Animal Crackers - Celebrating Libbie

Howdy - 

 This is a hard one to write ... But I am going to try and make this a celebration instead of sad. This week we lost the leader of our family. Miss Libbie. 

 

There is a huge hole in our hearts. But it was time. She was old, Hubby figured it out. 15 years, 4 months and 4 days old. She was blind and the last few months pretty slow but still in charge. 

Hubby and I have been really talking about our favorite memories of her. Like the day we met her. 

 We drove almost 4 hours to "look" at a Miniature Aussie. Got there late in the evening knocked on the door and said we were excited to see her Miniatures... The lady looked funny at us and said oh I'm sorry all my Mini's are sold all I have now is a couple of Toy Aussies. TOY? Flashes of Paris Hilton and dressing up dogs.... I wasn't sure about that. They came around the corner with her.... tiny thing in one hand. I'm not sure... we were use to full size Border Colllies. But I looked over at Hubby and I knew we were buying a puppy. He was totally in love.  And honestly as soon as I held her... so was I. 

We had to wait a couple more weeks until we could bring her home. But the day we picked her up, we knew she was meant to be a member of her family. This next photo is one of my all time favorite photos..... My Manly Man and his new dog.

Beautiful Little girl as a puppy and as she grew up. 

 While she was still a puppy, despite me saying I would never dress up my dog.... we came across a Halloween costume and I just couldn't help myself. It lasted about 30 seconds. And she was not happy with me at all! 

 

She had it off and away from me in less than a minute and spent the rest of the day giving me this same look. I never put her through that again. It was just degrading for a dog of her standing! 

 And the puppies she gave us... oh my! She and Autie really did make beautiful babies. 

 

She was a good Momma. Not the most gentle and cuddling Momma all the time. But Autie was there to back her up and do the cuddling. But she did her job and was good with the puppies. All three litters she had. 

From day one she was in charge of us all. And ran the house. Well and ran the animals outside too.

We never let her out with the goats or donkeys but even with a fence between them she ran them mentally and physically. 

She watched over them... even when she lost her sight. She knew where everyone was and would sit outside and listen to them all. 

 

Another of my favorite photos... Her leading Autie around the yard. He was never allowed to run ahead of her, but always stayed right by her side.

Now they are together again I suppose on the other side of that Rainbow Bridge they talk about. 

I will miss her so much just as we do Autie. 

We will always love you Libbie!

Hugs and - have a blessed weekend.

Animal Crackers - Hardest Post - A Piece of my Heart

Howdy - 

This post is going to be one of the hardest ever.... already bawling and I haven't even started it yet. This week I lost a piece of my heart. Our boy Autie passed away. I knew it was going to be hard. We knew the day was coming at some point, but I wasn't ready, I never would be ready that was for sure.

I love all my fur babies. But honestly Autie was special. He is my baby. My shadow. He was always at my side. Cooking dinner at my feet. At my desk he was under my chair. Sleeping at night he was on my feet or right at my side. When I didn't feel well or was sad, he was right there to comfort me, he loved to cuddle.

It has been a days now and I am still waking up at night in panic because he isn't there. Found myself stepping around his spot in the kitchen, and rolling my desk chair out and around because I don't want to roll on him... but he isn't there.

Going back through photographs was really tough. I had forgot how little 

and skinny he was as a puppy. And never really realized how much Chica actually looks like him -

 

How he and Libbie were so adorable and played together. 

 

 

He was always the best puppy sitter, and loved baby anything.  Just over a week ago he was playing with the kittens and letting them run and climb all over him.

 

 

He really is a piece of my heart - the best dog ever. 

 

 

It is going to take a long time before thinking of him, seeing a photo of him will not bring tears to my eyes. 

My Buddie, My Shadow, My heart - I love you Autie - There will never be another like you.

Hugs -

Animal Crackers - Silly Silly Silly!

Howdy - One of my favorite things about all our "fur children" is all the personalities. Serious, Friendly, Quiet and SILLY! 

 Fancy Pants for sure falls into the SILLY grouping! 

 

 

 This photo was one of a dozen I took of Fancy Pants - she was being really in your face with me. I couldn't get anything like a pretty portrait of her. She was just laughing at me and shoving her nose into my camera. Love her! Silly Girl! 

 

 

 

I snapped this one of little kitten Ferrari - she loves to pose for me and my camera! Teaching them early!! The kittens are doing wonderful and yes Hubby and I are getting very attached to them. LOL -

 

Now I believe last week I talked about how Momma Cat Tuxedo and big brother Shadow had appointments to get fixed.  Well it is done! Now it wasn't easy... LOL Tuxedo made things interesting. HA!

