Saturday, December 24, 2011

Merry Christmas and Joyeux Noel!

Thanks to MJ's efforts,  Sawyer reluctantly wore his little elf hat for the photo shoot.  It helps having pinned him down after a gruelling day playing at the leash-free park and romping on the trails with Hurley and SC.  Good boy, Sawyer... you have been good for Santa!

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL!
Sawyer, W, TJ, MJ & S







Thursday, December 22, 2011

Christmas 2011

Thanks to W's efforts,  we managed to acquire a lovely Christmas tree for the living room.  Last year we passed on that idea, since Sawyer was still a rambunctious puppy.  However, this year, under our watchful eyes, we managed to set & dress the tree with very few incidents.  Sawyer didn't seem at all interested in it until he spotted a few plush "mini-teddy" ornaments,  which by the way are sacred creatures in MJ's mind.  When we weren't looking, Sawyer delicately plucked "mini-teddy" from a limb and proceeded to mouth the little "stuffy".  Thankfully, MJ managed to save "mini-teddy"!


We did have some fun with him, dressing him with beaded garlands and teasing him with ornaments.  Once he had had enough, he reciprocated and ripped a couple of our cardboard ornament boxes.  No worries, it all ended well.  He had fun (so did we) and our tree is still standing today!


(Really...you're going to make me wear this?)


(MJ proud of her decorating abilities)



(*sniff, sniff* - is this eatable?)



(Hmmm, yup I like that ornament)


(uhhh, nope, pass on that one!)


(Pfffeww, a well-deserved nap)


Merry Christmas everyone and wishing you all good health, fortune and happiness!



Sunday, December 11, 2011

Santa Knows Whose Been Naughty...

What happens when Sawyer's loving parents leave him unattended  to indulge in some holiday cheer with good friends & awesome food?  Take a look:
 




We rolled into the house around 12:15 a.m. to a warm, enthusiastic greeting from Sawyer...how lovely...until we notice a mess on the area carpets in the dining/living room areas.  The little devil (AKA Sawyer) managed to reach for a 1kg bag of fresh spelt flour from the counter and apparently attempted to drag it to his favorite couch.  We suspect the bag burst before he reached his beloved destination, leaving a lovely white mess.  On further inspection, we noticed the paper bag holding the flour, as well as a zip-lock bag (which we suspect he dragged out of the garbage can) and a fresh roll of clean paper towels were torn/ripped/wet and strewn all over our floors & carpets. *SIGH*

Think Sawyer was a little miffed with us & trying to teach us a lesson??!  Can't wait 'til MJ returns home for the holidays!

Saturday, November 26, 2011

Cake for Grandpa's 80th

In preparation for my father's 80th birthday party, baking his favorite chocolate mocha cake was my responsibility.   MJ assembled the ingredients: melted dark chocolate, sour cream, flour, creamed butter and loads of white sugar.  Sawyer kept us company in the kitchen,  acting as our personal food tester, floor sweeper, and butter snatcher.


Yes, when we turned our backs,  Sawyer swiftly managed to lick the butter dish.  No worries folks, we discarded any trace of the remaining butter before it ended up on someone's morning toast.

Cake came out of the oven and we promptly placed it on the cooling rack, on top of the fridge.



 Most of you ladies will understand the concept of multi-tasking: I rested the cakes on the back counter with the intention of removing them from the pans but between preparing a photo collage for the party, making a card and sneaking in a nap, I completely forgot about the cakes....then I heard an explosive outbursts from MJ, "SAWYER! WHAT DID YOU DO? OMG!!"  Well, so much for the nap, I ran into the kitchen to find Sawyer sheepishly looking at us, while MJ pointed to the cakes.



Sawyer managed to reach the cake and scarfed down the spongy, tender centre of the cake.  No part of this cake could be salvaged. We now know Sawyer loves chocolate mocha cake as much as Grandpa does!  We felt defeated and so did Sawyer...



 Having run out of the key ingredients to bake another cake, I desperately scrounged the pantry for a cake mix...BINGO!  A box of gluten-free chocolate cake mix - not quite the same caliber as my homemade cake but it would pass for a "real" cake....almost.




 Once baked, the g-free cakes resembled burnt pancakes. Such was my luck that day.  However, nothing a hefty load of butter icing couldn't cover up! Tadda...


Folks, that was the tip of the iceberg... later, while leaving Sawyer unattended again to do some other household chores, I returned to find my apron and a powdery substance on the floor.  Pondering, I was racking my brain to determine what I had left out and sure enough the light bulb went on:  BAKING SODA BOX!  Oh, where was the box?  I had stored the flour safely away but couldn't find the new box of No-name baking soda.....until I looked over to "Sawyer's" couch....there was the evidence on my lovely black leather couch....OH SAWYER! He managed to drag the box to his couch, without leaving a trail from the kitchen to the living room.  Thankfully, the contents were not to his liking and proceeded to leave it there for me to clean up...sigh





Between those two incidents, having eaten a 1/4 cup of butter in the foil, and his hole-digging antics in the backyard, I was ready to park him on the front porch with a sign saying:  "FREE TO A GOOD HOME".....kidding!








Monday, October 24, 2011

You Know You're Having a Bad Day When....

 They made me wear this stupid birthday hat...

I get humped by a 3-legged dog...

(there's my 3-legged hound friend)

my friend, Hurley, is coerced into wearing an angel costume....(I feel your pain man)

these beauties had to parade the streets when they'd rather be hunting wabbits....

I could never catch this gorgeous blond....

they won't let me get a nose-job....

MJ made me wear a Lunateer t-shirt...

Ok, I was actually enjoying this belly rub...


 until MJ decides to wrestle with me... 

leaving me completely exposed and vulnerable to the world... 

so, I just submitted...to her snuggles and kisses....actually that wasn't so bad after all!


Then, I was having a great time with my swimming buddy, until my masters decided it was time to leave.... 
  

 so, I took my sweet time, laid my pristine white belly down in the dirt...

  I rolled, and rolled and rolled some more....

 and I ground that red clay deep into my fur and pores...

Humph! Got you back Mom, Dad, MJ & TJ!

Sunday, October 23, 2011

Adirondacks - Part 4

Just realized we had forgotten to share Sawyer's adventure on Whiteface Mountain, NY this past September.  Although we call ourselves "hikers", we were not willing to sacrifice our legs, nor our sanity, to climb 3,400+ feet when we could opt to relax in our vehicle while driving up the mountain; which only left us a mere 100 foot climb to the summit....yes, much easier...

 (the drive up)


 (Sawyer enjoying a dip & drink on the way up)




 (almost at the top)




 (Sawyer enjoying the view)


 (magnificent view of Lake Placid in the distance)


 (slippery climb to the top...hang on to those railings!)


 (view from the summit)


 (the summit)



 (the boys contemplating life at the top)


(meeting dogs on the descent)



What can I say:  A man in a kilt, standing on the summit, holding his beloved American flag...God Bless America!