This Is For The Birds

Well I usually use dehydrated raw but I had purchased 20# of chicken thighs and quarters and my organ meat. I definitely did not want it to go bad so I picked up apples, oranges, squash, carrots and broccoli. I had already purchased a meat grinder, great knife, poultry scissors, etc. this was on the advice of Miss Raw.
So off I went to grind up everything, this is a really, really messy job. Broccoli is a pain to grind, don't ask me why but it is. OK then we go on to the meat, I thought I had a decent grinder but I had to stop many times to clean the blades of bone, I was getting a little frustrated, OK a little more then frustrated.
Now I'm on the down hill slide, not. Putting everything in containers is a royal pain the the butt.
I started with the total amount to feed 5 dogs per feeding per bag and decided that was not very practical for me. Then I thought why not make medallions so I made some 2oz ones for Ginger and Amelia, very slow process. I'm getting better as the night goes on, did I tell you I'm a slow learner. :) I brought out my 1/8 cup measure and it makes medallions pretty damn close to 1 oz so that's what were doing. I put as many possible on a pizza tray and freeze then into bags in the deep freeze. I average about 50 per bag, I'm still not done and this is the second day, did I tell you this is a real pain in the ass.
So I figure making 26#'s of raw will take this average bear around 14 hours. I really don't have an extra 14 hours so I will stick with the dehydrated unless I get some game meat this fall for free or really cheap.
Did I tell you MY DOGS LOVE ME FOR THIS.

Ginger goes to school

Ginger started obedience class this past Thursday evening and there is a mixture of breeds.
We have GSD's, Airedale Terrier, Min Schnauzer, and a few others and Gingers liked every one she meet. Looking forward to seeing her learn and grow, she's a smart little whipper snapper.

CWCCWR

For the most part I had a wonderful time up in Oberlin, OH at the Western Reserve. The Greig Family is such a wonderful bunch of folks who work so very hard and do it for the love of this wonderful breed. The downer was the Janet had to head home early to care for her mother and we missed her company. There was just tons of good stuff from the weekend and the most BEUATIMUS girl in the world, that would be Ginger had a very good weekend. She placed in the ribbons all 6 times she was shown in a very competitive class of beautiful dogs, two of which were her sisters. One of her rosettes is MIA, but here is the results: Friday 3rd Sweeps (her sisters Lowri 2nd and Sally 4th), regular class 2nd (sister Lowri 1st) and Reserve Winner Bitch under Cathy O (sister Lowri was WB). Saturday 3rd sweeps, I told Cheryl K I was tired of looking at her and Lowri's back ends and I was going to bet there butts and that is exactly what we did, Ginger 1st regular class. Sunday 3rd sweeps (I see a pattern) and regular class 1st again. Ok now for Miss Flirty, first she had to relearn to gait on grass and not hop, but she got the hang of it. She placed 1st under Cathy O, I'm very proud of this. I learned alot this weekend some wonderful grooming tips, thanks Cheryl M and also some handling tips, you would think I've never been in the ring before, thanks Susan S. Many many thanks to Susan and Cheryl for packing me and my dogs in her van. :) Cheryl was trying to take a picture of me with all the luggage but I caught her.

A Bunch of Stuff

A lot to report about. I went out west and visited with my family, check on my mom and I also got to visit w/ Penni, Holmes and Naughty Nola. I really needed a cardi fix by then, Thanks Penni.
While home I did make a trip to Ojo Caiente and had some girl time with my sister which I always enjoy.
I missed Miss Flirts 8th birthday so we celebrated with Willie Man, his 11th birthday on July 15. I went to Three Dog Bakery and got goodies for all the dogs, it was hard letting Flirt and William pick out the ones they wanted.
Next I went up to Marshall, MI with Bonnie for Gingers be-butt and we came home with a 3 pt major. I would have liked both of them but I shared with Bonnie and her cute little girl Laney.

Ginger Watching The Cows

USDAA

Well we tried to qualify for USDAA agility nationals that will be held in Louisville, KY in October but fell a little short. I was able to get a team Q w/ Bonnie and Lilly our team is The Long and Short of It, cute huh. :) I also squeaked out a Steeplechase Q today. It's a little unfair as if there are not enough 8" dogs they have to compete with the 12" dogs. Flirt and I came in 2nd as she is usually very competitive, so it was 1st 12" dog 2nd 8" dog 3rd 12" dog and that is all they allow to qualify. My friend had a clean run and would have Q'd but they only allow 3 dogs to advance. Boy this is a little confusing. We also have a Grand Prix Q but at last I needed at least 2 Q's in Grand Prix and or 2 Q's in Steeplechase. Well I guess I will just cheer everyone on, buy some stuff and they have great vendors and probably do a little volunteering. I LOVE MY FLIRT with all my HEART.

Ginger and I did really good

We went tracking this morning and I am pleased to say that this was the first time there was no food, 3 turns and I wanted her to be on a harness so she can learn the difference between the many jobs she has to do. Also did I tell you we really don't do this very often, as a matter of fact it's been several weeks. Well she did super, she read the turns and this is also a learning thing for me too. Jimbo was behind us and we both worked through the little area where the growth was very low and the sent had puddled up. We were very pleased with Ginger. Not sure but I'd love to see if I could get her ready for OH tracking.