Big Day at Yankee

Today I showed Darka at the Yankee Siberian Husky Specialty Show. It was my first post-baby show. Darka was in rally Novice A and then in the breed ring in both the American Bred Bitch class and the Sled Bitch class. Emma came along and was a really good girl.

Darka was groomed up wonderfully by Kim Berg. She is so clean right now I want to make her a permanent house dog. Gorgeous!

We were helped out HUGELY by my friend Corina during the packing and preparations.

We were helped out AT the show by Corina and her super sweet husband Scott and by Deb Deburgio.

So I have a lot of people to thank for making my really great day possible.

And.... drum roll please! Darka got her first Rally leg!!! And placed first in her Rally class.

Then she was in the breed ring. Darka came in second in the Am Bred class. Next we were in sled dog class against one really gorgeous bitch witch we took second too as well.

It was a super hot day despite the tame forecast of partly cloudy and 70. More like all sun and 80 something plus humidity! And yes, Darka is dark, so it was hot for her out in the ring.

Funny/cute comments from the breed judge were "she is so clean" and "look at the thighs on this woman" ( I sincerely hope she was talking about my Darka there....). The judge also said she really loved Darka's old fashioned head. Not enough to place her first, but hey, it was YANKEE and second is fine with me.

xo

Back to Christmas

Some house doggies waiting for Christmas.

Yeah, Boomer loved the tree this year!

A baby Blue Dog, named Angus

Hi I am Angus. I am an Aussie puppy. I am here to keep the Torsey family cozy.

It looks like I have a human puppy just my size to make friends with.

I really do not know why those huskies call me a wimp....

Don't all puppies get carriage rides?

Emma-Lizzie bundled up

Emma-Lizzie and I out for a snow shoe walk before this next storm.

Winter is kicking my behind!

I can hardly believe this, but it is TRUE. Last winter I managed to do all my kennel chores on my own, mush dogs, race (!) and be pregnant... This year I can barely manage kennel chores 5 days a week and take care of Emma. What a wimp! Or maybe motherhood is that strenuous? What am I going to do when my little human pup walks!!!

Sled bag of love

LAST YEAR!!! (Turn your computer on it's side please to see correctly)

With Love, lessons from dogs that apply to babies and life

I had long ago discovered that if I did things with love that the results were always better. Everything is less stressful if love is applied, love comes with patience and a forgiving eye, but love also comes with the right ingredients for positive change.

Then I realized the only times I really failed at things were times when I could not apply love to the problem.

And recently I have learned that sometimes things are so hard that they just feel like failure, but as long as love is there, one comes out the other end of the challenge whole...and not broken.

I used to feel sad for the dogs I have that other people discarded. But now I am grateful, as these dogs have been the challenging ones. And I have gotten through the challenges by letting my heart grow. And I know these dogs are happy, sine they are loved!

Examples of "With Love"

**....how else can filling dog bowls be fun for a baby? Emma will probably know all the dogs names soon, as I sing each dog's name and a little compliment to them as I lay out the bowls, add the food and whatever else.

**Saying good night to each dog as Emma and I tuck in the kennel at night...

**Figuring out that Java Bean can get along with male play mates as long as he enters the play area last...no stress for him if dogs do not dash out their doors into his "space".

Emma and Blanche

emma and blanche out for a walk

Sad day, Blue day

I have some terrible news. Blue Dog died today, October 14. He came in the house, threw up and then collapsed. We rushed him to the vet right away. He died within a few minutes of being there. No exact known cause. Something that caused extreme anemia, like internal bleeding. Likely a ruptured tumor, Dr Cody thought a splenetic tumor possibly. Or possibly a trauma like a car accident but that does not seem to fit, since he has not had a run off lead in a while.

We are both devastated. It all feels so wrong. Blue Dog was so young, and such a part of Terry and I. And Emma too, who was starting to smile at and try to 'pat' the house dogs. I thought he would be with us forever. It is odd how one dog can help define you...why with all these siberians I felt like Blue Dog was our 'flavor', our special dog who made us who we are. Such a incredible friend and giver of love.

