Wednesday, April 27, 2011

Bella and Bethany from Tuckasegee, North Carolina~

Mom's taking pictures again!

Both girls love my recliner!

Bella to Bethany, "If you get any bigger this arrangement won't work"



Hi Sue,




I wanted to send you some new photos of Bella and Bethany! Bella is loved by everyone she meets and greets with so much love and compassion. She has the unique gift of making everyone believe they're the most important person on the planet! She is a true angel with four paws.



I'm working with Bethany very slowly. Now that the weather is getting warmer I'm planning on walking in the park where she'll get to see and hear many things. She loves the people at the Nursing Center but it takes her a while to "warm" up so I'm not pushing her. I'm praying she'll come around, I'd hate for her to miss all those special events at the Nursing Centers. Time will tell!



Both girls are so special and I'm blessed to have them in my life. God brings gifts to us in many different shapes and sizes. That's exactly what my girls are to me, a special gift from God who works through a special lady that's my friend too!



Thank you again and thank you to all your family!



Cherrie', Bella and Bethany Willow

Tuesday, April 26, 2011

Natalie and Chloe from Monson, Massachusetts~







Hello, Sue!

Hope this e-mail finds you, the family and pups well. We have been thinking of you. Hope you had a blessed Easter. We had a nice day with Michael's family. Thought we'd send you some recent photos. Hard to believe that Natalie is 5 yrs. old (4-25-06)! She is still a piece of work. Chloe has been good for her! Chloe has the sweetest personality, a real love. Good breeding!




Love to all and God Bless,


Kimmy

Disney from Silver Spring, Maryland~




Hi!




I thought I'd take some pics of Disney before he gets too big. He keeps growing and growing-- over 9 pounds. My camera battery is very low so the pictures aren't that clear. I'll charge it before I take 3 months old picture.



Here he is with his newest toy-- a whale. I thought he should have a marine animal since we picked him up at the aquarium.



Hope all is well with your families... both two and four legged members.

Nancy

Sunday, April 24, 2011

Sparky from Astoria, Illinois~




Hello Sue,


Sparky and I just wanted to send you a very special E-mail to tell all my High Calling Cocker Family, and the Martin family to have a very Blessed and Happy Easter.

Love and God Blessings to all of you.

Linda and Sparky

Wednesday, April 20, 2011

Emily's Birthday Party - from Quincy, Massachusetts~






Hi Mama Sue,

Today I had my first birthday party. I wasn't sure exactly what was going on but it was fun.

I started the day playing outside a great deal of the time with my favorite toy, a tennis ball.

When everyone came home from work we sat at the kitchen table and had pizza (don't worry,

I only had a couple of bites) but I sure did like it. After the pizza, I opened my presents and

cards with the help of my brother, Tim. My family gave me a yellow chickie squeeze toy, a soft

red frisbee and a package of chew bones. After I played for a little while with my new toys, we

had over-sized cupcakes and mine had a candle on it. Mom took loads and loads of pictures

and we are sending you a few, so you can see my lst Birthday Party.
I think I'll go get up on my brother's bed and take a nap now, this party business made me

a little tired; so I guess I'll say good-night Mama Sue!
Love,
Your Little Emily

Cubby from Southport, Connecticut~







Hello Sue!


Congratulations on the birth of the new pups. The photos look so cute and bring me back to when our Cubby was a newborn. He is doing great at 9 months old. Here are some of his recent photos for the blog.

Happy Easter

Cubby and Joanne

Happy Easter from "Emily" from Quincy, Massachusetts~


I'll always love you, Mama Sue! 
From your Little Emily and Her Family


"Bella" from Pittsford, New York~



Hello Susan,

We continue to adore our little Bella! She is a wonderful


puppy, pretty well behaved (we have attended a training class once per

week since she was 10 weeks old), so friendly, and the best canine

companion anyone could ask for! When she poops out after lots of play,

her favorite place to perch is on the back of a chair in our family

room! Thank you for making the puppy acquiring experience such a

positive one, and for breeding such special pups. I hope you and your

family are well, and that spring will arrive soon! With warm regards,

Kathy

Bailey and Lulu from Potomac, Maryland~




Hi Sue!

Just wanted to let you know that Bailey is doing great...he's such a cutie. He's fit right into the family and never leaves Lulu's side! Here are some photos of them together!

