dogblog

Labradors' Walk 2 : Walk Harder

2006-06-21T21:17:00.000+10:00

OK, in any order Blogger wants because that's what Blogger gets.

#3 Peri (left) and Harki(right) Giving a very good imitation of the Roman god Janus. Harki is pointing the right way.

#2 Into the crispy icy bush and off they go togethe along the path. She is very happy and has a very waggy tail!!!!

#1 While Peri sits and waits, just because I make her, Harki is allowed to take off over the bridge.

There...and not quite back!!!!! Part 1

2006-06-17T12:29:00.000+10:00

Inspired by Susan and Finlay the dog's 'going for a walk' posts: here and here, I am posting The Labradors' walk in pictures. We went at 8-40am as I was having a lovely sleep in, and it was icy cold : -1*C at least and everything has an icy white covering!!! Here they are when they first hop out of the car and MUST smell every new smell!!!

Then there is the obligatory romp with excitement. I must say that this makes Harki, on the left, look like a monster, but it is a trick of the camera!! Peri is a rowdy rebel romper and Harkiis playing. I assure you!!!!

When we get near the road into the dam, leads are on, as there could be cars. You can see the ice and in the very distance the white sign we are aiming for!!!

Run rabbit, run rabbit, run, run, run!!!

2006-04-26T16:49:00.000+10:00

The Labradors had a big energetic run at the dam. They are so fast that they blur, like The Flash!! Harki is in the lead and Peri is following her. Peri is much faster than Harki normally, so Harki must have had a head start.
They are exhausted today. Harki went to the Vet to be vaccinated and was worn out with all the excitement of that, a walk, and morning tea with the GardyGardeners. Peri stayed at home inside, and bayed at the Sun till the neighbours became worried. She popped her head out the window to see them , but it didn't help. Now they are both asleep on the couch......

Swimfans

2006-03-05T10:39:00.000+11:00

Peri swimming toward the shore

Harki has a stick and she's in deep water!!!

Look at them go!! They love the water!!!

Peri on the left and Harki on the right

wagging their tails as they swim...

It has been so hot, that The Labradors enjoyed their swim more than anything else this week. Harki has become a real swimmer. She dog paddled away, sometimes after Peri, but this week she found a ball and she swam after that a lot. She was menaced by a lone thong ( flip flop??) and stalked it!! Peri swam far and wide, after sticks, after Harki, or just because she could!! They frolicked in the shallows, and swam together for about 20 minutes till they were thoroughly wet and very cool. When they are wet you can see how nice and thin they are now. Thanfully it is much cooler today and we are all recovering from the incessant heat!!!

Waiting for ....anything reall!!!!

2006-02-24T11:28:00.000+11:00

Harki loves her treat!!!!!!
Peri is alert even when almost asleep!!!!!!!!!
It has been warm again, but not too hot. The Labradors have had some lovely walks at the dam, but no swims. Harki has had a bit of FlippyFloppy ear but I put some drops in, and it seems to have cleared up. Peri has been a good girl. She has to have pretend drops. Peri has been working on the 'Wait' command. She can't wait to eat her treats and so we have been trying hard. She can do sit and wait before her breakfast and she can wait to get out of the car or to have her turn at being off the lead. She can even wait when she is off the lead!!
Harki has been in protection mode lately. There have been a lot of people out and about with dogs and skateboards and bikes. She makes sure they all behave themselves!!! Yesterday the Post woman came to our front door!! They were extremely excited!!!

Feelin' hot, hot, hot!!!

2006-02-17T09:58:00.000+11:00

Aunty Captain Mrs Archer says I have neglected the Dogblog and she is right. I am making a sticky note to remind me to post regularly!!!
The Labradors suffer from the heat. We are well matched in this. It was very hot, 31*C yesterday, hot last night and it is already 27*C at 9-50am. We still have the hottest part of the day to come. They have been for a walk, run wildly through the bush, eaten cold grapes and now they are sleeping on the cool slate in a breeze.
Harki made a half-hearted attempt to play but the heat overwhelmed her. Peri jumped into the paddle pool. She rolled in something smelly so she’s banned from half the house.
They are both still very thin – they are having zucchini boiled in some vegetarian ‘chicken’ stock, and some dry dog food. There will be some pictures of the Labradors in the paddle pool if the jolly blogger will pupload them. I am up to try #3..... Love the typo!!!! Pupload indeed!!!!

Weather or not???

2006-01-12T15:04:00.000+11:00

Happy Birthday Peri!!!!

2006-01-10T10:31:00.000+11:00

Today Peri is a big 4 year old. It only seems like yesterday she was a tiny puppy, naughty and wicked, and loving to play with The Big Dog : Vundy, the German Shepherd. She would chew everything in, and out, of sight, and she was very, shall we say, 'enthusiastic'!! She still is!! She goes at everything like a bull at a gate. She does nothing by halves.
She loves Harki, and is appropriately submissive, note that Harki is very dominant. Every now and then she likes to assert herself. Last night she had a bit of a bark every 5 minutes or so just to let everyone know she had a bone, it was her bone, and no-one was having it. Peri and I were in bed. We didn't want her bone!!!!
Peri ,and Harki too, both had a wrapped rawhide card - yes, it said Merry Christmas, but there were no birthday ones. Harki could unwrap hers, but Peri couldn't, but she brought it to me when I called her and I helped.
I will dish up special breakfast, boiled rice, celery and diet dogfood with a dash of yoghurt on top!!!!
Happy Birthday baby Peri!!!!!

Look a New Year has begun

2006-01-08T11:34:00.000+11:00

What a lovely Christmas The Labradors had, they got lots of presents : Harki even helped herself to the Squeaky Toys from Aunty Karen when she found the bag!!! There were horsies and two big stuffed fish, the afore mentioned Squeaky toys and treats as well. They had a big Marrow bone : the femur of a cow I think, and bone shaped biscuits and rawhide 'cards' still to be eaten!!
It has been quite hot and they don't like the heat. We all hide inside from the Sun. We didn't have a walk today as we woke up too late and it was already too sunny and hot. Harki had a play with a stick, which was rapidly chewed to be a little pile of kindling tied together with string. Peri has a box to carry around in her mouth.
On Tuesday it is Peri's birthday and she will be a big 4 year old. I can't believe she is 4. I remember when she was a tiny puppy. She was so small and naughty. Now she is a big girl and 'sometimes' naughty!!!
Peri also likes to play with lids, but Harki prefers her Squeaky Ball Toy!!!

Peekaboo!!!

2005-12-29T08:02:00.000+11:00

This is what greets me every time I arrive home!!!!

Peri on the left and Harki on the right!!!

Merry, Merry Christmas

2005-12-21T10:09:00.000+11:00

Sun gleams bright, hearts are light,
Merry, Merry Christmas.
Thanks to Graham the Blogger Support man who fixed my problem!!!! Apparently my password had a conniption and now I have a new one and The Labradors can have their blog back!!!!
The Labradors have had a horrid 'flu and they had to go to the Vet and have injections and a course of antibiotics. Peri was sick first : she was shivering all night and had a cough , then at the very end of the contagion perios Harki was sick : she had boogelly eyes and spots on the roof of her mouth. They are both well and still very thin!!!!
Today the GardyGardeners came and The Labradors got a whole box of biscuits as a present......
I will post some pictures later on today!!!!!!

We're ba-ack!!!

2005-10-09T15:27:00.000+11:00

We haven't been away, we haven't been on holiday, we haven't been sicker than usual : I have just been lazy...The Labradors have been fine. Harki has had FlippyFloppy ear again and there is some general itching from Spring afflicting Peri and Harki, but they are otherwise well. Harki is so thin!!!!! She has lost 6 kg and has a mass of only 36kg. This means that she is thin, thin, thin!!!
Peri has been good, she hasn't eaten any shoes though she ate my favourite stripy shoebox, Oh and yesterday she ran away next door and out the front and I had to fetch her from next door's garden. Harki was cross, angry, frustratd and jealous all at once. Peri loves to swim and as the weather has been warm and rainy she has had a swim almost every time we have been for a walk. Harki swims a little but she has been driving us all mad with her squeaky toy : but I am her mother so I indulge her. We are having a day at home tomorrow - no walk even though it will be walk day, as I am not well. They are curently fascinated and addicted to rice cakes - 99% brown rice and with no calories to speak of. They love them to death...
Peri us particularly affectionate at the moment and is learning to 'drop'. Harki can sit, drop and roll over, but I am thinking that 'drop' will be fine for Peri at the moment. You can teach an old dog new tricks, though the Labradors are only 6 ( Harki) and 3 3/4(Peri) .
This picture is the Labradors running towrds me as we go home from our walk at the dam.. Harki in the front and Peri bringing up the rear...

Sister, where art thou???

2005-09-09T11:18:00.000+10:00

The Labradors have their annual Spring allergies, they have itchy feet and itchy muzzles . I have been putting ointment on them this morning and it has made the world of difference. They have both stopped licking their paws and rubbing the sides of their muzzles. Harki is always good and will drop and roll over on command but Peri has learned to drop too!! She doesn't roll over yet but she is inordinately pleased with herself for being anointed!!! Harki is happy as always. The Labradors have the joy of Spring as well, though despite the lighter, sunnier mornings they can still sleep in. In 3 weeks we start Daylight Saving : we have 6 months of normal and EDST turnabout here. The Labradors will be chronologically confused for a little while and they want to stay up late and get up even later!! Just like children everywhere!! The photo is of the Labradors together in a happy front verandah/balcony way!!! They are happy Labrador sisters!!!

Preeeeesenting #2!!!!!!

2005-08-27T16:03:00.000+10:00

Here are 2 pictures of Peri Naughty. Peri does not like to pose. Whenever she sees a camera or something that looks like a camera she gets very excited and bounces about a lot. As a consequence, most photos of Peri will have a bit of tail movement going on, at the very least!!!!!'She likes to stand on the aquarium stand that is at the end of the balcony, and she really loves to hold things in her mouth.

