Over the weekend, more than 2500 dogs representing all 50 states and Puerto Rico, as well as 10 additional countries competed for top honors. This year, there were 209 breeds and varieties including four newly eligible breeds - the Barbet, the Biewer terrier, the Belgian Laekenois, and the Dogo Argentino. And for the first time ever, because of the pandemic, the show moved from New York City's famous Madison Square Garden to the grounds of the 67-acre Lyndhurst Mansion in nearby Tarrytown. The Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show is a wonderful way to learn about the many different types of dogs. I enjoy going to this show every year, especially when my own dogs or their relatives, and dogs I know, are competing.
Over the next couple of days, I will be sharing lots of fun photos from the show - enjoy.
The Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show launched in 1877 and is now one of the longest continuously running American sporting events, second only to the Kentucky Derby. This year, the show was held outdoors and with a much smaller crowd – no spectators or vendors were allowed due to COVID-19 regulations. This large tent was reserved for the nighttime group and “Best in Show” competitions.
The breed shows happen in large rings, where the dogs are walked around to display their gaits and overall appearance. Here at Lyndhurst, there were a total of eight rings, and each breed class is scheduled a time to compete during the day.
The Pointer’s name define’s its job – to point game birds for its hunter. The dog’s coat comes in several colors, solid or in patterns. A large male can stand 28 inches at the shoulder and weigh up to 75 pounds, while a small female might weigh as little as 45 pounds and stand 23 inches.
Like most hairless dog breeds, the Chinese Crested Dog comes in two varieties, with and without hair, which can be born in the same litter. This trio is already very excited to get out and show.
This is an Old English Sheepdog – a large breed of dog famous for its profuse coat and peak-a-boo hairdo. All the dogs are groomed before their scheduled class is called to show – some require more grooming than others.
Among the world’s oldest breeds is the slim but rugged Saluki – the hunting hound of kings for thousands of years. Salukis are swift and agile sprinters who love a good chase, but they’re also gentle, dignified, and loyal pets.
Which end is up? This breed is called a Puli, a small-medium breed of Hungarian herding and livestock guarding dog known for its long, corded coat. The tight curls appear similar to dreadlocks and can weigh several pounds.
I am quite fond of the Keeshond – I once had one of my own. This is a medium-sized sturdy breed that is smart and eager to learn.
Tipping the scales at no more than 12 pounds, the Brussels Griffon is smart, devoted, and comically self-important. This breed come in four colors including red, black-and-reddish-brown, black and tan, and black. It also comes in this smooth coats, or in a rough coats.
The dogs do not compete against each other, but against the standard of the breed – the dog’s ideal description for appearance, movement, and temperament described by the breed’s parent club. These Bearded Collies may all look the same, but to the judge’s discerning eye, each one is very different.
In the ring, the dogs are asked to line up in a stack, so the judge can easily walk by each one and assess its appearance. I am sure you recognize this breed – the French Bulldogs.
Small dogs are placed on a table where the handler can easily set them up for closer inspection by the breed judge.
Here is a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel in the red and white colored variety called Blenheim. Its ears are lightly wrapped to keep them well-groomed before entering the ring.
And here is Talosa, the sister to my dear Empress Qin. She is four years old now and loves to show. I am always excited to see the Chow Chow competition.
Here is Buddakan – my late G.K.’s son. He is a gorgeous specimen of the breed, and currently one of the top Chows in the country.
Buddakan won “Champion Select” – or second place to the breed winner.
And Talosa took “Best of Opposite” – meaning, because the winning Chow was a male dog, they also award the best female. In the end, both Buddakan and Talosa did a great job. Tolosa and Buddakan are bred by Karen Tracy of Pazzazz Kennels.
Borzois are large Russian sighthounds that resemble some central Asian breeds such as the Afghan hound, Saluki, and the Kyrgyz Taigan. Borzois can generally be described as “long-haired greyhounds”. Borzois come in virtually any color. The coat is silky and flat, often wavy or slightly curly.
This is a Rhodesian Ridgeback. The Rhodesian Ridgeback is a large-sized dog breed bred in the Southern Africa region. The Rhodesian Ridgeback is an all-purpose “Renaissance hound” whose distinctive mark is the ridge, or stripe of backward-growing hair, on its back. Though the breed was made famous in its native Africa for its skill at tracking and baying – but never, ever killing – lions, today Ridgebacks are cherished family dogs whose owners must be prepared to deal with their independence and strong prey drive.
Slightly bigger than the Cocker Spaniel is the English Springer Spaniel. The English Springer Spaniel is a sweet-faced, lovable bird dog of great energy, stamina, and intelligence. This Springer is waiting for his time in the ring wearing his purple robe made by Dog Robes.
The elegant, agile Belgian Tervuren is a bright and self-assured herding dog of medium size. The Belgian Tervuren is characterized by a straight and abundant coat, an elegant but muscular frame, and an alert and intelligent demeanor.
