Not a happy camper

Needless to say the move to maternity ward is not where Merlot wants to be. She's either beached by the counter or getting stuck under the chair. I am making sure the walk-in closet door is shut so she doesn't decide to make her den in there. She would much rather be outside harassing the ducks or pissing off Click.

4 days and counting. Well more like 3!

Later gators....
C

Update

6 possibly 7. Nice number!

And per my smarta** vet, she said her magically mystery xray machine told her 4 boys, 3 girls. 2 b/w, 4 blues and one brindle.

One brindle???? She said that explains what went on behind the barn with???? Though she could not tell me hairy or non-hairy.

Ugh.

Later gators..
C

Weekly storms

Seems like it doesn't it? It's not just a few here and there, but a weekly rumbling of the skies. These are taken at the County Fair Grounds on Tuesday night right before our 4-H obedience classes. A funnel cloud was sighted just north of us as we were approaching the groups but it never made it to the ground to become a full fledged tornado. It rained, it hailed, it blew and the lightening crashed, thunder boomed.

Later gators..
C

The count down begins

Okay folks, what's your guess. Taken Sunday with 2 weeks to go. Doc's this afternoon for xrays. There definately is not 12 in there, thank GOD!!!!

Later gators...
C

Red dogs

My favorite red dogs!

Later gators....
C

I think I forgot to tell you this?

Seriously, I didn’t do it on purpose. It’s just that well, I’ve been on the go since we got home on Sunday and just totally, forgot to post this.

Pete, aka Peterman, aka Sweet Pea, aka rePete----that loveable pointy headed little heathen, finished this weekend!!!!! Woooooo-----Hoooooo!!!!!

Okay even with all those horrible names, she’s my bestest spoiled bud. I do love her. Almost as much as Moose. Actually Alec says she’s the female version of Moose. She’s not that bad, but close. Yes she’s always figuring out a way to get into trouble, it’s usually her mouth and lack of control of it out in the yard. Or the pillow she destuffed. Or the garbage can she emptied. Or the harassment of Max while everyone else is trying to be quiet. She does find ways to make her presence known. She’s currently in love with Connor, who thinks she’s a pest.

What I love about her is just that. Her Kramer, slide through the door, whatcha doin’, attitude. That little white wisp of hair in her left ear or that the judges side is her mother, the off side, of course, is Margie. She takes a special place with both girls gone now. Big paws to fill.

I talk about her pointy little head, a lot. Her head is not her best quality. Though Sarah remarked on Saturday that it is very sweet and kind, it just draws you in. You can’t help but smile when you see her look at you. Those freckles, very much a trait from her mother, make her even sweeter. I was a little taken aback on Sunday though with the judge who gave her the major to finish. She point blank told me while she was going over her in the table-now this is what a brood bitch should look like. Pete floats. Her movement, when given the chance to really extend herself, is one that makes you hold your breath. Unfortunately she gets stuck behind slower dogs a lot. Still she moves cleanly, great reach, drive and coming and going are almost perfect. The judge made a point of talking to me about her. She openly said, her head is nice, but not great. We all agree. But she said the hardest part is getting the rest perfect and we’ve already got that. The easy part is fixing her head. I was told that I better find the best there is out there for her, or I wasn’t doing her justice. Gulp, got our work cut out for us. I do need to thank the judge, Clem McGowen for the advice and for just taking that extra time to talk to me about Pete. Most judges won’t give you the time of day.

I also have to add------yes this is the same judge who finished Russ! And she also finished his Grand Championship Sunday!! She was overally impressed when we were waiting to take photos to find out that yes she finished both dogs, that they were both bred by us and that they were sort of kind of, ½ siblings(their mothers’ are littermates). I like making judges happy!

Well , now Pete can get dirty. I keep telling her that and she keeps coming in the house spotless. Pam said that I need to tell her to keep clean—cause when I did that while she was showing, she always came in slimy and dirty.

So Peterman---stay clean!!!! And what next????
OH--photos to follow soon!

Later gators...
C

I'm so far behind, I'm ahead!

Really I am. Not. I wish.

