdoors, and free! Like the rest of us old hippies, he is getting old and fat, but he can still put on one heck of a performance and man can he paly that Sax! I was stage front, and danced my butt off! Had a great time!

There are, which is not unusual for me, numerous other random thoughts trying to escape my mind at the moment, but I think I will save them for later, when I can put more thought into them so they will at least appear.(lol) to be more coherent!

Last but not least, a few gratuitious pics of Bear, tending sheep from the back porch while they do a little back yard weeding.

Peace All.....

Im baaaaaaack!

2009-08-06T20:47:00.012-04:00

Hi All!
Well, as most of you know, Julie, Robin and Chris delivered a small but pudgy litter of pups a week ago. Only three, and I wished there had been more, I know there are several other folks that were looking forward to having a pup out of this cross, but at least now we know that Chris is actually capable of caring for pups, so maybe one day we will try again.
I look forward to hearing about them, and will share what I learn, but for now they are only a week old, and not much to tell.
If I knew how to steal pics from Robin's blog, I would post some here, but I don't so here is a link to her blog where you can see the awesome threesome.
http://shooflyfarm.blogspot.com/

As for me, well, I'm still kickin. Work is starting to get a little slack, so I have had more time to get out and play. Fishing, riding, hiking. Staying close to home, so haven't gotten out of my own back yard yet, but then who would want to!? This is the most beautiful place to be.
On a more personal note, I have also been a bit preoccupied with a couple of fellas that seem to, and I haven't figured out just yet why, but the seem to think I'm a pretty neat gal. So when I'm not working or entertaining Kyle, I'm juggling those two, which is not as easy as it sounds.
The weight is coming off fast now. Guess it helps to stay busy, some times I forget to eat and have to be reminded. Dieting gets easier the longer it goes on I think. Eventually, you don't even get hungry.
Here's a few pics that friends have taken recently. Just to prove that yes, this is me, no one has kidnapped me and I'm still alive and well.

Tucker is growing like a weed, and is everything a terrier should be and more. He has a new nickname, and I'll give you a hint, it rhymes with Tucker! Which he comes to readily. He is a good puppy, but he is all schnauzer for sure. What a little dynamo, and so much fun......when he's asleep! LOL
Bear and bruin are doing well, Bear has been keeping busy shuffling sheep back and forth from front to back, and we finally get to go out to Noels again this Sunday to work on his big field. He has also taken up the position of being the fun police. If any one is caught having fun without him. He puts a stop to the game immediately, and makes ya start all over again, but with him too.
Bru, has decided that he has a dual purpose in life, and has broadened his responsibilities. He now is a guardian live stock dog and couch potato. He guards us, the house, yard, and the sheep. He is doing a bang up job, and there isn't a critter within miles that would even think anymore of invading his space. New people, might beware too. Bruin is getting more serious about his charges by the day,and doesn't really like strangers anymore. Since loosing Cain, my Chief of Security, Bru has stepped in and fill those boots for us, and we are happy to let him.
Kyle has been enjoying the summer, but soon it will be time for school to start. YEA!!!
He has matured so much since moving here and is becoming quite the young man. He feels I think, more responsible for me now more so than ever, and far be it from me to try and stop him. Except when he tries to sit down with my date, and try to lay out a curfew and limitations for his mom! LOL
And don't think he hasn't tried! Of course mom had to put the kibosh on that. He isn't quite big enough to fit into those britches yet. And I don't see it happening in the foreseeable future!

So, I reckon that about wraps it up for the moment. I hope to get some pics of Bear working at Noels, but unlike Robin, who was so nice to let me stand around and work my dog (yelling at me to move my ass here and there) Noel, will chase me, so I always have to stay a step ahead of him, cause if he gets me, I'm gonna be the one who gets the correction! So I may not be able to, but I'll sure try. Might get some one to come with me and do it for me. Hmmmmm. ENE meanie miney Mo! LOL

Doing What Best, Isnt Always Easiest.....RIP My Lexy Girl

2009-07-21T19:25:00.007-04:00

Lexy, a stock dog. 8-12-00 to 7-17-09 RIP

Greatness has passed over to the Rainbow Bridge.

My friend, my confidant, my partner, my right arm...... my heart.

My Sheep Dog. My Lex.

A grand Lass was she.

She always brought her sheep, and she never, no matter how tough it got, ...she never quit on me. She was an honest dog if there ever was one.

If dogs don't go to Heaven, then when I die I want to go where they go.

God Bless and God's Speed Lexy, your joyous spirit will live in my heart till we meet again.

It is with a sad heart, that I must announce the passing of my friend, my heart, my Lex.
Lexy was diagnosed about a month ago with Lymphoma. A form of cancer that attacks the lymph nodes. The disease grew rapidly, but for a little while I was able to keep her comfortable through the use of steroids. Once her legs and neck began to swell to the point of enormity, I knew it was time, while she didn't hurt, and she still had some energy to attempt to do, what we came to know and love, as "The Doodle Dance" A little jig she would dance whenever she was happiest.
Her last day on earth, was for her the greatest. She came to work with me and had free roam of the shop. She visited with the customers, ate treats enough for two dogs, and was doted on by all.
Lexy's sweet nature had touched the hearts of many, as she was a dog who was wrongly treated when she was young, and still came back to forgive and befriend all who would hold out their hand for her to lick. It has been days since I am able to talk about this, I knew it was coming, but when the time came, still I was not prepared to let her go. Her gaze as she lay on the surgery table awaiting the inevitable, the unavoidable, was trusting, questioning,....and still it haunts me.
Her death was not and easy one, Lex had heart, and didn't want to give up. It took several shots to put her down, and still she would not succumb. Finally, we had to inject her into her heart. The very part of her that she always gave the most of from within herself.
Lex was a happy dog, and I know she would not want us to grieve her passing, but instead, rejoice, and shout praise. Praise for the Working Sheepdog, rejoice in the feeling of utter joy between handler and dog, working together in partnership, for the mutual love of the work, the sheep, the bond, that she gave to me with all her heart and soul, which will forever remain steadfast in my heart.
So the next time you send your dog, send them one time for Lex. She will be watching, I feel sure.

Good Bye my sweet girl, till we meet again.

Where does the time go!?

2009-07-12T22:56:00.007-04:00

So, Have ya missed me? Oh, come on, you know you have!
So, my agenda as of late, is that there really is, no agenda.
I have been flying by the seat of my pants and the feeling is no less than exhilarating!
Working, and playing, tis the season for both!
But some times it all just starts to catch up to me, I'm finding out swiftly, that I'm no spring chicken any more, but not quite ready for the dumplings pot either!
Ive been trying to find a happy medium, where I can start to settle a bit more, but Ive yet to find that Zen place. Just goes to prove, you can please some of the people some of the time, but if you try to please all of the people all of the time, some get left, while I'm still running, trying to catch up!
So, to try to fill ya in some what, though Ive been told, a girl shouldn't kiss and tell.......
Robin, you were partially right, but about a week ahead of me, and that's all I have to say about that, except, that there are some strong possibilities, as long as I quit being so damn picky. LOL
Julie, I am so looking forward to Chris coming back home. Lex is in a bad way, and if we were to open her up to try to get the fast growing cancer out of her, she would, (A) have a 50/50 chance of not making it through the surgery, or (B) the cancer will spread throughout her body. And while she is in no pain at the moment, I have opted to just wait and see how she goes.
Kelly! Send me a kitty! Theres mice in the hay shed! Egads!
Laura, I'm just wondering whats going on with you and CR. You have been pretty tight lipped, and I just got a feeling.....
And to those of you all that I haven't mentioned by name, just know that I think about you all often , and miss the companionship and camaraderie we shared over the last couple of years. Please come and reinsert some sanity back into my life! LOL
And to my friends here on the west coast. I promise, as soon as I get time to come up for air, we will get together! It may be Soldier Hollow or Meeker, but I know I'll be seeing ya soon.
For now, my schedule has been so whacked out, I'm beat, and need to go to my happy place and find some peace and rejuvenate.

Dog work has been slack, I did need the front and back lawn mowed, so had Bear bring the sheep out of their enclosure, and allow them to graze the back yard on Saturday, and then today, I had him take them thru to the front yard, and they mowed there too. Efficient little buggers! And they fertilize too!
Tuck, has been taking a good bit of time. I keep trying to convince him that he is not really a schnauzer, but that he is in fact, a collie! He is a tough little German, and takes it out on Bruin and Bear, who look at him like they would like to eat his lunch when they go to pass him and he reaches up and latches on to their tails! I think he has Bru and Bear convinced that he is the devil incarnate! And they fear him! I call it puppy teeth! Ouch!
So if patience is a virtue, I commend you all, my virtuous friends, (except Julie, cause she likes to give me shit LOL) that haven't given me too much crap about being so AWOL lately. I really never imagined in my widest dreams that when I got back here it would be like this!
But I ain't complaining! At least not yet anyway. But I'm starting to see some light at the end of the tunnel, that looks like Zen, so I'm gonna grab that brass ring when I pass thru and hang on tight, cause I'm feeling a bit old and tired these days. LOL and its time to slow down and stop and.....,well, Ive already smelled the roses, so maybe its time to just sit down and prune that bush for awhile!
I have some great pics of some of the places Ive been, and of some trips up on the Painted Hills with the horses and I think I may even have a few, of the svelte (ha ha!) slimming down Darci! 28lbs gone so far, and only 30 more to go! Its been relatively easy, change in attitude, change in latitude!

Maybe once I get the rest of this lard off my arse, I'll have tons more energy, and wont feel so old. I know I already do, with the small loss already, but still, not enough to keep up with the schedule Ive been trying to keep! Calgone take me away!

A New Face in the Pack

2009-06-27T03:03:00.006-04:00

Folks, meet Tucker!

Tucker is a 7 week old Black and silver schnauzer puppy that Darci just couldn't resist.

As many of you that know me, know, Ive been wanting a lap dog for some time now. Some thing to snuggle with that doesn't take up half the couch or bed, or in Bruins case the whole bed!
I kept purposely not actually actively looking, but hoping that when the right one came along, that's exactly what would happen, it would just come along.
Tucker did just that.

A few weeks ago a client brought his sire and dam to me to be groomed. I noticed that the female appeared to have had pups, and asked the owner.
Both dam and sire are wonderful dogs, and so Un schnauzer like in all the good ways, that I truly enjoyed the time I was able to spend grooming them. It doesn't hurt, that I really enjoy grooming most of the terrier breeds, and those like Tucker's parents, with such un characteristic terrier temperaments, make it all the more enjoyable to do.
The owner brought the pups in with her to the shop when she came to pick up the parents and showed me the pups. What cuties! But alas, I couldn't afford to buy a pup,and thanked her for bringing them by and letting me get my puppy fix for the day. That was a couple of weeks ago.
Today while I was having a break and sitting outside enjoying the cool day, a lady walked up to me with a schnauzer pup in her hands. Id all but forgotten about her and her dogs, and didn't recognize her. I asked her could I help her, and she informed me that they were going on vacation today and this was the last pup.
I then remembered who she was, and again, reiterated that I couldn't afford to buy a pup at the moment. She told me they really needed to find Tuck a home before they left, and one thing led to another, and for 4 grooms, 2 each on the dam and sire, Tucker is now a member of the family.
He fit right in, and all the dogs took him in like he'd been here always. Bruin is a bit over curious, but is very careful about the strange little bundle. I think Bear is a bit put off, but is being a good sport, albeit a bit clingy at the moment. Lex, well she is a natural born mother at heart, and cant quit trying to clean him.
Tucker is charming and love able, cuddly, and just absofreakinlutly adorable.
Ive already caught myself talking puppy baby talk to him numerous times, (some thing I don't normally practice with any of my dogs) and I have a sneaking feeling that Sir Tuck is gonna be a wee bit spoiled if I don't watch myself.
Its been a long time since I had a little dog in the house.
I struggled for a name for him, for Oh, about 10 minuets, and he just struck me as a Tucker, (Tuck for short) and that was that. It stuck. He is already very responsive to his name, which I hope translates to him liking the sound.
Wonder what folks will be thinking when I call my Mini Schnauzer to the tune of That'll Do Tuck! LOL
So please join me in welcoming our newest pack member, and cutest puppy ever (at least until Chris/Zac pups arrive) and wishing me good luck that me and my home and furniture survive the puppy stage.
Ive always said, I admire the breed, and really enjoy grooming them, but Id never own one. Guess there goes that never say never out the window. Ive always said it takes a special kind of person to live with schnauzers, guess Tuck will be putting me to the test to see just how special I really am!

About Hank

2009-06-18T23:54:00.003-04:00

So I reckon I wasn't elaborate enough about Hanks new digs, and how he ended up there, so I guess I should splain myself since Ive had so many inquiries.
Hank was in my mind, never destined to stay with me. If you all remember Rose, Hanks sister and litter mate, she was the "Chosen One" from the day she hit the ground. Sadly, I lost my Rose, who was the little apple of my eye to parvo. Hank also came down with parvo, but unlike his sister, he survived.
He then became the last Lex pup for me, as at 9 yrs I had her spayed a year ago.
Hank is a strange dog, full of quirks and nervous tendencies. He was never a favorite of mine, and truth be told, he was a difficult dog to manage.
On sheep, Hank became a different dog. Gone are the nervous habits, the uncertainty, and weirdness that made him who he is. He became focused and user friendly. He loves to work, and learn and is very intelligent, (though you'd never know it to see him off sheep)
After loosing Rose, I briefly thought to keep Hank, but he was always just to weird for me. A biddable dog, friendly to any and all, goofy, happy, but strange too.
We got along fine, but he was always a bit of a thorn in my side for several personal reasons, so when I saw that he was going to be keen and trainable, I started letting folks know, that he would be available when I thought he was ready for a new home.
Originally, the plan was to bring Hank to Utah and give him to my friend Taylor who was interested in learning to train and work stock dogs, but that plan didn't pan out. I didn't trust my friends situation at the moment, or that he would be able to care for Hank the way I felt he deserved. So, I didn't push the issue, and Taylor, a close friend of 17yrs, and knowing me like he does, didn't press the issue when I didn't bring up the subject. He knew if I still wanted him to have the dog, Id have asked him to come get him. Seeing as I hadn't mentioned it, he didn't ask. Its great when you can have friends that know you so well, that they don't have to ask or question, they just know. It saves a lot of hurt feelings and the possibility of having to say things you might regret later. That's why he and I have managed to stay such good friends for so long. He has taken the time to know me, and Ive always appreciated him for that.
Anyway, so Tracey (a good friend of almost 10 years)has a Lex pup from a litter she had about 4 years ago. Lyric is her name, and Leery (for short) has never seen a sheep except for the ones on the Serta matress commercial on TV. She has been an outstanding pet and companion for Tracey, and a good first collie to get her feet wet in the breed.
Tracey has accompanied me numerous times to trials and work days, and was always hanging on the fence line watching me work my dogs prior to my move to NC.
When she met Bear, and then after watching him work, she became hooked, and was very interested in getting a dog that was ready to start. I took her with me to Kelly Creek, and she got to see and start to understand what good dog work verses bad dog work is. She was able to witness and tell the difference between working and dogs harassing sheep, and commented about the differences she saw.
I could see she was getting it.
She offered to work Hank in a round pen, and I think that pretty well sealed the deal. It was a bit yeehaw, but we all had fun, and she wanted more.
Rather than to try to start Leery, (who just in case your wondering, yes I did take her to sheep, and she proved to be her mothers daughter which was exciting to see) Tracey was concerned that starting to train Leery might change the dog she knew and loved, and was reluctant to go there with her companion, and I respected her decision and didn't press the issue. (though Ive got a feeling had she opted to try to start Leery, Tracey may have been pleasantly surprised) But Hank being Leery's brother on their dams side, she felt as if she knew Hank already. Both are similar though Leery being older is not so uncertain and nervous. She reportedly went through a stage like that about the same age as Hank, and out drew it within a year.
Hank thinks Tracey is pretty cool, and is always hanging out with her, avoiding my hand for hers, so it wasn't hard to me to see that the two would get along just fine. Hanks gets along great with her other two dogs, and even Tracey's moms poodles and terrier, so I offered her Hank, and she didn't hesitate. My only stipulation, was that she have him neutered.
So Hank has been with Tracey for a total of like 3 days.
This evening when I stopped by there to visit on my way home from town, (and steal some of her moms delicious goulash,) there was Hank, ignoring me, like I was a stranger, and he had all eyes on his new master, owner, handler.
Oh, he eventually came over and said hi to me, but it was clear they had bonded that quickly, and I was very happy and pleased to see it, though a bit sad too, that he would forsake me so soon. But he and I really never had the bond that Bear or Chris or Lex and I have shared, so I think Tracey is just what Hank needed.
Tracey will be joining the Utah Stock Dog assoc and will be going to work days, trials, training sessions, the works, and it just so happens that her dear friend Darci, just happens to have sheep!
So, yes, I gave Hank away, and I don't think I will ever be sorry for him landing on her couch. They both seem very happy with one another, and Tracey cant wait to get going with him and learn all there is to learn. She is very excited about Hanks potential, and is looking forward to all the bumps, lumps and bruises Ive warned her about.
The sheep are doing a good job already of getting her broke in, as one stepped (stomped) on her foot the other day, and she is sporting a nice purple bruise on the top of her foot, (silly gal was wearing flip flops!) But she takes great pride in telling folks that a sheep stepped on her foot while she was trying to work her new prospective stock dog.
I work with Tracey, taught her to groom about 6 years ago, and she brings Hank with her to work everyday, so its not like I wont ever see him again.
I will keep you all up on his/their progress as time goes on, but whether he makes it to being a full fledged working dog, or a couch potato, I know he will have a home for life with Tracey, and that's really what I wanted most for him.

New To Me House Yea! We got moved in!

2009-06-18T00:47:00.015-04:00

Lots been happening round here, and I fear Ive been to busy to catch everyone up because of it.
Yep! That's right, I'm blaming my lack of recent updating to the fact that Ive been so busy. Cant think of a better reason, can you?
Well, it could be, because Ive recently made a move, to my new (well, new to me) house!

My view from the front porch

view from the back porch at the sheep and horse pasture

looking at the back of the house from the pasture

My neighbors house across the street

side porch

I'm loving being here. This evening after work, I went over and picked up the sheep and horses and put them in their pastures. They got their heads down and went to clearing out all the greens they could handle, and then settled in for the night. Happy to be home.
The house is a 4 bedroom, so plenty of room for guests, (hint hint) and the yard is going to be a lot of fun messing round in and planting flowers and such. I love the trees, and I really enjoy sitting on the porches in the evening when I get a moment, and just relaxing and enjoying the views. The mountains are so close we can ride the horses right into them in about 20 minuets.
Bear did a bang up job tonight loading and unloading the sheep. Now he under stands why I put a grip command on him, and he doesn't mind using it.
They were reluctant to come out of the trailer when we arrived, so I sent him into the trailer to get them out. He slid right on around them, and got them out, and then drove them through the back yard and into the pasture through a small gate. He has never done anything like that, but it only took him a second to understand what I needed, and he was Johnny on the spot, and didn't put a foot wrong. He really is a tremendous dog.
I should have taken pics, but we just pulled in and started unloading, ands so I didn't go in the house to get the camera, but there will be plenty of opportunities to get more pics soon, now that they are here.
I know you all are anxiously awaiting to hear news of the mock trial.
To say the least, it was a disappointment. Bear worked well, aside from trying to fetch the sheep to the set out person a few times, and showing me that I really do need to get his outrun stretched out more. But we hit the panels and then he did a nice cross drive, but it started to rain, so instead of doing a pen, I just had him exhaust the sheep. They had to cross a ditch, and he was a bit confused at first, as to how to handle that, but common sense prevailed and he got the picture pretty quick, and put the sheep in the exhaust pen. He sure needs to build up his stamina, I can see that. He was pretty tired after his run, and we only worked about half and hour. Course it was a danged BIG field!
We got there late, and I have to say I was disappointed about that, but it was further than I had calculated, and most of the folks that were there earlier had already gone home, and all that were left were about 6 of the most unfriendly folks I think Ive ever met! They were what Id consider a type of weekend warrior. Agility folks out to let their dogs chase sheep for the day. It was almost laughable to watch had I not felt so sorry for the sheep.
Since it had started raining, I thought it best to get the hell off the top of that mountain. Kelly Creek Farm is a beautiful place, and the drive out to it it phenomenal, but she is up there to say the least.
It poured buckets a good amount of the way home, but as we got out towards Heber, it started to get really nice again, so I told my friend Tracey who was with me, "I know where we can get some good dog work in, Ive got a friend in Heber that Id love to stop in and visit." So we took a side trip to see my old pal Noel.
We worked Hank and Bear and Noel was beaming by the time we were through. Noel likes to see him some good dog work, so Bear and Hank were happy to comply.
I felt better after getting them worked, and I got to visit with my old friend, and Chris's mom too! Noel has Chris's sires brother and Noel worked him a bit for us. Damn I want that dog!
I'm going back down to Noels in a few weeks to work dogs again, so I will get some pics of him and Chris's dam.
Tracey another old friend from Vernal, is wanting to learn to work stock dogs, so she is the proud new owner of a stock dog, in the form of Hank. He is an easy dog to handle, and is learning fast and will be/is a good dog for a beginner. Not to mention, they adore each other.
I have a few pics from the Kelly Creek work day, but I haven't been able to get them from my email to my Picasa, so I will try to post them tomorrow (its late tonight and I need to get to sleep) so you all can see them. Not very many though. Like most newbies, Tracey was so enthralled with watching, that she forgot that she had a camera around her neck! Anyway, more to follow. Now that I don't have to get off work and run out to where the horses and sheep were being held at, I'll have more time at home, so Should be able to start getting caught up and keep everyone posted on the happenings round here. Its been quite the adventure so far!
PS. Stupid black scantch of a horse stopmed my foot last night (dont ask) and Im a gimp right now. Dog gone that smarts!

We're just moving right along!

2009-06-12T23:52:00.010-04:00

Well, this week has been a good one. Busy, busy, busy at work, and!!!
I got the house!
I'm so excited about it! So many plans, so much I want to do and get done.
And then tomorrow, we head out to Kelly Creek farm for a mock trial, where Bear and I will finally get the opportunity to actually work sheep over a USBCHA style course! I'm so confident that we will do well, I just have so much faith in Bear. I know he will do his best, and not let me down. He always has.
Now I hope I can do the same for him.

The runs are 15.00 dollars each, so Id like to run him three times.
Hank is coming too, there will be smaller areas for young dogs to work appropriate sheep, so it will be a good experience for him. At 14 months, its no pressure, just fun and the opportunity to work different sheep in a different setting. He is gonna love it!

I really wish Chris were here, Id love to see how she would do. I'll just bet she would have a blast. Alas, she has other duties right now, so I'm very grateful to have Bear and Hank to work.

Lex has been doing so well out here. The cool, clean mountain air has made her act and feel like a pup again! She almost never plays, much less plays with the other dogs or toys, and recently, she has been doing both on a daily basis! She is so cute, chasing Hank around and tossing a ball for herself. Ive honestly never seen her behave in such a carefree manner. Its very satisfying to see her so happy and light hearted.

I had the horses out again this evening, and Jewel is looking better. Not back to her original weight, but much better. She looks fit, like a race horse, no real fat to speak of, but no bones either. That alfalfa is sure working its magic.
Cocoa, is looking better every day, but she didn't look as bad a Jewel, so I may have to start cutting her back soon.
The sheep, well, its slow for them, but they are coming along. Theres about three that are still bony looking, but they are eating good, and I'm sure they will be back fat and sassy here soon.
When they left NC they were shedding their wool, but the temps are down in the low
40's at night here, so they seem to have decided to hang onto it a bit longer. The days are still not over 75 so it doesn't hurt to have a little wool still.
So, all in all, itsa been a really great week. Everyone is starting to look better, the dogs are doing well, I got my house, ( and for you British comedy fans, I'll add, a house, with room for a pony!) LOL
Work is really busy, I'm loving that! I have to say, its taken me a bit to get back use to doing this much work, but I ain't complaining!
Vernal is getting back to its old self again, the oil fields are drying up, and all the oil patch people from all over the world that descended on this little town about 7 years ago, are now leaving out by the truck loads. Prices are getting back to normal, and Vernalites are getting their town back. As nice as the boom was, (it brought a lot of people and a lot of money into the town) I'm not sad to see it go, and I'm glad I was away in NC and missed the worst of it. Its beginning to feel more and more like home.
I meet with the management company on Monday to go over the paper work for the house, and of course, so they can drain me of every cent I own, but It'll be worth it to get moved in and have a real house with a fenced yard for the dogs, and a place for the horses and sheep. I'll get pics of the place then, and post them. Its a bit grown up around it, its been vacant for awhile, but I have a 14 yr old boy here that really wants a new X Box so I suspect I'll have a little slave labor to do some weeding and lawn mowing. Oh, that reminds me, now that I have a lawn, I'll need a lawn mower. That'll have to come later, for now, Ive got sheep! LOL

A First For Bear and I

2009-06-10T02:45:00.003-04:00

I'm very excited. This Saturday, Bear, Hank, me and a friend are heading out to the Kelly Creek Farm for a mock trial work day with some folks from the Utah Stock dog Assoc.
I feel sure Bear is ready for this, he and I have been accomplishing much this winter and spring. He is a great dog for me, and handles easily and is a great listener. He has power, style, and a nice amount of eye, and reads his stock well. Sheep really like Bear, and his easy way around them. I am very proud of Bear, he is all I could have ever asked for in a dog, and his bond with me is astounding. Bear is a dog anyone would be proud to walk out on a field with, I'm still just so grateful that he landed with me, he has taught me so much.

Hank is going to get to do a little work too, and maybe even learn a thing or two. He is keen to get to work, and is proving to be a good listener and is really starting to read his sheep nicely. Still a goofy puppy at 13 months, but put him on stock, and he is a whole different dog. Its amazing to watch the transformation. He is bold and fearless, and will walk right into the face of a sheep and doesn't back down. He is starting to develop a little more eye, which is nice to see, as Id thought he was going to be a bit of a loose eyed dog. It'll be interesting to see how both Bear and Hank handle this new situation.

As for me? Well, I'm pretty darned confident in Bear's aptitude and abilities, and so, for the moment, I think I will be able to remain cool headed and calm. But, we aren't standing at the post yet.

Chris, is hopefully bred now to Robin's Zac, and we are all eagerly awaiting the results of the ultra sound on the 23rd. Then by the 1st I should be able to get her back home, where she has been very much missed. Its just not the same without her joyous little self bounding around trying to get some one to just throw the ball.

