ColliesHorsesArtLove

More GMO Doo Doo

http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2011/10/05/has-any-company-ever-harmed-the-planet-more-than-this.aspx?e_cid=20111005_DNL_art_1

I don't want to continue to have posts about politics and things other than the usual I've made this blog about, but this one is so important not to mention again. It's more important than how cute my puppies are. Really. GMO foods are bad. There is nothing natural about a seed that self-destructs after a season of life. There is nothing FREE (we still live in America last time I checked) about a company that is forcing these seeds on farmers and eventually holding a monopoly on seed purchase only from them, Monsanto. It's frightening. Beside directly eating GMO foods ourselves, GM Alfalfa is now approved for livestock feed. These are the animals who are supplying you with meat, milk, cheese, etc, etc. and for you who raise animals......including your dogs, what they eat.

Please take a minute and educate yourself if you haven't already. We have to power to change this but it's up to us to be involved.

Living In Paradise Has Its Price

Rattlesnake bit #2. How exhausting. On so many levels.

I Have Been Remiss....

....in blogging....no particular reason except sometimes I wonder why would someone blog at all? I could Facebook but as some of you know, I hate FB. So, I blog. But I have been remiss.

Cardiff & Khaliq are my new hearthrobs, Squishy has been STELLAR in training class. ALL the doggies (except Cardiff) went to my favorite vet an hour away for Heartworm checks (I don't do those ucky meds), 2 thyroid tests, one for Lana (she has to go every year) and Zoe, for the first time at 11. Zoe has a bladder infection (pooor Zo- E), but everyone's tests came back great on thyroid (and no bigger issues with the infection ~like pyo) and all negative on HW. I love my vet because she knows where I stand on natural rearing and she sees the results. So, she doesn't push stuff on me like some vets are known to do. She is worth the drive.

Ali'i is happy, as are all the horses. Aura was fitted with a new saddle (I returned a nearly brand new one, bought 2 years ago, so no $$ exchanged....yeah!!) and I'm figuring out what size EasyBoot Glove she'll wear. I have a size 2, 1.5, & 1 to fit. Shiiq & Sabi wear 00.5's all the way around. Ali'i wears 0.5's in the fronts. So, the scoop on this info is: Aura has nice big feet. 

We're going to see Secretariat this weekend with some friends. My first teenage idol. My first horse love. I'm sure I'll have a big post on that. I still can not watch The Belmont without crying, 37 years later. Truly, The Horse That God Built.

So, I sit here this morning and don't really have anything big to post. I thank God every day for my healthy body & mind (though I suppose my mind would be up for discussion with some) and am always glad to be able to have health. I love to park far away from stores because I am thankful I can walk the distance. And, of course, it's really never a distance. It's a joy to walk for me. My mom taught me to always be thankful. I miss her so much. She was so wise.

But, I have been remiss. Might be the email my cousin Karen sent me a few weeks ago that was so (shocking) and upsetting. Her husband, who she's been married to, for I will guess....30 years???, broke his leg a while back. Short story is, he wasn't healing and eventually was referred to UCLA. Her email to me at this point was that to save his life they were going to have to amputate his leg at the hip. All I could think about was "Lonesome Dove". Could I go thru with such a surgery? The thought permeated my mind for days and I just felt sick at the thought. But, with it have been so many prayers for Karen & Tom, and our family. Karen is so brave and so spiritual. She sent me several books after Pierre died that really saved me from the deep despair & grief that surrounded my whole being. I felt so much comfort, that this was my opportunity to grow and that I would see him again. What gifts.

In talking to her, she sounded so tired but had this incredible outlook on what was going to happen and how their lives were going to change. She could see it as an amazing opportunity to grow. An amazing opportunity to grow. Not how horrible it was going to be. Tom and Karen could see how important his journey was going to be for them but also for their grandchildren. His life and how he approached it would teach them volumes. Those children are growing up with incredible role models and how fortunate they are. Lives filled with riches.

Tom is doing well. Walking 3 times the distance that he is required. He's on his way home today and even though I know there is a lot of trepidation with the journey home and starting this new life, I am so proud of him. Karen calls him her hero. He is a hero for so many people, including myself. I continue to pray and look forward to hearing about his progress. So, this is my post for today. I am thankful.

