Hand painted Wooden Corgi Eggs...They're back!

Today in the shop I have listed my very popular solid wood 2" chicken sized eggs! Each one is lovingly hand painted to order. You can choose from the Corgis in the listing or send me a photo and I can paint your own wee beastie as one of my signature characters. They make really nice gifts and travel well as they are solid wood and won't break. They will bring joy for years to come!

Long time readers of this blog may recall this post from Christmas past when I was painting eggs by candlelight!

The eggs I paint are hand made in the USA and I really love their quality. I hope you will love them too!

So how did you celebrate the 4th of July? We went to a fantastic party with good friends. Mary Elizabeth came too. We had a really nice day. I made this cake (complete with a little picture decoration of Elvis.) My daughter and husband really liked it and it called for seven fresh eggs which I was happy to use up!

Tomorrow in the shop: original Christmas ornaments! xo -CS ^..^

Welcome To Christmas In July!

If you are one of the fans of The Christmas Corgi on Facebook, you know that starting today at 4:00 through July 26th we are celebrating Christmas in July!

But, first things first. The winner of the Sigg CafePress Water Bottle giveaway (chosen by random number generator at random.org) is commentor #22. "Lorie" And, Surprise! I've also chosen a second winner who will receive a 10 pack of note cards from the shop, commentor #6 "Corgi Dog Mama" !! If you would both email me at christmascorgi@gmail.com we can get your prizes on the way to you!

Now, for my Facebook Christmas in July friends:

I've decided to kick off Christmas in July by giving a signed art print of their choice from my Etsy shop to three winners. Randomly chosen as well, the Facebook Event winners are Michele Taylor, Chris Beam and "Buzzy Bear." I will contact you through Facebook so you can choose your signed art print!

Tomorrow at 3:00 PM EST I will have the first of my little ORIGINAL Christmas in July goodies available for sale in my Etsy shop. Throughout this month I will post some in Etsy and some on Ebay. If you are not familiar with Etsy, it is fun and easy! Simply visit my shop and there are links at the top to show you how to easily register and have fun browsing not only my shop, but all of the wonderful other artists and vendors at this awesome marketplace. It is like visiting an art show and craft fair without ever leaving home!

If you are on Facebook, do stop by and 'fan' The Christmas Corgi page. Please upload your Corgis and other critters to the page. The more the merrier! It is not too late to sign up as 'attending' this Christmas in July Event. I have a sneaking suspicion there will be more prize giveaways this month. It was the Corgis' idea. They love wrapping gifts. Especially the ones that include dog biscuits.

Thanks for stopping by! As the month unfolds, I hope something that pops off of my easel or out of my daydreams will tickle your funny bone and put a song in your heart. xo xo xo ....or "ho ho ho".....!!! -CS ^..^

Happy 233rd Birthday, America!

Now go out and celebrate!

Happy 4th! Huzzah! xo xo -CS ^..^

Of Whining, Skim Milk, and Surprises

I love to cook and I love to eat. I love chocolate. Good chocolate. And bread. I dream about bread. Really good fresh bread. These are just a couple of the reasons that I am my own worst saboteur when it comes to staying on a diet. I've read all the books, I've watched all the shows. It is just really hard for me. Tomorrow I have a doctor's appointment. I've cancelled it three times already just to avoid the scale. My doctor isn't scary, in fact she's very cool. She specializes in weight loss and women's health. Last year, I had started a diet under her supervision. I was doing well, but then I went off of it and stayed off. Mistake number one. I should have hopped right back on that horse, but it was easier and more comfortable to stay in the old familiar place.

This time, I am going to try a more realistic approach. I've really thought about the times I am tempted to eat more than I need. My doctor had asked me to keep a journal last year before I started to diet. Now I understand why she wanted me to do this. It is a real eye opener. She had suggested that since I was adhering very strictly to my diet during the week that I might want to have one day where I could have a little splurge. I did not allow myself that back then. It was all or nothing mentality. I sabotaged myself. So now, I am going to be more realistic. I'm going back tomorrow (gulp) without an 'I want to lose x pounds by (insert date or occasion here) mentality. I am going to make realistic and smart changes and allow myself mini splurges or slivers of only things that are really worth the calories. I will not let a birthday party and a small piece of cannoli cake prevent me from going back on my diet the next day. I will not whine or feel deprived because of all the goodies around me. I will choose my goodies wisely, knowing there will always be goodies in the future. I can still bake and cook delicious things for my family, but I will sample them rather than wolf down enough for three grown men. I will make better choices and seek good substitutes for my old familiar downfalls. Like the whole milk or half and half in my coffee or cereal. This morning I used Skim Plus instead. I must say that it is not bad. Zero fat. Much better.

My Corgi club gave me an award at our Specialty show recently. I was so surprised. Anne Bowes told me that it is indeed a very special award as it is given by my peers. I am very grateful for receiving it. Carol Donnelly also received this award. I know she was as surprised as I was. So THANK YOU to Mayflower for this honor. I will treasure it. I've hung the lovely award in my little studio, which is still being organized. I must find out who did the lovely calligraphy. It is so pretty.

I want to have a little incentive to jump start my diet which includes drinking more water, so I will be ordering one of these new SIGG water bottles for myself from my CafePress store. Since giving is just as much fun (even more, really) than receiving, I want to share this gift with one of my readers. If you are feeling inspired to make healthier choices along with me (or you just want a cool Corgi water bottle) then leave me a comment on this post between now and July 4th, and on July 5th I'll let a random number generator pick the winner! If you're not a Corgi person then you can have a hedgie girl instead. I haven't seen this new product yet, so we will both get the surprise together.



Now, what to cook for dinner?....

xo xo

-CS ^..^

Corgi Grooming 101: Pretty Nails and Paws

Taking care of nails is an area that many dog owners are a bit afraid of. It is one of those things that you just need to jump in and do and the more you do it, the better you will get at it. Depending on the dog, it can be a one or two person job. Sometimes it is easier to have another person with you to hold the dog or, if you are holding it as Mary Elizabeth is holding this Corgi in the photo above, sometimes it is helpful to have another person nearby to hold another paw out of the way of the dremel or distract a Corgi with some peanut butter on a spoon. Some people train their dogs to lay down or stand on the table as they are having their nails done. Try different ways and positions and see what works best for you and your Corgi. The Corgi in Mary Elizabeth's lap is very used to having her nails done. She is comfortable and relaxed. Because her nails were a bit on the long side, Mary Elizabeth used a clipper to trim a bit of nail off before using the dremel. See how she is holding the nail up and the angle at which she is holding the dremel in order to easily file down the nail. She will move the dremel slightly to keep her sanding neat and even and remove any jagged or rough edges, making the nail even and with a slight softening or rounding of the edges so there are no sharp bits of nail. Her front paws are finished, and Mary Elizabeth is working on her back paws now. You can see the fur that needs to be trimmed. We went outside for this photo but if you want to try this position inside, it is helpful to rest your back against a wall with good lighting near an outlet for your dremel, unless of course you are using a cordless dremel.

Most dogs that come from a good breeder and have been home-raised are very used to having their nails done as those little nails grow quite quickly and they start getting cut after a couple of weeks so they don't scratch up their mother while nursing. This does not mean they enjoy having their nails done, but they learn to tolerate it. When nails are done properly and carefully, there is no pain for the dog. It is like cutting your own nails or cutting your hair. You will want to familiarize yourself with the anatomy of your dog's nails. The pink part is called the quick. **

You want to get as close to the quick as possible without nicking it and causing it to bleed. If the nails are very long, I would use a dog nail trimmer to clip off the tip before using the dremel. If you are afraid to do this, just start with the dremel. Commit to using it a tiny bit every few days and before you know it your Corgi will have nice short nails. Should you nick the quick, (yes, you can even nick it with the dremel) for heaven's sake, don't panic. A pin prick sized drop of blood is not cause for concern. It will usually just stop on its own. Should there be more blood oozing out from the nail, simply follow the directions on the styptic powder you have, usually putting a little pinch of it on the end of the nail and that should do the trick. If you don't have any, hold an ice cube at the end of the nail for a minute (it may still bleed) and then just apply pressure with a towel or tissue until it stops. Should you get any blood on your clothing, wet it with hydrogen peroxide right away and throw it in the wash with cool-warm water and detergent. Don't put it in the dryer until the blood is out or it will set. A bit of hydrogen peroxide (the kind for first aid again, not hair coloring!!) on a cotton ball will also remove any blood that may get on the white parts of her fur as well. A friend just cautioned that the hydgrogen peroxide made a 'light spot' on her pony where she removed a tick, so use your judgement for dark fur or your clothing (thanks, NJ :) !) **If you have a dog with black toenails (my Amy who is a Sable has alternating pink and black toenails!) you will need to just keep an especially careful eye and use your judgement as you will not be able to tell where the quick is by looking at the side of the nail. Stop the dremel every few seconds and look inside the nail. You will be able to see where the inside of the nail looks more 'tender.' Don't be afraid, just be careful. All will be well.

The more often you do your dog's nails, the further back the quick will recede, allowing you to get their nails shorter each time. If your dog's nails are clicking on the floor, they are probably a bit too long. Always take care of their nails in very good lighting, and I highly recommend wearing safety glasses to protect your eyes and perhaps even wearing a dust mask while using the dremel.

