BHSS and puppies!

I'm sure a lot of you know already but Dustin won the BHSS sheepdog trial!  If you were there you know how exciting it was.  If not, let me tell you, it was awesome!!  He and Kat worked so well as a team.  Dustin read his stock well and let Kat do her thing.  They got faster and smoother every round.  He was 6th in the first round, 5th in the semi's and 1st in the finals!  There is a great write up about it on www.wyomingstockdog.com under "results".  Will try to get a few more pictures added soon as well.

Now for puppy update.  Jess had 7 puppies on February 10th.  6 females and 1 male.  There are even a couple of tri's in there.  Yay!  I can't help it, I love a dog with some tri.  I'm sure it's because of Zac.  She had them quick and fairly easy.  She's being a great mom as well.  Thinks she wants to go back to work already though. :-)  I'm putting pics up fairly regular on facebook.

Until next time, enjoy the warm days and keep praying for moisture!

Quick update

To much to write about and to little time today so will just do a quick update and hopefully follow up later next week.

Jess is bred.  Yay!  We're expecting puppies in about a week and a half.  She's getting pretty roley poley.  We bred her to Jamie Spring's Cort.  It should be a really nice cross.  This is Jess' first litter so I'm excited and nervous at the same time.  I think the world of that little dog!

Tomorrow is the Black Hills Stock Show dog trial.  I look forward to it every year.  There's a lot of pressure with it being a big, local trial that so many people go to watch.  I'm trying to just enjoy working my dogs and let everything else take care of itself. 

This will be Dustin and Kat's last time competing up there and I know what that feels like having retired Zac not to many years ago.  Your first dog retired is pretty tough.  I'm praying he just enjoys every minute with her out there and appreciates everything she gives him.

Wrestling season is in full swing and we have put many miles on going to tourney's every weekend.  I love it though!  I'm definetly a "cheerleader mom".  I LOVE watching my kids do their thing.

Will be back soon with a follow up from the stock show!  Until later, please pray for moisture!!!

Praying for pups!

 

(Jess)

 

We haven't had a litter of pups in a couple of years and I'm pretty darned excited about possibly getting some.  I'm watching for Jess to come into heat like someone watches a pot to boil!  She turned 3 in September and I haven't enjoyed a female this much in a long time.  She hasn't been the easiest dog to trial yet as she likes thing to MOVE and if they aren't going fast enough she has been a little quick to encourage them along with a heel bite.  That doesn't fly with judges. :-)  In her defense, I haven't been trialing much and think she's run in about 5 trials in her life.

 

She's a daughter of Jag and Jamie Spring's Reece.  Same way bred as Rock and a lot of other really great dogs!  She has great qualities from both parents.  She has enough eye to make her really stylish.  She lives to work and work hard.  I haven't found a job that she doesn't meet head on yet.  She'll go all day and has great stamina.  Doesn't hurt that she's just FUN to be around and train. 

We call her our pocket rocket.

 

We're going to breed her to Jamie's Cort.  They're very similiar in a lot of ways.  He's a little more patient with his heel bite though! ;-)  Cort likes to come forward and is level headed.  He's stylish and biddable as well.  I love how he is with Jamie's kids too!

 

She's due to come in any day so I'm going to go pray for puppies!

 

 



Cowboy

First, I must apologize for my absence on the blog yet again.  I'm afraid I'm starting to sound like a broken record.  You'd think I don't like to write with the time spent in between but nothing could be further from the truth.  I love to make words flow.  I love the feel of pen on paper.  I like to hear the sound of typing.  Just seems harder and harder to find the time.

The picture above is of my oldest son, Dustin.  He will be 18 right after Christmas this year.  It's with a mixture of pride and sadness that I say that.  I miss the days of him having to reach up to grab my hand but he is growing into a man I'm so proud to call my son.  He epitomizes everything that comes to mind when I hear the word cowboy.  He's hard working, honest, tough and gritty.  He stands up for what he believes in and can be stubborn to a fault.  He has a huge respect and genuine care for animals.  He tries hard to listen and learn from those who have been ranching longer but is also finding his voice to throw new idea's out.

