Scootchie

'Sup, Moo?

When I talk to Maizie, our darling puppy, I usually call her Maizie-MOO. It started when she was a wee little black and white thing, with markings like a calf-- or a heifer. Lately, it's just "Moo."

"Whatcha got there, Moo?"
"C'mere, Moo. Let me get that boogie off your eye." (I know, eww.)
"Hey, Moo! Dinner time!"

Scott hates it when I give the pets, um, pet names. Like when I call Newton the conure, "Bubby." But that's how it is. I could no more stop giving sweetie names to the pets than I could stop calling the little girls next door, "Ladybug" or "Bunny." And what on earth would I do if I couldn't use the ever popular "Kiddo" for my child acquaintances? It's just how I work. So.

What's Maizie-Moo been up to, you ask? Well, we had some hot days recently-- hot enough that we ran the AC for a little while in the afternoon. Maizie very quickly found the best spot to lie down and enjoy the cool air.

Maizie has also been executing a major reorganization of our household. All plush toys, socks and washcloths go outside to the back yard. Twigs, leaves, flower petals and rocks come inside, preferrably onto our bed.

Here's today's treasure trove.

Thanks, Moo.

Pepper Parties ON!

I haven't had a single minute to post lately, but I know that many of you have been waiting for an update on Little Miss Pepper (Soxie) in her new home in Minnesota. I took her to my brother's house at the end of April. We went by airplane and Pepper traveled with me in the cabin, riding in her Sherpa bag. All through the check in, the security line and the flight, Pepper was golden! She was so quiet, so calm and soooooo cute, with her little head poking out of the top of the bag. All the TSA employees were ga-ga over her (and it's a good thing, too, because I discovered on my trip home that I was travelling with an expired driver's license!)

It took Pepper about 8 hours to completely take over my brother and sister-in-law's house. She just moved right in, and by the middle of her second day was going in and out of all the doors, following my brother around, sleeping in her kennel and making friends with all of the neighbor kids.

Here's Pepper with my brother, Aaron. He is making his "gaaaar!" face and noise, which he began to do as soon as he laid hands on the puppy. I think that noise means that he's in love.

Aaron and Stacey both work during the day, so Aaron built a little wire kennel in the garage with a doggie door out to a big run on the shady side of their house. As you can see, Pepper moved right in and claimed her space, staying in there contentedly even with the door open for her to join Stacey outside. It took her about two tries to completely master the doggie door-- much faster than any of us predicted.

Indoors, Pepper quickly found all the cozy places to sleep. Her favorite was under the papasan chair in the living room.

Pepper also gather her entourage rather quickly. She has two little boys and a German Short-haired Pointer buddy across the street and gets along well with Stacey's mom's Springer, Madison. While I was there, all the kids in the neighborhood stopped by. Pepper was ready for whatever games they wanted to play!

Aaron says that she continues to do very well, and house-training has not been a problem at all. She listens and follows directions well, except for when she is tired... and she has had plenty of opportunities to get tired. Recently he took her to a friend's farm, where she ran around with other dogs all day long. He said she slept for two days straight! Stacey reports that Pepper can't wait to go into her garage kennel and run in the morning. Sometimes she doesn't even want to say good-by to them! All-in-all, things couldn't be better!

Then and Now

Remember this picture of Maizie (Surprise) and Pepper (Soxie)? They were one week old.
Yeah, you say, I remember that picture like it was yesterday. Well, this picture actually is from yesterday!

Wouldya look at all of Miss Pepper's spickety-spots? And check out Maizie Long Shanks. How they do grow.

Scrapbookin'

Our friend, Kiera, age 7, made us this wonderful puppy scrapbook using pictures from this blog. I love it! It's one of the nicest presents I have ever received.

Page One reads, "Good mother," and is all pictures of Mollie:

Page Two is all pictures of Wiley (Sly), Kiera's favorite pup. For a while, she was hoping we would name him, "Dante, Jr." after her Auntie Brenda's brown and white Aussie, Dante.

Page Three, I am told, is all the "group shots."

Page Four, if Scott remembered to tell me correctly is "pictures taken outside."

