The New Kid on the Block

On Wednesday, Nov. 4, Apollo (Foxfire Dig's Lone Star) came to the USA from South
Africa, via Delta airlines. This is a pup that had been negotiated between Cheryl Battey and myself for about 4 years, and he is finally here.

I had to go to DFW airport and get the pup. I had been to Delta cargo a few times, many years ago, but, I don't remember it being as difficult to find as it was this time. I had an idea of where it was, and thought I would play it safe and take directions from Yahoo with me, just to be sure. As it turns out, the directions were of no use, and after driving around aimlessly for about 30 min., I thought it best to stop and get directions. Well, even all of DFW employees don't know how to get there. The person I had asked called Delta (thank goodness I had the number with me), and got directions. I could find American and Continental, but, not Delta. And as it turns out, Delta was right by Continental (which after driving aimlessly, is what I had deduced), but, getting there was a whole 'nother story.
Delta really needs to place their signs (of which I saw only 2) better.
I finally got there, and waited.
Apparently, I am not the only one with difficulty finding Delta cargo, as another lady had come in waiting for a 5 month parrot. While talking, the lady behind the counter had heard part of the conversation, and picked up that my pup was coming from South Africa. She then mentioned to me that I would need to go to customs. Oh great. I hope it is easier to find than customs in Houston. (That was a nightmare, when I picked up Legend). Thank goodness, Dallas customs is very easy to get to. But, before I could go to customs, I had to wait on paperwork, that came with Apollo.

Before I knew it, I heard a puppy in the holding area. I was hoping it was Apollo, and it was! But, the personnel at Delta would not let me past a yellow line. Let me tell you, Apollo was not a happy camper.

I made it to customs and back with no problem, and was ready to get my puppy. He had quieted down by that time. I got him out of his crate to see if he had to go potty (it was a good 24 hours. There was a 7 hour layover in Atlanta). And he is just so full of happiness. He is very social, and oh so happy.

After letting him stretch his legs, it was time to get him in the van for the ride back home. He was not happy, but, settled down after about 30 min.

He is 4 weeks older than the Emily/Victor pups, and plays nicely, except when it comes to toys. If he sees one of the other pups with a toy, he immediately goes and takes it away, even though, he may have a toy of his own.

He was not paper trained, but, quickly learned that papers are his potty area inside the kennel or expen inside. He's a pro, like the other pups. Making cleanup a much easier task.

Legend was not too keen on the idea, but, he has changed his mind, and is very good with Apollo. Katherine and Mona, on the other hand, think he is a toy, and want to destroy. So, until Apollo gets a little older, the two girls will not be playing with him. I was really quite disappointed, as, they play very well with Emily's pups, but, Emily is there to let Katherine and Mona know when they get out of hand. She doesn't protect Apollo, because he isn't her baby.

I'm hoping Apollo will be a star in the showring, and a star in the breeding program. But, I won't love him any less if it was not meant to be. I won't pressure him. It's time to be a puppy, and that's what he will be for now.

Sibe in the Box

Here at Twister Farms, we have 7 paddocks, or separate play areas for the dogs.
One of those areas, we call "down south" because of the way it is situated on the property. In the south paddock, is a covered cement area with 4 runs, and in each of those runs is a platform, and a dog house-just like the runs set up under the lean-to.
At the moment, the runs are not being used yet, as everyone can fit under the lean-to. But, not for much longer, as puppies will be going down south when they are old enough. But, even with the runs not being used, we still use the paddock to put kids in to play.
Last night at playtime, I had Clint and Sarina down south, and all the other kids spread throughout the other paddocks. Most of the paddocks I can see from the back window of the house, and periodically, I take a peek, to make sure everyone is still where they need to be, and everyone is behaving---well, as much as a Siberian can!
I had peeked out occasionally through the evening, and things were cop-acetic.
At one point, I checked out, and did not see Sarina. I stepped outside, and looked and called, still no sight of Sarina. Clint is running along the fence, looking out, and I'm thinking, "Oh no, Sarina got out". But, we have cats that hang around the front, surely we would have heard something. So, I make my way to the paddock, and am still calling Sarina's name. By now, I'm getting a little concerned, that, yes, she did get out. When soon, I hear something coming from one of the doghouses under the cover. Still no sign of Sarina, until she pops her head up--like a Jack-in-the-box.
You see, the doghouses were turned up on their end, open end up. Apparently, Sarina jumped in one, and couldn't get back out again. When I called her name, she popped up again. Then go down, pop back up when I called her name.
I laughed harder than I had laughed in quite some time. It was just so funny to see.
And of course, it's moments like that, that I don't have a camera with me.
One of the many reasons I love this breed!!

