Visiting "Nanny"

Everyone gets special treatment when they visit Nanny (Stephen's mother)! Millie was no exception as she visited a few times in the past two months.

This visit was fraught with mixed emotions. We love to see Nanny but it also signaled our final days with Millie.

We are already looking forward to the next time Millie gets to come and stay. I don't think it will be soon enough.

Millie gets her name in the "welcome blocks" 

that always herald our arrival in the kitchen.

Millie enjoys some sunshine in the garden.

Millie investigates under the bed and decides it's a good stopping place.

Then she turns around. 

Millie could often be found during this visit

under the bed in her special lair.

Togetherness

Millie and Wicket have buddied up well over the last weeks. Proof below. I'm not sure there are two cuter dogs!

Chillin' on the couch.

Millie draping her legs over Wicket.

Cozied into Millie's belly.

One of the Daily Walks

This is one of our and the dogs' favorite walks. Stillwater Cove Park is next to our house and we can walk down some steps into the camping area and down to the redwoods and creek in Stockhoff Canyon or out to the ocean. 

Wicket and Millie love the canyon - their true terrier instincts sharpen and they are full of unbounded joy. Rain or shine we try to get down to the park at least once a day!

From Amanita Circle to the Park and Back

Millie Dirty

Millie got a bath the other day and literally minutes later, Sulwen was at the sliding glass door saying, "Millie dirty, Millie dirty." I discounted it and continued what I was doing and when I went to let the dogs in a little while later, there was Millie, covered in sticky seeds, indeed, looking  VERY dirty.

What looks like the most charming, lavender flowered, fairy puff ball ground cover is indeed one of the most insidious and invasive plants I've every known. I'm not sure what it's name is. In early summer it is a lovely little plant and by fall it is simply wicked. The seeds are so sticky and come off at the slightest brush by the plant. Wicket and Rabia used to bring these back from the neighbors and now they grow all around our house and believe me, around the entire neighborhood. 

We'll do our best not to send Millie home with any seeds in her fur!

Millie, indeed, looking a little dirty after her run-in with the "plant."

Yep, head to toe, covered in sticky seeds. 

She was undoubtedly looking for her ball.

The sweet ground cover in its fall state.

The seeds close up - avoid these at all costs!

We May Have a Hard Time Saying Goodbye......

Not that it's near that time yet....but clearly Sulwen is going to really, really miss Millie. I think Millie loves Sulwen too. She is super tolerant with her - enduring her daily coiffing and exuberant hugs. Millie follows Sulwen everywhere - even waiting at the bottom of the slide to shower her with licks when she comes down and trying to sit under the swing when she's on it.

Happiness is Millie's million kisses!

Happiness is snuggling with Millie!

A Trip to Stillwater Cove

We've been enjoying great weather here and have taken a few beach trips with Millie. On this one we remembered to bring the camera.

This dog can run! She loved charging down to the water's edge and then racing back up the beach when the waves came in.

Millie at Stillwater Cove

(if you can't view the video below, go here)

A Milestone - Sharing the Bed!

Millie and Wicket are used to being single dogs. At first they would have little to do with each other. Things were still amicable but a little stand off-ish. In the past day or so though, Wicket is trying harder and harder to engage Millie to play (she still prefers her toys) and they are sharing the big bed. These photos were not staged - they both got in and decided this is where they wanted to be. Yay!

Tuckered out after the third walk of the day.

Anxiously awaiting the next walk.

Morning with Millie

Welcome Millie!

We're totally happy to have Millie staying with us for a month or two. Everyone is adjusting really well and Sulwen especially is loving having a new canine guest.

Here are some pics from one of her first mornings with us. Fortunately Millie is not having to endure the "beauty salon" every day.

 Millie and Wicket resting after a morning romp in the living room.

Sulwen in her monkey hat and Millie with her monkey toy.

Millie gets a morning brushing.

And then she gets a hairband.

 Millie shows her appreciation

(or is she pleading to refrain from dress up?).