TMT 2012 - #15

I just finished working in the garden - weeding, planting tomatoes and peppers and watering. I'm a little slow this year getting things done, but I love to garden - vegies and flowers. But I'm tuckered out and got a glass of tea and plopped down at the computer to "rest" a little. And low and behold, but Laura is back!!! Oh yeah - she now has a new name - The Pruninator!!!! Wish she would come to my house - got a few trees and bushes to work on!

1. Are you a morning person? A night owl? Do you pop out of bed with song and happiness? Do you hit your stride after dark? 

I am definitely a "DO NOT TALK TO ME UNTIL I HAVE HAD MY FIRST CUP OF COFFEE (OR MAYBE EVEN MY SECOND"!! But I love getting up early and enjoying the cool of the morning - love to see the sunrise, hear the birds sing, smell the dew etc. etc. All with a cup of coffee in hand and no human voices!! After about 30 minutes, I'm good to go for the whole day! Like to be in bed by 10:30 - you know gotta watch the evening news. When I was a kid, I never could see why my parents watched the news!! It is definitely a grown up thing - but I only watch the weather and the sports!

2. What is your favorite candy? 

Milky Way Dark!!! The best ever. But basically anything chocolate is fine with me!! At Christmas time I usually make home made chocolate covered cherry nougat candy - then my daughter and I see who can eat the most without getting sick!! I usually can eat the most! LOL

3. What is your biggest driving pet peeve? 

Oh my goodness, can I get on my soap box!!! I promise I will keep it short enough that it will only take one cup of coffee!!

MY BIGGEST DRIVING PET PEEVE:

People who drive small cars and then pull out in front of me! Remember I drive this:

A One Ton Ford 4X4 with a ranch hand grill guard. Don't those people realize that if I hit them -

THEY WILL LOSE!!! I'm bigger than they are.

SECOND BIGGEST DRIVING PET PEEVE:

People driving small cars that pull out in front of me when I'm driving the big red PU pulling a loaded 20 foot goose neck stock trailer going 60 miles an hour - it does not STOP ON A DIME!!!! DON'T THEY KNOW THEY WILL LOSE!!!!!!

What's funny -  it happens a lot!!! One time I swear I could smell the guy's pants when I nearly hit him! Serves him right!!! I think there should be a law that states that in order for any one to get a driver's license they have to drive my PU pulling a trailer and have some one in a little car pull out in front of them!!! (won't be me - they might hit me!!)

Okay - maybe it took a whole pot of coffee!!


4.  How do you prepare yourself and your dogs for summer?

Pray for winter!!!! My dogs live outside year round, so they acclimate well. The dog runs are surrounded by trees and they have big water tubs to climb in. Unless there is a ranch emergency, we try to do all of our stock work early in the mornings or late in the evenings. Did I mention pray for winter! Oh yeah pray for lots of rain and cool days! Pray for winter to come soon!

5.  Lets talk about grass in your dog yard. Do you have any? How much maintenance do you do? 

Nope, no grass in the dog runs, though they are dirt runs. There are a few weeds - I just leave them. Don't have much grass in the real yard either - mow the weeds and call it good! Did I mention - I pray for lots of rain - takes rain to grow grass - oh yeah it's cooler then too!

Now I'm rested, refreshed and ready for the rest of the day! Thanks Laura - when are you coming with the pruners? Or do I need to go prune my own rose bushes?!!! LOL

Happy Trails to Ya'll

TMT 2012 #14

Thanks Jaenne' for hosting TMT - life is crazy for everyone - and I'm just now getting around to posting!

1. Give me at least one good thing that has happened recently - dog wise and non-dog wise or both.

Non-dog wise: Our son just got married on Easter weekend! We had such a good time. Here are some pictures if you want to take a peek!

