And the Dogs

The dogs are enjoying the fall except when it rains, and we can't go for a wal

Libby looks kind of put out with me.    She really was having a good time.

And Zippy got a new toy to play with.   My sister-in-law told me about these toys for dogs, and we finally found one.   So far he jumps up into it, and today he has used is as a place to get drinking water since a few puddles form where he is standing.

And I am learning about this new form of Blogger, so I am sorry about the poor organization.

Sheep and ........nothing else right now.

The sheep come running when they see me or hear me.    I know it is only because they expect food, but it is fun anyway.

Looking for cookies.

That is all for now since Blogspot won't let me download any more pictures.

Fall Update

Well, Jake has been installing our new corn stove/furnace. We sold the wood boiler and bought this new one that burns corn or wood pellets. In the picture you can see how it looks now with the grain bin set up alongside. The second picture is just getting it set up. The third is self explanatory and depressing for October.

The day it snowed like this left no evidence after it was over.

Three on a Couch

For once, a photo op, did not disappear when I finally got the camera out. I was cleaning in the dining room, and Zippy and Scooter were on the love seat together. That was a first, also. Zippy had let out a couple of real high barks at the vacuum that got Libby into the room. The next time I looked, the three of them were together on the "dog couch". They won't fit much longer if Zippy has anything to say about it. His worst trick is to pull the blanket and cushions onto the floor and to shred the foam rubber of the cushion. The corners are beginning to disappear. As you can see the dogs have worked on other parts of the couch, too, but they can still sleep on it. If Zippy does in the cushions, we will have to make some adjustments.


Those three are 3/7 of the Brockhaus Fur Farm although they contribute much more than 3/7. The other four contributors are just cats.

Fur Farm

This is the time of year for tractor shows. Jake can't drag me to them unless they have a flea/antique market. We went to Baraboo on Saturday. The man in the booth with the sign thought I was nuts. Not a reaction that surprised me. When I saw the sign, I just started laughing. I had to have it. It could have something to do with the fact that our two collies are just in the final stages of a massive "coat drop". It felt like a fur farm around here for several weeks. Things are getting better now, but they lost a massive amount of fur.





Zippy has chosen this spot on hot days. It must be cool along side of the water tank, i.e. rain barrel, and lying on the green plants.











Last night, Libby decided to lie down by Zippy when they were up on the bed. It was a "Kodak" moment. It doesn't happen very often.










Innocent is not a word that I would ever use to describe either one of them.

A study in brown and more

Don't I look good in brown?

A walk around the farm with my husband, two sons, daughter-in-law, and seven dogs.


Dave and Holly's dogs are not purebreds, but they sure are big!

Not a flattering shot of Holly, but it shows the path where I walk with the dogs.

Dave and five of the dogs.

Time to go up the hill back towards the barn.


Coming around the last corner, I finally got into the picture.

Zippy Update

Hey, Zippy here!

These are just some pictures that UN mom took after I got my bath. I just wanted Down South mom to see how I am growing into a real little handsome dude. They aren't prize photos, but you can see how I have grown into my ears, which are standing up now, thank you very much!

You can see all of me here but my head. I heard my cousins over at their house and just had to take a look. I have nice white feet, but they are hidden in the beautiful green grass that I play in. It is nice and cool where it grows behind the water tank. I like to relax there when we are outside playing.

In our House

Yes, there is a cute Cardi in the picture, but look IN the toy box. Sammy decided that sitting on top of the toy box was a safe place to chew on some rawhide. Whatever!


Cute Cardi was tired out from our walk this morning. In fact all three dogs are sleeping peacefully. Zippy deserves the rest more since he had to take so many more steps than the collies did.

They're Here!!!

Scooter, Libby, and Zippy met their young cousin, Sammy, this morning. There were no problems, and Zippy and Sammy did a little running in the yard. I am sure there will be MUCH more to follow. Problems and running.

They explored the pool together. Zippy went all four feet in, which I have never seen before. Glad to see that. Sammy is a tax child, born on April 15 which means he is 3 and 1/2 months old. The two puppies are about 6 weeks apart in age. Zippy looks like a monster now. They are the same height, but not the same length. Each one has his forte.

Needless to say, I am happily at home, with elephant ankles and shaky everything from the caffeine. Let's just make a movie and call it "To Hell and Back" because that is how I will remember it. If I never go to Fl again, it will be toooooo soon.

Mr. Schnuffels

Zippy here,

I just wanted you to see my newest friend up here in the north land. UN mom and Jake call him Mr. Schnuffels. They said that he is from some comic strip called "Pearls Before Swine". In that comic strip they have a terrorist cat. They, Un mom and Jake, said that Mr. Schnuffels acts like a terrorist. I don't think so. Take a look at these pictures. He really likes me to chew on his ears. That is fun.

The other dogs went into the house, but we stayed out to play. Mr. Schnuffels comes into our yard through a hole in the fence. He is a lot of fun, and sometimes he even chases me. I sure do love to run.

Un mom says not to worry because my cousins will be here in 10 days. I have no idea what she is talking about, but I trust her. She says one of them is only six weeks younger than I am. His name is Sammy. He should be fun to run with. I hope he likes me. I am trying to get my ears to stand up so I look like a real Cardigan when he comes. UN mom says he is coming from a place where it is very hot just like I did. He should like it up here in the North.

That's it from here, but I just wanted you to see my newest friend. Mom says it is only 7 days until she is going to get Sammy and Pearl and Todd.

