Dec 4, 2011

by all rumors mark and barbara have a bunch of food--- sounds good

and Mary's friend "AUNTIE" is said to have 3 deserts and 10 pounds of carrots

what more could we need????

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for openers--- i think we should move the table eastward away from mary's nose-- at least once every Sunday she catches us not paying attention to her and she grabs the tablecloth as we all scream at her.

she waits for the diversion.. i can just hear her"here come those cute puppies--- and everyone will look at them so i can grab all the plasticware and get them to chase me to the barn."

****

i saw a tv show on pickpockets--- and all i could see was MARY's 4 steps.

1 wait for everything to look quiet and normal

2 create a diversion

3 grab the goods

4 run like hell.

happens every week

so much for comparative IQ's

***************

kieth called... hudson had stopped jumping in his truck- in pain somehow---

now if i say that to 99% of dog owners---

they would say "dane hips are bad...--- dysplasia nothing you can do..."

luckily kieth did not go that road--

i don't know why he is better---

but a couple days on doxycycline

and a break in roughhousing with barney

and he is better... so it was either lyme or barney

or to be more correct-- could be neither but you certainly should not assume the statistically more probable of dysplastic hips.

i don't want to tempt fate--- but .....

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danes have sooooo many bad reputations-

sometimes it is comical

i listened to some guy tell me they got a cute little dane pup--- "it was so sweet-- it would jump up and put his feet on my shoulders and lick my face--- but eventually we couldn't handle him--- danes get too strong"

GOOD MORNING !!!

i wonder what his kids are like????

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often when people see me in costco-- they offer me their grandchildren to get trained as well as the dog i have with me..

i turn that down....

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busy day

get mary dressed in her pack saddle and faux xmas gifts ( will take many carrots to get that done)

put the chicken sh#tting together YOU HAVE TIL 2:30 TO BUY A NUMBER

2:30 is when i get the numbers off the computer.... and add any that we have sold here--- then number the table. and apply the chickens at 3:00.

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santa arrives 1-1:30 and leavces 3:00ish

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tom has got off cycle-- he got up at 1:30 yesterday morning--- and went to bed at 4:00pm last night--

currently dressed and waiting for a ride to breakfast with nancy and george #2.

**********

megan is due...

gigi is snoring

so i willl go try and get the kennel partitions up.

i need help tightening them--- but that can be done after they are standing.

***

maybe we can get some wood split today

bud has a sore hand--- so he has been promoted to the wood advisory committee

and as you glide smoothly over the ex- potholes in the driveway .... thank paul.

Dec 5, 2011

WHAT A GREAT SANTA-- AND ALL THAT WHITE BEARD IS REAL!

WE had a great stewing on all levels

many new faces---

lotsa loose dogs--( no dog fights)

marks music

barbara's hams--in addition to lotsa other food -- mostly eaten

****

and bud won the $500 -- it is always fun to have someone win who is actually here so we all can enjoy the fun..

***

bud 2 was here with family and indy--wants to work on visiting vets with indy-- we can do that...

****

annie--- #401 ---the first service dog i put out--- was here with melissa-- so we had 3 of that litter annie bella and lindsay-

***

with so many creative people in attendence it rolled !

the rest of the pictures---- in tabloo form ---will be forthcoming

and people coming to work here for the next few days do not need to bring lunch--- we have barbara's ham in sandwich form---

************

i am delighted jade and pistol are doing soooo well.

jade intends to walk across the stage to get her diploma in 2 weeks -- and i do not doubt she can do it

but i am a nervous wreck...

i am scared the audience will stand burst into applause at which time pistol--- who has only been with jade a very short time--- will decide it is a fire drill or some such----and bolt out the door- dragging jade with her.

but what do i know.

i figure jade is destined to make the front page one way or another-- it is a great thing that jade is so cheerful- she can handle either with a smile...

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Pistol is doing so good! We are flip flopping between going at a walking pace and going 90 mph. We have the one step crawl nearly perfected. We went for a walk yesterday and the pace was ideal. I have taken her to a bunch of events with clapping and she is completely fine with that. Now I am going to bring her to some really crowded events and confirm that she can handle graduation. We have 2 weeks to practice but she is so eager to please I am confident she could do it tomorrow. :)

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steve is due in the guest house to meet the dogs... today probably around noon 3.5 hour car ride to get here

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today is recovery day

things like get the amish buggy back in the arena

and all those christmas packages--- we should be able to do something creative with them... they have that final touch barbara and crew puts on things--- silver bows etc

i get them wrapped in red paper with duct tape--- but these have the final touch...

