Sunday, January 31, 2010

We Are Tough, Yes We Are

Henry with Nora on his heels.

Grace

Model Pup John
Henry, Grace, John, and Rose.
Rose
My model again. (John)

Pretty Girl Nora.
Henry


Nora has such an intelligent look. She reminds me of Gwen quite a lot.
Handsome Henry
Little Rose.
Nora

Dylan and his snowball making helper, Nora.

Nora, striking that wicked smart look.
Grace
My sweetheart of a boy, Henry.
Oh, how I see this boy getting away with an awful lot! LOL!
"Hi Toss"
Toss doesn't think the pups should eat up all the loves!!
Rose, John, and Henry (and Charlie)
Toss is sure Charlie has enough lap and hands for him too!
Not even a teenager can resist!
Today was nice, about 35 degrees, sunny, and no wind. But I didn't think the puppies would want to run around once they noticed the cold/wet ground. After being in their little kitchen cubby since Friday night, moving out to the insulated garage and into their 4x8' whelping box this early afternoon was not enough additional space to make them happy. They fussed and carried on, so I thought, "okay- here ya go, this is what you're missing". Much to my surprise, they acted just like grown up Border Collies- you know what I mean- that whole "what weather?" Not unlike how they have taken on every other growing up change in environment thus far, they just carried on. They would have played longer, but after 3 of the 5 decided to do the "polar plunge" into the stock tank that was half solid ice and half open water I decided it was enough for today and promptly toweled off my 3 polar bears, put them in their cozy whelping box, and got them some warm grub. It wasn't 10 minutes and it was dead silent in the once noisy box! :-) They are truly a wonderfully adjusted, outgoing group!!

Saturday, January 30, 2010

Snow Day

























We went outside in two rounds today. I have more photos, but need to get some dinner in the human bodies first. I hope tomorrow the sun will come out so I can get some pretty winter pictures. Today it snowed all day, and was really windy. The 2nd time I went out with the dogs I went across the road and was blasted by the wind in the field. So I headed for the woods line. It was very nice once we had a wind block. You can see by the expressions of the dogs how windy it was in the field- they all have closed eyes! We have close to a foot of snow total. Nothing special when you're area is prepared for that all winter long, but here in south east Virginia, we are not... Only the areas close to hospitals and fire stations will be worked by VDOT. They try for the over passes and exits, but several are closed, as are some of the big bridges... It won't be above 35 until Tuesday, so the roads will be as they are until Wednesday I would guess. The kids joined the dogs and I in the woods and we walked probably another hour (after the dogs and I had been out there close to that already). Charlie rode my 4x4 out there, but then trekked in the woods line on foot. The dogs had a blast, and I know they are happily spent! I fed them all 3/4 of a meal at 4pm and will feed them again in awhile. I know they burned a lot of calories in the snow, and keeping warm, and most of the dogs will need some extra fuel to keep warm in their straw filled crates these next few nights.