Helping

Greetings to all, it's me, Maggie!  As members of the Working Breed Group, Cammie and I have a lot of chores we help out with around the house.  No, it's true.  This is all on top of my duties as the Prime Minister!  I don't mind one bit - everyone should pull his or her own weight!  One of my favorite things to help with is doing the vacuuming!

Mom took some pix of me as we got busy the other day, and I thought I'd share them with you. I like to walk right in front of her when she uses the Oreck upright - like this:

"That's it, Mom.  Back and forth, and back and forth!"

It's important to offer encouragement.

I like the other upright better, because it has attachments and if I've been really good, Mom vacuums my furs. It. Feels. So. GOOD!!! Anyway ... let's get back to work!

"Look over there, Mom.  You missed a spot!"

"Well, you DID!"

For some odd reason, after that, Mom asked me to switch over to Cord Management instead of being her Spotter.

"Fine.  I think my talents are being wasted, though."

I hope we use the other vacuum today. I could really get into a fur massage.

Do you all get to help with chores, too? I hope you have as much fun in the process as I do!

Yours sincerely,
Margaret Thatcher

Serene Scenery Sunday

Hello, everyone!  It's me, Cammie, here with Serene Scenery Sunday!  We thought once again this week, we'd take you along on our morning walk - it was chilly and windy and so lovely out there!

All four of us went, so that right there made it really special.

I took the lead for awhile:

"C'mon, everyone!  Let's go!"
"Hang on ... I was trying to snarf something!   ... um ... I mean ..."

After a while, Mags took the lead.  She likes to lead.  I'm OK with that.

"Is this a beautiful morning, or what?!?"
"It really is, Maggie!"

Dad suggested we take the trail - which made us so happy!  There are tons of leaves and squirrels and cool smells there!

"Cammie?  Are you coming?"

I like to snoof all the leaves!  There are so many untold stories in there!

"Here I come!"

I like that action shot of me!

Anyway, we went down the trail together...

Me and Maggie

... and then we headed down one of the roads.  Not just any road -- the road where we saw the Giant Cats!!!!  Mags and I were on guard, concerned that they might leap out at us - or follow us with that menacing stare like they did before!  BUT - in keeping with the "serene" in Serene Scenery Sunday - I'm happy to report this is what we found:

"Cam!  Look!  The Giant Cats!  They're ... they're ..."
"... mere shells of their former selves!"

I'm fairly certainly Mags and I scared them into submission.  Or like they've gone into hibernation or something.  At any rate, they won't be staring at US again anytime real soon!

I hope you feel nice and serene now!  I know we sure do - and we loved having you come with us!!!

Cammie!

New Bracelet!

Greetings to all!  It's me, Maggie! Yesterday, Mom got something VERY exciting in the mail!  It was something she ordered from Angel and Isabella's mom!  Mom took it out of the packing stuff, then let us see it!

"Look, Maggie!  The card has a really cute puppy on it!"
"I smell Angel and Isabella!!!"

It was wrapped in super-cute paper with paw prints all over it and had a card that we all got to read (Isabella and Angel's mom sent us KISSES!!!  I LOVE kisses!!!) and a pretty ribbon!  I hope our kitcat friends got to play with at LEAST the ribbon!!!  I didn't try to eat the paper, card, or ribbon, so Mom was really proud of me!

Here's a shot of Cammie with the package -- she really liked the puppy on the card!

"This is so adorable!!!"

Anyway, Mom let Cam help her unwrap it! Inside the box, there was a pretty purple bag ... and look at what was inside!!!!

A bracelet with a PAW PRINT on it!!!  Isn't it beautiful!?!

I promised Mom I'd be "gentle" and wouldn't try to eat the bracelet or anything if she'd let me see it!

"Don't eat the bracelet...
don't eat the --- this is so lovely, Angel and Isabella!!! --- bracelet...
don't eat the bracelet!"

We REALLY love our new bracelet!  Thank you, Isabella and Angel for helping your mom make it!  We can tell you helped!  I hope you got to whap a bunch of the beads and play with the ribbons and papers and stuff!!!

Did you know that Isabella and Angel's mom's company - Beaded Tail - gives 50% of all proceeds to animal charities?!?  Check them out at this link!!!  Thank you again, kitcat friends and your mom!

Yours sincerely,

Margaret Thatcher

Photo Finish Friday: Howl-oween

Greetings to all!  It's me, Maggie, here with Photo Finish Friday!  Since today is Howl-oween, Cam and I thought we'd share some really scary pictures with you!  The first ones are from our mom's foray out to Tuttle Creek State Park last weekend.  You can see her whole album at this link, but here are our creepiest favorites!

