Traveling...

I've been traveling lately for the park service, Ft. Payne, AL last week and Golden, CO next week.  After that, things should quiet down and I can get back to the serious business of blogging!

One of the worst things about traveling is that I am a real homebody - I miss my boys too much when I'm gone!

We miss you too, Mom!

 I found this little stuffed Golden that reminds me an awful lot of Sam...

From the serious little face...

I'm not seeing the resemblance, Mom!

...to its cute little butt!

Did I sit on something?

Don't give up on us - we will be back!  :D

Traveling, again...

I am at the Grand Canyon National Park this week for work, and I have to say, I love the canyon and think it is beautiful anyway, but the snow just makes it even more so!

I have never lived in any place that it snows (I just saw my first snowmobile!), so it is a little weird for me to walk outside and see this!

I wish I could have taken the boys with me - I would love to see Sam and Monty's reaction to the snow!  :D

Work Days at Home

Hi all!  I need to apologize for going AWOL these last couple of weeks.  I've been extremely busy at work (think 12 hour days!), and haven't had a chance to stop and check blogs.  Today should be my last busy day and then everything should settle down and get back to normal.

In order to get caught up I've gotten permission to work at home today.  One of the best things about working at home is being able to spend some time with the boys and see what they do during the day. 

For instance, when one of us leaves, Sam waits at the window until we come back home.  Aaron says Sam lays like this all day when I'm at work.

Monty, on the other hand, waits patiently for me to be done reading my reports.  He's hoping I've got time to rumple with him!

...and in case anyone is wondering, I get a lot of work done at home.  I think the ability to pet the pups at anytime keeps me focused!

In which Sam gets fired...

One of my favorite things to do is bringing Sam into work when the office is quiet.  

The floor mats are  very cool to Sam - he likes snoozing on them.

These pictures are from  before Christmas - Sam is a good office dog.  He's quiet, doesn't mind sleeping all day, and is happy to spend some time with his Mom.

Changing mats...

However, right before Christmas, another dog was brought to the office that didn't have Sam's manners, especially in the potty department.  Due to this, all dogs have been banned from the office.  I haven't told my boy yet - I think he will be crushed!

Poor guy is going to be so disappointed!

Meeting Someone Special

I am travelling this week, working at Saguaro National Monument.

Normally, I get pretty lonely and miss my boys terribly.  This time, however, I got to meet someone very special! 

I got to meet Jack and the Tall Guy, from Daily Dose of Jack!

Jack is a happy, energetic pup who spent our visit telling me all sorts of things!  I couldn't keep up!  He was also on the lookout for sticks and kept insisting a piece of gum on the ground had been left specifically for him.  He was also very interested in my long hair.

Lady - there's a squirrel on your head!

Meeting Jack and the Tall Guy was definitely the high point of this trip!  Thank you guys!



Sam is helping out...

Hi dere. Sam here. Sam taking over his blog. Again. His blog, after all.

If I don't post, who will?


Sam decide since Mom feeling out of sorts from head test, Sam help in house. Sam good boy after all. Sam not mention that he still help out, even after he got bath yesterday!

Sam not even dirty! He swear!


Sam decide to vacuum, although Sam think little brother Monty should vacuum. It's his hair rolling down hallway!

I have a Dyson, and I know how to use it!


Sam had hard time with laundry. No luck folding, Sam all paws.

Hope Dad doesn't mind wrinkles in his shorts!


This too much work for one pup!

When will it ever end?


We are thinking of all our friends on the East Coast! We are hoping Irene passed you all by!

Mom's leaving again...

Well, this week I'll be working at both Tumacacori National Historical Park and Saguaro National Park. The boys have both begun to suspect something.

What? Your leaving again?


Don't you love us?


Monty especially seems to be taking it hard...

I promise to be good! Please don't leave!


I think he's going to need a hug...

Sam's Day at the Office

I decided today that since it would be a quiet day in the office that I would take Sam in with me. I've always wanted to do this, and since most of my fellow workers are on vacation, I thought today would be a good day.

Except for a barking issue that continued through the day whenever someone came into the office, Sam was very well behaved. I think he thought the office belonged to me and he had to protect it! I managed to squeeze in a few pictures, although not as many as I wanted.

Here is Sam in front of the office Christmas Tree.

You could've done this at home...


And here he is waiting for Mom to complete her work!

He could have done this at home!


He seemed to spend an awful lot of time waiting for me to do stuff...



So I finally put him to work!

I'm making copies!


One thing that was kind of neat about today was Sam's fascination with a full length mirror in the bathroom. I realized this must be the first time he is really seeing himself, and I think he understood who it was he was looking at! When I talked to him he would look at my reflection and make eye contact.


We are getting closer to Christmas; we hope you all have your shopping and preparations done!

Saturday We Work

Saturday's are very important to Sam. Saturdays are trash days, and he takes his job very seriously. First of all, he wakes his Momma up at 6am on the dot to get started. He waits, rather impatiently, as she gathers the inside cans.

Hurry, Mom!


As you can see, he still has his t-shirt on. We had him in for a recheck and his stitches look fine. He will have them removed next Friday!

Here he is waiting patiently next to the can for me to unlock the gate. I love his shadow in this pic!


I make him sit-stay until I'm sure it is safe. We have very little traffic on our street, but occasionally we do get a faster moving car.

Don't forget me, Mom!


Woops, he got a little impatient and followed me out. Here I've just reminded him to sit.

...but you take so long!


After we get the can to the curb, I let him explore the front lawn.

He needed to sniff the newly painted bee to make sure it wasn't new...


...and he needs to check what has been in the yard during the last week.

No cat's, Mom. It's safe!