It was a wet, soaking, muddy, rain (sometimes pouring) this past weekend and you would think, who would want to be out in this weather? Well My mom, myself and my niece, Jenna, did and we had a wonderful time. We put up our easyup and worked from the van. It was our first UKC (United Kennel Club) show. We had a great time the people were friendly and we had a good number of people there. We did 2 shows in one day how nice that was! Jenna showed Noah in the Sub-Junior Class and took first place for both shows. She looks so good in the ring we had so many compliments on her showing. The judges were very kid orientated and passed on helpful tips to all the kids there. The judges asked questions to the kids and had them work their dog’s in different ring patterns (all I have to say is thank god they dont make the adults do this! :) ) Thank you to Judge Antonio Raposo and Judge David Arthur every junior did well. Next I showed in the regular Conformation classes with Noah, he went BOB and than went onto take group 2 placements for each show! We came home tired but very happy with Noah’s placing. We are looking forward to our next show.

Jenna at the morning show

Getting asked the tough questions

Noah and I in the herding groupDoing the down and back

afternoon judging

Jenna and Noah going around the ring

Ok Ive decided Im just as bad as my mother on updating the blog! :) I honestly do not know where the time/days go! It seems like we blinked and summer was over. I can not say we had an eventful summer just some little events. We started the summer off cool, but boy did that change come July! It was HOT and humid the whole month! August started out the same way being hot and dry but by the end of the month Hurricane Irene had set her sights on New England...an she came though with a vengence...we were without power for almost 4 days! Talk about almost going crazy!! :) We had shown on Saturday while Irene was working her way up, which was odd because the next days show was cancelled so the show grounds were quite empty and almost a ghost town! Driving home was also interesting as the bands of heavy rain made driving difficult at best! We got power back and it was time to head up to the Maine shows, Noah did not get any points, but we had a great time and it was a nice break after the week we had!

There is still some residual remnants left behind from Irene that will take some time to fix up,like the beach where I bring the dogs from what ive heard now has a 8 foot drop from the parking lot to the water where it used to be a sandy slope before. I have not ventured down there yet I have only saw pictures in the paper. It is still quite warm up here, which is abnormal, we are anxiously awaiting more comfortable temperatures or atleast cool enough so we has shut the A/C off! They are saying maybe next weekend should be cooler..

Below are a few pictures of our summer! Enjoy!!!! And I'll try to be better about updating! :)

Noah and Six playing Tetherball

Six Playing in the sprinkler

Tucker in the Bay

Noah showing in West Springfield at the start of the Hurricane Irene

Looking down out street, the tree just missed their car!

Tree fell on a house down near the water

The water in the bay was moving soo quickly it was going over the docksNeighbors uprooted Oak Tree

Neighbors uprooted Tree the trunk of the tree was atleast 3' around!!

Noah playing in Maine
Noah getting groomed

Noah at the Maine shows

Noah being Handled by Tony

End of summer pool Party!!

My mom taking using the chainsaw to cut the wood from one of the uprooted trees so it would fit on the log splitter.

Has spring arrived?

All the snow has finally melted away. Which gave way to the mud season...something we can defiantly do without! :) The dogs are happy to be out and able to run without having to worry about slipping on ice. The clocks go ahead tonight and the sun is getting warmer...surely a sign spring is on the way!! The dog shows are starting back up again, Noah has his first show next weekend..its a major so fingers crossed. He is also attending Nationals this year as well, and we are flying out to see him shown! It should be a good time.

Mia Enjoying a sunny spot

Till Noah came along and stole her toy

Molly Rolling on the grass

ahh this is the life

Life is good...

Snow, Snow and more Snow...

Noah and Tucker

Mia had a snow malfunction :)

Chasing snowballs

Noah

Noah and Tucker playing

Tucker saying "really"!?!

The snow half way up the outside fencing

It seems like this winter has been going on forever, it snows atleast every week, and not just a few inches, we're talking feet...The snow is half way up the outer 6ft fencing, and we had to shovel around the inside 3ft fence as Six decided he could clear it and go where ever he wanted to go!! When the dogs run around the made paths (we've since given up doing this as its too much snow) you lose sight of them. We desperately need a winter thaw here and I dare to say it will be months before we see grass!!

For Christmas I received a very nice digital SLR camera (Canon 60D), and I have been practicing with it, however it would be nice to take pictures of some nice greenery and flowers instead of snow and ice!! A few months Noah will be back out in the ring looking for those ever elusive majors, and once Six starts to mature he will be out as well. Molly has settled into the couch mode like she was made for it :) Shes very happy hanging around the house all day. Mia although still the littlest one here (her offspring surpassed her!) is still in charge and ruling the roost.

