Merry Christmas!

Dogs are natural carnivores

Simon LOVES the big bones I find hiking and hunting and whatnot and yesterday I was fortunate enough to stumble across a big one for the big fella:

Not to be outdone, Herman ate the butt off Lesley's sheep glasses holder:

Little stinker.

Happy Halloween!

The Art of Ori

Getting ready for Halloween

I didn't do it!

Go vote for Hermann!

Hermann made it into the 2013 Corgi Butts Calendar finalists.  Go vote for number 16!

Pedigree

So neither Les nor I have ever had a dog with an "official" pedigree, and we definitely didn't get Hermann with that in mind, but when we got Hermann's AKC application from the breeder we kinda got all starry-eyed and decided, "Why not?"

Yup. We sent in his application for his "papers."

Of course, no AKC certified dog is complete without the cool Westminster-worthy name so we just *had* to come up with something cool.

Allow me to introduce to you...

BUCHLYVIE'S HERMANN JUNIOR PEMBROKE

Now *that's* a name worthy of a show dog! Buchlyvie is the village where Lesley and I married in Scotland, Hermann with two Ns to separate him from Herman Senior at the vet, Junior and Pembroke... well, Junior and Pembroke. :)

Too bad for the ladies out there that the pedigree is gonna be moot in a couple months when he goes to the vet for his "procedure." (and why do we call it "fixing?" Do that to me and the last thing that's gonna pop into my mind when I come to is "Oh lovely, I have been fixed. I felt so broken, but now...")

Anyway, there is a "papered" female Corgi two doors down whose owners may want to breed, but they better hurry -- Hermann hasn't been exactly discriminating in his amorous advances (Miss Kitty I believe needs kitty therapy, but I digress). Would be kinda neat to continue his line.

Of course... all froo-froo aside, he's just Hermann to us. ;)

Food?

"What happened to my food?"

Caption this!

16 weeks old and Hermann (we added an extra n in his "official" name) is definitely becoming a rambunctious pup!

Caption this!:

Herman visits the Trails Center

Presents for Herman!

A bit ago, Lesley entered a contest on Sadie the Rescue Corgi's blog for two bags of Cesar's Cookie Crunchies. Lo and behold, we won! So late this past week we were very excited to see a box from the post office wallpapered in stamps:

Herman was pretty excited, too!

Is this for me? 

Yes. This is for me. This is mine. 

Herman was very pleased with the crunch crinkly bags, but what he focused on right away was the fun toy Laurie and Sadie gifted him.

What do you mean the tag isn't part of the toy? Chewing those off is half the fun!

Anyway, Herman, Feo and Simon all went totally bonkers over the treats. The filet mignon flavor sent them all absolutely bonkers! Highly recommended treats! Thanks Laurie and Sadie!

Who can possibly resist... (warning -- extreme cuteness)

Seriously. Who could possibly resist this face?

Simon and Herman Junior

Simon and Herman Junior have taken a real shine to one another (even if Herman Junior keeps chewing on his jowls, lips, ears...).

Herman Junior!

Meet the latest addition to our home... Herman Junior! (Or as Les just slipped... Mini Herman!)

...and the obligatory fuzzy bunny butt. :)

Odin

The Fabio of the cat world.

Herman

Herman would have been eleven in July. Lesley adopted him when he was six from a shelter in Newcastle, WY. His first year was rough. Lots of sicknesses, trips to the vet, trips to the vet hospital in Colorado... he had thyroid problems, high blood pressure, heart problems.

Les nursed him back to health. She slept on the floor with him for the first week to make sure he was still breathing. With time she cleared up his walking dermatitis, got his heart condition, BP, and thyroid under control. She got him to a healthy weight.

 Then Herman started taking care of Lesley. She lost her sister and he was there. He told her it was going to be okay. When I proposed to her, Herman was there to give her his blessing. When she blew out her knee he was there licking it before we even knew what had happened. He protected her and guarded her and loved her unconditionally.

With time he came to protect, guard, and love me. Corgis are fickle and I felt honored in a way to know that he chose me as one of his pack.

On April 19th we played in the yard and barked at the neighbor's dog. I did a little dance that evening for Les (being a goof). Herman looked at me like I was loony. He slept in his bed and let me give him kisses and pets that night.

On April 20th Les let him lick her yogurt container for breakfast -- a routine they had both come to cherish. Funny how the little things like that become so big.

That afternoon we came home from work. Herman was lying peacefully in the entry-way rug. He didn't bark to let the world know we were home. We all barked to let the world know he was gone.

God bless you, Herman. We miss you dearly.

Thank you Tracy Cary for creating this tribute image.

Goodbye Herman

We miss you . . .

Everybody Loves Girl Scout Cookies

Even Corgi nurses need a break...

...especially when Spring is Springing!

Koigu Ruffle Scarf

I hurt my knee so I am getting a lot of knitting done. Miss Kitty doesn't appreciate it as much.

Long Walk

Oz and the...

Les is reminded of the fairy tale "The Princess and the Pea." Of course, Oz would be a prince, not a princess.

Me? Just reminds me I need a nap. ;)



Leave it to Oz to find the most comfy (my pillow) and highest spot in the house.

Mine! All mine!

Feo loves the bully woolie felted dog toy I made her. She's not sharing.

Musical Cat Beds

Hey, I wanted the green bed!

How come he gets the green bed!

I thought the pink bed was mine!

Valentine's Day

Grooming Feo

Attempt at your own risk!

Ori

Love me some squirrel butt

Miss Kitty lookin' pretty

Having been inspired by Luna the Fashion Kitty Miss Kitty insisted on being included in National Dress Up Your Cat Day. Sadly, we don't have an armoire full of cat outfits (sad for her, but I'm actually quite relieved at that), but we did manage to find a couple clip-in bows for her hair at the pet store and a scarf that Les recently picked up to fill-in as a kitty shawl.

I know this post is signed by me, but please know I just held the camera. Please. For the love of all that is manly and testosterone-driven... please.

-Al-

Magic Butt!

So after the hilarity that ensued after Les dropped a Little Smokie that landed at Herman's rear making him think he had a magic butt that produced scrumptious itty bitty sausages (seriously -- he kept checking throughout the night to make sure he hadn't miraculously produced yet another of course, me actually putting a second there later in the evening did nothing to dispel him of the theory) and sharing the story with some friends we felt the least we could do was share Herman's Magic Butt with all. I tried to get him rediscovering his new talent, but sadly it's just not as side-splitting when scripted.

But, what Corgi Butt isn't funny just to watch? ;)

I give you... Magic Butt

A more handsome cat there never was.

Odin really is a heck of a good looking cat. Even dozing he look regal.