A Canaan For All Seasons



 

 

I recently had an inquiry about what climate suits the Canaan Dog best. Interestingly, this desert breed native to Israel,  fairs well in any season and adapts to many climates. Since my crew lives in Alberta, they have to endure very long and cold winters. Their "desert" is a 160-acreage blanketed in snow and ice from as early as October to the meltdown in April or May.  I did a post last year about their adaptability to the colder climates, which you can view by clicking HERE

 

A few pictorial ramblings of the Crew enjoying all the "seasons".

 

WINTER

 

Rook January 2013 - stops to strike a pose on his icy driveway

 

The lovely Miss Ash taking a break after her "dogma" hike on the range

Rook says " Hey look at me! I am practising my act as a Canaan  Dog doing a scary bear dancing as the sun sets!" He is hoping to try out for Cirque du'Soleil:-)


SPRING

Miss Cybelle takes a dip in one of our fresh spring sloughs

Ash  searches the slough like Jacques Cousteau on a quest for new marine life



SUMMER

My golden boy " Rook"

Ash in quest for mice and moles among the sea of gold

 

Miss "Bibs" following the yellow brick road

 

FALL

 

Cybelle and Rook - Fall time tag

 

Miss Ash moo'ving along a stubborn heifer

Rook helps with the fire wood

 

 

The CREW says " We are Canaans for All Seasons!"

 

Summer Time "Rook"

 

Winter Time Crew "Cybelle" & "Maccabee"

 

Spring Time Pack

 

 



Easy, Breezy "Magazine" Cover Girl D&J Ha'Aretz Northern Alchemy "Asherah"

Easy, Breezy Cover Girl Ash "literally" makes her Debut in "Print"

Well, we always knew she was an “easy breezy cover girl". This phrase was coined by one of my farming friends, Val, who said "Ash  seems to shine as a natural beauty no matter what she does - she seems to glow and look so fresh, even after rounding up cattle in a thunderstorm or rolling in the odd cow pie:-) 

So the phrase has stuck and come to life in print .

This talented and fresh-faced girl is appearing in a January article on the Canaan Dog breed for Belgium’s Top dog magazine "Woef". Ash was surprised and honoured to receive word that two of her photos (above) are going to be printed in the magazine - the icing on the cake is that her head shot will grace the cover for the article. And even more exciting, the cover photo was taken by my wonderful sister-in-law Karen last October while hiking with my niece and nephew  and the crew in one of our forests on the ranch. It  is one of my fav photos of Ash.  The second photo is the one I took of her with our herd while we were out doing our rounds.  We received a preliminary copy of the article and Ash will receive some hard copies of the magazine, which I am sure will grace our coffee table for awhile:-)

Ash says she is open to more modelling jobs as long as it does not interfere with her ranch chores, and "hopeful" expectant mother-to-be in March.   

Ash also celebrated her 4th Birthday this past Monday. Happy BD to my "easy, breezy cover girl!"

And Ash said I should post this pic again for good "luck". In February we will know if the courtship was a success with some early signs of "buns-in-the-oven" for a much-anticipated  Ash X Rook March 2013 litter.

Of course every couple should have their "song". Here is Ash and Rook's favourite song - the "glee" version of this song is their favourite:

CLICK  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nMiWeev95p4 for the couple's theme song

Early January Ranch Ramblings with The Crew & Cattle

Rook on New Year's Day ringing in the dawn of a New Year 

It has been a busy and bubbling "leap" into the New Year. The Crew and I have not blogged for a bit so we are playing catch-up with our ramblings. There is never a dull moment on the ranch, and we are all ready fast and furious on our feet as we embrace the start of 2013. 

We hope you enjoy some of our tales and snapshots of our early January happenings on the ranch.

RINGING IN THE YEAR

Master Rook says "It is a new dawn, and a new day!

Rook inspects some of our freshly split poplar. It has been very cold so we have to keep up on our wood supply.

Rook performs his new year's day morning "dogma" stretches so he can be alert and ready to help me bring the bull's their minerals

Rook keeps the boys at bay while I prepare to bring them their minerals. 

Miss Ash helps me check on the feed for the bulls

One of our beautiful sunsets

I don't think I will ever get tired of our sunsets - I love seeing our mountains in the distance on a clear day

BRANDING OUR HERD

The New Year was also "a'blazing" with plans to brand my bovine brigade. 

me sporting the latest in branding gear and fashions:-)

Me getting lessons on my first intro to branding from Wayne and my business partner Richard looking on - I did get a thumb's up at the end of a long and successful day of branding my girls and Richard's new heifers that he has recently added to his  herd.

AND LAST BUT NOT LEAST - THE COURTSHIP OF A BEAUTIFUL DUO!

Rook has been busy courting the lovely Miss Ash. Myself and many others have been waiting patiently for this planned courtship. Well, the first part is complete - thanks to Rook:-) Now the next stage of waiting begins:-) If "Luck" has it these two sweethearts will be parents in March.

The duo wanted to share a few Fav pics from their album.