Monday, October 22, 2012

Presidential Debate and What Happens to me?


How does a Presidential Debate equal line brushing in the family room?  Let me tell you.  Dan gave me a bath and this is always followed by an hour of line brushing on the grooming table, but things were a little different tonight.  Dan was not focused on me but on the Presidential Debate with President Obama and his opponent, Mitt Romney.  These two men were debating National Security.  Well, I do feel safe here at home, but I haven't traveled very much lately.  I know Allana tells me that the parents of the students at her school are keeping us safe, so I guess I do need to say thank you to all the service members that are keeping me safe.  I really like being safe.

My concern about this presidential debate is that they didn't talk about the toxic dog treats that have come to this country and have killed some other dogs.  I'm very grateful that Dan and Allana look at ingredients and where all my food and treats come from.  I think having unsafe products coming into our country could be a threat to our nation.  I wonder what President Obama or Governor Romney feel about this topic?

Saturday, September 22, 2012

Smoke is in the air

Our place is smelling like smoke again.  Dan is burning some of the old dead trees as he continues to chop down more dead trees.  I'm not sure how many dead trees there are on this property but there must be lots as Dan keeps chopping all the time.  I think I'll raid the pantry to see if we have marshmallows, chocolate and some graham crackers so I can at least make some s'mores.  There must be some benefit to all these dead trees and the smoke!

Tuesday, June 26, 2012

A suitcase is packed, but I haven't had a bath!

I'm a little worried.  Allana has a suitcase packed and I do not see my supplies ready to go and I didn't get a bath last night, so I think she is leaving without me.  I hate when she leaves me at home.  She's been talking a lot about her family and cold weather and I got to go to Canada with her before, so I don't understand why I can't go again this time.  I was good on the last trip.  I only fell in grandma's fish pond once.

Sunday, April 22, 2012

Sunday and left at home

So Dan and Allana went off to the Alamo Area Shetland Sheepdog Club picnic and they took the puppy and not me!  I am way cuter and way fluffier so I don't understand why I was left behind.  Auntie Laura left to go back to Houston too so today was not the best part of the weekend.

Maybe Allana will take me to work again tomorrow...

Saturday, April 21, 2012

The Weekend is off to a Great Start!

 

My excellent Friday was followed by the most excellent Saturday.   Uncle Guy and Auntie Thelma came to visit me!  I'm very worn out from all the visiting, so I'm crashed in my bed while everyone watches a DVD.  This is a great weekend!

Friday, April 20, 2012

Best Day Ever!

I had a bath last night so I thought I might get to go to school today, and I was right!  I got to go to school and had a great time!  I visited with Kindergarten students all the way through 5th grade students today!  It was awesome!  My favorite time was having an Amelia Bedelia book read to me by a 2nd grade student.  She was a little sad as her mom is still in Afghanistan, but she seemed like she was in a great mood after she petted me good-bye and I really enjoyed story too!

While I had to stay in Allana's office alone a few times when she had meetings, I managed to entertain myself.  She left her lunch box out on her desk so I played with it and finished off her carrots and another time, I was able to pull the dog bag down off the table and eat all the treats she had packed.  I was just helping her out and I'm sure she wanted me to have the whole bag.  It was like a self serve buffet.

The day got even better tonight, when Auntie Laura walked in the door.  She always loves me and she will share her snacks with me.  What a great day!

Wednesday, April 11, 2012

Dog Show Weekends

I think I like the weekends when the dog shows are close to home. I get so jealous when some of the other dogs get to go away and I don't. I've been left at home for two weekends in a row.

The good thing is that I got to go to school on Monday and read to some kids again. I really love going to school with Allana! I read to a group of students that had already read 300 books this year and then I got to read to a student who was just learning to read. The new student that was just learning to read did a great job and I was so proud of him. I leaned in real close and was totally engaged. He needed some help with some words and Allana and I helped him. I love making a difference.

Sunday, April 1, 2012

Sheep! and I was left at home!


