Friends. Such Good Friends.

Friends

Amigos

друзья

Vrienden

Amis

Amici

友人

Gosh

We're just realizing

We've got 'em from all those countries

All those languages

Prob'ly even more.

FRIENDS

Those with whom we share a bond of Mutual Affection.

They come in all Shapes

All Sizes

All Colors

And we'd even go so far as to say

All different numbers of Arms and Legs

and 

All different kinds of Hands and Paws and Feet.

And the expanse of them has multiplied

Exponentially

(Like that good strong term, B Cubed?)

Ever since we moved into the Neighborhood of 

Dogs (and Kitties) With Blogs.

Oh my Dogness 

Are We Lucky!

Partly as a Result of all these Friends

We've learned a lot about what Friendship brings

to a Relationship.

Laughter

Tears

Joy

Support

Understanding

Encouragement

Hope

Trust

and 

Just Plain Love.

We've learned that through all Sorts of Experiences

Many Blog to Blog

Some Email to Email

Others through the Postal Mail

or the Telephone

or Skype.

And a few through Face to Face Meetings.

or

Tail to ... well ... You-Get-the-Idea.

(If only those meetings could happen more often.
We've felt really really lucky about those times we've gotten to be Together
Up close enough to sniff.)

There's one Family of Friends

To whom we really want to devote This Blogpost

They are a Relatively New Family to us

One that has been around for a time

(Lots longer than we've known them)

and One that is being seen More and More

Around Blogland.

Many of you may already know them

If you don't

We encourage you to go drop by Their Blog

and leave your Mark.

Why?

'Cause This Family 

(and Members of Their Heart Family ... you know who you are)

Have been exceptionally kind to us.

All of us.

And though we've rarely publicly mentioned their 

Gifs of Love and Affection

They keep them coming on
And on
And on.

In the form of Beautifully Composed Words

Sensitively Shared Stories

Generously Given Gifts

and

Incredibly Encouraging Expressions

Through the GoodTimes

and the more Challenging Ones.

Who are they, you ask?

Siku, White Dog and Quinn, The Other White Dog

and their People.

We'd be remiss, for sure

If we tried to tell you Everything they've said or done

to share their Love and Friendship.

Super Special Treats Galore

(for us four-leggeds and our people, as well)

Multiple Donations in our Names

(for us and our extended family, as well)
Amazing Awards
(one of which we have promised to post and "do")

and

Most Recently

A VerySpecialGift just for Jakey

Knowing and Understanding his Sensitive Nature

and his Gentle Love for Kitties

Here is his way of saying

Thank You.

You'll see, if you watch to the End,

the Simple Pleasure Friendship brings.

It means a Lot to Us.

All of Us.

Just as ALL of you mean a lot to us.

All of Us.

So
With that
We wish you a Good Night
or
A Good Day

Oh

Wait

There's One More Thing.

This VerySpecialFamily

is going to part of

A Very Special Art Show

Three Amazing Women

showing this weekend

in the Land of Enchantment.

You can read about it Here.

If you are in the Albuquerque area .... stop by.

If you're not, come enjoy the virtual party!

(We wish them the VeryBest with their show.

They certainly deserve it!)

Alderfer/Three Sisters

It's our favorite time of the year
Autumn
In Colorado.

The air is crisp and often cool.

(Definitely cool in the mornings.
It was only 38° this morning when we woke up
Snuggling together under the down comforter was amazing.)

The skies are clear
The colors are brilliant
and the aspens are changing from green to gold.

We make a habit of taking frequent Hikes in the Fall
and hikes are among our Favorite Things to do.

(We may appear to be exceptionally Laid Back Terriers
And it's true
We are.
We know how to Relax and Kick Back.
But we also really really like our hikes.
It's a Wonderful World we live in now.)

Today
On the ride up the mountain to our Trailhead
We noticed the Colors are beginning to turn

Further up, at a higher elevation in the mountains

The trees are already vivid yellow.

Down here where we live

They are just beginning to turn

In another week or two, there'll be lots more yellow.

Today we went to an Open Space Park
named Alderfer/Three Sisters
a park of 770 acres of Open (protected) Space.

 It's a park with meadows, changing elevations, granite boulders
and quite a bit of wildlife.

We hiked and hiked.
About four miles all together, we figured.

Side by side
Sharing the lead
Happy
Happy
Happy


There were great places to stop and sniff

and Critters to spy  (see 'em? the mule deer?)


and Other Little Guys to see
(Remember.  We don't really have much of a predator instinct.
Those fellas are mostly just fun for us to watch.)

