Today Chase and Inca and I went to a nearby park to wait for Sandy and Bruce C.

Waiting for Sandy-Bruce 7-30-09

 

Inca Waiting for Sandy 7-30-09

Then our company arrived.

Bruce-Sandy w dogs 7-30-09

The dogs loved our visitors — and they brought dog cookies . . . and fudge — oh, yum!  Sandy had gone to dog shows to watch Cardigans, but because they were all groomed and ready to go in the ring, she didn’t think she should pet them.  Can you imagine!!! This is the first time she’s hugged a Cardi.  Chase and Inca are definitely top flight candidates for hugging.

Bruce and Sandy are working on their retirement ranch in Corona NM (No!  Beer is NOT bottled there.).  Day after tomorrow, they will wander over to The 7MSN to see Carson’s critters.  I think, the ranch work aside, they are having a good visit. Sandy took some great photos of Chase cleaning Bruce’s face — can’t wait for them to show up on her blog.



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Today our Kip (and his littermates) is four years old.  Though Kip now lives the life of a king with my friends Sarah, Jim, and Jill, he is in my heart forever.  He taught me so much about happiness, he gave me so much pleasure and attention.  Kip made me a believer that Cardis are the breed to live with, to play with, to work with.  Yesterday I received an email from Sarah — just a one-liner “You cannot imagine how much we love every single thing Kip does.”  Kip is their pool boy.  When Sarah has her group of women friends over to swim in the mornings, Kip lies near the pool.  Whenever someone comes to the edge, he goes over to re-greet them — you just can’t do enough of that greeting stuff.  He knew from the first time they uncovered the pool that he shouldn’t get in, but that does not prevent him from being a fine host.

So, little Kip CD TD RN CGC, Therapy and Reading Education Assistance Dog, and CH Leo, Lindy, Dara, Glen — and the other kids, have a wonderful 4th birthday . . . and many more.

Front - smile - bosque 11-8-08



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I’ve posted before that my little red girl is the guardian of the homestead. When it thunders or there are fireworks, she slams out the dog door and barks until the loud noises move on.

Last night we had a downpour complete with thunder and lightning. It didn’t begin until after 9:00 PM, so it was still raging when I went upstairs to bed. Inca did not come sleep on the bed because she had her thunder-chasing job to complete.

When I came downstairs this morning, I found muddy dog body imprints all over the white tile. Darndest thing — they are exactly the size of the Dink’s undercarriage.

Inca w her mud spot 7-27-09

So, what is this all about?  Well, I asked our girl to “drop” right next to her mud spot so you could see that it was indeed the right size to have been left by her tummy.  However, as soon as I told her to drop, she rolled over on my foot — that’s the dark brown thing under her right ear.  Chase was in the top of the photo because he cannot imagine that anyone, ever, would take a photo of which he was not the star.  So, you can see part of the mud print that Inca left — it’s just not going to get any better with her in it.  Here’s a shot of the mud print alone – not as exciting!

The mud spot alone 7-27-09



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Carolyn claims her dogs tell her when any of their number is pregnant.  I saw it in Topeka after we bred Lizzie.  Suddenly Alice, who had been very friendly with Lizzie, didn’t particularly like her any more.  Her attitude changed markedly.  Today I received email proclaiming that everyone at C-Myste says Phoebe is pregnant.  The lesson is that not only can one get pregnant from toilet seats and in swimming pools, but you must beware of little tubes in FedEx boxes.

When we made a second shipment Monday, Chase went into the FedEx main plant with me.  (It was way too hot to leave him in the car.)  When the counter person saw what I planned to ship, she allowed as how Chase could come in to the “No Dogs” office because he had a vested interest in the package.  I hope Phoebe’s family is correct, and the pretty tri girl will deliver some Chaselets around the 21st of September. (Notwithstanding Carolyn’s copyright language on her blog, I stole this photo of Phoebe.)

Phoebe



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Out here in the desert, we use swamp coolers.  They are not very effective when the outside temperature is above 93 degrees.  The past few days we’ve flirted with 100 degrees.  That is very hot — even with 15% humidity.  The swamp cooler in my townhouse has a single downdraft at the top of the stairs.  Chase and Inca know where it’s cool.  They also do not plan to leave their spots unless I guarantee they are going to the office (where the refrigerated air is really cold).

