Editor's Note:

We are so very fortunate and excited to spotlight Nancy Nicoulin this month!  Nancy has made afghans, both adult and Yorkie size, for the Silent Auction. Nancy is also a charter member of YTNR.

YTNR: How did you get involved?

Arlene King and I held the first fundraiser for YTNR at the YTCA in Seattle, probably 11 or 12 years ago. This was the precursor, or the inspiration, for the garage sale that we have now at the Ball. It was called the "fish pond" back then and we had a little plastic pool with plastic fish in it and you could use a fishing pole and catch a fish with a number on the bottom. That evolved into a garage sale as a side fundraiser.

YTNR: Tell us about yourself. Where are you from?

I grew up in Louisville Kentucky, lived in St. Louis for 18 years, and then Florida for 12.  I've been in Paducah for the last 10 years to be closer to my daughter and her family. I like small town living, and it's good to be back in my home state.

YTNR: Yorkies? What do you love about Yorkies?

I do a lot of traveling and I wanted a portable dog. Roxie travels in a carrier at all times. I have driven 840 miles, for example, to Hampton Virginia to visit my sister. We now fly and Roxie never makes a sound when she's in her carrier and no one even knows she's there. She ought to have her own frequent flyer membership.  She's been with me to restaurants, stores, and even a movie theater in her purse carrier.  I bought a rolling carrier at the YTNR Ball and it's been wonderful.

My grandchildren are both involved with their horses and dressage and Roxie accompanies me when we go to horse shows. This past year we've been to the Kentucky Horse Park, several shows in the local area, and Murfreesboro, TN.  We were in Atlanta for a week while the kids were in training.

YTNR: How long with YTNR?

I signed the charter, so I've been involved from the very beginning.

I brought Roxie home at 8 weeks old when she weighed less than one pound. I bought her from a breeder in Florida when I lived there. I used to weigh her on the postage meter scale at the post office. She flunked Puppy Kindergarten and leash training.  The instructor said she was like a bumble bee on a string.  She now has her CGC and will be 14 in February and weighs seven pounds.  She wears her topknot in an 8" braid with a bow.  Her registered name is "Roxanne's Ribbons of Summer." I named her after two of my aunts. One was named Roxie and the other was Jenny Ribbons. I always heard that it is a good idea to name a dog after someone you love so that love comes through in your voice when you call them.

YTNR is a way for me to give back with the rescues. I have never been involved in the show aspect of Yorkies. Arlene is still involved in tracking and in agility and has workingyorkies.com.   I can't do fostering at this time because Roxie challenges other dogs so I have to be careful. I have done transport and home inspections in the past and try to stay active in fundraisers.

Early on, I taught Roxie tricks and this past year, she won the Gold Medal for tricks at the Ball. She is beautiful and smart!   She won the first place ribbon in the Halloween Costume contest a couple of years ago at my vet's office. She wore an embroidered red dress with streamers flowing from the cone shaped hat.  Both her ribbon and medal are proudly displayed in my living room.

YTNR: What do you care about most?

I wish they all had a home like Roxie does. That would be the greatest thing. She is a real princess. It breaks my heart when I think about any who are mistreated and puppy mills. I can't watch anything like that on TV.

I like the Yorkie spunk. They are smart little devils. I swear that Roxie can tell time.  My son in law is a cardiologist here in town and in conjunction with her vet, she had an echocardiogram in his office when she developed heart problems and is responding to medications. She is now hard of hearing, coughs, snores, snorts, and sleeps a lot. We go for walks twice a day. I call it "stand and sniff" because she has to find the perfect blade of grass. Sometimes she sniffs so hard she trembles. 

YTNR: What do you see as the strength of YTNR?

The dedication of the members.

YTNR: What other things can we learn about you?

I live in a condo here in Paducah and one of the reasons I bought it is so I can go out the front door, lock it and go anywhere with Roxie I want to go. My sister in Virginia is a cancer patient and I was with her for over two years when she was in treatment.  In the middle of that her husband unexpectedly died with pancreatic cancer two weeks after diagnosis. She was the patient and he died. She is in partial remission now and is doing well, so I have been able to be home for a while. Roxie and I visit several times a year. Myrna has two Siamese cats and they have deal with Roxie. They all ignore each other. Live and let live.  

When you get a "lemon", make "lemon-aide!" ??When my son, James, got stranded in "Iceland", we made "ice tea!" ??With a touch of Yorkie!

??When I think that 12 years ago, I couldn't tell a Yorkie from a Maltese, and my friends were pretty much limited to people from the NY area, it amazes me at how things have changed. For the better. Much better! Because a little pup walked into my life a dozen years ago, I now have amazing  friends, who share the love for this wonderful breed, from all over the globe! I like that... :) ??

