Essex's Sixth Bark-Aversary

Dad and his brudder Steve wished me "Happy Bark-Aversary." It is hard to believe I have spent six years with Dad. We got plenty of treats and strokes. I sure like being with this pack. Deacon and I went out to enjoy the sunshine and having Dad home for the day.

31 DEC 2009 - Deacon & Essex

The house is still being painted and we got to talk to several people at the chat room early this morning. It was hard to believe it was already 2010 in Australia. We hope to see some of our cyber-paw pals in the chat room tonight.

The best part of Bark-Aversaries is the chance to share some old pictures with my cyber pals.

Dog Speed,

Essex

January 2004 - Chewing a coconut

February 2004 - My Vogue Cover Shot Look

April 2004 - First Bath

April 2004 - Chewing on a Bone

Essexmas 2009

To all of our cyber-paw pals, merry Essexmas. We have been busy entertaining Dad's brudder, Stevie-grrrr-Wonder. Then some painting and Essexmas cookies. The puter has been acting up, so Dad has a new one on order.

Could you say no to these eyes?

Dad went across the street for the Essexmas Eve Pig Roast. He didn't bring us back any thing to eat though. Today we went to our friend Kay & Bill's house. We enjoy being around both of them. While we got plenty of treats, we were mostly happy because we were with Dad & his brudder. Santa Paws left us Reindog Antlers and plenty of treats.

I still say that I'm better looking!

Santa Paws, we want to be your Reindogs

Hope all of you had a pawsome Essexmas.

Dog Speed,

Essex & Deacon

Ohio Paw-to-graphs

We arrived home safe and sound. Dad is a bit tired and will be going through the mail tomorrow. As promised here are paw-to-graphs from our trip to Ohio.

Essex & Deacon

Together at Clyde's house

Aunt Marge listens to Grand-Paw talk

Aunt Becky flirts with Deacon

Grand-Paws 91st Barkday Cake

Aunt Becky shows Grand-Paw a paw-to-graph

Essex chilling out in the snow

Deacon play bows.

SNOW

These two kittens saw Dog Dad at Grand Paws house

Cassie is recovery from surgery is going well

Hattie gives Dog Dad a smile

Heading Back

We will start are return trip to Florida today. Our trip back to Northern Ohio was fun even though we didn't get to play with Hattie & Cassie. We hope Cassie gets better soon. We will miss Rosie the cat, who is hiding somewhere in the house. Imagine she will enjoy having the house all to her paw-self. The cool weather was a joy, it just doesn't happen in Key West. The Thanksgiving Turkey was deee-licious and Deacon was really going nutz over it.

Our first stop will be Cincinnati, Ohio for an overnight visit with Clyde. We all love playing with Clyde. We can't wait to see our beloved Angel Paws and rest our heads at home.

Dog Speed,

Essex & Deacon

S N O W

We had hoped for this, but never thought it would happen. This morning we woke up this morning for our walk. Dad opens the door and outside is a white covering of snow. We went nutz because we love the stuff.

We did quick work of our walk. Then we were in the Aunt Becky's back yard and played like two puppies. This white stuff is fun. Dad would through a snowball up in the air and Deacon would grab it in his mouth. We are trying to convince Dad to move north, but don't think we'll succeed unless we get him a new job. We do have pictures and will have to post them when we get back.

Dog Speed,

Essex & Deacon

Thanksgiving 2009

We hope all our pals in cyber-paw land have a pawtastic Thanksgiving. We will be keeping all the hoomans in line up here in Ohio.

Today is Grand-Paws 91st barkday, that would be 17 in dog years. We intend to visit him at the nursing home. We have gotten to be able to see him individually but not together.

Wishing all of you the best from Ohio.

Essex & Deacon

O H I O

Well folks we arrived safe and sound in Ohio. We arrived in Cincinnati Friday night and had a blast playing with Clyde. Dad has a few pictures of us and Clyde.

We are now in Elyria, Ohio having fun. For some reason Rosie the cat doesn't want to come out very much. Both Collies are good with cats, but Deacon is a little more in your face in wanting to be the new best friend of any dog or cat.

Grand-Paw is in rough shape, but was very glad to see Dog Dad. You could see the smile light up in his eyes. It is hard to believe that since we last saw him he has problems moving around and talking.

It is time to go now. Plenty of things to do, like read some dog blogs.

Dog Speed,

Essex & Deacon

We are Alive

Essex at Rest

Egads, Deacon after a shower

Yes, we are still alive and doing well. We have been busy though. Painting, spackling and such. Dad is slow, but it is getting done. He is getting ready to travel north to Ohio tomorrow. We are looking forward to seeing Clyde in Cincinnati. We were hoping to see Hattie & Cassie, but Cassie hurt her leg. Cassie ended up with over 20 staples in her leg and a tendon reattached.

