Doggy Portraits

We recently went to a Roller Derby with Trina and Jason. Mitch and Michelle manned the VAGA booth there. I’m too old to take that kinda beating.
My friend in North Carolina recently got a new puppy. Elliot the kitty cat, and Lily who is 15 years old, were not happy about this new addition. Watch out Lily! Since she’s deaf, she never saw it coming.
He was much happier to expend his puppy energy practicing duck retrieval when his daddy got home.
Like Trina, I also upgraded to a Canon 7D. Got a few nice lenses to go with it. I need lots of practice for Aubry’s wedding in Scotland in the Fall. Not sure I will be getting these fast actions shots at the wedding.
Probably more like this where people stand around and look pretty.
Our two old ladies out in the yard.
Beth and Jaime waiting in line to have their picture taken.
I’m not bow-legged. Don’t know what you’re talkin’ about.
Parker is the perfect size for a Sunday afternoon nap.
Now for the head shots. Beth in bed.
Parker on a blankie.
Stanley resting on dog toy.
Stop the madness. Enough with the picture taking already!

Two Subies and a Parade.

No it’s not a new sitcom or a Pride parade. We’ve been watching a lot of our regular boarders. It’s been a full house for months. One of the new ones is Walker. He’s a handsome brindle with funky ears.
We took the kids to the local St. Paddy’s Day parade this weekend. It was supposed to be warm, but it was a bit cold and windy. The girls decided to warm up in the car while waiting for the start.
Stan was dressed up as the St. Paddy’s Day Pimp.
Various people in the parade stopped by the pet the kids while we waited.
Yay! Time to start walking.
One of our other boarders, Nellie, was pimpin’ it too.
Now for the two Subies. I was able to finagle a Subaru Forester as my new company car. I picked it up from the dealer, brought it home, and the kids jumped in to go to the parade. So it was free of dog hair for all of 10 miles or so.

Touchy Feely Jaime

Sadie stayed with us for a few days before heading to her forever home where her half-sister was waiting for her.We have multiple beds and the full couch, and this is what they do.Really Stella? Jaime’s toots don’t smell.Everyone else went outside. Did their business. Went back in. Buck and Beth thought it was fun.Beth is still playing keepaway.Kris got 10 inch fresh marrow bones for the kids. Even had meaty bits still stuck to it. Parker gave his crooked teeth quite the workout.The family that eats together...See the trend in these pictures? Jaime is one touchy-feely girl.Tried my hand at beef ribs. Quite yummy! Katy, how are you enjoying your Weber Smokey Mountain?

I Hate Toast Visit

The Zen Master asks. What is the sound of 16 dogs rooing? Parker and Beth are on the deck, so they are not in the shot. Looks trashy, but we have sheets down over the areas where there is excess dirt from building the ramp. Needless to say, with so many paws, the steam cleaner will be making an appearance very soon.16 lb whole pork shoulder prepping for Katy’s arrival.Preparing to smoke for 20 hours.Katy is immediately surround by dogs. Imagine that. She pets on Parker while being surround by Stanley, Cali and Dana.
Mark and Andrew get a good view of the action from the couch.Still sandwiched by Stanley and Cali, Katy give 13 year old Beth some lovin’.Group shot with the Park kids. I have Stanley, Mark has Beth, Kris has Jaime, and Katy has Stella. More pics of Katy's visit are at Trina's blog.Also, I made my first homebrew beer. Just a bit late for the Aussie’s to have had a taste. Nothing like a 5 gallon beer keg in the fridge. On with the second batch. Thanks to my friend Shawn at Tap It Homebrew for setting me up and answering all my newbie questions.

Sixteen Dogs for Christmas

I got frozen pigs ears and whole pork leg bones for the kids to knaw on while I was on vacation for a couple of weeks. I vacuum-sealed the leg bones for later.Beth says fresh unsmoked pigs ears are yummy.Stanley and Stella are holding on to their’s, but not really sure what to do with it.We haven’t had a Christmas tree in years. Something to do with the kids/fosters/boarders pulling down the tree, gnawing on the ornaments, then marking the conquest as their’s. Kris got a 2 foot tree that we could put on the island.After watching Beth use the stairs, we decided that it would be best to build a ramp for her. The kids would just jump off. At least Beth used the entire ramp as designed.Kris reading feeding instructions. With 16 dogs for a week. It took a little effort during feeding time.We finally decided on two shifts. Fast and slow eaters.Potty time caused a bottleneck at the door. I followed them daily after breakfast with a pooper scooper.Alle tried to gum her pig’s ear to death.I could not get all 16 dogs in one shot. Clockwise from bottom left is Abby, Jaime, Beverly, Stanley, Stella, Alle, Billie, Sallie, Sugar in the corner, Chloe in the center surrounded by Beth, Roadie, and Bergie, and Parker is under the burgundy blanket next to the table. Not pictured are Blue and Max. Whew! 16 dogs is not for the faint of heart.Dogs, dogs, everywhere.Bev had slight sleep aggression / space issues. Stanley changed her mind.Sugar and Billie resign themselves to the small beds.The kids are finally getting the hang of it.