Things I learned yesterday

Back in the days of the old west people were always prepared for the worst. But nowadays we take convenience for granted. We all knew a big cold snap was coming for almost a week. But me being an extreme optimist thinks ah it won't be that bad.
The following is a list of things I learned to be prepared for.
When a person is living in their holiday trailer make sure you stock up on propane. Apparently when it gets to a certain temperature below freezing gas stations can no longer sell propane because it turns to gel. So we are running on our last half a tank of propane.. A quick trip to Canadian Tire to buy up the few remaining electric heaters will do in a pinch.
Another rather important point make sure you have an extension cord plug in your truck.If not it is good to know the a half a tank of fuel will do when your truck runs all night.So that you can go to town in the morning and buy an extension cord. Also it is much better to look for your block heater cord in the daylight instead of in the cold with a flashlight.
Stock up on food if you don't want to go out grocery shopping.

All things I did wrong and have learned my lesson.

Just say the word mom

I have never worked cattle with any of my dogs. In fact I don't think my dogs had ever seen cattle before we got some of our own. They were curious but really didn't care what they did.

Then one day in August last year the neighbours cows got out and I decided to take Isla to help watch gates while we tried to move the cows. One heifer decided to try and make a break for the gate and Isla was like "I don't think so. over my dead body" Well she grab that girl by the nose and was not letting go until she turned back. Well she did turn her and brought her back to the rest. The whole time I was panicking that my little girl was going to get hurt. I kept thinking What have I done. Well that was the beginning of Isla's obsession. She is so keen to work cows that one time I sent her out to gather sheep and she went through the fence to the next field and gathered the neighbours cows. I kept calling her back. Once the cows started to move off her she stopped and wondered were I was and then heard me calling her and came back.

Now everyday when we go for our walk Isla has to be at the ready just incase I say the word.

Just one of those days

Today was one of those southern Alberta days we are all happy to get in the middle of Winter. Above zero and no wind. It is days like this that help me get through the long winter also one of the reasons why I love living in the south. Days like this were a rarity in Lacombe.
I was finishing up walking dog this morning and noticed that my big flock of sheep were in our big hay field. OK, By "big flock" I mean 30. I know not big compared to some of you. But big to me. I usually train on six sheep in a smaller field. Anyways I decided to take Isla and Kipp out to the field to train. Both dogs did fabulous. Left me feeling great.
When I got back to the "house" there was a flurry of activity. Electricians and other contractors working on the house. YEAH!!!!! Really nice to see some thing being done after nothing for over a month.

Nursery Finals or Bust

My goal for 2008 is to get Kipp qualified for the USBCHA Nursery Finals. The finals are being held at Sturgis, South Dakota this year. Working toward this is going to be more work for me than it will be for Kipp. I think I was born missing the competitive gene. I am way to laid back of a person to really get anywhere in competitive dog sports. OK, I call it laid back others may call it lazy. I love working my dogs but just not so much when I am by myself. I would rather drive 2 hours and work dogs with a group of friends then go the 100 feet behind my house. So I am asking my friends to help motivate me. Anyway you see fit nagging phone calls "Are you working your dogs" or harassing e-mails whatever you think will work. Because in my head I have already decided that I am going to the finals weather my dog qualifies or not.

I am looking forward to trialing season to begin. This year I will be running Isla in Intermediate and Kipp will be running Nursery as well as Intermediate. First chance for my little man the get a qualifying leg is January 26.

We still have alot to work on. But I have been trying hard to work on what a wise man told me. I find that I second guess myself when I work my dogs alone (Was that out run to tight or good enough.) I try fixing things that I think are not good enough and end up making mistakes in other places. These dogs can out think you before you even know what has happened. That is what I love about them always challenging you to do better because if you don't step up they will do it for themselves.

So remember friends I want to hear from you.