I've been good...I've been good.....really!

I know it's almost Christmas....WP put twinkly lights up outside about 2 weeks ago....that can only mean one thing.....Santa Paws is coming.   Oh how I just love it...I always get a new squeaky and boy do I ever need a new one..Charlie slobbered all over my rabbit and it stinks! I hoped he gets ZIP this year because of it...  He just can't seem to keep his paws off my toys.
There's something rather odd around here though.  The tree looks a bit weird. It's silver with white lights and doesn't smell like our summer camping trips. In fact it doesn't smell at all and it's teeny tiny. Anyone know what artificial means?  WP mentioned nostalgia of being a kid in Texas and having a bigger one like it with a color wheel light.  I don't think I like it but WP says it's a lot less work.  She's been a bit busy lately doing something bizarre or is that Bazaar?   Anyway she made a bunch of thingies with her sew machine and then went to a schoolhouse and set up a table to sell it.  Guess she made money.  She came home happy, anyway.
    So back to the tree thing....I hope Charlie minds his manners around it.  Not that he pees in the house but that huge tail of his could swat this poor pathetic thing into the next county if he's not careful.   Like I said he hasn't been very good lately....naw I'm just kidding. He's my bro and I love him.  Annie is a totally different story.  She's been so good you don't even know she's here.   WP put her dog bed in her sewing room and that's where she is most of the time....what a couch potato! She has been hanging around some new guy named Arthur Itis and something makes her walk funny at times...WP thinks she will be banned from day hikes soon because this Arthur person hurts her too bad.   If this Arthur person comes here and hurts her anymore I'll bite him!

   This week was Picture Week.   WP tries pretty hard to get me to sit still to take some quality photos for her Christmas memory book.  All three of us learned at an early age to sit and stay where she puts us.  That's why most of our pictures together are pretty good. It takes patience and a whole lot of chicken stripss to get the outcome she wants...so here are the shots from the past few years...That's why I say I have been really really good....

I don't think I have changed a lot over the years, just gotten cuter. And much more mature!

Hey I heard something this morning too.  HP was talking about Seattle again..It sounds like we may be going again in the near future.  Yippee, I think get to stay in a hotel this time....HP is looking for a dinghy, whatever that is.   There is a huge Boat Show in Seattle the end of January. But a dinghy store? Doesn't sound like anything I would want, cuz I'm a girl.. Maybe Charlie needs a new one?  Oops just found out it is a rubber raft to keep on the boat so HP can get us pups to shore to do our business while we are boating.  We are NOT allowed to pee on the boat. HP and WP have been to this boat show many times.  I remember hearing stories about huge yachts there where you have to remove your shoes to even get to see the insides.  Yeah we will go but we have to stay in the car....but at least we get to go...

So right now is the boring part of the year....  we mainly stay inside and hang out by the woodstove.  So warm and relaxing and my favorite place to be.  HP is doing some reading, studying all the manuals for the electronics on the boat..He wants to be ready for next spring when we can get back out on the water. WP sews a lot.  She has lots of fabric stashed for several projects that just have to get finished before summer arrives.

I am sure hoping in the near future I get to meet that new short person, Hadley.  I really love kids and I know she and I will get a long just fine.  I plan to smother those cute cheeks with tons of kisses and also play with my cousin Jackson....he's a goldendoodle, and quite handsome I may add...I don't get to see him a lot..

Here is a picture of him...

So I guess I had better get busy..  I still have all my Christmas shopping to do,  Oh right I don't carry a purse so guess I can't shop.   Okay I guess I will just have to think hard about what to do for HP and WP for Christmas this year..I promise I won't leave any presents in the house, if you know what I mean.  I am way better than that.  I just thought of the perfect gift for them.....I promise not to leave my toys strewn all over the house and for the next three months I promise not to shed........(too much).

So to all my fans who follow my blog, why not leave me a comment so I know you've been here...I love having followers but don't know it unless you tell me.

At this time I want to wish you all a very wonderful Christmas .  I need to go.  I have to figure some way to sneak some biscuits out for Santa Paws and his reinpups...gotta be prepare.  See you next year!!

Tess

So what's the deal here?

