Labrador Fun Day

Today, the Coastal South Carolina Labrador Retriever Club hosted our fall fun fest at James Island County Park. It was a great afternoon to be outside. There were retriever demonstrations, obedience demonstrations, fun games with the dogs, and a raffle for a couple of super packed doggy baskets. It was great fun to watch the young dogs do water retrieves for the first time. Some of them were like egg beaters in the water but then got the hang of it and did well. There was quite a crowd to enjoy the games and some of us even laughed our way through the games! All in all, I think that the public really enjoyed the day and the club members had a great time putting on the event. We look forward to other activities in the future. If you are interested in joining the club, you can download a membership form at www.csclrc.com

Taj Mahal concert

Last night, I went to a concert by blues artist Taj Mahal at the Charleston Music Hall. A group from North Carolina, the Chocolate Drops, opened and played some wonderful blue grass and ragtime music. This group is very talented and the strong voice of the female singer is beautiful.

The place was filled when the Taj Mahal Trio came on. They put out some wonderful blues and the show was great. This blues legend knows how to turn on the crowd. I was hoping to hear Leavin' Trunk, Statesboro Blues, or Take a Giant Step. Although those weren't played, the band did Corrina which is another favorite. The Fishing Song was great as usual. Unfortunately, there were a lot of college students in various states of an alcohol haze on the main floor. I was happy to be on the balcony where I had a great view of the band and didn't have to look at the back of anyone's head (or butt).

It was an inspiring evening but being up until midnight during the work week isn't something that I want to do regularly!

Dealing with elderly dogs

Tilly is currently our oldest Labrador. She is really in great health and doing well. Occasionally, she will get a urinary tract infection that causes some accidents. We dose her with amoxycillin and the infection will clear up.

Tilly is really a one of a kind girl. She was my first Best in Specialty show winner and has been an outstanding producer. She is funny, possessive of her toys, rules the roost, and in general is our "heart" dog. She hasn't slowed down much at all and I look forward to spending several more years with her in our lives. There is that bit of sadness though to see the ones that you hold so dear get old. Anna, Tilly's daughter, is nearly grey. Stella, another Tilly, daughter is getting on to be nearly 7 years old. Hard to believe that these were the babies that we birthed and cared for.

I've found that one of the hardest things about dog ownership is having them age and become infirm. The loss of a beloved animal friend is so difficult that there are times that I think I can't bear to lose another.

Judging at Middleburg KC

I got back from the Middleburg KC show late last night. It was a very nice show (as usual) and the weather was wonderful. The fall colors were beautiful and that whole area is very historic and has gorgeous homes. Fortunately, the rain had stopped for my assignment, although the wind was roaring. I had some very nice Labradors to judge and was pleased with my decision. On Sunday, my WB choice couldn't be denied for Best of Breed. She was really lovely with great breed type.

I have finally ended my travel odessey, at least for a couple of weeks. I am thankful to be home for a while, have an opportunity to play with the dogs, and not have to sleep in hotels. The dogs were very glad to see me, although they have been spending nights with Charlie, curled up next to him.

This Saturday is our Labrador Club's Fun Fest at James Island County Park. I'm hoping for good weather and a good turn out.

Recovery just in time to leave again

Today could hardly be called a recovery from the nearly 2 weeks of meetings that I've been to. It was back to work to catch up on things at the office and meet with my staff to go over what has been going on with my projects. I enjoyed seeing everyone but had a lot of things to go over and a lot of email to go through.

I got home around 7 PM last night and did have some time with the dogs. They were very glad to see me and enjoyed pouncing around me and looking for cookies. The cool weather felt good but wasn't nearly as cold as NC where the wind was blowing about 30 kts. Not a good day to be on the water!

Tomorrow I head off again as I'm going to Middleburg, VA to judge Labradors there. The Bare Bones Potomac specialty is tomorrow and the Middleburg shows are the days after the specialty. I'm looking forward to going but here that the forecast isn't good with rain expected. I've got my rain gear packed and warm clothes. I'm looking forward to seeing some nice Labradors. The show grounds at Oatlands Plantation are just beautiful. I can remember showing there myself but never thought that I'd be judging at Middleburg! I may not be posting for a few days as much will depend on the amount of time that I have available.

Some photos from Georgetown boat show

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I uploaded some photos of the Georgetown Wooden Boat Show at www.flickr.com. If you search for people and input BlondeonBlonde, you should see all my photos there. I've included a few here.

I'm at a meeting in North Carolina so Charlie is surviving at home with the dogs. He said that they are loving the cold weather and are jumping about and having a wonderful time.

It is very cold and windy at Atlantic Beach, NC. The wind is biting but I'm loving the cold too.

Yesterday at the Boat Show

I got home from Ohio around 9 PM on Friday evening. The next morning I left at 8 AM to head to Georgetown for the wooden boat show. The pilot gig was being trailored there as the rowing group would be taking people out for public rows. It was a blast! There were all kinds of wooden boats exhibited. There were sail boats, kayaks, canoes, rowing skiffs, and surf boards. There was a boat building contest that was awesome. I'll upload some photos of that. The boats have to be built with time recorded and then the boats have to be rowed in a race. The design is the Georgetown bateau. It was awesome to see the teams of boat builders working so hard on their boats. I entered the knot tying contest and did well to get all my knots done. I even impressed some of the old timers. For the public rows that we did, the kids were so much fun. The young children would sit next to one of us and we would show them where to place their hands and what to do. We were rowing and they were supposed to help and follow along. I would tell them, "okay, I'll push forward for the catch and you help me pull back". Well, each of them would always be pulling back when I was trying to push forward! It was hysterical as one little boy would be pulled out of his seat as I was pushing forward. He was pulling hard against me. A good workout for sure since these little boys are strong! Anyway, it was great fun and a wonderful day. I highly recommend going to a wooden boat show if you get the chance.
Today I'm heading to NC for a meeting in Atlantic Beach. I've been out with the dogs to spend the morning and play with them. I am pretty sure that Gabby is pregnant so puppies will be due at the last of November. Yikes--more babies!

Jet boats and other things

Today was a very full day with a field trip beginning at 8 AM. First, we took the Jet Express from downtown Sandusky (no, I didn't get to see Carol Heidl, although I thought about her). That was a cool ride across to Put-in-Bay. We then took the Water Taxi to Gibraltar Island, toured the Stone Lab and the Castle. After going back to Put-in-Bay, we toured the National Wildlife Refuge and ended up at the Inland Seas Maritime Museum which was one of the best maritime museums I've been to. There were so many things on display, including beautiful fresnel lenses, awesome ships tools, engines, clocks, bridge instruments, etc. There was even a knot display which was great because there were six pins that allowed you to tie various knots. Good practice for me! After touring the museum there was a fish fry and an archaeological talk on several ship wrecks on Lake Erie. It was a long but interesting day.

In Ohio

I got in last night to Huron, Ohio and had meetings today. I'm attending the annual meeting of the National Estuarine Research Reserves and the host site this year is Old Woman Creek NERR. It's the smallest reserve in the national system of 26 sites. South Carolina has two reserves, ACE Basin NERR and North Inlet/Winyah Bay, with ACE being the 3rd largest in the country.

Tomorrow we have a trip to Old Woman Creek and get to see the Reserve and have meetings there. Unfortunately, it is scheduled to rain tomorrow and we will be out on the boat for most of the day.

I've talked to Charlie and he and the dogs are doing fine. The weather here was a chilly 39 F this AM but it has warmed into the upper 50's today.

I hope to get photos from the field trip tomorrow. The Lodge where I'm staying is spacious and has a lot of dead animals on the walls. There are nice fireplaces though but most have dead animals above them. Not my thing but if you don't look up, it's okay. More later.....

Every dog needs a couch

I received a wonderful photo of Eugene from David Smith. In the email, David explained that Eugene was his best buddy and went everywhere with him. The photo shows Eugene resting on the couch looking at TV.

We've always maintained that Labradors long for the home life, being with their owners, and lounging about. Yes, they have active minds and need stimulation of all kinds. But they also just enjoy being part of the household.

We have placed a number of our retired dogs over the years. Some were former show dogs and some just didn't work out for showing or breeding. They are the ones that I think are lucky, because they get to go to great homes, have attention lavished on them, and live out their lives in bliss.

I'm happy for Eugene and for all the dogs who have a nice couch.

Cats and Dogs

I'm often asked how well cats get along with our dogs. Because our dogs are raised around cats, they have definitely learned to respect cats. The three cats that we currently have are all rescue cats that have either been found by us or made their way to our place. Abraham came to us in a very beat up condition. He had been in a bad fight with another male cat and was evidently bitten badly on the neck and clawed on the legs and face. Although at first he wouldn't let us touch him, eventually he came to us to get fed and we were able to pet him. He remained a bit of a tom cat even after he was neutered. He once turned around and clawed Charlie's face! Eventually though he calmed down and is now the sweetest cat who will let us do anything to him.

