Our Flat Stanley Project Day One

It  was a day like any other, Thursday, January 24th, time to go retrieve the mail from the  mailbox at the end of our 1/2 mile drive. Our Springer Spaniel Sadie hopped up into the truck to take her place on the passenger side.

Collecting the mail I saw we had gotten a letter from our youngest Granddaughter. Usually when we  get an envelope it contains her artwork to add to our gallery.Each piece brings lots of smiles from this Grandma.

Well, it appears today she sent us artwork with a purpose.

The envelope brought a message and a cheery little guy  named Flat Stanley. Maybe you have heard of Flat Stanley? He really seems to be having some great adventures.and I hope we can add to his bucket list before he must hop back in an envelope to find his way back home.

Not long after his arrival he was working on an afghan knitting project for our oldest Granddaughter that I had been occupied with for quite awhile.. I appreciate his expertise even after having only met him a couple hours before.

I wanted to show Flat Stanley the progress Hubby had made since our Granddaughter's last visit to our new home. Presently,  the heating system isn't operating so the working conditions remain a little chilly when the temps are extremely cold outside. I apologized for not having a winter ensemble ready to keep him warm during our outdoor excursions in our Central Iowa location, but he was ready to go in whatever direction my feet would carry him.

 

The day had been long and eventful, Flat Stanley was exhausted. It was time for me to show him where he could find a cozy, warm  bed for a good nights rest. Tomorrow was going to be another busy day.....

I would like to share information on The Original Flat Stanley Project. You can go see more about it by clicking here...

Sadie Says - A Year Old and Counting

My goodness of all the days that have past since I started exploring the big old wide world. Yes, on March 18th, mom and dad gave me a little party to celebrate my 1st Birthday. Just to think it won't be until May 15th, that we will pass another milestone, a year since I made the trip from Madison,SD., to Central Iowa. Mom met Dorothy Sanborn from South Dakota's Countryside Kennels at the Sioux Falls, SD., Pilot to bring me home. Mom and I have had some growing pains, but we are getting to know each other real well. There is a very strong mutual admiration society happening here. A real plus is that I was house broken by the time I was 5 1/2 months old. Mom has heard it is hard to get a Springer Spaniel potty trained...not at my house it wasn't. I am a smart girl. My favorite new tricks are to twirl and roll-over,for a treat of course. Mom has started trusting me to run off my leash when we go into the timber. How very happy that has made me! We get to go together now. There are a couple of small creeks with water running, you should see the M-U-D up to my shoulders. Can't possibly avoid it don't you know?!? All I would like to say in closing is that this is turning out to be heaven in my book. Just a chance to live the Timber Life... ;)

Sadie Says - I've Been a Good Girl

I've been a really "Good Girl" this year! My First Christmas has come and gone. Nephew Nick and niece Alexa got me a a doggy Christmas stocking filled with lovely fetch toys.Now it's time to get down to some chewing and ripping . Hope you all are having a great holiday season too! ;)

Sadie Says - Ith a Curth!

OH dear friendths! There is thomething I juth found laying behind Mom's couth. My mouth ith only half working 'cauth part of it ith stuck to this black thingy with sticky stuff ALL over it. Ith a CURTH! ITH a CURTH!!! That was the first time around. Mom pulled it out with just a few lip hairs. Then a little while later in my explorations I found another black thingy on the other end of the couth. Ith a CURTH! ITH a CURTH!!! Mom thought it was pushed far enough away from the edge and various other obstacles in place that I wouldn't be able to get to it. HA HA HA! Guess she still doesn't know the power of SUPER SADIE the wonder Springer... Let me explain, very early this morning Mom was up and around. She heard and saw a couple of little squeakers. Soooo C-u-t-e those little timber mice. She was just havin' a cool , calm, and collected matter of fact discourse on "Well, it's that time of year again..." Maybe, now you have an idea what I'm being tempted by. The second time I wasn't as fortunate as the first. That black thingy with the sticky stuff ALL over it got stuck on my upper lip again.Tried to get it off with my foot. Then I grabbed it with my mouth to get it off my foot. Help ME! It is firmly fixed to my right front foot. Ith a CURTH! ITH a CURTH!!! Now Dad is out of bed - I gave him something to laugh about while he was getting ready for work. Mom got the scissors out to take off the biggest share of the black thingy and sticky stuff. Then she got out the creamy peanut butter she got for the grandkids....started massaging my stuck foot. Little by little it loosened up until it dropped away. The Curse has been lifted. At least for today, because I know where there are three more to play with. ;)

Sadie Says - Let Me at 'Em

Let me at 'em. Just let me at 'em!!! Paws moving briskly across the keypad. I was able to get it commandeered A-G-A-I-N.(with a maniacal giggle) Mom is really falling behind here lately. I need to start getting things back on track. Don't want her blogging buddies to think she has forgotten them. Looks like I need to help her get the words out. For some reason she got these two long sticks out with a long rope that she plays with alot these days. As if she doesn't have anything ELSE to do...She acts like nothing matters, but playing with the two sticks and long rope.

