In with the new, out with the old

I could look back on the last decade, except that some of the changes that affected me started before the year 2000. I met Steve in October 1998. We met on a blind date and we are still together. Yes, I lost my Dad in August 1998. I then lost my heart dog, Bogey, on Father's Day 1999. But this decade started with Steve in my life.

In November 2000 I bought this farm and moved out into the country. The following summer I bought a few sheep from a neighbor and have never looked back. I brought the first Katahdins onto the farm in the summer of 2001. I remember standing out in the field on a beautiful sunny afternoon on 9/11/2001 and thinking about all that was happening in NYC. Hard to believe when you're that far away.

Lost my Mom on Veteran's day 2002. May she rest in peace. She suffered from Alzheimer's and is in a much better place now with my Dad.

Jag came into my life the end of 1999, so I began the last decade with Jaggie. We lost Jag on July 30th of 2009, so we begin the next decade without him. We also lost Ripley in August of 2008. Hard to imagine this next decade without them. But they still touch our lives. Jag and I had a wonderful time at trials. Without him I wouldn't have met a lot of people and have some of the friends that I have today.

Steve proposed to me on Christmas day 2003. We married on March 22nd, 2004. We are coming up on our 6th anniversary in March 2010. Oh, we built a new house on the property and moved in February of 2004. So as we started our new life married, we started it in a new home too.

We've had a few dogs join us in the last 10 years. Phire was born on January 4th, 2000 and came here in April of that year. Bett was born in October 2001 and I flew down to Florida to bring her up here. Stryker was born in November 2002. Cash was the first one born here in the new house in February 2004. Then came Corbie born in January 2005. Sting was not born here, but he came to join the gang in June 2009.

We have lambed every spring since 2002. Some lambs have stayed here and some have moved on. We look forward to seeing the little lambs every spring.

I had surgery this past September. A good thing in the long run.

We look forward to another decade on our little hobby farm. Raising lambs, working and training our dogs. Enjoying walks and enjoying life out in the country. I look forward to a few trials this coming year and to be able to continue trialing and to spend time with friends.

There have been ups and downs over the last decade. There have been sad times and happy times. Tis life I guess.

As I look forward I hope to be that much of a better trainer, always trying to understand my dogs and to work with them as a team.