Photos or Lack Of

Took a lot of photos showing how Nathan does this hunting game but it will have to wait till late tomorrow. I am told NO PHOTOS till this hard drive is done. :-(

Look who is up in the air!It is overcast. Looks like rain. They say lovely for Woofstock tomorrow. Sunday we get to see Coops and that makes us happy and he will be happy to see Scruffy, Pepper and Levon and Trigger though Trigger and Levon will only get a small amount of time with him as they will depart.

I am debating on whether I will wash Cali or not. I washed her 2 days ago and hours later (yes she lasted that long) she looked like a junkyard dog. It's endearing but I feel as if I am wasting my time. We are taking Cali and Adele to Woofstock as they are most in need of socialization with strange dogs. Cali has decided to bark and we are trying to break her of that. Adele is Adele.... I wish I could take 3 but Nathan said one for each of our arms just incase we need to carry.

Dennis will stay home with the rest and we go early and depart early. I already have scoped out what I want.

Have to say I am sad today. I am missing pups and dogs but happy for the journeys. This dog stuff is so interesting as it forces me to not make my needs first but to make their needs first. When people say how can you do it that is how but you still go through the process and that's okay.

Crazy things like Nathan doing the hunting game makes me laugh and enjoy. Looks like next week if it doesn't rain I am going to stain the kitchen doors after sanding. Imagine that. We may even get swimming in. I am taking the camera to Woofstock. Wish I had a tiny portable camera but hey we will deal. I will try to get photos of that up.

Getting excited to see everyone!

PS: I will be glad when this $%^ drive is done.

Just added Nathan in motion. This is what he does all over the place and the dogs go wild.

Still Dealing

Still dealing with a failing hard drive. It's been an experience as we can't mirror it with so many issues so its file by file and making a list of all the bad files. :-( So photos are not plentiful. Dennis would like me to do none or pull them on to Nathan's machine but it is what it is and here are a few photos from today.

Chillin' was the theme today and sun bathing. They adore sun bathing. I guess after the long winter it makes sense.

They like to be pool side and on the deck. Or if you are Cali you jump smack dab in the middle of the day lilies. Remind me I love her so as I do. I laugh about it but really I would like the Day lily to survive. She is teaching others this trick so we are educating her why this is not wise - oh fun yes but really not what you should be doing. Bigger dogs will flatten and ruin and they were trying. We won't mention names.

Nathan is also trying to get the pool to clear up so we can swim this weekend. I want to see how Leti and Cali do.

Guess who was watching that moving pool cleaner.

When we had activity it was squirrel hunting - all of them. You have to picture Gidget getting them all excited about the running squirrels and if that wasn't enough Nathan was getting them going too. He would get in this hunt stance and they would all follow and do the same. Oh my gad!

Leti is fascinated by the squirrels but she is more into watching.

Scruffy is on a mission - where are they...

After the squirrel hunt they sunbathed.

Then Trigger says its too quiet - can we try that hunting game again? Then they were off...

Oh and Cali had a bath yesterday. Care to laugh. I am trying... She's going to Woofstock so I may have to wash her again like minutes before departure.

Fiona was in for a brushing. May have to get her in the pool this weekend. We shall see. Got so many I want to take in and there will be lots of brushing by doing so.

Gidget and Wasabi are dear friends. No matter how little they see each other its like wow nice to see you again!

Scruffy was playing with Levon and Trigger. Pepper says - he's mine so we picked Pepper up much to her - are you kidding and let the boys play and they did so well without the gals. Sometimes you just have to allow the play without the change. After they were done Pepper got to jump on Trigger and say don't you want to play with me. Scruffy enjoyed the boy play so he had it and he had such fun. It was good for Pepper too as she has to get that he can do his thing too. :-0

They did play together. Pepper, Scruffy, Levon and Trigger after the boys had their moment and even Leti and Cali joined in. It was good!

Shall we? It's warm I hear! 80f now and climbing.

Gidget and Panda enjoy smelling. They should be scent dogs, I swear.

Panda and Roxie remain the best of pals. They really do love each other. It's nice!

