Speak to the Earth

Connecting to Mother Earth in a modern world

2012-01-27T07:59:00.000-08:00

Do you ever feel like you are alone in the world? Like you are this insignificant individual that can’t make a positive difference? Like you are totally “unconnected?”

For many people, their daily lives are full to the brim. Rushing to get the kids off to school, going to work all day, rushing to gather up everyone, making dinner, baths, laundry, walking the dogs, dog classes, private lessons, Dr. appointments – the list goes on. Rush, rush rush. When we DO have a few minutes to rest, we sometimes have a deep sadness that comes over us. Like we are just a little rat running in a mindless maze.

Since humans have roamed the Earth, we have been at one with nature. At one with the land, plants, trees, animals, water and elements. We relied on the signs of nature to help us decide on our daily tasks. If it was sunny, we’d tend to our garden. If it was rainy, we would stay inside. Over the years, we have gotten away from the connecting to nature and we rely on technology to tell us what we should do. I mean, what would we do without the The Weather Channel, right?

So in moving to this life of depending on technology, we have helped create this feeling of isolation. We lead very “private lives” and keep to ourselves. But we’re not happy. We can’t all quit our day jobs and become homesteaders, so how do we find a middle ground? Mother Earth will always provide if we ask for help.

Here are seven easy tips to connect with nature and bring that feeling on oneness back into out lives.

Diffuse Essential Oils. My favorites right now are Lemon, Peppermint, Cedarwood, Laurel Leaf, Rosemary, Rosewood
Crystals. Any lovely healing crystal will do but Rose Quartz is always a good one. Put it somewhere where you'll touch it often and let it's energy infuse into your body. Carry smaller stones in your pocket and put them in your car.
House plants. They actually need us to breathe near them. So spend a minute just breathing near your house plants.
Gaze out the window "daydream." Most of us have beautiful trees and plants in our yards. At the moment, it's winter, but they are still there. Gaze out the window and connect with the plant life outside.
Touch. Look around your room or office. There are so many things made of wood. This puts "tree energy" into your life. Things like window frames, book cases, hardwood floors, pencils, bowls, cooking utensils - they are all made of wood. Touch these items and feel the energy of the tree that supplied this useful item in your life and give thanks.
Just Drive. Turn off the radio, put down the cell phone and just drive. Look at the surroundings as you pass them on your trip. You will see wonderful plants, trees, grassy fields, rivers - all amazing creations of Mother Earth. Feel this connection to these things as you pass by. When you pull in to a parking lot - pick a spot near a tree or bush. Thank it for the shade or wind-block it provides.
Animals! The perfect gateway to Mother Earth energy are our animals. They bring us joy and love and help us reconnect. When you're feeling down or disconnected, spend some extra time with your animals. They'll help you!

My doing some of these easy things, you will feel more connected, more alive and happy! When you are happy, things around you take on a whole different look. You can find joy in the smallest things. Little things like the soft, sweet kisses of a puppy!

The Chicken Diet - not what you think

2012-01-23T16:03:00.000-08:00

Most of you know that I have chickens on my hobby farm. I've had the same set for about 6 years and love watching them do their chicken things. They roost in the barn at night but during the day, they have the freedom to get into whatever chickens get into. Usually, that is eating grass or dandelions, snapping up bugs, scratching to bring up bugs from the ground and searching the grounds for the best morsel of food. I observe their behavior for three reasons: #1) I love birds #2) I eat their eggs so want to know what they're eating (since I'll sort of be eating it later) and 3) They are funny.

A couple of years ago we had a bad mouse problem in our little barn. Over the winter months it kept getting worse and worse due to the prolific breeding habits of these little rodents. I have several animals in the barn, dogs that frequent it and I just don't think their is ever a reason to poison any living creature. We did lots of fun things to try and rid the barn of the mice and while we did, we'd see the occasional chicken snap up a little mouse and eat it whole. Yes, slurp! I talked to other chicken owners and they say their chickens to the same thing. They even eat small snakes if they are fast enough. They are omnivores so that makes sense, just icky. After all these observations, I learned a lot about what a chicken would eat and kind of thought they'd eat anything.

That was, until I tried feeding them something that I was eating.

The chickens that I've seen eat rocks, grass, worms, fruit, mice, etc. would not eat what I was eating! So, just what was I eating that a crazy chicken wouldn't touch or even give a second glace at? Well, I'll tell ya.

We had tacos one night. Nice organic free-range beef, fresh tomatoes, salsa, lettuce - you know, yum! I was in a rush at the store and couldn't find an "organic" taco shell so I bought the most common named brand. It is just me and my husband and we couldn't eat all 10 taco shells so I thought, hey, they're mostly corn, so I'll crumble them up for the chickens. I'm always giving them stale bread, crackers and stuff like that. Hmmm, much to my surprise, they wouldn't eat them. The chickens who fight over an earthworm, wouldn't eat the taco shells that I had happily consumed the night before. EEEK! They investigated them, pecked at the pieces a little bit, but did not in any way consider them food.

So it got me thinking about what was in them. Yellow Corn, Whole Grain Corn Flour, Partially Hydrogenated Soybean Oil, Water, Salt, Dehydrated Lime. Sounds relatively OK to me (except the PHSO). I'm not going to go on a tirade about what the mass production of corn has done to our country and food system, but this really put things in to perspective about what food I put in my body. I mean, if my chicken won't eat it, or at least peck at it, it probably isn't real food. So my "chicken diet" is to think like my chicken. Well, not to eat a live mouse, but to consider how fresh my food is and how simple it can be and how it will be better for my body to eat this way.

Lastly, I really do know why the chicken crossed the road. Honestly, to get to the other side. My chickens do this all the time in the drive way and it always gets me giggling.

The Earth Is Our Witness

2011-12-31T10:43:00.000-08:00

A rock, a river, a tree. This poem is so perfect for this New Year's Eve. Dr. Angelou's advice: we have crouched too long in the darkness. Let us rise up and seize the new day.

Blessings to all Earth's inhabitants for a glorious new day and the following year.

What is it with cats and trees?

2011-12-22T10:04:00.000-08:00

My friend, Lori's cat, Kate

At this time of year, I see post after post on FaceBook showing cats in various positions in, around and under the Christmas trees. Heck, there is even a cute little cartoon with a cat and the tree (you gotta see it if you haven't already.) So all this got me thinking. Just what is it with cats and trees?

Well, our domestic cats are really far from domestic. Anyone who lives with cats knows this all too well. If you told someone that you lived with a loved one who had been known to knock things off the shelves, urinate in the houseplants, rip up the furniture, lays around for hours sleeping in the sun, occasionally scratches and sometimes bites you, they'd look at you like you are nuts. "You put up with that?" they'd ask. Not to mention that these "family members" also can leave dead bodies and body parts on our front porch. But our cats are also full of play, find joy in the simplest things (a paper bag or empty box) and are nice warm sleeping partners in the winter. Not sure about you, but my cats love to play with a crumpled piece of paper or the ring from the milk jug - all with absolute fascination! My one cat, Lars, enjoys knocking things off the counter so the dogs will pick it up and get in trouble. He almost giggles when he hears me say to the dogs "hey, how did you get that ink pen?" When we both look at him, he shrugs it off - "I have no idea how the dog got that." My cats are full of michievious behavior - sitting in the sink, laying across (or walking across) my laptop and shoving my book out of the way so they can lay on my chest about 2 inches from my face. All things my cute kitties get into.

My kitties will also tell me when it is time for them to be fed. Me, The Provider, must put food in their tummy, right now in fact. But when we lived in an older home a few years ago, our first indoor kitty, Maybelle, rid our home of all the mice. I had never had an indoor cat (I grew up on a farm) so was unfamiliar with their hunting methods. Maybelle would sit politely in front of the cabinet doors below the kitchen sink. She'd look up at us with her big wide eyes, "Yes, there is an intruder in there" she would say. When we went to bed that night, we'd leave the doors open and in the morning, mousey was gone. Awesome!


Albert, the barn kitty - in a tree :)

When we moved to our hobby farm, we didn't have a mouse problem until we started storing food for the ducks and sheep in our barn. We then contemplated what type of rodent control we'd like to employ. The best option - barn cat. Since keeping a cat in the barn - no mice, not even one has been seen.

So all of this is painting a picture and I bet you are wondering - what does all this have to do with cats and trees? Trees emit wonderful energy and represent a very grounding sense of power. When we invite our cats to live a domestic life by staying indoors, we take away their ability to stay connected to nature. They crave this connection and need it to survive and have a healthy, happy life. Cats love to connect with the tree spirits in many ways. They need their surface to scratch and sharpen their claws. Ever notice that most cat scratching posts are made of wood or cardboard. Both sourced from the tree! Cats need tree branches to climb and strengthen their bones and muscles - they must catch their dinner after all. They use the height of trees to observe danger approaching and to escape predators. Perching on tree branches also allow cats to stalk their prey - their food. This video is full of beautiful lions in the trees of Uganda. The producer states they sometimes perch in these trees to escape the biting flies that live in the grasses and to catch a passing breeze in the hot climate. Either way, so lovely to see them enjoying the safety of the trees.

Lars (one of my house cats) - King of Trees

Cats love to be high and commune with nature from a very safe spot. Trees provide this safety but we've all seen the numerous references in TV shows, movies and cartoons depicting a little kitten that has gotten to the tippy top of a tree and cannot get back down. They have a "spot on" sense of humor!

