Our days were long and full and fun. Lola and I continue to grow and develop as a team and our runs improve with every trial. JC only wants to please me with an intensity that some might think unhealthy, but a Border Collie owner regards as typical.
The Sheepdog Trials in Kingston were a highlight of the summer for us. If I stare for a long time and squint my eyes real hard, I can swear that's JC coming around the bend with those sheep. In this dream, I don't even need the whistle that I have but haven't figured out how to use yet.
Lola waited out the rain on trial days to reward me with ribbons and qualifying scores in Jumpers, Standard, and Snooker runs.
I can't remember if she had stopped contacts or running contacts in her winning runs, but because I reward mediocrity, I'm satisfied with whatever I could get. We won't be able to feign ignorance for much longer though as Lola turns two this week and with her last legal measurement the serious business of big girl agility (maybe even Regionals!) will have to be established.
Our Holy Grail continues to be that second Jumpers Q, but like any good adventurer knows, getting there is half the fun. At least that's what Lola keeps telling me.
The best days of our summer were spent playing at Kathryn's farm, famous as Ontario's premier non sporting home. A Simpsons sky and the smell of manure will forever be linked to Spot On in my mind. As will chocolates, pizza, and good friends.
The days now are too short to be packed with the multitude of activities that became customary for us. The evenings, too cold.
Like children going back to school, we head back to the barn within the next couple of weeks. Our winter clothes and indoor training tools will have to be found and dusted off. We'll revert back to one walk per day with a lot of household tricks and training being worked on. Maybe there will be more time to update this blog, hopefully there will be enough happening to blog about.
