Grace Update

Hello Everyone!

I just wanted to say hello, and let everyone know what a great time I am having these days. I love trotting around, sleeping in my basket, sleeping on the barstool, sleeping on mommy's lap, sleeping on the bed, chasing bugs outside, stalking bugs in the grass, jumping at falling leaves, and even retrieving Laz' ball. (He really seems to not like it when I do that, but it is hard to resist that big pink ball!)

I also wanted to thank Daddy for climbing up and getting me out of the tree today. I meowed so he could hear that I was stuck, and he came right up and got me. I'm not sure how I got that high up in the tree, but I was sure glad he helped me down.

Also, I just LOVE playing with Moses. Sometimes, I wake him up in the middle of the night to play! He is always game! Mom and Dad don't always like it, but we don't care!

-Meow

Grace

Clearin' Brush!

This past weekend we did the Texas thing, and "cleared brush!" The previous owners of our house had not taken care of the yard for ten years or so, so we had some major clearing out to do. We had standing dead trees and everything was on the verge of being choked out. We worked hard to clear the undergrowth and trim limbs and make piles, which we chipped on Saturday. It was hard work, but the results were worth it.

Note the tree near the center of the first set of pictures, and the fence and background trees in the second set for reference.

Laz, Moses and Grace were not involved with this project, and I am happy to report that while Kevin and I are scratched and bruised, we have all our digits.

-Julie

Grace's..I mean Moses' new bed

So, as seen from earlier posts, Grace likes to lay on Laz and Mos' bed. This gave me an idea. I decided to make Grace a kitty bed, just for her. So, I borrowed Ellen's sewing machine and went to work. Moses was very interested in it while I was making it... especially the fluffy parts. Anyway, when I finished the bed, Grace was

uninterested in it, but Moses LOVES it. I set it next to his sleeping bed so he could use both and stretch out, but he tried to squeeze himself onto the kitty bed. I guess I should have made it big enough for Moses. (It turned out to be cheaper to make myself, and I could buy material and foam made in the USA)

Trip to Rust Belt

I had a conference in Dearborn, Michigan this past weekend. It was nice to experience some cooler weather and to see some family. I drove down to Portage, OH on Friday to see some relatives on my Mom's side. This is the town both my maternal grandparents grew up. I also enjoyed being in the Detroit area. I like seeing industrial landscapes since I do not get to see that too much in Texas. Julie did not get to go this time, but she was excited that I brought home a small package from Kleever's Jewelers in Bowling Green.

Kevin

Photos: Portage, Ohio
Jeep Motors Plant, Toledo
Julie excited

Holy Moses!!!

So, what exactly are you trying to tell us?

You didn't like your kibble?
You didn't get to play enough?
You didn't want us to leave?
Or, you REALLY like ketchup?

By the way, that trash can has a lock on it.
Moses managed to figure out how to unlock it.

Thanks Dr. Long... and here we thought Moses was maturing...
He just felt crummy, and now he is better.

Hello from Grace

Hi! It is Grace Here.

I just wanted to let everyone know that I am feeling fine after my surgery. I have been hanging around with Moses a lot lately. He has been obsessed with the bones Dad brought back from Granzin's. I don't care much for them because they don't have meat on them. I can't figure out why everyone else eats anything but meat!




I've also found this great place to nap. I'm not sure why Mom and Dad got me such a big bed, and why Moses sometimes lays on it, but that is okay. It is still comfy!

-Grace

Grace Has Surgury

Grace has had surgery to be spayed, and I am happy to report that she is fine and doing well. She is pretty cute these days as she longingly looks out the windows as if to say, "Can't I go out now"? She seems to have survived her second surgery of her short 5 months!




When we dropped her off at the vet, her pal Moses came along to get checked out too. Turns out he has tonsillitis and has to take 6 pills a day! Luckily, I got him some tasty pill pockets so that it won't be so bad to take them.

-Julie

Our First Delta Visit

I LOVE VISITING PEOPLE!

I had such a great time wearing my vest and visiting the Hays County Nursing Home and Rehabilitation last Friday. Mom and Dad took me and Mosi to this fun place where people were just waiting to meet us and give me treats and pets. I think I met at least 50 new friends. When we got home, we were so tired we didn't even move until the next morning. All that visiting really takes it out of me! I cant' wait to go again!

Your Pal,

-Laz

DELTA VESTS ARRIVE!

It is so exciting. My Delta Society vest has arrived. I am so happy about it. When Mom showed it to me, I just wagged and grinned to tell her how happy I am about it. Moses kept trying to get between Mom and me when she was fixing the straps on my great new vest, but then he got interested in Grace and she got it, and I got to show it off! Mom took a bunch of pictures of it! We are going to visit Hays County Nursing Home on Friday. Mom wants me to ask everyone to pray for us!!

Your Pal,

Laz

Be sure to click on the pictures to see them close up!

Grace Update

Hello friends, this is Grace here. I am aware that there has been quite a lot of talk about the rest of the pack and their Delta Society this and North Dakota friends that, well it is my turn! Moses and I are best buds now and we like to play, nuzzle, and sleep together-- of course in Mom and Dad's bed. I have been trying new foods lately, I am especially fond of turkey, meaty spaghetti sauce, and Laz's joint enhancer treats that really stink. With all this food, I am up to 5.5 pounds!

