About the Move

There's no getting around it, moving is stressful. As I mentioned in my previous post the Brindle lucked in to being on vacation while I did the tough part.

Moving can also have it's hilarious moments. Something we found out in a previous move when a group of my girlfriends and one of their husbands pitched in to help me out. It is for them I'm providing the next two pictures.

This is my mattress aka the marshmallow ready to go in the truck. At no time during this process did it end up on top of a shed.

And this is how they loaded it. I think movers cheat.

During the moving I caught site of this box and had to get a photo. I had no idea four dragons, two lambs, a dinosaur and a moose needed such a big box.

 One of the first things I did was get the Brindle's stuff set up, so he would feel at home when he got here.

And finally, for those that might be concerned, I think the Brindle is settling in just fine.

Moving the Brindle

Last week the Brindle and I moved out of the castle and into a new place. He went and stayed with his Uncle Mark and Uncle Jerry during the craziness of the few days with the movers, lucky dog!

On the way to drop him off we made a stop so he could check out the yard at the place.

Scoping out the lay of the land.

Nothing living here.

Snacking on some grass.

Want some?

Having a stretch.

It seems ok here.

Jade's Chicken Recipe

Warning!!! Raw chicken photos ahead!!!

Earlier this month Joanne Lukashal shared the following story with the BML.

"I have been giving Jade chicken backs occasionally.  When Marco was still with us, she would eat it as she wouldn't want him to be able to steal it from her.

Now that he is no longer able to steal, she has got quite neurotic, to the point where I don't think that I should give them to her anymore.

She will take the chicken outside, dig a hole, bury the chicken, cover it (with her nose), then dig it out, take it across the yard, and repeat.  I'm sure that everyone gets the picture - yard full of holes, filthy nose, and then of course that translates to the house when she brings her dirty nose and chicken back into the house.

My husband called me one day, he was quite animated - "Jade has caught something in the back yard"  -  HAHA - it was the dirty piece of chicken.

I like to think that Jade is doing specialty coating of her food.

I guess it goes without saying that she doesn't care if she is dirty!!!"

And here's the proof.

Jade guarding her chicken.

Chicken in it's special coating "recipe".

Jade, proudly sitting with her chicken.

Rubin and Tyler

Janet Giarratano recently told the BML the story of her grandson Tyler coming to visit and joining her to walk Tango and Rubin. Rubin thought this was a great plan as he and Tyler spent most of the "walk" running while Janet and Tango stuck to their normal pace.


As Janet told me, they really do like each other and they never seem to run out of energy.

Apparently... :-)

Stop and Smell the Flowers

I have some special photos for you today, sent in by my fellow BML admin Maryann Watkins.

"My sons gave me a beautiful mini rose bush for Mother's Day.  Paris-Ivy was MOST curious, so I took the little rose bush to the back yard and let her explore. She got up close and personal with the roses ... and I got up close and personal with her."

The photos need no captions, they're just beautiful to look at.

A Little Girl Named Bree

BML'r Leisa Gouge Harvey has been torturing us lately with the news that she was bringing home a new Boxer puppy. After all, who can resist such cuteness? So today, finally, Bree's debut.

Does it get any cuter?

Leisa's skin kids think Bree is a Princess, are they wrong???

Taking a try at the other side of the camera.

Exhausted and ready for the long trip home.

Xena Earns Some Letters

Some of you may recall Xena from my post "Why Yes, Boxers Can Herd". Well we have some news from Xena's owner, BML'r Vicki Bremner.

Xena (the herding boxer :) finished her AKC championship last month.  I've atttached a copy of the official winners photo.  I'm on the left, next is judge William Cunningham, then handler Bridget Reinhold (in pink) and on the right is Xena's breeder, Suzi Stone (in blue).

So this month we've taken our first two obedience classes.  We're working on sitting straight, and giving attention, and keeping Xena's head up when we move out.  I think of the two of us, I need more training than Xena does...

Doggie, Head Dog

Doggie has her paws full with being leader of her pack. She's got pups to train, sheep to herd, chickens to protect... Doggie  knows all about what it means to be a real working dog.

The thing is, when we get up there in years, some mornings it just seems like a better idea to stay in bed. That's what Doggie thinks on a rainy day.

If I can't see you, you aren't there.

Nope, still not there...

Deb's Diverse Pack

Today we get a look at all of Deb's dogs. She tells me that she tried to get a single group shot but one of them would always wander off. As she said "This is Doggie's pack. You see, she has a LOT of walkies training to do. She is the best dog to take with the pups."

More on Doggie's thoughts tomorrow, for today, all captions provided by Deb.

I really tried to get a group shot but CBGB walked out.
Front L-R Doggie & Eric, then GG & Katie

Mr. Trashcan himself CBGB

Katie

GG

Eric

Adopting to the Family

Today, an adoption announcement. Ruth Burk sent me photos of her two new additions from Tracy Hon and her own narrative.

They are fitting right in and I think Champ likes them both he has slept on the biggest bed with each of them at different times. This first picture is the ride coming back from Chico to my son's house in Concord where we stayed another week.

