Tag Archives: Catskill Pumi

Siegfrida and Royale…

December 9, 2014

one of those "God is dead but my hair is perfect" images (appropriation from BHLH)

one of those “God is dead but my hair is perfect” (Bernard-Henry Levy) images Orlando, FL

Orlando, Florida

One always has to come from somewhere else to authenticate the value of frivolity…

I have been living in the U.S. for close to thirty years and still falling for Route 66, Hollywood Walk of Fame, Greyhound, the world’s largest carrot or cauliflower (made of plastic) installed on roadsides, just outside of small town USA. I also love fake or authentic diners with their orange chairs, or the very idea of a road trip, (one of the most perfect ways to waste one’s time) the possible “poppest” sub-icons and concepts of our vernacular pop culture. Among them, of course, there is the Eukanuba National dog show with its irky color combination of blue and pink.

Sigfried and Roy. German born American pop culture essentials

Siegfried and Roy. German born American pop culture essentials

This is my third year driving down to Orlando Florida. It has become a ritual. Reservations, preparations, packing, the drive, meeting doggie friends and most importantly spending some carefree quality times with my dogs by escaping from the winter of the Catskill Mountains of NY.

It is also soothing temporarily leaving behind my adopted chronic American nervousness.

Sigfried and Roy GErman born American entertainment pop icons

Siegfried and Roy. German born American entertainment pop icons

Sigfrida and Royale. Transylvanian born Hungarian Pumi Club of America pop icons

Siegfrida and Royale. Transylvanian born Hungarian Pumi Club of America pop icons (some great moments to remember)

There is no price tag but only a very personal sign value on this carefully packaged annual moment. One gotta love it…

Sigfrida and Royale. Transylvanian born Personas, Pumi Club pop-culture vernacular

Siegfrida and Royale. Transylvanian born Pumi Club pop-culture Personas (Those irreplaceable moments)

Anka, BOB (photo is in the Miscellaneous group)

Bikfic with Marika Best of Opposite Sex

Today we had the first show, Space Coast Kennel Club of Palm Bay.

Catskill Apacatancos Anka BOB

Catskill Battyogo Bikfic Best of Opposite Sex.

It was a real team effort by Club members and Pumi lovers. Kathie Ogden handled Anka, and Dianne Fletcher volunteered to handle Catskill Becsi Barsony. These are the moments that is hard to put a price tag on.

There was Godiva and here is Eukanuba (if you ever wondered, yes the lady on the right is Eukanuba the Greek goddes of dog shows

Lady Eukanuba if you ever wondered… yes the lady in pink on the blue floor on the right might be the sister of Lady Godiva (I am wondering, has she ever walked her dog naked on the streets of Coventry)

After the show, the four of us plus Christine Edwards went out to Miller’s Ale House.

Inside of Miller’s Ale House

Clandestine Pumi operation at Miller’s Ale House

The Yankee Pumis of Charles Towne…

Charleston, the city, the dance and flat chests

December 8, 2014

“The 1920s brought not only the Charleston but the flat chest” Well, I guess, I fit right in here… The quote is from Robert Gottlieb, former editor of the New Yorker. (Why am I not surprised… ) He is forgiven because of his book, the “Art of the Plastic Handbag 1949-59.” It is every woman’s must read…

The Robert Gottlieb must read a man and his collection of hand bags…

After almost 12 long hours on the road, just before midnight, finally we arrived to Charleston, SC. This morning, we went to visit, Susan Smith, who has Catskill Asz, a good looking male from our A-litter. We have not seen Asz since he was about eight weeks old. He smelled and sniffed and looked…it was a remarkable moment when suddenly it clicked in for him. I bet he recognized me.

