Blog | Elyan Cardigans Blog | . . . a moment in time

Woe is Chase

May 6, 2012

It is Day 10 of Nola’s season. Chase is still in isolation — not like segregation in jail — but he is in a separate dog area. He is making pitiful sounds interspersed with occasional low howls. He’s happy to see me when I come into his room to give him scritches and talk to him, but I know he wants me to let him join Nola. Meanwhile, Nola and Inca are running and playing in the other dog part of the house. I truly think they are oblivious to Chase’s plight. There is a four-day show cluster next weekend. By then, Nola should be well on her way out of season and Chase’s sorrows will be greatly diminished. A week from Friday, Chase will have his first herding outing with Ellen while Nola goes up to Durango for shows.

I’m still finding “stuff” from the National trip and putting it away. Today is toenail day and Chase gets a cold bath with a good conditioner. He’s blowing coat and his hair is so dry.

In Isolation

Category Chase, Conformation, Dog Friends, Dog Shows, grooming, Herding, Home, Inca, Nola | 1 Comment
Happy Birthday, Daddy

May 5, 2012

If he was alive, my father would be 106 today. . . . doesn’t sound THAT old anymore. But he isn’t alive. He took his own life when I was 14, leaving my mom with seven of us — I was the eldest. I learned many things from my dad. He ran away from home and he joined the circus when he was 16 — really — he could ride horse back Roman style, walk a tight rope, and juggle fruit. In grade school, my friends wanted to come to my house to see my dad do tricks. He loved dogs. I was born into German Shepherd Dogs with which he had earned obedience titles. The dogs kept track of us kids — streets, streams, and strangers were on the list of no-nos. Dad owned a riding academy. When I was three (or so), someone smoked in the barn and set it on fire. An ambulance took us to my grandmother’s home so we didn’t hear the screams of the horses perishing in the fire. I don’t think Daddy was ever the same. He suffered from asthma so eventually we moved from the Chicago area to New Mexico where he worked as a cross-country truck driver while studying electronic repair. That was back in the day when electronic repair meant fixing radios and televisions. Imagine! There were no computers yet.

My mom died of cancer three years following my dad’s death. Sometimes (like today) I dredge up the faint memories I have and savor them for a little while. Happy birthday, Daddy.

Category Family, Musing | 3 Comments
Nola Is Official

May 3, 2012

In today’s mail I received Nola’s HT certificate from the AKC. Good girl, little Nola! Thank you, Ellen.

Category Dog Friends, Doing Good, Herding, Nola | 6 Comments
Champion Mockingbird It’s The Magic In Me — “Tommy”

May 3, 2012

A few weeks ago Scout/Chase son Tommy finished his Championship. His owner, Betty Moore Smith, handled him to one of his three majors and to his final point. Tommy exhibits many of the crazy/happy traits of his Dad and is loved to distraction. Betty plans to train Tommy for some other venues — in which I know they will succeed. Tommy is the third Champion in that litter (“The Ocho”). His sister Ginger has 13 points and was Reserve Winners Bitch at our National Specialty. We expect her to finish soon. The youngsters are 16-1/2 months old.

CONGRATULATIONS Tommy and Betty!

Category Chase, Conformation, Dog Friends, Dog Shows, Doing Good, Other Places, Puppies, Scout | 1 Comment
Chase Is Back In The Office

May 2, 2012

Although Nola, Holmes and Inca have attempted to fill in as “office dogs” while Chase was at Herding Camp, it was never quite the same. Now he’s back! Note he has on a chili-printed belly band. I’m making sure he doesn’t water the plants while here. He knows better, but with Nola in season at home, Chase has lost at least part of his mind. He’s so happy to see my office mates and to spend time with me. I’m so glad to have him back, guarding the house, sleeping on the bed, and most important, taking care of my clients at work.

Category Chase, Work | 7 Comments