2015 in Review

To all a Barky New Year and best wishes for 2016 "The Year of the Monkey."  2016 got exciting at our house as Sherman escaped out of the backyard.  Dad went out looking for him, one of his neighbors went looking in their car.  Dad left the gate open just in case.  After about an hour Dad came back home and noticed the gate was closed.  When he came to the back door, Sherman was looking at him through the sliding glass door.  Dad is not sure who got him back into the house, but a very happy Dad gave Sherman a huge hug and then gave a big one to Gemini too.

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09 January - Great Uncle Buddy crosses the Rainbow Bridge.  Buddy was Essex's brudder, Sherman's Grandfather and Gemini's Great Great Grandfather.  He was a pawsome collie and a favorite with the children at the school where his Mom taught.  

Essex and Buddy - 2010

11 February - We meet a three legged German Shepard, while his master flies a kite inside Angel Paws Dog Park.

27 February - 1 March - Gandalf stays over for the weekend.

Gandalf and Sherman at Play

06 March - NASA probe enters orbit around Ceres the dwarf planet.  

24 March - Germanwings Flight 9525 plane crash

07 April - Sherman breaks the flexi-leash.

16-21 April - Gracie and Loki visit Key West

Loki, Gracie & Sherman

23 April - CC Crosses the Rainbow Bridge

CC - 2014

25 April - A 7.8 earthquake strikes Nepal over 8,000 die

05 May - Dad & Sherman meet Buster's Mom from DWB

Buster - 2007

08 June - Squirrel causes power outage in California.  

17 June - Shooting at church in Charleston, South Carolina

27 June - Gemini is born - The house of the Key West Collies rejoice

Gemini is Born

08-20 July - Karma stays at the Collie House

Karma & Sherman at Collie House

20 July - US restores relations with Cuba

26 July - Sky comes to Key West to live with Tonks

Sky

29 July - Man arrested in Key West.  Charged in plot to blow up a backpack bomb on beach.

03 August - Heavy rains in Key West

08 August - Sherman and Dog Dad meet Gemini at Holmhaven

We First Meet Gemini

04 September - Gemini comes to home to Key West

Sherman and Gemini at Holmhaven

04 September - Cousin Magnum E-barks us

Cousin Magnum

08 September - Gemini's First Vet Visit

13 September - Gemini wakes up Dad to go bathroom

22-27 September - Pope Francis visits the US

26 September - Cousin Alyx e-barks us

Cousin Alyx

30 September - 1 October - Gandalf visits Sherman & Gemini during the day

Gemini Watches Gandalf & Sherman Play

01 October - Hurricane Joaquin sinks the container ship El Faro 

04 October - Gemini's time at Angel Paws

Gemini & Sky

12 October - Our 600th Post

24 October - 10 Year Anniversary of Herricane Wilma

2005 - Angel Collie Essex Surveys Herricane Wilma Damage

13 November - Terrorist attack Paris, France - 130 Dead

24 November - Gandalf comes back for another day visit

Sherman, Gemini & Gandalf - Gemini Has Grown

23 December - A December to remember - Car problems, roof leak, Key West cough.  We help Dad slow down the world.

25 December - My First Essexmas in Key West

Gemini & Sherman Celebrate Essexmas

30 December - Roof is fixed.  Dad's world is slowing down

31 December - A get together at the DWB Chat Room.

Tail Down

Well, 2015 is coming to an end.  New Years Eve brings back memories for Dad. On 31 December 2003, Essex came home to live with him.  So he remembers Essex and Deacon the collies that have crossed the bridge, and hugs Gemini and Sherman the collies with him now.  The two collies are right by his side as fire works are going off outside.

Last year at this time Dad was wondering what walking tail, Gemini would have.  The answer is tail down.  Like Essex, I walk with tail down.  So it is one tail up, one tail at half mast and two tails down

Today, we have been in chat and talked to quite a few folks so far.  There was Asta from Budapest, Islay and Blue from England, River from Georgia, Just Harry from Miami, JB from Dallas, Hope from Virginia, Reufus Wright, The White Dog Army from New Mexico.  It sure is fun to have a bunch of folks on chat.  It reminds Dad of the heydays of Dog With Blogs, when ten pups were in the chat room.

Wonder if anyone else will join us before midnight.

Dog Speed,

Sherman and Gemini

Essexmas Pawtographs

The roof is fixed and we are very, very Happy.  Now Dad is not worried about any more damage to the ceiling.  The guys finished the project in two days.  We met the entire crew and they liked both of us.  We have more to do, but we are slowing time down.

Gemini Wearing the Santa Paws Hat 

In Front of All Our Treats

Talking about slowing time down, here are some Essexmas pawtographs of the two of us.  Because I am the youngest, I had to wear the silly hat.  Grumble, grumble.

