It happened.....almost picture perfect to how it was dreamed. Last week, I got up, fed dogs, went out and did my chores, came in and had a cup of coffee with my son. Then, together we went out and moved e-net, I came in and flung some laundry around and put the clean dishes away......sounds like another day of living. But for me, amidst living the day......I stopped and looked around....it was the realization of a dream. So many times of driving back and forth to my little slice of Heaven, 15 minutes each way, just to do chores, and while I drove I thought about living where my animals are.
Here I am, living that dream. The sheep have settled into their new loafing shed and the idea that many a field are available for grazing. The dogs love the big field, the running around and the sheep work. There are days where I have to pinch myself to see if I am dreaming......some days I feel like I am just visiting.
I took Sis out into the big field two days ago. The fenceless side now has e-net thanks to a good friend and a big Premier order. We drove the sheep around....and worked on outruns......and as we walked back for the day....we both felt it. Hard to put into words....but the feelings .....I just love it here.
It's our first Christmas, the house is decorated and the tree is absolutely perfect despite it's flaws. I cut it down from our little tree grove. The sheep will get some time in the pasture below before I tuck them in for the evening. The rain is supposed to let up this weekend and I am looking forward to sharing some dog work on Saturday.
I always want to remember.....all the things that have brought me here. All the details that make this, right here, so amazing. The big field, the well, the quiet, all the nature that calls this home, the big red antique barn, the tranquil pond.....the still and almost mundane moments that add up to make this perfect. I must be getting older.....it is not the big and flamboyant expectations but instead the small, priceless tiniest of details that take my breath away. May my eyes always be looking for the miracles....
Merry Christmas!
Seize the day.
Thursday, December 24, 2015
Wednesday, December 2, 2015
Yesterday was a routine day....living on a ranch means there will always be something to do. I started the day with a quick brace drive of the sheep to the bottom pasture with Sis and Bella, then I worked Sis. I wandered around trying to sort which of the gopher/mole holes were new and set traps. The "feral fail" cats, Hello and Sox, followed me around; talking, cheering, or offering advice, I am not sure which is was, but it was sweet having company. I continued my efforts in mud control, moving stall mats around trying to guess which areas will receive the most pressure from the coming rains.
Amidst the peaceful business of the day, I stopped and lifted my eyes and found some intense gratitude waiting for me. For years, I have been dreaming of this place....I've dreamed of waking up to head out the door to do my chores. I've dreamed of a big field to work dogs....stretch them out, walk along side to give understanding....all the little things a big field can provide. I used to drive around and visualize what it must be like to live on the different properties that sparked my interest. And here I am: living in a place that is pretty freaking, amazingly, wonderful.
Funny how when I dreamed my dreams, I never really thought about the work and challenges. Just like life, there certainly have been challenges galore here with the dreaded hemlock top of the list. As I walk around, looking at the land.....the hemlock stalks have been removed and the blankets of baby hemlock being sprayed out every sunny day.....I know hemlock will be a foggy memory and friends will have to remind me of the acres of potential doom. I've cried a few times over the hemlock and the lack of viable feed. I pulled myself up out of the dark....talked to a few friends....made a few plans.....got back to the good work.....and the beauty of this land is beginning to peek back through. I'm counting on Spring to showcase what has been planted this fall.
I wonder if it is human nature that makes me toy with the "if only's". Like old muscle memory that needs to be wrestled and pinned....I find it easy to fall back to ideas of "if only there was no hemlock", "if only my fence guy would get here" "if only.......I did more, or ate less, or ran more miles....or". Perhaps more than human nature, it is the perfectionistic nature I wrestle with....THAT nature seems to find the flaws and what needs work over the beauty and what work has been done. For November, I worked on a daily gratitude list. I want to work on my gratitude muscle; make it strong and dominant and something I live in. I want to remember my life and dreams along the way to fill me with the awe of my dreams coming true.
Seize the Day!!!!
Friday, October 23, 2015
Windows and Doors, Baby
They say that when God closes a door, he opens a window.......
The day after I put Miss BK down.....THIS happened:
This big gray kitty has been mousing in my field for a few months now. Appearing feral as the day is long, running when it caught sight of me, I knew it was cavorting in my barn at night. My game cam caught the cat the night before:
Last evening, I was tucking Hello in for the night...she was talking to me. And as we chatted, I herd a little whisper meow and looked out to see the gray cat skulking around....looking very hungry. So I grabbed a dish and some kitty food and the rest is feral cat history part two:
I'm not sure where the cat spends her time....I think it is a her. She is a lovely cat and ever so friendly but thinner than I have ever seen an animal; all ribs and back bone and hair. I've begun the process of working with the fabulous Feral Cat Society to help get this kitty fixed.
I just read that the community I moved into has a huge feral cat problem. I'm hoping that I can be a part of the solution......but don't want to become their favorite hangout. I mean really.....I'm not a crazy cat woman....nor do I ever want to be. But that said, if this cat can have help with the rodents around the place.....she, who is now creatively named Socks...can stay.
Doors and windows, baby.
Seize the day!
The day after I put Miss BK down.....THIS happened:
This big gray kitty has been mousing in my field for a few months now. Appearing feral as the day is long, running when it caught sight of me, I knew it was cavorting in my barn at night. My game cam caught the cat the night before:
Last evening, I was tucking Hello in for the night...she was talking to me. And as we chatted, I herd a little whisper meow and looked out to see the gray cat skulking around....looking very hungry. So I grabbed a dish and some kitty food and the rest is feral cat history part two:
I'm not sure where the cat spends her time....I think it is a her. She is a lovely cat and ever so friendly but thinner than I have ever seen an animal; all ribs and back bone and hair. I've begun the process of working with the fabulous Feral Cat Society to help get this kitty fixed.
I just read that the community I moved into has a huge feral cat problem. I'm hoping that I can be a part of the solution......but don't want to become their favorite hangout. I mean really.....I'm not a crazy cat woman....nor do I ever want to be. But that said, if this cat can have help with the rodents around the place.....she, who is now creatively named Socks...can stay.
Doors and windows, baby.
Seize the day!
Tuesday, October 20, 2015
Some Things Change....
I've got that Pretenders song stuck in my head today.....one of my favorite Pretenders: Hymn to Her.
"And she will always carry on
Something is lost
But something is found
They will keep on speaking her name
Some things change
Some stay the same.....
I've finally got the dog room/office heading in the right direction as I begin to unload the "guest room", moving my "things" and finding places. I've got my filming/computer stuff, my dog stuff, my craft and sewing stuff and my memorabilia. Big mistake opening some of those boxes before my deed was done today. That said, once opened, it is hard to shut the lid on the box of memories...kids growing up before my eyes, puppies into 15 year old lady dogs....time marches on and I can grieve all I like...it continues to march. I love love love the genealogy writings done by some relative or another. I wonder what stories those from days gone by, who share my genetic code, could tell...as I reminisce about mine. Did they have a favorite dog, did they love being a parent to the depths of their soul, did they have friends that would move a body for them?? I think of them often as I look at old pictures and heirlooms that have been passed on, as treasures, to me.
We all have stories..... ..today, I think of my animal's stories...it sure has been a year of change.
Barn Kitty: She moved into my little slice of Heaven 10 years ago, living in the hay loft, which was filled to the gills in the days of running 90 sheep. She had been hit by a car and sported a broken shoulder. I fed her and told her to stay as long as she liked. Once she started getting around and feeling better, I realized that she had been somebody's house cat....she was declawed and spayed and about the nicest cat I had ever had. Well, except when she wasn't because she was pretty bossy and would bite if she was not done with her daily lovings. She decided to stay. I spent many a long day and longer night with Barn Kitty on my lap as I lambed or taught lessons or just farted around the farm. A little orange tabby cat moved in about 5 years ago and pissed Barn Kitty off (I know...very original name!). BK moved out and I thought she was gone until orange tabby Cream was hit by a car on the very busy road my barn rested near. Barn Kitty came right back and staked her claim and no other cat dared to move in since. Until, Hello, the feral kitty, was dropped off by her even more feral mother. BK tolerated Hello, in a love/hate sort of way....kicking her ass regularly and feeding Hello's thesis of "negative attention is better than no attention."
And then I moved......slowly, I moved the chickens, then Hello, then the sheep. Hello was contained in an old milk parlor where I forced her to live until just recently. I left BK out at the old place, visiting and feeding her once a day......hoping I could have some rhythm in the new and find a creative idea on how to move her. The little old lady was riddled with arthritis and completely defenseless but she loved her barn and knew how to survive there. When a human visitor moved in for a time, with her four legged partial pack of canines, Barn Kitty left. It took me days to find and catch her, at which point I took her to the new place.
I guess my part time attention split between clearing clutter, moving, cleaning and selling, left me surprised at how I did not know how old and feeble my faithful cat had become. I put her in a huge double crate in the milk parlor with Hello but the move did not go well. Barn Kitty was getting old, struggled jumping up on a small crate to get to her table when I let her out for her daily pets. She was not feeling well, not getting around, not digging the change and I knew. I had to give myself that pep talk..the one about the gift we give our best friends....our pets. It is always easier to give that pep talk to anybody but myself. Instead of stress, radical change, and coyotes, I gave my girl peace....which has left me with a huge barn kitty sized hole in my heart.
It has been a year of change for sure. I've said goodbye to memories stored in the walls of an old milk barn, my home of 20 plus years, my good and faithful heart dog, whom I miss more than words can say. And then I lift my eyes and look at the amazing dream come true of my new big slice of Heaven and I know. Deep in the deepest crevices of my soul, I know......this place was made just for me and a time such as this. The passing of change are life....the pain a good reminder that I do actually have a heart that loves deeply and passionately. For that, today, I am grateful
Barn Kitty, that'll do. I'll see you on the other side.......
And she will always carry on
Something is lost
But something is found
They will keep on speaking her name
Some things change
Some stay the same.......
Seize the Day!!!!
"And she will always carry on
Something is lost
But something is found
They will keep on speaking her name
Some things change
Some stay the same.....
I've finally got the dog room/office heading in the right direction as I begin to unload the "guest room", moving my "things" and finding places. I've got my filming/computer stuff, my dog stuff, my craft and sewing stuff and my memorabilia. Big mistake opening some of those boxes before my deed was done today. That said, once opened, it is hard to shut the lid on the box of memories...kids growing up before my eyes, puppies into 15 year old lady dogs....time marches on and I can grieve all I like...it continues to march. I love love love the genealogy writings done by some relative or another. I wonder what stories those from days gone by, who share my genetic code, could tell...as I reminisce about mine. Did they have a favorite dog, did they love being a parent to the depths of their soul, did they have friends that would move a body for them?? I think of them often as I look at old pictures and heirlooms that have been passed on, as treasures, to me.
We all have stories..... ..today, I think of my animal's stories...it sure has been a year of change.
Barn Kitty: She moved into my little slice of Heaven 10 years ago, living in the hay loft, which was filled to the gills in the days of running 90 sheep. She had been hit by a car and sported a broken shoulder. I fed her and told her to stay as long as she liked. Once she started getting around and feeling better, I realized that she had been somebody's house cat....she was declawed and spayed and about the nicest cat I had ever had. Well, except when she wasn't because she was pretty bossy and would bite if she was not done with her daily lovings. She decided to stay. I spent many a long day and longer night with Barn Kitty on my lap as I lambed or taught lessons or just farted around the farm. A little orange tabby cat moved in about 5 years ago and pissed Barn Kitty off (I know...very original name!). BK moved out and I thought she was gone until orange tabby Cream was hit by a car on the very busy road my barn rested near. Barn Kitty came right back and staked her claim and no other cat dared to move in since. Until, Hello, the feral kitty, was dropped off by her even more feral mother. BK tolerated Hello, in a love/hate sort of way....kicking her ass regularly and feeding Hello's thesis of "negative attention is better than no attention."
