It is with great sadness that I let the followers of Ardon's blog know that Ardon, AM & CAN Champion Atwater's Kismet Ardon AX AXJ CGC, has gone to be with our Lord in Heaven.   At this time, I'm not sure of who will take over this blog and I ask for your patience as we work through the loss of our wonderful, Ardon.

Thank you,

Summer Reading

I think Allana is a little confused on what the term "summer reading" is.  Normally, people will use the summer to read and relax, but for some reason Allana has not chosen a book that is on the New York Best Seller list, or one the must read on the beach lists.  This is what she is reading...

Yes, Educational Research.  It is really hard to get on the computer here too!  She moves from the chair from reading to the computer and back.  This is not my idea of "fun" summer.

Did't get to go to the Show.

I tried camping out at the back door today but I was not successful in getting Allana to take me to the show. I was left at home gain  and yes, I had to babysit Harrison again.  I'm really missing going out to the shows or anywhere.  I get to go to PetsMart and that is about it.  I really need my own road trip.  And to top it all off, Star came home bragging about another Best of Breed ribbon.   Don't worry, I was very polite, but really? This is only her 4th Best of Breed.  Know I know that she has only been out as a special for 5 shows, but I have at least a dozen Best of Breeds to my credit and I was running agility and herding sheep all at the same time!  I did congratulate her but I sure hope she doesn't start thinking she is more important than me as she totally isn't.

Dog Show Time

So, Allana gets back from her conference really early Thursday morning and off she goes to a dog show later that morning.  Now it's not too bad as the show is close by so her suitcase is still home.  I do get a little jealous that I don't get to go to the shows anymore especially when I see Cooper and Star coming home with ribbons.  I sort of understand that she doesn't want me exposed to any germs, but today I'm really jealous.  Stitch got to go and participate in  Meet the Breed and he got to see Taio!

Let me tell you about Meet the Breed.  It is the best.  All these people come to the show just to see a dog and to pet a dog and when I got to participate in Meet the Breed, I know they came just for me.  You totally get to feel like a rock star and everyone takes photos of you!  Today, Stitch got to do this and then Taio came by to visit at the dog show and Stitch got to visit with him.  I was the one that raised Taio from a puppy!  I had to teach him manners and while I did have to share the couch with him, I kind of miss him.

I wonder if I go and sit by the door if Allana will let me go to the dog show tomorrow?

Allana's suitcase

Allana has her suitcase out again. She just got it home and now the suitcase is back out!  I want to go with her.  I'm sure I could fly with her.  I would be really quiet and could squish under the seat  I want to go with her.

Two Puppies is Two Too Many Sometimes!

These two may look all cute and innocent, but let me assure you they are far from well behaved.  First of all, you should notice that they are in Dan's chair that he got for Christmas.  Now I know that Stitch jumps up there once in awhile, but is not "rough housing" with another dog on the chair.  Stitch just lays there to relax.  These two little yahoos are all over every piece of furniture and every toy in the toy box is on the floor.  Who do they think is going to pick up after them?  They are interfering with my nap time.

Laura's puppy

Well, Laura's puppy arrived back here at home again. Laura must travel a lot. as he seems to spend a great deal of time with us.  I wonder how long he is going to be here for this time.  I heard that Laura is meeting grandma and Janna in Vegas for a 4th of July celebration!

A chance to get on the computer!

Allana keeps taking these university classes and hogging the computer all the time!  It is really hard to get on line with her doing homework all the time.  I think I should invest in a tablet or an ipad.  I wonder if I just took the ipad out of Allana's school bag if she would notice.  I know that she just spent three days learning more about ipads in schools so maybe I could just steal the notes she took and teach myself.  If that doesn't work I could always find a 5 year old.  Five year olds are always good at technology.  Maybe I should find a kid to play with.  I wonder if Dan would let me go to work with him tomorrow.  There are always lots of young kids hanging out with their parents at the university in the summer.

Another Delta Therapy Dog in the house!

So Stitch passed his Delta Pet Therapy exam yesterday.  He was already a certified therapy dog with Therapy Dogs Incorporated, but Allana takes the dogs to the San Marcos hospital and the hospital only wants dogs that are Delta certified, so Stitch is now certified with Delta.  I'm proud of him for working so hard and behaving so well in public, because at the house, I don't think he is so well behaved.  I see him taking bones from other dogs and not sharing toys all the time. 

Of course, I'm perfect at home and in public.

Better Morning

Dr. Grantham definitely made Stitch all better as he is back to normal today.  I'm glad my friend is feeling better.  He was out playing in the yard with us this morning.  We love to bark at the neighbors cats and watch Dan work in the yard.  I wonder if Dan would give us a ride on his little tractor?

Two trips to the vet in one day

Stitch isn't feeling well.  He went to the vet today and the vet gave him a DHLPP and he is not feeling well. Stitch had Dan and Allana so worried that they called Dr. Grantham and Dr. Grantham met them and Stitch at the clinic at 9:00 p.m.  Dr. Grantham thinks that Stitch had a reaction to his vaccination.  I hope Stitch is feeling better tomorrow as I really like laying on that part of the couch.