Every time I walk out to the garden, it rains. I have tons of plants started that are sitting in dog crates in the house waiting to go to the garden. Yes dog crates are awesome to keep dogs out of things. Seeds sitting in a basket waiting for the ground to swallow them up. Ugh, Mother Nature does not want me to garden this year.

Apple trees made it through the winter!! All are blooming but one which is a late season, which I knew and planned for with the addition of another variety in a week. Then Alec wants us to get a cherry tree as well as a pear. NO pears. That was a horrible adventure at the house in town. Told him that since he now has an employee discount card, he can purchase the cherry tree he wants and plant it. That went over well.

This weekend is building moving weekend. Kind of. We inherited a 15 x30 100 yr old timber frame building!!! It’s got huge solid timber walls and used to have a 2nd story. We are putting it in the corner of the front hay field. Have to get the gravel pad down first, but we’ll have it on site until that gets done. Will be used for storage, thinking of adding the 2nd story back on in time and later on use it as a run in for, gulp, sheep. Still debating on that one. It’s weighing the use of them vs the upkeep over the winter and the loss of that section of the hay field. Doubt it’s a this year project but small steps-I’ve already talked to a gal in WI about a small rare breed wool sheep. The other one is the chicken house moving, finally, down the road to our place. The chickens have had it and are now escaping and harassing the ducks during the day.

Let’s see-hum, there’s always the mowing, weeding and my floors need a serious scrubbing. Carpet cleaning this weekend and then the dreaded garage. With the new/old building moved in, the rest of the storage items are headed out so that I can get the wall board up and the kennels moved into the right place. I’ve got a huge chest freezer available for cheap as well as a big fridge. Told David if they aren’t plugged in and full of stuff, they gotta go!

Then the horses-time to figure out what Rio really knows. Phoenix needs a little riding and Torey, oh Torey, the pain. The Ms is starting lessons with him soon. Should be interesting.

Did I mention dogs? Merlot’s breeding did take. And she’s getting huge. Palpated her and at least 4-5, but that’s never a good way to figure out counts, Alec predicts another dozen. Can you see me slug him for that comment? Dog walk at 4-H had the sawhorse uprights stolen this winter so rebuilding those this weekend and then repairing our dog walk supports at home. More watering of the arena, little dusty towards the end of Tuesday night. Oh and UKC rally/obedience show this weekend. Moose and I are going to try to squeeze that in some time during all the rest of the crap!

So now I’m not ahead, or behind, just sitting in limbo trying to figure which direction to go!

Later gators...
C

Timber!

I’ve mentioned that I work with our county 4-H dog project kids. We average 40 kids and their assorted dogs, which makes for a long Tuesday night. Becca is a super help and working with the agility end of it this session, while I wrangle prenovice through open obedience and showmanship.

I think my favorite part is watching the kids start out short, unsure and totally lost at what is going on, then morphing into adults with strength and understanding of what they need to do. Currently there’s Mildred, Anna, and of course, Christopher, who are my youth leaders or soon to graduate members.

All have had different dogs over the course of the years and all have grown by leaps and bounds in not only the dog project but into young adults.

Let’s pick on dear Christopher for a moment. First off he’s now like 6’2 or 3” and shows a 5lb doxie/pap mix. It’s like Alec and Ace all over again. Dolly is awesome and put up with a lot over the years. She has an opinion about it all and you aren’t going to get anything done unless she wants to do it. Now he has, gulp, a border collie. Not just any border collie but one with a pedigree of working and trialing dogs. And the curliest coat I have ever seen on one of the monsters.

Last year at fair during the agility runs, Timber made a name for himself. As it’s pouring rain, the tin roof of the horse arena is singing. Timber has the wee-haas and almost to the very last jump decided to wee-haa it all the around the ring-for minutes on end. We all got the biggest laugh and in the end so did Christopher. This year is a little different, but not by much. At least now when he gets the wee-haas, he has some sort of a recall. Sort of. Takes a lap first then comes.

Tonight is our first night of herding. Timber’s breeder is our teacher. From what I hear he’s doing great—this could be his future in the making. I can’t wait to watch him. And of course, Ms Peterman is herding with the Ms and Moose tonight as well. Could be interesting. Pete is intense. I hope the Ms has some control on her. Moose has too much control, so it’s up to her to let him get a little out of control for a while. Working with those two towards their HT’s at the end of the summer/fall then Moose is off to Camp Kerri for the real deal.

