Home Again, Home Again

Our trip home from Wyoming was fairly uneventful… If you consider a trip to the emergency vet clinic in Colorado Springs uneventful. Dutch have been feeling poorly for a few days, and had began refusing food. We were concerned, so stopped in to have him checked out. We arrived late afternoon, and we’re allowed to park in there lot overnight. Dutch was diagnosed with acute gastric distress, and given medication for the problem. This is not an uncommon thing for him when we are traveling, but we were glad it was not more serious.

Early the next morning, Mike Lupow met us at the clinic to deliver Badger, a four year-old Border Collie that will be riding back to Texas with us.  She has no interest in herding sheep, so she is going to a pet home with Georgia Canfield and her husband Travis Brown.  

Badger was a great traveler. She fit in nicely with our dogs, And was a joy to have around. But talk about a small world….  I knew the person who would be picking up Badger was named Georgia, but it was not until she and Travis arrived that we realized we knew each other. Rolling back the clock a number of years, Georgia and I worked for different law firms in the same building. 20+ years ago, we saw each other most mornings when we arrived to work out in the gym at 111 Congress Ave. It was a delightful surprise, and I know Badger will have an amazing home with Georgia and Travis.

No sooner had we settled back in at the farm, then it was time to celebrate our nations 250th birthday on July 4, 2026.  The dogs agreed to pose (briefly) and we enjoyed a celebratory supper with Jack and Vivian Christensen.

There were fireworks in nearby communities, but John and I opted to put our feet up and watch them on the big screen TV. I must admit, watching the amazing display from Washington DC was much more memorable than any local fireworks show could have been. The following are just a few of the images I could capture from the TV with my cell phone. Pale and comparison to the real thing, I’m sure, but we enjoyed the show.  

We ended the week by watching the livestream as good friends, Wendy Auzqui, Linda Lulias and Rhonda Plecher competed in the 2026 Calvalry Stampede Championship Sheep Dog Trial.  None of them took home prize money this year, but they and their dogs gave a good account of themselves.  So glad this event is live-streamed so we can enjoy in real time.

Everything is pretty normal at the farm, except we lost the second angora nanny that we know of since they came to live at Goat Hill. Allan found one dead nanny while we were on our trip, and this makes the second. Neither death was caused by a predator, and we have no idea why they passed.

August arrived before we knew it, and we were able to enjoy a great weekend with Allan and Jef, along with all the McElhanys and Carmodys. As I mentioned earlier, we had a style show from the thrift bag I had brought from Wyoming. Then, Rachel, Laura and I put our wits together to solve what looks like a very simple jigsaw puzzle, but which kept us busy for most of the afternoon.  Cousin Rosie enjoyed hanging out with us, especially when she could claim the landing at the top of the stairs.

The Dutch x Meg pups are now eight months old, and are looking more and more like dogs every day. They are approaching their parents in size, but are still puppies at heart, and very affectionate.  

Paula Kunetka comes over regularly to bring their littermate, Possum, to play and get acquainted with sheep.  Here, he is learning patience in close proximity to the sheep.  

 All three pups got a lesson in the dangers of being in close proximity to a diamondback rattlesnake.  Tess has already had the lesson, but it didn't "take" because she never saw the snake that struck her.  So, Paula and I drove to Austin to give the pups "rattlesnake avoidance training" with Kay Winters.  Kay and her late husband, Harlan Winters, have been providing the training for a number of years, and it is a high priority for me whenever we get a new canine companion.  The rattlesnake Kay uses is alive and has its fangs.  What it does not have, however, is the venom sac which holds the poison.  The venom sacs have been removed, so the snake can bite, but it cannot envenomate its victim.  It is safe for the dogs, but the snake, combined with a shock collar, delivers a message that the dogs do not forget.

The pups certainly "got it," and Bit was especially vocal when asked to approach the snake a second time!  

 

Meg, on the other hand, has no problem being in close proximity with Billy One and Billy Two.  They don't pose anywhere near as great a threat as a diamondback!

Before We Leave Buffalo...

Before we leave Buffalo, I want to share a few more special moments and pics.  We once again enjoyed good hikes along beautiful Clear Creek Trail.  In spite of the drought in the area, Clear Creek is flowing clear and beautiful from the mountains.  We took the big dogs first, and hiked the Old Power Plant section and the steeper sections up Mosier Gulch.

Then, just before leaving, we braced ourselves, packed up Tess and Bit, and hiked a section of the Mosier Gulch Trail that wasn’t so steep and scary. The pups took it all in stride, and even earned time off-leash with Mom, Dad and Uncle Bo.  We were proud of them and anxious to give them more trail time.

Another special treat was a city-wide, once-a-year “garage sale” put on by a local charity.  The group filled four buildings on the Johnson County Fairgrounds, and it was a thrifter’s delight.  Acres and acres of wonderful “thrifting” all within a rock’s throw from our RV.  On the last day, for $5, I received a large, plastic garbage bag and was invited to fill it with all it could hold.  I found treasures for myself, and for Rachel and Laura and their moms as well!  What fun! 

 But it's a shame these didn't fit!  

When we got home, Laura and Rachel modeled some of their choices.

