Who We Are

Saturday, April 30, 2011

Another Movie Night!

Woo, everypup and everycat.  It's me, Dave.  We had movie night again last night.  This time, it was about the crew of a German U-boat that somehow ended up in Canada and how they tried to avoid capture.  It was in English this time, no subtitles, so I could just listen to the movie, I didn't have to do any reading.

IMG_1895 Davy
"What are they doing now, Mom?  Ohh... just a little further up..."

This doesn't blow my rugged, outdoorsy type image, does it?

Luv,
Dave

Friday, April 29, 2011

Photo Finish Friday

Woo, everypup and everycat. It's me - Dave. We thought we'd keep Photo Finish Friday short today and just show you a recent portrait Mom took of me.

DSCN0919 Dave

Don't I look like the rugged, outdoorsy type? Woo!

Luv,
Dave

Thursday, April 28, 2011

Walk, Walk, Walk!

Ha roo, pups and cool cats.  It's me, Zim!  Mom and Dad have taken me and Dave on a MILLION really cool walks lately, and I thought I'd finally share some of the pix with you.  I've got a bunch of shots Mom snapped with her iPhone that we were going to deep-six, but they I thought you might like seeing little glimpses into where we walk.  Let's get going!

Here I am coming back from a walk:

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That's the hill we go up before we round the bend for home. Yes, I usually do have a smile on my face when we walk. I LOVE checking everything out!

Here I am out on a "Dakota" route. We name all of our routes. There used to be a Sibe named Dakota at the furthest point on this loop, so we named it in his honor.

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I was at a little dry creek bed. I call it "Squirrel Hollow" because I usually see squirrels there.  I'm pretty sure I didn't see any that day.

Speaking of dry creek beds, here's Dave on the bridge that goes over Little Kitten Creek:

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There's usually a lot more water in there.  It was raining that day, so we had hopes that the creek would fill up.

Here's another one of Dave up on Westbank. (That's the name of the road. We aren't real creative with the name of that route -- it's just a Westbank Loop.)

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He was checking out yet another dry creek bed that goes behind some houses. We've never seen water in there, but one time Stormy, Ammy and great-brother Booter saw a fox run out of there. The girls told us about it, so we always have to look for one. Just. In. Case.

Here are both of us guys coming down our street:

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Basically, Mom usually can't get a pic of us together until we're good and tired -- which is usually on the way home.

Here I am out on a Kansas Ocean to Grand Mere Loop:

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Nice smile, don't you think? We were at the top of a hill. Here's one of Davy at the same point:

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He was smiling, too. Mom was, too. In her case, something about heading DOWNhill. I couldn't tell - she was out of breath, so I didn't ask.  Ha roo roo roo!

Oh. Here's me on our home street again:

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See my busy snooter? Our neighbor Jordan, a yellow Lab mix, was out walking his people!

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I'm not sure you can see him, but you can see his people up there. He always says "hi" when we go past his house. He has a great bark. When he goes past our house, we stare at him.

Here I am at Squirrel Hollow on another day:

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I don't think I saw any squirrels that day, either. Still... I HAVE to check!

Here are Dave and me from yesterday:

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We were heading up a cool path that goes from near the Kansas Ocean to the water tower. We call that route the ... err ... Kansas Ocean to the Water Tower Loop. I think we need to get more creative...

And here's one LAST pic for the day; it's me near the top of that path:

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What a great view up there!

Thanks for letting me share our walks with you!

Play bows,
Zim

Wednesday, April 27, 2011

Tuesday, April 26, 2011

The Work Week

Ha roo, pups and cool cats.  It's me, Zim.  Just thought I'd share a little glimpse into how my work week is going.

DSCN1011 Zim

Yep. Guard Duty. It's a tough job, but somebody's gotta do it.

How's your week going?

Play bows,
Zim

Monday, April 25, 2011

Movie Night

Woo, everypup and everycat.  It's me - Dave!  Did any of you do anything exciting over the weekend?  We went on a few adventures, helped out around the house, worked in the Studio... the regular stuff!  We also got to have movie night, which was tons of fun!

Dad queued up the movie and I started my "movie routine" -- wooing at Mom so she'll sit with me on the floor. After some initial resistance, she caved and we settled in to start watching.

IMG_1976 Dave

I couldn't make head or tails out of the movie - then Mom said that it was in Russian and there were subtitles across the bottom of the screen. Oh. That sure explained things - but I couldn't read them.

Mom let me give her glasses a test drive:

IMG_1977 Dave

... and that was much better!

IMG_1979 Dave
"When might we see some popcorn?  Ha woo!"