Still waiting to hear about the house I'm hoping to get. I hate waiting. Its not one of my strong points. But as of today, all the leg work and paper work is in, and now all that's left to do is wait till I get the call. I have a strong feeling I'll get it, but I don't want to get to confident, lest I don't and then my feelings will really be hurt. Then, it will be back to the drawing board, and I'm not looking forward to that. This place is perfect for Kyle and I and the critters. Cross your fingers for us.

The sheep and horses are starting to look a little better. Jewel, the Morgan mare is still thin, and it smarts for me to see my girl looking so poorly. I had her out today for some loves and a good brushing. She looks better from further away, but up close, it just sickens me to see her bones where there once was ample flesh.
Cocoa, the buckskin mare, is doing much better, but she is a bit younger and appears to be bouncing back quicker. She got to come out of the paddock this evening too for a little well deserved TLC and to knock the mud off her butt. Both are in good spirits, so that is a plus in getting them back on the right track and healthy.
The sheep? Well, we're working on it. Still skinny necks and hip bones, but they are eating well, and starting to look a little better. Ive just never seen them so poor, and every time I look at them I just get angry.

Work is really busy, and I'm grateful for that, even if I am dog tired by the end of the day. I get a lot accomplished in a day, but it leaves me hunting the pillow a little earlier than I use to. I have been sleeping better than ever. I think it has a lot to do with the cool, clean mountain air too. Ive been leaving the window open in my bedroom, and its been getting down in the 40's at night. The cool air feels so nice.

So that's it for now, look for pics soon of Da Bear and Hank after the weekend, I'm bringing a camera crew for this one!

Need a change

2009-06-07T15:02:00.002-04:00

Ive been looking around at folks blogs, and there are some very pretty templates, and I cant figure out where everyone is getting them. Id like to change my blog to make it a little prettier, compared to some, its rather plain. Willows Rest, I love Julies new page. Hay Ewe, Jodie's is really nice, with the blue sky and mountains.
So you guys with the pretty pages please let me know where I can find some thing different and more personalized. Its raining today, which totally blew my plans all to hell, so I have some extra time to dink around on the computer, and I thought it would be fun to do a little improvments to the blog. Hope some one can help. Thaks in advance.

2009-06-06T23:57:00.003-04:00

What a great day!
Its Saturday, my day off. I slept in, and that was nice. Took the dogs for a nice long run, and then sat down on the computer and helped put together a new flyer to place around town to let folks know I'm back and grooming.
Its been fun reconnecting with folks, though Ive been surprised that a lot of folks that knew me well back when, hardly recognise me. Must be that added 50 lbs and the long hair, not to mention I dyed my normally blond hair brown, but hey, I met my ex husband in the grocery store last night, and he didn't even recognise me! I stopped and talked to him for a few minuets before I realized he was just being polite, and didn't have a clue! I left it at that, he'll feel real stupid when some one finally does ask him if he knew I was back in town, put two and two together, and really feel like an ass. Wish I was a fly on the wall when that happens! LOL
I really hadn't thought Id changed that much, but several folks have looked at me when Ive spoke to them with that Ive seen you before look, but don't remember till I tell them.

Ive been feeding the horses and sheep a grass, alfalfa mix since they got here, but I haven't seen their condition change much, so went out and bought some first cut alfalfa for them today. I also got them a no bloat block, and so I feed them this evening the alfalfa, then went back several hours later to check on them, and they seemed to be just fine.
So fine in fact that I took the opportunity to work Bear and Hank in the sheep pen. It was a rodeo with Hank for the first few minuets, he was rearing to go, and keener than ever. He hasn't been on sheep in close to a month, so when we pulled up and he saw the sheep, I thought he was gonna try to jump through the closed truck window! Silly pup.
After a few minuets he settled down and got to work, and did nicely. Time to get him out of the round pen, he needs to be on the big field. Tomorrow I'm going to have Bear drive them out to the big field, and let Hank work out there. He wont loose his sheep, he's all about keeping them together, so we should be just fine.

Bear, per his usual, was spot on. I had him take the sheep out of their holding area into a large outdoor arena, and had him work a set up trial like sequence. He is doing very well, even with things he has never done, and next weekend I'm taking him out to SLC to work with some friends from the Utah Stockdog Assoc. We will be working Churros, and some heavy dorpers so I'm excited to see how he handles them. For that day, I will definitely be bringing the camera, especially because I am still sore at myself for forgetting to bring it today.

Chris is still in NC. Robin has her, and she has been bred through doing AI's twice now, so we are all crossing our fingers and toes that it takes and we have Zac and Chris pups in a couple of months. I sure do miss her, and cant wait till she is back home with me. She is such a joyous dog, and her absence is felt through out the pack. Lex has felt it the worst I think, her and Chris were/are close and she has been left with all the boys to contend with.

We went over to Colorado today and I bought a lottery ticket. Well, actually I bought five. Cross your fingers for me, I hear its a big one.

Tomorrow we are going horse back riding. The black isn't quite in good enough weight from the trip to be up on in my estimation yet, but the buckskin, Kyle's QH is looking good, so I'm going to ride her. She isn't half the horse my black mare is to ride, but its not like we are going to run any races, so I reckon she will suffice. After riding we are taking the dogs and hitting Red Fleet http://www.utah.com/stateparks/red_fleet.htm
for some more fishing, and hiking. That extra 50lbs wont be hanging around for long, to much to do around here. Matter of fact, I haven't slowed down since I got here, and its been refreshing. If I remember to bring the camera, and I'm really gonna try to do that, I hope to have some fantastic pics of the lake and surrounding area, and maybe, if I'm lucky, a pic of me with my catch of the day!

A few pics to tide ya over

2009-06-05T02:29:00.022-04:00

I have been a bad blogger!
Excuses?? I have many, but none that can erase my guilt, for not showing up to update and blog. I am, suffice to say, ashamed of myself.
I figured Id not bore anyone with the details of 1400 miles of pavement and fast food, it was a decent trip, but I really was just driving, and trying to get from A to B. Nothing spectacular happened, though I will will share some neat pics I took along the way. The real adventure started once I landed at my destination.
I have been really busy, first with work, and trying to reacquaint myself with the town, and old friends.
The sheep and horses made it finally, though I'm not very happy about their condition. The horses, as I suspected they would, dropped some weight, but I was very upset to hear that my horses were loaded on the trailer on a Friday afternoon, and didn't step foot off the trailer until they were delivered to me on the following Tuesday! That's 5 days and nights standing asshole to elbow, (that's how they were loaded) together in a trailer they couldn't hardly move in. These mares are 22 and 26 years old! Not healthy for any animal, much less such aged horses. And besides, I'm pretty sure keeping stock in a trailer that long without off loading them, is not only inhumane, but quite possibly even illegal!
And thats not the end of my little rant. My sheep, are in a horrible state. Thier bones are sticking out! They were fat and healthy when they were loaded on that trailer. It is going to take me the better part of a month to get the flesh back on them! Bobby gave the the hauler 6 bales of hay to feed the horses and sheep, (15 sheep, and 2 horses) for the trip. The hauler gave me back 2 full bales of that hay when he got here. 4 bales of hay for 2 horses and 15 head of sheep for 5 flippin days!!! WTF!!!
Yep, Im a it peeved. The worst part is that this person came well reccomended. Guess ya cant believe everything ya hear these days, and I will never take a chance with my animals like that again to save a few bucks.

OK. End of rant.
Heres a few pictures I took. Most of them are from New Mexico, Arizona, and Utah.

Hopefully, now that I am starting tomsettle into a routine around here, I can get back to being once again fairly consistant about updating, and fill everyone in on life here on the west side.

We made it!

2009-05-25T17:30:00.002-04:00

Hey Everyone! Due to the rather larger volume of phone calls since arriving to my destination Vernal, Ut, because Ive been lame and busy, I didn't get to update the blog Saturday, or Sunday, I thought it a good idea to let everyone know I am alive and well, and home. It was a long trip, and there were some hairy moments, that when I am brave enough to recount them, I will catch everyone up to snuff about mountain driving up Douglas Pass in Colorado, in the rain and fog at 2am , people driving badly, and several other things I encountered along my travels. But for now, I'm heading out to set up my new station for work which I start on Tuesday, so gotta scoot for the moment. I got some really great pictures along the way that I will edit and post soon.

Texas, I love it!

2009-05-23T00:43:00.004-04:00

Finally got to Amarillo Texas tonight about 8:30pm. Boy Texas is a beautiful state. Not so much Amarillo, but Texas as a whole Ive always thought was pretty. Especially this time of the year.
Fuel is cheaper here, got it for 2.09 today, it was up to 2.25 in NC when I left. Gonna try to get all the way home tomorrow, but we'll see. This is the parts of the trip I want to stop and take pictures.
Bruin, my LGD is quite the trooper. Tonight, not only did he come inside the posh Days Inn motel, (this is the nicest one Ive been in so far) but he also got on and took his first elevator ride! Not bad for a pasture dog that's never done anything like that before.
All the dogs are lounging around on the floor thinking this traveling thing ain't so bad after all. Bear is a bit insecure about everything, but doing good. He is such a mommas boy anyway.
Hank is having a blast! Since he didn't get sick, he has been riding in the truck with Kyle and I, and he loves to sit and watch out the window.
Nothing much to report, I'm tired, and its time to get some rest. Hopefully. I'll stop and get some pictures to post. More later

Tomorrow.... Texas!

2009-05-21T23:21:00.002-04:00

Well, today we made it across Arkansas. What a flat and boring drive. I didn't even see anything worth taking a picture of, though there was a big river we passed over coming out of Tenn into Ar. that was pretty cool.
I have been in the sticks so long Id forgotten what horrible, inconsiderate drivers people can be!
The speed limits are 70 and up to the Sky's the limit, according to those Ive encountered. Glad I got a big truck, or Id be scared shit less!
Today Kyle and I were at a rest area, and I forgot my cell phone in the ladies room. When we were leaving, I was side tracked by one of the rest stop employees inquiring about what appeared to be a polar bear sticking his snout out the back of the horse trailer. Ive been watching Bruin, and he seems to enjoy standing on his back legs and watching the world go by, looking through the slats in the trailer. Ive caught him doing it as I check my mirrors, and its pretty cute.
The fella and I got to talking for a minuet, and of course, who could miss the 3 collies heads hanging out the windows, and so we talked about them for a few minuets too. As I left the rest area, I got about 6 or 7 miles down the road, and realized Id left my phone, and knew exactly where Id left it.
I had Kyle use his phone to call my phone in hopes that some one would answer it and I could tell them to leave it with some one, and as he was doing that, he answered his phone and low and behold, it was the guy from the rest area, calling kyles phone to tell me he had my phone! Too funny. The fella told me that he knew exactly who's phone it was when he saw the pic I have as the screen saver of Bear on it driving sheep!
Of course, we turned right around and went ack and got it. Grrrrrrr. Bet I wont be doing that again.

Hank is still doing well, no ill effects whatsoever from the over dose of safeguard. That's one tough dawg! For those that don't know, I had set the plunger backwards when getting it ready to dose him, and before I realized what I was doing, Id dosed him for a 400 lb horse! Called the vet and he said Id probably have to deal with a bit of the runs and vomiting, but that he should be alright, and so far he has been just dandy. He did recommend that I not worm him again for another 2 weeks though! LOL
I guess I can laugh now, but I sure wasn't laughing when I did it.
Highlights so far of the trip, we stopped by a Trading post this after noon, and I was very disappointed. Everything there came from either Pakistan or India! Even the "Navajo rugs" came from India! And they were poor quality at best.
Tonight we stayed again at a Days Inn and again, they took the crazy dog lady and 5 dogs without question.
Id stopped at a Super 8 first, and asked about their pet policy and the gal that worked there said they took dogs and cats. So when I asked if they'd allow 5 dogs, she looked out at my truck, and loudly exclaimed that they only took in domestic pets! And definitely not that many! Domestic pets? What the hell, I wonder did she think she saw? Oh well, Days Inn gets my money for the remainder of the trip.
Nice clean rooms, and good service, friendly staff, and at least they know what a Border Collie is when they see one!
So, so far its been a pretty uneventful trip. That's a good thing.
Chris, when I dropped her off at JP's before I left, had just started to come into season, so she will be home before I know it! That's good, cause I miss her little split face butt.
Tomorrow, I'm going to try to get across Texas. Another flat boring state. New Mexico will be alot more fun and then into Arizona. I'm taking 191 thur Chambers Az. so I can Avoid having to pull the mountains in Colorado and going thru Denver.
Maybe once we get to Texas, I'll pull out the camera!
Better get some sleep, got miles to put behind us tomorrow.

So far we have made it to Knoxville Tenn.

2009-05-21T08:26:00.003-04:00

We left out later than we had planned yesterday. Then needed to stop and drop Chris off at JP's for her date with Robins Zac. I sure do miss her, but it'll be worth all that if we can get them bred. Gonna be some awesome puppers!
Made it to Knoxville, Tenn last night about 7:30pm and got a room. Days Inn, FYI in Knoxville takes crazy dog ladies with 5 dogs and a 14yr old boy, no questions!
Got a good nights sleep, and headed out this morning to where ever Vera guides us. She has been an impeccable co-pilot, though just a little grumpy when I stray from her undeviated path. I'm beginning to hate the word reconfiguring!
Will update later tonight when we land......??????
Probably wont be many pics of sights till we get a little further west. The desert is beautiful. Loving the new AAA. It got me a discount at the motel, even with 5 dogs!
The truck is doing great, and is pulling the trailer so nicely, that I bearly know its back there.
Gotta get motoring for now, more later.

Dog Day @ JP's. Getting loaded up to leave, and This %&#@! Truck!

2009-05-19T08:50:00.004-04:00

In an effort to have the opportunity to get to see everyone and say my goodbyes before the move, I had planned a day this past weekend to get over to Julies place to visit and work dogs a bit. Sunday was predicting rain, but hey, sugar melts and shit floats, so I brought a life vest just in case and went anyway.

I didn't get there until about lunch time, so not long after Id gotten there, we decided to head over to the Backyard Grill.
Had to have one more of their famous Backyard burgers and some more of those wonderful crispy chips, cause chips, unless they come in a bag, are non existent where I'm headed.

Lunch was great as usual, good food, good friends, good service and good conversation is always a fine mix. Laura surprised me and presented me with the most lovely beaded lanyard.
The best I can describe the stone that is in it is to say it looks very much like Jasper, but what ever it is, you can sure enough see the dedication, and delicate, intricate work that went into its design. It is beautiful, and I will be proud to wear it and tell folks that my friend made it for me. That's the nicest thing about having it, I didn't buy it, but that it was made for me by a friend, with me in mind. Every time I put it on, for many years to come, it will not only remind me of Laura, but of our friendship, and the laughing and good natured joking we did at the grill that day. Oh, and the checking out the guys, seems we have similar tastes for men in uniform. LOL

Of course, after a hearty lunch and with a light drizzle setting in, we drove back to Julies with our desert grasped firmly in our hands, spoons at the ready, for yummy ice cream, and talked about taking a nap instead of working dogs. Ive always wondered if the Backyard grill doesn't some how slip a little some thing something in their burgers, as every time we go there, we leave there talking about wanting to take a nap, must be some pretty strong stuff to make us not feel like working dogs!

But, being the troopers that we are, we decided to work off our lunch by taking the dogs for a nice walk to the back 40 of Julies place. The dogs love the walk, although we humans are really the only ones that walk, the dogs are pretty much full bore the whole time, stopping only for picking up choice pine cones to entice us to play, and rolling in things that should be better left alone.

It never ceases to amaze me, but every time we do it, I am in awe of our dogs. Most times its more, but on this day, between the three of us gals, Julie, Laura and myself, we had a whopping total of 21 dogs, all running free together. A motley mix, of young and old, in tact, neutered, spayed, working dogs and pets, and never a fight or dispute. Everyone gets along very well. I don't think in any other dog venue Ive ever been involved in has that kind of thing ever taken place on such a grand scale. It just speaks volumes of how steady our dogs temperaments are and the caliber of training they have, as well as the respect that the dogs show to each other. How three people can control 21 dogs off lead and usually traveling swiftly past us in all directions is just amazing and so enjoyable to participate in. I love watching the dogs just get to be dogs, running in a pack, and enjoying just being a dog and doing dogie things.

When we got back from our walk, it was time to get serious, though we were still contemplating a nap, and get to work. I had brought Hank, Chris and Bear with me, and they know when ever they go to Julie's they are gonna get to work, so they were on the ready, and chomping at the bit to get after it.

First up was Hank, the big dog that does everything bigger. The round pen didn't afford him the room to do much, so much to my trepidation, we moved out to the big field with him. I should have known he could handle this, he works on my field and never looses his sheep. Hank is all about keeping them together and if one starts to squirt out, he is on it. Of course the first thing we noticed when we got him out there was that he has been doing way to much circling, as I had been concerned about a month or so ago, so he just needed to be shown that there are other ways of controlling the sheep, other than to keep circling them. My contention is that he is ready for more, and he can take a bit of pressure, so I'm happy to see that its time to move along with him and get him doing different things and mixing it up some.

Ever ready Chris was up next, Julie is able to get the most out of a work with Chris, or, Chris I should say is able to get more out of a work with Julie, so I asked her to handle her, and they did a good bit of driving, and I found out why I'm having such a problem with Chris returning to me on the drive when I talk to her while driving. It actually stems from me calling her back after I send her on an outrun, and if she doesn't kick out like I think she should, instead of stopping her, repositioning myself, and resending her from where I stopped her, I was calling her back and having her start the whole outrun again from my feet. Its the old OB training coming back to bite me in the ass. When you start something and it starts to get ugly, in OB work, you get the dog back, and start all over again in the same place you originally started at. Apparently this doesn't work so well with stock dogs as well as it works for GSD's. Live and learn eh?
We spent a really good amount of time, being as it was such a nice cool day working Chris, and I think she and I both learned a lot. Now if I can retain and utilize all that Julie and I talked about, it should get Chris and I back on the right path and driving much better. Julie gave me a lot of info in that work.
There was one time during our work, that I became very afraid for one of the sheep. It had run off away from the herd, and Chris took off after it, over a little hill up into a corner where we couldn't see her or what she was doing. I quickly called to Julie who was in my mind meandering up there looking as if she was in no big hurry, to hurry up and get up there, because I could just imagine Chris up there in that corner ravaging that poor sheep. Julie, didn't see the urgency, and just kept, much to my nervousness, walking steadily up there, seeming to be in no big hurry. Had that been me, Id have been running as fast as my chubby body could have carried me to stop the blood lust that Id imagined would be going on up there in that corner.
Much to my surprise, and appreciation, as well as jubilation, Chris chose to do the right thing in this instance, which a year ago, she wouldn't have been able to do, and here she came back with that sheep, all in one piece and no blood, fetching it back to Julie. I WAS BEAMING! I just wanted to hug some one! My little girl is finally "choosing" all on her own, to do the right thing, and that has been a long hard hurdle to cross. I couldn't have been more proud of her. That was a biggie for me to get to see and a big help in pushing me towards learning trust my dog more. what a reward for us both.

Bear, my wonderful Bear, was up next. I still cant say enough about how lovely this dog is for me. Every time I take this dog out to work, he makes me so proud. I am in awe of him. We make, I feel, a good team, and I just love working with him. Julie worked with he and I on outruns, he has always been a bit tight on his come bye, and she showed me how to get him straightened out on that and man he was doing some pretty outruns to the CB side within a few minuets! Little adjustments can make for some large improvements! Bear likes to drive,and so he got to do a bunch of that, which was pretty to see. He has such a lovely way with the sheep, plenty of quiet power, and he moves so stealth like around his sheep, He has a nice bit of eye, and style and is lovely to watch work. I think sheep like Bear, everything he does around them is nice and easy, so unlike Chris who can unsettle her sheep because she wants to do everything in high gear.
Two such different dogs, its hard some times to make the transition from working one to the other, so much to remember, such different methods of handling such distinctly different dogs. They both teach me so much every time I work with them.
Julie told me I should be running Bear in PN and that is our goal for this summer. I thought myself he was almost ready, but it was good to hear some one of Julie's experience say what I was already thinking.
Keep an eye on the trials out west. I have a feeling you'll be seeing Bear and I start to make our mark in the trialing world this year. He is a perfect dog for me, and I can see us doing well and working together for a long time to come.

OK. Now the truck. It must have some kind of sixth sense, and knows what needs to be done before I take her on the road for the long haul, because Bobby has been under that truck more in the last two weeks than he has had to be in the last three years! First, we had to plug a tire on the front passengers side. Then, we had to plug it again. It wasn't holding air, and we found two holes at two separate times within a few days of each other. Where the hell have I been driving to get two holes in the same tire in a week?!
Then, he changed the oil for me, and replaced the air filter, filled all the things that needed to be filled, greased and lubed everything, checked belts and we thought she was set to go.
Then, she showed me that last week she needed a new mid shaft bearing, so Bobby crawled back under there and replaced that.
Then yesterday, I called him from town and said, Riddle me this! What does it mean when the steering wheel starts to vibrate violently when in third gear doing about 35mph but that smooths out after ya get past 40mph?
His standard answer, can you get it home? Me, yea, Him, then get it back here and I'll drive it and see.
I got her home and he took her up the road, came back and told me it was a universal joint that needed to be replaced. Great. Some thing else! It sounded like a lot of work and an expensive part to me, but I am not a mechanic, so was pleasantly surprised to hear that the part only cost 15.00 dollars and Bobby could slip the old one out and a new on, in under less than an hour.
Its good that he is so handy. Gonna miss that little perk.

So yesterday, we got my trailer loaded, and I'm all set to go. Not much left to do, but visit with my daughter today and the grand kids, and I'll be on the road in the morning. As much as I look forward to getting back home. Its going to be difficult to pull out of the drive way. Leaving home and husband, no matter the problems we have suffered in our marriage, we are still good friends, actually, better now than ever, and we do still care for/about each other, and knowing this will be the last time I see him, well, it does tug at the heart strings, it wasn't always bad, we have lots of good memories, and I will miss him, I'm sure.

Its kinda sad to see, when looking at the trailer all loaded up and ready to go, that my entire life doesn't fill up a four horse trailer. What does that say about the gypsy in me spending a good portion of my life, drifting from one town to another, one relationship after another. About the non materialistic person I have always been?
My kid, my clothes, my horses and sheep and dogs, and a few boxes of memories. I guess as long as I have the memories, that's what must make me the happiest.
So, I guess here we go again, one last hurrah, to make a few more memories before finally settling down, with the knowledge that this is the last stop for me. Knowing that this last stop is where I have convinced myself that I need to quit making such bad decisions about the men I put in my life, and that its time to start laying down some deep roots.
So folks. Tomorrow morning, I'll be saying good bye to NC and heading home. Where I know in my heart that I belong.
Pray for us that we have a safe and uneventful journey, and make it home safely.
I say this with tears in my eyes, as I prepare to leave the good friends I have made that mean so much to me behind, the farm Ive come to love, the husband that should have been so much more that I know he is capable of, but to stubborn to change.
Trading the green, wet forests of NC for the high mountain desert that I call home.
For those that I didn't get to see before I moved on, know that you have enriched my life with your friendship, and I will cherish the memories and always carry the hope that some day we meet again.

Getting Prepared

2009-05-15T08:27:00.003-04:00

So, its been a busy last couple of weeks, not to mention a sight expensive couple of weeks as well. I'm drained, mentally and monetarily. Getting horses and sheep ready for the move, and paying the transport hauler, blood tests, health certs, and the list goes on, as well as dealing with all the bureaucracy that goes along with it, well, lets just say I'm sure glad I feel that they are worth it, cause its been an experience. It hasn't been all that difficult really, its just relearning all the things that go into having to ship livestock 1800 miles. But, happily I will report, that the USDA gal who happen to be a lovely lady to deal with and a very pleasant conversationalist, was out on Wednesday and scrapie's tagged the sheep, and that was a good thing, so not anything left to do now but get the health certs back from the vet and the coggins results back for the horses and bar any complications there, (of which I can foresee none) they are set except the loading and the ride.

Ive tried out my new Vera, (my new GPS system) several times now, and I think after our initial disagreements that she and I are going to get along just fine. We are both very simple and talk the same language. The one thing Ive found about Vera is that in some instances she spells phonetically. A good example, the street I live on is called Bayles Rd. Spoken like a bale of hay, however, when I told Vera I wanted to go to Bayles Rd. she told me there was no such place! I felt like arguing with her about this, because I knew she was wrong, and did for a minuet, but she was adamant that she was right. Its difficult to argue with a machine, they are not emotional, and just keep saying the same thing in the same monotone voice, over and over, even when one is banging her on the dash board and saying stuff like; "get over it! I'm right and your wrong! Quit trying to mess me up you stupid machine!"
We finally reached a compromise, (when she started to stutter,) I guess she didn't take well to being smacked against the dash, and when I asked her to take me to Bayles Rd. spelled phonetically, ( I had to try two different spellings) and we finally agreed on the spelling "Bails" then, she was very happy to oblige.
I called the Radio shack where Vera and I first met, and asked them if they had a dictionary or translator for her, suspecting that this would be some thing you didn't get in the package with her and that Id more than likely have to pay extra for, but they humorously assured me there was no such book to be had.
Their explanation.....just fiddle with her a bit and the two of you will come to a meeting of the minds. Minds?? Vera has a mind?? Well, if that's so, than she is about as stubborn as I am, albeit, a bit more fragile. Though I have to say, that her stuttering bit was clever, and shows me that perhaps she does have a sense of self preservation.

I shaved, in preparation for the trip, my LGD (Great Pyr) Bruin. I knew there was a fairly good sized dog under all that hair, but Id always thought all that hair gave a false illusion to his size. Boy was I wrong! There is a gigantic dog under there!
When I first shaved him last week, Bru acted a bit sheepish, like he was walking around naked, which I guess he probably felt as if he was. But after a few days, he seems to have not only gotten use to his new do, but is actually enjoying it. However, this will be the first and last time I shave him. I don't care for the look. If Id wanted an Anatolian, that's what Id have gotten. It is nice though, not to have to keep pulling all matter of.....matter out of his coat, which can range anywhere from wire and hay, to sheep doo and things that should be buried in a big deep hole some where back on the north forty! Traveling with Bru without all that hair will make us all much more comfortable, and my truck interior will likely thank me for not unleashing the drooling snow storm that is Bruin on the seats. Yes, Bru will get a back seat for the ride. Id thought about letting him ride in the horse trailer, but I just don't feel comfortable with that idea.

