Merry Christmas to You, Love Thing Red & Thing Blue

Happy Holidays to everyone! Daddy Dan came over to visit last night...we love him! He always makes the day more fun, even when he brings Diggity and Samuel P. Plumpinheimer. He hurt his back, so we gave him extra snuggles and leanies. Today, Mommy made bacon and eggs for breakfast and I (Popcorn) ran away and made Mommy come find me in the -10 degree morning. At least it was sunny and beautiful out. While I was gone, I met a coyote for the first time and we bumped noses. Then I went to the neighbors house and munched on the snowy blood pile left behind from the hunting season. Mommy found me there and was very stern with me...but I just laugh at her and look really cute and roll around on the ground with big brown eyes and she always starts laughing. Works every time. Unfortunately, Daddy Dan had to go home....and Mommy had to go to work...so now Gingi and I are all alone in the house with Bubba the BadAss cat....and I am about to start chewing on something I am not suppose to chew on because I miss everyone. Ginger is super boring, and Bubba....he just sleeps in his bed by the wood stove....not much fun there. Tonight when Mommy gets home we are going to get Greenie treats that Grammy and Grampy send us for Christmas! I love the holidays!

Popcorn

Regurgitated Moose Juice

For the sake of not wanting to deter people from ever reading my blog again, I refrained from including a picture for this post. I love moose. They are very adorable...have big wierd lips and long noses...and hang around Moose, Wyoming (hence the name) all the time. Unfortunately, they hang out in the road and get injured or killed by vehicles. Such an event occurred a couple of days ago in Victor, ID. The poor moose had a broken leg...something that generally won't heal properly on it's own, so the game warden put it down. Somehow, Dan's neighbor was on a list to receive the moose...Dan went out to assist with retrieving it. They had to skin it and transport the meat to his garage where it will hang for a couple of days before being packed for the freezer. Some of the moose was not good for human consumption due to the bullets used to put it down...so Dan cooked it up for the doggies. Anyhoo...the past couple of doggie dinners consisted of crunchies plus moose treat juice. Tonight, "thing blue" also known as Popcorn regurgitated moose juice stew on the floor and re-ate it.

I've never eaten moose meat...but I imagine that after this moose is processed I will try it.

Pop*(&$(^&#^(%$corn and Bad(*^^Bubba

Recently I posted how good the doggies were behaving considering the fact that I've been extremely lazy in this rediculous cold snap we are experiencing here in Wyoming. I spoke too soon. Last night I arrived home to find the Christmas Tree sideways on the dining room floor....the table next to it knocked over...along with a large planter full of dirt...spilled all over the floor...to top it off...someone had peed right in the middle of it. Good thing I had yoga right away...so I could meditate away some of the intense anger I felt...and exhaustion. Oh...I forgot to mention the giant poop that Popcorn had left in the hallway. I know that Ginger had nothing to do with all of this...I know it was the work of Popcorn...and Bubba the cat...it was his pee....

BRRRRRRRRRRRRRR

Yes....only a 30 % chance of snow...but wind chill -20. I guess we are happy because they raised it from -35. The cold here is bordering on rediculous. I wish it would just snow already...I mean...really snow...not that -1 degree fluff that squeeks like cheese curds when you walk on it. The doggies are protesting...they don't want to go outside because it hurts thier paws...so instead they stand in front of me while I am knitting and stare...for hours...waiting for some kind of entertainment. Popcorn ate a large piece of foam yesterday and spread my wool roving all over the house. Thankfully...although I might eat these words this afternoon...neither have pooped or peed in the house...except Gingi...but that kind of peeing is completely involuntary. The no-leak pills are not working anymore...so she just drips like a leaky fawcet. Time to go back to the vet. We also need to look into her post Popcorn trauma bulemia...although still able to eat and digest...the actually getting the food down the hatch part is still a bit rocky...and her breath...can't even describe that level of foulness.

Spoke with a good friend who works at the Grand Canyon last night...it was wonderful to catch up. Seems we make such great friends in the Park Service...but never get to see each other...because we all move around so much. I feel like my family is all over the US...and even in
Romania...with one friend in the Peace Corp. Anyhoo...she is also a sci fi geek...and recommended the new Star Trek movie...which I had netflixed...and LOVED. LOVED IT....LOVED IT....LOVED IT. I was actually excited to watch it...even though I was admittedly a full-on trekkie growing up...(no...didn't go to any of the conventions)....and didn't want to see the essence of the whole thing ruined...but they did an excellent job on this movie. Highly recommend. I know they love to put a little cheese in those movies...with bringing in the old Spock or Kirk....but I have to say...I LOVED seeing Leonard Nimoy in this movie...I didn't mind the high level of cheese.

