DARBY'S DAILY

Together

2012-02-13T14:30:00.000-08:00

I head home early tomorrow morning. Already!

Today I miss Glenn and my dog-girls and tomorrow I'll miss Erika and her clan!

Sigh.

Sunday morning

2012-02-12T06:29:00.000-08:00

2012-02-11T15:23:00.000-08:00

Guess what fell on us in Virginia today!

We were away from home most of the day and when we came home, Bonnie and Bailey ran around like crazy dogs. I'm sure they were excited that we were home and couldn't have cared less about the snow that totally thrilled me.

P.S. I feel that I have to explain that the dogs had been inside while we were gone, during the brief snow storm. The photos might make it look like they had been outside in the cold waiting for us.

Bailey's gift for the vet

2012-02-11T05:06:00.000-08:00

Follow up

2012-02-10T18:26:00.000-08:00

The Bailey boy had his post-bobble-ectomy (thanks for the new term, Sarge!) vet visit today and I got to go with. Bonnie, and Erika came, too.

We didn't even make it to the check in counter without being stopped by a few people who had "never seen dogs like that before.

Both vets just love Bonnie and Bailey! Of course everyone remarks about Bailey's beautiful colors and he is a well behaved boy But Bonnie got kudos for being the calm, confident, cooperative girl she always is.

What I saw when I woke up

2012-02-10T04:02:00.001-08:00

This morning, I woke up on the other side of country from where I woke up yesterday. And this was my first view:

Erika has to work half day today so she brought the pups in with me at whatever un-godly hour she left. Nice way to wake up.

Uh-oh!

2012-02-09T04:00:00.000-08:00

"You know what this black rolling thing means, don't you?"

Second time around

2012-02-08T06:13:00.000-08:00

I've published these photos before in separate posts, but I like the way they look together.

Don't look so worried; I love all of you, but you the best. Shhhh! Just don't tell the others.

But for the tree

2012-02-07T05:52:00.000-08:00

But for the tree, I might have caught one that didn't get away!

I've seen Darby jump over the chaise lounge in our backyard twice but never had a camera ready.

This weekend, she almost did it again -- but the yard maintenance guys had moved the lounge from it's usual place and smack dab in front of a tree.

Time stamp -- 7:41:32

Time stamp -- 7:41:33

In the half second between those two shots, I could clearly see Darby swerve as she realized that big, ol' Alder was right in her way.

As thrilling (and scary) as it is to see her jump over something like that, what with those stubby little legs of hers, imagine what it was like the other morning when I told her "OFF" our bed and, rather than jumping off the relatively low side she uses to jump up, she chose to jump OVER the footboard down to the floor -- a footboard that is at waist height for 5'1" me! I wish I got a photo of that leap, because I don't want her to ever do it again -- and not because of the scratches she left in the footboard!

Not black licorice

2012-02-06T05:47:00.000-08:00

I like black licorice gumdrop noses (as Daisy and her crew so aptly described Darby's nose in yesterday's post.)

Please no one take offense when I say I do not like pink gumdrop noses.

Except on the Harrison-cat.

Miscellania -- Gumdrops, freckles & hearts

2012-02-05T08:36:00.000-08:00

Want it? Looks like it's still available over at Old Colony Primitives.

The Cone of Shame

2012-02-04T08:58:00.000-08:00

"I do not like the Cone of Shame" - Dug

As is often the case with good comedy, we are drawn to the humor in everyday situations. If you have seen the movie UP then you have met Dug. The loving dog with a collar that spoke his mind and let us, and the rest of the world, into the mind of a dog. In the movie, Dug is forced to wear The Cone of Shame. I find it sort of funny that these cones very much resemble a Dunce Hat. Ohhhh the humiliation...

Poor Bailey... Bailey does not like The Cone of Shame

Bailey had his "surgery" yesterday. A little "snip snip." He must wear the cone of shame while he is out of my sight and when I cannot stop him from licking the incision. This means that Bailey really only has to wear the cone while I am gone from the house and at night.

Last night we came home and I was instructed to get him to let me "put a cold compress on the incision." So, while my wonderful husband cooked us dinner I sat on the couch icing my poor dog's nether regions. I really wanted to get a picture of that, but Christian said it would be too embarrassing for him. I wish I had gotten a picture of Christian's face as the vet was explaining the procedure. Trust me, it would have been a good picture. :)

Bailey is recovering really well. It his hard to keep him from playing with Bonnie so I have filled some bones with peanut butter and that seems to keep them occupied. He goes back for a check up next week.

There is something about The Cone of Shame that brings out the best looks... :)

Help! I'm trapped in The Cone of Shame and I can't get out!

[this moment}

2012-02-03T04:00:00.000-08:00

{this moment}

A Friday ritual.

A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week.

A simple, ordinary, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember. Inspired by Soulemama

Perfection

2012-02-02T04:00:00.000-08:00

A friend of mine (you know who you are!) gave me this mug for Christmas. I like it. It says "Dog Mom" on one side so there is no mistaking (on Glenn's part) just who owns the mug!

While I was sipping that cup of coffee (and its yummy, steamed, frothed milk) last weekend, I started thinking about the saying: The perfect child has four legs."

I have to say that my human child was pretty close to perfect. I have no complaints about her other than that she always managed to make me feel a little guilty (to this day!) for never giving in to her wish for a pet rat and a rosy boa snake. But, besides that small detail, the girl was a joy -- cheerful, game for anything, an excellent traveler, a good student, honest, fun to be with, affectionate and polite to older people. As near to perfect as a child could be.

Still, the mug got me thinking. Maybe my four-legged children are a little more perfect than Erika was.

1. Their toys are cheaper than hers were:

2. They are usually pretty happy to run outside to play letting me enjoy my coffee without yelling for me to "Mommy! Come look!" or "Mommy! Watch me!"*

3. When they get on my nerves (as even my perfect human child sometimes did) I can lock them behind a gate and walk away to recharge.

4. My four-legged (grand)children are usually happy to hang out just outside of the area where adults are working with dangerous power tools. They don't beg to be allowed to help hammer nails, or bore holes, or use the saw, or paint the wall, or use the toilet plunger. *

5. In the evening, my four-legged children let me relax, knit, watch TV, create blog posts. They don't want to be read to or sung to sleep.*

6. And, they get their own drinks. *

So, maybe my four-legged children are just a little more perfect than Erika was, after all!
l
* Oh! How I sometimes miss hearing a little voice ask "Mommy, watch me!" "Can I help?" and "Read me a book, please." "Sing another song!" However, I do not miss "Can I have one more drink of water?"

