DeltaBluez Flash aka Rudy

We took Flash and Rose out for a quick spin last weekend on sheep. Rose was too busy being the center of attention but Flash saw the sheep and went to work. Tess (grandmother) was the backup dog but she really didn't need to be there. Flash did quite well on his own.

Kathleen worked Flash and I taped it. Kathleen is awesome at starting puppies. She is one of the best puppy raisers that I know. She is raising Rose for me.

Flash got a few nose and head grips when the sheep challenged him. He had no fear and was going quite well. This was the first time he got to see sheep and he is a star.

Flash is now renamed Rudy and lives with Chris and his family and has his own his sheep flock. He will be coming back here for lessons so expect some more updates.

Bluegrass Classic Stockdog Trial

The 2011 Bluegrass Classic will be web cast live on May 22 by 5:00 Films and Media, the same production company who broadcast the 2010 Finals. Esteban Escobar, the president of 5:00 Films, has put together a really fun informational video that gives all the details about how it's going to work this year, both for the Bluegrass and for the 2011 Finals:

LINK

For even more information, visit the Bluegrass Classic web cast page:

LINK

Star singer

I don't know this child's name or any details but she is a great singer and knew all the words to our National Anthem.

Sheep Sign

Can anyone translate this for me?

Salmon with Brown Sugar and Mustard Glaze

Ingredients:
1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
1 large shallot, minced
1/4 cup red-wine vinegar
1/4 cup whole-grain mustard
1/4 cup packed dark-brown sugar
Coarse salt and ground pepper
1 side salmon (about 3 pounds), skin removed, cut into 8 fillets
1 bunch watercress (about 3/4 pound), thick stems trimmed
1 lemon, cut into wedges, for serving

Directions:1. Heat broiler, with rack in top position. In a small saucepan, heat oil over medium-high. Add shallot and cook, stirring often until softened, about 3 minutes. Add vinegar and cook until slightly evaporated, about 1 minute. Add mustard and brown sugar; stir until warm and combined, about 1 minute. Season with salt and pepper and remove from heat. (To store, refrigerate cooled glaze in an airtight container, up to 1 day.)

2. Place salmon fillets on a foil-lined rimmed baking sheet and season with salt and pepper. Transfer about 1/2 cup glaze to a small dish , reserve the rest for a later use in the recipe. Brush the 1/2 cup of glaze on top of salmon. Broil salmon until glaze is bubbling and fish is opaque throughout, about 5 to 10 minutes, depending on thickness; brush reserved glaze over fillets. Serve salmon along with watercress and lemon wedges.

Kate at Nine Months

I got Kate in October 2010  from Bonnie Block.

Kate's dam is Ellie Mae and her sire is Nap, who is a grandson of Alasdair's Nap.

Ellie Mae and Faye are full sisters out of my L&M Nan and by Imp Drift (Joni Swanke)

......a little history here........a few years ago.....

The same time I picked up Ellie Mae for Bonnie, I also got Faye for me. They were delivered to me by Joni Swanki at the USBCHA Sheepdog Finals in South Dakota about 6 years ago. They were around 8 weeks old and it was a big adventure for them. They made the long trek home to with me since Bonnie couldn't make it.

 My pup was named Faye and Bonnie's pup was named Ellie Mae. Each night I would stand outside and call "Faye and Ellie Mae" and the other handler's  doors would open and the rest of the handlers would help us in calling the girls, and we would have a few more singers joining us....and so forth....and then Faye and Ellie Mae would dash to several persons campsite and then back to ours. We provided free entertainment for every during the week long trial. Faye and Ellie Mae got to meet tons of people as everyone wanted to know these two dogs! After a while they had a little fan club and they really enjoyed getting all the attention at dinner time. A couple of times, someone played a guitar to the "Faye ans Ellie Mae recall" and it was funny. Amazingly enough, they were very well behaved and charmed everyone that was in range

I had Faye for years running her in sheepdog and cattle dog trials and I then sold her to a cow cutting operation and to be  a future sheepdog trialist.

