Hi to everyone! It seems like years rather than months, and a lifetime of experiences, since Dogville went off the air. Despite writing this blog for years, I had to recheck the entry passwords and commands to get started again. A few senior moments may have set in since I retired from writing.

We have just returned from a wonderful two weeks in Italy, visiting our oldest son and his family.

Rocky, the rascal that our readers are so familiar with, was picked up by a pet delivery service a few weeks before we made our journey. He has adjusted very well to his new surroundings. And what he may lack in canine companionship of the pack, he more than makes up for in open space and two little boys to follow around.

Barb and I were both amazed by the beautiful location Mike Jr., Emma and the boys now call home. A 400 year old villa with its own olive orchard and fruit gardens, it makes you thoughtful as you wander around the grounds. Just how many families and adventures have preceded our footsteps on the worn flagstones?

They live in a small town called Imprenata, outside of Florence in that adult storybook location called Tuscany. And what would a villa be without its own “gardener”. Yep, they have one.. “Leonello”,  he only speaks Italian and has been working on the property for the past thirty years or so. Rocky has a new best friend. Very happy for both of them.

So we will leave Rocky to start his second year of life in another country and hope that he doesn’t do too much damage there and get deported.

On that very same note, Barb and I were remarking just how well our older girls had settled down since the departure of that adventuresome puppy. That was until this morning, when I came downstairs to find that Solo had taken off the counter a stack of bills with enclosed checks that Barb had made out the day before. The only trace of them I could find was postage sized remnants scattered on the floor. The entire paper trail would only make up a half dozen postage stamp pieces of checks and envelopes. Sheesh.

I would like to tell you all that Black’s ashes now rest with several other much loved Goldens on the mountainside of our Vermont cabin. I took a quiet drive with the girls and we laid him to peace. Just seeing the old photos of that last litter brings back a lot of emotion.

And now some very exciting news..  Donna Talbot, our great friend and  golden breeder, has a litter of beautiful puppies that are almost eight weeks old.

The mom is Ebby, the daughter of Ella, who is our Emma’s sister. So these gorgeous dogs have lineage tied to our line from our very special Abby. In the photo above, Ebby is on the left, and Ella is on the right.

Several of the puppies are still available. If anyone has an interest or knows of anyone who would like a quality puppy, please email Donna at www.dtalbot913@sbcglobal.net

Although Barbara has repeatedly said to me she has had enough of breeding and the myriad problems we have experienced, just look at this photo, and see that golden magic working a smile onto her face as she inhales the goodness that puppyville is in its best moments.

Yeah, I feel a little wistful as I finish these last few words. But other adventures await, so back on sabbatical I go.

First, Fran reports that Charlie is doing very well. The former Mr. Blue, and the biggest pup in the litter still looks to become a big boy if his paws are any indication.

His older housemate Autumn seems to have adjusted very well to this little rascal.

Then we had some photos of Molly’s Fenway (formerly Mr. Maroon) showing a taste for ears..

Gayle sent some photos of Cooper from Rocky’s litter showing that not only our dogs love to sit on furniture, and spend time in the mud.

Barbara sent photos of her special Tyson from a few litters back. We are sorry to hear that she recently broke her foot in 4 places. We hope Tyson’s golden hugs and licks will help ease her spirits if not the pain.

Cindy sent a photo of her enjoying quality time with her Kati.

And of course, we are not partial to just Golden life, but new life in all its glory. So here are the new baby birds that Cindy now has in her yard. I do seem to remember her having three or four cats, so I hope everyone will get along..

Now like the end of any long running television series, I am sure our fans expect an ending that leaves everyone breathless, speechless, and in anticipation of a sequel.. However real life is not quite like Hollywood. Barb and I are still tired, worn, and battered from the many challenges we have had to face in bringing this litter from conception to 8 weeks of life. My inner muse wants a long rest, and solitude. Barb  moved my wine making apparatus unbidden, back into the whelping area, so the ghosts and echoes of that empty space wouldn’t bother her while she was doing her chores. That surprised me but reinforced that this chapter of our life is really over.

