April Coming To A Close

"The difference between winning and losing is most often not quitting". ~ Walt Disney

Not much has happened since I wrote last and yet it seems as if I have been really busy. We had an unusual Easter this year since it was the first time in 10 years that our granddaughter was not here to spice up the holiday. We were basically bored most and took ourselves out to lunch at an Asian restaurant. Our son, Trevor, came home Easter evening and stayed for a few days. He hasn't been able to get away since Christmas, and it was good to have him here. The dogs love him!

Work has been a bit stressful. I'm the main grant writer in our office, and we have a grant proposal deadline at the end of May. The grant is a large one and its funding employs a lot of people so, even though we've had the project for some time, we still worry about the possibility of competition and the future if we are not funded. Nothing can be taken for granted! So, yeah, it's been stressful. The writing is going well though and the first draft should be done by the middle of the week.

As for the Lhasas, all is well. The girls still have not come in season. It's out of my hands, so I am  trying hard not to be annoyed. Nonetheless, their tardiness has upset the schedule I had in mind. Just watch, they'll come in season at the same time and then what?? Decisions, decisions?

Speaking of decisions: "Various internet sources estimate that an adult makes about 35,000 remotely conscious decisions each day (in contrast a child makes about 3,000). This number may sound absurd, but in fact, we make 226.7 decisions each day on just food alone according to researchers at Cornell University (Wansink and Sobal, 2007)."

No wonder my brain is tired, and I hate deciding what to make for dinner each evening!

Today was a "red-letter day" because Greta's official Championship Certificate arrived from AKC! On Saturday her finishing photo arrived in the mail.

 Now for some photos!

 Here is Greta's final show photo. Note the "New Champion" on the sign.

Here is a photo taken of her when she was about 5 months old - in March of 2016, so there is about a year between the two photos. What a difference!

Greta - almost 5 months

Two posts ago I wrote about the show in Manitowoc. Here are a couple photos that were taken at that show. First is a photo of LaVonne and me with her dogs, Cooper (who is the son of my Rafe) and Misti, whom LaVonne and I co-own. Cooper won his first points that day and Misti won Best Opposite Sex. The dogs look great. LaVonne and me? Not so much. Do not ask me what that photographer was thinking when he chose that particular photo. Lately, many show photographers take a couple pictures. The companies I like best then post all the photos they've taken of a person's dog on a website, where they can be looked at and the best selected. Some show photographers are "old fashioned" in that they choose the photo and send it to you whether you like it or not. Anyway, the dogs look great. Don't look at LaVonne and me (unless you want to laugh -- we can take it!). I still can't figure out why I was looking up. There was nothing up there but a ceiling!

Cooper also won Best Puppy and went on to compete in the Puppy Non-Sporting Group, where he took a Group 4. We are very happy with Cooper. That weekend was his first show weekend and he was happy and comfortable in the ring. Very showy puppy!

Joe posted a cute photo of his Abby on his Facebook page. Abby is a litter sister to Kimmi. Their parents are Breaker (GCH CH Joyslyn's Heartbreaker) and Maggie (CH Joyslyn's Moonlight Magic).

Joe's Abby

Marsha Susag sent me a link to a YouTube video of her Lhasa Lindy participating in a Barn Hunt event. Lindy is Josh’s and Greta’s grandmother. The object of the Barn Hunt is to find the rat(s) that are protected in tubes and hidden in bales of hay. The dogs also are required to jump on a bale of hay and to go through a tunnel. Lindy’s work shown on this video resulted in a "Q" - a qualification toward a new title.
Here is a photo of Lindy taken when she stayed with us for a couple weeks.

GCH CH MLS Desiderata Lindy

Mary Rees sent some photos and updates about Belle (Joyslyn's Beauty Secret) and her other two Lhasas, Roman and Moka, all of whom run agility. Well, not Roman -- he is now retired from competition, but he still goes to the trials with the girls.

Mary wrote, "2 Qs for the girls this weekend at the AKC Twin Cities Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Club Agility Trial. It was a long day, running late, especially for Belle running last of the day."

Here are photos of Mary's girls with their ribbons, taken at home after the trial. Belle is on the left, Moka on the right.

Mary had previously written and sent a photo of all three of the Lhasas. She wrote about Belle: "Roman’s crate is on the kitchen floor;  he has a clamp on dish, always has some kibble in it. On the way to the door in the morning to go out, Belle quickly grabs a mouthful of the kibble, stops, looks at me, doesn’t chew until outside. It’s like a kid getting caught in the cookie jar. I found a bait she cannot resist…steak. It’s NY strip, ribeye. I have had to learn how to pan cook it like a restaurant, but she is tipping the teeter for steak. Only time I use steak for bait is the teeter; hopefully will get her over her fear. We have gone backwards a bit in our connection in running; Belle tends to want to run fast, just the wrong direction! She has her Novice Jumpers title. I am just not ready to move her up until we get better teamwork."

