Alice Wants You To Know; A Message to All Our Blog Friends

(Today's Post has been turned over to Alice, who insisted that I transcribe and relate her message to all our Blog Friends -- LB)

I have had it with things around here and I'm tired of my Mom's excuses for not blogging. You might think she has been busy, and I guess she has, but she has been doing such boring things such as house work, driving BB around -- carpool and so forth -- and she has been on this new and horrid organizing kick. She has spent all sorts of time filing and shredding papers! When she could be doing something fun with me and Sammy! When she does have a free moment, guess what she does? She reads! How boring can you get????

Well, I have put my paw down; I say Mom simply must keep up with our blog friends because it is something she enjoys and misses doing. She has been making noises lately about posting, but nothing has happened. So I have decided to catch everyone up.

We had a fun Christmas with our Nana and Daddy Bill here to visit. Here I am with BB on Christmas Day --


Mom sent out Happy New Year's cards featuring BB and Whiskey River. I'm such a nice girl that I get to go to the barn sometimes -- I know how to act around horses. Here is a picture from the series Mom took:


Sammy is still a dorky oaf:


We had snow recently -- one of the best snow storms we have ever had! Puffy, fluffy, light snow! Sammy acted totally silly, naturally. Here he is playing with his stupid frozen tennis ball. He likes to push it under a little dome of bricks we call the bridge, then dig it out.


Here I am, totally cute --


In Kitty News, GK mostly snoozes -- no news there -- and Tiger snoozes and conducts daily alley patrols. Someone has to keep the the local rabbits, possums, and squirrels on their toes! Sammy and I assist with Squirrel Patrol. Here are GK and Tiger loafing around:

After my stern talk with Mom, I think she will be posting more frequently.

Love, Alice

We are back!

I'm so happy to be blogging again! I've really missed it! So many things have been going on I just haven't had time! I've been very busy with my horse Whiskey River. I've been training for rodeos! But now that Whiskey and I are pretty well trained, I now have time to blog! I can't remember the last time that I blogged! Before I had my horse school work got in the way! But this year, the teachers don't give out as much homework. Thank goodness! Homework is sooooo hard! But not this year! So not only will I be posting on the Rose Jugglers, but will continue my blog the sniffy tails! So woofs, purrs, and neighs from Sammy, Alice, Gold Kitty, Tiger, and Whiskey River!

Local Color: Thanksgiving at Pea Ridge Farm

Our part of the country is not really known for spectacular fall colors, but I think Thanksgiving is one of the prettiest times at Pea Ridge Farm.

Nana's turkey wreath (she made me one, too):

The big gum tree next to the barn has turned a lovely yellow:

The crape myrtles turn vivid oranges and reds:



Potted tomatoes against a crape myrtle background; the amaryllis on the plant stand will bloom in February or March:


From another angle:

Overlooking George's Pond:

Birds like the bright red pyracantha berries:


Some of the camellias are just starting to bloom :


The bees are still at work on the rosemary:

Alice takes some time to reflect on Thanksgiving at Nana's fish pond; or, she might just be really full of turkey!

Meanwhile, BB works off her turkey dinner on the swing in side yard:

It's been dry here this fall, so there are not many mushrooms in the woods, but we did locate this cluster just behind the house. We cannot identify it exactly and Nana calls it "the Brain," so we are just going with that:

(Maybe it really is an alien brain or something... Dennis the Vizsla might better come check this thing out!!)

We hope everyone has had the happiest of Thanksgivings!

Saturday's Loot: Estate Sale-ing with Alice and Sammy

When I was growing up in upstate NY, my mom had an antique business so I spent a lot of time with her scouring flea markets, estate sales, garage sales, and attending antique shows. I always enjoyed doing these things, even as a child. I still love them! I hit an estate sale this morning, which I found out about only by chance. Would you believe that as I was walking in, Jocebeane drove up?! (She likes estate sales too).

Although Sammy and Alice do not attend the sales with me, (dogs not usually being allowed at such events -- discrimination, we say), they generally like to look over my purchases and give their considered opinion.

