Mavis and Bailey

Mavis is now 6 months old and Bailey is turning 3 years old.

Mavis Graduates

Mavis graduates from 4 weeks of puppy classes.

Mavis and Savana

Mavis our new puppy

This is Mavis our new Dalmatian puppy. I drove to Kansas City, MO on Friday, 5/23, and picked her up from the breeder heading back to Minn. She's 8 weeks old. She's a real pistol. Her spots are more developed now since the picture was taken on 5/9.

Chipmunk Killers

Both of the dogs have proven to be stealthy and fast hunters. Both have recently snuffed out an unwitting chipmunk. I have the gruesome task of disposing of the body. I don't know how the CSI people do it. I was having a problem with a tiny little animal.

We also have moles and voles and toads and turtles ....too many creatures and it keeps the dogs in a constant state of alert.

Another Spring Walk

Taking a walk

Stop to look at the creek

April 2008

A real scare

The dogs gave me a real scare the other day. I was on the phone talking with the door open so I could see them outside. I never just let them out unobserved for very long. I saw them run by. I decided I'd better get off and check on them. I ran out and whistled. Nothing. No rustle of leaves on jingle of collars. Well, long story short. About 20 minutes later they appeared running down from the pasture above. All smiles, tired and thisty. And they're back. Relief.

Two Naughty Dogs

Let the 2 dogs out as I normally do. They took off around the back of the house. Only about 5 minutes went by before I whistled for them. No dogs. Anywhere. I got my coat and started to call. It was only 10 degrees. Nothing. I got Bailey's whistle and blew it. Nothing. Suddenly John drives up. No dogs. Blew the whistle again and here comes Bailey finally, out of the woods. But no Savana. I ran in to get gloves. It was really cold. Savana has never disappeared before so now I was concerned. I was going to walk and look but I decided to get the Ford. As soon as I backed out, guess who comes slinking out of the woods smelling to high heaven and snarling like a snake. ....It was upstairs and into the bathtub for this little spotted wonder dog. I had to soap her down really well to get rid of whatever she had been into. Now she is all pure white, not dingy yellow, as Dals get. And acting as an angel. But, she's back. :) There was a black Lab with a blue scarf lurking nearby, so I think I know why they both ran off. Very unusual. Really.

Bailey

Had to take Miss Bailey to the Vet this am. She has a nasty ear infection she probably picked up from her hunting trip to upstate NY in Oct. She had to have the ears flushed and is on antibiotics for 14 days. The Dr. said it was good that I had been cleaning the ears and on top of it because if not treated the eardrum can rupture and be very painful. Bailey knew she was being helped cause she wagged her tail even though it hurt a little bit.
Meanwhile back on the home front, Savana had an attack of the persnickety and ripped up some papers of mine. I left her at home because it was too cold to leave her in the car. So she got even. She's under my feet as I'm typing. A little gem.

Bailey at Christmas