Serene Scenery Sunday

Hello, everyone!  It's me, Cammie.  Yesterday after our walk, Mom and Dad worked on a gazillion projects, then Mom took us girls into the backyard for some playtime and a photo shoot.  We thought we'd share the best photos with you for Serene Scenery Sunday.

It was a gorgeous Fall day -- check out the sky!

Maggie and me in the yard

Bluer than blue, and not a cloud to be seen!

Mom especially wanted to capture us in front of some of the Fall color, so we headed over to where the Amur Maples are.

Me and Mags under a spreading  Chestnu*  Amur Maple Tree

*Hat tip to Longfellow.

Anyway, too much dappled lighting on our faces; we tried again!  Oh.  And please don't mind the ladders; they belong to The Painters, who are still working on the house.

Me and Mags.  Amur Maples.

Mom decided to -- wait.  Did I mention she had cookies?  She did.  Quite serene!  Anyway, she decided to get us facing the other way -

Me and Mags, in what I'd call the Money Shot!

I'd say that's a lot of nice serene scenery!  We hope you enjoyed our gorgeous Fall colors!

Cammie!

On Base

Hello, everyone!  It's me, Cammie.  We have a new rule in the Studio.  It started when Mom put a denim quilt she made about a gazillion years on the floor and told Maggie and me we could use it to nap on down there.  We thought we'd make it "base".  You know -- for when you're playing a round of Crazed River Otter Games ...

Maggie and me in a rousing round of CROG

... and you need a quick break.

"See?  Maggie can't get me, 'cause I'm on base!"
"Yeah.  She's on base!"

It works out really well!

"Let me know when you're done being on base, Cam."
"Yeah.  Well ... this is pretty comfy, Mags.  It could be a while."

"Don't worry; she'll find something to do."

Oh.  That's a big quilt Mom was working on there on the floor behind me.  She needed to lay it out to see what she was doing.  Mom asked Maggie to help her since we were done with our round of CROG.

"What do you think, Mags?"
"Yeah, Mom.  Looks great.  Zzz..."

I did say it was a rousing round of CROG -- we were both pretty wiped out!

I hope everyone is enjoying the weekend!

Cammie!

The Painters

Greetings to all!  It's me, Maggie.  So ... yesterday, we entered a new phase in this Great Remodel of 2018 -- these guys called "The Painters" showed up.  Not for the inside - for the outside.  We had a window in the bathroom changed out, so they had to replace siding ... which meant the whole house needed repainted.  Anyway, they were working on the side of the house by our breakfast room and Dad thought he should close the blinds to (1) give The Painters some privacy and (2) to give us in the house some privacy.

I had other ideas.

"Ha roo, Painters!  Careful on that ladder."
"Does Dad not know she can open the blinds?"
"I think he just figured that out, Cam."

I mean - won't they get lots more done with me staring at them?

Yours sincerely,

Margaret Thatcher

Alert!

Greetings to all!  It's me, Maggie.  When Cam and I aren't confined to certain areas of the house due to the remodel, I resume my Guard Duty duties.  Guard Duties?  Whatever.

One of my favorite posts by is this window in the Living Room:

Me, on Guard Duty

If I see something amiss, it's my duty let everyone know something is out there!

Oh, not by making noise. I don't do that. Nor does Cam. We're Siberians. Here's how Mom knows something is going on:

Me, giving the alert

Yep! A sure sign!

You do see the changes in my ear posture, right? That's how we Siberians let our people know. How do you let yours know if you see something?

Yours sincerely,
Margaret Thatcher

Wordless Wednesday

Mags and Cam

Launch Pad

Greetings to all!  It's me, Maggie.  I've discovered some sort of launch pad in the Library.

"Hey, Cam. What do you think?"
"Go for it, Maggie!!"

We're thinking I could hit that at a run and clear the line of chairs, Cammie, and the ottoman, landing on the carpet.  Who all thinks I should give it a go?  No need to run it past my mom, I'm sure she's a "yes"; she's the one who put the launch pad where it is!

Yours sincerely,

Margaret Thatcher

Marvelous Monday

Hello, everyone!  It's me, Cammie.  Mom keeps saying she has a feeling this Winter is going to be very snowy.  I'm not sure about Winter, which starts on the 21st of December, but Fall is looking mighty good!  This is the scene we came out to this morning:

"So those flurries last night weren't just a tease!"
"Isn't this beautiful, Maggie?!!?"

It is the perfect first snowfall of  Winter  Fall!

"Dad doesn't even need to shovel!"
"And yet look at all this lovely snow!"

"Isn't this great, Maggie?!?"
"This is so awesome!"

Here's the view out back:

This is shaping up to be a marvelous Fall!!!

