14 Years And Counting !!

Today Brad and I celebrate our 14th Wedding Anniversary!.......

I don't know who took this picture of dad & I walking up the aisle, but I love it, even though it's blurry & I look sleepy !!......

Outside the Church......

Where does the time go ?..........

This is our wedding song....

Joy!

Joy is what I feel everyday now when I walk with Kort!

I had posted earlier how much trouble I was having figuring out what would work with Kort and his various "triggers" that would set him off. Even though he is a smaller collie then Tate he could pull me off my feet trying to go investigate something. It has been a year of trying everything and the successful product is the Halti!! Go figure that something so simple could be the answer to all my prayers. I have also been following the Control Unleashed book, & that with the Halti is magic. I can hardly wait to go out and walk with Tate and Kort, and the best thing is I don't have to walk them separately anymore.

I can also use different situations to my advantage for training now, as I finally can get Kort under control and focused on me. It will only get better from here...yahoo!

Beautiful Fall

I love fall, I love the crispness in the air & the gorgeous colours. Wendy, Amanda & I took the dogs for a walk at a local dog park this morning & Amanda took these shots of the boys.....I think the colours are amazing!

It's Official!

Tate's Versatility Excellent Certificate arrived yesterday from the Working Collie Club of America!.....

To qualify he needed 10 points in 5 different areas, with 2 of the titles being at the Intermediate level. Tate got his points in conformation, tracking, agility, rally, herding, & health & soundness. I hope to get his Versatility Champion title too, he needs 15 points in 6 areas with 2 titles being at the Advanced level.

MAD!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I am sooooooo mad I could just scream !!!! I had a registered letter waiting for me when I arrived home yesterday. In it were 2 fine notices for my dogs due to EXCESSIVE barking!!!!! I have a ba***rd living across the lane from me.....let me say that again..ACROSS THE LANE! He called in June to complain also, at that time I was issued a warning, my dogs bark, all dogs bark. My dogs do not bark excessively, they are never left unattended in the yard....I just don't understand how he can get away with this.

I have been on the phone all morning talking to various officials to find out MY rights...I am going to have to go to court to fight this, that means a day off work . I have talked to the neighbours on both sides of my house & they never hear my dogs, they are all willing to come to court with me, IF they aren't working that day! So now I am trying to find out if there is something I can pick up for them to sign if they can't go. I didn't sleep all night, I am so pissed. I even called the police this morning to see if I can complain about him! The officer said if I go to court & win, & he keeps doing it, then yes I can.....

Anyway, I am off now to go to the Court House to find out what I need to know....great end to my vacation.

I'm Coming Back!!!!

Just about ready to head out the door to go to the airport......I'll be back in Lethbridge about 4.....it was great to be home, I was able to visit with just about everybody !!!!! , most importantly mom & dad......see ya in Lethbridge!

Circle Of Life

When there is life ,there is also death, but it a necessary evil in order for there to be the new life.
My cousin Judy died much too early, 13 years ago on my birthday....she was very much on my mind this weekend as I celebrated my day.......we had a barbecue at my sister's the night before, & Katie & her 9 month old son Jadyn were there. Katie is Judy's daughter, & she was just 16 when Judy passed away from a brain aneurysm....Jadyn would have been Judy's first grandchild & she would have been so proud.....Judy lives through Katie & Jadyn, & it gives me much comfort to be with them.....
Jadyn......
Me, Mom, Katie, Jadyn & Joanne......

Home Away From Home

Wendy has also had Kort for the weekend while I am in Thunder Bay & Amanda is in Medicine Hat......as usual she has taken some pretty wonderful pictures of the boys for me.....keep snapping Wendy, you only have until Wednesday!

Thunder Bay Update

Howdy all!!......here are some shots for you......
Me & my dad!......This is mom looking at her phone wondering how I jumped out of it!!! LOL!!..... This is mom & I when she realized it was me!!....This is Katie, my driver from the airport!!, thanks Katie!!!
This is a picture of the Sleeping Giant taken while flying over Lake Superior......These are taken from the window of the plane as I was entering Thunder Bay....I am having a FANTASTIC time so far!!!!!!!!!

Greetings from Thunder Bay !!

I don't have any pictures as I haven't downloaded them yet.....but if you want to see how Tate is making out , go visit the Crazy & Little Blog shown on my favourite blog list.....that is where Tate is staying & it sure looks like he is having a good time!! Good Boy Tate!
Tonight Wendy will also have Kort as Amanda is heading off to another agility trial.....should be interesting!
Check back later for pictures!

Leavin, On A Jet Plane!...sure hope I'll be back again!!