1 life gone, 8 to go

Today started off like any other day at the kennel, for about the first 3 minutes.
I had gotten up, and about 5 dogs (out of 10) that sleep in the house at night, wanted to go out right away. I open the door to let them out, not 30 seconds later, I see them chasing something. I thought a rabbit had gotten in the yard, which happens on occasion. Then I heard it. hisssssssssssss!!!!
A cat, from the many that had been "fixed", had gotten into the backyard. The dogs had it trapped in a corner--for about a split second, before it made a mad dash for the nearest tree. Where it sat for the next 2 hours. Meowing. And Meowing. That's right cat, that's how NOT to get the dogs' attention. And the dogs sat under the tree the whole time.
Meanwhile things need to get done. Sit there cat, 'cuz this is the dogs' time now.

After I had gotten the other kids out to play, I went inside to let Mama Emily out and feed the pups. In case you don't follow me on facebook, the pups have started eating real food. Anyway, as I go in to get Em, I can see her laying on the floor of the pen, and I see something black next to her. I thought, oh I guess one of the girls got out of the box. I go and open the gate to the pen, and ALL 3 pups had escaped the confines of the whelping box. They're only 3 weeks and 2 days old. They normally don't all get out of the box until after 4 weeks.
I can tell I am going to have my hands full with this crew.

Back to the cat in the tree. Once I got everyone put up after playtime, I told the cat, she could come down. She just meowed. So, I didn't bother her for about 30 minutes or so, thinking she just needed time to realize the coast was clear to make the escape, which she did. I didn't see her leave, but, I'm hoping she learned a valuable lesson, and won't try coming to the backyard again.

But Ms. Scarlett, I don't know nothing 'bout birthing no babies!

Not true, I know a little, about baby puppies.
Emily finally had her babies, Tuesday, Sept. 9. 3 days past her due date.
One was natural, and the other two had to be surgically removed.
I thought she was going to have them Sunday, when I thought her water had broken.
Her temp. stayed steady at 99.2, but no babies that day, though I could tell they were ready. It looked as though they were playing tug-of-war or soccer in there! I had never seen anything like it. I wish I had a video of it to show you, it was too weird!
I have a camera set up in the kennel, where I can watch on a small television in the house.
Late Monday evening, I heard something from the monitor, jumped up thinking it was babies, but noone is in the box. Go up to the kennel, and Em is sitting by the gate of the whelping pen wanting out. I let her out, thinking she had to go potty, and she makes a beeline for the house. She wants to have babies in the house. I don't think so.
I had planned to take her to the vet that day as it was, because she was late, and I just wanted to be sure that things were OK in there.
We're sitting in the waiting room, and her water breaks, Oh great! I really don't want to be whelping puppies on the vet office floor. He finally comes to get her, gets her on the table, doesn't feel anything in the birth canal, so we take x-rays, and count 3 heads.
Give her oxytocin here at the vet's or wait until we get home. I opt to give her the injection at home. Give her the oxy at 10:15 a.m., and at 10:45 she has the first little black girl.
So, I call the owner of the stud dog, (cuz this is his first), and she comes over around noon. No more pups yet, which isn't uncommon for Emily. She usually takes up to 2 hours between pups. The vet calls around 1:15 inquiring as to progression. I tell him she's had one at 10:45 ( I hadn't realized it had been 2 1/1 hours since the first). And the vet advises giving her another pit shot, and if nothing give one more. Well, I only had one more shot to give, so I went to his office to get another dose. This is around 3. He advises that if she doesn't do anything by 4:15, I'd better think of other options, i.e. a c-section. Get home and give her a 3rd (total) shot, and by 4, still nothing, so we load up Mom and the one baby and head to the vet's.
He gets her prepped, and I ask to be inside the OR, which he obliged. Cuts her open, and proceeds to get the grey boy.
Moments later, comes this girl, (While checking the layout of the photos, I see they're all at the beginning of the blog. Not what I intended. Not sure how to change, so will leave as is.)
Thus far, everyone is doing great. The boy isn't as heavy as the girls, but, he's fat. It took him a little longer to figure out how to find the food bar, but, he's got it down pat, now.
While taking photos of the kids, my battery on my camera went dead, and while changing batteries, well, that's a whole other blog.

