Our national breed show was held last week in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. The city's, and the show's, motto was "Saskatoon Shines". Well, maybe in June or July, but in the last days of April, the only shining was the silver being awarded at the dog show. The weather was cold, rainy and windy, and very inhospitable. Luckily the spirit of the show, and any native Saskatooners(?) that I came in contact with, did shine indeed, and were lovely, warm people.My friend Cynthia Charbonneau (Cynchar Shelties), asked if I would show her lovely blue bitch "Keva", who I had leased for a litter last year (see her daughter "Meena" a few posts down) and I was more than happy to do so. After winning our very competitive Open Blue bitch class, Keva was then awarded Winners Bitch, and then the most exciting moment the next day when judge Judy Kelsey chose us for Best of Winners. Cynthia handily finished Keva's Canadian championship over the 3 day weekend, taking a Group 1st in style. It was wonderful to share the fun with my friend, and I'm thankful that I could help out.There were some truly lovely dogs competing, and the overall feel of the show was so positive and uplifting ... it was just plain fun! One of the Awards of Merit was handed to good friends Kim and Pete for their darling, showy sable girl "Ch Laureate Jivara". "Cocoa" is such a crowd pleaser, and simply a joy to watch.Here's the photo of Keva's terrific win. Judge Judy Kelsey is far left, then me, Cynthia, and Cathy Reid, president of the national club. And of course, the star front and centre, new Canadian Champion Chelson Satin Image!!
The plant life is still pretty sleepy around here. I wonder just how much impact the less-than-normal snow plus our dry spring has had on the slow appearance of local flora. I took a few photos on the weekend of some of the almost timidly awakening plant life.Lilac buds from the large bush in the back ... so fragrant when mature ... 
The crabapple tree, which year after year yields just bitter fruit, but that doesn't stop the dogs from sampling, just as reliably.
One of the earliest flowering perennials, I think it's a lung wort.
I can't stay on top of the relentless buds from these pretty yellow flowers all over my lawn. I waffle between wanting to obliterate them and embracing them, their numbers seem so overpowering at times. Thankfully, they stick around only a relatively short period.
On Friday, I brought home a lovely miniature rose bush that my boss had given me. It was over-run with flowers in all stages, tiny little green budlings to fully open blooms. You can only see a couple in this picture.
While I was working in the yard on Sunday, I took it outside to get some direct sun; the temps are still too risky to plant it. I left it in a protected corner on the bench that runs the border of the deck. A few of the dogs were out, and minding their own business with a rope or some other toy.Or so I thought ... I went out a bit later, didn't see the potted rose bush where I had left it, but did see some dirt scattered. I had thought "somebody" must have knocked it over. I only wish ... 
When I picked up my little rose bush, there wasn't a single flower left. Not one solitary bloom. Neat as can be, each flower had been sharply cropped from it's stem. Each and every one. I could only stand there with the pot in my hands, and looking around for who could have done such a thing. It didn't take long before I spied the two buds who looked the guiltiest. And they didn't say a word in their defence.
The resort we stayed at was Breezes in Runaway Bay, quite the hedonistic experience, and it didn't take long to discover that "all inclusive" really means just that. It was complete, marvelous indulgence.With the relatively steady tropical climate that Runaway Bay enjoys, there are no doors or windows on any of the buildings, and you can hardly call them that. Two of the restaurants are completely in the open with just a canopy of palm trees overhead. At night, the affect is quite stunning.Chels in the lobby.
Trying out the bed ... 
The view from our balcony.
The terrace is where the buffet meals were served - breakfast, lunch, dinner - and where the nightly entertainment took place. Beautiful view of the ocean ... 
Chels in front of the Japanese restaurant, or "Black-anese", as the Jamaican chefs called it :). It was a lot of fun, and they were pretty good with those knives.
The beach was endlessly exquisite, perfect for burying your toes in, or strolling, or just watching the waves, and dreaming ...
One view of this particular pool. There were two main ones, and the other pool had a slight waterfall to divide the depths.
Chels ... self-portrait.
Yah mon ... 
Our visit was over Easter weekend, widely and wildly celebrated in Jamaica. I have to think this cute bunny was done purely for the benefit of the tourists.
"Carnival" is an annual celebration normally held for a week around Easter, and includes parades, themed costume competitions, and lots of music, food and drink. The entertainment folks at the resort recruited some of the guests and formed three "teams" for our own Carnival celebration. It was a blast!!
A friend snapped this ... we'll be back soon!
My daughter Chelsea and I spent a fabulous long Easter weekend in Jamaica. It was far too short a trip, we were home before we knew it, but at the time, many things considered, it sounded about right. If we had the slightest inkling that we would both fall head over heels in love with this incredible Caribbean island, we would have gone for much longer. Much, much longer :). We are planning a lengthier return visit later this year.I've travelled quite a bit in Canada and the U.S., but this was my first tropical venture. This was Chelsea's first trip really anywhere, first plane ride, so we were discovering the Caribbean together. We were instantly charmed by the jagged mountain face contrasting the lush tropical greenery, the warm and genuine people, and of course the soft-as-silk beaches and delightful cuisine. We brought back some jerk fixin's and so far agree that most everything tastes better jerked!Inside the Montego Bay airport, there is a reception area for most of the resort chains where you check in and wait for a ride. It was wonderful just to be there, after a long wait in the Toronto airport for the delayed flight and no real sleep, and it was a big relief to see how organized they were for tourists.
