Sacred Eagle Pyrenean Mastiffs

12/10/2026

This is the backstory and the first part of my Summer Story Series (yes, I realize it is already Fall now but I’ve been busy!!) 📕 The photos are of my wonderful guests at the end of part one! We get to the dogs in subsequent stories but, I have catch you up with a little backstory first.

So let me just back up for a minute… we moved to Nova Scotia from Ontario in July 2023.

As you may recall, we put our farm up for sale in March of 2025, after an extreme run of troubling times in 2024. I had originally thought I was going to have to give up most of my livestock, buy a smaller place and live off the money, sitting in a rocking chair on the porch – or whatever it is that people do who aren’t farming… I had actually considered, after everything we’d been through to that point – maybe it was finally time to stop the struggle and to just give up. 👎

But… the Universe had other ideas for me but I just didn’t know it yet.

We for sure were going to stay in Nova Scotia, but I felt drawn to go out Tatamagouche way… and even though I looked all around the province, I only felt called that way. In all of the places available for the next year – only one had spoken to me. A place near River John – 100 acres (80 acres of hay and pasture). But that place was not the downgrade that I thought I was going for – it would be an expansion! 🤯 So I continued to search, and search, and search.

In June 2025, before Clayton left for the summer, we finally toured the River John farm with the Realtor. The following week we went back alone, to walk the property. As we walked, my favourite flower, in my favourite colour were popping up everywhere we went! I asked the owners if they had planted them – they said they had never seen them in 31 years. They were Wild purple Irises. I took it as a sign. 🪻

We toured the land/buildings there several more times last year, but we did not look at any other property after that.

We had two low-ball offers on our place that summer. Both were $150,000 off the asking price – so low that I couldn’t even counter and I declined them both. The River John farm would be a lateral move so I had to have enough money to go there or had to just stay just here. We kept the farm for sale until February when the snow was deep and there were lambs 🐑 and chickens 🐓 in the house – not the best time to show anyway.

We continued to fix the problems and beautify the property ongoingly and planned to put the property up for sale May 1st (as the River John property would be off real estate at that point and we could do a private deal to save some cash). But the leaves were not out on the trees yet and the place did not look it’s best. I waited most of the rest of the month before the leaves were out, some flowers, the apple blossoms etc. before the new virtual tour was done. (Last year the first virtual tour was done with snow on the ground – the second was done during the drought and everything looked brown and crispy… I was going to wait until EVERYTHING was green this time!) Our beautiful farm, finally went up for sale again on June 11th.

Clayton and I had planned a trip to Ontario to drop him off, pick up some stuff and to surprise my sister and show up for her 60th Birthday party on the 20th of June. I had made special arrangements to have Clayton do his exams early so we could go. BUT, it was not to be. I ended up putting Clayton on a plane on the 18th and instead had opened up the Airbnb for that time period as soon as I had found out that I was not able to go. As usual, it was a blessing in disguise.

Enter Mark & Colleen. They booked from June 20-25. I would have missed them entirely if I had gone to Ontario.

Mark & Colleen are wonderful folks – we hit it off right away – and it was more like old friends had come for a visit. On the 22nd I informed them that I had heard from my Realtor that I would be having a showing from serious buyers on the 24th, (they would confirm the time later), but that we would need into the suite at that time. They accepted that no problems.

Oh boy. That was to be the first showing of the year and I had A LOT to do to get ready for it – but oh, I also had guests! Oh, but they were not regular guests… they were the folks that had me start a new list for: Best Guests Ever List – and Mark & Colleen jumped right to the top!

After their day of adventure on the 23rd, they got back before I was done making noise – I wasn’t quite finished with the vacuuming! What to do? I didn’t want to upset my guests with unnecessary noise but I was running out of time! So I messaged them to see if they minded if I vacuumed for a few more minutes. Their response? “We’ll be happy to vacuum if you like!” What!? They were offering to do my vacuuming for me? While on vacation?? It was a gracious offer, but I was almost done and couldn’t have thought to make a guest work!

Oh, but I did need help. Getting ready for the showing just about did me in on the 23rd. There is no pacing yourself when you only have 1.5 days to get ready!

The 24th came. At 9 o’clock in the morning, Colleen offered her services to sweep for me in the barn – and sweep she did! For hours… (you see I hurt my arms in February brushing my cow for 5 minutes – and they hadn’t yet recovered. Sweeping sucks for the arms and maybe I had mentioned it to them…?).

