Outside Playing

Remember Logan getting his haircut short. I have to search back and see the date.

Logan is not one of my breedings but he is dearly loved. I have been washing him weekly and brushing him out 5 days a week and his hair as difficult as it was is changing. I almost gave in and said cut him short again a month ago and then I said after the picnic and suddenly the texture, the colour, the products I am using is paying off so the moral of this story is don't give in too early if you have difficult hair. Most Havanese don't have this texture hair. Our Shoshi has the same texture but a thicker coat - easier in some ways and harder in others.

I rather like the way Logan looks these days and he's got a personality that I adore!

We had a low key day playing retrieve and cuddling as the weather has not been good enough to swim but they say the heat wave is coming tomorrow.

Here are a few photos from today...

Tomorrow I hope we have heat, lots of swimming as we do when a heat-wave comes on and we even manage to get unexpected visitors wanting to swim with their dawgs. We will see what this holiday weekend brings.

Off to wash a couple of dogs tonight and take some photos for their human mom and dad.

Fun Day Today

This was a no pool day. It wasn't too hot. It wasn't too cold. The dawgs were indeed enjoying the show.

What show you ask?

Well Benji, Dexter, Jlo and Roxie were going for what seemed hours and then we would all cuddle on the deck and on the deck furniture outside under blankets.

It was delightful.

Jlo was in just for the day to get a brush-up and get to play herself silly and that she did. She goes home soon. So does Logan and Panda who got into it but not like the 4 above.

Here's a few photos of the day and I have many more but I need to rest. Benji is a Fiona son who is the darker brown sable and looks like he is going to stay dark. Dexter is not one of ours but is also a sable just a lighter version and we love him.

Dexter ends up coming in not sure but ends up relaxing and remembering, I suppose. He visits us very infrequently but the visits are great as he really allows himself to let go and be a dawg and that's what it is about.

Descriptions directions are you facing the screen so your right or left.

Benji had long flowing hair but they are gone for a month and was afraid it was too much work so she slowly clipped him down herself.

Dexter and Benji (back to you)Dexter Left, Benji RightDexter and BenjiDexter, Benji on topDexter and RoxieRoxie and DexterDexter on Top, Benji BelowBenji's New Hair Do

Molly, Molly, Molly

Molly sometimes comes for a bath, cleanup of the feet and nails and today was the day.

I kept trying to get a photo of her and she wouldn't look my way. She rolled. She ignored and as you can see she only wants the treat that Nathan had.

I had her so perfect.

Benji is coming tonight and I can't wait. This is a Fiona pup. I can't wait to have him come swim. Will it warm up?

Dexter has been hanging out and getting mighty comfie. He has been playing with Roxie, Panda, Spice and sometimes Abigail. I also caught him cuddled up to Nathan today while Nathan was snoring. I should have clicked that but was afraid to disturb.He doesn't seem to like my camera. I think it must be the large lens. But we are working on that!

It should have been ME that had that nap. I do believe I am sick again due to whatever Nathan has decided to give me. Fun, not. So if you come visit and I stay across the room, understand its not me being rude but rather caring if you get this. I can't believe in less than 2 weeks perhaps we are going to have 3 puppies - oh my - how fun is that?

Scruffy Saga

Check out the Teaser blog to see what Scruffy endured.

Rain and More Rain

The parents, the human kind took all the cushions in as it's supposed to rain today, tomorrow (sigh).

All we wanted was pool time after all this craziness. Oh well, it's still summer.

We should be weeding but we do not have any energy.

Instead we are watching Suits each surrounded by dawgs while I type this blog up.

We have been chillin since the humans went to a sanction match with Panda. Panda got a pretty yellow ribbon, the start of many more to come.

It was great to see Lynda and her mom along with the Logan who came too.

Can't wait to see them tomorrow.

Check out Envy playing with Paula's pups at Tracy's house. Plus here's another one.

Bat Mitzvah

Our Grand Daughter Sarah I am not going to bog down this area with family photos but here are a few that I added due to a request.

- Our daughter from North Carolina Kendra and her son Eli

- Our grand daughter Danielle, The Bat Mitzvah gal and our grand daughter Sarah and our daughter Tracy

- Kendra's other son, Luke

- The Bat Mitzvah gal, Sarah

These were photos I took. I have over 500 - would you think any different but I won't bore you with the rest.