OK, NOW THE STORY ?James (I call him Jamie:) is a gifted singer, song writer musician and producer! Earlier this year he left for a long planned tour in Europe, with a 2 hour layover in Iceland. He got to Eu, and due to a problem in his paperwork, he was turned back to his previous location, Iceland, with no ticket! Knowing very little about Iceland, he was concerned, and I felt miserable for him... Even though he was taking it well, I was concerned, because after all, he was in a far off land, where he knew nobody! Even though our kids grow up, they are still our kids, and it didn't help when I saw Iceland on a map, all by itself in the middle of the Atlantic, at the top of the world... ??

JILLI DOG TO THE RESCUE?"I thought and thought about it, and it came to me after awhile"

??"Whenever I'm sad and worried, it's little Jilli Dog who always makes me smile"??

Haha, actually, that's a line from my new children's book, (to be released soon, at last!) about Jilli's experiences in therapy dog visits... (shameless plug!-)... But it is very true... So, on a 'Yorkie' whim, I contacted Marco, my publisher from Yorkie Club Magazine, and asked "Do we have any contacts in Iceland?"  And he responded, "Yes, Kristin Erla Karlsdottir is one of the top breeders in Iceland and is a member of Yorky Club", and he gave me her contact info! I wasn't looking for housing or financial help, just a friendly face in a far off land! I emailed her, told her the story, and she replied: ??

"I KNOW YOU AND YOUR TALENTED LITTLE YORKY!!! I was in the audience in Sweden, when you appeared there! I LOVE Jilli! Please have your son contact me!!!" ??

And so I did, and it turned out to be a small Yorkie wonder! Jamie stayed at a very reasonable hostile, and Kristin showed him the sights, had him over several times to sample authentic Icelandic food, and introduced him to her son, who is also a musician, who showed Jamie some music spots! So what looked at first seemed like a disaster, turned out to be an eight week adventure, in what Jamie described as one of the most beautiful and interesting places in the world, with wonderful, friendly people! He didn't just sight see, but he managed to display his varied musical skills so that he asked to go on tours around Iceland with various bands! And typical of Jamie, he managed to be right in the middle of it, when Iceland was making world news, "THE INFAMOUS ICELANDIC VOLCANO ERUPTION!"  The band he was touring with at that time, traveled by land right across the volcano fields, but luckily he traveled back by plane, and shortly after, the volcano erupted!!! I couldn't believe it! Before this, the only time I remember Iceland being in the news in a major way was when Bobby Fisher went there to play chess with Boris Spassky of the USSR, almost forty years ago, now my son was there when it was in the news in every country in the world! Of course, I had to endure many chides as to whether Jamie had possibly stepped in the wrong place, and started the eruption???  (he says he didn't)??

Well, Jamie is safely home now, with wonderful memories of Iceland, and we are both deeply appreciative of Kristin Erla Karlsdottir, a person I would never, ever have known, if not for the "Small (Yorkie) World" Connection! Very similar to how I know so many of you, through YTNR!??

*Kristen Erla Karlsdottir is on Facebook... say I said "hi"   *"Jilli Dog, The Little Dog That Made Mr Kranby Smile"  (out soon)

A Thank You note for the Care Package Gift that Ellie, a YTNR Rescue, sends to all our adoptive dogs when they find their "Forever Home"

Dear Ellie,

Thank you so much for the blanket. The moment my mom opened the envelope I just had this feeling it was for me. Sure enough it was!!! Yippie Skippy!!! Wag Wag Wag!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I have been adopted into a home where there was already a "big brother" for me to get to know. His name is "Benjamin" and he is very nice to me. I am the Alpha dog and he is fine with that.

I love it here in Oceanside and I love all my new toys. I get to sleep with my Mom and Benjamin which really makes me feel loved, cozy, and at home.  As soon as my Mom gets time she is going to take more pictures of us-but she has been busy getting ready for a friend to visit from Boston . I heard this new visitor loves dogs which suits me just fine!

 This is my forever home and I want to thank the Yorkshire Terrie National Rescue for connecting me with my new best ever home and my new pal "Benjamin"!

Ruff, Fuff, Ruffley Yours,

Brandy

In one small rural town the sheriff also fulfilled the role of the town's veterinarian. One night the phone rang. The sheriff's wife answered.

An agitated voice inquired: "Is your husband there?"

"Well, do you need him as the sheriff or the vet?" the wife asked.

"Both," came the reply. "We can't get our dog's mouth open, and there's a burglar caught in it!" ~
 
Love to all,
Neeko :o)