Something Extraordinary

There are special moments in life that just stay with me. You know, those 'Kodak moments,' those times or favorite images that we know are coming during special events or even just the miracle of the 'everyday' or dailiness of our lives. For example, my favorite wedding photo is usually when the rice (or bird seed these days) is thrown at the newlyweds. I love when small babies make that sucking motion with their sweet baby lips when they are fast asleep. I love generational photos of little wise old great great grandmas with a knowing twinkle in their eyes holding the hands of their young granddaughters.


I'm just back from the Potomac Corgi Specialty Show. The very handsome CH. Happiharbor Saddlelane Ty went Best of Breed. The show was wonderful, as always. The Potomac club always does a great show. The judges all did a fantastic job. The Best of Breed ring was breathtaking. The moment when the judge says to the entire class, 'take them all around please' is one of those moments that sticks with me. To me, one of the prettiest sights is watching a lovely ring at a Specialty filled with Champion Corgis all go around together. It is in this moment that one can see the love and devotion to the breed shine through. The very best 'on the day' goes home with the coveted Best of Breed, but we all share in this win, really. For it is not the brilliant ruffled piece of taffeta ribbon part of the win that we share, but something much, much more. It is everything that we know goes into achieving this prize. It is all about love. And with that love comes a promise to protect and improve the breed for future generations. It is why we spend our days taking care of the insides and outsides of these wee beasties. Showering them with love and care. That's why we make the trek to these shows I think. Packing way too much 'stuff' into our vans and cars to attend these shows. It is a ton of work, but so very worth it.

So, we make the trek. Of course we all want to win, too! Specialty shows are a wonderful place to have breeder judges who have spent their lives devoted to the breed give us all a chance to perhaps make a little pawprint in our history for future generations to study and learn from.

I have yet to unpack my car. I have way more email in my inbox than when I left home on Wednesday for Gettysburg, PA. I still don't know who was voted off American Idol (don't tell me...I've got it on my DVR!) And speaking of 'Idols,' do yourself and your spirit a favor and watch this very short video clip of Britain's Got Talent. Even Simon Cowell was truly impressed by this Scottish 47 year old singer who just wanted a chance. Singing "I dreamed a dream" from Les Miserables, is Susan Boyle. Susan, I wouldn't change even one hair on your head. You are lovely. Turn up your speakers and be inspired, my friends. xo xo xo -CS ^..^

photo copyright ITV

New Original ACEO Art Cards

ACEOs are a great way to own and collect original art. These little cards are enchanting and pack a wallop when it comes to versatility. They can be framed as is or matted and framed or placed in an album for a fantastic collection of miniature Original paintings from your favorite artists. They are about the size of a standard playing card. Click the Ebay logo to see these new 5 and 7 day auctions! -CS ^..^

Green Squinty Glowing Corgi Eyes, or A Tale Of 10 CERF Exams

About a week ago, Mary Elizabeth and I took advantage of a hip and eye 'clinic' sponsored by the Nutmeg Portuguese Water Dog Club in Connecticut. We were honorary PWD's for the day. It is good to be able to bring your dog to one of these sponsored exams because the normal vet fee is usually discounted a bit and when you have a few dogs to check, the savings can quickly add up, leaving you money to buy more dog biscuits and toys or go to Starbucks :)

Eye drops which cause dilation are needed for part of the exam. They need about 15 minutes to work and then the doctor will bring your furry friend in for the examination. As you may be able to tell from the photos, the drops cause their eyes to glow green and get squinty when the light hits them.

Mary Elizabeth had her camera so I just had to snap these photos. Having parents and babies together was just too blog-worthy for me to pass by. The top photo are Halo & Darby babies, the bottom are Bridget & Darby/Gabe babies. Thanks to Jeanne (to Mary Elizabeth's left) and Jo Ellen (to Mary Elizabeth's right) for helping with the photos!Left to right: Romeo (Jeanne) Emma, Halo (Mary Elizabeth) Darby, Kaizey (Jo Ellen) and Willow (giving Jo Ellen a kiss!)