Dog wise: Bess is doing awesome!! She turned 1 year old on the 18th - and it is such a joy to work with because she is a dog that not only loves me, but loves to do her job! Tate is still stepping up to the plate and proving to be indispensable helping me here on the ranch. We're shedding!!!!! Now to just convert all that to a trial field!! LOL The first spring trial that I'm able to participate in is May 12 and 13 - so we've been practicing trial field stuff too!

2. How did you end up working in the field/profession that you are currently in?

I was raised on a ranch in north central Colorado/south central Wyoming and then I married a rancher from Texas - so though I am college educated and worked outside the home for a few years - I'm the stay at home Mom (kids are all grown) promoted to number one ranch hand. And wouldn't change a thing!

3. What kind of response to you get when people ask you what your hobbies are and you answer:
"I train and trial Border Collies"? 

Different responses ranging from "duh" what's that? to Wow, that's cool. I haven't interviewed for a job in 30 years, so it is just people I'm newly meeting that ask that, so I don't feel too "committed" to give a good impression - but if they want to listen - I'll talk about it!!

Thanks again Jaenne'!! Sorry I've missed a couple, but I love reading what everyone writes!!

Have a great weekend!

TMT 2012 - #13

I've missed a couple TMT's , but am glad to get back in to the groove!! Thanks Jaenne` for hosting this fun linky party!

1. One thing you would totally redo (if you could) in regards to dog training?

I would totally do Liesl differently. I'm not sure what it would be, I just know that what I did didn't work. I've had dogs all my life, a couple of different breeds, and have always felt like I accomplished what I set out to do with each dog. With each dog my goals may have changed, but none the less I have felt successful. Liesl is 2 1/2 and I still can not trust her when I work stock. She is extremely inconsistent: sometimes she works like a champion and then sometimes she works like she has never had any training at all.  For the first time, I'm considering sending her to an outside trainer to get another opinion.

2. One thing that you enjoyed doing in the past that you no long participate in (dog or non-dog related)?

I kinda miss hauling my kids around to stock shows, rodeos and horse playdays. I miss seeing them compete in those activities and interacting with their friends and parents.

3. Best dog and/or training books that you have read (fiction or non-fiction).

Big Red by Jim Kjelgaard. In fact I love every one of his books! I have to confess, that I have never read a training book, but have watched lots of videos and talked to lots of people one on one.

4. What is the best part of dog trialing for you?

Competing. I am extremely competitive, but in a healthy way. I really just compete against myself - always trying to better each thing that my dog and I do. I like to try and 'out think' the stock and be a team with my dog. The next best thing is watching dogs work - just love it. Then the fellowship with fellow handlers is a big plus!

5. Puppy Pictures!!!!!!

Pete playing with his littermates (he's on the top!):

Bess:

Happy Trails to Ya'll !!!!

TMT 2012 #9

Yeah - a free for all edition of TMT - I can hardly wait to read what everyone puts down!!!

Random thoughts - sometimes I have them - but maybe I think too highly of myself - I think my thoughts are concrete and very constructive!!! lol Hubby tells me that my 400 HP brain functions way too much!!!

But I do have new pictures - not of Tate, though, just of Pete,  Liesl, and Bess.

Pete will 7 months old tomorrow! He has sure grown - check out his puppy picture in the side bar!

Isn't he a handsome fellow - all you girls dogs are droolin' I know!!!!

I know these aren't the best pictures, but it does show Liesl working goats. She is doing fairly well in her training. She and I still have our "alpha female" moments, but she does love to work!!

And here are some awesome still shots of Bess. She is about 10 1/2 months old and is coming along fine in her training. She is so biddable and INTENSE!!! We still have a long way to go, cause we're still in the round pen, but I'm in no hurry and I want to do things for her benefit!

And finally here is a very, very short (don't blink you might miss the action - but you won't be bored!) video clip of Bess working goats.

P.S. The chicken in the video is for your benefit Laura!!! LOL

Disclaimer: No chickens were injured or killED in this filming - just a few ruffled feathers!!

HAPPY TRAILS TO YA'LL !!!

