Fiesta!

No dog classes, no second job to go to -- I finally had a chance to do some cooking tonight! I made a pot of pork and cabbage soup to have through the weekend, and some Fiesta Peppers.

Yeah, I went a little Martha Stewart on the presentation, but that's fun to do sometimes. Full belly, clean kitchen -- time for some serious relaxation.

Is that my uppance I hear coming?

Elli, Ian and Tessa - The Three Musketeers

After the last few handling classes, I've been feeling pretty cocky about Elli at least showing herself nicely this weekend, even if I don't expect her to win. So I took her to Ian's class to have multiples people handle her on the table during the sit and down stays. Cocky now? Not so much.

I thought she had gotten better about being examined on the table, but it turns out she's only gotten better about DONNA examining her on the table. I guess I've got more work to do with keeping her still to have her bite examined. Nothing like an 11-month old puppy to keep you humble!

On the ground, she's obviously having delusions of grandeur: she thinks she's a German Shepherd, and a group dog. Before the down and back, she glances over at the line as if to say, "Are you ready? Are you all watching this?" She flies out to the end of her lead -- the picture of Little Miss Confidence. And boy, you should see the strut she puts on when she hears applause! If the judging were based on attitude, she'd have it in the bag.

Ah, well. Whatever happens, it'll be a learning experience. For both of us.

Ian was such a happy, happy worker at class, other than having to hold that pesky glove in his mouth. He came the first time I called him on both recalls, and he's doing better on his pivots and his get-backs, but I can see the effects of his injury on his rear-end coordination when he backs up in a straight line: before, I could back him all the way across the room at pretty much full speed; his steps are slower and sloppier now, like either he isn't completely sure where his feet are, or he's telling them to move but they're not going exactly where he wants them. It won't effect his ability to work in the obedience ring as long as he's able to jump, but I'm not even going to try him on the jumps for a while. As to whether his gait will come back to the point where I can finish him... time will tell.

*yawn* Long day. Time to crash.

When Mr. Murphy does the judging schedule

"Are you gonna throw that Kong?"

I'm showing Elli for just the second time this weekend. I'm also scheduled to work my regular 3-11 on Saturday and Sunday but, since the shows are only 45 minutes to an hour away, I figured I'd be golden. That gives me till 1:30 or so before I need to leave the show grounds. It's a small show; it can't run very late, right? Right?

sigh* Cardis are in at 10:00 on Saturday, so no worries there. But on Sunday, they're listed at 1:30 -- and they are last in that block, so based on the entry before them we probably won't hit the ring until 2:30 or after. Which means I either need to skip Sunday's show or do cartwheels to get someone to work for me. Damn you, Murphy. Damn you!!

Also in the Who'da Thunk? category: Cardis have the 4th highest entry in the show. There's a 4-point major in bitches on Saturday, 3 points on Sunday. (Only a point available in dogs each day.)

Oh, and Cheryl will have her litter of Smarty puppies there -- can't wait to see the little ones!

Recipe for the Perfect Afternoon

1 beautiful lakeside location

1 vintage Maine early fall day

7 great friends and Cardi breeders

11 lovely Cardigan Welsh Corgis of all ages

2 yummy appetizers

1 grilled prime rib

Several great side dishes

3 amazing desserts

Split one 8-hour work shift. Combine the above ingredients, sprinkle liberally with fun, witty and educational conversation, and serve next to a cozy fire in the fireplace.

Yesterday I had the opportunity to attend a Cardi get-together at Paula O'Donnell's summer camp in Holden, Maine. It meant splitting my normal work shift of 3:00-11:00 into two pieces: 7:00-10:00 and then 6:00-11:00, but OH was it worth it.

For one thing, the weather was perfect. Sunny and in the 60's, giving it that crisp tang of fall. The drive up Route 1 was, if not the Autobahn, at least tolerable compared to the near-crawl it becomes in July and August. Once I turned onto Paula's road, I met up with Gail and Lucybell, so we rolled down the dirt lane parade-style. And rolled. And rolled. We finally hit a little single lane causeway across a narrow point in the pond, and came up to Paula's gate. Being in the lead, I got out to open the gate. Misjudged my distance from the gate and how wide it was, and had to back up a little to swing it open. Rolled through and continued to the end where Paula's camp is. A pack of Cardis (I think I counted 7 or 8) formed the welcoming party, along with Paula's husband.

Dotty, Nancy and Nola were already there, and Amanda arrived shortly thereafter. There was a fire crackling in the fireplace, just perfect for a fall day. We greeted and were greeted by the corgwyn delegation, who were every bit as pretty as they are in their photos. It was so cool to meet the "dogs in the magazines" and to see them in action. I'm glad to know that even centerfolds will occasionally take the opportunity presented by chicken left unattended, just like my own, less flashy heathens.

