Getting ready...

Today was a topsy turvy day. Getting a room ready for Frannie to spend the night.
Getting things outside ready "just in case" others have to deal with the animals.

Ru was not happy all day. Stuff was in the way of her favorite spots. Piles of boxes blocked the front door and she had to go out via the door door. She absolutely refused to come IN the dog door.

The labs had a great day and Mad rolled in something smelly. Life is good for a lab. Not so much for the mom.

It was past time to scoop poop in the kennel. One lab will "hold it" for... well, forever it seems. The other really doesn't see the point. Pooper lab stayed close by during the process, happily wagging her tail. Discrete lab hid in the bushes. She really doesn't like even the concept of poop in her kennel.

A little bit of decorating. Wreaths tied onto the kennel gate and the horses' gate. They come trotting up - and are disgusted that it's not something to eat. An extra scoop of sweet feed for them anyway.

A bit of raking at the back door. Mainly to round up the last telltale signs that Neighbor Dog can't resist a garbage bag - even one put our for just a few minutes.

Happy girls and boy cuddle up in the utility room on soft comforters and blankets. They are so sweet together. I checked on them last night and Mad was resting her head on Neighbor Dog's back. Still playing puppies. Life is good for pups and horses on the farm.

Barking dogs

What an irritation. What a blessing. What a night.

Two almost "all-nighters" this week have really messed me up. I was asleep before 7pm tonight - and woke up to Ru barking her head of outside. 4 in the morning. I was afraid I had left her out all night, but realized that Mad had found her way in and left the door open. Ru's outside barking at the moon and Mad is inside snoring on Ru's bed. Who's the happy dog? Both of them I guess.

I kinda/ sorta remember Mad getting in. Of course, she finds me immediately and gives my arm "popsickle licks" but I don't want to wake up, so I send her on the way. Who knows how much earlier that greeting occured? I have no idea.

So, I play around on the computer, hoping to get sleepy again and the big dogs start a barking chorus. I let it go for quite a while, and have just returned from giving them a little lecture. Now, it's as quiet as the middle of the night in the country. Hmmm...am I getting sleepy? Let's try this all over again. Nite, Nite.

A really great Thanksgiving

Mom cooked Thanksgiving yesterday. Well, she cooked a few things and folks brought other food. I got up and barked and Carroll and Richard when they first got there. Then, mom put me in my chair - and I stayed there for the rest of the day.

Aunt Dee and Cito came next. Aunt Dee told mom that I growled at her. I just don't trust Aunt Dee. When she's around I'm pretty sure mom is going out of town. The house smelled too good for me to leave today!

Harold and Frances next. Harold wondered what happened to "The Barker". He didn't hear me bark all day. What's the point of barking when the house is already full?

Dan came and he was very nice. He asked mom if I were a "real" schnauzer. (I think they used the word "registered". Just because mom hasn't taken me for a haircut lately and I'm very shaggy now doesn't mean I'm not REAL!

Mom picked me up and moved me to the new/old chair. She gave up MY chair so a human could sit in it! :-O What the heck is going on?! She put me in the chair she brought back from G'ma B's room at the nursing home. It's had stuff in it since it showed up. I didn't realize what a really great chair it is! Very soft. Very nice. It's my new favorite chair. I even jumped off the bed last night and when mom came to check on me I was in the G'ma B's chair. I jumped back in it a few minutes when I got back from outside and "doing my business".

Carroll asked mom if I could walk. What?!?! Then Carroll pointed out that mom had carried me from chair to chair and I hadn't moved of my own accord all day. Heck, when you have it this good, why move?

Life is good. Mom told me that we are going to the mountains today. Dang, this place is clean and the chair is open and we are going away! Oh, well. Life is good up there too. Happy Thanksgiving to YOU! I hope yours was as great as mine! :-)

A lazy morning on the farm

The darn alarm was set so I woke up way too eary this morning.

