Thunder and the Ostrich

After successfully destuffing all but the neck of my one-legged bird, I, Thunder the Master of Stuffie Surgery, had some fun last night trying to get a few threads to come loose.

And a short while after the video ended,
here is what the flashy beast was able to catch.

A pup never gets any privacy from that puparazzi.

Woos,

eYe Watch Friday with Norwood - this will be our first time playing along.

We think we need more practice with capturing our eYes.

Thank you to the NY Bully Brats for giving us this wonderful award.

Put the award on your blog and link to who gave it to you.

Give a nod to Purple Hatter who made the award

Give the award to at least 5 of your blogging buddies who Blog at least once a week!

We would like to pass this on to the many multiples of "five" bloggers who visited us so faithfully all the time. Take and enjoy it. Thank you NY Bully Brats and Purple Hatter.

For those of you who tried to guess the toes and tails in our last post - the tails were easy, everyone was right, but the toes were all Thunder's - we fooled a few of you.

We saw THIS on our street while we were out walking yesterday - do you think Angus Mhor came to visit?




Well, since the weekend is almost here and the weatherman says it will be cool and fall-like here for Saturday and Sunday, I am just resting up for a grand time.

Happy Weekend to ALL.

Wooing Wonderful Wishes on Wednesday

Do you know who these pretty girls are? It is a very special occasion for both of them today. Be sure to stop by and wish the Mom and her fluffy-tailed sweetie some good wishes for a wonderful day.

Happy Gotcha Day to our pal Miss Khyra
and Happy Birthday to her Mom!

Woos, the OP Pack

Tails, Toes, and Tykes on Tuesday

For your Tuesday amusement: Do you know who all the parts belong to?

And just for a few added smiles.

Woos, the OP Pack and Kidlets

Names

When Sedona posted about her nicknames, Twix decided to start The Name Game and tagged her readers to play along. So we decided that today we would tell you about the origin of our names and the silly nicknames the humans call us.

Phantom was actually named because as a young pup he had a beautiful mask. So he was named in the spirit of "Phantom of the Opera". However over the years, his mask has almost disappeared. If you look very closely at his face, you can see that he still has small traces of black under his eyes. But the name still fits quite well if you consider the definition of a phantom to be an illusion, an apparition, something apparently seen, heard, or sensed, but having no physical reality; a ghost or an apparition. Phantom has always been a very aloof pup, not the one who runs to the human for affection. He prefers to be alone, he is on the shy side, and he is known to "disappear" in a flash when thunderstorms are in the area.



Nicknames: Phanty, Phanny, Phanny Bananny, Shy Guy, Picky Boy, Skinny Boy, Mama's Boy, and Blue Eyes.

Thunder came to us when he was about four months old and had been donned with the name Max. His father is Mel Gibson (Siberian Husky, not the actor:) and his breeder was really into Mel movies. Thunder was named for Max of the Mad Max movies. TD's huDad here in OP did not want to keep the name Max. So we tried to stay with the Mel Gibson theme and went to Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome, hence the name Thunder. In addition to the Mel link, Thunder is mostly grey and white, and so we thought of storms and thunder. As time has passed and Thunder has reached his adult size, it has become quite apparent that maybe Max was a good choice after all. TD is a very big boy. He has a very healthy appetite, and the vet says he is a good solid weight for his body's frame.



Nicknames: Thunder Dunder, TD, Silly Boy, Handsome, Big Guy, Fuzzy Bear, "Hey You".

We thought this was a fun game to play - why don't you give it a try too?

Woos, the OP Pack

Wait???

Woo Hoo - or so I thought. Here I am going for a ride in the car!

Hey Mom, where are we going? I love riding in the minivan. What, a "wait" check? Why do I have to do THAT? I have been practicing the wait command for almost 11 years, I do it quite well. I don't think I need to have it checked.

What's this place? Rut roh, looks familiar in a way I don't really like.

Do I have to go in? I think I will "wait" right here.

Well, if you haven't figured it out yet, we went to the V.E.T. so Mom could see if I have put on any pounds since my surgery and diet change. I really AM doing quite well, but the Momster was disappointed that I have only gained a half pound since July 7th. I'm trying, honest, I am eating much better but I can't help it if the scale doesn't show what she wants to see. I tried to tell her that a trip to Dairy Queen might help, but she didn't listen to me.