If your dog is freaked out by the dremel, you will need to start conditioning her and yourself so this routine that you will have to do for the rest of her life does not become a dreaded chore. Commit to a routine and a plan, start ever so slowly in baby steps with lots of treats. For the first day, just put your dog in whatever position you feel comfortable with to do her nails and just touch each paw, with the slight firmness you would use to expose each nail with your hand. Give her a treat and praise her. The next time, do it again, and then turn on the dremel but don't touch it to her paws. Treats and praise again. Do this for a couple of days so she equates the sound of the dremel with treats and praise. When you feel comfortable (you can do this!) just touch the dremel to the tip of one and only one nail. Treats and praise. The next day, go back to that first nail, touch it quickly again and then add the next nail. Do this every day, quickly and carefully sanding off a tiny sliver of nail and then give lots of treats and praise. Eventually you will build up the trust on her part and the confidence on your part to zip through all of the nails quickly and easily.

I want to warn you about the dremel. Whether you are using sanding bands or a sanding stone on the tip, before you use it on your dog's nails, quickly see what it feels like on your own. Our human nails are not as strong and thick as theirs, but you can feel how fast the grinding happens. You never ever want to overdo it or stay in one spot too long because the friction can burn and your dog will not forget it. Better safe than sorry. Be careful. Be firm but gentle. Hopefully your breeder has removed the 'dew claws' from your dog's paws. The dew claw (which would be a fifth claw up the side of the paw) should always be removed because if not, they can catch on things and cause real pain and bleeding. Should you have a dew claw, take special care to buff the edges smooth to try and avoid that scenario.

I have one dog who has had his nails done since he was a baby. He just does not like it. Never did, never will. He is a pip. Same one who never likes to take a bath. It takes a village to groom this dog. Seriously, Mary Elizabeth and I have to brace ourselves with a mocha frap from Starbucks before tackling his nails. If you have a dog that is like this, you may want to have a soft 'velcro' muzzle on hand just to keep him from trying to bite the dremel. You can try using something like rescue remedy or one of the natural flower essences( http://www.floweressencesforanimals.com/ ) before doing the nails (I like "Thunderstorms" for phobias flower essence for this purpose) and then Pet ETS (Emergency Trauma Solution), to re-set her sense of well being immediately after. Tell Nancy I sent you. She is an expert on flower essences and is very nice to speak with. She will point you in the right direction should you wish to give these a try. I personally highly recommend them for any dog that has issues such as this.

I have other dogs who will simply lay there with their head on my shoulder, and give me each paw as if they are in a spa getting a mani-pedi. Go figure. You can just do your best to try and train them and make them as calm and used to this as possible. It takes time, but it is so worth it. You will save money by not going to the vet or groomer every couple of weeks and you will be able to get their nails shorter and nicer looking because most vets and groomers just use a clipper and not a dremel for a polished look.

You will want to keep the paw fur trimmed. This is really the only scissoring that need be ever done on a Corgi. For this (as noted in my previous grooming post) I refer you to the photos in Debbie Harper's book. We want a nice, neat oval paw on a Corgi. Note the excess fur on the top left photo before fur and nail trimming. Note the nice neat underpad of the paw after trimming in the top right photo and the nice, correct oval shape in the bottom left photo. In the bottom right we can see the incorrect result of over scissoring and trying to trim in between each toe. You can even use a mini shaver to buzz off the fur at the bottom of the paw, taking care not to go up too far. Remember the old adage: measure twice, cut once. Well, there is really not much measuring going on here, but you know what I mean. And if you over-scissor while you are learning, don't worry. It is fur. It grows back. You may find it easier to trim some of the fur before you do their nails in order to get it out of your way. You may click on the photo to enlarge it if you like.

Keeping your Corgi's nails groomed is not only important to look spiffy, but it is important to her health as well. Overly long nails can affect the way they move and throw their gait out of wack and cause a 'splayed' out foot. Extremely neglected nails can curl under, be difficult and painful to train back. If you regularly leash walk your Corgi on concrete or sidewalks, she may have shorter nails than a Corgi who spends most of her time on the grass. So there's a little added bonus for walking your dog. You both get a little exercise and less time doing nails! With a little regular care, nails are really not a big deal to keep up with.

While we were outside at Mary Elizabeth's house taking this photo, curious Kaizey popped her head up in the window to see what was going on.

Then Emma decided to join Kaizey to see for herself what was going on out there.

Both were happy to be observers rather than nail demonstrators that day.

My last post in this Corgi Grooming 101 series will keeping your Corgi healthy and spiffy from the inside, out.

Enjoy the rest of your weekend my lovelies! -CS ^..^

Remembering Tasha Tudor

Today is a year since her passing. It is an easy day for me to remember as it is also my wedding anniversary! Let's remember Tasha today by having a cup of tea in her honor, shall we? I imagine that she is in heaven having tea with Beatrix Potter, surrounded by all of the Corgis and critters that have gone before her. I have no doubt that she has been put in charge of tending the garden at the pearly gates. And what a garden it must be! Take Joy, everyone! xo -CS ^..^

Stalking Hedgies

I just received word that my Fashionista Hedgie gal has been featured by Violet, one of the curators over at the awesome Etsy Stalker. Being one who loves to show off her latest bag, Hedgie was happy to oblige. She started to write a proper Thank You note to Violet and Doris but realized there was a shoe sale at Bloomingdales and just scurried out in a taxi with my Visa. I'm going to have to have a little chat with her upon her return.

Have a happy day my little Corgettes! xo xo -CS ^..^

New Original Corgi Art!

Here's my latest original painting.
It is called, "A Christmas Corgi Bodacious Bone Bonanza"

Here's a sketch I did pre-painting. I am always intrigued at what process my fellow artists use when they are creating a new piece. Sometimes I sketch and plan. Sometimes I just dive right in with a juicy brush. This intricately detailed painting was a definite sketch and plan piece. A keen eye will notice details in the finished piece that were not in the original concept. They just develop as I go. How do you work when you create something? Are you a sketcher and planner or a diver who jumps right in?

I just listed it on Ebay. Pop over and take a look at the listing to see
more details about the painting by clicking the Ebay link below.
Happy Monday my little Corgettes! xo xo -CS ^..^

Sold! Thank you! More goodies in the works....CS ^..^

Corgi grooming 101: The Corgi Coat

If you go to a dog show and watch the breeders and handlers grooming their dogs, you will quickly discover that there are about as many different techniques and products being used as there are Corgis. A correct Corgi coat should lie flat. Should your Corgi have a bit of a wave or cowlick to get down, it can take a bit of creativity to get that flat. Unless you are bringing your Corgi into the show ring, you probably won't be too concerned about getting those cowlicks or waves down. Showing or not, it is still fun to keep your Corgi looking clean and spiffy. So to continue with my little basic grooming series, let's move on to combing and brushing.

For some of this, I will refer to Deborah Harper's book "The New Complete Pembroke Welsh Corgi." Sadly, this book is out of print but you can sometimes find a copy on eBay. It has a wealth of information as well as interesting back history and bloodlines that have had their mark on our breed. Maybe if we all beg Debbie she will tell her publisher that it is time for an updated version. I'd be first in line to buy it. Debbie is not only a lovely friend but an awesome mentor. I always learn so much from her and it is most comforting to know she is always there when puppies are about to be born. The Tasha Tudor illustration above, the black and white photos for correct paw fur trimming which will be in my next post as well as quoted material from her book is used here with permission. The color photos were quickly taken over the weekend by Mary Elizabeth and I.

Debbie writes: "We start at the back end of the dog, at the very bottom of his pants, and work up over his back and sides to the front and end with the chest coat. An English fine comb or a natural bristle brush is used, and the coat is worked from the skin out in the direction the hair grows. Be careful not to scratch the skin as you work. With a dense undercoat, only a very small section can be done at a time. Grooming the coat in this manner will get the undercoat and guard hairs all going in the same direction and will give a smooth, even, rich appearance to the coat. If the coat is full of static electricity, making it difficult to handle because of the flyaway hairs, dampen the coat slightly with a fine spray of water as you work. After all your efforts are done, the dog will give himself a good shake, letting you know he prefers to go dressed his own way..."

What Debbie describes above is what is referred to as 'line combing.' As in the photo below, you will use your hand to hold back the fur above the small line or section of fur that you are about to comb out, toward the natural direction the fur grows, then dropping another small approximate inch of fur while holding the fur above that new section up and proceeding the same way.
The first time you do this combing will probably be the most time consuming part of the entire grooming process. With regular combing and brushing, it will get quicker and easier as you practice. Once or twice a year, expect to have a pretty big shedding which will take a bit more time to handle.

Here is a Corgi who is slightly shedding, before line combing. You can lightly spritz the entire coat with water and using a pin brush, Mason Pearson or your comb, back brush the coat in the direction opposite the way it grows so it sort of sticks up or out and then work on each section as described above.

Hold up the fur with one hand and then comb in the direction the fur grows, inch by inch, with the other hand.
The coat after line combing.
Some people train their dogs to lie down quietly on their sides as they are being groomed or combed out. I spent the day at Sue Jacob's (artist extraordinaire) painting yesterday (but that will be show and tell for another day's post!) Sue started grooming Corgis back in her days as a junior handler. Her dogs always look beautifully groomed. Sue gave me a few tips to share with you. She put Liat (her cuddly handsome sable boy) on his side and he was very happy to lay there for his pampering. After bathing, Sue towel dries the dog well and then after about 20 minutes starts the blow drying process. While blow drying, she is using her comb or pin brush (never one with 'balls' on the end, as she feels it tears the coat, but rather one like I described in my earlier post) and works through the fur in the direction of the coat. She starts with the dog laying down on his side, working around the turn of stifle, sort of line combing from the belly, up to the top. In addition to using a greyhound comb, Sue sometimes likes to use an even finer, almost a 'flea' comb as well as a soft slicker brush on each section as she goes along. After doing the sides, the dog stands up and she works the line from the tail to the head and around to the chest in the same manner.

