twas the day before Christmas

The dogs of Swift Star Farm
 

Here we are, the day before Christmas. Hard to believe.  So the world did not come to an end on December 21. We are all still plugging along as best we can.
2012 is circling the drain. It is a time of reflection for many of us.

This time of year is and has been for a long time a difficult time of year for me. My Sister Anne died suddenly at age 24 on November 19 when I was just a few weeks into being 8 years old.

These Holidays, Thanks Giving and Christmas were just never the same in our home after Anne died. Always from that point on, a somber time and a struggle to act "normal".

 It also makes me think of my Swift. She was born Dec. 9 and died Dec.14. Some may think it silly that I still pine over that dog so many years later. But I do. She was so young and in her prime. I loved that dog and had such a wonderful connection to her that I hope to find again with another dog in my lifetime.

My husband has a hard time understanding why I get like this. To be honest I wish more than anything to be able to rid myself of the sad feelings.
He comes from a family of five Children and it's hard for him to grasp my feeling of loss at what should be a happy joyous time of year.

I am able to look at all the wonderful events over this past year and I am very grateful for all the good that has happened. Just this stupid dark cloud hangs over me.

Many I know are suffering with loss they have had this past year, be it human or four legged.
We lost my husbands Father this past spring and it seems empty without him this year.
I have lost a few friends and have had several friends loose a good dog.

Still here I am prepping Christmas Eve dinner. Thankful to have my parents both still alive and living here with us.
The weather forecasts for a white Christmas this year. What a treat! I am looking forward to that and I know the dogs will enjoy snow too.

So lastly I want to wish you all a Merry Christmas if you celebrate it. I want to thank you for reading my blog. I wish you all good things in the coming year 2013!

our Christmas Cactus
 

eye of an Eagle

Breathtaking Eagle
soars high in the cloudy sky
eyes peering downward
Tis the beginning of Winter
hunting for food to survive

Melvina Germain

 

 

 

 

 

 

What a crazy couple of weeks we have had.

Sandy hit us with some very strong winds and flooding rains. We were out of power for a week.

It was not fun at all. We had done prepping as much as we could but we were caught short in many crucial aspects that would have made riding this storm out a little more comfortable.

We have a gas powered fireplace that would have given us heat during the outage, but sad to say the propane tank was empty and gas delivery was not going to be for another week.

Thankfully the gas company was able to fit us in after six days with out power so we did have one night of relative comfort before regaining full power.

We have a really good generator so that was a Godsend.

We were working on getting a switch system in place that would allow the generator to run our well pump , furnace and a few outlets in the house . But we did not have it in place before Sandy rolled in. Almost , but not quite! Still , we fared a lot better than many on the coast and less inland than us.

My family and friends still living on Long Island were in much worse shape than us. My friends in New Jersey even worse.

 

I was entered in a sheepdog trial the weekend after the storm, but with no power and two elderly parents here I just could not make it to Maryland for a sheepdog trial. Priorities! I had planned on going to Virgina for one this weekend , but bowed out.

Too much to do here and weather is looking too good for us not to keep at the fencing project we hope to finish before old man winter wraps his arms around us for a long bear hug.

 

The week with out power was challenging at best but we had a visitor one day that made us forget for a little while about being cold and dirty .

The eagle that I have in the beginning of this installment.

They really are magnificent birds. We have them here from time to time and I always am drawn to stop whatever I may be doing to take time out and watch them for as long as they visit.

There is something about an American Bald Eagle that just touches me to the core of my being.

 

Other than that things are plugging along.

Dogs are working well.

Selected breeding ewes are in with the Rams.

Coming to grip with winter riding into town is becoming more evident with each passing day.

Now where did I stow my Carhartt's ?????

swift star farm

I put together a little video , sort of a "Year in the Life" of our farm.

" Miss You "

" I've been walking in central park
Singing after dark
People think I'm crazy
I've been stumbling on my feet
Shuffling through the street..."

Today is and will always be a somber day for me. Any of you who are faithful to my blog know why.
This morning started crisp, bright with calm wind and cobalt blue sky as the day began eleven years ago.
I will take time out through out today to remember those who were Innocent bystanders. Helpless to save themselves from a fate I am sure none would ever have dreamed for themselves. I will take time to send thanks to all who stepped up and came forward to help .

Take a few moments out of your day to stop and  think about the many who died that day as well as the many search and rescue dogs and people who have died in the aftermath for their heroic efforts to save or recover in the weeks/ months that followed.

