Tag Archives: GoatSheepShop

“Budapest Budapest Te Csodas…”

February 16, 2016

“Budapest Budapest You Wonderful…” The title is a popular Hungarian song, I think back from the 1960-70. For Hungarians it is sort of the equivalent of Sinatra’s “New York New York.” https://youtu.be/TIsXvH-e6bU (it is heavily edited and appropriated sorry original content owners….)

I am so thrilled to be back again…

Catskill Pumis waiting to board at JFKIt is that crazy time of the year again when we travel to Europe to check out the royal and not so royal Pumi houses of Europe to make some holly alliances between the Pumis of the New World and some of the Ancient Regimes of the continent.

It is that crazy time of the year again when we travel to Europe to check out the royal and not so royal Pumi houses of Europe to make some holly alliances between the Pumis of the New World and Pumis of the Ancient Regimes of Europe.

Catskill Pumi petting ZOO at JFK every one loves the Pumis

I’ll spend six weeks traveling in Hungary and a few other countries. The plan is to enter some dog shows, visit breeders, get some unofficial breeding and health history on the breed. I will put my light blue NATO helmet on and try to do my best to clean off the dirt that comes with all the information from the various sides… and we also try to breed if all works as planned.

The Catskill Pumi Teddy Bear Collection – I WANT ONE!

We had a very orderly departure that is usually a pretty rear occurrence. Left on time from upstate, made it to the airport without incident, checked in dogs and luggages, I even get to check in an extra duffle bag without paying a penny. The early arrival to JFK gave us some extra quality time with the dogs. They could eliminate, hang out and get used to the new environment without any tension so when they were hauled away to load them on the plain, they did not care too much.

We let Mommy off leash for a pit stop…

The flight was uneventful. In Helsinki I changed plane to Budapest. While boarding, the captain assured me that the dogs were transferred to the second flight and so we went. After the brutal cold spell of of Upstate NY (we had -40F windchill Friday night) I did not mind the unseasonable warm temperature at my arrival in Budapest.

Agyag and Fruska are checking in at Finnair

We walked through customs like middle eastern migrants enter to Europe; no one checked my papers or really cared about me or the dogs. I picked up my rental car and we were on our way to my sister’s house. The station wagon I rented is a blessing because I can fit both crates in the back so I can keep the car clean from muddy dog paws for six weeks. It was funny to see the dogs when we got out of the car and entered the lobby of the high-rise building where my sister lives. As we were waiting for the elevator, they kept looking and wondering why the sheep live in vertically stacked stalls and why they have so many shepherds around. I needed to pull through the day without going to sleep until the evening so I can manage better the jetlag aka desynchronosis (a fancy word for you).

The Catskill Pumis are ready to board the subway

The Catskill Pumis are ready to enter the Budapest subway system

Today we took it easy. I bought a monthly public transportation pass so I do not have to drive in Budapest traffic unless it is necessary. I also bought a gym membership to a fancy gym just a few blocks from my sister’s house because even though, i promised myself that I keep my relatively healthy diet while in Europe, I am afraid I will get tempted and breaking down within minutes after walking into one of those famous indoor food markets where they sell all those mouthwatering insanely delicious food creations.

My sister Zsuzsa with my Pumis

The rest of the day we are off to the central shopping district on the Pest side of the City. Lets see what the fancy boutiques of Budapest can offer comparing to Delhi’s “Tractor Supply” selection or Oneonta’s “Walmart” back home in New York. Do not tell this part of my trip to Laszlo…

Dogs and owners need to know a lot before entering a dog run you have to pass a "dog body language test" study material is available at the entrance. Turid Ruugas would be pretty proud

Dogs and owners need to know a lot before entering a dog run. Everyone has to pass a “dog body language test” Study material is available at the entrance. Welcome to Dog Run University… Turid Ruugas would be pretty proud

City Hopping in Helsinki

March 27, 2015

The Central Railway Station of Helsinki

We’ve decided that we had enough of the dogs and went to see Helsinki yesterday. Strolled through part of Kluuvi, the commercial center of the City. It has a shopping center, the University of Helsinki, Movie theaters, museums and the Helsinki Central Railway Station among many other things. One interesting fact that I learned that the Square has two entrances, one for the public and a second one for the President of Finland…

Civic center a euphenism for a place where you smell th

“City center” a euphemism for shop until you drop dead…

The first Finnish brewery, an integral part of our city "hopping"

The indoor city market

vintage beer tanks. During WWI and WWII they justinstalled wheels and tracks and they had war tanks...