 

Statement at the Regional U.S. Forest Service Management Roundtable

I just got this email from the president of our endurance club. (Gold Country Endurance Riders.) If you remember, we have a 30/50 mile endurance ride every July (since 1981, I believe) and this year, 3 weeks before the ride, the Forest Service said we needed to pay some $4300 for our application fee. They also said that it probably would go up the next year and they had no idea how much. Since our club maintains the trails (and dug the well at Dru Barner Park where ridecamp is stationed) and we have never paid a fee before, this came as a horrible shock. We canceled the ride. It seems we weren't the only group that has been harassed by the Forest Service. This statement by Congressman McClintock is really unbelievable. All I can say is things like this won't get ignored anymore with the power of the internet.

Statement at the Regional U.S. Forest Service Management Roundtable.

Collie Club of America National Specialty ~ 2010 ~ Pomona, CA

Another national over with and we're already thinking about next year! How crazy is that??

Driving on the way down I got to the base of the Grapevine and saw all these beautiful purple flowers all over the valley. I had to make a stop and take a picture, though it really doesn't do it justice.

I had left at zero-dark-thirty because I wanted to be able to have a lot of daylight to set up the Toy Hauler with all the punkies. I gave Tony a smoochy kiss as he was still asleep, but he did notice the Stuffed Lanas were not on the dresser. He says "Don't tell me you're taking the 'Stuffed Lanas'????"

That was a dumb question. Like they're going to bark and shit and get fur all over our pillows. (They were already in the Toy Hauler.) "Yes honey! It's the Collie National! They want to go too!!" (That and Gayle Kaye's Collie In America book which I was too exhausted to read.)

Off I was, taking my time and about as happy as I could be. Going in my Toy Hauler with all the punkies is just as wonderful as backpacking with the dogs. Simple life. No TV, just eating, sleeping and a whole bunch of collies.

The trip went great until I pulled into the RV section. Somehow I lost my ability to back and had 3 people telling me which way to turn my wheels. I must look like a total idiot because I always get someone to offer to back for me that is a true expert. I always refuse because I figure eventually (after 4 years) I could have the finesse of the best of backers. Not so. Somehow I kinked my plug-in by jack-knifing the ol' trailer and I lost my brakes. Well, they jammed. I couldn't move the van for the life of me. I guess that's what that brake cord is for. I was imagining my transmission blowing up and getting tranny fluid all over me and the dogs because that's what it felt like, but I don't know if diesels have trannies. Anyway, there is always an abundance of helpful men at dog shows and 2 or 3 showed up. One was Dale Heit of Timeless Collies. He offered to hold my plug-in together to give my van the juice back. What a guy. Stand between a big cargo van and a Toy Hauler while some yahoo blonde he doesn't knows tries to back in her RV spot. He eventually asked if I had duct tape (which I do from a year ago when the window seal broke loose) and he taped the line together. I just love guys who are so smart like that. 
 

Here are most of the punkies. Soleil is in a pen by herself. She couldn't wait to come in season just in time for the national.

Just looking at those awning arms makes me want to vomit. They're so violent looking! Imagine that awning rolling up REALLY FAST and your middle finger getting scissored between the metal arms. Gross.

Squishyness. The doggies, most of the time were either in the grooming area or in the trailer when we weren't there. At one point though, Seabiscuit had had enough and escaped to find some bitches to breed. Oh yeah. I heard on the loudspeaker that a sable boy was loose. Lana also went for a walk. Luckily it was a No. Calif. person who seemed fairly lighthearted about having my overly stressed Biscuit try and breed her bitches. At least the litter would be local.

Julie showed up later on in the afternoon. She's a better backer than I am, but she just drives one unit. It was really fun being set up with Julie and seeing all of her collies. We sat at her set-up for a while and I looked under my trailer because I could see Soleil's feet in her pen.

I was thinking what cute fluffy legs she has and those "snowball" feet. Then I realized they were the PVC legs on the bed. What a dufus!!!

Except then she was really standing there. Who needs TV when you can look at dog feet and be entertained???

