Empress of the Universe and Mistress of All She Surveys

Bred by Helen Howard (Overlook) from her first IWS litter and named for her sunny personality, Sunnee has been the light of our lives since she entered the world in 1992.

Showing Sunnee was always an experience. My first Champion and first special, I always felt like the only reason I was there was it was required by the rules. Sunnee did all the work.

Sunnee was a multiple group place, BiSVeteran, Multiple Awards of Merit at Specialties, multiple Best of Breeds and Best of Opposites on Specialty weekends, Best Veteran in Sweeps, Best Brood Bitch in Specialty, Best Veteran Bitch in Specialty, multiple winner of the Marsh Award for Brood Bitch of the Year, HiT at the first National Specialty Agility Trial.

Bred only 3 times, Sunnee's kids compete in conformation, obedience, agility, and the field. Most of all, Sunnee's kids are adored and adore their families.

In 2004 Sunnee participated in Betty Wathne's freestyle salute to retired versatile dogs. In company with such greats as Molly (AM/Can CH Ballyhoo's Abhainn Mallaidh AM CD, CAN CDX, WC, JH), Bally (CH Ballyhoo's Ballet Up to the Bar CD CGC), Rags (CH Dreadlocks Ain't Misbehavin' CD CGC), Jordan (CH Castlehill's Air Jordan O'Landacre UD WC), and Blaze (CH Castlehill's Blazing Madcap UD NA) we performed a lovely freestyle composition to the music of Clint Black's Spend My Time.

Sunnee entered the ring to the words of Bobby Hebb's Sunny:

Sunny, thank you for the sunshine bouquet

Sunny, thank you for the love you've brought my way

You gave to me your all and all

Now I feel ten feet tall

Sunny one so true I love you

Truer words were never said. Thank you Betty for giving us all this precious memory. It has meant a lot, specially as I had to write this post to the IWS community:

Sunnee

CH O'rlook's Brown Sugar CD OA CGC TT JSN GSN RJN RGN

10/30/1992-10/25/2005

BiS/BiSS Am/Can CH Lindholme's Mr Michael CD TDJH WC
x
CH Lindholme's Noreen of Overlook

Pedigree

Six Degrees of Separation

I'm sure everyone has heard of this. The theory that you can trace back any Hollywood star to Kevin Bacon within 6 jumps.

What made me think of this was I wanted to send an email out to a few people I thought might be personally affected by some upcoming news. This list grew longer and longer as I realized all the people I would need to send it to.
Friends of our Sunnee girl. A wonderful ambasador of the breed she has met and affected people from all over the world. Whether from her impressive show wins, her joy in showing off in multiple venues, or through the many lovely puppies all over North America who are now providing us with
grandchildren and greatgrandchildren to love and admire, Sunnee has captured many a heart. A true and classic IWS bitch who does things her way but is willing to be convinced that your way can be fun too.

Saturday we spent the day at Helen's grooming Sunnee up in preparation for her 13th birthday :-) It's so funny to do a real groom on her because she gets so excited thinking it means she is going to a dog show. We figured we'd take her to the Marietta shows and let her strut around :-) Sunday she seemed a bit tired.. by Sunday night she wasn't lifting her head. Monday morning she was in liver & kidney failure and her heart was stuttering. The vet believes her spleen had gone but she was not stable enough to find out for sure. She came home to Helen's to spend the night basically where 13
years ago today her mother was in labor. She died this morning in her daddy's arms her heart simply giving up.

As I sit here crying I can't find it in me to say she will be missed. How can you miss someone so embedded in your heart. Removing her place there is inconceivable. We will definately miss her demanding ways, imperious nature,
and incredible charm. I am being comforted by 2 of her grandkids. Patton with his big head on my lap and Darcy bringing me toy after toy. I look at their heads and just see her... I watch their hoorah antics and see her... how does that poem go...

When I'm gone from your side,
And all your tears have been dried ...
Do not stand at my grave and weep,
I am not there, I do not sleep.

I am a thousand winds that blow;
I am the diamond glints on snow;
I am the sunlight on ripened grain;
I am the gentle autumn's rain.

When you awaken in the morning hush,
I am the swift uplifting rush
Of a quiet dove in circled flight.
I am the soft star that shines at night.

And when you stroll in the evening hours,
And smell the aroma of beautiful flowers;
There'll be no need to sob and cry ...
I am not there, I did not die!

We love you bear

CH O'rlook's Brown Sugar CD OA CGC TT
Oct 28, 1992 - Oct 25, 2005