Merry Christmas!

Lilly Belle & 'Ol Saint Nick himself!

Ho, ho, ho. . . .

Well here it is early Christmas morning and I'm waiting for the 2-legged dwellers of this place to get out of bed and continue with the festivities of yesterday. Man, I like it around here when they start bringing the outdoors inside, potted trees, hanging bright lights and decorations all over the place... so much to get into and so little time!

Oh yeah, that's me (your favorite Great Pyrenees pooch) and some funny dressing guy called Santa Claus. He fed me cookies to pose beside him so that he could get his picture taken. Mom giggled the whole time, but dad seemed embarrassed and kept out of sight.

Today should be fun like yesterday was; seemed that everybody was feeding me treats I'd never tasted before.... mmmmmm good! I'm not sure if this was the reason I bugged mom 3 times last night to go outside. I know she doesn't mind, I think she likes it when I wake her up when it is dark and she gets dressed to go out in the snow with me. Hey, I could hold it until next Wednesday if I wanted to, but I know she enjoys this special time together with me.

Wait... what's that? Either one of those danged cats to chase or one of the tall critters are stirring. It must be time to start playing Christmas again. I REALLY like this time of year, I guess you do too! Sooooooooooooo . . .

Merry Christmas to all!

(yeah, even those cats, Puff and Pooh and Minnie too... I'm feeling good!)

Dog days of summer

Not just whoof, but.... WHOOF!

Pack leader here... I now know why they call this the "dog days of summer". We've just had the hottest, driest July I can remember. Forest fires are raging to the east, north and south of us, and there does not appear to be any rain in the immediate forecast.

Our Great Pyrenees, Lilly Belle has been lethargic to say the least. That fur coat she wears is not making her life any easier. And the cats... Puff and Pooh always try to conserve their energy, but I think they have enough stored up to stay awake for the next month. Even little Minnie (the mouser) prefers to hide out in the garage instead of sniffing around for fresh rodent meat.

And even the 'ol pack leader (that's me) has had trouble raising the energy to keep this blog current. I don't know about you friends, but this is one dog who is ready for fall and some cooler weaher!

I think I'll go lie down somehwere in the shade....

Dogs & Cats Together

Lilly: Minnie, I saw your last post and what you did to that poor helpless mouse. You should be ashamed of yourself. Great Pyrenees dogs (that's me) are famous for our good nature around kids and cats. What if I treated you like you treated that poor mouse? You're not much more than a light lunch anyhow...

Minnie: Give me a break! Mice are rodents, they carry diseases and scare the hell out of women... I do the world a favor when I munch a mouse for lunch.

Lilly: Not if you're a mouse.

Minnie: You're probably just jealous that I got to that mouse before you did. After all, you eat skunks!

Lilly: Do not.

Minnie: Do so.

Lilly: Not.

Minnie: Forget it, I'm going out for lunch.

Mouse nightmares

Ever wonder what keeps mice awake at night?

I do!

Hi, I'm Minnie (the mouser) - as my dad likes to call me. I alone am responsible for clearing the prairie dogs from our five acre home site. When my family first moved in, they didn't see a prairie dog that first summer because the previous owner had a cat. The next summer mom and dad saw a few of those rodents and thought they were cute. Right.

By the third summer, prairie dogs were hanging out at every tree, why there must have been a hundred of them. Then I showed up, and I can't remember ever having so much fun. Some of those dogs were as tall as me, but they never stood a chance. Yup, I put on a lot of weight that year.

Today I have to work harder to amuse myself since the prairie dog population has dwindled so. These days all I can find are mice. Don't let anyone fool you, a mouse is not as tasty as a prairie dog and they don't hang around chatting like those talking rodents.

If you were a mouse, I would imagine that this picture is the stuff that nightmares are made of. I brought this mouse up to the door so dad could see me having fun and he snapped a couple pictures to remind me of my summer vacation. I do know how to have fun!

PS: If you want to see more of me, come visit me at my "Cat House"!

PPS: Maybe later dad will tell the story of my big sister, Lilly Belle who tangled with a skunk. The skunk suffered the same fate as this mouse... but IMHO, Lilly was the big loser. Wow, did she ever stink!

Whitefish Winter Carnival Parade

Lilly: Puff, Pooh and Minnie... did you cats see me in the parade yesterday? I was the star, mom told me so!

Pooh: What parade? I must have been sleeping. There was a parade? Why didn't someone wake me?

Lilly: Yesterday, they held the annual Whitefish Winter Carnival and they had a huge parade, and I walked with about 12 other dogs from the Northwest Montana Humane Society. We were awesome - we were the hit of the parade! Mom told me that was true.

Puff: Yeah well, mom isn't one to always tell the truth when she's talking about you, Lilly. I mean after all, she does call you "Puppy Love". What could be further from the truth?

Lilly: Hey, this was a big deal, they've been holding this parade for 48 years. This year I was the star. One short human called out... "Hey look a Polar bear"!

Pooh: Well, too bad hunting season is over, you'd look good hanging on somebodies wall.

Lilly: Pooh, they stuff cats too, ya know! And besides, no one would shoot "Puppy Love".

Minnie: I would, will you show me how?

Lilly: You ladies are so "catty". Go back to sleep! That's what you do best anyhow.

Cat Tree

Pooh: Hey Puff, mom wanted us to show everyone how dad built a custom made "Cat Tree" for us.