Page Five is "the cute pictures" of Wiley (Sly) and Maizie (Surprise):

Page Six reads, "funny" and is mostly pictures of the dogs, including a baby Mollie, sleeping in funny poses.

Page Seven is more funny pictures:

Page Eight is pictures of us with the puppies.

When Kiera and her little sister, Drew, delivered the album, Scott met them at the door and got the inside scoop. When he reached the last page, Drew said, "Wait! You haven't seen the end!" and, sure enough, on the back cover is the end, Wiley's little nether end, to be precise.

Thank you, Kiera! You have given us a treasure!

Relaxxxxxx

ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ...Oh, yeah.

Reunion!

Today we had a little puppy party. The Barretts and the Brysons agreed to come for a visit so that we could take some pictures with the whole bunch before Little Miss Pepper needs to go to her new home in Minnesota. What a blast! We had such fun talking puppy talk, ate a little nosh, and sat around ooh-ing and aah-ing while they tore into each other... OK, wait that didn't sound nice! We all sat around cooing while they barked and fought. No, wait... we refereed the playfights--er, we kept an eye on things. Um, I give up.

Actually, it was not nearly so violent as I am making it sound. It was just exciting. See? In this video, no tears! Just fun and games (except for Pepper who chose to be cuddling with Ethan B.)

I think the pups had a great time and even Mollie sometimes relaxed and enjoyed herself.

Running, running running, tuck your toes in, they're running!

Aaaaaaand, this is what it was all about, people. I was still in my church clothes, so I felt like I was presentable enough to photograph, so we put all the pups on leash and I held them all. I love this picture. I feel like Rachael Doudrick, Champion Breeder! Look out Westminster! Not really, I have no ambitions to breed show dogs and none of these darlings will go in that direction, but I am so proud. So very proud.

Lest you think it was easy to get this semi-still photo, this is what most of the attempts look like:

Smootchie

Pepper climbs onto my lap and loves the camera. If this doesn't make you smile, you need some serious puppy playtime therapy and you should contact me immediately.

Patience, my dear ones, patience. Go read some of my other very amusing posts, then come back and double click the blurry picture.

Just Us Girls

Scott is really out-numbered. We are an overwhelmingly female household, now. Mollie and the two girl puppies are doing very well. They don't seem to be pining much for the boys, which is good, but I do occasionally see the pups looking around the yard for someone else to play with!

Both girls have new names. Miss Soxie is becoming "Pepper," and going to live in southern Minnesota with my brother. I fly her out at the end of April. Don't worry, she can come in the cabin with me. I have a Sherpa Bag and everything is arranged! Pepper is living up to her name. She has the most little black freckles of all the pups! She also has the most delightful and upbeat personality. Here's a picture of her relaxing under our hammock.

Surprise is our girl and will stay with us and Mollie. We will register her with the AKC as "Mollie's Amazing Surprise," and she is now called "Maizie," like A-maz-ing. Maizie already has many nicknames, "Maizie-MOO!" "Maizie Monster" and "Lazy Maizie." That last one is Scott, and I can't quite figure it out, because nothing could be more fast and furoius than our little girl! Maybe it was, "Maizie-Daisy?" Or "Crazy-Maizie?" I dunno. Maizie likes the tall grass when we don't mow, and has pretty much flattened all my forget-me-nots in the garden.

Mommie Mollie is just splendid, thank you, and shares the limelight with the two puppies very well. I mean, who could ignore this beauty? The way the sun catches her beautiful brown eyes just about stops my heart!

Finally, here's a little video of Mollie playing with Pepper. They are both upside down and mouthing each other... until Newton the bird screams and interupts them...twice! I call it, "Pirate Playtime" because Mollie makes a noise like, "Aaaargh!"

OOOOOOOOOH! I just figured out how to embed video! Check me OWT!

Oh, OK, ummmm... Count to 20 then double click the picture of Mollie and it should run. I hope. Sheesh, this is just so way beyond me why I can't make it work...

Snoobie says, "So long!"

Both of our precious little boys are gone. Waaaaaaaaah!

