Picnic

My guy is going to sleep till 4am, get up, let me sleep and I will be heading out with skype and phone so Nathan can also enjoy from afar. I will also be taking photos, and video. He gets to go to 2 specialties in August so a great trade off but still I would have liked him to attend too.

Only Jeannie and Fiona will be going. Can't do anymore on my own with this little sleep plus its not my car. :-) It gives me more time to concentrate on photos, socializing, eating and sharing with Nathan.

Bring chairs. You need them. Wear comfortable, loose clothing as its going to be hot. Bring a dish. There will be drinks but if you want something special bring that too.

Yvonne already had our popups picked up so we have some shade.

I look forward to seeing you all but please ignore me if I seem incoherent. I should have enough sleep but we shall see and caffeine is becoming my friend till these all nighters fade and Dennis can do them. Maybe Tim Horton ice cap - we shall see.

Thank you hubby, thank you all that offered a ride. Thank you Sylvia for taking me. Thank you Yvonne, Alex and Lucille (Lucille is Yvonne's sister) for setting up without us for the most part and using your gorgeous property. Thank you to whomever saw it fit that pups were born, doing well giving me the opportunity to go. It means a lot to me.

Thank you to all that are taking the time to come. It means more than words can say. Though I understand not everyone can come - maybe next year?

Night Time Duty

Well the washer died early and we found out an LG washer can't be fixed by anyone but LG and they can't come till Monday, joy. Lots of towels, bedding and of course our own clothes to do. I tried washing towels by hand. I realized I am no expert as I swear they still have soap in them. I tried it again just in case and well its broke so Nathan may have to find a laundrymat to wash and then we will dry here. We shall see.

The things I miss about night time duty. It's quiet. Well except for non stop make sure pups are eating and mom's bottom is clean - oh yeah and you use towels to dry to make sure mom gets back to pups fast.

I also miss the night time snuggles with hubby and the dawgs. Today our cleaning people come so sleep may be interesting. I should have ordered ear plugs.

Did I say I am tired? I am. We also have Brewer, Dusty and Chase coming so I gather that will wake me up too. Then I am supposed to be coherent for the picnic. It's going to be interesting. At least I get to see Brewer before I crawl into bed. :-)

Life is always a challenge but you have to learn to laugh about it, I say. Can't wait till 7am so I can hug the dogs, weigh the pups and crawl into bed.

Busy Day

It's been a busy day so no photos. If the pups continue to do well, I am looking for a ride to the picnic. The only caveat is I need to stop at No Frillls to get ice around the corner from Yvonnes and I need to arrive no later than 11:15. I won't leave Nathan without a car and we only have 1 so will share gas. If you can help, let me know.

I have slept about 2 hours and I am on night time duty so forgive the lack of a real blog entry today.

Hope you enjoy today's photo of Sparky at LL Beans.

Getting Ready

The Boo went home. Pepper and Scruffy got washed up for the picnic. Brewer, Logan and Panda already brushed out. I took a 10 minute swim. May take another but no dogs will be swimming while we are in this hold as I don't want the stress of brushing out and drying while in the midst of pups coming.

Here is the Pepper yesterday in her pretty bow.

I even got everyone brushed out already just in case. Spice is still eating with gusto so this could be awhile.

It's going to kill me if we have to miss the picnic more than you know. It's a joint effort from Chicadoro and Talemaker and it was filled last year with mostly Talemaker dawgs. It used to be here but we have too many dogs so Yvonne offered to do a joint venture. If all is well, I will be going and Nathan remaining. He is going to 2 specialties in August so I thought it has to be him cause I know how you feel about the guy but I am going to take him up on the offer to go as it will be 3 things I miss vs just 2. I hope you understand. If we both can't go, please take videos and photos. I will miss it but I would like to see our dogs please. It does mean a lot to us to see the dogs.

We did not cancel the event as the timing was best for Yvonne, Alex and Gerda. We want you to have a great time so please do and please attend!