Ellie Mae stayed with Bonnie and had a little of pups. The sire, Nap  was a grandson of Alasdair MacRae "Nap". George MacDonald owns the grandson. Nap. He is a  real pistol!

There were a couple of boys and several girls. I wanted the spilt face bitch but got the cute one. She was quieter than the split face, We named her Billie Holiday....since our dogs have musical names.

We took her on a two week road trips (all trialing) and she did quite well. She would be social and then a brat sometimes. She handled the big change quite well and learned to tie out, crate, leash train and play with the big dogs and come back when call.

It was on this trip that the name of  Billie really didn't suit her and her new name was changed to "KATE".....and once we used that name, She BOLTED BACK to us! So on her papers, the name was changed.

 After I got home from the trip, we all settled back at the farm. Kate got to spend some time with friends and learn manners and grow up. She learned what  "kennel up" meant and to be quiet on a chain. Not to grip the horses nose and ignore the chickens. The cats put her in her place with the sharp claws so she stays out of reach of them.

Finally Kate was old enough to work on stock at eight months, I took her out for a session in the lower field. She was soft but got got keener, Once her eye got stuck but with an aaahhhhh, she moved and that was the last time she got stuck.

 Kate works very close to the ground and checks on the sheep.

 She is soft on the sheep but doesn't let them get away.

 She has a nice distance off her stock but is well aware of what they are doing.

 All four off the floor

 Spunky walk up to the sheep

I am not sure what happened here but each went their separate ways. 

 Checking the eye on the sheep.

 Bringing them back to the barn

The Last Gather.

Llamas in the spring

We recently added some llamas to the farm to help protect the ewes and lambs. They came from up the road and are accustomed to the wet weather. One is a male and the other two are females. We hope they take well to their new duties.

Latte, one of the females

Cassie and Nick. Nick is the male.

Cassie has to check everything out.

Latte going for a stroll to check out the sheep in the other pasture.

Kinloch Kiwi

I got the fantastic female from Angie Driscoll of Kinloch Sheepdogs in the UK. Wynn (litter mate brother) and Kiwi arrived last year and both spent some time in Canada before Kiwi came down here. Wynn is still in Canada for a while longer.

Angie bred her incredible Meg to Bobby Dalziel's Joe to have this tremendous litter. They just turned one year old in December. They are talented, keen and willing to please.

Kiwi (aka Ki) is my buddy on the farm. She prefers to be next to me than to play with the other dogs. I enjoy her company very much and she has the sweetest personality. She has grown up quite a bit and gotten keen on stock.

When I first worked her, she would look at me but now she will look at me for a second, then it all about work. She is VERY aware of where I am in relation to her and serious about making sure the stock are balanced to me.

I like how work ethics and good nature. She is kind to the sheep and has a good method of work. She is not silly but down to earth.

She had to plow through this deep mud puddle to get to the sheep and it didn't stop her at all.

She is a happy dog and wants to please. I really enjoy working her and like her eagerness.

She has a nice way of gathering the sheep and keeping them tucked in a tight group.

Walking up with meaning. She is very stocky and a brindle smooth coat.

After the work session. I just love this dog!

Much thanks to Angie for sending me this wonderful pup!

DeltaBluez Reba

Reba is a great granddaughter of Tess. It's hard to believe that we have four generations of Tess around. Many of her offspring are winning Open trial dogs as well a top ranch dogs.  Since Tess is retired (from trialing) and Roo is approaching nine (doesn't slow him down at all)....we are raising the future stars at the farm.  Reba is one of the young blood we are raising here. Her mom is DeltaBluez Lucy and her sire is Scott Glen's Don.

Part of what the young pups have to learn is being chained up and being quiet. Obviously, Reba is unfazed by this. She ran around quite a bit during the morning and then got to take a afternoon snooze.

She is about four months old and is all legs. She has fit in quite well at the farm and has learned to leave the cats and chickens alone.  Her recall is outstanding and even faster when there is a piece of chicken jerky! She loves to play in the pond pasture but hasn't taken the plunge to swim yet. She will have all of her puppy hood to grow up and be a carefree puppy.