I can't wait 'til next movie night!  Only I hope there are no subtitles.  It's hard to read, get tummy rubs and play Angry Birds on Mom's iPad all at the same time!

Luv,
Dave

Sunday, April 24, 2011

Easter 2011

Woo, everybody!  It's me, Dave.  From all of us at Ao4 Headquarters, we wish you a most blessed Easter!

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Traditional Ukrainian Easter greeting and one of our pysanky (Ukrainian hand-painted eggs)

Mom made that card for the blog post.  Whew!  I guess that means we don't have to pose with anything.

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Me.  Dave with our basket of pysanky and some mini bunnies.

I knew I shouldn't have said anything!  Do I look a little nervous there?  I didn't like the way those little bunnies in there were looking at me!!!  It reminded me of a bad dream... !  Just when I started getting real worried...

DSCN1119 Zim
"Hey, you little bite-sized bunnies!  Stop looking at my brother like that!!!"

Isn't he the best kid brother a guy could ask for?!?

Of course, after that, Mom decided maybe Zim shouldn't pose with the bunnies ... and ... umm ...

DSCN1109 Zim
"Sigh.  Yeah, yeah, yeah.  Happy Easter."

Woo. I think I owe him big time for this one.

From me and Zim - and our Mom and Dad - we wish you many blessings of the day.

Luv,
Dave

Saturday, April 23, 2011

Davy's Travels?

Woo, everypup and everycat.  It's me - Dave.  You wouldn't believe what happened the other day!  I've just got to tell you about it!  There I was, working in the Studio...

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Me.  Hard at work.

...when all-of-a-sudden I couldn't move my feety-feet!

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"Hey!  What's going on!??!  I can't move my feety-feet!!!"

I couldn't believe it! Can you see what's going on?!? Take a closer look:

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It's like a Lilliputian-style attack! (Do you remember that book Gulliver's Travels? Like that!)  It was crazy!

This guy seemed to be the bunny commander:

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Here he is with his second-in-command:

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They held their position at my front feety-feet...

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...while two other members of their Lilliputian Squad held my back ones:

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It was WILD!  I was just like that Gulliver guy ... only I was still me - Davy - and they were BUNNIES!

Just when they were about to tell me what they wanted with me -- I woke up!

DSCN1100 Dave in the Studio
"WHOA!!!  What a nightmare!"

The bunnies were gone!  I don't know what happened - I guess it was a crazy nightmare!  What I DO know is that I'm going to be REALLY careful around that Easter Bunny this weekend! Woo.

Luv,
Dave

Friday, April 22, 2011

Photo Finish Friday

Ha roo, pups and cool cats!  It's me, Zim.  I think I've finally done it.  Yep, I'm sure of it, based on the reaction around here.  I really -- have -- done it!

Oh... you might be wondering what I'm going on about.  Since it's Photo Finish Friday, let me answer you with a photo.  Here you go:

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Seriously.  Tell me that's not the quintessential Harp Seal Look!  I've been working long and hard on this, and I'm finally there!  I know I need to keep practicing so my skills will stay sharp - fear not!  I'm a member of the Working Breed group; I was born for this kind of thing!

Play bows,
Zim

Thursday, April 21, 2011

New Toy?

Woo, everypup and everycat, it's me - Dave!  I got a package in the mail the other day!  Technically, it was addressed to Mom, but I was sure it was for me!

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"Does it squeak?"

Mom said it's not a toy - it's something called a "Jellyroll". Mmm... jellyroll!  Cake and yummy jelly all rolled up...

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"I'm not supposed to play with it OR eat it?!?"

THEN she said it's not THAT kind of jellyroll, it's pre-cut fabric called a jellyroll.  Oh.  I thought it seemed a little dry, come to think of it.

Well, I sure like the black and white color scheme!

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"Let's hit the Studio!"

I think it's time to get busy!

Luv,
Dave

Wednesday, April 20, 2011

Wordless Wednesday

DSCN1091 Zim and Dave

Play bows and luv,
Zim and Dave

Tuesday, April 19, 2011

"It's Up To YOU...

...new mulch ... newwwwwww mulllllllllllllllch!!!!!"

Ha roo, pups and cool cats!  It's me - Zim!  Mom and Dad weeded and got all that new mulch put in yesterday.  You have no idea how exhausting it was for me and Dave to watch them from inside the comfort of the air-conditioned house.  I actually had to switch rooms a time or two in order to keep an eye on them!  It was pretty tough -- but hey, we are Working Breed pups after all!

Let's see how Mom and Dad did!  Here's a "new" Snowball Viburnum, at the edge of the front garden:

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"Good luck, Mr. Viburnum!  Grow us some snowballs, OK?!?"