Dinner Party

2012-02-01T04:00:00.000-08:00

My husband is awesome at his job. My mom is awesome at recognizing great achievements. And so she sent Christian this perfect gift to celebrate. Christian is not only amazing at his job, he is also a fantastic cook. The arrival of my mom's gift necessitated a dinner party.

Like all good dinner parties there was wine, good friends, good food...

and hungry Corgis.

And thirsty Corgis.

Bailey is apparently a wino. Who knew.

* no worries. the tongue never did get any wine. :)

I think Lois will understand

2012-01-31T04:00:00.000-08:00

what we don't want to talk about...

2012-01-30T02:00:00.000-08:00

We don't want to talk about the H A I R.

As corgi owners we talk about a lot of good things with our dogs. When people I meet out on the street ask about my dogs I tell them that Corgis are wonderful dogs. And they ARE wonderful dogs. In fact, I would venture to say that, at least by my standards, Corgis are pretty much the best dog a person can own. There is that one sticky little problem though... their fur.

So when people on the street ask me about Corgis I am quick to point out that they are great dogs... if they won't mind the hair. And a lot of hair they do have. I once heard that they shed enough hair to make at least two more of themselves in one year. I believe this statistic. It doesn't even seem like an exaggeration.

I feel the need to tell people how much Corgis shed. I suppose I do this in the hope that they will not go home and decide to get one. I do not want this breed to become "popular." Maybe it's because I've seen first hand what backyard breeders can do to a popular breed like the Golden Retriever. We had two growing up... one with terrible skin problems and one with hip dysplasia. Perhaps it is because I like that people have no idea what breed my dogs are and constantly stop to oooh and ahhh over them.

This is Mr. Bailey after a 5 min session of brushing on his rear end... on ONE SIDE ONLY. When I look at this picture I think of how much hair Leda must have at her house. She must haul it out in giant trash bags. She must own a Dyson Animal. I WANT a Dyson Animal.

This is a standard size dinner plate. This was after another 5 min session on the other side. Having two dogs has been wonderful but what I never thought about was the fact that two corgis means DOUBLE the hair. My poor vacuum is on strike. That first picture is an entire kitchen trash bag full of fur that the vacuum picked up in a 2200 sqft house after two weeks of only occasional vacuuming (not the whole house at once like this session was). Yikes!

The truth about owning a corgi is that you will spend your life living like this... looking past the hair and embracing all the other wonderful traits that make these dogs the perfect dog.... at least as far as I'm concerned.

I love them both...

2012-01-29T07:45:00.000-08:00

... but the colors on this one make me weak in the knees!

Look at those colors, that nearly-perfect Zoro mask, those "Angel Eyes" above her lovely brown eyes.

Look how the freckles hint of the brown just beyond. And, what a brown! Cafe au lait?

Here's a better shot of the muzzle frecklage.

See that brown spot behind her elbow? Oh my!

The black is like jet and the white so white!

See that brown spot on her leg? Another spot that makes me weak!

That tail!

What can I say?

Spots, frecklage AND whorls! She has it all!


And, she is as sweet as can be.

Sweet as can be yes, but a little thief who steals things -- edible or not!

I love them both...

2012-01-28T04:00:00.000-08:00

...but, this one! Sigh!

the eyes on this one!

the way this one looks at me!

really looks at me. as if she understands.

understands that i am about to make her get off the bed.

no matter that after nearly three years she FINALLY discovered that she could jump up on the bed all by herself!

{this moment}

2012-01-27T04:00:00.000-08:00

{this moment}

A Friday ritual.

A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week.

A simple, ordinary, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember. Inspired by Soulemama

I know it says no words, but I just have to say: Leda, I think your Bailey-boy found a good forever home with my girl.

No Corgi Content

2012-01-25T04:00:00.000-08:00

Crows but no Corgis. At least not in the photos. The Corgis were on the patio with me trying, it seemed to me, to decide if they should bark at the raucous crowd in the trees. They didn't bark. Just kept looking at the birds, then looking at me. I felt they expected me to do something like shush the birds for making so much noice so early in the morning!

But, I wasn't about to say anything to those crows! I remember the movie "The Birds" and this information about crows being really good at remembering slights!

Signs of winter on the West Coast

2012-01-24T04:00:00.000-08:00

Erika posted photos of snow and ice -- winter in her new state of Virginia.

Here are some signs of winter in and around our house on the West Coast.

Snow flakes! Sort of. Erika and I used to cut them together every January. This year, I cut some for me and some for her and mailed them to her. It was better when we cut them together. Sigh.

Ugly grass. Cute dog though, huh?

Closed-toed shoes.

Candle on the kitchen table at dinner time and red wine, not white or beer.

Flannel PJ bottoms for me; and an extra hairy coat for her.

Reading in the sunny, warm living room. (Cold Mountain Companion purchased when we were in Gettysburg. Very interesting aid to better understanding the wonderful book Cold Mountain.)

Fog -- just in the lake valley where I walk with my friends on Saturday morning.

Beautiful sunrises like this one...

and this one, and

and this one yesterday morning. It rained most of the day! We need it so badly.

Very southern, Southern California doesn't have much of a winter, but it's there if you look for it!

West Coast weekend good things

2012-01-22T20:15:00.000-08:00

1. Noticing that a quilt is moving...

2. Discovering why!

3. Being allowed to chew a bone (a very old, clean one) on the sofa.

4. Remembering.

5. A new load of firewood.

6. Lights left over from the August party for Erika, staying up all year now.

7. A kitty cruising around the backyard, but not too far from an open door to the house.

8. Being on the opposite side from the dogs.

9. Greens that the dogs sniff but aren't interested in eating.

10. Sniffing the compost pile.

11. Sniffing the air above the compost pile.

12. Nasturtiums in January.

13. Disobeying the rules.

14. REALLY sniffing the compost pile.

15. Sweater for Erika's tea pot, finished.

16. Chilly, top-down drive to get...

17. ...frozen yogurt at the new place in (our) town.

We had a good weekend. Hope you did, too!

Here's to a good, new week!

I'm one of "those" people...

2012-01-21T12:43:00.000-08:00

One of "those" people who walks two dogs on one leash.

One of "those" people I used to make fun of.

The truth is, it's just easier to walk two dogs on one leash. Trust me, I tried two leashes. It only took one walk to convert. Two short legged dogs tangled up in two leashes and pulling in two different directions. Now when they pull in two directions, they pull against each other!

Last night we had snow for about four hours and then it turned to freezing rain. Freezing rain is one of the coolest things ever. Unlike sleet or snow it falls as liquid and freezes all over the branches. It happened once last year, but only once, so I figured the pups and I should get out and document it.