Hey! What about me?

When I was ready to go to bed, I found this group on MY side of the bed. We were only missing three cats.


Could be something really neat happening here tonight. I have my fingers crossed.

12 days and counting.

Why I Live Here

I am the designated hay raker if I am able. Yesterday, I was available. While I was driving the tractor I realized that this was one of those special moments. I was so content doing that work. The view was awesome in any direction because we live on top of a ridge.

The orderliness of the hay raked in beautiful rows was pleasing to the eye.

The adjacent field was in full bloom and heavenly to smell, and the temperature was warm but not hot with a wonderful breeze.

And to top it off, I had my headset radio to dampen the noise of the tractor tuned to WPR. Those are just a few of the reasons why I love living here.

Now see what you have done!

Zippy here!



First of all here is a picture of my Libby. I just love that girl. She is so much fun to hang on to. Sometimes she gets a little upset with me, but mostly she just likes to play like I do.




















The rest of this is so sad. Look what happened to me. UN mom did this with her eyes closed after she had been drinking some "stuff". I look just awful. It is a good thing I have such a wonderful personality, or who would want me in their house.


I sure am glad that we aren't going anywhere today because I would have to hide in the tall plants outside like I did the other day just because I am so ashamed of how I look. I sure hope she takes this tape off of me tonight even though it will hurt.

Maybe UN mom was upset that she had to rake the hay today, and that is why she made such a mess of my beautiful ears.


I will let you know what happens next.

Who's right?

To everyone out there in Cardi-land from Zippy,

UN mom and I are having a bit of a disagreement here right now. She thinks I should have some more of that awful tape on my ear/ears again. I totally disagree with her........TOTALLY!!!!

What do you think? Do I still have to have my ear/ears taped, or is that left one up enough now? I have four new teeth on the bottom and two on the top, and UN mom said she wished I would hurry and get something besides the "little needles" that I have in my mouth now. I don't have any idea what she is talking about.

Oh, I forgot. I have gone to my favorite store twice this weekend. How is that for a holiday weekend? ...........My favorite store is TSC. They like me there because I keep all the dog food off of the floor so they don't have to worry about rodents. That is a great place!!!

Let me know what you think about the "ear thing". Here is what I look like now.

Livin' up to my name!

Zippy here! (a.k.a. Solstice's the Flying Farmer)

Now, just so you know, UN mom calls me Zippy, mostly, but today I was really living up to my name. First she took me out to feed the sheep. Now, we have done this before, but not for a while. I think she got kind of upset when I went under a wire and was feasting on something. I thought it was an eating contest. My face was real dirty. I think she said it was a "pie". She eats pie. Why shouldn't I?

Well..........Today we went to a different spot in the fields. Boy, did we fly in that little cart. I just put my nose up in the air so I could catch all the different smells that were out there. It was grand. Then we had to do some work.

UN mom filled the card and the wagon with green stuff for the sheep because she said there wasn't any in the barn. I just wandered around looking at everything. I sampled some dirt and stuff in the newly planted corn field. I am the only one allowed to walk in there because I am such a light weight. Then we got in the cart again and went back to the sheep pasture.


As you can see, I am still in my training crown. UN mom said I am giving her fits with my ear. I don't have a clue what that means. But I know that some of my teeth are already coming out, and I am getting new ones. I wonder if that makes a difference to my ear?


I guess I would do this again because it was good Cardi fun-----flying and farming.

For Peti Jr.

This post if for a young man in Hungary a way across the ocean. Peti, Zippy would love to play with you.


It is too hot here for the dogs to even stand up and play. Soooooooo, they lay down and play mouth games. Most of the noise comes from Scooter. Zippy is pretty quiet when he plays with his collies.







Although there are a lot of teeth showing, it is all in fun. Even with that ferocious looking set of teeth, they were only playing. Scooter seldom gets really upset with Zippy. Libby is more likely to react when she gets too much of the little razor teeth in Zippy's mouth.

For Kristi

Here is Zippy today with his collies. No action today. I knuckled under and got out some new rawhide and let them go at it. It is too hot for anything else. Even the FL dog wants to come in from outside. Little Texas goes and lays in the weeds when he gets too hot. Sometimes, I can't even find him. Guess I had better get the weed eater out and knock down those weeds.



I just go outside and do some work and then come in and watch some more of the NCIS marathon. What a day for that.

To P.J.

Hi, Dad,

It's me, Zippy. I hope SW Jinnie lets you have lots of fun on this Fathers' Day. I hope I grow up to look just like you. I am sorry about my ear this morning, but I am having a terrible time with it. I think that maybe my ears are a mite tooooo big. I promise I will keep working on it.

I am having a good time this morning with my collies. We are running and chasing all over the house. Right now I am hiding under the chair with a hedgehog in my mouth. Then sometimes I burst out from under whatever and run like the devil. Of course, they can't catch me because I am sooooo fast. UN mom took me outside for my formal portrait. I sat on the rock just like she told me to.

TTYL, love,

Zippy

Differences

Just some lamb pictures, the horny ones in particular. There is such a difference in horn growth

These two were born one week apart.


These two were born four days apart


These two are again four days apart.


This is the first born and largest and friendliest lamb. It doesn't show anything good about him except his horn growth.


I wonder if Lucy's twins with the white caps may not have huge horns. There is nothing really showing now unless you look closely at "one foot". "Two foot" just seems to have little buttons now. I will catch them soon and give them "the once over".