December in Bandon

With Christmas being so hectic and Jordana working the day before and the day after and me dying to go on a road trip and Doreen asking us to come visit I decided to take some days off from work and take Jordana and the dogs to the beach. Doreen is the most gracious hostess!! She had just gotten back from a long trip to the east coast the day before we arrived. But she welcomed us with open arms and an open house. Doreen’s house sits directly across from the Face Rock State Park.

Bandon is about a 4 hour drive from our house. We had a very uneventful drive. Just before hitting Highway 101 I spotted a couple of Bald Eagles sitting in a tree over a river,

of course I had to turn around to get pictures and then we passed the elk reserve and we were not disappointed by the showing of elk.

And geese and even some ducks and more elk.

We were just pulling out of the reserve when we noticed that the elk had gotten much closer so we turned around and went back for some more pictures.

We arrived in Bandon to not the greatest weather on Monday but it gave us lots of time to play games and get to visit.

Tuesday morning the rain was going sideways and exploring the beach at low tide which was at 9am was looking very doubtful so we had some breakfast and played a couple of games and as it got closer to low tide the weather started to clear up. I took complete advantage of the break in the weather and made Jordana go with me to explore the beach.

We pretty much had the beach to ourselves so we let the dogs loose to run and run they did!

They chased waves and sea gulls and explored everything. Jordana and I found some treasures but mostly we enjoyed watching the dogs run and play and have such a good time!

There were lots of photo ops and I put my camera to good use.

We completely lost track of time and had no idea how long we had been on the beach until we finally dragged ourselves back to the house and realized we had been gone for 3 hours!!!

Doreen had wanted to fix a Full Turkey Meal while we were there and that is what we came back to after our time on the beach. Turkey, mashed potatoes, gravy, stuffing, cranberries, and salad. What a perfect day! Oh but of course it was not over we still HAD to go to Shore Acres State Park and see the Christmas lights! I LOVE Shore Acres and will go any time I can, it is never a disappointment!

The Christmas Lights this year were phenomenal; there were over 250,000 lights with many moving displays. Now it was the most perfect day!!

Unfortunately our visit was way too short since Jordana had to be at work at 1pm on Wednesday so we were up on the road by 8am to get back. But we had a GREAT time with a great hostess and friend, lots of games, and of course the beach. I am already looking forward to the next visit! Thank you Doreen!!

A Trial and some Birthdays

With a threat of an ice storm Friday night and the WAG NADAC Games Trial Saturday and Sunday I was very nervous. I do not like to drive in snow but ice is impossible. The storm came up from the south and dissipated about 30 miles south of us. So we woke up Saturday morning on Kant and Echo’s birthdays to some moisture that froze but it was not as bad as it could have been. The Trial Chair decided to start the trial an hour later and that was a great decision. Stephen (Jordana’s boyfriend) decided to go with me to help run and take care of the dogs since all five were entered. We were all loaded up and on the road by 8am.

The dogs seemed to like the cooler weather and were very excited to be going to an agility trial. And they all ran great!

The first class of the weekend was Hoopers and all 5 dogs were entered; 3 in Novice, 1 in Open, and 1 in Elite. Stephen ran Slick and PITA in his first ever trial and I did not do a good job of explaining Hoopers so he did not Q with either dog but they did run a great course and all 3 of them were happy. Echo loves Hoopers and finished her Superior Novice Hoopers title with a run that only lasted 18.05 seconds. Hershey was in Open Hoopers for the first time and had a beautiful run earning his first Q of the day. Kant also loves Hoopers and had a great run also earning a Q. Next it was Tunnelers with Stephen running Kant and Echo running with me we could not get a Q with either dog. But both dogs Q’d in both rounds of Weavers; Echo finished her Novice Weavers title with Round 1 of Weavers and a 6.52 yps run. PITA and Stephen had a great run in Round 1 of Weavers but PITA took an off course tunnel. We ended the day with Touch’N’Go; I ran Kant in Round 1 and we Q’d, Stephen and Kant had an off course in Round 2. Stephen and PITA had a beautifully FAST run earning PITA’s first TNG points with a Q and 2nd place!! Echo and I could not get it together for either round so no TNG Q’s for us on Saturday. Hershey on the other hand ROCKED and Q’d in both TNG classes. Everyone went hope happy and tired.

Happy 7th Birthday Kant and 2nd Birthday Echo!!

