Sunday is for Family

Daddy (left) and Friend

NCO Club

Guam~1952

(His shirt was definitely not GI Issued)

Happy Trails,

Squirrels Gone Wild!!!

Oh Tank, we've got a problem.

I awoke to the sound of music this morning, looked out the window and was shocked to see the following:

I'm ready to try anything...

I'll let you know if it works...

Happy Trails,

I'm Juz Sayin'

Before Sassy left for New Mexico she gave Buddy permission to take over her Sassy Says posts on Fridays.

Buddy is a pretty laid back fellow and has decided to call his Friday entries, "I'm Juz Sayin'".

Top Eleven Reasons Dogs Are Better Than Men

1. Dogs do not have problems expressing affection in public.

2. Dogs miss you when you're gone.

3. Dogs feel guilty when they've done something wrong.

4. Dogs admit when they're jealous.

5. Dogs are very direct about wanting to go out.

6. Dogs do not play games with you-except fetch (and they never laugh at how you throw.)

7. You can train a dog.

8. Dogs are easy to buy for.

9. The worst social disease you can get from dogs is fleas.

10. Dogs understand what "no" means.

11. Dogs mean it when they kiss you.

~~~~~~~~~~

Please feel free to add your own reasons....

Hope we didn't offend any of our male readers, you know it's all in jest!

Happy Trails,

Scared of What?

Several people have asked me if I'm scared being "home alone?"

I always reply, "Scared of what?"

We live in a rather remote spot and even visitors have trouble finding our house sometimes. Our driveway starts about half a mile off the main road, down a dead end, dusty trail.There's an electric gate at the bottom of our drive and only a fool would hike up to the house. Buddy and I would hear them huffing and puffing well before they reached the house.

I feel safer on the side of this mountain, approximately 15 miles from the Appalachian Trail, than I would living in downtown Atlanta.


Besides, I have a big, bad watchdog to protect me.

Happy Trails,

Wordless Wednesday

Happy Trails,

Baby Birds and Hubby Update

The nest is empty, but doesn't appear to have been disturbed. I'm hopeful that the babies fledged during the night. That's my story and I'm sticking to it!

Hubby and Pups are in New Mexico safe, tired and happy. They will rest for a couple of days before heading to a more remote spot to set up the "Observatory on the Mesa". There is no cell service, and when they reach their final destination there will be no contact until Hubby goes to a pay phone several miles away, a couple of times a week. He has needed to get away like this for quite a while!


Happy Trails,

Helping with Yardwork

We've been staying busy spreading pine mulch.

After Rama shovels the mulch into the wagon,

I find a cool spot to relax...

It's a tough job, but someone's got to do it!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

We have a squirrel emergency in Sassy's absence. The squirrels have gone wild and a request for special assistance has been sent to Tank at OWAS Headquarters.

Happy Trails,

King of the Dogs

I saw this on Sophie's blog last week and it cracked me up. Be sure to watch all three dogs' videos. Thanks for sharing Sophie!

BTW, The baby birdies made it through the night.

Happy Trails,

Fly Away Babies!

Four days ago I posted a picture of baby Flycatchers in a nest on the downspout next to our the garage. I made the comment that I was on snake patrol. Sure enough, Buddy and I came out of the garage this morning to find Black Snake headed in the direction of the nest. I quickly got Buddy in the house and then used my hiking pole to "encourage" the snake to go in the opposite direction.

About 30 minutes later the Carolina Wrens were having a hissy fit so I went out on the front porch to investigate. Black Snake was back and had brought a friend! Yes! Two black snakes after the baby birds. I chased then both under the front porch and I'm sure as soon as it gets dark, they will get the babies.

The birdies are huge, but apparently aren't ready to fledge. I want to intervene and do something to protect them, like move the nest to a safer (?) location. It's so difficult to sit by and do nothing. Of course this happens less than 24 hours after Hubby leaves....Suggestions?

Sunday is for Family

Sassy, Hubby and Zack

~All Smiles~

Most of my family is on I-20 headed west for Texas, and ultimately New Mexico. As an only child, with no children of my own, parents deceased, my husband and dogs are MY FAMILY! Hubby and 2 of our Labs are starting a month long star-gazers paradise vacation, at least that's what Hubby calls it.

I would say by Zack's smile that he

was happy to be going this time.

Hubby wishes the dogs could help him with the driving.

I'll miss them terribly, but will be fine once they are off the roads and settled in their remote, dark campsite.

Buddy has been my shadow since they left, unsettled about being home alone with me. He's not sure who the "Alpha" should be ...

I do-ME!!!

Where did everybody go?


I wish for them, Starry Starry Nights...

Happy Trails,

Westward Ho!

Looks like the RV is packed and they are ready to head for the dark New Mexico skies. There's been lots of hugging going on in our house the past 24 hours. It's funny how holding another warm body up against your own can offer comfort and reassurance.

I know they are going to have a wonderful time, I just worry while they are on the road. If you see a Coachmen RV towing a green Ford Pickup from Georgia, with 2 yellow Labs making nose prints on the windows, headed west this weekend, toot your horn and wave to Hubby, Zack and Sassy.

Zack seems to know that he is going on the RV trip this year. He runs to the RV and truck sniffing and wagging his tail. Buddy is oblivious to all the related activity. He's in for quite a shock when they all drive away and it's just the 2 of us remaining.

Sassy has been packing and making sure she has enough bandanas. Someone told her bandanas ward off snakes! (I think she just made that up because she thinks she looks good in bandanas).

When you pull into the visitor's welcome centers in New Mexico there are huge signing warning you of the poisonous snakes. What kind of welcome is that?

I'll keep you posted on their progress.