    I haven't posted much lately because this household has been totally bonkers.   WP hasn't been home much and from what I overheard it something about her being a new grandmother.  Whooppeee that means there will be a little person for me to play with soon.  I have such short legs, it's a bit hard for me to lick faces on HP and WP.  But I heard the new baby's name is Hadley, a short person, oh yeah, let the fun begin.   I can see in my very near future being able to grab cookies out of little chubby hands and someone to chase after me.  I think I can tackle a kid but I refuse to share my toys, though, so this Hadley person had better bring her own.  I don't think she will like the way my toys taste because Charlie slobbers all over them...
   So the other thing happening is trying to figure out just who is driving into our yard.   I think WP is a bit crazy in the head...she went to a place called Ogden-land and came home driving some sort New Insect. It looked more like a squashed Volkswagen to me. HP thought she was crazy and told her she would never be able to go anywhere if it snowed hard. But then yesterday she came home with another car. A Subaru Outback...cool a new muttwagen.  This one looks more to my liking, oh yeah, I know I get to ride in this one. Okay maybe later when the inside gets dirty. Did someone say mid-life crisis?  And what does broke mean?
 So no pictures today. I have to stay on my toes. HP looks like he may be going somewhere.  I need to be there, right by the door looking longlingly into his eyes with the pitiful "I want to go too" look.   Awh darn, never mind, looks like he's taking his gun for another walk today. I wonder if that gun-thing is allowed to chase deer, or does it get put on a leash too? I don't get to go and I even got a new haircut so the mud and leaves don't stick to my coat.  WP was a bit testy when she went to bed the other night....I like to sleep on her side and after a good hike with HP, I brought in a wee bit of mud on my tummy. So after I cozy into bed and then dry off the mud leaves a nice gritty feel on her side of bed and I left a few leaves and sticks there too......ruh roh....trouble with HP ..hence the new haircut!

Until next time.......no peeing in the house, and new haircut or not, stay off the pillows on the bed!
Tess

SALTY DOG

Yep that's what I am...a seafaring pooch with salt between my toes.... I just got back from a huge vacation to Anacortes Washington.  Me and Annie and Charlie had a great time and we were all very good.....

     So HP needed to take his boat, Salty back to Washington for a couple of reasons.....first was he bought a new trailer.  The other trailer just wasn't what he liked and felt with all the long distance hauling he wanted one that supported Salty better.  Oh Yeah Salty is a 22 foot C- Dory.  I am getting pretty good at all this nautical stuff.   I listen alot.  The second reason is HP is leaving Salty at EQ Marine for winter storage....it's so cold here and poor Salty will freeze.  He will get it next spring and maybe we can spend some more time floating on the water.

    We left here early on a Thursday and drove hauling the boat to Issaquah Washington....try saying that with a dog bone in your teeth. We stayed the night because HP really grumbles driving through Seattle during rush hour......it was still dark when we got there. Got up early the next day and we got to Coronet Bay around 11:30am.....I grumbled because we had to just sit in the truck FOREVER while the new trailer was fitted to the boat...but there is a really cool park at the end of the raod and we got to get out and stretch a couple of times...WP was amazed at all the wild blackberries were everywhere.

  So the entire day was spent getting Salty's new trailer and everthing else organzied. But Saturday was a fun one.....HP and WP took their boat to something called a sling launch.   They put two huge straps under the boat and off it flies into the air and then lands gently in the water.   Carl the launch guy was really cool. 

  Us pups had to ride in the truck over to the parking lot until Salty was safely delivered to the slip.....this time we were moored next to a huge sailboat in slip 19 on "P" dock....by the way you cannot pee on "P" dock....that's a huge no-no.

    Three trips back and forth to the parking lot with gear, water and then us one at a time. But it is a very short walk so no big deal. But here is me and my sis, Annie, after we get settled into Salty sitting in it's place at Cap Sante Marina. Quite comfy in here...WP put a waterproof blankie down so we don't get anything wet..

So off we go in to the bay that day on a cruise to Skyline Marina on the other side of Fidalgo Island.   Oh yeah I should tell you all where we are consists of many islands...Fidalgo, Whidbey, Guemes, Lopez and many others all a part of what is known as the San Juans, just south of the Canadian Border off the coast of Washington.  It is very beautiful here. It is cooler but still sunny and the water is pretty calm.  HP is very happy the motors both started and things are running well.  We see lots of birds.

