THE ICE-man COMETH ;o)

As February winds down and I sit looking out over our pond with yet another "work weekend" snowstorm (our southern neighbors getting rain!), I'm struck by the "ICE" influences of the month ...


 "Sorbet" and Her Pups Hours Old ;o)



5 Boys & 3 Girls at 2 Weeks



 The day after Sutter's 9th birthday, the "ICE" litter was born to Lyric's lil' sister "Sorbet" ... we had just finished Sutter's Thursday morning Agility class and Willow & Margo's practice time, when we got the message "The puppies are coming" ... so we jumped on I91 and arrived (for the first time) in time for the birth of all 8 pups ... the first one needed help from the vet, the second just popped out at the vet's and the other 6 were birthed in the warmth of their own whelping box at home ... it was an extra special time for me for a few reasons ... one being that as I looked into Sorbet's eyes before, during and after the births, I got a "heart touging" message from my sweet girl Lyric ...

Thank you Kara, Jean, Duane and Sorbet for letting me share in those 8 special lil' gifts ... I'm thoroughly enjoying every chance for a "puppy fix" ;o)

NOT your Agility 180 turn!!!

As February days flirted with temps of windy -1 to sunny 50 degrees, the yard and driveway could easily be managed with boots on crunchy snow for a couple weeks and then quickly deteriorated to needing "spikes" on the boots and sanded tracks to get out of the yard ... on one very innocent morning after a very pretty overnite dusting of fluffy snow, the girls and I headed out for our Monday morning 11am class ... we allowed extra time by leaving at 9:30a for an hour drive ... Woahhh, 3/4 up the driveway and the tires started spinning and we weren't going any further "OH CRAP" (that cleans-up the actual words that came out of my mouth ... forgive me Lord) ... Hummm, only choice at this point was to back down the driveway ... experts say "when in a skid, take your foot off the brake ... steer in the direction of the skid  blahhh, blahhh, blahhh" ... the girls and I experienced not one but three 180 degree spins, before it became apparent that "sanding" was the order of the day if we had any hopes of getting out of the yard!

Ordinarily, that may have been a sign to just stay home ... but this day was extra special ... it was our "Foster" pup "Margo's" graduation day from 1st grade ... our exciting completion of 7 fun weeks of a class called "Basic Pet I" shared with her 5 month old sister "Madison" and brother "Spenser" ... we just couldn't miss it ... long story short, we made it, nerves a little frayed and were only 1/2 hour late (traffic behind snowplows were going 30 in 50 mph zones in 3 towns!) to complete the class ... Graduation certificate, beautiful rosette ribbon and a dog biscuit as big as Margo handed to us from teacher Anne ... such a proud Foster Mom (sorry, in all the events of the morning, we forgot the photo)  ... when we left the graduation and playtime after for the pups, the sun was shinning brightly ;o)

Willow, Margo, Sutter

The other day, while splitting and hauling firewood on a gorgeously sunny day (boot spikes still needed on the icy yard), I couldn't resist bringing the LaFlumma recliner from the porch (where the kayaks hang awaiting Spring) and taking time-out to kick-back in the warm sun ... the girls were intrigued and gathered 'round ... and the rest is captured in the above photo!


Margo Challenges Sutter & Willow!



Margo still spends my workdays off with us and the fun those 3 have just bring me so many "stop and smell the roses" moments and of course, "Kodak moments" go without saying ... she shares adventures like our travels south to Massachusetts the other day to celebrate some "birthday" time and share yummy gifts with my Mom who turns 86 on Sunday ;o)

Girls Explore Pond's Winter Things!



As I ready to hit "Publish Post",  6" of snow has accumulated outside the back door, tiny birds are flocking to the feeders and I am contemplating my travels to work tonight ...



