On this Memorial Day, please join us in honoring those who died or were killed while serving on Active Duty in our US Armed Forces.
Photo courtesy of the the US Army Flags in Ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery
In the words of Former President Ronald Reagan:
“The willingness of some to give their lives so that others might live never fails to evoke in us a sense of wonder and mystery. . . . let us pledge that their lives, their sacrifices, their valor shall be justified and remembered for as long as God gives life to this nation.”
Greetings to all! It's me, Mags. Our mom and dad have been working like crazy out in our gardens this year - especially out back - so Ragnar and I thought we should have a look around. Want to come with us? It's very serene back there!
Here we are, striking a pose on the upper retaining wall:
"Must not jump off the retaining wall. Must not jump off the ... is that a lizard down there?!?" "C'mon, Ragnar. Feel the serenity!"
Mom decided we should move down a bit.
"I know that lizard's out there!" "Yeah, I can sense it, too!" "Let's move on, pups!"
So we went a bit further down that retaining wall and struck a pose while Mom checked on her new Coneflowers. They're the bright orange ones -- Kismet Intense Orange, or Echinacea Tnechkio. What a mouthful! Speaking of mouthfuls ...
"Hey! Somebody's been eating my new Coneflowers!!!" "It wasn't us!" "We're totally innocent."
Seriously. No chance it was us. And we don't want to point the paw at any-bunny in particular, but we did see this out the Studio window several days ago:
"Oh, hi. Thanks for the new salad bar. My friends and I are thoroughly enjoying it!"
Ahem.
Let's just leave that there, for serenity's sake!
Here's our proposal for garden statues in the Friendship Garden:
Me and Ragnar - posing perfectly!
Here's a look at the Succulent Garden, where the bun was grazing.
"He could be hiding under the deck, Ragnar." "We should run under there and check, Mags!" "Stay! Good puppies! Oooh, look at you looking at the garden flag!!!"
Right. The garden flag. Right.
Here's our last shot, all full of serenity, sitting on the limestone by the gate, waiting to go up to the top!
"One more pose, then we go in and do zoomies in the living room. 'K, Raggi?" "Sounds great, Mags. I'll even throw in a Head Tilt." "❤️❤️Look at you two!!! ❤️❤️"
We hope you enjoyed our little walk around the back gardens! Have a serene Sunday!
Hi everybody! It's me, Ragnar! Today, I have a brief collection of some of the better poses we did during the week. Before I get started, though, Mags wanted me to let you know that we saw the water tower on our walk today - so whoever took it yesterday brought it back. Whew. That was a big relief! Anyway, let's take a look those photos!
In this shot, we're up at the top of a hill in a place called Heartland.
Me and Mags - all smiles!
I'm fairly certain Mags jumped me right after Mom took that shot, but it was a mighty nice pose, wasn't it?
Here we are at the top of another hill:
Mags and me!
Interesting. Mom seems to think we might be more cooperative if we've just climbed a hill. She could be on to something.
Here we are on the Kansas State University campus, outside the Recreation Center:
Me and Mags!
There wasn't a hill involved, but we had already gone about 4.5 miles. And Mom had treats.
And ... here we are on another hilltop:
Polargold's Einherjar and Polargold's Margaret Thatcher
So ... we CAN be very cooperative for photos!
In other news, here we are this morning, posing in the garden:
"Check out those succulents, Raggi. Let me know if I should come give them a good snoofing." "OK, Mags." "Umm... sit?!? Stay?!? Look this way?!? Any-puppy?!?"
Sure ... we'd already walked over 5 and a half miles -- but that was hours earlier! And yes, Mom had treats, but we were bored. There's being cooperative and there's being Siberian cooperative! We like to choose our own moments!
Greetings to all! It's me, Maggie! Yesterday morning, we had set off on what ended up being a fabulous walk - when I noticed something was terribly wrong! I had turned to look back at one point and ...
SOMEONE STOLE THE WATER TOWER!!!
I swear it was there when we walked past it! Then I realized we were in a mighty heavy fog. It was so totally cool. Then, to make things even cooler, the sun came out!
"This is so beautiful! Are you getting this, Mom?" "Hey, Mags - she tried to get a shot of the fog earlier, but she mist. Ha woo."
