Beyond My Wildest Dreams!

Well not really. My wildest dreams generally involve a German Shepherd, a Schipperke, a bull whip and a blind fold. But, we traveled to the Christmas Classic dog show not expecting a thing. On the first day, Rufus (Deep Acres Fields of Gold) took Best of Opposite, a four point MAJOR and became a CHAMPION. You probably don't remember, or really care, but Rufus was selected as Best Puppy in Show at the Tibetan Terrier National Specialty show this year. On Saturday and Sunday at the Christmas Classic, we moved him up to his new champion status and he took Best of Breed on BOTH DAYS!! That was quite a SURPRISE considering all the great Champions, and a very nice Grand Champion, who were in the ring. Even a very beautiful girl, Abby, the number 12 TT in the country was there.

Well, you are really not going to believe this, but we took Group 1 on Saturday which, for all of those of you who don't give a hoot about dog shows, means Rufus was judged to be the very best non-sporting dog in the ring that day. He beat a total of 178 dogs. Rufus then went on to the Best in Show competition with the other six top dogs from the entire show. And, the sugar on our strawberries, on Saturday and Sunday Rufus earned two of three majors needed for his grand championship right on the heels of earning his champion title. Not bad for my little boy who has been in the ring for less than six months and who just became a Champion on Friday.

After the show on Friday, we went to an Airstream trailer in the middle of a Christmas tree lot to celebrate. The place was called Krankie's and they served delicious sandwiches filled with brie and apples or asparagus with smoked gouda and aioli. The young proprietor, Jesse, served up special tiny biscuits for Rufus and me. We all reveled in the delightfully funky holiday scene and Rufus' new championship status. Then it was off to the K-9 Doggie Bakery and Boutique where we indulged in fresh baked goods and found a special Tibetan Terrier holiday ornament that we just had to have for our tree.

On Saturday, while Rufus was resting up for the group competition, dad and I snuck off to Winkler's Bakery in Old Salem, a historic Moravian community, for sugar cake. Sugar cake is a traditional Moravian treat that starts as yeast-raised dough, then is rolled out and topped with a combination of cinnamon, pure butter and brown sugar, then baked until golden brown. Dad gave me just a pinch and it was DELICIOUS. We met a horse named Billie and some very fine folks in a horse and buggy before we headed back to watch, much to our surprise, Rufus triumph in the group ring. It was a very yummy day.