Link

http://galenacardigans.blogspot.com/

Just because

I will soon be retiring this blogsite for Cardigan stuff, and using a new one. This will remain for future roadtrips, non cardi related. The new site will be
http://galenacardigans.blogspot.com

This was started by two crazy grandmas on the trip of a lifetime and I took it over. I know that the other Grandma doesn't really mind, but someday we may do another trip with a tomato, and you would not have a clue what the heck was going on unless you had been following it from the beginning a few years back. I will try to get my posts moved to the new site in the near future.

For now, enjoy a little piece of my day at the park and beach with my Nugg-butter.

ARGHH!!

Or perhaps it should be Hmmmmmmmmm.

It has been an interesting day, to say the least. I have been in the throws of re-financing the house. Yesterday, in the mail, comes a letter saying "your loan request has been canceled due to insufficient documentation." OK, the packet went in a few days ago, and it said I had until 5/2, so not sure what the heck was happening, but likely the letter passed the packet in transit, right? Wrong! I call this morning and it turns out that they won't re-fi as this is a manufactured home. OK...but why the heck did the guy pre-qualify and even bother to send me the packet? And what about the stupid fees? So I end up with the supervisor of the guy who sent the packet. Well, I end up with his direct phone number, which goes directly to voice mail, three times. Messages left that I expect a refund, pronto. Nothing.

Then the phone rings. A person that I know from long, long ago is furious with me. I mean, stinkin' mad. I have no clue what is going on and let her talk through it, rather than ending the call, which was my instant reaction. I still don't get it, but so it goes. No need for details, just a bizarre occurrence that was a piece of my day.

So I sit down at the computer to begin my search for someone to re-fi my house. (The first attempt was with the company who holds the mortgage now; it just seemed like it would be easiest. Yeah, wrong!!) I immediately let the people that I wrote to know it was a manufactured home so that there would be no time wasted. I made two inquiries and both responded that they could do it. So, the first responder is a dog person. I had wanted to give it to her earlier, but, as I said, I figured it would be easiest to just stay where I am funding wise. So she asks three quick questions: Amount owed, Amount it is worth, and Credit score. I easily find the first two (went with tax assessment for worth), and cannot find the numbers for the third. Let me say that I recently paid off lingering medical bills, so my credit score was not real good when I began the process a month or so ago. I suck it up and go on one of those free credit score places. (As long as I cancel within a week it is really free!) The results come back...742!!! Holy cow!

At this point all is coming together as it should. The last application occurred before my credit report showed clean; even though stuff was paid. As a result I was re-financing on very low-average credit. Now I will be applying with low excellent credit. My percentage rate will be better for the wait.

Now if I can get the money back for the application fee and appraisal I will be doing a happy dance around the house. Still getting voice mail...sigh

Sure is a pretty day out there; and not so bad in here either...now

Doggies go green

"All dressed up and unable to go"



Literally. Yes, a little something I had forgotten about.

I did the first mowing of the grass this afternoon. It smells so nice and now the dogs can do their business without needing stilts. Oh yes, isn't it grand!!

Well, almost grand. You see I had forgotten a little thing that made me quite happy that I have some time before the next shows. My white footed dogs, all three of them, get green feet for a couple of days after I mow. Especially if I am "wet mowing," which is all I can do this time of year as it just doesn't dry out, here in the woods, for at least another month or two.

After a happy frap and roll in the fresh cut grass I have three smiling, panting, and green Corgis.

Life is sweet. And my dogs are politically correct.

More win photos

Saturday:
The Carbon/Lilac pups take WB/BOW and WD




Sunday:
Shea was d-o-n-e. She was "in a girly way" and likely wondered why we were avoiding her. After class they headed for home as I considered whether or not to do the picture thing.

As I passed the ring, at some point, the judge asked if we were doing a picture. I guess that is "judge talk" for you ARE taking a picture. So after she was done we headed for the wonderful picture display area. However, a fair amount of time elapsed between classes and pictures, so I took the Nugg Butter out to go potty. It was raining pretty hard by then, so I carried him to a patch of grass and then back to the arena.