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puppys to the fairground--- things like that today

and........ we made $1400 on last months wall

GUESS WHAT?

NAG TIME FOR JANUARY www.memsaic.com/app/launch.cfm?sid=0FD5CCB2AAE9D7

AND FOR THOSE MATH TYPES--- SINCE WE SOLD 140 TICKETS --- THAT GAVE YOU A CHANCE ON 1 IN 140 ON WINNING THE $500

EVEN IF WE SELL ALL THE NUMBERS THE ODD WOULD BE 1 IN 350

STILL FAR BETTER THAN ANY OLD MASS LOTTERY !!!

(don't figure it is me nagging--- these dogs insist on a square meal !!)

Dec 6, 2011

steve has arrived and is in the guest house with charlie- charlie is delighted to have sofa privileges.

we can put some miles on him today

after my 9:00 dental apt--( steve said he doesn't wake up til after 9 anyway)

so that is the plan 11:00 maybe home depot and lunch???? without megan-- she distracts charlie... and i need plywood for the ceiling----. home depot will be a male friendly atmosphere without too many "got a saddle for that beast?"

i am not sure what our exact long range plan is--- i can not see charlie in steve's home til after they take down the christmas tree-- or whatever..

having steve here gives us a better line on exactly what charlie should do--- so the vague plan is for steve to return in january.

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megan took a strange video of the details of a sh#tting to maybe use in george's staff holiday party-

it is totally possible to package that deal with video

maybe a slightly more involved one than we did --- but we were in a hurry.

the winning number??? she is sworn to secrecy and i forgot --perfect pair.

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pistol is doing great--- and here is her magazine ad

http://www.bostonmagazine.com/weddings/articles/a_modern_classic/page3

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short doggie---- i have fish to fry

Dec 7 2011

opal...

is sooooo sweet and lovely--- and delighted to be in the house overnight as guard against whatever large woodland creature ate 1/2 a loaf of bread off the counter night before last.

in her cleverness she found that crunching a large quantity of plastic water bottles kept them at bay--- or more logically in the cellar--

and since she was awake she decided to figure out that yuppy puppy treat dispenser which rewards the dog for pushing the lever by dropping a few dry treats into a metal dish-- the rattle is like the coins in the one arm bandits in las vegas.

plus it is raining--- and no way can she be expected to get herself wet when she can get me to put whatever she deposits on the floor--- outside

and she is a walk'npooper

as gigi - clanking around with her long toenails tip toed around and around saying "what is this mess... and when are you going to clean it up?"

it was an active night.

******************

while on the stool report---

this may prove to be fascinating....

fido does not feel well- when he doesn't --- his whole posture and demeaner lets you know.. plus his stool is not even normal for this crowd.. so megan collected a sample and ran it to george.

now here is the interesting part--- really....

amid the semi normal goo- there were many white lumps- which when pressed went "poof"--dry type poof--- according to megan-- like lumps of flour when you make gravy.

looked strange even to george

"strange" in veternary lingo usually means "expensive" but george said he could be kind on this one.

so off that went to idexx ---- a very efficient lab deal where there is an idexx box outside most vets offices--- samples picked up at suppertime-- the reports are in the email in the morning.. so i anxiously await the "poof" report.

***

i told my husband about investing in idexx years ago--i am not a stock market type--- but somewhere along the line i can not believe that could not be a good company.

****

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charlie and steve-

doin' fine.. bud 2 and indy came here yesterday and wandered around with us-- which was very helpful.--- home depot then costco for lunch.

steve said he has not been as comfortable in a big store in years due to charlie's swivel head...-- and charlie stopped him from falling twice.

after months of trying to get dogs to stop with the swivel head routine--- turns out for these vets--- that is one of the most valuable "services". they let them know what is "around" .

these vets do not do "startle " well at all-- after a year of having someone jump out from behind a wall and shooting at them--- they have a significant problem with that concept

this sums up our training with a dog.

one vet --- who shall remain nameless-- said that when he comes here for training he brings a second set of underwear.

good idea.