I am not sure why that isn't understood. You can't believe the comments we got as if its not our event too. <sigh> It has us rethinking the joint venture and I don't really want to do that. <sigh>

It's So Hot

It's so hot the dogs were lifting their paws. That's a sure sign they need not have their pads on the hot ground. Watch your dog. Their pads and lifting will tell you a great deal. They will lift them in the dead of winter when too cold or snow is stuck between their pads (that's why you NEED to trim their pad hair always) and they will tell you when it is too hot.

We took Boo swimming as he will be going home. I have to get him bathed up so figured we would try him in the pool. He's a very strong swimmer. He swam and swam and swam.

When he wasn't swimming he was standing on the stairs staying cool. The stone is too hot. I tried to get many others in cause I am a glutton for punishment. But only the Boo was adventurous today. It's interesting to see who wants to swim and who doesn't.

I had to wash Fiona and Shoshi and figured I would get them in. Neither was interested. Fiona got washed. Shoshi is still on my to do list. I got some pool time for just me. I am trying to do this in case I am down for the count and doing pups 24/7 at least I had my time. I am also trying to rest my hand as its still doing me in. I can tell I am headed to trouble when I can hold something in it and half the time the brush falls out. It's time to rest.

But there was common sense in the crew today. Although they kept trying outside for size and 5 minutes later wanting to come in, they had wonderful play inside.

It isn't just these 2 but everyone. Now I have to groom up Brewer, Logan and Panda then wash Shoshi before I can say I am in great shape for pups coming.

Be sure to check out Steven and May's video. I want to be able to do that.

Eating Hair & Heat

 & BathsRisa can't help herself as she eats her hair. I almost want to ponytail it away from her mouth. We tried to spend sometime outside. I had some vines to cut back as Nathan said they will catch on fire on the BBQ if you don't. The dogs didn't want to stay out long. Even at 9am it was hot.

No one swam as I was not up to grooming. My hand was tingling. I had already brushed everyone and did several baths. I have 2 more to do if I can talk myself into it. We shall see.

The Tia was one of the baths. We haven't seen her in a bit. It was wonderful to see her. She really connected with Boo, Brewer and Benji. I find if I get bathing Nathan doesn't click enough so you don't get the action photos even though they are acting silly crazy in the house. After all there is air. Next year I vow I am going to get an underwater camera just so I can take some interesting photos. Can't do it this year. I may also figure out a sling system so I can carry a camera around with me. Obsessed? Perhaps.

So when I bathe a dog Nathan is always caught messing them up. I have to brush them yet again. This is Zoe. She was so perfectly groomed too. hahahaha

I wonder what she is dreaming of? Time to eat and then go home. So fast of a visit. We enjoyed it immensely!

Early Morn Till Night

When I say the dogs start playing early morning, they do and it seems to never stops with cat naps inbetween. Here was the early morning play of some this morning.

As you can see Truffie is right back into playing like he used to when he was younger. The key - no gals in heat.

Nora is a scallywag. I get her freshly bathed and she looks like she is a mess two minutes later. Oh well she will get brushed just before pickup - Shady too. They will be missed!

Maybe swimming today - we shall see!

Swimming

We are swimming so no video today - no photos today. We are humans. No dogs want to swim. Go figure.

Tomorrow we have Hugo and Milo and their parents over so we will be swimming again and Shady and Nora will look beautiful to go home. I need to get my ahem in gear and wash some of my own before Spice has pups. Oh they are groomed but after washing Terra today - well I can't imagine having 4 goldens to wash. Glad we only have 1. Oh my are they a back breaking job to do.

Check it Out

Bailey playing with the pups and Truffie. Check it out. Gallery is now in the Fiona blog.

Fast and Furious

Nathan is home early - no points today so we get pool time maybe with DJ before he goes tomorrow morning. We shall see. I have baths as a few are here for them today and will go home nice and pretty. Grace is one of them and wait till you see how the Grace plays with the pups. I will be posting it on Abigail's blog. After you see it tell me if you think Adele can handle the larger dogs.