Precious ;o)







TAKE TIME to APPRECIATE THE GOOD THINGS ;o)

Agile Sutter Turns 9yrs on February 9th ;o)

THIS GIRL NEVER FAILS TO AMAZE ME ;o)

CEDAR POND SUTTER

"SUTTER"

2-9-2002

Last weekend, I signed up at the last minute to "audit" (without dog) an Advanced/Masters Agility workshop presented by an US-International Agility team member ... during the course of the day, I asked a question about a particular turn ... "How would that move look?" I asked ... In my mind I was sure it would send my "wild child" Sutter "zooming" straight ahead and out of the ring ... first the presenter used me as "the dog" to demonstrate the best move by the handler ... "call your dog over the first jump, silently turn 45 degrees as you drop your arm to your side, then pivot as you signal your dog over this jump at your left side and around and on to that tunnel in front of you ..." Now it needs to be said here that straight ahead Sutter sees a tunnel and straight out of the tunnel ahead of her is the ring fence and FREEDOM from stress!
"Do you have your dog here", the presenter asked ... "yes, in the car, but you don't want her to do this" and I looked at our instructor for confirmation that Sutter wasn't the dog to demonstrate with ... "Go get her" and with that the 10 working participants chimed in "yah, go get her" and they waited while I ran out to my van ... I returned winded and nervously putting Sutter through some of our "focus" dance moves and then entered the ring, while the presenter continued to talk with the group ... I quickly run Sutter back & forth through a tunnel several times ;o)
The presenter complimented me on taking time to focus my dog ... "Ok leave your dog at that jump and come to this second jump, signal and call your dog, then drop your arm and turn..." Sutter, as I predicted, ran right by me and through the tunnel ahead of us ... I quickly called her and WHEW she returned to me (embarassed, I nervously gave her treats for coming back) ... "Ok, take your dog back and do it again..." On the repeat, Sutter repeated her run to the tunnel and happily returned to my frantic whistle! "This time repeat everything and as you drop your arm/turn, simply say HERE and complete the 360 degree turn, signaling her over the jump and then on to that tunnel!"
SHOCKER of all SHOCKERS ... I released Sutter, dropped my right arm as I started to pivot to my left and said "here" ...  Sutter came to my side, pivoted 360 degrees over the jump on my left and continued on to the tunnel she'd taken previously ... with successful completion, everyone spontaneously clapped and cheered ... it felt like my mouth had dropped to my feet ... Sutter returned to my call and I happily dropped to my knees to hug, praise and repeatedly feed her handfulls of many yummy treats from my pocket ... the presenter thanked us for being such willing "guinea pigs" ... there were so many compliments that followed and the presenter told the group that "there are some International teams that don't work as well together as that" ... our instructor asked me if that made the 9 years of training Sutter worth it!

ONLY THOSE WHO KNOW SUTTER's "ZOOMIE" WAYS COULD POSSIBLY KNOW MY THRILL!

NINE wonderful years with this special "independent/agile" girl, who never fails to surprise me over, over and over again ... she's filled my life with companionship, challenges, frustrations, questions, smiles, and experiences too numerous to list ... Once again sweet girl, you've amazed me and made me sooo proud ;o)

HAPPY 9TH BIRTHDAY SWEET SUTTER ... and we'll continue to love, train and learn more about each other EVERY DAY  :-))

Willow & SunKissed "Catch" Litter Turn 1 Year

SUNKISSED CATCH A GLIMPSE OF THE FULL MOON

"WILLOW"

1-28-10

(Mom-Sophie::Dad-Apollo)

HAPPY FIRST BIRTHDAY SWEET GIRL WILLOW ;o)

(Sisters - Dazzle & Jess and Brothers - Scout, Skipper, Murphy & Crosby)

(Missing SunKissed Emerald Lyric who crossed the Rainbow Bridge all too soon at 3 yrs old on Willow's birth day 1-28-10)

Training, Blizzard, "Foster" Margo ;o)



Willow, how deep is it out there?



"Hey, I wanna play too!"

 A foot of snow, snowblowing/shoveling, single digit temps, a frozen snowcovered pond and oh ya, the (2) 12 hour work nights ... that pretty well sums up the first 2 weeks of 2011...

