A Dog Gone Good Weekend - 2015 WSR Sheltie Reunion!

WSR--- stands for Wisconsin Sheltie Rescue.  This is where we got our darling Binney and Finney!

http://www.wisheltierescue.com/

Tackled with the never-ending energy, ideas and creativity of Lisa Martin, she puts on this huge event every year to gather her past adopters and adoptees into a great Wisconsin Sheltie Rescue Reunion Weekend.

We had 124 dogs and 131 people attend this year.   She had helpers with food, prizes, setting up, tearing down and reserving campground sites for those who wished to camp (I helped with that!) I had to get up at 4 am in the middle of winter, six months before, to sit in a freezing car to get in line to make the reservations for this particular summer weekend. Calumet County Park is not yet online, so it has to be made in person. First come, first served.  I had to reserve 20 campsites for over $1,000 at one fell swoop!  Once that was done, then it was coordinating payments back from people, setting the right names to the right sites, and making sure nobody got left out!  Ahhhh it all worked out.

To give you a little taste of what our day was like, 

here is a fun video put together by fellow adopter, Joyce Naps.

Click here:

Wisconsin Sheltie Rescue Reunion 2015

(I know that most shelties look alike to many of you readers, sooooo

any time you see a blue bandana it's Finney

and a pink bandana it's Binney) 

We helped on Wednesday to get all of the prizes and auction items loaded up and hauled to the event venue site.  It took FOUR vehicles to get it all there!  Lisa sure collects a lot of wonderful items throughout the whole year to use in our silent auction.  

Our soninlaw Jesse made a campfire ring which we donated in Finney and Binney's honor.  It was called "Dogupations"  and had various working dogs depicted around the ring doing their jobs.  Herding, hunting, and sled dog racing.  It is a real work of art, and the auction bidding brought in a nice tidy sum for the Sheltie Rescue Fund!   The happy winner is putting it at her cottage up north, and she will send a pic once it's all up in place. Jesse can custom make them with just about any motif, contact him at jwadeip@gmail.com 

Before the day of the event, I had picked up ten big play balls from Walmart. I carefully lettered each one to transform it into a colorful Big Round Sheep.... I tossed each one into their little fenced in potty yard.  Finney and Binney were a bit flummoxed at first by having more than ONE to chase and herd around their yard.  

But soon they herded them and got them in line (literally!) 

"We done a good job!" 

Steve had to work on Friday, so I drove the motorhome out and got it backed into our campsite with NO spotter to help me!  (good thing I have backed into this campsite a few times before, and I do have a backup camera on our motorhome)   I got us all set up and the dogs were eager to get out and meet other shelties!

On Friday, the weather was looking pretty "iffy" so Lisa made arrangements for a HUGE circus tent to be rented for the weekend.  The only problem, it had to be erected.  Hmmmm by a bunch of guys and gals who never did this before!~   It took all afternoon in the heat with a lot of huffing, puffing, pulling, balancing and heave-ho-ing like a herd of Circus Elephants!   Whew......  we got it!

Steve's shoulders sure were aching from pounding in stakes with a slegehammer.

The guys also spread out a big roll of orange fencing to make an enclosed play area for the dogs to run free if the owner so chooses.   (more on that later)

Friday night started out with a big buffet meal at a local seafood place, and many of the attendees go to gather and greet and eat. Some went to a new place in Neenah where you can eat out on a patio with your dog on leash by your side.

We hung back at the rig and got settled in and visited with the folks coming into the campsites.  We had 20 campsites booked all in one area, which was wonderful for visiting and socializing our dogs back and forth too.

We all gathered at one central campsite for a campfire and visiting and of course.... dogs dogs dogs! 

Saturday morning was "The Day" with a lot of folks scrambling and getting things set up and ready bright and early.  There were vendors with items to sell, auction baskets to set up in rows, tables to cover for food, and various activities to take place before people even started checking in.  Lisa had it all arranged and everything went off with nary a hitch.  Well.... the bakery kinda goofed up on the cake---

(T'wernt no Sheltie... that's a Golden Retriever, folks!) 

