Agility - Obedience On The Fly

(A die-hard agility dog owner. His border collie was photoshopped on to his van window)

This weekend I'm volunteering in Burnsville for an Agility Trial. The reason it is called "obedience on the fly" is because not only does your dog have to have prestine name recognition (theirs not ours) but all the jumps and hoops they go through are done off-leash. It takes approximately 1-2 years to teach them how to do all the "tricks" for Agility. Unfortunately you won't see my dog for at least a year. He went through the beginner class but I think he thinks his name is "Bandit!" but it's really "mud". He ran through all the obstacles, jumps, tunnels and chutes but he doesn't grasp the meaning of "wait" and he is way to fast for me. We are headed back to Intermediate Obedience Class in August to help me learn more control with him. Speed is not his problem but waiting is.
The Agility Trials this time were  a 3-day event held at an indoor arena in Burnsville called Soccerblast. The volunteers sit on the sides of the arena and do various things like when the dog jumps and knocks the bar down, we re-place it. We also have to change the height of various obstacles since there are large dogs like Lulu, here.

 and small dogs like this Italian Greyhound.

I was someone who puts the bar back on the jump if the dog knocks it down during his run.
There are many other things going on like a gift shop and believe it or not, dog massage

I enjoyed seeing all the comraderie with people and dogs. Sometimes it seems "over the top" but they care immensely about their dogs.

They bring portable cages with lots of blankets for resting and just taking a break. Fans and water were abundant (like the animal barn at the State Fair with all the fans). Some had two dogs to run the trials so they would kennel interchangeably. The gift shops were unbelievable but the volunteers like myself were treated to all kinds of food and beverages as well as free tickets to sign up for a raffle.

Timers, judges, score sheets and practice time like this lady with her Golden.

This is a lady running her dog. The timer starts at the first jump and stops when the dog jumps through the last jump. They are judged by speed as well as accuracy. This picture doesn't show it but there are 18 obstacles. Not only the jumps but also teeter-totters, ramps they walk up and then down, tunnels and chutes. You have to know the names of the obstacles and the dog watches you for a hand signal as well. The dog owners walk the route 10 minutes beforehand without the dog to know which way to go (the obstacles are numbered). No treat until the end of the run! And even if they don't complete it or run the wrong way and get disqualified they still get a treat at the end and lots of hugs and kisses! That's my favorite part!
The lady on the far right was a volunteer for bar drops.
It was like deja-vu because it reminded me of all the basketball tournaments Michael and I went to for our kids.

Concession stands, parents (dog owners) milling around waiting for the next event when their child (dog)will be participating.
It was amazing to watch and I hope to do it again, maybe as a participant next time!

I shed a few tears this morning as my first born turned 30. Bittersweet but wonderful for both of us. Don't know how hard this particular number was for him but it sure makes me feel like life is going to fast. Picking from your many enjoyments and abilities I found two pictures, one old and one recent to post. Since you enjoy outdoor sports so much I decided to post two pictures that show your love of those two passions (actually one is probably partly responsible for your love of these two sports. Happy birthday, David!!!

Beauty fades, love is forever

April 19th was another anniversary for us. I remember the temperature was 80 degrees a far cry from what we are presently experiencing. The date was picked because my paternal grandfather married my grandmother on April 19th, 1919 and my folks thought it would be a nice date. Thirty two years, 3 kids, various pets, bats in our first and only house, 3 medical surgeries and the loss of 3 parents we continue to tick like a Timex watch. Not that we don't have troubles but we seem to meld even though we are two very different people. I'm a risk taker with ADHD married to an analytical person who never leaves the toothpaste cap off, recycles EVERYTHING, and never gets crumbs in the butter as I sometimes do (is that really so bad??). Even through all our differences life continues on. Now we're just waiting for grandchildren but in the meantime we'll hug, kiss and spoil each other. Life is good!

Is it snowing??

I was on the computer a few weeks ago and came into the living room to this.

I guess I assumed that since he now has turned one year old that things would settle but I was wrong. Needless to say I have put all pillows up out of reach, sometimes I kennel him so I don't I don't feel like killing him, and I am not on the computer as much unless he is in the same room with me. Do they ever grow up?? We still love him though and he still loves sitting on our laps whenever he gets the chance!

Spring

I'm not much for posting pics of flowers, trees, etc. but I was out walking in the yard after church Easter Sunday and thought I'd take a few pics of early budding in my "not much to speak of" garden. I haven't planted any of my annual veggies outside yet but plan on some yellow beans and maybe tomatoes even though I don't have much luck with the latter for some reason. Anyway my Peonies came up as usual

and a Columbine plant that I bought last year

is looking good as well as a Morning Glory plant
mixed in with - whats that?? Easter bunnies!

I may have to transplant - the Morning Glory not the Easter bunnies. Hopefully their mommy is returning soon since I had plans for that pot.

BlogThis!

Quilt Retreat - Spring, 2012

Once again I re-visited Quilt Retreat up by Albany, Mn. Food, fellowship and lots of sewing time to be had. Saturday was up near 70 degrees so had some time to sit on a rocker swing by the lake and enjoy the view as well as the weather.
In the group pic I am on the far right. My quilt top is the aqua one hanging over the banister of the building we all slept in. The pic is of those that were in our lower level sewing room (we always take a pic on the last day with our particular group).

I stayed in the A-Frame on the lower level. I also slept there which is always a bonus as you can get ready for bed and still quilt for awhile in your pajamas never having to leave the building when it's time to go to bed.
I finished a quilt top and will finish it in the next two weeks. Don't know if I will give it to someone or keep it myself but I was pleased with how it turned out so I may use it as a gift down the road.

"This is Central Lutheran Church. Can I help you?"

Back in approximately 1978 to 1980s I got a job at the downtown Mpls church, Central Lutheran. I was secretary to the Business Administrator, Clayton Spranger and I ran the information booth which was my office. Transients would come asking for money, meal tickets or clothes. We did what we could to help them. At that time the Curtis Hotel was still in existence so many times we would send them over there. They had 3 or 4 pastors that would come and go throughout the day. They would check in and out with me so that I could pass telephone messages for people looking for them. I enjoyed working there. I had my own little office, my lunch hours were spent enjoying the grand piano in the sanctuary, and because it was and still is a beautiful church the effect was very pleasing.

Clayton Spranger, my boss
When my boss would make deposits at the TCF bank and get free gifts back he would sometimes offer them to me. I remember once getting a radio with all kinds of CB bands and bells and whistles on it which probably is why even today I love to listen to far away stations, except now I live-stream them through the internet so I can go even farther than that radio sent me. I remember once shortly after I got married when an elderly lady called and wanted to donate a very large couch to the church. Clayton came to me later and asked if I wanted it since Michael and I were newly married with not alot of furniture to speak of. I asked him about the lady's desire to donate it to the church. He said it was firehouse red and would never fit in except maybe in a brothel. We took it. It was very comfortable and the color never bothered me in the least.
One lovely memory was when we got together once a month as a staff and had brunch in the kitchen. One of the pastors had his own recipe for pancake syrup (lemon juice, brown sugar and a banana mixed together) and we would spread it over our pancakes. Another memory was when the pastors found out that I was engaged to a Catholic boy. They tried to talk me out of it (in a very non-threatening way) and I had some fun with them about that but of course the rest is history and it will be 32 years come this April. Their happiness for me came in the form of a much needed vacuum cleaner as a wedding present from all of them. Eventually life moved on and I left that job to pursue other interests like raising kids, etc. but will always remember my time at Central.

Some of the staff with me