Here we have Bridget and her babies. Left to right: Cash, Bridget, Amy and Stella (who surprised Jo Ellen by jumping up when she heard a noise!)

Getting a CERF exam is easy and pretty quick. You need to have your dog's permanent ID# (microchip), AKC registration number and date of birth when you go. The board certified veterinary opthalmologist will fill out a form that looks like this one below (Bridget's) which then can be mailed to the Canine Eye Registration Foundation in Illinois. Any dog used for breeding should have their eyes examined and be found within normal limits. Annual re-examination is recommended for any animal that is directly or indirectly involved in a breeding program.

Happy Monday! xo xo -CS ^..^

Happy Easter!

"He is not here, for He is risen as He said." -Matthew 28:6

Wishing you all a Joyous Easter.

Love,

Cathy

Meet Lola

This is what happens when you have an extra crate in your car. You go to the vet and come home with a bunny who needs a home. She is a rather large rabbit. Very friendly. She loves to hop around while I'm painting. Isn't she a cutie pie? She's a good girl and very sweet. Except when she tries to nibble the hem of my jeans....

Here she is munching on some goodies in her bowl. She is standing in front of those drawers I painted (still looking for key tassels for them!) I did go with the red rick-rack design with the knobs painted red with white polka dots. The underside of them are painted white. I love love love the way they turned out. They look like magical little toadstools. More photos of the room in progress will be coming soon.

Here is a little Corgi with bunnies and carrots painting (the frame is about 3") I did for a "Colonel Bunn Exchange" with my kindred spirit Tasha Tudor friends in our Take Peace group. You can read about it at this post on Suzanne's blog. It is destined for Alaska, scheduled to be delivered today.

I hope she likes it! I'm working on a few other small paintings that I hope to put on Ebay or Etsy later on. I'll post here as soon as I finish them. Have a lovely day everyone!

Warmly, Cathy ^..^

Artist Confidential: Billy Ray Cyrus at Sirius Satellite XM Radio

If watching a studio recording of one of your favorite artists behind sound proof studio glass with about 38 people sounds like a party, then pinch me and pass me a party hat because that's where I was today. My daughter and I got to attend the recording of a wonderful performance by Billy Ray Cyrus at Sirius Satellite XM Radio in New York City. If all you know of Billy Ray is the handsome guy singing Achy Breaky Heart or only know him from Hannah Montana, then you have a lot of catching up to do. Stop by his website and have yourself a listen to some of his newest music and see all of the fantastic and creative things he has been up to. He is not only a song writer and musician, but an actor and tirelessly gives of himself to support our troops and many charities that are close to his heart. His new album Back To Tennessee is out today. Billy Ray did a few songs from it for us, along with some old favorites. It is wonderful. The song Back To Tennessee is in Hannah Montana The Movie which comes out this Friday, April 10th. Just go on and see it. ( You know you wanna.) The movie and soundtrack also feature Rascal Flatts, Taylor Swift and Steve Rushton. Not too shabby, eh?

Oh yes, back to today. I've never been to a recording studio or radio station before so it was fun just to be there. A few years ago The Mister and I had tickets and backstage 'meet and greet' passes to see Billy Ray at one of the Casino theaters in Connecticut. My dear Grandma died that day so of course we had to give them up. Today more than made up for it though. It felt like he was performing just for us and at certain points during the interview conversations I almost forgot where I was because Billy Ray is so down to earth and puts such heart, honesty and thought into his answers that it was like listening to an inspiring friend over an iced tea on the front porch. One thing that always amazes me about him is that he has such a diverse audience of all ages. I'm not sure when the performance will air, but did you know that you can subscribe to listen to Sirius Satellite XM Radio over the internet as well as the radio? They have tons of channels and something for everyone. They will surely announce Billy Ray's show on their site. Bravo and many thanks to the Artist Confidential crew over at Sirius as well. I appreciated the invitation very much.