Cats love to connect with trees and the wood element. When we invite this energy into our homes by putting up a Christmas tree, we awaken this yearning in our domestic cats. They want and need to connect to Mother Earth in their most favorite way - trees! So if you are thinking of getting your kitty friend a gift, consider getting them their very own tree or at least something made of wood :) Especially important for cats with their claws (gee, I hope they all have them!) since cats use the scratching with their claws to stretch their muscles and adjust their spine.

So trees and kitties go hand in hand. Next time your cat topples the Christmas tree or lands in your ficus tree, realize they are seeking Earth energy and help them find better options.


Lars under the tree

Revived - new blogs coming

2011-12-19T13:40:00.000-08:00

Feeling the need to revive this blog. Even though I have another blog site (targeted to Performance Dogs), I find my mind wonders from that subject and I need a place to share my thoughts. Tune in and be ready, got things on my mind that need to be shared.

I've moved my blogs!

2011-04-22T07:19:00.000-07:00

Be sure to follow me on www.naturalperformancedog.com to see my latest blog entries.

Stressed puppy! What do I do?

2011-03-08T17:32:00.000-08:00

Many of us that share our lives with performance dogs, experience start line nerves. Either on the agility field, flyball lanes or standing at the post at a herding trial. For us humans, it manifests in many different ways: butterflies in the stomach, sweaty palms, inability to eat before your run, increased blood pressure and difficulty in focus - what is it that you're supposed to do?

Our poor pups feed off our energy - good or bad. Their nervousness can show up looking like crossing over the lanes in flyball, "forgetting" to bring the ball back and the every popular, "wow, they are sooooo slow." In agility, our stressed pups can break the start line stay, run around jumps, bark at the weaves poles and again "wow, they are soooo slow." My personal issue seems to be "wow, they are soooooo fast." In herding it can show up with rushing the stock, their inability to "lie down!" and a general disregard to just about anything you are telling them. STREEEESSSS.

Many times, we walk to the line while being two of the most noodley individuals around. Now how are we supposed to succeed when neither of us can think straight?

That's where flower essence can really help. Many people have tried the popular "Rescue Remedy" with little or no success so they just figure, flower essences just don't work. There are many different creators of flower essences, all with very different energies and Bach Flower Essences is just one of them. The blends from Green Hope Farm called "Show Cat" spiked with their "Anxiety" blend are two of my personal favorites for performance jitters. Using it is simple, starting several days before the trial, just add a few drops to the water or food and then put a couple of drops before each run (both to human and handler) to the tongue and it can have an amazing effect. For me, I can walk to the line of any venue with a calm energy and my dogs that usually stress (mainly because their mommy is a bundle of nerves) look at me with excited eyes anticipating a great time versus look at me with the wild "yeeee, haaaaw" expression.

Where this blend is really good for performance issues, there are other ones great for general anxiety. Separation anxiety, going to the vet anxiety and thunderstorm or loud noise anxiety.

I custom blend all my flower essences using stock from Green Hope Farm and energize them with the power of Reiki. To order a custom blend, contact me at tresa@tresalaferty.com

Yikes - I'm out of shape!

2011-03-08T16:56:00.000-08:00

This past weekend I was reminded that I am indeed out of shape! Neither me nor my dogs have run flyball (in a tournament) since December. Sure, we practice with the team and I keep the dogs in shape, but nothing like running several dogs in a tournament setting to remind you of your age. I counted it up and between my 3 dogs, I, the human, ran in about 60 races. So by the end of the day Saturday, I was hurting. So when I got home, I pulled out my trusty "Ortho Sport" massage oil that is loaded with essential oils and started rubbing it in. It has anti-inflammatory and pain-killing essential oils and is perfect for strained and swollen muscles or ligaments. That night, when my head hit the pillow at 9:30 pm, I slept like a baby. Well, that could have been because I got up at 4 am that morning for my 2 hour drive to Madison, but the true test would be the morning after. For my pups, this particular blend is a bit strong, so I located one of my many bottles of "Ortho Ease" massage oil and gathered around the 3 flyball dogs. Starting at the base of the tail, I tucked the bottle under the fur and squirted a long, thin strip of the massage oil directly on their skin. I then gently massaged this into their back and muscles. My old guy Satch (he's going to be 11yrs soon) loved it! Riff and Twang did too. They kind of had a "skunk stripe" down their back but it was very soothing to them. Riff normally goes wild when I put essential oils on him but this time he just stood and almost fell asleep with the massaging along his back.

Call me crazy, but on Sunday, I was up and at 'em again but this time, I'm off to a herding fun day. Not as early as the day before, but the alarm went off at 5am. As I eased myself out of bed, yup, pretty stiff but not horrible, not like normal. Those of us who run a lot of flyball call this the "flyball hangover." Your body was pushed physically to the limit. But I've got to pull it together for my yet another 2 hour drive south to work on sheep all day, in the 30 degree temps. I applied the "Ortho Sport" massage oil again - almost over my entire body since everything was feeling a little tight. One thing I didn't count on is that it has peppermint in it and since I applied it after a shower on a cold morning - I was now FREEZING! Quick, put on my multi-layers for the outdoors. But my stiff neck and arm from tugging, aching knee from kneeling on the mats, and my tight back from loading/unloading crates and the general running of flyball, were all feeling a LOT better. All without any other pain reliever!

And, I'm happy to report that even after hours outside and all the activity of working sheep for quite a long time, I was still feeling pretty good. Monday morning rolled around and me and all the "working" pups were actually ready for another fun filled, active day.

I'll have my Ortho Ease and Ortho Sport massage oils at my side for my months ahead as I get back into shape. Lots of "over doing it" ahead but hopefully, a more fit body to follow.

If you'd like to order these massage oils, click here www.youngliving.org/tresalaferty

Ouch my aching head!

2011-03-01T21:21:00.000-08:00

Our lives are filled with stress. Stress can lead to head aches. Wouldn't you love to have a natural, safe, effective way to relief an aching head. Well, if you have a few choice essential oils - you're in luck. My favorite remedy for a simple headache is to rub a few drops of peppermint on my temples, back of neck and then inhale! But occasionally these headaches are a bit more persistent. That's when I bring out the big guns. Peppermint, lavender, idaho balsam fir and basil are all awesome at relieving the throbbing head. Take a sniff and which ever one appeals to you - put a few drops on the back of your neck, behind your ears, on your temples and under your nose. Just take care you are not around the eyes as the vapors from the oils can be irritating.

After you've applied the oils, it also helps to put a damp cloth over your eyes and sit quietly for a few minutes. Ahh, relief.

Be sure you are drinking enough water too.

If you're interested in ordering any of these oils, you can go to my site of www.youngliving.org/tresalaferty and order your headache kit!

Show me the money

2011-03-01T21:07:00.000-08:00

Show me the money! I love using crystals for health and healing but today's Tuesday Tip is getting us prepared for the ever popular Tax Day :( I thought I'd give you one of my own personal tips in order to increase spending money. Citrine is called The Merchant Stone because it is a powerful stone to attract prosperity and success. Place citrine in your safe, cash register or money bag to increase business. It not only attracts wealth, it helps one maintain it. As scary as it may seem, I recently misplaced my citrine stone and my little money bag was suffering. Within a few days of finding it, clearing it, and placing it where I keep my money - my little money pile tripled in size - yay!!! I also sprinkle a drop of Abundance essential oil in there too - just to be sure.

Tips like this and more will be covered as part of my class series "Speaking to the Earth." For more information on the class series, click here.

Blue Lace Agate - Peacemaker!

2011-02-21T20:12:00.000-08:00

I'm kind of going through a blue phase, not a sad blue phase but a "cool" blue phase... I'm loving my blue stones these days. My latest favorite is, Blue Lace Agate. This stone can can help relieve headaches and painful swollen glands in the neck. It calms stress and stress-related conditions and can soothe skin allergies. One of my favorite uses of this lovely stone is making use of it's peacemaker energies. It can send peaceful energies to war-torn places (gee, we need that, right!) Just place it near a picture or other memorabilia of a place that needs peace and let it do it's magic.

At work, wear or carry it when you want to avoid confrontations and it helps you think on your feet. For our animal friends, it can reduce barking in a dog, screeching in birds and yowling in a cat. Just put it near the "offender" or add a stone to their drinking water.

For those spiritual journeyers, this beautiful blue stone develops clairaudience (clear hearing) and helps you deliver your messages in a positive and uplifting manner. It also helps develop your 5th Chakra (throat Chakra).

To recharge your Blue Lace Agate friend, use the moonlight as the moon begins to wax.

I will be covering this stone and more in my class series, Speaking to the Earth. To read more about these classes, click here.

Essential Oil Tip - Orange

2011-02-21T19:51:00.000-08:00

Expressed from the rind, orange essential oil has many health benefits: anti-inflammatory, calming, sedative, relaxant, anticoagulant, circulatory stimulant, arteriosclerosis, hypertension, cancer, heat palpation, scurvy, jaundice, bleeding, heartburn, relaxed throat, prolapse of the uterus and the anus, diarrhea, and blood in the feces. Angina ( false), cardiac spasm, insomnia & menopause. Anti-tumoral, rich in limonene, which has been extensively studied for its ability to combat tumor growth in over 50 clinical studies.