So, Colleen, swept 🧹and organized the garage/workshop and swept the feed room – and yes that took hours! Later, Mark came out and moved straw bales around and threw them down the hole from the loft so that I could bed the animals bright and shiny before the showing (whenever it might be). Then Mark and Colleen scraped 🪏down to the cement and swept clean what I call the animal viewing area of the barn. It gets the dirtiest because we are always moving water and feed/animals through there. I could never have gotten the barn so ready without their wonderful assistance - I was so grateful! Before they checked-out on the 25th, they spit polished the entire suite, leaving it in perfect condition after a 5-night stay!

Oh, but let’s not forget, before they left, they gave ME a parting gift!! A beautiful boot scraper! Perhaps they thought that if we scraped our boots a little more, we might have an easier time keeping the place clean! 😂

They are such wonderful people. I actually felt like crying when they were leaving. After our hugs goodbye, I knew I was going to miss them. 💞

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Anyway, that showing didn’t happen that day but I was at least closer to being ready for next time…

Honestly, this first part of the story has been blocking all the rest for more than 3 months. I wasn't ready to share what comes next, but now that the flood gates have been opened?

Fasten your seat belts, kids. The ride has just begun!

02/10/2026

Our littlest guardian, sweet Arwen ❤️

I was driving Andy, our new tractor, back and forth to the far end of the long barn... Arwen and Argibel followed me for the first 5 times or so - back and forth. Arwen was very smart and respected the tractor from the start. I came back for the 6th load and Clayton asked where Arwen was. On the way back to the barn, I saw her, way up on the hilltop... watching her sheep out in the hayfield.

The innate instinct of the Pyrenean Mastiff has been officially activated!

When I finally did get off the tractor after the 8 loads to the barn... Arwen bit me in the butt with her sharp little teeth! That will show me! 😄 So she's not entirely perfect ... she has the odd sneak shark attack moment, but other than that - yeah she's perfect 👌

28/09/2026

Hey friends in CKC we'd love your support and vote for having the Pyrenean Mastiff join the CKC! I would absolutely love to show Arwen in CKC since there are no rare breed shows in Nova Scotia at all.

23/09/2026

Arwen (WO-WO Candy after Zaara)18 weeks old and Bordagaray Argibel (a Basque Shepherd) 9 years old yesterday... they're besties! 🧡

15/09/2026

Well, Arwen has fit right in! She's made new friends 🧡 and found an adventure buddy too!

I wasn't sure how the others would take to her... Donnamira being the baby of the family (at 8 years of age) wasn't too keen on sharing the spotlight at first - but now, to watch them play? It's a beautiful thing! Argibel is 7 weeks older than Donnamira and has never let her play... but for some reason, she's now allowed to and it's so special to see!

Spotty is less interested in playing but is happy enough to have her around (especially when she's asleep and not trying to gnaw her leg off!)

Argibel is my shadow, so now with Arwen, I have two... and they have a good time together 💕

I feel so blessed with all of my girls ✨️

04/09/2026

Arwen & I are home sweet home 🏡 💕 After meeting her new family, she had fun with an apple 🍎

04/09/2026

So much to say so little time. We got to the airport in Sweden yesterday afternoon just to be told that Arwen was not booked on the flight. I would not accept that. I had three separate calls to Brussels Airlines ahead of time to make sure and also to Air Canada to double check she was booked on both flights. They all refuse to give written confirmation though. No was not an option in my mind. So this lady, who was maybe born yesterday... finally does the booking but it is so wrong that I'll find out about later. She comes out with arrows for the cage for this side up... there were already countless arrows but she said she needed her ones, 4 of them and proceeded to put all 4 in one row on one side. Unbelievable. I don't have time to tell you the other stupid things that happened while trying to book her in. They made us come 3 hours early, so I checked my bag in then, but said to bring Arwen at 40 minutes before the flight... but because they were so slow to get her in then, I had to run to get my flight but got held up in security. My bag was pulled to the side and no one was looking at it. Finally I flagged someone down and they called a lady over. Wouldn't you know it, the 4 arrows lady. She put my bag through the xray at least 10x, pulling all the connected contents out more each time. Finally I ran out of there straight into the duty free and was lost. I found a security man and begged for his help to get to the gate and call to tell them I'm coming, so he did. They closed the doors behind me. I had no time for water or anything so arrived in Brussels with no water. I went to get my luggage, it was not there, I went to get my puppy, she was not there. Back and forth to the lost and founds... the 4 arrow lady checked my bag through up Halifax even though I was overnight in Brussels. Then I get a call from a private number and they said what are we to do with this puppy overnight?? GIVE HER TO ME!!!! So after finally getting Arwen they inform me my bag, all the puppy supplies, my special pillows for my neck, my clothes, hairbrush, toothbrush etc, AND the pliers that Claes Björkman gave me to cut Arwen out of the cage ... were all in Sweden!!!

