Konawinds is the start of making a longtime dream come true. I have loved Golden Retrievers most of my life, having gotten my first when I was 14 years old. Cinnamon lived a long and wonderful life-helping me with the challenges of high school and college. When my oldest son Garrett was five, Magnum came into our lives. We actually picked him up on my birthday, so you do the math... Magnum was so special to Garrett as well as myself. When it came time to write the personal statement for college, Garrett based his on how having this awesome golden had impacted his life and helped him mature into a wonderful young man (a mother's unbiased opinion). Magnum passed away in October of 1994 when Garrett was a senior, and having been recently divorced and not knowing whether I'd be staying at my home, I put off getting another golden for a year. Well....I couldn't stand the emptiness-especially with having one less child at home. So, it was time~~ In my own naivete at the time, I went to my local newspaper and began searching. I found a super family and went to see the puppies. I had a name picked out for both a potential male or female. Unbeknownst to my children and not having to ask anyone's permission, I bought one of each!! Oh, how little I knew. Into our lives ambled Scarlett and Sundance. Two babies at once-yikes!! They quickly became the light in my younger son Colin's life, especially Sundance (his "Buddy") Needless to say I became obsessed with them-I started reading all sorts of books and began finding out how much I did NOT know! When Scarlett and Sundance were six, I decided I wanted to add another to the mix, but this time I went to a professional breeder-Linda Erickson of Mainsail Goldens entrusted to me Mainsail Kona Summer Breeze. My beautiful Kona blew into our lives, and life for Scarlett and Sundance took a crazy turn. But, as we all know, my beloved goldens rose to the occasion and fell in love with this new little life. Now Kona is doing the same since I traveled to Ohio in November of 2004 and brought home my first show puppy-Hytree Konawinds Style Wonder. Donna Edwards of Hytree Goldens took a chance and placed a precious little girl into my waiting arms. Vogue never knew her brother Sundance, as he passed away 3 days before she was born, but I truly believe they passed each other in their journey. I came up with a kennel name using Kona's moniker, which I love so much. My children are not living here anymore, but Colin, his wife Alecia, and now my little grandson Maguire visit often, and the dogs are still a huge part of their lives. Garrett is in Philadelphia, and his homecomings are always greeted by the "goldens"-each wanting to fill him on what's been going on in their lives. My goal is to try my luck in the conformation ring and hopefully start a small breeding program. Dreams can and do come true, and as I take my first steps towards this dream, I look back and smile at how these goldens have taken over my heart.
Take care and God Bless.
Heather Lashier-2005
*I am a member of the Golden Retriever Club of America- www.grca.org and Autumn Valley Golden Retriever Club and Rescue- www.autumnvalley.org
"Requiescat en pace" my beautiful Scarlett. You are my light that shines in the darkness~~
November 20, 1995-June 7, 2005
Run freely with your beloved kong my precious Sundance~~
November 20, 1995-September 28, 2004
