YEAH ! Blogger is back!!! and we have WINNERS

I am so happy - blogger is back - we haven't been able to get on since Wednesday and lost the last post we did - but it looks like it is finally back.

And we have some winners - on lucky Friday 13th no less

Put you paws together and congratulate No 6 - Dexter and No 15 - Wyatt. Well done guys. Please send me an email at cowspotdog@mail.com with your mailing details and we will get some pawsome boxes off to you. Thank you everyone for playing we loved seeing you either liking or disliking water. Have a pawtastic weekend !

The Bailey Report #2

Hello again - Bailey here with "The Bailey Report" for this week. Now you may not know this but I have a cousin by name of Autumn and she lives with Maggie and Mitch. Hhhmmm I wonder if she knows she's my cousin? They have THE MOST beautiful garden and I love reading about it. So I asked Mom if I could learn about gardening too. Our garden is not anything like Maggie and Mitche's - but we are making a start. First of all Mom showed me the wonderful herb planter that my Dad bought for her. Mom says herbs are edible plants and can be used a lot in cooking. We have rosemary, thyme, parsley, sage, chives, tarragon and some other herbs growing. Mom planted miniature marigolds in the bottom tray as they help keep bugs away. Pity it doesn't work on sparrows - they seem to love the chives for some reason. Then I checked out Mom's "pride and joy" as she calls it. This is her gardenia bush and I just couldn't keep my nose away from it - the flowers smell heavenly! I like how the flowers come out white and go to a butter yellow color after a day or two.











Next I went over to check out the raised veggie garden that my big brother dogervised the building of. Mom says we had some "issues" with the garden soil. We used a mix of top soil and good quality potting soil thinking that would give the plants a great start. Instead we found the soil was lacking badly in iron and many of the plants turned yellow. We bought some iron and new fertilizer and the plants are doing so much better now. The Japenese egg plant has a pretty bell shaped flower on it and the sweet Texas onions are really growing well. We also have garlic, spring onions, parsley, basil, heirloom tomatoes in black, striped and yellow, Italian eggplant and a variety of peppers growing. Who would think there was such a science to growing plants - wow I learned so much walking around with mom? Have a great weekend everyone and I will be back next week with a new "The Bailey Report"

Wordless Wednesday 05/11/11

Walking Rock ??????

Okay - I have seen some odd things before - but look what was in MY garden this morning - it was a walking rock!!! Mom said I was being silly and that it wasn't a rock - but a tortoise. I say if it looks like a rock, feels like a rock then it is a rock - just that this one had a head and legs!!! And what was it doing in MY yard - that is what I want to know? I didn't give permission for any walking rock to go strolling through - doesn't it need a permit or something to do that? Mom and "she who is never seen" (dad's daughter) then got into a discussion about whether it is a tortoise or a turtle. Mom says this is a tortoise as it doesn't live in water (there isn't even any ponds around here !) "She who is never seen" says it is a box turtle. Mom just shook her head and said "well you might call it a turtle but technically it is a tortoise ! YOU ARE BOTH WRONG - is what I said - it's a walking rock ! In the end we all agreed to disagree - though EVERYONE KNOWS I am RIGHT ! We took the walking rock over to my favorite park and let him go there - we were worried if he stayed around our neighborhood he might get run over by a car or a lawn mower although personally I doubt a rock could get damaged! So what do you think. Rock, Tortoise or Turtle? Remember you can click on the photo's to see them bigger. We did find this information on the walking rock http://www.naturalheritage.com/citizen-science/past_projects/box_turtle/turtlebasics.aspx

Let's have another giveaway !

With all the nasty storms around the USA I think we could do with some cheering up and what way is there then to have a giveaway.

Now you all know by now that I don't like water - water is bad, water makes you shrink and baths - well don't even get me started on how bad those are !!!

So what is your challenge?
It is to show me that water can or can not be fun, so get the parents to get out the cameras or hunt through those files and show me some pics of you having fun with water or the clever ways you have of avoiding water. You could be having a bath, running in the sea, a river, a pond or a puddle. You could be playing with the garden hose or getting sprayed with a squirt bottle. You could even be standing in the rain !!! And YES - you can even be avoiding the water if you want too - that is my favorite! Looking at the rain through the window as you are safely inside, under an umbrella, running around puddles not through them and so on!!!

How to play - read carefully
Simply put the photo's on YOUR blog and tell us how you got wet. Then come back here and post YOUR LINK to that page - on this comments page. How easy is that? The giveaway starts today and will run until eeeewwwww black cat day - Friday 13th of May 2011. Entries will close Friday at midnight - and the winner will be drawn on Saturday 14th of May using Random.Org. Anyone can enter and tell your buddies to cal on by too.

What you can win
We have TWO - yes TWO prizes this time. They consist of a set each of 5 Handmade "Wipe Your Paws" Cards (with envelopes) and a CD Photo Book. There will also of coarse be a yummy selection of treats and a toy or two for the "real" winners too.










So What are you waiting for? Let's see if you can convince me that water can be fun !

Don't forget to click on the entries and see some pawsome photo's as well as saying hi to the new dog bloggers.