The sunrise over the foggy canyon is enough to make me want to howl:

"Ha-ooooowwwwwlllll!"

Here is a shot of the very rare and very frightening Two-Headed Double Crested Cormorant - and its ghoul-friends!

... I mean "gull" friends.

How about a prehistoric-looking Great Blue Heron, swooping down in the fog!!???!!

I'd hate to be the fish on the receiving end of his attack!

Even the road into the park was eerie!

Mom and her friend explored lots of different areas, even going through spider-infested woods!

The spider who wove that had to be the size of a Malamute!

Closer to home, we also have some scary goings-on!  Not just the Giant Cats we showed you the other day!  Worse than them --- it's these Straw People who don't say anything, but make weird gestures with their straw arms and legs!!!  Here I am this morning, giving them a piece of my mind!

"You don't scare ME, Straw People!  No way, no how!!!"

My dad said I was very brave.  Mom and Cam walked right past them.  RIGHT PAST THEM!  Can you believe that?!?!

"Oh, Maggie, Maggie, Maggie..."

Sure, Cam talked a good game this morning, but check out this video from a couple days ago!

If it doesn't play, please click here.  Yeah.

Anyway, have a happy and SAFE Howl-oween, everyone!  Remember - no bolting out the front door, no eating costume parts, and NO chocolate!!!

Yours sincerely,
Margaret Thatcher

Garden Tour Walk

Hello, everyone!  It's me, Cammie!  Maggie and I had a very nice walk yesterday morning with our mom and dad.  We ended up taking a route we don't normally take and it was very enjoyable.  On one of the roads, there are a couple very pretty gardens that Maggie and I love to check out!

"Look, Mags!  Isn't it pretty?!?"
"Oh, yes!  Um... check that sign on the left, though.  Ha roo roo roo!"

I assured her the sign didn't mean what she thought it might mean.  Silly puppy!!!  I went first, just to make sure there weren't any Giant Cats lurking about or anything!

"Just a couple pumpkins, Mags.  No huge cats!"

You never know.  They could be roaming the neighborhood, waiting to leap out at innocent walkers!  Here is Maggie, checking the garden out:

"I like the way the sunlight's hitting these ... whatever they ares!"

Isn't it a lovely spot?!?  We liked this next garden, too:

"Very peaceful!"
"Yes, it-SQUIRREL!!!"

Yep, a great walk that got even better!  I hope all of you are enjoying a beautiful Fall season!

Cammie!

Wordless Wednesday

Cammie!
and Yours sincerely,
Margaret Thatcher

TV Show Review

Greetings to all!  It's me, Maggie, here with my continuing review of movies and TV shows.  I've discussed "Person of Interest" before, but that was back when I was still a tiny puppy.  I still like it a great deal, but it's about way more than beeping noises, as per my first review.

It's very suspenseful ...

"Oh, no!  The bad guys have Lionel!!!"

... and there's a lot of great action!  The best episodes feature Bear, of course.  

"Notice they had to bring Bear in to rescue everyone?
That's him on the far right of the screen."

All of the action and suspense and everything is great!  I really get wrapped up in the show - and when it's over ...

"Oh, that was exhausting!"

What can I say?

Anyway, I give this show four stars out of five; some of the episodes are way too cheesy and seem to veer away from the action and suspense we look for in this show!  I did enjoy the last episode that aired, though!

Yours sincerely,
Margaret Thatcher

Hide And Seek

Greetings to all!  Shhhh!  It's me, Maggie.  I'm back here:

"You can't see me, but I'm wedged between the door and the laundry basket!"

Cammie and I are playing a game called "Hide And Seek" and it's my turn to hide.

"Shhhh!  Don't tell Cam where I am!"

Don't tell anyone where I am. Cammie's supposed to find me on her own.

"Hmm.  Does anyone have a watch?"

It sure seems like I've been in here a long time.

"She IS actively looking for me -- right?"
"Zzzz...."

I think this game might be more lively if I was the one doing the seeking!!!

Yours sincerely,

Margaret Thatcher

Serene Scenery Sunday

Hello, everyone!  It's me, Cammie, here with Serene Scenery Sunday.  As Mags mentioned yesterday, these are the more "scenic" photos from the walk where we saw the Giant Cats!

So ... earlier in the walk ...

"We're almost at the Hudson Trail!"
"Oh, I hope we get to take it!"

We didn't take the Trail at first - we took some detours via the roads - but then got on one of our favorite parts of it!

"Isn't this wonder--MAGS!  What are you doing?!?"
"LEAF!!!"