There should be no scissoring or trimming of the Corgi anywhere on his coat other than on the pads of her paws in order to create a nice clean oval foot, which I'll share with you in the next post.

I've received all of your emails that you are printing out this little basic Corgi grooming series. As soon as I'm finished (we still have basic nail grooming, etc.) I will try and put them all together into a free downloadable file for you as soon as I figure out how to do it. If anyone would like to spare me the time trying to figure it out, do send me an email at christmascorgi@gmail.com and I will be most grateful.

Still to come: Pretty Paws and Nails and getting that Corgi coat healthy from the inside, out.

xo xo -CS ^..^

American Idol

What an awesome finale show! I must say that Kris won me over a bit last night but Adam Lambert has been my favorite since the beginning. Here's a little Corgi tribute to his fantastic performance. I'll be in line for your first CD! -CS ^..^
p.s. Corgi grooming posts to continue shortly!

Be Careful What You Wish For, and a Quick and Delicious Soup.

Every day I would go outside, hoping that one of the chickens would lay an egg. Now they are laying consistently and I find myself with a plethora of eggs! I'm not complaining, though :) Does anybody have a few good egg recipes? I have a bread recipe that uses a dozen eggs (truly, it does) so I may have to dig that one out.

I have to say I am amazed at what lovely eggs they are blessing us with. This is a rather large stoneware bowl. It is the old Mayflower Corgi Club pottery pasta bowl. I'd say the eggs would be sized as 'large.' It seems like it took such a long, long time for them to start laying. Has anyone else ever had hens that didn't lay until they were almost a year old? I understand they should have started when they were about 6 mos. old for this breed, the Silver Laced Wyandottes. Oh well, late bloomers I guess. Maybe just the long dark Winter.

I love a good home made soup, especially chicken soup. Some people call chicken soup with little meatballs Italian Wedding Soup. We just call it chicken soup around here since the little meatballs are a given. There is mutiny amongst the ranks when I don't include them. There are nights when I feel like having soup but just don't want to spend hours cooking stock and taking chicken off of the bones. I still want something healthy, delicious and nutritious to feed my family, however. Here is my quick and lighter chicken soup recipe. It needs a name. Since it is quick and easy and usually made on the spur of the moment, How about Cathy's Italian Elopement Soup or maybe Cathy's Shotgun Wedding Soup? :) It is quick because I use store bought stock or your own stock you have in the freezer, boneless chicken breasts, dried herbs and spices from the pantry and you don't cook the pasta separately. The most time consuming part is making the little meatballs.

Ingredients:

• 1 large can (48 oz) of College Inn Light & Fat Free 50% less sodium Chicken Broth


• approximately 1 pound of boneless chicken breasts, either thin sliced or split are fine, cut into bite sized pieces. (*hint: do you have a kitchen scissors? After washing the chicken, you can use your scissors to cut it into small pieces quickly and right over the pot! These scissors should be washed thoroughly before and after use and only used for cooking)


• 1 pound of fresh carrots, peeled, rinsed and cut into bite-sized pieces


• 5 or 6 ribs of celery, washed and cut into 1/2 inch pieces. Include some of the tender light green ones from the center, including the light tender leaves.


• 2 medium or 1 large onion, chopped
• 1 pound of the leanest ground beef
• 1/2 cup of flavored or seasoned breadcrumbs
• 1/2 cup grated romano or parmesan cheese (better cheese makes better meatballs) and more for topping the soup later.
• 1 fresh egg
• milk (you can substitute water)
• one 8 oz. can tomato sauce

• Spices and seasonings: dried basil, dried oregano, dried parsley flakes, garlic powder, sea salt and ground black pepper


• 12 oz. small egg bow-ties pasta


• fresh cold water

Put chopped carrots, celery, and onion in a large soup pot. Add enough water to cover veggies with about 4 inches extra. Cover the pot. Bring to a boil on high flame and then lower the flame to a low-medium boil. Keep the lid slightly ajar so you don't boil over. While the veggies are gently cooking, get started on your meatballs.

Miniature soup meatballs: You will need a medium saucepan and a colander. In a bowl, combine one fresh egg, breadcrumbs, grated cheese (I sometimes add more cheese than 1/2 cup, but do what you like!) about 1 tablespoon of dried parsley flakes, a pinch of dried basil, oregano, salt (if desired) and black pepper with about 1/8 cup of milk. Mix well and add the ground beef. Mix with a spoon and then continue mixing with very clean hands. Form the mixture into little bite sized meatballs. Put them into the medium saucepan and cover with cold water. Bring to a boil and cook until done, approximately 10 minutes. They will turn a dark greyish color. Check to make sure there is no pink left inside. Drain them in a colander and rinse with clear fresh water. Sounds crazy, but the rinsing really removes the fat. Drain.

After about 10 minutes (it will take longer than this to do your meatballs so keep an eye on the veggies.) Add your chicken broth, tomato sauce, chicken, about a tablespoon each of dried basil, oregano and parsley flakes, about 2 teaspoons of garlic powder and a good pinch of sea salt and ground black pepper. We want to cook the chicken here. Check it in about 20 minutes or so. Keep the soup pot on a very low simmer while you are finishing up your meatballs. *Variation note: if you have it on hand, and if you like it, you can add a few handfuls of chopped fresh escarole here. Once the meatballs are cooked, rinsed and drained, add them to the soup. Continue simmering for about 10-15 minutes. The soup should look a bit 'watery' at this point but will come together after you add the pasta. If you think you've boiled out too much liquid, you can always add a bit more water and a chicken boullion cube or a small can of chicken broth if you have it, but as long as there is enough liquid to cook your pasta, I would leave it alone. This is a hearty soup.

Raise the flame to create a good medium boil and add the box of tiny egg bows. Cook for about 7 minutes and turn off the flame. The soup is ready! Serve with freshly grated cheese and some fresh ground black pepper and salt to taste.

Do ahead tip: You can chop all of your veggies and make your meatballs in the morning, and refrigerate them until you start your soup for dinner. As I said, the meatballs take the most time, but they are so worth it!

Give it a try. Bonus? It is even better the next day and freezes well. Let me know how it goes over at your house. -CS ^..^

Happy Mother's Day!

I had picked this shelf up at a tag sale on our street months ago, thinking it was just tall and skinny enough to fit on one of the walls in my studio. For Mother's Day, my daughter painted it in the blue that I painted these drawers (the ones with the red rick-rack and toadstool looking knobs.) Actually, the color you see in this photo on the shelves is more true to what the color really looks like. Slowly but surely my little studio will get done.
She did a fantastic job and I love the way it turned out. Thank you, Laura! I love you my sweet and beautiful girl, with all of my heart. xo xo

Here is Amy Rose who joins me in wishing all Mothers everywhere a lovely Mother's Day! xo xo -C ^..^

Cathy's Corgi Grooming 101: Drying Your Corgi

Blow drying:

So you've got your baby out of the tub. She's nice and clean with no soap residue, right? Right. If you have a grooming table with an arm, set your Corgi on the table and slip the noose over her head, securing it lightly with the little tightener that slides up and down. You remembered to attach the safety release, yes? You don't want to make the noose too tight. Our goal is to train her so she knows that when it is grooming time we stand on the table and don't try to jump off and run. It is your job to make her feel safe and secure. It is your job to never leave her for even a second alone on the table. If you have forgotten something or need to get the phone, wrap her in a towel and carry her with you. It is better that you get wet and hairy than to risk her safety.

Now we need to start drying that coat. If she has blown her coat and is practically naked, then obviously the drying process will go a little quicker because you are not dealing with undercoat. If she is in full glorious coat, the drying process will take some time. Either way, I do not recommend letting your Corgi 'air dry.' A Corgi is a double coated breed. The lovely coat that offers them a bit of protection from the weather, also helps to hold in all of that water once they do become wet, like after a bath or a swim. Especially in humid weather, it can take a long, long time for a coat to completely dry and the moisture can cause it to smell sort of 'mildewy' or 'wet doggy' which you can prevent. Also, if you put your dog in a crate to dry with a towel, you will have a very wavy, dented 'bed head' looking coat that can take many washes to remove. With proper grooming, you can train the coat to lay flat and look pretty.

After a good brisk rub with the clean dry towel and the ears have been cleaned, (see previous grooming post) I usually just run my greyhound comb over and through the coat quickly before I start blow drying. It may feel like your comb is gliding through easily and that you have done your job combing, but trust me. You have not begun combing yet. The best thing to dry your Corgi with is a forced air dryer. If you do not have one, you can use your regular blow dryer, but please, put it on warm or cool setting if you have it and always keep a finger between the dog's coat and the dryer so you are aware of how hot it is. I usually start by blowing the water off of the coat from the back of the head and work my way toward the rear. If you have a forced air dryer with no heat, you can put the nozzle right on the coat and with the nozzle facing toward the rear so the fur is blowing in the direction it grows and slowly blast off the water. Keep doing this for a few minutes. You can blow the fur in the other direction every now and again just to make sure that you are getting the roots dry but try and generally keep the nozzle pointed toward the rear to train the coat to lay in the right direction.

