Catchin' Up!

Pictured:

Dawn Hill with Pippin who is now 1 year old.

Julie Harris with Bullet who is now 7 months old.

How can it be that this month is flying by so quickly? Well, you should know that once again - we have had problems with our LOVELY internet service provider - Fairpoint. May I just gripe about how the transition from Verizon to Fairpoint has NOT been a smooth one, despite what is being promoted? Not only have we had intermittent internet service since February 20th (I just regained it again after being off for about a half hour today) but our billing for their Satellite TV bundle we signed up for - keeps needing readjustments. No kidding. Each month, when the bill comes we have to call and ask for a readjustment. For some reason, they cannot get it right - and we keep getting overcharged by nearly $40.00 a month! When we call, on a monthly basis - we ask them to bring up the record of our account, and ask if there is anything there about the previous months problems! Of course there is. So we once again ask why it was not corrected... and here we go again. As I type this blog, I'm watching my little internet light flicker on and off. John is ready to throw everything out on the front lawn for them. Other than that, life is wonderful and I'll be happy to see those nice young men in their clean white coats and they are coming to take me away ha ha hee hee!!!!!

We had a lovely Easter, with our son in law's family visiting from England. The Easter Bunny totally blew it at their house and at ours... and boy did the kids let us know it! Even so, the true meaning of Easter did not get overlooked as we gathered at the dinner table, joined hands to express our love and appreciation to our Lord. Easter always brings with it such a promise of hope and renewal.

This past weekend was very special. Julie and I traveled to Springfield MA, for Bullet's show debut. He did so well, and so did Julie. I was just so proud of both of them in the ring. Although an extremely difficult show to debut a puppy at - we did have a wonderful time with Pippin and Bullet, and many of our Brittany friends from Maine and across the region. We enjoyed some time with Lisa and Izzy too. Bullet won his first two blue ribbons, earning him the opportunity to compete for the available points in Winners Dog competition. It was a good experience. Bullet's sister Bailey was there, I had a chance to visit with her and have some hands on time. My knee was killing me on Sunday so Dawn showed Pippin for me. Julie really is getting good at her handling skills herself. I'm still pretty exhausted and trying to catch up on so many things here... so will end for now, but Nancy, if too much time passes, do not be afraid to remind me as you did! Love and God Bless each of you, Ann, John and All things Brittany

Proudly Bragging!

Just off the phone with Dawn Hill with the exciting news that 6 month old Hills Catch'n the Wind (Bailey out of Chrissy and Jack) won her first show point at the Great Barrington Kennel Club, Inc. Show today! Not only that, but Miss Bailey won 3rd place in Amateur Walking Puppy at Southern New Englands Field Trial last weekend with 11 starters! Not only that, but J & A's Sassafras Rose Harris (Sassy out of Smoke and Molly) reached 5,000 points to earn her Flyball Dog Master title yesterday at the regional tournament in Dover, NH yesterday with owner/handler Julie Harris! HUGE HUGE congratulations to Paul and Dawn, and to Jim and Julie and a heartfelt expression of appreciation too on our behalf.

Can't believe a week passed without updating this but it was a busy one for us! Last Sunday I drove to Augusta with Miss Pippin for an All Breed Fun Day sponsored by Kennebec Valley Shetland Collie Club. We met up with Lisa and Bella, and Julie and Bullet for a morning full of handling training tips, conformation show practice and more. All three of these young Brits enjoyed themselves, as did all three owners! Bullet does very nicely in the ring and Julie is much more confident in her handling skills (of course, the same could be said for Lisa and Bella too). And I was thrilled with how well Miss Pippin did. Shes a hoot and she knows it... she also knows I was very upset with her the other day. Pippin has never bolted away from me before but I guess she figured with her one year birthday coming up it was about time. Out on a routine 'hurry up' bathroom outing, she caught bird scent. The woodcock are down back... and she knew it! Off she went leaping over brush and fallen trees like a beautiful deer would do, quartering so nicely and rapidly with intent and purpose - farther and farther away from me! I was so mad as she totally blew me off! I was worried she'd get beyond our fencing so tried to get her to come back. It was clear she had no idea of paying attention and all I had were my clogs on - buried in mud after my futile attempts to catch up. I decided to ignore her.. .but then she figured out how to lure me over to the bird pens... and I thought that I could surely get her there - no way! She stayed just out of reach, little brat. I turned my back to her and sat down. She kept playing around me, taunting and daring me to come after her but I yawned... finally she couldn't stand it anymore and came running to me, jumping up to give kisses. Without any big display, I just calmly leashed her and we walked to the kennel together. She's been in the house consistently lately so this was quite a problem for her. I brought her to her inside pen, and then walked away up to the house... it was an overnighter with her mom, Wish, Molly and Scooby nearby. Not happy but... she's minding much better now ;o)

Yesterday was great fun for me, I headed over to Dover with Treasure to meet up with Julie and Sassy and their Flyball Team - the Mainiacs. I stayed long enough to enjoy seeing Sassy in action. She is so happy and loves the sport of Flyball! And with reaching her Flyball Dog Master title - that made yesterday even more special.

I testified concerning another bill on Friday, LD 988, an amendment to the exisiting dangerous dog bill which would penalize a dog for being a dog - in other words, a dog would have to be euthanized for killing a domestic animal. I can see that in situations involving people. I think the hearing went well.

And having said that, this Holy week now begins with thoughts of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. We pray that each of you will make time to reflect on the true meaning of Easter, think about Christ surrendering His life that you and I might live.. what amazing love, what sacrifice - and the message of salvation is the Gospel of truth for us all, and in a world like we live in - the only thing that really does make sense... For God so Loved the World, that He gave His Only Begotten Son, so that Whosoever Believeth in Him, Would Not Perish, but Have Ever Lasting Life. BELIEVE...
Love, John, Ann and All Things Brittany