1. Bert - http://www.fourleggedviews.blogspot.com/
2. Chase - http://littlefoxchase.blogspot.com/2011/05/we-have-decided-to-enter-in-contest.html
3. Branson - http://nosaddlerequired.blogspot.com/2011/05/new-contest-from-another-cool-dog.html
4. Tanner & Beth - http://brudy1120.blogspot.com/
5. Bailey - http://www.baileybegood.com/home/
6. Dexter and Mango - http://mangosgreatadventures.blogspot.com/2011/05/i-love-being-wet-by-dexter.html
7. Katie - http://dawnking.interspike.com/?p=10398
8. RA Husky - http://rahusky.blogspot.com/2011/05/huskerboo-from-black-lagoon.html
9. Chispita - http://littlesparklesdog.blogspot.com/2011/05/water-contest.html
10. Bart - http://rottrover.blogspot.com
11. Finn - http://finnhoward.blogspot.com/2011/04/wordless-wednesday_27.html
12. Sage - http://sagechronicles.wordpress.com/2011/04/11/muddy-monday-7/
13. Stella - http://wwwstellasworld.blogspot.com/2011/05/water-water-everywhere.html
14. Argos - http://houseofcarnivores.blogspot.com/2011/05/dogs-and-water.html
15. Wyatt - http://wyattgardens.blogspot.com/2011/04/friday-unleashed.html
16. Eva - http://sheltiebeauties.blogspot.com/
17. Lian - http://theknightsmixedbunch.blogspot.com/2011/05/water-baby-competition.html
18. Parker & Skye - http://parkerskye.blogspot.com/2011/05/water-water-everywhere.html
19. Sagira - http://sagiratherapydog.blogspot.com/2011/05/having-fun-in-hose.html
20. Koira & Pallo - http://mylifewithflyballdogs.blogspot.com/2011/05/loving-ourselves-some-water.html
21. Tank - http://www.tankcolnar.blogspot.com/
22. Corbin - http://cutecorbin.blogspot.com/2011/05/h2o.html

I have been TORTURED!

The sheer indignity of it - you all know I HATE water - but today Mom said I HAD to be brave and show everyone what I look like when wet. My dogness - how embarrassing ! And what about dog's privacy I ask? Then Mom pulled the old "'tug on the heart strings" ploy - "Come on Reilly - do it for me on Mother's Day" Ooohhhh Mom - how could you resort to such blatant bribery. I said "NO". Then she resorted to an even more heart pulling ploy "We'll take you to the PARK Reilly" I mean to say - how could I possibly refuse that offer. So yes! I submitted to the the most awful torture known to dog - a bath. Mom had purchased a new 'hot spot' shampoo to see if would help with my itching so now, not only am I clean, but I also smell of tea-tree oil and aloe!!!! I did get my walk though and it was an extra long one so I guess it made up for being tortured in such an undogly way. And guess what else ! I got to chase a squirrel ! I have never seen one before but I spotted it in the leaves and I was off. Mom said I tree'd it - what ever that means. I just know it was one fast little critter that zoomed right up the side of a tree where I couldn't reach it. The "IT" also came to the park with us (he always does actually) but today he was on a short lead as Dad says he needs to learns 'walking manners'. He likes to bark at peoples as they go by where as "I" being the good boy just ignore them unless of coarse they stop to admire me and give me a pat. Hope all the Mom's had a great day and aren't as mean as torturess as mine - did I mention the toe nail clipping, the blow drying and the brushing !!!!!!!

My fence is fixed

Yeah - my fence is fixed again ! Thankfully they didn't have to use a lot of new wood so it kept the cost down, it was mainly new posts which were snapped off in the last storms. We went for a drive through our neighborhood yesterday and we got off pretty lucky as some places lost all their fences. I am just happy to be able to run in my yard again. I also helped Mom roll the wire we used as a temporary fence to keep "IT" in. Unlike me - I know where the boundary lines are and won't go out even if the fence is missing - "IT" would just follow his nose to wherever he could find trouble.

Don't forget the giveaway - show us how you like or dislike water - come on, don't be shy. We haven't had many entries yet so there a great chance of winning our pawsome prizes. Click here to find out more details

Guess where we went today

It's my favorite place, there is lots of green shady trees, lots of grass and even a lots of water. There are also lots of ducks, geese and turtles there and I can't forget the best bit - lots of fantastic smells! It beings with the letter "P" and rhymes with lark - come on - you can guess it!

The Bailey Report #1

Hello every furbody. I am Bailey - Reilly's little sister. I popped on a few weeks ago but didn't know much then - now I am learning so much that I wanted to share. A bit about me first - My Mom recently rescued me from a drab, dreary and dusty existence of a toy store. While I was there I didn't do anything - just sat and waited. But when I came to live with Mom and my big brother I suddenly became alive and wanted to investigate everything! I love having a family and Mom and big brother say I can now have my very own "report" to describe all the wonderful I am discovering. So lets begin.