If you are using a regular (hot/warm air) blow dryer, you want to do the same thing, but do not put the dryer so close to the fur. You can damage it really quickly, not to mention burn your dog. Be careful and pay attention. Next, I go back and forth on the sides of the dog. I usually blow in little 'circles' around the shoulder and upper arm and around the turn of the stifle and thigh muscles. Do both sides. Go to the front of the dog and starting under his chin, start blowing the fur. I usually go up and down between his front paws all around his chest. I don't worry about blowing in the direction of the fur on the chest. If we puff it up a bit, all the better. It will fall back down naturally on its own as it dries and calms down. Lift each leg and get under those arms. Rub the fur with your fingers, really get it nice and dry under there, gently pulling the fur down toward the feet as you do. Run the dryer across the belly gently. Rub with your hands as you dry, gently pulling the 'fringe' down with your fingers. Go to the inner thighs. Be especially careful around their private parts. If you have an intact male, never use heat in this area as you can render him temporarily sterile. Even if he is neutered, be careful. Girls too, it is a sensitive area.

Lift and dry each foot and go up a bit further to dry the hocks. Keeping him on a dry towel as you work will help dry his feet as you go as well. Let's work on the rear. After drying the hocks, start drying the pants. If you have a Cardigan, hold up the tail and work on the pants a bit. You can dry in circular motion, spreading the fur outward to fluff them up a bit as you dry them, taking care not to push up the fur on top of the nub (for a Pem) because we want to create a nice flat back. If you have a tail, start close to the body and work your way, back and forth down the length of the tail. Try and pull the 'fringe' of the tail down and out as you dry it so it looks like a lovely feather.

Turn off the dryer for a few minutes. You may think your dog is dry, but chances are she is still wet underneath. This is a good thing! It means you have a luscious undercoat and the coat is doing its job. Let's quickly comb the dog again, head to tail, sides, chest, pants. Start the drying again. Let the air lift and separate the coat down to the roots and then push it back in place again. You can start using your pin brush now as you continue drying, brushing along the airstream of the dryer. If you are working with a hot blow dryer, do hit it with a 'cool shot' if you have that button for the last few minutes of drying to help close the hair shaft and prevent breakage.

We want to make sure the undercoat is completely dry to the roots before we start combing. It is OK for the topcoat to be a bit damp, in fact during regular daily or weekly combing and brushing you never want to comb a dry coat. Always keep a fine mist spray bottle of cool water with your comb and brush so you can lightly spritz before combing. It will encourage new growth and protect the lovely fur from damage.

Upcoming grooming posts: Line combing/brushing, nails and coat maintenance from the inside, out.

Still with me?-CS ^..^

Keep Calm and Carry On.

What do you do when you have a million things that need doing? Because I have so many things that I like to do and that need doing (like work and daily chores) I can easily slide into a state of chaos faster than you can say Corgi pants. Add to the mix something that is worrisome or a situation that I keep mulling over in my head or am anxious about and I can freeze like a deer in the headlights and easily bring my entire day to a standstill, accomplishing nothing. When I have lots to be done, I like to make a list for the day. I'm a big list maker. Somehow, the act of writing down my 'to do' list frees my head up to think about the task at hand.

Some days my list can go on and on. Not even if I were a super woman robot could I ever accomplish everything on that long list. But I still make it. It helps me to put things into perspective. At the very top of the list, I write down whatever has been heavy on my heart and could cause me to worry. So I have my list. Then what? I take that first thing at the top and pray about it. I promise to do what I can about what I can, and put the rest into God's hands. Then, I take a good long hard look at the list and find the one thing that I've been dreading or putting off and make that number one. I make it the first task to get out of the way and number the rest of the list by priority for that day.

From there, I just start chipping away at my list, one task at a time. I know I can get a lot done, just not all at the same time. One foot in front of the other, one task at a time, what needs to get done gets done. What doesn't get done will have to wait for another day.

I love the vintage WWII British "Keep Calm and Carry On" poster. I think what makes it so appealing to so many people is just that. It reminds us to stay calm and keep going. Take care of your loved ones and yourself and keep priorities in perspective. Keep moving calmly and purposefully from task to task and things will get done.

Have a happy day my lovelies. Carry on. -CS ^..^

Movies I can't wait to see!

I know, I know. I'm breaking up my Corgi Grooming 101 posts. But it is the weekend.... I just had to post about a couple of movies that I'm so excited about. The first is Julia and Julie, based on Julie Powell's book. Here's the link to the website where you can watch the trailer. My friend Tracy and I used to chat on the phone while watching those PBS episodes of Julia Child and Jacques Pepin cooking together. Completely fun to watch. Tracy is an amazing and inspired cook. Her dad is a rather famous chef so I guess it is in her genes. I hope we can go and see this movie together. It stars Amy Adams as Julie and Meryl Streep as Julia Child. Go and watch the trailer here. I'll wait. Wanna see it now, right? I know! It opens August 7th. Perfect Summer movie.

The other movie which opened yesterday is X-Men Origins: Wolverine, starring Hugh Jackman. (ooh la la....) If you are familiar with the X-Men, you will know that the Xavier School For the Gifted is set in Salem Center in Westchester County, NY. Maybe Hugh will knock on my door one day and surprise me? (Oh stop, a girl can dream, can't she?)

The Mister and I are hoping to see it this weekend. Huzzah! I will try not to swoon. Much. -CS ^..^

Corgi Grooming 101: The Bath

It is a good idea to get your Corgi used to taking baths from the time she is little, whether or not you will show your Corgi in conformation dog shows. You can surely send her to the groomer, but why not try and do it yourself? Do it yourself and in no time you can buy your own grooming table and maybe even a forced air dryer with the money you will save. If you don't have them already, you may want to start designating some towels as 'dog towels.' It is handy to have a bunch of towels you can use not only for bathing and grooming but to put by the door when they come in from the rain or perhaps to put inside a crate or to clean up accidents. Find a shelf or a basket or Rubbermaid container that you can keep the dog towels in. When you need them you won't have to go searching and try and decide whether or not you should use your good towels from the bathroom. Keep an eye on how 'ratty' they get. When they become too dingy or ripped, I take a scissor to them and have instant cleaning rags. Do keep a couple of nice special fluffy ones just for when they get out of the tub and to put on the grooming table while drying. You don't need to wrap your wet dog in a holey towel. Save those for dirty paws and clean up.

When evaluating your Corgi (see previous post) did you notice anything unusual about their skin? If there is any type of persistent itching, there can be many causes. It can simply be that they are blowing coat and the dead fur is annoying. It can be dry skin. It can be an allergy or rash. It can be a tick or fleas (you will probably see flea 'dirt' rather than fleas. Look for tiny reddish-brown flecks in the fur close to the skin. ) I currently use Frontline Plus on my Corgis. I hate the idea of putting this on them, but I hate the idea of them getting a tick or flea borne disease even more. Does your dog have a 'waxy' dirty feel anywhere deep near his skin? You may want to use a drop of diluted dawn or palmolive dishwashing liquid to break this down before shampooing on that area. If there is any type of rash or suspicious skin condition, call your vet. They can usually recommend a medicated or oatmeal shampoo to put the skin right again and help you find the source of the condition.

Pre-bath: Gather your supplies. Put the towels near the tub. Put the zoom groom scrubber, baby shampoo, dog shampoo(s) and conditioner (if you are using it) near the tub. Dilute your shampoo with a little water into a little plastic bowl or something easy to use and non-breakable. Plug in your rinse ace hose or get a plastic pitcher for rinsing if you don't have a rinse ace yet. Will you be on your knees for the bath? Those foam gardener's pads work wonders to cushion your knees while you are washing your Corgi. What are you wearing? You are about to get wet and hairy. Dress appropriately. You can buy grooming smocks or vinyl coated waterproof aprons if you like. Usually for this part, I'm in a tee shirt and jeans. Since I have long hair, I put it in a pony tail or bandanna to get it out of the way :) Put a few cookies in your pockets.

Before the bath, you will want to get as much dead coat out as possible. This is meant to be done fairly quickly. Obviously if you are starting to or in the middle of a full blown coat, it will take a bit more combing before you get into the tub. Start with the undercoat rake (as shown in the photo, previous post) and working from the neck, use the rake to pull up as much dead undercoat as possible by using long strokes from the neck to the rear. You may have to stop every few strokes to remove the fur from your rake. Please don't buy those metal 'loop' rakes with the sharp points to perform this task. I can't believe that they don't scratch the skin and damage the coat. Keep going around the withers/shoulders/fairy saddle area and down each side. Go through the pants. Lift the tail if you have a Cardigan. Go back around the neck and down the chest. When you feel like your rake is pulling up less and less fur, go back and do the same thing with your greyhound comb and finally quickly with one of your brushes. Again, this is not line-combing, we are just trying to get as much loose fur off before the bath as quickly as possible here. If you have a fluffy, it is especially important to try and comb out any tangles now as well. If there are any you can't get out, take a comb with you into the tub and after shampooing you can use conditioner to help you comb them out before rinsing.

Put your dog down and give her a treat. We want grooming to be a happy time. Once she's on the floor, sweep up all of the loose fur you have on the table and on the floor. You don't want to start blowing this around when it is time to start drying. Put a nice fresh towel on the table with your combs and brushes. Put an extra towel on the table. Have a bunch of q-tips and your alcohol within reach. We will use that on the ears after the bath. Plug in your dryer. Use a safe UL listed extension cord if you need to. Go over to the tub and turn the water on to a nice warm temperature. There are many people who will tell you to bathe your dog in only cool water. I personally think the dogs are much more comfortable being bathed in warm water. If they are about to blow coat, a few very warm baths work wonders to get it all out and start new growth coming in. Make sure the drain is open. We are not trying to fill up the tub. Turn off the water, take your Corgi out to pee and then bring her into the tub.