And then I moved......slowly, I moved the chickens, then Hello, then the sheep. Hello was contained in an old milk parlor where I forced her to live until just recently. I left BK out at the old place, visiting and feeding her once a day......hoping I could have some rhythm in the new and find a creative idea on how to move her. The little old lady was riddled with arthritis and completely defenseless but she loved her barn and knew how to survive there. When a human visitor moved in for a time, with her four legged partial pack of canines, Barn Kitty left. It took me days to find and catch her, at which point I took her to the new place.
I guess my part time attention split between clearing clutter, moving, cleaning and selling, left me surprised at how I did not know how old and feeble my faithful cat had become. I put her in a huge double crate in the milk parlor with Hello but the move did not go well. Barn Kitty was getting old, struggled jumping up on a small crate to get to her table when I let her out for her daily pets. She was not feeling well, not getting around, not digging the change and I knew. I had to give myself that pep talk..the one about the gift we give our best friends....our pets. It is always easier to give that pep talk to anybody but myself. Instead of stress, radical change, and coyotes, I gave my girl peace....which has left me with a huge barn kitty sized hole in my heart.
It has been a year of change for sure. I've said goodbye to memories stored in the walls of an old milk barn, my home of 20 plus years, my good and faithful heart dog, whom I miss more than words can say. And then I lift my eyes and look at the amazing dream come true of my new big slice of Heaven and I know. Deep in the deepest crevices of my soul, I know......this place was made just for me and a time such as this. The passing of change are life....the pain a good reminder that I do actually have a heart that loves deeply and passionately. For that, today, I am grateful
Barn Kitty, that'll do. I'll see you on the other side.......
And she will always carry on
Something is lost
But something is found
They will keep on speaking her name
Some things change
Some stay the same.......
Seize the Day!!!!
Thursday, October 8, 2015
Pickles
My new place...which will now be know as RDR because it has become the new location for Rocking Dog Ranch.....has not been loved on for many years. The house and yard...yes....the bottom 40 yes, the top acres...no way. What I thought was green grass, might have been but for the cows who lived here until the very last day they could. They have grazed and trampled and left cow punching all over this place. Then there are the thistles and blackberry bushes and hemlock...yes, hemlock....not to mention a few ground hornet's nests.
I begin the work of putting love into the land....trying to sweeten it and seed it knowing next spring will show the fruits of my labor. While I work, I try to really see what needs attention...rocks that need moved, or places that needs sprayed out when the rain stops. Oh, and we live off a well traveled road.....
Yesterday, I had the spreader on the four wheeler and I began the task of spreading grass seed. My four wheeler is also now sporting a new to me sprayer on the back....one a friend gave me to save my shoulders and arms. I was tootling along minding my own business and studying the ground as I came up over an incline, not used to the new weight of the sprayer while not seeing the T post barely sticking out of the ground. I started pulling right and turned to go with the flow....my spreader was a little less agile and I got stuck around that darn T post. My first pickle at RDR.
There I was, right there, largely visible from all the traffic headed to Turner.....stuck. I tried to lift the darn spreader to move it but it had too much grass seed to even be budged. I tried to put the four wheeler in reverse and back it all up but the grade of the hill was too steep and the angle of the spreader too jackknifed. I had a little swearing session and remembered all the pickles I had been in at my other RDR. Oh those were the days.....and I might have taken for granted having really awesome pickle solving neighbors that would eventually come to the rescue and only laughed quietly.
What's a girl to do? What's a girl to do that is appropriate along side a busy road where pretty much every single passer by was having a little lookie lou at my situation?? I got my hand push spreader, moved the grass seed and spread that steep little incline by hand. Had to happen anyway.....got my fitbit steps in.....and it emptied the spreader allowing me to move it and get around that stupid tee post that is in the middle of the field for no reason I can see at this time.
I've decided to apply my efforts to fields off the busy beaten path to Turner. That way, I can wallow in my pickles without an audience. I'm looking forward to some good dog work in the coming days.....pickle free!
Seize the Day!
I begin the work of putting love into the land....trying to sweeten it and seed it knowing next spring will show the fruits of my labor. While I work, I try to really see what needs attention...rocks that need moved, or places that needs sprayed out when the rain stops. Oh, and we live off a well traveled road.....
Yesterday, I had the spreader on the four wheeler and I began the task of spreading grass seed. My four wheeler is also now sporting a new to me sprayer on the back....one a friend gave me to save my shoulders and arms. I was tootling along minding my own business and studying the ground as I came up over an incline, not used to the new weight of the sprayer while not seeing the T post barely sticking out of the ground. I started pulling right and turned to go with the flow....my spreader was a little less agile and I got stuck around that darn T post. My first pickle at RDR.
There I was, right there, largely visible from all the traffic headed to Turner.....stuck. I tried to lift the darn spreader to move it but it had too much grass seed to even be budged. I tried to put the four wheeler in reverse and back it all up but the grade of the hill was too steep and the angle of the spreader too jackknifed. I had a little swearing session and remembered all the pickles I had been in at my other RDR. Oh those were the days.....and I might have taken for granted having really awesome pickle solving neighbors that would eventually come to the rescue and only laughed quietly.
What's a girl to do? What's a girl to do that is appropriate along side a busy road where pretty much every single passer by was having a little lookie lou at my situation?? I got my hand push spreader, moved the grass seed and spread that steep little incline by hand. Had to happen anyway.....got my fitbit steps in.....and it emptied the spreader allowing me to move it and get around that stupid tee post that is in the middle of the field for no reason I can see at this time.
I've decided to apply my efforts to fields off the busy beaten path to Turner. That way, I can wallow in my pickles without an audience. I'm looking forward to some good dog work in the coming days.....pickle free!
Seize the Day!
Monday, October 5, 2015
Living the Dream...and All THAT!
You don't get the things you wish for, you get
what you work for!
Sometimes it's really hard and tiring,
sometimes you'll feel like it's impossible and you're never going to get there.
Sometimes you'll feel like giving up and sometimes you will slip up or throw in
the towel. But if you want this, you really want it then you'll have to be
strong and resilient, you'll have to be dedicated and you'll have to believe
that it's possible to get there. Motivation is a day-to-day thing that you're
responsible for, just as you need to be responsible for your actions. - It
won't happen accidentally and it won't happen immediately. It's going to take
deliberate effort every day and it's going to take hard work and consistency!
.
I know I want it, I want to be my best and I want to live my best life
possible and I won't give up on myself!
NOW, how bad do YOU want it and what
are you prepared to do to get it?? ~Emily Skye
Emily Skye was talking about fitness and
health.....however, this really spoke to me this morning as I think of my day
ahead...and a bunch of days after that....as I work to beat the rain......oh,
living the dream!! The farmhouse is coming together nicely, my big
project is staining the deck as I work on that goal for timely
completion.
The land...well that is another matter.
No one has loved on this land for years and years. I have weeds
beyond the wildest imagination....thistles of every single variety and I think
they have been cross breeding! And then there is the dreaded Mother
of all Weeds....I've been putting on a backpack sprayer and walking
daily.....hoping it counts as exercise and living with arms going numb at
night.
Then there were the coyotes that came in close
last night......yipping and barking behind the sheep loafing shed. I laid
in bed contemplating getting up with my big flashlight and going out to scare
them......all the while praying the little fence zapper is enough for now to
zap those bastards.
Here is what I am learning:
1) friends are amazing and the good stuff of
life. A good friend gave me a sprayer for the back of my four wheeler.
I now can carry 15 gallons of "die dreaded weeds" and still
spot spray! In addition, I have some pretty great rye grass to spread.
2) Dreams come with learning experiences.....and
I have a lot of those to fall back on from previous "living the
dreams". Sheep with polio...well, I was able to see the symptoms
pretty darn fast and treat with Thiamine and Banamine giving that particular
sheep more time to live the dream with me. I know what the dreaded Mother
of all Weeds looks like in the infantile, easy to kill stage....and knowing
that is powerful.
3) Hard work can be good for the soul....well
at least mine. I love getting down and dirty and then love even more
sitting back and admiring my handy work. As I make my list of
things-to-do, it gets longer and longer but I am sorting out priority. I
think fencing my bottom 40 has begun to rise to the top...with that fenced, it
will allow for grazing and dog work while I sort my closer pastures.
I'm working on the allowing as well:
knowing I am right where I am supposed to be. Being grateful as I
go to bed at night for what was accomplished during the day...be it farm work
or time with friends. Finding that balance most certainly top of my list......now
to figure out a way to get that pasture fenced so I can work dogs. Living
the dream.........
Seize the Day
Friday, October 2, 2015
Home
"Home"
Hold on to me as we go
As we roll down this unfamiliar road
And although this wave (wave) is stringing us along
Just know you're not alone
'Cause I'm gonna make this place your home
Settle down, it'll all be clear
Don't pay no mind to the demons
They fill you with fear
The trouble—it might drag you down
If you get lost, you can always be found
Just know you're not alone
'Cause I'm gonna make this place your home
Ooo-oo-oo-oo-oo-oo-oo. Oo-oo-oo-oo [2x]
Aaa-aa-aa-aa-aa-aa-aa. Aa-aa-aa-aaaaaa [4x]
Settle down, it'll all be clear
Don't pay no mind to the demons
They fill you with fear
The trouble it might drag you down
If you get lost, you can always be found
Just know you're not alone
'Cause I'm gonna make this place your home
(Come on!)
Ooo-oo-oo-oo-oo-oo-oo. Ao-oo-oo-oo [4x]
Aaa-aa-aa-aa-aa-aa-aa.
As we roll down this unfamiliar road
And although this wave (wave) is stringing us along
Just know you're not alone
'Cause I'm gonna make this place your home
Settle down, it'll all be clear
Don't pay no mind to the demons
They fill you with fear
The trouble—it might drag you down
If you get lost, you can always be found
Just know you're not alone
'Cause I'm gonna make this place your home
Ooo-oo-oo-oo-oo-oo-oo. Oo-oo-oo-oo [2x]
Aaa-aa-aa-aa-aa-aa-aa. Aa-aa-aa-aaaaaa [4x]
Settle down, it'll all be clear
Don't pay no mind to the demons
They fill you with fear
The trouble it might drag you down
If you get lost, you can always be found
Just know you're not alone
'Cause I'm gonna make this place your home
(Come on!)
Ooo-oo-oo-oo-oo-oo-oo. Ao-oo-oo-oo [4x]
Aaa-aa-aa-aa-aa-aa-aa.
There are times when I pinch myself to make sure I am not dreaming. Other times, I have to confess, my emotions take over and I'm stunned. There is still so much to be done....but little bit, ever diligent the dream becomes my life. My sheep are here, all tucked into the barn so they don't over eat. Friends are helping me move my round pen tomorrow....all the little details of moving the ranch come together.....the next chapter unfolds...and it is a doozie!!!!
In addition to the field work, I'm trying to beat the rain and get the deck stained. A good friend came saw the place and suggested some color....it needs to pop. So I went with a dark brown and love how it is turning out. The floor is a lighter natural and the dark brown on the hand rail and railing looks great. Everything takes time...and I know we need the rain...but if I could have just another week.....I could get it done!
It feels so amazing......very much like Home. Dreams really do come true!!!
Seize the Day.......
Saturday, September 26, 2015
2015 Finals...the road less traveled
Thank God for road warrior friends...is all I can say today.....a day where there is not enough coffee in the world to make up for the jet lag I feel from 12 hours in the car. That said, I had a great time, though it was short, at the 2015 Finals in Alturus, CA.
I watched some pretty darn amazing runs! I saw a fetch, from a top dog and hand, go to hell in a hand basket. The cool calm of letting go of wrong and staying in the moment, minute by minute, allowing the score to slide the team into the next day's running order...was a lesson to remember! The maneuvering of a dog on the fetch to "train" the sheep to allow a seamless turn around the post.....bundle that up and put it in my tool box! And this pen:
that one big high headed range ewe that took the rope out, while she darted off, not giving a though or care to her friends......
the patience and strategy and calm required to complete the pen and move on to the single.....
poetry in motion added to nerves of steel with a side of confidence that comes from experience and genetics.
