J&A's Brittanys - A Lifetime of Love

What we have once enjoyed we can never lose;

All that we love deeply, becomes a part of us.

Helen Keller

I finally finished my Tribute to Treasure video and posted it on YouTube last night. It depicts a lifetime of love, both given and received. I started to work on it shortly after her passing last March. The completion of this has brought me a sense of peace, a near closure. If you follow All Things Brittany - J&A's Brittanys on Facebook, you may have read about the dream I had a few nights ago about Treasure, and how she 'came to me'. I cannot explain such things, I only know that it happened.  As difficult a year as it was, it seems that once I pass the first anniversary of my Treasure's passing it may be easier. It is not so much that I have dwelled on my loss, it is simply that I was not prepared for how deeply that loss would affect me.  I embedded her special video at the end of this post.

Tonight, Revere sits across the room from me, leaning on the couch barely able to keep his eyes open.  Just a few inches away from Mr. Sleepy Head lies his great grandmother, Pippin.  She is on the couch itself and out like a light. Oops! I spoke to soon. Revere just slid gracefully down onto the floor.  That's the excitement of this Friday evening.  John has gone to bed already, accompanied by his entourage.  All is well this night in our humble abode.  

The forecast of occasional snow showers throughout the past few days resulted in continual light snow from morning through the evening.  The town plow just went by a few minutes ago.  Our Brittanys love to play in the snow.  Our yard reminds me of the elementary school playground at recess after a storm.  A beautiful blanket of freshly fallen snow is quickly transformed into paths and pawprints where they romp with glee.  John creates several humongous mountains of snow as he plows and makes paths for the dogs to run in.  Just like children who love to romp and play in the white stuff, so do the dogs delight in playing 'king of the mountain'! 

Toph has not come into heat yet!  There's not much anyone can do to jump start the process so this is a season to practice patience instead of impatience.  I'm doing my best. And I know everyone waiting for a future pup is doing the same.  Can't rush mother nature, right?!  Toph is staying in shape with regular use of our daughter's treadmill in their home. Pictured here is my granddaughter, Toph's co-owner/breeder.

I'm a little (a lot!) excited because I am soon going to enter Revere into a spring show. In as much as I would love to show him myself, the injury I sustained when I fell in the ring is not 100% resolved. All of his points including his major were won in the Bred By Exhibitor/ Owner Handler classes.  My desire was so strong to continue, to overcome the physical challenges that now are part of my daily life. It's all good though, as I am blessed with a wonderful trainer who Revere absolutely adores. She's pictured here with him. I love how she "gets" him and makes him shine. (My granddaughter also is an exceptional handler.) So unless the show(s) I am looking at get cancelled, we're going to go for it! Revere is such an enjoyable Brittany even though he can be a handful at times. I love his intelligence and zest for life, his comical ways, and the sweetness of his personality.  This very handsome boy makes me laugh a lot!

We are looking forward to getting back into hunt tests and field trials this spring as well.  Last year the tendency was strong to cancel everything.  I hope that tendency does not continue into this new year. Already too many New England shows have been cancelled that were scheduled for May and beyond.  Yet across the country they continue to go on.  Sigh. (We hope to see YOUR J&A's Brittanys at this years' tests, trials, etc. just to give things a try! Plus it's fun.)

I'm hoping to refresh our puppy room and whelping box.  Maybe a bit of a facelift through fresh paint and new curtains, we'll see!  It's just a small room off the garage but the atmosphere of this special room changes when pups arrive. Life as we know it goes on hold and time stands still as the world is locked out.  All that matters are the precious lives of momma and her puppies.  

I'm working from a new laptop tonight and have yet to master it.  Along with the laptop there are a few new photo editing apps which I totally enjoy doing.  Additionally, perhaps this will be the year that I find a way to download, save and print all of the posts I have ever written here. I would like so much to put them into some kind of book form. A pipe dream but a dream nevertheless.  I even have a title in mind for the book! Writing is something I've always loved, that seems to have come naturally to me. (Thank you Lord!)

In closing, I would like to ask you to continue praying for our country.  Please also pray for Texas as they experience a devastating weather catastrophe. There are so many needs tonight that I am aware of personally.  The Bible tells us to pray without ceasing. 

As always thank you for your ongoing interest in All Things Brittany. We appreciate each and every one of you who follow our blog. Hopefully soon we will all begin to chronicle a brand new journey together! Take care and God bless,

John, Ann, and our amazing canine crew.

Here's Treasure's Tribute video: