Roots

I started my journey of a lifetime.......ending up at Brigand's Hideout, just 6 years ago.  A good friend of mine took me up there for the first time....I was nervous....I had no idea what I was doing.  All I knew was that working my border collie on sheep is what I loved doing......and I wanted to find a way to have access to sheep.  Brigand's is a facility of sorts.....so a person can pay to rent sheep and work their dogs.  In the beginning....I could only be at Brigands with somebody who had more experience than me....a person to sort sheep for me, and be there in case something went wrong.

I visited Brigand's today...and so many memories flooded my mind.  Remembering the first time I had my rescue girl Porsche in this very field...and she took off chasing the sheep.  I stood there yelling and yelling and my friend placed a calm hand on my shoulder and said, "maybe you should go down and see if you can help her."  Or the first time I met Patrick Shannahan....right here in front of this sturdy red barn....working my Snook dog.  Trying so hard to listen and learn....he recently reminded me of some of the things I said to him.....six years ago.  No way, really, I said those things?!

Right where I am at in life...so bitter sweet......changes that are just part of living and breathing.  Sons growing, planning, moving at the speed of light.  So are the changes at Brigand's Hideout....seasons of life. I was the only soul there for the first time in my history of visiting and working sheep there.  I had the place all to myself......and where my first visit was filled with fear and wonderment.....today was filled with awe of how far my dogs have come. I did not need anyone watching over me.  I was not worried that anything would go wrong.....and my thoughts were on the beauty of my dogs....the gift of the sheep....and the lessons unfolding for the day. 

Nell was the gather and sort girl.  Bella worked on being tension-free on new sheep.  Gyp got a spin.....looked good and I can't wait for some input from my mentors.  And then I got out Miss Sally.  Sally and I worked on shedding......something that she hates to do on dog broke sheep.  I am so proud to say...she did it.  I am replaying over in my head...what I did to make her so excited to come through.....I think our relationship is coming out of its cocoon! 

 I know I can not fully express my gratitude to Brigand's....what it gave me in the gift of sheep in the days when I did not have my own....and how it empowered me to follow my dreams.  What a great day....to take a close look at the roots of my passion.....

days like today help me appreciate the wonderful life I have. It also helps bring a slight twist of perspective as I head off to the Homecoming football game with our biggest rival!

Seize the Day!

All The Dogs Said "Nooooo"!

Today, I went to pick up these two pups for friends.....they are here overnight...then on to another friend's house until next week.  All the dogs said..."NOOO!!!  No more puppies!" 

I told them to get over it!  Gyp says she ain't no puppy no more! She did not particularly appreciate the two pups....nor did she think they were cute!

Ticket, our JRT ....LOVED them! Funny because she did not care for the pups that were born and raised here. 

Somehow....I don't think their new owners would appreciate me keeping them!  Their daddy just won the USBCHA National Finals!  Plus they are BOYS!  I don't do boys!  Well, not in the canine world I don't.

It is fun to have puppies...knowing they are not staying.  Right now they are in the kitchen creating quite the ruckus.  Hopefully they will get it out of their system so it can be a good quiet night!

Seize the Day!

Fleeces!

Today, I finally had to leave my comfy chair, abandon my computer....and hit the road to sell a few Rocking Dog Ranch fleeces at the Oregon Flock and Fiber Festival...OFFF!  I broke into a cold sweat when I realized that my newly Bella revised iPhone was not digging the monsoon rains and gave up all but phone calls so I could not even live vicariously through tweets!  Thank goodness for good friends who did not mind phone calls every 30 minutes to get updates! 

Back to life....back to reality.....this was my first year of selling fleeces in the parking lot of OFFF.  I am so not a garage sale kind of girl....but I wanted to sell my fleeces....so the OFFF fleeces sale it was.  It was raining....something that I had thought of briefly....but did not take serious....and I paid the price!  I have a flimsy shade tent I keep in the car.....and was forced to use it.  I did not look too bad until the rains came down in  buckets and the wind picked up!  Here is my little display:

Folks loved my bluefaced leicester cross fleeces...and those sold first!  My coopworth fleeces went fast but I had them marked to sell!  And hardly one Shetland fleece left my stand...what is up with that?  Possibly because one of the biggest and nicest Shetland producers was a few booths down. 

After a few hours...and when I was down to 5 nice fleeces left to sell....I decide to pack it in.  The wind was blowing my shelter.....I had to stand holding onto one leg while being soaked.....and it was time.  I knew a few friends were looking at the fleeces left to sell....so I packed the car and went looking for that last closures!  Not a bad tactic.....and I think they were happy with the delivery and sale price. 

I walked around the fiber show a little....saw a bunch of border collie friends.  It was fun talking dogs.....especially since the finals was going on and we all were waiting to find out who the 2010 USBCHA National Champion would be!

