Like Ships in the Night

I returned home from Lompoc Monday night around 11pm. It was a great week and although we didn't place in the shows Saturday or Sunday (I did show Toby to #4 in Open on Saturday, about 14 entries) - I met nice people, saw beautiful dogs, had a lot of laughs on the trip and it was great all around.

Icing on the cake was Zabava Mercury's (Toby's sire) two Best of Breed placements on Friday and Saturday, plus a Group 4 on Saturday, it was very exciting!

About 18 hours after I returned home, Rich leaves for Calgary for a week with both Rowan and Catie - six shows in four days. Both girls are now in season so it should be quite an adventure for him. I'll be home this time while he goes with dogs.

Seems like our entire summer is just flying by and we aren't seeing much of each other.

Toby is Reserve Winners Dog / Lompoc Specialty!

Wow -- Kristina showed Toby today in the Specialty -- all the way to Reserve Winners Dog! He was absolutely gorgeous and Kristina did a fabulous job showing him. (Thanks Kristina!). Here's some photos of Toby in the ring; RWD show photo coming soon:

Lompoc Pre-Dog Show Adventures

Yesterday, after walking with the dogs around Solvang, we realized that the RV space that had been reserved at the show grounds, that promised to have power AND water, did not have an electric outlet that was compatible with the one in the Sprinter van. The hookup was 220 (or 208?...whatever, it was wrong) and the Sprinter was 110. After several stops at RV sales stores, auto parts stores, Kristina located the very last, and very dusty/dirty, $50 adaptor plug in stock at an RV repair shop. Off to the show grounds to bathe and groom dogs!


Upon our arrival at the RV space next to the show grounds, we went in search of dog bathing stations. Several loops on foot around the grounds revealed that water had not yet been turned on by the City of Lompoc for public dog bathing, but it was promised soon. Then promised in half an hour. Then later that day. Then the ETA was postponed until the NEXT day (show day) altogether, which doesn't work at all.

Kristina had noticed that in one corner of the RV area, which was actually a couple of baseball fields, there was a faucet with a hose attached and a grooming table nearby, as well as a couple of motorhomes. The people in one of the motorhomes informed her that this was THEIR area, but she was persuasive enough that the one motorhome person agreed to let her walk dogs over there to bathe one at a time.

After bathing two dogs, the people in the Montana motorhome removed the knob from the fawcett so that no one else could use the faucet in THEIR area. We never did see those Montana people or the breed of dogs that they had, but we have our suspicions! Let's just say, a certain breed that's classified as a sighthound that really isn't. Hmmmmm, now what could that be??

We then realized that WE were parked near the second baseball diamond, and did some investigating on our own and found a hidden public faucet (without a knob), near our space! Luckily the Sprinter had a pair of pliers packed away, and a hose as well, and we were able to turn on the water and bathe the last two dogs there. We girls can be pretty ingenious, don't you think?!

Afterward, six of us enjoyed a truly excellent dinner at Sissy's Uptown Cafe which I highly recommend, and will be a definite "must visit" the next time I'm in Lompoc.

Today is the Specialty!

Road to California - Arrival

After a day and a half of driving (actually, riding, since Kristina drove the whole way), we arrived in Lompoc last night. We spent Tuesday night in Yreka, CA at an inexpensive hotel that was home to several feral cats. How nice for the borzois to see on their walks around the property....(not).

Toby is doing great, he loves to GO and thinks hotels are pretty cool. Plus, he has two of the three most loved people in his life along for the trip - Kristina and me. And, a new big stuffed orange monkey to play with; a gift from Kristina. Life is good!

Today, we drove to Solvang for breakfast and a walk through the town. We brought the four borzois along for a walk through town and met many nice people who stopped to adore the dogs, which of course they fully expect.


Here are some photos of Solvang and surrounding area (Click on photo or text for larger image):



Toby and I in Solvang, CA



Vineyards and countryside



This region is known for its flower fields



Another view of the flowers



Danish architecture in Solvang, CA



Mercury and Kristina in Solvang, CA



Toby and I in Solvang, CA



Colorful side street in Solvang



Irina with Busya (Boo) and Mars (Listik) in Solvang



Grapes growing along the sidewalk! They were tasty, too.



That variegated leaf is a HOUSEPLANT in Washington.



Another neat building in Solvang

The Road to California ......(Lompoc, CA)

Today, Toby and I began the journey along with Irina and Kristina Terra and three borzoi (Toby's breeders) of Zabava Borzoi to Lompoc, CA, where we will be attending the Western Sighthound Specialties. It's a long trip, and we were on the road by 4pm (only about 6 hours behind the original plan), not bad at all; all things considered!
It's about 1050 miles and 17 hours to Lompoc:

Jewel's Wins at Rarities Shows

Twice a year (three at most), the North American Kennel Club (previously known as Rarities Dog Shows), comes to the Northwest. This is one of the only venues where Silkens can be shown, since they are a rare breed and not recognized by the AKC.
Our Baby Jewel went Best of Breed then Reserve Best in Show in one show, then Best of Winners in a second show, earning two 5-point majors. She pranced around the ring and seemed to be having a great time all day, even looking over her shoulder before starting to go to smile at the judge. What a pill. Photo coming soon!

Lure Coursing can be Dangerous

Yesterday I returned home from my three week island retreat, house-sitting 11 borzois. The dogs were great and the time passed quickly. I left and drove straight to a lure coursing trial, where I met Rich and our three borzois - Toby, Catie and Rowan. Catie and Rowan now both have their Senior Courser AKC titles as well. Toby ran beautifully and was pure poetry in motion, however we didn't get photos of him running, unfortunately. Toby now has his Junior Courser title, too. Here's a photo of both girls running this weekend:




Now for the dangerous part of lure coursing.


Saturday I had volunteered to field clerk, which means, after every few courses, you run across the field to the judges area, retrieve the score sheets, and bring them back to the Field Secretary's table. Since I had just returned from the Island, I had my bicycle with me. After a few times hoofing it across the field and back, I discovered that I could just ride my bike out and back, much faster and it worked great!

Sunday morning, when we arrived, I walked across the field that was slick with dew to retrieve my bike. Shortly after climbing on and starting to pedal, the ground came up and smacked me in the face. At first I thought I'd broken my nose, then realized my back, neck and shoulders hurt like hell. As I rolled off my bicycle that I somehow landed on top of, Rich saw me and came running. My left shoulder was bruised, down my chest and my left breast (handlebars I think), my cheek and nose were bruised but thankfully not broken, my thigh, knee, and calf had huge bruises and I mildly sprained my ankle. Oh, and knocked a crown loose on a tooth I later discovered. I think I suffered a mild concussion since I had a headache for 8 days and was very sleepy for 2-3 days after! Fortunately a doctor was on site and checked me out as more or less OK.

Then, later in the day, as Rich was retrieving Toby after his run, he slipped and fell on the start line and twisted his arm/elbow severely too. We decided that neither of us earned OUR JC's that weekend, lure coursing can be dangerous after all.