Watching puppies grow – see post below with new pictures. They are very big babies. The one girl is actually bigger now than either male but that will change again… Have one male to find a home for so if interested – let me know. Annie is hanging in there – see update to that post a couple down. I am going to to Woodstock, VA tomorrow and maybe Sunday. Pearl is entered so I will get to see her show – Miss Pro. And I am handing off my baby – sigh – to my handler. Clarise is now 7 months old and he wants to start her. It’s hard for me to let them go but I have found that this age is better for them. They seem to take it in stride better than if I send them off older. I guess they are more attached to me plus they become more fearful tan when younger. Most of mine do pretty well and the ones who did not, went off older. Anyway, we shall see…

I am a bit bummed out tonight – trying not to cry. My Annie appears to have had a stroke. Yesterday she was not right – standing, staring, not moving. She did eat and drink and go outside with coaxing. But by the evening she would only lie down, not moving at all. I carried her to a bed in my room for the night and I swear she stayed exactly where I laid her. I checked on her three times during the night thinking she had died. The vet kept her awhile today to observe because her vitals were all ok. But she shows signs of a neurological problem in the back end — she has been losing muscle mass but this is different. Whereas before if you curled her back feet under, she would immediately right them. Now she does not and they drag way more when she walks. And the starring thing and seeming disoriented and very wobbly when she walks are all new as of yesterday. sigh. She is 12.5 and I knew because of the muscle mass loss and her blood problem I wouldn’t have her to a super old age but this is killing me. She is so sweet (I know they all are). She is one of my firsts and my very first brown champion. She gave me Marco and Breezy who gave me Velvet who gave me four wonderful champions — not wonderful because they are champions but because they are great dogs with wonderful personalities and a beauty that goes back to Annie. Annie has the most beautiful face — I always loved it and even had a show photographer take extra head shots of her after she’d won in Charlottesville. Her son Marco finished his championship in three back to back five pointers. I kept Velvet because she looked so much like her. I am rambling as though she has died, sorry. She is sleeping comfortably for now. She is not only beautiful but so sweet. My vet says she is her favorite of mine. My mom too. She has always been just perfect — never causing any trouble except to herself when she ate pills or other toxic stuff — I’ve told her she seems to have a death wish eating that stuff. hmm, maybe not so perfect, but close. Certainly just the sweetest thing. And she was a perfect mother even nursing Tiara’s puppies when they both had litters at the same time. And play outside with them — she loved it and would get this look on her face of pure joy. OK, not doing so well in the not crying department. I just hope she doesn’t have another worse stroke or something to make her feel pain. My baby girl.

She did good again today, sweet girl went into group and got second place — any placing in group is a very good thing. And here is a picture of Sammy who left here not too long ago, looking very grown up.

Pearl won a Group Three today in Huntington, WV. And spent the afternoon at my sister’s for my niece’s bridal shower. Had a wonderful time — both nieces in from Texas. All three of my sisters and my mom and friends too. My poor sister though— she worked so hard on this — planning, shopping — then fell earlier this week — broken shoulder blade, dislocated same shoulder, sprained ankle. yikes for sure. But, another sister had been helping her and loves this kind of thing too, so she jumped in to get everything done, decorated, food there, etc. wow… This picture is from a previous get-together of my sisters & mother & me. I’m the one in the middle of the back row in bewteen my mom to my right and my “blonde” sister… lol Other pic is of my beautiful niece at her shower… and got this new picture of Griffin, a Lil Lulu son… so purty.

oops I see I already posted this – oh well, must like it. lol

First born was a huge brown boy who weighed in at 16.3 oz. Second, third and fourth were black. Second picture is the brownie nursing with a black girl squeezing her little head up from under momma’s armpit. Almost looks like the brownie has a black head… All is well in the end but at one point I was heading to the vet. The first one was very large and the second one was pretty big at 13.5oz. She has whelped large litters of very large puppies before so when with the third one, she started to act frantic, I was trying not to panic myself. She turned and twirled, and would jump up, then squat, then stretch out lengthwise, then start again. When she did this for 40 minuets and then started whimpering, I got worried and called the vet. Then she started pushing again, and voila!! I don’t know why this one was difficult as she was about 13 oz, not like the huge boy. And, after that, the fourth practically flew out ten minutes later. Velvet is so sweet, and such a good momma dog. I had to pick her up out of the box to go out afterwards and she hadn’t been out since morning. Doesn’t want to leave the babies. I feed her in the box. Give her broth and water in the box because she won’t come out. This lasts about four days with her. Then she starts coming out to so outside and then runs back into her babies. Sweet.

Well, she didn’t do anything this weekend but she looked gorgeous. I took these as I hid near the ring. First one shows her lovely shilouette…