I’m ready-bug spray, sandwich, water bucket and breath mints for the dogs after they get done sampling the jelly beans.

Later gators...
C

Mighty hunter?

Frank is ever vigilant for things that should not be in "his" yard. Never mind if they make you drool and foam at the mouth, frogs and toads beware, he'll stomp ya, and eat ya for dinner if you come across the fence line.

It's not unusual for us to find him staring down in a windowwell having a snit fit because of a wayward reptile. He's fallen in the wells too and gotten stuck, butt up in the air, in the need of being rescued.

Watching a movie after we got home from the show/trailer return and almost drifted off to take a nice nap. The Ms is riding her bike up and around the "neighborhood", almost a 2 1/2 mile trip. I figure that all the barking going on is because of her being on the road in front of the house goofing around. Well it sort of was--side track here, as she says it, forgot to stop and had an emergency bail into the ditch when she was trying to make the corner. Daydreaming I believe was the issue there. Anyway, she was walking the bike back for a small handle bar adjustment.

15 mins of barking. I finally had had enough--see the peepers post--I wanted some sort of peace and quiet today! Frank is next to the window well, staring. Barking. Staring. Looks at me when I say shut up and then almost bounces with a "humrpf" and stares more at the same spot. I yell at Alec to "go save what ever frog/toad it is that wandered in the yard" He goes out and this is what we find......

Can you see it? Yes that small, that harmless. A baby bull snake. I fear that's not the first one we'll see this year. Last year we found a nest of bullies near the garden and garter snakes in the mulch pile.

Needless to say, Frank was damn proud of himself. But I do wonder how many he ate before he got full and just started that damn barking?

Later gators...
C

The peepers are back-ugh

Croakers, peepers, what ever you want to call them, those damn frogs are back in the pond. Totally makes me rethink the placement of the pond and poultry yard. It isn't limited to the night time either though, it is louder once the sun goes down.

After returning from Amana yesterday afternoon, I sent the children out with the fish net to remove them. They got six. Helped the Ms with water duties once the ducks and chickens where put away for the night and counted 20 more! She can hear them at her end of the house and they are driving her nuts. Imagine my room--they are right underneath it.

I ended up finding my trusty earplugs last night, or was it this morning? Finally got a couple hours sleep. Kid is lucky, no school today so she can get some extra sleep. The winds are keeping them a little quieter.

On a side note and more on this later----Mr Maxwell(aka James of the Dirty Dozen) was at a show in WI and took RWD and Best Puppy his first time in the ring, wasn't entered on Saturday but on Sunday!!! WD/BOS for his first points--a major!!!! Yeah Max and way to go Liz!!!! Two puppies pointed from the litter now--again, more on that part when Monday settles down some.

Later gators..
C

Houston, we, uh, have ....... coons

Last night was the first night of the dog obedience classes in the usual building. We have to wait until the last campers in storage are out of the year to work in this awesome place. It's huge, room to put up a full size agility course and still have 2 plus rings for obedience and showmanship classes.

Okay, it does need a little work. The fairgrounds keepers had it nicely graded and cleaned for the most part. But it is a little, cough, hack, dusty. I think I lost a few dogs in the clouds of dust. Easy peasy to fix, just set up the hoses and sprinklers this weekend and water it long and deep.

Okay, so we have to remove a couple dead rabbits that were hiding behind the A-frame. Shovel in the back of the truck for that.

Okay, so the coons residing in the cow/calf barn where the rest of the equipment is stored, is a slight problem.

Knowing where they store the rest of it after fair, we(assorted students and parents and I) walked to the other barn to sort through what we needed for the night. Hum, pause table, check. Dog walk up and down parts, check. Few ring gates, check. Chute, check. Open tunnel and cones-uncheck. I started to grab the wheeled cart that those are stored in and it started talking to me. You know that chatter that baby masked bandits make? Yeah that one. And so I let go of the cart, talked to Bekka a little more about what she wanted to teach for the night. We both looked at each other and well, said, hum, do you hear that? I reached over and jiggled it again and the chattering got much louder. To which we both said, I think that's more then enough for the night and beat a hasty retreat outta there! Heaven's help us if the mastermind of the crime would return at that point.

