It's been too long since I've posted and I must admit that I've forgotten how ... so I'll make this short just in case it doesn't work.  
Hello out there to anyone still listening and posting.
I will attach a few recent photos so you will know what is still happening with Mancos Mule MJ.  
We are still all here ... a little older, a little slower, but still hanging in there with one more canine addition to the family. 

Backpack trip in the Cottswolds / 2012

Polly (28) Retired and holding her own.  Rhettly (25) Retired and couldn't be happier about it!

Polly on limited turn-out / Early August 2013

Toma and #1 Hiking Partner  Maddie May

Tippy, a recent rescue and now #2 Hiking companion!

MJ in the Cottswolds 2012

Local hike here in Colorado and enjoying the view.

Happy Birthday Maddie May

It's been one year since we brought this scruffy mutt into our home and our lives. 

It's now HER home, and she allows us to share it with HER!

Maddie May ...

somewhere around 4 years old today!

Dog & Horse Time

I had time for my own dog today.

We took a short walk 

and then after the barn chores

we tossed the purple Frisbee

before heading for the shade.

The flies have been really bad here this summer.

Maybe it's because of the humidity and heat.

Poor old Rhettly horse has really been bothered

but even with all the bumbs and itching

he has managed to remain cheerful.

Here's the new rescued pup.

It's taken two days of transporting

veterinarian visits

and finding a foster home

but just look at this cute face.

I think he's going to make somebody a great little dog!

Rescued, Fostered & Home Again

It's been a month since my last post and even then the posts were few and far between.  
I have been volunteering much of my time helping one of our local humane societies. I believe that saving just one dog will not change the world, but it will change the world for that dog. I have taken on the task of answering calls from people who can no longer keep their dog, have found a dog, or have lost their dog.  Believe me when I say that all my dog calls, and all the stories I hear, do not have happy endings.  Those stories, I will not talk about.  Instead I would like you to meet the faces of the dogs that have recently been rescued, found foster homes, and finally found a new permanent home.  All very happy ending stories, and today, with all the turmoil in our lives and in this world, we can certainly use a story,or eight, with a happy ending.

Sally

Rex

Cedar

PeeWee

Duke

Sampson

Bear

and last, 

but not least,

Penny

 

Flag Day, June 14th

Maddie sporting her colors!

The Big Fuzzy Wet Blur

Two big surprises on our hike today.  1.) The cows have arrived for their summer grazing, and 2.) we (Maddie) ran into a shocked Dachshund.  I've never seen a dog with short little legs run so fast, and all Maddie wanted to do was say HI! Unfortunately, in my trying to get on with our hike I didn't not stop to take photos of either new encounter.

This has been the hike that we have been taking since the weather has turned for the better here in SW Colorado.  It is a great hot-weather hike because of the irrigation ditch that meanders through the forest.  It's a good source for a dog that likes water to cool her shaggy body in, and then that same dog takes huge pleasure in shaking all over the person who is with her ... me.  Very refreshing indeed!

Here is a small sampling of our many water crossings this morning.

Maddie is in constant motion and she loves to run and move very fast! Here she's getting ready to dive into the irrigation ditch.  The routine also calls for her to then run past me at lightening speed just to make sure that I know how cold the water is this time of year.  (snow melt cold)

Bridges are for sissies!

I tried to take a photo of her crossing this little foot bridge, but she jumped it.  See her tail feathers in the bottom right hand corner and no wet paw prints on the bridge?

Here's the Big Fuzzy Wet Blur blazing the trail (or blazing up the trail - I'm not really sure).

A brief moment of almost stillness, and believe me when I say that, it's practically killing her.  Too much to see and sniff to just be sitting here to get her Big Fuzzy Wet photo taken.

This is Maddie checking to make sure I'm coming.  It's not exactly like I'm a slow walker, but no way was I designed to keep up with the Big Fuzzy Wet Blur!

They say it with their EYES.

NO WORDS NECESSARY!