So, Dan and Allana went away for the weekend and took Taio and Paige. Yes, I was a little jealous, but then when they came home I became really, really jealous! I smelled sheep on Dan and Allana's jeans and Taio told me about how he went for a walk in a sheep pen! A walk in a sheep pen! Are you kidding me?! Did he not realize what he was supposed to do?! I can't believe it! They went to herd sheep and left me at home. I'm the expert sheep herder here! Why did those two blue dogs go instead? I don't understand this at all. At least Paige told me about how she tried to put the sheep in the corner of the pen. She seems to have some sheep sense! Taio told me he was just trying to mind his manners at the sheep farm, so I had to talk to him about what he is supposed to do next time. It is a good thing he has me around to coach him. Next time, I'll demand to go!

Wednesday, March 28, 2012

Pool Reno Day 1

So I was wondering why Dan was pumping all the water out of the pool and now I know. We must be getting a new flowerbed! There were three men here all day chipping away at the plaster on the pool. They worked really hard and created a lot of dust. I'm not sure why Allana would want another flowerbed as she ignores all the planted vegetation and we have lots of neglected flowerbeds already. The deer have enjoyed the salad bars grandma has planted in the past. Of course it is raining tonight, so the pool is starting to fill back up, so maybe we will have a fish pond with a new garden bed.

Tuesday, March 27, 2012

STAAR or Star?

Allana was up and out of the house really early this morning. I thought she was saying something about Star at school, so I was worried she was going to take Star, the puppy, to school! But after reading the newspaper (I do that after Dan leaves in the morning.) I understand there is a new state test for the kids at school to take and today was the first day of STAAR. She wasn't talking about the puppy, Star, after all. Allana came home chattering about how the STAAR test is a celebration of the students' learning and how awesome her kids at school are. Personally, I think the kids would have had way more fun if I had gone to school today to visit! I know I'm really popular at school, so I really can't see any test, even the STAAR test, out shining me!

Saturday, March 24, 2012

So Tired Tonight!


I had an awesome day! I got to go to school with Allana today! I know it was a Saturday, but she went to school and there were lots of people there and I had a great time. For some reason we had to drag Taio along with us. I don't think he enjoyed it as much. There were lots of little kids and I love little kids. Taio just seemed to tolerate them. He just didn't get into the spirit of it. There was one scary part to the day and that was when the military working dogs came out to show how they work. They were big German Shepherds and they were really toy motivated. I thought a little overly toy motivated for me. They were good at what they did, but they didn't get to play with the kids like I did! It was a wonderful day. I love going out! But, I have to admit, I'm pretty tired tonight.

Friday, March 23, 2012

Not Fair! It was Thursday!

So last night I had a bath with a full line brush, nail, and foot trim. This kind of attention is usually something I could do without, but it was a Thursday night. Now, you see how it usually works around here is that a bath on a school night means I get to go to work with Allana the next day. I really do love visiting with the kids at school so I was totally O.K. with the bath. So, when Allana got up this morning, I got up, even thought it was really toooooooo early for anyone to be going anywhere. I went outside and waited for Allana to come and let me back in and scoop me up and put me in the van. But this never happened. She got in her van and even though I was barking at the gate the whole time, she drove off without me. I was so sad. I just couldn't believe it.

Then tonight, her and Dan went out for supper at Grandma's favorite restaurant and I had to stay at home and babysit Star. I really wanted a more exciting Friday. I hope tomorrow is better.

Thursday, March 22, 2012

Read My Mind!

So the other night we had a huge storm. Now, I know that Allana gets nervous with every storm, but I figured it must have been a serious storm as Dan moved his truck into the safety of the carport. Everything was fine and we all went to bed. At about 2:00 a.m. the wind was howling so bad and the rain was pounding so hard, I just couldn't sleep. I started pacing back and forth around Dan and Allana's bed and they just didn't get it. Allana asked me if I wanted to go outside. Seriously, there is a huge storm going on and she is asking me if I wanted to go outside? I stood there and stared at her and she finally scooped me up and set me on the bed. I went and snuggled up in the comforter and I settled in for the night. Sometimes, I really wonder how bright my "parents" are.