This is the walking path in our neighborhood. It is about a mile in total and winds back behind the houses. Last year, I took Bonnie on a walk through the snow along this same path.

The freezing rain coats the entire branch, all the way around. Then it drips down and freezes into mini icicles. Everything looks like it is shiny and coated in silver. The effect is pretty cool.

If only I had a sleigh they could pull me in.

I captured this picture to demonstrate that two dogs hooked together do not always want to travel in the same direction. I suppose this is a metaphor for marriage as well ;)

Can you find Bonnie and Bailey?

Their coats blend perfectly with the ground in this picture!

And finally, the last "icicles" of the day!!! Our poor short legged dogs have to endure undercarriage wetness during all walks. At least it didn't freeze while we were walking!

Differences

2012-01-21T04:00:00.001-08:00

Most of you know, of course, that Corgi means "dwarf dog" in the Welsh language. And, most of you probably also know that Corgis' short legs are the result of a form of dwarfism.

Dwarfism is caused by a genetic difference and most mammals, including human beings, can be born with this difference.

Those of us who love Corgis delight in the difference that gives us our quirky little dogs.

When a genetic difference like this appears in human beings, however, it is considered a "defect." We call the people who have this different genetic makeup "disabled" or "handicapped" and I think I can safely say that no mother upon being told her anxiously awaited baby has a genetic defect like dwarfism takes delight in this difference in her child.

A little more than two years ago, I stumbled upon a blog written by a photographer who was joyfully awaiting the birth of her second baby. A second daughter to join the perfect first daughter. It was fun seeing the plans being made for Nella and all of us who read the blog were looking forward to the announcement of her birth. The announcement that came was not what anyone expected. Nella was a very special baby, indeed. Unknown to her parents until her birth, she had a difference, an extra chromosome -- the genetic "defect" that results in what we call Down Syndrome. A disabled child. A handicapped child.

You can read Nella's birth story here. It is heartbreaking and lovely. Have tissues handy. But, more important than Nella's birth story is her life story told over the last two years by her mother's beautiful photography and lovely words. While it can't be said that Nella's family delights in her genetic difference, they certainly don't see it as a defect and they don't consider their daughter disabled or handicapped. They'd like the rest of the world to see what they see when they look at Nella -- just another child who needs the help of the world around her to grow into the best person she can be.

Nella's parents have a dream for her second birthday -- to raise $200,000 for Down Syndrome research by her second birthday. They are still a little short of their dream with a couple of days to go. You can read about it here. And, maybe be inspired to contribute a little something.

Some dogs have short legs, some have long. Some people have 46 chromosomes and some have 47. While it may be awhile before we human beings can delight in a difference like that extra chromosome, it is far past time when we should be able to look beyond it -- and the many, many other genetic differences that we humans have -- to delight not in the difference, but in the person with the difference.

{this moment}

2012-01-21T04:00:00.000-08:00

{this moment}

A Friday ritual.

A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week.

A simple, ordinary, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember. Inspired by Soulemama

Red sky at morning...

2012-01-20T06:46:00.000-08:00

...Corgis take warning.

Yay! Rain is in the forecast again!

YUM!

2012-01-20T04:30:00.000-08:00

Christian and I made homemade sushi last Sunday night.

Bailey wanted in.

Hey mom!... Look what I can do!

2012-01-18T15:39:00.000-08:00

So a week or so ago Bonnie and Bailey were in the middle of one of their play fights

when I saw him do this!

He was sitting up on his butt and almost batting her with his paws. It looked a lot like boxing would look like if a T-rex could box. Tiny little arms waving in the breeze and useless against the Bonster's relentless pursuit of his neck.

He seems to do it all the time now. Sometimes stopping and just sitting like that. Looking at me, or Bonnie. He seems comfortable but I really have no idea if I should encourage it or discourage it. It's so darn cute I'm gonna have a hard time hearing that it's bad for his back (though I suspect it is).

Here he is again. For this one he just wanted to see what I was doing with the camera... and then...

Yep, here he is, just sitting looking at me. What a goof ball.

If it's not bad for him, I hope to train him to do it on command. He is such a smart boy it shouldn't be very difficult. :)

Occupy the Hallway

2012-01-18T05:54:00.000-08:00

Poor feline.

At one time, he had free run of the entire house; he was the lucky 1% with all the freedom, all the attention from the humans, unlimited access to warm human laps and no competition for treats.

But recently, the canines have decided enough is enough and have found a way to make their point: Occupy the Hallway! Impede the feline's very movements outside his room (the laundry room.) Prevent him from seeking that warm human lap to settle down for a nap. Make him wonder if it is really worth it to have his own special room where canines can't go -- if the canines can determine when he enters and leaves the room.

Will he or won't he?

2012-01-17T05:33:00.000-08:00

"Whatcha eatin', One Who Doesn't Feed Us? Are ya gonna give us some, too?

Yes, of course!

It FINALLY rained!

2012-01-16T06:40:00.000-08:00

It finally rained! I waited all day Saturday, although there really wasn't much chance of rain that day, and all day Sunday.

Finally, late yesterday evening it started sprinkling.

This morning, the girls went outside for a quick potty trip and a sniff around the patio, then they ran back inside where they, Harry and I are nice and toasty and enjoying this drizzly morning.

I think Harry would often like to tell Darby and Pumpkin to "Bug off!"

And, I don't have to go to work today!

Enjoy your day, whatever your weather brings!

West Coast Sunday Morning

2012-01-15T07:03:00.000-08:00

So. No rain yesterday. But it looks a little more promising this morning.

West Coast Saturday Morning

2012-01-14T06:42:00.000-08:00

Before rain? I hope, I hope!

{this moment}

2012-01-13T04:00:00.000-08:00

{this moment}

A Friday ritual.

A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week.

A simple, ordinary, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember. Inspired by Soulemama

Winter light

2012-01-12T04:00:00.000-08:00

I love the light on cloudy winter late afternoons/early evenings.

Herding the cat

2012-01-10T04:00:00.000-08:00

(sigh)

2012-01-09T05:00:00.000-08:00

I think they like each other.

MINE!

2012-01-08T08:40:00.000-08:00

MINE!

MINE!!

MINE <3

Moonrise

2012-01-08T06:28:00.000-08:00

All in the family...

2012-01-07T10:12:00.000-08:00

It has been a while since I have had the opportunity to post. I admire my mom who seems up to the task even when she is in a different state and distracted by an unusual schedule and a kitchen floor remodel.