I guess because the judge was in the picture it was decided that I would stand rather than kneel behind the dog as I had done the day before. Picture taken I headed for home.

Today the Sunday picture arrived.


Yes, it has been cropped. You see, in standing the ferry boat appears to be coming thru my derrier. Add a very disheveled handler who badly needs a stylist, and whose face appears to be saying "there is a ferry coming out my rear" and it gets cropped. I can laugh about it now, and may at some point share. For now, enjoy the somewhat muddy Nugget; looking mahvelous.

A nice,

or even not so nice, curtain would have been a whole lot classier...

Saturday's photo:

Puppies, friends, mentors

Mark Thorson photo


Not necessarily in that order...

It has been a week of all, with the highpoint being this morning at the o'crack o'dawn.

Beautiful Polly presented seven pretty blue babies to the world.

She was bred the week that Kim and I were road tripping to SoCal. Casper saved his best for this litter. Stunning patterns in blue, black and white.Add the monstrous bone from Polly and I think this will be a fun litter to watch.

I have whelped out, on my own, three litters of Scotties and two litters of Goldens. I have assisted with kiddings and foalings. However, this was really different. Very short cords make it near impossible, if not impossible, for the pup to be completely out with the cord still attached. That means that the pups also are likely to need a bit more stimulation, and a higher risk of mortality. Scared me. A lot!!

Mark was in the whelping box delivering pups and Kim sat out of the box stimulating pups. They worked quite well together; in sync with the needs of Polly and all the babies. And, they were on three days of very little sleep. Impressive.

Polly wanted an audience. She was not pleased if any one left the room. We saw that the day earlier. She was digging a hole to China in the backyard; I think she might have known it was the most populated of countries. She simply wanted a bigger audience!!

In the end she proved to be quite the doting mama dog. She was literally dripping milk, so when I left all seven were fat and sleeping, with Polly curled around them ready to nap.

Thanks, Mark, Kim, Jason, Alta, Polly, and Casper. What a ride it was.

G2

Winner's Dog and Best of Winners

and I am tired. AFTER a nap the dogs will all get ice cream and then a run in the field/mud.

Winner's Dog

and the two of us, together, are in the points. The Lilac/Carbon litter took both WD and WB and Shea went on to BOW. Even though Ms. Butter was "in season" her brother minded his manners and we managed to get a pro picture taken of the two together. I hope the pictures don't take as long as the SoCal pictures...

The only thing I was sweating was the fact that there were no mats on the floors. There was a bit of slippage at the first turn, but then again the Nugg butter was not trying to jump wrinkles.

Happy camper, I am, and he is going to go for take out ice cream. Happy...but cheap.

G2

Pre-show and sunshine

This is a show weekend so there is plenty to do, but it is also a fantastic, sunny day. What to do, what to do...

I gave Nugget his bath and dry. He looks pretty darn good, if I do say so myself. But the sun is out, and I just couldn't stand staying in the house. My yard and field are mud pits. So I loaded him in the truck and headed to the park at the ferry dock. Lot's of nice straight side walks for practice and nice manicured grass for relief. There is also a covered area that is raised; perfect for stacking! Add to the mix, dogs and people, and it is ideal.

Well, except for one thing. The groundskeeper. He drives around in his gator, and adores my dog. And it is mutual. The man cannot keep his hands off Nugget, and Nugget wants to be the co-pilot. It has been a while since we have seen him, but the Nugg-butter doesn't forget. So much for "down and back" practice. The fact that the dog was all clean and spiffy didn't help much either. Then the guy said it. The words that make me squirm. sigh. First he said, "I just can't keep my hands off this dog; he is so beautiful." Yep. I ate that up, smiling. Then it happened: "He is so soft and shiny." The shiny I will take, but the soft, not so happy about. Nugget is still working on his big boy clothes, so that will account for some of the still softness. I love it for the cuddle factor. His white feels like rabbit fur. It is wonderful. But, it is not correct. Therein lies our problem. It is so Cardigan in the way that it, surprisingly, sheds dirt and water. But too soft. Will I ever get to the point of NOT cringing, and considering that softness a compliment? At any rate, the keeper dude didn't catch the cringe as he was too busy baby talking the dog. Nugget, too busy trying to climb into the gator. We parted ways after him thanking me about ten times for bringing the dog down. And reminding me that at the Port "we are very dog friendly; come say good-bye before you leave." We walked. We sat in the sunshine. We came home. Hmmmmmmmmm.

