Helen's Home World

Tuesday, December 30, 2014

Our Crisp Mas

Hey, dere everyone, it be me Beckett. I gets to tell you all abouts our Crisp mas. Crisp mas Eve, we wents over to Mums sister's house. The peeps had dinner and then they went out to something called church. Keltic and I stayed back at da house but we gots to have some treats. Our dog cousin Merle was dere too but he went to stay wid his other cousins when da peeps went to da church thing.

When da peeps got back, they opened dere Crisp mas stockings. Mums didn't bring ours, she said we'd get to open dem in da morning.

Da peeps sure had lots of stuff in dere stockings, look at all da rapping paper.

We dogs sorta got kinda bored with it all. And all of us laid down for a winter nap in hopes that Santa Paws would come.

Cousin Merle and Keltic

It's me, Beckett by Mums feet.

Cousin Merle at the foot of the stairs.

Then we went backs to our home to goes to bed and guess what, when we got up in da morning Santa Paws had come and we gots to open up our gifts.

We must have been pretty good this year. We gots new place mats, a bed, toys, and loads of treats, although Mums said they have to last quite a while.

Beckett and Keltic open their gifts.

After we finished with our gifts, we went back over to Mums sisters house. Dere is where da peeps were going to open dere gifts. Da littlest peep was already opening some of his gifts so we watched him for a little bit.

He and Keltic liked da bag of paper. I think Keltic thought he was gonna find some good stuff in da bottom of da bag. I'm not sure dat boy will ever learn there is nothin but paper in da bag.

Da peeps opened lots more gifts and dere was a couple for us too, one from Auntie Julie and one from Merle. We gaved Merle a gift too.

After dey was done opening gifts da peeps ate and talked lots during da day.But da best part of da day was dat Keltic and me gots to have turkey dinner. We had to wait until after da peeps had dere supper but dere was lots so we didn't mind. Mums made us each a plate with mashed taters, apple, sweet potato, turnip and carrots, turkey with gravy on top. What a swell Crisp mas!

At de end of the night, Mums packed up our car and we went home. I sure was glad to get in my bed after such a long day.

Keltic and I wish you all a very Happy New Year!

Wednesday, December 24, 2014

And the Stockings were hung...

Merry Christmas to One and All!

Saturday, December 20, 2014

Da Tree in da House

Hey dere everyone, it's me, Keltic. Mums brought a tree in da house agin this week. She broughts it home wid her when she came home from work one day. She putted us out in da backyard until she gots it set up in da livinroom.

The tree was kinda wet seeing as how it was raining outside but Mums still poured water into da stand at da bottom. I tooks a drink from da stand but Mums said I got to leave it alone. She didn't do nuthin to it that night. The next night she putted the star and lights on da tree and then putted the tree in da corner. She gave it more water too, sure does drink a lot dat tree.

Last night, since it was Friday, Mums decorated da tree. She played Christmas music while she put da decorations on. She takes a long time puttin on the decorations. Some is very special. Dere is one for each of us fur kids, me and Beckett, da old guy Tucker and de other furkids I has only heard about Duffy, Gryffon and Ceilidh. Dere is also special one for her Mum and Dad. Mum's Dad, I never met, he is at da Bridge with Duffy, Gryffon, Ceilidh and Tucker. I did met Mum's Mum when we goes on vacation. She lives in a home and when we goes to see her we has to stay in her room or our leashes. But back to decorating da tree, Mums says its kind sad decorating da tree, a happy kind of sad. Me and Beckett just finds it kinda boring. Once Mums finished with all da special ornaments, she putted berries,an ribbons, an tinsel, an snowflakes and icicles dat don't melt, they be made of glass on da tree to fill in all da bere spots and to make it all twinkly.

So dere you has it da tree is all decorated and it won't be long now for Santa Paws arrives. I has tried to be a good boy dis year.

