Elyan Cardigans

Official Word For Chase’s Herding Advanced Title

myeye — Thu, 17 May 2012 16:20:25 +0000

This showed up this morning in “My AKC” account — so proud of the Chaseman! Thank you Susan (Shields) Long — trainer/handler extraordinaire and the hostess with the mostest Cheryl Kienast.

	AKC No.:	DN19929808
	Name:	CH C-Myste Baledwr Pursuit Of Happiness CD RN HSAs HIAs HXAs
	Sex:	Male
	Breed:	Cardigan Welsh Corgi
	Variety:
	Color:	Brindle & White

Markings:
Birth Date:	10/17/2007
Sire:	Merrymoon Firestorm – DL78250001
Dam:	Mariel Reese’s Alice Springs – DL83887505
Breeder(s):	Jennifer Kramer & Amanda Katasse & Carolyn L Cannon

Overdue Post

myeye — Wed, 16 May 2012 16:24:37 +0000

It has been very busy out AND my laptop at home (which I keep docked when it’s not traveling with me) installed an automatic update. That update made the machine not recognize the wireless mouse/keyboard that I use with it. The itsy bitsy laptop keyboard is not comfortable for my fingers so I put off updating until today when I am back in the office.

First, I mentioned on Facebook that Chase has a dryer coat in gold lame’. We used it to control his butt curls and it works wonderfully. We were at the High Desert Show Cluster Saturday through yesterday. On Saturday, he wore the coat from the car into the building. As we came into the grooming room someone shouted, “Oh look, Elvis is alive and he just entered the building!” Now why would they say that?

Unfortunately, the photo is a little yellow because of the florescent overhead lights. This drying coat is the best thing since puffed wheat! I think he looks more like a short-legged character from the Avengers than he looks like Elvis — or maybe Liberace. I need to sew a big C on it.

So, the wrap-up for the show: Chase was Best of Breed Saturday and Monday for two 5-point Grand Champion majors. On Sunday and yesterday he was Select for 1 point each day (the girls had the big entry). That leaves us needing one Grand Champion point for his title. Chase’s son Rango took the cross-over BOW on Monday for a 4-point major. He was in the 9-12 puppy class. I actually handled him in Best of Breed to earn his cross-over while Jessica Viera was doing a lovely job presenting Chase. Although Chase has been shown only a handful of times in the last 19 months (while he was herding), he stepped right up to the plate. He moved beautifully, tried to give the judges kisses (wily boy, isn’t he?), and did everything Jess asked of him — well, except on Sunday. Nola has been in season and Sunday, Chase’s hormones got the better of him. He looked like a tuning fork on the table. From some distance you could see even his ears quivering. The judge (who had given him his first major, at the same show, on Mothers Day four years ago) told me she still loved him, but couldn’t reward him when he wouldn’t act like a Special. That’s just a boy thing, but an expensive one.

No decision on the well issue at the house. My neighbors are hiding from me, the man who owned the vacant lot next door said he let it revert to the prior owners — so now I need to contact them to pay their share of the necessary well maintenance. The actual well is located on their acre so I suppose there could be a lien against the property. However, the well drilling people are going to want money — they just don’t operate on promises.

I’m going to do work now. I have clients in need. Have a great rest of the week.

Well, Well, Well

myeye — Thu, 10 May 2012 22:19:44 +0000

Dammit! I share a well with three (and potentially a fourth) neighbor. Our water pressure has been quite low recently. Today I asked the well company in Peralta to come out and take a look. The well technician (is that what they are called?) says we need a new pump, motor, and control panel. That will cost between $3,000 and $3,500. Since I have to wrestle with my three existing neighbors to get them to pay their share of the electric bill for the well (about $50/month), what do you think they’ll say when I ask them to cough up $800 each? I’ve asked the well company for an estimate to have my own well dug. It would certainly reduce the aggravation. There are always a few complications in life . . .

Photos From National Herding Trials

myeye — Thu, 10 May 2012 18:33:14 +0000

The action photographers (Perry) were great. I have a whole disk of photos of Chase herding sheep. I was also supposed to have Chase herding ducks, but instead I have Lowri — whoops! His daughter certainly does look like him.

I love the expression in this photo

Waiting for more instruction

This is one fast Cardigan

Time For The Movies

myeye — Mon, 07 May 2012 02:08:46 +0000

Here is the video of Chase’s Advanced Sheep Run — the one that will allow us to put HXAs after his name. It was dreadfully windy so you might want to turn down the sound. Cheryl Kienast took all the videos.

Here is his Started A Duck Run. It wasn’t successful, but at least he didn’t tell Susan that he “don’t like them stinkin’ ducks”

Finally his Advanced Sheep run from Sunday — it earned him his firs Herding Champion point.

Woe is Chase

myeye — Sun, 06 May 2012 14:45:55 +0000

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

Happy Birthday, Daddy

myeye — Sat, 05 May 2012 15:46:00 +0000

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.

Nola Is Official

myeye — Thu, 03 May 2012 18:56:28 +0000

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

Champion Mockingbird It’s The Magic In Me — “Tommy”

myeye — Thu, 03 May 2012 15:22:11 +0000

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!

Chase Is Back In The Office

myeye — Wed, 02 May 2012 17:44:54 +0000

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.