Hello. It's been awhile. Not sure if my hesitation to share this story was based on superstition or something else but never-the-less I did hesitate to share...and then I just was a bit embarrassed at my delay in sharing that I haven't gotten out of my own way to share...but today is a good day to share.
My blog is my space to share my photography, much of it professional work, but also much of it personal work too. Lately all is personal.
I've shared over the years how Chloe (my 11 year old golden retriever) came into my life. She came to us based solely on timing. Her date of birth is my sister's date of death.
Chloe came to me with a contract. She needed to breed a few litters...but she herself held a distinct title, her breeding name was "Third Times A Charm" because it took her Mom three tries at breeding before she came to be.
Fast forward to Violet. A pup we kept from Chloe's first litter...invitro...also born after several attempts, and just a litter of three.
We kept Violet, in hopes of keeping Chloe's lineage going.
Violet also has been a challenge to "get pregnant"
She had her first litter (just 4 pups) in 2017 and we have tried each year since to have another litter so we can again hope to keep this lineage going.
Some might understand this unlikely method I have of keeping my sister with me.
We were blessed this past fall to successfully breed Violet, naturally too, and we prayed we would have a girl pup so we could again have hopes of continuing the legacy Chloe created for us.
We scheduled an ultrasound to be sure and learned we were expecting three pups!
As the holidays approached we celebrated Chloe's 11th birthday and looked forward to the birth of Violet's litter, hoping we would have a girl to continue Chloe's legacy. Violet's previous litter was a litter of three boys and one girl, so we told ourselves if it's meant to be it will be. :)
The pups arrived on the afternoon of December 22nd! I delivered the first alone, but was surrounded by family for the other two. Chloe was front and center the entire time, not leaving Violet's side. Two boys and a girl!
The holidays were low key due to the pandemic but all was very right in our little house.
and Christmas...was perfect!
we had been watching The Mandalorian, and I thought this photo was funny :)
We did weekly photo shoots!
one week old
Whenever I did these photo shoots I always placed the puppies in birth order so I would know who they were in the photos. As they got older we could tell them apart by their personalities and their physical differences.
Sully (his forever name) was our first born, we called him Frank (for Frankincense)...(Christmastime puppies). Sully's head fur was fully "poofed" at all times which made him pretty recognizable at first glance, he's a bit larger than the other two and was always willing to be the first to try anything!!
Our girl name changed over a few times...we were searching for the right fit. We tossed around Angel and Noelle for the Christmas theme...but say "no"elle enough times and we quickly realized it wasn't appropriate for our dog and chose the name Ivy as we got to know her...and found that it fit perfectly!! And if we are lucky to someday breed her, Purple Ivy will speak for itself!! To sum up her personality, she's a "spitfire"!!
Yeti (his forever name) was third born. We called him Myrrh (or Mur)...again, think Christmas. Yeti loved to play with his siblings, but he was also the first one to toddle back to the puppy room for some quiet time.
We managed a family photo the weekend before the pups went to their forever home...and a pup group photo with Nana, Mum, and brothers Cody and Brady. We are hopeful that we will continue to bring these beauties into the world a little at a time.
Final group photos before separation!
Yeti left first...with Tim and Jana
...and lives about an hour a way, we are staying in touch and planning a play date soon!!
The next hour Sully left with Patti and Kevin...
we also are staying in touch and planning a visit this summer. Patty asked me to share that Sully is "the best pup"...and Joanne speaking here...no argument from me, these three little ones are amazing!!
I LOVE my puppy family, and the extended grown up family too!! So grateful for social media and that we can all stay in each others lives and watch these beauties grow!!
Of course, Ivy is with us and fits in amazingly.
Chloe (11) Ivy 12 wks and Violet on her 7th birthday this past week :)
