Goodbye, Mama OC…

We are very sad around here. Grandma OC went to the Rainbow Bridge this afternoon at about 1:30 p.m. We will miss her...

My Dearest OC, 

 
I love you with all my heart. I was there when you were born, and watched you grow and learn to be the wonderful helper dog you were to me throughout your life. You've been there for me all these years, loving me and helping me when I couldn't do so many things for myself. When you went down into your wheelchair and then into being totally bedridden these past several months, I was happy to be able to give back a little of the care you gave me.  

 When the Big C made it hard for you to breathe this past week and the Seizure Monster came to call last night, I knew it was time, so today I took you to the Bridge so you can go to your Mama Mist and Daddy Bud and all the other friends that have gone ahead of you.

No more trouble breathing... no more pain. Run and play, chase squirrels and rabbits and enjoy the things you haven't been able to do these past few years. I will see you when I get there, my sweet corgi girl. Love, Mama

I’m Entering Mango Minster 2012… by Dott

Can you BELIEVE it!?!  It is January again, and time for Mango Minster, the premier Dog Blog Dog Show, hosted by none other than our HUGE friend, Mango the Mastiff!  He and his mom put on the BEST Dog show each year, and put in TONS of work on making it fun for everyone.  Even if you don’t enter, there are great adventures, contests and games featured by Mango’s furiends, and he has a TON of them!!!

A couple of years ago, OC even got to be one of the judges, and Grammy provided one of the First Place Prizes… a portrait of the winner, which was Clive, a Golden Doodle Helper Dog to his autistic friend.

We JUST found out about this year’s Mango Minster last night when Grammy FINALLY felt well enough to get online and let us visit some of our old friends.  One of the classes is “Too Darn Cute!” and when my Dad found out about that, he said that I HAD to enter!  That’s what he’s called me from the time I was born… EVERY DAY… SEVERAL times a DAY!!!

Dad says I am cute when I’m sleeping with my toy squirrel,  

 And cute when I’m out doing “Squirrel Patrol” for REAL squirrels.

He says I’m cute from the front (I was sneezing). 

and cute from the back  (I was bowing).   

He says both sides of my profile are cute, too!   

He laughs and says I’m cute when I’m dirty  

 and cute when I’m clean…

He snickers and says I’m cute when I’m ANGRY  (wouldn’t YOU be!) 

 

And cute when I’m angelic…

He even said I was cute when I was FAT  (I was in the family way) 

and cute when I am thin!

He says I’m especially cute when I do my tricks… Here I am with my "Hands up..."

And here are a few more on this video.



  

Do YOU think I’m cute enough to win?  Are you “SQUEEEEEing” yet?

Finally got Clive’s Picture to Ireland & Hair/Fur Needed…

Grammy was so happy to hear from Clive, the Assistance Dog in Ireland. He is the one that won the Mango Minster 2010 Best in Show. She had finally finished the portrait that she had been working on for the Grand Prize. With all the stuff that’s happened around here… hospital visits and funeral, etc. it’s taken her quite a while, and that has really bothered her.

She was so worried that she was making Clive’s NSLM (Not So Little Man) unhappy. She had sent it a couple of weeks ago, but it had a LONG way to go from here in California all the way to Ireland, and she was so relieved to find out that it had finally made it safe and sound, and that Clive and Murray really liked it.

We just want to tell Clive congratulations, again, for winning Best in Show at the Mango Minster 2010 from the Country Corgis! Murray’s big smile made Grammy so happy that she cried! You can follow the link to their blog if you want to see that beautiful smile and the portrait.

Also, we wanted to tell you that when we visited Cathy Santarsiero, "The Christmas Corgi’s," Facebook page, she told about how they want hair… human, horse, sheep, dog, etc. to make oil absorbing booms for that huge oil spill.

It seems that hair soaks up this kind of oil and there are big wear house places that they want people to ship the hair/fur that us furry critters “wear” when it comes off. She thought, and Grammy agrees, that there are a few of us breeds out here in bloggy land that have a “bit” of extra hair springing off of us now that it’s turning into Spring, and we can put it to good use and maybe save some other animal’s lives.

If you might have a bit of “extra” hair to spare, and we are thinking Corgis and Sibes, especially… please follow this link to “Matter of Trust” to find out how and where to mail it to if you are interested… 

Our BIG day! By Gimli

Pippin and I had a really BIG day today with all kinds of new things in it! First, Papa left to go move a trailer, and after a little while, Grammy and Robert put our collars on US and put us into the car. We always have to wear a collar when we go in the car for some reason.

Anyway, we took a looonnnggg old trip ( I got sick, cause I’d just eaten) and finally got to a big place… turns out, it is where Papa’s job office is! We got out to check out the flowers and grass… we haven’t seen much of that around here, and Grammy kept telling us to “go potty,” but we really didn’t feel like it.