It was fun seeing friends again... friends that I only see at trials. I've missed the conversations about dogs and work and ideas and training. I'm looking forward to getting the dogs thinking about trials again....getting back in the saddle and working on partnership and relationship as my focus. For me, little pauses are good...its allowed me so much gain and clarity for what is important in my life for sure.
Seize the Day!!!!
I watched some pretty darn amazing runs! I saw a fetch, from a top dog and hand, go to hell in a hand basket. The cool calm of letting go of wrong and staying in the moment, minute by minute, allowing the score to slide the team into the next day's running order...was a lesson to remember! The maneuvering of a dog on the fetch to "train" the sheep to allow a seamless turn around the post.....bundle that up and put it in my tool box! And this pen:
that one big high headed range ewe that took the rope out, while she darted off, not giving a though or care to her friends......
the patience and strategy and calm required to complete the pen and move on to the single.....
poetry in motion added to nerves of steel with a side of confidence that comes from experience and genetics.
It was fun seeing friends again... friends that I only see at trials. I've missed the conversations about dogs and work and ideas and training. I'm looking forward to getting the dogs thinking about trials again....getting back in the saddle and working on partnership and relationship as my focus. For me, little pauses are good...its allowed me so much gain and clarity for what is important in my life for sure.
Seize the Day!!!!
Friday, August 7, 2015
Rhythm....Finding a New Groove
I've been living at the new place for two weeks now......the first few days provide quiet challenging. 14 1/2 year old dogs are NOT very pliable...especially if they have only known one home their entire life, from the day they were born in my son's closet. The days go by and the new rhythm of life starts to form a pattern, a comfortable one at that.
Everything I read about brain development points out the need for change. Find a new way to drive to work, the articles challenge. Try new things, learn new skills, develop new interests....I get the need to not fall into a rut that lasts a lifetime. On the other hand, for me, I need some consistency; a little bit of routine is good for my soul.
While I work on a new groove, settling the girls into this new life...I'm also working on finding some balance of working on the new list of things to do. Slowly but surely I will get my sheep and chickens here....I have field work to finish first. Field work and fences that need attention....this place used to home cattle and there is barb wire everywhere. Amidst rhythm I am finding challenge of learning new skills and as always, honing patience.
Life is good.....actually, Life is Great!
Seize the Day!!!
Everything I read about brain development points out the need for change. Find a new way to drive to work, the articles challenge. Try new things, learn new skills, develop new interests....I get the need to not fall into a rut that lasts a lifetime. On the other hand, for me, I need some consistency; a little bit of routine is good for my soul.
While I work on a new groove, settling the girls into this new life...I'm also working on finding some balance of working on the new list of things to do. Slowly but surely I will get my sheep and chickens here....I have field work to finish first. Field work and fences that need attention....this place used to home cattle and there is barb wire everywhere. Amidst rhythm I am finding challenge of learning new skills and as always, honing patience.
Life is good.....actually, Life is Great!
Seize the Day!!!
Sunday, July 12, 2015
Sounds Like Life.....
On Tuesday, I said "see you later" to my best friend and helped her cross the rainbow bridge. She had been falling, was getting stuck in the doggie door, and couldn't get that back leg up under her back end resulting in a lot of front end scooting. I took her out to the new ranch knowing that I might find some answers out there.....and I did. As I lifted Snook from the car, gently setting her down by the barn, she wandered a bit, falling more than usual from the terrain and rocks and rolling hills. She wandered back to the car and asked to be put back in. I knew......in my heart of hearts, it was time.
I brought Snook home wondering what I could do to help her celebrate her life and send her off knowing the depth of my gratitude and love. I'd kept her far longer than any spin on the sheep, so we had a sprinkler party instead. Her standing and snapping at the water drops as the stream flew by on it's next round. The thing about Snook was, she was all about fun but wanted me to always be a part of it. As she snapped at the water, she would glance over as if to ask, "did you see that?!" My other dogs are more independent, but Snook, I was the center of her life from day one. Being a big girl, she was always front seat ride-along dog....and I liked it that way. She was never a dog to run ahead unless sent in fun. She excelled in arena trials..where I could be right there....together a team of friendship and trust. That was my Snook girl. In later life, as age and pain made truck rides too hard on her, she would lay by the door waiting for me to return from my chores and trips. She always knew I'd be back so she would wait.
After our fun in the water, we went to Dairy Queen, Snook and me. We shared an ice-cream and cuddled in the back of the car. It was a good day. I miss her now...her bed by the side of my bed is empty. Her food bowl sits on the counter, and the arms length of pill bottles are lined up right next to it. I'm not ready to change much....the change will happen soon enough with the big move. The dogs adjust but aren't as edgy as I though they would be. I think Snook's lack of mobility had already changed the pack's dynamics. Regardless, I miss her beyond words and I can't seem to stop missing her. I'm working on the good and fabulous memories...which there are many....but the sadness shadows them. I need to write her life out, sort through my pictures.....it is just taking time to be ready to go there.
But life goes on.....the dog yard is almost finished at the new place and I'm moving. It's a good distraction, a noble distraction...a dream come true distraction. On the day's I'm not making a load with the stock trailer, I am weeding and getting fields ready for sheep. I'm taking the dogs out and letting them run around while I work.....getting them used to the idea of the move. They LOVE it out there...so much to do and a bit of trouble to get into. I have NOT taken them to the pond yet.....I don't want Sis, the water dog to know about it just yet.
As much as I love and miss Snook, I know, as long as I live.....I need to seize each day. I am making memories and building relationships each and every day. I think that is the passing gift Snook gave me: to not dwell on the sadness and missing and wishing things were different......instead to find the gifts in what is for the today. For me, it is a choice....mindful living, seizing the day. I think the dogs help me do that...it most certainly is how they live. And somehow, I want to believe that Snook is right here with me in spirit......enjoying the move in her perfect Heavenly body........or at the least smiling down from Heaven knowing how much she is deeply loved.
Seize the Day!!!
I brought Snook home wondering what I could do to help her celebrate her life and send her off knowing the depth of my gratitude and love. I'd kept her far longer than any spin on the sheep, so we had a sprinkler party instead. Her standing and snapping at the water drops as the stream flew by on it's next round. The thing about Snook was, she was all about fun but wanted me to always be a part of it. As she snapped at the water, she would glance over as if to ask, "did you see that?!" My other dogs are more independent, but Snook, I was the center of her life from day one. Being a big girl, she was always front seat ride-along dog....and I liked it that way. She was never a dog to run ahead unless sent in fun. She excelled in arena trials..where I could be right there....together a team of friendship and trust. That was my Snook girl. In later life, as age and pain made truck rides too hard on her, she would lay by the door waiting for me to return from my chores and trips. She always knew I'd be back so she would wait.
After our fun in the water, we went to Dairy Queen, Snook and me. We shared an ice-cream and cuddled in the back of the car. It was a good day. I miss her now...her bed by the side of my bed is empty. Her food bowl sits on the counter, and the arms length of pill bottles are lined up right next to it. I'm not ready to change much....the change will happen soon enough with the big move. The dogs adjust but aren't as edgy as I though they would be. I think Snook's lack of mobility had already changed the pack's dynamics. Regardless, I miss her beyond words and I can't seem to stop missing her. I'm working on the good and fabulous memories...which there are many....but the sadness shadows them. I need to write her life out, sort through my pictures.....it is just taking time to be ready to go there.
But life goes on.....the dog yard is almost finished at the new place and I'm moving. It's a good distraction, a noble distraction...a dream come true distraction. On the day's I'm not making a load with the stock trailer, I am weeding and getting fields ready for sheep. I'm taking the dogs out and letting them run around while I work.....getting them used to the idea of the move. They LOVE it out there...so much to do and a bit of trouble to get into. I have NOT taken them to the pond yet.....I don't want Sis, the water dog to know about it just yet.
As much as I love and miss Snook, I know, as long as I live.....I need to seize each day. I am making memories and building relationships each and every day. I think that is the passing gift Snook gave me: to not dwell on the sadness and missing and wishing things were different......instead to find the gifts in what is for the today. For me, it is a choice....mindful living, seizing the day. I think the dogs help me do that...it most certainly is how they live. And somehow, I want to believe that Snook is right here with me in spirit......enjoying the move in her perfect Heavenly body........or at the least smiling down from Heaven knowing how much she is deeply loved.
Wednesday, July 1, 2015
New....
A couple weeks ago, I read NVShadowBCs-Noggin' Doggin blog...."not a destination, but rather a way of TRAVELING." It's a good read....I love how she lives her life....authentic, real, focused on allowing for amazing (my view of her life). One time, a few years back, at a sheepdog trial, we talked about creating a MECA....and here she is today.....living her dream. She wrote to my comment, "When I started out, there were very little resources for this journey. I looked at what I didn't have. Being surrounded by positive mentors/open hands opened my eyes, all the components were here all along. Just in a different form. The right set of glasses and viola a Mecca."
My husband always tells me, when you are mountain biking, you need to look at where you want to go. If you look at what you don't want to hit, you hit it. But if you look ahead to where you want to go.....that is where you end up. I find life is a lot like that as well......takes some discipline to look where you want to go.
I've loved my little slice of Heaven out in the country. It was big enough to train dogs and small enough for me to manage, mostly by myself. As the kids left home, and I began to get a little older, the driving to and fro left me making changes to accommodate the responsibilities of home life. Last year, I gave up on lambing; this year, I cut back on numbers. My dream was to live where the sheep live......maintain one homestead....be able to walk out to tuck the chickens in for the night instead of driving 15 minutes one way. The quest began about 5 years ago and got real serious in the past two. I haunted multiple listing sights and stalked Zillow. We checked out property in Scio; amazing, beautiful, serene...then I asked my hubby to visualize the drive home from work on a rainy winter day in December, when the dark pulls the covers up early....no good at all.
I began to feel like Goldilocks.......this one is too small, this one is too far out, this one too much money, this one is too NOT ME! I'm country....not big beautiful show piece of a home girl. Harvesting Christmas trees with a helicopter on the 20 acres right next to the house doesn't work for me either. I mean who can do outruns though Christmas trees??
A realtor friend had called us two years ago about a place she was listing. At that time, I was not interested. After searching for two years and narrowing the musts between the two of us...when the for sale sign was put at the entry....I called our friend. And the rest is history...as they say.
I'm not a girl that cries easily but there are days when I tear up about the amazing journey that brought me to my new home. Hubby laughs and says he did not ever think in a million years we would find a place that met both of our "Must Lists"....me needing a barn and property for the sheep and dog work....him needing a doable drive to work and room for his hobbies. When I travel with the dogs or do outside work, the place is close enough for hubby to help with dogs left home. All the little details addressed as if the whole place were built for ME!
The barn was built in 1863 and has been restored on the outside. I've always wanted a historical home but knew it could be a marriage stressor.....things can go so wrong with history in a house. But the barn....sigh.....I can futz around to my heart's content, chatting with the resident barn owl and listening for voices from the past as the hay was put in, horses tended and later, cows milked.
I find it hard to put into words the amazingness of this journey. The feelings of blessing and gratitude and amazement overwhelm me in that good deep down in my soul way. I know there are new journeys to seize, things to sort, creativity to find....but for now.....I feel like I have come HOME.
Indeed....."the right set of glasses".
Seize the Day!!!!
My husband always tells me, when you are mountain biking, you need to look at where you want to go. If you look at what you don't want to hit, you hit it. But if you look ahead to where you want to go.....that is where you end up. I find life is a lot like that as well......takes some discipline to look where you want to go.
I've loved my little slice of Heaven out in the country. It was big enough to train dogs and small enough for me to manage, mostly by myself. As the kids left home, and I began to get a little older, the driving to and fro left me making changes to accommodate the responsibilities of home life. Last year, I gave up on lambing; this year, I cut back on numbers. My dream was to live where the sheep live......maintain one homestead....be able to walk out to tuck the chickens in for the night instead of driving 15 minutes one way. The quest began about 5 years ago and got real serious in the past two. I haunted multiple listing sights and stalked Zillow. We checked out property in Scio; amazing, beautiful, serene...then I asked my hubby to visualize the drive home from work on a rainy winter day in December, when the dark pulls the covers up early....no good at all.
