Studio Help

Greetings to all!  It's me, Maggie!  After my last efforts to help my mom in her Quilt Studio, she seemed to abandon working down there for a while.  I'm quite certain it's due to how much work we were able to get done.  Mom seems to agree with me, but something about not meaning it quite the way I do.  I have no idea what she means.  Anyway ...

A very dear, special friend of Mom's asked her if she could do something for her - and that meant us heading back down to the Studio!  Her sweet Labrapuppy Buddy passed away and she wondered if Mom could do something with his collar for her husband.  Mom was so touched that she'd trust such a special keepsake to her and promised to give it a go!  With something this notable, I just knew she'd need my help!

"Is that his collar?  Oh... he smells like he was a very wonderful guy."

Even though Mom's friend washed Buddy's collar, I could still smell him.  I could tell he was very special.  I insisted on inspecting Mom's work.

After she did some cutting and pinning, I needed to take a look.

"Let me see, Mom!  Oooh, can I eat that?"

Sadly, Mom wouldn't let me eat the pin head.  I have no idea why not.  It looked like a flower.  She suggested I go play with my toys.  I think she was afraid I was working too hard. 

Instead of chomping on a chew toy, I decided to see what was in the closet in the inner room of the Studio.  I mean - Mom left the door open, so that was as good as an invitation - right?

"Hmm... lots of fabric and ... HEY!  Is that Roger?!?"

For some reason, Mom ran in and shut the door.  Probably didn't want Roger out running around, distracting her from her work.  (I've only met Roger once.  You can click here and scroll down to learn more about him and our meeting.  Our encounter was rather memorable.)

Mom thought I should come back out to the outer Studio where she was.  Something about there being "less distractions" out there.  I'm not sure what she meant by---

"Hey, Mom!  What's under here?!?!"

Anyway, Mom was rolling right along by then, anyway.  She was done with part of what she was making.  I asked if I could sniff some of the collar parts she cut off.  She was going to discard them, but after I checked it out, she said that gave her another idea!  She started doing more cutting and taking apart and re-sewing. I entertained myself across the room.

"What to do, what to do ..."

As boring as it sounds, I eventually laid down and played with my KONG for a while.  I know.  I'm not sure what came over me.  It made Mom happy, though.

Before I knew it, she had finished up the first part of what she was doing ...

Buddy's collar, made into a cool key fob

... and eventually the rest of her project, too!  She was able to make a second fob for her friend!

Two key fobs made from Buddy's collar -
and a "Hold the Phone! Bag" to use when they walk their other puppy!

Anyway, Mom said I was a lot of help.  Oddly enough, she said Cammie was really helpful, too, and all she did was curl up and take a nap.  How on Earth is that helping?  Anyway, we hope the key fobs will help Mom's friend and her husband feel like they're carrying special memories of Buddy with them everywhere they go!  Mom was so touched to be entrusted with such a special project!

I hope we spend more time in the Studio again soon.  I really like working down there!

Yours sincerely,
Margaret Thatcher

Birding On The Deck

Hello, everyone!  It's me, Cammie.  Maggie and I took Mom and Dad on a nice walk this morning, and then we went out on the deck with Mom to look for birdies.

"Hello, everyone!"
"BOOM!!!

Apparently, we stand a better chance of the birdies coming into range if we're quiet.  We were given the choice of toning it down or going inside.  I promised Mom I'd handle it.

"Urnf!"
"Come here, Little One."

"Mrrrrrfff!"
"I'm on it, Mom."

"Ha roooo!"
"Mags!  Quiet down!  We don't want to scare the birdies!  Or to go inside." 

"Oh.  Right.  Sorry.  BOOM!"
"Good girl, Mags!"

Mom said that was much better! Oh! And by the way ... here's one of her photos. This one's for Frankie and Ernie!

American Robin

Have a wonderful day, everyone!

Cammie!

Wetlands?

Greetings to all!  It's me, Maggie!  This morning, Cam and I jumped into the SUV to go for a ride with Mom and Dad.  We were going someplace called the Steve Lloyd Refuge and Wetland Area.  We were in search of birdies - of course.  Mom and Dad have been there before, but us girls hadn't been.

We had been in the RAV4 for quite a while when Cam asked the big question:

"Are we there yet?"

Since I was riding shotgun, I had a better sense of where we were. I looked out my window and ...

"Well, if this is it, it's more of a Frozen-land than a Wet-land!"

We weren't quite there, but we were crossing over Milford Lake, so we had to be close!

We drove through some wonderful-smelling farm areas and before we knew it, we were there!

"I found it!  It's the Wetland Area!"
"Good work, Mags!"

Apparently, my first assessment was right, though - it was a Frozen-land Area.

"Ooh!  Deer tracks, Cam!"
"SCORE!"

Yep. Where there are deer tracks, there is deer ... well. You know.

