King of the Mountain!

Hello, everyone!  It's me, Cammie.  Zimmie and I have been teaching little Maggie so many important lessons and she's coming along so well!  She's very skilled at River Otter Games, so we thought we'd kick it up to the next level - the King of the Mountain version!

Zimmie and I were playing it like we like to do, when the little one came in and said she wanted to learn how to play. I told her to sit and watch us at first:

"Ha roo!  I'm the King of the Mountain!"
"Wait until the time is right to make your move, Maggie, then ..."

"BOOM!!!"
"Oooh!  That looks fun!  Can I try?!!?"

Zim and I thought she was ready, so I worked with Maggie, giving her step-by-step guidance.

"Let's go around to the end.  Come shoulder to shoulder with me, Maggie!"
"OK, Aunt CamCam!"

She's such a good student!  She's a natural!

"I'm going to get you, Zimmie!"
"That's it, Maggie!  Just like that!"
"Ha roo!  I'm the King of the Mountain!"

She wasted no time at all, and went in for her first lunge while I coached her!

"BOOM!  Oh... I missed."
"Good, Maggie!  Good!  Try again!"
"Oh, no!  Ha rooooo!"

She is such a quick study!!!

"I'm going to get you, Zimmie!"
"Ha rooooo!"
"Oh, I'm so proud!!!"

I changed my vantage point, so I could continue to coach her.

"How did you do that, Aunt CamCam?!?"
"That'll come soon enough, little one!"
"Try to get me, Mag-a-roo!  You can do it!"

Zimmie is such a great mentor and big brother to us both!

"Ha rohrohroooooo!"
"Excellent!"
"I love how good you are with my puppy, Zim!"

"BOOM!"
"Oh, no!  She's got me!  The littlest river otter got me!"
"She did it!  I'm so proud!  Remember to be gentle, Maggie!"

I want her to learn to play River Otter Games, but I also want her to be gentle!  That'll keep all of us (especially Mom) happy.  I love having a puppy to train and mentor!

Cammie!

Wordless Wednesday

Yours sincerely,
Margaret Thatcher

Caution: Crazed River Otters At Play!

Ha roo, pups and cool cats!  It's me, Zim.  Today, I thought I'd give you a quick look into how we've been playing our Crazed River Otter Games lately.  The girls and I like to mix things up a bit, you know.  How?

Sometimes, Maggie and I team up against Cammie, like this:

"Let's get Aunt Cammie, Zim!"
"Right behind you, Mag-a-roo!"
"I'm ready for you two!  Bring it, fellow river otters!!!"

And sometimes the girls team up against me!

"♩Clowns to the left of me, jokers to the right,
here I am, stuck in the middle - ha roo! ... ♩ "

But most of the time, the little one tries to take on both of us, like so:

"Oh, no!  Look out, Zimmie!  She's gonna get us both!"
"Argh!!!  I'm being attacked by a crazed river otter!!  Help!  Help!"
"Yip ya rooooooooo!!!!"

I have to say, the kid's got spunk - and sure picked up on the Crazed River Otter Game mighty fast!

Play bows,
Zim

Monday Miscellany

Greetings to all!  It's me, Maggie Thatcher.  Did everyone have a good weekend?  I hope so!  We had a very nice one here - I got to do all kinds of fun things and learn more important things from Cammie and Zim!

Cammie showed me how to do Guard Duty on the deck!

Now that I'm growing, I can't fit through the railing as easily as before so I'm not always leashed out there! You can see EVERYWHERE up there - except for out front! For out front, you have to go to the front windows like Zim has shown me. Aunt Cammie said you can also see out front from a window on the stair landing, but I'm not quite tall enough yet.

One day VERY soon, though!

Mostly, I've just been hanging out with Cammie and ZimZim, learning everything a puppy can and should learn!

"Quick, kid.  Do the Innocent Look."
"Got it, Zimmie!"
"Hello!  Look at how cute we are!  And innocent, too."

They are both soooooo smart!  I'm so thankful to them for all the important lessons they're sharing with me.