I began to feel like Goldilocks.......this one is too small, this one is too far out, this one too much money, this one is too NOT ME! I'm country....not big beautiful show piece of a home girl. Harvesting Christmas trees with a helicopter on the 20 acres right next to the house doesn't work for me either. I mean who can do outruns though Christmas trees??
A realtor friend had called us two years ago about a place she was listing. At that time, I was not interested. After searching for two years and narrowing the musts between the two of us...when the for sale sign was put at the entry....I called our friend. And the rest is history...as they say.
I'm not a girl that cries easily but there are days when I tear up about the amazing journey that brought me to my new home. Hubby laughs and says he did not ever think in a million years we would find a place that met both of our "Must Lists"....me needing a barn and property for the sheep and dog work....him needing a doable drive to work and room for his hobbies. When I travel with the dogs or do outside work, the place is close enough for hubby to help with dogs left home. All the little details addressed as if the whole place were built for ME!
The barn was built in 1863 and has been restored on the outside. I've always wanted a historical home but knew it could be a marriage stressor.....things can go so wrong with history in a house. But the barn....sigh.....I can futz around to my heart's content, chatting with the resident barn owl and listening for voices from the past as the hay was put in, horses tended and later, cows milked.
I find it hard to put into words the amazingness of this journey. The feelings of blessing and gratitude and amazement overwhelm me in that good deep down in my soul way. I know there are new journeys to seize, things to sort, creativity to find....but for now.....I feel like I have come HOME.
Indeed....."the right set of glasses".
Seize the Day!!!!
Saturday, June 13, 2015
Pause Button
I've got more life lessons to write about.....important things that I don't want to forget. The memories come back to me at the weirdest of times; night, as I lay in bed thinking, or while I am showering, and of course driving....those are the best of thinking and remembering times.
Today, I hit the pause button. I'm sitting on the couch with my 14 year old Jack Russell Terrier, Ruby. She was born in front of the fireplace and lived in my son's closet the first few weeks of her life. Her mama, Summer, tried to move the whole litter under Jake's bed so many times that we compromised. Summer finally gave up the moving of the puppies to settle into the closet and Ruby grew up right next to Jake. Ruby Tuesday is the "old girl" of my pack.
I homeschooled my son, Jake for three years, third through fifth grade. One day, early in his homeschooling experience, Jake was watching the Animal Planet and dog agility came on. Some of the folks were competing with JRTs and we had a JRT...must be fate. We went on-line, ordered our free Clean Run magazine, found a local WAG competition, attended, was introduced to a trainer...and thus started our journey into the world of agility.
Ruby was a fast learner as well as a fast runner. In practice, she rocked and Jake loved the training. It all went to hell at trials though. Ruby was a mama's girl and the stress of trailing had her leaving the ring to find me. Many a run, I had to sit in the car and not watch...and many more runs,when I tried to watch, Ruby would sniff me out and leave her boy dog-less in the ring: Not a good recipe for success. So Ruby was bequeathed to me the day Jake was given Spark and together Ruby and I joined in the agility fun.
14 1/2 years, time has faded Ruby's red patches and her body is giving her issues. She leans here against my leg, swaddled in a big downy comforter. She's been off and on food for the past 9 months; I've been able to nurse her back to eating with rotisserie chicken and peanut butter. It's been a long four days, she feels miserable and I know. I'm digging deep to be a promise keeper again. I cannot imagine my life without this girl, she who sleeps cuddled up against me at night.
There is a lot of change happening in my life right now. I am getting ready to move...the dream come true sort of move. I have hoped that my old girls would get a taste of living my dream. I wrestle with myself...over and over...not wanting to fail Ruby, or Snook for that matter, with extra days of pain on my behalf but not wanting to shorten their lives by one day if it is not time. How does a one know? I read about the dogs that get to spend the last days doing what they love before they cross the rainbow bridge. I know I have taken both my dogs past living those days.....Snook's back end won't allow her to work sheep and her pain won't allow her a truck ride while Ruby won't eat so Dairy Queen is out. I sit here, hugging her and petting her and whispering my sweet gratitude into her ear. This little neurotic, separation anxiety filled JRT who wormed her way into my heart, deep into the middle and filling up so much room. She has loved sick days....any warm body on the couch was her definition of the best of days. When Jake had knee surgery....she felt bad for him but was so happy for herself.....she has loved each and every couch day with any of her boys. She has chased my lawn mower with gusto and barked herself horse at me. She has thieved the garbage can under the sink so many nights that it is tied shut in her honor. She has welcomed in all of the dogs that have crossed my threshold, tolerated some and embraced others. I know there are days before Ruby, but I don't remember them as vivid as the days since she came into this world....my little Bat Girl.
Change is coming....some of it so amazing I'm left breathless but I tread slowly hitting the pause button for just a few more days with one of my best friends.
Seize the day.
Today, I hit the pause button. I'm sitting on the couch with my 14 year old Jack Russell Terrier, Ruby. She was born in front of the fireplace and lived in my son's closet the first few weeks of her life. Her mama, Summer, tried to move the whole litter under Jake's bed so many times that we compromised. Summer finally gave up the moving of the puppies to settle into the closet and Ruby grew up right next to Jake. Ruby Tuesday is the "old girl" of my pack.
I homeschooled my son, Jake for three years, third through fifth grade. One day, early in his homeschooling experience, Jake was watching the Animal Planet and dog agility came on. Some of the folks were competing with JRTs and we had a JRT...must be fate. We went on-line, ordered our free Clean Run magazine, found a local WAG competition, attended, was introduced to a trainer...and thus started our journey into the world of agility.
Ruby was a fast learner as well as a fast runner. In practice, she rocked and Jake loved the training. It all went to hell at trials though. Ruby was a mama's girl and the stress of trailing had her leaving the ring to find me. Many a run, I had to sit in the car and not watch...and many more runs,when I tried to watch, Ruby would sniff me out and leave her boy dog-less in the ring: Not a good recipe for success. So Ruby was bequeathed to me the day Jake was given Spark and together Ruby and I joined in the agility fun.
14 1/2 years, time has faded Ruby's red patches and her body is giving her issues. She leans here against my leg, swaddled in a big downy comforter. She's been off and on food for the past 9 months; I've been able to nurse her back to eating with rotisserie chicken and peanut butter. It's been a long four days, she feels miserable and I know. I'm digging deep to be a promise keeper again. I cannot imagine my life without this girl, she who sleeps cuddled up against me at night.
There is a lot of change happening in my life right now. I am getting ready to move...the dream come true sort of move. I have hoped that my old girls would get a taste of living my dream. I wrestle with myself...over and over...not wanting to fail Ruby, or Snook for that matter, with extra days of pain on my behalf but not wanting to shorten their lives by one day if it is not time. How does a one know? I read about the dogs that get to spend the last days doing what they love before they cross the rainbow bridge. I know I have taken both my dogs past living those days.....Snook's back end won't allow her to work sheep and her pain won't allow her a truck ride while Ruby won't eat so Dairy Queen is out. I sit here, hugging her and petting her and whispering my sweet gratitude into her ear. This little neurotic, separation anxiety filled JRT who wormed her way into my heart, deep into the middle and filling up so much room. She has loved sick days....any warm body on the couch was her definition of the best of days. When Jake had knee surgery....she felt bad for him but was so happy for herself.....she has loved each and every couch day with any of her boys. She has chased my lawn mower with gusto and barked herself horse at me. She has thieved the garbage can under the sink so many nights that it is tied shut in her honor. She has welcomed in all of the dogs that have crossed my threshold, tolerated some and embraced others. I know there are days before Ruby, but I don't remember them as vivid as the days since she came into this world....my little Bat Girl.
Change is coming....some of it so amazing I'm left breathless but I tread slowly hitting the pause button for just a few more days with one of my best friends.
Seize the day.
Tuesday, June 2, 2015
Even More - 5
Life lesson five could be the title to a song...oh wait, it is!
LIFE LESSON FIVE: LOVE THE ONE YOU'RE WITH
It is that age-old habit of wishing for a different dog; a better and more talented dog. This lesson holds hands with lesson three of "looking in the mirror" because I can't separate the two. But then all these lessons seemed to be knitted together in a way that, removing one chink, the whole masterpiece unravels.
I've been reading books about "mindful living" these days......working at living in the moment of right now and being whole-heartedly and whole-mindedly right in this very moment. On the one hand, it is wrestling the biggest dragon, taming my mind to be calm and not race around to what I've done and what needs doing. On the other hand, it is as easy as jumping off a cliff and relaxing into what is. Back in the day of training up my Snook, she would have benefitted from some of this mindful living. It would have allowed me to see her for what she was instead of what I thought I desperately wanted her to be.
I think back to that one clinic where the sheep were running hard into a draw. I kept opening Snook up on her flank, in my mind, thinking the sheep might slow down and Snook could catch them. Snook never did and I was pretty bummed at her. A very good friend came over and talked to me....we talked about the sheep and the draw and why the sheep were running into the draw. It really did not have anything to do with Snook and opening her up allowed the sheep to really run uninhibited by no contact from my dog. Truth be told, I could not hear my good and honest friend that day at the clinic. Pride and Ego have stumbled me on my path many a time. Today, I can look back at this mind video and see so much of the good in my dog. There are days when Snook's whole-hearted commitment to me amazes me. She was trying so hard to do all that I wanted her to do.....every dog since reaps the reward of this lesson learned years later while Snook lays at my feet while I type our story.
Today I am thankful I started my journey with this red-headed rescue dog. Had I started with a naturally talented winner, I might not be who am I today. Who am I kidding? I would be ego filled, boastful maniac if I had started with a "WINNER". I do know that I have to die to "I wish I had THAT dog" syndrome that comes into my mind at trials and clinics on occasion. I believe it is human nature to think that something else, outside of myself, will bring me happiness....or that something I have now "makes" me unhappy. I see it lived out every day: a different spouse, a different job, more property, better sheep, weighing less, running a 10 minute mile; this list of "I would be happy if only" could go on and on and on. With this, I am not saying change is not good....it is just that the inside needs to be healthy for any change to be functional. Okay, that is pretty philosophical and deep for a blog but it's where I am at.
Patrick Shannahan once told me that "not every dog comes into your life to make you a winner, but every dog comes into your life to teach you something." I am sure I have paraphrased the heck out of this quote but I believe the sentiment remains. I lift my eyes from the lap top screen and look at my pack, each of them sleeping and waiting on me to see what adventures we will have today. I know some of the life-learning gifts they have given me and I know there are learning gifts yet to unwrap. I also know that in these last days of Snook, she continues to teach me about the nuances of growing old and unconditional love, being brave and a promise keeper.
I hear stories told of the dogs that might not be as talented as another dog, but they win big trials because of the partnership with their handler. That is what I am longing for....the relationship built on time, miles, trust, belief, work, and appreciation for the lessons to becoming more of me. This also brings me back to myself. I see pictures of those runners that run 6 minute miles and long for that in myself. There is no way I will be that girl...ever. No matter, I am still a runner. In all things: my dogs, my body, my relationships, my journey......Love The One You're With!
Seize the day.
LIFE LESSON FIVE: LOVE THE ONE YOU'RE WITH
It is that age-old habit of wishing for a different dog; a better and more talented dog. This lesson holds hands with lesson three of "looking in the mirror" because I can't separate the two. But then all these lessons seemed to be knitted together in a way that, removing one chink, the whole masterpiece unravels.
I've been reading books about "mindful living" these days......working at living in the moment of right now and being whole-heartedly and whole-mindedly right in this very moment. On the one hand, it is wrestling the biggest dragon, taming my mind to be calm and not race around to what I've done and what needs doing. On the other hand, it is as easy as jumping off a cliff and relaxing into what is. Back in the day of training up my Snook, she would have benefitted from some of this mindful living. It would have allowed me to see her for what she was instead of what I thought I desperately wanted her to be.
