Cardibou!

This creature is a rare and elusive beast, apparently only found in the Pacific Northwest. There are some that think it may be related to the Jackalope, but this is mere speculation and needs further study.

The natural habitat of the Cardibou seems odd; it can be found as a downtown city dweller, begging for ice cream and pretzels  to swimming in the great wide ocean. It has a strange, haunting call that sounds like "woooo woo wooooo" and tends to do this when it sees something it really likes.

( One thing about the species; it seems to know unerringly when you have a Wubba or a Tennis Ball and will teleport out of nowhere. Seriously, it can be sound asleep in the back hall and you're picking up toys and the darn beast roars out of nowhere in an effort to get you to toss it. ;)  )

It has a fondness for puppies, kittens, and sleeping on pillows upside down. ;)

Little Tempe, Big City

Tempe took a trip today to Pike Place Market in Seattle! A little socialization... well, not that miss social butterfly nose needs it. ;) She's entirely social, everyone's obviously put here to see her!

On the ferry... mmm, bench rainwater! ;)

Oh, you wanted me to look cute  and get the city in the view? Oh, okay!

At Pike Place Market -- nothing phases this girl. It's amazing that she takes every single thing I can throw at her with utter unflappability. She does not panic or hide, she doesn't duck, or flatten. She'll stop, freeze,  look at it, figure it out, and move on with just a quick cluck of encouragement on my end. She'd never been through Seattle at all, or busy sidewalks, a thousand people walking, or over grates (and I will tell you, most dogs balk at grates in concrete. I can't blame them, they look like yawning, dog swallowing holes to me!)

                                             
On the wall at the Harbor Steps. Hello over there, can I share your water bottle? :D

Oh right, sit pretty again. ;)

And at the end of the trip, a very happy puppy with her dad. ;) I love how they're in step here, I admit it!  Her tail didn't stop wagging the whole time we were walking, hilarious. Like a little metronome. Every person she passed that said, "oh, look at that puppy!" got wagged at. She's gotten so bad that her keyword is "Oh--" and then she immediately starts heading towards the person, wagging away. Clever girl!

A Photo Day at Fort Warden

Simon, Temperance, and Caleb on the wall at Fort Warden State Park...

On the way up we found this coin operated horse, hahaha... I haven't seen one in years. Simon had a blast with this.

Again, all at Fort Warden...

Tempe is really picking up fast on keeping a pose while I shoot! She's an amazingly smart puppy, wow. She's also asking to go out on her own -- hmmm, I have to say, I like that even better! ;) So does my living room rug. ;)

Tempe had to try out the horse too, but she was kind of tired by this point and wanted to just nap in the sadddle. ;)

Simon, of course, started showing off and playing to the crowd. He totally stepped up there on his own and balanced himself; I just was like "sit back down" and he smiled at me like "but everyone ELSE likes this pose!"

Temperance was a bit overwhelmed by the ocean. She would put her feet in it though, after a few minutes. She's pretty darn brave, all things considered this was the first time she'd seen something like this... the boys were up to their necks in fourteen seconds, and covered in stinky sand. ;)

And Caleb, being Caleb and watching... no, not a bird! A kite, this time. He was fascinated with it, the people were dipping it around us when they realized he was staring at it and wagging.

Fly, Simon! Fly!

Boat dog! Hold that pose, Tempe!

Working like -- yeah, I've used this before. ;)

Like a dog, lately. Actually, the dogs have been working less. They get to lie there at work for the most part and eat things. ;) I want their job! Tempe is getting bigger, and she just amazes me, day in and day out. She's got incredible focus and concentration for an 11 week old. And she now has EARS... hahaha. Those came up. Funny how much she changes with her ears. ;) She's a mover too, a mover and a shaker, she can gait, gait gait... but what I love most about her is her willingness and bravery. You ask, she tries. No fear. Except for when the cats come barreling at her, and heck, I get out of the way if it's Sophie the terrorist. ;)

As you can see by the photos... Natural Balance was having a retailer contest for their promotion/giveaway.

So, hey... we figured we'd sort of take it the one step beyond and have fun. Simon was totally up for skateboarding -- I think I could totally teach him to use it. He'd probably love it. ;) Go fast!

What surprised us was Tempe -- she totally was in these shots, happy as could be. Total concentration, even with other dogs, a lot of people, and all sorts of things going on. Look at her be a show off and balance on the skateboard!! ;) I can't do that! Clever girl! Yeah, I think she came with an automatic "sit up" feature. She tries using it for everything, including when I say "no." (Sit up! Yeah, I'll try that, it works!)

She's a heck of a puppy, that's for sure. Adore her! ;) I will say all the "random scary noises" CD that Kim and Mark play for their puppies really works. Loud noises and scary things don't phase her. I uh, half wish they did at times. No fear! ;)

(Also, a Riley photo, because he's been feeling left out and crotchety.)

So you want to be in pictures, baby...

Well, first you need to take advice from Simon... which is -- always show your best side.

Then take advice from Caleb. Know you're a supermodel, and work that rock like a runway.

Think you can do those things at nine weeks, Tempe?

Hmph, you have to ask? I know how to go to the back door and ask to go out, and I carry my own leash, so, this is just a cakewalk. Is this my best side? I think so...

Hmmmm...  Caleb's right. You work it like you own this park. The Striped Zoolander might know the Blue Steel look, but I'm working on my own catchphrase, thanks!

And I'm spent. Talk to my agent about next week, thank you. I need to go freshen up.

Calico and Merle

     Simon loves his Sophie. Sophie loves her Simon. I just love how their patterns mingle when they sleep together... aww.                                 

Simon in the beach grass...

 And of course, I can't leave Caleb and Tempe out... ;) 

Introducing - Temperance!

Well, the Cardi's out of the bag! And I cannot thank Kim and Mark of Samhain Cardigans enough for entrusting us with this wonderful, amazing girl. I know I didn't say anything, but I... well, I'm one of those people who jumps over cracks and uh, grins at black cats. Wait... or something.

Meet Temperance (Tempi!) (Samhain Stonelight's Silver Lining)

This is Simon and Caleb's new little sister... and my new show/obedience puppy...

I am head over heels, she is SMART (like her fantastic daddy Casper, who I LOVE. I love a working dog, it's the GSD in me still after all these years) and of course, she is gorgeous. And she's sweet and gentle like her mom Polly - the two of them are just such pleasant, well adjusted dogs to be around.

I cannot believe that this is our wonderful, wonderful puppy. She's confident and playful, smart a a whip. She walked in, had a few seconds of "wow... there's a lotta weird cats here" and then she just rolled with the flow. Our house is busy and animal crazy, and she's just been romping right along with the rest of them like she's lived here her whole life. The boys love her -- she plays tug like Simon and chase like Caleb.

I am SO excited about getting her into the ring... Four more months, four more months...

Thank you, thank you again, Kim and Mark. I cannot thank you enough... I keep looking at her trot and pose and eat the cat toys, (ahem) and going, she's in MY house?

Sophie is unamused. ;)