Smiles

His smile makes me smile...

 

 His ears make me smile...

Her smile makes me smile...

Her crazy eyes make me smile...

Stalker Brit make me smile...

 

It was a fun walk, thanks for the smiles and the photo's Amanda!

Cowdogs

One of my gal pals recently took a job working at Onefour, a research substation in the southeast corner of the province.  I went for a visit, and while it is incredibly isolated, it is also very peaceful...well if you call 3 gals & 2 border collies bombing across the prairie in an old Ford peaceful:).

I've heard a lot about Onefour over the years...but no one has ever told me just how incredibly beautiful it is.  And I even managed to take a few photographs of the dogs...I thought catching photo's of one dog was hard...two is impossible some days lol.

Scamp...well...where do I start.  He's such a good boy, I don't even know where to begin...but here's a few things that I love about him:

~ he & Neena are BFF's

~ he loves to snuggle, but never demands attention

~ he's always happy

~ I absolutely heart it when he gets the zoomies

~ his front legs...no way to describe it...

~ his socks

~ his focus

~ how he wiggles in his kennel before I let him out

~ he LOVES to run...but always comes back to check in

~ and so much more...

There are a few things we will need to work on this summer...I can't wait to be done the semester so I can start focusing more on my dogs again.

As for Neena...well...she'll always be my Crazy Pants... 

And we'll always want to be cowgirls together;).

Waterton Adventure

Colleen and I packed up our kids for a Waterton Snowshoeing adventure...

The weather was perfect...it was so peaceful and pretty.

The dogs had a blast in the snow, although Ollie might have got stuck at one point:).

We were all pretty tuckered by the end...even Miss Crazy Pants...

This face melts my heart.

Thanks for a great day Colleen...any time you need snowshoeing buddies count us in:)!

Naughty Neena:)

Yesterday I went with Amanda to Calgary for Wicca's third appointment with Dr. Duvall.  This is my second trip, and it's been good experience for me...unfortunately at Woo's expense...but I do enjoy seeing a different aspect of veterinary medicine.  It blows my mind how much there is to learn...in a I can't wait to get started way!

On the way home we stopped at Louanne's for a herding lesson...this is Brit looking like a real border collie:).

She's a big girl...already working on her 'walk-ups'...

THIS...is Neena on sheep...

And this...

AND this...(please do note the crazy flying ears lol)

She's being a very, very naughty border collie...

And how did I feel about that?

I thought it was freaking hilarious.  I'm probably a bad mom.

BUT...here's the thing...it had been 2 1/2 years since the last time Neena was at Louanne's.  Back then, she was still a baby dog, and we struggled with confidence (big suprise huh!)...in fact, I had a hard time keeping her with me, if I put too much pressure on her she'd try to leave the pen.  Her dog equivalent of F-you.

So  I just can't lie...it made me laugh to see my scared-of-life border collie grip & chase.  And my giggles might have encouraged her to be naughtier.  Its a vicious circle.  Of giggling and naughtier.  How bad can that really be?

I wish I had the time and resources to pursue herding more seriously, it is truly a cool experience to see the natural ability & instinct your dog has...occasionally Neena even looks a little bit like a real border collie lol... 

Jenny Glen explained the instinct to Amanda as a type of 'deja vu' for the dogs...which is a cool way to think about it.

And while I can see it, I loved feeling how Neena responds to the pressure I put on her...

But for now its something we can play around with occasionally, although I'm not sure Neena's ok with that...she really wasn't ready to be done lol.

Thanks for the photo's Amanda!

On another note...Louanne is training Mack Daddy full time, he's a big boy working dog now and will make his trialing debut sometime in 2012.   

 It was awesome to see him, even if it was short...we miss our Mack Daddy:)!

Introducing...

Loco the kitty...he belongs to my roomie Jacinda, man I forgot how much darn fun kittens are:)!  I was a little worried how Neena would handle small, random and fast...but she's done great.  And Loco has no fear at all...he's a pretty cool lil dude.  Hopefully I can catch some photo's of the two hooligans up to mischief soon!

#301 -  317 of a Thousand, Endless Gifts
~ being the big sister
~ forgiveness
~ after market exhausts and underpasses
~ dancing with the flower girls...
~ lil tuxes & black eyes
~ a little quiet time with Jaxon
~ nipple nibbles...Neena style lol
~ a fun steeplechase debut
~ an unfortunate shredding death for one said cow toy
~ a mauling...Brit style
~ Go! Dog! Go!
~ a savior circle
~ making it to the closing in Snooker without being tweeted off lol
~ a row of Ariats
~ Bonnie
~ spontaneous birthday celebrations
~ cat-calling my favorite hockey player

For Sherry

 It's your birthday blog! I know...a little late...but better than never right?

I had me a little moment Saturday night...we were in your yard, watching your kids playing, at your 30th birthday party. Wow! Seems like just yesterday we were getting our drivers licence's and carpooling to school...when you stop and look back at all the years since then...and where we are right now...kinda blows your mind doesn't it:)?

Anywho...I love my trips to Lloydminster! Its so nice to relax and hang with you and the boys...and sometimes its just easier to chat face to face, even when that means there is no hiding lol. And it was a fun party even if it was cut short...think I'll just let the pictures tell their own lil story.

Ok I lied...I just can't not comment on some of these...is it just me, or does this look...a little...funny...lolol!

Pretty!!!



 At least it can't be said you didn't have a 30th birthday shot;)!

I need one of these...

Wish I hadn't backlit this photo...its so funny, like a lil Kanye West, makes me laugh every time!