I think back to that one clinic where the sheep were running hard into a draw. I kept opening Snook up on her flank, in my mind, thinking the sheep might slow down and Snook could catch them. Snook never did and I was pretty bummed at her. A very good friend came over and talked to me....we talked about the sheep and the draw and why the sheep were running into the draw. It really did not have anything to do with Snook and opening her up allowed the sheep to really run uninhibited by no contact from my dog. Truth be told, I could not hear my good and honest friend that day at the clinic. Pride and Ego have stumbled me on my path many a time. Today, I can look back at this mind video and see so much of the good in my dog. There are days when Snook's whole-hearted commitment to me amazes me. She was trying so hard to do all that I wanted her to do.....every dog since reaps the reward of this lesson learned years later while Snook lays at my feet while I type our story.
Today I am thankful I started my journey with this red-headed rescue dog. Had I started with a naturally talented winner, I might not be who am I today. Who am I kidding? I would be ego filled, boastful maniac if I had started with a "WINNER". I do know that I have to die to "I wish I had THAT dog" syndrome that comes into my mind at trials and clinics on occasion. I believe it is human nature to think that something else, outside of myself, will bring me happiness....or that something I have now "makes" me unhappy. I see it lived out every day: a different spouse, a different job, more property, better sheep, weighing less, running a 10 minute mile; this list of "I would be happy if only" could go on and on and on. With this, I am not saying change is not good....it is just that the inside needs to be healthy for any change to be functional. Okay, that is pretty philosophical and deep for a blog but it's where I am at.
Patrick Shannahan once told me that "not every dog comes into your life to make you a winner, but every dog comes into your life to teach you something." I am sure I have paraphrased the heck out of this quote but I believe the sentiment remains. I lift my eyes from the lap top screen and look at my pack, each of them sleeping and waiting on me to see what adventures we will have today. I know some of the life-learning gifts they have given me and I know there are learning gifts yet to unwrap. I also know that in these last days of Snook, she continues to teach me about the nuances of growing old and unconditional love, being brave and a promise keeper.
I hear stories told of the dogs that might not be as talented as another dog, but they win big trials because of the partnership with their handler. That is what I am longing for....the relationship built on time, miles, trust, belief, work, and appreciation for the lessons to becoming more of me. This also brings me back to myself. I see pictures of those runners that run 6 minute miles and long for that in myself. There is no way I will be that girl...ever. No matter, I am still a runner. In all things: my dogs, my body, my relationships, my journey......Love The One You're With!
Seize the day.
Sunday, May 31, 2015
FOUR!!
I come from a long line of grudge holders; my Granny being the best one I know, next to my father but those are stories for another time. I remember her frustration as a great grandchild of hers would not eat dinner but instead snuck out to the strawberry patch to feast on the abundant, sweet, red fruit from Heaven. My Granny spoke of that incident, with the ill behaved three year old, all the way to the end of her life....when the child was, at least, 20. I did a few things in my life that really pissed Granny off good and long. My Gramps would try to smooth her feathers but my Granny always held her ground....grudge included.
LIFE LESSON FOUR: WHEN YOU HOLD A GRUDGE YOU MISS OUT ON A FEW ADVENTURES
Snook was, and is, a serious grudge holder. In fact, I believe her ability to hold a grudge surpasses my Granny's abilities. Being a rescue dog, I have no idea what happened in Snook's formidable months but she came to me hating yelling (lesson 3) and abhorring yelling men. One of the first sheepdog trainers Snook and I went to was a yeller. I'm not sure he realized how much he yelled, or that anyone, dog or person, perceived him as yelling....but Snook did. She detested him and it got to the point where, if he ran before me at a trial, I would have to sit in the truck until he left the post to exhaust. During my mad dash to the post, I would pray that the exhaust would go well, because if he yelled at his dog, Snook would go back to the truck. I would bring her back out and attempt to run her, but she would never run well. It was much like a thunder phobic dog, the thunder storm had passed but the tension in the air was palpable.
Snook did not like growling men either. One of my friends was quiet as a church mouse but he could do a mean growl at his dog...and his student's dog for that matter. He set sheep for a big trial that Snook and I participated in one year. The sheep were tough to set with a huge draw back to the set out pens and a little less draw to the exhaust. I sent Snook on a big, beautiful outrun, while my friend growled at his dog at the set. Snook got to the top, stopped and radioed down to me that her big bad growling enemy was setting sheep. I whistled her on to walk up. She radioed back down that I did not understand the severity of the situation. In typical Snook fashion, she gave me the doggie finger and kept coming around, all the way back to the post. She sat by my feet, looked up at me and pretty much told me to go get the sheep myself. That was my last big field sheepdog trial with Snook.
I came to the conclusion that neither of us were having very much fun. Possibly, I could have worked Snook through her fear or yelling and growling men. Instead, I graduated Snook to "front seat ride along dog" and every now and then we would volunteer to exhaust. I'd run her at my yearly arena trial, where I could be right there with her and the sheep were tame and light. And there would be the occasional days I would leave her home; not enough room for the luggage and an extra dog on the longer weekend trips.
I think about my ability to hold a grudge and wonder about nature versus nurture. Wether is has been genetically coded in my DNA strand or passed on by example, grudge holding has been one area I have been working on letting go. I read inspiration that when I hold a grudge, the only person it hurts is me. I also know my grudge can be based on a perspective; which may or may not be reality.
I ponder my training up of my dogs and see how there are days I hold a grudge in that realm of my life too. The dog who used to be full of tension, that lingers in my mind as I train her and when I see her fall back into an old pattern, I can snap. My mentor reminds me, she has changed and the slip can be dealt with in a more functional way if I can let go of my grudge against the old her.
All these Snook lessons tie together, applying to all aspects of my life. Mindful living....living what is here, right now and finding gratitude. Though a grudge holder, I believe Snook does a great job of living in the here and now. As she lays at my feet, I'm pretty sure she does not worry about the yelling, growling men of her past or wonder if there will be more in her future. Although, to be very honest, I bet she would still be holding a grudge if we went to a trial and the yelling started.
The good news is, I still love her even through her imperfections....and that is freeing indeed.
Seize the Day!
LIFE LESSON FOUR: WHEN YOU HOLD A GRUDGE YOU MISS OUT ON A FEW ADVENTURES
Snook was, and is, a serious grudge holder. In fact, I believe her ability to hold a grudge surpasses my Granny's abilities. Being a rescue dog, I have no idea what happened in Snook's formidable months but she came to me hating yelling (lesson 3) and abhorring yelling men. One of the first sheepdog trainers Snook and I went to was a yeller. I'm not sure he realized how much he yelled, or that anyone, dog or person, perceived him as yelling....but Snook did. She detested him and it got to the point where, if he ran before me at a trial, I would have to sit in the truck until he left the post to exhaust. During my mad dash to the post, I would pray that the exhaust would go well, because if he yelled at his dog, Snook would go back to the truck. I would bring her back out and attempt to run her, but she would never run well. It was much like a thunder phobic dog, the thunder storm had passed but the tension in the air was palpable.
Snook did not like growling men either. One of my friends was quiet as a church mouse but he could do a mean growl at his dog...and his student's dog for that matter. He set sheep for a big trial that Snook and I participated in one year. The sheep were tough to set with a huge draw back to the set out pens and a little less draw to the exhaust. I sent Snook on a big, beautiful outrun, while my friend growled at his dog at the set. Snook got to the top, stopped and radioed down to me that her big bad growling enemy was setting sheep. I whistled her on to walk up. She radioed back down that I did not understand the severity of the situation. In typical Snook fashion, she gave me the doggie finger and kept coming around, all the way back to the post. She sat by my feet, looked up at me and pretty much told me to go get the sheep myself. That was my last big field sheepdog trial with Snook.
I came to the conclusion that neither of us were having very much fun. Possibly, I could have worked Snook through her fear or yelling and growling men. Instead, I graduated Snook to "front seat ride along dog" and every now and then we would volunteer to exhaust. I'd run her at my yearly arena trial, where I could be right there with her and the sheep were tame and light. And there would be the occasional days I would leave her home; not enough room for the luggage and an extra dog on the longer weekend trips.
I think about my ability to hold a grudge and wonder about nature versus nurture. Wether is has been genetically coded in my DNA strand or passed on by example, grudge holding has been one area I have been working on letting go. I read inspiration that when I hold a grudge, the only person it hurts is me. I also know my grudge can be based on a perspective; which may or may not be reality.
I ponder my training up of my dogs and see how there are days I hold a grudge in that realm of my life too. The dog who used to be full of tension, that lingers in my mind as I train her and when I see her fall back into an old pattern, I can snap. My mentor reminds me, she has changed and the slip can be dealt with in a more functional way if I can let go of my grudge against the old her.
All these Snook lessons tie together, applying to all aspects of my life. Mindful living....living what is here, right now and finding gratitude. Though a grudge holder, I believe Snook does a great job of living in the here and now. As she lays at my feet, I'm pretty sure she does not worry about the yelling, growling men of her past or wonder if there will be more in her future. Although, to be very honest, I bet she would still be holding a grudge if we went to a trial and the yelling started.
The good news is, I still love her even through her imperfections....and that is freeing indeed.
Seize the Day!
Friday, May 29, 2015
Lesson Three
I've wrestled with myself on what I should call this lesson: "no one likes a yeller" "who wants to work for mad?" "try a little self control, baybay!" I'm still struggling.....
This memory is etched into my mind and comes from the days when I had an all breed trainer teaching lessons at my slice of Heaven. I would get to my place early and move the sheep around, dividing them into little groups and putting them in pens for the day's lessons. After a few months of this...the sheep absolutely knew which day was terror Tuesday and they did not want any part of the moving and separating. My 5 acre field feeds into a 300 foot long alley way where I had set up pens under the line of big shady trees.
It was lesson day, so I grabbed Snook to gather the field and that is where things started to go wrong. The sheep did not want to move towards the gate feeding the alley and I was under the gun. Lessons would start soon and I needed to be ready. I was so frustrated and my voice began to show my feelings....clearly. I heard my main gate rattle and looked up to see my husband had arrived, dropping off something I had forgotten before heading to work. Snook looked up and saw him too. At that moment she decided she was done with me. I was frustrated and yelling at her and she would just rather go home for the day. She took off running, jumping five foot fences and climbing gates all the way up to my husbands car. She slipped through the open gate and loaded herself in through his open door. Me, well I walked the walk of shame......covering 10 acres to go fetch my one and only work dog from my husband's rig. He did not even have to ask what happened.
I was thankful for the gates and fields I had to walk through to get to my dog...it allowed me time to cool off and realize that if I were going to get anything done, I absolutely needed Snook. I took a deep breath and grabbed a grain bucket as I headed back to the field to accomplish the tasks for the day ahead. Nobody wants to work for anybody that yells and demeans and shames.
LIFE LESSON THREE: WHEN FRUSTRATED....LOOK IN THE MIRROR FIRST.
I think most of the time things went wrong with Snook, I could look at myself and see how it was my preconceived ideas of how "it should be done" that started the whole situation down a slippery slope of not getting anything done. There is that one time a ewe went to take Snook out and I yelled at the sheep....that ended up poorly as Snook had no idea who I was yelling at and only knew I was mad. I had to go to the truck and talk her out on that day as well. Now some people will say they would never keep a "quitter and a sulker" but I am thankful today that Snook was both. She taught me so much about self control, emotional control and looking in the mirror at me before I got mad at anyone else in the picture.
Life lesson #3 is one that I keep learning over and over, to varying degrees with each of my dogs. Thankfully I am getting better and seeing my part in a frustrating moment quicker....not always before it comes out in my voice or mannerisms but quicker. As I struggle with this life lesson it reminds me to give my dogs patience and they work through theirs.
Seize the Day!!
