The Summer Après Walk Routine

Hello, everyone.  It's me again - Cammie.  Today, as promised, I have a look at what Mags and I do after our walks for you.  Come on in and join us!

I was about to buy a round of drinks, wasn't I?

"Get a good long one, Mags.  It's important to stay hydrated."

I know she's getting big and she's a Prime Minister and all, but she's still my little puppy and I need to take care of her!

After a drink, sometimes we do zoomies - but if it's the second walk of the day, usually we do this:

"Snuggle on into me, little one."

"I know.  She's adorable, isn't she?"
"I ... I think I'm tired."

"Just kidding.  Ha roo roo roo!"
"Maggie, you had Mom and me going for a minute there!"

"If you wanna play, I'm available, CamCam."
"Let's nap first..."

Now that it's hot out, we seem to do more of the "laying around" part after our walks than we did when it was cold out.  With the Summer-like weather upon us, what is your after-walk routine?

Cammie!

Photo Finish Friday: The Week In Walks

Hello, everyone!  It's me, Cammie.  For Photo Finish Friday, I thought I'd share some random pictures of us out on some of the walks we took this week.  Ready to get going?  Come with us!

This is me and Maggie going up a hill in the neighborhood:

Nothing that exciting happened until we got just a tad further along - and then -- ALERT!!!

"BIRDIE!"
"BIRDIE!"

I don't think you can see her, but in the rocks by that lamp post? There was a Killdeer putting on an award-winning performance. She said, "I'm helpless and I'm dying! Pay no attention to my two little peeps across the street. Take me! I'm helpless!" It was VERY well done! This is what Killdeers do to protect their babies (who were adorable, according to my "why-did-I-leave-the-camera-at-home-Mom) and I must say, as someone who has been a mom myself, I find it rather admirable! Good job, Mrs. Killdeer! I made sure Maggie and Mom left the babies alone. And we left Mrs. Killdeer alone, too.

Here I am, on another walk:

"Have a nice rest of your walk!"

See those people down there? They had a very handsome Australian Shepherd with them. We all got to the intersection at the same time, so after an exchange of pleasantries, we hung back and let them get ahead of us. They were really nice - and the Aussie was very well-mannered. And handsome.  They complimented Maggie and me on our manners, which pleased Mom greatly.

Here is a shot of me and Maggie arriving back home on Memorial Day:

In this picture, we're walking out in the street:

Sometimes we do that if someone else is coming toward us on the sidewalk or if the grass is really long in a yard. All part of Mom's "let's avoid ticks, fleas, and snakes" campaign. Whatever!

On one of the routes we take, some people put a nice retaining wall around their garden. They did a really nice job. Here I am, taking a quick break:

"Nice and shady, too!"

One morning this week, we all four went on a nice, long walk to and through CiCo Park. Here us Sibes are with Dad:

Dad, Maggie, and me!

We've been down the Hudson Trail a few times this week - here's Maggie on the first leg of the trail:

And finally, here are Maggie and me arriving back at Ao4 Headquarters after a fun walk with Mom:

"Come on in!  Drinks are on me!"

Thanks for coming with us! Tomorrow we'll show you what we do after our walks!

Cammie!

Thoughts on Thursday

Hello, everyone!  It's me, Cammie.  We forgot that yesterday was Wordless Wednesday, so today I thought I'd do some quick captions. The photos are of Maggie and me on a walk to CiCo Park.

"Hey, Mags.  Ready to head home?"
"Yes, I'm ready, Cam."

"Then let's blow this pop stand!"

"Ha roowooroo!"
"Ha roo roo roo!  Good one, Cam!"

Have a wonderful day, everyone!

Cammie!

PS:  From "Wiktionary" - blow this pop stand: Verb  (idiomatic, informal) To exit or remove oneself from a less than exciting location or environment.  As in, "I'm bored out of my mind, let's blow this pop stand."

A Jolly Good Time

Greetings to all, it's me, Maggie.  I don't think I've told you about some of my new toys yet!  They're all made by the Jolly Pets people.  I have a huge yellow Jolly Egg, a big, hard purple Push-n-Play Ball, and a gigantic Tug-n-Toss Ball!  That one is an "outside only, Maggie" toy for some reason.  Want to see it?

"Here it is!"

Doesn't it look fun? Sometimes we play Fetch with it on the deck or sometimes we play with it in the yard, which is even more fun! Let's go play!

"Got it!  Got it!  Got it!"

I can run, run, run, then bring it back!  It has this handle on it, so even though it's gigantic, it's easy to carry!

"See?  Here's the handle right here!"

Sometimes we play on the upper tier and sometimes we play on the middle tier.  Here's a shot of me down there, running!

Cool action shot!

