Monday Sparks - Featuring Emma

Emma is being brave and leaping into the snow

FFF - An Ode To Spring - By Phod

Today we join Yamini for the Final Friday Fiction. Hop by her page to get the rules.

Our book was a Blogville Book Club selection  Here We Lie by Paula Treick DeBoard. Because members of Blogville may be reading the book and we don't want to spoil the story, we have highlighted the words we used. 

The day is warm, the sun is shining, the birds are singing.

The remaining snow acts as a pillow to catch my Precious,

who has returned after a long winter.

All is right in the world. 

Terrifying Thursday

Last week, we had hopefully the last winter storm of the season. It was freezing rain. It was windy. Ice pelted off the windows. The power flickered but was never out more than 10 seconds.

As most of you know, Hailey is afraid of wind and storms. She actually did pretty well. She did demand love and she did stand and shake at times, but because we were both working at home, it never became more. 

What you may not know, is Phod is scared of power flickering. If it goes out, he gets very nervous. I am not sure if this is something he has always struggled with, or if living with Hailey made it worse. He is much calmer about his fears. He just wants to be near us.

For example, because I wasn't going for a walk in the freezing rain, while I was on the treadmill, he huddled beside it. (Normally, if he is in the room with me, he is on the couch). 

Later, when I was in my office, he huddled in the corner by my desk. 

I hope that his fears don't increase and that we have a quiet spring with few thunder and wind storms. 

Wordless Wednesday - Zaphod, Zaphod Beeblebrox

Trouble Tuesday - One Less Light

A few weeks ago, I was trying to finish up some work in my home office. The Man had come home early and was trying to have a nap.

There was a crash and the sound of shattering glass outside my office door. My first thought was, what do we have that is glass.

I opened the door to see the floor lamp laying down and the shade and bulb shattered all over the floor. I didn't think to take a picture as I was focused on safety. Getting the dogs away from the glass. Getting shoes for me and making sure all the glass was picked up. The glass was everywhere. It really did shatter.

I am happy to report that no one was hurt. The floor is damaged and the light is without a shade. Actually, since we haven't been using that room lately, the lamp has been tucked away.

Monday Sparks

I have not been in my life rhythm since before Easter. I have not been blogging or visiting blogs. I have not gotten all my exercise in. I have been busy with work and social obligations. I was feeling a little down and then I thought of this quote:

Maybe if we were all a little kinder to ourselves the world would be a little bit better.

Wild Thursday - Woodpecker Work

We have a lot of woodpeckers around. The dogs and I often hear them on our morning walks. We also see them around a lot. Lee and I were out exploring the yard, as the snow that was left was not deep and found some handy work at the base of a dead tree. 

Wordless Wednesday - Emma Helping Lady Work

Trouble Tuesday - Dramatic Re-enactment

The following took place a few weeks ago. The Man was working at home as he had just had his staples removed and was still recovering from surgery. 

The players:

The bird will be played by chicken

The Man will be played by Lady

Hailey will play herself.

The scene:

Hailey kindly alerted the Man that there was something in the chimney. The Man could hear it but could not see it. He placed some food and water in to encourage it to fly down to the base of the chimney.

A while later, the bird flew down into the fireplace. The Man blocked off the top of the stairs so the dogs could not go down. He opened the patio door that is downstairs. He opened the fireplace. The bird did not fly out the open patio. The bird flies upstairs as our house is open concept.

You can see the fireplace to the left, the bird flew from the downstairs up to the dining area

The Man raced upstairs to find Hailey holding the bird in her mouth. 

The Man yelled 'drop it' but that was not happening so the Man opened Hailey's mouth and took the bird out.

The bird appeared injured, but he carried it outside and it flew away. 

The Man called the Lady at work and was like '#@%&*' and the Lady, in her loving and supportive way, laughed so hard she cried. She was laughing so hard, people came to make sure she was ok. 

The next day, when another bird (or maybe the same bird) showed up in the fireplace, the Man locked the dogs in the bathroom where the bird could not get, opened the downstairs and upstairs patio doors and after a few attempts the bird found the open upstairs patio door and left. The Man learned from his first experience (which is not the first time we have had a bird in the chimney. It seems to happen about once a year!)

