ONE WORD

HOT

FOLDED LIKE A CHEAP SUIT

Yep, I folded again, just like a poorly made suit.  90 degrees and climbing steadily, dew points in the oppressive category, a breeze that makes no difference and I can't get a deep breath outside.  Let's just say that there is no lack of dog crates in my home today.  Trace, Charlie, Kit and Reid all got moved to the livingroom and I managed to squeak another crate into the space between the doorway and the loveseat for Pixie.  Poor Joy is in season so she is pushed up against the pantry door in the kitchen by herself.  The remainder are in the dog room and everyone else is without crate.  But I can divide them all up and it's okey dokey.  Mealtime and potty breaks will be a mess for a day.  I am praying it will get better by 11 p.m. and I can put dogs back into outside kennels for the night.  Those insulated igloo dog houses actually keep them cool as well as warm. 
Thankfully I got up at 5 a.m. this morning and cycled all of the dogs into yards for a good 3 hour run before it started to warm up.  And I managed to finish the mowing by 7:30 a.m. for the same reason.  After a quick run into town and refilling water buckets with cool water for the 2nd time, I just couldn't stand it.
So I'm a weenie...sue me...
Until next time I'm off to take a short nap...

FOUND: ONE GARDEN

Eureka!  I have discovered the garden!  It only took 3 hours of weeding this a.m. so I call it a success.  The beans as I thought are a loss.  Rabbit.  Bad Rabbit.  I have placed a Wanted Poster in the dog room--dead or alive (preferably dead) rabbit, reward will be one extra large chicken thigh in your dinner.  After all, the dogs do sometimes need an incentive.
The garden surprised me today.  The tomatoes that I had pretty much given up on are enormous and flowering--yippee!!  And the beets that the rabbit ate the tops off of are actually growing although they look a bit sad on the top.  The peppers, peas, squash and cucs are flowering and of course my onions had been going great guns since they were first planted.  My hopes of being able to put up pickles, tomatoes, sauces and salsa may actually turn out, fingers crossed.  The peaches will be ready to get as of July 1 and I have plans to can them and make some jam.  Oh and the herbs I planted are lovely.  I picked thyme, rosemary and oregano to put in my roasted chicken tonight.  The lavender is close to being able to start some small harvesting and drying.  It's going to be a homemade Christmas my dear family and friends.  I promise not to poison anyone or make any of Aunt Bea's Kerosene Cucumbers.  ;-)
Oh and this past weekend Jean spotted a huge asparagus patch that I didn't know what it was.  In fact I thought it was just another bunch of weeds along the field fencing.  So I guess next year asparagus gets harvested too.  The apple trees had a nice amount of blooms this spring so I am hoping that I will get apples to pick this fall for something.  Jean slices and freezes hers for pies, etc.  I might have to try that one.  Or maybe I can dry some of them and put them with the lavender for potpourri...hmm...ideas....
Until next time...

IT WAS A GOOD DAY AT THE DOG SHOW...