You might be able to tell by the flowering tree behind me up there (the Yorktown Snow Flower tree) that the photo is from a week or two ago.  We've been playing out there more recently, but I have no photos.  Mom said something about her needing to focus more on training me about certain things while we play right now and less on taking pictures.  I have no idea what she's talking about.

In unrelated news, here's a picture of my training lead going over one of the retaining walls.

I have no comment on what may or may not have happened there.  I'm pretty sure that's what my mentors have taught me to say.  That ... and to strike a cute pose as soon as possible.

"Wowzers, that was fun!"

Seriously, who could accuse me of anything?!?

Yours sincerely,

Margaret Thatcher

Am I Dreaming?!?

Hello, everyone!  It's me, Cammie.  There I was the other day, just  enjoying a little nap  guarding the breakfast room, when I could have sworn I smelled ...

"Zzz.... WAIT!  Is that ..."

"CANTALOUPE!!!"

I thought I was dreaming for a moment there, but there it was, sitting on the counter about to be sliced open!  Cantaloupe is one of my very favorite things ever.  I like it maybe even more than pears - and that's saying a lot.

I sprang up and was by Mom's side in a split second!  By the time she had the first square cut, I was in position!

"Hello.  Is that ... is that for me?!?"

Fortunately, a member of my family back at Polargold Siberians let my mom know just recently about my love for cantaloupe!

"Thank you!  MMMMM!!!"

Juicy!  Sweet!  Perfect texture!  There was only one thing lacking!

"May I have another piece, please?"

It was absolutely delicious!  I'm so glad it wasn't just a dream - and that melon season is here!  Maggie got to try some, too, and she likes it.  How about all of you?  Are you cantaloupe-o-philes like me?

Cammie!

PS:  For a great cantaloupe joke my great-sister Amber told my Davy, please click here.

Memorial Day 2014

On Armed Forces Day, we honor those who have served or who are serving in our military.

On Veterans Day, we honor those who served or who are serving in combat.

And today, on Memorial Day, we honor our war dead.  It is a day of reverence and respect rather than one of celebration.

Soldiers of the Third U.S. Infantry Regiment (The Old Guard) place a small American flag before each grave marker for more than 220,000 graves.

Photograph:  Kevin Lamarque/Reuters

"Flags in" has been conducted annually since 1948. Every available soldier in the 3rd U.S. Infantry participates, placing small American flags one foot in front and centered before each grave marker.

Soldiers from the 3rd U.S. Infantry Regiment, the Old Guard, place flags in front of every grave at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Va., on Thursday, May 22, 2014.
Photograph:  Mike Morones/Military Times

Please remember to take time to honor our fallen service members.

A member of the third US infantry regiment salutes in front of a grave during a 'Flags-In' ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery in Washington. 
Photograph: Kevin Lamarque/Reuters

May God bless our fallen veterans and comfort their families. We will never forget you!

Cammie, Maggie, and our Mom & Dad

Super Student Sunday

Greetings to all, it's me, Maggie.  Normally, we'd present you with Serene Scenery Sunday, but something happened yesterday that has  all of us   most of us  some of us here at Ao4 Headquarters so proud, I just had to share the news with you today!  I'm calling this post Super Student Sunday!

As some of you know, one of my mentors is that genius of a mancat Teddy Westlife of Australia.  He's already taught me some really cool stuff and yesterday he threw another really cool lesson my way, challenging me to a higher level of difficulty.  Oh, my!  He posted this photo to me:

My mentor, Mr. Teddy Westlife
Photo used with permission

The dryer!  I've never thought about getting into the dryer.  I mean ... I just hadn't thought about it!  The dryer?  So imagine my mom's surprise when hours after Mr. Westlife's throw-down, she found me like this:

"Hmm..."

"Oh.  Hi, Mom.  Whatcha doing?  Folding towels?"

She was getting towels out of the dryer, one by one, and folding them in the other room.  Since she left the door open, I figured I had my chance.

"But how does he ... "

"And I'm good!  OK, now to get in there ... "

That's when I heard Mom's footsteps behind me!

"Uh-oh!"

"Oh.  Hi.  Me?  I wasn't doing anything.  Really."

I mean, seriously.  I'm a Siberian Husky - why on Earth would I try to get into a dryer?  That's totally a cat thing.

In other news, Mr. Westlife approved when I did this earlier in the week:

"Meow."

I can't wait for him to see my first attempt at dryer hijinks!  I think I'm doing my mentor proud!

Yours sincerely,
Margaret Thatcher

PS:  A note from my mom:  What made this so remarkably funny is that she truly has shown no interest in the dryer before.  She did this all on her own, no encouragement from me (other than grabbing my phone and shooting photos!).  All just hours after Teddy's photo hit FaceBook.  Coincidence?  KZK

Miscellaneous Walk Pix

Hello, everyone, it's me, Cammie!  Today I thought I'd share some miscellaneous photos from one of our regular walks. This is the route that takes us past the Kansas Ocean, though we don't have any pix of us there. Whatever.  Who's ready to get going?

