Finally: A Lands' End catalog photo!

See page 10-11 in the Plus Size catalog here http://s7.landsend.com/s7/brochure/flash_brochure.jsp?company=LandsEnd&sku=1811_eCatalog&config=LandsEnd/012611_V1_Core&locale=en

Yep: Those are two Ebbtide dogs: left: "Emmy" Ebbtide Wish Come True CGC owned by Pam and Harold Michalek and myself, and right, "Spencer" BBXBIS AKC/ASCA CH Ebtide Fine Fellow CD, working it for Lands' End last April. "Spencer" is owned by Judi Scherrer and myself and I was the lone dog wrangler for this gig. This vineyard was just a few miles from our house. The lovely human model was a charming woman, originally from Texas, now from NYC.

It was a hot, hot day that day and a couple rattlesnakes were seen up at the staging area. Not a single word of the 100 degree heat was heard from any models. Me, on the other hand...

We also worked two days doing more LE photo shoots out near Bodega Bay on a big ranch. "JJ" AKC/ASCA CH Ebbtide Careful What You Wish, was also an "accessory" model and had some beautiful shots taken out on the coast in a rock outcrop...I'd love to see those.


This is a shot taken by the ranch owner - Emmy and Spencer again.

It was an exciting experience and challenging work at times, doing some distance, off-leash walking with the models with 2 and 3 dogs. The sitting and cuddling shots were a piece of cake.

Hope to see more of the dogs in Lands' End fall catalogs soon! But, who knows..

Warm, warmer, HOT, rain and snow.

January 25 : JJ soaking in the sun by the pool. That's Coleonema 'Sunset Gold' at his....feet

January 31: Daffodils and Euphorbia 'Blackbird'

Feb. 7: Kitties rejoicing for warm weather! (Bob)


Feb. 17 Malcomia maritima (Virginia stock) - a reseeder!!

Ed the cat admires 4 yards of new compost! Note to cats: NOT a kitty potty

We had over two weeks of warm (and dry!) weather in January/February. Sprinklers were going, daffodils blooming, trees budding and blooming. Temperatures in the 80s! I kept telling the garden "Go back to sleep. Mother Nature is messing with you."

yeah - I'm talking to you - go back to sleep


I won't waste my time to talking to you - you're always in bloom

Hollyhocks (single pink) starting under the pink chair

Grapefruit and....Tibouchina....whooaaaa nelly

Rosemary in bloom - it's on schedule for us

As we entered the third week of dry, balmy weather, I joined in the fray with a trip to the nursery to refresh a couple pots and bare spots in the garden.

JJ and flora: Showing the true versatility of (as my young friend, Chris called it) "The Popemobile".

And, yes, I did buy that fragrant yellow scotch broom *gasp* the one on the invasive plant lists. I haven't seen any of this growing invasively in my parts. Two hours west to the coast: yes - lots. It was a moment of fragrance-induced stupor that made me grab it and put it in my cart, all the while cussing the store for having it in stock...I'm planning on putting it in an urn next to the gravel path. It is heavenly fragrant right now. Maybe I'll kill it when it's not so nice smelling....bwaaaahhaahhaahhaa

The blue and white violas (pansies) will be nearby in the ground. As for the pink group, there was a planter that needed filling....

Pink ranunculas, paper whites and pink-with-white edge cyclamen.

Love Love Love this group and officially named it my "Valentines Bouquet" and promptly installed it on the front porch.

Feb. 15 : aahhhhhh

I heart cyclamen. I heart their heart-shaped leaves, too.

Things get kitschy....and then....

Two days later:

Mother Nature, you are so funny.

Ebbtide Wish On A Rainbeau "Beau"

JJ's handsome big brother, Beau, is the current star!

He and owner/trainer/handler Cathy Baird hit the San Mateo KC Cluster for two days on Dec. 30 & 31, 2010 and competed in AKC Rally for the first time. As a first time dog show handler, Cathy made a common error and entered Beau in Rally Novice B (for experienced handlers), instead of Rally Novice A (first time competitors). Nonetheless, Beau and Cathy turned in 2 respectable performances which qualified for their first two legs for their title AND earned them a THIRD PLACE IN RALLY NOVICE B, with a score of 94!

I love Cathy's comment to me after her first day in Novice B: "With my score today, I would've been in First Place in Novice A." ouch. Live and learn, you know.

In the conformation ring, I manages to show Beau to 2nd place in Open Blue on Thursday before I headed home. Cathy showed Beau herself on Friday and won FIRST PLACE AND RESERVE WINNERS DOG! Who needs me?!?!!

Owner/trainer/handler Cathy Baird and Beau and their haul from the 2 days at San Mateo in December.

Beau, just 10 days short of his 3rd birthday

BIG congratulations to Cathy and Beau! We are proud of another great member of the WISH litter (BIS CH Tri-Ivory Make A Big Wish HOF x CH Ebbtide Fern)!

