Lady's Third Birthday

Like all grown-ups, Lady was little excited about her third birthday on December 1st (at least, that's the designated date since she was a pound puppy and we don't know the exact one).


But doggie treats were in order, thanks to Lady's Mom!


RustyV and RustyVI thought the treats looked just great.


And the Birthday Dog seemed to agree!

Reaching for New Heights

Toivo is fascinated with the table from all angles and stretches!

Hello, Mr Squirrel

... have you scared off the winter birds?

Change Comes Hard

Poor Lady. She is not happy about her kibble bowl being moved to the basement. She knows where it is, she knows it's full, she knows she's hungry. But it's been three hours and she still will not succumb to the temptation. This dog is tough!

Later: Finally, she ate but only after being led, very docilely, to the basement on a leash. TWICE.

• First Trip: she sniffed at the food then looked up with sad puppy eyes. Two minutes later, I realized she'd soundlessly gone up the stairs and retreated to her Sad Chair.
  
• Second Trip: now loosely tied to a chair near her kibble bowl, she sniffed at the food then looked up with sad puppy eyes. Then sat. And sat. And sat.
  

Softie that I am, I sat beside her, petted her, beseeched her to eat, waited for her to eat. No go.

So I put a few kibbles in my hand and offered them to her. She sniffed, then gently took a single kibble from my hand -- success, yes? -- and just as gently dropped it on the floor by her feet! And another! And another! And another! Kibble by kibble! This dog is tough!

New Cat Cave

Toivo likes it under the new kitchen table: it's high enough to be safe from The Dog and dark enough for A Cat ...


... except a Scaredy-Cat Musta who likes it better on top!

Rainy Sunday

Lady watching the squirrels and later ...


Toivo watching Lady chasing squirrels outside.

What's Up?

All three are curious about the little kitchen table's temporary placement in the dining room ...

It's Almost Turkey Day

From Animals and Human Alike, Happy Thanksgiving to Everyone!


Lady's rustled up a special surprise for you -- just click here. Hope you like it!

Her Eyes

... are bigger than moons!

Toivo, Again

Fussing with the flowers. AGAIN.

Lady in the Leaves

She's not much help but she sure is cute!

Good Food & Bad Food

Lady waits expectantly for her TREAT BALL to be filled ...


... but has no idea what to think about the steak juice left. She ignores it! (Note the tennis ball in her dish ... it's a new game.)

Musta Stays Warm & Playful

When the furnace comes on, this is Musta's favorite spot, basking in the direct heat from the vent and batting at the cord.

The Resident Bat

The shadows make little Toivo's ears look even bigger than they are!

Musta's Electric Blanket

This is Musta's favorite spot -- right atop my laptop. Luckily, this time I remembered to put the top down. When I don't, all those pawsteps and settling-in moves create some very whacky commands that put the laptop in a drive-spin!

Lady Turns to Mush

Is it any wonder that Lady greets next-door Elizabeth with a helicopter tail?

Time for Supper

Mom, is it time for supper, please? PLEASE??

Christmas Lights!

KK crossed the back fence to see Lady and to help Ms Lady (what she calls me!) wrap lights around the trunk of the fir tree in back. (Look closely in the upper right corner.)

Lady in the Leaves

It was a nine-bag day -- nine bags of MULCHED leaves, to be sure -- and by the next morning, after a big overnight thunderstorm, the job needed doing again!

Lady & the Gnome

The Norwegian gnome emerges from the summer undergrowth ...

Lazy Supper

Some times even eating is just so much work ...

Supper Time

Lady and Toivo waiting somewhat patiently -- at least quietly -- for supper.

Musta Asleep

... in the basket on my desk.

Lady on Squirrel Patrol

Is it any wonder the window frames are in rough shape? Darned ol' squirrels. Note: No Darned Ol' Dog.

Musta Goes Online

She's addicted to the Internet, this cat. If she's not surfing the Web for great sites (like A Veggie Venture!) she's sleeping in the basket nearby.

The Old Cat & the Friendly Dog

Mostly, Musta ignores Lady and in turn, Lady StillPup leaves the House's Alpha Animal be.

But this morning Musta was basking on my desk in the sun and Lady decided it was time to get better acquainted. Musta however took exception - just look at that left hook that's about to hit.

Lady Looking Guilty

... about what?!! A shoe, perhaps?

Musta in Morning Sun

... warming herself on my desk. The rose and daisy were picked late yesterday after hearing the forecast for first frost.

testing

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Toivo's Very Good Day

First we do our yoga stretches ...


Then we relax a little ...


And then we daydream til it's time for Good Stuff ...

Toivo Relaxing on the Table

She's not actually ALLOWED on the table of course ...

Dog's Eye View at Laumeier

Sun & Sula & an occasional snooze were the order of the day at nearby Laumeier Sculpture Park.

Lady at Forest Park

There are more leaves-of-color on this tree than in the rest of the park! But soon ... soon ... eastern Missouri will be rich with fall color. Lady and I had a loooong walk in the sunshine today, then visited Kathy (who's recovering from last week's surgery) and Elliott.

Lady at StoneyCreek

Lady loves the freedom at StoneyCreek! By bedtime, she was so tired, she needed a boost up the stairs!

Lady & Weight Watchers

This is what the ResidentDog thinks of Weight Watchers -- she's now destroyed the points calculator twice!

Lady at Top of Stairs

Mom, will you please get off the computer and finally come to bed?

Tough Little Toivo

First Lady's bed, now Lady's chair. For the first time, Toivo took charge of the red chair in my office, Lady's favorite spot for two years. Lady didn't seem to object -- just accepted the feline precedence, that's how you are when you're not even the alpha animal in the house -- but it only lasted one day and then Toivo returned to her basement hiding spots.

Cat Guys in the Light

What is Toivo watching?

A Rare Moment of Togetherness

Musta (that's the black one on the left ;-) and Toivo are rarely in the same room, let alone within a few feet of one another. So I was quick to capture this rare moment.

Olga Visits

... and makes friends with all the animals


Toivo makes shy, however




... and hides every chance she gets




here, again behind the curtain, from her nemesis, the Big Dog




... who later rests her head on Dad's feet.