Delaware river adventures

My brother Mike was out for a visit a few weeks back. We crammed quite a bit of activity into three days. One of the days Mike Paul and I kayaked about ten miles of the northern part of the Delaware river. I took a few video's of some of the highlights. One is a few sections that have some rapids. Thought this year the water was low in comparison to last year when we went just after a hurricane. That was a little more of a white knuckle experience with the water more that 15 feet higher than this go and it was white water rafting at it's finest. When we were hitting this section of rapids there was this strange man snorkeling in the rapids. I almost took his head off as he popped up just as I was making my way around a large boulder! You can see him in the video of my brother going through the rapids. We also found a nice spot to pull off and swim. The water was calm here and deep. We sighted eight Bald Eagles this trip on the River. Awesome birds.
We also went swimming and hiking on two separate occasions at Lake Wallenpaupak. Lastly we went to see 38.Special in concert. Still sounded great after 40 years together!

pair of eagles

pit stop on delaware river

Delaware river adventures

" Into the great wide open "

Into the great wide open,
Under them skies of blue,
Out in the great wide open.
A Rebel without a clue-
Tom Petty

My sheep have been sneaking around the E Net and getting out. So yesterday as  "punishment" I grabbed Video camera and Opal. It was a perfect chance to see how she would do out in a big open space that was cut short and relatively level.. Now I'm not saying she has never done this before,  but she has had less than a handful of goes on them.  All of them as a result of her being naughty and sneaking under the fence to get at them while they were out in pasture grazing.Since it was out of my control and she had already committed herself to working, I just would use it as a short training go and got her tired and happy enough to get a call off. Why go screaming after if you know you are not in a position to really do anything?
So off we  went. It was HOT. I mean in the close to 100 degrees F. Hot, but windy and not very humid. I figured a short go as long as things were calm would be okay. I am sure due to this heat it did keep Opal a bit quiet, and I am glad she showed she is smart enough to rate herself.
She really has had less than an hours worth of "formal" training and for a pup who turned 10 months old last week I am pretty excited about our future together.
I have really only worked on  at this point her feeling her sheep, helping her as needed but letting her have a chance to think about it and figure it out on her own. I have started to say the flank commands as she turns but she really does not know any commands at this point other than to lie down. She does know a call off but it is shaky at best. I'll need to put a long line on her so she does not pick up a habit of taking off round them when she hears a call off and knows she can get away with it because I can't really enforce her to come off until she is ready. Over all I am really pleased with this little dog!

"Good Times , Bad Times"

Using a line from a favorite Led Zeppelin tune "Good times, bad times, you know I've had my share..."
Yes I 'm sure we all can relate to that line!
I first want to apologise for the delinquent blogger here.
I was hoping to share something with you that was one of the most powerful and moving things I have had the pleasure of listening to in a very long time. I can't wait any longer so I'll just have to go forward and if I have a chance to get a copy of it I will share it with you. 

So the good first or the bad ? 
Good is always better , no?

The best of the good as of recent, was that Rush was given " The most promising young dog award "
at PA State Sheep Dog Trial .

It was both an honor as well as a very moving moment for me.
Sheepy Hollow Farm ( location of the PA State Championship Stockdog Trial ) is where this journey into sheepdogs and sheep first began for me.
It is where I purchased my first puppy, went to my first training clinic, where I ran in my first trial and where I acquired my very first placement in a trial.

The Judge Denise Lenoard is a handler / trainer that I have always admired. I like the way she trains and runs her dogs so it meant a lot to me that she thought so highly of Rush.
It was also wonderful for me to see three litter mates compete and do well at this trial.Along with Rush my Flint and Strike , now owned by Maggie Chambers did well and placed at the Ranch level ( full open course minus shed ).
Then up to Heather and Roger Millens stunning Fetch Gate Farm Trail, where Flint and Rush made their debut in Open class. Flint has been slow to come on and has struggled with flank whistles but ran very well that weekend. Rush was running a bit hot and was getting close to coming in season  so was not running up to her best. I also seemed off in my timing and handling at this trial too . Still I was happy with both dogs. Maggie was there and Strike looked really nice too.

I guess I am going in reverse in my update but you should be able to follow.

