Nothing But Norman #129

Posted on January 2, 2016 by Sand Spring Chesapeakes

Happy Saturday All!

“A star falls from the sky and into your hands. Then it seeps through your veins and swims inside your blood and becomes every part of you. And then you have to put it back into the sky. And it’s the most painful thing you’ll ever have to do and that you’ve ever done. But what’s yours is yours. Whether it’s up in the sky or here in your hands. And one day, it’ll fall from the sky and hit you in the head real hard and that time, you won’t have to put it back in the sky again.”
― C. JoyBell C.

“Yours is the light by which my spirit’s born: – you are my sun, my moon, and all my stars.”
― E.E. Cummings

Have a great Saturday all and a fantastic New Year ahead.

Nothing But Norman #125

Posted on December 5, 2015 by Sand Spring Chesapeakes

Happy Saturday All!

The WI duck hunting season is coming to a close. I only got out once to hunt ducks this fall, I did other hunting with the gang. We have public hunting grounds near our house that we will go to. The marsh isn’t very clean and back in 2008 when I went with Norman the water was down so it made it extra muddy. Norman looked like a black lab when we were done hunting. I couldn’t edit my photos, rotate or copy write them as for some reason I saved them in a read only feature.

He was a very happy boy this day, me not so much as I had to bathe him when I got home.

Have a great weekend.

Nothing But Norman #102

Posted on June 27, 2015 by Sand Spring Chesapeakes

Happy Saturday All!

Last weekend on Fathers Day you might of seen my facebook pictures if your my friend on facebook, if your not my friend you can do so my searching for JoAnn Stancer (I think there is only one of me so easy to find). Since it was Fathers Day and Norman was a father to Nellie and Gambler I thought it would be nice to finally spread some of his ashes in my flower garden next to “his” blanket flower. I haven’t spread any of Norman’s ashes at my house since he has been gone. It’s nice to have him in my garden now. When I look at the flower I see Norman.

Gambler and Nellie, Norman’s kids. Norman is in the little cup.

Dad is that you?

Hi dad! It’s nice to see you again.

Dad is with us again.

Norman in is resting spot in my garden.

My friend Teri gave me a nice garden stake to put in my garden where I would put Norman’s ashes so I would never forget where he was. I put out the stake for the first time after I spread Norman’s ashes. What a lovely addition to my garden.

We are joining Ruckus The Eskie and Earl’s World for Sepia Saturday.

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Nothing But Norman #92

Posted on April 17, 2015 by Sand Spring Chesapeakes

Happy Saturday All!

This coming Wednesday the 22nd of April is Earth Day.

It is also a day that I will remember forever, it is the day my dad died. Maurice Ray Bradley passed on April 22, 1994 when I was just 23 years old. So I hold Earth Day close to my heart and give back when I can. My dad’s ashes are scattered on what used to be “his property” which is now my brothers and I. We have a memorial there because besides my dad’s ashes being there my mom’s are there also. We plant tree’s there to give back to the earth for what it has given to us. My parent’s may no longer be with me but they are aiding in the growth and life of the tree’s so I find comfort in this special place.

My dad had a Chesapeake for a hunting dog when I was growing up. Trigger was the first dog that I got to go hunting with. I knew at that time there was no other breed for me.

My dad nor mom never got to meet any of our chessies in person but they met them many times when I would take the gang to this special spot to hang out with my parents. This is my go to place when I just need a moment to myself. The dogs love going to this place as it is tucked away in a back field surrounded by marshes, woodlands, cows and other wildlife so there is much to smell, see and check out without the everyday hussle and bussle of life. A place where one can go and have the memories of a life that once was and try to feel that moment again.

On 10/16/13 a couple weeks before Norman passed we paid a visit to this special place, just Norman and I. He walked over and visited with my mom and dad, he walked around the field picking up sticks and hauling them around as that was one of his favorite things to do. He sniffed the scrub oaks, sniffed the pines took in all the great smells that this earth provides. We said our goodbyes and I told him he would rest here one day when I have the strength to let a part of him go.

