Long Day

Here is tonight's gallery.

Spicy and Cooper arrived and are having fun. Spicy already took over the couch, spreading out as large as she can. It's all mine!

We went to the daughter's house for a housewarming. I washed 3 dogs plus Stormy before I left. 

Meadow, Ty amd Mickey arrive for a holiday. Gucci departed. Crosby came for a playdate and boy did he play plus a grooming.

It's been a cool day but they say warmth is coming. Hoping that means pool. 

Tomorrow I go get paint to do the desk/dog bed piece in the kitchen. Have to find a day to sand and a day to paint. Not sure which day but soon. Can't wait to try out the fusion mineral paint.

It's tv time so dogs, relax and watch. It's the best!

Wonderful but Cool Day

Here is the gallery.

We went to the dog event in Newmarket for a couple of hours. We took Stone and Misty. What did I find out? Neither Stone or Misty likes very loud music. The music was too loud even for me. They also didn't like dogs that pushed themselves in their face. Those that did a proper meet and greet, they were happy, tails wagging etc. They didn't do anything when dogs were in their face and I mean in their face - no growl but their body language said they were unhappy. So, we were proactive as we want them comfortable in crowds. How did we do that? When people allowed their dogs to do that, I said excuse me, I need to go over there. People are clueless and these were all very large dogs. We only saw 2 small dogs. There was a Newfie that was so stressed and his owner was pushing him to say hello to everyone. A proper meet and greet is hello and take the dog away. People need to do classes. Slow conditioning and exposures are always best. a dog shouldn't be forced to deal with dogs that have body language that says, I am too stressed. 

All and all it was a great experience as we made it a positive experience. Then we went to Global and they were love and kisses to the owners.

Home we came and took Inula and Kat on a 4k walk after walking up and down hills between the farmers market and the dog event. The afternoon, I dematted while Nathan took dogs for walks. His legs are on fire. Mine too. 

Dogs all enjoyed the walk. Nathan is in bed reading. LOL I am blogging. Dennis is laying outside with the dogs soaking up semi good weather till the rain hit and then they sat under the gazebo and watched it come down. No one seems to be afraid of the thunderstorms. They just chill all over the couch, chairs and under the gazebo. It is chill time. 

It doesn't matter who comes even if someone is insecure, Misty makes them her pal. She is wonderful that way. 

Tomorrow Spicy and Cooper arrives - hooray! Gucci departs - such a sweetie!

We also head down to our daughters for a couple of hours as she is having a house warming party. it will be my 1st time seeing her house other than photos. Hope the weather is good. She has invited a lot of people. 

Rain and Cold

Very Small Gallery

Sorry with rain etc no photos - well just a handful. Ty departed. Elvis is in the house! His parents are at Tiff. His mom does documentary movies. Seeing I love documentaries, I think that is pretty cool.

Ali and Hugo departed. Ali was so excited to see her humans. That is the way it should be.

I had a long day of grooming and those that didn't come and depart just got wrecked again going out. Life....

My bench still is not cured so I can't put my cushion back. Seeing it is the end of the season wonder if I can find another one on sale. hmmm

Tomorrow is supposed to be swimming weather again?

Sunday, Spicy and Cooper comes. We are excited! Murphy girl arrived today and took over her crate and promptly took a nap. I laughed. It's that kind of a day.

Swim Day

We had a swim day. Will it be the last one before closing? I am not sure but boy did we enjoy it.

Here is the gallery.

Tried to get Hugo in as he so enjoys it but I guess he wants Helen in the pool too. Those that wanted to swim, did and those that didn't watched. Everyone had a good time.

Nathan says he is going to paint the rooms and he says he is starting tomorrow. Ceilings and walls have to be painted. I guess my doing the bench motivated him. I was waiting for it to be me. LOL I am rather spent but I keep plowing on.

I did comb out everyone before the swim and well those that swam look a mess. I need to move the bench back in and clean up the front. I so want a break. Tomorrow it can be cool as I have a full day of grooming. 

I am debating on sanding and painting the unit in the kitchen. I would like to do a deep grey and black top. This one may be more work than the bench though. We shall see. I am exploring Fusion Mineral paint. 

Dogs ran and ran today. they are all tuckered out. Funny how that works.

Cold But Silly

Here is the gallery.

