Lewiston, ID

I have seen Kelly and Fredrick at NADAC Championships but I got to know Kelly better this past year at Champs after Fuzz got injured in Round 1 and was done for the rest of Champs.  Kelly and Fuzz were on a Veterans Dog Team with Lynda and Robby, and Kathy and Dusty; when Fuzz got injured they asked if Kant would be Fuzz’s replacement.  She ran very well in honor of Fuzz!!

Lynda had talked about how much fun Kelly’s trials are and I should go, so I did.  It was about a seven hour drive to Lewiston Idaho.  Right after I got off I-84 and on to I-82 before crossing in to Washington I turned east and went through an area I had not gone through before.  It was a very pretty, easy drive.

 I arrived with plenty of time to set up my crating area before Tunnelers and Weavers that night.  Both the girls had beautiful runs and Q’d in the four classes.  Slick was a little over time in Tunnelers but he ran well.  I was camping on site and went to dinner with Lynda and Kathy.  We had a great time visiting!

 After a greats night sleep I was looking forward to a fun weekend with the dogs!!  Kant and Echo were all 6 classes and Slick had 2 runs.  Kant was a super star and Qualified in all 6 classes!!!!!!  Got much needed Jumpers and Chances Qs.  I felt a great connection with Kant; we tried a bonus line in Weavers and came so close to getting it just one little, tiny redirect.  Echo also had a great day; getting a much needed Chances Q, she was one of only two Novice dogs that got it, a Weavers Q, and a Touch’N’Go Q that finished her Superior Novice TNG.  Slick got his 1^st Open Jumpers Q with a 1^st Place; we had an off course in Touch’N’Go but he was still fun to run!!

 I was camping out of the van and Saturday night it got so cold that the van doors froze shut.  For a moment I had visions of being stuck in the van but I was finally able to get on of the sliders open.  I was toasty warm in the van with 4 dogs but it was certainly cold outside.  The dogs loved the cool weather and were super frisky!  Overall we had pretty nice weather considering the weird weather we have been having.

Sunday did not start out as great as Saturday.  Kant and I could not get it together for Regular.  And Chances was super tough; only 2 Novice dogs got it out of all the dogs entered.  But she did give me a lovely Jumpers; only 1 more for NATCH 2 and V-NATCH 2!!  We also got a very nice Hoopers; only 3 more for our Elite Superior and Elite All-Around!!  Echo was still running with what looked like very little control and a lot of franticness; the only Q she got on Sunday was in Hoopers and she had a smokin’ run beating Kant by 3 seconds.  Slick had a great Jumpers run but was overtime by .18 seconds, bummer, but he also had a great Hoopers run getting another Q and another 1^st Place.  I was very proud of him!

There were only 5 runs on Sunday so we were done early.  I got packed up during the day so when we were done I said my Good Byes and we were on the road.  I had planned on staying the night in The Dalles but when I pushed the Go Home button on the GPS and it said we would be home at 10pm I cancelled my reservation.  I was home by 10pm with no problem and happy to be in my own bed.  This was one of the most relaxing trials I have ever been at and I am already looking forward to going again next year!! 

Thank you WOOFF; you guys ROCK!!

Welcome Odin!!

Stephen finally got a corgi!! 

Stephen is doing a great job with Artemis but Artemis has issues with men and they are struggling.  Artemis was Stephen’s first dog and he loves him but as hard as Stephen tries Artemis is still afraid of him.  When Stephen first got Artemis I questioned if Artemis could ever be a one dog family dog and I am even more convinced that Artemis needs to be in a pack.

So Stephen found a litter of corgi puppies in Sweet Home and when to just look.

Right like that was going to happen.  He saw the pups and Odin was the one!!  Odin is a spit fire and Stephen will have other challenges with him but Odin is not lacking confidence. 

 I cannot wait to see what a team they end up being.

 Artemis likes his little brother and is doing a bit better with Stephen.

Welcome Baby Odin!!

Scrapbooking Retreat

 I have lost track of how many years we have been going to the beach for a scrapbooking retreat but each year is incredible.  The last couple of years we have gone to the beach Friday afternoon after the Scrapbooking Expo; this year Expo was during Spring Break and too many people had other plans during that time so we could not go to the beach.  But that did not stop us and we went the last weekend in February which worked our even better because we went over Thursday night and had an extra day of scrapping!! 

The day before we were going I was not sure I was going to make it because there was snow on the valley floor

 and in the coast range and I do not drive in the snow but the roads were clear by Thursday afternoon.

The drive through the coast range was beautiful with all that snow.

 As always we had a perfect time at the beach

 and even made it down for some tide pool exploring. 

 This year the tide was further out and we got to see starfish.

I got over 50 pages done; most of the pages were for Madison and Isabella but I did manage to get some of my pictures scraped.

This is such a great group of ladies; we are all so different but come together with a common hobby!! 

 Some go to bed early and some stay up late, some sleep in and some don’t, some stay in their jammies all day and some have to shower and be put together before they can face the day.  But we all like to eat and share our pages!! 

Thank you ladies for another perfect weekend!!

RAT Elma NADAC Agility Trial

The location of the February RAT Trial is one of my favorite; who doesn’t love a clean, heated crating area in the winter!!  I almost did not enter this trial because I was hoping to be anxiously awaiting the arrival of Echo puppies but that did not happen (yet) and is another story.  But at the last minute I entered and there were only runs left on Sunday.  Because of dogs pulling I ended up getting a few runs on Saturday.  RAT is a fun club that always puts on great trials and this Sweetheart Trail is no exception.  They have a great time with the Valentine’s theme.  This year just a week before the trial I got an e-mail about a canine cancer fundraiser that RAT was organizing and people/instructors/clubs/groups where sponsoring breeds/classes/days; I thought it was a GREAT idea and responded right back that I would sponsor Sheltie Qs!  What a great idea!!

Kant ended up with 8 runs for the weekend and Q’d in 5 of them.

And the best of all is that one of those runs was a Jumpers that finished her Superior Elite Jumpers Title and

Elite Triple Superior Award,

Triple Triple Superior Award,

Elite Superior Versatility Award, and Triple Superior Versatility Award!!!! 

I am so proud of my Kant and once again she proves she can!

Echo had 9 runs and Q’d in 5 of them.  Echo and I are still working on being a consistent team; we have moments of brilliance

and moments when we crash and burn, nothing in the middle.
 This was Echo’s first trial in Proficient jumping 16 inches; I started her in Skilled jumping 12”. 

I learned we need to work on some jumping drills and focusing forward;

it is hard to keep your feet up when you are looking back at me.  I will also work on better directions and being in front.

I love running Echo and know when it comes together watch out!

Thank you Joe Camp for the agility pictures!!

Over all it was a great weekend despite the flooding rain!

Camp Sheltie

I helped a co-worker and his wife get a sheltie a few months ago; after he kept threatening to take one of mine.  Her name is Kasey and she is a tri just like Slick.  She is also very shy like Slick.

They went on vacation the first week of February so Kasey came and stayed at Camp Sheltie for 10 days.  Kasey is a shy little girl but loves to run and play with the shelties and Artemis.

She got more and more confident each day she was with us.

We went for long walks at the park and I worked her every day in agility.

She is a snuggler and Echo was not so happy that she was taking her “spot”.  Kasey quickly figured out our routine and fit right in.  I cannot wait for her to visit Camp Sheltie again.