People started coming in the tent and pavilion in droves, with excited dogs in tow.  Checking in, greeting each other, sniffing butts (the dogs) and seeing folks we have not seen in a whole year! 

Now about that secured play area?  I tossed the big balls out into the open space for play and herding activities for the dogs.... and boy oh boy did they have fun! 

Here are some pics:

There were also a few "non-shelties" present....

This little papillion guy of Kay Detample realized those balls were a bit big,

but this frisbee was just right! 

(photos by Scott Johnson are used with permission) 

It was pretty hot, but the rain held off all day!  

The tent was perfect for shade, 

and both Finney and Binney found comfort under our chairs! 

and here are three YouTube video clips of the dogs having a blast! 

(remember Finney is wearing a blue bandana and Binney a pink one)

Throughout the day, folks browsed the silent auction items,

and placed their bids.  

Then we all had to go back from time to time to check on our bids, 

and put in higher ones on the most wanted items.  

What a great array of stuff! 

On hand was a "Pet Communicator" who could help you understand what your dog is trying to tell you... and some folks had some very revealing and on-the-spot readings!  

Kids were sent on scavenger hunts to win prizes, and folks recieved various awards from things happening throughout the year. Certificates were handed out for all the newest adoptions of dogs (Binney included)  and we all had a great time visiting other doggie folks.

There were some vendors of products to buy, and huge array of food done up by our very own Joyce Naps.  It was a Mexican Taco Bar and had a baked potato alternative if you so wished.  Rows of food and dessert and drinks rounded off a great feast. 

Lisa arranged for a fellow artist friend to come 

and carve a 40 pound block of cheddar cheese! 

 Yes, only in Wisconsin would this be considered a fascinating display! 

Richard Kaye, author of the book 

 Final Thoughts From a Dying Zen Dog

was on hand to sign copies of his book. 

His dog, Julia, was a Wisconsin Sheltie Rescue Dog,

 and Richard wrote a wonderful book

with proceeds going to the rescue charities.

 He signed my copy in honor of Duke and Ducky.... sigh. 

Remember I had told the story of how Finnegan came to be?  How his mommy, Daisy, was in a hoarder's mobile home of 38 dogs and was pregnant before even being one year old and had puppies? That is how Finney came to be.  Once Daisy had her puppies, and they were old enough to be adopted, Daisy went to live with a great gal named Brittany in Illinois. 

Well, it turns out that our Binney was rescued from the same hoarding situation, and it appears that she was approximately the same age as Daisy when the raid was done on the mobile home. All of the dogs went into the Michigan Rescue to get documented, provided health care, spayed or neutered, and then distributed to other area rescues for adoption.

But Binney was not well, and she had heartworm and a lot of issues and went into foster care instead. She needed special health care before she was adoptable. So it took longer before she was adoptable. 

So why I am rehashing all of this???

We think Binney and Daisy are sisters!!!  Records by the hoarder were sketchy and probably altered to be able to sell the most puppies with AKC papers, so who know which dog came from what litter!   But look at these two....  The just HAVE to be sisters! 

They are sooo alike in looks, mannerisms, body types and habits.  Daisy showed extreme interest in Binney and seemed to recognize her right off the bat, and both spent a lot of time sniffing each other, and ignoring any other dog around! Finnegan knows his mommy too, and has met up with her on several occasions already.

Side note----  Well, since the mommy dog Daisy came to the reunion, along with her pal Cooper, they needed a place to sleep.  We let their owner Brittany stay at our house for the weekend. They enjoyed a peaceful place to rest at night since she wasn't a camper-type-person. So Daisy and Cooper got to hang out in Finney and Binney's house! They even got to relax in the mornings out on our front porch----- 

Back to the reunion now-

Saturday evening as things wound down, Steveio and the guys decided to get that expensive rental tent down and stowed away in case of bad weather.  It sure went DOWN a lot easier than when it went up! 

Here is a video clip of that process:

Of course, we had a gorgeous sunset---- and the weather was beautiful! 

