Our Story
I was first introduced to English Creams by friends several years ago. We had two American Golden Retrievers at the time. They were perfect companions for my four children – smart, loving, gentle, sweet – and I didn’t think that I could ever find a more perfect breed…until I met their European counter parts. I fell instantly in love! However, researching the breed I found that while they were indeed desirable dogs, they were a bit out of my price range as a single mom of four children.
Fast-forward to 2011. My kids were all now grown, and I was dating a wonderful man, Mark, who would become my husband in December of ’11. In July of that year I visited relatives in Tennessee, and ended up coming back to Illinois with a Feist – a small dog bred for squirrel hunting in the south – who became my first canine companion since all of my kids had left the nest. We named him Banjo. He had been raised in an outdoor pen, so it took us a while to get him acclimated to the life of an indoor dog, but he eventually got the hang of it, and settled in as part of the family. I was thrilled to have a dog again, but I had always had larger breeds in the past, and still longed for the possibility of one day getting an English Cream Retriever. I had inquired about purchasing one from my friends earlier in the year, but still felt like it just wasn’t in my budget. Practicalities of life had to take precedence over my desire for a particular breed of dog. I had resigned myself to being content with Banjo and Frank (who was the only cat I had at that time), and figured that someday I would make my dream of owning an English Cream come true, but it would have to wait a while.
Well, you know how sometimes things happen when you least expect them? Or how, when you stop looking for something, that is when you are most likely to find it? Good things really do come to those who wait! My son Caleb, who was in the Army and stationed in Colorado at the time, called to tell me that one of his army buddies had a two-year old English Cream Retriever, and that he was going to be getting rid of her. Not only that, but Caleb had been telling his buddy that the English Cream was his mother’s favorite breed. Then the guy said the most incredible thing to my son. He told Caleb that he would give Sasha to me! His wife had passed away tragically shortly after getting Sasha, and he was getting out of the army and moving back to his home state. He needed to start over, and just didn’t have the time to devote to Sasha. He and his wife had intended to breed her, but life had changed very drastically for him, and that was no longer a part of his plans. Caleb sent me a picture of Sasha, and I just knew she was going to be mine! We drove out in October and picked her up, and she has been my constant companion ever since. She lies on the floor of the kitchen while I cook; she sits with me when I read or watch a movie; she is at my feet now as I am writing this. I feel so blessed to have been entrusted with her, and to have her in my life!
After getting Sasha, I contacted her original breeder and explained the situation. After several emails and phone calls, we were finally able to register Sasha as ours officially! I then decided what I really wanted was to learn everything I could about the breed, and to possibly become a breeder, so I began doing countless hours of research. I also made sure to do all of the necessary clearances to make sure Sasha was in good health. She passed all of them with flying colors, and our veterinarian advised us that she would be a perfect choice for breeding. Things were falling into place. Mark and I then purchased our new home in May of 2012 - a 1950’s one-story elementary school with a gymnasium, a stage, two kitchens, locker rooms, and 16,200 square feet of space to live and play in - and moved in at the beginning of June. That is the same month that I drove north to pick up our male, Odin, from a wonderful breeder in Wisconsin, who my youngest son, Austin, purchased. Odin has been a constant source of fun and entertainment from the day we brought him home! He is just a great dog, and so smart! We have since added several more retrievers to our fur family, and are loving life with doggies galore! (More info on the new additions, as well as pictures, coming soon!)
Mark works as a waste-water treatment plant operator, and has been at the same location for 18 years. He has three grown daughters, Leah, Anna and Carolyn, and I have four grown children, Alysia, Caitlyn, Caleb and Austin, plus a daughter-in-law (Caleb’s wife), Rachel and son-in-law (Caitlyn's husband), Matt. We were blessed with a beautiful granddaughter in May of 2014, Lela and another in December of 2015, Maddie. My elderly parents also moved in with us in June of 2012, as my dad needed someone with him at all times. He passed away in February of 2014. In August of 2012 I started home-schooling my nephew, which I did for two years. He is now enrolled in our local high school. In September of 2012 I began learning to make toffee, as I was being trained by a dear friend to take over her very successful business, A Toffee Tale, Inc. I now have the commercial kitchen up and going in our “school”, and have officially added the title of Toffee Lady to my list of vocations and responsibilities! I am also a church choir director, and teach voice lessons, as well as run a summer music and theatre program at the church. Mark and I are both very involved in local community theatre, and we have our own small theatre company, Good and Brave Productions, that puts on a 12th Night Madrigal Feast each January. We lead very busy and fulfilling lives, and I am extremely grateful to be able to spend my days at my home doing all the things I love, and enjoying our wonderful pets!