Well, Boo, Cooper and Brewer were such a lively bunch this morning. I have to laugh. They started early. We said shh, they listened and then well they started again. Our son Dennis said well mom when you get OLD you are supposed to sleep less. He has such dry humor, I tell you!

Cooper had departed but I thought 10am, it was 930, Gracie arrived at 930. Cooper's parents were out back, I was out front and all the dogs were chaos in the kitchen with Dennis herding them. It was funny and you had to be there. But I think Boo, Brewer and Benji are missing Cooper.

I will tell you that Cooper played with Adele much like Gracie did but it was out in the yard and I ran for the camera up on the deck and then they stopped. argh!!!! Well, it was time to brush Cooper anyways. Can't catch all life. Sometimes they have to be stories on paper or in your head and you get to use your imagination. It's sort of like what TV used to be like.

Look at these two saying to Cooper so you think you want to play?

This is how we do it!

No, this is how we do it!

Early morning play can be so much fun!

Good Friends

We are blessed to have wonderful friends that enjoy the pups and the older crew and make them so much better than they would be without them. Thank you, Lynda and everyone else that takes the time to say hello to this and that one!

I didn't take many photos today as we were concentrating on pups departing. Sure, we played. I think I have a comatose garden - meaning flat on its back in sections as the dogs are running through it and rolling over it with each other. They managed to laugh and play dawg style.

But we couldn't do this without special friends.

I wanted to get Cooper into the pool. It didn't happen. Life sort of just happens at times. We will the next time.

Ringo is coming tonight and he will be a fun play monkey. Gracie is a riot truly enjoying the boys more than the gals, at least the last few days. She comes tomorrow for a bath and we have enjoyed thoroughly her day visits. Boo is like a terminal play monkey and between Cooper, Benji, Boo and Brewer they ran their hearts out and the others joined in but petered out way before they did.

Tonight they will sleep.

Oh My Gad

This is why you do not want Star-of-Bethlehem 'Ornithogalum umbellatum' in your yard. The son is pulling it out - although lovely flowers when it sets to seed - oh boy! After brushing it out and pulling it out of so many dogs, no thank you very much.

Figures I have pups to wash, puppy stuff to get ready and now seeds to do so no swimming or last swimming day for pups (sigh).

Can someone shoot me and put me out of my misery? These buggers are hard to get out.

Crazy Weather

Side view of Daddy Truffie Dad to the Abigail pups. His head hair is slowly all coming back after it was chewed off. His chocolate seems to fade in summer and getting darker in winter.

Benji must love his forested area at his house as you can often find him trampling the garden and mucking it up. I have to laugh. He always is having a great time with everyone from Boo to Scruffy, to Truffie and anyone else that will play.

We have wet garden times and more play inside than out due to off and on rain. Will you stop please!

Just Some Photos

Please let me play recovery. But fun was had by all and Brewer had a bath and then it rained of course. Here are a few photos taken of the dogs jumping at the camera.

More fun was had...

Panda and Spice hanging out.

Jeannie and the puppy

Grace and the pup

Tiger Lily saying oh my its raining!

Brewer and Adele

Brewer had a bath and then it rained....

The fun hasn't stopped but I am running out of steam. After a 7pm visitor I am climbing on a couch!

Lack of Photos Day

I think I am playing recovery but I snapped a ton of the pups but didn't get to the adults except this one. Roxie will swim with me, Kat refuses to swim with anyone but Nathan.

Today I tried to get Benji, Jlo and Tiger Lily in but they decided playing with the crew was better than a swim. They also decided inside in air was better than 87% humidity but not Roxie. Without Nathan I didn't try too hard plus I have to brush everyone out again (brushed them all this morning) when they go swimming and then dry them and well I am out of steam. So, I did try. They weren't interested and I didn't push it. Not even Kat wanted to be out.

We had to take the pups into the pool just so they could play outside for a short bit. It was too steamy hot.

But we have been having fun inside and everyone got a yum reindeer antler. Okay, I couldn't help myself. :-)

Not a Single Photo Except...

