Serene Scenery Sunday

Ha roo, everypup and everykitty!  It's me, Zim.  Is everyone feeling serene today?  As Dave told you yesterday, I had one of my zen-like moments at the park the other day and I thought I'd share it with you.  I hope it will help you find your own calm, peaceful place.

It came over me after Dave and I saw those geese and the duck.  That sense of serenity washed over me ... and I knew if the geese and their duck friend would just give me a chance, I could win them over.

I'm going to the other side of the lake.  Follow me.  Follow me over there.

And they did.  Ignoring the people fishing, a few other dogs, and others... they followed me.  

One of the guys from Canada came over first.  I kept very still, so I wouldn't scare him.

Hey, Goose!  I'm Zim.  Thanks for trusting me.

He must have been doing some goose recon, decided I was OK, then brought the local guy over.  He was a little shy at first ...

... or maybe he was imitating Gus' sister Callie.  (Ha roo roo roo!)  But he eventually warmed up to me, too.

I don't speak Goose and they don't speak Siberian, but we did share a very comfortable silence between us.  A serene silence.  

I went into Zen-overdrive so they'd round up their friends and bring them over.

I'll just turn my head, so you don't feel threatened or anything.

As I'd hoped, they brought the rest of their little flock over.

We had a nice time, just relaxing with each other, sending calm non-verbals to each other.  It was such a special time.  I hope to come back to the park again soon.  I hope my new friends will remember me!

I'll come see you gooses again soon!

What a beautiful time we had.  I hope each one of you finds that same level of serenity today!

Play bows,

Zim

Trip To The Park!

Woo, everypuppy and everycat!  It's me - Dave!  Remember Zim and Ammy showed you the Amber Ocean?  They've both been there and Zim even saw geese when he went!  Well, yesterday Mom went with all of us guys (me, Zimmie and Dad!) to Anneberg Park so we could see what was going on!

When we first got there, we did a quick recon of the area.  I spotted them first.  

Geese!!!  Zim!  Geese!

It was very exciting!  They were honking at us, and we were jumping around - it was so cool!  Here's a very short video!

In all, there were three geese (two were from Canada and one was a local guy, I think) and a duck.  We felt we had done our duty, chasing them into the Amber Ocean.

And just stay in there, you gooses!  Umm... and duck.

Our goose & duck patrol being complete, we decided to walk Mom and Dad around the lake.  Over on the other side, there's a jogging path.  I saw a lady run by without hugging me.  Without hugging me.  Can you believe that?

Hey, lady?  Don't you need a hug?  Woo?

While my back was turned, Zim had that "zen" thing come over him.  You know how he gets that inner calm that other animals find soooo appealing?  That animal magnetism that pulls in everything from kitty cats to bunnies to letting other pups know they have nothing to worry about around him.  

You're not going to believe who he lured all the way over to the other side of the Amber Ocean for a tête-à-tête.  Seriously.  Tune back in tomorrow for Serene Scenery Sunday to find out!  

Luv,

Dave

PS:  We have been honored to receive a couple awards from our friends recently - and we were tagged.  We promise to get to these very important things this week!!!

Photo Finish Friday

The Shadow knows!

Play bows,

Zim

Photo Shoot Out-Takes, Part 4

Notice yesterday didn't quite qualify as an "out-take"...

Tail wags, dear readers, it's me - Stormy.  I'm glad so many of you have been enjoying the pictures from our Easter photo shoot.  My redheads, Am and Zim, did quite well, didn't they?  Can't make it too easy for Mom!  And then there's Dave.  Sigh.  You know.  Let's just say I thoroughly enjoyed Gus, Louie and Callie's first comment on Dave's post:  "You are one handsome lab Dave."  Oh, sure, they said their mom meant to type "lad"... but that seems like a Freudian slip to me.  Ha roo roo roo!

OK.  I had been napping in the kitchen - I mean I was on KP Duty - when I decided to do a patrol through the rest of the main level.  Ammy gave me a heads up that they had been put through the rigors of a photo shoot.  I decided to check the scene anyway, in case they were getting cookies as rewards.  

Why are the psyanky on the floor?

I didn't realize it was an Easter photo shoot until I saw the bunny-puppy.  I thought I should take it under my protection.

Stick with me, little one!

Mom asked if she could move the eggs in by the bunny-puppy, too, and I thought that would be OK.  It's not like I was going to get up... or look at the camera or anything.

Notice anything out of place in the photo above?  Yes.  Over there on the right side.  An extra paw creeping into the frame.  Guess who?