Breeze and Chinook

We had the pleasure of having Breeze and Chinook here and they are visiting this coming week again. Can't wait!

We are also having a lot of fun with Dexter. Yvonne, who watched the dogs today while we were at a family event had lots of snuggles with him. Now he is vegging watching TV with Dennis and some of the crew. Me, I am typing out this blog and I am ever so tired.

Our family event is still going on. Nathan is still there. I came back to let Yvonne head back home as her hubby is sick. I truly appreciate all her help. I couldn't have done it without her. I also had to pack everything for a sanction match tomorrow so dogs will get groomed tomorrow afternoon or I will take a break till Monday and line comb everyone.

I was up half the night and so were the dawgs. Our grand daughter was too and I kept seeing her saying she was studying and was nervous at 2am and again at 4am.

Having this event made me realize just how much I miss the daughter in North Carolina. Her kids were delightful (a handful but fun)  but she is such a good mom. I wish she lived closer.

I am looking forward to snuggling with the dawgs tonight and falling fast asleep. If I put my feet up now I would be sleeping.

Dawgs were really happy to see us and I them. As we are driving back home our son Jon was telling me that x restaurant is no longer there and this club is gone and this has changed and realized I don't get out much. hahahaha

I think Nathan gets out more than me by far - well actual;ly I know. It's me and the dawgs and most times when I am not missing things it's where I love being.

Nite, folks!

Hanging at the Pool

We are indeed going to pool time it today though I got to line comb some dogs as they won't have time to before going home and wash the Panda and Logan. I also have to get Breeze and Chinook in the pool if it isn't too cool out there.

Today Yvonne arrives and Saturday she is it for watching the dawgs till we get home Saturday. At least she has the air and pool and here is hoping Debi's air is cooling her off too though I think the heat broke.

Then Sunday we have a Sanction match.

A kiss goes out to Jazzy - not necessary - seriously but he bought us a daylily to replace the ones he had fun digging up. Folks, I wasn't complaining. I was laughing about a dawg being a dawg. I enjoy him letting his hair down, so to speak. I guess we are truly dawg people as I don't worry about that stuff.  But now as it grows I will think about him! I adore Jazzy being a dawg and he does just that!

Well, off to brush dawgs before Yvonne gets here and Logan and Panda will arrive anytime. It's going to be a fun day!

PS: Did you see Pavlov's birthday photos in Abigail's blog? DELIGHTFUL!

Pool Dawg Fun

Sorry we are so late in the updates today but we had a long pool day of fun. It started out with the dawgs and they came out and got brushed and groomed and the humans family members went in.

I have some photos of Scruffy and Ty. I didn't get the rest as the camera stick was full and realized I put my extra sticks to take with me for rehearsals but couldn't remember where I put them so tomorrow we will try to get Chinook, Breeze, Logan and Panda. That's okay, we still have tomorrow to click the rest.

With grandkids getting ready for festivities in the evening with out of towners tomorrow, Yvonne coming in etc we will have some quiet time to get the 4 in the pool and take photos. I promise. Silly me for not being prepared.

I am not sure Chinook and Breeze enjoy the pool as much as the lake but we will be working on it when it is quieter. They enjoyed it but that passion on the beach is something else. Let's see if tomorrow we can get them as excited about the pool as they are about the lake. We will be doing the same with Logan. It was a loud day. Panda just went with the flow like she usually does.

Here are the few photos I took. Scruffy took to the water like he was meant to swim. Ty was a bit nervous that first swim and after that he was an amazing swimmer and didn't mind at all and quite liked it. That's good. Nathan is good at introducing them to the water.

Got many more but I need to get caught up and do cleanup. What a magnificent storm and Ty will be picked up momentarily.

Happy Birthday!

Happy Birthday to the Wasabi 1year old crew and the Abigail almost birthday tomorrow crew!

Can't wait to see many of you at the picnic. Love to do group shots of the siblings if we can. It can get crazy busy for the dawgs at these things as they are like they are at an amusememt park. Fun for us to watch too.

