SCA 2013 ~ Southfork Ranch, Parker, TX

MENDEL  ArticCross N Double Helix's Mendelian Masterpiece  (L) and 

HELI  GCH ArticCross N Double Helix Unzip your Genes (R) 

enjoying their National in TX at the Southfork Ranch.

Futurity - Best Intersex Puppy  6-9mos

       Double Helix Little Miss Gleam   (Daughter of Mendel's Half Sister)

Sweepstakes -Bitches:  6-9 Puppy         

       1st Place - Double Helix Little Miss Gleam

Sweepstakes - Working 

Dog, Novice

        1st  CH ArticCross N Double Helix FISH the Gene Pool RN

         2nd   ArticCross n Double Helix's Mendelian Masterpiece RN

Bitch, Novice

         1st  GCH CH Articcross N Double Helix Unzip Your Genes RN CGC

Beautiful FISH showing off his ribbons

Best In Working Sweeps

CH Articcross N Double Helix Fish The Gene Pool RN

Best Of Opposite Sex To Best In Working Sweeps

CH Articcross N Double Helix Unzip Your Genes RN  

Obedience: Novice B

   2nd place   193.5 score   CH Articcross N Double Helix Unzip Your Genes RN CGC

Highest Scoring Champion Of Record In The Regular Classes

GCH Articcross N Double Helix Unzip Your Genes RN CGC 

Heli showing off her fancy ribbons

Weight Pull - Sanctioned : Novice Dog 51-63 lbs class

          1st place  Pulled 840lbs  in 20.28 seconds Arcticcross N Double Helix Mendelian

Masterpiece RN (D) -  weighing 53lbs  pulled 15x his own weight

 

Regular Classes - Dogs:  Working Dog

     2nd Place - CH Articcross N Double Helix Fish The Gene Pool RN  (Mendel's Brother)

Singing a nice song before showing

SCA 2012 ~ Gettysburg, PA

It's hard to believe Mendel's second National Specialty is behind us already!  It seems like just yesterday I was on my way home from Seattle with a little ball of fluff.  Time sure does fly when you're having fun!

Last year's National, with sister Sookie awarded Grand Futurity & Best in Sweepstakes winner and sister Heli taking Reserve Winners Bitch, was a darn good week for the Genetics litter and this year the team just kept rolling.

Tuesday, September 25 ~ Futurity

Judge Carol Hjort

Photo 51 didn't have any players in the Futurity ring this year so I helped out our friends at Bilrost with one of their lovely "Star Wars" boys. Chewie, having never been shown before, was great fun in the ring!

Chewie, Bilrost's Steadfast Ally, and I placed 4th in the 6-9 Month Futurity Class while his brother Han, Bilrost's Corellian Scoundrel, placed 2nd.



Chewie, left, and brother Han



Keep an eye on Bilrost Samoyeds, we've got some very exciting plans with them on the horizon!!



Wednesday, September 26 ~ Obedience/Rally

Dr. Elizabeth Wells (Rally) & Judge John D. Landis (Obedience)

Mendel started off the day in the Rally ring and performed beautifully to earn his first Rally Novice Leg with a score of 93 out of 100 points!!

 Mendel's sister, Heli, rocked the house in Obedience winning Highest Scoring Dog in Regular Classes and Highest Scoring Champion of Record!  Great work, Heli & Drea!

CH ArticCross N Double Helix Unzip Your Genes

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Wednesday, September 26 ~ Sweepstakes

Judges Terrie Breen (Puppy & Veteran), Leah Seman (Working)

Mendel's Mamma, Allele (Multi BISS CH Hawkwind Rocks the Gene Pool) was awarded 1st Place in the 8-10 Year Veterans Class

(photo coming soon)

Mendel won 1st Place in the Novice Working Sweeps class!!

ArticCross N Double Helix's Mendelian Masterpiece

Congrats to Mendel's Aunt, Annika (BISS GCH Hawkwind's Emerald Storm), for winning Best in Working Sweepstakes!!

