Our Newest Route

Hi everybody!  It's me, Ragnar.  We recently discovered yet another new trail here within walking distance of the house -- can you believe that??  I mean, just when we thought we knew all the nooks and crannies around here, BOOM!

We've done this new route a few times now, and there are all kinds of options, which keeps things interesting. It starts out by going through a tunnel:

"Oooh!  A tunnel!  I haven't been through one in a long time!"
"I've never been through a tunnel!"

That's pretty exciting -- it goes under a major road. Mags and I like going through there!

Once on the other side, we walk through a pretty neighborhood with sidewalks (Mom and Dad always like it when there are sidewalks!) and stop by Susan B. Anthony Middle School.

"Time for a break, pups!"
"Sounds good."
"Yeah!"

That's where we usually take a quick water break - there's plenty of room, so we don't block the sidewalk or anything. After that, we do some exploring - that's part of the "options" I mentioned before. When it's time to head back, that's when we hit the new-to-us trail!

"What a cool trail!  Nice and wide!"
"And there's even some shade!"

Do you know the BEST part of the trail?!?

A BRIDGE!!!!

How cool is THAT?!?

"SO cool, Ragnar!"
"I love a good bridge, Mags!"

It's so fun to find a new trail - and new places to explore!  Thanks for coming with us!

Sköl!
Ragnar

"Serene Scenery" Sunday

Greetings to all!  It's me, Mags.  Ragnar and I were all set -- were all set -- to do a great Serene Scenery Sunday post today.  Yesterday afternoon, we could hear someone on the PA system at CiCo Park all the way from our house. Dad drove by on his way to a meeting and do you know what he saw?!?

"Go ahead and guess.  Something REALLY serene!"
"Yeah.  Go ahead and guess -- we'll wait."

...

...

...

Did anyone guess "HORSES"?!?!  In our PARK!!!!  How exciting!!!

So we were all kinds of stoked to go through the park this morning to see the horses.  We LOVE horses!   But guess what?  As of this morning, they were GONE.

"We couldn't believe it."
"Yeah.  What a bunch of ..."

Oh.  Yeah.  Well, THAT was still there!  You know -- they left their "calling cards" for us, so to speak.  All wasn't completely lost, but still.  What a bummer.  Definitely not the "serene" Sunday we were hoping for.

Great walk anyway - we're hoping all of you are having a wonderful Sunday!

Yours sincerely,

Margaret Thatcher

Water Break!

Hi everybody!  It's me, Ragnar!  Today, Mags and I took Mom and Dad on another GREAT walk!  We were having so much fun that we took not one but TWO water breaks!

"Are you done, Mags?"
"Yep!  Go ahead and get a good drink, Ragnar!"

We take turns going first.  Mags was thirstier than I was, so I let her have a good drink before I went in.

"Good water today, Mom!"
"I hear geese ..."

Break #1 was at Anneberg Park, and there were geese on the lake there.  Sadly, we didn't get close enough to check for goose poop.

Coming back home through the neighborhoods, we took another quick break:

"Ha roo!"
"Slurp, slurp, slurp ..."

Oh, I know what you're thinking.  "Looks mighty wet around that water bowl."  Am I right?  Well, perhaps someone stuck a little white paw in there to do some digging and perhaps someone didn't.  Mags and I aren't saying which one of us may or may not have done that.  It sure does cool your feety-feet down, though.  Hypothetically speaking, of course.

Sköl!

Ragnar

Staying Cool In The Studio

Greetings to all!  It's me, Mags.  In the afternoons, it's nice and cool in the Studio, so Ragnar and I like going down there to work.  Here are a few action shots of us, hard at it!

"Hi, Mom!  We're playing with toys."
"Do you want the Cupcake, Raggi, or can I play with it?"

"I just finished a Pickle; the Cupcake's all yours, Mags."
"Thanks, little bro."

"Yay!  Cupcake time!"
"I'll stand guard while you chew, Mags."
"You two do know there are two Cupcakes ... right?!?  And two Pickles ... and two of those blue thingies ..."

Well, yes, we DO know that, but we like to run everything past each other.  We never bicker, we never scrap, we are perfectly in synch with each other!  We're cool like that.  And we're staying cool!

Hope you're all staying cool, too!

Yours sincerely,

Margaret Thatcher

Help With The Housework

Hi everybody.  It's me, Ragnar.  As you know, Maggie and I are Working Breed Dogs and as such we are always working, helping Mom and Dad in any way we can.  Yesterday, for instance, Mom was doing the daily vacuuming and I thought I should pitch in.  She had just moved my carrier to vac behind it and under it, so ...