(We stole this pic off the internet.
But this black squirrel is just like the one that teased us on the trail.)

And there were Impressive Destinations to enjoy.

Behind me you can see the Three Sisters (and the Brother) rock formation
(Notice that your Tour Guide is now a VeryDustyWire.  Oh, Yeah!)

You can biggify the picture with me in it to see the "mountain"
and you can see the Sisters even better in this pic.

The rock outcroppings are metamorphic rock
of the Precambrian Era
(before very many rocks with fossils ... more than 600 million years ago)
(Now.  THAT'S OLD!)
(We hope Bertie notices our interest in the scientific and historical facts)
and the rock is mostly silver plume granite.

It was a Great Hike
(even if I did eat too much dry grass
and puked up my breakfast at the end of the trail.)

And it was a great return Home.

I got to eat Breakfast again.

A Nice Surprise arrived on our doorstep
(more about that soon)

and
We both enjoyed a Long Warm Shower.

Brown water washed down the drain
and TwoCleanTerriers
Ran Zoomies throughout the house.

Till We Collapsed.
Waiting for OurGirl.
She's coming home to spend Saturday with us!
WooHoo!
Maybe we can ALL go on another hike Together!

Subtle Changes (and Suggestion of More)

It's True.

There've been some Big Changes around here recently.

Some of them have been pretty Dramatic
and Overnight.

Like 90° Hot Sunny Dry Weather one day
(Panting helps.)

and
55° Damp Cloudy Misty Weather the next.

But we cope.
Just fine.

We simply snuggle up under a Blanket.
(There are some real Advantages to being CuddleBugs.)

There have also been some Subtle Changes going on
Day-to-Day.

It seems with the Changing of the Seasons
from Summer to Autumn
We notice Little Things around us.

For Instance

Outside in the New Garden
There's one Rose Shrub that gives a Good Example
About how slow and gradual (and beautiful) Change can be.


One or two blossoms still poke their heads through New Buds
While gobs of Rose Hips form from the old ones
Turning from pale green to deep dark red.

Moma says that later this fall or early winter
She'll make Rose Hip Tea from them.
(We're sure at least some of us will get to taste it.)

Speaking of Tea
There's been another Changeover.

Moma's drinking more Hot Tea during the day

and Old Soul is noticing some changes in the China.

From Summer Patterns

To Autumn Ones

(Our Dinner Bowls don't seem to change.  Hmmm.  Don't know why.)

But we do hear Moma mutter that it makes her happy
to bring out the different season patterns
(And we think that soon we'll be smelling good aromas
comin' from the oven.)

Even the Wheelies are Changing with the Seasons
From Pale Greens

To Dark Reds

We know what that means

There are prob'ly some Changes coming for Us

Like
One
More
Grooming
so
We
Can
Grow
Out
for
the
Long
Winter.


We'd better get more Blankets and Our Jammies out Now.
We think we're gonna need them.


(Happy New Season, Everyone.  Wherever you are!)

Adoption Efforts

Well

We have two lines of interest to say about the topic of Adoption today.

1.

Among bunches of others,
our friends the Wee Bonnie Basset Babes of Scotland
have finally gotten Moma off her bottom to write this post.
It's pretty understandable why we are big advocates of rescue and adoption.
So it only makes sense that we participate in the Pedigree Adoption Drive.
The info is on our pals' blog over at LifewithDogs.
Taking the easy way out,
we have copied and pasted their information
(straight from Martha and Bailey's blog).  

Here's the deal:

Each year, more than 4 million dogs
end up in shelters and breed rescue organizations.
Pedigree created The PEDIGREE Adoption Drive
to help shine a spotlight on the plight of these homeless dogs.


So first of all it seems if you just click 'like' on their Facebook page,
they will donate a bowl of food to a shelter
- so far they have over a million -
let's make that two million 'cause we dogs need (and like) to eat!

Secondly - Special for BlogPaws West
For each blog that posts about the PEDIGREE® Adoption Drive
through September 19th
PEDIGREE® will donate a bag
of their new Healthy Longevity Food for Dog
to shelters nationwide.


It’s simple: 

Write a post, help a dog.

(We are so glad we finally got Moma to post a blog.

Every little bit helps.)

Like Martha and Bailey said,
"We hope we have all the information
- oh yes, when you write your blog post please leave a link with Life with Dogs - Maybe that saves Pedigree having to try to find your blog!"

So there.
Do it!
We did!
(Finally)

2.