Preeeeesenting!!!!

2005-08-27T15:29:00.000+10:00

For the very first time, actual pictures of the Labradors!!! The first 2 are of Harki-Parki-Parker-Posey.

On the left, above, she is doing excellent posing for the camera.
On the right, she has dropped her toy down the front steps and she is looking for it. She is looking very intently!!!!

Going Dotty

2005-08-21T12:52:00.000+10:00

Today we are dotty!!!

Peri didn't roll in the dead wallaby at the dam. When I called her, she came!! Of course she rolled in something smelly later on. Back home, I kept smelling a boogelly smell around the house. I couldn't work out what it was , until I realised it was Peri following me around like a bad smell.
Harki and Peri have a new Squeaky ball toy each. The toys have survived destruction so far. They are spiny and quite squeaky. Peri was amazed that she could make that sound. Harki wants both of them and steals Peri's and holds them both in her mouth,. She is a bad girl!!
What faithful hounds they are. Last night I was out fairly late, for me, almost 11 I think?? maybe a bit later and when I came home, there they both were, waiting in the garage for me. I know they had been waiting a while as the security light was off, and they couldn't have come outside, set it off and waited only 5 minutes as the light stays on that long. From hearing the car to my arrival is less than 30 seconds. I love the Labradors!!!!

Negativity

2005-08-12T09:23:00.000+10:00

It is -3, 3 degrees below zero, minus three Celsius. The puddles, even big ones, were frozen over with a centimetre of ice, I could walk on some. Did this stop Peri? No, she went dippy diving in the creek at the dam this morning. In, a bit of a play, then out. In deference to the weather she only went dippy diving once, but I could tell she was mostly unaffected by the thought that she might develop icicles on her fur. Harki liked small half-melted puddles, but there was no full body water contact!!! Now we are home and the temperature inside is 10 C and the sun is beaming. No doubt there will be sunbaking later on, just as there was yesterday. Harki is now playing with her quoit, and hoping that Peri doesn't want to play. Yesterday she spent a happy, on her part, 15 minutes stealing the quoit. It was not a happy time for Harki!!!!!

Happy Birthday to you!!!

2005-08-07T16:24:00.000+10:00

Yesterday was Harki's birthday and she was 6!!! She needed something to cheer her up after being shut inside by herself for an hour the day before, while Peri went to the Vet. Peri saw Dr Malcolm and was sooooooo excited she made excited noises the entire time. She was, I like to say, very 'enthusiastic' about the whole visit. She was vaccinated and had a worm tablet and got 2 treats for being a good girl. Her mass is 36 kg which is fine.
Harki got a squeaky toy and a fluffy toy from me, and she chose a big squeaky pork chop toy from Aunty Captain Mrs Archer. She de-squeaked and de-stuffed everything within a few minutes, but Mr Chop was dropped in the shower this morning several times!!! Per got a squeaky hotdog and another toy, but she really only wants the one Harki has.
Peri has been tunnelling her way next door under the fence again, it is a quagmire, so we have put some rocks there and 2 bags of bark chips. This has fixed the quagmire problem for the moment at least.

Don't know why there's no Sun up in the sky.....

2005-08-01T14:46:00.000+10:00

Stormy weather, something that the Labradors can't abide. We went for a walk on Thursday and it had been raining, but the weather seemed to have cleared. Half way through the walk the rain began to pelt down hard and the wind blew like a hurricane. Dead bits of trees fell on the path and the Labradors took one look ahead and when I said "Do you want to go home?" they ran back along the path at full speed. The rain was so hard that it hurt when you walked into it, and I was so wet I got straight into the shower when I got home. It is no use trying to dry the Labradors as they hate the hair dryer. Earlier in the week Peri rolled in something very smelly. Usually it dries and you can brush her clean, but this was made of sterner stuff, and I had to wash parts of her at bedtime and then dry her. The hair dryer scared the willies out of her. Even on the low speed she developed a hunted look and tried to hide behind the toilet. She looked at me as if I was trying to do something terrible. In the end I just sprinkled her with bicarb soda and then brushed her clean.
This week they got new toys and Harki has taught Peri that if it is a stuffed toy, your first duty is to pull all the stuffing out. The lounge room looked like a snow storm!!!

What a glorious feelin' I'm - - happy again!!!!

2005-07-23T09:35:00.000+10:00

The Labradors have been very well behaved of late. We must be working up to an 'incident'. Harki had been playing with her toys and asserting her dominance over Peri. Peri has been trying to take Harki's toys, and running to me for comfort when Harki berates her. They had a lovely morning tea of a grilled wholemeal mini pita bread when the gardygardeners came. Harki always becomes the most gregarious dog in the world. She wags her tail, prods with her head, bops with her nose and asks with her paw. She asks so much she dances on her front feet, stamping away like a flamenco dancer. Peri is the absolute opposite. She is Ann from the Famous Five: she sits in the corner, she asks delicately with her paw, she takes food gently and looks innocently up at everyone with her big brown eyes. Peri - we are NOT fooled!!!! Today was meant to be a walk day, but I am tired. It is raining, but we would have gone regardless. Now the Labradors are outside dancin' and singin' in the rain......

Harki/Peri TwoShed ( Monty Python Allusion there)

2005-07-19T12:10:00.000+10:00

We have all recovered from the infamous running away episode. The next time we went to the dam Harki had to be on the lead in the bush and Peri was allowed to run free!! Peri was very confused, as she is usually the one who has to be on the lead. She would run ahead a little and then run back, as if to ask, 'Why aren't you coming, Harki???'
They have 3 new footballs from Aunty E, kind of raised up grippy surfaced rubber ones. Harki did spend quite a lot of the first 2 days trying to get two in her mouth at once. Even though they are semi-deflated, this is just not possible, even before breakfast. Harki is the best marker and could really mark well in any football game, and here we mean real football, AFL, not any other kind.
Peri has finally killed the elephant sound from the TeddyBunny, which has long gone to the elephant cemetery!!! She had it inside a green mint tea box, but now it is really broken and doesn't make a sound at all.
Peri has also been busy saving me from the man and the shed next door. He is putting a new roof on the shed, but Peri is convinced we are being boarded and keeps putting all her hackles up, barking gruff little barks and running inside to tell me all about it. She was also fazed by the Library cushions : the shark had big eyes and she was sure it was real. Harki has been viewing all this with a mixture of indulgence and head-shaking!!!!!

Oh where, oh where has my little dog gone?

2005-07-14T10:43:00.000+10:00

Yesterday we thought we had lost Harki. It was very traumatic. We were on out normal walk and Harki and Peri took off into the bush chasing something and only Peri came back. I called and Peri looked, we walked down towards the cliffs of the gorge , we went back along the walk. Then we walked back to the car and drove up the road towards home, then back to the bush again. I thought she was gone forever. Then we drove back to the car park, and there, running around in circles where we usually park, was Harki!! She was all puffed out and when she heard my voice and Peri's bark she was so happy to see us. I had a little cry then, and we all went home, but I am still recovering. I am not going out today at all, we are having a day in.

A sick bird? Ill eagle!!

2005-07-07T14:39:00.000+10:00

Illegal items eaten by the Labradors !!
4 free range eggs – raw
5 biscuits – iced
5 biscuits – uniced
I forgot to shut the Baby gate into the kitchen and when they were hopping on and off the bed, they didn’t want to go outside ( believe me, I tried to send them) they had been on secret insurgency missions into the kitchen to steal all the biscuits I had cooked for morning tea!!!! Harki wasn’t well after the eggs. I am not sure who had what, but it was not good!!
Today they have had legal apples, rice and dog food and a bone each. All is right with the world.

Spinach and Marmalade for tea......

2005-07-05T10:11:00.000+10:00

Harki has been very playful. She likes to choose the right toy, and then plays obsessively. Peri likes to roll in something smelly, and, preferably green. At the dam the Labradors escaped from the wire fence bounding the bush and when I called them, they came careering down the verge of the road and jumped about outside of the gate. They were very pleased with themselves. Peri has had a small swim in the icy cold creek and loved it.
This morning they are having baby spinach and spaghettini for breakfast. Yesterday they didn't eat all their vegetables so they can't be hungry. (Labradors/Not hungry: oxymoron)
Peri has been doing her Kimba the White Lion impression again. She has the rug over her on the bed, and she hopped off and ran into the loungeroom still covered with the rug of Labradors. She was just like Kimba wearing his Grandfather's 'skin' as a covering. I know that sounds boogelly, but it looked fine in the cartoon. Harki wants to be fed and she keeps bumping my hand all the time.

Slinky Malinki

2005-06-30T16:14:00.000+10:00

The Labradors are well. Peri lived up to her name ( Peri Naughty) and not only stole AmandaMoo's scarf, but took it outside and up all the stairs to the garage. Luckily all the stitches were still on the needle and there were o chewed or holey bits. She is a rascal. When you ask 'Did you do this?' she goes all slinky and looks at you sideways!!! Every night Peri must be under something on the bed. Since she isn't allowed in the bed, she wants to be under the Labrador polar fleece ruglet. She sits beside me and looks at me with hopeful eyes until I swoosh it out and she pops under, and turns around until everything is just right.
Harki is particularly affectionate at the moment. She needs lots of pats and rowdy play. We played all morning with the ball-on-a-rope and then with the DingleDangle toy this afternoon. They are napping now, Harki knows when I am going out. She wouldn't settle at all late yesterday afternoon. She knew there was a bone to be had if I was going out!! And I was, and there was!!!

Kangaroos are 'armless!!!