Tell Me Thursday 2012 #8

Missed you last week, but alas the time flew by for me and didn't get around to catching up. Glad the Crazy Mobile is functional!! I hope you get ever mile you need out of her!!

1. What blogging tip would you give other dog bloggers? 

Enjoy commenting on each others blogs! When I comment and get a response, I always learn something I didn't know!!

2. If you were stranded on a deserted island, and could have five things with you (aside from the clothes on your back) what would they be?

 I chose "things" but I would also really like have with me:

My Sweet Cowboy!

3. How much pain are you willing to endure in the name of physical appearance? 

I shave my legs - sometimes I cut myself!!

Do you have painful things done to enhance beauty? 

Nope - I'm beyond hope in that department! What you see is what you get! Besides I'm kinda cheap and lazy.

4. Speed limits...how fast do you drive. Do you drive Miss Daisy? Do you do the Indy 500 to work? 

I drive this:

It is a 2000 model 1 ton FWD Power Stroke Diesel Ford. It gets about 16 mpg, diesel costs $3.89 (last time I fueled up). So..... I drive SLOW!!!!

5.  What trial (that you go to) is your favorite and why? 

The Armadillo SDT in Fredrickburg, Texas hosted by John and Kathy Lewis. They were some of the first people I met when I started trialing and they have become good friends. John always encourages me! He puts on a good trial - I like the field - though sometimes his sheep are a little wacko. We eat lunch on the grounds. We help out - set up pens, scribe, etc. It is in October, so it usually isn't too hot and it is only about 1 1/2 hour drive away. And I usually do pretty well there!!

Thanks Laura for another thought provoking installment of TMT 2012!

Until Next Time - Happy Trails to You!!

TMT 2012 #7

Wow, #7 already!! Where does the time go?!!

1. Jorgan would like to know: what skill would you like to have that you currently don't have?

Play the violin. I love violin music, and to be able to produce that music would be awesome!

Dog training skill: Teach the "stand" command to Tate.

2. If someone was going to play you in a movie, who do you think it would be?

Meryl Streep - she played Margaret Thatcher and remember I would have made a great Prime Minister!!

 or Glenn Close. She played in the "Sarah Plain and Tall" series and that character is almost me. Besides they are both blonde (I'm blonde but not a ditsy blonde, nor are they), they are close to my age (some older though) and I consider them real classy ladies!

3. Kelsey wants to know what is a quality in a dog that you admire but would never fit with you?

That's a tough one - I'm pretty new to the trialing training, but have been around dogs all my life. I have four BCs right now, all of whom are different in several areas. I focus on the strong points of each dog and work accordingly. There are times I wish Tate was stronger, or that Liesl wasn't quite so independent, but I think I could work with almost any dog in any situation. Maybe I admire a dog with a lot of bite, but don't want to always have to be getting after them.

4. If you had enough money to pay someone to do just one chore, what would it be?

Ironing. I loved clothes that are ironed, but don't really like to iron. I like it when I am done!

5.  Are you a procrastinator, a doitnower, or somewhere in between?

Ironing - definitely a procrastinator. Most everything else I'm a doitnower, My motto is "eat the pie crust first, then you have the filling to finish up with".  I loved my paternal grandmother very much, but she made the very worst pie crust, but had the absolutely best cherry pie filling. I was raised in the era "if you put it on your plate, you better eat it!!" So, every Thanksgiving I ate the pie crust first and finished up with the cherries!! (I still eat all pie that way today, and I make awesome pie crust and love it!) That's how I approach getting things done. Do the things you don't like first, and then the things you like to do will be last!

Thanks Laura, for another great session!!

TMT Addendum - On Saturday

Okay, had to address Laura's TMT question about power tools - found a new one that I LOVE to use!!! Talk about controlled power!!

IMPACT WRENCH

+

AIR COMPRESSOR 

And I put 16 lug nuts on in record time!!!

I think I could give Tim Allen a run for his money and start my own TOOL TIME!!!!!
Especially if Laura Carson has her comedy show right before!!!