Some cuddle time with Ru.
Some computer time and checking on how folks in California and Canada are doing.
Out to feed the horses - and I find it's cold out there. I had no idea during the night.
The pups aren't waiting on the porch. I round the corner and Mad sees me. She frolics up for a scratch, but El and ND are sniffing around Grannddaddy's bbq. El turns around - and frolics up for scratching. About 15 seconds later, ND senses her absence - and turns to see me. Three labs frolicing up with glee for morning greetings. Now, the horses see me and whinny. Total silence up till now. What a great way to start the day.

We head to the shed and the uncle has braced the door closed. All three labs are waiting to charge in to see what animals are there or what smells remain. Two charge in - Mad decides not to (as usual) and they deem it safe for me to enter and scoop the sweet feed. Grouchy kicks the wall impatiently (as usual).

I haven't even made it to the feed buckets and all three labs are off again - squirrels to chase or smells to follow.

They join back up with me for the return to the house and squeeze in between the newly delivered boxes of books for their morning biscuit. Each catches their treat - and then drop their muzzles to the floor within inches of one another to enjoy their snack. I feel like a successful pack leader. All is well with the world. Back inside a surprisingly toasty old farmhouse to stall some more before getting ready for church.

Life is good on an early Sunday morning on the farm.

Peacefullness

All is well out on the farm. Ru was stinky so she got a bath today. Mad is still itching, so she got a good spray today. El is just happy, happy, happy. Neighbor Dog stands guard and protects us all.

Can't sleep tonight so am surfing and watching TV - and listening to labs snoring on the front porch. Life is good. The night is peaceful. The girls are happy. All is well.

Ruthie's Universe updates

Life goes on.
Life is good.

That's pretty much it. And Mom is VERY happy for the normalcy :-)

We went to the mountains. Lots of folks came to visit. Lots of folks petted me. Life is good.

We go out daily to check on the horses and I check on all sorts of smells.

Deer still come out and wander around at night - but so far none have played with us in the yard.

Mom rescued a chipmunk that the dogs had surrounded in the kayak. Does that mean they "kayaked" a chipmunk?

I stayed inside and slept.

Life is good.

Dog tired (and waiting for my beautiful picture to arrive)

I'm dog tired.

Not only am I dog-tired, I'm sore too. I yelped this morning when mom shifted me in bed.

It's all Randy's fault. Getting us in shape is one of his "Small Projects" - although we are beginning to feel that it's not going to be a small project :-)

Part of it is Cheryl's fault. She wanted pretty pictures - so we went on a "little" hike to take pictures. A short hike, but who knew there would be 90 steps each way to the waterfall?

But, I had a great time. Went to the state park for the humans to ooh and ahhh at the overlooks. I got to visit with lots of dogs and smell lots of smells. It was fun - but my back leg was constantly shaking with excitement. Oh. LOTS of great pee smells to investigate and pee over. One of my talents is versatile peeing. I swat when peeing over girl pee and hike my leg when peeing over boy pee.

Cheryl took some really great pictures of me and the Continental Divide sign. Mom and I are (not so) patiently waiting for the picture to be sent. Soon to be shared with all - we hope!

Thank goodness it's gonna be a slow day so I can catch up with sleep and just rest.

Holiday weekend

Mom says this weekend is a "holiday weekend".

Every weekend is a pretty much a holiday for me. Well, every week too.

I will spend the first two days acting like a princess, sleeping and living on her bed or mine while she is gone off somewhere doing things.

Then we will go to the mountains. I will spend the next two days sleeping and living on one of the couches or chairs in the living room. Since it is cooler up there I MAY dig a nice hole in the soft sweet dirt and settle in at the end of the bridge for a while.

My sisters may go with us. They get SO excited when Mom is unloading the van and loading it back up again. They are just silly with excitement. But, within a minute of pulling out of the driveway, we are all settled down in our spots, happy and quiet and enjoying the ride.