A 1995 Mie University study found that citrus essential oils boosted immunity, are psychologically refreshing, emotionally uplifting, induced relaxation, reduced anxiety, depression, and Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD). and Alzheimer’s. Other uses: Orange Oil may help appetite, bones (rickets), bronchitis, respiratory infections, indigestion (Dilute for infants: helps them sleep), dull and oily complexion, dermatitis, wrinkles, digestive system, lowers high cholesterol, mouth ulcers, muscle soreness, sedation, tissue repair, and fluid retention. Orange essential oil is uplifting and works as an anti-depressant.

I take several essential oils mixed in my NingXia Red and a drop of the Orange essential oil makes it taste like a wonderful burst of sunshine!

For our "pet" birds, they LOVE the citrus oils. Make up a spray bottle with Orange, Lemon & Lavender essential oils and spritz on their feathers. You'll be amazed at the dramatic change in their behavior as they love the uplifting effects these oils have on their life. To make your own feather spray, take a 4 oz spray bottle and fill it with distilled water. At about 10 drops each of Orange and Lemon therapeutic-grade essential oils (Young Living Brand) and spritz the feathers. Happy Bird!

To order this wonderful essential oil, click here.

Get energy moving with flower essences and Reiki

2011-02-15T21:57:00.000-08:00

The flower essence blend called Flow Free is one of my favorites right now. Originally blended for urinary tract health this is also a great choice for an animal (or human) with problems with energy flow anywhere in the body. When this happens, our animals needs help to get that energy flow properly moving. We can lend assistance by using this effective flower essence blend called Flow Free. Offering Reiki can also help in getting the energy moving. This combination can be very helpful for older animals that are feeling down and have a lack of energy.

I custom blend all flower essence formulas using Green Hope Farm essences. I then fill the bottles with the loving, healing energy of Reiki. Contact me for a custom blend for you or your animal.

Essential Oil Tip - Jasmine

2011-02-15T21:39:00.000-08:00

If you've never smelled the essential oil of Jasmine, you are missing one of the most exquisite scents available. This scent is nicknamed the "queen of the night" and "moonlight of the grove." In addition to its aphrodisiac qualities, Jasmine is known to be calming and sedative, good for depression, nervous exhaustion and stress. It is also a good oil for use in skin care, especially for those of a sensitive nature.

Jasmine absolute is an orange-brown, viscous liquid with an intensely rich, warm, floral scent and 'tea-like' undertone. It is an oil that brings a lightness and happy feeling to those who use it.

It is potent oil and a little goes a long way.

This substance isn't an actual essential oil but an "absolute extraction" from the flower. It is an "essence' and not an essential oil. To acquire the intoxicating scent, the flowers must be picked a night to maximize the fragrance. The blossoms must be collected before sunrise or much of the fragrance will have evaporated. Also, the quality of the blossoms may be compromised if they are crushed.

To order this oil click here: www.youngliving.org/tresalaferty

Lessons from an aggressive dog

2011-01-07T11:43:00.000-08:00

A few years ago we welcomed an aggressive dog into our family. I wasn't seeking an aggressive dog and this one came with some history that wasn't too impressive. For those of us with several dogs and linked into the doggy community, we all know that if you put out there that you want a dog - many, many will appear in your lap. I wasn't looking for another dog. But, there was something about Nickel when I met him that just drew me to him. I had a certain "plan" for him but little did I know, the universe (led by Nickel) had a completely different plan.

Our family had never had an aggressive dog. I had a very bossy female Border Collie, but her bouts of so called aggression, were usually well timed corrections. The severity of the correction was directly related to the capacity of the receiver to "get the message". There were a few dogs she really liked (main requirement was they needed to be smart and well behaved) but she had only shown love and affection to all humans. Nickel, the new kid, was not like that - at all.

Nickel was 3 years old when he came to live with us. At three, he had some things that were hard-wired into his being. He had aggressive tendencies to both humans and animals. This was something we were going to have to work with. I quickly realized that he didn't really understand corrections. He didn't respond to the normal things I had used and just stood there with a cold, hard stare when I expressed my displeasure at what he was doing. He also didn't understand doggy behavior. He just took toys from everyone, ran into them knocking them down and yes, a little worse than that. We were pretty discouraged at his lack of understanding. However, my female border collie, Meg wasn't discouraged. Even at the ripe old age of 12, she was able to "explain" she had a bubble of protection around her. If you entered it - even by mistake, you would be sorry. She didn't make this point by aggression, but just clear intention of aggression. Amazing to watch Nickel respond to that "intention."

I have run into many people that have had similar aggression issues with their animals - particularly dogs. Many people know of Nickel's history and ask what we do to properly manage this aggression. Here are some observations that may help those with these types of dogs.

We have worked on building a trusting relationship with Nickel. We showed him respect when he didn't like something and we worked at helping him understand what we expected of him. One thing is for sure, he didn't not respond to any negative responses from us. It seemed to fuel the fire that was burning inside him increasing the intensity of his anger. So we learned to be calm and clear with him. And to pause - long pause if he gave you that cold, hard stare. I learned he was evaluating my next move. "Can I trust her?" he seemed to say.

I expect all of my dogs to behave a certain way as part of my human pack. Many of them whom I've gotten as puppies or were taught this behavior very young, all act this way. Nickel, it seemed, was just one step away from a wild dog. He didn't respect dog behavior nor human. If this was going to work - we both had some learning to do. He had certain triggers that would bring out aggression. Grooming, confinement, corrections, balls!, invading his personal space - all these things would bring out aggression. Also the food he was being given actually "fed" his aggressiveness. He was being fed a poor quality grocery store kibble with loads of dyes in there.

Certain things about Nickel would never change. He had an aggressive past therefore he had patterned behavior of aggression. "When in doubt, strike out." He was, in fact, a dog. A dog looking for his place in a multi-species pack. He wasn't a fuzzy human wanting to emulate human behavior. He also wanted to contribute to his pack. He wanted to make a difference - in his own way. Sounds impossible but it's funny to think of this perspective when we think of our cats. We fully expect them to not listen, do what they want, destroy things, bite and scratch sometimes and usually drop something dead on our doorstep and ask us to be happy about it. Our poor dogs are not so lucky to have the same understanding. We expect them to conform to our world and lucky for us, they try so hard to do just that.

We are lucky to share our lives with dogs. Most of us have many different species of animals in our lives, but dogs are something special. They love being in our pack, they try very hard to fit in and they almost seem to emulate our human behavior. So many of us see them as humans in a furry body. Yes, they have done an amazing job at making us think this and giving us very good reason to believe they are our furry kids, but in fact, they are dogs in a dog body wanting to have a dog's life here on earth.

Realizing this difference and learning to accept it is the shift in perspective that helped me in my relationship with Nickel. It opened the doorway to our next level of understanding. Also changing from trying to "fix" him, to accepting our responsibility to guide his experiences in life - providing him situations that would help him versus giving him conditions that kept him repeating the same things that didn't work.

We try very hard to not put him into situations where his aggression can come out. We changed the way we do many things to accommodate his past patterned behavior. Our hope is that he will learn new behavior, learn new patterns. Many people like to set up their dog. Set up a situation that they know to have caused the aggression in the past - "just to see" or perhaps it gives the person an opportunity to "correct" the dog. How would you feel if someone you supposedly trusted put you in a situation and hoped you would fail? It wouldn't do much for gaining my trust in them that's for sure! We manage his activities carefully and think ahead at things that might bring up those old patterns. Through lessons from other dogs, he has learned to growl and bear his teeth. I praise him for this as he is now giving me very good information - like a dog should! I also look back on the times he acted out and many times it was me (or another human) that put him in a situation where he didn't know how to respond. Some dogs respond by shutting down and others by acting out. He is a very high energy dog and responds by absorbing energy so I'd try to make it calming energy.

Nickel is lucky enough to live on a farm with sheep so he gets to work them. He also gets to run and play for hours each day. He has a LOT of energy so giving him ways to channel his "work" has done wonders. We also have him on a custom flower essence mixture to help with his patterned behavior. I do energy work on him (Reiki), shamanic healing and he responds to smooth, loving pets. I recently purchased a healing stone collar for him. He loves this collar and asks to have it put on him (and removed when it needs to be). I think he responds to these types of healing energies because he is such a "wild" spirit. These are energies he understands as they are from the earth and provide him the loving support he needs to be who HE wants to be. We are lucky he is part of our family but it has taken a huge shift in our perspectives to realize this. Some people say we have changed him but I know that it is us who have done most of the changing. We are helping him become the being he wants to be and helping him to fit into the world WE have created. What a good dog, Nickel.

Trust yourself - healing comes from within

2010-12-13T09:25:00.000-08:00

Beautiful field of Lavender

I have been lucky enough to say I've not been to the doctor for any illness in over 20 years. I've not been on any prescription drugs in over 25 years. And to most people's amazement, neither me nor any of my animals have taken anti-biotics in over 25 years. Yet we are living a healthy, happy life. How? Read on...

We all know our health care system is in a bit of a wreck. We all have varying opinions on how to "fix" this mess. One thing for sure, we all need to be more personally responsible for our own health and not rely on the "broken" heathcare system to care about us especially when it is trying to heal itself.

How many times have you heard someone say, "I don't know, I just do what my doctor tells me" or "I don't feel well, so I'm going to run to the doctor and find out what I should do" or one of my favorites "They did all the tests and still don't know what's wrong with me but I've got some pills that I keep taking." Yet another common one, "I've been on several rounds of anti-biotics and I don't feel any better." (We wouldn't consume meat that has been given anti-biotics yet we have no issue taking dose after dose.)

