Sunday, June 14, 2009
Sunday in NC
OK - things were not as bad as feared here. The building at the show site has large garage doors at each end and ceiling fans. We stayed through BIS and it was really pretty pleasant.
I'll post some pictures when I get home. It is really beautiful here. If you are familiar with the book\movie "Cold Mountain," the story is set here and the movie was filmed here.
Our motel sits high on a ridge looking out across a lovely valley. Yesterday evening, Cheryl and sat out on gliders they have out on the lawn here.
The rooms have balconies overlooking the valley as well. When I checked in Friday nightn the room was hot so I opened the sliding glass door and went out. A few minutes later, I noticed Spence was nowhere to be found. Then I saw that the dividers between rooms on the balcony stopped about a foot from the floor. Spncer had gone a-visiting.
Luckily he was lured back quickly with the promise of dinner. Of course all weekend he stayed close the door hoping to sneak out again.
We don't show until about 2:00 this afternoon, so we have been enjoying a lazy day today.
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I'll post some pictures when I get home. It is really beautiful here. If you are familiar with the book\movie "Cold Mountain," the story is set here and the movie was filmed here.
Our motel sits high on a ridge looking out across a lovely valley. Yesterday evening, Cheryl and sat out on gliders they have out on the lawn here.
The rooms have balconies overlooking the valley as well. When I checked in Friday nightn the room was hot so I opened the sliding glass door and went out. A few minutes later, I noticed Spence was nowhere to be found. Then I saw that the dividers between rooms on the balcony stopped about a foot from the floor. Spncer had gone a-visiting.
Luckily he was lured back quickly with the promise of dinner. Of course all weekend he stayed close the door hoping to sneak out again.
We don't show until about 2:00 this afternoon, so we have been enjoying a lazy day today.
Sent via BlackBerry by AT&T
Saturday, June 13, 2009
I love my GPS, except when . . .
I HATE IT!! Guess which one it is tonight (or rather this morning.)
Gail let me down tonight. I was driving through the Smoky Mtns on I-40 on the way to a show in Waynesville, NC. We've never been to this show site - this is their inaugural show.
All of a sudden, Gail completely lost contact with the satellites and left me stranded without a clue. I am too tired to go into just how lost I was, but I finally got myself back in the general area where my motel is when the satellites magically reappeared and Gail cheerily started navigating me again towards the Days Inn. She sounded so pleased with herself when she announced, "You have arrived at your destination!"
Only problem was that I was smack dab in the middle of nowhere with no nothing in sight!! (Duelling Banjos soundtrack here.)
We finally made it here, and now I hear that yes, the show site is indoors, but THERE IS NO AIR CONDITIONING! People! This is the South! In the Summer! We don't do dog shows with no air conditioning!! (Remember our favorite motto - it's not the heat, it's the humidity.)
I need a cocktail.
Gail let me down tonight. I was driving through the Smoky Mtns on I-40 on the way to a show in Waynesville, NC. We've never been to this show site - this is their inaugural show.
All of a sudden, Gail completely lost contact with the satellites and left me stranded without a clue. I am too tired to go into just how lost I was, but I finally got myself back in the general area where my motel is when the satellites magically reappeared and Gail cheerily started navigating me again towards the Days Inn. She sounded so pleased with herself when she announced, "You have arrived at your destination!"
Only problem was that I was smack dab in the middle of nowhere with no nothing in sight!! (Duelling Banjos soundtrack here.)
We finally made it here, and now I hear that yes, the show site is indoors, but THERE IS NO AIR CONDITIONING! People! This is the South! In the Summer! We don't do dog shows with no air conditioning!! (Remember our favorite motto - it's not the heat, it's the humidity.)
I need a cocktail.
Monday, June 8, 2009
It's a beautiful day in Southern Maine
The big LLBean boot is in Freeport Maine, home of LL himself. My company is co-hq'd in Chattanooga and Portland, ME and I am working out of this office for a few days this week. As usual, my first stop is to go see what's new at Bean. They have quite a complex up here - several stores, lots of neat things to see.