Hooray the dryer is working. The things one gets excited about. Even Jon said can I do laundry when I get home? LOL

We played a fun game of retreive today. Even though it is Dennis' day off he still ran around outside to get the dogs running with him. I figure there are 2 more days in the 70s coming up and then pool closing time. How depressing but maybe it will help us do chores before pups. I placed up the calendars on each of their pages. Cinnamon looked funny. I know I should have combed her out but I like the silly looks of Cinnamon and her pups are that fun personality like her.

I also finished staining the bench after sanding and sanding. It has all these little indentations so I had to do a lot of hand sanding. I then stained it, ruined a pair of pants and got stain on my face. Don't ask but the stain on the face won't come off. I look like I have a disease. Off to try to scrub it more or do one of thos gritty masks that I got ages ago from the daughter. LOL

Zoey is having a good visit. She does the run game with Dennis. Ty even cut her off and she didn't care. They all try to be first. 

Well off to get a sweater or sweatshirt on. Can you believe? I will have to add getting plants repotted and indoors along with getting an electrician to move our thermostat. Don't ask. Painting 2 rooms and a pool house roof.... so much so little time. Hoping it all gets done. It's been one hell of a summer off.

Smitten And All That

Ty is so in love with Leti. This is Leti before I combed her out this morning. You will see after the comb out on her page. Ty kept kissing her and she was ignoring him but she didn't growl. She let him pay attention to her. I just laughed.

Here is today's gallery.

I picked up sandpaper to sand down the front bench. Hoping it only takes me 2 days to do. We shall see. Then I need to start doing the last 2 rooms I am going to do. Of course I will have to do this around my grooming. LOL It may take 2 weeks.

I watched a video of how to fix the pool house roof. My eyes were starting to glaze over but that too must be done. Tick tock - time is running out. 

Ali and Hugo dropped in and Ali tried to be the boss of everyone. They said...really? She was not happy but now she has let that go and a good thing as its more fun being part of the crew vs. the one telling everyonewhat to do. It is fun to have Ali's fun. It's obvious she is very close to Hugo.

Zoey arrived and she knew her chair, her fave place outside and then she went through the Star of Bethlehem that Dennis hadn't pulled yet and had sticky seeds all through her. After an hour of combing her out, I told Dennis he best get it out or he will be combing out. I was half serious.

We have a real fun bunch here at the moment. Even Hugo is mellow and that's funny for Hugo.

Shlomo and Ollie came for a groom among a few others plus I groomed everyone here. 

Jessie and Murphy are doing well. Both Jessie and Kat had a sore day yesterday with their arthritis which is pretty normal when you get to be a senior. Today, it was dry and they were doing well. 

Tomorrow supposedly the dryer gets fixed. I sure am hoping. 

Off to go play retrieve with the dogs. Looking forward!

2nd Birthday

Hi Darlah and Nathan,

Today we are celebrating this special girl’s 2nd birthday! She’s already had some bacon with her breakfast and she ate one mini donut cake as dessert.

Bria was very apprehensive about the donuts at first - had check it out from afar and then slowly inch her way towards the plate.

Thank you Talemakers for helping us raise this energetic, affectionate and sometimes mischievous Bria.

She’s a pro at finding tissue in bags and jacket pockets! If there were ever a position for tissue sniffer/finder at the airport, she’d win all the Employee of the Month awards.

Happy Birthday to her to two sisters - we hope they’re having big celebrations this long weekend too.

Havanese Smiles

Charlie (She's a girl)Not all havanese smile so obviously but some there are no mistaking. 

Today was supposed to be warm but those clouds kept coming. I did go in the pool and had a heater outside to warm up while I sat in towels wet. 

Here is the gallery.

Tomorrow Ali and Hugo come. We are excited. It will be Ali's first visit back after she went to her new home. 

Nathan went to the laundromat to dry some clothes. He said there were 16 people there when he arrived and then only 6 just before he departed plus a drunk guy that was screaming about his quearters getting eaten up by the machine. He must have been pretty drunk as Nathan said he was bouncing into everything and almost falling over. This is how some people spend their time once every week or two. Not fun. We hope our dryer gets fixed soon. 

We are still working in the front room. We are trying to figure out arrangements. It also needs to be painted. Wednesday I may start the bench if I can find the sander. LOL 

The girls are acting pregnant. 

I do believe the dogs are enjoying the overcast weather. Our daughter is worried that the hurricane will hit North Carolina. Last year she was stuck with dogs left with her that was supposed to be groomed but the people didn't come back for them till after the storm left. Can you imagine that?