I found Rachael on Maybank Highway when she was just a tiny kitten. I was heading to an appointment and saw this little creature creeping across the highway. It was so tiny that I thought it was a flying squirrel. I stopped my car, got out in the rain, and went to the little creature. I then saw that it was a tiny kitten. Her eyes were infected with pus, her anal area was infested with maggots, and she was near starvation. I dropped her at the vet's office and told her that if she lived, we would adopt her. Well, she lived and is now a hefty tabby who sleeps with us. Rachael is a true gem and has the best disposition.

Rebecca is another adopted kitty who is very skittish. She basically still has a lot of feral instincts and isn't as friendly as the others. She seems fearful but will allow us to pet her. She doesn't like to be picked up. However, I try to hold her as much as possible. She is a calico with an applehead. I love her but know that it will take a very long time for her to become comfortable with touching.

Abraham is the only cat who goes in and out of the house. He often torments the puppies by sitting and watching them play. When a puppy comes over, he will then swat at them if they become too rough. Generally, we have to put Abraham in the house in order to not have him cause too many distractions with the puppies and other dogs. They seem to love him!

Long week

Is it really only Wednesday? It seems as if this week has gone by so slowly. Maybe it's all the activity each day and night, either with the dogs or with rowing. Tonight I got some good photos on the Ashley River while out in the pilot gig. It was a nice night, not too warm but not breezy as our past rows have been. Our group is excited about the Georgetown Wooden Boat show and taking the gig there for public rows.

I heard from the Middleburg Kennel Club this evening and will be going there to judge on October 28. I also have been asked to judge the Harrisburg, PA show next August. It seems that things are filling up with a lot more time traveling which isn't something that I really like. However, as long as I don't have to drive to these places, it should be okay. I just want to get in, judge and get back home without a lot of delays.

I've got to write my critiques for the Denver specialty. I made comments on the first and second placements and have to write those up. It's just been a crazy week and things will continue to be that way as I prepare to leave for 2 weeks of meetings. I leave on Sunday for Ohio where the annual meeting of the National Estuarine Research Reserves is being held. On Oct. 22, I head up to North Carolina for a meeting there. I'll do a couple of talks at both meetings so have been getting those together as well. Consequently, there hasn't been much time to play with the dogs. Hopefully, this weekend....

What to guarantee?

I received an email from a puppy owner the other day. In it, the person stated that the puppy had developed a skin allergy and was on antibiotics and antihistamines. The puppy also has a Persistent Pupillary Membrane which was disclosed to the buyer since the puppy was given an eye exam before leaving by an ACVO. Unfortunately, the individual blames me for the issues with the puppy.

We do not offer a long-term guarantee in our contract, largely because it isn't possible to determine what problems may develop over time. Nor is it possible to determine what is inherited and what may have occurred because of environmental problems. We do guarantee that the parents have clearances for hips, elbows, and eyes. We also have the puppies checked by a vet the week prior to being placed in their new homes. When dealing with living beings, there can be health issues and these are discussed with regard to the Labrador at the time the puppy is picked up. I explain to potential buyers that genetic disorders can not be eliminated from any breeding program.

Just as with people, there are things that can occur but they usually aren't so debilitating that the animal can't live a life as a companion. After all, we are not dealing with machines. We have imported dogs that haven't worked out. It just happens and isn't anyone's fault. There are phenotypic clearances that can be done and the genetic test for PRA but largely it is still a crap shoot as to what recessives may crop up.

PPM's can occur in Labradors although the mode of inheritance is unknown. Every puppy has pupillary membranes and most go away. For some reason, some will persist and can occlude part of the lens. There is a good article on PPM's at http://www.labbies.com/eye.htm

As far as allergies go, I am baffled as none of the other puppies have an allergy. I have two litter sisters who are in the kennel but who are fine. The Lowcountry is tough on Labradors who can develop staph infections from having damp coats from either swimming or the high humidity. Because our dogs are misted daily, it would seem that allergies would develop or at least staph would occur. We haven't had that except when there has been a flea outbreak. Luckily, with Frontline Plus, we are able to keep the dogs free of fleas.

I'm sorry that the puppy owner is unhappy. I certainly want all the dogs that we breed to be healthy. Unfortunately, there are things that are beyond my control.

Working Saturday

It was another day of painting and staining on the new wing. I worked on the library walls and Charlie was working in the hallway. We are getting close to finishing the painting and then can have the floor guys come in to finish the floors.

The correct answer for the knot posted yesterday came from Trixie and is a bowline. One of my favorite knots is shown at the left. Which one is this?

I practiced on the knots for the contest today and also did some line throwing. There are actually contests for line throwing, mainly noted for the Tugboat Festival in New York. Lines are thrown from the boat to a bollard. The key is to throw the line straight out as if shoving it away from the body, rather than throwing like a lasso.

The dogs were loving the crisp weather this morning. They spent a few hours outside and I actaully had to wear a flannel shirt tonight. It is a welcome change to have the cool weather. The moon is also beautiful tonight. The harvest moon is occurring now. It actually occurs when the moon rises near sunset and sits low on the horizon. This appears to make the moon appear larger than it actually is. That is called moon illusion. At any rate, it is truly beautiful.

Knot tying contest

I' ve been practicing nautical knots since I bought a book about knot tying a couple of months ago. There is a fellow at work who is a wizard with knots and who judges a lot of the contests. He is a member of the International Guild of Knot Tyers. He has gone over quite a few interesting knots with me and showed me several neat tricks. Anyway, there is a contest with the Georgetown Wooden Boat Show and there will be six knots to tie during a timed event. The knots aren't hard but I'm wondering whether I should enter the contest. I'm not much on being center stage so will likely choke under pressure! Anyway, here is one of the knots to tie. Can you guess it?

Clara is in season

Yesterday was the first day of Clara's season. Since I bred Gabby a couple of weeks ago, my dilemma is now whether to breed Clara. I almost feel that I have so much on my plate that it will be very difficult to even think about another litter. I'm having a debate with myself about this one as Clara is four years old and never been bred. I would really like to have a puppy from her but am wondering whether now is the right time. I'll need to go with my feelings on the day for this one as I'm just not sure what to do.

Last night's row on the pilot gig was beautiful. The sunset was wonderful and with the nearly full moon rising we rowed back from near the Battery to the City Marina. The pilot gig will be at the Georgetown Wooden Boat Show on October 21 where we will be giving pubic rows. That is also the day of the Open House at the Marine Resources Center. That event is open to the public and free of charge. There will be lots of exhibits that should appeal to both adults and children.

Fall rowing

I couldn't resist putting this lovely photo here as it captures the glory of fall on the water. I am so happy to be going out on the water at least twice a week rowing. I would like to get out more but house, dogs, and other stuff seem to prevent it.

We are still painting on the new wing and hope that our cabinet and finish work guy will eventually show up. He's had some tragedies to strike his life recently so I'm sure he will be around when he gets his act together. I'm just hoping that it is before Thanksgiving!

The dogs are doing great and are enjoying life as only dogs can. I'm hoping to enter some shows in November as October is completely taken up with meetings, judging and a lot of travel out of state. November through February should be good for shows as there are some that aren't too far away and the dogs will have coat.

Tonight I'm out on the pilot gig to row. I'm really looking forward to the Oct. 21 Georgetown Wooden Boat show as I'll get to go and help with the public rows on the pilot boat that day. I've been working on my knot tying also. Not sure yet if I'll enter the contest but I might give it a try. Well, off to go row for now....

Catching a squirrel

I was out at the kennels this evening and was heading back to the house when I stopped in my tracks. There was one of the dogs with a long brush tail hanging out of the mouth. It was a squirrel! I immediately went in the paddock and called over the dogs. The squirrel retriever was dancing around and having a wonderful time. She was so proud of that poor squirrel. Finally, she came over to show her prize to me. I was able to get the poor squirrel out of her mouth but it was already dead. My guess is that the squirrel fell out of one of the trees and was then picked up by a very fast Labrador. I felt sorry for the squirrel but at least I was able to get it away from the dogs before they each had a turn at carrying it.

Fun day judging

I had a wonderful day today judging at the Greater Denver Specialty. The entry was nice and there were several very lovely Labradors that I would have been happy to take home. The weather was spectacular with the backdrop of the mountains reflecting in the nearby lake breathtaking. Temperatures weren't as high as yesterday and there was a breeze which helped to keep the humans and the dogs comfortable. All in all, this has been a wonderful stay. I'm heading back to SC tomorrow having made more friends here in Colorado.

In Denver

I got into Denver this afternoon after an uneventful plane ride. The temperature was the shocker as it was 81 today. I met up with the other judges and went to dinner at a wonderful lodge/country club near where Buffalo Bill is buried. The restaurant has a panoramic view of the valley and Denver. Claire Senfield judged today and Greg Lynch did Sweepstakes. Tomorrow Barb Nowak and I will be the judges. It is supposed to be in the upper 80's here tomorrow so I suspect I'll get a little sun. I'm looking forward to the day and seeing some nice dogs.

