Who We Are

Tuesday, March 31, 2020

Mulch Mania!

Hello, everyone!  It's me, Cammie!  Yesterday morning, after breakfast and our walks, Mags and I went out for a potty break at about 0830 and found this in our driveway:

IMG_3736CamMags5ydsMulch
"What the fluff?!?"
"What do you think?  Woodchuck?  Beaver?  My money's on a Woodchuck. Where is he?"

Mom said it wasn't a Woodchuck, it was a nice man in a very large truck.  Maggie and I weren't allowed to meet him - something about "social distancing".  Whatever.  We thought we should check it out:

IMG_3737MagsCamMulch
"It's mulch, Cam."
"Is it tasty?"

For some reason, Mom wouldn't let us eat it.  I don't want to say anything, but she can be a real killjoy sometimes!

So ... Mom and Dad waved a magic wand and in no time at all ...

IMG_3789AllDone
Mulch-be-gone!

... it was all done!

Just kidding.  Mom and Dad worked themselves silly for a good part of the day spreading the mulch in various beds around Ao4 Headquarters.  Apparently all the work they had been doing outside was in preparation for the big Mulch-a-Palooza.  We'll share more pix later, but here's one "before and after"!  Here is the Butterfly Garden all weeded, trimmed up, and weed preventative spread out:

IMG_3716ButterflyGarden
BEFORE

And here it is now:

IMG_3743ButterflyGarden
AFTER

The mulch makes a huge difference, doesn't it?  More pix to come; stay tuned!

Cammie!

Monday, March 30, 2020

Ex-Hausted!

Greetings to all!  It's me, Mags.  Cam and I have been supervising Mom and Dad while they did a TON of yard work.  (From within the safe, comfy confines of the house, of course.)  And now ...

IMG_3296MeMagsCam
"Whew!"
"Whew!"
"Whew!"
...and Dad ... somewhere off-camera:  "Whew!"

I think we've all earned a bit of a break!

Yours sincerely,
Margaret Thatcher

Sunday, March 29, 2020

Serene Scenery Sunday

Hello, everyone!  It's me, Cammie!  Do you know a great way to find some serenity?

IMG_3341Cammie
"Ah... yeah!  Perfect!"

Get out and go for a walk!  It'll help.  

Cammie!

Saturday, March 28, 2020

Working Through The Weekend

Greetings to all!  It's me, Maggie!  I know things are pretty different for many of you, what with lots of the bipeds having to work from home for a while.  For us, things haven't changed that much -- we always work from home.  We're even working through the weekend!

IMG_3476MagsCam
"Hey, Mags.  Want to help me?"
"Can't you see I'm working, Mom?!?"
"It's Pickle Time!"

Well ... I mean we DO have to work to get the treats out of our Pickles ... right?!?  Have a great Saturday!

Yours sincerely,
Margaret Thatcher

Friday, March 27, 2020

Photo Finish Friday

Hello, everyone!  It's me, Cammie. For Photo Finish Friday, we thought we'd take one photo of me and let Mom do a little photo-magic with it.

IMG_3294CamGaussianBlur
"Friday?  Am I dreaming?  I thought it was Saturday!"

It does look a bit dreamy, doesn't it?

Cammie!

Thursday, March 26, 2020

Happiness

Greetings to all!  It's me, Maggie!  Sometimes when I'm out walking, I just get overcome with happiness.  Sometimes I show it by gently putting my paws on Mom or Dad's shoulders and giving sweet kisses.  Other times ...

IMG_3062MagsWalk
"I am SO happy!"
❤️ "Aww!  Maggie!" ❤️

At that point, Mom can't really read my body language.  And then ...

IMG_3060MagsPreZoom
"I feel it coming on!!!"
"Oh, my ..."

... then I launch:

IMG_3061MagsZoom
"ZOOM!!!!!!"
"Must ... hold on ... tightly!!!"

Yep.  Full-swing leash zoomies!  What a blast!

IMG_3077MagsWalk
"OK, Mom.  Show's over; let's move along."
"Whew."

How do you show your exuberance?!?  Sometimes I just can't stop myself!

Yours sincerely,
Margaret Thatcher

Wednesday, March 25, 2020

Tuesday, March 24, 2020

Just Wondering ...

Greetings to all!  It's me, Maggie!

IMG_3497Mags
"Hey!  I was just wondering ..."
IMG_3498MagsInviteToPlay
"... who wants to play?!?!"

I'll be in the living room if anyone's interested -- come on over!

Yours sincerely,
Margaret Thatcher

Monday, March 23, 2020

National Puppy Day!