So the next morning we get up to fog......lots and lots of fog.  It is damp and the news says the fog should lift later in the morning.  HP alwyas takes us for a nice walk every morning down by the water.  It smells so different here.  The fog sort of lifts and we all  load onto the boat again for another cruise....this time we have to stay pretty close.  There is a marine radio aboard Salty and some guy keeps squawking about heavy fog banks just where we had plannned to cruise to today. Plans changed and we have to just stay close in.  The back side of Guemes Island is glass smooth and we had a good time just putting along. There are other boaters out too seeming to do just the same thing...enjoying the water..

On our way back to the marina we started to hear to hear the guy on the radio again.  HP was told the radio is very important while on the water....they will broadcast well in advance of any approaching storm to give you time to seek shelter....we heard it all the way back to Cap Sante....wind storm coming with lots of rough water and huge swells....dang we were land locked for two days and the wind blew HARD.

   So we did some land cruising....visited Bowman Bay at Deception Pass....here we are on the super long dock.....

and a view from the shore.

Charlie just had to go for a swim and Annie said the water tasted awful. This bay was calm the out farther there were huge whitecapsand no small boats on the water. So then we drove to the top of Mt Erie for a panoramic view of where we are.......spectacular!

So now we are at Wednesday....almost a week since we left our home in Montana.   And today the winds are clam and HP is ready to get out on the water once again.  Today no wind but it's raining.  But HP and WP decide to go for it. Salty actually has heat in the cabin and windshield washers so why not?  Off we go and once we get underway the water isn't all that bad.  HP has been wanting mto get over to James Island since he bought the boat and today is the day.  The water is good and we have just enough time... and we amke it!!  it is worht the trip....a small island one of the first parks in the long chain of San Juans.  Us pups get to get out and actually romp as there is no one there but us...we have time to get lunch and then have to head back

Cool place and here are some pictures of it....

And so we had a good trip.  Got back to the marina..Salty was loaded back the trailer and delivered to EQ and we headed home Thursday.  We left Anacortes at 10am and arrived back at our own yard at 9pm.....I am so glad to be home.  We had a good time and now I am so looking forwaqrd to next spring.....I like boating..it's fun!



Monture Campout...I have such a good life!

I want to go back.......we just got home from another great camping trip to Monture Creek near Ovando.... and I would really like to know who stole my mountains while we were gone.   The air here at home stinks sort of like the campfire HP did while we were camping out....but I want my mountains back. You can't see them for all the smoke in the air.....cough cough....but while we were gone we did have a good time.  Guess I did because I am exhausted. And the air didn't stink!
The campground was deserted.....we had it all to ourselves....it was really nice quiet and relaxing...except for those pesky squirrels......they are so obnoxious!

  The first night we took a short ride up the creek just to get out for a bit and stretch our legs, then back to the ARR VEE for supper and sleep time.  

But only after some down time with HP.....got a stick?...I will destroy it for you!  I did get in a wee bit of trouble....HP's horse Matt got his halter hung up on the hitch rail. He pulled back and ,well, I sort of helped him pull harder so he'd break it....and he did.......HP was NOT HAPPY with me.  Not a good idea to bite the heels of the horse. Here's Matt with the "spare" halter on...

Trails here are so beautiful.......waterfalls, mud holes and nice weather this time...but no deer to chase ( can't chase them even if they are there to chase)

We also had Barney along......WP sure likes this guy.....he's pretty good to me. Puts up with me under his feet and I can even surprise him from the side of the trail and he doesn't get mad or anything. Yep I like him just fine!

So the next day we went a long long ways.....all the way up to Burnt Cabin..(hmmmpf didn't look burnt to me)...one way it was about 8 1/2 miles.....that's a really long walk for these short little legs.  The cabin was freshly painted and has a brand new roof.   Ha, looks like I got to put the very first muddy pawprints on it.........muhahaha!!

  We hung out on the porch for a while before heading back.....Lot's easier going downhill.  WP was mentioning the huckleyberries were almost non exsistent.....just little dry green ones left on brown crispy bushes.  Bet the bears aren't happy.   Last time we went this way we found lots of the berries even though I don't like them very much. WP likes huckleyberries........here I am sitting on the cabin porch.....mud bath anyone??? 