While they were here visiting, my mom suggested that I attempt to re-create a sign similar to the one hanging over her couch at home. It is a black wooden sign you may have seen in the background of a few of her posts. Here is my attempt below. I cannot take credit for the idea, but I like the way it turned out. The letters could be a little more uniform, but I am pleased.

Christian isn't too sure about having a very large corgi related sign for decor in our living room. I told him I would take it down... but I'm gonna wait and hope he doesn't notice it after a while... then I can leave it up ;)

I think Bailey has finally adjusted to life in Virginia. He LOVES the couch. While I am doing this post he is laying on his back with his nose jammed up into the back of my knee. Bonnie, who has never been one for sharing a comfortable spot, actually lays next to Bailey on the couch and will occasionally rest her head on him or allow him to do the same. Bailey seems to like his face being squished up against things while he is sleeping.

As you all know, Bailey was Christian's and my Christmas present to each other. We thought it might be nice to document that fact, but Bailey clearly was not pleased.

These pictures were taken on Christmas morning with my husband, Christian. Christian loves Bailey.

Look at this pretty blue boy!

Here is Bailey posing with the beautiful binder that Leda put together for him that came in the mail yesterday. It is absolutely chocked full of ribbons! There is also the blanket that he won at one of his shows. He stayed right where I put him and posed so nicely for the camera. He really is such a good boy :)

Thank you Leda for trusting that we would give your beautiful boy a good and loving home. He's perfect for us. :)

Location, location

2012-01-07T04:00:00.000-08:00

"Here's our food bucket. Do ya' think The One Who Feeds Us will put our treats on this shelf where we can reach them?"

{this moment}

2012-01-06T04:00:00.000-08:00

{this moment}

A Friday ritual.

A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week.

A simple, ordinary, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember. Inspired by Soulemama

P.S. In case you can't tell, it was a carved, wooden bird The Lil' Shitski killed, not a live one.

Baggy lips

2012-01-05T04:00:00.001-08:00

Pumpkin and Bailey have baggy lips. Darby and Bonnie do not.

Evidence:

Baggy

Baggy Not baggy

Baggy

Not baggy

Baggy

Definitely baggy!

Baggy

Not baggy baggy

Not baggy.

Am I right, or am I right?

Like daughter, like mother

2012-01-04T04:00:00.000-08:00

So, I wasn't content to let Erika get something new for her kitchen -- her new, wood-look floor, shown here with the finishing touches being handled by her husband:

without getting something new for MY kitchen, too!

A new pantry with useful, accessible U-shaped shelves to replace this uselessly, frustratingly, forget-about-foodstuffs-until-they-go-out-of-code-deep cupboard that the builder called a "pantry cabinet:"

So that means OUR house is now torn up, just as Erika is putting hers back together again.

The girls enjoyed nosing around the partially demo'd area this evening.

I'm going to enjoy putting away all this mess when the pantry is finished!

I love their eyes

2012-01-03T04:00:00.000-08:00

Ha! (no Corgi content)

2012-01-02T14:35:00.000-08:00

It finally looks like winter here in the foothills outside San Diego.

BUT! It sure doesn't FEEL like it!

It's 80 degrees outside and the poor trees that JUST lost the last of their leaves in a windy Santa Ana the week before Christmas, are budding!

Puppy ears

2012-01-01T05:47:00.000-08:00

Bailey does "puppy ears" when his new mom talks to him.

P.S. I posted this from the plane somewhere between Dallas-Ft.Worth and San Diego. In-flight Wi-Fi is too cool!

Is it just me?

2011-12-31T05:59:00.001-08:00

While the rest of my family slept, I took a walk on this last morning we'll be in Virginia. The dogs were upstairs sleeping with their parents but it seems I had a Corgi along with me, anyway. Even one with a tail.

Happy New Year!

2011-12-30T13:58:00.000-08:00

May all your troubles last as long as your New Year's resolutions. ~Joey Adams

Happy New Year from the Janssen and Warner Cardigan Welsh Corgi Clans!

Knitting with my grandson-dog

2011-12-30T04:00:00.000-08:00

The floor is nearly done. The house is still torn apart but Bailey and I took a break yesterday evening.

The past three days

2011-12-29T04:36:00.000-08:00

As always seems to be the case when we come visit Erika, we've filled our days to the MAX with activity.

Christmas Day, and the flight here from San Diego is something of a blur at this point. Then came the last minute revival of a fairly recently abandoned idea to replace the flooring in Erika's and Christian's kitchen--and the whirlwind of activity that created. Dinner and "Yankee" or "Dirty Santa" gift exchange with my nieces and their families ended our first full day here.

At 5:30 the next morning we set out for Gettysburg and a tour of the battlefield. If you go, consider the option of a guide who joins you in your car -- actually drives your car and takes you wherever you want and answers as many questions as you want -- for less than the price of three group-tour tickets. (That way you get to ask as many stupid questions as you want without having to listen to the stupid questions of people unrelated to you!) From there we headed east through pouring rain to Lancaster -- antique stores, a Pennsylvania Dutch pig-out dinner and a night at The Kitchen Kettle Inn which we highly recommend. Yesterday, the sun came out, the wind picked up and we drove through the "Farmland" outside of Lancaster stopping at still more antique stores, covered bridges, and for yummy food.

It was a great trip and one we look forward to taking again because for all we saw and did, there is still so much more to see and do!

Today, Erika and Christian are off to work, and Glenn and I are here finishing the floor and putting the kitchen back together.

But first, here are some photos from the last three days: (I'm still learning to use the Blogger app on my iPad. For some reason, the photos below are not displayed in the order in which I uploaded them. I can't figure out how to rearrange them and if I don't stop playing around with this and start helping Glenn with the kitchen floor, I'm gonna be in the dog house. Come to think of it, tho', with Bonnie and Bailey to join me, that might not be such a bad thing!)

Like his sister

2011-12-26T19:54:00.001-08:00

So, I was so busy blabbing on about the new floor we're helping Erika put down in her kitchen, that I didn't tell you anything about my new grandson-dog.

Bailey was a little shy when we first met. He didn't FRAP with joy when he met Glenn and me like Bonnie does when she sees me. But of course, it wouldn't be fair to expect him to be that way at first. Interestingly, Pumpkin met someone new a few weeks ago and was just like her brother was with Glenn and me -- polite but a bit reserved. (Darby, on the other hand, has never been stand-offish with people. Dogs, of course, are another issue!)

There's another way the gorgeous Bailey boy is just like his sister; he has taken a real liking to Glenn!

We're off to spend a couple days in Pennsylvania and will be back with some good photos of Bonnie and Bailey after that.

P.S. Sammy, I really miss your sister -- my velcro dog Darby -- and my Pumpkin girl, but I know Emily is taking good care of them!

