Surrounded as we are with winter ice and the holidays, I thought it would be fun to switch gears completely and talk about last summer’s RV trip to the tiny hamlet of Hope, Alaska.
Before I start, I wanted to make a comment about my whole blog project in general. Some of you know I was, at one time, an Editor with BellaOnline Magazine. It was ten years ago – I was their “Alaska Editor” and really enjoyed writing monthly (or more often) articles for them about life in Alaska. I stopped writing almost entirely after Jerry’s TBI in 2009 and haven’t written anything of substance since that time. Some of my articles are still available on the BellaOnline site, although on many are surely buried deep in the archives by now.
You can find BellaOnline here: https://www.bellaonline.com/index.asp To find the Alaska site, either click on Travel & Culture or type “Alaska” in the search box for the page.
Anyway, this past summer, as I meandered across Alaska in my 27’ Winnebago Minnie Winnie, my mind starting filling with story ideas and I felt the need to write them down for the first time in ages. It felt like a dam was breaking loose, but in a good way. Maybe the block lifted because I finally had extended time with my own thoughts or because I was finally able to truly relax for days, even weeks on end for probably the first time since Jer’s accident. Maybe time finally worked its magic.
On several of my trips over the summer, I had no firm time schedule and only a vague destination in mind. I was comfortable with changing plans mid-stream if I saw something or someplace I wanted to visit. Sometimes, I just wasn’t ready to come home and that was OK, too. The slow pace and solitude were what I needed at that point. For whatever reason – I just knew it was time to start writing again.
It’s taken me a couple of months to realize how different blogging is from the type of writing I used to do for BellaOnline. My writing style right now seems to lean more towards personal blogging than the type of informative/educational articles they wanted for the magazine. I guess we’ll see how this evolves over the winter.
I realize a lot of bloggers do informative/educational articles – it’s a choice, so I’m going to add some informative content to my blog and see if I still have the touch. Watch for those. I’m hoping to continue to learn more about myself in the process. I’ve been thinking I might want to return to writing for BellaOnline (if they’d have me back – we’ll see), but I don’t want to give up my blog for it. I’m hoping for the best of both worlds. Actually, more like the best of several worlds since I don’t intend to give up traveling, teaching K9 Nose Work or training and competing with my dogs.
BTW, one of the writing disciplines BellaOnline used to drill into me over and over is the need to edit, edit, edit. Longer is NOT always better. I’m going to have to work on that. 😉 Which is why I’m editing this into two separate blog posts.
Coming soon … “The End of the Road” (Hope, Alaska)
The following story was a feature in The Better Companion Dog Training Facility’s monthly newsletter – written in 2017, I think, and follows my early journey into the sport of K9 Nose Work. I’ve added to the story since then, of course. I thought the story might be an interesting addition to my blog and a fun way to bring readers into MY world as well as that of my very first K9 Nose Work dog, Baxter. So, here is our story, as it began in 2012, and then updated and revised. The journey continues. Enjoy!
“The Tale of Baxter’s Nose” by Deb Frost, CNWI™
The dog sport of K9 Nose Work is a fun, challenging and sometimes competitive sport; taking its concept from serious professional detection dog training and turning it into a sport that any companion dog can enjoy. The goal of K9 Nose Work is FUN for the dog and handler, learning new scenting and targeting skills and spending great bonding time with your dog. Communication is the key to this sport.
While learning the sport of Nose Work, handlers learn a lot about reading their dogs’ body language and the dogs learn to use their already stellar scenting ability to enjoy working as a team with their person. Although The Better Companion Dog Training (regulars call it “BetCo”) in Wasilla, AK had been offering Nose Work classes (Beg-NW and its sequel, NW-Intro to Odor) since early 2011, I remained blissfully unaware of what I was missing until December of 2012.
Then along came Baxter … a [previously] unwanted, small standard Dachshund that had been rehomed due to house-training and some fear/anxiety and fear/reactivity issues. Dachshunds are sensitive – and stubborn when they want to be (which seems to be often). When I found him, he was 10 months old and on home #3. Life wasn’t looking too rosy. But one look into those soulful brown eyes in a sincere, intelligent little black and tan face and I was hooked. I brought home my very first Dachshund in December 2011.