Heading to Denver

The LRC of Greater Denver specialty show is this weekend and I'm heading out there to judge Sweepstakes for Labradors on Sunday. I really like Denver and enjoyed spending some time there at a meeting a couple of years ago. I'm not sure that I'll get into the city but will at least get to see a bit of the mountains in the distance. It should be a fun time. The entry for Labradors is nice and the weather is supposed to be delightful with highs in the upper 70's and lows in the upper 40's. I'm ready for cool crisp fall air.

Our row last night on the Harbor was a bit tough as the seas were choppy and there were only four of us rowing. We rowed for a good 1.5 hour through the chop. I loved it! I really enjoy the differnt styles of rowing. The Dragon boat "chop" on Mondays and the single oar stroke on Wednesday. Then for fun, there is the traditional single rowing shell that I have. It really is good excercise but sometimes tough on the hands. I have more calluses than ever!

The puppies are really coming along and looking wonderful. Amelia and Aggie are carbon copies of their mother. I am excited about showing them this fall and winter. They should be fun, albeit a bit wild!

Hope that everyone has a good weekend and that my plane trips are uneventful!

More bronze Labrador statues being cast

I received word from Leslie Hutto that she has had a lot of demand for the Labrador bronze that she cast using Attikonak Get Off My Cloud as her model. This lovely statue shows the Labrador in action. I'm providing a link from Gunilla Ek's site as she has kindly included photos of the sculpture on her web site: http://web.telia.com/~u85847562/Sculpture.htm. The traditional cast bronze is the one that Leslie is having a recast of 10 pieces done. Contact her for more information. She will be exhibiting at the Labrador National Specialty and has shown her work at various galleries throughout the country.

Great news on OFA results

On Friday, I received paperwork from the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals, an organization that rates the hips, elbows and a host of other congenital occurrences in dogs. Both Emily and Barrett received certification that their hip joints were OFA rated as Good and that their elbows were OFA rated as Normal. That is great news for us as we have been very lucky to have a lot of soundness with our dogs. Eye checks are done annually for the entire kennel and we also use the Optigen test to determine whether a particular dog carries the gene for Progressive Retinal Atrophy. There are a lot of clearances that can be done with Labradors, if one desires. We try to recognize that clearances are a tool to be used in making breeding decisions. It is also very important though to keep in mind that one can go down a very winnowing pathway trying to only keep a dog that is "clean". There are no "clean" lines because recessives are lurking in the background. We do the best that we can to preserve the type that we like and to have sound dogs with good temperament. That is a goal that we strive to achieve.

Gabby has been bred

Barrett became interested in Gabby and Gabby also became interested in Barrett so a breeding was done yesterday and today. I'm not sure whether the timing was good or not but we will know in about 30 days.

I've had good news with OFA on the dogs since Emily, Lily and Barrett have all come back with OFA Good for hips and normal readings for the elbows. Thank goodness! It is always great when those are over with.

Today was spent painting the walls in the addition and varnishing the walls. I was dead tired after working on that since about 10 AM this morning. The walls look great as do the doors. Tomorrow will be more of the same. We are hoping to get the floors done in a couple of weeks. Another busy Saturday!

Anniversary of Hugo

Today is the anniversary of Hurricane Hugo who roared into the South Carolina coast in 1989. We had just moved into our house in November 1988. We stayed during Hugo and it was a truly nerve wracked night. We had no idea that it would be such a dangerous storm. We knew that we were in for a long night when all the radio and TV stations went out. The rain poured through the ridge vent in the roof. The wind howled and there was all matter of debris hitting the house and roof. It was night so we couldn't see out (luckily). After a very long night, we finally saw the dawn and went outside to see every leaf stripped from the trees and debris everywhere. Luckily none of the trees were down but it was difficult to tell what was what. The smell of the damaged trees was strong. We had no electricity for 23 days which seemed like forever. We had a kindly neighbor who passed around a generator so that we could keep our freezer and regrigerator going. Finally, we were able to purchase a generator. It took us 3 days to get to Maybank Highway because we had to cut our way out. Nothing looked the same. The landscape was a mass of downed trees, limbs, and debris. I'm very thankful that we were spared a lot of damage. We never lost a shingle and no water came near our yard. We were indeed much more fortunate than our neighbors to the north of Charleston. There people lost their lives due to storm surge. Let's hope that we never see another major storm such as Hugo.

Today is also the autumnal equinox. Fall is definitely in the air. While not as celebrated as the vernal equinox, fall is definitely my favorite season. I'm looking forward to the cool mornings and the crisp days.

Not much interest

Gabby is in season so I thought that perhaps I might breed her this fall for her last time. Then I thought about the dormitory affect. I really want to breed Clara who is has never been bred and is nearing 4 years of age. For sure if I breed Gabby then Clara will come in season. In fact, the entire place will probably be one screaming mass of hormones. So far, none of the boys are much interested in Gabby so perhaps she either isn't ready or is already out. Timing is everything. I also don't want to be having puppies due when I am scheduled for a meeting out of town, or judging, or around major holidays! I will attempt another playtime for her with Barrett and see what happens.
So far so good on the other girls--no one appears to be coming in yet.

Another happy home

We get a lot of requests for older dogs or junior dogs. These dogs usually work great for people who don't want to go through the puppy phase. They also make great companions for families with young children. Sometimes it is hard to find the right match. We've only had a couple of dogs that have "ping ponged" and it is usually due to not having the right dog for the right family. In one case, I don't think that any dog would have worked.

Sometimes personality of the dog just isn't suitable for active families. We had a junior dog that tended to be tentative and a bit shy. He especially didn't like a lot of loud noises. Because of this untypical Labrador temperament, it was a challenge to find the right home for him. He is doing well in a home without children and where his owner spends a lot of time with him. Being a calm dog who is very smart, he is very attached to his owner and is very good as a house companion. It is always a joy when the right dog is placed with the right owner. It is always worth the wait to find that right home.

Taking photos of dogs

I read on a popular Labrador list that one of the sure ways to have an arguement is to ask your husband to take photos of the dogs. Well today, we took photos of 8 of them in order to update our web page and get a photo of Barrett for an ad. Remarkably, Charlie and I got through the ordeal in good humor. It was only trying for a few of the dogs who were so happy that all four feet didn't touch the ground. Then there was the cat factor in which Abraham decides to tease the dogs by lurking just close enough to wreak havoc. The wonder of digital cameras is that we can take a million photos and probably get about 2 really good ones. Delete the others and you're set. Hopefully, I'll have an opportunity to go through them tomorrow and see if we now have at least one good one of each dog.

Modern Times

We were doing a lot of staining, painting and varnishing today in the new wing to the house. The work was made easier by listening to Bob Dylan's new CD Modern Times. Modern Times is the thirty-first studio album by Dylan, released on August 29, 2006. It has become Dylan's first #1 album in the US since 1976's Desire, thus making Dylan the oldest living person ever to have an album enter the Billboard charts at number one. I'm sure Bob isn't thrilled about being called old. The CD is a good one though and brings to mind an old blues artist whose voice is rough from too much whiskey and cigarettes. Workingman's Blues No. 2 is my favorite on the CD, although the following lyrics to Spirit on the Water are just beautiful. Listening to Modern Times made the afternoon go by quickly.


Spirit on the water
Darkness on the face of the deep
I keep thinking about you baby
I can't hardly sleep

I'm traveling by land
Traveling through the dawn of day
You're always on my mind
I can't stay away

I'd forgotten about you
Then you turned up again
I always knew
We were meant to be more than friends

When you're near
It's just as plain as it can be
I'm wild about you, gal
You ought to be a fool about me

Can't explain
The sources of this hidden pain
You burned your way into my heart
You got the key to my brain

I've been trampling through mud
Praying to the powers above
I'm sweating blood
You got a face that begs for love

Life without you
Doesn't mean a thing to me
If I can't have you
I'll throw my love into the deep blue sea

Sometimes I wonder
Why you can't treat me right
You do good all day
And then you do wrong all night

When you're with me
I'm a thousand times happier than I could ever say
What does it matter
What price I pay

They brag about your sugar
Brag about it all over town
Put some sugar in my bowl
I feel like laying down

I'm as pale as a ghost
Holding a blossom on a stem
You ever seen a ghost? No
But you have heard of them

I see you there
I'm blinded by the colors I see
I take good care
Of what belongs to me

I hear your name
Ringing up and down the line
I'm saying it plain
These ties are strong enough to bind

Now your sweet voice
Calls out from some old familiar shrine
I got no choice
Can't believe these things would ever fade from your mind

I could live forever
With you perfectly
You don't ever
Have to make a fuss over me

From East to West
Ever since the world began
I only mean it for the best
I want to be with you any way I can

I been in a brawl
Now I'm feeling the wall
I'm going away baby
I won't be back 'til fall

High on the hill
You can carry all my thoughts with you
You've numbed my will
This love could tear me in two

I wanna be with you in paradise
And it seems so unfair
I can't go to paradise no more
I killed a man back there

You think I'm over the hill
You think I'm past my prime
Let me see what you got
We can have a whoppin' good time

Feeling more like fall

The dogs were bozo this morning with the cool weather. They were running around, chasing each other and generally having a blast. It certainly makes me more peppy as well, since I'm not soaked in sweat at 5:30 AM. I'm really looking forward to the beautiful days of the Lowcountry fall. Although the colors aren't spectacular, the tourists are gone and the days of October and November are just delightful. Not freezing cold but nice enough to go for a walk on the beach with just a sweater. I think that the dogs are also eager for that time of year.

