Cabela’s Presents DockDogs Wildcard Event, Triadelphia, WV

On the weekend of Hooch’s first birthday, The Liver Killers competed in a dock diving competition in Triadelphia, WV.  This competition was held at Cabela’s.  This was a very special event that we will never forget, because Limoncello won First Place in Warrior Iron Dog, and earned her invitation to the DockDogs World Championship!

We camped out in Cabela’s parking lot for this event, which was very convenient for our times in between jumps.

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Limoncello competed as an Iron Dog.  Here are her results:

BIG AIR

21’3″     22’3″

22’3″     21’10’

21’10”     21’3″

Mandy 3

Mandy 30

EXTREME VERTICAL

5’0

Mandy 27

Kevin 10

SPEED RETRIEVE

8.206       8.728

Mandy 42

Mandy 40

IRON DOG

Total Points:  2739.11

HOOCH

Hooch did very well this weekend, but wound up with a limp after his last jump.  We noticed this as we were lining up for Speed Retrieve.  Thank goodness Dr. Yurko of K.E.Y. Animal Hospital was there to evaluate Hooch.

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 It seemed Hooch had a strained muscle, so we scratched him from the rest of the competition.  Here are his results from his Big Air waves:

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BIG AIR

14’7″     15’9″

15’0     13’0

9’6″     15’9″

14’6″     15’3″

Mandy 34

Overall, this was a SUPER fun (and apparently an exhausting) event!

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Cello Earned Her Invitation to the DockDog World Championships!

While competing at the Cabela’s Presents Wildcard event in Triadelphia, WV, Limoncello won first place in Warrior Iron Dog, and earned her invitation to the DockDogs World Championships!  The World Championship event will be held in November, 2015, in Dubuque, Iowa.

Our good friends surprised us with the wonderful news!

We were SO excited!

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So proud of this pup!WV 3

Brian could not be happier!WV 4

Cello and Brian’s invitation:WORLDS INVITE

Congratulations, Team Cello !

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ONE YEAR OLD!

Happy Birthday to our little man, Hooch!  Hooch turned 1 year old on May 24, 2015.

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Where did the time go?!  It seems like just yesterday this little guy stole my heart and  joined our family! We cannot be happier with this pooch, as he has the sweetest temperament, and a heart of gold. Not a day has gone by since we brought him home that we haven’t laughed out loud – Hooch is truly one-of-a-kind !

Hooch’s first birthday fell on a weekend when we were in West Virginia at a dock diving event, but we didn’t let that stop us from celebrating!  I baked a cake and cupcakes to bring along to share with Hooch’s dock diving buddies.  Hooch and Cello watched carefully over the oven as the birthday treats baked.

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Hooch had himself a mock-choc bone-shaped birthday cake, and peanut buttter/banana PUPcakesBoth treats had a cream cheese icing also!

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(I noticed after the picture was taken I had placed the “1” backwards!!…oops!)

Hooch had an abundance of birthday toys waiting for him in our camper when he woke up:

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The announcer at the dock diving event even wished Hooch a happy birthday!

Happy First Birthday, Hooch…we love you!

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Back to the Splash Spring Fling at Shipps Corner, Virginia Beach, VA

Now THIS was a fun event! Cello and Hooch participated in Shipps Corner’s Back to the Splash Spring Fling.

This National event was an 80’s theme, and everyone was encouraged to dress and decorate in the 80’s fashion.

Hooch immediately flaunted his swag:

Our team canopy was decorated with 80’s bling:

Hooch had himself an 80’s boom box:

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There was an 80’s playlist jamming all weekend long, and the dock was also decorated 80’s style:

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They used 80’s style bracelets in place of the regular Handlers’ bracelets:

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Besides this event being an absolute blast, Limoncello and Hooch each ROCKED the dock!  Check out the results below!

LIMONCELLO

Extreme Vertical:

5’4″

Big Air :

21’0″     21’0″      Second Place Master Division

21’1″     20’1″     First Place Master Division

21’2″     20’3″     Third Place Master Division

21’5″     21’5″     First Place Master Division

BIG AIR SEMI-PRO FINALS:

21’3″     19’11”   First Place Semi Pro Division

Speed Retrieve:

8.378     8.052     First Place Express Division

Iron Dog:

2789.90     First Place Warrior

HOOCH

Big Air:

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10’4″     14’5″     First Place Junior Division

9’5″       10’6″

10’5″     16’1”     NEW PERSONAL BEST!

10’0″     14’7″     First Place Junior Division

8’7″        12’5″

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Speed Retrieve (first time EVER!!!)