Over shrimp cocktail and crackers with a cream cheese & chutney spread, we got caught up on who's showing whom; who's been bred or will be bred; who has puppies on the ground and potential puppy buyers for said puppies; and some harrowing tales of sperm shipments and road construction (bad combo).

As we moved on to grilled chicken and prime rib, homemade applesauce and biscuits, a truly revelatory sweet potato dish, pasta salad, curried chicken salad, fresh garden veggies, etc., Nancy talked to us about trends she's seen in the ring in various parts of the country where she has judged. As someone who is new to the breed and to conformation in general, it was very valuable to me to hear about where the breed was several years ago and where we've come since then. And also the differences in what's being shown in the east versus the midwest vs. the northwest. Talk turned to judging and people's experiences under different judges, then to the virtues of different dog foods and feeding plans, then to veterinary experiences -- basically all the stuff that comes up anytime you get two or more show people within a few feet of one another. I tried to keep my ears open and my mouth shut as much as possible, and soak in the combined knowledge and experience in the room. I can't think of a better way to learn.

We enjoyed some lemon cake, pumpkin squares and turtle cheesecake for dessert, and then we went outside to go over some of Paula's dogs. Smarty was first on the table (and quite eager to be there after some recent donations of "Instant Puppy"), followed by two bitch puppies that Paula is growing out. I appreciated the opportunity to go over them and learn what to feel for as well as what to look for. We also watched them move, and I learned some great stuff about how what I had just felt on the table affected what I saw on the ground. All the videos and illustrated standards in the world are not as useful as that tactile and visual experience up close.

The afternoon ended all too soon and I headed back down the winding lane and to work, but I can't thank all of these ladies enough for the perfect afternoon of fun, laughter, conversation, and learning. I'll remember this experience for a long time.

Can't wait for next year!!

The Tax Man Cometh?

Ian: "Dad's wearing his slippers outside."

Elli: "How gauche!"

I'm mulling over whether I can set up Smalltyme Cardigans as a separate business entity for tax purposes. We all know that breeding and showing dogs is not what you'd call a profitable venture, but I'm wondering if I can offset some of the associated costs by deducting them as business expenses. To my (unBELIEVEably limited) knowledge, I would need to come up with something like a 5-year business plan; and I would need to set up a separate bank account, pay all show related expenses from it, and keep all of the receipts. But I'm still fuzzy on where the IRS draws the line between what is legitimately a business in its own right, and what is considered a hobby and therefore not deductible.

Does anyone out in the blogosphere have any knowledge or experience in this?

Planning Ahead

Have YOU hugged your Cardi today?

So, this kennel-without-a-kennel is seriously considering building a, you know, kennel.

My husband and I are thinking that next spring we may build a freestanding, 16' by 18' kennel building. If it goes according to the plan in my head, it will have:

• 6 indoor/outdoor runs: 3'x6' pens inside with 3'x10' outside runs that have outer gates to allow access to the large fenced-in yard when appropriate
• Rinnai heater
• Air-conditioner for the summer
• Built-in storage for agility and obedience equipment: tall cabinet for jump uprights, chute barrel, tire jump parts and tunnel; pegboard-and-bungee set up to keep teeter board, dog walk and A-frame parts upright and out of the way; and an overhead hanger thingie for jump bars and boards
• Counter with cabinets and drawers for grooming supplies
• Space for the grooming table with an outlet built into the floor underneath for the blow dryer
• Space for a future large puppy pen

I have absolutely NO intention of my dogs, current or future, living out there, but I do want a viable work-day alternative to depending on my Mom to perform doggy daycare duties. It's great that she's always happy to have her grand-dogs, and I love her for doing it, but there are times when she really isn't feeling up to it, and it would be nice to have another workable solution.

I would also really like to become active in Rescue, but right now I live in a 1200 sq. ft. ranch with no good way to keep a strange dog separated from mine if necessary. Having the kennel would give me some flexibility in being able to foster a dog in need.

The great news is that my wonderful hubby is very good with building things. He and my father-in-law built the Weaving Shed below for my mother-in-law to house her Maine Island Rag Rugs business (she does a fantastic job!):

This building is, I believe, an 8'x10', so it's smaller than what I have in mind, but similar idea. It has the Rinnai, the air conditioner, and electric, and it is is abso-freaking-lutely adorable. And they built it for around $2,000. My in-laws have some great ideas for cutting costs, so the cost of building the kennel should be ouch but not OUCH! It helps that Dear Hubby is also quite skilled with electrical work, so we won't need to hire anyone to do that.

Since it will be a freestanding building and not an addition to the house (which would be MUCHO more expensive), it will unfortunately NOT have any plumbing. That's a major bummer, as I'd give my eye teeth for a raised tub, but that will have to wait for a future remodeling when we can swing it.

