MacDonald's Winter Series

This last Saturday we went to a sheepdog trial. Janet drove and I was the ailing passenger. I had a huge migraine due to lack of sleep so she whipped into a Starbucks where I got a latte and a danish and soon I felt better.

Sue and George host a nice tough trial on a small field, meaning no 600 yard outrun. But the course is sneaky and tricky and if you slip up, you will pay dearly. George was the judge and he did a grand job.

I ran Maid first and she went out well. Nice outwork and turn and then pushy on the drive coupled with slicely flanks. The sheep really didn't appreciate this so we waffled a bit then settled down. Then I made the grievous error of turning too sharp on the crossdrive panel and we did a pull through. That cost us a placing. Nice Maltese Cross, two different directions and we failed at the shed. I was very rusty but was happy how well she tried for me. She placed third!

Nan ran later and was keyed up. Her outwork was nice and I did not repeat the mistake on the crossdrive panel that I had did with Maid. We bobbled at the cross as the sheep wanted to go in the wrong side but we sorted it out and got through it. Again, I floundered at the shed and timed out.

She placed fourth and I was happy that we did that well in spite of being rusty. Both girls gave me all I asked of them at warp speed. My homework is to slow them down a notch, feel the bubble and fixing the slicely flanks. I suddenly realized that was the same homework I had mention to do from the last trial. Well, I better get hopping and really focus on it.

Janet ran Sava in Open and did well, with a few handler errors. She won't repeat them again and expect her to be doing well soon. Sava and her are a good team. She ran Jude in PN and he did everything she asked of him. He is getting better and better.

She took pixs with her camera so when I get my pixs, I will post them.

Not all the PN scores as we left right after Janet's run.

Merry Christmas video special from us!

Merry Christmas from Jeff "Getty" Freeman and Diane Pagel

 

Santa’s Reindeer Issued Permit from USDA to Enter the U.S

Dr. John Clifford, the USDA Chief Veterinary Officer has a great sense of humor. I love this newsflash.  He get kudos from us for making our Christmas a little more fun and making sure those good boys and girls get their presents!

 

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BREAKING NEWS out of Washington DC as the US Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) today issued a movement permit to Mr. S. Claus of the North Pole, a broker with Worldwide Gifts, Unlimited.  The permit will allow reindeer to enter and exit the United States between the hours of 6 PM December 24, 2013 and 6 AM December 25, 2013, through or over any northern border port.

 

“During this season of giving, USDA wants to do everything in its power to help Santa,” said Dr. John R. Clifford, USDA’s Chief Veterinary Officer.  “We agreed to waive the normal application fees and entry inspection/overtime costs, provided he winks his eye and wishes port personnel a Merry Christmas at the time of crossing.”

 

APHIS also waived the normally applicable disease testing requirements, as the North Pole is recognized by APHIS as negligible risk for all livestock diseases and at a recent inspection, the reindeer were found to be healthy and able to prance and paw with each hoof.

 

As a condition of entry, the reindeer must be certified by Santa Claus as never having been fed anything other than hay, sugar plums, and gingerbread.  The reindeer must also be individually identified with microchips or official eartag identification, and must respond to the names ‘Dasher’, ‘Dancer’, ‘Prancer’, ‘Vixen’, ‘Comet’, ‘Cupid’, ‘Donner,’  ‘Blitzen’ and ‘Rudolph’ when interacting with port personnel.  No more than one reindeer in the group may be visibly affected by ‘Rednose Syndrome’, and upon entry, port personnel will visually inspect the reindeer to ensure they are healthy and fit for continued travel.

 

They will arrive pulling a wooden sleigh that has jingling bells attached and is filled with brightly-wrapped gifts.  Port personnel will clean and disinfect the runners and underside of the sleigh at the time of entry.

 

“With these steps completed, the reindeer will continue their journey across the country and around the world, spreading holiday cheer as they go,” said Clifford.

 

APHIS regulates the movement of cervids, including reindeer, to protect the health of America’s livestock population.  The permitting process provides assurance that only healthy animals enter the United States.

 

LINK....

 

 

 

 

Don't Text and Fly

Colors

Men and Women speak two languages.  However, this chart should some of the confusion up.

 

How full is your wine glass?

Women and Spinning Wheels

Some old pictures from the past of spinning wheels and the women who spun with them!

 

 

 

 

 

Blog Update

Just a head's up that the blog will be update three times a week now, instead of daily. Some weeks it will be more but at least three times a week.

Life is busy and sometimes when I get on the computer it is close to ten at night and I am too tired. Now when I blog, I can go back to more dog related postings.