By the time you read this I will be in Thunder Bay at my mom's house.....I leave tomorrow am., at some ungodly hr.! I hate flying, really, really, really, but it has been 2 yrs since I have been back to Thunder Bay....2 yrs since I have seen my dad & the rest of my family. That is a very long time. This will be a total surprise as only my 2 sisters know I'm coming!!! I saw my mom in June when she came here, it was great. My dad suffers from Alzheimer's so I want to spend as much time as I can with him this trip.....so, I will try & post from Thunder Bay to keep you all updated on my activities. Tate will be going to stay with Wendy & it will be the first time in 7 yrs. that I have left him! Kort is going back with Amanda......Wish me luck!

Birthday Wishes

Today is my wonderful husband Brad's birthday. He of course couldn't care less, but I LOVE birthdays!

This picture was taken by Wendy in June at a barbecue at their house. I love this picture because it shows Brad perfectly, a nice easy smile, unforced, something that is hard to get!

Happy Birthday Honey!!!!!

Loyalty

I was sick this past weekend. The kind of sick where you wake up at 4am feeling funny, then you start to throw up. Now, anyone who knows me really well will know that this is serious, seeing as I never, ever, get sick. Really, even as a kid, I never got sick & I NEVER throw up!!! I was a bit worried! I feel almost myself today, still kind of weird in the stomach, but after sleeping 14 hrs yesterday I'm back to my old self. The only things I managed to do was check on Chewy , our cat at work, & walk my dogs, I always walk my dogs!

The reason I am posting this is because I found it amazing that Kort didn't leave the bedroom, even with Brad coming & going, he stayed with me. He would jump on the bed, sniff my nose, he likes to smell the air coming from my nose, not my mouth, my nose!!!! Then he would go back to his bed.....I was really touched , not even Tate stayed with me! , funny huh!

Cute Story

Kort has an orange ball that I can put treats into....every few days I fill it up for him with his favourite...honey nut cheerios! This morning I was wandering around the house with the cheerio box looking for the ball. Kort was following me around in my quest, I looked everywhere, even under the bed as he sometimes rolls it under there & it gets stuck. I could not find the ball so I went back to the kitchen & put the cheerios box away. Within seconds, really, seconds!, I heard Kort rolling the ball in to the kitchen! I have no idea where it was but Kort knew, & he also knew that I had not found it, & the cheerio box had disappeared so he had better do something about it or miss out. I was very impressed with Kort & told him so many times....my smart boy!

Puppy Love

Pixel loves Kort......whenever he is laying down she sits beside him & kisses his face, it is so darn cute! I caught a bit of it on video before she left, & managed to get a couple of pictures......
Kisses for Kort!......Pixel was embarrassed that I took a picture!......

Lethbridge's High Level Bridge Turns 100 !

The High Level Bridge in Lethbridge is 100 years old & there was a special lighting of the bridge last night. This is the first time ever that the bridge has been lit up. Wendy & I walked from her house to view it, it was spectacular. I was very humbled to see it all lit up, thinking of all the men that built it 100 years ago. My Baba was 9 years old when it was finished. It is a wonderful piece of history that I am thankful to have in my own city. It is the tallest, free standing trestle bridge in the world, & it is still operational!
Wendy took these pictures & I think they are wonderful!!! I am so happy to have them!

Enjoy!......

Tired & Happy!

I have played a lot of ball in the yard with the dogs this weekend....well , all except Tate, he just prefers to watch mostly......I think they are finally pooped out!......

A Momentous Occasion!

Wendy captured this picture as I left work yesterday with Perkins & Pixel. It isn't very often that Amanda leaves Pixel with someone.....right up until the last minute she kept thinking that maybe she should take her. In the end Amanda decided it would be good for both of them to be apart for a bit! Good girl Amanda, as you can see by the following post she is alive & well!......so far!

Happiness

Happiness is a good old dog bone.......this morning everyone got a bone....Kort & Pixel got "real" bones.....Tate & Perkins got rawhide. Tate prefers the rawhide, & I wasn't sure if Perkins was allowed to get a real bone. So, I waited until Kort had chewed most of it all, then gave Kort a fresh bone, & gave Perkins the old one. Perkins was very impatient as he waited for his bone, as you can see in his picture!......
Don't laugh at my corny videos shown below the pictures!!......

Kort & Pixel enjoy their bones ......Tate enjoys his rawhide......Perkins waiting & staring at Kort......Perkins finally gets his bone! whoo hoo he says!......

New Face

This weekend I not only get Perkins to look after , but Pixel as well! Amanda is off to an agility trial & asked if I could care for Pixel! So far so good....all 4 dogs are getting along great......here are a few pictures from Kort's first birthday in May.......he loves Pixel!!......