I'm just going to leave Ragnar's comment right there. It was REALLY cool-looking, though. Here's another of Mom's shots:
Hi everybody! It's me, Ragnar! What a great day this has been so far! Right after our breakfast, Mags and I took our mom and dad on a nice, long (6.9 miles) walk. After that, we let them have breakfast & coffee while we drank lots of water. THEN, Mom said she had special plans for me! WOW! How exciting - I got to have "spa day"!
First, I got to take a shower. Now, I spend a lot of time in the shower anyway; I especially like to go in while Mom's showering. She uses all kinds of stuff that smells really good. I don't normally get soaked in there, though. Today, I got to get TOTALLY wet, then soaped up. Unfortunately, I don't get to use the Olay shower soap that's in there, but the shampoo with the Doberman on the bottle smells mighty nice, too.
After that, we spent some time with some nice, fluffy towels. They still smelled like Bounce. I like Bounce sheets!
Eventually, Mom walked me very quickly through the house, not letting me do the "shake-shake" in the living room like I wanted to, and whisked me out onto the deck! There, I saw a bunch more fluffy, clean towels and the Master Blaster!
"Oh, yeah, Mom! Right there!" "You're such a good puppy!!!"
I was kind of tired after our walk and all, so after about 20 minutes of fluffing, I laid down. Mom said that was fine, since she'd already dried my undercarriage pretty well.
"Still not dry, Mom?" "Sorry, Count Fluff-ula. Not yet."
It felt good, and I was pretty tired, so I just let Mom have at it. Here's a very short video clip of the action:
To view on YouTube, please click here.
I really enjoyed my spa time. I look at it as quality time with my mom. Dad even came out on the deck for a while so Mom could blow my floof all over him! For some odd reason, Maggie wanted nothing to do with coming out. Hmm. Anyway ... here I am out front afterwards!
"How do I look?!?" "❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️"
I'm not sure what's next today, but I'll bet it'll be even more fun!
Greetings to all! It's me, Mags. Even though we've gotten a good amount of rain lately, last night after dinner, Mom needed to go out and water her new plants - give them a little TLC. Dad, Ragnar, and I thought we should help.
"Almost done?" "I still have to go out back." "Yyyyyaaaawwwwnnnn...." "You can say that again, Raggi!"
Hi everybody! It's me, Ragnar! Thanks for all the nice birthday wishes yesterday! I've never been FIVE before, and so far it's really cool!
One of the special surprises Mom had for me was a pup-cake! Check it out!
"❤️Happy birthday, Ragnar!!!❤️" "Aw, thanks, M--oh, great Balto! Is that one of those apple chick-hen treats?!!?"
I mean, seriously. We had already tasted those and they are out of this WORLD!!! They have two of my most favorite things, apples and chick-hen, all in one crunchy, tasty treat! I am crazy for those cookies! And then Mom stuck one in my pup-cake!!!!
Mom said we could have them down in the Studio (she had one for Mags, too!), so I raced downstairs and jumped aboard my Viking ship.
"You don't have to play with it in there, Ragnar!" "I know, Mom, but I love it in here."
I really like to den. I loved playing with that pup-cake! It's a very fun toy, ESPECIALLY when stuffed with an apple chick-hen treat! Maggie liked hers, too, but couldn't get the last tiny bit of treat out of it.
"I'm watching you, pup-cake!"
She stared at it until Mom came over and got the rest of the treat out for her. Truth be told, I needed help with mine, too.
Thanks again for the good wishes - I sure had a fun day!
Greetings to all! It's me, Mags! Guess whose birthday it is today?!? Here's a hint:
Ragnar -- the birthday boy!!!
That's right! My kid brother Ragnar is FIVE today!!!
"Happy birthday, Raggi! I've got something for you when we get home!" "Aw, shucks, Mags! Thanks! Wait ... is it about 39 pounds, super fast, and goes BOOM?!?"
"Maybe ..."
I couldn't believe he guessed! He's super smart. Anyway, Mom said there were other presents for him, too! Shortly after we got home, he got one of them!
"I still get to go BOOM! though, right?!?" "Of course, Mags! Happy birthday, sweet baby boy!!!" "For me, Mom? Can I share with Maggie?"
He's mighty sweet like that. And I may have been sending him a mind-meld message.