Greetings and hello, everyone!  Today is National Puppy Day (which, frankly, is pretty much every day here at Ao4 Headquarters ... but ... you know), so we thought we'd share a photo of each of us at 6 weeks of age!  Obviously, we both still lived at Polargold/D'Azul Headquarters at that time, but courtesy of our first family, here we are!

Cam6weeksC
D'Azul's Girl From Ipanema - Cameron
Maggie6weeksC
Polargold's Margaret Thatcher - Maggie

If we hadn't put the captions on, would you have known who's who?

HAPPY PUPPY DAY!!!!

Cam and Mags 

PS:  Many thanks to our fabulous breeders/first family for the use of the photos!!!  We ❤️ you!!!

Sunday, March 22, 2020

Serene Scenery Sunday

Greetings to all! It's me, Maggie. Remember to take in all the beauty that surrounds you.

IMG_3536MagsDeck

Today and every day.

Yours sincerely,
Margaret Thatcher

Saturday, March 21, 2020

And Stretch & Hold ...

Greetings to all!  It's me, Maggie.  I understand that some bipeds who normally exercise at gyms and other public places now have to switch gears and workout at home.  In addition to the walk workouts that Cam and I provide, we normally workout at home with our mom and dad, so it's not a change for us.  In addition to watching quilty vids while she's on the treadmill, our mom watches YouTube for some weight training and aerobic exercises ... so maybe that's a way I could help others?  Maybe I should put some of my routines on YouTube?  What do you all think?

I'm thinking Yoga With Maggie would be my first endeavor.

IMG_3507MagsYoga
"And hold that stretchzzzzz...."

OK, maybe I should try something a bit more pumped than Yoga.  I'll put my thinking cap on.  In the meantime, if you have any ideas, just let me know!

Yours sincerely,
Margaret Thatcher

Friday, March 20, 2020

Working Breed At Work!

Greetings to all!  It's me, Maggie.  Cam and I have been putting in some great quality time in the Studio lately, helping our mom with all kinds of creative endeavors.  Here's a shot of us hard at work yesterday:

IMG_3523CamMagsHelping
"I'll be in Buckingham Palace if you need me, Mom!"
"I'll be here working on my Pickle!"

Mom was cutting up old BDUs (Battle Dress Uniforms), making a divided caddy.  She had to concentrate really hard, especially during the times she was using her  seam ripper  backwards sewing device.  She said we were tremendously helpful by playing with our Pickles and taking naps.  Happy to oblige!

She actually got it done, after several times using the aforementioned backwards sewing device, then rewarded us with some outdoor time.  The sky looked really cool - it was 77 degrees out, but we had a front coming through (this morning, our wind chill was in the teens!) - so Mom wanted us to do some posing.  We weren't going to, but some of the neighbors were out, so ...

IMG_3531CamMagsSuperPose
"Neighbor alert!"
"Oooh!  I see them!"

Mom was really happy with that shot.  We were happy to stare at the neighbors.  We love doing that.  After that, we hung out on the deck for a while together.

This morning, Mom was taking photos of the BDU Divided Caddy and I thought I'd even pitch in and help with that.

IMG_3540MagsBDUCaddy
"My name is Margaret Thatcher and I approve of this divided caddy!"

No cookies or anything.  Is that impressive, or what?!?!  Talk about WORK!

Remember - we're professionals, we are Working Breed pups.  This kind of thing comes naturally to us.

Yours sincerely,
Margaret Thatcher

Thursday, March 19, 2020

What A Great Day!

Hello, everyone!  It's me, Cammie!  Maggie and I have been having such a great day!  We got an early start on the day, read some excellent news, had breakfast, then the plan was for Dad to take Maggie on a walk and Mom and I would go on a shorter one.  Did I mention it was raining?  It was raining.

Maggie and Dad headed out, then Mom and I got ready.  She tried to get me to go left out of the driveway, but I pulled to go right.  She thought that meant I just wanted to doodle a bit in our yard.  You know.  Because it was raining.  No.  I pulled to go down the street, then was practically jogging.  What was I doing?  Catching up with Maggie and Dad!!!

I wanted to go on the BIG walk!

IMG_3510MagsCamWalk
"This is so awesome!"
"Speaking of awesome, check out that MUD!!"

We went up the big hill to the shopping center:

IMG_3511MagsCamWalk
"I just love that you and Mom came with us, Cam!"
"I love this, too!!!"

Mom thought we'd turn around, but she let me choose, and I chose to keep going!  Maggie kept checking on me to make sure I wasn't overdoing.

IMG_3512MagsCam
"You're really booking, Cam!  Don't take it too fast!"
"I'm good to go, Peeps!"

