Hi there! I’m Kai. January 9, 2014

Hi there! I’m Kai and today I am celebrating my birthday. I’m one year old. Wow… what does that mean to a dog? Well, for me it’s meant of year of learning, growing and becoming “a dog” instead of a “puppy”.  I’m quite proud of being a “dog”. I live with and protect my family. And I take that very responsibly. I’m lucky, because my people are my family. They mean everything to me and I would do anything for them. But, I know the feeling is mutual so it’s easy to be a “little guy” yet still go out in front to protect and defend my people. I do it eagerly, ok, sometimes too eagerly according to my “mom”.

I was born in Ramona CA… and I look a lot like my dog-dad. My dog-mom was what humans refer to as a “red-tri”… and my dog-dad was a mixture of colors like me and we’re called “blue merles”. Whatever… I just know that my colors cause a lot of people to stop my folks and ask what I am. I always wonder… can’t they see… I’m a dog… honest! LOL

I fell into a bit of doggie heaven here on earth by coming to live with my new mom and dad when I was 8 weeks old. The farm we live on is so big that I still haven’t been on all parts of it. I love to run alongside my mom when she’s out and about on the farm. And if she has a ball with her then I’m all excited over that! I love to chase and retrieve balls. Another BIG plus to living on the farm is riding ATV’s – oh my gosh how I love to feel the wind in my face as I sit behind mom and we go along down the roads.  When I was a mere pup I sat in front of her, but now that I’m a “big” dog… I get to ride in back and I love that.

They tell me that my name “Kai” means “ocean”. Well that was an appropriate choice because I love the beach. Playing with the waves has become a favorite pastime whenever mom and dad take me to see the ocean. And chasing the birds there on the beach is always fun too. I chase birds here at the farm too… little birds that hide in the fields… but those big black crows… no, I don’t chase those anymore – because they chased me back! YIKES! That was a scary afternoon let me tell you.

I want to thank you all for being so indulgent and reading my mom’s stories about me… she’s a typical mom I guess and she’s proud of what I’ve learned to do and likes to share me with her world.

Well… I  must go… there are sticks and balls to chase, a cat to pester and maybe even some special treats for me on this day. Who knows… but I do know this… whatever it is I’ll be smiling and eagerly looking forward to another grand adventure here on the farm with mom and dad.

(here’s a look back at my first year… mom’s always putting that camera in my face… so there were a lot of pictures to try and pick a few from)

Yes he did… and we love the changes Kai has brought to our family.

I am born

I meet my new mom when I’m just a week old.

Eyes open and exploring the outside world!

I don’t know it yet, but this is the last night I’m with my dog-mom.

I like my new home… there’s LOTS of toys and new smells.

This is FUN!

This big white thing is REALLY BIG!

Ok – I’ll admit it… I’m a clown at heart!

What? Who’s cute? Me?

My first trip to the beach and it’s love at first sight.

Come on mom, lets go for a ride!

Yeah… I’m spoiled. 😀

Another lazy day at the beach… it’s a dogs life isn’t it?

Move? But I’m comfortable!

💙

Out for a walk on a windy winter day… God blessed us with this beautiful creature… Happy First Birthday Kai!

Meet Alan October 31, 2013

For those of you who have asked… meet Alan… of the Undercover Boss Menchie’s Yogurt episode! Alan is enjoying his life here at the dairy… he’s busy growing up and exploring his world.

 

Alan, cute and curious. 🙂

A Bugle Calls and “They’re Off” Resounds Through The Air July 20, 2012

Recently I crossed off a “bucket list” item… and boy of boy did I have fun!

I was born and raised in San Diego County… the home of Del Mar, its fair and its horse racing track. But I’d never been there for the horse races. When you think of the Del Mar race track you conjure up thoughts of Jimmy Durante, Bing Crosby, Dean Martin… and all of the old favorites sitting in their private boxes watching fabulous thoroughbreds running the track.

Well, we didn’t have a private boxes to sit in, but we did watch some fabulously beautiful horses running like the wind in the cool ocean breeze. But that’s not all we saw…

We saw lots of people!

We saw lots of very expensive cars!

We saw some really beautiful, and some really odd looking hats perched upon lots of women’s heads, or in a few instances perched on their foreheads!

Did I mention that we saw lots of people?

We also saw kids bouncing along the track in their own little race.

And being a wife of a farmer I, of course, had to take pictures of the beautiful (yes, tractors can be beautiful) John Deere tractors grooming the track. With the American Flag right behind one of them it’s an “All American” in my opinion.

My sister, Penny King, my niece Lindsey King with boyfriend Tyler Twohey and my nephew Brad King all very much enjoyed the day… we didn’t win anything but we did gather up a lot of wonderful memories to reflect back upon – which in my book is just as good as gold.

Here is a pictorial of what we saw… enjoy the view… and if you ever get a chance to see Del Mar and all of it’s finery, please do yourself a favor… and go… enjoy… and maybe you’ll even win!

Yes, his Mohawk says “Del Mar”… and on the other side…

It has horses racing! LOL

We saw LOTS of people…

…and LOTS of odd and sometimes beautiful hats.

We saw GORGEOUS horses running like the wind!

And proud winners strutting back to the winners box.

He seems to be looking back thinking… dang… THAT got over FAST!

My beautiful sister Penny with her “kids” Lindsey and Brad.

Me… in my not so fancy hat. 😉

At the gate…

….they’re OFF!!!

And with thundering hooves….

….they cross in front of us like a wave of energy…

….looking absolutely beautiful!

Stretched out and flat out hauling a$$!

Tractors grooming the fields… and a horse calming walking along in front of it all.