In Georgetown

Although I'm at a meeting in Georgetown, I'm getting news from home about the dogs. Charlie has his hands full with taking care of all the dogs and doing painting on the new wing.
The temperature here is a high of 69 F here today so that is quite a change from Charleston. The topic for this workshop is on marine biodiversity. There are a lot of quite well known scientists here so it is a very stimulating conference. One of my programs, the Southeastern Regional Taxonomic Center, is actually a part of the Census of Marine Life's Oceanographic Biogeographic Information System. What's alarming is that with the loss of species and the changes in biodiversity can change the important ecosystem services that we all come to rely upon. That is really the focus here and we will be doing work over the next several days to put our collective minds together to address the ecosystem changes that may occur as biodiversity change.

Beautiful weather

Wow, what a beautiful day! We woke up fairly late for us. The weather was so wonderful--fairly cool for Charleston and without 98% humidity. I took Eugene and Meddle at 10 AM for their rabies shots. I generally get the 3 year shots for the dogs. After that, I met Berta for lunch at Mimi's overlooking the marsh on James Island. There was a slight breeze and it was very nice to sit and talk.
Charlie and I went to Home Depot after that to order the counter top granite for the vaniities and to pickup some more lights for the bathroom and hallway. We are going to paint some tonight in hopes of getting the rooms ready for the electrician on Monday. I have to leave tomorrow for a meeting in DC and will be back Wednesday night. I'm planning to take my laptop. At least my plane doesn't leave until late afternoon.
I guess that it will be a full day tomorrow.

Painting and painting

We are getting close to finishing up on the new wing on our house. This weekend will be one filled with painting--finishing up the master bedroom and the library which is pictured here. The tile work is almost complete in the master bath, the vanities are installed, and the electrician is coming to install fixtures on Monday. I am so ready for this to be done. It hasn't really been an inconvenience at all but it will be nice to have the fireplaces active for winter and have the porch to enjoy this fall. We'll be able to sit and watch the dogs play from the porch and the windows of the library. It is going to be spectacular when completed. Just hope that I live long enough to see it through!

Tonight Charlie and I are going to eat some Thai food at one of our favorite restaurants, Little Thai Two. We like to go there, and then go get coffee and browse the CD's at Millenium Music. It hasn't been a bad week for me but with the days getting shorter, it is going to be harder and harder to play with the dogs in the evening.

Last night was a great row in the rain. It was drizzling as we left City Marina with four of us in the gig. We rowed past the Battery to the end of White Point Gardens and then took a break. People were photographing us and a couple of people stopped to say how beautiful the boat was. We then rowed back in a pretty steady downpour. I love being on the water with my team mates straining on the oars. Our coxswain, George, really knows how to get us right to the slip. It is a lot of fun and I'm excited about having the boat in the Christmas parade when the Battery will be lined with people. Let's just hope that it won't be raining in December! You can read about the history of pilot gigs here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cornish_pilot_gig

Puppies like the cool mornings

When I went out this AM at 5:30 to let the dogs out and clean the kennels, it was noticeably cooler. I could really feel that fall was just around the corner (probably wishful thinking since it is only early September). The dogs could sense it as well as they were romping and playing with more gusto than I've seen in a while. Aggie and Amelia were having a blast playing in a water puddle. Everyone was in high spirits and I suspect that it is due to cool conditions. I remember when I would ride that the cool days would really make my horse frisky. Everyone seems to perk up when it isn't 85 degrees at dawn. We've actually been able to suspend the misting system recently because of the cool rainy conditions. I'm ready for fall, wearing sweaters, and feeling chilly.

Sad about Steve Irwin

I was sitting in the Atlanta airport after a flight cancellation and waiting to get home when I heard that the Croc dude Steve Irwin had been killed after a stingray barb to the heart. I felt tears come to my eyes as he was such a passionate lover of animals and really enthralled so many people. Having such a zest for life is a remarkable thing.

My thoughts then went to the fact that there are lots of dangerous things in this world and the lowly stingray is not high on the priority list. However, having seen the affects of a couple of ray/human interactions, I can say that it isn't a pretty sight. My husband was pierced through his calf by a ray barb which he indicated was painful beyond belief. Then, one of my biologists was pierced through the top of her foot and had to undergo skin grafting because of severe necrosis to the skin. She was out of work for about 4 months. In spite of all this, rays are pretty docile and generally hang out on the bottom eating crabs, clams and other shellfish. They scoot along the bottom and then settle down partially covered by sediment. That's why it's a good idea to be careful when walking in shallow water of the ocean. Slamming a foot into a ray barb would be a very painful thing. I'm just hoping that the rays don't get a lot of bad hype as being deadly. This was a freak accident, no different than having any sharp object pierce the heart. I had hoped for many more years of the Croc guy. Sadly, that won't be happening.

Back from California

I really enjoyed judging at the Sierra Vista LRC show. It was a beautiful show site and the entry was very nice at 90 entered. I was pleased to see so many nice Labradors and was happy that my Best of Breed winner also took a group 2.

I appreciated the great hospitality of the club and especially Wendy Gai and her husband. I had the pleasure of attending a dinner at their house. Rich Gai restores classic cars and took me for a drive in a 67 Mustang with a 5 liter engine. It was really neat!

The worst part of the trip was airline travel. My flight was delayed leaving Charleston and was cancelled on the return leg from Atlanta to Charleston. I had taken the "red eye" from Sacramento to Atlanta so was beat when I arrived at 6:30 AM. I then found out that my Charleston flight wouldn't leave until 10:40. In the meantime, I had no mouth wash or hand gel or any liquid of any kind due to the TSA and Homeland Security "we ain't gellin' " rule.

Thankfully, I arrived home around 12 noon and am just now going to get a good night's sleep. No airports, no screaming babies, no angry tourists, no canceled flights.....

Leaving for California

With Ernesto headed off to the north, I'm heading out to California tomorrow to judge a show near Sacramento. I'm so glad that the storm has headed away from Charleston. There was a lot of rain and some of the streets downtown were flooded but all in all, it wasn't bad. I had a meeting down town and was able to check on the rain coming down from the hotel where the meeting was held.

I probably won't be back on line for a couple of days. I have 90 Labradors to judge which is a good entry. I will take a red eye flight to come back to Charleston by 9:30 AM on Monday. I want to have at least a few days of the weekend free.

Hope that every one has a nice Labor Day holiday.

He's BACKKKKK!

Barrett is back and it is as if he never went on the road or became a champion. He is happily bouncing about, knows his kennel, plays with Timmi and the puppies and is in general the bozo boy that I love. Like his namesake, he is darkly handsome, energetic, and a bit off his rocker! I received his championship certificate in the mail which was quick by AKC standards. Tobias is now out with Rusty and Jen looking for the two majors that he needs to finish. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that occurs.

Aggie and Amelia are now separated in the kennel. Aggie looked as if she had swallowed a watermelon on Sunday, so it appears that she was gobbling poor Amelia's food. Aggie is now on a bit of diet and Amelia is getting her normal portion. Both are kenneled next to each other so there isn't a huge amount of separation anxiety. They still play together in the puppy pen. Aggie is definitely the ring leader and more rambunctious of the two. She was one of the two puppies bitten by a copperhead in the spring. She is irrepressible with nothing slowing her down. Must be that Stella gene!

Here's hoping that tropical storm Ernesto decides to stay away. A little rain is okay but let's keep the wind to a minimum. I have to fly out to judge in California and hope that there are no delays on Friday. Here's hoping that everyone and their dogs will be out of harm's way.

You can't reason with hurricane season

With Ernesto churning in the Caribbean, my mind turns back to 1989 when Hurricane Hugo came to town. What an evening that was, and what a mess the days after were!

We didn't have but a few dogs then so all were brought inside the house, put in crates and covered by a blanket. Charlie and I stayed in a closet under the stairs. After we lost all radio and TV and rain began pouring in from the ridge vent, we decided that we were in for a bad event. The wind roared but we stayed dry and safe. Our house had just been built so we were a bit anxious about how it would weather the storm. We didn't lose a shingle! We lost a lot of branches and limbs to trees but all the big trees stood strong. It took us 3 days to cut our way out to Maybank Highway. We had no electricity for 23 days.