When the gal from USDA came out the other day, I thought it would be a nice time to get Bear out and let him do a little practical work. Man does he shine! I had originally thought to use Chris, and had taken her out prior to my appointment with the USDA gal getting there, but she was way to hyped up, and even though she was listening, she wasn't quite ready to do the up close work that was required of her. She could have done it, but not in the frame of mind Id have wanted her to be in, and so I fell back on Bear instead. Ive come to some conclusions about Chris and Bear. For the close work, Bear can keep his head much better than Chris, so those jobs will fall to him. Big spaces and big field work, Bear is equally competent with, but Chris is exceptional at doing also, so in order to help her keep her mind in the right frame, I will for now, stick to keeping her out of small quarters where she gets so ramped up. She doesn't tear into sheep anymore, so we have come along way in that respect, but she still has a bit of a problem getting her mind to relax so she can do the work without unsettling the sheep so much. Bear, glides in and out between sheep, and walls and fences and the sheep barely know he is there. Sheep like Bear, and move off him calmly and easily. If Ive said it once, I'll say it again, he is such a pleasure to work with. Not dissing Chris in the least, she is my heart, and is a lot of fun to work with. Her energy and happy attitude are infectious. I can always count on her to never give up no matter what the task, always count on her to always get all the sheep, always count on her to do her best and give me her all and try her best to understand what it is I'm asking of her. Ive never seen this dog quite at anything. Her work ethic is phenomenal.

I havent done much training with Hank for a bit. He would love it if I worked him daily, but thats not what he needs right now. He needs to grown up in his head, and collect himself physically. Im working with him right now off the field, on helping him to understand that I am the one in charge. He likes to stand there and puzzle things that I ask of him, funny enough, he does it with his silly head cocked to one side, and you can actually see the wheels turning while he is staring at me from across the yard contemplating whether doing what I ask will be worth his while, or some thing he truely wants to do. Its amazing how transparent he is. For the most part, Hank is a very happy and obedient dog, and trys hard to do what is asked of him. He doesnt even really present a battle of wills, so much as he is just appearing to weigh his odds. Alot of it I attribute to age. He is just comming 13 months, so with a little more work on my part, and a little more growing up on his, Im sure things will sort themselves out.

Lex is still hating retirement. I dont think she will ever get use to the idea that the other dogs can do the work. She doesnt see the perks in not working. And for her, there are many. She seems to feel as if she has been demoted. Another dog with a flawless work ethic, who lives to work. Sadly, getting to sleep on the funiture because she doesnt smell like sheep doo, and getting free range 24/7 of the house with no crate time, getting to go everywhere with me, and basically, just being allowed to be a pet, doesnt set well with her and she is constantly standing by the gate asking for me to let her work. The hopeful look on her face, is one that is hard to deny. So, to keep her happy and fit, a couple of times a week, I'll let her go in and do a little OLF and some flanking and put the sheep in the lambing pen for me. It just makes her day, and the look on her little grey face when we are through, is priceless! Panting up a storm she is, but the grin goes from ear to ear. I love it when we are walking off the field together, the way she walks beside me and purposely bumps up aginst my leg, looking up at me with such joy in her eyes. So proud of herself and so happy to get to do a little work for me. What a grand ole gal.

So, everything is in order, but the waiting is hard. A couple of weeks, seems like a couple of years right now, patience has never been one of my strongest virtues when it comes to getting on the road and getting the driving out of the way.
Work is so slack right now, Im tempted to bag it and let the new gal they have hired just go on in and get settled and started. What she thinks she stands to gain working there I dont know. I havent talked to her, and Im not sure what the owners have told her, but if she thinks she is going to make any money there, I wish her the best, but know she wont be doing much. My clients arent going to take kindly to some one else handling their dogs, and I suspect that many wont continue to go there for their grooming needs. Grooming is a very personal biz, one that you slowly build relationships of trust, getting it right off the bat doesnt come easy. It would have been helpful if the owners had included me in the hiring process, which as manager of the groom shop, I felt was my right to start with, however the owners felt my presence wasnt necessary, and did not feel obligated to include me. as far as Im concerned, this little bad judgement on their part, is going to seal this new gals fate. Clients are coming in and calling me left and right, grilling me on the new groomer coming in. Sadly I can tell them nothing about her, as I know nothing, and therein lies the problem. If I had been included, I would have been able to reassure my clients that they could expect the same, or comprable professionalism from the new gal, I could assure them that I had seen her quality of work and animal handling skills, and had I been able to give my seal of approval, they probably would continue to use the shops services. As it stands, I know my clients, and doubt they will return for many, many months, and only if the new gal has been able to build a decent reputation for herself, if at all. But, there is nothinhg I can do about it, but I feel so terrible that I have had to leave my clients hanging like this. The shop owners decision, has made me look as if I dont care about my clients, which is so totally untrue. I am going to miss my clients here, I have nutured the old ones and started the puppies, and really enjoyed my clients, human and dog for the last three years, and leaving them like this weighs heavy on me. On the up side, when I get back to Vernal, I stand to gain back a lot of the old clients I left back there and am looking forward to seeing all of them again. It kinda feels like Im going full circle.

We're moving back out west

2009-05-09T10:02:00.005-04:00

Well, this idea has been rolling around in the back of my mind for quite some time now, and it appears that the forces that be, for whatever reasons, which is usually not my luck, are working with me to be able to make the move.
My husband and I have come to the conclusion, that we make better friends, than partners, I tend to agree, and am relieved, that he has seen to it that we part ways amicably and are able to remain friends through this difficult time. Actually, since filing for divorce a few weeks ago, we get along now, better than ever! Which on one one hand I'm grateful for, but on the other is kinda creepy.
I have contacted a livestock hauler, and he has taken on at the last minuet, my motley crew of sheep and horses, and so I'm now scrambling to get the necessary blood tests and paperwork to have them shipped, in the short time that I'm allotted before the pick up date at the end of the month.

I am really looking forward to being back home, Ive so missed Utah and my friends out there. My son and I, though we have to some extent, enjoyed the last three years years here in NC are really not cut out to be Southerners. Neither of us like sweet tea or grits, and I think its prerequisite, along with eating black eyed peas on New Years (of which neither of us can stand either) among a lot of other things, that are so typically Southern, and we just have not been happy here and not able to completely acclimate or bounce back from the culture shock in the differences between here and out west. There are so many, I joke about the grits and sweet tea, but the lifestyles between here and there, are so vastly different, that you'd have to live it to really understand it, and I'm afraid I'm not articulate enough to explain it. Its like living with the feeling that one is lost all the time, like being transported back to another space and time where you just don't understand or belong.

All the dogs will be coming with, and I will be happy to get back working with the folks in the Utah Stock dog Assoc. At least going back there, I wont be unknown, and it take a year as it did here to meet working folks, and I can keep my dogs going in the right direction, working with knowledgeable folks.
Of course, there are the usual regrets, and I wish I could take all the good folks Ive met out here with me, but for some odd reason they all seem pretty attached to this state at the moment. Maybe that will change some day and I can convince them otherwise.
I joined AAA the other day, because I fear driving back alone with a truck load of dogs, pulling a 4 horse open stock trailer with all our belongings in it, that if I do some thing stupid, (which comes quite naturally to me) like lock myself out of my truck, run out of fuel, or get a flat, that I wont be able to handle that situation very well with out freaking out and panicking, so the services they offer are quite handy. I also bought a new GPS system, (I named her Vera, she talks to me! ) because I am so horribly directionally challenged. I'm hoping that between Vera and I, that we can navigate the 1800 mile trip with little or no incident.

I will continue to keep the blog updated as much as I can, the trip will take 3 to 4 days to drive, and we will be taking lots of pictures along the way, we are not going to be in a great big hurry to get back on any certain date, and so we will be trying to stop and smell the roses so to speak along the way. I plan on getting a room each night, and most have Internet, so I hope to be able to chronicle the trip.

I have been offered a good job, doing what I know and love, when I get back home, with a gal that I taught to groom many years ago, she now owns her own shop, and I look forward to working with her again. Also between she and I, we have arranged for boarding for my horses, and pasture for the sheep, as well as I have been able to rent a Mobil home on the property where the sheep and horses will be. Not to shabby, for some thing that seems to have taken on a life of its own in only a short week. It seems in the course of one day, Ive gone to thinking about it, to actually going ahead and doing it. It seems the way Ive always done things though, so it comes as no surprise to me. I'm pretty adept at getting things together in a rush.

I have along the course of time, been doing a few things "just in case" so its not like Ive had to do it all in one day or anything. I had tried to find a job out here, but the economy here in NC is so bad what with folks loosing their jobs left and right, that dog grooming is low on most folks priority lists, and groom shops are having a difficult enough time keeping what folks they already have employed with work, and part time doesn't even begin to allow me to support myself and my son and the critters, much less my needs/addiction for keeping the dogs working and us learning.

So, in a few short weeks, we will be on the road, and headed home. I cant say I will hate to see NC in my rearveiw mirror, it holds many good memories, but I'm afraid that the bad ones outweigh the good, and its time to change that, for my son as well as for myself, and move forward. I always have enjoyed an adventure.

Rolling right on along

2009-05-04T09:18:00.004-04:00

Well, I spect its time to do a little updating.
I still miss my Cain incredibly. I keep looking for him to be there and he's not. Old habits die hard. He has left a big space, that, try as they may, none of the other dogs are able to fill. And they are trying hard. I try too, but still, they offer themselves, and they aren't Cain. Bear tries the hardest. He always wanted the coveted Cain spot anyway right from the start, so naturally, he is spending more alone time with me than the others. Its working to our advantage, as our bond is stronger than ever, but still, I doubt that many would take him seriously if I left him tied in the truck bed and he popped up and barked at some one for not giving my truck a wide enough berth. I think the biggest difference between Cain and the other dogs, is that Cain always looked after me, while the collies look up to me. Cain and I were equals, pards. Cain had but one agenda in life, and that was to take care of me and mine, to serve and protect, the collies agenda is much different. Not a bad thing, just an observation. In time, I'm sure I will get use to him not being here, but I'll never forget all that he gave of himself to me. He was a grand dog in all ways.

So what have I been up to? Why working dogs of course!
I recently got a new phone, and I'm loving it. Its called a Smart Phone, and boy is it ever! Does everything but the dishes, though to be quite honest, Id gladly give up the Blue tooth if it would at least just do the pots and pans.

With Chris, we have just been working on what she knows and trying to tune a few things. I have a few issues I want to work on with her, but my truck broke down, and it was in the shop last week when I should have been at lessons with Robin, so I wasn't able to address them, and will hold off doing anything about it, other than to keep her correct on what she is doing until we are able to get back working with Robin. Mostly with her, its a chore just to keep her from hurting herself while playing ball, she is so athletic, the way she twists and turns, leaps and ducks and dives, and is so intense while playing, she will go to great lengths to get the ball, and each time I watch her slide ass over tea kettle across the lawn I old my breath, and hope for the best. Silly girl.
Her coat is finally coming in nice and plush, which means she is getting ready to come back into season. I'm watching her and the other dogs closely now, as the boys will give me a good idea of when she starts to come in.
So far, there are more than enough people on a waiting list for pups, from the eagerly awaited breeding to Robin's Zac. I only hope we have enough pups to go around. So far if memory serves me correctly, there are 7 committed people on the puppy list, and that's a good number. I think we are all very excited to get our hands on some Zac/Chris puppies. Me, I could easily skip the puppy period, and would prefer if she'd just pop me out about a 7 month old pup! LOL

Hank is doing well. He is gun ho, and is taking direction nicely. Very keen and is starting to understand the partnering process. He can be quite bright some times, and yet there are times when he is just dumb as a rock. He could stand to grow up some more. I'm not doing much with him at this stage, just taking him about once a week to sheep, and letting him work. He is liking that, and has some nice natural talent and ability. Though I can already see he has his mothers wideness and I'm going to have to watch myself so that I don't push him out while trying to help him learn to read his sheep better. One thing I really like about Hank, is that all sheep are to be worked and kept together. Whereas Chris and Bear still ignore the lambs, Hank doesn't leave a single sheep behind, big or small, he gets them all. He will make a nice working dog when he is grown, he tries real hard, and wants to do the right thing, has intensity and focus and good listening skills, and loves to work. Not to mention, I am beginning to think he is inexhaustible!

With Bear, because my lambs are now 4 months old, and he is still ignoring them, its going to be his job to help me all this week, separate out the ewes and rams from the lambs, put them in the holding pen, and work only the lambs. By golly, if he wants to work, he will work the damn lambs and only the lambs till he gets it through his head that lambs are sheep too. It is very frustrating to see him ignore the lambs and walk right past them, and they are getting the idea that they can just either stand there and not be worked, or they can squirt off to the side and he will let them. Ive got a good look back on him now, ( thanks in large part to the lamb factor) and we are doing well with the driving work. Bear loves to drive, seems he is a natural at it. Ive gotten him to where is is able to start taking half flanks, and he is looking nice. He has a lot of talent and natural ability, is very keen, and intense, stylish, and has the greatest work ethic. His listening skills are second to none, and he loves working with me. This dog might well be the one to take me to Open, so I'm being very careful that we do everything right, and that I don't take anything away from him, and only continue to add to his confidence and ability. As much as I enjoy working Chris, she really is so much fun to work, I really enjoy working with Bear more. Actually, to put it better, I enjoy "working" with Chris, she will get the job done at any cost, training with her can be a frustration, but I really enjoy the training that I'm putting into Bear. Although I couldn't comment on his frustration level when working with me! LOL
I started putting whistles on Bear this past weekend. He is willing, and listening well, and so far we are just working on a stop whistle and a walk up whistle. When one starts to put whistles on their dog, it really brings home the fact that you have to be close to a hundred percent on pitch and length and velocity of your whistle command, or in the learning process, it is easy to muddle the dog and they will start to ignore the whistle if it doesn't make sense and sound close to what you praised them for when they got it the first time. Note to self, keep practicing in the truck, cause really Darc, you know you suck!
The reason I mentioned the new phone, is because it has a camera on it, and I have been enjoying that little feature. Its rather cumbersome to bring out the digital camera and try to get shots of the dogs working while you have a big camera stuck in your face. Most times all I can get are nice pics of the dogs fetching the sheep to me. But! With this new phone, I am able to take pics from anywhere! I have already taken a number of pics of Chris and Bear with it, now, if I could only figure out how to get them on my Picasa, so I can share them. I guess since what I have already tried hasn't worked, I'm going to have to pull out the Epic Novel that came with the darn thing and actually read it. The instruction manual, I shit you not, is a good half an inch thick, and it is only written, (can you believe it!) in English! It also has a camcorder on it but I'm not sure about the length of time it actually films, so maybe a good boring manual read is in order anyway. Video would be fun to get and post.
Outside of that, things are just rolling along around here, its getting warmer by the day, and the dogs are asking to go to the pond for a swim, but I'm having a very difficult time since Cain allowing them to go. I look over at it, and they look at me like can we go, and I just go get a ball and we play in the yard instead. I haven't been back to the creek, pond or the woods, and am going to have to get over the fear and take them. It just feels as if I'm setting them up for the fall if I take them. If one gets snake bit, it would be my fault I had them down there. Maybe I'll get them a pool.

This can be the funnest place in the world......

2009-04-20T10:15:00.019-04:00

Or, the most dangerous place in the world, depending on how you look at it.
I personally, had looked at it from my dogs point of view.

The dogs think, wheeeee, fun! Run and spalsh and play in the water! Yeehaw~!

I no longer see it that way. I see it as the place where the bad things live.
I see it as dangerous, forbidding, scary,........ deadly.

Several weeks ago, I had the brilliant idea to take the dogs down to the pond for a swim, and then down to the creek through a small path in the woods that we had made from our frequent forays through there over the last year since we had found this fun and wonderful place to play on the back part of our neibhoers adjoining property.

Since we have been traversing the trail for quite some time, we had developed a false sense of security. Nothing bad had ever happened before, so we started going as the weather turned nicer and nicer, more frequently, and had become less and less concerned about the creepy crawlies that we may run across. We just plunged right on through the woods without a care in the world. Our main goal and concern being who could get there first, and the fastest.

My best friend of 9 years, my constant companion, who doesnt care to get there first, he just cares that he and I dont loose track of each other and that both of us land there at the same time, and perferably side by side, which is how he has lived his entire life, being vigilantly close beside me, is my GSD Cain.
No better protector and loyal friend have I ever had in my lifetime, and Ive never met a more devoted, lay down his life for me in a heart beat kind of devotion than that with which Cain has provided for me since we joined in our partnership 9 years ago.

Cain was a big brother to all other animals. A kindly grandpa to puppies, and a patient teacher to those that would try to take his place as Head of Security, Head Master, Top Dog, and my all around Number 1. He has never hurt anyone or anything. But for the same token, he has never shirked his duties to protect me and mine and has always put himself in between me and what he percieves as a dangerous situation.
Cain is a certified therapy dog, and has worked extensivly with physically and mentally handicapped children. He is extremely good with Autistic children, and Down Syndrom effected people, adults and children alike. He then moved on as he proved himself and was able to become certified at the highest level that a dog can be certified in, to working with burn patients, perferably, again children. He worked with kids to help them move and stretch, a painful process, and one that children were loath to do because it caused them pain. Bring a dog into the picture, and a handful of treats and a soft brush, a big head to pet and a few stupid pet tricks and the calm and gentle, patient,non demanding presence of Cain into the picture, and Cain was able to achomplish with children what physical therapists could not. To watch Cain at work, would bring tears to ones eyes, and had to a many a parent that witnessed the change and effect that Cain had on their children as he helped them through their physical therapy. Cain personified the words Noble, Grand, Intelligent, Kind, Loving, Patient, Empathy, Loyality, and All Heart. He would lay down his life for me, and maybe thats exactly what he was doing, putting himself yet once again between me and what he percieved as a danger to me.
Where am I going with this rambling you ask?
Well, Cain was bit by a very large Copperhead viper almost 4 weeks ago while on one of our excursions to the creek.
I wasnt aware that he was biten for several weeks after the bite,(he was bitten on his elbow and it was hidden from all the hair, and his symptoms werent A typical of snake bite) but he was quite sick.

I had been nurse maiding him, and while he was still surviving on my bad cooking and McDonalds cheese burges and anything else I could get him to eat) he had lost 30 lbs and I wasnt seeing him getting any better. When I discoved the snake bite, I was ecstatic. I thought I knew what was wrong with him now, and all we needed to do was get him back to the vet and get some meds and all would be well and right in our world again.
As it is some times in life, things arent always as cut and dried as they seem. Or, as we would like for them to be.
Through a series of bloodwork and another exam from Dr. Williams, it was discovered that Cain had developed a heart murmer, that his kidneys were failing, and the great possibility that the liver was soon to follow. And he had become diabetic. Our options were few, and there was the strong possibility that even had we put the time and energy into trying to save him, it would have bought him only a short time longer with us, and that time wasnt going to be easy on him.
I felt it was my duty to Cain to give him a free pass on this one. He has given so much of himself through out his life, to me, to my family, friends he new and loved, strangers, it didnt matter. If you held out your hand in friendship, he was your friend, and that to Cain, meant giving you his all.
Dr. Williams told me yesterday that he was surprised in his condition that he was even still alive and getting around, and that it was due in large part to his intestinal fortitude. His strong character, and his unwillingness to give up. (and maybe even a little to my bad cooking)

I couldnt allow Cain's life to end in the Vet Hospital, although he was confident, happy and comfortable laying on the floor in the exam room, it was to sterile and white washed. I didnt want this to be the last place he saw. I wanted him to feel as if he were going home, and so we layed a sheet on the back seat of my truck, and took Cain out to the truck and helped him in. I rolled down the windows so he could feel the sun and cool breeze and he lay down on the seat and lifted his head into the sun, enjoying the breeze through the open windows and he was smiling. Even as thin and puiny as he had become, he still took up the entire seat. I started the truck and we let it idle, and I held Cains head in my hands and buried my face in his as I wispered in his ear to him what a grand fella he was and how much I loved him and he quickly and easily fell into his eternal slumber.
I did take Cain home, and we buried him under some trees on a hill that he liked to stand on and observe his world, his domain. Im glad that Cain is no longer in misery and pain that he beared so silently and bravely. Im happy that he has crossed the Bridge, and is free. I hope and pray that my loss is his gain. I could never explain the relationship that Cain and I shared. It was more intimate than any other dog I have ever had, it was the most precious friendship that Ive ever known. We Trusted in each other implicitly. Never questioned each others decisions, and no matter what, I knew he always had my back, and he knew I had his. We lived in perfect unison. Ive known a many a man that could have taken a page from the book of Cain, he was better in every way than any human I have ever known.

RIP My Loyal Friend
I Love You...

Cain 3-17-00 To 4-20-09

Whats Better Than A Hemorrhoid Donut?

2009-04-17T21:39:00.031-04:00

Why, Chris' new life vest of course!
A while back, I had posted about Little Miss Chris' disturbing habit of pond diving. While entertaining and unusual, it is still very frightening to see her dive under the water and stay submerged for way longer than even I can hold my breath. What she is doing down there under the water, is finding sunken treasure. Limbs and roots, and tug, tug, tugging until she can get it pulled up and surfaces with it. Chris is a die hard, she doesn't give up easily when it comes to sticks. So I had these horrible visions of her staying with it till she got it, or didn't get it and drowned her silly self. I honestly believe she would do just that too, if the root didn't give in to her demands to come up to the surface with her. Ive watched her tug at roots before, and she always wins. I couldn't see her giving up the fight just to breath.

Barbara, a friend of Chris' and mine, saw the post, and while entertained as well, understood my dire stress about her odd behavior, and thoughtfully sent Chris a dogie life vest.
I wasn't sure the vest was going to be as exciting for Chris as it was for me, she is a weirdo, and not inclined to like wearing anything. I bought her boots a few years ago when we were in Utah so she could run in the snow and ice without cutting her paws, she hated them, and refused to walk in them. She stood there looking like a cat with tape stuck on its paws.
Lifting first one foot and then another, trying to flip the offending foot wear off her feet. Too, Id bought her a little coat once, just cause I thought she would look cute in it.
She flopped down on the ground when I put it on her and refused to move. So with that in mind, I took things a little slow with the vest. I left it laying around for about a week, occasionally picking it up and making some exclamation about it in Chris' direction, just to show her it was harmless, and Oh so stylish. While she appeared interested, she was still rather unimpressed. One look, and she'd walk away and flop down, eyeing me suspiciously.
No doubt the mere shape of it had brought back memories of the trauma Id inflicted on her in expecting her to wear the coat.

So last Sunday was Easter, and a beautiful day to take the dogs out for a swim and a little run in the woods. Perfect time to try out the vest.
All the dogs were running around the yard, having a grand ole time and I asked who wanted to go to the pond. All heads popped up and looked at me. POND!!?? Yeaaaaaaa! Well at the mere mention of the pond, all I saw was assholes and elbows, everyone taking off in the general direction of the pond.
Whoa guys! I shouted at the disappearing back ends of 6 dogs. Wait a minuet! Look what Ive got! Everyone came back to see what I had. Oh, I made a big event of it. I showed it to each dog, laying it on their backs and telling them all how sporty they looked in it. And OH Hank! Yellow is so your color! Chris, who was immediately suspicious, stood just outside the circle of dogs I was wading through, looking rather distrusting. I called her to me and the ears went down, the tail went down, and she thought about pretending as if she hadn't heard me, but new better when she and I locked eyes.
She slunk up to me, like she was expecting to be in trouble. I showed it to her, she gave me a look that clearly said she'd seen it already and still was not impressed by its bright yellow color, and what were all those straps hanging off it. Surely, it must be some strange torture devise, a straight jacket for dogs?
With a little more pushing and shoving from the other dogs, cause I was using my little girl voice and making such a big deal of it that everyone wanted to wear it, Chris just couldnt stand it anymore, and presented herself to be included in the fashion show.

I took her collar off, and laid the vest across her back. Much to my surprise, she stood there looking rather triumphant, sneering at the other dogs as if she were the chosen one. Ha! My devious plan had worked! She was pretty tickled to parade around with it and show off to everyone, and oh yes Chris! Yellow is your color too!

I said lets head out to the pond, and fluffy butts became my scenery.

I got to the pond a little slower than the dogs did, I spect theres some thing to be said for having 4 legs instead of only 2. And this was what I saw as I got there.

Chris had wasted no time in trying out the new vest and had plunged right in searching the depths of the pond for just the right stick. She was a bit confused when she surfaced.
I could see her mind ticking, trying to figure out why she couldnt dive. She was confused, but not deterred.

I searched around the pond for a stick Chris would think worthy, she likes her a big stick, no puiny ones for her! And found what I thought would be an acceptable one to toss out in the water for her and hopfully dissuade her from continuing her pond bottom forays. Apparently, it was not worthy, as this is where it ended up, alone, discarded, and unworthy,

and Chris dove down, fighting the boyant vest all the way down, to come up with a more acceptable prize.

Only to have it stolen from her as she reached shore with it. Bear is a lazy stick theif. He will swim out, let Chris get the stick, and swim back to shore in front of her so he can steal her prize. I wish she'd kick his butt for doing this, but I think she lets him have it just so she can go back out and get another one.

Some times he doesnt even bother to swim out, and just waits on shore for her to get back with the stick, and then steals it.

And then there are those extra special sickle shaped logs she unearths from the murky depths that she wont let him have under any circumstances.

And she will not let anyone within close proximity once she gets it on shore,
and also says in no uncertin terms, that it would be best to leave her and her precious alone.

She will entertain herself for a little while,

and when she cant get anyone to play with her or toss the stick for her, she tries to put the whodo voodo Border Collie eye on the stick, and use mental telepathy to magically will the stick through the air.

When that doesnt work, and all else fails,

its time to head for the creek.
(fun at the creek pics to follow shortly)

Talking Trees. Enjoying The Simple Things, And Some Good Dog Work

2009-03-26T17:27:00.012-04:00

For not having any work today, and not finding that out until Id actually gotten up early, showered, didn't get my regular quota of coffee, and then drove all the way to town before I found that out, it ended up still being a pretty cool day.
I hung out at work since I was there anyway for a bit, hoping the phone might ring, but knowing it wouldn't, who wants to get their dog groomed when its muddy and raining?? Must just be Me! And since I had Bear and Cain with me, I decided to go ahead and bathe (that's for you Julie! LOL) them, and I was glad I did! The dirt just ran off them! Cant imagine how they get so dirty!

Oh, yea,..... maybe I guess I can.