Now for a few photos. It is nearly impossible to take a photo (even without a flash) with glass in between, so I apologize for the blurry and the glare. Still, I think you'll get the idea of the set up for the performance. The band is Miley Cyrus's band. Billy's band 'Sly Dog' wasn't there today. You can click on the photos to enlarge them a bit if you like.

Brandi Cyrus, Billy Ray's lovely eldest daughter.

Here's an autograph wall near the recording booth. For all of you Hannah Montana

fans, note Miley in the corner.

And since the Sirius Satellite studio was practically across the street from Magnolia Bakery...

I'm happy to put last week's computer woes behind me.

There's nothing like Billy Ray Cyrus, a day with my daughter and pretty cupcakes to put you right again! -CS ^..^

Big fun. Stupid computer things. Big fun, again.

Big fun. A couple of weeks ago we had the opportunity to see Craig Ferguson doing his stand up comedy show live in Purchase, NY. We were so happy to have had the tickets way in advance because it seemed like a full house and we had fantastic seats. My face hurt from laughing so hard. I've posted here before about how much we enjoy his show at our house. He is on late night CBS (photo from his Late Late Show website on http://www.cbs.com/ ) but do set those Tivos! He makes me laugh every day. Just the right combination of smart and silly for me. And Lord knows we can all use a laugh.

Stupid computer things. I have a love-hate relationship with my computer. Last week I hated it. A lot. I decided to use a program that would help me to organize my emails and mega-folders and, (nutshell version to spare you the agony) I lost a big bunch of stuff. Important stuff. A lot of it. I know, I know, I should have back up. That's what I thought I was doing by using this program. Lesson learned, the hard way. I cried for 2 days and now I'm better. (sniff, sob, really I am.....) I'm researching better ways to save and organize my computer things now. If you have anything saved on your computer or in email company servers, please learn from my mistake and get your stuff backed up and save yourself the heartache. If you have sent me an email that I haven't responded to or any requests, would you re-send to me at christmascorgi@gmail.com?

Also, (most sad about) all of the adorable photos of your Corgis that you've sent to me. Please, do send them again so I can put the box of puffs away.

Big fun, again. So the other night my friend visited (thank heaven for aerobeds!) and we got some Chinese take-out. Fortunes in our cookies around here have been getting stranger and stranger lately. I'll post some of them that we've kept one of these days. I'm wondering if the fortune in my latest cookie has anything to do with what I'm doing tomorrow.

I'm very excited about it. I guess it is sort of a small party that I was invited to. Strange customs? Hmmm....I hope not. I'll tell you more about it tomorrow when I get back. For now, I'll tell you that it involves a trip into Manhattan, a radio station and Billy Ray Cyrus. Sleep tight my lovelies. xo xo -CS ^..^

A little question

Hello my dear readers! I have a little poll to the left of this blog. Would you take a minute and let me know your thoughts? I appreciate it, and I appreciate you all so much. Warmly, Cathy ^..^

Extreme Shepherding

Yes, I'm once again writing a post in the wee hours of the morning. Almost 1:00 AM EST. Just back home from the Herding Group Association dog show in New Jersey. We are still not quite sure why this show is on a Thursday night, but it is always a fun show to attend because it draws so many Corgi people and we get to catch up with our friends.

Speaking of herding, you must watch this video, done by a group of fellows in Wales. It is amazing. It is like the Disney Electric Light Parade but instead of people wearing the lights....oh, you have to see for yourself. I just, well, have no words.
Believe it or not, Cathy is actually speechless. -CS ^..^
(p.s. you may want to scroll to the bottom left column of this blog to pause the music to hear the video!"

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Stella would love to join you for some serious St. Patrick's Day partying.

Fair warning:

She can't hold her licker.

Happy St. Patrick's Day everyone! Blessings to you all.

With love from everyone here at home and

Cathy, Mary Elizabeth, and all of the Reinwood Corgis.

xo xo xo

-CS ^..^

New Original Corgi Art

This piece is entitled "Blowing Coat." (I know my Corgi owner kindred spirits can relate!)

*This is a three day listing on Ebay* Pop on over to check it out!