I have been coming on the walks lately. I like to stay behind a little bit and explore the nearby areas. I even got to visit with Debbi, one of Laz's best friends, on our walk this morning! Just when everyone thinks that I am becoming more and more like a dog, I will jump up and climb a tree just to show my kitty street cred.

Meow!

Grace

Grand Forks

Last weekend Kevin and I traveled to Grand Forks, North Dakota. Kevin attended a conference, and I visited with some friends I haven't seen in a while. We visited with a lot of people, and spent a lot of time with Noel, Lazie's first girlfriend. Noel is a five year old Chesapeake Bay Retriever who Laz met at obedience class at Daria's Place. She and Laz were top students and bonded as Julie and Darla would work with them every week. We also got to spend a lot of time with Noel's parents, Darla and Brian, and we got to see Monty who Laz knows from dog class. We also got to see Monty's Mom, Pene and her new human son Cameron who was really cute and alert for three months. We were also able to see Sharon and Sherm, who are very special to us. Brad and Kristen invited us over for dinner and we got to see our favorite ice skater, Ella and meet Autumn, her new sister. We also got to see another of Lazie's pals, Zipper who came to his first birthday party. We rounded out the trip with a visit with Mike and Stacey and a trip to Home of Economy, arguably the strangest store on earth. While it was nice to be in Grand Forks for the weekend, it was very strange being there without Laz. Moses was very young when we left, but much of our life in North Dakota was so influenced by adding Lazarus to our pack.

It was nice to go to a place with cooler weather for a few days, and it seems the weather has broken here in San Marcos, as it has been in the high 70s and low 80s the past few days.

Because of the cooler weather in Texas, Laz is like a whole new dog! Each degree lower that it gets, the better and more energetic Laz feels. He just seems so happy these days. He went swimming this morning so it is not too cold for that! I do think he noticed the sniffs of his home town, Grand Forks, on our clothes and suitcases.

We were also able to eat at a Grand Forks institution, the Italian Moon. (pictured) The food was good, but I found it pricier than I remember! :)

-Julie

Progress as seen by a home movie

It is amazing what a little time and patience can do. Moses and Grace are best buddies now. They love to play. Grace will even wake up Moses to play with her in the middle of the night. While she is still learning not to bite and to keep those nails tucked away, they both seem to really enjoy each other. It is difficult to capture the tender moments between them, I've added a few home movies to watch. The first is of Lazarus and Moses. The second is of Moses and Grace. Moses barks at her to say "Play with me!" at the end of the movie. He is still figuring her out!

Doggie Dip Day '08

Doggie Dip Day 2008 finally rolled around this past weekend, and it marks the greatest day of the year for Lazarus, as well as the beginning to the end of the summer. Doggie Dip Day is when the spring fed pool at Landa Park is opened to dogs and their owners for swimming and fun. There were several chocolate labs and many labs of various colors. There were dogs of all types though and all seemed to have a good time.

Laz was, of course, the best swimmer (totally unbiased opinion) and didn't get out of the water the entire time (12-4) except for the occasional treat and to tinkle. Laz even learned to use the ladder to get out of the pool so as to not waste any energy getting out and preserving energy for swimming.

Moses did quite a bit of swimming, and especially liked fetching the pink and purple frisbee. Both Laz and Mos jumped off the "dock" in the middle of the pool and, although Moses was scared to do it, he was proud of himself after. Mostly, Moses enjoyed meeting pretty ladies and getting pets.

Jack and Ellen also came. Jack was tentative at first of the water, but he did do a little swimming and enjoyed running around with all the dogs as well.

Our Famous Football Picks

We are specifically doing this late this year so as to not throw-off the betting lines in Vegas...


AFC East
Julie: New England, Miami (Wild card), New York, Buffalo
Kevin: New England, New York (Wild Card), Buffalo, Miami

AFC North
Julie: Pittsburgh, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Baltimore
Kevin: Pittsburgh, Cleveland, Cincinnati, Baltimore

AFC South
Julie: Tennessee, Indianapolis (Wild Card), Jacksonville, Houston
Kevin: Jacksonville, Indianapolis (Wild Card), Houston, Tennesseee

AFC West
Julie: San Diego, Kansas City, Oakland, Denver
Kevin: San Diego, Denver, Oakland, Kansas City

NFC East
Julie: Dallas, Washington (Wild Card), New York, Philadelphia
Kevin: Dallas, Philadelphia (Wild Card), New York, Washington

NFC North
Julie: Minnesota, Chicago, Green Bay, Detroit
Kevin: Minnesota, Detroit, Green Bay, Chicago

NFC South
Julie: Atlanta, New Orleans (Wild Card), Tampa Bay, Carolina
Kevin: New Orleans, Carolina (Wild Card), Tampa Bay, Atlanta

NFC West
Julie: Seattle, Arizona, St. Louis, San Francisco
Kevin: Seattle, Arizona, St. Louis, San Francisco


SUPER BOWL
Julie: San Diego over Dallas
Kevin: Dallas over Jacksonville

My First Trip "Out West"

Last week, I traveled to West Texas to visit the Ranch for which I work. It was an amazing trip, and an amazing landscape. I was expecting tumbleweeds and dust, but it was lush, green and beautiful. Below are some pictures.

It was nice to see the end product for which my daily tasks are directed. The ranch is experiencing a drought, and although there has been some hardship, the excellent management by the ranch owners and managers has proved effective in the recovery of the range during this time.