Anyway, I got back home, and loaded a bunch of junk and trash into the bed of the truck, took it to the trash dump, and by the time I was done there it was about time to pick up Kyle from school. He likes it when I can, it beats the hell out of the two hour bus ride home.
While we were headed home, Kyle said he would enjoy taking the dogs for a walk down at the Raven Rock Park. Its on the way home, so I thought what the hey! And then I thought Hey! Ive got Bear and Cain with me! I just washed them! Oh well, how dirty can they get at the end of a leash on groomed walking trails. Well, don't ask! They are worse than a couple of toddlers playing in the mud! The woods were muddy and the trails were slick, but we still enjoyed the walk, the boys just rode home in the back of the truck instead of their customary backseat.
While we were in the woods walking for a bit, we decided to stop and take a break for a few minuets. We found ourselves in the middle of a thick grove of trees, mostly pines. Poor Raven Rock Parks trees, have been ravaged over the years from fire, flooding and high winds, and there is a lot of dead fall and leaning trees. We'd been sitting there a few minuets when I heard a strange popping sound. Immediately, I accused Kyle of farting. He looked at me with shock and awe, and proceeded to let me know under no uncertain terms that it wasn't him. As we sat there listening a little longer, we realized that the sounds we were hearing were coming from the trees! The trees are very tall, and a lot of them are dead and dying, and the little bit of wind that was blowing, was making them sound off. Popping and creaking were only a few of the sounds we heard. The trees were making so many sounds, especially as the wind picked up, that we were able to start putting names to the sounds we were hearing. Some were akin to the sounds of the creaking of a rocking chair, others were like the eerie drawn out squeaking of a screen door like you'd hear in a scary movie, slowly opening. Maybe Ive got sheep on the brain, but I even heard one that sounded like the baaing of a lamb! By the time all the trees got going, we were hard pressed to put a finger on exactly what it all sounded like, and then it hit me. The trees sounded like the songs of the Humpback Whale! I wish Id have had a recorder with me, it was beautiful! Moans and groans, and high pitched squeals, clicks and wails. What a symphony! It was difficult for us to drag ourselves away. But alas, all good things must come to an end, and as the wind died down, so did the singing of the trees. Just think, had we not decided to take a break and simply kept on walking, we'd have never gotten to enjoy Mother Nature at her finest. Kinda made me feel sorry for all the runners we passed along the way, all going to fast to enjoy the little things.
When we got home, I got Bear and Cain out of the back of the truck, and Bear bounded out to the sheep pasture gate. All aglow in mud and muck from having way to much fun on our walk. He was ever so sweetly looking at me and you could just see the hope written all over his face. Could we,..... pleeeeeease go work the sheep???? Still retaining my jovial mood that the singing trees had embedded in me, how could I deny such an obvious and honest attempt at communication. Yes, I caved.
And glad to have! Ive been a bit concerned of late about Bear's and my relationship. He works fine for me, and he respects me, dare I say, in most respects I feel he loves me, but Ive had him since October, and I just wasn't feeling a strong bond between us yet. Well, to be more honest, its been seeming as if I liked, loved and appreciated him way more than he did me. He still retained a bit of an aloofness some times, and it bothered me. Of course, I'm use to the fawning and needy "I JUST LOVE YOU SOOOOO MUCH EVERY SECOND OF EVERY DAY!" personalities of Lexy and Chris, so I had just about put my worries on a shelf, and thought maybe that's just who Bear is.
Today, Bear and I found that bond. I cant say how, or why, and I couldn't begin to describe it. Its just a new feeling we shared. One of accomplishment, team work, and trust. A meeting of the minds. Alot closer to the oneness Ive enjoyed over the years with Lexy. It was, as Bear has a way of making me feel, liberating, and exhilarating, as well as consoling. Today, I KNOW my dog loves me. Today we broke through some invisible barrier, and I KNOW Bear wants to work for ME because he loves to work with and be with me. 3 words. Way to Cool!

After the wonderful work Bear and I had, I though we just might be on a roll, so I then got Chris out and took her for a spin. Sunday during lessons, Robin had given me a few more tools for my tool box and they are working well for Chris and I, and so we had a lovely work, and she did some very beautiful 250 yard outruns for me. Ive NEVER trusted Chris to outrun that far without me between her and the sheep. I think I may just start. Her lifts and fetches were still a bit to fast, ( we'd be screwed coming down the hill at Soldier Hollow fetching like that! LOL) and she really needs to learn to pace herself a little better but that wasn't what I had set out today to work on, so I didn't push that to much. I am very pleased that we appear to be back making progress again. One day this good little dog and I are going to get all our ducks together in a row, and then its gonna be watch out people cause Chris is gonna stir things up!

The day wouldn't have been complete leaving Hank in the kennel, and he and Julie did a nice job in the round pen on Sunday so I thought Id try my hand seeing what he retained from his work with Julie. The round pen is one thing, but here I have to work in a 2 1/2 acre field, and ya really gotta set things up and be on your game with Hank as he can be a bit rowdy. Again, it was lovely. He is circling and changing his sides, and fetching nicely. Oh! And stopping! Not only is he stopping, but laying down! He is finally getting it, and at 11 months, that's all I ask. He was very pleased with himself, and I don't blame him. Still, I'm not going to work him much, maybe a couple times a month for now. He is still quite immature, and goofy. He hasn't grown into his rather large body yet, and grace escapes him. But I give him an A for effort and team work.

So even though the day started out not to be looking so great, it sure did shape up into one hell of a good time! Just wish I could have gotten paid for all that fun, but in a way, depending on how ya look at it, maybe I did!

Scuba Dog. Could someone please pass the snorkle!

2009-03-16T10:24:00.020-04:00

Cause this dog is stressing me out! I dont know if this is a sign of intelligence at work here, or just plain stupidity on the dogs part, but Chris started diving about a year ago and it is driving me bonkers!
I wouldnt mind it as much, if she just dunked her head and then came up, Ive had dogs that did that.

But she has now learned how to hold her breath!

And can and will litterally dive under the water in one place, and resurface in a completly new spot, 5 or 6 feet from where she started!

She loves the water,and keeping her out of it would be like a death sentence, of course continuing to allow her accsess could result in the same! How she deduced that there were sticks (and she loooooves her some sticks!) under the water, is beyond me.(Course Chris isnt happy with just a little stick to carry around, she has greater aspirations.)

So what does one do with a diving dog? Time out only works for so long.

Do I take video and send it to Americas funniest videos? Send it to Letterman for an episode of Stupid Pet Tricks? The worst part is, that Hank has been watching her, and ever so slowly but surely, he is now starting to dunk is head and face under the water searching for the divine prize too! (and once he has located his prize, it is clear no one will be stealing it from him)

Eventually, I can just see the two of them together performing some weird under water doggie duet ballet of sorts. Grrrrrr.
Her under water follies have gotten me several times in a state of panic to the point of me standing at the waters edge shucking off my shoes and getting ready to dive into the muddy depths after her. Already Ive been to the point of wading in and slapping the water repeatedly calling frantically for her, only for her to resurface with a mouthful of weeds that she proudly prances back to shore with to sort through. Always with that "Whats your problem??" look on her face.

Ive yet to see her push her limits and come up gulping, but really, how long can she hold her breath? Maybe she isnt holding her breath so long, as it is the sight of my dog dissapprearing under the water that makes me feel as if it takes forever for her to come back up, but its definitly not some thing I appreciate her doing.
Oh, we have stopped throwing things in the water for her to retrieve, but she seems to perfer to find her own stuff anyway, and any opportunity to dive she will take, so just being near the water is enough for her. No encouragemnet is needed. Goofy girl!

So we are now heading back into the spring and eventually summer, where playing in the pond to cool off will soon be an absolute must, and Im thinking Chris needs a set of water wings or a life vest, or at least one of those blow up butt donuts hanging around her neck, to discourage her from continuing her communte with the fishes before she becomes just another soul in Davey Jone's locker! Watching her over the last year perfect her diving skills and breath holding techniques, still gives me pause to wonder, does she really have a sense of self preservation? Does she know her limitations? (cause to me it seems she stays under there longer and longer each time) Do other dogs do this kind of thing? Or is Chris just some weird freak of nature, (it wouldnt be the first time Ive accused her of that one!) And how weird would it be trying to explain to folks the next time I took her on a swimming date with her friends and their owners, "No, Chris is an excellent swimmer, she doesnt need the donut to save her from drowning, she needs it to save her from Drowning Herself!"

A prime example of the Ramblings of 1Sheep Dog Gal

2009-03-10T10:32:00.005-04:00

Here is an excerpt from Bill Berhow taken from the book Top Trainers Talk about Starting a Sheepdog. I have had this book for quite awhile now, but have never gotten into it enough to read it cover to cover. It sits in my bathroom, and I pick it up from time to time while I'm in there and.....have a minuet to spare. I know, TMI! LOL.
Anyway, this really hit home for me, as Chris and I really struggle to keep our heads together when confronted with sheep. She/we have made progress, no doubt, but we still struggle with having the correct mindset when sheep are in the picture.

"If I see a dog that looses its head easily, that tells me I have to be very careful in the way I approach it. I don't want to put it in over its head or get it into the habit of working over its head. If dogs get into a pattern of working when their minds are chaotic, that can be a problem that's difficult to get rid of. But I also don't want to keep the dog from that chaos by control. I want to put them in situations that allow them to get over it on their own. If I'm controlling the chaos, that chaos is still in the dog- all its going to know is how to stop or go right or go left when it is told, but its not going to know how to settle its own mind, unless its learned to do that, and that's not some thing I can teach it to do- the sheep have to teach them that, and its probably one of the harder things to get through to them."

(There are no doubt and number of you reading this that are saying to yourselves: "That's what Ive been trying to tell you all along!" While banging your head on the desk! I know. But some how, this little paragraph, just sunk it all in for me.)

So, lets break this down.
Chris looses her head easily.
Why?
Because to many times as a young dog, and even now I think, Ive put her in way over her head.
Was I careful?
No.
Did I control the chaos?
Yes. (to the best of my ability)
Has it been hard to teach her to settle her mind?
Absofreakinlutly!
Is it one of the harder things to get through to her.
I strongly concur.
Has she gotten into a pattern of working when her mind is chaotic?
Um, yea.
Can I/we break this pattern?
This is a question I have been struggling a lot with recently, and I am still unsure as to how I feel about continuing the struggle. For Chris AND for myself. Some times I wonder, should we continue? When is enough, enough? When do you finally say she knows enough to get a job done. There are certainly situations where I would use another dog other than Chris, but there are a majority of the times I will grab her first for a job. If she were my only dog, would I keep going with her? Or, is having other dogs that can do a task I'm unwilling to completely trust her with allowing me to become lazy with her training?
Being sick and inactive this last week hasn't been a good thing for me. It gives me to much time to sit around and think, dwell on things. ( its also given me more time in the bathroom to read) I look at my dogs, and I think about them. How are we progressing? Are we progressing? Should I expect more progress, or are we at a stalemate?
I have been able to bring myself to the conclusion, that Chris and I will never make it onto a trial Field, and that is a sad conclusion to have to settle on. She could be so much more with a different handler. She has the makings of a great dog. It has been brought to my attention, that there are others that could get her around a course, and even be competitive and successful, but it will never be she and I together that get to enjoy that thrill. Id always had such high hope for Chris and I. Alas, I created to many problems early on, that for her and I seem insurmountable. Do those points make her any less in my eyes. Hell NO! It just means that at some point, I have to look at my training goals, and perhaps change some of the reasons I am training with her.
She really deserved more in the way of a better more intuitive trainer. One that was more learnered in the ways of handling, and I really loved this description of her that was noted by a friend as a; "classic, hard, pushy farm bitch. A dog that can start working right out of the box and is useful in a variety of situations with no fuss." Yep, that would be my Chris, fits her to a Tee. But that is not the type of dog, best suited to my handling abilities and temperament. Chris is what we would call in horses, "bred hot." I got an Arab when what I needed was a draught horse. I started putting to much to soon on Chis as a consequence of her ability to start working "right out of the box" I saw all that raw talent and natural ability as a 4 month old pup and couldn't wait to get going with it, and didn't nurture it, but instead, put her in way over her head countless times. And so for that, I have a dog that's mind when on sheep, tends to run to the chaotic side, which in turn, then turns my mind to mush. Makes me want to control, stop the action, instead of help her through it and go on.
Chris and I have been working on our issues for a little over a solid year now. I have sank a considerable amount of time, energy and money into it. We have come so far from where we started. Due in large part to a couple of very good friends who can see Chris's strengths and potential and my weaknesses and they have faith in my good little dog. I have learned a little about faith throughout this process, and I will now put her in working situations that a year ago Id have never even entertained the thought of. But still, there are those times I will take Lex or even and especially Bear over Chris to do a job, simply because I know how the outcome would be if I put her in a particular type of situation. I do not begrudge the time, energy or money I have spent in working with Chris, I adore this little dog, and take great pride in her, and really enjoy working with her, in most situations, and in fact, am willing to contribute even more. But when we have reached a stalemate, and progression seems to be at a stand still, when do you say that good is good enough?

Outdoor Concert (What?! Does no one appreciate Star Quality anymore?)

2009-03-02T13:15:00.040-05:00

OK, so yesterday, I was rained and snowed in, and so to further ignore house work, I brought out my guitar and played for a bit.

The dogs were all in their crates except Andy and Cain but they seemed to have even disappeared once I got rolling good to the tune of Rocky Mountain High. I should have suspected some thing right then. I just figured they didnt appreciate good ole Folk music. So today, it was a wonderful day to get some pics of the dogs and sheep outside, and I was feeling so poorly for the sheep and horses having to have to spend all their time out in the cold and rain and snow the past few days that I decided it would be nice to entertain them for a bit. So, I brought back out my guitar, and put on an Outdoor Concert for them. I really thought they would have appreciated it more, but the pictures prove otherwise. See if I feel sorry for them again.
Bear says; "Come on you guys, if I have to listen to it so do you"

"Are you serious Lady??"

Get outta my way!! Head for the hills! She's gonna sing at us again!!

Hey wait a second guys! Im just getting warmed up.

Where are you guys going??

Ungrateful Dogs!

How far are they gonna run??

I Wonder if they're coming back??

Hey guys! Wait for meeeeeee!!

I think I've lost them.

Yep, I dont think they're coming back.

This outta get em back. My stellar impression of a C/W Star! Hey guys, Look back! LOOK BACK!

Well, theres the sheep and horses left. At least I can play for a captive audience.

WHAT WAS THAT??

I cant believe Your going to interupt my meal for this??!!

Who Us??!!

Move along son, we gotta get away from her before she starts singing again...Bhaaaaad

Come along Lambies, thats not a bucket of grain she has in her hands.

Akkkk! Hide us from the noise!!

Does this send any messages??? (look close, he's sticking his tongue out!) The *#%@!

Hey Wait!! Dont YOU guys leave me too!

I give up! Grrrrrrr

Ho hmmmm, I wonder if American Idol will have me....

He Liberates Me.

2009-02-25T17:06:00.008-05:00

OK, So now that you all know about my little closet dog Hank, let me tell you about Bear Da Bomb.
Bear is instilling confidence in me more and more every time I work him. A little role reversal never hurt I reckon, though I feel it should be me instilling confidence in him, I'm not arguing at this point, we are both OK with the arrangement. He works sheep, and I let him. Its a wonderful union. I don't tell him what to do, and he just does what I need. Bear is a point and shoot dog. You point him at the task, and he shoots out and gets the job done. No arguing, no commanding, no confusion, no worries. And that's just for me. As far as the sheep go, Bear is very much in command of his sheep, covering them all every second, it is a very exciting and satisfying thing to watch as he doesn't bully them, or hustle them around, he simply, calmly and gently moves them where they need to be, nice and easy, seemingly effortless. I know the sheep appreciate him, as they don't give him any guff and move anywhere he puts them, happily and easily. Like I said, it is like watching a ballet.
I want to give you an example of why I admire this dog so much.
Today, I got a wild hair to go work the dogs.It was a nice day, the sun was shining, and we had a nice light cool breeze. Perfect weather for working as not to over heat or tire anyone needlessly. I have 2 maybe 3 more sheep to lamb, one seasoned ewe and 2 first timers. Last week I had let all the sheep out onto the pasture together, lambs and moms, to mix and mingle with the rest of the rams and wethers. Everyone is getting along famously, and so I have left them there as it appears that the expecting ewes wont be dropping lambs anytime soon. So my little herd including the six, 2 week old lambs total a whooping 17 in numbers. Not a lot of sheep, but a motley crew non the less. Ewes with young lambs, expecting mothers, rams, and yearling wethers. All with their own little set of quirks and rules on how and why they should be worked a particular way, if at all, and not everyone in agreement as to how that should be.
I took Bear out first, I thought I wanted to separate the ewes and lambs and the pregnant ewes from the rams and wethers and put them into the nursery pen as to not upset the ewes, and just work the rams and wethers. I trust Bear to be sensible and kind to his stock, so I had no worries that he would try to grab a scared or slow and uncertain lamb while he was gathering them to put them in the nursery pen, or that he would run up on them so hard and fast that the lambs would get run over by scattering fleeing for their lives sheep.
So, I send Bear to the away side and he flanks out nicely for about a 200 yard outrun. Hmmm. That looked nice. He made contact with the sheep at a beautiful 12o'clock balance point from where I stood, A wee bit tight/sliced at the top, but it still looked nice and he was able to make it work without scattering sheep, and the power breaks and power steering came to life. Might as well have been cruise control. He lifts the sheep and carefully and deliberately fetches them up to me. Poetry. I am mesmerized while watching, and sheep are at my feet sooner than I want them there. I wanted so much to keep watching him doing what he loves doing with such ease and care for his charges. Not a lamb was stepped on or knocked down, left behind or scared. No one broke off or away, and they didn't separate into two bunches. Now, I know a lot of folks would say, yea, that's the way its suppose to be, its suppose to happen that way, and I agree. When you are using a seasoned dog perhaps, but Bear is a 20 month old pup that has never worked lambs, much less ewes with lambs, and is what would be considered simply a started dog.
So, he has brought the sheep to me and without a word from me, plants himself in a down a respectable distance, far enough away not to put to much pressure on the sheep, but close enough for them to know he is there, and waits to see what I need for him to do next. His expression is one of delight and interest, self satisfaction without a drop of ego.
As I stood there among my sheep, looking at Bear, I decided he had done such a nice job with them, that I would not separate them out, but would instead, do some driving work with him with them all. I flanked him around and then called him to my side. I positioned myself ahead and to his side, the sheep, dog and myself forming a triangle as my friend Julie had shown me to do. I asked him to walk up, and we started to drive across the field. Id flank him at the bottom and we'd drive back to the top. We did this several times, and even did a short cross drive, and it didn't take either of us long to figure out that this was boring, and that there really wasn't enough room to do anything of import. Bear seems to learn more and faster when it is real work that we are doing, and not just idle wandering. He likes goals, he likes to feel that he has accomplished some thing. I do too.
Standing at the top of my field, I was looking around, trying to figure out how I could make this more of a learning experience, a pleasure, and fun for both of us. My eyes fell on the pasture gate, closed and locked. Looking like a forbidding portal to the unknown....
Secretly, Ive always wanted to throw that gate wide open and have me and my dog take those sheep for a walkabout around the property. In my mind, numerous times I have visualized us meandering across the front yard, down the dirt road to my neighbors chicken houses, into their pasture, thru, to, and across the back yard, down thru the horse pasture, and ending up at the end of the drive way, only to flank my dog around and bring them back home and back in through that wide open gate.
I got a little giddy inside at the thought, should I? Could we???
A friends words came at that moment of indecision clearly into my mind. "Well!" she'd say, "Ya never know until you try!" Words to live by?? I don't know, but in my mind at that moment, I could hear her voice, and it almost sounded like a dare.
I approached the gate cautiously, and my hands ran the length of its top. It felt hard and cold, unyielding. Its bright red color screamed not the words caution at me, but instead a resonating STOP!! And then, like an echo, stop,stopstopstop.....
I clung to its coldness a moment longer. My mind felt as though it was racing so fast that I couldn't slow it down enough to concentrate on a single lone thought, and before I could give myself more time to sort it all out, again I heard in my mind, "ya never know until you try!" and it was starting to sound less like a simple dare, taunting me and harping like, and more like an "I double Dog Dare You!".
I looked over at Bear, who was still holding sheep now against the fence, and before either of us had any real plan of action, or even knew what was going to happen next, my fingers found the latch and freed the gate to glide effortlessly wide open. I watched as it floated away, slowly gaining momentum as it swung further and further away from me past the point of no return so I could no longer just reach out and stop its progress. As it came to a stop, it bounced just a little from the tension, it looked as if it were giggling at me.
A moment passed, I started to feel woozy, standing there, the only obstacle between a wide open gate to the unknown and my dog and sheep, and then I remembered to breath.
Again I looked over at Bear, and though he remained calm in his position, he looked rather shocked and questioning. All the sheep were looking towards the place where there once was a gate, ears forward and shifting nervously.
I had to laugh at this moment, not at the dog or the sheep, or even at myself, but at a moment from my past when I witnessed an old friend who was having problems with her boyfriend at the time. He was a jealous sort, and didn't like it when Id invite her out for an evening of fun and bar hopping. One night, Id come to pick her up, and he was there and not wanting her to go. She aimed to set him straight right then and there, and as he started to take his stand and not let her go, she briskly walked over to their front door, and with a flourish, dramatically threw it open and loudly exclaimed, "this is a door, I can come in it, and I can go out of it, see, In" and she'd hop a little further into the house, and then she said, "and out! " and she'd hop, curly red hair bouncing behind her, landing just outside the door onto the front porch. "In!" she'd say again, "and out!" sounding a little like an aerobics instructor, and again she'd do her little jig in and out of the door. This went on for several minuets, leaving her BF shocked and speechless. Both her BF and I stood there watching this little scene, him in utter amazement, me about to bust a gut and trying not to. ( I think she'd already had a few drinks before Id gotten there)
So there I stood, at the threshold of that gate thinking of Scarlett and her hopping in and out that door, and thinking the same thing about myself. I can come in, and I can go out. I recreated her little jig as I hopped in and out myself just just to see how it felt. One word. Empowering!
As I stood just outside of the pasture, I had my options wide open. I could go back in, or I could continue out....
I flanked my dog behind the sheep and asked him to fetch them to me. I was thrilled and scared to death all at the same time. But a million what ifs shattered and disintegrated as soon as the sheep passed the threshold to the out side world that was no longer the safe confines of our safe and secure pasture. The sheep were visibly nervous, I was almost vibrating from shaking, Bear, held it all together. I kept backing up and Bear kept bringing me the sheep, and the sheep kept coming.
At this point, I have to be honest, and tell you, that I didn't exactly realize my dream today of wandering all over the neighborhood with my sheep and my dog, but we did manage to graze the front yard for a bit, and make it around the house to the back yard, and out behind the shop, back out to the front yard and then back into the pasture. All in all, the longest most exciting 40 minuets Ive had since I cant remember when. What an adrenalin rush. My property is not fenced, anything could have happened, sheep could have ended up God knows where. I could have suffocated from holding my breath,and I wonder just how healthy is it to listen to those little voices inside my head.

Simply Put......Hank.

2009-02-23T12:18:00.005-05:00

This is Hank. Hank is 10 months old. Hank is a goof ball, he is goofy. He is fun, and funny, happy, playful, joyful, out of control, attentive and just darn sweet. He isn't the sharpest tool in the shed, but dammit he tries. Hank had always been a bit of a thorn in my side. His presence came about because of faulty judgement on my part, and Ive never really been able to, until recently, completely forgive him for being born.
But, in his favor, I have to say, he has tried very hard to make his presence in my house hold, and in my life, not only noticed, but enjoyable. As a pup, Hank was a model puppy. Only chewing on the things he was suppose to, crate training and house breaking quickly and easily, listening and learning and trying his earnest to be a good puppy. He and his sister Rose at 4 months old both came down with Parvo at the same time, and sadly, I had secretly hoped that if one had to die, that it would have been him, as Rose was absolutely my heart from the day she was born. As it turned out Rose passed away, leaving me heart broken and left with this gangly, goofy, ugly, (yes, Hank is ugly, just ask anyone that has seen him) puppy, that I harbored ill will towards for being the strong one and living. It has taken me quite awhile to come to terms with the fact that I have a Hank. Longer even more so, to figure out what to do with this Hank.
Especially, since Id never really put the time and effort into him as a pup after Rose died that I would normally put into a pup of mine, so his manners and training, have been.....lacking. Still, that hasn't stopped him from continuing to try to win me over. He is if nothing else, persistent. I wonder some times if he's ever felt how differently I felt towards him as opposed to how I felt and treated the other dogs. It could have been the very reason he has tried so hard to prove to me that he was just as worthy as everyone else for my love, attention and affections. Hank's biggest drawback, is that he isn't a squeaky wheel. He doesn't try to vie for attention, he isn't needy and constantly looking for approval, or affection. He is happy as long as he can be in the same room with me to just play by himself, and while away the time. Now Hank still has many qualities that are well known to be collie traits, in that if I get up, he will eagerly and uninvited follow, always hoping to be a part of the action, but not one to sulk if he isn't invited. In short, what I am finding out about Hank recently, now that I can no longer ignore his ......"exuberant presence," and have had to start to really pay attention to, is that Hank is happy just to be alive every second of every day, and if I ever had a time in my life where I could take a lesson from a dog, Hank would be a most excellent teacher. He takes his lumps and knocks and doesn't let them get him down. He has this whats next attitude, that is hard to ignore. The happiness and forgiving nature that he brings with him everywhere he goes, is phenomenal, and I have to chastise myself daily for not allowing him into my heart earlier. But, the wonderful thing about Hank is that He doesn't hold a grudge. He is happy for any thing that comes his way. I wouldn't even venture to say he acts grateful, as he doesn't appear to have missed anything to be grateful for, so I'm the one trying to make up for lost time, and harboring guilty feelings. Ive never neglected Hank, he has always been well cared for and has had the same routines and freedoms as the other dogs, except that I was emotionally not as there for him as I have been the other dogs. It hasn't appeared to have scared him in the least. I couldn't fault the dog for anything, and in fact, can only find fault in myself for not spending more time nurturing and getting to know such a wonderful soul. Hank has an ability that I have recently found to be intriguing, as well as rather disturbing. He will look you straight in the eye, and hold you there and try to look straight into you heart, mind and soul, and study what he finds and sees. It appears, that He is constantly searching out what it is you want from him that will make you happy. Gone when he does this is the goofy puppy look, and the ADHD attention span and he is very earnest, serious, and unflappable in his quest. In the times that he has done this with me, it is always me that breaks the eye contact first, as I become quite uncomfortable with his scrutiny, though I wish I could hold his eye longer, and see how long it takes before he breaks the spell. What he takes from these stare fests that seem to come more regularly with each passing day, I do not know. As, soon as they are over, he is back to being his goofy happy self again, and appears to carry no baggage from it. I have a feeling though, that with Hank there is more there than meets the "eye."
Hank has been to sheep now a number of times, and while turned on and wanting to work, Ive seen nothing really stand out about him. He is rather up right, and has a loose eye, is always wide and because of his long legs and gangly body, he appears to be clumsy and rather clown like in his movements. But he is still quite young and that could change to some degree. Still, I have a hard time not laughing at him. Which he doesn't seem to mind and appears to take as a compliment, or that I some how am appreciating what I'm seeing as when I laugh, that's when he seems to try even harder. But, all things aside, it looks at the moment, as if he has some thing to offer, some thing to work with, so we will roll with it, until, he tells me otherwise. So, this is my Hank. My dark horse, my long shot, my closet dog, who no longer wishes to just exist among the other dogs, but who is determined to over come any obstacle I put in his path, who is no longer content with being last on my list, who is putting his paw in the game, and coming out a winner. What he has offered me I can no longer refuse or resist. And that is the heart and soul of a good and honest dog. Welcome to the fold Hank, I think we are destine to play out the hand that has been dealt us, and with your unfaltering willingness and eager persona, we just might make one hell of a team, and you can keep teaching me how to become more human while humbly continuing to take on the appearance of a doG.

