Flower Child

Jelly @ The Chicken Dance Ranch

The Dogwalkers

This past weekend, we went camping with several members of the truck camper club I belong to. Many of our members are more of the "grandparent" age or empty nesters. Dogs easily outnumber kids at most campouts. This time we had three youngsters in attendance and although they were a small group, they provided me and Karl with great happiness.

On Saturday, the two older girls wanted to walk a pair of golden retrievers that belonged to another couple. "Sure," they were told. The only problem was the younger brother. Three children, two dogs. "A" was the odd man out. He walked dejectedly back towards his camper with a big frowny face.

Hmmmm, we've got two dogs and they love to go on walks. So we volunteered Jelly for a walk. Karl went to get the young man and I retrieved Jelly's leash from the camper. The smile on A's face was gigantic when he found out he would have a dog to walk, too.

One Happy Camper!

 

The Dogwalkers

Those kids just made our weekend all that much better.

Weekend Reflections - Jelly

When we were at Nehalem Beach State Park in Oregon on New Year's Day, we were able to spend some time on the beach with the dogs. I noticed the reflection of Jelly in the wet sand and quickly snapped her picture before she bolted away to chase after Buddy.

Happiness is a warm puppy.  ~Charles M. Schulz 

Jelly @ Nehalem Bay State Park ~ Manzanita, Oregon

James at Newtown Area Photo hosts the Weekend Reflections meme starting each and every Friday. Click on the icon above to see what others are sharing.

Dad & The Dogs

 First we play in the snow...

 ...then we get warm.

City Slickers at the Chicken Dance Ranch - Lesson #3

Not only were we learning lots of lessons in dealing with sub-freezing temps, our dogs were trying to adapt as well.

Lesson #3 – Chihuahua dogs are not made for cold weather. Period.

We already knew our little Buddy, a Chihuahua mix pound puppy, was not a fan of cold weather. We had previous snow experience with him so we stocked up on sweaters, coats and other assorted doggie-wear to outfit him with some cold weather protection. He would be prepared.

Not even close. Two layers were insufficient for him to endure the below-freezing temperatures long enough to take care of his business. The coats and sweaters still exposed his thinly-furred belly and hind legs to the frosty blasts of air. He could only manage a quick yellowing of a snow drift before he’d stop dead in his tracks with a look on his face to “come pick me up!” He was too cold to move any farther.

We were getting worried that we’d have to find some place out of the wind, likely in town, where he could walk for a short period before being able to do his duty. We were ecstatic when after two days we had a break in the howling wind long enough for him to get ‘er done. And he quickly learned to run and sit in front of the woodstove immediately upon entering the house to warm his little doggie bones.

 Puh-leeze let me back in!

Do they make snowsuits with remote control flaps for dogs? That is what we really needed.

Jelly, even though she is a Chihuahua / beagle mix, is made of sterner stuff and was able to handle the colder weather much better than her adopted brother.

Jelly

Love / Hate Relationship

Today's show is brought to you by Jelly, the Dog, and Baby Girl, the Cat. Friends or Foes?

 

 Jelly: "Hey Cat! Where do you think you're going?"

 

Baby Girl: "If I ignore the dog, maybe she'll go away."

 

 Jelly: "Mom! She's touching me!!"

Baby Girl: "What is that dog's problem? I just want to be friends."

Camera Critters #74 - Water Baby

A few weekends ago when I had that little beach to myself with the dogs on Banks Lake, I was very surprised by how much Jelly loved the water. To the point where she just laid at the edge of the surf and soaked up the sun while the tiny wavelets lapped around her.

Sunbathing

Little Buddy even went swimming and I was shocked. Too bad I didn't have the camera with me to get a picture of that!

Misty Dawn hosts Camera Critters each week for us. For more enjoyable pictures, click on the badge below and then follow the links. It is so much fun!

Camera Critters #71 - Chipmunks 36, Jelly 0

Captured by my husband a few weekends ago...

Hey, I smell a chipmunk.

What's all this dust? What are you doing, Jelly?
I'm going in!

I'll get you yet, you tasty little morsel!

Umm, all I got was dirty. Mom's gonna be mad.

To see more fun Camera Critters, click on the badge below. Misty Dawn hosts this wonderful meme every week!

And the Caption Is...

I was goofing around with the camera this afternoon while Jelly and Buddy were playing. I couldn't decide on the caption for the photo, so I'll let you fill in the blanks.