Kelbren Ceilidh Everlasting - 21 Jan 2003 to 26 May 2010
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| Ceilidh - Apr 2003 |
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| Ceilidh - AAC Nationals 2009 |
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| Ceilidh in the snow |
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| My beautiful girl! |
Monday, May 26, 2014
Mish Mash Monday
Been thinking about my baby girl this past week; it's been four years since I lost her, I don't feel the pain of her loss any more but sometimes just a little like something is missing.
Gone from my sight but forever in my heart!
Friday, May 23, 2014
Wedding Weekend
Whew, what a whirlwind of activity we had last weekend. I was totally exhausted by the time it was over.
My sister and niece arrived from Alberta on Thursday morning at 5:30 am; I had to get up earlier than I would have for work to pick them up at the airport. Later that afternoon, two more of my nieces arrived from Prince Edward Island so it was back to the airport to pick them up. All of this company was arriving for my nephew's wedding which was being held on Saturday.
But before the wedding, there was on Friday, the graduation of a young cousin from the Royal Military College of Canada. My sister, Annette and I made the two hour drive from Ottawa to Kingston to see the graduation parade. The parade had to be moved indoors on account of the rain so it wasn't the spectacle that it should have been. Our view of the parade was of the junior wing so we actually didn't see much of the graduating class from where we were seated.
We had lunch afterwards with our aunt, my Dad's half sister, and then started the long drive back to Ottawa. All of my nieces had stayed in Ottawa and had gone downtown to see the sites. Unfortunately, they had the same weather in Ottawa as we did in Kingston so mostly all they did was some shopping. You can read about their day at Uniquely Alyssa.
Friday evening was the rehearsal dinner so when Annette and I arrived back at my place, all we had time to do was feed the dogs, let them out for a bit and finish the salads we were taking over to the dinner. Then it was off to my sister Juanita's place (mother of the groom). We had a lovely buffet supper. After dinner all of my nieces went with the wedding party to decorate the room at the golf club where the reception was to be held and Annette and I went back home. Two early mornings, I was already tired, luckily the wedding wasn't until the afternoon on Saturday.
The next morning dawned bright but chilly, I thought it was going to be a beautiful day but later on it got quite overcast. We were thankful that although it never warmed up much, at least it didn't rain. My youngest sister and her boyfriend arrived early afternoon from Toronto, now the house was full. We decided to go to the chapel early as it was located on the grounds of the Cumberland Heritage Village Museum and we had free admission that day as wedding guests so this gave us a bit of a chance to walk around.
After seeing a few of the buildings at the museum, some of the animals and having a demonstration of type-set printing we headed back to the church.
It was a lovely service but the ring bearer, my great-nephew and the flower girl, the bride and groom's god child nearly stole the show. I think actors have a saying about never sharing the stage with children or animals, well that's what the bride and groom had to do was share the spotlight especially with my great-nephew who thought he should have the best seat in the house.
After the service there was the requisite photos of the wedding party. I'm sure had it been warmer, the pictures would have taken longer but since it was so chilly everyone was eager to get to the golf course club house. I made those driving with me wait until I could take a few pictures of the bride and groom with the antique truck that was my brother-in-law's but is now my nephew's.
The reception location was beautiful and they had done a very nice job decorating. The meal was a buffet including a build-your-own pasta buffet. I ate far too much but still had room for wedding cake.
Since the dogs had been home alone since 2 pm in the afternoon, I started trying to get our group to leave at about 11:30; I think it was after midnight we left. Needless to say, a good time was had by all.
Back at my place we had a few more drinks and then crashed. I think it was nearly 2 am when I went to bed after having e-mailed some wedding photos to my brother-in-law's sister so that she could see her nephew's wedding. The next morning came far too early so we were somewhat late for the wedding brunch, it started at 10 am and we all arrived at 11 am. There were no pancakes left but there was still lots of sausage, bacon, eggs, coffee and juice. After all we had eaten the night before, it's funny how hungry you are the next morning, must have been all the dancing.
The bride and groom left on their honeymoon that evening so they have not had the chance to open their wedding gifts. They'll need a day to open all the gifts and cards. I had a handmade quilt made for them and I can't wait to hear if they like it or not. The bride made the bridesmaids' and flower girl's dresses so I am sure she will appreciate the work that goes into it. The quilt and some cash was a gift from my mother and me. My Mum wanted so badly to be at the wedding; her first grandchild to be married but with her health it is just impossible.
After the brunch, we headed back home to relax, boy I needed it. Maureen, my youngest sister left later that afternoon for Kingston where Steve's daughters live. The rest of us just relaxed but later that evening went back over to Juanita and Joe's just to have a little more time to visit.