Lessons from a ....Child?

2009-02-16T11:56:00.004-05:00

Well, while lambing is momentarily over for now, I still have several more to lamb but they will not be delivering for another month or so, I have finally found time to get some rest and catch up on some fun stuff. Mainly my idea of fun, is working dogs, but yesterday it was horse back riding. Kyle has been on my case for awhile, wanting to go riding. While I was really loath to go down ( ha! Go down, its like a 60 foot walk from my front door to their pasture gate!) and catch the mares, haul out saddles and tack, groom and then spend 3 or 4 hours in the saddle when I could have been working dogs instead, I finally gave in under the condition that he help round up and catch the horses, and haul out the saddles from the tack shed and clean them up and groom the horses. Lucky for him, the horses were in a compliant mood yesterday and were easily caught with the aide of the coveted blue bucket O grain.
The horses looked good, nice and fat and woolie, and soooo out of shape. Their feet looked decent, so I didn't feel any sudden compulsions to get out the nippers. My back is thanking me for that I'm sure. He was quite the trooper, very uncharacteristic of himself, scurrying around getting things done,and going the extra mile to make sure all was in ready before he came and told me he was ready. He really wanted to ride, and no amount of extra work was going to deter him, darn it! What started out as what I grudgingly felt was a sacrifice of my time and energy, taking him riding, actually turned out to be quite an entertaining and eye opening day. Its been awhile since he and I had done anything we mutually enjoyed together, and Id forgotten what a character my son really is! At 2 months shy of being 14 yrs old, he is less of a child these days,and more like a real person! Imagine my surprise! I hadn't laughed so hard in quite some time. He has a quick wit and a hell of a sense of humor, and I have some how been missing that while being caught up in so many other aspects of life and work. The grown up world, the bill paying, grocery buying, trying to make ends meet world,that boys his age aren't exactly included in. We talked and joked, and it was nice to find out all the things going on in his life and his mind, that we barley bother to talk about at home. What a kid! I am surprised at the things he is aware of, and has such a firm grasp of mentally, be it his views on politics, gas prices, (or do those go hand in hand?) school, goals, money, lots of things that I didn't think he even thought about. Mainly because he keeps his nose stuck in front of a TV. book or video game most of the time. I'm wondering where my little boy went, especially when faced with the young man I spent the day with yesterday. His brother Linzy and his sister Tammi are 29 and 26 yrs old, so Ive had years of them being grown ups so it isn't such a shock when one calls me up with grown up problems or complaints. I'm use to it by now. But Kyle has always been the baby, the last one, the youngest. It was always the goal to get the kids grown, and yes, gone, moved out and ready to start a life of their own, but time seems to have slipped up way to quickly for me with Kyle. Just a minuet ago he was a child, and now, he is teetering some where between being an adolescent, and having to have "the talk"! There was discussion about getting a drivers license, and year books and prom dates! The economy, rising prices of feed and hay, you name it, topics just rolled off our tongues, and discussions, intelligent discussions were had. I'm still reeling. After everyone had gone to bed last night, I had time to sit back and be alone to reflect and think. Regroup the image of who and what my son was and now is. It is a startling contrast to what I started the day out thinking, as well as a severe wake up call for me. Somewhere, sometime, somehow, I blinked and missed it. That transformation that turned him into some thing, some one more than I thought he was. I cant remember this happening with his brother and sister. I was never shocked at their maturity, maybe because I expected it, and wanted it, and deep down, maybe I'm not sure I am looking forward to an empty nest, and so have subconsciously put off thinking it would happen as long as I still had Kyle home with me. But the stark realization that we have more years behind us than we have in front of us before he fledges from the nest, well...has caught me unaware. Through this however, I have come to the realization, that I need to spend more time with my son. We need to talk more, and on a different level than "clean your room," and, "because I'm mom and I said so!" Of course, I still need to parent, but its going to have to go to a whole new level. Is it any wonder he has become so frustrated with me, accusing me of treating him like a child all the time. I have been! Which also brings me to wondering if I have been holding him back from life experiences. Sheltering him to much, not allowing him some of the freedoms he claims his friends have. After successfully fledging two already, you'd think I kinda had the hang of things by now.
I think Kyle knew this day was coming. I think he had a plan, and that is why he has been so relentless in trying to get me to spend a day a horse back with him. He knows how I am when I ride. I'm relaxed and open, friendly and happy when up on a horse, and things don't anger me as easily. I'm in a zen place when riding, and he has witnessed this phenomenon and so decided this would be the best place to spring the facts on me. Do I think he is this clever? Well,... after yesterday, yes I do think he is, and from now on, I'm going to have to pay a lot closer attention to him, before I blink again, and its graduation day!

I promised....

2009-02-09T10:20:00.009-05:00

OK. So I promised Mom Id catch up my blog seeing as Ive been a bit slack in writing recently. So what have we been up to here at That'll Do Farm? Lambing! So far I have 6 little darlings on the ground, all twin sets, though I'll never figure out why we call them twins, as most don't look any thing like each other, but for the sake of proper terminology, that's what I'll go with.
I have a couple of more ewes that need to lamb, but so far everyone has had nice healthy lambs, easily birthed, and no problems. I like that! So far I seem to have chosen rightly in my decisions as to whom stays and goes to make my life easier in the lambing and good mothering skills department.

Bruin (the Great White LGD) has done a wonderful job his first year with new born lambs and hasn't made squeaky toys of anyone.

I still keep a weather eye on him, but so far so good. He apparently is learning his job well. The sad part of this years lambing so far is, that all the lambs are ram lambs! I was really hoping to get more ewe lambs this year, as I am trying to build back up the herd, as Id sold so many the year we had the drought, and would like to increase my numbers of breeding ewes. Although I already have a wonderful ram in Jack, I am seriously considering keeping 2 particular individuals intact, and keeping them. Which means I wont be banding lambs again this year, and will choose to allow them to grow a bit more and watch their personalities and to some degree their characteristics before making any lasting decisions. Maybe this year I will have gotten the hang of the burdizzo.

On the dog working/training front, everyone is doing great. I took Chris, Bear, and Hank out to JP"s yesterday and I have to say, I'm very pleased with their progress and especially with Hank. For such a young dog, he was showing some nice things out there yesterday. I asked Julie to work him so I could see how we had been doing with what he has learned working at home. Its hard some times when training, to see what is going on, (especially with Hank) and it was nice to see he is settling into doing a little work, and actually learning the ropes. Paying attention, thinking, and starting to read his sheep.

I took Bear out on the big fields,and we worked on driving with him. He seems to be taking to it like a fish to water, which Id really had no doubt he would, and walks straight on to his sheep and has plenty of power and push. He wasn't squaring off his flanks like like he normally does, so Im not quite sure whats up with that. I'm wondering if he hasn't gotten so use to me using terms like way back and come out, as commands for squaring his flanks,and if I don't use that command, he just simply flanks. He is still a bit one sided, and this week since the weather is suppose to be so nice, I can see there are a few things we will be working on before our next lesson with Robin. Other than that, Bear is a fine young dog, and I can see that he will make a nice trial dog. Already he is proving to be a wonderful chore dog around the house, he is very sensible and always reading his sheep and thinking.

Chris, oh my little Chris. She is always making me think. I asked Julie to work her yesterday in the round pen, as our last session in the round pen was such a disaster. Chris and I do great in a larger area, but working in tight spots with her, has become a source of contention between the two of us. I am slowly coming to the realization, that Chris and I may never be ones that are able to work up close together, and be reliable to keep a cool head. Some dogs can, and some dogs cant. She did pretty darn good for Julie, and they worked through a few problems quite nicely, though I had a bit of a problem keeping myself quiet when I would see her (Chris) start to do some thing stupid, ( I can be such a back seat handler!) and was grateful for Laura's conversation to divert me. In between working dogs, we went out to lunch, and came back and Laura and I helped Julie vaccinate and worm a bunch of sheep. Pip was designated chore dog for that, and made life very easy for us. He is such a fun dog to be around. So full of expression, and his expressions while working are hilarious! He just has so much fun. On the drive home, I was happy to see that all the dogs were exhausted, which is a state I rarely get to see Hank in, it was rather refreshing. Things we will be working on with the dogs this week, are getting Chris to come straight in when called, driving with Bear, and continuing to get him going better on his away side, and getting a actual down on Hank. Right now he has a standing stop, but needs to learn to lie down. I think he can handle that. All in all I was very proud of my dogs, they really are coming along well, and because of that, we are all building confidence together.
Work at the shop is finally starting to pick back up some, and I actually worked a whole 4 days this week!
That, is a good thing, as I was really starting to freak out about it. Course I have been in the biz long enough to know, that it is a seasonal job, and that the months of January and February are always the slowest, and the recession sure hasn't helped any. Seeing as pretty soon, I'm going to be having 3 dogs for lessons, my clients had better get on the ball, and start getting their butts back in more regular. Looks like I may have to figure out another incentive program to get them to keep coming back. The last one was getting the 6th groom 1/2 price, if they got the first 5 grooms within a specified amount of time. It worked well, and I may implement it again, along with some 3.00 dollar off coupons. They really love those! I'm not a big fan of them, but what ever works at this point to get them to come back in before the dogs are a big walking matt, and I have to shave everything that walks in. I really hate doing that, it doesn't take much talent to shave a dog, nor, does shaving them all make me look like a very good groomer. I much prefer having some thing to work with other than a pelt.
On the downside, yesterday on my way home from JP's I forgot that I needed to pick up coffee, and so had to drink instant coffee today. OMG! LIKE YUCK!!!! I really am not liking the fact that I am so addicted to my morning coffee, that I would stoop to the level of drinking instant and forsake my taste buds to such nastiness just to get my fix! So now, I'm off to the store, cause this shit just ain't gettin it!

The cutest things....

2009-02-02T23:23:00.010-05:00

Well, finally! The ewes have decided to let go of their little bundles of joy....well one so far has, but its a start. It looks as though others will now follow. Im hoping for spontanious jealousy happening. The other ewes are very interesred in the 2 new comers, and appear to very much so covet them, so perhaps they will go ahead and release their little bundles as well, so they can have some cute little lambies to snuggle with, as the new mom is telling them to leave hers alone, and go get your own! Sadly for me, both of them are ram lambs, which means they wont be sticking around here for long, and will no doubt, either go on to sire lambs of their own on some one elses farm, or will be freezer or BBQ bound. They are darling at this age, and Im sure they will continue to bring me joy watching them grow and play for some time to come. Anticipating lambs is always an exciting time for me. I love the whole process, from watching the ram court his harem, to watching the ewes bellies grow,and then the ultimate event, the birth of the lambs. I try very hard to be on hand and oversee all the births, even though my ewes are not new to lambing now, and are good easy lambers and great mothers, so dont really need any intervention, much less an audience, (and they'd much perfer it Im sure, if Id just keep my butt in the house and leave them to it) But I have lost a ewe here and there over the years to not being there, and my herd is so small in comparison to years ago, that I can do it without much effort, and a little loss of sleep some nights is a small price to pay to know that my ewes are OK. So, without further ado, let me introduce you to my newest additions. I havent named them, as I would then get to attached to them, and end up hanging on to lambs I really dont need. It is my intention to only keep ewe lambs, and only of a specific type and color. But I digress...please enjoy the the newest additions to the flock. Born @ 4:44pm 2-2-09 and 5:27pm 2-2-09 (side note, they seem to be right on schedual, as last year some of out first lambs were born on my oldest son Linzy's Birthday, a little red headed lamb, just like my son who is also a red head too, so making it easy for me to remember which lamb, and what day it was born! How convienient!)

Kyle is as bad as me, wanting to be there with the ewes and lambs and thinks nothing of settling in on the lambing shed floor for a little interaction with the family.

Getting their land legs

Can we say Awwww...

Psst, Mom, I gotta say, theres a lot more room out here.

Kyle thinks lambs are better than puppies

Ok. So I did name this one.I call him Whitie.

Resolve verses Persistence who Will Win?

2009-01-30T11:34:00.015-05:00

Anyone ever have a dog that just stared at you, I mean REALLY STARED like, ALL THE TIME? Waiting for a word, a sign, that you required them for some task, and is always ready to spring into action no matter how menial the task may be, or, that you might just as well be able to tackle the task all on your own means nothing to said dog, and its not likely to happen, (getting to do things on your own,) if said dog is around?
If you even look in said dogs direction, its obviously an invitation to get sat on by said dog? And definitely, DON'T! lock eyes, because that is a sure sign for said dog, that you MUST want to have a saliva covered toy thrown in your lap. This is what I live with. Blink, that's all I have to do, is blink, and said dog is at the ready. Some times I think the dog is nuts! Why would a creature want to put so much of themselves into every move I make, every word I utter, every breath, every fart, every sneeze??!! And God forbid! Don't scratch your nose! ARRRRG! Well, for the last couple of weeks, I have been working towards changing this. Cause really, I do know how to find and utilize the bathroom all by myself, and really don't need a chaperon or the company in there. I have a book! And I'm quite capable of getting the toilet paper all by myself! Thankyouverymuch! And that cold wet nose poking me in my face at 2 in the morning checking to see if I'm still breathing?....well, I think I can do without the wake up call.....and that's not even the half of it!
If you haven't guessed by now, "said dog" is my beloved Chris.
Chris, my shadow, my confidant, my sheep dog, my best friend, my girl.

Chris, my weirdo.... She can be playing with another dog, though those moments are few and far between, because she is sooo focused on me that she doesn't have the time to play with the other dogs, what with staring at and watching me every single second of every single day! But if and when the rare occasion does occur, Id better not look her way, or the game stops and she is there in an instant, in my face wanting to do my bidding for me. Asking, pleading with her eyes if there is something, anything, I may require of her. PLEASE!!! Just ask me to do SOMETHING!
I'm serious! I'm not exaggerating one single bit! If anything, I think I haven't elaborated enough on the idiosyncrasies that make up my wonderful little Chris. Laugh if you will, tis true, tis allllll true!

Anyway, When a person loves a dog as much as I simply adore my Chris, we tend to "put up" with things that annoy us about the animal. I see it and hear it every day in my job. Clients constantly complain about this or that, that their dogs do. I look at them, and say; "Why don't you just make them stop!? Why don't you just train them!!??" So, its obvious that even though I KNOW what I should do, I am human just like the rest, and so I shouldn't wonder why I fall into the same category as my clients. Putting up with stuff. Because of Chris' predisposition to be constantly in my face, she spends a lot more time in her crate than the other collies do, and every now and then, I start to feel guilty about this, and let her out. It is a punishment I feel deserving of for my guilt. And she does punish me by being even more so diligent about catering to my every move. Not to say I encourage it at all. Matter of fact, I spend quite a bit of our time together trying to discourage it. But Ive finally decided not to spend my time with my dog telling her constantly to LEAVE ME ALONE!! GO AWAY! GO LAY DOWN! GET OUTTA MY FACE! To the point where her presence just starts to piss me off, and then back to her crate she goes. So, for the last couple of weeks, I have granted Chris full, free rein of the house, and she only stays in her crate at night, cause I really do, contrary to her beliefs, need to sleep. The first week, everyone in the house hold had just about had it with her. If she couldn't get attention from one person, she go to the next one, and the next one and then start the vicious cycle all over again, till everyone of us was really starting to dislike this loving little motion machine. Even the other dogs were starting to get pissed at her, as when she ran out of people to bother, she'd start pushing their buttons. Week one was a very trying week for us all, but didn't seem to phase Chris in the least. Everyone had standing orders to not look at her, don't throw that toy, don't acknowledge her existence. Don't talk to her, just pretend she isn't there. The not talking to her was a hard one, for both dogs and humans. Ya see, Chris likes, nay, loves, no, craves attention. It doesn't matter to her if it is positive or negative attention, IE; some one yelling at her to GO AWAY! In her eyes, its still attention and very self reinforcing for her to continue to bother some one enough to get it.

I'm sure it all boils down to the fact that when Chris was a puppy, she was a VERY VERY adorable puppy, to damn cute for her own good and the only puppy in the household. As well, when she was a puppy and growing up, I owned a pet store, with grooming and boarding, and she had the run of the place, ( as a rule, I didn't sell puppies in my store, so she was the only one around) and was mauled, loved, carried around and just plain spoiled and doted on by everyone. Customers, family and employees alike. Sadly, she was lead to believe from a very early age that she was the end all beat all of dogs, and don't you just feel the need to tell me so? Here, if you don't, then by all means, LET ME SHOW YOU HOW ADORABLE I REALLY AM!

Then she would quickly produce a toy from one of many of her hiding spots where she had them stashed for just this very moment, and who could resist a cute little retrieving fool?? Did I say spoiled? Yea, horribly. Little did we know at the time, she had us all sooo charmed by her fun loving good natured sweetness what a little monster we were creating. That was 4 years ago, and her expecting us to fulfill her every waking moment and entertain her, well...... I think my patience has finally run out.
Week two is getting better. Of course, I don't expect habits that have taken up the entire 4 years of her life to fade away over night, but damn! This is hard! She is a persistent little bugger. She has started to be able to relax and control herself to some degree. Though the off switch isn't entirely there yet, but she is having bouts of stillness which is more than we got from her a week ago. Her stamina should be legendary!

As we head into week three, I hope my stamina is as strong. She really knows how to try my patience. And that adorable little pleading face exasperates me! I want so much to let her climb in my lap and hold her beautiful little face in my hands and tell her that yes! I really do think you are as wonderful and awesome as you think you are.
Wish me luck, that my resolve to help this little girl learn to relax and just chill, is stronger than her persistence to get the attention she truly feels she craves and deserves every second of every day. I'm exhausted already.

Twisted Funny Fella!

2009-01-26T15:32:00.004-05:00

OK, so I tweaked my back this afternoon, and was just trying to relax a bit on the couch to give it time to untweak itself, and was just messing around on the computer looking at blogs, and I run across this guy
http://fuckyoupenguin.blogspot.com/
I haven't read very far into it, but have read enough to know I'll be reading more! Katy,if yer reading, I got a feeling you'll love this guy! LOL
It cant just be me, he has 3305 followers and he has only been blogging for a year! Id become a follower too, but I don't want to just feel like a number. I find having that kind of a viewing audience amazing. Especially, since he isn't talking about anything that's even remotely important and in fact would give him an "R" rating! Check him out and have a laugh, but don't forget to bring your twisted sense of humor with you. Cause this guy ain't for the sane! Tooooo funny! Also, Dont bypass the comments either, those folks are equally entertaing!

PS. Uh Mom,... DON"T! click on the link. You WON"T find it half as amusing or humorous as I did. Matter of fact, I'm positive you wont find it amusing at all. And the cute little animal pictures??? They are a lure for the unsuspecting, don't get drawn in. And yes, I am very, very ashamed of myself....

The Waiting Game

2009-01-25T09:16:00.003-05:00

My ewes are looking just about ready to burst from being sooo pregnant, and last night, well, for a couple of nights now, I thought 2 of them would lamb. I even went so far last night as to trudge out to the lambing pen at 11 o'clock at night flash light in hand, to lock the two that looked imminent up in the lambing shed. That was fun. When I had gone out to check on them, for what Id thought would be the last time to have to suit up against the cold for the night, I found that one of the girls was not huddled up with the rest of the bunch per is her usual, and had in fact sequestered herself all alone on the opposite side of the pen, and was laying down looking pretty miserable. Upon seeing that, I figured she was ready, and with the wind that was picking up making it quite uncomfortable even for me in my coveralls, that's what prompted me to make up my mind to go ahead and put them ( the two that are looking close) in the shed. I didn't bring a dog out with me, as I didn't think I needed one, and with the ewes so close, I didn't want a dog out there disturbing their sense of security. I mean, how hard can it be to just open the shed door and have them run on in? I had already made it a warm and cozy haven, having bedded it down with comfy sweet smelling straw, and a bucket of fresh cool water and a bale of alfalfa hay, (dual purpose, feed, AND! a good place to sit or use as a pseudo table should I need a place to set any utensils or meds that I may need) Its not the Ritz, but it beats the heck out of the cold hard ground.
Well, the sheep weren't as excited about entering their cozy shelter away from the cold as I thought they should have been, and I ended up spending a very frustrating 20 minutes playing ring around the rosy with them trying to get them to go in. (Anyone that thinks they can play the part of the dog, even in a confined space where the sheep have nowhere to go and cant get away from ya, has another thing coming!) Round and around the shed we went, and thank God for the light bulb that finally went off over my head, cause I don't think I would have come to the conclusion all on my own, that I did in fact need the aide of a dog to help me.
So, I go back to the house, and am now faced with the decision of which dog to use? Lex could do it easy, but Id have had to take down the boards that comprise the pen gate (you'd have to see it to understand it, I just climb over it myself) because she cant jump over the gate anymore so Id have had to take down a few boards for her to get in and that would open opportunity for sheep to escape back onto the pasture. Then I think it couldn't hurt Bear to get some experience in the lambing pen, at night. He handles his stock very calm and gentle, and so would be a good choice, and then theres Chris. The dog I would least want to put on immanent ewes in a tight spot, but, for the same token, the one dog that I know I can count on to get the job done toot sweet so I don't have to spend any longer out in the wind and cold. In other words,it would be a job that would get done quickly, instead of a training session, and that's I was trying to avoid with using Bear. As I walk into the dog room, and flip on the light they all know whats up. I don't run around the house in my coveralls with a flash light in my hand very often, so they know at least one of them is going to be called upon to lend a hand, er...paw. Those in the know, are looking directly at me with pleading eyes that seem to say, pick me, pick me! There must just be something in me that is a glutton for punishment, and so without even thinking much more about it, I take the sheep shredder Chris out of her crate and tell her to come on girl, we got a job to do. I find myself when needing something done in a hurry, always anymore, grabbing Chris, as I know she will take immediate command and control of the sheep, and do my bidding as I ask her. Regardless of the fact that she some times still likes to grip when put in a position such as I was about to put her in, I still know she will listen to me and not make to big a mess of things, because really, all she wants to do is what I ask of her. A quality she and Bear have very much in common, that I really like, and can appreciate on a night like this. Chris however has put the sheep in the lambing shed for me on numerous occasions, where Bear has only done it a few times, so again, I was trying to avoid a training session and just needed to get the ewes put up with the least amount of stress as I could manage. Chris is very excited about the prospect of getting out there, and as soon as I open the door she leaps, flying 5 feet through the air off the front porch in a single bound, and is waiting at the gate to the pasture when I arrive. Hmmmm. She is a lot more animated than Id like to see a dog at this point, and so just by luck, there is a leash hanging on the gate. There goes that light bulb again. As much as it had gone off last night, I really had no use for a flash light fer sure! That little light bulb was just following me around over my head lighting up the night every where I went. So seeing Chris in such an....excited and animated state, I opted to snap the lead on her, and just hook the leash onto the corner of the lambing shed, and she could hang out there cutting off the sheep's access to running around and around the shed, and, Chris couldn't get herself in any trouble or make a mess of things. As soon as Chris jumped over the gate into the lambing pen, the sheep knew they were had. They all huddled together looking distrustful, and leery. I hooked Chris on the leash on to the outside corner of the lambing shed, and wala! They took one look at me and the dog, and marched right into that shed, and that was pretty much that! I got the two sheep I wanted to keep in there, into a corner and unhooked Chris from the outside of the pen, and she and I walked into the lambing shed, and cut the rest off and sent them back out of the shed and into the pen. That was just to easy, and why I didn't think of it before I spent 20 minuets out there chasing them around, and around the shed which to me was much more stressful than what Chris and I accomplished in a matter of about 2 minutes, is beyond me. Live and learn. So, as I closed the shed door feeling pretty good about myself and Chris, and went to lock it, I quickly came to the realization that my lock was broken. Oh goodie.....Now, I have always been known to wax poetically about the usefulness of a piece of baling twine. I simply don't think there is any stronger material in the world that can take as much abuse and use (except of course, duck tape, which is another of my favorite "tools" to use in a pinch) than a single strand of that orange miracle string of substance. Ive said it before, and I'll say it again. I am very anal about leaving baling twine laying around. I think it comes from working for 2 years on a dairy farm, where if a dairy cow picks up and ingests a piece of twine, which apparently is a common occurrence from what my boss at the time reminded me of quite often while pointing at a stray piece laying about, can be death to a cow, thus making me so anal about keeping them picked up. However anal I am though, I don't have a designated spot to put twine when I find it, and so if you look down my fence line, your liable to see stray pieces of it tied here and there on the fence just waiting for the opportunity to be put back into service. So, needless to say, it didn't take but a second for me to locate a piece, and put it to good use, and fashion a new "lock" for the gate. I hesitate to say temporary lock, cause I'm sure that single piece of wonder string, will last till I take it off, and will no doubt still be there this time next year. Its serving a purpose and I see no need to change it now, the gate is secure.
So after I got the girls secured and safe from the nights lows, I just kicked back and quietly observed them for a bit. It was good for Chris to hang there with me too in such close proximity to the other sheep for a bit and just relax. Which, miraculously, she did immediately, which made me even more pleased that I chose her to come out with me. After we spent a few minuets making sure the girls were going to settle in OK, Chris and I left them to it, and went back inside. I had planned on going back out later to check on them, but must have been feeling pretty smug about the choices Id made, and instead, ended up falling asleep on the couch till this morning. Fast forward to this morning, and I just knew Id have at least one ewe from the pair that would have presented me with a new photo op in the form of a set of twins today. No dice. They looked at me while thoughtfully chewing on mouthfuls of hay, and I looked back at them scratching my head thinking "huh?", and I swear those girls were grinning at me as if to say, "Ha! Fooled you!"
So, we are in "waiting mode" now, and I can only hope they have their babies here in the next day or two before the rains that have been predicted start to come. As honestly, as fantastic as I think baling twine is, I don't think it'll fix the leak in my lambing shed. I think me needs to go find the duck tape!