I have a number of pictures from this day, these are just a few, I will share more another day. These are my most favorite pictures of Norman that I look back on often. He photographed so well this day that I will remember forever and wish that I had my buddy with me again to visit this special place together again. One day buddy we will visit this place again and walk next to each other once again. Hopefully not to soon though as I have many things I need to finish up on earth.

“It’s only when we truly know and understand that we have a limited time on earth – and that we have no way of knowing when our time is up, we will then begin to live each day to the fullest, as if it was the only one we had.”
by Elisabeth Kubler-Ross

We are joining Ruckus The Eskie and Earl’s World for Sepia Saturday.

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We are also joining The Pet Parade.

Hosted by: Rascal and Rocco, Jan’s Funny Farm, Basil the Bionic Cat, Barking From The Bayou and Love Is Being Owned By A Husky.

Nothing But Norman #87

Posted on March 14, 2015 by Sand Spring Chesapeakes

Happy Saturday All!

Happy St Patrick’s Day!

Norman wasn’t too impressed to have to wear a wig but he did and this is one of my all time favorite pictures of him.

We are joining Ruckus The Eskie and Earl’s World for Sepia Saturday.

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We are also joining The Pet Parade.

Hosted by: Rascal and Rocco, Jan’s Funny Farm, Basil the Bionic Cat, Barking From The Bayou and Love Is Being Owned By A Husky.

Nothing But Norman #79

Posted on January 17, 2015 by Sand Spring Chesapeakes

Happy Saturday All!

This was from one of our hunts at Pheasant Creek Hunt Club. My friend Lynn was shooting and I was taking pictures. She is a guide at the hunt club with her pointers. I got to let Norman and Nellie get a few birds that day. I just love the first photo I’m going to show it in color too so you can see the beauty of the rooster pheasant in color.

Guess you really can’t see the color since I resized the photo. Norman used to point the birds before he flushed them. He was just a clown sometimes he would pounce on them like a mouse.

Once again Norman has come back to me. My best friend got me this set of glasses for Christmas. I thanked her for including Norman and she said “he will always be part of the family”. Thank you Amy, I love them!

We are joining Ruckus The Eskie and Earl’s World for Sepia Saturday.

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We are also joining The Pet Parade.

Hosted by: Rascal and Rocco, Jan’s Funny Farm, Basil the Bionic Cat, Barking From The Bayou and Love Is Being Owned By A Husky.

Nothing But Norman #62

Posted on September 20, 2014 by Sand Spring Chesapeakes

Happy Saturday All!

Norman’s favorite spot on the couch was right next to me on the chase lounge, he would lay by John sometimes but mostly he was by me. At night when 9 pm came along he somehow new it was bedtime and he would get up from his spot and stand on the ground and lay his head on the chase lounge and just stare at me until I got up and went to bed. Even when I didn’t want to go to bed just yet he would move all around the chase lounge and stare at me from different angles. He is the only dog that would let me know it was bed time until now. It’s taken almost a year since Norman’s passing for him to channel his son Gambler. 3 times in the past week Gambler has gotten up from Norman’s spot on the chase lounge next to me and has laid his head on it staring at me trying to get me to get up and go to bed. Thank you Norman for coming back in your son.

Heaven gained another furangel yesterday. Norman was waiting to show his buddy Carson the ropes. Carson was my co-worker and friend Laura’s pal. He will me missed by all. Picture collage was taken this past August by her best friend Lisa Finke. So glad she has these wonderful pictures to remember Carson by. RIP Big Guy!

It came to me that every time I lose a dog they take a piece of my heart with them, and every new dog who comes into my life gifts me with a piece of their heart. If I live long enough all the components of my heart will be dog, and I will become as generous and loving as they are. – Anonymous

We are joining Ruckus The Eskie for Sepia Saturday.

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We are also joining The Pet Parade.

Hosted by: Rascal and Rocco, Jan’s Funny Farm, Basil the Bionic Cat, Barking From The Bayou and Love Is Being Owned By A Husky.

Nothing But Norman #43

Posted on May 10, 2014 by Sand Spring Chesapeakes

Happy Saturday Everyone!

More edited pictures by Nichole from Alred Photography.

