Happy Halloween!

Karen and Charlie Brown

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If today is your birthday....................

Do you read your horoscope? I find that around my birthday I suddenly become interested in my horoscope- but not the rest of the year. For some reason this year I went to lots of different astrology websites to see how “generic” they sounded. One of them I read had me convinced that the person who wrote it had been a scorned lover of a Scorpio. I read it to my husband saying, “honey, listen to this- it is awful. This makes Scorpio’s sound terrible.” I read it to him- and he said, “what do you mean- it sounds like you!” Oh Ouch!

Today is my birthday and Merry’s birthday (Acadia Sunburst Merry and Bright). After reading a bunch of descriptions I decided that Yes- dogs follow the zodiac signs as well. I think that Merry and I do have a lot in common. I love Merry, but she is intense and can be stubborn. I won’t incriminate myself anymore by telling you about Merry- but I will say that Payson, who was born October 17 - is a Libra through and through. He is peace-loving, sociable, and has an almost innocent way about him that makes him very approachable. Always this time of year I look to astrology and think, “how odd that we can be so predictable.” Then I think, “I wish I was a Sagittarius”.

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This couldn't wait one more minute.............

That was the email subject line from Heidi about Piper. Here was her message. Thank you Heidi !!!!

In her debut at Dauphin Dog Training Club's October Agility Trial 10/24 and 10/25, Acadia's One Very Special Puppy went two for two taking
a 1st place with a perfect score of 100 on Sat, and a 2nd place with a perfect score of 100 on Sun - both were in novice jumpers w/weaves!

I had no intention of showing her so soon but when she ran an intermediate course in training better than Zoe who has been doing this for
years, I needed to see what she could do. I had no expectations - anticipated bar crashing, off course, saying hi to the judge - and
what I got instead was my baby girl showing like she has been doing this for years. Her weave pole entrances both days were off and I'm
crediting that to nerves but I actually was able to do two rear crosses with her.
She is definitely not ready for the standard ring as she and the a-frame haven't bonded yet but at least we can work on the jumpers
and get that out of the way. Unfortunately all my sitting on her back only brought her shoulders down by 1/2 inch and she's
measuring 14 1/2 so I'm going to run her preferred. I want her to have longevity in agility and I don't think running her at 16" is
the way to go.

She had fun, I had fun and I can't wait to run her again in April! I'll tell you what -- she IS one very special puppy and always will be!!!

Thanks for my GREAT show dog and companion!
Heidi

The same day I got this email message from Morene about WIT:

Hi Cadie, Sue took WIT to an AKC herding trial this weekend. He was competing in both Sheep and Ducks. He qualified on all 4 runs; however, he didn't have high enough scores in Sheep to earn any Championship points. Sue said there were about 20 dogs in the Advanced class. The good news is this was his first trial on ducks, and he q'd both runs. Now he only needs one more Duck leg for his HX which will increase his opportunities to earn points. Next weekend they're running in an AHBA trial. Morene

(did you notice that Morene said this is his FIRST trial on ducks- and he is competing at the Herding Excellent (HX) level!!! They did this with his sheep title too. They just started at the top. When you live in an area were there are VERY FEW trials, it makes sense to just train and when you get to the top level, trial.)

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A lovely day

I think these two pictures of are so funny. Manny is oblivious to Eden and Charlie behind him. What ever Manny is looking at (the rams) has really got is attention.

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Busy,busy,busy

This past week was extremely busy.
Nancy Runyon (Foxcroft shelties) drove all night from Kentucky to breed her (almost herding champion) bitch Sara Lee to Canyon. She arrived at my house at 6:00am on Tuesday. While she was here she gave me some pointers on herding. I really enjoyed her visit.

Charlie Brown was also here for the week to breed a Ch. bitch owned by Nancy Porta (Jana shelties). The pictures in this entry are of Charlie and Dove and their puppies- Cassia, Eden, Manny. Charlie is on the end. He is the one who comes running towards the camera.

Then finally Mike and I were preparing for the Mid Atlantic Hair Sheep Breeders sale. This event was on Saturday. Sunday we were still cleaning up from the sale and then Gary and Karen came to pick up Charlie and Nancy came to pick up her bitch.