Hanks says: Bear is an A-Hole! Grrrrrrr

2009-01-22T10:20:00.030-05:00

Contrary to these pics, (they really are just playing) Bear and Hank really are the best of buds. But this was Hanks first snow and he wanted to get the most from the experience cause he was told to enjoy it, as it wouldnt last long. He also knows there are not very many instances when he can throw himself down and grind himself into the ground rolling in ecstasy, that I wont yell at him thinking, (and Im usually right) that he has found something utterly putrid to roll in and tell him to "get outta that you goofy *#!*!" Which is usually followed by a good hosing off.
Hank was absolutly delerious about the snow, and was having a grand time making snow angels.

Until...."Hey! Get outta here Bear! This is my spot!"

"I mean it Bear! Bugger off!"

"Read my lips! (er, tongue) MY SPOT! GO AWAY!"

Bruin watches the fracus with the mildest of interest.

Wanting the boys to work it out on their own, I left them to it, and started wondering what the horses and sheep were up to over there all huddled up with their heads together. So I sent in my spy. Turns out specialist Bruin reported back that they were all conspiring to over throw the human, make good their escape and take over the nice warm confines of the house and have a party, leaving me out in the cold.

I alerted Chris the the possible attempt of a mutiny, and she assured me that she had my back.

So with my back up Chris in place, I again sent in my spy to non chalantly, put a bug in someones rather large ear, that we were prepared for any and all attempts to bury said human in the snow, and that any sheep or horse that tried to would be cut off from thier nightly treats of grain and carrots.

Mean while, Hank is still trying to get his point across to Bear and apparently with out much success.

I cheer Hank on, er I mean, I advise Hank that a little more physical force might be needed to diswade the likes of Bear, who seems to be throughly enjoying the fact that he has Hank in an absolute snow angel territorial tizzy.

Hank finally stands his ground.

And hunkers down defending his snow angel. Bear, has finally come to the realization that Hank means business. "Opps, I think I really have him pissed off now..."

And makes for a hasty retreat.

While Hank looks on triumphantly, leaving Bear with this one last passing thought. "And dont let the doggie door hit you on the ass on the way out!"

You'll have to forgive any spelling and puctuation errors,as I cant for the life of me seem to get the spellcheck to work today! I told you I was having technical difficulties....

Snow Day, Snow Play

2009-01-21T00:09:00.009-05:00

Hey Lady, Whats up with all this white stuff?

And their off! (the porch) Looks like Bear is in the lead with Cain swiftly coming up for the take down.

Wheeee

Now that's a BIG snow smile

Jack and his cohorts don't appear to be as ecstatic about the snow as the dogs are.

These ladies don't look so happy either. Matter of fact,they almost look as if they are conspiring about something....

Cain, being the veteran snow dog, thought it wise to remind Bear not to eat the yellow snow.

Stay tuned. If I can get more of these pics to load,(it appears that I am experiencing technical difficulties) the second half of snow play, and, how Bear ruined Hanks snow experience are still to come.

40 Things About Me Cause 50 Is To Many.

2009-01-20T00:32:00.010-05:00

I was checking out blogs in the state recently and ran across one that had a sort of Tag your it kind of thing going on, and I thought it would be fun to do, and so I will start it off and you guys can in turn tag 3 of those that you are interested in learning more about.

1. I was actually born in Ohio, not hatched in a zoo.
2. My family and I moved to Arizona when I was 5.
3. I went to LuLu Walker Elementary school where my first love was Darin Bertaleni. He was a baton twirler.
4. I have 2 brothers one older, one younger that I know of and 2 other siblings that are rumored to exist.
5. I didn't graduate high school, but earned my GED in 1983
6. I detest sea food. I once ate a piece of calamari thinking it was a stray onion ring, ewwwww!
7. I love pirates, especially Johnny Depp
8. I also detest mushrooms and olives, and I would throw up multitudes upon multitudes of disgusting putrid chunks if I ever ingested any.
9. I like to look at the sky. Day or night, it fascinates me, and I wonder while I'm looking at it, if some one is looking back at me.
10.I could watch pirates of the Caribbean about 800 times without getting sick of it.
11. I have one job that I complain about a lot, and am looking for another one to give equal time to in the complaint department.
12. I like waitressing.
13. I'm glad I don't have a cat or 2 or 10. But I'm glad other people have them so I can get my kitty fix with out the litter box.
14. It took me three tries to get my licence the last time I had to take the test
15. My first real job was working in a clothing factory. I hated it and got fired for not keeping up with production.
16. Once for Halloween a girlfriend and I rode her horse bare back door to door trick or treating dressed as a cowboy and an Indian. I was the Indian.
17. Ive been to the Grand Canyon 3 times
18. Ive been to every state except Alaska and Hawaii
19.When I was in the 9th grade I loved my drama class and being an "actor"
20.I had my first heart break in my freshman year. He was an older man, he was a senior.
21. my first concert was Bobby Bear and Tom T.Hall when I was 14 yrs old.
22. My biggest concert was Garth Brook in 1993
23. My favorite concert was in 1990. I don't remember who I saw but I had a lot of fun! Matter of fact, I don't remember much of 90's!
24. My favorite movies are Pirates of the Caribbean and To kill a Mockingbird.
25.My favorite book is Lonesome Dove.
26.I had my fist kiss in the 1st grade. It was not Darin Bertaleni. We got caught by our 100 year old teacher Mrs Wald.
27. I have recently developed a love for photography. (tee hee..developed)
28. I love puns.
29. My best and oldest friend is Taylor Martin. 17 years strong.
30. When I first met Taylor I had a secret crush on him like forever.
Maybe I still do.. maybe I don't?
31. I just got a Facebook account today.
32. I don't have a myspace page. NOTHANKYOUVERYMUCH.
33.The craziest place I have ever been was in traffic in Los Angeles driving a semi. But then again, I bet a lot of people can say that.
34.The most beautiful thing Ive ever seen was pictures of Earth taken from space.
35. I once got so drunk I smashed the windshield of my Jeep with a brick because it wouldn't start.
36. I don't drink anymore.
37.If I could go back in time and talk to anybody, Id talk to Jesus.
38.If I had to live in another country, Id live in Africa.
39. I was born a red head.
40. I just remembered the name of the concert for #23. It was ZZ Top. As you can tell, I deteriorated a lot of brain cells that decade!
I'm tagging; and ya have to include a recent picture of yourself,
Fulltiltbcs
I love Lucy
And Crooks and Crazies (cause Laura, you need to put down those knitting needles and blog) besides, I'm looking forward to seeing you having fun with it! LOL

The Hard Lessons

2009-01-19T10:33:00.004-05:00

The first hard lesson a person like me learns, is that when you have your dog entered in a 3 day clinic, and things are going well, don't change anything about their routine on the second day, or they may not make it to the third. Which is exactly what I did to Bear on Saturday night when I gave him a portion of raw meat on a bone, and he ended up suffering from some very unpleasant.....gastronal intestinal....problems? In the form of some very runny poop. Can we say raging squirts? I wont go into detail, but it wasn't pretty, and I didn't want to bring a dog that was feeling...under the weather back into the stress levels that having some raw meat coupled with the clinic may or may not have contributed to and put Bears system under such duress. Bears work on Saturday how ever was pretty darn good, and the general consensus was, that there wasn't anything wrong with him except the name on the collar. Jack told me that since some one else had just given me the dog, he thought I should pay it forward and give the dog on to him. I thought that was a very nice compliment. Some of the gals that were there were getting some really nice photos while the dogs were working and captured some beautiful shots of Bear that they gave to me on Sunday. A few are definitely blow up and frame for your wall worthy, and I think that's just what I'll be doing. I know physically seeing the dogs in motion is always striking, exhilarating to see, but capturing moments on film where you can see in the moment that shot was taken what is going on in that dogs mind, what the dog is thinking and tell a story, are priceless. If I can get my scanner hooked up, I'll post them here. That's a big "IF" as I am not very technically intuitive. Maybe Kyle will hook it up for me. He really is good for some things.
So since Bear was a bit incapacitated on Sunday, I left him home and brought Chris instead. For those of you who follow this blog, you'll be happy to know, that she was crated for the entire time, and no harm came to my truck this go round. I have to mention though, that while Bear was loose in my truck on Friday, we were all walking out to the pasture, and past where we were all parked, and from the parking area we all heard a quick toot from the horn of my truck, and of course, had to laugh,thinking Bear had learned this trick from Chris. It is my good fortune, he didn't pursue the use of the horn, and Id like to think he just gave it a quick honk just to remind me he was there. He is by far the more reserved, polite and collected of the two, and knows how to temper himself much more so than Chris, who is all about herself and her needs, and has a pretty low level of patience when it comes to what she wants.
Lesson number two, that's a hard one. It will put you through the gamut of emotions, from angry to sad, it will riddle you with guilt, make you question your abilities and knowledge, and have you thinking that "A" you don't deserve this dog, "B" you don't need this dog, "C" you should sell this dog to some one that has the ability to handle such a hot dog, and then down to "D" which says a person like myself who has over 25 years invested in dogs and handling dogs and training them, may know a lot about dogs and training, but knows absolutely nothing about how to train this particular type of dog for this type of work. Again, I lost my temper with Chris, and it was ugly. Mind you, she worked relatively nice out on the field for Jack and I, but she was still getting into positions where she was trying to take some cheap shots and loosing her brain, and I thought it best after the clinic for her to go back to the round pen, for a little schooling. Bad idea.
In doing so, I probably set us back the whole year we have spent trying to eliminate that land shark behavior and I am having a difficult time ever thinking that she and I will ever be the team that Id always hoped we could be. Our temperaments are to much alike in some respects and we seem to feed off each other, and that is not a good combination. I get amped up, she gets amped up, and things go to hell in a hand basket real quick. This dog is an expert at reading me more so than any dog Ive ever had outside of Cain, and I cant hide how I'm feeling from her no matter how I go about it. I have put some serious thought this weekend into selling her, and have gone so far as to suggest just that. But in retrospect, and having confidence in a friends advise, no matter how much it hurt to have to hear it, have decided to wait and give myself a "cooling down" period. As Long as Chris is willing and trying, and hasn't given upon me, its the least I can do for such a wonderful little dog whom outside of that one little seemingly insurmountable problem, I adore with all my heart and soul. Though some part of me still knows and feels that she would benefit from having a trainer that doesn't take things so personally, and that can whole heartily trust her. Obama is right, it is time for Change. I know Chris is a good working dog, but I cant "make her" better, I have to "make myself" better first before she can have the chance to become better. So here we go again, wish me luck.
Outside of the earth shattering disappointment, and shame at putting my dog through that ugly incident, the clinic itself, was great. Lots of good dog work, and I saw much improvement from day to day in each dog. Some even made it out of the round pen and on to the big field, and that is pretty cool. Henry Kuykendal made it out Saturday and Sunday to observe, and I finally got to meet him and Gwen I think her name was. They are very pleasant folks to talk with and I secured an invitation from Henry to come out this summer and help make apple butter at his place. Yea! I love apple butter and as Henry said,its an old family recipe, and better than anything you could ever buy in a store. It wasn't quite as cold on Sunday as it had been Friday and Saturday, but it wasn't warmer by much, we even had a bit of snow fall. But, I had resigned myself to the fact that by Monday I was pretty sure Id be able to feel my toes again, and just decided to quit worrying about the cold and enjoy the moment. And enjoy it I did. I got to spend time with sheep and sheep dogs of all different calibers, breeding and levels of training, hang out with friends, meet new friends, and although there towards the end when I took Chris out into the round pen,it may have appeared that I hadn't learned a damn thing, I certainly did. Some times though, the hardest lessons you learn, are the ones you teach yourself, especially, when you have a friend who is no afraid to school and remind you on your shortcomings.

Day One of the Jack Knox Clinic

2009-01-16T18:47:00.007-05:00

Well, I have to say, we definitely could have picked a better week to have the clinic than on the 3 coldest recorded days since the year 2000. When I went out this morning to take care of the sheep and horses and run dogs it was sixteen degrees. There was 2 inches of ice on all the stock tanks, and the pond and spill way were frozen. I had to take a sledge hammer to them, and break up a path for water to come thru the spill way for the horses. All of which took more time than I had allotted myself to get things done before I had to leave by 7am. Turns out I got outta there by 7:30 so I didn't do to bad, and even though I wanted to be there early, at least I was on time. When I got there, everyone was inside, having breakfast and listening to Jack tell stories, which from what I can tell, he has many. I found my way to the coffee pot, and got a cup of Joe and sat down to warm up. A few new faces and some from last year, it was good to see that we had enough folks to warrant putting on the clinic. Cold or not, I was looking forward to it.
Alas, eventually we did have to go outside, and brave the cold. By 9:30 it was a balmy 19 degrees, practically a heat wave eh! Everyone was so bundled up I was hard pressed to recognise anyone, and I ended up identifying everyone I knew by their dogs, and those I didn't, I asked. We started out in the round pen, and got to see some nice young dogs learning that the right can be easy and the wrong can be hard. Everyone seemed to be warm enough, but my and everyone Else's biggest complaint seemed to be that our faces were cold. We all looked like little cherubs with our rosy wind burned faces all frozen in smiles. But! At least we were all smiling which means even with the cold, you just couldn't break the good natured camaraderie of sheepdog folks out for a day of learning and working dogs. From the round pen, we went to the big field to work. This can be just as exciting as the round pen sometimes, given the draw for the sheep is either out into the woods, or all the way back up to the corner, which is a good piece away. I know, I had to walk it. The big field is where we worked Bear, but he doesn't have that big of an outrun yet, so we walked down to get the sheep and bring them back to where Jack and everyone else was. Bear was very impressive, and calmly got them out of the corner when I sent him and brought them up without running them over top of me. I was kinda taking a chance, and trusting him, and instead of having him fetch them back with me walking backwards and watching him and telling him what to do, I just turned my back to him and the sheep and didn't say a word,looking back briefly now and then while I confidently walked all the way back across the field to where everyone else was, trusting that he knew how much pressure to put on and to release to keep them just walking calmly behind me. He did a beautiful job, and got kudos from Jack for such lovely work. I asked Jack if we should work on outruns and a little driving, and he agreed but wanted to widen his flanks out just a tad too. Bear was a bit hesitant to work for Jack, and because of it seemed to me that he wasn't as on his game as he usually is, but he did a good job and didn't make any or get in any trouble. Jack was very complimentary, and I was very proud of Bear. Jack asked where I got him, and when I told him some one gave him to me, he grinned and told me I got one heck of a deal and one heck of a dog. He was right. I couldn't have asked for a nicer dog in Bear. Though I still wish he would have allowed me to change his name. I'm still not overly fond at all of calling him Bear. After we all were finished on the field, and I might add, we were all treated to some very nice handling and inspiring dog work being done out there, we all trudged our frozen butts back up the hill to the house to retire for lunch. Laura had made a huge pot of chili, and some black bean soup, with sour dough bread. Perfect fodder for such a cold day. Kelly had made some brownies the likes that I have never been treated to. They were undoubtedly the most delicious brownies Id ever tasted. Which is a big compliment, as I consider myself a connoisseur of anything chocolate. After we all had put a pretty good sized dent in the fixin's and there wasn't much left but the leavin's, we were all treated to a few more stories from Jack, and a little lite conversation, it was all good, cause it was all dog! Begrudgingly, we eventually had to go back outside and brave the Arctic weather and all started to suited back up. I was amused, watching the layers get thicker and thicker, making normal size people look like a thick burger from Hardees. Nothing showing underneath it all but amused and smiling little faces. We started after lunch on the big field, and the wind and cold were really starting to make life miserable, but we were all brave little soldiers and cowboyed up. I didn't even whine half as much as I thought I would, course every time I opened my mouth, I was afeared that my saliva would immediately freeze, and then Id be stuck like that the rest of the day. When it was Bear's turn up, no sooner than I had walked out on the field and sent my dog, my cell phone started ringing. I hit the silence button figuring who ever it was, would do the intelligent thing, and leave a message. Little did I know the person making the calls, over and over again, wasn't going to stop till I answered. Some peoples children can be sooo full of drama just cause ya don't answer the phone. I guess It never occurred to him (my.....for lack of a cleaner nicer title at the moment, husband) that I just might be busy, and to just leave a damn message! Anyway, needless to say, it was very disturbing, and totally ruined any concentration I was trying to muster, ( Id hit the silent button, he'd call back. 9 times in 5 minuets, I counted!) and so our work wasn't as nice as Id have liked for it to be. I did try to just shut it off, but I had my gloves on, and my fingers weren't working on those tiny buttons. Not Bear's fault, not my fault, but you can rest assured, when he gets home tonight I will be letting him know how much I appreciate him being the cause of screwing up the lesson for all of us. I'm going to put a stop to that frantic school kid behavior once and for all. Can you tell its not the first time he has done something so asinine?! Just leave a message! If I'm dead, I'm sure some one will call you and let you know! Jeez!
OK. End of stupid husband rant.
Anyway, it was getting colder and later, and needless to say, thanks to my ...*#!* DH, my mood had just been changed for the worse, and I still had dogs and chores at home to get taken care of before it got dark, and an hour and a half drive ahead of me and so I thanked Jack, and apologized to him for the cell phone incident, and said my early good byes, promising to see everyone in the morning. I just did get home before dark thirty, and was glad Id left earlier than I had planned. The waters were all frozen back over and I had to roust Kyle up and have him employ his baseball bat to bust up the ice, which he found to be a very satisfying and enjoyable job. Bruin had a blast playing with the 2 inch thick ice chunks we'd dispersed from the water tanks, and we had fun while doling out grain, watching him trying to pick them up, and seeing as he couldn't, he would just push them with his nose, and chase them around the field. Kinda like a sheep doo covered hockey puck.
Anyway, the first day was a good day all in all, with good friends, new friends, good dogs and dog work, and I look forward to tomorrow. Weather man says it will be a tad warmer than today, so that is something to look forward to. If we are lucky, we may hit freezing, although I think I remember the weather last night predicted a high of only 26 degrees. Ive been home now for 3 1/2 hours now, and I'm just getting good and thawed out. Tomorrows work should be more interesting, as now Jack has seen Bear work twice, and was had time to draw his conclusions and form his ideas, so I cant wait to see what he has planned for us. If all goes as planned, which, does that ever really happen except for in the movies?? I'll try to update tomorrows....Id love to be able to say,"Fun in the sun, day" but instead will have to substitute it with "Freezing our fool arses off" cause we're crazy sheepdog people, who cant think of a better way, rain or shine, cold, or even 10 degrees below freezing to spend a day. Ah hell, its all good!

Ahhh Sooo Grasshopper

2009-01-14T01:27:00.008-05:00

A few weeks ago I'm happily tooling along at work, and my cell phone rings. I answer it and hear a young girl say in a very chipper and happy tone, "Hi!"
I said "Hi!" back. Then she says to me: "What cha doing?" Still sounding very upbeat and friendly.
I answer back; "Not much, whats up with you?" Mind you, I have no earthly idea who this young lady is, but I just thought Id take it as far as I could. She sounded young, and obviously thought she knew who she was talking to. She tells me; "Oh not much, just kickin' it here at the house" So finally, I say; "Well that sounds like fun, Who is this?"
She says, starting to sound a little indignant; "Its me dummy!"
I ask; "Me who?" Her voice gets even more agitated as she answers;
"AMBER!" So, I ask;"Amber? Amber who?" To which she then practically screams into the phone, "Your girlfriend AMBER!"
Now I'm smiling the evil mother grin, I know whats going on. So, I say; "Girlfriend? Um I'm sorry, but I don't generally cultivate girlfriends Amber, I prefer men", and I don't even know anyone named Amber. Who are you looking for?"
She then says, starting to sound a little deflated; " Um, I'm looking for Kyle?"
"Oh Hi Amber, This is Kyle's mother!"
At that point, Id thought Id lost the connection, because it all the sudden got real quiet. I said "Hello? You there?"
Silence for a few more seconds, and my new girlfriend Amber, sounding very embarrassed, finally says; "Oh, I'm sorry, I thought you were Kyle" I explained to her that I was at work, and that Id let Kyle know she had called and he could return her call when I got home later in the day if, I told her, he wasn't to ticked at her to know she thought he sounded just like his mother! She laughed a little embarrassed and nervous laugh, and I hung up the phone chuckling, thinking to myself, now! I realize why all the sudden changes in Kyle's appearance and personal hygiene habits of late. The boys got himself a girlfriend! And here Id simply thought he was finally starting to grow up a bit. I should have know it was a girl. Boy, am I going to have fun with this! Its his first, such a tender time in a thirteen year old boys life. I didn't even know he been ogling girls, so for him to actually have a girlfriend, came as just as complete a shock to me as it was to Amber to find that kyle wasn't really hatched, but that he did in fact have a mother!
The rest of the day went by pretty quickly, as I was consumed with thinking of ways I could mess with the boys mind with my new found information.
I get home, and tell Kyle the story of my phone conversation with "our" new girlfriend Amber. He is less than impressed actually, more like horrified, that I am now privy to this new info about he and Amber. Of course, you know I cant just leave it alone, and before I hand him the phone to call her, I want details. Kyle is tight lipped and not saying a word, just looking at me with his hand out for the phone and rolling his eyes, thinking I'm sure something to the tune of like; Yea right lady.
"Oh?" I say to him, clutching the phone firmly to my chest, "You don't want to tell me, your own mother, about your new girlfriend?"
Kyle gives me a sideways smirk, and defiantly answers in his infamous one syllable retort that teenagers are so good at doing these days, "Nope". I remind him, that we aren't in the military, and there is no don't ask don't tell policy here at my house. And even if there was private Kyle, I'm still the Sergeant major around here, and so I do require some answers. Especially, if you want to use my phone to call her back!
Here's where things start to get really fun. Poor Kyle, having to grow up without the daily knowledge and guidance of his much older brother and sister. Had they been here, they could have warned him, because of their past experiences with the Sergeant Major, and told him that he may as well fess up now, because it only gets worse if you don't. Which, although good humored, I too can assure you,it certainly will. I can be relentless.
Dangling the phone in front of him like a carrot to a rabbit, I ask again, "you sure you don't want to tell me about her? What color is her hair? What color are her eyes? How tall is she? How old is she? How did you meet her? Do you hold hands at school? Does she get good grades? Is she smart? Does she ride your bus?..... Have you kissed her yet??" That's the one I got a reaction from. Kyle's eyes grew wide,like he couldn't believe what I had just asked him. He starts to get a tinge of red in his cheeks, and I now know Ive got him where I want him. He quickly rolls and drops his shoulders that were only moments ago thrown back in defiance and with a huge sigh, he proceeds to answer my questions in the order that I asked. He ticks off the answers for me, ( not in any great detail I might add) " Blond, brown, short, 13, at school, no, yes, yes, and no. Still, I'm standing there waiting for the answer to the kiss her yet question, and its my time to smirk. Hands on hips and doing the mothers toe tap thing, he starts to look very afraid that I am actually going to push him to the point of confession. He knows me, or he thinks he does, but honestly, at this point he has to admit to himself, that he really never knows just how far I will take things, and I like it that way. That's the turmoil I start to see in his eyes as he is standing there wondering if in fact I am going to pursue the answer. I let him stand there a moment more, tap tap tapping my mothers foot, arms crossed over my chest, still firmly clutching the phone. I know there is a little blond haired girl awaiting him to return her call, and so in the best interests of the relationship, I toss him the phone with a grin that tells him this isn't over yet. As he quickly starts down the hallway headed to his room, phone safely stashed in his pocket for some privacy, I stop him. No, no, no Sir E! You have to stay in here with me and talk to her. After all, it is my phone, and I am letting you use it. He stops abruptly and turns towards me from half way down the hallway, and blankly stares at me, trying to find some sign that I'm joking with him. I stand firm and stone faced. I see panic start to fill his eyes. Oh this is so much fun! I pretend to relent, and tell him "fine, you can go in your room to talk, you've got 20 minuets, and when your done,....I want details! Without a word,he quickly retreats to the privacy, and I'm sure at this point, he thinks, the only place in the house it exists, the sanity of his room.
Now, I'm not so bad as to stand outside his door and listen, but I did turn down the volume on the TV. Still even straining my ears, I couldn't hear a thing. Darn nit!
Twenty minuets goes by, and I need to remind Romeo that times up. A couple of minuets later, Kyle emerges from his room, looking all happy with himself. Well son, I hate to burst your bubble, but come sit here next to me now and tell me all about her. I say to him as I pat a place on the couch to indicate I do intend for him to come and sit right here. Ive had him since getting home from school, through the gamut of emotions, and there are very few he has left to emote, and he is now struggling with the one called exasperation! Kyle has a sense of humor all his own, and his reply was one that would make any mother proud. "No can do Mom, I'm not the kind of guy to kiss and tell!" he says smiling as he quickly turns on his heel and exits the room. Well, I could have argued that fact, seeing as he had just answered my last question from the barrage of them I had placed to him earlier, but I think for now I'll just keep letting him think that he got one over on good ole mom!
Forward to this week. Kyle and Amber are now "an item" at school, and they spend ever spare second together from what I gather. Kyle is starting to figure out very quickly, what types of demands on his time having a girlfriend is all about. Just yesterday, he complained to me that he hadn't had a chance to play basketball with the guys for weeks now! I just put my hands together, half bowed, and said,"Ahhh Grasshopper, you are learning very well!"

Fire! Fire!

