January 19, 2013 Our First Week Together

Our first morning dawned mild and dry, unusual for this time of year where the west coast normal is dull, rain, rain, and lots more rain.  Time for a trip out into the yard.  The back forty is a jungle of brambles and brush..a perfect place to introduce Bolli to the wilds that he may encounter when we attend our first hunt test.  After the North Carolina hunt trials I am determined more than ever that I will experience a hunt first hand with a PBGV at my side!  Bolli was reluctant to head out on this adventure into the new yard but it didn't take him long to get the hang of it and start exploring on his own.  Whenever he went astray I would step over a low, tangled pile of fallen poplar and cedar branches and criss-crossed blackberry brambles and call him to me.  This photo was taken as he contemplated whether he could make it through the bush to reach me.  The trouper he is, it didn't take him long to figure out how to jump, squeeze and barge through the brush to get to the other side.  He was so proud that he made it each time where he was well rewarded.  A few zoons through the yard and all was right with the world.

Bolli has been one of the easiest puppies I've lived with.  He has settled in very quickly and as I begin to learn his routines, and he mine, there has been very little "incidents" in the house.  He's not a chewer..all my shoes are still intact (thankfully) of course, it helps having a chew bone around at all times.  However, he loves to climb up and over stuff to find places to hide it when he's not using it, sometimes getting into trouble while he figures out how to get out of the mess he'd gotten himself into.  Bolli sleeps all night up on my bed.  No problem settling down for the night.  What a sweet face to wake up to!  A few stretches, a groan, a wag of the tail...I am so glad we found each other :)

January 11, 2013  Time to leave the woodlands of Minnesota and return with Bolli (pronounced Beau-lee) to British Columbia.  Woke up to melting snow and a light mist over the lake.  The drive and walkways had turned to ice overnight so our biggest worry was the drive to the airport.  Instead we were greeted with fog, thick, plane stopping fog.  As luck would have it - after I checked in with my bags and gone through the security - they cancelled our flight out.  Rescheduled the flight for later in the afternoon which meant leaving Duluth at 3, connecting in Minneapolis/St.Paul at 5, and arriving in Seattle 3 hours later.  One look at the fog probably meant that flight would not be leaving either so a quick call to Jan and off we were driving the 3 hours to the MSP, the much larger airport that surely would be in operation with or without the fog socking it in.  Arrived at the airport in good time.  Bolli was a gem and settled in right away into his carry-on.  How can a pup be sooooo heavy?  Of course, the gate was the farthest from the entrance point, couldn't wait to get there to take the weight off my aching shoulder.  A bit of fuss on the takeoff but he was quiet all the flight.  Fortunately we were seated between two dog lovers and ahead of a crying baby.  Bolli was a saint!  Can't say much about the flight other than the seats were as hard as a bench and leg room, due to a pup under the seat, left me cramped up.  Arrived at SeaTac, untangled myself from the seat, and headed to baggage check.  As expected my suitcase never made the flight so made arrangements to pick it up in Bellingham if it ever makes it there.  Had to scrape the outside AND inside of my van windows before heading out for the drive to the border.  Stopped on route at Denny's for dinner as I hadn't eaten since breakfast and it was now after 10pm, chosen as it was FREE for my Birthday.  Continued on again with only another stop at the Rest Stop to give Bolli a pee break and for me to catch a quick snooze....with the 2 hour time difference from Minnesota it was much later than I expected. Thankfully no problems getting across the border.  One more stop for gas before I ran out and a sudden realization that my house keys were in my wayward suitcase!  Didn't want to call my siblings at 1 o'clock in the morning so I risked going home and seeing if I could pop the window that had been giving me problems before.  Thankfully the neighbourhood wasn't watching and the police weren't parked in their usual spot or else I might have been reported for breaking into the house.  Was able to get in (mental note: put spare key back and fix window!!). Didn't take much time to get Bolli fed, watered and out into the yard and finally into bed with Bolli at my side.  What a great ending to an overly eventful Birthday that I WILL remember for a long time  :)  Welcome home Bollinger!

