Tucson - Tuesday, November 24th

Today was the start of our "road trip" on our way to New Mexico. We loaded up the kids and headed for the deserts of Arizona. The kids were off to a great start - Digby was a great co-pilot and Prinnie mostly slept. First stop was Bud and Eileen's home in Tucson. Prinnie and Digby (and of course Shar and I) were so excited to see our good friends and old neighbors. Prinnie and Digby ran around their yard, enjoying the freedom to stretch their legs after nearly 8 hours in the car. Digby insisted that we bring his sheepskin bed in to show his buddy, and Prinnie showed Eileen her new stroller. What we didn't know was that Eileen had it all planned out that she would teach Prinnie how to demand "Breakfast in bed", as seen by the photo where she placed two dishes on placemats on the bed. Thankfully, the lesson didn't stick, but was a great source of laughter and smiles. After a perfect dinner, we settled in to "catching up" with a glass of wine and great conversation. The next morning, the kids woke us up at about 5:30am, so excited to hit the road for the next part of our journey.

The Day of the Road Trip Has Finally Arrived!

Prinnie and Digby supervised the final packing of the car tonight in preparation for our road trip east! Each had to make sure that their treats, toys and favorite items were packed just so, and within easy reach for upcoming pit stops and potty breaks. Just when we thought we were done, we found two more back packs of dog "stuff", and once everything was crammed in and the door barely able to close, we remembered we had forgotten the stroller! Geez, it really feels like we are taking two toddlers with us - Blanket? Check. Food? Check! Snacks? Check. Toys? Check. Jackets? Check. Car seats? Check. Ear plugs?? Double Check! (The earplugs are for US!)

We hope to arrive in Tucson about 6-7 hours after we hit the road tomorrow am. We've warned Aunt Eileen and Uncle Bud that they are NOT to spoil our kids by teaching them how to demand breakfast in bed (they would give their eskie breakfast in bed each morning). I used to mercilessly pick on them when they spoiled their "baby", but with more crap belonging to the dogs than the humans for this trip, I might have to eat a little crow by tomorrow night!

After a long-overdue visit with our dear friends, we'll hit the road early Wednesday morning, bound for Albuquerque to share Thanksgiving with a very special couple and their eskie (Prinnie's BFF, Siku). The next few days we will be joining them in their recommitment wedding ceremony, and loving the time we will have together.

So, bags are packed, fields are plowed, cows are milked, and dogs are bathed. In just a few hours, a Venti Starbucks will signal the beginning of a week-long adventure that we will surely keep you updated on.

From our family to yours, we wish you a very Happy and Healthy Thanksgiving.

Four More Wake-Ups...

Just four more wake-ups and I will be at my BFF Siku's house in Albuquerque!!! I'm so excited!

First, my brother, parents and I get to stop at Uncle Bud and Aunt Eileen's house in Tucson for a day! Mommy said that I have to be careful because Aunt Eileen might prinnie-nap me, and not let me travel on to New Mexico with my family. I told her that it would be ok, because we will stop in to see Uncle Bud and Aunt Eileen on our way back home too.

I spent nearly ALL day packing my travel bag. So far, I have my Siku star blanket, our Star, my Starbarks, my coat, my silly shirt, two balls to share with Siku, my food, treats, my brush, things a lady shouldn't discuss (mom and mommy call them poop bags!), but NOT my whale. Mommy washed my whale today - ugh!!! How is Siku going to know how good he smelled?? I had taken him outside, rolled him in the dirt, drug him across the grass, back in to the house over all my hair on the floor, up to my upstairs bed and back down. Then mommy washes him! Geez! Now I have to start all over.

Later this afternoon, I helped mom bag up our newest treat for the Barkery - Hana's Hearts. It is named after Hana the Buttereskie who recently went over the rainbow bridge, but will never be forgotten. It made me a little sad to see her face on our bag of treats, but mom assured me that she is in heaven, sharing her love with all of the wonderful creatures that are with her.

After dinner, I asked mommy if she would help me with my farm chores, because all of my animals needed milking, and my trees needed harvesting. (Yes, mom and mommy got me my very own Facebook account so that I, too, can have a farm on Farmville and chase the kitties around - or so they tell me - it REALLY was because they needed another neighbor to advance their game, but we'll let them think it was my idea). Here is a picture of me at the computer telling mommy where to put my new tree and how to move my horse to another spot....

Anyhow, I am really excited about my first big road trip......we will be leaving in just a few days! I'm doing circles down the hall just thinking about finally getting to meet my Siku. Now if I can just keep mom and mommy ON the road and not pulling in to Starbucks every few hours!!!

P & D Go Shopping

As the work day wound down, Shar and I were gently being nudged by two very patient pups asking if we would take them to the store. When asked why, Digby told us that he felt it only appropriate that he and sister get a few things for their/our upcoming trip to New Mexico. As the days draw closer, we ALL are getting more and more excited.

Farmville and a half-full Frappuchino prevented us from jumping right up in the dash to put on harnesses, leads and seat belts. Apparently their crisis was becoming ours, as they began to demand that we "get crackin'" before the stores closed.

Being the obliging parents that we are, we caved to their demands and headed off to PetsMart for our first stop. Once there, Prinnie found a perfect-sized "rolley" (as she called it). She jumped in, sat down, and barked directions to Shar, who by now was in awe of how adorable she looked in the stroller made for pups. Digby taunted her a little, calling her a baby and saying that strollers were for wimps and that he was having nothing to do with it. Too many toys, pee spots, etc...to explore I guess.

After strolling (literally) around the store for what seemed an eternity, Prinnie led us over to the winter coats. She was insistent that she and brother would need something to keep them warm in the cold fall evenings of the desert. She selected a cute little pink coat for herself, and after a few fittings, found a matching blue one for her brother. He, being the perfect male, said "Fine. It fits - let's go". By now, the Queen had her subjects at her beckon call and needed one last visit to the foot wipes aisle.

