Busy Day...

It was a busy day for us. We worked on getting the pool open and the water ready so that Jewel & I can swim. You might ask about the other pack members...well, Miss Moose will swim if you make her, but she is tall enough in the shallow end that she ends up walking around and Marcus does not like the water at all. He acts like you tried to kill him if Mom takes him in the pool. He won't talk to anyone the rest of the day. The pool had a frog living in it. He has been sent packing over the fence to the canal. There is a lot of algae in the bottom of the pool - more than last year Dad says. Since Dad put the shock in the pool this morning the water has cleared a lot, but we still have a few days before we can swim - plus, Dad has to get the solar panels on the shop up and going to filter the water through. The solar panels heat the water and makes the water "lovely" according to Mom.

Dad had a furlough day on Friday - so all of us poodles were out and about the yard all day. Jewel was getting groomed. Moose and I had a pretty good time. Saturday found part of our back fence broken by kids climbing on it to get to the back of our big shop to spray paint it. Mom called the Sheriff. Mom and Dad were not happy. This is the second time the shop has been painted, but the first time they have broken something to do it. Someone mentioned that we poodles were not doing a very good job of guarding. It was in the wee hours of the morning and Mom is glad that we weren't out there because she says that you just never know what people will do to an animal.

Dad and I worked on buck retrieves, but I kept getting distracted. There was some creature in the yard the night before and my nose kept getting tickled by a funky smell. Dad wasn't buying it, but Mom was because she saw the vole that was skittering across the yard. Whew! Needed some back up.

Today is Father's Day...not sure if I helped much with the yard work or made more work, but boy did I have a good time!

So maybe this next weekend I will have some pictures of Jewel and I swimming. I hope it is warm enough because it sure looks fun.

I am Hugh

Guest Blog

Since Jewel has come to live with us I thought it was only fair that she do a guest spot on my blog. (Guest spot, hear that Jujubee? Only every once in awhile!)

Hi! After a little bit of a rough start I am finally in my forever home with my "big" brother Hugh. Since he was first born and I was born 8th out of 10 AND he is 22 pounds bigger than I am so I think that I can officially call him my BIG brother - plus it makes him feel superior.

I like birds a lot just like Hugh does. I track them in the trees and in the sky. There was actually a seagull in our pool today! Dad said he though the gull was eating our frogs. Dad said that I may like birds more than Hughie! How crazy is that. Dad said that I would be good for pigeons, doves and upland game. Dad says that September, during Uncle Tom's birthday weekend in the desert, is when we will hunt grouse. I don't know what that is, but Dad said it, so it must be something I would like.

Mom thinks that I would be good at agility and is thinking hard, she said, about enrolling me in some classes. She said that I can jump like nobodies business. She also said that I am very smart and will be her fearless one. I sure am curious about most things that is for sure.

I don't know yet when I am starting bird training, but Mom has started me on obedience. She says that I am quick. The only thing I don't seem to want to stop doing is jumping up on her. She doesn't like that and I don't know why. I am little, it's not like I will knock her over or something. Mom says that if Hannah lived here I would be a perfect 4H partner for her because I am just the right size for her. Sounds like that would be fun. I sure do like kids and people.

Well, Hugh is elbowing me to get off of the computer. I am sure that Mom will arrange for me to appear again. I sure am glad to be here. Thanks First Mommy Vicki - you are the best.

Most sincerely, Autumn Shades Justa Royal Gem

Okay, I am back people. So that is Jewel, the tiny but mighty one. Yeah, she'll be back, but for now...well, we have poodle stuff to do!

I am Hugh