Who We Are

Friday, January 31, 2020

Finally Friday

Hello, everyone!  It's me, Cammie.  It's finally Friday!

IMG_2586CamWalk

Let's get out there and enjoy the weekend!

Cammie!

Thursday, January 30, 2020

The Inner Sanctum

Hello, everyone!  It's me, Cammie!  Sometimes, when Maggie and I go downstairs for Pickle time and to help our mom, I stand Guard Duty in the inner part of the Studio -- like this:

IMG_1804CamStudio
"Oh, wait.  Did I finish my Pickle?"

It's a tough job, but somebody's got to do it. 

Cammie!

Wednesday, January 29, 2020

Tuesday, January 28, 2020

Supervising In The Studio

Hello, everyone!  It's me, Cammie.  The other day, Mags and I went downstairs to our mom's Studio for a little Pickle time.  After we were done, I realized Mom needed my attention.

IMG_2896CamStudio
"Shouldn't you be sewing the binding on 'the world's largest quilt' instead of starting something new?"
"Oh.  Yeah ... err ... I ... umm ..."

And she says Maggie has a short attention span!  She needs a LOT of supervision!

Cammie!

Monday, January 27, 2020

Fin-Ectomy

Greetings to all!  It's me, Maggie.  Dr. Maggie, that is.  As you may have heard, I performed a smashingly successful Fin-Ectomy on Fishie.  Here's a shot of us together:

IMG_2754MagsFishie
Me - Dr. Maggie - and my patient, Fishie

That was right after his surgery, and you can see, he was still doing very well.  Oh, right.  I may have removed a tag while I was at it.

Would you like to see a close-up of my work?  Here's a shot Mom took during the procedure itself:

IMG_2750MagsFishie
Fin-Ectomy in progress

Should I have warned you?  It might not be suitable viewing for those prone to be squeamish.

IMG_2752MagsFishie
"Cam!  He's going to be OK - I promise!  You can look now!"
"Glub."

Anyway, he continues to do well - mostly because he's in the secret closet where Mom stashes our "under supervision only" toys.  He's been out a few times, but Cam and I are treating him gently.  For now.


Yours sincerely,
Margaret Thatcher

Sunday, January 26, 2020

Serene Scenery Sunday

Hello, everyone. It's me, Cammie. For Serene Scenery Sunday, I thought I'd just post this:

IMG_2798Cammie

Sometimes that's all it takes to feel the serenity!

Have a wonderful Sunday.

Cammie!

Saturday, January 25, 2020

Have A Ball

Greetings to all!  It's me, Maggie.  The other day, my mom got a call from our friend Aunt Beth.  It would appear that one of her Border Collies was going to be starring in a commercial for the Veterinary Health Center at Kansas State University and ... did we have a football?  This is the only one we had:

IMG_2852Football

I mean, it's about 13" in diameter at its widest. The whole point was for Flynt to catch it ... and it's sort of hard and big, so ... we didn't think it would work.

Oh, right. I know. You're thinking, "Why didn't your mom toss it to you, Maggie? Then you could see if it's catchable." Yeah. Only I don't catch. I just don't. It's a Siberian thing.

To make a long story short, we squared Aunt Beth away with a football stuffy - and later learned Flynt did an AWESOME job with it! If we get a link to his commercial, we'll link it up! But now ... what to do with our football? It's normally an "outside only" toy, but Mom decided since it was in the house anyway ... she and I should play a little football!

She threw it a bunch of times and I blocked it; I zoomed and zoomed and ran and ran; I had a ball! And then ...

IMG_2858MagsFootball
"Oh, wow.  Look at this!"

Yep.  Starting to spontaneously explode.

Then Mom threw it for me a few more times and ...

IMG_2867MagsFootball
"Hey!  Hey!  Check it out!"

Isn't that amazing!??!  I mean, don't they always tell football players to "attack the ball"!?!  I think the Kansas City Chiefs could use me, don't you!?!?

Mom was so proud of me, she posted this next photo to FaceBook:

IMG_2870MagsFootball
"Aw, shucks, Mom!"

Mom says I have some serious skills.  All I know is I had a ball!

Yours sincerely,
Margaret Thatcher

Friday, January 24, 2020

Mike + The Mechanics

Greetings to all!  It's me, Maggie!  The other day, our dad (known to some as "Mike"), was out running some errands - one of which took him by the hardware store.  While there, he picked up some new tools!

