Hello Xanga – I know it’s been a while since my last post, but I visit often.  The foggy summer days here in the city are endless – can’t wait for our Indian summer.  Wisconsin was really fun and it was nice to meet the rest of Hal’s family.  Some of his family have already visited and stayed with us since. It was the first time I saw real firelfies too  In a couple weeks, we’ll be up in Napa visiting my sister and brother-in-law. We’re also planning a trip to see family and old friends down in Los Angeles before the end of the year.  What I’m really excited is our trip to Buenos Aires late October!  Anyhoo, here are some updated doggie pics.

Here’s Corrie relaxing and thinking about ways to and planning her next moves on Chase.  She is really a jumper and bounces all over the place when it comes to dinner, treats, guests – you name it!  To our surprise, Corrie is polydactyl, just like one of my sister’s cats!  She has two extra digits on her left back paw and an extra on the right back paw!  She doesn’t seem to notice and it certainly doesn’t hinder her when she is in zoomie-mode.

Here are Chase and Corrie waiting for Hal to exit our 2nd bedroom/office.  It’s hard to believe Corrie will be as hairy as Chase one day.

Love this picture of Chase sideswiping a lick on Samael7.

Here’s our little terror baring those sharp daggers called puppy teeth!  Thankfully she is starting to sprout her adult teeth – no more shredded socks.

One moment she’s a spitfire, next she’s our angel!

Corrie has now had all her shots, so we started taking her to the park to socialize with the other dogs – here’s the typical meet and greet.

Corrie’s merle coat is going to be quite unique!

Here’s a nice picture of Hal and Corrie – Gigi the ever-so inquisitve cockatiel lurks from behind.  Catch you soon!

 Hal and I are taking off for an extended 4th of July weekend to celebrate his mom’s birthday.  This wll be my first time to the Midwest and it’s gonna be a huge Fisk family reunion!  I’m ready for some time off from this little loud city.  Much thanks to Samael7 for watching after our zoo home. 

Corrie is 12 weeks old now and is growing up fast!  She loves her big brother and they get along great.  Chase has instantly mellowed out since she’s come home, too.  He has such patience with her – one minute she’s growling and giving him her most scrunchiest face, next they are sharing a snuggly timeout. 

It was a smooth ride down to San Luis Obispo and although it took a really long time for Chase to realize that we were not going to the local park (think 10 minutes instead of 4 hours = bark bark bark bark bark bark, huh?) That area at another California coast is so beautiful.  I would post links but after doing 700 miles in two days there and home was fun, and sleep sounds really good right now - so some pics

Corrie turned 8 weeks on Monday.

The stay-over at the local Vagabonn Inn was pet friendly and really affordable. It’s right next to the Madonna Inn – we didn’t know Madonna Road was named after a man! Oh, on! unof

Here’s one of the first pics of her home.

Wiped out after the trip but it was a really nice get-away, plus our family is complete…

 Meet adorable Corrie!  She is ready to come home now!

Corrie is almost 8 weeks old has a lot more variations in color than I’ve seen before in a sheltie - go calico puppy!

The ride down is 4 hours back and forth so as soon as we knew she was ready, I booked a room Sunday night at a local inn that’s dog-friendly.  We’ll make the trip back up to the city on Monday as not to wear out both humans and canines.

I have a pretty good feeling that Chase is going to be really amped with his new sister’s arrival, and 8 week old puppies need lots of sleep so there’s going to be lots of learning for all of us in the next several weeks. Hal is putting up the bamboo fencing outside so little Corrie won’t be able to squeeze through to our adjoining neighbor’s decks, just like wiley Chase liked to do at her age! Speaking of the deck, check out all the color that keeps on coming back, year after year! Since we first got Chase, we’ve gotten rid of any (known) plants that potentially could have been poisonous.  We still have to remind him that bees are not to be harrassed with, and that we do not have access to epi-pens!

There’s actual running space between the two rows of plants, not as cluttered as it looks.

Chase, by the way, gets to go to the groomer on Saturday so he’ll be nice and prettied for his sister.

