2009 Year In Review

I thought I'd include in this entry some of my favorite photos taken over the year. It was hard to choose, as we've taken a LOT of pictures this year. Many are great shots, but these are a few that matter to me. This one of Pete with the dogs shows our beautiful Mais Oui demanding affection. We lost this wonderful girl to pyometra this April, so this is one of the last photos of her. On the far left is her dam, Tiramisu who also passed away this year...she was Pete's shadow and constant companion. Lexus, our oldest, not in the photo passed away in April as well.

We also had some happy times to offset the sad moments. Good times with great friends. Showing our Portuguese friends Rui, Paula, Henrique and Isabella our little part of the world. Raising a beautiful healthy litter, a successful ASSA, and travelling in Australia, going to Westminster in NYC, the National in Georgia and visiting with family and friends in Vancouver. Most of all, we enjoyed our quiet moments at our farm with the dogs.

This photo shows that even though we have almost 50 acres, the dogs tend to wrap themselves around my legs! I have an entourage of my old girls that follow me on our walks. It is the boisterous youngsters that will break away from the group and go wild.

Characteristic of our photos this year...muddy, grubby and very happy dogs out on their walks.
Babies...we enjoyed playing with our puppies this year. Emma and Barbie grew up together.
We had a ball with our summer litter...Miley and Maisie (Mayer and Mandy).
Stormy and the deer fly. One of my favorite photos...taken with Brenda's lens.

2009 Show Results

ASSA National

1st 12-18 month Futurity: Can Ch Laureate Jivara
1st 12-18 month sable and white bitches: Can Ch Laureate Jivara
1st Open Blue Bitches: Can Ch Laureate PaRay Per Se (co-bred by Tray Pittman)
1st Over 12 Years Veteran Bitches: BISS Am/Can Ch Laureate Louisiana
Award Of Merit: BISS Am/Can Ch Laureate Louisiana

Canadian Champions:

BPIS Can Ch Laureate Embelish (co-bred by Aneita Frey, owned by Kim Aston and Peter Culumovic)
Can Ch Laureate Lancome (Bred by Kim Aston and Peter Culumovic and co-owned by Pennylynn Woodruff)
Can Ch Laureate Lutece (breeder-owners Kim & Pete)
Can Ch Laureate PaRay Per Se (co-bred by Tray Pittman, owned by Kim and Pete)
Can Ch Laureate Rachael Ray (co-owned by Pennylynn Woodruff)
Can Ch Ruffleith's Remy Martin (co-bred and owned by Pennylynn Woodruff)
Can Ch Ruffleith's Rose In Bloom (co-bred and owned by Pennylynn Woodruff)
Can Ch Ruffleith's Tina Rufette (co-bred and owned by Pennylynn Woodruff)

Other Titles

Am Ch El Solo Serenity (co-bred by Marjorie Norstrom, owned by Marjorie and Shirley Wong)
Laureate Due South, Am CDX (owner Lori Drouin)
Laureate Tiramisu, ROMC (co-bred by Karen and Robert Henley)
BPIS Laureate Epitome

Many thanks to the co-breeders and owners for making this possible!

Our best wishes for a Happy and Successful New Year!

It has been a hard week

It has been one of the most difficult weeks we have faced in a long time. A week ago we lost our beloved 15 1/2 year old Lexus and today 2 1/2 year old Mais Oui succumbed to her five day battle with pyometra. Thank you to Connie McNeill who has been a unbelievable source of help; and also our gratitude to all our friends for your support. As well thank you to the team at Almonte Vet Services for your expert care. It is the hardest part of sharing our lives with these wonderful animals...they are gone too soon.

Lexus and Mais Oui...you were loved.

Tira: a good day

We're taking it day by day with Tira. Today was a good day. She wanted cheese, and I gave her about six pieces and she also ate her dinner hungrily.

I took her out with me and the gang while I cleaned the snow off the gazebos. Afterwards, I let them all out for a run.

I like this picture as on the right are two of Tira's daughters. I had to check and re-check as Mais Oui looks so much like Tira in this photo. Paris is on the right, Mais Oui, Bunny and Taboo is in front.

Bridgit...too cute for words!

Stormy (Laureate PaRay Per Se). I'm not sure if you can tell, but she has the most amazing ear set. She also has the best blue colour of our blues.

A funny colour balance on this shot, as it was completely in the shade; but I love this picture. That is 13 year old Gabi trying her hardest to keep up, and miss Bunny Foo leading the pack.

Tira doesn't like snowballs between her toes.

Heading for home.