Winters are typically very slow and boring here and with no litters this winter we dont have too much to update, although I'll try to be better about it and not wait months!! :)
Linda

Catching up on what is new

mom put me down I want to play no pictures

Noah

Tucker resting before another game starts

Come on Tucker lets get moving

New deck how can I escape now

dinner time!! hurry mom

I really don't care for this thing mom

learning table manners

baiting isn't a bad thing " treats "

Well we now have summer days and cooler nights wish it would last longer. All our flowers and vegetable plants are dying and drying up.Time to pick up the yard and put things away before we get a frost followed by snow. Noah has blown his coat and is naked so we wait for his new coat to come in . ,He just needs 2 majors and it is hard to get those higher number in this area Mia's coat is coming in nicely.she will soon be her ball of fur.The 2 puppies are just about done growing, Their coats filling in,and loosing the puppy look and getting the mature dog look (but I guess no one has told them that as they still think they are puppies). They are learning to be on a leash stand on the table and be groomed as they have been handle and socialize since birth. .Linda is teaching them show protocol and the art of baiting; Hopefully they will be in the ring soon.Molly is back to being Molly, and Sam is getting up in age he runs but not far and finds a spot to lie down and watch. That is about it for now.

Irish Hill Shelties: Our Mom's Information and news Please read

Irish Hill Shelties: Our Mom's Information and news Please read

Our Mom's Information and news Please read

We know that you must know our mom she is always running around and loves to talk about us. There are some days when she doesn't run as much so we asked her to tell you her story. At first she said no but after bugging her allot she said ok. We love our Mom a whole bunch and she, Linda and Dad would do anything for us we are so lucky to live here but that is another story today is mom's.Hi my name is Pat and I am a very lucky person. I have 3 wonderful children and a terrific husband, Bob.I was a nurse for over 30 years a job that I can compare to no other. The pride, gratitude and humility I got was by far more then I ever gave. I am what you probably call a very busy outdoor person. I love to be out in my yard with the dogs,planting, painting (usually more on me), and working on a project or two ( poor Linda and my husband) They hear me say "I been thinking...."(and they look to heaven and say now what ). However the past year and a half I have had allot of heath issues which even with pushing myself I couldn't over come them. I cracked my wrist a year ago last June in a fall that I took digging a hole trying to jump on the shovel to push it in the ground definitely not a good idea when you are not in your 20's LOL and also injured my shoulder. I worked and talked my way around that but I also at that time started to have back pain I ignored it for a few months then when it got worst I said Iwill try injections in the spine to see if that works the first set of 3 injections helped the second set (6 months later ) made it worse. It came to the point where I was walking bent over in pain and not able to do much. Now I saw a neuro surgeon who ordered a MRI and said you have no more disc in your L4 and L5 back and you need surgery. So I have had the surgery done August 18 and came home and again returned to the hospital to have my back incision opened again to have a screw that had gone through my bone into a muscle removed as it was causing problems. After another few days recovering I am home again moving but very slowly using a walker and cane. With no other problems I hope to be back to "normal " in 12 weeks. This is going to be very hard for me to do I have a nurse and physical therapist coming into our home for now till I can go there.I am missing the dog shows and Linda with Bob has picked up the dog care and other jobs. I guess that now while we are talking health I am going to tell you my other 'News" I have had Parkinson's Disease for the past 10 years and never have I said "Why Me" or "Poor ME" I have always felt that we take what we get and deal with it. There are good days and not so good days I know that it has been harder on my family as they worry that I don't always stop and think about what I do, I just do it. I am telling you this at this time because if you see me using a cane or a walker (I hope not) you will know why. And for those who have a physical disability problem don't let it over come you and stop you from what you want to do. We have had a few dear club people who are now quite ill but I am sure that for years have kept going even on bad days because they love what they were doing. The same is true for me I love my family, hobbies and dogs Linda and Bob will be picking up the extra work I do for I hope a short time.I love the dog shows, and excitement and caring for the dogs. Watching a puppy being born and being excited planning it's future and planning if this is the one the next :CHAMPION". SO THANK YOU LINDA, BOB, AND MY WONDERFUL FRIENDS FOR YOUR LOVE AND SUPPORT. If you see me wobble or trip just know that I am okay just not quite up to par for the day but better days do come. As I am Irish I let the Irish saying carry me

An Old Irish Blessing

May love and laughter light your days, and warm your heart and home. May good and faithful friends be yours, wherever you may roam. May peace and plenty bless your world with joy that long endures. May all life's passing seasons Bring the best to ou and yours!