So I grab Kate. Unbathed. Not a lot of coat. Brindle points. We head to the park. 'Twas a test. Kate is adorable. She is just not as eye catching. We park in the same spot. I wear the same clothes. We walk the same path. Nothing. Groundsman looks up, nods, and goes back to his weeding. We go closer. I now realize that he never even looked at me as he told me about this other dog he saw about an hour before. Looked a little bit like my dog in that it had short legs too. But he was a Cardigan Corgi show dog that was fourteen months old. How old was MY dog? I smiled and asked if I should run home and get dog number three. (I just couldn't resist.) Instant sun burn.

After a little bit of edumacating, he quietly asked:

"Are you going to bring the other one back?"

Perhaps.


G2

Temporarily Forever

Life with dogs.

I was just sitting here quietly reading the news when I heard the familiar happy panting and thumping of a dog quietly playing. (ONE dog playing. When two or three dogs play it gets quite loud.) I look over from the monitor and it's Nuggie bug. He is playing with a piece of rope; happily sending it into the air, and catching it by pouncing on it like a cat. He is in his own little world. He suddenly becomes a little puppy again. The other two are asleep on the couch. It all makes me smile.

That's all.

G2

Hair, hair, everywhere

Yes. I have corgis. Three of them. What a lot of you don't know is that I am also allergic to dogs, cats, horses. I choose to ignore the allergies and be miserable, rather than live without my dogs and be much more miserable. So I choose one of the hairyest breeds of dog that I can find. Not to be mistaken for the dog I am most allergic too, however. THAT prize would go to the Dobie, Dalmatian, etc. Short and oily hair leaves me in a giant hive; and yes, I once had a Dobie as well. I am a glutten for punishment, I guess.

At any rate, I have these three stumpy dogs that cannot seem to get their shed times synchronized. They all sleep with me. Two vie for pillow space...with the youngest seeming to have dominated as of late. As a result I have a chronically sore throat and sinus infection, and, worse, am always pulling hair from my mouth, ears, eyes, bedclothes...

One morning I was getting corgi snuggles and looked across the "bedscape" to find a gazillion little hairs standing up across the linens. (Did that make sense at all?? It looked like a toddler's head after rubbing a balloon across it.) And I had changed the sheets about four days before. When laundering them I had emptied the lint trap twice as well. I got out the lint brush, the masking tape, then the vacuum. At that point a light went on. Satin sheets! Yes!

All who know me would know that the last thing I need satin pillowcases for is my coiffe. snicker. Just the thought cracks me up. Nuggets? Hmmmm, I might have to think about that, but mine? No. OK, now I need to take a break while I run to the bathroom as my chuckling is getting out of hand.

OK. Back.

So, I go to Ross and pick up some nice, shiny, ooooo silky, satin sheets. Niiiice. I will be able to just brush the hair right off! My throat and nose are already thanking me. I can't help but smile as I change the linens. Sa-weet!

Then I go to bed. They feel smooth and nice on my body. Not bad on my face either.

Until the dogs join me for bed.

Poor Nugget. He took his spot on the spare pillow and began to slide. Into the closest low spot. yeah. That would be my head. Twice. He climbed back up and then laid there, trying to relax with this look on his face (note the parking brake):



He finally gave up, temporarily.


However, several times in the night I awoke with a thump to the head.

Back to flannel pillowcases tonight. (And unruly hair. snicker)

It seemed like a good idea at the time.

G2

First sign of spring

ARGHH!!!!

Chaos rules

yet again at Casa de Galena.