This memory is etched into my mind and comes from the days when I had an all breed trainer teaching lessons at my slice of Heaven. I would get to my place early and move the sheep around, dividing them into little groups and putting them in pens for the day's lessons. After a few months of this...the sheep absolutely knew which day was terror Tuesday and they did not want any part of the moving and separating. My 5 acre field feeds into a 300 foot long alley way where I had set up pens under the line of big shady trees.
It was lesson day, so I grabbed Snook to gather the field and that is where things started to go wrong. The sheep did not want to move towards the gate feeding the alley and I was under the gun. Lessons would start soon and I needed to be ready. I was so frustrated and my voice began to show my feelings....clearly. I heard my main gate rattle and looked up to see my husband had arrived, dropping off something I had forgotten before heading to work. Snook looked up and saw him too. At that moment she decided she was done with me. I was frustrated and yelling at her and she would just rather go home for the day. She took off running, jumping five foot fences and climbing gates all the way up to my husbands car. She slipped through the open gate and loaded herself in through his open door. Me, well I walked the walk of shame......covering 10 acres to go fetch my one and only work dog from my husband's rig. He did not even have to ask what happened.
I was thankful for the gates and fields I had to walk through to get to my dog...it allowed me time to cool off and realize that if I were going to get anything done, I absolutely needed Snook. I took a deep breath and grabbed a grain bucket as I headed back to the field to accomplish the tasks for the day ahead. Nobody wants to work for anybody that yells and demeans and shames.
LIFE LESSON THREE: WHEN FRUSTRATED....LOOK IN THE MIRROR FIRST.
I think most of the time things went wrong with Snook, I could look at myself and see how it was my preconceived ideas of how "it should be done" that started the whole situation down a slippery slope of not getting anything done. There is that one time a ewe went to take Snook out and I yelled at the sheep....that ended up poorly as Snook had no idea who I was yelling at and only knew I was mad. I had to go to the truck and talk her out on that day as well. Now some people will say they would never keep a "quitter and a sulker" but I am thankful today that Snook was both. She taught me so much about self control, emotional control and looking in the mirror at me before I got mad at anyone else in the picture.
Life lesson #3 is one that I keep learning over and over, to varying degrees with each of my dogs. Thankfully I am getting better and seeing my part in a frustrating moment quicker....not always before it comes out in my voice or mannerisms but quicker. As I struggle with this life lesson it reminds me to give my dogs patience and they work through theirs.
Seize the Day!!
Monday, May 25, 2015
More Lessons
Last night, for the first time, I carried Snook up the stairs to sleep on her bed next to mine. She had made it about a quarter of the way up before her back end gave out and she could not figure out how to get anywhere else. She waited for me, patiently and with no complaint. I laid on her bed with her, remembering.......
LIFE LESSON TWO: GIVE ALL THINGS TIME
I might have learned this lesson with Snook although ever new-to-me dogs reinforce this; deepens and mellows the idea of taking time like a good Scotch or Bourbon. Me, the ever perfectionist, coming from the world of agility where practicing wrong makes for wrong muscle memory. I've always been that trainer who wants to "fix" every wrong which allows no room for the dog to figure it out.
I'm decluttering my house right now, which is taking forever because I stumble upon old pictures, old score sheets, notes taken from clinics gone bye. Jack Knox once told me, "just because Nell is wrong does not mean what she is doing is bad." Poor Snook lived her life being cleaned up and, well, basically told what to do by someone who was not as well qualified to read the sheep as she was. Back in my Snook training days, I never thought about sheep or the difference in sheep at each trail. i never thought much about terrain or grass or set out people and their dogs, or even horses for that matter. I did not realize what experience brought to the relationship or how confidence on the trial field could be cultivated with help and partnership and trust. Giving all things time.....allows for learning.
As I laid with my Snook last night, stroking her thick old dog coat and whispering in her ear, I thanked her for this lesson of "giving time". I used to wonder how much better Snook could have been had she not been my first dog sacrificial lamb: the dog I made so many mistakes with. Today I know that there is always a first dog.....and I'm grateful mine was Snook.
Seize the Day!!!!
LIFE LESSON TWO: GIVE ALL THINGS TIME
I might have learned this lesson with Snook although ever new-to-me dogs reinforce this; deepens and mellows the idea of taking time like a good Scotch or Bourbon. Me, the ever perfectionist, coming from the world of agility where practicing wrong makes for wrong muscle memory. I've always been that trainer who wants to "fix" every wrong which allows no room for the dog to figure it out.
I'm decluttering my house right now, which is taking forever because I stumble upon old pictures, old score sheets, notes taken from clinics gone bye. Jack Knox once told me, "just because Nell is wrong does not mean what she is doing is bad." Poor Snook lived her life being cleaned up and, well, basically told what to do by someone who was not as well qualified to read the sheep as she was. Back in my Snook training days, I never thought about sheep or the difference in sheep at each trail. i never thought much about terrain or grass or set out people and their dogs, or even horses for that matter. I did not realize what experience brought to the relationship or how confidence on the trial field could be cultivated with help and partnership and trust. Giving all things time.....allows for learning.
As I laid with my Snook last night, stroking her thick old dog coat and whispering in her ear, I thanked her for this lesson of "giving time". I used to wonder how much better Snook could have been had she not been my first dog sacrificial lamb: the dog I made so many mistakes with. Today I know that there is always a first dog.....and I'm grateful mine was Snook.
 |
| Snook's first AHBA trial 2005 |
Sunday, May 17, 2015
My Teacher, My First Dog
My Snook dog is getting old. Her body is wasting and she does not get around like she used to. Some days I have to give her a boost to get her back legs under her so she can get around. I know I am living out her last days and I pray I'll know when she is ready. I'm finding creative ways to spend quality time with my best friend.
As I think over the past 12 years, I've begun to make a list of all that she has taught me. She was my first border collie; one I trained from start to finish...all the good points and mistakes are mine. She came into my life from a lady who rescued border collies. The big rescues not willing to let me adopt any of their dogs because I had Jack Russell Terriers and I was assured that was not a good mix. I was looking for a border collie to run in agility for my eldest son as my youngest son had been given one from a good friend. I drove the 6+ hours to George, Washington and when I met Snook, I knew I was taking her home.
10 months old, long legged, lanky red dog; I had no idea how she would change me life. Her story goes: a farmer had taken her and she kept running away from home. She was sent back to the breeder, who was sick, and so Snook was relinquished into rescue. She came to me afraid of men, afraid of loud noises, afraid yelling, afraid to pee or pooh anywhere but my back yard. My dreams for her to be a high drive, kick ass agility dog slowly melted as the teeter bang sent her into frenzied panic all the while she could not remember where her feet where and she tumbled off the dog walk.
LIFE LESSON ONE: FIND WHAT YOU ARE PASSIONATE ABOUT AND DO IT!
After months of frustration working with different agility trainers to see if I could work through her fear issues and make her love agility, I called a dog behaviorist. She told me something along the lines of, "You have an agenda for you dog that might not be your dog's agenda." I hung up wondering what that could mean......Snook has an agenda? A few of my friends suggested I take her out to a local sheep farm and have the trainer put her on sheep. Maybe tapping into her instinctual side would help her with her fears. I was still nursing my agenda as I headed out to the sheep lesson; get Snook over her fears and into the agility ring....where we would be kick ass and awesome.
I made my sheep appointment and drove 45 minutes to the sheep ranch nervous and anxious but hopeful. That one day with Snook in the round pen and a bunch of sheep changed my life. Her first turn in, she would not work for the instructor so I had to take her in and she would barely follow me around. She was so afraid of the unfamiliar. My next time in, the instructor told me to chase the sheep around myself....and bam.....that little smallest of small lights ignited into a small flame and Snook was bending around to bring me sheep. I left my lesson knowing I have found something amazing.
Over the coming years, Snook and I dabbled in agility...she loved tunnels and jumpers with me running to try and keep up with her. But her days on sheep were what she lived for. She had found what she was passionate about and was sharing that passion with me. Her fears faded and our relationship grew stronger.
I think about what growing up was like for me......square peg trying to squeeze into round holes. I tried ballet as a young girl, then gymnastics....I too fell off the balance beam like my long legged, big boned, red dog's dog walk attempts. I was not talented and gifted at piano nor painting. I've spent a life time finding my passions and even then I work at letting go of expectation. I run but I am not fast. I've been raised and possibly genetically coded to believe that when I do anything, I want to do it well. My years have taught me that "well" is defined as my best and not compared to others. I arm wrestle with competition.....it is so hard to no compare: runs, dogs, scores, times, sizes, styles. I make conscious efforts to let go of comparison regularly.
Life lesson #1.....live my passion.....get caught up in experiencing each and every step of living a passionate life; m best passionate life. I remind myself of this daily, hourly, minutely, hoping that one day it will be my muscle memory.
Seize the Day!
As I think over the past 12 years, I've begun to make a list of all that she has taught me. She was my first border collie; one I trained from start to finish...all the good points and mistakes are mine. She came into my life from a lady who rescued border collies. The big rescues not willing to let me adopt any of their dogs because I had Jack Russell Terriers and I was assured that was not a good mix. I was looking for a border collie to run in agility for my eldest son as my youngest son had been given one from a good friend. I drove the 6+ hours to George, Washington and when I met Snook, I knew I was taking her home.
10 months old, long legged, lanky red dog; I had no idea how she would change me life. Her story goes: a farmer had taken her and she kept running away from home. She was sent back to the breeder, who was sick, and so Snook was relinquished into rescue. She came to me afraid of men, afraid of loud noises, afraid yelling, afraid to pee or pooh anywhere but my back yard. My dreams for her to be a high drive, kick ass agility dog slowly melted as the teeter bang sent her into frenzied panic all the while she could not remember where her feet where and she tumbled off the dog walk.
LIFE LESSON ONE: FIND WHAT YOU ARE PASSIONATE ABOUT AND DO IT!
After months of frustration working with different agility trainers to see if I could work through her fear issues and make her love agility, I called a dog behaviorist. She told me something along the lines of, "You have an agenda for you dog that might not be your dog's agenda." I hung up wondering what that could mean......Snook has an agenda? A few of my friends suggested I take her out to a local sheep farm and have the trainer put her on sheep. Maybe tapping into her instinctual side would help her with her fears. I was still nursing my agenda as I headed out to the sheep lesson; get Snook over her fears and into the agility ring....where we would be kick ass and awesome.
I made my sheep appointment and drove 45 minutes to the sheep ranch nervous and anxious but hopeful. That one day with Snook in the round pen and a bunch of sheep changed my life. Her first turn in, she would not work for the instructor so I had to take her in and she would barely follow me around. She was so afraid of the unfamiliar. My next time in, the instructor told me to chase the sheep around myself....and bam.....that little smallest of small lights ignited into a small flame and Snook was bending around to bring me sheep. I left my lesson knowing I have found something amazing.
Over the coming years, Snook and I dabbled in agility...she loved tunnels and jumpers with me running to try and keep up with her. But her days on sheep were what she lived for. She had found what she was passionate about and was sharing that passion with me. Her fears faded and our relationship grew stronger.
I think about what growing up was like for me......square peg trying to squeeze into round holes. I tried ballet as a young girl, then gymnastics....I too fell off the balance beam like my long legged, big boned, red dog's dog walk attempts. I was not talented and gifted at piano nor painting. I've spent a life time finding my passions and even then I work at letting go of expectation. I run but I am not fast. I've been raised and possibly genetically coded to believe that when I do anything, I want to do it well. My years have taught me that "well" is defined as my best and not compared to others. I arm wrestle with competition.....it is so hard to no compare: runs, dogs, scores, times, sizes, styles. I make conscious efforts to let go of comparison regularly.
Life lesson #1.....live my passion.....get caught up in experiencing each and every step of living a passionate life; m best passionate life. I remind myself of this daily, hourly, minutely, hoping that one day it will be my muscle memory.
Seize the Day!
Sunday, April 19, 2015
"More Than One Way to Skin a Cat"
That has been a favorite quote of mine for quite some time. It pretty much sums up life and reminds me to be open minded...or at the least, try to be!
