Spring Time

I always love this time of year, the days are longer, we can take walks with Odin and Loki without needing to bundle up and wear a headlamp and the Cherry Blossoms are in bloom.

Happy St. Patrick's Day

Wishing everyone a very Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Westminster

Odin had the privilege of getting to compete in the 138th annual Westminster Kennel Club dog show this past week in New York for the very first time. He was shown by his handler Terri Erickson who has been campaigning him all year long in the show ring.

Westminster for those not familiar with dog shows is one of the last benched shows in the county which means that after the dogs show in the ring they spend the rest of the show day benched so that the public can see them. Odin (and Ben) enjoyed hamming it up for the public and everyone who wanted to pet and take pictures of him throughout the day. Odin also enjoyed all the treats he was feed to keep him a happy boy.

The link to the Brittany judging at Westminster our Odin is 5th in line
http://www.westminsterkennelclub.org/videos/Breed%20Judging/2014/Sporting/pid:YydNnSKZIaKx 

While we didn't come home with ribbons the adventure and being a part of this experience was worth every minute and hopefully we'll be lucky enough to make it back in the future before Odin retires from showing.

All in a NYC Long Weekend

We just returned from a whirlwind trip to NYC for 5 days of fun and of course the main reason for the trip, the Westminster Kennel Club dog show which Odin was competing in. The trip to NYC was a first for Ben so it was fund getting to show him as many sites as we could pack in while we had free time.

Our traveling companions included 3 other adults and 4 other digs which made for a very cozy and crazy stay at The New Yorker Hotel. We were able to see the Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island, the 9 11 Memorial, Times Square, FAO Schwartz, Empire State Building, Carnegie Deli for Ben's 1 pound corned beef sandwich, and we went to see the Phantom of the Opera.

We lucked out weather wise and only had snow one day of the trip but boy was it cold while we were there. We were very glad to have made our flight home before the blizzard that that hit the next day and look forward to hopefully a return trip in the future.

Goodbye 2013, Hello 2014!

2013 has been a year filled with highs and lows for our family. There have been frustrations and disappointments, of course.. but they have been far, far out-weighed by the good. In addition to a lot of really wonderful time with my family and friends, I can look at this list and see proof of forward motion, of goals met or —more importantly— actively in progress. Some of the major events of the year included:

• Created a new logo for Campbell's Brittanys (www.campbellsbrittanys.com) website featuring Odin and Loki and our new soup can logo 
• Celebrated Odin turning 5 and Loki turning 3
• Odin won his third Best of Breed show win with his awesome handler, Terri Erickson
• Celebrated Loki finishing 2012 as the number 3 derby dog (field class in Field Trials) for the Northwest Field Trial Council
• Loki earned his first broke dog field trial placement in a open gun dog stake with 14 other dogs entered
• After a year of showing at various shows throughout Washington, Oregon, California, and Utah, Loki earned his show championship and now is CH. Lacey Mtn's B Campbell Little Jester, JH
• Ben and I celebrated our eleventh wedding anniversary
• Ben and I checked off another travel destination on our list with a short getaway to Costa Rica

We hope you all had a wonderful 2013 and wish you a fabulous 2014!

Happy 3rd Birthday Loki!

Happy third Birthday to our sweet Little Dude, Loki! little boy you're one! No longer really a puppy, I take a moment to remember you as you were. You were fuzzy and sweet, and fit right on my lap where you would not leave. You cried for your First Mom, but have since learned she never really left you, only brought you to my care. You snuck under fences and stuck your face in my camera lens, making it nigh impossible for me to get a decent shot of anyone. From the first you insisted on keeping up with the big dogs, short legs never held you back. They still don't. You've done a great job showing people size does not dictate speed or ability, you defy both gravity and ride the wind. There was a day you were never called "Stinker", but you earned it and continue to earn it so I think the nickname is here to stay. But it doesn't take away one ounce of your joy, the love you express or the sweetness you show in quieter moments. Happy Birthday Melanie.

Christmas 2013

Christmas 2013 has been another good one for us! Surrounded by my family this morning for breakfast and presents and a visit with Ben's family and extended relatives this evening made for and long but good day filled with family.