I made a trip to Long Island in June for my Niece Jennifer's wedding. What a long , long few days of  driving. First up to drop the dogs at Mary Brighoff's Autum Hill Kennel, then down to Long Island. A total drive time of  nine hours!
I certainly have not missed driving on and off that Island. Though saying this , it has been four years since making the voyage and I had a chance while driving over the bridges to see the Manhattan skyline again and the new " Freedom Tower " ( though it's now not politically correct to call it that) being built where the world trade centers Twin Towers once stood.
It was great to see family and friends but then up at the crack and on the road the following morning to do the same drive back to our farm. Blech.

I have not had a chance to do much with Opal, though now the small hay field has been done so I have a nice place to get her going. I doubt she will need more than a few minutes reminder in the round pen before going out to the field. I don't think at her age it matters much if she is worked or not. I like what I have seen the few times she has been put on sheep and asked for something more than pure instinct. That will not go away.

Haying has started here and today we will be putting maybe 500 bales up in the barn. Thankfully it is not the 100+ F. that it was last year!

The Bad
One of my oldest sheep, a foundation sheep passed away in June. She was a great producer and just an all around nice animal.

Our cat Tigger went missing the day I needed to leave for Jen's wedding. When I got home the next day, still no Tigger. My heart sank . Around 10:30 that night Tigger was at our Patio door. I was so relieved. When I let her in the house I knew right away something was wrong. She looked very unstable in her back end. By the next morning she was unable to walk. Off to the Bunker Hill Animal Hospital. Blood Work and X-Ray showed nothing. Tigger remained at Bunker Hill for several days. Nothing changed, not better but not worse. So I made the drive to the animal hospital thinking I would be saying good bye. Yet when I looked at her something told me to wait. While she was unable to stand or walk she was alert and eating.  She was still aware of her back legs, could feel pinch to toes was able to flex them just not able to stand or walk. I took her home with some antibiotics and steroids and felt I needed to give her a chance. I did PT with her while she was eating , Paul taking over while I was away at a trial and over the weeks guess what? Tigger is almost back %100 !
I brought her in for a follow up and Dr. Michele was amazed at her recovery! A bad that ended good!

Another sad note is that the man who refinished my bathroom has passed away. Tony was a good guy. Great sense of humor. Loved his craft and family. I was glad to have known him and call him "friend". He was only 46 years old and had a fatal heart attack while away from home at a bike rally in NY State.

The saddest news of all is Paul's dad lost his battle with Cancer in May.

There is not much to say other than his dad Ed was a very good man. I am glad to have had him as a Father in Law. I am glad I knew him. He was a wonderful husband, dad and grandfather. He will be missed.

Another long grind down to Long Island and back home for a sad reason.
This time I hit the bridges after dark and saw the Manhattan skyline all lit up and pretty as ever.

At his funeral, his daughter Kathleen gave the most moving speech of her memories of her dad. As she stood in front of us and read from her heart, tears spilled down my cheeks as I listened.
I could see her sitting at a desk writing her thoughts. Her Dad standing behind her with a hand on her shoulder helping her put her thoughts and memories down on paper.
It gave an accurate and perfect depiction of the man we all loved and admired.
If I get a copy I will share it with you . 

So as of now that's all I can think of to share. I'm sure I forgot a bunch of things. I'll try not to be so negligent of the blog. But hey it is summer and I don't spend a lot of time inside. 

I'll leave you with a few photo's I took recently.
Enjoy.



make a wish!



Opal @ 8 months.,"here we go 'round and 'round'

I know I have been bad about updating my blog. I have a lot to catch up on but I'll get to that another time.
I'll fast forward to yesterday and share my youngest hopefuls first formal training session.

I recently was inspired to get going on Opal in a little more formal setting. I had the chance over the weekend to see two slightly older pups on sheep.
She has had a few trips around the whole flock , here and there . Not planned,  but in any event I used it in a positive way and tested where she was at. She looked pretty good, but with 80+ sheep it was hard for me to keep things quiet and controlled, or to negotiate the flock and be in the right spot at the right time.  I did not want any bad habits to become ingrained either.
 I have my hair sheep sorted off of the wools in anticipation of the shearer stripping down the wools. After several sortings and no shearer I figured I would just leave the hair sheep in with the horses until the deed is completed.
I thought, well this is as good a time as any to see how she handles a closer more controlled setting.
Other than a few puppy cheap shots I was happy with what she showed me. Easy to bend to either side, though looking more comfortable going to her right. Stayed fairly relaxed and okay with a closer controlled situation. I even got a lie down at the end of the session. After turning the camera off we just spent a little time in the pen hanging out . I want her relaxed and not thinking it's always "go time" when near the sheep. Overall, I was pleased with how she handled herself for her age,

U 2 Beautiful Day

 When visiting with my family this spring , after an awesome hike with my brother we were driving home and digging U 2 . . We thought it would be fun to make a few music videos to a couple of or U2 favorites.