Mom has always believed that Siberian Huskies are the missing link between dogs and cats.  For some reason, she thinks this is further proof:

All I know is Zim said it would make a cool fort! What do my cat blogging friends think?

Yours sincerely,
Margaret Thatcher

Serene Scenery Sunday

Greetings to all!  It's me, Maggie, here with Serene Scenery Sunday!  We had a lot of wonderfully serene times here this week, and I just can't wait to fill you in!

On my practice run wearing the seatbelt harness, Mom and I drove past the Kansas Ocean. I didn't get to get out of the car, but I could smell the water - and Mom shot a few pix out of the window. There were Redhead Ducks there! Look:

Redheads!

Aren't they lovely?!? There are males and females in that shot. In case you can't distinguish between the two, here is a female redhead at the KSO, then a male:

Female redhead

Male redhead

Ha yip ya roooo!!! Just kidding! But Aunt CamCam and my Zimmie both got to go walk around the ocean. Here is a shot of a female Redhead in the front, and a male behind her:

Female and male Redhead Ducks!

The males have more of a red head!

Here's a male in flight:

Redhead in flight

Isn't he beautiful?!?  Cammie said it was really peaceful to watch them fly! She said they did a lot of take-offs and landings when she was there. Zim said when he went, they just swam around and enjoyed the breeze with him.

"Feel that ocean breeze, fellow redheads!"

Soon I'll be able to get out and walk around at the Kansas Ocean - then one day, I'll be able to walk that far!  I can't wait!  In the meantime, I'll spend time with my favorite redheads, Zim and Cammie!

"What's that over there, Zimmie?  Can we go see?"
"It's called a teenager, Mags."

That was REALLY serene!  Zimmie and I got to meet a very nice teenage boy who was visiting the boy next door.  He was very polite (Mom was impressed with his manners!) and asked if he could meet us.  He scratched Zim's ears just right and gave me lots of nice cuddles!  Both Zimmie and I liked him a lot.  I hope I get to see him again!

For some reason, Mom said this helps her and Daddy feel serene:

It's my Puppy Teething Stick by Kong. I'm not sure why it makes them more serene than me chewing on their hands. I thought they liked it when I do that! Have I mentioned that I'm teething?

Do you know what else I like to chew on, other than  Mom and Daddy's hands  my teething stick?

Cammie and me!

Yes, Cammie!  She and Zim are my favorite redheads!  Mom and Dad say that Cammie is the most patient, kind girl in the world, and the best big sister/aunt a girl could ask for!  I must agree!  Oh!   And the best big brother is Zimmie, of course!

"Hi, Zimmie!  What are you doing back there?"
"Hey, little one.  Just getting some alone time in.  Recharging.  Looking for the Zen of Zim Zone."
"Oooooh.  Can I do that with you?!?"

Cammie told me about where to find Zim, or I never would have known he was in the dining room!  (Check the 3rd photo down at this link!)  Mom thought Zim would be more serene if he did alone time alone, so I went into the kitchen and found a sunbeam to nap in.

I hope your Sunday is a serene one. Remember to go out and see beautiful things - and take time to kick back and put your feet up.

Yours sincerely,
Margaret Thatcher

PS:  If you'd like to see more photos of the duck kind of Redheads, please visit our Birds! set on Flickr.

Posing

Greetings to all!  It's me, Margaret Thatcher.  Both Cammie and I went to see our vets this week, and while at the Veterinary Health Center, Mom had us pose for pictures.  Are you surprised?  We weren't, either.

My trip was very interesting this time!  And the planning started the day before ...

Mom was talking about borrowing Dad's SUV, when to load  my carrier  10 Downing Street into it, and something about a long run for a short slide.  THEN there was some speculation about whether something would fit me!  The next thing I knew, I was wearing this:

Mom was "squee-ing" up a storm, going on about how grown up I look and how she couldn't believe it - and Daddy said she should take me for a test drive.  Yes, a drive ... without mobilizing 10 Downing!

Mom opened the door to the Celica and I hopped right in.  She buckled something called a "seat belt" through my new harness, and said we'd take a short drive!

"Ooooh!  Feel the breeze!"

