Saturday, February 09, 2008

Virtual Villainess

Oh, my! It's been a while since I've blogged. There are plenty of things going on at EverRanch!

My son is 27 today - Wow! It seems like just "yesterday" when my water broke 4 months before we were expecting him! Yes... 4 months. As it turned out, the doc was wrong on my due date, but Bryan was still 9 weeks early. He was a healthy 2 lb, 7 oz and spent 4 weeks in the hospital, just growing. The target weight was 5 lb, but he was doing so well that he was discharged at about 4 1/2 lb. Now he's running the IT department at an international company in Albuquerque. Since birth, he lives life to its fullest.

My daughter will be 24 on Wednesday. She's married to a wonderful man from Moses Lake. They bought their first house last fall, in Moses Lake, and are working for his dad's winery and vineyards, one of the largest in Washington State.

That, and I'm flying to Florida on Thursday to judge agility in Palm Beach. Wow! Am I ever looking forward to some warmer weather. Goodie, Goodie, Goodie!!

There's lots of mundane goings on. And one that's really exciting! After waiting for 3 years, I'm getting a puppy. Woo Hooo! I picked out the dam about 5 years ago, and we got Thomas from her first litter. He ended up being Dave's graduation from college present. He's such a great Labrador, that I decided to get another pup from his dam.

The pups were born on January 1st, and ours should be arriving the last week in February!

Introducing: Winroc Virtual Villainess

"Villa" comes from some high falutin' Labrador show and performance lines. Her dam is Ch. Winroc On Line, JH, who is going for her Senior Hunter title after she gets back in shape. Dad is Ch. Waifin's Topform Conundrum, RN, WC who will also be competing in hunt tests. In her pedigree is an Amateur Field Champion, a French Dual Champion and many Specialty show winners. She has close relatives wtih MACh, UDX, OTCh and TDX titles. She's got some big paw prints to fill.

It's been a long time since I've had a pup with such potential. By this fall, she should be competing in hunt tests and rally obedience. Agility trials will have to wait until her bones are mature, but she can start learning non-jumping skills, tunnels, walking planks and lots more! And I have so much more time now that I'm retired. ;-)

Funny thing. I wasn't feeling so bad that I hadn't posted for a while. I was checking all my blog links, and they didn't have any new postings either. Well... a couple days ago, I decided to "refresh" my browser and - voila! - I got all the blog posts I'd been missing. You all have been busy! :-)

- Franna

6 comments:

Nancy K. said...

What a beauty!!! Congratulations on your new puppy! It sounds like she's going to have a great life...

Franna said...

Thanks, Nancy. I considered English Shepherds - your Bella is so beautiful! - German Shepherds, another Welsh Springer Spaniel, and several other breeds. I just kept coming back to Labradors. heh... I'm already planning to get her first Rally obedience title this fall.
- Franna

Michelle said...

You are ambitious. I would love to do "stuff" with Jackson, but it's just not possible to add more to my plate right now, mostly because of my Brian. For my work with him at home, though, I have a question for you to settle. I've always worked my dogs on my left, and my friend whose horse I ride has been working Jackson on her right. Who is right? Or does the handler choose?

Michelle said...

Oh, and in answer to your question about where Bella is going, she'll be much closer to you -- just across the water!

Franna said...

Hi Michelle,
As for whether to work Jackson on your right or left, unless you want to do serious Obedience trialing (or 4H obedience), it is handler's option. "Heel" on the left came about because most people are right handed, and it kept the dog more out of the way. If I had my way, I'd allow a choice in Obedience trials... but they didn't ask me. ;-)
- Franna

Kathy said...

Franna...We have another thing in common! My DD was a premie - 3 months early - and weighed in at 2 lbs., 10 oz. at birth. She had to spend a few months in the NNICU before we reached that magical 4 1/2 lb. number, too. She's turning 30 this year and is a Cellular & Molecular Biochemist specializing in proteomics. ANS just got finished with her PhD!!!! She was born with clenched fists and screaming her little head off - something that should have forewarned me to the determined individual she would become. I think she got bored waiting for the nine month period and said, "Enough of this ----! I'm outta here!"

And congratulation on the new puppy! So cute! OK, who's the favorite person: you or Dave?