This picture of Norman with this beautiful pheasant was taken on a pheasant farm hunt I went on with Norman a few years ago. I think he looks so regal holding that bird. The reflection photo is my favorite. I am so blessed to have these wonderful photos to look at and share my memories with you.

Now time to join Ruckus The Eskie for our Sepia Saturday post.

When Norman was a wee little lad we had 2 pet Raccoon’s Balky and Bigalow. He grew up with these guys and loved them as the coon loved to play with him. They all got along great. The coon would know the difference between Norman and other dogs that came by, they would growl and hiss when strange dogs would come by but not when Norman came by.

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Nothing But Norman #41

Posted on April 26, 2014 by Sand Spring Chesapeakes

Happy Saturday Everyone! Be sure to scroll down to the end of the blog to see where Norman is being featured this week.

Today we are going to the annual American Chesapeake Club “WI Chessie day’s”. The first time we attended one of these events was when Norman was 6 months old. The host was Sandy Dollar who owned Norman’s Grandpa. I currently train with Sandy each Wednesday. Patti Maye has been the host for the past several years. We go when their isn’t a hunt test going on so this is the year to attend again, a time to meet up with other chessie owners and talk about what we love “our chessies”.

Of course I will have my camera and take tons of pictures so stay tuned to find out how our day went.

Norman’s puppy (Gamblers Sisters) has a new hunting title

Earlier this month “Annie” earned her HRC Started title (SHR) owned, trained and handled by Ken Shaw. She is now She is now SHR Shaw’s Go Gett’em Annie. Way to go Annie and Ken, congrats you have made me proud doing what we have bred these dogs to do. You can also check out Annie’s modeling career with a photo of her on www.pureloveforpets.com. She is the chessie with the cat by a present. You can enter a contest to win great stuff from Paw it forward with Purina.

MY HEART BELONGS TO A CHESAPEAKE BAY RETRIEVER

A rough and ready sporting dog,
With loyal, loving ways-
My Chesapeake Bay Retriever
Puts sunshine in my days.

A dog that’s sure to follow its nose,
Until the chase is done.
When that pup looked up at me,
I knew my heart was won.

Roaming happily by my side,
Or resting at my feet-
My Chesapeake Bay Retriever
Makes my life complete.

Thanks to Ruckus The Eskie for this Sepia Saturday blog hop.

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We are also joining The Pet Parade blog hop! The Pet Parade blog hop starts on Friday each week and runs for a week. On Friday The host Rascal & Rocco have a featured favorite and I am so happy to say Norman was picked as their featured favorite. Hop on over to Rascal & rocco’s blog and see which picture they chose to feature Norman. Thank you so much pals, I love the picture you chose and the words you spoke.

Hosted by: Rascal and Rocco, Jan’s Funny Farm, Basil the Bionic Cat, Barking From The Bayou and Love Is Being Owned By A Husky.

Here is what Love Is Being Owned By A Husky (Jenna along with Melissa from Barking From The Bayou are the new co-hosts) says about the hop: So please feel free to link up and party with us!
Parade you fav pet photo’s , stories , ANYTHING you want! The only rule is . . . .
There are no rules!
And that’s the way we like it! Who needs rules at a party anyhow?
BUT it is always a good idea to link back to your hosts, and maybe even give them a follow!

Also, this hop consists mostly of kitties , there are a couple doggies that are involved, but the majority are kitties, so one of the reasons Melissa and are now co hosting is to let you all know that this hop is DOG FURIENDLY as well!

Nothing But Norman #40

Posted on April 19, 2014 by Sand Spring Chesapeakes

Happy Saturday All!

Here are some more edited photos by my friend Nicole from Alred Photography. If anyone would like her to edit some photos for them she will make 5 edits for $10.00. To contact Nicole you can email her at ThatGirlsStuff@yahoo.com or you can message her on Facebook by clicking here.

The first photo is the original. This is my most favorite photo I took of Norman on my trainers property when Norman was around 2-3 years old. This photo is the same one that is on the Westminster Kennel Club website on the Chesapeake Bay Retriever breed profile page.

I cried when I saw this next photo as he is my shinning star looking out for me from up above.

Nichole sent me this photo and said it was her favorite out of all of them but there was something missing in it. I thought to myself what could be missing this is beautiful.