Give her a cookie before you turn on the water. Start at the back and work your way up to the head to wet him thoroughly. Remember, as soon as you wet his head he will shake it. Brace yourself :) Really wet him down. Run your hands in the opposite direction of the fur to make sure the undercoat is getting wet. If you have a fluffy, they sometimes have longer top coat but less undercoat than a normal coated dog and will get completely wet faster. Sometimes. Once they are wet, I like to do the head first and get it over with. Apply baby shampoo to the head between the ears and work it all the way down around the entire head and muzzle. Try not to get any soap in the eyes or water in the ears. Really use your fingertips to massage the shampoo in here. Go under the chin, up around the jaw, the backs of the ears. Rinse well with warm water, rubbing with your hand to get all of the soap out. Wet your washcloth and ring it out tightly. Use it to gently wipe the corners of the eyes. Rinse it. Rinse it and ring it out again. Wrap it around your finger and use it to clean inside the ears. Do not push anything (dirt) further into the ear. Only pull the cloth from the inside out. Remove any dirt you can easily remove from the folds. We will get the rest when he is out of the tub. For now, let the rung out washcloth help you to 'dry' the inside of the ear to make sure there is no water inside. Let him shake his head before you proceed to the rest of the body.

Pour your diluted dog shampoo over her back. Use your fingertips to start massaging the shampoo into the fur. Hold each paw in your hand as you wash it, rubbing it top to bottom with your fingertips. Go all the way up each leg, under the chest and belly, around the withers and stifle. Take special care around her pants and private parts. Make sure you wash off any poop residue that may be clinging to that area. Use your washcloth if you need to. A word of caution here: While you want to get this area clean, you do not want to over-do it with the soap and cause a urinary tract infection. Whether they are boys or girls, be sensible, use very diluted shampoo and rinse carefully. For the intact show boys, you never want to use too hot water on the family jewels as it can affect his sperm count. Remember to keep the water temperature the same as you would use on a baby and you will be just fine.

Rinse the shampoo off with nice warm water. Don't go too crazy here because we are going to repeat. You don't have to do the head again. This time, if you are using purple shampoo for the whites, now is the time to apply it. I do not dilute this shampoo. Pour it directly on to whatever whites you need to brighten up (paws, chest, pants?) Massage it in well until it is nice and soapy and let it sit there according to directions on the bottle. It may take a couple of baths to see a difference if you are dealing with pink or yellow staining on the fur. Now, using your diluted regular shampoo, get your zoom groom and start massaging from the neck to the pants and all around and underneath your dog. If it accumulates fur, just remove it and keep going. Now rinse. Rinsing is the most important part of the bath. Start at the head and rubbing and rinsing, work your way back to the tail. Put the hose right on to the skin and really rinse well. Go under the ears again, under the chin, get the chest and the under-belly. Lift each leg and rinse and rub well under the armpits. Go gently around the private parts and get the pants and tail if you have one. Go around the thigh muscles, down to the hocks, lift and rinse each paw. All rinsed? Soap all out? Good. Now go back and rinse again. Check those 'armpits' again. It is where most people miss getting the shampoo out. If you are trying to bathe without the benefit of a spray hose, you are going to have to be extra diligent in soap removal. If you are using a conditioner or cream rinse, now is the time. Follow the directions on the bottle. I would probably opt for not putting it under the dog, just on the top and sides. If you have a fluffy, always use conditioning rinse after shampooing. If I am bathing a Corgi for the show ring, I skip the conditioner because a correct Corgi coat should not be extremely soft. Rinse well, again. When everything is out of the coat, I give a very very quick (like 10 second) rinse with cold water just to close the hair cuticle on the top coat which leaves it less susceptible to damage. ( I do that with my own hair as well.) Shut off the water, take your towel and draping it over her back and head, wrap up your baby, lift her out of the tub and give her a cookie.

Using that towel, start rubbing her dry. Start with her ears and head and work your way down and all around. Rub and dry each paw and under her belly and chest. Put that towel down and get your other dry one and keep going. If you have someone who can help you, let them stay with the dog and continue towel drying while you go and rinse off and dry your shampoo bottles, rinse the walls and tub and tidy everything back up in there so you will only have the drying area to clean up when you are done.

I will share my blow-drying procedure in the next post, but before that I want to tell you how I clean their ears. Take a q-tip and dip it into the alcohol. Carefully clean out inside the folds of each ear, taking care to only pull the dirt (if there is any) up and out rather than pushing it in. We want our ears to always be nice and clean and dry, always. The alcohol is drying and I find it good for this task. If your Corgi's ears have an unusual amount of dirt in them and after you remove it the ear looks particularly raw and red, I would use hydrogen peroxide rather than alcohol right now just because the alcohol might sting. Use the alcohol tomorrow instead. Clean and dry ears are healthy ears and makes them less susceptible to infections and ear mites.

Upcoming grooming posts: Drying, line combing, nails.

Still with me? :) -CS ^..^

Corgi Grooming 101

Hi there! Well here we are as promised. Welcome to Cathy's Corgi Grooming 101. In the photo you can see some of my well-used (notice the fur and chalk all over these!) grooming tools.

Most people don't have the luxury of a 'dog room' or a 'grooming room' complete with a special sink used for bathing their dogs, a grooming table and a forced air dryer. Necessity is indeed the mother of invention. I will share with you things that have been shared with me or I've discovered through the years regarding getting our Corgis clean and in good shape. I will tell you what I use (most of which has been accumulated over time) and some alternatives you can try if you don't have these items and getting them is not an option right now or you have them on your wish list for the future. Don't be afraid to adapt my suggestions for your own situation or to come up with creative uses for items you already have at home that can help make grooming time pleasurable and rewarding for you and your Corgi.

Let's take a good look at your Corgi:

So let's start with the basics, shall we? First, take a good look at your Corgi. What does her coat look like? Is it shiny and clean? Run your fingers deep into her coat, especially back toward her nub (or tail if you have a Cardi.) Does her coat feel dry and brittle? Does it feel luxurious and thick? Sad and skimpy? Does it have a dirty 'waxy' feel deep down toward the back? Take a good look down through the undercoat. How does his skin look? Pink? Flaky? Flecks of 'dirt'? Start at the back and working your way up inch by inch, really feel and look down at the skin. Check for any weird lumps, bumps, ticks, bites, anything. You should be very familiar with how your dog feels so when something is amiss you will find it right away. He will think he is getting a great massage and love it. Don't forget to turn him on his side or back and get the belly and chest, too. Lets look inside those glorious ears. What color are they inside? Are they a nice healthy pink? Is there dirt stuck here and there in the folds? Is there so much crud that the ear has a firey raw red-pink color? How about those nails? Is the fur under the paw (and ONLY under the paw) trimmed to show off the nice oval shape? Are the nails nice and short? Are they so long that her nails look more like talons on a big bird? :) Let's look inside her mouth next. Are the teeth nice and white with no plaque or tartar up toward the gumline? Is the gumline a nice healthy pink or red and raw? How does her size look? Is she overweight? Underweight? Do you know her weight? Stand up and look down at her. She should have a little waist. Does she? You should be able to feel her ribs but not see them. Really give a good evaluation. We are not being critical to beat ourselves up here, but in order to keep doing what has been working and work on areas that could use a little help. You may want to jot down a few notes for yourself as you go over your dog.

Assemble your grooming tools:

After you have evaluated your Corgi, assemble whatever grooming tools you may already own. If I could have only one grooming tool, it would be a good medium-coarse 'Greyhound comb.' There are a wide variety of combs out there, but I would choose one that is coated steel (as in the fur coated one in the photo above) or a traditional 'flat edged' similar greyhound comb, typically in a silver finish. In my opinion, learning how to properly "line-comb" your Corgi is the most important grooming skill you can add to your routine. More about that later. :)

Second on my list would be my trusty Mason-Pearson bristle and nylon combination brush, the black handled/red cushioned one in the photo. I have had the one above for years, as you can probably tell by the worn writing on the handle. It is an oh-so-spendy brush. We're talking the Manolo Blahniks of brushes here. If you have one for yourself, you know how wonderful they are. The Mister had originally bought one for me for a birthday gift for myself, many years ago. He just rolled his eyes when he saw that I decided to use that one for the Corgis (but it is also the brush he picks up when he feels like brushing one!) I've seen other natural bristle and nylon combination brushes that probably work very well and are 1/4 of the price, so do shop around if you decide to buy one.

Third on my must-have list is a good undercoat rake. This is not something you need to use every time you groom. When your Corgi starts to blow their coat (typically once or twice a year) you will be amazed at how well this removes the dead undercoat. You can find these pretty inexpensively in any pet supply store or catalog. I've added a few of the products I mentioned here to my Amazon widget to the left of this blog as that is where I purchased some of them, but do shop around.

Last but definitely not least is a good pin brush. The one in the photo is a Chris Christensen #27 brush. Mary Elizabeth gave it to me for Christmas. Carolann Van Wyen decorated it with her burning technique artwork. Mine has a likeness of Bridget and my name and it is one of my favorite gifts ever. This is not a 'slicker' brush, or one of those brushes with sharp pinchy bristles. This brush has a nice soft feel as it goes through the coat, but is firm enough to really get down and do it's job. Again, this brush is a bit spendy as well, but you can certainly find other brands or types that will do a fine job. But if you want something special, check out Carolann's work. You won't be disappointed.

