Izzi ... Up and at 'um again

When my Granddaughter was here over Christmas, she ran Izzi in another Agility Trial.  Sorry folks for the braggadocio, but what's a Grandma to do  ....... :)

Normally I would do the weave pole series as a GIF, but my GIF is not working for me today:(

Woo Hoo I got my GIF to work ... proabably too little too late, but here it is ...

These pictures are complements of Steve Delaney of Paw Print Pictures ... Thanks Steve :) 

http://www.pawprintpictures.com

Six Word Saturday ...

It is raining here ... at last!

Sunday Selections

Happiness is ... a hot summer day, an agility Trial, a Granddaughter and a dog!

 

Friendship Friday

Food For Thought
Weekends don’t count unless you spend them
Doing something completely pointless.
Bill Watterson

Question Of The Week
What’s your favorite way to spend the weekend?
Do you have anything special planned for this weekend?
What are your favorite weekend activities?
Share your thoughts!

The only thing that happens at my house every weekend is Izzi's Agility Class.  I guess that defines my weekend, because I otherwise don't do weekends.  The fact is, I am retired ... every day is a weekend day now.  I can choose what I want to do (for the most part) and do it as long as I want (sort of) any day of the week.  The only time I consider weekends is when I am doing something with somebody who works and they are operating on the weekend.  

Izzi's Agility class is my favorite weekend activity.  We both love going to class together and we have some good friends there, both human and furry.  Some weekends we have Agility Trials which is what all of the class work is about.  Izzi goes out and does her thing (with me tottering along behind her) and we hopefully qualify for points toward a championship that probably won't happen in my lifetime.  The whole idea is to have fun ... and that is what we do. 

I do a lot of other things on my every day weekend days.  I love photography, so I go out whenever I can to wherever I can to take pictures of whatever I find.  Then I come home, download, sort, delete (I don't delete nearly enough according to my hard drive) and then make things or post things or print pictures, usually for other people.  I also like to dabble with my pictures ... being creative in ways as I play with them on Photoshop.  I posted some of my creations on Page 2 of my Blog that I am certain nobody has looked at ... hint, hint.  

I also love to garden, though I have admittedly gotten off to a slow start this year.  That is another of my weekend day activities.  I plant flowers that will attract different kinds of birds and butterflies.  This year I am planting a garden on my hill to attract the Monarch Butterfly ...  a Monarch Waystation, if you will,  to provide the nector and habitat necessary for them to reproduce successive generations to sustain their migration to California and Mexico.

I know there are many more things I stumble into as I look to fill my many weekend days, but for the purpose of today's Friendly Friday, I think I have said enough.  Enjoy your weekend ...   

Agility Izzi ...

I think it is time I introduce you to Izzi (Isabeau of Texas Ti) our Mini Australian Shepherd.  Izzi is my Granddaughter's dog, but lives with us ... so she really is a family dog.  My Granddaughter (who we will call HP) is an animal lover like her Grandma.  We have gone through a variety of pets since she was little ( a subject for another time), starting with mousies all of the way up to our Izzi.

Izzi ... how do I describe this little girl.  She is always happy, energetic, smart, loving, silly and fun.  She looooovvvvveeeeesss her family, which includes HP, my husband and me, her Fundog Agility family, a few select neighbors and Annie.  Annie succumbs to all of Izzi's food begging tricks, so she holds a special place in her heart for Annie.  She is an Aussie, so strangers are not preferred, but if you come around often enough she will learn to accept you. 

I have referenced Izzi's Agility several times and have been asked by people what it is.  So, I have gathered pictures from our Agility Trial last weekend to let you meet Izzi and introduce you to an awesome dog activity.  Agility is Izzi's job (herding dogs aren't happy unless they have a job to do) and she loves it, as you will see by the constant smile on her face while she runs her course. 

The pictures are not mine because I am in the ring with her, hopefully directing her (There is some question about who is directing who out there, given that I am an old poop and it takes a lot of fast thinking and moving).  I attribute the fact that I have any brain or body left to the constant stimulation of the sport and of Izzi even when we are at home.  I recommend a dog for any retiree ... they will add years and joy to your life. 

I have digressed.  I started to tell you that the pictures were taken by Steve Delaney, Paw Print Pictures, who takes pictures of all of the dogs at all of our trials.  His pictures are wonderful as he has an eye for the special moments in the run especially as he gets to know the dog's personality.  Anyway, enough talk ... Here's Izzi :)

The purpose is for the dog to complete a course of obstacles without any faults and within a given time.  Izzi ran 6 different courses on this day so the pictures are not necessarily sequential, but do include all of the different obstacles.


                                                              Tunnel

Weave Poles

A-Frame 

Jumps

Dog Walk ("Come on Mom ... where we going?")

                             That's all folks ... hope you had as much fun as I did