March 21, 2015
Tomorrow we are going to JFK to fly across the big pond again. I packed all the essentials…
Passport, check…
Ticket, check…
poop bags, check…
tanning lotion, check (because it must be warmer and sunnier everywhere than here upstate NY…)
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…
August 6, 2014
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 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 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
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 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.
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 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.
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.
August 3, 2014
Kaffogo Agyag on her daily hunting expedition on the nerby trails…
All good things come to an end – for a short while… We have finished the first leg of our trip up here in Kuopio, Finland. The result of the third day was,
KAFFOGO AGYAG CAC and RES.CACIB – second place overall.
I was excited to discover a field of black currant bushes. I was harvesting from the top while Agyag was eating the low hanging fruits (no pun intended…)
I am proud of my girl. She has impressed all three of the judges with her conformation as well as her outstanding disposition. We move on to Helsinki with three excellent evaluations earned from FCI judges from three different countries. The consistency of of last year’s evaluation of Kaffogo Agyag during the Hungarian World Dog Show week and the current descriptions here in Finland are very reassuring. Of course, the Lion share of our success goes to Anna Varadi of Kaffogo Kennel in Hungary and Helena Matilla of Karvakorvan Kennel in Finland the two breeders where Agyag comes from.
We’ve been having a super time. People are welcoming, open and helpful. The dog show was well organized with plenty of information provided for everyone to easily get around. Last night’s party was a great finishing touch of the Kuopio trip. Special thanks to Marianne, Jyrki, Jukka and Heidi Forsti of Fifikus Kennel and all their friends, making me feel so comfortable. The dinner was a big plate of Paella with fresh Salmon. It was a delicious treat and the wine selection was also outstanding. By the way there was no tango, so I still have to catch it somewhere during the rest of my trip.
Greenhouse Effect…
Today, we are moving down south to Helsinki, where soon I will hook up with Stacy Lehman and Taru Parvin for a cruise trip to Stockholm, Sweden. (The Scandinavian version of Ladies’ Night Out.) before the WDS.
The Adoration of the Magus…
Day one…
Day two…
Day three…
In the same time, Kaffogo Agyag, is inpatiently waiting to check her messages posted on the big city fire hydrants, the “Canine Renal Bulletin.” Who knew that there has been a serious canine social media out there…?
August 2, 2014
Disclaimer: Folks, I think, I have to control my excitement because my phone data plain is out of control and I am afraid that Verizon might put a lien on Kaffogo Agyag…
The “Fauvist Tent City” at the Kuopio Exhibition Ground. It is just a wild place look at the colors
The tents are only a few feet away from the ring. People live, eat and do their business while the dog show is going on. Everyone is happy and relaxed. Can your dog pass by in the ring while a few feet away there might be a camp stove with some delicious mouth watering morning sausage on the top? Suddenly CGC becomes a different ball game 😉
The photo just speaks for itself. Life and hobby has a slightly different twist over here in Europe.
A bit over dressed… BUT once me, always me (this doesn’t make sense does it…?)
There is no table over here…
the Pumi with the Puli headed woman…( certainly friendlier and nicer than Medusa…)
feedback from the judge…
minor chaos but the judge is in control…
“move up here please…” we were delighted to do that…
friendly gestures…
still going…
Kaffogo Agyag my Prima donna…
We Strike a Poze…
Some of us gathered for a group photo…
Yes, indeed we’ve had a glorious morning and a rewarding day overall. Most importantly, Kaffogo Agyag has had her “Mirror Mirror on the Wall” moment.
The second day of the International SAWO Dog Show, in Kuopio Finland,
Kaffogo Agyag has won CAC, CACIB, BOB.
The weather is great, and the atmosphere is excellent here. People are super nice and the environment is just surreal. The Kuopio Exhibition Ground has turned into a virtual “fauvist tent city” wild colors, movements and an upbeat dog show bohemianism.
My new Pumi friends, and I got lots of them in two days, invited me back to the tent city to party tonight.
Hey, I might get to experience the Finnish Tango after all!
However, for now, back to the cabin to relax and give Ms. Kaffogo Agyag her well earned wild run and chase in the countryside.
Be back tomorrow…
hyvää huomenta