Have a happy day! -CS ^..^

**Sold! New paintings in the works :)

Kiss me.

You know you want to.

Spiffy-ing up the studio

My little studio is in desperate and long over-due need of a fresh paint job.

Looking out the studio back door, there is a new blanket of snow.

Even the furniture outside the studio is begging for some fresh paint.
That will have to wait until the Spring, however.

While the outside will have to wait, at least I am able to work on the inside. I've been completely in love with Alicia's blue, but since my house is surrounded by trees and light is precious, I decided to go with a lighter color, a lovely yellow, and use the blue as an accent color rather than do up the whole room with it.

I am using that blue along with quite a few others for accent colors instead. This, however, is why I think the people in the Home Depot's paint department run when they see me coming.

I can't even begin to tell you how many gallons of paint I have purchased, painted entire walls (or sometimes entire rooms) only to decide I didn't like the color and had to go back to the store. Then I discovered that you can buy small jars of paint which are intended to be samples for you to try out a swatch of color to see if you like it. For about $4 per color, they will go to their spiffy little computer and then mix up any color you like. Oh joy! Oh happy day! Well, for me anyway. The folks in the Home Depot paint department?....mmmm....not so much.

I have two identical sets of built in drawers with a long desk-top going across a radiator which is in the center of the two. The drawers are old and rather, well, crappy. They really should be replaced, but that will have to be on the 'some day' list. For now, I replaced and painted a couple of broken knobs and loosely hand-painted some cheery designs on the drawer fronts, trying not to get too 'perfect,' which is not easy for someone who usually paints tiny illustrative detail. It is hard to tell from the photo, but there is a bit of the pink shmooshed into the yellow and vice versa. The checkerboards are a bit wonky, you get the idea. There is an identical dresser to the right of this one. The Mister painted the bottom drawers (missing from the photo) blue for me so now I've got to decorate them up a bit. I will try and find a couple of old skeleton keys for the keyholes in the stripey drawers and hang a big fat colorful tassel from each one.

So I've got my lovely-favorite-blue drawers but now I need to paint something on them. I'm thinking a red rick-rack border? And I will need to do some sort of design on the knobs. What do you think?

I've still got quite a bit to do in the studio. I will show you when it is done. Oh, I do hope I will have enough paint to do my chair. If not, back to the Home Depot.....CS ^..^

Taking Chance

We've been giving my little studio a much needed paint job these past few days. Late yesterday afternoon the Mister, myself and our daughter stopped to have dinner. We watched some of the Lord of the Rings marathon and had really yummy salads and ice cream sundaes. After cleaning up a bit, I flipped through the channels to see if I could find out how much snow we might actually be getting. Did I mention it is snowing? Well, it is. We've got at least 6 or 7 inches out there so far. Anyway, while flipping the channels I was compelled to stop on HBO to watch the most wonderful movie starring Kevin Bacon. I didn't plan to, I was planning to go to bed 'early.' I'm so glad I watched this film.

It is the true story of Lieutenant Colonel Michael Strobl, USMC who had requested that he be assigned for military escort duty to accompany to his family the remains of 19 year old fallen Marine Lance Corporal Chance Phelps. From HBO's website: "His first-person account, which began as an official trip report, gives an insight into the military's policy of providing a uniformed escort for all casualties. The story became an Internet phenomenon when it was widely circulated throughout the military community and eventually reached the mainstream media. 'Taking Chance' chronicles one of the silent, virtually unseen journeys that takes place every day across the country, bearing witness to the fallen and all those who, literally and figuratively, carry them home. A uniquely non-political film about the war in Iraq, the film pays tribute to all of the men and women who have given their lives in military service as well as their families."

You can find the HBO trailer here, along with the airing schedule. If you are snowed in today as I am I highly recommend making a pot of tea and watching this film on HBO on demand.

Keep a box of Puffs handy.

Well done, Mr. Bacon. Well done. -CS ^..^

The Birthday Girls

Happy Birthday to our crazy girls Stella and Amy!

