The Rocket's Celebrate their Third Birthday

I always think it is fun that their birthday falls on National Puppy Day!

This bunch is blessed with wonderful owners and I rec'd a great response to the annual Happy Birthday email when I sent it around.

Redstone's birthday report: "3 and going strong. Redstone is still the favorite in our house and Carver's best friend. He often reminds us to feed him with a friendly bark, sometimes 5 or 6 times a day. We are working on his ability to tell time. Normal sleeping pose below. He can't seem to sleep upright."

Redstone

 Luna's family reports: "Luna has her submarine piloting lesson on Monday so she'll definitely have a very fun day tomorrow.  When she's not following me into the bathroom or... everywhere, Luna mostly hangs out under our 2 year old's high chair at meal times. She provides essential family support in the form of floor clean up duty.  

Thanks again, Suzanne, for breeding such a sweet, healthy group of pups and for staying in touch!

Happy birthday Rocket Litter"

Luna

Arlene and Keith reported in: "Atlas is still a pup in his mind! He is so affectionate and lavishes love on all his "familiars" . He is gradually learning not worry so much about the unfamiliar. We have been going to class and helping him to enjoy different environments. Lots of improvements and his comfort level is expanding. Sunny day and we are off for a birthday hike. We are going to Tammy's tomorrow to help set up her new agility course---- a new challenge for Atlas!  Thanks again for entrusting him to us. He brings us lots of joy!"

Atlas

Lani's report: "Lani will celebrate her birthday at her Monday night agility class. She loves agility, is very enthusiastic & fast. Almost as enthusiastic  for agility as for water work. She will start a rally class next week. She is very smart, catches on fast, she trained Jerry & my dad how & when to play fetch with her.  Still says Whoo Whoo lots & greets us in the am or when we have been out with a stuffed toy.

Thanks for such a sweet girl!"

Lani with Nancy at a water trial

From Delta: "Delta gets to go to her agility lesson every Monday, so she will have a fun birthday outing there.  Then perhaps she will get a special chew treat after dinner...  We had to adjust her harness out a few inches recently so I think she is completely filled out/matured now physically although she acts like an overgrown puppy still."

Delta

Happy New Year!

2014 in Pictures

I was horrible about updating the blog for the last half of 2014 and vow to do better this year.  Here (in reverse order) is the last half of 2014 in photos.

 December 2014 

Our annual Christmas card with the girls.

Ecko asks "Are you REALLY going to make me wear this jingly collar?"

Rawley visited for the Holidays and enjoyed playing with a nw toy.

Delta, worn out from the festivities.

Ecko's birthday is in December.

 November 2014   

Chili celebrated her 13th birthday in November.  Her birthday is close to Thanksgiving and Chili is surely something to be thankful for.

Ecko supervising as I groom another dog on the patio.

October 2014   

Reef (Ecko brother and Stoker's son) poses for a Fall photo.

Rawley posing with pumpkins.

At Vista House with my Mom and Chili and Delta.  Jan and my Dad were upstairs looking down at us.

At Wahclella Falls.  L to R: Jan with Chili, Me with Delta, my Mom and Dad.

Chili's 13th birthday is next month.  We love our old gal.

Stoker found her way around the fence and was looting the tomatos!

September 2014 

A small group of us went to Saddle Dam to check it out as a possible water trial venue. L to R: Taz, Ecko, Jude, Breeze, Rawley

Chili lost much of her vision, but if there is enough contrast she can still retrieve a little.

 August 2014

Stoker's daughter Subi (left) stayed with us while her family was out of town.

My brother and his wife came for a quick visit and we went to the Coast for the day.  This photo was outside the Tillamook air museum.

Which is prettier, Stoker or the Canna flower?

When we weren't enjoying time at the water, Ecko and her pack spent lots of time out in the back yard.

 July 2014

Ecko's daughter Luna

Ecko's daughter Luna came for a visit with her family.  That's Luna in front, sister Delta hidden behind her and Mama Ecko in the background.

The grrrlz showed their patriotism for 4th of July photos.  Chili (top left), Stoker (top right), Ecko (bottom left), Delta (bottom right) 

 

 

June 2014

Rawley finished his Championship and we took some "glam" shots before he got clipped down.

In June, Stoker and Ecko made a trip with friends for a weekend at Wye Lake.

May 2014

Delta says "stop taking photos and throw the toy!"

Delta (L) and Grandma Stoker enjoying some time at the river.

One Year Old Tomatos

The Tomato litter turned one year old this week.  I have gotten wonderful reviews on these pups from their new owners throughout the year along with pictures and the occasional video clip.  We are SO please that all the pups are doing well and making their owners happy and equally happy that we were able to find such terrific, loving homes for them.  Here are some updates:

Max

 Max (Fargo) is a true water dog, always in the pond or wading pool.  His owner Bruce didn't get a chance to check in, but I get glowing reports on Max every time I go to the vet since his owner's daughter works there.