10 month old Baxter, December 2011
Neutering him thankfully solved the issue of lifting his leg in the house. Time, patience and help from Claudia Sihler, CPDT-KSA, eventually worked its magic on Baxter’s other issues and it wasn’t too long before he was a welcome addition to BetCo’s Friday evening Open Play Time, where he developed several long-standing friendships in the “Small Breeds” play group and often instigated bouts of the zoomies that would do a whippet proud. Bax may have short legs, but he was a ROCKET in a big, groomed grass field!
But I digress … After we’d had Baxter in our family for a year or so, I began wondering what I could DO with him for fun? My other dogs were doing Agility, Rally, Freestyle and Treibball. What could I do with Baxter?
Serendipitously; one of my other dog classes (I had two other dogs at the time) happened to be ending while the Advanced Nose Work Practice group was gathering at BetCo – what FUN they seemed to be having! I saw Bernese Mountain Dogs, Jack Russell Terriers, Labs, Huskies, Boxers & Yorkies – purebred and mix breed dogs – this was obviously not a sport just for special scent hounds or competition dogs – although they were well represented, too. I asked my instructor, Claudia, about Nose Work, thinking maybe it was something I could do with Baxter.
Next thing I knew, we were signed up for Beginner Nose Work class and I soon found myself dressing Baxter in a sturdy, comfortable harness, setting him down facing an assortment of brown boxes and turning him loose. Once he figured out the game – find the box that smelled like hot dogs and you will get a JACKPOT of them – there was no stopping him!
It seemed like no time at all before we’d graduated from Beginner Nose Work and Nose Work- Intro To Odor class and Baxter was enthusiastically finding tiny hidden tins or straws with birch-oil-scented Q-tips to earn the prize of hot dog, cheese or chicken treats. Together, we learned to search vehicles, found ‘hides’ under chairs and on top of tables (yes, really – small dogs can do high hides!), learned to smell out hidden treasures high and low, indoors and outdoors and gained confidence along with skill. Slowly but surely, we became a team. Baxter and I not only learned a new game together, but he learned to be comfortable and at ease in different environments and more relaxed around strange people and new dogs. Nose Work classes had been the highlight of his week for months – so what next?
‘Next’ turned out to be membership in the NACSW (National Association of Canine Scent Work) and taking an ORT (Odor Recognition Test) to see if Baxter was ready for his first Nose Work TRIAL! Yikes! I may have been nervous and unsure, but the new, more confident Baxter took on the challenge with his [now] usual aplomb. He passed his Birch, Anise & Clove ORTs on the 1st try each and I soon found the two of us headed for Ninilchik, AK (Sept. 2013) for a NW1 Trial.
NO expectations at all – my plan was to think of it as a great opportunity for practice and, of course, having fun with our Nose Work practice friends. Baxter’s plans were obviously loftier. We came home with our NW1 Title – passing all 4 elements (Container, Interior, Exterior and Vehicle searches) and took 4th place overall in the NW1 portion of the trial! We even earned the coveted “Pronounced” ribbon for exceptional teamwork (according to the judges) in all four elements. Baxter really LIKES Nose Work.
Baxter’s NW1 Container search!; Sept. 2013. Good job, Bax!
We continued to have fun practicing with BetCo’s Nose Work group over the winter and signed up (gulp!) for the NW2 Trial in May 2014 in Wasilla. NO EXPECTATIONS! Heck, we’d only been to one trial so far. NW2 is a lot harder than NW1 … Baxter, again, felt I was not giving him enough credit. Did I mention he LOVES this game? Yep; Baxter and I earned our NW2 Title on May 17th, 2014. I’m still amazed. Baxter is not amazed … this little rescue Dachshund just did what he enjoys most – find those “hides” and get his treats! Get a-looooong little doggie!!
K9 Nose Work Vehicle search
In late 2014, I decided K9 Nose Work would also be a great “retirement sport” for my older dog, [then] 8-year-old Abby, an All-American mixed breed (Icelandic Sheepdog, Collie and Traveling Salesman, we like to say). Back to Beginner Nose Work classes for me!