Monday, March 12, 2012

Spring Break!

I love Spring Break! Allana is home and has lots of time for me. As I just had a bath last weekend, all the other dogs need to watch out. I can smell the shampoo being mixed up a mile away! She was off at the dog show on the weekend and brought home new grooming supplies. I'm usually the guinea pig for those products being the retired show dog , but she seemed to be able to try out some products on Sita today, so that got me off the hook.

The neighbor's dog keeps coming over and it is getting a little annoying. Does he not have his own family? He is getting bigger and bigger everyday and I'm worried Dan and Allana may allow him to stay if he keeps hanging around.

Tuesday, March 6, 2012

found dog reunited with lost owner

Good news to report! The found dog, "Reese", has been reunited with his family. His family came and got him tonight. I was glad that he got to go home as he seemed really happy when his "dad" came to get him. I think "Reese" was just relieved that everyone knew his name again. I am very glad there was a happy ending as it makes everyone around here happier too.

Reese's owner had put an ad on Craig's list and Dan and Allana had put an ad on the San Marcos City site and a hard working dedicated lady at the Animal Shelter put the two ads together and told Reese's owner. I'm so glad there are people that want to help animals find their homes. Thank you hard working lady at the San Marcos Animal Shelter!

Saturday, March 3, 2012

Seriously?

This is not a sheltie and I don't know where they found it but they brought it home! Allana keeps telling me I should feel sorry for it. Apparently it has a microchip that was never registered and the rabies tag from 2011 can't be traced back to any owners through the vet clinic. What are we going to do with it? It is not a sheltie so it really does not belong here. Why did they bring it home? My parents have lost their minds!

Friday, March 2, 2012

Feeling like a babysitter


While I'm grateful that I'm no longer the only sable sheltie here, as I was getting out numbered by the black and blue shelties, the other sable is only 12 weeks old and I'm feeling like a built in babysitter. Now, this new little one is very cute and fluffy and seems happy all the time. I know that my readers would all agree these are wonderful traits for a puppy, but if you had to live with her 24/7 you would get tired. She follows me around and she runs laps around the coffee table and takes all the toys out of the toy box and does not clean up after herself. She even sneaks the indoor toys outside. She gets special little walks every night and extra treats for just simply walking on a leash. I think that is pure favoritism. I'm just sayin'...

Sunday, February 26, 2012

Vacation for Dan and Allana

I have been left at home with the other dogs and our dog nanny while Dan and Allana took off to Arizona. Normally I don't mind, but this time was a little different as Allana went to the Nationals. Now, let's get this right, it was not the sheltie national, but the Arabian Horse Nationals! Yes, we do live on 5 acres, however, there are plenty of horses on either side of us and we have those extra cats that keep hanging around so we do not need any horses on our place. I'm glad one didn't come home in her suitcase. I think I'm going to have to put my paw down on no more pets. I would have been happy if she came home with a puppy, but a horse, not so happy.

Sunday, February 19, 2012

more dog shows

Dan and Allana headed out in the rain yesterday to yet another dog show, but fortunately they didn't stay gone too long. They came home with a much smaller purple ribbon this weekend. Grandma stayed home with me and she made lasagna for us for supper. I think grandma should be famous for her lasagna.

Grandma was been spending a lot of time with the outdoor kitty, but it seems there are now more than just one outdoor kitty. Allana took a black one to the vet the other day and now there is a third one camping out in the carport. They are not looking skinny at all either and I think this is thanks to grandma. I'm not sure I like this kitty invasion.