2005-06-25T22:05:00.000+10:00

As promised, here I am. It was so cold last night that the puddles of water at the dam were frozen solid and you could walk on them. There was even water in the little creek. I do know that the kangaroos we see are wallabies and the wallabies are really potoroos, but I like the Labrador to aspire to kangaroos!!! Today at the dam Peri found a dry and boogelly kangaroo arm. She really wanted to carry it along on the walk, but I threw it far, far away. She is a good little girl now, and didn't run after it. Tomorrow we are staying home all day. We will play throwing the stick and washing : what excellent games!!! They are both fast asleep on the couch, dreaming happy dog dreams!!!

Baby did a bad bad thing

2005-06-24T15:55:00.000+10:00

That would be me, ignoring the Labradors' blog. Let me say, M'Lud, in my defense, I haven't been well. One day I didn't even turn the computer on. The Labradors missed out on a walk or two as well. We are back on track now. I have promised to stop trying to be a real person!!!
Harki's FlippyFloppy ear is all well, and Peri had to have imaginary ointment drops as well. Peri has a blackberry spiky leaf in her foot and she was all Androcles and the Lion. It was so very cute. I rescued her and she needed hundreds of cuddles!!! They have chased kangaroos on their walk and the GardyGardeners came for morning tea. Harki was quite good, and Peri was her usual sit-in-the-corner self. Harki played with a dolly's head today. It was that or a piece of balsa-like wood. Neither were good for throwing. No shoes have been eaten and no balls of wool taken.
I will have to make them a polar fleece bed. When I was embroidering a polar fleece wrap they spent most og their time trying to lie on it. It drove me mad and the polar fleece was like Polar Bear fleece!! It was covered with Labrador hair. You can bet your bottom dollar that any bed I make them will be spurned in favour of the current craft project!!
I swear on the Labradors' picture that I will be back tomorrow, or the Labradors will eat me!!!!

Whole lotta shakin' goin' on!!!

2005-06-14T13:29:00.000+10:00

This morning Harki’s FlippyFloppy ear had worsened and so I rang the vet at 8-30 am and there was an appointment at 9-45. Peri stayed at home, locked inside as she sooks. Harki was so good. There was a Doberman puppy. He was disobedient, but OK. He big trouble makers were two pugs who were weeing left right and centre and barking non-stop. The two big dogs were exemplary. We saw a new doctor, DR Marion. She looked in Harki’s ears and prescribed new stronger drops with an antibiotic and an injection too. Hark was so well behaved and she feels better already. Peri didn’t do anything bad ( at least I haven’t found anything chewed yet!!!) She was so happy to see us both. Now it is raining again. The air smells of rain and it has rapidly become cooler. The Labradors are, of course, running in and out getting all wet and shaking the rain off inside.

I can stand the rain!!

2005-06-12T13:04:00.000+10:00

We can all stand the rain. It started raining on Friday, then all night, all Saturday and all that night too. The Labradors were at first bemused by the rain : they hadn't seen it for so long, but yesterday the went for a lovely walk in the rain. The ran in all the puddles, smelled all the rain-enhanced smells and generally had an excellent adventure. They came home smelling like wet woolly sheep. They smelled like my school blazer in the rain when I was young. It was woollen too.
They had been in the rain again all afternoon when I was out. Harki even wanted to play for hours in the pouring rain. The Labradors are wet weather dogs. They like Winter much more than Summer. They still swim!!!
Harki doesn't want any of her toys. Last night she wanted to play at about 10pm and we went outside and found a tennis ball stick toy. It wasn't the one, but I don't know what the one is. I will have to go and buy her 10 new toys. Peri lost one squeaky toy at the dam. It was bright orange, but she still managed to lose it.
This morning Peri has been defending the house against something. She has been busy running about, from the back gate to the front window - totally cute and totally unscary too. Harki has been hanging around for more food. I did give her some baby spinach which is not full of any calories at all.

The Curious Incident of the Dog and the Hobnobs in the Night-time

2005-06-07T18:23:00.000+10:00

The diet is too much for Peri and I can't belive Harki would be so naughty..... There was ½ a packet of Hobnobs on the dresser : I have a predilection for Hobnobs. I went out and when I came home…they were gone. Through a rigorous investigation I was able to find the packet outside, empty. Peri was inordinately happy. I am 80-85% sure she ate them. Being hungry does wonders for her general obedience. She comes when I call on our walk, albeit in the hope of a tiny piece of dry food, but she comes all the same. Harki roams far and wide on the range, well, in the bush. She runs and runs and sniffs and smells and generally has an excellent time. They like to nap now it is starting to get dark at 4-30 pm. They are on the couch fast asleep now, despite having been overjoyed at my return only 5 minutes ago. It is a dog’s life!!!

Dog days.....

2005-06-02T10:32:00.000+10:00

The Labradors really are cold weather dogs. They revel in the cold. This is not to say they are not soaking up every available ray of sun : sun bathing and finding puddles of warmth inside, no, they love the icy grass under their feet, they don’t fear the chilly wind or the nip in the air. They run about sniffing all the cold smells at the dam, they are invigorated. It has been icy for two days in a row. The ice is thick on the car and it was –1C. I like it being –1 more than 1, as 1 is colder. It has something to do with the sun coming up….
I have bought a lovely throw with 2 Labradors on it. I am wearing it as a wrap!!! The Labradors like it too, only because I do I think.
Peri has been very bad and when given the opportunity to eat one of my shoes, she took it. Luckily it was one of my least favourite green shoes but I am still mourning. She hasn’t eaten a shoe for ages. I think she is protesting the fact that I have been out, or the weather has made her naughty.
They are resolutely on their diet and will have to be weighed again in a few weeks. Peri had a letter from the Vet yesterday to say she needs her annual check up and vaccination. The letter always comes redolent with Vetty scents……

Sunny days sweeping the chills away!!!

2005-05-29T11:02:00.000+10:00

The Labradors have been very well. We have been for two icy walks. Yesterday it was exceedingly chilly, but they had not a care ion the world : they ran and chased and breathed dragon’s breath for 25 minutes. I went out twice and accidentally left the hall door open. It leads, funnily enough, to the hall, filled with bookcases and craft things, the main bedroom, the bathroom and spare room. Previous puppies have been know to dig a hole in the bed, so I was a bit worried that there might be a hole in the new mattress, but no!! When I arrived home there were no Labradors. There were no Labradors when the security lights went on. No Labradors as the back door opened and then a thump and the sound of running paws as they came through the hall door!!! They had pushed the doona up to the pillow end and made a nest, and had been fast asleep. They were all warm and had just-woken-up faces. Today we are not setting foot outside the back gate. I am quite tired and so they didn’t manage to get me out of bed till just before The Insiders at 9 am. There was much leaping about and playing on the bed and in the end I gave up!! They are waiting to be fed, but I had to cook their food this morning. They have been sunbaking on the deck as it is lovely and warm today thus far.

My love is like a red red wine vinegar!!!

2005-05-25T22:41:00.000+10:00

Today when the GardyGardeners came for morning tea Harki was joyous beyond compare. She was too happy and I had run out of lemons so she had to be shown the red wine vinegar!! She had to be sprinkled liberally so she didn’t keep popping her nose under arms holding hot cups of tea. She sulked over the other side of the balcony!! Peri sat in her little place in the corner and was as good as gold. Harki’s other sister, Honey, has been in a tussock fire and she has been to the Vet for ointment and injections and things. Although Honey is Harki’s DNA sister, she looks more like Peri, she is no relation except through her being Harki’s sister here. Let’s face it, they all have a German Shepherd, Vundy, as their sister!!! Auntie Debbie is Honey’s mother and Harki’s godmother. Hi Auntie Debbie!!!Tomorrow we will go for a lovely walk at the dam.

No potatoes were injured or mashed in the making of this post...

2005-05-23T16:03:00.000+10:00

Today was so exciting. We went on our walk and as we were coming down to the gate into the dam we heard a dog barking, so I put the Labradors’ leads on them, and round the corner came – Dr Tim!!! with his little dog Saskia and another dog Nellie. The girls were all sitting and good and thin and trying to impress Dr Tim. I think that he thinks that I have Peri under control as I used my Teacher voice to make her sit, but it is all a lie as you will see. We had a little chat and the dogs all said hello and then we came home. Harki has again been doing her toy-window trick and Peri has been making holes in plastic bottles, BUT, when I came home this afternoon, Peri had eviscerated the lurve bag of potatoes. The potatoes had been separated from the bag, which she loves. The potatoes had not a mark on them, so they are now safe in another bag higher up in the pantry.
Ah the joys of Labradors. Actually the joys of Labradors are many and varied and such love and devotion cannot be purchased anywhere!!!

Rascals!!!

2005-05-22T14:32:00.000+10:00

Those Labradors are rascals!! Harki has taken, just every now and then, to dropping a toy out of the front window. It then bounces down all the stairs to the bottom of the garden. Then she runs and sits at the front door and yips until I come and climb down the stairs and fetch her toys!!! Peri is in lurve with a 5 kg bag of Dutch Cream potatoes. It must smell of a farm. She smells the bag and wags her tail. This morning she was taking Harki’s kong and running away with it. Peri seems keener now she is hungry, to be obedient!!! I was out for a couple of hours last night and again today to see Star Wars again and they miss me!! I was subjected to enormous amounts of happiness when I came home!!!

Slim, trim, taut and terrific!!!

2005-05-18T14:51:00.000+10:00

How slim are the Labradors? Harki has lost 3.1 kilos and Peri 2.6. Harki has 2 or 3 more to go and Peri has only 1!! I am so happy and they are happy too!!! I have been a little tired so they have had a few walks to the shop and a few walks at the dam. Tomorrow they will go for a walk at the dam. They had a bone when I went out today. Tomorrow they can have a bone as well as we are going out to Star Wars!!!

So cute - I must get a digital camera

2005-05-12T13:10:00.000+10:00

Oh, I just went outside and the Labradors were both together, side by side, lying on the decking looking so cute. I thought I might take a photo, but they both rushed inside in case I had food!!! They were calendar quality!!!

