ColliesHorsesArtLove

Puppies ~ 6 1/2 Weeks

Night before last Sage & Thrill had chicken wings in addition to their ground meat. One of my suppliers who comes from the middle of the state has had nightmare van problems. This week was one of them. First the driver had a flat tire. Then he had another flat tire and had to be towed. Then he had a fan belt break in his refridgerated vehicle and never made it to all his stops. Poor guy. In the meantime it was time to give the puppies some raw, meaty bones and they LOVE them!!! I love watching baby puppies rip and tear at whole pieces of meat because it's so good for their whole structure. They are very active in their meals and different from watching puppies chow down food that doesn't take much effort to eat. I believe it also makes their insides work properly too, as far as producing the proper enzymes to break down RBM's. Anyway........that was last night. Better than TV.

Yesterday after my ride I played with the puppies in the yard for about an hour. They are locked up in a small pen until they're older ~ maybe after 12 weeks I'll be less concerned. But when I'm out they're out to play. One of the puppies favorite things to do is to play with fur that's imbedded into the gravel from dog baths, etc. Cute. Sue's puppy more than mine. Hahaha.

Thrill and Sage both figured out how to crawl up on the PVC beds. This was a new thing that just happened yesterday. Soleil looks like she's ok with it, but she's not.

She was fine with the puppies before they got teeth, now she's like Tirzah and feels like she needs to remind them have have sharp little teeth! Thrill is ignoring her.

Thrill wins! Soleil had enough and left.

In the meantime Sage is biting my expensive Kerritts riding pants. Good thing I had the leather padding. She is STRONG!

The Sumo Wrestler is off to play with her brother.

Lana half sleeping. She's pretty good with the puppies unless they bite her legs (Thrill).

Squishyness! The boys are pretty tolerant also of the puppies but not a much as the girls.

Thrill checking out the baby pool. Sage already went in. She put her front feet in, then her back feet, then decided it was enough. She looked like she had Poodle feet when she came out. So funny!

Thrill going into the dog bed that needs a new cover. I actually have it in the garage and just haven't replaced it yet and the dogs still love to lay in it.

You can see Cardiff's nose. After getting bit by what I'm assuming were wasps in August, she has scarring on it. It's so upsetting to me because she has one of those faces with that full round muzzle that didn't need anything done to it for the shows. Now unfortunately she needs a little color. Poor Niffness. We took out 3 huge wasp nests tucked away in the septic control box in the dog yard. I've been bit several times also and my arm swelled so bad. They are MEAN!! 

Cardiff is the most patient and sweet with the puppies. She will let them crawl all over her and let them bite her. She also wants to play with them all the time and especially if it involves toys. I LOVE this bitch! She by far has the most ideal temperament.

Is that Sue's puppy???

Oh, I can tell now because of the ears!!! Hahaha!!!!

Tirzah, Soleil & Sage.

Aura On The Hill

Besides being totally consumed by Tirzah's cute baby puppies I am consumed by my next endurance prospect. It'd be Aura. I hope. Ali'i's on a month long rest after riding Tevis but I am not. I really want ride and the weather has been beautiful. Perfect combination.

I haven't ridden Summer but maybe once since her Gold Country 50 in July. I'm not happy with her ability to keep weight on and the fact that I'm not even riding her and she still is too thin concerns me for her career as an endurance horse. She's had her teeth floated, blood work, fecals, treated for ulcers and she still eats like a bird. Everyone else on my property just looks at food and are fat cows. I can't imagine how high maintenance she'd be if I was really riding her. So, I don't and I am sad, but I also am not going to cry over split milk and if she doesn't work out, that's just the way it is. The mare has got to stay in condition and also love her job and I'm thinking she doesn't. She acts like she doesn't feel good. So, right now she's a pasture pet.

Aura's been getting worked in the round pen for several weeks and is doing very nicely. She's a bit of a bull dog and it's something we've worked on since I had her, but now I'm serious and she's really come around. She's quiet, respectful and also learning to be nice around the trailer, at home and out at a trailhead. I'm liking her a lot. She also feels different than Ali'i. He's a flingy little thing and she feels more grounded, if that makes sense.

Today I rode the hill 1x, walked all the way down then got on her and 3/4 of the way back up, Tony was coming down the trail. Aura just looked at him. She seems to be very cautious and not particularly spooky....I hope! Cautious is ok. Spinning around and running in the opposite direction is not. Horses can spook at the strangest things. After riding a horse like Tahoe who's snorting at everything and ready to bolt, it's nice to ride a horse who's not so terrified.

