Love is in the Air

Warning:

The following may be disturbing to some viewers!

Just a reminder, Valentine's Day is Sunday!

I know my age is showing, but I love this song...

Happy Trails,

I'm Juz Sayin'

Dogs never lie about love.

~Jeffrey Moussaieff Masson

Happy Trails,

Monday's Memory-Mei Lan

Mei Lan and Lun Lun
Zoo Atlanta
~June, 2007

I'm sure many of you have heard that 2 US-born pandas were relocated to China last week. Every panda living in the U.S., even those born here, must eventually be returned to their motherland. Mei Lan, from Zoo Atlanta and Tai Shan, from the National Zoo in Washington, made the 14-hour flight to China on FedEx's Panda Express.

Zoo attendance doubled after Mei Lan's birth in September, 2006. I was present for the naming ceremony in December, 2006 and when Mei Lan made her public debut in February, 2007.

When she was 9 months old, Hubby and I visited the zoo and spent the day watching Mei Lan, her mother, Lun Lun, and Papa Bear, Yang Yang. I'm not a big fan of most zoos, but as a "panda-lover" I couldn't miss this opportunity.

I will miss visiting Mei Lan (Atlanta Beauty), and I wish her well in her new home at the Giant Panda Breeding Research Base in Chengdu.

Check out Zoo Atlanta's Panda Cam.

Happy Trails,

Sunday is for Family

Grandma (center, with glasses)

and The Ladies Of Hogan's Department Store

Savannah, GA

~1955

Before malls, everyone in Savannah shopped downtown on Broughton Street. Every Saturday the sidewalks were crowded with people dressed up to go shopping.

Grandma worked at the cosmetics counter at Hogan's Department Store for 31 years. I have fond memories of Hogan's. The coolest thing was riding the elevator, which was run by an elevator operator. The operator knew I was "Miss Kitty's" granddaughter and he let me ride as many times as I wanted. There was a metal grill inside the doors that the operator opened and closed to allow passengers on and off. If there were no other riders on the elevator, I was allowed to push the buttons for various floors.

Another treat was watching Grandma write customers' sales slips, take their money, and shoot it up to the accounting department via a vacuum tube. The customer patiently waited until the tube mysteriously reappeared, containing their receipt and change.

Malls may be convenient, but I miss the excitement and glamour of shopping downtown. Are you old enough to have similar, fond memories?

Sassy wants to thank everyone who voted for her in Tucker's Sit-Stay Competition. Byron, Remi and Sassy received the most votes and Tucker randomly chose Sassy as the winner!

At Least It's Not Snuff

Happy Trails,

Sassy Says

The greatest healing therapy is friendship and love.
~Hubert H. Humphrey

Sending love and friendship to Max and ~C...

Zack Takes 2nd Place

My sweet boy, Zack, is humbled to have won 2nd Place in Mango Minster's 2010 Sporty Dogs Good Sports category. Zack is truly a good guy who wants everyone to play fair, get along, and have a good time!

He says, "Everyone is a Winner!"

