The Ice Storm Cometh

Spot the Vizsla

A couple of days after the ice storm, it snowed.

Considering the extent of the damage caused by last weekend's ice storm, we were very lucky that only one of our trees toppled under the weight of the ice. Although there are hundreds of damaged trees in the immediate neighbourhood, only a few hydro lines were downed so we were without power for only 27 hours. We were very grateful to have heat in the house before the temperature plummeted to -10 and creating the potential for burst pipes (twice the worry when you have radiators). 

It is estimated that 20% of the city's tree canopy sustained damage and 40% of the power lines (enough to cross Canada twice) were affected by the storm. 

We send a HUGE and HEARTFELT THANK YOU to all of the Ontario HYDRO WORKERS and to those who traveled from other provinces and the U.S. for working round-the-clock throughout the week of Christmas in sub-zero treacherous conditions to restore power to hundreds of thousands of people.
 

Merry Christmas

The Varazs Vizslas Pantomime Choir
(Miska, Vadasz, Tyro, Diva, Quest & Bodi)

AND here are a few choir members

practicing their Fa La La La Las

Saturday's Smile

Happy First Day of Winter!

Greatly enjoying last week's super 6" snowfall!

(Today, I'm slip-sliding around in the slush caused by

the recent rain and above-freezing temps.)

 
This year, it actually looks like winter on the first day of winter!  Last year, there was no snow in sight 2012 so we had to create our own "snow" for our Christmas Greeting 2012.  The year before, there was a light dusting of snow 2011 followed by a heat wave 2011.

Caught in the Act

I was having a
NICE
 visit with Santa

then he spoke

and things took a turn for the

NAUGHTY!

"What do you mean I can't have a pony for Christmas?!"

Wildlife Wednesday

So, yesterday, I was outside getting a brief breath of frigid fresh air
(-14c windchill) when something caught my attention.

I had no idea what it was.

I licked my nose to get a better sense of the scent.

Then, when I heard rustling in the leaves,

I leaped into action!

There it is!!!  There it is!!!

Can you see it?!?!?!

What is it?!?!?!

Didelphis virginiana
"Virginia Opossum"

North America's only marsupial is known as "Nature's Little Sanitation Engineer" because it eats almost anything: insects, snails, rodents, berries, rotting fruit, grasses, leaves, carrion, snakes, eggs, and all veggies!

Opossums are not native to cold climates but they have been surviving and thriving in Southern Ontario for approximately thirty years. Although nocturnal, in cold (and snowy) weather, they will venture out in search of food during the day.

You can read more about opossums here:

http://www.mnr.gov.on.ca/en/Business/FW/2ColumnSubPage/251071.html

http://opossum.craton.net/

http://opossumsocietyus.org/ 

Wrecking Ball Wednesday

While riding in the car the other day, I was smittten with a kitten and found my voice. Since she was driving, all Mom could do was hit the record button to capture just my musical stylings.

Once you click on the audio only file, click on the PG ("puppy generated") slideshow for your viewing enjoyment.

30 Months of Age

 WOW!  30 Months Old Already!

30 Days

30 Months

30 Days

30 Weeks

30 Months

  

3 Months

30 Months

Happy American Thanksgiving

Happiness is...

a new set of spoons!

What??? It's ok...I just had a bath!

This peanut butter dough is gonna be ruff on my pawdicure!
Must ask Santa for a KitchenAid mixer.

Happy Thanksgiving

to my American Family, Friends and Followers!

Safe Travels and Good Eats!

Caught in the Act

This one's for Miska-Mom so I'm adding in extra love!

Diva was Here

For further info click here

Saturday's Smile

Mama Miska & Uncle Tyro: "He's sneaking up on us. Isn't he?"
(Finally, proof Bodi is an alien - his "white eye" is blue!)

Caught in the Act

WOW!
I made it to the voting round of the "William Wegman inspired" photo contest
 on Patricia McConnell's blog! That's me "Bird Dog Bodi".

http://www.patriciamcconnell.com/theotherendoftheleash/time-to-vote

You can cast a vote here (until 11:59 CT tonight):
https://www.facebook.com/PatriciaMcConnellPhD

Alas, we did not win but it was fun to be in the running.

Congratulations to "Story" the Weim!

