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 !!!!