The "Art" of the Crew - My Muses

The Crew, family, and many people, have been on me lately to coax me back into my real passion - my Art. A few pics of paintings I have sold. I am sure there will be more to blog about  with my "muses" who are inspiring me to get back into my passion again. So, for now, here are a  few pieces that are helping me focus on my "first love". In the new year,  I need to schedule more studio time  in between working as an editor and rancher. The Crew says they have no problems helping me regain my passion:-) My paintings are based on my own photography, which has helped me travel back to my love of fine art. 

"Young Herder"  Ash- mixed media - gouache and layers of  ink. My first love back as a student at the Ontario College of Art was gouache. I am now experimenting with using inks as a foreground medium with  gouache in the background. I like this technique since I can play with the dualism of transparency and opacity in the same framework. And I love working in layers.

Oil on canvas "My Muse"  Maccabee

Stay tuned for more bodies of work as I add to my portfolio - I hope to establish a web site in the new year to showcase my paintings.

National Canaan "TV DIVA" Cybelle AKA "Bibs"

When training and investing in the right dog for a career on working stock pays off it can be that much rewarding! There is much to be said in this post but after a long and cold day of helping out neighbours with water problems for their cattle, I wanted to post this before I got a good night's sleep. I came home to a wonderful message from our friends Ryan and Andrea in BC about a surprise TV snippet of my Diva in the Crew "Cybelle" AKA "Bibs" that warmed my heart.

Photo of "Bibs" CKC Ch Ha’Aretz Gimel Northern Confidence "Cybelle" CKC-HT, CGN, CARO-RN-MCL, AKC-RA, CDCA-HC representing the herding group for her breed on TV - courtesy of Ryan and Andrea in British Columbia who snapped the pic from the telly and sent it along.

This is the message I received from Ryan and Andrea:

"I was just watching the National Dog Show in PA, on NBC. And while I was anxiously watching the Herding group for a Canaan to grace the Stage and take the show!! Unfortunately, there was not one in the show, but the picture intro to the Herding group had the picture of Bibs telling a Bessy who's boss!!!
So not only is She a DIVA, she is now a National TV DIVA as well... Congratulations!!!"

Thanks guys for making my long day a bit brighter in the night.

And I can't resist sharing a few fav pics of my Diva at work throughout the years working on free-range cattle, and a few special pics of her personality that continue to "shine on" through out the ages:-)

The Bibs doing what she does best "working the bossy bessy in the herd"

Cybelle driving the herd to the next graze - she loves to be in the driver's seat

Texas hold'um - holding at the gate is a big task and one that is greatly appreciated by a rancher who can rely on a confident working dog

Brace work with my girls - Cybelle to the right working with a young Ash on the left. Cybelle was a great help in teaching Ash a lot about working with free-range cattle

The "Bibs" keeping an eye on the herd

A good cow dog is always "head on" when needed

Bib's getting ready for her drive

The Bibs out with a young Ash teaching her the ropes

My beautiful and talented member of the Crew, seven -yr old "Miss Bibs"

She is also a secret book worm at heart - but, in a heartbeat will always be ready and alert to take on coyotes and provide loyalty as a member of my pack. She loves attention but has always wanted a working "win-win" - meaning if the work I do works for you then we have "a win-win". For me - that works! She may be the smallest of my crew in size, but she is the wisest and most-accomplished. She has many miles before she sleeps and continues to amaze me. 

and when we needed to move some very stubborn  bulls "the Bibs"was there. We had to move these guys and the Bibs said 'ok" let me take charge!

and when a dog can get in this close to move some very stubborn and unpredictable bulls and not get kicked ( these two are new to our ranch and older than our other two boys) you know you have a great cow dog! She's the best!  

My Bibs! I know I have shown this pic on a recent blog - but I love this pic -  she is "athletic, strong, confident" and always up for a challenge, and a very sweet girl who is always willing to be there to protect and take care of her land and stock  - could not ask for a better Canaan on a ranch!

Bibs with the youngest crew member two-year old "Rook" who is also a great cattle dog in the making - Bibs said in a private interview - I taught him all the tricks of  the trade:-) 

And without Bibs helping with training my "Ash" she  could not be called upon to help with some shedding  duties. Here I needed her to shed off some certain cows. Ash was a great help thanks to earlier training from  Cybelle and Maccabee. Because of the training, I  knew what I needed to ask of this other great cow dog in the Crew. And if you look closely, you can spot young Rook - look for some feet:-) - I put him to test on this ranch chore with Ash - he was a bit too speedy at first but worked it out with Ash's assistance. 