The Pumi Makeover… Asz watching his alter ego on the grooming table

While I was grooming Asz, the obnoxious northern Pumis has raided Susan’s house and yard. Almost removed the Christmas tree and made sure that the entire city of Charleston could hear them. Susan has treated us with a fantastic lunch and we chatted the afternoon away. It was about four a clock when we collected the Pumis from the pool and began the last leg of our trip.

the updated unabridged edition of Asz after the grooming (he’ll need some more adjustments later)

While Marika was driving, I looked up Charleston’s history. It is a quite interesting place. The city has drawn many different races nationalities, ethnic and religious groups. Jews, Germans, French, Irish, Spaniards free blacks, people from the Carribians and of course the English, mingled in Charleston during the colonial era. Interestingly, Catholics were not allowed in the City until after the Revolution.

obnixous yankee Pumis

where is Santa…?

when are we going?

One crazy fact that caught my eyes, was the early deerskin trade of Charles Towne as the city was called in its early history. In about twenty years in the early 1700s, about a million deers were slaughtered and 5,239,350(!) pounds of deer skin were exported. Considering the high number of vehicle/deer collisions everywhere, I bet, car insurance companies simply call this era “the good ol’ days…”

Susan Smith, our host and the owner of Catskill Asz and me

With Susan Smith, our host, the owner of Catskill Asz

a quick peek of Charleston. The Pink House…yes, the pink house..

we have arrived…

some business simply cannot be taken care of only between 8:30AM-5:30PM

Charleston is also the birthplace of “The Charleston” (dance), George Gerschwin’s “Porgy and Bess” and Congressman Frank Underwood from the Netflix series of “House of Cards” I wonder how many voters looked for Underwood’s name on the ballot during the midterm elections…

We arrived to Orlando Florida around 9 pm tonight. We will be back tomorrow.

Stupid Quiz #2: (while driving to Florida)

Question: When the Fox trotts who dances to the “ton”?

Answer: Charles…

good night

Run Pumi Run… – Outruns, AHBA HTD-1

October 8, 2014

Long running Pumis in theaters near you!

Csupasz Fruska Outrun <——– Click here…

Bushwhackers

The Loot of Catskill Battyogo Bikfic over the weekend

The weekend loot of Catskill Battyogo Bikfic

September 7, 2014

We’ve had a fantastic weekend. Catskill Battyogo Bikfic has earned 5 points this weekend and has won a big one, “Best in Beginner Puppy Show,” where he has competed outside of the Miscellaneous Class, in the “Big League.” I think Bikfic is the very first Pumi competing in the big league in conformation and winning Best in Show (4-6 mos :-))

Three days, three wins for Bikfic BOB, BiM and one Jackpot Saturday, Best in Beginner Puppy Class (4-6 mos)

Solid disposition, confident appearance nice conformation, please meet Catskill Battyogo Bikfic…

Marika and Paul Foreman, owners of Catskill Bikfic and Csibesz, invited me to their home for the weekend since they live only ten minutes from the show site. (Laszlo could not make it as he just had a surgery Tuesday.) They have been perfect hosts. They’ve fed me and entertained me for three days.

Hey you out there… get ready…!

After we returned to Marika and Paul’s home each day after the shows, we could not stop watching and laughing the three crazy Pumis turning from well behaving show dogs into Bushwhacking Pumis, in Marika’s yard.

http://youtu.be/BtbRxZWDYkI <—— Click here…

Farewell Finland

August 10, 2014

Pilisi Kocos Jeles “Jelly” BOB at the Helsinki World Dog Show. Congratulations to Chris and Tom Levy and of course Holdampf Dora of Pilisi Kocos Kennel in Hungary.

This means that Pumericans finished on the top in Helsinki, Finland.

I guess the Finlandia ad was right and yes, Finland has turned out to be the top of the world for “Jelly” after all…

Kaffogo Agyag has finished 3rd in her class, ERI AVK3.

Thank you Marja-Leena Puranen for your friendship and hospitality

Finland, the country of thousand lakes, and the second most popular home of the Pumi…

Thank you Finland for the fantastic time! Thank you Marianne and Jyrki Forsti of Fifikus Kennel and your friends for the wonderful hospitality during the Kuopio SAWO show.

