Pockets of Peace – “Ash & Time”

I can’t remember where I heard the phrase “Pockets of Peace” but it seems to be summing up a long weekend here on the ranch. This weekend has been loaded with pockets of peace from beautiful winter weather to watching Miss Asherah who seems to be filling out like a chunky monkey. She is enjoying larger qualities of her fav dishes of tripe, raw chicken and beef, raw liver and fish, raw eggs and veggies and is lately picking out small bits of things and storing and hiding them in various locations around the house –hmmmmm…..I think there might be some much-anticipated buns a’brewing in the oven. A Canaan sometimes saves and storage's a bit of food during her pregnancy in many interesting places. I woke up to stinky raw chicken wings hidden away in my kindling box for the wood stove – but I forgive her:-) She also seems to have a craving for my spaghetti and meatball dinners. Last night I dropped a bowl on the floor and before I had a chance to do a clean-up Miss Ash had chowed it down -saving a couple of strands of pasta in her crate for a late midnight snack.

She is still active with her exercise but is taking more mini-naps throughout the day. In the evening she enjoys some quiet time on my bed listening to her favourite singers Micheal Bublé and Sade. Her trim waist is thickening at the sides and her beautiful coat is even more soft and velvety than normal.

Miss easy breezy cover girl Ash says “Only time will tell, and I can’t promise that I won’t hide away any more bones for my hopeful brood:-)".

According to my calendar, she has just finished her fifth week of pregnancy. I am predicting pups sometime in the third week of March.

Here are a few rambling “pockets of peace” of the expectant beautiful mom & the handsome and dashing dad at home on the range.

Ash’s normal slumber pose is the infamous “Canaan ball curl" but lately stretching out on her side or rolling on her back is more comfortable. Ash says “hey boss I need to take a load off for a bit, and would you mind turning up that Michael Buble CD that I love”.

Do you really think I will be a dad soon? 

Rook says "Yahoo!"

An expectant dad keeps watch over his kingdom

Rook says "I wonder  if Ash  will  have any mini handsome versions of me?

Rook  says " I  am just so happy - here are your gloves boss that blew off in the wind storm"

Maybe I should do a bit of rodent hunting to help with the food supply:-)

Back to winter watchdog alert

A proud and regal expectant dad

Easy, breezy, peaceful expectant mom-to-be

Hey boss you don’t mind if the rest of the pack keeps the coyotes off tonight while I catch some more zzzz’’s

AND A HUGE HISTORICAL EVENT FOR THE CANAAN DOG BREED! FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER THE BREED PLACED AT WESTMINSTER! Congratulations to all involved in Magnum's career on his Group 4th at the Westminster Kennel Club- my Cybelle remembers showing along side with him in her early days of showing in the states. Magnum known as "Mags" is a great ambassador for the breed! You can see a pic of him here wining best of group in the herding dog category by clicking at http://www.westminsterkennelclub.org/2013/photos/group/DN08215803.html

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

Sense & Sensibilities of A Young Cow Dog (Part Two)

Life on the Ranch isn't always pretty

Our Lulu B #12 passed away from pneumonia. Under the vet's suggestion we treated her the best we could with antibiotics and lots of lukewarm water. I visited with her around 2 am on her bed of hay and she drank from her pail and willingly took some pats from me and even a bit of a nuzzle. But, in the early morning when the crew and I awoke she had passed away on her bed of hay. The coyotes were already visiting so my neighbour and I roped her and brought her to the bone yard.

It is reciprocal out here when helping one another with losses and celebrating gains. The bone yard is a necessary spot in which the predators can dine on the remains. It is a double-edged sword. My crew wants to protect the carcass, but at the same time the quicker you allow the demise of the remains the better. Dealing with wild life is part of the ecosystem. If we are to try and kill off every predator, I might as well sit in a tent and stay out in the pasture for eternity. I have chosen to allow both the dogs and predators to thrive to keep a balance - and yes, you need predator savvy dogs to help you in this balance.

Young master "Rook" was the most distressed of the crew. He laid on her bed of hay and stayed there for two days watching out for predators until I begged him to come inside the home and allow the coyotes to dine.

BELOW ARE SOME RAMBLING  PICTURES OF OUR LONG AND BITTERSWEET WEEK. And "Baby its cold outside!" But, the desert dogs don't give a rat's ass, but I do, so come inside and take your chill out beside the nice and cozy fire.

Master Rook keeps watch on Lulu's bed of hay

Rook says "boss,  I am staying here and keeping watch" 

Even though I am tired I am staying out here to keep watch

I am still keeping watch

I am still keeping watch but need a bit of rest

The coyotes are a coming - better go!

Ash says  "I see them too, I am coming with you Rook!"

On the look out for predators

Chasing off the predators

keeping watch

keeping watch

Time for some sleep even though he keeps watch and listens for the predators

good boy - catch some much-needed sleep

you too Miss Ash

The duo on alert again

 Rook says "look  how obedient I am sitting at the door, can I please go out and  keep the coyotes off Miss Lulu # 12?" Sorry, buddy, we need them to do their work too.

Rookie poses with my BD card from rancher pal Denise who stopped by to commiserate with our loss

And the cattle are a'grazing, and life goes on

Although I am not fan of allowing dogs on furniture, sometimes I make exceptions:-) Miss Cybelle , the diva of the pack catches up on her sleep as well. She kept my bed nice and warm.

CLICK HERE to View PART ONE

October "Snow Princess"

This is what we woke up to early this morning. Miss Ash was raised as a snow princess and always seems to embrace the powder. Not bad for a desert dog:-) She was the first one wanting to go out and frolic in the snow. She's a true "snow bunny" at heart! And an "easy, breezy Cover Girl" in all seasons. Now, if I can only get her to help bring in the firewood:-)

The snow princess checks out our entrance

Ash loving her early morning snowy stroll down her road

Ash says " Hey Ryan in BC, do you think I can camouflage myself among the hoar frost?"

Hey Boss I think it is time for a bit of  "mouse hunting!"

This is Ash's classic pointer pose when she is on the hunt for mice and moles in the snow

Miss snow nose!

I managed to do a quick track this morning - here's Ash finding the glove

Hey maybe I can take up skiing lessons too! I am, after all a snow bunny at heart!

Ash says " I better get back to my mouse hunting!"

The Lulu B's having a frolic in the powder - lots of great moisture for the herd!

A happy Lulu soaking up the moisture

The Snow Prince "Rook" lapping up the snow flakes. 

And the Snow Queen "Bibs" is always happy to model the latest snow fall fashions on the ranch

She was born to be a diva:-)

To view some past pics of the snow princess, queen and prince CLICK HERE