Day 52

Willow Sunshine is too big to wear her reflector vest anymore, so she had to use Nash's!  She is looking pretty big, but the photos don't really show it well.  I cleaned the whelping pool, it is now set up in the bedroom. She slowed down on her maternity walks, she moves at a steady pace instead of zipping around after rodents in stonewalls.

 Willow Sunshine in Nash's vest

 Puppy bulge

Whelping pool.

Day 42

Willow Sunshine is beginning to show.

Travel Details

What goes into breeding? 

Many Miles.

Friday - Hancock to Guilfor, CT
161 miles (one way) - 4 hour drive. It usually is 3 hours - arrive 9:30 PM (LOTS of Traffic!). Repack the car.

Tanked up on gas before leaving: $19.16 ($2.17/gallon)
ave 40.9 mpg

Topped off tank when arrived in Guilford: $9.13 ($2.29/gallon)

 Saturday - 
Wake at 5:45 AM and on the road with Pearl and Willow Sunshine by 6:20 AM.
 

 Guilford, CT to Norwood, Ontario

507 miles (one way) - 10 hour drive!  That is pretty good

Two pit stops.  One for gas, the other at duty fee shop. Total time for stops one hour.

Gas at Fat Nancy's tackle shop in Pelika, NY (fun tackle shop, lots of fishing enthusiasts this time of year, something is running.)

 $19.81 ($2.31/gallon)
ave 43.3 mpg  and 68/70 mph

Tolls - lots of them - $8.65

Crossed over at 1000 Island bridge at 12:55PM,  only 5 minute wait, breezed right through.
 Fantastic clear day, easy drive, little traffic!

Route taken:
From Guilford:  I91 North - I 90 west to Syracuse, NY  -  481 North to Watertown, NY where we cross over into Canada.

Trip Totals from Hancock, NH to Norwood, and back to Hancock- via Guilford
Total miles 1,375 
Total driving hours 26.5 hours (91/2 hours on return trip to Guilford!)
ave spreed 68 mph
ave mpg 40
$18 in tolls
$88 in gas


Number of CD's played 14
Snacks Consumed - celery, water, luna bars, nuts and berries, small bag m+m's, cheese, and apples

Return with swimming sperm ....

63 days - Puppies - November 28th....

Canada Bound - September 26th -28th

Saturday -

5:45 AM - we are on the road later than I wanted, We will get there when we get there.


CANADA!  Arrived to welcoming friends.

No time is wasted. Willow Sunshine is introduced to Johnny - no tie.  we try two more times. Success!
(Focused on breeding, I failed to get good pictures of Johnny, and Damon, rats! Not to mention the boys were too excited, and didn't pose well.)

While there - great food, good friends, fun animals, beautiful dogs, and another chance to see Damon ( Nash X Pearl), Willow Sunshine's brother. 

 













OH - celestial event!  Lunar Eclipse of the full moon on the 27th,  the day we got a tie (success on the 28th), what is that significance I wonder?  Also, it was a blue moon (second full moon of the month).

Meet the Parents and the Adventure begins - September 25th

Friday,

Preparing to leave, making final arrangements.  Onward to Guilford, CT, then depart for Norwood first thing Saturday morning ( a 9 1/2 hour drive).  Pearl and Willow Sunshine will be with me.

Arrived in Guilford at 9:30 PM.


MEET THE PARENTS
Johnny & Willow Sunshine

 

Willow Sunshine and Grace (her daughter)


Willow Sunshine: Caccha's Willow Little Miss Sunshine CGC
 
Caccha's Willow Amazing Nyne CC CGC WC APS APJ APG NF NJP OA OAJ x Devonsleigh's Field of Pearls NA NAJ

PEDIGREE
OFA PAGE

OFA hips: Excellent, elbows: Normal
Eyes: CERF - Normal, PRA - Carrier, RD/ODS Normal, EIC, Clear

So It begins - September 15th

WELCOME to Willow Sunshine's breeding blog. 

 I can't believe time has come.

 I am going to breed my little girl. 

Willow Sunshine has come into heat. After months of trying to decide who to use as a stud dog, a decision has been made. First, I couldn't decide on color, black or yellow. Then, once I made that choice, I couldn't decide who.  So many nice boys to choose from.

Johnny, Sunnydaze walk the line, was the winner.

Next came working out the logistics, and progesterone testing, and timing.



Nash was to go to Guilford, CT, and stay with a friend. Next, I realized his sister was going to visit for two weeks over breeding time. This meant my friend was going to have two senior dogs in her care.  Anyone who has taken care of a senior dog knows the energy that can be involved - multiply that by two, and then remember they aren't even your dogs.  It takes a special kind of person.

A date was set for progesterone testing, which was changed, mostly I guessed, the test really didn't help much.  I couldn't find anyone to go with me, so this was going to be a long riv, a whirlwind trip.  Next, I planned my route, an itinerary for driving to Norwood, Ontario, Canada.  Then off we went when the time came...