Pretty easy to figure out what this says!

Wells that’s the latest scoop!  Wonder if Corrie’s gonna sleep upside down like this silly one!

   Just got an email from our breeder, Jenn, and we found out some details on Corrie.  She was born in a litter of 6, 4 boys and 2 girls.  Jenn does not know which girl we get to bring home (although she assured us both are very cute) we do know she is a Sable Merle and she’ll be available at the end of MAY! That’s only two weeks away! Here are the first pictures of the litter (four of the six) taken last month.  Jenn said she’ll send some updated pics – can’t wait!

Jenn lives in San Luis Obispo county so we’ll probably make a weekend trip and stay at a pet friendly hotel/motel when we pick her up.  Meanwhile in the (sun-baked) city, I got a really cute dog house for both to play in on the deck!

That’s all for now – have a great weekend!

This sounds really cool!  Link at the end of the article.

Chase is patiently waiting for his sister to come home.  The breeder has asked us to check back in May – that’s next week!!

He’s been really good these days, he must know something going on…

“yeah, I’m cool”

Dreaming of Corrie! 

Yay – spring time is here and the plants on the deck are waking up from their winter slumber.  Didn’t have much luck with bulbs this year since they cooked in their containers, oh well, live and learn.  Here’s a pic of Chase in the St. Patrick’s Day spirit.

Here’s Hal trying to show Chase that the fish are meant to just watch and not to be terrorized, especially when they are being fed.  His nose smudges all over the aquarium glass are dead giveaways that he’s still mischevious when we are not around.

  Yuck – what I thought was seasonal allergies is actually a head cold!! I hope I get over this as fast as possible, but anyway, on to my story… 

Hal found an enclosed dog park in Golden Gate park near the bison area, so we took Chase early Monday morning for a little fun with his pooch friends.  The dog area is huge! and has lots of grass to run on as opposed to some of the other park that are filled with wood chips (ouch!)  

Here’s Chase getting mauled by a Besenji as a Vizsla looks on!

Actually, all the Besenji got was a mouthful of undercoat as Chase remained unscathed.  Chase interestingly liked this little guy and kept on asking for more and the besenji readily consented.

After awhile we walked over to the bison and neither dog nor bison seemed to be fazed. 

 I couldn’t get that perfect picture as Chase looked everywhere but the camera!

Doggie sure likes to slumber on his back these days!

I rarely get to mention Gigi and Cockles, but they are doing quite fine these wintry days.  Here’s Gigi snacking on some parsley as Cockles gives her best red eye!

Hal and I got a 20 gallon aquarium about a month ago and now that the canaries in the coalmine neon tetras and other starter fishes survived the initial die-off, both fish and aquarium are in their happy place, we’ve added two behemoth (at least to the size of the other fishes) koi.  Unlike me, I have yet to name these two guys but they all get along just fine.  I have some opaline gourami, red eye tetras, and rosy barbs to complete this community tank.  I read online that koi like peas so I thawed a little and plopped them in and sure enough they ate ‘em!

That’s it for now!!

So I got in touch with our sheltie breeder yesterday and she let us know that she has a two week old tri-color boy (like Chase) and a merle girl the same age that might be available.  They evaluate their shelties at 6 weeks old to be either a home companion or for show.  It would be great if we can bring home the girl dog, otherwise their next litter would be available in June.  Since Hal’s been working from home the past couple months, he’s been able to get Chase out everyday for long walks like to Golden Gate Park and around the neighborhood.  How fast they grow, why it was only last April Chase looked like this!

In other news, Hal and I are planning a trip to Buenos Aires with another couple come November (Springtime south of the equator) and are shopping for flights.  I have to get out on the deck for some gardening this weekend. Hal said that some of my crocus have already popped up, but I’m so swamped at work that all I want to do is hibernate when I get home, plus it’s still chilly out…hurry spring!  I spent a pretty penny at Site for Sore Eyes recently and am waiting for my new pairs of glasses to be ready.  No more smudgey and scratched glasses for driving back and forth from work.