After shopping yesterday, I parked myself on a park bench to wait on my co-workers/shoppers. While I was sitting there, I had a phone call from my brother - he had just talked to Mom and found out I was up here. He called to tell me that my nephew Neil, his wife and girls and his wife's family are all up here vacationing. Thinking now I will scoot out early tomorrow afternoon and go spend some time with them.
After shopping yesterday, I parked myself on a park bench to wait on my co-workers/shoppers. While I was sitting there, I had a phone call from my brother - he had just talked to Mom and found out I was up here. He called to tell me that my nephew Neil, his wife and girls and his wife's family are all up here vacationing. Thinking now I will scoot out early tomorrow afternoon and go spend some time with them.
Sunday, June 7, 2009
Saturday, June 6, 2009
I am officially one of those crazy dog people.
As I sit and type this, there are no dogs on my property. I am headed out of town tomorrow morning on a business trip.
Usually when I have trips like this, I have a friend who picks them up after I leave and takes them to our doggie daycare/kennel on Monday morning where she works. Unfortunately, she is unavailable this weekend, so I had to drop Spencer off by noon today.
When Scout's handler found out I was going out of town, she made arrangements for a friend to pick Scout up Thursday night and and take her to her house. (She thinks that no one, including me, can take care of Scout as good as she can.)
Now I think of myself as a pretty independent person. I have traveled a good bit, camped in the middle of nowhere on my own, wandered around rural Mexico where folks had never seen anyone as tall and fair skinned and blue eyed as me (some of the older folks called me la fantasma - "the ghost" - and would not look at me in the eye) - and enjoyed every minute of it.
But I've got to tell you - I am freaking out a little bit about sleeping in my own house tonight for the first time WITH NO ANIMALS IN THE HOUSE!
Usually when I have trips like this, I have a friend who picks them up after I leave and takes them to our doggie daycare/kennel on Monday morning where she works. Unfortunately, she is unavailable this weekend, so I had to drop Spencer off by noon today.
When Scout's handler found out I was going out of town, she made arrangements for a friend to pick Scout up Thursday night and and take her to her house. (She thinks that no one, including me, can take care of Scout as good as she can.)
Now I think of myself as a pretty independent person. I have traveled a good bit, camped in the middle of nowhere on my own, wandered around rural Mexico where folks had never seen anyone as tall and fair skinned and blue eyed as me (some of the older folks called me la fantasma - "the ghost" - and would not look at me in the eye) - and enjoyed every minute of it.
But I've got to tell you - I am freaking out a little bit about sleeping in my own house tonight for the first time WITH NO ANIMALS IN THE HOUSE!
Thursday, June 4, 2009
My (selectively) Deaf Dog
Scout is my outside dog. She went out this morning at 5 AM, came in briefly to eat breakfast, and then right back outside. Now that it's time to go to work, she parks herself in the farthest corner of the yard and pretends like she can't hear me calling her.
Wednesday, June 3, 2009
After a long hard day at daycare . . .
Scout plays so hard all day that when I pick them up at the end of the day, Scout is so tired she is just pitiful. Spencer, on the other hand, spends his day supervising from a chair and staying cool. This afternoon, I stood in the lobby chatting with friends and Spencer shoplifted a bone in the lobby store. He couldn't wait to get in the crate and chew on his new toy. Scout just stood there and looked pathetic - she just didn't have the strength to get in the crate. Traffic was backing up behind us so I just picked her up and plopped her in the crate with Spencer.
When I got in the car, I laughed out loud when I saw the positions they were in. Spence was so entranced with his bone he didn't even care. Scout just looked at me with the big sad eyes like "I am so helpless!!"
A few minutes later she found the strength to move around but doesn't she still have the look of a mistreated diva.
When I got in the car, I laughed out loud when I saw the positions they were in. Spence was so entranced with his bone he didn't even care. Scout just looked at me with the big sad eyes like "I am so helpless!!"
A few minutes later she found the strength to move around but doesn't she still have the look of a mistreated diva.
Monday, June 1, 2009
New to the Cardiblogosphere!
