Our Pal Loki Has A Brudder

We received news from our pal Loki that a handsome 9 year old collie boy named Enu joined his pack.  Enu's owner crossed the Rainbow Bridge recently and Enu was searching fur a new family.  Enu was lucky enough to come live with Loki.  Uncle Sherman had told me Loki's Dog Mom was pawsome. We've never seen a collie with so much white in the face.  He is a handsome feller.

On 21 November Loki & his Mom drove to the Tampa area to meet Enu.  The two got along pawtasticly.  We are sure Enu will have a pawsome time living in the Panhandle of Florida.  Here are some pawtographs of their first meeting.

Loki is on far left, Enu is on the far right

Loki is being petted & Enu is mouthing him

Loki is behind the white collie & Enu is on the far right

Their pack even sent us some Essex-mas pawtographs.  We are happy that Loki has a brudder and some one to spend quality collie time with.

A pawsome Essex-mas pawtograph

Hope everypaw had a pawsome Essex-mas and that 2021 is much better than 2020.

Happy Collie Days,

Gemini & Normandy

Essex-Mas 2020

We woke up today to Dad giving us a big hug and wishing us Merry Essex-mas.  The weather cooled down quite a bit and we love it.  Dad took us to the dog park later in the day.  We got extra hugs and dog treats, so all is well.  Dad was off Thursday, so he spent extra time with us.  

Norm and Gem Ready For Angel Paws 

It has been a strange year.  Gemini has done a good job training Normandy.  The two of them get along pawtastic.  They frequently sleep near each other.  Dad loves to watch us chase each other in the yard or at Angel Paws.  Normandy is just a bit taller than Gemini.  He can't sleep under the bed anymore.

Merry Essexmas,

Gemini and Normandy

End of 2020 Herricane Season

Well, cyber paw pals 30 November is the last official day of Herricane Season.  It has been a very busy year for herricanes.  We went into the Greek alphabet fur the second time ever.  We kept dad safe and sane during this busy year.  We even helped keep him company during this pandemic too.  Hmmm, wonder if the word pandemic is derived from Pandora.  You know that lady that opened that box full of bad things.  

Normandy Is Taller Than Gemini

Gemini Resting On The Couch

The good thing about this year has been the arrival of Normandy.  He likes to lick Dad's feet, especially when he tries to sleep.  He fits in well with the pack and loves his Aunt Gemini.  

We have some good news from our pal Loki, up in Panama City.  We will post about that in December.

Dog Speed,

Gemini & Normandy

Veterans Day - 2020

To everypaw that ebarked us, thank you.  We are doing well.  Tropical Storm Eta was kind to us.  We figured we would get all kinds of rain, but it was fairly dry.  The winds were not bad either.   We watched a lot of the weather channel with Dad.  Dad didn't take us out for morning walk on Monday.  We got to run around in the yard.  Dad was worried about a getting caught in a rain squall and in a big burst of wind.  When he looked at the yard late Monday, there was some palm fronds to pick up and the yard was a bit wet.

Norm Chilling Out During Eta

We got an email from our the pack up at Holmhaven.  They were very wet, but the flooding from the rain did not get into the horse stalls.  All the collies, horses and hoomans there are safe.  That made us all smile.  

As for Veterans Day, we went to Angel Paws for a short time.  We were the only ones there.  After about ten minutes, the rain started coming down.  We played a bit in the rain.  Then a wet Dog Dad and collies got into the collie mobile.   

Dog Speed,

Gemini & Normandy

Watching Eta

 Well cyber paw pals we are watching Tropical Storm Eta.  We are staying in Key West fur Eta.  We tried to bark it away, like Sherman and Essex did in August 2011 fur Herricane Irene.  Our barks were just were not big enough.  Eta should pass by us around 5 AM, Monday morning.  That means no morning walk, so we are not looking forward to it.  Dad will let us out in the backyard in a couple hours for a potty break.  Potty breaks will be few and far between tomorrow.  

Dad will be following various herricane sites, while we will be relying on reports from Angel Dog Jake.  Jake was an expert herricane reporter that lived  close to Holmhaven before he crossed the Rainbow Bridge.

Weather Angel Dog Jake

Dad has closed the herricane shutters up.  Taken all the loose items out of the yard.  He is talking to us with his calm voice.  Norm went through Sally in September, so he knows the drill. No it is the waiting game.  

Norm After Our Morning Walk

Gemini Is Wet Too

We will post how things went Monday evening.  We are sure Angel Weather Dog Jake will keep us informed.  The spirits of Essex, Deacon and Sherman will watch over us.  

Norm Chilling Out

Dog Speed,

Gemini and Normandy

Remembering Sherman One Year Later

It is hard to believe Sherman crossed the bridge one year ago.  It seems like it was yesterday, but at the same time ages ago.  When we walked this morning I was telling Norm how Uncle Sherm would pull and bounce at one portion of our walk.  At the park Dad thought how he would play keep away with the tennis balls.  Dad thinks of how Sherm tried to get up to be with us, that last day we visited.  

Sherman's At The Marathon Hospital

Then of course there was Sherm playing at Angel Paws.  How we chased around the yard.  I am playing the same game with Norm now in the yard.  There are so many happy memories of the big guy.

Sherman Showing Gemini Around Our Back Yard

Gemini & Sherman Sharing The Dog Bed

Dad and I look at Norm.  We are amazed how big he has gotten.  Not sure where the small puppy has gone.  He doesn't try to sleep under the bed anymore.  Norm is almost as tall as me.  I'm sure he will be taller than me on his Barkday.

