Cute Canine Cargo

Oh my, what a fun day I had yesterday!

The Wisconsin Sheltie Rescue program often takes in dogs from other states. Our Wisconsin group has a big waiting list of already approved adoptive families just waiting for a Shetland Sheepdog. When no dogs are available locally, Lisa Martin, the founder of Wisconsin Sheltie rescue, will reach out to other states. Other areas in the country often have too many dogs and not enough homes.

Shelties do not do well in the Humane Society programs or a dog kennel adoption facility. They generally are timid and many will cower in the corner and are not seen in their best light.  A Sheltie's instinct is to be solitary guard dog on a herd of sheep and just interact one on one with a shepherd, or sometimes in a team with another sheltie. They are generally not a social dog until they get to know you.  In a strange noisy dog pound or animal shelter, they are usually pretty much out of sorts and not in their best element.

When the Wisconsin Sheltie Rescue gets in dogs,  Lisa carefully assesses the dog, arranges vet care, and gives them a good bath and grooming  She selects her applicants to match up the right type of dog to the type of person applying for the adoption. These people are screened, and checked out thoroughly before placing the dogs in their care. The adoption fees help pay for the vet care that each dog receives before being placed.

With Lisa manning the operation, and the rest of us volunteers helping out, we are able to bring Shelties to new homes with people who understand the Shetland Sheepdog temperament.

Wisconsin Sheltie rescue has placed many dogs into fine forever homes.  But lately we have not seen a lot of shelties landing in shelters or removed from puppy mill raids.... which is a good thing.   But in other parts of the country, there are still Shelties that need homes.

That is when volunteers come into play. A relay team is set up of folks to transport the dogs from one area to another.

A local gal named Ginny drove down to St. Louis, MO to pick up two puppies and two adult dogs. On her way back she requested that somebody meet her down at the bottom edge of Lake Winnebago and take the 4 dogs the last 38 miles to the Wisconsin Sheltie rescue headquarters.

Lisa contacted me and asked if I could be available to do the last leg. What fun! It was like the frosting on the cake created by all the other volunteers that it took to get the dogs this far.

I went over to the Wisconsin Sheltie rescue headquarters which is also Lisa' s boarding and grooming business called  Stockbridge Critter Sitters. She let me hop in her big Chevy Tahoe which had plenty of room for the dog crates and additional air conditioning vents in the back area for the dogs.

At the same time, I also took along Ginney's two dogs, Mister Sparky and Clarabelle because they had been boarded at Lisa's business Stockbridge Critter Sitters while Ginny did this transport run.

Cell phones are great to coordinate meeting places and timing. I reached our designated meeting place, I found a shady spot to park with the air conditioning running while Ginny pulled up with her vehicle in just a few minutes.


With big hugs all around and happy dogs to see their mommy again we transferred Mr. Sparky and Clarabelle into her vehicle.  Then we moved the two adult dogs and crates into the SUV.

 The bi-black Sheltie is a male named Louie. 

The sable is a female named Kaella. 

We let out the little puppies for one more potty break and cuddle... 

 they are both males, 8 weeks old, and totally

  ADORABLE!!!!!

Ginny gave them all a good snuggle and said she knew they were on to bigger and better things. We hugged goodbye, and she left with a very tired smile on her face after all her miles traveled to help these dogs

Now it was time for the last 38 miles home. The little pups did some All Star Wrestling and yelping and yowling for about the first five miles. Their crate was on the seat next to me and I snapped these photos while I was at the stop lights.

I don't text and drive, nor do I fiddle with my phone when behind the wheel. Especially with such Precious Cargo on board!

After 5 minutes of traveling, both puppies fell fast asleep. I chattered to Louie and Kaella to comfort them and know that there was a person who was loving them. Even if I was only in their life for one hour I wanted them to feel comfortable. I even sang them some songs. Dogs don't care if you sing off key!

I pulled into Critter Sitters without an issue or problem with any of the four dogs. What a relief! Lisa quickly got the two adult dogs situated in a separate area until all of their vet work is complete. What pretty doggers!  They are both very sweet and seem to be in good health and happy socialized dogs.  Some dogs the rescue gets are basket cases, health challenged or plain old filthy dirty.  These two are just great!!!!

We put the wee little pups into an X pen out side and both pottied right away and drank water from the dish.  It was very hot out, but we kept them out long enough to let Lisa arrange their inside pen.

Then the two silly puppies decided they were going to play in the water and take a bath! I think we brought back a couple water dogs like retrievers rather than herding dogs like Shetland Sheepdogs.

I held the pups while Lisa made a comfortable inside pen in the air-conditioned room of her business. I didn't care if they were all wet, little puppies smell wonderful no matter what.

