It's Me...Prinnie!

...and I am writing the blog tonight because my mom and mommy have been so neglectful as of late. They don't seem to notice that this is MY blog, and every day when I run down stairs after waking my family, the first thing I do is look at my blog to see who's left me a comment. How's a girl to to keep up with her social obligations when my parents don't write anything?? I HAVE to train them better!

Anyway, big brother Digby and I decided we had waited long enough and took over the big computer tonight. See our pictures? I jumped in to the chair, and began to scribble my thoughts. Digby joined me, and together we worked really hard to get just the right keystroke while mom and mommy were busy doing other things. Digby taught me how to make this colorful - do you like it??

I thought you might like to know that I packed my travel bag today for my big trip to see my BFF Siku in New Mexico. I wish the trip were now, but we have many wake-ups left before Mom, Mommy, Digby and I head east. Mommy said we get to go for Thanksgiving and that I have to be a good girl, so I've been practicing my manners. I think I'm doing really well, but mom and mommy might say something different. They said we'll be stopping in Arizona for a day or so to see our dear friends and old neighbors, Mr. Bud and Ms. Eileen, so I MAY have to pack a few more treats, but I've got Whale, Starbarks, a blankee, my leash and my bowl....everything a little eskie needs!

More than anything, I just can't wait to see my Siku. See, we talk to one another every night by sharing our thoughts and the days events by way of a few special stars in the sky. As I am telling Siku all about my day, she is in her yard, looking at our stars and is able to hear me. I most enjoy getting to listen to her, and once we've shared our day together, we send one another good-night eskie kisses.

On a "not-so-fun" note, Mom said that she and I need to go on a diet. Apparently she thinks my JOB as the Barkery's Taste-Tester is adding a few more inches to my hips, but if that is the case, what is HER excuse?? I think it might be all those gummy bears and Starbucks! Or maybe it's that mommy has taken all her weight and given it to mom. They like to share things, you know! Anyhow, don't tell them, but I have a stash of treats hidden away for days like this, so shsshh is the word, ok??

Love,

Prinnie

Our First Mis-Adventures

We're back from our maiden voyage with the Dog House and our kids. The Dog House was wonderful - even with a few quirks that we had to figure out. Since we were "dry camping" we had to run our refrigerator off our propane tank. About half way thru the night, it gave out. Odd. Anyhow, the next morning we took it to get refilled only to find out it was still so full it wouldn't accept any more gas. What we thought was an empty tank just turned out to be a vapor lock. Problem solved. Then the battery went out after a few hours - again, very odd. That one we still haven't figured out, but we did buy an additional marine battery today as a back up.

The kids, however, weren't so much fun. It was really embarrassing to constantly keep apologizing to other campers on behalf of our barking maniacs. It was as if they had never seen another person or dog before, and E V E R Y O N E that walked by was greeted with a chorus of barking, growling and down right rudeness. We love our kids dearly, but we're not the type of parents that don't believe our kids don't need some good discipline and training. So back to the drawing board we will be going this week in an all out attempt to get them comfortable with different surroundings, sounds, people and animals.

Even with misbehaving dogs, the location was amazing. We had a great site, and although it had gotten very hot where we live, we only hit 93 up in the mountains. The nights were cool and clear - so many stars! Pesky bugs were at a minimum....nice! Prinnie, however, started vomiting the second day, and has been sick for two days now...we're not sure if it was the elevation, nerves or maybe she was bitten by something. It also could be the heart worm medicine we gave them a few days before we left. Whatever it is, she does seem brighter and more herself tonight.

Now that we are back, we can't wait to hit the road again - next stop?? The beach! Here are some pics of the trip.....

First Trip with The Dog House

It's been a crazy busy week, but tonight we are prepped and ready to head out on our first real adventure of "dry camping" with the Dog House. We'll spend 3 days in the mountains east of us, although how long it may take us to back in to our camp site is yet to be seen. We have some cash and wine with us to bribe the other campers (who will most certainly be entertained by our pitiful attempts) to park the darn thing for us if dark starts to set in!

On another note, this week, my Board of Directors and I hired a new Executive Director to replace me. That means that by the end of October, I should be able to reduce my hours to 30/week for a few weeks, and hopefully down to 24 or so in the coming months. FINALLY, I'll get some time to focus more efforts on the Barkery. The pushed-back timing does put a cramp in our plans to come back east,though, in the coming months. We'll see.

