My Daughter's Wedding Montage

http://vimeo.com/26818268                       


It was a fabulous day full of happy tears and a lifetime of memories. Love you sweetheart and welcom, my son!

Let's Here It For The Siesta!

 

Ever have one of those days? 

This past monday I woke to a rain pelted window pane. It was overcast and grey skies loomed. It was that type of rain that muffles everyday noises and puts a slight chill in the air. One can't help but be inrospective on a day like that...AND TIRED!

Come 2pm, I could not keep my eyes open! So, I laid down for a nap. As I drifted off, my thoughts fell on the Siesta. I think we could all do with a mid afternoon nap every once in a while, no? In Latin countries, everything shuts down so people can have a rejuvenating Siesta. I think this is a practice we should adopt!

A Dog's Perfect Day

With the exception of the head-out-the-window, I can't imagine a better day for a dog. They do sleep lots but enjoy variety in their day with things to do with their people. This video does a great job of showing how a dog should be a part of our every day activities.  Stella is a beautiful Boston Terrier! Look at that coat shine!

Stella's Day from Jesse Rosten on Vimeo.

What A Wee Bit of Training Can Achieve

Watch a 2nd time to see if you can spot the 3rd species in the video - lol

Nothing In The World Better Than...

A Hidey Hole

Itty bitty dogs like me get cold easily cuz we're close to the ground where it's drafty and we have no fat for insulation.

This seems like a nice enough place.

*slurp* Hmmmm, maybe hiding in a blankie down here on the floor isn't such a good idea. There are great big two-legs always stomping around.

This will be a much better place, if only...

...my sister would help me out. "Hey, Graci. Have you seen that yummy blue blankie?"
"Yippers, Molly. It's at the end of the sofa. "

"Now I have to wriggle around in here till it bunches up juuuuuust right."

And that's all there is to it! Now...to have a nice long nap. Hopefully, no two-legs will sit on me!

Molly is a 2lb chihuahua. She is a true runt in that she does have physical anomolies that make her look a whole lot like 'yoda' (or smeagle)and restrict her in some ways. We give her every opportunity to live her life as any other dog and respect her for what she is: Our precious little 'Molly Wally Doodle All The Day'

Ever Wonder...

What your doggie looks like on the inside? Here is a 'radiograph' taken by the Emergency Animal Clinic in south Edmonton. Tucker was really sick - on a Sunday (of course) - and had to go in for a look-see. A couple hundred bucks and a "Probably just a tummy upset" later...

Oh, well... they're worth it. Wish I could make that kind of money for telling someone their dog's chronic vomitting is likely 'a tummy upset'. lol

(Wow! Now that's some red eye! I'll have to 'edit' that and repost. He actually has gorgeous brown eyes. This is what he looks like before he goes to the groomers - so fluffy...and look at that beard!)

Georgia On My Mind

The day came for us to bring Georgia Rain home. We were all very excited to welcome her to our family.  She loved snuggles. She smelled delicious. She didn't like our water. We loved her.

 

We were smitten.

During her short stay with us, it became clear that her personality was not a good fit with our pack. This was a heartbreaking revelation. If I had fewer dogs and more time to work with her, I would not have hesitated to keep her.  But the reality was: the breeder did not heed my words when I told her I did not want the dominant puppy in the litter, which, sadly, Georgia was.  This is not to say Georgia was aggresive. There was no aggression on her part or on the part of my pack. Dealing with a dominant puppy is a different issue, altogether.

However, to facilitate a smooth integration into an established pack, it is imperative the new puppy/dog be greatly amenable and laid back [I've done it, successfully, several times].  Georgia, come to find out - after the fact - was the dominant one of the litter. To this day, I do not know why the breeder did not disclose this fact to me when I went to select my puppy because I was more than clear with her about my requirements. Goes to show, I suppose, you can play it all 'by the book' and still lose.  While she was not to be ours, we loved her while she was with us.  The details of her story are still too painful for me to tell. Suffice it to say....Georgia is on my mind...often... but because I loved her, I had no choice but to have the breeder place her in another home.

