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