Have a wonderful weekend, and stay tuned for some pictures of our adventures on Sunday!!

The Dog House is Home!

Too tired to write much, but the DOG HOUSE has ARRIVED!!! Here are a few pics - more to come tomorrow. We are having a blast!!

Watch out drivers - here we come!

We are now the proud owners of a littel travel camper - we know, we know....like you never saw that coming!! After we had done so well leaving the showroom a few days ago, the salesmen kept calling with better and better offers. After they agreed to all of our terms, we decided to take the plunge. We spent the better part of the afternoon at the showroom (good thing, because it was way too hot to do anything else) signing our lives away. The best part (beyond the obvious of getting to always have our babies with us, of course)??? We get to write it off on our taxes as a second domicile - who'da thought that a little camper would be considered a second home. Every little bit helps, though!

We have to get our SUV outfitted with the wiring and tow package first, which will happen later this week. We are slated to pick it up on Friday (watch out anyone on California Freeways that day), but we also need to find a storage space for it because in our city, owners of RV's or any type of recreational vehicles are not allowed to store them at your home or in your driveway. I'd like to say that we'll be heading to the hills next weekend, but it is the labor day holiday, and we're pretty certain that all local areas are booked. Oh well, maybe we can go camp in it at wherever we decide to store it :).

Mountain Fresh Air and a Few Dirty Dogs

We decided to beat the late August heat today and head to our local mountains for a fun day of new smells, fresh mountain air and new pee spots (for the dogs - not for us). Duncan would spend the day with his little friend (who is continually begging for custody of him), leaving the four of us to put on our sun screen and venture out on a road trip.

What a wonderful day it was. Digby and Prinnie were just pure joy, and behaved well beyond our wildest dreams. We packed a picnic lunch for each of us (including some left-over birthday cake), lots of water and tons of treats. Prinnie's white fur was gray-brown by the time we were ready to leave, and Digby found so many squirrels to guard over that he could do nothing but stand as a sentry at attention for most of our "down time".

We then explored more of the mountain than we have in trips past, and decided to head home before dark. One way off the mountain takes us to Palm Desert, and the other takes us home - or so we thought. What we didn't know was that there is at least a third way down the mountain that takes us just outside of Palm Springs, and somehow we managed to take THAT route instead. Unlike the male species, we women have no trouble stopping to ask where the hell we are and directions on how to get home. A few hours later than expected, we all arrived home, fully refreshed and relaxed from a perfect day!

Here are some pics of the day - you can click on them to make them bigger....

The Hangover

Poor Prinnie - looks like she had just a wee too much to drink this morning......

These other pics were just too cute not to post!

Paws Off, Mommy!!!

How amazing is this....the greatest gift an eskie child of two Starbucks junkies could get, and the best part was that it came from her BFF Siku Marie!!! Prinnie made it clear, though, that this Starbarks was just for her! She snuggled it, took it outside with her (as if protecting it), and was determined to make sure that we didn't make any attempt to hone in on her Starbarks! Now where would she get that idea?? :)

Many thanks to Siku's incredible family for not only giving Prinnie her very own latte, but for the other fantastic gifts that arrived in the mail today for her brothers. More pictures to come tomorrow!!

A special thanks to Diego Dog's mom for such incredible talent in making this perfectgift for Prinnie!

Thanks Ms. Sue, from Prinnie

Ms. Sue from Random Ramblings gave my family this award for blogging, with one of the requirements being that we list 10 true things about ourselves. My parents decided that I could list MY ten true things about myself instead of waiting for them to get around to it.

So here I go.....


1. I love my family, and my family loves me

2. I LOVE looking for my spaceships at dusk

3. I love being a Lead Tester for the Barkery because it means that I get all the treats that fall on the floor

4. I'm really cute, and I'm glad the world knows it (no ego there, hu Prinnie??)

5. I love to announce myself when we go to places like PetsMart or the eskie doctor's office

6. I love that I'm a big girl now and don't have to be crated at night

7. I LOVE talking to my BFF, Siku, through the stars each night

8. My favorite toy is Whale

9. I don't get why my parents love Starbucks so much - it tastes yucky

10. My favorite time of day is at night when I get to snuggle for "lovins" with my family

I pass this on to Siku and Princess Pickle!! Thanks again, Ms. Sue.

~Prinnie~