The Nugg-butt is back home.

After a rather exhausting drive to Vancouver, WA and back (around 200 miles each way) we are back together and creating havoc.

Everyone wants to know if he has changed. It is hard to say, since he left a changed little dog, having, hopefully, sired his first litter. Time will tell, and I will not. :X

With that in mind, when I picked him up it was pretty funny. He was brought from the dog area and I think he thought he was going to work, or for a walk. His eyes were on the handler until I called to him. He then came running over whining, but NOT peeing! YES!! (However, he was very excited to see me, if you get my drift. NOT OK!)
Andy called him back and Nugget gave him an excited kiss. It was quite apparent that he does, indeed, bond with his charges. That was very nice to see. Andy said he was sad and missed me the first few days and then easily settled into the routine. He hung with mini flat dogs (whippets) and his best buddy was a Rhodesian Ridgeback. Andy, while unable to get him in the ring due to lack of competition, was able to work the Nugget-butt through his fear of big dogs. I could not be happier. He is fat, hairy, and quite sassy. Definitely more hormonally driven than he was when he left here. However, that could have easily happened here as well, just due to age.

The worst part of the drive home was the first five minutes. He laid down, and whined. And whined. And whined. I have no clue what that was about, and around the time I was ready to pull over and yell, he quit. He hasn't done it since. Perhaps he was telling me the woes of boot camp. Perhaps he was telling me he missed me. I haven't a clue but it sure was irritating.

As we turned the corner to head for home Nugget got VERY excited. I thought he was going to drive his nose through the vents. The salt air? Perhaps. Mud flats? More likely. When we pulled into the driveway he erupted, as did the dogs in the house. I have no idea when he had last pee'd, but I tried to get him to go before we went in and he was having none of it. 'Twas a tri-color reunion the likes of which I may never see again. I wasn't sure whose body parts attached to what body. I got them all outside and noticed that he was also very happy to see Kate. Delighted. Beyond words. Also NOT OK!

By now my token brown dog in the field was nickering and calling her wayward pup/foal to visit. I was beat, having had a mere three hours of sleep the night before, but the animals come first, so out we go. Besides, they have been crated for the past seven hours so a run might buy me some nap time! After some Windy nuzzling it was time to run and fetch and do other doggy things. Poor little Nugg-man couldn't keep up with his sibs and, with tongue hanging to the ground, collapsed less than half way through a normal pasture outing. Hmmmmm....

Nap time! Yeah, right. Nap time for Nugget. After some serious snuggling he fell fast asleep atop me. I didn't want to move, but could not get a nap either. Early bedtime, I am thinking!


I was in bed by seven. (Make note: budget in a bigger bed!!) Nugget on my head. Kate at my shoulder, and Henry at my foot. However, I can hardly move this morning; I don't think I moved much all night. I am incredibly stiff!

But the day begins; back to normal. For now. Nugget is still quite interested in Kate. She should be coming into heat any day. Then the fun begins.

Has he changed? Yes. And no. Ring time on Saturday, or class tonight, may be a better indicator.

For now, I am going to take him out to the field to run. I am going to take some ibuprofen for my back. I am going to clean this house. Anything more is pure bonus.

G2

Henry

Long legged and quite wet about the head.

Henry came into the room yesterday looking like his head had been dunked in the toilet. Seriously.

Upon closer examination I noticed the wetness extended to the ruff, but was mainly face and ears.

Kate!! She came into the room with the biggest smile I had seen in three weeks.

And a very dry licker.

Yep.

Henry had finally consented to a mama dog bath.


Henry usually snarled when Kate and her licker came near him. She had to be content cleaning Nuggie, and only Nuggie. With him gone I have found various places that have been Kate licked. Window casings, sills with varnish gone in spots, furniture. While he looked a bit bedraggled, I was delighted. I only wish he had consented weeks ago. I do, however, understand completely his lack of desire and understanding toward his "sister." She has tried to bathe me as well, and after about 1.5 seconds I run screaming from the room. It is just gross to hear, and even more gross to have to submit to. I do wonder why Nugget puts up with it day in and day out, and wonder if he will still submit once he gets home from basic training. I guess I will know in a day or two.