So when hurricane season comes around, we think about having many more dogs and the 3 cats. We have a generator that is powerful enough to kick off our well pump and provide some electricity to the house. We have our camping supplies in order. It's best to be prepared and just hope that we escape the wrath of Mother Nature for another year.

CSCLRC meeting

The meeting yesterday was very informative. Dr. Billy Roumillat and Dr. Linnea Bredenburg gave a great presentation on first aid for dogs. Those present learned about heat stroke, bloat, snake bite care, toxins, CPR, and numerous other topics that were spurred by questions from the audience. There was even a stuffed Labrador for them to practice on. We had a good crowd for the meeting and all really appreciated Billy and Linnea's talk.

The El Bohio restaurant staff were wonderful as usual in hosting the meeting. Many thanks to Alex, owner of the Pour House and El Bohio, for taking care of all of us so well.

If you haven't joined a local Labrador club, it is a great opportunity for you to learn what's going on with your breed and to have fun with other Labrador owners. AKC has a list of clubs and there might be one close by.

Barrett coming home

Barrett will be coming home on Sunday after a couple of months at the shows. I'm very pleased that he completed his AKC Ch. and can now just have fun and goof off. Tobias has gone to Atlanta to meet up with the handling team of Rusty and Jen Howard. He needs a couple of majors to complete his Ch. and we are hoping that he will get that. He is in good coat and looks great.

Our Coastal South Carolina LRC membership meeting will be held on Saturday from 3-6 at El Bohio Restaurant on Maybank Highway. Dr. William Roumillat will be speaking on canine first aid. It should be a good discussion and the food is great. Hope that those of you who are within driving distance will turn out for this interesting talk.

Dew claws

I received an email from one of our puppy owners indicating that she would like to have the dew claws removed on her girl who is an older puppy. We don't remove dew claws on our puppies for a couple of reasons. First, as you can see in the photo, it requires actually snipping off the joint of a baby puppy. Ideally, this would be done at around 2 days of age. We don't like the idea of cutting off the thumb of a baby, having empathy when it comes to our own thumb. Taking off a dew claw is the equivalent of someone severing your thumb at the knuckle joint. Not a very pleasant experience for a baby puppy. The second reason that we don't remove dew claws is that the dog actually uses the claw like a thumb. Watch your dog sometimes with a chew toy and you'll see how the dew claws are used to hold the toy. We have heard the stories about claws being ripped off in the field. I haven't seen one but in terms of risk, I'm willing to take that chance rather than cut pieces off my puppies.

Monday, Monday

Today was one of those days that you summon all your strength to get your work done quietly and efficiently and hope to get home at a decent hour in order to relax. Unfortunately, after doing the dogs in the morning, I got ready for work and jumped into doing some evaluations for employees. After that I edited a manuscript for a colleague and then went to the Director's meeting since my Director and his Asst. were out of the office. I guess that I was the third string or something like that. Anyway, that lasted until 4 PM. After completing the work day and changing into my rowing duds, I headed to Bristol Marina thinking that the dragon boat crew would be there. Unfortunately, the date had been changed due to a bunch of festivals until Sept. 18, so we won't be getting back together until then. I still will have rowing in the 6 person gig on Thursday and my single to mess about in on the weekends.

At the Muncie, Ind. show this past weekend, Susan Otto and I both discussed the fact that it is nice to have other things in our lives besides the dog activities. I think that the exercise activities that I do are a great complement to my dog activity. Although I love specialty shows, I've gotten increasingly tired of showing at all breed shows. The atmosphere isn't as much fun as the specialty shows and the loud noisy conditions with all the other breeds, lugging crates in and out, and all the travel has just gotten tiresome. I would rather send the dogs with good handlers than to spend my weekends driving to dog shows. Judging is one thing but I think that just going to a few all breed shows that are close by in order to socialize puppies makes more sense than traveling great distances.

Maybe it's just my mindset today--just like the lyrics to that rock classic, "Monday, Monday, can't trust that day..."

Judging in Muncie

My judging assignment was pleasant, although I must admit that I left Charleston with so many things on my mind that were unsettling. It had been a week of emotion in so many ways. The idea of flying off to a strange place where I knew no one wasn't all that appealing. The good side of it was that I met Susan Otto who is a Rottweiler breeder and a very nice lady. We shared the ride from Indianapolis to Muncie. While I was in my room feeling very much alone, Susan called and asked me to join her for dinner. We ended up talking for a long time and sharing our life experiences and our dog experiences. It was a nice way to spend an evening.

Judging was a neat experience. I was totally focused on the dogs which is what judging should be about. It's a way to put aside all other thoughts and just concentrate on the job at hand.

Sea Smoke

I received some very sad news prior to and during my trip to judge in Indiana. Surry's Sea Smoke had developed a large tumor in her mouth and palate that was causing problems with eating. Also, her breathing had become increasingly laborious. She was diagnosed with osteosarcoma about a year ago. The cancer was located in her mouth. However, she had been doing very well until about a couple of weeks ago when she appeared to become uncomfortable.
Berta took her to Drs. Shong and Rockwell who determined that indeed she was failing. So Berta made the very tough decision to have Sea Smoke euthanized on August 18. She went peacefully feeling gentle loving hands on her.

Sea Smoke was born into my hands and was a cutie right from the start. It was Daisy's first litter (sire was Ch. Ashlyn's Don Giovanni) and we were thrilled that there was a lovely black female in the litter. After retirement from showing and motherhood, Sea Smoke went to live with a couple who professed love for her but later at age 10 she became too much trouble so was returned to us. We gladly took her back, although we never understood the psychology of her former owners. At any rate, Berta met her and fell in love. So Sea Smoke moved down the road about 3/4 of a mile to live with my good friend. She had the life of a queen and other Labrador sisters to play with. The last 18 months were probably the most wonderful for Sea Smoke as she was the center of attention and had lots of treats and could sleep on Berta's bed. Bonding was rapid and everlasting for both human and dog.

I say it every time--it isn't fair that our dogs don't live longer. I envision Sea Smoke romping with her mother, Clondike, Haley and all the others who have crossed the bridge.

Off to Muncie, Indiana

I'm leaving to judge at the Muncie, Indiana shows. It will be my first provisional assignment and I'm very excited about it. Unfortunately, I won't be able to go on a research cruise due to a schedule conflict. However, it is hard to plan these things out when one has to sign a contract so far in advance. At any rate, I'm looking forward to this assignment and hopefully many more to follow. If I'm not up on the blog for a few days, it's because I'm out of state. The major bummer will be the restrictions on any liquids, etc. What a mess! I have to repack all my stuff and hope that my shampoo doesn't run as they sling the bags around. More later after I get back.

Tooth cleaning

It's really worthwhile to check out your dog's teeth to make sure that there isn't any placque buildup. We regularly get the teeth of our older dogs cleaned. It does involve anaesthesia so that the dental tools to chip away placque buildup can be used. While it may be possible to brush the teeth of your pet, we just don't have the time to brush the teeth of all of our dogs. We regularly look in their mouths and especially check the molars to determine how clean they are. I tend to look in the mouth a lot and that isn't always good, as some dogs will get mouth shy because of constantly looking. It certainly is better to have good clean teeth which makes the doggy kisses pleasant!

Dragon Boat Team

Tonight I joined up with the Dragon Boat Charleston Community Team. Dragon boats have been around since the 5th century and the sport is becoming increasingly popular. Charleston has an MUSC team of cancer survivors and now it will have a community team composed of interested rowers.

Tonight we learned the basics about stroke and position. Then we actually got to row out in the Ashley River and try out synchronized strokes. It was a lot of fun and a beautiful evening. The dogs probably missed me but it's good to take a break and be on the water. I enjoyed seeing the setting sun on the water.

Barrett is a Champion

I got word today that Barrett finished at the Harrisburg, PA shows with a second major under Tom Bradley. He is now Ch. Surrys the Madcap Laughs! I am thrilled to say the least. Barrett will now be coming home and Tobias will be going out with Rusty and Jenn to be shown.

I'm off to bed. It has been a long, delightful day and it's time for a good night's sleep. The temperature is perfect and the light rain that has been falling is so soothing.

Rowing and salsa

We had 5 people at the oars on the gig last night. There was a thunderstorm that we had to wait out by going to Salty Mike's and getting some liquid refreshments. Then, the skies cleared and we were able to head out into Charleston Harbor. We rowed past the ship graveyard where the R/V Anita rests on the marsh. The Anita was built from lumber of oak trees on Wadmalaw Island. She served as our estuarine research vessel for many years. I did several projects off the Anita and up until recently she was used for our shrimp and crab survey. It was determined last year that she was too old to repair and so the Anita was sold. Not long after she left the marine lab at Ft. Johnson, she sank in Charleston Harbor and was refloated to her current resting place next to a large steel hulled life boat and several abandoned sail boats. It seemed so strange as we rowed past to see the Anita with bow on the bank. I'm hoping that her owner will decide to restore her back to running condition.