Interior flooring will most likely be linoleum. I'd love any recommendations for surfacing the outdoor runs. Concrete is not an option. But small grain crushed rock? Wood decking? Gravel? Grass? Anything else I'm not thinking of right now that should be included?

You're gonna eat what?!

Elli going nose-to-nose with my dinner

She didn't get any of the above crustacean (Mine!), but I did give her a steamed clam. She thought it was very weird, but eventually finished playing with it and ate it. Probably only because the cat wanted it.

Elli will be in her second-ever show next weekend at the Lewiston-Auburn KC shows. There's a 4-point major if the entry holds. I think she looks better than she did at 7 1/2 months, and she sure BEHAVES better than she did in June. Thank you, handling classes!! I'm looking forward to seeing how she does in the ring -- not so much how she places, but how she shows herself and how she looks all show-groomed, since those are the only things I hold any sway over. The rest is up to the judge! But if attitude counts for anything, boy does she have that in spades!!!

Meanwhile, back at the ranch, time will tell if Ian's rear comes back together enough to show him for those last two points. He would probably be fine showing inside, although I'm not sure if he would recover his gait immediately if he left the mat and hit the slippery floor. We'll be working on it over the next couple of months, and if he's doing well I may enter him at the Springfield shows in November. I have absolutely no plans to breed him, but I'd hate to give up on finishing him when he's got his majors (plus a bonus major) and only needs a couple singles. It would feel very satisfying to be able to say I finished my first show dog, all owner-handled.

Ian will return to obedience class tonight, though I won't be jumping him for the next several weeks; we'll work instead on heeling, straight sits and finishes, retrieve on the flat, drop on recall, hand signals, get-backs, and get started on the gloves and go-outs. I did a quick front-and-finish with him this morning, and the boy practically turned himself inside-out with glee. You've gotta love a dog that wants to work that bad! Fingers crossed that there will indeed be a CDX in his future.

Cardis: You TOO can train your humans!!

Elli is historically quite disgusted that her forelegs are too short to adequately hold a bone for chewing. So, she has undertaken a dedicated and strenuous training program:

And, she is happy to report that it has been an overwhelming success. She now simply deposits the bone in my husband's lap, or drops it on his foot (as a mild correction for losing focus), and he holds it for her. No more need to chase it around the rug or prop it against the chair leg. No more getting it covered with hair as it slides across the kitchen floor. No more losing it under the couch or loveseat. Just nudge and drop into the outstretched hand.

Coming Soon: Now you too can train your human to hold bones, throw a ball, and give cookies on command! Sign up today for "The Longing Stare", and receive a 50% off voucher on "Cute Vocalizations For Fun and Profit."

Elli is a transplant to Maine after moving here from Virginia in December of 2008. She has requested her own Taxpayer ID number and is currently shopping for a web host for HowToTrainYourHuman.com. She will soon be offering Webinars on Human Obedience 101. Reserve your spot today!

(No Longer Un)Identified Flying Objects

According to my sister's quick internet search, the GIANT RABID MUTANT NINJA CATERPILLARS FROM OUTERSPACE will turn into Privet Hawk Moths.

I still maintain that they are the first wave of an alien invasion. (It may also be possible that a watch too many of those really bad Syfy network movies.)

Do you like fresh tomatoes straight out of the garden? I sure do!! I look forward to all of those green orbs turning to red; I anticipate the thick, fragrant slices of the Beefsteak or Better Boy in my sandwiches; I long for the sweet burst of the cherry tomato in my salad. I even had plans to make my own tomato sauce from the Roma tomatoes I planted this year.

But my September will be sadly tomato-less. The leaves have withered on the vines, and those bright green promises of tomatoey goodness have been decimated by an until-now-unidentified culprit.

The carnage!!

I suppose in a way it shouldn't be a surprise -- I do live at the end of a cul-de-sac and am bordered on two sides by woods, so bunnies and raccoons and birds are not unexpected. And I thought surely it had to be one of those critters who so blithely robbed me of my autumnal bliss, for no mere insect could possibly have completely eaten the better part of a large tomato.

And it turns out I was right: no mere insect did eat my tomatoes -- they were freaking GIANT RABID MUTANT NINJA CATERPILLARS FROM OUTER SPACE!!!!

o_O

These extraterrestrials are bigger around than my finger!! With wicked little barbs on their asses! And they cling to my tomato vines like inadvertent velcro on your best lace panties!! I have not yet found the spacecraft that deposited these beings in my garden, but I'm on the lookout. I would lend them my cell to phone home, but they'd probably eat that too! Freaking beam them up already, Scotty!!

Ick!!!!

Oh, my poor tomatoes. :-(