I should've stayed in bed.....

Have you ever had one of those days where NOTHING seems to go right, no matter how trivial it is?
Today was one of those days.
I had planned to go to Paris today to mow my lawn at home. I knew I was running low on gas, but, thought I'd make it there. The prices are cheaper. Well, I didn't make it.
The low fuel light went on while passing through Honey Grove. Usually, I have about 30+ miles. I have never really tested, but, hey the stories on TV say sometimes you can go 60+ miles when the light goes on. Honey Grove is only 21 miles from Paris, I thought I could make it. Something told me I should probably stop and get a few dollars to make it all the way. I should have listened.
I ran out 10 miles outside of Honey Grove. Great. No gas can.
I get out and start walking-toward Paris, when I man in a small pick-up pulled along side me and offered help. He was too kind, because he drove me back to Honey Grove,
and we stopped at a convenience store. I asked if they had a gas can I could borrow. All they had was a one gallon can. Already with gas.
Ricky, as I later found out his name, and the pastor for Ravenna Baptist Church, drove me back to my van. Hung around to see if the gallon would get me started. As it turns out, it didn't. He drove me back to Honey Grove to a dollar store, so I could get a larger capacity can, get more gas, and drive back to the van.
Get the gas poured in, and voila! Success!! Mere words could not express my gratitude, as I had felt very guilty for taking up so much of his time. But, he was, oh, so kind, and said he hadn't anything planned.
Oh, and while we're pouring the gas in the van, it's lightly raining. I'm thinking what are my chances of mowing my lawn. As it turns out, not great. It had rained a little at my house, enough to make the grass to wet to mow, and began sprinkling yet again.
So much for mowing my lawn, guess I'll have to come back another day.
As I'm driving back to Celeste, I notice my left turn signal is not working. I have a burnt out bulb. No big deal.
Once I get back to Celeste, and take care of the dogs, I went about changing the bulb. I knew I had extra bulbs in the glove compartment. Double check. Yep, still there.
However, once I pull out the (what I thought was a burned out bulb), I notice I don't have the right kind.
Greeeaaattt. Make a trip into Leonard, and get the right kind. Come back to Celeste, and change the bulb. But, the signal still isn't working. Must be the back light (which I thought I had seen in on earlier), but upon looking very carefully, yes it is the back light. Oh great. How the heck do I change the bulb?
It doesn't exactly snap into place with a couple of wing nuts. It needs an allen wrench. Oh goody. I call Harry, and he lets me know where to find them. Ah yes, there the are.
He advised me, just a thought, he said, to possibly wait until tomorrow, given the karma today just doesn't seem to be very good for me today.
I think he's right.
Just one of those days.