Here's another one to add to your list! Taryn, who owns Spencer's littermate Wilson and his running mate Jimmy, has jumped into the blogpool. (Wilson and Jimmy are happy about that because they love to swim!)
Taryn and her pack live in the Washington, DC area and focus their attention on agility.
Taryn and her pack live in the Washington, DC area and focus their attention on agility.
Tuesday, May 26, 2009
A Wedding to Remember
Don't know these folks - but this is just too much fun.
Brian & Eileen's Wedding Music Video. from LOCKDOWN projects on Vimeo.
Saturday, May 23, 2009
Getting Crafty with Show Ribbons
I have been looking for a something to do with the stack of show ribbons we have accumulated over the years. I have seen quilts and tote bags made with them, but nothing inspired me until I was perusing fellow cardi-lover Alicia Paulson's (of the Posie Gets Cozy blog) book, Stitched in Time. (She dedicated the book to her sweet Audrey who died while she was writing the book, and also includes pictures of her girl, Clover Meadow.)
Her "Farmboy Photo Frame" caught my eye. The original was made with strips of cotton fabric, just about the size of ribbons.
Her "Farmboy Photo Frame" caught my eye. The original was made with strips of cotton fabric, just about the size of ribbons.
All of these are Scout's ribbons - and I am especially proud of the green ones - where she has Q'd in Rally, Agility and Herding. I am looking forward to adding more green ribbons to our stash and more titles to the end of her name!
Friday, May 22, 2009
Happy Birthday, Spencer
I can hardly believe that my buddy Spencer will be 6 on Saturday. Here's Spencer through the years:
Always the pushy one, Spencer is the first one at the dairy bar.
His first day at home at 8 weeks.
At 10 weeks, one ear up.
At the 2006 National Specialty, Spencer and brother Wilson celebrated their birthday running agility.
These three amigos were the first dogs in our obedience club to earn Rally titles. AKC began awarding Rally titles in January 2005, and these three had earned titles by February of that year.
Spencer loves agility despite being born with only a partial kneecap on his left rear leg. He's a little slow, but hey - so is his handler!
Spencer with his sister/pillow:
Believe it or not, I am restraining myself from posting a dozen more pictures. Happy Birthday, sweet boy!
Always the pushy one, Spencer is the first one at the dairy bar.
His first day at home at 8 weeks.
At 10 weeks, one ear up.
At the 2006 National Specialty, Spencer and brother Wilson celebrated their birthday running agility.
These three amigos were the first dogs in our obedience club to earn Rally titles. AKC began awarding Rally titles in January 2005, and these three had earned titles by February of that year.
Spencer loves agility despite being born with only a partial kneecap on his left rear leg. He's a little slow, but hey - so is his handler!
Spencer with his sister/pillow:
Believe it or not, I am restraining myself from posting a dozen more pictures. Happy Birthday, sweet boy!Monday, May 18, 2009
The Other Winner Yesterday
I can't believe I forgot to mention that we had another win in our little pack yesterday!
When we arrived at the CorgiAid Picnic, Spencer made a bee-line for the baby pool where bobbing for hotdogs was taking place. The other dogs around the pool were either gingerly reaching in with a toe and dragging a slice of hotdog to the side where they could fish it out or just saying "thanks, but no thanks."
I had to hold Spencer back until I was sure that what I knew was about to happen would not freak any other dog out. Susie came by and dumped a couple more handfuls of hotdog slices in the pool. Then Spencer jumped all the way in the pool, and demonstrated his impression of swimming pool vacuum.
He dunked his snout right down in the pool and simultaneously blew bubbles out his nose while he was gobbling up the hot dogs in his mouth. In no time he had consumed all of the treats in the pool.
What I didn't realized is that this was a contest, and I was supposed to keep count of how many he ate. Susie came by and asked how many he ate - all I could say was "all of them!" She just shrugged and said - "OK - I declare him the winner" and awarded him his own blue first place rosette.
