But first, lemme take a selfie
Payton has taken way better selfies than this before. I guess he just wasn’t feeling it that day.
Big smile from Rizzo!
And Kaner who is doing a shoulder stall also, winning the selfie game for the day.
Shed Hunting
A few years ago, I found out what shed hunting was. I found the idea fascinating, so I leashed Payton up with his harness and we went prowling out and about in the woods. Our timing was probably off, though, and we found nothing.
Last year, I remembered this, so leashed him up and away we went again. But again, we found nothing – and probably, again, had some bad timing.
This year, I remembered a bit earlier, and off we went!
Six miles of trekking around in the deep woods later, we still had nothing. I came home and researched and wondered if I was too late, but heard of a lot of people saying deer were still holding where they were.
Well, circumstances happened and we weren’t able to get out again for several weeks.
But then.
WE FOUND ONE! Our very first shed. I searched the surrounding area methodically but was unable to locate the partner. It’s not very big, but it’s still a shed!
Life then got back in the way, and by the time we headed out again, green grass had sprung up several inches across the woods. There might still be sheds out there, but we’ve missed our opportunity again for the year.
Next year – better planning? More sheds?
In the meantime, we have a lot of fun hiking and spending time together, just the two of us, sheds or no sheds.
Weirdos Sleep Funny
My dogs are weird.
First of all, you have this puppy with a bedtime.
One night he actually stayed up past his bedtime and it was pretty earth shattering.
Like he was tired but also he wanted to play maybe?
“I know I should go to sleep and I kinda want to but also I want some belly rubs.”
Happy little guy up past his bedtime!
And then sometimes this happens…
For some reason Rizzo is totally cool with Kane sitting on his head.
Also, there’s this.
Like I feel like this is how drunk people sleep when they’re afraid they might vomit.
This may have been past his bedtime and it was just too bright in the living room so he needed to bury his head under a pillow…
Or maybe just curl up on top of the arm entirely…
Yeah, that’s obviously what the arms of sofas was intended for.
Also sometimes he does this thing where I’m working and he rolls over and rests his head against my shoulder. Possibly because he loves his mommy.
I love him too so I guess it works.
February Snow
Snow! The most significant snow event this winter. Actual snow instead of ice. WOW.
Kaner likes it.
Payton appreciates it when you throw snowballs at him and he gets snow all over his face (no, really.)
Also I know you really just came here to see a cute puppy with snow on his face, so here you go.
Kaner on his tippy board like “Look I’m at the bottom, gimme cookie!”
Rizzo’s First Bath
So Rizzo’s breeder gave him a bath right before he came to me, so he really didn’t need a bath for a while. But everybody else was in good need of a bath, so since I was at it…
RIZZOSAURUS
Sudsy guy.
Making woe face like a good sheltie does!
Kane might be jealous…
I decided I wanted to take a cute selfie with Rizzo…
Buuuuut I think Kane might be jealous.
“You used to take cute selfies with me, mom.
With me.”
Family Photos – Rizzo at 21 Weeks
More time to play outside! Today I wanted to get a family photo like we did with Auggie and little Kane, so I let everybody run around and get their crazies out first.
Aaaaand more ganging up on Kaner.
Pretty Payton!
Rizzo sitting on the steps… kinda. Sorta. Like somebody I used to know, Happy.
Family… photo. Ha!
There we go, that’s better!
Looking like real, actual dogs who know how to sit and stay…
Happy baby Rizzo!
Winter Romp in Coats
Another light dusting of snow, but this time it brought bitter cold with it. It is January, after all. Poor naked Rizzo needed a winter coat, so my sister came to the rescue again with some cheap coats she found at Target.
Kaner got a nice black Hurtta on clearance for Christmas.
Perfect for running and playing in!
Payton joins in the game – frequently the game is Brown Dogs Chase The Tiny Black Dog.
P has his beautiful blue Hurtta I found at TJMaxx a couple years back. I like it so much I ordered Kane’s online. It’s a shame they don’t make this style anymore.
More brown dogs chasing the little black one.
Rizzo’s coat doesn’t quite fit and it’s not nearly as warm as the Hurtta, but for a growing puppy, it works totally fine!
Pretty Payton.
Rizzo studying his point of attack…
And little Kaner.
Rizzo beating up poor little Kaner, haha!
More chasing and proinking through the snow!
And more ganging up on Kaner. At least Payton and Rizzo are bonding.
Rizzo Blankie
Rizzo has a bedtime.
It is 9PM. Every night, if it is 9PM and he is not taken to bed, he finds himself a spot and goes to sleep. Fast, fast asleep. He does not like to be woken up past his bedtime.
One night he found himself a spot on the couch while I was still up working, and I went ahead and tucked him in with his blankie behind me.
Yes, this is bedtime. Goodnight.
Nope, not to be woken up.