Look at those fuzzy wet faces ...awwwww~! 

I put them down and said good bye and 

headed on back home. 

I know I only played a small part in the journey of these four dogs.

Thank you to all the wonderful people behind the scenes who helped locate these dogs, make the rescue connections, arrange the transport in various legs and do it all for the sake of the dogs! 

~~~~~~~

I got home and oh my Lord, were Finnegan and Binney ever jealous! You can just see it on their faces what they thought of me snuggling and holding and caring for for other doggies.

The pictures say it all!

"YOU WERE PETTING OTHER DOGS ?!?!?"

They felt I was a traitor and were worried 

that I was bringing the puppies into their household!

Rest assured my little spoiled Shelties, 

your home is secure and I only did this to help out these other dogs.

~~~~~~

 And we can be confident in

 knowing that these four rescue dogs 

will have wonderful homes waiting for them. 

It sure was fun being a little part of it. 

Double Nickles - Five Birthday Parties!

Yes, I turned 55 years old this Halloween.  It didn't bother me at all. The grandtots tease me and call me "Double Nickles Grandma" .... So silly.

But what was fun was that my family and friends had to kinda stretch out the celebration.  So I got FIVE parties for Fifty Five years old!  How lucky is that?

The first party was at our annual Halloween celebration at High Cliff State Park.  We were able to spend the weekend with our son Dan and his wife Heather, and the two grandtots, Allegra and Mason. The pulled out their camping trailer and we reserved them a site just a few sites away from us. Also, our nephew Matt and his son Matthew came to join in too!  This special Halloween Celebration is held the weekend before Halloween, and all 112 campsites are booked a year in advance and decorated for the festivities. It's a huge event and we get over 1,000 trick or treaters.. yes over 1,000!  The park attendance is between 3,000 and 4,000 to come through the main gate to participate just that day.

Here are some pics....  this first one is a bit fuzzy, but it's all our family.  Allegra and Mason's other grandma and auntie came to have fun too.  Steve had his little pellet campfire pit going to keep us warm as we handed out candy.

Our motorhome and campsite were decorated for the weekend, and we sure had a nice time in the park with everyone.  It's such a fun event and our fourth year doing this at High Cliff State Park.  All six of the campground roads get closed off to vehicle traffic and it is completely filled with people wandering up and down, gathering candy, looking at decorations, and just having clean safe fun!

Except for poor Steveio!  Someone dropped their RV sewer hose down in the hole at the dump station.  It was all blocked up. Ewwwwww!  He spent most of the afternoon cleaning that out and getting the clog below ground in the tank area cleared out. NOT fun!


Here are grandtots Mason as Optimus Prime (sp?) and Allegra as some gal from Monster High?    What do I know, eh?  Grand-nephew Matthew dressed as a ghoul handing out our candy.  My job was to keep refilling the cauldron!  We went through a LOT of candy, but it was worth it.  Matthew had such fun freaking people out, but being kind and gentle to the small children and he would remove his mask to show them he was friendly.

The grandtots gave me a present and we had a nice dinner together and a great night around the campfire after all the trick or treaters were gone.  It was such a good family time, and we were glad to have our son and his wife and kids camping just down the road a few sites. 

And here is my favorite pic of the weekend along one of the trails....

Can't you just hear those leaves rustling and crunching as you walk through them? 

Done with party number one....

The next party was when daughter Erin and soninlaw Waylen called and asked to come to sleep over at our house on Friday night and spend some time with us!  Soooo they came with grandtots Chelsea and Clayton, and grandpuppy Biscuit.  We had a yummy dinner and they brought a cheesecake for my birthday cake! Clayton blew out the candles right away, and we had to relight them so we could ALL have a chance to blow them out. LOL 

After I gave the grandtots baths, I sent them off to bed with their story of Brown Bear, Brown Bear. Now the grownups had an evening to chat and share....  It was so good to spend time together, it seems like life is soooo busy that we never get that.  It sure made the evening special.  

The next morning was a great surprise!  

The parents helped the grandtots make me a birthday breakfast!!!

They took over my kitchen for making strawberry waffles! 

Clayton helped to set the table....    and Chelsea worked on the batter 

After breakfast, it was time to get dressed in their costumes, and dress up our doggers too.  We were headed to Critter Sitters Doggie Daycare for Doggie Trick-Or-Treating!   Lisa Martin who runs Stockbridge Critter Sitters Doggie Daycare and Grooming had a fun time planned for anyone who came in costume.  Lisa also runs the Wisconsin Sheltie Rescue and helped us adopt Finnegan and Binney.  What an energetic gal.

Waylen, Erin, Chelsea, Clayton and little Biscuit! 

You betcha we posed with the Critter Sitters Dalmatian! 