Dylan & Auntie Jen's first photoshoot...there's more...but I'm being shy lol.

AND...I was having technical difficulties so here's a link to the 'theme song' lol.

Look out 40!

The Penguins

Neena and I were very happy to have Brit for a few days while Amanda was at regionals with Wicca & Pixel.  She is such a pretty gal, I love her face...and she's so very soft...

This was Brit's second visit, and she was definitely  more comfortable this time...the girls had a great time playing together, even if 5:30am was a tad early for WWF;).

Thankfully that was only one morning...in addition to wrestle mania, they played "we run fast"...

...and "hide & seek".

And when we were finally tuckered...we played a little "Top Models".

Saturday we also played "agility dogs"...Neena's 'Up' trick has turned out to be one of her favorites, we do it a lot when she's nervous, it seems like the movement helps her release her stress.  It's a gooder.

We had such a GREAT training session on Saturday, we still struggle with focus...those darn gophurs are pretty sexy...but I'm seeing improvements already.  I was thrilled with Neena...taking turns with Brit might have had a small part in that:).  Nothing like a little jealousy to make working for me a little more exciting lol!

#209 - 223 of a Thousand, Endless Gifts

~ peanut butter and chocolate cake

~ spoiling a friend

~ progress

~ watching "I run fast"

~ hands stained from playing in the dirt

~ patience

~ the knowledge to do some of the right things

~ age spots

~ a laughing Brady

~ its the ugly truth...that it wasn't my brother

~ a Mom who can handle all my secrets

~ happily tired penguins

~ the giggle of my best friend's child

~ "night night sweet dreams"

~ trust

A suprise!

Flowers for the right reasons from the right person made my day today!  They smell fabulous, and made studying just a little more bearable...Neena and I have a special thank-you in mind, you're gonna LOVE IT!!!!

Love Letter to Neena

In the mail today...

Dear Neena,

Since we have been together for over a year now, I thought you would like a bedside pic of me.  I have so much fun with you and you have such a hot slender body and I don't mind that you scratch at the door once in a while.  I hope I can see you this weekend. 

I *paw* you
Mack Daddy

Compost and other odds & ends...

From: An Alberta Girl's sister...guess that kinda makes her an Alberta Girl too huh...
To: An Alberta Girl
Sent: Sun Feb 27 08:46:03
Subject: Last wishes

This an exercise so that we (family) know what your dying wishes are… nothing legal if you have a will already but good for us to know if you want to be cremated or buried. Please complete and send back.

~

From: Two Alberta Girls
To: An Alberta Girl's sister
Sent: Sun Feb 27 09:25:25 2011
Subject: Re: Last wishes

Good morning

I would prefer to be composted to reduce my carbon foot print.

I want the cows that I have eaten to be nourished from my body. I would like the dirt spread in a serene meadow pasture.

Since my hair and hip bones will not be completely composted I would like them ground up and put in the flower bed for calcium and phosphorus to nourish your sunflowers so you will think of me.

Your sister

~

From: An Alberta Girl's sister
To: An Alberta Girl
Received:  later that morning
Subject: Re: Re: Last wishes

Would you like to be composted with my fruit?

~

Seriously...we laughed until we cried.

On another note...the semester is half over!  However the next two months are going to be insane...I took some time over reading week, and I'm rested and ready.  Two months of working hard and I can play hard...because when the semester is done it will be RACE SEASON!!!!  Weeeee....

AND...Neena and I got into the Training Troop Trial this weekend.  We are entered in 3 events each day...and I am really trying to keep myself too busy to think about it.  I only need to remember one thing...Plan A!!!  I do, however, have a couple ideas to help us with our trial nerves.  I wonder what Neena will be like on gin;)?

#45 - 60 of a Thousand, Endless Gifts

~ listening to a 2 year old count for me

~ margarita's and a dark corner booth

~ nephew's

~ church bells

~ toast

~ a fairly reliable call-off ;)

~ snow sparkling in the sunlight

~ my carhardts

~ newborn calves

~ a random I love you text from my lil brother

~ laughing until you cry

~ freezing your fingies for science

~ a little R&R

~ being productive

~ anticipation

~ a breakfast table set for me

Go Flyers!

Today I finally caught one of my cousin Matthew's hockey games. 

Its hard, there's a huge age gap between my cousins and I...but I think I've managed to build a bit of a relationship with each of them and I enjoy them all, I really do.  But Matthew...I spent hours with him as an infant, and then even more as he grew into a toddler.  When Victoria was born, I stayed home with him and then I stayed and helped as much as I could the following month while she was in the NICU.  We eventually ended up living together...the point is we have a lot of history, and I've loved this child with all my heart.

I haven't been able to spend as much time with him over the last years, and really...I'm not sure how much he remembers anymore...but we still have pet names for each other, he still giggles about the time he poo'd on me as a baby, and he still picks #13 for his hockey number.  It warms my heart.   

Warm Up

Starting line...center position...wooo!

Size gap...sheesh...reminds me of another kid I cheer for.

Focused...its insane how focused a 12 year old can be.

 An assist for #13!

Matthew's been having a good year, as of this morning he was leading the team stats.  They tied, unfortunately they needed to win this game to get into the playoffs, but they played a good game!  Sometimes I think that's a win of its own...good job Flyers!

Stuck

This is what happens when one fearless farm girl (not me!) buys a 4x4. 

I took my turn shoveling too...no worries.  This kinda behavior is what gives gal drivers a bad name...we abused this poor truck.  But we also dug ourselves out when we got stuck.  And I think that says a lot about the kind of gals we are.