Sunday, December 31, 2017

700th Post

This is our 700th  post and we will celebrate it by talking about an event that significantly changed Dog Dad’s life fourteen years ago.  31 December 2003 is the day Dad drove north from Key West and was adopted by Essex.  She was the last of her litter to be adopted.  Dad is convinced he got the best puppy from that litter.  He had contacted Lil at Holmhaven Collies earlier that month and found out she was still available. 
Essex Holmhaven Puppy Pawtograph
Essex Investigating Her Home
Essex Walking Around Her Home The First Time
Essex Sleeping On Her Back
Dad drove three and a half hours north to Holmhaven.  When he arrived Essex came over and chewed on his shoe lace.  Dad gave her a belly rub and she was smitten with him.  Dad and Essex got in the collie-mobile and Essex panicked.  She wanted to stay with her brother Buddy.  She climbed up Dad’s arm and cried for about ten minutes.  Dog Dad kept stroking her and spoke in calm steady voice.  Essex relaxed to that voice.  Half way to Key West Dad stopped so Essex could go potty.

Essex fell asleep and awoke when the truck stopped at home.  Dad let her investigate the yard and a strong bond grew between the two.  That night Essex woke up Dad to go to the bathroom by licking his foot. 

Essex changed Dad’s life so many ways.  Angel Paws Dog Park was built the month Essex arrived in Key West.  Dad and Essex discovered it a couple months latter.  There are so many pups and hoomans Dad has met over the years.  Some were met at Angel Paws, some due to the Key West Collie blog, others were pups from Holmhaven Collies, and then there was a place called Dog’s With Blogs.  In 2007 the collies joined Dog’s With Blogs which was kind of like Camelot.   Essex and Deacon sadly saw that group fade away several short years after it started.  Fortunately the chat room remains and the Collies still chat with our pal angel-dog Skye and some other pups on most Sundays. 
 
Angel Paws
Essex Created A Dirt Path From Fence Patrol

There are sad and happy memories.  Dad has visions of Essex on fence patrol and dirt path she created along the fence line.  He remembers Essex staying by his bed when he was sick, her gentle lick, her sleeping on her back and how they watched out after each other.
 
Essex And Deacon 
Deacon's Holmhaven Puppy Pawtograph
Sherman At Holmhaven
Essex and Sherman Shortly After Leaving Holmhaven
Sherman and Gemini Leaving Holmhaven
Sherman and Gemini Playing In Their Yard
Later Deacon came to live with them and crossed the rainbow bridge far too soon.  Sherman came to fill the hole in Dad’s heart after that crossing.  Little Gemini took her time arriving after Essex’s crossed.  It was worth the wait.  Essex and Deacon definitely left there are paw prints in Dad’s heart.  Sherman and Gemini are putting paw prints there too.  God bless the collies.  Dad thanks them for adopting him and knows they made him a better hooman. 

February 2008 - Essex and Deacon Paw Prints in the Snow
Dog Speed
 

Sherman, Gemini and Dog Dad

Friday, December 29, 2017

29 December 2018

Everything has been quiet at Angel Paws.  We are waiting to see our pal Navy at the park.  In the meanwhile we see Kira, Anubis and Bo at times.  Gemini doesn't play much with any of those pups.  Instead she gets the zoomies and plays with Sherman.
Anubis
We will be in the DWB chat room on New Years Eve, bringing in the 2018.  Our pals Skye and Betty's Mom will be there.  Pee-mail us if you want to join us and we will send you the link.

Dogs Speed,

Sherman & Gemini

Monday, December 25, 2017

Essexmas 2017

We hope that every paw had a pawtastic Essexmas.  We had cheddar collies and enjoyed having Dad around for most of the day.  After taking us to the park and feeding us, Dad went to visit his buddy Ed. 

Dad is catching up on doing his Essexmas cards.  He has been behind in things ever since Herricane Irma payed us a visit.  That pesky yard work and trying to straighten out the house has kept him busy.

God bless you all.

Dog Speed,

Sherman & Gemini

Saturday, December 23, 2017

23 December 2017

Dad told us he would be home all week with us.  We did the happy dance.  Dad will spend time cleaning up the house and yard.  Of course there will be time for Angel Paws Dog Park.  That is our favorite place to go.
Gemini Taking A Break
Sherman Plodding Along
Dad visited our friends living in Cudjoe Key.  Dad didn't bring us because he was unsure what damage they had suffered from Irma.  We are glad to report that Bill and Kay are doing well.  They had quite an adventure.  Bella, Don and Patrice were doing okay too.  Bella asked where we were.  Both of friends had damage to their first floors, but the second floor living areas were in pawsome shape.  They were all happy to get Dad's Essexmas cookies.

Angel Paws has been hit and miss.  Sometimes there are pups there, other times only us.  The RV park had been closed due to the damage from Herricane Irma.  It was not a priority to fix.  We are looking forward to seeing our pals latter this month and in 2018.

Dad was talking to his brudder, when the battery on the phone died.  Dad figured they didn't have anything left to talk about, so he didn't call him back.

Dog Speed,

Sherman & Gemini

Thursday, December 14, 2017

Kira's Barkday

Well cyber-paw pals our friend Kira celebrated her second barkday at Angel Paws.  She even had her hooman bring a special barkday cake for dogs!  It tasted pawsom.  Kira had fun chasing after her ball most of the time.  Kira loves to chase balls.  It is a rubber ball, so Sherman wants nothing to do with it. 
Kira & The Ball
Barkday Cake
Kira Enjoying Her Cake
Our pal Gidget at the park too.  Gidget likes to take it easy at the park.
Gidget
Gemini
Sherman
Dog Speed,

Sherman & Gemini

Sunday, December 10, 2017

Cold Front

Well cyber paw pals a cold front has moved through Key West and we are loving it.  The temperature is 59 Fahrenheit outside, which is cold for Key West.  It is a pawsome temperature for collies.  We were running around and playing this morning, then more of the same at Angel Paws.

The week was pawsome as Dad didn't go to work.  He spent time with us and did his Essexmas baking.  Five different types of cookies, a flan and an angel food cake.  It kept Dad busy and the smells were pawsome.

Dad will be off between Essexmas and New Years.  We will be looking forward to that.

We promise to post more soon.

Dog Speed,

Sherman & Gemini