Anyway, I handed T my cell phone so he took these photos. What a good girl!

Ventura Photos Via My Fav Photographer

Randy must know I chomp at the bit to get my photos so he sent me some yesterday. They are unretouched but he said I can still blog them. You are the cooolest Randy!!! I still need to get Cardiff's Winners Bitch photo but you can see her posing for Sven. I am one of those handlers that do not like placing feet and most of the time my collies pose well free-stacked. Cardiff is one of them and I'm not so picky on perfect placement of feet in show photos, but want the attitude to show and free standing usually does it for me. Love, love, love Niffy!!!

I got the evil eye going....ok so her feet aren't so pretty here but it didn't hurt her getting picked.

This is Soleil's Best Opposite Sex to the Variety under Bob Kelly. 

Cardiffnessessssss Reserve Winner Bitch under Sven Jensen.

Ohhhhh oh oh!! I almost forgot this photo. Denise took this of Soleil in the pen. I really think it's pretty. She has been the most helpful at shows to take my camera and get ringside shots. Thank you thank you!!!

Tirzah Puppies ~ Almost 6 Weeks!

Sue couldn't wait to see the puppies today so I relented and didn't clean out Winnie like I said I would. But she didn't have to twist my arm. I'd rather play with the puppies. It was warm so we started out on the back lawn, then ended up in the front of the house where it's cooler. Sage & Thrill were obsessed with this pile o' granite rocks that I think the Boogie Man might live in, so I don't let them go too far, but after checking out the cave, it seemed fairly safe so we got these pictures. I want to remind all you blog stalkers that 5-6 weeks is not the best time to evaluate collie puppies. Their eyes go round, they lose muzzle and underjaw and yes Sue, their ears do funky things. Really.

Thrill is making his way into the cave. Pretty soon I had to go looking for him.

Oh, he came back out to pose!

Sage is the stalker. She does it often and showing she can stalk with little baby cows in her mouth.

Sage Brush. How do I love thee???

Thrill with the green elephant.

The End.

The Ventura Specialties ~ Cardiff Wins RWB & WB/BOW!!

And the major broke.......BUT she was ADORABLE and showy and she's just putting on coat so I am good!

I drove down Friday, originally staying with Julie in her toy hauler but thought it was going to be too hard with all my dogs, including the puppies which Tony wanted me to take. He was afraid of doing something wrong with them, so it was better to take them and not stress him out. They traveled really well and several people were able to see them which I appreciated.

Anyway it was a very fun weekend and even though I got my share of walking out of the ring, (like when Roz Durham was looking for her "Select Bitch" out of all the tri dog specials....) it was great seeing everyone again and showing my bitches. Cardiffness was too cute and Soleil was just plain bad most of the time in the ring. On Sat Cardiff got 3rd out of 3 under Durham, 2nd out of 2 under Bob Kelly but Soleil got BOS to the Variety under Kelly, so I was happy. I believe she now has 5 points towards her Grand Championship.

Oh, that's a very blue eye......actually both Bob Kelly and Carmen Leonard forgave her eye enough to give the BOV to Variety and Select (Leonard). Sven Jensen told me later Soleil was a lovely bitch in every way, but couldn't get past her eye. I actually suspected that, and could have pulled her earlier as there was a judge change. But, weirder things have happened and I have never shown under him before with her.

Anyway, yesterday Sven gave Cardiff a Major Reserve to a gorgeous bitch of Marian Darrow's that THANK GOD is FINISHED!! Now, Soleil has to compete with her in BOV in the upcoming shows, but Cardiff is my priority. There are several class bitches out right now that are very pretty so it will be fun competition.

Carmen Leonard was the last show on Sunday and some 4 bitches were not in the classes. 3 went home (I HATE that!!!) and the other bitch moved up. Cardiff was in a class by herself (duh!!) then went on to win Winners Bitch and Best of Winners. I love showing under Carmen because usually I do well under her, though not every time. She's easy to follow and I found it's always good when she smiles at your dog. I found that out with Zoe at the CCA in Louisville when she won that big American Bred class. Carmen was smiling as she walked up, then kept her eye on her all the way around the ring and just stared. Still a thrill in my fluff little brain. Anyway, she smiled when she saw Cardiff.

After photos (& fancy trophies Cardiff won that I couldn't take home), it was time to pack up. Geri & Denise helped me which I really appreciate and even with their help I was the last one left in the park from the show. I drove about 4 hours then pulled over in Winnie and slept til 2 am. Denise also took the ringside photos and did warn me to watch out for Sage........she loves her!

The Winnie puppy pen.

