Wow, I was just testing to see if the blog would work off my computer, and voila!!! It works!!! It's going to be a busy week with attending the International Annual TICA show which is being held in Bellvue, Washington. It is held at different locations all over the world. The last time it was in the North West was 10 years ago in Edmonton. So a week of bathing cats and getting the old "Catmobile" in shape for the trip. Once the Annual is over, Corky and I will be heading to Calgary where I will do the Calgary show and Corky will do some work for my middle daughter. I'll head back on my own and hold the fort until Corky gets back.
We have some Fall lambs coming, so it will be busy.
Corky's Mum and Sister and Brother In Law will be here for a week starting Sept. 6th, from New Zealand. It will be nice to catch up for everyone. They are on their way to a family reunion in Ireland. It would be nice if we could go, but farming and critters do not allow for such things. Bad enough getting someone for a few days when Corky and I can get away together.
We've got some critters on our 10 acres in Lake Cowichan, but we have to check to be sure they have enough water as the pond has dropped dramatically. So far they are thriving and keeping the land clear of brambles and weeks and keeping all the trails open and alder free. Even if we don't have time to ride, the horses are still valuable for keeping the fields from getting over grown.
Well, I'm pleased that my computer seems to have fixed itself, so will sign off till next time.
Monday, August 26, 2013
Sunday, August 25, 2013
All Canada Sheep Classic
We had a fabulous show at the All Canada Sheep Classic. First yearling ram. First Fall ram lamb. Reserve Champion Ram. Second Fall ewe lamb from entries from all over Canada. All our sheep were in the top 3 in every class, so the good old Briar Glen lines continue to be well represented.
It seems my Blog will not post off my regular computer, so have to pick out the blog on the iPad.
We also sold two good Pyrenees pups for predator work on two farms at the Classic. We know they'll be pleased with their work and how much they will save in predator losses.
The Regional TICA show in Yakima was a great success with Jassenia taking #1 spot in the Region. Ragalong Cloud 9 took Best Ragdoll and 7th Best over All Breeds.
I'm just getting ready to head to the International TICA Annual being held in Bellvue, Washington this year. Jassenia will pick up her International award there. I'd like to ramble on, but picking on the iPad is too time consuming. Have to get a computer wizard in to find out how I can do it off my computer.
So that's all folks, for now.
It seems my Blog will not post off my regular computer, so have to pick out the blog on the iPad.
We also sold two good Pyrenees pups for predator work on two farms at the Classic. We know they'll be pleased with their work and how much they will save in predator losses.
The Regional TICA show in Yakima was a great success with Jassenia taking #1 spot in the Region. Ragalong Cloud 9 took Best Ragdoll and 7th Best over All Breeds.
I'm just getting ready to head to the International TICA Annual being held in Bellvue, Washington this year. Jassenia will pick up her International award there. I'd like to ramble on, but picking on the iPad is too time consuming. Have to get a computer wizard in to find out how I can do it off my computer.
So that's all folks, for now.
Friday, May 3, 2013
Lethbridge continued
I neglected to mention that while on my way down to Lethbridge after the evening of the Calgary show wrap up, it started to get very cold just before Nanton. Seemed that my heater had quit working. God Bless my Mohair shawl that I was able to half pie cover my fingers with while driving. Got a hot coffee in Nanton and nursed it until I got to Lethbridge to keep my fingers from freezing. Alberta weather was highlighted while driving through Lethbridge on my way to my daughter's in Coaldale when a freezing sleet and hail blizzard hit going through town. As my windshield started freezing, it illustrated that I was not going "anywhere" near the mountains on my way back without getting the heater fixed.
First thing the next morning I presented the old girl to a Napa Garage in Coaldale.
A check by mechanics indicated that mice had taken up residence in a portion of the heater block and the baffle had rusted out. Fortunately, no mice residing in there anymore, but they had left their mark.
If I was in BC, I am sure we could have turned up a good heating unit at the local wrecker as my van is one of the models you still see in abundance driving around BC. However, in "Alberta" where everyone drives a "new" truck, any older vehicles are crushed summarily as there is more money in them that way. So.......no hope for a used part. Was it time to call UHaul????? Maybe not. I asked the clerk who called in the mechanic to ask if they could fabricate a part. I mentioned that I am a BIG fam of the Red Green Show and never leave home without duct tape or WD 40.
The mechanic's eyes lit up and said he'd check with his mate. He came back and said "yes" they would try it!!!!
My daughter and grand kids and I had driven by in her "brand new" Alberta Dodge truck in the evening and noted that the old girl was "in" the garage, so that was a good sign.
