Happy Summer Happenings

Hi Friends.....

It's been several weeks since our cookie blog has been updated...and most of you know this has been a very busy time for all of us.

M and Zee's had a good showing at the 2007 Newfoundland Club of America's National Specialty in Boulder, Colorado...and we extend our heartiest CONGRATULATIONS to all who showed and won....and lest I forget...THANKS to Ted and Melanie Peck of Newf Emporium for taking M and Zee's treats to Boulder and promoting them in their booth.

I also want to thank Monica and Lonnie, Chuck Holtzen, Mary Lou and all of those who kept us updated with such wonderful photographs. You all deserve a standing ovation.

Congratulations also to the winner of the Newf-L Summar Challenge...Carol Ann ( Dimmie ) Campbell of Southington, CT. Dimmie won , for herself and her dogs, a Variety Pack of M and Zee's treats and also a 2008 Tessie calendar produced by Alison Cole ( remember Tessie from the last Blog entry ?? ).

I was kept quite busy being Foster Mama to two very needy Newfoundland ( mix possibly ) puppies, Eli and Fortune, supposedly litter mates but coming from two separate households in our County. These poor puppies were certainly in need of veterinary care, good solid nutrition and most of all, LOVE....and they surely got it here. I don't normally foster very often because I do admit to allowing myself to become far too attached to my fosters ( as Zander can tell you....LOL ). But, the premise of fostering is to treat the foster dogs as if they were your very own....and this I try to do to the letter.

Eli stayed here for 10 days; he might have stayed longer but as neither puppy had had even the bare minimum of human bonding and socialization...I observed that they were becoming far too bonded to each other and not responding as well to human contact as I would have liked....thus it became necessary to split them up. Eli eventually made his way to the metro Chicago area where he is now Exelby and other than some minor adjustment issues is doing very well.

Fortune was by far the puppy that was in the worst shape. When I picked him up he was covered in fleas and hundreds of ticks and seriously anemic from the chronic blood loss caused by the tick infestation....not to mention emaciated. I kid you not...not only could you feel every bone in his little body...the bones could be SEEN !! I opted to keep him a few more weeks to get his weight built up and happily since most puppies and especially Newf puppies are quite resilient...he quickly gained weight and confidence and soon became ready for adoption.

Fortune was the hardest one to let go...perhaps because he started to bounce back to health so quickly or perhaps because he'd been here for four weeks. I know that when I saw his little head pop up in the window of the transport car that was starting him on his journey to his Forever Home....I bawled like a baby.

Fortune now lives the GOOD life in the metro Kansas City area with a Mom and a Dad...several children and a Sheltie for a play mate that another adult child often comes to visit with...and to celebrate his " rebirth"....his new family has christened him Phoenix.

For both puppies I hope that the bad memories soon fade completely away as they revel in the LOVE and CARE that all dogs deserve...and to the families who opened up their homes and hearts to these two little guys...I say THANK YOU !

And to all of you who Rescue and Foster....and contribute to this very important activity...THANK YOU as well. There are far too many people amongst you who gave freely of their advice, experience and suggestions to help me help these puppies....but I don't want to leave anyone out so you all know who you are and I know I could have done all this without all of you.

My late father's home in Florida finally sold and my brother will now be living in Northwestern Tennessee and it will be so wonderful to have him a lot closer to me. He picked out a very nice, quiet town and while the timing is not right ( at least now )....he is wanting me to pull up stakes and move to that part of the country eventually.

There will be a whole lot to consider if this move would be contemplated in the future....I have far too many years in my current job to leave now...retirement is still a couple of years away...plus there would be finding a good sturdy house and of course proper and compassionate veterinary care for my dogs....and health care for myself. John is VERY supportive of my emergence into the dog cookie entrepreneurship and it should be a relatively simple matter to transfer my licenses and all from Missouri to Tennessee ( or Kentucky - since where he will be living is very close to the Kentucky border ) .

LOOK OUT world...because you will be see a LOT more of M and Zee's in the future. As sales have slowed down I have finally gotten off my rear , " come out of the closet " and will soon be doing a LOT more advertising. I am working with Maredith Reggie ( Newf Tide editor ) and will soon be signing a contract for a recurring ad in the Newf Tide magazine. We will also be placing ads in various Performance and Conformation event catalogs....after all...one has to spend money to make money....and I want more and more people to know just how GREAT M and Zee's Gourmet Treats are...and how much your dog will enjoy them.

M and Zee's, as you know, heartily supports Rescue through the NCA and it's Regional Clubs and we will be making donations of cookie baskets and Gift Certificates for Variety Packs in many upcoming Club sponsored events. You will have a chance to support your Regional Club's Rescue and perhaps win one of those baskets if you are going to the following events this summer:

New-Pen-Del Paws and Claws

River King Newfoundland Club Water Test

Heart of America Newfoundland Club Water Test

Newf.Net Iowa Get Together

Newfoundland Club of New England Water Test

There are many more events coming up in the next few months that we will be supporting , so I urge you to attend these events....whether as a spectator or a participant; have a GREAT time visiting with Newf people ( the BEST in the world ) and get to know more about M and Zee's treats.

Have a Happy and SAFE Fourth of July.....I took some time off to do some much needed house cleaning...and much to their collective consternation....I have 3 of the 4 dogs all groomed out and bathed...and Zander...it's YOUR turn next....