April and Show Results

“The sun did not shine. It was too wet to play. So we sat in the house. All that cold, cold, wet day.” 

~ Dr. Seuss, The Cat in the Hat

Given the amount of rain, wind, and chill April has brought our area so far, we should have plenty of May flowers. Our spirits need the uplift a warm sunny April day could bring. Not happening so far!

When I last wrote, I told you I was headed to WI for a 4-day show. The drive there was accompanied by windshield wipers. We had one sunny day; then the cold, wind, and rain returned, and my wipers were again kept busy whole long ride home.

The 4 days were great. It was wonderful to be back in the ring and to hang out with my WI Lhasa friends. We stayed at Jan and Dean Graunke's Birch Creek Inn and hung out in Jan's kitchen, eating yummy meals she'd prepared for us, then moved to her living room where we played with Lhasa puppies Jan and Karen Schlais had bred. It was great to be together with friends again. I haven't been to a show since October.

We did "okay." I took Jenna, who needs only four single points to finish. Sitting home between the national specialty in October and this show at the end of March was not a good thing for her. She was apprehensive and on Thursday and Sunday had her tail up on the first go-around, but once on the exam table, she obviously was afraid. The tail went down and stayed. It never was up on Friday and Saturday. So I will keep taking her for the experience and to get her used to the shows again. She is not ready to win appearance-wise either. Her coat is not all the way down and new coat of a different color is coming in and that looks strange too. She is a slow maturer and I have to be patient. Her day will come - but it might be another year before that happens! Anyway, Jenna took 2nd in her class of two all four days. The winner of that class was Jan and Karen's Golden Tu Karlyn Code of the Cozmos (Mo). She took Reserve Winners Bitch on Friday to Northwind Miss Independent, but won the points the other three days.

Mon Ami's Breezy Autumn Sunrise (Cooper), owned by LaVonne Bennett, was the only male entered in the classes. This was his first show weekend. He took Best of Winners on Friday for two points. On Saturday, he took Best Puppy and went on to earn 4th place in the Non-Sporting Puppy Group. I was an especially proud "grandma" since Cooper's sire is my GCh Ch Joyslyn's Inherit The Wind (Rafe).

Karen and Jan's Ch. Karlyn Golden Tu Sing Soft Kitty To Me (Penny) took Select Bitch all 4 days, earning her points and helping her fulfill requirements toward her Grand Championship. Again, I'm very proud to be the owner of her sire, GCh Ch Joyslyn's Heart Breaker.

Josh's sister, Cinder, Joyslyn MLS Dakota Windy Winter Night Mon Ami, owned by LaVonne Bennett, took 2nd in her class all 4 days and Cinder's daughter, Misti, Ch. Mon Ami 'N Joyslyn Shades of Summer took Best Opposite Sex three of the four days, earning her points and helping her fulfill requirements toward her Grand Championship.

The Best of Breed wins were shared by the three male specials. Tami Bagley's GCHS CH Ha-Lee Kiki Ari Captain Morgan won on Thursday. GCH CH Riverview Hylan Sho  Tru Chase that Dream, shown by Lynn Meyer, won on Saturday. My Josh, GCH CH Joyslyn MLS Dakota Wind Breaker won on Friday and Sunday.

Here are some photos of Josh in the Non-Sporting Group on Friday.

Part of the Non-Sporting Group Line-up - See us at the end

Josh and me waiting for the judge to examine him

Josh on the move

One of the best things that happened over the weekend -- and I am very glad it happened on March 31 and not April 1 or I would have suspected an April Fool's joke -- was that I received news from Greta's handler, Sue Cannimore, that Greta had taken Winners Bitch and earned the last point she needed for her championship. I like looking at the words "CH Joyslyn's No Regrets." Here is a photo taken after Greta's final win.

Ch. Joyslyn's No Regrets with her handler Sue Cannimore

Sue had previously shown Greta's sister, Mysti, owned by Deborah and Ron Hauck, to her championship and grand championship. Deborah sent me this photo of Mysti, taken the day she earned her grand championship. Mysti is GCH. CH Joyslyn's Mystic Wind.

New Grand Champion

My friend, Judy Laffoon, owns two Joyslyn's girls. She originally bought Whisper, Joyslyn's Midnight Confessions, and later, when I was ready to retire Whisper's sister, Raven, Ch. Joyslyn's Midnight Enchantment, Judy bought her. Judy and her Lhasas, whom she refers to as her 'Munchkins,'live in CA. Recently Judy and Whisper participated in a benefit for the Morongo Basin Humane Society.  One activity with the dogs was a Musical Sits Game. Whisper and Judy won! Here are some photos of Whisper and Judy.

The next photo was sent by Chuck and Steve of their Joyslyn's puppy, Cooper. Cooper is the son of Josh and Luna (Ch. Joyslyn Ja-Ma Dancing By the Light of the Moon). I love his red color. You can see he has a great coat texture and such a pretty face!

Looking forward, we don't have any shows planned until the beginning of May and then we'll be busy at least three weekends with shows in WI and IL. The new puppy, Onyx, will be 6 months old and able to be entered in shows in mid-May. She is black with just a bit of white on her front feet and chin so it is hard to get a photo of her. She is a Josh daughter and her dam is Ch. Cozmos Chiennoir (Shadow).

Unfortunately, we are still waiting for the girls to come in season. They are long overdue...

Oh, and our son's band, Black Fast, is in a competition with other metal bands for the opportunity to tour with and open for Metallica. The choice of the winning band is done via online voting. If you would like to help Black Fast's chances, go to the band's Facebook page for information about how to vote. A person can vote once a day until the contest is over. Even if you hate metal music, your vote for Black Fast would be appreciated!

Events coming up this month are a visit from our son and his girlfriend, a long drive south to pick up Greta, our 45th anniversary, Easter, and our granddaughter's 11 birthday. It's a short and busy month! Let's just hope for sunny April days that show up soon!

Life is Better When You Have A Lhasa To Love You!

Joyce