Arrived Safe

We are safe and sound in Northern Ohio. The first day we drove to Valdosta, Georgia and spent the night with our good friends Lady I and Lady II. It was a lot of fun to see them and both of them are a lot thinner.

The next two days we were visiting our cousin Clyde in Cincinnati, Ohio. Clyde and a deer were about two inches apart. Unfortunately Dog Dad camera needed new batteries.

Now we are in Northern Ohio visiting Rosie the Cat. We saw Cassie and Hattie. It was a lot of fun and there was a lot of wagging collie tails.

Dog Speed,

Essex & Deacon

Northward Bound

Dog Dad was rushing around yesterday. He was muttering so much to do, so little time. He started getting the car ready and told us we were heading North to Ohio. We'll be visiting all our pals.

We'll see Lady I, Lady II, Hattie, Cassie, Clyde and Rosie the Cat. That sure makes us happy though Dad looks tired. It will be tough keeping up with stuff, but we'll try to keep up with every pup.

Cooler weather, dog pals and Dog Dad not going to work. A collie could get used to this.

Dog Speed,

Essex & Deacon

We Remember

On TV and in the newspaper we noticed the subject of D-Day was brought up. So we asked Dog Dad what he knew about it. He told us it was many, many dog moons ago when Grand-Paw was a young pup. There was terrible fighting taking place in Europe and Asia. A bunch of soldiers landed to free Europe from some terrible goings on. A lot of those young men never made it back home.

He told us Grand-Paw was still in the United Kingdom when D-Day took place. Grand-Paw landed several days later. The nightmare Grand-Paw was in a place called Hurtgen Forrest. That is a story for another time and place.

Today we remember those who sacrificed their lives on 6 June 1944 in a far away place called France. The picture below is of Grand-Paw in Paris, France after VE Day.

Grand-Paw 1945, Paris, France

Essex & Deacon

A Letter From Buddy

Dear Sis and Son,

I have found my fur-ever home. I adopted a nice lady that lives in the Upper Keys. I know she would love for us all to get together, so if I am ever in Key West I'll stop by to visit. You do the same if you ever are traveling up the Keys to the mainland.

I left Holmhaven Saturday last week and came down to the islands. I see why you like them. Like you I've worked my Collie Magic and she takes me all over the place. Look forward to seeing you.

Buddy

= = = = = =

By the Great Dane this is pawsome news. We will have to get together with him soon. It has been three and a half years since we've seen him. His son Deacon has turning into a fine young collie. Still a bit mischievous, but nothing real bad. As for me, maybe we can get together four our barkday. That would be pawsome.

This is most excellent news.

Essex & Deacon

Mini-Deac?

Wowsers, is that Mini-Deac? By the Great Dane does that mean that Deacon is Dr. Evil's dog? BOL.

Mini-Deac?

No worry, that is not Mini-Deac. It is our Sheltie pal Rudy. Rudy is older than both Essex & Deacon and is really pawsome.

Rudy

From R-L, Essex, Rudy, Deacon

Dog Speed,

Essex & Deacon

A Gray Powder

Dog Dad was wistfully looking at some light-gray powder. We had to ask him about it. Dad said the grayish powder first saw the light 30 years ago today, which is many dog moons ago. He talked about a hooman named Harry Randall Truman and a place called Mount St. Helens.

Light-Gray Powder

We went into the WABAC machine to a time Dog Dad was a young lad, studying geology. The events surrounding St. Helens were of major interest to geologist. It started with several small earthquakes on 15 March, then on 25 March a 4.5 earthquake on the Richter scale. Geologists took notice and on 3 April the Governor declared a state of emergency. A cantankerous old man named Harry Randall Truman living at Mountain St. Helens Lodge at the foot of the mountain captured the spotlight. No one was going to force him and his 16 cats to leave their mountain.

On 18 May 1980 at 8:32 a.m. Pacific Daylight time Mount St. Helens blew her top. A 5.1 earthquake rocked the area and a volcanic material spewed into the air. Thousand of animals and 57 humans perished in that eruption, to include the 16 cats and Mr. Truman. Things most haven gotten hot, because two weeks later the volcanic flow deposits still were 300 °C to 420 °C (570 °F to 785 °F).

Harry Randall Truman

Photographs courtesy of the U.S. Geological Survey

18 May 1980 - Mount St. Helens

That light-gray powder is volcanic ash from St. Helens. Dog Dad was given that by another geologist he met while at a job interview with an oil company in Oklahoma. Well, this is the end of our tail from the WABAC machine.

Dog Speed,

Essex & Deacon

Ruffs from RJ & Raffie

We are always happy when some paw signs our guest book. When another Holmhaven Collie signs it, things get down right barky. A couple days ago RJ signed our guest book.

Woofs from cousin RJ

RJ was born on Valentines Day, 2005. We noted in the Holmhaven testimonials that Princess Destin came up to live with RJ in May 2008. We hope she is still with RJ and takes the time to sign our guest book too. Last we knew RJ was living in Georgia, a peach of a state. We are keeping our paws cross that they both write us again soon. We just love hearing from paw-latives.

We got a note from Raffie, who lives with one of Dad’s sisters out in Lost Wages, Nevada. I guess he noted we had a new car and told his Mom that she needed to keep up with the collies. BOL. Raffie looks happy by his new wheels. We know Raffie will take care of everyone out there and make sure the family has plenty of kibbles.

Raffie shows off his new wheels

Hearing from RJ and Raffie has made this a most pawsome week.

Dog Speed,

Essex & Deacon