Thankful Thursday - Run Improvements

Da Genj: Mee-Yow everyone! Your favourite blue boy here! #1 spent almost an entire morning doing essential repairs to the cat run wire netting and then finally let us out to explore our new play area! This is what it looks like:

 

As you can see, the jungle is no more although #1 says it will grow back with a vengeance next spring.  But we do have a number of new play areas and climbing possibilities that are pretty exciting! I was the first to explore:

Quickly followed by Da Beebs:

 

Then Mama Tama came out:

 

And she did a bit of climbing:

 There is still a lot for us to discover. It's gotten quite cold and we have had a bit of rain, so we will explore more thoroughly on the next sunny day. In the meantime, we are very thankful for our new play area!

Woofie Wednesday - A New Girlfriend!

Tommy: Woofs Everyone! Today, I would like you to meet my new girlfriend, Lola. As you know, I already have several girlfriends, such as my neighbour, Damia, and my Italian girlfriend, Sofia. It's nice to know lots of lovely girls, isn't it?

Anyway, Lola is on a different scale from the others. She is a gorgeous Leonberg!

 

Here is the amazing story of how Lola came to live with Ms. A. Some of our oldest friends may remember that when I was a young pup, I had a lovely friend called Pie . Pie left for the Bridge a number of years ago and Ms. A had been too sad to get another dog. A couple of weeks ago, she was in some woods and spotted this enormous dog who seemed to be all alone. She seemed lost. Ms. A managed to get close to her and saw that she had no collar. She and her friend managed to coax her into their car and took her to the closest vet to see if she was tattooed or chipped, but nothing, so she brought her home and called her Lola. A few days later, she took her to Dr. C, who is also my vet, and Dr. C managed to find a microchip that had travelled a little. It turned out the microchip was Dutch and it was eventually traced to the dog's breeder. Apparently, the dog had been sold to someone in France a year ago. That person was contacted and made it clear that they wanted nothing more to do with the dog that they had clearly abandoned in the forest. The breeder initially wanted to get the dog back but Ms. a managed to convince her that she was a fine, upstanding person and already loved Lola, so she got to stay. She is four years old and in great shape, and the biggest love bug

Today, Ms. A brought Lola over so we could meet. It was the first time that she was introducing Lola to another adult dog and we loved one another on sight! I will let you see for yourselves:

 

Isn't she absolutely gorgeous? I am so looking forward to some nice walks with her!

 

And I am so happy she has a wonderful Forever Home!

 

Tama-Chan Tuesday

Tama-Chan: #1 has been back a week now, and things are beginning to settle down. Of course, all the excitement of the Big V's departure across the Channel did rather occupy and preoccupy her. We are crossing our paws that he settles down nicely over there. At this end, we are expecting a guest! Ms. P who has house-sat for us a number of times over the years, is coming for a visit! We are looking forward to seeing her as it's been a couple of years since she was last here.

I have been enjoying hammock time:

And sofa time:

 

And am back to my usual role of #1's post-shower companion:

 

What I haven't been doing is going out in the run because the entrance has been blocked since Sunday morning! #1's excuse is that a couple of the gypsy kids from down the hill came looking for work and she set them to cleaning up and remodelling the run! She thought it would be fun to have some fresh input. She says it's coming along nicely but she needs to do some adjusting after them (they're only 12...) and she also needs to redo some of the wire netting. There will be a grand re-opening later in the week!

Manly Monday

Tommy: We had a nice autumn day yesterday and #1 took this great seasonal picture of me:

Da Genj: Sunpuddles are truly precious this time of year!

 

Da Beebs: I agree with my bro!

 

Vidock (remotely posting from England): I am safely in my new school! Here is a pic that we took on Saturday before I started my journey. I am with #1 and with my new boss!

 

And here I am, the morning after, standing in the English sunshine!

 

Catch up with you soon!

Snuggles on Sunday

Tama-Chan: Greetings, Dear Friends. As you can imagine, there has been a great deal of snuggling going o over here this past week. For my part, I have spent most evenings snuggled up to #1 on the sofa:

The Blue Boy occasionally muscles in on my snuggle time:

 

But Da Genj prefers his very own snuggles with #1!