Monday morning, Juanita and Joe came to take my nieces to the airport. I would take Annette and her daughter a few hours later. And so the whirlwind weekend was nearly over, I still had Tuesday off. I took the extra day knowing I would need it and I sure did as it wasn't until Tuesday that I did laundry and mowed the lawn.
Next year, we'll get to do it all over again. Annette's daughter has been engaged for about a year; they recently selected a date for next summer and the wedding gown is already purchased.
My sister and niece arrived from Alberta on Thursday morning at 5:30 am; I had to get up earlier than I would have for work to pick them up at the airport. Later that afternoon, two more of my nieces arrived from Prince Edward Island so it was back to the airport to pick them up. All of this company was arriving for my nephew's wedding which was being held on Saturday.
But before the wedding, there was on Friday, the graduation of a young cousin from the Royal Military College of Canada. My sister, Annette and I made the two hour drive from Ottawa to Kingston to see the graduation parade. The parade had to be moved indoors on account of the rain so it wasn't the spectacle that it should have been. Our view of the parade was of the junior wing so we actually didn't see much of the graduating class from where we were seated.
We had lunch afterwards with our aunt, my Dad's half sister, and then started the long drive back to Ottawa. All of my nieces had stayed in Ottawa and had gone downtown to see the sites. Unfortunately, they had the same weather in Ottawa as we did in Kingston so mostly all they did was some shopping. You can read about their day at Uniquely Alyssa.
Friday evening was the rehearsal dinner so when Annette and I arrived back at my place, all we had time to do was feed the dogs, let them out for a bit and finish the salads we were taking over to the dinner. Then it was off to my sister Juanita's place (mother of the groom). We had a lovely buffet supper. After dinner all of my nieces went with the wedding party to decorate the room at the golf club where the reception was to be held and Annette and I went back home. Two early mornings, I was already tired, luckily the wedding wasn't until the afternoon on Saturday.
The next morning dawned bright but chilly, I thought it was going to be a beautiful day but later on it got quite overcast. We were thankful that although it never warmed up much, at least it didn't rain. My youngest sister and her boyfriend arrived early afternoon from Toronto, now the house was full. We decided to go to the chapel early as it was located on the grounds of the Cumberland Heritage Village Museum and we had free admission that day as wedding guests so this gave us a bit of a chance to walk around.
It was a lovely service but the ring bearer, my great-nephew and the flower girl, the bride and groom's god child nearly stole the show. I think actors have a saying about never sharing the stage with children or animals, well that's what the bride and groom had to do was share the spotlight especially with my great-nephew who thought he should have the best seat in the house.
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| A little blurry but you get the idea. |
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| With this ring... |
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| Husband and wife |
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| The groom's family |
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| Together |
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| And one of the pictures with the truck |
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| The wedding cake |
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| Reception venue |
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| Cutting the cake |
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| Our name cards |
Back at my place we had a few more drinks and then crashed. I think it was nearly 2 am when I went to bed after having e-mailed some wedding photos to my brother-in-law's sister so that she could see her nephew's wedding. The next morning came far too early so we were somewhat late for the wedding brunch, it started at 10 am and we all arrived at 11 am. There were no pancakes left but there was still lots of sausage, bacon, eggs, coffee and juice. After all we had eaten the night before, it's funny how hungry you are the next morning, must have been all the dancing.
The bride and groom left on their honeymoon that evening so they have not had the chance to open their wedding gifts. They'll need a day to open all the gifts and cards. I had a handmade quilt made for them and I can't wait to hear if they like it or not. The bride made the bridesmaids' and flower girl's dresses so I am sure she will appreciate the work that goes into it. The quilt and some cash was a gift from my mother and me. My Mum wanted so badly to be at the wedding; her first grandchild to be married but with her health it is just impossible.
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| The gift table |
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| My wedding gift |
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| The quilt - Gemma |
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| Quilt detail |
Monday morning, Juanita and Joe came to take my nieces to the airport. I would take Annette and her daughter a few hours later. And so the whirlwind weekend was nearly over, I still had Tuesday off. I took the extra day knowing I would need it and I sure did as it wasn't until Tuesday that I did laundry and mowed the lawn.
Next year, we'll get to do it all over again. Annette's daughter has been engaged for about a year; they recently selected a date for next summer and the wedding gown is already purchased.
Wednesday, April 30, 2014
First Advanced Q
Well it's been awhile but I was kind of disappointed at our last agility trial and didn't feel too much like writing. Our last trial was the Saturday of Easter weekend. We had entered six Steeplechase runs, four for Beckett and two with Keltic. It was a beautiful spring day, we haven't had many of those yet. We had a nice drive the trial site and arrived in plenty of time to set up and walk around; the venue is an equestrian centre with many large paddocks to walk the dogs in.
