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.

Party, party, party, work, work, work!!!

Friday night I was invited to a Celebrate Home Gathering by a co-worker, I almost did not go because I did not have extra money to spend and there was really nothing I needed since I have been spending the last several weeks cleaning out the house. But I wanted to support my friend so I went and I am glad I did, I had a blast! There were several demonstrators there and lots of people. They had bingo for prizes, quarter auctions, cash and carry items, and raffle items. We played 12 games of Bingo and I actually won a game getting a wonderful smelling tropical jar candle. I sat next to my friend’s daughter who was having so much fun but needed a little help with her card and I also got us an extra card to share. I did not get any of the $.25 auction items but it was fun bidding on them. I did buy two raffle tickets for an organization item I have been eyeing in the catalog and won it!! It was a fun evening spent with friends.

Saturday morning I was up and in Dallas for a card making gathering. I have been invited for about a year and kept forgetting or I was not available on the days it was being held. But this Saturday I remembered and was able to make it. After spending $7 on two cards the day before I was looking forward to making four cards for $5.

We made two valentine cards, a birthday card, and my favorite was an all occasion card on transparency.

My friend Heidi goes all the time and when I asked her if she was going Saturday  and she said yes, she was surprised I was going to go. Becky was a great hostess and it was a very nice group of ladies. They made me feel very welcome and I am looking forward to the next one.

But my fun did not end there; Jane was having a birthday party for Papa Gary and Shon.

I cannot believe Shon is 16! He is such a great young man. It was fun getting together and seeing everyone. Jane fixed a wonderful dinner which was enjoyed by Papa Gary, Randy, Jane, Shon, Salva, Keely, Salva Jr., Karissa, Tyler and his beautiful baby girl, Elexa, and of course myself.

This was the first time I have met Elexa and she is a wonderful baby.

She was getting passed from person

to person and taking it all in.

She also entertained us.

I had a great evening getting caught up with my wonderful nieces, nephew, sister, and their families.

I went home very tired and had a very lazy Sunday enjoying several movies on Showtime’s Free Preview weekend including Twilight and New Moon which I have never seen and enjoyed.

The next weekend was a holiday weekend so it was a three day weekend. I thought about all kinds of fun things that I could go do but it was a very WET weekend and I ended up working, working, and working. I am sure enjoying all the extra room I have with Jordana moving out and I am spreading out very nicely. The dogs now have their own room and we are not sharing my craft room. I asked Jordana to come over since we both had Monday off and I could use her help moving some heavy stuff and helping me get rid of items she would not want, and help with some yard work if the weather permitted. The weather Monday ended up pretty nice and dry so we were able to get the roses, blueberries, lilacs, and apple tree trimmed. Some of the branches on the lilacs were too heavy for me to cut by myself so it was great to have Jordana’s help; we packed the yard debris bucket and I have lots more to fill it for weeks. The dogs also enjoyed being outside for the first time in days. I could not believe how tired they were from watching us work. Monday evening I kept looking around in amazement at how much we got done!! Thank you Jordana for taking a day out of your busy life to help your mom!!

Thank you WAG!

I cannot think of a better way to start out the year but with friends and their dogs. On Sunday WAG hosted an agility fun match. WAGgers sure do know how to have fun!! I designed the courses and enjoyed watching the teams run. And I also had a blast running my blue girls.

But the best part is I brought home a couple of very tired dogs!!

What a great start to 2011!! But this ends blogging for a couple of weeks while the computer and daughter go back to Bend.

Happy New Year - 1/1/11

1-1-11 was a great day.

And I have very happy dogs.

It was a bit cold today which explains these sheets of ice.

But not raining so I packed up the dogs and headed to the park.

I love taking the dogs to the park to get some exercise and have some fun

because I bring home very tired dogs.