I was so glad to see Patrick Shannahan and Riggs win this year!  What a team!  Great dog/great handler!  And I was happy for Tommy Wilson and Sly.....2010 reserve champion!  I'm hoping next year...all those contacts I made with happy fleece customers pays off with repeat sales in the spring.....because I plan on attending the USBCHA Finals!

Seize the Day!

Following Along....

Good morning.....I tried to get up early to start my day glued to my computer....but last night's football game left me dragging.  I now have my pot of coffee......my comfy chair....all my dogs.....and we are watching.....

THE 2010 USBCHA http://www.nationalsheepdogfinals.com/webcast/NATIONAL FINALS......LIVE!

Many of the folks on my blog list are there.....some giving great details about the trial.  I guess it has been stifling hot...but getting cooler.  Lots of great dogs to go...but good to see Scott Glen leading right now with Don ...they have a 192.  He is always fun to watch in the double lift final!  I'm rooting for him and Maid......who is Bella's half sister.  Funny how when I root Bella's the "family".....Scott's Maid and Tommy Wilson's Sly.

Yesterday I brought in the katahdin ewes that I plan on breeding.  Decided there were 11 that needed to be moms next spring instead of 10.  Kept back all my yearlings and lambs for good dog work practice.  I am following the same CIDR program....looks like my lambing will be over in two weeks time, if it all pans out the way it is looking to.

Tomorrow, I head to the Oregon Flock and Fiber Festival ....peddling my fleeces in a parking lot fleece sale.  All my fleeces are skirted, picked, bagged, weighed and priced to sell!  Hopefully I will sell them all...and make a few spinners happy!  I am charging up my iPhone to give it a whirl at watching the finals from.  I might need to stop and buy some glasses to see the dog on such a tiny screen!

Seize the day!

OPEN....Baby!

Today starts the hunt for the 2010 USBCHA National Finals Champion....WHO will it be?????  Sorry BCx4(plus 1) I gotta do it!  Let my phone explode...let my lessons be disrupted....let my husband and children think I have gone off the deep end....we know its true!  TWITTER.....here I come!!!!

2010 USBCHA National Finals open runs.....tweeted!

In other news....not that there is much other than this......I pulled the CIDR plugs out of the girls...stuck Hoosier, sporting blue marking paint, in with them....then got nervous and put red marking paint on Sam and stuck him in too!  No red or blue rumps yet...and I do know they might have both colors on their rump....if I see for sure Hoosier is taking his job seriously, I will pull Sam.  But for now....I just want to make sure I get all those coop girls bred for all the work I have done!

Off to work dogs.......

Seize the Day!

USBCHA Open results: the "official" site....

USBCHA 2010 Nursery Finals

Looks like the USBCHA finally got their "official" site updated......now we know who the top 40 nursery dogs are......and what the running order looks like.  Today the scores are looking quiet competitive!

USBCHA Official Nursery Scores

And of course who could pass up the chance to follow along with the colorful commentary provided by a Tweeter:

USBCHA Nursery Runs....live

Too bad I have things to do today.......I would rather sit here and follow along.  I must enable Twitter on my iphone for open!

Seize the Day!

Mock Trial....

I got up this morning greeted by rain!  Generally we don't have a big weather change until the end of October...but this year the rains are coming early.  Nice for the brown, thirsty fields....and great for sheepdoggin!  I packed up the dogs and headed to Wolston farm where Ian was allowing the brave to come out and participate in a mock trial of sorts. 

   

Ian has been teaching a "setting" class....and his students were the set-out crew for the trial.  The field was the exact same one that we used at his SheepThrillz trial back in July.  Nell ran non-compete open at that trial so she knew the field.  However, we ran on Ian's farm flock....ewes and lambs....all in a variety of breeds....making for real work as the dogs mustered the sheep around the course. 

                              

 I learned a little more about each of my dogs during my runs...and left to go home to see what I could see there! Some things I have been working on were looking better but still need more attention.  It is always a great day when a little dog and sheep work happens!

The International Sheepdog Trial wrapped up today.....and here is the winner:  Supreme Champion: Michael Gallagher I F CAP  From the looks of it.....Mr. Gallagher is from Ireland...the host to the International.  He is an unfamiliar name for me.....I can't wait to read about him in my newly ordered International Sheepdog News!

Of course all of us left behind have been burning up the Internet...refreshing and living off tweets!  Many fine handlers off my blog list on the right...have updated with real stories from the trial field.....Thank GOD!  My good friend, Geri flies out tomorrow.....I'm so rooting for her!  Kudos to those keeping the tweets coming.....it is appreciated beyond words.  I am looking forward to next weekend.....where Saturday and Sunday will have live streaming of the runs!

USBCHA 2010 Finals Live Twitter

USBCHA 2010 Finals Official  Nursery Scores

Tomorrow, the CIDR plugs come out of the ewes and Hoosier goes in to visit for a few days!  Life is great....as I live vicariously through those running at the finals....and dream of the day I join them!

Seize the Day!!!!!