She loves pouncing on leaves! Mom told her to "leave it" - but shouldn't that be "leaf it" since it was only one leaf? Ha wooroowoo!  Anyway, I told her there were more to come, so we should get going.

"Seriously, Mags.  Look down there!"
"Wowzers!"

We walked a little bit further and sure enough ...

"See, Maggie?"
"LEAVES!!!  Tons and tons of LEAVES!!!"

Mom thought the scenery was gorgeous, I loved all the sights and smells, and Maggie ... well ... you know.  The leaves!

"Most.  Awesome.  Walk.  EVER!!!"
"It is mighty lovely!"

We were having so much fun that we got to walk a couple segments of the trail!

"New England's got nothin' on us!"
"I've heard people go there from all over the world, just to chase the leaves!"

It was such a lovely, serene walk!  I hope you enjoyed seeing some of our beautiful Fall scenery!

Cammie!

The World's Most Interesting Siberian

Greetings to all.  It's me - Maggie. I don't always post this late in the day ...

"I don't always post this late in the day ..."

... but when I do, it's my mom's fault.

No, seriously!  Sorry to be so late! We'll share the photos Cam promised we'd put up tomorrow - OK?  Blame our mom. Something about the lake, fog, cool birdies, lots of photos, blah, blah, and blah.

Catch you tomorrow!

Yours sincerely,
Margaret Thatcher

Oh. My. CATS!!!

Hello, everyone!  It's me, Cammie.  Mom took some great pictures of Mags and me on the Hudson Trail this morning, looking all Autumn-y and all, but those are going to have to wait until tomorrow.  Why?  Because of what we saw when we were almost home.  Brace yourself, pups!  In fact, you better sit down!  Are you ready?

There we were, just calmly walking down the road, when ...

"CATS!!!!!!!!  Giant CATS!!!!!!!!"

They were HUGE!  And they were staring RIGHT at us!  Look at the size of the claws on those things!

I buffed an alert - and Maggie stopped right in her tracks!

"Great Dane in the morning!!!  Well, no ... they're even bigger than a Great Dane ..."

It was WILD! Not only were they staring at us, but they MOVED! Their heads went back and forth, following every move Mags and I made!

"Ba woo!  Boooo!  Ba wooooo!"
"BUFF!"

The giant cats must have really scared our mom, because she started laughing hysterically.  I've heard some bipeds respond to highly dangerous situations that way.  There were people in the garage who came out to see what was going on, and for some reason they started laughing, too.  Maggie and I figured they must have been reacting to the sight of those giant cats, too, so we continued to tell the cats to stay away!  (Mom asked the people if she could take pictures, in between laughing fits.  Sometimes I worry about her.)

Anyway, we were pretty certain we had made sure the giant cats knew not to mess with us and our Mom, so we continued on our way.  When we reached Ao4 Headquarters, we checked the area to see if they were waiting there to ambush us or something.

"Does Ao4 HQ looks safe, Cam?"
"Yep!  Squared away, Peeps!  Those giant cats won't mess with US!"

Whew! We'll stay on alert, just in case, but for now ... we're OK. Heads up to all of you, though: There are giant cats on the prowl! Beware!

Cammie!

Grilling Help

Hello, everyone.  It's me, Cammie.  Mom went out on the deck yesterday and invited Maggie and me to go with her.  I thought we were just going to go hang out and soak up some afternoon sunshine ...

"WAIT!  What's that?!?"

... but there was much more to it! Mom brought out some chicken she had been marinating and opened up the grill!

I settled in to stand guard over her, when ...

"Hey, Cammie.  Whatcha doing?"
"Stop right there, little one!"

Maggie still doesn't know to stay away from a hot grill, so I made sure to remind her!

"BOOM!"
"BOOM back at cha!"

We amused ourselves in play for a while, until we saw someone walking down on the road behind our house.  We did what all good Siberians would do - we stared!

"Do we know them?"
"Shouldn't the question be 'do they know us?'?"

Mom said we did a really good job and that we weren't just great guard pups, that we were great company, as well. We thought that should mean only ONE thing, right?

"I do believe we've earned some chicken, Mom!"
"Yeah, Mom!  Pony up!"

What about all of you?  Do you help your bipeds grill, too?  It's hard work, but the payoff is mighty tasty!

Cammie!

Wordless Wednesday

Yours sincerely,
Margaret Thatcher

Parade? What Parade?

Greetings to all!  It's me, Maggie.  I forgot to tell you something.  On one of our walks over the weekend, I saw this cool sign.

I waited quite a while, but I never did see a parade go by. Isn't that odd?

Yours sincerely,
Margaret Thatcher