Next morning I arrived to find that they had in fact fabricated the part and I was good to go.
So put a hold on the UHaul for the 3rd time this trip.
She made it home in great shape except for the aforementioned faulty alternator in Kamloops.
Just got back from a trip to Vancouver and she continues to meet all my needs. Keeps the kittens warm and comfy. Without the Grandkids along I can make up the bed and crash in comfort as well. I guess we'll see how long it will be before I need to call UHaul.
First thing the next morning I presented the old girl to a Napa Garage in Coaldale.
A check by mechanics indicated that mice had taken up residence in a portion of the heater block and the baffle had rusted out. Fortunately, no mice residing in there anymore, but they had left their mark.
If I was in BC, I am sure we could have turned up a good heating unit at the local wrecker as my van is one of the models you still see in abundance driving around BC. However, in "Alberta" where everyone drives a "new" truck, any older vehicles are crushed summarily as there is more money in them that way. So.......no hope for a used part. Was it time to call UHaul????? Maybe not. I asked the clerk who called in the mechanic to ask if they could fabricate a part. I mentioned that I am a BIG fam of the Red Green Show and never leave home without duct tape or WD 40.
The mechanic's eyes lit up and said he'd check with his mate. He came back and said "yes" they would try it!!!!
My daughter and grand kids and I had driven by in her "brand new" Alberta Dodge truck in the evening and noted that the old girl was "in" the garage, so that was a good sign.
Next morning I arrived to find that they had in fact fabricated the part and I was good to go.
So put a hold on the UHaul for the 3rd time this trip.
She made it home in great shape except for the aforementioned faulty alternator in Kamloops.
Just got back from a trip to Vancouver and she continues to meet all my needs. Keeps the kittens warm and comfy. Without the Grandkids along I can make up the bed and crash in comfort as well. I guess we'll see how long it will be before I need to call UHaul.
Tuesday, April 30, 2013
Back from Calgary
Made it back in one piece, although not without mishaps. I "love" my old "Catmobile" that as mentioned is set up for the comfort of the cats. She has been maintained, but a trip over the Coquihalla exposed some "minor" issues. First issue was brought to my attention just as I had done the Coquihalla and gone down the long hill in Kamloops. The "brake" light came on and to make a long story short, the bad news was that there was a broken brake line and the good news was I found an absolutely fabulous garage in Jay's Automotive, located on Battle St. just off the main drag at the bottom of the Kamloops hill. I would recommend them to anyone and everyone who is on the road. I limped in just before closing time and one of the young fellas volunteered to stay later and fix it. Brake fluid sprayed in his eye and working on the ground under the old girl and he had her fixed up in an hour and I was on my way for $110!!!!
Then in the middle of Salmon Arm I heard a "strange" noise and started to pull off a side street and then heard a great bang and back fire. Again, to make a long story short, the differential had dropped. I called Jay's 24/7 line for a recommendation on a good mechanic in Salmon Arm and also a UHaul as my path of last resort, when she dies for good, is to throw everything in a UHaul and carry on. He recommended Eric's Shuswap Automotive that has a good mechanic "and" a UHaul. Bliss!!!! A short tow to Eric's and I spent the night in my good old girl and Eric had a look at her in the morning (no, we're busy til next Thurs.) and was astounded to find that there was no damage at all to the drive shaft, but apparently someone who had looked at the diff, had left a bolt loose. He'd never seen anything like it in all his years of mechanicking. Thought he could have me on the road in an hour. Road test indicated a "new" sound, so he insisted in taking the shield off the big drum thing off and I got a good education on how the "pinion gear" rotates with the other gears. He was great in demonstrating how everything worked. He saw a bright spot which was a broken tooth in the pinion gear but explained that it uses 3 at a time, so she would be fine only she would have a "new sound". He fished out the broken tooth which I now have as a souvenir. $210!!!!
So, Jay's in Kamloops and Eric's Shuswap Automotive get my recommendation!!!
The voltage regulator went at the top of the Roger's Pass and I got to meet Annette and her husband who drive the tow truck between Revelstoke and Golden. Got lucky again in Golden as there was an early morning cancellation first thing the next morning and the guys at OK Tire had me on the road again in an hour even though I had them throw in an alternatior "just in case".
Smooth sailing in to Calgary. Good thing I had two extra days to get there.
The show was great. Cloud was the Second Best Cat in show with 11 Finals and Hobbit, the kitten got finals in all rings the second day of the show, once he caught on to the idea of showing and enjoying it. I got to hang with my Grandaughter Jassenia who showed "her" cat Jassenia who should be #1 in the Regional Awards.
