Two New Faces

We are delighted to welcome into the world two new little girls. Born yesterday, and in the middle of the afternoon, no less, we have two very flashy sable females, out of our guest Shalamar Miss Congeniality (Connie), who is an Am/Can Ch Hill View's Patriot Games ROM (Brodi) daughter and is out of Sharokee Sarasoda,(double grdtr of Ch. Westar's Dynasty and dam of 2010 ASSA Best in Futurity), bred to Am/Can Ch Braeleen Let Freedom Ring (Johnny), who's also a Brodi kid. This is a power packed pedigree, and we have high hopes for these two young ladies. Thank you co-breeder Dianne Hawes (Wistwin) for making this happen and allowing Connie to visit!







T

A La Carte

We started Keva's pups on lapping from a bowl this week. Most litters really go for the slightly diluted goat's milk, but some are a little more hesitant. These youngsters, now 3 1/2 weeks old, attacked their first "stand alone" meal with gusto, and were all really serious about getting as much into themselves as possible. No time for chit chat at the dinner table, it was all business.










"I can't believe I ate the whole thing ..."




"Here, just hold still a minute ..."




"I said, just hold still ..."




Play time!

Happy Birthday, Cady!!

Today is my Cady's 12th birthday, and I am so blessed to have her in my life. Outside of some "selective" hearing, and a little more nap time, she is aging at a rate that I can only envy. Still wildly exuberant about anything resembling food, still my protector and sidekick, Cady remains the highlight of my life. She is also featured in the above banner. Happy Birthday, Baby Girl!!

"Ch Laureate Cadence", shortly after I brought her home from Kim and Pete's (Laureate), at 11 weeks old.




Photos taken by Chris Lynch in 2003 after Cady placed a close 2nd place in the Novice Bitch class at the ASSA National in Michigan.







Relaxing ...




One of the few non-show photos I have of Cady and I together ... sure, she doesn't look thrilled, but I love it!

Thank You, 2010!!

This past year was a pretty fair one, with typical ups and downs, and I think, overall, things have ended quite balanced. I have been able to share some wonderful moments with friends and family, and have a whole other year's worth of memories to hold dear and to fall back on if 2011 doesn't quite deliver. I have been fortunate to be able to show some very nice dogs this year, although didn't have as much success in the whelping box ... balance.

I looked through all of the photos that I blogged this year, and decided that this was my favourite. To me, it represents the efforts of the past, the joy of the present, and the hope of the future. 2011, you have a lot to live up to!




Happy New Year!!

First Christmas

Our Keva and Kenshe litter turned two weeks old today. We have four and a half pairs of eyes open; the girl is only winking so far :). Now that we can get an idea of expressions, we can see the consistency in their "look" even more clearly. These babies are already getting around like crazy, and a couple are taking turns sneaking out of the box. We're enjoying them immensely!

This is male #1.








And boy #2; I'm pretty sure he's a bi blue.













This is the tri girl. She seems to be warming up to me a bit, and has been the first one to try her baby bark :).









And boy #3 ...







And last but not least, male #4. He's the smallest, and is just a doll!

Puppies at One Week

This is a bad time of year to try and stay on top of all the things that demand attention. I have been delinquent in posting anything about Keva's new family, and let's not even talk about all the pumped up activity that goes hand in hand with the celebrations of the Christmas season. I love Christmas, really, but if it had wanted to come a little later this year, that would have been fine, too!

We are extremely fortunate to have Keva - "Ch Chelson Satin Image" - here for a second litter. I just recently placed her daughter from her first litter, a lovely tri girl who unfortunately did go "slightly" over size, so this breeding to Am Ch Rosmoor Protocol ROM - "Kenshe" -
bore a multitude of high hopes. Very early last Sunday morning Keva had four blue males (yes, 4!!) and one lone girl, a tri colour. To say that this little lady has all of my attention would not be an overstatement. The boys ... well, yes, the boys seem very nice, but in my eyes, this female is just special. As luck would have it, she has not the slightest interest in returning my affection. In fact, she's very indignant about being picked up and admired, don't even try to cuddle her, and is loud and squirmy about the whole thing. Never mind, I can bribe her into seeing things my way ... eventually :).
















I'm pretty sure this boy is a bi blue. I can't see any tan anywhere. He's my favourite little man of the four (and no, his eyes aren't open, it's just the light).

Still 16 days Left of Autumn!

Okay, for most of us looking outside this weekend, it doesn't look much like fall any more. Winter has arrived, at least for the moment,with enough fierce intensity that we have every reason to believe it just might stay. I had taken these photos over a couple of occasions a few weeks ago. Now seems like a good time to bring them out, as they almost look tropical by comparison to what's outside my window!