The Whole Gang

The Royalty litter at almost eight weeks. From left to right: Ariel, Belle, Cinderella, Prince, Aurora, Pocahontas, Jasmine.

Gracie's Puppies

Here are Gracie's puppies .. they are growing fast and getting great little personalities. All healthy and super cute. Here they are at about 4 weeks old... since only 1 boy, Prince, he gets his own collage with lots of photos of just him.

Gracie's Beautiful Pups Arrive!

During the wee hours of Tuesday July 29th, our royal girl, Gracie (The Royal Grace of Seastar) whelped her first litter. She gave birth to 7 healthy puppies; 6 girls and 1 boy. The proud father is Clipper (Driftwood’s Coastal Clipper – with way too many titles and accomplishments for me to list, as I’m sure I’d forget something!).

We originally planned for a “Simpsons” themed litter but with so many beautiful girls, we had to re-think that strategy. In keeping with the puppies’ Mother & Grandmother’s (Seastar’s Princess Lola) official AKC names, we chose to theme this litter after Disney Royalty!

So introducing (with a short description of the Disney princesses they are named after):

Ariel (light blue): she is “feisty, headstrong and means to follow the rules but rarely succeeds”. Ariel is better known as The Little Mermaid.
Aurora (yellow): she is a “gentle, loving and thoughtful girl”. She is better known as Sleeping Beauty.
Belle (light purple): she is “loyal and kind with much patience… she has a natural, unaffected beauty”. Belle is the princess from Beauty & the Beast.
Cinderella (light pink): she is “keen, intelligent with true dignity, goodness and beauty”. Everyone knows Cinderella!
Jasmine (dark purple): she is “exotic, fiery, strong and independent” ... she is the princess from Aladdin.
Pocahontas (dark pink): she is “playful, free-spirited, loves adventure & excitement. She is curious and independent and in her story was nicknamed “little mischief”

The boy, well he is “PRINCE” (the puppy formerly known as “Bart”.. he has a dark blue ribbon). He is a striking boy, a deep dark red like his Dad and Grandfather (Reid).

Swimming with the Lily Pads

Summer in mid-swing and local swimming holes are getting lots of growth. Here is a fun picture of Lola retrieving a bumper in the midst of green.

Summer in Vermont

Diary excerpt from Jane:

Today I went for a long secluded walk in the reserve near my parent's house in Vermont (way out in nowhere land, near Canadian boarder). I went to Misquam Bay and what did I find - a Subway ball. You all would have loved to see me roll it about 3/4 miles to the van and then had to tie it into the back. The dogs give you an idea of what it is like. I am saving it for my sister, Laurie, because her client is Subway restaurants. How funny to be in the most remote place in Vermont and happen on this particular item, way out in the middle of nowhere. The dogs love it.

Gracie

Spring time! Yeah, about time. We are out doing some field work and enjoying the awesome weather. Here is picture of Gracie yesterday - took while out on our walk.

Whisky's First Points

On Saturday and Sunday (April 12&13), Hillscourt's Seastar Cuddlepie (aka Whisky) began his showing career in Warwick, RI alongside handler Kaila Smith. Both days Whisky earned 1 point by recieving Winners Dog, Best of Winners, and Best of Breed, therefore earning a total of 2 points that weekend. It was a great way for him to start off showing and we can't wait until his next show.

Sadie won the Breed, Best Veteran and Best Gun Dog at the recent
New England Sporting Group Association show on Sunday, March 16
in a large showing of Tollers. At age 8 she still shows well and is in
wonderful condition. Girls rule!

Sorry guys, my sad blogging skills are showing. I posted photos with no text. The photos below are of Seastar's Delyla (Lyla). She was showing off at a party this past summer and one of the guests snapped these great photos of her. She is a nutty girl, and very affectionate.

Finn: Feb 2008

Finn sitting pretty in the winter snow... isn't he a GREAT looking boy?

Zoey + Spirit Pups

From left to right: Shelby, Hali, Rufus and Dasher

The 4 pups from Zoey and Spirit!! Picture taken on 2/10/08 - when they were 2 months old. Pups are now in their new homes.

I love my Gracie.



this video was taken in June 06

Derrie finished her Championship in great style earning 20 points with
3 majors (2-4 points and 1-3 pointer)in Fitchburg on December 1-2, 2007.
She earned Best of Winners both days and the previous weekend in Springfield.
Co-owner Michele McGrath was there to watch her win and we are pleased
to announce this is the 4th Champion from the Sadie X Reid litter.

Farley in the News

Farley was recently featured The Star (http://www.thestar.com/Travel/article/280718)... an article about ski boom at Fernie (where Jen & Farley work)

Little excerpt from article:

"...Avalanche dogs undergo intensive training for this moment – much of it through almost comical, but deadly serious, fetch and tug-of-war games, like Farley, a Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever, is playing right now on a snowy peak with his owner Jennifer Coulter..."

Lilly's A New Champion!