Beckett and I were the second dog on course, I no sooner took off when I felt something pop. I had pulled a hamstring muscle in the same leg that had the calf muscle tear last year. I tried to run the course but couldn't keep up with Beckett. The next run was Keltic's,again I couldn't keep up so rather than make things worse, I scratched Beckett from the rest of his runs. Keltic, since he had run with someone else last summer, I decided I would ask a friend to run him for me in his second run. I probably could have put him in all of Beckett's events but since Keltic has decided he can't weave, there wasn't much point. Keltic ran really well for Jack; at first I didn't think he was going to go but he took off and stayed with Jack throughout the course. After Keltic's second run, we packed up and made the nearly two hour drive home, sitting that long was a little painful. I withdrew from our May trial and am hoping that the leg will be healed by the time of the Regional Championships in June.
The trial the weekend before Easter had much better results. Keltic had two qualifying scores, one in Advanced Jumpers, his first Advanced Q and one in Starter Standard, his first Std Q. It wasn't a pretty Q since because he won't weave on his own I have to guide him through them. The course time was 78 seconds and we took over 74 to complete the course; he should be around the 50 to 60 second range. He also had a good Starter Snooker run, we finished our opening and were running the close; we just needed for Keltic to complete the teeter for the Q but Keltic decided he had done enough teeters; he put his front feet on the teeter and just stopped. Keltic needs that one Snooker Q for his Starter Games title and two more Standard for his Agility Dog of Canada title but until he's weaving again, I won't be putting him in a Standard.
Beckett and I were the second dog on course, I no sooner took off when I felt something pop. I had pulled a hamstring muscle in the same leg that had the calf muscle tear last year. I tried to run the course but couldn't keep up with Beckett. The next run was Keltic's,again I couldn't keep up so rather than make things worse, I scratched Beckett from the rest of his runs. Keltic, since he had run with someone else last summer, I decided I would ask a friend to run him for me in his second run. I probably could have put him in all of Beckett's events but since Keltic has decided he can't weave, there wasn't much point. Keltic ran really well for Jack; at first I didn't think he was going to go but he took off and stayed with Jack throughout the course. After Keltic's second run, we packed up and made the nearly two hour drive home, sitting that long was a little painful. I withdrew from our May trial and am hoping that the leg will be healed by the time of the Regional Championships in June.
The trial the weekend before Easter had much better results. Keltic had two qualifying scores, one in Advanced Jumpers, his first Advanced Q and one in Starter Standard, his first Std Q. It wasn't a pretty Q since because he won't weave on his own I have to guide him through them. The course time was 78 seconds and we took over 74 to complete the course; he should be around the 50 to 60 second range. He also had a good Starter Snooker run, we finished our opening and were running the close; we just needed for Keltic to complete the teeter for the Q but Keltic decided he had done enough teeters; he put his front feet on the teeter and just stopped. Keltic needs that one Snooker Q for his Starter Games title and two more Standard for his Agility Dog of Canada title but until he's weaving again, I won't be putting him in a Standard.
Beckett had not a bad weekend. He got a Steeplechase Q, his 22nd. Part of the reason why the injury Easter weekend was so disappointing as Beckett only needs three more Steeplechase for his Bronze Expert Steeplechase title and I had thought it might be possible to have finished that title. Beckett had a 5 fault Standard and a Standard that was a total train wreck.
The leg is feeling better but I haven't tried to run yet. We start classes outdoors the week of 12 May so we'll see, until then we will be taking it easy.
Monday, April 7, 2014
Onward
Keltic moved up to Advanced in Jumpers and in Gamblers so this past weekend we had to go both days to the trial. On Saturday, I just took Keltic as he only had two runs, one Jumper and one Gamblers, his debut in Advanced.
First up was Jumpers, I thought jump 3 to the tunnel would be difficult as we have't practiced rear crosses all that much yet and I also though the ending might give us some trouble too. Little did I know that the tire as the first obstacle would be the problem. Keltic went under, the back jumped it, then went under again. This time I got him back around and he finally did the tire. The rest of the run was really nice. All the things I worried about weren't a problem. He did take down a bar at jump 17 but in all he had a very nice run. He ran the course in 42.47, the maximum allowed time was 45 second so with all the messing around at the tire he was going well.
Next up was Advanced Gamblers, the main Gamble was A-frame to a tunnel and then another tunnel. Keltic ran the opening I had planned quite well but he wouldn't do the teeter so we will have to work on teeters again once I can get mine out into the yard. I thought he might just do the Gamble as he likes tunnels and loves the frame. He did the frame just fine but as the second tunnel was closer to me, he didn't go out to the first tunnel so no Q there either. That was his debut in Advanced and I was happy with how he ran, the Q's will come. We'll be doing K9 Kup again this year and a trialler's agility class so lots of time to practice.