Actually it was a good weekend at the dog show!  On Sat. Jean's baby Cardigan, Hoover was Winners Dog  for his first 3 pt major!  That's made 4 points/1 major in just two days of showing!  My Declan was Reserve and John's Musca also was Reserve.  But Splash made up for it by going in and taking another Select with John.  Rough Collies went well, the baby looked like a long legged, very out of coat baby and was last in his class.  Daddy Bryce with Sahra won the Open Sable class.  The ladies, Spice and Lolli duked it out in the Open Sable girl class and came out 2nd and 3rd respectively to a nice bitch owned by Michelle Struble.  Poor Lolli looks like she has been plucked by chickens, she desperately needs to regrow her coat for the fall shows.
The weather was dreary but not hot and we got a bit sprinkled on.  Jean and I took turns attempting to take pics with John's camera.  As usual I took 600 shots and got 2 good ones, which I might point out is a pretty decent average for me. I think I inherited my mom's talent for cutting off the head's of people.  Although I sure got the dogs into the shot, so there!  :-)
Local shows are always so much fun with exhibitors that I know from other breeds that I get to see only at local shows.   And I got to reconnect once again with old friends.  Time goes by but it's comforting to know that overall things don't change much and I believe most people that know me well understand that I tend to drift out and back into their lives. 
Today was another stellar day--the sun was shining and the day was hot but not humid.  A blessing for sure since Iowa City tends to be stormy and humid most years.  We began the day with Smooth Collies and Declan was Winners Dog and Best of Winners for 1 point, followed by John's Musca in girls with Winners for a point.  That put's Muscas at needing 2 points to finish.  John once again piloted Splash to a win, and came out with Best of Opposite Sex to Cody showing Carson for Best of Variety.  Onward to Cardigans where John showed Slick to Reserve Winners to the major.  Not to shabby for a dog with no coat at all and a happy tail.  I loved it when Slick decided every 20 feet or so to sit down and try and scratch off his collar.  Roughs were early this afternoon and I was dragging along.  Reid again was 3rd in his class but as usual had a blast showing.  Is there anything more endearing than a Collie that loves everything??  Our friends, Kellie and Roger Barry finished their boy, Refund, at the show today going Best of Winners to take the crossover major!  I was so happy for them and send huge Congrats again!  Rough girls was a repeat of Sat. but gosh Spice and I had a blast!  I love her so much and she and I have finally clicked together, which I think is because we have spent so much time working on obedience and agility together.  It's paying off with her breed ring performance for sure.  Mary Ebert had her girl Tanzie out in open blue class and won the class today!  It was Tanzie's first show and she handled it grandly.  Tanzie is a daughter of the much beloved, Toby and I can really see his movement and Tanzie's great granny, Crystal, in her.  I think Mary will have a good time with her for sure.  I also heard that our good friends up Minnesota way had a terrific time at the shows in Cambridge MN--way to go guys! 
It was a good couple of days at the dog show!  Now back to reality and off to clean kennels and mow lawn.
Until next time...

Why?

Why does it keep raining?  That just makes weeds and grass grow.  Between bouts of showers I managed to weed the cucumbers and zucchini.  Tomorrow--more rain forecast. 

Why must all the dogs visit the barn on rainy days?  That just makes wet, muddy and of course stinky dogs.  Which leads to dogs confined to crates to dry.  Which leads to more towels for the laundry.  Tomorrow--more rain forecast.

Why does America's Got Talent draw so many outstandingly horrifically weird performances?  I use the term performance loosely here.  On the other hand, there are plenty of truly interesting and talented acts.  It's a little like bright pieces of sunshine between severe weather outbreaks.  Tomorrow--more rain forecast.

Why do I blog about inane items as above?  Maybe it has something to do with rain...

Until nex time...

HITS AND MISSES

According to the latest edition of A Dog's Eye View at Maiwae, it was a hit and miss kind of day.

Hits:  Sunshine, good breeze, cool water, hours of play and nap time in the yards, being hand fed chicken (the REAL stuff!), hugs and snuggles.

Misses:  Walking around on a leash (what are we, dogs?!?), standing on a tall table (might be considered a hit since we got to watch the cows), the EVIL dremel and being hosed down with listerine (okay, it isn't a hose, but still...).

Seeing as we had a quorum a vote was in order.  It has been decided that more chicken and snuggles must continue to be presented upon demand.  We will continue to tolerate the hosing of smelly stuff with only minor grumbling, but the dremel has got to go!

The Dogs

PLOTTING...

