Saturday 30 June 2012

Moves Like Who's - Bet

Howdy Ho everybodies!

I have to admit that all of the preparation for Albert Lewis' photography session on July 4th is getting on my nerves.  It's exhausting to run back and forth from the dog yard to the house gathering creme rinses, facial scrubs, combs, curlers, nail polish and detanglers.

I also felt really sorry for the Boo Who's who have been practicing balancing books on their heads while they walk in a straight line, and answering questions about how they would create world peace, and what their favorite color is.  I decided to pupnap them all and take them out on a fun run.

Little Ewok had a blast running through the woods and trees.


They got to sniff, dig, and play without anyone criticizing their posture or correcting the sentences.

I even showed the Who's my awesome dancing skills from the Musher's favorite song "Moves Like Jagger".




See, check out these moves!



You can clearly tell that the Who's need a LOT more work at perfecting the moves.


- Bet

Thursday 28 June 2012

S'More Please...

My Mom and brother are up visiting for a few days. 
Dessert tonight was S'mores around the firepit



Very, very yummy!!!!


The perfect fire...






.....the perfect toasted marshmallow...

....makes for the perfect Smore.....


Cricket thought she wanted in on the action...

...so she talked her 'Uncle Jim' into making her her own S'more (without the chocolate, of course)...


Well Cricket??? What did ya' think???



Yah, I figured that was what you would think of them!!!



Sing, Sing A Song.....



....sing out loud....
 ...
 ...sing out strong...

 ...don't worry if it's not good enough for anyone else to hear...

 ....just sing, sing a song...


Wednesday 27 June 2012

Primping and Preening - Bet

Howdy Ho Everybodies!

It's your non-roving Border Collie Reporter, Bet, here!

We're all still getting ready for the arrival of the famous photographer Mr. Albert Lewis!

There has been some frantic preparation going on because some of the Pretty Curly Tails are what the Musher calls "out of coat". Um... yeah, that's a pretty good description of what they look like, since most of their coat is wafting in the breeze, being made into birds nests, and covering the countryside like a blizzard.

It wouldn't be so bad if their fluff would just fall out all at the same time, but apparently that doesn't happen



They're pulling out all of the stops trying to look their best under the rather fluffy circumstances.



Of course I don't "blow coat" therefore I'm still very sleek, smooth, and model-ready. I've even picked out my fashionable ensemble for my walk on the runway, which doesn't make sense to me, why am I walking on runway and not running on a runway, but anyhoo, I digress.


This isn't me, it's a stunt Border Collie Model


You may have heard that the initial goal to get this book project going was met! I know there are oodles of Pretty Curly Tail fans out there that have helped out and for that we thank you very much! I'm sure you won't be disappointed when you see all of the really adorable Iditarod dogs in the book, and the Pretty Curly Tails, who will be the prettiest of them all.

It's not too late to get in there and support the project and get some cool swag in the process. If you haven't checked it out, Mr. Lewis has added some other extra really special cool stuffs... and things... if you back his project. There's autographed copies signed by Martin Buser, Dee Dee JonRowe and Lance Mackey!

Don't fret! If you've backed for equal amount, you can go in and say you want which autographed copy, and if you backed for lower, you can up the amount to get one of the autographed copies. It's not like you have to back for the whole amount again, so get over to the Kickstarter and pick who you want to autograph your copy! Also remember that any money above what is needed to get the book printed and distributed goes to a really good cause, the Iditarod vet care unit . Mr. Lewis explains all of that publishing, monies, and blah blah much better on that kickstarter site. So just click this link right here or the button on the top right, and go there and read and get in on being a part of publishing this really pretty book!

- Bet

Monday 25 June 2012

Okay....Maybe I Do Have A Problem....

A while back a friend gently suggested that I might need an intervention in regards to my consumption of coffee. I scoffed, smiled, and likely poured myself another cup.

