Heading Home Up the Highway...

 Attending my tracking clubs' Christmas Party and AGM this weekend.
Look at the truck baring down on us in my rearview mirror.  We were driving in only one open lane, and soooo slow, I just held up my camera now and again without even focusing, and taking some shots.  A horrid drive in a long stretch on Hwy.#11.  I just thought this was a funny photo showing the transport truck.  There were so many on the highway.

 This was in a 100 zone highway, double lanes, and we were moving along mainly at 70 in only one lane.  At times, it was down to 50.  The radio said up to 2 cm snow....they should look out their windows!

 Believe it or not, there is a car that drove up the snowy lane and was just passing the trailer up in front of me.  I had backed off a little, expecting 'maybe' the worst...He did get by but what was the point?!

Further on, two snowplows came on the highway, clearing both lanes, but it was still bad driving.  This is a very long line of traffic following the plows.  We were driving between 40 and 60 here, and this went on for miles and miles and miles.  Safe...but slow.  I was very happy to have attended the party and see many people I haven't seen in a long time, and an overnight visit while there.  Blast was presented with 3 club pins by the Cross Country Tracking Club, for the three titles he earned this year (TDX, UTD, UTDX) and also a beautiful engraved medallion for earning his Tracking Champion title.

I am very proud of this boy.

Winter Brings Pine Grosbeaks

 There have been a few female Pine Grosbeaks for a week, but today the beautiful red male ones arrived.  Always so pretty against the white snow.

 Female on the left, and male on the right; under a sunflower seed feeder.

The chickadees or bluejays knock out some seed on the ground and I have areas I distribute the seed also.  The evening and pine grosbeaks are mainly ground feeders.  They didn't stay long, but I'm sure will be back!

We Have Snow!

Although it's 'pretty' I certainly wish we didn't have it beginning to come all at once!  I do NOT want to lose all our walking trails like we did last winter.

This is Kira in the above picture.

 Taken in the front field looking east to the vacant property next door with the ancient barn in the background.  Calling for 'some' snow every day this week!

 Kira again.  All the dogs just love the snow; I don't think we've ever had a dog that did not.  They often barge out, dive in and roll.

 Coming back from the field and walking up the driveway.  I'd be happy if we had only this much most of the winter.  We are drifted in quite often and don't even want to think about that yet!

Tank, Trust and Blast running along a path nearing the end of a walk.  As I said, they just love the snow.  It's around -8 degrees Celsius today, but had some sun and little wind, so was quite comfortable on our walks.

Blasts' Track Nov. 20th

 I didn't get the start on veg. for this track, it was short and off we went on gravel.  Above, Blast just took his first turn.

 We had a good stretch on the gravel surface, along with a small area of asphalt.  This was his first track since getting his UTDX and TCh title, almost 4 wks. ago.  So now we can do more or less what we want, not really training tracks.

 I do like to 'play around' with tracks, this one was aged only an hour, there had been a lady and dog playing in this area when I first drove up.  I put in short legs and various scent distractions, and just see what he does.

 Another nice turn, just before the drainage rocks after passing a pile of deer poop...he took no notice.

 Just came off the grass onto a driveway with the turn in the centre.  I left a piece of food about 4' past the corner on this turn which he is just going to.

 Another right turn coming up ahead and we will go under a covered, but open area.

 Dead on this corner, conditions were very favorable, damp and not aged long, and no doubt enthused after not tracking for a while.

 This is a skating rink - on the right - in winter and it has been totally "roofed over".  It is an interesting place for scent in here, depending on conditions, it can move all over, or be held down.  Next turn is down past this spot, outside the structure, but before the building.

 He actually spent some time here circling and checking every direction before making the turn.  There were three choices, all different veg. and non. veg.

 Reaching the end, down a little hill, he's headed to his reward.  I have to admit, I had no articles!!!  I forgot I had cleaned all my tracking gear out of my van, can't believe that.  So all I had were the gloves I wear and wasn't going to part with, and two cans of sardines...so that was his only article, at the end.

Before I reached him, he had ripped off the plastic covering on the can, tried licking it, but couldn't open the can, luckily.  I got it and he was quite delighted to have his sardines!
This was just a fun track, I've missed going out and with weather still holding off winter, just had to do it today.  What's too bad, is I also did a track with Tank in another location, and he did very well, but I forgot the camera when I put him on it.  Same thing, no articles, just sardines at the end.  His was 2 hr. old and hard surface was paved parking lot.  I think both were happy to have the sardines, and certainly didn't care about missing other articles!!!  Was so nice to get them both out again.  Would be lovely if winter held off, but sounds like snow next week...

The Crew out on Walks

Kira owns the new hard as a rock black ball!

Tank, Trust and Kira taking a momentary 'rest'.  Trust does her best to keep Kira in line, while Kira just ignores all the body language and signals and just wiggles everyone around her 'finger'.

Blast takes full possession of the orange ball, and no-one is going to get it from him. 

Kiras' Belated Birthday Photos

Nothing better than racing after balls any day at all, full speed, all out.  One bounce (as above) and she's got it!

Just landing, with blue ball in mouth, Kira was two years old - so hard to believe - on Nov. 4th.

And, of course, the birthday hat shot.  This was a quick celebration, just Kira and I with a marrow bone and candles instead of our 'normal' carrot muffins.  Kira was not overly thrilled to be wearing her birthday hat, and after several tries at a good photo, this was my last attempt, eyes closed would have to suffice!!!!

Blasts' UTDX &TCh - 3 more pics.

We are heading out onto the paved driveway alongside the park area in this picture having completed about 2/3 of the track.  There are three turns coming up in the parking lot, one article, and then the final leg to the glove at the end.

I think my tracklayer, Pamela Burns, was as happy as I was when we reached the glove!

A bit of play with Blast, while I try to "protect" the glove so it isn't shredded!  His aim is to rip the glove apart after he reaches it.  This glove is a KEEPER!  He's a happy boy, I just love him to bits.
Thank you Susan Skolnick for taking these pictures of us on the track on Sunday!!!