Mommy's Three Favorite Things to Do

Hi Everyone....Gingi here...It is my Mommy's favorite time of year...and my least favorite. It is starting to get cold...(-8 ish) and I am shedding my old coat and making room for my new, fuzzier self. The old fur is coming off in tufts...which my Mommy loves to pluck out. I find it quite annoying. She has a tuft-plucking party and then takes the fur and felts it into balls for the cat to play with. It is wierd. I feel violated. Her other two favorite things to do are laminate stuff, and shred stuff. Maybe she will tell you about that later. On another note...I am horribly embarrassed right now because my mommy caught me snuggling with Popcorn on the couch the other day. Now I can't pretend to hate popcorn anymore. I even let her kiss my ear.

Red Dog Designs

I've finally added a link here to my business blog....(Red Dog Designs Blog link to the right). Here I will be posting projects in progress, inspirations, and other fun stuff. Just had a very successful craft fair at Snow King Ice Arena last weekend...knit hats were very popular...especially the flower-embellished new style. I still have quite a few bags and hats available...and have started posting to my shop on etsy. Please check it out if you need Christmas gift ideas...or just want to see what I do. The link for my etsy shop is also to the right. Tell your friends, too!

The Food Chain

Just when you thought it might be the cat that the dog wants to eat...you come home after ten days to multiple piles of cat barf spread about the house...and before you grab the mini carpet steamer...the dogs have cleaned it up for you. I knew they were good for something other than being extremely fuzzy. I just returned home from 10 days in Washington State visiting my family for Thanksgiving. I've included a picture of the beautiful table and the large plate of pie with whipped cream that I consumed. In attendance...Mom, Dad, Tony, Uncle Bruce, Carol, Tyler the dog, and me. When all was eaten...and I faced the last few dishes...it dawned on me that we had utilized almost every alcoholic drink glass in the house...from shot glasses to wine glasses, to martini glasses. I'm not sure how so few people could use so many dishes. It's a bit nutty. Of course...it rained all days but one of my vacation. Washington is like that. I still found the energy to walk Tyler down to the beach a couple of times and enjoy the remaining fall leaves.

Whilst at Kohls with Mom I discovered the Homedics Shiatsu Massage Pillow and love it so much that I have named it Pookie. It goes everywhere with me.

Now I am preparing for the Christmas Bazaar at Snow King Ice Arena. The fair takes place on Saturday and I am scrambling to get my products labeled and ready to go. Come see me if you are in the area.

Introducing Mr T

Hi, My name is Tyler. I live with Popcorn and Ginger's grandma and grandpa. I am built like a little box...and I am a natural born killer...I love to play with my green froggie and mini-ball. I have a bullet tongue and like to lick faces. I am definitely a large, formidable dog in a little body. I am very cool and Gingi and Popcorn's mommy, Holly approves of me....which is saying a lot since she is more of a medium dog kind of gal.

Sad Sunflowers

These are the sad sunflowers I returned home to after the even sadder weekend I spent in Great Falls, Montana. I think enough time has passed that I can now write about the disaster of a craft fair that I attended in Great Falls on the third weekend of September. I call it a disaster, but I suppose I had a few positive experiences. I met some interesting people. I learned about the demography of people who are interested in my product. I learned that I need to choose my fairs carefully, considering the age group and "hip" factor of the people living in the town. I knew I was in trouble when I arrived in Great Falls and tried to find a radio station to listen to. All the stations were either country or christian. The country stations had advertisements about Jesus. When I walked into the arena where I would set up my booth, a large picture of George W. Bush welcomed me. My hotel, pretty decent and on the river, was staffed by a young twig thin girl with very deep dark circles under her eyes. She looked like the poster girl in the "no meth" ads. I set up my booth, pleased with the results. I had purchased colorful battery operated lights to illuminate my bags...and they looked really good. I was feeling positive, because this was a 3 day fair. I expected to earn enough money to purchase a new computer for my business. It was 97 degrees outside...and although just a bit TOO HOT for my taste, I enjoyed the last little bit of summer. We just don't get very much summer in Moose, WY. The first night was incredibly slow. I didn't sell anything. I was bummed because I wanted to take myself out to dinner. Instead, I had a TV dinner in the hotel. I didn't sell anything the entire next day either. Attendance was very poor and the majority of customers were between 60-90 years old and very conservative. Since my bags are pretty youthful and colorful...they didn't sell. Also, I think most of the women were crafty themselves, so would look at the bags to get ideas and then move on. The wooden cut out moose heads and tasmanian devils in the booth next to me were selling like hotcakes. By Sunday the artists were getting restless, which wasn't necessarily a good thing. Since most of the booths were taking a giant loss...the artists started walking around making trades...which was cool. I noticed a bohemianish woman selling herbs across the way and wandered over to talk to her and see if she would be interested in a trade. I said hello and asked her how things were going. She said "I like to ask people questions about sex, religion, and politics." Yes, I know, I should have said "hmm" and walked away....but I was bored, too...so thought, what the hell....and told her to go ahead and ask. She asked me my opinion on health care reform. I stated that I have insurance with my current job and appreciate that opportunity, but realize that I am one of the few with that level of coverage. I strongly believe in heath care reform. I have MS and if I was diagnosed when I didn't have insurance, I would have no life in front of me aside from working to repay the debt I would have incurred with all the testing and medication...and hope that I could repay it before I was unable to work any longer due to the disease. I believe that access to healthcare is a basic human right. Blah Blah Blah. Anyhoo....her response was...and imagine this from a long-haired bohemian lady in a long flowy skirt..."what...? do you expect EVERYONE ELSES children to have to pay for YOUR DISEASE?" The look on her face was one of pure evil. I was speechless. I wanted OUT of there. of course, being me....I said "hmm....well....maybe I, and everyone else who is either old or sick should just die...would that make it easier for your children?" and I walked away.

