Saturday, September 19, 2009

End of the Garden


Our garden was abundant in its production of yellow squash. We are not real big fans of yellow squash. So, we thought of other ways to use yellow squash rather than cooking and eating it ourselves. We tried giving some of it away - not very successful, seems that other folks also had an abundance of yellow squash. Joey ate a bit of yellow squash. We played games with yellow squash. Finally, I let the squash grow and grow to see just how big it would get. It got pretty big - not championship size or anything, probably about 12 inches or so.

They say if squash gets big it gets too hard to eat and is good for nothing. My big dogs would disagree! Big, old squash is the best! Gus will take the squash, bite off the stem end the way the old men in black and white movies bite off the end of a cigar and spit it out before lighting up. He then takes little nibbles off that squash savoring each bite. Gracie hovers around him until he is distracted, swoops in, snatches the remainder, and chomps it down in as few bites as practical. Gus is left wondering what in the world just happened.

I've looked inside big, old yellow squash. It has a kind of pumpkin look to it. There is a thick hard outer shell, with fiber and seeds inside. The seeds look a lot like pumpkin seeds. I bet yellow squash and orange pumpkins are first cousins. In fact if old yellow squash was round it would probably be yellow pumpkin.

The dogs like it a lot. But there is one thing about letting them eat mature yellow squash. They can't have it 24-36 hours prior to agility class, or let's just say you might be embarrassed by their performance.


Gus with his prize



Gracie with Gus's prize...


Saturday, September 5, 2009

New Foster

Despite the fact that after Chippy was adopted to a nice home and I said NO MORE FOSTERS, I have another foster. Meet Dylan the miniature dachshund, or possibly, Dylan the chiweenie. He was found wandering around in the city of Justin. I'm really surprised the coyotes didn't get him, as he is about the right size to be a coyote snack. Dylan is about 5 years old and fat! Dylan is on a diet. Dylan is not happy to be on a diet, but he is shaped like a football with legs. Sometimes Dylan has difficulty keeping his legs under him so he stumbles and falls. I hope losing some weight will make him more stable. He weighs about 12 pounds, but should weigh more like 10 pounds. Two pounds might not sound like much but it is about 17% more weight than his little body ought to be carrying around.

Dylan chillin' with the big dog.

Tuesday, September 1, 2009

Cue the Music, We Have Another Graduate!


Gracie before class on graduation night.


She loves the contacts the best - good girl stopping in the yellow!


Shooting through the tunnel


Coming down the dog walk. Looks like she is moving slowly - NOT!


Weave-o-matics. Gotta make me some of these.


Again in the yellow - yeah!


Taking a jump.


A-frame. Run fast!


The proof of achievement


And to think this time last year our girl was a stray at the Justin Animal Shelter. She has come a long way.