House Work

So on Sundays, I like to make an attempt at getting things done around the house. I am generally pretty lazy during the week, so weekends are reserved for housework. I realize its supposed to be the day of rest. But I want to get things done. I mean I'm working on it... The laundrey isnt going to do itself ya know. And clearly... These furry critters are just soooo eager to help me....



I mean look at them. Don't they just look like they are hopping ready for a long, steady day of housework???? We've got Syl there keeping Dad's chair warm... Good boy.
And Jake here... Well, I am not sure what the deal is, but I am positive he is dreaming about helping Mom clean up the dog bombs in the yard... Dont you think so??


Alright boys... Let's hop to it. Boys? Boys! **sigh** Fine, I'll do it myself. Worthless...

My Own Backyard

I can understand, plain and simple, why people love living in Montana, Wyoming, Colorado, etc... I really can. The vast, wide open spaces, the beautiful mountains, the wild animals, the small town feeling, and of course, the people. I think the beauty is what would make me live there, if I ever planned on moving. Which I dont, by the way. Why would I ever want to move away when I get to see this every night?



I dont know about you, but I guess I think that its pretty spectacular. This was taken from my very own back yard. I realize that the building beneath the beautiful sky is a bit ugly, but they have since finished the construction and it looks amazing now. Really. Guess I'll have to get a current picture to prove it to you, huh? Dadgum non believers... Jeez... The array of colors I get to experience every time the sun rises or sets here is amazing, like nothing I have ever seen before. Just minutes after the beautiful pinks and purples and yellows, comes this:


You gotta be quick to catch them... But when you do, boy... I could spend the entire summer in my lawn chair with a glass of wine and my camera, enjoying these sunsets. These of course were taken on the 4th of July in 2007, which I know for sure because a storm blasted us only 30 minutes after these shots were taken. And managed to cancel out our annual Independance Day street dance. Big bummer, let me tell you. Speaking of the 4th of July last year... Meet Shauney:


This picture was actually taken about 5 minutes before that storm I mentioned hit us. I'd tied her up outside with me to sit and enjoy the sunset with me (though clearly all she was thinking about was her bone) And speaking of rawhide bones, can somebody please explain to me why these damn things are so amazing to these dogs? I dont understand... I mean, take Eddie for instance:


Playing with a rawhide bone. (And Red Man, thats his arm there) Eddies passion in life seemed to be talking to us, and that bone. Then there is Po: The red weiner dog who got busted stealing Jakes bone:


I mean look at that size of that bone compared to Po! What a greedy little weiner dog. I love Dachshunds... My sister in law has a little Red Doxie. And at the time we were fostering Po, we also had his sister Lala, and their step sister, Heidi. It was weiner dog central at my house folks. Lastly, my very own Jake... He will do anything for one of these bones. He will dance. He'll play dead. He will learn how to golf if you want him to...

Don't you dare tell me that I need to vacuum up the dog hair. I know it already. And for your information, I already did. It just so happens that its that time of year when everything with furs sheds it all off... onto my carpet. So move along, and stop thinking about the fur. Its not my fault that my carpet is light and my foster dogs are all black. Not my fault! Okay yeah, its my fault. Shut up.
Can we get back to the bones? I tasted one of these bad boys myself once. Its tasteless.. I can see why they might enjoy the beef dipped ones, because they have gravy slathered all over them. But those make a mess on my beige carpet, so they are a no no. I stick with the plain white ones... But holy balloons, talk about obsession. He looks a little angry... He looks like he knows I'm about to make a grab for his beloved bone... Maybe I'd better back off...

Kitten

Spring is in the air... I love it. And the dogs, well... They are going nuts. Even the cat. This morning, settling into our big, comfy chairs after an early morning walk with the hounds, Sylvester reached up from under the coffee table and starting dinking with a pen, sitting on the coffee table. So Red Man turns to me and says, "What do you think he does all day while we're gone?" Well, thats a good question. Who knows? I would assume he spends the entire time sleeping. I know I would if I never had to work a day in my life. If my biggest problem in the entire world was trying to figure out when the next time momma would fill my food bowl, yes I would sleep all day too. And just as I was about to say that out loud, kitty reached up again to the coffee table, this time hooking his klutzy paw on the edge of my empty cereal bowl. Okay, well I mean the cereral was gone. There was still milk in the damn bowl. And what does he do? Pulls on the bowl... right over the edge...before we can react.... and spills milk all over himself and my carpet. I didnt even bother moving. Normally, under this sort of circumstances, I would have given kitty a gentle swat to 'teach him a lesson' (yeah right, if any of you have ever been able to actually teach your kitty something, other than to potty in the clay, give me a hollar and tell me just how) but I figured the face full of warm, cinnamon tinted milk was probably enough to remind him not to do that again. At least not today. Red Man and I just looked at each other and shook our heads. We didnt want to know what Syl did with all of his free time. Because it would probably only worry us, and we have enough worry in our lives. Like working full time just to keep the kibble coming. Like cleaning up milk from my carpet before it starts to smell. Thank God tomorrow is Friday.
Oh, and I kind of think that this is what kitty's day consists of... Lucky bastard.

Dog Rescue

So, being closely involved with a dog rescue, I always become curious as to some people's thoughts when it comes to animals. Dogs in particular. How is it that some people sleep, eat and breathe their dogs, pampering them and loving them unconditionally forever, while others lock them up outside in a kennel 24 hours a day, or tie them to a tree 24/7, or beat on them, or starve them??
Meet Gunnar:

Gunnar is, as you can see, a stunning 1yo female Yellow Lab. Just a baby really. I have recieved many comments on her beauty. So just how could anyone possibly treat such a beautiful dog with such course, rotten abuse? Or any dog for that matter... You see, Gunnar came to me looking like this:

Pretty gross, huh? And through everything she'd already endured, Gunnar had every right to be a nasty dog. But she wasnt. In fact, there isnt a mean or nasty or hateful bone in this girl's skinny body. Amazing, really... Gunnar was adopted... Finally. She's been vetted, spayed, and fed well. Now she is living with a pretty chocolate labby sister, with a giant fenced backyard to play in.. With a loving family. Gunnar now gets to spend her evenings laying quietly in front of a glowing fireplace with her new chocolate sister, laying at the feet of her new parents, who spend every day fussing over her and making sure she's happy.
My reasoning for sharing this with you? If you dont like what you see in the picture above, then maybe you need to do something about it. Report animal abuse. DO something about it.

Em