TRACE AND CHARLIE

Show News

Spice and I headed out to Ft. Dodge this morning in the fog.  I'd like to thank the weather angels for giving us a rain free and cloudy day.  Jean arrived first and got prime shade parking just yards from the building.  Charlie and Trace road along for a bit of torturous "be good" time.  They were perfect gentlemen and I got the cutest pic of them pouting in the crate together.  It's difficult to determine which one of them is the instigator of mayhem and which one is the follower.  I guess it doesn't matter, they have each others back.  Trace ducks between the gate and the post and Charlie flies over the fence, both to freedom.  But I digress. 
Spice was Reserve Winner's Bitch today and I was tickled!  I haven't shown her much and try to leave the grooming to Sahra so that Spice actually looks good, but today I was on my own for grooming and showing.  In a way I am grateful that she is out of coat, it is certainly easier to deal with.  I felt she looked glorious albeit a bit bare, and wow it felt great to move her out in the ring.  She is a fun dog to show and I look forward to spending more time showing her this year.  Jean had a terrific day with her Hoover puppy in Cardigans and I brought home 10 frozen homegrown chickens.  The dogs have backs and necks and the gross stuff like hearts, etc.  I have awesome cut up chickens to cook.  One is thawing for Sunday dinner.  And yet again off topic, the garden is yielding some darn good onions right now and my herbs, with the exception of my basil, is looking great.  I picked thyme and lavender the other day, put the thyme in my salad and the lavender is still on the window sill.  It smells like spring and once it is dried, well guess what everyone I know is getting for Christmas this year?  Along with my own pickles and homemade salsa if the stupid tomato plants every pick up the pace.  The pepper, cucumbers and squash all look good.  The rabbit(s) have about taken out the beans.  Bad Rabbit.  The peas are hiding in the weeds.  Bad Judy.
Next week I'm off to the local Iowa City show with Spice and Declan.  Declan is about as ready as he is going to get at this point without me waiting indefinitely, he has leveled out and his head is good again, so we will play.  I'm going to try and show him myself.  Let us pray.
Until next time...

IT FIGURES

It figures.  Enter one hairy dog in a show.  Said dog then blows all of her coat.  It figures.

Liking This New Toy

It's only a $25 Vivitar from Walmart with a $10 memory card added in, but for $35 it's providing some real fun for me.  This is a video of Harold and Kit in one of the new play areas.  I wanted to get some video of Kit's movement to pass on for review.  It's not Oscar winning videography but it'll do.

MWCR

What is MWCR?  It is Minnesota Wisconsin Collie Rescue, a simply wonderful organization that works tirelessly for Collies in need of new homes.  It's been a very long time since I did rescue in any form, whether it was fostering or transport and when this opportunity to lend a hand came up, I had to pitch in.  Right now I have all the time in the world to work with and care for the extra dogs so with a little extra work in obtaining kennels and putting them together we were ready to go.  My heartfelt thanks go out to Sahra and John Jola for pitching in.  Sahra groomed all 9 dogs including the horrid shave down for old Rosy and John spent the holiday weekend designing and putting together the kennel spaces and new huge running area for the extra furry kids.  Here are the dogs that will soon be available for adoption through MWCR (with the exception of Rosy, who has her own video posted on the blog previously).  Please go to MWCR's website for updates and to see the Collies there right now that need homes:    http://www.mwcr.org/     

TORI - AGE 8

ABBY - AGE 8

GEM - AGE 5

HOPE - AGE 3 (BLIND IN LEFT EYE)