Today Mums tooks some pictures of us with da tree in our Christmas collars. We didn't want to sit nicely though so Mums said it was okay to lie down.

Mums liked da last picture of us so she said we was done and gave us a cookie for staying for the pictures even though as you can see we dids get a little bored with the flashy thing.

We hopes everyone has a very nice Christmas and dat Santa Paws is good to you all.

Lots of Licks from me Keltic and from Beckett too.

Monday, December 1, 2014

Mish Mash Monday

ATChC Triadics Glenciaran Beckett ADC, SGDC, AADC, AGDC, MJDC, MSDC, MGDC, MADC, MSCDC, Ex Bronze Std, Ex Bronze Jumpers, Ex Bronze Steeplechase, Bronze, VBA, with his latest title - Masters Team Relay Dog of Canada (MTRDC).

Thursday, November 6, 2014

Agility Review

We did three trials between 24 Oct and 9 Nov. In the first two trials, neither Beckett or Keltic managed to Q. That's a bit unusual for us, I usually have the odd trial where we don't Q but not normally at two trials back to back. Anyway, not going to review those trial runs. Except to say that Keltic was bang on in some parts of our runs and a little s***head in other parts. He's back to not wanting to weave or to do tires and he's started to pull at my pant legs when he gets frustrated. I think with him we are going to finish the trials we've entered and take a bit of a hiatus. We'll go back to agility classes in January to work on some of the basic skills.

This last weekend we were at AARF on both days of the trial so Beckett could run Steeplechase and so Keltic could run in both Starters and Advanced. Saturday, Keltic had only one run, Starter Standard, what a mistake. I should have put him in one of the Starter Games for an "exhibit only" run as he was just wild in the Standard. He broke his start line, refused the tire and went in the wrong end of the tunnel which was only obstacle 5; then when we got to the A-frame he just flew off. I put him back on twice and both times he did another flying leap. We left the ring then with him tugging on my pant leg. Beckett had Steeplechase and two Master Standard runs. In the first run, a Master Std, we had a very nice 5 fault run; Beckett missed the contact on his A-frame. But I was a bit worried as in the Steeplechase course you needed to do the A-frame twice. Beckett is fast enough that he can make up 5 faults in Steeplechase but we can't usually make up 10. Beckett was just great in the Steeplechase running down well into the yellow contact zone. We only had one little spin and since there are no refusals in Steeplechase it didn't matter, it was a clean run, well under time. That was Beckett's 25th Steeplechase Q and so he earned his Bronze Expert Steeplechase and since it was his third bronze expert title, he also earned his Bronze Versatility title. Beckett finished the day with a Master Standard Q.

Steeplechase - Nov 2014

Beckett - Bronze Expert Steeplechase Run

The next day, Keltic had two runs, Advanced Jumpers and Advanced Gamblers. The Advanced Jumpers was pretty tough. The Special and Veteran dogs ran first on Sunday and when Keltic entered the ring as the second regular dog no one had yet Q'd. We didn't Q either but had a beautiful run until the last obstacle that dreaded tire where Keltic ran underneath incurring 20 faults for a non-completion. Only three dogs in the whole event got a Q. For Keltic's Advanced Gamblers, we worked on contacts and tires in our opening, we had enough points to Q but Keltic wouldn't get out to the far jump of the main gamble. I was much happier with his performance on Sunday than I was with Saturday's run so he got his hot dog reward. Beckett had two runs too, a Master Standard and a Master Snooker. He didn't Q in either of them but we had already achieved what I wanted so I told him we could have fun. His Snooker was nice run but in the close I couldn't get to the end of a straight tunnel fast enough to give him direction and he started spinning so we were faulted for a refusal and whistled off.

Advanced Jumpers - Nov 2014

Keltic - Advanced Jumpers Run

We have two more trials this month and then it will be a bit of a break until after Christmas. I love agility but the break will be nice.

Beckett Loves Bronze!

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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