GREEN BOY FULFILLS HIS DESTINY

Our beloved little Gretna Green Boy, he of the gorgeous face, went to his forever home.

Declan and Daddy Dean

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We know that Greenie, aka Declan, will be very, very happy with his adoring parents Kathy and Dean. May Freya watch over you and God keep you safe little one.  Forever in our hearts.

OUR LITTLE FAMILY

We have been blessed to have Green Boy, aka Teddy,  as part of our family for a little extra time. He is such a special little lad, full of vim and vigour; he has an amazing capacity to love everyone he meets, both four and two legged.  Truly a happy little camper who will make someone very, very happy.

Kelly Ann, Janie and  Teddy are a wonderful threesome.  They play together and sleep together.  Kelly continues to be a stellar mom whose love for her babes knows no bounds.  No mama could have been more patient, more gentle, kinder or more loving than our beloved Kelly Ann. What a privilege it has been to share the Gretna Green adventure with her.

 

  

 

  

 

 

HERE'S JANEY

We are thrilled to introduce our own beloved little girl - Red Girl - from the Firecracker Five:   Miss Janey, the apple of our eye and the delight of her mama, Kelly Ann.   She is a very special, spunky, loving little lass who we know will gladden our hearts. God grant her a long and happy life.

Gretna Green Janey Full of Promise

It was not really so much a case of us choosing Janey, but rather one of  Janey choosing us:  At the ripe old age of 6 weeks, the naughty little scamp scaled the baby X-pen in the wee hours of the night, not once, but twice, landing with a soft plop on the floor, which an ever-vigilant grandpa and grandma heard, and then she proceded to trot along the passage into our bedroom, as if she were telling us, in no uncertain terms that she was the chosen one!

Me thinks she will be quite a handful!

IN THE PINK!

Labour Day was a very special day:  Our precious pink girl, aka TBD,  went to her forever home with Anne and Chris, Lisa and Julie, not forgetting Golden Sammie and wee MoJo.  I know that 'Pinkie' will bring a great deal of joy, love and happiness to the family. May she keep everyone - two and four legged - young.  God bless little one and be safe and happy always.

Anne and Pinkie

Lisa, Julie and Pinkie

A VERY SPECIAL STORY

In the midst of all the discord and disharmony that seems to be our lot in life these days, I thought we could all use a feel-good story.

A dear neighbour of ours, Hilly, visited our pups a while back. Whilst there, she told us about her volunteer work as a Hospice caregiver with the dying, particulaly those poor folk who are all alone in the world. Hilly actually sits with these folk as they pass over,  and helps them make the transition. 

We were deeply moved by her story. Here is a good person who truly does God's work.  It rather puts all the day-to-day angst and petty issues into perspective.  I just thought I would share this - something to ponder upon.

AND THEN THERE WERE THREE...

Today was a mixed-blessing kind of day:  Two of our darling boys - Blue and Gold - left us for their new homes far away - Seals and Croft said it so well with their song, We may never pass this way again

Our beloved Gold Boy, aka Ferris Mueller,  went to his Forever home in Washington with mom Heidi, dad Tom and big sister Mica.  We will miss our class clown so much: Goldy with the Goofy smile and the kisses that light up one's day. Be safe and happy sweetest boy.

Anyone, Anyone?

We said Farewell to our confident, outgoing and handsome Blue Boy as he went to his Forever home with mom Claudia and dad Larry.  Pika, our gifted boy, make us proud as you strut the hallowed halls of Harvard.

On to Boston.....

Our hearts are heavy and the whelping box seems very depleted without our special boys, but we know that they are in safe and loving hands. We ask only that they be loved, spoiled and cherished  forever.

A RED LETTER DAY

Claudia, Larry and Pika

Saturday the 28th was a very special day:  Not only did the pups turn 8 weeks, but Bodacious Bonny Blue Boy, aka Pika, met his forever mom and dad for the first time.

FIVE O'CLOCK AND ALL IS WELL!

On Monday at 5pm, we took the little people to our vet, for their Wellness Test, together with their first shots and deworming.

