postheadericon Happy New Year

Happy New Year. May 2015 be a blessed one for all of you.

postheadericon Cavalier Symposium

This is to announce the first Cavalier Symposium centering on topics of interest about the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel.  The symposium will be held in Belgium on October 25th. Organized by Arnold Jacques, this Symposium is the first of its kind.  For more information see below and contact Arnold Jacques at a.l.m.jacques@gmail.com. Please include a link to the symposium website on your website

From Arnold:

“The website of the International Cavalier Symposium is ready.
www.cavaliersymposium.com
May we ask you to spread this link, as much as possible, among all your friends.
May we ask you to create a link on your website, preferably by using attached banner.
We hope to welcome you on the symposium.

Kind regards

Arnold Jacques
www.cavaliersymposium.com

www.cavaliersymposium.com

postheadericon Happy May Day

postheadericon Heading The Louisville Shows

I showed Rattlebridge The Crack of Dawn, “Sunny” at three of the four Louisville shows and won two majors which gives him 14 points with one more needed to finish his championship.  My friend Rosalind and I went together and had a ball.  We co own a gorgeous show worthy Golden Retriever puppy, Eggspaladociouss, “Poppins” so spent time at the Golden ring as well as the Cavalier ring.  Because of illnesses, I have not been at shows for a little while so it was lovely seeing friends and watching the shows.  While we were there I had “Sunny”s picture taken at fourteen months:

adult

I also made a collage of his development which is interesting to observe:

sunnycollageforage1

The next show is the National in April in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.  Sunny is a delight to live with and to show. 

postheadericon Why Dogs Do Not Make Better Security Systems

This video reminds me of my cat Emma with her favorite side swipe. She rules the halls! http://www.utrend.tv/v/cat-dog/

postheadericon Catching up: February 3, 2014

The weather here has been brutal.  I used to love cold weather but the older  I get the more I  detest it.  I used to be able  to go out in the coldest weather without a coat and now I just don’t want to go out even when bundled up.  Even so, my area of Ohio has had it very easy compared to other areas of the country like the area in Michigan where my buddy Roxy lives who is always inundated with inches and inches of snow. 

Well, my I phone fell out of my nightgown pocket into the toilet and gave up the ghost or though I thought.  It was dead.  I used the hair dryer and put it in rice to no avail.  I then purchased a new I phone 5s which I really did not want to do.  I got the new phone all set up and my old phone resurrected itself and is as good as new.  So now I guess I will keep it for a backup.  I am technologically handicapped so setting up a new phone is extremely difficult for me and took lots of conversations with Verizon and Apple to do so.  I have all my apps and contacts transferred but for the life of me cannot get my old ringtone back.   So more calls are in order. 

The Cavaliers are fine.  I have not had puppies in awhile but think that my Alice is expecting a litter.  My Tillie did not become pregnant which was disappointing to me and to the people waiting for a Rattlebridge puppy as well as for me waiting for a show puppy.  Dog breeding is not for the faint of heart.  The Golden Retriever Club of America has put out an excellent video on responsible breeding.

Share this with all who don’t understand what responsible breeders do and with responsible breeders you know who may need a way to articulate how valuable we are.  Please watch the following.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oxd1Ce0j8Vw

postheadericon When I am Old and Gray

olddog

postheadericon 2013

I have never been so glad to escape a year as I have been of 2013.  Plagued by illness, hospitalizations, surgeries, and problems selling our farm which turned out to end in a terrible financial loss, I could not wait to kiss 2013 goodbye.  Looking forward to see what good things that unfold in 2014, I hope that all of us receive many blessings and a terrific year ahead of us.  The good news for me for 2013 was a special puppy developing into a gorgeous young dog.  Rattlebridge The Crack of Dawn, “Sunny,” is now a year old but has already taken major points and bests of breeds from the 9-12 month class when shown by me, inept handler that I am, in a boot yet because of a stress fracture on the same foot that had major surgery in February.  I am exceedingly proud of this young dog who has it all and a personality to boot!  A few pictures of him at six months:

Sunny at six monthssunny standing at six monthsSunny with toy

postheadericon Prayer

I thought the following thought provoking and very helpful in my prayer life.  It is often hard to pray or know just how to pray.  There are, of course, our more formal prayer like the Lord’s prayer and our Hail Mary, but informal prayer is just talking to the Lord.  In my case, I am always talking to St. Anthony, the saint of lost objects because I lose everything all the time and he always comes through for me.  Anyway, I thought “Mom’s Empty Chair” to be inspirational. 

Mom’s Empty Chair

When the minister arrived,

he found the woman lying in bed with her head

propped up on two pillows.

An empty chair sat beside her bed.

The minister assumed that the woman

had been informed of his visit.

‘I guess you were expecting me, he said.

‘No, who are you?’ said the mother.

The minister told her his name and then remarked,

‘I saw the empty chair and I figured you knew

I was going to show up..’

‘Oh yeah, the chair,’ said the bedridden woman.

‘Would you mind closing the door?’

Puzzled, the minister shut the door.

‘I have never told anyone this,

not even my daughter,’ said the woman.

‘But all of my life I have never

known how to pray.

At church I used to hear the pastor talk about prayer,

but it went right over my head.’

I abandoned any attempt at prayer,’

the old woman continued, ‘

until one day four years ago, my best friend said to me,

‘ Prayer is just a simple matter

of having a conversation with Jesus

Here is what I suggest.

‘Sit down in a chair;

place an empty chair in front of you,

and in faith see Jesus on the chair.

It’s not spooky because he promised,

‘I will be with you always’.

‘Then just speak to him in the same way

you’re doing with me right now.’

‘So, I tried it and I’ve liked it so much

that I do it a couple of hours every day.

I’m careful though. If my daughter saw me talking

to an empty chair, she’d either have a nervous breakdown

or send me off to the funny farm.’

The minister was deeply moved by the story and

encouraged the old woman to continue on the journey.

Then he prayed with her, anointed her with oil,

and returned to the church.

Two nights later the daughter called

to tell the minister that her mama

had died that afternoon.

Did she die in peace?’ he asked.

Yes, when I left the house about two o’clock,

she called me over to her bedside,

told me she loved me and kissed me on the cheek.

When I got back from the store an hour later,

I found her .

But there was something strange about her death

Apparently, just before Mom died,

she leaned over and rested her head on the chair

beside the bed. What do you make of that?’

The minister wiped a tear from his eye and said,

‘I wish we could all go like that.’

Just send this to four people or more,

and do not break this, please.

Prayer is one of the best free gifts we receive..

I asked God for water, He gave me an ocean.*

I asked God for a flower, He gave me a garden*

I asked God for a friend, He gave me all of YOU…

If God brings you to it, He will bring you through it.

Happy moments, praise God.

Difficult moments, seek God.

Quiet moments, worship God

Painful moments, trust God

Every moment, thank God.

Nice message for all of us and what a wonderful way to leave this world huh? Prayer always helps no matter what !  Have a great day !

postheadericon Happy New Year

May 2014 bring you many blessings!