There are still good folks out there

Actually, I was conflicted on what the title to this post should be.
One title I had thought was: "I Am Such an Idiot", and I'll explain why I had thought that title would be more fitting.
I had gone into Greenville earlier, for groceries. I went to Wal-Mart, because I like the store, and it has more to offer than the local grocer in Leonard.
I get what I need, go out to the van, turn on the van to get the a/c going, because it's brutally hot out there.
Get the groceries loaded, put the cart in the corral (because I don't want to go on Judge Judy for failure to place the cart in its correct spot), and I go to Arby's for their 5 roast beef sandwiches for $5 deal. As I'm driving to the window, I realize, I don't have my wallet with me. Oh sh--. I left it in the cart at Wal-Mart. Get to the window, and tell them my predicament. Go back to Wal-Mart, and found the cart right where I left it, but, no wallet. OK, maybe I overlooked it in my van. Search the van, no luck.
I go inside to the service desk to ask if anyone had turned in a wallet in the last 20 minutes, and again, no luck. Great. I gave them a description of my wallet, its contents, and a phone number to contact me just in case.
In the meanwhile, since I'm in town, I thought I'd better stop at the bank and let them know what happened. I had to close the original savings and checking accounts, open others, so I can pay bills, and am told I will have to call any companies that make an auto-draft.
I'm on my way back to the kennel, going over in my head what cards and such I have in the wallet. And give myself a headache thinking of all the calls and such I need to make.
I get back to the kennel, and unload the groceries, and there is a message on the answering machine. It was the lady at the service desk at Wal-Mart, letting me know, that a nice gentleman had found my wallet, and by the description of the contents, it looked as though everything was still there. I was elated!!
So, I make another round trip to Greenville to retrieve my wallet.
Thus the title to the blog, there are still nice folks out there.
In the meanwhile, I still have to make several calls to change the account number for auto-drafts.
With my luck, had I waited a while to see if my wallet had turned up, before going to the bank, I would have never found it.
But, better to be safe than sorry.
Yes,Virginia, there are still good folks out there.
I just wish I knew who the gentleman was that was so kind and honest.
In the meanwhile, I will try my best to pay it forward, whatever I can do.

Naming the expected litter

I've been trying to think of the names for the (hopefully) upcoming litter.
The sire's name is Ch. Wildwind's Strike Force, aka Victor and mom Emily is Myla's Bird of Paradise.
So far I have two names: DIG's Force of Nature, call name Ty (short for typhoon), and DIG's May the Force be With You. But, I need a call name for that. So, I found a website with a list of Star Wars characters, because, for some, this may be strange-- I have NEVER seen that movie. Yes, it's true. Never. I had only known a few characters, but wanted other ideas. Still haven't found a call name I'm real excited about, but, did find another registered name Legacy of the Force, and yet another, Force Unleashed.
So, I need call names for those as well. And if you know Siberians, like I do. I think Force Unleashed is very fitting!

The Great Escape

Yesterday, I was getting ready to leave Harry's to come home for the week. The previous night, I had pulled the van into the yard, shut the double gate, and left one window open in the van. I had gotten up early on Saturday put the dogs out to play, cleaned up runs (they weren't dirty, but like to have them hosed down periodically), gotten myself cleaned up, put the dogs up, and headed to the airport to pick up Harry.
We get back to the "farm", and I fed the dogs, and put them out to potty. Meanwhile, I've got my kids in the yard with the van, because it's so easy to load 'em up that way. They know which crate they go into. They were very excited, as they usually are, because they know we're going for a ride. They love to go places.
I get Harry's kids put up, and proceed to load up my kids. Did I mention they're excited? Katherine gets in her crate, and Mona gets in Emily's crate. She won't come out, OK, I'll put Em in Mona's crate. In the meanwhile, Katherine is just going berserk, and barking at something in the van. I look at where Katherine is looking, and there is Yeller (one of the farm cats) hunkered down under the platform on which Mona's crate is. Oh great! How the h--- am I going to get this cat out---alive? Did I mention Siberians are notorious for killing cats? Unless they've been raised with cats. But, all other cats are fair game.
So, I'm hollering for Harry to come out. HARRY! HARRY! Where the heck is he? I go in to see if I can find him. He's coming to the door. "Is everything alright?" (Heck no, did you not hear me screaming)I didn't say that, but, I was thinking it. Anyway, I tell him Yeller's in the van, can you help me get him out?
We get Emily and Legend rounded up into another yard. We coax Yeller out, while Katherine and Mona are still going berserk, because there's a cat in THEIR van. So close, yet so far away.
Great the cat is now out of the van, now to get him out of the yard. I open the gate, he doesn't see the gate, but where does he go? He gets through a small opening between the gate and the post of the other yard----where Emily and Legend are. Emily gets the cat, I'm thinking he's a goner. I hear Legend screaming (I thought he was excited), and I see Yeller has grabbed Legend. He's got a claw dug in him and he's got his mouth ahold of something, and Emily is still trying to grab the cat. Harry goes in, somehow grabs the cat, while the cat is trying to climb the fence. He's shouting "Grab the dog" Grab the dog!". I'm shouting "I'm trying" "I'm trying!" Finally, I just shout to the dogs "OUT" "OUT" and point to the gate leading to where the van is. Em and Legend finally get to the yard with the van. I shut that gate, get them in the van. Harry carries Yeller out. I check him over, don't see anything (I'm astonished). Harry sets Yeller down, and off he goes.
Did I say it's easy to get the dogs loaded when the van is in the yard? Maybe not!
Why/how that cat got in the yard, and into my van is beyond me. When earlier that morning, he was on the front porch.
This is not the first time I have found Yeller in my van, either. This cat has far more than nine lives, I swear!
The first time I found him in my van, it was 100+ outside. I had the windows cracked on my van. And I found him on the floorboard. I don't know when he got in there, or how long he had been in there, but, it's a wonder that cat didn't die then from heatstroke.

