New Year's Eve - 2012 in Review

As this year draws to a close, we would like to look back on the past 12 months and remember some of the events that made it special for all of us here at The Poupounette.

In JANUARY, Sei-Chan celebrated her THIRD BIRTHDAY with a cuddle with Tommy!

In FEBRUARY, Vidock was approved as a BREEDING STALLION by the French Percheron Stud Book Commission:

In MARCH, #1 decided to adopt VIOLETTE and she tried to move right into the house...

In APRIL, TOMMY looked particularly handsome!

In MAY, both VIDOCK and VIOLETTE celebrated their THIRD BIRHDAYS!

In JUNE, The Beebs trained for the high-wire act that won him GOLD in the Cat Olympics!

In JULY, GENJI celebrated his FIRST GOTCHA DAY!

In AUGUST, TOMMY celebrated his FIFTH BIRTHDAY and TAMA-CHAN her FOURTH BIRTHDAY!

In SEPTEMBER, #1 returned from Canada with a big stash of gifts:

In OCTOBER, TAMA-CHAN looked prettier than ever...

In NOVEMBER, we had a short but fun visit from Mr & Ms. S, our Melbourne-based many times house-sitters:

In DECEMBER, THE BEEBS celebrated his THIRD BIRTHDAY:

And VIDOCK and VIOLETTE moved to new digs:

This is by no means exhaustive, just a little journey through our past year. Here's hoping for good health and great adventures for all in 2013!

Some Sunday Snuggles

Tama-Chan: As you know, #1 hasn't been feeling great all week and her photo-taking has been rather curtailed as a result, so we have just a few snuggly pics for you today.

I have been spending time with Tommy:

Bu the big Tommy hog these days is Genji who's always hanging out with him:

My Beebs is still trying to get #1's hand to hatch...

Oh and here is an unusual snuggle... Genji putting the bitey on Fernant!

Tommy hanging out with My Beebs:

Sei-Chan getting some #1 snuggles:

And another #1 and Vidock snuggle shot from the same series as the one on Friday. #1 says she really loves Vidock's expression in this one:

Well, we didn't do too badly in the end, did we? We just can't help snuggling! Here's wishing you all a Snuggly Sunday!

SEIturday Story

Sei-Chan: Well, let me see.... #1 did get over to see the Vs yesterday, and she is still feeling pretty fuzzy with her cold, but thanks you for the good wishes. She says it's as good a time as any to have a cold as she doesn't have to do much.

She hasn't been taking too many photo,s so there are just two new ones of me to share with you today:

I do have a nice story to share with you today, though. Someone asked in a comment not long ago if #1 had been saving any horses. Well.... After the Fish Run in September, good friends of #1's in England found out that their beautiful Percheron mare, Suzette, suffered from a genetic form of a condition that makes her muscles seize up and leaves her unable to work. The fact that it is genetic means that she cannot be used as a broodmare either, as she might transmit the condition. Horses, especially draft horses, are large animals that are difficult to keep if they are not able to do anything for you, and this mare is only 7 years old. Her owners were devastated and started to think how they might keep her alive, even though she would not be able to do more than decorate a field for the rest of her life. She also needs to be kept on a strict diet so as not to exacerbate the problem. 

#1 discussed this one day with Ms. A, Tommy's breeder, and Ms. A wondrously knew of an American couple with a vast property very close to their house who were looking to adopt some Percherons as rescues. So, phonecalls and emails were exchanged and the go  ahead was given for the adoption! Yesterday, Suzette returned to France, where she was born, and she will live comfortably in the fields at a beautiful chateau in Normandy! This wonderful property is available for rental part of the year, so if you are considering coming to France with a group of people, we highly recommend it. Details here.

Ms. A has promised to keep a close eye on Suzette and send regular news. #1 and Tommy will of course visit her whenever they go up to see his family. So, here is the lovely Suzette who started her new life yesterday thanks to the kindness of Americans, Mr and Ms. C!

Now you must realise that Suzette was part of a driven pair of horses and it is very hard to match horses in build, looks and coat. #1 worked with her friends for weeks to try and find a mare that would work as a replacement for Suzette in the pair. We are happy to report that she was successful, and the beautiful Tzena wil be making her way to England today!

And that is my feel-good story for this SEIturday!

Violette and Vidock Vendredi

Violette: Pretty Neighs everyone! We have not seen #1 for several days as she came down with a bad cold at Christmas and has been trying to rest, plus she also got some unexpected work and has been trying to concentrate on that. She said she would try and visit us today. In the meantime we do have some photos taken on Christmas Eve:

Does it look to you like I've changed colour? In fact. it's just that I am seriously muddy! Here is poor #1 trying to give me carrots without both of us sinking into the mud!

Vidock: Despite the mud, I came all the way up to the fence so I could give #1 a Christmas Eve cuddle (and vice-versa):

We look pretty good together, don't you think?

Whenever anyone looks at this photo, they are awed by the size of my head. #1 says it's a good job I am such a sweet boy.

Hooves crossed that #1 will feel up to visiting us today. We miss her and she says she misses us too!

Thursday Farewells

Tom: It's Tommy again today. Yesterday was a lesson to us, a lesson in how quickly joy can turn into sorrow and therefore how important it is to treasure each and every moment.

First, we saw on FaceBook that our Finnish friends at Pikku Punapippuri had lost their beloved Tuomo Veli in the night. Then, the phone rang and it was our friend, Ms. A, in tears, to let us know that her heart dog, Pie, had made the journey to the Bridge in the night.

Our human friends all know that life for us is shorter than it is for them, and so we are likely to precede them to the Bridge. Tuomo and Pie were both senior citizens but that of course does absolutely nothing to dull the pain.

So, first, our respects to the great FinnCat Tuomo and our deepest condolences to his family

And now to sweet Pie who was one of my very first friends, from when I was still a puppy, always kind and patient with me. She and I shared so many wonderful moments together:

Perhaps one of those waiting to greet Pie at the Bridge will be our Sen-Chan:

Farewell, Sweet Pie. You were a real beauty in every way. We will all meet up again one day. In the meantime, we like to think of you young again, romping at the Bridge.

Worn-Out Wednesday

Tom: We are worn out from all the partying! The Christmas table looked lovely:

There were many wonderful presents under our tree:

The present from #1's PEI friend Ms. D was entirely for me! And Ms. S sent gifts to all of us! And #1 gave me two new stuffies!

Bibi looked as handsome as anyone could in his Christmas finery:

#1 got a few things too and Genji helped her open them:

After which he found a perfect place for a little rest:

Don't worry, the girls were spoiled too!

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Manly Christmas Eve Monday!

Tommy: It's Christmas Eve! We are all set for Christmas. Our friend, Ms. L, arrived yesterday to spend Christmas with us and, on Christmas Day, several other friends will join us too! There are still some gifts to be wrapped and some food to be bought but we are finally more or less organised.

May I share a couple of photos taken with Mad Fernant the other day?

And I have a new friend! His name is Harley and he is an Aussie Shepherd who lives with Ms. C and Mr. L and their daughter N over at the V's new digs. He is only seven months old and he loves to play!

Bibi-Chan: Here is a rather fetching portrait of me:

And now to rest up for the big day!

Gen-Chan: I am very busy sprucing myself up for Christmas!

#1 keeps saying that I clean up pretty well!

Vidock: #1 tells me I have the perfect profile...

So here's a Christmas smooch for all of YOU!