Hot Air

(Woodinville, WA) I was in the RV (like always) and heard the unmistakable sound of hot air being blown into a hot air balloon. I stuck my head out the window and tried to look high into the sky. But I saw nothing.

So I went to the other side of the RV and looked high into the sky. Nothing. Then I heard as clear as day, "I love your dogs!". (Mike was outside with the dogs.) I looked to where I heard the voice coming from and there was the hot air balloon...very low and close. Below the treetops as you can see.



It surprised me as we've never seen a hot air balloon around here, then we see one barely higher than the house.

It landed in a field only one block from where we are staying. Too bad it didn't land in the yard here!

Debbie
7/29/10

Little Boogies....Very Little

(Woodinville, WA) This evening we got to go visit the puppies for the very first time!

Oh my gosh! They are so much smaller in person than they look in the pictures! They are only 18-22 oz.

Don't they look big!



Isn't it funny how we could "sit" there and stare at the puppies for so long when they don't do any thing yet....well, except yawn. I'm not sure but I don't think I've ever yawned in my sleep! These puppies are talented already.



How can they need to yawn so much when all they do is sleep? I don't know...but it sure is cute!



Even though they can't really move much yet, they were always in a different position every time I looked down....which was often.



In most pictures there was one puppy upside down.....little Jr. - the only boy of the four.



I didn't really think much of it until later that evening after we returned home. I went up front to talk to Mike and what did I see......Boogie sound asleep....in his normal position.


It was then it dawned on me....like father, like son.

When I was looking through the pictures I took, I noticed an eye just a tiny bit open! How exciting. Little Jr opened his eye just long enough to probably say, stop taking so many pictures of me!



If only my pockets were a tiny bit bigger I might have been able to put this one in my pocket and take him home. But Weezie kept a very close eye on the puppies as we held them so I don't think I could have fooled her.



If you look at the post from just a few days ago, you can see how much the puppies have grown in just a week. Compare the picture of the puppy in those hands versus the above one with the puppy in my hand. Gosh, they sure grow fast.

Even one of the little girls takes after Boogie.


She wants to be just like her daddy.


There's nothing better than a puppy visit to boost one's spirits.

Debbie
7/28/10

Front Row View

(Lynden, WA) This weekend we went to Lynden, WA for an AKC agility trial. Much to the dismay of the others, only Boogie was competing....and did we ever hear about all weekend long!

The weather was absolutely gorgeous this weekend. Absolutely perfect...for me anyway.

When we arrived, there were already at least 50 RV's there. So we just pulled up and parked in the first spot we found. It was very far from the rings which meant I wouldn't get to see any agility this weekend. But when Mike walked to the rings to check in, he noticed a large grassy area just across from the rings. So he talked to the trial chairman and asked if we could park there so I could see...and they said Yes!

Here is my view out the front window...you can't tell but Boogie is running.



I was so excited. When it was Boogie's turn to run, Mike would call me just as they were walking in the ring. I'd go to the front of the RV and look out the window. How very cool. While I couldn't see perfectly, I didn't care. I was just happy to see my little guy run, jump, and mostly BARK! He is the loudest dog on the course to be sure!

But he didn't like the waiting. If he wasn't running he was kneeling in the window watching for Mike to come get him for his next turn. Just too cute.



It was a great weekend. I hope we have many more summer trials here.

Debbie
7/23-25/10

Little Baked Potatoes?

(Woodinville, WA) One week ago today, five little lives came into the world. Today four of them are one week old. Had sad they've known loss and sadness already in their young lives. Hopefully, as they get older, they won't remember the loss of their little brother...but I won't forget him.

These four are so very cute! They are healthy and plump - the littlest one weighing in at exactly one pound.




While they are so very cute, they just don't look like Border Terriers to me.



That is sure a big yawn for such a little puppy.



It's hard to tell how big they really are until you have something else in the picture to give you some perspective. So tiny!



Now is this cute or what! And here I thought puppies were born...now I learn they are hatched!



Debbie
7/21/10

All pictures courtesy of Weezie's mom.

RIP 7/14/10 - 7/19/10

(Woodinville, WA) Today was an extremely hard day for me and, I know, Weezie's "mom". It brought back terrible memories of a couple experiences I had when I was fostering puppies. Amazing how raw old memories can be.

