changes for 2011

As of later this month, the fabulous four will become the terrific three once more. 

Piper will be moving to Aptos, CA to live 2 blocks from the beach with a great woman and her family who adored their last Corgi to bits.  I met this lady 7 years ago when she was looking for a Corgi.  I met her at the shows in Dixon, CA and coordinated the transfer of ownership of Chiquita (my Pembroke, Ollie's mother).  Kita became Stacey's best friend and companion instantly... they were inseperable.  I'd hear updates here and there and it warmed my heart to know that I had helped Stacey find her best friend. 

So when I heard that Stacey lost Kita (to cancer) a few months ago my heart broke.  Stacey fell in love with a friends Cardigans from pictures and decided she wanted to go to the 'tailed' side.  My friend wrote and asked if I knew of anyone who had a female Cardigan.  The light went on. 

Stacey treated Kita EXACTLY how Piper wants to be treated.  Piper wants to be the queen of her house.  She wants to be adored and doted on and be someone's EVERYTHING.  That is exactly how Kita was treated in Stacey's very capable hands.  I knew instantly (though had a hard time finalizing the arrangements) that this was the home for Piper. 

Piper hasn't grown up as we had hoped.  She's small for a Cardigan (she's 24 pounds soaking wet) and structurally, she just didn't come together.  She's a lover and has so much to offer, so I'm excited for her future with Stacey, but I will miss the goon a lot. 

Sedona is starting to lose her coat, which means that her next season is imminent.  She will be bred when she comes in (late January/early February) via artificial insemination to CH Coedwig's Malachite (Rocky).  Rocky has produced many puppies with many features I am looking for in my own breeding program.  He is producing nice fronts and well angulated rears as well as lovely level toplines and nice long necks.  The heads on his puppies are lovely, and they have had great bone as well.  The puppies will all be black with brindle points, as he doesn't carry tan.  I'm hoping we are able to get Sedona pregnant and that we have puppies this spring.

Which leads me to the next thing.  We won't (hopefully) be attending Nationals this year in Houston due to puppies.  Sedona would be due the 2nd week of April - just in time for Nationals.  That's ok.  There is no better reason to miss a semi-close Nationals... 

In other areas of life (there are other areas other than dogs?), I intend on continuing my weight loss journey in 2011.  2010 saw 60 pounds go (though, honestly, I gained some back over the holidays).  I hope to see another 40 go in 2011.  Wish me luck.  :)

I'm entering my 2nd Spring semester in grad school.  One more spring semester left ahead of me.  (oh, and a summer and a fall too).  I'm making progress on my masters degree and the little tiny light at the end of the tunnel is getting slightly bigger each day.  I know I will look back soon and think that it flew by, but for now, in the thick of it all, it feels like it's dragging! 

Dating has been interesting in the later half of 2010...  dating is not for the feint of heart.  That's all I have to say about that!  :)

That's about all I have to update right now - but hopefully I will have some cute pictures to share soon.  I've been a little preoccupied with the holidays and such for the last month or so. 

I hope 2011 treats all of my friends and family wonderfully.... 

Here's to an amazing new year ahead!!

2009 in review

January: Start mortgage application process after finding out the rental home I was in was foreclosing.
February: Get all mortgage paperwork turned in, got grad school paperwork turned in, Chance turned 2.
March: Dad passed, was denied for mortgage.
April: put on wait list for grad school
May: was accepted into grad school, my first year as a school based speech pathologist ends - SUMMER VACATION begins! Chance got 1st major in ABQ.
June: started working for the summer doing preschool speech evaluations, Dakota turned 6, Sedona turned 3, Piper was born.
July: House was sold at auction - officially given notice. Continued with the preschool evaluations, went to Ventura in hopes of finishing Chance - didn't - but came home with a nice scar on my forehead! School starts - new assignment at Jack Barnes Elementary.
August: moved into new house 2 weeks after school started.
September: Piper came to live with us.
October: FALL BREAK
November: 11 years since Tanya passed. Saw mom and crew for Thanksgiving.
December: I turned 34, WINTER BREAK!

