IT'S TOMMY'S BIRTHDAY!

Tom: Yes, today is THE DAY! I am now TWO years old! I was bon to Minnie and Joe on August 21, 2007, in a small village in Normandy, one of a litter of seven. When #1 came to visit us to make her choice, my breeders said to her that I was the sweetest, gentlest and kindest puppy in the litter! So, instead of picking a little girl as she had intended to do, she picked ME!

Here is birthday portrait for you:

And you can see that from these pictures taken this morning that my form is outstanding!

And of course, a FLYING EARS shot!

#1 says she has a lot of gifts for me, but we haven't opened them yet (it's her birthday too, you know, so she has to open her gifts as well!) so, in the meantime, I have been playing with one she brought me back from Canada:

I have been cuddling with my sisters this morning, and our friend, Ms. L is staying with us for a few days, so I am getting even more spoiled than usual. And guess what? The kittens have come over to celebrate with us too! We are having a party tomorrow!

PS: I also wanted to share with you a design from our friend Marlene, over at 9 and Chani's blog. It is based on me! Don't you think it looks just great?

Thankful Thursday

Tama-Chan: We are AGAIN late in posting, for which many apologies. #1 was working again this morning, then we had a visitor, and then #1 had to drive some way to collect our good friend, Ms. L, who is staying with us for a few days. She has come to help us celebrate a momentous event tomorrow, Tommy's second birthday! By the way, it is also #1's birthday tomorrow, but she says that that is a much lesser event...

Anyway, you now understand why we have been having such a busy day (and we haven't explained everything yet!) but we do want to say a big THANK YOU to our friends, Troo, Molly, Shadow and Jake for sending us the most fabulous Paw-it-Forward package!

Sei-Chan was the first to investigate

but I quickly joined her on the scene:

Tommy got some fabulous gifts too!

Just look at him drooling!

Thank you, dear friends, for your generosity. We will post something soon on how we will be pawing it forward, so please bear with us!

Working Wednesday

Tom: Yes, #1 was working all day again at the Percheron Horse Society and I got to go in with her in the afternoon, once again. This time, she remembered to take photos of me so we have photographic evidence of "Office Tommy" for you!

Early afternoon:

Later in the afternoon:

And when it got really hot!

We were worried to read today that our friend Suey, in Sydney, has been unwell and visited the vet. We hope it's just a case of cysticis but are waiting to hear from her mom about blood test results. Please purr for her! We hope she is all better very soon.

Toesday and More With Tama-Chan

Tama-Chan: Tuesday is a fun day because there are so many possibilities for posting, lots of fun "T" words to choose from. We tend to be fans of Toesday and #1 is always taking photos of all of us with that in mind.

My first offering for today is a bit of a combo job, though. You see, I am known as "The Princess" around here (and my full name is "Tama Hime" which means Princess Tama!) and every time Uncle U comes to visit, he likes to spend time making sure I look just so! As all of you girls know, one must often suffer to look one's best...

Positioning me just right...

and here come the scissors!

Pretty girls do NOT have hair hanging out of their ears!

Of course, at the end of this rather uncomfortable moment comes one of Uncle U's special cuddle sessions!

He knows all the very best spots to scratch. It is just divine!

You got a bit of a toe display from me in the photos above, but this week, the toe champs are Tommy and Sei-Chan who are still working on their coordinated routines. I think they are doing pretty well!

And by the way, #1 is home with us all day today! It is so wonderful to hang out together!

PS: CONGRATULATIONS, HARLEY!!!!!!!

Manly Monday

Tom: We are very late in posting today. Recently, #1 has been doing a lot of volunteer work for the Percheron Horse Society and so has been out a lot. The good news is that I have been able to accompany her most of the time! Yesterday, we went to a great horse fair which featured not just Percherons but all 9 breeds of French draft horse! It was a very hot day but, fortunately, we were in the shade most of the time as we were helping at the Society stand. But all of this is a prelude to telling about the huge excitement yesterday: I met a girl! There was a beautiful English Springer Spaniel girl strutting about and I was quite taken with her! To tell the truth, I don't even know her name, but isn't she just lovely?

This afternoon, I helped #1 with her work at the office, and we even went to the post office together! Sadly, I wasn't allowed inside. This was the first time she tied me outside like this, and I was a very good boy indeed!

I am very much enjoying this new direction my life is taking!

Snuggles on Sunday!

Tama-Chan: I am happy to report that it was been an extremely snuggly week over here. In fact, #1 and I had a hard time making our photo selection because there were so many great ones!

As you know I am very much of an outdoor girl and have been spending much of my time out in the run, but I made a point of snuggling with Tommy this week, because it feels so good and he is such a great snugglebuddy!

Needless to say, Sei-Chan spent her usual hours and hours snuggling with Tommy...

Just look at her! Doesn't she seem VERY pleased with herself?!

We girls also spent some time together although #1 says that it's hard to tell from the photos whether we're snuggling or wrestling!

Happy snuggling, everyone!

Sei-Chan's Sweltering Saturday

Sei-Chan: It's hot here today, over 30C which makes it 90F or higher. We don't often get that kind of temperature. Tommy and #1 ventured out to a Percheron Horse Fair as #1 was helping out at a stand for the French Percheron Horse Society, and rumour has it that Tommy actually got some ice cream. I wonder if she would take me next time?

Anyway, I too have been spending a lot of time outdoors, enjoying the cat run and learning how to climb. #1 says I am a really good climber and clever in that I come back down the way I went up, rung by rung,whereas Tama-Chan scoots up and then hurls herself back down.

I also like to lie in wait to pounce on my sister...

And just to sit and watch all that is going on:

The other day, #1 were visiting various blogs and I was very taken with Mango's blog! There was an orange ball being thrown repeatedly and I kept trying to catch it!

Of course, when I'm indoors, one of my favourite activities is hanging out with my Tommy:

Don't forget to join us on Sunday for some big-time snuggling. We were all in fine form this past week!