I will never forget:  

*her sweet expression         *her velvet muzzle         *her puppy breath    

*her stubby tail             *her kisses         *her snuffles and snores        

*the weight of her sleeping body              *her monster squishy paws

                                      Goodbye, Georgia Rain           God Bless & Keep You, Always

Update: Georgia now lives with her new familiy in Gibbons. She has an older 'boxer' brother (7yrs old) and the family will be trotting her into the show ring, which is where she belongs. My gorgeous girl. May she live a long and happy life.

 "You Get What You Need"

Rakkasans & Celine Had A Baby And They Called Her Georgia Rain

This is Rocky and Celine - Dam and Sire of Lookaway's Georgia Rain. She comes home today and I'm soooooooo excited. She's a sweetie and I'm looking forward to introducing her to my pack.

Time To Put On My Big-Girl Pants

I'm collecting my resolve as the rest of the week will be more than a little interesting and, to be completely honest, I'm dreading it. It will, however, give me a chance to test myself: remain calm, maintain calm-assertive energy, breeeeeath.

It all started, early July, when Bryan was invited/hired to play at the Gideon convention in Calgary. I took the message and wrote down the dates. I should have checked the dates! When they said it was Aug 18, 19, 20, I thought, "Oh, a long weekend". That wouldn't be a problem at all. BUT....and this is a very big "BUT"....it falls on a Wed, Thurs, Fri, and Sat! I'm not sure where that fourth date came from but, oh well, either way....I'm screwed!

First, the middle of the month is our busiest for inspections, EEEEEKKKKKK! I could handle a busy day on a Friday, but to cover all the inspections for the majority of the week? Lord, help me. In those three days, I have 8 (count 'em - 8) inspections to do. Add to this, 8 (count 'em - 8) dogs to care for and, in Twilla Land, you have the perfect recipe for stress.

If it weren't for my daughter, who has agreed to look after the dogs for me on Thurs and Fri which have 3 inspections, back-to-back, I do not know what I would do!

Generally, I do a dozen or so inspections a month when we are really busy and I have handled 3 inspections in one day before. It makes for a tiring day but it is do-able. So I will choose to put on my big-girl pants and sally forth! I will take this opportunity to practice calm, peace, the art of breathing. Besides, if I had realized that the dates fell during the week and we were going to get booked up like this, I still would NOT have suggested Bryan turn the gig down. I want to support him in his music endeavors and a hectic week is the least I can do.

So....if you don't hear from me in the next few days, no worries. I'll be back!

Pet Peeve

I don't know about you, but I experience a silly little irritation that can only be called a 'pet peeve'. It's harmless, really, and doesn't seem to bother anyone else. Believe me, I've asked.

"No," comes their reply. "It's just you."

Ok, so perhaps you do not share the same pet peeve as I do but, surely, you have a pet peeve that you've not been able to make any sense of; one that has taken such a hold on you, you're certain it will remain attached to you your entire life.

Well, here goes....

I HATE IT WHEN PEOPLE EAT CHIPS FROM THE BAG! PUT 'EM IN A BOWL ALREADY!

Just the sight of you reaching inside that greasy crumb encrusted bag gives me the willies! So much so, it's everything I can do to resist the urge to go completely OCD and wash my hands...even though I never touched them.

Put them in a bowl.

Put them in a bowl.

Don't be goshe and drole.

PUT THEM IN A BOWL!

THANK YOU, VERY MUNCH!

Inconvenience

(An Original 'Short' By: Twilla R. Boyce)

Kat pulled off the road onto the gravel shoulder and jerked the key out of the ignition. Jumping out of the driver's seat, she tried to prepare herself for what she was about to see. She slid down the steep embankment of the ditch. Thankfully, she had a full moon to guide her. She spotted him right away.

His body was limp. His breathing was shallow and laboured. Kat sat next to him, gently laid his head in her lap and smoothed his brow with her finger tips. It was all she could do.

Blake was furious with her for arriving late to their anniversary dinner. The kids said nothing, ignoring her explanation. She cared too much. That's what they told her time and again.