Don't you try to fool me into a car ride if that's all we are going to do!
!

Woos, Phantom

Mom here: I was really hoping to see at least a one or two pound weight gain because Phantom has really been eating very well since we changed his food. We didn't see the vet, it was purely a weight check. I guess I will just have to be patient and give it more time. Phantom seems to be doing well. His energy level is back and he seems to be a happy pup. I guess it is just second nature for moms to worry.

A Cool Morning

I don't want to come inside, Mom - it is so refreshing out here -
it's only 59 degrees!!!

Woos, Phantom

Wordless Woops Wednesday

Rut roh, Thunder

Toys on Tuesday

Let's start the day with some pretty flowers from our front yard.

Here's a closeup.

And now to share two pups.

This little pug mix lives on our street and his name is Charlie.
We think he looks a little like Emmitt.

And this is Baker. Mom met him at the bike shop and took his pic with her iPhone; please excuse the quality of the photo. Baker's owner told her that he only weighs 100 lbs. and is still a pup at 10 months. He reminds us a lot of Honey.

And now for our toys on Tuesday. Our good Furiends Steve and Kat from the Washington Woos (Kat is TD's girl) sent us a surprise package. We got a new stuffie frog and a flying squirrel like Steve and Brice have. Here is the card that was in the package, front and back.

Phantom is funny with stuffies. He rarely plays with them but loves to carry one to the back door on his way outside and then drop it at the door. Once in a great while a particular stuffie will catch his eye and from then on that one is his and only his. He heard the squeak of the frog and that was it. Here he is checking out Freddie the Frog.

And now how about some stuffie fun with Phantom!!!

Our next door neigbor's lab has one of these Chuck It flying squirrels and he loves to chase it and catch it and bring it back. For a few weeks now, TD has been managing to get the squirrel through the fence and brings it his own deck. Steve and Kat thought it would be nice for TD to have his own.

But after you watch this video, we think you will agree that he has a lot to learn about what to do with the flying squirrel. Brice, can you come and help teach TD how to do it the right way? Steve, if you can come too, that would be great, just don't forget to bring Kat too.



Woos, the OP Pack

Pee Ess, Mom says to please excuse the messy house, it was a day with ALL the grandbipeds here, so there are toys everywhere, the potty chair is out for training three Two-year-olds, and the table has dishes out while all the breakables have been removed from the tables. And the beach towel is on the coffee table to protect it from the little guys' trucks:)

Lazy Sunday

We had a very rainy and stormy start to our day here. Thunder figured it was a good day to get an early morning nap in.

Settling in.

Just not quite comfy yet.

Maybe this way.

This is just right, just like Dakota used to do.

Why are you disturbing my sleep, flashy box operator?

I am trying to get this body moving, really I am.

Yuck, morning breath.

And now for the final stretch.

Woos, Thunder

A Special Saturday - Sad but Sweet Memories

About two years ago, we got the news we did not want to hear - our sweet girl Dakota had Cushing's Disease. At that time, the oncologist gave her about a year more of life IF the treatment worked. About three months later, the decision was made to stop the treatment because it wasn't working and it was just making her so sick. We were prepared for the worst. But our dreams of making it to her 11th birthday in August of 2008 came true and we were so happy. We wondered if it were possible to dream some more and make it to #12. We almost made it but the Siberian Heavens had other plans for our princess.

Dakota still lives in our hearts and so today, on what would have been her 12th birthday, we wanted to send her some birthday wishes.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY
TO OUR BEAUTIFUL SISTER DAKOTA!!!

Thanks to Zoolatry for the beautiful collage.

WE LOVE YOU AND WE REALLY MISS YOU.

Phantom and Dakota have been working hard to help keep the memory of Dakota alive for Mom and Dad. There are so many little things about Dakota that we all remember and miss. Here are a couple of flashback photos and the pack's current efforts to keep the past with us.

Flashback:


Today:


Flashback:


Today:





Woos and all our love to Dakota and all her new furiends across the Rainbow Bridge, Phantom and Thunder

Note from Mom: Phantom is lying in one of Dakota's favorite kitchen spots, by the wall with the pillar. He and Dakota always used to compete to see who could get the resting spot on the loveseat. Interestingly, Phantom has not been on the loveseat once since Dakota's passing. Thunder, on the other hand, has decided to keep her spot warm.