Memorial Day

To celebrate a holiday, we were lucky enough to have a playdate with Leelah Bean's brudda, Dandelion Denali. Here are some pictures with my injected commentary. Thanks to Sharon for having us over! We had SUCH a good time!

The pictures are in reverse of the day and so this one is DD basically crashing out over his toy after over an hour of intense playing. He regained consciousness a nanosecond later and resumed rambunctious playing insanity.


Leelah Bean looking very sassy. DD looking very flexible.


How awesome is this picture? Acrobatics!


And it doesn't stop there. Dandi is full of sparks.


Aw, almost a loveable pic :)





Love this shot, the look they are exchanging is so cute. And LB's ear is up (temporarily).


Rah!


So handsome!


You can't have what I have. Hahahahaha.


Nice butt bite. Every play date has at least one of these.








Puppy zoomies.


Puppy zoomies bursting out of bush.


"hmm, wonder if I can just tip over this dish and Dd with it?..."


"whoah, this thing MOVES!"


Maybe if they dig to the bottom they will find treasure.


LB and DD off for a run together. Sista and brudda!

NEBCR Reunion 2010

Reunion 2010

http://www.flickr.com/photos/halcyonic/sets/72157623991493303

There are 83 pics, too many to put here. Pics of puppies and all dogs and people! Best viewed as a slide show.

Had SUCH a good time!

Vet trip!

Today we went to the vet. Well, we've been to the vet twice just to visit, but today was the real thing with an exam and DAP booster and everything! It all went very well. The doctor did not hear any heart murmur (yeah) and Leelah Bean but an adorable little muffin as usual.

Big bro Rowan also went to get blood drawn so he can participate in a study on CCD at Tufts.

The Exorcist in Leelah

I suppose it isn't so much the exorcist in Leelah Bean, as the exorcism that perhaps she may need! Today's playdate was a relentless pursuit of poor Hawthorne peppered with some appropriate play. We also had a visit from a lovely pitbull who's presence scared the bejezeez out of LB. A great day, beautiful weather, and fun times with pups!

Lovely Leslie and the Handome Hawthorne are finally here!


Is that a tick on your leg or are you just happy to see me?


We are all happy to see Mr. Hawthorne! Look how big and beautiful he is walking with his mama!


I'VE BEEN WAITING ALL WEEK FOR SOMEONE TO PLAY WITH!!!


...and now I'm coming after you!


and when I get you...!


(still thinking about what I'm going to do when I get you)


This! I'm going to do this to you!


You can show your teeth to me, but I'm still gonna bite yer face, buster!


Ha ha, now I'm in the pool and Lb is too big of a wuss to get in.


Unless someone just puts her in! OK, well, maybe I'll just chew on yer nose for a wee second.


LB: planning on how to get the stick all for myself.


Notice how gracefully I maneuver the cavalier off of the stick. A tilt of the head. A look. That's all it takes for Sassy Pants.


Yes, it looks as if the border collies have won the stick! but who are we kidding? Leelah Bean then took it from Hawthorne and ran across the yard triumphantly with her prize.


Awww. So good at being cute.


These smushies are really good at being cute! The border collies are trying to kiss up to Truman's mom in hopes she can toss in a good word so he'll be nice to them (too bad they didn't know he's always nice to everyone).


OMG! What is THAT? A dog bigger than Hawthorne! Wowsah! It's TRUMAN! A sweet pit mix that moves so fast the border collies think he's a superhero. Leelah Bean says, a scary sort of superhero.


Oh, I am so brave creeping up from behind...


No! Don't kill me! I promise I'll be good!


What will happen next? Oh! Maybe sometimes dogs OTHER than BC's do interesting and cool things...




Thanks to Leslie, Farmer and Hawthorne for making the drive again this week! We're looking forward to seeing everyone at the reunion!!

Three Dog Day

Today was an unabashedly free day. Totally off and without responsibility. We celebrated with the sunshine by venturing out onto the decidedly dangerous ROAD WALK!

um, seriously, there should be some dramatic tunes to score this 'cinematic' moment. Hello? Where is the band? damn artists. always late.

Anyway, we gallavanted out out in hopes of seeing some cows. Brown cows. The clean and picturesque New England dairy cows. This meant spending quite a bit of time on a road. with three border collies. What's the worst that could happen?