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It Poured!!!

Yesterday Mike and I hosted the Mid Atlantic Hair Sheep Breeders Sale. It POURED. Our home rain gauge said we got 2.5 inches in 4 hours. I talked to a man in another county who said he got 4.5 inches!! Needless to say, our event was not as well attended as we wished it would be. More info on this event can be found at www.ewewin.wordpress.com
Today- a completely new day. It was sunny and warm. Oh well, we can't control the weather.

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Show Low

Show Low is an amazing dog. This picture shows a controlled, confident dog moving the sheep in a quite and easy manner. That is what herding is all about- moving livestock in a controlled manner. That really is all it is. Young and inexperienced dogs are often out of control and it takes time, training, and wisdom on the part of the dog to learn what level of energy is appropriate. The faster that understanding is come to, the better the dog. Show Low understands what is needed to move stock. Good dog Show Low.

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New MX title: Acadia Aquilegia, CD,RE,*MX*,AXJ

Amy and Quill have just complete the requirements for the Master Agility (MX) title. This past weekend, Pam called to tell me about Amy and Quill's big day. They got another Double Q (which means they qualified in both the standard and jumpers classes on the same day). When you are competing at this level of competition, the dog is not allowed to have ANY mistakes and still qualify. A "mistake" is something the DOG dose wrong- not the handler. The handler can have all of the mistakes they want- AS LONG AS the DOG dose it right! Pam called to tell me that the courses were very complicated, and during one of the runs, Amy forgot the course. Quill came over and sat down next to Amy while she gathered her thoughts and remembered where to go next. Amy was able to remember and the two of them continued on - completing the course in under the time allowed! WOW!!!!!!!!!!!!

I must admit, last year I was out in Calif. judging a specialty sweepstakes and visiting Pam and Amy. Pam had asked me if I wanted to run Valerie in agility- which I accepted. I got lost on one of the courses and there was NO WAY I was going to recover. Valerie had just completed a beautiful set of weaves and I looked up and all I saw was a sea of jumps. So...... Amy- I am SO IMPRESSED that you were able to figure it out- KUDOS to you!

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Happy 11th Birthday Ch. Acadia's Bright Idea, RA,NA,NAJ and Ch. Acadia Rock Solid, HT

Today is Payson and Rocky's 11th birthday. These two boys are the BEST! Payson (Ch. Acadia's Bright Idea, RA, NA,NAJ) was my first homebred Champion. I showed him to all of his points, including a 5 point major awarded by Mrs. Patti Long Smith on the VERY competitive Wine Country Circuit. Payson began his show career the year we moved to PA. I had never been to ANY of the shows (meaning location) we attended and we had quite an adventure. He minored out quickly and then I had the headache of looking for majors. Everyone said, "there will be majors at Wine Country."- so I entered.

The Wine Country circuit is 4 days- Thursday - Monday. I packed my van on Tuesday night and on Wednesday I got in to leave, but the van wouldn't start. Battery problem? No. I called AAA. While I waited for them to arrive, I unpacked my van. They took it to a repair shop and I waited..... and waited..... and waited...... finally they called and said, "we need parts- you won't get it back this weekend."

I called a rent-a-car company and they told me they only had one passenger van and it was out, but due back that day, but then they would have to clean it. The earliest I could have it would be Thursday (first day of shows). Well, what are you going to do- Ok.


Thursday late morning I got the van, took out the passenger seats, packed it up, and headed out on our 4 1/2 hour drive. Friday I groomed Payson up and headed to the ring. It seemed that every "big" handler on the east coast was there! and me and my one dog! Payson WON that day! It was a 4 pt. major- 1 dog short of 5 points.

Saturday I groomed at the van. I had the slide door open the whole time I was grooming. We headed to the ring to find there were a few more dogs that day and it was a solid 5 points. Again, Payson WON! OH MY GOSH! I thought- then I thought- Hey- I can leave today and save a whole day of rental on this van!!
We got our pictures taken, repacked the van, got in to leave- the battery was dead! The whole time the slide door was open, the dome light was on and it drained the battery.

