Happy Stuff

I have not died, nor have I been sucked into a black hole.  I would say I have been busy.  But that is only partly the truth. 

I am having issues. 

Today I was experiencing the day in a series of WTF's at a rate of 5 per  minute.  This morning I found a pair of shoes in the freezer.  Why were there shoes in the freezer?  Did I put them there?  What possible purpose does it serve to have shoes in the freezer? 

This weekend my mother came to visit and she attended the Vashon Island Sheepdog Trial with me on Friday & my daughter's baby shower on Saturday. 

I refuse to discuss the baby shower.  I am still traumatized.  

So, I will tell you about the trial.  Beth did well.  She placed second on the first run after a crazy lower fetch that went wildly offline (handler error) - but she recovered from my ineptitude.  Then she placed 3rd in the second run - with the same issues on the fetch.  I need to work on a few things with my depth perception (get new glasses) and remembering which way is COUNTER clockwise (wrong way around the post).  

Brynn exceeded my expectations & the issues we have been having on the fetch (not taking flanks) seem to be working out nicely.  I retired her first run when the tough range ewes ran back for the set out pens.  I was expecting to run 200 yards up the field, but she still managed to get behind them and bring them to me after a brief struggle at the top (cross over) & even made her fetch panels (took all the flanks on the fetch. YEAH!)   Her second run we ended with a score of 41.  She made her fetch panels again, then blew the sheep right past me and through the drive panels - right over the hill and out of sight.  Eventually they came back and she brought them back through the drive panels and wild-n-crazy circles all the way to the pen.   Alas we got a wee bit mixed up after that and the drive was crazy (my fault) but we finished on a good note & retired at the pen just like everyone else did.  

I was very happy with my dogs.  Their handler needs some work though.  Must be her frozen shoes. 

Beth has been enjoying her winnings. 

Another wonderful thing happened this afternoon.  I spent the entire morning discouraged.  Worried about my unemployed status, the kids, world peace & the gum stuck to the bottom of the toilet seat. 

Then I saw this. 

The Pioneer Woman - YOUR Favorite Photos:  Group 5

I submitted one photo for consideration on Saturday evening.  My favorite photo of Brynn...evah! 

Ree chose it for Group 5. 

*insert happy dancing hamster here*  

Brynn gets to make more people smile!  YEAH! 

Somethings just make you wet your pants with happiness.  Time to go change my undies now...and take the shoes out of the freezer. 

Brynn says "Smile!"  Have a happy Tuesday! 

Border Collies in Action Calendar

Just a quick post for now.  Life & sunshine has been getting in the way of blogging.  Between working dogs, trips to the river and sleep I have been putting together a few posts about our trip to Idaho among other things.

Ranger has been keeping us busy too.  His latest antic?  He found the seam ripper that was on my sewing desk...and chewed it up.  All the while it poked & chewed up his mouth.   

It will take a few days before he stops whining while he eats.   *insert long suffering sigh here*

Why, oh, why do dogs persist on chewing things when they hurt?

"Cuz I am Ranger...like 'doh dude." 

Ranger is as Ranger does. 

 
He will be fine - alas none the smarter.

Moving on...

This week we found out that three of our pictures will be featured in the Border Collies in Action 2011 calendar.  On the suggestion of a friend I submitted a few of our favorite shots for review for their calendar.  Later they posted a contest for a people's choice award.  While we did not win, our pictures were selected to be included.  Two will be featured on 'month' pages and one is an honorable mention and will be featured as a smaller photo.

Here are our pictures that were selected.

A portrait of "Brynn".  This is one of my favorite pictures of her.  You can see the kids reflected in her eyes and her expression shows how much she adores them.  The way she has tilted her head is so typical for her - inquisitive and anticipating the next move.  She is wet from playing in water - her second favorite thing in the world.  Technically the picture is spot on perfect - but the back ground was less than desirable so I overlay-ed a texture to mask the ugliness behind her.  I love the whole effect. 

Technical Mumbo Jumbo:

Camera:	Canon EOS 7D
Exposure:	0.005 sec (1/200)
Aperture:	f/5.0
Focal Length:	210 mm
ISO Speed:	400

"Ranger & Bonnie"  Another one of my favorite shots.  Amazing that Bonnie isn't hanging off Ranger's neck, or have an evil look in her eye.  Just two dogs having fun racing through the water.  What I really love about this shot is the fact that I did little to no post processing (other than a crop) just one of those lucky shots straight out of the camera that captured their personalities perfectly.

Technical Mumbo Jumbo:

Camera:	Canon EOS 7D
Exposure:	0.002 sec (1/640)
Aperture:	f/5.6
Focal Length:	300 mm
ISO Speed:	1000

The honorable mention is "Ranger under a Log"  By far my favorite picture of Ranger...like, you know...evah!  Another straight out of the camera lucky shot.  No post processing - other than a quick crop.  This is the shot that exhibits my camera's capability and how much I have learned on this photographic journey.  Perfectly exposed, gorgeous lighting, spot on focus, lovely composition...ohhhh the music to an aspiring photographers soul.  This shot was a complete accident.  Ranger had been hopping under this huge log at the river, digging furiously in the sand, the popping his head out to see if he got the other dog's attention.  The sunlight lit up his eyes and face perfectly...his expression makes me smile.  Quintessential Ranger. 

Technical Mumbo Jumbo:

Camera:	Canon EOS 7D
Exposure:	0.001 sec (1/1000)
Aperture:	f/5.0
Focal Length:	90 mm
ISO Speed:	160

To see all the pictures that were selected click on link below. 

BORDER COLLIES IN ACTION PEOPLE'S CHOICE AWARD

"True Love" Photo Contest Winner

Wow! A picture our friend Vivian shot of John with her dog Eliott is one of the winners of Raising Addie's True Love Photo Contest.

(Click on picture below for larger image)



Vivian is 'Red Dog Photography' located in Grays Harbor County, WA. She shot this photo in Feb 2008. The same day we adopted Beth from her. Vivian has been instrumental in placing hundreds of border collies in their new homes through Pacific Northwest Border Collie Rescue. When she isn't busy with Border Collies she also volunteers a large amount of her time with PAWS. (She inspired me to begin fostering). She conveys her "True Love" of dogs through her amazing photography.

Thank you Raising Addie for your wonderful contest!

Please stop by Raising Addie and check out all the beautiful pictures that were submitted with the theme of "True Love".