NON Poodle Post

Savanna got her braces off last month! She would die if she knew I took some of these pictures.... and she would kill me if she knew I posted them.

So shhhhhhh.

The Million Dollar Smile..... showed off at her 14th Birthday lunch.

Summer Fun... sorta

This spring has had the craziest weather. Let's face it, this whole year has had crazy weather. From the -31 temps of winter, to the none stop wind, NO RAIN and smoke filled skies from the Arizona fires.
Gardening has been more work then usual, but the weeds are still thriving (go figure). I was sitting on the porch yesterday, evaluating my yard, and decided that it looks more like April then June.

Raleigh LOVES LOVES LOVES the hose, or the water coming out of the hose. If he's outside when I'm watering he goes crazy.

Below are some fun pictures.

Long Time... No Blog

I guess I'm in my "busy season" again. Excel Campouts with work, end of school events, and just life in general. I wanted to post some fun pictures of Raleigh that I've taken over the past month.

Raleigh and Gabby won 2nd place at the New Mexico Excel Club campout in Las Cruces. They were dressed as the Homecoming King & Queen in the pet parade.

Raleigh and his girlfriend Roxie at the Colorado Excel Club campout
in Canon City, CO

Oh how he loves playing in the sprinkler!

MS Walk 2011 & Team Orange Poodle

Yesterday was the MS Walk in Albuquerque. I was committed to dyeing Raleigh orange for the walk if we (Team Orange Poodle) reached our goal. We came close but fell a little short... SO FAR.
So Raleigh just got orange polka dots.
We had wonderful weather. NO WIND! It was a fun fun morning. Raleigh was a touch (crazy) on the naughty for the walk. So many people... so many dogs.... so many children..... He just wanted to wrestle with everyone.

Team Orange Poodle

Raleigh, Buffie and Donna with our sign.

One flag for each person with MS in the Rio Grande Valley

Buffie's Peeps: Andra, Rebbie, Cindy & Savanna

Raleigh and little girl with balloon poodle

Donna, Buffie & Joyce

Ping Pong Playing Poodle

Please don't look at my messy garage.... just watch Raleigh.

Raleigh and Delilah

Delilah (our little black cat) is very leery of dogs... thanks to Gabby.
But Raleigh really wants to make friends with her.
Little by little he's making headway.

Always At Home

Raleigh can make himself at home anywhere. I guess it's because he goes everywhere with me.
I took him out to a brand spanking new trailer that had just come into the lot, to get pictures... of the trailer, not Raleigh. But I couldn't help myself.

shhhh don't tell Kathy!

I love how you can see his little fanny in the mirror.

Yip, the chair smells like new leather.

The new trailer is "poodle approved"

Yesterday afternoon I was talking to my sister on the phone, and the dogs were being nice and quiet.... THAT should have been my first warning. Raleigh came bouncing down the hall to taddle tail on Gabby. I walked into my craft room and this is what I saw.
I'm not 100% sure the poodle was completely innocent.

So much for my bag of stuffing

Graduation.... again

Raleigh now has two diplomas under his belt, or collar.

Tonight he graduated from novices obedience. I was so proud of him showing off all his skills. THEN came the snake proofing.... Raleigh's worst nightmare. Scott jumped in for me again at this point in the class (I really dislike snakes). The class instructors remembered how traumatized he was last time, so they instructed me to not let him get so panicked this time. They said if he started to reach that point again to take him out of the building.
He HATED it, and for sure remembered it, so they took it easy on him this time.

Scott and Raleigh running from the snake (Scott screamed like a girl)

I'm trying to upload my first video. If it works, you'll see Raleigh's second turn with the snake. He was so afraid they let him pass behind the snake.

Raleigh's got a new style

It was such a nice afternoon (NO WIND) so Savanna and I decided to break out the clippers and give our grooming skills a little practice. We pulled the patio table over to the outlet, plopped him up there and clipped away. He did pretty good, but I have to say Savanna and I did really good. Between the two of us we remembered all we were taught, and he turned out looking like a poodle. We ran out of daylight before we got his feet clipped, but we will do those in the next few days.

I took the pictures below before he was completely dry,
but you can see that he doesn't look like a chicken nugget this time.

Raleigh & Rebel

Raleigh's friend Rebel came over tonight for a visit. They haven't seen each other since they were little baby puppies, and Raleigh played to rough. Tonight Rebel was able to stick up for himself.

Raleigh and Rebel planning their next hunting trip.

Chicken Nugget With Legs

You all asked to see.... so here it is. The poodle clip of shame. Poor Raleigh.

Poodle Club Clipping Clinic

Last Saturday Savanna and I want to the Enchantment Poodle Clubs, poodle clipping clinic. Raleigh has only ever been clipped that one time before Christmas, and they only did his face, feet and legs. It was high time we cut all that puppy fluff off of him. After all... he's a big boy now. It was HARD work. But 4 hours (yes, four hours) later I had a poodle who looked something like a Chicken Nugget with legs. Thank goodness poodle hair grows fast!

I was so thankful to all the club members (who knew what they were doing) who helped us along. What blade to use. Which direction to cut. So much to learn!

Poodles aren't dogs... they're a piece of art!

Poodles Poodles everywhere! ahhh heaven.

Raleigh looks nothing like this beautiful girl... but with a little practice, maybe someday.

That's all Raleigh! AKA precious poodle puppy fur.