Grace Comes To Visit Gilley!

Gilley and I had company last night when Grace and Stacy came to visit! These two little gals were pals from the get go, and soon enough Grace had a little shadow following her and a permanent fixture underneath her chair at dinner. Aside from a little jumping, Gilley caught on 'pretty' well and listened when Grace gave her the "OFF" command. We had lots of fun watching the two of them - especially when I peeked around the couch and Grace had invited the puppy up to sit with her while they were getting ready to watch the end of Mamma Mia...too precious. Fun girls night... thanks guys for coming over!!! And, thank you for the gourmet doggie cookies... they look way too good to give to the pooches, but am sure they'll love them!!!

Gilley Learns to Jump! 14 Weeks

Tearin' around the pool with Hallie and Mia!! Gilley's first "real" pool party at Rhonda & Crystal's... what fun!!!

Taking notes here and seeing how it's done....

Doing the dog paddle with dear, old Dad.

Gilley!!! If you don't make it as a swimmer, you could be a flying nun!!!

Here she is really getting the hang of this pool thing... much more fun jumping in the water... BIG SPLASH!!!!

Good stuff Gilley girl... you really surprised me!!!

Border Collie Beach Day!!! 8/13/09

We had a great time on BCBD with a big crew... Elizabeth & Emily drove down with their kiddos Riggs, Grissom, Josie & Fillie to spend a great couple of days with Renee and her boys. Gilley & I had a blast with them at the beach sunnin', funnin', and relaxin' :)

Look at the babies swimming!!! Grissom is leading the way with Gilley bringing up the rear! Grissom did GREAT for his first time in the ocean and found his sea legs quickly! It's so neat to see how much he has grown and hear EA's stories... and so cute to see how much he loves big brother Riggs.

Gilley's cut-n-run move here with Fillie... she tried so hard to keep up before petering out after Round 2!! The girl's got gumption, I'll give her that!!!

Here we have Riggs, Fillie, Grissom, Cisco, and Gilley - Josie's probably going long to catch the flying UFO of a frisbee that is hovering above them!

It's a borderline! Except for yours truly who is shamelessly worshipping the Daddy off to the side. There are only about 20 or more photos of her doing this. It was such a beautiful day - and just the perfect way to spend it.

A Jimmy Buffett Kind of Day...

...more of the kids. After all, isn't it all about the puppies??!!

So cool to see them together....

"Got a Caribbean soul I can barely control,

and some Texas

hidden here in my heart."

J. Buffett - A1A

"...haul the sheet in as we ride on the wind that our Forefathers harnessed before us, hear the bells ring as the tide rigging sings, it's a son of a gun of a chorus..."

J. Buffett - Son of a Son of a Sailor

Got some pretty big paws to grow into, yea they do... all of us are pretty, darn proud of their parentage. Really something to see them resemble Cisco & Polli in each of their own ways. Can't wait to see all the gifts they have inherited, and new ones we'll discover too.

...and here, Gilley is egging Griss on - I'm sure she's talking a bunch of smack...

"Oh darlin', oh darlin, I'm through, 'cause all I ever get is lip service from you."

J. Buffett - Somewhere Over China

Don't dish it out if you can't take it kid!!! You tell her Grissom!!

Nothing sweeter than teasin' the waves... she ran in her puppy dreams that night. It's funny how life sometimes does the steering for you and puts the most amazing people in your world... just thinking on all the great friends we've made, and smiling inside.

Kind of makes going through those tough times a little easier knowing there are more beach days ahead... more puppy dreams... more dancin' along the surf. More running after the ice cream man... more tumpin' over in the waves... more dangling feet from Paragliders up above... stay cool Roy!!!

Watching Gilley on Beach Days reminds me of Jimmy's, "Take Another Road" and other Buffett songs that Mom & I would play on the way to and from the beach every season. "...never look back, this is my plan, run my pony in the sand, somewhere, somewhere...." One of my favorites.. "Leave my cares behind, take my own sweet time, ocean's on my mind."

Hmmmm, seems that Jimmy sure does know what he's talking about. Miss you, Mom...can't wait to introduce you to your Grand-Gilley ;)

Cheers & puppy dreamin' everyone...

Gilley at 13 Weeks

Some close-up's of my pretty girl... her features are starting to mature now - gone, that blunt puppy nose, legs are starting to sprout, and tail... well, tail is amazingly long, just like dear, old Dad! (She wouldn't have it any other way) She continues to grow more brown points and even a few brown freckles on her white which is sooooo pretty, just like her beautiful Polli-Mom.

Working on the recall, "Gilley!!!!" Love this shot with all 4 feet off the floor... she has some built-in springs.

I did a bad thing here and said, "Wanna GO SWIM?" See the expression I got? Oh my!! She knows what that means!!!!!

Legs for days.... love this shot of her relaxin' with me... looks like she's about to bark and say, "Play with me!"

EARS!!!!!!!! Holy moley!!! I couldn't believe this one - pretty funny, huh?!

12 Weeks... and GROWING!!!

Growing like a weed, she is... Here we are at 12 weeks enjoying a playtime with Brite - one of her favorite playmates! Brite has been so great with her and encourages her to play, puts up with her nagging little puppy teeth, and shows her how to really tug!

The PRIZE! Rubber chickens are a favorite toy... especially when it comes to playing keep away! Awww, one ear up, one down, just like mama Polli!


Look how beautiful the sky was on the evening we took them to the pond at Donna's... Gilley just goes with the flow, tagging along, never far behind Ace and right in the mix! We went right after Gilley saw sheep for the first time and had a whirl at them.

...enjoying a good game of tug after swimming with the big dogs. All in a day's work for my gal!

BEACH DAY!! 11.5 Weeks 7/31/09

...as you can see, we have been BUSY!!! A-swimmin' and a-runnin' and a tuggin'! One of the BEST days ever was spent at the beach last Friday with Cisco, Hamlet, Brite, Ace, Becky, Liz, Alex, and Renee...a fun time was had by all. We arrived at around 10:15, were set up and in the water by 10:30 or so, and the next time we looked at the clock, it was 5:30!!! Where does the time go??? Above, is the best athletic shot I think I have of the Gilley-meister. She was probably chasing after her Daddy, who is the GREATEST guy who ever lived in her book...not a bad mentor, eh?

There's definitely some family resemblance going on... she's inherited some great genes from Mom & Pop, not to mention Cisco's love of the water. What a little Gilleyweed will do for ya.....(that's for all you Harry Potter fans!) She is aqua-obsessive at home in her kiddie-pool, but man, she tackled the ocean like a little athlete! Look out Michael Phelps.

This week we started shaping her "line up", practicing quick downs, tugging, targeting the nose touch to hand, & the binder clip. She also started "ringin' the bell" on the back door to signal when she needs to go outside... so smart... she's got it down now. She also went through her first tunnel chasing after her Dad - her first agility obstacle :)

Right on his heels again... poor Cisco!! He's been so great with her having to share the ex-pen, putting up with her fawning all over him, jumping on him, drinking all his water, etc. I am secretly 'tickled' she is so taken with him - you should see how she watches him practice... she is simply "starstruck." Take notes Gilleypup...

...had to get "the Ham" on here... look at him go!!! At nearly 11, he is unstoppable!!! I love me some Hammie - his enthusiasm is infectious, and Gilley is VERY sweet on him. I am so lucky to have her be a part of all the great pup-titude she is exposed to... playmates Brite, Sasha, & Sugar, classmates "kids," all the coming's and going's of J-Canine, and even my little Henry dog who is shamefully warming up to her. Shhhh, don't tell him I told you :)