Six more weeks of winter

Rascally rodent Roger and the great weather prognosticator Punxsutawney Phil emerged from their dens early this morning and saw their shadows, predicting six more weeks of winter.

Rascally Rodent Roger

According to folklore, if a groundhog emerges from its burrow and sees its shadow, then six more weeks of winter weather is on the way. If it comes out and sees no shadow, spring is expected to come early.

Punxsy Phil

Punxsutawney, a small Pennsylvania town home to one of the most famous weather-predicting groundhogs, Punxsutawney Phil, has been carrying on the tradition of Groundhog Day since the 1800s, according to the Punxsutawney Groundhog Club. Unlike Punxsutawney Phil, Brushtown's resident rodent Roger has only recently taken up the science of meteorology.

Gobbler's Knob - Home of Punxsy Phil

Busy Beaver

As you might recall from my end-of-the-year brag sheet, Thelma Lou was hoping to "sit" for her TDI therapy dog test so that she can participate in an after school Kids Read to Dogs Program as well as become an official K-9 volunteer for Celtic Healthcare. We are happy to announce that Katandy's Li'l Angel Thelma Lou is now a certified therapy dog and could be making her first visit as early as tomorrow. 

Busy Beaver 

I must say that I have mixed emotions about Thelma Lou's success. While I am very proud of my little sister's achievements, she has been getting to spend a little more alone time with Mom than I'd like. I know that Mom enrolled her in scent work classes at Good Dog Rising to help Little Lou boost her self-confidence. Two years ago she wouldn't have dared to step outside our backyard without Rog or me let alone venture into a nursing care facility. Clearly M&D's decision to enroll her in the public school system coupled with her exposure to the outside world has worked wonders. She's now confidently shopping at Lowes for power tools with Dad and racking up substantive accomplishments to add to her resume which previously only included beauty pageant titles. But make no bones about it, I am, and always will be top dog in the Knowlton household. 

Pink is the new blonde

So we received a surprise with the impending Snowpocalypse that never arrived in Brushtown — Mom got a bonus snow day from work. We didn't really do much except watch some Boob Tube and hang out on the couch.

Bored Bullies

Unfortunately, late this afternoon Thelma Lou's nose work class at Good Dog Rising was also cancelled. Needless to say, her nose was more than a little out of joint. Thelma Lou wasn't the only one disappointed. Roger started whining like a little Mexican Chihuahua because he'd miss our daily cruise in town with Dad while Mom and Thelma went to class.

Senor Roger

After about an hour of Roger whining and Thelma pouting, Mom caved in to Thelma's pleas for "Mom and me" time so off to the beauty salon they went. Dad was not real happy with either of them when they returned and Thelma was sporting a bright pink bob like fashion designer Nicole Richie did earlier this week.

Pinky Tuscadero

Nicole Richie at the Fashion Los Angeles Awards

"Let freedom ring!" - MLK

"No person has the right to rain on your dreams!" — Martin Luther King Jr.

Wonderful News!

Since the holidays are over, one would think that my job of receiving deliveries from UPS and FedEx would have died down, but Mom continues to boost the economy. Grant it. Some of the stuff, like our monthly delivery of crunchies from Chewy.com, is essential. Others, like the Wonder Woman costume that arrived in mail yesterday, we could live without.

Super Lou

Well I have more wonderful news than Thelma Lou in her super hero garb! My natural mother Ch. Katandy's Night Magic "Laurel" turned 12 years old yesterday. Happy Birthday, you silver fox! You're just as beautiful as I remember ya.

Ch. Katandy's Night Magic "Laurel"

I'm sure that Grammy Lee spoiled Laurel with lots of presents from All for the Pet, but here's some icing for the cake. BOL! My AKC Community Canine patch arrived in the mail today! My human Mom was too busy to sew it on my Dog Scout uniform tonight, so what does she do? Makes me do a stay with the patch setting on my snoot between my eyes. As you can see from the photo, I was not real enthused about it. However, I clearly inherited my mom Laurel's good disposition and put up with the nonsense that humors my people parents so much.

