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".