How did a year go by so soon?

The Talemaker crew will be in the pool today and I will be clicking and thinking about all of you. Roxie and Panda will hopefully be celebrating by swimming. We shall see.

We have rehearsals tonight so I can only brush out so many. This was supposed to be my down day as we have so much to do but it is what it is and Thursday loud noises (all the immediate family), pizza party though I prefer Chinese better and we have a visit by Scruffy - swim before the snip and Breeze and Chinook. Ty will be here too but then he heads home after a short visit.

What a crazy week this is going to be and I already have the bathingsuit on! I bet you the havs and Nathan will be in first. Plants are already watered.

So Many Changes

Yes, the Wasabi crew and the Abigail crew are turning 1 years old on the 20th and 21st. That does mean Roxie will be a year and so will Panda and that duo on the cover of the magazine and so will the rest of the siblings - so exciting. How will we celebrate?

I am reminded that I had the audacity to have puppies a year ago on the 20th of June as that is our oldest daughter's birthday. Again it is her birthday tomorrow and we have rehearsals tomorrow on her birthday as our oldest grand daughter will have her Bat Mitzvah this weekend and our friend Yvonne is coming in Friday night to watch the dogs so we can attend all the festivities.

I think she (the daughter) ought to move her birthday. hahahahaha

But just incase I lose my mind, Happy birthday to the 2 sets of pups. They were and remain a fabulous crew - both Wasabi's and Abigail's.

Perhaps we will celebrate with a dip in the pool and hope to see as many as we can at the picnic.

Did you ever thought a year would go by like a blip? I must admit I still think of them as babies. Ah, but they are growing up for sure!

A bit of trivia, the Wasabi crew had 3 names that started with the letter 'm'. In Abigail's crew one of the pups was named after a Russian physiologist.

This crew, all of them was such a fabulous crew and so are the humans. Happy Birthday, all!

Can I Go In Yet?

They say we may be able to swim tomorrow. That human mom is becoming OCD about this pool. She needs a life.

Extended family is at Wonderland and she was hoping to go but the transmission died enroute. So, the car is getting fixed and human Daddy is saying what else is going to go wrong?

Mom says nothing. It piles up and then you get a reprieve - well she believes that. Daddy better buy that lotto ticket for Friday. Good things are bound to happen and this means Fiona's pups are going to be drop jaw STUNNING!

Dennis was taking out weeds from our below ground level patio and the dogs were running away with the weeds as fast as he was clipping.

Jazzy has stopped digging out my prize rare Day Lilly. One is dead - 2 others survived - he just killed the rare one of course. He's lucky cause I love him and he just doesn't know what is rare and what isn't so how can you get mad at that?

Besides, life is too short to be in that mindset, don't you think?

The Jazzy

He has moved his digging bed right into my prized plants and now I am trying to figure out how to get him to move it back. Oh, I do love the Jazzy but gad I am losing plants by the second.

Dennis just moved a planter in the way in hopes that he goes back to his old spot. hahahaha

Jazzy loves digging out beds and I truly don't mind except when it is plants I care about. hahahaha

Jazzy's playmate Toby is on his way back home to Sudbury. They both were vying for Abigail's attention but when she decided she wanted to relax, it was all about each other and the fun 2 boys can get into.

Our pool is now filled to the first step. The pool guy comes tomorrow and cuts out the stairs, the returns and then we fill it a bunch more. I figure by Tuesday night we may be heating the pool and Wednesday swimming. But Wednesday is rehearsals so we shall see. May give us just Thursday to swim with the company. It is what it is.

Yvonne gets to swim on Friday and Saturday while watching the dogs. I am glad as its a little thing we can do for a friend helping us.

Nathan got a great chair for the pool for Father's Day and I suspect everyone will end up using it. He also got a great note from Shady and will be placing it on the Wasabi blog in a few minutes.

It was a crazy pool-less day but a no grooming day too except for top knots. Tomorrow real life sets in.

It's great to see family. It's a lot of work too but it's all worth it just as much as the dawgs are all worth every but of no sleep. hahaha

No Photo Day

Jazzy just arrived and Toby and Jazzy are getting along famously and I think Jazzy and Toby are rather smitten with Abigail.