"Umm ... Ragnar?  Excuse me, please ..."
"I'm here for you, Mom.  By the way, you missed some floof ..."

It's not easy, but we ARE Working Breed pups after all!  This kind of thing comes naturally to us!

Sköl!
Ragnar

Wordless Wednesday

 

Mags and Ragnar

The After-Walk Cool Down

Hi everybody!  It's me, Ragnar.  Even though it's definitely Summer weather here now, we're still going on our long walks in the mornings.  We leave early, Mom and Dad bring water for us, and we try to limit our distance to about 5 miles.  Here's a shot of yesterday's sunrise:  

"Their flag's out for Flag Day!"
"That looks gr--- wait!  I think I see a bunny!"

I get distracted easily.

When we get home, Mom and Dad get coffee and breakfast, and Mags and I have our cool down. It goes something like this:

"BOOM!"
"BOOM!"

Then Maggie usually initiates a round of zoomies. It's very relaxing and a great cool down!

How are you staying cool?

Sköl!
Ragnar 

Flag Day & US Army Birthday!

 Greetings to all!  It's me, Mags, here with my kid brother Ragnar to celebrate Flag Day!!!

"Happy Flag Day, everybody!"
"Three cheers for the red, white, and blue!!!"

   AND, that's not all! It's also the 246th birthday of the US Army!!!

"246 years!?!  That's a lot of candles on a birthday cake!"
"HOOAH!!!"

I think this all calls for cookies!  Who's with me?

Yours sincerely,

Margaret Thatcher

Serene Scenery Sunday

Greetings to all!  It's me, Mags!  Before I get started, I just wanted to thank everyone for spreading love to my little bro for Adopt-a-Ragnar Day yesterday!  I can't believe he's been with us for a whole year already ... and at the same time, it feels like he's always been a part of our family!  Funny how that works!

Anyway, for this week's Serene Scenery Sunday, I thought I'd share a few garden poses Ragnar and I did this week.  We go down there to play around a bit and check on the work Mom and Dad have been doing.  

Here we are, right by the gate:

"Maggie!  Ragnar!  Would you two please ..."
"Later, Mom.  We're checking for bunnies."
"Yeah.  Bunnies."

Seriously.  How can she expect us to look at the camera when there could be a bunny in the yard?  We LOVE to stare at bunnies!

We moved on.

"How's this, Mom?"
"You're squinting ..."
"Could be a bunny over there ..."

I could tell you the sun was in my eyes, but it was behind me.  Still ... it was pretty bright out there.  Besides, I couldn't be TOO cooperative, right?!?

Here we are by the new Succulent Garden:

"Great, Mags!  Uh ... Ragnar?"
"Still scanning for buns ..."
"Look at me!  So perfectly behaved!"

Mom finally gave up, but not without trying one more pose on the stairs by the Honeysuckle.

"Oooh!  Perfect, Ragnar!  Mags?!?"
"Wait a sec. I think I'm going to sneeze ..."
"Is that a cookie, Mom?"

What can I say?  Sometimes we feel like posing ... sometimes we don't.  It was very serene in the garden, though!  

Oh -- and just an aside.  You know - in unrelated news.  Did you know that if you stick your snooter in the Honeysuckle you get pollen all over your snooter?  True story.  Also, don't try to eat bumblebees.  Apparently that's a big "NoNoMaggieNoNo".  Whatever.

Enjoy the rest of your Sunday!

Yours sincerely,

Margaret Thatcher

Adopt-A-Viking Day!!!

Hi everybody!  It's me, Ragnar!  Did you know today is Adopt-A-Viking Day?!?  OK, not really ... but it is MY adoption day!!!  One year ago today, my mom and dad and Maggie traveled out to my homeland of Missouri to meet me.  They also met a couple other pups who were available for adoption, too, but I worked hardest at winning everybody over and Maggie chose ME!!!  Or something like that.  Anyway ...

We started today with a really fun walk, then Maggie and I played with toys for a while, then we did zoomies and had lunch.  After lunch, Mom said she had a special anniversary treat for me!

"Great Dane in the morning!  I've had these once before, Ragnar, and they're SUPER good!
Do a pose quick so we can move on to the cookies!"
"Mmm... cookies!!!  OK!  Here's a Head Tilt!"
"❤️❤️ HEAD TILT!!!!! ❤️❤️"

"Excellent job, Ragnar!  Happy anniversary, little brother!"
"Look at th--thanks, Mags!--ose COOKIES!!!!"
"Happy Adopt-a-Ragnar Day!!!"

Maggie was right.  These cookies are amazing!  They're carob-peanut butter!  I've never had carob before but I sure do love peanut butter.  And now I'm pretty sure I love carob, too!