I must confess that Grandma and Grandpa experienced some angst wondering how the little ones would cope with the whole experience. Well, we needn't have worried. The firecracker quintet were supremely unconcerned about being in the crate in the car for the first time and greeted Dr. U. with great enthusiasm.. Not a wimper was heard, not a flinch was given as our brave little soldiers were examined, temps taken and shots administered. We were very proud of our babes.

The worst part of the whole process was the heat wave we were experiencing for the first time this summer -  96 F!  So as soon as we got home, it was into the pool for a welcome cool-down after a thirst quenching drink from mama  Here are some pics of five beloved little campers:

Hanging pup

 

 

 

Rumble

 

Bring it on

I'm waiting!

Mom get's in on the act

THE HARD CRATE - HOME SWEET HOME!

On Saturday we introduced the pups to a hard crate:  We put it in the corner of the whelping box,  to the intense interest of everybody.  We simply left the door open and placed some toys and a puppy towel in it and soon little folk were investigating the crate:

Life is full of endless possibilities.

As you can see, the crate seems to have passed muster! 

THE FIRECRACKER FIVE ARE 7 WEEKS OLD

We can't believe it, but our little ones are seven weeks old and are almost ready to leave the nest.  On Saturday, August 21st, AKC judge June Smith carried out the Structure Test, ably assisted by Linda Lang.  We are so grateful to these kind and knowledgeable ladies who gave up their Saturday to conduct the Structure Test on our pups.  It was a privilege to observe them in action

We are happy to report that everyone passed with flying colours;  No one has any structural problems that would prevent them from having an active, productive and competitive future.

To mark their 7th week irthday, here are some of our favourite pics of each pup:

Goofy Goldie Boy

Gregarious Gretna Green Boy

Rambunctious Red Girl

Precocious Pink Girl

Bodacious Bonny Blue Boy

PUPPY POOL PARTY

Puppy bookends

After introducing the pups to the water sprinkler, the next logical step was to let them frolic in water.  Here they are, as usual led by mama, taking to water like proverbial ducks. The pictures speak for themselves - fun was had by all:

Mama shows them how it's done

The Firecracker Quintet hits the pool

Effortlessly in

Effortlessly out

Retrieving the mini water bottle

Goldie practising for the real thing

The more, the merrier

Just hanging out keeping cool

And always, mama is never far away

THE FABULOUS CLIFFORD SLIDE

Like generations of privileged Goldie puppies before them, the Firecracker Quintet have had a glorious time playing on Grandma Suzanne's Clifford Slide. I like to think that the slide struck a chord in Kelly Ann's memory as she, without any encouragement, and with great enjoyment, demoed the slide to the intense interest of her little ones.

Deja Vu!

As the pups soon learned, the Clifford Slide has many permutations:  Here Blue Boy surveys the world imperiously from the top of the slide;  presumably vertigo is not a problem.
  

I'm the king of the castle!

  The slide also functions as a dual carriage way:

L:ike ships that pass in the night!

For the really adventurous pup, they can try going up the slide - rather like going up the escalator the wrong way.  Gosh those little hamhocks come in handy::

Hmmm., the steps would have been easier

And when all else fails, one can always take refuge under the slide

A safe house!

SALUTE TO THE PIG RAIL - WHAT A WONDERFUL INVENTION

Let's raise a glass to whoever invented the pig rail:  A low railing that skirts the inner perimeter of the whelping box, which allows pups to roll under the rail to safety, away from a tired mama who may flop down and not the see a little one.

How they love the pig rail.  As little people, they would shelter under the pig rail, secure in the comfort it offered.

As big little people, they have not been able to fit under the rail for some time;  in fact all they can do now is to tuck their heads under the rail. Still, sometimes that's all it takes:

Did the pigrail shrink?

Of course the pig rail also serves as a really fine chewie:

And sweet Goldie finds it just the right height for a head rest, when he's not a the water bowl!

SOME KODAK MOMENTS

Raising pups in the living room, is like having  round-the-clock PUPPY TV. 
There are so many magical moments - here are few that are forever in our hearts:

Mama is more than just a milkbar!

Play hard, sleep like angels

Sharing a chewie

Goldie's favourite resting spot - the water bowl

Gretna Green Boy has the most darling face