Luckily there was a tow truck on the show grounds, so it didn't take long for them to come jump the van (it seems that no one else had jumper cables) then I floated home. We went, showed 2 days, won both- went home. All of these years later (that was in 2001) I still remember that weekend clearly.

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My Farm Blog

Today I started a blog on Wordpress for my Farm, Ewe Win. I like the look, but I think that blogspot is more "user friendly" Go check it out (and add it to your Follower list!) www.ewewin.wordpress.com

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Earliest local snowfall on record

Yesterday it started snowing!


The seasons are all mixed together- garden flags in the spring, biking in the summer, pumpkins for fall, and SNOW!!!!!!!!


When the weather is cold and wet- take a Nap!


Unless you are a sheep.

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New Herding Intermediate Sheep Title: U-Ch. Linden Acadia Stacked Deck,CDX, HIAd, **HIAs**

WAY TO GO PENNY AND SHOW LOW!!!!!!!!!!
Penny writes:
"What a great herding weekend at Judi Bigham's in Nova, OH Such nice people, such nice livestock! This weekend was the Detroit Sheltie Club's herding trial, there were a ton of shelties! On Saturday, they had a local priest come out for a blessing of the animals - it was the feast of St. Francis this weekend. He blessed all the dogs, the ducks and the sheep!

Then Show Low was first place in Intermediate Sheep! So I guess the blessing worked!

The judge on Sunday was Linda Rorem from CA. She did a small clinic on Monday, it was really great. Very appropriate for shelties. (You don't find that often!)

There was a photographer taking lots of pictures, he will be mailing me a disk. There are some good ones!

I am so glad to finish this title, he really deserved it, he's such an awesome herding dog.

Penny"

Show Low had already earned the HI (herding Intermediate) title on ducks, but each type of livestock is very different. His title abrevations will look like this HIAds- which means, (HI) Herding Intermediate on the (A) course (there are 3 different courses, A, B, C with AKC) d= ducks s=sheep meaning he has accomplished this level on this course with both ducks and sheep

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Chance

While the poll us still active I didn't want to post anything else. I wanted the poll to be the focus. A lot has happened in a week and half and now I feel like I have a million things to post. Of course I am also writing (in typical slow fashion) about the poll results. I hope to get that done this week.
In the meantime-
I LOVE to hear from you guys:
LaDawn sent me this email: THANK YOU>
Hi Cadie,

Thought I would forward you a couple pictures of Chance. He is such a beautiful good boy. He turned 3 in September. It seems just like yesterday I was bringing this little bundle of energy home to be a "huge" part of our lives. He has truly filled the empty nest.

LaDawn

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Quick poll questions

On the right hand side bar I have a new 2 question quick poll. If you are pet purchaser- answer the questions- if you raise dogs, don't. If you raise dogs- here is a link to a 10 question survey. As I stated earlier, I am working on a post about costs. I would like to see the what people who raise dogs vs. people who purchase dogs have to say about this subject.

Your link to the survey if you raise dogs is Click Here to take survey

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Sharon at the NADAC Agility Championships

Sharon Bradshaw is a repeat customer. This past weekend she was at the NADAC agility Championships with Hope ( Acadia I Hope You Can) and Hannah (Acadia Paint the Town). Both girls were entered in 2 classes. Hope placed 7th in her Jumpers class! WhoooHooo!

Hannah just needs 1 more Q in the Chances class to complete the NADAC championship title- the NATCH. Best of luck to you both. I am looking forward to announcing a new NADAC agility Champion.

Hannah is the litter sister to Ch. Acadia Another Story, UD, PT, VCX (sired by Ch. Acadia Rock Solid, HT out of Ch. Zion Acadia Town Heroine, CDX, PT, VCX). There were only two puppies in this litter- so it was quite a successful one!

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My Favorite Month

I love October. I love the fall colors, the fall temperatures, the crackle in air. I love crows, and pumpkins, and apple pie. I love the smell of fall. October also happens to be my birthday month. These past few days have felt more like the end of October than the beginning, but I know differently and I won't rush through my favorite month.

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