'Twas the Day before Thanksgiving...

The table was set:

(Note: that cute pumpkin face is our pal, Linus the Airedale, drawn by his Mom, Jill.)

The foodables were being prepared and we were helping as best we could.

The cranberries with apples were saucing


The green beans were trimmed.

The pine nuts for the stuffing and the almonds for the green beans were toasted.

The sweet potatoes were ready for baking.

The turkey was thawed and waiting to be roasted.

The pies were ready for transport from our brother's house.

The wine was chilled.


But, Oh My Dog,, something was wrong...very very wrong.

"What is it Jakey?" Mom asked.


"Where are my bowls???" I barked. "Who moved my bowls???"



"They're over here, Jakey -- just around the corner, out of the way so you won't get stepped on when the company comes. It's just temporary for tomorrow. OK???"



"OK, I guess so -- but it'll cost you. Just Harry and I will be watching to see that we get our share of the feast!!! It all smells so good already, we can hardly wait. One or two green beans isn't gonna' cut it!!!

"Got it, Mom?"

"You betcha', Jakey!!"

The signs are favorable...

This is the latest.

Mom ordered two warm sweaters for us on the Internet.

We heard her making reservations at a pet-friendly motel for the first night of our trip in Bradenton, Florida, and we heard her asking the reservation agent what would happen if we happened to bark in the middle of the night. The clerk's answer -- oh, they'll be quiet, won't they? And just then someone crossed our perimeter and we both started barking our heads off!!

We also happen to know that Mom made arrangements for us to be taken care of at a K-9 place near the port while she and Dogdad are at work there the afternoon before and the morning of our setting off for St. Loulis.

Then we just heard something exciting may be brewing in Mayemphis before we get to St. Loulis.

And on the way home from St. Loulis, we've heard we may waggle a bit.

Even more telling, we heard Mom and Dogdad having loooong discussions about whether they should take two of our beds or four (our grandma has an upstairs and a downstairs) and about whether there will even be room in the car for their stuff if we take up so much room.

Oh, and the most critical sign -- we overheard Mom tell one of the nice ladies at camp that no, we won't need our reservation for the Christmas holidays.

So, it sounds as though the folks are keeping their promise to take us with them this year, instead of leaving us behind to wonder what they're up to. Pretty cool, huh?

The Heron-cam is kind of p---ed that he won't be needed (times are tough all over), but decided that, if nothing else materializes, he may come with us anyway.

Stay tuned. If all goes according to plan, next month this time we should be shivering our wirey butts off at Miss Ouri's

In the meantime, we're wishing everyone a Happy Thanksgiving -- but remember, stay away from that turkey skin and other fatty foods -- they ain't good for us dawgs, no how!!!

Jake and Just Harry

Oh the Indignity of It!!!

You've all heard from time to time about what some of us wires face when it is time for the dreaded grooming. Well, here is evidence, up close and personal -- very personal -- about what goes on at our house...

Before we go on, however, we must offer a disclaimer on behalf of our dear Dogdad: Since I, Jakey, almost had a seizure at a professional groomer's several years ago, he has taken it on himself to do a kinder, gentler, kind of grooming. Sometimes he just uses the furminator. But when we start "bloomng," it's time to get more serious. Instead of using a professional table with supporting ropes, he invites us on to his lap. And instead of a total stripping, he plucks only as far on our jackets and faces as we can endure, and then clips the rest of us. The result? Well here we are, as I said, up close and very personal.

When both my ears go up, you know it's serious!Very serious!Fur. Mine!!But there is frequent consolation!!

What just happened?I think it's over, but just in case, I'll stay under here!!We have an equal opportunity household: Just Harry know what's coming! Must we?Are we done yet???
Ah, all's well that ends well. After all we've been through... Treat time!!!Jake and Just Harry

Poker Pawty!!! Let the Chips Fall Where They May!!!

Well, if you've been over to Lacie and Baby Stan's Place, you'll see that we were latecomers to the poker pawty. But, not to fear, since I, Jake, have been playing poker at camp since I was a wee pup -- that will be seven years in a few months -- and Just Harry now has about three years under his collar . Translation: we're ready to make a killing!!! That is, if we don't succumb to one of Lacie's smoothies and go into la la la land.

Jake

Honoring Our Veterans on This Solemn Day

From the Dallas News:

"In America, we honor all veterans on this solemn day, and rightly so, because despite the convulsive changes occasioned by war across the decades and centuries, there is one constant: the willingness of patriots in every generation to answer their country's call to arms."

WOOFETY WOOF WOOF WOOF!!!!!

We took the "duh" out of Florida!! Yes we did!!!

Those long lines for the past two weeks with patient and enthusiastic voters, those new voting machines with paper ballots to amend the errors of the past -- not to forget the ever important power of the paw -- made a difference in our state, which has been the laughing stock of the country for eight years !!! And we happily abandon our reputation!! We just hope no other state will ever have to recycle that reputation.

Congratulations to our new President elect!!! We are so proud to be part of this historic moment!! Among so many amazing images after 11 pm last night, the sight of Jesse Jackson - - despite all his gaffes of the past -- with uncontrollable tears flowing down his cheeks as he stood amidst the cheering crowd in Grant Park, captured the story.

Jake and Just Harry

Heron-cam Update: It's Mostly about Me!!!!!!

Hello folks.

This is your loyal Heron-cam reporting. Everyone is back safely at home. Yesterday, after a six-hour drive, the humans relaxed and celebrated the female human's birthday (age is classified information). And they picked the furry ones up from camp so they too could join in the occasion after also celebrating Hallowe'en in two places -- both with their pals at the Tower of London (those two scholars in their robes in the center of the first picture) --as did their wheelie look alikes, M. le Professeur Jacques Maigret and Justin Herkimer Clouseau (lower right hand corner of the second picture) -- thanks to sweet Asta!! --and at camp with the rest of the residents as their rumpled bandanas suggest!!.

(If you're wondering why Just Harry looks kind of grumpy in the above photos, ask his Dad about the furminating that preceded the photo shoot!!)

But before I turn this blog back over to them, I thought I would spend a few minutes talking about ME. After all, am I not the unsung hero of this blog? Do I not provide secret details about what those wandering humans do when they are far from home? Yes. And yes.

Well, after flying all the way to Northwest Florida, as previously reported, and chilling my feathers last Monday, I spent a few days idling while, finally, the humans did manage to do some work. Or not!And then, on Thursday afternoon, I followed the humans back south to a lovely place called Homosassa Springs, an hour or so north of Tampa Bay on Florida's west coast. It seems that the person who introduced the male and the female human about 20 years ago lives there -- with her husband and two rescue dogs, Happy and Dixie -- and they wanted to stop and say hello. That was fine with me because I had a chance to warm up and strut my stuff with some fellow avian critters.

Fortunately, the humans decided to have dinner at a place called the Seagrass Pub and Grill, which is well known to all the birds of a feather in the area. When they heard I was in town, several egrets stopped by to say hello -- and we had some interesting turf battles over a few fish.

It's not too often that I allow my public to get so close -- but as you can see, I let my guard down and posed for the humans. After all, they are my employers once removed. And, as you can also see, I am quite beautiful -- and if I must say so myself, lend a fine note of elegance to this blog.
I hear that my services may not be required this Christmas -- but if my public demands it, perhaps I can go along for the ride to St. Louis anyway. After all, there will be a few moments, I believe, when the furry ones will be separated from their humans, and my presence may be required.

Until then,

See ya'

The Heron-cam