At about the same time, I decided that this is THE sport for me and pursued becoming an instructor. I am passionate about the concept of this sport – and how it is ALL ABOUT THE DOG. Young dogs, old dogs, fast or slow dogs, timid or reactive – all are welcome in K9 Nose Work. This is a sport I found I could put my heart and soul into – and I can’t imagine ever getting bored or out-growing it.
I decided to “go for it” and commit to the lengthy process of becoming a Certified Nose Work Instructor™ with the NACSW. Claudia and The Better Companion supported my decision and were a huge help in my journey to achieve this goal. It meant several trips “outside” and more book-learning than I could have imagined – and of course, lots of hands-on practice of teaching classes.
I began teaching nose work classes in April 2015 and earned my official certification to become a full-fledged CNWI™ on December 1st, 2016. I’ve enjoyed every minute!
Wow, what an adventure this has been (and continues to be) … and all because I adopted a [previously] unwanted rescue Dachshund.
I guess the old saying is true; sometimes you don’t get the dog you thought you wanted or expected, but you usually get the dog that you NEED. Discovering how much Dachshunds enjoy Nose Work (and dog sports in general) opened up an entire new world of possibilities for me. It’s a big part of the reason I so enjoy teaching Nose Work classes.
I learned, back in 2012, that dog sports prospects come in all shapes and sizes. It was an eye-opener for me and, like Baxter, I’ve never looked back. Just as I learned early on that all breeds (large and small) can do nose work, I realized that size or breed was seldom a reason to think ANY dog couldn’t do dog sports if they and their owners wanted to. Once I overcame my unconscious prejudice that Dachshunds (and other small dogs) were just house pets (looking back, I’m not sure why I ever thought that), I was on a role. It wasn’t long before Baxter was also competing in Agility – and doing pretty well! He was just as happy to take on Rally Obedience, Freestyle dog dance, Flyball and Trick Dog.
Over the past seven years; I’ve had the privilege of watching a talented 200+ lb. Mastiff doing Freestyle, athletic little Chihuahuas as well as giant breed dogs competing in Agility and pretty much every breed you can imagine successfully doing sports like Nose Work, Scent Work, Rally and Trick Dog. If you have a dog, any size or age – there IS a sport for you!
In June 2018, I added another Dachshund to the family – this time quite intentionally. Meet Goodwood Help Me Rhonda B Good (aka “Ronni”).
Ronni; 3 months old
Rhonda at 6 months old
Rhonda’s NW1 Title!
Rhonda has been part of the family for a year and a half now. She has her NW1 title, Scent Work Novice title, Barn Hunt Open title and Trick Dog Novice title … all before she hit 18 months old. She is currently following Baxter’s paw-prints in learning Agility and Rally. I really have to wonder what is next. I can hardly wait to find out.
Update 12/10/2019
A quick update on my Nose Work/Scent Work journey. I am currently teaching K9 Nose Work at The Better Companion/Regine Dog Training in Wasilla, AK, where they offer Intro to K9 Nose Work®, K9 Nose Work-Intro to Odor®, K9 NW-Elements classes and weekly advanced Nose Work practice sessions for all levels. I am approved to Judge or be the Certified Official at NACSW ORTs here in Alaska, and I am a certified Lead Judge for Performance Scent Dogs®.
Baxter and I are competing at the NW3 level in K9 Nose Work (he has his 2nd NW3 Title – we just need one more to make Elite), at Excellent level in Performance Scent Dog trials and have started competing in AKC Scent Work (once I finally got around to registering him with the AKC under their PALS program for unregistered purebreds). I really had to once Rhonda started AKC Scent Work, right? We are all three having a blast. Abby retired at the age of 12 after earning her NW2 title, but little sister Rhonda has taken up the baton and is coming up fast. Look out, Baxter!
Rhonda was bred for field trials and scent work. She comes directly from working European bloodlines and has prey drive to spare. No surprise this small Standard Dachshund took to hunting for rats and other small rodents with wild abandon.
Ronni senses a mouse … seconds later, she was gone!
When my Dachshund, Rhonda, was about 5 months old, a friend invited me to the local Cook Inlet Kennel Club training facility. They were holding a Barn Hunt practice and my friend Laurie thought Ronni would enjoy it.
