Saturday, April 25, 2009


Old Chatham, New York
I made this image today of Hanna (the pirate). Gale is much too private and preferred not to participate. I wish you all could see this place. It is wonderful: big red barns, a river, beautiful fields, old trees. It's the kind of place that seems honest and pure. I am quite certain that only good things happen here. It looks like a farm in a children's story book.
Norman has been judging the trial, and what a trial it has been. I ran my Gale in the Open. It was a thrill and a privilege to be able to run on this field. It is picturesque, but extremely difficult. The sheep are milking sheep, mostly bottle babies and are used to people handling them, but not dogs. I was way over my head, but managed to get around... kinda. There were 74 dogs. My score was a 41 and I am sitting somewhere around 18th. Lots of dogs have RT as the sheep run back to the set out, around those big wonderful trees I was telling you about. I was proud of my dog, we both learned a lot. Round 2 has started. Tomorrow I am up almost last....

Wednesday, April 22, 2009

Good Morning/Afternoon, depending on your time zone!
All is well, we are back on the road again. We left the outskirts of Toledo, Ohio, this morning, drove through Pennsylvania, and walked the dogs in New York. It is getting a bit harder to find places to walk 16 dogs. We are looking forward to a big, open, safe field, where we can all get some real exercise. We slept like logs/dogs last night. We are really enjoying the new trailer. It has cut our work in half. The dogs seem to be holding up, traveling is much nicer for them as well. Speaking of dogs, here is the scoop on the dog I lifted off of Norman. I am sure you recognize this little face as none other than the naughty little Pirate Hanna. She is quite the character, and I love working with her. Her whistles are opposite to mine, and I am quite dyslexic. She is a tight running little thing, and that is my specialty, to get a dog running tight and slicing their flanks, and she really doesn't understand my accent, but all that aside, I think we will do well together!
Almost to Buffalo, New York.........

Tuesday, April 21, 2009

568 more miles to go!
We have officially "Headed East." We have been on the road since Saturday and will arrive tomorrow in Old Chatham, New York. Thursday, Norman will be doing a day of lessons and Friday, judging Warren Micks' trial.
Today we have traveled through 4 states, including Chicago, Illinois. We both agree, we would rather die, than live in the city of Chicago, no offense. We are now VERY familiar with toll booths and are thinking of opening up one ourselves.
You pass by our house to get to the lake, and it seems only reasonable that people should pay to pass. It appears to be a great way to make alot of extra cash.
The trip has really gone well. We did have a seal go out in the pickup, but before we could walk the dogs and eat lunch the Dodge dealer had us back on the road again.
We have tons of catching up to do, so I will be getting it in gear, telling you all the news. Here's a sneak peek.........We have a new dog hauler/travel trailer. I will post a picture for you to see, and I have a new dog, I actually stole her from Norman. I will reveal the goods tomorrow. We're stopping for the night just outside of Toledo, Ohio. See ya tomorrow!