I've been bringing in heavy bred ewes from the field to overnight in the lambing barn. During the ewe's day out on the pasture, many have lambed while others are trying to. At the end of the day, the goal is to have all the sheep in the barn; mama's and their babies, lambing ewes, and heavy bred ewes. Each person I work with has their own idea of how the task should get accomplished. Some like to take out the four wheeler and trailer and bring in the new lambs and their mamas first. While others like to bring in the heavies and leave the mamas and babies for last. Some like to bring a laboring ewe into the barn for the pull work, while others catch her up in the field and sort it in the wide open. Some of the workers have dogs, some have good dogs, some have none......this changes each person's perspective on how a job should look.
I'm working on "paying attention" and seeing how each person creatively gets the job done. At the end of the day......"there is more than one way to skin a cat." On some days, even my way does not work as it should and I have to be open to trying a new and different way to get the job done. I guess that is what I am enjoying most about my dip into the work force.....little ideas that I take home and sort with my dogs.
Now I need to teach Bella and Nell to ride on a four wheeler.
Seize the Day.
I've been bringing in heavy bred ewes from the field to overnight in the lambing barn. During the ewe's day out on the pasture, many have lambed while others are trying to. At the end of the day, the goal is to have all the sheep in the barn; mama's and their babies, lambing ewes, and heavy bred ewes. Each person I work with has their own idea of how the task should get accomplished. Some like to take out the four wheeler and trailer and bring in the new lambs and their mamas first. While others like to bring in the heavies and leave the mamas and babies for last. Some like to bring a laboring ewe into the barn for the pull work, while others catch her up in the field and sort it in the wide open. Some of the workers have dogs, some have good dogs, some have none......this changes each person's perspective on how a job should look.
I'm working on "paying attention" and seeing how each person creatively gets the job done. At the end of the day......"there is more than one way to skin a cat." On some days, even my way does not work as it should and I have to be open to trying a new and different way to get the job done. I guess that is what I am enjoying most about my dip into the work force.....little ideas that I take home and sort with my dogs.
Now I need to teach Bella and Nell to ride on a four wheeler.
Seize the Day.
Saturday, March 28, 2015
New Start
Sis is almost 15 months and I find myself doing things with her that I would never have done with a youngster in my past life. Maybe because I did not have any dog except Gyp at this age.....Nell, Bella and Dot came to me older. Maybe because I have the opportunities to do interesting real work now or maybe, and mostly likely, because I have changed over the years.
At the end of the day, it is fun watching Sis sort things out. I'm trying to listen with my eyes and hear what she is telling me. My goals for myself are to work on allowing Sis to grow up, to learn things for herself, to be of help when she needs it, and to trust the whole process. I believe those are Sis's goals for me too.
Seize the Day!
Monday, March 23, 2015
Lambing
Oh yes, my friend tells me "never and always are words reserved for God" and I believe Murphy sets out to prove us wrong with his Law. I'm so glad I've not stood on my soap box and said, "I am NEVER lambing again"......like I did few years back. I've told my friends, "I'm not lambing this year" and now here I am.....lambing.
I actually love lambing; using my nursing skills with lawyer-less patients that might not appreciate my help but really don't have a choice. I love bottle feeding babies although I never really had to use that skills as my bummers were rehomed to a good friend's farm every year. I can pull lambs and sort out tangled legs; I can tube lambs and insert paddles for prolapsing ewes. I owe a lot of my lambing skills to a fellow in eastern Oregon, who allowed me to come help him lamb years ago. I've attended three lambing schools at OSU which were held at ranches around the valley. I enjoyed seeing the different set-ups and learning to band lambs. Most of my experience has come from the school of hard knocks....the years I lambed at my place. I think my biggest issues came from over feeding and the big singles that resulted. But for the most part, I did not have to deal with ketosis or prolapse and my lambing seasons were successful.
I find myself lambing again year, and I'm loving it!
It's the best of both worlds for me....I get to lamb and it does not come with all the worry. I'm lambing for a friend.....I think there are 1500 ewes that will go through the barn at the end of the season; the first timers come in at the beginning of April. It's good fun for me.....and secretly I enjoy the bottle babies. I'm the Girl Friday....on call for the times a helping hand is needed. With a big operation I am learning to let go a little....all those things I cannot control do not allow for obsessing as the lambs keep coming.
Here's to the lambing of 2015! The perfect scratch to my itch.
Seize the day!
I actually love lambing; using my nursing skills with lawyer-less patients that might not appreciate my help but really don't have a choice. I love bottle feeding babies although I never really had to use that skills as my bummers were rehomed to a good friend's farm every year. I can pull lambs and sort out tangled legs; I can tube lambs and insert paddles for prolapsing ewes. I owe a lot of my lambing skills to a fellow in eastern Oregon, who allowed me to come help him lamb years ago. I've attended three lambing schools at OSU which were held at ranches around the valley. I enjoyed seeing the different set-ups and learning to band lambs. Most of my experience has come from the school of hard knocks....the years I lambed at my place. I think my biggest issues came from over feeding and the big singles that resulted. But for the most part, I did not have to deal with ketosis or prolapse and my lambing seasons were successful.
I find myself lambing again year, and I'm loving it!
It's the best of both worlds for me....I get to lamb and it does not come with all the worry. I'm lambing for a friend.....I think there are 1500 ewes that will go through the barn at the end of the season; the first timers come in at the beginning of April. It's good fun for me.....and secretly I enjoy the bottle babies. I'm the Girl Friday....on call for the times a helping hand is needed. With a big operation I am learning to let go a little....all those things I cannot control do not allow for obsessing as the lambs keep coming.
Here's to the lambing of 2015! The perfect scratch to my itch.
Seize the day!
Tuesday, March 10, 2015
Friendship.....a Small Detour
This came across my Facebook feed today.....very worthy of some brain action. I know I have already posted a billion times about my experience running my dog at the 2014 finals.....the inside job that has followed requiring some very extensive renovation; walls torn down, ceilings lifted, windows added. I've taken a break from "trialing" and clinics... I'm not certain how long that break will be at this time. I do know I need to take some time, how ever long, for the renovations I've mentioned.....finding my way to joy both inside and out.
I've been thinking a lot about "friendship" and how much I truly value and treasure those that are deep and meaningful. Friendships that might have started about the dogs and yet have evolved into being more about "relationship": accountability, authenticity, vulnerability. I've been working dogs, to some degree, for 10 years now.....and over those years I've met many great people, some of which have become "friends". I'm amazed, pretty much every day, how those "friends" are still beside me even while I'm taking a break from trialing and traveling. Those friends have found a way to be interested in my life, my family, my running, supporting my fundraising efforts for St. Jude as I approached my first half marathon.
I understand that sometimes, people come into my life for a reason or a season. I'm really thankful for those friendships as well. But it is those that stick with me, faults and all, that I'm celebrating today. Thank you for sharing in the hardships (both yours and mine), the successes (on and off the trial field). Thank you for holding me accountable, asking the hard questions, giving advice and allowing me the same. Thank you for knowing my good qualities tied with my less desirable qualities and loving me.
Today, on Marie Forleo, she asked each viewer to imagine what it would be like to be at the end of your life....what will you remember most, what will have been truly important...and then soldier on to create that. For me, I know there will be dog working days that make my heart swell and trial runs that amazed me in partnership and trust. There will be challenges that I sorted, both with the dogs and in myself, that in the sorting I became more of me. There will be trails I've run, inner demons I faced and conquered, times of digging deep with relentless passion, and other sweet moment of the ease in which my heart's desires just came to me. And smack dab in the middle of those memories....I will see my friends.....I am grateful.
Seize the Day!!!!
PS as the 2015 trial season begins......thank you for allowing me to live vicariously through you! You know who you are :)
Tuesday, February 24, 2015
These Are the Days of My Life
It feels like a life time ago, yet I remember vividly, driving to my grandparents house, my red border collie, Snook riding shotgun. Together we drove south on I-5, seeing field after field after field of sheep from Salem to south of Grants Pass. I fantasized about pulling the van over, tossing Snook onto the green grass field, sending her on a huge outrun and gathering all the sheep. I would then call her off, somehow get her back over the electric fence, put her back into the van and quickly leave the scene of the crime. Hopefully no one would see me (like that would happen right there on I-5) and if they did, they would think I was supposed to be working those sheep. I never wanted to tempt fate or the sheep owner's shot gun...I kept driving and dreaming.
Today, I remembered those thoughts and feelings as I lived out my driving daydreams....I pulled up to a field along I-5, grabbed my Bella, jumped the two string hot fence and drove a flock of lambs to the northwest side of the field. The sun was shining, the field was not muddy but instead it was nice soft green grass, and the lambs moved off my dog that was so happy to be working right there beside me.
My day had started early with a field gather of a flock of heavy bred dorset ewes that were headed back to lamb on the grass fields off the coast. Recently, I'd come to the conclusion that, out of habit and the knowledge that I could get it done, I always grab Bella when the sheep boss calls. I vowed to myself to work the other dogs: Gyp could use experience and Dot could use time and miles. I started the day with Gyp, who did well but I could tell she was very confused working along side a new to her dog and two humans besides me.
I moved to the next field.....this time it was a big field gather of long lambs that were to be loaded and hauled to another field so the wheat could begin to grow. I grabbed Nell out of the truck, she who has not worked for quiet a long time and was very, very full of herself. Stopping has never been her strong point and today, on tall, wet wheat fronds, and quick moving lambs, she assured me she could not understand a single whistle!
After moving the lambs with Bella, I decided to leave her in the truck for the rest of the day. She is starting to come into heat and that could bother the boy dog who was my partner in crime's right hand. Our last task of the day was a big order....moving the last of the heavy bred Dorset ewes, putting them in a big pen overnight for an early morning haul to their coastal homeland. I grabbed Gyp thinking a second chance would be in order...see if I could get better understanding and partnership with the length of the drive being long and challenging. As Gyp and I headed out to gather the field, I glanced to my left and there was Bella, coming along for the work. She had squeezed herself out the window that I left open so she could have air and was very proud of herself for knowing we might need her help. What's a girl to do? I worked Gyp and Bella brace....
I've told my sheep boss friend many times: I LOVE THIS WORK! Even the impossible moments steeped in major frustration are amazing and I always leave with a feeling of accomplishment. Today was no different......it was fabulous until it wasn't and then once we crossed the impossible creek....it was fabulous again. I learn something new every time I go out, especially on days like today where every field has different challenges.
I've changed a lot over the years of working for the sheep boss. In years gone by, I would get to a field, the boss would bring me a four wheeler and I would never feel like I needed to use it. Most times I would end up sending my dogs onto miles of outrun and sometimes leave sheep behind as they like to hide in trees and ditches lining the fields. Now, even if I do big outruns, I always go back over the field on the four wheeler and check to make sure I have gotten all the sheep. Today, when I found the heavy bred ewe who had cast herself and could not be made right, or the mama that wanted to go with the flock but kept turning on the dogs which made my friend and I look carefully to find the hidden new born lamb in the tall wheat, I was glad for the lessons I'd learned. Lessons of patience and observation and reading sheep.....those are priceless and, for me, only earned through the work.
There are days when I get very frustrated with the work. I still try to wrap my head around how a flock of 200-300 sheep can be pushed over a creek or a hot wire fence for that matter. Those are the times when my Kiwi friend would tell me I need a Huntaway. I want to yell and hoot and holler and run at the sheep...sicking my dog on them or getting a big long hot shot. I want to make them want to go over that creek! Silently, stealthily, my friend sneaks in, snags a new born lamb, and ba's to the mama...luring her over the creek all the while pulling the rest of the flock over as the tide ebbing off the shore line. I stand in wonder.....and think about the idea of "get" and ease. I still have so much to learn. Yes, these are the days of my life.......
Sieze the day!
