We wish you a lot of fun this Christmas!!!!

Today the Miracle nest from Moët och Claude turn two years old - these funny and happy little brown barbets! Happy happy birthday to all of you!

To all Champagne bubbles - Yatzie's first nest, including our own Moët - Happy 6th Birthday!!!!!

This morning the sun was tempting me and the dogs to spend some time on the beach enjoying the wind and the waters. We love it here!

The evenings by the water at our cottage in Lapland are so peaceful. We light a fire, prepare some food on the fire and eat by the table made by my father from the wood gathered on our own land. The dogs and the kids enjoy themselves in the nature and the water. These are all precious moments to think back upon when the winter arrives back home in Holland. 

This is how happy the dogs became when they encountered snow in the mountains in the middle of July!

Even though they are living wild and free, every reindeer has an owner. During the marking this year's newborn calfs, that are captured with the help of a lasso, get a unique series of cuts made into their ears by their owner. The Lapps nowadays drive the reindeers into the collar with the help of helicopters and motorbikes. When we arrived at 22, after a 2 hours long walk, the reindeers were just being driven into the collar. We left at 00.30 while the Lapps were still working. It was a magic experience that we will remember forever. The dogs loved the long walk in the wild nature full of exciting things to discover, and they behaved perfectly near the reindeers. I was surprised that they did not react more intense.

We took a lovely morning walk in the forest near our old house. Dutch Willemien and Silas were our neighbours when Yatzie and I were living in Stockholm. Since then Godis moved in as well.

Our vacation continues up north with a stop in Stockholm for a few days. Here we are back in Sätra Äng in Danderyd where Yatzie and I spent our first years together.

Bas is already for 5 years totally in love with our charming brown haired girl! Who would not fall for those deep and innocent eyes!

Our first evening in Sweden we spent at Seafood Restaurant Kajutan in the harbour of Limhamn. We were astonished to see how eager Moët was to taste the clams! But then we rememberd that another favourite of hers is crab - and realized that she is simply crazy about seafood!

Vacation feelings - a sunny trip on the bost to Denmark!

For a family of 2 adults, 2 kids and 2 dogs it is always a challenge to get everyone and everything that one needs for a 3 week vacation to fit in the car. Somehow it always works even though at first sight it seemed we had to leave the dogs behind - kidding!!!!

Hugo (Nahaliel - one of Yatzie's males from the Angel nest) came to stay over for a night! It is so wonderful to have achance to meet with the puppies one has brought up, at a later tiome in their life, and really spend time together. Hugo has the l'Esprit de bonté spirit, one just knows he is from Yatzie: he is sweet, cuddly and q little lazy ;-) ! He came along with his mum and half sis to all our activites: football game, tennis game and then many nice walks of course! A great guy he is and very handsome too!

Such a lovely evening walk in the sunset by a lake nearby - had to share the feeling with you all!

I am training for an event in Amsterdam in September - City Swim for ASL -  where I will join a team from one of my clients. Well, what could be nicer than to train together with your water dogs! 

Merveille took part in her very first official show today in OSS in the Intermediate class. She behaved perfectly in the ring. So attentive and joyful. The judge was very positive about her in all ways and gave her Excellent! We are so proud!

A lovely sunny day end on May with the dogs on the beach in Den Hague! Merveille came along and wow, does that girl have an incredible energy! She totally loves the water and retrieving! Grandma Yatzie is more smart than energetic and steels the dummy once Merveille has picked it up from far in the water!

This weekend we had special visitors - my parents came over from Sweden. We enjoyed nice walks with the dogs, and visited a typical Dutch pancakehouse where my parents tried the delicious Dutch pride "poffertjes" - minipancakes!

Here they are, our three girls: grandma Yatzie left, her daughter Moët (right) and Moët's daughter Merveille in the middle!

Today we are celebrating again - our darling Yatzie turns 10 years old! She is the most loving and loyal friend one can have and we are expecting to be able to enjoy her company for many more years! Today she got her favourite piece of meat, and soon we will take a long sunny, walk together with her daughter Moët! Happy Birthday dearest Yatzie, mother of 20, grandmother of 41 barbets!

This weekend Bart turned 50 and we threw a Surprise Party for him at the stunning castle of Brasschaat north of Antwerpen! All guests came dressed up in Black Tie - the dogs as well, though in the white version! The dogs partied with us through the night, dancing and eating just like we did! But they were the only guests that fell asleep under the tables! 

We have great news about Merveille, our puppy from Moët, living in a guest family - she has A hips and clear elbows! Judging from the way she moves we did not expect anything else :-) - just like her sister Vera she is full of lovely barbet energy! 

This is our sweet Vera (Peliyah) from Moët, living in Denmark. She loves to work with her boss Tanja who is very keen on dog training. Vera was the most active puppy in the nest and still has that lovely energy!

Yatzie and Moët get crazy from joy when they get to dig in the sand! Mum gets less happy when all that sand gathered in the fur ends up in the sofa at home... But to be honest - they are worth it!!

Winter in Holland - hurray! Or maybe not Moët?

Three years ago these little Angels landed on earth! They are bringing so much joy to the world! Yatzie and I wish all of them a wonderful day full of love, fun and nice treats!

It was a very cold morning, with snowy rain falling. We took the dogs with us for a nice cup of coffee  - Swedish fika - in the city. But on the way there skies cleared and a bright sun started shining, so we took a lovely walk through the Willeminapark. Moët was tempted to jump into the waters, to swim after the birds, but she listened very well to our command and stayed with us on land - bringing the dogs to a café is ok here in Holland, but bringing soaking wet dogs to a café is less appreciated I guessed... 

The mist was hanging low when we met up with Amaro in Soesterduinen. Amaro is 1 year and 4 months old now and quite a teenager. He thinks it is very important to present himself to every dog in the area regardless of what the boss says! But what a sweat heart this boy is! We fell in love with him again Bart and I!