I love you with all of my heart. xo xo -CS ^..^

Westminster Dog Show, Part Two

As promised, here are some more photos of our day at Westminster 2009. While it may look very glamorous on TV, here is our reality at 5:30 AM at Madison Square Garden. You have to enter by going up a long ramp and take the freight elevator to the benching and grooming area. Here is Mary Elizabeth. She looks entirely too perky for such an un-Godly hour, doesn't she? And this is before we found Starbucks...

Some of our stuff on the dolly. Luckily we had my husband

and our friend Al to help us throughout the day. They were

parking the van at this point and met us at the bench. Thanks

to Al who took many of these photos as well! Click on the photos to enlarge.

Westminster is a benched show. This means the dogs must be in their assigned benching area throughout the day unless they are being groomed, are in the ring or are taking care of potty business.

Speaking of 'potty business' here's a funny little story. Bridget's bench mate, Tedi B stayed across the street at the Hotel Pennsylvania with her owner and our friend Jane O'Neil. Tedi B simply would not 'go' outside on the city concrete or in the indoor shavings pens. At the crack of dawn, Jane found herself taking a taxi to Central Park so Tedi could 'go.' She just needed a little patch of grass, that's all. As soon as she hopped out of the $24.00 cab, she did her business right away. Jane said it was the most expensive poop she has ever seen.

Here is Bridget's bench as we were setting up.

We decorated it with little hearts for

Valentine's Day.

Taking a break.... It is SO crowded!

Bridget waiting ringside for the Corgis to be called in.

She hasn't been shown in such a long, long time. But she is a

true showgirl at heart, Miss Bridget. She loves being in the

ring and remembers just what she needs to do.

Mary Elizabeth did such a great job presenting her. Bridget loves her.

Come to think of it, all dogs love Mary Elizabeth. She is like Snow White.

(Sometimes I think there are little bluebirds and woodland creatures following her...)

left to right: Rowdy, Ike, Bridget and Tedi B on the bench at the

end of the night. They were SO ready to go home!

The following familiar and favorite photos were in the scrapbook we brought with us for the spectators at Westminster.

Making snow angels....

Bridget's puppies have lovely families!

It is said that there is nothing like the Westminster Kennel Club dog show. While it is an exhausting and long, hectic day, I highly recommend that every dog lover experience it. There you will find hundreds of show breeders who put their heart and soul into the preservation, improvement, protection and welfare of their breed.

If you are considering getting a Corgi, a good place to start is the PWCCA. Each club member (and all of their regional affiliate club members) must sign and adhere to a strict code of ethics. Each member is responsible for every dog they breed or any puppy produced by one of their dogs for the life of the dog, no matter what. Do your homework and get references. When you buy your dog from one of these breeders, you will have someone you can go to for help or questions for the life of your pet. Breeding stock must be screened for known health issues and the utmost care is taken to breed dogs with excellent temperaments. Many regional and national club members also work very hard in Corgi rescue. Most purebred rescues that are found in shelters come from dogs that were purchased at pet shops and came from puppy mills or breeders whose 'responsibility' ends when their check has been cashed. Corgi rescue workers spend many weeks caring for, rehabilitating, evaluating and earning the trust of their little rescues in order to find them the right home. The PWCCA and her regional affiliate club members are not allowed to sell their dogs to pet shops and do their best to match up their puppies to the potential owners. Sometimes there are 'older' dogs and retired young Champions that are available from one of these breeders. These dogs are usually trained and (bonus!) housebroken and make wonderful family pets as well.

If you purchased your beloved dog from a pet store, don't despair. My first dog came from a pet store many years ago. If people stop buying dogs from pet stores, the puppy mills will stop breeding them. Know where your puppy is from. Learn why it is important not only for the dog you will get, but for the welfare of future generations of the breed. What is it that Maya Angelou said? "You did what you knew, and when you knew better, you did better." I love that. The important thing is to educate ourselves and others and to help each other make informed choices in the future.

The future of our beloved Corgis (or any purebred dog!) depends on it! -CS ^..^