Trying Out The New Camera

"Fern" CH Ebbtide Fern


"Maddie" Ebbtide Madam President CD


"JJ" Ebbtide Careful What You Wish


Three Generations: L to R Maddie, her daughter Fern, grandson JJ


Meyer Lemons - faithfully wrapped in blankets at night to stay warm




Coldest morning yet...


Euphorbia 'Blackbird'


Cold rose


The dogs don't care if it's cold..

Paperwhites yesterday

Foster - the old kitty - 19.5 years

Ebbtide Call Of The Wild "Piper" aka Peanut

Peanut/Piper At 12 weeks of age, above and below

We are pleased to announce that Peanut - now known as "Piper" Ebbtide Call Of The Wild is happily ensconced in her new home in Castro Valley, CA with owners Lynn Ungar and Kelsey Hartman and their daughter, Mattea. "Piper" shares her home with two other dogs (with tails!): a 9-year-old Bernese Mountain Dog, "Coretta" Sunshine's Freedom Rider CDX RE DD W-FDM/MF W-FDX/HTM) and a five-year-old Belgian Tervuren, "Taz", LandmarkMontage Puppetmaster CDX AX OAJ OF RE W-FCh./MF W-FDM/HTM. As you can see, we are thrilled that Piper will be the beneficiary of Lynn's skilled training and handling!

Piper loves her new mom, Lynn!

And Lynn loves Piper

Piper adjusted quickly to her long-tailed, pointy-eared brother, Taz, who played very kindly with her at their first meeting and continues to keep her engaged. In fact, she likes him so much, she wants to have ears like him, too.....hmmm....we're hoping that is just a teething thing.

Mattea and Taz the Terv play tug with Piper

Here is the official Christmas photo Lynn sent:

People, left to right: Lynn, Kelsey & Mattea. Dogs left to right: Coretta, Piper and Taz

Ebbtide Good Ol' Greetin' UD "Howdy"

Those cute little pups have been hogging all the blog space here lately. So my apologies to Judie Howard and her dog, "Howdy", EBBTIDE GOOD OL' GREETIN' UD and their spectacular AKC obedience accomplishments in October and November! Howdy is from the "G" Litter - now 4 years old and Ebbtide Madam President CD, "Maddie"'s last litter by CH Rainedance Written In Stone CD AX AXJ.

Here's a summary of the awards and placements HOWDY and Judie garnered - there should have been at least THREE blog posts to report all this...again, my apologies. It sucks that cute trumped actual performance here ;-) curse you, puppies...

OCTOBER - Del Valle KC cluster shows:

4th Place UTILITY B, score 194 - Skyline KC , Livermore, CA, Judge Alvin Eng: 20 entries in this class (Utility B - the big guns) - Howdy's 2nd UD leg.

3rd Place Utility B, score 195.5 Del Valle DC, Livermore, CA, Judge Christopher Cornell

24 entries. HOWDY EARNS HIS UD AND picks up 3 pts toward his OTCH and 12 points towards hi OM1!

NOVEMBER

Nov. 6 2nd Place Open B score 196.5 Napa Valley DTC, Vallejo, CA, judge Beatrice Moore

Nov. 7 3rd Place Utility B score 191 Vallejo DTC, Vallejo, Ca, judge Carolyn Wray

1st PLACE OPEN B score 199 !! Vallejo DTC, Vallejo, CA, judge Kenneth Blanchard

***HIGHEST SCORING DOG IN TRIAL***

***HIGH COMBINED AWARD***

And his first UDX leg!

Nov. 28 2nd Place Utility B San Joaquin KC, Stockton, CA

1st Place OPEN B 198.5 judge Kent Delaney

***HIGHEST SCORING DOG IN TRIAL***

***HIGH COMBINED AWARD***

He now has 2 of the 3 first places he needs for his OTCh and is up to 21 points in just four shows!

CONGRATULATIONS TO JUDIE & HOWDY!

Ebbtide Trouble In Jellystone "Yogi" at 12 weeks

Yogi works on his sit stay...

I just got these photos of Ebbtide Trouble In Jellystone "Yogi" (aka MuscleMan) from new owner Barbara Hasey, Concord, CA. She and Yogi are busy training towards Agility competitions. Barbara enjoys his high toy and food drive, energy, quickness to learn, athleticism and that his tail is always wagging. Sounds like it's a great match up! I'm happy Yogi has "big brother" Cody to set a good example, too.

Hope I get some more photos and updates SOON from more of the "Camping" litter! Yogi is sired by CH Calais Carolina Vintage T-Bird and out of Ebbtide As You Wish.

Yogi gets released from his sit stay...

aahhhh..that's what he was after: The tug!

Upsidedown tug with Cody

Yogi loves his grandbaby

Yogi loves his big brother, Cody, too.