A California Haloween

I am visiting my parents in California this Halloween. Since I didn't bring any of my own animals, the beasts here have agreed to stand in. They have been working on their costumes and they are ready to show them off...

Kane and Tag the collies are jokers, and as you can see, they didn't need much of a costume since they act that way every day.

Hoover the lab is in a great costume but you just can't see the rider on his back - it's a headless horseman.

Spartacus decided to go as a scary black cat!

And Jack (aka Jack O' Lantern) chose to go as a king.

He's on his throne! Get it? Get it? Ok. Cheap joke - it's not my fault, my dad said it first.

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!

Leaving On A Jet Plane

On Friday I will be flying down to California to visit my parents - and go to DISNEYLAND! I grew up five minutes from there but I still love every visit to the Happiest Place On Earth.
I bought a new suitcase for the trip and the house cats have been breaking it in for me. This wouldn't be too big of a problem except at the other end of my journey, more than one cat awaits my arrival. My parent's cats, Spartacus, Mr. Smee, Hamish and Jack won't be happy about the smell of foreign visitors from the North all over my suitcase. Not that that will deter Salem and Poe from helping me pack. Because I am flying, I won't be taking any dogs. I don't know who will be more traumatized. Me? or Skid? You almost fit, Skid. It's tempting.

Fraidy Cats

Since Kit has been gone, our barn cats have started to come out of the woodwork and relax a little. We are actually finding out that we have more cats than we realized.There are three different litters of kittens but only 5 kittens total.Cali is the matriarch of the cat population and all the kittens follow her around, even when they don't belong to her. She makes sure that all is well before they come out of their hiding places.This kitten is my favorite. Kit killed almost all of his litter and he was mauled and had big gashes on his stomach and side. I don't know why he wasn't hurt worse but Togo found him in the barn huddled with his remaining sister. His sister was hiding her head, sure that the death blow was coming but even tho he was only 4 weeks old and weak and in shock from his wounds, he was bravely facing Togo who was barking at him. (kittens being so dangerous and all) Scott and I moved him and his sister out of the barn and into the shop where I could feed him and keep his wounds clean.

He recovered, and even tho Cali is not his mother he follows her everywhere. She and the other cats keep a wary eye out for predators while he plays in the sun.

Prison

We've closed the sheep up for the winter in a fenced pasture behind the barn. That means Togo has lost his freedom and now has to stay with the sheep all the time. Of course, he just climbs over the fences and goes where he wants. I have some tricks that will stop this but I'd like him to understand that he can't leave them. I decided I needed to have a talk with him:

Togo, you need to understand that you must stay in this pasture with the sheep. There are plenty of things you can do in this pasture.
You can still swim when it's hotand you can still eat your food anytime you want.But I want to be with YOOOOU!I know, and we can still play goofy games, but it has to be in this pasture with the sheep.And look, you can still chew bones over here. Right? Togo?
Huh?Are you listening to me?

I'm not talking to you right now.

A White Halloween?

Environment Canada (Canada's weather service) needs to understand the difference between snow and snow flurries.
This is not a flurry Salem says this is not funny He thought he was being clever by sneaking out when the dogs went outside today.
He was in for a surprise. OK enough laughing! Let me in now!

Happy Thanksgiving Day Canada!

Different Lives

I took both of these pictures today. All I can say is -
Some dogs work for a livingAnd some dogs don't