Ann's Weblog

This handsome guy came over for a bath, brush, and toenails today. He and his owner and another beautiful labrador are going to fulfill a contract at a hotel in another province. They are bedbug sniffing dogs! Maverick was previously gainfully employed by Walt Disney Airlines as a bomb-sniffing dog; of course his special talents make him versatile.

If Maverick's owners are looking at this, the picture can be clicked on and printed, of course. I should have Photoshopped out the coaxial cable.

And if my nemesis from the Chat room is reading this... NO, Maverick didn't find any bed bugs or bombs at our house!

It was Maverick's family who gave us our beloved cat, Gilbert, who you've seen from time to time:

She just loves being on that ladder!

I didn't take a picture of the other dogs which I groomed today. I was otherwise busy painting doghouses and am finally gaining a bit of rhythm to my work there (all sides have several coats of durable paint).

For boarders, we have Winston, the big chocolate lab, and Taya, the Caucasian Mountain dog. As well, there is Beowolf and Chester, Schuster the Akita, and Tugger, the very long term boarder.

All is well around here. Woo hoo... tomorrow is Sunday Brunch on the town. Tonight will be quiet (as usual)... Saturday night in the Robson Valley, just watching TV and me chatting online. We just hang out together most evenings, and that's swell.

~ Ann

This is a morning view of the horse pasture with the moon almost set. It's about 7:30 A.M., and the temperature is -20˚ Celcius, about - 4˚ Farenheit.

This is Pickles, a tiny red dapple Miniature Dachshund. The moment that I put this cotton throw on the couch, she knew it was meant for her. Though Pickles is under 8" tall, she gracefully wafted up from the floor into her new "bed", turned 'round and 'round, and scratched it up a little. When it was "bunched" to her satisfaction, Pickles fell fast asleep, not even waking when the camera clicked and flashed.

I have two dogs to groom today, a small matted house dog, and Taffy, who you've met. I'll try to get back here with pictures. It is hard to heat the grooming shop when it's this cold... many of my Hydro dollars are leaking into the great outdoors. Perhaps when it's time to give Taffy her brushing, I'll sit on the living room floor with her and watch TV while I work. The painting of dog houses is another job that I hope to get back to.

If you are at this Blog but don't know my website addy, this is it:
"Ann's Website"

Thanks for visiting! ~ Ann

Okay, I'm back now... banking done, lunch eaten (good lunch, great visit), winning lottery ticket cashed ($2), and grocery shopping accomplished.

Here are some more pics:

Tika, a "long-term" boarder whose mistress is working at a nearby resort, is happy with us, and we with her. She goes in and out of the house just like one of our own, because she doesn't leave the yard or even our sight. While doing her usual walkabout yesterday, she found a horse hoof trimming... a treat that many dogs enjoy for good chewing:

We finally had to let the little puppy "Molly" go home, but of course I reminded her family that we are always available for dog sitting should they get in a bind again. Molly loved our dog Lady, and Lady truly enjoyed romping with the pup:

One of the things that happened this week was that our sofa got reupholstered. Just last Monday we took our couch and two chairs to our friend who does that work, and he is already halfway done. He shyly suggested we pick up said couch in order to give him room to do the chairs...

I include this photo more to give my daughters an idea about the colour, than anything else. It's a difficult hue to describe, as it is called "Avocado", but is actually the colour of the RIND of avocado, and not the "green" of the flesh.

Gary has been busy building some basic doggy shelters to replace most that we already have, nine altogether. I have four in my shop in various stages of getting painted. This green is most unusual... it was a "mis-tint" for half price from the hardware store, and I really like it. It is a sort of "organic" colour, I think. When I run out of that paint, I'll choose another, perhaps strange paint, for the rest of the houses. Perhaps there's a rich purple in the mistints section.


I so love our cats. Pictured is Gilbert, who is resting on her ladder, as content as can be. She isn't cold: she'd be allowed in the house, but prefers to be out hunting or surveying the world from the roof of the house, or other perches. On the right is the cat "Fiona", also a spayed female, who was given to me by a physician who was moving out of town. Fiona lives in my grooming shop as she believes herself to be a princess.

Pictured below is Tugger, who has been a long term guest. I was worried that he had become a "lifer", that he had been abandoned, but finally I heard from his owner. Tugger will be "sprung" from here by the end of January. He is a good boy and we have enjoyed his company.

I've come to the end of the pictures that I took yesterday. I should be out painting doghouses in my shop, but it's almost time to put some supper together! I might rather watch "Holmes on Homes", play Scrabulous and cook, maybe Chat too. Also, I had a delightful visit on the phone with my eldest daughter in Calgary, who was reading this blog even as I was working on this entry. I miss all three of my darling wee ones all of the time.

Thanks for reading my blog! Love, Ann/Mom

If you are at this Blog but don't know my website addy, this is it:
"Ann's Website"

These are cold days, though not usual for our winters. Since I last wrote, we've had plenty of snowfall, and now very crisp temperatures. Here are some pictures taken yesterday, when it was -18 Celcius, but sunny and pretty.