Juniors are also invited to enter if they have been awarded Best Junior Handler at a number of member shows the previous year and who are at least nine years old and under 18. These talented handlers come from across the country to be judged on their dog handling skills.
Here is another junior with her lovable Bloodhound. The Bloodhound is a large scent hound, originally bred for hunting deer, wild boar and, since the Middle Ages, for tracking missing persons. Believed to be descended from hounds once kept at the Abbey of Saint-Hubert, Belgium, it is known to French speakers as le chien de Saint-Hubert.
In the end, all these dogs are loved members of their families and alway go home winners. When thinking about sharing your home with a dog, always do your homework first and read as much as possible about the breeds and breed mixes that interest you.
Here is the statue of “Sensation” – a gorgeous Pointer and the Westminster Kennel Club mascot. I’ll share more photos from the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show in my next blog – stay tuned.
If your schedule is as busy as mine, your car is probably your home away from home - what essentials do you always keep in your vehicle?
Oftentimes, I am out the door early in the morning and don't return until late at night. My days include various meetings, media appearances, business dinners, and of course, visits with my daughter and grandchildren. I am very fortunate to have a driver to help me get to all of my commitments. I also have an extremely comfortable and dependable car in which to travel - my Mercedes-Benz S560 4MATIC sedan. And, because we spend so much time in the car, I try to make sure it is always equipped with all the necessary supplies.
Here are some photos, enjoy.
This is my Mercedes-Benz S560 4MATIC sedan. It’s such a great car. My drivers and I love its maneuverability and comfort. Every morning, before I leave for a busy day of work, my driver Andres makes sure it is clean, packed, and ready to go.
The car is taken out of my carport which is just outside my Winter House. Anything that was brought home the night before is removed and anything we need to take with us is loaded into the car – this car has great storage space, both in the trunk and in the cabin.
This Mercedes is equipped with excellent tires and 4MATIC all-wheel drive, so it’s good in all kinds of weather. It also has ABS brakes and driveline traction control.
I make, and take, many business calls while in the car. Andres checks that we have our phone chargers along with paper and pens in the console ready to be used. The Mercedes has a lot of storage room for these small essentials.
On the passenger side door, I like to keep my bottle of water. These side door compartments are very roomy and can accommodate my large reusable water container.
I enjoy reading the daily newspapers, but don’t always have time to read them before I leave. The newspapers are placed on the dashboard, so I can read during the ride. Because reading and writing in the car does not bother me at all, I am able to get a lot done during the hour or so drive to New York City or wherever my day’s schedule requires me to go.
I also keep bar towels in the car. This vehicle has a handy pouch near the floor of the front passenger seat where I keep these 12-inch square towels. I often place one on my lap while reading the paper, so the ink doesn’t get on my clothes, but they’re also good for wiping up accidental spills or wiping anything that gets wet in the rain.
Andres also places a towel on the floor of both the driver’s side and the front passenger side seats – with the ends tucked under the car’s floor mats. Towels keep the area clean and are easy to pick up and throw in the wash at the end of the day.
Aside from all the vital safety and roadside repair supplies every car should have, I also keep a few personal items I think are important. Everyone’s list is different, but mine includes bandages, aspirin, dental floss, hand cream, lip balm, a comb, scissors, and breath fresheners.
Everything is placed into the glove compartment along with a supply of fresh paper face masks.
I also keep a spare pair of comfortable shoes in the car. I love my Martha Stewart TGarden Slip Resistant Clogs from Easy Spirit. These shoes are so light and so comfortable to use in any kind of weather. Plus, they come in a variety of great colors – if you don’t have your own, get a pair, you’ll love them as much as I do.
On the back seat, I like to have a couple of pillows and a good car blanket – just in case…
And in the trunk, I always have an umbrella and an extra bag for anything we pick up along the way.
One of my favorite features in this Mercedes – the rear cabin window shades. These really control the sun’s glare without compromising visibility.
Here is another view of these wonderful full-window shades – they help to keep the car so much cooler.
Additional features include the interior air filtration system and the dual zone front climate controls.
Plus, there’s extended heating and cooling throughout the vehicle, which is great on warm, humid days.
This Mercedes is also equipped with adjustable and padded safety headrests – three in the back and the two in front. This car provides wonderful comfort for all its riders.
And with its roomy front cabin as well as the adjustable tilt and telescoping steering wheel, it’s also a comfortable ride for my drivers, which is extremely important.
Now that we’re able to get out more and return to our busy routines, it’s great to have a safe and comfortable car, complete with all my daily essentials for a busy day. Drive safely this weekend and always. Please go to the Mercedes-Benz web site to learn more about their cars.
Tomatoes, Solanum lycopersicum, have long been one of America’s favorite garden vegetables. Those bold red, sun-ripened tomatoes deliver the taste of summer with every bite. And, they’re filled with excellent antioxidants and vitamins.