Mom is excited about the holiday weekend. Every day is a holiday for me :-)

Serenade

We are being serenaded - by deep, low Laba-dog barks.

The labs are in their rooms - the enclosed porches. I fed them over an hour ago. Ellie spilt her food in the excitement of having the dog food topped with chicken. Mad ate her food. Ellie piddled over hers. Neighbor Dog was waiting patiently outside the dog door.

When it was obvious Ellie was not going to eat more, I let ND inside. The serenade began.

I just sneaked back to check on them. Three labs. All with happy eyes and wagging tails. Mad was sleeping in my office. ND was sitting just inside the door. Ellie is sprawled next to the spilled dog food - and doing a fine job of "protecting" the food from the intruder.

Funny girls. Happy dogs. Someone is going to have to eat the food, I'm going to have to pick it up or they are all going outside for the night. I think I can take MAYBE 30 more minutes of this serenade. :-)

Gravel

That's what color I am. Gravel.

Mom has thought so for a while. Now, she's sure. When I walk on the gravel lanes, I blend in. Gravel is my camouflage color.

We went for a night walk tonight. It was so hot Mom waited until late to walk. She waited until too late. It was dark.

The labs were happy to hear that we still were walking. All ran ahead, but one stayed within 10 feet of mom the whole time. She had to call the dog to her to figure out which one it was. Neighbor Dog! That was a surprise. He is the male of the pack, so I guess he decided he needed to protect mom.

A lab runs out of the right pasture. Mom is sure it's Mad - but its Ellie. That's Mad's favorite spot.

We walk to the upper pasture and it is so peaceful. The sky is a strange yellowish color. The pasture is in darkness. The lightning bugs are putting on a show, very visible against the dark ring of trees surrounding the pasture.

We all head back and a few minutes later, here comes a lab at full run. Maddie. There's no telling where she's been, but three labs in front, Mom in the middle and gravel colored Ru brings up the rear.

A very nice walk in a dark summer's night.

5 reasons for a pet

As IF we needed more reasons :-)

http://boomers.msn.com/articleGH.aspx?cp-documentid=413531

Training the grandparents

Mom left me for a whole week. That's what the humans say anyway. I don't know elapsed time. I do know that I have done a great job training Granny and Grandpa.

I can sit up on my blanket and stare at Granny. She will keep trying to figure out what I want. One night I decided I was ready to go to bed and they were still in the living room. I sat up and stared - until Granny figured out to take my blanket to the bedroom so I can go to bed.

One night at 9:30 Granny wanted me to go outside. I didn't budge - so she gave up. She's finally figured out that I'm old enough to know what I need/ want to do - and have a bladder that can last until morning.

Mom gives me children's Benadryl when I have the itchies. Granny finally learned that I can take the pill myself. They've been doing the DOG thing and shoving it down my throat. Mama didn't knoww - but showed them how to do it. Hand me a Benadryl and ask me if I want a Benadryl. THAT's the trick - ASKING me if I want it.

I pretty much know what I want and what I don't. And, although I don't show a lot of emotion well-trained grandparents should be able to figure it out.

I wagged my butt when Grandpa came in one day. That tickled him. I REALLY wagged my butt when Mama came home after being gone a week. I got out my little red dog and played! I only play with my little red dog when I'm very very happy - usually right before Mama and I go home. She asks me if I want to "go feed the horses" - that way I know we are going to the farm and not the cabin. I have to go see Granny and Grandpa and get scratched and told "good-bye".

I also know when computer time is over. Mama learned this today - because she had to use G&G's computer. For some reason power cords don't work so well after they are dropped (by accident) into my water glass in the car. Mama said I almost skipped when I heard the AOL man say "Goodbye!". I was at the door waiting in just a couple of seconds!

It's a tough life - but easier because I've finally got the grandparents trained :-)

For parents who can't commit -

I suppose it's better than adopting a pet and not having time for it...

