Beth, Squeaker & The Eagle

Beth worships this ball. 

Today we were walking along the levee on the Carbon River.  I have been taking the dogs on their walks two at a time rather than all four at once.  This time I had Beth and Ranger.   Beth was in Heaven chasing her squeaker ball.  Ranger was in Heaven sniffing and  peeing in the bushes.

As usual I would throw the ball as we were walking at a nice clip, Beth captured it, then squeaked and squeaked and squeaked.

Today we learned one other species is intrigued by this ball. 

As Beth was obsessively squeaking her ball I heard a very loud "SCREEEECH" right above my head.

I was confused...

Then I heard it again, "SCREEEEECH" this time closer...

Strangely enough the 'screech' sounded amazingly like the darn ball.  Just louder, longer, a bit gravelly and for some reason airborne. 

I looked up.  Swooping approximately 20 feet above my head was a very large bald eagle. 

I saw his eyeball peepers.

He saw my eyeball peepers.

I saw what he was looking at...one Border Collie laying on the ground squeaking her ball over and over and over again.

I calmly asked Beth to leave it...which she did.  I picked the ball up and put it in my pocket and called the dogs close. 

The eagle was entirely too curious for my taste.

As we walked back to the car, he followed us...flying from tree to tree...

Watching....

The Bald Eagle was easily as  big as Beth...if not a tad bigger.  The salmon run on the Carbon has been record numbers - good eating for all of Orting's bald eagles.  The salmon habitat restoration and conservation efforts have increased the amount of nesting pairs of bald eagles in our area..  They are plentiful, healthy and oh so majestic. 

Thankfully a Border Collie wasn't lunch today. *whew*

Here is a neat video of a nesting pair of bald eagles filmed less than 1/2 mile from my house.

Katie - One Year

Today marks one year that Katie slipped peacefully away in my arms.

Not a day goes by that I do not think of her.

She was my 'heart' dog.  Rarely if ever straying far from my side. 

Katie came from a farm where she tended sheep the first 8 years of her life then was dumped in a shelter for killing chickens.  Katie watched over me and my children the remaining 9 years.  She passed at the ripe old age of 17.

Katie was preceded in death by her companion Elmo in 2005.

 Elmo passsed shortly after he had surgery to repair a splenic torsion.

Ironically he died the same day I was in the hospital having my own gastric torsion repaired (my stomach had slipped up into my chest cavity & wrapped around my esophagus putting pressure on my heart). Funny...John and I were married then three days after our wedding he had to put my dog down while I was recovering from major surgery.  I wonder if it was prophetic of our life together.   I digress...

These two dogs saw my children through many years growing up.  Their passing served a vivid reminder of my own transition into middle age. 

Charlie saw the dogs coming and going...he too passed earlier this year at 17 y/o.

In December 2007 Ranger joined our family

Katie welcomed Beth in Feb 2008

Katie patiently tolerated the puppy Bonnie when she joined our pack in August 2008.

Our pack was complete.  But Katie was growing weary.  With a tumor wrapped around her spine, she slowed, then finally one morning I knew it was time.

I had plans to spread Katie's ashes this summer at the beach.

The morning came for me to do it.  I brought her ashes down to the beach, just me with the dogs.  I sat down and thought of all the wonderful times Katie witnessed in our family.  The sad times she sat quietly by my side asking for little.

Lifting my spirits with a ball dropped in my lap, or a cold nose shoved into the back of my knee.  A shadow at my son's side through his illness.

I cried and knew I couldn't let her go.  Her ashes sit here with me as I type this -  Perhaps, one day I can let her go...just not yet.

Video dedication to Katie - I wonder when I will be able to watch this and not cry.  I miss her dearly. 

Who is the Queen?

Beth has always worn the crown in this court.

 

For too long I, Bonnie,  have been a lowly princess.

 

Little did she know I have been quietly awaiting the perfect opportunity to usurp her reign.

 The time has come for me to act.

 

With trusty Sgt. Ranger by my side. 

 

Ranger like all soldiers before him, defending our rights.  Today Ranger is called to action to help me obtain the crown. 

Fighting for my honor.

 

Ranger calls in the air strike

 

TAKE COVER! 

 

Beth didn't know what hit her

 

Kiss my paws.  

 

Doesn't the ermine in the cloak and crown look pretty with my fur? 

"What is up with this pointy hat on my head?"

"Where is my crown?"

I am wearing the crown Beth.

"Girly you are welcome to it.  Never wanted it anyway...."

"Let me remind you young Bonnie"

"You will have work hard to keep that crown on your head, because your sister Brynn can kick your butt already."

"There had better be a ball under this stupid dress or I am going to luxate your patella's."

 

"Uhhh Bonnie, you may want to reconsider this..."

"I like my patella's right where they are."

Ranger is proud to borrow the uniform of a US Army Special Forces soldier (1st SFG, Fort Lewis, WA).  We honor all who wear or have worn a uniform.  Our hearts are with you & your families, near and far.

Thank you for your service. 

Brynn's Lesson with Scott Glen

Due to my camera at the hands of my husband, the pictures from our Scott Glen lessons are not great.  I am trying to go through them and pick out the best.  I will be posting them slowly. 

John shot a very long video of Brynn's lesson with Scott (Scott gave his permission to film it).  John propped the camera on a post and ate sunflower seeds (which you can hear).  The wind was blowing (you can hear that too) and he forgot to zoom in - so the video is at a long distance.  You can hear Scott occasionally...and often hear my nervous laughter.  Mostly you just get to see Brynn zipping around the sheep.

But what warmed the cockles of my heart?  I thought she was awesome and Scott said she was a "right good pup" or something like that.