If there is something you want me to post about or you liked in the past, let me know.

Our leather couch

We have a six foot long soft, leather couch. it's quite nice and soft. Rainey enjoys it so much that she does this. Her mother, Tess never did this and was quite good about sharing the couch. However, Rainey is the diva.

Kirchgessner Trial results

Last Saturday, I ran Nan and Maid at the Kirchgessner Winter Trial. It was darn cold and got colder! I even had my heated jacket on and still got cold. It was in the single digits when I left the farm at 6ish. It didn't warm up for the rest of the day.

Maid was second dog up. She started out nice then started to cross so I told her to stop and she froze. Kinda like the rest of the field was at that time, Took the redirect  and went nice behind the sheep. A strong lift and she listened to my whistle and held herself in check and nice fetch. Nice turn at the post and set them up nice for the first leg of the drive, and she held still for me. The sheep ran off as she was on the heavy side so she had to bolt to caught up to them. We turned up just shy of the panel and they bolted again. I got her high to prevent them from running back to the setout, got it calmed down and had the nice second crossdrive and hit the panel. Nice third leg and to the pen. They tried to bolt so we had to work to get them in and got the pen. It took a bit to get the single and it was tough! She flew in on a prayer and a thin dime and held the scattered brain lamb. She did well aside from the botched first leg of the drive and tied for third place, but placed fourth based on her outwork. That almost cross cost us! She was soft and very biddable for me and never tried to be bad.  She really bent over backwards to do as I asked.

 

Vet Bob and I went out for hot coffee and breakfast before I ran Nan. I was shivering and he took pity on me. I had over two hours before Nan's run.

 

Nan ran well on her outrun. She had one hair sheep and kept trying to run back as the setout crew was trying to hold them. As soon as she lifted them, the lamb bolted to the setout while the other two came down the field. She tucked it and did it over and over all the way down the fetch line. The lamb did not want anything to do with the two ewes and wanted to run back to the setout pen, crying like a fool all the time. We had a nice turn at the post and began a nice slow drive, then the lamb bolted to the crossdrive panels.  Nan was on the other side of the sheep and had to bolt like a racehorse to catch up to the lamb. She carefully worked the set but the lamb would run off on the other side that Nan was on....if she was on the right, the lamb would bolt to the left....all during the drive....the lamb ran to the setout spot, the various panels, to South America, to the White House and we had a pretty jagged rive. The other two ewes were amiable so we did have that line somewhat decent.  Penning was very tough as the lamb would bolt everyone but didn't want to be near the other two ewes. After much work, we got them in and went to the ring. We did get the single but after time was called which was fine by me....and we actually singled the lambs and let me tell you, it was a sheer accident. I was so grateful to hear time called that I could have bent over and kissed the ground, but I was too frozen.

 

The sheep were nice, fat ewes who were wily. The Judge was Jack Knox. Great trial and tough course.

OPEN
Michael Gallagher Cain           87
Erin Obrien Z                           76
Corinne Berg Tay                    73
Diane Pagel Maid                    73
Dawn Pucci Bran                    69
Tim Ballard Nell                       66
T Yamamoto Sweep               65
Tierney Graham Brisco           64
Martha McHardy Sylvie           64
Shawna Wilson Roy                62
Cheryl Munson Flint                62
Charmaine Henderson Reo    60
Diane Pagel Nan                     60
Cheryl Munson Cooper           58
Susan Crocker Rani                58
Gael Gann Chili                       52
Liz Stenning Sage                   49
Lani Dorman Jayne                 scr
Brian Ricards Cody                 Rt
Jeanne B Rocky                      Rt
Brian Ricards Doc                   Rt
Heather Haynes Lad               Rt
Jo Roach Steam                     Rt
Michael Gallagher Flo             Rt
Brian Ricards Belle                 Rt
Corinne Berg Bea                   DQ
Lynda Little Lark                      NC 

PRO NOVICE

Jeanne B                                 78
Lori Vanderburg Trill               77
Cheryl Munson Bailey             74
Charmaine Henderson Dan    72
Lynne Green Craig                  71
Liz Stenning Crick                   70
Susan Crocker Cedar             67
Gael Gann Joe                        66
Yamamoto                               65
Shawna Wilson Bill                 63
Robert Schooley Spike           60
Christie True Shep                  54
Mary Homan Claire                 38
Lani Dorman Owen                 scr
Christie True Dusty                 Rt
Audrey Baldessari Dan           Rt
Mary Gutknecht Mae               Rt
Lyndsay Ibbotson Zeus           Rt
Charmaine Henderson Fling   Rt
 
Nursery
Tierney Graham Hawkeye      81
Liz Stenning Rye                     79
Martha McHardy                     68
Nancy Barker                          53
Corinne Berg Max                   Rt

Novice

Tracy Capaduca Holly             52
Jesse Max                               24
Bernie Lola                              Rt
 
Ranch
Sandra Hurst Koda                 66
Mark Capaduca Buddy           64
Amanda Jones Patch              Rt
T Yamamoto Trout                  Rt

 

The Mighty Egg

Multi-Purpose Dog

How I see my dog and how my dog sees me.