We had fun. We will continue to have fun. The sun is going down. Looks like good weather is coming!

Baths Today

Did a few baths today. Magic came for a play and bath. Cali and Panda got a bath together - yes I did them together. Logan had his yesterday in anticipation of Lynda coming to get them. Poor Lynda has been going through round 2 of her mom in the hospital. Not fun - hugs Lynda!

Gidget departs soon. We are going to miss her craziness of chasing anything that moves out back and through the windows. Time for cleanup and blowout tomorrow. Gidget has wooly, curly hair so its a challenge to maintain but she puts up with my daily comb-outs and brush outs. She even gives me a kiss at the end.

This was Scruffy before his brushout and just before I picked him up as it was his turn to get brushed out. Do you think that face was telling me something? He is such an expressive dog.

Due to baths, Dennis doing weeds and the dogs running away with his pile as if it was a game (you would think he would do something with the pile), we do not have many photos. Besides the hard drive is becoming a challenge to pull important things off.

But we are still having fun. Weather is perfect. I got enough grooming in.

Looking forward to Woofstock Saturday. Hope some of you can join us. Send us mail if you are coming so we know who to look for.

We will have our cell phone with us so you can message us.

The Shag Look

Shoshi's hair has always been wild but as she likes to take the rubber bands out her bangs kept fraying and so did her hair hanging down from her ears so I cut the hair hanging from the ears shorter and gave her bangs. The issue with bangs is you have to do it over and over again especially if their hair grows fast. You also have to take the hair that hangs forward, section off the rest and cut across straight till you get mid section above the eyes and then you angle down so it falls correctly.

I hate bangs but it works for Shoshi and she has LONG bangs so I cut them weekly. So if you see her in bangs and go hey I thought you hate them - well I often do things for the dogs for them - not for me. :-)

Shoshi rarely knots these days but her coat has been thinned out a great deal. The more you thin the more it doesn't grow back thick again. For Shoshi you can't tell. She truly has a full bodied hair type but on a straight thin hair type it would.

Levon, Trigger, Pepper and Scruffy are hanging out and having a great time. It keeps raining off and on. Nathan is taking a nap smothered by dogs and my hard drive is dying so no photos till I replace the drive - hopefully tonight. Mr. Jazzy departs tonight and has had his bath. I believe he had a grand time. Miss him - we will!

Woofstock

Who is going?

We should have gotten this out weeks ago. Sorry. This coming Saturday is Woofstock. www.woofstock.ca  For those that haven’t ever been there, it is a lot of people, a lot of dogs and a lot of vendors of all kinds. They’ve moved the location this year to Woodbine Park. The link to the location is this: https://www.google.ca/maps/@43.6642387,-79.3114378,17z Darlah did a screen shot of it. In our experience it becomes a real zoo by noon so we typically arrive at 9:15 so that we are on site and raring to go by 10. Two hours later the place is packed and we are done. If any of you are planning to attend this year on the Saturday morning we would love to meet up with you. We are hoping to park across the street at the south side of Lake Shore Blvd at Northern Dancer Blvd. Perhaps we can meet in front of the Breakfast Club which is marked on the map, below. We will be there probably by 9:00am and we hope to see some of you there.

I hope you all enjoyed the great weather we had today.

See you Saturday.

Nathan

www.talemakerhavanese.com

Little of the Day

Sparky departed and we will miss him. Caught him in a hat from Cuba. Will post photos later.

Shoshi decided she didn't like my grooming job.

Miss Abs and Fiona are back to being 100%. Miss Abs was playing with me like a little pup last night. It was so much fun. Then Fiona said no my mommy and did the same rolling, squirming, snuggling game that we do!

Now we wait for Ruth and Katie to show up and we will have a play session and then Lila and Zoe. All will have a bath but not till they have played their hearts out. I have my cameras ready. :-0

Early Morning Brrr: Gidget Update

Frost warnings... tulips blooming and dogs are playing. Time to groom the crew. The rabbit - a baby is back. A couple of goldfinches are swooping through the yard much to the delight of Wasabi and Gidget. Life is good. Exercise is plentiful but its time to groom. I have procrastinated enough this morning. :-)

Odin and Sparky depart tomorrow. Sparky has been fabulous and the adults love the family room as a family room. It will remain so for now. It's been quite awhile that Nathan is relearning the remote control. :-)

Oh my gad Gidget almost caught the rabbit. She's also going crazy seeing the squirrels on the other side of the window - crazy in a good way. She's having fun!