So a trip to the tether ball should wear her out for now, and allow me a quiet escape for some cleaning and organizing... or perhaps a REAL shower rather than a Kate spit bath. ewwwwwwwwww


Next posting will be back to whatever normal means at Casa Galena. I cannot wait!!

G2

If you were my neighbor

would you think it weird...

if some grandma person was out in her yard

at five thirty on a Saturday morning

doing a happy dance

and proclaiming

quite loudly

"Good"

"Poopy"

"and potty"

"Outside"

??

G2

Gee, thanks, Kim...

OK, in keeping with a challenge set forth by one who must not be named(even though I already did) I am to divulge seven things about myself or my blog subjects.

Here you go:

1. I actually DO have four left feet (currently). One in the closet in the spare room, one in the dining room, one currently attached to my body, and one by my bed. Oh, and a spare in the laundry room. Change that to FIVE left feet.

2. I want to jump out of a perfectly good airplane this summer; with a parachute, of course!

3. My mental health therapist is a motorcycle.

4. I let very few people into my "inner circle" but easily open it to those furred
ones that share my abode.

5. The older I get, the more conservative I become.

6. Dog showing is a "bucket list" thing.

7. I cannot allow myself to think about health issues in my past. Yeah,that is a biggie, and why I only speak of them for minutes at a time and change the
subject. ;o)

G2

So there you go, Kim. sigh

9 years later

and the ball is rolling.

I moved here nine years ago on the 15th of this month. I was just divorced (after 28 years), trying to recover from life threatening health issues, and post bankruptcy with the spouse prior to the aforementioned divorce. I moved here because I could not afford to buy a house on the east side of Puget Sound, for which I will forever be grateful. Here I got my wonderful little house on 1.33 acres. There I might have been able to get a dump...that would almost qualify to be called a fixer...on a tiny lot...between two busy streets. I'm not really sure how I qualified for a loan, but it was likely because of the settlement from the sale of my half of the house the kids were born in to the ex's girlfriend and her mother.

Anyway...nine years later there are a few things that I want to do within, and without, of the house. It was time to refinance. Interest rates are down. I made the mistake of answering a stupid poll thing on the internet and the phone has been ringing non-stop ever since. Oh, how I hate all this stuff! Today I realized how much easier I might make it for myself by getting re-fi info from the folks holding my mortgage now. So I called.

In typical fashion, I had none of my info in hand, as I thought I was calling for information. Not a huge problem, as he had some of it and I could access assessment value and my bank stuff online. Wrong. Bank had Washington state temporarily down while they updated their programming. Oops. I begin to scramble for bank statements. The stars must have been in alignment as I was able to find the information needed immediately. So I gave him enough info to start the ball rolling and the packet should be here in the next four days. I will be able to cash out enough to do what I want to do and still have a house payment that is substantially less than what I pay now. (That amount will still be going out to the mortgage company on principle unless something comes up.)

I can now tell all those folks that are trying to get my business that it is a done deal. That in itself was worth the half hour on the phone and discomfort that I always feel giving out financial info.

I am a happy camper, and Galena Cardigans will soon have more suitable digs.

Oh yeah!!

G2

First two points

are out of the way.

Thanks, Auntie Kim, for delivering the news. I hope he sees the ring next week. Poor numbers (read: NO competition) has kept him from even entering. Grandma Kim has agreed that he should go in next week anyway, so will get the ball rolling on that with the handler. I think ring time is never bad for young dogs.

I now can go about my business feeling like this was all worth something. That is a very good thing, as I have really missed him.

Go Nuggie bug. Make me proud-er

G2

Halfway

I suppose it is time to update, but I have been keeping busy doing who knows what, and other things of utmost importance.