As much as I'd like to have a kitty in our home

As much as we'd like to Adopt one

(and as much as Moma loved having her Hymn a LeighAnn with Kizzy years ago)

The truth of the matter is

It's not gonna happen anytime in the near future.

Moma helped us understand.

And we listened.

We travel too often,  for too long.

It wouldn't be fair to the kitty.

And we only want to provide a home when it can be 

a Purrfect Furrever Home

for whomever comes to live here.

So.

We will have to live on Memories

Fantasies

and Occasional Opportunities

to get our (my) kitty-fix.

Sigh.

(I love you, Ruby)


Jake

Puppy Love

We really truly are going to tell you more details about our Summer Trip.

We think about it all the time

and smile at all the wonderful Memories.

Moma says it one of the Best Things we've done in a Long Time.

(We think "we" means including "Us" with "Them" 

'Cause "WE" are doing Best Things all of the time.)

Anyhow.

We learned that one of the places we were gonna visit

(Amy and her House of Cats)

but didn't get to visit 'cause timing didn't work out

Has blogged today about Us and a Little Gift we sent them.

Awww

That's really nice of them.

So

We thought today would be a good time to tell you something

'Specially about Jake.

Something we learned on Our Trip.

(You may already know)

We do have a reputation for not being exactly your "Typical Terriers"

(Though .... ummm ... some new behaviors ARE starting to emerge.

Moma hasn't been able to capture them on camera quite yet.)

You see

Jake seems to have taken his Individuality to a different step.

How so?

He fell in Love this summer.

With Ruby.

A beautiful Kitty at Mutton Hollow

At Butchy and Katie's and the Catses home in Iowa.

Here's  some evidence.

His tail was waggin SuperSpeed

But he was moving very very slowly and tenderly and sweetly.

They gave each other little nose nuzzles

See:

Jake couldn't seem to think of anyone else

(Till he met the fishies.  That's a whole other Story.)

He sat for a very long time

Gazing with Love and Affection at his new Sweetie.

(Photo courtesy of Butchy)

We're quite sure that if we'd stayed there longer

They would've snuggled up together and napped.

We're sorry we didn't get to meet Mica (and Petey) this summer

While in NYC and before Mica quietly left for the Bridge.

(Here's one of our Favorite Posts about Mica.)

And we wish that someday we could meet Otis

Eric's Russian Blue Brother

Across the Pond.

Here's a post with some great pics of Eric and 'Bro together

Even if it is a Sad Story of Allergies.

And now we're REALLY sad we didn't get to meet Amy and the House of Cats.

Go by and meet them and you'll understand why.

They're a great Family and VeryNiceFriends.

And

You see

Ever since Jake met Ruby and the other catses

He has been heard to purr.

We think he's telling Moma

We need a Kitty.

Everything's Coming Up Roses

You know there've been lots of Changes around here.The biggest one has been OurGirl heading off to College.(She loves it.)(We miss her.)
Seems Moma has wanted to make some more Changes.Improvements, she says.(Aren't we Perfect already?)
She got some new Shoes.(If you can call them shoes.)She says they are for a Very Special Purpose.

We hope they are for walking us in the Bogs.Near the Ponds.Through the Puddles.In the Rain.Or melting Snow.
Wellibobs, they are.Just like Auntie Ami's.

Straight from the SquareHouseCouriersSpecial Delivery.(With good scents of Eric and Otis on the box.)
Whatever.
They make Moma really Happy.She smiles when she wears them.And she thinks of Auntie Ami.And she hopes they bring Smiles to the people that notice them.(Not Snickers.  Smiles.)
But those aren't the Changes she's been planning for.
She's had Big Ones in mind, apparently.(No.  She's not dating.  Yet.  And no.  She hasn't seriously started a diet. Yet.)
It didn't take too long for us to recognize the changes she had in mind.Our Lawn turned into Bare Earth.

and a Mountain showed up by our driveway.

We started with this:

Which turned into this:

and ended up like this:

It was all a Really Exciting Project.

We were the BEST Spectators and Evening Inspectors.

We've had fun sharing it all with admiring passersby.

The Bees have come to visit (and stay)

And the Hummingbirds have briefly dropped by

(Actually, the hummer was interested in Moma's welli.)

If you're interested in the long version of the Project

Moma helped us create a Smilebox of it.

I'm the Narrator.

A somewhat Reluctant One

'cause it was thundering something terrible

when Moma decided to start taking the Pictures.

But

Good Dog that I am

I complied

(sort of)

and helped Moma take a gazillion photos.

For your enjoyment.(If you have a lot of time to kick back and watch.)

