The NC Gathering 2013
Every year since the first NC Gathering was held at Maple Grove Farm in 2006, the Gathering has grown and changed. We have tried different things in the last 8 years. The one thing that has remained the same is the good people that attend with their wonderful dogs. The fun that we have the food that is shared and the dogs, oh my, the dogs! What a wonderful precious gift to the ES world a Gathering is no matter where it is held!
The friends we have made thru the years. AMAZING! What wonderful people English Shepherd people are!
I would like to thank everyone that helped us this year! IF your name is not mentioned it is because I could not remember! We are so Blessed Every Year with such good people that are ready willing and able to come early and stay late and help anyway they can.
This year we had a four day Gathering! Even I questioned the wisdom of my decision, especially with the ESCR/NESR Quilt Project that started at the NC Gathering in 2012.
The Quilt
The Beautiful Quilt was quite the job for many folks. Without the good people that purchased spots for their dog’s names, it would not have gotten off the ground. That said, there were many bumps in the road to the Quilt.
The first one was, “Oh my goodness, how does one fit 500 dog’s names and their owners onto a quilt and what pattern?” I had not thought about the owners! Then, should they be alphabetical or random? Well, how would you find anything? So alphabetical it was! Then what about the pattern? Really, I was thinking spokes on a wheel. Clearly that was not the way to do it, but then how? Sylvia Snell bravely assured me that we could do this. Oh, and I did mention I am not a quilter? I was always in the barn with Grandpa, on the back of a horse or playing with dogs instead of learning needlework!
Sylvia and I both were in a pretty big fix over pattern. I had the idea the squares would be done by different people all over the US and Canada, well I had that correct, but how do you put that many names on a quilt and then there was the size question. Really, I was in over my head and sinking fast. I was fixing to go to my 88 year-old neighbor and talk to her when an angel from Oklahoma joined the ESC! LeAnn Weaver is a long arm quilter, an author and designer of quilts and books about quilts!
LeAnn was interested in helping and frankly I think she understood right off I was in trouble! What a Godsend she was! I can tell you all that without LeAnn, her design and her work, the actual quilt would likely still be in a frame somewhere! LeAnn held my hand and guided me through all the quilt squares, which names went where and on what. I am sure that she thought I was not too bright on many occasions. She had numbered all the squares, but I stuffed them randomly into envelopes along with the supplies and mailed them off to the Embroiders. As the time drew close LeAnn asked, “Who did you send what to?” UH WHAT? “Well there were numbers. Surely you wrote down who got what square.” UH NO! Why would I? OH!!! THAT!!! Is what the numbers were for? OH NO!!!
LeAnn just laughed and said, “We will work it out don’t worry!” It all worked out…I did not worry…
The Gathering
This year Jan Masters and her Dakota came up on Monday from Florida. She said, “Now put me to work. I am on vacation from my work.” So, I did! We painted 2 rooms, cleaned the Shepherds Cottage and decorated it. That was Monday and Tuesday and Wednesday. Then we hit the road and picked Mary up at the Charlotte airport, Wednesday afternoon. By this time Jan was likely wishing she had stayed at home…I had worked her hard! She was a real help all week doing whatever was needed like running info between the ATTS test and the HCT trial. The NC Gathering is blessed with so many good people like Jan! Laree Shulman came in early to help as well.
Thursday was the first day of the NC Gathering. We had 12 ES dogs work in Mary Peaslee’s Herding Clinic. Mary donated her time to do clinic on behalf of the ESC and the Stock Dog Committee. Marianne Dwight drove all the way down from MA to help, after holding her own North East ES Gathering the weekend before!
Friday we had a Herding Capability Test (AHBA) running at the same time we were holding the ATTS test. I had been told that I might be doing too much! Not really, because I rely on and trust my Gathering helpers!
Laree Shulman served as our AHBA trial Secretary, with Mary Peaslee and Kelly Martin as the Judges. Marianne Dwight was in charge of stock handling with her good dog Nell. I never gave it a second thought because I knew there wouldn’t be a problem. It was in their very capable hands! Drover and I had separated the sheep early they were all penned. I knew it would all work fine! It did! We had a great turn out and the participants all passed I believe.
The ATTS Test was a great success with 23 dogs participating! (Please see the ATTS test Blog)
Saturday, the main day of the Gathering, was a beautiful day! The weather was perfect.
We had 90 people attending and 80 dogs. Alaska, Oregon, Florida, South Carolina, North Carolina, Tennessee, Indiana, Massachusetts, Virginia, Canada, Pennsylvania, New York were all represented. We had a great time of meeting greeting eating and watching dogs playing!
The food was excellent as always. ES Folk can cook!