IMG_2886MagsMikeCam
"Look, girls!  What do you think?!?"
"Oooh!  Cool, Dad!"
"Is that a wrench?"
IMG_2882MagsMikeCam
"Yeah.  A hammer ... and that's a wrench, alright!"
"I like the wrench!"
IMG_2876MagsMikeCam
"Who wants to help me with my new tools?!?"
"I'm in!"
"Me, too!"

Isn't that cool?!?  We're like that 80s group, Mike + the Mechanics!

IMG_2888MagsHammer
"I claimed the hammer.  This may well be the very last photograph we have of it."
IMG_2890CamMagsToys
"The wrench is still intact.  And may I say ...
...if I had a hammer, I could still hammer in the morning.
I'd hammer in the evening, all over this land.  Or at least in the living room."

"Uh-oh.  The hammer seems to have exploded over here ...!"

AWFULLY fun tools!  They sure don't make them like they used to, though.

Yours sincerely,
Margaret Thatcher

Thursday, January 23, 2020

Weather Check

Hello, everyone!  It's me, Cammie.  We had snow ... then rain ... then a little more snow ... then rain ... and now we basically have nothing. The "experts" say we're going to get more rain ... then snow again today. I went out back to check it out:

IMG_2796CamBackyard
"Hmm ... pointing my snooter towards Colorado ... sensing ... sensing ... "
IMG_2797CamBackyard
"Nah.  Nothing yet."
IMG_2803CamBackyard
"Are you coming, Mom?"

Oh, the wet weather's out there - just not yet.  We're ready for it!

This has been an Ao4 Weather Moment.

Cammie!

Wednesday, January 22, 2020

Wordless Wednesday

IMG_2819MagsEggplant

Yours sincerely,
Margaret Thatcher

Tuesday, January 21, 2020

Back-Up

Hello, everyone!  It's me, Cammie!  About my post from yesterday ...

IMG_2778CamMagsPlayBow
"Uh-oh!  A little help here?"
"Ha ROO!"

I'm going to need some back-up.  Would anyone like to join us?

Cammie!

Monday, January 20, 2020

Crazed River Otter Warning!

Hello, everyone!  It's me, Cam.  Mom and I were heading down to the Studio the other day when ...

IMG_2559MagsPlayBowToCam
"HA ROO!"
"Oh, no!  Look out, Mom! It's a Crazed River Otter!!!"

I had issued a watch earlier, but it turned into a full-scale warning right then and there!  Beware of Crazed River Otters; they can strike at any time!

Cammie!

Sunday, January 19, 2020

Totally Not Serene Scenery Sunday

Greetings to all!  It's me, Maggie!  There I was, on my morning walk, when I noticed something totally not serene.  Check this out:

IMG_1552MagsNoDogsAllowed
"What the fluff?  'No dogs on school grounds'?!?"

I mean how on EARTH are the kids supposed to learn anything if they don't allow pups on school property?  Oh, wait.  Maybe just not on the grounds - but we can go in the building.  Yeah.  That's got to be it.

Yours sincerely,
Margaret Thatcher

Saturday, January 18, 2020

Busted

Greetings to all!  It's me, Maggie!  Cam and I went downstairs to help our mom in her Studio the other day.  I had finished my Pickle, but Cam was still working on hers and Mom was engrossed in sewing the binding on the world's largest quilt (or something like that), so I went off to do a little exploring.  I figured I had all the time in the world!

IMG_2764MagsCloset
"So many interesting things!  And hey, is that ---"
"Umm ... excuse me, Ms. Thatcher?"

Busted.  I thought I saw Roger the (stuffed) Rat in the closet; I need to be quicker next time!

Yours sincerely, 
Margaret Thatcher

Friday, January 17, 2020

Photo Finish Friday

Hello, everyone!  It's me, Cammie.  Ao4 Headquarters is getting hit by another ice storm again today.  We were supposed to have snow, too, but that didn't pan out.  We'd MUCH rather have snow than ice -- and even Mom and Dad are with us on that one!

Since we can't venture out very far right now, we thought we'd share a photo Mom snapped of me in the backyard a couple of days ago:

IMG_2673Cammie

It was cold and crisp - and no slip 'n' slide action!!!

To our friends in the path of this latest storm, please stay safe!

Cammie!

Thursday, January 16, 2020

Something's ... Fishy

Hello, everyone!  It's me, Cammie.  The other afternoon, Mom let Maggie and me play with our new stuffies - the Fishy and the Sloth I got for my birthday!  She offered the Sloth to me, but I wanted to try the Fishy!

