Helen's Home World: autumn

Showing posts with label autumn. Show all posts

Wednesday, October 26, 2022

Friday, October 14, 2016

Well it's not a picture of flowers but I think all the autumn colours are spectacular; the picture just doesn't do them justice. I love that we have such a difference in the seasons but I do wish that winter wasn't so long. It would be lovely if it was autumn that lasted for months. This weekend or next weekend will likely be the peak for colours then I'll have to get ready for the long winter.

Saturday, October 11, 2014

Happy Thanksgiving

Monday, October 15, 2012

The Q that Wasn't

Thanksgiving Sunday, saw us at Train-R-Paws for an agility trial. I hadn't realized it was Thanksgiving that weekend when I registered for the trial but it turned out to be a nice long weekend just the same, after all what better way to spend the day.

It was a very nice autumn day although it was very cold in the morning and when the sun went behind the clouds. It was a jackets on, jackets off kind of day. It was the first time I had been to Train-R-Paws and I was surprised how close it actually is to my place, only about 40 minutes. I can see that it could very hot and buggy during the summer though, the field is cut out of the woods and the woods are quite thick right up to the field so there's no really good areas to set up in the trees for shade.

Our sunshade and crates

Beckett didn't have a great day. He had a number of refusals when I tried to rear cross; something that we definitely need to work on but when I saw the course map for the second Gamblers I knew it was one that he could do. It was very much like the Advanced Gamblers courses that he had Q'd in.

We started with trying one of the mini's and Beckett knocked the last bar. Then when I called him to me, he knocked the next bar; it was the 4 point obstacle. I went on to complete my opening and was just about to send him into the tunnel once again when the buzzer went. I used the double jump to bring him around to the first obstacle of the Gamble, a jump, then it was tunnel, dog walk and tire. Beckett gave me a little lip after the jump but did the rest of the Gamble beautifully. I didn't think with the knocked bars that we had enough points but when I went to pick up my score sheet, I didn't see the 5 points for the weaves.

I went and asked the judge if she remembered if Beckett had popped his weaves and she said he had slipped a weave. I couldn't argue with that as I don't always watch him when he's in the weaves as he's usually very consistent but on that day, he had almost come out of the weaves a couple of times and I hadn't yet seen this video.

Beckett Master Gamblers

Turn up your volume and tell me that you can't hear the judge call "5" after the weaves.

I add up his score sheet as having 23 points; with the weaves, he would have had 28. The minimum number you need to qualify.

I guess in a way it's Kismet. Ceilidh had a Masters Jumpers Q with a 5 fault run, a knocked bar that somehow didn't get recorded and now Beckett loses out on a Q for lack of 5 points that he did do. But why couldn't it have happened on any other game but Gamblers since we struggle so hard to get them. Oh well, thems the breaks! We did come home with his 12th Steeplechase Q.

Tuesday, October 9, 2012

Just a Walk in the Park

On Thanksgiving Monday, I had my sister, brother-in-law and one of my neighbours over for dinner so I didn't want to make my day too hectic. After getting the potatoes done for the stuffing and having our breakfast, I took the dogs over to the park. It was a sunny bright morning, the first one we've had with real frost.

I think the leaves are at their peak right now. I wish the fall season would last a little longer. It's my favourite season but already the leaves are falling.

This time at the park I even managed to get a few good pictures of the dogs. I'm not sure what they're looking at in the pictures. I wasn't snapping my fingers or holding out treats so it's amazing to me that I got a few with them looking in the same direction.

The one on the play structure is my favourite. I tried to get them both in front of the slide but Keltic moved and Beckett laid down but the shot worked out just fine. Keltic then came down the stairs to get off the structure but Beckett came down the slide. Keltic then tried twice to go back up on the slide. It didn't work too well.

Then it was home to continue my preparations for dinner. Once the turkey was in the oven, the vegetables all prepped and the table set, I made a relaxing day of it.

Once again, I'm thankful for all that I have. Friends and family with whom I can spend time and who I can call upon when I need a little help. The resources to do things I enjoy such as playing agility with my dogs and doing a little travelling.

Thanksgiving leftovers

Nothing better than leftovers, the flavours always seem just a little bit better. Tomorrow, hot turkey sandwiches and french fries.

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Agility Blessing

May the tunnels not have too much suction,
May the course be fun and fast.
May your dog not stop to say "hello" to the photographers they pass!
May the table not be too slippery,
May the chute house no scary beasts,
May all the yellow parts be touched with one little toe, at least
May the wind be always at your back,
May no bars fall on the ground,
May the A-frame have no stop sign on the top,
May the judge's whistle never sound.
May your dog obey all correct commands,
And ignore the ones that are wrong.
May your heart be light, your feet be sure, and the bond with your dog grow strong.
At the finish line, may great joy abound, regardless of your score,
You have your dog, your dog has you, and who could ask for more?