Left to right, Champ, Coco and Momma

  

They are at Tracy's and they seem to be saying "Hello who are you and what are you doing in our yard?"

This last one is Coco taking a nap with Champ after we got home to Kneeland.

Bonnie & Bella

Back in February we had a post called "Sharing Some Joy" and when I got an email recently from April Grear I asked her about her fostering prison dogs and here's what she had to say:

Bonnie was my 4th foster dog for Refurbished Pets of Southern MI.I hope to get another foster this week, it's always like receiving a Christmas present as I never know what kind of dog I will be getting.  So far I have had 2 older males and 2 female puppies.  Boxers will always be my first love but learning about other breeds is interesting too and Bella has loved them all.  I read somewhere that 'Rescued is the Best Breed'.

So here's what April sent me regarding her most recent foster Bonnie and some photos of her with Bella.

The pics are of my last foster, a Sheltie mix I named Bonnie.  She was around 5 months old when she came to us and she lost 8 puppy teeth in the first few weeks she was with us.  Full of energy and playfulness there was never a dull moment unless the dogs were asleep.  Bonnie is in the prison training program and already has an adopter waiting for her.  One of my favorite memories of her is when she would 'hide' in front of the TV and lay in wait for Bella to come back from the kitchen.  Her little butt would wiggle and she would pounce on Bella.  Of course after the first time Bella would stop before she got to the doorway to the living room, maybe to make sure not to spoil Bonnie's fun.

Bonnie using Bella's head for a foot rest.

Bonnie's huge teeth as she prepares to play with Bella

Bella and Bonnie resting on the sofa

Calming Collars V - Willie

Phew! I'm starting to feel like a marketing rep for Calming Collars!

This time we have Willie. You may remember him, and his buddy Ace, from my post "How Best Friends Are Made". Mary Liz Singleton adopted Willie in October and in February he still had not let anyone pet him. I'll let Mary Liz take it from here but if anyone has any suggestions on how they can win this little guy over please let her know.

Attached are two pics.  One is of Ace and his little buddy Willie sunning on our back deck today.  Willie is sporting his calming collar.  The other pic is of just Willie chilling in the crate he shares with Ace.  You can see his blue bandana calming collar.

I'm not convinced that the calming collar, or anything else (We have tried Rescue Remedy, Pet-Ease and Composure) has had a significant effect on our Willie.  He still bolts when we try to pet him :(  However, I will admit that he hasn't thrown up since we put the collar on him (two weeks ago.)

Ace and Willie

Willie lounging

Calming Collars IV - Josie

Here we go, another update on the use of a Calming Collar from BML'r Jessie Wollmuth and her Josie.

Here are a couple of pictures I took of Josie with her new Calming Collar on.  These pics were taken about and hour or so before the lawn mower was started.  She really didn't care that she had to wear it and it seemed to help make her less nervous when the mower was running.

In the first picture Jose was trying to listen to what Zoe & Caddie were doing in the other room.

In the second picture I was able to get her attention so she would look at me for a better pic :) In the second picture I was able to get her attention so she would look at me for a better pic :)

Memorial Ideas

We've suffered many losses on the BML lately. I'm not sure if there are more than usual or if it's simply that some, like Louis Z., have affected us more. Whatever the reasons our candles have been lit frequently of late.

Because of this one of our members, our resident artist Teri DeRome, sent me a email yesterday. She wanted to share some info on something her Common Ground Art Gallery is currently offering. What follows is the information she provided.

Jagger’s Pot

Our new line of Pet Memorial Urns
 by Artist, Debra Busack-Burckhard

Jagger’s Pot was created for a lovely golden retriever that left us too soon.  Jagger’s hair has been fired into the pot and also felted around the collar of the jar.  Create your own living memorial while they are still beside you and then honor that memory in a beautiful and completely personal way as a final resting place.  Using your animal’s hair or feathers, we will create a custom piece of pottery to later be used  as a memorial urn.  The strands of hair or feathers are gently laid on the pottery and the carbon deposits from the burning hair leave trails as the hair kinks and turns, showing its own path (different types of hair create different patterns). The pots are not glazed and are very porous. Several coats of wax are given to the pot, giving it the feel of a polished stone.  

The inspiration for this pottery is fabled to have come from ancient Indian tribes that wanted to preserve the spirit of their horses that were lost in battle.

The pot shown would hold the cremains of a 50-80 lb. dog. Prices range from $75 and up depending on the size.  

We can also create a photo frame using the same technique.

Please do not see this as free advertising. When Teri sent me this info I was awed by how beautiful the items were. You can read more about the techniques on the artist's page of the Common Ground website.

PI & Benito, part II

Here's the rest of the photos that follow on from my last post.

Okay, THIS time, Paris-Ivy, you are NOT going to get the best of me.

Benito, if that face is supposed to scare me, it didn't work.  But it DOES make me laugh!

But Ivy ... my mouth is bigger than yours!

wouldn't bet your next dinner on that, Benito!

Now, this is what we call a Boxer Standoff.