Wow. Understatement of the year. Oh, wait … you don’t know what Barn Hunt is? You are in for a treat. Read on …
We arrived at the building, which was already crowded with about a dozen vehicles. I carried Rhonda inside, where I was greeted like an old friend by several people I didn’t [yet] know.
To my right, I couldn’t help but notice a large chain-link fenced area filled with straw bales in an assortment of stacks, piles and tunnels.
There was currently a young Staffie rollicking up and down the bales, over and around them in obvious glee. As I watched in fascination, she quickly pounced on a pile of straw between two bales and I heard her handler call out “RAT!”
The handler then reached down and picked a large, very sturdy plastic tube from its hiding place in the straw, handing it to the rat wrangler (the person in charge of removing the unharmed rat from the search area). The practice supervisor called out “Rat One!”
The Staffie had already moved on in search of another rat. Oh! That looked like fun.
Someone took my name and passed me along to a lady who was in charge of “rat introductions” for newbies to the sport.
Yep – I said sport. Barn Hunt is one of the newer scenting sports available to pretty much any dog who has a desire to play the game and can fit through the various straw bale sized tunnels (a requirement for competition).
But first, we need to discover if our pup is interested in the rat. Please don’t worry – this introduction is totally harm-free to the rat. They actually seem to care less, having done this intro with many, many dogs. The rat knows it’s safe and usually sits there, calmly grooming itself while the dog or puppy sniffs, sometimes barks and even tries to grab hold of the cage.
The intro rat is visible, but securely enclosed in a small, strong, rubber-coated wire cage – completely safe from even the most enthusiastic dog.
I placed my leashed puppy on the big tarp with the caged white rat in the center and waited to see what happened. Ronni noticed the movement immediately, moving forward to investigate. She approached the cage. The rat moved and Ronni jumped backwards a good foot! I bit my lip … being afraid of the rat was not a good sign.
But no, it was only instinctive caution of something new and potentially dangerous – remember, she was still just a puppy. She immediately crept close again, gave a good sniff – and instinct kicked in. RAT! Chase! Catch!
Oh yes, Ronni was going to like this dog sport! After two or three short introductions to the caged rat, Rhonda was allowed to investigate the [empty] straw bale enclosure. I was told that some dogs were unsure of the strange new texture of the straw bales, not liking how the shifting straw felt beneath their feet. It was not uncommon for a new dog to just walk around, sniffing and getting used to it.
Lithe little Rhonda immediately scampered up onto a bale, down the far side, then back up, jumping from bale to bale and having a grand time. No fear – this was a great new playground. 😄
The following weekend, she was turned loose to hunt for her first rat. We had taken a quick moment to visit the Intro rat to give Ronni the scent (she tried to grab and carry off the cage – which was nearly as big as she was), then entered the fenced search pen.
I wasn’t sure what to expect, but it wasn’t a difficult search. There were three rat tubes made of heavy plastic, with lots of breathing holes for the rat. The three tubes looked exactly the same; 1 tube held a live rat, 1 tube held rat bedding and one was totally empty.
It was up to Rhonda to communicate to me which of the three [new to her] tubes held her prey – the live rat. She sniffed all three. I held my breath. She made her decision and nosed one of the tubes … I called out hesitantly, “Rat??”. The practice supervisor said “Yes! Rat!” Ronni was right … and has never looked back.
Practice was tons of fun; sometimes they hid just one rat, other times 2 or even 3. Rhonda had no trouble scrambling up and down straw bales and gleefully bounded through tunnels – sometimes the more complex, advanced tunnels – all great fun!
It seemed (and was!) no time at all before a Barn Hunt trial was imminent. Should I enter Rhonda? She was still so new to the sport. Well, what the heck. It would be good experience, and she only needed to find one rat, climb a straw bale and go through a straight, novice tunnel. No expectations in a busy trial environment – just to have fun and gain experience.
There were three trials planned for that weekend in April, 2019. One on Saturday, then two trials, back to back, on Sunday. The team could earn one “Q” (qualified run) per trial. It took three Q’s in order to title. Below is one of Ronni’s 3 Novice trial runs that weekend, under Judge Dan Mata. In Novice, the dog has 2 minutes to find one rat, while ignoring the bedding tube and the empty tube.