How much more “American” can we get here?

One of those “odd” hats I mentioned! LOL

The kids here are getting ready for their own race.

And one of the beautiful hats we saw.

News reporter being filmed… and seeing him on the big screen in back at the same time.

And with a bounce, and a splat… the kids cross their finish line.

Brad, Penny, Lindsey, & Tyler

Lindsey & Tyler

Me, with Brad, Lindsey & Tyler

My sister & I (we don’t look anything alike do we? LOL)

I love these two together!

Another really crazy hat!

Beautiful, funny and ridiculous hats all at once… these were the winners of the day.

And with every race… this ambulance goes by just as fast… behind the horses… following them throughout the race! Who’da thunk?

Lets Enjoy Some Agricultural Scenery March 4, 2012

As we were driving to our next stop, the Moeraki Boulders in Central Otago we drove through some outstanding agricultural scenery… so green, so beautiful and so vast!

Lake Tekapo & The Collie February 15, 2012

Yes, we’re freezing here! The wind was coming down from the snow laden mountains and believe me it was a bitter biting wind that cut through the merino wool top like it wasn’t there!

We are beginning to see that the stunning color of water here in New Zealand is pretty much everywhere. It’s an indescribable blue, aqua color that pretty much takes your breath away, if you have any left after the cold wind robs you of it that is!

This bronze statue is a tribute to the Collie Sheep Dog and was placed on a large boulder at the shores of Lake Tekapo in March of 1968. Standing proud and tall this dog is a reminder to everyone on how hard these dogs worked on farms dotted throughout Mackenzie Country. The collie dogs were originally brought to New Zealand in the 19th century when Scottish shepherds arrived to begin farming New Zealand, without the help of their loyal companions the shepherds would have had a very hard time keeping their flocks together in this mountainous countryside.

Theres someone in our paddock!!! February 6, 2012

Continuing our visit with Murray on Kitenui we were driven out into one of the paddocks of his red deer herd. Being (apparently) naturally curious, or maybe thinking that food was on the way, with great caution the herd began to approach us.

Getting a bit braver…. they get a bit closer….

Ever so aware of what we are doing they slowly, with great apprehension approach the vehicle we are in, hoping, I’m sure, for a handout.

And then someone decides… WE’RE CLOSE ENOUGH!!!!

And they all disappear over the hill… and I’m sure they were all thinking…  “are they gone yet?”

Aren’t they beautiful?

Leaving Rotorua February 5, 2012

Leaving Rotorua we drive south & east towards Napier. Along the way we’re in either forest or cleared forest for grasslands. We suspect that is what the smoke is from, but it also could be a summer fire. Landcorp is a huge government farm that is doing a lot of this land clearing and reworking. We’re passing a lot of dairy cows contently grazing in their paddocks now but because of high windbreaks or grasses alongside the road it’s difficult to get pictures of them… I’ll keep trying!

On our way to Napier we’ll make a stop at Murray & Barbara Matuschka’s deer farm Kitenui. We are in for a definite treat here! Murray is a pioneer of the New Zealand deer farming industry and is also an accomplished sculptor and artist. We marvel at his sculptures and then are taken for a tour of their fantastic farm. Besides deer he & his wife have an extensive garden, and a collection of several exotic animals including Sika deer from Japan, Thar from the Himalaya’s, two American Bison and several other animals that I did not get the name of.

Further adventures at the Kitenui farm will be shared in another posting… but for now… please enjoy the pictures of Murray and his animals both sculpted and real.

Still in Rotorua, on our way to the Omania Farm

Leaving Rainbow Springs we head towards the Omania Farm for a picnic lunch. On the way to our picnic we pass by sheep grazing in paddocks and some beautiful bulls who watch us pass by.

Oops! Forgot this from the Agrodome!

Shearing sheep… anyone ever done this? I’ve seen it done, and helped a bit when my sisters raised ewes for 4H… it’s backbreaking work, dirty, smelly and the resulting clean sheep is just gorgeous! A bit chilly perhaps… but within a week of regrowth the sheep is stunning! Here we see a demonstration that took… literally… just a few minutes. This guy was very talented in his shearing ability!

Possum fur? Yep! And it’s soft too. :-) February 4, 2012

This guy… is a pest ≈ but combine his fur with a Merino sheep’s wool (see previous picture blocks)… and OMG what a wonderful garment you will have!

From http://www.merinopossum.co.nz/ :

“The brushtail possum is an introduced species released in NZ in 1837 to establish a fur industry.

As demand for fur fell and its value dropped to uneconomic levels the numbers of possums dramatically increased. They have now reached epidemic proportions with well over 70 million possums munching their way through 21,300 tonnes of vegetation nightly, decimating New Zealand’s native bush and bird life.

With no predators, New Zealand’s bush is defenseless against possums. Possums are a serious threat that has spread to 92% of New Zealand’s three main islands and, with their habitat destroyed by the possum, many native trees, plants and birdlife, including the kiwi, are under threat of extinction.

The only way that we can get the possum numbers down to manageable levels is by marketing possum products worldwide and getting people who care about the environment to purchase these products. Only then, will it become financially viable for hunters to trap the possum, reduce their numbers, and help save New Zealand’s environment.

NZ possum fur blended with merino is luxurious, warm & soft, anti static and a luxury that nearly everyone can afford. By purchasing our products not only are you helping to protect our environment, you are also buying a truly versatile and extremely warm natural fibre that will last years.”

I have a few pieces now from this unique blend, and I can tell you that it’s soft, warm, but not heavy and certainly not *itchy*… I love them and look forward to someday purchasing more for both Bruce & I.