Bollinger January 2013

Love it out here!!  The home by the lakeshore, nestled in the Minnesota woods among the white pines and silver birches is so relaxing and yet invigorating.  Managed to get some of the best sleep I've had for ages...quiet...dark.  Not like Lulu Island with the bridge next door, trucks rumbling by, planes flying overhead, and the lights of the city beaming into the house and back yard every night.  Now this is what I call a vacation!  And what is the icing on the cake?  The dogs, of course.  Bollinger is amazing!  He is different in type to my beloved "Jak" who passed away last year only one day shy of his 14th birthday.  But, it is a good thing.  This puppy is very well put together, thick course coat with stunning markings, balanced, strong bone, attitude...did I say attitude?...Bollinger lets everyone in the room know that he is present.  Inquisitive, bold, outgoing, confident....got to LOVE it!  Spent the day Tuesday stripping out the puppy coat.  Had a bit of a challenge as he wouldn't cooperate by keeping still, however, by the time Jan was done he was sleeping on the grooming table.  With Jan stacking him for me to take photos we were able to get a few relatively good ones to send off to friends but Bollinger needs to come out again for another session to get the perfect shot for me to post here and on Facebook.    Want him to be looking his best for his coming out pic.

1am Monday morning and I haven't been able to get a good sleep as I'm not used to going to bed before 8 o'clock at night.  Alarm is not programmed to go off until 2am but since I'm awake now might as well get up.  A few last minute items to toss in the suitcase and into the back of the van for the drive across the border to Seattle's SeaTac Airport.  Left David in charge of the critters at home so I won't have to worry about whether they will miss a meal...heaven forbid!  Reaching the border at 2am is not recommended...got through quickly enough but they move about all the pylons from their regular setup which is very confusing trying to leave the area.  Never saw such a mess in all my times going down south.  Took the long way round to the highway.  The drive to Seattle didn't seem to take as long as it usually does but the weather was dreadful and made the driving conditions terrible. Heavy rains, large puddles that you couldn't see until you were on top of them, and the wind was really howling threatening to blow the van right off the road.  Couldn't see much of the road ahead behind, or beside, the semi's.

The flight from Seattle was a lot smoother than the drive.  Landed at Minneapolis/St Paul around noon (2 hour time difference).  Had about a one hour layover which I needed!  If you have ever been to this airport you know how HUGE it is.  As luck would have it my flight landed at one end of the terminal and my next flight took off at the opposite end...that's one hell of a walk, even with the moving sidewalks.  The flight into Duluth was turbulent but short.  I make it in one piece...thank heaven.  Jan was right there waiting for me at the loading zone.  The weather, a balmy 30+ degrees F with just a covering of snow on the ground.  Beautiful country...softly rolling hills, white birch trees, and plenty of wildlife (tracks everywhere in the snow...rabbit, deer, pheasant).  Didn't take us long to get to Jan's log cabin on the shores of Schultz (hope I got that right) Lake.  The sound of PBGVs barking at our arrival was music to my ears.

Took a few minutes to get settled and outside again to greet the pack, AND to finally meet the newest addition to my family...."Bollinger"!!

October 2nd, 2012 - Little did I know that the phone call I made to Minnesota on this day would coincide with the arrival of a litter at Mirepoix, nor did I know that 12 weeks later one of those puppies would be coming home to Weskyuwin.  He had a fan club from the very beginning, when his puppy photo was posted on Facebook.  The comments were very complimentary, so much so that I became reluctant to change his name from Bollinger to something short and easy.  He already had a reputation attached to that name so "Bolli" it will remain.  Why Bollinger in the first place?  Bollinger is the maker of a very fine French Champagne and the entire litter's names were based on that theme.  All going well the American Kennel Club will accept our choice for a registered name - "Champagne on Ice".  

In one week I will be headed down south to the mid-west's winter on the shores of Lake Superior to meet with Bolli for the first time.  I promise to take lots of photos and post them for you to see.  Then, as he matures, you can follow his progress as he grows into my next show star.  I only expect the best for him...he deserves that from me.