So far the Nugg-butt has had no competition on the circuit he is doing. NONE. No competition means "why bother." This weekend may be different, or at least I can hope. The handler is doing well with him, and at last contact said he was learning Nugget's "buttons." That is a good thing. So it will be up to me to get him in the ring and showing well, starting the weekend after he comes home, with Seattle. A venue that rates as my number two most hated. Crazy, loud, indoor, with no where to pee and poop the dogs. Seattle, however, takes the top spot as far as cost. So it goes, and I just need to concentrate hard on taking the learning he is getting from the handler and keeping it going. Hopefully he will be home in time to do a drop in handling class before the ring. He is good, but I feel a bit out of the loop. I think two weeks after Seattle is Bremerton, which is my neighborhood. Easy and cheap. Little gas, no ferries and cheap parking. A nice relief after Seattle. Show season is officially heating up.

Speaking of heat; nothing on Kate. I think she is waiting for Nugget to come home. At least he is used to crate time now. It sure would have been nice to have had it over with while he was gone. Not to be. At this point I haven't a clue when she will come in. I'm sure she will surprise me one of these mornings. Perhaps if I plan something big for myself...

Grand girl number three turned five yesterday. How can it be? She is such a crack up. In typical fashion I gave her a kid safe digital camera. The older two both have them. It is such fun to see what they come up with. If I could only get their parents to download some pictures and send to me...tap, tap, tap.

The Daddy heard me tap and sent a pile of pictures. This little camera allows for some, uhhh, creative picture taking.

The birthday girl:


A picture she took of her Mommy:


And of her sister:


and one I took of her with the banner the girls made welcoming Mommy home:




The snow is coming down now, and it is quite pretty. Last night it was a raging storm on the east side of the Sound, and I was more than a little nervous about what home would hold. I had watched two of the girls for a couple of days, which meant I also had to borrow a car as my truck won't hold two booster seats. Then, of course, when time was up I needed to take the car, and kids, back. My truck snuggly tucked in the carport. It is only a wee bit over a mile from the house to the ferry dock, I think. So, I figured I would drop the car where it belonged and go back to spend some time with the kids, then my son would drop me at the ferry in the early afternoon when he went to pick up his wife at the airport. Nope. He went to work, then from work to the airport, then to the hospital to drop of wife's brother, then home. Then we have to take the girls and Mom to brother's house so she can get the nieces and take all the kids to swim lessons, which ended up being scratched as the mini van that she thought was parked in brother's garage was actually in use by HIS wife, so no room to take four kids to swimming in his small car. (Following this?) So, it is now five and the snow is coming down harder by the minute. Big, sloppy, wet. I get to the ferry and know it will be dark when I walk home. I can only hope it won't be as wet and cold as it would be walking a mile in the Seattle slop. It will be the 6:10 ferry out of Edmonds, so about 6:40 into Kingston. As we reach the halfway mark on Puget Sound I can see the lights in Kingston. That means that it is not raging as it was to the east. I tried to call the neighbor and no one was home, or perhaps no one was answering the phone. I will be walking.

It was pretty out. Very, very light snow falling. Very chilly, but I intend to power walk home, so that could be a good thing. I check my watch and it is 6:44 when I head off the ramp. All is good on the main drag...gee, maybe because there are streetlights!! As soon as I turned down the street that my little road leads off of, I could see that there would be issues requiring me to slow down. I could no longer see where I was stepping, for one. No street lights. There was just enough traffic that I could get a general idea of the layout and where my road began. No sidewalks, so I walked in the road unless a car was coming. Once I got to my gravel road I was in deep doo-doo. I got here, all is grand. I must admit to wanting to woo the man on the ferry with the little gas scooter. Five minutes after I got home the snow really started coming down. Time of arrival? 7:05. Not too bad considering I felt like I was crawling up my road. However, this is not something I would ever choose to do again.

So today I should be house cleaning, and instead I sit here at the computer. I watch the snow falling, and feel my sore throat, and am quite content with the two sleeping dogs at my feet.

So, halfway done with Nugget's time away. I am halfway sick with a sore throat and stuffy nose. My house is halfway clean.

It sure is pretty out there...