We are so excited to get to know you and share our love of this breed with you! Please feel free to email or call with any questions.
We hope you find our site informative and helpful in your search for the perfect addition to your household!
Fast-forward to 2011. My kids were all now grown, and I was dating a wonderful man, Mark, who would become my husband in December of ’11. In July of that year I visited relatives in Tennessee, and ended up coming back to Illinois with a Feist – a small dog bred for squirrel hunting in the south – who became my first canine companion since all of my kids had left the nest. We named him Banjo. He had been raised in an outdoor pen, so it took us a while to get him acclimated to the life of an indoor dog, but he eventually got the hang of it, and settled in as part of the family. I was thrilled to have a dog again, but I had always had larger breeds in the past, and still longed for the possibility of one day getting an English Cream Retriever. I had inquired about purchasing one from my friends earlier in the year, but still felt like it just wasn’t in my budget. Practicalities of life had to take precedence over my desire for a particular breed of dog. I had resigned myself to being content with Banjo and Frank (who was the only cat I had at that time), and figured that someday I would make my dream of owning an English Cream come true, but it would have to wait a while.
Well, you know how sometimes things happen when you least expect them? Or how, when you stop looking for something, that is when you are most likely to find it? Good things really do come to those who wait! My son Caleb, who was in the Army and stationed in Colorado at the time, called to tell me that one of his army buddies had a two-year old English Cream Retriever, and that he was going to be getting rid of her. Not only that, but Caleb had been telling his buddy that the English Cream was his mother’s favorite breed. Then the guy said the most incredible thing to my son. He told Caleb that he would give Sasha to me! His wife had passed away tragically shortly after getting Sasha, and he was getting out of the army and moving back to his home state. He needed to start over, and just didn’t have the time to devote to Sasha. He and his wife had intended to breed her, but life had changed very drastically for him, and that was no longer a part of his plans. Caleb sent me a picture of Sasha, and I just knew she was going to be mine! We drove out in October and picked her up, and she has been my constant companion ever since. She lies on the floor of the kitchen while I cook; she sits with me when I read or watch a movie; she is at my feet now as I am writing this. I feel so blessed to have been entrusted with her, and to have her in my life!
After getting Sasha, I contacted her original breeder and explained the situation. After several emails and phone calls, we were finally able to register Sasha as ours officially! I then decided what I really wanted was to learn everything I could about the breed, and to possibly become a breeder, so I began doing countless hours of research. I also made sure to do all of the necessary clearances to make sure Sasha was in good health. She passed all of them with flying colors, and our veterinarian advised us that she would be a perfect choice for breeding. Things were falling into place. Mark and I then purchased our new home in May of 2012 - a 1950’s one-story elementary school with a gymnasium, a stage, two kitchens, locker rooms, and 16,200 square feet of space to live and play in - and moved in at the beginning of June. That is the same month that I drove north to pick up our male, Odin, from a wonderful breeder in Wisconsin, who my youngest son, Austin, purchased. Odin has been a constant source of fun and entertainment from the day we brought him home! He is just a great dog, and so smart! We have since added several more retrievers to our fur family, and are loving life with doggies galore! (More info on the new additions, as well as pictures, coming soon!)
Mark works as a waste-water treatment plant operator, and has been at the same location for 18 years. He has three grown daughters, Leah, Anna and Carolyn, and I have four grown children, Alysia, Caitlyn, Caleb and Austin, plus a daughter-in-law (Caleb’s wife), Rachel and son-in-law (Caitlyn's husband), Matt. We were blessed with a beautiful granddaughter in May of 2014, Lela and another in December of 2015, Maddie. My elderly parents also moved in with us in June of 2012, as my dad needed someone with him at all times. He passed away in February of 2014. In August of 2012 I started home-schooling my nephew, which I did for two years. He is now enrolled in our local high school. In September of 2012 I began learning to make toffee, as I was being trained by a dear friend to take over her very successful business, A Toffee Tale, Inc. I now have the commercial kitchen up and going in our “school”, and have officially added the title of Toffee Lady to my list of vocations and responsibilities! I am also a church choir director, and teach voice lessons, as well as run a summer music and theatre program at the church. Mark and I are both very involved in local community theatre, and we have our own small theatre company, Good and Brave Productions, that puts on a 12th Night Madrigal Feast each January. We lead very busy and fulfilling lives, and I am extremely grateful to be able to spend my days at my home doing all the things I love, and enjoying our wonderful pets!
We are so excited to get to know you and share our love of this breed with you! Please feel free to email or call with any questions.
We hope you find our site informative and helpful in your search for the perfect addition to your household!