Everyone gathered around the campfire again and enjoyed an evening of camaraderie, beverages, and tales of dogginess. 

On Sunday, a bunch went out to the Paper Valley Hotel in Appleton for a brunch gathering, and we then started to double check the grounds for any doggie doo-doo remains.  Leaving the picnic grounds and the venue building and the campground spotless is a MUST if we want to return next year.  

Some folks stayed on overnight at the campground yet on Sunday (like us) and we could see a big big storm coming on Monday morning.  Bit by bit folks pulled out, but we had to tear down and fold up some rented popup campers and deliver them back to their owners.   By the time everyone left, I was still folding down the last one alone in the pouring rain!  but... I got it done! 

Steve came on his lunch hour and helped haul back the last rented popup camper, and I drove the motorhome to our house, while he headed back to work the rest of the day. 

Our dogs went NUTS racing around the house, looking for those two dogs whom they could smell that had been IN their house!  They finally figured out which room the dogs had slept in, the guest room.  They were in and out and up and down on the bed about ten times looking for Daisy and Cooper (who had gone home the day before) 

I found the sweetest thank you note from Brittany and Cooper and Daisy for staying at our house.  Plus she gave us a gift certificate to our favorite little deli in Chilton... and left Steve some beers in the fridge!  Oh... and some of that big 40 pound chunk of cheese!  hahahahaha   What a perfect houseguest.  She stripped her bedding and left it and her towels on the washing machine, dirty dishes in the dishwasher and the place was spotless.  Yup, she can come back again.  Finney would love to see his mommy and Binney to see her sister...  Cooper can be along for the rounding out of the set of two boys two girls.  LOL 

On Monday night, we still had to deliver another rented popup back to Appleton that evening, and Lisa had me do my FIRST animal transport for the rescue group!  I had to pick up a crate of five baby kittens at the local vet and bring them to her place of business http://www.stockbridgecrittersitters.com/ for adoption.  Awww

(and NO, we didn't keep any!) 

Lisa treated us out to a nice dinner for doing popup camper delivery... thank you, Lisa! I don't know where she gets her energy, but we were totally POOPED OUT by the time we got back home.

What a great four day weekend for us,

full of doggone good fun! 

FINALLY -- a blog post about RVing!

Yup....  ever since coming home from the vacation last April, we have not gotten out and about yet in our motorhome!  I think the tires were going to grow into the ground.  Soooo it was time to start loading it up and be heading out for a five day adventure.  How far are we going you ask?  Well.....   twelve miles.  Yes.  12 miles.

See, the Wisconsin Sheltie Rescue group is gathering for a reunion.  It happens to be held once a year at the Calumet County Park, just south of Steve's High Cliff State Park on Lake Winnebago.

Over 150 people and 120 dogs will be gathering for this year's reunion.  These are dogs who are somehow connected with the rescue, often not wanted or disposed of, or sometimes taken out of horrific situations.  They are assessed and then carefully adopted out to fully-screened and approved folks who will heal them, train them, love them, and promise them FOREVER homes. Lisa Martin is the driving force between all these connections of dogs and people, and raises funds to help take care of the medical needs and support during the adoption process.  And of course, all dogs are spayed or neutered to not create any more unwanted pets down the line. She also puts on this big reuion.  Where she gets the energy, I don't know!

There will be events, silent auction, picnic meals and a seafood buffet on Friday night.   I promise to blog more about that as events unfold.

We began loading up the rig on Tuesday as we made reservations for Wed-Sun at the park.  I gave the rig a good cleaning first, and Steve carried out and loaded up the items we normally keep in the rig all summer.  It took a while.  But a lot of those things could freeze during the winter months, so it's necessary to do a full clear out of stuff, and restock again in the spring.  (once the danger of freezing is past).

Wednesday morning I bathed both doggies so they will be fresh clean and fluffy...   and then I had an extra task to do.  By mid-morning, I got to run up to Green Bay and pick up our oldest grandson from his final day of KINDERGARTEN!   They were only having a half day, so that meant one or the other of his parents would have to take a half day off work to go get him.  It was Granmuddah to the rescue!

