A Very Big Birthday (Updated)

Today is a very special birthday — here is Harper resting up for it…

Harper at 10.jpg

Her niece, Daisy, sleeps just like that — with a paw next to her face. But that is an aside — today Harper B for BIG BIRTHDAY and her sister, Heidi Heidi, are ten!

Before we launch into the birthday celebration photos (later), an old birthday like this one requires we begin by acknowledging those who arrived together as the H Moon Litter and lived well-loved lives — but who did not get to stay long enough to celebrate ten: Mesa, Lainey, Zeke, Holden, and Auggie.

We rest our hearts and minds on each of them and the humans who may especially feel their absence today. Birthdays can seem like salt in the cracks of a broken heart, no matter how well-healed.

And we must also acknowledge that Terri Z is not here to send her H Moon grandpuppies their annual birthday card…

Harper's Last Card from Terri Z.jpg

…or make them new tags…

Terri Z owned Zed, the father of the H Moon Litter, and her untimely death means that her birthday love for these dogs, here and gone, arrives by something other than a card now.

So much sadness and loss needs a chance to settle before we can turn to the joy that is indeed also a big part of this day — and of life.

To be continued…

(Later)

Harper B for Bring It On is healthy and happy at ten. Her birthday wish? Go for a walk — just us…

Harper at 10 (1).jpg

The lump removed from her foot a few weeks back? Not Cancer — how often does that happen in a Berner?! Harper B for Blessed…

Harper at ten (1).jpg

You would just never know she is ten — reminding all of us that age is just a number. It doesn’t define us.

So put on your crown and live your Harper B for Best Life.

Happy Birthday to Harper B!

We also celebrate Heidi Heidi!

Her litter name was Heidi, after my Dear Friend who helped with the whelping (and is still traumatized by it — LOL) but to avoid confusion with Heidi the human, I called her Heidi Heidi. She kept her name when she went to her family.

I note that the Junior Heintzbergers are really good name sports since they also have Bright Star Dallas Nova Jr. Thank you, Dear Jr. Heintzbergers, for keeping those meaningful middle names!

We get this report about the latest girl to be double digits…

We are very excited to celebrate #10 with Heidi! She remains to be her happy, caring self who never met a stranger. Heidi spent her birthday weekend at Kai’s baseball game, running around my parents farm with the other dogs, and eating popcorn — all of her favorite things!

Many people comment that she has very little (if any) gray hairs and that she doesn’t look to be 10… Despite some expected stiffness and issues with IBD, Heidi continues to be rather healthy and loves to be surrounded by her human brothers. Dallas likes Heidi, but Heidi doesn’t have much tolerance for her exuberant puppy antics…”

Heidi (1).jpg

A perfect birthday for Heidi.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY HEIDI HEIDI!

Fall Fun

The Bernese Mountain Dog Club of Watchung is holding their annual draft test and Regional Specialty in Bethlehem, PA this weekend. It looks like an amazing show/site — I might need to put this on my calendar for next year.

Just a little jaunt…

Just a little jaunt…

Uncle Clark (Daisy’s littermate) finished his Master Draft Dog title yesterday…

Swiped from Facebook photo — taken by Toby?

Swiped from Facebook photo — taken by Toby?

Fantastic accomplishment for Team Clark. This title requires passing open draft five times under seven different judges — not an easy feat for all kinds of reasons. Congratulations to Toby and Clark!

Uncle Tristan (an iPup) has been teaming up with Phil Atkinson and his dog, Kelyn, to collect brace legs.

Eileen Blass photo

Eileen Blass photo

The team has worked well together — and I mean both the human team of the Atkinsons and Jaskiewiczs and the dog team of Kelyn and Tristan…

Eileen Blass photo.

Eileen Blass photo.

It was another successful day for Team Kelyn/Tristan — they passed the brace run and that made Tristan a Grand Master Draft Dog

Beth Atkinson photo.

Beth Atkinson photo.

That is a really Big Deal. Very Big Deal. Congratulations to that entire team! I love both the accomplishment and also how the two families collaborated to make it happen — how cool is that?! I am reminded of this from Peloton — together we go far.

Kelyn needs one more leg to finish his Grand Master Draft Dog — we are cheering for that to happen soon.

Maple Moonshadow has every right to be proud of her Uncle Clark and her Uncle Tristan — and also because she has an awesome fall name and is doing so well as a Therapy Dog…

Thanks to Lee and Adri for the photo

Thanks to Lee and Adri for the photo

Have an outstanding fall day.

Licked by a Cow

Someone is closing in on her tenth birthday — and it isn’t Pozy Clarkia…

Harper and Pozy.jpg

This photo shows two things I really love about Capella.

Capella Oct 2021.jpg

The white on her face is so darn white! I love that. And her eyes are so beautifully dark — I love that as well. What you cannot see well is her cowlick — it looks like she wears a head halter and the fur gets rubbed up. In fact, I was asked recently if it was from wearing a Halti.

Here is another photo that shows it…

Cowlick.jpg

Dallas Nova Jr. has that same cowlick. I wonder about other Bright Stars — do they have it?