Written by: PJ Hughes

What is a Title!

Not just a brag, not just a stepping stone to a higher title, not just an adjunct to competitive scores. A Title is a tribute to the dog that bears it, a way to honor that dog, an ultimate memorial. It will remain in the record and in the memory for about as long as anything in this world can remain. Few humans will do as well or better in that regard, and though the dog himself doesn't know or care that his achievements have been noted, a Title says many things in the world of humans, where such things count.

A Title says your dog was intelligent, and adaptable, and good natured. It says that your dog loved you enough to do the things that please you, however crazy they may have sometimes seemed. And a Title says that you loved your dog, that you loved to spend time with him because he was a good dog, and that you believed in him enough to give him yet another chance when he failed, and that in the end your faith was justified.

A Title proves that your dog inspired you to have the special relationship enjoyed by so few, that in the world of disposable creatures, this dog with a Title was greatly loved, and loved greatly in return. And when that dear short life is over, the Title remains as a memorial of the finest kind, the best you can give to a deserving friend, volumes of praise in one small set of initials before or after the name.

A Title is nothing less than love and respect, given and received, permanently recorded.

Written by Sandy Mowery, Wisconsin

The Last Battle

If it should be that I grow frail and weak
And pain should keep me from my sleep,
Then will you do what must be done,
For this -- the last battle -- can't be won.

You will be sad I understand,
But don't let grief then stay your hand,
For on this day, more than the rest,
Your love and friendship must stand the test.

We have had so many happy years,
You wouldn't want me to suffer so.
When the time comes, please, let me go.
Take me to where to my needs they'll tend,
Only, stay with me till the end

And hold me firm and speak to me
Until my eyes no longer see.
I know in time you will agree
It is a kindness you do to me.

Although my tail its last has waved,
From pain and suffering I have been saved.
Don't grieve that it must be you
Who has to decide this thing to do;

We've been so close -- we two -- these years,
Don't let your heart hold any tears.

Author Unknown

Beyond the Rainbow

As much as I loved the life we had and all the times we played,

I was so very tired and knew my time on earth would fade.

I saw a wondrous image then of a place that’s trouble-free,

Where all of us can meet again to spend eternity.

I saw the most beautiful Rainbow, and on the other side

Were animals of every sort as healthy as could be!

My own tired, failing body was fresh and healed and new

I wanted to run with them, but I had something left to do.

I needed to reach out to you, and tell you I’m alright

That this place is truly wonderful,

Then a bright Glow pierced the night.

Twas the Glow of many candles shining bright, strong and bold

I knew then that it held your love in its brilliant shades of gold.

For although we may not be together in the way we used to be,

We are still connected by a cord no eye can see.

So, whenever you need to find me, we’re never far apart,

If you look beyond the Rainbow and listen with your heart.

Do you think the time is right?

May I say goodbye to pain filled days and endless lonely nights?
I've lived my life and done my best, an example tried to be.
So can I take that step beyond, and set my spirit free?
I didn't want to go at first, I fought with all my might.
But something seems to draw me now to a warm and living light.
I want to go, I really do; it's difficult to stay.
But I will try as best I can to live just one more day.
To give you time to care for me and share your love and fears.
I know you're sad and afraid, because I see your tears.
I'll not be far, I promise that, and hope you'll always know,
That my spirit will be close to you wherever you may go.
Thank you so for loving me. You know I love you too,
And that's why it's so hard to say goodbye and end this life with you.
So hold me now just one more time and let me hear you say,
Because you care so much for me, you'll let me go today.

I Loved You Best

So this is where we part, My Friend,

And you'll run on, around the bend.

Gone from sight, but not from mind,

new pleasures there you'll surely find.

I will go on; I'll find the strength,

Life measures quality, not its length.

One long embrace before you leave,

Share one last look, before I grieve.

There are others, that much is true,

But they be they, and they aren't you.

And I, fair, impartial, or so I thought,

Will remember well all you've taught.

Your place I'll hold, you will be missed,

The fur I stroked, the nose I kissed.

And as you journey to your final rest,

Take with you this...I loved you best.

-Jim Willis

The Price We Pay

There is a cycle of love and death that shapes the lives of those who choose to travel in the company of animals.

It is a cycle unlike any other.

To those who have never lived through it's turnings and walked it's rocky path, our willingness to give our hearts with the full knowledge it will be broken seems incomprehensible.

Only we know how small price we pay for what we receive; our grief, no matter how powerful it may be, is an insufficient measure of the joy we have been given.

Suzanne Clother

Helen's Home World