We are not moving



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Twenty (Mandy reminds me it’s twenty-one) months ago the “Freedom Litter”, Chase and his siblings, made their initial appearance on this worldly stage.  Still goofy teenagers — especially the boys — they’ve already accomplished so much.  Congratulations Carolyn, Tom, Mandy, and Jennifer for dreaming up this combination — and for following through.  This was definitely not a breeding to the dog next door.  Carolyn drove Alice to Seattle, Alice then flew from Seattle Washington to Toronto Canada.  Shelley (Hunter’s owner) made sure Alice was “well” bred before she sent her back to the Northwest.  I think “well” is a perfect word to describe everything about this breeding (except maybe the C-Section).  So far, Chase and Pilot have their American Championships and each has a Group placement, Chase and Libby have Canadian Championships (and Libby has a Canadian Group placement), Molly has a major, Clem has amassed international certificates as well as US points.  Chase, Pilot, and Libby made splendid showings at the 2009 CWCCA Nationals.  Chase and Pilot earned their mom the title of Best Brood Bitch; Chase and his half-sister Dolly earned their dad the title of Best Stud Dog.  Chase and Pilot are two “qualifying progeny” and contributed four points so Alice received her ROMb designation.  Every puppy has a wonderful temperament and all nine have enriched the lives of their people.

Definitely “well” done!

Alice and the Freedom Litter



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The Canadian Kennel Club is not yet automated.  Every win or qualifying leg is entered into a dog’s record by hand.  This is what arrived this week.  It was worth waiting for!  (Thank you, Shelley, for steering Chase around the ring.)

Canadian Championship Cert blog



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Today Chase provided a special gift for Phoebe.  We took it to the FedEx main office and sent it priority overnight to Orygun.  Godspeed little box of puppies!



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I just added a photo of the Santa Fe Opera to my Wrapped in Sound post.  This photo was taken (not by me) during the production of Salome while a thunder storm raged outside.  My DIL was kind enough to send me the photo.  It is one of the most beautiful places on earth!



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Shortly before Tom and Carolyn came to visit, I re-arranged the master bedroom furniture.  The head of the bed went on the west wall between two windows.  I like to let the light come in during the day, so raise the blinds.  Chase never passes up opportunity.  When he hears people out in his cul de sac, he runs upstairs and heads for the bedroom.

Chase looking for neighbors2 7-12-09



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Salome with lightning bolt

It’s 1:30 AM — yep — cannot remember the last time I got home at 1:30 AM or even stayed up at home until 1:30 AM.  Then question why I would be posting on my blog at 1:30 AM.  It’s because I am wrapped in the most beautiful sounds.  My DIL Debi is a graphic designer.  One of her clients is the Santa Fe Opera and she had two wretchedly expensive tickets for the Santa Fe Opera’s performance of La Traviata.  The Santa Fe Opera is a jewel in the desert.  It is tucked in rolling hills north of Santa Fe.  The Opera building is covered, but the sides are open to the most beautiful sunsets you can imagine.  The opera begins right after the sunset show is completed — tonight that was 9:00.

This was one of the most stunning performances I’ve seen/heard in my life.  Natalie Dessay sang the part of Violetta.  She has a wonderful voice (though it’s a mystery to me how someone dying of consumption can sing at all — must be poetic license).  I also cannot imagine flinging that beautiful sound to the audience while lying curled up on the floor.  I didn’t know the human lungs and diaphragm worked like that.  It was a wonderful evening and the dogs and I are going to bed now.  They’re just glad to be out of lock-up while I’m encouraging my brain to replay every note I heard tonight.

Opera Ticket 7-11-09



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Adrienne is spending the night.  That means the dogs are sleeping on the floor next to her bed.  She and I were trying to schedule tomorrow, but we’re missing some hours.  Tomorrow is corgi play day (from 9 to 11), but we also want to go tracking with Chase first thing in the morning.   We’ve put Adrienne’s dirty socks in a Zip Lock bag with articles for her to leave on the tracks tomorrow.  That allows them to absorb her scent overnight.  For additional motivation, Adrienne hides behid a tree near the final article.  I love to watch our Chase when he’s tracking his favorite little girl.  Perhaps we’ll track and then go to play day.