"I'm set!"
"We're ready to roll, Mom!  Let's go!"

OK, then; let's head out!

Here is a shot of Maggie and me heading down a path that goes through some woods.

"Remember to stay alert, Mags!"
"You, too, Cam!"

You never know what's going to be beyond that bend - deer, turkeys, or ...

"BOOM!"

... a sneak attack from your little sister!  Well, now I know what she meant by "You, too."  Hmm.

Further along that path is a meadow, where we often see small birdies like Meadowlarks, Kingbirds, and ...

"ROBIN!"

... Robins. She has a "thing" for Robins. I can't explain it! She's always stalking Robins.

" ...'Stalkin' Robins. Tweet. Tweet. Tweet.
Stalkin' Robins.  Tweet. Tweedly-dee.
Mag is stalkin' robins cuz we're really gonna rock tonight...'
No need to thank me or my mom for the ear worm."

Once we get up to the high ground, we have a great view of the area. Those trees that you see are the trees around the Kansas Ocean, and that big grey house sits right across the street from it.  Maggie spotted some people walking their dogs way down at the bottom of the hill, so we both sat down.  (It's what we do.)

"Look, Cam!  They have two English Sheepdogs and an Irish Wolfhound."
"Oh, OK.  I know who they are.  They don't come up this way."

I know pretty much who's who in the neighborhood and which way they go.  Maggie is still learning.  Those guys are always on leashes, so it's not a problem where they go.

And finally, here we are, arriving back at Ao4 Headquarters.

"Great walk, Cam and Mom!"
"It sure was!"

I hope everyone had fun! Let's get inside - the drinks are on me!

Cammie!

Not Just The TV

Greetings to all!  It's me, Maggie.  As you know by now, I like to watch TV.  Not all TV shows, mind you, but when something I like comes on, I like to settle in and watch.  What you might not know is that I also like to listen to the radio!

Not just any radio shows, though - I have my favorite stations and shows!

How about you? Do you like radio, too?

Yours sincerely,
Margaret Thatcher

Wildcat Park

Greetings to all, it's me - Maggie!  In addition to our walks and playtime, Mom seems to be going into overdrive lately trying to tire me out.  Can you believe that?  It's like she does it on purpose or something.  It's crazy - but, hey, I'm having a lot of fun!  Anyway, we've been doing some exploring in the car and if we find  safe  interesting places, we get out and walk around.  Not too much, as it's gotten hot again.  Anyway, jump in the car with me and I'll show you our latest discovery - Wildcat Park!

Before I get started, for the record and so no one gets their hopes up, I didn't see any wildcats -- purple or otherwise.  I know.  What a cruel hoax!  Anyway - let's roll!

Now that I'm a seasoned traveler, I asked if I could drive. Sadly, the answer was "no".

"I could move the gear shift thingie when you put the clutch in..."

Mom appreciated my offer to help, but said she could handle it. I opted to nap for a while with my head on the emergency brake handle once she released it. (That photo was taken before we backed out of the garage.)

Once we got out into the open, I decided I'd best pay attention.

"Do you know where we are, Mom?"

I wouldn't want Mom to get us lost.

Before too long, Mom turned down a gravel road. We crossed this cool little creek:

That's not Wildcat Creek, but I'm not sure which one it is. It could be Kitten Creek (not to be confused with Little Kitten Creek) or maybe Natalie's Creek. I don't know who Natalie was, but based on the names of the other creeks around here, chances are pretty good that she was a kit-cat.

We also passed this on our way down there:

It's the international sign for "Beware of Cowboys". Ha roo roo roo.

The park is in a pretty isolated place, so Mom didn't think it was a good idea for the two of us to get out and explore. I'm not the Head of Security like Cammie, so I understand. We were interested in what the park was like, though (you have to park 400 yards away from the actual park and walk down a woodsy path), so the next day we got Dad to go with us!

We saw these guys on the way there:

See that guy on the left? Yes. With the grass hanging out of his mouth. Based on my own experiences, I'm surprised my mom didn't roll down her window and tell him to "leave it". I guess the rules are different for cows.

Here's the path Mom, Dad, and I walked down to get to the park:

The path to Wildcat Park.  Note the absence of wildcats.

Doesn't it look cool!?!  I mean other than the lack of cats.

Here I am, a little closer to the park:

I don't know why Mom didn't think she and I should come down here alone! Maybe Cam will want to come next time. We invited her, but she said she wanted to catch some "undisturbed Z time". I have no idea what she means by that, but I made sure I woke her up and told her all about Wildcat Park when we got home!  She said maybe she'll come next time.

Speaking of which ...

"Let's go!"

... who's ready to go again?!?

Yours sincerely,
Margaret Thatcher