"See, I'm a Sutter Buddy!"

The girls each started their respective classes making for a pretty full week:

• Willow "Clicker Unleashed" at 9am on Mondays 
• Margo "Basic Pet" at 11am on Monday (her sister Madison & brother Spenser are also in the class)
• Sutter "Advanced Agility" at 10:30am on Thursdays
• Willow "Beginner Agility" at 4pm on Thursdays


Margo Bird Watchin'



These birdbaths are really under rated!




Loves Snow ... Wheeee!!!!





Pulling "jugs-on-a-rope"  ;o)

   

At 14 weeks old, her potty training is about 90%, has a cute "clicker" recall/sit and target-touch, she sleeps in a crate at night ... and is loving her introduction to Agility equipment ;o)




Willow::Margo ... Sweet Dreams  ;o)

PLANNING WILLOW'S

1ST BIRTHDAY on the 28th ;o)

ALMOST 1/1/11 ... HAPPY NEW YEAR ;O)

Nature's Beauty

                                                            

I woke this morning to hear TV news about horrendous weather in the West and then I looked outside my own window to brilliant sunshine, a gorgeous 8" snowcover and a passable "snowblown" driveway cleared by 4 hours of my own labors ... the birdfeeders are occupied with various small birds, the woodpeckers are "chowing down" at the suet feeders and 6 grey squirrels are collecting all falling seeds on the ground ... inside the girls are sprawled on their beds and we're happily warmed by firewood in the cookstove, cut, hauled and split on our own property ... I'm sooo thankful as another New Year approaches, to be healthy, happy and physically able to maintain and enjoy my 14 acre homestead in all 4 seasons  ;o)
Christmas was fun for the girls and I ... we had a lil' 11 week old visitor who is a Willow/Lyric cousin from SunKissed kennels ... "Margo" just added so much fun to the holiday ... we journeyed to my sister's Massachusetts family gathering and everyone wanted to hold the puppy ... she got very little naptime ;o)


Hey, are all these for US?



Margo loved all the toys!





Blanket memory "kayaking visit" ;o)

[picture if you will, between each of these photo uploads, the girls and I going outside and playing with the new Christmas Frisbees & giant "Chuck-It" balls ... then I return to this Blog ... Oh the joys of slow "dial-up"... girls love it! ]
         

Awesome Lawn Flag ;o)


Special Christmas Gifts ;o)

The girls had a great "bonding" time with our lil' visitor ... playing or napping ;o)


Gonna catch ya!!!




Hey, let me catch you Willow!





We play by "my" rules girl !!!



Let's Sing Christmas Carols!



Nothing More Precious ;o)

PROSPEROUS 2011 to ALL from GOLDEN EMBERS ;o) 



One or Two Pictures Say it All ... LIFE IS GOOD ;o)

                                                PEACE ;o)

Golden Embers "Foster" Pup Program ;o)

Buddies ;o)

Willow & Soot Chasing!

Willow/Soot Sparing!

Like Family!

 Dispite the frigid temps, we're having fun with our 3rd 10 week old "Foster" pup ... the first two have gone to their "forever" homes ... one to upper Vermont and the other to Texas ;o)



Collar-Leash Training!!!



"Sutter want to use my papers"



SK Mr Black dubbed "Soot" (came out from under the cookstove with a soot black face while exploring on his first arrival at 8 weeks) is with us for his 2nd visit (after my work weekend) ... we're getting him ready to meet a possible "forever" family this weekend ... this visit he's learning collar/leash walking with "clicker-treat" rewards, continued "potty" training and awesome playtime with Willow while continuing to win over his "grouchy teacher" Sutter ;o)
           TREASURE THE CUTE MOMENTS THAT MAKE YOU SMILE ;o)  
Adendum: Mr Black (aka "Soot") got a wonderful "forever" family for Christmas with another 6 year old Golden ... his new name is "Brady" :o)