We followed up with a quick visit to Mountain Meadow Wool and a couple of memorable dinners at Pie Zanos, and we were homeward bound.  Can't wait to get back!

Meeker Prep in Buffalo

There was so much more to our Buffalo visit.  The dogs and I had great experiences working sheep with good friends Linda Lulias and Wendy Auzqui!  Linda lives just 10 minutes outside of town, and we were able to do some arena work as well as some short outruns at her place. Here are a couple of shots of Linda working stock.

Linda's good dogs, Roxie and Jessi, have competed in a number of trials, and Linda and I enjoy comparing notes and giving each other feedback on our runs.  

Another good friend I always enjoy working with in the area is Wendy Auzqui.  I first met Wendy in August of 2015 when we were staying in nearby Sheridan.  I had been taking herding lessons with my border collie, Rue, prior to leaving Texas, but had not had a chance to work her while we were on the road.  I contacted the Wyoming Stock Dog Association, and they gave me Wendy’s name.  She and her husband, John, ranch east of Sheridan in Clearmont, Wyoming, and Wendy is well-known for her skill in training and working with border collies as well as being quite a cowgirl.  Before she began training herding dogs, she broke colts, but says that dogs are more fun.  She and her husband also we quite a team-roping partnership.

Wendy knows me and my dogs well.  She is insightful, and understands both border collies and people.  Wendy has been such a positive influence in my growth as a handler.  She has helped me with Rue and Bo, and was instrumental in bringing my good dog, Cody, into the Bagley Pack.  Since then, she has helped me with Dutch and Meg, who this trip on preparing for the upcoming Meeker Sheep Dog Trial in September.  Wendy and I, and hopefully Linda, will all be competing at Meeker this year, so we can cheer each other on.

Meeker is a long, difficult course, so Wendy and I challenged Dutch and Meg to rough terrain and crafty Wyoming range ewes.  Here are some photos from our sessions.  Thanks, Wendy, for the opportunity to work with you and for all the videos! 

We were working with about 40 Wyoming range ewes.  Dutch drove them across the flat and up behind a hill for Meg to find and fetch.  

The sheep are hiding behind the hill some 500-600 yards away

Meg is the small, black dot going over the top of the hill

And down came the sheep

Dutch showed no hesitation in crossing Clear Creek to find his sheep

He brought them across the creek and up the bank with no hesitation

Dutch had some challenging gathers along Clear Creek.  This one was particularly difficult because he couldn't see the sheep, and had to navigate the steep creek banks to find and fetch them.  But he did a great job and I was proud of him.

We also did some work in Wendy's arena.  Dutch had fun working a single while Meg and one of Wendy's dogs critiqued his work.  

I also took the opportunity to have Wendy take a look at my two seven-month-old pups, Tess and Bit.  Each had a few minutes in Wendy's round pen with some Wyoming range ewes.  Both were quite "keen" and wasted no time getting acquainted with the sheep under Wendy's careful supervision.  

It was a great couple of weeks doing what I like best.

Ride ‘em Cowgirls!

All too soon, it was time to hook up and head west again.  One of our goals for this year’s trip was to return to Buffalo, Wyoming, one of our favorite places to visit.  We had been uninvited to stay at our previous camping spot at Deer Park RV because they said we had too many dogs.  Imagine that…. Instead, we camped for another ten days at the lovely Johnson County Fairgrounds.    Our beautiful, shady site had 50 amp service, and the water faucet was just a hose length away.  

The fairgrounds have plenty of space for dogs to run, and there was even a resident pronghorn.  The first time I took Bit out for a little off-leash run, she spotted him and was off in pursuit in a flash.  My heart almost stopped, and I began frantically calling her, using my recall whistle and shouting for her to lie down.  Nothing worked.  Bit and the pronghorn disappeared into the trees, and I had no way of knowing what lay on the other side.  The fairgrounds are fenced...well, except for the access roads.  I was terrified that they might find one of them and leave the grounds.  Thankfully, in about 5 minutes or so (though it felt much longer) Bit came trotting out of the trees, tongue lolling and a smile on her face.  

We didn't see the pronghorn for several days, but when we did, he started walking toward us as John and I quickly collected the dogs and headed back for our camp sight.  I don't know if the pronghorn was looking for a handout or revenge, but we weren't waiting around to find out.

An added benefit this year of Tuesday night performances of the Johnson County Cowgirl Rodeo.  We had no sooner settled in on the Tuesday we arrived than horse trailers…it seemed like a hundred of them…began arriving.  In no time at all, the rodeo arena and grounds were alive with cowgirls on their horses and the competition began.  As I said, we had the opportunity to attend two of the performances, and I took a bejillion images.  Here are some of my favorites, and I will try to post some on the Johnson County Cowgirl Facebook page as well.

The grandstands are covered, and after dark the arena was well-lit so we had a great opportunity to watch.  And, I had a good opportunity to try out some new camera equipment.  There were barrel races for cowgirls of all ages, and a few young cowboys as well.

And then, there was pole bending that happened almost at our feet, again with the young and the young at heart, sometimes with the help of Mom or Dad. 

The goat roping followed, and I laughed until I cried, but the young competitors were all business.

 There was also roping, but it was getting dark so I don't have many photos of those cowgirls.