Things that go bump in the night ...NO BULL!!!

Last night all was quiet and very dark, when suddenly every dog within hearing distance sounds the alarm. Including Stumpy. Now Stumpy is not much of a barker, so I figure something must be up. I look out the window and see three shady characters out by the road, just beyond the visibility provided by the crime light.


Calling 911 out here in dirtville doesn't do a lot of good. The closest station is 50 miles away. I want to go out there and yell at them, tell them to get the @#$%^&* outta here! I'm about to pick up the phone. I know inside, with the doors locked, is the safest place. They start walking up the driveway.

Into the circle of light.

There were three of the biggest bulls, I've ever seen. I snapped a quick picture and went back inside. I didn't want them joining me on the deck.

Stumpy wanted to go all cattle-dog on them!



NO BULL!!!

A bunch of stuff (pt. 1)

I'm doing lots of cleaning around here, in preparation, for our life on the road. Included, is the cleaning of my laptop. I'm always running across things that I want to share and I save them. Here's a few.

Patti Page remake: "How Much Is that Doggie In The Window," is now "How Much Is That Doggie in the Shelter."

In an interview, Ms Page states, " "When I recorded that song more than 50 years ago, 'Doggie in the Window' seemed like a sweet and harmless message, and everyone thought of the corner pet store as a place to see adorable puppies. The puppies in pet stores are still adorable, but now most of them come from puppy mills. So I've changed my tune. I want this song with new lyrics, 'Doggie in the Shelter,' to become an anthem for homeless pets, and to help people recognize the great work done by animal shelters."

For the dogs who have everything

Chris Morran at, The Consumerist, writes,
"...The folks at Sniff Candles are sellingThe Consumeristg the candles in five scents, including "Fart and Away," "Day in the Hamptons" and "Splendor in the Grass," for $32 each. For those looking to buy in bulk, the entire quintet is available for $150..."

Been there...


courtesy of the FailBlog



"It's not what it looks like. Or perhaps it is. My leg (as briefly pictured in the upper-left-hand corner) is gnarled up with road rash. I was sitting in a media chair with my pants down to ease the pain on my thigh. My dog, Bacca, decided the pants were amply warm, convenient, and inviting, so she crawled in. What? That's not how you roll at your house? Don't judge me."

This picture was seen in:
"

The Trashman Cometh

Our trash is picked up on Tuesdays. Stumpy lets me know, with her mad telepathic skillz, about an hour before he arrives.


She moves closer to the door in an effort to escape the mayhem. Her piercing and laser-like gaze warns me we may die, if we don't get indoors NOW!


The knowledge that we may not live to see another day, weighs heavily.


One last effort to get the door open before the arrival of the murderous trash truck. Telepathy has worked, in the past, to get the door open.


Not quite safe, but it will have to do.


It's Wednesday. We've lived through another attack.

You've Got Mail and Stimulating Stumpy (#5)

Stumpy recently received a calendar from our friend
Stella over at Carny Dog


Thanks Stella! Your assistant takes some GREAT pictures! We love the calendar! Is that sweet June baby you or a relative?

I decided to turn the envelope into a "Stimulating Stumpy" opportunity and stuffed it with her favorite chicken jerky.


You may remember that on January 26 Stumpy was honored to be inducted into the "Would Have Made A Great Carny Dog" on the Carny Dog FaceBook Fan Site. Susan, Stella's personal assistant has posted some great pictures of Elite Road Dogs. You should check it out!

I found Susan and Stella a couple years ago,I think. My insatiable appetite for discovering/traveling America led me to a series of her photos documenting all things Carny. I've since discovered her interests are not limited to dogs and the midway. Susan documents threads of American life through her photography and writings. Pitcherlady, is a good place to start, if you're interested. I'd be hard pressed to attempt to define Susan's work. She's conscious. She's aware. She's paying attention and she cares!

Thanks, again, Susan and Stella!

Sunday's Snooze (#19)

may result in a trip to the chiropractor


*The sun did come out and melted the snow, Thank DOG. Stumpy took advantage by napping in the sun.

WTH???

Over the last 24 hours the weather in dirtville has been unpredictable. We've been blown to smithereens by high winds. It's rained cats and dogs.
*

Last night we had hail, for hours. The hail stones ranged in size from pea-sized stones to golf balls. It made for a dangerous last walk, and Stumpy was not thrilled (and she didn't do her business, either.)

The thunder roared and the lightning lit up the sky for hours.
**
Stumpy has still not recovered from the thunder storm we barely lived through in Kansas, this past summer.

This morning Stumpy had to do her doga, in the snow.




I just ordered one of these
***

WTH??!!??


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* Lifted from Bing Image Hosting
** Lifted from Bing Image Hosting
*** Lifted from the FailBlog

How to spot a meth lab

It's pretty obvious

Boot Camp: It could be worse

Boot camp involves a lot of hot dogs


And reminding Stumpy her focus should be on me.

