| September 2001: | 
We were spectators at a Wine Country Circuit show in Romulus, NY. An unknown Whippet breeder/exhibitor (possibly from Canada) left this sweet bitch with us for a few minutes. By the time the "mystery breeder" came back, that darling little dog had us both hooked on this fabulous breed. |
| January 2002: | We acquired Shannon (DenGayle N Loranne Sure Shot) from Pam Murphy of DenGayle Whippets and Italian Greyhounds. |
| February 2002: | Mel and Shannon began to attend conformation classes held by Kanadasaga Kennel Club in Canandaigua, NY. |
| May 26, 2002: | Shannon was BOW for the first of his back-to-back majors at the Kalamazoo Kennel Club show, judge Mrs. Anita Dunne. |
| May 27, 2002: | Shannon was WD for the second of his back-to-back majors at the Battle Creek Kennel Club show, judge Dr. Jacklyn E. Hungerland. |
| July 6 2002: | Shannon was WD at the Genesee Valley Kennel Club show, judge Mrs. Paula H. Hartinger. |
| September 2002: | We moved from Canandaigua, New York to Dowagiac, Michigan. |
| November 2002: | We acquired Girl (Rafina City Snow) from Barbara Wheat of GoldStar Farms. |
| December 2002: | Girl and Shannon were both CERF tested; both normal. |
| January 2003: | Girl was bred to Shannon. |
| January 19, 2003: | Shannon was BOS at the Oakland County Kennel Club show, judge Kathleen Davenport. |
| March 6, 2003: | Girl whelped our first litter of 8 puppies, sired by Shannon. We placed six puppies in pet homes, one male as a show prospect with a newcomer (but he has never been shown), and we kept one female (Reva / ReJoyce Riverdancer). |
| June 2003: | Shannon was bred to Angie, a DenGayle bitch owned by Kathy Tucker of South Haven, Michigan. |
| August 1, 2003: | Shannon was diagnosed with diabetes insipidus. |
| August 17, 2003: | Angie whelped three puppies sired by Shannon. Kathy placed two of the puppies as pets, and kept the third (Jelly Bean / Odysseys Diamond in the Ruff), a fawn and white bitch who looks just like Shannon. |
| August 20, 2003: | Shannon was neutered. |
| September 2003: | We acquired Phoebe (CH Rylstone Morning Glory) from Patricia Casterline. |
| September 13, 2003: | Reva was BOW at her first show, Central Indiana Kennel Club, judge George Heitzman. |
| October 18, 2003: | Reva was BOB at the Holland Michigan Kennel Club show, judge Sari Brewster Tietjen... after completely emptying her bladder on top of the show ring table. |
September 2004 to
March 2005: | Mel researched and wrote (text and programming) the "So You Think You Want a Whippet?" quiz for the American Whippet Club web site. |
| October 2004: | Girl and Phoebe were both CERF tested. Phoebe's results were normal. Girl's results were not normal: vitreous degeneration, cataracts, and abnormal findings in lens nucleus. |
| January 2005: | Girl was spayed. |
| July 2005: | Phoebe was bred to Casey (Select CH Vic's N Rantina's Private Treaty). |
| September 21, 2005: | Phoebe whelped our second litter of 8 puppies. Four puppies were placed in pet homes, one female went to Sabine Salo (Karli), another female went to Trish Casterline (Meg), and we kept two males (Junior / ReJoyce Just Right, and Neo / ReJoyce Not Exactly Ordinary). |
| March 23, 2006: | Reva was spayed and placed. |
| April 2006: | Mel becomes manager of the Show Whippets International and Whippet Sites World Wide web rings. |
| May 26, 2006: | Neo was Best of Breed and Group 2 at the Grand Rapids Kennel Club Sanctioned B Match. |
| July 2006: | Mel becomes editor of the DMOZ Open Directory Project's Whippet categories. |
| July 22, 2006: | Neo was Reserve Winner's Dog at the Muskegon Kennel Club show, judge Dr. Lee Anthony Reasin. |
| July 29, 2006: | Junior was neutered and placed. |
| August 4, 2006: | Neo was Reserve Winner's Dog (Major; from Bred By Exhibitor), at the Berrien Kennel Club show, judge Mrs. Edna K. (Katie) Gammill. |
| August 31, 2006: | Deb Syrja (Free Wynd Whippets) informed us of the extensive occurrence of epilepsy/seizure disorders in multiple generations of the descendants of CH Merrimac Free Wynd The Boz (Phoebe's maternal great-grandsire). |
| September 30, 2006: | Neo was neutered and placed. |
| November 18, 2006: | We acquired Renner (Rantina's Autumn Renaissance of ReJoyce) from Sabine Salo of Rantina Whippets. |
| January 2007: | Mel becomes a member of the American Whippet Club. |
| January 25, 2007: | Phoebe was spayed. |
| April 14, 2007: | Renner was BOS at the Steel City Kennel Club, judge Mrs. Patricia V. Trotter. |
| April 28, 2007: | Renner won Group 1 at the ECHO Club UKC show, judge Mr. Daniel Arthur. |
| June 15, 2007: | Renner won Best Male at the UKC Premier, judge Dr. Vitor Viega. |
| June 16, 2007: | Renner won Best Male at the UKC Premier, judge Thomas Creamer. |
| June 17, 2007: | Renner won Best Male at the UKC Premier, judge Kay Creamer. |
| July 28, 2007: | Renner won Group 1 at the ECHO Club UKC show, judge Ms. Jeanne Heger. |
| July 28, 2007: | Renner won Group 2 at the ECHO Club UKC show, judge Ms. Patricia Young. |
| July 29, 2007: | Renner won Group 1 at the ECHO Club UKC show, judge Mr. John Studebaker. |
| July 29, 2007: | Renner won Reserve Best In Multi-Breed Show and finished his UKC championship at the ECHO Club show, judge Ms. Kathy Belville. |
| August 12, 2007: | We acquired Kaila (Rantina's Derby Hat of ReJoyce) from Sabine Salo of Rantina Whippets. |
| September 23, 2007: | Due to pain and complications caused by diabetes insipidus, Shannon was euthanized. |
| December 2007: | We moved from Dowagiac, Michigan to Benton Harbor, Michigan. |
| March 8, 2008: | Kaila won Best Female at the UKC Michigan Classic (Day 1, Show 1), judge Joseph Camp. |
| March 8, 2008: | Renner won Champions class over three competitors at the UKC Michigan Classic (Day 1, Show 1), judge Joseph Camp. |
| March 8, 2008: | Kaila won Best Female at the UKC Michigan Classic (Day 1, Show 2), judge Tina Camp. |
| March 8, 2008: | Renner won Champions class over three competitors at the UKC Michigan Classic (Day 1, Show 2), judge Tina Camp. |