Dad dug out some dead stuff before - and this is part of one of the viburnums he dug up from that tier by the stairs! I hope it makes it!

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Further down the line are the new rhododendrons, the Red Bud trees -- and toward the front a couple bunches of peonies (they aren't in bloom yet) and in the middle some of mum's mums.  Ha roo roo roo.

How about a closer look at one of the PJM Rhododendrons?

IMG_1953 Zim

Yeah, OK.  I wasn't really looking at the rhododendrons.  Fluffy Black Cat lives on that side and I was checking to see if she was home.

Let's go see how that tier by the stairs on the other side of the house looks:

DSCN1044 "New" Maiden Grasses

Those Maiden Grasses just look like twigs and a couple sprigs of green now, but if they make it, they'll fill out to a couple feet wide and will grow 3-4 feet tall!  They'll also get cool plume-y things on them.  Mom is going to plant something along the stairs, like maybe a low-growing sedum or some kind of "stepable" plant that will help avoid soil and mulch washout.  Today is back in the 40s with rain, so she is going to wait a few days.  In the meantime, Dave and I will do our best to keep her entertained!

IMG_1853 Zim and Dave
"Let's go, Mom!  C'mon, Dave!"
"I've still got that 'New Mulch, New Mulch' song stuck in my head, Zim!  Woo!"

How are your Spring gardens coming along? I hope you're helping out as much as Dave and I are!

Play bows,
Zim

Monday, April 18, 2011

New Mulch!

Ha roo, pups and cool cats.  It's me, Zim.  Dave and I would like to start this post off with a musical interlude - sung to this tune.  We're dedicating this to our Mom and Dad.

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"Start spreading the mulch....

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...they're weeding today...

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...we want to BE a part of it...

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...new mulch, new mulch!!!!!"

That's as much as we've got.  Hey, this is the Little Apple, not the Big Apple, so it only figures our song is shorter.  Besides, if I get this right, Mom and Dad are going to take all of this:

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...and spread it in that front garden Dave showed you yesterday.

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"All of this, Zim?!?!"

That looks like an awful lot of work!


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"Err... how about me and Zim supervise?  From inside the house?"

Mom and Dad said that would be just fine. (Whew!) Apparently, some of the mulch is going down here, too:

DSCN1040 Dave and Zim

Remember Dave showed you that tier yesterday? Mom and Dad dug up a huge Maiden Grass yesterday, cut the root ball up, then transplanted some of it here and a couple others in different parts of the garden. Cool, huh? I hope it lives!

Anyway, we've got our work cut out for us today. Now that the mulch is here, we need to walk Mom and Dad, then they'll ..."Start spreading the mulch...." Ha roo roo roo! Mom's going to have that stuck in her head the WHOLE time!

Play bows,
Zim

Sunday, April 17, 2011

Serene Scenery Sunday

Woo, everypup and everycat - it's me, Dave!  For Serene Scenery Sunday, I thought we'd have a look around our yard/gardens.  Ready to get started?  Let's head down the steps to the back yard...

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Oh... I know what you're thinking, but Zimmie and I didn't do that. Dad did. I don't get it, but if we had dug up the garden like that, we'd be in a heap of trouble!  Mom seemed real happy about it. Apparently the Snowball Viburnum's days had come and gone, and Dad got rid of them. They saved part of one and Mom dug it in out front; I'll show it to you later this week!

The prettiest blooms out back right now are the "Skidmore" Lilacs. Have a look:

DSCN0995 Skidmore Lilacs

Don't those make you feel nice and serene? I wish you could smell them; they're incredible! If you'd like to see more blooms, please feel free to visit our garden set FlickR.

Let's go back up front. Remember the other day when Mom went out without me and Zim? In addition to buying Zyrtec, she bought some rhododendrons to put in the front garden! Here's a look:

IMG_1929 Zim and Dave

Can you see the magenta plants underneath the Red Bud Trees? Right - the ones that match. They got two of those (they're called PJM Rhododendron) and one that you can't really see -- that one will eventually be red (Nova Zembla Rhododendron).  Let's get closer.

IMG_1931 Dave and Zim
"Look, Zim!  Nice color, huh?"
"Yeah, Dave ... I wonder if Fluffy Black Cat is out?!?"

Something serene for all of us, I guess. Ha woo.

Mom and Dad are having a truck-bed full of mulch delivered tomorrow, so after they spread that in, we'll show you the rest of the bed!  But for now ... time to grab a beverage and get on with the day:

IMG_1922 Dave and Zim

Thanks again to Meeshka for helping get our routine back to normal around here!  That gives all of us a lot of serenity!

Luv,
Dave