I found out you're in Scotland and I think I know why.....

Besides being a nice little white dog, I'm actually a WEST HIGHLAND WHITE TERRIER. I never knew that a Westie (which is what you always call me), was actually a Scottish dog! A WEST HIGHLAND WHITE TERRIER. WOW!

No WONDER you went to Scotland - you want to learn more about me. Well I have been looking into it too, now that I know. There are some things you only find out by going to Langford. I found out I am a West Highland White Terrier, from Scotland!

I think I look like a show dog in this picture.

I am, of course, a West Highland White Terrier

I'm wondering though. Why all the fuss about those Highland Coos?? All 3 of you have been posting pictures of those funny looking things, but not ONE Westie (I'll just call us Westies now because it is so long to write West Highland White Terrier). If you're there to find out about Westies you should post some pictures of the local Westies - don't you think? Be sure to take your camera when you go out in case you see one.

I've been trying to find out if my clan has its own tartan. I can't seem to find out. I'm sure there is one, so maybe you could ask somebody. If you find it please bring me a blanket or a collar in my tartan. I saw that you know about the MacDonald tartan. I don't think you really need to know about that one.

Here's some stuff I have found out.

1. My relatives are the Dandie Dinmont, Skye, and Scottish and Cairn Terriers.

2. I ORIGINATED in Scotland! My kin were fox hunters badger hunters and otter hunters. They were also known for killing vermin but Sharon says we don't say the actual word but you probably know what I mean. 

3. Listen to this! My kin go back to the 17th century!! That seems like it is a long to me - right? Anyway, back to the 17th century and a small breed of dogs that James 1 of Argyllshire gave to the king of France. I think all of this is a very big deal. 

See what you can find out about that.

4. I know how I got to be white instead of brown, too! Just ask me if you want to know. 

5. We used to be called something else, too, but you can ask me that too. I just hope you're finding some of this stuff out for yourselves. We've been called the West Highland White Terrier since 1906. That's a pretty long time too!

6. Best of all, they say that I am so full of self esteem that I know I'm the best thing around. Do your research and you'll find out. And - that I'm always looking for a good time I make you laugh, I'm friendly and happy with a lively nature. And I endear myself to EVERYONE! I think all of that's TRUE!

So you see - you don't need to go to Scotland to find out about Westies, and it really doesn't take THREE of you! I found out right here in Langford. 

So let's see. I am here with Lady. There was another dog here too, called Sadie but she went home today. On Tuesday there were FIVE dogs at the poker game! Ellie, Emily, Sadie, Maggie and I were all here at the same time! 

Take a look at the picture.

This of a picture of Lady and I. She is a Border Collie/Poodle. 

I am a Westie of course.

I hope you enjoy all that information about me. Let me know what else you find out. And please - forget about those stupid Highland Coos. You seem a bit obsessed.

Abby

What's Missing From This Picture??!!!

(This is the picture taken at 2:40)

Who's Missing?

I AM!

(Look at the picture taken at 1:45)

We were all ready to go on our holiday. 

Even Sharon was coming along.

This is not the first time this has happened. We get somewhere, and everyone jumps out of the car - except me - and POOF, you're gone. Now I have to figure out where you are, but I'm sure you're not around here. Good thing Sharon stuck with me.

Well, enough said about that. I'm sure you know my opinion about this kind of thing by now.

So Sharon and I came to her house. I do love it here though. I once again have my perch on the back of the couch (there are certain couches I'm not allowed on if you know what I mean). No cat sightings though. I think they moved away. I'll have to watch for the squirrels.

Teddy came to visit yesterday, but he went home after dinner. We were each eating our lunch and he finished first, so he came over to my dish. I snarled at him. Yep, I did. I snarled and told him to go away. He did.

I made Sharon laugh though because even when he was not near I thought he was and I turned my head and snarled at the air. I don't know why that was funny. I was just keeping him away. She said I was being silly. 

Guess what. Sharon has a rule. No dogs in her bedroom at night. But she lets ME go in! Maybe it's because I always knock on her door and wake her up, I don't know. Anyway, I wander around in the night a bit. Last night at I think 2:20 I was scratching on the side of her bed. I wanted to sleep on the bed. 

Did she lift me up? Nooooo. She told me to go back to my bed. She wasn't even very nice about it. So I went away. Jeez. It's a big bed. What's her problem?

