Toby on Strike...Again!

I'm not moving. Maybe I want to go back the other way?

No, I guess I don't want to go that way either.

You go on, I'll just stand here.

Okay, okay. Stop pestering me Lady Flame! I'll go!

She can make me walk, but she can't make me like it...

Happy Holidays to All

Click on any photo set for a larger view.

We wish everyone a happy holiday season. We celebrated a bit early by having our buddies, Veronica, Blue and Bettina over for some gift exchange and lunch last weekend. We always have so much fun together, and just don't see each other often enough.

Our get together is always about the pups. They get so excited to eat their treaties, and Veronica spoils them rotten!

Here is Lady Flame in two of her new holiday/Star Wars hats! Ummm...she looks quite thrilled, don't you think?

Toby was dashing as always, and his new plaid antlers gave him such a GQ look! And, he can sit on command when there is a treat involved.

Old gentleman, Blue, was in good form and he loved the biscuits, attention, and naps!

Lastly, but not leastly, was "Bettina the Queena"! She thrived on attention, attention, attention! She finally gave me the stink eye after too much "in-your-face" photography;-)

Thanks for making Christmas so exciting for our pups, Veronica!

Pups in the fog

Today, we took a walk along the Papermill Trail after school. It was a very foggy day and we could barely see the Androscoggin River through the fog. In fact, the river is directly behind the pups!

Happy 9th Birthday to Sugaree

Happy 9th Birthday, Sugaree! May you continue to enjoy kicking up your heels, mucking around in mud puddles, hanging with your half-sibs, and being a snuggly buggly girl for many years to come! We love you!

Happy Holidays

I tawt I heard a puddy tat!

A faint mewing sound certainly caught Toby's attention, but no cat was seen.

Star Wars Day is Here!

Outtakes

Being a Jedi Master isn't always easy!

Walkin' in the Woods

Lady Flame & Toby take advantage of the warm weather. No jackets!

Lit by the fire's glow...

Toby lounging in front of the wood stove.

If only we could learn to relax like this!

Happy 12th Birthday, Blue!

Blue kicks up his heels on Oct. 11 (Photo courtesy of Blue's mom, Veronica)

Royal Blue Jay is 12 years old today. We wish him the best. He is one of our buddies, and we all love him dearly.

October 11th play date. (Photo courtesy of Blue's mom, Veronica.)

Four buddies: Bettina, Blue, Lady Flame and Toby...looking for squirrels?

Veronica with Blue and Bettina on Hound-o-ween!

All dogs should be as loved and well cared for as Blue...(and Bettina.) We count ourselves lucky to have such greyt friends!

Happy Birthday, Big Guy!

Sighthounds Sighted Sighting Something

Is it over there?

Yep, it is.

You Can't Make Me!

I'm not going back!

No problem, I'll just wait here.

On the rare occasions when Toby is willing to go for a walk, he often doesn't want to turn around and return home. I have no idea what goes on in his head.

Come closer...

Too close!

We'll go for a walk if you insist...

Toby awakes

On the road.

Back to sleep.

 Even with cooler weather, Toby seems to prefer an every-other-day walk schedule. Yesterday he wouldn't even get in the car, so today is the day for Walkies!

Early to Bed

The pups lacked motivation due to today's drizzly, dreary weather...

Riverside Dogs

Holly

Sophie

After every visit to the vet, Lady Flame & Toby enjoy a walk in Riverside Park, in Topsham. There, we met two of the sweetest dogs ever. Holly, who is an English Cocker Spaniel and Sophie, a Bernese Mountain Dog. Both are young and very friendly, although Sophie's size made Lady Flame & Toby a bit nervous at first. They were soon good friends & shared fancy biscuits provided by Sophie's Dad.

Invisible Intruder Alert

Toby: "Intruder Alert! Intruder Alert! Intruder Alert!"
Me: "Huh? What intruder? Ohhh...you mean that something that was lurking in the woods outside the fence?"
Toby: "Grrrr... Ruff!!!"
Me: "Ummm... it is probably long gone by now, Toby. You're safe because you're inside the fence."
Toby: "Intruder Alert! Intruder Alert! Intruder Alert!"
Me: "Enough already! Go outside, scare him off, and settle down."
Toby: "Let me at him! Grrr.... Ruff, Ruff, Ruff, BARK, BARK, BARK!!!!!!!"
Me: "Toby, we'd really like to get some sleep tonight. Can you please settle down and go to bed?"
Toby: "Okay, Mom... I'm exhausted from all the barking..." ruff...ruff...ruff...!" Snore..."woof!"

Rollicking Runaround

It isn't often that our pups get the yay-yays at the same time, but when they do, they race around the yard with wild abandon!

They take turns chasing each other, and we'll often find that Toby puts the stalk on Lady Flame (as he's not a zippy as she is.) He tries his best to "cut her off at the pass", so to speak!

They are not the best of friends, but a good run does seem to take away any animosity that Lady Flame has for Toby, at least for a short time.

Friendly Frolic

We had a quick play date just before dark. You'll notice that Trouble is very agile, and he tags Lady Flame, who just cannot seem to tag him back. 

By the way, it was too dark to let Toby out to play. He was not a happy camper as he stood on the top step, of the indoor stairs, whining and feeling left out. But, his vision is so poor that it would have been dangerous for him (on several levels.)

Typical Trouble

Trouble "relaxing" at home...

Screaming Toby

Toby was laying on the dog bed, between our two chairs, while we watched TV tonight. All of a sudden he started screaming, and screaming, and screaming. We are hoping he just had a cramp or something. Eventually, he settled down as if nothing had happened. Scared the bejeebers out of us... All we could think was that maybe some sharp shards of plastic were moving around in his innards. We'll never know...

Popham Beach Romp

We joined a bunch of our friends for a romp on Popham Beach. Okay, maybe the word "romp" isn't exactly appropriate as the Greyhounds were rather sedate, but we did roam the beach and Fox Island.

(Click on any photo set for larger views.)

Hound-o-ween Party

Laurie, Toby, and Lady Flame
Special thanks to Auntie Pat for her fancy Hound-o-ween hat creations.
(Click on any photo for a larger view.)

Drew and I hosted a Hound-o-ween Party for our Greyhound friends. We basically hung out, let the hounds run around, took portraits, ate great food, and had greyt fellowship. (Thanks, Veronica for coining the term, "Hound-o-ween.")

Cast of Characters: Love, Toby, Sugaree, Lady Flame, Skyy, Bettina
Blue, Trouble, Gabby, Jester, Melissa, and Stari

First, the running around! With 12 pups all together in the backyard, we need to let them get accustomed to each other. Some had never met before. We always muzzle the hounds in case they get too rambunctious. Greyhounds have very little body fat and very thin skin, so any small nick can lead to large skin tears.

Then, the milling around with costumes. The hounds looked greyt!

Upper Left-Veronica with Taco and Hot Dog
Upper Center -Jedi Bille with The Red Squadron Leader
Upper Right - Shannon & Billy with The Viking and his Hound-o-queen
Bottom Left - Rick & Pat with Antony & Cleopatra
Bottom Right - Carol with Eric the Red, Her Royal Highness & Princess Love

Here are the portraits that we took of our Greyt friends in their Hound-o-ween attire.

Finally, we communed in the basement for munchies, chatting, and snoozing. 

All the pups were exhausted from the day's excitement. Toby slept the night away with his new squeaky toy (thanks, Auntie Veronica).