One more thing to have on hand: a spray bottle for water. Make sure you can regulate the tip for a mist rather than only a stream. You can pick one up in the drug store.

The Bath:

If you do not have a special sink with a spray hose that you can use to bath your dogs, then I will share with you a life-changing secret. OK, OK, maybe not life-changing, but certainly a secret that can make bathing your dog so much easier. It is a product called a 'Rinse Ace.' This is not one of those rubber hoses that you push on to a faucet (that never fit) and as soon as you turn on the water they blow off. With this one, you simply follow the directions to remove your shower head, attach a little piece of hardware and screw your shower head back on. The hose and sprayer attach directly to the little piece you added on. You can take the hose on and off when you need to use it! And bonus? You can attach it when you want to clean the bathtub or shower walls or wash a child's hair in the tub. The one I have has a 6 foot hose and a sprayer with a trigger you squeeze like a kitchen sink sprayer. It is called the Rinse Ace Power Sprayer. It is awesome. However, I do see that they now have one with an 8 foot hose which they are calling the Rinse Ace Pet Shower Deluxe. I have not tried it, and I don't know if the sprayer is as powerful as the one I have, but I am tempted because it has two extra feet of hose which can help get under those short Corgi legs. I put both of them in my Amazon link to the bottom left of this blog (says Good Reads and Inspiration) so you can see them. Check out the Rinse Ace website for more info and their other products.

Next after the Rinse Ace, the second bath product I love is called a Zoom Groom. It is an inexpensive rubbery scrubbing thingy that really helps you to massage all the way down to their skin and aids in removing dead fur. I was skeptical until I tried it. Even though you will be combing your Corgi thoroughly before bathing, the fact is that there will still be quite a bit of fur that comes off in the tub. You do not want this fur going down the drain. Depending on what kind of drain you have, there are drain screens to fit over it to catch the fur. I highly recommend using them whenever you bath your dog. You may have to scoop the fur out as you go so the water can go down the drain, but it is better than having to deal with a clog down the road. You can find these online and in hardware stores.

Of course we will need a good dog shampoo. I always use a (human) baby shampoo on my Corgis heads and faces so if soap gets in their eyes it won't sting. On the rest of their body, there are so many choices that your head can spin when you try and choose one. One shampoo that I've been using for everyday was Mrs. Meyers pet shampoo. I am so sad that they have recently discontinued it and have been buying it up in the store whenever I see it. Whatever shampoo you use, I recommend that you dilute it before putting it on your dog. Even just a little. If their white parts (paws, chest, pants) look like they could use a little brightening, I use Chris Christensen White On White shampoo on those parts. It is dark purple and may look a little scary to put on their whites, but trust me, it rinses out completely and you are left with whiter whites. A little secret: while I don't recommend using products made for humans on dogs, in a pinch I have used a shampoo from Clairol called, 'Shimmer Lights.' It is intended for use on silver, grey or white human hair to remove any yellow cast. I've used it on my dog's paws. My grandmother who was a hair colorist told me about it years ago, not for the dogs but to remove any brassiness from highlights you may add to your hair! I'm brunette and depending on my mood when I go to the salon I tend to get caramel color highlights and occasionally use the Shimmer Lights shampoo in the Summer if the sun turns them a little brassy. Oh yes, back to the dogs...... Right now under my sink I have lots of different shampoos. Besides the Mrs. Meyers (sigh) the ones I keep reaching for are: a shampoo from an Australian company called Plush Puppy. It smells really good, almost like a men's cologne. I also have #1 All Systems shampoo and a shampoo and conditioner from a company called Sweet Petula I found on Etsy which I like very much.

Drying your Corgi:

Towels. You will need 2 or three towels, a face washcloth and some q-tips, and rubbing alcohol.

Where are you going to dry your Corgi and what will you use to dry her with? A grooming table with an arm and a 'noose' make grooming your dog so much easier. If you do use a grooming arm and noose, you will want to make sure you NEVER ever leave your dog unattended for even one second. This is why gathering all of your tools before you begin is important. Before you attach the noose to the grooming arm, make sure you attach a safety release that would allow her to break free should (God forbid) she fall from the table. If she jumps from the table without it, she could hang herself and die. Please remember, safety first in all things. Safety first. What about a dryer? A forced air dryer which does not have a heating element (such as a Metro) is the ideal. It blows the water right off of your dog and once you have used one you will want one of your own. But what if you don't have a grooming table and a forced air dryer? Here is where you want to get a little creative. If the weather is nice and you are outside, do you have a sturdy picnic table that you can put a thick towel on and groom your dog there? How about a rubber mat or towel on top of a hard topped dog crate? Did you know you can also buy a grooming arm and clamp without a grooming table? If you already have a table you think you can use, then this may be a good alternative for you. Just remember that the clamp will be tight on the table and can scratch it up. You can try putting a thin cloth in between, but you are still tightening a clamp to the surface, so be aware of that before you potentially damage a favorite table. Unless your dog has been trained to stand or lie down without moving, I highly recommend enlisting the help of a friend to hold your dog while you are drying and grooming. What about the dryer? If you don't have a forced air dryer, you can certainly use your regular blow dryer. Just be aware of how hot it is. Hot air is really not great for coats. You also don't want to burn your furry friend. Always keep a finger between your dog and the dryer so you are constantly aware of the temperature.

Oh God, those nails! :

What will you need to start working on those nails? Try a nail grinder or a dremel rather than a traditional nail clipper. You still need to be mindful of the 'quick' of the nail with a grinder, but even though your dog may not be used to the sound and feel of it at first, it is a much better way to get those nails looking spiffy in no time. You will need a scissor to trim the fur on the pads of their paws as well. Some people use a little hair shaver to buzz it off. I prefer a scissor but that is entirely up to you. Have some Groomax powder or other styptic powder on hand in case you do come too close to the quick. This will quickly stop any bleeding. The more frequently you do his nails, the more you will train the quick to go back and the shorter you will be able to get them and the more used to having them done he will be.

What about those choppers?

You want to brush your Corgis teeth on a regular basis. There are many good soft toothbrushes and toothpaste on the market. Do not use human toothpaste on your dog! For one thing, it will foam up and your dog won't know to spit it out. Instead of dog toothpaste, sometimes I will pour a little hydrogen peroxide (the kind for first aid, not for hair coloring!!) into a little saucer and have another small container with water and another saucer with a bit of baking soda in it. I dip the brush into the water, then the peroxide and then the baking soda (not much) and use that to brush their teeth. I also will use a dentist's tooth scaler if I need to. Mary Elizabeth and I are very used to doing this with one person holding open the mouth and the other doing the scaling. I do not recommend that you try this at home. It takes practice, and you can damage the gums and the tooth enamel if not done properly. Stick to the toothbrushing. Tartar is something that is not only unsightly, but did you know that it can introduce certain bacteria and viruses that damage your dog's heart? If you have tartar that you can't remove, let your veterinary dental hygienist handle it.

Wow! You're still with me? I'm impressed. That's pretty much it as far as the basic grooming tools and supplies you will want to gather together. In the posts ahead, I will go through the techniques we use for bathing, drying, combing, brushing and grooming coat and doing nails and teeth. I can just see Corgis everywhere running and hiding. -CS ^..^

Our first egg! Oh happy day!

I can't believe my eyes. Finally! FINALLY! Our first egg! There it was, just laying there in the nesting box. Oh joy! Oh happy day! I don't know which of the girls laid it, but thank you Abigail or Josephine, two of the most spoiled Silver Laced Wyandottes on the planet. Hopefully the start of more eggs to come. -CS ^..^

Pretty as a picture.

Oh, hello there! Thanks for stopping in. I was just answering a few emails. I get quite a bit of Corgi related email questions. Two subjects that seem to come up quite often are photographing and grooming. I will tell you that I am not a professional photographer and I am not a professional groomer. I do take loads of photos and a do groom my Corgis a lot. Most of the photos shared on my blog are taken by me unless stated otherwise. I am always asked, "How do you get the dogs to stay like that?" The answer is patience and luck. Especially with puppies. Patience and Luck. Now Mary Elizabeth Simpson (my dear friend and Reinwood Corgis partner) is an amazing dog trainer which helps tremendously when trying to set up a shot. She also is a fantastic photographer. One of my favorite photos she took, which I have in a little frame in my studio is the one above. It is a bittersweet photo because only two of those precious Corgis are still with us. When you see a nice photo or two here, what you don't see are the fifty others that didn't work out. What ever did we do before digital cameras?

Here I was lying down on the grass trying to photograph a puppy when this other little puppy decided to climb on my back. Mary Elizabeth (who was next to me also trying to get a shot) quickly snapped this one. It looks like he is looking over my shoulder supervising the shot! One tip I can give you when photographing your dog is to try and get down on their level so you are not pointing the camera down at the dog, unless that is what you are going for. Try and make sure that the sun is behind you, not your subject. Get as close as possible and have pockets filled with treats for your dog. Try and keep the setting calm and fun. If you are not enjoying it, stop and try another day. You will not get a good photo if you are aggravated and your dog will only sense your frustration. You want to keep it a good experience so he is happy to oblige the next time, knowing you've got the jackpot of treats in your pockets.

As for the pretty part, I know it sounds crazy, but I really love grooming my Corgis. I find it relaxing (except when bathing one who has always been a maniac in the tub) and I know it makes them feel good when they are clean and bright. Regular grooming is a good way to be vigilant about looking for ticks or any lumps or bumps or weird things that need attention or that you may want your veterinarian to see. Mary Elizabeth and I groom all of our dogs regularly. Whether they are show dogs or retired Champions or do agility or obedience or have never stepped a paw in any kind of ring their whole lives, we groom them all the same. Over the next few days I will share with you some home grooming tips for your own dogs. With a few basic skills and tools, it is really quite easy to keep them looking spiffy.
I will share a few of my favorite products as well as how I use them. And don't worry, I haven't forgotten to show you the studio as it is coming along. Stay tuned! xo -CS ^..^

Happy Friday!

