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.

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.

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.

Off to Nova Scotia

Corky and I are off to Truro, Nova Scotia for the All Canada Sheep Show and Sale. We dropped our sheep off in Alberta and they are headed by truck to the sale. "We" get to fly!!! We will keep you posted on our adventures in Eastern Canada. I lived there for 4 years, but Corky has never been past Alberta, so it is time he saw "Canada". We just got a note from the Weavers who bought "Luther" from us 11 years ago just after 911. Walt drove through the night from Montana to pick Luther up so he could go back and keep his Daugher Jennifer company while she was in the hospital for what turned out to be a fatal illness. He was a great ambassador and visited all the patients in the hospital. Walt recounted a time when Luther just peeled off and went in to a little boy's hospital room and sat with the little boy. The little boy died later the next day. Luther just knew who needed comfort. Luther just died and is now meeting and greeting Jennifer and Kathy Weaver's Mum who also just passed. They all loved Luther. We'll be back just in time for our local Garden City Cat Show that Corky and I started 11 years ago. This will be the first time that we don't have to be show managers, so we actually get to get back home just before the show and can show up in time to help set up and can go home!!!! There is a God!!!! We'll keep you posted on results of the trip. Our Calgary show went very well with several Best In Shows for our HHPK Jassenia. We got to hang out with my grand kids Jassenia, Zach and Ty who volunteered at the show. Jassenia actually learned how to clerk which is pretty cool for a 12 year old. Zach worked hard stewarding for 2 rings both days. We're proud of the kids!!

Heading for Calgary

It's been awhile since we've updated the blog. Too busy to get er done. Just thought I would send a note before we head off to Calgary for a show. We're also hauling the sheep we have entered in the All Canada Classic Sheep sale in Truro, Nova Scotia.
We have never shown females, but decided this season to show a couple of females. Ragalong Africa has done well in stiff competition and is standing at a Quadruple Grand Champion. Our female kitten Ragalong Yukon Blessing has also done well especially as she has been the youngest kitten in her classes. We have so many Supreme Grand Champion males that it seemed we should maybe do some females.
We do have some really nifty male kittens coming up. One out of a Yukon litter and one out of a Burgundy litter, so I think you will see us taking out the boys again next season. Cats, kittens, dogs, horses and sheep are all doing well.
We will have our Grandsons Zach and Ty from Alberta with us at the show and also our Grand daughter Jassenia who is also from Strathmore, AB. It's a great chance for us to spend some time with the family in Alberta. Will keep everyone posted when we get back. Take care all.

Home from Portland

After a very eventful time, I am home from Portland. I traveled with my friend Susan on Horizon Air from Victoria. Got in early, and both of us were relaxing with a nice glass of wine, waiting for the flight when I heard that the flight was cancelled and collect your luggage and go back to the check in counter. Another hour going through the check in process and we were put on an Air Canada flight to Vancouver and on to Portland. Got to Vancouver and the Air Canada flight was delayed an hour and a half for "mechanical" issues. Did get to Portland where once again we were rewarded by the fabulous Portland show crew presentation. Thousands of spectators, 17 huge barrels of food collected for the food bank and a 3 day spectacular show.
We got lots of nice wins capped by the Best In Show award which was selected by a team of celebrity judges and all the spectators. $1000 and huge rosettes which go to my lovely grand daughter Jassenia's kitten.
There were 260 cats and any final is considered a rare commodity, so were were very lucky to snag a few. It is the first time we have shown females as the Ragdoll standard is written for males, but we can only keep so many whole males and our house is filling up with our neutered Supreme champions, so decided to go with some females for a change of pace. The girls were absolutely fabulous. I really enjoyed working with them. No male hormones and attitudes to deal with.
The trip home was "not" uneventful. The Horizon flight was listed as "late". As it grew a bit "too" late, Susan stepped up to the gate just in time to see the sign change from "late" to "CANCELLED"!!! We had joked that after two hiccups, we were home free. I did, however, venture the comment that "I hope it doesn't work in threes". Yup. Delayed again for several hours while they got another plane ready.
Anyway, home again and happy to see Corky and all the new lambs and critters on the place. Til next time.