*************

today--steve said he could help me hold up the ceiling ply-- usually no problem to brace it up with a piece of strapping--- except these rafters are not exactly 16" centers.. like the wall studs--- creative carpentry---each one is a little different..

but the floor will drain !!!

*************

an d we will go out with charlie to anyplace steve might think challanging

i don't know what could be worse than costco for lunch--- but we can travel

maybe walmart-- that is a whole new bizzare

i wish he could take charlie home now--- but with 5 kids and christmas i think he better wait til january.

************

tomorrow paul and tom will drive him back to wherever---o ut by albany

and he can return after the holidays ..adi says these dogs should be a year old before placed..one look at charlie you would never guess he is 8 months old.

*********************

and theresa will deposit the latest check from the December chicken bingo wall......$1400.

keep up the good work-- it is critical... i kid you not !!

*****************

i was hoping i would get the idexx report before sending this--- but maybe george slept late

Dec 8, 2011

another short doggie

*************

we have the bare minimum of the chicken pooing for geroge's staff party

hopefully mark can improve on it saturday but i will clear this with george today..

******

steve is still here --- pending weather for paul to drive him home. just got an email paul might want to drive that today it is 3.5 hours.

he is good with charlie --- so far i think it will work well.-- i hate to make any definite statements til they go down the driveway. plan is for him to come bck after jan 1st

***************

jade and pistol--- i am not a facebooker--- but there is a great shot of her with pistol out there somewhere... biggggg dog

*************

having molly feed when colleen is here is working well --- then colleen and megan get to spend more time with th e pups.

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and time has come to work bailey and luna back in the house--no more special care for gigi---a group is fine as long as someone is here to referee

she doesn't go out in the rain either

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Dec 9, 2011

re : carlene's nuthouse...

i am at a point where i need help--i have already discussed chain link that is knuckle knuckle-- well--- this is not.... but... sitting on the floor in the nice warm nuthouse--- it can be made into knukle knuckle--- about 5 minutes per knuckle-

if it was not warm in there i would never get it done---

maybe if i can find a cd player to make it more cheerful it would go faster..

i have to admit i am getting tired of it.

there are enough kennel panels to mean i can have the house dogs to there as long as i am there to supervise--- but they need to get up off the floor pretty soon

so i want to start on the "lofts" but can't with all these knuckles that i have to do first..

and for diversion i sai d i would split wood 15 min a day--

not hard--- we have a splitter--- just different muscles-- and today bud will be here to pull the starter rope

i do not get along well with rope pulling gas engines..-- i HAVE A painful history of rope pulling nervous breakdowns.

*****************

i am delighted to report

no scooping poop in the house this morning...i have graduated the 5 "house dogs" to bedtime in the dog dorm--with access to the deck.

gigi t the laundry---

chaos was left in here attached to the sofa

she apparently has a bigger bladder.

****************

while i am not the topic--- bobby---off and on loose stool--- which now that he is living a normal like-- colleen and i thought it could be the milk bones-- sh she is going to scientifically test that theory..

with so many here the concept of "who made that pile" and "what did you eat yesterday..". is just beyond our capabilities.

with her one dog existence she can properly study that.

************

yuppy puppy

the advertized method of getting the treat is pushing the lever with a paw... many of ours seem to learn to push it with their nose..

except opal--- uses her eye.

she has retrieved so many left over treats stuck in the chute by turning her head sideways-- and in the process she has hit the lever with her eye-- she now does that purposefully.

**************

the driveway--

bless jeff masterson--- or maybe his dad jack.... he bounced in and out of our collection of potholes in the process of picking up his daughter molly that when he had some hot top left over he sent a crew here to take the bounce out of our driveway

paul had done a great job with lynnpac ( stone stuff) and then the masterswon crew arrived with a mammoth truck of leftovers- and a bobcat and roller to finish it properly. they even filled the holes connecting to the street

would you believe it !!!

******************

we got 7 rabies shots and staples out of gigi i while the truck blocked the driveway

**************

in the process paul and tom made a hasty exit with steve before that truck raised the body 25 feet in the air.-

it was a long drive-- but they all survived--- and charlie is looking round with that "what happened? ' look about him,

*************

a low growl from chaos told opal she may not have one more 1/2 inch of that sofa..

and opal believed her.

