NaBloPoMo DAY 14:
Meet Ivy, the Cutest Little Bundle of Love!
She’s a Canadian Bernedoodle, recently adopted by my dear, old friend, Mary Pat.
I met Mary Pat years ago when we were colleagues working in the public broadcasting system, only in different states. We’d talk on the phone from time to time, and see each other every year at conferences. She was a hoot to hang out with. Make that a hoot and a half. And, being in her presence, always managed to bring a smile to my face.
It goes without saying, I just adore Mary Pat! She’s the kindest, sweetest person from the Midwest you’ll ever meet. She has a huge family and lives in a big, old house filled with love and warmth and homemade cookies. It also boasts some amazing crafts she’s made over the years, and many, many snowmen in all shapes and sizes! She collects them, like some folk collect beer bottle caps. Only, if you ask me, snowmen are way cuter!
Because of our work, I once spent about a week in her city leading some trainings for child care providers at her station. Mary Pat’s hospitality was enormous, as she opened the doors to her home and heart. She even arranged a private tour for me of the headquarters of one of my favorite artists. I was in awe!
Suffice it to say, I didn’t want to leave! We had such a good time exploring her beautiful city, shopping and stopping for a quick visit at the local university, which is very grand, indeed.
So I can only imagine how happy Ivy must be with her new, forever family. Pretty little thing that she is, I doubt this puppy gives Mary Pat and her family a speck of trouble. Look how sweetly she poses for this picture!
I asked Mary Pat to tell us a little about Ivy and here’s what she had to say:
Sweet Finny
“Before I share about Ivy, I must first tell you about my Finny. Being a dog-lover yourself, I want you to have his story, too.
“We had Finny for 12.5 years. He was a yellow lab and LOVED playing Lacrosse with my daughter, Katy, fetching sticks and taking l-o-n-g walks with me. We would walk between 3-5 miles a day! Finny loved drinking his water from the bathtub faucet. He was quite a character! Finny died last Nov 30, just after Thanksgiving. I still miss him…
“We decided to wait a bit before getting a new dog. In the spring, I was introduced to the Bernedoodle breed when our neighbor’s daughter purchased Marshall, a Bernedoodle puppy.
It was LOVE at first sight! I fell for the Bernie!!!
“The Bernedoodle breed is both playful and very calm. They are hypoallergenic and low shedders. (As I type, Ivy goes from laying at my feet to chewing on her toys.) I called the woman who bred Marshall and was placed on her waiting list for a female Bernedoodle. This summer, though, her dogs had Bernese puppies, not Bernedoodle. 😦
SO…
One October evening, after a glass (or two!) of wine, I started looking on the Internet for a puppy.
That’s where I found Ivy. The problem was, she lived in Wallenstein, Ontario!
Well, this past Friday, we flew to Detroit, drove up into Canada and picked up Miss Ivy.
Ivy!
“Since bringing her home, Ivy has met my 98-year old grandma, my mom, and our four grand-kids, who absolutely adore her. Training a puppy is work for sure, but I love having a dog in the house again.”
Mary Pat, thank you so much for sharing your story of Ivy and Finny, too. Please know that I miss you so much and wish I could see you again and meet little Ivy. In fact, I’ve got two dogs chomping at the bit to meet her, too!
Note: This month, I’m taking part in NaBloPoMo. Thirty days, 30 posts.
EXCITING NEWS! I’ve decided to donate my brain to science, so maybe they can figure out how and why I committed myself to such a crazy challenge.
Seriously though, don’t forget about the prize. If there’s a tie, I’ll do a drawing. May the best reader win!
Monica's Tangled Web 
Hey there, I found you via the NaBloPoMo blogroll.
I had never heard of this breed but what a cute doggie! 🙂
As part of NaBloPoMo I try to comment on as many participating blogs as I can, and I also add participating blogs to my feed reader.
So I’m just dropping by to let you know I’ve added your blog to my feedreader, I’m reading you loud and clear, I have a link up going at my place so my readers can find participating blogs which you are more than welcome to add your blog link to.
Looking forward to seeing your posts. You may see me drop by again during November, but it might be December before I finish my first drop by to blogs if I don’t get faster at leaving comments. 🙂
Happy NaBloPoMo to you!
Snoskred
http://www.snoskred.org
Ivy is a cutie. Finney looks like a sweetheart. It’s always hard to lose a family pet, but great to be able to make room for a new one.
Ivy is adorable! So true!
Ivy is adorable. Life is sure looking up for her, seems like.
For sure, Tots. Incidentally, we’re almost at the half point. So when do we breathe a sigh of relief?
I love crossbreeds better than thoroughbred dogs normally. (Don’t show this to Henry or Oliver.) Though having said that the two most fun dogs we had when I was growing up were both Poodles, they were fun dogs, though they really take to just one person in a family and in both cases it was my mother, I think the fact she fed them may have had something to do with it.
Robert, I have news for you: Oliver is a half breed, in that he’s half Maltese and half Poodle. It’s Henry that would take offense to your statement, but definitely not Ollie. Being the one that feeds the dog makes all the difference and pretty much guarantees love everlasting from our canine friends.
That is one cute puppy . . . and clearly worth the effort it took to get her.
Indeed, she is. It’s amazing what lengths we humans will go to for the love of a good dog. Not sure I’d go to Canada, but back when I was thinking of a Maltipoo, I saw some online that were in Washington state. But then I found Oliver in the streets of San Diego, so never did take that trip.
A bernadoodle is my next dog for sure … and a trip to Wallenstein, Ontario would not be a bad car ride either 🙂
Astra, had you heard of bernadoodles? It’s a new breed to many of us, it seems, so was just wondering. But Ivy looks so cuddly and friendly, doesn’t she?
I have only heard of this bread recently myself!
I’d never heard of a Bernedoodle before. Personally, I like the looks of a Bernese Mountain Dog much better than adding Poodle to the mix, but that’s what makes a horse race, huh? I suspect this little gal is going to be rather large, probably way bigger than something I’d want inside the house. Love the star shape on her chest, though!
I’ll make sure not to tell Oliver your preferences, seeing how he’s half Poodle. He might take to the stairs for good! She’s a cutie pie, that Ivy, star and all.
You made my morning Monica. I had not heard of the Bernedoodle and then to meet Ivy, she is absolutely gorgeous! Mary Pat sounds like my kind of person.. The big house filled with love and cookies did it for me. Finny must have been wonderful, it’s so tough when you lose a member of the family. I’m glad she went on this journey and found Ivy – such joy!
She’s totally cute, MM, and the breed was new to me, too. Dogs do bring a lot of joy (and expenses, too, tee hee!).
Thank you for introducing us to a bernedoodle. I had to google images to find more. What a sweet cuddly breed I see from the photos and read in Mary Pat’s words. Our son-in-law had a lab who they lost two years ago. They’re always talking about adopting another for grandson to grow up with.
Georgette, I had never heard of berendoodles until I saw Ivy’s photo. So very cute. Seems very friendly. That’ll be nice for your grandson to have a dog to grow up with. 🙂