Dad made sure we got a bath today. Something we could have lived without. At Angel Paws the snowbirds are returning. Our good buddy Red has showed up with dog dad in paw. We will enjoy ourselves when we return.

Red returns to Angel Paws.

We are not sure if we'll be able to post during our trip.

Dog Speed,

Essex & Deacon

Alternate Collieween Night

Key West did Collieween two days late because of Fantasy Fest. We got to stay in the back bedroom while all the little hoomans were outside all dressed up running around outside. Dad said he could have two crazy barky collies going nuts in his window. Now do you think we are crazy barky collies? Come to think of it, don't answer that question.

Well, any dog, we had 17 bags of candy, gave two bags to the neighbor because they ran out. That means Dad went through 15 bag and didn't have any left over candy. We actually turned off the light a little early because we ran out. Dad is guessing we had well over 200 little hoomans stop by our house. Not bad for an alternate Collieween Day.

Dad enjoys staying outside and seeing all the people walking around with their little ones. We hope you had as much fun as we did. Now if each little hooman brought a piece of cheese for us, that would be pawsome Collieween Night.

Dog Speed,

Essex & Deacon

Collieween 2009

We hope everyone had a Happy Collieween. The City of Key West decided to delay ours until Monday because of Fantasy Fest. We are not to thrilled about and have seen several small kids doing trick-or-treat but not many. It sure has confused everyone.

We don't know these Collieween Collies

Dog Speed,

Essex & Deacon

We Be Busy

We wanted to let everydog know we are still alive. Essex did not over do fence patrol or anything. We been having computer problems and just be plain busy. It feels like everything needs to be done at once and that drives us nuts. Nuts is okay in our books.

Hopefully we can get Dad to start and finish the painting the guest bedroom this weekend. With all our stuff moved, we are having a hard time finding things.

Fantasy Fest this week and Key West has been busy. Fantasy Fest reminds us of Mardi Gras. When people ask Dad why he not interested in going down town, he tells them he doesn't care for obnoxious drunks anymore and he rather spend time with the Collies. Silly Dad is a bit strange by hooman standards, but we give him high marks.

Hopefully, we can get a better post done this weekend and start looking for a new puter too.

Dog Speed,

Essex & Deacon

Essex Barkday Report

I thought all of you would enjoy these three pictures from my Barkday. The first picture is me waking up to Dog Dad singing Happy Barkday. It sure was nice of him to do that. Afterwards we went out for our early morning walk. Dad pointed out Orion and Canis Major which were visible in the sky above us. Deacon and I got some extra treats when we got back. Then Dad had to go to work.

When he got back home, I got scratched behind the ears and a big hug. That was followed by a peanut butter and cheese flavored ice cream flavored dog treat. The two of us woofed those down. After Dad played with us at home it was off to Angel Paws.

Wowsers, I enjoyed my favorite pastime in the whole universe – Fence Patrol. Everyone better watch out the Secretary of Da Fence is here. You know I had fun on my barkday.

Dog Speed,

Essex

Essex is Six

Essex woke up today to Dad singing “Happy Barkday.” Unlike the last two years, we are celebrating Essex’s Barkday at home. In 2007 we were on the road home from Statesboro, GA and in 2008 we were in Amherst, Ohio. During our early morning walk Orion and Canis Major were both high in the sky. The “Secretary of Da Fence” told Dad what she wants most is an extra long time doing fence patrol at Angel Paws.


Dad has a wistful look in his eyes. He is remembering a little puppy he brought home, that became such a wonderful girl. Essex is a lot like Dad, she has a small group of friends. For people she knows her tail will wag in wide sweeps. She is loyal and intense. Essex and Dog Dad are really in tune with each other.

We hope all of you have a pawfect day. Any day here with a smile, a cold nose and lick is pawfect for us. It being Essex’s six barkday just makes it extra special.

New pictures may be awhile as Dad has misplaced the cord for the camera, while moving stuff out of the small bedroom.

Dog Speed

Essex & Deacon

Irresponsible Hoomans

Deacon gave Dad a scare less than an hour ago. Dad was at the Angel Paws talking to Sasha’s mom and a two other ladies he has seen only a few times. The sun just set and it was dark outside all the owners are chatting at the picnic table inside the park. The other two owners leave and Dad and Sasha’s mom are still talking. Next thing Dad notices a car slowing down and sees Deacon body outline in the headlights outside the park. He runs out of the park closes the gate and calls to Deacon, who listened and came to Dad.

The two ladies left the Angel Paws' gate open. Somehow you expect more from hoomans that talk about how their dogs are like their children. Dad feels fortunate that neither of us got hit by a car. If he sees either of the two ladies they will get an earful about being so irresponsible. In the meanwhile, Dad thanks the Good Shepherd above for protecting Deacon and the gentleman for slowing and stopping his car.

