Good Day

Spent the morning working my dogs and doing demo's at the big field with Pam. No one else made it. It was trying to snow and chilly but otherwise a great time.
http://www.arocha.org/ca-en/index.html 'A Rocha' people are managing & living at the farm now. They had arranged for some groups of inner-city & refugee kids to come out for a day learning about farm life and wool in particular. Some of them were from Biafra via Burma and have only been in Canada for a year & a half, having lived their entire lives in refugee camps in Burma. Some of them were terrified of dogs Others were thrilled and were playing soccer for awhile out in the field with Pam's half dozen BCs plus a couple of mine. When I worked my dogs, Pam gave commentary but there were lots of questions to answer when I came off the field.
Afterward I did some shopping for the curling party tomo. but got home in time to see the end of the semi-final. Team Saskatchewan won over Ontario & will meet Team Canada in the final at 3:30p Sunday. Yay! I am cheering for Sask.
Then got to watch the news televising the Liberal Party leader election. Christy Clark won which I am very glad of. She is the first politician I have ever heard who made any sense. Then I flipped to see the Alberta women's hockey team win over Ontario(always nice to see) at the Canada Winter Games.
The snow they predicted hasn't amounted to anything unless it dumps overnight. Supposed to rain on Monday so winter will be back to normal.

Frigid Thursday

Here is a picture of where my friends, Martha & Jeff are working their dogs this week; at Bill Berhow's in Calif.
Meanwhile we are:
Another clear blue sunny sky today for working dogs at McLeods'. -2c however the wind chill was close to -10c which was COLD COLD COLD. Not that the dogs or sheep noticed. Owen got some good work in the alley and middle field; one ewe had been left in the back when Nancy & Rain brought the little working flock out to the front. So I used to Owen to let a couple go back to join up with the single. Then I sent him on his own & out of sight to bring the three to the front field. He was a little pushy but I think the sheep were also galloping on their own to rejoin the front group. I also worked Jayne. We had coffee in the house and didn't spend much time in the 'family room'. I don't mind this cold weather as the dogs stay clean & dry in the backyard. We are supposed to go to the big field on Sat. but they are calling for snow so we shall see. Then warming up and rain come Monday.

Snowy Tuesday

Handlers hanging out in the sunshine today in between coffee and working dogs. It snowed last night around 4pm just enough to make rush hour treacherous this morning. But by mid-day the McLeods' field was clear enough to work dogs.
Darlene's Piper getting a pat from Margaret while Merry flirts. I can never remember Maureen's 2 dogs; Merry & Pippin - which is which. She is a huge Lord of the Rings fan so her other younger boy is named Aro aka Arogon. Cattledog people... tsk tsk what can one say. lol
Maureen working her ACD.
Whoa baby! Run for your lives sheep, there is an ACD in the field.
Enjoying the sunshine. But just an hour or so later, a big cloud came over and the temp. dropped a couple degrees. Very chilly(for us).
Owen at work.
Owen pushing sheep in the sunshine.
Fetching to set up for a shed.
Ready to come in. Just make a little hole, Mom.... Owen is my best shedding dog; he gets the idea that he is to 'hold' the sheep once they are split and he thinks it is FUN.
Marg sets Paige up for a little gather. Half the field still had snow as it is shaded by the big trees along the fenceline. Which also keeps it nice and cool in the summer.
Paige brings the sheep to Marg's feet.
Then some driving.
My Jayne doing as deep as she can on a little outrun. Sheep co-operating by grazing and allowing her to get behind before they head up the field.
Jayne pacing herself nicely on the fetch.
Jayne doing some work in a tight corner.....her nemesis but she is slowly coming along and keeping her cool.
Home and another little snowstorm at 4pm today. This is looking out my front driveway. It was coming down much harder than this pic shows even while the sun was still shining. Wacky weather day. They are predicting more snow tomorrow.....I'll believe it when I see it. Plus they say -7c by Friday which is FRIGID for us. We shall see, it is colder tonite than it has been all winter; my backyard is crunchy. Pam is taking sheep to the big field on Sat. and there is some sort of 'open house' for the farm so hopefully the weather will be ok for that. It is fun doing demo's for the public plus getting to work dogs in the bigger space of course.

Instinct Test

This breed is described as devoted & loyal. So who is Enzo looking at? Who does he run to? Who does he wiggle and whine until allowed to go to?
Rose is his favorite person in the world. When she is around, I don't exist. He follows her everywhere, including to the barn to check on the newborns.
Enzo gets an instinct test! He is very keen but his lie down and that'l do are non-existent. But with time & patience....CKC here we come! NOT!
Nice flank!
Where did it go?
Enzo wants more sheep!

Lynda is Enzo's second favorite person.

Sunset Tuesday

Gorgeous day today culminating in this brilliant sunset. My camera doesn't do it justice but this is the view out my front room window.
There was lots of dog work today, although I was the only one there. I worked Jayne, Owen and Blair. Did some shedding with all of them plus worked on look backs for the two youngsters(unsuccessfully I might add). It was a sunny day but with a cold wind. The view of the north shore mountains covered in snow was very pretty too.