Jazzy showed Toby where his fave spot is outside. He dug a hole and we now leave it for him as he just digs it again.

Why do dogs dig holes? It's so cool and comfie and something nice about creating a cool bed for yourself.

No one else digs holes here except Wasabi and she likes to do one under the deck. Toby's parents don't have to worry he will be digging holes out in their yard. He's just sharing not digging too. Jazzy lives in an apartmemt so he truly loves indulging himself. Jazzy just relishes hanging out under the tree in the den he made and he is sharing it with Toby. Such a sweetie, indeed!

We have guests coming and everyone loves the dawgs so they will be getting extra, extra attention.

Almost time to feed. Till tomorrow...

Toby, a Teaser Pup

Whenever someone comes to visit we do a slow introduction to everyone. It makes for a better experience and it helps the crew mesh.

Toby seems to be rather smitten with Abigail. Dennis said Abigail must be the attractive one to other dogs as every dog seems to react that way to her. I laughed. Interesting theory. 

Toby has already had his dinner and he ate it all up without issue.

He seems to be fitting in rather well.

He was checking out Dennis cooking hamburgers and I swear he sat there waiting to see if some was meant for him.

He's playing with Roxie quite a bit now though she was a tad too aggressive in the 'let's play with me' department till he gave in.

He was also sniffing up Treasure but Treasure was doing her usual, I want the air conditioning, mom don't ya know.

It's not that Treasure didn't like him, she likes the air better and likes to be the center of attention. She wasn't, in this case.

Nathan is away at a seminar for the day till 3ish. The pool guys come after he leaves around 8amish. Nathan is going to love this seminar and I am glad he is going.

Kendra, our youngest daughter, her new boyfriend and her 2 kids (our grandkids) is driving from North Carolina now as I type and arriving at our oldest daughters house to crash and then heads up here tomorrow night after Nathan gets home for dinner.

I still have 3 dogs to wash, 1 tonight, maybe 2 tomorrow. Will it get done? We shall see. It's not necessary but I do like clean dogs.

Then Toby gets a spa treatment on Sunday before he heads home. Jazzy comes to visit on Saturday. We are going to have a truly fun weekend.

Now here is hoping the pool gets done on a timely basis.

Scruffy Day

Still trying to get Scruffy to go in the pool. It doesn't help that there isn't any water in it nor a liner. hahahaha

Scruffy got his pads cleaned up, his nails clipped and his bum cleaned up today. He was a trooper. No bath for him but a number of others had one and now I have this awful neck crimp. The rest will get done tomorrow except for Kat who will be done on Saturday.

Thought you may enjoy the many faces of Scruffy today chillin on the deck furniture. They rather enjoy it out there and it appears to be heating up. Oh is it too much to hope for the pool to get a liner? <smile>

Click on Photo for Larger ViewClick on Photo for Larger ViewClick on Photo for Larger ViewClick on Photo for Larger ViewClick on Photo for Larger ViewScruffy says, so I played real hard and now I am chillin and yawning. This play business is real exercise, you know. Poor Panda and Roxie passed out before me. I guess that makes me the winner in the stamina department.

Update on Thursday, June 14, 2012 at 6:24PM by Darlah

Steph is looking for a ride to the picnic for her, Ringo and her boyfriend. She lives in North York. We already have a full car and have to be there extra early as we are the hosts too. Can anyone help? Please let her know at muskatsn@gmail.com

Another View

Before Grooming Moments

The crew had a lazy day. I weeded, They helped and when I say help, a few of them start pulling and digging beside me as it looks like so much fun. It isn't.

Fiona finally got brushed but she was not in the mood to be brushed today. She just wanted to laze out in the sun with Daddy.

After brushing, I cleaned out our formal livingroom (was using it for specialty storage) so our daughter can play the piano. I also put the photo of her and her ex away and haven't a clue what to do with that but I will keep the frame. She's coming up with a new boyfriend we haven't met.

Her kids are dog friendly as she is a groomer and tends to help strays. Not sure where she gets that. heh

Tomorrow I am going to wash, and wash, and wash dogs. Tonight I wash 2. Tomorrow Logan and Panda and anyone else I have the energy for. Friday more, I imagine.

