Happy 10th Birthday Ch. Sunburst Acadia Here I Come

Yesterday Carrie turned 10. Well tempered, well adjusted, a sheltie who exemplifies the standard, and who has provided a solid backbone for my breeding program, and who has continued a tradition of quality for Sunburst Shelties in Phoenix, AZ, Carrie is a wonderful example of all the good purebred dogs have to offer. She continues to be an important part in of the lives of many people, and an important part of the breeding programs of at least two different kennels – Carrie is everything a breeder and a dog owner could want.

I am not the breeder of Carrie- Sharon Crawford of Sunburst Shelties in Arizona bred her- I was just lucky enough to be able to purchase her when she was 12 weeks of age. Mike and I were living in Tucson, AZ at the time and everyone in that sheltie community knew and liked my Ch. Zion’s Man About Town, NA,HT, VC,ROM 5CC (Jamie) sister, Ch. Zion Acadia Town Herione, CDX,PT, VCX (Tucket). Sharon Crawford had a very well established breeding program, and bred to Jamie partly because of his own merits, but also partly because she could see his quality was not just a fluke in his litter. [note: when Sharon bred to Jamie he had not yet won the herding group at Westminster, become an established producer, or earned his many additional titles- he was a young dog]. The blending of her established line with Jamie really clicked. Carrie’s mother was one of the 7 champions produced from the two breeding of Ch. Zion’s Man About Town, NA,HT, VC,ROM 5CC to Sunburst Hurricane Shiloh, ROM. Carrie's mother, Ch. Sunburst Oasis Cat’s Meow (Kitty), was bred to another dog from the Zion breeding program, Ch. Zion’s Ready Or Not (Ready), and when I saw the puppies, I knew that if Sharon would sell one to me that I would really have a breeding program of my own. I was in luck and was able to purchase Carrie.

I just didn’t know how lucky I truly was. Carrie was a devoted mother who LOVED puppies, she continues to be a nurturer- but now a nurturer of the human spirit, and it is her steady, fun, and loving temperament that is her most valuable contribution to all who have had the pleasure of being a part of her life.

To read about her life beyond Acadia, see my entry from a year ago on her 9th birthday.

Read more...

Canning Season

While I was at dog shows this weekend, my husband was home canning. He made bread & butter pickles and Bruchetta.

Last week I saw an immature Bald Eagle sitting in a tree on our farm. I took pictures, but they don't do the experience justice.

Read more...

Bookends

Kiara (left) is Fresca's mom. They are often together sharing their special bond.

Read more...

Its been Hot!

Waaaaait a minute Cassia! What is that on your tongue? Thread? What have you been eatting?

Read more...

Morning Mist

Read more...

Happy 6th Birthday Genna

A little belated. Genna (Ch. Acadia It's My Treat) turned 6 on 8/8/09. This past year she moved in with Don. Everyone who came to my house would say, "I'll take HER!" while pointing at Genna. She is beautiful and fun and everyone just fell in love with Genna. Genna, however, is not "every one's" dog. She is not fond of children, she loves to chase birds, squirrels, cats, balls- you get the idea, she is a country girl, but needed a fenced yard, and she really wanted to be an only dog.

Don, who had never had a dog of his own, came to look at a puppy. He and I spent a while discussing puppies, training, dog needs, and all things dog. While we talked, Don threw the ball for Genna. At some point during our discussion I realized that here sat Genna's perfect home- except that Don did not have a fenced yard. At the time I was realizing that Don and Genna were perfect for each other, Don was deciding that he didn't know enough to start out with a 10 week old puppy. At that point I said, "well what would you think of getting an adult?" When I suggested Genna, Don looked at me with big eyes, and said, "Genna!- she is exactly what I want my dog to be." and so it was. Don agreed to go home (without Genna) and install a fence. He took to this task with enthusiasm and fenced a large portion of his 2 acres. When that task was completed, Don came and picked up Genna. I couldn't be happier. These two are perfect for each other and I sincerely hope that each is adding joy to the other's life.

It is hard to part with a dog you have lived with for almost 6 years- one that was born at your house, one that you held in your hands, cuddled, loved, and nurtured- but when you do let them go, and the perfect match is made, it makes your heart swell with pride.

Happy Birthday Genna- and may there be many more!

(Genna is the mother of Dove and Canyon)

Read more...

Acadia Peace Of Mind and Acadia Crowning Glory both win this weekend

Acadia Peace of Mind (Dove) and Acadia Crowning Glory (Glory) were each Winners Bitch this weekend. We were at the Keystone Cluster- the Penn Treaty Kennel Club and the Harrisburg Kennel Club. My friend Kristen Bardell was on hand to help and Sally and Dave got to watch Dove win. It is always nice to share wins with friends.

Read more...

Always a mother

Dove and her daughter Cassia. Cassia is one of the puppies that was born this past December.

Read more...

Canfield, OH

I went to the dog shows in Canfield, Ohio. The weather was very interesting to say the least. Each day was ½ sun, 1/2 pouring rain. The first day the weather was fine in the morning, then groups started and the rain came- and it came HARD. The rain stayed and the next day it POURED in the morning. It rained so hard that at about 8:00am two of the rings were 100% underwater. Judging was delayed ½ hour, but at 8:30, when judging did start, they had to move those two rings to the roadway because there was still too much water in the rings. My pictures don’t capture the amount of water. At one point someone got out rubber ducks and started floating them! That sort of humor really made the whole bad weather something sort of “fun”. I was enjoying myself even though I knew that attempting to keep my shelties clean was going to be a real pain.
My cousin lives in Poland, OH- the next town over, so I called him. Even though he and his family were getting ready to leave for vacation the next day, we all managed to get together. We decided that it has been 16 years since we last saw each other! We went out to dinner and then on a tour of Poland, OH, which is a really, really nice town.

Certainly this was a memorable show weekend.

Read more...