She didn't make it to 15

She came from a puppymill in MIssouri and was sold to a college kid from a pet store in RI. She had too much energy and was too busy for him once he got back to school and he learned he made a bad decision and gave her to rescue. I asked for a large Min Pin and I guess she was, but she sure seemed tiny to me!!! she was a good age, 5 1/2 months and was a precious little spit fire!

She ran and ran and ran and hunted everything. Recalls were a challenge, but she was very smart and learned quickly. We would take her hiking in the white mountains, but occasionally she had to be leashed. She was fabulously athletic and fast.

She loved to train obedience and was a great agility dog. My first MACH dog. In fact, she was the first MACH dog my instructors students had ever had. even before any of her dogs had a MACH. 

She LOVED to hunt and eat grasshoppers and could do that in late summer all day long, even nearly blind. 

She had a presence about her that was strong and intense. She ruled the house, but never fought with the boys.

Hiking was one of her favorite things to do and she could go for miles!!!!

Baby Colby 5 months.....

With both eyes!! I hit her in the eye with a ball and that eye ended up removed. THAT sucked!!! She was going blind anyway. What a horrible fate for an busy,malt hectic dog. Her health was always a struggle,she had allergies, a bad knee, mast cell tumor, horrible Lyme. she struggled with health issues her whole life, but it never slowed her down much.

She continued to hike and hunt with limited vision

I can't believe how empty the house is now. She was small, but she was a powerful presence. Rich insisted we get a stone or plaque for her.None of the others, except Gabe, had more than a stone. we had a white marble plaque made. she is buried with Gabe and Trudle on the edge of the agility yard. I forgot to bury her precious ball with her, so yesterday I tucked it in under the sod above her. It was the only ball she liked and outlived her, amazingly!!!! It was gross and cracked and worn, but STILL squeaked!!!!

She was the hardest ever to let go, but we did not let her linger long. She had stopped eating much last week and was obviously not comfortable.

It sucks.........she should have lived a lot longer..........

Some runs from the weekend trial

Tough weekend, for sure. Colby had a terrible week and we decided it was time for her to go. Friday night we visited the vets for the last time. Sucked. TOTALLY sucked. She was the BEST dog. I will write a blog obituary/tribute later as I am exhausted by it all. Posted on facebook and got over 100 comments. Wow, I didn't realize I had so many friends, LOL!!! SHE had so many friends. Although, she wasn't outwardly friendly, just perfectly friendly. :D She was very self assured and our house is SO empty without her. Amazing the presence she exuded. Huge!

Spur ended up giving me a SUPER weekend at the trial. He didn't seem fazed by my emotions, good little Monkey Pants!!!

Trial report!

Hah, it's been a while!  Our first outdoor trial of the year and the weather was awesome!!!Perfect, relaly!! Some light mist Saturday morning, but after that it was nice!!! Not too hot, not too cold. Perfect!!! It was a very small trial and I thought that wouldn't be good for Spur, but he did great!!! I don't have much video, which is a bummer because he had some really awesome runs. I do have two runs he did really well. We missed a PGP qualifier by one refusal at the teeter. Damn. But, I was very happy how he ran  all weekend. He never runs as well outside, but he has always liked this place for some reason.

Is weekly OK?????

I just can't seem to find the time to post any more!!!!! time management, not easy as I get into my menopausal years. Having SO much fun with that!! NOT!!!!! But, at least now I can TRULY blame everything on hormones, right????? Hmmmmm, that seems like a cop out, but seriously WTH????? What a cruel joke it is!!! Enter the "prime" of your life and your body goes wacky!!!! NOT fair!!!!!!

OK, enough about that.......how about some bird photos! sorry to those of you who already have seen theses on Facebook.

So, this weekend is our first outdoor trial. Guess what???? FUCKING crappy weather forecast!!!! Damn IT!!!!! we just can't win in the weather department!!! Not even a chance of rain, but 100% chance!!!! Cold rain, yeah, that sounds good!!! >:/ 

So much going on!!!!

First and foremost GOOD weather finally!!!!!

So many birds around now!!!!

and a turtle! 

Waiting to see the male Baltimore oriole. 

Been wicked busy here. last weekend my friend and I did a running contacts seminar. It was awesome 

!!!! Five participants running their dogs and we helped them analyse their running and helped give them a plan. I don't think I am a great teacher, but maybe I am underestimating myself. Everyone seemed pretty pleased!!! and we have been asked to do it again!!! I don't know, it didn't make us much money and took a day away from doing other things. 

No trials lately. Taking a wee break. spur needed a break. We have been doing some practice at home and he seems pretty happy with that. Lots of hiking in the woods. Lovely weather, no bugs, just cute little minks!!! How cute is this little thing?????

So sad....

Last night we head to bed. I am reading and suddenly hear crying down stairs. Very sad, and kind of panicked. I run down and find poor sweet Colby in the middle of the kitchen.........lost. We leave a light on for her, but I don't know how much that helps her? She can't see much, period. And this has happened before. Last time I found her in the bathroom. She zigged when she should have zagged and ended up lost. We never move furniture, we never leave things on the floor, the house is always the same, but on occasion she gets "lost". I felt SO bad and put her back on her recliner and sat with her, snuggling for a while. She rested and I left her. She always sleeps downstairs now. Only coming upstairs if we are with her and she isn't at all comfortable on the bed any more. Not for the night, she will hang out some while we are changing, but that's about it. Probably afraid Spur will try to play with her and knock her off. Going blind SUCKS SO BAD!!!!!

She is getting out and seems to be OK about it and relatively happy. She is very slow and we keep some tension on her leash, keeping her from straying off course. It just sucks so bad.

Roscoe on the other hand is as feisty and happy as ever! Damn dog is going to live forever!!!! :D

His latest trick is progressing nicely. Sometimes the "Little Drummer Boy" appears and I have to take a step back to break the drumming habit, but then he gets back on track for the job. Silvia suggests finding an object now that he has to the shape doesn't fit unless a certain way. Hmmmm, I have to think on that one.

Is it really spring????

It has been SO cold and windy, I just get annoyed!!!! Which has become the most popular word for teenagers, it seems. Everything is ANNOYING!!! Rich spent a week with two and he said if he never hears that word again, he would be happy!!! I spent one day with one and found MYSELF using that word too much!!!!

OK, so the cold and wind are IRRITATING!!!!! frustrating!!!, Maddening!!!! Disappointining!!!! Most of all, though, annoying.  really, really annoying!!! such a tough winter, we SO deserve a nice spring and it isn't happening. I know I should be happy it isn't snowing, but I am not. I am not happy we have had only ONE warm day in weeks!!!!

I guess flickers have a third eyelid, I get many shots 

Ike this one......

The swallows are already here!!!!

such a classic Maine photo!!!

The phoebes tried to nest in the barn again!!! My plan was to stop them before laying eggs, but damn it in ONE week is appeared!!! I couldn't believe it!!! I I knocked the nest work down and there it was. But, I am still glad, they can lay more eggs, but NOT in the dangerous barn!!! last year watching the babies leave was horrifying as the barn cats stalked them. 

Jewel is slowly shedding her winter coat. Soon enough she will be shiney and sleek, but right now a bit bedraggled.