We were going to stop for a pose by the Kansas Ocean, but there were a couple people walking past.  Oh.  Right.  And it was raining.

IMG_3518MagsCamKSO
"That lady gave us a nice smile!"
"She sure did!  I gave her one back!"

From there, we headed up the water tower trail.  I love going up hills!!!

IMG_3519MagsCamWaterTowerTrail
"Oooh, look, Cam!  Puddles!"
"I love puddles!!!"

What a great walk!  Great company, puddles to splash in, and mud!  Oh.  And did I mention it was raining?  My fur is rainwater soft now!

Thanks for coming with us!

Cammie!

Editor's note:  Cam normally wears a harness on our walks, but I didn't think she'd want to go on a long walk today.  Did anyone mention it was raining?  ðŸ˜‰

Wednesday, March 18, 2020

Tuesday, March 17, 2020

Groovy!

Greetings to all!  It's me, Maggie!  The teenager down the street got a new car - check it out:

IMG_3084MagsVW
"It's a VW Bug!  Check out those custom hubcaps!  Very cool!"

Tell me that isn't cute!

IMG_3085MagsVW
"I'm wearing my tie-dye harness and leash ... I think it's a groovy match!"

I think I should get to know her.  Maybe she'd take me for a ride.  We could listen to classic rock and wear far out sunglasses and stuff.  I'll work on that!

Yours sincerely,
Margaret Thatcher

Monday, March 16, 2020

Good Help

Hello, everyone!  It's me, Cam.  We were a tad bit busy this morning, then after lunch, Maggie and I hit the Studio with Mom.  When we came upstairs ...

IMG_3083Cammie
"Hey, Mom.  Did you remember to put our post up?"
"Oh.  I ... uhh ... errrr ..."

You know what they say, right?  Good help is hard to find!  Oh, well.  It happens to all of us!

Cammie!

Sunday, March 15, 2020

Serene Sunday

Hello, everyone!  It's me, Cammie! This week, for our dose of serenity, I thought I'd share a picture guaranteed to make you smile. Are you ready? It's a photo Mom took a week or so ago.

IMG_3338HappyCam

Are you smiling back? I thought so.

Have a wonderful Sunday!

Cammie!

Saturday, March 14, 2020

It's Saturday!

Greetings to all!  It's me, Maggie!  It's Saturday at long last!

I hope you get some rest ...

IMG_3407MagsToyTower
"Zzz ..."
❤️ "She's gonna love this!" ❤️

... and have some fun surprises come your way!

IMG_3405MagsToyTower
"Hey!  A toy tower!  How did that get here?!?!"
"Surprise, Mags!"

Mom loves surprising me like that.  And I love taking down the toy towers she builds!  

I hope your weekend is as fun as mine!

Yours sincerely,
Margaret Thatcher

Friday, March 13, 2020

We Did It Again!

Greetings to all!  It's me, Mags.  Remember a week or two ago when Cam and Mom were out on a walk, and Dad and I were out on a walk, and we ran into each other!??!  It was so cool!  Well, we did it again a few days ago!

Dad and I were marching along when ...

IMG_3357MagsWaiting
"Hold up, Dad.  Someone's approaching with a pup."

If someone is walking toward us with a well-behaved pup, I like to go into a down-stay.  It's what I do.  Mom and Dad seem to like that sort of thing.

Anyway, it wasn't just any well-behaved pup, it was CAMMIE!  We play bowed at each other, then instead of heading home like Dad and I had planned, we walked some hills with Cam and Mom!

IMG_3360MagsCamHill
"I think this is the steepest one in the neighborhood, Cam!"
"I know!  Isn't it great?!?"

Cam loves walking up hills!

IMG_3361CamMagsHill
"This is so fun!  I'm glad you and Dad came with us!"
"Me, too, Cam-a-roo!"

Before we knew it, we were in the home stretch.

IMG_3364MagsCamAlmostHome
"This has been an awesome walk, Cam!"
"Great timing, huh, Maggie?!"

It is so cool when the timing works out like that!  What fun!!!

Yours sincerely,
Margaret Thatcher

Thursday, March 12, 2020

How Do They Get In?

Hello, everyone! It's me, Cammie! Many of you were very surprised to hear that coyotes get into our fenced-in back yard. I can assure you that the gates are never left open. They are locked, in fact, unless either Mom or Dad are back there gardening, doing yard work, or playing with us. Trust me, this place is like Fort Knox:  six-foot high fence, with a concrete "mow strip" underneath so no one can dig in or out.  So then ... how do they get in? Let's take a look back there and I'll give you my theory!  These photos are from this morning, as Mom and I did some investigating!