Of all the pups, she is the best on the tie out.

But being on a tie out doesn't mean you are out of the picture. She keeps a keen eye on everything on the farm. As a reward being being such a good girl all day, she got a smokey bone and quickly darted off with it to her dog house. Last I saw of her was her tail hanging out and wagging!

We have high hopes for Reba and she will be an asset to our line up!

Sheep Toy

Repeat after me...I do not need another sheep toy or item in my house......

This Fat Sheep on Wheels was made by Ohio Wholesale Inc. and is a reproduction based on antique toys. The sheep is made of an oilcloth like material with wood platform and wheels and a rusty metal bell. Pull string of twine type string with an old wood spool as a handle. Very cute folk art type sheep measures 12" long and is 7 1/2" tall and about 5" wide. Would make a cute shelf sitter in a country home.

But if you feel the need to get one....you can find it HERE

Sheep Poem by William Henry Davies

WHEN I was once in Baltimore,

A man came up to me and cried,

“Come, I have eighteen hundred sheep,

And we will sail on Tuesday’s tide.

“If you will sail with me, young man,

I’ll pay you fifty shillings down;

These eighteen hundred sheep I take

From Baltimore to Glasgow town.”

He paid me fifty shillings down,

I sailed with eighteen hundred sheep;

We soon had cleared the harbour’s mouth,

We soon were in the salt sea deep.

The first night we were out at sea

Those sheep were quiet in their mind;

The second night they cried with fear —

They smelt no pastures in the wind,

They sniffed, poor things, for their green fields,

They cried so loud I could not sleep:

For fifty thousand shillings down

I would not sail again with sheep.

Honey-Lemon Roast Lamb With Mint and Garlic

Ingredients:
5 tablespoons fresh lemon juice

3 tablespoons honey
¾ teaspoon cinnamon
½ teaspoon ground ginger
¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper
2 medium cloves garlic, peeled and minced
1/3 cup packed mint leaves, finely chopped
1 (6-pound) boneless rolled leg of lamb
¼ teaspoon salt
Freshly ground black pepper to taste


Directions:

1. Combine the lemon juice, honey, cinnamon, ginger, cayenne, cover and set aside half of it in the refrigerator.

2. Combine the garlic and mint. Untie the leg of lamb and brush with about half of the lemon mixture. Sprinkle with half of the garlic-mint mixture and a little salt and pepper. Retie the lamb. (The meat can be wrapped and refrigerated overnight at this point. Keep the lemon and the garlic mixtures refrigerated.)

3. Remove the lamb from the refrigerator 30 minutes before roasting. Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Place on a rack in a roasting pan. Rub the remaining garlic-mint mixture onto the surfaces of the lamb and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Roast to the desired doneness. (The USDA suggests 145 degrees for medium-rare).

4. Brush the lamb with the remaining lemon mixture twice during the last hour of baking. Let the roast rest 10 minutes before carving.

The spouse's version of raising the Cornish Rock chickens

Here is the spouse's version of raising the Cornish Rock chickens. Getty did most of the feeding. We will not be raising any more chickens for food.

 ...first we got these cute, fat, fuzzy chicks in the mail.....

 ....then their true personalities began to show as Getty fed them each day....

 ...then the weeks went by.....

 ...and when the chicks saw Getty, they all mobbed him....

 ...after each feeding, I would find Getty in this position....

 ...but after 8 weeks, the butcher came in and took care of the killer chicks for us....

....and soon Getty was the happy spouse again....

THE END

Cornish Rock Boilers - The Chicken Experiment

 Last October, I decided to raise our own free-range, organic chickens. My neighbor and I went into partnership with this adventure and would raise them for about 8-10weeks and then butcher them and split the chicken. I love to eat organic, free range poultry and we decided to give this a try. Actually, the husband was less than keen but he knew better than to argue so he relented.

We got 85 of these chickens. They looked like this.