After getting settled, Julie and I decided to breed Soleil. Since the breeder wants to remain anonymous on my blog, she will from now on be referred to the Breeder Who Prefers to Remain Anonymous. Or, BWPRA. More on that later.

On Tuesday, I went to Lancaster Station to visit with one of Pierre's partners, his captain (who is now a commander and retiring this week), and several wives and deputies. I always send flowers to the station on the anniversary of Pierre's death, and this year, I wanted to go to lunch with them, and they had flowers brought to the restaurant for me. I was really touched and didn't expect them to do that. I just wanted to see them on that day. It was a wonderful lunch and I really miss all of these people. Anyway, I had to transport the flowers back to Pomona, so I pride myself in how smart I am! (Except maybe backing my trailer or oh, keeping my finger out of the awning arms.)

Thank God I brought my Muck Boots (even though it wasn't suppose to rain) and keep an abundance of leashes in my van.

On the way back to Pomona I called Teri March who's husband (Dep. David March) was killed almost 8 years ago.( April 29, 2002.) We don't see each other a lot, but when we do (and this was in a Costco parking lot sitting in her car) she always has such insight into this process we're in. Because she's been married now 6 years and has 2 little ones with her husband, she was able to offer some advice I wasn't expecting and really needed at this time. I love you Teri. You are forever in my heart.

From there I stopped at the local repro vet and got a progesterone test on Soleil and some AI kits. I'm kinda a hillbilly when it comes to when it's time to breed. I watch my boy dogs. But, Julie wanted to pay for a test, so pay away Julie. I said Soleil would be ready by Friday and she was. I don't know who uses these AI kits from this particular vet but they look like they might be for very large animals. But, I'm kinda a hillbilly about AI~ing also.....so what do I know?? Anyway, they were tossed in the Toy Hauler until Friday.

Wednesday morning I watched Smooth class dogs but not because I was interested in any of them...

 

Here is Timeless Rivers Edge ~ Winners Dog at the CCA and littermate to a smooth Julie & I own. Isn't he darling???

Julie was doing agility and later I went over to help Sue Larson a little bit with stuff. I was the "chute fluffer". That was very fun. I felt like I was keeping up my exercise routine for Tevis. Then I helped hand out awards for a couple of classes. After that I went to start grooming our class dogs for the next day.

The next day Ty was entered but I pulled him. He was not going to show in that building, so I concentrated on Cory, his brother who was entered in American Bred. William Holbrook was judging dogs and gave us a 3rd in our class. I was pretty thrilled and Cory showed very well. He's easy, sweet and moves out on the leash.

Or bolts....Here we are coming into the ring. He was very happy.

Here's Tony. He was awesome at the show. He had left at 4 am to be there to see me show everyone. He even was holding a yucky slimy hotdog that Julie feeds her dogs. He used to not even hold the spray bottle for me, but now after holding the 1/2 chewed hotdog that another dog swallowed (and the handler insisted on pulling it out of the stomach of her dog and giving it back to us), a spray bottle must be ok. Just like training a Squishy, make some things hard, then the easy stuff is really easy!! Hehehehe!!!

Yeah!! Julie gave me his CCA Trophy Plate. I whined a little bit ~ how beautiful it was, but she has one for Cole and said since we co-bred and own Cory I could have it. Thank you Julie!! 

Isn't it lovely?????

From that class I was off to groom Soleil. She was in Bred-By Exhibitor and had 15 bitches in there. We didn't do anything, but I was ok with that. For me, just showing at the CCA is meaningful. And, she was very well-behaved! She only barked a few times and moved well.

This is Taylor, Miriam Stempler's Cole daughter. She has gorgeous side movement. Love watching her go around the ring. Not the best picture, but it's hard to get them from across the ring.

Fluffiest dog I've had in a long time! Isn't she cute???

After Soleil's class, June Bug went into American Bred. Shar, a poodle friend of Julie's showed her. She did a wonderful job. I really love June. She has Punky's coat, it looks like, but she's very cute, sweet and has a gorgeous outline.

 

That evening Julie, Shar, Tony & I and Dina went to the Host Hotel's bar for drinks and food. It was probably one of the worst $100 meals T & I have ever had. Dina and I had to send our margaritas back and get something else and I don't know what made us order steaks, but I couldn't even cut mine. Normally I'm easy to please and Tony is also. He inhaled his, but not because it was good, he hadn't eaten all day. From then on, we ate at the Toy Hauler.