JOY - AGE 3

MATT - AGE 6

NESSA - AGE 3

PIXIE - AGE 3

Rosie Video

THE WAR

It's hot hot out.  Not normal summer hot, but that blistering mid-July hot designed to make a person long to be up to the ears in a shaded, cool swimming pool holding an ice cream cone in one hand and a cold beer in the other.  So of course today is the day that Charlie and I begin our War.  Charlie is a sweet, loving, definitely a suck up for attention, a typical Border Collie doggy.  He has been very obedient for the most part until just recently.  This is my fault.  I let some behaviors slid and now I have to gain back some of the territory he has pilfered in the pre-War maneuvers. 
Today we fought the Battle of Here.  It started on the way out of the gate to go and get the mail.  It was the day for Trace and Charlie to go with me and I should have known it was not going to end well.  Apparently Trace is Swiss and decided not to side with either army of one.  He was obedient and listened and ignored all the other commotions.  Trace has probably handed off the information gathered to Spice who will no doubt form some type of fact finding committee and head up the peace talks.
Charlie dislikes a leash.  I have a feeling he finds it somewhat degrading, but more likely he just does not want to give up any image that he is in control.  To keep him from racing the dogs in the yard on the way back from the mail box, I asked him to "here" so I could put a leash on him.  His retreat was stunningly expedient and I knew the battle had begun.
The other dogs were put in the house.  I put the leash away.  The I hunted the little bugger down.  He thought he was entrenched and hiding under the LP tank.  His camouflage was spotty and I pulled him out by a hind leg and his tail.  We had the "name, rank, serial number" talk along with, I said HERE.  Dropped him where I had called him the first time and he took off for the gate to the house yard.  After 14 (yes 14!) skirmishes and 20 sweaty minutes he finally caved and did a "HERE" from 20 feet. 
I won the battle, but the war will be hell.
Until next time...

SLEEPING BEAUTY

This is Rosy.  She will be 11 years old soon.  She was an indoor dog who has spent the past 2 years outside in a kennel in not the best conditions.  Sahra, bless her, came and shaved her down.  She was matted to the skin and most of it came off in a "pelt".  She and her kennel mates all had to be treated for hookworms and whipworms so she had to spend the past week in quarantine here on the farm.  But after another bath and blow out today she is now in the house enjoying her stay here as one of the old dogs.  She's better off than Maddy, Rosy can still get on the sofas to sleep.  Poor Maddy can't make that anymore because of her rear end.  But that's okay because she has a fluffy dog bed and of course I put her into my bed at night.
Once Rosy's intake is complete she will be available for adoption through Minnesota Wisconsin Collie Rescue, as well as the other 8 dogs she was with.  I'll post more on those later as they are all here in foster care.

Yep

You know you live in the middle of nowhere when you can hang out laundry at 6:30 a.m. in your nightie and work boots. 

Bits and Pieces

There isn't much news to report, but the news is great!  Beijing (GRCH Oak Knolls Olympic Games, RN) now has his HT!  All he needs is that CD and he will have his CCA Versatility Award.  Beijing is owned by John Jola/Allstar Collies and his breeder Peppi Anstett/Anstett Collies.  Plans are for Beijing to spend some quality time down here on the farm so we can have some more bonding time and work together for that CD.  I'm so excited about Beijing, of course he is a tri smooth boy and those are my favorites.  I can't wait to have a little Beijing of my own some day.

Our baby Reid (Int/Ntl Ch. Maiwae's Allstar Singular Sensation, RN) earned his first HT leg with co-owner/co-breeder Sahra Jola/Allstar Collies.  He is just 11 months old and it's hard to believe he has done so much this first year of life.  If he holds coat he'll be out showing in June in the breed ring.

