My Family Album

Bonjour,

Well the Labradors did it again. They hide the camera. I have been looking for it ALL DAY LONG!!! I had MY Staff look for it too. Hopefully I can get one to fess up soon...Bumper can't seem to keep a secret, she screams like her Mom!

So to pass the time, I thought I would show you some pictures of my family and me as I was growing up. I was and still am VERY CUTE!!!

This is me with Sponge Bob when I was a puppy. Don't you just love my hairdo?

Here I am winning my First Major and it was also my very first points...3. My staff was very proud of me, I was only 9 months old.

This is my Mom, Chablis. Here she won her American Championship Title. I was not born yet, but I am still proud of her. I don't see much of her anymore.
This is my Dad, his name is Brandon. My Dad did alot of winning in his days. I guess this picture was when he won Best In Show Veteran. I was very proud of him. I live with my Dad, he is now 12 years old.

This was a family picture taken on a trip up North in 2005. We went to visit our good friends at their home which is on a lake and we got to go swimming all weekend long. Pictured from Left to Right is my older sister Mariah, she is 10 years old now, then there's Jack, Mariah's son and he is the father of my first litter. We lost Jack to cancer. I loved him very much and my staff misses him more than ever. Then there is my Dad Brandon and of course ME, I was just 9 months old. See, I still look the same as I did back then.

Here is Rio and I at the lake. This was my first time swimming and diving. Look at my pointed Princess toes and ears. I had the most funnest, bestest time EVER!!!! That's Jack in the water swimming out to meet us.

Here is my first litter of babies, They are just hours old. 3 girls and 3 boys, born Feb. 9, 07. They were a lot of work but I think they all turned out to be nice kids.
This is me with 2 of my Kids. I am in the middle (I look like I could be their sister) My son Troy is on the left and my daughter Tilly is on the Right. Troy lives with me and Tilly lives with this cool family and they also have my half sister Winnie, she is Brandon and Mariahs daughter.

This is me in OH CANADA! A New Champion, I was still just a youngster @ 19 months
This is me and my Bestest Friend (BFF) LOGAN. Logan is the coolest dog I know. We both travel to dog show with our Staff...Yes Logan also has a staff. My Staff also shows Logan at shows. I think in this picture we are traveling through the state of Wisconsin, we were traveling in Logans car, he's a good driver. Not sure where Wisconsin is, but it must be far, we had to stop for a potty break. I think I drank too much water before we left.

Here is my true best friend Jack. He was the father of my first litter. Jack or Jackson as some called him died in January '08, he got cancer, I guess it was leukemia. I miss him so much. My Staff usually gets all choked up when we talk about Jack. Jack was only 5 years old. He watched over me and my Staff and protected us. He was American Champion Elmcreek's Gotta Good Thing Go'N THE BEST DOG EVER!!! We miss you Jack Jack

I have more pictures to put up, so I will be back with them later...

Princess Merlot

I added a few more...

This was my very first show. I guess I did well, I am getting my picture taken. If I remember correctly, the show was in Wisconsin and it was The Golden Retriever Central Regional and I won my Sweepstakes class. I was just 6 months old. I think my tails looks a little goofy tho. My Staff really was happy. I did this same class again several months later and won the WHOLE thing! And Talk about a commotion! You'd have thought I had won Best In Show or was crowned Queen or something!

This is my youngest sister Kiana. This is an picture of her when she was 4 months, she is now a BIG 6 month old. Her first Dog Show is next month at the same show that was my first. The Golden Retriever Central Regional.. GO KIANA! Kiana has a real cool name, her name is Sunlor'N Elmcreek's Moonlight Kiss. I think that is a neat name.

This is my Vaccum Sales Poster from Target. I guess you could call me "Princess Vaccum" ???

The Inspection

FINALLY!!! The Staff is taking the Labrador Nursery apart. I will be closing on the 24th and moving in on the 26th. I guess on The 25th is when I go in to have my X-Ray at the nice clinic with the nice lady named Mary....oh, I guess it is with the other nice lady named Ann V. I do hope I can see the nice Lady named Mary while I am there.