Sunday was a typical Oregon winter day – wet – and we had no problem getting to the trial. We started with 2 Rounds of Touch’N’Go; Stephen ran Kant in both rounds, in Round 1 Kant blew her A-frame contact so Stephen worked it in Round 2 and they had a beautiful run for a Q and 1st place. PITA and Stephen did not Q in their run but PITA had great contacts and was running great. Echo was having a great run in Round 1 but at the very last obstacle decided not to listen to me and take a left in to the tunnel. She listened much better in Round 2 which had the exact same finish and got her first TNG Q. Hershey Q’d in Round 1 with only one more Q to finish his Superior Novice TNG title we could not hold it together to Q in all 4 Rounds but I was so proud of him and how good he ran!! 2 Round of Weavers was next, I was working on speeding Kant up in the weaves but it was throwing off my handling and Kant and I were not coming together as a team we managed a Q in both classes but not with runs that I had hoped. Echo Q’d with a great run, she is my weaving machine! Stephen and PITA had a complete melt down in Weavers. On to Tunnelers with a 125 yard need for speed course; I really wanted to run Kant on this course but I knew her and Stephen would have a blast and they did running it in 19.91 seconds. I told Stephen before he ran that Echo and I would be running the exact same course so he had better run Kant well because Echo and I would challenging them; nothing like putting a little pressure on the guy at his first trial! Echo shot out of a straight tunnel like a torpedo and did not make the tightest turn but we still ran the course in 20.28 seconds just .3 seconds behind her big sister not bad for a Novice dog! We ended the weekend with all 5 dogs in Hoopers. Stephen and PITA had a great running earning PITA’s first Hoopers Q.

Slick started out with Stephen so fast but something happened maybe someone coughed but it was over for Slick, he went to the leash runner and sat in front of her asking to have his leash put back on, the leash runner turned around so Slick went and sat in front of the judge asking her to make the leash runner put the leash back on but when that did not work either he took matters in to his own paws and left the ring, thank goodness he is cute! Echo got a bonus Novice Q. Hershey got his 2nd Open Hoopers Q with the greatest run and finishing that requirement for Champs! Kant also had an awesome run in Elite Hoopers ended our weekend with a Q.

So Kant ended the weekend with 9 Qs out of 12 possible and earning her 630th Weavers points. Hershey was the man with 5 Qs out of 6 and 3 of them were TNG!!! Slick was happy all weekend; he really does not care about the Qs. PITA got 2 Qs out of 6 possible; she needs to stick with one handler. Echo continues to amaze me and Q’d in 7 of her 10 runs, finishing two more titles!! Overall it was an awesome trial!! I love one ring trials!! WAG did it again!

Happy 6th Birthday Slick!

Santa Paws

We have been having record breaking colds here with beautiful blue sky but extremely cold temperatures for us. From the warmth of inside the house the blue sky looks tempting to go outside until you step out there and that wind hits you freezing you right to your bones. I have not been excited to haul out the Christmas decorations and put them up when it is so cold and we have decided not to put up a tree this year, there is just no room in our little house. So I had to do something to get in to the Christmas spirit so I decided to pack the 5 dogs and drag Jordana and Stephen to the mall to have our pictures taken with Santa!

Last week I was in the mall and saw the best Santa all set up for pictures, I found out that on Mondays from 6pm to 8pm you could bring your dog(s) or cat(s) in to have their picture taken. So that was what I decided I wanted to do this year. It is a bit of an adventure to take 5 dogs in to the mall, up stairs, past shoppers, and finally getting to Santa.

Santa and the photographer seemed a bit worried about having so many dogs in one pictures so we decided to start out small and take a picture with Jordana and Stephen with just 2 dogs. Everyone was set up, I said “look”, they did, and the picture was done. I was looking at the picture and Santa reached up to pet the dogs and that was too cute so I had them take that picture and that was the one we picked.

Jordana, Stephen, PITA, Slick, and Santa

Now it was time to take the picture with all the dogs, Jordana, and myself. Santa wanted to know how we were going to do this and we decided Santa would sit in his chair and we would put dogs on both sides, he could hold Echo, and the rest of us will be on the floor. The photographer said Kant could not be on the floor or she would not be in the picture so I grabbed the stool that Santa was sitting on in the first picture, put it in front of Santa and told Kant “paws up”, which worked. Stephen said “look”, they did, we smiled, and another picture done.

Slick, PITA, Echo, Hershey, Jordana, Kant, Traci with Santa

We got quite the gathering of people watching. Santa said this was the most dogs he had in a picture, they did so well. We were in and out with our pictures in less then twenty minutes.

Merry Christmas!

Casey

August 17, 1998 to November 25, 2009
Casey you dropped in to our lives 11 years ago as a roly poly puppy and stole our hearts. Being a Chow, Shar-Pei, German Shepherd mix did not make you the best breed in the world but boy did I sleep good at night knowing you were in the house. You were always protective but welcomed all the crazy dogs we brought in to the house as part of the pack.

At times you were the fun police and then when you wanted to play everyone was afraid of you. You never did agility and never seemed to mind. You loved to go for a ride in the car and loved to go on adventures with us. You loved to meet and greet people with your snuffle way. You have been called Snuffleuphagus and the Cowardly Lion but all I can call you now is missed.

Run free my friend!

