Wordless Wednesday

So until next time..............

Yer friend,
Mitch

My 13th Birthday

Today is my birthday!  I'm 13 today!
Mom says that sometimes it's so hard to believe that I'm 13. Some days I'm stiff and slow. I don't do stairs anymore and my walkies are twice a day but only for a really short distance but I'm still fiesty when I want to be and I can still chase Mitch through the house when I want to and I can still give him a pretty good smack with my paw when I want to play.    She also says that I'm just so darn sweet. awwwwwwwww - of course I am!

Mom always makes me a cake for my birthday! She's never forgotten! This year it's watermelon and blueberries and whipped cream!  yummmmmm

 OMG, my hat has slipped over my eye!  Help me, mom, before Mitch eats my portion too!

 Hey, Fiona.  The birthday hat is so well worth it! Go for it!

Dad says there will be other birthday celebration days coming my way - like ICE CREAM!  whooooohooooo -  I can't wait!

My friend, Putter just recently moved from Massachusetts all the way across the country to Seattle, Washington!  She has been superbusy getting settled in her new home with her twinsy boys.  Yesterday, the florist delivered a flower cake to me and mom.  Doesn't it look pretty enough to eat?

Thank you so very much, Putter!  You and your family are always so very thoughtful!  Mom and I just love our special floral birthday cake!

 Most of you know by now that mom and I share the same birthday.  We think it's pretty darn special!  Maybe we an share an ice cream cone together, mom!

Happy birthday to the birthday girls!

Love,

Maggie

Silent Saturday

So until next time..............

Yer friend,
Mitch

A Pressie for ME

Hi everyone. It's me, Mitch. 
A package came in the mail today and mom said that it was for me - just me - not Maggie too!

 What the heck are they, Maggie? 
Any ideas?

 It's clickin' at me.  I'm not sure I like it!

 Now I'm sure I don't like it!  I'm getting out of here.
You can have the pressie.  I don't want any part of it!

 Why are you wearing it around your neck, mom?

 Hey, Maggie - when mom clicks this thing, I get treated.  I can do this!
This is a good thing!

I think I'm in for more training.  Oh well. Keep the treats comin', mom!

So until next time................

Yer friends,

Mitch and Maggie

Wheelie Wednesday - Wordless Hydrangeas

 See you all next Wednesday!

Friends forever,
Francesca

A Wrinkle

First of all, we have to thank all of you for the brilliant names that you suggested.  Dad has decided that the bolder girl's name will be Margaret  - wait, isn't Maggie a nickname for Margaret ;-)  and the more shy girl is Carlie. 

Remember this picture: 

 The threesome aren't BFF anymore and they actually didn't stay BFF for long!
Dauby is being a witch to the young girls and it's not making mom and dad happy!

 This is Margaret.  She is the bolder swan of the two.  She pretty much treats Dauby like she's a real pain - which she is!

 But she does move when Dauby fluffs her feathers and tries to act like she's all that.
She kind of is seeing as she's been here for a long time and she is a Senior to be respected but she doesn't have to be mean about it!
We understand about the pecking order!
Play nice, Dauby!

 That's Carlie.  She stays in the background and is most respectful of the girlz but we have to tell ya - she's getting braver.  Attagirl, Carlie!

 Dauby spotted Carlie going from the grass into the water and she is chasing her to the back of the pond.  The pond doesn't end at the trees.  It's all boggie up in the back and the swans actually have waterways that they can swim in.  It's pretty neat back there but too mucky for hoomans to venture back without wearing hip boots. 

 This is Margaret enjoying her meal. 
When Dauby is finished chasing Carlie she comes back to the front of the pond to keep her eye on Margaret. 

There is no bruising or violence happening - it's just a cat and mouse kind of game and because Dauby is older, it's tiring her out trying to keep up with two 2-year olds that want to be her friend and who want to enjoy life.
We're hoping the three girls will work this all out soon!

 And now for something much more simple and friendly~
It's me sniffing all of this beautiful lavender!

 Time to go inside, mom.  I need water!

So until next time................

Love ya lots,
Maggie

Independence Day

Happy birthday to the United States of America!

We're celebrating in style!

Happy 4th of July to all of our USA buddies! 
We hope all of our friends get lots of yummy stuff to eat today!