Actually, it's not so sad, because little Mister Snoobs went home with the lovely, lovely Barrett family, Valerie, Ethan, Cameron and big sister-doggie, Marmelade. (Dad, Jeremy, was not able to be in the picture.)

Certainly, Snoobie is having the time of his life with those two boys! And, when the pups met Marmelade for the first time, the two girl pups went and hid with their tails between their legs, but Snoobie fell in love at first sight and trailed his new sister-doggie all over our back yard! It was meant to be!

Valerie sent me this e-mail:

dear rachael and scott,
thank you for our package of joy.
it is so sweet for me to see the enjoyment the boys are getting out of having this little ball of energy in our midst . . . and he truly is.
cameron was sitting with me in the back yard today just laughing and laughing as snoobie raced around the garden like a maniac.
wow, all of us (snoobie and marmalade included) are going to bed exhausted each night.
(i am thinking of hitting the sack when i finish this e-mail.)
our little snoobs is doing so well. i don't think he has peed or pooed in the house once.
the crate training is a little confusing for us as he seems he is always out of it and then when we are ready to put him in, i think "oh, we can't put him in until he pees or poos." which starts a whole new session of fun on the grass.
marmalade is putting up with him nicely. she is loving all the racing around on the grass after balls and toys and it is good way to wear them both out. the boys are taking their job of raising him very seriously. i have to bite my tongue sometimes when i see the amount they feed him or when they are carrying him outside to go pee instead of having him follow them but he just eats what he wants and is fine being toted around.
he was wonderful on the car ride home. just slept and cuddled the whole way. interestingly, i tried to take him to the local baseball field to pick up cameron in the car and he was trembling, crying and trying to burrow between my legs within the first two blocks. i abandoned my plans and pretended it was just a little excursion and took him home to his safe haven.
i've got to go, he is crying to get out of the crate.
i will keep you updated.
thank you again.
valerie

Here are a few last pictures of Snoobie, one with him sleeping in my arms, that little cuddle baby, and the other just too cute giving you the Princess Di eyes.

Truly, we miss that little baby boy. But, we know that he is with the right family and having a blast! Go, Snooba-rooba! (By the way, Snoobie might eventually get a new name, but for now, he is still Snoobie!)

Sly says, "Sly-o-nara!"

It had to happen. It was time for little Mr. Sly to go to his new family. He was sooooooooo ready, and I knew that they were ready to receive him, so...

Our firstborn gets a new name, "Wiley Loman Bryson" and is gone to live with Tammy and Aaron Bryson and big sister-doggie, Freeway. They are the loveliest couple and I am so glad that they have become a part of our extended puppy family!

Wiley (Sly) is so happy in his new home and adjusting well. Tammy keeps me up-to-date with calls and e-mails and we chatter away and giggle at Wiley's newest antics. Here's a recent message:

Hello!

Today has been too funny! Mom, Dad and my Sister left early this am. Not 1 hr after they left the Exercise Pen showed up, via Fed Ex!

Salvation! Without all the extra help...Perfect timing!

So today, with fewer people around and just Aaron and Freeway, as I went to a client at 1pm, Wiley and Freeway had more fun together and tonight.....realized their freedom around the house. Wiley has found every hiding spot imaginable to get away from Freeway when they are playing.

He is not dumb! She's a big girl and he needs to protect himself and he has found many ways to do that and I have to say....play in the house is much slower since Freeway can't get as much traction on the hardwood floors as she does outside in the grass.

On top of that Wiley has gone into his crate twice, all by himself, once he was worn out today!

We are on our way to a happy little family and I think in time....we shall all be very happy campers, right here at home!

Just lacking in a little sleep, so we are going to bed....

Good Night!
Tammy, Aaron, Freeway & WILEY!

We miss that little fireball, but his brother and sisters are still keeping us busy, busy, busy!

As a fond farewell, here are a few last pictures of Wiley, on his "throne" (a birdbath where he would habitually sit, we sent it home with the Brysons,) and with his brothers and sisters in the "little bed."

Happy Trails, Wiley, ya big galoot! We love you!