Don't be ridiculous

It was, once again, too warm to run dogs this morning, so I lounged in bed for a bit with Bet before getting up. I had a few tasks and, of course, dog chores to attend to today, but nothing big and pressing on the schedule, so I was thinking of different jobs that I should do (like my Tales of the Trail blogs) when I noticed.......I DID NOT HAVE ENOUGH COFFEE TO GET THROUGH THE DAY AND TOMORROW MORNING. OMGOMGOMGOMG

Now I had a pressing task to take care of. PRESSING!!!!!

Athabasca, which has the nearest grocery store is about 12 miles (20 km) away. "Maybe I should ride my bike there", I thought. It would kill two birds with one stone - the coffee crisis and my workout for the day.

There is a bit of the Trans Canada Trail that runs from Colinton to Athabasca that I've always wanted to see.....hmmmm...eventually I decided to drive over to Colinton (avoiding a stretch of shoulderless road with crazed truckers traveling it) and pedal from there to town. That way if the trail was confusing or impassable I would have some options too!

I did morning chores, packed up my bike, told Bet and Cricket to hold down the kennel and headed out.

The day was simply spectacular. The sun was out and the odd big, fluffy cloud drifted lazily across the sky. The smells on the country roads and in the woods right now is intoxicating with so much in bloom.
There was a lot of gravel road and loose, sandy trails to negotiate .... I even ended up having to walk my bike for a few short stretches....but it didn't dent the pleasure of the ride a bit!!



Country roads!!

Turn off the roads on to the 'bush' section of the TCT.

Isn't this a good way to keep trail users and ranchers happy??? No cattle in there right now, so the gate was open anyway today!


Bridge that crosses the 'mighty' Tawatinaw River, which is the 'river' that runs through our land.


When I got to Athabasca I stopped first at the local Health Food store to pick up a few things. I asked the clerk if she had any coffee, thinking they might have some 'organic' coffee, saving me another stop (plus I had forgotten my bike lock and wasn't keen on leaving my bike outside the 'Buy Low' even though it is Athabasca and likely would have been fine).

"I have this that is 'sort of' coffee", she said moving for a shelf. I laughed and assured her that 'sort of coffee' wasn't going to cut it.

"How far did you bike to get here?", she asked. "From Colinton", I replied. "Oh", she gasped putting her hand on my arm, "You are Karen, the lady with the sled dogs aren't you???" (Turns out she lives near me and we train dogs on her land in the fall).

I admitted I was. We discussed the blueberry situation for the year and she exclaimed several times how far I had ridden and asked why I would do that. I assured her it wasn't that far (actually about 10 miles or 16km, one way) and that I needed coffee.

"Great", I was thinking, "like the locals didn't think I was crazy enough already".

She graciously offered to babysit my bike while I ran the block over - in biking gear - to the grocery store.

Of course, on the way over I ran into my hairdresser, who looked at my sweat styled, helmet squished hair and kindly didn't ask too many questions. Maybe she was scared people would see me talking to her and know the woman with the horrendous hair was one of her clients!!

The ride home was equally enjoyable. I had grabbed something to drink and a banana along with my coffee, so stopped at a little creek crossing where I could sit on the bridge decking and dangle my (luckily in this case - short) legs over the edge and have 'lunch'.


I rode back to the SUV and home.

Time for a quick coffee on the deck and then back to work!!!


For the record - the Timmie's ceramic mug met an unfortunate end last Friday. I've been unable, so far, to find a new one =(




CRISIS AVERTED!!!!!

Sunday 24 June 2012

Ah.....Puppies....

Ah puppies....so sweet......so lovable. So full of little kisses and just wanting snuggles.....

...or not.....






Could I have my shirt back, please?


Maybe the Who's won't treat me like a 'chew toy'...






 *sigh*

Maybe it is safer for me to just 'shoot' them through the fence for now...














 Ah....so sweet.....
You can almost forget what danger lies on the opposite side of the fence.
Almost....