We have made many new friends, and we expect to keep in touch with many of them through the stories of their goldens that we hope they will share with us. Life will go on in dogville with our adult animals. Rocky will go to Italy in July now, and we will take Black’s ashes to Vermont later this summer. I can envision other golden stories that will be written on the glass panes of our memories rather than on a computer screen.

I don’t have an incredible photo to end this long running tale, but instead will leave you with a simple one involving a golden puppy, a hen, and a chick. (Barb I hope will not take offense to this photo..)

My mate and best friend, Barbara, has a heart of gold and a mothering capacity that is larger than life. She is the hen. Without her skills and attention, I could not do any of the adventures we have had breeding. I would say that I am the little chick… still looking for new quests in far away places, and never knowing what new path my interests will take. The golden pup.. the beginning of an amazing journey starting over 25 years ago with Peaches our first puppy, that grew and grew until we had to share with the world this amazing creature that a golden retriever is. A golden gift from God, pure of heart and spirit. I hope you have enjoyed our stories, and I hope this final photo made you smile rather than shed a tear.

God bless from all of us here in our little patch of Farmington. May blue skies follow your every golden adventure..

Having to worry about Black’s health issues and his unexpected goodbye, aged our days this week immeasurably. Barb and I want to thank all those kind folks who sent their thoughts and sympathies. Although his stay on this earth was measured only in weeks, for those that met and held him, I have no doubt that his memory will remain in our hearts and minds for years if not forever.

On Monday, Miss Purple became Lexi and joined her new family.

She found someone there more her size (for awhile) to make friends with..

Also on Monday, Mr Maroon became Fenway, and became the third dog in his household.

We are very pleased that the transition has gone smoothly for everyone. We have gotten a few photos that we can share with everyone.

Betsy reports that “Abby” has made friends already with their much bigger “Bear”.

She also enclosed a photo of “Bear” not too long ago when he was the pup to an older and very beautiful “Blue”.

That circle of life wheel just seems to turn too quickly for my liking.

Our Riley is feeling well, and her wound has finally closed completely. I don’t think she will miss having any more puppies, considering what she just lived through. Nope, been there, done that.

Rocky continues his digging ways and has corrupted Lucy who now follows him around on his misadventures. They managed to totally trash one garden bed, wiping out the hostas as if a tornado had gone through. I guess he wants to make sure that Barb and I will remember him once he leaves us for Italy. No chance of that happening with all the damage that is strewn around the woodwork on the inside of our house. Still I will miss him mightily when the time comes to say goodbye.

This damage usually occurs when Barb or I let the dogs out back to due their duty while we are busy with some other task. It doesn’t take but two or three minutes for the young-uns to make a mess if left unattended.

It was a blue sky day, so the dogs enjoyed the sprinklers and then the small pool after their morning run.

You may think our Goldens have it good, but I can tell you some of our golden friends do have some amazing real estate they share with their dogs. Gayle recently sent us some photos of her two dogs Swimmer and Emma, sharing some good times with Cooper from our prior litter and his owner Sasha.

What an amazing living that must be with water of that size, right outside your back door!

She also sent us a photo of her three napping on the bed.

Golden people must think alike. Now I don’t feel so unusual letting ours take a nap with me..

And to finish this post on a warm and happy note for a welcome change, we have Cindy to thank for sending a photo of her golden Kati with cat Walter enjoying each others company.

Today we had to euthanize our special needs puppy.

There are no proper words to convey the anguish, the pain, and the sense of heartbreak that Barb and I had to endure today. Saying goodbye to that very small  innocent being, tore right through whatever defenses Barb and I have developed to withstand the all too often losses one faces at our stage of life. Very few of the several hundred posts I have written over the past three years have necessitated drying my leaking eyes repeatedly, so I could see the computer keys.