I hope your husband is doing better.
Happy Spring!
Jane

Tuesday, April 19, 2011

Chloe from Lancaster, New York~

Chloe in her Easter Bonnet~

Emily from Quincy, Massachusetts~

Happy 1st Birthday To Us!!!




It was one year ago, April 20, 2010 that Mama Starr gave birth to us.
To my sister Gracie from Harrisburg, PA, my brother Bojangles from
Ware, MA and my brother Dusty from Moose Island, ME, I wish you all
a very Happy Birthday.

It would be great fun for all of us to be able to play together, but since
we can't, I'm sending each of you a "BIG PUPPY KISS" from your
sister, Emily.

XO XO XO

Bethany Willow from Tuckasegee, North Carolina~


Hi Mamma Sue,
Guess who? It's me, Bethany all the way from the mountains of North Carolina! Now, can you guess...IT'S MY BIRTHDAY!! I'm one year old on Wednesday!


Wow, where has all the time gone? It really has gone fast and there's so much to learn and do. I'm beginning to get over being car sick (a little bit) and I'm trying not to be scared of everything. Mom said I'm going through a "stage" that sounds scary but Mom said I'll get over everything we just take one step at a time. Oh, I found out you're not supposed to get into the field with the cattle or roll in what they leave behind! Mom was MAD! I thought I smelled wonderful! Bella wouldn't join me, she just watched me and had a silly grin on her face.


Mom will send you some new photos as soon as she gets the other computer up and running. I'm trying to be a good girl and most of the time I am. Bella and I have a great time together until she lets me know enough is enough!

Mamma Sue, thank you for letting me come to my forever home in the mountains! I love my Mom, Bella and all the others in the family! Anyway, I'm sending you puppy kisses (big girl kisses now) and a snuggle from your little Bethany. Bella sends her love too!

Puppy Paws from the Heart,


Bethany

Thursday, April 14, 2011

Issues with the blog~ ???

Hello from High Calling Cockers!

          It has been brought to my attention that the link to "Older Posts" at the bottom of this page isn't working correctly.  But I found that if you "right click" on that link, and then click on "open", it will work that way.  Hope this helps anyone having issues with looking at the blog.

Have a wonderful day!!!

Sue

Monday, April 11, 2011

Mia from Seaford, New York~

Mia, Jack & Joseph getting ready for Communion Pictures for Joseph!

Mia from Seaford, New York~


Mia and Jack!
Aren't those hair bows darling???  :D


Mia from Seaford, New York~

Bunny Mia~

Mia from Seaford, New York~

Mia in her raincoat~  :D

Disney from Silver Spring, Maryland~

Disney going up stairs for the first time!



Hi, Good Afternoon!

I feel like a proud parent when Disney does something for the first time. He does like a challenge and seems very intelligent.


Today is the first day he got all the way up our stairs. I ran to get the camera so the picture is a little blurry when I caught him at the top. He has been trying to get up the stairs to the landing where Pixie sits. That is where Pixie has been able to go to get away when she doesn't want to play with Disney -- well not anymore.
Disney also ..... rated PG-13 part coming up ... went #2 on a wee wee pad by the front door for the first time. During the night when he whines in his crate to be let out, he goes either outside or in our bath room on a wee wee pad I have there if it's raining too hard outside. He has also gone on a wee wee pad in our morning room where I set up his play pen. He was playing ball with Joe last night and then stopped and ran to the front door. When Joe got there, he had gone on this wee wee pad for the first time. We put it there "just in case" and to make sure he knew where the door was to outside.

The last "First" that I'll bore you with is he was playing outside with me without his leash. I told him to go home and he ran up the driveway, climbed the porch stairs and stood right at the front door waiting for me to let him in.

Now if I can only get him to stop biting my toes and hands. He likes to nibble on them even though he has toys and chew bones. He likes Joe's toes and hands, too.

Hope Mia is doing well, and all the Martin cocker spaniel family members.

Nancy

Friday, April 8, 2011

Drummer Boy from Grand Junction, Colorado~



Hi, Sue!



First, I just wanted to be sure: You DID send the email to me about Peroxide

vs. Bleach, right? With so many things circulating on the internet, I just

wanted to check with you. Amazing! I often wondered if it could be used for

things other than cuts!