Ginger says:

Sometimes people astound me. They should be more like dogs.

This is My Favorite Thing

Check out the website. It's funny.
http://www.webworksllc.com/Llamasong.cfm

here's a lama, there's a llama
and another little llama fuzzy llama, funny llama
llama, llama, duck
llama, llama, cheesecake llama
tablet, brick, potato llama, llama, llama, mushroom, llama
llama, llama, duck
I was once a treehouse I lived in a cake
but i never saw the way the orange slayed the rake
i was only three years dead but it told a tale
and now listen little child to the safety rail
did u ever see a llama kiss a llama on the llama
llama's llama taste of llama
llama, llama, duck
half a llama, twice a llama not a llama, farmer, llama llama in a car,
alarm a llama
llama, llama duck
is that how it's told now? is it all so old? is it made of lemon juice
doorknob, ankle, cold
now my song is getting thin and i've run out of luck
time for me to retire now and become a duck

It's Carcass Time!

I've been really good lately...not leaving the yard when my mommy puts me out to go potty. This morning she had to find me though. I was outside...running around the fire pit looking for rodents when I smelled the most sweet, delicious scent in the world...so I went to check it out. The odor led me across the street, and behind the neighbor's garage, to a decaying buck deer head. I couldn't get to it right away as it was hanging inside of a propped up truck topper, but with a little effort, I managed to knock it down...it smelled so delicious...kind of sharp and pungent. I started knawing on it and completely forgot about my mommy. When she found me I was 100% focused...fiending on the decaying head...with my rear end wagging around. She had to poke me to get my attention and I felt really guilty and rolled over.

Meet Popcorn AKA Poophead

Hi....my name is popcorn....also known as poophead, baby, and sometimes, craphead. I was rescued by my new mommy about 3 months ago and have loved life ever since. I am really beautiful and soft with perfect white teeth and lips that smell like freshly mown grass. Unfortunately I can't hear a thing...I think I was born deaf...so I am learning hand signals. However, I find that if I don't LOOK at my mommy, then I don't have to obey her. It is quite convenient. I am mostly good...except when I am bad...and then I am terrible. My best friend is Cru, the silly boxer who lives next door. He stares at my house when he goes outside...waiting for me to come out. I can't blame him...after all...I am very beautiful and fun. I love to run around and bite his face...and chase birds...and leap over things like a gazelle. I have some pretty cool fake-out moves as well. My sister (by adoption) hates me. Her name is Ginger and she is a formerly fat, one-eyed red heeler with super stinky breath and a bad attitude. I think she is jealous because I am so young and pretty. I always make sure to push my way in when mommy is paying attention to Ginger...It's fun. I also live with a badass cat named Bubba who I like to chase around sometimes. He can kick my butt, though...so I mostly leave him alone. He smells like cat box...which I love...so I like to give him a bath with my tongue every so often. My mommy blocked his box though...so now I can't eat the tasty poo. Bummer.

