Creekside

We have been seeing more deer in the field and in the creek recently...and then we saw the reason why. The little one had been "stashed" on the island; something we've seen in the past. She won't stay in the area for long, so it is a real treat to see them around.

Pictures taken with the 150-500mm lens. It was an overcast day and we find the results with this lens are best in bright sunshine...hence the lack of sharpness.

Boo's Birthday Bash

It was LuAnne's birthday today...she turned 14 years old.

A little confession. Like many pet owners our guys all have nicknames. LuAnne has been called "Boo" almost all her life...or Boo Boo. Gabi is Gibby (pronounced Jibby) or Jib Jib.

I wondered what to make for this special occasion. She isn't a real big meat eater...and I wanted to make a cake. Since it is strawberry season, I thought I'd make shortcake. We'd have it with strawberries and I'd put some green beans on hers!. Green beans are her favorite...go figure. It must be why she looks so good!

So we invited a few in to celebrate her birthday...and then a few gate crashers. Joining Boo were Foo (Bunny), Widgie (Bridgit), Junebug (Juno), Mokie (Cocoa) and Paris (but you have to say that with a lisp...Parith).

First were the appetizers...arrowroot biscuits with peanut butter and cottage cheese.

Nom nom. They were messy but a big hit!

More please!

I only gave them one small shortcake to share. I didn't want to deal with upset tums tomorrow...

LuAnne got the majority of it!!!

The cake and whipped cream was the first to go...these guys aren't as fond of the beans as Boo.

It was a good party...Gabi's is next; she'll be 15 on July 17th.

Road Trip: Toronto, Stockton NY, London, Hamilton

I had two girls entered four days in Stockton NY (south of Buffalo) and planned on bringing Paris, Cocoa and the two youngsters along for socializing. Car packed, I did a MapQuest search Tuesday night to find the best route. Travel time was estimated at over 7 hours going via Syracuse or 8 1/2 hours through Canada. By that time, after washing the girls and packing I didn't feel like going at all! Pete suggested I call my friend Brenda and meet somewhere (like Hamilton) on Thursday and drive the last leg together in one vehicle. I ran it by Brenda and we were able to park the car at a friend's, so it seemed like this was a go. Since I had to fit my dogs/gear/luggage in Brenda's Van, I decided to leave three at home and just take Cocoa. It was a decision I was later very glad I made!

Wednesday I drove through some torrential rain, but it was nice and sunny once I got to Toronto. I didn't bring the camera, so these grainy photos are taken with Pete's cell phone!

Toronto was preparing for the G-20 summit, so the city was getting fortified with chain link, concrete barriers and the cows were gone!

In this patch of very long grass are usually five grazing bronze cow sculptures. They were removed for security reasons. I exercised Cocoa here in the afternoon while it was full of people, and she was not at all phased by city life. Later on (when these shots were taken) I wanted to find where they put the cows. They had been relocated across the street to a very small patch of grass. I took Cocoa over to see them and she went "whoa what the heck are you doing here?" She was scared of them, and then she was edgy on her walk after seeing the creepy farm animals!

In the lobby of the Royal York Hotel. She was a perfect guest...

She loved the bed...

Out the window there was a demonstration. Drums banging, chanting. It was hard to know what they were going on about...but there will be plenty more of that in the next few days... You can see the barriers between the train station and the hotel. The police were out in force on bicycles and they were also in the lobby by the entrance. It was a little unnerving.

She could get used to this life!

Cocoa looking for room service...

(((From here the story has no pictures...)))

The following morning we called for the car and when I got down, the Valet said "you have a problem". Yep...a flat tire. He found a pump and pumped the tire while I exercised Cocoa and then when he tried to put the stopper on the valve, the air kept coming...we had a leaky valve. So with the morning subway commuters looking as they marched past, the Valet changed the tire. I called Brenda and said to go on ahead. "Oh no, that's OK, I'll wait" she said.

Off to the dealer to fix the valve in the tire. Cocoa came out and we went to the show room. This dealer also sold Aston-Martin's and I suggested to the receptionist that perhaps they could give me one since I shared the name! (hahaha) An hour or so later I'm underway. I call Brenda to let her know I'll be there in an hour. Ten minutes later I'm calling her again...bumper to bumper traffic! Once again I urge her to go on without me, but she wouldn't hear of it.