Wednesday's Work

For a variety of reasons, we have not attended any classes for several months. Where has the time gone? We did, however, manage a few private obedience lessons in the summer. Here are two videos from my introduction to the broad jump.

My first session learning the obedience broad jump sequence

 

Being an introductory lesson, the broad jump is set about half its trial length (which will be 46"). To avoid a diagonal jump landing in front position, the plunger is used to encourage a straight jump landing followed by a turn then a front. This is the type of exercise where we employ the earlier foundation exercise of going out to and around cones (for example, go-outs). As shown in the above video, we ended each attempt with a front and a fun reward delivery rather than a formal finish (finishes will be added much later).

The following weekend

  
If I am counting correctly, there are 6 steps to a broad jump:
1.  wait in a sit position
2.  jump straight over the boards
3.  land straight
4.  turn to the right
5.  front (sit in front of handler as straight as possible)
6.  finish (either by swinging to the left or by going behind the handler then
     sitting in the space between the boards and the handler)

Coming Soon to a Theatre Near You!

Biggest screen sensation since "The Vizfield Follies"!

___________ _ _ _ _ _ ___________

"Help us out today and find yourself a place
where you won't get into any trouble!"

A place where there isn't any trouble. Do you suppose there is such a place, Toto?
There must be. It's not a place you can get to by a boat or a train.
It's far, far away. Behind the moon, beyond the rain.

  
   

       

Toto, I've a feeling we're not in Kansas anymore!

Dorothy:    How can you talk if you haven't got a brain?
Scarecrow: I don't know...but some people without
                brains do an awful lot of talking, don't they?

Oil can.....Oil can.....

"Oh! Lions and tigers and bears! Oh, my!"

Sneaking up on me, eh? Why, I'll ... Ruff!

  

I'll get you, my pretty, and your little dog, too!

Pay no attention to that man behind the curtain!
The great Oz has spoken.

Oz:  As for you, my galvanized friend, you want a heart!
       You don't know how lucky you are not to have one.
       Hearts will never be practical until they can be made
       unbreakable.

Tin Woodsman:  But I still want one.

I can't come back! I don't know how it works!

Oh, now I'll never get home!

Then close your eyes and tap your heels together three times.
And think to yourself, "There's no place like home."

There, there, lie quiet now. You just had a bad dream.

No. But it wasn't a dream -- it was a place.
... this was a real, truly live place.
... most of it was beautiful.

The Cast

                   The Incomparable Miss Judy Garland
                    Dorothy:                                 Diva

                    Cowardly Lion:                        Diva

                    Wicked Witch of the West:       Miska

                    Glinda, the Good Witch:           Miska
                    Auntie Em:                              Miska

                    Scarecrow:                              Bodi

                    Tin Woodsman:                       Bodi

                    Toto 1:                                    Stella
                    Toto 2:                                    Bodi
                    Wizard of Oz:                          Tyro

    

H A P P Y       H A L L O W E E N

from the Supermodels

Diva, Miska, Stella, Tyro & Bodi

2014 marks 75 years of  the "Wizard of Oz"!

Teeter Time 2

My first session with a teeter and a bar jump sequence.

Ah, the distractions of autumn!

Notice the front cross (at 36 sec) and resulting side change.

   

The ever present "Handler Error"!

[At the end of the teeter, you are hearing "Nose" not "No"
as a reminder to wait until released.]

   

I am quite proud of my teeter progress. In the name of "setting one's dog up for success", it is customary to set up a new sequence of obstacles (or a new obstacle within a sequence) in a straight line. As you can see, this novel sequence included a change of direction between the jump and teeter. This set up was chosen in order to slow down my approach to the teeter.

Photo Op!

We've accomplished quite a lot in the backyard by regularly honing our foundation skills and fitting in obstacle training sessions here and there. Since there is only so much we can accomplish at home, it's time we took our training to the next level by signing up for agility classes. A-Frame and Dogwalk, here we come!!!

Teeter Time 1

I've been playing the bang game (here) since I was tall enough to reach up and pull the teeter down. In July, we had one 10-minute session on a teeter that was resting on a pause table. These videos are from my first session with a full height teeter a few weeks ago. (This teeter has a steeper pitch than those used in competition as it is only 10' long rather than 12'.)

Wednesday's Woofs of Wisdom

Miska says:

When ya get an itch, ya gotta scratch!