The "Bibs" athletic, energetic and intelligent - a great ball of talent for those who can keep up with her:-)

Where it all began:-) A very young pup Cybelle at herding lessons back in Utopia, Ontario. 

As a former show girl, "The Bibs"  is always willing to stop and strike her championship conformation pose:-)

A young Bibs gives career advice to Jessie a friend's daughter back in Ontario who is starting her career as a Junior dog handler  - Bibs says be strong and confident, work hard,  and always follow your dreams:-) Bibs added "Hey Just look at me!" 

The girls say " bring on the world - we are ready for all the challenges that come our way:-)

Miss Bibs was showcased in the Champion magazine in Canada. Cybelle says "here is my early show career "which she never regrets and was glad to represent the breed.  In Canada, the breed is in the working group - the biggest group and tough to earn a placement. She went on to earn three group placements in her show career. But, she says" what I love best is working!"  And we do too! 

To View More about the "Bibs" CLICK HERE

To Read More About Working with Canaan Dogs as Ranch Dogs CLICK HERE

To Read More About the Herding Style of a Canaan Dog CLICK HERE

Baby it's Cold Outside!

Some early morning pics of  Jack Frost 's beautiful handiwork on our cold and frosty Raven ranch.

The door was shut, as doors should be,

Before you went to bed last night;

Yet Jack Frost has got in, you see,

And left your window silver white.

He must have waited till you slept; 

And not a single word he spoke, 

But pencilled o'er the panes and crept 

Away again before you woke. 

For, creeping softly underneath 

The door when all the lights are out, 

Jack Frost takes every breath you breathe, 

And knows the things you think about. 

He paints them on the window-pane 

In fairy lines with frozen steam; 

And when you wake you see again 

The lovely things you saw in dream. 

Jack Frost

by Gabriel Setoun

And a few favourite frosty pics from the memory vault of the Crew - Since winter lasts for a very long time out here!

Snow bunnies Cybelle & Ash

Rook as a pup peeking out from his igloo

Winter Crew  2011

Snow pups - Rook & Bro Creed

Ash's boy "the Jazz man" AKC, UKC CH " Sufat Sheleg Jasper's Dubhan "Jasper"

I had some recent inquiries about "who is that boy?" in Ash's first litter posted on the "Ziva" The Diva - Ash's dynamic daughter (Part One and Two) blog.  To view those posts Click the links at the bottom of this post.Well, he is two-year old AKC, UKC CH " Sufat Sheleg Jasper's Dubhan "Jasper". "Jasper", known as the "Jazz man" is lovingly owned by Cathey Dunn in Colorado. Ash's son "Jasper" has earned both his AKC and UKC championships, a Group 1 placement in a UKC show, and garnered an AHBA herding title. He ranked number two in 2012 out of the Canaan Dogs in the UKC Top Ten List."Jasper" was the only boy in the Macc X Ash 2010 litter. He willingly put up with three sisters and was a sweetheart to raise on the ranch. His expressive and soulful eyes said it all:-)


Some rambling pics for my inquires of Master "Jasper" at home on the range before flying out to his forever home with Cathey in Colorado.

Jasper and sister Tempest

My nephew Tom with the "Jazz Man" cuddling up and listening to some Jazzy Thelonious Monk  tunes:-) 

Moma Ash gives her last words of wisdom  to her "Jazz man" before he flies off to Colorado

The only boy in the Crew - The "Jazz man" with sisters Cammie, Tempest and Ziva

Mom and Son - Ash says come on boy lets do same laps around the ranch! 

The young "Jazz man" hot on a scent on the ranch

Some frolic time - Jasper and sisters Ziva and Tempest explore the mystery toy box in the pasture

Young Master Jasper having some leisure time on the ranch

Young Master Jasper growing up at his Colorado homestead

The young "Jazz man"  working the goats at the CDCA Specialty in Colorado

A few more Baby photos of  the "Jazz man"  

Jasper showing some wrestling moves with sister Tempest on my yoga mat

mom & son

"I'm ready for my closeup, Mr. DeMille"

Jasper says " I am not sure if pink is my colour"

And for some some Jazzy Thelonious Monk tunes CLICK HERE as recommended by Jasper Ash's son AKA the "Jazz man".

TO VIEW more about the "Jazz man"  and his litter mates CLICK the following Links


ZIVA THE DIVA Part ONE

ZIVA THE DIVA PART TWO