Don't think we could have planned a better Memorial Day weekend if we had actually tried!
We didn't have anything specifically planned, except some hiking, agility and watching the race.
It was hot the first couple of days, so we help Mum with work around the house during the day, like laundry and cleaning. We were able to get in some backyard agility practice later in the evening, and all our neighbors came to watch us and cheer us on. That was fun!!!
You can see I got kinda hot, not used to the humidity yet!
Then on Monday it was cooler and we got in a nice hike and more agility. Video to come later in the week. We grilled out and Gracie and I got some hamburger, lettuce and watermelon, so yummy!!!!
We also helped Mum do some yard work, after she mowed the front, back and our back forty hill. That hill just about kills her it's so difficult to mow, but she's getting in shape, fur sure! Better for our agility huh?
After Mum mowed, she sprayed the lawn with organic fish emulsion, our standard fertilizer. Of course after it dried we had to go and roll around in it. It was like having a full yard of yucky stuff!! Of course Mum loved the fact that we had a sweet aroma of dead fish on us for a few days, BOL!!
Here's Gracie enjoying a good roll...
Gracie and I were sniffing each other all afternoon, so good!!!!
Then I helped Mum gather up all the sticks after she trimmed some dead wood out of our Magnolia...
Gracie enjoyed the sticks too...
Then I had to get in a little bird herding of course! What kinda day would it be without bird herding, don't even want to imagine....
Mum picked a few flowers to enjoy in our office this week. Here are some of our Iris. Gorgeous! Some day we'd like to get more varieties, like our friend Ellen...
And here are some of the peonies she picked, so fragrant!!!
It was just about the best doggone weekend, ever!!!! Thanks Mum, for making my days super fun!
This is USMC Sargeant Stubby, hero and veteran of WWI, and perhaps the most decorated War Dog in history.In 1916, the United States was deep in a conflict that changed the world. A time of innocence and idealism would collapse in the face of WWI. As areas of sporting events, education and otherwise peaceful intentions were pressed into service by the military, a group of students participated in military training in Yale Field and were joined by a charming, happy Bull Terrier, one we would quickly identify as a Pit Bull today.
Stubby, as he came to be known for his chunky body and good sense of humor, was an endearing mascot and treasured companion, so when the young men were reassigned to Newport News for final training before deployment, they couldn't abandon him.
It is difficult to say how many soldiers returned home due to Stubby's alerts over gas attacks (he could smell the gas in time for the soldiers to get their masks on) or when he identified and captured (by the seat of his pants, no less) a German spy.
In 1926, after a life worthy of several movies, Stubby died. His remains were preserved and are still maintained (along with his "uniform" made by the French ladies and his medals) by the Smithsonian Institution of Washington, DC.
And this is Chips, the most decorated war dog from World War II.
Chips, a German Shepherd, Collie, Husky mix was donated by Edward J. Wren of Pleasantville, New York, was trained at Front Royal, Virginia in 1942, and was among the dogs to be shipped overseas. He was assigned to the 3d Infantry Division and served with that unit in North Africa, Sicily, Italy, France and Germany.
His assignments included sentry duty at the Roosevelt-Churchill conference in Casablanca in January 1943. Although trained as a sentry dog, Chips was reported on one occasion by members of Company I, 30th Infantry Regiment, to have broken away from his handler and attacked a pillbox containing an enemy machine gun crew in Sicily. He seized one man and forced the entire crew to surrender. He was also credited by the units to which he was assigned as having been directly responsible for capture of numerous enemy by alerting to their presence.
In recognition of his service Chips was awarded the Silver Star and the Purple Heart, both were sadly later revoked, because of the impression it may give to soldiers. In 1993 Disney produced a TV movie about Chips called "Chips the War Dog".
These are just two of the thousands of dogs that have given their lives to military service over the years. This Memorial Day, we honor our brave brothers and sisters who valiantly served and continue to service our country.
Read and learn more about the wonderful work and lives of military dogs throughout history, through my Squidoo Lens - The Dogs of War.
There are several sites dedicated to our canine military heroes, including:
A Tribute to the War Dogs of the US Military
WarDogs.com
The United States War Dog Association
And watch this interesting video with rare footage and pictures of War Dogs throughout history.
We wanted to work a little on pinwheels, and keeping me tight and fast in them. Not so sure we accomplished the fast part (although the speed isn't too bad), but we did accomplish the tight part. Mum tried to get in front crosses, one time she couldn't make it and had to improvise. Goofy Mum!!!
Oh, and you can hear our neighbor trying to kill their lawnmower with tall grass, BOL!!!
But the biggest and funnest thing?
It's when I jump in Mum's arms at the end. We've been working a lot on that. It's not the best jump up, but we're getting there! Have to say it took two years for us to get this far with the jump in the arms thing, and working it into a little agility run. Mum's proud of me, I finally got it! Woofs!
This morning I reaffirmed my pledge to keep cool dogs out of hot cars! See that's me with my "My Dog Is Cool" certificate!I've been seeing way to many reports in the news already this summer of folks leaving their dogs in super hot cars, some severely injuring their dogs, others with pups that sadly didn't make it through the ordeal. I just can't fathom what it would be like to suffer in a hot car!!!
Can you help me spread the word?
I updated my Squidoo lens - Keeping cool dogs out of hot cars with new info and links to sites that have great ideas and materials for spreading the word! And while you're there why not take the pledge too, if you'd like!!! It's cool!