Anyway, because everything was mostly a Frozen-land instead of a Wet-land, Mom didn't see many birdies. She saw a few Bald Eagles on the Republican River, but they were backlit by the sun, so she didn't get any good photos. Still - we all had fun, and that's the most important part!

Yours sincerely,
Margaret Thatcher

Serene Scenery Sunday

Hello, everyone! It's me, Cammie!  Maggie and I got to go out birding with Mom and Dad almost every day this past week.  It was so much fun - a ride AND walks, all in one!  What could be better?!?

One of the days, we drove out to the Stockdale Cove area of Tuttle Creek Lake.  Not much was going on, but we made the most of the trip.  We walked down by the  water  ice and took in all the wonderful sights and sounds and smells!

"Feel that breeze!"
"Hey, Cam... I have an idea of what we can do!"

We ALL know what's coming ... right?

"BOOM!"
"Uff!"

Very enjoyable ... if not serene!

Here we are in the RAV4 at Tuttle Creek State Park:

Mags and Me

You can see the Big Blue River behind us. We looked for Eagles there!

Sometimes we get out and walk around there. Here I am from yesterday:

Me, at Tuttle Creek State Park

You can tell from my shadow that I was having a TON of fun!

Here are Maggie and me down by the frozen River Pond:

"Oooh!  Goose poop!"
"BIRDIES!!!"

We saw Bald Eagles out there! Take a look - an adult is on the left and a juvenile is on the right:

"Dad?  Do I have Mom's nose?"

Pretty cool, huh? Mom was all kinds of happy about seeing them. We took Dad up the road a bit, so Mom could get lots of shots of the eagles.

Me, Dad, and Mags

We didn't want Dad to make any loud noises that would scare the eagles off or anything!

I hope you feel nice and serene now!

Cammie!

Being Helpful

Greetings to all, it's me - Maggie!  Is everyone having a good day so far?  Everything is great here.  Cam is taking a nap.  Dad is sitting on the stool so Mom can cut his hair. I thought it would be helpful if I laid right here.

"Hello."

Are you guys working today, too?

Yours sincerely,
Margaret Thatcher

Photo Finish Friday: Helping

Hello, everyone.  It's me, Cam.  The other day, Mom decided to do something she never does - take a nap.  Something about her torn rotator cuff and some pills the doctor gave her that make her "reeeeeeally sleeeeeeeepy".  Since Mom is somewhat of a napping novice, I thought I should help her out!

I snuggled up close to Mom and then ...

"Hi.  Whatcha doing?"
"We're napping, Mags."

"Can I nap, too?"
"OK... just snuggle in here with us--"

"Hey, wait!  I have an even better idea!"

"Who knows what I'm thinking?"
"I'm pretty sure both Mom and I do ..."

"BOOM!"
"Yep.  That was it."

"Gotcha!"
"Urrrnnfff..."

"Wasn't that fun?  And look!  Mom's up already!  We must have helped a LOT!  Hey!  Got your leg!!!"
"Sorry, Mom.  I tried."

"Hey.  I think Dad's trying work in the other room!  We should go help him now!"
"Hmm..."

We are members of the Working Breed group.  It's in our blood.

Cammie!

Something's Fishy!

Greetings to all! It's me - Maggie.  Cam and I got to have special toy time the other day.  This is when Cammie gets to play with anything she wants to and I get to play with one of my "can't leave down all the time" type of toys.  Mom and I actively play a game with my toy (either Fetch or Siberian Fetch or maybe Tuggy-Tug) and Cam does anything she wants to.  Hmm.  Something about Cammie being more gentle with her toys than I am.  Whatever.

Mom let me choose my toy this time from the secret stash of special toys!  It was so exciting!  I chose my Fishy!

I haven't played with Fishy for a long, long time! I first met him when I was a little puppy. He's been through a Fin-ectomy and a couple minor surgeries.  Something seemed a bit different about him now ... something was a little ... fishy!

"Something seems a little fishy, Fishy!"

I couldn't quite figure it out at first ... but then it hit me.  Compare us in the photo above to this FLASHBACK PHOTO!!!

Me and Fishy in October 2013

Do you see what I see?  Clearly Fishy SHRUNK!!!

I still really loved playing with him, though.  Mom and I did some Siberian Fetch, then moved on to Tuggy-Tug:

"I know, Mom.  'Keep it gentle', right?"

I had a great time - and I think Fishy did, too.  He got through the play session without needed any more surgeries, so that's a good thing.  I can't wait to play with him again!

I just wonder ... isn't it fishy that he shrunk?

Yours sincerely,
Margaret Thatcher

Wordless Wednesday

Cammie!

Sun!!!

Greetings to all!  It's me, Maggie, here with a quick announcement:

After what seems like years without any, I'm happy to report we have SUNSHINE!