Needless to say, Harry has not seen Yeller since the "incident" yesterday. Probably won't for a few days.

EKP

I made a short little film of the 2 kittens, here http://is.gd/1v5ZZ.
Hope you enjoy.
They are doing really well. One loves to cuddle, while his brother is content with playing, with anything.

update to stowaways

Remember the story of the two stowaway kitties? We named one Paris, because we thought she was a little girl. Wellllllllll, upon closer inspection, she is a boy, and we've changed his name to "Round Trip", or "RT" for short. And despite his traumatic ordeal, or maybe because of it, he is quite the social boy. I found his "sweet spot" the other day, and whenever I play with him now, his head goes for the hand and wants his spot rubbed. He is actually more social than his brother at this point. Hopefully, we can get "Axle" to come around. Haven't found his "sweet spot" just yet, but, I'll keep looking.

Update on the sibes. I got a breeding on Emily yesterday, and will hopefully get another on Saturday, and come early Sept., we'll have some babies around here.
So, put your thinking caps on, and help with some names.
Daddy is Ch. Wild Wind's Strike Force (Victor), and Mom is Myla's Bird of Paradise (Emily).
Hoping for some nice babies with good structure and movement, and personality. I'm sure I'll get some reds, but, I don't want a whole lot of blue eyes. Bi-eyes acceptable.
When Emily is bred to Legend, they tend to throw more boys than girls, and more reds than greys. Now, we'll see what Victor has to offer.

stowaway(s)

This isn't exactly siberian related, but, I think it is worth writing about.
I came to the kennel today, to earn a few extra bucks, because there are these things called bills that need to be paid.
Anyhoo, I walk out onto the front porch, and lo and behold are 2 little bitty kittens.

Before I continue with this story-a little background. About 8-10 months ago, I had taken in about 8 stray, feral cats in to the vet to get spayed/neutered. Whenever I could get one in a trap, I'd take it into the vet. Harry has a softspot for strays. But, he didn't want 100 cats to take over. You know how quickly cats can multiply. With the 8 cats, 6 were females. These cats must have spread the word that there was free food to be had here. I had seen a couple of cats, that I wasn't sure if they had been altered. I know of one big tomcat that I didn't take in, but, I had seen another tabby cat, and hoped it was a male. As it turns out, not a male.

OK, back to the original story. When I had seen the two babies, I called to Harry. Oh great! 2 more cats. Harry had an appointment to take Pikabo into Paris, TX this morning to Dr. Love. When Pikabo originally got sick about 3 months ago, his regular vet was not in, so I had taken her in to my vet (whom I absolutely adore). Anyway, it was time for a checkup.
But, before Harry could go, the 2 kittens had scrambled up into the back end of the Yukon. Oh great! He had no time to spend to try to get them out, let's hope they come out when he turns the key. Well, they didn't.
Harry had to stop in Honey Grove and get gas. Now, that's about 35 miles from Celeste. When he got out, he heard one of the kitties. Managed to get the kitty out. Took the dog out of the crate, she can ride in the back seat. Put the kitty in the crate. His name is now Axle. He takes him into Dr. Love for his first shots. Dr. Love thinks he's about 5 1/2 weeks old. But, where is the sibling?
He thought it probably fell out. He felt bad, as did I.