In my lesson Scott took me back to basics.  How to use the flag correctly.  Flick it, get the reaction, turn her nose...then put it away.  Don't keep snapping it over and over at her & desensitize her to it.  He showed me how & when to walk into her to get the distance I need off the sheep.  He reminded me "she goes where her nose follows".  Where her nose is pointed - she will go in that direction.  Among other things.

These are things I didn't do correctly with Bonnie and now I am paying the consequences.

We talked a lot about my relationship with my dogs.  It is showing in the instruction process.  I am still trying to wrap my brain around it and hopefully I can explain this correctly.  From what I understood Scott believes the relationship you have with your dog is indicative of how they will work for you. 

I can see where he is coming from.  If they get my love, affection and approval (for lack of any other word) just for breathing it could interfere with their drive to work for me.  Which in turn may contribute to the lack of work ethic.  

One thing that really pleased me in this lesson was Brynn's reaction to Scott.  I finally have a dog that doesn't seem to be fazed by an instructor like Scott.  Bonnie has a history of high tailing it out of the field when she feels pressure from an instructor (Pat Shannahan, Karen Child, Scott Glen).  You name it.  Beth doesn't respond to pressure well either.  Especially with Scott - I have a different dog during the lesson than I have in the field by myself.

Scott gave me some excellent things to think about.  Perhaps I am creating this lack of desire to work under pressure?  What is your opinion?  Do you think if your dogs sleep in your house and/or spend the majority of their days with you - are in all respects pampered - do you think that impacts the quality of their work?  Or drive to please you?  I am still trying to process this in my head...I would love to hear your thoughts.

Brynn made me happy...*insert goofy happy grin here*.  She is wonderful.  I love her oodles.   While the video quality is poor, hopefully you can see that she is keen, comes nicely into balance consistently - she is quick, but she is thoughful.  I could see her brain working - thinking, and processing every step she took.  Mind you, I know she is only 10 months old and not ready for serious training yet.  Anything I do with her over he next few months will be light, fun and easy. 



On the other hand....I am not happy about seeing my fat lardy butt hoofing it around the field.  My weight loss effort has stalled - actually it has come to a grinding halt, and even reversed (I have gained some back).  I hit a plateau & have been going through a very stressful period and gave up.  I need to get back on the wagon and try again.  Dang left over Halloween candy isn't helping...

Camera Suggestions?

If you are a photographer....can I pick your brain?

I need help...well... beyond the obvious mental health concerns, I was hoping to get some much needed input for a new camera. 

My current camera is a Canon Powershot A650 IS

This has been a very nice camera to start with.  It shoots nice pictures (when the operator is paying attention to what she is doing) and a good quality video.  But I am looking to upgrade.  I am enrolling in a photography class at our local college next quarter and want a good camera to use for that class and to continue with my new favorite hobby.

It has taken pictures like this...

This one makes me smile

I dont have photo editing software, beyond what came with my camera (Lexmark).  I can crop, adjust the color saturation, contrast, brightness...etc.  Just the basics.

But if you look at my pictures, you will see that only the stills (or semi still) pictures are decent (in focus - sorta).  Because when I am taking pictures I am watching the stupid little red box that tells me what is in focus or not.   

 In this picture the red box was on the log.  When you are trying to snap pictures of dogs, especially border collies that move at a high rate of speed, that stupid red box becomes cumbersome and annoying.  (Ranger is also back lit, which makes this shot difficult for me). 

I am going to try this one again in the afternoon so the sun will be in front of him rather than behind him.

Isn't he just the goofiest dog in the world?   I need a better camera just so I can appropriately document Ranger for all posterity.  Your world would be richer, the world could be at peace. 

 The red box limits the Rangerfication of the world.  In this shot, I got the red box on Ranger, not the river, grass or leaves.  So Ranger is in focus - sorta. 

Bonnie has such nice clean teeth.  Raw meaty bones are awesome.  Got the box in the right spot.  I like it when that happens. 

My action shots suck.  I am sure most of this has to do with the lighting and my preset settings that I use on my camera.  I was stunned I actually got this shot...but it would be cool if Brynn were in focus, instead of Ranger.

In case you are wondering...she caught the Frisbee. 

Typically my action shots are fuzzy and blurry.

 Truthfully I have no idea what I  need in a camera.  I have fiendishly devoured a multitude of websites dedicated to photography basics, i.e. Pioneer Woman Photography.  I have tried to read other websites telling me I need this or that about cameras & varying opinions (e.g. nikon vs canon).  I have talked to people....I am still  dazed, confused...befuddled.  

What I know is this...

• I want to take action shots and or stills of my dogs in various situations.  Photographing my children  is not a high priority.  They are seared into my memory forever (trauma has a way of doing that).  But the occasional picture of a human would be nice too - I guess. 
  
• In taking action shots or stills I want my camera to be able to take pictures quickly.  With my current camera I have to wait 18 - 30 seconds between each shot.  
  
• I want to be able to take close up pictures (my current camera sucks at this) I guess this is the lens?
  
• I want to have a decent amount of pixels - so I can have some fun with editing and larger pictures - or does this even matter?
  
• It would be nice to have video capability (but not necessary - I can use my other camera for that)
  
• Lens options (ideally what I need will come in a package).  
• Relatively idiot proof (cuz I am an idiot) so some good pre-settings.  
• Manual settings for use in the photography course
  
• Desire package (camera and lens) under $1,000.00 in price

The camera I am eyeballing is the Canon EOS Digital Rebel T1i

 Is this a good choice? 

Or do I choose Nikon?  Why Nikon?  Why Canon?   Why do my panties bunch up under my jeans? 

So many questions, so little time.

Thanks for all the advice and/or suggestions you can offer.