2009-01-11T10:45:00.007-05:00

And there was! In my kitchen!
Last night I had fallen asleep on the couch, and woke up this morning about 6am with a Std Poodle in my face. Andy kept poking me with his big cold wet nose and hitting me with his paw like he needed to go outside, which is unusual for him. He is usually pretty good about just waiting till its my idea to get up and go out, happy to sleep on my feet till I do. So after I realized he wasn't going to give up, I got up and took the dogs out. It was like a scene from Gorillas in the Mist out there, all foggy and eerie, damp and misty. Really kind of neat! It was a nice morning, not to warm and not to cool. A light jacket was more than enough. There was a lot of humidity in the air, so much so, you could feel it like cooling little prickly sprinkles on your skin. We all had a good time, and the dogs had a nice 20 minuet run. I put them up in the kennels because they were soaked from the run, and went in to fix a pot of coffee. Andy refused to come back inside with me, so I left him in a kennel too. Odd for him, but OK. He seemed to be a bit strange this morning anyway.
I was sitting there sipping coffee and thumbing through a book I was thinking about re-reading, all was quiet and still. Kyle was still asleep, and Bobby had taken off early to a friends house, so I was in my element, I like it quiet and still in the mornings.
Out of nowhere, Bang! A loud noise and bright flash of light off to my right. It took me by such surprise that I spilled half a cup of coffee all over myself, and my book. (guess I wont be reading that one again after all) At the second it happened, I wasn't sure which I should do first, shuck off the burning wet clothes, or find out what that bang was. The rolling smoke quickly filling my kitchen decided for me. I am a changer arounder. I cant stand for things to be the same all the time and frequently change around my house. That means little things get placed in different spots all the time, and some times I forget where they are from one change around to the next. I quickly look in the direction of where I saw the flash of light, and decide that clothes be damned, I need to find the fire extinguisher. At this point,the rolling smoke, has turned into flames and rolling smoke, and I become frantic that the fire extinguisher isn't where I thought it was. I looked in 3 other nearby places and finally located it. At this point I'm shaking like a leaf in a hurricane, not sure whether that's because of the shock from the hot coffee, or because I have visions of my home quickly going up in flames but shaking so hard, I'm having a difficult time trying to undo the pin that is stopping me from using the extinguisher. As I'm fumbling, I'm screaming for Kyle to GET UP AND GET OUT OF THE HOUSE! He is sleeping very soundly all the way in the other end of the house with his bedroom door closed. I'm frantic, torn. Do I leave the fire and go get him up and out? Do I keep fighting with the extinguisher, do I throw water on it? Finally the pin gave way and I ripped it out of its slot slung it across the kitchen floor and tested the extinguisher to make sure it would work. Now up until this very moment, I personally have never found a need to utilize a fire extinguisher. But how hard can it be, point and shoot. Luckily, that's all that was required, and I proceeded to spray the crap out of the entire area. I could hear crackling and popping and smelled burning plastic which to me meant an electrical fire. As I'm dousing my entire kitchen with this white substance that is quickly filling my lungs and making it very hard to breath I'm wondering if in fact this is the correct type of extinguisher. As I recall, some are for different types of fire. Apparently it was, as it worked its magic pretty quickly, and the fire was put out and all that was left was to sling open the cabinet doors and spray the inside of them out, because the fire had started because of a light that was mounted to the bottom of the cabinet and I could see that the wood was starting to turn black and smoke and would catch on fire any moment. So I threw open the cabinet and liberally showered it down in what ever magical substance was spewing from the extinguisher every time I squeezed the handle. Which, apparently, I squeezed it a lot. After being satisfied that the fire was put out, and that everything was going to be alright, ( I must have stood there for a good half and hour,loath to trust that it wouldn't start back up the second I walked away) I set the extinguisher down in the middle of the kitchen floor and surveyed the situation. Through this all, I hadn't seen Kyle even poke his head out from his bedroom, so decided I should go in and see if he had been over taken by fumes, or was he just that sound a sleeper. Apparently he is just that sound a sleeper, as I opened the door and he didn't even budge. I shook him awake and told him what had happened, and he just shrugged and after sleepily inquiring if it I had gotten the fire put out went right back to sleep. What a guy.
At this point I'm still shaking like an addict in with drawls and getting rather nauseated feeling like I need to throw up, and cant seem to get myself under control. Ive got to sit down and get ahold of myself. When I did, I realized that I was covered in white powder, So I go in and change my clothes and survey the damage the hot coffee has done to my upper body. Now that I am thinking of myself, I realize that it kind of hurts. My chest, neck and arms are a bit splotchy and red, and I washed off with a cool wash cloth and put dry cloths on. I sat down on the bed to try to collect myself, but just couldn't trust that the fire wouldn't start back up again, and kept getting up to look. It had me in quite a helpless state. Finally I decided to get up and get another cup of coffee and attend to the ripping out of the light fixture that the ballast had blown up in and chuck it as far out the front door as humanly possible. It was not an easy task, but I wasn't trusting it to go find a screw driver and just literally ripped it from the bottom of the cabinet. It was still a hot SOB.
After getting the offending light out of the house, I then looked around at my kitchen. I had to turn on the ceiling fans and the stove fan, ( also at this point I might add that I'm really not sure I want to turn anything electrical on ) and still it was difficult to breath. The fumes from the burning plastic, wood and extinguisher were chocking me and I had to open the front door and go outside on the front porch for a bit to let the house clear out. I finally went back in the house and breathing became much more manageable, though I had the distinct tastes in my mouth of all three smells. Again I looked around my kitchen, and OMG! Does anyone have any idea how that white powder spreads! Everything was literally and liberally covered in it! Everything! In three separate rooms! The kitchen looked like it had been snowed in, the entire living room and everything in it had a fine dusting of white powder, and even the bed sheets felt powdery and gritty. I'm not even going to talk about the insides of the cabinets. Luckily, I live like Old Mother Hubbard, so there wasn't that much to have to toss out. At least, nothing that couldn't easily be replaced, which is more than I can say about what Id have lost had I not done what I had done. So I'm not to upset about that. Clean up isn't easy, and I am still in the process. What a mess!
I'm wondering at this point,if Andy knew something I didn't, and was he in fact really needing to go outside to potty, or was he trying to tell me something totally different. I'm thinking maybe he did realize that something was amiss, as his actions this morning were so out of character for him. I think he is a hero today, and deserves a hero's worship. Had he not woke me up, I may had woken up to a much worse predicament. Andy,.... my comic relief. The one dog in my house that I usually find the most useless,in terms of earning his kibble. I always know big, dumb, goofy Andy is always good for a laugh. Its his most redeeming quality. He virtually knows nothing, except how to make some one smile with his antics and expressions. Generally, he is one to be considered the class clown. I think he just earned a new title and a new respect around here.

Apropos

2009-01-09T17:04:00.001-05:00

One evening an old Cherokee told his grandson about a battle that goes on inside all people. He said, 'My son, the battle is between two 'wolves' inside us all.

One is Evil. It is anger, envy, jealousy, sorrow, regret, greed, arrogance, self-pity, guilt, resentment, inferiority, lies, false pride, superiority, and ego.

The other is Good. It is joy, peace, love, hope, serenity, humility, kindness, benevolence, empathy, generosity, truth, compassion and faith.'

The grandson thought about it for a minute and then asked his grandfather: 'Which wolf wins?'

The old Cherokee simply replied, 'The one you feed.

Rain sucks too. But on a lighter note....

2009-01-08T09:43:00.004-05:00

So, while I'm complaining, I may as well whine about all this rain we have been having too. It has been raining for days now and lets not even talk about the wind for the past few days, both of which are really cramping my style. We are in standing water at the moment, my pond is over flowing and my poor yard cant absorb anymore! Granted, It has done a lovely job of washing my truck, (over and over again,... I think the paint is starting to peel) saving me from that grueling task, and if I had to look at the bright side, I reckon that's a perk. But my truck is clean 10 times over now, so enough already! Not only has it stopped me from getting any work done outside or with the dogs, but its really starting to give me a case of the cabin fever. Worse yet, I haven't had any work in the shop, for 2 days! Talk about cramping some ones style! That part is really sucking hind.....well lets just say I'm not a happy camper. Maybe I need to go to WalMart and get a new job. I hear they'll hire any one. But then too, I have it on good authority that continuous exposure to fluorescent lighting and the fumes from discount shoes made in China have been known to do strange things to ones sensibilities, so perhaps I'll pass on that. Besides, you never know what kind of weirdos you'll end up working with, and that can be scary. I think I'll just hold out and take my chances with the dogs. At least dogs are honest, and you can tell when they are going to take a snap at ya.
But there is one wonderful light at the end of the tunnel to give me hope and keep me going. One week from today, I will find myself probably just as cold and just as wet, as this week has been, but all that wont matter, as I will be braving the elements, while sitting and listening to the melodic Scottish accent of greatness. No, I'm not going to an out door Craig Ferguson show. Next Friday, bright and early, and ON TIME (for any of you who are wondering and know me.) Actually, I plan on getting there early, (Yes, that's what I said early, and you guys stop laughing! It could happen...) so I can try to be of some assistance this year instead of more of a burden. I went last year to,... oh, I almost forgot to say who's melodic voice I will be listening to, but then, is there any other in the field of stock dog training that anyone would sacrifice their health and well being to sit outside in all weathers in the middle of January to hear, but the all knowing, the one, the only Jack Knox? I hope the intro was sufficient for him, I wanted a drum roll too, but you;ll just have to improvise. At times like this it would be nice if blogs had sound, but then, thinking about the possibilities that would open up for people.....well, now that I think about that, maybe its best they don't.
So I went to Jacks sheepdog clinic last year for the fist time. Well, my first clinic of any kind, for the first time. Sadly, I was a clinic virgin, and had no idea what to expect. I was a little more than intimidated by the prospects, and to top it off, I in my once again infinite wisdom had decided to bring with me for every ones viewing pleasure, my land shark ( and premier truck chewer ) of a collie Chris! Suffice to say, when Jack saw Chris in action, I don't think anyone could have had a more screwed up look on their little Scottish face than Jack had when Chris shot out into the round pen the second the gate was opened and proceeded to run straight into the sheep to try to take down and eat the first sheep she could get her teeth into. Once we extricated her from the lambs hindquarters, and got her back under under control (leashed) Jack put on his happy clinician face, and walked up to me and asked, your going to love this, I did, and almost laughed, and would have if I wouldn't have been so horrified. "So, who is this and what do we want to work on with this dog." Not that he didn't already know her name, as all I could do was chase and scream "Chis! That'll Do! Chris! That'll Do! Chrissssss!" What control Jack was mastering at that very moment. I was grateful that he didn't have me drowning in my own puddle of embarrassing goo, and he gained a new respect from me from that moment forward. Hence the reason I will again, bundle myself up and make myself a STOP WHINING ABOUT THE WEATHER sign, to hand to some one who will undoubtedly have heard enough within the first hour I'm there and will happily flash it at ( or eventually Id expect, whack me over the head with) any time I start to whimper about the cold. I was told last year, they have special crates for people like me that they would happily introduce me too if I didn't shut up. In my own defense,it was cold out there last January dammit!
So, I am very excited about going to the 3 day Jack Knox clinic next week for many reasons, and this year, I'm not using my infinite wisdom in my choice of what dog I will bring. I'm going to try to make things right by Jack, and not bring Chris, but instead bring Bear. There will be a lot less running and yelling involved, and Id like to try to make a better impression this year. Maybe if I bring Bear, Jack will stop giving me those "you poor pathetic girl" looks and realize that I actually do have some idea of how a stock dog should behave on stock. Granted, since last years clinic, Chris has come a loooong way, but I think Jack had seen just about all he wanted to see of Chris to last a life time those blood filled, lung splitting 3 days last year.
Ive about got my list compiled for things I need to bring, or is that, a list of things not to forget? Though its inevitable, I'm sure I will forget something. Suggestions for things to bring, is always welcome. So if any of you winter clinic goers have any helpful suggestions on ways to stay warm and dry, and comfortable,(oh and maybe for any of you that know Jack a little better than I, Id like to smooth things over from last year, get off to a better start, cause you know the second he sees me, he is going to consider running the other way,) and give him a a little token of my appreciation. ( OK its bribery for putting up with me and my dog last year,) as I never felt the hundred I'm sorry's or thank you's were really enough. Perhaps he has a favorite dish or coffee or some thing that would put me in his immediate good graces, suggestions along those lines too, would be very helpful would be very appreciated.

Some Peoples Children! Geeze!

2009-01-06T16:30:00.006-05:00

Nosey, mean, stupid people suck. And I am just in the mood for this.
Ive never had to try to stop myself from using my blog, as a soap box to stand on in the freedom, (hiding from in the privacy of it is more like it) of my own home and chastise, criticize, cut down, talk shit about, judge, or other wise harass people. Its just not in me to do those things. I prefer to be happy and enjoy life and let the good times roll. It must be a difficult life for some one who has to constantly be in such a hateful state that they feel the need to do those kinds of things.
Some one who "feels" the need to do those things is one thing, we all must at some point in our lives, feel the "urge" to say things and do things that really are none of our business to say and do, I can understand that. But having the maturity and where with all to actually stop ones self from doing those things is a whole other ball game. Most people have the common decency to think, and then think again, and I can respect that. Those who cannot, I have no respect for, nor do I have less than a dim view of their ability to be mature enough, sane enough or sober enough to leave well enough alone. It is a sad state of affairs when one is so consumed with pure unadulterated meanness, that it blinds them to what is right and wrong. I would further accept the possibility that people who behave in this manner, also haven't the sensibility to know good from bad, kind from mean, and certainly don't have the capacity to understand happy and sad. Because they are so consumed with things they just cant let go of. Does one feel sorry for such people? Does one ignore such people? Does one get fed up with such people and decide to change lanes and slap back? Should a slight be allowed to turn into a free for all? Or, does one do the grown up thing, and be the bigger person, and just laugh it off. Some people can be just so utterly ridiculous, that that seems to be the only way to deal with such people. But some days laughing at stupid people can be hard. So today I have decided to climb up on my soap box, and declare, that there are some really stupid, annoying, and just plain asinine people in this world, and they can all BITE ME!
Think I'm talking about YOU?? Tsk,Tsk,Tsk....shakes head sadly. Guilty conscious?

My Dog Ate My Truck....(well sort of)

2009-01-04T10:16:00.009-05:00

So, we made it to Julie's to work dogs and have our lessons with Robin Saturday, and happily, Robin told me exactly what was going on with Chris, just as I had suspected, I have been a wimp, and not correcting her when I should have. I had been allowing her to get away with things, and cheat me. Just exactly where I went wrong with Lex so long ago, and it seems old habits die hard. Lie down, lie down, lie down, is NOT one command, (and really, Ive known that for like eons) although Chris was beginning to think so. So we got her sorted out and she responded well, pretty quickly and she worked oh so much better her next time around. Chris is a smart little dog, and will obviously take advantage of a situation, so I am just going to have to start making sure she doesn't get away with things any more. What I considered some thing small and inconsequential, taking the down, but 5 to 10 feet from where Id originally asked her to, grew and turned into some thing much worse, very quickly. Chis is a very talented little dog, and one I'm sure that would have benefited from having a much more seasoned and intuitive handler than I, but she is a very forgiving dog, and in training her, she has and still does, teach me so much. It is a bit distressing to know that she has just turned 5 years old, and has yet to set foot on a trial field, but Ive got a feeling this just may be our year, and she will be out there kicking ass and taking names, so chewing up my truck aside, I think I'll let her live to see another day.
Bear, oh what can I say about this wonderful dog? My head still swims every time I think of how he ended up with me. I feel so lucky to have him. Bear is a very talented and natural dog, one that makes even the most bumbling of trainers such as myself, look good. He wants nothing more than to do the right thing and be a team player. I simply adore this dog. Robin says he is ready for anything now and to throw as much at him as I can. So aside from the outrun home work we have been given, we will continue to work a little at driving too. Some thing Bear appears to really enjoy and seems to be a natural at and holds a very nice line. AND! He didn't eat my truck!
So yea, I guess I should talk about that eh?
Well, I loath crating my dogs while I travel. I don't know why, but I do. They are all very well behaved, and always pick a spot to ride and stay there, not running around and jumping around in the truck, and I enjoy their company. Once in a while one will come and lay a head on my shoulder to say hi and then go back to their self appointed seat. Now I have been into dogs way to long not to know and understand the value and benefits of a crate. So any damage that was done to my truck, I am fully aware was no ones fault but my own. Up until yesterday, I felt that I had provided my dogs with a very nice and comfortable crate, in the form of a 25,000 dollar 1 ton Ford diesel truck, complete with leather seats and electric windows. But I can assure you, after yesterday, though I may continue to allow them to ride free in the truck, as soon as we get to dog work, they will quickly be deposited into crates that I will not be so lazy to load anymore when we go. So what happened was this. Chris and Lex were in the truck. I pulled Bear out for his lesson. I, in my infinite wisdom thought it a courteous thing for my dogs to be able to watch the goings on and so parked the truck in the strategically placed spot for them to do just that. As Robin and I are out on the field working Bear, all the sudden a horn starts honking, and we all hear yap yap, honk honk. Chris had figured out how to use the horn, and in doing so had also realized that she could get peoples attention by doing it. Personally, though I'm sure there were folks that found it annoying, I thought it some what humorous, and just the kind of thing Chris would do. Now the reason she found the horn, was because she was going frantic in the truck, wanting it to be her out on the field working and not Bear. Had I not locked the windows before exiting the truck, rest assured, she'd have never figured out the horn, because she already has the knowledge to push the window buttons and would have let herself out of the truck toot sweet the second she wanted out. Been there, done that. Chris is no dummy. If she watches you do some thing, you can bet she will remember and replicate what she has seen, the second it becomes a useful tool to satisfy her needs, and she watches me a lot. Ive come to the conclusion,that Chris doesn't need thumbs to achieve her goals. So, as Robin and I are on the field with Bear, and having a little amused chuckle about Chris honking the horn,.....(amused? I meant embarrassing) I hear some of the on lookers hollering to inform me that not only is she honking the horn repeatedly, but she is shredding the interior of my truck! Well, at that point, I was to far away to do much about it, and in a snap decision, decided to finish Bear's lesson and deal with little Miss Rip and Tear when we finished. My approach to the truck was cautious, did I really want to open the door and see the redecoration of the interior of my truck? And open the door I had to, as she and Lex had the windows so slobbered up, that I was hard pressed to see in them to start with.
As it turned out, the damage was quite minimal. A nick in the dash and a small tear in the steering wheel. Nothing a new steering wheel cover cant fix/hide. Oh, and a whole bottle of Windex, so I can once again see out of the windshield! LOL
Needless to say, at that point, as I'm sighing a big sigh of relief, as I know from past experience, from another dog that actually DID shred an entire interior of another truck, (you'd think Id learn) that it could have been a lot worse, and so Chris, Bear and Lex got a one way ticket to crates ville. Our lessons went great, and I am very proud my of dogs, they are coming along nicely thanks to good friends and great instruction.
Other things that were fun, was the impromptu Birthday party for Robin. I wish Id have known, but there were some folks on the ball, and they had even baked a cake! A yummy cake! We sang Happy Birthday, and then sat down to enjoy some. Robin gave me a late Christmas present, a beautiful turquoise colored cap with the Shoofly Farm logo with a picture of a sheep dog driving a lamb. I really like it and especially the color, and have a feeling it is quickly going to replace my old favorite cap.
I brought my grooming tools and table up, and we got Laura's little turdietude Ginger shaved down. She did so much better this time than she did the last time I groomed her, and showed much more patience and compliance when it came to doing her feet and legs. The really cool thing about doing Ginger for Laura, is that Laura is going to make me a beaded lanyard in trade for the grooming. (stinker that she is, sneaked and bought my lunch without telling me too) So now I reckon Id best get my butt in gear, and start getting serious about getting whistles on my dogs so I can wear it and show it off! I like doing trade work, much better than friends paying me for grooming, and I'm sure that every time I wear it, I will have fond memories of Laura, and the day. Much better than just buying some thing like that for yourself, I think.
There were no new faces today, but it was nice to see all the regulars and their dogs and the progress they are making from one lesson to the next.
Becca had just gotten Ted back from Christine Henry, he had been there for the last 4 weeks in training. Man! What a lovely job she did. Ted is looking so good! I thought about being jealous, but decided Id let their progress inspire me instead. LOL I am very, very happy for Becca. Ted is a really nice dog.
On another note, for this lesson, I was actually able to stay erect, and not fall on my fanny, and that was a good thing. Being flat out is never a good feeling. Also on another good note, some of us loaded up in my truck again to go for lunch, and the tow-mater behaved and allowed all persons to enter and exit with dignity. Maybe I should have had Chris chew on it sooner! Next stop for the dogs, well Bear and I, is the Jack Knox clinic this month! I'm pretty jazzed about that.

New Tunes Yea! And Some Other Stuff

2009-01-03T01:45:00.000-05:00

Well, per as promised for Christmas, my daughter gave me a 30 dollar gift certificate for iTunes music. Laura's BF saved me from having to buy some music, as when they brought Jack back home, they gave me a CD of Atlantis Morriset that had some great music on it, and I promptly down loaded that to my iPod. Thanks you guys! I'm diggin' it!
So what did I get?? Hmmmm, lets see. I started out replacing some music I had on my old computer that I haven't been able to get onto my new one, so I got me some Big and Rich, Save a Horse Ride a Cowboy! And a few others of theirs off their Commin'to your city album, and some Don Mclean, American Pie and Vincent.Ive always loved those songs. Ummm, I loaded up on Bad Haggis, a neat Celtic folk/rock band. Some more Wicked Tinkers, another Celtic rock group who's drummer is to die for, er...I mean their drum solos are great. Aerosmith's Pink, Don't wanna miss a thing. A few more, and don't laugh, John Denver songs. I needed them to listen to so I could figure them out cord wise on my guitar, yes, I play. I have an Ovation electric Acoustic. Been playing since I was 12 years old or so. Wanna hear some thing funny? I played a uke even earlier! LOL. Cant read a lick of music, and many a good teacher have tried, but I play by ear, that's my excuse for having to load JD music and that's my story and I'm stickin' to it!
Anyway, I LOVE Stevie Ray Vaughn, and all I have of his music is still on cassette ( I'm sooo still in the dark ages... I know) so I loaded a good bit of his stuff, if you've never listened to Stevie Ray, check it out, I highly recommend him if you like Texas R&B. I especially recommend Tin Pan Alley. And I got the Eagles Hell Freezes Over album. I'm sure I left a few out, but I sure am enjoying the new tunes. I forgot to pick up some batteries tonight for it, but I have a little doohickey that I can hook up to my truck stereo and play my iPod music over my stereo system. That! Will be nice to be able to do. Anyway, that's it on the tunes update. My daughter knows what I like, and I like music, and I thought it was a really thoughtful gift. Another really cool thing I got from a friend of mine for Christmas (who obviously also knows what I like) is the flag at the top of this post. Last year for my birthday, she gave me a flag and the pole to hang big flags on and she has been making sure I have a flag for every season every since. I don't know where she found this flag, but Ive looked at and for nice Border Collie flags before, and I never saw this one. I like it, its a very good depiction of a NOT Barbie Collie! LOL Note the pricked ears with the one slightly bent. I was just tickled to death when I opened that. She also gave me a very nice piece of pottery, I like to collect pottery, and this is a nice piece. It even came with a holder to display it on. Anyway, the agenda for tomorrow is lessons with Robin at Julie's farm for me and Bear and Chris. Gonna see if I can get Robin to help pin point any certain things we should work on at the Jack Knox clinic with Bear that I will be going to on the 16th thru the 18th. Though ultimately,it will be up to Jack, as to what he thinks we should work on, but we'll see what our trainer thinks too as I value her opinion as well. I'll bring my camera and hope to get some nice shots tomorrow. Right now, its time to get some laundry in the dryer or I'll be showing up for lessons in the nude, and I don't think that would earn me any discounts! More Later....Chow Baby!

Perplexed.....

