For Tira

Sadly, it was time...

January 18, 2000 - June 29, 2009

We're Celebrating: Happy Birthday LuAnne!

The earliest photo of "LuAnne". This is at about 7 1/2 weeks of age.

LuAnne at eight weeks. She was pretty special to us right from the start. Our first blue, and the smallest newborn we had that ever survived (2 1/2 ounces). She was so pretty even then...soft grey, pink belly, all the flash. Plus the outline; that was evident even as a tiny baby.

She was slower to mature, but so very elegant at 10 months of age at the Chicago National.She's had an impressive record at the Specialties. Winning the CSSA National owner handled, BOS at the 2005 ASSA National under noted judge Tom Coen, handled by Rachel Pratt.

Formally known as BISS Am/Can Ch. Laureate Louisiana

The following year, she won the Veteran Bitch class and an Award of Merit in her big 'spayed girl' coat. Handled by Julie Desy.

And three years later; once again winning the Veterans class, but this time the 12 Years and Over class and on to an Award of Merit. The response to our girl was overwhelming. I felt very privileged to be escorting our girl in the ring. My first time handling her at ASSA since the Chicago National when she was a baby! Thank you to Rachel Pratt, and Julie Desy and team for helping us with her hair!

We feel so fortunate to have shared our lives with such a special girl. Here she is resting on the deck.

Happy 13th Birthday LuAnne...here's hoping there are many more to come!

Busy Season

Within a week of raising their last brood, the robins were back nesting again. There nest is on the security light on our front porch, where we like to sit and have our morning coffee. The robins were a bit bothered at first when I sat there, and would have a mouth full of bugs and do a fly by waiting for me to leave. Realizing that wasn't happening, it finally landed and fed the hungry crew. Both parents are busy feeding the four babies and hopefully this is the last batch!

June is a beautiful month. The gardens are going wild, flowers blooming, weed growing, the grass is green and lush. There is no shortage of things to do! The chores await, and it is a perfect day for going outside. Ciao

Sword Dance and other Beautiful Peonies

It is peony time; and it is the perennial we have in abundance.

This is from a photograph I took ten years ago. I used it on the cover of a calendar I made for Christmas presents. It is the peony 'sword dance', a favorite in our garden.

This is how it looks now... it just came out today!

A beautiful pink variety.

'Coral and Gold'

This white peony with the red ribbon through it has been with us since we bought our first house twenty years ago. It was originally from the gardens of the Perth Manor in Perth. I think it is called 'Festiva Maxima'.

Sword Dance

This is another white variety. This one has a cream center and is quite beautiful. It came into flower about four days ago and is really blooming now in this heat.

It is a beautiful variety...wish I knew the name.

In the evening light

Meanwhile in the shade garden, the not so showy, but very beautiful columbine are just finishing up. This is how they looked last week...so delicate.

All Smiles

:-)

There were so many sweet candid shots, I thought I'd post some more. I just sat in the shade with the babies and let them do what they do best...be cute, charming, happy puppies!

Things to do, places to see...
Let me help you with your ears; they are stuck! Did you hear the one about the cat...? "Smiley Miley"

Happy Father's Day

Happy Father's Day!

We enjoyed a great day of golf and celebration with Phil and Gisela.

Paris Pups: 6 weeks old

The boy; his name is going to be Laureate Continuum..."Mayer"!

Girl with spot..."Maisie"

Girl with full collar "Miley"

The 'dark' girl, "Mandy"

Comfortable Colour

A little drizzle plus a hole in the dog yard = YIKES! Bath time again!!! Emma knows the best places to get dirty! She once again made a bee-line to the ditch...the same spot she took Barbie on their first walk together.

*****************************************************************

Addendum

So this was the cause of all the mess! Someone had an escape plan! It took me all of ten minutes to fill it up...baths for two poodles; that took a little longer!

I love the smiles on the girls!
Beautiful clean Barbie...worth the effort, but I hope she waits a bit before getting her comfortable colour again!

Flycatcher

One of the drawbacks of living in this part of Canada is that as soon as the nice weather comes, we have bugs! Stormy trying to nab a pesky deer fly.

Poser

Paris' boy at 5 1/2 weeks old