Here I am inspecting the Lab's nursery...pew, what little pigs they are. I better instruct The Minions to clean it very good, before my little ones arrive. Hey STAFF...you missed a piece a poop over there...YUCK!! LABS!!!! Of Course my Little Cowpokes will be neat little angels and not smear everything EVERYWHERE!

Now that I have measured, I can get some decorating ideas. Maybe I should have them paint the nursery in a nice MERLOT color, maybe Pink?

I tell you, Saturday was a very tired day at Camp Merlot/Camp Rio (see my name is first) I met some very nice people and have given everyone a BIG PAWS up!

I am a little tired...actually I'm ALOT of Tired! (I'm a dog, forgive grammar) I am in my Princess Bed, so maybe I will take a long nap. The Line Dancing has started again.


What's that? I think I hear my food being dished up...I sure am hungry. Tired and Hungry. Yep, that is my life right now. I am also getting as big as a..a...a HIPPO, and that is BIG! My #1 staff says that I look beautiful cause I have THAT GLOW. I LOVE MY STAFF! I even got to sleep with my #1 staff last night, but she said that I hogged the bed.
Hey...You try and curl into a small spot when you are the size of me! and then the line dancing goes on all hours of the night! Not easy!

Better go, it's almost time for dinner, and I sure don't want to miss that!
Bonjour,
Princess Merlot

The Bunny Napping

Bonjour mes gens,

Last night I was able to visit with The Little Hunters, but the camera was missing in action, so no pictures were taken when the little rug rats were running all around. They thought I was their mother and tried to nurse on me, but I had nothing for them...if you know what I mean. Soon I will be feeding my own Crew, so I am trying to store up my milk for further use.

I saw several of their toys which I have had my eye on for sometime now, so when they were all sleeping I was able to sneak in there. I saw this cute fuzzy green bunny...


But Teal was guarding it, and she was also watching me too. I guess she was the look out, so I couldn't make my move yet...


O.K. Looks like Teal is just about to fall asleep....shhhhhhh, don't wake her, soon I will make my move for that green bunny...

TA DA!!! Oh Those Labs....Don't they know, You can't fool a Golden Retriever!

bonjour,
Princess Merlot

Busy Weekend

Bonjour,
I met so many nice people this weekend, they all came to see me!!! It was really busy. Some are going to get to be parents to my babies, I am sure they will take good care of them, they seemed very nice. I got petted and petted, and I squeaked and squeaked. I do that when I am happy and excited.

Rio did get some visitors on Sunday too. They were Winston's Mom & Dad and Grandpa and Grandma. I did not get to meet them though, my staff told me I had to take a nap cause it had been a very busy day for me. I guess I was a little tired, cause I didn't even know anyone was here until they left, I slept like a baby. My little Cowpokes are sure making me tired all of a sudden....or are they Ballerina's? They were either Line Dancing last night or doing a Ballet.

My French lessons are going very well. I was able to download them onto my iPod, so when my Minions are away during the day I can listen to my French lessons without interruptions. iPod for a dog??? SURE....Ahhh, I'm just pulling your paw!!! That would be cool though. I use the computer during the day with the DVD's. I think Rio may have broken something on the computer, I tried to download some pictures and it wouldn't work. I will have to speak to that girl. So I don't have any pictures for you today. I bet she will try to blame it on me.

J'espere aller en France un de ces jours et ballet d'etude "I hope to go to France someday and study ballet" peut-etre "maybe" I don't think I could leave my Staff for that long. Maybe they have a place close to my home that teaches French ballet to dogs!

Oh I guess I better get off the computer, my time is up, and I need my nap, I think the line dancing has begun again...

plus tard,
Princess Merlot

A Day At The Spa!

Greetings, It has taken me ALL WEEK to finish this blog. The computer went haywire on me, so it's taken me this long to blog about MY SPA DAY. It had been scheduled for last weekend but had to be changed to last Monday, due to scheduling conflicts.

I was at the Spa for what seemed hours, but I do feel so much better and of course LOOK 100% Georgus! My ears and feet were getting a little bit out of control...I must speak to my #1 staff about that, cause I must keep up on my beauty routine on a weekly basis. I hear I am going to be getting visitors this weekend to talk about my babies, so I must look my best at all times.




My Spa appt. was last Monday and I got my coat shampooed and conditioned. HELLOOOO...I'm a little frosty here, so lets get the rinsing started so I can get toweled dried.




