Teaser....

Here they are.....my twin ewe lambs from yesterday afternoon.

Last night, I stayed in the RV at my little ranchette.  Funny, after owning my place for 6 years this was my first all-nighter.  I knew coyotes lived around the place but yikes....they were close this morning when I did a 4 a.m. check.  No real worries because I do lamb in the barn and once they are ready to turn out....guard llama, Grace should take care of the babies. 

But back to 4 a.m.....I had to pull my first lamb of the season. I wondered if 820 would need some help...she is a tiny short-legged ewe, one of a 2008 set of triplets so she never achieved her full potential. She was looking pretty big.  After a little drama...I pulled yet another ewe lamb of color!

Little 101 is very excited to have friends to play with, although he is huge now that he is two weeks old.  And while 820 and I were busy with the birth of 104......the twins practiced their skipping moves in the jug next door!

Nap time.....

Seize the Day!

Lamb Watch

Yesterday, I drove up to Arlington, Washington to work with Kathy Kn*x......the drive home was crazy! Wind and deluge rain.....top speeds of 45 mph while hydroplaning.....I began to wonder if my Mother Trucker days might be coming to an end.  I'll post more on the clinic in the coming days....but I am now officially on lamb duty.

Sorry about this rear shot...but hey, that is exactly what I am looking at 5-6 times a day.  These two girls look like they might be ready later vs sooner....but have a look in the background.

                            

That there is my little Nellie girl.  Always ready to give a helping hand. She cracks me up and adds brightness to my day.

My woolly ewes should go here in the next three days.  A couple of them look like they will twin for sure.  This ewe goes around groaning with every step.  She keeps complaining about her swollen feet, how she can't bend to tie her shoes, and she can't sleep at night or get comfortable.

I've employed a different strategy this year.  First I synchronised my breeding with CIDR plugs.  The vote will be in on the use of those at the end of lambing season.  I keep having nightmares of coming out to check for lambs...and finding them everywhere...with no ewe knowing which 100 babies are hers.  Second, I fed better.  Only the smallest amount of alfalfa and not too much of grass hay....going for smaller lambs and hoping my pull rate is decent.  Third,

this is not a sign that my obsession has gotten me kicked out of the house....really!  I moved the RV out to the ranch so when needed, I can spend a night or two with the girls.

Let the lambing being....off to check!

Seize the Day!

Ode to All Things Pups

My friend from Behaviors of a Dog Mom had a litter of winter pups....well, her Lucy had the pups and my friend was a fabulous puppy-raiser.  Her job titles included taxi driver, with a LONG round-trip to Canada ........ wedding coordinator ...... doula ........ nanny........indoor park manager........ and play date facilitator, as well as chef.  Amazing all the hats a person has to wear to put forth a well socialized pup.

This puppy really wanted me....

And then there was this little fellow....

He was just teasing me because HE is Rye...the keeper and subject of his very own blog!

This was the one little princess.....

And this cute boy....aren't his eyes beautiful?  I wonder what color they will end up being.....

Although puppies are very cute and warm your heart in ways that only puppies can......I love this part:

The Beginning!  This is Lana and my pup 8 month old pup, Bracken.  If I could have had a pup from Mint's litter....Bracken was the girl I would have picked.  Here she is on sheep for a little "let's see" exposure. 

I just love watching the young dogs.  Gently looking at the package wondering what all is in there and then starting to unwrap them......seeing their natural talents and sorting out how to best bring out what lies inside!  Sigh....

You can watch video footage of Bracken on Lana's 10-7 blog.  It will be fun to watch her grow up......

The sun is shining here in the Willamette Valley.....I think I will go work my pup.  Gyp is now the designated "chore dog" and I'm loving how she is sorting out the sheep and applying her understanding to get the jobs done. 

Seize the Day!

Dreams

I'm taking a class about dreaming.....the kind of dreams that are similar to goals but so much bigger and richer and well...Mondo Beyondo.



It has been a very fun class...pushing me to dig deep and find those little whispers of excitement one can only experience when dreaming. I received  tiny notes of affirmations....one said, "DARE to say it out loud".

One of my Mondo Beyondo dreams would be to attend Soldier Hollow.....and run a dog!  There, I said it.  Some day I want to get that invitation in the mail to run a dog at Soldier Hollow. 




Maybe I will put baby steps to the dream by being a spectator this year!  You can check out their web site....Soldier Hollow Classic Sheepdog Trial 

How about you?  Are you dreaming and living a Mondo Beyondo life?  I know I am! 

Seize the Day!!!!

Favorite Quotes

When I am at a clinic, you can often find me with a yellow legal pad taking notes.  Some of my favorite notes are really quotes I jot down.  I just stumbled upon my notes from my Scott Glen handling clinic of last August....and I thought I would share a few of my favorite quotes.

"The first trick is getting a hold of your dog; the second is knowing when to let go."