Also had a phenomenal meal at "Gaucho's" in Calgary compliments of my daughter Sherean and hubby Reuben, for my birthday. If you are a carnivor, that's the place to go. They rotate around all night long with every cut of beef on skewers as well as chicken, lamb and chicken hearts. All you can eat. It was wonderful.
After the show, headed to Lethbridge to see my oldest daughter Tina and the kids and to drop off some kittens to new owners. Had a great time and spent the day with the boys who are excelling in their hockey. Even practiced some shots with them, for which I will take credit for Ty's shutout in Edmonton the following weekend!! (ha ha)
Headed home and made it to Kamloops again and noticed my lights were pretty dim, so camped in Jay's lot overnight and first thing (7:00 am) the fellow got on it and it turned out the alternator that OK Tire had put in was faulty, so they put in a new one on warranty and a new battery, as well as checking out all my brakes etc. God Bless em'.
So, lots of adventures and met lots of great people and the old girl is running like a deer up and down the longest hills.
Right now, am heading over to Vancouver to meet some new owners and be back tomorrow.
Then in the middle of Salmon Arm I heard a "strange" noise and started to pull off a side street and then heard a great bang and back fire. Again, to make a long story short, the differential had dropped. I called Jay's 24/7 line for a recommendation on a good mechanic in Salmon Arm and also a UHaul as my path of last resort, when she dies for good, is to throw everything in a UHaul and carry on. He recommended Eric's Shuswap Automotive that has a good mechanic "and" a UHaul. Bliss!!!! A short tow to Eric's and I spent the night in my good old girl and Eric had a look at her in the morning (no, we're busy til next Thurs.) and was astounded to find that there was no damage at all to the drive shaft, but apparently someone who had looked at the diff, had left a bolt loose. He'd never seen anything like it in all his years of mechanicking. Thought he could have me on the road in an hour. Road test indicated a "new" sound, so he insisted in taking the shield off the big drum thing off and I got a good education on how the "pinion gear" rotates with the other gears. He was great in demonstrating how everything worked. He saw a bright spot which was a broken tooth in the pinion gear but explained that it uses 3 at a time, so she would be fine only she would have a "new sound". He fished out the broken tooth which I now have as a souvenir. $210!!!!
So, Jay's in Kamloops and Eric's Shuswap Automotive get my recommendation!!!
The voltage regulator went at the top of the Roger's Pass and I got to meet Annette and her husband who drive the tow truck between Revelstoke and Golden. Got lucky again in Golden as there was an early morning cancellation first thing the next morning and the guys at OK Tire had me on the road again in an hour even though I had them throw in an alternatior "just in case".
Smooth sailing in to Calgary. Good thing I had two extra days to get there.
The show was great. Cloud was the Second Best Cat in show with 11 Finals and Hobbit, the kitten got finals in all rings the second day of the show, once he caught on to the idea of showing and enjoying it. I got to hang with my Grandaughter Jassenia who showed "her" cat Jassenia who should be #1 in the Regional Awards.
Also had a phenomenal meal at "Gaucho's" in Calgary compliments of my daughter Sherean and hubby Reuben, for my birthday. If you are a carnivor, that's the place to go. They rotate around all night long with every cut of beef on skewers as well as chicken, lamb and chicken hearts. All you can eat. It was wonderful.
After the show, headed to Lethbridge to see my oldest daughter Tina and the kids and to drop off some kittens to new owners. Had a great time and spent the day with the boys who are excelling in their hockey. Even practiced some shots with them, for which I will take credit for Ty's shutout in Edmonton the following weekend!! (ha ha)
Headed home and made it to Kamloops again and noticed my lights were pretty dim, so camped in Jay's lot overnight and first thing (7:00 am) the fellow got on it and it turned out the alternator that OK Tire had put in was faulty, so they put in a new one on warranty and a new battery, as well as checking out all my brakes etc. God Bless em'.
So, lots of adventures and met lots of great people and the old girl is running like a deer up and down the longest hills.
Right now, am heading over to Vancouver to meet some new owners and be back tomorrow.
Saturday, April 13, 2013
Heading To Calgary
Hi guys, once again, here I am to give the latest and greatest. First we have to thank Miki Zahner and Wendy Huppe for managing our latest show Cat Ragalong Cloud 9, at the Edmonton Cat Show for us where he got 7 Best in Shows and in the process completed his Supreme title. God Bless you girls!!!! Our other cat Jassenia looks like she will be #1 in the Northwest Region.
I am heading to Calgary on Wednesday in my venerable old "Catmobile" van that I generally take to Cat shows as it is set up for the comfort of the cats. I'll be climbing the Coquihalla and the Roger's Pass, so I hope the old girl is up to it!!! I love her dearly, but I may change my opinion if she lets me down.