Says she is making a scarf for somebody across the Mississippi, way off in Illinois. Gettin' cold over there she says. Got to RUFF about that cause it is gettin' cold here too. Where's my scarf? Talk about being ignored!!! An 8 month old puppy can only take that for so long...HRUMPH! Finally looks like Mom made it to 100 blog posts the other day,with my help. Yeah, uh huh with my Yelp.(as I slide across the kitchen floor in jubilation) Goodness, who would have ever thought she would get that far in a year?!? Sometimes it is just like pulling teeth to get her to stop and think. Ahhhhh, now that I have gotten somethings off my back , I can rest a little easier, knowing everybody has heard my rambling barks another day.....;)

Sadie Says - Ruff, Ruff, Ruff, Rough!

Things have been a bit rough around Timber Life. Mom keeps letting me outside to use my sniff and chase reflexes when the squirrels are mining underneath her car. Chewing whatever they chew...Those little red tree rats really give me a great workout. Anything with legs that move - I'm ON IT! Anyway, some times those creatures take off into the timber where Mom doesn't mow, or spray chemicals. Over the years animals have brought some really sticky seeds into my close to home running range.

You should see how the long hair on my beautiful ears gets twisted - no need for styling mousse these days.

OH NO! Here she comes again! Two brushes in hand. I get to chew the green brush handle when she is going at me with that blasted wire thingy. Mom and I are both going to be extremely happy when the snow finally comes to cover those prickly stickers over for this season! Pssst! Ya know what's funny? I get to snicker, cause Mom has to peel those pokies off herself tooo...;)

Sadie Says

Do You think all the dogs in the world are the same? ; )

Sadie Says

Hi folks! Some of you already know who I am. My humans cal me Sadie. Like all moms , CDGardens has added a middle name to give her more "blah, blah, blah" when she gets upset with my behavior. I guess in human speak it is "Sadie Sioux." Thought I would take some time to check -in with you. Been at home for a month now. I truly have been through a whole lot of learning. It has recently been discussed between mom and me that I might get to have my own column once a week. The idea arose when mom caught me sitting in her chair with my paws not very far from the keyboard. I wasn't looking for a job other than maybe becoming a hunting buddy, but here I am, graduating to the world of the Internet at the tender age of three months.

If you want to know what I was actually up to ...I'll tell you. My mom has paper here and there, a kleenex box sat on an end table until I started pulling them out a couple at a time to chew. MY of ALL the fun I have ripping things up when she isn't in the close vicinity. Yes, I learned to climb chairs, couches, or whatever to get what I want off the counters. Mom's computer chair is a great place to take short rests - climbing made the world around Timber Life a whole lot smaller.

Not to worry - mom doesn't think I will have to put in too many hours so there will be plenty of time to PLAY or hunt....Is there a difference? ;)

Hope you will all come on back once in awhile to see what I'm up to.

Sadie The Retriever

Sadie's first night home gave us some entertainment and little sleep. Not being familiar with each other, she found places to "Den", peeking out to observe the situation. As the evening went on she would sneak out from behind the chair and pick up one toy at a time. The first piece of furniture to become initiated by her tiny, SHARP teeth. Electric and computer cords have seemed to become automatic chew toys for her.

This puppy has one absolutely challenging habit at this age. Chew! Chew!! Chewing!!! Oh YES, Did I say C-H-E-W-I-N-G?!? Diverting her attention has been one thing. Holding her little mouth closed and telling her "NO" firmly, short time outs in the kennel, have been other methods of getting her attention. Another suggestion I have also read about is to place a bitter-taste on the focus of the teeth puncture wounds or ripping. Patience and being consistent will bring positive results. The first full day of being home,with trips outside every two hours, there weren't any potty problems...Soon to change in the next couple of days. I am getting to see what her cues are for us to be getting on our way out the door.

Particular noises around the house are becoming less of an anxiety trigger as we reach almost a week together come tomorrow evening.

At 9 weeks of age she is most definitely a sniffer ; catching the scents in the neighborhood.

-Some Good Things she has learned-

1.Going up and down three deck steps on her own. 2.Learning her name in a very short amount of time. 3.A free foot warmer while sitting at the computer. Sadie found a stick on one of our early morning excursions,on her second day home,and carried it very proudly like any "Retriever" would...