Today, our sweet "little blue boy" was put to sleep. I guess he was never right from the beginning and had to be tube fed. They said he was a real fighter and tried so hard to live...but it just wasn't meant to be.

It is so hard to lose one of Boogie's sons...and the only blue in the litter.

Our breeder tried to console all of us and tell us we should rejoice in the wonderful lives of the four healthy babies...which we will certainly do....but that didn't stop the tears from flowing for the loss of a sweet innocent little life that was created by my wonderful little boy and young Weezie.

I know of another sweet innocent puppy of mine who was up there today ready to greet "little blue boy".

Rest in peace little guy. You won't be forgotten by me....ever. See you soon.

All my love little one.

Debbie

7/19/10

Celebration of 15's

(Port Gamble, WA) Thursday we drove from Newport, OR to Port Gamble, WA....or at least we tried to. Our five and a half hour trip took over 13 hours.

We only made it to the outskirts of Corvallis before we were broken down on the side of the road. Fortunately we have a good roadside service supplier and a great network of agility friends that were notified immediately by our friend Susan.

After a stint at the repair shop, we finally arrived in Port Gamble about 11:30pm. Fortunately, on Friday, only Boogie and Sparkie were competing...and in only two runs a piece...so Mike could get some rest after the hard drive the day before.

On the first run Saturday morning, Wazzu earned her NATCH-15. I'm so happy I got to see her run and then get our picture taken with th judge who is one of our good friends. But that was too much for me and I wasn't able to watch the rest of the weekend.



I had planned ahead and had a big cake made for the occasion. Too bad I didn't get to enjoy it with everyone. In my opinion, the cake decorator didn't do a very good job...but there wasn't any leftover cake so I guess no one cared.



2iggie was a bit distracted with people watching on all four sides of the ring. This trial always has a lot of really nice spectators. But even though she was a bit distracted she didn't stop and bark at anyone!



The funniest thing that happened this weekend was that I got an email from a friend of mine many states away. She said 2iggie looked great doing agility. I couldn't figure out how she would know since she was so far away. When I asked her about it, she sent me a picture of 2iggie doing agility.


Turns out the judge was a good friend of 2iggie's before we got her. The judge was so excited to see 2iggie doing agility that she took a picture of her with her phone WHILE she was judging! How cute is that! Now that's gotta be a first.

Mike and the dogs all had a great weekend. Unfortunately we had RV troubles on the way home again. It was difficult going but at least we made it.

Debbie
7/15-18/10

Boogie & Weezie's Nooner Led to....

(Woodinville, WA) Last night about 10 pm, Weezie went into labor. By midnight two puppies were born. By 1:45 am, three more puppies were born. Same litter yet split birthday's.

Final count: three grizzle females, one grizzle boy, and a blue boy. All little Boogie's.



What a sweet little head.



It's hard to believe Boogie was ever that tiny.



In the foreground are the three little girls.



It all started a couple months ago when Boogie found himself a girlfriend. Well, actually our breeder found him a girlfriend named Weezie.



On their first date, the people in the know decided that it would be best to try AI. Boogie was really not interested in that at all. As soon as anyone would try to help him, he'd back away and say "I can do it by myself". He's always been an independent little guy.

But they kept trying and eventually thought maybe they got a little. Then poor Weezie had to do her hanging.



She was such a good girl....staying so nice and still for 15 minutes like this. But no one was at all optimistic that this was working.

A couple days later we got the call....come on over. So Boogie hightailed his way over to Weezie's at lunchtime. He had a big date!

This time they were left to their own devices. They immediately started running around the yard having a good ole time.

Then in a blink of an eye they were in love....like two peas in a pod.



Boogie was so cute as he kept giving her kisses.



After about 20 minutes, Boogie had us all in stitches. He was getting really tired...



...and then he just put his little head down on Weezie and fell asleep! I was afraid to take a picture as I was afraid I'd wake him up. It was all any of us could do to keep from laughing.

A couple days later we tried it all again and it was pretty much a repeat. More little puppy kissing.



And a lot of just hanging out together.




And to our surprise, Boogie once again fell asleep on Weezie's back. What's up with that, Boogie!

But in the end, he looks like one happy, yet tuckered, boy!



And how exciting that their afternoon rendezvous's led to five beautiful little puppies.

Debbie
7/15/10

Beach Play

(Newport, OR) Today is our last day at the beach. I was so disappointed not to be able to watch the dogs play on the beach...as they're never more playful than on a beach.