I will be meeting some new kitten owners on the way and heading down to Lethbridge to see my oldest daughter Tina and my grandsons, Zach and Ty, then heading back to Calgary for the show and having fun with my one and only Grandaughter (6 Grandsons), Jassenia (hence our cat Jassenia's name, at the Calgary show.
So....long story short, you will be able to reach me via email (Corky does not answer the phone!!!) and I can send you information if you like. So, I am off to pack and get everyone ready. I'll post with the results of Calgary if I make it back (ha ha). It would still be ha ha if I don't make it back as I have had a very "interesting" life and if it's time to go, well then there's really nothing I haven't done yet, so I'm cool with the next adventure in the Great Beyond.
I am heading to Calgary on Wednesday in my venerable old "Catmobile" van that I generally take to Cat shows as it is set up for the comfort of the cats. I'll be climbing the Coquihalla and the Roger's Pass, so I hope the old girl is up to it!!! I love her dearly, but I may change my opinion if she lets me down.
I will be meeting some new kitten owners on the way and heading down to Lethbridge to see my oldest daughter Tina and my grandsons, Zach and Ty, then heading back to Calgary for the show and having fun with my one and only Grandaughter (6 Grandsons), Jassenia (hence our cat Jassenia's name, at the Calgary show.
So....long story short, you will be able to reach me via email (Corky does not answer the phone!!!) and I can send you information if you like. So, I am off to pack and get everyone ready. I'll post with the results of Calgary if I make it back (ha ha). It would still be ha ha if I don't make it back as I have had a very "interesting" life and if it's time to go, well then there's really nothing I haven't done yet, so I'm cool with the next adventure in the Great Beyond.
Friday, March 1, 2013
Catching Up
I've been told that we haven't been keeping our blog up to date. 50 lashes with a wet noodle to me!!! Life on the farm is just very busy with lambing, puppying, and kittening (ha ha).
We have been attending all the requisite cat shows and our latest prospect Ragalong Cloud 9 has been excelling in the show hall. Lots of Best in Shows and significant wins at the Portland Show in January which is now the largest show in TICA and attracts all the International Winners.
We've been to Ferndale last month, again with numerous wins and will be heading to White Rock next weekend for the CF of BC show at which we will have to set up the show hall and generally make a nuisance of ourselves. Corky has been summoned by the club to attend as well as he is noted for his expertise in setting up show rings and generally being a big help to everyone. Apparently he's been missed at the shows where I go and he stays home to hold the fort. Cloud is booked to go to Edmonton in a couple of weeks for another show and then on to the Calgary show. So, have no fear, we are certainly active with our breeding program and presenting our lines in the show halls. The kitten we showed in Ferndale also got a Best In Show, so Hobbit is also starting to catch the judge's eyes.
Lambing has gone well. Corky has kept all the lambs in this year instead of letting them run loose outside with their mums. This results in a lot more work, but better gains in the lambs as they don't have to compete with the dratted Canada Geese for water sources and grass. The geese leave their calling cards everywhere which is not healthy for the lambs.
We have a litter of Great Pyrenees puppies that will make great family pets and guardians as sell as wonderful livestock protection dogs. We are taking reservations on the puppies and new kittens. So, that's all folks.
We have been attending all the requisite cat shows and our latest prospect Ragalong Cloud 9 has been excelling in the show hall. Lots of Best in Shows and significant wins at the Portland Show in January which is now the largest show in TICA and attracts all the International Winners.
We've been to Ferndale last month, again with numerous wins and will be heading to White Rock next weekend for the CF of BC show at which we will have to set up the show hall and generally make a nuisance of ourselves. Corky has been summoned by the club to attend as well as he is noted for his expertise in setting up show rings and generally being a big help to everyone. Apparently he's been missed at the shows where I go and he stays home to hold the fort. Cloud is booked to go to Edmonton in a couple of weeks for another show and then on to the Calgary show. So, have no fear, we are certainly active with our breeding program and presenting our lines in the show halls. The kitten we showed in Ferndale also got a Best In Show, so Hobbit is also starting to catch the judge's eyes.
Lambing has gone well. Corky has kept all the lambs in this year instead of letting them run loose outside with their mums. This results in a lot more work, but better gains in the lambs as they don't have to compete with the dratted Canada Geese for water sources and grass. The geese leave their calling cards everywhere which is not healthy for the lambs.
We have a litter of Great Pyrenees puppies that will make great family pets and guardians as sell as wonderful livestock protection dogs. We are taking reservations on the puppies and new kittens. So, that's all folks.
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