Nap time. Cardiff loves the puppies. Good thing because she's going to have to play with Sage when Thrill leaves.

Sage & Cardiff's feet.

Mommy In Making......

Where Tirzah stayed all weekend. She really wanted to be at the show posing! Next year!

Ranch Life In October

I woke up this morning and the fog was settled all around the ground and trees. This was much prettier in person as I just can't seem to get a good photo in low light and also one that is CLEAR. Regardless, it was beautiful and the horses thought I was still sleeping so they didn't gallop over to the fence.

We've had the best tomatoes this year. We eat them every day. It just amazes me that anyone can eat a store bought one. They don't even taste like food.

I look every day in the egg boxes to see if the chickens are going to start laying. I think maybe in another month? Or maybe not because we're going into winter. 

Ali'i & Sabi. I love watching them play. They are so funny. They bite each other's muzzles. 

The boys playing made Aura & Khaliq wild. 

My big baby boys!

Puppy Life & Toys For Pillows

Thrill ~ he has the right idea.

Sage ~ this works also.

I know there's no room in this x-pen. Poor puppies.

The puppies are out of the whelping box now, and in an x-pen so Tirzah has to be locked in there to nurse. Sometimes she's ok with it, other times she nurses them, then the puppies bug her and she wants out. The other day she finally gave Thrill a warning bite, then she looked like she felt bad and started to lick him. Last night she slept with them for hours.

Cuteness!

Lynne Glazer Photos Are Up!!

http://www.photo.lynnesite.com/Clients/Horsefolk/Diana-and-Khaliq/

Here are my proofs for when Lynne was here the Monday morning after Tevis. She hasn't done any processing on them yet except for the first photo in the Gallery. I really love them, and it was kinda touchy with the rain & getting the horses to cooperate. There are several of Khaliq that shows how typey and elegant she is. Also of the herd ~ I'd like to take several and put them in a frame to show a little story. You can click in the upper right hand corner to make the proofs larger.

At the end of the Gallery are several of me and Ali'i. Those made me teary-eyed. I love that horse, but I know you all know that.

Tirzah Puppies ~ 5 Weeks!

More photos of the puppies today. I just can hardly do anything except kiss them and play with them. Thanks Sue for the photos! I know you'd rather be doing something else than drive all the way to my house and take photos of little collie puppies. Such work!!

Sage Brush. This is um.....the foomer doomer shot.

Cute toy shot.

Thrill ~ I think he has the CUTEST ears and Sue is afraid they are too small. They've just come up the last 2 days. SeaB had ears that NEVER flopped down. In fact he had little bat ears I was so freaked out but he's fine now. And he was fine then too.

Ok what's up with this???? Licky Lickies!!! Both of them!!

Tirzah was looking at something ~ we think the goats.

Sage & toy.

Thrill. I LOVE his clean head, but both puppies have that. His expression is a little different and of course the ears change that a little too.

I love this photo of Sage.

And this one of Thrill.

Thrill sleeping. The poor cow needs a bath.

We were off to the grass. It was so hot so the puppies crawled into Sue's shadow.

They look like such big puppies in this shot. I can't believe they are 5 weeks now.

Sage sleeping in the cool grass. My little PLUFF BALL!!

More Puppy Photos

Sue was here on Friday to take more photos. She was having serious withdrawals and frankly I live with them and kinda feel bad for her because they are getting SOOOO CUTE!!!!!! Especially this am when Sage flung out of the box for the first time and pee'd on the floor. I'm spoiling them because they like to go out on the grass to potty and then play.

Anyway, Sue came here at noon and it was so hot so we went to the front of the house. It was like Alaska on the cool cement so Sage & Thrill were very happy.

Thrill (it's "Thrill" now). Beautiful, adorable and mature with his paws crossed!

Sage ~ A little snack. They haven't quite figured these out yet, but they are entertaining. Tirzah comes by later and scoops them up.

Thrill with his toy. He loves this one!

Thrill again. Sue brought this toy for them.

Bonding.....how cute is this???

More bonding.......I do this 100 times a day........kiss kiss kiss kiss kiss kisssssss!!!!

Tirzah ~ but I know you knew that!

Thrill with my old pile o' EasyBoot Gloves. Gotta fix some of them but in the meantime they sit by my front door. T hasn't said anything yet and they've been there for about 6 weeks.

I love this photo. I told Sue to take a picture of it and she said "Just the toy? Do you want anything else in it?" No, just the toy. Cracks me up.

Thrill with a boot.

My little Sage Brush. She is going to be a FFFFLLLUUUUFFFFF BALL!!!!