August - Trials and Tribulations

Well I was hoping to get some pictures up on here, but the day after I arrived home from Ontario, there was a thunderstorm, and knocked out service to those of us with dial up, and Telus has no idea when it will be fixed. Possibly it is the techno gods telling us to get with the times. We'll give it some time yet. Nonetheless, life goes on. We went to Ponoka yesterday for an arena trial during their Country Fair. Russ Finlay, Corey Perry, Carl Sneddon, George Walker and Norm Schmuland were there (plus myself) to compete with our dogs. First we ran on Russ's hair sheep, and then the second run was on Norm's wool sheep. The top five that got in was Carl and Fan, Russ and Bryn, Corey and Jill, Norm and Rose and myself and Creed. Yes Creed, - Norm's sheep took Fly and Gin out of the running - and my young dog got in. I have decided he will likely make a better field dog than an arena dog. The day before I did a little training on him, and he was about 95% correct on his flanks. At the trial, he turned out to be 50%. And he didn't have a lie down at all - thus our 5th place finish. After the trial, we went back to the field, and he was back to his 95% plus. Guess they all can't do it all, maybe it is his age - perhaps it is my anxiousness in the arena - perhaps he is an idiot. The jury is still out.
Today, I worked the sheep on my young dogs - Floss and Hope. They are both coming along quite nicely. I think I have Floss entered at the next upcoming trial - basically it will be a donation - I have this thought you should have them out there just to get exposure to it. Who knows, maybe she will get her first leg for the nursery for next year. Or possibly she will get her first leg of lamb.
Chris is busy finishing up haying - he will be setting sheep at the EID, Shaunavon Classic and Western Canadian Finals - guess it is our holiday. We'll be bringing our niece Hanna and her brothers Joey and Mathew, and all of our dogs. Haven't figured out where we will put everyone yet - I may have to stuff the kids in with the dogs as well, they are small enough.
After all of these trials, I am going to relax and get back to work. I had taken the summer off this year, and it certainly has gone by fast. I came to the realization that life is short, and one should make as much out of it as possible - thus the next decision. I have it in my head to go to the Worlds in England next year with Gin. If she continues to run like she does, I shouldn't make too much of a fool of myself. It is too bad Fly is getting older - this will likely be her last year in the field - she sure is running nice these days. She sure has taught me a lot in her lifetime. I really hope some of her offspring can fill in her shoes in the years to come.
I imagine I have just tempted fate, and now we will run like crap on these upcoming trials. And when we do, I will remember, it still is fun, and the dogs are having fun - and in the big world, it doesn't really matter. And if there are any handler who reads this, and I am looking glum after my runs in the next couple of weeks- do me a favor and kick me in the butt. But not too hard.

The Feeling Continues!!

Well, it has been a great trip to Kingston. After two rounds, I and Gin got in the double lift at the Kingston Sheep Dog Trials by the skin of our teeth - I am not sure about Gin, but I do believe I created another ulcer watching the rest of the dogs run until the fat lady sang (LA LA). There was about 20 dogs that if they had a good run, would have bumped us out of the double lift finals. Christine Henry and Robin French and I all had 145s going in, and with the help of some pixie dust, judiciously placed on some runs (sorry people) - we all got in. Sunday was a good day to run, not too hot at all. I ran 11th, and I and Gin watched all the previous runs (okay, well Gin played with a stick most of the time). When we went up, Robin and Zac had a 234, which was leading the competition - when Gin and I finished, we had a 234 as well. WE COMPLETED OUR FIRST INTERNATIONAL SHED AND PEN!!!! Is really too bad Gin crossed over on her 2nd outrun (totally my fault, didn't set her up right, and was trying to show off a swallowtail - I will know better next time). Cripes, IF we had done the 2nd outrun right, and IF we got full points, it would have been a score of 274, which would have beat Amanda and Clive's 269 score. So, in my little brain, Gin and I won the 2010 Kingston Sheep Dog Trial. However, in reality, Amanda and Clive won it, Robin French and Zac was 2nd and we were third (tie break due to the outrun, lift and fetch). It was a great trial, and those who haven't made it yet - please do, you won't be disappointed!

Pixie dust is now being made for the next month. You can buy yours at 1-800 PIX DUST. If you ask nicely, I will give you some of mine.

