Bella in the snow

Just in, Bella finally has some snow to play in.

She lloks so like her older sister Bliss!

Top Dog

I was looking at pictures on an old phone and found this one, the first photo I took of Reba when we got her in March 2007. Who would have thought she would end up our pack leader, she was the most accident prone puppy ever, nearly drowning, nearly hanging herself, nearly crushed by a falling gate and actually falling off the conservatory roof! How she got there is still a mystery but it involved a flight of stairs, a radiator, an open window and then some good luck in that she fell off the shallow end over the front door.

Watchers on the hill

WooZah and Bliss looking alert in the morning sunshine

Disco Diva's a winner!

Here's Reuben's sister Disco Diva and her proud owner Leena. Leena's mum Kathy bred this winning litter, Diva and two of her sisters, Ziggy and Ruby entered The Northern Bernese Mountain Dog Club Great Britain show and were in the same class. Diva won with Ziggy and Ruby coming 2nd and 3rd. A straight 1 2 3! And if that wasn't enough Diva went on to win best puppy bitch in the show! Outstanding! Next stop Crufts!

Bella

Bella chilling out on the patio, a lovely photo sent by Hayley her owner. Lots more pics of this lovely Berner to follow, one of the class of 2010!

Late arrival

Trevor late for breakfast.

Its been a cold day. Everything is frozen, the water pipes to the stables, the house, the fish are all solid. Plans to put a 150 gallon tank in the workshop have been moved up the jobs list and when it thaws enough to allow water flow an emergency supply will be kept out of the reach of Jack Frost. Meantime water saving measures are in place.

The Technohermit is feeling the cold, I managed to get Hazel the not quite 4x4 to him twice today. First was at lunchtime to drop off coal and gas and given he had a fire in his lair and it was the warmest part of the day, ferns of frost were still over his belongings inside. Hazel took me back with a monster portion of roast pork and a hot pudding this evening. The door to his lair was wide open despite being minus 7 already (parts of the county were minus 18 last night!) He asked me in and pointed to the remains of a chainsaw he had been fixing. By candlelight I inspected the chain as requested, could I sharpen it? As the metal was cold enough to stick to my hands I was loath to try, the thought of the hermit in possession of a sharp chainsaw was a scary one. He turned on a torch that was hardly brighter than the candle and pressed a file into my hand. Just have a look he pleaded, show me and I can do it. I gave in and inspected the chain, there was something different about it, it was unlike other chainsaw chains I had encountered, it was devoid of teeth for a start. There were occasional irregularities but other than that it was smooth. I prodded it with the file. You need a new chain Keith. He accepted my advice, it was, after all he said , very old, for it came from a very old bike.

It must be cold, this is supposed to be on the www.talesfromtherock.com page!

He aint heavy...

..hes my brother! Morgan getting acquainted with his brother Reuben on a flying visit to Rock HQ.

Big boned Berners these two. More clan news tomorrow with an update and pictures from Bella and an amazing 1st 2nd and 3rd in the same class for Reuben's sisters in the ring!

So many flakes.....

...so little time.

Reuben tries catching the flakes before they hit the ground.

Double take!

Two for the price of one here at Rock HQ. Morgan, Reuben's brother, dropped by to see how things are here at Rock HQ, and for once they weren't muddy! I would have loved to have shared dozens of action shots of the two but we were having a bad day technology wise and the camera broke after this one picture. Thats four cameras this year! Fortunately Nick, Morgans chaueffeur was on hand to help me haul Trixie out of the fence and position her where Hazel can get to her.

They love it!

Berners and snow

like strawberries and cream

made for each other!

First Snow!

First snow for Reuben who tried to eat it all!

Sneak preview

A page from the 2011 Calendar available priced £9.99 inc postage from Rock HQ. 13 pictures of the clan and puppies on high quality glossy paper. Contact us via email for details.

Halfway there

Bliss on the other paw likes to lie halfway up, or down, and watch me from there.

I'll go.....

...to the foot of our stairs! Rocky keeps an eye on me as I sit at the PC, sitting just behind me at the bottom of the stairs.

Family likeness

I was looking through some pictures and found this one, first glance it looks like Reuben and Rocky but we dont have such a clean yard, so its Reuben with his Mum Roxy, but then that cannot be right as Reuben left his mum when he was 8 weeks, so it was his brother Morgan then, but no, Morgie left soon after Reuben so it is in fact their sister Diva with Mum, and the three pups are like peas in a pod!

Feeling sleepy

Bliss as a pup having a huge yawn

Sweet!

We were set a video clip today of an angelic little nearly three year old sat reading her favourite book. Listening to her rendition of "Hey there Rocky, what can you see" was priceless.

Luckily the book isn't, its available to £9.99 including postage from Rock HQ, email us at collier13@btinternet.com for details of this, our mugs and 2011 calendars. There are only a limited number of each so be quick and remember Christmas is coming so these will make ideal gifts!

Friend or Foe?

Reuben felt brave today so charged into the back stable where he met Morgana and Guinevere.

This was the first time the pigs had seen a Berner

What sort of Berner are you? Reuben has never seen such small piglets.

The look says it all. I'm a Berner get me out of here!

Hello...Hello....

.... is there any body in there? Just nod if you can hear me....... Is there any one at home?

Reba cautiously exploring the newly discovered Rabbit cave in the corral OK.

Surprise!

The look on Morgan's face says it all, surprise at passing his puppy training class good citizen award. Brilliant!

Deliferate Mistale!

This is a pic that adorned the Dolyhir Bernese Mountain Dog 2010 calender, it is also on the very limited edition Tales from the Rock mug range, the winter mug. A great picture of Trevor, the pocket rocket getting up close to Rocky the Dolyhir clan patriarch and fine stud (3 litters this year!) Clearly Rocky has reservations about kissing a pony. Wise dog.

Anyway the 2011 Dolyhir Calendar is now ready, 13 high quality seasonal photos on the Dolyhir Clan out and about with witty captions under the picture, printed on high quality super glossy paper with a colourful decorative border around each pic measuring almost A4 in size. The ideal gift for the Berner fan and there are a limited number available from Rock HQ for £9.99 including postage and packing. Email us for details of how to buy this great Berner souvenir and receive email updates on other limited edition Berner goodies like children's books.

The proofs were sent to us for checking last week, luckily I asked for a run of 5 just to check the quality etc before the main print run was commissioned. Imagine my relief at that decision when I opened the package and cast a critical eye over the print job, the cover caption Dolyhir Bernese Mountian Dogs 2011.

Sum mistale shurley?