On another subject - Scout and I went back to agility practice tonight for the first time in over a year, and she did great! She hit every contact and nailed every jump. She is fast and fearless and deserves a better handler than me, but she forgives me. We are going to have to do some remedial weave pole work and remind her that "Table" means get on the table and wait for further instructions - not hop on the table and off the table and back on the table but overall I was thrilled with her.
When we arrived at the CorgiAid Picnic, Spencer made a bee-line for the baby pool where bobbing for hotdogs was taking place. The other dogs around the pool were either gingerly reaching in with a toe and dragging a slice of hotdog to the side where they could fish it out or just saying "thanks, but no thanks."
I had to hold Spencer back until I was sure that what I knew was about to happen would not freak any other dog out. Susie came by and dumped a couple more handfuls of hotdog slices in the pool. Then Spencer jumped all the way in the pool, and demonstrated his impression of swimming pool vacuum.
He dunked his snout right down in the pool and simultaneously blew bubbles out his nose while he was gobbling up the hot dogs in his mouth. In no time he had consumed all of the treats in the pool.
What I didn't realized is that this was a contest, and I was supposed to keep count of how many he ate. Susie came by and asked how many he ate - all I could say was "all of them!" She just shrugged and said - "OK - I declare him the winner" and awarded him his own blue first place rosette.
On another subject - Scout and I went back to agility practice tonight for the first time in over a year, and she did great! She hit every contact and nailed every jump. She is fast and fearless and deserves a better handler than me, but she forgives me. We are going to have to do some remedial weave pole work and remind her that "Table" means get on the table and wait for further instructions - not hop on the table and off the table and back on the table but overall I was thrilled with her.
Sunday, May 17, 2009
A Tale of Two Events
Trying to compose a post about today - I have typed and backspaced, typed and backspaced, and typed and backspaced again.
Let me just say this. God created dogs. Satan created dog shows. (This is not me whining because we didn't win. Scout actually won breed and received a Group 4 placement today. Something else happened at the show today that sucked all the enjoyment out of winning. I am not going to go into the details in this public forum - I just want to vent.)
Now for the bright side - I am so glad I left that show and drove a few miles to Susie Noel's annual Tennysea Corgi Picnic for the benefit of CorgiAid. There I saw a whole bunch of dogs who have never been to a dog show - dogs many of us would call "poorly bred." Many were rescues - we left before the Rescue Parade started, but I am sure that that most of the dogs there were in the parade - a couple on carts, at least one on three legs. There were dogs with dropped ears and extraordinarily fluffy dogs. But what they all had in common was that they were all obviously now in situations where they are deeply loved and cared for.
One of the two events I attended today was all about the dogs. The other one was not.
Let me just say this. God created dogs. Satan created dog shows. (This is not me whining because we didn't win. Scout actually won breed and received a Group 4 placement today. Something else happened at the show today that sucked all the enjoyment out of winning. I am not going to go into the details in this public forum - I just want to vent.)
Now for the bright side - I am so glad I left that show and drove a few miles to Susie Noel's annual Tennysea Corgi Picnic for the benefit of CorgiAid. There I saw a whole bunch of dogs who have never been to a dog show - dogs many of us would call "poorly bred." Many were rescues - we left before the Rescue Parade started, but I am sure that that most of the dogs there were in the parade - a couple on carts, at least one on three legs. There were dogs with dropped ears and extraordinarily fluffy dogs. But what they all had in common was that they were all obviously now in situations where they are deeply loved and cared for.
One of the two events I attended today was all about the dogs. The other one was not.
Saturday, May 9, 2009
Wanted: Gently Used Ark
I'm not sure if I just can't remember that it rained this much before our multi-year drought, or if this spring has been particularly wet, but all this rain is wearing me out. If I don't get a chance to mow my yard soon, I'm afraid the powers that be will come and get me. (Maybe I've watched Grey Gardens a few too many times on HBO.)
It's not just my yard. There's a restaurant on a ridge just down the road from me. A couple of years back, they brought in a flock of goats to eradicate the kudzu that was attempting to swallow the place. They were so popular, they kept them around to keep the grass and weeds down. I noticed today that even the goats can't keep up with all the new growth.