Monday, February 13, 2012

The new coat rack


I don't really understand Grandma's new portable coat rack. She had the coat rack for walking around but now it seems to just be sitting at the back door and coats are on it. So I guess it must be a new coat rack. I was thinking it would make a cool new tent for me. I could camp out in the house. I think that would be fun. Grandma seems to be feeling much better. She even made supper tonight. Dan was pretty surprised as that is not a normal thing around this house during the week.

Sunday, February 12, 2012

Really Annoying

O.K. You will notice that the blue dog, "Taio" is looking all sweet and cute on his little dog bed in front of the fireplace. I on the other hand am having to share the couch with this ridiculous amount of ribbons that came home with him today! Now all I keep hearing is new champion, Taio and how Taio now has a Best in Specialty Show and four majors in four weekends and blah blah blah. This is so annoying and to make it even worse I got to hear all about the new blue puppy, Paige, and how wonderful her show career has started off by winning a major reserve and best puppy. I am out numbered by these blue dogs and I'm not sure I can take much more of it. Where's grandma? She loves me. She will give me some sympathy. Maybe she will even give me some treats. I need some serious treats tonight.

Thursday, February 9, 2012

Awesome Day!

Today I got to go to school with Allana. It was great. I wore my little name badge and went to the Early Childhood Building and got to read with a dozen little first grade students. We read a book about filling a bucket and how you can fill somebody's bucket with love and happiness with just a smile or a kind gesture. I think the kids really enjoyed it and they filled my bucket because I got to visit with them and I know I filled their bucket too as they got to read with me. It was a win win day! But I have to admit, I think the best part of the day was that the show off blue dog, Taio, stayed at home and I got all the attention!

Wednesday, February 8, 2012

Grandma is here!

I'm so happy that Grandma is finally here! She seems a little under the weather though. She is walking around with a walker and seems rather pale and not very chipper. She's not feeding me my usual amount of extra treats too. She usually notices me when I beg, look cute, put my cute little paws on her or even just stand around and look like I'm starving. This concerns me. I'm going to work really hard on trying to cheer her up. Of course she did notice the ribbons Taio brought home on the weekend as they were clustered with the previous weekend's ribbons and went on and on about "how proud she is of him" and "how beautiful and grown up he is looking". This is really getting annoying. I think I need to come up with a plan to outshine Taio. I can't have him getting too much more attention around here.

Friday, February 3, 2012

A Busy Friday Night

There is so much going on here and I don't quite understand it. Grandma is in town but not staying at the house, so I'm not getting the extra treats I need. Uncle Guy and Auntie Thelma have arrived and brought Roddy with them. Chris and Katy came too. There are so many shelties here it must be a dog show weekend. Of course it is raining, so everyone is all concerned about the show dogs getting messy feet. I figure it will all brush out so I think the other dogs could just be ignored and it should be all about me. The good thing is that I'm in the house and the others are out in the kennel. Well, the puppies are here, but everyone is too busy watching a movie to notice them. That is pretty amazing. Usually the puppies can trump anything.

Wednesday, February 1, 2012

What happened to routine?

O.K., this is how things usually are on a Thursday night at the Hemenway home. Allana comes home around 7:00 p.m. from work and she usually brings pizza to feed Dan and me. Then she is usually way too tired to do anything so she will take it easy and just play with me and the other dogs or relax and catch up on all the shows she has recorded through the week.

Tonight she came home with pizza but after she ate and did not share, she invited me outside and then it happened...I knew it was a trick. I was snatched up and carried off to the kennel for a bath! I'm not going to the show this weekend so why do I need a bath already. I'm not the one running through the puddles and getting all messy! This is so not fair!

Allana said that Grandma was coming tomorrow. I hope that is why I had to have a bath. At least Grandma fusses over me and feeds me snacks all day. I really want the regular routine to return around here.