However, we got lots of pawsome treats.  Gandalf's hoomans even got us some treats, because Gandalf got to stay with us a couple times this year.  No problem there, we love having company.

Gemini's Sister, Shannon at Holmhaven

Gemini got a note from her sister Shannon.  She is doing fine at Holmhaven and wished us a pawsome Holiday season.

Dog Speed,

Sherman & Gemini

Slowing Down Time

We are slowing down time folks.  

Slowing Down Time

The collie mobile is running.  It only needed a new battery and the oil change was done the same time.  Praise be the Great Dane.  

The roofers arrived this afternoon.  They should be finished tomorrow afternoon.  Sure there will be more work to do, but having the roof fixed will be a major headache out of the way.  The next project, getting the ceiling fixed in the master bathroom.

Dad be doing his cards the next two days.  They will be late and knows his friends will understand.  This year things just went loopy.

Dog Speed,

Sherman & Gemini

Essexmas 2015

We wish a Merry Essexmas to all.  We would post some pawtographs but Dad has misplaced the camera.

Essexmas has been okay.  There were plenty of dog treats from Santa Paws.  Later we visited Dad's pal Ed and enjoyed running around Ed's yard.

When we were leaving the Grinch struck.  The collie-mobile wouldn't start.  Ed gave the vehicle a jump and we made it home.  Dad will be calling AAA in the morning as he figures it won't start.

Merry Essexmas to all and may your luck be better than ours.

Sherman, Gemini and an exasperated Dog Dad.

A December to Remember

Bowsers, we had to get on Dad to post.  Things have been hectic for him.  His job, our home, the collie-mobile and the Key West cough have left him wanting the world to slow down.  He hasn't even sent out cards out yet, because he has been bouncing around like a Jack Russel on a racquetball court.

At work he is going through resumes and doing a handful of projects he got at the last minute.  Your hoomans that work have probably went through that.  At home a leak in the flat roof went from bad to worse.  The good news there is that the roofers should take care of our roof the week after Essexmas.  (In our pack, we always refer to Christmas as Essexmas.)  

The collie-mobile had a check engine light go with a note about fuel fill inlet.  The collie-mobile went to the Ford Dealership to get looked at and then a week later was repaired. That was covered by a warranty, so no dog biscuits lost.  The dealer commented about having to fill the tires, two days later the low pressure for the tire light goes off.  The tire found a screw in the road, so off comes the tire and Dad takes it to Sears.  Happily, we had enough bonus points that the tire was fixed for free.  Then yesterday the tire light goes off, with tire pressure system light warning.  It went away the next day.  Dad thinks it is the spare tire.  He will put the regular tire on tomorrow.

Dad has the Key West cough.  A number of hoomans are coughing, no fever or sick feeling, just a persistent cough.  It is driving Dad nutty.  He going through Halls cough drops like a collie shedding fur.  He did bake Essexmas cookies during all of this.  He has more importantly taken us to the Dog Park, so we are happy.  Talk about cookies, Karma's hoomans gave us home made dog treats.  Bowsers, they were pawtastic.

Gemini Play Bows in Our Backyard

Gemini at Angel Paws 

Lots of Pups at Angel Paws 

Cookies from Karma

When Dad went to the vet to weigh Gemini on Tuesday, he met Ollie and his Mom.  He had not seen Ollie since 2009.  Ollie's Mom is now in a wheel chair.  Ollie's Mom though we were Essex and Deacon.  Dad introduced us both and told her both of them had crossed the bridge.  Dad was happy to see both of them. It brought back memories of Essex, Deacon and numerous paw pals that have left for new horizons. That brought a smile to his face.

2009 Pawtograph - Ollie and Deacon

We will write more later.  Right now we are trying to slow life down for Dad.

Dog Speed,

Sherman & Gemini

Busy Colliedays and Remembering the Past

Things are hectic by us.  An idiot light in the collie-mobile is going to get fixed Wednesday.  We have a leak in the roof, that we have to get fixed.  Dad said it was going to be his Essexmas present to himself.  Hope it doesn't cut into our dog treats.

Red Resting at Angel Paws 

Sherman Barks, Gemini in the Background 

Sherman 

Gemini

Angel Paws has busy and slow days.  Red has returned, but he is a lot grayer than last year. Gemini weighed in at 35 lbs on Saturday.  She sure has grown.  

Blue Tarp

As usual Dad had his moment of silence as he remembered Pearl Harbor.  We found some old songs from during WW II song by Carson Robison.  We thought many of you would enjoy listening to them.  Dad has been humming them most of the day.  

  - "Remember Pearl Harbor"

  - "Mother Goose Rhymes"

  - "The Dame I Left Behind Me"

  - "I'm In the Army Now"

Last but not least is this spooky picture of Gemini. Egad, those eyes.  We will have to use that pawtograph for Collieween.

Spooky Gemini Picture

Dog Speed,

Sherman, Gemini & Dog Dad