I'm reminded that it's Smudge's Birthday

Thankfully some people are on the ball and earlier today I received an email from Alison, who has Smudge's litter sibling Maddie. 

Maddie who is five year old today

'Dear Jane,

Maddie, Ray and I would like to say Happy Birthday to Smudge and their siblings.

Well done Smudge, you have done it again. Such gorgeous pups all so beautiful and healthy. She was born to be a mother, so gentle and trusting with you and the children.
Will this be her last litter? 

I have taken a photo of Maddie with a couple of new toys she had for her Birthday but she wasn't a bit bothered all she wanted was her old favourite, which is a hanky.

We are coming over to Barnstaple in a couple of weeks and thought if you weren't busy we would love to pop in to see you and the pack and the children if they are home from school? Please let me know if that is all right and when you are free.

Love to you all,

Alison, Ray & Maddie x'

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Then this evening Alison sent me this slideshow of Maddie having her Birthday dinner, funnily we also had roast lamb for dinner this evening, so Smudge also had a treat of some lamb for her dinner.

Thanks Alison for reminding me it is Smudge and her litter siblings 5th Birthday today and thanks for your updates and support over those 5 years, especially when I lost our Smidge so tragically.  
Hard to believe 5 years have passed since you visited me looking at a pup from another litter, but fell in love with a heavily pregnant Millie and decided to wait for a pup from her. So a big Happy 5th Birthday greeting to Maddie, Charlie, Teddy, Oliver and Flo. Hope you are all doing well and had a lovely day.

Smudge on the right of the photo with her mother Millie

Here is the birthday girl Smudge today on her 5th Birthday. Smudge and her Mum Millie are two very special girls, so we decided to do a little photo shoot with the both of them and me. This photo we thought the best of the bunch, but for a bit of fun, I thought I would let you see the photos I normally would leave out. 
 WARNING : Some of the photos below might give you nightmares.

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Smudge's pups are now 23 days old today. The photos are from yesterday and today and the collar coding is as follows: 2 green collars on girls. 1 red collar on a girl. 1 pink collar on a girl. 2 brown collars are boys. 2 blue striped collars are boys. 1 blue collar on a boy.
And finally the answer to Alison's question. "This is Smudge's last litter."