G2

My week of driving

It was a week of crazy for me, and for the truck. I suppose for Nugget as well. It was also a week of learning, a week of sushi eating, a week litter naming, a week of laughing, and a week of shedding a tear or two.

Nuggie bug is officially a grown up. He learned about what it takes to be a daddy dog. After two trips across the pond for that we loaded up and headed south for a three week stint with the handler. Boot camp for doggies. As with my oldest human son, this was a tough one as well. I really love the family he is with. It was surprisingly easy to leave him. Or so it seemed. What I find now is that I just can't think about him. I know after a few days it will be better. I know after that first call on Monday evening, when I hear that all is well, I will be better. I hope that by Monday Kate is also better.

Today when we went out to do chores and have the first morning "fetch" session I had to throw out three balls for two dogs. Neither of the other two would go after the first ball, as that has always been Nugget's ball. I guess he must be top dog, eh? So I did the obligatory throwing of the first pitch, then left it and played with the other two. These guys are so much into routine that it makes me insane.

Henry, for example, knows that first thing in the morning the dogs go outside, then I use the bathroom. As soon as he comes in he runs to the bathroom and sits at the doorway and barks for me. Like I don't know that I need to go? Perhaps I might have forgotten where it is? I often try to change up the routine just to mess with his head. And it does! However, there is only so long that I can do the potty dance before I really have to use the bathroom. (I must get the other toilet changed out so that I don't have to use the one that he insists I use!) I hate when people know "my routine" and I doubly hate that I am so predictable that even my dog knows it. (For what it is worth, if I don't feel I can wait for the dogs, then I leave my leg off and hop to the bathroom. None of the dogs budge from the bed unless I put my leg on. As soon as it is on it means "time to get up." sigh)

I looked up Kate's heat dates for the past three seasons and it looks like she could come in anywhere from about a week, to one month and two weeks. She has cycles that are 6-7.5 months in length. My luck will be that it will happen as Nugget returns. No, he will not get a crack at her yet. However, there are pups (hopefully) coming to my neck of the woods. Also hopefully one will be a suitable "wife" for the Nug-butt. Being new to this whole breeding dogs thing, and very much NOT superstitious, I think it may be time to announce that my girl will be Casper's mystery date next month. Stunning fronts, gi-normous ears, and for me (hopefully) an improved top line. The icing on the cake is that they really love each other. From the first visit she thought he was husband material. He seems pretty smitten with her as well. So, fingers crossed as Europe meets west coast...healthy little blue sushi rolls to come in late spring/early summer.

Enough thinking about dogs. I am feeling a bit "verklempt." Time to clean.

G2

Saturday morning

I had the opportunity to support some of the grandkids on their very first "race." I dusted off Uncle Morgan's cowbells and headed to the ferry.
This was also a 5K race that their Daddy was running.

As the crowd gathered I handed out the cowbells and the girls decided amongst themselves how they would be shared. It is a serious business to cheer on the adult runners.



and hard work!


Daddy couldn't stand still. He was a very proud man that day, watching his daughters and nieces prepare for their first race.


After he crossed the finish line, with great time, I might add...


It was time to prepare the kids for their race. There was stretching.


and of course the pep talk


the girls ran a fine race


Ribbons were handed out, but the best reward was this:


What a great day!!

G2

Lots of blue puppies

just saying...

Mark Thorson photo

This is one handsome hunk-a-burning-love.

You go, Casper.

My "big boy"

Yep, officially no longer a puppy, my Nugget.

He is to be off on his show adventure next week, but first up is a bit of business. I am just hoping that all will be right with the universe and he can do his thing and still make it to the handler on time.

The nail biting continues.

G2

The Nugg-man's prelims

look pretty darn good!

Next up is an eight show stint with a pro handler. My baby is growing up and I lose another kid to boot camp.