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070730/ap_on_bi_ge/rent_a_pet

I've had loaner goldfish at the Hotel Monaco in San Francisco before, but weekend dogs?

Mom's haircut

Mom got a haircut on vacation. We'll just see how THIS one turns out!

Haircut

I have a new haircut. I am slick and smooth. Grandpa says I look fat. I wish Grandpa would keep his mouth shut. I also wish Mom would not put me in stupid chairs to take stupid pictures. :(

My new hero!

Booker West was splashing his hands in a birdbath in his grandparents' northern Colorado back yard when the snake slithered up to the toddler, rattled and struck. Five-pound Zoey jumped in the way and took the bites.

"She got in between Booker and the snake, and that's when I heard her yipe," said Monty Long, the boy's grandfather.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070723/ap_on_fe_st/odd_chihuahua_rattlesnake

5 pounds of hero!

Watch the video!

Our own Hairy Potter - complete with a scar!

Maddie's new trick

Here's the video -
http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&VideoID=10146677

Our Gracies

Mom just read Oprah's What I Know for Sure -
http://www.oprah.com/omagazine/200708/omag_200708_mission.jhtml

And spent an hour typing and crying. And yes, I know when she cries like that it's about Gracie.

This may be too hard for Dianne to read now, but it may help to know how many of us know how deep and raw her pain is right now.

Wishing peace and solace,
Ruthie and her mom

Do something about Vick

Please ask NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell to suspend Michael
Vick immediately for his cruelty. It will only take a minute.
Here is the link:
https://community.hsus.org/campaign/US_2007_dogfighting_nfl2?rk=y7_hCCM1Nbs8W

Maybe...maybe not...

Mom showed me this video last night.
It looks like the boxers had fun.
I kind of want to get invited to play in the boxers' pool...
but then again, maybe not!

I think that is Simba at the end of the video -
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jxd-7B3OkQA&eurl=

(And I don't want to meet the dog at :30)

Celebrate!

Well, just a little bit.
We got RAIN!
Well, just a little bit.

But, the little pond resembles a pond now more than a mudhole.
The big pond still looks sad, but it's going to take a lot more water to make a difference.
No kayaking anytime soon.

But, the labs enjoyed splashing and wading in the little pond- even if there wasn't any actual swimming.

Praying for rain..

Where are the big girls?

Mom let me out at 7 to do my business and only Neighbor Dog was there to greet us. Actually, it was a bit of a relief.

We went out a bit later - and NO ONE was there. What's going on?

Mom walked up to the van front passenger's window - and there was Ellie, all curled up on Gracie's towel. Maddie was nowhere to be seen. A tap on the window woke Ellie up - and here comes Mad - from the driver's floorboard! They COULDN'T have been comfortable sleeping there last night - both were all scrunched up in small spaces.

We walked the yard and fed the horses and Mad flung herself down for a back scratch. It was then that Mom noticed - no collar. We circled the house (mom was waiting to see if the labs could pick up the injured hawk's scent this morning) and back to the starting point.

A quick check in the car - yep, the collar was caught on the brake pedal.

Labs circling excitedly at the open back van door - hoping to return to the mtns. But, mom made Mad jump out, closed the door and another week at the farm begins.

We love having Randy in the mountains!

Life is so much more fun with Randy around!

He always has a new toy for us. He always had his special "Randy pats" for us (softer for me than for my big sisters). He always has a water bowl ready on his porch for us. AND, he lets me bark and act mean and stubborn and shy and he stays crouched down calling me name in a sweet voice until I'm finished with my bluster and go up for his greeting! He's so much fun!

He taught Ellie a new toss game with the new orange toy. He has a Barney for us to play with at his place but lets us bring home the power rangers and squeak toys. We haven't played this much in a long time!

And, he makes mom happy. They are always going back and forth between the places, planning the next projects and planning some alone time for naps and such. Ellie, Maddie and I go back and forth with Mom. Last night, when they came home from the auction I decided I didn't want to get off of my couch. But, after a few minutes I decided I didn't want to be alone and went over to the party. Mom heard my jingle jangle as I crossed Randy's bridge.