"I know.  It's on my shoulder.  Don't get my mom started singing about it.  Please."

I'll be here on the bed in a nice, warm sun puddle, embracing my inner kitty-cat if anyone needs me. Perhaps do a little boxing afterwards.

I hope the sun is back wherever you are!!!

Yours sincerely,
Margaret Thatcher

Cinna-Bone Treats!

Greetings to all, it's me, Maggie!  Cam and I have joined the Chewy.com team of product reviewers!

If you see this on a bag, you might as well start wagging your tail!

The product Mom chose for us to review is Solid Gold Cinna-Bone Holistic Dog Biscuits:

All-natural, made in the US

They come in a heavy-duty plastic bag with a really cool closure!  It's easy to pull the bag apart at the top (I mean for someone who has thumbs; I'm pretty sure Cam and I would have to chew it open...) and then seal it up with the interlocking black plastic strips!

Easy-open top!

Mom really likes that feature, as it will help keep the treats extra fresh!

As soon as the bag has been opened, you will be hit with the wonderful, rich smell of cinnamon!!!

"Hello!"
"You have my complete, undivided attention!"

The smell was intoxicating.  Cammie and I were entranced by them.  Mom thought they smelled delightful too.  I made a mental note to keep an eye on her.  I think you know what I mean.

Mom reached into the bag to get a treat out and came out with this:

"Hmm."

Leaves!  I LOVE leaves!  I love chasing them and pouncing on them and yes - EATING them!  For some reason, Mom does not endorse this leaf passion of mine, however, and she was a bit concerned about them being in the bag.  She thought they looked like bay leaves so she checked the ingredients listed on the bag; no mention of bay leaves.  "Hmm," again.

Mom checked the Chewy.com website and their listing for Cinna-Bones had no mention of bay leaves either, so ... she went to the Solid Gold website.  This is all while Cammie and I had to wait, by the way.  Oh, was that ever hard!  Waiting is SO TOUGH!  Especially for Siberians.  No, really.  It is.  Fortunately, on the Solid Gold page for the treats, they do say that bay leaves are added to the package to help promote freshness.  Whew!  (Just don't eat them.  Not that I'd try.  Really.)

Let's get down to business - the taste-test!

Nice and large!  2.75 inches!

The treats are large enough for large breeds, but are easily broken into pieces for smaller pups or by mean moms like ours who won't let you have a whole one all to yourself even though they are the perfect size!!!  Ahem.

Cam and me, about to break bread ... err ... biscuit together!

I have to say, we LOVE these!  They taste every bit as good as they smell - and trust me, they smell delightful!  They are made with wholesome ingredients - and there are many health benefits to cinnamon!  We would definitely have our mom buy these for us as special treats!

We give these treats 5 stars out of 5.  They're all-natural, made in the US, and are the perfect size.  They taste and smell terrific - to us and to our mom!  The only "hit" was not mentioning the addition of bay leaves on the bag - but a quick trip to the Solid Gold website cleared that query right up!

Many thanks to Sydney at Chewy.com for allowing us to join the team and for the wonderfully tasty, healthy treats!

Yours sincerely,
Margaret Thatcher

DISCLAIMER: We received no payment for this post, but did receive the product free of charge - in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are our own. And mom's.  Especially the part about how large of a serving would be adequate.  That was all on her.

Serene Scenery Sunday

Hello, everyone.  It's me, Cammie.  For this week's Serene Scenery Sunday post, I thought I'd share some photos Mom took this morning out at Tuttle Creek State Park.  Ready to relax?

How about a Bald Eagle to start things off?

Mom saw three adults and is just thrilled that they've come back to spend the Winter with us!

She also saw a handful of Great Blue Herons. Here is one trying to sneak past another:

"Just going to skate on past you, Earl..."
"This is my fishing spot, Ned!  Keep it moving."

Someone needs to work on sharing.

Here's one in flight:

And another one shooting Mom a dirty look.

"Fine.  I'll pose.  I'm freezing my feet off, but I'll pose.  Happy?"

Moving right along...

Here's a Dark-Eyed Junco:

And Mom saw a type of bird she'd never seen before! A Red-Shafted Northern Flicker:

She has seen the Yellow-Shafted ones, just not the red. Mags and I are partial to red. Of course.

There were also lots of Canada Geese around - swimming in the River Pond and the Big Blue River, grazing in the grassy areas, and flying overhead - like these guys:

What a serene way to spend the morning, don't you think? And do you know what made it even more serene? Take a look:

Me and Mags at the kayak launch dock!

That's right! Dad and us girls were there, too! The whole family together. Doesn't get much better than that!

I hope you feel nice and serene now! If you'd like to see more photos from our morning at Tuttle, please click here to view our Flickr album.  Have a wonderful Sunday!

Cammie!