I got other photos but seeing I was up from oh about 5:15 (was late supposed to have gotten up at 5am) well I am out of steam. We also had the 4 pups in swimming but that gallery will come on their blog tomorrow.

Nathan got home from the show after 5pm and headed straight for the pool with my suggestion.

I even missed a shot of Kat and Roxie jumping in together side by side. Oh well....

I am exhausted but Benji is having a grand time. Nathan is exhausted. Mia headed home after having a blast from a short visit today. Till tomorrow. I hope you understand!

Indoor Fun

It's raining, it's pouring the old man is snoring...

Front to Back Goldie, Roxie, Rocky, BenjiGoldie arrived for a bit of play today. Rocky departs tonight and Benji is having a roaring grand time. We are in and out but doing much indoor play today. Nathan had them in the hall upstairs running back and forth like crazy dogs earlier. You can still have fun despite the rain but will this rain ever go away?

People ask has my dog swam today? We haven't swam today. I am heating the water to pay the electric and gas gods, I suppose. Will summer truly come? It's July?

Just Some Fun

I have limited time today and didn't get many photos. I will tell you why.

I woke up this morning to find out Nathan and Dennis didn't bring any of the dog stuff in and it rained so I got to do laundry all day and I mean all day. Then Nathan is doing an outside show so we had to get ready for that. That meant he wanted my big grooming table (he's picking up someone to go with him and this big table means he doesn't have to drive downtown) so I got to disassemble that, reorganize that room (its not done) and groom a slew of dogs before they left. I get the little table.

Shady and Nora is up at the cottage. Benji arrived. Plus we were supposed to go to class and that is impossible - sorry folks. You see I have to wash Jeannie tonight and class would mean at 9pm when I arrived home I would have to bathe her. I just don't have the energy today so I apologize.

But Nora, Shady, Rocky is knot free, Brewer is and so is Logan, Panda and Benji. I started in on my own but haven't finished and I suspect it will wait till tomorrow.

Here are a few photos of Rocky and Benji playing. This does my heart good.

Now to update the other blogs and get back to setting up everything in my grooming room and then washing Jeannie.

Fun Day

We had a really fun-filled day! We laughed, we played, we relaxed and snuggled. Shady, Brewer and Levon was like the Ever-Ready batteries though. Logan who usually joins right in decided they were too rowdy for him and decided to do some search and rescue expeditions with Kat finding all sorts of sticks and even a toy that was buried. Amazing...

We will now see if the toy survives the wash.

Rocky decided Dennis was worth following and he played mostly with Roxie today though he was fascinated with the smell of Spice.

Here are a few photos taken today.

Nora was fascinated with the big water dish. We have water in the 2 offices, 2 in the kitchen, 1 outside, 1 in the tv room. We change them frequently. A dog should always have access to fresh water but what did she want - the huge water bowl outside. What I didn't catch was her bending so far over her face wenton the 1st step and she got soaked. She looked as if I had done it to her. That's okay Nora as grannie Risa has done that one before. :-)

For awhile there where Dennis went, Rocky followed. He rather likes Dennis in a big way.

They were all waiting for me to put them in shade as I had to put the cover on the popup. I think they know the routine and rather enjoy hanging out on the pads in shade just watching the world inbetween heavy play.

Logan makes me laugh. Sometimes he clears the diving board and other times he jumps on it only to jump back off.

Panda prefers meandering over the diving board.

Brewer watched me water the pots and proceeded to try to drink as the water was coming out not really drinking but playing. What can I say, it was a water day without the pool.

Exhausted Just Watching: More Photos Added

5 minutes after arrival the Brewer was like this.

Inside, outside play is wild and still going on. They will be picking up one tired pup tonight when they come for the Brewster. Another sibling is coming for the day, Pepper. Let the games begin... oh they already did!

Brewer's EyebrowsLogan wanted up for a cuddle!Scruffy Says: It's ONLY an IPAD 2Nap Time - yeah right!