Getting my grid on...

One of the things I like to do is go back and see what I was working on a year ago and reboot.  Last year I had just signed up Fin in agility after 10 months of rest and rehab.  We were working on her jumping and confidence.

I visited with Susan Salo multiple times and this exercise was one of my favorites.  My friends and I would get together at my place and work on straight grids and curvy grids.  So this week, back to the basics night we are working on grids.

You should try this at home.  You can substitute a double or triple for the #7 jump.

• Start with just one - two
• then one-two-three
• then one-two-three-four
• then the whole thing...

This little girl gives all of herself...

Thanks Trista from Dynamic Dog Photograpy

A wonderful side trip during vacation

For a few hours one of my vacation days, we did something I've always wanted to do.  Blow glass.  I was thinking I wanted to make a large vase, but of course, we were only allowed to make a 5" ball (either to hang or with a base).  First we had the safety lecture.

 Careful not to get to near the ovens.  They are HOT.

 We had a choice of colors and they would put gold on your balls if you wanted it.  Kel didn't want gold on his balls.  I didn't either.

 For my ball I picked purple/green/blue.  I also picked the "hurricane" design.  My participation was somewhat limited.  The "expert" glass guy really did all the work, getting the glass and adding the color.

Making it round using wooden spoons.

 But I got to mix my colors up and make ridges on my ball.  What a thrill!

 Then, I got to blow it up.  Rather than blowing directly on the pole, I used a blowing tube.  

 Kel also made a ball.  His colors were white/aqua/purple and his design was a feather.  Since the feather is more precise, he only got to blow.  After the ball was blown up, the end was thinned so that it would break off.

 Then a new piece of glass from a smaller pole was added to the top.

 Once the little glob was added, the glass guy used his tool to make a loop for hanging.

 Once all was done, a quick photo (didn't get one of mine) and then the balls were placed in a cooling box that cooled them over a 4 day period.  The glass really needs to cool very slowly so that it doesn't crack.

Our little balls arrived yesterday.  They are so pretty. 

This little adventure was very special.  I really love the creative process and have wanted to try this out as long as I can remember.  I'm hoping I can find a class locally so I can make my own balls from start to finish.  So much fun...maybe not as much fun as agility, but still, expanding my mind to try new things always brings the unexpected.

Thank you Jewel Gardens for such a WONDERFUL experience.

A Quick AKC after getting back from Alaska...

Had a really fabulous run with Fin on Sunday after being gone 10 days.  My husband thought I was  a little crazy for going to a dog show after getting home so late.  Even so, I was ready and headed up with my best friend and super spectacular Fin to try out getting that elusive double q.

Standard didn't result in a Q, after a self release start then a blasting running of the contact, I was hard pressed to keep up with her.  We made up our own course for a while until I figured out what I wanted to do, and ended  the standard run with beautiful weaves, an almost stopped A frame, and tight jump sequence. Perhaps a little contact work is in my and Fins future.

Jumpers was fun, fast and straightforward. 

The drive home wasn't too bad and got home at a decent hour.  This week, focus on work and prepare for a big end to August with two huge USDAA shows.......maybe even an ADCH?!?!

Well Pups, Mom's home!

 Trains, planes, and boats were the theme of this wonderful trip with my husband.  Certainly the planes were my least favorite.  Loved the train!

 Met up with friends on the ship.  I think it has been at least 60 minutes from our last meal.  Time to eat again!

 Although there was ice, the temps were really wonderful.  The coldest day was at the Glacier but only because we hung out on deck and there was a cool breeze off the glacier.

 Yummy food!

 Got off the cruise ship and got on other ships for whale watching.

 There were Alaska dogs everywhere.  Most were pretty big, but saw some pugs and corgi's as well.

 Then there were the whales, humpback and killer whales were spotted.  Also saw dolphins and Stellar sea lions.  Very cool.

 Had tea in Skagway.  So much fun.

Beautiful sky's followed us everywhere.

I'm outta here.

Well dogs, hope you do ok without me.  I'm headed to Alaska and you guys are staying here with Auntie Katrina. 

Oh how I hate to go, but vacation with my husband is necessary and actually fun.

Yes, we are going someplace colder than here.  Might even rain.  In any event, fun will be had, even if no dogs are involved. 

I will be back ever so soon.
Be good while I'm gone.  Kiss kiss.

A Story that ends well...

A few weeks ago my sister called and said, "I'm ready."  "Eve is ready."  A year ago, she lost her 15 year old BC mix named Molly.  Such a sweet dog and a huge loss.

I contacted friends and we found a nice 8 year old cattle dog.  Trish and Eve were excited, went up met him and brought him home.  After just a few hours at home, both of them knew it was not a match.  They wanted to like him, but he really wasn't the right dog for them.

It was heart breaking.  I told them, not every dog is a match.  Take him back.  Someone will love him.  He is in a GREAT rescue and they will understand.  Trish was asking, "what is wrong with me, why isn't this feeling good?"

It is my belief that you should not have to live with an animal if you don't mesh with that animal.  We have these guys for so many years, why live with someone you don't really love and waste years wishing for something different.

Though lots of tears, guilt, and wondering if it was them, they took the little cattle dog back to the rescue.  The rescue people were wonderful and the little guy is still looking for that forever home but is in a good place (this rescue is one of the best).

In the meantime, they decided to take a break from looking.  Wait they said.  I'm like, "ok." 

My sister comes down Saturday for a "hang out by the pool" day.  I say, "Wanna run up the the shelter and see what they got?"  Off we went.  I felt a little guilty for going without Trish's wife, but not so much that I wanted to stay home.

Walked in at 11:15, and picked out a little dog immediately.  You see, at 11:00am that morning, shelter workers placed a little pug in one of the runs for adoption.  She had been picked up as a stray, spayed on Friday, and put in the kennel on Saturday morning.  She had not been placed on the web.  On either side of her were 80 pound bullie breeds jumping and barking.  She sat in the middle of her kennel on a small towel, looking scared out of her mind.

"Let's pull her out!"  I say ever the optimist.  Trish called Eve to give her an update.  Eve has that bad flu and didn't want to drive down, but said to go for it.  So we did.

So this little cutie is now living with my sister.  After spending just a few minutes with her, Trish started laughing and giggling.  Trish said, "This is the one, I never felt this way about him (the cattle dog).  I'm in love."  I was skeptical and kept asking questions.  The little pug was still scared, but seemed to come out of it the longer she was with us.  She seemed distracted, but then would run back and crawl into our laps wagging that curly q of a tail.  After a while, Trish says, "there is no doubt in my mind.  I want this dog."

As Trish left to go home with her sweetie, I tried to give her advice, "Ok, the next few days are really important.  Give her boundaries.  Don't allow too much freedom.  If you don't want her on the furniture, this is your chance."  Trish says, "she can sit in the chair, but I think the couch will be off limits."

A few hours later I called to see how it was going.  "She is sound asleep on the couch between us.  We love her."  Ahhh.  She has those two girls wrapped around her little piggywiggle of a tail! 

My work is done.