The longest day of the year

For my favorite day of the year, I will swing in my swing, toss the ball for the dogs, take a walk, and perhaps swim in the pool. 

A wonderful gift that nature gives.  Sun shine all day long, green grass, and a warm day.

I love spring and June 21st is one day I look forward to all year long.

I know it will now be hot.  I know that in a few months these long days will be a sweet memory.  But today, today I'll just enjoy it.

Almost does not equal MACH points Fin.

Fin and I had a wonderful day in Scotts Valley watching friends run.  My husband even came up to watch us run.  The standard seemed very doable.  What I didn't see was the possibility of a wide turn for Fin on the finish.  She just went wide and missed the 2nd to last jump.  Otherwise a beautiful run. 

She is keeping me humble...that's for sure. :)

Jumpers was only rememberable from a training perspective.  We only got 3 obstacles before I made a huge mistake and sent her past a jump into the wrong side of the tunnel.  That's ok.  She did it with gusto (like she does everything) and her confidence is growing by leaps and bounds.

Sat Scotts Valley AKC

Headed out for AKC fun today with Laura.  Fin and I had much joy and focus today.  A missed opportunity in our Exc B jumpers, but 3rd place in Exc B standard and 18 MACH points.  only 682 to go...oh and then there are those double q's. 

Jumpers was doable I thought, but after the weaves she drifted wide and chose to go around a single and take the triple.  It is interesting as I worry about spreads with her, and she chose to take the spread... ah well, there will be other jumpers runs to be sure. :) 

The weather was chilly in the morning but the Sun came out for our second run (the jumpers).  I really do enjoy the site at it has some really nice walks.  However, today found a number of people there to enjoy the park, and annoy our dogs.  We had to keep a pretty close watch on the canopy to prevent unwanted hands from reaching into the xpen. 

Played with Stat for a long time.  He is getting to be a nice teenager.  Very pretty boy.  Laura has done a fabulous job with him.

Some great runs by some fabulous people today.  I enjoyed it so much today, I think I'll go back tomorrow and do it all over again!

Hiking and Fitness

I really do enjoy getting out in nature.  Don't really enjoy neighborhood walking all that much.  I do it because it is necessary.  What I really enjoy is trees, woods, meadows, rocks, and ponds.

I sorta fell out of the habit of hiking with all the rains.  It is muddy work.  Then there were the cows at Harvey bear, sorta scary.  So I decided to skip the cows and go hike Mt. Madonna.

I will step back a moment and say that I live in a valley surrounded by hills and mountains...it's not like the Rockies, but the elevation change can be quite dramatic.  I don't like going up hill.  It is difficult and at my current fitness level a challenge.  However, getting to the top of a 1200 foot elevation change in less than a mile makes me smile. 

So my challenge to myself continues this week.  Hike this hike and each day go further than the last in the same amount of time.

Monday I hiked up to the tree with the poison oak all over it.  I had no idea how close to the top I was, but was dripping wet, it had been 45 minutes of up hill, and I turned around and headed back to the car.

Tues I got to that tree and walked right past it huffing and puffing the whole way.  Another 200 feet and we were at the top.  Wow.  So beautiful.  I walked out to vista point then turned around and walked back down.

Today hiked to the top, enjoyed the views of the fog coming in over the hills, and came back down.  Made it to the top 4 minutes faster than Tues.  I will say that my legs were quite sore, a good sore, a sore that means what I'm doing is working. 

Tomorrow, I'm doing the entire loop. 

Adrift on a Sea of Fun

A busy but fun weekend.  Sat was a delightful party at my sisters.  Her son is getting married!  His fiance is wonderful and her family is very nice.  My sister gave her a wedding shower and what fun we had!  We played the create a wedding dress with blue table cloths and paper streamers.  My team went the western route and the other team went for the eastern traditional Sari... so ok, theirs was better...but we did have a mighty nice outfit.

The food was good and we headed south to Morgan Hill afterwards where we attended closing night of Kel's play "Curtains."  Kel is really hysterical

Sunday I woke up and after getting my mom on the road, left for Palo Alto and did one day of the AKC.  The weather was wonderful (in the 80's) and I camped with my bud Laura who had set up the day before.  In the ring around 9:30 and and a nice jumpers run.  a little late on my first FC.  Purposly late on my second, tradgically late on my third.  But would have Q'd if she didn't pop out at 10 on her weavies.

Standard was a fun course.  Despite not staying on the teeter we were clean through 12.  She needed to stay on the A until I could get by her to serp to the tunnel, but she came off on my motion and ended up going off course so I just ran it out.

This week I will work on proofing those weaves, holding those contacts, and oh, forgot to mention that startline!  Next week another local trial (I'm so blessed).  Of to lovely Scotts Valley for a fun 2 day AKC.   I like this venue as they have a wonderful little walking area around the neighborhood.  A good place to hang out with friends and enjoy the wonderful weather.

Lunch at Whizland USA

I guess I need a second job to pay for my poor shelties humpback.

What can I learn from a 5 of 6 weekend?

Step one to Nationals: Get into Exc B. DONE.

As many of us know, AKC Nationals will be in Reno, NV this year. Just a hop, skip, and a good poker hand away from Fin and I's abode. I am going whether I qualify or not. Too close not to go. I already have rooms booked. It will be Agility all day, every day, for three days.

My hope, and the hopes of many of my friends, is that we qualify to actually participate. Wouldn't that be a kick?

To that end, all of a sudden AKC has become somewhat popular and I am enjoying the experience. Sometimes it is a long day to run twice, but hanging out with friends is fun.
Step two: Get fit. Working on it.
Step three: Six double Q's

I am going to as many AKC as I can between weddings, parties for weddings, work, and other obligations. Hopefully I will be able to tick these double Q's off before the cut off in November.

A few things I learned this weekend:

• Weave to triple/spread issue.  Not sure if it was because I was excellerating and she was herding me, or she truly avoided the spread. But this week on my list is weaves to spreads.
• Startline.  I have a fabulous startline.  She is so pretty sitting there.  Until I don't.  She sat 5 of 6.  Going to reinforce startline this week.
• Contacts.  Perhaps contacts will be a lifetime thing. Fins contacts are fast and fabulous...but sometimes she is not sticking them.  This week, get out there and proof.
• Jumping.  I can not find fault with her jumping.  She is taking things with confidence and good form.  However, she checks in with me alot (due to me being behind her!) and I want her looking ahead more...our times will get better.  This week, work some go ons and reward before the head check.

Love me some little Fin agility!