When a man loves a .....chicken

cute chicken video......



Sheep Camp Wagons

While cruising the internet with a lead foot, I laid down some big skid marks when I saw this site. Imagine this....you can order a custom made sheep wagon. Maybe Santa will get me for Christmas.

Idaho Sheep Camp

I like the wood stove layout. They use the space inside quite efficiently.

The outside is nice as well.

I know nothing about this company but came across their website. Someday, when I became rich from winning the lotto, I will call them.

Old Sheepdogs and sheep art

I like this style of paintings and artwork.

 

 

Shepherds and their sheep

Little Drummer Boy

I watched this several times and still in awe.

Sheepdog and sheep paintings

 I wonder if these were done by the same artist. The styles are very similar.

 

More old pictures

If you know any of the history of these, put them in the comments section.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Old Photos of sheepdogs and sheep

Here are some old photos of sheep and sheepdogs. You will notice that all of the sheepdog range in different sizes, colors and breeds.  I love looking at old photos as it gives us a glimpse into our past.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Working like a dog

Thanksgiving and then some...

Thanksgiving is one of my favorite times of the year. We all gather together, eat, laugh and enjoy life.  We make a main dishes and a couple of side dishes and everyone brings a couple of side dishes. This year my mom and Aunt Kimiko, Nelson (brother), Jim, Audrey, Neal and Kathy Davis came over for dinner.

 

Kathy came up from Oregon  and spent over 11 hrs in getting here, a normal 8 hr drive. Apparently everyone was on the road on Thanksgiving Eve. Kathy is like my sister and we have been family for over 14 years. It was good to see her again. She came up to stay with me at a couple of trials this year. We used to trial together for many year until she moved to Medford, Or and life got in the way but we kept our deep friendship over the years.

 

As usual the spread was superb, roasted turkey, mashed potatoes/gravy, stuffing, green bean casserole, fruit salad, shrimp tempura and veggies, homemade cranberry sauce, sweet potatoes and yams, asparagus to name a few. Then to top it off we had chocolate pecan pie and Jim's tasty fruit salad (another one!)

 

We laughed and had a blast. It was relaxing and just fun. No cares, just hearing stories of days gone past, hopes for the future and thankful for each other's company.  Life is not about who has the biggest ego, who is better than you, who has more money,  It's about family, friendships, peace and living your life to the fullest. Some people don't realize this and that is so sad.

 

After dinner, we did the traditional feeding of the animals. I had a huge bag of bagels and my Mom, Aunt Kimiko and brother fed the sheep and chickens. The LGDs, Stella and Heidi got their fair share of treats as well.  My mom loves feeding the chickens,  I think I need to take a video sometime of this. The animals all love her and circle her to get fed. Some of the sheep follow her up and down the fenceline, working my mom for extra treats,  They got that and then some more.

 

Of course, the dogs all got goodies as well. Thanksgiving to them means extra turkey and leftovers. But I made sure the leftover were meat and not fried items.  But they managed to do well in the treat department. The girls all love my mom and Aunt Kimiko. I let them get away with a lot but it make me happy to see my mom so joyful.  Beside I don't want to make her mad at me as I don't want to lose my treat source as well!

 

Soon evening began to creep upon the landscape and everyone began the long trek home. Finanly the night belonged to Getty, Kathy and me. We ate more dessert and watched TV. It was nice to catch up and leave the daily work grind behind. 

 

I took Friday off as vacation and worked my dogs. Nikki, my new dog, ran well for me. I will update more on her later. Maid was happy to be the backup dog. I used Nan and Rainey for backup lessons dogs and Emma to do chores. Kathy worked Teyla, Aussie, on the big flock and she did well.  The weather was warm and sunny and in the end, we sat outside and watched the sheep graze on the round bales.

 

In the end, it was a relaxing and well needed holiday with family and good friends. we all need to slow down and relax more and see what really is important. Sometimes we forget about that in out mad rush to get ahead.

 

Hope you had a wonderful holiday with your loved ones.