Dogs are getting new toys put out daily and playing tug and squeak and all the fun things toys bring. We tend to put out different ones each day and this excites them though Rosie's mom gave us a toy and they ALL want that one. That's always the way. 

Hope all of you had a wonderful holiday weekend. Dennis tells me he needs my help to move furniture. Got to love it.

Rainy Day

Magic went home today. Here she was after her bath and trim. The dogs know that they get bathes means family is coming!

Here is the gallery.

It was dry this morning and we had a lot to do as the piano was getting picked up along with a hutch unit. I will tell you that this was an adventure. Our son Jon was away and his old car was sitting in the driveway not starting. So Nathan had to jump start it and move it as the driveway had to be clear for pickup. He had to jump start it again to move it back into the driveway. I then had to clear the entryway. I also had to make sure they had a clear path out. We cleaned floors, we moved furniture and we are still not done. We haven't figured out how to arrange that room but painting must come 1st. Still, we should get an idea. We are in before puppy mode scramble. 

The dogs dislike the rain and it appears damp. Kat has run out of meds for his arthritis and its the long weekend. We didn't notice it till we went to give him a dose. It's on a as need basis. He is crabby. Poor thing.

Went into the grocery store and broke out in tears. Much of our last month with Shoshi was trying to find something she would eat. One day it was sausages, another bacon. Her last two days it was meat off a steak bone and lamb meat off of a bone. Those last 2 things she relished. I am glad but now store ventures are thinking about what meat to try on her and realizing I don't need to do that anymore. Sorry... this is a slow process and I imagine when pups debut that my focus will be on the living and that is okay too. It is a process. The dogs here visiting and our own pull me out of a funk and give me amazing kisses and hugs.

Sage still has blue feet. Sky's hair after someone chopped it off (canine culprit) is growing in that it now stands up straight on her hair. It is laughable but she doesn't know nor care and well I do not either. I find it makes her unique at the moment and will be forever etched in that memory bank. 

They say it will be warm enough tomorrow to swim. We shall see. 

Dogs had a blast today but mostly inside. I had pants on vs. capris for the 1st time. I almost want to put on the heat. I need to get into dawg mode as when it is cool but not raining, they relish it. Me, I dream of how to extend the pool. 

The laundry is piling up. Its laughable. Hoping the dryer gets fixed mid week. Then I will complain about non stop laundry. I should be celebrating that I can't do it. 

Almost TV time after working on those rooms. Can't wait till dog cuddle time. Watching TV with my best pals... 

To warmth tomorrow....

Frustrating Day

Have a munged Lightroom catalog and it is beyond frustrating so I gave up and just bypassed importing via Lightroom. 

Here is a small gallery.

I did manage to comb out all the dogs though you can't tell by this gallery. Magic departs tomorrow. Our piano departs tomorrow. Only thing is Jon's old car is dead so we may be putting it in neutral to get it out of the driveway then what - hahaha Always something.

I have to move everything at the front door and then it will be gone. Then we rearrange that room and paint. 

Dryer can't be fixed till next week. It's a vent sensor. Too much money.

No swimming as to be honest it wasn't warm enough. I am hopeful after all we need to do that tomorrow will be a swim day. We shall see. The dogs had an amazing time running after Dennis. He also got a lot of the weeding done. We got our photos up on the wall - as many as we are placing up. 

Till tomorrow's chores and fun!

Long Weekend

It was a no groom day today. Every once in a blue moon you have to do that.

Here is the gallery.

I took a nap with the dogs - so unlike me and felt terribly tired after it. Not sure naps help.

Tomorrow I play catch up with grooming. 

The dryer guy didn't come. They swear tomorrow. I am not happy. By the end of next week I want to get the tv room/livingroom combo rooms done as we are changing it into 1 room. Paint here we come. Nathan said he will do it but I now need to have some faith that he will. I am still trying to get him to hang the pictures back up and that has not happened and I get it. My drop down date for the 2 rooms are September 10th. We shall see. Will I find the time to do the bench? If this weather of almost warm enough remains, the answer is yes. We still have some baseboards to do. Such as it is when you take a summer off. 

Dennis got most of the weeds gone around the trug. It was already at a state of being a wild affair. Our neighbours are home. We miss their yard already but soon it seems we will have the pool cover on and they will run here. 

I so miss Shoshi and I am trying hard to pull myself out of this funk. We must!

Swimming, Nathan and Cool

Do you see those weeds. They grew in a week to that size. Dennis keeps saying he will pull them. I tried and I couldn't get them out. 

