Sunday Salute - Alfie, Slick, Hank, Fred & Lord Bentley!

Wowzers, that's a lot of Saluting!  Play bows, everypup and everykit-cat, it's me, Zim!  Do you remember me talking about my really cool friends from Georgia, Hank and Slick?  I posted about meeting them at this link and then gave them a Salute/P-update at this one.  (Way back when Slick was adopted, we Saluted him, too!)  Today, I get to introduce you to the whole pup-family ... to include new additions!

Up first is the very sweet, regal Savannah Alredia Eskew... or as we know her, Alfie.

Alfie

Alfie reigns over all the other pups, teaches them things and keeps them in line.  Much like Storm does for all of us.

Next up is my buddy Slick, AKA Dumasza Slick (Gooboy, Gooboy).  Check him out in this picture:

Slick

Doesn't he look sad!??!  The picture was taken from the back porch into the house, through the glass door.  You can see the reflection of his two brothers outside!  That's probably why he was so sad!!!  It's like he was stuck in the house practicing the piano while all the other kids were outside playing ball!  Or... something like that.  

Aunt Sniggy told our mom that Slick likes to sit in the Queen Anne chair, hang his head over the arm rest and "preach" to the other pups as they run by - so they've been calling him "The Rev".  Ha roo!  He'd get along well with Ammy, I think.  Speaking of the other pups, let's meet them!

Here's a great shot of Hank (die drei farbe) Cow Dog and his new brother Fredrick von Benjamin (schwartze hunde) - that's all a cool way of saying Hank is a tri-color and Fred is black!

Hank and Fredrick

Doesn't Hank look all grown up!?!?  And guess what?  Fredrick is his real litter-mate brother!  The man who originally adopted him really didn't have enough time to spend with him, so he did the very kind thing for Fred and found him the perfect home -- a home with Aunt Sniggy, Uncle Mike and the pup-pack!  Ha rooo!  We're so happy for all of them!  He's only been home for about a month, I think, but it sounds like everypuppy is getting along famously!

Here are the boys sharing a bench in the garden:

Mine!

No, mine!

Isn't having a brother just the BEST?!?!  (Hey, Hank!  Love your Kansas State Wildcats collar!)

Hey, did you notice how shiny their coats are?  (I thought maybe those gorgeous Basset babes in Scotland, Martha and Bailey, might notice....)  Fredrick decided to give his coat a different look after that photo shoot and went and rolled all around in the yard.  Check this out:

Ha roo roo roo!  Way to go, FredRICK!

As if that adoption news isn't exciting enough, Aunt Sniggy also told Mom about her twin brother Buddy's new pup, Lord Bentley!  Bentley is a four year old rescue Basset!  His first family was from the UK and because of financial reasons, they had to return to Britain.  Bentley would have had to be in quarantine for six months to a year (!) and they did not want to put him through that.  He was in foster care for two years until Buddy was chosen as his forever Daddy!  Aunt Snig told Mom Bentley has greatly improved the quality of her brother's life.  We think Buddy has greatly improved Bentley's life, too!  What a perfect match up! 

He's not a blood relative to Hank and Fred, but now they are cousins, of course.   Meet Lord Bentley!

Lord Bentley

What a cool coat pattern!  Welcome home, Lord Bentley!

What a great family - you can see why we wanted to Salute them!  Aunt Sniggy told our mom, "God is good to us.  Now that we have Fredrick as our 'another forever puppy' we are a complete family."  Aunt Sniggy, we not only salute Alfie, Slick, Hank, Fred and Bentley, we salute you and Uncle Mike, too!  And your brother Buddy!

On behalf of the entire Army of Four - 

Play bows,

Zim

Honk! Honk! Traffic Jam!

Ha roo, pups and cool-cats!  It's me, Zim!  Wowzers, did I have an adventure yesterday!  Remember the picture of Ammy from Wordless Wednesday?  She saw geese at the Kansas Ocean!!!  How cool is that!??!  I've never seen a goose, except for the fly-overs they do in the skies above Ao4 HQs.  Well, Mom asked me if I'd like to go for a ride with her and of course I jumped at the chance!  I didn't think we'd see any geese, I wasn't even thinking geese, because we walk to the Kansas Ocean, we don't drive there.  But then... we pulled up at the ocean Ammy discovered back in February!!! 

She had seen a sign about ducks and geese when she was there, so I knew there was potential.  And then... something caught my eye!

There, Mom!  Let's go that way!!!