One of Rhonda’s Novice Trial runs.
One of the most humorous moments of that first trial weekend came on Sunday afternoon when Ronni, with two successful searches under her belt, faced her final Novice search – with her Novice title at stake.
Poor Ronni … she entered the search area sporting PANTIES – a size too large to boot. She had literally (and very suddenly) gone into her first heat cycle during the lunch break. Yikes. There wasn’t even time to set her down to see if she would WALK in the weird, constrictive (borrowed) attire before her run.
I sent up a quick prayer, set Ronni on the ground and turned her loose. Zoom! She raced (with a distinct waddle, but it didn’t slow her down much) through the tunnel, made it up onto a straw bale on the second try and then wiggled nose down into a pile of straw, tail wagging fiercely out the back of her baggy panties. “RAT!” I called. “Congratulations!” the judge chimed in. “That’s your Novice title!”
Only a few short months later, with only a few more fun Barn Hunt practices behind us, Ronni and I found ourselves at our 2nd Barn Hunt trial weekend. This time, both days were back-to-back trials.
Saturday went great; we didn’t earn the quickest times ever, but running now in Open Division, Ronni found her two rats in both searches, consistently ignoring the bedding-filled tubes. Good girl, Rhonda!
On Sunday morning, we found ourselves again facing a possible Title run. I was strangely relaxed – Ronni was having so much FUN, I felt we were already winners whether we Q’d or not. Besides, there was still another chance later in the afternoon. Here’s Rhonda’s 3rd ever Open Division run. 😄 Boy, does that gal thrives on climbing straw bales!
Ronni’s Open Division title run.
Needless to say, Rhonda now has her Open Division Title and got to try her hand at [Gasp!] Senior Div. at the ripe old age of 15 months. She found 3 of the required 4 rats. Great job for my sleek little ratter.
Barn Hunt is a FUN sport and Ronni adores it, so we will, I’m sure, have more stories to share. But be forewarned; this little firecracker of a dachshund is also actively pursuing a career in K9 Nose Work and AKC Scent Work (she has her Novice title in both), is learning Agility and Rally, and has her Trick Dog Novice title. I wish we had the opportunity to try Field Trials, but they just aren’t readily available here in AK. I think they offer 1-2 per year in the state, but with no way to train, I’m not sure how to even begin.
“Goodwood Help Me Rhonda B Good” is already well on her way to being exactly what her breeder led me to expect. Thank you, Claire!
Still, from day one, when my sweet, social butterfly, Ronni, came into my life – my number 1 priority was welcoming the much wanted 2nd DACHSHUND I’d been dreaming of. I wanted to share my life with a PAIR of Dachshunds, whatever else happened. Baxter, my older Dachshund, was seven years old. It seemed like the perfect time to bring his new little sister home.
Handsome Baxter & little sis Ronni, sharing a sunbeam in our RV.
Sure, I was hoping Ronni would grow to love at least some of the dog sports I already enjoyed with Baxter – but I would love her just as much if she’d turned out to be no more than a loving companion dog.
I have long been a strong proponent of this valuable caution (para-phrased); “Don’t get a dog FOR the SPORT. Get the DOG you want, and embrace the sports that dog wants to play.”
So … tally-ho! Off to Barn Hunt we go!
Have FUN with your dog(s), whatever you do, and Happy Sniffing!
What are some of your favorite or most humorous Christmas memories from the past twenty years or so? I’m attempting to generate some semblance of Christmas spirit in myself this year, so thought I’d spread the cheer and see what it brings back to me.
It took some serious digging through my computer to come up with these photos. Sadly, I’ll have to dig through the basement to find my non-digitalized favorites of when my own kids were small. Oh, THOSE were some happy memories indeed! I may find them yet … but for now, I’ll limit this walk down memory lane to more recent years.
Well, maybe not all THAT recent. This photo of me was taken back in Michigan in the early 90’s, with my very first Border Collie, My Bonnie Lass (“Bonnie”) when she was not much more than a puppy. Oh my, I loved that sweet, timid girl! She is the dog who moved with me to Alaska a few years later, taking the seven day drive without a qualm and adjusting to life in the Alaskan woods with enthusiasm.
