Winter is Coming

Here in central California, most trials are held under cover in the winter, during what we call The Rainy Season.  We haven't really had The Rainy Season in several years. We've been in The Drought. 

Signs, signs, everywhere signs

This drought has been in the forefront of people's minds around here for a long time.  This drought has lasted about 4 years.  This drought has been stressful on many levels.  Lots of water restrictions.  Signs on doors.  Signs on roads.  On brown lawns.  BROWN IS THE NEW GREEN!

Alamaden Reservoir in San Jose

Deer coming down through our yards in search of water in the trickling creek.  Mountain lions coming down through our yards for the deer. 


Alarmingly low reservoirs.  Penalties on misuse.  Penalties on overuse.  Classes for for offenders to reduce fines, like traffic school.





Apparently that is all coming to an end.  The Cycles of Life are in motion.  Hallelujiah Rain!!!  Many danced for rain for a long time, calling it in, wishing for it, praying for it.  And now an El Nino is here.  I had a strong feeling about all that dancing when it was happening.  It's absolutely glorious to see rich, lush green everywhere again!  And the giant reservoirs are starting to rise, slowly inching towards normal.  Glad to see it.  And I have a strong feeling we're going to be sick of rain long before it's over.

The Rainy Season is back.  Winter is coming here.

Weekend before last, we went to the SMART trial held at Thorsen's Arena in San Martin.  It rained a bit, and all were glad it was undercover.  But the NOISE!!!  Yikes!  Dogs barking under a giant metal roofed arena = some bigass noise!  Earplugs in = much better.  It wasn't our best trial.  I wasn't feeling up to par and had trouble keeping up with my dogs.  Especially one of them!  ;)

Last weekend we drove to Santa Rosa for the Bay Team trial at the Sonoma County Fairgrounds.  It rained hard on Saturday and harder on Sunday.  Loud rain.  Sheets and walls of rain. Opaque rain.  Hallelujiah covered arenas!  There were 'bog' spots in both rings that threatened to remove shoes, and practically sink dogs and handlers.  We all learned a new skill of sprinting across quagmires.  Hopefully.  Pools of water formed in the entry ways.  Everything was wet.  The inside of my truck was wet.  The inside of my raincoat was wet.  My feet were dry, though.  Bogs rock.  In spite of the mud.  And OMG the barking!!!  Oy!!!

A girl and her shark

I helped Mardee with the workers store.  Volunteers earn 'worker bucks', and then spend them at the store on toys/treats/poop bags/chewies etc.  It's a great system!

Mardee is in charge of the store.  She's the best.  She had some new items, and handed me a big blue shark when I got there.  Perfect.





I enjoyed sharing a room with my friend Susan and her pups.  We call it Spa.  Hot showers, soft blankets, extra pillows, non-skid rugs, dinners in, fun conversations, Pandora ambient music station playing softly, my sleep machine's crickets droning in the background, drowning out motel noise.  It helps balance out a long, active day.

Except when the motel fire alarm went off at 2:30 the first morning.  False alarm.  Instant insanity.  A 20-minute screeching-blinding-flashing-lights alarm that pulled us out of deep sleep and sent everyone out of the motel to wait outside - in the rain.  Vixen was freaked.  We were freaked.  WTF?!?  Leash the dogs!!!  Get out!!!  No sleep after that!  And up at 5am for 11 hours of agility.  Isn't this fun???

Doesn't Vixen look thrilled?

On a better note, Rachel - the same very talented Rachel who made Vixen's Sharknado coat - set up another great little photo op at the Bay Team trial - this one for Valentines Day.  As usual, resistance is futile.  We walked over there through all the hubbub and noise, posed for a few minutes, and walla!  Valentines Pups!












It seems I wasn't together for this trial either.  Lots of misfires on my part, lots of falling behind or not getting out of the way in time.  And unfortunately for my wonderful dogs, some frustration at myself.  The thing I regret the most.  The most challenging thing about agility for me is to be happy - for them - when things don't go as planned.  I tell them they're good, but they can tell.  And I have learned that's even more challenging with sleep deprivation, water everywhere, quagmires, noise.   And still we smiled.  Even when the judge said while departing, 'Sorry I had to blow the whistle on you so much!'  lol ....

On a most fantastic note, the Vixenator got two Cynosports tournament qualifiers!  Bonus!!  I had hoped to get Jemima's final needed Q, and quickly sent her off course.  Instead Vixen got those two twisty courses for a Biathalon Q!  That was awesome!  She freakin' killed a couple of courses, mouthing off all the while.  Both girls got one gamblers class, we all got goofy in the other.  Both did great in their Pairs classes.  There were many great moments and lots of laughter, camaraderie, and support, as usual.  It was fun.

I was grateful there were no more screeching fire alarms.  And after three very long days of agilitizing, the party ended.  I helped tear down Monday night, grabbed a latte, and drove the 2+ hours home.

We love this place

There's no place like it.