Here is the gallery.

Dogs have been crazy busy today. Not sure why.

Nathan wanted to swim with the dogs that truly love to jump in. Something about needing a happiness fix. I get that. I took photos. Lily and Lexi departed today. 

I was told by one of our puppy people that she is in remission from cancer. HUGE Happiness!

Short blog today as we are rather still in recovery but managing to truly enjoy the dogs.

Interesting Day: 2 Updates Today

We so celebrate Tenshi, Chester, Amy and Sadie's 3rd birthday. We so try not to mix a celebration with sadness but we can't control life. Therefore, I apologize to the celebratory families. If you have created half the life Shoshi has experienced then you are on the right track with your havanese. We have so many memories that we will hold dear forever!

Today, we had to make a decision to let Shoshi cross over the rainbow bridge. It wasn't an easy decision. We have had almost 16 years with her. She was never a show dog. She was Shoshi with the coat from hell, a curled tail and a huge personality. There's no duplicate Shoshi. She is a one and only as they all are.

The loss hurts like hell so it will take time to recover. 

I have lost many dogs since my 1st springer spaniel at 6. I can tell you each is unique but if you give them the life they deserve, you have created a treasure trove of memories. I could go on and on with all my memories of Shoshi. The flipside those memories hurt like hell till they turn into fun stories - sometimes bittersweet but the smiles come and they live on in your heart and soul.

Good bye, little one. We have had an amazing journey together. Just wish we had 16 more years with you!

Sorry for the downer. Dogs had fun today. We mustered great happeness with all of the crew. They had a great deal of fun!

Here is the gallery.

Happy 3rd Birthday

From Patt:

Hi Darlah and Nathan

Sadie is enjoying her third birthday at the cottage this year. We want to wish all her siblings a very happy 3rd birthday today.  It was especially nice for Sadie to see her sisters, Amy and Tenshi, at the picnic. So happy we were finally able to attend. It was so nice to see everyone.

Have a great day!

Patt

Happy 3rd birthday, Tenshi. You are sharing treats with your brother Chester. Wish Amy, Sadie and Ollie was here. What a fabulous crew. Much to celebrate!

Tenshi and her brother Chester had yummy treats and then they shared them with everyone.

Two Updates: One Free, One Blue

What a mess Sage is. As she has been in heat, the gals have been eating her hair, sitting in the rain and today she climbed up on the couch and jumped on my desk. In a matter of minutes she chewed the pen and became blue. This is a first. I didn't know if I should laugh or be upset. Off to the tub we went and the blue remains. Will it fade? Will it not? Time will tell. Interesting enough her tongue or mouth was clear but her chin hair not. She's trouble!

Here is the gallery.

I am tired. I did do the front room about 95% and I am done for the day. 

Levon really, really likes Misty and Trigger wants to posses her.

We had rain most of the day so Dennis says - no watering plants. Me, I say no pool. Nathan and Kat are in solid arthritis pain. Life....

So Jessie blocked the back door with the door open and thought he could hang in and out that way. Then he wanted to get soaked in the rain. Can you imagine the grooming I would have to do? LOL

We now have stacks of photos to go away or back up. It's a joke. We are getting there. Baseboards and 2 rooms to paint then a piano gone and reorganizing. That's out of order but we are getting there.

The dogs rather enjoy running the halls and playing hide and go seek. We are crazy here. I swear we have a bunch of kids to play with and they just don't have their words yet.

Misty is a keeper. She gets everyone to play with her. 

Tomorrow heat and no rain? Let's hope!

There are 2 blogs today!

For Free

A wonderful tool holder for a grooming table. I thought about keeping but it keeps my grooming room door from closing. You need a grooming table for it. It clamps to the tab;e. Comes with the two stainless steel cups. Tools are not part of it. 

Noted re: Pippa and Ellen. Will set those aside. 
If no one wants, they are going and going out of this house. 

Pool Day in Cool

Rox walked on the top step and went, not I. I believe she is my soul sister as I also got in the pool and didn't find it refreshing - just cold. I dreamt of having a towel heater. If it stays thsi way, I am going to take the heater to the pool. But I got pool time and that means down time. That's a good thing.

Here is the gallery.

I never got back to the front room but feel I am slacking. I am tired today. I did do 7 dogs. I will look at my calendar schedule and see if tomorrow I can make headway.