Also thank you Helena Mattila for taking you time and meeting me while in Helsinki.

A VERY SPECIAL THANK YOU goes to Marja-Leena Puranen for virtually adopting me and taking care of me and my super dog, Kaffogo Agyag in Helsinki. Marja-Leena, thank you for your friendship.

Agyag enjoying her Cyndarella time. She will have have a hard time to become “just one of the Pumis” again when the clock will hit midnight at the end of the week and we return to the U.S.

We’ve had a fantastic run and great exposure in Finland. Five shows with strong consistent performance. I’ve had the opportunity to meet and talk to breeders, have seen some great dogs and learned a lot during my time in the country.

I was also lucky to be able to travel some and stay in the countryside as well as in the “big” city so I could have a first hand experience of a country and its people.

SUOMI, KIITOS TAAS JA TULEN TAKAISIN…

The “Pumericans,” Stacy, Taru, me Jon and Nina.
You guys were the icing on the cake. I’ve enjoyed your company.

Most importantly, my trip would have not been complete without the company of Stacy Lehman, her husband Jon, Taru Parvin and her daughter Nina. They were the icing on the cake. You guys rock, I have a fantastic time with you.

Unfortunately, all good things must come to an end, and the proverbial clock will hit midnight soon… and you know what does that mean…?

We are going home! Because, nothing like home sweet home…

Tourist for a Day…

August 6, 2014

Suomennia, the six-island historic fortress network of Helsinki

Suomennlina, the six-island historic fortress network of Helsinki

We took a short boat trip to Suomenlinna, a six-island historic fortress network yesterday. The massive walls and buildings have been the nest of Finnish National independence and the birthplace of Finnish national pride and consciousness. Today, it is a pupular tourist attraction and picnic park.

Of course, I took Agyag along, who was happily trotting off leash among the tourist, wagging her curly tail for a pat or a short cuddling. She is not your typical farm dog. She is my farm dog… and like all my dogs and animals, she is friendly, affectionate and confident wherever she goes.

We also sampled some excellent food and brew when taking some breaks. Agyag tried to hypnotize every bite out of our mouths. Sorry dog not today…

say “yuusto…” I mean “cheese…”

one of the garrison buildings from the past… massive structures to withstand the time of history

Rules are pretty relax around here... do you recall the signs back in the U.S.? "No shirt, no shoes, No service..." I think these people were not even tourists. They probably were the park rangers for the historic site in their summer uniform...

Rules are pretty relaxed around here… do you recall the signs back in the U.S.? “No shirt, No shoes, No service…” by the way, I think these people were not even tourists. They probably were the park rangers for the historic site in their summer uniform…

a wetering hole in sight for some refreshments (cool tables...)

a watering hole in sight for some refreshments (cool tables…)

a WWII submarine built in the 1930’s. This tiny thing would be in trouble running into Spilberg’s great white shark from “Jaws”

The Three Graces and Cyndarella

if we keep eating with the same rate as we do and keep having this much fun as we do, in a few days, I have to post this photo as us "The Three Graces..."

Ok, if we keep eating with the same rate as we do and keep having as much fun as we do, in a few days, I have to post this photo as us, “The Three Graces…” (this is not in Helsinki I posted it for illustration only. The artist is Niki de Saint Phalle of France and the title is “The Three Graces”…)

Agyag controlling traffic at the market. once in a while she gives a dirty loook to extort some food out of people...

Agyag is controlling traffic at the market. Once in a while she gives a dirty look at some people to extort food out of them…

The walls of the fortress from the sea

The modern day Viking raid. Anyone can participate while dining, wining and having a good time (soon we depart to Stockholm Sweden on one of these vessels)

Welcome to the Scandinavian Welfare System. Even the mime is painted gold instead of the usual white or silver. Life is good over here…

After the long day of island hopping we were happy to escape back to our hotel from the heat.