After the row, I changed clothes, had dinner and headed to the South End Brewery for salsa dance night. The music starts at 10 PM and by 11:15, the dance floor was filled with lots of talented dancers. It was my first real attempt at club dancing and luckily my insstructor was there to offer support. There were also other dance class members and I didn't do half bad since I was dancing with one of the more experienced men. I left when the beat changed to Marenga. I have a hard enough time with cross body moves, twists, turns and other complicated stuff that isn't in my genetic makeup. It is fun to watch the really good dancers move though. They make it look effortless. Maybe after another year, I'll be more confident.

Tomorrow is another rowing day. This time we may try to sink the 34 ft. gig and then reright it. Not sure for the reasoning of doing that since I was pretty shocked about capsizing in the Ashley. Another day, another experience.....

The Eternal Whistler

This was sent to me by Adrienne. Many thanks to all who sent condolences about Clondike.

The Eternal Whistler

It is the eternal whistler
Who goes whistling up the sky
And at his heels are the weary dogs
That have come to him to die,
He whistles them over the far off clouds
And up to the Golden Gate
And then he whistles a softer note,
While they sit and they pant and they wait.
Then quickly he whistles a shriller blast
As slowly the gate swings wide
And when nobody's looking, St. Peter winks
Then hustles them all inside.

Hennings Mill Clondike: May 11, 1994-August 8, 2006

We lost a very good buddy today. Clondike was put to sleep with Charlie and me holding him and our caring vets tearfully stroking him. He came to us from Jack and Dot Galvin and has been a wonderful friend and great comfort over the years. Spondylosis that got progressively worse and congestive heart failure, along with failing kidneys, forced us to make the hard decision that we made today. Over the last several days, Clondike wasn't eating well and had a lot of nausea. The spondylosis was causing weakness and pain in his rear, so much so that this morning he couldn't get up. Our vets thought that increasing his steroid dosage would only further upset his digestive system and cause more vomiting. It would be a vicious cycle that would soon result in his becoming very weak and debilitated. So the hard decision was made. Clondike, you were a wonderful dog and we miss you.

Quiet and hot weekend

Charlie has been working on painting the walls on the new addition. We are adding a wing onto the main house that will incorporate a master bedroom and bath downstairs as well as a large library upstairs (shown in picture). The flooring is now down and the sheet rock up. Charlie has begun painting the master bath. It was better to stay inside today than to be outside. Tomorrow I'll be rowing in the morning with my single. I'm hoping for a little breeze, at least enough to stir the air. It has been a crazy weekend on the water as the Rockville Regatta is this weekend. It is called the biggest floating cocktail party in the state. The Sea Island Yacht Club is the host of the regatta which is really more of a party scene than a sailing event. I usually row on Leadenwah Creek but with the number of crazies in the water there, I'm going over to the Ashley River to row. Hopefully, early in the morning will be less congested on the water.

A good evening for rowing

Tonight I rowed with 3 others in a gig in Charleson Harbor. There was a light breeze, just enough to take away some of the heat of the day. We were flying a "Don't Tread on Me" Gadsden flag which was neat. We made our way out of City Marina up the Ashley River near to the Citadel. Flanking us on either side were two Dragon boats, one with 2o rowers on board and another smaller boat with 10 rowers on board. It was quite a sight to see them sprinting along and then coming to a halt. We weren't the sprinters with our heavy gig but the endurance rowers, keeping up a steady stroke and responding to commands from our coxswain. I needed this after a day of sitting in an 8 hour meeting talking about budgets and how to divide up a multi-million dollar increase in a national project budget among the South Atlantic, Gulf and Caribbean. Marine science isn't all diving, sampling, and sunsets. It is mostly about keeping projects going, trying to get more money to do additional projects, or writing up reports and analyzing data on the projects that have just ended.

After getting home from rowing, I played with the dogs a bit and then fed them. Charlie was nice enough to clean the kennels for me. Clondike is doing better and is eating his boiled chicken and rice dinner now. He will go back on regular kibble once his GI tract is stable. I'm off to bed to get ready for another day of meetings tomorrow. I'll dream of being on the water in the twilight.

smelly dogs? check the rear!

Have you ever noticed a musky skunk like smell emanating from your dog? It's entirely possible that your dog may have impacted anal glands or may have discharged the anal glands. The anal sacs are located on each side of the anus, just under the skin. They open to the outside by tiny passageways or ducts. Glands within the anal sacs produce a dark, foul-smelling substance. The sacs normally empty as the animal has a bowel movement. Their purpose is unknown although one theory suggests that they were once used to mark territory.

For many reasons, sometimes these tear-shaped glands get blocked. This means that while more and more liquid is produced, none is being expressed into your dog's stools. Signs of blocked anal glands include butt scooting, bloody stools, strong odor or a swollen anus.

You can express your dog's anal glands but many people find this distasteful. I wear latex gloves and am very careful when I clean out the anal glands. It isn't my favorite job for sure! Whatever you do, I would advise not getting any of the anal sac fluid on your clothes or hands. Vets regularly get sprayed with the stuff and it is totally nasty.

another hot week

The Dog Days are certainly here. I'm longing for a sea breeze in the afternoon but it's just blowing hot air. No one stirs in the paddocks except for Aggie and Amelia who play endlessly.

Clondike came home and seems to feel better. He had a bought with gastroenteritis. I'm glad that he is feeling better. It worries me when my old buddy isn't himself. He is undoubtedly one of the sweetest dogs that I've ever been around. Just a kind hearted guy who enjoys life, cookies and his play toys. What more can anyone ask? I attribute a lot to his sire, Ch. Scartho Frost, who was also a very sweet dog. Called the Boss, he was one of the most striking Labradors that I've ever seen. I have photos of him when he had just been imported and was being shown at Potomac. What a gorgeous dog! It is sad that so many of the dogs that I've known are no longer alive. Sadly, they don't live long enough.

Double scare

Clondike wasn't feeling too well yesterday so I kept a close eye on him last night. I came home to check on him around noon and he still wasn't eating much and seemed very tired. I decided to take him to the vet's office for observation and a check up. He has congestive heart failure so I really have to be careful with him. While on my way there, I received a call regarding a friend's house that appeared to have been broken into. I called my friend who rushed home to find that indeed the door jam had been broken, a camera and lap top stolen. Needless to say, she is pretty upset. It must be a terrible feeling to know that someone has violated your house and taken your things. It is unfortunate that it occurred to such a nice person but thankfully neither she nor her animals were hurt. Clondike is also doing better tonight and should be able to come home tomorrow. Here's hoping that everyone will have a better day tomorrow.

Sweeper finishes his Ch.

I heard from Cathy Green today that Sweeper finished his championship today by going BOB over specials. Cathy indicated that the circuit is one of our largest shows so by getting back to back majors, it was really neat. He is now Ch. Surry Cabin Creek Knock Knock WC. Cathy wants to pursue his JH in the spring as he is so birdy. Congratulations to Cathy and Sweeper!

I drove to Greenville to drop off Belle and got to see Barrett too. Rusty thought that Belle looked great and in good coat. He also got to meet Tobias who accompanied me to Greenville. He loved Tobias so I guess once Barrett finishes, he will get Tobias to show for his majors. I am dead tired after driving 8 hours yesterday and the same today. Hopefully, next weekend will be quiet.

Back in town and catching up

I got back into town today from my trip to NC and Virginia. I was tired from the drive and all the many activities that went on during the week. It was great to see loved ones again and spend some concentrated time together. It's tough being far away from those that you love. I did get a chance to stop by and see Robin on the way up when I drove through Chesapeake, VA. She said that Thomas is spoiled rotten and doing well.

Tomorrow I have to drive to Greenville to take Surry's Division Belle to Rusty Howard who will be showing her for her new owner. I will also get to see Barrett up there which will be good.

I got an email from Cathy Green that her Mason x Gabby son Sweeper took a 4 pt. major today under Sally Sasser. That is thrilling and I know that Cathy is very thrilled.

I heard that Izzy's sister Maggie got through her spay surgery just fine. She was in some pain the first night but is doing well and will get her stitches out soon. Izzy is as much fun as ever and everyday reminds me of her mother.

I hate that I have another long drive tomorrow but hopefully, I'll be home for a bit after that.

On the road tomorrow

I'm leaving tomorrow for a few days in NC and then some time in Virginia. I'm hoping to be able to post for most of the time that I'm gone. I'm visiting my cousin in Virginia. We grew up together and have remained close over the years. He is the closest blood relative that I have. It will be good to catch up on things. He and his wife live on a beautiful point of land overlooking Mobjack Bay which feeds into the Chesapeake. Unfortunately, he has an illness that is life threatening. We are all hoping for a positive outcome. I'm sure that the time spent together will be bitter sweet but valuable for both of us.

Clondike continues to do better on the lasix; however, he hasn't been wanting to eat as much as usual which is troubling. It may also relate to one of the girls being in season which is always a disruptor. We've been getting calls about puppies but won't be doing a breeding until fall. I'm glad to finally not have any puppies except for the two girls that we are running on.

Hope that everyone has a good week!