We need to visit Learning Is Fun.  That’s a teacher supply store with flash cards, books, art supplies — she loves the place.  So we’ll put that right after the play day.  And Adrienne told me she needs to come up with some potential puppy litter names for the Chase/Phoebe children.  I told her she has plenty of time, but she’s concerned that she’ll forget the ones she’s already thought of.

Adrienne’s Mom will pick her up at about 1:00 and then I need to run into the office for a couple of hours, then tomorrow night, my DIL and I are going to the Santa Fe Opera.  She has great seats — it will be a fun night out.

Sunday is scheduled the same way and our Chase begins his Rally Novice class at 4:00.  I need to pick up apples (Inca has already gained five pounds, and Chase has stashed them under the couch and beds).  The wisteria is overtaking the patio and I still want to move the dividing fence to make room in the yard for agility equipment.  However, since the weekends seem to be missing several hours, I don’t think I’ll get everything done — as usual.



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When I bought my townhome eleven years ago, a husband and wife lived across the street.  She was never healthy and last summer she died.  The husband did a lot of updating/repair to their house and it sold right away (unfortunately at a rather low price — even for the rotten market).  The buyer was an investor who put it up for rent.  Well, the joke was on him — it took six months for renters to come along.  Two young men moved in a couple of weeks ago.

Today, when I got home from work is the first time they’d been home when I was.  Since I was just pulling up, and had the two hooligans with me, I walked across the cul de sac to say hi.  Chase lives for moments like this — new people to add to his speed dial.  He launched himself on them and they reciprocated.  Inca sidled up and earned lots of rubs and hugs.  I, of course, told them that the really wild dog is Chase and the sweet red and white dog is Inca.  When the dust settled, we gave out our people names.  One of the guys asked me if I wasn’t pretty concerned about their temperament.  I assured him we were working on it.

Silly corgis — there is no such thing as a stranger.



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I have a few minutes before Chase and I must leave for Intermittent Obedience Class.  . . . wonder what creative move he’ll make tonight?  I wanted to share this quick post before we leave.

My neighbor Melvin has a Granny Smith apple tree. A couple of the biggest branches hang over my patio. We’ve had a lot of wind and rain the past week so baby apples have been falling left and right. What’s a dog to do? No sheep to herd! No kids to play with! We didn’t get to go to the office!  The cats aren’t taunting us from atop the wall!

When I came home from work, this is what greeted me. I think it’s a Sphinx guarding the golden apples of Eden. Maybe it’s just my funny dog entertaining himself.

Johnny Appleseed 7-6-09



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My townhome is in a small cul de sac. We have no strange traffic (except for the occasional person who mistakenly believes he’s found a short cut).  We have two HUGE redeeming features.  One is that the cut through to the jogging path to the nearby park is in the cul de sac, and the second is that the people who live on our little circle are the nicest in the world.  We all know one another, we take care of each other, we don’t bug each other.  We recognize each others’ cars, dogs, and grandchildren.  We all keep an eye out for anything that doesn’t feel quite right.

We decided to have an old fashioned 4th of July cookout tonight — and so we did.  Everyone brought food, and several folks brought legal fireworks.  We ate until dark (did have to move the food table under the porch overhangs when it poured on us), and then lit the fireworks.  I brought Chase and Inca out to watch the display — they are so unconcerned with the flashes and the bangs.  They had a great time meeting the few people they didn’t already know and vacuuming up food crumbs.

4th July Cookout 2 7-4-09

It rained just hard enough to get us wet, and just long enough that we moved all the food. Other parts of New Mexico had flood warnings and high winds. Our rain was perfect for cooling it off a little.

It cannot rain on the 4th of July 7-4-09

Happy Birthday America — it’s a great excuse for a party! To make it perfect, Chase and Inca shared a big slab of watermelon.



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