Shop Talk and and Some Fun in the City

August 5, 2014

The famous Helsinki Cathedral, “Tuomiokirkko”(spelling it correctly and pronounce it, should be a prerequisite for the eucharist…) on Senate Squre in the city center. It is an evangelic Lutheran Church. It can accommodate 1300 people. It is the most recognizable landmark of the city.

Say, "cheese..." it does not really work in Finnish "juusto..." (one of my theories why English has become the lingua franca of the world...)

Say, “cheese…” it does not really work in Finnish “juusto…”
(one of my genius theories why English has become the lingua franca of the world…)

This WDS is also a study trip for me to learn about the mysteries, controversies and also trying to answer some of the open ended questions of the Pumi breed. Therefore, it has been an especially lucky coincident that this global doggie summit has been organized by “Pumi powerhouse” countries in two consecutive years.

strolling in the center of Helsinki. Nina took possession of Agyag. The spoiled opportunistic Pumi has enjoyed the extra attention

Look at that delicious dinner plate. Fresh fish provided from the Baltic Sea.

Last year, I had a chance to spend time in Hungary, the home of the Pumi and this year here in Finland. Earlier, I’ve have talked to breeders, most importantly to the Forsti’s from Fifikus kennel at the Kuopio international show. Yesterday, I’ve spent the day with Marja-Leena Puranen here in Helsinki. Marja-Leena also took me to meet Helena Mattila of Karvakorvan kennel outside of the City.

Thank you both for taking your time and meeting me.

After the Pumi protocol, the fun has begun. Finally, I could hook up with the “Pumericans,” Stacy Lehman, her husband Jon, Taru Parvin and her daughter Nina. We also kidnapped Marja-Leena along for a good time. We have shared our experiences, walked around in the center of the city a bit and finished the evening with a great dinner.

Niina, Jon and Stacy the wine in the forground of course is only for prop to enrich the phtograph...

Marja-Leena, Nina, Jon, Stacy and Taru (the wine in the forground of course is only for prop to enrich the photograph…)

Tuomiokirkko from another angle…

Agyag enjoying her Cyndarella time. She will have have a hard time to become “just one of the Pumis” again when the clock will hit midnight at the end of the week and we return to the U.S.

It is all about the Pumi
Marja-Leena, Ildiko, Taru with Kaffogo Agyag and Stacy

Back in the hotel, I called my husband Laszlo to tell him about my day. We talked until my adrenaline level tanked and I fell in bed to recharge my body for the next day.

If it is Raining, It is Deering…

August 1, 2014

reindeers… the source of my linguistic inspiration…

…I coined this genius expression by myself… in our cabin where we stay, while there was a serious downpour outside last night. (reindeer get it…? there are lots of them in Finland) This is my historic contribution to the Finnish language. In case, the “Finnish Academy of Science and Letters” decides to grant me an honorary membership because of my original work in the field of linguistics, than so be it, I accept it with great humility. One never knows what a cabin living can inspire. (It took Henry David Thoreau to write “Walden” more that two years, I came up with this deep thought pretty much in one night…)

Walden great things born in wood cabins…

my log cabin in Jorointo just south of Kuopio

my log cabin in the countryside south of Kuopio

inside the cabin…

basic comfort… I admit the U.S. has made me somewhat a softy I miss air conditioning and mosquito screens on the windows and doors…

the sauna. great addition to the cabin. I guess it is the Finnish version of the confessional. The “hot seat” I get rid of (sweat out ) all my sins and feel much better afterward. The real bonus is that in the same time, I can keep all my secrets because I do not have to tell them to anyone – you should try it…

I love this place. It is a nice neat and clean log cabin with electricity and gravity fed water warmed by the sun. I can also use the sauna. Breakfast is served in the main house. I cannot be happier that the hotel in Kuopio screwed up my reservation and I found this place pretty much in the last second. I have to confess, however, that I’ve gotten spoiled living in the U.S. for over twenty year. I miss air conditioning and mosquito screens on the windows and doors. The good thing is that the mosquitos here in Finland seems to be either domesticated or they simply respect my Transylvanian origin and they acknowledge that I take my blood supply seriously because I got through the night without a single mosquito bite.