He even pulled his foot in under his blankie, because it was too cold when it was poking out.
Goodnight Rizzo.
December Playtime and December Naps
Christmas is over and the snow has all melted. I still have a few days of Christmas vacation left, so we enjoyed our time together while I developed a new addiction to Supernatural.
Kane found a nice stick, as usual.
And proceeded to run around with it as his prize.
Rizzo thought he might check out the dog walk and I quickly was like NOOOOOPE TOO LITTLE.
So he just ran around being cute instead.
Kaner being really fluffy and a little handsome.
Where did all this fluff suddenly come from?!
Cute Rizzo butt, checkin’ out the agility field.
Running!!
Also lots of running with Kaner.
CSN Chicago replayed the World Series game 7, which I definitely watched again feeling much less calm this time, and included some Rizzo-watching-Rizzo action.
There was also some quality napping going on.
Rizzo curls up so cute and tiny!
And Kane… well.
On to a new year.
Rizzo Road Trip
December 17th dawned with a thin sheet of ice covering everything outside and a winter storm warning for the next day or so.
Sounds like a perfect day for a road trip.
My car is in need of some work to make it long haul road trip ready, and I haven’t been able to find a suitable replacement to buy yet… but no worries! My sister has a lovely new hybrid, and road trips sound like fun!
Driving south, at first we were playing a game of spotting the cars in the ditch. But then it started to clear up a tiny bit after we got about an hour south.
It was about 70 degrees and quite lovely by the time we rolled out of Kentucky.
I think we’re supposed to #MadeInTN here.
We’ve retrieved our item! It’s now dark and we stopped to eat some dinner before turning around and driving back.
Once in Kentucky the rain returned, and as we came further north, the winter weather started to make a return. Thankfully, having been raised in Illinois, we both were comfortable and confident in slowing down just a bit and taking it easy and returned home safe.
With our brand new puppy, who has no idea what he thinks of this white stuff.
Rizzo was born in Florida and after I put out the feelers to try and find another dog to bring our household back to three, his breeder and I connected. Turns out she owns Kaner’s sister! The sheltie world is a small one.
This little guy is fun and rambunctious and was shaping up to be a great little sport dog, so after considering flights, we decided instead of meet halfway and make the exchange.
Once we got home, he was nice and cranky, and wanted nothing to do with his new brothers. I tucked him safely into his puppy crate and we all went to sleep for a good night’s rest.
Happily, the following morning he was much happier and excited to meet his new family.
Our first new family photo!
Also, he sleeps like a dream. I don’t remember what it’s like to have a puppy who willingly takes naps outside of his crate without having to be super tired first…
Bonus: he is super cute.
We explored the new cold white world a little bit.
I think he likes me.
I think I like him too.
Visit with Santa 2016
It’s Santa time!
Surprise – Kane is really good with Santa! He wasn’t exactly sure what to make of him, but he wasn’t really scared either.
You guys have been good? Then maybe, just maybe, you can have a baby brother for Christmas.
Christmas Professional Photos 2016
It’s time again! Our annual professional Christmas photos. As usual, there’s quite a few. And continuing our new tradition, I got props for mine.
Festive headbands?! I think so.
Kandy Kaner thinks this is GREAT.
Payton doesn’t want you to know he also thinks it is great.
Yes. One of my best ideas yet.
Okay okay, let’s get real now. Just some handsome boy dogs.
This is a Payton who is super handsome and super good. Even if he is drooling because he smells girls.
And Kane… well, Kane is Kane and he wants everybody to know that.
My boys!
Oh look at how cute this Kaner is in a photo with me. What a good boy!
And this may or may not be a good representation of my entire relationship with Payton.
(I still love him lots though.)
Payton refuses to look at the camera now. Fine. Jerk.
Georgie next!
Like the beautiful little pro she is.
And then we brought out Stormie and… well.
But hey, we managed a good one anyway!
And then we put the baby in the sleigh because why wouldn’t you?!
Because it’s ADORABLE right?
Okay, so maybe I believe she is a tiny bit trouble.
My mom didn’t want a photo of her with the girls so I took one with the tiny baby Stormie!
MY LIFE.
Just kidding just kidding. We can reign this in.
And one with me and G.
Love my little girly!
And that’s the team for this year… or at least… for right now.
2016 Christmas Tree Time
The tree went up on Thanksgiving morning like it always does. I only cried once – I carefully opened wrappings to discover the pawprint ornaments I made last year were tucked inside. It took me by surprise; I had sort of forgotten I even made them. If I had been prepared, I probably would have been okay, but the surprise made my heart twist and the tears flow.
Once it was all set up, Kane took up a little nap spot in the spot where Auggie used to love to lay. Right under the tree.
Of course, later he would try and figure out how he could get into trouble with the tree…
I’m just looking… “looking.”
This year I also finally set up my “Dog Tree” in the library. A tree just for all my dog and sheep ornaments!