Ours looked like this! They went from cute to ugly in a matter of weeks.

Getty did the morning feeding and I did the night. The neighbor did the cleaning. They are bred to meat and not for brains. I have never owned such dumb chickens before. They ate an enormous amount and didn't do much of anything. Tess was fascinated and she was delegated the role of putting the strays back into the coop. The cats loved to watched them for hours and we called the chickens "CAT TV".

But we kept feeding them and feeding them. They ate a lot of food and they pooped....like a lot! It all went into the garden and put to good use. Usually with chickens you start to see some different personalities but I didn't see any with them. But then again, I didn't try too hard as I knew they would go into the freezer.

About eight or nine weeks later, the neighbor came over to butcher the chickens.  We lost about ten due to various reasons so I ended up with about 34 chickens. I helped with the side chores but he did most of the work. We split the chickens and I put ours in the freezer. Over the next few months we had the chickens. You could taste the difference and it had a real rich flavor.



Each chicken weighed 3-6 pounds. The meat was very good and there was lots of it.

See the size of this breast. This was one of the smaller ones.

After this adventure was all done, we came to the conclusion that the chickens were very healthy for us and we tasted a difference. However, I calculated the feed bill and it came out to $3 per lbs. This does not count the labor or butchering. Would we do it again?  No, as it was very labour intensive and we didn't factor that in. If we wanted to go away for a day, we had to have someone feed the chickens four times a day and then remove the food for the night. The chickens are not allowed to eat at night.

But we did like the taste of free range, organic chickens but we will support the local farmer and buy from them. And Getty is quite happy that he is out of the chicken meat business.

We do have our farm chicken flock for eggs. They have a safe life life and get to run around and chase the cats.

The Barn - Shearing

Take your work to a cafe!

Leopard...or a Spotted Meerkat

A safari guide thought he was seeing things when he spotted a leopard acting like a meerkat.

The big cat in question had been carefully stalking a warthog when its prey disappeared into some particularly long grass.

In order to keeps its dinner in sight, every few minutes the leopard would balance expertly on its hind legs - doing an excellent meerkat impersonation - and peer over the grass.

The bizarre spectacle was caught on camera by 27-year-old Letsogile Kamogelo at Savuti Camp in the Linyanti Game Reserve, Botswana.

Mr Kamogelo, who works as a safari guide, said he had never heard of a leopard behaving in such a way.

He explained: "This leopard had spotted a warthog from a distance and stalked it for almost an hour.

"He kept a reasonable distance from his prey but he lost sight of the warthog when it went in to tall grass.

"He lifted himself up for at least 45 seconds to a minute at a time. I don't think he was comfortable holding the position for any longer.
"He was very careful whenever he stood up because he didn't want to fall on his back. This is a very unusual behaviour and I have never heard or read about it before.

"There is a lot of animal behaviour that has not been recorded and it is mostly influenced by the type of terrain. The animal has to respond to the changes within its environment and it may display unusual behaviour like this."

Run Orders for Rocky Ewe (April 17)

OPEN

1. Sandy Johnson Drift
2. Heidi Hanson Pete
3. Gael Gann Chili
4. Don Helsley Ash
5. Dave Imas Cap
6. Judy Norris Glee
7. Donna Donahue Kate
8. Bob Hickman Mojo
9. Sue MacDonald Jan
10. Diane Pagel Roo
11. Jeanie Helsley Cole
12. Maggi McClure Kep
13. Martha McHardy Ceri
14. Corrine Berg Tay
15. Jeanne B Rocky
16. Ron Green Tigr
17. Jim Cooper Amos
18. Lani Dorman Blair
19. Bonnie Block Gull
20. Becki Maloney Kirby
21. George McDonald Nap
22. JB Brick Scamp
23. Monique Feyrecilde Lucy
24. Joe Haynes Penny
25. Chris Soderstrom Tarn
26. Tierney Graham Brisco
27. Jeanie Helsley Taite
28. Jim Cooper Sweep
29. Sue McDonald Jackie
30. Diane Pagel Nan
31. Sandy Johnson Joe
32. Donna Donahue Taff
33. Bob Hickman Trooper
34. Maggie McClure Lil

