The Other Something in the Works

You might recall this post awhile back, when I teased a little about a building project that was being started?

Well, I finally have more to show you (much more- lots of photos coming), and am about to give you an explanation...



My Mother and Father in-law have been raising and breeding Labradors for several years. They have created a community of families that is pretty special- families all linked by the puppies they have bought from Alderwood Labradors. They really love their 6 adult dogs (4 Mamas and 2 Daddies), but due to a long and serious illness, came to the realization that they just couldn't keep the business any longer.



We spent a few months talking about what it might look like if we were to take over the business, even before there was serious talk about letting it go, because we anticipated that it would most likely come to this end. I am a total novice when it comes to animals, having been raised in a mostly pet-free home, but I am also not afraid to try new things, and look forward to our kids learning to be with and love animals from a young age.


Yep. You guessed it. We said yes! We really wanted to keep the dogs in the family, and also knew that we would be silly to say no to the opportunity of replacing a good portion of my old corporate-world income from before the kids were born.



My hard-working husband, with help here and there from a few dedicated friends, is getting closer to the end of the building process, and we will soon be able to move the dogs to our property. And shortly after, starting in March, we expect four litters of puppies to be born within two months of each other.



Never fear, my passion will always be my needlework business... Heartstring Samplery is not going away! We are simply "enriching" our lives by adding a canine family. This blog will remain much the same, with the addition of all things doggie, and I expect that once the Labrador business and website have been fully transitioned, that we will begin to see some of the dog families reading this blog alongside all of my stitching friends. And I am truly looking forward to seeing what that will be like!

And now I have caught you up to speed. This is how it looks on this dry and cold morning...

A world of flat colors, frozen grass and dirt. At 25 degrees with little humidity, the ground feels like tundra, but OH! the stars last night were incredible! February is a month of dull colors in Oregon, the vegetation at the very deepest of sleep, gathering strength for that burst of life that is just around the corner. The Chick Chalet has been moving about the garden patch all winter, giving our girls a chance to peck and scratch and enrich our soil. A few tough herbs are still struggling to stay green in the herb patch, and the greenhouse stands ready.

There you have it. Now I have to go fold and stuff a bajillion charts for the big TNNA show in a few weeks. See you tomorrow!