Slim Pickings

2005-05-12T11:08:00.000+10:00

The Labradors are so slim they could be modelling in the Fashion shows on at the moment!!!! We have had 2 big walks and then on the other days a short walk on the lead to the shop to buy the Star Wars pins. They have seen a cat and 2 dogs and had a pat from a little girl. Peri was so gentle and nice and Harki always is. We are very sad as Sue's cat Tobias of a very great age has died. He was about 17. He was a lovely big black cat with some white fur on his face and paws. He was a very nice cat.
The Labradors are playing outside: Harki with her ball-on-a-rope which I must throw every minute of the day, and Peri is doing mindless Labrador things......

Runaway, a-run run run run runaway!!!

2005-05-07T09:28:00.000+10:00

Today was the first morning when it was cool enough to make me wish I had worn my lime green gloves!!! We had a good walk at the dam. Peri ran down one side of the wire fence. It has A5 paper size holes. She looked at Harki and I on the other side and then, just for a tiny second, contemplated going THROUGH the fence: she poked her head through and it wouldn't fit anymore of her!!! Harki and I walked up the slope a little towards where the opening was and she ran up and around and was very pleased with herself. On the way home she wouldn't come to the car so. Harki was instantly obedient and came straight away. I started the car and drove 10 metres away and stopped. Peri ran, panicking to where the car had been parked. I had to get out of the car and say " Here we are!!. She ran joyfully into the car to be reunited with Harki.
Today they can have a bone!!!!

Mousetrap

2005-05-04T14:31:00.000+10:00

The Labradors are well. Yesterday we had an excellent walk and later on in the day Peri brought me a present : a dead field mouse. Surely she is a cat in disguise, she is truly nippy!!! The Labradors are continuing to be thin and playful and to sit on the couch with me. Tonight they will be able to have a bone and today we had morning tea with the GardyGardeners!!!

Baby Elephant Walk

2005-05-01T12:22:00.000+10:00

I bought the Labradors new toys yesterday. They got 4 little animals, 2 tigers, and elephant and a monkey. They were only a dollar each and Peri was so funny when I gave her the elephant. If you squeeze it right it trumpets 3 times. She is so excited every time she manages to make it trumpet. She puts her bottom in the air and bows and wags her tail excitedly. She is rarely so taken with anything. Being on a diet has made Peri far more affectionate. Of an evening she hops onto the couch with Harki and me and she likes to rest her head on my lap and be patted. If I stop she hits me with a free front paw!!! Harki tore the noise out of one toy and then while I was not looking stole another toy!! She has had a semi-swim today, while Peri swam out in the dam water after sticks. Despite the extremely cool weather they Are not bothered. They have had a walk 3 days in a row now. We will have a total big rest tomorrow while I recover!!!

A you're Labr-adorable, B you're so beautiful

2005-04-29T14:19:00.000+10:00

The Labrador are still on their very strict diet and it is making them more playful and bouncier than ever. Nothing of any import has happened, they have been for walks and had a good time playing in the garden. They have dug up archaeological quality bones with not one iota of moisture in themand they are chewing them as if there is no tomorrow!!!

There's a track winding back .........

2005-04-25T11:16:00.001+10:00

I have slightly recovered from my flu injection etc, so the Labradors have been able to go for walks again. They have had the 'off the lead' nod from Dr Tim so we went to the dam and they ran and gambolled and capered to their little hearts' content. They are still on their diet of boiled green vegetables and a little rice and dry dog food. I have created monsters though : Harki wants to play non-stop, every minute of every day. Peri is extra playful too, and they play rough and rowdy rebel games. The rugs migrate to the other end of the room and last night the doona was all scrunched up at the head of the bed. Peri has decided that she wants to be on the couch of an evening now. So there we all are, three of us on the couch. It is not 100% comfortable, but how can I make one of them hop off??? Today we are going to see Aunty Cathy, George and Alex as I have to help Alex with ratios. They will be extra spoiled then!!!

BThere's a track winding back .........

2005-04-25T11:16:00.000+10:00

All's well that ends well....

2005-04-20T11:52:00.000+10:00

The Labradors have been virtuously walking on the lead and eating boiled Chinese cabbage and celery and having no treats AND taking their tablets. At the Vet today Dr Tim said that Peri's knee is all better and she does not have an injured cruciate at all!!! She was all full of the leaping and strange happy howling!! Harki's knee cap has ceased to pop in and out at will, but her hip still is a touch painful from arthritis so she is having injections over four weeks. They had morning tea with the GardyGardeners ( 1/2 a slice of tiny bread for them) and now they are napping in the sun. Of an evening now Peri likes to be on the couch with Harki and I so we are very sardiney!!!
The Labradors say Hi, wiggle woof and a wag to Uncle Garry Office and The Lovely Audrey!!!

As time goes by.....

2005-04-16T17:17:00.000+10:00

What a lot has happened. Harki had a sore hip and had trouble getting up on Tuesday so I made her an appointment at the Vet, but when I got home from tea , Peri was limping very badly on her left back leg, and it looked like her cruciate ligament was affected. So Peri went to Harki's appointment and Dr Tim said, yes, it was her knee and gave her anti-inflammatory drugs and she has to lose weight and be on the lead for walks. However, when Harki went the next day, Dr Tim says her left kneecap is popping in and out at will, and yes she has a bit of arthritis. She has to lose 7 kilos and has tablets too. After 3 days of boiled cabbage and celery with a little rice and dry dogfood they are happy, perky, hungry and playful. Peri is 100% recovered and Harki 75-80% recovered. They are very happy, if not hungry. They both have to go back to see Dr Tim next Wednesday and then regularly to be weighed. I hope they do well!!!

We're back!!!!

2005-04-12T14:59:00.000+10:00

I have not been well and though the Labradors have been walked I have been a terrible diary writer. Harki has been befuddled by the buzzing of a fly on TV. She was sure there was a fly to be caught!! Peri has run away next door again!! Today there was a parcel from the UK and they both wanted the parcel pack as a trophy!!
Harki had a bit of gyp in her back legs. Perhaps she is getting a bit arthritic. I know she needs to lose weight and she is constantly losing that last kilo. She has one or two to lose and that is all. I have checked them both for ticks. Normally we have non-lethal ticks, but there are some of the paralysis ones about. I have checked her thoroughly and can find no suspicious bumps at all.

Biscuits!!!!!

2005-04-07T15:37:00.000+10:00

Those Labradors are like TimTams, double coat TimTams. They went for a happy swimin the freezing cold dam. They swam for sticks and frolicked and had general fun. We walked today for about 20 minutes but I am very tired so that is all we did. Harki is not happy I am using the computer and keeps on putting her head under the crook of my arm and lifting her head so I will pate her. Peri rolled in something disgusting and is inordinately please with herself!!!
Oh the Labradors are like the biscuits as they have a double coat to keep them extra toasty warm!!!

Rain, rain, don't go away!!!

2005-04-04T15:43:00.000+10:00

There was so much rain on Sunday we started to look for Noah!!! The Labradors don't care if it is wet or not, they like a walk. We set off in the rain at the dam and soon it was teeming. My japara was soaking wet, I was fairly dry in the parts it covered, but the Labradors were very wet. They smelled of wet wool for the rest of the day. I went out to tea and when I got home they were so excited to see me. Harki was bossing Peri and so Peri was trying to sit on my knee so that I would protect her. Peri has pokey bits: elbows and knees and things!!!

P L A Y Playaway!!!!

2005-04-02T15:55:00.000+10:00

The Labradors have been very playful. Harki has been playing with her Kong and the ball on a rope and Peri has been playing with the Kong too!!! She is quite a good girl now : she leaves the boogelly old marsupial bone when I tell her to when we are walking and off she goes!! What a different tale it would have been a year ago!!!
I meant to go for a walk this morning but I didn’t even wake up till after 9 am. We will go for a lovely walk tomorrow. It is warm again, in the late 20s and so they are in the pool again!!!

Labradors are lucky, lucky, lucky, lucky!!!

2005-03-30T12:59:00.000+10:00

Those Labradors are so lucky!! They have had a walk for 3 days in a row. A proper walk on Sunday, a little walk on Monday and then a visit to Aunty Cathy's AND a walk as well. They were very good this time. They didn't sit at the glass door and whine piteously the entire time. They ran about a bit. Peri found the watering system and got a wet head!! They didn't want to play with their toys at all, but they went for a 20 minute walk. Harki was loathe to go even 10 metres without turning around to see if I was coming. She would plonk herself down and wait till I caught up!! It was very funny. Peri was already back in the garden by the time we came round the last corner. At the end they both nipped inside and ran about. That was very bad. It did tire them out though and they went to bed early and slept all the way through until I woke them up way after 7 am. They are tired again as the GardyGardeners have been. They bought the Labradors some bones . They are very lucky!!
This morning they played tug of war with the squeak out of the toy in a little bag. They played for about 30 minutes and had a lovely time!!! What good girls they are!!!

We're into the Timeslip!!!!!

2005-03-27T10:33:00.000+10:00

The Labradors have been very playful of late. I think it is the cooler weather. Yesterday they played chasing games inside and out. The rugs were askew all over the house!! Today we had a walk and they went off into the bush and chased phantoms!!! ACMA sent them some green grapes. They love grapes. I have some dark red,almost black, sweet juicy grapes. harki chose a small grape over a big piece of boiled potato. She is a connoisseur!!! Last night Daylight Saving ended so we had an extra hour of sleep. The Labradors woke up at 7-30 am , which was 6-30 am in DST. They were full of life and it was so light and not so cold as the last few mornings. Harki is insistent of playing with her ball now. Peri is outside hoping for a treat.

Hey There Good Girl Peri!!

