Long week-end

Party in the gardens.

PS, thanks for all of the good wishes for Buddy. He seems to be feeling better tonight. Phew!

My Budman

He's a bit under the weather tonight. He'll be 14 in November and I am a little nervous.

White light coming your way Buddy.

Mommy's home

I read it on Facebook first. The original plan was to pick up Emma tomorrow night. What can I say, the kid was ready to have her dogs back.

Just in case they got in late, I never said a word to Emma.

Hmmm, do you think they were happy to see each other?

Emma gave her kisses from every angle possible.

Including the famous rub-my-belly and kiss me.

It's already quieter around here, if that is possible.

Are they home yet?

Rumor has it that Emma's mommy and daddy are coming home some time tonight. Yes, their honeymoon in Mexico is over.

Not that she minded her week at her grammies, it's just that well, she didn't have any tennis balls. She was stuck playing with a squishy, squeaky greyhound ball. Eeeeeew!

Northcoast Greyhounds Rocks

I think I have mentioned before that I volunteer for a very small adoption group, Oregon Greyhound Adoption.

The hardest part is the money. We have more than enough love for the greyhounds, but holy smokes, the vet care, the kibble, the boarding... adoption fees don't even begin to cover expenses any more.

Northcoast Greyhounds have been fundraisers for adoption groups for years. If you've never been to their site, it's fun, they have lots of beautiful items for sale and they do a world of good for greyhound groups everywhere.

Through July 4 they have a pendant on ebay, the proceeds will come back to our group. Take a look, pass this on to someone who might be interested, the hounds really appreciate it.

Blowing out 12 candles

Blender, I find it so hard to believe that 9 1/2 years ago you were so shy and so black.

Look at you now girlfriend! I believe we call this salt and pepper.

Still gorgeous after all these years. Happy 12th birthday Blender.

And for the honeymooners in Mexico... Emma is marking off the days on the calendar until her mommy and daddy get home. :o)))

A busy day for the greyhounds

 

It was a totally rockin' day around here as we begin the first official day of summer. The greyhounds spent the day practicing for their summer events.

Talley is doing a whole body twist, maintaining as much body as possible touching the grass.

Danny is demonstrating flattened dog camoflage trick. It was tough for Danny to even open his eyes.

Jillian was probably the most ambitious with her twist and kick.

And Jori was stretching out for maximum comfort.

While they are practicing for summer, we can spend the day at the Pet Blog Hop.

Please join us, it's simple.

The Pet Blog Hop hosted by Life with Dogs, Two Little Cavaliers and Confessions of the Plume. Many, many thanks to the hosts, the Pet Blog Hop rocks.

Please join us, the rules are simple:

1. Follow your three hosts
2. Check out some of the our fellow bloggers, leave them a comment and tell them you are visiting from the Pet Blog hop
   
3. Add your blog to the Linky
4. Copy and paste the html code into your html editor

The ladies

I wanted to take pictures, they wanted to see what was on the other side of the fence.

I wanted to take pictures, they wanted to eat grass.

Slinky and Jillian–2, Me–0

Cinderella X 3

When woobies fall out of the sky

Always expect the unexpected.

'Cause sometimes you just get lucky.

The weimie and the woobie

We picked up Emma from my daughter's house a day early. As Holly was tearfully getting ready to hand over the leash, she walked around the house like she was lost.

She went over to the toy box and looked at Joe and asked if she should send Emma's woobie with her.

Joe knew where Emma was coming and slightly discouraged Holly from sending anything more than absolutely necessary.

It became our responsibility to make sure Emma had a woobie.

She did the happy dance as soon as she got it. This one was a true treasure. It was a woobie and a tennis ball all-in-one.

Happy days were here again.

Of course woobie time couldn't last forever and Emma gave a most pitiful look begging for us not to take her woobie away.

Emma the model

 

This dog is drop dead gorgeous. She's 10, another member of the double-digit gang. Karen had a ball in her hands and this dog kept 100% of her attention on the ball. Karen and I were non-existant.

 

We live on a flipping acre that backs up to a wetlands. Two homes are visible from the backyard. The rest is covered with greenery. How could I get so lucky as to have her strike this pose with the neighbors house in the background? Grrrrrr.

Weimie week is gonna be fun.

