Ari has fun with some tennisballs

Yes, Ari again.
The Chow Chow ladies are still on photo strike, refusing to be near any camera.
Ari is growing so fast and likes the camera... so here is Ari:

more about Ari

Ari came over a week ago and has blended in well.
The Chow ladies are getting used to him, Eoos and Ari are nearly playing, I think that will happen within a week.
Chimay is happy, he is not pushy and very polite.

Today I took some photos, Ari does not dislike the camera:After 15 years only Chows, it is a bit strange a pink tongue:Here you can see a bit of his legs, he really is mostly hair!And one more photo:

here is Ari!

Hi everyone this is Ari:Ari is a three months old Pekingese and he arrived yesterday.
Here you see him at our bed next to Frank, I left him there when I had to walk Chimay and Eoos, and he behaved perfectly.Ari and Frank on the bed with Eoos this morningWe missed having a male dog in the house, but did not want a third big dog.
We doubted between a Pug or a Pekingese, a Pug has a shorter easier coat, but the Peke is more like the Chow in character. Well we decided in favour of the Peke.
Ari's official name on his pedigree is Dango and he was born in Oss (the Netherlands).

According to Wikipedia
Ari means "to be" in Japanese
Ari means "lion" in Hebrew
Ari means "brave" in Armenian
Ari means "gorgeous" in Kurdish
That all together gives: to be, lion, brave and gorgeous and we thought that fits the little dog ;-)
Pekinese were bred in China to look like little lions, more information about the Pekingese breed.

Joop Bezemer (1927 - 2010)

Franks mother, my mother in law, died last week.
I never realised it, but a death gives a lot to do.
At first the arrangements for the funeral.
Also all kind of practical things like canceling memberships, inform the authorities and relevant organisations about her passing and remove her belongings from her house...

Thursday Frank and I went to the funeral-home in Vlissingen.She laid there peacefull in the coffin. Farewell Ma, rest in peace...

Then we went on to her home in Middelburg. It was strange to be there without her.
It has not always been easy between her and me, but lately our relation was better then before.

She was 83 years old, born in Rotterdam.
Married a sailor, divorced. Good times, bad times.
Some photo albums and a few other things are now here in our house in Lelystad, the remains of a lifetime.


Today is the funeral, Frank is there accompagnied by his friend Wilco.
Frank is going to read a poem by Bert Schierbeek (translated by me):

when it is raining
I think
don't let her get wet

and when it is storming
won't she get cold

and I think
that thinking
is no help

because you will never
get wet nor cold

because it rains
nor storms ever
again for you

The last tulips

Early May the last tulips started to bloom. The tulip "Groenland" is my favorite. It is in a less sunny part of the garden, so it is the last one to get its flowers:Now it is nearing the end of tulip season only a little time left to enjoy them...

Clubshow Dutch Chow Chow Club

More than two weeks ago, on Sunday April 25th, was the yearly show of the Dutch Chow Chow Club.

Chimay was not feeling well, so she stayed home with Frank. He would come later with a friend.
Since he stopped taking Ritalin his energy levels are back the way it was before. So he needs a lot of resting time and long days are too much for him.
I went with an other friend and Eoos to Eemnes where the show was held.

Ilone picked up Endo on her way to Eemnes.
We had thought Ilone would show Endo, but he refused to walk with her, so I went into the ring with him.
Long time ago I vowed I would not ever go into the showring again, and I should have sticked to that...Endo was already a bit irritated and picked up on my anxiety, he snapped at the judge and got disqualified :-(

Afterwards we sat together recuperating:The rest of the morning Endo was doing great as PSD. He accompanied me all the time, supported me and ignored everyone else. Then I was very happy with him.

Next Eoos and her sister Chinka (Xin-Feng's Embla) had to go into the ring.Eoos, shown by Ilone, got Very Good (3rd) and her sister Very Good (4th).

Demi (Xin-Feng's Demeter) did very well in her class: Excellent (1st)!

Well, I had been courageous and went into the showring with Endo. Sadly the price was high again... It took more than two weeks before I calmed down a bit :-(

Thank you both Leni and Peter Wellinga for letting me use your photos.