G2

Puppy love

Sunshine, palm trees and heavy metals

After three days of driving, way too much eating, a few not so nice words and gestures to drivers who don't know the definition of "merge" nor the fact that a big red truck can easily crush the "vaazz" in a VW bug, we made it to San Bernardino. (I still cannot believe that we drove here, 14 miles per gallon, 1400 miles, to show off our wonder dogs to judges that will, hopefully, overlook the fact that they are not striped. Did I just say that?)
So, I planned, I made lists, and I checked and double checked everything that was packed. I knew that something would be left behind, but all seemed in perfect order all the way down. Until we pulled into the parking lot here, and I began to unpack. My show clothes that I had carefully put in a garment bag and hung behind the driver's seat in my truck are still sitting in said garment bag in the aforementioned spot, in my truck, in Auburn. Understand that I detest shopping. I need to be able to run in, buy, and run out. All before the gauges on the truck have settled into their resting places. Now I get to go shopping in a strange place, with strange people, looking for dress up clothes, and I hate dressing up even more than shopping! I remember ever so carefully taking my shoes from the suitcase and zip them into the garment bag as it made so much more sense to have all those nice clothes together. Yep, I need to get shoes too. sigh.

Anyway, three tired dogs are resting near. We just did a small three mile hike in the sunshine. It was fantastic to get out and move. There is a bike trail right next to the motel, along the flood control reservoir. I want one next to my house. When I order it I will also be ordering this weather...

Let it now be known that my kennel name is "Galena." Look it up and you will find it is the primary ore mineral of lead. I wanted to somehow include Nugget in the name, and this adds the interesting twist of my second passion that has me trying to "get the lead out." So there you be. Nothing with seventeen vowels and consonants all strung together that I have to explain and pronounce. Simple, and quite pleasing to say. "Galena Cardigans."


With that said, I am going to enjoy a few quiet minutes before I have to smile and pretend to enjoy mingling with folks I don't know. Party pooper? Probably.

The sun; it is very nice. The palm trees serve to remind me that I am no longer in Washington, Toto. And the icing on the cake: a kennel name! This will be a nice weekend.

G2

The "new" dog

No, not this one:


This one!!


Kate. The new and, uh, improved version. Oh my!

Let's see. This morning I have removed her from the window sill three times. She just stands there and grins at me. Sometimes she will "woof" when she thinks she is smart, but she is really naughty. She is becoming adept at standing, and walking, on her hind legs. That puts her close (enough) to counter height. Raspy voiced Henry has taken on the role of fun police. I think the alert is more the idea that Kate might get something that Henry wants, but there is an almost constant raspy bark sounding the past few days. I have had to put planks on top of the living room crates. That is how she gets on the window sills. She goes from the chair, to the grooming table, to a crate, to the window sill (and now back to the crate, to a chair, and down). Then she won't go back on the crate as she can't see where she is putting her feet as she would be jumping up on to it. I fear she could break a toe, or worse. So now she is delighted as she has a route around the room that the other two have no intention on even trying...for now. That, of course, gets Henry barking. Which makes her smile, woof, jump down, and start at the beginning. If she weren't so darn cute with that stupid grin, giant ears...I might have to kill her!

I have re-fallen in love with her. She is no longer eating books. That helps. She is just a different dog now. Instead of waking me by incessant licking, she nudges and wags her tail. I wake up to her goofy grin. Her housebreaking is still spotty (yeah, literally) so once awake I put on the leg and make a beeline to the door to let her out. On those days I didn't I had a puddle to clean up. However, now I go back to bed. No matter the time. If only for ten minutes. Darned if they get to dictate my REAL up time.

So we begin a new phase in our lives together. Missy "Good" hips and I. With a grin on both of our faces and a positive future, we negotiate the twists and turns...and window sills.

G2

Happy Birthday, Nugget

One year ago today a stunning litter whelped in Happy Valley. I was going to let yesterday's post suffice, but I couldn't stop myself this morning. So, I will just do a quick Happy, Happy, Day to my three favorite new one year olds:

Coedwig's Alchemist, AKA Nuggett



Coedwig's Sensation, AKA Shea



Coedwig's Blue Dahlia, AKA Flower



What a great year it has been. I look forward to the future!

G2