2009-01-01T10:37:00.005-05:00

Yes, I'm perplexed.
It started three days ago, and I'm really hoping this isn't how the New Year is heading.
We had to bring in a round bale of hay a few days ago for the sheep, and I brought Chris out to put the sheep up in the catch pen so we could hold open the gate for the tractor to come in with it.
Granted, Chris had been in her crate for awhile that day, so I let her out to empty herself and run off a little excitement before getting to the task at hand. She seemed fine, and willing, and so like any other time her services are required, I opened the gate and asked her to join me. As soon as she got in there, the first thing she did was try to shoot off for the sheep. That is not a Chris move, she usually just comes in and waits to see what I need of her. I called her back, and she was in full gather mode, making a sweeping out run towards the bottom of the pasture where the sheep were, so I was glad to see that she took the recall, which actually sounded more like "WTF ARE YOU DOING!!!" more so than That'll Do! Groveling, she landed back at my feet,and waited to see what the consequences of her actions would be. Had we been training, Id have simply put her in the kennel, and worked another dog and gave her time to think about her indiscretion, but I could hear the tractor coming up the road with the hay and I needed to get the sheep put up. So I just gave her a growl and a stern look, and sent her to gather the sheep and put them in the catch pen. Some days when we bring in hay, I will just have her walk down to where the sheep are, and hold them while we put in the hay, but I like to try to keep it interesting for the dogs, so we aren't always just doing the same thing. Chris has done both holding and putting them in the catch pen, so I knew she knew the drill. So I went ahead and sent her. While she faultlessly gathered the sheep and brought them up and put them in the catch pen, and just for extra brownie points I'm assuming for her little screw up, she even went so far as to put them all in the lambing shed for me, I was trying to figure out what triggered her to take off like that. OK. Dogs have much better hearing than we do, so while mulling it over while Bobby was setting in the hay bale, I decided perhaps she had heard the tractor getting closer, and thought that we needed to get the job done toot sweet. It would be Chris's mentality to be thinking that way.
As soon as He had the bale set up and had left the pasture and closed the gate, I went over and opened the lambing shed door to release the sheep. Per as my usual, I simply allow the sheep to exit the shed on their own and call Chris and we leave them to it. For what ever her reasons, she refused to call off the sheep, and instead, lay there in front of the shed not allowing the sheep to exit. Three times I had to recall her, each time, having to become and sound more and more serious and stern. Chris is very obedient and VERY sensitive to my voice and tone, and so this again had me perplexed.
I went over to her and grabbed her scruff and gave her a shake and a growl, and again reiterated, THAT WILL DO! Reluctantly and some what cowed down, she came away with me. As we reached the gate to leave the pasture, she was all wiggles and happy again, as I had praised her for coming away with me, and all seemed well.
Maybe at this point,I should have left well enough alone, and called it a day. But me being me, I couldn't leave it, and decided after a few minuets to bring her back out on the field,and do a little work. Happily,Chris entered the field with me and this time she pretty much knew better than to pull the same gig on me again, or, she was back to being herself, who knows at this point what she was thinking, she was just happy to get back out on the sheep. I had taken a few deep breaths, and calmed myself to where I knew I could be trusted to not loose my temper, or bring any bad vibes in with me, after all, I wasn't angry about what had happened, moreover confused, and had the attitude that we would just do a few simple things and end it on a better note.
Her outrun and fetch was a bit to fast and heel bent for leather, but I didn't say anything as she darn near ran the sheep over top of me, and once we had them all up to me and calm, I just started having her fetch them and flank a bit, and work on pace and patience. Chris has a very nice sense of balance, but not this day. She kept over shooting her balance point, and had the sheep so confused they didn't know which way to go. It wasn't pretty, and definitely wasn't one of her better sessions, which again, had me wondering the the hell is up with this dog?? She has been working so nice over the last several months. So, OK.This isn't getting us anywhere, she is obviously having a bad day. We all do sometimes, so I'll allow her that, and lets just quit harassing the sheep, cause now I'm beginning to become frustrated and impatient, and I can feel it coming on. We end the session on a good note,just having her fetch the sheep to me while walking up to the gate, and I call "That'll Do" and I see a very slight hesitation, indecision? from Chris to call off, but she comes.
Instead of worrying myself about this weird chain of events, I just chalk it up to her just having a bad day, and figure our next work will be better.
Enter the next day. The same thing is going on. Chris is way to amped up, is not taking her commands in a timely manner, is off balance more than she is on, and this isn't work, its harassment! Sheep flying around instead of calmly being pushed from A to B. I down the dog,and study her body language and expression while she is laying there. Nothing appears to be out of the ordinary. She looks for all intensive practical purposes to be just fine and dandy. Just laying there panting and calmly waiting.....
So, since the sheep are already with me, I simply had her flank around and drive them down the field a bit to get them away from the gate to which her flank, though not being to tight which I was glad to see, was still way to animated and speedy, and of course, the sheep just flew down the field as soon as they were turned in that direction, with Chris thinking she would happily just cram her head up their butts and take them all the way to the bottom of the field.
Nope,not gonna happen. I called her off and we exited stage left, and closed the gate behind us with me scratching my head and wondering WTH? Chris happily jumps into the stock tank to cool off, and I once again take a few seconds to study her. From her attitude she appears to still not notice that some thing has gone drastically wrong. She seems to think everything is just hunky dory. She appears to be very satisfied with herself, and doesn't show herself to be the least bit disturbed that for two days now we haven't been able to get any correct work from her. And she does know the difference. All this sets my mind to thinking. Am I being to layed back now, in not exhibiting the tense and rigid, expecting exacting obedience for every command demeanor during training that I have tried so hard to dispose of? Is she testing me? Has the little twit lost her mind??
Enter this morning: I have sheep due to lamb soon and I needed to inject them with Covexin 8 so Chris and I went out to gather them and I just needed her to hold them in the corner for me while I drew up the doses and injected the ewes. Seems easy enough. Its not like she hasn't done this before. Do the words "Get Back!" mean anything to this dog?? They use to. Grrrrrr. Well, I wasn't about to play this game for a third day in a row. "I" certainly didn't need injecting, and the way she kept creeping up and pushing the ewes in tighter and closer on me while I was turning my attentions to the syringe it was going to happen as I was jostled around and crammed in tighter and tighter with the ewes and so Chris and I left the ewes in the corner, and I went and got Bear and put Chris up inside in her crate. Bear has a good sense of what needs to be done, and has been very quick to catch on when I have had work for him to do and I'm finding him to be quite pleasant to work with. He is very bright, and reads his sheep well and knows when and where to stop putting pressure on the sheep, and will adjust himself accordingly with out much if any input from me. I'm liking this dog more and more as I find little odd jobs outside of training to use him for. Ive found that he really enjoys real work, and even though he hasn't done some thing before, he catches on very quickly and likes being a team player. I am excited to see how we do at the Jack Knox clinic this month, and how much he can pick up on and learn. Needless to say, Bear was a great help, and we got the job done with no mishaps.
For now I'm going to give Chris a few days off doing any sheep work, training, or anything resembling either and or. See how she does then. We have been getting out most every day for the last couple of months, and maybe she just needs a break. We have a lesson on the 3rd with Robin, and we'll see how she goes for that. Maybe she will show Robin something that I'm not seeing.... Till then, I'm not going to drive myself crazy about it, but I sure would like to get to the root of the problem.

Just Because.....

2008-12-30T01:19:00.001-05:00

Maybe I'm just having to much fun with my camera lately, but I just loved this pic of Lex so much, I just had to post it.

Jack is Back!

2008-12-28T23:18:00.011-05:00

My Ram Jack is back home today after being away for a few weeks to visit with some new girlfriends. I honestly cant say that anyone even missed him with the exception of myself. He was gone 2 weeks before Kyle even knew he was missing, and then it was only because I made the statement in front of him that no one appeared to miss his presence but me. To with he says to me: "Is Jack gone?" This coming from a boy who goes out on the pasture every night among the sheep to feed his dog (our guardian livestock dog) and didn't even notice??!!
Its a sad state of affairs to know that if Jack keeled over dead tomorrow, not dog, sheep or human would mourn his passing but me, and some would probably not even notice!
Jack and I have a very special relationship, and I know of not many folks that harbor rams that can (or will) say that. Some folks think me strange when I go on about Jack, he is unique I suppose, only to me, as I know him as no one else will.
From the day he hit the ground, I couldn't keep my hands off of him. He was perfect. Jack was planned for, hoped for and waited for with great expectation. He was cuddled and held, hand fed goodies and just outright spoiled from day one.

You would think that a lamb treated as such would grow to be a disrespectful and untrustworthy ram, and I had been warned of such things when well meaning friends and stock men saw the manner with which I raised him. Some went so far as to say he would turn on me by the age of two, especially if he was used for breeding, and when ewes were cycling. Not Jack. He has been nothing but a gentleman from day one. Mind you, Jack is not a pet. He does not meet me at the pasture gate when I walk outside, he does not run to me when I go out on pasture. He only comes to me when he is invited. He knows what he is and he knows his place. Two qualities that endear him to me even more. Jack is in my eyes a very handsome ram. Size, build, temperament, head, hair...everything about him exudes the type of sheep he is, and a damn fine specimen of a St, Croix ram. Do I sound like a doting mother? Perhaps, just a little....OK. Yes, I do. But in my own defense, Ive had many sheep, and cared for them, fed them and bred them. Lambed them, and bottled fed some. Tended to them when they were ill or hurt, and done the humane thing when all else failed, but none have ever stolen my heart the way Jack has.

From a young lamb, till he was close to a year old, Jack lived with my mare, a kind and nurturing horse. They formed a special relationship/bond that still is strong today. While out living with her, he had one of his testicles stepped on accidentally by the horse. Imagine my horror to find him in such a state one morning. The cut was long and deep, and there is still a formidable and visible scar. He had to endure a many a patch job, as I medicated and cleaned and fussed over my prize rams misfortune for the months it took to heal. He was a model patient. ( note: Jack never won any prizes, he is prized only by me as I have never shown him)
I was devastated, thinking he would be so damaged that he would never be able to produce because of this hideous injury. I guess I could have taken him to a vet and had a sperm count or some thing done, but I opted to just let him cover the ewes and see what happened. He was the only ram I had, so if we got all ewes in lamb, Id be doing the happy dance, as the ewes I had for him to breed, were all first time ewes, and that was his first season breeding. As it turned out, Jack retained a strong libido and sperm count, covered all the ewes and we had a nice crop of healthy, pretty little lambs with some singles,twins, and one set of trips. A daughter of his is a special favorite of mine, as she is her fathers daughter, and so much like Jack in every way, that she too has earned more than a special place in my heart.

When I moved from Utah to NC. I did some thing many folks looked at as silly and maybe even stupid. A frivolous waste of money. Maybe it was, but I can be an impulsive person, as well as rather over protective when it comes to my animals, and a darn sight stubborn too and I wasn't selling or leaving Jack. I wasn't leaving my horse, and I wasn't leaving my Llama (at the time my guardian livestock animal) and decided to put a large amount of money into shipping them, and well, since they were coming, why not just fill the trailer up and bring 19 more of my best sheep too! And so 20 head of sheep, one horse and one Llama made the 2600 mile trip from Utah to NC. As far as I was, and still am concerned, it was a good decision and investment. The right decision for me.
I'm not quite sure to what extent of a relationship a shepherdess should or shouldn't have with her flock, I know Ive had sheep in the past that I cared for, but didn't care about, if that makes sense, and I'm sure what I'm saying may perplex some, but it is what it is. I make no excuses or defenses in my favor. They are sheep, but they are my sheep, and if I want to be head over heels in love with a certain few, well then, I guess I will just grin and bear it.
Id never had a ram before, Jack is my first. I always borrowed a ram for breeding, as I had heard so many horror stories about the difficulties of keeping rams, and how dangerous they can be.
So when Jack came home last night, I wondered how he would behave after his absence. Would we still be friends? Would he be wary of me? Would our relationship still be intact after several weeks of non communication and contact? Did it take continued daily contact for us to retain our bond? Questions that would have to go unanswered until he had a little time to settle back in and regroup with his ewes, but questions that would be answered soon enough. I think I would be slightly devastated if my Jack were to give me the cold shoulder and start to behave like a normal ram. As it is, I am very pleased to say, (admit) that my Jack is as sweet and kind and gentle today as the day he hit the ground and I scooped him up and vigorously wiped him off and looked between his legs to see what he was. Some folks will claim that sheep are stupid. That rams don't form personal bonds with people. I beg to differ. This morning, when I went out to run dogs, and fill waters and check everyone out, there stood Jack in all his magnificence. He stepped out from his ewes, and watched me as I went about my chores. I was very aware of his steady inquisitive gaze, as it is some thing I have grown accustomed to over the last 3 years and I rather enjoy his attentions. He has always quietly watched me. In my mind, Ive always liked to think, waiting for the invitation to come over and get his head scratched and a jaw rubbed. I missed him overseeing my daily rounds while he was gone. I missed his presence, and missed not being able to watch him as he strode proudly among his small flock of ewes. What a sappy girl eh? Oh well, laugh if you will, I feel no shame, only pride in my Jack, and I feel that none will ever match his quiet, gentle strong presence or take his place in my heart.
So this morning, I entered the pasture after getting the chores done, with a pocket full of bread and a handful of grain and here comes Jack as soon as I call him up. Happy for scratches and rubs, he even gave me one back in the form of a head rub on my thigh, which he has never done and the reunion welled me up and gave me pause to think that maybe I was in fact just a wee little bit silly over this guy. But I kinda think he feels the same way about me. Which truly brings home the saying, you have to give, to receive, and the other that reminds us, that we get back in life, as good as we give. I have always treated Jack with kindness and respect, and he has in turn, always given the same back to me. I am glad he is back home. I have no qualms with loaning him out, I am proud and happy to do so, and hope that he will leave a little of himself in his lambs so others can understand better how Jack with his easy layed back ways and kind and trusting temperament can effect a person to the point of silly sheep adoration. Welcome home Jack!

What better way to spend Christmas Day....Than Working Dogs!

2008-12-25T14:09:00.035-05:00

And these guys looked like they could use a little exercise anyway.

So I asked Chris to bring them up for me.

She was really on her game today, and keeping a nice pace and distance.

And was really focused.
>

I could watch this little dog work all day. She is so stylish and intense.

She was looking pretty satisfied with herself afterwards, I was pretty satisfied with her too.

Next up was Bear. He was quite happy to oblige.

He is starting to do a little driving now, and coming along nicely.

Lex wondered if she could have a go too.

And she got right to work.

The ole' girl was in good form.

Ive got a little ram lamb that likes to test the dogs, but Lex gave him what for and put him back in his place. She is generally kind to her stock, but she doesnt take any guff either, and that lamb was just asking for it. In the end, he learned his lesson and fell back in line and behaved. I dont think she gave him much choice.

I dare you to try that again....

I gave Hank a go today as well. Though it was hard to get many shots while trying to keep some semblance of order on the field with a keen young pup. He still isnt ready for any formal training from what I saw today, still just a big goofy pup. But he is interested and had a fun time. Right now, thats all that matters is that we keep it fun and interesting.

A Christmas Chris

2008-12-24T20:29:00.008-05:00

Tonight on this Holy night, not only do we celebrate the birth of Christ Our Lord, but we also celebrate the birth of Chris.
Born, not unlike the Christ child, Chis was born in a shanty barn surrounded by a motley crew of farm animals,in a feed manger on a bed of straw, and a wise man came.
A special pup was born on this special night, and the magic of the Christmas Star blessed this pup with Peace and Joy.
Happy Birthday my little Chris.

And A Merry Christmas To All
From me, the Birthday girl Chris and the Crew @
That'll Do Border Collie Farm
And A Happy New Year Too!

Do you really think anyone is going to take me seriously looking like this???

2008-12-22T12:42:00.008-05:00

What better way to spend a cold day indoors,then allowing all the dogs free roam of my living quarters and hunting them down with my camera? The problem with having them all out at once,is that there is no where left to sit. So I had to send in the enforcer. He put a stop to all the fun. Poor Cain. He has been having some coat and skin issues recently, and my vacuum has been having some issues with his coat. So, I pulled him into the the shop the other day,and gave him a buzz. He was feeling pretty naked, so I gave him a tee shirt. Doesn't he just look thrilled?

Did I just see the bed covers moving??

2008-12-22T11:53:00.001-05:00

Can't a guy get some privacy around here?

Whos Chair is it......really?

2008-12-22T11:34:00.002-05:00

Oh, did you want to sit here?

Chris needs to know.....

2008-12-22T11:13:00.002-05:00

Is this really the proper place for a working dog!?

Work Day @ Willows Rest

2008-12-15T16:13:00.005-05:00

Sunday a bunch of us gals gathered at Julie's farm for a lesson day with Robin. I always look forward to these days, not just for the dog work and learning experience, but for the camaraderie too. There were a couple of new faces and dogs, and I really enjoyed watching their dogs, and meeting them. Nice gals, and nice dogs too! I brought Chris, but after I brought her out, we all agreed, she was still favoring her hind quarters from a hit she took last week from Bear and thought it best to give her a bit more time to convalesce. Poor Chris had to sit in the truck all day and watch everyone else having fun. :(
I took Hank too, just as a back up because I wanted to hear what others thought about working Chris, and if the general consensus was that we not work her yet, I had planned to use her lesson time for Hank. Nope, not ready yet. He was quite afraid of Robin's spaghetti noodle and had no intention of doing anything as long as that lady had that big wonky long thingy in there with him. He wanted to get to the sheep, but not that bad! So I just worked Bear, who is swiftly becoming a major favorite dog of mine. Reminds me I really need to get in touch with Dee and thank her again for giving me such a nice dog and getting her up to snuff on his progress.
First we worked Bear in the round pen, and I fell flat on my fanny. That quick walking backwards thing on the slick mud and sheep doo...well I knew it was gonna happen. Id already felt myself slip a couple of times, so when I started to go down I was sorta prepared and rolled with it. Oh how I wish I was a weeble. Weebles wobble but they don't fall down. Lucky I had my coveralls on and so my clothes didn't get all wet and muddy. What was priceless was the look on Bears face. When Robin helped me up and I looked to see where my dog was he had a look of confusion and concern, like he wanted to come over to me and see if I was alright, but wasn't sure if leaving the sheep and moving off balance was an acceptable thing for him to do. Luckily, I may not be a weeble, but more like a bumble. You know the kind on the Rudolf the Red Nosed Reindeer classic. Bumbles bounce! And so I was not effected by the fall and surprisingly am not suffering from it today as I had feared either. You know those falls, when you feel OK when it happens, but ya just know your gonna feel it the next day.
Anyway, working with Bear is a lot of fun, He is such a nice dog and really wants to do the right thing. He has a lot of really nice qualities, He is pretty awesome, and I feel so lucky to have him.
It appears to be quickly becoming a ritual when we have lesson day, that we all load up in my truck, which could be a humorous post within itself some days. (if my truck isn't trying to dump some one out, by the door flying open while going down the road, its trying to lock folks in and not let them out! ) and went to lunch at a restaurant that I am at a loss at the moment to remember the name of, but they have some of the best burgers this side of the Mason Dixon line! And the chips! Well....they are most days a reason all by their self to go. Yesterdays chips weren't their best effort, but the burgers well and made up for that. Yum!
Laura's poor Nick had to sit this one out too, as he tweaked himself at a trail last weekend, and so is on light duty too. I got there to late to get to see Linc working, but I hear is is coming on well, and ready to start. Yea Linc! The weather was fair, we got about a spit of sprinkles, and the sun tried to come out once. All in all, it was just a fun day with plenty of dog work and laughs. I'm sure there would have been more laughs if everyone had seen me flat out on the ground, but I wasn't about to do an instant replay for those that missed it. Sorry gals. Maybe next time! LOL

What are you listening to?

2008-12-13T23:50:00.003-05:00

Actually,contrary to my last post,I really do have something to talk about. More over a request. My daughter cant keep a secret to save her life, and has already told me what she is getting her brother Kyle and I for Christmas. That's OK. I'm a bit old for surprises anyway. What she has gotten me is a 30 dollar gift certificate for ITunes music.I rarely listen to music on the radio. Mostly I listen to my ipod and CD's. So I have no idea whats hot and whats not any more in music. I have no real specific tastes in music, I listen to whatever sounds good, be it classical, rock, country, alternative, folk, Celtic and the list goes on. I enjoy most types of music though I'm not overly fond of rap or heavy metal. Most ipod songs are .99 cents a song, and while 30 songs doesn't sound like many, to go looking with no idea what I'm looking for, well, the prospect to me is a bit daunting. So I'm looking for suggestions as to what might be enjoyable to down load to my ipod. Here's just sampling of the artists I already have,just to give you an idea of of where my tastes lie.
Nickleback
Government Mule
Prince
John Denver
Train
Little Big Town
Tracy Chapman
Elton John ( Don't laugh! )
Blackhawk
Creed
Bob Seger
Eagles
Dido
James Taylor
Pink Floyd
Rascal Flats
Kenny Chesney
Christina Aguilera
Sara McLaughlin
Who ever the gal is that put out the album Jagged Pill
And another gal that is a....oh how do I be politically correct in this, a....lesbian? But not the butch one.
Beethoven
Classic Celtic
The Wicked Tinkers
Hagis
Phil Collins
Well, I wont go on,you get the picture. Suggestions please. What are you all listening to?

Tag, Im it

2008-12-13T21:24:00.005-05:00

I was invited by Carolyn Of BCxFour to follow through with a "meme" quest, in where you go to your pictures, pull the 6th picture from the 6th file, and write about the pic. Im game, besides, I didnt have anything else to talk about at the moment.
Of all the pictures of my Border Collies I have, this would have been the last picture Id have thunk could have shown up. Carma I reckon.
Folks, meet "Diablo" While he was here, I called him Masi,(pronounced Mass Eye) but he didn't stay long.
A bunch of years ago, I took a dog in for training, A German Shepherd. He was a beautiful, and brilliant dog, and I enjoyed the year he stayed with me. I was able to get a BA on him and a Sch1. When it came time to give him back to his owner, I tried hard to buy him, but to no avail. The owner knew if I wanted him, he must be a keeper. (as I'm pretty particular about the Shepherds I keep) So I then contacted the dogs breeder and asked if they ever made the same breeding again, if he would put me on the list for a pup. Just two days before I am packing it all in to make the move from Utah to NC I get a phone call from the breeder. Mind you, this is 3 yrs later. He tells me he has 5 pups left, 6 weeks old and was I still interested in one. My head went to spinning. Well, Yes! I wanted one. Was I in a position to get one? I already had 11 dogs I was bringing with me to NC. Well hell, whats one more, lets just make it an even dozen. So I traveled 500 miles round trip the next day to go pick up Cree. A beautiful male pup. I kept and worked with Cree for a yr and a half, and as lovely a dog as he was, he was the biggest chicken dog I think Id ever met. He wasn't like his brother in temperament. As I had purchased him to train for a specific sport, and he was proving daily that he wasn't going to be a dog that could take the training, nor did he have the temperament to do the bite work, but he was a tremendous and loyal companion, and was very stable. He'd make some one a very nice OB dog and family companion. I sold Cree to a family that had long admired him with 4 daughters ranging in age from a pair of twins, ages 8 yrs old, to an 11 and a 13 yr old. Cree was in his element when it came to the little girls, and was a perfect fit for their household. Although I had cautioned them that I didnt ever think he would never make a competition dog, they had decided to try their hand with him anyway. True to my warnings, they found out that I was right, but had gotten a taste of the sport and decided this was the road they wanted to travel, and so decided to drop a good wad of money on a black 2 yr old Chec bitch, and had her Imported. She is a magnificent,tremendous dog. I wish I could have bought her, but alas, Ive not got 1,800 hundred dollars plus shipping to drop on a dog.
Well, I hadn't had Cree neutered, he was a fine specimen of the breed, just lacked the temperament to complete the rigors of training, and at a yr and a half old, I felt he was still developing physically and I wanted to see if he'd fill out as he got older. So he was sold unneutered. Well, Cree and Red ( the chec bitch) decided to get together, I'll never know for sure if it was an accident or not, but that was what I was told. Masi was a product of that breeding. When they came and told me they were expecting pups, I was.....intrigued. But declined a pup. Two of the pups ended up at the store I work in at 5 months old, a trade for a horse for their daughters. It bugged me that they were there, well, OK it pissed me off for many reasons. After watching and interacting with them both for a week, I talked to the owners and asked to take one of them home for a few days to see if this chec bitch had contributed anything to giving the pups a tougher temperament than their sire had. Masi was a fun, smart, good looking pup. Very loyal and willing. A typical 5 month old German Shepherd pup, and into everything. Masi proved to be a carbon copy of his sire, except in that he had taken on the black sable coat color from his dams breeding. This picture doesn't do him justice,but he was a handsome guy. Needless to say, I took him back to the store,and he was eventually sold. I don't know where he is now, or who bought him, but I really hope they are enjoying him. He was a neat pup. Very vocal, but a neat pup.

Oops, I forgot I as suppose to tag 6 people myself now, As small as our little blogger community is, it looks like as Ive been trolling around, most everyone I know already has been tagged. I guess I'll just kick back and see what everyone else comes up with. Thanks Carolyn, it was fun going back to some of my older pics.

The scent, and a Woman

2008-12-09T18:41:00.009-05:00

This is to funny not to share. Last week, I made a notation in the Movie Maybe post about my son when he came out of the shower smelling....well, less than pleasant from splashing cheap cologne on himself. Well, this past weekend, I aimed to correct that. I had a hard time sitting next to him through the whole drive to and from the movie, and we don't even want to recall the torture for me of how it was sitting next to him throughout the whole movie. Needless to say, I didn't eat my popcorn, I just kept my face buried in it, happy to and much more preferable, inhaling the smell of buttered popcorn as opposed to that stink he had on him. Drinking my soda was a bit difficult trying to get the straw around the popcorn bag, so I just poked a hole in the bag and pushed the straw through the bag and I managed. (just kidding) But don't think the thought didn't cross my mind!
Anyway, the next day I threw that bottle of Aqua Velva away, far, far away, and then this past weekend I took Kyle to the store to give him a lesson in "What Women Like." We smelled cologne after cologne, to the point where Id thought I was going to have to burn the smells out of my nostrils with a lighted match. What the hell is wrong with just smelling clean? Why all the erotic names with exotic odors? What an assault to the senses!
Kyle likes some of the scents that Axe makes, and has body wash, (what ever happened to just calling soap, soap?)and deodorant made by Axe, so after we ran out of colognes to permanently damage our ole factory senses with, we then found and concentrated our efforts on smelling men's body sprays. I laughed when I saw that men now have "Body spray" like women! How sissy is that!? Perfume for men! I had a good time ribbing him about that! At any rate, we sampled, (yes we are some of those folks that spray scent in the air before we buy it, sorry but I'm not buying "Chaps" cologne before smelling it.) Just the name evokes ideas of dirty smelly leather cowboy chaps after a weekend of roping and branding and the long haul riding the drags behind a hundred plus head of cattle. I'm not paying 18.50 to have my son smelling like that!
Anyway, he was jazzed to find and get to sample the newest "body spray" made by Axe called Dark Temptation. I have seen the TV commercials on this, and if you have too, they are kind of humorous. It is suppose to smell like chocolate. What girl doesn't enjoy the sweet smell of chocolate!?
As it turned out, It has a light chocolaty odor to it, but its light and smells pretty good. He liked it, I could live with it, and it was only 5.00 dollars.
When we got to the register to pay for our purchases, the check out boy, and I do mean boy, he couldn't have been a day over 17 yrs old. Well, he picked up the Axe, and looked at it and said to Kyle and I: "Ive been meaning to check this out, do you like the smell?" I told him I thought it was nice, and then laughed, thinking about the TV commercial, and added: "it smells so yummy, I would be tempted to bite a man on the ass that was wearing the stuff myself!"
(thats one of the things that happens to the chocolate man in the TV commercial)
Well, that must have made some kind of impression on the 17 year old cashier, and his equally young friend the bag boy, as they both gave each other that all knowing smile, like hey! We gotta get us some of that if its gonna make girls want to bite us on the butt!
Well, day before yesterday, I had to stop in that same store for a few things, and guess who got to ring me up? I recognized the scent immediately, as my son has liberally sprayed himself daily since getting his can O girls are gonna bite me on the butt body spray, and low and behold, little check out Chucky and Billy the bag boy are as chocolaty odoriferous as can be! I guess they believed me and decided they wanted to be eaten alive by the girls too! As I walked out of the store, I just couldn't help but giggle.
As a side note, I asked Kyle if he has noticed a difference in the girls approach to him at school since wearing the "body spray"
He told me, and I quote, " One threatened to hit me with her belt and another said she wanted to sit on me and squish me into my seat."
The scent obviously turns young teen aged girls into vicious bullies, and old ladies into dirty old hags that like to say outrageous and totally uncalled for way to explicit things young boys.
I feel so ashamed...

Best guess anyone?

2008-12-06T23:29:00.005-05:00

Check this out.I cropped this pic of Bear so you could see up close what I'm curious about. Below is the original pic. I know dogs can have pretty long tongues, but this is just crazy! Is that Bear's tongue between his ears on top of his head? And if so, how the hell is that possible!?

Bear didn't have anything in his mouth, and was in fact, heading to try to take the ball from Chris. I just find it very hard to believe that is his tongue up there between his eyes on the top of his head! But, what else could it be?? What do you think?