Sooo that was party number two, now on to number three! 

Our RVing friends Mel and Paula were supposed to camp with us at High Cliff, but they had a mechanical problem with their motorhome and were unable to make it to the Halloween celebration at High Cliff.  Instead, we said we would come to their house the following weekend.  Paula cooked up a great meal of Italian Manacotti and we had a nice time with visiting, fun and thoughtful quilting gifts! 

Steve was able to help Mel with some of their RV repairs,

 while Paula and I got in a few quick stops at some thrift shops! 

The weather was so unusually warm that the guys even hung out on the deck. 

We enjoy spending time with them.  Steve and Mel do motorhome stuff, 

while Paula is the one who taught me how to quilt.

We are never at a shortage of things to talk about! 

That was party number three... 

now on to number four! 

Our youngest daughter Heather had been feeling under the weather on the Halloween weekend, and was unable to attend the High Cliff Celebration.  Instead, she planned a dinner up at her and soninlaw Jesse's home in Oconto for us last weekend.  We were treated to a Lasagna dinner and a pumpkin pie birthday cake!!!  Our son Dan and grandtots Allegra and Mason came too, so I got in double celebrations with them!  (Dan's Heather had to work)

Grandson Jameson entertained his cousins up in his "game room" in the loft while the grownups were downstairs.  Pretty lucky kid to have this big room for his video games.  He sure shows his appreciation too....  look at that smile!  Allegra and little Mason played so good and they all got along with no fighting.  Good Kids! 

I got in a lot of snuggles with the smallest grandtot, Whitney,

our little Ninja Turtle Girl! 

Heather was a wonderful hostess who said this was kinda her first real dinner party since buying their home, a remodeled school house from the late 1800's.  It's really laid out nice for entertaining. She even had a "Kids Table" and made sure to buy them sparkling grape juice which they drank from grown up glasses!  (I always did that with my kids for celebrations and she is carrying on the tradition)

The guys gathered in the great room and solved all of the world's problems.  I made sure I got in a LOT of snuggles with all the grandtots and even got to help clean up PlayDoh which I have not done in a long time.  It was a fun evening and we sure enjoyed ourselves.

I know these pics are all fuzzy... I managed to "lose" my camera and was using my cell phone instead.   Since that time, I now had bought a new camera.  But lo and behold, I found my original camera!  It happened to be in the motorhome where Steve had knocked it into a drawer while looking for batteries!   Now I have two and the pictures will be more clear from here on again, I promise.

That was party number four ...

and now on to party number five! 

My darling Steveio knows I love snow crab legs.... so on Sunday night he hauled out the propane tank and steamer burner unit.  We cook them outside so the smell is out there while steaming.  Yummmmmm   

Yup, we ate over 3 pounds of snow crab legs between the two of us.  We did have a big salad and fresh bread too, not just crab legs.  What a rich succulent meal... yummmmmm

There were HUGE, that is a full size dinner plate..... 

As a final birthday present to me... my darling Steveio got all the quarter round trim cut to size and finish-nailed into place in the entire dining room!  What a guy!~

I am so blessed to have such loving family and friends. 

I get choked up even typing this, knowing that so many people care. 

Thank you. 

After Christmas and Starting the New Year!

We made it through the Christmas Holidays in pretty good health...  we also made it through the grandkids' school concerts, the tree cutting, the house decorating and the family celebrations.  It was wonderful....   and as it all came to a close, our health declined and the flu bugs and/or colds took over.  We are both sniffling and snorting and coughing and hacking today as I type this!

Our little Binney, the rescue dog, is fitting in nicely.  She is slowly learning all the rules and routines of the house. She has walked around on a harness and leash, and did a lap around the block.  She seems to want to cuddle a lot and hide out in the "safe spot" on the couch next to me. We are bringing her out of her shell slowly as much as we can, and Finnegan is teaching her to follow him around too.  She seems to be really attached to me, so Steve is bribing her with bacon and giving her lots of attention when he is around too. She is a good sport with the photos and dress-up.  LOL

She is not yet playing with toys, but we have gotten some tail wags, some raspy barks (she has been surgically debarked by her previous owners) and some twirls and whirls in happiness as we come down the stairs.  She also discovered that each morning is a great time if we plop them up on our bed for morning snuggles!

It will be a slow road to get her to acclimate to walks, people, other dogs, and camping.  We are sure she will adapt, but we will take on one thing at a time. While we were gone for Christmas Day and then again on New Years Eve, both dogs were safe and sound at Stockbridge Critter Sitters Day Care and Boarding Kennel.  Owner Lisa Martin took good care of them, and let them sleep together in the same crate at night too. Binney is still an escape risk, so it was best for them to be safe at the boarding kennel while we were gone. A strange dog in a strange house and people in and out can be a recipe for disaster.  Best she is at a secure kennel where she can be safely watched while we are gone.  We adopted Binney through the owner of the kennel, who also runs the Wisconsin Sheltie Rescue program.  Lisa is very aware of the needs of a newly adopted sheltie and takes great care of our dogs.