Turning 3 Plus Day Photos

Click on Photo for Larger View

The Coop is now another year older. Wonder what he will be doing for his special day. We send you lots of kisses and hugs from our crew to you!

We have had a fun but cool day.

We started out playing early this morning and as you can see there are smiles. We are making this a no grooming day and tomorrow I will be back to grooming all. Nathan is napping. Dawgs are napping as I type.

Shoshi had fun chasing the ducks. Gidget came out after Shoshi's fun and chased them too. I can tell it is spring. We seem to get the same pair each year as they know the yard well.

After the chase...

They flew away....

First in the Pool?

Jazzy was the first this season in the pool. He jumped in. Hmm he did this last year. I should have taken photos but I just finished rinsing him and drying him. Have to laugh. I thought he was just leaning over to look at the pool cleaner moving but nope - in he went! I just love the spirit in that dog. Oh well Kat you aren't the first to go in this year. hahahahaha

Rainy Daze

Trying to get dry.....

Back of the couch Odin

Watching tv in the familyroom where we usually have puppies.

As you can see Gidget adores looking out the window. So does Spice.

Spice is loving having this room back to hang out!

Just another wet day making the best of it. We had so many running games inside but its not like outdoors.

Summer is Coming

If you want to reduce the time with grooming you can shave the tummy area down. Even with long hair you will not see it. It also allows the cool tiles to cool off that body of theirs. You can also clip under the arm pits and that will also reduce knots.

If your dog is marking and getting the coat wet with urine (no other way to put it). This happens when dogs are in heat, or they start learning to lift their leg etc this shaving the tummy and thinning out the inside leg does help. Not all will have this issue but those that do this helps greatly. I shave the bellies down on all but show dogs in the warmer months as it truly is easier. I leave the long coat and you can't tell.

Cleaning pads is important as your dog can slip with long hair at the pads. They also carry more heat that way. You shoudl also be cutting mails on a regular basis and drying the ear canals after each bath.

It's not as hard as you think and I can show you how or we can do it for you. No problem!

Gidget and Mothering

Gidget is a riot. She plays her heart out with Odin every single morning. Not sure what it is about mornings but she ignores him the rest of the day and then at night starts in again. She really, really likes him.

Sparky had his comb out this morning. I am doing outdoor things (pool) dead plants and having fun with the dogs. Finn came by for just overnight and he is so smittened by Panda he won't leave her be. It must be that she still has the residual smell of being mom as he is crazy about her. I am trying to get him to refocus his attentions to the rest and just relax and play. Funny how that sometimes happens. But I love you Panda....

We are looking forward to seeing Mia (mom and Dad are looking for a new house) and Jazzy this week. Trigger and Levon will also be dropping in. Kora drops in this Saturday and we haven't seen her for sometime.

Stitches come out on Friday with Abigail and Fiona. It is as if it never happened now. I can't believe it was 8 days ago they got spayed.

We have been playing feverish games of retrieve. When I say feverish - there is so much - its mine - no its mine in a fun way. It is great that you can play games indoors when it rains so you still expel energy.

Levon and Trigger Plus Our Gang

They found a solution to big open wide spaces in the country and now they have this magnificent place to run like banshees and still be safe. They look like they are having fun. Nothing like wide open spaces to run.

Looks like rain all week..... It means wet dogs...

Brush and comb out and just let dry unless its too cold in your house. I was going to do baths this week but now I am not sure.

Do you get that feeling that every time you plan to give them a bath it rains?

Pool is supposedly getting opened today. No heat till we get consistent warm weather. then we start inviting you all over for a swim or to at least hang your feet in the water while you watch the dawgs play.

So, this is the long weekend. hmmm thought that was May 24 weekend. What's that about?

Here are a few photos taken today...

Awwww puppy love!

