Dogs 1, Humans 0

You can try to hide your bait, but they will always find it.

An Excellent Adventure

It was an incredibly fun trip to the AKC Eukanuba National Dog Show. Tigger, Bolt, Dory and I stopped at Rita's new farm in Alabama on the way there (and back). It was so good to see her and the dogs. I was quite excited to meet Fig (Galena Cornerstone Imagine) and Baby Twizzler, who is Tigger's nephew. In Florida, we stayed with Amy in Eustis. Tigger got reaquainted with his mom, Bubbles, and the Raglan Crew. Little Dory stayed to learn to sheep, and Tigger's Aunt Rosy came home with us to play Puffy Dog. Although Tigger didn't get any ribbons, I hope to do it again. So many beautiful dogs all in one place!

Fig tells Twizzler, "I am NOT your mom!"

It's hard to capture a moving Fig, so I waited until he was asleep. Handsome boy!

Twizzler gets an earful from his mom.

One of the lovely garden areas designed by Amy's mom.

Amy, Carol and Dory chillaxin' at the dog show.

The guest shed at Amy's. My bedroom should be so nice!

Sally in charge of the transportation.

Sweet Christmas puppy!

Fig and Twizzler have a bonding moment.

Patsy and Bolt meet the sprinkler.

BTW

And by the way, Amy, this is Dory's favorite song ... http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x11e2y_ozzy-osbourne-crazy-train_music

T-minus 2 days!

Eukanuba here we come!! But even more exciting, we'll be visiting with Rita in Alabama and Amy in Florida! Tigger is practicing his best Puffy Dog imitation. Bolt will get to see his Florida family again, and Dory will be going home to learn sheeping. The boys will really miss her. And so will I. But I know Amy will be happy to have her little rathead back!

aDORYble

Miss Dory had a good time at the Kalamazoo cluster last weekend. On Friday she went winner's bitch for her very first major, 3 points, which now gives her 4 points total. Thank you Judge Mary Anne Brocious for the win, and for calling her a "very pretty girl." I celebrated her win by getting her a lovely crystal-studded collar. Every girl needs some bling, and she is one stylin' babe! She can't wait to show it to Mom Amy and her Raglan family.

On the cat front, sadly, Tux came back to live here. A member of his new family developed severe allergies, so they made the sad decision to return him. He misses them, and they miss him. But he's making the best of it, and has declared the bathroom sink to be his. He is growing into a magnificent cat.

The morning routine here is not complete until the cats have helped me make the bed. Here, Sylvia, Tux and Scout lend a helping paw. At least, they think they're helping. 

Henley's debut

Henley and Dory had a fun time at the Fort Wayne cluster two weeks ago. On our first day, Dory went RWB and Henley went WD, for his first point. On Saturday, we didn't do anything but it was fun watching Nancy Willoughby's Chili Palmer swoop in and take BOB for his first GCH major. He was awesome! On Sunday, Henley went WD for his first major (3 points) and got the icing on the cake as BOW. He is turning into a very handsome boy, and I am grateful to Kathy Carlson for selecting Tigger to breed to her lovely Celeste, and to Nancy W for being Henley's co-owner. And, thanks to Judge Debra Gschwender for his first point, and to Judge Arlene Czech for his first major.

Thanks, Chris, for the day off

So on Columbus Day, a bunch of us went on a driving tour of US 12 through southern Michigan. Apparently, much of the Irish Hills is for sale, lots of touristy businesses had real estate signs out front. After a quick detour to sample the mad delights of Cement City (Masonic Lodge, convenience store, Iron Coffins Motorcycle Club), we ended up at McCourtie Park. In the 1930s, cement czar Herb McCourtie hired a Mexican artisan to craft a series of 17 bridges over a stream on his property. It's strange and interesting, and worth the stop if you're in the neighborhood.

One of the more ornamental bridges

Incredible detail

Two trees that are actually chimneys for the rathskeller built into the hillside. I guess Herb was kind of a party animal.

Not part of the park, the Irish Hills Towers are a little further east. The observation towers were built in the 1920s. They actually were separately owned and competing enterprises. 

Here's a postcard of them in their heyday:

Then, I went home and cleaned the house. Woo woo!