Before the holidays started, I was frantically finishing up three quilts for our grown kids... two king sized and one queen sized.  Whew! I was sewing almost every day, evening and into the night.  I managed to get them all done in time!!!

This is Steve's new toy that he got for Christmas. It's called the Flame Genie and runs on compressed wood pellets. Great for a portable campfire to take along camping!  We have emerald ash borer infestation in Wisconsin and cannot transport firewood for camping. It will also be good in the desert on vacation where firewood is scarce.  Lit up in just a few minutes. Full flames in 10 minutes.  Safe to cook on and smells like a real campfire but no smoke!  Nice....   we got it via Amazon from http://www.pelletfirepit.com/

Here is a little video clip of us lighting it in the driveway on Christmas:

Christmas Day was pleasant and great weather for driving.  We headed down to Belgium, WI to have a family celebration with the other Pfundtner's at Steve's sister Lynn's house.  We gathered for a nice meal, and lots of family laughter and some silly games and gifts of course too.  Since losing Steve's mom two years ago, we all have a sad spot in our hearts by not having her there on Christmas Day. It doesn't seem the same, but we forge ahead and create new memories. Sigh.

On the weekend after Christmas it was time for our family celebration with all of our children and grandchildren.  Our daughter Erin has a very big house, with more than enough room for all the kids and toys and food and sleepovers for everyone!   We dropped the dogs off at the kennel for an overnight and headed on up to Oconto.  It was raining and all of the snow has melted. We didn't get a White Christmas at all.  

It was so nice to see all of the kids and grandkids....  we piled up some presents under the tree and our daughter Erin put together a great meal, with everyone bringing something to share. The house was decorated nicely and the tree was splendid..... and started out like this:

and soon it was looking like THIS:

bwahhaaahaaaahaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!!!

and here are all of our little Packer Fans in their jammies 

from Granmuddah and Granfaddah Pfun!   

TOUCHDOWN!!!

It took until midnight for the wee ones to slow down and I magically got them ALL asleep at one time... on sleeping bags on the floor of the kids' bedroom.  Shhhhhh  I tiptoed downstairs to join in the adult fun.  We played card games, drank, laughed and had a great time....  With Steve leading the way at the head of the table!

  

Erin's friend Waylen made chocolate pudding shots in these cute little tiny red solo cups. 

The card games were fun and the family had a blast...  

We are missing our son Mike on these type of family gatherings, 

wishing there was one more couple, 

a few more grandkids to add to the pile,

and more laughter and beer for Mike! 

We managed to stay up to about 2 or 3 a.m. before heading off to bed...   but the VERY BEST PART of the whole weekend was when five little Packer Monkeys came jumping in on our air mattress in the play room at 7 a.m.!!!  Oh JOY!!!! This is what I live for, of course!

New Years was the next holiday on the horizon...  we made some hotel reservations up in Iron River Michigan for the family and dropped the dogs off at the doggie daycare again for an overnight.  My sister Linda and her husband Fuzz, along with their brotherinlaw Dave bought the old Mid City Bar in Caspian, MI 2 blocks from where we grew up.  I recall going there as a child and getting penny candy in little brown bags and handing over a dime to old bartender Steve or Rose who counted out our candy to be sure we only took 10 pieces.  Great memories.  Now the bar is owned by my sister and family. This is their first week of operation since taking it over.... and we decided to surprise them! 

Facebook Page for Fuzz and Dave's Mid City Bar

We came in masked and decked out in New Years celebration garb... and shouting and hollering about where was the party!!! What a surprise!!! 

 We brought them an antique neon Old Style sign for a "bar warming" present that we all chipped in on.  Old Style is Fuzz's brew of choice, so it really fit the place quite well.  

Family and friends gathered for the evening at the bar

and soon it was time for MIDNIGHT

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!

I was the Designated Driver and got everyone back to the hotel safe and sound.  whew....  In the morning we headed over to my old stomping grounds, Mertin's Cafe.  I worked there from 1975-78 all during high school.  It's now called Main Street Cafe, but to me it will always be Mertins.  We gathered around the "big table" and had a nice goodbye breakfast before it was time to head on home....

and we drove back home to pick the doggies at the day care!   

Colds and flu or whatever overtook us now,

and we have been sick since. 

Made up a pot of chicken veggie soup

and we are taking it easy after a very busy two weeks!