Starting Vacation

Bunny here at the keyboard sharing exciting news.

Wednesday morning came and I knew that something was up.  Mom had some of her stuff in a suitcase and some of my stuff in my suitcase.  My friend DJ and his mom had spent the night and they were loading up their stuff, too.  We got all ready, put our stuff in their car and got in.  Then we drove for a long time.

We saw some interesting stuff on the road, but we didn't make many stops.  It was just driving forever and ever.  I thought I'd never be able to stretch my legs out again.  Finally, in the early hours of the morning, they decided to stop and find a place for us to sleep.  The only problem was that the only hotels we kept seeing were Comfort Inns and they have this stupid rule that pets can't stay in their rooms.  We were getting pretty tired when we finally found a place that would let DJ and me sleep in the room, too.  I was all too glad to go potty, get our stuff out of the car, ride the elevator up to our room and crash on the bed with Mom.  It was a very nice bed! 

The next day, we got up and started on the final leg of our trip to Dewey Beach.  We got there in the afternoon, just in time for the Around the Hounds party.  Oh...my...dog!  This is one of my favorite collar makers and the stuff they had was very fancy.  I was a bit disappointed that they didn't have many fancy collars that would fit me, but I had fun looking and I did get a new leash for hiking, a collar for Blueberry and a leather collar with sparkles on it for me. 

After that, we headed to a restaurant where there is outdoor seating to meet up with a bunch of online friends.  It was a lot of fun sniffing all the hounds.  However, the hounds in my tummy were howling and I had to beg for some french fries from a man at the next table.  It's sad the things we Greyhounds have to suffer at times.

My friend DJ was parched, so he got a drink.  Actually, he drank two and a half glasses full.  I had no idea that much water could even fit into a hound's tummy at once.

I'll try to share more of my adventures tomorrow and next week, as long as I'm not too tired to write about them.  One thing I can say about the trip is that I like the room service!  I can't wait to get a sniff of the ocean!

How Old Ladies Celebrate

Well, you all might be wondering how a Greyhound celebrates the event of her fifteenth birthday.  I was a little stumped about it myself when I started thinking on it.  Fortunately, I think she had a pretty good time. 

She got special dinner -- Blue Buffalo Blue's Chicken Stew.

There were a few presents.

We had some birthday cookies.

She had homemade carrot cake with bacon in it.

Then, the party was over.

We are so happy that she has had such a good fifteen years and that her day was a happy one!

These Girls Know How To Party

Our party on July 3 was quite a success.  Of course, I don't delude myself with thinking that everyone came to see me.  The buzz of the evening was about seeing Morgan. 

We'd put Morgan and Lilac in the basement until dinner was over so that things would be quiet and peaceful down there for them and they wouldn't get overwhelmed right away.  As we cooked on the grill and got things laid out for dinner, we were asked several times by my young nephew and niece about where the new dog was.  As a matter of fact, our niece even brought us a drawing she'd done of three Greyhounds and a German Shepherd head.  It was really busy on our street since the Cruise In was also going on.  For those who don't know, a Cruise In is where people bring a lot of antique cars and set them up so others can look at them.  It started just a couple of years ago and has grown exponentially ever since.  It draws a large crowd since the cars are really nice and our town is known for having a really nice, small town fireworks display.

Finally, after dinner was finished, Morgan made her big debut.  To say that she was a big hit would be an understatement.  She wasn't as friendly and outgoing as the girls, but she handled the attention well.  I will admit that she stole my heart a bit during this big moment.  Quite a few family members were trying to coax her over to share attention with her, but she kept a bit of distance.  I'd taken some food into the house and came back outside.  When she saw me, her tail went into gear and she gave a little half leap.  I walked over to her and she sat firmly planted between my feet.  How anyone could not be taken in by her gesture of possession and reassurance is beyond me.  She was happy as a clam as I leaned down to pet her and put my arm around her.

After a bit of fussing over Morgan, the kids and some of the adults decided to walk up to the local school playground, a block from our house.  I went inside to hear a very unhappy Lilac barking in the basement.  I went down and opened her crate, which was not good enough.  I decided to go upstairs and get a dog bed and try to convince Blueberry to go down and keep her company.  In the amount of time it took me to come up with the plan and go get the dog bed, the spry old  lady made it all the way up the basement steps.  I'm not sure whose heart was beating harder after I found out she'd done that.  I thought maybe I'd just take Bunny outside for a few minutes, but Lilac and Blueberry had other plans.  So, I took all three of the little maids out to socialize.  Lilac decided to join Mr. Taleteller and Morgan, and after a bit, Bunny got antsy and I let her into the ex-pen to run around. 

So, that left Blueberry and me to go and investigate the cars at the Cruise In.  No sooner had we entered the event then people started asking to pet her and ask about her.  About ten minutes after we'd left the house, my sister caught up with us.  She was surprised we hadn't gotten too far.  Walking down the street was her first taste of what it's like to be seen in public with a Greyhound.  Blueberry was a wonderful ambassador and I was very proud of her.  She had time for everyone from a little girl in a wheelchair to grown adults with lots of questions.  Her only objection was to the Elvis impersonator who was singing at the other end of our street.  She gave him two dewclaws and ears down.  His singing did not impress Her Royal Blueness at all.  Maybe if he'd been singing Hound Dog she'd have been more impressed.

After our tour of the cars, we darted into a side street and made our way back home.  The girls went to their slumber party in the basement and watched television and the people walked up the street to watch the fireworks from a small park near our house.  It was an absolutely beautiful night for the party and to watch the fireworks.  Once again, I was so proud of our girls and what wonderful hostesses they were. 