MONSTER TODDLER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

He comes flying towards us shrieking DOGGEEZ DOGGEEZ DOGGEEZ!!!!! and his nanny is having a very hard time carrying on her cell phone conversation while trying to attend to this young human monster. So much sympathy I have for her *snort*. HANG UP YOUR PHONE, LADY....

oh well, that conversation couldn't be finished because monster toddler, after doing the trademark dance of a toddler such as he (the signature flailing arms, piercing cries, jagged movement and clumsy approaches)... clearly Simon is waiting for you, little man, in his America's Got Talent show.

And to further prove this point, this beasty child backs up with sticks in hand (yes, I'm looking at the nanny and saying things like "don't throw those sticks, be careful...) What the eff is what I am thinking. Seriously? Seriously?! That toddler aimed and delivered a stick that smacked me directly in the eye. Still on the phone she asks I am ok. I say,

Esta reunión ha terminado. Muchas gracias.

The baby Bean and me are on our way.

Oh there were sewer grates and cars and trucks and all sorts of things to keep LB moderately stressed or delighted. Overall it was a great walk. Beyond the monster toddler was a field of wildflowers. The grass and flowers were high, the wind was high (I'm pretty the nanny was high as well) and it created the most sumptuous experience. As we walked the wind caressed the grass and flowers into such a fluid display that it was like walking through a watercolor painting. So very beautiful. There is nothing I love more than watching the dogs run free and enjoy themselves. Leelah Bean tried SO HARD to keep up and was such a great sport. This is a wonderful time in her life! No cows though, so I guess my expectation of music was reasonably unreasonable.

Tomorrow is a play date! Teaser: a pitbull may be joining us.....

Just News

Leelah Bean turned 3 months old on Wednesday! It's been a crazy few days so I didn't have time to update. But all is good in Leelah land. She weighs 13.2 pounds! I think she's enormous... but then I see her littermates and am reminded what a baby bean she is.

We were very excited to see Dandelion at puppy class on Wednesday night. He is big and beautiful! Leelah Bean was very confident and focused in class. She made a good friend in a little pistol of a Sheltie and also played with Dandelion. I'm being a little protective about who she plays with so we kept it at that for a bit. At times, she can be quite the freshy with other dogs. She has two modes - gushy and submissive or the ballsy, in-your-face mode. So we're working on finding the middle ground of being confident AND polite.

Back at home, she is awesome. Wonderful with handling, playful, sweet and still at that pliable young age of being a tiny little dependent cuddlebug. I am trying to work in as many good behaviors as possible since I know that in a month or two, she will be a little spitfire.

Currently, we are petsitting for a couple of little dogs. She has been hanging out in her ex-pen and playing a lot outside. She's still adjusting to the ex-pen and has recently acquired the habit of moaning (yes, moaning!) when I leave the room. It's quite the pathetic display!

All is good in Leelah land and I'm having a lot of fun seeing the changes she makes every day as she grows up.

Grandpa Ro?

Leelah Bean is obsessed with getting to Rowan's mouth. She begs and pleads and pounces and rolls over. Here are some pics (tough to get pics because I don't want her annoying Rowan *too* much)!

The Evil Red Strap and more

Today Leelah Bean was tortured with a red harness. It was attached to her little marshmallow self and she proceeded to run and somersault like she was in Cirque du Soleil! It was a miracle when she figured out she could actually walk, drink water, and play. Phew! She's still alive folks and maybe the evail red strap isn't so evil after all.

On other fronts, we all send her congratulations to her brother, Moss, who has been adopted by a wonderful NEBCR volunteer, Emily! We are excited to follow his blog and watch as he grows up. He is a most darling little guy.

Tomorrow is Leelah Bean's 12 week birfday and we'll do a big update full of news about her training, interactions with other beasties in the world, and more. But for today, we have some pictures to share of the harness and more.

Today we had a most fabulous day! It was a special day with a visit from Leelah Bean's big brother, Hawthorne. And when we say big, we mean it! Hawthorne is twice the size of LB. And oh so handsome! He loves people and it was awesome to give him some puppy love! As you can imagine, they had a fantastic time playing. We also went down to a local pet store and bought some treats, met a toddler and a few other people and generally had a great morning! Thank you so much to Leslie, Hawthorne's mom, for bringing him down to visit!

Here are the pictures and video...





so nice to see you again so I can chew on your face!


































































































The picture above cracks me up. Nice teeth, Hawthorne.