Week One Pupdate
Madeline, Aquilo, Rhiannon, Ull and Aske
Enjoy pictures from our first week together. Time has flown and the pups have grown like weeds.
Weights
Ull – 1 lb, 12 oz
Rhiannon – 1 lb, 11.4 oz
Aske – 1 lb, 11.4 oz
Aquilo – 1 lb, 11.7 oz
Newborns
These are some of the first pictures of the pups, taken on the night they were born.
Weights
Ull – 13.9 oz
Rhiannon – 11.9 oz
Aske – 13.1 oz
Aquilo – 11 oz
A Poem for the Puppies
GreatMountain North Trav'ler, the pups great grandma and great, great grandma, peeking through snowy trees.
GreatMountain North Trav’ler, the pups great grandma and great, great grandma, peeking through snowy trees.
Penthea Burns, of GreatMountain Chinooks, wrote this poem for the puppies. It is amazingly beautiful and insightful, just like Penthea! Thanks, Pen.
Solstice Birth
The fiery glory of the Northern Lights
Emblazoned the late summer sky with a vision, a foretelling –
Announcing the arrival of the ones to come
And commanding the northern wind to carry this news far beyond.
“Honor has been bestowed to those who were due.
The one standing in judgment has created new life.
Let it be known that magic has been done and peace remains.
Soldiers, lay down your arms!
Seafaring warriors, turn away from battle and return home!
Make ready for the ones to come.”
And so it was a year of change, transition, a moving of many –
Carrying forward the lives lived before.
Facing uncertain opportunities ahead on new paths.
Choices would be made with the wisdom of generations
To create readiness for the ones to come.
Then came the Solstice of that year
And the birth of Ull, Riahannon, Aske and Aquilo
On an island which links all time
The four brought blessings to the hands that cradled their arrival
And to their mother who labored and delivered and loved.
Under the glow of the new moon they brought gifts to their kin,
Sending pure white snow to their grandmother – the trav’ler in the north
Delivering joy to the great mountain and across the land
Inspiring enduring hope that others may follow where they now lead.
What chapters lay ahead?
Are they written simply for us to read?
Or do we go forth, pen in hand
To craft the story as we go?
Let that be so.
pjb 12/23/11
Winter Solstice puppies, born 12/22/11
Meet our puppies born on 12/22/11. Their mom is GRCH Callicoon Madeline Island (OFA Excellent, CERF Clear), the first puppy born in our first litter. Their sire is GRCH Bashaba Murphy (PennHIP 70th Percentile; OFA Prelim Good; CERF Clear). Their names, all related to gods and goddesses also said to have been born on the solstice, are temporary while they live in our home. Their new families will give them their forever names. So for now, they are:
- Ull (male) – The Norse god responsible for Winter. His name means “Glory” and he is said to have created the Northern Lights.
- Rhiannon (female) – Welsh goddess of the Moon, Inspiration and Endurance, “Divine Queen of the Fairies”.
- Aske (female) – Sami god of the Moon
- Aquilo (male) – Roman god of the North Wind
In the season of miracles, this litter is no exception. Timing, location and circumstance could not have been more perfect or unique. It certainly could not have happened without the help of Murphy’s breeder Karen Hinchy of Bashaba Chinooks and our good friend and fellow Chinook breeder Kim Kramer of Skyland Chinooks. A million thanks to Karen and Kim for everything, and to Jess Maurer of GreatMountain Chinooks for evaluating the litter and filling in on some key puppy-sitting shifts.
Callicoon Chinooks 