 

 

Are you normal?

Are you normal? Or what is normal?

 

Happy Thanksgiving

Life on the Range

This is a great site that is sponsored by Idaho Rangeland Resource Commission. 

 

from the site....."Life on the range is an educational project that showcases stories about the ever-changing landscape of ranching, multiple-use management, entrepreneurial spirit, family and stewardship on Idaho's rangelands.

 

The heart-warming stories provide a rare glimpse of how our neighbors in rural Idaho work every day to improve the earth and touch people's lives in positive ways."

LINK

Old Sheep Shearing photos



A compassionate squirrel story

This is a heart warming story....

 

 

A Florida man opened a new bag of mulch and, to his surprise, he found a baby squirrel inside.  We found the man on Reddit, where he is known by the handle “Nadtacular,” but now the Internet is starting to know him because of his compassion.  The baby squirrel appeared to be only days old when he found it.  It was so young, he initially mistook it for a mouse or rat.  But he decided to take care of it, and lucky for us, document his its development.....

When he cut open the bag, this little guy fell out…

 

MORE...

 

 

Don't mess with a dog in the car

Drop by for a short spell - Cow Style

....makes the meaning "stop on by for a visit" to a whole new meaning......

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Article Link:

 

A weaver had the shock of her life when two cows crashed through the roof of her home in Cornwall.

 

Sue Marshall was using her vacuum cleaner when she heard a crash and, on investigation, found an equally surprised cow standing in her workshop, having just missed the loom she had been using only a short while earlier.

 

After some careful manoeuvring, Mrs Marshall managed to get the animal out of her home but then a second cow plunged through the roof.

 

The animals had escaped from their field, situated above Mrs Marshall's converted barn, and walked down onto her house.

 

Mrs Marshall, from Lamorna, near Penzance, said: "I was hoovering at the time and heard an almighty crash.

"I assumed that a tree had come down. I was astonished to find that a cow had fallen through the roof of the workshop, narrowly missing my loom and leaving a huge hole in the roof.

"No sooner had I let the startled animal out than another one fell through another part of the roof! Both cows narrowly missed the loom, which was incredibly fortunate, and neither was injured. I was in absolute shock.

"The two cows were clearly distressed, the first careered out of the yard into an adjacent field, the second decided to hang around and made a bit of mess of the garden. I looked up at the fence and saw the rest of the herd looking on, a helpful neighbour came to our aid and made sure no more came through the fence.

"We had to make the workshop waterproof, but I wasn't able to continue working. It's been quite a stressful experience; the cows clearly thought that there was some good grazing on the other side of the fence.

"The boundary has been repaired now so hopefully we won't be getting any more uninvited guests."

Cornish Mutual, the insurer that is dealing with the claim said: "This very unusual case really does highlight the importance of keeping boundary fences in good condition."

Bees can detect cancer

Portuguese designer Susana Soares has developed a device for detecting cancer and other serious diseases using trained bees. The bees are placed in a glass chamber into which the patient exhales; the bees fly into a smaller secondary chamber if they detect cancer.

 

 

Scientists have found that honey bees – Apis mellifera – have an extraordinary sense of smell that is more acute than that of a sniffer dog and can detect airborne molecules in the parts-per-trillion range.

 

Bees can be trained to detect specific chemical odours, including the biomarkers associated with diseases such as tuberculosis, lung, skin and pancreatic cancer.

 

MORE....

Winter is here

Woke up this morning with frost all over. Had to break out the wool coat and mittens. Guess I gotta dress for winter now. So much for the tan!

One of my favorite meals

I loved this.

Sheep Vaccine for Worms

This is a interesting article and I hope this does work out.....

 

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A world-first vaccine more than 25 years in the making is being developed in Albany and could be available in commercial quantities by the end of next year.

 

The vaccine, created in collaboration between researchers at the Department of Agriculture and Food's Albany district office and the Moredun Research Institute in Edinburgh, Scotland, will guard against the world's most severe sheep and goat parasite–Barbers pole worm (Haemonchus contortus).

 

Barbers pole worm, named after its red and white striped appearance, occurs in the fourth stomach of sheep and goats from Kalbarri to Esperance in WA, as well as other pastoral areas of Australia and overseas.

 

Grazing animals can contract Barbers pole worms by ingesting microscopic larvae that has hatched from eggs laid in the intestinal tract of the host animal by adult worms, which are passed through feces and migrate onto pasture.

REST OF ARTICLE

Morning Workout

My dogs each morning....

Broomfield trial resutls

Someday you are the bug and some days you are the windshield. Yesterday we were the windshield and today we were the bug! Oh well, such is life.