Entertaining With Dogs

Today is the local Independence Day celebration here in our tiny village.  As long as we've lived here, it's always occurred on the day before the Fourth.  The general consensus seems to be that most people in our little village go to one of the big cities nearby to enjoy the big Sky Concerts that happen there.  It's quite alright with me, really.  It means that we get to enjoy fireworks twice. 

Our small town puts on a really impressive show for the number of people who live in the village.  Coming to see the fireworks here is like an old-fashioned experience.  There's a Cruise In, with antique cars and trucks lined up on the street in front of our house.  Last year it took up more of the street than they'd planned for.  If it gets any bigger, I'm not sure what they'll do.  After all the festivities that go along with that, after it gets dark the fireworks start and last for about thirty or forty minutes.  Old Jumbo, the local town "mountain" left over from long ago mining days, serves as the backdrop for the show.  Two blocks down the street is a small park where we go to sit and watch.

Since we have all this great entertainment, this usually means that we have a rather large cook out here that day.  Actually, it's gotten to the point where people are just inviting themselves over and we are entertaining them whether we like it or not.  Every year, we struggle about what to do with the dogs.  Mr. Taleteller has a rather large family.  He's the oldest of nine and his youngest sister is still in middle school.  We also have a younger neice and two nephews. That's a lot of kids in and out of the house.  The girls love company and always enjoy the attention, but I always worry about them leaving the door open. 

Sometimes, I just bring the girls out and keep them outside with us.  This works until they get tired, but when they do, it becomes less fun.  We're usually able to work out a happy medium, though.  Lilac doesn't want a part of being outside in the heat and she'll snooze away in the house.  Bunny wants to be out where the action is, as long as she doesn't have to just stand in one place for a while.  Blueberry usually enjoys seeing everyone, too.

This year, we've also added Morgan to the mix.  She's a good girl, but not completely comfortable with strangers.  I know that everyone wants to see her and meet her, and yet I also know that she's going to need some space from them, too.  I've considered putting her in the turn out pen for a while so she can observe the festivities without being mobbed.  I'd like to find a better solution for her, though. 

Then, there's the fact that I have to keep biting my tongue as person after person asks me which Greyhound is which.  They certainly don't look alike!  I don't have to keep asking them which kid is which.  I don't really think I'm expecting that much.  I also admit that the enthusiasm over my husband's new dog is something that hasn't quite been equalled for the girls.  Everyone adores them, fusses over them, and comments on how well-behaved they are, but they don't seem to be able to tell them apart.  I have promised myself that by the time we have the party next year, the girls will all have patriotic collars with their names on them, like the other name collars that they sport.  I know it's a small thing and for the most part, I ignore it. 

The girls generally love that we have company over and are thrilled to see them.  They are well-behaved and mind their manners.  As the party winds down, we plan to get them all settled into the basement.  The fireworks can still be heard down there, but it's not nearly as bad and it's very insulated.  Lilac always goes down there on her own if we haven't taken them down there in the beginning anyway.  We turn on the television for them and provide their creature comforts.  This year, we'll definitely be setting things up down there, since we don't know how Morgan will react to things.  It will make things easier for the herd of people coming in and out to use the bathroom when the fireworks are over, too.

What are some of your favorite tips for entertaining with pets in your house?  Do you let your dogs mingle with company?  Do they dress up if they do attend?

Speaking of parties, be sure to join the blog hop!  It's a great way to find some new blogs that are a lot of fun.  We're glad that it's hosted every weekend!

Party Animals

Saturday evening, we were invited to go to Mr. Taleteller's youngest sister's birthday party.  Since my inlaws have dogs and both of my husband's sisters have dogs that they usually bring over, we decided to let Bunny come with us.  Lilac wanted no part of it and Blueberry was volunteered to stay home and keep her company, since the schnauzer that belongs to Mr. Taleteller's parents tends to get on her nerves.  We bundled up, Bunny put on her coat and we were headed over the river and through the woods to Grandmother's house. 

When we got there, Bunny made her entrance.  She's a bit like a rock star at family events.  Everyone adores her for different reasons.  Mr. Taleteller's family members all have labradors.  Mandy lives with his parents and was born the same year as Treat and Hawk, so she's achieved little old lady status.  Lily is the yellow lab who is just as sweet as she is beautiful.  Suzie is the youngest, a black lab who is the biggest lab I've ever seen.  She is one busy girl, but she's usually a good girl.  Perhaps it's being a greyhound that sets her apart, however there is also a schnauzer, Micki, who lives with Mr. Taleteller's parents as well.  Bunny also has exemplary visiting manners.  She is dainty and delicate while the labs are pushier and well, less than dainty.  She has a striking color and people often like her for that reason. 

Bunny seems to prefer the company of Lily while we are there, and I'm not sure if it's because blondes have more fun together or because they are the most alike in temperment and personality.  If you recall the story of Bunny stealing the stocking, Lily has a tale of theft this Christmas as well.  Her family baked gingerbread ornaments to hang on their tree this year and Lily ate twenty four of them.  So, they are kindred spirits.

So, while the people were chatting and eating, the dogs were socializing as well.  Five dogs in the house full of people is entertaining.  It looked like a conga line as the dogs all trouped through house patrolling for lost crumbs and making sure that if anybody needed a dog to pet that they were available. 

After the presents were opened, it was time for cake.  Bunny couldn't take it any longer.  She gave me her big doe eyes and took care of the frosting remnants on my plate for me.  I have a suspicion that the dogs may have had more fun than the people did.  I know that I certainly enjoyed their company!