On the Barque Eagle

Today I went on a tour of the USCGS Barque Eagle that is docked in Charleston for a few days. It is the largest tall ship flying the US colors and is the only square rigger in US government service. It is 295 ft. long and carries 150 Coast Guard cadets. Five identical ships were built in Germany. Following WWII, it was taken as a war prize by the US and became a training ship for the Coast Guard. It was truly impressive to see the amount of sail area and the rigging on this ship. To maneuver Eagle under sail, the crew must handle more than 22, 000 sq. ft. of sail and five miles of rigging! If the ship comes to a port near you, it is worth seeing.

Labrador Lists

I've been a member of a number of Labrador discussion groups over the years. I first joined Labrador-L which was one of the first discussion forums on Labradors on the internet. There was always lively discussions, most notably those dealing with the changes to the AKC standard. It was on this forum that LabMed got started which is a truly worthy cause. Over the years, a number of other discussion forums have arisen, some being more successful than others. Two of the ones that I currently scan and occasionally post to are the Wiscoy Lab Forum at http://pub12.bravenet.com/forum/976632990/ and the Woodhaven forum at http://www.woodhavenlabs.com/breedersforum/
I also belong to a number of discussion groups about Labradors on E groups. The one thing that I've noticed about discussion groups is that people either demonstrate good or poor manners/behavior. Disparaging remarks, heated (and sometimes nasty) debates are not uncommon. Then there are those who contribute thoughtful comments and actually make an attempt to inform and educate. I stay away from the bashing and hashing discussions. I've found that it is best to post factual comments that provide information and are not totally subjective. One thing about discussion groups is you learn a lot about people and sometimes you learn something about the Labrador.

rowing today

Today I finally got to sit in a six person gig. This is a type of row boat that was used by the harbor pilots to row supplies to other boats in Charleston Harbor. I don't have a photo of the gig here in Charleston but do have one from the web site http://http://www.knzrv-roeien.nl/gravinnen/images/foto_1.jpg
You can see a gig in action on the top above with a coxswain facing the rowers. The two that are in Charleston Harbor were built by George Riekerk and Rob Dunlap and are really neat. There are no sliding seats, just some stops as foot stretchers. It is a different boat from the single shell that I have which is like the one shown on the bottom. There is a lot more stability and freeboard with the gig! My rowing shell can't go out in really rough water while the gig will do well with a chop. It was great fun to see this interesting craft and hopefully I'll be part of the group that gets to row it every week!

Near miss for salsa

I almost missed my salsa class tonight because I forgot that it occurred on Wednesday. I was getting a pedicure and Yaenette called to remind me that tonight was class night. Yikes! I didn't even have the right shoes. I skipped out of the nail spa and raced over to the ballroom. Because I didn't have the right shoes, I had to do my class barefoot. Not the best way to do salsa but it was okay. My dance partner was afraid that he would step on my feet. I was more worried about messing up the new pedicure! It all came together okay and we learned turns tonight as well as practiced "stylin" which is an essential part of salsa. It was fun and I was glad that Yaenette made the call to remind me.

When I got home, Charlie had let the dogs out and cleaned the kennels which was great. I had time to eat some dinner and then play with the dogs for a bit, read the paper, catch some news and weather before feeding the dogs. Whew! Another whirlwind day.

Amelia and Aggy

Amelia and Aggy are enjoying their time in the house. They have been wonderfully good in their crate, not making any mess at all, and sleeping throughout the entire night. Tilly doesn't quite know what to think of them as they want to go and kiss their Grandma. She doesn't like puppy kisses and generally gives a snarl. Anna is much more tolerant and seems to absolutely enjoy having the puppies in her face. She has always been one who loved puppies and never wanted to have hers be weaned or away from her. It's interesting how canine mothers have different behaviors towards puppies, some being more tolerant than others.

We are enjoying having the puppies to train, although the heat has put a damper on doing a lot of things outside. I had hoped to do some rowing over the weekend but on Sunday I was just beat from the trip to deliver Saucy and the heat was discouraging. Hopefully, I'll get out on the water this weekend. I've been to the gym both days this week and it has been great to do aerobic exercise and weight lifting indoors. Working out is one of my passions, and I think that I could easily be at the gym or doing some exercise 2-3 hrs everyday if I had the time. I think it is a real key to keeping both the mind and body young. Dogs are also keen on getting their exercise; however, with them it isn't forced but just doing what comes naturally playing in their paddocks. All of them have good muscle tone and seem to be fit compared to so many Labradors who stay in crates or small kennels. Hopefully, it will keep them young too!

Bomb scare for Tupac and Esther

I heard from Meir, Esther's brother, that she and Tupac had a bomb scare near their home. Esther and Tupac live in northern Israel, near the current conflict area with Lebanon. A bomb launched by the Lebanese landed near Esther's home, causing the family and dogs to go into the bomb shelter. Esther had planned to take Tupac to his obedience and handling class but due to the current instability there, she will wait for things to quiet down. It is frightening to think about living with these threats that for us seem so unreal. Yet, in many areas of the world, this is something that must be faced. I am keeping Esther, her family, and the dogs in my thoughts. Let's hope that things will quiet down and stability and clear heads will prevail.

Ugh, the heat

It has been too hot this weekend. The dogs have been lying around under the mist but not playing much in the paddocks. I've been soaked every time I've gone out to clean the kennels. No yard work this weekend, other than cutting grass. I should be used to the sweltering heat in SC by now and can get through it okay but don't particularly enjoy gardening when it's this hot.

Clondike has been having some coughing related to his congestive heart failure. He does much better inside in the AC when it's hot so he has been enjoying lying about on the cool tiles. I'll take him to the vet this week to see if he needs another shot of lasix.

Keep cool!

Placing adult dogs

I drove to Charlotte today to hand over Saucy. She traveled like a trooper and had Eugene as her companion on the way there. Although I am sad to not see her beautiful face, it makes me happy to know that she is going to such a great home. One of the things that is hard for many people to understand is that as a breeder, I can't keep every dog. If I am ever to run on puppies from the litters we breed, then I need to place some of the older dogs who are either retired or who haven't worked out as show dogs. Otherwise, I would have a huge number of dogs which isn't what I want nor is it good for the dog. In my opinion, it is so much better for the dogs that go to a home where they get a huge amount of individual attention, than it is for them to be one of many in a kennel situation. We love our dogs and treat them very well, but we both work at demanding jobs so the amount of time spent with each of them is limited. Saucy and others that we place will be the focus of attention by their owners. What more could a Labrador ask for?

Saucy is going to her new home

Tomorrow, I'll drive to Charlotte to take Saucy to her new owners. Saucy, aka Surry's Saucer Full of Secrets, will no doubt be a bit sad to leave here. I'm sad as well since she was born here and we are the only parents that she has known. However, she is a happy girl and will adjust to being spoiled rotten in her new home. We are always delighted when a great home comes along and we are able to place the retired dogs. We have Tilly and Anna as our house dogs. Not being a big fan of dog hair, I realize that in order to keep things sane around here, I have to place some of the dogs. Saucy is one that we knew would be a wonderful companion due to her sweet temperament and general cuteness. More tomorrow after the drive to Charlotte and we say our good byes to Saucy.

Dusty is a good boy

Dusty is enjoying the good life on Bailey Island in the ACE Basin. He is pictured here on his porch where his mom and dad, Steve and Pam Jacobs, have provided him with a great view and some favorite toys. Dusty is from Stella's litter sired by Ch. Trendlewood Song for Guy.

According to Steve and Pam, Dusty is being a good puppy and is blessed with lots of smarts. I wish that his two sisters would take a lesson and were a bit cleaner in their kennel habits. This is really gross but the best way that I can describe their behavior is to do a bit of a twist on a Bruce Springsteen song, Dancing in the Dark. Aggy and Amelia specialize in Dancing in the Poop. One of these lovely ladies has decided to poop near the kennel gate. The result is that the misting system mixes with the mess at the gate, and when combined with their dancing in excitement at seeing me come out to the kennel, a real muck of $#&% is created. Although I try to get them out as quickly as possible, their dancing up and down can cause splashes....well, you get the awful picture. Droplets of $#&% splattering everywhere and me trying my best to dodge the spray. Yuck! Thank goodness we are dog people and don't mind discussing fecal deposits by dogs! For all you non dog people, my apologies.

Salsa lessons

Tonight I had my first salsa lesson. It was taught at the Charleston Ball Room. There are about 8 of us taking the class. Wearing 2 inch heels for the first time in a decade felt interesting. These are real ballroom heels though so they are super light weight and have the sueded bottom. I actually was able to maneuver very well in them. Definitely not dog showing shoes though! The lesson went well and I actually didn't fall over or knock anyone else over. I did get some of the moves correctly including a cool twirl. The music is great and my friend Yaenette is also taking the class. She and her husband Eugene have Simba one of the Brier x Gabby babies. Simba would have loved to slide across the wood floor of the ballroom! I'm looking forward to next week's lesson when I get to make myself look even sillier. Aren't new experiences just grand?

