It's Getting Serious Now - Bet

Howdy Ho Everybodies!  It's your Roving Border Collie Reporter, Bet, here!

Yep, it's starting to get serious now that the weather is getting cooler.  Much like peoples know it's fall when the leaves on the trees start turning colors, and it gets dark earlier, and lighter later, and waffles taste better in colder weather.


The Pretty Curly Tails don't put in too many miles during the warmer months because... it's warm.  Since they don't put in a lot of miles, they don't need to be watered on the trail.

But when they start putting on the miles, that's when they need water, and sometimes water just doesn't appear where it needs to be (and if you are in Colorado, it appears where you really don't want it, and our hearts go out to those affected by those nasty waters), so we have to bring the water to the Pretty Curly Tails.

Now some of you are saying to yourself: "um, so do you carry a LOT of water with you?"

Oh heck no!  That would be too much water to carry, and we're not Gunga Din.

The water gets there after the Musher makes her official proclamation: "Time to drag the water trough".  That's when the fun begins!

We get out the trusty John Deere.  Usually I have to back it out of the garage because frankly, the Musher is excellent with going forward, but backwards... let's just say everyone hides.

Hehehe, it's fun to watch Bait and Tic flee into the house

Once it's out of the garage, we drag the empty trough onto its sled (also known as the big heavy piece of plastic), then fill it with water.

Ok Musher, hook it up so I can do some wheelies

Then we sloooowly drag it to the place in the trails where the Pretty Curly Tails will stop for their water during training.

I am NOT sloshing all of it out, I can't help that the accelerator pedal is touchy

Then, when we get to the spot, we unhook it and our work here is done!  Water all ready for the thirsty Pretty Curly Tails.

Um... you did clean that out before you put the water in, right?

Then I let her drive on the way back.

Whew, I think we deserve some waffles, don't you?

I'm sure there are some of you asking: "Um... that's a pretty big trough... how do the Pretty Curly Tails drink from that?".

Good question.  They don't!  We spare no expense with the Pretty Curly Tails, and have purchased each of them these state of the art, very expensive... um... cut up milk jug water thingies.

Smartie and Bang having a drink

Of course, some dogs don't like to wait for their special water bowls

Billie claiming the trough as her own personal water jug

So, the trough is out there waiting for the Pretty Curly Tails, and for all of my hard work and expert driving without spilling one drop...

- Bet

RAGBRAI Day 5 - Bet

Howdy Ho Everybodies!

Once again, the Winter Chicks were pedaling their way across the great big ol state of Iowa.

Yesterday they got to spend some time with Shelly RAGBRAI Minion doing more shopping, eating, shopping, some eating, and relaxing.

The Musher telling Shelly how wonderful I am

Bright and early this morning, they set off for their next town

I told the Musher before they left that they better tighten their Oskas because where they were heading....

Anyhoo, it was a beautiful morning

The Musher was able to find a cool place to stop and take a scenic picture

When they got to Oskaloosa, they were easily able to navigate to the Winter Chicks Coop because of Shelly's awesome sign placement.  Apparently the British Broadcasting Corporation needed to  stop and turn around... perhaps they were riding on the wrong side of the road (hehehe, Richard will get that).

They found that their trusty Sag Wagon RAGBRAI minion had set up the Winter Chick Coop and had everything ready for them... Thank you for taking such good care of my Musher and Helen (smells of sno cones and ice cream) Handler.

The Musher was able to get some lounging time on a more comfortable seat

Some eagle eyed Facebooks fans noticed the dog tracks on her leg and wondered if the Musher was now going to get a bicycle tattoo...

The Musher kindly pointed out that she had lovely bicycle chain tattoos already, but they are not permanent, thankfully.

Although the trip so far has been pretty and shiny and warm and glowing and beautiful... the weather report says that it may get really stormy stormy tonight with hail and winds, and raining tomorrow on their trip to the next town.

Let's all cross our fingers... and paws, and hope the stormy storms aren't bad and the rain goes away for yet another nice bike ride for the Musher and Helen (who would smell of soggy cookies) Handler tomorrow!

- Bet

Limited Print Auction - Bet

Howdy Ho Everybodies!!!!!

Despite the spring mud, winter in May, more spring mud, followed by sleet, some hail, more snow, thaw, mud, snow, thaw, snow, thaw..... sigh... I've been very very busy unpacking the Musher's bags.

Yes, you heard me right, she's infamous about not unpacking all of her stuffs and things when she gets home, so I took some time this weekend to unpack the one hugey huge bag she brought home from Alaska with her... the things I found in there... eeesh.

I have no idea what we're going to do with all of that stuff... but... I did find one really nifty keen, totally awesomely rad, whatchamathingie in the bag of stuffs... and things....

It's this!!!!!

2010 Iditarod Limited Edition "Trail Companions" Van Zyle Print

It's #288!  There's only some of these floating around and we have one of them... and the famously famous Mr. Van Zyle personally gave it to the musher and signed this too!!!  He can really paint, can't he?

Since shipping on a '65 Chevy Malibu engine would be waaaaay too pricey, I made the executive Border Collie decision to auction off the totally cool, really unique, only a limited edition number of these print thingies off, so if you are the highest bidder, #288 will be yours!

It's got mushing dogs (who aren't pretty curly tails, but cool anyway), Iditarod things (and stuff) and in the upper haw corner is a raven!  The Musher likes ravens... she likes them so much she feeds them perfectly good skin and foods... but she doesn't make them shrimp and pasta though.

Anyhoo, I created a link on the bloggity blog upper gee side and there's also a tabby thing at the top of the bloggity blog thing so you can send the Nyquil swigging cartoonist your bid... I'm keeping an eye on them too, so don't worry about her losing stuff.

If you do win it, and want the Musher to sign it, I'm sure she would.  I may even nibble a corner for you if the price is right, and if you are really nice, I'll keep it away from Irving because he tends to piddle on things.

- Bet

Dear Starbucks Barrista - Bet

Dear Starbucks Barrista;

This is a Sheltie:

This is an extremely peeved Roving Border Collie Reporter that doesn't appreciate you asking if I was a Sheltie... and you forgot the whipped cream on my frappucino!

- Bet (WHO IS NOT A SHELTIE!)