No, it wasn't the mud that you can see there that was calling me ... though I not only managed to step in it but I made Mom step in it, too.  (Ha roo roo roo!)  Check out the banks of the Amber Ocean!!!

Gooses!

They saw me coming and jumped in the ocean and started swimming away.

Hey, gooses!  C'mon back here!

There was a sign posted about "no swimming", but either they ignored it or can't read.  

They started honking their horns, so I figured there was some traffic jam out there on the ocean or something.  I looked to my left and saw this other kind of goose.  They look like the kind Ammy saw; check 'em out!

Mom said they were from Canada ... or something like that.  Fascinating!

I tried to lull the other guys in...

Heeeeeeeere goosie, goosie, goosie!

But they seemed immune to my charms.  Fine.  I'll just wait.

I can wait here all day, gooses!

But apparently, Mom had other ideas ... involving getting in the car and going home.  Rats!

I'm sending her a mind-meld message to take me back VERY soon!  Those gooses were fascinating!!!  

Play bows,

Zim

Photo Finish Friday

Woo!

Luv,

Dave

Wubba! Wubba! Wubba!

Ha roo, pups and cool cats!  It's me - Zim!  Many of you commented on my Wubba from Tuesday's post.  Once I made sure Ao4 HQs was safe, I took a break from Sentry Duty and gave my Wubba a good workout.  Check out these action shots!

Here I come!

You can see that long lead trailing behind me.  Like I said, Mom doesn't hold on to it - it just trails behind me.  Eventually, she took it off - once we were sure Oswald or his condo renters weren't hiding somewhere.  

I'm so fast in this next one, I almost ran out of the photo frame.  

I think I even got a bit distorted.  When will Mom learn to take the camera out there instead of the iPhone?!

Do I look a little tired in this next shot?

I really wasn't.  I just decided to walk so Mom could get a better picture.  She threw my Wubba again and I ran after it.  I did a little play bow to it...

Ha roo, Wubba!

...then decided I had lots more energy and ran around the yard with it some more!  Look at how happy I am!

Ha roooooooooo!

Have a great, fun-filled day!

Play bows,

Zim

Wordless Windy Wednesday

Love,

Ammy

Backyard Sentry Duty

Ha roo, pups and cool cats!  Me again, Zimmie!  And it's all because of the great comment my bestest friend Huffle Mawson, Explorer Cat and Honorary Husky left on Sunday's post!  She said, "Mum would like to say that the last photo is VERY cool.  I would like to say I need to see more photos of my bestest friend Zimmie."  Ha roo roo roo, isn't she just the coolest best friend?!?  Storm said I just can't disappoint Huffs, so today I'm posting pictures of how I do Sentry Duty in the backyard.

Here I am, down at the bottom of the yard.  I had just ignored the toy Mom threw for me and raced down there.  I saw some guy walking a dog I didn't know.

Hey!  Hey!  Hi, my name's Zim!

Oh, some of you had asked how long that lead is.  It's 25 or 30 feet.  Mom doesn't even hold on to it, it just trails behind me in case I ... say ... go under the bushes to find something and won't come out.  Just a hypothetical.  I don't always wear it, but Mom is concerned about baby bunnies right now.  Anyway... back to Sentry Duty!

The man had the audacity to ignore me!

Hey!  Can't I meet your pup?

I couldn't believe it!  I tried to go out to meet them, since they wouldn't come to me.

I'll bet I could just squeeeeeeeze through here...

...or maybe not.

Anypuppy know why Mom and Dad had this concrete strip put under the fence?  Hrumph!  The coyotes who sing to me at night get in here somehow; I've got to figure out how they do it!

Sadly, I didn't get to meet the pup who walked by - but on the other paw, Ao4 HQs was safe!  No one gets past me when I'm on Sentry Duty!

Now about that toy Mom threw up on the top tier...

Play bows,

Zim

Winter/Spring Storm

Ha roo, pups and cool cats, it's me - Zim!  As many of you know, we got smacked with a Winter Storm over the weekend.  Or as Ammy kept asking, "How can they call it a Winter Storm, if it's Spring?"  I must say, she has a valid point there.  

So... Thursday, it was in the 60s.  We'd heard the bipeds on TV and radio talking about a Winter Storm warning for our area, but we don't usually believe them.  We trust our own Meteorologist; she's never been wrong about snow!  We can't say that about the bipeds.  

Anyroo... she went out and checked ...

Hmm...

...then made her prediction: 

Yep!  We have snow coming!

Like I said, she's never been wrong, so even though it was in the 60s, we all believed her.  Mom double-checked ...