Finally I make it to Hamilton and we load my stuff (lots and lots of stuff) into her Van. It is going to be tight to make it to the show on time and I'm counting the dogs in front of Shelties and determine we could possibly make it. Brenda gets us there with five minutes to spare! The Old English Sheepdog is in the ring and then as we are changing I see the Shelties beginning. A quick spritz to dampen the girls coats and off we run to ringside. Some frantic brushing and in we go. Sable girls are first and Cocoa wins the class and then Brenda goes in the big AOAC class with Keva and she wins also. Back for Winners and Cocoa takes the points with Keva going reserve!

We show the next day with Keva going reserve and the judge thinking Cocoa is fat! (She wasn't fat, she was fluffy) :-) We stay to watch groups and BIS, and I notice my arm is starting to swell. The swelling continues and by morning it is clear that I can't show that day and we make plans to pack up after Brenda shows her girl and finds a handler for Cocoa. Keva once again takes reserve and Cocoa wins her class. She finds handlers for the Sunday show and a ride back to Canada with breeder-friends.

As Brenda is from London and works at the Hospital there, that is where we went. A few hours wait in Emergency and they were pretty sure my arm was infected and that I'd be staying a few days. I have to admit, I was pretty worried as the swelling continued despite the antibiotics. However, the next day it was determined it was thrombosis so they put me on blood thinners and I was discharged Monday afternoon..

Brenda got home from work Monday and drove me to Hamilton where I spent the night with a dear friend. I got home finally on Tuesday with Pete meeting me in Perth...he'd been so worried the entire time, he couldn't wait any longer!

We're having a quiet couple of weekends and then might get going again to shows mid July.

Thanks to all the fellow exhibitors for helping out and my deepest gratitude to Brenda (for everything.)

Emma: Western NY Specialties

Time has been flying by; I can't believe we're almost through June already! I've been down to the US three weekends running, with barely time to unpack before it is time to pack up again. I still have no planters out front, but may remedy that this weekend.

Pete and I went to the Western NY Specialties just the other side of Rochester the weekend before last. We had a few of our girls and were delighted that miss "Emma" won the bred-by class both days. She is just 1 1/2 years old and still immature, but her quality shone through.

She is a natural show girl though, which makes her a lot of fun!

Her off side...

Cocoa: St Lawrence Valley KC

Cocoa and I headed to Clayton NY (just across the US border) in the only car that was fit for travel...Pete's Boxster! I tied her to the door on the passenger side, in case she decided to jump on me while I was driving, but it wasn't necessary as she was a great passenger. I think she would have preferred if the garmin hadn't chosen the back way to the show though...as it had a lot of twists and turns! I was able to fit my grooming table and a soft crate in the back trunk and my grooming supplies, cooler and clothes in the front trunk. Pete came to the show on Sunday, and that meant Cocoa was on my lap. She was such a good sport, much like her great-grandmother Gabi. She just made herself comfortable and snuggled in for the ride. I think she appreciated the extra hugs on the corners!

Cocoa in the group ring. She won best of breed both days and two Group 2's

Down and back for breed judge Mrs. Betty McHugh
Going around for judge Polly Smith

Cocoa is such a personable girl...she showed like a trooper and did everything we asked; but when it got time to go home, she really didn't want to go back in the car!

(I notice that it is time for a shopping trip...my red suit is in most of the show photos!)

Already June

I don't know where the time has gone; it is already June. The lilacs have come and gone, as have the apple blossoms. The chestnut tree blooms are tattered after the rain today, and the columbine is blooming in the garden. I still haven't bought my flowers for the front of the house...sigh. Pete's busy with trimming and pruning trees. He has spent most weekends just taking down dead trees and could spend the rest of the summer doing more of the same! We've had three bonfires already this year with a fourth pile looking nearly ready to burn.

I think the last time the dogs were out for a run was mid April. So needless to say, they had a blast.

Stormy giving Juno a dirty look!

Paris in the clover

Paris, Juno and Cocoa

Diva and her wee litter mate Ceilidh who is with us for a short time.

Picking up sticks!

Diva leaping in the long grass

Miki on the receiving end of a game of chase

Miki at six months

Little Miki enjoying the grass