I miss everybody back at Polargold HQs, but I sure am happy here.  Mom said they all needed me really bad - so I think I'm in the right place.  Have a cookie on me today!

Sköl!
Ragnar

Moral Support

Greetings to all!  It's me, Mags.

"Yep.  Just me.  All alone."

I was trying to help our mom - she was having quilting problems.  Uh ...  challenges.  Oh, let's face it -- she  had to rip out a bunch of stuff she messed up.  I was trying to cheer her up - you know, lend a little moral support - but wow, what a big job for just one little Siberian!  I could have used some help, but ...

"... yeah.  I have no idea where Ragnar could be."
"... maybe this hiding place is working out better than I thought!"

"Nice try, Raggi!"
"Uh, oh."

"Now get up and help me!"
"How did you know where to find me?!?!"
"❤️❤️ You two make me smile!!! ❤️❤️"

Yep.  All is took was a little bitey-face action under Mom's sewing table and some zoomies around the Studio and boom!  Our work here was done!  So much easier with both of us helping!

Yours sincerely,
Margaret Thatcher

PS:  How did I know where to find him?  HA!  Wherever Mom is, Ragnar is.  Pretty simple!

New Hiding Place

 Hi everybody!  It's me, Ragnar.  

"Oh.  Hi, Mom."
"BOOM!"

There's a chance Maggie just discovered my new hiding place.  I need a new plan.

Sköl!

Ragnar

 

Wordless Wednesday

 

Mags and Ragnar

What A Walk!

 Hi everybody!  It's me, Ragnar!  Over the weekend, we had a spectacular walk.  We ... hang on a sec ...

"Sorry.  I needed a beverage."

Yeah.  So there we were, on our walk -- we were heading out on what we call "The Vet School Loop", it's about a 7-plus miler.  Hang on.

"I could stand a drink, too, Ragnar."
"Take your time, Mags.  Gotta stay hydrated!"

OK, so that's us at one of our water breaks.  You know - stay hydrated and all that.  Especially on a long walk.  But the REAL excitement was about 45 minutes earlier while we were cutting through the park.  Check it out!!!

To view on YouTube, please click here.

I mean ... it's COWS!!!!!

"Hello!  I'm Polargold's Margaret Thatcher and this is my kid brother Polargold's Einherjar.
But you can call us Mags and Ragnar."
"Hi, Cow!!!"
"MMmmmoooo!"

It was SO AWESOME!

Anyway, we kept walking - past the cows, past shopping centers and banks, past where we had our water break, then hit the KSU Gardens.  Here we are, posing just outside:

"What a great walk!"
"We saw cows!!!!"

Pups aren't allowed in the Gardens, but we walked around the outside a bit.  Mags thought we should pose by this arch-like thing.

"I wonder if they let cows in the Gardens ..."
"Hey, Mom.  Get us by this arch!"

I wanted to swing by the park and see the cows again on the way home, but Mom and Dad said we needed to get home.  At least we got to see them once -- and we sure had fun!  

Sköl!
Ragnar

Seaside

Greetings to all!  It's me, Mags.  This morning, we stopped by the Kansas Ocean on our walk. 

Ragnar and me, on the boardwalk at the KSO!

We also stopped for a couple water breaks -- just a reminder that it's getting hot out now, so remember to stay hydrated! 

Yours sincerely, 
Margaret Thatcher

Serene Sunday

Hi everybody!  It's me, Ragnar.  Talk about serene!  Mom finished putting the binding on her new scrap quilt and put it on the bed.  She went to get the camera to take some shots of it and ...

"Oh, wow, is this ever nice."
"It makes me feel totally serene."
"Umm... I was going to get some ... yeah, never mind.  Do you guys like it?!!?"

Like it?!?  We love it!  And it does make us mighty serene!

Sköl!

Ragnar

Help With The World's Largest Quilt

Greetings to all!  It's me, Maggie.  As many of you know, our mom is an avid quilter.  She recently made a very special quilt using scraps from quilts and bags she's made for friends and family over the years.  It turned out much bigger than she'd planned, hence the name "The World's Largest Quilt".  It's really not THAT big, but definitely is of a size that she didn't want to quilt it herself.  She sent it to the pros at Missouri Star Quilt Company.  It came back the other day, and Mom wanted to lay it out to get a look at the whole thing.

She re-vacuumed the living room, then spread the quilt out ...

"Oh, yeah, Mom.  Nice and roomy!"
"It's for us, right?!?"

Mom said she hasn't sewn the binding on it yet and just wanted to look at it - both front and back.  We were happy to accommodate her!