She poked at her eggplant parmesan, unable to push the road-side image from her mind. She didn't know how to explain a thing she barely understood herself. Why her? And why did it occur when she was supposed to be somewhere else, somewhere important? Twenty years of asking had brought her no closer to the answer.

Later that night, she slipped silently from Blake's side and went to the kitchen to make a tea. She stared at her reflection in the blackened window and readjusted her pony tail. Tea brewed, she sat at the table. Striking a match, she lit the candle centerpiece and sipped the warm brew, soothing the troubled image in her mind.

She closed her eyes and said a prayer for the fawn she had tried to comfort earlier that evening. Shadows quivered on the wall as the candle flickered, then fizzled to nothing.

Precious!

A nice family chose Rookie @ 3 wks of age, put a deposit on him and went home to wait until he was old enough to go to his forever home. Sadly, in the meantime, the family encountered a medical crisis that prevented them from being united with little Rookie.

Never fear, though, for in the words of the breeder, "He will always have a home with us until his forever family is found. After all, he was our baby first."

Update: Rookie has found his forever family! He has a new mom and dad who adore him and a new Tri-colored older brother. Yeah!

This is what Rookie's new mom has to say.

Rookie is my all time love. It was fate to meet the breeder, Lo, her family and find Rookie because he has been the light in our life. His big brother, Chip, loves him and has taught him the ropes! Cavaliers are the sweetest, most loving dogs you could ever ask for. We love him, Lorie! Thank you for bringing him into our life.

Love,

Ashley

NOTE: Rookie is now a year old and enjoying life. I have fallen in love with Rookie and his 'theme' song. The lyrics are incredible! Ahhhhhhhh...another happy ending.

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WAAAAAAAY Too Much Of A Good Thing

Wow! Rain Much? Seems all we've been seeing is rain, rain and more rain. Surely the farmers will be growing concerned soon, if they aren't already. I miss the warm summer rains from back home. I remember when I first moved to Canada (Winnipeg, MB). It was my first spring rain and I decided to go walking barefoot in the rain as that was a favorite delight of mine.

I got as far as the driveway. It was absolutely freezing! I turned my southern behind around and fled back to the house where my husband reminded me how far north I was. My mother-in-law gave me a cup of hot tea and my father-in-law hugged me. Ho-Hum...Yet another lesson for a desert born girl.

Zsa Zsa No More

As a dog trainer, I receive many interesting calls from people seeking guidance and support. Some of these calls develop into full fledged events. I received one such call in July. I thought I would share this story with you.

Pam and Jeff had been told that a Lab/Shepard cross would make a fine family dog. It bit their daughter in the face. They found it a good home with a more experienced owner. Next, they heard about a litter of Lab/Cattle Dog cross puppies that were in need of good homes. Within three weeks time, the puppy (the most dominant of the litter, come to find out) bit their children on three separate occasions. First, let me just say how absolutely appalled I am to learn that a person would suggest the dominant pup as a good pet for an inexperienced family, never mind the inappropriate cross breed. When you consider that the Dingo is a huge genetic contributor to the breed, is it any wonder they are best suited to experienced people who are actually going to 'work' them?

After a few questions, it became clear that Silas, the dog, was being neither harassed by the children nor aggressive but simply heeding the dictate of his breed. Children exude the same energy as puppies so young dogs will correct children the same way they would correct a litter-mate, by nipping. These nips are seldom meant to cause harm. They are the dog's method of warning: 'You are too close to my face. This is my toy. You're stepping on me. etc' When you have a herding dog, the propensity is all that much greater; especially so in the Australian Cattle Dog who controls large herd animals by nipping at their heels. This is a skill that is hard wired into the breed. They would be useless to ranchers if it weren't. These herding type breeds instinctively 'round' up children or other humans they see as subordinate pack members by using this skill, leading to the problem.