 

 

 

 

Thursday, September 27 ~ Dogs

Judge Dody Froehlich

Chewie (Bilrost's Steadfast Ally) won 2nd place in American Bred Dogs, handle by Drea Dunkle

Mendel's beautiful brother, FISH, made us squeal with joy when he was awarded WINNERS DOG from the Bred By class with breeder and friend, Julie Dunkle, to finish his Championship!!

CH ArticCross N Double Helix FISH the Gene Pool RN

FISH also won the Working Dog Class!!

FISH is Julie's service dog in "real life", but he sure knows how to put on a great show in the ring.

Friday, September 28 ~ Bitches

Judge Edd Bivin

Mendel's mama, Allele, did it again!  This time winning 1st place in the 8-10 year old Veteran Bitch regular class!

(photo coming soon)

Saturday, September 29 ~ Best of Breed

Judge Cheri Hollenback

The beautiful Miss Morgana (CH Hawkwind's Morganite Moonstone), owned by our friends at Bilrost Samoyeds, was given an Award Of Merit for the second year in a row at the National Specialty!

Morgana and her mama, Electra, teamed up in brace to win 1st place in their class for the second year in a row, as well!  Great job, girls!!

There was a great place for some nice pictures at the show site so we made sure to snap a few pics of Mendel and Heli!  Click on photos to view larger!

 

Mendel & Heli

SCA 2012 Gettysburg: Behind the Scenes Edition

When it comes to big shows like the National we always do a "pre-bath bath" before we leave.  I was putting away the tub and turned around to see Mendel watching the neighbor walking her dog down the street.  He was looking so gorgeous I just had to grab my phone and snap a picture.

When you drive a little compact car, you've got to make space somewhere...

Pit Stop in Ohio on our way to Pennsylvania.  We LOVED this room at the Red Roof

Mendel enjoying a bully stick on the front lawn of a hotel in Pennsylvania while we waited for Julie

Enjoying some peanut butter kongs in their crate at our grooming set up in Gettysburg.  Mendel and Lilly almost always share a big crate when we go to shows.  They keep each other company. 

Lilly found a nice comfy spot by Drea at the hotel in Gettysburg

SCA National Specialty 2011: October 10 - 15

Futurity
Judge: Ms. Martha Lageschulte
Tuesday, October 11

Puppy Dog 9-12 Months 3rd:  Mendel's brother, FISH (ArticCross 'N Double Helix Fish The Gene Pool)
Puppy Dog 9-12 Months 4th:  Mendel's brother, Fraggle (Double Helix 'N ArticCross Okazaki Fragment)
Puppy Bitch 9-12 Months 1st:  Mendels sister, Sookie (Dbl Helix Artic Cross Nu Blood At SFX)

Best Intersex 9-12 :  Sookie  (Dbl Helix Artic Cross Nu Blood At SFX)
GRAND FUTURITY WINNER:  Sookie (Dbl Helix Artic Cross Nu Blood At SFX)

Mendel competing in the Futurity Class

Sweepstakes
Judge: Mr. Walter Herrmann III
Wednesday, October 12

Puppy Bitch 6-9 Months 4th:  Mendel's Cousin, Avery (Hawkwind's Diamond Limelight)  Owned by Gina Cashen

Puppy Bitch 9-12 Months 1st: Sookie  (Dbl Helix Artic Cross Nu Blood At SFX)

BEST IN SWEEPSTAKES:  Sookie (Dbl Helix Artic Cross Nu Blood At SFX)

Looking pretty for the Sweepstakes Judge

Mendel on the move in the Sweepstakes Class



Regular Classes - Dogs
Judge: Ms. Audrey Lycan
Thursday, October 13
Puppy 9-12 Months 4th:  Fraggle (Double Helix And ArticCross Okazaki Fragment)
Mendel made the cut, but ultimately we got out handled for the placement.