Next year, I’m replacing one of these trees with a pre-lit tree. Ain’t nobody got time to string lights on TWO trees…
Stormie-Wormie Time
Miss Stormie needed her ears reset and her nails done, so I zipped over to my parent’s house to get that done.
I was told she was a really naughty puppy and she barked a lot and also pees in the house.
I think it’s all lies.
This cute face?
Whaaaaat?
Nope. Don’t believe it at all.
Fall Leaves 2016
So many leaves.
So much time raking and mowing and mulching and bagging.
So much time dragging lawn bags to the curb for the city to pick up on yard cleanup days.
So much time wondering if that’s poop or a leaf…
But both of the boys really, really love fall, so I guess it’s okay.
Fast shutter finger got this one just in time before he moved and the leaf fell.
The happiest Payton to ever Payton.
Seriously like I cannot with how happy he is to play in the leaves. At five years old.
YEAH LEAVES
I tried to get these cute photos of KK holding a leaf and it didn’t work because he just wants to eat them.
Surprise: the tiny black dog looks really nice in fall leaves too.
I eat dis.
Meanwhile MORE HAPPY PAYTON who looks like he could just stay in the leaf pile forever.
EAT LEAVES
The amount of leaves in my dog’s coat right now.
But stiiiill happy.
Stop Kaner stop TOO CUTE
WHEEEEEEE
“I know you like this trick, especially in the leaves, because I’m super cute.”
How about… a double head-down?
*high pitched screaming*
KANER LOVES HIS PAYTON
My boys.
Meet Stormie
Georgie got a new baby sister!!
We drove to Indianapolis to decide between this cute girl and her big brother. Both of them were cute and clever and playful, but something about this little girl… for some reason, she reminded us all just a bit of Auggie. Well, that makes the decision right there.
Riding in her crate on the way back.
At home and ready to play!
Boys in a Washtub
So I bought this really nice metal washtub because I wanted to use it for a Pinterest garden project.
But first I had to put my dogs in it.
Beat that, Pinterest. Way cuter than drilling a hole in the bottom and filling it with flowers.
Kaner, getting bigger
Just a couple photos of Kaner to check in how he’s growing and to send off to his breeder…
Just the ear set. Came out nicely and gives him a really nice expression. Sweet from the side. A little playful from the front!
Full body. He definitely still has a lot of conditioning and muscling out to do, and also, his little naked coat really needs to fill out – but he’s a handsome little naked dude!
The Last Photos of Auggie
It has been really hard to get into these photos.
Several of these are photos I took after he came home. Still more are photos my sister came and took of us.
I’ll do my best, y’all, but some of these may just have no commentary.
The photos of Auggie’s final night at the vet will be hidden behind a link… I know those can be really hard to look at, especially for those of us who have lost beloved dogs. So I give you the option of preparing your heart, and then clicking to enter into those photos.
Here we go… the last round of photos of the best dog I will ever own.
July 4th – home on his bed after that first weekend. All I wanted was to be able to bring my dog home and have him curl up on my bed with me again. So so blessed to have been able to do that.
That Obi-Wan Kenobi pillow became Auggie’s pillow over the years. He slept with his head on it so many times. When I packed up all his things, I packed that pillow up along with it.
Our 33 week family photo… he clearly didn’t feel well this day. This was when he still wasn’t up to eating again.
With his niecelette, Georgie.
One more time – the hilarious disaster that is my three.
Payton with his bro. He loved his Auggie so very much. Just like we all did. Best brothers and best friends.
This is a photo of the best dog I will ever own.
A kiss from Georgie.
This beautiful photo my sister took. He obviously was feeling much better by Sunday. Look at that big, beautiful, happy smile.
Trying to get another family photo… just one last one with all of us.
Nobody would look at the camera, so I looked the same direction they were looking – ha!
The last one of all three of my great dogs with me.
One last jump, buddy.
Joy, right up until the end. Doing what we loved to do together.
We were at Louisville last year – the year Auggie retired from agility – and my friend Gary’s wife told me one day, “I love to watch you with your dog. Because no matter what your run went like, you pick him up at the end and you give him a kiss. And then he puts his little head on your shoulder, and you give him a kiss again.”
I’m so fortunate to have this photo. It is one of the things I will always remember most about Auggie.
32 Week Family Photo
32 week family photos! Two this time, neither of which is really worthy of going on anybody’s wall…
Auggie. Forever the best at photos.
Kane and Payton. Forever ruining everything.
Payton thinks he’s pretty bloody clever though.
31 Week Family Photo
Well, at 31 weeks, this is much more like a regular family photo, right? Nobody is smiling and nobody wants to get that close and Payton won’t even LOOK at Kaner today.
30 Week Family Photo
30 weeks! The best part is they all look like they like each other here. Sitting so nice and close and everybody smiling.
Not at all like real families, right?
