Another momentous day has arrived! First, the kids got their first real solid food today. I feed them about 4 oz. of cooked hamburger, split 8 ways, this morning.
Then, they got their first trip outdoors! We moved the pen fencing out onto the patio, and let them roam for a bit. You never heard such complaints! This floor is hard! My toes are getting cold! What happened to the walls and ceiling? That light is too bright!
Anyway, I think you'll have to agree that they are adorable.
Chris Evans and grandson came by today to look at the pups. It sounds like Chris and David will be getting one of our girls, probably Miss Ginger Snap. That was two spoken for, two we keep, and four to go. however, Erin called and said she didn't think she was going to be able to keep a pup in her first year of graduate school. Poor thing would be alone most of the time. Plus, renting a place where they would allow her to have a dog would be very expensive.The collie daddy seems to be taking quite a shine to the babies. He will get in and nuzzle and check on them, being ever so careful not to step on anyone.
Four weeks old this evening. And the rough realities of life strike. Tonight, Woody (Arrowhead) and Star (Spiral) got their first baths. Star was pretty good about it but Woody complained, a lot.
The last few days have been fairly rough dealing with these guys. They are eating rapidly growing amounts. We were using the formula plus rice cereal, but the kids were also getting constipated, and taking turns with a lot of grunting and groaning. We are about to finish our second carton of formula in a week, at $30 a carton. Tonight we are trying competing methods to soften puppy kibble for them. I'm soaking a few in milk. Winnie pulverized a few in a mini-blender container. We'll try feeding them soon and see.
The area we set aside for them in the dining room is good, but there was a problem. I had lined it with a plastic sheet, topped by a canvas painters drop cloth, topped by newspaper, and then their soft rug. I was assuming the canvas drop cloth would bead up more moisture than it did, and it was getting wet.
Our friend Donna suggested a piece of linoleum as a base. That's what she used when her dog had pups. So, we bought a 6x9 piece at Lowe's. When I pulled up the other stuff I was in for a rude surprise. The plastic drop cloth had leaked, it was damp underneath, and going to ammonia. So, first that had to get cleaned up. What a smell!
We have our first definite 'forever home' for one of our girls. They hope to come visit soon and meet every little body.
The first bowl of formula went down this morning, and they just devoured it. We had been planning on supplementing with this just once or twice a day, but maybe they are ready to accelerate through the weaning. Maybe give them just formula a couple ore times today, and then start mixing in some baby cereal tomorrow. I want to be careful, so they don't get constipated, though.Today was also a big day, as we moved them around the house to give them more room, and more contact with us. They had been in just the wading pool, and they were feeling very isolated and frustrated in there. There was a lot of whining going on. So now, they are in the dining room, with about 3 times as much space as before.
OK, they are beyond getting near to having teeth. They have teeth coming in. Momma is starting to look a little hesitant about nursing. We'll need to start weaning them on.
The weeing is really commencing, we are having to wash the liners twice a day now.
The pups continue to grow very big and very fast. It's getting hard to do photos
of them, because they are always in motion. And if not in motion, too sleepy to be
really fun! Their eyes have opened a bit, and they see us when we come into the room.
They crowd over near the edge of the pool for a pat. If it's momma, they all crowd
around, and get rowdy waiting for a meal.
I weighed the biggest (Arrowhead), and smallest (Bitty Girl) yesterday, and the
range was about 2 1/2 to 3 1/2 pounds. That's not too bad. I thought the range was
probably more, as that boy's head is about twice the size of her's.
Personalities are definitely coming out. Blaze is a climber, Bitty Girl is a
growler, and all of them are little loves. They nuzzle up to our hands and lick us, and
try to suck our fingers.
The issue of names is also being worked on. Their eventual owners can name them as
they like, but we'll use our usual "spice" scheme in giving them some sort of names to
start with. What we've come up with so far, is something like this:
- 'Spiral' - Spiral Galaxy Star Anise ('Spiral' or 'Star')
- 'Big girl' - Nutmeg Custard ('Meggy')
- ''Bitty girl' - Ginger Snap ('Ginger')
- 'Arrowhead' - Sasparilla or Sweet Woodruff ('Woody')
- 'Island' - Something something Wasabi something ('Wasabi')
- 'Big Boy' - Something something Coriander something ('Cory')
- 'Short Stocking' - Something something Basil something ('Basil')
- 'Blaze' - Blazin' Hot Chipotle ("Blaze')
GILFORD, N.H. (AP) - Much of this week's winter carnival in Gilford has been canceled, due to too much winter.
Parks and Recreation Director Herb Greene notes that the cancellation of 2 events was due to poor road conditions and snow-filled parking lots.
Of the three events originally scheduled for Wednesday, the Cardboard Box Sled Derby has been rescheduled to Friday morning.