Belle in front with Roman behind her and Moka on the right

Our condolences to Roman and Violet Chichy on the loss of their Lhasa, Yogi, at age 14. He was spoiled and well loved, as all Lhasas should be. He was a half brother to our GCH CH Joyslyn MiToya Wind Walker. Here is Yogi on the day before he left for his new home with Roman and Violet all those years ago. I still remember the day they came to pick him up. 

What a cutie!

Our heads tell us that our Lhasas will be with us such a short time and leave us much too soon, but our hearts want them to live forever. Many of you reading this have experienced the passing of your Lhasas and know the horrible sense of loss. "They are waiting for us at the Rainbow Bridge" we tell each other. I have to say, I am going to be disappointed if this is not true. I fully expect to be bowled over as I am greeted by my many beautiful Lhasas who have gone before me! (I just hope they all still have a long, long wait for me!)

With that, I will end as always, with the reminder that

Life is Better When You Have A Lhasa to Love You!

Joyce

 

 

Happy Easter, Happy Spring!

“Do not abandon yourselves to despair. We are the Easter people and hallelujah is our song.”
~Pope John Paul II

Happy Easter! This year the Easter weekend happened to fall on our anniversary. On April 15, we'd been married 45 years. I do not know where the time went. The wedding memories are still fairly fresh. Lynn's college roommate, Ron, made our wedding cake (our mothers were horrified at the idea and were sure there would be no cake at the reception. It was touch and go and the cake was finally decorated with fresh flowers -- and it tasted good too!) The headpiece on my veil gave me a headache. Lynn forgot the trousers to his tux at home in his closet and someone had to make a quick run to find them. Our friends sang "You're Nobody Til Somebody Loves You" to us on the steps of the church. Lynn's friends "kidnapped" him for a joy ride and he was missing in action for some of the reception. The minister handed our host and hostess brooms and made them sweep up the rice! I recall a wild car ride with a lot of honking through our college campus. There are more fond memories. We were young, and it's a good thing we had no idea of some of the challenges that were ahead.

Here are a couple then and now pictures. (Yes, that is a crushed velvet tux - evidently all the rage in 1972!)

Then: April 15, 1972

Now!

Greta and I arrived home on Friday night. I drove to Memphis where I met Sue, Greta's handler, who graciously agreed to meet me and shorten my time on the road. The road trip was not bad but I had no idea how boring I-55 South was! Ugh...seemed to take forever to get there. My GPS is not on my list of favorite "people" because on the way home it sent me on a wild goose chase in St Louis, taking me more than 30 miles out of my way in the midst of Friday rush hour traffic and adding more time than necessary to my trip. I later figured out "she" was trying to send me to a two-lane road instead of keeping me on the Interstate. I argued with "her" but she was not persuaded, so I turned her off, found an exit, consulted a map, and made my own way back to the Interstate! Grrrr...

Here is the photo of Greta's second major that arrived in Saturday's mail. The judge is Al Krause.

Alicia sent me a note and photos of her Joyslyn's puppies Edison and Quimby. She wrote, "We adore our pups and all the fun they bring us. Edison is a rough and tumble mama's boy. He keeps up with our boys with no difficulties and will only settle for cuddles when I sit down. He must be the first in my lap in the morning! Quimby is a diva who thinks all the toys and treats belong to her.  She will steal things right from Edison's mouth while he looks mournfully to the humans for help. We are definitely working on that! Her personality is so hilarious. She will become floppy like a cat when she doesn't want to do something so we often have this floppy, broken-looking puppy to get off the couch when she knows it's time to go in the kennel for the night! They love their puppy trailer which we bought so they can join us on bike rides. We get quite a few double-takes but they love to get out and run around when we stop. It lets us take long days out without feeling guilty that they are stuck bored at home. They are learning patience and sharing as they wait for treats; they love green beans!  Everyone is house-broken (yay!) but neither has quite finished trying to use their teeth on my baseboards despite a multitude of enticing chew toys.  Puppies through and through."

Edison on the left, Quimby on the right

Edison and Quimby in their stroller

 Spring seems to have arrived at last. Our dogs are enjoying the nice weather and being outside for longer periods of time. Happy Easter, Happy Spring! Best wishes for the coming months!

Life is Better When You Have a Lhasa to Love You!

Joyce

 

 

April and Show Results

“The sun did not shine. It was too wet to play. So we sat in the house. All that cold, cold, wet day.” 

~ Dr. Seuss, The Cat in the Hat

Given the amount of rain, wind, and chill April has brought our area so far, we should have plenty of May flowers. Our spirits need the uplift a warm sunny April day could bring. Not happening so far!

When I last wrote, I told you I was headed to WI for a 4-day show. The drive there was accompanied by windshield wipers. We had one sunny day; then the cold, wind, and rain returned, and my wipers were again kept busy whole long ride home.

The 4 days were great. It was wonderful to be back in the ring and to hang out with my WI Lhasa friends. We stayed at Jan and Dean Graunke's Birch Creek Inn and hung out in Jan's kitchen, eating yummy meals she'd prepared for us, then moved to her living room where we played with Lhasa puppies Jan and Karen Schlais had bred. It was great to be together with friends again. I haven't been to a show since October.

