July - 13 years ago -2010

 July 30- Today would have been my dad's 94 birthday.    This July Liza turned 13.  She is still with us. 

July 2010 was a monumental month in that year.  I had started a new job in March which was proving to be challenging and my father had been diagnosed with Cancer.  In other posts from 2010 I thank Guy Jeavons, Grandgables shelties, for allowing his new champion GCh.P Grandgables The Frat Boy, ROM, ROMC (he didn't have all of those titles at that time) to come visit so I could breed him to the sisters, GCh. Acadia Presence of Mind (Cassia) and Ch. Acadia Peaceful Garden.  They were both due the end of July.  As we now know, they were born the same week my father passed away. 

This past week both GCh.S. Acadia Stage Presence, CC ("Liza') and GCh. Acadia Serenity ("Serena") celebrated birthdays.  Those two girls were so significant to me and at a time that was challenging, they proved to be a bright spot.   Liza was my team-mate who made all of  my dog show & breeder dreams come true.  Serena and I won the Bred-by Exhibitor class at the ASSA National.  That is the one class that I feel is the most important and she was the one to win it.  Posts about the these two girls can be found through-out the blog.  

Happy Birthday dad, Liza and Serena.  

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25 is a nice milestone

Today I received an AKC championship certificate for my 25th homebred champion, Ch. Acadia Trusted Opinion ("Tristan").   It is also 25 years ago that my first homebred champion, Ch. Acadia's Bright Idea, NA, NAJ, RA ("Payson"), was born (10/17/1998).  

Payson's mother was a cutie named Dana that Shirley Vicchitto, Zion shelties, leased to me for a litter.  I was hoping for a boy, and Dana had a litter of 6 boys.   I kept two brothers, Payson, and Rocky- who would also be one of the 25 champions bred by me.  He became Ch. Acadia Rock Solid, HT. 

1982- Ch. Parker of Mirluc, CD with
future Ch. Arista's Abbey Road (bottom)

Both Payson and Rocky produced champions.  Rocky can be found in Tristan's pedigree.   Payson can be found in many of the pedigrees of Sharon Crawford's Sunburst shelties. 

I have also had 10 dogs I purchased that completed the championship- for 35 champion dogs as of today.  Shirley met me because of my very first champion, Ch. Parker of Mirluc, CD, who I purchased from Betty Ieronimo, Mirluc shelties.    It was because of Parker that Shirley sold me Tucket, Ch. Zion Acadia Town Heroine, CDX, PT, VCX and it was because of my success with Tucket that Shirley leased Dana to me.  Tucket did produce 1 champion daughter- also a multi-titled dog, Ch. Acadia Another Story, UD, PT, NA, VCX.   

    I was living in Arizona, as was Sharon Crawford, and Sharon fell in love with Tucket.  Shirley sent Tucket's mother, Tuffy to me to show and Sharon loved her too.  Tucket had a brother, Ch. Zion's Man About Town, HT, NA, VC, 5CC ("Jamie"), who was THE hot winning dog at the time!  Sharon bred to Jamie which was very successful for her.  Subsequently I was able to purchase Ch. Sunburst Acadia Here I Come, ("Carrie") a descendant from these successful pairings who became the anchor of my breeding program.  

    It is so interesting how these dogs and people weave together.  I love looking back and seeing how the family is still going strong- thanks to good breeders who care about the dogs.  Many of the dogs in this family have titles in multiple venues.  They are smart, happy, and good "Shetland sheepdogs".   I look forward to the next 25.

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13 Years ago - July 26, 2010

7/26/2023 marks 13 years since my dad passed away. So often I hear people talk as if 5 or 10 years ago is ancient history- and maybe it is when it comes to social media or technology changes, but interestingly enough, 13 years ago I was writing this blog- and I posted about my father's passing. I have enjoyed looking at the posts from 2010. 2010 was a very big year for me. 

 The lows were low- my father passed away and that was hard, but we were lucky. He was an active man, living with his wife (my mom), in his own home, able to take care of himself. He had been diagnosed with Cancer- and was receiving chemotherapy. One day he accidently gashed his leg and went to the Doctor to have it checked out. That Doctor told him that because his immune system was compromised, he should go to the hospital to have it examined. I am a bit fuzzy on how a gash ended up with him having surgery- but it did- and he never woke up. He was in a coma for about 10 days.

Both of my sisters got to the hospital and my sister Amy called me to tell me to get there right away- he wasn't going to make it any longer. I called Mike and we loaded up our pregnant dogs and started from Pennsylvania to Connecticut. When we got to the Connecticut state line, I called my sister to let her know our ETA. She said, "here- talk to dad" and put the phone to his ear. I said, "Dad, I love you. Hold on, I am 2 hours away......" and my sister came back on the phone and said, "he heard you- and he just passed away." Wow. At that point I wished I hadn't called. 

When I got to the hospital all of the tubes and machines had been taken away and he looked peaceful. The minister was still there and he said to me, "when he heard your voice, the heart monitor changed. He heard you. He waited for you, and he knew you were with him." Hearing those words has meant a lot to me. Dad waited for me. Although I wasn't physically there, he didn't know that. He felt the touch of family, and heard all of our voices- and he was able to leave peacefully.