Many of you will not need an explanation as to which "view" these are. Left to right, anyway: the driveway facing South, the Beaver Mountain from our back door (facing East), and the moon coming up over the mountains in the east (seems north-east from our back door).

We boarded some great dogs in the past couple of weeks (I KNOW I always say that, but it's the truth, and it's why I do what I do!) Below are Toby and Tucker, two yellow labradors who occasionally visit here "on their own". This time, they had an "authorized" farm vacation while their owners went to a warmer clime.

As usual, click on the thumbnail picture to get the bigger one. And WHY do I have 3 pictures of Toby and just one of Tucker? It's about the way I take pictures, man... I can take a dozen pet portraits and get ONE which works.

Here are more beautiful Labradors, who were here just for the weekend. Below are Ranger and Annie:


Oh goodness... I'm almost late for my lunch date. Talk to you later! ~ Ann

Today I groomed Tito, a Lhasa Apso. He has always been quite "good" to groom, but lately he's top notch. There was a time that he would "talk" to me... growl when he didn't like something, but never bite. The last few times I've clipped him, he hasn't growled at me at all.

Yesterday, I groomed these two little dogs:

The other day I was painting one of the doghouses that Gary has built. Just as I was about to quit for the day, the puppy we're boarding came running up to the wet surface, getting latex paint from her cheek to her tail! Even though it was butterscotch coloured paint on a caramel coloured dog, I could not just leave her that way, so I scooped her up and ran to the tub:

We have found out that the mystery puppy's name is "MOLLY". There is still some speculation about what breed she is, and I have not talked to the actual owner. She's beautiful and inquisitive but head strong. I'm sure she'll be amenable to any training that is given.

It's time to dish up supper here... I made a garlic roast pork and scalloped potatoes. I think I'll skip any other vegetable for once. Talk to you later!
~ Ann

This is Buster, who is a large, handsome puppy who has stayed with us a few times. He is always a good boy, evidently content with his surroundings while here, and happy to frolic with Lady. He is quiet and calm while in the house, and has let me trim his nails a couple of times, also sat for his portrait. Click the thumbnail to enlarge.

The mystery of the pretty little red puppy has been partially solved. Gary was visiting with some of HIS customers today, and they had a snippet of knowledge about the dog, having been asked to keep her for the owners. She is a lab and spaniel cross. Okay, I assumed her to be some kind of blueblood, having "cost hundreds of dollars" and having been "brought up from the States", but whatever breed or mixed breed she is, she's precious. I had other customers here today who believed she is a Redbone Hound, and at the time, I thought, "Of course!". I do realize that dogs can command huge prices elsewhere (other than Robson Valley!), if the timing is right. I'm not breeding any kind of dog anymore, as the shelters are full of "designer dogs" which were once the trendiest and most popular breeds and crosses thereof. When I sold purebred American Eskimo puppies, I realized that charging the "going rate" did not guarantee a safe and healthy long life for them.

I've had a rather uneventful day. I groomed a wee doggy who shall remain anonymous. He is a great little old guy who is not entirely happy with being scissored around his face, but though he bared his little teeth, he didn't bite. When his owner's elderly "boyfriend" came to get him, the man said to the dog, "Oh, you look ridiculous!", to which I replied, "Well, I think he looks great that way rather than dirty with matts hanging off him." I couldn't help but be defensive, but that's life. I felt I had done an artistic job, leaving quite a bit of coat behind rather than just clip the dog very short. If folks want their dog to look much the same all of the time, they have to bring him or her more regularly.

Gary was building DOGHOUSES today, YIPPEE! I'm paying for materials, and will be the painter, and I'm so grateful to have a carpenter in my court... or kennel.

Tonight for dinner, I lightly "breaded" chicken breasts with flour and a few bread crumbs, seasoned with Indian spices. I used a whole "family pack" of chicken breasts, so that we can have leftovers to make Indian Butter Chicken another night. It's a "fusion" dinner... on my way home from town I picked up chicken chow mein to go with the main course. We have broccoli and carrots to go with that.

I'll run along so that I can take my turns at Scrabulous (Scrabble in Facebook). Love you all for reading my blog! ~ Ann

I just had one little dog to groom today, and that was Belle. I completely forgot to get the camera when I was finished. She's a dear little dog who is soon to have puppies, and I was just tidying her up, making her "undercarriage" short, and giving her a bath.

This afternoon a friend phoned and asked if I could help HER friend, who is an acquaintance of mine. While the parents are working in a logging camp, suddenly the teenagers of the household had to leave home as well. There is a "Christmas" puppy in the family, and my friend who phoned didn't know anything about "it", but was willing to bring it here if I would board it. Of course! That's what I'm here for.

And this is how we care for such a sensitive young pup. "It" is a she, but at this point we don't know a name, age or breed! Judging from how young she appears at THIS size, we think she'll be a big girl. Since my friend said that the dog was given to the family by someone who "paid a lot of money and got it from the States", I'm wondering if the puppy is a Rhodesian Ridgeback. I'll probably feel quite foolish when I find out what breed she is, and think, "I should have known!".