On the home front spring had sprung and then winter butted back in, followed by a preview blast of summer, and now we are sort of back into spring.  The garden is almost in.  I put the beans, squash and cucumbers in today.  The onions, peas and beets are peeking thru, although I think I lost some of my onions to possibly a mole or two.  Pesky buggers.  Oh well at least it's not a groundhog.  The tomatoes and peppers have to wait a couple of days.  We had a frost warning on Monday night for heaven's sake.  I have some plants that I started from seed that are doing well, except now I can't remember what I planted.  I know there are some shasta daisys and purple coneflower, but I'm not sure what is what and there are some shade perennials in there too.  Yep, that was a new project this spring.  The dogs have pretty well destroyed what grass was under the big tree in the front.  So I put up fence and a gate and have decided it is a shade garden.  There are a few new plants and I divided hostas again.  Some of it is doing well, some of it hasn't come up yet. They are probably afraid to wake up and face the chilly mornings and evenings.  Of course now that the dogs aren't in the area now I have grass coming in too.  Not sure what the heck to do about that.  I believe I will table it to the "later" pile in my mind.
I am pretty proud of one accomplishment so far this spring.  I changed the oil, the sparkplug and the handle-tightening thingys on the mower.  And it actually started!  I feel for this mower.  This is year 3 of mowing around an acre of land and this isn't a riding mower folks, it's a pusher.  Tonight I finished about 1/3 of the big field.  Speaking of the big field, I finally got kennel panels moved down there 2 weekends ago.  I had enough to go within 20 feet of covering the entire back side!  Yippee!!  Dave has fence for me that I will put out there and then I'll have to see what I actually have to buy to finish the yard.  I spent a good deal of time planning out the area and now it appears to be one really huge yard and a 25 x 50 run near the building under a big tree.  I'd still like to be able to split the big yard in 2 or 3 sections, but I also don't want alot of fence running and right now I don't want to loose my giamongus agility area.  Speaking of which, still need to complete that project. 
As usual we are in training mode, or my version of training mode.  This mostly consists of brief bits and pieces here and there, some during the daily walk to the mail, Mondays at herding, and the odd visits here and there.  I am awful.  I should have a schedule, but I can't get into that.  Our next adventures in training will consist of walks in downtown Manchester and along the trails.  Seems Spice needs practice doing her obedience thing in different places.  With gas at $3.85 a gallon those trips to Waterloo, Dubuque and Cedar Rapids for Petco visits are shelved.
Hmm..sheep...I digress.  See above mower comments to catch up.  I am tired of push mowing the acreage.  The lawnmower is tired of push mowing the acreage.  This is another reason to get the fence up around the field.  It will be dog and SHEEP friendly.  I'm not talking a herd, just 3 sheep to keep the grass here and across the road at the empty farmstead thru the fall.  Of course this means I also have to find the resources to put up a round pen to work them in. 
So much to do!  I'm excited about this year, I think that's a recurring theme in my posts.  The furry kids and I are hoping to get out to a couple of June shows, I'm hoping to get Spice back out, Declan is on hiatus until he stops his current growth phase, there are various dogs that need one leg of something or another, Sahra will have Reid out showing too.
So until next time...

Confessions: Charlie Hoarding

Charlie is a hoarder.  There will soon be an Animal Planet show dedicated to him.  At first it was toys in the corner piled high.  Now it is bones, in a row.  So he may also be OCD.  Is there a 12 step program for Border Collies?

And so it begins...

I got my week of rest post-National and now we are rolling again.  Monday brought herding lessons.  Bryce and Sahra looked really good and she's started naming the directions.  Beijing and I had focus issues.  I don't want to say which one of us was worse, but he did manage to settle in and do some nice turns.  It's mostly on my part being quick enough to block him so he learns to turn with a more subtle cue, then I can start naming his turns too.  Baby Reid was all go with a nice stop at the end.  We are going to work on WAIT and some kind of distinct signal this week.  If it would stop raining. 
And where are we off to next?  Spice and I are off to a UKC Conformation show to dip our toe into another venue.  Followed by a weekend of herding with Bryce, Beijing and Reid.  Time to finish off those first titles, as Declan re-starts classes next week.  And I still haven't tried Harold yet.  Charlie won't start until August, so that gives me time to get another dog or two on the road for HT's before I start yet another.  I desperately need my own stock. 
The local UKC club is doing a rally/obedience trial the next week but I have some plans and while I hope to enter date of show on one day, I'm disappointed that so much always is on the same weekends!  Ugh, I need to be two or three people LOL!  Good heavens, Key City is after that and I haven't figured out who is doing what.  No breed ring stuff, just some obedience and rally that weekend if I can swing it.  And we haven't even looked at June yet.  Although I have a couple of ideas that could make the month pretty full. 
Now I need a good dependable "kennel" sitter.  There are just some shows I cannot drag all 8 dogs along for.  So the search is on for someone willing to come and do chores twice a day and/or stay at the house especially for Maddy. 
Sahra and I have a breeding planned for late fall, check my webpage for details.  I am so looking forward to more babies.  Of course I already know what I want, a nice tri rough girl to call Nan, or maybe Fran.  Which means I will fall in love with another "ugly brown dog", no doubt white factored and male.  I guess the only plus to that would be the nice brace it would make with Reid.  But then again, showing Reid and a his counterpart might be a bit on the terrifying side.
Until next time...check back for updates...it's gonna be a busy year!

