Still catching up on things...

Bull got turned out with the cow herd March 26th. The rest of the bulls need an empty pen between them and the pasture....they arent too happy about being on the unemployment line and spend too much time roaring and pacing the fence line in frustrated protest. Quade is a real handy dog to convince them to 'move along' back to their pens from watering...very difficult to do it by yourself otherwise. Also the time of year when a complacent bull will start to try and bluff a person. Also the time to never show a step of hesitation on your part and call them on it.

One of the calves getting out so some walking and adding staples along one stretch of fence. Even tried to snow today with a few frozen pellets of rain....ground still brown and dismal looking. Ewes full of milk so watching them closely...coyotes havent been back yet. Present lambs growing by leaps and bounds...need to catch and tag them.

Dog classes going smoothly with progress noted. Toys sent by Anne and Sandra a huge hit at puppy classes. THANK you again ladies.
Spent an afternoon with the plumber and discussed changing the sewer pipe and water line this summer and for a high end quote. Also did a walk through the building on best place to set up the wash bay for dogs...want to get that project done in April. Have tons of painting to do both inside and out. Have another renter - yah! ( exercise group )

CKC has sent a letter asking Breed Parent Clubs to change their Breed Standard ( to reflect no docking sweeping Canada ) Being on the Board and coming up with the next chess move in the ongoing battle...no cake walk.

Almost finished the Nationals Herding Premiums ( needed to add MVA as too hard to explain to a non aussie show sect ) and proof read over again....

Collecting donations and setting up a In Memory of Bree Leach for the Junior Awards at the CNASA Nationals. Many people touched by her tragic story ...thank you.

100 emails to catch up on & a set of nights coming up shortly....

Cadence before she left for California...

Thanks Erika Maurer for this picture of her actually standing still for a nano second....busy girl that she is. I think Erika is in a for more than the odd adventure with this one :)!

New set of twins, ram lambs

and the coyotes are back...missed and shotgun jammed on the second shot

Ready or not...

Early April 1st joke on me....found a set of black twin ewe lambs in the middle of the sheep pasture with their mom a Barb cross.
At first glance looked like black garbage bags had blown in and caught on the trees. So made for a quick scramble to bring them to the barn....by leap frogging the twins to bait mom in ( pick one lamb up and set it ahead ...then go back and grab the other one so mom follows ) ...each year I mutter under my breath wish I had made a sling with handles or rig up a harness for straps to carry them so mom can see them better than in a person's arms....the girls end up going back to the birthing place looking for their lambs when they arent in clear sight...a wire crate in a calving sled might do the trick as well.
Have several girls looking just as close as this one so entire flock moved by the barn for the night.
....ready or not lambing season has officially started 5-6 days early

Pups come along for chores...

Baby Brooke ( and yes we need to find a better name for her ) watching Quade move sheep down the pasture....cheeky isnt she.

Hana & Dazzle...

Huge Thanks to Kelly St.Jacques for catching the girls and ensuring their safe travel across the border to their new homes.
Greatly appreciated from Dianne & Anne and myself. The flight connections were not the greatest to the upper east part of the states and you just cant put a price tag on knowing the pups are in good hands.
Hana and Dazzle are busy girls....they loved the treasure chest of toys sent up by Anne. Pounce, push, play keep away...the little tea pot was well lit up
as they 'shopped' for next toy to grab and run with...all part of a busy afternoon at the training building.
Games changed from 'keep away' to 'sharing' with a sibling....depending on 'the moment'

Colt ( name pending )

Headed to Ottawa to Sandra and Raechelle as a Versatility prospect...he has big shoes to fill.

Sawyer ( name pending )

The puppy who has been so hard to get a decent picture of ( Ethan x Jinx son ) A little hard body of a pup with a ton of drive and loves to please.

Even better is he is headed to Ontario to what sounds like the perfect home for him. Thanks Abigail...looking forward to hearing all about his adventures!

4 leave tomorrow...

Today packing the truck again and bathing pups for their Vet visit and health certificates. Four fly out tomorrow am...all headed east so makes for being at the airport by 6 am for the 8:30 am flight out for the first crew. Second crew get booked in around 8 am. That means by 2 am I have to have pups fed/watered (and hopefully everyone has POOPED) and on the road for the trip to the airport. It's over a 3 hour drive and with pups a person needs to add in a pit stop part ways and allow for that.
Snowed last night again. Erika flys up from California on Sat for her pup...she knows to pack 'extra' layers.
Then I'm down to 2 pups.
Dog classes this week went well. The companion dog one mentally draining as so much general pet education to teach besides basic obedience and
dog manners. ( I have a mix bag of dog problems as well mismatched breeds to owners in this class )
Puppy classes fun as all starting with clean slate with no bad habits ingrained. Agility class was refreshing to work with dog smart people so class could be dedicated to training on equipment and handling.
Lambing starts April 1st. I hope the weather warms up by then. As well my 2 coyotes are back in the field ...might be time for another reminder to
avoid the farm more. Last cow to calve is starting to show.

New picture of Crosby

Thanks Lynde and Bob for new pictures of the boy...looks like he hasnt missed a beat!

Cow manure and rubber boots...

Surprise visit for the wkend with Michael & Loro and grandson Cohen...havent seen them since Xmas so was wonderful to get together even though things were abit hectic at times.They were forwarned the house was turned upside down with pups going out the door to their new homes.
Cohen is 2 1/2 yrs old and loves the farm animals...especially Grampa's Cows ( pronounced Tows ) , they're not used to a little person so their heads come
up pretty high when he enters the pasture (reminds a person how they can influence their stock by our demenour when we step through the gate...add a dog to the picture and things change even more ) With Cohen and his pup, the cow/calf herd's flight zones got huge in a matter of a few minutes.
The bulls were less affected and more curious and approached to be fed.
Cant walk on a farm without a good ole pair of rubber boots and yep you not only accidently step in a fresh cow pie but at some time in your life time ...you are guaranteed to wear it as well.

Fred E leaves with new owners

Neil and Sandy, making up a trio with Wile E and Jade. I think they need
a 4th aussie in a few years to balance the color range.

It started out a great day...

Sunday started out a good day with friends and family visiting.
Unfortunately ending on a sour note.
Deb's van window smashed and hidden purse stole in broad day light while we
were in practising on mats at the training building.

Second pup leaves...

Candace and Mark from Calgary stopped in today to pick up the other blue male from the Derby x Sting litter. Grandson Cohen here as well ...explored the farm abit with his Dixie & this aussie pup.

Busy crew..mud and all

Sid the Kid aka Crosby...name pending

Lynde and Bob stopped in yesterday to pick up their new sidekick...name is pending ...have to see if it fits the blue pup with the speckled face. I missed getting a great shot of him on the top of short steps playing king of the castle with Baby Brooke and her sister...it was cute. As you can see he loves his toys.