2005-03-24T16:39:00.000+11:00

On Wednesday the Labradors got a lovely Easter card from the GardyGardeners and Peri was "Good Girl Peri" as opposed to "Peri Naughty". It is sad that she chose that very morning to run away to next door!!!!! Harki had a big bone but Peri was so distraught she had to have a little one. The Labradors are very happy today and they have had a pig's ear each too. They get lots of presents - more than me!!!!

Short and sweet ( The Labradors are sweeter than sugar!!!)

2005-03-22T14:12:00.000+11:00

The Labradors are very please half of the Berlin Wall between the houses has been taken down. Now the stray cat is at the RSPCA they can wag their tails and stick their paws and noses through the fence and have a treat to their little hearts’ content!!! Harki and Peri both slept in until 8 am this morning. We didn’t go for a walk so we must tomorrow.

Greyfriars Jessie.

2005-03-19T08:56:00.000+11:00

In the news this week was the story of Jess the dog who stayed beside her dead master for several days. The door was open but she didn't leave him. She tried to protect him from the Emergency services, and although rescued, she will be put to sleep and buried with her master as she is pining too much. Some people have complained that such a faithful dog should not be killed, but she had bonded so closely with her master that she no longer had a pack leader, and refuses to eat or drink. It is the kindest thing to do. Dogs are faithful hounds. Old Yeller is the saddest story and even though it is in my Walt Disney book 'The Wonderful World of Disney : America' ( part of a set of 4 I have had, apparently, since 1965!!!) I can never read it. I am too upset by Yeller's death to be placated by the happy ending.
Harki has been being intelligent this morning. She has been doing the using a tool thing. I stuffed her Kong firmly with a piece of old crust ( nothing but the best!!) and she couldn't reach it with her tongue so she stood up and dropped the Kong on the floor. When that didn't work she sat down and then tossed it hard onto the floor. Crows do this to open shellfish. Peri was fascinated. I think she thought Harki was playing a good game. Harki was able to dislodge the bread and eat it!!!!!
The weather is so much cooler now that the Labradors are playful and alert. They like the cooler autumnal climate. This does not, however, stop either of them from playing in the paddle pool, or Peri from almost totally immersing herself. They are outside playing chasings, Peri has a plastic lid which is apparently the most desired thing in the known Universe today . They rush inside, run about and mess up all the rugs, and then off they go outside again!!! I am glad Peri is a good playmate for Harki.

Riding in cars with dogs.

2005-03-18T12:31:00.000+11:00

On Tuesday the Labradors had a walk in the bush and then on Wednesday no walk as the GardyGardeners came. On Thursday I was cleaning the car windows, not anticipating that they would go for a walk, but they were desperate to go. Instead I took them for a little walk to the shop. Harki didn't want to go for a walk, she was sitting looking at the car and wanting to hop in. In the end she decided she would go for a walk, not altogether with bad grace, but she would rather have had a ride in the car. They had a nice ride in the car and a walk today. Harki has found her Kong so she has been playing with that. Peri has taken up a new job, guarding us all from the stray cat. She is very happy at the moment and has been having fun playing with her tin. Peri is very much into the retriever part of Labrador Retriever. She likes to carry things in her mouth and finds joy in it!!! She carries the letters, the paper, an empty tin, anything really. This is a step up from puppydom, where she not only carried things, but chewed them to bits as well. Now if I forget to pick up my shoes and I come home, they are outside and a bit soggy from being carried in her mouth, but NOT chewed!!!!

Take me riding in your car, car!!!

2005-03-14T10:47:00.000+11:00

I had forgotten to write about what happened to Peri the other day. They Labradors were off their leads and playing near the car when it was time to go home from our walk, and Harki Good-as-Gold hopped straight in, but Peri was smelling something about 25 metres away and was deliberately ignoring me, so I got into the car and turned the engine on. She was there in twice the speed of sound. It was so funny!!! I wasn't moving the car at all, but she obviously knows when the engine starts we are going. She was worried about being left behind. This morning we walked to the shop for bread and met a man who had a Labrador of his own. The Labradors are very good. I tie them up and say sit and until the man patted them, they sat like angels, all still with a corner of their mouths caught up in their teeth as they waited. On arrival at home there has been almost an hour of throwing the ball for Harki. It was so hot yesterday and will be today that I throw it into the paddle pool a lot. Dr Malcolm said it was good for her to cool down in the pool.

Playing away!!!!

2005-03-11T23:13:00.000+11:00

Today the Labradors had their visit to Aunty Cathy and her girls. Did I say they ate half a cake yesterday while I was having my trauma??? So the diet is woeking really well!!!! They started getting excited at 3-30pm when I put on my walking shoes, and then were nervous and skittish, running up and down the stairs and waiting at the gate. Aunty Cathy's girls were both nervous and excited. When it was time to leave the weather had warmed up so it was hot in the car. They panted all the way there and when we arrived Daughter 2 ( henceforth known as D2) looked longingly at them and we gave them a drink but they were too excited. When n we got to the dog exercising are the Labradors were so good. They didn't jump up or run at anyone. We did a lap. Daughter 1 (D1) didn't really like dogs, but D2 ran with them and I gave her the treats and they sat for her. After one lap they were very hot, Peri tried top sit on the seat and then they both panted and dribbled. D1 and D2 walked them to the car. Harki delicately lifted her bowl form the front seat into the back and drank the few scraps of water, she is so clever!!! Then we went to Aunty Cathy's for a cup of tea. The Labradors sat with their noses in the door opening and cried for me to let them in. D1 and D2 tried to play but harki was not interested. Peri made crying sounds, but played with the girls and their dad. D1 and D2 took them for a walk and then finally we came home where they drank litres of water and slept a long time till just an hour ago when they wanted to play again. What a day!!!!!!

Dogs on the run....

2005-03-09T14:18:00.000+11:00

Harki and Peri are very happy today as the GardyGardeners came for morning tes. They watch out the window, standing or sitting on Otto ( the ottoman) and then their tails wag like mad as they jostle for position. Harki usually wins. Then there are Olympic class sprints from the window, around the almost 360 degrees corner to the front door and back again. The rug ends up all crunkled up in the dining room. As an added bonus today the parcel postman came right up the stairs to deliver a parcel. They were ecstatic. Harki saw a more than lifesize TeddyBunny and was not please with it at all, she thought it was a threat and was raising her hackles!!! It has been cooler ,though this has not stopped them from having a swim in the dam, and we have enjoyed the nip in the air. It is getting darker and darker as the days grow shorter and I am not looking forward to the end of daylight saving. The Labradors will be slightly bewildered as they are at each end of the change. This is the best end as there is an hour's sleep to be gained.

It's raining, on dogs right now, their hair is a mess!!!

2005-03-05T12:40:00.000+11:00

It has been raining for about 10 hours non-stop, and it is lovely and cool, so the Labradors when for a walk in the rain and have been laying in the rain!! They like the cooler weather and like to be wet too. Harki chased a kangaroo , albeit 100m away from her, and was in true alert mode. Peri ate something indescribable, ao I won't even try. They had early breakfast after their walk and they are both having a sleep now. The Purina people are sending the labradors a voucher, though I have emailed them to say they didn't have enough room on their form for the whole of the Labradors' names, and they are ignoring Peri!!! I said we would mention them , so we are!!!

A diet a day keeps the vet growls away!!!

2005-03-03T17:18:00.000+11:00

Today we had a swim at the dam. Harki fetched a stick and Peri had big swims. They run down the slope and into the water. There was a man in a small boat and Peri was thinking about swimming out to him, luckily I was able to distract her. We saw a gangly Labrador pup with her dad. Peri was especially good twice and came to have her lead on. Harki is on her diet and seems to be happy and playful. At the moment it is tennis balls and occasionally a piece of a TeddyBunny which is very hard to throw. In a fortnight Harki will have to go to the Vet's to be weighed ( technically to have her mass measured!!0 to see if she has lost or gained. I wonder if it will help if I take her before breakfast??? We have missed a walk this week as I have been quite tired. Today we didn't even leave till after 9 am and tomorrow we will stay at home all day.The Labradors had some grapes as a treat today. They are tasty and they are fruit and they are healthy. Now the Labradors are glad to have some cooked zucchini as a treat!!!

Duck Duck Goose!!!

2005-02-28T12:14:00.000+11:00

Well, Harki and Peri are on a diet!! They are sad and hungry, so hungry they ate curried zucchini soup!!!!
We went for walks on Thursday and Saturday, but as I went on a day trip I was tired so we went on a walk down by the river today. Both the Labradors went into the silt settling ponds, chasing the duckies through the bullrushes and generally cavorting in the water. We saw a Lab-cross and she was 15 years old!!!! She was a happy chappy!!!
Di gave me two old tennis balls Mark had found for Harki and Peri. Before I had even shut the gate, Harki had ferreted in the bag and found the balls and run away with them, with great glee!! We have had to play with the balls till today, when we had to play with the DingleDangle toy. Peri keeps stealing the balls and toys and running away with them as she is a wicked girl!!! It is so much cooler that we are all happier and enjoying the breeze, hoping for rain too.

When a lovely flame dies, drops get in your ears.

2005-02-23T22:53:00.000+11:00

The Labradors have not been doing very much!! It has been very hot and we have been mostly too hot. Harki has been to the Vet for her check-up. She got some ointment for her itchy feet and some drops for her ears. She was very well behaved for Dr Malcolm, and she got a treat!! She was vaccinated and finally agreed to hop on to the scales for another treat. She must lose 1 kilo, so that is not too bad, she is on a diet!!! Dr Malcolm said it would be good for her to be cool in the paddle pool. Peri was a terrible sook. She was quite happy when I left her with a bone, but apparently she sooked for the whole 40 minutes we were away. Next time I will lock her inside the house if Harki has to go to the Vet. She loves Harki so much. It is hot again tonight and promises to be so for the next week or so ( school is back you see!!!!) We ate tea on the verandah as it was lovely and cool out there!!!