Hi Stormy.  What are you and Mom doing?  

Posing for pictures?  Can I play?  Can I have one of those pretty eggs?  

Woooo, what's that bunny still doing on the floor?

Yep.  Dave.  Hey, if he's that hot for posing for pix, he can finish out my turn.

Look, Ammy!  I get to pose with the bunny and the eggs again!

Oh, Davy!  I just can't LOOK!

I don't get him sometimes, but hey, if he wanted to pose for pix, I was out of there!  Mom had to satisfy herself with what she had already taken of me.  Thanks, Dave.  Ha roo roo roo!  

Tail wags,

Storms

Wordless Wednesday/Photo Shoot ... Part 3

Luv,

Dave

Photo Shoot Out-Takes, Part 2

Ha roo, pups and cool cats!  It's me, Zim!  Did you like Ammy's post yesterday with her out-takes?  Ha roo roo roo!  She cracks me up!  Me?  I like posing for pictures -- if I'm in the mood.  So I came over to see what was going on...

HEY!  Whatcha got there?!?!  HEY!  Cool!

...and Mom asked me if I'd like to pose for some pictures.  Oh, wait - before I get started.  She'd like me to mention once again that these are wooden eggs - otherwise she never would have had us pose with them.  I wonder what she meant by that?  Well, anyway, I said, "Sure, I'll pose for pix!" and struck a pose for her:

"How's this?  Babes usually go crazy over this pose!"

I was going for my cool, debonaire look.  And then... then... it happened.  

"What... is... she... doing to me???

Is there a bunny touching my paw?

I... can't... look..."

Does the look on my face tell it all?  I mean ... it was touching me!!!  That's going a bit too far!  If I'm not in the mood to be touched, don't touch me!  (Paws up from this honorary kitty cat to all my cat friends!)  

Mom decided to set the items up next to me, instead of touching me, and that was far more acceptable.  

Oh, sure... I'll pose beside them!

I look ready to pounce like the cool cat that I am in that picture above, don't I?  I just still wasn't sure that bunny was going to try to touch me again.  You know how it goes.

I let Mom get a couple good shots off, to include the one used in our Easter card, then that bunny looked sideways at me and ...

Are you lookin' at me?  Don't try to touch me again, you little bite-sized...

...and Mom declared my part of the photo shoot over!  Tune in tomorrow for more photo fun!

Play bows and cat stretches,

Zim  - Honorary Kitty Cat!

Photo Shoot Out-Takes, Part 1

Hi everypuppy and everycat.  It's me - Amber!  I hope all of you had a lovely Easter!  We certainly did, although as you saw from the card on yesterday's post, we had to endure a photo shoot.  As you can imagine, Mom didn't just say, "Here are some wooden eggs  and a little stuffed bunny; how about posing with them?"  Well... OK.  She did say that, but it wasn't quite that simple.  After all, we are Siberian Huskies; we can't make it easy for her!  Storm thought we should share some of the "better" pictures with you.  

Mom chose to start with me.  That's not usually a good idea.  I'm not big on going first.  Mom got me to lay down and put the items in front of me.  I didn't know why and I knew I wasn't supposed to play with them, so I did my Malamute ears.  You know... when I lay them down like this:

Not happy, Mom!

I wasn't relaxed, as you can imagine!  I mean... I could ignore the pysanky... but isn't it a bit much to ask me to ignore a stuffed bunny?  Mom reached over and tried to get me to relax...

Mom playing with my footy-foot

That helped a little... and Mom backed up and took this picture real fast:

She was happy enough with that one for a minute, even though I didn't look real happy, but forgot about the plugs in the background.  Oops.  I tried my best to hold still while she changed positions... and let her snap the one she ended up using in the card.  

Half a shutter opening later, I ... err ...

Oooh!  How did this happen?  Look!  The bunny fell down!

... err... I witnessed a little accident, let's say.  Before I could ... err ... help the bunny, somesibe who actually likes doing this sort of thing came over, plopped down in front of everything, and struck a pose while Mom set the items back up.

Is this what you're after, Mom?

Whew.  At least that ended my session!  Stay tuned for more photo fun tomorrow!

Love,

Ammy

Easter 2009

On this most sacred of Christian holidays, the Army of Four and our bipeds would like to wish our readers a most blessed Easter.  

From Army of Four Digest

Our card bears the traditional Ukrainian Easter greeting:

Christ has risen!

Indeed He has risen!

Happy Easter! The Army of Four

PS:  No stuffed bunnies or wooden Ukrainian Easter eggs were harmed in the photo shoot for our card.  :)

Sneak Attack?