We find ourselves at a cross-roads saying "There has got to be a better way!"

These words are all to common in our society and we are sicker than ever. What if I told you that you could have a personal doctor that would listen to your every word, react with providing you with safe, highly effective, natural, non-addicting options and make it a top priority to get you feeling like a million bucks. Wouldn't you sign up for that? Well, that personal doctor is you. Yes, YOU.

Many of us spend our lives looking outside of ourselves for answers. Answers to questions about all kinds of things. Who should I marry, should I have kids, should I take that job, what is wrong with me... All the while, the answers are inside of us - answers to our every question, specifically "Why don't I feel well? What could be the matter? What will make me feel better?"

So quiet your mind and take charge of your health. Do the things you know would make you feel better and help heal your body. Only YOU know you the best. Only YOU know what would work for you. Only YOU can make decisions about your health. So ask yourself the hard questions and really listen to the answers you receive. You will not lead yourself astray. Stop looking to others and take responsibility for your own health. No one can heal you but YOU!

Personally, I find that healing essential oils that were formulated from ancient scriptures (like the Bible and Egyptian texts) lead the way in my healing and in healing my family of humans and animals. Here are a few ways that these amazing substances can improve your health.

JuvaFlex oil blend can be used for liver issues. Liver damage from taking prescription drugs or any other liver related issue. It also helps dispel anger as the emotion of anger is "stored" in our liver.

Cistus (or Rose of Sharon) can stop hemorrhaging.

Lemon can increase your memory by 28% upon inhalation.

Stress Away blend can help with reducing anxiety in humans and animals but a great side effect is that is helps lower blood pressure AND helps curb your appetite - especially those who stress eat.

Juniper, grapefruit and lemon essential oils will help reduce sagging skin.

Lavender essential oil will help reducing scaring and helps reduce anxiety.

Highest anti-cancer essential oil - Frankincense. Has amazing effects at prevention and treatment of all types of cancer including breast cancer.

Spiknard essential oil is "chosen" by autistic children. Why? It attracts heavy metals in the body which is thought of as the cause of autism.

Thieves essential oil blend is a very powerful "anti-biotic" substitute. It reacts quicker in the body and the side effects include improving your immune system, purifying the air by ridding it of harmful bacteria, and uplifting your mood and memory since it includes Lemon essential oil.

There are so many beautiful things about medicinal essential oils but one of my favorites is side effects are always positive ones! We have gotten so desensitized about the long warning labels on prescription drugs that we just shrug off the "possibility of death by taking this medication" that we forget the reason we started taking the drug in the first place is to prevent dying yet, you may die from just taking the pill. I'll take my chances elsewhere, thank you.

If you are interested in learning more about how essential oils can change your life, contact me. If you would like to place an order for any of these products, click here.

So take responsibility for your health and make it your priority to learn about what will make you feel better and live a long, healthy life. You will be amazed at how just taking this step will empower you to take charge of your life in every way.

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Please be aware that most essential oils easily available on the market are not pure, healing essential oils. DO NOT use these for healing purposes as they have harmful additives that may cause reactions and certainly were not created to be used in intense healing situations.

**No information in this post is meant to diagnose, treat or cure any illness but is for educational purposes only. Consult a qualified health care professional for assistance with your health issues.

Natural Options for Lowering Cholesterol and Clearing Up a Sinus Infection

2010-12-04T20:27:00.000-08:00

Friday night, I attended the introduction session for using Essential Oils (specifically Young Living brand) for increasing your health. I’ve attended this session many times, but I always learn something new. Here are a few highlights:

For those with high cholesterol, pay attention. Cholesterol was something our grandparents never had to worry about (or at least not mine) since they didn’t know what it was or how it reacted in the body back when they were around. So, measuring cholesterol levels is a relatively new thing. We all know the “bad” effects of cholesterol, but what are the good? Good cholesterol is needed for bone density and brain function. As you age, your body naturally starts to increase its cholesterol so it can protect against bone breakage and seizures or dementia. Interesting that with the urging of the medical profession to keep your cholesterol lower as you age, we have an increase in osteoporosis, Alzheimer’s and dementia. Another thing about cholesterol is that it takes a healthy, functioning liver to keep your cholesterol levels appropriate for your body. So an increase in your cholesterol usually means a damaged or malfunctioning liver. The most popular statin drug that is used to combat high bad cholesterol is very damaging to the liver. Hmmm. If you are unlucky enough to be on one of these “statins”, you know they tell you to not eat grapefruit. Now here is the kicker: if you use Grapefruit (medicinal grade) Essential oil, it can lower your cholesterol and lower your triglycerides! Cool! The side effects of using Grapefruit essential oil – it cleanses your liver. Gimme some of that, right?

On to our children. A lot of kids have what is termed “chronic sinus infection” and are put on round after round of anti-biotics all to no success. How about this testimonial we heard about this exact issue. This person’s child had just as we state above, chronic sinus infections and missed on average 1-2 days of school a week. Nothing the doctors gave him was working. A friend suggested trying essential oils. “Dad” took them home and his wife claimed “yuck, those things stink.” So he figured this is a lost cause. He returned back to his friend who suggested using them and told her what happened. “Who does the cleaning in your house?” was the next question. “Well, I do,” he said. “OK, try this, throw away all of your household cleaners and I mean ALL of them. Then use this, Thieves Cleaner which is safe, non-toxic and filled with immune boosting essential oils. But you have to use ONLY this cleaner for all your cleaning duties.” He did and after using this cleaner for 1 month, his son had not missed a day of school that entire month. He may or may not have had a sinus infection but sinus irritation from all the toxic cleaners he was inhaling. Just think of what you could do for your animal and human family if you just switched your cleaners to the Thieves cleaner.

Check out an earlier blog on how to make your own household cleaners. To order any of these oils or the Thieves cleaner, click here.

More blogs coming soon so stay tuned or “follow” the blog.

A true partnership

2010-11-01T09:48:00.000-07:00

When I first saw a border collie work sheep, I was mesmerized and amazed. How could a dog do this? The dog found sheep up a field, gathered them to the handler, turned them different ways, put them through panels far away from the handler and tucked them nicely into a pen. All the while being given instructions from his handler by way of whistles or this strange "language" of trialing. Why would you want your dog to get "away from me"?

I've watched many runs since then at various styles of herding trials. All the while still amazed by the independent work of the dog and slowly realizing that it is a trusting relationship with the handler that keeps them all on track. Even though I have trialed my dogs in agility, flyball and herding venues, nothing compares to the connection and bond that is created in a field of sheep and working together with your trusty side-kick to get them where you want them. It is this connection and trust that has me thinking today.

These thoughts caused me to sit back and reflect on what is it that got me interested in this breed, caused me to actually buy sheep for my dogs and end up with 6 dogs in my house! While mulling this over, I spent time watching people at herding trials and observing their relationship with these amazing furry companions. I learned that some people select a certain dog they think will give them the best chance of winning at a trial, others are there just to attain a "title" but a lot are there to experience something special with their herding dog.

I recently participated in a Derek Scrimgeour herding clinic in River Falls, Wisconsin. It was held on the beautiful grounds of Kensmiur Working Stock Dog Center. During this clinic, we received awesome instruction by Derek but more importantly, we got to experience his mind as someone that has worked with sheep and border collies nearly his whole adult life. Experience not in the sense of trialing or training to trial necessarily but from the perspective of a working sheep farm using border collies to get jobs done that would be nearly impossible without them. Many of us approach "herding" from what we learn watching trials but this is certainly not the approach that true stock handlers use. After time with Derek, I found myself pondering tasks like sending your dog out to gather sheep off the craggy hills and cliffs (not something for the faint of heart) and that got me thinking of the basics of their behavior; thinking about all the components that go in to this thing we call "herding". It really does boggle the mind.

Still processing what I learned at the Derek clinic, I turned my attention to analyzing just what do my dogs "know." I sat back dumbfounded at my realization. These dogs are such amazing creatures and I stand in wonderment at the skills of my beloved border collies. I am astonished at their level of commitment, independent thought, willingness to keep learning and trying a different approach, their ability to problem-solve and their never ending dedication to their job. I think of people who have never tried herding claim - "oh, it's not that hard, the dog just figures it out." Perhaps that is partly true, but there does need to be a plan. Just how is it that your herding dog figures out that when you put your hand on the gate, the sheep should go through it? We expect them to know it, but really, how do they "know" that? And further more, how do they know the exact position to get in to get them through that gate? We just think it is "putting them through a gate," but it is so much more than that. If we've done our job right, our dog trusts that we have a plan and they are willing to help us with our task. I have my part of the job and by pup has his part - a true partnership.

So the next time I feel frustration towards my border collie for the ever popular "he won't lie down when I tell him to", I will shift my feelings to the state of incredible admiration to the millions of tasks he CAN do without me even asking him.

Tresa & Fleck

I love sharing my life and heart with such special creations. The future is exciting to contemplate when I know that I've got such a team of helpers to guide me along the way. Always here if I need them, anxiously waiting to see what we'll get ourselves into next, and longing for the moment when our eyes meet after a work session and agree, "indeed, a job well done!"

