Seasonal Greetings

"MULETIDE GREETINGS"

 And they say 

that you can't teach a NEW DOG OLD TRICKS ....

Maybe they are right?

 O.1                                     O.2

O.3                                          O.4

O.5                                    O.6

 O.7                                   OH WELL

 May Your Holiday

Be Merry & Bright

from all of us here at

Mancos-Mule-MJ

Pick the Correct Personality

Okay, let's see if any of you can guess this dog's personality just by looking at a few photos?  It's not a contest, it's just for the fun of it.  

We think, that after living with this dog for a month now, that she might be a Lab-Terrier mix of some kind or a "Somekinda" Terrier?  What???  So if any of you have Terriers of any kind I'm in need of all the help and/or advise we can get!

Here are a few recent photos ... of the Maddie May our new/older "Somekinda" Terrier.

So hey all you Terrier experts .... any comments, suggestions, or words of encouragement in changing our training techniques from working with a Herding dog to working with a Terrier-mix would be greatly appreciated!

Turkey Trot - 2010

This is one very lucky turkey.  It was only fitting that a real turkey should strut his stuff and start  off the 2010 Turkey Trot that is held here annually to benefit our local "For Pets' Sake Humane Society".  

Under a clear sky and very cold, sub zero temperatures we started the trot.  Everybody, both two-legged and four legged, quickly warmed up the day. What a great way to really feel thankful.   
Here are just a few of the very active participants.

We are Thankful.

Happy Thanksgiving to all of you out there in blogdom!

Ready, Set, Go ... New Post

I've been thinking about a new post for a while now, but wasn't quite sure where to begin.   So, let me start with ...

This has been a very nice break for me. Enough so, that I think I will do less posting and spend more time following all your blogs.  I have really enjoyed reading your daily/weekly posts.  Having  said that, I do have something to share now.

 Cape Mendocino, Fort Bragg (my hometown), California 10/24/10

Everyone paces themselves after the loss of an animal.  I expect that the pace is different for each situation and for every individual.  For me, in the beginning, it was hard to take a deep breath.  It was hard to sleep.  It was especially hard to do all the familiar things that I always did with my good friend Maggie.  Within a very short time I realized that it was more than just missing Maggie.  I knew that I needed to have another dog in my day to day life.  Selfish, maybe, but about three weeks ago I started looking for a new canine-in-need, to call our family dog and to help fill the big void in our lives.

Meet ... "Maddie May"  

Maddie May ... Day #5

We Do know that she was in need of a good home.  We Do know that she was rescued after being dumped along the side of the road.  We Do know that her foster family named her Maddy.  We Do know that we didn't have the heart to change her name because she was just starting to respond to being called Maddy.  We Do know that we tweaked the name a little, and that we now call her Maddie May.  AND yes, it's confusing, but every time we goof and call her Maggie, we Do know that it's a very loving slip-of-the-tongue.

We Don't have a clue what she is, or where she came from, or why she knows so very little about being a family dog, but we Do know that we will try to help her be the best  darn dog that she can be!  And we welcome this dog-in-need into our home-in-need of a dog.

Break Time

 

        I'm going to take a little blog break. Although I have been keeping up with some of my favorite blogs,  I haven't felt very inspired to post anything lately.  I guess you could say that I have blog-block.  Hopefully, when I come back, I'll have something cheerful to write about.  Until then, happy and interesting blogging to you all.

Maggie May - Last Words

Let me begin by saying,

"Go give your dog a big Hug for me!"

When someone who has been your best friend and constant companion is no longer here, it's very hard to continue your daily rituals without them. I had not realized how many little unimportant things had become automatic, and unnoticed in my day to day routines with Maggie. I guess when you are retired, like I am, and spend most of your waking hours working at home, the way I do, you simply don't realize how often you are having a conversation with the dog!  And so this past week, I found it very comforting to have those little conversations with her wonderful spirit. 

Most of you who read my blog have your own animals, so I don't need to tell you what  this week has been like for Toma and I.  I've tried many times during the last few days to think of some final words to say about our Maggie.  Unfortunately her  life started out badly, and I'm sorry to say, ended sadly.  What I now hope to remember is the ten great years in between, that was her life!  

So here's to Maggie, the good listener, the hard worker, our protector and old friend. We will miss you, but there's no way that we'll ever forget you.

 Maggie - 1998 - September 27, 2010

What Goes Up ....

.... Must Come Down. 

As I was making pancakes this morning

look what landed in our freshly cut pasture.

The mule and the horse were not too pleased with the invasion

but I'd have to say that they handled it with "flying colors"!

 

Maggie May was just as surprised as the rest of us

but she loves company

and became the self-appointed welcoming committee.

The Canadian balloon pilot graciously gave us

 a complimentary bottle of champagne

for providing such a soft green landing pad.

Totally unnecessary, but very thoughtful!

Gosh, you just never know 

who will be dropping in!

Then we finished the morning off with 

my long-awaited pancakes!

 

I guess you'd have to say that we all

had a very exciting and colorful morning.