Love ya lots,

Maggie and Mitch

The Girlz

Dad and Uncle Phil are back!   Dad was supposed to come back with ONE swan, not two! 
No, we're not in the market for any puppies at this time and dad wouldn't let any farmyard animals sleep next to his Indian motorcycles in the barn!  Now THAT would be a sight!   haha

The reason why dad wanted another bird is because our Grey Lag, Grampa died and dad didn't want Dauby to be all alone, especially after the long brutal winter that we had.  The two birds kept each other company through many cold nights.  We figure Grampa was about 15 years old and we feel so badly that he's gone.  He was such  a character!  We don't want to go into detail so let's just say that we have a hatred for coyotes right now!  grrrrrrrrrrr

These girlz are 2 years old.  Paul, their original owner, bought 2 swan eggs from Pennsylvania and the rest is history!  These girlz have been raised with hoomans their whole lives.   They are English Mutes. Dauby is a Polish Mute swan. 

 It didn't take much coaxing to get them out of dad's truck. 
They're on their way to meet Dauby for the first time. 

 They're all getting along just fine.  It appears that they're going to be BFF!    
Dauby's beak is a brighter orange and her feet are grey instead of black.  We understand that the different color feet mean English vs Polish.  The girlz beaks will get more orange as they mature. 

 Lunch time!  The girlz had no problem finding the food dish!

 So now we need your help.
Mom thought originally that we should name the new swan a name that started with the letter "D" to match Dauby.  But dad came home with 2 swans because he and Paul didn't think it would be right to separate the girlz as they've know each other forever and we totally agree with this!
Any ideas on what we should name the girlz?  We could sure use your help!

So until next time............

Love ya lots
Maggie and Mitch

What's Up With The Plastic

Does anyone know why dad would line OUR seat with a huge sheet of plastic?   We've never had an accident in your truck, dad, so we know it's not because of us!

 There's even plywood and a blankie in here.   I, myself, kind of like it.  I'm higher up and can see better.  Mitch hates it.  It's stressing him out!

 We went over to the Crump barn for a picnic dindin.   Mom and dad shared a turkey grinder and chips. 
Did you notice that our dad got groomed!   He likes his shorter hAirecut in the summer  just like we like our fur kept shorter!

 It's HUGE in this barn so after dindin, we got to romp and play and run, run, run!

 No thank you, Mitch.  I'm not into run, run, running anymore.  I need to conserve my energy at my age!

Dad and Uncle Phil are going on a short trip tomorrow in dad's truck. Anybody care to guess what they're coming home with? 
We'll be back to let you know!

So until next time.................

Love ya lots,
Maggie and Mitch

Wordless Wednesday

Love ya lots,
Miss Maggie

We See The Light

Mom and dad are at it every single day and they still won't let us inside this room or up on the roof to supervise!

Will we be having a sky light, dad?

 YIKES!  Maybe not!

Dad has a lot of new wood screwed down and Weather Watch is down and in place but we're still not buttoned up if we ever got a shower or doGforbid, storms!

 Looks like you're safe for today!

 Can I come in yet?

So until next time.............

Love ya lots,
Maggie and Mitch

Our New Roof

Mom and dad have been busy.   Dad is putting a new roof on this portion of our house.  It's needed to be done for so long and it's finally getting the attention that it deserves!

Our mom is not a person who likes heights and she doesn't "do" roofs!
Dad needs help with this project.  He can't do it all by himself.  We have called in Flat George to supervise because our over protective mom doesn't think that we should be up on the roof keeping things going. 

Dad told mom that this roof is not steep at all.  She reluctantly said she'll pick up the shingles that dad rips off.   One of the good points is the chimney. If she trips, how far can she roll?  It's big so mom feels pretty safe and secure.  She does - REALLY!

OMG, look how far down our front yard is!  Better step back before you pass out, mom! 
The brown thing and the blue thing are tarps to cover the roof if it should happen to rain.   We have had LOTS of rain this year and rain is still in the forecast!

This is the roof on the main part of our house.  It was shingled a few years ago.  Mom is very thankful for this because no way would she be up on THAT roof!  Be careful up there, FG!

All we see from up here are roofs!   Don't look out, mom!  It gives you the feeling that you're falling! 

The garden looks pretty good and weed-free from up here!

Time to climb down.   Going down is not as easy as climbing up.  UGH!

We're inside the room that needs the new roof.  You can see that we did take on rain.  Thank goodness that the water didn't find its way to the finished ceilings on the first floor!
Do you like our hot pink chimney? It's been this color  for as long as we've lived here. 

Thanks for your help keeping our mom and dad safe, Flat George, and for keeping them steady and on track!  We owe you!

We'll update you again on the roof project when it gets farther along.

So until next time................

Love ya lots,

Maggie and Mitch