Here, Alice gives a figurative "thumbs up" to a small Victorian side chair:

She also liked this drawing that I think dates from the mid-nineteenth century. It was hard to get a good picture because the glass reflects light. The frame appears to be the original.


Sammy, however, was skeptical of the value of my purchases:


Everyone was enthusiastic about the vintage 1950s-era horse bookends that I bought for Baby Bean:

I thought these would look really cute on BB's desk in her room - BB agreed!

Have a happy rest-of-the-weekend!

Wild, Wild West Wednesday: Rose Jugglers Cowgirl Hall of Fame

While we were in Wyoming this summer, BB discovered her inner Rodeo Cowgirl:

Of course, BB has a fine pedigree in this area: Rodeo Queens are something of a family tradition.
Nana, for example, showed early promise as a Star Cowgirl. Can you believe my grandmother wouldn't buy her cowboy boots? My mom wanted them soooo much, and my grandmother denied her, likely just to be contrary. Well, you can be sure she has some now. Several pair, in fact!

Here's a picture of cousin Becky (of Becky's Barnyard) dressed for the Rodeo in her Rodeo Queen ensemble. I think her mother made this outfit. Just another stunning example of the shine and glamour of the family Cowgirls!

A Trip to the Sticks with LizzyBean and Jocebeane Yields NEW PUPPY; Fun in the Country!

As fans of the Whippy Curly Tails know, their mom (known to us as Jocebeane) has been looking for a canine addition to their largely feline family. Jocebeane has followed many leads over the last few weeks, but nothing has worked out. Friday, Jocebeane and I took a day trip out to the country to visit a little puppy she heard about -- a little guy, last to go, of a litter born to a country gal dog who her owners mistakenly let out whilst in heat. The mom dog is said to be a boxer/mastiff (???) mix and the dad dog is an Australian Shepherd. Apparently all the other pups looked like the dad dog except this one. What attracted Jocebeane at first was the report that the puppy has been raised in a home with cats and considers cats his playmates. The owner wanted to place the puppy in a good home, and in compensation wanted only enough to spay the mom dog, Maya.
There was no stopping us: Jocebeane picked me up first thing in the AM and off we headed for parts unknown to a sleepy little burg neither one of us had ever heard of!

After about an hour's drive, we pull in and see puppy's yard and neighboring horses:

Here's where puppy lives:

Then we meet the cutest puppy ever:


Who could resist that face? Not us! We knew this was the RIGHT puppy for Jocebeane and the Whippy Curly Tail cats!
But first, we needed to load up on some puppy supplies including a carrier, get some cash, and stop at the really great fruit and vegetable stand we spied in town. So off we went after making arrangements to come pick up puppy later that afternoon.

This is looking from the old downtown toward the fruit stand -- we filled Jocebeane's designer crossover with cantaloupes, summer squash, tomatoes, okra, peaches, and the hugest seeded watermelon there!

After a detour to a neighboring town for pet supplies, we headed back toward puppy's house and decided to hit a little antique & collectibles shop, browse, and meet some locals:

This is Tipsy, a rescue cat who lives at the shop we visited! Tipsy rode 12 miles in the fender of an old truck before she was discovered and subsequently adopted.

Tipsy takes her handle from the shop name:

I purchased a lovely little cat painting!


Well, we had to get back to pick up the sweet little pooch. He doesn't like the sun and heat so he ran under Jocebeane's car! Come on, little guy, let's go:

Say bye to mom dog Maya and auntie Jasmine:

Here I am as we leave puppy's old neighborhood and head back to the big city!


And here is little puppy, an excellent traveler:

When we arrived back in the city, Jocebeane wanted to run to her house to do some "set up" before she brought puppy home. Puppy came to our house for a while since Sammy was off at playcamp for the afternoon and Alice is a sweet auntie. Here he is enjoying one of Sammy's chews:

Overwhelmed by the day's events, puppy collapses for a much needed nap!

Dog Days & Mad "dish" LizzyBean

It is So HOT here - what is a dog to do except fling herself on the sofa under the ceiling fans?!


Meanwhile, here I am..........