U 2 vertigo

"out with the old and in with the new" AKA Bathroom Remodel !

I am lagging a little in some of the goings on here at our farm. Just been busy and have not been keeping the blog updated.
So our little ranch house is a modest home. Not why we fell in love with this farm by any stretch. I always dreamed of a grand two story farm home built in the early 1900's but seemed when I found a house I was charmed by, the land was wrong. When I visited this farm when listed for sale the land blew me away. The house, not so much. But it was well built back in the late 60's and had a good floor plan (plain but practical) for it's size. Nothing had been updated since the time it was built. It's kitchen and bathroom cabinets and counters were sagging, doors partially open because they no longer were able to close due to the shifting counter tops. In the kitchen there was a ugly dropped ceiling with glaring office type florescent lighting. A few years ago we ripped that out and sheet rocked the ceiling and up dated the lighting. Did not want to do too much because some day we hope to expand out the back of the house.
Anyway back to the bathroom. All I can say is UGLY. Outdated . Disgusting.
It had blue and silver paisley type foil wallpaper on the upper part of the walls. I stripped that off right after I moved in. Primer white was way better and was what the walls were for the past going on four years. Ugly stained and yellowing blue speckled linoleum floor. The lower half of the walls and counter were white with dark speckled Formica. Again, florescent lighting ( that stopped working and was substituted with a lamp on the counter top) , no outlets but for one little one coming off the ancient chrome medicine cabinet. , cabinets sagging, doors unable to close.  The only saving grace was the beautiful view out the window while one was , er well you get the picture.
So without further ado I'll share the before and after of our new bathroom.

The old

I know, GROSS!

The New

Much better!

 

And now to finish with some personal touches.

Close up of the wallpaper border I used. It has little outhouses!





turn me loose!

At almost seven months to the day the youngest member of our sheepdog pack has told me she's ready to go!.
I've been doing walk abouts amongst the sheep with Opal since she was just a wee pup. She has always showed interest in them,  but never really "turned on" in the classic way. Oh she would eye them up and follow in sneaky fashion at a safe distance to study the flock.
Her brother Mose got keen to them maybe two months ago. As puppies Mose was always the bolder of the two. Fearless and unflappable. Opal was always one to assess a situation, study things a bit before going blindly forward. I always was impressed with Mose' forward nature. I like this in a dog. Though I also appreciate Opal's intelligence and reasoning power (and I am in no way saying Mose is not smart!)
So over the weekend she invited herself  under the gate while I was filling the water tub and cast out and around the flock. Off the flock ran and I am sure they were saying "oh S***, here we go again!" She managed to head them and turn them back but at this point it was just a light bulb turning on and so around she went a few times before I could manage to get in the "picture". After a few missed attempts to stop her , she did finally call off on her own.I was pleased about that. So I took her out again today , with my camera. I managed a few photographs of her second go on the flock. I managed to get her to balance in both directions and after just about as much time as I would want to spend at this with her got her to call off again after a few requests. I honestly did not want to spend too much time out there with 80 something sheep and a fresh pup. I have had one broken leg already , thank you and would rather not "go there" again!

She was just a pleased with herself this time and I am excited to start slowly molding her to become a good working partner.

Opal "oh , I get it!"
Sheep "here we go again!"

She's back there just to the right of that Tunis on the left

Opal "I like it...I like it a LOT!"

Huachuca Mountains

I  visited my parents who were "snow birding" for a few months in southern Arizona. My brother and his wife live there and it was great fun to get away for a few days. I went out to celebrate my Mom's 89 Birthday. These few video's are of a hike my brother and I took one of the days.

man's smiling face

Huachuca hike continued

Spirit in the hay field

Snowing to beat the band right now. Thought I would share a video I took of Spirit a few weeks back. Have not done much "trial training".  It shows! The sheep left the drop off point before she had a chance to get behind them. Then I lost where the sheep or her were on the video camera and that sure did not help matters.
She was stiff to take her flank or stop whistles just the same. It was quite windy but I'll not let that be my excuse because, I know she was just being a stinker more than not hearing me. Oh well, need to fix this before the trial season starts.

crystal cabin fever

Here is a short video of  "crystal cabin "
It was somewhat of a letdown over all but the ice carvings were interesting and well executed. It was in a barn structure and had way too many LOUD people inside. The price was hefty for what they offered in exchange, but the workmanship of ice carving is really pretty interesting to see take shape and the finished product it beautiful .

lot's of the same

well, not much going on lately. 