Cammie!

Serene Sunday - The Library Version

Greetings to all!  It's me, Maggie!  I can't believe that so many of you actually thought that the lovely photos of us in the Library yesterday were the prelude to a round of Crazed River Otter Games (CROG).  I mean, we showed our winning smiles and I just happened to notice something on Cam's neck and was going to make it right ...

"No, really.  Just a little something ..."
"Can you get it?  What is it?"

"It's ... ME!  BOOM!"
"BOOM!"

I mean ... we really couldn't help it.

"Quiet round of CROG, Mags?"
"You're on!"

"YAY!  CROG in the Library!"
"Keep it down!  This is still a Library!!"

She had a point!  We circled around the ottoman a few times ...

We're in quiet mode; can you tell?

"We're ninjas!"
"Ninja River Otters!"

"I will BOOM you before you even see me coming!"
"I bow to you, sensei!"

It was all very quiet -- and serene!

Have a wonderful Sunday!

Yours sincerely,

Margaret Thatcher

Quiet Time

Greetings to all!  It's me, Mags.  Thanks for all the happy wishes yesterday - we had great fun all day long!

Since the remodeling guy is just on the main floor for right now, Cam and I have been going to the Studio to help Mom - that way, we can shut the door to the downstairs, have freedom down there, but still be safe.  Us girls all took a break and slipped into the Library for a bit.  You know - for some quiet time.

"Yeah.  Nothing like some quiet time! Right, Mom?"
"That's what libraries are for!"

"Wait a minute.  Cam, you have a little somethin' right here..."
"Ha woo roo woo!!!"
"Oh, my girls!  ❤"

We were pretty quiet!  I mean - if it wasn't for our tags jingling, we would have been like silent ninjas!  Quiet time is really fun!

Yours sincerely,

Margaret Thatcher

Guess What Day It Is?!?

Hello, everyone.  It's me, Cammie.  I have a never-seen-before photo for you to help answer the question posed in the title - ready?!?

"Hello?"
"Hello!"

Who guessed that that's when Maggie and I first met?!?  That's right!  It's Adopt-a-Maggie Day!  My Maggie's homecoming!

Here's one of the photos I've shared before; it's a favorite!  It's me and our great-brother Zimmie seeing Mags for the very first time!

"PUPPY!!!"
Dad:  "I thought you'd want to go potty first..."
"PUPPY!!!"
"Hello?"
Mom:  "SQUEEEEE!"

What great memories!  Please celebrate with us!  Maggie and I are having a great day so far!

Cammie!

Positive Reinforcement

Hello, everyone!  It's me, Cammie!  Here at Ao4 Headquarters, we use the training method known as "positive reinforcement".  It benefits all parties concerned.  For instance, Maggie and I were helping our mom in her Studio yesterday, Mom seemed to be busy and yet I hadn't heard any HBO words!  I checked in ...

"Hi, Mom.  Whatcha doing?  Is everything going OK?"
"Sewing the binding by hand!  It's going super well!"

"It looks great, Mom!  Good job!"
"❤  Oh, Cammie!  That smile!!!  ❤"

All I did was give her a bit of positive reinforcement ... and she went and got me a cookie.

Yep.  Works like a charm.

Do you use positive reinforcement on your bipeds, too?

Cammie!

Wordless Wednesday

Mags and Cammie!

Drum Roll, Please!

Heeeeeeeere's...... MAGGIE!

Thank you.  Thank you very much!

Yours sincerely,
Margaret Thatcher

ZOOM!

Greetings to all!  It's me, Maggie.  I was going to save this photo for Wordless Wednesday, but I thought I'd post it today and add a little captioning.

"Great balls of fire!  GO, MAGS!  GO!!!!"
"ZOOM!!!"

At times like that, Mom wishes she had a speed gun!

Yours sincerely,

Margaret Thatcher

Serene Sunday

Greetings to all!  It's me, Maggie.  As long as it all works out in the end, it's considered "serene" -- right?  But there I was, trying to see what Mom and Dad were doing in the garage ...

"Would anyone like to explain to me what happened to this poor, unsuspecting box?!?"

I mean, look at it!  What did that box ever do to anyone?!?  Yet there it was, all ripped up and looking sad.  Oh, there was talk about something inside being really heavy, so it was easier to get it out by tearing the box ... but honestly!  What were Mom and Dad thinking?!?

Never fear, though.

"I still have love for the box.  Unlike some people around here."

Anyway, it would appear that Mom and Dad were replacing a toilet.  They did a few things out in the garage, then time came to go back into the house - and Dad brought part of the box inside.  I thought I should check it out.

"It's kind of flat, but I wonder ..."

"It's like a very shallow box.  It's not bad."