Monday Sparks - Sweet and Simple

Although sometimes it is hard with a dog on your chest!

Training Thursday - Coach Phod

If I put my ball just here . . . .

blurry as this happened mid-workout and Lady was likely dying

you won't be able to do that weird thing you were doing (how you can climb a mountain on the floor is beyond me)

and you can play a much more fun game of move the Precious with me!

In the cage

Lady laughed over Easter because when Emma was not in the crate Miss Bug would go into it. She laughed because Miss Bug arrived at her home crate trained and in the first month or so destroyed two crates.

Sparks - Sunshine

Today we join others in sharing a spark.

Funny Friday - Feed Me

Our Easter company dog, Tendra (the last 3 letters of Lady and her sister's names) is on very tight schedule. She starts to get antsy about 30 minutes before meal times. She eats at 8 and 5 (we still ate at our after we got up and 6:30). Tendra is very loud about waiting. She can bark a lot. Tendra also has been trained to pick up her dish and give it to her people when she is done for a cookie. She uses a slow bowl. (We keep our bowls in our eating places except when they take a trip in the dishwasher).

One night when she was visiting, Tendra's barking was not getting her what she wanted, so she went over to Lee's bowl, grabbed it and threw it! It made all the people laugh, but Tenny didn't get her dinner any sooner!

Thankful Thursday - by Phod

 Dear Pals,

I am thankful for my Big Guy (aka Lady's Dad). He gives me lots of pets. When he was visiting over Easter he was a little under the weather so he spent a lot of time in the chair. He was easy to guard.

I am also thankful for my Grandma. Lady didn't capture a picture of us (she only took a few pictures all weekend - fail to her) but my Grandma calls me handsome boy and says I am the best boy. She admits she thought Lady had really lost it when she said she was bringing a Shepherd into her life, but she says I am perfect.

I am thankful they got to celebrate my birthday with me and that I got to be part of such a loving family.

Phod

Wordless Wednesday - From February

Resting Tuesday!

Thank you all for the birthday wishes on Sunday. I greatly appreciated it. 

I am very exhausted from having company on the weekend and celebrating my birthday. I will just be resting in the sun.

Mischief Monday - Emma Edition

Lady's parents and their dog Tendra came to visit for Easter weekend.

Hailey, Phod and Tendra all get along. Emma had never met Tendra.

Emma decided she did not like Tendra and tried several times to attack poor Tendra (who was just minding her business across the room). Therefore, to keep everyone safe (as Tendra is a 90 lbs Lab and Emma is a 15 lbs Terrier - emphasis on Terror part), we kept them separate all weekend.

Lady moved the crate upstairs and Emma was in it, or in the bedroom resting with the Man (who is still recovering). She got to partake in all the treats and was taken outside multiple times a day too. She didn't love it, but she was safe and it was more relaxing for everyone.

At one point, when Emma was being put back into the crate, Hailey insisted on going in with her and the two spend at least an hour and a half together (napping at times). It was very sweet!

Happy 7th Birthday Handsome Phod!

Today is a special day, a special day for Phody, so Phody dance and Phody sing, a birthday is a special thing! Happy Birthday, Happy Birthday, Happy Birthday Phody!

We actually don't know when Phod's birthday is, but today is the day we celebrate it. It is Phod's Auntie K's birthday (the reason we picked today for his). It is also a special day for Murphy and Stanley's Dad.  Happy Birthday dear friends!

Phod had some fun celebrating!

GIVETHECAKETOTHESHEPHERDGIVETHECAKETOTHESHEPHERD

The official birthday portrait. 

Less pictures, more playing!

Phod also got some special messages from friends.

From across the pond Princess Leah sent Phod a wonderful card.

 Our favourite feline, the Marvellous Madi, made this e-card.

Thank you Ladies!

To our dear sweet boy, you bring so much joy and love to our house. It wouldn't be the same without you. Happy, happy birthday!