Blue is buried out in the south pasture near Boomer and Ranger. That was the first place I walked him off lead, when he was new to us. I had many lovely times out there with him and the other house dogs. Terry chose a spot next to the stone wall with a large granite rock that is emerging out of the ground, a natural marker. Blue Dog looked so small and tender when we curled him up to bury him. Almost like the little 6 month old pup we first knew. Shocking.

I think I am still in shock, even though I have cried so much my head hurts. It still does not feel really real. I am sure I will come up with brilliant things I wish I had told you all later, things like how he was so wonderful to our friends or how he made all the siberians his pals, even the toughest ones. How he loved to deliver wood with Terry and go on drives on Sundays. How I once had to give him mouth-to-mouth when he passed out after another dog had been tangled in his collar and how I would give anything to have him back, to know the secret cure and apply it with all my might like I did that day. How I wish I could go back in time and savor every moment with him, how as I held his empty body in the south pasture even then he gave me all he had, his warmth on this very cold and most dismal of fall days.

Wolf in Pajamas

These photos are too cute not to share...even though they are old and Wolfie now lives with his new Momma, Donna.

Someone forgot to read the "how to be a husky" manual

This is Juneau Isabelle loving up her new pal, Buracho the Bunny.
Juneau not only lives with e sweet kitty in peace, but has spent this summer getting to know a bunny.
I hesitate to tell Anuk, Juneau's mother. I think Anuk would have a heart attack over the missed meal...
And the pretty blond curls belong to Linda Isabelle!

Ear washing...













Nose kisses













Nose rubs

Haze of Love

The chief difference between loving Emma and loving all my puppies is that when Terry comes home and I squish Emma's face up next to mine and ask Terry "do we look alike" he smiles and says yes. When I do this with a new puppy he looks mildly annoyed and says yes.

Another big difference is that no matter how much I kiss Emma, I do not get fur up my nose.

Other than that, it is the same wild plummet into love, the belly full of warm oatmeal feeling, the simple and exquisite joy. You might say "poor Emma has to share her mothers love with so many doggies..." but Emma says that she has a mommy who really has love down "pat".

New Strider photos!

Strider has grown into a seiously handsome boy!

Strider and his new family

Strider (Aragorn as a puppy) with his new pals.
He is such a wee Mudgeling!

Walks with firends

Jessica, Blanche and Emma. Typical 4 mile walk for us. Blanche frolics here and there, she is a fit healthy and happy 15 year old. Hurray for great genes and awesome food (Annamaet is our dog fo

lead girls

Twinkle and Tula in lead on the heavenly trail. Two amazing, strong and smart girls. Talk about power up front! And wow...good looks too! I love these girls.

CGC night at Corina's class

Ali with Darka at odedience graduation night. Darka is twice CGC'd so she was just there to cheer everyone on. Emma came along too of course.

winter reminiscing

Aaaaa winter memories...the "heavenly trail". Dog team full of adventure, sled bag full of snacks and gear, trail just firm enough to hold us above the deep snow, and my belly full of baby Emma.

Chantilly Lace aka TILLY or the Tillinator

Photos from Dyanna, Tilly's mom.
These photos also include Obi, Dyanna's Uktousa malamute who is sadly no longer with us and is very missed and loved.
Tilly is a Blossom-Smudgie baby, sister to our Tart and big sister to our Wolfie. Tilly is very sassy and very Smudgie!

Feeding time

Well, it finally happened. I had to feed dogs, Emma was not napping. She came with me in her green SleepyWrap. I have to say I am proud of two things. One, my stubborn belief that you do not have to yell at your dogs or be stern to get them to behave. And two, what a great job Jesse has done feeding dogs.

Jesse is having a little time off for a visitor, so I have been feeding the kennel. I have been impressed that the discipline has not worn off and the dogs still know they need to be quiet to be fed. Thank you Jesse, you rock!

So to all those trainers who think one needs to sound stern to get obedience, what are YOU going to do the day you need to feed 27 dogs and carry your infant daughter? Not only did she and I get the job done, but she fell asleep in the wrap carrier by the end!

The energy at feeding time for dogs can be full of calmness and love. I really believe that, and I think it has more benefits that just the quiet. I think dogs digest better when they are calmer and I think they know how much you love them when they can see it in your eyes as you feed them!