The front gate is right by the north-side retaining walls.  If a coyote climbed onto the walls (not hard to do), he could easily leap over the fence; it's maybe a 2.5 - 3 foot jump up then down into the yard or onto the deck.

IMG_3460CamGarden
"Yes ... yes, I think he got in this way!"

You'll note the deck also has gates.  They are always latched - there is a gate to each of the two entrances between the deck and the yard, plus one up at the upper deck.  A coyote has definitely gotten onto our decks before.  For those wondering how we know, let's just say he left his "calling card".  (💩)

IMG_3461CamGarden
"I think he's been on the deck recently, too.  Maybe."

On the other side of the house, by the Friendship Garden, there is also a retaining wall - you can see that in the photo at this link.    A coyote could get in that way, but it would be a much higher jump.

As to how they get out ...

IMG_3462CamGarden
"Hey!  Mr. Coyote?!?  Are you still out here?"

That would be even more challenging, I think!  Deck to railing to retaining wall?

IMG_3464CamGarden
"Ha-loooooo?!?"
IMG_3465CamGarden
"You don't think he's still in the yard, do you?"

We just don't know!  And that's why Maggie and I are frequently seen on lead in our back yard.  Well, yes, because of the whole "no jumping off the retaining walls" thing, too ... but that's more for Mags than me.  Mom is pretty sure I wouldn't do that.  Even still, she's overly careful.

So ... we know they get in and are pretty sure we know how.  We are less sure how they get out, but given that there are very few hiding places, they do get out.  (Under the deck is the best hiding place - and also a factor in the "have Maggie on a leash" business.)  I guess it's still a bit of a mystery!

All I know is coyotes really are quite wily - or is that Wile E - as the TV show suggests.  Hmm.  Maybe he uses one of those cool Acme gadgets to get in and out of our yard!!!

Cammie!

Wednesday, March 11, 2020

Tuesday, March 10, 2020

The Fork In The Road

Greetings to all!  It's me, Maggie.  The other day, Cam and I took Mom out to the backyard to do some playing and exploring.  Unfortunately for us, Mom found some coyote poop before we did (in our fenced in backyard!) and because she doesn't think it's a good idea for us to be around it, she kept us on leashes the whole time.  Not to worry.  We still had fun with her.

IMG_3344MagsCamGarden
"Let's go this way!"
"Let's go this way!"
"Uh ... girls?!?"

Gotta keep the bipeds challenged -- right?!?

Yours truly, 
Margaret Thatcher

Monday, March 09, 2020

Back Up

Hello, everyone!  It's me, Cammie!  Yesterday, Maggie and I went downstairs to the Studio to help Mom after lunch.  I had just about finished my Pickle when ...

IMG_3388CamMags
"I could use a little back up, Mom!"
"Hey, Cam!  Wanna play?!?  Can I have your Pickle?  Hey, Cam!"

Thankfully, Maggie understood that I was on base and couldn't be BOOMed, so I was able to finish my Pickle eventually.  In semi-peace.  OK, I finished it while listening to a political speech from Margaret Thatcher.  And I may have had a little fun along the way.  Check it out:


Click here to watch on YouTube

And I wasn't really teasing Maggie by stepping off base for a sec.

I mean, not exactly.

Too much.

I hope you're all having a fun day!

Cammie!

Sunday, March 08, 2020

Serene Scenery Sunday

Hello, everyone!  It's me, Cammie!  As Maggie mentioned yesterday, our mom has been trying to get photos of us posing together, since we are all nice and clean and fluffy.  Today, I have the outside attempts to share!

Let's start out back:

IMG_3348CamMagsGarden
"Hey, Mags.  Do you think that bunny is over there?"
"I can't see anything; the sun is in my eyes."

I had spotted a very large bunny on a previous trip to the yard and thought he might still be out and about!  You just never know!

We tried posing on the rocks by the gate:

IMG_3352CamMagsGardenPose
"It always pays to check, Maggie."
"I'm checking Mom for treats."

We called that shoot a wrap and later on went out front.  As you can tell by the yard flag between us, it was more than a bit breezy out there:

IMG_3376MagsCamYardPose
"Ooh.  Breezy."
"I'd say about 35 mph ... maybe a tad higher."

Right after that, Mom got the "good enough" shot:

IMG_3380MagsCamYardPose
"I think I can smell Oklahoma!  Maybe even Texas!"
"Mmm... BBQ!!!"

We do look clean and super-floofy -- isn't that what Mom was going for?!?

Have a great Sunday -- and remember to keep it serene!

Cammie!