Spencer and I went to a little local festival today. (Scout is at a show in Perry, GA today. I just got a text from Cheryl that she went BOB!) There were supposed to be flyball, agility, and obedience demos. They were also going to have an "All Breed" show - just for fun, and Spencer was going to get to play showdog. Last night he got a bath and I trimmed up his paws and did his nails and everything.
Unfortunately, the rain kept us from doing most of this. Much too wet for agility and flyball - but we did do some obedience demos. It was great distraction practice and the few wet people who stuck around seemed to enjoy it. The later it got, the worse the weather was, so they eventually called the thing and everyone went home.
Sunday, May 3, 2009
This and That
Were there any dogs at the Specialty who didn't have their picture made in front of the tulips?
Here's what drove Spencer crazy all day today. Apparently we have baby bunnies in my less than immaculate beds.
I got a little crafty tonight and made postcard thank you notes for the judges. I found this cute ruby slipper fabric at a quilt shop close to the show site. (Laura and I can tell you where the closest quilt shop is to every show site we go to!) The store owner is a pem owner who is thinking of adding a cardi to her pack. We saw her again at the show Saturday.
Here's what drove Spencer crazy all day today. Apparently we have baby bunnies in my less than immaculate beds.
I got a little crafty tonight and made postcard thank you notes for the judges. I found this cute ruby slipper fabric at a quilt shop close to the show site. (Laura and I can tell you where the closest quilt shop is to every show site we go to!) The store owner is a pem owner who is thinking of adding a cardi to her pack. We saw her again at the show Saturday.
It's raining cats and dogs
I love these kind of weekend mornings. Raining so much I just need to stay home in jammies and hang out.
One of my favorite things to do early Sunday morning is to catch up on the Colbert Reports that I missed during the week when they are replayed on Comedy Central. This morning I was happy to see that he plugged one of my favorite charities this week, DonorsChoose.org. See about 5 minutes into the clip below. So, I thought I would get up this morning and plug it again myself.
DonorsChoose is a site where public school teachers post requests for funding for projects. I have updated my donor's page (see right) with three new projects. One is in honor of all you blogging buddies - it's a project to buy a computer for a class. The teacher wants to use blogging as a writing exercise. Another project is in honor of Spencer - a librarian is setting up a reading corner for Therapy Dog visits. And of course, I can always find a project for Scout, because there are always teachers who want to teach the classic, To Kill a Mockingbird. (Scout was named for the narrator of the book, Jean Louise "Scout" Finch.)
The project that Colbert is plugging is on the DonorsChoose homepage. They have identified projects where most of the students are children of those serving in the armed services. Armed Forces Day is coming up later this month - contributing to these projects would be a great way to honor those who serve.
One of my favorite things to do early Sunday morning is to catch up on the Colbert Reports that I missed during the week when they are replayed on Comedy Central. This morning I was happy to see that he plugged one of my favorite charities this week, DonorsChoose.org. See about 5 minutes into the clip below. So, I thought I would get up this morning and plug it again myself.
DonorsChoose is a site where public school teachers post requests for funding for projects. I have updated my donor's page (see right) with three new projects. One is in honor of all you blogging buddies - it's a project to buy a computer for a class. The teacher wants to use blogging as a writing exercise. Another project is in honor of Spencer - a librarian is setting up a reading corner for Therapy Dog visits. And of course, I can always find a project for Scout, because there are always teachers who want to teach the classic, To Kill a Mockingbird. (Scout was named for the narrator of the book, Jean Louise "Scout" Finch.)
The project that Colbert is plugging is on the DonorsChoose homepage. They have identified projects where most of the students are children of those serving in the armed services. Armed Forces Day is coming up later this month - contributing to these projects would be a great way to honor those who serve.
| The Colbert Report | Mon - Thurs 11:30pm / 10:30c | |||
| Shout Out - Kids Edition | ||||
| ||||
Saturday, May 2, 2009
Specialty Pics
Well - I finally dug into the basket of unopened mail today and look what I found. I don't think I have a another picture where Cheryl looks as happy as she does in that Megan pic.
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