Gemini & Normandy Sharing The Bed

Dog Speed,

Gemini

Collieween 2020

 Well, cyber paw pals it was a quiet Collieween fur us.  Dad didn't get candy to give out this year due to all the bad germs going around.  A lot of hoomans were like that this year.  Normally, every paw is out and we get stuck in the bedroom because we would bark our heads off at all the small hobgoblins running around the neighborhood.  

Instead Dad spent his time with us inside with the lights off.  There were some hoomans out and the Key West Mounted Police were clomping through our block.  Hopefully, next year will be back to normal.  It has been one Abbey Normal year.

Dog Speed,

Gemini and Normandy

Rainy Days - 2020

 We have been getting quite a bit of rain.  The grass is growing like crazy.  Norm loves the rain and getting wet.  He will dig in the mud too.  Dad just shakes his head.

Two Wet Dogs

Norm's Wet Nose

Norm Claims The Towel

This year has been loopy with COVID and paw-la-ticks.  We wish the Doggone Party would come back.  Dad tells us stories of Tosca's run fur office.  Fur some reason the hoomans wouldn't count all the dogs votes.  

Dog Speed,

Gemini & Normandy

Remembering Collies Past - The Day Essex Was Born

 Today would be Essex's seventeenth barkday.  It is hard to believe she crossed the Rainbow Bridge almost seven years ago.  When Gemini and I went to pick up Normandy at Holmhaven, Lil (our breeder Mom) relayed Dad a story she hadn't told Dad.  Gemini filled in Dad on the rest of the story, that Sherman had told Gemini. 

2003 - Essex Holmhaven Puppy Pawtograph

2004 - Collie First Class Essex

Essex was part of a large litter.  However, Essex wasn't breathing at birth and Lil thought she was stillborn.  Lil put the limp body into the trashcan, but the Lord and the Great Dane came to that small puppy's soul to tell her that it was not her time to cross the bridge.  There was a hooman soul she needed to save.  Their spirit touched Essex and the small body came to life.  Essex took a breath and let out a small sound.  Lil rushed over and brought the pup to the Mom, Valiant Ebony Flash.  The small tri-color girl had a strong will to survive.

Essex grew stronger and as the pups got bigger, they started to find new homes.  Until there was only Essex and brother Buddy.  Essex came Key West to live with Dad.  Brother Buddy stayed behind to sire several litters.  Deacon, Sherman, Gemini and Normandy all have Buddy in their pedigree lines. 

Dad loves all the collies and misses those that crossed, especially the one that saved his soul.  He is happy that the two of us are with him now.  We remind him there is good in the world.  He will never forget all the adventures with the collies and everything that Essex taught him. 

Dog Speed,

Gemini and Normandy

Only Three Generations

We hope everyone is doing well.  All is going barkingly in Key West.  We spend a lot of time at Angel Paws.

Gemini at Angel Paws

Normandy Angel Paws Pawtographs

One Happy Collie

Resting After Angel Paws

Normandy loves Angel Paws and we spend plenty of time is spent there.  A lot of times we play the game of chase with each other at the park.  

President Tyler

A very interesting thing happened this month on 8 October.  President Tyler's Grandson crossed the rainbow bridge at 95 years old.  To put this in perspective, Tyler was the 10th President and was born on 29 March 1790.  That was during George Washington's first term started on 30 April 1789.  So three generations and all those US presidents.  Bowers, we wonder how many generations of collies that would be.

Dog Speed,

Gemini and Normandy

A Strange, Wet And Busy Week

 On Monday Normandy figured out how to open up the water jug.  He took up the cap, slightly chewed it and was drinking the water from the top while Dad was driving.  Thank dog none of it spilled.  At the park there were friends fur the collies to play with.  We watched them from afar, then Norm went to play.  Dad put the water bowl on the seat and Gemini drank the water from her bunker position.

Chewed Bottle Cap

Gemini & Normandy Watching Other Pups

Gemini Gets A Drink

On Friday we got a package from our pal McGee in Ohio.  Some dog treats fur both of us, and some toys fur Norm.  I was excited when I smelled McGee and his Mom on the package.

A Box From McGee

Saturday was wet.  The start of Tropical Storm Sally was passing by us.  It started raining when it was time for the dog park.  It wasn't to windy so Dad let us outside in the yard because he knew it would be muddy when we walked.  Well, Norm found some mud anyhow.  BOL.  That night we got even more rain.  The streets flooded from the rain water.  The rain fall flooding reminded Dad of Katrina soaking the Keys.  He remembers getting home to see Essex looking out the window, while sitting on her papa san chair.  Dad smiled at us while telling that story.  This morning we took a shorter walk.  The street at the end of the road was flooded.  So we went the other way and had a shorter walk.  It rained a little while we were walking.

A Happy Wet Normandy

Dad I Just Pretended It Was D-Day

Two Happy (Wet) Collies

Bowsers, Look At All That Rain Water

We hope the rest of the week is dryer.

Dog Speed,

Gemini and Normandy

27 August - Normandy First Visit To Angel Paws

We've been busy since we last posted.  Dad was with us Monday.  We were waiting for Tropical Storm Laura to pass us.  That evil tropical storm was just some wind and a little rain here.  We pray that the good folks in Louisiana recover from the storm today.  Then Wednesday, Norm had his vet visit for his final puppy shots.  Those shots made it okay for us to go to Angel Paws today.  

Norm was a happy pup at Angel Paws.  There were six other pups there and Norm was a happy collie.  He didn't mind the other pups and was happy to play.  Norm is outgoing and confident.  He likes both people and other dogs.  Here are pawtographs from Norms first visit to Angel Paws.

Dog Speed,

Gemini & Normandy