Testing the Blogger App

2011-12-26T11:09:00.001-08:00

I created the last post using the BlogPress app on the iPhone and this one using the Blogger app on my iPad.

I think I like the Blogger app better.

P.S. I am helping with the floor, not just taking photos and blogging about it. Glenn and Erika had to make another Home Depot run and I'm playing while waiting for them!

New floor

2011-12-26T10:25:00.001-08:00

Glenn and I flew across the US yesterday to celebrate Christmas with Erika and Christian...and we're helping them put down new flooring in their kitchen today!

Bonnie and Bailey are doing a great job helping.

Mostly, they are staying out of the way, but when necessary, they swoop in to lick up crumbs from under and behind things.

Darby and Pumpkin are back home on the West Coast with house/dog sitter, Emily. They don't know what they are missing!

Merry Christmas from Bonnie and Bailey!

2011-12-24T06:14:00.000-08:00

As you can see, the farting reindeer gets a lot of use around the holidays. It was sent in a package to me while I was still in college. It was supposed to be a gag gift from my dad. He thought I'd have a good laugh and then throw it away or conveniently lose it. Of course like all unintentionally fantastic gifts, I loved it. It sings Deck the Halls and that was my favorite Christmas song when I was a kid. The farting part makes it even better.

Bailey is not too sure about the farting reindeer. Bonnie had a similar reaction her first Christmas with it.

Bonnie could really care less at this point. :)

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all of you!

Love,

The Virginia Corgis and Family

Merry Christmas!

2011-12-24T04:00:00.000-08:00

Something tells me they wouldn't have sat together on Santa's lap, either!

Pumpkin has a hard time looking the camera in the eye.

Darby has no trouble looking the camera in the eye! (Lois, you're right -- she is very pretty!)

Merry Christmas from Darby and Pumpkin!

The ones that got away

2011-12-23T04:00:00.000-08:00

I'm pleased with a lot of the photos I've managed to take of my dog-girls.

But, for all the fun shots I've caught, there are many that have gotten away.

I caught this shot of Darby cleaning the dishwasher for me, but the one of her jumping OVER the open dishwasher door (I kid you not!) so she could run outside after Glenn and Pumpkin got away.

I caught this shot of the table-riser centerpiece on our beautiful kitchen table, but the one of Harry leaping onto the kitchen table then jumping over the centerpiece as he ran away from the dog-girls got away. (Thank goodness he didn't leap over the candle -- he would have singed his belly fur!)

I caught this shot of Harry running out the door just as Pumpkin ran in, but missed the one of Pumpkin trying multiple times to pull a too-wide stick through the too-narrow doorway. (The stick finally broke and she was able to get inside with the smaller piece.)

I'm always on the lookout for good blog fodder and I keep my camera handy all the time, but still there are those ~~fish~~ photos that manage to get away!

No rhyme nor reason

2011-12-22T04:00:00.000-08:00

Wordless Wednesday: Warners

2011-12-21T05:33:00.000-08:00

Only have a leg shot of Mr. Warner with a Warner dog.

This living room aint big enough for the both of us...

2011-12-20T04:46:00.000-08:00

As you can see, my misfit Bonnie dog is a bit LOUD while playing. My mom says that she was the loud one with Darby, but that now Darby is the loud one with Pumpkin. Hmmmm....

I can't help myself

2011-12-19T04:00:00.000-08:00

Living with Darby and Pumpkin has taught me that I'm lucky I only had one child. I love both of my dog-girls, but... I can't help recognizing that Darby is smarter, quicker to learn and more athletic than Pumpkin who is prettier, more playful and more even-tempered than Darby. If they were human children, I think I would struggle constantly with how to acknowledge the strong points of each girl without slighting the other. I think it would be very difficult.

Another time, I'll tell you some stories about how smart The Darbs is, but for now, I'm going to show you how pretty Pumpkin is.

I'm glad my dog-girls can't read!

Bi-Coastal Occupy the Couch! movement

2011-12-18T07:27:00.000-08:00

The Janssen Clan will not be shown up by the Warner Clan's fervent embrace of the Occupy the Couch! movement.

Lazy Dogs

2011-12-17T08:37:00.000-08:00

Coffee jumper

2011-12-17T05:40:00.000-08:00

Coffee Jumper -- The office co-worker who drinks the coffee before the person who actually brewed the pot gets theirs.

{this moment}

2011-12-16T05:58:00.000-08:00

{this moment}

A Friday ritual.

A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week.

A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember. Inspired by Soulemama

Welcome Home Bailey!

2011-12-15T17:53:00.000-08:00

He's here!

And Bonnie loves him!

I will admit to being a little worried about my sweet girl. She has only lived with Darby and only for 8 months. Before that, and most of her 7 years, she has been an only dog.

But yesterday, when we brought Bailey home, it was like we brought home her long lost brother.

They have been getting along so well. And Bailey butt has become a real mama's boy. Perhaps he already was, but I had to practically peel him off of me to do this post. Even as I am writing this he is shuffling around on the couch next to me trying to get himself comfortable. I'm guessing as soon as I put the laptop down he will be right back in my lap. I LOVE it. I love my sweet dogS! :)

Here are a few more photos of the Bailey Butt. I'm gonna get back to scratching my pack.

The new kid

2011-12-15T05:21:00.000-08:00

Poor Bailey had quite a day yesterday. Leda and he left home in Mountain Home very early to drive to the airport. Then he was delayed when his flight had to be rerouted through Chicago because of bad weather in the Dallas area. So he had to go North in order to go East! I guess that was better than the original arrangement that took him West so he could go East! His flight from Chicago to Richmond was also delayed. He was supposed to arrive in Richmond around 4:00 but didn't make it until 7:00. Erika said he was very subdued. That's how I feel when I land in Richmond after having left home very early in the morning!

Erika says Bonnie showed no signs that anything in her life had changed --she sniffed Bailey a couple of times and then went about business and usual.

Here is the email update Erika sent Leda and me this morning:

Bailey Butt did well last night. We all went to bed around 11pm (later than normal but I couldn't stop petting him). He was very quiet in his crate all night until I got him up this morning at around 5:30. He went potty in the backyard with Bonnie and then had breakfast in his crate. He is still a little stand-offish but better this morning. Bonnie seems to be happy as a clam. I am going home at lunch to hang out with both of them, and then later tonight we will try a quick walk around the block.

I did not send photos because it got late pretty quick last night and I was not peeling myself away from him to get on the computer. I will see about sending you both some tonight. :)

Erika did manage to send one phone-photo of the dog she says is "the most beautiful dog" she has ever seen.