He comes from a long line of people that work hard and joke around just as hard.  He didn't fall far from the tree on that one either!  He's not bashful about who and what he is and you can either like him or not, your choice.  It won't change him.  I love that there is no shame for him to hug me or tell me he loves me in front of his friends.

We have our disagreements, as families will, but he's quick to apologize if he needs to.  Just as quick to point out if it's me that does!  We were gathering cows the other day and I was telling him what he needed to do way more than any kid needs.  He waited, with more patience than I could have ever mustered myself, til we got to the corral to say, "Mom, when you look at me on this horse, do you still see a 7 year old boy?  Cause that's what you're treating me like."  He didn't say it snippy but very matter of fact and it was a reminder I needed.

My boy has grown into a man!

2012 L & M SDT Results

Another year of the L & M Sheepdog Trial has come and gone.  We had handler's from all over on their way to the National Sheepdog Finals in Oregon.  We used our commercial ewes with May lambs and they proved to be a challenge but definitely workable.  Pens were tough to come by and the tiniest bit of wrong pressure was often the undoing of great runs.

Jean Gellings and Star won the Open overall belt buckle that Jay and Sue Nies of GE Associates in Martin, SD graciously donated. Don Helsley and Jessie won the Open Ranch overall jacket.  Don Helsley and Rene LaBree did a wonderful job of sorting out the runs!  Thanks to both of you!

Thanks to my husband, Mike, who worked the setout pen both days.  A HUGE thanks to our sons, Dustin and Brady who set sheep horseback all day both days.  They did a really great job!  My niece, Tashina, gave up her time both mornings to come scribe. My mom, Jean Hines, prepared a very nice handlers dinner for everyone Saturday night.  My dad, Bill Hines, played guitar and sang with everyone Saturday night as well.  Thanks to Jamie Spring for always being there and doing anything and everything. 

I really appreciated all the help from handlers as well.  You all pitched in whenever someone was needed and I'm grateful!  Dennis Edwards, Dennis Gellings, Stormy Winters, Bud Boudreau, Barb Ross, Vergil Holland, Jon Lamson, Gary DiPaolo and Dave and Judy Parker.  Sure hope I didn't miss anyone but please know you're all appreciated! 

Hope to see you all again next year!

  Pictures on my website as well as facebook.

Open 1 Results – 9-15-12

1.   Jean Gellings -  Star – 77

2.   Jeanie Helsley - Taite – 76

3.   Tom Wilson - Roy – 75

4.   Beverly Lambert – Joe – 74

5.   Tom Wilson – Sly – 70

6.   Rene LaBree – Quinn – 67

7.   Beverly Lambert – Awel – 67

8.   Vergil Holland – Scott – 66

9.   Dennis Edwards – Craig – 65

10.                Bud Boudreau – Nan – 63

11.                Linda Whedbee – Liddy – 63

12.                Rene LaBree – Nap – 63

13.                Dennis Edwards – Ben – 63

14.                Vergil Holland – Brooke – 61

15.                Tim Naasz – Zoey – 61

16.                Dennis Gellings – Jan – 60

17.                Dennis Gellings – Tess – 58

18.                Stormy Winters – Kate – 58

19.                Bud Boudreau – Delta – 57

20.                Laura Hicks – Rock – 55

21.                Jamie Spring – Hope – 52

22.                Maureen Robinson – Hellbender – 50

23.                Bud Boudreau – Sam – 49

24.                Coleen Hawker – Ike – 47

25.                Barb Ross – Trim – 47

26.                Beverly Lambert – Hemp – 47

27.                Maureen Robinson – Newt – 47

28.                Dave Parker – Cinch – 42

29.                Dave Parker – Rose – RT

30.                Bud Boudreau – Gyp – RT

31.                Tim Naasz – Ryn – RT

32.                Jeanie Helsley – Tag – DQ

 Open Ranch Day 1 Results – 9-15-12

1.      Don Helsley – Jessie – 56

2.      Bud Boudreau – Ben – 55

3.      Don Helsley – Cody – 47

4.      Tom Wilson – Meg – 38

5.      Dennis Gellings – Jiggs – RT

6.      Jamie Spring – Cort – RT

7.      Judy Parker – Victor – RT

8.      Dave Parker – Brea – RT

9.      Judy Parker – Bly - RT

10.  Vergil Holland – Cap – DQ

11.  Bud Boudreau – Tom – DQ

12.  Rita Snodgrass – Skits – DQ

 