Did have a small episode with my Dad since I last blogged. His heart gave him another scare. I guess when your 91 anything feeling weird would do that. I had gone out, taking Opal to the Vet for her Rabies shot and guess my phone was out of range. Just as I was driving down my road, almost home... I found the road blocked with two ambulances. I could see my house from where I was stopped. One faced at my house the other away. I figured must not have anything to do with my parents, since I did not get a phone call.
No sooner than I finished the thought my cell let out the little tone indicating a voice message. Yep, it was my Mom telling me that my Dad was having chest pain and if she did not hear back they were calling an ambulance. So I got out of the car and asked the driver if something was wrong since they were stopped in the road. I also let him know it was my father back there. He said everything was stable but they needed something from the other ambulance before heading to the Hospital. I asked if one of them could pull forward enough so I could get to my house and catch my mother (who is 88) before she got in their car to drive to the hospital....I waited and waited. I needed like five feet so I could squeeze through.Finally the one ambulance pulled away and I got up to the house just as my mom was getting into their car. I was glad I was able to take her over to the hospital and she did not have to go alone.

My Dad spent four days in the hospital but from best I can tell he is okay. Angina attack is what they said.

Other than that things have been pretty quiet.

 Opal is getting bigger. I have a few pictures I took of her with her older brother and sister as well as a "family" shot of siblings with their mother Bracken.


left to right

Bracken, Flint, Rush and young Opal



left to right
siblings Rush, Flint and young Opal



I also managed a photo of Bracken and Spirit not too long ago that made me smile. It is no secret the Bracken and Spirit are not by any stretch of imagination "BFF's" so when a caught them napping together on the couch I just had to grab my camera and take the picture.

We have a quite large and healthy population of Wild Turkeys in this area. I love to hear them chatting with each other in the early morning hours and on occasion they visit our pastures.

I managed a few photographs of them one day while they were here for a visit.

We have been enjoying the lack of snow and fair weather we have been blessed with so far this winter. We are looking at another cold snap to take hold over the weekend but it should be short lived and back up to manageable temperatures.

I'll leave you with a parting photograph of a sunrise here a few mornings ago. Such a great and uplifting way to start the day when that giant Mother Star crests over the high point on the farm.

 

Spirit

Just thought I would share this video of my girl Spirit. Something a bit different than what we usually put up showing off our dogs at work. I firmly believe helping dogs learn to be comfortable and relaxed when working in tight areas helps them ten fold. I apologise for a few of my sheep over reacting to the dog and situation but I hope what you will take away from this is how calm Spirit is and how she trusts my asking her to work in tight spots.

Deep Freeze

We have really been blessed with reasonable weather so far this "winter" .
In this area "winter" can start as early as late October and last into mid April.
So when we did get a cold snap that has lasted only three days you really feel it more. From what I gather it originated in Siberia.
Looked like Mother Nature pissed off Old Man Winter and we in the north/east payed for it.
We dipped down to zero one night and hovered in the low singles another. Wind chills were in the negatives. Wind was howling two of the nights.

I dipped into our second cut hay so I knew everyone would have stoked furnaces to combat the cold.
I made sure all water tubs were full and stock tank heaters were in position. It was pretty dang cold out there for the past three days!
I am not complaining, really I'm not.

Christmas day was lovely. Mild, calm wind and some sun.
The sunset that night was glorious. The kind that you just HAVE to stop whatever your doing and see it to the end. Till the last ray of light slips behind the mountains.

Paul and I had dinner with my parents. I was really nice.
Quiet and relaxed.
Only one hitch. My left eye was driving me nuts. Felt like someone had squirted shampoo in it. When I woke the following morning it was just as uncomfortable. Short of the long, my cornea had an abrasion. So I spent the next week with one eye. What a pain in the butt!

I took a few photo's in black and white that I wanted to share. I love the texture you get with black and white. And there is something about the starkness of winter that lends it's self to black and white photography.

one of the stone walls on our farm

milk house and top side of our bank barn

handy work of a Pileated Woodpecker





New Years Eve came and went. Not really into it or the hoop-a-la.

Still wow, 2012!



sunrise 1/1/2012



Sure hope the Mayan calender is wrong!