So Mike and a couple dogs went out in the car to scout for a place where it would only be a few steps to the beach. They found a place and away we went. Mike is a great guy and does so much for me. But "scouting" isn't his forte I guess. I know he great intentions though...so I appreciate his efforts.

The road leading to this great spot on the beach wasn't paved. Not only wasn't it paved but it literally had holes 3' in diameter and 2' deep...many of them. Then there were huge jagged rocks sticking up out of the ground that were anywhere from 6" - 12" tall. Let me tell you, no matter how slow he went, we were a rockin'.

My platform is not bolted to the car in any way. So as we were jolting all around I was like paint in a paint can when they put it on the machine to shake it all up. Or like a rock in tumbler that is being polished.

The jetty was LONG! And cars were getting stuck. This was the worst ride ever...I was in horrible pain the entire way...and getting worse as we went along. Sure, the beach was about 10 paces from the car...but walking one pace was now an extremely painful ordeal.

But we were here now so I figured I might as well spend 10 minutes on the beach and get to watch the pups for a short time.

I think the ocean is so pretty. Notice the kite-boarders....this will be important later...



2iggie was so cute running and romping on the beach.



But always above the water line! No water for her.



The wind was blowing so hard that I couldn't hold my camera still. Mike had warned me it would be cold so I wore many layers. But there weren't enough layers for this weather.

The streaks you see in the sand is the blowing wind.



Boogie was too funny, stopping to chase the blowing sand.



Boogie's ears were flying in all directions.



The wind not only made his ears go straight back but his tail too!



He tried turning his head but it didn't matter as the wind was really kicking. All three dogs were closing their eyes and punching at them with their paws as the sand was going everywhere....and fast.



When we originally headed out on the beach (we'd literally only taken five or six steps on to the beach) when a guy yelled "I love Border Terriers". We couldn't see who yelled it so we just kept going.

Just a couple minutes later,, this guy came down onto the beach to do some kite boarding. Totally out of character, Boogie ran over to the guy...at which point he said "I love Border Terriers". Wow, Boogie is smart - he ran right to the guy that liked him!

He just started walking along with the guy like that was who he lived with. What! My Boogie never goes up to strangers.



He just stayed right with the guy watching everything he did. I'm thinking Boogie would like to try this sport. And why not, he likes every other sport he's tried.



Boogie wasn't quite sure about petting though. Although after a couple seconds, Boogie did go over to him.




Boogie was keeping his distance as the guy left but he was still following.



Boogie just kept going even though little waves were now crashing about neck height.



Even as the guy took off, Boogie was still mesmerized.




He wouldn't give up. I was wondering if he was going to stay there forever.




He was pretty determined.





We finally got him to come in. But he just turned around to watch from shore.



Eventually we got him to turn his attention to playing.



Boogie and 2iggie did some terrier type boxing which Wazzu broke up fairly quickly.



I think she may have regretted that as Boogie then turned his attention to her!



I'm pretty sure Wazzu is saying "Stop It".




So finally Mike threw a stick and they were both happy.



Look at that, Boogie pulled Wazzu all the way up out of the water....I think she must not have been trying very hard - although it looks like he sure is!



They continued for some time even though the wind was really blowing a lot of sand in their eyes.



Boogie finally went on to other things and left Wazzu alone to lie on the beach with her stick.



You'll never guess what got Boogie's mind off the stick game. Yup, that's right, the kite sailing guy came back to shore!



I'm pretty sure Boogie thought the guy finally realized he'd forgotten to take Boogie and came back to get him!

But when that didn't pan out, Boogie decided to do some rolling in protest. He's being so vigorous about it that he kicked up a bunch of sand...that you can see in the air just coming down.



Oh gosh, like he wasn't dirty enough already.



2iggie saw this from afar and started charging.



Boogie had barely gotten to his feet when she showed him the ground again.



We figured this was a good time to leave. On the way to the car, Boogie surprised me again. He saw some kids playing in the water and decided to join them.



Every time the kids would run in from the wave, Boogie would run in with them.



I remember playing that game when I was a kid. But I don't remember a super cute doggy ever coming to play it with me!

The kids didn't mind him playing with them at all. He just made himself right at home with them and they included Boogie in all their many games.




We had a heck of a time getting Boogie to leave the beach. Guess he knew we wouldn't be back for a year.

Debbie
7/14/10