Don't you just love my fancy drying towel? Actually this one that I am modeling was my good friend Cheer's. I got mine when I was a lot younger and it was smaller than Cheer's. Now that Cheers has left and gone onto do Bigger and Better things with her life, I get her drying towel (thank you Cheers). My other towel went to my very younger sister Kiana. Her, now hand me down towel has Hawaiian Flowers on it, so it suits her much better. Kiana in Hawaiian means "Moon Goddess" OH NO, Now she will probably think she is a "Goddess" ? At least my Princess status is still above hers... don't forget that Kiana! I will post a pic sometime of Kiana, I do have to admit, she is very cute! OK, now back to my Spa Day...




HEY, Be gentle with the blow drying! I'm a delicate little flower you know! Man that thing has force, you're going to blow out every little hair I have. My #1 Staff sure gets carried away sometimes.



Then there was the manicure/pedicure. Not really my favorite activity, that's for sure. I had thought about getting my nails polished, but the staff said that there was no polish...hmmmmm I wonder who I can borrow some polish from???? I KNOW...I have a Standard Poodle friend named Carly, since she is a POODLE, I am sure she has some nail polish I can borrow....I will have to give her a call or maybe I could just text her...red should do it!





Ahhhh, Done at last!

I FEEL PRETTY, OH SO PRETTY!!

Je suis si JOLI


Well that's it for now. I better go back up stairs to keep an eye on those little hunters. Then it's snack time and bed time. I sure get tired even though I do get in my cat naps during the day.

Bonne nuit,
Princess Merlot

MAVERICK

Bonjour mes amis,

Je suis enceinte!!!! I AM PREGNANT!!! See I told you!!! A girl knows these things.

Wow, I have a lot of planning to do. Names to pick out, showers to plan, I need to get the nursery going....Wait a minute, Oh I forgot...The nursery is in use at the moment....Come on you silly Labradors, hurry up and Grow Up! I need your box....OK OK, I will calm down. I guess you guys can have it for a few more weeks. I won't need it for awhile. I will be needing my beauty rest, SO, I will have my Minions (my staff & Loyal Subjects) take care of all the details when needed.

I would like to introduce you to my beloved Maverick. He is the father of my soon to be children. NOW... I must tell you...and I am a little embarrassed about it, BUT...I have never met him in person. This was an arranged marriage...OK, well I guess it really was not a marriage, BUT A....ahh,I won't get into details now....(maybe later)

This was my first Introduction to Maverick, also know as, BIS, BISS Ch Cosmic Goldstorm Cowboy Hardware. Isn't that the coolest name EVER!!!!

This Is Me & Maverick

We met at The Vet Clinic (were that nice lady named Mary lives)

Here is Maverick being shown at a Golden Retriever National Specialty. He is being Handled by his breeder Dianne. Maverick is owned by some really nice people, their names are Barney & Sandra. They all live in Texas, ya all. Hey, maybe I will have Cowboys and Cowgirls!

I have more pics of my handsome Dude that I would like to show you, but I need my staff to help me download them. Rio would help but she is busy with her babies at the moment. So I will have to show them to you later...ya all.... I JUST LOVE SAYING THAT! hmmmm, I wonder what else those Texans say? One of my staff has a cousin that lives in Texas, I wonder if he knows Mav?

Well, I better go take my nap, I am feeling a little tuckered out.

bon au revoir,

Princess Merlot

Today Is The Day

Bonjour mes Minions,

Today is the big day The Staff finds out that I am "With Children" Like I said in my previous blog, I already know I am. But you know those humans, for some reason they need to spend the money and have someone else tell them what I already know. Just look at me....I have that Glow ;o)

If I am PG, then I think The Staff is going to have to Celebrate! Here is the Champagne I was named after. But, I will just have a bowl of water please, no drinking in my condition.

This is a very old picture of me, when I was just over a year old. I really have not changed that much. I'm still very young looking, I still look like a puppy, no wrinkles, no gray hair, no botox and Of course NO PLASTIC SURGERY.

Gotta Go, The Staff is calling me. It's time to go see that nice man named Dr. Pierce.