Mom popped open the sunroof and we drove past a body of water with ducks and everything!

"Driver?!?  Was that what I think it was?!?"

Apparently, it was the infamous Kansas Ocean!  I thought at first it might be St. James's Park Lake, but I was mistaken.  Either way, it was very exciting and I just loved riding shotgun, as Zim calls it!

The very next day, I got to go in the car again - this time, to the vet's!

Me, outside the Vet Med Health Center

All I had to do was sit on the scale to get weighed, so they could give me the right amount of heart worm preventative.  I'm growing so fast, it's best to check!  Did you know I can do "sit" now?  And did you also know that at 15 weeks of age I weigh 22.9 pounds?  I'm going through something called a "growth spurt". Mom says I'm still her little girl, though, and seems to pick me up more than ever. Something about "not being able to do this much longer". Hmm.

Anyway, here's my impression of a Steiff stuffed toy:

Pretty good, don't you think?

As I said, my Aunt Cammie went to see her vet, too. I didn't go with her this time, but she did some posing by the Mosier Hall sign, too:

"I ❤ Dr. B! And not just because she gave me treats!" 

She's smiling because she didn't have to have her ear flushed out this time and her ear infection is WAY better!

Wait a minute. "Treats"!?!?  I didn't get treats!!!  "Treats"!?!?  I need to ask Dr. A about this when I go in for more boosters next week!

Here's Cam by the "A Kind Touch" statue:

It's a lovely statue, even if I did buff at it once. Please follow the link provided to learn more about it.

That's about it.  It's a big step for me to be able to ride in the car now, instead of in the carrier inside the SUV!  Zimmie and Cammie said it means really cool adventures are right around the corner for me!  And we're sooooo happy Cam's ear is doing so well!

Have a lovely weekend!

Yours sincerely,
Margaret Thatcher

Photo Finish Friday: The Group Portraits

Ha roo, pups and cool cats!  It's me, Zim, here with Photo Finish Friday.  As I showed you Tuesday, Mom's been trying to get good group shots of my sisters and me.  Normally, Cam and I would be averse to the idea, and train Maggie to protest as well, but ... Mom's teaching Maggie to do that "sit" thing and treats are involved.  What can I say?  And if Maggie's getting treats, helpful siblings get treats, too!

OK, so then.  One of the very first things we taught the Mag-a-roo was that after you go outside and go potty, you come back in, race around the living room a bit, then stare at Mom (or Dad) until you get a treat.  Like so:

"Y'ello!"
"Hello!"
"What are you guys doing?"

It didn't take long at all for Maggie to know exactly where the treats are kept, and to go over there after we stare at Mom for a minute.

These are the faces of starving Siberians!

Is Maggie good, or what?  Oh, not because she's doing the "sit" thing - I couldn't care less about that!  I mean look at that SAD LOOK she's doing!!!  YIKES!  So young, but so skilled!  (For the record, I heard Dad say that's the look that melted his and Mom's hearts and made them choose her.)

Anyway, the girls' treats are kept on the counter; mine are in the magic cold box.  You know.  If anyone wanted to come over and give us each a little something.

Sometimes Mom takes the treats somewhere else and makes us pose for them.

"You want us by the front door?  Really?"
"Does she have treats, Zimmie?"
"What are we doing now, you guys?"

Like Cam has said, Maggie's a quick study and is great at following our lead. Here we all are, by the front door.

Please don't fault us for being cooperative; Mom had treats!

Apparently, there's good lighting there. Whatever.

Sometimes Mom likes to go up on the steps to get a different perspective:

Notice the girls are both sitting down.  Good girls!

Mom asked us to sit and smile.

I opted to smile and let the girls cover the "sit" part.  Of course I still got a treat, in case you were wondering.  Look at my FACE! How could she resist?!?  (Besides, when you're 13-1/2 and have stiff joints, you get a few perks around here.)

That's a wrap for Photo Finish Friday!  Which portrait do you like best?

Have a great weekend!

Play bows,
Zim

As They Say ...

Hello, everyone, it's me, Cammie, here with one of the lessons I've been teaching Maggie.  This is a very simple one.  In the words of those Blood, Sweat & Tears guys ...