We did "okay." I took Jenna, who needs only four single points to finish. Sitting home between the national specialty in October and this show at the end of March was not a good thing for her. She was apprehensive and on Thursday and Sunday had her tail up on the first go-around, but once on the exam table, she obviously was afraid. The tail went down and stayed. It never was up on Friday and Saturday. So I will keep taking her for the experience and to get her used to the shows again. She is not ready to win appearance-wise either. Her coat is not all the way down and new coat of a different color is coming in and that looks strange too. She is a slow maturer and I have to be patient. Her day will come - but it might be another year before that happens! Anyway, Jenna took 2nd in her class of two all four days. The winner of that class was Jan and Karen's Golden Tu Karlyn Code of the Cozmos (Mo). She took Reserve Winners Bitch on Friday to Northwind Miss Independent, but won the points the other three days.

Mon Ami's Breezy Autumn Sunrise (Cooper), owned by LaVonne Bennett, was the only male entered in the classes. This was his first show weekend. He took Best of Winners on Friday for two points. On Saturday, he took Best Puppy and went on to earn 4th place in the Non-Sporting Puppy Group. I was an especially proud "grandma" since Cooper's sire is my GCh Ch Joyslyn's Inherit The Wind (Rafe).

Karen and Jan's Ch. Karlyn Golden Tu Sing Soft Kitty To Me (Penny) took Select Bitch all 4 days, earning her points and helping her fulfill requirements toward her Grand Championship. Again, I'm very proud to be the owner of her sire, GCh Ch Joyslyn's Heart Breaker.

Josh's sister, Cinder, Joyslyn MLS Dakota Windy Winter Night Mon Ami, owned by LaVonne Bennett, took 2nd in her class all 4 days and Cinder's daughter, Misti, Ch. Mon Ami 'N Joyslyn Shades of Summer took Best Opposite Sex three of the four days, earning her points and helping her fulfill requirements toward her Grand Championship.

The Best of Breed wins were shared by the three male specials. Tami Bagley's GCHS CH Ha-Lee Kiki Ari Captain Morgan won on Thursday. GCH CH Riverview Hylan Sho  Tru Chase that Dream, shown by Lynn Meyer, won on Saturday. My Josh, GCH CH Joyslyn MLS Dakota Wind Breaker won on Friday and Sunday.

Here are some photos of Josh in the Non-Sporting Group on Friday.

Part of the Non-Sporting Group Line-up - See us at the end

Josh and me waiting for the judge to examine him

Josh on the move

One of the best things that happened over the weekend -- and I am very glad it happened on March 31 and not April 1 or I would have suspected an April Fool's joke -- was that I received news from Greta's handler, Sue Cannimore, that Greta had taken Winners Bitch and earned the last point she needed for her championship. I like looking at the words "CH Joyslyn's No Regrets." Here is a photo taken after Greta's final win.

Ch. Joyslyn's No Regrets with her handler Sue Cannimore

Sue had previously shown Greta's sister, Mysti, owned by Deborah and Ron Hauck, to her championship and grand championship. Deborah sent me this photo of Mysti, taken the day she earned her grand championship. Mysti is GCH. CH Joyslyn's Mystic Wind.

New Grand Champion

My friend, Judy Laffoon, owns two Joyslyn's girls. She originally bought Whisper, Joyslyn's Midnight Confessions, and later, when I was ready to retire Whisper's sister, Raven, Ch. Joyslyn's Midnight Enchantment, Judy bought her. Judy and her Lhasas, whom she refers to as her 'Munchkins,'live in CA. Recently Judy and Whisper participated in a benefit for the Morongo Basin Humane Society.  One activity with the dogs was a Musical Sits Game. Whisper and Judy won! Here are some photos of Whisper and Judy.

The next photo was sent by Chuck and Steve of their Joyslyn's puppy, Cooper. Cooper is the son of Josh and Luna (Ch. Joyslyn Ja-Ma Dancing By the Light of the Moon). I love his red color. You can see he has a great coat texture and such a pretty face!

Looking forward, we don't have any shows planned until the beginning of May and then we'll be busy at least three weekends with shows in WI and IL. The new puppy, Onyx, will be 6 months old and able to be entered in shows in mid-May. She is black with just a bit of white on her front feet and chin so it is hard to get a photo of her. She is a Josh daughter and her dam is Ch. Cozmos Chiennoir (Shadow).

Unfortunately, we are still waiting for the girls to come in season. They are long overdue...

Oh, and our son's band, Black Fast, is in a competition with other metal bands for the opportunity to tour with and open for Metallica. The choice of the winning band is done via online voting. If you would like to help Black Fast's chances, go to the band's Facebook page for information about how to vote. A person can vote once a day until the contest is over. Even if you hate metal music, your vote for Black Fast would be appreciated!

Events coming up this month are a visit from our son and his girlfriend, a long drive south to pick up Greta, our 45th anniversary, Easter, and our granddaughter's 11 birthday. It's a short and busy month! Let's just hope for sunny April days that show up soon!

Life is Better When You Have A Lhasa To Love You!

Joyce