Just to Make You Smile

Geri has a litter of 6 week old border collie pups on the ground....and I could NOT resist their cuteness!



Needless to say.....Geri kept an eagle eye on me as I packed the car to go home.  And as I drove away, I thought I saw her doing a puppy count......

Seize the Day!

Minimal Monday

After a crazy road trip, filled with flooding, flat tires, AAA, and Les Schwab.....I finally made it to The Border Collie Training Center.  My best laid plans did not pan out and it was dark by the time I arrived......so I had to wait until Sunday to work the dogs.

Oh, but what a Sunday it was!

Believe it or not....this is my Gyp....out in a big, fenceless field....

looking like a "big" girl.......

Seize the Day!!!!!

I'm So Excited.....

Post after post this week have shown everyone the real me....Hi, my name is Lora, and I'm an over-thinker!  I've been in arguments at clinic regarding my over-thinking. I've been made fun of for walking to the post with a tape recorder in my pocket so I could go back to my car and listen to my commands and whistles.  One of my favorite clinicians has "lovingly" put me on a question quota when I attend one of  his clinics. Over-thinking: I know I do it....I'm just not sure it is a bad thing.  Instead of finding a good recovery group and attending meetings.....I am trying  real hard to keep it on the inside.  Sort of a "dry" over-thinker!  My good friend down in the State of Jefferson is concerned......she is planning an intervention.  I now have an overnight pass and am planning a trip to...gasp...go work dogs!  I am dancing around today, getting the long lengthy to-do list done. I'm outta here baybay!  I am taking my camera and in addition, Geri said she would...another gasp...film my dogs working! I haven't been to Sheepdog Disneyland in forever. I will attempt to bring home enough blog fodder that I won't have to go back to the heady over-thinking posts for a while.  Here's to clear roads, good friends, blue skies, frisky sheep, fabulous dogs, and big, fenceless fields!




Seize the Day!!!!

Getting Ready for a New Year!

It is that time of year....last night, it rained so hard here it woke me up!  Standing water and mud make for slippery slopes at the ranch.  25 ewes have been covered and I only work the pregnant girls lightly to keep them fit.  The snowy mountains discourage road trips to sheepdog Disneylands. Winter is the season of down time when it comes to dog work.  On the other hand.....winter has become a time for me to plan, think, dream and do my mental gymnastics in preparation for the coming year. 

I've stumbled upon a couple of blog sites this month that are giving me great ideas to ponder for my new year readiness ritual.  First, I have already mentioned....Ordinary Courage  who is doing a winter work shop with Mondo Beyondo on dreaming.  I love the quote from the Mondo Beyondo web site... "When we are dreaming alone it is only a dream. When we are dreaming with others, it is the beginning of reality." — Dom Helder Camara   This is an on-line class about dreaming big......I am thinking of taking it. I love dreaming big! 

The second blog site that has been stretching my thoughts these days is #reverb10. Their motto is: "reflect on this year & manifest what's next"  How cool is that!?  Every day, this web site prints a prompt to reflect upon.....December 1 was : One Word. Encapsulate the year 2010 in one word. Explain why you’re choosing that word. Now, imagine it’s one year from today, what would you like the word to be that captures 2011 for you? (Author: Gwen Bell)

Here are my answers to this exercise:

2010: enlightenment..... in all I thought I knew, I realized I knew so very much less! It was freeing....and allowed me to use what I did know and seek answers for the moment in what I did not know. 
2011: fulfill.....there are so many changes coming my way in 2011 and I want to embrace all that comes with those changes. 


I'm also bringing out all the DVDs I love to watch....both sheepdog runs as well as instructional.  I have  One Man and His Dog.....I think I will watch that again. As well as the world sheepdog trial. 

Then, there are those physical goals.  A healthier 2011!!!

Goals....I am pondering what my goals for 2011 will be.  It might take all month to sort through 2010 and reflect on the goals that I achieved....and then make my new list for 2011. 

What are your goals for the coming year? Do you have any web sites or blogs that inspire you?  I'd love to see them!

Seize the Day!!!

Why Blog...Why Read?

"Why do you Blog?"...that was the question Full Tilt Border Collies asked a few weeks back. It was fun reading other blogger's answers and I have been thinking about how I would answer.  I started blogging to keep a journal of my training and trialing progress as I moved my Sally to open.  I knew over time: lessons, clinics, and trials would become a blur.  Also, adding a few more dogs into my training mix, I wanted to document my journey with each of them.  Blogging made keeping a diary very easy.  Over the past two years, I'm amazed at how often I go back and look for a trial date or a clinic thought.  I've also used my blog to vent a little....no, really I have!  Some days, an idea is posted on one of the "chat boards" or facebook that gets stuck in my craw and posting my views on my blog is great therapy! 