PRO NOVICE
1. Joe Haynes Keally
2. Jeanne B Moses
3. Diane Pagel Taff
4. T. Yamamoto Sweep
5. Heather Haynes Spot
6. Ron Fischer Steve
7. Christy Anderson Russel
8. Lani Dorman Owen
9. Nora Linbo Nick
10. Becki Maloney Finn
11. Sandy Johnson Nell
12. Fran MacPherson Mirk
13. Norm Rivers Scotia
14. Vicki Romero Skye
15. Lynda Little Try
16. Judy Snell Tag
17. JB Brick Dodge
18. Bob Hickman Ryder
19. Judy Norris Kasey
20. Ursula Pettyjohn Pete
21. Dawn Pucci Bran
22. Susan Crocker Rani
23. Kris McElhinney Jade
24. Vicki Romero Blitz
25. Diane Pagel Sava
26. Judy Snell Betty
27. Lynda Little Lark
28. Lani Dorman Jayne
NURSERY
1. Maggi McClure Rob
2. Kris McElhinney Bailey
3. Don Helsley Jessie
4. Carolyn Harwell Brynn
5. Dave Imas Huck
6. Martha McHardy Sylvie
7. Chris Soderstrom Rankin
8. Cindy Baker Brill
9. Don Helsley Callie

RANCH
1. Norm Rivers Lana
2. Martha McHardy Ken
3. Judy Norris Britt
4. Becki Maloney Luke
5. Jim Kling Rodeo
6. Cindy Baker Kael
7. Donna Donahue Laddie
8. Carolyn Harwell Beth
9. Ursula Pettyjohn WileE
10. Jane Hickman Rachel
11. Martha McHardy Rick
12. Becki Maloney Nova
13. Cindy Baker Finn

NOVICE NOVICE
1. Susan Risner Nevi
2. Jennie McInnis Elsa
3. Kathy Rivers Lucy

Run Orders for Rocky Ewe (April 16)

NOVICE NOVICE AND RANCH

1. Sally Davis Tyke
2. Kathy Rivers Lucy
3. Susan Risner Nevi

RANCH
1. Cindy Baker Kael
2. Norm Rivers Lana
3. Becki Maloney Luke
4. Jane Hickman Rachel
5. Martha McHardy Rick
6. Ursula Pettyjohn WileE
7. Carolyn Harwell Beth
8. Judy Norris Britt
9. Donna Donahue Laddie
10. Karen Combs Fleet
11. Becki Maloney Nova
12. Martha McHardy Ken
13. Cindy Baker Finn


PRO NOVICE
1. Sue Foster Taff
2. Sandy Johnson Nell
3. Jim Kling Rodeo
4. Ron Fischer Steve
5. Dave Garard Maverick
6. Becki Maloney Finn
7. Jeanne B Moses
8. Bob Hickman Ryder
9. Tanya Treat Mick
10. Janet Thorpe Scott
11. Lynda Little Lark Jim Kling
12. Heather Haynes Spot
13. Diane Pagel Sava
14. T Yamamoto Sweep
15. Lani Dorman Jayne
16. Judy Snell Betty
17. Fran MacPherson Mirk
18. Susan Crocker Rani
19. Karen Combs Buddy
20. Joe Haynes Keally
21. JB Brick Dodge
22. Nora Linbo Nick
23. Christy Anderson Russel
24. Norm Rivers Scotia
25. Ursula Pettyjohn Pete 
26. Lani Dorman Owen
27. Sue Foster Ben
28. Diane Pagel Taff
29. Judy Snell Tag
30. Lynda Little Try
31. Janet Thorpe Rainey