Early Sundy morning

On a normal Sunday morning, Daniel will get up and let us out and then feed us and go back to bed, but today he stayed up.  I thought this was rather unusual, but then I saw that Canada was playing Sweden for the gold medal at the Olympics.  If you have ever lived in Canada or if you were born in Canada you would understand the importance of hockey and curling in this northern country.  It is pretty important.  The bars in Alberta were opening at 5:00 a.m. just to allow for fans to gather, watch and celebrate! 

The good news is that Canada won the game and captured the gold! 

Way to go Canada!  #WeAreWinter

And then there were two!

Allana came home from Beaumont and brought with her a puppy!  I recognized this little puppy as it was Harrison!  What is Harrison doing back?  I was very worried as we still have a puppy here that hasn't left and then they added another one!  The good thing is that Auntie Laura came by last night and when she left she took Harrison back with her again.  Thank goodness!  I was worried we were going to have two puppies running around.

Anyone want a puppy?

Now, Allana and Dan don't know that I'm writing this,  but here's the deal.  The puppies all went to new homes with the exception of one little fluffy puppy.  She is still here.  At first, I wasn't too worried as she is in her pen a lot and has her own little pen outside and everything, but more and more she is getting to run around in my space.  Tonight was too much for me.  Look what happened....

Now, before you think "awwww, how cute" I want to point out that she is sleeping in my bed!  That is not her dog bed!  This puppy thing is not working for me at all.  I think she needs to find another home with another bed to sleep in!

Totally Spoiled Already

This is the face of a very spoiled puppy!  This is Auntie Laura's new puppy that she is getting from Allana.   While I was surfing on the computer today, I found out that he is registered on Target in the baby registry, but instead of baby items, he is registered for puppy gifts!  Can you believe this?  Who does this?  I can't believe it.  This little annoying guy is going to be way more spoiled than I ever was as a puppy.

I knew it would happen

Maybe it is because it has been about 2 years that we've had a litter of puppies here at Dan and Allana's, but it has happened again.  The puppies are being allowed to play in the kitchen.  I have to admit that I do prefer they stay in their pen.  When they are allowed to run "wild" they are so annoying.  They sometimes think I am interested in playing with them so they come up to me and tug on my hair and this is so annoying.  I am much happier with them being confined to their pen.  Maybe it will be nice this weekend and they can go outside and play in their new puppy pen.

1st Monday of January

Everything was back to the normal routine here at the Hemenway homestead today.  Allana left for work in the middle of the night and Dan was at work for part of the daylight hours.   I did hear on the radio (that Dan so thoughtfully left on for me) that today was supposed to be the most depressing day of the year.  How can that be so?  I know that the sun isn't out a lot, but with the routine back, I didn't have the share the family room with all the other dogs.  I could choose between the sofa, the love seat, the chair and even Dan's new recliner.  Dan wasn't around to scoop me off his new chair and I had no competition for any of the furniture at all.  All the other dogs were put up for nap time so I had the place to myself for a few hours.  I was able to get a good morning and afternoon nap in.  So how could today be depressing?  I thought it was wonderful.  It almost reminded me of being an only dog.  I think the first Monday in January was delightful.

Another dog in the recliner!

This is getting ridiculous!  Every dog seems to be able to get into this recliner.  Look at Caiden!  He is sleeping in the recliner!

Well, O.K. Caiden is sleeping in Dan's lap.  But still, this isn't fair.  I was not allowed on the recliner when it arrived for Christmas but now every dog in the house does seem to be able to make their way on to the recliner.  I think I'll ask Santa for my very own recliner next year.

A day to say good-bye

Today Dan and Allana went to say their final good-bye to Stitch's owner, Major Earle Craig Peterson, USAF (Ret.).  I think Stitch should have gone to the funeral as he was Craig's wingman.  Dan and Allana came home and told Stitch that the funeral was a beautiful celebration of Craig's life and that Stitch was mentioned at the service and a big picture of Stitch was projected at the service. 

I think Stitch was pretty spoiled by Craig. Stitch keeps looking at the minivan outside and doesn't believe me that the van really is a car.  Stitch was always riding in the corvette with Craig.  I remember Stitch being dropped off to be babysat while Craig would go off on a family trip  and I seem to recall various fancy cars that Stitch would arrive in.  I know there was at least two different corvettes.

I think we should all be thankful for Craig's service to our country.  As a navigator in the air force and serving in the Vietnam and Korean wars I would have wanted him in charge of my plane as he navigated his team safely to and from their destination.  He is someone I would have wanted on my team.

I know Craig was always ready to serve the Alamo Area Shetland Sheepdog Club.  He had served on the board and  every time we had a show he was there early to help set up and was always one of the last ones to leave as he always stayed to help clean up.  If the club needed anything done, he was always willing to step up!  He will be missed by all the members of the club. 

Thank you Craig for your service to our country, our community and to your church.  You will be missed.  I promise to look out for Stitch until he can meet you in heaven.