She was caught in the trap - remember she is major super skittish, anyway, caught her. She escaped while loading her up. Caught her again the next night... but we missed the appointment. Called around and finally found another fabulous Vet that would take them both that day. A fabulous Vet. Did a great job, we brought them home and had a large cage set up on the back porch for a recovery home. Big worry was the heavy storms coming in and they had to stay dry.. and especially Momma she had major surgery and needed to be limited to her running around and staying clean and dry! We got them put in with all the needs they ever could want... SHE ESCAPED!! Storms coming and she was out there! Hubby reinforced the huge goat cage. We set up the trap again - canned food and a tiny bit of cat nip inside... no way she would fall for it a third time right??? Well the cat nip was a new addition in the trap and evidently it was more than she could resist... we caught her within the hour! How she is so smart to escape three times... and so dingy to be trapped three times in a row I have no idea! But she was put back into the recovery area safe from the storm. They are not thrilled but they are safe and will be released soon enough and even better they are both FIXED and have had their shots so they are good! And I think maybe a little bit friendlier. Shadow is already allowing petting and talks to us. Tuxedo... just that serious stare and once in a while a little hiss. I think she really likes us, but has to put up a tough front.

Speaking about not thrilled... LOL 

Daddy was really busy this week, so Mom gave baths this time! Love the look on Autie's face ... really Mom YOUR doing this to me? Yes sir... your dirty and need your bath! Chica and Libbie was even more upset about the bath - no photo snapping with them though I had to keep both hands on them! 

We had lots of rain with the storms that moved through - flooding too... Not in the goat pens but you would have thought so with how I found Chipmunk the next morning... Ha !

Remember goats hate to get wet... and that includes feet. Stud Man huh? big baby! LOL But very handsome for sure!

It was a long loud night and Patti was snoozing off by herself. Old lady seemed pretty tired. While walking out there her eyes were actually closed and head hanging a bit. But she heard me coming and woke up a bit.

My miracle girl Patti. I so love her. Years back she was bit numerous times by a copperhead snake. Had huge lumps all over her chest and stomach. Doc didn't think she would survive. But after weeks of care she pulled through and has been good ever since. She is a strong Old Woman!

Hope you enjoyed this week and a little silly in your morning. I love my goofy fur children in all their personalities! 

Have a blessed weekend - 

HUGS and

Animal Crackers - Beards blowing in the Breeze

Howdy -

AJ was really trying hard to get attention and get some head scratches or maybe he was just wanting to be the lead photo this week? Whatever I was more than happy to oblige with the head scratches of course. He is just so handsome. This guy has become a copy of his Dad Alvin  - personality and looks. 

Funny how different his twin brother Chipmunk is from him. Oh he is friendly and just a handsome, but totally different in coloring. He is dark and dapper - LOL 

I think he knows just how good looking he is - And that beard is just stunning in the wind. 

Now Louise and I tried to have a conversation about her beard. I just don't think it is lady like to drag your beard in the dirt, now is it? 

She was paying no attention to me at all... kept on eating. Just not lady like at all! 

Now this isn't a perfect picture cuz I had to do some major zooming here.. but it was just too cute to not try and capture! 

Kitten "Shadow" was taking an afternoon nap in the shadows! This is his favorite place to nap... yep around the leg of the goat hut. Most of the time all you can see is his tiny hiney and back legs, but this time I got a little look of this cute face too! 

Speaking of cute face.. my poor sweet baby boy Autie. Can you tell he isn't feeling 100% here? 

My baby boy was bad this week and got in the trash... and that went horribly wrong. He found a sharp cat food lid and cut himself. Normally they can't even get into the trash with our safety lid but somehow they pulled it over. Oh my was so scary and stressed me to the limit. And we won't even go into the horror he trailed all around the house. Took me a while to get him calmed down and the bleeding to stop. But finally he was laying at my feet and sleeping.... with his fur a mess and big tears dried on his face. And mine too... I was so upset that he was scared and hurting. He is about 90% back to himself now, he actually was sniffing at the garbage again the next day if you can believe that. Thats my boy... But no more getting in the garbage can! 

Thought I should show off one of Hubby's pots of flowers - he does have a green thumb - 

These are Vincas - and are going strong. The are so brilliant and bright. So pretty - 

Last photo is just too cool - 

Now don't mind the construction  - it is a never ending thing in our area. Hubby and I were heading home one evening this week and saw this amazing rain storm... it appeared to have just come across our area... we didn't get as much as we were hoping out of it as hard as it looked like but it was a nice shower. And really impressive to watch move across the horizon. 

