OT - there's amazing wildlife living among us...

So before this post gets started, let me apologize for the image quality... It appears that the 75-300 lens is not gonna cut it when shooting wildlife.

Ok - so wildlife...

There is a crane of some sort (Great Blue Heron?) living in the area. A few days ago, Mr. Cash saw it perched upon our agility yard fence - he stalked it like he was some sort of pointing border collie freak. Good boy that he is, he didn't bark at it and scare it away.

I've also seen it flying in and around the pond. But the other day, I saw it with a partner - a mate maybe? Hope so, cause that would be too cool!

Anyway - I did some stalking of my own and got a few shots of this amazing creature - which stands a minimum of four feet tall - and who knows how big the wing span is! Enjoy - and I'll try to be a better stalker next time!

one day late...

Better late than never...

Happy 4th of July!

And Mr. Cash says ...

I'll take any extra picnic food that is left over - I'm ready with my bib!

Cash looks like a dog

He's SO not a puppy anymore!

All the goofy stuff is coming together nicely ...

well, sort of...

School's Out for Summer

As this is my first day free from school, I thought it was time to make this introduction...

Drum roll please... the newest member of my extended canine family....

Xtacee's School's Out for Summer - "Summer"

Summer is an adorable Cardigan Welsh Corgi born March 16, 2009. She belongs to Mike's Mom (and Dad - though I am pretty sure she will be Mom's dog!). I went to visit her today as this is my first day off for 'summer vacation'. We had a little lunch, took a little walk, and played for a while during my visit. Summer is so cute - and actually quite likable for a non-golden! And even though she's short, she's really cool!

All kidding aside, Summer is a great little dog and I look forward to getting to know her as she grows up :)

This picture is really funny when you get the story... We attempted to 'tape' her ears last weekend...

This was taken prior to the taping, and should have been a warning to us not to bother! As you saw from the top image, the tape didn't last. I think, in time, her ears will do what they are supposed to do all by themselves..

Congrats to the Cash-Man!

Mr. Cash would like to announce that he is no longer just a 'dog'.

He is now (drum roll please....)

an official Canine Good Citizen of the American Kennel Club!

He passed the test with flying colors on Sunday, May 31st at the Bayshore Companion Dog Club agility trials in Freehold, NJ. I truly believe that Cash KNOWS he is special now and that his behaviour should reflect that specialness... why you ask? Well, I fell asleep on the couch last night with him loose and (gasp!) shoes on the floor! I woke up and he too was asleep and (gasp again!) DIDN'T EAT THE SHOES!!!

Congratulations Mr. Cash - you're growing up!

Happy 6th Birthday to the SOFA DOG!!!

Sophie turned 6 today! Here are some silly pictures of her running a bit of agility in the birthday bandanna :)

I LOVE her ears when she jumps :)

That's a happy birthday girl if I ever saw one!

Here's to many more happy, healthy years for the little red-dog!

Lenape Specialty & Trenton Kennel Club News

The Lenape Golden Retriever Club Specialty is held in Mercer County Park - about 15 minutes from home. I try to enter this show yearly because it is a Golden Specialty and because its CLOSE! This year, I entered Jesse in Rally Novice B in hopes of getting her second leg. And, on a total whim, I entered Cash in Rally Novice B - in hopes of him not totally embarrassing me and to support the club! If Cash's entry comes as a surprise to you, GOOD! I didn't tell anyone about Mr. Cash being entered in a show for the first time because I really didn't know what would happen!

So - its a lovely Friday in May, drizzle, cool, grey and blah. Not a fun day to be out and about with the dogs. I got to the show site and prepped the kids for the ring. They both seamed uninterested in the entire thing...JOY!

Cash was first to go. He was so happy and bright it was ODD. I'm not used to a dog that 'up' in obedience settings. It was very cool. He was not perfect and did a few silly things, but all in all, he held it together and we made it through. The judge even complemented us on our heeling - and I promptly informed her that he was just 1 year and 1 week old! She was impressed :)

A very few dogs later, Jesse got her shot. She also did very nicely and cooperated fully - even on the dreaded DOWN. She was as bright and happy as the J-dog can be.

At ribbon time, Jesse was awarded 3rd place with a score of 93. Cash scored a 90 - which was 5th place. I was very impressed with Jesse's score - I do not train this dog at all anymore and her idea of fun is the couch. Cash pulled off a nice score as well for a very young dog who has never been in a ring with Rally signs or done half the stuff you have to do in Rally! Add that to the fact that he is really just learning to heel and WOW - 90 is a great score for a baby-dog!

Jesse's picture from the show...

Mr. Cash's picture from the show...

Photographs by Asheby Photography of Gilbert, PA

On Sunday, Jesse and I returned to Mercer County Park in the torrential rain to compete in Rally once again. We entered the Trenton Kennel Club Show in hopes of completing the RN title in 3 shows. Jesse is a bit of a princess, like her Momma, and did not think much of the wet grass and disgusting weather. Despite Mother Nature's attempts to foil our plan, Jesse managed to qualify in Rally Novice B again, completing her RN! I am not too proud to admit that this was a miserable, slightly mortifying experience, as Jesse refused to do the majority of the exercises and earned a score of 70 (which is the minimum score you must obtain to qualify). Oh well, it's Jesse, the dog I don't train, the dog who doesn't like to 'work' and the dog who was never expected to compete in anything again - let alone earn a single ribbon - after the doctors at Penn sealed her fate with their reports on ALL her joints. She did more for me in earning those 3 Rally legs than I ever hoped for. Thank you Jesse for being my partner for those three entries! You don't have to ever leave the couch again!

Thank you Momma - I like the couch much better than I like competing :)