~~~~~~~~~

We've added 5 new blog followers in the past couple of days bringing us to a grand total of 64!

Followers are important to teachers, as we like to believe someone is interested in what we have to say or at least like the pictures.

Regardless, I was excited to see that 3 of my latest followers are fearless members of Tank's Operation Whack-A-Squirrel, A Doggie Life

(a North Ga. Girl too), TN Bull Terrors ( I love that name), and cutie patootie Checkers.

I was also thrilled to see 2 of my dear Arctic Camster buddies, Cecilia and Bette. Love the NCSU clock tower Cecilia! Bette, I am so glad that you decided to start blogging again. I look forward to seeing more pictures on HuckleberryHill from your beautiful part of the country with your new camera!

Welcome to all and I look forward to getting to know more about my new blog buddies!

Happy Trails,

Operation Whack-a-Squirrel

Sassy (AKA Squirrel-minator) has decided to enlist in Tank's Whack-a-Squirrel Army. She is posting this video as proof of her dedication and commitment to the cause.
Sassy will be leaving Saturday for her camping trip to New Mexico with Dad, where she will continue her diligent squirrel surveillance. She hopes to have Buddy trained and certified as Squirrel Patrol before she leaves, but it's doubtful. The only things Buddy chases are his tail and dreams.

Happy Trails,

Four Fuzzy Flycatchers

The Flycatcher babies have hatched and I've counted four gaping beaks, unless the one on the far right is a conehead. The proud parents are staying busy, flitting around the yard gathering bugs for the babies.

Now I'm on snake patrol-Yikes!

Happy Trails,

Wordless Wednesday

Happy Trails,

Enchanted Secret

Three of the five members of this family are going to New Mexico...

but I'm not one of them.

Catron Co, NM~2008

Hubby, Zack, and Sassy are leaving this weekend for an RV/Astronomy trip to New Mexico. Before anyone thinks Buddy and I are being deserted, have no fear, we are staying home by choice, at least by my choice.

Hubby and Sassy made the trip last Fall and had a great time together. They camped (no hookups) in the same remote spot for several weeks, enjoying the clear, dark skies at night. This is Hubby's idea of the perfect vacation, but not mine, so I stay home and everybody's happy!

Lots of wide open spaces, new sights, sounds and smells provided Sassy with plenty of entertainment, but Hubby often sensed she missed having a doggie companion. Zack and Sassy have been together since she was 6 weeks old, they are great buddies.

We believe she'll have a better time with Zack along this year.

Since the day I brought Buddy home from the shelter, he has demanded my attention and would rather have negative attention from me than none. When I have to correct him, he is the only one who doesn't get upset, as he still wants to lick and and gently hold my hand in his big, wet mouth. He is honestly a big, goofy galoot and his size alone gets him into trouble.

Buddy and I will spend our time "home alone" working on discipline with no distractions. Without realizing it, Buddy has enlisted in Doggie Boot Camp for the next several weeks.

Hopefully this extra, one-on-one attention will have him better prepared for our next cross country RV trip to Oregon, scheduled for later this summer. Poor fellow has the body of a bear and the attention span of a gnat, but he is a sweetheart and wants to please, so I'm hopeful that we will make good progress.

It certainly will be quiet around here without the others. I think we all could use a break from the sound of our own voices. Now the only one who doesn't know the secret is Buddy. He'll figure it out soon enough.

Happy Trails,

Zack's Secret Continues

Happy Trails,