The benefits of blogging.....keeping a record of progress and things learned.  However, one of the not so obvious benefits has been getting to meet other bloggers!  People from all over America...and even crossing the pond into Wales with Kinloch Sheepdogs....folks I have "gotten to know" through blogging.  Sometimes, as I am writing one of my blog posts....I remember that my blog-reading friends are following along.  I try to present ideas emphasising they are mine or training tips that apply to my dogs but might not be universal to all dogs.  I've also enjoyed the "discussions" that have gone on in the comment section of some of the blogs I read. Learning and challenging, thought-stretching makes life so much richer.

So another question that comes to mind: Why do you read blogs?  I like reading other blogs for a number of reasons.  I love being personally challenged by blogs such as Ordinary Courage.  I look forward to new posts on Eyeherdewe...the wicked way with words that I wish I could have put together because more times than not they describe how I feel with truthful clarity!  I enjoy thinking about training sheepdogs and ideas that come from Candy Kennedy's Training Border Collies.  Candy is great about answering questions in the comment section. Another all time favorite, feel good blog is Pioneer Woman.  PW always has such a unique view of life: attracting incredibly positive people who add depth to her blog. Blogs are also a great way for me to keep up with my friends....sharing their lives and their training journeys...all of which are listed in my blog list.

Last....Are bloggers authentic?  Or how much can you tell about the author of a blog by what they write about and how they present it?  As I read other blogs...there are definitely people I would love to meet as well as those I am thankful to call friend! Their writing captivates me...their ideas tumble around in my head and linger...I feel blessed to share a day of their life without actually being there.  Other blogs I have stumbled upon leave me wanting to run....go wash out the inner cavity of my skull and wishing I had not seen "that" side of the author!  Those blogs could be an exercise in creative writing...but it leaves me thinking "could the real ----- please stand up!" As with the people in my personal life that I call "good friend"....I keep my regular blog reading to those that lift me up, challenge me to be a better person, share authentic life with a "let's roll" attitude, and make the time spent with them, so to speak, time worth spending.

Why do you blog? Why do you read blogs? Do you think you can tell more about a person after reading their blog posts? 

Thank you for reading Rocking Dog Ranch.

Seize the Day!

Happy Birthday...Gyp!!!

One year ago today......Nell and I were busy with five tiny border collie puppies.  That is Gyp....right there nuzzling Nell's leg...big ole "Y" on her head!  Gosh time flies...and it certainly flies faster with dogs!


Gyp the day she was born



Gyp at five weeks



Gyp at nine weeks

Gyp at six months



Gyp at nine months

                           

Gyp at the Border Collie Training Center

                          

Gyp at one year



When Gyp was eight weeks old...I was not sure I wanted to raise her.  Having never before raised a border collie pup, I envisioned huge holes in the back yard and everything ripped up! Friends offered to take her for the first four or five months of her life, but my kids said they wanted a go at it.  All three men in the house assured me they would help, so Gyp became our first home raised border collie.  Other than the fact she has a "hankering" for my youngest son's flip flop (or basketball shoe if the flip flop can not be found) she has been a super nice pup....off and on sheep.  Recently, Gyp's father crossed the rainbow bridge....I feel so fortunate to have been able to put Nell to him.....I think Jake has left his fingerprints on my Gyp with her thoughtful nature.

Happy Birthday, sweet Gypsy! I am so excited to see the next year of your life unfold.

Seize the day!!!!

PW wanna be!

Friday, as I made my bi-monthly trip to Knee Deep Ranch...I was greeted by Alvina who asked if I wanted to go drive the feed truck while she fed!  Why OF COURSE!!!!  Pioneer Woman wanna be...that's me.  Now if I could just do a cook book and.....well, never mind.

The bad news is...I had to drive a Ford. The good news...I can drive a stick shift thus did not embarrass myself too bad!

ain't I a beauty...now chip chop chip on the feed!

The cows were very happy to see us....I felt just a little special with such a large fan club!

Birthday boy Fred kept a watchful eye on the cows for me!

I had to try and drive real slow....so Alvina could toss off the hay and not get bucked off the back of the truck.  This was a challenge......she put me in 4L in the next field......I'm sure she had her reasons.

happy cows

The next field on the feed route was filled with cows....calves....and newly introduced BULLS!

When Alvina got out to get around to the back of the truck....I opted to slide across the seat so as not to get on first name basis with this dude!

I volunteered to come down and help brand....I'll serve the boys coffee and banana bread!

The morning adventure brought back many fond memories of my childhood.  My grandparents had a cattle ranch in Beatty, Oregon....and whenever my family went to visit, we made the rounds with Grandpa feeding or checking the cows.

After the feeding chores were done, Alvina, Gayle and I went on to work our dogs on the local sheep.  I love my trips to Knee Deep Ranch.  The land has such a rustic, western beauty to it....quiet, green, wide, open....the best qualities when it comes to working dogs!

Seize the Day!