His class was going to assemble outside 15 minutes before the release bell would ring.  They lined up and sang a great song about

"we love our teacher, 

and friends that we made, 

goodbye Kindergarten, 

moving on to FIRST GRADE"

Here.. you can see it for yourself: 

Jameson's Kindergarten Goodbye

I had tears in my eyes as I filmed this, so I am glad I was able to watch now on video.  Oh my, that little babe is now going to be SIX years old and a First Grader???  What happened when I blinked my eyes?  I guess he is growing up?

We planned to take him for Thursday and Friday too... The daycare he is set up with for the summer charges for a full week, even if you only come a few days.  By us taking him, I could have some company at the campground for Thurs and Fri while Steveio buzzes up the road to High Cliff State Park to work each day.

After saying "good bye" to his teacher and friends, we hopped in the car before it started to rain.  Yup, it was raining all of the way to Chilton, but we stopped off at Taco Bell (his request)  and had a little celebration lunch.

We waited for the afternoon at the house, while it rained and rained and rained some more. Not a good way to start out a camping trip, that is for sure.  While hanging out on the front porch, the Little Graduate took a wee nap.  The dogs were antsy to get out to the motorhome, and so was Jameson.

Once Grandfaddah was done with work at 4, we could head out.  One anxious little guy rushed to his car seat, securely strapped into the co-pilot seat in the motorhome.  (I followed in the car so we could have an extra vehicle at the park)

Oh my.. he was in charge of telling his Granfaddah where to go... and what amazing sight he saw as they crested the edge of the cliff and saw the big huge Lake Winnebago before their eyes.  Not only did it stop raining, but there was SUNSHINE!

We got situated in the park on our reserved campsite, and got out the hotdogs and mac n cheese to please a little guy's appetite.  Yup, we ate it too.  Just to please him I guess.   A few walks around the park with the dogs was next on order.

Instead of towing our Tracker behind the motorhome (and hooking it up in the rain)  we decided to leave it at home and run back there with the car to pick it up later. We got back to the campground in time for one more walk around the campground with the dogs... and saw this GORGEOUS sunset!

I didn't happen to have my camera along to capture it, (imagine that?)  

so my friend Sarah Schneider Kopf graciously allowed me to use her photo.  

Awww thanks Sarah! 

We woke up now on Thursday to sunshine and no rain!  Let's hope it stays that way.  Grandfaddah got ready for work.  His Little Tiger shared breakfast with him.  Note the Giant box of Frosted Flakes for my Big Tiger, and the little box for the Little Tiger?  

Like Granfaddah --- Like Grandson ! 

Allegra's Turn at an Excellent Adventure Camping with Us

Little granddaughter Allegra, 2 years old, had to have her turn at an overnight with Granmuddah and Granfaddah Pfun.  Although both she and little baby brother Mason got an overnight last month while we were parked at Ernie and MaryEllen's cottage, it was time for her to have a special night with us all to herself.

It's easier to give total attention to an active 2 year old without the little baby brother soaking up his fair share of attention too.  So I drove up to Green Bay on Monday morning to pick the little stinker up.  She was more than raring to go, and had her little bag all packed, along with her car seat.  We stopped for a few groceries on the way, and little Allegra picked out three pretty new flyswatters for Granfaddah.  (granddaughter Chelsea somehow managed to lose ours on her visit last week)  We drove into the park and found Granfaddah busy in the shop.  He was able to let her explore a bit on some of the equipment.

All of the "Big Boy Toys" were in use over by the Butterfly Pond Project, so we had to steer clear of those.  Not trying to be sexist in showing the grandkids "girl stuff" vs. "boy stuff"  but Jameson got to crawl up and sit on the Big Boy Toys... dozers, diggers, and such fun things.  