 Newman showing off his CGCA patch

Goodbye Old! Hello New!

Behold I bring you tidings of great joy – the long-awaited, end-of-the year brag sheet.

After much internal strife over whether to produce our annual calendar, M&D opted to take a year off. This was an extremely tough decision because we know how much everyone loves them. However, there are only so many hours in a day and we've been quite busy.

You're probably thinking, "Those poor dogs finally got a break from having to wear all those ridiculous outfits!" Unfortunately not. In reality, since Roger and I have become certified pet therapists through Therapy Dog International (TDI), we probably have been dressed in costumes more during the past couple of months than if we would have had to pose for a year's worth of calendar photos.

The year started off a little "ruff" with the death of Pappy John in February. As personal witnesses to the joy that our visits brought him, M&D decided that Roger and I could make other end-of-life patients happy by visiting them, too. Last month, we became approved volunteers with Celtic Hospice and Home Health with official photo ID badges and everything. Roger’s first sanctioned visit as a representative from Celtic was to a local nursing facility on Veterans’ Day. Always trying to get a little leg up on me, Rog showed up for the event in typical Frenchie fashion wearing his Sgt. K-9 uniform and driving a blasted tank! He certainly turned quite a few heads as he rumbled through the halls handing out American flags and thanking veterans for their service.

Roger rumbles through Lewis Katz Hall

Our Dog Scout Troop once again participated in the Wreaths Across America project to honor our nation’s veterans by selling wreaths and placing them on gravesites of soldiers across the country. In addition to honoring a vet with a wreath, our troop receives $5 for every wreath sold. This year we raised almost $800 which will be donated to the Susquehanna Service Dogs with the stipulation that it be used for a service dog for a veteran. SSD is one of only a few service dog organizations that trains dogs for people with brain injuries and PTSD like many veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan have.

Arlington National Cemetery

Roger and I also are participating in an after school kids' reading program at the local YWCA. We just show up and the kids read to us for an hour. My favorite book is "Hop on Pop." Roger likes "Green Eggs and Ham" probably because he gets to explain to the kids all about his allergies to beef, liver, and venison – but not ham. Except for having to wear the outlandish costumes, therapy dog work is a lot of fun, plus it keeps us off the streets.

Thelma Lou hasn't had the opportunity to take the TDI therapy dog test so she can't participate in either of these programs. She did recently pass her Dog Scout test with flying colors and is registered to take the TDI exam early in 2015 so we are hopeful that she will be able to join us soon. Thelma’s service work did include helping to ring the bell for the Salvation Army. She really wowed the patrons at Keck’s Store and Archery by collecting dollar bills with her mouth while store owner Tammy Hammond and future heir of the Keck Dynasty Hennessey Strine rang the bell.

Thelma Lou & Hennessy with their Red Kettle

M&D insist on us participating in at least one extracurricular activity whether it involves community service, athletics, or the arts. Thelma Lou chose to register for an introductory nose work/scent detection class at Good Dog Rising. While a bloodhound she is not, I will hold judgment on her choice of sport since she can, I am ashamed to admit, lap me in a swimming pool.

Thelma Lou doing her morning laps

Roger and I spent five fun-filled days at Blue Ridge Mini Camp hosted by Dog Scout Troop 161 in Western Maryland last August. I earned my All Dog Band merit badge for learning how to play a banjo, and Roger earned his hiking merit badge for completing 6 miles of off-leash hiking. We also have both logged enough hours to earn our Service I and Therapy Dog I merit badges.

Dog tired at Dog Scout Camp

We spent three glorious weeks in the Outer Barks, NC. We kicked off summer with family and friends during the last week of May, and of course, we ended it with my birthday blowout during our traditional two week stay in September. Well, that’s 2014 in a nutshell. Wishing you health, wealth, and happiness in the coming year!

Feel your Boobies

October 1 kicks off Breast Cancer Awareness month. Thelma Lou is donning her pink to remind everyone to "Feel your Boobies" and get regular mammograms.