OK. The link below came from an Irish Blessing clip that was forwarded to me.

I clicked on this link to see what else she had done. There is a picture of

her (Andie) and her son Ethan from Arizona and I think that they got one of

your puppies! Am I right? Ethan looks VERY familiar - like I've seen a picture

of him with his puppy on your website. Maybe it's someone else. Anyway, she

has some really cool stuff on her site.

http://www.andiesisle.com/index.html


I hope that you are doing well. I saw that all of the puppies went to their

Forever Homes now. Everyone looks so happy! I especially loved looking at all

of Disney's pictures and it remined me so much of when we got Drummer! Thank

God for digital cameras! To develop film would have been a small fortune! LOL!



Drummer is doing well and maturing into a beautiful adult cocker. He will be

18 months on April 18th - which is hard to believe! He still can't handle

being separated from me - especially if I go outside and he can't come! I had

to clean up a bunch of debris from a wind storm and he sat at the back door

doing his cocker-doodle-doo thing! Glenn actually got it on video, but we're

still trying to get it successfully loaded from the camera to the computer

(we've been having some computer problems). It was so darn cute! It was only

30 seconds long and the first 25 seconds was just him crying, but in the last

few seconds he tips his head back and lets 'er rip in a forlorn howl! It was

priceless! If we're outside together and he thinks that I've gone inside

without him, he will go to the back door and howl like he's being tortured!

Our neighbor actually came outside to see if he was hurt! I'm hoping that he

will grow out of this! LOL!



I've attached a recent picture of Drummer right after he was groomed. He's a

pretty handsome dude!
Have a great evening!


Hugs!


Mary :o)

Watson from North Tonawanda, New York~




Hello Sue,
Well I finally have a free minute to update you on Watson. He has adjusted well. It will be 1 week tomorrow we have had him. He hung around me for the first couple of days and now he has the run of the house. He learned the hallway opens back up into the living room area and we have had fun running around the hall. Watson has been doing amazing in his crate since we got him. He only wakes up once during the night if that. I was never a morning person but I am now. Watson loves to get his day going around 6 or 6:30 at the latest. Watson has had no accidents in the house the last few days, He is doing amazing with the training. We took him to the vet on Monday for his check-up. The vet said what a cute little guy we have. He helped to remind us about puppies again, since it has been a long time since we have had a puppy. Watson loves it outside. We went for 4 walks today, He does not like to come inside. We have slowly been introducing him to everyone who wants to see him. I took him over to work so the gentlemen there could meet him and 2 of them petted him and held him. This was a big deal as they have been afraid of dogs before this. They said he can come over again sometime. Well it is time for my bed since Mr. Watson will be waking me early.



God Bless You and Your family

Dot

Thursday, April 7, 2011

"Disney" from Silver Spring, Maryland~





Good morning, Sue~
Disney is really getting the crate training down. He sleeps next to my bed and wakes me up once or twice during the night to go potty outside. I'm the one that needs to be more prepared. This morning I took him out at 3:25am in a T-shirt and flip flops. Was kinda cold. I'll have to set ready to throw on "warm" clothes out before bed.

He loves to explore now. He used to stay at my feet. He would wonder for a couple seconds, maybe 3-5 feet away and then come running back to my feet. Now he walks further away on our grass and sniffs around longer before he looks back to see where I am. He ventured into our neighbors yard since we don't have a connecting fence. Sometimes I use the red leash you gave me,but other times I let him walk free. I want him to get a feel for my house's boundaries. He's really good at coming when I say, "Disney".

He also likes his play pen. It has the blue blanket you gave me and his MilkBone toy. Joe is just crazy about him. I haven't seen Joe have a smile on his face and laugh this much. He says he just can't help it; he says Disney "is just too cute". They have bonded well.


I'm off to the vet this morning for his first check up here.


All is well in Silver Spring! :-D

Nancy

Wednesday, April 6, 2011

Such a wonderful story!!!~



CHEYENNE


            By Catherine Moore



 'Watch out! You nearly

 broadsided that car!' My father yelled at me.

 'Can't you do anything right?' Those words hurt

worse than blows. I turned my head toward the elderly man in

 the seat beside me, daring me to challenge him. A lump rose

 in my throat as I averted my eyes. I wasn't prepared for

 another battle.


