Hiking at Ledges State Park - Iowa's Best Park

Ledges State Park in Iowa is one of the oldest parks with picturesque sandstone bluffs over 100 feet tall on both sides of the canyon. It's been closed most of the summer because of the flooding but it finally opened this week and we went hiking. Because it's so steep, Mom decided I needed the backpack to slow my butt down. We hope you enjoy the pictures! Marco Polo and Thor with our sister's fur-kids: Whisper and Taylor.

Whisper always walks just behind Mom's feet so if she stops suddenly Whisper runs into her feet.

Here we are leading the way!

Here we are resting by the Lost Canyon Lake.

Mom had to grab onto trees when the trail went downhill to keep from falling down.

Here I am looking adorable :) We are on the sandstone cliff hanging over the Des Moines River.

Can you see the Bald Eagle in the tree?

What is MP doing over there - Mom thinks he is going to fall off the rock.

Whisper loves to stand on Mom's leg - Isn't the Princess Cute?

Here we are trying to pull Mom down the steps.

Here's Stephanie, She's our Sister w/o fur.

Here's Thor washing Mom's nose hairs!

At the top of the Lost Canyon Lake Path

Silent Saturday

Carney Marsh Walk

We had a great walk this morning at Carney Marsh.  It's one of Mom's favorite places in the fall because sometimes we can see millions and millions of Monarch butterflies sitting on the tree branches. We didn't see any of those today or the Muskrats that build these huge houses in the middle of the water but we had a great time.  Thor and Marco Polo 

We feel like Johnny Appleseed walking down this grass path. 

Thor, did you hear anything, I think I see something over there!  MP

Mom made us do this look at the Camera routine!

What is it???  I'm backing you up, Thor! 

over there are lots of geese and frogs and other critters. 

Wednesday Happenings

Mama is keeping watch over Mom while she works in the morning.

Carolina showed off to Mom how beautiful she is, trying to distract her from working.
And the boys got to go for a long long walk at Des Moines WaterWorks Park. This incredible park right in the heart of the city is bigger than Central Park in NYC. It was flooded terribly and really isn't back to all of normal yet. Mud covers most of fences and trails. It's hard to believe we were walking was probably covered with 10 feet of water right here.
Carolina being very photogenic all day long.
MrSippi and Thor being best buddies. MrSippi really loves all dogs. It's hard to understand but I think he might have been a dog in another life because he comes when called and talks back to me.
To My Dear Huffle, I think of you all of the time.

Missing you too! MRSippi

What we did last weekend

Here I am waiting in my crate at my trial. As you can see I got a Red, 2nd place ribbon. Actually I got several ribbons. I qualified 2 times and received my Novice Agility Jumpers Title. I also got a FAST Leg. I thought I had enough legs but Mom says it takes 3 legs to earn an AKC title.

Here's Marco Polo with all of our stable mates. We got to stay in a horse stall all weekend while Mom was working the agility trial. Marco Polo actually ran his first ever agility run and would have passed if Mom would have taught him weave poles. You could watch his incredible run but mom also forgot the camera. Ok - she worked very hard this weekend, being the gate steward, ran Marco one time and Me a total of 8 times too. We had a great great time.

This is Kela, she came down from Minneapolis to run. She was quite beautiful and she's 9 years old. She talked and talked to her Mom while she was running.

Here's I am qualifying and earning my Novice Jumpers Title. Thor



Huffle gave us this cool award

Our Dearest Kitty-Kat Friend and MrSippi's girl Huffle, gave us this incredible award. We are just so excited - we can't even take a nappy-poo. we have to apologize for our lazy Mom not seeing this great award until today. she was too busy with the silly fur-sibe boys all weekend! We all Love Huffle and are just so excited to accept this award.
PURR PURR
Mama, MrSippi and Carolina

Marco Polo's First Professional Photo Shoot

Yes - I'm going to be a STAR! I was invited to a photo shoot on Monday for Midwest Living Magazine. They are doing an article about Extreme Sports, Dog sledding and I think the guy model is modeling great gear for being in the cold. I was a perfect gentlemen and got to visit so many employees at Meredith Corp. Mom is going to get some pictures from the professional but they did allow her to take some of me, because I'm so beautiful. They took the pictures on a white sheet so they can put snow around us so Mom did the Photoshop thing too!
Of course, when we got there, they told Mom I couldn't come into the building because of the carpet. They called me an animal!! Mom said fine, he goes and visits at the hospital but we can go to the back door to the photo studio. I smelled great food, someone was cooking for a TV program but I stayed with the model, kissed him on the face and was soo soo good. Mom couldn't believe it!
Tomorrow Thor gets to tell you all about his great weekend at the agility trial! Marco Polo

DOUBLE Award from Thor in Brazil and The OP PACK

WOW - We are so so excited because we got a double award from our best friends:
Thor, a wonderful Golden Retriever who lives in Brazil - a long way from us
And The OP Pack, Phantom, Dakota and Thunder from Overland Park, Ks

Thank You Thank You Thank You !!!

The rules of the award are:
1. The winner can put the logo on her blog.
2. Link the person you received your award from.
3. Nominate at least 7 other blogs.
4. Put links of those blogs on yours.
5. Leave a message on the blogs of those you have nominated.

We am passing these awards to other blogs We love:
Steve, Kat & Wilbur, Washington Woos
Kapp Pack, from our birth state of Pennsylvania
Simcha, from Virginia
Royal, One of our Newest Blogging Buddies
Kayla K & Maebe Baebe, New Friends from Las Vegas
Mr Hendrix, Our Kitty-Kat Friend
Maya Marie, Missy and Bella, Who had a scare with the Hurricane

Colorless Wednesday

Our World isn't very exciting today. We normally would get a great long walk with Mom but she had to work so we are sad except for MrSippi who heard from his girlfriend who is coming to visit him soon.

We are just laying around chewing on bones while Mom works too hard.

I think I need a boyfriend. MrSippi just talks about Huffle all of the time. We used to be buddies but I don't count anymore. Anyone looking for a sweet puffy girl?

I can't wait - I can't wait - Huffle is coming Huffle is coming to see ME!@!!!!!

Huffle you can come but I have a nap to take! MAMA

Tired Tuesday

Tired Tuesday- Mom had to teach obedience Class and then we had to be obedient! YUCK

Tired Kitty-Kats

We Rescued Mom from Two Masked Bandits

Lucky for our Mom we were ahead of her today on the bike trail - first of all, we had to protect from these two masked bandits.  We chased them up the tree!

They talked big from high up in the tree - we wanted to go after them but Mom said leave them alone, she was so proud of us! 

Here we are working as a team sniffing out all of the critters.  This was were we confronted the Coons!

Here we are checking out the Deer Crossing, We sent them scurrying into the woods too. 

Do you see them clear back in the woods, Marco ? 

Can you see the deer. There are 3 of them but they were so afraid of us they ran a long way into the woods and Mom couldn't get a good pic of them. 

We treed the squirrels too - We want go and Help Grayson And Gandalf with their squirrels. 

Of course, MrSippi had to stay home and keep Carolina warm because it's cold and wet outside