Merry Christmas from Rocco, Lucky & little Madeira

This year we made Christmas video for you instead of Christmas card. Aren't my actors just super talanted? :-)

Mammu is 3 months old

Her height is 25,5-26 cm

It has been fun and happy first month with Mammu. When we first got home, then like when Lucky moved to us, to share the responsibility ( you know, so they couldn't say later, that who bought the puppy should entertain her :-) ) Rocco and Lucky came out to meet us and take Mammu home. Worked 50% this time :-) - Rocco had probably learned the meaning of this process and welcomed Mammu much warmer then he welcomed Lucky 5 years ago. Mammu was happy to meet them and Rocco was happy to meet her and Lucky was kind of happy too... like every playboy who suddenly becomes single father of a baby girl :-) . But he got over first chock quite fast :-)
Only he has to collect all his fortune out of the reach of children :-) :

                         But it took less then a week, when puppy was allowed to sleep on his aura:-) :

As I mentioned keeping things out of the reach of children before, here's another way to do it :-)

Specially practical, considering children are greedy and very very hungry. 

That's how our little babe makes herself taller to reach the food better :-) :

As all my 3 dogs are from different countries and I'm starting to think that on different countries dogs too speak different languages :-) As when my boys bark, Mammu is a little scared. But when Lucky growls on her, she seems to thinks it means "good girl" or something and she is happy. :-)

Mammu is such a positive girl, tail waving all the time when she's not sleeping. She definitely has found her place in our family and in everybody's heart <3.

Welcome Madeira

I have more puppy news for you – different kind this time – we have little baby puppy at home. Actually you already know this puppy – from previous postings here. SHE is Lucky’s daughter from his litter with Marvitholl Passionata “Smilla”. And yes, it’s she not he this time :-). I-never-become-a-breeder person is still alive inside me, but … well, it’s a long story.  Starting with the fact, that in this litter there was only 1 boy. I was very brave for couple of weeks to think I can’t take a puppy (OK, OK 4 days :-) if I read our conversation history with Lidia, their breeder) and then, to calm down, asked, if the boy has potential owner. But finding out he did – I just couldn’t let the idea of taking puppy exactly from that litter go.  I just can't imagine there could ever be combination better then this  for me - because next to being very very beautiful, Smilla is very very sporty, healthy and smart and that is even more important for me... and of course the fact that there's 50% of my dear Lucky in all of them <3. So, as Madeira was much smaller then others, and due to that not potential breeding dog, I asked for her as a second option. But when I saw them, my “second option”  totally melted my heart by jumping on me and giving so many kisses and waving her tail for almost all the time I was there. Other puppies were friendly too, but not as excited as Madeira. So, that’s the end of this long story, she chose me <3. And now she is with us. Such a very sweet and happy little girl. Huge thanks to her breeder Lidia Beljaeva for trusting this little darling to me!!!

Madeira's babyphotos below by Lidia Beljaeva, Vera Feodorova

Lucky + Smilla puppies growing

Smilla's and Lucky's puppies have grown to most wonderful little Shelties. So very, very sweet and beautiful. And with most wonderful happy and active personalities. I so very much hope they all will get wonderful new families as new families definitely gets most wonderful little new family members.  Lidia and Smilla have raised them perfect for every life style. And hopefully they have got the best genes from both of the parents

Thanks, Lidia, for possibility to get to know puppies, and for all the valuable information I have got from you, and for possibility to see your training. I'm really  happy to get to know you and your wonderful dogs!  I think I always have picture of Varja "not having the conscience"  in front of my eyes :-)

Puppies 6 weeks
From left: the boy Marvitholl Marshmallow and his sisters Marvitholl Massandra, Marvitholl Madeira, Marvitholl Mokka, Marvitholl Muscat Vine

Puppies 8 weeks

Video of  7,5 weeks old puppies playing
Video of 7 weeks old puppies sleeping 
Video of 6 weeks old puppies playing
and  their album in FB

Lucky + Nota = 1 sweet little tric. girl

 Lucky's 5'th litter - 1 beautiful tricolour daughter - was born in St'Petersburg 26.10.2013

Mother is Int Ch, Rus Ch, Fin CH, Rus Club Ch, FinW-2008, Agililty 1,2 MARVITHOLL NOTA BENE

More summer news

As from our side autumn can start now - one big summer project got it's closing today. In spring Tallinn Zoo posted on it's FB site invitation for people to grow pumpkins for zoo animals. So with children we did, my mum gave us little pumpkin plants and daddy's dad planted all the seeds he found, so later we had to cultivate new soil to plant them all :-).

The summer was dry and hot and we probably were a bit lazy with watering, but still, for beginners we can only be proud of our result:

Today then we took all our pumpkins to zoo. Additionally 2 boxes of acorns we picked with Kelli.

There was many people growing pumpkins for zoo this year, more then 500 pumpkins was brought. And here you can see photos of zoo's pumpkin party.

Rocco 12 years old

Happy birthday, my dear old friend <3 . Many, many more happy years to you.

As Rocco is not walking with us any more, he has turned like to a good Fairy, who is always waiting when you come home and always happy. Wonderful, wonderful sweet old friend, so very dear to all of us.

Rocco's birthday visit to his breeder Inna:

 Rocco's birthday present from Signe and Paris. Thank you! Rocco loved it! 