It is supposed to be a record hot and sunny day tomorrow here in New York.

Have a lovely weekend my friends! xo xo -CS ^..^

At The Aquarium

Yesterday (Wednesday, "Earth Day,") my daughter Laura and I decided to visit the Maritime Aquarium in nearby Norwalk, Connecticut. The Maritime Aquarium is devoted to protecting and teaching about our wonderful Long Island Sound. One of the wonderful things about homeschooling is that you get to act on spontaneous and delightful whims. The local advertisements for the African penguins that arrived a few weeks ago proved too much for us to resist. Here are a few photos of some of the exhibits we saw.

Up close and personal. (yikes!)

(Who needs TV? It's always "shark week" here...)

Gigantic tanks behind the aquarium

A very 'New Englandy' type quotation on the wall heading toward the Imax theater.

We saw The Wild Ocean film. It was great.

There were quite a few of these rays, stingers removed, in a hands-on exhibit. I really didn't want to, but the docent insisted that I roll up my sleeves and 'pet' the slimy creature and I didn't want to hurt his feelings so I did. They were eerily friendly in a slimy fishy sort of way.
Jellyfish

Lots and lots of jellyfish.


A gecko.
I tried to ask him about insurance, but he was a little snobby and stand-off-ish.

Here are three little videos I took with my camera. Before you play them you may want to pause my 'blog music' by scrolling down to the music sidebar on the left and hitting the pause button. (It is the one that looks like a sideways = sign.) Don't you just love the old song "Calypso?" It was written by John Denver as a tribute to his friend Jacques Cousteau and his marine research vessel by that name.

Back to the videos. The first one is the big aquarium with the sharks. I swear one was staring at me like it wanted to have me for lunch. You can hear a very nervously excited little boy in the background. He was clinging to his father for dear life and saying something about "kicking the shark's butt" should the glass wall disappear.

This is seal feeding time. It is a little hard to hear because there are lots of excited children surrounding the little area that the seals swim into when it is feeding time. At the very end of the clip you can see one seal jump on the rock near the woman and if you watch till the end of the clip you will see the seal put her 'flipper' on the woman's knee the way one of my Corgis puts her paw on my foot when she is waiting for a cookie to drop. Very cute.


This one is only a couple of seconds long but shows their cuteness.

Here is Laura headed toward the outdoor penguin exhibit.

We decided that this mug in the giftshop gets
"The Unfortunate Mug Of The Day Award."

The coastlines disappear when you put a hot beverage into it.

(Note to self: not a gift for friends on anti-depressants.)

Better.
Much better!

Have a happy day my lovelies! -CS ^..^

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 ^..^

Tea Party At Roseann's...

My dear friend Roseann invited me to a special Valentine's Tea Party today. Roseann made all of these delectable little sweets, scones and savories for us. She is a fantastic cook and baker. (She really needs a blog of her own!)

It was Ro, Stephanie, Sylvia and I. Another friend, April, couldn't make it. We are a close-knit little group of friends. I love them dearly. You've seen 'Sex and the City?' Well, that's not us. We're more like, "Kids and the Suburbs." Yeah, that's us. Over the years, we've all been there for each other through joys and sorrows, silly and serious, laughter and tears. I can't even begin to express how much they mean to me.

You can click on this photo to enlarge her lovely menu.


Syl brought a jasmine tea flower. It 'blooms' in the boiling water. Pretty and brews delicious tea. .

Stephanie brought a CD of Jane Austen's favorite music that was recorded in Jane Austen's home! She always finds cool stuff like that.

I know, I'm so lucky. And yes, it was as delicious as it looks! She even sent us home with beautiful Valentine boxes of goodies. Thanks, Ro. I love you with all of my heart. xo xo Cat ^..^

Love Is In The Air

Happy Valentine's Day!

What a lovely Valentine's weekend surprise to find that Susan over at T Party (one of my very favorite haunts) bestowed her Kindred Spirits Award to The Christmas Corgi. She said such nice things about me that she is making me blush. THANK YOU, Susan! Do pop over to visit her blog and web shops. A link to T Party can always be found on my sidebar as well.

Wishing you all bluebirds, chocolate, love songs and Corgi kisses on this

Happy Valentine's Day! xo xo -CS ^..^

Westminster!

Thank you to everyone for the calls and emails about Bridget's Award Of Merit at the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show yesterday. Mary Elizabeth and I were thrilled and grateful to Mrs. Donna Francis for the honor. We are so happy for Cheryl, Ed and Liz and their lovely boy Spencer who won Best of Breed. He is such a great dog. Bridget told me she has a little crush on him. Here is a link to the WKC video of the Corgi breed judging. Mary Elizabeth is in the red jacket and black skirt. Congratulations to Carly on BOS and Rowdy on his AOM. All of the entries looked spectacular.
Although we were all exhausted by the end of the day, we did have a great time. I will post more photos as I get them. -CS ^..^

Sick and Twisted

Lavonne's Mama Sheep and their lambs.

My friend LaVonne in Montana is having a really nice giveaway on her blog to celebrate and promote the CSA that she is forming. A CSA stands for Community Supported Agriculture. Traditionally a CSA is formed by those who have huge farms. The idea is to get members or subscribers to 'become part of your farm' and reap the benefits of the harvest. Since LaVonne raises sheep, she put a twist on this concept in that she is using her own wool to form this CSA that she has named "Sick and Twisted." After the March shearing, her wool will be spun into a lovely Shetland and Romney cross yarn. I can personally tell you that this wool is lovely, having used it in my own projects. The winner will receive 4 skeins of Serenity Sheep yarn or roving. I hope it is me :) Here is a link to her blog post where you can read more about it and to her etsy shop, which can also be found on her blog. Check the Feb 4 and Jan 31 posts. There's always a link to LaVonne on the sidebar of my blog as well.


On another note, a big bloggy "Thank You" to Linda over at The Briar Rose Gate for this art blog award. Do stop by her blog and check out her lovely work! (Kristen S., she's got Jethro Tull playing.....)

I'm supposed to list seven things I love and then pass it on. Linda picked seven scents she loves. I think I will pick seven things I love about Corgis.

1) The happy nub wag (or tail wag on a Cardi)

2) How happy they are while making tunnels when running through newly fallen snow.

3) Their sixth sense which draws them into the kitchen whenever you open the fridge.

4) When they sleep on their backs with their little legs in the air.

5) Those wonderful ears.

6) Their swishy pants.

7) How they look when they are lying down with their legs in a frog splat, head down on their paws and their eyebrows shift when they are looking around without lifting their heads.

I'm passing this award on to Karen and Emily. Do check out their lovely blogs and artwork!

Have a happy day my little Corgettes! xo xo Cat ^..^

The Fairest Of Them All

I was outside earlier doing a few chores and when I came back inside I found Bridget glued to the TV set and sulking. She was watching Audrey Hepburn in Sabrina. When I took off my coat and went to put the kettle on she jumped off of the sofa, stomped into the kitchen and asked me why that dog has a fancy sparkly collar and the only 'bling' she has is a rabies tag and a microchip tag from the AKC. I told her to keep watching because that rhinestone collar doesn't keep that fancy poodle from being completely ignored on the deck of a ship. Being a Corgi, she often has a one track mind and didn't care. "Je suis tres desole" I told her. She is inconsolable, however. And a brat. -CS ^..^

Bloggy Awards and Tags from Bloggy Friends

Eli over at Flutterby Patch tagged me a few weeks ago so I thought I'd play along. I'm supposed to share 7 random facts about myself, so here goes:

1) I always put plain m & m's into my popcorn when I go to the movies.

2) I am a bit claustrophobic and germ-o-phobic (I have hand sanitizers everywhere)

3) Big things that aren't where they are supposed to be freak me out. (sunken ships, that scene in Planet of the Apes where the Statue of Liberty is in the sand, the recent airplane being pulled out of the Hudson...stuff like that. Weird, I know. OK enough of my phobias...(really that's all)

4) Like Eli, I can relate to her multi-tasking, multi-thinking brain. I have so many ideas going around in my head sometimes that I need to write them down just to clear space for new ones! Hence, (don't you just love that word?) the table full of projects that I have started and need to be finished.

5) There are always at least 4 wee beasties (not including my husband *LOL*!) on my bed every night. Corgis and/or kitties.

6) Whenever I am in the midst of a painting or craft project, the entire house can fall down around me, dishes can pile in the sink, and Godzilla could walk in and I would just keep on working. Hence the late night suppers around here sometimes. (Sorry, honey)

7) I am a serious chocolate lover.



So there you go.



I am tagging the following bloggy friends:

Corgi Hill Farm (aka Princess of Pink)

Corgi Pants

The Senakams, Corgi + 2

A Corgi in Southern California

Corgi News

and just when you think all of my tags have a Corgi in their title....

The Stone Rabbit

Sunday Baker

Some rules that come with the tag:
1. Link to your tagger and list these rules on your blog.
2. Share 7 facts about yourself on your blog - some random, some weird.
3. Tag 7 people at the end of your post by leaving their names as well as links to their blog.
4. Let them know they have been tagged by leaving a comment on their blog.