So?

Bottom Line?

Life is Good around here.

Even if we do miss OurGirl.

We've got Responsibility.

It's our job to be on Deer Patrol

(as if we could give a rip ... they're our Friends)

and we are s'posed to remember to

"Pee in the Rocks"

(Seems yellow spots in the yard weren't in the design.)

xxoo

We'll keep you posted.
There are bound to be new Adventures with this New Garden.

The High Price of Fun, Fashion and Stop LIghts

Jake's been chomping at the bit

Wanting us to get back to the details of our most wonderful summer trip

and

Telling all about the changes happening around our home

and

Sharing gobs of Awards and Generous Pressies

and

Lots of Other Stuff.

But I have commandeered the blog for tonight

Because

I'm feeling Brave

and

... well ...

Beautiful

in a special sort of way.

You see

I got a chance to go back to NYC this weekend

Thanks to my wonderful sissie Asta

and her BFF Lacie

Who invited a bunch of us girls

to come enjoy the Fashion Night Out

on the streets of the City.

It was glorious to be with Friends

And it felt wonderful to dress up.

Don't we look stunningly gorgeous?

That's me - Fergi - on the far right.

(Photo courtesy of Asta)

(You can read more about the adventure on Asta's blog.)

You can't see it because of our long dresses

but we wore the most WONDERFUL SHOES

and buttery smooth silk stockings.

(MyGirl was soooo jelly when I told her!)

I was having so much fun walking the streets

in those High Heeled Slippers

That I forgot all about the scary noises that terrified me

just one month ago.

But

Sadly

When I got home

A bit of a problem was revealed.

Moma noticed right away.

Personally

I think it was all related to shaving my furs at bit too close

In the luxurious spa at the Hotel-Gansevoort

Readying myself for the Night on the Town.

But Moma thinks it was otherwise.

Here's her version of the story.

According to Moma

It started last year

in Florida

Late in the summer

With an itch

Which I scratched

Until I had several smallish bald spots

(and one very hovering moma.)

She doctored me and kept me from licking and scratching.

And the spots healed

And the hair grew back.

Just fine.

White and beautiful as ever.

Fast forward to this summer.

It started again

In Florida

In late July

And it continues

Several weeks later.

This year I don't seem to itch as much

But all my beautiful back leg furs are falling out

(Have fallen out.)

Seems I might have some allergic thing

Called Seize A Nul Flank Al Oh Peesh Ya

(at least that's what Moma thinks it is)

It's not very pretty

(I can't believe I'm revealing these pictures.

I told you I'm feeling brave

and confident.

I'm hoping you won't be offended.)

Up close it's even uglier

My soft downy white furs are gone

And dark sorta bumpy skin shows through.

ICK

I don't like it

Neither does Moma.

But here's the good news.

I am a Very Good Patient.

Moma has kept my legs very clean

(Well, all except for during the long hike we took on Friday)

and

I'm very very good about letting her

Put salves and ointments on my raw skin.

Then

In case I might be interested in licking or scratching

(Which I've NOT been doing)

She lets me wear some pretty princess pink pantaloons.

See?

Actually

I really like them.

A lot.

Don't I look pretty?

And they make me feel quite cozy.

The only thing that might make me feel even better

Is the Love and Superb Nursing Care of my Friends.

(CALLING ALL NURSES!)

Moma could use some help

And I think we could ALL use a Smoothie.

(Lacie?  Where are you???)

You know why?

'Cause as we were pawing this out

OurGirl called.

Sad

Distressed

and Not Very Happy.

No one is hurt

and her beloved Blue Bug (Dory) is pretty much fine

but they (Dory, and NinaGirl) got rear-ended at a stop light 

Just as she was getting back to college.

Do you think they make Pretty Princess Pink Pantaloons

for Blue Bugs with BooBoo's?

They might make NinaGirl feel better.

Wanna know what one of Moma's first questions was?

"Was the other driver looking down, texting?"

We think this might've created a lesson learned.

I think I hear someone at the door.

Gotta Go.

Love

A Snippet

There's LOTS to blog about

If we could only get Moma to help us

and

If we could settle down for a few Moments

(Bunches of Stuff have been happening)

but

Here's the Greatest News

It's the Some of the Stuff that really made us Smile

This weekend

She's Home!

For three whole days

She's HOME!
(We're just a little bit Happy)

More Soon

(We hope)

Pee esS
We hope the little movie works.


It seems to like to stop mid-way
Then you don't get to see Jake's Early Zoomies
(They got so fast and furious that Moma quit filming)