Nursery Day 1 Results – 9-15-12

1.      Vergil Holland – Cap – 70

2.      Tom Wilson – Meg – RT

3.      Dave Parker – Brea – RT

4.      Dennis Gellings – Jiggs – RT

5.      Laura Hicks – Ty – RT

 Novice Day 1 Results – 9-15-12

1.      Sharilyn Lindquist – Wren – 47

2.      Charles Lindquist – Paige – 28

3.      Gary DiPaolo – Hank – RT

4.      Jon Lamson – Buzz – RT

5.      Judy Parker – Rhys – NC

 

 Open Day 2 Results – 9-16-12

1.   Dennis Gellings – Tess – 93

2.   Jeanie Helsley – Tag – 84

3.   Tom Wilson – Sly – 82

4.   Jamie Spring – Hope – 82

5.   Jean Gellings – Star – 78

6.   Dennis Edwards – Ben - 77

7.   Beverly Lambert – Awel – 76

8.   Dennis Edwards – Craig - 71

9.   Vergil Holland – Scott – 70

10.                Bud Boudreau – Delta – 70

11.                 Tom Wilson – Roy – 69

12.                Stormy Winters – Kate - 64

13.                Jeanie Helsley – Taite – 63

14.                Tim Naasz – Ryn – 62

15.                Beverly Lambert – Hemp – 61

16.                Vergil Holland – Brooke – 58

17.                Maureen Robinson – Hellbender – 57

18.                Linda Whedbee – Liddy – 55

19.                Barb Ross – Trim – 51

20.                Tim Naasz – Zoey – 44

21.                Dennis Gellings – Jan – RT

22.                Beverly Lambert – Joe – RT

23.                Rene LaBree – Quinn – RT

24.                Maureen Robinson – Newt – RT

25.                Bud Boudreau – Gyp – RT

26.                Rene LaBree – Nap – RT

27.                Bud Boudreau – Nan – RT

28.                Dave Parker – Cinch – RT

29.                Dave Parker – Rose – RT

30.                Laura Hicks – Rock – RT

31.                Bud Boudreau – Sam - RT

 

Open Ranch Day 2 Results – 9-16-12

1.      Vergil Holland – Cap – 56

2.      Tom Wilson – Meg – 51

3.      Don Helsley – Jessie – 45

4.      Rita Snodgrass – Skits – 33

5.      Laura Hicks – Jess – RT

6.      Jamie Spring – Cort – RT

7.      Dennis Gellings – Jiggs – RT

8.      Dave Parker – Brea – RT

 

Nursery Day 2 Results – 9-16-12

1.      Vergil Holland – Cap – 65

2.      Tom Wilson – Meg – 62

3.      Dennis Gellings – Jiggs – 47

4.      Laura Hicks – Ty – RT

5.      Laura Hicks – Teal - RT

 

Novice Day 2 Results – 9-15-12

1.      Charles Lindquist – Paige – 20

2.      Jon Lamson – Buzz – RT

3.      Gary DiaPolo – Hank - RT

4.      Sharilyn Lindquist – Wren – DQ

 

 

 

Things that make you go HMMM!

We're supposed to start lambing around the first of May. I remember exactly when I put rams out (Dec 5th) and even have it marked on my calendar. My rams live in a welded wire fenced lot during the "off season". There really is no escape and I'm sure I would notice any escape attempts since we feed them every day and they're literally right behind my house.

Tell all that to the 9 ewes that lambed a month earlier than planned. I have racked my brain (and rattled my families) trying to figure out what happened. I'm sure if the rams did get out they didn't let themselves back in magically without one of us knowing either.

Thankfully they seem to have stopped and will hopefully hold off until after we shear the rest of them now. So, was it immaculate conception or between the squares breeding? I doubt I'll ever know exactly what happened. To say that bugs me is an understatement! I guess I'll have to live with it though. I have begged the rams for info (even bribed with extra grain) but their not talking!

