Picture....perfect

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The Art of Manifestation

Recently, I went on a small working vacation and while I was away, good friends were watching the ranch.  In an effort to get my young hens laying, I had put a few teaser eggs in the nesting boxes.  When I left, all the girls were laying but I forgot about the fake eggs...they seemed to be non-events.  But then it happened...one of the hens decided her biological clock was ticking....she gathered up the eggs that no one wanted and were always left behind, and went to the business of starting a family.  By the time I got home, she had a bad case of the 'broodies'!  I gathered up the cursed fakers, darn broody carriers, and shooed the hen off her nest, getting pecked while doing the deed.  Note to self, hens have quite a 360 range and hen pecks really hurt! 

Every day, I would go to the ranch, gather eggs, and shoo miss broody pants off her nest of air, all to no avail!  I consulted expert hen friends to design a plan....I learned broody hens stop laying...and won't lay until their babies have grown a bit.  I contemplated borrowing a rooster, but really want the hen to get back to the sweatshop work of laying in June.  I have boys to feed for the summer.

My friend Shannon suggested I go to the feed store and buy some babies to give the mom.  That should give her a job, I know somebody who wants a few young hens, and the broody girl should be back at laying sooner than sitting on eggs or air.  So that is just what I did.

I bought five of the cutest, best laying, baby girl chicks and brought them to the ranch.  I had been advised to do the deed at dusk...when the hen was sleepy and not really aware of what was happening.  After chores, egg gathering and hen shooing, the girl was right back onto the nest of air...so I went for it.  Dodging the hen pecks, I lifted her hinny off her nesting box and stuffed 5 chicks under her body.  Quickly I shut the nesting box lid and went to finish my tasks for the day.  A few minutes later, I went back to check and see how the bonding was coming along. The very first step into the hen house revealed a hen puffing up like a marshmallow in a microwave and actually hen growling at me......all ready to kick my butt.....she had babies to defend!  And not a peep from the babies who were finally all-over warm for the first time in their lives.

The theory of manifestation is one of...what you think on, you become. I can't wait to read the book by my hen......how she hatched five chicks out of air!  Little does she know, sometimes our dreams come true with a little behind the scene help from friends!

Seize the Day!!!!!

Scott Glen

For the first time.....Sheepdog Training Courses brings to the world Scott Glen and his course: The Young Dog  Four weeks of instruction filled to the brim with tips and training, questions and answers with Scott, plus homework designed by Scott himself!  First class starts April 9th.  Sign up today and you will get the fourth penning session with Scott as a thank you!

Sign up here


I met up with Scott Glen last week for a personal lesson with my two open dogs.  I had just run both at Heppner on the Saturday before.  That is one of the really positive benefits of training with mentors regularly and then having them watch your runs at a trial....I get the cold hard facts instead of the sugar sweet fabrication that I can most always devise after a run! For example, Nell.....had the BEST exhaust of the trial!  After her tiny grip and very short shoulder ride, sigh, I got a hold of her and well, indeed, I won the best exhaust award hands down! Not that the exhaust is where the lambs wanted to go...but hey!  Back to reality...it was fun sorting that out with Scott, who had seen most of the whole thing.  I had strategically sent a friend over to distract him as I was a bit nervous walking to the post with not one, but two of my consistent trainers watching. Mia Bella made it to the pen on her first ever Heppner experience.....I had a moment when my "come out" sounded vaguely familiar, almost like a person who I have been watching film of...over and over and over.  Made me toss in a Kathy Knox "there, now" for good measure!

I am looking forward to The Young Dog with Scott Glen.  As I continue forward with Gyp, I know there is fundamental training that could use looking at.  Now if Mother Nature could get on board with the training program....

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Danielle LaPorte - The Fire Starter Sessions

I've had the privledge and honor of previewing The Fire Starter Sessions by Danielle LaPorte and all I can say is...WOW!  From a 5 star business that reaches the whole world to a little nest of comfort in a small demographic....this book is all about being true to oneself and making business dreams happen. It is a little "how-to", and lot of dig deep, with a dash of the hard stuff, and a heaping of humor.  All that and it is also a fun, easy read! 

Just in the nick of time....this book becomes available April 17.  Check it out at Danielle LaPorte! Look around and you can read the first chapter free!  Check out Amazon to purchase the book. Then sit back, read, dig deep, be true to yourself and above all....

Seize the Day!

And the Beat Goes On...Da da dum da dum da da

Seize the Day!

Cuteness at the End of the Season

2012 lambing season has come and gone......thank goodness.  Every year, I learn more, realize just how much I don't know, and am thankful for all the friends who offer up good, sound advice.  I finally, after 6 years of doing this, bought the Laura Lawson Ewe and Lamb books, both of which are easy to read.  Funny how every diagnosis starts or ends with Vitamin B! 

Miss Coyote Girl is a very good mama.  Her little ewe lamb, stolen from the triplet mom, was a little confused directly after freedom from the jug...but the trips have it figured out...sisters from another mother!

Red was an afterthought in my breeding program....last year she did not fair so well with complicated triplets that left a single. This year, beautiful twins and my only hair babies.

Lamb races are hard to catch with the crazy weather we are having.  Rain/snow/hail that leaves the babies sunbathing when it finally decides to shine.  Then often enough I find myself doing "something" sans camera and I just stand and watch and laugh...enjoying the moment that outgrows itself too soon.

Here they are: Lambs of 2012...minus a few that would not cooperate for the photo shoot. Funny how the two other black lambs are missing in this shot.....living up to the reputation of being the black sheep of the family!  Silly lambs.....

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The Burning Question

I enjoy reading Danielle LaPorte....her site used to be called White Hot Truth...that title always spoke to me.  She has made some cool changes to her web site and marketing plan and has shared the ins/outs/and whys of some of the decisions she has made along the way. She has also written a couple of books, I'm about to start The Fire Starter Sessions which I have the honor of previewing before its launch date of April 15th.  I'll let you know....

That said, I received a brain teasing email yesterday that asked "what would you like to stop doing?"  As I thought about that one question, absolutely fabulous fodder for an over-thinker....a list beginning to form. And as that list developed.... I stopped and thought "what the heck!"  I don't want to make a list of what I want to "stop doing".  Hello.....I want to focus on what I need to do!  All that sport's psychology 101/PMA/Manifestation I've been marinading in and I am starting to think about what I want to "stop doing?"  So I am changing this hard, dig deep question into...."What do I want to Start Doing?" and that takes me to the trial on Saturday.

*I want to continue seeing the panels well....this was the first trial I used my new contacts and I was pretty pleased with what I could see.  Now that I can see them....I need to continue working on hitting them!

*I want to read my dogs....see tension coming.....see what they are seeing with the sheep and field.

*I want to remember that my dogs are working very hard for me. 

*I want to be a little more "fair" with my dogs; in other words wishy washy 'stops' are not really all that fair.  Nor are super clean flanks when they are not needed.  I want to say what I mean! At my last clinic experience...the clinician pointed out I don't need to use my "come outs" just because I am penning or shedding.  So, assessing what I need and using it appropriately....definite want.

Heppner is this weekend.  I'm looking forward to it.  Now if March could find a little lamb to offer up as this lion crap is getting a little old.

Seize the Day!