10 April 2020
Emilie-Claire Barlow sings a lovely version of C’est Si Bon on her album Seule ce soir from 2012. Translated, it means ‘alone tonight’, as many of us are during these curious times. Lately, I’ve had my Google Assistant playing Brazilian Jazz and I get great bossanova, when I ask for Brazilian Jazz. As I’m not an Alexa user, I may have lost half of you already. Suffice it to say that my home lifestyle is much more predictable than it used to be and by late afternoon? I am stir crazy, every day.
How things have changed! I spend my days with the dogs and they are LOVING that! We’ve been hiking the snow covered Notch Road every morning and I rotate the older girls, so that everyone gets to come at least twice each week. Now, we’re losing the snow and one of my forever families has graciously allowed me to walk their Stowe property, while they are sequestered north of the border. I don’t have to worry about contact with any other humans and five times around the pond equals one mile. Yesterday, it was twice around in one direction and twice around in the other. This afternoon? We’ll do five laps.
I cook as normal – well – sort of. So far today? I’ve made ghee, hollandaise sauce and am working on a white bean soup with smoked turkey. I’m cooking through my freezer (and the lamb I bought in November 2019) and don’t go to the grocery store anymore. Instead of my beloved Market Basket runs, I order online from Stowe Seafood & Meat Market (great veal chops), Stowe Bee Bakery (peanut butter cookies), Snug Valley Farm (for beef and pork) and Pete’s Greens (my weekly localvore veggie share plus dairy). I’ve always had a fully stocked pantry – it’s how I grew up – with at least one freezer and a second fridge, and it’s finally proven to be my saving grace. You’d think that I had food responsibility for six people – but, non. It is only me and les chiens. And most nights? It is ‘Seule ce Soir’. ;>) Oh, but don’t forget the birdies. My Crested Polish hens are laying four eggs daily! (and eating all of my veggie and fruit scraps)
Before Becky left for Kentucky to be with her mother, we swapped Campari for Yvette. On Monday, March 16, Becky left with Questa and Yvette. Campari, my nine month old sable female, temporarily retired from her show career with both necessary Majors won and five points to go toward her CH title. And Questa’s show career is on hold with the same number of points needed for his silver Grand Championship title (GRCHS). All is temporarily up in the air, for now. No dog shows; no TTCA National and no BCTTC Specialty in Wrentham. But there is word that Camille is working on an alternative site for a celebration of the 2019 US Top 20 Tibetan Terriers. And once we know where that will be held? I will let you all know. It is a wonderful thing to watch, with owners and handlers presenting some of the most beautiful Tibetan Terriers in the world for everyone to enjoy. Last year? Kensington peeps and fans shared a table and watched the parade in Boxborough, Massachusetts. This year? Questa will be in the parade, as he finished the year as the #6 US Tibetan Terrier. I, for one, am hoping for a New Jersey venue, as it would be considerably easier than getting to Florida in June, where the event was originally scheduled.
There are different things on everyone’s minds right now and each situation varies. I’ve been taking calls from Kensington and Shalimar peeps who are wanting to formalize their estate plans to include their dogs. I think this is ALWAYS wise and have a separate bank account with instructions for Lady Cheryl, for when MY time comes. You should all think about this, as it is wise to have written plans for each of your loved ones, including those with four legs. I have agreed to take a number of adult Tibetans, if and when need be. I will be following the directives of the humans and preparing to open Kensington Palace to some new furry friends, whether that means this year, five years or even ten years from now.
Additionally, I’ve been fielding countless inquiries (and I DO mean ‘countless’) from folks looking for a puppy because they are now sequestered at home for the foreseeable future and believe that it would be the perfect time to bring a puppy into their home lives. But the problem is that demand for TT puppies has gone off the charts and none of the responsible breeders with whom I work has/have any puppies available now or expected to be available in the near future. One breeder is pausing her program, until the Coronavirus pandemic runs its course and we find ourselves on the other side. For her? It makes sense. But for me? I am moving forward, as I feel an obligation to my peeps and really, really love what I do. Please don’t take that away from me.
We still don’t know whether Lady Ziva is carrying puppies from her March 9 natural breeding with Questa. Our ultrasound appointment in Salem, Massachusetts scheduled for today was canceled earlier this week. Ziva showed classic symptoms of pregnancy to me during the first three weeks and now? Her appetite has returned and that is another indication that the breeding took. Time will tell and if we are expecting puppies, they should join this world sometime in mid May. I usually have an XRAY taken just before whelping, so that we can count skeletons and get prepared for what might be coming down the pike.
Pic, Pic, Piccolo! continues to have NOTHING BUT PLAY on her mind and she will be the next Kensington lady to come into season. We have several breeding options for her and each would be lovely. If Truesdale will do a TCI? I’ll use frozen semen from Oskar and repeat her 2019 breeding. If not? We’ve got Leo and Guinness in the wings, but both are 19 months old and we run the risk of their not knowing exactly what to do. ;>)
So, I begin my day with an inspection of Piccolo’s crate and nothing, yet. That will change and I will be ready. Social distancing will impact how we do what needs to be done and I am committed to that. It is the best way to minimize exposure to yourself and everyone else. Yesterday, I received two lovingly sewn facemasks with a roll of Scott SHOP towels that together? Will keep me safe. Thank you, Jay Dee! Now? I’m ready for the world and when the time comes to jump into the car with the lovely Piccolo? I can do so, safely.
This evening, we’re going to try a ZOOM video conference call. I posted the details on the Wagging Tales at Kensington FB page. But you are all welcome to join, too! 926-542-3738 is the meeting number and this will be my first time hosting. The password will be ‘Kensington’. 6pm EST and I set the meeting up so that folks can join ahead of me and ahead of schedule, I do believe. If this call works? We’ll have another way to stay in touch safely and share our latest stories. If nothing else? I hope to keep the boredom at bay.
Here’s to getting through this safely and emerging stronger than ever, on the other side. Stay strong. We got this.
Woof.