Honorary greyhound for a week

 

This is Emma Weimar. She belongs to  my youngest daughter Holly and her husband Joe. They got married in December but as of Monday night, they'll be on their way to Mexico for a honeymoon.

Emma can hardly believe that they would choose a place to go that they couldn't take her, however.

Emma is an honorary greyhound for the week.

 

She accepted her honors with dignity and grace.

 

Once the honors were bestowed, the greyhounds put their foot down. There are rules to be followed.

Emma listened closely.

 

Barney, being the newbie in the gardens knew all of the rules and he had a lot to say.

 

Crystal, on the other hand took a more gentle approach whispering sweet nothings in Emma's ear.

Meet the Double-Digit Gang

This is insanity at it's finest.

Every year we gather all of the double-digit hounds together for their senior portrait. It is always a wee bit of a challenge and can often lead to a snarky remark or two between Karen and I. Normally when the leashes come out, that means we going for a ride in the car and the excitement begins. Going out to the backyard to stand still for a picture with other dogs is not fun and Karen usually ends up entwined in leashes.

So this year, I decided to combine a little Photoshop with the photos. 'This is the largest group of double-digits we've ever had. I set the tripod up and placed markers for each of the dogs. One by one, Karen led them out and taunted them with a treat. I made an image of each dog and then layered and masked the daylights out of them in Photoshop.

I now what I'd do differently, maybe in August when Talley turns 10.

Without further ado, here's the gang and their age, left to right.

Barney, 12, December 1998
Joey, 10, May 2001
Adam, 11, May 2000
Clancy, 10, November 2000
Roxy, 14, September 1996
Jori, 11, February 2000
Danny, 10, May 2001
Blender, 12, June 1999
Buddy, 13, November 1997
Murphy, 13, June 1998

Celebrate with Saturday Pet Blog Hop!

The Pet Blog Hop hosted by Life with Dogs, Two Little Cavaliers and Confessions of the Plume. Many, many thanks to the hosts, the Pet Blog Hop rocks.

Please join us, the rules are simple:

1. Follow your three hosts
2. Check out some of the our fellow bloggers, leave them a comment and tell them you are visiting from the Pet Blog hop
   
3. Add your blog to the Linky
4. Copy and paste the html code into your html editor

Just a quick note

 

Several years ago, 2004 to be exact, we fostered a beautiful brood mama named Barbie. She was the sweetest dog ever. It took us a long time to find a family for her, but when we did, it was the best family ever. A retired couple, Don and Jody, gave Barbie her forever home. Don and Jody were faithful followers of Itsa Greyt Day.

We would see them and hear from them occasionally. It was especially heartbreaking when we learned that Barbie had lost her battle with cancer.

They adopted two more greyhounds from us, completely in love with the breed. Don and Jody were dog people through and through.

Today we were saddened to learn that Jody lost her battle with cancer last month. Jody was elegant and kind; when I grow up, I want to be just like her. And yes, the world is missing a greyt dog lover.

I popped into my office for a brief moment today and sitting in my mail box was a sweet photo collage from Molly and her momma Debby (also faithful followers of Itsa Greyt Day). Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for thinking of us. Debby, you put a huge smile on my face.

And last, but not least, Flocko is sending Bunny a big, wet and sloppy kiss.

Happy Friday!

It's a greyhound thing

Or is it yoga? A classic play bow. Joey was being a total goof ball tonight.

There will be no bananas in your future tonight!

I'm pacing around the house looking for fodder tonight. Sheesh, you'd think with this crew, there would be a story around every giant dust bunny.

And then Minnie raised her paw, I needed a fresh and new glamor shot of her.

Except for the total lack of cooperation... You hooo, Minnie, the camera is over here. I followed her around the entire acre.

And all she was willing to give me was a nose pointed at the lens.

Umm Minnie, I know that you think you are so cute when you stomp your feet and smile for your half banana, but there will be no banana in your future tonight!

I am humbled

As I sat down to post about one of the dogs tonight, I discovered that in yesterday's post I had been left two Inspiration Awards. Thank you. How can you possibly go wrong shooting dogs.

What Dogs Do, a greyhound owner form the UK gave me one earlier today. Her two greyhounds visit nursing homes, something I so totally admire.