Let's just not tell Bonnie, Darby and Pumpkin she said that, OK?

Bailey Day!

2011-12-14T04:00:00.000-08:00

Today is Bailey Day!

Please say a prayer that my grandson-dog flies safely from Leda in Arkansas to Erika in Virginia.

Pumpkin and Bailey

Erika came to Cardigan Corgi-hood before I did. Her sweet Bonnie convinced me that when it was time for another dog, it had to be a Cardigan (and then a second one!) It has been fun sharing being Cardigan moms with her. I'm silly, I know, but I'm just really excited that the sharing has been notched up just a bit now by us having sibling dogs.

Travel safely, Bailey! Welcome to the Janssen/Warner clan!

Forget Apple Cores! Bonnie wants WAFFLES!

2011-12-12T10:17:00.000-08:00

A loyal reader of this blog requested more videos, and since I am new to this and wanting of the blog-o-sphere's approval, I will be happy to give y'all exactly what you want.

A few months ago Christian and I made waffles for breakfast. Christian loves waffles. LOVES waffles. Fortunately for our waistlines, waffles aren't too common of an occurrence. That is why when we had two leftover waffles I felt it was necessary to share with the Bonster.   The first waffle, not pictured in the video below, went down astonishingly quickly.  Quicker than I could have imagined was possible.  So, I decided the speed and agility must be documented.   The result can be seen below.

* I understand that it is odd that a 27 year old girl would want to document her dog eating a waffle. I accept that I am odd... I got it from my mom ;)

The Bonster has a bottomless tummy. It also appears to be made of iron. Bonnie has eaten many things over the years. One time, back in college, she got into our closet and "opened" an entire box of unfrozen otter pops. A few months after that she decided two bags of green and orange uncooked lentils needed to be consumed. Needless to say, she pooped green and orange confetti for two days (and had terrible gas). I actually have pictures of this... but I won't share. There was another time while camping that she managed to swallow half a corn cob. The corn cob came out whole. It must have scrubbed her clean.  ;)

When we moved to our apartment in San Jose she got into my emergency kit in the closet and proceeded to make fat-free pudding while we were gone and our friends Dan and Tamara were watching her.  We received a frantic call while we were gone that Bonnie had pooped everywhere! When we got home, I realized it was pudding. How does a corgi make pudding you might ask? Easy! Ingest several packets of chocolate pudding mix, let combine with stomach juices, proceed to barf it up all over the bedroom.   (I won't mention the hard time given to me by anyone who hears this story regarding how, in an emergency situation, I thought I would be able to make pudding -- don't ask).

The take home message here is that I rarely feed my dog anything other than her dog food.  Occasionally I will hand over some scraps of meat, or a can of green beans (thanks mom!).   I have been known to cook up some giblets for her at Thanksgiving... the occasional waffle.  Even though my girl doesn't get apple cores, grapes, chocolate, or anything else "poisonous" or "toxic" it is best to always be on guard. Dogs are scavengers at heart and will find their way into just about anything whether you are feeding it to them accidentally or on purpose.

What are your dog "eating" stories???

- Erika, The Bonster, Rocco the Ferret (and on Wednesday the Bailey Butt too!)

Out of focus

2011-12-12T05:30:00.000-08:00

Apple Seeds -- Reposting, sorry!

2011-12-11T11:06:00.000-08:00

*** Sorry for this reposting. I needed to fix a typo but didn't fix it the right way!

Thank you to Taryn and Frankie who spoke up about apple seeds being toxic to dogs.

A few years ago I read a warning about apple seeds which contain very small amounts of a cyanide-like compound, being toxic but I didn't take the warning to heart because I had grown up with Gilligan the Cockerpoo who ate all my family's apple cores (along with table scraps every night!) and who didn't give up the ghost until the ripe old age of 17. And, then there was the man I worked with for several years who ate an apple every day -- the WHOLE apple; EVERYTHING except the stem; EVERYTHING -- who is now retired, but still going strong at 66. And, the two Golden Retrievers Glenn and I raised who ate our apple cores. Anabelle lived 15 years until we put her down when she was too blind, deaf and crippled from hip displasia to go on. Belle died of cancer at 8 years old. (I have NO idea why we named one dog Belle, then the next one Anabelle. At least we didn't name her Belle The Second.)

ASPCA's website lists several foods that are toxic to dogs, but apple seeds aren't one of them. The site also gives us this timely reassurance that poinsettias are not anywhere near as toxic as urban legends would have us believe.

Snopes website gives some insight (if it is to be believed) into why my apple-core-and-seed eating friend is still among the living and why our dogs have not been poisoned. While apple seeds do, in fact, contain amygdalin, a sugar and cyanide compound that turns into hydrogen cyanide when metabolized, the amounts are very, very, small. It appears that extremely large quantities would be needed to poison a person. Of course, dogs are smaller and so could be poisoned by smaller amounts, but it still appears the amounts would have to be far, far more than what half an apple core a day would produce.

Still, I very much appreciate Taryn and Frankie for speaking up! We all love our dogs like family (and sometimes more than family!) and I'm thankful to anyone who gives me information to help me keep my two girls healthy.

Based on my research and experience, I'm not going to ask Glenn to stop sharing his apple cores, but just in case, I think I'll ask him to pick out the seeds first! Maybe if we save enough of them we can feed them to the gophers!

As if shedding isn't bad enough

2011-12-11T04:00:00.000-08:00

Most evenings, Glenn eats an apple after dinner and he shares the core with the girls when he is done.

While he's eating the apple, they stand on either side of the outstretched leg-rest of his recliner and

drip drool on the floor!

As if having hair everywhere isn't enough!

Christmas Red

2011-12-10T04:00:00.000-08:00

For some reason I think of Darby as not being as nimble as Pumpkin, but I think the opposite is actually true. I've never seen Pumpkin jump up on this bench, and while Darby doesn't do it often, when she does it, she does it easily and gracefully.

Posing -- reluctantly -- with Santa.

Pine cone from our local mountains and dried pomegranate from my backyard.

Polish pottery and a mini-pomegranate swag.

Red collar and red tongue.

One of my favorite Santas.

The Chinese Pistache tree in its final glory for this year.

{this moment}

2011-12-09T06:30:00.000-08:00

{this moment}

A Friday ritual.

Words - no photos - capturing a moment from the week.*

A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember. *Inspired by Soulemama but with my own twist today

My daughter guest blogging on Darby's and Pumpkin's Daily

Bonnie says... "Hurry up and get here Bailey!" (GUEST POST)

2011-12-08T10:08:00.000-08:00

Bonnie says... "Hurry up and get here Bailey... that way my mom can stop embarassing JUST me in these videos and include you too!"

