Whitwick Dog Show

Having had such fun at the Hathern Dog show two weeks ago, Cherie and I decided to enter the girls into the Whitwick dog show today.

We entered more classes this time:

• Prettiest Bitch
• Bitch in best Condition
• Best Rescue Bitch
• A.V. Non Sporting Bitch
• A.V. Open

The weather was cooler than the last show, which was better for the girls. The judges were very thorough, but also very friendly and helpful. The girls were quite excited when we started, but did settle down as we went through the day.

Between us we won 6 rosettes, two 2nds, one 3rd, one 4th, one 5th and one 6th. Which we were really proud of them for. By the end of the day, Sheba also qualified to enter the Best in Show Final too.

Beth and Richard turned up in time to see us both in the last 2 classes and Sheba in the final. Beth and Cherie also took the girls to have a go on the Agility Course. That was really funny, I don't think Sheba could work out what was going on.

We were all tired when we got home, the girls had their tea and both fell asleep, Sheba on sofa next to me and Tia under Mick's feet.

Fun at the Dog Show

We decided to enter Sheba and Tia into an open class at Hathern Dog Rescue Centre's Annual Dog Show.

We had a fun day and the dogs behaved really well once they got over their initial excitement.

This was the first time Sheba has been to a dog show and I was really pleased with her manners. She was friendly to every dog and person that she met and walked nicely with me without getting distracted by everything going on around her.

Cherie and I had fun in the show ring. There were lots of entries for the open class, so we knew we would not get placed, but it was a new experience and the dogs enjoyed being centre of attention.

Here are some photos of Sheba and Tia in the show ring. There are more photos on my Facebook page.

The following are video clips of Sheba walking for the judge, then Tia walking for the judge.

Cousins come to play

May half term, my niece, great nephew and their GSD came to stay for a few days. The boys spent most of their time playing computer games and target practice with BB guns.My niece and I had a great week taking the four dogs out. The following pictures show the dogs having fun.

These were taken in the car on the way home afterwards.

Umbrella Yarn Swift

I have begun to notice that the higher end yarns tend to be sold in skeins and I am also spinning more of my own yarns too. I decided it was time to get a yarn swift.

I told my husband that I wanted a yarn swift and showed him a basic umbrella swift that I had seen for sale on EBay, hoping he might buy it me for a birthday or Christmas.

A few weeks later, he was sitting in his workshop with strips of wood, nuts and bolts, string and elastic cord. The pictures are the result:

I am really pleased with my handmade umbrella swift, it keeps a nice even tension on the yarn as I wind it off and because it opens by sliding the upper ring down, it does not need and form or clamp or lock to stay open. The skein will prevent it opening too much and once all the sides are closed, it just seems to stay closed until I need it again.

I had a flat base rather than a clamp, as I usually place it on the floor when winding my yarn.