I tried to see if Levon and Trigger was interested in pool time this morning. Maybe it was too cold for them as well. It was 20c for most of the day and it peeked at 21c. Comfie but not terribly warm. I should have played dog videos for them and laid with them on the couch. Yes, I have been known to do that. They actually love when I flatten the outdoor couch into a flat mattress. 

I need to weed. I need to put the trug to bed. Still have tomatoes and strawberries and green beans but not much else. Maybe if I plan, I would be scrambling. How many of you take in plants each year? Raven, Sage and Safi still getting reactions from the boys so I figure one more day of heat. I look forward to it being done. Heats with boys in the house are not for the weak at heart. The howling - the barking - well it is something else. 

Jessie is in lust with Misty. He nuzzles her. He licks her collar and soaks her. It's comical. 

Clean Out and Groom Time

AdeleI didn't get any swimming in but its not that warm. It best get warm. I looked at the weather and got depressed.

Here is the gallery.

My hands are toast so the pool would have been enjoyable. Hear rain and cool weather will motivate me to do that front room so the piano can go. Rain is coming this week. I already made a huge dent but I figure a couple of more days and I can call the piano movers. Nathan is afraid there are dents in the wood floor from the weight but I doubt it. 

I am not putting much back on the wall including aged family photos. If they want to send me updated ones - great. If not, it remains in a closet as the frames are good. We shall see. The dog photos may go back up in the kitchen but I also have a ton of plaques - dog ones and they are going to the bin or if someone wants, let me know. Some have hooks etc

Dematting especially the same dog over and over is getting impossible. It does something to my exhaustion level and it downright hurts me emotionally and physically. I am not talking a few knots but dogs knotted next to the skin all over. Please use a comb on your dog. Your dog may not like combing. You may not have time but the end result is a happier dog. Bring them to me BEFORE they get that bad, please.

Dogs did have fun today. I took a break, ate and ran silly with the dogs at a slow pace. My energy level is low. Maybe Dennis will run tonight with them. Till then I have to check light placement in the back as Dennis is working on that and Nathan is loving up the dogs. Life is grand for the dogs - as it should be!

Hope your Sunday was relaxing one!

Exhaustion Set In

I had so many plans today including transplanting plumeria - thank you Dorothy but nothing occured. I spend most of the day dematting two dogs - don't ask me and bathing and cutting those going home. 

Here is a small gallery.

I wanted to make headway in the front room. I wanted to swim but it was too cool. I wanted to....

Dogs still managed to get their groove on. I have been up the last 2 nights around 4am with massive leg cramps that took about 2 hours to subside. I used a massager. I tried distraction in case part of it was in my head. Still took that long and then by 615am both days I made it to sleep only to have to get up at 7am. I don't get naps as Nathan does so fried is an understatement. I think the culprit may have been dogs laying on my legs while I slept. Try getting through the dogs with cramps to get to the floor so you can attempt to walk it out. It's a joke. You want to cry but hopefully tonight the dogs and I will crash. I noticed the dogs took naps today. 

Enough biachin. 

I went out on the couch today - the outdoor couch. It is a serta mattress that goes flat. I figure I would nap but the dogs kept jumping on me and I gave up. If I didn't need a nap, it would be a comical sight and I suppose it would have been in any other state of mind. I had Levon and Trigger walking up and down my body, Pablo pulling my hair, Jessie breathing in my face and I could go on. No, I didn't yell and say Dennis come take a video but if this was happening to someone else, I would have laughing my fool head off. 

Till tomorrow....

It's a Friday

Here is a small gallery.

Went to LLBean. Got a 25 dollar gift certificate. So did Sherry. She gave me hers. I got a rain jacket. I gave her the Ren's certificate chance. Hope hers pays off. We enjoyed but boy coming back was a ride as the 403 ramps were closed. We ended up at Rens at a tent sale - not on purpose and someone hit the car but theirs was worst. I said forget about it. Can't win. 

I am dematting 2 dogs - long story but not happy. Stormy and Leti out of heat - hooray! Lola departed. Fitz is here. Pepi and Simba dropped in. Magic comes tonight. Pablo is a spitfire. He's a boy in fast play mode. He needs a playmate. I don't usually suggest that but oh my gad he plays and plays and then sleeps. He is a riot! I need to get him swimming.

I need to weed and swim but dematting is on my shoulders or shall I say arms. 

Paula's Phantom died today. We are dreadfully sad. Our dogs should have longer life lines. Shoshi is there pretty much but no convincing Dennis and maybe a part of me wants to say not yet. We are figuring it out. Life... Make your moments count!