We let Granfaddah go back to his work for the rest of the day... and we went up to the campground.  I put little Allegra to work picking up trash with the fun picker-upper-tool.  She sure enjoyed it and we made 2 rounds of the campgrounds to pick up trash.  There wasn't much to pick, so she practiced on leaves and sticks too. LOL 

She worked very hard and we had to take a little break for some lunch and a well-needed nap!  (for Granmuddah too)   After naptime, it was time to get "road worthy" to move the rig.  We were heading down to Calumet County Park to camp for five days.  link: Calumet County Park   It's only a few miles south of High Cliff Park.  The power work at upgrading the electric service and some of the posts was starting at High Cliff, so we figured we would bugger out and head to the other park with electric service while the wee one was visiting.

She LOVED sitting up front in the motorhome with the big big windshield to look out of as I drove it over to the dump station.  It is the first time she ever rode in it, and was amazed that the rest of the "camper" was going down the road right along with us!  She said:  "Grandmaw, even the BATHTUB is going for ride????"    

We drove up to the stop sign where the road gets very close to the "High Cliffs"  and she was marveling at the stones and how close it comes to the windows for her to see them.  A lot different view than when riding in the car....

It's only a short distance of about a mile to the dump station, but you would have thought we took an entire journey by the amount of excitement she showed!   Once we got to the dump station, she "helped" me do the jobs... and even wore a pair of my blue gloves when I was doing the dumping.  She said: "ewww it smells like POOP"   No kidding, eh?   In this pic below, our gloves are gone because we had pulled up the rig to the fresh water filling station... that is what is going on, in case you notice the lack of gloves in the picture.

Once our dump station chores were done, we drove over to Granfaddah's shop to wait out in the parking area till he was done for the day.  Allegra got to meet Ranger Rob, and explore more of the shop.  Soon it was 4 p.m. and we could hit the road!

Allegra and Granfaddah were going to take the motorhome to Calumet County Campground while I followed in the Tracker.

HEY... WAIT UP GRANFADDAH!!! WAIT FOR MEEEEE!~~!

We drove on down to the other park and pulled right into our reserved campsite.  It was getting cold and windy and blasting across the lake to our shoreline site.  Brrrrrrrr   And then the rain came... and came... and came....

It was too wet and windy and rainy for a little one to explore the new park.  So we had to be content with cooking up a pizza, playing games, and cuddling for the evening.  I gave her a bath in the tub, and let her dress up in her new High Cliff  tshirt that I had bought her for helping collect trash.  The smallest they have is a Youth Small.  On a 2 year old, it makes a great sleep shirt!

Granfaddah had to go to work the next morning, so he put on HIS own High Cliff tshirt too... don't they make a great pair???  Look.. they even have the same smiles!  She hugged him goodbye and she set about the morning to have some fun with Granmuddah.  It was still windy, rainy and quite icky outdoors.

We waited for the weather to clear up, so we ate breakfast, wrassled with the dogs, played with sock puppets and then baked cookies!

Of course more chocolate chips went in her mouth than went on top of the cookies.. for sure.  

By the afternoon, the weather finally cleared up so we could go OUTSIDE!   Yes, a 38 foot motorhome gets a little small when a rambunctious two year old is cooped up inside of it for too long.  LOL

We took out her little bug cage and went hunting for something to catch.  Finally we found two spiders!  One daddy long legs and one tiny little guy.  She insisted she was "scardt" of spiders...  but she told them to stay IN the cage so she could look at them.  (we set them free later before going home)

Those little bug cages are so cute... I bought one for each of  the older grandtots.  They come with a magnifying glass to help view each bug and a tweezers for the squeamish to handle the bugs.

We got in some playground time, and went over to the camp store to buy some treats and toys and look for postcards.  (they didn't have any)   Will have to stock up on postcards for the grandtots' next visits so they can send one home to their parents.

Finally.... it was NAP TIME!  Whew... I needed that more than she did.  LOL   We napped together as snug as two bugs in a rug, and then Granfaddah came home from work. Whee heee it was joyous noise again as she rattled on and on about her day in the park.

We loaded up her gear, strapped in her car seat to the Tracker and headed on north to bring her back home.  A quick stop for hot dogs and ice cream finished off Allegra's Excellent Adventure!~

.