My puppies are chubby

Dear Diary, 

   It is very satisfying to have such chubby puppies. There isn't a thin one in the lot but it does make me tired. 

   Liz is working outside in the cold every day putting a roof on the little wooden house that covers our pump house. I try to get out to help as much as possible but it is hard to manage that and 10 children. 

   We have had some lovely visitors who have said nice things about the babies. I have put up some pictures.   Little Arty is sucking on Sandy's finger as if he never had been given a proper meal! Cara Lee loves little Frida as we all do. I have included a self portrait of artist Frida Khalo for whom my girl was named.  I like the lovely Mexican dress she is wearing in this picture. There is another photo here of my Frida. It is easy to tell it is her as she is the only puppy with a white mark on her forehead.  The very very chubby puppy with the white Tummy is dear little Frankie. He is doing so well. 

   I also have included a picture of  chocolate Tom Tom. His face is so adorable. 

   I must close now as there is a workman here to work on the little pump house which everybody calls the Wendy House because it is going to be so cute. They really need me out there and it is nice to get a little fresh air as the puppy's bedroom is so warm.

Suzie

We want to be super dogs!

Dear Diary, 

   It is hard to believe my babies are five days old. I am still situated in the little bedroom beside the mums which is convenient because I like to get up in the night about midnight, again at around three and then if I am thirsty or just lonely again about 5.30 in the morning. Often, after I have gone downstairs and out the door to pee I go back up and need somebody to help me get the babies all in place. It takes careful planning to feed ten little mouths at the same time.  

   Now I supervise each of the ten puppies doing their super dog exercises to stimulate brain and nerve functions. I know it will make a difference in their brain power and in their immune systems. Speaking of health dear diary. I am taking these absolutely yummy calcium pills. Taste like chocolate! The only trouble is nobody understands me when I ask for more! They give me three and quit. 

     The little blond boy exercising is Arty. The other pictures are of me and chocolate boy Varley doing his exercises. He does very well. The last exercise consists of putting Varley on a cold surface. He has an ice pack covered with a cloth. He is not to happy with that but all is well when he goes into the nice warm basket with his sisters and brothers. 

    I have put here a picture of an autumn landscape painted by the first Frederick Varley, it is a  perfect picture for this time of year. 

     All of my puppies are doing so well. Life is good

Suzie

   

Now we are three days old let me properly introduce you.

When my family began to arrive I gave birth to five little boys in a row. 
They were all beautiful and strong, I was thrilled. By the time all my babies had arrived I had seven boys and three girls. Very quickly we began to call the boys the 'Group of Seven' and so we named them after the famous Canadian landscape artists because I adore trees and I am rather an artist myself.  Above is Ay Jackson and on the left is little Lawren Harris. To the right is Franklin Carmicheal who we call Frankie and just below is MacDonald. 


This blond baby to the left is Arthur Lismer, Arty to us and the fairest.

     My first born was a dear little chocolate boy who may lighten to be a red like his father, it is hard to tell at this point.  He is  Frederick Varley, Varley for short.  Only minutes after another chocolate boy with white paws arrived, Tom Thomson. 

 I have included this Tom Thomson painting called the pool because it is a landscape similar to the one I can see out my window when I bark at the deer. Although the trees are different and there is a river instead of a lake it feels the same somehow. 

      Above there are photos of Varley and Tom Tom. 

      I am so glad you now have met all of my dear boys. 

 

INTRODUCING MY FAMILY

Before my girls were born I had five wonderful sons. I was happy to see them, each one was so big and healthy but I was thrilled when little Frida arrived, my first daughter.  These are my girls, named for three special artists because I do love the arts. I have Lovely Emily Carr, little Fida Khalo with her special white forhead blaze and sweet Georgia O'Keefe. 

   I am thrilled with my little girls. Little Carris so red. Frida was tiny and we all had to take extra special care to see that her brothers didn't knock her off when she was trying to nurse. Now she is almost as big as all the rest. 

They are here!

Dear Diary, 

      It has taken me a day before I had the strength to write to you. Thursday I knew I the puppies were near. I kept looking in my whelping box and in the wicker basket for some sign. Thank goodness they got it together for me...only just in time. 

      That evening I felt like I had to go outside to the bathroom over and over again. I noticed the mums brought out a towel after the second time and they were right, a puppy could have come right into the cold dark garden. 

    But it worked out beautifully my dear little chocolate boys came at 3 am one after the other and then I had 3 more sons. It was wonderful and they were all so strong. Things did slow down a little and it took until 12.30 the next day before my last little one saw the light of day. He was a big boy too. Three little girls and seven sons, a good night I would say.

   I have put a photo of me with several of them. And now I shall have some much needed rest.

Suzie

Thanksgiving baby watch

Dear Diary,

  We had a busy Thanksgiving although I noticed nobody gave me any Turkey, just the usual kibble with liver gravy. Oh well, I guess I have to watch my digestion. 

   I had lots of people make a fuss over me and give me pats. I have a picture of Thanksgiving breakfast. I like Harrison who is three and sometimes slipped me some toast.  Rachel and little Autumn visited me a lot, I hope they come from Vancouver to see the puppies when they are born. Just a few days now and I am very uncomfortable. 

   Sometimes I am grumpy with Liza Jane and other doodles. They just don't understand I am having babies in a few days. 

   We received a nice email for Thanksgiving from my grown up puppy, Winston. I will post it with his puppy photo.

  I hope I will end this panting and pacing soon, it is quite tiring.

Suzette.

I take a little trip.

Dear Diary,

         We had such a busy week last week I have just lay about at home ever since...well perhaps I chased Lily a few times and sat for treat as much as possible, a girl has to keep up her strength. 

          We took my last puppy to Penticton to a lovely home, such a lucky girl Clio is. I do hope she behaves well. 

          We went on to our Kristi's nursing grad. It was a lovely time with parties and such. Isn't that rather a nice picture of the two of us before the dinner dance? I have also put a picture of me in the car looking after things while the moms shopped. I do like being on the road. It suits me. However we were all glad to be home.

    I  hope somebody will make sure my whelping box is ready and painted they really haven't muich time. . I haven't seen any signs of  activity in the room where I will lie in. I suppose they are waiting until after the family comes for Thanksgiving. 

        I am eating like three lady labradoodles  and the little ones are kicking and kicking. Everyone is glad I am eating a lot because during my last pregnancy I was so uncomfortable I just never fancied a thing.  Perhaps there are not as many babies this time, 10 was such a challenge. A smaller family would be fine with me. The kicking is so frequent that I can hardly wait for them to be born.

  Suzette