This award is from Linda over at Weekend Cook. Do check out all of the yummy recipes she posts on her blog! (Thank you, Linda!)



I am supposed to choose at least 10 blogs that show great attitude or gratitude to pass this award on to. I choose all of the bloggers in my 'followers' list to the left. I visit each of their own blogs regularly and all are fantastic. If you click on their 'profile' you will see a link for those who are bloggers. Pay them a visit!

Here are the rules for the recipients:
1. Put the logo on your blog or post.
2. Nominate at least 10 blogs which show great Attitude and/or Gratitude!
3. Be sure to link to your nominees within your post.
4. Let them know that they have received this award by commenting on their blog.
5. Share the love and link to this post and to the person from whom you received your award.

That's it! Have fun visiting my 'tagees' and 'nominees,' and enjoy the rest of your day. -CS ^..^

Baby, It's Cold Outside

"I'll have my bedtime cookie right on this fleece in front of the fire, thank you," the old girl said. I was happy to oblige. Have a happy weekend everyone! CS ^..^

Of Sharpie Markers And Shiny Brite Ornament Boxes

I finally finished putting away the last of the Christmas decorations. Please tell me I'm not the only one. As much as I enjoy decorating for the holidays, I just do not enjoy putting it all away. I do like when the last box has been packed away and there is that 'aaahhhh!' moment where things are clear and I can see the walls again, however. Very much. One tradition that I started many years ago was to write sort of a 'year end summary' as I put the last ornament away. It started on bits of cardboard ornament boxes. I'd ask everyone to tell me what they remember most from the year, or any significant things they'd like to write down. Nothing fancy, just short little things about family, school, current events. Little snippets of our everyday life. Precious everyday life. Little joys, big joys, accomplishments, job changes, puppies born, beloved pets who have gone to the rainbow bridge, moves, births, what car we were driving, passing of dear loved ones, all recorded in whatever was available to write with. Green Flair felt-tip pens and Sharpie markers, red crayons and pencils have all been summoned to scribe what came to mind on that day. Then we'd all sign our names.
We'd sign the back of the Christmas tree box, the Shiny Brite ornament box, the paper plate, the Christmas card envelope, the back of the car insurance bill, whatever was used to document the year. In my mind I have envisioned the most beautiful book that all of these memories should go into. But when I see the evolution of a pre-schooler's carefully crayoned name to the quick flick of a teenager's pen written on the pieces of the reality that surrounds us, I can't imagine any fancy velvet book could make these memories any sweeter. As I wrap each ornament, whether hand made by a child or handed down from Grandma or a gift from a friend,I know that when the season comes back around; a memory will surround me as once again it is placed it on the tree. I think that is part of why we all love to decorate so much, don't you? It is about so much more than just decorating. Because our boxes hold so much more than just ornaments. -CS ^..^

"Miracle On The Hudson"

If you haven't heard, US Airways Flight 1549 went down into the Hudson River in New York City near the USS Intrepid. All of the boats and ferries in the area immediately responded. There is speculation as to why the engines went out, flocks of birds perhaps. But who cares? Every single person, including a baby, were miraculously rescued! The pilot, Chesley B. "Sully" Sullenberger a 30 + year pilot and fighter pilot in the US Airforce, and his crew are heroes. Because of the skill of the pilot, he was able to bring the plane down along the surface of the water without hitting any boats or barges or anything. Passengers from the plane are telling news crews that they saw fire and flames coming from the engines. The pilot told them to 'brace themselves for a hard landing.' When everyone was out, the pilot walked the plane twice to make sure that all of his passengers were out. 155 people. No serious injuries. No fatalities. A miracle, indeed! -CS ^..^

Snow on snow on snow.

It snowed again yesterday. Just for the Corgis. xo CS ^..^

From O.G. With Love...

My daughter Laura (17) is such a bibliophage and bibliophile; so much so that she reminds me of Belle in Disney's Beauty and the Beast or Jo in Little Women. She reads and writes, writes and reads. She is rarely without a book in her hand. She rarely asks for anything, and trying to find out what she might like for a birthday or for a Christmas present is like pulling teeth and family and friends tend to give her gift cards to favorite book stores. She really likes that. If you go to the library or a book shop with Laura, you'd better mark out a few hours because it is nearly impossible to get her to leave. Ask Mary Elizabeth...she's accompanied Laura and I on book store days. Unless she's on a 'mission' (ie: knows exactly which book she came in to get) then one needs to plan accordingly. So during the weeks before Christmas, as I was wrapping gifts, every day or so I'd ask Laura what she might like for Christmas. "I don't know, I could use a new pair of jeans," I finally coaxed out of her one day. What enthusiasm. It was like her saying, 'I could use a new toothbrush, and by the way, we are out of shampoo.' I told her that I read on someones blog (I WISH I could recall who because I love the idea) that for Christmas, they do "something you want, something you need, something to wear and something to read." She really liked that idea, especially (you guessed it) the something you read part. Well, I picked up a really nice pair of Donna Karan jeans for her; a few books, and a game. Suddenly out of the blue, 2 days before Christmas she blurted out, "You know what I'd really like for Christmas? To see Phantom of the Opera on Broadway. Oh, I know it is too late but that would have been really fun." We both love the 2004 movie with Gerard Butler (oooh la la) as the Phantom, Emmy Rossum as Christine, Minnie Driver as the prima donna Carlotta and Patrick Wilson as Raoul. Her Grandparents bought the soundtrack from the movie for her for Christmas because we wore out the first one in my car, but that is another story!
Gulp. Two days before Christmas. I made a discreet phone call to a secret amazing friend who was able to get us 3 tickets, awesome 4Th row center seats, right beneath the famous grand chandelier which crashes down during the performance. Being so close to Christmas we thought it best to leave them at the 'will call' window at the theater. But what to put under the tree to announce the big surprise? Amazingly, on Christmas morning there was a mysterious invitation for Laura with the Phantom's mask on the front. It read 'Dear Laura, The honor of your presence is requested this Saturday at the Majestic Theater. Love, O.G. p.s. please be sure not to sit in Box 5 " So on Saturday, the Mister, Laura and I went to see the show. It was really fun. They don't allow photographs during the performance of course, but Laura managed to take a mini video of the chandelier as it was being re-set during intermission. Wanna see it? Push the play button.



“Phantom,” based on a French novel by Gaston Leroux, is the longest-running Broadway show in history. I understand that Andrew Lloyd Webber has the sequel in the works to open at the end of 2009 on Broadway, London and maybe Shanghai? It is called, "Phantom: Love Never Dies." Apparently it is to be set on Brooklyn's Coney Island and will take place 10 years after the original. I'm sure it will be something to see. Andrew Lloyd Webber, how can it be bad, right?

Now, completely off the subject, but you have to see this lovely short video sent to me by Karen Mowry. It is about a dog named Bella and an elephant named Tarry in an elephant sanctuary in Tennessee. Well, maybe not completely off the subject. It is about two glorious creatures loving each other in spite of their vast differences. You just have to watch it! Seriously. Click here.

Have a happy day my little Corgettes! (What do you mean you don't know who O.G. is? tsk tsk...rent the movie!) xo Cat ^..^

Winner! + 2

By a very scientific process in the laboratory, we have chosen a Winner!

OK, OK, it wasn't the laboratory. It was random.org's number generator....

Thank you all for your lovely birthday wishes for Indy. He was so happy...I think I even saw a little tear roll down his furry cheek. Nerissa wins the sweatshirt.

Indy couldn't resist drawing two more names, so Maud and Joey, you will each win a pack of notecards in the design of your choice, Corgi or Hedgie.

Do come back and visit us often! I have new Original art and crafty things in the works that I can't wait to share with you.

Happy New Year! Warmly, Cathy ^..^

A "Happy Birthday Indy" Christmas Corgi Give-Away!

Today is my Indy's 11th Birthday. A sweeter Corgi you will never find. He even answers to 'Sweetie' when we call him. Here he is with his birthday cupcake (he had two!) and his peanut butter birthday treats. He even got a squishy new furry toy, which will promptly be de-squeaker-fied, I'm sure. Besides warming my heart with love every day, Indy is also my little bed warmer. He is entirely snuggly. He told me that for his birthday, even though he can't warm your bed on these cold Winter nights, he wanted to send some warm Corgi (or hedgie) cuteness to one of our lovely blog readers.

I suggested to him that a sweatshirt may be just the thing!

To win Indy's warm birthday give-away, just leave a comment for him on this post from now through the drawing on Monday, Jan 5th, 2009. No strings attached. You don't need to post the giveaway on your blog (unless you want to!), you don't need to stand on one foot and pat your head while rubbing your tummy...not a thing. Whether you are a new reader or an old friend, all are welcome. The winner of this giveaway (chosen by random draw) will receive one sweatshirt in one of the designs below or another of his or her choosing. (Don't be shy, Indy would never bite.)

"Dressed To Kilt" Corgi Sweatshirt

"Fashionista Hedgie" Hedgehog Sweatshirt

"Walk Like An Egyptian" Corgi Sweatshirt

"Potting Shed" Corgi Sweatshirt

"Start Your Engines" Corgi Sweatshirt

• Winner will choose their sweatshirt size. They range from 'small' to '2x.' If you would prefer a tee shirt or different style shirt or design in my CafePress Shop, you may have one instead.


• Winner will be chosen by random draw on Monday, January 5th, 2009, late evening EST and announced here.


• Please email me at christmascorgi@aol.com if you are the lucky winner!

Good luck, tell your friends, and thanks for helping Indy celebrate his birthday! -CS ^..^