Back from the Show

It is always wise to stop wishing for things long enough to enjoy the fragrance of those now flowering.
~Patrice Gifford

The quotation is a good reminder to me to be patient. I really really am wishing for warm weather, for no more snow, for Spring to come. It'll happen, sooner rather than later I hope!

While I enjoy looking out the window after a snow and seeing lovely snow-laden branches, I'm sick of winter and tired being cold, bundling up to go outside, scraping ice off windows, and scooping snow off the porch and driveway. The Lhasas, on the other hand, think snow is just great! Silly things.

Thanks to those of you who sent positive thoughts about Belle walking in the ring. She did okay. She was hesitant and stopped rather abruptly a few times but it was usually easy to get her going. She likes liver bait so that worked as an inticement. She doesn't like to be rushed and that is difficult in the show ring. There just isn't time for her to stop and think if she wants to go or not. My rule is, when mom says "Let's go" you need to move! She wasn't too sure she wanted to buy into that! She took second out of a class of three both days. I got a little excited on Sunday when the judge told me to take her to the front of the line. But she balked on the last go around and we were moved to second place. She got lots of oohs and aahs and "oh how cute" comments.

One great thing about the show was seeing my good friend Marsha who drove down to Des Moines to show her Lhasa. Since Illinois and North Dakota are not exactly neighboring states, we seldom get to see each other, so we had a nice visit, and made plans to meet again at an Iowa show in April.

Walker lost both days. Saturday just as I was ready to put him on the examination table he got the snorts (aka "reverse sneezes"). Although I got him calmed down and the snorting stopped, he was not quite recovered for the exam and the down and back. On Sunday I took him out of his crate to groom him only to discover he had thrown up. Oh yuck…all over his feet, his face, his ears, his chest. I have no idea why because we'd been at the show at least an hour and he'd been out of the crate once to use the ex-pen and was excited and happy. So, Kenic rinse-less shampoo came to the rescue. I washed and dried him and he looked fine. I waited to see how he felt because I did not want to show him if he was feeling poorly. (However, after the extra effort of washing and drying him, I thought I should at least show off my grooming skills!) I'd actually gone to the show that morning thinking I would pull his entry because a snow storm was forecast and, while I enjoy showing him and hoping to win Breed and show in the Group, I thought it would be good to get out of Des Moines early. Evidently the judge thought we should be on our way early too! LOL!

We had clear weather and dry roads to Iowa City and about 20 miles south of Iowa City. Then we ran into the storm. Let's just say we had a harrowing drive, arriving home two hours later than the trip usually takes. Roads were snow packed and white lines barely visible. An average pace of 30 mph felt safe. My friend who was driving did a great job getting us home in one piece, in spite of the fact that there were lunatics on the road zooming by us at 50 miles an hour or more, as if the road was dry and visibility was 100%.

I was gone only two days but it seemed as if the puppies grew a whole bunch while I was away. It was great to get home and play with them! Zeke is still waiting for the right home to come along.

Spring is coming, right???

Life is good when you have a Lhasa to love you.

Joyce

Will Winter Ever End?

"February is merely as long as is needed to pass the time until March."
- Dr. J. R. Stockton

"If we had no winter, the spring would not be so pleasant."
- Anne Bradstreet


Aren't you all just tired of this weather? Someone emailed and asked how I was doing, and I responded that I felt as if I were just going through the motions of living, doing what needs to be done, and waiting, waiting, waiting…for warm weather, sunny days, flowers and trees budding. The only thing really good about February is that it is short! Even the idea of "March," knowing that it often brings blizzards and chilly winds, seems to lighten my heart because March brings April that much closer.

And… in a few months we'll all be complaining about how darn hot it is!

In the meantime, Zeke, Zach, and Desi are all doing well—eating, growing, loving chew bones and stuffed toys. I've decided on registered names for the two I am keeping. Desi will be Joyslyn MLS Dakota Heart's Desire and Zach will be Joyslyn MLS Dakota Playboy at Heart. I'll leave it to Zeke's new owner, whoever he/she will eventually be, to officially name him.

I'm off to a show in Des Moines, Iowa, tomorrow. What amazes me is that there is actually (for this show and this time of year) a nice Lhasa entry—0-5-2-0. (Translated for those who do not show: no class males, 5 class females, two male specials, and no female specials.) I am taking Walker and Belle. (Will she walk?? Pray for us! I don't care if she wins. I just want her to show!) Next month Mira and Belle are entered in shows in Belleville, IL.

In a previous email, I referred to shampooing the puppies before evaluating them so I thought I'd show you some pictures of Zach when he was wet, to give you an idea of what is under the coat.
So, the picture of the wet dog at the top of the page is Zach, bless his heart!

I hope you all stay warm and cozy…and that the rest of February zooms by so we are that much closer to spring!

Life is good when you have a Lhasa to love you (and to cuddle with you on these cold winter nights – and days!)

Joyce