I will let you know...

bon au revoir

Princess Merlot

BARK, BARK, BARK

Hi, Sorry it's been so long since my last blog, I have been very busy keeping a real close watch on Rio's little hunters. Here I am watching the little guys nursing, I just love the noises they make, they sound like a squeaky toy. And I see she has alot of toys in the nursery. I sure would like one of those toys. Maybe later I will sneak in there and steal one, they would never know, they are just Labs. I could hide it for my babies, which reminds me... I sure hope I am PG, that would be soooooo wonderful.

You know, that kind of puts me in the decorating mood, I think I will decorate my nursery in my most favorite colors...Merlot and Pink...Those colors of course are Princess colors. I also wonder if I could move MY nursery to another part of the house? I sure would like a nice scenic view for my babies. I will have to discuss this with My Staff, maybe set up a Board meeting for later so we can discuss the finer details. And I think I need to come up with a name for my staff, Rio has Crew Rio. hmmmm, I will have to think about this one.... BARK, BARK, BARK , should be something French...maybe?????

I think I have been looking a little scraggly these days, so I have made an appointment for a Day At The Spa this weekend. I am going to get a manicure and a pedicure. I will have my hair washed, blow dried, fluffed and trimmed. Maybe I should get a Foil or have an all over Color, what do you think?..hummmm, I wonder how I would look as a Red Head?

The Staff told me that I was too pretty already and I should just stay... Au NATURAL. We will see...I do what I want! BARK, BARK, BARK...

I guess next Tuesday is the day I find out if I am "with children" HA! I already know, I don't know why The Staff doesn't just ask me, I am the one with the morning sickness, I get silly at times and I am tired and need to take extra beauty naps and of course I AM SO HUNGRY! Now I know why Rio is so famished all the time. I hear she gets extra food and extra snacks....OH, I CAN HARDLY WAIT!!!!!! Yippee Skippy!!!! food, food, food...BARK, BARK, BARK!!! Dance, Dance, Dance, Bark, Bark, Bark, squeak, squeak, squeak.... Sorry, I get carried away at times when it comes to food ;o)

BARK, BARK, BARK
au revoir,
Princess Merlot

Mon nom est Merlot

Mon nom est Merlot, je suis un Retriever D'or. Soyezbienvenus a mon blog...

My name is Merlot, I am a Golden Retriever. Welcome to my blog.

I have been studying French. I am also a French Princess. A French Princess??? You ask??

When I was born, I was named after a very fancy wine...Merlot and a French Champagne...A very Expensive French Champagne, Perrier Jouet. SO OF COURSE, I must be French! I also am a Princess, since I get my way most of the time, and I am usually pampered and fluffed, and if I don't get my way, I just Bark and Bark until I get the attention I deserve. Oh, I am also a French Ballerina. I will show you later, my dance routine.

If you have been reading my Lab sister Rio's blog you know that I have filled in for her when she went into the delivery room. The 10 little hunters are all doing good. But, I am alittle miffed. I hear them squeak all the time and see them from time to time, but I am not allowed to play with them...WELL! of all the nerve, me being The Princess and all, I just don't understand. SO, yesterday I did sneak in there and had a little peak, but not much of a peek because I got scooted out really fast. And then the funnest thing was said to me...."You just wait Merlot, you will have this nursery in a couple of months"! Huh! I wonder what that meant???? You, don't think???? I am???? Naw.....or could it be....I AM WITH CHILDREN TOO????? Yikes! hummmm??? I don't remember??? I really don't recall any kind of romance with any handsome young man???? Let me think...Maybe that is why I kept going to the clinic to meet with that nice lady named Mary and then I do remember that nice man named Dr. Jim....And!!!!! WOW, I remember now...well, vaguely. Geeee...I didn't even get to enjoy it ;o)

OK....COOL!!! I'm Cool, I'm Cool...I like being a Mother....I wonder how to say Mother in French? I am so excited!!! WHAT???? Oh, I was told that they are NOT sure yet if I am PG, I will have to wait another week...OH I HATE WAITING....I want to know NOW! OK OK, If I have to wait, I guess I have too....geee, I hate waiting!

Well, better go, it is getting late and for some reason I have been very tired lately. I can hardly keep my eyes open.

Good night,

Princess Merlot