After we loaded the newly-purchased stroller, bag of clothes and toiletries in to the car, we were instructed to head to PetCo. As we began heading down the road, a white eskie screeched in my ear that I was going the wrong way, and demanded I turn around to take "HER" to the next store on the list. Not wanting to have a power struggle on such a beautiful evening, I succumbed to her orders. Once we arrived at PetCo (yes, the stroller was out and in full use for her highness), we were lead by the tag-team pair to the collars, leads and harnesses aisle. Shar and I stood back as the duo hemmed and hawed about what colors to select, which would match more closely with their hair color, and what made one look macho and the other pretty. After the cashier reminded them it was now 15 minutes past closing, they jointly selected a new collar, harness and lead that was exactly the same for both, and was befitting a boy or a girl. FINALLY, we headed to the checkout as the little white one yelled - "Mom, just charge it!".

As we drove home, Shar grabbed her phone and called Parents Anonymous; asking for the next series of classes on how to deal with very spoiled children!

The "Trial" stroller ....................................................................... The "Final Selection"

In the Car

Goodbye, Hana

Today is the kind of day we wish never would be in our blog; it's a sad day. Hana, the sweet and inspiring American Eskimo from northern CA crossed, quite suddenly, over the Rainbow Bridge a few days ago. Our hearts are breaking for her mom and dad.

Hug those you love and hold them close because you never know when there won't be another tomorrow. I guess the only comfort of losing such a special eskie is knowing that on the other side of the bridge, to welcome her with open paws, was Dugan and Tobey and all the others that made their journey before her.

Run, Bark and be Free, Hana. You will be missed.

Presenting: The Derriere Press

Hey, no smart jokes about the jammies - it's freezing here and had already dipped into the low 60's when we shot this......

Dona Noblis Pacem (Grant Us Peace)

Today we celebrate with many across the world in a common hope for peace; peace for our own lives, peace for others, peace for those who struggle, peace for those we love and especially for all of the animals in our world who are living tonight without a home. Our peace globe shares some of the most special animals that have graced our lives over the years. What would your globe have in it?

Thank you, White Dog, for reminding us of this day xoxo

A Problem....

Tonight's post is going to be a tough one....we've been avoiding this for a while now, but have come to realize that we must share this secret with you so that, in time, we can heal, and move on with our lives.

For those of you who don't know the 12-steps that are practiced by alcoholics anonymous, we'll share our version with you. It is true - we have a problem, but now that we are willing to admit it, I think we can begin the journey down a new, healthier path....

1) We admitted we were powerless over Farmville and that our lives had become unmanageable
2) Came to believe that a Farmer greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity
3) Made a decision to turn our crops and cows over to the care of our neighbors
4) Made a searching and fearless moral inventory of our livestock
5) Admitted to the Supreme Farmer, ourselves and to another Farmville lover the exact nature of our wrongs
6) Were entirely ready to have the Supreme Farmer remove all these defects of character
7) Humbly asked HER to remove our shortcomings
8) Made a list of all persons we had harmed, and became willing to make a trade for new crops with them
9) Made direct trades to such people wherever possible, except when to do so would injure the pigs, chickens, sheep and waterfowl
10) Continued to take Farmville inventory, and when we were short a tree or bale of hay, promptly bought one
11) Sought through fertilization and harvesting to improve our conscious contact with the Supreme Farmer as we understood her, praying only for knowledge of HER will for our farms and the power to carry that out
12) Having had a spiritual awakening as a result of these steps, we tried to carry this message to other Farmville addicts, and to practice these principles in all our affairs.

So...there you have it. We are addicts. Junkies. What once was a simple social game has turned in to hours of harvesting, planting, buying and selling, milking and plucking, and so on. Our lives are consumed by this internet obsession, and our daily chores are being affected in ways we never could have imagined.

I know you are all offering to help us, but first we must help ourselves. I will start with the first step tonight by selling (what an evil word) a piece of my "farm" - maybe .

Phew - so glad we got this off our chests. We feel better already. Gotta go, I think we have some crops to harvest!

Gold Heaven

We have the honor of getting to "doggie-sit" for our good friend Sue's (Random Ramblings) golden retriever pack (and the Barkery Taste-Testers from here in So Cal) for the weekend!

They arrived at our home this morning; all four beautiful Golden's, their mom and grandma. Prinnie gave the new kids her interpretation of the house rules with a 15 minute dissertation on the do's and don't's of her doggy-dome. Of course, Digby had to seek the most playful of the bunch (Kona) and has since fallen in love with the fact that he has a big white play mate who can challenge his skills.

After having smaller dogs for a while now, it seems so funny to see such gentle giants (and way better well-behaved than ours) roaming around. We are so excited for a fun-filled weekend of woman's best friend!!!!

Here are some pictures of the pack checking things out.....Welcome Jack, Jill, Kona and Harley!

Prinnie Goes Shopping

Prinnie decided to take the family shopping tonight for some turtle food. She's noticed that Clover, Rover, Charlie Bubble and Mudhead are slowly starting their decent into hibernation, and suggested they needed some extra food to bulk up their little bodies with before their winter siesta.

After tormenting a bulldog pup and demanding we go down the toy isle, she greeted some children who thought her little mass of white fluff was too irresistible not to run their fingers through. She and her brothers were well behaved tonight, but Prinnie thought the best part of the experience was that she got to ride in the cart (well above all other 4-legged canines) and give directions to her chauffeur (mom).

After we stopped to pick up a Friday night pizza for dinner, she came home, ate some pizza bones and fell fast asleep. It was a demanding day for the little eskie.