Every year we have the usual helpers like Rebecca Wingler that work and help to make things happen like the Auction and the Raffle! This year there were many folk that could not be here. You all were missed! We had some new faces helping like Kathy Weaver and her husband at the sign in tent. Laurie Christensen was another great help!
Of course I have to mention LES! He is the Best husband and partner, friend and the love of my life! He works hard for this even every year and puts up with all my projects and makes them happen! Yes I am very Blessed!
I want to list to the best of my ability all the wonderful people that donated their time to help make the NC Gathering a success this year! (I want to encourage everyone to offer to help at any of the Gatherings you might attend!) Jan Masters, Laree Shulman, Rebecca and Brian Wingler, Phyllis and Patrick Mason, Laurie Christensen, Mary Peaslee, Sandi Greene, Andy and MJ Hollingsworth, The Johnsons, Kelly Martin, Marianne Dwight, Dan and Sandy Ulrich, Michelle and Jim Tomas, Dianne Kuhl, Caroline Betts, Les Keziah, Kathy and Doug Weaver, as always we had the most generous of Auction and Raffle Donors. We had folks from all over the US donate and send by mail. You ALL amaze me!
There were paintings, drawings in charcoal and paintings to be done of your dog if you won the bid! Pottery by our own members and hand hewed wooden bowls from Canada. We had the most wonderful Eddie Bauer First Aid Kit, Baskets filled with all sorts of things, books, bottles, Alpaca made items, Super Socks, a handmade quilt and Afghan, handmade jewelry, dog items, a collar, framed photos, just to name a few items! It was like Christmas round here with the mailman delivering items all most daily!
The Folks enjoyed the Auction and a lot of fun was had! Some good-natured bidding rivalries developed during the bidding.
The big surprise came for me when Barbara Brice came up with a large bag and a note to be read. I had no idea what she was up to! But LeAnn Weaver had made a signature quilt with Maple Grove Farm ES Gathering 2013 on it! (PHOTO) So all the attendees could sign in it! What an awesome keepsake for me!
We are planning next years Gathering! It will be a Three Day Event! Look for up coming announcements! I will give a few hints…Friday we will hold our annual Herding Clinic, Saturday will be our Meet and visit day and enjoy each other and our dogs day. Sunday we plan to offer something new!
Raffle & Auction Wrap-up
The items for the Raffle were donated and/or made by the following:
Marianne Magin
Betsy Shafer
Sarah Golden
Pet Pantry
Laurie Christensen
Sue Hammer
Dan Ulrich
Jane Connors
Sylvia Snell
Dianne Kuhl
Connie May
Melinda King
Diane Swift
Tosha Hunt
Vicki McKinnie
Savannah Curtis
Maple Grove Farm
Rebecca Wingler
Sandi Greene
Pat Justus
Chris Turcotte
The Raffle and Auction brought in $2598.00 with $1169.00 going to the ESC, $1359.00 going to NESR and $70.00 going to ESCR.
The quilt is BEAUTIFUL!!!! Phyllis and Patrick Mason were the LUCKY Winners of the Quilt Raffle.
The quilt project raised $5607.00
We had expenses…Materials, postage, and insurance to ship it to NC. $508.65
The money was split as follows:
ESCR $655.00 Designated
NESR Received $2221.68
ESCR Received $2861.67 (including the designated gifts)
Without Rebecca Wingler this could not have happened. She was in charge of the finances and the sending out of Raffle tickets. Like I said, I just sold them. Actually, they sold themselves. So Rebecca had the nightmare of keeping up with and taking care of all the facts and figures and such!
Then there were the folks that embroidered the squares. They are as follows:
1. Janice Bougard…………………………………..VA
2. Barbara Brice……………………………………NC…..(Artist of the English Shepherd, sheep and paws on the quilt))
3. Sharon Cauron……………………………………Montana
4. Joan Crews………………………………………TX
5. Kay Delk Keziah………………………………….NC ( sewed the legend onto the quilt back)
6. Sandra Hurd……………………………………..VA
7. Amy Kelleher…………………………………….PA (also designed the legend and made it)
8. Melinda King…………………………………….WA
9. Kathy Martin…………………………………….Iowa
10. Jo Mercer……………………………………….MARYLAND
11. Merijeanne Moore Hollingsworth…………………….ALASKA
12. Holly Nestberg…………………………………..SC
13. Sylvia Snell…………………………………….FL
14. Margaret Schram………………………………….INDIANA
15. Sandi Urich……………………………………..Canada
16. Le Ann Weaver……………………………………OK (quilt designer Quilt quilter and person that made the quilt)
17. Rebecca Wingler………………………………….NC (Finances and bookkeeping)
I am all ready looking forward to next years Gathering I hope you all are too!
Kay and Les and the Maple Grove Farm Crew (Montanna, Abilene, Amarillo, Drover, BOO, Timber, 15 Puppies, Tuff (the horse) and the Sheep!