My mom has apparently "run out" of "interesting" blog fodder for today (and after her recent 1004 posts, who could blame her)... so, I have graciously offered to step in. I suppose I need the practice as Bonnie and Bailey will soon be joining the bi-coastal ranks of Darby's Daily!  And like the many other ~~annoying~~ ~~bizzare~~ ~~creepy~~ fantasitc similarities I am seeing between myself and my mother as I get older, I suppose I can now add blogging to the list. :)

I am not sure if Bonnie actually is excited about the arrival of Bailey. I ask her every night if she is excited, but all I get are blank stares and the occasional yawn.   Sometimes I say things like "ARE YOU SOOOO EXCITED ABOUT THE BAILEY-BUTT COMING TO LIVE WITH US?" in a cute squeeky kind of voice... but then she just runs and grabs the de-stuffed opossum toy and stands looking at me with it hanging out of her mouth.

Two days ago I bought Bailey a big wire crate where he will sleep in our bedroom. It has a nice fluffy AKC dark blue crate matt inside. When I opened the door to adjust the matt Bonnie shoved her way past me and laid down in the crate.  She has not slept in a crate for almost six years. I guess in typical dog fashion things aren't very interesting until they belong to someone else.

Bonnie is very interested in the arrival of the Milk Bones. Treats aren't a common occurance for the Bonster. She gets food in her orange treat ball... but that's about it. Bailey, I'm told, gets a Milk Bone before bed. I want him to feel quite at home so I will continue the tradition until we make some of our own.

The only creature I am really concerned about is Rocco the Ferret. He already gets quite a bit of "love" from Bonnie. I don't know if he could take much more from Bailey.

See you all soon! And please pray for a safe flight on Wednesday for the Bailey Butt!

- Erika, Bonnie, and Rocco the Ferret in VA

Simply Ten Good Things -- again

2011-12-07T04:00:00.000-08:00

1.    It feels like Christmas time here in very southern, Southern California.

2.    We made it through the Fall fire season without a fire.

3.    Christmas decorations.

4.    We're not getting a Christmas tree this year and I am OK with that. Years ago, I couldn't have imagined such a thing!

5.    The son of a dear friend of mine has started his own organic vegetable farm. Check it out here. Tonight, I had a salad of red leaf, green leaf and butter lettuce fresh from the farm. YUM!  And, no pesticides!

6.    Last January, I started a "what we had for dinner" diary of sorts, taking off on an idea I saw on a blog somewhere. I've kept it up faithfully and plan to do so again next year. I'm hoping the little box of cards will help me meal plan better next year.

7. My Christmas Cactus is blooming.

8. More Christmas decorations.

9. The Bailey-Butt will be going to live with Erika!

10. My dog girls.

I love my dog girls.

An almost year of stairs

2011-12-06T04:00:00.000-08:00

The girl likes the stairs!

Champion!

2011-12-05T04:00:00.000-08:00

This afternoon, I was at a Christmas choral performance and at intermission I pulled out my iPhone to download a "sleigh bell" app as the musical conductor asked all of us in the audience to do. I was searching the app store when my phone rang and it was Leda!

The noise level in the lobby was high so I couldn't hear her at first, but I didn't need to wait until I struggled my way through the crowd to the outside to know that she was calling with the good news that Pumpkin's brother Bailey is now Coedwig's Champion Bailey On the Rocks!

Congratulations, Bailey and Leda!

Soon, this gorgeous Blue-boy brother of Pumpkin's will be moving to Virginia to join Erika and her pack!

Pumpkin and Bailey at about 3-4 months old -- before we broke Pumpkin's ear!

Thanks to everyone who sent good luck Champion wishes in Leda's and Bailey's direction!

Sunday Morning -- late Fall

2011-12-04T08:14:00.000-08:00

Four degrees warmer than when I first looked.

With help from my photographer's assistant.

A pomegranate neither I nor the squirrels could reach.

They were hot when they were green...

Wreath from my grapevine -- which, I hope, hope, hope will produce grapes next year. (The vine, not the wreath.)

Darby is a lot taller than Pumpkin.

"Look at me"

2011-12-03T15:55:00.000-08:00

Darby, with her soulful eyes, has always maintained -- even seemed to seek -- eye contact with me. Pumpkin, on the other hand, tends to take quick peeks, then looks away quickly only to steal another glance a second later. So, I often work with Pumpkin, offering her treats (dried liver chunks, yum!) when she looks at me for as long as she can bear.

Here she is, making eye contact with me long enough for me to snap a photo!

Darby is making eye contact with the treat in my hand.

I hope you won't make eye contact with the unmade bed in the background.

Peace

2011-12-02T05:33:00.000-08:00

1,004

2011-11-30T20:30:00.000-08:00

Rats! I missed celebrating my 1,000th post on the day it happened. So, here I am celebrating my 1,004th post!

What a lot of drivel I've tossed up here on this screen -- along with quite a few pretty darned cute photos, if I have to say so myself!

But, I don't have to say so myself, because a good number of you say it for me in comments.

Thank you! Commenters and lurkers alike. Thank you to the 40-people-on-average that my stats say check in on Darby, Pumpkin and me everyday!

I'd still be blogging this drivel if you weren't out there, but knowing you are out there makes it even more fun!

Thank you from the three of us!

Eden

2011-11-29T04:00:00.000-08:00

"Dogs are our link to paradise. They don't know evil or jealousy or discontent. To sit with a dog on a hillside on a glorious afternoon is to be back in Eden, where doing nothing was not boring -- it was peace." ~ Milan Kundera

Reassurance

2011-11-28T18:31:00.000-08:00

Dogs operate on the premise that human beings are fragile and require incessant affection and reassurance. The random lick of the hand and the furry chin draped over the instep are calculated to let the shaky owner know a friend is nearby. Mary McGrory

Allies

2011-11-28T05:35:00.000-08:00

"We are alone, absolutely alone on this chance planet; and amid all the forms of life that surround us, not one, excepting the dog has made an alliance with us." ~ Max Depree

Unidentified smells

2011-11-26T06:48:00.000-08:00

The day after Thanksgiving, I spent a lot of time sitting on the sofa in the living room -- the living room! where we almost never go -- reading (and taking one short nap.)

The girls spent most of that time on the sofa with me.

But, once when I got up to get a drink, I came back to see them furiously sniffing around:

A part of me wants to know what they thought they smelled, but most of me thinks ignorance is bliss...

Not Norman Rockwell

2011-11-25T07:12:00.000-08:00

Well, we had a decidedly NOT Norman Rockwell Thanksgiving. But, it was a fun, festive one just the same.