"You can take the freedom and make them right or give them freedom then give them heck for being wrong."

"Strategy goes out the window if the dog doesn't do what we ask."

"You might not have to stop your dog.....but you better be able to stop your dog."

These quotes came about during my time with Nell.....but now, as I work my girls, I see how each applies in so many different ways. Then there is this one:

"Know your dog"

The journey continues.......

Seize the Day!

Mulligan.....

I had the most fabulous opportunity to have a do-over on those Targhee lambs!  Not in a trial situation, but in a really cool learning atmosphere for both me and my dogs on the same field with the same lambs from the Sunday trial.  Time and miles.....behind the wheel of my trusty Caravan!

The day dawned crispy bright....perfect dog working weather.

Lana set the top of the field, and then did her work back to the trailer.....a little like tag.



Lana's dog lifting off Geri

 It was a huge learning lesson to just sit back and watch the dogs.  Sunday's judge, Liz, brought her dog to have a go on the course.  I loved watching Bea sort and learn and get better and better.....while Liz handled, helped, taught and let the dog sort.

Lana took a walkie talkie up with her and talked me through Nell's lift and fetch.  This helped me understand running on these lambs with greater clarity....and Nell got more confident with each step.  On her second outrun she was coming onto the top similar to Sunday, I saw it and was able to blow her out for a more appropriate approach to the lambs.  On the other hand, I gave her way more freedom to work and was pleased to watch all that came from the dance of team work. 

I also had some time with Sally on the course. I struggled with where to put her to get my drive going on Sunday....I loved having the freedom to sort myself out.....by the end, and with some input from friends...the feel of the sheep and my dog was coming together.

I'm taking a class on "dreaming" right now...... the challenge for the week is in finding the balance of embracing thankfulness for the huge blessings of "now"...while living with the courage to listen to the heart whispers to pursue dreams.  I am so thankful for my ranch, sheep, dogs, family, friends, and life.  With all the puzzle pieces that make up my journey.....I see them fitting together, forming an amazing masterpiece.  When I speak about my dogs and my trial experiences, I try to be authentic....embracing the good and sorting out what needs work.  I don't feel confusion.....for me it is the understanding that life is about "time and miles".  I know I become more polished with the different experiences that my friends bless me with. I live in the valley and much of my dog work happens on valley sheep.  Some more dogged than others.....certainly farm-flock the most of them.  I'm struggling to put into words how deeply thankful I am for friends that allow me new experiences; be it big fields, range sheep, a second set of eyes, or a place to lay my head. The gift of being believed in while at the same time being pushed towards potential is truly priceless!  At the end of the day, I strive for a dog that can get any job done and for me to know and understand my part in that result. 

Seize the day!

So....How'd You Do???

I participated in a really great and challenging sheepdog trial this past weekend.....and when I got home a few friends asked "how did it go?"  Then my friend at 10-7 Ranch posted a really thoughtful entry on the 10-7 Blog that really iced the cake of my thoughts.  Personally, I am working on disciplining my mind; focusing my thoughts on finding the good in my dog work.  I'm getting better at seeing what went wrong and why...instead of blaming the sheep, or the dog.  Generally it is handling, lack of experience, or need of a deeper understanding in the training.  However, if I fall into the trap of finding joy in my placement only, I will experience a relatively joyless life. 

How do I find joy in an RT?  Or, gasp....beauty in a DQ?  Those were the questions I challenged myself with, three times on Sunday, as I ran three dogs!  So how did I do at the trial?  Each of my dogs showed improvement in areas we have been working on.  Sally called of the cows (cows!  I'm not sure what she was thinking as she HATES COWS!) and got up to her sheep. She also looked to be feeling great and in better physical condition than the last trial, January 1.  Nell walked straight in and did not slide off the pressure or try to catch an eye.  Bella let me handle her and showed less tension.  That is how I did! Some of the good I found myself....and others bits came from friends.  I am finding that good friends....those that have my best interest in mind and can be honest, supportive, and real....are worth their weight in gold.

I did realize, as I stood at the post, much of the progress that NEEDS to be made is in my handling!  I did not handle Sally at all like I want to.  Pounding the stop button is NOT how Sally is handled best by me. I also need to work fine wool sheep and most definitely fine wool lambs so I can get a better feel of how to run on them. My girls need that work and time to figure out as well.  Nell could have used a little more help on her outrun.  And Bella possibly could have been kept tension-free if I had gone to verbals when I saw the tension building.  All that insight was worth the drive! 

I also took time to watch run after run.....dogs with miles of experience sorting out the sheep and showing me how it would look and feel.  And less experienced dogs being "handled" to keep their run together.  I can't wait to put my girls back on those lambs and see if we too can figure them out!

I see many a road trip south in my future....wonder if I can squeeze one in before the lambs make their appearance?

Seize the Day!!!