Fun, Fun, Fun Weekend!

Lowri - TM and I are in Georgia getting ready for a weekend of herding trials.  I came into heat day before yesterday. <snicker>  I have already informed TM that the rules applying to me listening no longer apply - I am in HEAT <G>  I am going to have FUN this weekend.  TM?  Not so much <snort>

Kevin went to dog shows with Ms. Cydne.  MC will check in on him tomorrow.  She is going to the shows with my baby, Trewe.  Another one of my babies will also be there, Barron.  They are going to show in the 4-6 month puppy class.  TM is pretty sure that with my coming into heat, that she should bag the trials and go to the show.  She wants to see the GOOD dogs.  <ha ha ha>  She is stuck with ME.

Good Day? Bad Day?

Lowri - I can't tell if today is a good day or a bad day.  On the good part of the equation, TM took Kevin to the Handler's place as he is going to dog shows this weekend.  I didn't get a bath.  We are leaving for herding trials tomorrow.  I am going to have a blast.

On the bad side.  TM took Kevin to the Handle's place as he is going to the dog shows this weekend.  He isn't HERE!  I still had to have my toenails done.  I came into heat yesterday and now have to wear panties.  TM is calling me the pretty, panty-girl.

On the good side.  TM's goat had her baby safely.  On the bad side.  The goat only had ONE baby and it was a boy.

So lots of good stuff, some not so good stuff.  TM just put her finger on the scale on the side of good.  She is giving me scritches.

Bunnies and Class

Lowri - We came back to town this afternoon.  When TM let us out of the car, she said there were bunnies in the yard.  I dashed in to see if I could get an early dinner.  TM had left the side yard gate CLOSED.  I couldn't get back into the yard to get the bunny.  TM was apologetic when she realized her mistake.  I don't think she understood the error of her ways.  She was smiling!

Kevin - After TM let the bunny escape, we all got to go to handling class.  I love seeing Miss Jan, our leader, as she always pets on me.  Tonight was weird.  TM worked me a couple of times, then started working Trewe.  Gamma Cheryl gave me to someone sitting on the sidelines.  They petted on me.  I was not happy, but then they brought out the treats.  I was willing to allow them to pet on me as long as they handed me treats.  I even had to go to the strange man!  He sat on the floor and was very gentle with me.

Lowri - I teamed up with Mama Cheryl again.  It has been six months since we worked out together.  She hadn't forgotten anything.  I was so proud of her.  I trotted and showed off so people would watch me rather than MC.  Miss Madeline, Fable's junior handler, really liked me.  She said I was so very easy to show.  Well, yeah, I am experienced.

Big Day

Lowri - TM took Kevin and left ME alone in the run.  I had to stay there ALL DAY!  I was not pleased.

Kevin - TM and I went to Gamma Cheryl's for the puppy party.  I had to be there to make sure all my babies went to the best homes.  They did!  I was very pleased.  We spent several hours there.  After we had been there for a while, I consented to let people pet me.  I had to get to know them before I was happy to have their hands on me.  I did manage to talk my daughter's new person into giving me some cheese.  I even wagged my tail to get some extra morsels.

Lowri - While I was locked in the run, Aidan got to hang with Papa Ron.  They were outside for most of the day because Miss Ginger came to clean the house.  I barely got to say Hi to her - and I LOVE Miss Ginger.  TM is very happy with how the house looks and smells.

Kevin - When TM went to lock up the chickens tonight, we didn't get to go.  She took her camera and got some pictures of the new baby goats.  They are about 10 days old. 

One of the new-to-us nannies with her twin baby girls.

TM loves the black spots on the hocks.

Our lambs.  They are between 2 and 3 months old.

This is our pasture.  

Puppies and Work

Lowri - TM had to work really hard today.  One of her clients really, really just wanted to relax.  TM put her heart and soul into that massage.  It is too funny, TM is really relaxed now too.  She just wants to go to sleep. 

Kevin - Gamma Cheryl came up with my puppies.  We got to play and play with them.  They are really cute.  They are almost eight weeks old.  Gamma Cheryl brought them up to see us so TM could give them their shots.  Chico was the only one who whimpered.  Poor baby.  I got to see them on Sunday too.  TM herded with Story and Fable.  Then my babies all got microchips.  TM says that will make them safer. 

I get to go to the puppy party on Saturday.  I will watch over all my babies and make sure they are going to good homes.  There might even be some snacks for me.  That would be good.

More Goats

Lowri - We got more goats tonight.  We had two goats, now we have a trip of goats (or herd or tribe.  TM just learned that a bunch of goats can be called any of the three names).  TM worked all day long, then popped us in the car and we went to the farm.  I got to help TM move stock around.  Then we hooked up the trailer and went about four miles away to buy some goats.

Kevin - TM has been looking and looking for goats.  She just hasn't been able to find what she wants.  She has been looking in Georgia and Kentucky, Virginia and far away from us in Tennessee.  Every time she found some, the people sold them or changed their minds and decided to keep them (read that as most likely sold them to someone else and weren't willing to tell TM). 

Lowri - Last night, she started emailing a guy who lived near the farm.  They live only about 10 minutes from us. Today, TM bought two Boer cross nannies that were bred to Boer billies.  One of them had two does (girls) that were born a week ago.  The other one is due to pop.  She is HUGE.  Now we have enough goats to herd.  They are VERY cute - I am sure they would be tasty.

Kevin - TM promised to take some pictures of the kids this weekend. 

Barn Hunt

Lowri - We went to Knoxville yesterday and got to do Barn Hunt.  It is the BEST THING EVER!  They showed me a rat in a cage.  I tried to discretely grab it.  They PRAISED me!  Seriously?  They LIKED it when I tried to get the rat.  I went nuts and did my best.  When TM dragged me away, I had a huge grin on my face.

Kevin - I got to go too.  The trainer saw immediately that she was not supposed to "touch the puppy."  I liked that about her.  I tried to grab the rat too.  TM even thumped me on the sides she was so pleased.

Lowri - It got better and better.  By the end of class, I got to search for the rat.  It was in a tube hidden amongst the bales of straw.  They even covered it with loose straw. They even hid an empty "clean" tube and another one with rat bedding in it.  It was no match for my superior nose.  I ran through the straw tunnel, climbed on a bale of straw and found the rat in 1 minute 7 seconds.  The trainer said I was ready to go trial.  I LOVED it!!

Kevin - When it was my turn, I ran through the straw tunnel immediately.  The trainer had been putting freeze-dried tripe in there to lure us through.  I didn't find any on this trip, but I checked out both tunnels.  Then I started checking for rats.  I found the empty tube, the tube with the bedding in it, and every place the rats had been.  The trainer was impressed with my nose.  Then TM had me check another corner.  Yup, the rat was there.  I didn't get wild - I have some self-restraint - but I did check it out.  When TM encouraged me to keep checking there, I dug the tube out.  TM was very proud of me.  The trainer said I was ready to trial too.

Lowri - I hope we get to play that game again soon.  It was great!