Yesterday Mom showed me how to make REAL pasta. She told me that this is an Italian specialty and that is Italy is another country where my Dad lived for a few years. First step was to make dough. Next I patted it into a shape that would fit the pasta machine. Mom let me help pat it out - oops sorry about the paw print mom. Then in it went into the pasta machine.
















We rolled it out 7 times - making it thinner each time we rolled it. I got very tired doing all that rolling! When it was finally thin enough, we then put it in the other side of the pasta machine to cut it into strips.

















Next step was to "flour" the pasta strips so they didn't stick together. Flour is such fun to play with but it sure is messy - I had it everywhere - even in my fur! We then had to wait for half an hour while the pasta "rested". I don't know why it had to rest - I was the one doing all the work! I sat diligently watching it though and then it was time to cook it. You have to have a very BIG pot full of boiling water (Mom did this bit as she didn't want me to get burnt) Then plop plop plop - in goes the pasta and it cooks for just five minutes. Mom made some pasta sauce and added some chicken and the pasta was ready. We all got to try some and it was so yummy! Pasta making is messy but so much fun and it sure does taste great.

Wordless Wednesday 05/04/11

Sunshine at last

YEAH ! the sunshine is back ! It has rained none stop for the last two days - we got 6.5" and everything has been so soggy. Then there was the indelicate subject of "going out to do one's business" when it is raining - especially difficult for doggies like me who HATE water and getting wet. Much as I tried, I just wasn't quick enough to run between the raindrops and there was FAR TO MANY of them anyway. But today it is bright and sunny and the sky is blue. I went with Mom for a drive this morning and we even went to the pet store to get some treats! That made up for being stuck indoors the last couple of days.

Don't forget the giveaway - show us how you like or dislike water - come on, don't be shy. We haven't had many entries yet so there a great chance of winning our pawsome prizes. Click here to find out more details

Wacky Weather

We had a tornado touch down just 1/4 mile from us yesterday. All of sudden it started hailing - the hail stones were golf ball size the sky just turned black and the noise was horrendous. It was so scary for the Mom - me I just sat there watching Mom wondering why she was getting all nervous!! They are saying it followed the highway and also passed within 1/4 mile of where my Dad works - luckily they had some warning and were already in their safe places. The sirens here went off after it passed but the wind was making so much noise I didn't even get to howl at it !!!!! You can read about it here at our local news site. Mom and I are also very sad to see that the storms yesterday have killed over 200 people now - that is 200+ families grieving today, 200+ families without a loved one and facing a lonelier future. I am sure it is also a number of pets without a Mom or Dad too. So please put your paws together and say a little prayer for all the sad people and pets today.

Wordless Wednesday

Update on MY bluebirds

We had bad storms and tornado warnings again last night and of coarse first thing I did this morning was go out out and check on MY Bluebirds. They are quite quite happy (even though we had to move their nest box to a new post) and are busy padding their nest some more.

We are supposed to have a nice today but then this evening more severe weather. Luckily storms don't bother me at all - I just keep snoozing right on through them no matter how noisy they get. Mom is not liking them though - she doesn't like feeling of being "on edge" when the tornado warnings come across the weather radio. They don't have tornado's and hurricanes in Australia so this is something my Mom just isn't use to. Have a great day everyone and stay safe where ever you are.

Not so Eggtroidinary

We were watching the video of Misty and Oreo playing with plastic easter eggs that had treats in them and Mom thought it would be good for me to try too. Well "IT" figured out it pretty quickly but me - hmmm why would I want to play along with this game? It really wasn't challenging enough (darn that I couldn't get the thing open ---ummmm I mean the darn thing WOULD NOT open!) Mom says I have to keep practising. Notice I did hit it with my paw like Mom told me too and of coarse when Mom had the video on "IT" he wouldn't do it again which means there is no proof that he did do it! Oh - Mom found the plastic eggs at Walmart - they had all the Easter items 50% off at the moment - so it cost like 60 cents for 8 of them.

Abandoned

Can you believe my Mom and Dad ABANDONED me for the weekend. Can you guess where they went *hint* it is the home of the Blue Angels. While they were off seeing the sights I was left at home with "she who is never seen" (dad's daughter) and "IT" (Jackson) Mom had been mumbling something about missing the smell of salt air and sand between her toes and dad had promised when she was well enough he would take her "THERE". They said they don't allow doggies "THERE". What kind of place doesn't allow doggies ???? A BAD BAD place I say.











Mom has promised me though that the next time they go away they are taking me with them because she missed me soooo much. And I guess I can't complain too much as she did bring me back some treats. Oh the place where the Blue Angels home base is - is also where my dad did his flight training when he joined the Navy. He got to see lots of places that he remembered that were BM & BR (before Mom and before Reilly)

A Paw Note

Mom and I were out inspecting the damage and Mom picked up the nest box to move and heard scrattling inside. Momma Bird is still in there - sitting on eggs!!! We covered the opening quickly and put the nest back up on one of the new poles that survived the wind. Fingers crossed we may still get some baby bluebirds after all. Mom and I are doing the Reilly happy dance !!!!!

Oh - this is what Mr Bluebird looks like - isn't he pretty