Deb & Bonnie, circa 1992. Can you believe that HAIR? 🙂
The next picture (below) evokes some wonderful memories … my first Christmas in Alaska – and my only Christmas in Anchorage! I can tell by the wood paneling and blinds behind the tree that this was taken in Jerry’s trailer in Anchorage. OH! It was a good thing we were still newly-weds! I was so happy to get out of that place the following summer! Moving from a 40-acre farm in the country to a tiny mobile home in a city – yikes! But it was our first Christmas together and I loved every minute of it. And it was truly a first for Jerry, too; single until age 45 and with no close family in Alaska, he hadn’t really celebrated Christmas in many years – and had never decorated for the holidays in the 16 years he’d lived in his trailer. Jer was working night shift that winter when I pulled out all of my beloved Christmas “stuff” (well, as much as would fit) and transformed the small space. It’s a wonder he didn’t turn and run right then and there. But I’ll give Jer credit – he embraced my holiday traditions with love and enthusiasm, if not understanding. I mean, stockings? Really?
1st Xmas in Alaska (1997)
Yep, stockings and all!
Jerry – Embracing Christmas! (1997)
My first Christmas in Alaska!
Over the years since, I’ve moderated my Christmas decorating. Partly to compromise with Jerry’s continued lack of interest in the whole decorating thing … he doesn’t mind it, but I was mostly doing it for myself and after a while the incentive just wasn’t there anymore. And partly, I’ll admit, because with no family here to share it with, I’ve found it hard to sustain my Christmas cheer. Still, I do have great memories of some special Christmases over the past twenty years.
My Christmas trees got smaller over the years, eventually evolving into setting up a “Christmas Snowman” and setting presents around it’s base. Lots easier than putting up and decorating a tree – something I always ended up doing along anyway. The past few years, I’ve settled for hanging our stockings (I’m NOT giving up my Christmas stockings!), placing a few favorite decorations on the living room window sills and calling it good. Here’s a series of my ever-evolving Christmas décor over the years.
1st Christmas in the new house in Meadow Lakes! 1999
Our 3′ tall “Christmas Snowman” 2003
Christmas window sill tree 2012
Easier to set up than a tree … 2013
Hey, the stockings got hung … 2015
My sister sent me this Christmas wiener dog! 🙂 2018
Still, decorating issues aside; Christmas wouldn’t be complete without our beloved critters. Some years, they make all the difference in the world. Here are a few who have made it into the Christmas album over the years.
The handsome orange boy is “Mokume Gato”, my Maine Coon (nearly 20 lbs. in his prime). He and gray tabby girl Damascus, were Christmas gifts to ourselves in December 2005. There is a bit of a story behind this duo.
Mokume Gato
Princess Damascus Bug-Bane
Dama & Mo, Christmas 2005
Our Christmas Cats
So, the Christmas story … The Mat-Su Shelter had way too many cats and kittens in December, 2005 and Damascus, at 4 1/2 months old and just a “plain gray tabby” was slated to end her stay there if she wasn’t adopted by Christmas. 😦 They needed the space and no one seemed interested in her – there were plenty of younger and cuter kittens. I couldn’t bear it, so put a hold on her (with a deposit), put a surprise gift bag with photo, kitty toys – and a “Pick up your gift at the Mat-Su Shelter” note under the Christmas tree “from Santa”. Jerry was always a sucker for an underdog. Problem solved.
The following day, when we arrived at the shelter to pick up our tabby girl, I left Jer to get acquainted and wandered around the many cages of homeless cats. Boy, I should’ve known better! I still remember reaching down to a lower cage to pet a cute calico (I’ve always been partial to calicos and don’t quite understand why one has never managed to make it into my home), when I felt something brushing my hair. I jumped back just in time to see a pair of furry orange paws reaching out through the bars of the cage above me. The bright orange kitten the paws belonged to was laying flat on its side, face pressed against the bars, golden eyes gleaming with mischief and front legs stretched as far out as possible, trying to reach out to touch me. The tag said SHE was four months old – the same age as our tabby. Sigh. Yep, we came home with both of them!