I hope you enjoyed this week - Had a lot of things going on but always love to show off my fur babies - 

Have a blessed weekend - 

HUGS and 

Animal Crackers - Enjoying the weather

Howdy -

This week the weather has been fabulous... well for July in Texas fabulous! A little bits of rain and no where near as hot as it normally is. And the animals have really been out and enjoying it! Normally in July you can't find anyone during the middle of the day to snap photos of, they are all hiding in the shade somewhere. But this week all are out enjoying lots of green grass and playing... 

Ok.. this one guy has been out playing... Oh my he is cute... 

He is a little braver and lets us get closer to him than his Momma does. Still very cautious but curious as well. 

Hubby snapped a few great photos of the little guy playing in the flowers. But a few days earlier he got this one... 

It was close to dinner time, so Momma Tuxedo was sitting just inside the goat pen waiting for Hubby to bring out her meal. And while she was waiting patiently Shadow was having a blast jumping from the high heights of the tire in the goat pen. Was so funny.. he would pop in the tire... then up on the tire and then leap as far as he could from the tire. Then it all started over again.. 

I went out yesterday and saw this serious conversation going on.. Oh what are they talking about? 

Alvin was probably telling Big Al to quit biting on the fence panel as it is not good for his teeth... sigh young boys... Ha! 

I looked down and my dirty boy was at my feet... with one very large yawn! I think he was ready to head in for his afternoon nap in the air conditioning... 

And as I typed this blog post... yep he is under my chair on my feet snoring... Love my Autie Boy! He doesn't know a bath is in his near future! 

Since it was quiet I was able to talk to Penelope and get some lovings from her. She was moving fast at me... so all I got was a close up! Wish you could have seen how fast that little tail was moving. 

She LOVES scratches between her horns. I suppose it is a spot she can't get to herself. So so sweet! 

And then suddenly she was gone... yep Scarlet "Red" came over for attention. And what "Red" wants ... she gets. Alway in charge! 

She was sweet to me and I loved all over her, but she lost interest quickly due to me not having anything good to eat. Sorry girl... dinner will be out a bit later! 

Wanted to share a peaceful photo... 

The view coming home and through the gate. Hubby mowed the men's pen this week, it was more than ready to be mowed with all the rain we have had. And the "Men" are loving all the new green grass they can now munch on. It was almost as if they were eating in a line to make sure and get all the best in a well planned out manner. But seriously.. we know men never plan out that well, this was just spreading out to have their own space of grazing. 

Hope you got a smile this week again - Love sharing my furry smiles with you each week! 

HUGS and have a blessed weekend

 

Animal Crackers - Summer Haircut

Howdy -

We will start off this week with my baby boy Autie. He had a haircut last week, that face is saying "Mom you gave me a bad haircut..."

 I know baby, it isn't my best work for you, but it is shorter and cooler and that is what matters right now. He has such thick long hair...  Actually he pranced around showing everyone how cute he is and was proud of his haircut. He always is. And he is always adorable... 

Shade is the best thing to claim around here this week. 

Cocoa found the darkest thickest shade she could find! Now I think she may have been snoozing here... it was 15 degrees cooler under the tree. And since it was really close to 100.. that means a lot. Good spot Cocoa! 

Valentine who is always close to his Momma Cocoa had wandered to just the edge of the shade and was snacking on some long green grass. 

He is such a sweet boy. Big baby but sweet! 

Louise has claimed some shade along the back of one of the huts. 

But Louise... I think you will be moving soon as the shade is moving and your shade is getting smaller and smaller. Time to move to the other side of the hut! 

Crissy was hanging out under the tree next to the water bucket... good thinking... stay hydrated! Very important! 

She is so calm and sweet. Don't tell anyone but Hubby always says she is special to him. We don't pick favorites... but she is super special. I think it is all her personality, well..  Calm and Sweet.

Now I wish I could have you hear our Crepe Myrtle tree right now.. 

It is ALIVE!! BUZZ BUZZ BUZZ! There are thousands of bees in the tree and it is thrilling to hear and see them! We haven't had lots of bees the past few years. And that is scary for everything growing around here. But this year they seem to coming back and as long as they stay with the flowers... and not bothering me or the animals I am thrilled they are here! Buzz Buzz Buzz! 

Hope you got another smile this week... My fur babies do love making everyone smile! 

HUGS and