On Sunday September 16, 2007 Seastar's Northern Lilly owned by myself (Melissa Smith) and Jane Folkman became a new champion in Falmouth, Ma at the Cape Cod Kennel Club Dog show. Lilly took her last point by getting Best of Winners and Best of Opposite Sex over a Special Bitch. It was a great achievement.

Mr. Turner

Christi's Turner (Edlyn Seastar Turn of Events) is maturing into quite a boy ... and boy does he have personality!

Fun at the US Specialty

Melissa and Kaila take Open Senior 1 and 2 spots respectively.... aren't Magic and Lilly looking GOOD?!!

Sadie Wins Best Veteran at Specialty Sweeps

Jane & Sadie take the 2007 US NSDTRC Specialty by storm and walk out with BEST Veteran in Sweeps! Way to go girls.

Runner & Meadow : July 2007

Here is picture of litter mates Runner (left) and Meadow (right) - from the Reid x Lola breeding. They are close to 2 1/2 years old in this picture which was taken at Lighthouse Park in BC. Runner lives out in BC with Carol Simmerling & Alison Strang. Meadow is owned by Christine Comfort and is part of the Roaneden clan.

They are both just beautiful tollers - so typey - and have great personalities. Not only do this brother / sister team look good, they can do the work too! Both have earned their retrieving working certificates.

Magic Earns Multiple Group Placements

Magic has earned 3 group placements so far. The picture to the left is at Topsfield, MA with a Group 4 and the photo above is in Warwick, RI with his second Group 3 placement. Kaila Smith, Magic's junior co-owner is a great handler. They are a beautiful team to watch - poetry in motion!

Magic Earns 12 BOB Awards

Magic has earned 12 Best of Breed, 3 Group placements and
4 Opposite Sex Awards in 20 shows with tough NE competition.
I am thankful for the expert handling junior co-owner Kaila
Smith brings to the shows. Magic now is #7 in the breed
and all breed systems for AKC.
Here is his most recent photo at the Lakes Regions KC show in NH.

Derrie wins a BBE Sporting Group 1

Seastar's Derrie O'Balleyfore won a Bred-By Exhibitor Sporting Group First
placement at the Lakes Region Kennel Club Shows in New Hampshire. It
was my first time in the Best in Show competition in AKC for the Bred-by
Groups. It was a lovely day and nice show. Christine Pollender-Calcinari
was our judge.

Lilly's on a Roll!

Lilly took Best of Winners along with a 4 point major at the Lakes Region Kennel Club Show in Hopkinton, NH on July 12, 2007. She was competing from the 12-18 month puppy class under Judge Eugene Blake.

On the same day, Lilly was able to assist me in winning my Open Senior Class in Juniors, and then go on to win the Overall Best Junior Award under Judge Amanda M. Pough.

Lilly Takes Sporting Group Puppy 4th Place!

Melissa & Lilly take Sporting Puppy Group 4th placement at the the Wampanoag Kennel Club Show in Wrentham Ma on Sunday, July 1 under Judge P. Levi Marsman.

Don't they look GREAT! Lilly turned 1 year old on 7/9/07 and is turning into a really special girl.

Happy Birthday to Lola's July 9th pups!!

I just had to say Happy Birthday to all of Lola's July 9th pups;
George
Martha
Ohsay (now my little girl Nya)
Canyou
Liberty
Belle
DUI

Here's a pix of my Nya taken today on her birthday!

If at all possible, I would love to see pix of her sisters/brothers as well!

Eileen, Joey and Nya

Summer Dog Days

Summer is in full swing here in Mass. Yesterday was a beautiful day, 2 swims, 1 walk and multiple throws of both Lola & Gracie's favorite squeaky balls. Took a few photos - Lola is now just over 5 years old and Gracie 2 1/2 years old. They are both doing great - happy & healthy.

Farley Update

Just thought I would give a little Farley update. This spring Farley and I certified as a Ground Search team. That means we are now available for missing persons searches as well as avalanche searches.

We are keeping busy doing some summer searches and working some fun obedience. Farley's favorite (next to searching) is getting to go hiking with me at work. He thinks it is a REAL SAME he is not allowed to chase ground squirrels though!

Cool to hear all about all the young Seastar pups growing up and doing so great in their chosen venues. I am really going to try to go to the Am. Specialty so I can see all these fine dogs I always hear about!

Cheers,

Jennifer

2 New HRC Titles

Sadie and Magic earned their started field titles from Granite State and Yankeewaterfowlers hunting retriever clubs in 4 straight passes.

Judges Wayne Sumner on the left and Jim Pearson on the right were the judges who awarded the ribbons and titles. It was fun despite gastly weather conditions.

Nelia and Callan

Ok, Jane is always bugging me about photos of Callan, so I finally got one of Nelia and him. Nee is SO good with him. :) If you want to see more cute pictures of Callan his blog is at http://callanpages.blogspot.com/ Now Callan just needs to figure out if he stays out of the dog bed he might not have as much dog hair in his mouth! Callan is 21 months and Nelia is 11 months in this photo.

Sara and Nelia