There are no excuses

Well that is a total lie. There are plenty on excuses for not blogging for the last two weeks or so. Lambing started and never stopped. We were done lambing in two weeks flat. Our ram was a busy boy. I have tried very hard to get those cute lamb pics and have failed epically. These are a couple of the best ones.

All this has left Bear terribly bored. He is too young to be with the ewes and lambs. So he is stuck out in a field with the ewe lambs. Who are a little crazy and lead him down the wrong path a couple of times. Bear says " I was only running to follow them not chase them" Yeah right I say.

Other news. Rob has been sold to a nice young guy in Tennessee. Rob is going to help Garrett with his ever growing flock. Scott and Jenny have offered to take Rob to Kentucky with them to save on flying. I will get to meet Garrett and deliver Rob to him at The Bluegrass. 

I have been feverishly trying to get my dogs ready for our trip south. Working in different fields on different sheep. Each dog approaches new experiences differently. Meg goes the slow and cautious route. Where as Craig goes the fast and furious direction. It is going to make life interesting. Only a couple weeks left to cram all the experiences into Craig before we leave. No matter what happens I am determined to have a good time and met lots of new people.

First born 2011

First set of lambs came on Tuesday.

Twins a boy and a girl purebred Dorper very cute.

And now we wait for the rest to come.

Of course we had another snow storm last night and got over a foot of snow. 

This snow haunts me like a bad ex boyfriend.

Less than stellar

That is how I would describe my performance at the arena trial this weekend. My dogs are not at fault just me. My head was not in the game just like Tiger Woods on Sunday at the Masters tournament. I was however very happy to be there and visit with all my fellow dog people. I even had a fan write my name on his stomach and cheer for me on Sunday. Shout out to Bryce. Thanks for the support.
Today it was back to the daily grind of fighting snow and now water and mud. Our ewes are due to starting lambing today but they are all looking happy and content for now. I guess they are in no hurry.
Soon I will have all sorts of cute lamb pictures for the blog.
Cheers

Robin French is stressing me out

I know weird title eh!! But it's true. Robin writes a blog Shoofly Farm and two days in a row she has written about the looming deadline to The Bluegrass Classic. It is exactly six weeks from today that I will go to the post in Kentucky. Thanks to Robin I am now feverishly trying to find places to train my dogs that isn't knee deep in snow. I have been fully aware for months that the time was approaching just not ready to deal with it. I am going to the Bluegrass with a totally new team.

Meg is my open dog and this will be the first time we have ran in a open field trial together.

Craig is my nursery/ Open Ranch dog

This is Craig's first year of trialing. He has loads of potential just lacks the experience and miles on him. Craig spent the winter with Scott Glen and came back to me a month ago. So we lack experience as a team as well.

Game faces on

One of my smaller fields is sort of workable so I am doing what I can there

Meg needs snowshoes and a snorkel at times.

One thing I have been able to do is condition the dogs. We are up to running 10 km (6.5 Miles) with the quad. I try to do it everyday but sometimes life gets in the way. I have three dogs that run three different speeds. 

Craig is right beside me

Isla way out front

And Meg usually trailing if not falling behind.

Isla and Craig often get tired of running Meg's speed. It is boring to them.

The snow banks are still over my head.

I look forward to meeting Robin French and sharing with her how much she stressed me out.

I have no words

Lambing pen ready

dug out and drying off

I changed my mind about words. Do you think there is such a thing as a Cabernet ice cream float?

It's a good thing I am all out of ice cream and we are snowed in so there is no going to town for more.

I do however have enough liquor to dumb the pain.