So now, I wait. See what the faithful grounds crew decides to do about it. Then assess the damage to the tunnel and assorted items. Oh and the Ms has a slight bit of work to do with a certain huge red brindle cardigan who decided that he had six feet instead of four last night and really did a number on his first pass at the broad jump. Moose me boy, jumped, no, failed to jump and crashed, burned and dragged the jumps along. He's always had a problem with dropping his feet or tail on the broad jump, tonight was a testament to how clumsy he really is. Thankfully the next 4 passes were awesome-learned his lesson? Nah.

Later gators....
C

Road trip--eagle cam!

As the sign says, ICE CAVE. Not much else to tell.

Other then I mentioned that it seems I'm bringing up the rear on this trip and they bent over to give me a great butt shot. Smart a$$.

Long stairway, pre-OSHA.

Though OSHA did post this, just as the Ms was running down the hill side off trail.

They only went in a short way. This is where I stopped-can't do caves.

And now the Trout Hatchery. The photos of the fish aren't the best but this place is cool. Ms fed the fish and I know was plotting how to smuggle one home for our creek.

This dudes are the oldies. The far west side of the hatchery has a long open tank where they have huge old fish.




Open ponds that they put fish in to grow out. Two are empty, the third is full.
I asked for nice posed shot. I got them punching each other. I swear, this is why I don't go places with these two. Upper part of the photo is the Eagle's Nest.
Close up. And for those that have been watching the Eagle Cam, yes they have been, um, bringing unusual kill for their chicks. Seems the farm behind the nest lost lots of barn cats last year.

Almost home. A recent lecture I went to talked about taking the road less traveled. Make time for photo ops on those side trips. So here we are, almost home, in Strawberry Point.
So what did you do this weekend?

Later gators...
C

Road trip - part deux

And now to Dunning's Springs. The Ms had commented she never remembered going there before, though we adults disagreed. Guess she was tiny the last time we went. So off we go....

A natural spring that is just across the Upper Iowa River from downtown Decorah. In year's past we've visited when there was no walk ways and it was safe to walk across, even right at the top. Then there was the year we went up and it was like a geyser coming out of the rocks. Sometimes the fog is grea and it's a great back drop for photos. Prom was Saturday night so we ran into some finely dressed folks.

Did I mention the new steps? Well not new, but 20 yrs ago with my first visit, it was hike at your own risk.

The origin of the spring.

Photo op!

And looking up from the plat form.

And yes, the site of the infamous Dunning Spring's walk about, aka plunge. It's damn cold water!

Did I mention the stairs?

See, stairs and proof I was there-see my foot.

Few wild flowers in bloom along the trail.

Almost at the bottom. Somewhere along this stretch, I lost the Ms and Hubby as they detoured off the steps and into the woods. She then turned and ditched her dad to a giggle of delight.

Reinacting the Incident. Funny, ha ha.

Goodness that kid's getting tall.

I hate getting my photo taken but the camera got wrestled away from me. Yes, I was at Dunning's Springs and didn't fall in this time.

Next stop, Ice Cave....

Later gators....
C

Road Trip! part 1

WARNING--I had the camera handy for change and I used it!

Saturday was our annual roap trip to Decorah, IA. We are actually a couple weeks early in going, other wise it would have been the end of May and the garden would be way behind by then.

Decorah is the home of Luther College, Decorah Hatchery, Dunning Springs, Trout Hatchery, the now infamous Eagle's Nest and SSE--aka Seed Savers Exchange.

We'll start our trip out at SSE. We get all our garden plants here each year. I almost came home with a new apple tree too!

After SSE, we saw a sign for a new garden center west of town so of course, we had to go and look. Didn't buy anything but it's going to be a place to stop back anytime we are in town. I think the name is Pinter's and it's about 4 miles west on Hwy 9.

And of course after shopping at Oneota Coop, we walked down the block for a great photo op at the Decorah Hatchery. Like my "quality chicks"? heehee

Part 2-Dunning Springs...

Later gators...

C