"Yeah, that's good, Ragnar!  Just give it a flip with your snooter!"
"Like this, Mags?"
"Um, you guys?!?  Would you please ... yeah, OK, never mind."

I mean, c'mon.  We wanted to check our new quilt out, too!

We helped her fold it up and carry it down to the Studio.  Or perhaps we played NASCAR up and down the stairs while she was going down ... something.  Mom decided instead of putting it on the floor down there to "audition" fabric for the binding, she'd just set it on her sewing table, so we could run and play.  "Run and play"?!  We'd been working hard!

"Our work here's done, Raggi!"
"That was exhausting, Mags!"

We were happy to help, but really.  We do need down time!

Yours sincerely,

Margaret Thatcher

Guess What We Saw?!?

Hi everybody!  It's me, Ragnar.  Guess what we saw on our walk this morning?!?  No, really.  Try to guess.

Give up?!?  Check it out!!!

"Mags!  Look!!!  It's ..."
"COW PUPPIES!!!!!"

We tried to convince Mom and Dad that one or two little ones like that wouldn't take up too much room in the bed -- I mean, they're so tiny, no one would even notice.  Right?!?

"Moo!"
"Moo!"

Yeah.  They're still really young - they'd probably miss their mama too much.  Maybe we can adopt them later!  Keep your fingers crossed for us!

Sköl!

Ragnar

My Turn In The Fluff Cycle

Greetings to all!  It's me, Mags.  So there I was yesterday, minding my own, when Mom offered me a treat.  Not just any treat, but the ones Ragnar and I refer to as the "high test" treats.  Trust me when I say they're mighty tasty.

In payment for said treat, Mom had both Ragnar and me step on the scale.  No sweat.  Then Ragnar left and Mom shut the door to the bathroom.  What the fluff?!?  I can't open it from the inside - only from the outside!  That's when it hit me -- it was shower time for yours truly.  

The water actually felt pretty good.  Mom got a bit confused at one point (I think it was when Raggi opened the door to the bathroom and joined us in the shower) and instead of my shampoo, she grabbed the Olay by mistake.  My chest smells like strawberries and mint now, which isn't too bad!

Anyway -- on to the deck for the fluff cycle!

"Is Maggie having spa day?  Can I have spa day again?"
"He can have my turn.  Really."
"You're pretty good to go right now, Ragnar!  Let's fire up the Master Blaster, Mags!"

Can't blame a girl for trying.

Mom used the Master Blaster on me for about half an hour, then deemed me "dry enough".  When I'm in coat-blowing mode, she usually goes a lot longer than that, so YAY!  (Ragnar's almost done with his Spring Blow, then I'll start.  I want Mom to enjoy the coat-blowing season as long as possible.)

Ragnar and I posed for a quick shot on the deck before we went in:

Me and Ragnar - and some cool clouds

... then Mom wanted to get a shot of us out front:

"❤️❤️ Oooh, Maggie, you look so pretty!!!❤️❤️"
"Yeah, thank----oh, hey!  Ragnar!  The neighbors are out!"
"Oh!  Let's stare!"

I mean ... I had been cooperative all during the shower and Master Blaster session.  That's long enough - right?

Yours sincerely,
Margaret Thatcher

Wordless Wednesday

 

Ragnar and Mags

Surprise In CiCo

Greetings to all!  It's me, Mags.  Saturday morning, we headed out on our walk, just like normal.  We had gone less than a mile when Ragnar and I smelled them.  And sensed them.  And heard them.  And so we pulled Mom and Dad toward CiCo Park.  We don't normally pull, but we were so excited!  And what surprise was waiting there for us?!?

"COWS!!!"
"COWS EVERYWHERE!"

 It was so exciting! Ragnar and I LOVE farm animals! We stood there communing with everyone for a while, then got a little closer to this group:

"Hey!  I'm Maggie, this is my brother Ragnar.  Where are you all from?  "
"Mags.  Check out the guy on the far right."

Mom got a close-up of the guy Ragnar was looking at:

"Check out my cool nose ring."

I guess he was like a Punk Rocker Cow or something.  I'm not sure -- I don't know my cow breeds, I just know I like them.

Sunday, Mom and Dad thought we were going to go on a different walk, but once again, Ragnar and I caught a whiff of our new farm friends and asked if we could go back to CiCo. How could they refuse?!?

"Hey!  How did you guys do in the show?"
"Where's the Punk Rocker Cow?  Is he still here?"

He must have been out getting breakfast or a shower.  There were lots of cowboys and cowgirls giving their cows showers, so that could well have been where he was.  Sorry we didn't get to see him again, but at least we got to see our other friends!  What an awesome surprise!!!

Yours sincerely,
Margaret Thatcher