Ha roo, pups and cool cats!  It's me, Zim.  Just relaxing, kicking back on a Saturday.  You know how it is.  Just thinking warm, cozy thoughts and ...  hey, what's that!?!?  Right behind me! 

Is there something back there?  A sneak attack of some sort?  Can you see it?  Here... take a closer look!

What in the ... oh, wait.

OK.  Just my foot.  No problem here.  Whew.

Have a great Saturday.  Keep your eyes peeled for sneak attacks!

Play bows,

Zim

Photo Finish Friday

Woo, everypup and everycat.  It's me - Dave.  We'll have a special Easter post on Sunday, so I'm posting some rather serene-looking scenery pix for you today!

First up is a lovely barn Mom stumbled onto (when she was out without any of us!!!) that just oozes "Kansas"!

Isn't it pretty?  You should be able to click these for a better, bigger look!  Let's change our angle a bit...

...and now let's go in a little closer!

Isn't it pretty?  Very Kansas-y.  

We pass this tree on one route we take to get to the Kansas Ocean.  Mom keeps trying to get a good shot of it.  This is the best yet:

It's very typical of the scenery here!

We also love sharing our sunsets with you, as you probably have figured out by now.  Here I am, enjoying one several nights ago:

Bee-woo-tiful!

I get a lot of color inspiration out there, for my work as Mom's Guide Dog for the Color Blind!

Luv,

Dave

Working With Dad

Woo, everypup and everycat.  It's me - Dave.  As our lovely days of cold and snow start to fizzle out here in Kansas and the days of sun and warmth break through, it means Dad wants to be outside on the golf course, chasing that little white ball around.  I know how fun playing ball can be, so I thought I'd lend Dad a paw.

He's teaching several of his on-line college courses right now; I thought I'd help him get his work done with those, so he could hit the links.

Me and Dad

Don't I look helpful?  We're even color-coordinated.

Oh, don't worry.  I've got enough Working Breed get-up-and-go in me to help Mom out later, too.  Woo.

Luv,

Dave

Wordless Wednesday

Hmmm...

Tail wags,

Storm

On The Cat Walk

Hey everypup and everykit!  Up here on the Cat Walk.

Yeah, it's me.  

Zimmie.  Yeah.  Just hanging out up here.  

Oh, was Mom calling me?  Really?  She's been looking for me all over the house?

Ha roo roo roo!

I never get tired of this game!

What's everypup and everykitty else up to today?

Play bows,

Zim

A Bouquet and Some Berries!

Tail wags, all!  It's me - Stormy!

Over the weekend, we received a beautiful bouquet of roses from our friend Golden Samantha!  She said,  "These pink roses are given to friends, bringing them a sweet and fruitful day. Those who receive these roses as a gift need to pass them on to ten friends to show them you care. And to those who received the roses, it's to show you are never forgotten."

That is so very kind, Sammie!  We are quite honored and just love them.  OK... Zim tried to eat them, but that's how he is.  Ha roo roo roo!  We would like to pass the bouquet along to:

Huffle Mawson, Explorer Cat and Honorary Husky

Steve, Kat and Wilbur (Yes, all three of them.  I LIKE Wilbur!  So does Zim!)

Tia, Sitka, and Cornelia Marie

The OP Pack - Dakota, Phantom and TD - their weather has been as cold and blustery as ours, and this could help warm their mom up!  It made ours smile and think more Spring-like thoughts!

Everyone over at the Beaded Tail - Angel, Isabella and Sadie -- and their mom, too!

Parker and her family - Puff, Powder, Rudy and Diamond

Martha and Bailey

The Dughallmor Beagles - Gabbi, Rosie, Alfie and Snoop!

Ludo

and Mochi!

That might be more than ten bloggers, but it's ten blogs!  :)

Speaking of Spring-like thoughts, guess what we had over the weekend?  Well, yes, high winds, bitterly cold temps and a Wintry mix, but that's not what I meant.  STRAWBERRIES!  We had our first taste of strawberries!  I was in the kitchen helping, and I got the first taste!

Of course I'd like some!

Then the boys came in and got a little...

Dave and Zim

...then Ammy came in and Mom gave her a little taste.  

Ams

She ended up putting hers on the living room carpet, studying for a while, then giving it to Zim.  She's like that.

The berries were simply delicious - and now Dave is all excited.  He figures if it's berry season, watermelon can't be too far behind!

I hope all of you enjoyed the weekend!  Many thanks again to Sammie for the beautiful bouquet!

Tail wags,

Storms