I told Pam and Jeff that, with proper leadership training, Silas could become the pet they were hoping for but knowing their situation, I expressed my concerns about that possibility. A) Jeff works long hours. B) Pam runs a small day home from her house. C) Where would they find the time to do the training necessary? D) More importantly, they are legally responsible for the safety of the children in their care and the only way to ensure, 100%, that no bites would occur was to keep Silas separated from the children. E) Isolation is not an option, in my books, for any dog. Silas would NOT be happy in this home.

So, providing her with several resources, I encouraged her to find a suitable home for Silas. In the meantime, I would go on the hunt for a good family dog for them. We discussed some options. She liked the Bernese Mountain Dog. "Although they make good family dogs, they are also a working dog, large and shed like crazy. How much time do you have to vacuum and groom the dog?" I suggested, if she likes a large dog, to consider the English Mastiff. They shed less, require minimal exercise (I know...hard to believe...but it's true!) and are wonderful with children. BUT...they drool! Drool! DROOL! Pam took a pass on the Mastiff. Ok, so what about the Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier? They are a nice mid sized dog, non-shedders, good family dogs. Or, there's the Kerry Blue Terrier: also non-shedding, and mid sized. BUT...they are terriers. They have loads of energy and require a LOT of exercise and mental stimulation. Pass...they don't have time to devote to that requirement. Being a bit sneaky...I had to slip the Newfoundlander into the conversation. They are great big canine nannies: Superb with children! Sadly, they shed enough to create a carpet if you don't already have one and they drool, too. :( NO...not an option. I then asked if they would consider a dog around 18 - 28 lbs, a low-moderate shedder but 2nd to none when it came to temperament with all humans, especially children? YES! I recommend the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel. Come to find out, they had researched the breed extensively on the prompting from friends and family members but they could not afford the $1,200 - $1,500 price tag. I told them to leave it with me. "Find Silas a good home and I'll see what I can find for you."

Cavaliers come in four colors and, like Labrador Retrievers, a litter can consist of all color types. Pictured here: left to right...Black and tan - officially called the "Prince Charles", the Ruby, the Blenheim (the most popular) and the Tri (2nd popular and the most expensive!). I set to work looking on Kijiji. There is a phenomenon called "Perfect Timing". What did I see? A tri Cavalier for sale on page 1! They paid $1,500 for her but were selling her for $900. I called to speak to the owners and discovered she was a pup from a highly reputable breeder I have had the pleasure of meeting and her mother's name is Trixie - pictured here.

Trixie: mother to Zsa Zsa

To speed the story along, two weeks, and many phone calls between the families and I, found us looking at Zsa Zsa (the one year old puppy, fully house trained and crate trained) on Kijiji for a reduced $390. Apparently, Zsa Zsa had been purchased by a couple in Edmonton who discovered during the three days she was living with them, that the gentleman had allergies. I called Pam and Jeff, informed them that this little girl was for sale at $390! They pulled their car into parking lot, got pen and paper, took down the phone #, called the gentleman, drove there and picked her up. Sadly, a phone call from Pam informed me that this little dog was sorely neglected: horribly matted fur, eating low quality food, stress shedding and currently sitting in the corner panting heavily.

She'd been at their home for 2 hrs at this point. I gave them step by step instructions to help this little creature adjust comfortably to her new home. To their credit, the family followed the instructions to the "T" and a phone call 30 hrs later informed me that their new family member was curling up with them, showering them with kisses, chewing contentedly on a bone and knew where her potty area was. A week later, Jeff came downstairs early Saturday morning to find his 4yr old daughter lying on the floor with her blankie. Their little dog was curled up with her, head resting gently on his daughter's tummy. "This," he exclaimed to Pam, "is what I wanted for our family!" Ahhhh...SUCCESS!

Cavaliers make wonderful companions and, although content to laze around indoors with their people, also enjoy a hearty romp outdoors. They are bright and eager to please, making them a dog that excels at nearly any task. The Cavaliers are the most popular breed in Britain and, due to irresponsible breeding, are subject to genetic health issues. Make certain you obtain your Cavalier from a breeder who does the appropriate health testing on the parents as well as providing health records on the grandparents which will increase the chances of healthy puppies. I will venture to say that if I had the choice of experiencing the gift of a Cavalier as a companion for a short time and trying to 'manage' a dog that is a challenge for 10-12 yrs...I would choose the Cavalier, over and over again.