I have TWO bathmats on the deck, so I have two great viewing spots. Big Abby was here a few minutes ago. She comes here but I don't go there because there is way too much grass to walk on to get there. Remember when I got stung by a wasp in the grass? Me too.

This is a picture of Big Abby and I.

It's kind of hard to see me.

I hope wherever you are this time there is no CAT. You came home smelling like a cat last time, and it was just not fair, since I am not allowed to have one. 

That's all I have to tell you just now. If I have anything to say I will write it here.  

Abby

Thursday, July 14, 2016

I'm So Excited!!

This is me sitting on the kid's booster seat.

I love to sit here so I can see out the window better.

 

I'm so excited! I have THREE reasons for being excited today. 

 

I just heard that it's tomorrow that you're coming home and I get to go to the ferry to pick you up! I love riding in the car. Sharon almost always takes me with her.

 

I also heard that I'm going have a bath tomorrow, so I will be really, really white again. I think that you think I don't care, but I do want you to be proud of me. Sharon says you will be! We'll be there to pick you up and Auntie Marilyn will be with you and Fred too (is he my uncle?). Then we will be going to our house! I love to bark at the people on the path and watch for squirrels. Is there a chance I can get on the couch to look out the window again?

 

This is me after my last bath

 Another reason I'm excited today is that the kids are here! I love it when they come. Sometimes they stay overnight and I sleep with them! Last night they didn't come, but they're here now and I love that.

 

Another reason I'm excited, is that Big Abby from next door is coming HERE to stay. She's coming TODAY! We already brought her food over, and later we're going over to get her bed and her dishes. I love big Abby. Here is a picture of me playing with her. 

 

I love playing with Big Abby

 

So can you see why I'm so excited??!!!

 

I have been wanting to tell you some more about my visit at Sharon's. Don't say anything, but Sharon doesn't offer me the laptop very much. It seems like she's always on it and I don't get a chance. But today I just needed to insist on telling my stories. 

 

I've got a good one about Cyrus. Do you remember him? He's Joan and Larry's B-I-G dog.  Cyrus is such a great dog. He thinks I am too! 

 

So one day they came to visit. We ended up going over to Big Abby's house through the gate in the fence. So much fun being with Big Abby AND Cyrus at the same time. Joan went to look at their big fish pond, and then we heard her yelling.

 

We all went and looked, and there was Cyrus swimming in the fish pond! You would not have believed it! Joan and Larry were excited I guess, because they kept yelling at him. He was really splashing in the water. Sharon pulled him out by his collar and then he shook all over everyone and got them wet. Ha ha. That was really funny because they were all trying to get away from him.

 

But I was thinking about it. At his house, Cyrus has just a little fish pond. Here is a picture of Cyrus beside his fish pond. 

 

This is Cyrus sitting in front of his fish pond

 

If YOU wanted to swim in a fish pond, would
you rather swim in that one, or the one just below?? 

 

I would rather go in this one, and so did Cyrus.

That was just so funny!

Let's see.Oh ya. Stefan came to watch movies with Sharon one time, and she stayed here overnight. I think she secretly does not like to drive after dark.

I love it when Stefan comes. She's one of my best friends.I always put her hand in my mouth and lick her and lick her. Sharon always keeps her bedroom door closed and if I knock on it, she tells me to go back to my bed. But Stefan lets me come in and sleep with her! Here's a picture.

Here I am in bed with Stefan

Sharon went somewhere and took a picture of a dog wearing a shirt that says "Cats Suck". What kind of dog would ever think that? It can't be a very nice dog. I LOVE cats!

Here is a picture of that dog

I love that I can just walk out onto the deck. But in the morning and at night Sharon makes me go on the grass. Yuk. I only go on the grass if I really want to go to Big Abby's. She actually PUTS THE LEASH on me and makes me go to the grass. She won't let me go in until I poop and pee. Then I do, so I can get off of that grass and back to the deck. I thought you should know. 

I bet you can tell that I've had a pretty good time.

So you see - you really don't need to go far away (as some people do) to have a good time. 

So excited!! Soon we'll be home together!

 

 

 

Saturday, July 9, 2016

A Special Story About a Cat

Sharon just told me you're coming home in SIX days! I've been so busy with things like watching for cats and squirrels that I haven't told you everything that's been happening. 