 

Sei-Chan has been snuggling with Tommy:

But also snuggled with Mr. G when he stopped in to see us:

 

And my Beebs did the same:

 

But he has also been snugging with #1 in bed!

Tommy also enjoyed a snuggle with Mr. G when he came by:

 

Here is one of #1 getting ready to give Miss Violette a snuggle:

 

And Vidock, who left yesterday as planned, sends everyone a huge SMOOCH!

SEIturday

Sei-Chan: You know, Dear Friends, that I have a huge soft spot in my heart for Mr. G. That said, however, it is always important for people to know who's boss, right?

 

#1 is complaining about me at the moment. She says  I am not eating my special kibble properly, asI used to, and keep stealing the others' regular kibble. I say that's what you get for being away all the time. Right/?

 

And now, will you please excuse me? It's time for my nap. 

Before I forget, Happy Trails to the Big V on his trip to England today!

Vidock Vendredi - New Horizons!

Vidock: Studly Neighs, EveryFriend! You remember that I mentioned some time ago that there would be a big new adventure for me to embark on? Well, the time has come. Tomorrow, I am going to England! I hear that England has really excellent schools and #1 decided it would be great for me to round out my education across the channel.

I will be going for an initial period of 8-9 months to Harbridge Farm in Hampshire. Harbridge is the home of Sampson Percheron Horse, the absolute best Percheron breeders and trainers in England. You can read about Robert Sampson and the amazing work he does here and here. Robert and Barbara Sampson are very good friends of #1's and they agreed to take me for a while so I could learn to work on a farm. I will also be driven, and #1 is planning to use this opportunity to come over and learn to drive (me)! I may even get to make a few little Vidocks, if you get my drift... I will be working with lots of other horses, every day. I have been a little bored here so #1 says she hopes it will make me really happy. She plans to come over and visit me as often as she can, and there will be photos and videos of me she will be able to share.

So, EveryFriend, I neigh for your continued support as I embark on this big new adventure. I have to tell you that, the other day, Violette managed to break through her barriers so she could come over to the field next to mine and wish me good luck. Wasn't that nice of her?

Needless to say, any of our friends in the UK are most welcome to come and visit me! I will also hopefully be taking part in the British Percheron Horse Society's centenary celebrations next June 1 and 2, at the Weald and Downland Museum.

 

 

Tommy's Thankful Thursday

Tommy: Above all else, all of us are thankful that #1 is back safely from Japan. She says she has no plans to go anywhere anytime soon. We will cross our paws that this is in fact true.

In the meantime we had the most gorgeous weather yesterday and #1 went to run some errands, after which she took me to a nice place we both enjoy for a long walk and some ball playing.

I am ready, #1:

Lots to explore:

 

 

Happy Tommy!

 

 We would also like to wish all our American friends a HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

Welcome Home Wednesday

Tama-Chan: Yes! It's me again! #1 was home by 6:30pm last night and I helped her unpack:

Here is a small sampling of our gifts #1 says that there is more stuff but it is coming by post, so it will take a few more days to get to us.

We are just happy to have her home, and vice versa!

Tama-Chan's Tenterhooks Tuesday

Tama-Chan: Today. we wait for our #1 to return to us. Mr. G is going all the way to the airport to get her, so we know she will be in good hands. She should be here sometime this evening.

Photo by Mr. G.

Manly Monday!

Da Beebs: Today is Monday and that means that #1 will be back tomorrow evening! Hurrah!!!

"Joy" on Sunday!

#1 here, posting from Japan. Do you guys remember when I was last in Japan, in June, and I posted about a kitten and her Mama who had been rescued by friends of mine? The first post about them was here, and then I wrote about calling the kitten Joy here. Well, in the 5 months since that time, the kitten has grown, a lot, and I had the good fortune to visit her again yesterday!

Since Joy and her Mama were rescued by a horse trainer, there is a lot of harness lying around. It looks like little Joy particularly enjoys collars!

Playing hide and seek with her Mama! It's Mama-Cat who is looking out.

More collar games:

Enjoying some of Mr. N's milk. He is the one who saved the kitties!

Little Joy discovered my backpack and spent quite a bit of time discovering al of its Chan smells!

It was fun to see Joy again, almost grown up!