Mr Postman, bring me a dream!!!!

2005-02-19T11:00:00.000+11:00

On Wednesday the GardyGardeners came and the Labradors had tiny pikelets for morning tea. We didn't walk on Thursday as I was too tired, but we had a jolly walk yesterday. We saw a man plumbing and while in the car we saw three kangaroos. We waited while they hopped across the road. Harki has FlippyFloppy ear a bit, I have some drops, and she is off for her yearly check up next week so we are just persevering. Yesterday the postman came to the front door and he passed a parcel through the bay window so Peri was in a happy mood. She has been very playful. Yesterday it rained and it was cooler so they like that. Harki is full of love and keeps trying to get on my lap all the time. When I was in the hall reorganising last night they were having a rough and rowdy game. I had to growl!!!

"Water" day for a day dream!!!!

2005-02-15T12:31:00.000+11:00

We had such a lovely long walk and swim with HollyPolly the Wonder Dog, it was 53 minutes long, but we were all so tired that that day, and the next, we were all so tired that when it was walk day again I could only manage 15 minutes. Harki has been particularly happy over the last few days, it has been warm, but not hot, we even had some rain: she likes the cooler weather. Peri was such a good girl, she jumped on Uncle Mark only once and then was a veritable angel. She is the BEST swimmer, Holly is second with Harki a very close third. Harki swam so fast she was almost able to steal the stick from Holly as she swam back to shore. It was a whirring windmill of arms throwing sticks into the dam for them to fetch. Today Peri rolled in something boogelly so she is sad that I want to wash her or avoid her!!!

Vale Vundy

2005-02-09T16:49:00.000+11:00

We have been for our walks and Harki has been swimming like a real dog!!! Peri is continuing to be quite good too. On the 5th of February it was a year since Vundy the German Shepherd died and went to Dog Heaven. She lives in a box on the mantelpiece with Tori Too. It barely seems as if it is a year and the dogs are slowly getting farther from knowing the original two. Hopefully it will be a while before I need to think about another Labrador. I have been having very long naps in the afternoon, 4 or 5 hours and so the Labradors have been full of beans!!! Today Uncle Barry came and they had Goodos for their treat. Peri just brought the Billyball inside and had a little play, but Harki stole it and it is in a plastic bag with TeddyBunny now. Last Night harki accidentally got Deep Heat on her head and nose and had to be washed!!! She bopped me on my leg, and I was slathered with the Deep Heat. Peri has been sniffing her a lot.

Drip, drip, drop little Doggy shake-shower!!!

2005-02-01T12:41:00.000+11:00

It was not a fluke - Harki swam like a fish again today, as did Peri. Swimming seems to wear them out more quickly than just a walk. They drip everywhere though. Yesterday they just went for a special surprise ride-in-the-car-only to the shop. It was so exciting : Peri sat in the front seat and stuck her head out of my window. She is a rascal!!! Harki has been playing with her tennis ball and they have both been guarding the house from strangers!!!

Gould Gould Gould for Harki!!!!!!

2005-01-29T10:25:00.000+11:00

Saturday, 29 January 2005 ( I wrote this yesterday but didn't come here till today!!!)
Harki is the new Shane Gould!!!!! Today at the dam she swam, out into the water, past the fallen log and way away out to fetch a stick. I was so pleased she was patted and praised and rewarded 1000 times!!! She was so pleased with herself that she was wagging her tail as she swam. She and Peri even cavorted in the shallows, splashing and running after a stick. I think Peri was a little bemused as, up till now, swimming has been solely her province. We spent 28 minutes on our walk, the longest ever, and I am not exhausted, only because I stood and threw sticks for two dogs endlessly rather than doing any actual walking myself.
Peri has discovered how to get the best out of Mr Cool. She places herself on the very end of the bed, right in the breeze and then soaks it all up, like the Andes she blocks all the cold air!! I have to stick a leg out the side to get any coolness at all. She was particularly happy last night as I put ice into Mr Cooly so he was Mr Cold-as-icy. At least a good proper swim cools the Labradors right down, Maybe that is why Harki has decided to swim? Don’t care really!!!!!
Uncle Mark and Aunty Di have given the Labradors a flotsam and jetsam tennis ball each. Harki is holding hers in her mouth and wagging her tail. Peri was initially excited but as she can have the attention span of a tree sometimes, who knows where the ball is now?????

Esther Williams with fur

2005-01-27T10:37:00.000+11:00

I have spotted Peri playing in the paddle pool. The game involves an empty plastic drink bottle with some dry pasta in it and an inordinate amount of splashing and cute ear expressions. I'm not sure what she is actually doing but it keeps her amused and wet and cool for ages!! She bites the water, moves the bottle with her paw, paddles a bit with one front foot and nudges the bottle with her nose. She is very involved , and has the very cutest expression on her face!! Harki is insistent on chasing the DingleDangle toy up and down the stairs. It inevitably gets caught in a tree and I have to trudge up the stairs with a broom, no doubt looking like a witch on her way somewhere, and I have to knock it out for her. She has been playing for an hour and has finally stopped, though her panting sounds like a train engine!!!

Swim Fan

2005-01-26T19:16:00.000+11:00

It is 30 C today so we went for a walk early at about 8 am. It was so hot already that Harki swam and blew bubbles underwater ( Learn to swim term - she put her head underwater), and Peri was swimming in the direction of the Casino!! The Gardygardeners came for morning tea and then we all had a nap till 3 pm when Harki woke me up emanating heat. A breeze has come up now, but Peri has beeen playing in the paddle pool and is wet from head to toe!!!
The Labradors are not built for the heat.

2 Labradors are in the hot wars...none have a wooden horse!!!

2005-01-24T15:47:00.000+11:00

I popped in earlier and couldn't make the page appear!! It is very hot, 27 inside but 40 C or more outside in the sun. Harki is very hot , but still wanted to play. We met a black Labrador and her mother on our walk and then we talked to Auntie Louise on the phone and she has a black Labrador called Jess!!! Now we are all resting from the heat. I did offer them the tail end of the stir fry but they don't like sweet chilli sauce. The only saving grace is that there seems to be a breeze and we did walk early when it was still cool. They may have been in the paddle pool, but mostly it is in the cool kitchen on the slate tiles where refuge is sought.

I'm swimmin' there's no rain, Just swimmin' there's no rain!!!!

2005-01-22T15:04:00.000+11:00

dogblog
There is no rain, it felt like rain last night, but none came so although it is cooler, the Labradors were still glad of their swim/semi-swim. Peri was once again trying to bring me the giant tree trunk half submerged, and then, when she saw there was a man checking the barriers with floaty polystyrene spheres she decided she might like to swim to him!!! I tempted her away with more sticks though she was on a cross-Channel type swim at one stage. harki had her usual paddle and then tried to steal Peri's stick. We all had curry for lunch and now as it is humid we are going to have a nap. Since Peri has turned 3 she is such a good girl, almost as good as Harki-Parki!!!!!

Vine, biscuits and no song!!

2005-01-20T11:40:00.000+11:00

dogblog
Oh, I have never used the 'Blog This' button before!! Yesterday Peri had another trauma!! She was under the pine tree by the gate and would not come when I called her. I squirted near her with the lemon juice of naughtiness and I tried to tempt her with a biscuit, but she would not come. In the end I went back through the gate and went to haul her out - and she had a vine around her neck, right around, and she was stuck!! I had to give her a whole biscuit and a giant cuddle. It has been very hot so they have been sleeping on the slate tiles and paddling in the pool. Today on our walk we saw some kangaroos, and someone chewed my walking stick I had found that was exactly the right length. They have been fed and had a play and a pat and now they are both having a nap. It might rain later on, we hope!!!!

Knock, knock, who's there? Poor little Peri!!!!!!

2005-01-15T13:05:00.000+11:00

What a trauma for poor Peri this morning. At about 3-45 am the Labradors wanted to go outside, so I let them out, and in they came. I went back to bed and harki came, but Peri didn't. I wasn't worried as she goes off to be independent. Horror of horrors, when I woke again at 7 o'clock and opened the door, poor little Peri was outside. She had been out there by herself for 3 hours. What a bad parent I am. She had TeddyBunny in her mouth and would not let him go, and needed love and comfort for at least half an hour. She was beside herself. We have all recovered now, but all day so far she has made sure if one of us moves, she is there and she did the best coming when called on our walk ever!!! I have downloaded pawprints to my mobile phone from www.rspcaqld.org.au but I expect it only works in Australia. They are very cute and free!!!

Happy Birthday Peri

2005-01-10T10:28:00.000+11:00

Today is Peri's birthday and she is a big 3 year old today. Yesterday at the Evandale market I bought a teddy and a bunny - 2 TeddyBunnies!!! How apt- for just $3 altogether. I washed them and Peri chose the Teddy. I wrapped them up, one each, and this morning we sang Happy Birthday to Peri and they opened their presents. Well, Harki did. I taught Harki to sit, and wait until the song was over, and then she could open it, and she did. I have neglected Peri's education. She just carried her presents around in her mouth. I had to show her it was perfectly acceptable to rip open the present. Of course they then looked at each others' toys and immediately swapped!!! Then they had lovely Stephanie Alexander recipe dog food with chicken in it, and garlic flavoured cat-shaped biscuits that I cooked yesterday. Peri is overcome and has had to go for a nap. Harki played with her DingleDangle toy and Teddy, but she is having a sleep as well. When I came home yesterday I was so very tired, but they were so excited to see me. Harki ran around and around in circles on the spot and Peri was beside herself. I gave them a bone so I could go to bed!!!

Floats, Dam Floats and Tree statistics!!!!

