Action Agility Shots Nov 2011

Dean Lake, pro photographer was on hand at the agility trial last weekend and caught some super shots of Sky. While we did not qualify in any of our 4 runs, we improved each time and Sky was quick to respond to my commands (which were too slow lol!) I love the shot above as it shows how athletic Sky is!

Why is it when I was younger and faster my dogs were older and slower, and now that I am older and slower my dog is younger and faster????? Sky showing off great jumping form, me, not so much. . .

More 2010 Christmas Snow Pics

George is never one to be outdone by Sky, and followed us on a walk in the snow. Don't think he enjoyed it as much as Sky, but is always the trooper. What a good tiger kitty he is!

Our house and cook shed in the snow, pic taken from road above our house. We had about a foot of snow over the course of Christmas weekend.

Sky playing on the neighbors hill, she will be getting a new coat soon!

yes Sky, you are very pretty and alert looking!

Winston Salem shows - Dec 10 2010

Sky's half sister Mia(Zeke x Trixie) with owner/handler Jessica went Winners Bitch Fri and Sat at the shows, and also showed in obedience, earning her Companion Dog title on Sunday with another 1st placed. Mia had scores in the 90's for all 3 legs with first place for all legs. Great job Jessica and Mia!!

We found a great greenway area and dog park to let the dogs run and play while we were at the shows in Winston Salem. Jessica and I roomed together and Mia and Sky loved having the chance to stretch their legs during the weekend

Mia playing at the dog park with a new friend. We spent several hours on Fri and Sat at this dog park and were impressed by the social skills of the dogs and watchfullness of the owners.

Sky did earn winners bitch and Best Opposite Sex on Sunday in W/S for her 8th show point. She is now officially over half way to her championship with one major and a total of 8 pts of the necessary 15 to obtain the coveted champion title.

Pisgah Nat'l Forest - Sun Nov 28, 2010

After spending a wonderful Thanksgiving Thursday at home, and most of the weekend inside, Sky and I decided to go for a short hike in Pisgah National Forest on Sunday afternoon. While it is not legal to hunt on Sunday, these are game lands and it is the height of deer season, so we both took no chances and wore our blaze orange.

Sky had a marvelous time and really needed to get out and stretch her legs. With the time change and it now dark when I get home, she is not getting much excercise during the week, never good for an active 2 yr old dog of any breed.

Max Patch, one of our favorite haunts, is in the background of this photo. We decided to walk one of the nearby horse trails for a change of pace, it was a great walk and we came across two different groups of people riding. Sky is very good with approaching horses and always lets me know there is someone else on the trail.

Back to the car after our walk, she would have liked to keep going but as you can see from the long shadows, the day was almost at an end and time to go.

Max Patch wJanet and Eddie Nov 20, 2010

Max Patch is on National Forest Lands, and is open for hunting, thus the orange jackets on the dogs.

It was very windy on the top at Max Patch as you can tell from the flag and my pony tail lol! No matter the weather, this is always a wonderful walk, and we soon got off the "bald" and into the woods where it was lovely and warm.

Janet Wilde has been a friend for many years and was Sage's breeder. We have many lovely memories of our dogs and time past, and enjoyed making new ones today. Janet is pictured with her male, Eddie, who is a 2nd cousin once removed if we figured it out right to our Sage.

We came upon this couple rabbit hunting with their beagles (yes, that's a real cute gal with the gun on the left!). It was exciting when the dogs caught scent and another member of their party was able to bag the rabbit. The gun shots really got our dogs attention and they wanted to join the hunt, guess they remember being bred originally for fur and feather! As you can see, there really is a reason for us to have hunter orange on the dogs in this area, and ourselves for that matter.

Great Weekend for Jessica and Mia-Belle

Our friend Jessica w/Sky's half sister from the Trixie/Zeke litter, Mia, came to visit last weekend and show in Novice A obedience at the Asheville trial. Mia and Jessica were super stars, placing 1st both days with scores of 193 and 193 1/2! Anyone who has ever done obedience with a 19 mos old Weim can appreicate the accomplishment this is. Good job Jessica and Mia!

As a reward for their hard work showing, we all took a walk on Sunday to Sam Knob, a beautiful mountain top just off the Blue Ridge Parkway. Mia and Sky took a moment to pose for the camera and survey the beauty of the Western North Carolina Mountains.