Things are not always what they seem

2010-10-05T13:38:00.000-07:00

About a month ago I was "given" a stray cat. Someone had found her in the drain pipe that runs under their drive way. At first thought, she was just "hurt" but after careful examination, she was likely hit by a car and had drug herself into the drain in fear of being found by something that she could not defend against.
Her injuries were mainly to her back and consisted of a major scrape (likely from the road) and a "de-gloving" injury. (A degloving injury is a type of avulsion in which an extensive section of skin is completely torn off the underlying tissue, severing its blood supply. It is named by analogy to the process of removing a glove.) After an examination by a holistic vet, the x-rays showed no major bone breakage or fracture but severe tissue swelling - pretty obvious from the visual examination. On top of all this, she was very malnourished - perhaps in the drain pipe for over a week. This was at the end of August so fairly hot too.

So after discussing options, off we went back home with a very hurt kitty and not a lot of options. The vet told us we needed to get her immune system going since he would likely need to surgically insert a drain in her back to help the injury heal. Keep in mind, this is a stray cat that has an unknown history with people and she was just dropped off at my house - we really don't have any relationship developed. On top of that - she's a calico. If you've ever met a calico, you know they can go either way. Naughty or nice.

"Stevie" (named after Stevie Nicks) turns out to be nice, very nice.

Knowing I needed to get going quickly, I pulled out my essential oils kit and started offering her oils to sniff. She quickly took to them and cuddled up with the TraumaLife blend and Purification. I made a cleaning mixture of Thieves Cleaner and warm water. I washed/flushed the wound areas twice daily. I would then put a drop of Purification right down in the "hole" in her back and then used the Animal Scents ointment. I got a dollop out and emulsified it adding in Purification and Lavender. She was very cooperative through all of this and just sat quietly while I cleaned her up and applied the oils and ointment. We started her on small meals of high quality canned food (about 2 tablespoons of grain-free food) mixed with filtered water and fed her 4-5 times daily. She was taking a liquid herbal mixture called Olive Leaf to help her immune system and some herbals for pain relief. A liquid version of the homeopathic remedy, Traumeel was also orally given to her. Strangely, she loved the liquid mixes and even opened up her mouth to take them. (Reminder - we've never met!) However, she REALLY didn't like the injectable penicillin that I was administering. After 4 days or so we trekked back to the vet for a check up and to schedule the surgery. After a quick examination - the vet determined - no need to subject her to a surgery - her back was healing wonderfully! We do have a new problem, two of her feet were severely swollen - cellulitis was determined the cause. She was so uncomfortable, she was ripping the hair off her feet and even punctured her foot with her tooth. You've heard of animals chewing off their foot to remove it from a trap - kind of similar. Her front foot looked like it was a Mickey Mouse hand: so swollen it was hard to see each individual toe - just looked like a large mitt.

I thought of Cypress essential oil as it help increase circulation and is anti-infectious. I put the oil near "Stevie" and she immediately took a long sniff and followed the bottle when I tried to remove it from under her nose. I put one drop on her worst paw and then started giving her Reiki on that paw. Each time I tried to pull my hand away, she dug her nails into the palm of my hand and pulled it back closer. She wanted more. She continued to do this for about 30 minutes. After that session, I went in another room for a couple of hours. When I returned, her Mickey Mouse hand was close to normal. I could see her individual toes! She obviously felt tons better and slept very well. After a few days of this, the fur started growing back on her feet and she was able to walk and go to the litter box easily. All the while she was still taking the liquid herbal support and eating her frequent meals.

Stevie was always cooperative (except the needle stuff) and sat with these big, deep eyes filled with love and appreciation for all that was being done.

About a month later, we returned to the vet. The wounds on her back were completely closed and healed with hair growing back. Her paws looked great and she had started gaining weight. One troublesome thing - she was still having trouble walking with her back legs. We took one more xray, concentrating on the back legs/hips. Bummer - a possible fracture of the femur head. It wasn't visible from the first xrays we took. Not 100% sure but fairly certain. But she was finally well enough to to do the FIP/FIV blood test. A couple of days later we got a devastating blow - she was FIP positive. Crap... FIP is Feline Infections Peritonitis but a better name would be Stress-induced Autoimmune Disease. We have two cats at home but have been keeping them separate until we had this news and now - not what we wanted to hear. We kind of thought that was the end but after talking to the holistic vets and discussion various "holistic" options, we have found that she might be able to live quite a while longer. We will keep her immune system supported through the herbals and essential oils, have been using homeopathic to help with the bone/nerve issues caused by the trauma and have learned about a FIP nosode that may be something that will help her live longer - possibly many years.

Tresa & Stevie

Our biggest challenge is where will she live those years? She is currently in our laundry room which was a good option at the time but doesn't have windows and is a bit lonely for her. She is a super loving cat and just purrs up a storm when you spend time with her. She just cannot spend any time with other cats. So, our biggest quest begins - looking for a loving home for our Stevie Nicks.

From the very beginning of our relationship, we've had many occasions of "things not being as they seem". I've only known her for little over a month and already have learned SO much from her. What an amazing calico cat and her story has just begun!

**No information in this post is meant to diagnose, treat or cure any illness but is for educational purposes only. Consult a qualified holistic veterinarian for assistance in your pet's health issues.

Our third (and last for the season) USBCHA Trial

2010-09-15T08:26:00.000-07:00

Fleck & Tresa, Crook & Whistle Trial 2010

On Sunday, September 12th, we ran in our third and final (for the season) USBCHA trial. The Crook & Whistle trial was part of the Wisconsin Sheep & Wool festival held in Jefferson, WI. The novice portion of the trial is held Sunday afternoon, after the 2nd round of Open runs. Done this way, the sheep have been worked for three days and are usually pretty ornery.

For our novice runs, the course was re-designed to where the sheep set out and exhaust were the same location. This makes for a tricky "lift" especially for these little novice dogs. We had watched the open runs that day and were pretty keyed up by the time our runs came around at the end of the day. The outrun was fairly short so we were all worried that we wouldn't have time to settle our pups and sheep by the time we came around the post - we were all right. Fleck started out on his outrun to the left or come bye side. He was very shallow. To my amazement, he took a lie down and a redirect and kicked out nicely to continue his outrun. His fetch was not great (on the list for the winter projects) - therefore the sheep bolted back to their buddies just a few feet away. Fleck bolted too and kept them from reaching the gate and then continued to bring them down the field towards the post. He took his lie down and flanks nicely and we continued around the post, through the wear panels (two chairs) and calmly walked them straight into the pen. Yay! We had a good run!

With a small novice class (I think there were only 6 of us) we were up again pretty quickly. Both our adrenaline levels were still maxed out so it was anyone's guess how this was going to go. He left the post in a nice kick out to the left, picked up the sheep and started his quick push down the field. Fleck (and I) were feeling the excitement and lost our concentration. The sheep escaped a couple of times - once took shelter at the feet of the judge and scribe along the fence (oops!). Fleck got them off the fence very well but I was a bit flustered at that point. We struggled to get them through the wear panel and then they bolted back to the exhaust/set out and we called our run.

We ended on a little bit of a downer but after thinking about the first run and portions of the second, I was very happy with our progress. I am really proud that we have steadily improved after each trial and I have seen that Fleck has matured in a short time and is starting to fit into his "herding shoes" quite nicely.

Our big thing we learned at this trial - focus on your sheep! Once my attention was set on settling the sheep and getting them through the course - things went very well. The moment I lost that point and my attention switched to "what is my dog doing" then the whole thing didn't work. For those of us who are in novice, we spend a lot of time worrying about "what is my dog doing" and forget that the whole reason we are out on the field is that there are SHEEP out there. For sheep dogs, they look for someone to be in charge. They're more than happy being charge of the sheep as long as we are in charge of where we're going and what we're doing with these woolly creatures. When we has handlers forget the plan or worse yet, don't have a plan, well, then that's when things get interesting. So I must always remember my map and directions when stepping out onto the field. I just need a GPS that says "flank him right at the next turn" and all would work out fine.

Not sure if any of you have attempted it or not, but try to move unwilling, flighty sheep away from their group and through panels and into a holding pen that they cannot escape from - all without a dog. It doesn't work. You need your trusty pup to get the job done. AND - they need you. Most stock dogs would be just as happy to sit watching "Sheep TV" for hours on end. So it truly is a partnership of handler and dog. You need each other to get the job done, but both of you must focus on the sheep all the while staying "connected" with each other. Talk about multi-tasking!

Stay tuned for more reports from "Fetching with Fleck" as we have a couple more trials before the end of the year but they are in smaller "arena" style courses. We look forward to continuing our progress in the "off season" to be ready for an amazing year ahead.

Our second USBCHA trial experience

2010-09-09T09:43:00.000-07:00

Last weekend we ran in our second USBCHA trial, held in Portage, WI. The trial site (MacLeish Farm) is a spectacular site nestled in a heavily tree-lined valley accessed by a very long, winding road. The Novice class was to run after Ranch on Monday morning so Fleck and I loaded up and departed our house at 4:30am that day to arrive at 6:30 am. Sleepy pup and person.

When we arrived, I walked up the field to see what was happening and low and behold, they were doing the Novice briefing as they decided to run our class first! Yikes! The walk out to the field where we were running was so long, I had to just grab Fleck and start our trek. We missed the briefing so relied on fellow competitors to let us know what the course was going to be. This was a big class - 19 novice teams.

We were about mid-way in the running order so had several people to watch in hopes of seeing the course as it should be run. The sheep were pretty flighty and it didn't help that most of our Novice dogs were as well. Hmmm, this might be difficult.

