Less than a week to Paris and new puppy

So, I guess I'll have to think about starting to pack tomorrow. We're now down to less than a week and it will be here quickly. We went down to Colorado Springs today to see our new puppy, Kimi, for the first day. Just like with Harley, it was love at first sight. She was so sweet and so beautiful and so innocent. I've been feeling so sad over the loss of Harley that I had forgotten just how much my heart could be filled again. It really made my day and she was all I could think of. She'll be ready to come home around January 17 and it can't come quickly enough. We stopped at PetSmart on the way home and got her a new, smaller crate and some toys...and her new baby collar!!!

One Week to Paris and More Exciting Puppy News

Today is Friday and that means one week from today we should be on a flight from DC to Paris!!! Let's just hope that the weather gods stay in our favor!!

The most exciting news is that we finally have a puppy. We got so lucky and a breeder in Colorado Springs has a 3 1/2 week old little girl that she called me about. The timing is perfect. We have already named her "Kimi" after the Formula 1 2007 Champion....Kimi Raikkonen. She has one blue eye so the person who had originally reserved her didn't want her because she can't be shown. I am excited beyond belief. We are driving to C Springs tomorrow afternoon to see her in person so I'll have more pics. She'll be coming home to us mid-January. Having a breeder in Colorado also makes it so much easier to bring her home...rather than trying to fly a puppy across the U.S.

Here she is...our little Kimi:

In Memory of Harley

It's been three weeks now since we lost our beloved Harley. For all of you who knew and loved her as much as we did, thank you so much for the kind thoughts these last few weeks. Our home is so empty without her. I keep taking my usual walks around the 'hood but that's when it makes me the loneliest because she loved to go on those long walks with me. Now it seems it's just an opportunity for me to weep over missing her. On the other hand, it also makes me feel very philosophical. I was walking last week on our usual route and it was a beautiful day albeit a little windy. I found myself thinking about how beautiful she looked when she was walking...and on this particular day her fur would have been blowing in the wind and she would have had that goofy berner grin on her face!!! My eyes immediately welled up and at that moment I realized that I was so thankful that we had been given any time at all with this special dog. She truly changed our lives and brought more joy and love than we ever imagined our lives could hold. I have always believed that God sends people into our lives for a reason and I believe that about our dogs too. Through Harley we have met so many wonderful friends - gotten to know people we otherwise would have never come into contact with and come to love.

I know if Harley had been able to "talk" there are some thank you's she would have wanted to express:

Sofia- for being my very best friend in the whole, wide world. I was one lucky dog to have you in my life. Thank you for all those sweet nothings you whispered in my ear.

Dana, Gavin & Lucky Butt - for being extra, extra special godparents to me and looking after me all the time...even when mom and dad were around. Special thanks to Uncle Gavin for always taking me along on walks---even on cold, rainy, windy, snowy days when mom didn't want to get out of the house. You rock!!! Big thanks to Aunt Dana for the chocolate chip cookie that I snuck off your table :)

Uncle Robin & Aunt Suze - for always letting me hang out at your house and be the big cat...and also for letting me hang out the brand new cottage and playing in your surf.

The Gaspar Family - for loving me so unconditionally and always taking such wonderful care of me when mom & dad were travelling to exotic places. Big berner hugs to Nicholas who treated me as if I belonged in his room!