Fun In The Hot Damp Sun

Why are my trips always come with challenges - I feel like I am on Survivor at times. I packed up Gin and flew out to Ottawa, however, mother nature thought she should dump on Ottawa. Thunderstorms made us circle around Ottawa for 45 minutes, and the pilot said there was too much water on the runway (I don't like to hydroplane on water either, so it was a good choice). We got dumped off at Toronto, and the next flight was going to be at 10:30 that night (was supposed to arrive in Ottawa at 4 pm that day). I decided I may as well rent a car from Toronto, since my friend's place is in Napanee, which is half way between the two places. Then the Budget fiasco started. First of all, found out that since I wasn't going to be able to pick up the vehicle at Ottawa, they were going to charge me another $50 for not doing so, and they couldn't do any changes to the rental agreement. I was ready to go balistic, but I remembered the tazer incident in Vancouver and decided I did not want a repeat performance to occur. If I cancelled the agreement and rented another vehicle, it would have cost me 3 times of the cost I had paid. So.....I rented a car for the day (which cost me 1/2 of the total that I paid to rent in the first place), went to Kingston to run Fly and then drove to Ottawa, returned that car, and picked up my original SUV I wanted. Now I can focus on the trial more.

Picked up Fly from Amanda's, and she was so happy to see me - and she was still in standing heat (guess she could have travelled with me and it would have been okay, but my crystal ball was out for a cleaning that day). Sat and watched the runs yesterday morning, and a few 85s were done (Mary Thompson and Beauty made the first one, 2nd dog up and we thought the sheep were going to be very sweet - but that was not to be the case). The top scores were mid 80s - they are adding a single into the run so it is out of 110 points. I got 61 (without a pen or single) with Fly - we ran in mid day - VERY HOT AND HUMID - the ewes were on a fight, so Fly had her work cut out for herself, and we were just able to get the shed done. The weather is supposed to be cooling down, so hopefully she can do better. They think that it will be 130 points to get in - so will strive for a good score on Friday with her. Running Gin in the afternoon today, so we will see what the sheep will be like. Hot again today, the sheep will likely be very heavy later in the day.
Tonight will be spent with my friends at Napanee, and catching up on visiting - seems like everytime I come, we hardly visit because of the trial. Carolyn and Laura will be coming to watch during the weekend. They expect 9-10 thousand visitors over the weekend because of the good weather forcast. Will definitely take pictures and post them later.

Finally Home - For A Day

Well, we (meaning me and the dogs, Chris had to stay home to do hay) returned from our mini holiday. We first stopped at our ranch in Alder Flats for the night before heading up to Dawson Creek, BC for Jean and Denis Gelling's trial - a very fun trial, and I am planning to go back next year.

I had stopped in at Corey Perry's also for a day and did some brushing up, as well as the Robert's residence to borrow a bed on the journey up north. This has been the furthest north I have ever been, and can see why people like it. The scenery was great.

We all cracked our dogs out for the outruns set before us.
My hero is Holly Crichton - not one of us should complain-she has taken life by the horns and made it her own. We are the master of our own destiny.

And talking about destiny - I am always destined to have some trouble on the road - I stayed at Ken Price's, and one morning I discovered a flat on my truck - luckily Ken could pump me up and I could get it into town before it went flat again.

I stayed till the bitter end - always like watching the double lift - but it is always more fun if you could be in it - missed it this time by 1 point (not that it matters, I still missed getting in).

Ken Price and Creed were crowned champions (or weiners as I like to call him).

Then after Dawson Creek, and a quick stop in Edmonton to drop Fly at airport to Kingston, I went to Pleasantdale, Sask to visit Norm and Bev Sommer. It wasn't all dog training though - we helped a neighbor move their yearlings to another field.

Quads, horses and dogs were used - no wrecks occurred, and we got the job done.

I however, do not like quads - honestly I am afraid of going down inclines - so if you see me moving slowly in a trial, you know what is going through my mind - "I am going to tip, I am going to tip!"

After a few days of training and dog dealing (Bev now owns my Syd-I guess it is her Syd now)- I made it towards Lloyminster, Alberta for an arena trial. I stopped at Denholm to visit my neice Robyn and her husband Brendan. I was throwing a ball with a string, it got caught in a tree, and found this nest - if you see carefully you can see two fledglings in the branches. I am not much of a bird watcher, but they looked like cardinals or something. All I am sure is that they weren't turkeys. And I wasn't able to retrieve the ball.

The dogs romped about and played ball with Brenden, and their dog Polly

joined in as well

After the workout, they enjoyed a cool dip in the pool. The Deholm community pool.

Finally we made it to Lloyminster and did two days of trialing. It was a really fun time - weather was good, sheep were even, and laughing was done.

Saw some people I hadn't seen for awhile - one being Judy Finseth. Lots of visiting was done, and I think this will be a repeat trial for me next year.

I had Creed in the Pro-Novice, and Gin in the Open.

Creed was second on day one, and first on day two. Gin was first on day one, and fifth on day two. They both won me jackets for high point accumulation (Good Dogs!!!)

We packed up yesterday, stopped at Jill Brodie's to drop her dog off who was travelling with me from Sommer's, and finally got home. Today, I have a few things to do, then Gin and I will join Fly tomorrow in Kingston for the Kingston Trial. Think I will sleep on the plane.

I think Gin will sleep as well.

The fun continues!!!!