We had friends visiting on the weekend, and they brought baby Hannah to see us. Hannah is only 4 months old, but is tall and solid. When I held her, I could feel my biceps growing stronger. She is a beautiful child who was cheery and fun the whole time she was with us... while the adults watched the Juniour Gold Cup Hockey.

Yes, we had Hannah's parents' permission to post her photo on the Internet.

Things are a bit quiet around here, but will be more hectic on the weekend. Two golden boys (Yellow Labradors) who keep leaving home to come here, are going to be having an AUTHORIZED farm vacation. Beowolf and Chester will be back for a few days. We still have Tugger, who is a long term boarder, Tika (long term "day care"), Buster, a big beautiful Pyrenees cross puppy, Pritchard, who you've met, and Smudge. Of course we have Lady and little Buddy (my old Eskie stud dog) at all times. We are at present, boarding three cats. Two are large, handsome neutured siamese-coloured males, who have the run of my entire grooming shop (where I'm often working). The dainty little tabby cat stays in our house:

We still have cats of our own, Gilbert, Kelly, Fiona and Skitty, who are all spayed females. Skitty and Fiona stay in my grooming shop (and get along with the "boys"), and the other two prefer to be out and about. A week ago, a friend gave me $50 to adopt a cat ... the cat wanted out right away, though he's still around (another gorgeous siamese type).

That's about it for now. There's plenty else on my mind, but some things can't be written about in a public weblog. I guess my battle with some extra weight could be shared, but I even bore myself when I talk or write about it. The fact that this winter I had to let go of a friendship is not news to my family, but is not for everyone to hear about.

Some day I must get back to the sewing machine and finish up some Raggedy Ann and Andy dolls. I have tentative orders for several more since the Christmas orders, and any "extra" I create can be taken to our local craft & art gallery, "Whistle Stop".


I continue to play "Scrabulous" in Facebook every spare chance I get, and Chat in Yahoo Gardening Room #2. I'm waiting for the latest collection of true crime stories by Ann Rule to arrive from Amazon. Winter seems to be whizzing by for me, though if we didn't have the responsibility of pets (ours and others) we might plan some kind of getaway. I guess the Satellite TV, which Gary and I bought each other for Christmas, will have to be "escape" enough!

OH! I forgot to tell you. The fabric for our furniture has arrived at the upholsterer's. We'll take the couch and chairs there on Monday, if this goes as planned.

Will get back to you soon. ~ Ann

If you are at this Blog but don't know my website addy, this is it:
"Ann's Website"

We celebrated our 7th Anniversary today, Gary and I. We shared a bottle of a good wine that we'd bought in our Okanagan travels last summer, with a meal of sockeye salmon, lobster and shrimp, with herbed baking powder bisquits, and baked brie with hot pepper jelly and crackers. I had made a cake, but we were both too full to eat it.

Gary reminded me that I had made fish for our wedding day! How cool is THAT, for a guy to remember? I had NOT. Now, these few years later, we ate better seafood, because times are better.

I've been busy enough with dogs and cats to board, and some to groom. Every day seems busy and full of interruptions, but that's the life I chose. I have not been good about taking photos.

These delightful two are Gizmo, left, and Jack. Gizmo looks like a puppy but has been my customer for several years, and I just met Jack the Jack Russell Terrier this weekend. Do you want to know what Jack is so intently focussed on? He has just noticed Squeak the guinea pig, safe in his cage above the little dogs. You can click on any of these images to get the bigger picture, literally.


And above is Lady, in "her" chair. We've discussed whether a dog, any dog, will be allowed on the furniture after we get it reupholstered. I'm thinking.... sure.

Above is Colleen, who is another "regular" and we enjoy her visits a lot. The other family dog is "Wally" who is out in a kennel at this time, but not full time. I forget to get Wally's portrait.

I keep promising to do better taking photos, but I guess you just get what I can manage. The "kennels" were full through the Christmas Season, but it's a lot "quieter" now. There is a point at which I feel pushed and stressed while giving all our pet "guests" individual attention. I can't tell you what number of boarders results in this "point" because it depends if they eat well, how much they bark or get along with their neighbours across the fence, and many other things. It's my joy and my privilege to care for other people's family members even though they be dogs or cats.

It's "tomorrow" already... 1:30 A.M. again, so I'd better get to bed. Thanks for reading my blog. ~ Ann

I wanted to get this post put up this afternoon, so that I could show my friend, Bourbon's owner: (Click on thumbnails to enlarge or print out)

Bourbon was as sweet and cooperative as any dog could be even though some of his "spa" treatment must not have been too comfortable. If I was tugging too hard on his heavy undercoat, he would just sigh and lay his head on my leg or foot (we were rolling around the floor together today!). When I was brushing his neck and chest, he leaned forward and rested his forehead against my forehead! Oh the bonding that happened today...

Isn't he handsome? He smells great and is so huggable, too.

More later in blog, perhaps, if I don't get too busy with Scrabble online, or celebrating Anniversary with Hubby.
~ Ann