Muddy Feet but Happy Tails!-DOT's Post

As we finally had a bit of sun after then longer then a week of rain, the pups and I decided to make the most of it with a hike this morning.

Autumn was dressed in some of her finest array...

We decided to take a different route rather then sticking with the bike trail. Sometimes the road(path, trail) less traveled really has the best scenery...

To the left of the trail, you actually look down upon a part of Sandycreek back water which is down over a cliff...

it appears the lilies are done for the season...

but look a little closer...do you see what I see?

A snapping turtle caught sight of me as I was clicking the picture, but if you click on the picture, I bet you can make him out.

Then to our right...

a gentle water fall...

Next we came upon a sandy cove along the Sandy Creek.

Tails wagging the whole time!

What a lovely camp site!

Sampson checking out the fire ring and Dew the seating!

They really didn't avoid most of the mud holes, but may have thought this one was too deep for them.


This was really pretty, click on the picture to get the full effect.

The mushrooms were really out since all the rain and gloom. But it is still quite pretty don't you think?

Heading back but this is what it is all about, lolling tongues and wagging tails, you know you did good!

Happy DOT's all!

Thank you!

I wanted to just say thank you to all my blogland and facebook friends and family who have posted so many great comments, wishes, and supportive emails. This is one of the great things I love about the online "community"!

I am really enjoying the time and want to make the most of it, and yes of course will post maybe a little more frequently then I have previously, maybe with all the pictures of things getting done!

Thanks again!

Officially-Laid Off

You know how you always say, when I have time to get to that...well now I do. Have time to get to that. I am making a list for myself of things that I want, (insert: need or have wanted) to get done. And not just housework. Things like:

~Baking
~Getting into a regular exercise routine
~actually completing some knitting projects
~working with Sampson on his confidence level
~(I know this one is early) making up Christmas Cards
~and of course right up there is getting this house organized again.

My oldest has also told me that he has decided to get a place with a friend and he will be also moving out this upcoming week. He is pretty excited about it. I have a little glimmer of excitement about the possibility of seeing err I mean using my sewing machine again! And there are three projects there that I have been wanting to do also.

My boss says not to get used it, this is only a temporary situation and when things pick up wants me back at my job.

One day at a time, one day at a time...

How Funny...

At least I still have my sense of humor...such as it is!

Life is a Beach! (DOT's Post)

At least for me it is! We just got back from visiting with my son and his girlfriend and of course my grand dog Max. Let me tell you it was a wonderful time! I will be posting more about that tomorrow but today it's about the dogs!

This was about as close to the waves as the pups got. Being from Pennsylvania, and as Eve pointed out, as short as the pups are, the waves looked like mountains to them and sounded like freight trains!

HoneyDew thought she might enjoy the water better from here!

Running away from the waves. (No hubby and I was not trying to dance, just trying to stay out of the tangle of leashes!)

Sampson thought he just might like a closer look.

Eve and Max enjoy walking in the shallows. Max has had all summer to get acclimated and he loves it. I expect by our next visit he will be hanging 10 and barking at us with surfer dude slang!

He did try to encourage the others to join him, but they assured him they were content to watch!

Happy DOT's!

DOT's Post-Just Me and My Pals

While hubby was away on his latest trip to capture the ever elusive elk, I too wanted to enjoy the great outdoors, the campfire without the camping, especially in temps as cold as it was going to get in the mountains of Colorado. So over Labor Day weekend, as a way to say goodbye to summer, I decided to have a sit out by the fire. It turned out really well I think.

The only ones who wanted to participate (or were here to participate) where my pups. They were excited, getting to stay out after dark and woof at strange noises!

The pictures are a little dark but if you blow em up by clicking on the picture you can see what might not be obvious to anyone not looking. (Or the fact that I am not the greatest photographer in the world and really challenged in the dark!) This was me in a chair enjoying a beverage, with Sampson and Dew in the foreground...

Then Sampson stole my beverage....

OK and now he is just flat out acting because there was not that much left in the bottle! I tried to catch this pic over my shoulder while sitting because if I got up he dropped it, but if you look close you can tell (or take my word for it) he was laying on his side with the bottle propped between two paws. What a clown!

Anyways we had a great time playing in the fire, gazing at the stairs and listening to the crickets chirp (no cricket hunting allowed!).

Those of you who weren't here were missed! (and you know who you are :-)).

I love country...

Especially when the latest "hot gossip around the water cooler" is found here...

And when your projected goals are reasonable and earns quite the accolades just by producing one egg a day...

You know you are cock of the walk by how many tail feathers you have...

and at the end of the day you all cuddle up for the night together, the nit pecking, scratching our your living and climbing your way up the roost...

all forgotten for a peaceful night sleep knowing a job well done!

Ain't it a beautiful sight!

I'm so proud of my girls, if you look close you can see the difference between the year old plus hens' eggs and this springs peeps' eggs. Can you believe they are laying already! The eggs will get larger as they continue to lay, but I am so tickled with them all!

Pretty soon I will hang out my shingle:

Fresh Eggs

for

$ale

So most people will say...

...that I have gone completely around the bend, but not so I assure you. I just happen to believe that milestones should be celebrated and we have two coming up shortly.

But shhhhhhhh! It is a surprise!

I am thinking of throwing a joint birthday party for Honey Dew

who will be 6 on September 26th

and Sampson

who will be 2 on October 10th. (I can see all three of my boys rolling their eyes right about now!)

I was thinking of October 3rd cause it is right in the middle.

I was thinking of inviting some of their closest doggy friends like Sam and Cole,

Rex and Wolf,

Max, and then maybe the two bassets that reside in our neighborhood, one that lives up the road and one that lives down the road. Of course if any of you'all are in the neighborhood feel free to drop in!

I was thinking that we would have lots of goodie treats, some pawcaso paw paintings maybe, some outdoor games, some good old barking and butt sniffing.

Suggestions for the festivities are welcome, as well as recipe's for doggy goodies.

Oh yes and no presents required (presence yes, presents no!).

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In other DOT's news, I wanted to take the opportunity to introduce another doggy member of the family, my mom's "new found" dog Bailey...

Isn't he cute? You can read more of their amazing story here. We wish you much joy, frequent frolics and lots of laughter together!

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And then of course I wanted to share about our walk one Saturday during the two weeks of "actual summer" that we had here!

In the morning when we arrived at the lake to walk it was very scenic, calm, cool and peaceful. The lake was clear as glass and in the above picture you can see the reflection of the pine tree in the water.

Here Sampson was doing his best to catch a wood ant that caught his attention. I think by the time this picture was taken, Sampson was actually on top of the ant, the goof!

Honey Dew was exploring a nearby stream and decided to do a little wading. But as we were enjoying all of this, the day was really heating up with temps in the 90's. The hounds decided to go down to the lake for a refreshing drink...Sampson thought he might do a little wading too but uh oh it was deep!



By the end of the walk you could tell this was about as much as we were going to get of the "dog days of summer!

Happy DOT's All!