Hi everyone....
I just wanted to pop on here and say that I am so glad that the past 
month or so of postings has not been so sad as it was. That November to 
January period saw several of the list members here and on AWFA list, 
suffer some of our beloved dogs passing  away from assorted situations. 
Among the deaths was our loosing Lady after half a year battle with 
Cancer. It appears that cycle has been broken and with news of puppies 
being born and such, we'll,  it SURE is nice to hear more GOOD news than 
sad on the lists for a change!

Last year about the end of summer ML Church and I email-talked about 
trying to have a small picnic gathering of members located in upper NW 
Oregon and lower SW Washington. We just didn't have enough time to make 
it happen last year, but if we get started now, there should be plenty 
of time to get something planned.  There is a great park near my home 
that has plenty of parking, water on site, a clean porta-potty, tables, 
and charcoal grills, and lots of open space. The park rules do require 
pets to be on leash, but that is becoming so common in the past years, 
it is the exception to find a place where dogs can be off-leash. We are 
located about 10 miles south of downtown Portland Oregon, very close to 
the I-5 corridor, so getting here is real easy for anyone in the 
region.  I want to put this idea out there among the members and see if 
there is still an interest in this kind of gathering....The park is also 
used for Soccer so we would have to schedule a time that no-one else has 
the place officially 'booked'.  If there is still interest in a 
gathering this year, I will get a schedule from the City that owns the 
park, and find out what dates are open.

Some of us n this list are also subscribers to the AWFA list, like me, 
but I am not really an active participant over there. My dogs are not 
'working' dogs with real jobs to on a ranch or farm, and hence there is 
no need be tested and registered or certified for professional skills, 
as is the focus on that list, but I DO enjoy the dog talk that goes on.  
If we actually do this, I think it would be nice to invite members of 
the AWFA list as well, once we have a date set. What do YOU folks on the 
FARMCOLLIE list think?

I have photos of the park in a www.photobucket account.  If there is 
interest, I will post the link to those photos for you all to see, and 
move on towards a decision if we ought to try for the gathering at all, 
and if so, if this place will work, or if we should look for a different 
location.

Jennifer
    Cookie, TahTay, Sky, Java, and Lucky
       RIP:  Lady and Tyson







Cheers to all/