My Big Boys

Henry making himself at home on Allie's pillow.  Allie is outside unaware of the interlopers in her domain.  Couldn't catch a still pic of Boo.  He was too busy trying to get close to the cats.
Went to the vet for booster shots last week.  Henry gained 14 lbs and Boo gained 12 lbs IN FIVE WEEKS!  The vet thinks they are going to be "large for their breed".  Ya think??  Wonder if Daddy was a St. Bernard?  Their hair is getting longer and wavy and gray.  Don't know why gray.  Maybe some blue?

Really, really long icicles outside the window!  Approx. 3 ft!   Geez.  I'm getting tired of winter.  But, I'd rather have snow than rain.  With everyone tracking through the house, I'm constantly cleaning the floors.
Thanks for looking!
kat

Snow Bears

The Boys LOVE the snow!!!  They can play in it for hours!  This is what they look like after a "romp"

 Henry

 

Boo

I've been letting them roam around the house, supervised of course, while Allie is outside.  Trying to introduce them to the world outside of their room.  They are learning that cats don't want to play with them.  HA!

These are the times that try...

Puppy Central Update

So.  After cleaning the room...  This is one hour later.  Note all the chew toys.  For some reason they "choose" to chew up one puppy training pad out of every five.
See the hole in the wall under the window.  They pulled out the insulation there.  Rubbing it with hot sauce...pheff.  Rubbing it with soap... good!
They are actually getting a lot better.  Sleeping longer at night without "accidents",  barking when they want to go out and no inside poops in weeks!  But.  Puberty has hit.  Poor Boo is "break dancing" around the floor and is very confused about the whole uncontrollable urges.  Will schedule neutering at next vet visit.
Oh, and yes, we are keeping them.  Hubby came home over Christmas vacation and fell in love with them.  And then left.  HA!

So, to paraphrase Thomas Paine:  These are the times that try mothers souls.  It's a good thing I'm so patient and a very good thing they are so cute and smart!
xoxoxox!
kat

Rescue Me!

My darling daughter, Kellye, and I went home to Cleburne, Texas for Thanksgiving and my dad's 80th birthday celebration.  Wednesday through Monday...now that's a "quickie"!!
On the way back...this is what we found on the side of the road.

OMG!!!  Two puppies!!!  Took them to the vet yesterday.  Henry weighs 20 lb and Boo Boo weighs 15.5 lb
They are approx. 14 weeks old and are full blood Australian Shepherds!  No micro chips but fleas/ticks and intestinal parasites otherwise very healthy.  The treatment is working well, got our shots and are the sweetest two boys ever!!!  Love that puppy breath!

Meanwhile, back at the ranch...

 Trip to Hico.  The famous Koffe Kup!  Chicken Fried Steak, yum!!!

 The Homestead antique shop in Hico.  Fantastic!!!!

 The cemetery where most of the Cook and Hedrick family (my Dad's side) are resting in Walnut Springs.

 A very cool pole lamp I bought in Oklahoma City.

 My three sweet peas in a pod!!

My sister, Karen and I at the Koffee Kup.  (she's on the left)

Outside Cowboy Up in Calvert, Texas.   Bought some great cowboy items there.  There are many great stores in Calvert.  Unfortunately, they were not open when I went through.

Just some of the highlights of my trip to my great home state of Texas.  My sister and I also went antiquing in Waxahachie where I got to go (and buy many wonderful things) in The Crafty Scrapper!  I antiqued all the way from Indiana to Texas and back!  I'll post pictures of some of the "finds" soon.

YeeHaw!!! I'm goin' to Texas!!

And here is the reason why...

Proud Papa Ryan with his 3rd son, Trace Owen Marshall.  Born August 5th!!

Oh, and lets not forget the two proud older brothers, Riley and Grey!!


Can't wait to see Mama Jo and all the family!!!

Find the OCD Border Collie

Border Collies are extremely focused!  They will stay on task, not moving a muscle or eye muscle until reading the movement that signals them to react.  That's why they are so good at herding and are easy to train and... scary smart!  Our Allie is no exception.  I can talk to her like a human and she actually understands.  I have been able to just look or make hand movements to her and she gets it.  She even knows right and left.  Weirds me out sometimes.
So.  Today.  It's hot, humid and all together like an armpit outside.  Allie likes her tennis ball but, I usually wait until the shade is to the patio to play with her.  She was cooped up all day while I was at work so when I got home she was ready to play.

This is the view of the back yard from the patio.  See, no shade yet.  Also note the fire pit/pile of wood at the end of the patio with the "beaten path" from the left around it.  This is Allie's route from returning her ball to getting into position for the next throw at the side of the fire pit.  Over and over we do this.  Until I tell her "last one" which she catches, returns and drops on her way into the house for a drink of water.  She knows.

So, since there was no shade, I took the ball out to the back of the yard to play with her.

This is 80 paces (I counted) straight out from the last view now looking back.  See that there is nothing in the yard.  See the piece of leafy thing in the bottom of the picture?  That is a small sunflower (maybe a weed, don't know yet).

Now.  Do you see a yellow tennis ball and something black crouched behind the weed?

Look a little closer.

Yep.  There she is.  She as returned the ball and is in position, watching, ready for movement.  Guess the weed is the new "point of reference" for fetch.  OCD?  I rest my case.

kat