The success of this tale doesn't stop here. Silas has been adopted by Pam's niece who has the brother of the lab/shepard cross they adopted first. Silas now has an energetic buddy to play with and people who can afford the time to train him properly. As for the little Cavalier who was passed from home to home in such a short stressful time, she is doing well with her new people, has had a professional grooming and is awaiting her new name. They are currently making a list of options.

In the mean time, I'm calling her "Loved".

35 Minutes To Paradise

Hay Lakes Property

This is an option for Bryan and I. It is 35 minutes from Sherwood Park so a bit of a 'haul' as Bryan likes to describe it. 120 acres of prime hay with 7 paddocks (1.5 acres each) for boarding horses (NO! I would NOT do indoor board! Too much work!). There is a brand new, hardly used, Good On built stable that has 10 stalls, office, wash stall, bathroom, large lunch room/locker room. There is a renovated mobile home on the property as well.

If we chose this property, I would remove the stalls, insulate the roof, and use the 3,000 sq ft area for dog agility. Rebecca, the original owner, built the stable to attract indoor boarders but was unable to find people able to pay the indoor board. In this economy, that is not a surprise. However, I would never do indoor board as it requires constant mucking out of stalls and is a heap of work. Outdoor board is the very best and way less labour intensive.

We would also put a newer home on the property and use the mobile home for my breeding program. To have the mothers/puppies in an actual home is a priceless benefit. It also allows for proper quarantine of the mothers and their litters from disease and illness. Between my own dogs and my 'girls/puppies' and Pack Rules Inc....I'd be busy but could book clients according to my own criteria! Having the modified barn for agility would also allow me to reduce my training charges as the people could come to me for group classes.

I thought it would be absolutely incredible to put up a 'bunk house' where visitors could stay. I could also host 'writer retreats'. That would be incredible! Ahhhh....dreams. Gotta love 'em.

Herein lies the challenge...Is it too far out? Will people drive 35 minutes to use the facility for their dogs or for training? Although it is 35 minutes from Sherwood Park, other towns (Camrose, New Sarepta, Leduc) are 10-15 minutes away. Who really knows?

Decisions, decisions.

You Were Always On My Mind....

You were always on my mind during my last break from Blogspot. So many things happening and going on, it was a bit overwhelming. But, although things continue to be hectic and downright chaotic at times, I'm at a place where I feel able to share again. Thanks to everyone who continues to stick with me and offer your much needed support while I sort things out. You are a blessing, each and every one of you. If you get a bit 'fuzzy' in the brain when you look at these collages, you have a taste of my life.

Here's to keeping the door to new opportunities open, learning to schedule more efficiently, practicing greater self discipline, taking time to "breathe", never giving up on my dreams, remaining calm and assertive in the face of ferocity and never, ever forgetting who keeps me grounded in my spirit.

A DESSERT MOMENT

(An Original "Short" By: Twilla R. Boyce - Aug 8/10)

The Jello was not his favourite dessert but considering the young lady who had prepared it and now stood at the counter dropping blobs of Cool-Whip on top of the jiggly red squares, he would gladly eat it anyway.

Roxy-Ann had opened up his once too focused and stringently scheduled life to a world full of adventure, surprise and quiet moments so full of contentment, he often feared his heart would burst.

Dan waited patiently as Roxy-Ann carried the glass bowls to the table. He smiled when he saw there was more Cool-Whip than Jello and stifled his laughter when she licked a wayward smear of the white goo from her finger.

She placed a bowl in front of him, "Happy Birthday, Daddy."

Roxy Needs A Home

This is Roxy. Gorgeous girl, 2 yrs old, knows all her basic obedience and has excellent recall.