2005-01-02T14:12:00.000+11:00

Today Harki had the closest thing she has had lately to a tantrum!! I was giving them the water from cooking the pork when I soaked the pan, and I gave Peri hers first as she needs to be outside incase she decides to carry her plastic plate around : Harki pushed in and when I pushed her back she tried to get in first and made complaining noises in her throat!! There was no growling, Harki has never ever growled at any person. I made her wait for hers a bit longer. I had obviously upset the world order of dogdom in the house. We went to the dam today, Harki had a big paddle and Peri swam, but not to fetch sticks, she was after the net floats in the water and also the very big tree trunk!! She could get neither, but it kept me amused as she was all alert and had her ears up. Very cute!!! She has been digging a hole this afternoon. She had the empty 5 kilo flour bag to play with and emptied the last tiny grains onto her rug, and then refused to lie on it until I shook it all out and refolded it. Harki has had a play with her DingleDangle toy, but we are all having a nap soon !!!

Happy New Year from the Labradors!!!!!

2004-12-31T21:18:00.000+11:00

Yesterday was so very hot we couldn't sleep, we had no doona, only a sheet and Mr Cooly went all night. Harki put the 6 lots of squeaks squeaky toy in the paddle pool. Peri sat in the sun until she was a ball of fire and then came in for a giant drink of water and a big dribble on me!!! This morning we went for a lovely walk. We say the nice lady and her family and their 2 dogs and the old Golden Retriever. I have inadvertently turned Harki into a potential drug sniffing dog. Whenever she sees another dog she sits promptly and correctly!! When we see other dogs I always made her sit and have her lead on . It is a relief she doesn't want to sit forever., and comes when I call her!!! Peri has been at the party next door all afternoon and night. She sits at the fence and waits for a sausage. She is very patient and determined. She has been quite playful, playing with the 6 squeaks toy and romping with Harki too. She comes inside regularly just to le me know what she is doing!!! I actually think she hopes there might be something better to eat inside than out!!

Where do I begin to tell the story of the Labradors who win?

2004-12-29T21:43:00.000+11:00

My word it is a long time since we wrote anything for the Labradors' blog!! They have been for 2 walks, a short one when I was still feeling boogelly, and a longer one today, complete with kangaroos!!! They have played a lot with their new toys and Harki sits near the treat container entreatingly gazing at it, and then at me. Peri has been very happy too. There has been a lot of playing as the weather has been cool and we all appreciate that. They have both been in the paddle pool a lot and so have the toys!! Today is GardyGardeners' day, but they are having 2 weeks off. The Labradors were so excited this morning but eventually gave up their vigil at the fence and front windows. They have had a big bone this afternoon and Harki has alternately guarded hers and growled at Peri or ignored it totally. They are having some dried pear and some cold squishy grapes as a treat!! We met Mary in town, she has Teddy a new fluffy white baby dog and he is a monster. Despite it all she loves him totally!!!

The Labradors are like Angels sparkly!!!!!

2004-12-25T22:07:00.000+11:00

Today is Christmas Day. The Labradors received a lot of presents : a big green garbage bin full of rawhide chews, pigs' trotters, chewy bones, 2 kinds of yummy crunchy treats and 2 TeddyBunnies - a giraffe and a tiger, and 2 squeaky toys, with 6 arms, made in colourful plush fur with a different squeak in every arm. They are very happy. Today I met Dolly and Poppy. They are small but long lovely puppies, Dolly had long fur but Poppy feels the heat and has been clipped. They are like lap dogs and very quiet- not gallumphing great elephants like the Labradors. Tori Angel and Peri look like Auntie Janette's dog 'Tinker'!!!!!

Walkin' in sunshine, Oh Oh!!!!!

2004-12-22T20:56:00.000+11:00

Due to the dreaded lurgy the poor Labradors have been barely spoken to as I have almost lost my voice, and today was the first day they have had a walk since Saturday. It was with considerable delight then, that we trekked to the dam and engaged in a lovely walk!!! Joanie's Mum says that Joanie's brother, Brad, pops in every now and then. Joanie is a lovely Labrador whose bark is worse than her bite!! When I saw her today she had all her hackles up and she was woofing right up till the time she pushed her head into my hand for a lot of pats and cuddles!!! She is older than Harki and Peri and has no fences at her house but she NEVER RUNS AWAY!!! The Labradors would be gone like a shot!! In fact Tori led several escapes, one to the school oval , crossing many busy roads and taking Vundy with her!! Peri used to want to escape but now she loves Harki so much she can't bear to be parted from her. She has a pious awe of Harki. The GardyGardeners gave the Labradors a kangaroo bone each and I had to come back down the stairs as Peri wouldn't take hers as it was too close to Harki who was giving her the evil eye!! The Labradors sent Joanie and HollyPolly a present too.
Hello to Brad, and to Luke too!! The Labradors hope you are well!!!!!

My boot scootin' baby, your paws look like they're grey-ey

2004-12-20T09:54:00.000+11:00

The Labradors went for a walk 2 days ago. There was no water in the creek, but just enough mud so that when Harki went in she ended up with black gumboots on!!! By the time we got home they were clay grey and she spent a lot of time cleaning her paws. She didn't want to go into the paddle pool though. Peri has been a good girl, even though she apparently took my new Labrador mug into the garage, it wasn't chipped or broken at all. She likes to carry things but not really chew them anymore. We are not having a walk today as my cold has taken a turn for the worse into something else. They have been fed and we played Dingledangle toy for 45-60 minutes so they are having a nap now.

Now we are three ( well soon)

2004-12-16T10:59:00.000+11:00

As I have a boogelly cold, we had a short walk and swim today. Peri swam and Harki paddles as per usual. Peri is getting very good at coming, about time too as she is almost 3!!! Harki will now eat pecans. Vundy, Tori and Peri all liked them but Harki never has. She must be hungry enough to eat them!! Peri has a new trick. She carries her plate or a container around in her mouth and I put a little bit of food in it and set carries it elsewhere and puts it down really carefully and then eats the food!!
It is still cool and so we all , more or less, slept all night. I may sleep again soon. It is a goos thing the girls are trained to nap!!!

I love I love I love my could-be-on-a-calendar girls!!!!

2004-12-14T01:28:00.000+11:00

Yesterday we went to the dam and the Labradors had a swim. Peri swims like a fish and brings back sticks so well. I has some stale ginger biscuits in my pocket and she came even when I didn't call her and she sat because she really liked them. Peri is so excited when she swims back with the stick she swallows water and has to cough. Harki paddled up to her belly which is as high as she likes to go without doing any of your actual swimming!!! She wanted to 'fetch' the giant tree trunk in the water and spent a lot of time not being able to do it. It wasn't a long walk as it was too hot so the swim was extra exercise.
Today we had a little walk to the bakery where I tied them to the bin and then they sat on command like they were posing for a calendar. Peri cries but they wait patiently. They were so cute!!! Harki has a little sore ear but I am putting ointment in it and she seems happy. It is much cooler as we has thunder and lightning storms. When I cam home Peri was soaking wet: she had obviously been happily capering in the rain. They are tired from the heat and have gone to bed.

It's hip to be cool!!!

2004-12-10T07:47:00.000+11:00

The Labradors lurve Mr Cooly, they lie on the end of the bed and bask in his blowy coolness. It was so hot yesterday that after our walk I filled up the paddle pool again and then hosed them to keep them cool. It is hot inside the house, but cooler outside as there is generally a breeze and there is plenty of shade. Last night they were eating their bones together, sharing the rug outside, it was so cute. Peri had my boot when I came home but it had not been chewed at all, only dribbled on!!! They drink a lot of water though : they have a 10 litre plastic container inside and I fill it up often in the summer. Peri sometimes used to empty it!! but there is always the paddle pool outside.

Viva Hot Vegas!!!

2004-12-08T11:43:00.000+11:00

The Labradors are big lumps of heat. Harki is so hot as she has been running up and down the stairs and performing crying and yipping at the fence. She is overwrought and now she is snoring!! Peri has been more playful now she feels better and she is asleep too. Mr Cooly, the sir conditioner, goes during the night now it is so warm and the Labradors lie on the end of the bed to catch all the coolest air. Harki was quite cold last night.
Mr Teddymonkey and Mr Teddytiger are in some pieces now, not capable of being thrown but both the girls like to carry various pieces around in their mouths and play tug-of-war. If it is any hotter I will have to hose them every afternoon to keep them cool. It is quite windy which takes the worst of the heat away.

Wax on : wax off!!!

2004-12-04T16:00:00.000+11:00

Poor little Peri is such a good girl : even though she hates having drops in her eyes, I think it runs down the back of her throat and tastes awful, she comes and sits and has them!! We saw the man on the bike and his 2 small B&W dogs and the Indian lady with her short black Labrador. Whenever Harki sees someone coming she sits - I always make her sit when someone comes close, but now if she sees someone in the distance she plonks herself down straight away!!! They got 2 new Teddybunnies today : a tiger and a monkey. I also bought them some organic Dog Wax, which I have rubbed on them and then brushed in well, brushing out bales of fur as well. They really liked the lavender smell and it has calmed them to sleep!!!

Doctor, doctor gimme the news, I've got a bad case of eyes for you!!!

2004-12-01T15:46:00.000+11:00

Last night Auntie Gaye gave me a Labrador soft toy for Christmas. The real Labradors at home were very excited and both wanted to snatch the toy Labrador and play with it but I would not let them. It was smelled severely though!! Thank you Auntie Gaye!!!
Peri went to the Vet to see Dr Tim. She was, coincidentally, there on December the second last year. It is definitely somenthing in the garden, She was loud and rowdy and so excited, she started being excited as we drove into the Vet. People patted her and she sat on the seat and her tail made the blind make a noise!!!
She had an injection and has some eye drops that need to be put in 3 times a day. Harki was sad and felt neglected but she is much happier today, although she had to have pretend drops as well!! When I popped next door Harki sat at the fence and yelped and cried as she was on the other side. Peri did her unclever trick : if she has something in her mouth and you offer her another thing, she can't work out what to do, it is like a computer error. In the end she tries to swallow the first thing really quickly, or if it is a bone, she looks longingly at the new treat but won't let go of the old one!!!