Home from France

Got home from France the day before yesterday and have to report that I had an absolutely fabulous time.
Paris - smog, smog, smog. Drivers are insane, but had a blast throwing myself wholeheartedly into the fray when I missed a turn and had to go back. The French do not observe green lights or red lights. They just go and consequently you have chaos which can be likened to a video game of who squeezes who out of the line at an intersection. I had to bone up quickly on my obscene gestures and foul language to compete properly. Great fun and very liberating!!!
On to Orleans where the Southern European Regional Awards were being held. Imagine....900 cats competing in both TICA and Traditional judging (which is another story). The line ups were incredible and the French were lined up for miles to check in, shivering in the cold. Fortunately for me, coming from Canada, it felt just fine even in short sleeves. Their passion for their cats is phenomenal. Post check in you then line up again to have a vet go over your cat and check its papers and microchip numbers. Quite an experience!! The people are fabulous. Warm, friendly and welcoming. I had two kittens with me, Bree and Showgirl. Bree was already sold to a party down in the South of France who could not get to the airport, so poor me, had to drive to the South of France to deliver Bree after the show. A tough job, but someone had to do it. There was a Ragdoll Specialty in the Traditional Division and both Bree and Showgirl got good finals and I was left with the dilema of how to pack all the awards to fly back home.
The awards banquet was fabulous and the TICA best cat, a Ruddy Abysinnian was there along with his cheering section. All in all a wonderful experience with wonderful people and judges. On the advice of one of the Ragdoll breeders, went to Amboise to see the castle where the King of France installed Leonardo Da Vinci for a few years before he died. Did a cute hotel right inside town with the narrow streets and walking a spell to get to your parking, but all part of the experience.
On to Nice to deliver Bree. Being a country girl, did not really enjoy the Cannes/Nice scene too much with things like numerous signs showing you to watch your handbag at all costs all the ime or!!! Took a couple of pictures of obscenely large yachts and headed to Marie Sur Mer in the Camargue. Now that's my kind of place. Small town on the Mediterranean complete with horses, horses, horses and wild black bulls. Wonderful Bed and Breakfast 150 meters from the sea and 3 minutes in to the town center for 50 euros a night. Complete kitchen, sitting area, washing machine and wonderful comfy bed in the loft. 2 days there and off to the Pyrenees for 3 days at Laytoure Bed and Breakfast. A 17th century restored farm home in the country. Couldn't ask for more. All the heritage atmosphere with a completely modern bathroom and kitchen. 50 euros a night with a great breakfast. Had to decide if I was going to do two days there and make a run up the freeways at the usual 150 KMs an hour to visit Metz where I had lived for 4 years as a kid, or ..... stay in the 17 century farm home. No contest, laid back and relaxed. Did a few sojourns to Carcasonne and the surrounding towns taking pictures of "cows". Blonde D'Aquitaines, Simmentals, Limousins, Gascons and some Friesians. Saw caverns etc. but really enjoyed the country scenes. Back up to Paris after having some fabulous meals, "lots" of Regional wines and try to find the bloody airport which would not compute on the GPS I had. (I need a 6 year old with me to run these machines). I was not alone, however as there were lines of cars parked outside the terminal 1 asking the same question I had. Where do you park the rental cars???? I got lucky in that I was leaving from terminal 1 and previous to that had no idea from any of my tickets or car documents, which bloody terminal (1, 2, 3, 4 or 5) I was leaving from but had stopped for my inquiries at terminal 1 first. Parked the car and was glad I had it over night as it was a quiet place to sleep. My sojourns in to the airport at night (trying to get my biological clock back to our time) showed poor passengers trying to get comfortable on chairs while the sounds of jack hammers went off all night long. Good little car!!! Home again and happy to see Corky and will check up on all the kids. Love to see the cats and dogs and farm. We are very lucky to live in Canada, as everywhere I went, they all want to come to Canada. That's all folks.