I saw the ad for her on Kijiji. I was smitten. Went out to Beaumont (45 min drive) to meet her and the owner, Danielle. I learned that the original owners bred Roxy at 14 months old. This is reprehensible! Danielle said it was an unwise decision for them to get Roxy and they felt badly that they didn't consider the fact that they were growing their family and wouldn't be able to meet Roxy's needs once the new baby arrived. The remainder of the conversation went well and I took Roxy for a long walk. She did well in the heel, requiring only a few 'reminders' to follow.

Back at the house, Danielle's 2 yr old daughter played with Roxy: picked up her feet, played with her paw pads and counted her nipples. Roxy stood quietly, the gentle nanny, over the girl. It was precious. I told Danielle that I would call her the next day with my decision. She told me that she really liked me and would be thrilled if I took her as she appreciated my demeanor with Roxy and Roxy felt comfortable with me so quickly. This was Tuesday afternoon.

I gave it a day + to decide, not wanting to make an emotional decision (a new life goal). In the end, I called Danielle to tell her I would take Roxy if I could bring Molly out to meet her and evaluate her reaction to my 2lb pup. Danielle informed me that she would be visiting her mother on the wknd and that she lived in Sherwood Park so I could come on Friday night with Molly.

I then asked Danielle if she could fax me over Roxy's vet records. Danielle informed me that the people they bought her from were moving and said they would forward the records to them when they got settled. That was over 4 months ago but she would call them to see about retrieving them for me. Things were going well...or so I thought. This was Thursday.

On Friday afternoon at 1pm, I called Danielle to inquire about the vet records. No answer. Left a msg on the voice mail. No return call forthcoming. 5pm Thursday afternoon (we were scheduled to meet at 6pm), I called again. She answered but it was evident she was caught off guard by my call. Wasn't she expecting me? I suspect she failed to 'screen' my incoming call.

"Hi, Danielle. I was just calling to see how things were progressing with those vet records."

"She's gone."

"Pardon me?

"She went to her new home this afternoon. They live on a farm and were really nice."

"And they didn't want vet records, right?"

Click.

To say I was disappointed would be mild. I steadied myself though, reminding myself, "You get what you need." I've been working diligently on reminding myself that all things happen when they should, how they should, with whom they should. My only job is to do my best to make wise decisions and trust God to guide me. I told myself when I decided to take Roxy that I would only do so if vet records could be produced. There are soooooo many schemers on Kijiji, you have to be hyper vigilant in order to protect yourself from ne'er do wellers.

I consulted with a boxer breeder I've known for a couple of years now. She told me that a lot of people will try to breed a boxer only to find out that she cannot have decent/healthy puppies, especially when they breed her too young as in Roxy's case. Also, when you breed them that young, they often develop health issues that prevent them from having future litters and can potentially cause health issues later on in life.

This isn't saying that Roxy doesn't deserve a loving family. She most definitely does! But I've seen too many people 'rescue' a dog only to have to give them up because they discover health issues that were NOT disclosed by the previous owner. Health issues that result in treatments that are costly and sometimes, prohibitive for the owner. This sends the poor dog through yet another cycle of being re-homed or euthanized. So unfair! Her new family should spay her immediately, though. I hope all this is NOT the case with Roxy and that she truly went to a good family that will love her and take good care of her. Although she was not meant to join my pack, I'll remember her gentle nature and presence. God bless and keep her.

NOTE: Before obtaining a dog, it is reasonable to budget for health care which can include 2-3 trips to an emergency clinic if illness or injury occurs past regular business hours. Emergency care can quickly enter the $thousands. Be prepared! Many pet owners subscribe to Pet Plan Insurance which can come in handy when unfortunate events occur.

Look, Ma! No Hands!

Looky, Looky. I done learned me a new techy skill: how to post a blog with video! This means that, eventually, I will post a video clip of the Rottweiler that wanted to eat me for lunch. First, though, I will have to learn how to edit and upload all the many memory cards full of video. Oh, well...baby steps.

Uhmmmm....yep, that's me. Behind the camera. Yeah,.....back in the day. Lol

Lazy Wake Up Call

This is Chaos demonstrating his morning 'wake up' ritual. And here I thought I was the only one who 'slid' out of bed in the morning. I feel you, Chaos, buddy.