 'I saw the car, Dad..

 Please don't yell at me when I'm driving.' My

 voice was measured and steady, sounding far calmer than I

 really felt.


 Dad glared at me, then,

 turned away and settled back. At home, I left Dad in front

 of the television and went outside to collect my thoughts.

 Dark, heavy clouds hung in the air with a promise of rain.

 The rumble of distant thunder seemed to echo my inner

 turmoil. What could I do about him?


 Dad had been a lumberjack

 in Washington and Oregon . He had enjoyed being outdoors and

 had reveled in pitting his strength against the forces of

 nature. He had entered grueling lumberjack competitions and

 had placed often. The shelves in his house were filled with

 trophies that attested to his prowess.


 The years marched on

 relentlessly. The first time he couldn't lift a heavy

 log, he joked about it; but later that same day, I saw him

 outside alone, straining to lift it. He became irritable

 whenever anyone teased him about his advancing age or when

 he couldn't do something he had done as a younger man.


Four days after his sixty-seventh birthday, he had a heart attack. At the

 hospital, Dad was rushed into an operating room. He was lucky;

 he survived.


 But something inside Dad

 died. His zest for life was gone. He obstinately refused to

 follow doctor's orders. Suggestions and offers of help

 were turned aside with sarcasm and insults. The number of

 visitors thinned and then finally stopped altogether. Dad

 was left alone.

My husband, Dick, and I

 asked Dad to come live with us on our small farm. We hoped

 the fresh air and rustic atmosphere would help him adjust.

 Within a week after he moved in, I regretted the invitation.

 It seemed nothing was satisfactory. He criticized

 everything I did. I became frustrated and moody. Soon,

I was taking my pent-up anger out on Dick. We began to

 bicker and argue. Alarmed, Dick sought out our pastor and

 explained the situation. The clergyman set up weekly

 counseling appointments for us. At the close of each

 session, he prayed, asking God to soothe Dad's troubled

 mind. But the months wore on and God was silent.

 Something had to be done and it was up to me to do

 it.

  The next day, I sat down

 with the phone book and methodically called each of the

 mental health clinics listed in the Yellow Pages. I

 explained my problem to each of the sympathetic voices that

answered. In vain. Just when I was giving up hope, one of

 the voices suddenly exclaimed, 'I just read something

 that might help you! Let me go get the article.' I

 listened as she read. The article described a remarkable

 study done at a nursing home. All of the patients were under

 treatment for chronic depression. Yet their attitudes had

 improved dramatically when they were given responsibility

 for a dog.


 I drove to the animal

 shelter that afternoon. After I filled out a questionnaire,

 a uniformed officer led me to the kennels. The odor of

 disinfectant stung my nostrils as I moved down the row of

 pens. Each contained five to seven dogs. Long-haired

 dogs, curly-haired dogs, black dogs, spotted dogs all jumped

 up, trying to reach me. I studied each one, but rejected one

 after the other for various reasons, too big, too small, too

 much hair. As I neared the last pen, a dog in the shadows of

 the far corner struggled to his feet, walked to the front of

 the run and sat down. It was a pointer, one of the dog

 world's aristocrats. But this was a caricature of the

 breed. Years had etched his face and muzzle with shades of

 gray. His hipbones jutted out in lopsided triangles. But it

 was his eyes that caught and held my attention. Calm and

 clear, they beheld me unwaveringly.

 I pointed to the dog.

 'Can you tell me about him?' The officer

 looked, then shook his head  puzzlement..



 'He's a funny one.

 Appeared out of nowhere and sat in front of the gate. We

 brought him in, figuring someone would be right down to

 claim him; that was two weeks ago and we've heard

 nothing. His time is up tomorrow.' He gestured

 helplessly.

  As the words sank in, I turned to the man in horror. 'You mean you're going

 to kill him?'


 'Ma'am,' he said gently, 'that's our policy. We don't have

 room for every unclaimed dog.'


I looked at the pointer again. The calm brown eyes awaited my decision.

 'I'll take him,' I said.


 I drove home with the dog on the front seat beside me.

When I reached the house, I honked the horn twice.

I was helping my prize out of the car when Dad shuffled onto the front porch.


 'Ta-da! Look what I got for you, Dad!' I said excitedly.