Our turn came and we walked up to the post. Fleck did a beautiful outrun (the judge thought so too since he got a 20 out of 20 score) but the sheep didn't care for his "lift" and bolted. Fleck did a nice job covering and brought them quickly down the field towards me - at a pretty good clip I might add. We struggled at the post but got them around ok - well, if you count backwards as "ok". They kept wanting to bolt away from him and we had to retrieve them a couple of times on the way to the panel. They (Fleck and sheep) finally settled down after we rounded the panel and headed for the pen. We had been working on the pen since the last trial and we put our lessons to the test. He was a bit tight at first causing them to squirt around to the exhaust but after some corrective words from me, he listened and took a nice flank to bring them to the mouth of the pen. Once they were all facing the opening of the pen, I took a deep breath and asked him to flank around to push them the rest of the way in. He did take the flank and helped push them in. Yay!

We finished the run with about 10 seconds of the 4 minutes left. Whew! Good boy Fleck.

We didn't finish in the top part of the class but we were among the 7 who actually got a score so not bad.

We then spent the day watching the top 12 qualifiers compete in the Double-lift and International Shed. For those who don't know what those are: a double-lift is when the dog retrieves the first set of sheep (in this case 8) and brings them down the field to the handler. They must then leave this set and then "look back" for the 2nd set. It is predetermined which side they must do their outrun. In this trial, the first outrun was to the right or Away To Me side and the look back or 2nd lift is to the left or Come Bye side.

After the second set of sheep are brought down the field, through the center panels and joined up with the 1st set, all 16 sheep are taken around the course. Around the handlers post (which for this trial is a cute stand that has three steps up so the handler can see more of the course), through two panels and then to the shedding ring. Here, the real fun starts.

Of the 16 sheep, 5 have collars around their neck. Without touching the sheep, you and your dog must "shed" those specific sheep out from the rest all the while staying inside the shedding ring. Talk about a test of nerves and patience. Once you have these 5 separated, you must put them in the pen. Puts things in perspective since I was thinking the pen was the hardest part of the run I had with Fleck.

Out of the 12 finalist, only 1 completed the shed and got to the pen. Oddly enough, that person did not win. The handler/dog team with the most amount of points won, Alasdair MacRae and Star. Absolutely beautiful run and very precise work.

So the biggest lesson I learned from our second trialing experience didn't come to me until days after the trial. I realized that quiet, respectful work - throughout the course is what it is all about. It isn't a race to the finish line, it isn't even about completing all the tasks (although that IS part of the goal) but it is about doing each piece to the best of your "team's" ability. This might sound like a simple statement to some but when you are on the field with a novice dog and both of you are trying to figure out how to get these squirrelly sheep around a course in 3-4 minutes and your mind is trying to process all the details - feels like you need to hurry.

For now, Fleck and I have a lot of learning to do but are having fun participating in one of the most rewarding (and sometimes frustrating) team events out there. I feel blessed to have such a willing partner at my side that never seems to tire from my endless mistakes, lost tempers and confusing directions. Good boy Flecky.

2010 National Sheepdog Finals Live on the Internet!

2010-09-09T08:57:00.000-07:00

Mark your calendars and bookmark the site. The National Sheepdog Finals will have a live *free* webcast of the trial coming up in a couple of weeks.

Our first USBCHA trial

2010-08-22T19:53:00.000-07:00

If you follow me on Facebook, you already know - Fleck & I participated in our first USBCHA "novice" trial this past weekend. If you are unfamiliar with this venue, USBCHA stands for the United States Border Collie Handlers Association. You can read more on their website at www.usbcha.com. The trial we participated in was put on by the LOLBCA (Land of Lincoln Border Collie Association).

Fleck and I have run in several other herding trials including AKC and AHBA but never the USBCHA. Thanks to my flower essence blends and essential oils, I actually wasn't nervous even though we were to do an outrun of about 600 feet (or 200 yards), bring the sheep through a center line panel, around the post and then pen. For those who are familiar with the other venues, even at the "novice" level, which is what Fleck and I are at, the handler cannot leave the post until the sheep have come around it. So once you step up to the post and send your dog, your pup is on their own to figure out how to bring you the sheep and keep it all in control - all things Fleck did with style.

One of the concerns of a Novice handler is "will my dog find the sheep." We arrived on Thursday afternoon and I took Fleck out near the field and just sat for a few minutes. The sheep were grazing in the field and I wanted to see if he could "find" them. After the wind shifted and his nose started twitching, he turned his head and spotted the sheep. He smelled them first then followed that K9 nose to find his sheepies :) Yay - I felt better...

The Novice runs were first thing on Friday and started at 7am. Good thing as it was very hot an humid in central Illinois that day. We survived the two Novice runs and ended up with placing 3rd in when the two scores were combined.

Two things we'll be working on - picking up sheep off of a spotter and penning. He is so used to sheep that see a dog coming and take off to the handler he was a little uncertain with sheep that weren't too impressed with a dog that didn't "respect" their space. The spotters held the sheep nicely and he was uncertain how to maneuver around that and pick them up. Cool to see him learn how to do this during his runs.

I don't have a pen at home so we really need to work on this. We had them in the mouth of the pen several times, but without practical knowledge of how to get them in smoothly, we struggled with getting the two ewes and 1 little lamb in there.

Biggest thing I learned - trust my dog! The first round of runs, we were the last dog in the class. So I spent the time watching what other people were doing - which way they sent their dog, how did the sheep react - all those things. I determined that a "come bye" direction would be the best approach for us. I entered the field and approached the post and Fleck quickly settled into the "Away to me" spot. I flipped him around and set up on the "come bye" side but his head was still facing "away to me". I hesitated but realized that he must be reading the pressure of the field differently than I was and I set him up on the "away to me" side. He was right. They wanted to bolt up the field to the exhaust and if he went the direction I originally wanted to send him - he would have lost his sheep. He did a great job covering the draw on the away to me side. I am very glad I was observant of how he wanted to go :)

Overall, we survived our first USBCHA trial and have two more coming up. I can see we have a lot to learn, but it was such an incredible bonding experience - hard to put into words how special it is to experience this with one of my best friends and the little red dog in the class. Good boy Mr. Fleck.

Sheep Ear injury - what do to?

2010-08-19T08:17:00.000-07:00

One of my sheep had blood dripping from the ear the other day. After looking closer, I saw that his ear-tag was cutting through the flap - ouch! Here is what we did once we caught him.

Removed the ear tag (he does not need it for tracking) and washed his open wound with diluted Thieves cleaner and water. The gash the tag created was about 2 inches long and was swollen - poor guy. After removing all the dried blood and debris with the Thieves cleaner mixture, I put several drops of Purification on the site. If you don't know this blend - it has more "purifying" power than iodine or hydrogen peroxide. Then, I put several drops of Thieves. This blend is highly anti-bacterial, anti-fungal (and anti just about everything) plus it has Clove. This provided some topical pain relief. It was still bleeding from all the scrubbing and removal of the tag, so I applied Idaho Tansy. This is an awesome coagulant. I then slathered on Animal Scents Ointment - an ointment that is infused with essential oils. It has amazing healing powers but perhaps more importantly - it acts as an insect repellent. No flies getting through that stuff. Plus it seals in all the oils I had already applied.

It has only been a couple of days, but the site looks much, much better and he is certainly a happier guy. In case you're wondering - these products work the same way in people.

I'll update you on his progress - once I catch him again :)

If you are interested in ordering any of these amazing products, check out my website at: http://www.youngliving.org/tresalaferty

Looking inside yourself

2010-08-11T21:20:00.000-07:00

Do you often have a feeling of loneliness even in a crowded room or busy life? So many of us feel like we are very, very alone in a world that just seems to pass us by without caring what we are experiencing. Some may even think that "I'll be happy if I could just get (fill in the blank)." But even if we got that thing or attained that status, we would be happy for a while then the feeling of loneliness would slowly creep back in to our life.

The only true fulfillment we can experience is when we connect to our source of Divine energy. It doesn't matter what you call this "source" it is the thing that shows us that we are all connected and that all things are intertwined. Therefore, we need all the things in our life to make us whole.

So often we seek answers outside of ourselves. Constantly asking others what we should be doing and how we should be approaching things. While it is a good, healthy activity to seek the advise of wise friends, we must realize that all the answers to all the questions are inside of ourselves. We just need to quiet our minds and ask the questions. When was the last time you asked yourself "what advise would I give myself if I were my own best friend?" All too often we rush into the direction others point us, all the while our heart is pulling us towards a different path. Sometimes saying "this seems hard." It's just our heart trying to straighten us out!

I do seek inspiration in others but I strive to "own" my messages. I close my eyes and ask my spiritual guides to help me express my thoughts and feelings in a true, authentic fashion. It is amazing what they tell me to do when I open and listen with my heart. When a message aligns with your heart passion, you feel it lock in, you feel the truth align with your energy. When this happens, nothing can keep it down!

I challenge you to spend a few minutes with yourself. Ask, "what would I tell ME if I were my own best friend?" Then have the courage to take your own advice.

Affirmation from the Healing Fairies: "I have great beauty and light inside of me right now. I tap in to all of the knowledge of the Universe."