Where will I start? I guess I'll start with a really BIG thing that happened. This one is I - mean -  BIG. I'll send you another post really soon so you'll know about some other things that have been happening too.

So last week Sharon had her big party. We come every year only this year I was the only one in our family that was at it. One of my best friends, Stefan, came too and she stayed overnight. Also, another friend, Mady came too and she stayed here also. 

Mady had her CAT in the car! It got a bit hot in the car so she put the cat in its crate, ON THE PATIO at the back! A cat was THAT close to me!!!!! I was so excited I barked and barked and barked. Sharon came running and told Mady I get really excited when I see a cat. So Mady turned the crate around. Sharon said we had to take the crate away. So they put the crate with the cat in it, in the garage. The door for the garage is right at my stakeout spot! I had Kina over the fence and the cat in the garage all at the same time!

I think I showed you a picture of 

me at the stakeout last time, but that 

was BEFORE there was a cat

in the garage

 

You may not believe this, but I could not think of ANYTHING else but that cat being in the garage. This has NEVER happened to me before. Cats have never been so close, just on the fence or up a tree. After awhile, I heard that Mady took the cat back to the car, but left the crate in the garage. I was not willing to believe that one, so I still waited. 

 

After everyone left the party - except for just a few people, Sharon let me go into the garage to check it out for myself. The crate was empty! I even got into it and  looked for myself. But where was the cat? It's still possible it's in the garage somewhere, so I sniffed and sniffed everywhere. 

 

 

I am sniffing around the crate in this picture

The next day, the crate disappeared! I heard Sharon talk on the phone with Mady, with my OWN EARS and Mady said she left the crate and she doesn't want it anymore. So WHERE did the crate go? 

Later that morning we went out front, and there was the crate! The cat's towel was still in it, and I l-o-v-e-d the smell of that towel! I sniffed and sniffed. Finally, Sharon made me go inside. Nooooooo - I want to smell the towel.

Next time I went outside, later that day, the crate was gone! Sharon gave it to someone. DARN. But guess what? The TOWEL was still there!! It was luscious, the way it smelled exactly like the cat.  But now the towel is gone too.

But every time Sharon goes into the garage, I slip in too. Just - in -case. I look everywhere, but I'm sure now the cat has gone.

Isn't that exciting? 

I suppose you're going to come home smelling like a cat. After all - you ARE living with one.

 

Tuesday, June 28, 2016

I Finally Got Around to Posting on My Blog!

Tuesday, June 28, 2016

Let's see. So I think it's been about a month since you snuck away.  And I haven't heard a word from you. I think we need to talk. Do you even know where I am?

This is not the first time I've had to do this. Do you remember the time when Sharon came to pick us up to go on our holiday? We left our house and went to pick up Auntie Marilyn (I'll get to YOU in just a minute), then we picked up Pam. I was soooo excited. My own family, Sharon,Auntie Marilyn and Pam, all together going on a trip!

Then the car stopped suddenly, and everyone got out - except for me! You four took off and left Sharon and I there by ourselves! I know, I know, we've talked about this before, but I am just reminding you that this has happened before, and now you've done it again!

Now about Auntie Marilyn. We were doing just fine, then poof! One day we got in the car and suddenly I'm at Sharon's. My beds, food and all my belongings were taken into her house! Now you know how much I like being there, but good grief, what do you think it's like being here, there and everywhere else???

Auntie Marilyn, I KNOW you're with them. I don't know where you are, but I know it's not around here. Do you want to know HOW I know? LOOK BELOW and you'll see how I know. There you all are in the picture. You may think I don't notice things, but I know that we don't have those stone things that are behind you around here.

SEE?  You're all together.

I'm taking NO chances with Sharon leaving me behind. I follow her everywhere, (and I mean everywhere), and most of the time I go in the car too. 

OK. Just one more thing. It's about Marg and a C-A-T. Yes, I also know that you're spending time with a cat. I would like to have my own cat but I'm not allowed. But there you are sitting with a cat. I think you might be living with this cat. Look, this is how I know. Maybe you'll decide now that you like living with a cat and I can get one.

What's with this??

Now that you know how I feel, I'll tell you about some of the fun I've been having. 