As for our home only the spare bedroom and a small patch where the china cabinet is located still need to be tiled. The men working on the house were going hunting trip over the weekend. They will be back Thursday and Friday to finish up. All of us are feeling very happy because our home is returning to normal.

Dog Speed,

Essex & Deacon

Vanishing Furniture

Deacon checking out a metal ruler

The floor tiles are being put in. We are stuck with Dog Dad in the computer room until the living room, kitchen and dining room are done. When we were finally allowed out of the room, we were like what is happening? There was only the livingroom cabinet and tv stand in the rooms. No couch, no table, no chairs, no dog crates and most importantly Essex's Guard Chair were missing. We were in a panic, how can Essex effectively keep watch without her chair? We gave Dad our best "What happened" look.

Our kitchen has tile

Where is the furniture?

An almost empty livingroom

Where is my Guard Chair?

Dad told us to relax, the chair is in this room, a lot of the other furniture is out on the porch. We did find out one neat thing though. When you bark in an empty room it sounds really loud and echoes a bit.

Dog Speed,

Essex & Deacon

Lucy in the Sky

Today is the tiles start going in. We are going to say goodbye to our beloved patches. We decided to sleep on them one last night. When Dad got up he chuckled and took a picture of us. You have to admit we look pretty pawsome in the pawtograph. He was amazed at the amount of dust balls behind and under the furniture.

Enjoying our patches one last time

Our paw pal Lucy out in Valdosta, Georgia turned 15 last week. Essex and Dog Dad spent several days visiting her when Wilma struck the Keys in 2005. Looking at the pawtographs, Lucy sure is a grand old lady. Dad keeps singing a song about Lucy in the sky with Diamonds and a dog with kaleidoscope eyes. Lucy's eyes look brown to us, silly Dog Dad.

Lucy turns 15

We will bark at you tomorrow and show you the pictures of the new floor tomorrow. We are interested in seeing how it all comes together.

Dog Speed,

Essex & Deacon

Floor Tiles

Well, folks we were woofing away this afternoon when a truck drove by and dropped off a pallet of tiles. When Dad got home he was happy. We had to ask him, what are we going to do with all those tiles.

He smiled and said, "The next project is to tile the floors."

We barked "Dad, the floors are fine."

"Those cement patches in the floors are not okay guys."

"The patches give the house character Dad."

Needless to say , we lost the discussion and next week project tile da floors starts.

Doesn't the patch give the house character!

Floor tiles

Dog Speed cyber paw pals.

Essex & Deacon

23 September

The kitchen is just about done. To celebrate Dad got some new frozen dog treats and the Super Market. We have to admit they taste pawsome, but then the flavor is Peanut Butter and Cheese. Aroooooo. You can tell from the pictures, we like this frozen Dogsters Treat.

Celebrating with a frozen dogster treat

A flavor we like PB & Cheese

Oh, you hoomans want to know about the kitchen. Well, we have a new stove, microwave, dishwasher and sink. The stove has a glass top and looks great. The microwave has a hood fan and Dog Dad tells us it is a lot bigger and the popcorn bags don't get stuck while moving around. The dishwasher is a lot quieter than the old one. We hardly notice when it is running. Essex told me the old one used to make a lot of noise and she would stay close to Dad when it was running.

All that is left to do is install the switch for the garbage disposal, which we are waiting for it to come in from the mainland. A new switch by the refrigerator and one outlet on the counter installed. After that is done, the floors will be tiled and new baseboards put in. That project will start in October. We all need a short break to reorganize ourselves. The winter promises to bring cooler weather, open windows and painting.

Don't worry Dad, Essex is on Guard

Dog Speed,

Essex & Deacon

New Angel Paw Pals

While we miss our old pals, we have met so new ones. Today we met Nieco, a happy four-month old husky puppy. He played a bit with Deacon. Essex let the pupster know that she was the Secretary of Da Fence, but she is pretty good with puppies. We hope to see a lot more of Nieco. Another new dog is Jethro, a Redbonene Coonhound. Jethro and Rocky are real good pals, both seem to have the same disposition.

Nieco, the four-month old Huskie Puppy

Jethro looks on

There are still some old pals at Angel Paws. Sasha, the Rat Terrorist, still likes to get after other dogs. Sasha has never tried to cross Essex though. Sasha doesn't rough house with Deacon as much now.

Sasha, the Rat Terrorist

The tiles between the cabinets and granite counter top have been put in. They have yet to be grouted, be things are looking pretty pawsome. Stove, dishwasher and microwave are due in Saturday. The electrician should put in the new outlets tomorrow or Saturday. Things are looking good and we are ready for those projects to end.


Dog Speed,

Essex & Deacon