Hey bud we are on a serious collision course...

Hey bud this is about my blood. we are on a serious collision course…

Sustainable energy, “The Midnight Sun” what a genius technical innovation…

While driving to our first destination last night, I was dumbfounded how much Finnish sustainable energy production is way ahead of the U.S. While we still trying to make people to accept windmills, solar energy, geo thermal heating, or electric cars in the U.S., in Finland, they’ve already managed to keep the sun up during the night in the summer! Can you imagine the energy savings and the additional amount of work they can do late into the night? It was interesting to drive in virtual day light in the middle of the night. What a great innovation…

There is one disadvantage though that I must mention. The problem is that during a long ride in the middle of nowhere with no rest areas in sight, one obviously cannot go unnoticed relieving herself on the side of the road when nature makes its last call, because of the lack of protective cover of the usual darkness in the night. I can see this problem as a serious drawback for our Congress debating the issue of introducing a “Midnight Sun Energy Bill” in Washington.

But let me stop saving the planet for a second, so I can brag you about our first Finnish dog show in Kuopio. Kaffogo Agyag has won her class and finished 4th place in over all, earning a Res. CAC. She also got a very favorable evaluation. I was very proud of her to deliver such a nice performance after such an exhausting intercontinental travel.

Now back to the country where we can relax and she can run free while I am testing out the Finnish domestic beer selection. See you tomorrow.

Silentium Pumi Americanus….

March 16, 2014

We’ve gotten some short break on the farm but not from the weather… We are done with lambing and kidding ( no kidding…!?!?).

Fruska has slowly been ballooning her pregnancy to the end of its term. Nothing really is happening so we are just Waiting for Godot…

We’ve gotten 71 lambs and 9 goat kids. ewes and does are up in arms to protect their lambs and kids therefore, to avoid stress, herding is out of question at least until May.

There are some exciting plans for the spring and summer, however. We hope to start the new herding facility and along the way start the process of getting certified by AKC to start tests and trials.

But for now, we take life one step at a time until Fruska’s pups arrive.

Enjoy some recycled videos…

http://youtu.be/JE2gVpeJ8o4 <——-Click here…

http://youtu.be/hbBYOE5LPPA <——— Click here…

http://youtu.be/gVh7OT_dM3s <——–Click here…

What? Goat and Sheep Social Services…?

June 15, 2013

unsuspecting kids enjoying the lush pastures not long before taking them from their moms

Not exactly… but this ominous day happens once a year when weaning or the breaking up of livestock families takes place. It is dramatic, and emotional but it has to happen. It is an artificial rite of passage into adulthood. Ewes, does, and nannies finally can get rid of their burdensome offsprings and can start rejuvenating their nutrition deprived bodies.

For us, it is a back breaking and tedious process. We have to separate adult ewes, does, ram lambs, kid bucks, lamb and kid girls onto separate paddocks and into separate buildings. Dogs have to be delicate, not to put too much pressure on an individual kid or lamb because too much stress can kill a youngster. This is also the time for last vaccinations and inspections, so we have to catch each animal individually, grab, lift turn pull, etc. The whole process have taken us somewhere about four to five hours. Even though, we have a goat and sheep farm, by the time we finish everything, we look like pigs.

And honestly, the next four or five days, I would not want to be my own neighbor and listen to the screaming and crying from every corner of the farm until the youngsters accept that their moms are not available anymore.

http://youtu.be/CIlecDnFy6g <—-Click here…