 I am so dang cute!! And swimming another one of my favorite things...

Swimming is great when the trail is so dusty......and crowded...sometimes I feel like a Labrador sandwich..

This is  one of the favorite rides for WP but there are several really long straight stretches......BORING.... espcially when it's so hot.  But it is a very pretty ride. 

But after doing one 6 mile ride and then a 17 miler the next day we all felt the same way my big sister Annie felt.....

table leg huggin' tired!

Now to rest for a few days.......Yawn

When's the next ride???  HUH???

Camping with the family

Oh yeah, my favorite thing to do.....camping.....the fresh air, the clean waters, and getting to eat as much as I want to.....The fam went to the North Fork of the Blackfoot trailhead last week for a few days of R & R.   HP & WP both took their horses and also a mule to carry lunches and extra gear.  One thing they forgot was extra water for the trail rides.   It was hot dry and very dusty on the trail.  The "fam" stopped a lot along the way so me and my 4 legged kin could cool off in the creeks.....Ahem needless to say I got a bit muddy....and dusty. 
     The first ride was just along a mountain road......plenty of water, but no squirrels along this route.......BORING!!! I do my part by checking every culvert along the way just to make sure none of those noisy little critters aren't lurking there....and we didn't see any deer either.    We get back to the motorhome for dinner and kick back and relax for the rest of the evening.....we had the entire campground to ourselves this trip. So quiet.  The next morning we headed out fairly early to do a "day ride" to the North Fork Falls.....Geez it's only 10am and already hot.   WP is in the lead and keeps telling HP there are tons of bear tracks in the trail......scary!
    We make it to the first bridge and our first cooling off spot.....I love swimming in the creek.  WP keeps close watch to make sure I don't venture out too far.....the water runs fast at times and could sweep me away if I am not careful.  The trail keeps getting hotter and we have to climb uphill for quite a ways to reach the falls.....I sure can't see what a big deal this is......you can't see the waterfall, just hear it....and they won't even let me get close enough to even try a peek over the edge.......BORING.....and hot...  WP shares her water with me and my big sister, Annie.  Annie has a real hard time with the heat. We get to have dog cookies here and WP sneaks all of us some of her turkey sandwich......I do love trail rides that include lunch...I usually get people food treats on them..  They decide next time to have the mule carry extra water for us if it happens to be hot.    We get back down the the North Fork Cabin and WP takes a few candid photos....yeah, I know I am not very clean but what do you expect when it's this dusty...here we are sitting on the front porch of the cabin......we are about 7 miles in at this point. I am very tired right now...

And here is the bridge we had to cross to get here.....

But what a view from the bridge, looking towards the falls.....(yeah I don't see any falls either)!

And then here's the other critters with us.....guess with all of us, there was 8 family along this trip.......I guess you call horses family...... WP is always refferring to her horse, Barney, as her boyfriend........are boyfriends considered family? We he does live with us so I guess he is.....I like him anyway, he is very careful when I am underfoot and that is a very good thing considering the size of those feet.....Holy cow they are as big as pie plates!

    So we take off from the cabin towards the trailhead.   Along the way we run into the ranger and his friend...they tell us to be very careful as a bear was spotted along the trail we are on.   So we ease on along and of course when we least expect it, on a corner, in dense underbrush, on a part of  the trail where there is no tother place to go, wham HP comes face to face with not only the bear, but her two cubs as well.....HP's horse, Matt does a very abrupt about face which also makes the mule turn too.....WP following behind on Barney is now in the lead and making a fast exit on this part of the trail.  We all look back to see one of  mamma bear's babies heading up a tall tree.  My little heart is beating so fast.....being so short I just didn't get to see what happened but I follow everyone else and head back from where we just came....so we all take a break and wait.....HP walks alone back up the trail keeps talking very loud....he soon returns and reports no bears in sight......whew that was a close one.