Dad looked, then wrinkled

 his face in disgust. 'If I had wanted a dog, I would

 have gotten one. And I would have picked out a better

 specimen than that bag of bones. Keep it! I don't want

 it' Dad waved his arm scornfully and turned back toward

 the house.



 Anger rose inside me. It queezed together my throat muscles and pounded into my

 temples.

  'You'd better get

 used to him, Dad. He's staying!' Dad ignored me..

 'Did you hear me, Dad?' I screamed. At those words,

 Dad whirled angrily, his hands clenched at his sides, his

 eyes narrowed and blazing with

 hate.

  We stood glaring at each

 other like duelists, when, suddenly, the pointer pulled free

 from my grasp. He wobbled toward my dad and sat down in

 front of him.. Then slowly, carefully, he raised his
 paw.

 Dad's lower jaw

 trembled as he stared at the uplifted paw. Confusion

 replaced the anger in his eyes. The pointer waited

 patiently. Then, Dad was on his knees, hugging the animal.

 It was the beginning of a warm and intimate friendship.

 Dad named the pointer Cheyenne.

 Together, he and Cheyenne explored the community. They

 spent long hours walking down dusty lanes. They spent

 reflective moments on the banks of streams, angling for

 tasty trout. They even started to attend Sunday services

 together, Dad sitting in a pew and Cheyenne lying quietly at

 his feet.

 Dad and Cheyenne were

 inseparable throughout the next three years. Dad's

 bitterness faded and he and Cheyenne made many friends.

 Then, late one night, I was startled to feel Cheyenne 's

 cold nose burrowing through our bed covers. He had never

 before come into our bedroom at night. I woke Dick, put on
 my robe, and ran into my father's room. Dad lay in his

 bed, his face serene. But his spirit had left quietly

 sometime during the night.


Two days later, my shock

 and grief deepened when I discovered Cheyenne lying dead

 beside Dad's bed. I wrapped his still form in the rag

 rug he had slept on. As Dick and I buried him near a

 favorite fishing hole, I silently thanked the dog for the

 help he had given me in restoring Dad's peace of

 mind.


The morning of Dad's funeral dawned, overcast and dreary. This day

 looks like the way I feel, I thought, as I walked down the

 aisle to the pews reserved for family. I was surprised to

 see the many friends Dad and Cheyenne had made filling the

 church. The pastor began his eulogy. It was a tribute to

both Dad and the dog who had changed his life. And, then,

 the pastor turned to Hebrews 13:2. 'Be not forgetful to

 entertain strangers.'


'I've often thanked God for sending that angel,' he said.


 For me, the past dropped

 into place, completing a puzzle that I had not seen before:

 the sympathetic voice that had just read the right

 article.



 Cheyenne's unexpected

 appearance at the animal shelter, his calm acceptance and

 complete devotion to my father, and the proximity of their

 deaths. And, suddenly, I understood. I knew that God

 had answered my prayers after all. Life is too short for

drama & petty things, so laugh hard, love truly, and

 forgive quickly. Live While You Are Alive. Tell the

 people you love that you love them, at

every opportunity. Forgive now those who made you cry.

 You might not get a second

 time.






Tuesday, April 5, 2011

"Disney" from Silver Spring, Maryland~

Nancy waiting for Disney to arrive~

Joe with his new little boy, Disney

Niagara Falls at night~

Niagara Falls American Side

American Side of the Falls

"Disney" from Silver Spring, Maryland~

Here are some pics of Disney.




First Kiss

Disney at his new blue food bowl

Resting in the entry way



Mischief!  LOL

Disney's first mischief-- appears to be innocently checking out my shoe. But then he runs by so fast the camera shot is blurry.



It was great meeting you Susan. And Lisa, you and Mia are beautiful on the website.


Nancy

Monday, April 4, 2011

A beautiful video~

Lead Me Lord

This was a very inspiring video this morning.  It is a dreary and rainy Monday.  I needed this today.

Sue

Sunday, April 3, 2011

"Disney" (Sherlock) from Silver Spring, Maryland~

Nancy and Joe with their new baby, "Disney"

I met Nancy and Joe today when they came to tour Niagara Falls, and pick up their new puppy, Disney.  What a lovely couple!  I am very pleased with all the homes Rosie's puppies went to live in "forever".    :D