"You heard him say he wants to share, right?" "Hey, this bag came right open! Lemme just stick my snooter in here ..." "❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️"
There are lots more festivities in the works. We had an awesome walk this morning, I have it on good authority there are a couple new toys that will make an appearance this afternoon, plus a few other things. Best of all, we have each other. Please join me in wishing Ragnar a very HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!
Hi everybody! It's me, Ragnar. The other day, I helped Mom check the gardens in the backyard -- she and Dad have been working hard weeding, pulling out dead stuff, and planting new stuff. And moving rocks. Anyway ...
While Mom checked on her Daisies, I sat on the wall and watched her. Oh! That reminds me - I read the story of Humpty Dumpty and was wondering if anyone would like to hear me tell that one? Let me know!
"How come Marti at the corner's Daisies are blooming and ours aren't, Mom?" "Our plants are all slackers, Ragnar."
She seemed happy enough that they were alive. Anyway, I made sure the Friendship Garden was safe next:
"All's clear up in the--wait. Is that a bunny?!?" "Let's go to the other side, Ragnar."
She was mighty quick to change gears! Anyway, we checked on some new stuff, like these Firewitch Dianthus:
"Let me get a shot of the--Ragnar!" "Hoe dee doe dee doe..."
The question is did I photobomb the Dianthus? Or did the Dianthus photobomb me?
We also checked on some old stuff:
"Oooh! Smells nice!" "That's lavender, Ragnar!"
Then Mom checked on some newly potted plants, so I sat next to them.
Who needs garden statues when you have me -- am I right?!?
Before we headed in, I struck a pose by the Miss Kim Lilacs:
Me. Polargold's Einherjar -- Ragnar!
It was fun doing a garden check. Mom said that she can't check on quite as much when both Mags and I help out. I'm not sure why. The word "shenanigans" may have been tossed around a bit. Anyway - thanks for coming with us!
Greetings to all! It's me, Mags! So the other day, Ragnar and I were in Mom's Studio, helping out as we like to do -- you know, being Working Breed pups and all. Anyway, we were entertaining Mom with a round of zoomies when I stopped to check something out ...
"Oh. Hey. This could be a fun route!" "Uh, Mags?!? I don't think you can really fit through there!"
"Can't fit." HA! Our mom is so funny. Challenge accepted! And guess what?!? Not only can we fit through that opening, but we can fit through at the same time, going 100 miles per hour! And all without knocking anything over. Sure, Ragnar might have tried to jump onto Mom's lap a time or two, but no harm, no foul! Besides, she likes to cuddle.
We certainly worked hard that day, my friends! She's really fortunate to have us helping out.
Hi everybody! It's me, Ragnar. I know some of you think that Maggie and I probably work way too hard in our mom's Studio -- and you're probably right. But we are Working Breed pups, and we are ON THE JOB. One of my favorite things is Sentry Duty. Here I am, in action:
Greetings to all! It's me, Mags! The other day, Ragnar and I went on a little inspection tour of some work our mom and dad have been doing in the backyard. It was pretty impressive, I must admit. We even rewarded our mom with some killer poses! Check this out:
"Yeah, whatever." "You have my full attention, Mom. Pretty much."
But then ... we spotted something. And our "full attention" turned from the treats Mom was breaking into tiny pieces to ...
"Ragnar! Bunny!" "I see him!" "No jumping off the retaining wall!!!!"
As if we would!
Well, yeah, OK, of course we would. Knowing that, Mom took us up to the top of the yard and asked us to pose by the gate.
"I can't see him. Can you see him?" "No. Mom's in the way." "Ooh! Nice! And right beside the Miss Kim Lilacs!"
We couldn't help it -- that bun still had our full attention!
Yours sincerely,
Margaret Thatcher
PS: Our mom has a "no chasing bunnies" rule. No wonder they like to hang out in our yard!
Hi everybody! It's me, Ragnar. We had a really great walk this morning - it was supposed to be all rainy and nasty out, but it was a beautiful, sunny morning! When we got to the top of Grand Mère Trail, Mom needed to re-tie her shoes, so Mags thought she and I should hop up on the bench that's right there. Mom, being ... Mom, thought she should take a few snaps of us.
"OOH! Perfect!" "Do you have treats!?!" "She's got treats, alright. I can smell them."
"Good puppies ... stay!" "Oh, boy - cookies!" "They'd best be the good kind!"
They WERE the good kind. Broken in half, but still mighty tasty. I'm glad Mags and I benched ourselves!
