Day 59

Happy Saturday, Puppy Friends ❤️

I want to begin by sharing that Bright Star Zuber, Capella’s littermate and therefore, uncle of the Gems, finished his championship today at a Supported Entry in Massachusetts 🎉 I am so thrilled, excited, proud, and grateful 🥹🙏

In his summer coat, no less! Zuber moves like a dream 💙

Zuber finished with all majors: two five point majors and two three point majors. Finishing his championship makes Zuber a BMDCA Versatility Dog; he is already a Grand Master Draft Dog. Zuber is always owner-handled by Alison — and yes, she has had a busy few days, hasn’t she?! I hope to insert a photo or two of CH Zuber into this section later today.

Back to the future Versatility Dogs — the Gems.

Okay — well, they have a ways to go first but one can hope and dream 🍀 And they are lovely, which is a great start.

This is Topaz.

Sapphire and Star Garnet.

There are only three and they don’t look alike — you can likely tell who is who 😍

When the puppies were not pulling out plugs of grass (their new favorite past time), they were pretty wild with the play stuff this morning.

Star Garnet is practicing looking demure. She heard that is a thing.

Sharing is caring 💙💙

Okay — follow this series…

Topaz: “It just tipped all by itself.”

The puppies had a confab and decided this was all Jasper’s fault. I am not sure how, but they seemed pretty convinced 🤷🏼‍♀️

This is a random shot of Star Garnet — and drying laundry. When I did not have a dryer for a few days I discovered that things dry outside here in about 2.5 seconds and so now I dry a lot of puppy laundry outside.

You can barely see her Swiss Kiss now.

Next puppy to launch from Camp Kaibab is Topaz 💙

💙💙🩷 (and one 💙 in NH).

(Later)

Field trip.

The puppies were a little taken aback by Capella’s happy rolling.

Capella and Star Garnet.

🩷

❤️

Day 58 (Updated)

Pozy and I drove Jasper to Salt Lake City yesterday — about five hours each way. We stopped along the way to pick up Dear Daughter and then went to a beautiful fenced yard that belongs to Elizabethanne’s friend’s brother so Jasper could romp safely before the next leg of his journey.

As I said yesterday — this was a village event.

Aliya, Kira and Jay’s daughter, was at my house for most of the day but Kira and Jay also spent time with the puppies, and then Galen and the kids finished off the day. Galen left when I got home but it was late and so the kids were asleep — they are still here, sound asleep.

As Dear Daughter stayed with Pozy in the van, I took Jasper into the Salt Lake City airport to await Jasper’s new human. We had planned to have some times together between the flight in and the flight out — but there was a three hour delay in the departure of the flight from Boston to Salt Lake City yesterday morning and so it was necessarily a bit of a grab-and-go.

It was — is — tough letting Jasper go, to be completely honest. Lots of tears.

That photo above — look at the very top. I noticed this morning as I was getting it ready to share that there is a star-shaped balloon. That little star somehow made me feel better — like it is a sign. Jasper is under a lucky star.

When he was very small I knew he needed to be with me — or Alison Jaskiewicz. The fact that he is not here with me tells you that he is now safely in New Hampshire with Alison and Tom, and his Uncle Zuber and Great-Aunt Kiri. Lucky Star indeed.

Alison flew 4500 miles yesterday to pick up Jasper.

Much gratitude to Alison for joining me in an epic travel day yesterday, and to everyone who helped make it happen so that Jasper could start his new life 🙏

With only four puppies, maybe it is going to be harder to let each one go. It helps so much that all of the Gems have A+ homes but yes, I will miss the boys. A lot. 💙💙💙

(Later)

Alison reports that Jasper is settling in well 🙏 The other boys, however, are not happy that they are now the targets of their wild sister.

She looks so innocent 🩷

Motherly love.

The boys.

Star G. ⭐️

💙💙💙🩷

Day 57: The Leavings Begin

Today is taking a whole village to orchestrate so that Jasper and his new human can have a direct flight into his new life. I am doing a lot of driving, Kira’s family is helping with the puppies who are staying home (puppies are not left alone), Dear Friend Elizabethanne has helped with connections for a place for Jasper to play in between the long drive and the flight, and Galen and kids will also be involved.

Jasper is ready.

He got some last minute advice from his mom (!).

Think good thoughts for everyone involved today — and thanks to EVERYONE for supporting the Gems, today and every day ❤️