Knowing that Dr. Maggie had performed a small yet successful Fin-ectomy, I checked him out carefully:

IMG_2740CamFishy
"How's that partial fin doing, Fishy?"

He seemed just fine!  Mags is a very gifted surgeon!

IMG_2738CamFishy
"Do you think I should give him a few chews?"

I did try him out a bit, but ...

IMG_2737CamTastesFishy
"He tastes a bit fishy!"

Ha roo woo roo!

Oh.  And don't worry -- surprisingly, my Sloth doesn't even have a dent on him!  Maggie was very gentle with him! (Whew!)

Cammie!

Wednesday, January 15, 2020

Wordless Wednesday

IMG_2722MagsDonut

Yours sincerely,
Margaret Thatcher

Tuesday, January 14, 2020

Guess What I Got?!?

Greetings to all!  It's me, Maggie.  Guess what I got yesterday?!?  Check it out:

IMG_2729MagsNewBedBox
"Is this great or what?!?"

A new BOX!!!!!!!

Oh.  Right.  And a new bed.  It's by those great people at Wash 'N Zip and I just love it.  Oh, sure.  We have 4 other ones by them, but this one is a medium as opposed to a large.  It fits right inside of 10 Downing Street and is super cushiony!  I love sleeping in there at night anyway, but now I REALLY love being in there!

And I love being in here:

IMG_2731MagsNewBedBox
"Anyone feel like doing a little boxing?"

If anyone would like to join me, it's a nice, roomy box!  And if you're in the market for a very comfy, easy to toss in the wash bed, please check out Wash 'N Zip!  (This is a non-paid endorsement; we just love their beds!)

Yours sincerely,
Margaret Thatcher

Monday, January 13, 2020

Ice, Ice Baby

Hello, everyone.  It's me, Cammie.  As I mentioned yesterday, we got hit by an ice storm.  It was so nasty that the grass was spiky and sharp and hurt our feety-feet when we tried to walk on it.  No fun at ALL!  Then ... we got more yesterday evening.  Oh, sure, it sort of looks pretty ...

IMG_2715IceStorm

... but where does the slip 'n' slide, spiky grass leave Maggie and me? Right about here:

IMG_2721MagsCam
"This is so not cool, Cam."
"I know, Mags.  I know."

Mom's doing her best to entertain us in the house, but we are B-O-R-E-D! Who'd have thought we Siberians would be hoping for a thaw?!?

Cammie!

Sunday, January 12, 2020

Serene Scenery Sunday

Hello, everyone!  It's me, Cammie.  Like many of you, we got hit by some rather nasty weather starting on Friday.  Oh, no - we didn't get the lovely snow some of our friends got, we got ICE.  We do not like ice, as we can't really go anywhere or do anything outside that's fun.  So ... for Serene Scenery Sunday, Maggie and I thought we'd share pix from a couple days ago when it was in the 50s out there.

We got to have backyard playtime together.  We decided rather than running around like Crazed River Otters, we'd offer up some poses.  It could have been the extra-long walk Dad had taken Maggie on earlier, but whatever the case, it made Mom really happy!

We struck this pose under the Maples:

IMG_2616MagsCamBackyard
"Do a Tough Girl Look, Cam!"
"Got it, Mags!"

We came up with that all by ourselves! Mom asked Maggie to look more in her direction:

IMG_2619MagsCamBackyard
"Fine, but I'm still doing a Tough Girl Look."
"Me, too."

Up in the Friendship Garden, Maggie sat on a big chunk of limestone and I did a Super Model pose beside her:

IMG_2613CamMagsBackyard
Me and Maggie!

It all made our mom feel mighty serene!

Have a wonderful Sunday!

Cammie!

Saturday, January 11, 2020

Ooh, Comfy!

Greetings to all!  It's me, Maggie!  You know - the rough and tumble, outdoorsy sort?  Yep, that's me. Only ... I heard Mom doing stuff in the bedroom, and went in to investigate.  I saw that she had folded a quilt and stacked it on top of the quilt at the end of the bed.  I waited until she stepped away, then did what came naturally:

IMG_2606MagsQuilts
"Um ... Mags?  I was only putting that there for a sec ..."
"You snooze, you lose, Mom!"

She asked if I'd like to move so she could finish folding the extra quilt.