There is too much to do to get ready for visitors but I am glad we do not have puppies. Our focus would be on the pups and the rest - well would have to wait.

Looking forward to grandkids and dawgs in pool and I am hoping it happens by Father's Day but not holding my breath.

I was practicing down with just a hand signal across the yard and I had a sea of dogs that went down immediately than looked for the treat. It's good to practice even when you are not doing school.

The Simba Cutie

I have to say I love this dawg. He is such a fun loving ball of enthusiasm. This is a Fiona puppy, Simba and he was here today.

He just got picked up. He still will find his way to his Mommy here and snuggle with her when he can but otherwise he is playing, snuggling with us during downtime and just fun, fun, fun. He has a similar personality to Scruffy.

Simba's hair is starting to grow in and I rather like it or maybe I just adapted. He looks cute. But hey I am biased.

I weeded a great deal today with the dawgs helping me. With no pool and no pups the garden is getting more attention that usual. Can't wait till the pool is done and we are back pool diving.The dawgs actually try to help me dig or pull - oh oh

Tomorrow after weeding I am starting to wash all the dawgs before company comes Saturday. It's not that I am cleaning them for the company but cleaning them so I don't have to invest too much time in grooming. A clean dawg knots less.

Plus the daughter that is a groomer has no desire to wash my dawgs while she is on holidays. So this week is my marathon week. Busy, busy, busy. Hope the rest of you have chillin' time. Mine will be when I go to bed. :-)

Magazine & Things

The magazine is going to the US National Specialty to be in every single participants and visitors bag and this is the photo I opted for that goes with my article.

Nathan said my other one didn't have enough resolution for print. Oh well...

I think photos should be of the dawgs and this was more dawgs than me. :-)

Do you recognize who it is?

Today the dogs watched with fascination while the pool guy removed our liner.

I do hope it arrives on Friday but I am hopeful but not believing it yet.

What did I learn? The deep end is 12 feet not 10 as I thought. The pool was constructed well as it didn't have cracks in it and that would have cost more. I saw his pool with his design and liked it so much that I opted to do the same wirh no border. He says it was a trend when we had the pool in to do borders but now more are opting for no borders as it looks more natural. We shall see. Plus you are not stuck in one design.

The dogs sat with fascination watching all this. Treasure isn't happy and the hole disturbs her but no one else. None walk near it but around it. We are watching them closely and have no issues with them being outside but we all go out with them not just one of us. Soon it will have water. Tomorrow I am going to put gates up around the deck and the openings so they can go through the garden and on the deck but not near the pool and have a more relaxed 'me'. They are relaxed - me not so much. I worry always. Have never had an accident and want to keep it that way.

Logan and Panda was here and was fine around the pool and so was Jlo so this is 'me'.

We did this before when we had puppies that was too curious around the pool and actually just fenced the pool in and we can go that route again. That's Dennis' job and that will be his early morning chore. We will leave it up till the pool liner goes in and it gets filled.

When I walk in the empty pool the dawgs look at me as if I lost my marbles. :-)

Yikes Hot Day

Once again we need to remind everyone NOT to leave your dog in the car in this heat even with the windows cracked.

Two people are facing charges as they did just that.

I am sure they didn't intend to hurt their loved one although I don't know the details but it happens fast.

Your dog needs to feel cool just like you do.

As Fiona is pregnant, I will pay very close attention when it is hot and get her inside. But we pay attention to all.

The issue is a closed car heats up VERY fast.

You are better off leaving them home alone in a safe cool environment if you must go shopping. That is unless you live in the Beaches and everyone shops with their dogs.

Tomorrow we find out how much a replacement liner will cost us for the pool.

Logan and Panda comes, Scruffy on Thursday and the younger grandkids on Saturday and Nathan is at a seminar all weekend long. The next weekend we are at our oldest daughter's bat mitzvah - an expensive rite of passage but an amazing one with all the studying. I have 2 lenses for her, a camera case and 2 weeks of teaching her to use her camera when she visits in August. I am excited for her special weekend and having a granddaughter who loves photography and appears to be creative. She also loves the dawgs. How lucky to have the pups exposed to the grandkids when they are walking about!