A few months after he died, I had a dream about him. In my dream, he was there- and in my dream I knew I was dreaming and that he was dead- but he told me he was good. I am SO THANKFUL to have had that closure.  I love and miss you Dad.

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** New Champion** Acadia Trusted Opinion- aka Tristan

 Tristan finished today by winning Best of Breed over multiple champions from the Bred-by-Exhibitor class.  He topped the day off by winning a Herding Group 4.    He was only in 6 total shows.  I can't believe how quickly this happened! 

Tristan is the 3rd Champion for his mother Chica.

Chica- Acadia Opinion Provided, had a good weekend too.  She earn 5 more points, 1 major towards her championship.   What a Great week of shows.  So Proud of this family. 

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Families- People's and Dog's

 In 2006 the Kuszyk family was looking for a sheltie puppy and found Acadia.   They purchased a puppy whom they named Acadia's Promise of Tomorrow- aka, Piper.   That promise turned out to be years of tomorrows- loyalty and family.     

In 2018 the Kuszyk's came back for their second puppy, whom they named Koda. The family had grown-up and we thought it would be fun to do "the same photo" :-)   I LOVE this happy, playful and creative family.  I thought it was so whimsical of them to agree to do this picture 12 years later.  

It is SO rewarding to have families come back.  It is also so rewarding to be working with the same family of dogs. Piper was a litter mate of Ch. Acadia Peace of Mind- aka-  Dove.   

Koda's  great-grandmother is Dove.  Today, Kuszyk daughter, Taylor, came to pick up a puppy of her own.  Her puppy's great-grandmother is Dove.    I am so excited to be a generational member of the Kuszyk family through the love of a great furry family member.   Congratulations Taylor (and boyfriend Jordan)- I look forward to seeing how Oakley grows up.

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Proud Breeder Moment - Acadia Trusted Opinion wins under respected breeder-judges, and Cassia gives her blessing

Tristan went to his first dog show and had a Great Day! The Colonial Shetland Sheepdog Club held 2 shows in one day. 

 The morning started with a Puppy Sweepstakes.  A fun competition open only to puppies and it is a great way to get them in the ring and "loosened up" before the "real" show starts.  Tristan began the day by winning Best In Sweepstakes.  The judge, Linda Loring, said, "he is the total package".  :-)

The AM show had Breeder-Judge Ellen Worthington. She has bred many top producing and top winning dogs including an ASSA National Best of Breed winner, many important and influential ROM's and dogs that I have long wanted to incorporate into my pedigrees. One of the many traits I have valued about her tri-color dogs is the truly black pigment most of them have. 

 I have shown to Mrs. Worthington before. The last time was when Gregory and Warren were in the 6-9 puppy class. It was the weekend they were both turning 6 months old- so they were "Babies". There was one other puppy in their class, and he was closer to 9 months. He won the class, but before handing the 2nd and 3rd place ribbons to Gregory and Warren (in that order) she said, "these are both really beautiful baby boys". That meant a lot to me. We didn't win, but it was so nice that she thought they were worthy of being at the specialty show. 

 The time before that I was showing Cassia- GCh. Acadia Presence of Mind in the Bred-by Exhibitor class and Mrs. Worthington awarded her Winners Bitch for a specialty major. I was on Cloud 9! Yesterday, Mrs. Worthington awarded Cassia's grandson Winners Dog at a specialty. When we were taking pictures she asked me if he was related to "those lovely bitches of yours". I am SO Proud that Yes! He is!. She told me that she felt Tristan "favored his mother's side"- What a Wonderful Comment! Such a Proud breeder moment. 

 The PM show had Breeder-judge Lyn Leininger, also a breeder of top producing and top winning dogs. Her dogs have also won big awards at the ASSA National including Winners Dog (more than once). I love the distinct family traits of her shelties. She has not been judging long, but she has fast become a respected judge and has had assignments all over the country. For example, just last weekend she was judging in Minnesota. Just before she handed out the final ribbons, she told everyone how lovely the entry was and how she enjoyed the assignment. Again, really nice to hear that the judges felt they had good dogs to choose from. I was so honored that she awarded Tristan Winners Dog and Best of Winners! 

 In one day Tristan won both majors for a total of 8 points. Pinch Me! That never happens (to me)!! Not only is the hard part over (winning the majors), but he won them under breeder-judges that I really respect. That just makes me feel so good. I sure had a "Proud Breeder moment" yesterday.

Addition:  GCh. Acadia Presence of Mind, Cassia, passed away 6/2/2022- exactly 1 year ago on the day that Ellen Worthington awarded her grandson WD.   Sometimes things occur that make my heart skip a beat, my eyes tear up, and I say an Extra Prayer of gratitude. 

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Fun Time pictures with Tecla, Trestle, Tristan 6 weeks, 4 months, 8 months

Tecla and Trestle

Tecla, Trestle, Tristan- 8 months

Teddy, Tecla, Tristan, Trestle- 6 wks

Tecla, Trestle, Tristan- 4 months

Trestle, Tristan- 8 months

 

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