Lucky + Smilla = 5 wonderful puppies

Lucky is father of another wonderful litter  - 5 beautiful puppies were born in Latvija 2.9.2013. 

Mother is beautiful Smilla - C.I.B., LV, LT, RUS, EST, BALT, BLR Ch, 2*CACIAg, agility winner Marvitholl Passionata.

More photos of puppies is possible to see here

Summer

Thinking positively it’s still wonderful summer outside. But  we are back in town, school has begun, it has been -2 C at night and it’s dark in the mornings and evenings– it all smells like it’s latest time to write a summer summary.
First of all, I just have to mention the wonderful weather we had  – sunny and warm for the whole summer. What we missed last summer, we got double this year. Rain was kind of gift (very rare), then there was no need to water all garden that day. Well, not me of course. As proper office rat, I was sitting all days in office. But even office rats are let out of offices for vacation and thanks to that we do have news (a little) to share with you. As usual, we had some big projects planned at our country home – like renovating the water supply system - so by Lucky’s opinion vacation probably makes no big difference , as office rat then turns to some other boring kind of creature, mole for example. Rocco was quite happy about us being so local, he was just lying next to us and appreciated the company. But Lucky was double happy, when we came out of our mining and accepted his offers on toys, walks etc. As weather was so wonderful, we went swimming each evening and often by bicycle.

It’s 12 km to the lake and back ( including (next to swimming of course :-) ) Lucky’s drinking brake and ice cream brake), but Lucky’s batteries would definitely last longer – when back home, he still had energy to bark and jump next to bicycle.
To ride longer distances we bought basket for him on bicycle and he traveled very nicely.
Unfortunately the camera didn't travel with us so I don't have evidence on that. Here's one we made to illustrate it, with Rocco in basket on our way home from picking mushrooms :-).
As I was telling about our big projects, here's one more - stairs from sauna to river. Multifunctional  I, as designer, project leader and assistant saw it as half day work before midsummer, but reality is always something else :-)

And one more "project" Here Rocco is on water trip with children and demolition-mother :-) to destruction of beavers dam

Then my very own agility field :-). Quite modest yet, but I'm working on it . I got my jumps and tunnel quite in the end of the summer. And also Silvia Trkman's agility DVD  (which, I have to say, I looooove! ). But at least we have possibility to have fun with Lucky on weekends there and  a lot of good  ideas that can be practiced even with such a little of equipment. Below is the proof - Lucky loves it.

But though I think we were quite active, living at country seems to have quite bad impact :-) to Lucky and me - we have both collected new calories. That's definitely another sample of  life being unfair :-) - the doors have been open at country whole days, why then dog who has possibility to do what ever he likes gains weight compared to when we are walking in town? I'm already worried thinking of the moment we go back to agility training :-) Then again, maybe we have some kind of new muscles ;-)

But, to take advantage of this regrettable situation - I registered Lucky to dog show :-). Because every extra gram in his agility-weight takes him closer to good show-weight :-). The show took place in South-Estonia, Väimela which is almost most distant place in Estonia where dog shows are held (OK, there are 2 even further). Long distance is only advantage in company of good friends. My plan was to tempt Karin and her Shelties with us (specially Caily, who needed her last Jun CAC)  and to have our yearly Sheltie vacation in connection of this show. And as Karin agreed, we had really really nice trip together. First about the show.

Lucky was skilfully handled by Karin, his result was open 1/1, best dog 4. And his daughter Caily was BOB Junior, got her 3-rd Jun CAC and is Est J CH now. Lucky's show critique too, (translated, very unprofessionally, from estonian by me) Especially good type, good bone structure, muzzle could be more filled, very good pigmentation, beautiful ears and neck. Back could be little longer. Well developed chest, stright front angulation, good back angulation. Nicely carried tail. Excellent coat and good handling.

And now to our Sheltie vacation. Karin had spent a lot of summers in her childhood near to the area where show was held. So we wondered around there and it's really different if you walk and look places yourself or if you walk with someone who knows those places and to whom they have ment a lot.

 

Sometimes time is very cruel. Ruins of the house on the photo where Karin is with dogs are the ruins of her grandparents home. And on the right are ruins of the mill where Karin's grandfather used to work.

This is Vana-Antsla's manor. Or actually what's left of it. It is still beautiful, but how wonderful it must have been when it was really life in there, buildings, roads, garden, ponds maintained. Lately there was school of agriculture, but it was closed and the old dignified manor is empty and decays. Only thing maintained there was herb garden, but even this wont probably last long

To add here that we drove old romantic, winding postal road   to get there,  it was quite historical trip we had. But not only, next photos are made on "European window" - some great views are marked with yellow frames, I didn't even know, but now when I do, good idea I would say

And couple of more made on our way back home.

It was wonderful day and real vacation, something to think back on the cold winter, that definitely warms the heart. Thank you Karin and Fancy and Caily. I'm already looking forward for our next Sheltie vacation and I'm sure Lucky agree.

And one more trip to South-Estonia with family:

Kelli, her cousin and dogs at "european window" in Tartu

Rocco and Lucky at Pokuland

Eku, Rocco & Lucky at Pokuland

Kelli, Jarek & dogs at Piusa caves

Rocco on Taevaskoja nature trail. How do you leave old
friend waiting to car? So we helped him with daddy :o)