His Yukon is parked in the drive, and he's having work done on the house. The carpenter tells Harry, he thought he heard a kitten crying from the Yukon. So, Harry and I both go out, look under, around and listen for the cry. We don't hear anything.
Later, Harry needs to run up to the local convenience store, about 3-4 miles up the road. Gets whatever he needed, and comes back. He gets out of the Yukon, and what does he hear? The other kitten!! But, he can't get her out. She is on top of the fuel tank. So, he comes in to get me, he wants to hose her out, and needs me to try to snatch her when she comes out.
Well, it only took about 2 seconds of water coming through a hose, and that little kitty comes tearing out.
Do you ralize that kitty rode underneath the Yukon to/from Paris, a good 130 miles ROUNDTRIP. Sat there in the vet's parking lot about 45 minutes. Rode to/from the store and then decides to come out, well, forced to come out.
Meanwhile, it's like 95 degrees out today, and very humid.
Poor kitty, probably dehydrated and not knowing how the heck she got into the situation she was in.
Anyway, her name is now--Paris.

Is this just amazing, or what?

summer sunbathing

What is it with these siberians? Today, of all days, they insist on going out about every 2 hours to sunbathe. It's HOT outside! When Aimee was alive, she would lay out there for hours (if I let her) and sunbathe. Most days I wouldn't allow her to do that, I would literally have to drag her in.
Now the youngster, Mona, has decided she must take up the habit. And of course, when 1 goes out, the rest follow. But, after about 15-20 minutes they've had enough, only to start the cycle over in about 2 hours.
We've started the graveyard shift at the kennel. Kids go out to play early morning, and are inside by 8:30 in the morning. Then they get a couple of "potty" breaks (5 min. or less) throughout the day, and their last playtime is usually after 10 at night. Still hot, but, at least dark. Now, when time comes for baths, I'll usually have them out around 3 or 4 a.m. while I bathe a few and blow them out. Thankfully, the neighbors don't hear the dryer--I've asked!

Then I have to find a somewhat cooler time to do the yardwork. Not easy to do, so I've ordered some of those chilling wraps. They should be here in about a week, and hopefully, they will help. Can't wait to check them out. I'll have one around my head, and around my neck.

On another matter, I had noticed with my riding mower, steering was getting difficult, to the point of having blisters while mowing. I discussed the matter with a friend of mine, and he mentioned that I probably needed to do some greasing, which I had never done. I got a lesson in greasing a riding mower, and probably saved a bunch of money on having it serviced. I like the fact that I can do some "manly" maintenance on certain items. My mother, God rest her soul, was very dependent on men. If something simple broke, she called for service, or myself to have it fixed. I loved my mother very much, but, what I didn't love about her was her lack of independence.

Well, until next time--stay cool.

Driving to nowhere

Before I start, I feel I need to post a warning. Adult content, reader discretion advised!
Wow, what a day!
It started at 3 a.m., couldn't sleep.
Head over to Celeste to work at the kennels around 5. Get there, everything's fine. Get everyone out to play, and I proceeded to get started cleaning, prepping food, etc, etc.
I had dug up some of my iris's at home, and brought them to the kennel, to put in the cemetery (I hope they take).
Went in house to get some checks ready for depositing, and can't find my wallet. Tear apart the van, nope, not there. Oh crap! Did I leave it at home? Why yes, of course I did.
Now today, like every 4th Monday, I have to take Harry to the airport. Today, we also had to take a dog in to check his verility, so to speak. We had him bred to Emily a while back (4 times, mind you), and no babies. So, we had to wait for a "teaser" to come in season. We load up Knighter (the boy), and Toni (the teaser), and we take them to the vet, and I am to pick them up on my way back. But, remember, I left my wallet at home. So, we get to the airport, Harry gets going, I head back---all the way to Paris, then head back to Leonard, where the "kids" are at the vet's.
I've been driving for hours, and didn't get anywhere.
Oh, get to the vet's,and as soon as I get there, the receptionist informs me, I need to look for another stud.
Knighter has dead swimmers. Very few live. Bummer. Best moving dog at Harry's, and we can't use him.
I'm pooped, and still have lots of work to do.