IMG_2607MagsQuilts
"No ... no, not really.  This is reeeeeeeeally comfy!"

She let me stay there and take a nice nap.  I couldn't help it.  It was soooo comfy!  I think she should leave it there all the time - don't you?!?

Yours sincerely,
Margaret Thatcher

Friday, January 10, 2020

Yes, WE Know What Time It Is

Greetings to all!  It's me, Mags.  The other afternoon, Cam and I hit the Studio with Mom.  When we got down there, she looked at us and asked if we knew what time it was.

IMG_2388CamMagsPickleTime
"Yes.  Yes, we do."
"Yeah.  It's high time you put some treats in our PICKLES!!!"

Seriously.  Like we didn't know what time it was!  Do your bipeds ever run a bit late with important things?

Yours sincerely,
Margaret Thatcher

Thursday, January 09, 2020

Our New Toys!

Hello, everyone!  It's me, Cammie!  Before I get started, I'd like to thank everyone for the happy birthday wishes!  I had a really nice day, made even more special by all of you!

As you may have guessed from yesterday's post, we got new toys for my birthday!  I say "we" because Maggie and I love sharing with each other.  Here's how it all went:

After lunch, Mom went into the secret closet and seemed to be doing something in there.  Mags and I thought we should investigate!

IMG_2621MagsCam
"Mom!  Whatcha doing?  Are you sneaking around?"
"No ... well, yes.  I mean ... I have something for Cammie!"
"For ME?!?"

Then she suggested we all go into the living room to see what she had!

IMG_2622MagsCamToy
"Look!  It's a Sloth!"
"GASP!  I thought it was Sock Monkey at first!"
"I think that one should be mine ..."
IMG_2623MagsCamToys
"And a Rainbow Trout!"
"Oooh, Sushi!  Uh, I mean a Fishy!!!"
"Where did that Sloth go?"

I really was interested in the Sloth - he's just so cute!  And given his resemblance to Sock Monkey, I thought he'd be safer with me.  I told Maggie she could have the Trout.

She wasn't quite sure what to make of him at first, but then Mom played Siberian Rules Fetch with her for a while, then played a game of Tuggy-Tug.

IMG_2647MagsToy
"Geeeve me the feeeshy, Mom!"

Mom always lets Maggie win at Tuggy-Tug.

We settled in for some quality time with our new toys:

IMG_2660MagsCamToys
"What did you say, Fishy?!?"
"SQUEAK!!!!!"
"I'm glad you're the quiet type, Sloth!"

My Sloth can squeak, but I play with him so gently that he doesn't.

IMG_2666CamMagsToys
"I can make him squeak, Cam!"
"You guys don't think I'm going to let that happen, do you?"

Anyway, I'm happy to say that after about half an hour of supervised play, my Sloth is still in great shape.  Maggie's Trout had a small fin-ectomy performed, but other than that, he's looking good!  The toys are by Fluff & Tuff; Mom and Dad got them from Amazon, but I'm sure they're found many places!  Our friend Matilda the Boxer gave us a heads up about these being tougher than most other stuffies - and she was right!  Thank you, sweet friend!!!  

We just love our new toys!  Thanks again for all the birthday kindness!!!

Cammie!

Wednesday, January 08, 2020

Tuesday, January 07, 2020

Happy Birthday To Cammie!

Greetings to all!  It's me, Mags, here with the birthday girl herself -- Cammie!

IMG_2602MagsCam
"Everybody please join me in wishing Cam a happy 12th birthday!!!"
"Treats for everyone!!!"

That's right - it's the big 1-2!!!  We've got a fun day planned for her.  Cam already took Mom on a nice sunrise walk:

IMG_2589CamSunriseWalk
"Almost home, Mom!"

And while I was out giving Dad a workout, she had some backyard playtime!

IMG_2573CamBackyard
"Let's stop and reflect a moment ..."

Doesn't she look absolutely regal!??!

We've got lots more planned - Pickle Time, maybe a little bit of gentle Crazed River Otter Games, and ... Mom doesn't know this, but I saw her and Dad sneak some presents into the secret closet!

IMG_2600MagsCam
"Didn't you, Mom?"
"Presents?!?  Really?!?"
"Who ... me?!?"

I think she's trying to hold off until after lunch.  We'll see.  Anyway - please join me in wishing the best sister ever a most WONDERFUL 12th birthday!!!

Yours sincerely,
Margaret Thatcher