Thanks again to Mango, Mango's Mom (the hardest working woman in doggie blogland), and Judge Moose and his Mom.

~~~~~~~~~~

Sending healing thoughts to Max.

Happy Trails,

Sporty Dogs Are in the Ring!

The Sporty Dogs have entered the ring at Mango Minster 2010 and the crowd has gone wild! There are so many MM Sporty Dog contestants, Judge Moose has divided them into two groups, doubling the excitement!

Sassy and Buddy are in the ring now!

Sassy

Buddy



Zack will be featured in the 2nd group of Sporty Dogs.


Zack

We are proud to be a part of this wild and crazy, we mean elite group of pups!

Strut your stuff, Sporty Dogs.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Our, sweet Golden furiend,, Max, from South Africa, is not doing well. Please visit his blog and leave some kind words for his mom. Thank you!

I'm Juz Sayin'

A dog is not considered a good dog

because he is a good barker.

A man is not considered a good man

because he is a good talker.

~Buddha

Happy Trails,

Monday's Memory-Comet, Puppy Days

Hubby and I had been together a year (1992) when we decided it was time for children.

I've always said, "If I could have puppies, I'd stay pregnant."

Hard as we tried...no pups!

So, Hubby surprised me with a visit to a neighbor's house, who just happened to have a 5 week old Litter of Love.

Comet was my first Labrador Retriever. He was the cutest little furball I'd ever seen and it was love at first sight.
Comet was an "only dog" for over a year and my constant companion.
As a matter of fact, he went to Florida with us when Hubby and I got married.

Comet taught me that Labs are friendly, loving, playful, goofy, patient, loyal, and smart. My heart was broken when, at age 10, he developed a brain tumor and crossed The Rainbow Bridge.

Voting has begun in Tucker's Sit Stay Competition.

Check out all the great contestants and cast your vote!

Sassy is entry #32 on the right side bar.

Happy Trails,

Crazy Critters

We interrupt our regularly scheduled program, Sunday is for Family, for the following special announcement.

Gimme a break!

I'm skeptical, to say the least.

I'd love to hear from you if your pups have, or had Crazy Critters.

Happy Trails,

More Official Mango Minster Sanctioned Events

After entering Zack in Biggie Z's Dog Pile contest, Sassy and Buddy insisted I enter them in a Mango Minster Sanctioned Event.

Too bad there isn't a barking contest, as Sassy would win
paws down.

Sassy decided to enter the Tucker's Sit Stay Event.

Sit Happens!

Sassy's the one on the left! (chuckle)

Entries deadline is TODAY, midnight EST.

Buddy entered Niamh's National Train Your Dog Month Photo Contest

(whew, that's a mouthful), with the following picture.

He's been working hard on "Down Stay" (and alien eyes) command.

Deadline for this great contest is midnight, January 31.

Happy Trails,

Sassy Says

Dogs can't hold their licker!

(Yes, that's slobber flying!)

Happy Trails,

Hurdle Jumping

Happy Trails,

Wordless Wednesday

Happy Trails,

Reminder- Mango Minster and Dog Pile Contest

Don't forget, if you haven't entered Mango Minster, the deadline is January 27, midnight EST.

All the Sporty Dog contestants are having a blast hanging out in Key West with Judge Moose.

I had a call from Zack and Buddy last night saying the last time they saw Sassy she was leading a conga line down the beach. She better not come home with any tattoos or piercings.

I'd like to thank Mango's Mom and all the judges, who work very hard to make Mango Minster a lot of fun and a great success!

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

After several unsuccessful attempts to get photos of each pup for Biggie Z's dog pile competition, I finally conceded defeat.

I thought I'd share the blooper photos.

Buddy was excited when I told him I was going to pile moose on him.

"Hey, this isn't my buddy Moose!"

Sassy decided to take the stuffie and run.

"Geez, Mom, I want to play with Clifford, not wear him!"

I entered this photo of Zack, who always wants to please me.
He won't win the contest, but he's certainly a winner with me!

Happy Trails,

Monday's Memory-Sled Dogs

I took my first winter trip to Alaska in 1996. I had been to AK several times during the summer, with the endless daylight and relentless mosquitoes, but the winter offered the Alaska I had always imagined. My "must do" list included a trip to a sled dog kennel and a ride on a sled. I made arrangements to visit Iditarod veteran, Lynda Plettner and her amazing dogs at Plettner Kennels in Houston.

As luck would have it, I spent the 2 days prior to my kennel visit sick as a dog with the flu. To make matters worse, I also experienced my first and thus far, only, earthquake. I honestly thought I was hallucinating from high fever until I called the front desk of the hotel and they confirmed it was, indeed, a mild earthquake.

Meeting the dogs

The dogs were very affectionate until they heard the harnesses and went crazy with excitement.

"Pick me, pick me!"

I secured the sled while Lynda hooked up the team.

Getting final instructions from Lynda:
"Keep your arms in the sled and your mouth shut!"

I thought she was being rude, telling me not to talk, but as I quickly realized, when the dogs started running, snow wasn't the only thing flying. They don't stop to do their "business", if you know what I mean.

The ride through the winter wonderland was magical and the rhythmic patter of paws on the snow was hypnotic.

This will always be one of my most memorable Alaska experiences.

I'll be returning to Alaska in March for my 2nd Iditarod (as a spectator and volunteer).

I have many exciting adventures planned (will give details in a future post), including the opportunity to drive a dog sled.

Mush On!!!

Happy Trails,

Sunday is for Family

Great-Aunts Alta and Rachel

Local Swimming Hole- Frederick, Maryland

~July 4, 1918

Happy Trails,