Yes, I'm sure!  

(How could anyone doubt that face?!?!?) 

...and let the OP Pack know.   The storm was due to hit us before them, so we thought we should give them a heads up!

The next day, there was still no snow... and Mom began to doubt.  Just to make sure, she took Am out to check yet again.  She was certain it was coming... and while she was out on the deck ... well, check out this picture Am sent our friends in OP (check out her fur!):

Here it comes!

The rest of that day and all through the night, we had lots and lots of bee-roo-tiful, fluffy snow.  I even took Mom out at 0400 to enjoy it!  It was GREAT!  But then... the ice started.  Sleet fell, some sort of "wintry mix" fell, and it compressed my snow and made this hard crust of ice on top of it all!  It was a slippery, icy mess!

Sure, we were all proud of Ammy for her accurate prediction:

Woo!

See, Davy?  Snow!  Lots of snow!

... but honestly, how was I supposed to build a cool snow fort if there's ICE all over everything?

This crust of ice wasn't here at 0400!  How am I supposed to make a cool snow fort now?!?

Sorry, Zim.  Maybe next Winter/Spring Storm.

To make matters worse, it's almost all melted now and it's supposed to be "nice" today.  "Nice" according to the bipeds.  Oh well.  On to the next adventure!

Play bows,

Zim

Serene Scenery Sunday

Hi everypuppy and everykitty!  And bipeds!  It's me, Amber!  This week, we have a real mix of serene photos for you to enjoy.  

First up is a sunset view from Wednesday evening:

From Army of Four Digest

Here are three panorama shots of our sunset last night.  You should be able to click all of these to enlarge.

From Army of Four Digest

From Army of Four Digest

From Army of Four Digest

Notice the snow and ice?  The snow was lovely and fun; the ice that came on top of it ... not so much.  

Now I have a couple shots from warmer times.  Actually, a week or so ago.  Apparently, the bipeds actually prefer those warm, sunny days over the Winter Storm we were smacked with and want this warmth to return.  Dad especially seems to want this scene back:

That picture seems to bring him serenity.  Hmm.  Golf.  Not my favorite thing.  I do like that one club head cover, though.  It shows Dad is thinking about us!  

And lastly... some hay from Kansas.  Or as I like to say, "Hey, from Kansas!"  :)

From Army of Four Digest

Love,

Ammy

D-Dave Day

Woo, everypup and everycat.  It's Dave!  That's right - two days in a row!  Or as Ammy said, "Two Daves in a row."  Ha woo.  She's so funny.  

Before I get started, remember the picture I posted yesterday of the cat and a Sibe shadow?  Those of you who guessed that it was Zim were right!  He is a cat magnet for sure.  It's got to be like his bestest friend Huffle said, "All the cats know he is an honorary kitty cat so it's okay."  Makes sense to me.

On to our game!  The Dughallmor Beagles' mom tagged me, Dave, Guide Dog for the Color Blind, in an alphabet type of game!  I gave this a lot of hard thought...

Me... deep in thought

...then came up with my answers.  Here goes!

1. What is your name? Dave

The following answers must all begin with the first letter of your name.

2. A four letter word? Dirt

3. Girl name: I’m going to go with Dakota, as in the bee-woo-tiful Dakota of the OP Pack

4. Boy name: Dirk, the Black Lab who lives down the street

5. Occupation: Drill Instructor

6. Color: Dove Grey

7. Piece of clothing: Dress Blue Uniform

8. Food: Doritos

9. Item in the bathroom: Dental floss, Drano

10. Place/City: Dallas

11. A reason for being late: Daydreaming.  (Or as Ammy says, "Dave dreaming.")  (See photo above)

12. Something you’d yell: Since I was tagged as Mom’s Guide Dog for the Color Blind, I’ll go with: Don’t put those colors together!!!

13. Movie: "Dances with Wolves" (quite disappointing; I thought it was going to be about something else altogether!)

14. Something you can drink: Diet Coke (not me, but I've seen Mom drink it)

15. Band: Dave Brubeck Quartet!

16. Animal: Dingo

17. Street name: Dave’s Road!  Seriously!  Check out this picture of it my friends Sitka and Cornelia Marie took for me:

18. Car: Daewoo

19. Song: Dr. Woo by Steely Dan. OK... it's really Dr. Wu...

20. Activity that includes more than one participant: D-Day took a lot of people

 Thank you for the tag, Nicky; I feel very honored!  If I could, I'd hug you right now.  Since I can't, here's an air smoochie for you:

Smoochies!

