Nature Friday - A Random Selection

The deer track in the side yard

A Red John scampering away as Lady approaches to fill the feeders

A cold morning sunrise (it was about -30C when this picture was taken)

Phod playing disc in the extreme cold (it was a short time)

Throw Back Thursday - Lee's First Birthday Picture

This was Lee's first official birthday portrait. It is interesting to note how the highlights in her fur have changed over 8 years! 

Wordless Wednesday - A Boy and His Precious

The Best Chicken by Lee

Phenny, Nelly - I may have killed the chicken, but the carcass is still useful. I (the dog who doesn't play much) have been loving playing tug with it. This was a very special toy!

Mischief Monday - The Ear - By Phod

Dear pals,

I have a very serious problem. I am having trouble with my ears again. They get yucky and I itch them and apparently 'make them a bloody mess' which is not a good thing.

The first terrible thing that happened was the Man has to clean them. I have a love hate thing with this. I hate it but it kind of feels good. I am a very good boy while the Man does it, although I make sure to use a lot of sad eyes. 

In spite of this, they were very itchy on Thursday, so the Lady did the most terrible thing, she left me at home in the cone. (Editor's note: It is kind of smushed because of how it was stored in the closet).  I was a very good boy and let Lady put it on, but then I started bunter her to get it off. She didn't take it off, she just picked up her bags and left. 

I had to wait 87 million years before the Man got home. I bunted him right away and he took it off. I told him how mean the Lady was.  I was miserable. It was a terrible day.  I wouldn't talk to the Lady Thursday night. I was very mad.

I got lucky on Friday as the Man was home sick so he could just monitor me.

I hate to admit it, but the  Lady may have been right to do this because they have been less itchy.

Anyway, that was the terrible mischief that happened in our house last week.

I hope the cone stays in the closet this week.

Your Phoddy boy

Happy 9th Birthday Hailey!

Today's a special day,

A special day for Hailey,

so Hailey bark and Hailey sing,

A birthday is a special thing,

Happy Birthday,

Happy Birthday,

Happy Birthday Hailey!

Today we celebrate our sweet girl's 9th birthday. She is now the oldest dog we have ever had. Our other angels were taken too early. At 9, she is showing no signs of slowing down. I keep joking that she will be 22 before she calms down. 

While I prefer to do her official birthday portrait outside (the contrast of my beautiful black dog against the white snow is one of my favourites), however, given the deep freeze we are in (-30C/-22F), that would be punishing my birthday girl. She is barely tolerating going out long enough to do her business. So instead we took some pictures in the house.

We will celebrate by singing at her too much, and giving her lots of extra treats.

Happy birthday to our love!

H appy

A gile 

I intelligent

L oving

E energetic

Y oungish

Nature Friday - Snowshoeing

Lady's feet

On the weekend, because we can go for a walk in daylight, I decided instead of a traditional street walk, I would take the dogs snowshoeing in the bush behind our house. We were blessed with temperatures sitting around freezing last weekend.  Our neighbour's own this land but are totally cool with us using it. The sound you hear is the crunching of the snow (as it had a hard crust) under my shoes.

Lee loves snowshoeing. Phod doesn't want to be left out but does not love it. I think that is because I make him wear his harness and because he is heavier he sinks more.  In spite of this, as long as the temperature allows I hope we get to go every weekend we have snow! 

Why are we doing this?

Here are some other pictures I captured on my Olympus Tough camera (it is waterproof so the perfect camera to take on this type of adventure - as perhaps sometimes I get pulled over). 

Tracking the deer

Can you spot the wild turkey that flew away as it heard us coming?

Looking up to our house

Hope you enjoyed a walk behind our house.