Looking pretty in the Regular 9-12mo Dog Class

Taking a spin around the 9-12 Dog ring.  We made the cut, but got beat by brother Fraggle.

Regular Classes - Bitches
Judge: Ms. Lynette Blue
Friday, October 14

Puppy Bitch 6-9 Months 1st:  Cousin, Avery (Hawkwind's Diamond Limelight)

Puppy Bitch 9-12 Months 1st:  Sister, Sookie (Dble Helix Artic Cross Nu Blood At SFX)

Bred By Exhibitor 1st:  Sister, Heli (ArticCross N Double Helix Unzip Your Genes)
Bred By Exhibitor 4th:  1/2 sister, Puma (Double Helix Live From The Piston Cup)

Open Bitch 1st:  Our friend's girl, Agate (Hawkwind's Painted Canyon Agate)


Winners Bitch:  Agate (Hawkwind's Painted Canyon Agate)

Reserve Winners Bitch: Mendel's sister, Heli (ArticCross N Double Helix Unzip Your Genes)



Best of Breed
Judge: Ms. Beth Riley
Saturday, October 15

BOW:  Agate (Hawkind's Painted Canyon Agate)
SEL DOG: Mendel's 1/2 Brother, Mater (Ch. Double Helix Tractor Tipping BISS)

AOMs: 
Our friend's girl, Morgana (Ch. Hawkwind's Morganite Moonstone)
Mendel's Aunt, Annika (Ch. Hawkwind's Emerald Storm BISS)


It was a great week for our group of friends.  Mendel and I may have come home ribbon-less (we were entered in Futurity, Sweeps, and the regular puppy dog classes), but we're just waiting to grow up a little... and grow some coat.  We'll get 'em next time. 

One of the best parts of the trip for me was the scenery.

Mendel and his sister, Heli  (ArticCross N Double Helix Unzip Your Genes)

SCA 2010 - Pigeon Forge, TN (Part 2: Videos)

 I simply must show you this picture of Mater from the Nationals in Tennessee where he won Reserve Winners Dog!  Mater will be a half brother to my baby, and I am a little bit in love with him.  I can only hope my baby will look (and have a temperament) a lot like him.  I think this is an absolutely awesome picture!

Double Helix Tractor Tipping   "Mater"

Videos of friends and their dogs in Tennessee:

Double Helix Tractor Tipping  "Mater"
(Mendel's half brother)

Hawkwind's ArticCross Emerald "Rico"
(Mendel's sire)

Hawkwind's Emerald Storm  "Annika"
(Rico's Sister, Mendel's Aunt)

Double Helix Lizzie Blizzard  "Blizzie"
(Mendel's half sister)

Hawkwind's Emerald Comet  "Haley"
(Rico's Sister, Mendel's Aunt)

SCA 2010 - Pigeon Forge, TN (Part 1: Scenery)

On my trip to Tennessee, I took both some really great pictures, and some absolutely terrible ones.  I have made myself feel better about the terrible ones by reminding myself that I bought a book called "Understanding Exposure" at Barnes and Noble before I left for Tennessee, and someday I might actually read it.  Someday.  Secondly, I rationalize them by blaming the camera, and my lack of ability to buy a better and more expensive one.  Then I remember that even if I did have the money to buy a better and more expensive camera, I wouldn't.  I would buy a K9II dog dryer or a new Blauwerk mountain scooter (for in-harness dog training).  At that point, if I need further assistance forgetting about the bad ones, I just look at this...

or this...

 

That's Gatlinburg down there, nestled in the Mountains.

Gatlinburg has a Bubba Gump Shrimp Co. Of course, I went there.  It's just something I have to do.

Gatlinburg also has an aquarium.  I went there as well.