     It was a very exciting day but when we finally get back I am not feeling very good.......and neither is my brother Charlie, in fact we are both very sick that evening.....too hot and way too much dust.   I think I inhaled an entire truckload of it....WP is pretty worried about me because I just lay there.   So she decides to see just how sick I am......out comes the turkey.....and POP up I come ready for just one more bite......I may be hot, tired, and a bit choked up from too much dust but I will always come alive for turkey.  We came home a day early because of the heat but maybe next week we are going someplace else and a new adventure....

   Did someone say huckleberries????? 

It's My Birthday .....Let's party!!!

It just seem like the last 5 years has gone by so darned fast......just yesterday I was just a pup...yep that's me...

and then I grew bigger and strong enough to actually go somewhere like with my people persons HP and WP into a wild place called the Bob Marshall Wilderness.   It was a really long walk but I made it all the way and actually got to go fishing......here I am sitting on the banks with my brother and sister in an enchanted place called the Danaher.  By the way that's me in the middle...

I absolutely love going on trips....and in my short life I have been so many places.....HP and WP always go to Yellowstone in the winter...it sort of stinks, well the air does with rotten egg smells...but then I get to look out the window at all the animals.....bison, elk and deer but the ranger person says I have to stay on a leash inside the park so a coyote or wolf doesn't eat me up.....I am so small I wouldn't make a very good meal and why would a relative want to eat me anyway?

I have been to a lot of different states too, Montana, Wyoming, Idaho, Washington and British Columbia and even to Alaska traveling with HP and WP in a huge rolling tin can called the motorhome. That was a cool trip but a long one...Wish they would let me drive......I watched HP the whole trip and really think I could do it.....maybe not I don't think my paws would reach the pedals..

This year I learned how to go boating too.   All the way to the San Juan Islands to get HP's new boat Salty.   Looks like we are going to have some kind of fun next summer. I checked out the seals in the harbour.....another critter I have to be very wary of I hear......my brother Charlie got knocked off the dock by Annie when she was getting out of the boat......Ha I didn't know he knew how to fly and even better how to swim in salt water.... he didn't look too happy when HP pulled him out of the drink!

I know I need to get better pictures and promise to do that in the future but for now WP is helping me out......my paws sort of get in the way but I will maybe ask for a better camera with bigger shutter buttons. Maybe when I grow up I can be a model I think I have the poses down pat what do you think??

Happy 5th Birthday to me!!!

What's a Hay Day???

I spent the entire day sleeping......BORING!!!  No hikes or fun stuff of any kind.... WP told someone HP sat on a deer all day....I didn't see any antlers and sure didn't see any deer around here.  I would have barked at 'em and chased them right off the ranch if I had....

 HP did sit on a green and yellow piece of farm equipment though....It had some sort of writing on the side but I can't read.......  I don't really like it when he's doing the farm equipment stuff.....that means I have to stay in the yard and away from it......Dangerous!!   Sheesh I must have come close at some point in my very young life......maybe that's why I don't have a tail like Charlie and Annie.   You think I got it cut off by that mower thingy on the back of the tractor?  Scary......

     Well tomorrow all the grass stuff he mowed down has to dry out , that means a day off for HP and we get to go hiking and for a swim.....WP is going to town...too hot for me to sit in the car and I would rather be hiking anyway....

Exercise is so good for my diet.    I have been losing a few but still need to lose more to get a good report from my vet at my next appt.....He sure wasn't happy at the last one.....

    Well here's a photo of what's going on here today.......notice I am NOT in the picture and this IS my blog.......really???

Day Hikes and Haircuts

Boy am I  glad I don't drive a car......WP was gone last week, boy I sure missed her.....she sneaks a few extra tidbits to me after supper.  I am suppose to be on a strict reduced calorie diet but HP has a habit of feeding me way more than I need so when WP is home I get only what I need.  I do get  a crumb of something tasty once in a while.  Every evening I sit and stare longlingly at her.  If I give her some real sad eyes she caves.......ah yes a chicken snack. 
   Okay back to the car thing.....they are just "okay" things......they get you to and from your hikes but I sure don't like those rumbley strips on the sides of the road......HP has a bad habit of hugging the side of the road and hits those dang things.......makes me want to jump out of my skin and sure disturbs a good nap.. yeah and WP just got back from her trip to Ogden.....her car has a strange look to it and the phone keeps ringing with insurance guys, whoever they are.  Just what is a fender bender anyway?   Running a red light? Is that some sort of new game like chase the ball or terroize the cat.... WP wasn't to happy about it whatever it was.....
   So yesterday I was laying on the kitchen floor panting.....I don't like the heat and having these black locks...so HP took me to the beauty parlor for a trim and a good brushing......boy do I ever feel better now.....maybe I will post a picture tomorrow of my new look....I got to go on an extra long day hike today too....Big Creek....lots of cars but didn't see one person to jump on......and here I am extra clean today.


uh oh...I smell the grill going.... better boogie there might be some  food dropped..

