April 8, 2007

It has been months since I have done an up-date. Life got crazy! Things have slowed down - a little. The winter snow had gone and everything was green and now it is all white again with at least 10 inches of new snow. The Robins are at a loss but Weather is enjoying chasing them. They fly quite low and she chases them until they decide to take to a tree to get away from her. Weather got spade at six months of age and she is now seven months plus a week old and totally healed. Weather weighed in at 58.4 pounds this morning. She has had many new adventures. She has been to 'doggie-day-care' and has spent many days and nights at Uncle Al's and Aunt Sandy Koehler's. We will never be able to pay them back for taking her at a moments notice. Betsy had some major medical problems and we were in Las Vegas a long time. Betsy is recovering well. They - the Koehler's - also had her for eight days while we were in Florida. Being new parents, we didn't know you had to book a kennel a year in advance for Spring break. Weather and Olive (Koehler's hound) spent many days together and I think they now like each other.




Weather loves to climb this hill when we go for walks. We tell her 'you are queen of the hill' and up she goes.






Weather loves pulling bark off of the trees.









We took Weather snow shoeing this winter. She really got a work out with the snow being so deep.

January 23, 2007

Christmas and the new year have come and gone and I never found time to do a Weather up-date. It isn't because there wasn't anything new - I just got busy and the 'blog' went on the back burner. Weather has continued to gain at least 2 pounds every week. I think Dan is going to have to get on the scale with her from now on. On Sunday, her weigh in day, she weighed 41.8 pounds and I could hardly hold her. She is looking more like a young lady and not a puppy. She is loosing her baby teeth and I found one Sunday. She is starting to get little points where the first baby teeth fell out. She also has had her first shower. She does keep us busy...





This is my youngest daughter Emily giving Weather a lot of attention. I think they have the same hair color.



This is my oldest daughter Betsy. Weather spent a lot of time with Betsy. When Betsy went home Weather looked for her up stairs in her room. I think Weather really missed her.




Weather's first Christmas and she never bothered the tree. I was sure she would try to take some of the ornaments off of the tree.





Weather looking her best wearing her new rabies tag that she got after her last baby shots.










By January 4, Weather and Betsy had spent 3 weeks together and had bonded. Weather is such a lover.









Weather (a little out of focus) having her first bath in the shower.

December 17, 2006

It is a lazy Sunday afternoon. I finally got the pictures of Weather down loaded and while I am at the computer I thought I'd better do my Weather up-date or it probable won't get done. I am including several pictures to show you the kind of weather swings we have been having.

Weather is still growing like a weed. On the 10th of December she gained 2.8 pounds and weighed 28 pounds and today she weighed 30.6 pounds for a 2.6 gain. She only gets a cup of food three times a day but it must be enough for her to grow on. She is definitely not starving.

We took her to Traverse City Christmas shopping Friday and she did quite well. We didn't take her kennel and she didn't bother any of the packages. Actually she slept most of the time. She is really a good 'car' dog.

The neighbor has a golden that is 9 months old - Weather will be 16 weeks old Tuesday (December 19) - and he beats her up and sits on her when they play. She doesn't seem to mind. Have a merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. I probable won't do a Weather up-date until after the holidays.

PS: A golfer is playing golf on the hole in front of the house!




On December 4th we had a blizzard. Tried to take pictures but the camera was getting wet and my hands were freezing.





Weather got another gift from Uncle Al and Aunt Sandy. Now she is a true "Spartan Fan" but she did try and eat if off.





On December 5th We had lots of new snow and sunshine. Weather loved it. She would stick her head in so far you could only see body.





On December 9th is got gray and cold again.







Weather has an attraction for wild raspberry bushes. She eats them off all of the time. You would think the pickers would hurt her mouth.





December 17th, the snow is gone and Weather is thinking a picnic table means 'treats'.






We found several golf balls and Weather is on the green rolling them around.

December 2, 2006

I am almost a week late but this time of year is so busy - then add a puppy to the mix - and I can't decide what to do first. At Sunday's weigh in (November 26) Weather had gained 2.4 pounds which makes her a BIG 23 pounds, She has more than doubled her weight since we got her. Kind of sad............. before we know it our playful puppy with be a mischievous dog. She still demands a lot of time. She thinks our purpose in life is to play with her, feed her and take her to the 'potty'. When those things are done it is time for a walk. We knew all of these things were going to take time but some how it didn't seem to take that much time in the thinking stage of "do we really want a puppy"???




Can you believe it is November 26 and no snow.








Weather loves running through the woods, especially when the leaves 'crunch





Weather's ears are up sometimes. I am thinking of having weights hooked on the ends so they stay down. Just kidding!!!




Dan build toad stools in the front yard after we cut down some dead trees. Not sure Weather likes being up high.

November 20, 2006

The weather has been gray again. It is winter and I guess we should expect not seeing the sun but I sure don't like it. All of the snow we had has melted. Makes the walks with Weather easier, so no complaints. Weather is growing like a weed. She gained 3.2 pounds this week and now weighs 20.6 pounds. If she keeps growing at this rate she won't be a puppy much longer. She also has gotten a little darker. This week we worked on how to climb stairs. Didn't want anything to do with them a first BUT like a duck to water she caught on quickly. She is SO smart! Of course I had to get on my hands and knees the first couple days to demonstrate but now she goes up like a rabbit. She actually hops from step to step. Going up was much easier for her in the beginning but she has mastered both. She has learned so well we had to get out the baby gate to keep her off of the stairs.





Weather is such a pill sometimes. Here she is trying to eat the camera strap.

Weather needed "The Duck" to help with the stairs.

As you can see, Weather is getting much better on the stairs. You can also see she has 'plucked' a lot of the gray off of the duck. He is becoming a 'Bald Eagle'.

Weather also practiced on the basement stairs. Here she is probably thinking that she has had enough practice for one day.

Sandy K. brought her grandkids over so Weather could be around 'little people'. She entertained them quite well and they brought her a new toy. Thanks Sandy!!!

November 12, 2006

It is Sunday and the weather is gray and cold - not like "Weather" who is full of energy and needs attention 24/7. She has had her walk and lunch and we have weighed her in. She now weighs 17.4 pounds which is a 2.6 pound gain. She is getting a little heavy to carry around but I still carry her to the 'bathroom' hoping she will get the idea to wait until she gets into the woods. Spending a little extra time now will hopefully save me a lot of time in clean up later.
She is aware of everything now. Her nose is to the ground all of the time. She only knows one speed and that is full tilt - doesn't matter if we are walking in the woods or not. She gets flipped on her back by bushes and limbs and gets up and keeps on going.




Weather loves the snow.








Weather has the nose of a Blood Hound and never stops sniffing.

When the snow is deep Weather has to work a little hard so she needs a break sometimes.

Weather doesn't seem to mind having snow on her nose. She has puts her head in the snow so deep her head disappears.

November 5, 2006

Well, another Sunday and another 'Weather Up-Date'. The actual weather is not bad today......in the 50's. The walk this morning was Not rainy, ugly and windy and no snow. Big improvement. Weather is growing like a weed. Today (Sunday) is weigh in and she weighed 14.8 pounds. Big increase from last weeks 12.8.




Weather looking as cute as can be.







Dan's brother Gregg requested a picture of Weather with her 'dad' so here you go Gregg.







Weather and Dan posing for me. I think I wanted the hat on Weather but she didn't care for the idea.










This is Weather after the walk. She sleeps well after her walks.