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