Brian held Hooch so that he could see the other dogs performing Speed Retrieve:

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Although he hesitated at the end of the dock, which made his score very low, he  did jump off and retrieve the bumper at the end of the pool – so we are extremely proud of Hooch for catching on to this “new game” so quickly!

17.564     17.878

We all had a great 80’s weekend!

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Downstairs Powder Room

This is the original bathroom of the home.  It had a window which faced the street, and a tub/shower.  By the time we had bought the cabin, the tub had been removed, the logs had been covered with paneling, and over the paneling drywall and wall paper had been installed.

This is the powder room the day we looked at the cabin for the first time.

powder room 1

I just couldn’t stand the wallpaper, so when we moved in, I painted over it as at temporary fix until we could get started on the construction of this room.

powder room 4

When we began to rip out the drywall and paneling, we also realized because of the way they married the walls to the bedroom and kitchen addition, it was best to add half-logs, rather than expose the original logs, as we had first planned.

Half logs were put on walls, and stained to match the original logs.

powder room 5a

The toilet was too close to the wall now that the half logs were installed, so we had to move the toilet slightly.

powder room 16

…and repair the flooring…

powder room 15a

Brian had the idea to make a vanity from a large cedar stump:

powder room 6

Brian hollowed out the stump using a chainsaw to make room for the pipes.

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An in-set hole had to be made for the sink, and a hole for the faucet had to be cut.  This was all very time-consuming, as we only had one shot at making this vanity right, or we’d have to search for another cedar stump! powder room 12

Testing out the sink:

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After all holes were cut, I applied a finish to the wood.

powder room 11

Moving the log into the powder room: powder room 7

Installed! powder room 14

Vanity and sink in place, floor re-finished, and new toilet.  We uncovered the original window of the bathroom and decided to have a piece of stained glass made to hang in its frame, since the window opening now backs up to the kitchen addition:

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Stained glass installed!

Faux tin ceiling to replace the paneled ceiling:

This powder room is the FIRST officially completed room in our cabin!

Share the Light

Cello won a contest, and we are proud to announce that she is now helping to “share the light” with Charity Wick Candles!

Cello Candle

Cello’s 16 oz Candle, “Red Hot Cello,”  has the aroma of fresh-cut granny smith apples, smothered in butter and topped with cinnamon… YUM! 

The candle is made with all natural, kosher 100% soy wax with a lead and zinc-free self trimming cotton wick. The burn time for this candle is approximately 150 hours.

…The best part of this candle?  $6 of the purchase price benefits the German Shorthair Pointer Rescue of NJ !

All Charity Wick’s candles are produced from vegan friendly, kosher certified, soy beans grown in the USA.  All candles are free of any dyes or coloring, and feature lead free, self trimming cotton wicks,  as well as environmentally conscious fragrance oils.

Even more reasons to buy a Cello candle:

  • Lasts up to 50% longer
  • Burns slower and cooler which helps to better distribute the fragrance of the candle
  • Melted soy wax will not cause severe burns
  • Non-toxic
  • Less likely to trigger allergies
  • Clean up off of fabric and carpet with soap and water
  • Produces very little soot compared to paraffin wax based candles.
  • Made from American-grown soybeans, so it supports the U.S. economy instead of foreign oil conglomerates
  • Biodegradable
  • Manufactured here in the USA!

The positive attributes of Charity Wicks soy candles, combined with the fact that your purchase benefits the GSP Rescue of NJ, makes any

Shorthair Candle the best choice for any candle friendly household!

Help “Share the Light,”for the GSP Rescue of NJ,  and order your Shorthair Candle Company candle today by visiting Charity Wicks website!

gsp candles

Charity Wicks is sharing the light on Facebook too! Visit their page by clicking HERE.

Got Dock?

Since Cello had gotten involved in dock diving, we have been talking about putting in a “runway” that would closely resemble the length and feel of the actual DockDogs dock.

Well, the project came to life – and even prompted us to get some landscaping and other renovations done on our lakeside!

The start of the “dock” began with digging …

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…and leveling…

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Limoncello and Hooch’s dock:

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Cello trying to take the maiden jump, as Hooch is – – being HOOCH!

Hooch’s first jump off the dock (see he CAN “stay” when he wants to!)

We then purchased an Extreme Vertical rig so that Cello and Hooch can practice this discipline as well:

EV

Cello taking the first “grab” from her new EV rig!

I’m sure Limoncello and Hooch will enjoy their at-home dock this summer!