Flu the Coop

No...not the swine flu...but the flu none the less. I haven't had a fever like that since I was 10. This was the kind of sick that isn't even KIND OF fun. I mean...I was so sick that I couldn't even pay attention to the TV, or knit, or read, or stay awake long enough to follow a book on tape. I had to call dispatch to find a law enforcement officer to take me to the emergency room. How wonderful is that? I not only felt like poo....I was pathetically reminded how alone I am at my little cabin...with no one to take me to the hospital. My dogs went stir crazy...popcorn filled up the back room with poop...and the mess I faced on day 6 of the illness....when I was finally ready to get off the couch...was overwhelming. Now I am back on my feet, back at work, and trying to face all of the things I couldn't over the past week. I don't realize how each day is filled with must do tasks until I can't do them. Really....all is not so terrible. I have great friends who brought me cough drops and bananas...and a nice boyfriend who talked me down from crying during a moment of complete weakness and hopelessness. I probably lost at least 10 pounds...but I missed Halloween...and trick or treating with the kids....boo hoo. Now it is back to work...making things for the Christmas fair...getting ready to visit family over Thanksgiving...and moving things out to my new shed...which arrived one day while I was too sick to get out of bed.

For those of you who are trying to post comments...I hope I can figure out why you are not able to post...still working on it.

THE PERFECT TABLE

I know....it looks messy...but this is absolutely the PERFECT TABLE. My fabulous boyfriend spent the weekend...not only building this perfect table for my sewing projects, but also stacking ALL of my wood on the porch, and caulking the tub. I am LUCKY...or perhaps just so fabulous myself that I deserve such treatment. This table has in two weeks revolutionized my entire work process. I no longer must crawl around on the floor to cut out patterns...weaving my way through the dog pee stains....and ending up with numb knees and a sore back. I feel so very professional! Ginger loves it too....plenty of space underneath to hang with mommy during her long, boring craft sessions.

The REAL Forks

I know, who cares? After all, I am 40 years old and perhaps should be a bit too adult to read and enjoy the Twilight series....but I am not. I just eat that stuff up! I do have a viable excuse. I lived 16 miles to the west of Forks for two summers. Stephenie Meyer does a great job of describing the environment in her books. It is grey, most of the time. When the sun comes out it hurts your eyes, simply because they aren't used to it. The air is damp and smells clean. The forests are dark, very green, and deep. The beaches are sublime with areas of rocky coastline, pockets of grey sand, and sea stacks offshore. The variety of wildlife and plantlife is impressive. Forks is a small logging town with one main street, one grocery store (Thriftway), and one coffee shop. The mood is dark and somewhat depressed, reflecting the daily sky. I believe I really enjoyed the remote feeling. I like not having too many options...and Forks definitely catered to that desire. The chainsaw shop carried great gardening shoes, and the Thriftway, well....the Thriftway carried everything else. Forks was the hub of the area, 16 miles from Mora where I lived. Once every two weeks I would drive to the thriving metropolis of Port Angeles (also mentioned in Twilight) to see a movie, or go eat Italian, or go to the bookstore....just like Bella. All of this being said, I can't help but set the record straight. The Twilight movie does a fair job representing Forks aside from one obvious departure from reality. Forks has absolutely NO diversity. You wouldn't see people of different ethnicities attending the high school. Forks is smaller, too...without the nice brick buildings as shown in the movie. I first picked up Twilight as an audiobook from the library...for a driving trip back to Washington. This was prior to the "Twilight explosion." I thought it looked easy to listen to, and caught my eye because it is set in Forks....a place I had lived.....a very obscure place....I was quickly sucked into the story and the characters....annoyed at times by some of it....but enamored of the choice of location. Having lived there, I could easily imagine a story like this taking place in and around Forks...as it is magical and strange and remote.

Popcorn's Got A Brand New Crate

No, it hasn't snowed quite this much yet...but I am looking forward to cross-country skiing. I finally did the deed today and unpacked the new crate I purchased for Popcorn. I didn't want to have to use it, but her newly developed talent for opening the doors in my house to get to her favorite pooping spot has pretty much forced the issue. She is for the most part, a delight. Her personality is starting to blossom. She is a true cattle dog, with the smarts, humor, and intensity found in the breed. When I hobble down the street with my little 1-eyed red and spazzy deaf blue all who pass comment on her beauty. Poor little fuzzy Ginger is no longer the attention-getter for alas!, Popcorn's good looks steal the attention from Ginger's eye-hole.

Thoughts From a Fuzzy Mind

Welcome to my blog. I am an old, somewhat smelly red heeler who is very opinionated about most things. My fuzziness (a plus) outweighs my bad breath and snooty attitude, thereby allowing me to continue staying at my lovely cabin in Moose, WY and snuggling my mom at night. I've created this forum so that my mom may express her thoughts....as she has many. Every so often I will chime in with a bit of old-dog wisdom. Feel free to comment at any time and keep the treats a comin'.