***************

jackie??? as in construction jackie--

are you around today to bend wires???

******************

i have no cut and paste--- but there is a super picture of jade and pistol on her facebook--- i cn try and put it here--- but i am not going to try very hard

i have to go bend wires..

. after i check my spam folder--- it has gone weird lately

Nov. 18, 2011

thanks to AOL , computers and other terrorists-- i had about a dozen emails in my spam folder that did not belong there.

 

i will flip thru it more often now... if you are writing to  me use "dogs"   as the subject- regardless-- so i can spot the emails

 

and if any of you want off this daily doggie list -- just let me know...

it terrifies me that all of you might actually  read this.

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************

RECORDS  AND MEMORY STUFF--

 

 we do talk... megan colleen and i--  and we go over problems dog ARE HAVING. AND HOW TO ADDRESS THEM.

 

WE NEED A QUICKER MEANS OF COMMUNICATION ABOUT TRAINING--- MEGAN AND COLLEEN ARE LIKE SHIPS THAT Pass in the night-  they slide silently past each other 3 days a week.

 

I SUGGESTED IF THEY hAVE ANYTHING UNUSAL THAT THEY PUT IT ON A POST IT NOTE AND STICK IT QUICKLY IN THE PROPER LOOSE LEAF-- POLLY CAN EVENTUALLY STRAIGHTEN THE NOTES OUT.

 

************************

 

AND MY BIGGEST PROBLEM---  GIGI---  TRYING TO GET HER TO RELAX IN THE HOUSE IN PREP FOR HER "CONFINEMENT"

SHE WAS ASLEEP ON THE COUCH-- AND I WANTED HER TO GO OUT BEFORE I WENT TO BED.

 

SHE DID GO OUT--- IT HAD NOT OCCURRED TO ME THAT SHE MIGHT NOT HAVE SEEN A FLASHILGHT BEFORE ..  SHE WANDERED DECISEVILY TO THE BARN--- AND ONLY MY VAST EXPERIENCE WITH LOOSE ANIMALS-(4h kids)  I WAS ABLE TO HERD HER IN THE BARN--- THEN THE ALLEWAY-- THEN #8 STALL-- WHICH IS OUR GERIACTRIC STALL WITH THE GENTLY SLOPING RAMP TO THE SLEEPING LOFT. 

 I LEFT HER  THERE..

STRONG DOG--- NO WAY COULD I HAVE HELD HER-

A SCARED DANE IS A SCARED DANE

AND SHE IS BIG-

THAT CHEST IS 15" WIDE BY ACTUAL MEASUREMENT.

 

MEGAN  YOU HAVE SOME WORK TO DO THERE.....  WE DON'T NEED TO HAVE HER RUNNING AROUND THE YARD DROPPING PUPS HERE AND THERE BECAUSE SHE IS SCARED...

 

CALL CHEESE  ROPE-- PREFERABLY IN THE DARK WITH A FLASHLIGHT

IT IS CALLED  "PLAN  AHEAD"

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TODAY

 

we forgot to ask george yesterday  what to do if Tucker ate 1/4 a bottle of liver flavored dog vitamins.. seeing as it is too late now---

 we will have to assume"     what gets down will get out  "  hopefully

*****************

WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO HAVE A STOVE LIGHTING CEREMONY TODAY --  THE PIPE IS IN... THAT TINY DREMMEL SAW IS A WONDERFUL THING...... SO FAR..... AND POWERFUL ENOUGH FOR ANYTHNG I WILL DO. 

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED GIFT ITEM--

 

AND FACED WITH 2 DEAD DRILLS- I WENT AND BROUGHT ANOTHER $29   EL CHEAPO DRILL.

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PLAN IS TO HANG THE CHAIN LINK FRAMES FROM THE RAFTERS TO PLAN IN A DIDACTIC MANNER. 

MAYBE Add A LITTLE CARDBOARD and duct tape for a good look

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and the dogs can have access to it from nut hill today if it turns cold. 

probably the house dogs  bailey luna ---yellow opal and bently

 

should add    pi   she needs people handling...

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