The desert just east of the San Diego county line is nothing like where the Pilgrims gathered for the first Thanksgiving. But our neighbors and 40 or so of their friends have been gathering there every Thanksgiving for 30 plus years for a long weekend of dune buggies, quads, dirt bikes, jeeps and other sand toys, and they invited us to join them this year.

In the early years, the women prepared Thanksgiving dinner under less-than-ideal conditions in the tiny kitchens of cab-over-campers, trailers and campfires. Now, most of the motorhomes are big enough to need mortgages and their kitchens are not a whole lot smaller than mine! The fenced property, owned by two families, now boasts a rec-room with inside seating for 50 or more and 20 or more motorhome pads complete with electricity, septic hookups, concrete pads and stationary BBQ grills. One of the best features to my way of thinking (beside electricity -- I like not-so-roughing it!) is a giant fire ring big enough for entire tree STUMPS! No need for a log splitter there!

The dog-girls didn't join us this year, but if we're invited back next year I think we'll bring them along. We rewarded both of them with turkey leftovers for staying home and "guarding" the house.

Some very southern, eastern Southern California Fall color. Such as it is.

Sounds like everything west of the mountains stayed pretty cloudy most of the day.

The farther east we drove, the clearer -- and drier and rockier! -- it got.

Controversial wind farm. Those blades were spinning!

These photos don't capture the winding, steepness of these roads, but trust me--those runaway truck ramps are there for a reason!

The desert.

So, as I said, it wasn't a Normal Rockwell Thanksgiving, but it was fun to do something VERY different this Thanksgiving and we're thankful our good-friend neighbors invited us to join them.

Resemblance

2011-11-24T06:43:00.000-08:00

Am I the only one who sees a resemblance?

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!

Four off the floor

2011-11-23T04:00:00.000-08:00

She looks like she's flying!

Look this way

2011-11-22T04:00:00.000-08:00

Let's look this way:

Then this way,

and finally, this way.

(I have no idea what they were looking at, but it was fun to watch their heads swiveling in the same direction.)

Simply Ten Good Things

2011-11-21T04:00:00.000-08:00

Simply ~~ten~~ eleven good things:

1. Cousins who don't see each other often, getting to spend time together.

2. Family that doesn't get together often enough, getting together.

3. A good camera.

4. My country, where there is room for many styles of life and many opinions.

5. Enough time on a Saturday afternoon to watch a very big balloon being inflated.

6. Smart phone technology.

7. Autumn leaves that stay on the tree for a long time.

8. A gift from a thoughtful friend.

9. My dog-girls.

10. The sky before rain.

11. Dinner with my girl.

Erika -- and Leda -- need your help

2011-11-19T05:51:00.000-08:00

See this cute little boy?

When he finishes his Championship, he will be joining the east coast branch of the Janssen/Warner Corgi Clan.

Erika has been wanting a friend for Bonnie for awhile and when she and Christian decided the time was right, a plea for a puppy was sent to Leda.

It turns out Leda would soon be looking for a forever home for Pumpkin's brother, Bailey. Erika has always wanted a Blue, so the deal was sealed!

Now, this is where you come in. Leda said a bunch of indecipherable (to me) stuff like: "needs one major" and "take Best of Winners to get the girls' major (if it holds), but nothing is impossible," that would have to happen in order for Bailey to finish his championship. The sooner he finishes his championship, the sooner Erika will get her anxious little mitts on the gorgeous guy.

So, be thinking encouraging thoughts for Leda and the Pumpkin-girl's brother, OK?

I'll keep you posted on their progress. And, I'll update you on the coat of arms and tartan pattern I'm designing for the growing Janssen/Warner Corgi Clan!

{this moment}

2011-11-18T05:52:00.000-08:00

{this moment}

A Friday ritual.

A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week.*

A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember. Inspired by Soulemama

* OK. So I'm cheating a little; this photo was really taken last week, but still...

Family photos

2011-11-17T19:51:00.000-08:00

This shot made me think of the way many, many family photos turn out:

Velcro dog

2011-11-16T04:00:00.000-08:00

I tried to get a photo of her lying down with her head on my foot, but when I put down the hair dryer and picked up my iPhone, she stood up.

Sorry -- still no Corgi Content

2011-11-15T05:58:00.000-08:00

My dog-girls were as happy to see me when I came home last night as I was to see them! In fact, they forgot their "sit and be petted" manners (which are only so strongly ingrained, anyway!) and I let them forget.

My granddaughter dog, Bonnie, was equally as happy to see me when I arrived in Virginia, and she, too, forgot her manners. She is VERY well-mannered, so that did send a message to her happy grandma! I feel badly that I didn't get a single photo of her in the three days, four nights I was on the East Coast. But, Erika and I were busy, busy!

Erika's neighborhood is pretty; especially this time of year.

My daughter is pretty, any time of year but especially when she is wearing a new cowl knit by her mother.

On the way to Luray Caverns. It never got any warmer that day.

We've made this drive many times now, but I never get over how pretty the Virginia countryside is.

My nieces and nephews (minus one who stayed "up top.")

Outside Starbucks in Fredericksburg on Saturday morning as Erika and I headed toward Lancaster, Pennsylvania

Amish farm in the Lancaster areas. (Erika was very taken with the laundry decorating every farmhouse!)

I know there is photography etiquette, but I didn't educate myself about it. I hope this long-distance, taken-from-a-moving-car photo isn't an intrusion.

I love not being on a time schedule. Erika and I stood and watched for quite some time as the balloon was filled, the people climbed in the basket and they lift off.

A second balloon lifted off at about the same time; we kept seeing both as we drove through the beautiful farmland.

Driving through this beautiful area and thinking about how the Amish live their lives, caused me to reflect on my busy life. Sometimes, barreling down the crowded freeway on my way to work, I think I would gladly trade my life for one on an Amish farm. But, what else would I be willing to give up? A clothes dryer, my electric steamed milk frother? Yes! But, what about my iPhone and the wonders of the Internet?

Heading home

2011-11-14T04:12:00.000-08:00

I'm heading home after a lovely weekend exploring parts of Virginia and Pennsylvania with my East Coast family.

Traveling

2011-11-09T05:50:00.000-08:00

I'm so excited! I leave tomorrow morning for a long-weekend visit with Erika, Christian and the Bonnie-dog. In case you forgot about my granddaughter dog, here is a photo to remind you:

I'll miss Glenn and my dog-girls, but it will be so nice to see my East Coast family again, if only for a short visit.

Cool weather; frisky dogs

2011-11-08T05:36:00.000-08:00