Exciting Announcement!

We have exciting news!  Since our recent trip to WV several weeks ago to visit a sweet OTSC named Henry, I am 95% certain that Lucy is expecting puppies mid-September!  Now, it’s possible that she may surprise me and suddenly trim up and no puppies appear like last time we tried a long distance stud.  But she is looking quite plump these days so we are excitedly optimistic…

I’m also excited about our new stud: Royal Leith Winter Dunsmir or better known as “Henry”.  Check out his pedigree here: https://registry.scotchcollie.org/details.php?id=65473

Henry is a sweet tri-color from Three Springs Farm, WV.  Tim and I drove the 7 hours to rural WV and stayed in Morgantown for a few days in order to meet Henry and his people.  Sharron and Clint were so hospitable and friendly during our visit, which is good because it’s a bit of a strange thing to stand around and chat while you’re waiting expectantly for your dogs to… “perform”.  

Not only is Henry handsome, he is a friendly guy, greeting us with tail wagging and tongue hanging out, a good-natured grin on his face. In fact, I’m happy to say his personality reminds me of Hamish, whom I adore.  Henry is also varmint control on Three Springs and COMPLETELY CLEAR genetically AND has had hips checked with excellent results. I’m excited to see how his puppies turn out.   He was immediately interested in Lucy and the two became fast friends as they inspected all the in and outs of the farm.   We were thrilled that there was a solid tie on day one!  But after last year's experience of two ties and no puppies after a long trip to Kentucky, we decided we’d stick around a full 4 days to give them as much time as possible to get the job done effectively.  

During the day we did as much sight seeing as the area had to offer.  We checked out the local historic site, Fort Prickett and Cooper Rock State Park as well as the botanical gardens.  The weather was perfect for hiking and sightseeing and it was a nice getaway for a few days.  

Meanwhile, back at the farm, Henry and Lucy did no more “performing” for us besides our first tie!  We were a bit disappointed that it might mean our trip would not be successful, but if there is one thing I have learned through all of this it’s that you really can’t force nature.  I’ve seen 9 puppies on a 10 second tie and zero puppies on two fantastic ties.  You just never know and you certainly can’t do much about it either way.  We hope for the best!

While we’ve all been waiting we have squeezed in a few home projects this fall while the weather is nice before puppies fill all our spare moments.  Which means we also delayed beginning our school year to get it all done.  However I have refused to allow myself to feel guilty for not cracking open the books and chose to see our work as hands-on education in “property stewardship”.  Call it what you like, but I do believe there is a lot of value in my kids learning how to plaster a wall, paint a room, refinish a floor, power-wash the house, clear brush, and all of the other necessary things that come with maintaining a home and property.  And, good grief, 10 years and 3 boys in one room means there was just about no paint or finish left on anything so it was good for them to be a part of cleaning up after themselves.  

So we may not be deep into academia right now, but they’re learning :).  

We’ve found some time for a few field trips, the Billy Graham Library, a science museum, and a nature center.

And another of them a trip with my oldest daughter on the French Broad River.  I have to admit, I have been very impressed with her new skill as a white water rafting guide.  The rafting company allows their employees to go “turkey boating” which basically means taking a group of family or friends free of charge out with a rafting tour while she is off the clock.  I enjoyed seeing my 5-foot-nothing daughter direct a raft of 7 people, skillfully navigating the rapids and loading and unloading the large rubber things from the top of an old school bus.  I admit, it’s nice to see your grown children achieve things that seem bigger than themselves.  It makes up for all those moments as a parent when you feel like you have certainly failed all of them miserably.  If you’re a parent, I think we’ve all been there!  

And speaking of achievements of 5-foot-nothing females, Hannah, a senior this year, decided to try out kicking for the football team and has garnered a lot of attention as one of the few females in the sport.  After a year out of everything from ACL repair last year, she is finding any and every way to use that knee!!  And she’s enjoyed a rather unusual way of doing it.  

We are deep into the boys soccer season in the fall and that means there is usually a game just about every weekday.  But it is a time full of something they love and, though at times I feel like I’m about to lose my mind, I enjoy watching them do something they excel at.  

Alright, enough bragging on my kids.  There are just times we mamas need to remind ourselves that we must have done something right along the way lol.  

Meanwhile, puppies are in the oven and will be arriving around September 18th, ready for forever homes mid-November! If you would like to apply for one of Lucy and Henry’s sweet little bundles you can hit the button below!

Apply!

Not sure who loves who more…