Quick update

Rock

It is the middle of March now and we've had a very mild winter here. As you can tell in the pictures, we're really dry. Praying for a wet spring to come.

Jess

Mike, Dustin and Brady all went to help fight a fire last night and there's another one going again this morning. We're supposed to be in the 70's all week. Sure enjoy the warm weather but would love to have some moisture with it too.

Teal

The ewes are starting to get fairly heavy already. We don't start lambing until the first of May. With this weather I wish we were doing it right now but you never know when old man winter might rear his head again!

Ty

Sure am enjoying working my dogs on these beautiful days! All four of them are completely different from each other but also so willing and eager to learn that it makes figuring them out fun!

Ty

I'm planning on going to a few trials this summer if I can get away. I'm hoping to have both Jess and Ty ready to run in the nursery. Sometimes I know they're ready and other days they decide they don't have ears anymore! Hmm, kind of reminds me of my teenagers. :-)

Brady wrestling

So, I usually video all of Brady's wrestling matches so he can watch them later to see what he's done and learn from it. I snapped a few pics at the beginning of a match the other day. He is in the silver singlet with the Warrior head on the side.

Cold and icey here today! Haven't had much for winter though so can't complain. Mike is already talking to people about haying for them this summer and getting haying equipment tuned up and ready to go. Yikes! I'm not ready for that again.

I am still alive!

I can't believe how long since it's been since I posted on here! Sorry. I think Facebook has ruined me for blogging. I'm going to try to post more often again but won't make any promises.

Since the last post was so many moons ago I won't try to catch you up on everything. We spent all summer haying. And I do mean ALL! Little time for anything else honestly. The boys were busy with football this last fall but we managed to host our trial the first week of Oct still. Same time as homecoming. Sure made for some tired teens!

We took a short family vacation the first weekend of December and went out to the NFR in Vegas. I can't say I enjoyed being in Vegas very much but loved the NFR itself as well as spending time with my family.

In late October we lost Jag to an extremely fast growing tumor. It still hurts to say it and I miss him every day but thankful to have several of his offspring that I enjoy working and living with so much.

Winter has been really mild and open this year. I hope we get moisture early in the spring so we still have plenty of hay to put up again though.

Just got done with the Denver and Black Hills Stock Show's. We had a bunch of fun and our dogs did well so sure can't complain. Dustin has stepped up SO much as a handler and I'm more nervous and excited watching him than running my own dogs! Kat is getting close to retirement but he's got a young daughter of hers that is looking good.

Speaking of Dustin he's a Junior this year and Brady is a Freshmen. Where or where has the time gone!! Dustin is looking at going into some type of mechanical field. He loves working on tractors!

Well, I'm sure that's scattered enough for one post. I'll try to do shorter one's more often so we all don't get bored with them!

Spring time!

Spring is in the air! The grass is getting green and we have had a couple of warm days. The day I took these pictures it was downright HOT! Today it's 45 degrees and raining. Ah, springtime!

Above is Rock basking in the sunshine. He is becoming such an asset on the place. He's a strong dog with just enough patience to be really good on ewes and lambs. He'll catch and hold a lamb gently now if I need him to. He'll give ewes plenty of time to pick up their lambs and move but if they come out hunting him he quickly puts an end to it. Hopefully I can get a chance to get some trial type work sessions with him in the next few weeks.

We are the same as done lambing. About 3 that are still going to lamb is all. It took 3 weeks and was pretty fast and furious. We had some cold, wet weather that made it a bit difficult but everything is looking good now.

(Fighting for the only sliver of shade)

We had a way higher percentage than normal. I have never had quads before and we had 3 sets of those this year. I need to go through my books and check but I'm pretty sure we had at least 15 sets of triplets as well. Those make for some little lambs that have a ways to go to catch up to the twins and singles. Hopefully with some milk, grass and sunshine they'll get there by fall though.

We have had quite a bit of cattlework in amongst lambing as well. Got the winter take in calves moved out to their home and summer grass. Two days later our summer take in yearlings got here. Preg checked our fall calvers and getting ready to ship our fall calves out as soon as we can get a truck in through the mud. Also hit a few neighbor's brandings in there as well. We're hoping to get ours done at the end of May.