So, I made it outside and finally found someone who had luggage that had scissors who helped me cut the cable ties.

We made it after several hours in the airport to the hotel only 5 minutes away. Arwen has been perfect. I washed all her bedding and the soft toy from the crate and hung them to dry. There were no blankets nor washcloths in the hotel. If I put the heat on, Arwen was too hot. I slept my 2 hours in my clothes.

I go back to the airport at 630 in the morning. ARWEN rides on the bus, does everything perfect. The AC lady was nice but the next lady wanted to take a picture of the crate closed and Arwen couldn't walk to where to go but they wanted to put her on a sloped cart. No. I agreed to put the wheels back on and roll her over. With the wheels on it was not stable to load. This other AC lady comes over and grabs her harness. The nice lady said she's a dog trainer. She grabbed Arwen and threw her hard into the crate smashing her back on the doorway. I screamed GET THE F**K AWAY FROM MY DOG! as I tackled the older lady. I was so mad and Arwen was so scared. Everyone backed off.

I eventually got her in... and rolled her to where she had to go and they wanted to put her on the sloped cart where she would fall. I would not let them. Finally they brought the right cart but the man disappeared so I had to wait a long time. I had no idea what was waiting for me ahead.

They took her and I ran to security. There were thousands and thousands of people. I was in the line. I looked at my ticket. Boarding in 6 minutes. I don't have time to tell you all the illegal things I did to get on the plane, but I will later. I realized for sure why I missed my connecting flight on the way to Sweden. I learned very much from that. I made my plane as they closed the gate. There was no way I was not going to be on that plane. Apparently my luggage IS on the plane now but who really knows. As long as Arwen and I both are I don't even care.

I had no toys or water bowl or anything in the hotel... but there was an apple... and she enjoyed playing with it and eating it.

I'm hungry, thirsty, sweating from head to toe, AGAIN... and have had about 8 hours sleep since I left Halifax on September 1 at 730 pm... traveled to Germany, Switzerland, Sweden, Brussels and will be to Halifax by noon on the 4th - 12,500 km... have lots more stories to share but we are going down the runway.

All that matters is that we are coming home 🏡 together ❤️

03/09/2026

Well here she is! Meet Arwen!! ❤️

She's 15 weeks old, 21 kg, Pyrenean Mastiff from the most amazing genetics I've ever come across.

Since flying out of Halifax on Tuesday evening at 730... I have traveled to Germany, Switzerland and eventually landed in Sweden yesterday afternoon. I met her breeders Claes Björkman and Eva Björkman of WO-WO Kennel. I have so much to say but so little time... but I will follow with stories later! We are currently back in Gothenburg Airport and flying to Brussels in Belgium for the night. Then tomorrow we will fly home to Nova Scotia.

She is amazing!

👏 🤩

Gotta fly ✈️

02/09/2026

Well... first stop Frankfurt, Germany! I found a big 4 leaf clover the day before I left... it's working already! I had an aisle seat for the first leg of the journey, but luckily it was only two seats and the window was empty so I made good use of both seats! Then just as we were landing we got to watch the sunrise 🌅 it was beautiful!

Other than the long immigration line, I won't get to see more of Germany... but soon I'll be on the next plane to my destination - where the culmination of my 11 year search will finally come to an end!

I can hardly believe it!! Just a few more hours! 🤯

Update: the immigration line was so long... even though I ran through the terminal a very long way as fast as I could, I still managed to miss my plane! Zero sleep. Have had to go to the bathroom since brit I got off the last plane over two hours ago... now waiting to see about rebooking for the next possible flight.

Update: couldn't get a direct flight for another 8 hours so I'm hopping across Europe apparently... next stop Zurich! I walked direct to the new gate and we are boarding momentarily... at least we are moving forward or sideways, I have no idea where Zurich is, but I'll be there soon!

I'm on the plane now apparently going to Switzerland! Where she stops, nobody knows! 😂