Syd is gone

I just read that Roger Keith "Syd" Barrett, one of the founders of Pink Floyd, died July 7. Another major icon gone and at the relatively young age of 60. Surry's The Madcap Laughs whose call name is Barrett was my tribute to Syd. He was the true Crazy Diamond and the subject of Wish You Were Here as well as parodied in The Wall as Pink. Hope that he is playing that mirrored Telecaster somewhere in the cosmos. Shine on Syd.

One year ago today....

It was a year ago today that my mother, Elizabeth Dutton Lewis, died at age 95. She was quite a unique individual, really one of the liberated women of her time and always a scholar. We shared a lot of things over the years, most of which was wonderful. She taught me at an early age to appreciate books, science and art, to have good manners, to be refined (she worked extra hard at this, may not have totally succeeded but some rubbed off), and to have a love for the written word. Mother was brought up in an age when most women finished high school and become home makers. Yet, she went on to college, took graduate courses, wrote a book, served her county and state on numerous committees and offices, and taught school. She could also set an exquisite table, arrange flowers beautifully, write flowing letters in a beautiful hand, crochet beautifully, and seemingly rise to every occasion when necessary. I wish that I were so accomplished. I miss her a great deal but know that we are connected in spirit. She and my father are side by side at the family cemetery in Virginia. Rest in peace and love.

Sculpture of Timmi

This is something that I've been meaning to share for a while. Back in the spring, I received an email from Leslie Hutto about a sculpture of a Labrador that she was working on. She asked me to critique it. I sent some comments back to her about anatomy and made some suggestions on the head and shoulder. I also sent her some photos of some of our dogs. She really liked the photos and decided to come to Wadmalaw to sculpt using one of our dogs, Braz. Ch. Attikonak Get Off My Cloud, as a model. Timmi was a wonderful model as he just sat or laid down while Leslie worked away. After the visit, Leslie sent several other clay models for me to look at. She then took the clay to the foundry to be cast. The result of the whole thing is the beautiful cold cast bronze shown below. Only a limited number of these beautiful bronzes were made. We feel so fortunate to have been a part of Leslie's artistic endeavor.


On another note, the birthday celebration ended up at a salsa social. It's the dance, not the dipping sauce. But wow was it something else. I've never seen so many talented people. Talk about intimidating for someone who has never learned formal dance! So, guess what....yes, I'm going to take salsa lessons. Don't laugh--there is no class for rhythm challenged people but there is a beginner class that starts this Wednesday. I'm psyched for it. Something that looks like a great way to exercise and get some style. What more can one ask for?

Berta's Birthday

Today is my good friend's birthday. Berta lives just down the road from us. She is a Labrador lover and has four of them. She has Bridget and Sea Smoke that I bred as well as Milly Rose who I co-bred. She often has her hands full with the dogs as she works during the day but has a dog walker come in during the week when she teaches. During the summer, she is either home or as in the case of this summer, has Meg visiting with her from Michigan. Meg is working on an internship with the Charleston Museum and will be going back to Michigan in a couple of weeks.

Tonight Berta, Meg and I will be celebrating Berta's birthday at the Maproom. We always haved an adventure when we get together. Happy Birthday Berta!!!

Lily and Abraham

I had another vet visit tonight. This time I took Abraham for his annual checkup and shots. Abe is our 8 year old cat who just happened to find our house after a major brawl with another black cat. He was torn up with lots of bites, abrasions, and fleas. He also had a major tom cat attitude. After neutering, it took Abe about a year to become totally docile. Now he is a great buddy and loves to follow the dogs and puppies around when we go for walks. Abe loves to work in the yard and is always helping when we are gardening. We also have 2 other adopted cats, Rachael and Rebecca. Rachael was found as a baby kitten whose eyes were glued shut with infection and other end was clogged with maggots. I promised her that if she lived, she would have a forever home with us. She is now a very healthy and happy kitty. Rebecca is a calico who loves to hide under the bed. She also loves me and lets me touch her and stroke her. She isn't so keen on other people but that's okay. She knows who matters.

Lily's OFA radiographs for hips and elbows looked great. We are pleased that all looked good as it is unnerving until one gets the final word from OFA.

Off to walk the dogs.

Saucy is fine

Saucy is recovering after her spay. She doesn't want to eat but is resting comfortably. She was given some pain medications and tomorrow she should be feeling a lot better. The vet noted some adhesions, probably from a C-section that was done a couple of years ago. Other than that, her ovaries looked fine. So far, Saucy hasn't had any nausea which is something that can and often does occur after a C-section.

There was a huge storm today with a major amount of lightening and torrential rain. Consequently, I didn't get to go rowing. I was excited about being in a six person shell. Hopefully, I'll be able to get out and row my single this weekend.

Weekend is over

It's a back to work day for me after a restful weekend. I was able to play with the dogs, train the puppies, get out on the water each day and row my shell, plus go see some fantastic fireworks from historic Ft. Johnson. I did learn that for photographing fireworks, it is necessary to have a sturdy tripod. I have one but was too lazy to bring it to the fireworks celebration. Hopefully, next year I'll get better shots. I actually enjoyed the time at dusk the most, when the sun was going down, and there were lots of boats on the water twinkling with their lights. The kayakers were out and paddling past the point. It was all really peaceful and beautiful.

Tomorrow Saucy will go in for her spay. I'm always a little nervous about this since it is major surgery. Because our vet is so good, I'm sure that all will go well. It just doesn't hurt to say a little extra prayer.

On Friday, Lilly and Abraham will also be at the vets' office. Lilly will be getting her final hip and elbow OFA radiographs done and Abraham, the black cat, will get his checkup. It looks like a lot of vet work this week.

Will keep you posted on all the outcomes.

Fireworks

Happy Independence Day to all. It was a relatively quiet one for me. I went rowing today for about 2 hours along Leadenwah Creek. Not too many rowing shells out on the water down here. I enjoy being so close to the water and powering along using the long stroke of the oars. It is really great exercise and very therapeutic mentally.

Tonight I went to Ft. Johnson where I work to watch the fireworks explode over Charleston Harbor. It was impressive. There was a real festive atmosphere with people grilling on the point and playing frisbee. The fireworks came from Patriot's Point in Mt. Pleasant. It was really neat.

I'll post some photos of the fireworks tomorrow. Off to bed now. It has been a fun but tiring day.

Worried about Tombee

I received an email today about Tombee who was one of the puppies born here at Surry. His owner wrote that he is having renal failure and is currently at the vet's office with the outcome uncertain. This is such a tragic thing to hear as Tombee is such a wonderful young boy with a full life ahead and he is greatly loved by his human family. Evidently, Tombee was bitten by a spider but it is unclear from Pam's email whether that was related to his renal condition. Renal problems generally occur in older dogs but can be caused by ingestion of toxic substances such as propylene glycol (antifreeze) as well as by venomous bites from snakes and spiders such as a brown recluse or black widow. I have heard of several dogs dying from ingestion of antifreeze. It has a sweet flavor and dogs lap it up, only to die from acute renal failure. I'm so hoping that Tombee will recover and that Pam will be able to find out what the cause is.

Party pictures

I downloaded the photos from last night's Bark Mitzvah. Sea Smoke who is shown wearing her pink birthday collar enjoyed her gifts. She also got a bit tired by the end. Heck, I would be tired too if I were 91 in dog years and had a big party! Just look at Sea Smoke's face. She looks so much like her mother Daisy. Daisy was our first champion and very much adored. Her personality was fantastic. Her father Ch. Dickendall Ruffy was a fantastic Labrador. Her grandfather was Ch. Receiver of Cranspire who is one of the legends in the Labrador breed. Daisy was bred to Ch. Ashlyn's Don Giovanni to produce Sea Smoke. Gio was a gorgeous dog who won some of the top specialties. It seems like just yesterday that I watched Gio being shown at Potomac and was showing Daisy myself. And it seems like just yesterday that Sea Smoke was a baby wearing the pink yarn collar.

Today and yesterday I took my rowing shell out on Leadenwah Creek. It was great! Yesterday's row was harder because of fighting the wind and tide on the way back; however, today's row was out on the last of flood and back on near slack water. What a greatq way to spend a couple of hours.

Bark Mitzvah for Sea Smoke

Sea Smoke's 13 th birthday party was awesome. There were Labradors everywhere as the humans could bring dogs. There was also a little Bichon who held her own against the big dogs. Sea Smoke got lots of cool gifts including dog biscuits, many different toys, a cool dog bowl, and beautiful doggy towels. The humans enjoyed hotdogs, hamburgers, chicken, and all manner of salads, dips, chips, etc. I took lots of photos and will post some of them tomorrow. Tonight I'm just too tired to down load them. I rowed my shell for 2 hours this afternoon and had a wonderful time, even though I was fighting the tide and the wind. I'm off to bed now. Tilly and Anna are dreaming of more cookies and birthdays.