Anyway, Julie made friends with a couple sitting next to us. They were relocating from Georgia, I think, to the Claremont/Pomona area. Anyway, they stood up to take a picture of all of us and I thought, "How cool is that? They want a picture to remember us by". Another blonde moment. It was Julie's camera. 

Friday finally came ~ the day of the scheduled breeding. Our BWPRA & husband were very busy showing til the very end of the day. Then there were pictures. Then they went to the CCA Quarter Century Banquet and BWPRA said she would call or text us when they were done and we'd do the breeding. I wasn't sure how I'd stay up, so T and I went to bed. At 11:05 pm, Julie called me and said our liaison was going to happen now. I crawled out of bed and tried not to fall on top of T and wake him up, or trip down the ladder. Outside Julie is waiting and we mention to each other how crazy we are. Come to find out BWPRA & husband are equally crazy. I think alcohol was involved, but I'd be drinking too if I had to take pictures at the CCA. Anyway, I walk Soleil and we meet up with BWPRA & Handsomely Studly and after a brief interlude in the grass, we are off to BWPRA's RV. She is very funny and tells us she locked her and husband out of the RV and he had to stuff her thru the kitchen window to get inside. She's very talented because not only can she get thru very small RV windows and not do any bodily damage, she is very talented with holding a dog with her legs while she multi-tasks with her hands. This is what I like about the hillbilly way of breeding. You just put them together and then you can have both your hands AND your feet to do other things!

Anyway, Handsomely Studly was very talented also and even though his little guys looked very small (or we lost some on the way to the RV), I really think had the ELEPHANT AI'd in that bag, it would all be relative! BWPRA & husband were very entertaining and I only wished I could have had the camera there. We planned to meet the next night for some more of the same and we were all off to bed (carrying Soleil so none of the guys fell out).

Sat morning came. Juniors were showing at 9am. I sold Layla, Ch. Entais Exquisitely to a great girl named Dannon. Layla unfortunately had to be spayed and Dannon was going to do agility with her, but her 9 yr old daughter Kaitlynn told her "Mommy, I'll take over Layla now and show her". A child with a plan.

Kaitlynn was so adorable and Layla was very cute with her. Kaitlin won her class of 5 (little) juniors and got to go in for Best Junior. She was a crowd pleaser and I think this won't be the last time she'll be in the ring.

Cute, cute, cute. Layla finished very easily, had some nice all-breed BOV's out of the classes (in huge specials competition) and also some Bred-By Exhibitor Group wins & placements. Kaitlynn and her showed like a real team.

Getting some advice from our past president Bob Futh. How cute is that???    

After Juniors I was off to start grooming Tirzah and Coley Bear. Julie was off doing some other stuff with him and found out she WASN"T going to win Most Versatile Collie. Apparently, even though he was in second place, winning Best of Breed wouldn't put him up there. The pressure was off of me, but Julie was sad.

Maybe if she would have given him a bigger crate he could have performed better. I thought I was chintzy!!!

The amazing dog still has a great attitude though!

Off to trim trim trim brush brush brush!

I called everyone I knew in So. Calif. that cared so I would have more than 2 people clapping for Tirzah and Cole. Pierre's 2 daughters Kristina and Alicia showed up with their boyfriends. They were great cheerleaders!!

Love you Miss you!!!!!!!

Almost ready but a quick run to the bathroom.

In case anyone is missing these, they are in the handicapped stall in the bathroom near obedience. (I seriously had to run back to the set-up to get my camera for a photo. Tooo funny!!!!)

In the Ready-Ring with Ed lining up dogs and my OES friend Marilyn. She looks like she's evaluating whether to brush Cole's butt up. Thank God I told her to keep her hands off!! Touché Marilyn!!

 

I was the first one in my group and when Carl walked up, I was trying to keep Cole's head down. He walked up and said "Move back". So I did and then he says "Oh, I can see why you were standing in front of him". I laughed and said "Are you being mean?". I thought he meant Coley Bear was not so pretty to look at. Carl got all embarrassed and said "Oh no, I mean, because you were keeping him from jumping on you". He apologized several times that that's not what he meant. I just laughed. I really like Carl and also loved watching him judge. To me, he was very easy to follow and knew what he wanted.