Another view from Sam Knob, it is a favorite hiking area and another group was approaching and caught the girls attention.

After descending Sam Knob, we continued our walk along the Flat Laurel Creek trail and eventually wound back to the parking area. We had a taken a short break near a creek and the sun came out late in the afternoon to catch this shot of Sky waiting patiently for us.

Norton Creek cont - Oct 31 210

Sky is running for all she is worth, playing with Elvis, the Great Dane!

Elvis, having a blast chasing Sky near the house - what a beautiful playground for dogs and human alike!

Elvis was having a grand time playing "cutting horse" with Sky, everytime she would try to pass him on the trail he would "bounce" at her, cutting her off at the pass. Sky eventually would feign left and run right past his shoulder, but then come back and play the game on his terms again. We enjoyed watching them play their game!

Visit w/the Worsham's, Norton Creek, TN

We spent Sunday with Earl & Margit Worsham at their lovely estate on top of the mountain just outside of Gatlinburg TN. Sky had a wonderful time playing with the resident Great Dane, Elvis, on our walk toward the old apple orchard (pics of their play time to follow) Sky is exiting the formal English Garden, getting ready for our amble thru the woods.

The Worsham's have 2 flag poles on their property, one to fly the US flag, the 2nd to fly the Danish flag in honor of Margit's home country. The weather was outstanding on Sunday, crisp blue sky and lots of color left on the trees.

Sky on our romp toward the old orchard, that is Elvis in the background, more pics of him later.

Purchase Knob, Oct 23 2010

Purchase Knob use to be privately owned and was turned over by the owning family to the US Park Service to be used as a research facility to study the diverse ecosystem in this area of the Great Smoky Mountain National Park.

Drove up today for the first time with my parents visiting from SC to see some of the fall foliage at 5000 ft, and to check out this area.

Short walk to Ferguson's cabin, an original cabin to the area

The dogs, my parents Jill, Sheba, and Sky taking the drag spot stretching their legs for a minute. Dogs are not technically allowed on the trails off lead - rules for the Park are in force here.

Sky on porch at Ferguson's cabin. She is looking at a flock of lady bugs. If you have ever lived in this area, lady bug infestations are common this time of year in old cabins (and newer ones!) Hard to believe these little bugs of nursery rhymes can be so annoying . . . they can be everywhere in your home, car, body, etc. in very short time. Sky did not sit long for this photo before she was overwhelmed with the little creatures.

Sky at Graveyard Fields 10-17-10

We went to Graveyard Fields to get in a niced hike and enjoy the fall foliage. At this elevation it is past the peak but still beautiful. There were 100's of people it seemed like near the falls and in the parking area, but was still peaceful once we were on the back ridge trail.

Sky was wondering what was taking me so long, she always ready to go and enjoyed our 4 1/2 mile hike very much. The weather was perfect, low 60's and bright sunshine.

Sky made lots of friends along the way, always polite and several folks commented on how well behaved she was, particularly when we were near the water and parking area.

This photo was taken at the same spot where Linda, Jam, Trixie, Sky and I all took a break on her visit to us last summer. Sky and I had a rest and let a group of folks with 5 dogs pass us and get on down the trail.

Sky - Asheville KC June 2010

Grayhart Lightfoot Early Morning Rain TD RN JH NSD V went BOW/BOS at the Asheville Kennel Club on June 12, 2010. Sky has now earned 7 points toward her breed championship, including one of the required two majors. Our next shows aren't until end of July, so in the mean time we will try to keep cool and continue to work on agility and swimming (and of course she helps us by pointing out the chipmunks the cat brings in the doggie door to turn loose in our bathroom - without Sky indicating them, they could set up housekeeping!)

More Pics from the Natl's May 2010

Deb & Sky moving for Ms Colan.

Sky w/Bonnie Lane who showed her in the Sweeps and bred/owns Hibourne's It's All About Me aka Parker, Sky's sire. Sky loves Bonnie and showed oh so well for her.

On my way home, I stopped at the National Fire Fighters Memorial. The site was mentioned to me by Rob and Trudy while visiting at the Nationals. It is an inspiring place, they update daily information on any firefighters who have lost their lives on duty. It's good to know there is a place where these men and women are remembered for there sacrifice.