May 20, 1999

May 20, 1999 is a very significant day for me.

It was ten years ago today, that my Nana, Alice Elizabeth Breining Gero Clark, died at the young age of 92. Nana was a very important person in my life. She was a most unique individual and in the past many years, I have thought of her life and have remembered so many things that she did that were very intriquing and fun.

The year that she died, about 2 years after having been diagnosed with colon cancer was memorable. I recall that on April 13 she walked me to my car; there was little indication that she would be gone in a little over a month.

My ex-husband and I spent lots of time with Nana. Greg remodeled her home in town and then shared many a happy hour with her. She loved her cocktails...*grin* and she loved Snickers' bars, too. During those times of happy hours, Greg and Nana would talk and share stories. One day, when I was unable to attend, they discussed some of my family's history. Nana told Greg that her family was related to the Webster family. That would include Noah and Daniel. Daniel Webster was very instrumental, in fact, he brought into the US in 1842 the first two Gordon Setters. Rachel and Rake were their names. I find this so coincidental that many years later, I would find myself loving and appreciating Gordon Setters.

When Nana died, she left Greg and me some money that we used to take a much-needed vacation and to purchase a Gordon Setter puppy, from Canada who we named, "Asti." I purchased her from Clansmen Kennels in Canada. She was the third pick of three girls in the litter born to Can Ch. Clansmen Cardhui out of Am/Can Ch. Dixieland's Country Lace. Lacey was related to some other dogs that I had and was the daughter of Am/Can Ch. Woodsmoke's Classic Alibi, CD (Blue) who was and remains one of my all-time favorite Gordon Setters.

Asti was born on June 8, 1999 (the anniversary of Greg's parents as well as the anniversary of the death of his paternal grandfather). She and her littermates almost didn't make it as Lacey had them on a cold-ish morning in Canada. But they all perservered and survived. Asti will be 10 in a couple weeks.

It took a long time to process Asti's papers from Canada. She had come to live with us in September of 1999 as we picked her up from the Milwaukee Airport on the way to a show in Michigan. I was going to name her Smoke or Asti. When I saw her, as she flew in to Wisconsin with two Irish Setters (one of whom did some awesome winning in the US) I opened the crate door and she came bounding out....almost like a cork from a champagne bottle. She was not a Smoke, but an Asti.

I named her: Clansmen 'n' Amethyst Hi Ground. The word Spumante (as in Asti Spumante) refers to a region in Italy off of high ground which produces many of the grapes used in making Asti Spumante. I had 30 minutes to let Les know what her name was going to be as he was on the phone with the Canadian Kennel Club.

In March of 2000, I started showing Asti. She achieved many accolades starting with a puppy Sporting Group 1 at the Oshkosh KC fun match. We entered her in shows the next couple months that culminated with several AKC Sporting Puppy Group 1 wins and majors. However, the highlight of her very brief show career was that on May 20, 2000, at the Oshkosh Kennel Club Dog Show, she won Winners Bitch, Best of Winners, Best of Opposite Sex, Best Puppy, Group 1 Sporting Puppy and then under Judge Jane Roppollo Best in Show Puppy!!

So, within one year many of my dog show dreams that had never been accomplished before were with this dog that was a gift from my Nana. Asti earned points from puppy class - my first dog to do so. Asti earned two majors from puppy class - my first dog to do so. Asti won puppy sporting group placements. Asti defeated my nationally ranked male special and then made a cut in the real sporting group and Asti, in a large class of bitches at the 2000 National, got 4th place. The bitch in front of her, was a dog named "Journey" who also was a special girl, as "Journey" was out of Am/Can/Mex Ch. MacAlder Best For Shojin (Chipper) who was the father of my first Gordon Setter, Spice. Nana accompanied me to a dog show in 1986 when Spice beat the #1 Gordon in the US at the time....and in the show photo, Nana's in the background!! And....because of "Journey" I was able to know that Chipper's semen was frozen and the dream of breeding Asti to Chipper was realized. No puppies were born, but I have 2 lovely puppies (Coal and Twister) that I own out of Ice and Chipper.

So...who says that dreams do not come true? Look at all the many connections that Asti has provided for me.

Oh, and by the way, she has a son out of Fire, MacE who is a Ch/UKC Champion and a Master Hunter...and a litter of 11 grandbabies who will be leaving for their new homes later this month.

Thank you, Nana!! You helped me to establish quite a legacy and to fulfill so many of my dreams all in one dog!!