Suddenly, Papa came out and Pippin was very happy and wiggled all over him (not widdled, wiggled… he has been known in the past to do the other, so I just want it clear.) They put us on leashes (we STILL don’t like those very much) and went into what they called a big shop, where people work on trucks that are HUGE! Papa’s head only comes a little above the BOTTOM of the door!

Papa, we found out, is going to DRIVE that HUGE truck, and WE are going with him and Grammy. They had borrowed a painting ladder that was about 5 ft. tall (they said) and has large steps. Grammy can step on the bottom one, then on a truck step, then a ladder step, and then another truck step and another ladder step and she can get up into the seats of the truck!

Apparently, we are going to get into that HUGE truck and drive a long time, (Grammy says about 10 DAYS!) and go from California to Florida… wherever THAT is… and back! Mango, didn’t you just go to Florida and go swimming there? I wonder if WE will get to go swimming? Do you see how little Papa looks by that BIG thing?

Anyway, we got to check out the cab (that’s what they call the room where you sleep and eat and drive!) Bet you didn’t know you could DRIVE a huge ROOM! It’s got TWO BUNK BEDS in it! and even Papa and Robert can walk around in there! I guess Papa used to drive those big trucks for a long time (Grammy: 32 years), but he says he’s never gotten to drive anything THIS nice before.

We finished checking out that “cab,” and then we got to meet a lot of new people and they were pretty nice and Pippin wiggled all over, but I was a bit more careful until I saw Pip getting all the sugar, and Grammy said it was ok, and THEN I let them pet me too. Grammy says I’ve got to get used to people and that she will be sure that I don’t get hurt, and that they won’t hurt her… I was just trying to protect her.

After THAT, Pippin stayed with Papa, who had to drive the trailer around to get it weighed and hooked up to the oil testing trailer he is hauling. He got home pretty late, and Mercy and BG really loved up on him!

I went to several stores with Robert and Grammy to do some shopping (for dog & horse food, and a little people food.) Since I wore Unca BG’s vest and Grammy told them how I was training to be a service dog, I got to go in a cart. I was real good and Grammy was proud of me.

We even went into a DOG STORE… actually, there were cats, and fish and stuff too, but MOSTLY it was for dogs and had all kinds of toys and chewies in it… I really wanted to grab one, but Grammy said “Sniff, but don’t touch…!” I was good, and she bought me some chewies for the trip… oh… OK… they are for BG, Pippin, AND me.

We finally came home and I peed and peed… I just didn’t feel right about going in a strange place. Grammy says I better get used to the idea cause she doesn’t think I can hold it for 10 DAYS!

Grammy’s been working really hard getting ready since we got home, since this is all a last minute thing. She only got 3 and a half hours of sleep last night, so she is pretty tired. I think she is waiting for the dryer to go off now… oh, THERE it went! … so we can go to bed because we have to get up early to leave. This should be interesting! Grammy, Papa, Pippin, BG & me are going! We should be back by the 26th or 27th, and Robert will be helping Dott to take care of things and with the blog. (Actually, one of the pictures - of me in PetsCo- is on his phone, so HE will probably have to finish putting it on here and then post and since he is busy ALL Sunday, you might not see this until Monday :(


A note from Dott: As you can see my dad got it done on Sunday. With Gimli, Pippin, and BG are on their way to Florida, and mama OC at Mango's place thing could be quiet around here. I will have to keep my guard up. with diminished forces I might have to work twice as hard to keep the squirrels and coyotes under control.

I’m SOOOO BUSY!!! by Dott

I have been SOOOO busy! Not only do I have to be a mother and keep these pups of mine in line, I’ve also been a part time teacher too.

At least my brother, BG, has helped a lot there when he hasn’t been working as a helper dog for Grammy.

Mama OC was training me to take over all the responsibilities of running Corgi Country and we were supposed to have until the 25th to get ready for her to leave. I guess with all the bad weather out there at Mango's Estate in Master Chew Sits, it was decided to fly out and get everyone early when they finally DID get a break in the weather. They didn’t give us a lot of warning on that, either!

We were going insane around here trying to get all of Mama OC’s things packed, her extra supply of meds for her back and hips, etc., and write down lists of the things she didn’t get a chance to tell me. We caught Pippin trying to figure out a way to stow-a-way in his Grandma OC’s luggage, and thwarted THAT little plan!

Robert let OC borrow our laptop to take, so that she can keep up on some of her friend’s blogs, but from the itinerary WE saw, she will probably be awfully busy, and that leaves ME to do THAT, TOO!