Randy DID tell on me though. Mom fell asleep on the sofa last night and the big girls were in the house with her, so I stayed at my special spot across our bridge. When I decided I was thirsty about 1am I decided to go to Randy's for water. He was still awake (doing more projects)! And, he TOLD on me! But, he was happy and Mom laughed so it is all okay.

Randy has worked so hard on the roads and the trees and the briars and the fallen limbs. He has a whole section dug out for better water drainage. I have a new favorite spot to sit at the turnaround now. Nice and cool fresh dirt and a view of both places. Life sure in good in the mountains.

I am so glad Randy is up there with us now :-)

July 11 - moved from other blog

Wednesday, July 11, 2007
Wednesday
Today was a jam-packed day.
Mom left this morning and left me on a pillow on her bed.
Mom returns 14 hours later to find me - on a pillow on her bed. It rained during the day - GREAT napping weather.
Wow! What a great day!
Some time to go outside for a while to do my business and sniff around for a bit. She brought back some of the GOOD dog food from Petco for dinner. I'm back on my cushion in the living room snoozing.
Today was a great day :-)

7:05 PM - 0 Comments - 0 Kudos - Add Comment - Edit - Remove

July 10 - moved from my other blog

Tuesday, July 10, 2007

Doghouse
I don't have a doghouse, but if I did I would be in it right now. Mom is not too happy with me.
We had a great day yesterday and a great evening. We went to Granny and Grandpa's for a summer veggie dinner and they oohed and ahhed over me as usual and petted me of course. We came back home and all was well.
I can't believe mom was bothered by my 2:30am barking. She woke up, got up and offered for me to go outside. I didn't want to. I'm not sure what I wanted, but she stayed up for a while typing on the computer. She didn't sleep TOO late this morning. The first business call of the day woke her up at 8:30.
The morning has been quiet. The train rumbled down the tracks this morning and I didn't make a noise (Vanity train owned by a wealthy guy who operates a two to four car operation).
Well, I can't explain WHY but I just strongly felt the need to bark during mom's business call just now, but I did. Call me psychic, but I don't think she's too happy with me right now. I don't understand it - I'm so cute, how could she be mad at ME? Anyway, she has that pinched tired look. She needs a nap. I think I'm going to take one right now. Yep, time to scratch and make a bed on my cushion. I hope everyone has a great day!
Ru, aka "The Barker" (even though I rarely bark :-) )
6:58 AM - 1 Comments - 0 Kudos - Add Comment - Edit - Remove

Simba
Ruthie, I can't imagine what is wrong with your mom or why she would be mad about the barking. If you are barking, there must be something to bark about. She should be thankful you are such a good alarm dog. And seriously, the cute face should make up for anything that she is irritated about. Just go love on her and she'll be okay. It always works for me. :)Simba
Posted by Simba on Wednesday, July 11, 2007 at 6:54 AM [Remove] [Reply to this]

July 9 - moved from my other blog

Monday, July 09, 2007

Monday Current mood: sleepy
Mom is working on the computer.
I am sleeping.
This is the first half of the day. It will probably be the second half of the day too.
10:51 AM - 2 Comments - 0 Kudos - Add Comment - Edit - Remove

Simba
It sounds remarkably similar to my day! In addition to sleeping, I like to guard the stairs though. You never know what will come by in the street that I need to bark at.
Posted by Simba on Monday, July 09, 2007 at 10:55 AM [Remove] [Reply to this]

Ruthie
Only the UPS man comes this way.Well, most of the time anyway.
Posted by Ruthie on Monday, July 09, 2007 at 11:39 AM [Remove] [Reply to this]

Following Instructions

Dianne said I should do this.
So, I listened.

Now, do I transfer previous posts or start fresh?