Catch Up

I hadn't realized how long it has been since I last posted anything on my blog. I'm so surprised that it's been over 2 months ... I've been busy!! Here are two of the reasons I've been so negligent ... having two litters totalling 12 puppies from June till August can be very preoccupying!! These are the two girls I'm keeping from Jolie's last litter. She is now happily retired, and she couldn't have left me a more treasured legacy than Fallon and Faith. Sired by the outstanding Ch Laureate Inception, these youngsters fulfill many years of hopes and dreams. I hope to fill this blog with their stories for many years to come :).

This is Fallon - "Anamchara Infallible"

And her sister Faith - "Anamchara Infatuation"

Eyes Wide Open

Three weeks to the day that Salem's litter was born, Jolie's puppies arrived. This was going to be her last litter, and she certainly went out with a bang, giving us 4 beautiful girls and 3 handsome boys. Sired by the exceptionalBPIG Can Ch Laureate Inception , I'm totally delighted with the entire litter. These photos were done at two and a half weeks, when everyone's eyes had finally opened, and I really hope that one of these lovely ladies will finally be the Jolie daughter I've been waiting for.


A couple of the boys.






The larger boy ...




Chelsea being "taste tested" :).




Three of the girls.




Another female.




Telling secrets ...




"Brown leg girl" ... my fave at the moment :)




Every puppy shoot needs "the yawn" ...

Salem's Pups 3 Weeks Old

Our first litter of the year was born three weeks ago today. Lynphil Shelties allowed us to lease the lovely Ch Lynphil Salem, bred to Am/Can Ch Lynphil Timeless Piece. This breeding had previously produced an outstanding bitch Ch Lynphil Time of Magic, who was second in a competitive Novice Bitch class at this year's ASSA National. I had seen "Mimi" last fall and was impressed with her head detail, type and outline, so when the opportunity arose to try for my own "Mimi", I had to say yes. Looking at this litter, I'm extremely glad that I did! Hopefully the odds will be with us - Salem gave us 2 sable girls, 2 tri girls and 1 sable boy.

A Day at the Ocean

A few weeks ago I spent four fantastic days visiting my very good friend Dianne Hawes (Wistwin Shetland Sheepdogs)near Raleigh, North Carolina. During my last visit about a year and a half ago, we toured the Blue Ridge mountains - an absolutely outstanding day - and this year we went to Wilmington, a city just as well known for it's fabulous ocean side beaches as it's historic charm. The weather was perfect and we had a wonderful outdoor lunch at the boat dock with seafood as fresh as you can get. Naturally we were more than eager to walk off our delightful lunch with a long stroll along the beach. The day couldn't have been more perfect!











These little birds (I think they were part of the sandpiper family) would move en masse as they hunted for goodies up and down the beach. It was quite entertaining to watch!








There were gulls of a different variety than what we get up here, quite striking in just basic black and white.













As close as I got to swimming :).




Beautiful cactus ...






"Sand-henge" :)











I can't wait to visit this gorgeous beach again ... heaven!

Tuppence

This past Sunday I met my friend Gillian to do some updated photos of her five month old Brussels Griffon, "Tuppence". I had taken some pictures of this adorable little girl a couple of months ago, but now she's sporting a more adult-type coat. She's quite the character and is just a whole lot of fun to be around.

I was quite pleased when I was reviewing these photos, at the squinty small eye that we try to capture in our shelties' photos. However, it turns out that a large, round eye is what is valued in the Griffs, so I need to set up another photo date in order to redeem myself!

Tuppence didn't care too much for the prep work, combing out her beard.




Stand still? Not so easily done ...







On such a lovely day, it was easy to be patient and just enjoy being with a good friend and her fun-loving puppy. I'll look forward to doing more photos in another couple of months or so. Tuppence may not feel quite the same :).

Fun at Fox Hill

I started my weekend early and headed up to Ottawa last Thursday to visit Kim and Pete (Laureate Shelties). It's about a 6 1/2 hour drive but one that I enjoy and try to make once or twice a year, or as our schedules allow. I always look forward to visiting my good friends and their wonderful hospitality, and one of the high points, providing the weather cooperates, is an outing with the dogs across the huge open fields at the back of their 50 acre property.


We went out a couple of times this weekend, not only to enjoy the stellar weather, but for both Kim and I to do some shooting (cameras, of course!). The dogs are awesome subjects, either at rest or going full tilt across the fields. Kim and I took turns shooting with our own lenses of choice and then switched off, taking the adults out on one day and the pups another. It was great fun and a super photography opportunity.


Three sisters ...





At rest ...




Watching ...




And stalking ...




Kim being "distracted" by our photo subjects.




Full steam ahead!




And more full throttle action ...










One last jump for joy!