More fun from Tuesday or ...

... The REAL reason we were in Nevada

After we left the dog park we went over to our friend and blogger Paula's house. Paula has a friend who is selling their RV and it sounded very promising. So, from there we went to see what could turn out to be Stumpy's new house on wheels.

We loved the RV, but will get a couple of inspections, one for the chassis and one for the "house" before the final decision is made. You can read more about it here, if you wish.

While we were there, Stumpy thought she would take a dip in the pool. Sorry! No pictures because I went into an instant panic. Not expecting her to go swimming, I hadn't shown her where the stairs were and her newly developed sense of independence kept her from listening to me (see previous posts with regard to boot camp) No, I didn't have to go swimming. She finally decided, after swimming in circles, that maybe the best plan WAS to listen. There's a lesson there, Miss Bratty!

Paula's friend has a regular little farm complete with chickens, a goat, a pig, and three horses; two of which are minis. Stumpy turned into ranch dog supreme and proceeded to attempt to herd the horses. When the full-size horse decided she wanted Stumpy dead, we called her away from the horses.

Next, Stumpy had a little visit with the goat. The goat was in no mood to play.

I was cheering for the goat, just so you know.

To Stumpy's credit, she did at least look at me when I called her.


Paula, by the way, runs the Huppie Syndicate, a horse rescue dedicated to giving abused and neglected horses love, training and a chance for a wonderful life. The horses below are available for adoption to a wonderful home with references and the ability to care for these gorgeous animals.

Click on their names to find out more about them.

Wildflower Grace


Little Bear


Dancing In Daisies


The Huppie Syndicate also offered their help with Alf, when I was looking for his happily forever after home.

Boot camp began yesterday, Khyra. Your astute observation, in yesterday's comments, forced my hand. Stumpy says, "Thanks alot!"

Yet another reprieve

I don't know who Stumpy knows, but who ever it is must owe her, BIG TIME! There was no boot camp today, either. Instead, she went with me to Nevada where we had several things to take care of.

First things first. Of course, the dog park was at the top of the list.
We met Lexi


Daisy


Dolly


Rumi


and Missy

No-one felt much like playing, but they all enjoyed hanging out.

Stumpy had another visit with her ol' friend, Biggie the dog.



and wanted to take one of his bones with us when we left.

I told her if it was OK with Biggie and she could carry it to the truck,we would take it home.


There's more! Check back tomorrow!

Stumpy cleverly avoids boot camp,

for now,

by playing the gimp card.

Naturally, she won't let me look at it. She's horrible about her feet and has to be tranquilized just to do her nails. Funny thing, though, normally she's a real foot licker if she has a thorn or anything in or on her feet. There is no licking or cleaning of the feet going on now and she can be obsessive about that.

PLUS, she doesn't squeal or show any adverse reaction at all when I do touch it, except to be a total squirming P.I.T.A. AND she's perfectly willing to give me her paw, if there is a treat involved.


She went so far, in fact, as to not even leave the deck, all day. Not even to do her business.

Suddenly, at about 5 pm, when it was really too late to do anything, she was instantly cured. Ready and raring to go.

Very clever, indeed.

I am not fooled, little dog.

Sunday with Snickers

Stumpy was given a day pass, yesterday, to visit her friend Snickers.


We had hoped Snickers would provide some good, positive influence to aid in Stumpy's rehabilitation.


Snickers and Stumpy, obviously, had another plan.

Crime and punishment

While we were away, Stumpy succumbed to peer pressure and fell in with a bunch of thugs.

The line-up


The evidence


Stumpy has been fingered as the ring leader, and is now on lock-down. None of the other dogs are talking, though. And as noted in the video, the most damning piece of evidence has been lost.


Stumpy's under house arrest, wearing a collar and leash, until boot camp begins. Her treats are also being withheld until further notice.


She ain't happy

Pawtee Mash-up

While we were in Quartzsite, I couldn't watch or upload any videos due to constraints on my data/air time.

The video below is a mash up of our 3 weeks,ummm, un-camping. (You can't really call a house on wheels camping, can you?)



I was really amazed by all these dogs' ability to get along; most especially by Stumpy who is known to be a little bitchy and fakes being an alpha type dog in order to convince other dogs not to mess with her.

Watching all these dogs (there were at least 12, at one point) interact, tumble and play, sneak, steal and pillage (next post) made for a great time! Being with a bunch of dog lovers who could only laugh at their antics made that time even more memorable.

We miss all of you!

For those of you suffering from the winter blues and buried in snow up to your eyeballs:
"Summer is almost here - we can see Deer moving around the back yard!"

**lifted from a friends facebook

Tragedy in dirtville (don't get your tails in a knot)

Stumpy and Snickers got in sooooooooo much trouble!!!


Snickers really paid the ultimate price



Boot camp has been put on hold while Stumpy undergoes therapy after witnessing such a horrific tragedy.


She's been traumatized