Pat had to go to the police station last night to make a statement (he was so excited — what does that say about what we usually do?) He found out that the kid that was here was not in the crash. There are actually 2 stories that coincide…..

The kids in the crash were actually on the way to pick up “our” felon and his friend. These 2 were up the road at the new Wal-Mart breaking into cars! Police nab one of them, this kid runs. The driver of the crashed car was this kid’s brother (nice family) The crash (and his brother did flee the scene) and the “nabbing” happened at the same time.

Apparently the police are familiar with these kids. The kid at our house was 17, and after a quick trip to the ER, is now in Long Creek, our local JD.

It makes me really appreciate the gentle way the dogs kept this kid out of the house. If he would break into cars, who knows? He WAS drunk and trying to phone for help to come and get him, but what would he do wandering around a strange house looking for a phone!?

So that is the end of our saga….

Val
back to getting ready for the Regional.. .STOP RAINING , I have dogs to bathe!

Sorry this is long.

Last night I woke up to hear the dogs tails wagging and feet shuffling (they were swishing and hitting the wall — they don’t have loud tails [G]). I could hear someone talking softly to them, and figured my son was coming in and trying to keep them quiet. I could hear someone saying “Shhh” and “sit, sit” (obviously did NOT know my dogs). My husband got up and glanced briefly at the back door (which is a straight shot down our hallway from our bedroom door) and thought our other son was here. After a minute, he got up and went to see what was going on. Well, a strange kid was trying to come into the house! He had the back door open and was trying to get past the dogs.

Traveler, Chester and Fiona were lined up and sitting/standing at the back door, but not moving, still being very friendly. Maddie couldn’t be bothered (nothing interrupts her beauty sleep), and I think Mac was in bed with us.

My husband starts talking to this kid (and I am still in bed, not quite hearing what is going on) and then I hear him say, “no I will call for you, what’s the number?”. He shows the kid that he is writing a phone number down, and then proceeds to call 911. He tells them what is going on and they say to stay on the line, but don’t let on who he is talking to. He pretends to talk to “Lauren,” whoever she was, and asks the kid his name, etc. (getting praise from the 911 operator). I get up and start to go into the kitchen, but Pat waves
me back and now locks the kitchen door (we never have locked the door in 21 years).

I go into the living room to see what is going on and see 2 State Police cars speeding down the street and into our driveway. (we found out they had 10 cruisers looking for these kids) It was like a TV show!! They yell “get down off the stairs” over and over again, the kid is yelling (and obviously drunk), and next thing we know, mace is being used. The drag him down the stairs and out into the driveway, where he is laying and yelling. My son comes upstairs and wants to know what is going on, and we watch from the living room windows. By now the 3 brave Beardies who wouldn’t let this kid in the house are all clustered together on my bed! Real brave.

So my husband threw some clothes on and went outside to make a statement (and found out that mace stays in the air for a while). They had more police come and the EMT’S. This kid never shut up the entire time.

Apparently from what my husband found out (and what we saw on the news today), there were 2 kids that crashed a car a few miles from us. They had them in custody on site and then they escaped. The kid at our house was the driver, but they swapped places (or tried to say they did) because he was drunk. Somehow he ended up in our neighborhood, and why he choose us I don’t know, but in his brain he was looking for a phone to call a friend to come and get him. After a while they put him in a cruiser and everyone left.

I ended up laying in bed watching tv for a while, since I was wide awake and about 1:30 heard dogs barking in the distance, then more sirens. Turns out they somehow got the other kid’s phone number and convinced him to give himself up. WHEW!

So the dogs prevented this kid from coming in and helped to capture someone who was driving drunk, crashed a car, escaped from
police — and they also added breaking and entering!!! (I don’t think they can charge him with stupidity.)

Chester, who is visiting, decided Canada was a lot quieter than here and that we needed extra protection, so he would sleep with us [LOL].

My heroes.

A very tired Val

Had a great show in Scarborough today!

Fiona got another point and Traveler got breed over his brother! Brother Roy is being campaigned with a big handler right now and is
currently in the top 10. We didn’t do anything in the Group, but the judge seemed to have her mind made up anyway. Not to take anything away from Roy, who is a nice dog, but it was so nice to beat him [LOL]. In fact the judge had a hard time, as the 2 boys look similar (even though Roy is brown).

Who knows what tomorrow holds, but today was nice… although COLD and windy!! My word I needed my winter coat and some gloves. Poor Karen was still at the show waiting for Best in Show to end to do CGC tests!

Val

Having a lovely phone conversation last night…checking up on impending arrivals, etc… dogs are outside wandering around. I am standing next to the kitchen sink where I can see out the window into the back yard. All of a sudden I see a shadow, then wings and say… “what the heck is that?!”

It was a turkey! It flew over the fence and into the backyard! It was huge. Well I hang up, run outside to see what the dogs were
doing, and they are just wandering around, not doing much of anything. I guess they scared the turkey off.

We have a flock that lives in the woods across the road but have never had them in the yard like that.

Who you callin’ a turkey!

Val

I have just been asked to do a radio interview for a national radio program called “Living the Country Life”. It airs in 32 states, twice
daily on 240 radio stations.

The target audience is people who live on acreages. The segment I am doing is called “Best Country Dog Breeds: Bearded Collies”. She wants to know about personality, coat care, training, activity level, etc….

So if anyone has any words of wisdom, pass them along [LOL]!

The interview is Monday but doesn’t air till the week of June 8th.

Val

What a beautiful day! Wish a few more people had come to cheer us on, but there is always tomorrow. It’s fun to watch and very educational, so come on by. We will be on tomorrow about 9:00.

Rocky was SO excited today and bouncy, but had some good moments in the ring. He is very smart, so I know that when he gets more practice and maybe a few handling classes, he will really get the hang of it. He is growing so nicely and looks like Dad, Traveler. He will give it another go tomorrow, and sometimes they do better the second day. (being tired helps those puppies sometimes [LOL])

Fee went in to her class and did ok, being the only one [G]. Then she went in to compete with the Beardie who had won the Open class, and was then chosen Winner’s Bitch for her first point! We are very excited and happy that her first point was at a “Mainiacs”show.

She then had to go in again when it was Best of Breed time. She was getting a little tired by then, but we managed ok. Traveler was lucky enough to win Best of Breed but after a long day of waiting for the Herding Group, got a “thank you for your money” [LOL]. That’s ok. Been there, done that.

Trav hasn’t been in the ring since November, so it was a lot to ask of him. He looks great though, and had SO MUCH FUN seeing all of his old friends. He talked up a storm!

Right now it is very quiet here… haven’t the heart to tell them we do it all again tomorrow.

Val

…two for the show! Two Beardies bathed and dried, ready to head to Acton tomorrow. I have just about all the grooming stuff packed, trophies are in the car, and I even remembered to shave my legs [LOL].

Fingers crossed, as tomorrow marks the debut of Fiona and Mom in Maine (sounds like a children’s book).

The weather is supposed to be great, and we look forward to visiting with those that can make it.

Off for some tea…

Val
Fee and Trav (are we there yet?)