What's Up, Buttercup?

Patty and Georgia always send such fun updates, and this year is no exception 🩷

“In the blink of an eye....

On one hand it seems like we've had Buttercup forever and on the other hand we just got her.  Buttercup has turned into a trick dog extraordinaire! She has a very extensive repertoire.

She'll make up moves to see if it makes us laugh. 

If we laugh then it's in "The Buttercup Show starring Buttercup". One time she put her head on the ground and spun around.  Patty and I laughed because it looked like break dancing.  Now she'll do it on cue. 

She'll improvise and combine behaviors to make us laugh.  It's so smart that it blows me away.

Buttercup only needs one leg in Excellent Interior Scent Work to get her overall Excellent title.I must admit we've been spending more time at home working in the garden and less time at dog shows recently so it may take a while.

FAST CAT!

The yearly photo of Buttercup sitting amongst the buttercups…

…and a photo of the whole gang. 

THANK YOU, Georgia and Patty, for appreciating Buttercup and helping her achieve her happy, smart potential. HAPPY BIRTHDAY BUTTERCUP!

Wildflowers are SIX!

Six years ago today we welcomed this special litter.

We will have birthday updates over the next few days — let’s begin with Chase and Kadi 💙🩷

Lawrence shares:

“Chase has had a good year, he is finally coming around in Agility and as always he is doing well in Scent work and Fetch.  We are keeping at the Obedience and hope to earn his CDX soon.

This year he earned his Rally Excellent, Fetch Advanced, Novice Agility Preferred and Open Jumpers Preferred titles.

He needs one Exterior Excellent Qualification to finish all of his Excellent titles in Scent work.”

Thank you, Lawrence and Bea, and HAPPY BIRTHDAY CHASE! 🥳

Eden has had a rough spring after breaking her arm while on a trip but sends us this report even though she can only type with one hand:

“Been a busy year. Focused on Agility and Tracking with some dabbling in drafting. 

Kadi is an incredible jumper and she loves her weave poles.

Finishing her Excellent Jumpers title and we are competing in Master Standard.

She is an amazing tracking dog.  She still loves going in her puppy tunnel. 

She is currently on training hiatus while I recover from my broken arm. Miss training together.”

Thank you, Eden, and good wishes for a full recovery. HAPPY BIRTHDAY KADI! 🎂

Memorial Day

I moved to Boise because of the grandkids — and now they are back in Montana. Oh, the irony of it all.

It wasn’t a wrong decision to move here — it was the right decision given the information we all had at the time. I try hard not to waste precious time on regrets.

There is lots to love about Boise. The parks, the Heintzbergers, the dog community, the weather (except summer), Trader Joe’s. My yard is amazingly perfect. The specialty veterinary care here is excellent.

Starry G and Capella supervising yardwork

My dad once told me that he admired my ability to love every place I lived — California, Oregon, Wisconsin, Utah, Montana and now Boise. This is one advantage of being an optimist — seeing the good.

But I don’t think Boise is my place — it is just my for now place.

A place to finish my manuscript, enjoy a productive Sabbatical (the 2026 - 2027 academic year), hopefully raise Capella’s second and last litter — and decide about the Next Right Thing.

And grow roses in my memorial rose garden — this rose, from Heirloom Roses in Oregon, is named Claire Austen.

Those we love are always with us.

🩷