Long time, no post!!

It seems like years since I've had time to do a post!!  I have so many pictures and stories to share and will do so.  But most important, a big thank you to everyone is due!!

Our 2014 Blue Picardy Calendar was an incredible success this year!  We never dreamed that when we decided to do our little calendar, it would reach so many people!  

With the proceeds from the 2014 calendar, we will continue to provide our yearly contribution to the Brighthope Blue Picardy Picnic.  Our intent is clearly not to become millionaires off the calendar - but that shouldn't come as a surprise to anyone out there.  We are also exploring other options where we can contribute our proceeds here and there.

As I'm sure you realize, most of our proceeds go to the creation of the calendars.   For next year we are exploring ways to enhance the calendars - thicker paper stock, different bindings, different size - but still keep shipping/mailing costs affordable.   This has been the largest challenge we face.

As for photos, its never to early to send us your photos for the 2015 edition!  Please remember try to stay away from phone photos - they are very difficult to enlarge for print purposes as the resolution is not the same quality as that from an actual camera. 

Again, thank you, thank you, thank you!!!  If you have any ideas for improvement for the 2015 calendar, please send comments to zoeandcoullah@gmail.com.

 

Never to be forgotton.....



In Memory of Briar
(January 26, 2013 - February 19, 2014)

Dearest Wendy, Tony and Quinn,

...Some days, you'll see him in the clouds.  You'll hear him in a warm summer breeze and in the hush of a snowy winter night.  He knows that you loved him as much as he loved you.

      I will not forget you.  I have carved you on the palm of my hand.

                                                                                                     Isaiah 49:15

 

Brighthope Picnic date announced!!!

Hi all,

By the time you dig yourself out of all this snow, it'll be time for the 2014 Brighthope Blue Picardy Picnic!!

Our gracious hosts, Vicki and Dave Duncan have announced that this year the big event will be held on Saturday, June 7th, 2014.

For the humans, its a great day in the country to catch up with friends and acquaintances.  For the Blues...lets just think...

....wide open fenced spaces for long runs,  the famous wooded Picardy Park for investigation, trolling for dropped picnic goodies...  of course they all have a great time!!

Please hold the date!!! We would love to see you!!   And, hey, even if you don't have a Blue.. but are considering adding one to your family, this is a great opportunity to meet 20 or so, meet Vicki and Dave and host your own Q & A session with all the Blue families there!!

 

Happy New Year!

What a memorable New Years Eve!  We planned a great meal last night - cedar blank salmon with tarragon and butter, Israeli couscous and an incredible Caesar salad.... but nature didn't cooperate and off went our power - AGAIN!!!!!  Out came the generator and the candles.  It was incredibly cold last night too.  We ended up going for crappy take-out pizza!  Yum!!!  The power was out from 4:30 until 11PM - came on briefly and was out until 2:00am. I think  we were out hauling wood for our fireplace when the classic ball dropped in Times Square.  Fantastic! 

But that's so last year.  On this 1st day of 2014, we sit (with power) watching two Winter Classics:

Detroit Red Wings vs. Toronto Maple Leafs....Go Leafs!!!!

and...

Our Snow Dog: Zoë

 

Coullah show her goofy (and snowy) side

She's usually always so serious!!  It's always great to catch Coullah playing - and there's no better place than in the snow.  Who says animals don't feel joy???

"for my next trick, I'm going to balance this snow on my nose...."

"Shhh... I'm concentrating..."

Dogs and props...I give up!

Yesterday I posted a lovely Christmas photo of Coullah and Zoë.  All nicely posed, so perfect, right?  Well I attempted to take some photos of the girls using a couple of festive props at home before that shoot. Perhaps those of you that have Blues already know this, but they don't really like 'accessories' so much... My idea was a good one... but my subjects clearly didn't invest in my vision!!

"Whatcha chewin on Zoë?....Sure looks tasty..."

 

One Blue out of two isn't so bad, is it?  Very photogenic Zoë!!



Typical! Coullah gives her best serious look and Zoë gives her big goofy grin

 

A belated Merry Christmas!!

Hi everyone!

We had a very interesting Christmas season this year.  An ice storm hit our area very hard which resulted in our a dramatic change to our holiday plans - our power was out for 4 days!  FOUR DAYS!!!! 

Sadly, we lost a bunch of very large branches on some of our favourite shade trees. One tree in particular will have to be taken down in the Spring for sure.  At night it was so quiet, all you could hear was the crackling ice and the 'whoosh' of falling branches everywhere.  Thankfully, we have a couple of wood burning fireplaces that provided us with some heat. The inside temperature bottomed out at 43F (that's 6C!). No running water, no electricity, no phone, no internet, no cable.  The kicker is that our sump pump decided to quit right before the power went off - so we had a flooded basement to boot!  We bailed and bailed.  Large generators were sold out everywhere. We finally got our hands on one - the day the power came back on - December 24.  We are lucky as there are many closer to our little community that still are sitting in the dark.

Anyhow, this photo was *supposed* to be posted days ago... but, better late than never!

From our family to yours...
Merry Christmas and a very happy and New Year!!!