So, about those things I've learned about photography.  While I might not be able to get the exposure right all the time, I have learned a lot about perspective.  Time and time again I have had people look at me funny or say something to me about how I take pictures.  Whether it be holding the camera way up above my head, or getting down on the ground, or walking around some object for a different perspective.  I find this single factor has made a HUGE impact on the quality (if you can call it that) of my photos.

That said, I don't always get it right...

Here, you see a rocky wall that has been cut out to make a roadway going up the mountains in the Great Smokies National Forest.  I knew it would be best to get down on the ground for the best perspective, but I somehow failed to notice my car's freaking TAIL LIGHT in the frame.  Now, could I crop it out?  Of course.  But, ya know, what the heck fun would that be?

Then there's the times I get it right.  Well, at least in my opinion.

 
 

The banks of this creek are wicked steep, and it was drizzling all day.  I suffered wind and rain and laying in wet grass for these pictures, but I find it to be well worth it.  I was not, however, dedicated enough to try and kill myself by climbing down the rocky embankment.
I can't count the number of people I saw jump out of their cars and snap a picture of the creek at various spots, all of them just taking the picture where they were, right at eye level.  Like this:

 It's not terrible, but I find the one above to be much more attractive.

 At places like this, where there was a long section of parking places for people to stop and take pictures, I often walked the whole length of it to see where the best pictures could be taken.  And, if I was lucky, at some point the clouds would move just right so as to let the sun shine through and illuminate the trees in certain spots on the mountain.  I thought it was extremely cool.

It was a bit gloomy, and in some pictures that definitely shows.  I'm sure I could do some kind of editing to make this look better, but I'm just far too lazy for that.  :)

Lilly, Whitey and I walked on one of only two trails that dogs are allowed on in the WHOLE Nat'l Forest.  (did I mention I would never want to live there?)  I spotted this big rock and though the girls might behave for a picture on top of it.

It was completely impossible to get a nice profile picture of Whitey.  She's just too much in love with people to focus on anything I threw out in front of her for more than a mili-second.

Lilly, on the other hand, did great!

Now here is a case of "I have no idea how I did that, but I like it"...

I have no idea why this picture looks so different from the ones above.  None.  I don't remember changing any settings on my camera.  (which does not necessarily mean I didn't, just that I don't remember it)

This is one of those very limited cases where I wish I was better at photo editing.  Eventually I need to have somebody take that leash off Lilly.  I was simply too afraid to unclip it at the time in case a rabbit or something came darting through the woods and all hell broke lose in the National Forest. 

Later on I found another rock that I thought would make a cool picture.

Lilly did not agree.

I think all the wind rushing through the trees made a noise she wasn't very comfortable with.

 Arby's roast beef made her feel a little better, but with only one person it didn't make for much of a picture.

So... while I was in Tennessee, I would have loved to get lots of pictures of movement, but low indoor lighting and fast moving dogs is not conducive to nice pictures.  I did get some nice video, but I'll save that for another time.  (I'm impressed if you made it through this much)  I did, however, get a chance to take some pictures of Mater (my future puppy's half brother).  

Mater is a beautiful boy.

When I attempted to get some side-gait shots of him, we only had a small patch of sunlight to work with so his owner started gaiting him in the shade and ran into the sun.  Unfortunately, this confused my camera and while shooting in sport (continuous) mode it was unable to adjust to the sunlight.  I wound up with this.

Now, since the side-gait is actually pretty nice in this picture, I didn't want to just completely toss it out.  Bad exposure doesn't make his stride any less pretty.  I thought the water color editing was pretty cool.

This is an example of how good side-gait can be difficult to see if the photo is taken at a less than ideal angle.

And then there's always this problem.  It's probably the biggest reason I am grateful for DIGITAL photography where I can just pick out and delete the headless photos.  (Mater was starting to get a little sick of this game and bouncing in his steps so it's not like I cut off his head while he was doing his best work)

And sometimes you just have to give in, be happy with the beautiful pictures you DID get, and just have fun.