Holiday Collars

I don't like advertising for folks, but I have holiday collars for the girls.

A Tail a Dog Can Wag is a company started by a woman from Sun Valley, by way of Colorado.  And her collars are fantastic.

Each of the girls have different designs.

Made in the US!

Murphy's Day.

Willa

Boy does this girl love Christmas.

But she also seemed to turn a corner this season.  She still is trying to become "top dog apprentice," but she also seems to realize that being in this pack is pretty darn good.

And with the cold weather, she has become quite the snuggler....

Murphy's Day.

And Annie's Five Years

On January 5th, Annie Oakley and I celebrated her 5 years with me.

Like Sage, she came as a gift during the holidays.  Murphy had died.  And on Christmas Day, my friend Mary called, checking in to see how I was doing without Murphy.  The she told me a neighbor had a litter of labs.

The next day came pictures of all the females.

I was still grieving.

But after some reflection I called the breeder to see if any females were available, and only one was.  I called Mary, who tore off, left a check, grabbed Annie and after much finagling to get Annie to an airport, she arrived in Seattle on a stormy, wet, and gloomy night.

She walked into my life during a tough time, as my parents were both ill and failing, so much of her early months were in the back of my Pilot, shuttling back and forth between home and their house.  She felt my stress.

And she became this sensitive, funny, gregarious, loving girl.

Annie Oakley.

Murphy's Day.

Now We Are Ten!

During the break, Sage turned 10.

On Christmas Day I took some photos of my sweet Baby Sage.  She willingly let me stick a camera in her face.

It's hard for me to accept the fact that it's been 10 years.  On New Years Day 2004 my good friend Mary emailed me, telling me she'd had a litter.  She was was Murphy's breeder.  And she doesn't breed very often, in fact, she has had only two litters, Murphy's and Sage's.

She had two females.  She was going to keep one.  And asked if I wanted the other.

I think I thought about it for about 2 seconds...

Two months later I was on a flight back to Washington, DC to collect Sage.

The first night was in a hotel room in Easton, Maryland.  The hotel was filled with high school kids on some sort of athletic tournament.  And the next morning when they saw Sage, they all melted.

As did all the Midshipmen and Mishipwomen on leave from Annapolis was we walked through town, waiting until we needed to get to Dulles.

I've never had as great service as that flight, Sage pulling in flight attendants like a magnet...

And it's been that way for 10 years.  She has captured everyone's attention.

Sweet Baby Sage.

We're Back!

Happy New Year!

Happy Lab Year!

The girls are still recovering from their holidays, tons of toys, lots of treats...and ton of play time.

Maybe Mom is also still recovering.

Murphy's Day.

Twelve Days of Christmas -- by Sage

We're going to take some time off (back in 2014).  So Sage wrote a little Christmas song...it sounds vaguely familiar, but I told her I would publish it (by the way, it's Sage's birthday on the 28th!  She'll be 10!).


On the first day of Christmas
my three labs gave to me
a soggy tennis ball on my bed.

On the second day of Christmas
my three labs gave to me
2 broken toys
and a soggy tennis ball on my bed.

On the third day of Christmas
my three labs gave to me
3 throw-ups in the night
2 broken toys
and a soggy tennis ball on my bed

On the fourth day of Christmas
my three labs gave to me
4 AM wake-up kisses
3 throw-ups in the night
2 broken toys
and a soggy tennis ball on my bed

On the fifth day of Christmas
my three labs gave to me
5 Golden retriever friends
4 AM wake-up kisses
3 throw-ups in the night
2 broken toys
and a soggy tennis ball on my bed

On the sixth day of Christmas
my three labs gave to me
6 cats they chased
5 Golden retriever friends
4 AM wake-up kisses
3 throw-ups in the night
2 broken toys
and a soggy tennis ball on my bed

On the seventh day of Christmas
my three labs gave to me
7 sticks to swim after
6 cats they chased
5 Golden retriever friends
4 AM wake-up kisses
3 throw-ups in the night
2 broken toys
and a soggy tennis ball on my bed

On the eighth day of Christmas
my three labs gave to me
8 barks at the mailman
7 sticks to swim after
6 cats they chased
5 Golden retriever friends
4 AM wake-up kisses
3 throw-ups in the night
2 broken toys
and a soggy tennis ball on my bed

On the ninth day of Christmas
my three labs gave to me
9 requests for belly rubs
8 barks at the mailman
7 sticks to swim after
6 cats they chased
5 Golden retriever friends
4 AM wake-up kisses
3 throw-ups in the night
2 broken toys
and a soggy tennis ball on my bed

On the tenth day of Christmas
my three labs gave to me
10 mad dog chases in the living room
9 requests for belly rubs
8 barks at the mailman
7 sticks to swim after
6 cats they chased
5 Golden retriever friends
4 AM wake-up kisses
3 throw-ups in the night
2 broken toys
and a soggy tennis ball on my bed

On the eleventh day of Christmas
my three labs gave to me
11 begs for scraps from the table
10 mad dog chases in the living room
9 requests for belly rubs
8 barks at the mailman
7 sticks to swim after
6 cats they chased
5 Golden retriever friends
4 AM wake-up kisses
3 throw-ups in the night
2 broken toys
and a soggy tennis ball on my bed

On the twelfth day of Christmas
my three labs gave to me
12 wonderful days of love
11 begs for scraps from the table
10 mad dog chases in the living room
9 requests for belly rubs
8 barks at the mailman
7 sticks to swim after
6 cats they chased
5 Golden retriever friends
4 AM wake-up kisses
3 throw-ups in the night
2 broken toys
and a soggy tennis ball on my bed.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!  We'll see you in 2014!

The Nose Knows

Sage is all nose.  She is driven by her nose.  Fortunately, she isn't a hound, so she is not getting lost following her nose, but I've watched her amble pretty far while on a scent.

I don't remember Murphy being like this as she aged.  But I have made a note to myself...keep an eye on the Nose.

Murphy's Day.