During our city “hopping” we bumped into these vintage beer tanks. During WWI and WWII they probably just installed wheels and tracks on them and they had war tanks They must have been useful during seize fires (they could brew beer until the fights picked up again…)

beer/war tanks I guess they nevermade it to the front line they were pulled over for drunk driving

beer/war tanks I would not be surprised if they had never made it to the front line the drivers probably were pulled over for drunk driving

buy buy baby who can resist in a narrow alley?

buy buy baby who can resist the great aromas of gourmet food and spices floating in the narrow alley of the city market?

Fresh fish

and the canned goods I bet I could find fermented shark fin if I looked more carefully…

Kapelli

We also checked out the exhibitions at the contemporary Art center, “Kiasma.” After the culture rush, we escaped to some fine shopping places and checked into some great food stores. It was such a breath of fresh air to spend some time in cafe houses, fine restaurants and (only…) browsing ( this is for Laszlo in case he reads this entry) in some high end department store after our local convenient stores and Walmart upstate NY.

our appropriations of one of the installations at the Kiasma:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n7bOLNMGI9Q<—Click here

a very interesting drink that I learned from Marja-Leena if you want to know it contact me privately

yum yum pastries

the famous historic Kapelli cafe, bar, restaurant where the bohemians and artists, of Helsinki gathered the the past 150 years or so including Sibelius, the composer.

the famous historic Kapelli cafe, bar, restaurant where the bohemians and artists, of Helsinki gathered the past 150 years or so including Sibelius, the composer.

Scandinavia cafe

the contemporary art center “Kiasma”

one might think twice wondering in these hallways with a hangover

Tom of Finland

At the end of the day I felt like a tired farm girl who got lost in the city.

Your Last Second Christmas Shopping At The Catskill Pumis

December 21, 2014

Last second Pumi and farm items for the holidays! Earrings and Zipper pullers.

We also have some of our farm products that the Catskill Pumis are indirectly responsible for by herding the sheep and goats of our farm, GoatSheepShop.

If interested, pls. contact us at info@catskillpumi.com or call at 917.375.7029

White painted metal Pumi earrings with sterling or gold filled findings $25/pair

Black painted metal Pumi earrings with sterling or gold filled findings $25/pair

Plastic zipper puller with sterling findings $20 each

Plastic Pumi zipper puller with sterling findings $20 each

Goat’s milk face cream made with our goat’s milk and natural ingredients. Available in three sizes, 8oz $12, 12oz $18, 16oz $28

Washable white Merino or black Shetland sheepskin shoe insoles $15/pair cut to size

hand felted hot water bottle cover (rubber bottle included $65 (style might slightly varies

Sheepskin hot bottle cover (rubber bottle included) style might slightly varies $65

black sheepskin hot water bottle cover (rubber bottle included) style slightly varies ($65)

black sheepskin hot water bottle cover (rubber bottle included) style might slightly varies $65

2’x3′ woven natural color shetland 100% wool rug $175

White sheepskin average size2’x3′ $95

brown or black sheepskin average size approx. 2’x3′ $95

Angora goathides, white, silver average size approx. 2’x3′ $185

Next one please…(Kerem a kovetkezot)

Flash mob of lost souls...? this can be a really complex issue...

Flash mob of lost souls…? this is a really complex issue…

November 9, 2013

Christmas is around the corner and we are preparing for the fast approaching holiday season. Finally, the long awaited Merino sheep skins arrived back from the tanning place in Pennsylvania, yesterday. This year, in addition to the skins we also prepared something new, that I’ve learned during the herding camp in Hortobagy, Hungary, back in May. We specially prepared the scrotum of each culled lamb ram. At this point, I think, we will probably making an installation piece out of them.

This installation could easily be in Sigmund Freud’s office

By looking at the empty bags, castration anxiety suddenly start making sense. Old Sigmund was right after all…

Santa dropped of the big Merino sheep skin box

Merino lamb ram sheep skin freshly back from the tannery

Merino lamb ram sheep skins freshly back from the tannery

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…