In the cool, cool, cool of the morning, tell them I'll be there!!

2004-11-29T15:38:00.000+11:00

Well it is a lot cooler today. As I am tired we didn't have a walk and I certainly feel better for it. Harki has had an excellent play with the giant tennis ball in a plastic bag again. Poor little Peri was sick last night, but on the slate not on the carpet. She felt much better afterwards. The Labradors are having their afternoon nap now. It is quite windy and several times the back door has shut them in or out and it has been very traumatic. Tomorrow we will have a long walk - well 20-25 minutes - and maybe a play under the hose.

Time for a cool change.

2004-11-28T15:50:00.000+11:00

Short of hosing them, there is little I can do for the poor hot Labradors. We are hiding out inside, and they are sleeping on the cold slate floor and the polished boards. They are not too hot to eat though. During the night, they were too hot to sleep in the bedroom. We are hoping for a cool change.

Feelin' hot, hot, hot!!!

2004-11-27T14:47:00.000+11:00

Harki was very unhappy when she got home as the creek is drying up and is really just a big mud puddle and she got her fur all dirty. She had to spend quite a lot of time making herself clean. Peri ran and ran but did come when she was called which was a little bit if a miracle. It is very warm and humid and we long for rain. It is even too hot to play according to the Labradors. Now we are all having a nap and iceblocks too!!!

Labradors, Labradors, go wherever a fishie can!! Can they swim? Listen bud, they've got lots of fishie blood!!

2004-11-25T15:37:00.000+11:00

See, today I am much smarter, I have learned from my mistakes, I am writing this in Word first and copying and pasting so it won’t get lost again. Early this morning while it was still cool we went outside and emptied the paddle pool, which is a green double shell plastic one, and filled it up with the hose. There was much leaping about and snapping at the stream of water. I lost the secateurs for a while, but because I looked for them in shoes- they thought it was going for a walk time then : they went beserkers-bonkers, running up and down the stairs non-atop. They were tired before we even left to go for a walk!! The other people were on a walk with their dogs, so the Labradors had to stay on their leads in the bush. Otherwise they had a lovely time!!! When we came home we all needed a rest. As it has been warm they have been napping, outside in the brilliant sunshine mostly, then they come in for a big drink and a pat. Peri comes in all wet up to the tide mark of the pool and her head is all wet form being submerged!!! I can hear the Dingledangle toy outside , its bell ringing hopefully, as Harki cries pitifully, needing to play!!!

Bah Humbug

2004-11-23T16:27:00.000+11:00

Bah humbug, I did a whole lot of writing and there was an error and it didn't make it to the blog. Basically, we have been for a walk, had a tug of war game with a toy, eaten chicken wing tips and sun bathed all day.

Gonna jump down, turn around, steal a reel of cotton!!!

2004-11-22T15:58:00.000+11:00

I came here earlier this morning but there was some huge error happening and I couldn't post any of the Labradors' news. Yesterday I took them for a walk, we saw a Samoyed and they had a big run and a big play. Peri had a huge lump of hair that had not come out when it should have, so I brushed her. She was not so happy about that, but when it was over she danced about. Peri has been in and out of the paddle pool as the weather has been quite warm.
This morning there was no walk but they have had a frantic play and a run outside and I bought them some special 'clean your teeth' dog biscuits. Harki liked them so much she rested her head on my lap, looked up at me and dribbled a lot, in general anticipation. Peri has been sunbaking and keeps coming inside in an absolute fever and having to have giant drinks. Harki has had her Dingledangle toy in a bag. I tied it up and it kept her amused for a few minutes. Tomorrow is walk day.
Yesterday when I came home Peri had stolen the bag of cotton reels, with cotton on them!! and the bag was by the gate and the cottons were all by the back door. It was my own fault for not picking them up. Nevertheless, I shut the Labradors in the Forbidden Zone while I picked the cottons up and they cried piteously. I could not believe how upset they were to be locked out for 2 minutes. The reunion on opening the gate was as if I had been in the desert for 40 years a la Moses!!!!

These boots are not made for walking

2004-11-20T10:10:00.000+11:00

I have been quite tired, and in fact we are not going for a walk today, even though it is a designated walking day. We have had a very big play for an hour with the big tennis ball in a bag however, and Harki was so puffed out she had to have a sleep. Yesterday the labradors had a rawhide bone as a recompense as I came home smelling of ACMA's Mum and Dad's dog, Mac. They do not like any form of betrayal!!! When I go out to in 1/2 an hour they will have a bone and we will have fun walk tomorrow!!!
When I came home yesterday I found one shoe infront of the TV and realised :
1. I hadn't picked my shoes up and put them away, and
2. Peri had taken one shoe.
I found it in the garage UNCHEWED. She knew she had been semi-bad!! There was a big NOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
but no smacks or other growls and then they all had a big pat.

Everything's scone to the dogs!!!!

2004-11-17T12:12:00.000+11:00

The Labradors were in heaven today as they had a lovely scone each for morning tea!! It was a white chocolate and cranberry scone with raspberry jam and cream. I know it is wrong but it was only a small half scone. Harki was so excited she was asking with her front paws non-stop, sitting and was too hyper to do 'Drop". Peri came out from behind her little corner of the table - I know it is round but she sits in a corner of the building. She stood on the barrier and watched the tray of scones. Harki is playing with a tennis ball in a plastic bag. She lies on her back, holds the bag between her front paws and then dangles the ball down and bites it. She is very inventive. Peri steals the ball quite a bit but has a short attention span. They are having a biscuit as I am off out but they can have a bone too. This morning they were so happy that I had a Labrador on each side of me, trapping me in bed!! so then I could pat them both. Harki is very jealous if she thinks she is missing out. Peri's little paw seems fine.

Paw Paw Pitiful Me!!

2004-11-16T16:25:00.000+11:00

The Labradors had a very exciting walk today to the dam where there was much swimming about!! Poor little Peri hurt her paw, her left front paw, running after a stick.She cried and licked it and held it up, but there was no blood and I couldn't feel anything in it. They have both been trying to lie on the Bunny sleeping bag, it is even more popular now it had eyes and ears. Harki has been playing with a vengeance with TeddyBuny and with DingleDangle toy. They are both bright and happy in the morning. Harki likes to be on the couch and lies there and snore up a storm. Peri still likes to be under something on the bed so I put a little blanket over her and she wags her little tail furiously!!!

God is NOT on our side on the fence

2004-11-13T15:13:00.000+11:00

We awoke to a warm day and a warm welcome. The Labradors are very happy. It must be Spring. They had breakfast and then a nap!!! Harki played with her DingleDangle toy, a barbell with a bell in it. She was so excited every time I went to throw it she has paroxysms of joy and then wouldn't go up the stairs to get it!!!
Peri really wanted the chicken wings we had for lunch and she sat between the printer and the chair near the computer and was very well behaved and cute and had a lot of chicken skin!!! Now we are all going to have a nap - Oh the Jehovah's people came and were put out they couldn't get in the gate - damned cheek of them. The Labradors did a lot of jumping and had a treat!!!

The scent but no woman

2004-11-12T09:54:00.000+11:00

Yesterday we stayed home all day, we didn't even go out the back gate to get the paper till 5 pm. This morning the Labradors were uberexcited and could barely contain themselves. We had a lovely walk and there was much dipping in the creek pool and Harki ended up looking like the evil Gremlin - Spike? - with a tufty dark head. They have had Optimum Beef for breakfast and it appears to be the dog equivalent of Froot Loops. They think they are having lollies for a meal!!! Now they are all wet and they are having a sleep. Last night they had a chicken frame when we went to Bridget Jones : The edge of reason. I was fixing ACMA's bag for her and they went beserkers-bonkers every time it came out. They were very confused. It is quite warm despite the rain and they are both hot!!!!! ( I would also like to point out that the spell check questioned 'tufty' but let 'beserkers-bonkers' straight through to the keeper)

Labradors in Pyjamas aren't coming down the stairs

2004-11-10T13:00:00.000+11:00

Yesterday we stayed in our pyjamas all day and only went to get the letters and the papers. Peri is much better, all the trauma of the ointment seems to have worked and although her muzzle is pink, it is pink and not raw looking. Harki is in fine form today. We had a lovely walk and they smelled a big trailer and had a dip. I made them new biscuits, oat and garlic, and they must be mighty tasty as they run to have one. Uncle GardyGardener came today and Harki was so excited she was beside herself. She did 'drop', which is the ultimate in begging. Peri did a big skid, running from the window to do a perpendicular turn into the hall she did a 180 degrees slide and hit the wall of the kitchen!!! It didn't hurt or even wind her. She is such a good girl now she is almost 3. We have played DingleDangle ball and had a play outside too.

I've not got plenty of muzzle!!!!

2004-11-08T14:26:00.000+11:00

Today the Labradors both rolled in a dead dry marsupial a bit but were tempted away by cross words and a biscuit. There were plenty of puddles to play in and we did!! Poor Peri has a sore muzzle again. She is having her turn at being allergic, I have put ointment on her little face but she might be going to the Hospital tomorrow. At first it seemed she had skinned her nose in a big playing fit, but this morning more of the black was worn off and she was a bit unhappy. Not too unhappy to leave me a lizard in the hall though. Why would I want a lizard? It is like being on Survivor - I would be very popular if Peri caught a lot of things to eat. The lizards must be sunning themselves on the rocks as the days grow warmer, and they are not playing attention!!!! Harki has been playing with her Dingle Dangle ball, and there has been frolicking in the paddle pool too!!! We wrote the song for our Christmas card verse for Christmas 2004!! It is to 'Oh Tannenbaum' or "Oh Christmas Tree". We are very pleased, but I can't put it here till the cards have been sent out!!!