Today, I remembered those thoughts and feelings as I lived out my driving daydreams....I pulled up to a field along I-5, grabbed my Bella, jumped the two string hot fence and drove a flock of lambs to the northwest side of the field. The sun was shining, the field was not muddy but instead it was nice soft green grass, and the lambs moved off my dog that was so happy to be working right there beside me.
My day had started early with a field gather of a flock of heavy bred dorset ewes that were headed back to lamb on the grass fields off the coast. Recently, I'd come to the conclusion that, out of habit and the knowledge that I could get it done, I always grab Bella when the sheep boss calls. I vowed to myself to work the other dogs: Gyp could use experience and Dot could use time and miles. I started the day with Gyp, who did well but I could tell she was very confused working along side a new to her dog and two humans besides me.
I moved to the next field.....this time it was a big field gather of long lambs that were to be loaded and hauled to another field so the wheat could begin to grow. I grabbed Nell out of the truck, she who has not worked for quiet a long time and was very, very full of herself. Stopping has never been her strong point and today, on tall, wet wheat fronds, and quick moving lambs, she assured me she could not understand a single whistle!
After moving the lambs with Bella, I decided to leave her in the truck for the rest of the day. She is starting to come into heat and that could bother the boy dog who was my partner in crime's right hand. Our last task of the day was a big order....moving the last of the heavy bred Dorset ewes, putting them in a big pen overnight for an early morning haul to their coastal homeland. I grabbed Gyp thinking a second chance would be in order...see if I could get better understanding and partnership with the length of the drive being long and challenging. As Gyp and I headed out to gather the field, I glanced to my left and there was Bella, coming along for the work. She had squeezed herself out the window that I left open so she could have air and was very proud of herself for knowing we might need her help. What's a girl to do? I worked Gyp and Bella brace....
I've told my sheep boss friend many times: I LOVE THIS WORK! Even the impossible moments steeped in major frustration are amazing and I always leave with a feeling of accomplishment. Today was no different......it was fabulous until it wasn't and then once we crossed the impossible creek....it was fabulous again. I learn something new every time I go out, especially on days like today where every field has different challenges.
I've changed a lot over the years of working for the sheep boss. In years gone by, I would get to a field, the boss would bring me a four wheeler and I would never feel like I needed to use it. Most times I would end up sending my dogs onto miles of outrun and sometimes leave sheep behind as they like to hide in trees and ditches lining the fields. Now, even if I do big outruns, I always go back over the field on the four wheeler and check to make sure I have gotten all the sheep. Today, when I found the heavy bred ewe who had cast herself and could not be made right, or the mama that wanted to go with the flock but kept turning on the dogs which made my friend and I look carefully to find the hidden new born lamb in the tall wheat, I was glad for the lessons I'd learned. Lessons of patience and observation and reading sheep.....those are priceless and, for me, only earned through the work.
There are days when I get very frustrated with the work. I still try to wrap my head around how a flock of 200-300 sheep can be pushed over a creek or a hot wire fence for that matter. Those are the times when my Kiwi friend would tell me I need a Huntaway. I want to yell and hoot and holler and run at the sheep...sicking my dog on them or getting a big long hot shot. I want to make them want to go over that creek! Silently, stealthily, my friend sneaks in, snags a new born lamb, and ba's to the mama...luring her over the creek all the while pulling the rest of the flock over as the tide ebbing off the shore line. I stand in wonder.....and think about the idea of "get" and ease. I still have so much to learn. Yes, these are the days of my life.......
Sieze the day!
Friday, February 20, 2015
Sorting Chapter 3
I just got home from a JK clinic...he was hosted down in Hopland and I took advantage of the opportunity to get some insight on Dot. Dot's mama comes from his lines plus he has her sister; I was hopeful he could add some insight and direction for me with Dot.
The first day out, Ms. Dot looked "good" while she was worked.....still wrongs to be corrected but not THE wrong I was looking to show. Dot has a little habit of walking on to sheep and when they start to move, she likes to slide off.....even the slightest of slides has had sheep turning back on her and the forward, that was so hard earned, is lost. At the end of the first day, I admit I was a little bummed that MY issue had not been under the spotlight......Dot was holding out on me.
The second day was just about darn near perfect! The dog before Dot had a little bit of trouble on the sheep and set Dot up perfect. I almost jumped up and down with glee when Dot did her Dot Thing and started the forward motion of the sheep..... then did a tiny slide. Jack, ever the dog observer, saw and the sorting began! Here is what I learned about Dot: She likes to use her body to move sheep. There I have it......I need to help her use her eye and keep her from using her body habit.
After three days of a clinic, three days of seeing and talking and learning......I came home yesterday and moved sheep with Dot. It was darn right amazing to see Dot begin to understand and apply what she had learned from her JK clinic experience. And I bet if you read her blog she would tell you....how bloody excited she was to see me applying all that I had learned from three days of a JK clinic as well!
The sorting continues......
Seize the Day!
The first day out, Ms. Dot looked "good" while she was worked.....still wrongs to be corrected but not THE wrong I was looking to show. Dot has a little habit of walking on to sheep and when they start to move, she likes to slide off.....even the slightest of slides has had sheep turning back on her and the forward, that was so hard earned, is lost. At the end of the first day, I admit I was a little bummed that MY issue had not been under the spotlight......Dot was holding out on me.
The second day was just about darn near perfect! The dog before Dot had a little bit of trouble on the sheep and set Dot up perfect. I almost jumped up and down with glee when Dot did her Dot Thing and started the forward motion of the sheep..... then did a tiny slide. Jack, ever the dog observer, saw and the sorting began! Here is what I learned about Dot: She likes to use her body to move sheep. There I have it......I need to help her use her eye and keep her from using her body habit.
After three days of a clinic, three days of seeing and talking and learning......I came home yesterday and moved sheep with Dot. It was darn right amazing to see Dot begin to understand and apply what she had learned from her JK clinic experience. And I bet if you read her blog she would tell you....how bloody excited she was to see me applying all that I had learned from three days of a JK clinic as well!
The sorting continues......
Seize the Day!
Sunday, January 25, 2015
Sorting Chapter 2
After attempting to drive the mob of lambs with Dot, I realized we were missing some understanding between the two of us. Sustained push in my "right there" command was not happening, at least not with any authority. One half of a side step by Dot had lambs rolling over to have a look, sorting her out and seeing if she meant anything. I put a long line on her to help her understand staying in the pressure and we got the job done. Sorting out the experience on the way home had me wondering, was it the difficulty of lambs, the lack of understanding push on a bigger mob, the mixed flock of lambs included bummers and of course lambs are curious regardless of their upbringing.
The past few weeks, I've been mixing things up at my place; giving Dot different groups of sheep to see how she fairs. Interesting note, at home, some of the lambs give her trouble too. There are days where she looks great, has understanding and is becoming a valuable chore dog. I keep working on my corrections, trying to stay calm and supportive with them. We are both works in progress.
When I got a call to help with tagging, I felt like I was headed to Disneyland again...well without the crowd that is! The morning started early with Bella gathering the field. She has not worked for a few weeks and as I got to the back of the flock to begin the push to the barns, Bella, always the head hunter, got away from me. There are times I wish I could sit with her and have a morning cup of coffee and explain the day. "Bella, today we are bringing a flock of yearlings from a big field to the barn to be tagged. When they are headed to the barn, they are not getting away, they will be going where they are supposed to go, even though I'm on a quad behind them. Got it?" Bella cracks me up, and it's easy enough to get a hold of her and bring her back to the job at hand......it's great practice for me to laugh and enjoy my dog in her imperfections. I'm getting better!
Once the sheep were penned, I planned on spending the day feeding the alleys to the shearers tagging. A dog really is not needed for this task and it's a great way to get fitbit steps and use muscles I've not worked in a while wrangling backwards sheep and attempting to lift and open heavy gates. My shepherd friend suggested it would be a good job for Dot. I jumped at the offer and thus began the sorting of Dot and holding pressure part 2; another opportunity to show her what she can do.
I'm not sure why all the fellows laughed when I pulled Dot out of the truck. The sheep boss said, "Oh she's pretty!" chuckle chuckle. Perhaps it was all the super clean white and beautiful thick coat ...I dont' know.
In the beginning, it was tough going.....I had to get a little help from my friends to get the final push of the last 100 ewes into the third waiting area. I just could not get Dot to hold the push on the more confident ewes and the pen was to big for me to cover my end and help her with her side. After the holding areas were filled, Dot and I moved into the sweep pen, and the work began....up close and personal, I was able to send Dot to push and move over to help her if she got a little lost in the job. As the day unfolded, I saw Dot begin to understand and become more and more confident in her job. It was not perfect, we had things go wrong but more went right and, together we were able to get the job done. By the middle of the day, Dot was working for anybody filling the chutes.
I'm looking forward to working Dot at home to see what she processed during her day of pen work. If nothing else, I learned that Dot can get it done and is trusting in our relationship. I really don't care if Dot ever makes it to the trail field, but I would love to see her be comfortable in the real work. She has come so far, and every time we go out, I see her growing and learning and becoming more confident. Where Bella is an onion, Dot is a Rubix's Cube....moving little pieces to get the colors right with each turn affecting the end result. There are times it feels like we go backwards to get the colors aligned but the big picture is still where we are headed. And so, we continue the sorting, Miss Dot and me.
Seize the Day!!!
The past few weeks, I've been mixing things up at my place; giving Dot different groups of sheep to see how she fairs. Interesting note, at home, some of the lambs give her trouble too. There are days where she looks great, has understanding and is becoming a valuable chore dog. I keep working on my corrections, trying to stay calm and supportive with them. We are both works in progress.
When I got a call to help with tagging, I felt like I was headed to Disneyland again...well without the crowd that is! The morning started early with Bella gathering the field. She has not worked for a few weeks and as I got to the back of the flock to begin the push to the barns, Bella, always the head hunter, got away from me. There are times I wish I could sit with her and have a morning cup of coffee and explain the day. "Bella, today we are bringing a flock of yearlings from a big field to the barn to be tagged. When they are headed to the barn, they are not getting away, they will be going where they are supposed to go, even though I'm on a quad behind them. Got it?" Bella cracks me up, and it's easy enough to get a hold of her and bring her back to the job at hand......it's great practice for me to laugh and enjoy my dog in her imperfections. I'm getting better!
Once the sheep were penned, I planned on spending the day feeding the alleys to the shearers tagging. A dog really is not needed for this task and it's a great way to get fitbit steps and use muscles I've not worked in a while wrangling backwards sheep and attempting to lift and open heavy gates. My shepherd friend suggested it would be a good job for Dot. I jumped at the offer and thus began the sorting of Dot and holding pressure part 2; another opportunity to show her what she can do.
I'm not sure why all the fellows laughed when I pulled Dot out of the truck. The sheep boss said, "Oh she's pretty!" chuckle chuckle. Perhaps it was all the super clean white and beautiful thick coat ...I dont' know.
In the beginning, it was tough going.....I had to get a little help from my friends to get the final push of the last 100 ewes into the third waiting area. I just could not get Dot to hold the push on the more confident ewes and the pen was to big for me to cover my end and help her with her side. After the holding areas were filled, Dot and I moved into the sweep pen, and the work began....up close and personal, I was able to send Dot to push and move over to help her if she got a little lost in the job. As the day unfolded, I saw Dot begin to understand and become more and more confident in her job. It was not perfect, we had things go wrong but more went right and, together we were able to get the job done. By the middle of the day, Dot was working for anybody filling the chutes.
I'm looking forward to working Dot at home to see what she processed during her day of pen work. If nothing else, I learned that Dot can get it done and is trusting in our relationship. I really don't care if Dot ever makes it to the trail field, but I would love to see her be comfortable in the real work. She has come so far, and every time we go out, I see her growing and learning and becoming more confident. Where Bella is an onion, Dot is a Rubix's Cube....moving little pieces to get the colors right with each turn affecting the end result. There are times it feels like we go backwards to get the colors aligned but the big picture is still where we are headed. And so, we continue the sorting, Miss Dot and me.
Seize the Day!!!
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