Basically, spring is a time to run around like a chicken with her head cut off trying to get a lot of work done in a short amount of time. Because the next season, haying, is just around the corner! Dustin is thoroughly looking forward to it. Wish I could say the same for me. :-)

A gift from God!

Zac is 11 years old now. He ran in his last dog trial at the end of January. It was the Black Hills Stock Show and it has always been one of his favorites. I really didn't plan on running him at all this year but he's been feeling so good I thought I'd give it a go. In typical Zac fashion, he got 2nd in the prelim round and brought home money his last time out! He got 2nd and won money at his first trial when he was 10 months old as well. Seems kind of fitting, huh!


These pictures were taken just the other day (first part of Feb. 2011) and I know most people just see the gray in his face. I can't help but still see the sparkle in his eyes. This dog has been a huge part of my life for the last 11 years and will hopefully get to be for several more years. He taught me about perserverance, team work and how to handle stock. He also taught me about accepting things for just what they are! He's not perfect but there are few others (animal or human) I've seen with as big of a heart.

He still loves to help when I'm out training pups or ride along in the ranger when I go work the other dogs. He will hold sheep for any of them and still likes to compete with Jag on who can push them harder! He has no shame in the fact that he has grown to love toys in his later years.

His favorite place to be is wherever I am. It's a mutual feeling! He's laying here beside me now and when I get up to leave he'll get up, a little slower than he used to, and follow me wherever I go. It has been hard to leave him behind when we went to a couple of trials this past year because we didn't have enough room to haul everyone. We're working on fixing that problem as it's so important to me to enjoy every minute I get with him. After all, he is a gift I'm ever grateful for! Thank you Lord!!

Much ado about nothing!

It's that time of year when we're pretty much just hunkered down doing the same things almost every day. Feeding livestock, processing new feeder calves, feeding, wrestling tournaments, feeding, shoveling snow and oh yeah, FEEDING!

We do have a new guard dog pup. We call her Sara and she is a Great Pyr/Akbash cross. She's only 2 1/2 months old so a long way from being helpful yet. She is a quick study though and seems to be picking up on how to read the sheep and fit in with them well. She'll be close to the house with some feeder lambs until she's old enough to be safe out with the big bunch.

Brady's wrestling season is going much better this year. He's still an 8th grader wrestling a lot of junior's and senior's but he's beginning to hold his own again. Sure has been good for his confidence. He's wanting to play baseball again this year and his dad had consented since they'll be done when school gets out and it won't conflict with haying season. Oh yeah, more late nights!

Dustin is trying to rope as much as his free time will allow. Hopefully he'll be ready to compete by spring. Right now he has to hang out in town while his brother is at wrestling practice every night so they don't get home until late on the weeknights. He's been named sophormore server for the prom in April and he cracks me up over it! You'd think someone was threatening to kill that boy as big of a deal as he makes that he has to wear something nice that night! Way to much like his Dad. Good thing I love them both!!

I'm working on memorizing some scripture verses this year. Thought I'd share the one I'm working on now.

You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. Jeremiah 29:13 (NIV)

Are you ever ready for winter?

The pictures below are from earlier this fall. (Sept and Oct) It seems like we work all summer to put up enough hay for the winter. Then we spend all fall (and a good portion of the winter) hauling it home. This year we put up a new barn as well. My kids are sure they don't care to have to tackle that project again anytime soon!

Above is Mike standing next to the frame of the barn. He had no idea I had him in the picture that's why he's actually looking my direction! :-) He thought I was just taking it of the end as we needed pictures (as well as measurements) to take to the guy who was cutting the tin for us. The tin is all now and we just need to do a little dirt work around the edges and put the 2 sliding doors on. Nothing like cutting it close huh!

Here is Mike unloading another load of hay back in October. Look at how green it is then!! So far they've hauled about 80 loads of hay with another 20 or so to go yet. Thankfully I don't have to go with him every load. Just move the tractor every now and then.

Above is Dustin helping unload hay. He goes with his dad every minute he's not in school. He often asks if I'd like to go to school in his place so he can stay and help his dad. He's talking like he wants to come back and ranch after college. We'll see once he gets away from home for awhile but I have to admit it sure wouldn't hurt my feelings to have him come back!