One last romp on pool cover. It came off today.

It's off and green as ever. Will take a couple of days to clean up. It's also ice cold and it was so high they had to pump some out. We have never had it green but they say everyone's is due to the winter.

We had visitors from Australia this morning. They were introduced to the dogs one at a time.

Panda was enjoying sunning on the deck. They said rain all day and we had sun most of the day so far. We had rain this morning. They say rain tonight.

It is so funny watching these 2 interact.

Pepper and Panda were trading sunning spots.

All the dogs were truly enjoying the sun today.

I noticed after playing a heavy game of retrieve inside when it was raining they all just walked around as if they were dead. Time to chase the winter willies away. It's time to be active. Me too!

Stormy Times Coming

Sometime this week we have the pool cover off and it will be an adjustment for the dogs. We will have to introduce this water thing to the ones that haven't seen it. We will always be outdoors with them making sure their running doesn't get them taking a swim.

The latest has been chasing squirrels and Gidget started it. The rest have followed suit.

Our guests will have departed late tonight. We will have much house cleaning to do. I have been trying but its a losing battle with so many people to keep anything looking good. Then we have guests from Australia just for the morning tomorrow at 9am.

Cody departs - bath - Cali needs one, Adele - and the list goes on. Not sure I can as we have the grand daughter here to take care of. So, juggling fun - what can I say. Still exhausted.

It's another week and Odin is having a blast. He's really adjusted to seeing lots of dogs. He's learned not to kiss nip and he's running outside and inside just like the adults so many times a day. He's having so much fun - the adults too. Puppy stuff is contagious for them too.

I will try to get to puppy videos we took the last week they were here.

Life is so busy that its hard to get what I want done. It will get back to normal in a couple of days.

Time for Nathan to take a shower so I can then wash Cody and brush the dogs.

Happy Mother's Day

Laci wants to wish everyone a Happy Mother's Day! Those of us at Talemaker are wishing all human and canine moms the very best one yet!!

Photos As We Can Plus a Video: Plus More

The dogs are wonderful. They are having a grand time - unbelievable weather has created fun activity outside. Will add more photos later. Going to post to Roxie's blog some of the younger set - just posted more including Odin as dirty as ever.

Gidget LOVES, LOVES to hunt the squirrels. She's just like Wasabi!

Cody and Bailey were playing. Interesting enough they are brothers but from 2 different litters. Ignore that Nathan took it upside down and use Quicktime ir something like that as it rotates the video.

This was Sparky being mighty comfie before his comb out. Yeah everyone is groomed!

Sparky after his comb out (barely looks like it as hes been playing) and Odin before his cleanup.

Dogs Chillin!

Love you Anyways

This was the start. It progressively got blacker and blacker.

Kat and the Babies

Ignore that the Kat needs a bath. There are too many things going on to do that. Tuesday he will. He keeps mucking it up in the water on the pool. Guess who the pups got it from. hehe

But as you can see he is a gentle soul and loves the baby. It's wonderful how well all the dogs are doing with her.

Gidget wanted to lick her feet and clean her much like Abigail did.

Abigail is still twitching - she's itchy. But oh my gad does she love the Odin. Be still my heart. Today she gets to see Bella and Sparky.

We are already teach Odon to kiss not nibble. Abigail is telling him too. :-)

3 Updates

Getting to know the dogs.... and they are highly curious... all were warm to her! Facebook Gallery is here...

Two Updates

Cali AttackFamily is late getting in as the son had to stop and sleep at a rest stop. Driving from Orlando is not fun. While we babysit the rest are going to a movie. Want to bet he is sleeping through it?

Here are some photos we clicked this morning. Everyone has been groomed but it doesn't necessarily look like it. Rosa and Truffie are the first to roll and mess themselves up 2 seconds after you are done and on the pool cover - well that is the best!

Should I go right through?A bit of a breeze but a no sleeve day!Panda is adjusting but all the moms looked for their babies today.

Deck time is definately desirable! They are ready for spring and summer. It's been a long winter.

You wonder where the pups get ideas about sticks....

We are having fun but its rather quiet around here especially with the realives not arriving quite yet.