COLLIE CLUB OF AMERICA NATIONAL SPECIALTY 2011

We survived the week at the Collie National Specialty in Tulsa OK!  It was an absolutely wonderful week and I cannot wait to do it again.  This is a photo that John took of our display table showing all the rosettes the dogs won during the week.  There is one missing, John's dog Beijing (GRCH Oak Knolls Olympic Games, RN) was a Versatile Collie qualifier and received a lovely green on green rosette.  The table also included a photo slide show of our training and showing over the past 6 months as well as updated photos from the events of the week.  There are an amazing number of professional quality photographs that John Jola of Allstar Collies took during the week on the Facebook page for Allstar Collies.  The photos are available to see by anyone that is interested.  You don't have to be an Allstar Collies friend to see them.  I encourage you all to go and look. 
We began the week at herding.  The location in Ponca City OK at Linda Holloway's was perfect.  The sun was shining and the wind was typical "sweeping down the plains" type.  The three of us were sun and windburned, alternately too hot and too cool but the dogs had it perfect under the EZUp.  The herding Collie community is so warm and welcoming that I am totally hooked on trialing now.  We had so much success for our first outing with green dogs!  Bryce earned his first PT leg and Beijing earned his first HT leg!  Baby Reid came THIS close to both HT legs.  See Bad Judge on day 1 and Handler Error on day 2 for more info LOL!
After herding we moved 2 hours down the road to Tulsa and unloaded the trailer.  The show site was fab--drive in unloading within 30-40 feet of our set up area.  Which was good because we were already on the tired side.  Day three brought Declan in 12-18 month puppy class.  He showed like an old hand under John and managed to behave and look like a show dog.  I was very impressed with him as usual.  Of course I love him.  Bryce and I did not qualify in agility.  This was my fault, gee who would have thought that??  I also learned that fast at Amherst Junction COULD become faster in Tulsa.  The judge had super courses that allowed for alot of build up of speed and Bryce turned on the SSTs!  The next day while Musca was being prepped to show, Bryce ran agility again and this time I am blaming him.  The bugger missed the first obstacle--well he jumped it, but it was the tire and he jumped thru the side.  So technically I'm sure Bryce feels he fullfilled his part.  :-)  I love that dog!  Musca also showed her heart out.
The next two days were a blur.  Sahra showed Bryce in Open A and Rally Excellent B and q'd in rally for his RE title!  She also showed Musca and Lolli in Rally Novice B and q'd both for their RN's!  Then there was the big rush to get both Reid and Lolli ready for showdog.  Reid was in rough bred by and was the first dog into the ring.  I cannot express how overwhelming it felt to have such a quality dog at such a young age (10 months) showing in bred-by!  Reid put on his work face and made it look easy. 
Good heavens--what day are we on?  I don't know they all blended together after a while.  I kept saying "weekend".  Apparently there was not enough caffeine flowing.  Second obedience/rally day brought more q's with Bryce in Excellent; Musca in Novice, Lolli in Novice with a 4th Place! and baby Reid in Rally Novice with a q and his new RN!  Bryce also earned his CDX with a fourth place!  Woo-hoo!!  I didn't get to see it because I was hurrying to do finish grooming on Beijing so he could go into Best of Variety class.  By now the rosettes are piling up along with the legs and titles!  To put the icing on the cake, Beijing qualifed as a Versatile Collie at the National Specialty showing in Best of Variety, qualifying in Herding Tested and Rally Novice!  He was the ONLY Grand Champion qualifier! 
I am so proud of our dogs and all the hard work that has been put into them to perform so well at the speciality.  On the way home plans have already been made for this year's goals.  We need to finish up some herding titles, get some new dogs started and finish up agility and obedience stuff.  Declan is out of breed showing for a couple of months so I can work on other stuff, Musca needs 3 singles to finish, baby Reid has COAT and will be out showing as well as Lolli until she blows her coat out.  And Spice still has coat, so she is off to find a few minor points and do some other stuff too.  Jam needs one BN leg and 2 RE legs.  Harold needs to get out and do some APDT rally.  Oh my---we have work to do!!! 
Stay tuned for further updates...but first a couple of days of rest...

