First dog show

This weekend I had my first dog show with George.  It was a practice 4-H dog show to qualify for County Fair.  We had to be there super early and George had to be super clean.  I bathed him and trimmed his claws the day before.

Me and my 4-H friends

My first class was showmanship.  I had to run the dog around the ring and show off his looks.  Then the judge asked me questions about his breed.  We did OK and got a red ribbon.

Red ribbon!

 After showmanship, we had to do obedience.  He wasn't the best at that but he did do a good recall (he came to me when called).  It was a fun day and it was good to have the experience and know what I need to learn still.

Bean teepee

We decided to make a bean teepee because it would be a fun hang out in the summer but also be a good place for our beans to grow.

We started by spray painting a circle in the middle of the garden.  Then mom cut the line and I pulled out the turf.

We built a teepee frame out of bamboo.

Then we wrapped string around it until we got to the top.

I planted bean seeds all around the bottom leaving an opening.  I'll be excited to see my beans grow and to play inside of it.

Fire pit

This week was spring break and mom had lots of projects planned.  The first was to build a fire pit in the lower field.  Me and London had to dig a hole but we kept hitting stones as big as cinder blocks.  Finally mom got back from Home Depot and we quickly built the pit. 

Fire pit in a truck

Finished fire pit

Our first fire

A ring of fire

 While we were clearing a wood pile, I found a nest of baby mice.

A nest of baby mice

Mick's new job

Mick is now pretty much completely blind and deaf but he has decided to be guardian of the goats.  He spends endless hours "staring" at the goats from the outside of the fence.  And sometimes they stare back at him.

Guitar practice

George decided to be my audience as I practiced my guitar.  He even sang along, though not in tune (just like me).

Snuggle bug

I'm not sure what you can say about these photos except there's some serious love and trust between this pup and his girl.

George visit the nursing home

Emmy's 4-H group went to visit a local Alzheimer's facility today with their dogs.  We weren't quite sure how George would do because he really likes people.  That's usually a good thing when visiting strangers, but in George's case, could be a bad thing.  But he did remarkably well and seemed to know not to jump on or paw the residents.  And the residents loved George!  He might just have a future as a therapy dog...

Airing out the chickens

It was a sunny warm day and the girls had never been out of the garage. So we brought them outside and set up the chicken play pen. It's not really a play pen, it's wire panels we put together and made a pen.  We quickly realized that George wanted in and the chickens wanted out!

Then George got in!

 
We made a lid so George couldn't get in and the birds couldn't get out.

They enjoyed the grass and the sunshine.

Mick was protecting the chickens.

Goat walks

One day Emmy decided it was a good idea to walk Ann (the black goat) around the yard.  She put a slip leash on her neck and Ann just followed Emmy happily around.  Natalie, was not too pleased that she got left behind.