"In fact, I ❤ this short box!!!"

It was very serene.  Until I had to move so Mom and Dad could set the toilet on it.  Still - very nice!

Have a wonderfully serene Sunday!

Yours sincerely,

Margaret Thatcher

It's Raining, It's Pouring ...

Hello, everyone!  It's me, Cammie.  This morning, we woke up to lots of rain.  After breakfast, Maggie and I were really ready to go on our walk!  Since there wasn't any lightning in the area, we headed out!

"Cammie!  You're in a ..."
"What?  Yes, I know.  What's your point?"

Maggie likes to jump over puddles, but me?  I like to seek them out and tromp right on through!

"I can't believe Mom sometimes."
"I know.  It's like she doesn't even know me."

I saw another nice one up ahead, changed lanes, and took the lead.  

"Oooh!  This one's a real beauty!"

It was a great walk.  I hope you all are enjoying the weekend as much as we are.

Cammie!

It's That Time!

Greetings to all!  It's me, Maggie.  Yesterday, right about the time I should have been having my lunch, Mom tricked me into getting my harness on.  Ooh.  If you're anything like me, you were thinking, "Is it adventure time?!?"  Unfortunately, not quite.  It was time for my annual exam at the vets.

I was admired for a while in the waiting room, then a nice student came out and asked if I was Maggie.  He must have heard about me.  Or read the chart in his hands.  One of the two.  Anyway, he did his exam, Dr. N did her exam,  Aunt Beth  the Vet Tech came in and hugged me for a while ... it was all good.  They all went into "the back" to do the things they do back there, and ...

"Where did everyone go?!?  Haven't you forgotten something?"

They seemed to have forgotten the part about giving the very well-behaved Siberian some cookies.  Fortunately, Beth came to the rescue and gave me one.  Or more.  Hey.  I sat, I gave her 5 ... I even did a "down"!  I worked for those babies!!!

Here I am, out front afterwards:

"I wonder if Cam ate lunch without me?"

Do I look worried there?  I wasn't.  Except for wondering if Cam ate without me.  Mom couldn't remember if I was due for a vaccination, so she had given me Benadryl beforehand.  I had an allergic reaction to my vax once.  In an effort to prevent that from  scaring the daylights out of Mom again  reoccurring, we (1) split up my vax now and (2) pre-dose with Benadryl.  As it turned out, Dr. N ran a titers test instead.  Fine by me -- I get my Benadryl in cheese, so ... SCORE!  But my point is that in addition to helping ward off allergic reactions, it also makes me a tad bit mellow.

Anyway, we wrapped things up and headed home.

"Home, please, driver.  I mean 'Mom'."

I got a great bill of health, lots of lovin', a few cookies (many thanks, Aunt Beth!), a fun car ride, AND ... a nice bowl of kibble when I got home.  For those wondering about the big question, yes, Dad fed Cam after I left.  It means a lot to her to stick to our regular schedule, so actually I'm glad.  She even got a treat while I had my lunch, so she made out pretty good!

I hope all of you are doing well, too!  Remember to see your vet often!

Yours sincerely,

Margaret Thatcher

Sharing A Laugh

Hello, everyone.  It's me, Cammie!  The other morning, we were out on our walk and had just reached the "it's all down hill from here" point.  For some reason, Mom and Dad asked us to move off the path and hop up on some limestone rocks.

"Oh.  There's a lady coming."
"Hey.  They put up a new 'no trespassing' sign."

We always try to move off the path when other people are coming - just to be nice.  Some people don't care for puppies and others might be afraid of us.

"Afraid of us.  Ha roo woo ..."
"Ha roo roo roo!  Good one, Cam!!!"

"She called us beautiful!"
"Thank you, lady!!!"

It's still nice to move over, even if people aren't afraid of you.  We seem to buy a lot of goodwill that way.  We try our best to be good ambassadors of our breed!

Cammie!

Wordless Wednesday

Cammie!

Learning

Greetings to all! It's me, Maggie. Cam and I helped Mom in the Studio again yesterday afternoon.

"Hey, Cam.  What does '$%#@' mean?"
"It means Mom's about to grab the seam ripper again.  We should do something to entertain her!"

We're learning a LOT in there!

Yours sincerely,
Margaret Thatcher

Do You Even Have To Ask?

Greetings to all!  It's me, Maggie!  Up here on the catwalk.

"Just ... relaxing.  You know.  Taking it all in."

I mean, come on.  It's not like I'm setting up an ambush on Cam or anything.

"Wait!  Is that her?!?!  Shh!  Don't let her know I'm up here!" 

OK, maybe I was.  What can I say?  It's the perfect place to set a trap!

Yours sincerely,

Margaret Thatcher