The Votes Are In!

The voters have spoken! Well when you subtract my wife and someone else (Kathy). CHUY it is! First and foremost it reflects my South Texas heritage and our favorite restaurant in Austin. It also happens to be for:


The kids are all of the sudden big fans of Star Wars. Especially Charlie who only wants to wear the $25 Star Wars retro Gap t-shirt that will probably only fit for a couple more months.

We went into puppy naming crisis mode when Mary Alice assigned her default name, "pupcake".

Chuy is doing well even though he has no control over his bladder and bowels. That will come. He is a firecracker. There is no quit in this pup. I'll get some pics up soon.

Very good suggestions by the way from everyone on the names. I liked: Buzz, Dieter, and Cato from the Harris clan. Out of the patriotic names Libby and Bell would have been good girl names.

It's about time.

Here is our boy. I have heard people say that it is difficult to have the pick of the litter. I had no idea it would be this difficult. I really think that it came down to our (still) nameless puppy below and the ugly puppy. There is something about that white faced dog. Someone will get an ultra athletic pup in the ugly dog. He is going to be a big one, too.


Here's Ugly...

I would love to tell you that I had picked up on all kinds of clues that he was going to be a great companion for the family and for quail hunting next year, but I had no idea. I really did not have very many clues about anything. He has a pretty strong will, but he did submit to Don after a few minutes of Don gently holding him down. All the pups come to a whistle pretty well.
I asked Don to hold on to him for another week since Kay-Lynn and the kids were going to the beach in South Carolina this week, but it looks like the latest tropical depression/hurricane is going to throw a ton of rain throughout the Southeast this week. So I say all of that to say this: we will probably pick him up Wednesday of this week. We are really looking forward to it.



So I have been "working on building my own fence for the back yard all summer. Here is the update. Posts are up. That is all. I was supposed to have two nights and a Saturday of working on the fence the other week until a huge storm came through and...

...took out a 50 foot white pine landing on and splitting one of my dogwoods. So, with the help of two friends, for two nights and a Saturday, I was able to cut up these trees and haul them down to the street. I am picking up a compressor and framing nailer Tuesday evening. So, hopefully that will force me to find time to get some fencing done.
Here is the trunk that I had to cut down. It came down fairly easy, but I really wish I had old' Babe to haul it off for me. Each piece of the trunk was north of 100 lbs. I only attempted to lift one into the wheel barrow. That was enough. Notice the fence posts? Nice, huh?

Puppy Love

Well, it's pretty easy to see where the term "puppy love" comes from. It is sweet, innocent and wholesome. The kids really enjoyed seeing the pups at 3 weeks. Charlie is starting to get used to dogs a little more and it shows in his confidence. Before we left, I looked over to see him sticking his arm in one of Don's kennels to pet Lottie, one of his sweet black labs. Three weeks ago he would not stand near the kennels.

Mary Alice on the other hand...was born with our black lab, KAVU, in the house. So, she is very affectionate, yet respectful to all dogs. She has been making her bed and sometimes her brothers bed for weeks now...all in hopes that we will notice and get another dog. Bless her heart. She has not idea that I have planned on getting a dog for months now. I think I am going to keep it from the kids and just bring home our pup.

Charlie is trying very hard to remain motionless for the sleeping puppy.

Here is my old lady favoring the females.

What a sweetheart.