I CAN SLEEP WHEN I'M DEAD....AND OTHER THINGS THOUGHT ABOUT AT 4 A.M.

Another "bright" idea gone horribly awry.  Sometime way back at the end of last summer I said, "Let's go to the Collie Club of America National Specialty show".  I was sure we would all have a great time even though it's a long road trip to Tulsa, OK.  "What should we enter?" I asked.  (This is where Sahra and John should have been smart and run for the hills).  That question quickly snowballed from a couple of dogs in conformation, to several dogs in rally and obedience, to Bryce in agility and finally in one last desperate act to completely separate my brain from my body, herding.  Oh yea, that's right, it will be a totally all week event for the three of us.  I have been reminded frequently that it is all my fault.  Bright ideas and all that.
So I sit here on the computer at what is now 5 a.m. after being up all night doing final packing, checking off lists and tripping over dogs that KNOW I have lost my mind.  My motto--I can sleep when I'm dead, or after the National, whichever comes first.  I am still pretty amazed at how much I can condense into various totes.  By the way, thank you to the inventor of the rubbermaid type tote.  Oh yes, and the inventor of duct tape.  A story for another time.  Oh, did I mention that in order to save on driving, we are all going in the same van with 7 dogs and had to rent a trailer for the mountain of stuff?  I get nauseous when I look at the staging area (otherwise known as the garage).  My prayers are with John who gets to pack it all in. 
All kidding aside, I am totally tickled that we are almost ready to hit the road.  I can't wait to get there and see some people I haven't seen in a very long time.  There are new dogs to look at and a first time try for Sahra and I herding with the Collies.  I am also honored to be running Sahra's Bryce in agility.  So what does a week at the Collie National entail?  Sun/Mon--herding with 3 dogs, move to show site Monday after herding (why is herding always 2 hrs away from the show site?)  Tues--conformation and agility followed by the welcome party and gifts!  Wee ha!  I hope it's something sparkly!  Wed--more conformation and the round of 1 dog in open obeidence, 1 in novice obedience and beginner novice obedience, 1 in rally excellent, 1 in rally advanced and 4 in rally novice.  Lather, rinse, repeat on Thursday, where there is the likely possibility of conflicts.  Which means I may have to show Bryce in rally.  Friday is a fun, easy day with one dog in Best of Variety.  Then a day of watching on Saturday and fingers crossed, at least 2 of the dogs qualifying for Most Versatile Collie at the specialty. 
I'm saying prayers for no more annoying problems and roadblocks, good weather, safe travel, sticky goats, sturdy knee braces, the economy sized bottle of ibuprofen and a few rosettes, ribbons and titles along the way.  My grateful thanks to everyone that was roped into watching the other kids while Spice, Declan, Reid and I head "where the winds come sweeping down the plains"--Jean who has a very pouty Trace, Deb and Scott with Jam (who I hear excels at taking up real estate), Chrisy and Nick with Harold (EGADS! It's a rough!), John who took back one only slightly overspoiled Charlie, and Lance who has fallen for Maddy.  I am particularly happy that Maddy is staying with someone who loves her and not in the kennel for the 10 days. 
Okay, time to do a final checklist sweep and move more stuff to the staging area.  We circle the wagons on Saturday!
Until next time...