Black and White and a Special Gathering

Robyn and Bob and some of Kiwi's kin. 

Willie, Vicki and Bill

We attended a Celebration of Life yesterday, honoring Gale Dolsby.  Gale and his wife Vicki have been family friends for years.

Vicki subbed at Sandpoint High School often enough to be thought of as a member of the staff.  

Gale, a retired law enforcement officer,  stayed involved in local high school sports in numerous ways, including broadcasting SHS varsity action via a local television station. 

During that time, both Willie and Annie gained valuable experience operating the cameras while Gale and his sidekick Larry Copley provided commentary for the games.  Those basic skills have come in handy for both Willie and Annie in their professional settings.

Over the years, I also taught the three Dolsby children, Regan, Craig and Clint.  All of gone on to be highly successful professionals and wonderful people.

Vicki asked me a while back to take pictures at yesterday's event.  To say it was pure joy would be an understatement, as all of the extended Dolsby family many of their longtime friends attended.  

Since our family shares many of the same friends, we were very happy to be there.  "There" was at the beautiful Stillwater Ranch off Dufort Road south of Sandpoint. 

Just as we turned into the driveway, I happened to look back and see black and white bounding around the buildings at a farm across the road.  Long known as the Glen and Leona Judge place, this farm is now owned by Bob and Robyn McNall Ross. 

Robyn is responsible for the Love family loving Border Collies, as Kiwi, our 10-year-old BC came from one of Robyn's litters.  

Well, when I saw that black-and-white activity and knew we still had a few minutes before the rest of the attendees would arrive at the celebration, I had to go meet those dogs.  

Both Bob and Robyn were out working in their yard.  As soon as Robyn saw us, she started our way, with Bob and the dogs joining them. 

That top dog in the photo recently took top dog honors in the "Most Promising Other Breed Trials" at the 2015 Spring Turnout Trials at the Australian Shepherd Club of Montana Spring Turnout event at Frenchtown, Mont.

Rudy is Bob's sidekick, traveling with him to work every day, and apparently, he impressed the folks in Frenchtown last weekend. 

Turns out Rudy and his friend are both related to Kiwi.  I forgot her name, but Robyn says she doesn't like to play quite as much as Rudy, so she nips him occasionally.  

During our brief visit, I saw a lot of Kiwi-isms in Rudy. 

Knowing people would be showing up for the event soon, we said good bye to one Ross couple with Border Collies and drove down the beautifully manicured driveway owned by another Ross couple. 

We admired magnificent Shires grazing out in the field, and as we reached the area where weddings, proms, family celebrations and other events occur throughout the year, what did we see-----another Border Collie.

This guy's name is Gus, and he was in Border Collie Heaven throughout the celebration as different groups kept those sticks flying for him to grab and bring back for more.

Stillwater Ranch is owned by a most gracious and interesting couple, Bryan and Kaye Ross. They truly love all their animals, and to say those animals are living in Heaven on Earth is an understatement.  

Beautiful place, owned and managed by wonderful people.  

Yesterday's celebration was a gathering of people who enjoyed a couple of hours of reconnecting and reminiscing. I'm sure Gale Dolsby highly approved.  

Thank you, Vicki and family, for including us.