Welcome to Blue Monday. Please join Sally at, Smiling Sally today for lots more blue.
********************
This is a special time for Sally. She and her hubby have celebrated 52 years of Marriage.
CONGRATULATIONS
******************************
I am sharing a beautiful Royal Doulton figuring that my husband gave me on one of our anniversaries.
He picked this figurine because of my love for dogs. I was not always a dog lover. We always had dogs but they were for the children. My true love for dogs happened when we found a small poodle puppy on a major highway in Florida that was apparently lost. It was true love at first sight.
I became a woman who loves dogs.
He couldn't find a Royal Doulton with poodles, so he chose this beautiful woman and her Borzoi dogs. Borzoi dogs were popular with Russian Nobility. Since this is a breed that is not seen very often I found this info on Google.
The Borzoi was bred for hundreds of years by the Russian nobility. They were developed by crossing the Arabian Greyhound with other longer haired Russian sheepdogs. The dogs were called Russian Wolfhounds in America, up until 1936 when the name was changed to "Borzoi", coming from a Russian word 'borzii' which means swift. Fierce on the hunt, this sight hound was used for hundreds of years to hunt wolves, fox and hare in the open planes of Russia. As the breed became more popular it was used more and more as a companion dog and its temperament became more docile. The Borzoi was recognized by the AKC in 1891. The Borzois talents include hunting, sighting and lure coursing.
Graceful and elegant, the Borzoi retains these qualities while standing or moving. As a running hound, this breed is fit for hunting fierce, big game in extremely cold climates. To suit this purpose, the dog runs at a very fast pace but has a more powerful and larger build than a Greyhound. It has jaws which are powerful enough to trap a wolf. The silky, long coat of the hound, meanwhile, can be either curly or flat and wavy, thus protecting the dog from snow and cold weather.
Personality and Temperament
The Borzoi is normally good with kids, but its playfulness may not meet the expectations of some. Shy with strangers, some Borzoi are also quite timid. The Borzoi is a true example of a quiet and well-nature indoor house dog. When outdoors, the dog races wildly and even chases small, running animals. The hound is considered independent as well as sensitive in nature.
Happy Blue Monday
Love, Jeanne
Beautiful Royal Doulton figurine, and interesting information about the Borzoi which I had not heard of before. I am sure there is more the story about your little poodle too... smile
Posted by: Jan, Australia | July 12, 2010 at 01:43 AM
Ah, that was sweet of Bill. I well remember your dog conversion.♥
Love you.
Posted by: Beverly | July 12, 2010 at 06:19 AM
How beautiful this figurine is! I have seen these dogs in person and they are amazing! I showed Mr. Comforts your last picture of Cheri and he said, "Now I could go for a dog like that". I think he is weakening!
Hugs,
Penny
Posted by: Penny @ The Comforts of Home & Lavender Hill Studio | July 12, 2010 at 07:17 AM
You are so kind, Jeanne, and clearly, you deserve a caring husband to buy you a blue Royal Doulton figurine.
Happy Blue Monday!
Posted by: Sally | July 12, 2010 at 08:02 AM
That figurine is gorgeous and I love the story of the Borzoi. I have always been a dog lover and my first dog (when I was very young) was a poodle. As you know we are a family of poodle lovers. So, my parents have always had poodles and we have too.♥
Posted by: Darlene | July 12, 2010 at 09:06 AM
Oh, Jeanne! I love these dogs! I used to beg Mr. Magpie to let us get one. There was one that a friend of mine found in rescue years and years ago (his mother had died, and the family didn't want him), but Mr. M refused based on its size. We eventually got our sweet Min Pin girls... I had to sneak them in, one at a time, and of course, he was smitten. ;-)
I had a friend who owned a shop and used to have a Borzoi who would sit there and just looked beautiful. I love their faces.
I have almost talked Mr. M into a greyhound, but we are limited on space to have such big dogs. But my heart is forever in love with Borzois and greyhounds, too.
XO,
Sheila :-)
Posted by: Mrs. Magpie | July 12, 2010 at 10:29 AM
Beautiful woman figurine and look at that waistline so tiny ^_^ Happy Monday!
Blue snake
Posted by: Kim | July 12, 2010 at 01:51 PM
Sounds like you found the true love of your life! Isn't it wonderful to have a husband that is so thoughtful! Love the beautiful figurine! :)
Posted by: Emily | July 12, 2010 at 03:20 PM
What a sweet sentiment,and thoughtfulness on your hubby's part. Sounds like you got a real winner. Best wishes to you both for a good life for many years to come.
Posted by: LaVoice | July 12, 2010 at 04:02 PM
Hello Jeanne--What a pretty figurine--it's fun to learn the history of the borzoi, and your own history on becoming a dog lover!
Hope you're doing well out there in the mountains--the heat down here in the Piedmont is not to be believed--day after day way up in the 90s! It's sure been sapping my energy!
Posted by: Lorrie | July 12, 2010 at 06:24 PM
Hi Dear Jeanne! OH, what a wonderful hubby! This is such a lovely figurine! I think I'd keep that guy if I were you! :)
Hope you've had a wonderful day!
Be a sweetie,
Shelia ;)
Posted by: Shelia | July 12, 2010 at 09:40 PM
A gorgeous figurine! Makes me jealous. And the borzoi are the very byword for elegance!
Posted by: Walter Mason | July 13, 2010 at 04:25 AM
Jeanne dear, I just had to come back and ask you what on earth you were doing leaving me a comment when it was almost 2 AM? Yikes!
Posted by: Lorrie | July 13, 2010 at 05:09 AM
What a lovely dog! And, what a lovely, thoughtful gift!
The Borzi sounds a bit like the Whippet. We watched Dogs 101 and they described Whippets as dogs that go 100 mph and 0 mph. One that enjoys running around outdoors but is also content to cuddle with you indoors.That's my kind of dog!
Hope you have a terrific day,
Kathy
Posted by: Kathy | July 13, 2010 at 08:49 AM
Hi Jeanne!
Gorgeous statue! How thoughtful of him! A well chosen gift.
I love your poodle love story. Our pet angels find us and we them in the ways that make our hearts fly open.
Thank-you for visiting today! I love it when you do...I appreciate your kind comments!
love,kelee
Posted by: Kelee Katillac | July 13, 2010 at 09:14 AM
Good Morning, Jeanne!! What a beautiful gift!! I really enjoyed reading about that breed of dog, too! While the Borzoi is a beautiful animal,there is NO comparison to that amazing Cheri'!!!
Your day of making plum jelly sounds like so much FUN!!! You are one "mover and shaker" my friend!! I keep telling you, I wish I had one-tenth of your "zip"! I just cleaned out the refrigerator and feel like I've climbed a mountain....yuuuuuuuky mess! Now it sparkles! :)
I know about the "less computer time".....actually, I'm trying to avoid it on purpose. I find I can lose hours of a day just surfing and visiting! It's not always a good thing!
It was so great to see you had visited!!! Keep a movin'...you inspire me!! L, Dana
Posted by: dana | July 13, 2010 at 09:20 AM
Jeanne, your porcelain is beautiful. The fact that it was a gift from your very thoughtful husband must make it more special still. I hope you are having a great day. Blessings...Mary
Posted by: Mary | July 13, 2010 at 09:47 AM
buy best convert vob to mkv to get new coupon
Posted by: LotDrono | February 13, 2012 at 04:21 AM