Monday seemed promising. The final two puppies were picked up by their excited new owners, and Mr. Black appeared to tolerate his new solo status without any trauma.

He always seemed to be focused inward in his own special world, rather than outward looking like all his siblings. I assumed wrongly that it was his deafness that was the cause of this behavior.

Tuesday brought evidence of seizure activity in which he would froth at the mouth, and wander in circles, with intermittent crying that you could not relieve with cuddling his small body. Wednesday, Barb brought him for extensive lab work to see if Dr. Feldman could pinpoint the cause. While Barb waited for the results, and I was away on call, the seizures increased in frequency and duration. Poor Barb had to sit with him overnight, unable to do anything to help this sudden downturn. Thursday morning I rushed home and we waited for the call from our vet and friend. It was not good. The lab work indicated something called hepatic encephalopathy where toxins in the body were not being processed by the liver, and thus were building to dangerous levels. Other lab work indicated dysfunction of his kidneys and bone marrow systems. His little body was failing his gentle spirit, and there was to be no hope for a miracle surgical cure, or magic potion giving him a sustainable existence. We thought upon Dr. Feldman’s news and his professional advice for a kind ending without further suffering. An ending that nature would deny him if we staid our present course.

So we spent the next two hours, bonding in the ways that we could, knowing that he would soon be in a better place without pain or suffering. Happily he did not have a seizure during this time, and we watched as he played as he deserved in the grass and flowers, carefree for the moment and happy.

He even got to enjoy his last dip in the water bowls, straddling them with a paw in each, and relishing the cool wetness against his fur.

Theresa our friend, neighbor, and dog midwife came over for her last puppy hugs and shared our grief. Then it was time for that very difficult ride and ending moments at Animal General.

We had never found the right name for him, and so he will be known to us all here simply as “Black”. His colored collar will be retired forever, and his ashes will be taken to our Vermont home in a few weeks so his spirit can join our other departed Goldens, who await us when we meet at that unknown destination sometimes called in dog circles as the “Rainbow Bridge”.

Most times there are no answers as to why our Creator makes what seems such cruel decisions about its most defenseless subjects. So we will just continue to struggle and trudge forward on our life path, a little more scarred and saddened about what we had to endure these last eight weeks. Someday on the other side there may be answers. For now we will be bolstered by the memories of our special puppy with the Cocker ear and the silent world he shared with us for the past two months.

Rocky continued his war on my plants and pots. And he even taught his older sister Lucy how to join in.

We and the puppies were able to enjoy the warmer weather on the outside patio.

Riley has made a complete recovery, although she bears some scars where the dressing cover rubbed against her side flanks. She has absolutely no interest in the pups.. a severe case of postpartum pyschosis I guess. But she has survived those horrible days and nights of her infection, and we are grateful.

Saturday morning, the activity in the whelping box was frenetic. The puppies’ energy level has grown exponetially with each passing day.

We gave everyone their baths Saturday morning early, because we had a final vet appointment for their shots and physicals.

Mr. Black has continued to gain weight and strength. His unique left ear is showcased here with his bath.

The visit to see Dr. Feldman then got off to a crowded start.

Everyone seemed to enjoy the visit, except for that moment when the “boys” had their testicles checked.

Everyone then came home and snuggled together in one big pile as usual.

Mr Black continued to impress us with his improved motor skills and awareness. Still deaf though.

We let everyone out of the pen later in the day, and it was then that I was struck by how ready our pups were to join the outside world.

Of course with any going away party, we had to take some “formal photographs”.

Today dawned sunny again, and after a flurry of cleanup, puppy pampering, and baths, three of our special families came by to start their own golden adventures.

The final two puppies will leave tomorrow. Mr. Black will not be placed for another month or so, and Rocky looks to extend his visit here by about four weeks as well. So of course, how can you get lonely when you still have seven goldens underfoot in the house!!

So while Barb and I realize that a final chapter may have just been written this weekend, an epilogue will follow.

Thank you for your interest in our world here..

Golden Hugs to you all!