Penny, left, went to the groomer a few days ago. Today Tilly got a bath too.
Tilly isn't a bunny, she just likes to act like one.
We went to La Conner to buy a New Baby Present from Bunnies by the Bay, the only store for new baby presents, and took the puppies with us.
I've seen the whole town. I could use a treat.
With only one week to go before she returns to Johns Hopkins for her senior year (and graduate school, Audrey indulges in some serious huggles with her second favorite poochie, Penny.
Audrey can drop out of school if it means more hugs for me.
Because the fourth of July threatened rain, we all went to Deception Pass on the third. There was a picnic and a hike.
Tilly and Penny with Deception Pass behind them. Photo by Audrey.
Sometimes I just get crazy. Nothing to do then but run.
Tut-tut, it looks like rain.
Penny waits to get rained upon.
The girls had a Clean and Tidy just in time for the second most chocolate intensive holiday on the calendar. (Mmmmmm. Only 59 more days until Arbor Day.)
Penny strutting her clean stuff.
Tilly snarfling for evidence of deer, coyotes or the neighbor's chickens.
Tilly posing. I've got just enough poodle in me to be vain.
Yes. We're clean. Now can we please get back to wrestling with our floss?
In general, they are as silly as they look.
Tilly. The good big sister.
Look at me!
You want to feed me, don't you?
Lamb Chop is my favorite food.
I don't get to pick on anyone.
Tilly got to go to the beach and meet the wind.
What wind? I don't see any wind.
Audrey's home from school and loves her poochie.
Tilly enjoying Audrey's lap.
It's hot outside for a puppy.
Tilly on the patio.
And it makes me tired.
Good thing I've been eating grass.
We were smart and stopped a few times on the way home. Somewhere south of Olympia we found a patch of grass between a hotel and a gas station that looked inviting. Well, it didn't look discouraging, at least, and let Tilly run around for ten minutes. Toddle around would be more accurate. Anyway, time for a drink.
With a couple more weeks at home with Nessi, her mom and siblings, Brandy is now ready to come home with us. It's a long drive to Pine Lodge Labradoodles, about five hours each way, but worth it and by now we're excited for the trip. After picking Brandy up and giving her a new name, Tilly, we headed home. It started out pretty sad as she cried for her family. We aren't looking forward to doing this again but a sad puppy is both heart-breaking and adorable at the same time. Being a Very Young Puppy she didn't have the stamina to keep it going for long and was soon asleep. By the time she woke up again she was content to be petted and didn't seem to be missing her family and home anymore. It made us a bit sad to see her get over it so quickly.
We got a bunch of very helpful equipment when we picked her up from Heidi, but a new puppy must have Stuff. So we stopped at a PetSmart in Portland to pick up a cute pink leash and halter. It's extremely gratifying to have strangers go all silly over your puppy. It makes you think that this might be a good dog to breed.
A Tired Tilly, napping on Janet's lap.
We've spent months looking at breeders of Australian Labradoodles. Having found a perfect breeder, Pine Lodge Labradoodles south of Portland Oregon, we drove down to take a look when a litter was six weeks old. What we saw made us happy. It was a tough choice, but we went with Brandy. Back in two weeks to take her home.
Matilda (Tilly for short) nee Brandy