Lilly

 Lilly (Pixie) and I send our best wishes to all the other tomatoes and their people.  I am very pleased with Lilly, she is a very happy fun loving girl.  Attached is Lilly at the beach.  Lilly and Karen

Bandit Murdoch

 Here is a picture of Bandit (Jasper) from Mercer Island, WA!  We are so lucky to have such an amazing puppy.  Thanks, Suzanne!
The Murdoch Family

Cabot

 Happy birthday brother and sister tomatoes!  Greetings from Capitol Hill in Seattle. Here are some photos of Cabot out back by the pool and in the woods by our house. Thanks to him, we are outdoors more than ever these days.  Thanks Suzanne and Jan  for such a wonderful addition to our family!
Marianne, Michael, Anthony and Nina Maxin

Bandit Viaene

 Bandit (Hank) has gotten "pretty good" at finding truffles, and absolutely loves tunnels and contacts.

Madge

 Madge (Capri) (Lookouts Sweet Serendipity) is doing great!  She likes to get up close and personal for all of her photos!  Thank you again Suzanne!  And yes she still has her sweet white chin and just a touch of white on her tail.  She is fantastic! 

Ripley

 Happy birthday to all the beautiful pups from the tomato litter from the Canadian tomato Ripley (Ranger) :)We have enjoyed a beautiful May long weekend the first in years without snow. 

Zander

Happy birthday to the “tomato” litter!  Here is Zander (Fargo) (Lookout’s Better Boy) showing off “his” tomato plant for this summer.  Have a great birthday celebration everyone!
Carolyn

The final week for the Tomatos

Bandit/Hank and Granny Stoker

 Saturday will mark the departure of the last tomato in the garden of puppies, with Jasper heading off with his family who have been away on vacation.  Hank has come back to visit for a few days while Stevie is on vacation, so you will see both pups in the photos I took in the yard today while I was home for lunch.

Ironically both Jasper and Hank have been named "Bandit" by their new families, which makes it easy when calling them both in from the yard, but tough when trying to distinguish between the two.

Bandit/Jasper

Bandit/Jasper is going to keep his new family busy, we think.  Being a true water dog, he thinks the water in his water bowl is as much to play with as it is to drink and delights in making a lake on our kitchen floor.  Last night, I ate my dinner on the patio and went back in the house, leaving my plate on the patio table.  I heard my plate rattle and looked out to see that Jasper had climbed onto the seat of the Adirondack chair, then from there to the arm of the chair and up onto the table.  He was standing entirely on the table when I spotted him!  I quickly swooped him off the table so he would not fall or jump and hurt himself and then moved the chair away from the table to prevent the little brat from accessing the table again.

Mama Ecko patrolling the yard.

Ecko guarding the yard.

Ecko and Bandit/Hank check out some good smells.

Pocket in the boat on Flathead Lake

Pocket boating with his family.

Pocket is one of Ecko's pups from her litter last spring (so Delta's brother).  He is such a lucky fellow and belongs to a wonderful family who take him on their adventures.  He got to go on a trip to Flathead Lake in Montana recently.   Mike reported that every morning Pocket would run down to take a dip in the lake.

Thanks for the pictures Mike.  Seeing how much enjoyment the pups bring in their new homes makes parting with them a little easier.

Jasper relaxing with one of his favorite toys.

 Jasper is still with us for another week (going home next weekend).  It is good that he is going home soon, as we are getting very attached to the little guy.  He is a very good swimmer and has been to the lake or river several times.

We will be a bit sorry to see him go BUT we are looking forward to a night of uninterrupted sleep and getting up just a bit later in the mornings than we have been!

Jasper hanging out on the steps with Delta.

Zander with his new friend Logan.

Zander

 We got a report and some pictures of Zander (was Fargo) from Carolyn.  Zander has had a vet visit and got some loving from the staff, met some of Carolyn's co-workers and started Puppy Kindergarten class this week.  His new pal Logan is very patient but lets Zander know if he gone a little too far with the biting.  They like to play tug.

And then there was one...

Capri (now Madge) went home with her new human Laura.  Laura has a young male PWD named Oliver.  Oliver has been a bit melancholy since losing his PWD housemate a few months ago and we are sure that Madge will take his mind off his troubles.  Watch your tail Oliver, these puppies think they are fun to play with!

Jasper in the back yard.

Laura flew in from Idaho yesterday and we had a nice, if brief, visit before she hopped a plane with Madge.  She called from the airport to let me know that the first part of the trip home went well. 

Jasper has a few more weeks to spend with us before leaving for his new home.  We are a bit sorry we said we would hold on to him for that long (his family is on vacation), as we are getting more and more attached to the little guy.  He doesn't seem to miss his siblings, has been enjoying time romping in the back yard with Delta and Ecko and slept nicely in his crate in our bedroom last night.