December 9th, 2012

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Fairly busy weekend here. Had a lovely visit with a friend from Montana, cut a bit short by the snow storm. He picked up his pup, Bramble, and took my four darling boys–Huron, Aero, Rush, and Seger—for a grand time of training for a few weeks in Montana and then off for more fun training in Florida. I bawled like a big baby for days just thinking about them leaving and again as they pulled out of the driveway this morning. I always wonder what they might be thinking when they leave—do they think I didn’t love them? I know, I’m such a putz. Probably much too emotionally attached to these incredible dogs to ever be a good business person. I just can’t help it, no matter how I try, how professional I think I am, I cry every time. I worry about what they’ll be fed, where they’ll sleep, how they will be treated, how much they’ll get to hunt, and I usually back out of every older-dog sale. I’ll forever be “dog-poor” because I’ll keep them all before they’ll go anywhere I don’t feel good about.

Another reminder that I just might be a control-freak…. 🙁

Jagger having a big run before leaving for his flight.

Sage playing in the landscaping at the airport during her flight delay!

Anyway, we braved the snow-covered highways in the dark early Saturday morning and made the trek to Green Bay, where the darling Chile flew off to his new home in Idaho, Jagger to lower Michigan, and Sage to NY where she joined her sister Ginger. The snow melted quickly when the sun came up and after getting all the pups on their flights, was able to make the dog food pickup and get back to the farm in time to meet Rika’s new dad and off they went for the long drive back to her new home in Canada. My firewood order arrived and we got that unloaded, got the dog food unloaded, all dogs fed and exercised, kennels cleaned up, and went out for dinner. I just didn’t have time to stop and shop for people-food and I was too exhausted to even think about cooking. Crawled into bed and snuggled with L-Bird as we watched over her lovely wee pups and drifted off into a coma.

This morning, Bramble left with the “big boys” for the treacherous drive through the snowstorm to his new home in Montana…

The kitchen is very empty now and it looks like it will be even emptier (and I’ll get to repaint and clean, clean, clean) because the very handsome Brier pup might be leaving soon as there are several inquiries about him.

Lady-Bird’s puppies are really coming along–they are walking and yipping and the fun begins! I’ll probably move them out of my bedroom and into one of the puppy rooms this week and get the Puppy Cam going. Darling Maddie needs to come inside now to relax and get ready for her delivery around the 22nd, just as Scott arrives to hold down the fort while I get to head to PA for Christmas with my family! Bittersweet… I get to go home for Christmas, but won’t get to spend it with my hubby. 🙁

We have a lovely snowfall going on and the dogs are enjoying it. I enjoy the beauty and freshness. The Llews just love to eat it and play. I just had to have a brief escape today to get a few young dogs out for a run. I took Kea and Rue and we had a blast in the quiet, snow-covered State forest. We easily put out about 10 Ruffs in under an hour—they were hold-up high in the safety of the conifers—but we at least got out and the gals had some striking points. I, of course, didn’t have a chance of a shot. I wasn’t really in the mood for shooting—just wanted to get the girls out, enjoy them and the beautiful snow. It was so fantastic to get out and to get out in a snowy afternoon. Quiet. Beautiful. Crisp. Cold. Just the sound of the bells jingling and crazy beautiful bird dog noses taking in scent. Boots squeaking in the new-fallen snow… Just fantastic. I needed it so badly that I can’t even describe what getting out today with those girls did to my soul. I cried over those absolutely gorgeous, talented, sweet-sweet boys leaving me and how I let them down, but at the same time am so happy for them and all the fun and opportunities they will have on birds and eventually wonderful bird-dog families where they will get to sleep on the sofa and hunt to their heart’s content and it’s what I want for every Llew. That’s what every one of these dogs deserve and it’s what gets me out of bed and on with the shoveling every single day.

Onward.

That’s all for tonight, I have to get back to work.

Hug your Llewellin tonight… because you can. 🙂

-M.