I LOVE the deck. I have THREE beds - my round bed, my cot and a bathmat! They're all on the deck and I can choose where I want to lie! Sometimes I just lie on the wooden deck, especially when I'm following the sun. I can see so many things from there. Woooo.It's just so cool. 

Sometimes I go to the stakeout and wait for Kina next door to come to the fence. You remember her, right? I've never seen her but I love it when she digs under the fence and puts her paw through to my side! She sure has big paws. So I wonder how big she is. Sharon says she's a German Shepherd. Do I know any of those? Are they big?

 Here I am at the stakeout.

You know the poker games we were having at the house? You know the ones, when a whole bunch of people came? Well GUESS WHAT? Now they all come to Sharon's house - every week! The most fun thing is that EMILY comes too. It's so exciting!! And they came back this afternoon!

I have lots of things to tell you, but I'll tell you about them later. Right now I'll tell you about a BIG sighting I had last night. BIG!

I was sitting up on the back of the couch looking out the window. It was evening, nice and warm out.

This is me BEFORE the sighting

Suddenly, a cat came in the yard! This is my FIRST cat sighting since I've been here. Scooter the cat that lived in the front house moved away, so now I really have to look hard for them.  I got so excited I went to the open window and stuck my nose right up to the screen. I would have jumped right out if that screen was not there. The cat saw me and heard me, and jumped over the fence into big Abby's yard. My heart was sure pounding!

 This is me AFTER I saw the cat
(there was lots of sound too, but
you can't hear it in the picture)

Well that's my news for now. Lots has happened like I said, but I'll send you more interesting posts about my holiday in Langford. Come to think of it, I'm having a really good time so it doesn't really matter when you come home.

Oh - I nearly forgot. I think someone is living in our house. Do you know about that? 

Abby

 

Well I hear from Sharon that there are just three more sleeps until you come home. That'll be mostly nice I guess. I've been having a good time. I guess you have been able to tell that from my blog posts.

I don't have any new pictures today, but I guess I could find an old one somewhere here on this computer. I do have a story though that is really good. It got very dramatic at one point. I'll tell you when that time comes. 

I'll go look for that picture now.

 I have always liked this one
of me checking my blog

Here's the story.

Yesterday we went out in the backyard. Sharon insists on keeping the leash on me because she says she doesn't trust Scooter (over protective if you ask me). So Abby next door - I'll call her Big Abby - comes to the fence because she hears us and wants to talk to us. So we start to go over to the fence. 

Suddenly Scooter - the cat - jumps out of nowhere, bounds toward the fence, and leaps onto the fence, right in front of Big Abby's face! Wooooooooo. Big Abby growls at Scooter and Scooter jumps down, back into our yard. 

Now Sharon is getting paranoid, thinking if she will jump at Big Abby, what will she do to me. I don't really get it, I just think it's so much fun and I'm barking and Sharon is saying "hurry up" (like a broken record), and Scooter is walking around with her back humped up.

Next thing I know I'm rushed into the house. 

Whew.

Some time passes and I stay right at that back door. Sharon is eating her lunch at the kitchen table, and here comes Scooter onto the deck. Holy smokes. She's still here! She must like me because she came right up to the door again, and sometimes she comes and puts her paws on the door. 

Then - here is the dramatic part - I hope you can feel it. I'm going to write in very hushed tones, just so you get the real drama of it.

Scooter lies down on the deck and looks at me. I quit barking. I lay down. Everything was quiet - even Sharon did not move or eat. I stared at Scooter and she stared at me. It was a stare-a-thon. Nothing moved on either of our bodies. Then, the only thing that moved was the very very tip of Scooter's ears. They moved ever so little. Twitch. Twitch. Who would look away first? I was pretty sure it wasn't going to be me. 

Then it happened. Scooter turned her head away. I WON THE STARE-A-THON! Then she stood up and quietly went down the stairs and around the corner. She KNEW I had won.

How do you like THAT one?!

Today I have watched, but no sightings. 

So I'm told that on Tuesday we're going to take Joan (Cyrus' mom) with us and go get our car, then leave the van at the airport for you. 

What's his name, the kid - Max - he'll be here on Wednesday when you pick me up. He and I get along really well.

I guess maybe it'll be good to get home and have a good rest. Some days here I haven't had too much of that.