Just a handful of healthy plants can produce a bounty of delicious fruits within six to eight weeks. The best time to plant tomatoes is when daytime temperatures are consistently above 65-degrees Fahrenheit. Over the last few days, my gardeners and outdoor grounds crew have been busy prepping the beds and planting this season’s tomato crop - about 100-plants are now growing in our outdoor vegetable garden.
Here are some photos - enjoy.
Chhiring covers the beds designated for this year’s tomatoes with black weed cloth to make the beds neat, tidy, and free from weeds. The foot paths between the beds are just wide enough to walk alongside for maintaining the plants and harvesting the fruits. Tomatoes should be planted in an area with full sun and well-drained soil.
Chhiring uses sod staples to secure the weed cloth to the ground. He puts down a generous amount to prevent the cloth from blowing off on windy summer days.
Here is a bed all prepared for planting.
Chhiring does this for eight long beds in our vegetable garden. This location is different from last year’s. This time, our crop of tomatoes is in the back of the garden. Always rotate crops. Doing this gives various nutrients to the soil, and improves soil structure and fertility by alternating deep-rooted and shallow-rooted plants.
Here is just one tray of young tomato plants. These plants were all started from seed in my greenhouse. We don’t use any pesticides or chemicals of any kind, so we know we’re nurturing the highest quality plants. We always grow an abundance of tomatoes – I love to share them with family and friends and use them to make all the delicious tomato sauce we enjoy through the year.
Ryan separates the determinate from the indeterminate tomato plants. Determinate tomatoes, or “bush” tomatoes, are varieties that grow to a compact height of about three to four feet. Determinates stop growing when fruit sets on the top bud. Indeterminate tomatoes will grow and produce fruit until killed by frost. They can reach heights of up to 12-feet tall. And then he sets all the plants in the rows where they will be planted, making sure all the plants are equally spaced along the bed.
At each designated spot, Brian cuts an “x” with a utility knife through the weed cloth that’s just big enough for the plant.
Phurba follows and folds the flaps under the cloth one by one.
Once all four of the flaps are turned under, the rectangular area that is left is just perfect for planting.
Transplanted tomatoes that are kept free of weeds for the first four to eight weeks can usually outcompete emerging weeds later. Using a small shovel, Phurba creates a hole for each of the tomato plants. Most tomato plant varieties need about 100-days to mature, but there are some that only need 50-60 days. You can also stagger your plantings, so you have early, mid and late season tomato harvests.
All my plants do so well in part because of the nutrient rich soil that is used. I amend this soil every year, adding good compost and organic fertilizers.
Most tomato plants stem below ground. Plant them deep – everything to just under the bottom set of leaves from the top. These holes are at least a foot deep. The best fertilizer for tomato plants contains a relatively low concentration of nitrogen. High nitrogen content promotes the growth of stem and leaves, but not the fruit and flowers. Instead, tomato plants use phosphorous and potassium to produce fruit. Apply the fertilizer before the tomato plant is placed in the hole. A fertilizer with a 5-10-5 ratio of nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium is good for the young plants.
Phurba and Brian work in a production line process – as one marks the cloth, the other digs. This day was very hot and humid, so the crew wanted to get the plants in the ground quickly.
The holes are about two to three feet apart from each other. We try to fit at least 10 to 12 plants in each row to maximize the use of garden bed space.
Brian begins planting. Two-thirds of the plant should be underground, meaning all but the two top most leaf sets should be buried. Planting deeply helps the plant to develop more roots, and more roots mean more ability to take up water and nutrients. If the seedling is already too tall and wobbly, dig a trench instead of a hole and lay the plant on its side. The stronger root system also helps the plant better survive the hot weather. This applies to tomatoes planted in the ground, in a raised bed or in a container.
Brian backfills each hole and unfolds the weed cloth flaps – this method of using weed cloth and “x”‘s will really cut down on the amount of weeding this season.
Phurba plants another bed. As the tomato plants grow, they need to be staked for support. Staking helps to keep the fruit off the ground, while helping to keep the plant somewhat upright. Don’t use any chemically treated wood or other material for staking climbers, as the chemicals would likely run off and go into the soil. We use, and reuse, our stakes every year.
Brian then secures the plant to a metal stake. At this stage, they are staked with two to three foot tall supports. They can be tied gently with a twist-tie or twine – the loop around the plant stem should be just tight enough to keep the vine secure, but not break it. These plants look so much better when kept upright and neat. The plants will be supported with longer bamboo canes in a couple weeks.
It’s a good idea to grow a range of varieties, including at least one or two disease-resistant types, since, of all veggies, tomatoes tend to be the most susceptible to disease. Early in the growing season, water plants daily. As temperatures increase, garden tomatoes typically require one to two inches of water a week.
93-percent of American gardeners grow tomatoes in their yards, and according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, most Americans eat between 22 and 24 pounds of tomatoes per person, per year – this includes tomatoes in sauces. These beds look great. I am so happy to see the garden nearly completely full of delicious organic crops. I’m already looking forward to our first big harvest. Happy gardening.
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