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!

"My muzzle is gray"

My muzzle is gray
I am past my prime
I knew there would come this time.

I find I am slower to rise
and there is a slight cloud to my eyes.
I knew it would not last
that some day I would be a mirror of my past.

Yet, your eyes settled on me
my heart filled with glee
You need not ask
instinct and mileage guide me through the task.

The cold air nips my breath
my muscles struggle as I run
I know I am slower than when I was young.

You gave this to me
this Christmas day
your gift to me
our special way.

Pupdate

Hard to believe Opal is three months old. Where does the time fly?

She has been a pleasure as a pup. Quite easy all around.

She is showing some interest in the sheep during walk abouts, but not really ready to have at them.Opal is looking to be quite a stylish worker, as is her Mom.