When I was growing up, my mother spent every New Year’s Eve looking through the family calendar and remembering what political fundraiser or church supper we had gone to, what play either my brother or I was in, what funny thing some kindergartner had said to her in her class. I thought she was overly sentimental when I was younger, but the older I get it all makes sense. It’s not the worldwide events that matter in daily life. What matters is the way you live your life, doing what makes you you.

Like everyone else, there are parts of 2025 I’d like to forget, and it’s hardly newsworthy, what we’ve done. But it’s us. And I’m smiling just thinking of it all. Here are a few of the highlights.

• January brought the beginning of hormone blockers for me, thanks to the breast cancer I had treated in late 2024. It was found fast and small, so all is good. January found me really processing the fact that I was lucky, but not untouchable. I vowed to enjoy small moments more. It’s been a helpful perspective for me.
• Bud continued to work on our new pole barn. He was prioritizing our new kennel room, and continued to impress me with how amazing he was making it.
• February brought the Central Ohio Shetland Sheepdog Association specialties, and we were thrilled to watch our girl Bridgeway the Places You’ll Go (Ana) get Winner’s Bitch and Best of Winners on her first time in the ring with Sunway Productions. CH Winslow Beau Geste (Beau) also picked up two majors towards his Grand Championship.
• March brought us a beautiful litter. RBIS MBISS GCH CH Laureate Macallen (Scotty) x Belmark Believe in Magic (Paisley) produced three boys who all went on to be placed in show homes. As of this writing, one is almost finished, one is pointed, and one is about ready to make his entrance.
• Spring brought more work on the barn, lots of fun playing with puppies and dogs, and enjoying time at the farm.
• May is Pam Month. It’s my birthday, Mother’s Day, and anniversary month, and I enjoy it! One of the shows I went to this month was the Mountaineer Spring Classic in Marietta, OH, and I got plenty of gifts there! Ana got Best of Breed and was only one point away from her championship! Beau was awarded placements at almost every show that weekend, including Best of Breed twice, and finished his Grand Championship. I was flying!
• Because it’s such a great month, Margo had puppies! She is the best mom ever, and her pups were full of spunk.
• June is the month of Moby. I’ve been driving my Ford Explorer to dog shows and played tetris to get everything in, only to unload it all as soon as I get home so I can drive to work. In June we bought a Transit van, and getting to and from shows has never been easier.
• June also brought Beau’s first OH Group One! That meant we got to participate in the OH BIS!
• July was hot. Very hot.
• August was another huge month for Cedarbreaks. In Talmadge, OH, Ana got WB, BOS, and BW and completed her Championship. She is now BPIS CH Bridgeway the Places You’ll Go. It was a thrill to finish her with friends by my side.
• September did not disappoint, with Beau getting two group placements at the Kennel Club of Columbus IN show. Group 3 and OH Group 3.
• October welcomed our first point for Belmark Believe in Magic (Paisley) in Springfield, IL.
• November was the birth of our website and a whole new world of things to learn!
• Cedarbreaks The General (Patton) gained his first point in November at the Western Reserve Kennel Club in Talmadge, OH.
• December brought all things winter and snow, which includes Sensitive Santa. Margo strutted her stuff as a therapy dog for all of the kids who attended.

That was longer than I’d expected, and only hit the highlights. Cheers to a great 2025, and here’s to whatever comes next!