Uh oh More trouble at home.....

Not only am I on a very strict calorie reduced diet but I found out last night the HP can get a wee bit testy if I chase the cat......I got into big trouble!

Brother and sister......

I think I am adopted.......my brother and older sister are much taller than I am and they have straight short hair and mine is semi curly and  bobbed cut......Hmmmm Oh yeah I keep forgetting I am a Miniature Australian Sheperd and they are both Black Labradors.....but I am in charge and they love me.
Here we are together on one of the trips that HP and WP go on... that's me in the middle....Charlie my big  brother and my much older sister, Annie.....this was taken after I had walked 18 miles into the Danaher Meadows in the Bob Marshall Wilderness. I was tired but the trip was fantastic...... I keep asking, when are we going again???

July 4th Holiday

I don't like the bangy things.......they make me a bit nervous but I still am okay......I know several friends who have to hide under the bed but I am a big girl and just deal with it....
HP and WP took me on their horseback ride yesterday........I had a bark frenzy at the parking lot  and got into trouble but settled right into to doing what I do best....looking for elusive squirrels to chase...It was bit hot but there are plenty of creeks along the trail so I got to take several swims and one very good mud bath along the route....We ran into three very pretty ladies hiking too.   They were nice and told me I was soooo cute.   I have a tinkling bell attached to my collar so people will know I am coming and so HP and WP can find me in the tall grasses....I am pretty short... HP and WP apologized  to the ladies for my manners...oops sorry about the muddy paw prints on your white shorts lady...
HP's horse Matt doesn't like me very much.......he pins his ears and gives me dirty looks as I run by......neener neener I am faster than you. The creeks felt so good on my hot little paws...that water is cold and in some places very scary because it is so fast.......I don't swim very well but i sure do like to wade....back at the truck after the ride I crash on the front seat...oops sorry WP about the mud on your side.

Okay I will sleep good tonight, just have to listen to all those bangy things;....sssh anyone have a sleep eye mask......yawn....

We will start somewhere in my life.......

Hi,everyone, my people person is going to help me try and log my day to day happenings and feelings....wow where do I start.
    I am a cute and  energetic, I guess they refer to me as Miniature Australian Sheperd and boy am I ever cute. I had to sort of tell a fib on my profile page so I could start my blog.  I am not really old enough to actually to have a blog but my people person  is ( sssssh she's way old enough if you know what I mean).

   So here is the story so far of my life.....My people person ( whom I will refer to from now on as the WP or wife person ) got me when I was just a pup.....way back in August of 2006 so this year that makes me 5.  She and her handsome hubby, we will call him the HP ( husband person) had just lost their dear friend Ike a handsome boxer ( pictured above) from cancer.  They were both so sad.  My WP was sort of sad to because every time the HP would take off for the day  Annie the other family member ( more about her later) would go too.....leaving my WP home alone.....she decided to find a small home type dog to keep her company while the HP did his thing.....
Annie is the other cog in this whole wheel and I will be posting pictures and stories of her too.  She is the matriarch of the family and a good calm source of company.  She happens to be my big sister, .....well adopted sister because she is a Black Labrador and way bigger than me....

  Anyway back to my story....I came to stay and was a very tiny thing but oh so cute.....I was really really good and that Christmas I got my very own puppy to grow up with......Charlie came to live with us too.  Now there are three of us and we are all good good friends.   The WP and HP kept muttering something about being crazy having not one but two puppies in the house at the same time.......Charlie got into way more trouble than me.......I learned early you don't poop in the house......Ahemmm Charlie was a slow learner....so this is where our story begins.......

to be continued........ picture is from us at Christmas we were both very tiny......well one of us was anyway