We're Sooo Proud of Lyric's Handsome Brother!

Lyric's litter brother (AmCh) SunKissed Emerald City "Casa" became a Champion at the 4 day breed show in Fitchburg Ma on Friday ... I had just worked a 12 hour night shift Thursday, so couldn't be there with my "still" camera and "new" Canon camcorder to film and celebrate the exciting event, but we had immediate email contact with Kara ;-)
Casa & Lyric have all the wonderful temperment and structure of their Dad "Nova" & Mom "Shimmer" that SunKissed Goldens proudly produce in their puppies ;-)

CONGRATULATIONS to Lyric's handsome brother and their breeders:
Kara (Wetherby) & Jonathan Ferri at www.sunkissedgoldens.com
Duane & Jean Wetherby at www.landscapegoldens.com
(always beautifully presented by professional handler Diana Mason)

An Actual YouTube Surgical Insemenation

For those interested and who are comfortable watching an actual surgery, here is a video link of the process:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YZFKHlPIDQE 
(Thanks Kara)
Lyric is in day #6 of her heat cycle today ... had her 1st vaginal cytology exam yesterday (cell swab on a slide to look at under the microscope) and her cells were 30% cornified (look like Cornflakes) ... when they are 50%, we start her daily LH** blood tests and Progesterone blood tests every other day till her level is over 5 (perhaps as high as 20) and she's near ready for the surgery to make PUPPIES!
**(LH or leutenizing hormone helps pin-point the best breeding/surgery day in a bitch like Lyric that didn't produce puppies last April with "ideal" Progesterone levels and 2 vaginal AIs using "fresh chilled" (microscope approved) semen shipped FedEx overnight  from Tennessee) ... with the surgical AI, the vet can actually examine her uterus for any unseen problems before instilling the valuable semen... I'm excitedly learning every step of the way ...the HOPE and the DREAM continue  ;)

GOLDEN Laugh Out Loud "Facebook Posts" (that I want to remember)!

"Kara Ferri (Lyric's breeder) is very excited for her friend Donna! Lyric (a Nova daughter) has finally come into "season" and will be bred to the ever handsome Mister DJ! ♥"

Kelli Calder, Laura Scullin, Heike Stroup, Ruth Woodward and 2 others like this.

Donna Proudfoot's Post:

"Excited, EXcited, EXCITED ... spotted 9:28pm ;)"

 Heike Stroup's (Mr DJ's owner) Post:

"Someone give Donna a fat Notebook. This litter will be thoroughly document! 9:28 ? ? I just love it!"

Kara Ferri's Post:

"You have no idea Heike!"

Charlene Devens' Post:

"YAY!!!! I know how she feels :)"

Kelli Calder's Post:
"YAY!!!!"

Donna Proudfoot's Reply Post:

"Ok you guys ... I'm just finding your posts and I'm laughting out loud (I mean out loud!!!) ... Lyric on the other hand is sound asleep beside me, half-in and half-out of Sutter's crate ... (wishing she'd get up and march around, so I'd see more confirming drops*) ... thanks for that "Golden" moment laugh ... Oh and that "Fat Notebook" - Hunter Green with gold lettering "Golden Embers Celebration Litter" on the cover please ;-D"
*(addendum: Friday 11am "soft tissue wipe" was confirming ... wheeeew!!!)

WAHOOOOOOOOO ... Tis' Her Season ;))

EXCITED ... Ya, I'd say the butterflies are fluttering! Lyric is in Heat!
Last night at 9:28pm Lyric went out to "pee" and her "feathers" (hairs) left a blood smudge on the snow ... ok, the books are coming out again!
So January 7th is Day #1 (first spotting) ... emailed her "Intented's" owner in Tennessee already and Lyric's excited breeder Kara Ferri ... in the morning, I need to call the Vet to schedule her 1st Vaginal smear that will tell us when to start her Progesterone blood testing ... those repeat every other day till her Progesterone level is greater than 5 (estimated sometime after Day #14) and it's close to the time to get the semen on the road with FedEx and head 3 hours north to the Reproduction Vet Clinic in Hyde Park Vermont for the surgical Artificial Insemenation ... then the whelping date can be figured from the Pregnancy chart (gestation is 63 days) ... and the day-by-day chart goes back on the refrigerator for daily reference (egg/sperm ... who's doing what and when) 
IT'S REALLY HAPPENING !!!!

Oh, What a Beautiful Day!

After 36 hours of continuous snowstorms and 7 1/2 hours of snowblowing, the girls and I enjoyed an afternoon of snowshoe hiking for the first time in 2010 ...the sky was sunny blue, the snow was deep and fluffy ... not a soul had tracked on it ... a truly picturesque winter wonderland and totally refreshing to the soul!

Where does the time go ... Happy 3rd Birthday Sweet Lyric!

The day you enriched our lives!

Welcome to your new forever home! Hope you feel the LOVE ;))





My dear sweet Lyric ... you certainly weren't planned to join our family 3 years ago, but 9 weeks later there was little question that you completed our family ... a little Agility, a little Conformation, many new like-minded friends, alot of Swimming/Retrieving, and now the excitement of planning for my 2010 "Puppy Dream"  ... Happy Birthday my Special girl  : )

Wonderful 2010 New Years Day

We zoomed on soft fresh snow...


 

                                         

We found a neat waterfall with sticks to retrieve ;)

                         

and Ooops, Mom spilled the treats ... bonus!!!



Hope you're New Year's day was as much fun as ours ;)