♩ "What goes up..."

... must come down!"

My Mini-Me is such a quick study!

Cammie!

Wordless Wednesday

Yours sincerely,
Margaret Thatcher

Did You Say "Treat"?

Ha roo, pups and cool cats!  It's me, Zim.  Mom wanted to get a shot of my sisters and me - you know, one of those goofy ones where we're all looking at the camera and holding still?  Yeah.  One of those.  We were all against the idea, until Mom said she had treats for us.  Let's face it - that changes everything.

Before treats:

Me, Cam, and Mags

Aaaaaaand after treats:

What can I say?  We're professionals.

Play bows,
Zim

Veterans Day 2013

On Memorial Day, the last Monday in May, we pay respect to those men and women of the US military who have fallen in service of our great nation.

On Armed Forces Day, the third Saturday in May, we celebrate and thank all who have served or who are serving in our military.

Today is the 11th of November - Veterans Day - the day we honor those those who served or who are serving in combat.

Statue honoring our veterans
Downtown Manhattan, KS

 This political "cartoon" sums it up well for us:

Here at Ao4 HQs, we understand that freedom is not free. We thank our veterans for their selfless service, dedication to duty, and their courage. It is because of these men and women that we enjoy the great freedoms we have today. They are the strength of America.

Veterans, we thank God for you and pray for His blessing on each and every one of you.

The Ao4

PS:  Please click here to a past Veterans Day salute on the Ao4 Digest to see our two very favorite combat veterans!

Serene Scenery Sunday

Hello, everyone.  It's me, Cammie.  Well, our mom did it again.  She abandoned us for hours on end to go gallivanting around the countryside with Beth and her Border Collies.  Oh, sure, Dad was here with us and we had plenty of fun and it was really only part of the afternoon, but that's not the point.  The point is ... well, I'm not sure what my point was.  I need to be serene, don't I?  Let's take a look at some of the photos she took - maybe that will help us all.

They went to the Carnahan Creek area, a place Mom's never been before!  The creek itself feeds into Tuttle Creek Lake, where she and Beth usually go, but yesterday was a new adventure!  They passed through part of the Tallgrass Prairie:

The Tallgrass Prairie

Those are the Flint Hills out there. I guess that shot is a "twofer".

They saw lots of hawks:

Red Tailed Hawk

On their way, they came across an old cemetery.

Carnahan Garrison Cemetery wall

There were grave markers dating back to the Civil War. Here is one soldier's gravestone:

Here lies James M. Harper, Company K, 9th Kansas Cavalry

There's a gorgeous view of Carnahan Creek from up there ...

... and there is a chapel nearby:

Carnahan Creek Church, established 1867

There's even an outhouse behind the chapel:

Mom said it was large, as outhouses go (something about a "two-holer on each side") but very primitive. Let's leave it there!

When they got down to Carnahan Creek, they parked then walked a long way along the shoreline - along this old dirt road:

Way to break the rules, Mom!  I think she must be part Siberian!  Oh. And did I mention what very handsome Border Collies were there? Seamus and Moss!!!

Seamus

Moss

I'm glad Mom and Beth were well-protected!

Here's an artsy shot of the creek:

Carnahan Creek

They saw a lot of tiny birdies yesterday, in addition to the hawks I mentioned, like this Dark-Eyed Junco:

Dark Eyed Junco

An Eastern Bluebird:

Eastern Bluebird

Another little Junco (perhaps):

Perhaps another Junco

And all kinds of birdies! They saw Great Blue Herons, too, but they were mighty far away and flew off before Mom could focus!

Here's one last shot of the creek that Mom took out the window of the Jeep, as they were on their way home:

Carnahan Creek and the Flint Hills
OH!  And look, there's Mom in the rear-view!

Mom had a wonderful time and liked exploring somewhere new. I hope you enjoyed seeing her photos (click here for the full set, if you'd like to see more) and that they helped you feel serene!

I need to get back to my puppy now.  Duty calls!  Serene "I Love My Puppy" duty!

Cammie!