Don't put off things that really matter

2010-07-26T08:45:00.000-07:00

My sweet pal, Duncan has been on my mind lately so I decided I'd blog about him. Duncan came into my life about 15 years ago and little did I know how much he would change it. Don and I had been married a couple of years and we had just bought our first home. So logically, the next thing is to get a dog! Hey, the two selling points of our first home were the fenced back yard and the sound proof "music" room in the basement.

So we agreed we wanted a border collie. Don was spending a lot of time in England then and greatly admired this amazing breed of dog. I am an animal lover of all sorts but also thought they were the best choice for our active lifestyle. So we started our search for our new family member. After several phone calls and lots of papers filled with answers to our questions, we came across a breeder in Wisconsin who had a current litter we could visit. We hoped in the car and headed to Shannon Wolfe's place in Lily Lake.

When we arrived, we were surrounded by her pack of border collies and confirmed our decision of getting one since they were the most beautiful dogs we'd ever seen. Then out comes this litter. Nine little 3-4 week old black & white pups. Gee, how will we choose? After playing around with them and watching them interact with each other and their mom, my attention fell on this little "split-faced" fella, off by himself playing with a rope attached to the bumper of a car. Something about him... Since they were still too little to go home, we tentatively settled on that one but we'd come back next week to look again.

The next week, Don falls for the most perfect little girl. I was still attached to the little split-faced boy but really liked this one too. The parents were Strut and Boots so the puppy names were all shoes. Keds, Gucci, Nike - things like that. But since we settled on the little girl, she was immediately named "Meg." So once again, off we went to wait another week or so before picking her up for good.

During the following week, Shannon gave us a call and said that someone wanted Gucci (the split-faced little boy). Since we were interested in him first, were we really set on "Meg"? She was just making sure before selling him. We said we were still set on "Meg" and then made our arrangements to pick her up that weekend.

On the way up to the farm that Saturday, we stopped and picked up a crate and assembled it in the parking lot of the store. Popped it in the back of our sedan and headed north. When we arrived, the puppies had been moved up the hill a little and in an outdoor place. We quickly picked up Meg and started to talk about "what to expect once you get her home" kind of things. We walked back to the car to put her in and head out but as we did, I stepped back after loading her in the crate and heard a yelp from the ground. I looked and a puppy had followed us to the car and was trying to get my attention. It was "Gucci." When I asked why he was still there, Shannon said, "well, it didn't work out with his new person so he's still here."

After a brief conversation with Don, we quickly asked Shannon "Can we take him too?" Now, years later, I realize that it is not recommended to have two puppies at the same time, let alone from the same litter, but I didn't know that then... So after some discussions - we loaded my sweet "Duncan" in the car and headed for the small suburban back yard and to a life that would never be the same.

Every being that comes into your life changes it forever but every now and then, we have that special someone who tugs at our heart and enhances our life in ways we never thought possible. For those of us with many dogs we call this being our "once in a lifetime dog." Duncan was mine.

I can't imagine not taking him home and not sharing 9.5 years with him. He made his transition in September 2004 and I miss him every day. As I type this, my eyes still fill with tears as they ache to see him again. I am in contact with his spirit and am continually guided by his presence, but being human, I crave his physical body in my life.

I learned many things from Duncan but the lesson that I think that has made the most profound effect on both our lives is to be in the moment - don't wait until things are "perfect" or until you have time. Take a chance and do them now - the details will sort themselves out. You may not get this opportunity again. Things come into your life at the time you need them and if you listen to and follow your heart (not your logical "head") you will have amazing things happen.

Support the Arts: Kiss a Musician

2010-07-13T09:37:00.000-07:00

I recently spent time with family in Kentucky. We normally spend time there over the Christmas holiday and are usually so busy with all the festivities, we rarely spend any time relaxing and getting back in to the culture we were raised in. This recent trip was pretty busy, but we had more opportunity to feel like we were "home" than in previous jaunts. One thing that resurfaced is the importance of music in everyday life in Kentucky. Both my family and my husband's family are full of musicians. Either by singing, playing guitar, piano, auto-harp, flute, banjo, dulcimer, "spoons" or just flipping on the radio, everyone loves and relies on music in some form.

We went to the Berea Arts Festival and while walking the paths looking at the beautiful "locally" created crafts, we were serenaded by several very talented groups. Most singing songs from Appalachia and bringing up deep memories of my childhood.

This got me thinking about something I take for granted. The effect music has on my life and probably for most of you. Some of my very first memories are of my dad softly humming - something he still does today. Nothing in particular, just a melody that was running through his head at the time. There was never a family function without someone strumming a guitar or plucking away on a banjo. And almost always, most of us kids dancing in the center of the circle while the adults laughed and sang. Such happy hearts!

Every church service (and there were a LOT) was always full of the songs from the weathered hymnal books. Sometimes people just sang an old song from their heart and everyone just followed along - no books needed. Most of the piano players played without music. They just play "by ear" we used to say. More appropriately perhaps - they played by "heart."

There is no human culture without music. Music is the "universal language" including that of animals. Think of the whale "songs" and the songs sung by birds. Or even the buzzing of insects on a hot summer night. The phrase "music to my ears" suggests that what is being said is pleasing to you - like music.

So I challenge you all to incorporate music into your lives. More than you already do. Search through your collection for that favorite song you haven't heard in a while. For some of us, we'll have to dig out the vinyl records! Turn it on and crank it up. Use music to soothe you at the end of a long day or to wake you up on an early morning. But be sure to really listen with your heart to the music. Connect with it and the emotion you are experiencing. It will do your body good!

I found an old "All-State Band" t-shirt when I was home (I was a huge band geek). It had a cute phrase on the back that said "Support the Arts: Kiss a Musician." Many of us are lucky enough to be able to sing and and perhaps play an instrument. Others never learned but appreciate the art. Which ever way you fall - be sure to express your appreciation to those who entertain you with their music ability. It is a gift that we should honor each day and open our heart to the music within.

Camp Dogwood - A dog person's heaven

2010-05-31T19:42:00.000-07:00

I spent the weekend at Camp Dogwood. For those of us with dogs, we are used to being second-class citizens. We have to leave our best friends in the car (or at home) when we go out to eat, we are subject to huge "fines" when we bring our canine friends to a hotel (never mind the fact that our dogs are better behaved than the kids running up and down the hall at all hours) and we are always searching for things to do with our furry pals that we would both enjoy (not just throwing a slimy ball across the yard). Well, look no further. Camp Dogwood is the place to be if you are in to anything doggy.

Three weekends out of the year, this secluded camp in northern Illinois has gone to the dogs. You can spend the weekend in a cabin setting with your canine pal all the while participating in activities that are all about dogs. No need to find a dog-sitter, your dog is welcome if not required in all the classes, workshops and training sessions. Activities range from scrap booking for dogs to aromatherapy for dogs (taught by yours truly) to agility, flyball, frisbee, dock dog diving, lure coursing, rally, herding, doggy dancing and group nature walks through the woods. One of my favorites - is the Whine and Cheese meeting :) Camp Dogwood is a dog persons heaven on earth. You and your canine pal are welcomed on equal terms right down to your camp name tag. Both your names are listed so everyone can get to know you and your dog on a first name basis.

My personal experience might be a little different since I teach classes at Camp Dogwood and bring along my trusty side-kick, Fleck to keep me company (pictured above). He loves the camp atmosphere and absolutely adores swimming. But none the less, I love spending time with the campers there as we are all on a similar journey with our canine pals.

Camp attendees range from first time attendees to people who have been coming for 10 years. If you have a "grumpy pup", you can put an orange bandanna on them to signify to other campers you need a little extra room when maneuvering through the day's activities.

If you are a dog person and have been searching for a place where you "fit in" with all your doggy talk, breed specific clothing and goofy puppy-talk, look no further. Come to Camp Dogwood: Where a Dog can be a Dog and a human obsessed with their dog(s) is not odd but among kindred spirits.

Thanks Camp Dogwood!
www.campdogwood.com

Positively Positive

2010-05-20T08:56:00.000-07:00

I recently spent some time in Kentucky with my family and in particular, my 9 year old niece. She had broken her thumb while playing softball and had a cast put on. During my visit, she was scheduled to have her cast removed and she asked if I could go with her to the doctor. She was pretty nervous so was in "talking" mode. She kept saying "I can't wait to get this cast off. I hate having it on!" After a while, I noticed that she kept using negative statements with just about everything she talked about. She is a very happy kid so this just didn't fit her. I told her that we'd play a little game. I told her "let's make every statement we say a positive one." For the "I don't like pop (yes, she actually said this)" we said "I like water better." For "One of my class mates is mean and I don't like him" to "I would rather spend time with a nice friend." Her big moment came when we switched her "I can't wait to get this cast off. I hate having it on" to "I'm glad I only have to experience this once." When she said this she just lit up and exclaimed "I love this game. I feel so much better when I'm positive. I'm going to talk this way all the time!"

To realize that your words have a direct effect on how you feel is a powerful realization no matter what the age.

Take time to carefully word your statements and be sure they have a positive nature to them. The people around you will feel better and so will you!

Satchmo turns 10!

2010-05-06T10:44:00.000-07:00

Today, my buddy, Satchmo turns 10 years old. Some of you have seen him performing flyball, agility or herding but you may not know much about him. So I thought it would be fun - today - to talk about the unsung hero, Satchie or officially known as "Satchmo Hits A High Note".