This really neat bar right outside the airport does a booming business for thirsty travellers and regulars alike. Bob Marley is indeed King, and his music was the first we heard upon landing, continued through our stay, and was the last we heard in the airport when we left. We never tired of it.
We had a speedy and occasionally hairy hour and a half drive from the Montego Bay airport to Runaway Bay. We were the only two passengers in the "shuttle", and learned that Jamaican drivers use their horns a lot, often in place of brakes. Although our driver did his best to provide some commentary along the way, we just couldn't grasp the Patois nuances, a language unique to this island. Most of the staff at the resort spoke English as well as the native dialects. We saw a number of stray, generic houndish-looking dogs and wild goats who apparently are plentiful and desirable, both for their grazing skills as much as their contribution to the cuisine. We didn't ask a lot of questions about that. I did a bit of research at home, and apparently there are no dogs or cats allowed into Jamaica at all that do not come from another "rabies free" country, such as the U.K.. There is a Jamaica Kennel Club that registers both purebred and cross bred dogs, and they do hold conformation and obedience shows. The breeders that I found online seem to have multiple small breeds (Poms, Papillons,Chihuahuas), and offer both purebreds and crosses for sale or trade. 
The Spanish were the first conquerors of this island under Christopher Colombus and ruled for approximately 150 years, after totally erasing the indigent Arawaks, who had no defence for the diseases that the Spanish brought with them, as well as the heavy toll of slavery. The British overtook the Spanish in mid 1600's, beginning a 300 year rule centralized around importing Africans for slave labour on the huge sugar plantations. Even today, the Spanish architectural influence is everywhere, while the British way of driving on the "wrong" side and right side steering wheels are just two examples of their enduring imprint. Many of the houses and buildings were in this state of not-quite-finished, but had been left this way for years. In a country where the climate is relatively steady and friendly year round, I suppose shelter as we know it here is not a vital necessity. Contrasted with villa type properties that were charming and rustic, as well as shop fronts that at this time of day were almost deserted, our drive to the resort was fascinating.
(I should mention that the photos of our trip on this post and the next part are ones that I took with my own camera and ones that Chels took on her Canon Sure Shot. She got some great pics!)
Windy, rainy weekend ... seemed like it would be time well spent getting together what I need for my income tax return. Luckily, I came across some old photos instead :). This sorrel Quarter Horse gelding, Leo Mano, was my first "serious" horse, and we did everything together. I got him when he was about 7 years old, I think, and I was in my early twenties. He was a direct grandson of the famous "Leo", and had been used at stud himself before he became available as a riding horse. I think he did his ancestor proud. Leo had a fabulous disposition, never refused what I asked of him, and was competitive enough on the horse show circuit to be a lot of fun; I continued to show for many years. He certainly inherited his speed from his famous grandfather, and left many challengers watching him from behind. Because he had been left as a stud for so long, Leo had all the musculature normally associated with stallions, the heavy neck, fore and hindquarters, but was always a gentleman. I owned a number of horses after we parted ways, but I never had another horse that meant as much to me. He was a great friend, and a great horse.
Although primarily ridden and shown under Western tack, Leo could extend his gaits and moved just as well going English.
The branded "4" on his shoulder was still common practice on the bigger ranches in states like Texas.
I took my 7 month old hopeful - "Anamchara Aminata" - to her first show this past weekend, a Sheltie Specialty just north of Toronto. I did not expect anything more than to have a good time, and to make Meena's first show experience a really good one. I think it was a success, we both had a lot of fun, and it's always great to see fellow breeders and admire their dogs. I will now likely wait until she grows up a little more before taking her out again. I believe she will be well worth waiting for!
For different reasons, I hadn't been able to get out much lately to do any shooting, and of course Sunday came along and was picture perfect, the moon and stars were all aligned, but **THE** hockey game was starting at 3:00, so I didn't want to stray too far. The dogs were feeling the benefits of such a lovely day, too, and it didn't take very long before they forgot about me and the big black thing sticking out from my face and turned to some serious fun. Dogs being dogs, sometimes the most fun comes from simple things, like chewing on a stick, or on a plastic table leg, or a little game of tooth-to-tooth combat.Here's Rustle gnashing away on a stick.
And Nash doing the same on an upturned piece of deck furniture ... 
He stopped long enough that I could get this prettier photo of him.
Rustle giving Meena the evil eye ... 
... and gnashing it up with his two best buds.
Taking a break inside, Meena and Nash continue their pretend fighting games ...
Rustle ... all this gnashing fun has made me sleepy ... time for a break.