NURSERY
1. Carolyn Harwell Brynn
2. Don Helsey Callie
3. Brian Ricards Belle
4. Cindy Baker Brill
5. Dave Imas Huck
6. Martha McHardy Sylvie
7. Chris Soderstrom Rankin
8. Don Helsley Jessie
OPEN
1. Heidi Hanson Pete
2. Lynn Johnston Anna
3. Monique Feyrecilde Lucy
4. Diane Pagel Nan
5. Joe Haynes Penny
6. Brian Ricards Doc
7. Becki Maloney Kirby
8. Dee Marroni Cap
9. Martha McHardy Ceri
10. Sandy Johnson Drift
11. Tierney Graham Brisco
12. Jeff Marroni Carmen
13. Donna Donahue Kate
14. Erin O'Brien Z
15. Jeanne B Rocky
16. Jim Cooper Sweep
17. Chris Soderstrom Tarn
18. Jeanie Helsley Taite
19. Bob Hickman Mojo
20. JB Brick Scamp
21. Ron Green Tigr
22. Dave Imas Cap
23. Corrine Berg Tay
24. Don Helsley Ash
25. Jeff Marroni Dharma
26. Lani Dorman Blair
27. Bob Hickman Trooper
28. Sandy Johnson Joe
29. Lynn Johnston Jesse
30. Jim Cooper Amos
31. Donna Donahue Taff
32. Diane Pagel Roo
33. Jeanie Helsley Cole

Orange Sheep Are Baa-d News For Rustlers

A farmer has dyed his sheep bright orange in an attempt to stop thieves stealing from his flock.


John Heard decided to paint the woolly beasts after thieves targeted his flock of 250 black faced ewes.

The farmer works on a remote part of moorland on Dartmoor in Devon.

"Sheep rustling has become a big problem with ewes worth around £140 each," the 48-year-old livestock farmer said.

"My flock roams Dartmoor and I was getting mighty fed up with losing so many."
The farmer got his inspiration after his son James told him about a Scottish farmer who had dyed his sheep before an agricultural show.

The harmless non-toxic dye eventually wears off with no side effects and seems to have put a stop to the thefts.

The National Farmers' Union said there had been a fivefold increase in sheep thefts this year, due to the high price of lamb.

ARTICLE

Form, Fit, Power and Performance - a Bike

I like Bikes and cycling but I truly suck at it. I average about one mile per hour, stopping often to smell a flower or gaze at the sun.  I had my mountain bike burn in the barn fire and never replaced it. I often think that I need to get another bike, so I can bike to my far field than take the truck. It would get in me shape and I can take the dogs  on a bike run. Maybe this summer, I will  break down and get a bike.

There are bikes and then there are REAL BIKES for the serious folks. Neal Goldberg (and Audrey), family to us since he has two dogs from us, now offers the coolest bikes ever for sale. He is a dealer for the Serotta bikes.  He can make you a custom made Serotta bike. He was approached by Serotta to sell their bikes. Additionally, he offers other bike accessories such as helmets, eye wear and shoes and other good stuff.

Neal also does the Carnation Time Trial Bike races. He will be offering two races this year. If you are serious about racing, you should contact Neal and enter.

Here is the link to Neal's website: Footworkscycles

Neal and Audrey love dogs and have Dan and Kael. Dan and Kael are well loved and quite spoiled. You can see his love and devotion to the dogs. They are the best dogs owners!

Give Neal and ring or drop him an email and see about getting your custom bike or accessories.

Shopping at Border Collie Anonymous

Time to go shopping at my most favorite Border Collie Store which is owned by Betsy Drummond, who is married to Rob, a NE handler. Betsy has to be the coolest person to deal with and has the best items you can ever want!  I got my Corian whistles and working dog sign from them.  I will be doing a blog about the sign in the future so be looking for that.

While on the site, I saw this...

...and then this....

 ...but wait there is more...

does this come with coffee?

I really went to order about a dozen of these

and I can mix and match the handle colors!

In case you have lost a beloved dog, you can get a custom made pillow...

Needless to say, I highly recommend going to Betsy's  store and supporting your local trialist. Some of you remember that I wrote reviews on the two Corian Whistles. I still LOVE them and they make a huge difference.

To go to her store, click on LINK