So Much to Give Thanks for…

I am home alone this Thanksgiving. This is wonderful and I am NOT complaining, I do not have to cook or clean or entertain, I just get to do whatever I want! But the time alone has given me a chance to think about all the things I am thank for…
· An incredible wonderful daughter that is working hard and I am so proud of her and I could not love her more. She adds so much to life!
· The greatest parents that are always supportive and encouraging and I love so very much!!!
· A great baby sister in New York with two of my favorite nieces that live too far away but I love them so much!!!
· The best family that I am very guilty of not seeing enough of, we are all so busy but they are always in my thoughts.
· Having my health, so I can enjoy so many of things I love. Jordana being healthy, and for the most part a very healthy family.
· Incredibly great friends, again sometimes our busy lives do not allow us to get together often enough but they are always in my thoughts! I could not imagine my world without them.
· The greatest dogs in the world!!!!!! They are always making me become the owner they deserve. Kant and Echo are taking me places I never thought I would go and I am loving the journey. Hershey for so many things including getting me in to the world of agility.
· Agility for introducing me to some great friends, teaching me to not sweat the little things (I am still working on that one), opening up a world of fun with my dogs, taking me places that I could never have imagined, and taking me on the next journey in the world of judging
· I am thankful to have a job I like, that provides food on the table, a roof over my head, and so much more.
Happy Thanksgiving may it fill you with memories. Don’t forget to stop and enjoy the moment because it is the little things that will make the biggest moments!

Agility in Roseburg

The Rogue Canine Agility club put on an awesome trial at the Douglas County Fairgrounds November 21st and 22nd. The weather was supposed to be rain all weekend but both days were beautiful. Saturday was gorgeous and it only started raining late afternoon; Sunday was again beautiful with short rain showers followed by more blue sky. It was cool but the dogs loved it. This was a one ring trial so no conflicts! I ran Kant, Echo, and PITA and was Chief Scorekeeper. I had a great weekend!!!!

Kant and I were a very good team this weekend but she knocked a bar in all the classes with jumps on Saturday but on Sunday she only knocked a couple of bars in Regular 2. On Saturday I tried to speed her up in the weave poles (those dang DRIs) and forgot to work a hoop but she ended that class running faster then I have seen in a long time. I am going to try that again at the Games Trial next month. So we only Q’d in Tunnelers with a 6.81 yard per second run on Saturday. We did not get any Jumpers Qs even though no bars went down on Sunday we had an off course. We did get a Q in Regular 1, Chances, and Touch’N’Go on Sunday. This was Kant’s last trial jumping 16 inches in NADAC, next month she turns 7 and I will be moving her to Veteran Dog where she gets to jump 12 inches. Echo had a great weekend! She Q’d in all 4 Regular classes and weavers. She knocked a bar in both Jumpers but ran like a dream; she is just jumping too early. Echo had an off course in Tunnelers which I will take blame for not handling but the rest of the run was smoking. Time will not be our issue! The last run of the weekend was Touch’N’Go and we did not do so well. I had not seen a TNG course like this one before and I did not have enough confidence in my handling of Echo to get through the course. She gave me some great sequences but if I am not 200% in control of a course it shows and boy did it show on TNG. Besides several other errors the greatest one was when Echo missed a tunnel and I sent her back and their were two sets of tunnel bags on the end of the tunnel with about an 8 inch gap between them and Echo RAN right in to the side of the tunnel bouncing off of it and she just looked at me like who closed the tunnel. I was laugh so hard. This was the first weekend Echo was entered in all the classes and it might have been 1 too many but the rest of her runs were amazing. Echo likes the one ring trials and we were a great team this weekend. Since Jordana is working weekends and would still like to go to NADAC Championships with PITA I ran her in 3 runs each day. On Saturday I wondered if PITA would ever be an agility dog and why were bothering to even compete with her. Well she proved why on Sunday with 3 perfect qualifying runs!!! Saturday she was not focused and running all over the place, we made it through each of the courses but way over time and with faults. Sunday she was totally focused and looked like a real agility dog! I was so proud of her! Greg Battaglia from Sparks, Nevada, was our wonderful judge and brought some great courses. It was a great weekend spent with the dogs and friends!!

Too Spooky For Words!!!

Jordana, Stephen, and I had a great time carving pumpkins for Halloween this year.

I cleaned out the three pumpkins that Jordana picked out and baked the pumpkin seeds. They turned out very good!! We had picked up a carving book that had patterns with eyes.

I wanted to stack the pumpkins so I put a small hole in the bottom of each one. That made candle placement a bit tricky but it all worked out.

We each picked the pattern we wanted and then picked the pumpkin it would fit best on. We only have one set of tools so we had to wait for someone else to be done.

Everyone did an awesome job and had a great time!!!

And of course I could not pass up getting my Halloween picture with the dogs.

Happy Howloween!!