dog show

From: Caroline
Sent: Tuesday, December 11, 2001 10:08 AM
Subject: dog show

It never occurred to me that dog shows would be run any differently from those that I knew, i.e. the dogs of each breed arranged neatly on benches in rows so that you could compare them. At the Bayside show there was nothing like that - all the dogs were sequestered away in their crates, all breeds mixed up. If I had known I would have made a big effort to have been there at 9AM when they were showing the Cavalier spaniels. As it was I missed them and never could find an owner or handler. I met up with my riding friends and we watched the agility class - dogs dashing through tubes, running up ramps, weaving through slalom sticks - the speed!!the amount of training!! flabberghasting. Took a look at the Goldens - they are so small now and so light in color. Saw slides of myself with my Goldens at Thanksgiving some 50 years ago - you'd think they were a different breed. As I turned away from their ring I saw a funny sawed off brown dog with long ears -I couldn't believe I'd be seeing a Sussex Spaniel at the show as they are so rare in this country although a long established breed in England. His name was Charlie Brown and he laid his head on my shoe. I was smitten and have the name of his breeder whom I shall call today.

Not much news on the avian population - found one egg in the hen house and shall have some laying boxes built when my friend Scott comes to reshingle the south facing sides of the house.

For some time I've thought about writing a section called The Stupidest Thing I did All Week and after what I did last week I know I must. I had been told that by dampening a tea towel which had become kind of old oven smelly and putting it in the microwave , you could get rid of the smell. As I had one which no amount of washing or sunning could cure, I tried it. Well, 4 minutes is too long in case you should try it. I was smelling something sweet and scorchy when I remembered and went to pluck it out when it burst into flame, having been deprived of oxygen in the microwave. Fortunately the door to the porch was unlocked so I dumped it on the floor out there and poured water over it. Made the house smell awful. Next time I'll try 1 minute.

Today I'll be riding on a beautiful French dressage saddle now that we have been able to find a pony sized girth to fit Dueno. Percheron girths were ludicrous and no way could we make more holes to get them to fit. I have been riding a little western saddle which has been okay, but it twisted my legs slightly and I didn't have the close inner thigh contact that I was used to.

Love to all