Growing old in the heat

Today it's 86 degrees outside, and it took me darn near 5 hours to do the yard work.
Now, mind you it use to take me about 3 hours, but, I'm discovering that with age, I get hot much quicker and need to take more frequent breaks. How I miss the days of my youth, when I could do all the yardwork at once, without a break, thus getting done earlier in the day.
I'd love to start earlier in the day, when it is a bit cooler (like about 6 a.m.), but most times the grass is damp from dew, and I don't think my neighbors would appreciate it much, either. But, the way I look at it, if they don't like me mowing/trimming at dawn, they can take me to the hospital after I've suffered a heat stroke!

Now the kids, on the other hand, have it made today. Staying inside in the a/c, and when they do venture out, there is a wading pool just inviting them in, and they do like their pool.
The girls also did their daily "furniture olympics", and now are resting.

We did have a little bit of a scare earlier, through my own negligence. I had finished the yard work, and was beginning another project, and the kids had to inspect my work (as they usually do), and as they go out the sliding back door, it dawned on me, I had left the door leading from the back patio into the garage---open---into the wide wide world. Emily, was the only one (thankfully) that noticed. But, much to my surprise, and nonchalance, I called her a few times and she came right back. Now, for any breed other than a Siberian, that's not so unusual. But, remember, these are Sibes I have, and when they have an open space in which to run, that is what they will normally do. But, Miss Emily ran over to the neighbors, around their house, and came right back. What a good girl!! I'm afraid if it had been Mona, or perhaps Katherine, I'd still be waiting-and waiting.
I've learned with these guys, not to get excited that they got loose, not to go running after them, and usually, they'll come back. Usually.

RSS feed

Well, I think I got the RSS feed setup. As I said, I think.

On my opening page, left hand side, at the bottom, is the feed "chiclet".
I hope it works.

I found it!

I found my first blog, and second! They were tucked away, and while still trying to figure this blog thing out, I found them. Don't ask me how, because I could never retrace the steps I took.

All I know is, while trying to find a way to set this up for a "live" feed, like I have on some blogs that I follow, I found my first 2 blogs. But, I still don't know how to set up the RSS feed.

So, if anyone can help, by all means, chime in, PLEASE!!!

slow computing

Well, this is the "other observation" part of the title of my blog.
My computer decided it wants to work slow today. It's only a little under 2 years old, why is technology made to last such a short time? Or is it me?

My first blog

Well, I'm stepping into the unknown (for myself), and although this technically, is not my first blog,
the other one got lost, no doubt something I did, we'll see how this goes.

I may not post anything for days, and other days I may post several times, it's all in the hands, or paws, I should say, of the Siberian Huskies, and one bullmastiff, with whom I share my life.

I do not write as eloquently, nor creatively, as my sister-in-law, Valerie, but more like, short and to the point. That's not to say, Valerie does not get to the point, she takes a more scenic route than I do.

Hopefully, I'll share stories, and viewpoints that you will enjoy. And if not, well, you know what is said when you don't like what's on tv, change the channel!

I think I'm lost in cyberspace

It's either me, or my computer (and most likely-me), but, I think I lost my first blog already!
This may be a very short ride on the bloggershere.

oh, boy, my first blog!

I don't know how well I'll do at this, or how often I'll post, but, we'll give this a shot.
My stories certainly will not be as eloquently written as my sister-in-law's Valerie, as I don't have that sort of imagination.
I'm more of a short and to the point sort of person. No beating around the bush for me.

I'll be (hopefully) writing about what goes on around a house full of Siberian Huskies, and one bullmastiff.
Some days are quite adventurous, others, not so. Especially during the hot summer months, and in Texas, heck, that could be all year long, it seems!

So, stay tuned.