Sunday both Keltic and Beckett had runs. Keltic had his Starter Standard, Beckett had two Master Standards, a Master Gamblers and a Masters Snooker. Keltic again wouldn't do the teeter so, we got 20 faults for the non-completion and lots of time faults as I spent a bit of time trying to get him on it and getting him through the weaves. He has decided that he can only weave in the basement.
Beckett ran wonderfully well even though the Q rate doesn't show it. In both his Gamblers and Snooker our openings were great, but in the Gamble he popped out of the weaves in the main gamble and in Snooker knocked a bar on the first jump of obstacle 6 (a three jump combo); we needed 6 for the Q. In his first Standard run, my front cross between jump 8 and 9 was in the wrong position and he went by jump 9.
First up was Jumpers, I thought jump 3 to the tunnel would be difficult as we have't practiced rear crosses all that much yet and I also though the ending might give us some trouble too. Little did I know that the tire as the first obstacle would be the problem. Keltic went under, the back jumped it, then went under again. This time I got him back around and he finally did the tire. The rest of the run was really nice. All the things I worried about weren't a problem. He did take down a bar at jump 17 but in all he had a very nice run. He ran the course in 42.47, the maximum allowed time was 45 second so with all the messing around at the tire he was going well.
Next up was Advanced Gamblers, the main Gamble was A-frame to a tunnel and then another tunnel. Keltic ran the opening I had planned quite well but he wouldn't do the teeter so we will have to work on teeters again once I can get mine out into the yard. I thought he might just do the Gamble as he likes tunnels and loves the frame. He did the frame just fine but as the second tunnel was closer to me, he didn't go out to the first tunnel so no Q there either. That was his debut in Advanced and I was happy with how he ran, the Q's will come. We'll be doing K9 Kup again this year and a trialler's agility class so lots of time to practice.
Sunday both Keltic and Beckett had runs. Keltic had his Starter Standard, Beckett had two Master Standards, a Master Gamblers and a Masters Snooker. Keltic again wouldn't do the teeter so, we got 20 faults for the non-completion and lots of time faults as I spent a bit of time trying to get him on it and getting him through the weaves. He has decided that he can only weave in the basement.
Beckett ran wonderfully well even though the Q rate doesn't show it. In both his Gamblers and Snooker our openings were great, but in the Gamble he popped out of the weaves in the main gamble and in Snooker knocked a bar on the first jump of obstacle 6 (a three jump combo); we needed 6 for the Q. In his first Standard run, my front cross between jump 8 and 9 was in the wrong position and he went by jump 9.
Master Standard 4 was our last event of the day. Our last chance for a Q. You can see in the video that Beckett was doing a bit of spinning and I was sure we had at least one refusal probably two so after the run I was a bit disappointed. I didn't watch video right away so I packed up thinking we hadn't gotten a single Q. Another competitor told me that Beckett was second with a Q, I was astonished but she went back to check and gave me a thumbs up. After I watched the video, he doesn't seem to spin as much as I thought he had. For the spinning before the weaves, the entry on the weaves were off-side so he really hadn't begun his approach to them when he began to spin and on the jump, he turned away and did one full spin but then took the jump so I guess he was just outside the last third of the approach where refusals are counted. The course time was 59 seconds and Beckett ran it in 45.39.
I'm always happy with at least one Q so I went home happy! I can't wait until we can get back outside to train. Regionals is in June and at the rate the snow is melting it will be May before I can get my equipment out. I didn't enter Keltic in Regionals but I did enter him in Jumpers at Canada Cup, what was I thinking, hopefully the tire won't be the first obstacle.
Tuesday, April 1, 2014
No Joke!
Yes, I know it's April Fool's Day but it's also the birthday of the Royal Canadian Air Force. This year marks the 90th anniversary of the RCAF. I know my Dad would have been flying his Air Force Roundel flag. He was very proud of being in the Air Force.
Dad's probably proudly waving the flag today on this beautiful sunny first day of April. Happy Air Force Birthday Dad!
Dad loved all things to do with aviation. I think that he took pictures of any aircraft that he saw and had loads of books too.
This is the current Roundel flag of the RCAF. I have one like this, someday I'm going to put a flag pole out front so that I can fly it. Dad's flag was the old Roundel with the Union Jack in the corner where the Canadian flag is on this one.
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| Scope Wizard |
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| 416 Squadron (Dad is in the front row, far right) |
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| Dad on the phone |
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| LAC Stewart |
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| Cpl Stewart |
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