Were we ever surprised a few days after Christmas when we took our two new kittens in for a “well-kitten” vet check. Although Mokume was a little bit bigger than Damascus, we discovered two important things; she was actually a HE, and he was no where’s near four months old. Large though he was, the vet told us he was closer to 9-10 weeks old rather than 4 months! He still had all of his milk teeth! We probably should’ve guessed from the huge paws and honestly even the orange coat. Although not all; the vast majority of orange cats are male. Oh well … Merry Christmas to us!
Within a couple of months, Mo was HUGE – and still growing!
Look at the size of those PAWS!
Out in the barn, chocolate barn cat, Snicker-Doodle, kept the Christmas spirit alive for 15 years with her regular gifts of mice (and the occasional bird, although I tried to discourage that particular activity). Christmas morning in the barn with Snicker, the goats and livestock guardian dogs, Buran, Libby and then Journey, was always magical. Special treats were offered and accepted, extra time was spent enjoying the quiet of a dark December morning with the contented sound of livestock around you, munching fresh hay and nickering quietly to each other in the chilly pre-dawn air.
Besides, what is more appropriate on Christmas morning than being in a barn? Oh, I know – it’s not for everyone. I loved more than 25 years of Christmas mornings with my barn animals. I miss those quiet, peaceful Christmas mornings, The last sheep and goats left our farm in the summer of 2016. This will be our 4th Christmas with an empty barn. Still, they are wonderful memories and I will always hold them close to my heart.
, even though Simply Silver – this photo made it onto the cover of the NPGA magazine!
Snicker- Doodle (humoring me)
Daisy Mae – my only Angora goat
“Magic” the reindeer!
“Angel”, singing Christmas carols
OK, let’s face it, when your grandchildren (and great-grandchildren) live too far away to spend Christmas with – you end up with a lot of pictures of your [also] beloved dogs. These photos (below) span the years between 1999 and 2012. If I were to include ALL the photos of dogs that I’ve taken at Christmastime over the years, I would have to write a book. As it is – I have way too many pictures of my dogs. This is a little embarrassing! 😉
Mini-Doxie/Chihuahua cross “Pocket”, Xmas 2001
Blind BC Patch & me, Xmas 2005
Pocket & Jer, Xmas 2008
Pup Falki, sleeping off his Christmas excesses, 2011
My sweet Abby (at age 3) with her new Christmas Stuffy – Christmas 2012
2012 was also the year we added [then] 10-month-old Baxter to the family. This previously unwanted Dachshund was pretty much an early Christmas gift to myself. He may have been a rescue on his 3rd home due to (IMO) poor puppy raising by his previous owner(s), but this glossy little black and tan boy was the apple in his new Mama’s eye – and with a lot of time and effort, he overcame his early disadvantages and proved to be everything I hoped he would be – and more.
My 2012 Christmas present!
And a couple years later … 😉
Our most recent canine addition to the family probably needs no introduction. I ASKED for her to be my Christmas present in 2017. She hadn’t even been conceived yet, but I was on the breeder’s list and was just waiting for the right litter to come along. It might have been soon, or it might well have been several years – I had a LOT of specific traits I was looking for in my next Dachshund puppy and good breeders won’t sell just any puppy to just anyone. When she emailed me in late January of 2018 and said she had an upcoming litter that MIGHT have what I was looking for – I was beyond excited! She was a late Christmas gift, to be sure, but she was sure worth waiting for. Goodwood Help Me Rhonda B Good (aka “Ronni”) … the gift that keeps on giving!
So, that is my Christmas memory album for now. Good memories, each and every one. Christmas remains a challenge for me. But if I keep these happy Christmas memories front and center, and continue to work on my regularly thwarted plans to spend Christmas with my actual grandkids and great grandkids instead of my DOGS … who knows. Maybe next year, I’ll have some NEW Christmas memory photos to share.
In the meantime, to generate some much needed Christmas cheer, please feel free to share some of your favorite Christmas memories and stories with me in the Comments below. If you are enjoying my blog, feel free to share it with your friends. Hoping for happy holidays!
De & the Dachsies - Our Rambles 