Update June 15th, 2010

Gosh, can you believe it really is June 15th, already?

Blink. It’s gone!

Well, we’ve been busy bees–as I am sure everyone is this time of year.

So what have I been up to with bird dogs? Well, a lot… or as much as I possibly can. I have been trying to run dogs both early in the morning and late in the evening. I’ve had some delays like lots of rain (although that really doesn’t stop us unless it is really raining) and spraining my ankle which put me out of the loop for 3 days. But, I am back to being able to walk and run the dogs again. Almost rolled the other one last night trying to be very careful on some steep hills with the damaged ankle and felt the other one starting to roll!  Got it handled though.

Update on Dora:

Dora is certainly pregnant! I feel very certain of it and have been for a good two weeks.  She almost immediately changed her behavior, eating habits, and is widening by the minute. She is just 4-weeks along and has 5-more to go.  I am so excited for Luke and Dora puppies–I can hardly wait!

You know that I equally love all my Llewellins, but Luke was the dog that changed my life. He amazes me every single day with his breath-taking beauty and gracefulness. He flows along effortlessly and I can’t take my eyes off him. His personality woos me and his handsomeness overwhelms me, everyday. He is so bright and such an amazing bird dog. I can’t get enough of him.  And Dora–my gosh. She has taken to retrieving everything more than usual, even. She loves to bring everything she can get a hold of to me. She will stand there with something in her mouth and wait and wait for my attention. If I do not respond quickly, she will start walking around and around with her tail straight up in the air. It’s so funny.  She looks great.

I need to start asking for theme suggestions for this litter!

Speaking of bird camp, it will be here in no time at all and I’ve started on a few projects that I would like to have complete before leaving. I want to add a marine battery to my rig, so that has been one of the projects I have been researching and gathering materials for. I need to have power in the truck to run things such as my laptop, a light, maybe a heater, chargers for the collars, camera batteries, and even a coffee pot (most important). I want to be able to  take a few side-trips and dry camp in the truck, so I need power. This has been an enlightening research project for me as I had no idea the subject could be so confusing! But, I want to know these things and be able to set it up myself because in the event of a failure of some-sort, I should be able to troubleshoot and fix the problem. I don’t like when something fails and I can’t fix it! If there is no one around for help, I am up the creek! So, I try to learn what I can about what I can! I will add a project page to the blog to document the process–and get some help and feedback from the experts that know about these things!

Next, there are repairs and changes to the dog trailer that I want to make and am getting my list of needed items together for that. This year I am adding more insulation–in the form of corrugated plastic insulation–if I can find some. I also need to replace a locking t-handle on one of the boxes, I want to add lights for those nights I get in after dark or on the road. Yes, I have a lantern and head-lamps, but I really want to find and install some type of lights. I just want to–if I can find something that will work with my set-up.  Or, I guess, maybe just live with it the way it is for a few more years until I can someday get a new rig. We have a lovely Jones trailer with all the bells and whistles.  But, I have a older-style 10-hole topper that actually is too big for my little truck, but it was a good price and holds 10-dogs! I also needed a way to haul gear for a month, the dogs, and an ATV (which barely gets used, but I take it primarily in case my dad gets to join me for a portion of the trip). It’s also quite handy to utilize for dragging trees for firewood, roading the dogs, and chores around the farm. So, I had to figure out a way to haul the dogs and the ATV.  So, the “topper” was installed on a trailer big enough to accommodate the ATV and the dogs. It isn’t pretty, but it gets the job done.

That’s all for tonight, folks.

Oh, and I will get the details of the Llewellin Photography Contest up soon. I am sorry I have been so behind on this! YIKES!.