it was finally warm enough to get in the dirt. SO great! i filled half a trashcan with debris (dead leaves and trimmings) but am hesitant to clean too much for fear of more severe cold thats sure to come and the leaves are really good protection from icey fingers that will try to kill more of my plants. Im afraid ive lost 2 of my poppies that I planted this Fall.   The terrible ice storm froze them solid…i watched their  pretty feathery tops wither, so sad. I called White Flower Farms, and they think they may come back from the root, but i have yet to see even a hint of growth. The one that wasnt killed off is thriving though, thank goodness i will have one to enjoy this spring. I may have to replant the two that were lost this Fall and wait another season to enjoy them.

The first of our daffodils are up and waving hello in the breeze. its the only thing i have blooming in my garden at the moment. But so many plants are popping up everywhere. Everything is very happy with the 69 degree weather and sun we have been having the last couple of days.

I spread 10 lbs of fertilizer and need to buy bone meal for my peonys…ah…spring.

poppy

Iris

daffodils

sedum

Doveland Morning Soleil 1st place-HIT-ABGA National Specialty

I havent written in awhile…..ive been addicted to facebook, which im rather tired of actually…it took a monumentally exciting event to get me back here!!

Lola and I entered The American Brussels Griffon National Specialty. Ive been thinking about this for a year….wondering if she would be ready in time, worried she wouldnt be and i would miss it. The club may be moving it to another city next year and by next year, Lola would not be eligible for novice anymore and would be in Open or possibly Utility by then.

I didnt  feel like she was quite ready, still having some trouble with the “stand for exam” exercise and “stays” but we entered anyway …just for fun.

She was nervous about the venue. A large banquet room with a variety of things not normally seen in an obedience trial. Just a different picture. i tried to give her a chance to get used to things, arriving early and just letting her absorb all the sights, smells and noise  and she seemed to calm down a bit.

When it was our turn to enter the ring, she just seemed to know what to do and understood completely, my very smart little girl.

She earned the first leg of her CD that day with a first place and a High in Trial .

How could it have gone any better than that.

No other words for it…just bitter cold. The midwest it flat froze UP!!  Its currently 12 degrees outside with a wind chill of   (minus) 2 degrees. Its suppose to get to zero tonight…BBRRRRR.

I keep hearing my deck boards popping..I dont know what they are doing out there, splitting?, bowing?..guess I’ll find out when it warms up some. The dogs dont mind going out, but then they come limping back in 5 minutes later after doing their doggy business. Gitte was actually holding up her front paw…I think she was being a little bit of a princess if you ask me.

Its cold and raining outside. I had a bowl of  dried black beans soaking overnight and they are now simmering on the stove with bay leaf and a little salt and pepper. They are being prepared for a blackbeans and rice dish later today. Its a fairly old recipe, one given to me at a recipe shower just before I was married 25 years ago…wow, can it be that long ago?  the recipe shower were mygirl friends from youth group at church and friends of my moms and some relatives…well the moms of course brought the wonderful recipes and I still have everyone of them.  This particular one I made SO many times thru the early years of my marriage and Ive pulled it out again, cause I miss it and it really sounds good to me again.

Something else I found and I found it to be REALLY funny…Im probably the only one on the planet to think this is funny other than a vet or vet tech…but. I came across a recipe for leg of lamb. My mom prepares a great one and an old friend in VA does also…I read it and assumed it was my moms until I turned the recipe card OVER and discovered what I had written the recipe on.  A  Large animal stall card. My old friend in Virginia is a veterinarian that raised sheep and gave me fresh leg of lamb

the back of my" leg of lamb" recipe card that is a large animal stall card

black beans simmering with bay leaf

and I used to work for her years ago, hence the stall card…which is the size of an index card and a perfect size for a recipe. I laughed and laughed…no confusion there on whos recipe that was.

Today is my precious Lukes 11th birthday. Ive got an 8 oz filet waiting for him for his birthday dinner tonight. I Love you my shadow, my protector, my comfort, my friend. Happy Birthday and I hope many many more to come.

Luke at Fort Morgan Beach, Thanksgiving 2008

I was contacted about this photograph I made of Lola. A woman that has created a very nice fairly comprehensive Griffon website asked if she could use and post this photo on her website. I have always admired her photos that shes sent to the group and do like this website and was very pleased that she wanted to add my photo to the group there.  To get the the website click here.

Lola on the beach, Thanksgiving 2008, Fort Morgan Ala.

My Niece Evie. Give her a Boa and the Diva in her blossomed. It was one of her Christmas presents from me, her aunt Meg. Thought she might like it. Never quite saw the transformation coming like we did. too funny.

Well, I sent in an Entry for Lola.  But its only for Prenovice. Its a trial I showed her in exactly one year ago in the same class. I cant believe its been a year already. She will not quite be ready for novice B, we still need to do a lot of run thrus, backchaining, removing treats to the outside of the ring, that kind of thing. I wont have time to do all that before the end of January. Thats the time of this trial.

Prenovice is a very short time in the ring, there is no off lead heeling  and everything is on lead. Good ring experience for both of us. I need to get to know how Lola is in the ring, how we are going to work together. Time will tell I guess. Im so hoping we make a good team.

Christmas…the month of december is just a bust for dog training. I havent gotten anything done. So I can just plan on starting fresh the first of the year and really buckle down and concentrate on Novice and getting her ring ready and myself ring ready.

Ive got training tomorrow, but also our little training groups Christmas party.

Christmas went to the dogs. But it always does and its so much fun!!

Bryan and his Mom handing out dog toys

I'm handing out more toys to Luke, Lola and Gitte

Gitte and Luke both agree with my new sleep shirt!

My sweet Luke.

Gitte likes to tear the paper, but Lola my griffon has to be inside every box

"Where is the next one?"

We are decorated here at the Flowers house. I raced around got everything done in preparation for our annual trip to Chicago this weekend and wouldnt you know it. Ive got either bronchitis or the flu…Ive never really known the difference…so as of today we decided to cancel our trip to Chicago. So SAD. We always look so forward to this trip. We take Lola with us and she is a bonafide city dog for a couple of days. oh well, enough whining about that.

Im so excited that WordPress has made “snow” for us! I love it, its a lot cleaner than the real thing I might add.

And here is a photo of Lola in front of the Christmas Tree this morning.