The Guardians

Happy Boxing Day!

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

To young and old!

 From Alta-Pete Farm

A Christmas Bed Time Story

Get your hot cocoa, your favorite blankie and puppy, and snuggle down in your bed while my father reads you a bed time story for Christmas.
This one is my favorite, since when I was 10, my parents surprised me with a collie puppy named, Toby for Christmas.

Sweet dreams.

It's Not About The Food

No.
Really.
I love YOU!

What food?
I didn't even notice the food!

But maybe since you've got it out...

Puppies' Day Out

Because we don't live in a city, the puppies we raise in the winter don't get to meet new people very often.  When we have sweet pups like Sue, it's not so much of an issue, but if they are like Try, more reserved, then we (I) have to make more of an effort to get them out.
So today was town day.
My friend Sarah came along and showed Sue that yes, indeed, her legs do work on the shiny Petsmart floors,

and Try and I worked on his social skills.

Try was thinking the place was pretty cool and then he spotted them -and stood completely still...

Gasp!  What is THIS!
It's a chinchilla, Try.

I. MUST. HAVE. ONE.

No.  Those aren't for you.  Let's go down another isle.
Here's a nice toy.

I don't want this.
It isn't a chinchilla.
Well, how about this one?

Stupid toy.  Because you are not a chinchilla I will destroy you!
This one is good.  It crinkles.

Hmm.  Maybe.
Ok, Mom!  Can I have this one?

Luckily, even a border collie can be easily distracted at 9 weeks old.

Good Medicine

There is not much going on at Alta-Pete Farm right now.  The customer dogs are all in now for training and Scott is working on them every day.  I'm busy training up Ford for his main nursery season and chasing after Try, constantly saying "No.  NO. NO!"
It's not farm related but in the spirit of this blog, I thought I'd show you a video from the year end banquet of "Pet Prescription Team" - the therapy dog group that my father and his (my mom's) collie, Kane participate in.  This is a montage of the 3 winners of their annual awards.
First, dog of the year award to Sammy the sheltie.
Then, volunteer of the year award to Chris Core and her golden Charli Belle,
and the final award winners my father and his (my mom's) collie Kane who won the Rodeo award given in honor of the first therapy dog for Pet Prescription Team, Aussie, Rodeo.
These three dogs were honored out of 530 members so we are very proud of my father and his (my mom's) collie, Kane.

Been Busy

It's been a whole week since I've blogged.  I know.  That's bad but I have an excuse.
I've been busy.

Oh, sure, "Try" looks sweet and innocent, but this is a very busy pup.
He had a little cold when he first came to us but it's obvious he's feeling good now.
Today I took him outside for a little walk to show him the sights and help keep him busy.

Skid also helps keep him busy but he doesn't really enjoy the job.

RUN SKID!  HE'S ON YOUR TAIL!

He's not slowing down!

Now some people will say, "Jenny, don't let him sit on the back of your couch.  It won't be so cute when he's 40 lbs."

But I say, "shhh!"
It's keeping him busy.
As long as he's sitting still up there, he's not peeing, chewing, pooping or destroying anything.

Aww!

My little red hen laid her first egg last week.
It will take a few months before her egg is as big as the old red hen's.

 Awww!

While you are using that expression, why don't I give you something else to express it over?

 Awww!
The little male in the back, with the wide eyes, trying to take in his new home, is our newest addition.

Photo Bombers

Alaska and Togo just don't understand why you would want to take pictures of those stupid border collies.

thanks to Sarah Novak for these pictures

En Garde

The other night  our lake froze over.

Togo and Alaska aren't particularly happy when this happens, because it gives the coyotes easier access to our farm.
So after a morning of watching a coyote walk across the ice, Togo decided to go to the high ground to get a better look.

He decided that this was a perfect place to watch his farm from.

After a little while, Alaska, the perfect partner, agreed to watch the low ground.

I dare you, coyotes.
I just dare you.

Hen Pecked

The last picture I posted of my 3 chicks was this one:

This is pretty much what they looked like when I left for the Nationals in September.
When we came back, I was home for a day, left Scott in charge, and went off to California for a couple of weeks.
Finally home in October, I walked outside the next morning and heard a sound I shouldn't be hearing from a coop full of hens...
"Cockadoodledooo"!
Ummm... Scott....?  Is there a rooster in my hen house?
Scott said, "Come to think of it, one chicken is alot bigger than the rest."

When I finally got out to the hen chicken house, there was not just one obvious rooster, but TWO!
Way to notice, Scott.
I decided one could stay but the coop was too small for both, so the all red rooster went to a local farm and got his own flock of hens.
So who got to stay?
This beauty:

The girls are happy with my choice and follow him where ever he goes.

As long as he doesn't get aggressive with me or the dogs, he can stay.
For now, the true boss of the coop is still the old red hen
and even the rooster respects that she eats first.

 If he's lucky, there will be chicks in the Spring!

Food Kitty

At feeding time, I always have company.

She started coming around every evening very hesitantly.

I wasn't sure what she wanted, but she made her wishes known.

I enjoy her company each evening, even if I can't touch her.
Yet.

So I gladly supply her supper.

Even if there are those who don't approve of the practice.

You'll just have to get over it, Skid!

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

A few years ago, someone told me Togo should dress up as a lamb for Halloween.
I told them, if they'd make the costume, I'd dress him up.
No one sent the lamb suit but Sara over at Punkin's Patch did send over some lamb ears.
So Togo is wearing his ears today and trying to blend in with the other lambs.

If you were wondering,
Yes.
He's very humiliated at having to wear some purple lamb's ears.

 He thought white ears would have been more realistic.

Hug A Sheep Day 2012!

Today is the THIRD annual Hug A Sheep Day!  Really!  Join the fun and head over to the official blog and tell everyone how you participated.
It's a real holiday.
Yes it is.
They even did a story on it on Today.com
In Canada, we even take a Post Office and school holiday.
Ok.
It always falls on a Saturday and we never go to school or get mail on a Saturday but still...

I celebrated the inaugural year, and again last year.
It's always difficult because our sheep are still not so sure about this holiday.
Fortunately, this year, we had some late comers to the farm and they were just the right size.
So - "Rabbit" got a hug!

TaaDaa!
As always, hug a sheep day falls on the same day as Hug A Guardian Dog Day,

And I also can't forget to hug the border collie who helped me catch the sheep on this great holiday.

Aackkk!  Mom!  The sheep are watching!  They are going to make fun of me!