Monday, January 30, 2012

A Purple Ribbon followed him home


It's killing me! Can't you tell? Taio gets to go with Allana to the show on the weekend and I'm stuck at home with the puppies and the babysitter and then when they return Allana has to tell me how wonderful "Taio" is and how well behaved he was and blah, blah, blah, blah. I can't take it! I may be retired from shows, but that doesn't mean I don't need to be reminded on what I'm missing out on. So what if he got his second major and took a big 5 point win this weekend. I already have all my points and I don't see any other titles after his name. I have way more hair, know way more tricks and am truly a crowd favorite. I think I should enter myself in a show on line. Let me figure out a way to do that.

Sunday, January 22, 2012

Quiet Weekend

Dan took Sita and Taio to Houston for the weekend, so I have Allana all to myself without that young blue attention seeking Taio around. We've had a nice weekend. The puppies are becoming a little more demanding as they are getting into that stage that Allana refers to as "super cute and need to play with them all the time" stage. I really don't like this stage as they tend to get access to the family room area and they like to grab my fur when I walk by. Allana is spending a lot of time laying on the floor playing with them. I prefer the view from the chair.

Friday, January 20, 2012

The Circus is Here

Allana has really lost her mind now. It is specialty show season and instead of fluffing and brushing and bathing and show training, she is teaching all of to jump through a hoop. Now, I'm not saying that we don't mind all the treats that come with the training, but we are not running away to a circus anytime soon and I don't recall a class at any show called "jumping through a hula-hoop". Will someone please tell Allana to just brush us and give us treats for being pampered?

Sunday, January 15, 2012

The Puppies are Taking Over


I knew it was just a matter of time! Layla's puppies now have their pen set up in the family room and they are enjoying free roaming time in the kitchen. I just knew this was going to happen. I'm suddenly feeling a little more neglected as Dan and Allana are spending way too much time with the little ones. I need a plan to distract them away from the puppies.

Saturday, January 14, 2012

Not the Best Week!

I'm so glad it is Saturday. Last week was not good for me. Stitch was here being babysat and while running the fence with him as we both pretended to be fierce attack shelties, I caught my front teeth on the fence and suddenly they felt real loose. As a result, Allana took me to the vet for a dental. Allana was rather sneaky about it. I had a bath on Thursday night and had the full spa treatment with a full line brush and trim, so I thought I was going to school to read to the 1st grade students. She loaded me up in the van and off we went, but we stopped about 30 minutes from the house, that should have been my first clue, and she took me out and we were at the vet's office. It was very disappointed. I love going to school, but not the vet's office. It got worse too as I didn't even get supper last night! Thankfully, I had a light breakfast and supper tonight. I think tomorrow will be a better day.

Sunday, January 8, 2012

Sonic Sunday


Today was a pretty great day. I got to go to Sonic! The only problem was that when the roller skating lady asked if Dan wanted any mints or a treat for the dog he said "no thanks"! I couldn't believe Dan said that! I'm sitting right beside him in the front seat of the truck! Did I become invisible all of a sudden? I was a little miffed but things did get a little better as our next stop was Petsmart and I got some little treats there from Petsmart trainer Andrea and we bought some treats to bring home.
The only slight problem around the house right now is Layla's puppies' pen is right across the baby gate next to the family room. I'm worried they will be roaming around in short order.

Saturday, January 7, 2012

Happy Day!

I finally got to go for a nice long walk around our block today. While Dan, Allana and Taio did 2 miles, I'm sure I did 4 miles. If you go to the end of an extend-a-leash and continue to go out to the end and back and from one side to the other of the road, you can double the distance. The regular black lab did not follow us today for our walk. I guess he decided to stay home as his owner was home.

I also dodged all the dog bathing that happend last night and today! That is great too. I did get my teeth brushed though. Now I'm curled up on the chair having an early evening nap. Life is good.

Sunday, January 1, 2012

Happy New Year!


A strange thing has been happening at our house the past few days. A DVD is going in the DVD player, but instead of popcorn and a movie (I love popcorn!) a yoga mat and hand weights keep coming out. I'm pretty confused with all this activity. I have always associated the DVD player with popcorn and the couch. Does anyone know what Allana is doing? This is really weird. I wonder how long it will last.