We don’t know too much about Satchmo’s former life but he originated somewhere in Florida and was bought by an “over the road” truck driver to serve as his traveling partner. The first 6 months of his life was spent with this driver as they traveled throughout the United States in their big rig. He had “vet” stops in the Dakota’s, Iowa and Florida, so who really knows where he’s been. His owner lost his rig and money luckily here in Wisconsin and Satchmo was turned over to the Humane Society as his owner had no place to live. Herding Rescue was contacted and he was placed in foster care.

It took us about 6 months to finally get him and he was welcomed home by his new brother and sister, Duncan & Meg. Meg is a pretty hard judge of character and she took to Satchmo right away - long lost pals.

In the 9 years he has shared our lives, he has learned flyball, herding, swimming, agility and the art of shaking a toy till it goes flying off into the distant field. In flyball, Satchmo has earned his Onyx Title, which is 20,000 points and has been a consistent team member for years. In agility - he was a late bloomer as it wasn't until about 2 years ago did he "decide" to weave. Since then he has earned multiple titles including:

NADAC: NAC, TG-O, TN-O, NCC, NJC
AKC: NAP, NJP, NFP, OAP
USDAA: PS1 & 2, PJ1, PK1, PD1, qualified for Grand Prix and Team Performance

Now on to the real part of the story… His first exposure to stock came at Merrily Steffan’s where we were going for herding lessons. All of the coaxing and happy voices I could make was not going to get him to look at those sheep or even fake an interest. When I had given up and was standing around chatting, Merrily’s guard donkey came strolling by. After it had passed us, Satchmo ran up to it and bit it in the, uh, behind… Such a brave boy, ha, ha!

I clipped him to the fence to watch as I brought out Duncan to work for his lesson. I’m out in the field working and Merrily called to me. Apparently, Satchmo need an example to follow. He had a big, herding, light bulb turn on in his head and he has been awesome ever since. It wasn’t until we moved from our small, city lot in Des Plaines, IL to our 8 acres in Wisconsin that we decided to get some ducks for herding. They were actually a “present” for Meg since she wasn’t too mobile and we thought she would like to push the duckies around. After several months or even a year, we thought to try Satch on them. He had a history of gripping when under pressure, so we weren’t too keen on putting him on fragile little ducks. To our amazement, he is an awesome duck dog. Working ducks took the pressure away of the larger stock and he has done very, very well working his feathered friends. He has even earned a High In Trial score on ducks. We don’t trial much but he has earned the following titles in herding.

AKC: HSa-SD, HIb-D, High in Trial in his first trial on B-course ducks and recently got Reserve High in Trial in Intermediate B-course ducks
AHBA: JHD-S/G, HTD I/II-D, HTD I-S, HTAD I-D

Satchmo is such a wonderful companion and addition to our family. He is very loving and enjoys his massages every morning. He is always doing something goofy to make us laugh. His agility class members chuckle as he's in his crate just banging around with his Frisbee "Satchmo, party of 1" they say. He looks out for his ailing friend Meg and sorely misses his good old pal, Duncan. He continues to amaze me with his young at heart attitude as we enter event after event and the common question people always ask is “How old is your puppy?” Truly confused when I say, “He’s 10.”

Satchmo has hit a high note for sure.

Why does she DO that?!?!

2010-05-04T08:54:00.000-07:00

Most of us with performance animals have run into the standard issue "he's just not listening." This is usually followed by feelings of frustration, confusion and sometimes, down right anger. I was recently at a trial where the judge said something very quietly in his briefing. It has stuck with me and has had a profound effect on my approach to training so I need to share. He said "We are all here to further our relationship with our dogs. They wouldn't be here without us and we wouldn't be there without them. When you ask your dog to do something out there and he doesn't comply, don't immediately turn to shouting. Take a moment to realize that he simply doesn't understand. You are asking him to do something that is beyond his capability - at least in this setting."

This statement holds true in so many situations. Some of you might still say, well, he knows how to hold his contacts (agility), he CAN lie down (herding) and he knows better than to chase the other dog (flyball). But, not necessarily in THAT setting and at THAT moment. You very well may be asking your animal to do something that is beyond his ability, especially in such a heighten situation as a performance.

So what are we to do? Step back and "Speak to the Earth." Ask for patience and to be shown another way. Break things down to their most basic elements. If you approach the problem from a loving and compassionate place - you'll be amazed at what you will be shown. So the next time you are frustrated at what your dog just did on the trial field, look at them with the loving, compassionate eyes they look at you with and you will see the answer staring back at you.

Clean your house - improve your health

2010-05-04T07:21:00.000-07:00

Cleaning your home should not be hazardous to your health! One of the most significant changes in your life to improve your health and the health of your indoor pets is to rid your home of toxic household cleaners. Wouldn't you prefer your kitchen to smell like fresh lemons, grapefruits and rosemary? How about inviting visitors into your family room with the uplifting scent of peppermint? Here are some recipes to get you started:

Floor Cleaner
1/4 cup white vinegar to a bucket of water
10 drops lemon essential oil
4 drops oregano essential oil
Both lemon and oregano essential oils have powerful antiseptic properties!

Homemade Soft Scrub
1/2 cup baking soda
Liquid Castile Soap
5 drops Lavender essential oil and/or 5 drops Tea Tree essential oil (my favorite is geranium oil)

Place the baking soda in a bowl. Slowly pour in liquid soap stirring constantly, add liquid soap until the consistency resembles frosting. Add the essential oils. Scoop the creamy mixture onto a sponge, scrub the surface, and then rinse. If you add a little pure vegetable glycerin to the baking soda, the mixture will stay moist for a long time in a jar with a tight lid.

I love adding lemon essential oil to my dish water. It makes the whole kitchen smell like lemons plus the lemon oil is a fabulous de-greaser and it has anti-septic properties.

Don't forget to spritz your sofa with a mix of water and peppermint oil. It has a very refreshing scent and is a natural insect repellent.

For your pet bedding, mix 5 drops of lavender and peppermint oil in a small spray bottle and occasionally mist the bedding. Both lavender and peppermint are flea repellents and the scent "refreshes" the bed in between washing.

Dust Mites? It is time to open up the camper and unroll the sleeping bags. Sometimes these bring out dust mites and bed bugs. Mix 10-15 drops of lemongrass essential oil and water. Misting the area after a good shake will discourage these little bug from sticking around.

One of the best things I've ever purchased is the Thieves Household Cleaner from Young Living. I have replaced ALL of my other household cleaners with this one. I use it to steam clean my carpets, wash the floors, clean kitty litter boxes, wash walls, disinfect bathrooms, wash dog dishes, scrub out outside water bins for the large animals, upholstery cleaning and just about everything! It is also excellent at cleaning up the occasional dog accident or kitty puke. And- it fills the air with the wonderful scents of cinnamon, clove and lemon - yum!

Most of our indoor pets spend a lot of time on the floors and will often walk across the freshly cleaned surface. Cleaning with pure therapeutic-grade essential oils improves their health one sniff at a time. Plus, makes your home smell wonderful!

To purchase any of these essential oils or the Thieves cleaner, click here. www.youngliving.org/tresalaferty

Nothing personal - I just don't like dentists!

2010-05-03T15:38:00.000-07:00

I recently had some dental work done. It included the extraction of a wisdom tooth and a "root canal gone bad" tooth that had fallen apart. I haven't been to the dentist in a while but I searched until I found one that approaches things from a holistic point of view. I found a fabulous dentist - only an hour from my house :) They do wonderful things like muscle testing for the appropriate tooth filling or procedure that is right for you. They also provide a detox liquid prior to the procedure.

I survived the 3 hour appointment by taking my essential oils with me. When I was sitting in the chair - Dr. Mahn said "I can always tell the serious aromatherapy people - they always smell like Thieves."

I have had some very bad experiences at the dentist starting way back to a little girl (very deep seated issues...) So, the oils I used were the Stress Away and Valor roll-ons - just to get me in the chair. I was applying them throughout the procedure(s) too. After all was said and done, they offered me the standard prescriptions of pain-killers and anti-biotics (just as SOP) but I used these oils: Idaho Balsam Fir for post surgical pain management, PanAway to reduce the swelling and bruising, Wintergreen for the deep bone pain, Thieves for the management of infection and pain and Ocotea to also help with the possible infection. I topically applied Clove to the gum-line and used the rest externally on my jaw-line, around the surgical site. I had very minimal swelling, no bruising and only some throbbing in between applications. The deep nerve pain was managed by Peppermint oil and I took InnerDefense (a capsule blend of essential oils) to help with the infection.

The wisdom tooth area healed in about 3 days and the other site was nice and healthy pink throughout the healing. After 10 days, I returned to the dentist so they could remove the stitches and they were amazed at the healing that had already taken place. They also commented on the lack of swelling and bruising.

It has been about 2 weeks since the procedure and only after running in the yard with the dogs do I feel the throbbing pain. I grab my peppermint and clove and in a matter of seconds, no more pain.

Essential Oils are made from plants of the Earth and if we search, we can find these naturally derived substances to help us with our issues in life. Even in times of pain - you can find excellent sources of relief. If you are considering using essential oils for your own health, be sure they are of the highest quality and marked "therapeutic-grade" otherwise, you may be getting a bottle of perfume oil.

Why this blog?

2010-05-03T10:23:00.000-07:00

By connecting to the land and sharing my life with animals, I find there are messages for us all if we learn to "Speak to the Earth." Follow along as I share my journey with these amazing energies. Sometimes the lessons are profound, and other times, they are just simple observances.