Sunday, January 30, 2011

Powerful stockdog in the making

Ben works on "releasing tension"

Saturday, January 29, 2011

I think we need a bigger couch.

It's Saturday morning. We're all on the couch drinking coffee and catching up on our email/newspapers. 

It's a small couch, and two average size humans take up a fair chunk of it's space. 

That doesn't stop anyone else in the family from joining the two humans. Their idea of "there's lots of space left" is a little different than mine I think.


Bruce finds that Antonio makes a fine couch cushion, and Antonio suffers through Bruce's company because he's a good heat source.

Thursday, January 27, 2011

I think I've started a soup kitchen

None of the official residents, both 2 and 4 legged ever miss a meal around here if they can help it. 
Looks like word has gotten out, because we have a couple more regulars.

I missed getting a good shot of the ravens stealing bones out of the yard. Ravens serve two purposes around here - clean up, and entertainment...as in I find it really entertaining to watch the dogs losing their marbles over losing their bones to bird brains. 

Remember Stranger? He showed up last year...

He used to be a "seldom sighted" creature. Now he's an "always around" kind of mooch. 

The newest mouth to feed is a big one. 


Unfortunately she finds my rose bushes and birches really tasty.  She also figured out very quickly where the dogs could and could not get to, and totally ignores any attempts at "protection". 
Given that she really isn't a safe addition to the family I chase her off using the time honoured method - banging pots and pans together. 

Sunday, January 23, 2011

Snowball fight!

It warmed up to a crazy windy plus 6 today. This is what happens to Bruce when you pair lots of snow with lots of warm with lots of crazy Aussie. 


Incredibly, these pictures were taken after Travis had already removed several pounds of snow from his coat out on the trail because it had got to the point that he was having difficulty running (hmm, note to self - a slow Aussie is a good Aussie). 


The Border Collies? They look the same as ever - I'll take their coats any day. 

It's supposed to stay warm for the rest of the week. I think we'll be snowshoeing in the morning for a while.

Tuesday, January 18, 2011

The sun came out this morning

and it stopped snowing for about five minutes.  I must have gotten a bit of spring fever because I decided to take Hope out to the sheep for kicks. 

He would now like to demonstrate various methods used to move sheep in winter.

 Begin demonstration.





 The "Snow plow" method

The "My what big ears you have Mr. Wolf" method.

The "Stealth" method.

Proof that sheep actually participated.

So ends our "winter work" demonstration.
 

Sunday, January 16, 2011

Friday, January 14, 2011

Do YOU smell something?


 Because I'm pretty sure


 I smell

 
a little


jam
between these toes...

Tuesday, January 4, 2011

A matter of perspective

This is what a walk looks like from our perspective.


This is what Suzie looks like on our walks....


and this is what our walks look like to Suzie.





Suzie's view of  5month old Sam...


and how he tries to compensate.




Saturday, January 1, 2011

She's back!

Suzie's back for a few weeks. If you've been reading the blog for a while  you'll remember that she spent a few months at our place last year after Gramma broke her hip. I'm happy to report that her return this winter is do to happier circumstances on Gramma's part. Not one to be told to "take it easy", Gramma and her friend Pat have taken off on a 3 week cruise in the Caribbean to soak up some sun and rum punch. 


These pictures of Suzie are from last year, because she's currently soaking up as much heat as possible hiding in the laundry pile - I'll get some new ones of her when she comes out from hibernation.