The pups are getting pretty rowdy with each other at times, and it is against the rules now, to chew on ears during their wrestling (after what they did to MY ears)! I have to keep a close eye on them, and I often have to jump in and break it up between them. Notice, I only get after Gimli when he goes for Mercy’s ears.

Mama OC did take her Bluetooth with her so that we can communicate with each other… if the weather doesn’t cause problems with THAT, and I wouldn’t doubt that happening at the rate things are going for me... I’m a nervous wreck!

P. S. I just got an email from Mama OC, and she said to let you know that she made it to Mango’s Estate in Master Chew Sets ok, and is getting settled in. You can see a picture of the arrival on Asta’s World.

There was a bit of a misunderstanding on Mango’s part, about what a Corgi Toss was. He thought we were going to “toss Corgis” to determine the winner of the Herding Class! You can see the pictures that were going through his head HERE. I had to explain again, that all the names of those with eligible Entries (A single pic showing some “herding action,” be it rounded up toys, bugs, birds, kids, or livestock) will be put on folded pieces of paper which will then be tossed out for me choose from. That will give EVERYONE an even chance of winning.

We only have 6 fur-friends entered into the herding class so far. They are: Dexter- a Labradork (as listed in his entry for breed—he is Mango’s “brother”), Bilbo- a Mixed Up Lhasa , Chrome- Friesian Sport Horse , Dozer- Pembroke Corgi and his "sister," Dottie- Cardigan Corgi , and Scampi- Border Collie / Papillion . All of these Comp Pet Itors will also be competing in their respective “Reader’s Choice Awards” on the day of their class, so check them out and come out and vote during that class.

Also, it has been announced that Grammy will be doing an 8 x 10 “Portrait of Choice” for the winner of the Best in Show of Mango Minster 2010, and she is also providing a $20 gift certificate as the First Place prize in the Herding Class, to spend at our Country Corgi CafePress Shop, which has a Mango Minster 2010 Department in it.

Half of the proceeds from the sales in the MM2010 Shop will be donated to NEADS , (Dogs For Deaf and Disabled Americans), of Princeton, MA. This is a non-profit organization. NEADS was established in1976 to train and provide rescued dogs and donated puppies to assist people who are deaf or physically disabled in leading more independent lives at work, at home and at school.

Here is an example of a Contest Entry. This was done by Chrome: (All Entries need to be in to Mango by Midnight ET 1/27/2010)

Your Name: Chrome

Gender: Male

Group you want to compete in: Herding Dogs - I like to round up cats!!

Your breed: Friesian Sport Horse

Your bloggy address: http://rdxhorses.blogspot.com/

Your peemail address: (These won't be shared to the public)

Puppy Shower Continued...

Hi... We are back with the rest of the Puppy Shower that Sasha and her Mommy hosted for us. By the way, the gifts are getting a lot of use (the ones that weren't eaten right away, anyway.) It is so cute watching the babies when they wake up from their naps. They stretch and move around, then jump up and toddle really fast off of their blanket and onto the Pup-Pee Pads to do their business. THANKS AGAIN, Sasha and Mommy!

Let's see... last time we had gotten all of the gifts open. Right away, BG took the drumstick chewies over to Grammy and told her that she needed to open them.



Grammy said that first, we all needed to clean up the wrappers from the presents, so we got busy cleaning...

Mama OC was excited to get to the snacks, too, so even she got busy cleaning...



By all working together, we got everything cleaned up pretty quickly!



Grammy was busy with the camera, so she had Mama OC take the package of drumsticks to Robert so he could open them up for us.



Those things are TOTALLY YUMMY, and all of us enjoyed them completely. I even got two!!!



When we were done with those Yummy snackers, Robert brought the pups out. Gracie started barking... She wanted to play!



She wanted to practice playing bitey-face, as she has been studying Mango's technique. She got Mercy to help, and they got down to it. Gracie: Hey, Mr. Mango, is this any better?



What about this? Do you think I'm getting the hang of it, Mr. Mango?



After the little ones played for a while, Robert set out one of the Pup-Pee Pads to let them look at and sniff. They thought it was very interesting...

After that, he showed them that pretty squeaky. Neelix and Gracie snuck up and gave it the once over.

Gimli thought it was barking at him when Robert squeaked it, so he barked back!

He wasn't at all sure about that toy that barked back at him...

Robert tried to get everyone lined up for pictures, but the pups weren't in a co-operative mood. Neelix snuck away to give that "barking toy" a closer look, again.

Since then, as I mentioned before, the Pup-Pee Pads have gotten plenty of use, and they still like to play with the pretty squeaky. We all had so much fun at our Puppy Shower!





We can't thank you and your Mommy enough, Sasha. You are truly special friends, and Grammy is sending up special prayers that blessings come your way! Bye for now... Dott