Would anypup or anykitty else like to play?  If so, please consider yourselves tagged!  Have fun!

Luv,

Dave

Photo Finish Friday

Woo, everypup and everycat.  It's me, Dave, bringing you our latest installment of Photo Finish Friday.  I've got a bunch of pretty cool pix to share with you today, so let's get right to it!

First up - remember last Thursday's post about me playing in the yard?  Look at this cool version of me and my squeaky football!

Woo!  I like that one.  Even if Mom did mess up her watermark down at the bottom.  Like Stormy says, "She's only human".  I try not to hold that against her.

Here's a cool sunset from last week:

Aren't those colors nice?  I find them very inspiring in my work as Mom's Guide Dog for the Color Blind.

Here's one of all four of us, plus Dad.

It's from our regular morning routine, when Storm, Mom and I go find Dad and the redheads.  We found them!  Can you tell who's who?  

Speaking of "who's who"... Dad took this picture the other morning:

I don't know who the kitty is... but guess who's shadow that is?  The fact that the kit-cat is just laying there should give you a hint.

Lastly, here's one of yours truly:

Mom?

And my mom.  MY mom.  My mom-mom-mom who stopped petting me for a minute.  Woo. 

Luv,

Dave 

Awards/Tags!

Hey everypup and everycat!  It's me - Zim!  Wow, we received a couple really cool awards/tags lately!  I wanted to take a few minutes here to show you the cool awards and to thank our friends!

First up is the "Your Blog is Fabulous" award from our very cool friend Ludo.  You may know him as Ludwig Van Puppy!  

Ludo said we are "wise dogs" and that he always learns lots from us.  Ha roo!  Thanks, pal!  We learn lots from you, too.  In fact, we're hoping to do our own post one day soon like your Tricky Tuesday!  Won't that be something!

We also received an award/tag from my bestest friend, Huffle!  It's the "Life is Grand" award!

Huffle said we're supposed to post 5 reasons why we think life is grand, then pass it along to 5 more blogs.  For me, there are way more than five reasons life is grand, but here are the first five that come to mind, in no particular order:

1.  I'm not chained to a tree any more.

2.  Storm makes life grand; she teaches me important things every single day.

3.  Ammy makes life grand; she taught me that it's OK to love and trust, and gives me constant reassurance.

4.  Dave makes life grand; he showed me how to play when he joined the family.  He's always game for zoomies or neck grabbies!

5.  I have a Mom and Dad who love me and treat me with kindness and take me on cool adventures.

There are tons more things, like I said, but those are sure the basics.

I'm never sure who to pass awards along to, so I'm going to do a little criss-cross action here!  I'd like to give the "Life is Grand" award/tag to Ludo!  And I'd like Huffle to have the "Your Blog is Fabulous" award!

Many thanks to both of you - 

- we all appreciate your thoughtfulness and think having you as friends makes life grand, also!

Dave was tagged by the Dughallmor Beagles and will get on it within the next few days!

Play bows,

Zim

Wordless Wednesday

Play bows,

Zim

It Was a Dark and Stormy Night...

That's "stormy" with a small "s".  Although I certainly got the most out of the night, too...

Tail wags, pups and kitty cats!  It's me - Stormy.  Spring has sprung here in Kansas, and that means Storm Season!  I made sure Mom stayed up to enjoy the whole thing, start to finish.  While we still had daylight, she took some cool pictures that I'll share with you.  

All day, we'd had winds gusting up between 50 and 60 miles an hour, then the warm front and cold front collided.  This was shortly after 1600:

We were under severe thunderstorm warnings, high wind advisories, and a tornado watch.

Here's what it looked like when we started "rocking and rolling":

Dave thought the clouds were cool shades of purple.  We got massive amounts of rain and hail - reports in our county were of golf ball sized hail, but ours wasn't quite that big.  If it had been, I wonder if Dad would have gone out and knocked a few around?  Ha roo roo roo!

In this next picture, you can see how hard the rain is coming down, the water hitting the deck railing, and the hail piling up.

I sent Mom out onto the screened in part of the deck and had her open the door.  Here's how deep the hail was at one point:

Anyroo, night fell shortly after that, so I have no more photos to show you.  Well, here's one more Storm picture:

Ha roo roo roo!  With my favorite meteorologist in the background.  (Sorry it's fuzzy; the lighting was dim.)

As I said, I made sure Mom didn't miss anything all night, which I'm sure she appreciated.  I know she appreciates a good storm.  And a good Storm.  :)

Tail wags,

Storms