Anyway, we got dumped so.....seems I was right. Hehehehe......

        
Tirzah was in the last group. I got so many compliments on her and we got dumped also, but I knew at least her eyeballs were going to be too much for our judge. 

In the Ready-Ring.

Tony took a bunch of pictures for me. What a guy!!! LOVE YOU T!!!!

Photo Opp with Lee Runnels. She looks like she's holding a dead animal. Her Desi daughter won Veteran Bitch. She always makes me laugh.

Nervous brushing. Licky Licky is so tolerant.

That's it. I know you've probably seen enough photos of our dogs to last a lifetime, but in case you haven't and want to watch videos, go over to Julie's blog at: http://easytospot.blogs.com/easy_to_spot/

After Best of Breed was won (Ch. Fantasy's Rising Dragon ROM) we were off to start packing all of our stuff. Fluffy, dirty, chalky stuff. I hate that part.

Another breeding was done and this time BWPRA came to my Toy Hauler with the Elephant bag and tossed it next to Tony's cheese and salami he was trying to inhale. T is really getting so tolerant of the little things. Handsomely Studly was again amazing and now we just wait. BWPRA was very, very wonderful to deal with and I'm sure she thinks she's involved with the girls from Collie Breeding Hell, but she sure laughed a lot. So, we can only assume she likes us. Hahahaha........

The next morning, of course the finger smashing occurred and then a very, very long drive home. I didn't have rear lights on my Toy Hauler because of the plug-in chomping incident, so Tony stayed behind me the whole way up Interstate 5. It was good because he'd pave the way for me to pass, though he did mention he hopes it's a LONG time before he follows the ol' "Fun Runner". It's like driving into a brick way for 7 hours. After the awning incident, I might be getting closer to trading in the ol' Toy Hauler. 

Getting home was good. The goats were picked up by Adam a few days before because there was a goat death at the neighbor's home due to coyotes. We were so glad to see them safe and sound. Thank you Adam and Joanie. The bestest neighbors EVER!!

Awwwwwhhhhhhhhh.........home......

Now, my life is all about Tevis. 

The OES National ~ Dixon, CA

I went to the Old English Sheepdog National in Dixon last week to help Marilyn, my friend from Acton. She had Hana & her sisters (Betty & Millie) and their dad Ch. Love'n Stuff Mak'n a Difference. I took SeaB so we could spend some quality time together at the dog show next to several in-season bitches and I was officially a "bucket bitch" for Marilyn and her sister Kristi. It was so interesting to see their national compared to going to the Collie Nationals as in comparison theirs was like going to a very nice local specialty. Their entry was about 88 dogs total. Ours can go up to 1200, worse possible entry around 600-700. Anyway, I had a great time and in the smaller classes could call the winners for the most part. This is not a breed I could own, but I have to say these Old English have the NICEST temperaments and the building was EXTREMELY quiet with almost no barking. A room full of OES laying on tables, quiet, getting teased. Hairspray and no hysterical brushing at ringside or even in the ring. Apparently when they are done, don't touch them! Or, Diana, don't touch them!!! Their hair is all backwards from our collies (heads fluffed up, necks down, butts up!). At ringside I was given specific instructions to not touch the dog, nor let anyone touch the dog. I had Hana at ringside because Marilyn had back to back classes and I felt like such a pet person!! She kept touching her rear on me as she watched her mom and I had no idea I might be de-fluffing the butt!!! OMGosh!!! So Soooorrrrryyyyyyyy!!!!!!!!

Anyway, Marilyn got some nice class placements and Stud Dog with Sherman. But, the next day at the all-breed with still a very nice entry (some 40 dogs or so), she was Breed. They only need 4 dogs for a major so I kept saying as I was marking their catalogue, that did the WD/WB win a 12 pt major?????? Wooozeeee!!!!!!

Here is Marilyn and her special. I love these pictures!

I like the one in the background with the "splash"! Kind of like a pinto horse! Marilyn said in England they were not um, desirable ~ those "splashy" OES!!