Chillin' out

Just chillin' out in AZ after a long walk or after a meal - or BOTH!  And they are all on their Bowser Beds, of course!

Diva

Diva's bliss

Miska resting on her 'Gumby' toy

Tyro is so freakin' relaxed!

Summer fun

Last week, the pups and I headed up to the Muskoka lake area to visit Eileen Wilkes, owners of Bowsers and also the breeder of our beloved Nova who is the puppies' maternal grandmother.  It was a nice chance for me to relax a bit and for the pups to learn to swim and have fun by a lake. Needless to say, a great time was had by all and all the pups learned to swim although none ventured into the lake on their own. But they were greatly aided by Eileen's 8-year old daughter, Erin, who is half-fish herself!

New Patio Mats

My dogs absolutely LOVE Bowsers' Beds.  However here in AZ I didn't want to place any Bowsers' Dutchie & Donut Beds outdoors where scorpions and other nasty critters could find a new home. I thought seriously about buying elevated beds for them.  But one day I popped into Bed Bath & Beyond in Chandler, AZ (love that store but the prices in its Canadian stores are ultra-high) and saw these bone-shaped, memory foam mats and bought 3. They look like they will wash easily and they are cushiony enough to provide comfort while lying on the patio.  Tyro and Diva try them out.

PS - they cost me $29.95 $29.99 each.

Tyro gives one a test try

It works outdoors!

I think I like it!

Diva models one

Nova turns 10 today

Make a Smilebox scrapbook

Dearest and Cherished Nova,

Where did the time go? It doesn't seem like 10 years ago that you were born and almost that long ago when you entered our lives, thanks to your breeder, Eileen Wilkes (Wright). You were named Nova to represent new blood and new lines in my Vizsla breeding program. But how the passage of time flies by so quickly. Now you're turning 10 years old today. What happened to the past decade?

You are barely showing your age in your face and you're still as beautiful as ever. We love you so dearly and know that you love us too. I hope we've given you a good and happy life. You have made many friends over the years and have been a wonderful mom to 16 kids in 2 litters and grandmother to 6 more. Your legacy will always live on in your offspring and your grand-kids and perhaps great-grand-kids one day. Your field trainer, Mike Wilshire of Ruffwood Brittanies had this comment for me about you. "Nova has a real problem. She's too %@*^~ friendly." Well, this certainly was a compliment about you because you loved people!!

Photo by Corrine Sellars

During this short time (really, a decade seems to fly by so fast), you and I trained, competed for and earned 12 titles. I feel like we've barely scratched the surface and wish we had done more. It's difficult to believe that a decade has already passed. Just 3 months ago, you finally completed your American Rally Adv-Exc (RAE) title and competed in a Vizsla specialty show in Phoenix, earning Best of Opposite Sex in the Veteran Sweepstakes and last fall, you earned your American Jr Hunter title. I'm so glad we did all this and more because I know you had so much fun.

Today we salute you Nova (CH Ferngold Varazs Innovation Can/Am CD FDJ, JH, Am/Can RA, Am RE, CGN)and celebrate your life, your loving personality, and your fun-loving nature. Thank you so much Eileen for entrusting Nova to me. I know we've done you proud and I will always be grateful and cherish the the photo shoot we had at your house last fall and am so glad that Nova graces the cover of your 2009 Bowser's catalogue. Thank you for all those exceptional photos of Nova, Miska, and Diva.

Photo by Bowsers

HAPPY 10TH BIRTHDAY NOVA!!

Love always,
Sylvia & Michael