 

The trial was standard and the sheep were super light. The dog had to be way off and neither of mine were. Maid was first and had a brilliant outrun and lift, then the wheels fell off the wagon. She didn't listen and was on the sheep's ass and put them way to the away side and in the bushes so I walked. She had the same issues on this about a year ago and I worked hard to fix it but it reared it's ugly head. So the next trial, I will walk and make her listen and back off at the top.

 

Nan ran out nice, lifted well and was offline. She couldn't hear me to put the sheep back online for the first half but go them back online and settled and made the panels. Nice smooth turn and great first leg with a tidy tight turn. The first turn was tough as the hearing was muted so a lot of dogs had issues. I really had to hit her hard with the comebye whistle but she took it. Nice first half of the drive, then we waggled all over on the second half and missed the panels.  She had snuck up too close to the sheep so they zigged and zagged. The pen was four sided with a small open the sheep had to enter. You had to stand in the shed ring and drive them in but we would get them in the mouth and they would not go in and we ran out of time. So since we missed the pen and single we were out of contention.

 

Bright side is that the girls had perfect outruns and lifts. Got some homework to do soon.

I took Rainey and as soon as I let her out of the truck, she ran towards the post. There was a person at the post so I ran and grabbed her ass. She was miffed that she couldn't run a brace. So she found Vicki's lap and told her all about it. Plus she got part of my lunch as well and I was forgiven.

 

MacDonald's Winter Series #1

Sue and George MacDonald had the first of their winter series today. JB Brick was the judge and she did a fine job. The day was sunny with wind gusts and some misting. Sheep were light and testy!! It was a fine day for a sheepdog trial.

 

Once again, I fell out off bed in complete darkness, fired up Bertha the truck and off we went to our adventure. More like, Nan and Maid passed out as soon as I started to drive so I cranked up the music and drank my coffee.

 

The Open course was a normal outrun, then a short first leg and then an angled cross drive which proved to be quite difficult. The last lag was to the center of the ring and you had to single. The pen had a panel in front of the mouth and the gate was not movable so you had to angle the sheep dead on to get them inside.

 

Nan ran out nice and did great outwork. She was quite pushy though and I had to get her to slow down and feel her sheep. Nice turn at the post and made the first panel and nice turn. A few bobble on the crossdrive as she was really leaning on the sheep and I thought we had the second panel, when to my dismay we slid by them and I was too slow to correct that. Trotted them into the ring for a "Hail Mary Shed" which wasn't the prettiest but sure was super fast and furious and she then stuffed them into the pen.  She was in first for most of the day and towards the end, she was knocked down to second. That will teach me to miss panels! Bad, Diane! 

 

 Nice turn.

 The draw was to the right and she had to really hold it. First panel as a panel and a tree. 

  

 Whew, the super shed.

 

Maid was being the social butterfly before her run so I had to remind her to follow me to the gate. That was fine as she was really relaxed and willing. She looked into my eyes at the post and I saw softness and laughter. I sent her and she had a nice outrun, lift and was pushy on the first half of the fetch. The sheep were offline so it took a bit to get her to push them back online and we did it after the panel.

 

Maid said you are not running to the exhaust.

 

She was very soft and biddable and there was no tension. Nice turn at the post and she really had to hold the draw to make the first drive line. But she did it willingly and held her line. 

 

Nice tight turn.

 

 The turn and she came in nice for a tidy turn. This is were we sometimes struggle as she thinks she knows where the line should be so we fight. However, she did exactly as I asked and walked nicely behind her sheep. The crossdrive she nailed dead on and had a nice pace and distance behind her sheep. Made the second panel and dead on to the ring. I was so happy on the drive as it was so enjoyable. She was bending over backwards to please me and no tension and being super soft.

Superb shedder.

 

Oh yea, the shed. Picked a lamb and she held it like a champion. The sheep where wanted to race out and were squirrely. There were a couple of times I could have called her in and she was leaning to come in but I didn't trust the sheep so waited until I had tiny sliver. The poor lamb had no idea what happened as a dog suddenly appeared in front of her. She really wanted to go back but Maid was firm and calm. She gathered them and walked them into the pen. She placed 5th with a 85 and now has her first points towards the Finals. She was quite happy with herself after her run and leaned into my leg, did a deep sigh while I rubbed her neck and told her she was a star. I loved the fact she had no tension, was soft and biddable and really trying to do as I asked of her.

 

I enjoyed running both girls and it was a nice day. Came home and crashed hard and Maid crawled on the couch with me. She snores but she earned the spot on the couch.