My second award arrived from My Life with Flyball Dogs, a fellow Oregonian.

Thank you from all of the paws here at Greyhound Gardens. We are honored.

So now the challenge begins, I have to select 10 blogs to pass this on to. A challenge at best because there are so many wonderful pet blogs. I am inspired daily by several blogs. The bond between pets and their humans is strong, and the camaraderie between fellow bloggers, well, it is just fun. I can't imagine living in a time when snail mail was the only way to keep in contact. Cyber space was made for me.


So without further ado, if you are here to pick up your award, the rules are simple:

1. Thank and link back to the person who awarded this to you.

2. Link posts by you and ten fellow bloggers that you find inspirational.

3. Forward the award to those ten fellow bloggers.

Hiking Hounds is a pair of greyhounds. Zephyr has been recovering from encephalitis. I admire her strength in handling everything. It isn't easy and she is doing an amazing job. 

Tales and Tails, what can I say. Besides the fact that my Flocko and her Bunny have an Internet romance going, Tales and Tails always delights me. Little old lady Lilac is a hoot, Morgan the GSD is forever entertaining with her guardian antics and the two ladies, Blueberry and Bunny... I think they are the perfect greyhounds.

Dogs Rock is about two whippets and a greyhound. Zoe the whippet was shy little pup and I have followed along as they worked through these issues. I know the work that this takes and am inspired by them.

BZ Training I am totally smitten by this pair of goldens, their daily adventures in training and their photographic journey.

The Thundering Herd is a pack of beautiful huskies. Their journeys are fabulous and they are a total inspiration to the breed. I love following their adventures.

Through the Barn Door is a foster momma. A tough job for anyone, but especially gratifying for those with a lot of love in their hearts. She just moved back to Indiana with her dad, I'm waiting to see who she fosters next.

Gardening with Wyatt is an airedale terrier, a fellow Oregonian and does just that, he gardens. If only he came to our place to make it as beautiful.

Hawk the Chespeake Bay Retriever takes these fabulous rod trips and posts his pictures along the way.

Sage Chronicles follows the life of another Oregonian, Sage a shelter dog.

Hound Chatter Last but not least I have to do a shout out to the greyhound adoption group I volunteer for. We're a small group with some pretty big hearts that love our greyhounds

Is this just a greyhound thing?

I love watching our dogs sleep. Maybe it is like watching babies sleep, but I don't think I just watched my daughters sleep.

More times than not, I will see the greys tuck their noses under their front paws. I have to wonder, do other breeds with longer noses do this too?

On the run

Catch me if you can. Or, get out of my way.

Nose Prints

 

I desperately needed fodder for a witty blog tonight. It is quite pleasant today, overcast but pleasant.

Instead, I only got nose prints.

It's time for Saturday Pet Blog Hop

The Pet Blog Hop hosted by Life with Dogs, Two Little Cavaliers and Confessions of the Plume. Many, many thanks to the hosts, the Pet Blog Hop rocks.

Please join us, the rules are simple:

1. Follow your three hosts
2. Check out some of the our fellow bloggers, leave them a comment and tell them you are visiting from the Pet Blog hop
   
3. Add your blog to the Linky
4. Copy and paste the html code into your html editor

A trip through memory lane

In 2005 I built our first web site for Greyhound Gardens. In 2009 I updated it. Technology has changed so much since then, I've taken the plunge and I'm updating again. The plan is to integrate the blog into a new and improved website with another new look.

Good grief, what I have I started. I have hundreds of pages to re-create. My mind has once again gone to the dogs.

I'm currently taking a trip down memory lane. I'm revisiting all of the greyhounds that have gone to the rainbow bridge since 2004. It's a happy sad. I don't think of them as often as I used to, but I have never forgotten them, forgotten the pleasure they brought us or forgotten the laughs they gave us.

This is Phoebe. She was 11, nearly 12 years old when she came to the gardens. This girl was a hoot. She dumped a quart of heavy whipping cream on the kitchen floor, de-feathered a down blanket and permanently dis-figured a first generation iPod.

She was going to be a puppy forever, until that damn cancer beat her down at 14.

Stay tuned, we'll be moving to new digs soon. (Sheesh, I hope so anyway.)

Flocko doggo

Insanity still rules, however, we are all still standing our ground.