I have high hopes for 2010 - many things I'd like to accomplish.....
-lose weight
-finish Chance
-put points on Piper
-get last 2 legs of Kota's RE
-get Chance's RN
-get Sedona's RN
-have grass in backyard
-fix up front yard (grass, bushes, trees)
-prepare to buy house in 2011


I look forward to another year - hopefully 2010 holds wonderful things for you and yours - I have high hopes for the upcoming year! :)

the little things

With the change of scenery on my blog, it got me to thinking about being thankful for the little things. It's so easy to get caught up in the day to day stressors that we call life... Often times most of us don't sit down and really think about the GOOD in life. I want to try and make a point of doing that this year.

While yes, I'd like to lose some of this weight that found me, I'm not "resolving" that this year. Hell, I've "resolved" it for the last several years and I've always failed. This year I am resolving 2 things...

1) take better care of my finances
2) find one thing a day that can make me smile

I'll also work on losing the weight that found me, but I'm not resolving it anymore... I hate being disappointed in myself! LOL

Speaking of disappointment, I think I can publicly say that I am disappointed that my breeding plans have been put on hold.

Breeding Sedona has been a heavy decision to start with, given the hip situation and the fact that she's got a whopping 3 points to her name at this stage in the game. I'm going to keep showing her and keep trying... and I do hope to breed her still, as I really believe she's got some LOVELY qualities.

All that being said, I think I will be putting myself back on the "puppy market" here in the near future.

I'm still investigating a couple of dogs who could possibly be good matches for Sedona, but it's likely not going to happen for her as soon as I had hoped (her next season - summer/fall).

What I AM thankful for, however, is to have 3 healthy happy dogs who share every aspect of my life... Sedona sleeps on my pillows, Chance sleeps beside me, and Kota at my feet. I always have a dog near me. I can't imagine life any other way.

I'm also so VERY thankful to have a job that makes me happy to go to every day. Don't get me wrong, I love my vacations, and sometimes I want to drop kick a kid or two, but overall, I LOVE my job and most of the people there. I'm VERY thankful to finally feel this way about what I do every day.

I am also thankful that my parents are still with me. By the grace of God, my Dad is still alive (somehow). I call most every weekend and talk to him... "I have good days and bad days" he always says. My step-mom tells me the bad are out weighing the good these days, but I'll take what I can get. He's 70 and in horrible health, but his will keeps him going. Stubborn ole goat! ;-)
My mom's health isn't great, but her stubborn streak keeps her moving too. Thankfully she's not terminal, but she's got a debilitating condition that will only worsen over time (Multiple Sclerosis). I am thankful that I had the week with mom, even if I did get annoyed with her ;-)

There are things that I'm thankful for that I need to remind myself to be thankful for sometimes... I think we probably all could use to remind ourselves that from time to time. Maybe this will serve as a reminder to be thankful for something in YOUR life.

Happy New Year 2009

Well it's 2009.... early. I'm up to take mom to the airport this morning. I'll get on later and post pictures and retell the week once I've had a nap, but for now I'm running on a few hours of sleep.... I missed the "New Year" so to speak.... the fireworks and such woke me at 12:25am.... I woke up enough to say "Happy New Year" to the puppies and rolled back over. ;-)

More later :)

Happy 2008

First post of the new year....

the wounds are starting to heal.... I am thankful I got stitches, otherwise my arm would have had a heck of a time healing and it would have been ugly.... the bruise is setting in nicely on my right thigh from hitting the leg of the table (i'm assuming) and my right thumb hurts pretty good from god knows what... but I should be back in good working order in a week or so the doc said.

The first day of the new year was better than the last day of the last year.... with the exception of a drunk friend falling and spraining her ankle pretty good.... other than that, 2008 can't be any worse than 2007 was :)

Plans for January:
12-13 : dog show in Buckeye at Empty Acres Equestrian park (aka - Hells half acre)
A few birthdays for friends, and hopefully I'll get to meet up with a cousin of mine who lives in Glendale who I haven't ever really known.... should be interesting :)

A nice long walk on New Years Day

We took a long long walk today and stopped at a park about half way through the walk... I have a video too that I need to upload, but in the meantime, this will work ;-)

Happy 2007!!!

Here's wishing you many many well wishes for 2007.....

May you have a healthy year ahead & many wins in the rings :)