Puff: Don't tell anyone, someone might see it and ask dad if they can have it.

Pooh: We can't keep this quiet, heck dad posted the instructions on our website!

Puff: Oh great, now every cat in America will have a scratching tree like ours.

Pooh: That wouldn't be so bad. Just imagine if every cat in the country was as happy and contented as we are?

Puff: Yeah, maybe you're right. Okay, go tell everyone to go see our cat tree here.

Famous Cats

Pooh: Hey Lilly, last week I told you that Puff and me are movie stars and had one of our videos featured on YouTube.

Lilly: Oh yeah, I'm still trying to figure out why anyone would take time from their day and watch two cats sleeping. I'd rather watch paint dry.

Pooh: Well I can tell you that almost 600 very smart people disagree with you because that's how many times our movie has been watched by an adoring public - who are asking for more!!!

Lilly: You have got to be kidding me. People are THAT bored?

Pooh: Boredom has nothing to do with the appreciation of fine artistic productions and two magnificent movie subjects. I can see it now... "The Adventures of Puff and Pooh" - how two beautiful kittens defend themselves from a polar bear-looking dog and lived to tell their tale.

Lilly: You are a sick cat. Someone must have told those 600 people that mom was giving away free dog bones or something.

Pooh: Think what you want, all I know is that Puff and I now have a following. And, due to the many requests for more, I'm going to point everyone to our famous movie... "Where did the water go?"

Lilly: You won't mind if I check it out later, right now I have some important things to do... mom needs some animal-therapy and the best thing that helps her cope with you two cats is by loving on a big dog like me. She needs to hug me and rub me all over... doesn't do much for me, but she seems to like it. She calls me her "therapy dog".

Pooh: Wow, and you think people are bored because they watch our movies? How bored must mom be?

Pet rules!

or is that supposed to be pets rule?

Whatever... Hi, Miss Minnie here with a New Year blog post for all you cat-lovers... and also those of you who tolerate dogs.

This is my first time here, I'm usually too busy to bother with such trivial things. I'm the "shop cat" in this family and I sleep in the garage. I've yet to discover an Ethernet connection out there so I don't often get a chance to paw mom's keyboard.

Anyway, mom found this list of "Pet Rules" and she thought it would be a nice way of introducing the new year to her animal loving friends. Well here goes...

Pet rules!
(To be posted snout height on the refrigerator door)

Dear Dogs and Cats,

The dishes with the paw prints are yours and contain your food. The other dishes are mine and contain my food. Please note, placing a paw print in the middle of my plate of food does not stake a claim for it becoming your food and dish, nor do I find that aesthetically pleasing in the slightest.
The stairway was not designed by NASCAR and is not a racetrack. Beating me to the bottom is not the object. Tripping me doesn't help because I fall faster than you can run.

I cannot buy anything bigger than a king sized bed. I am very sorry about this. Do not think I will continue sleeping on the couch to ensure your comfort. Dogs and cats can actually curl up in a ball when they sleep. It is not necessary to sleep perpendicular to each other stretched out to the fullest extent possible. I also know that sticking tails straight out and having tongues hanging out the other end to maximize space is nothing but sarcasm.

For the last time, there is not a secret exit from the bathroom. If by some miracle I beat you there and manage to get the door shut, it is not necessary to claw, whine, meow, try to turn the knob or get your paw under the edge and try to pull the door open. I must exit through the same door I entered. Also, I have been using the bathroom for years -- canine or feline attendance is not mandatory.

The proper order is kiss me, then go smell the other dog or cat's butt. I cannot stress this enough!

To pacify you, my dear pets, I have posted the following message on our front door:

To All Non-Pet Owners Who Visit & Like to Complain About Our Pets

1. They live here. You don't.
2. If you don't want their hair on your clothes, stay off the furniture. (That's why they call it "fur"niture.)
3. I like my pets a lot better than I like most people.
4. To you, it's an animal. To me, he/she is an adopted son/daughter who is short, hairy, walks on all fours and doesn't speak clearly.

Remember: dogs and cats are better than kids because they:
1. Eat less
2. Don't ask for money all the time
3. Are easier to train
4. Usually come when called
5. Never drive your car
6. Don't hang out with drug-using friends
7. Don't smoke or drink
8. Don't worry about having to buy the latest fashions
9. Don't wear your clothes
10. Don't need a gazillion dollars for college, and
11. If they get pregnant, you can sell their children.

Anyway, those are mom's pet rules and she thought you might get a chuckle out of this. But mostly, mom wanted me to wish all of you a very special...

Happy New Year

Puff and Pooh, Movie Stars!

Pooh: Hey Lilly, did you know that Puff and me are movie stars?

Lilly: Right. You think that just because mom can't let that camera get three inches from her hand that she wants YOUR picture?

Puff: No Lilly, its true... mom put a video of us on YouTube and now we're movie stars.

Lilly: Cecil B. DeMille couldn't make you two "movie stars" if he had a gazillion-dollar budget. You guys don't do anything cute, you just sleep all the time and lick each other.

Pooh: If you won't believe us, look at our movie debut below!

Lilly: That's disgusting. You just wait until mom sees me doing something really cool...

Pooh: We can wait...

Merry Christmas

Lilly: Pooh, you look ridiculous in that hat.

Pooh: And you think this was my idea?

Lilly: So, your paws don't reach your head anymore? You spending too much time bending over the food dish?

Pooh: Have you looked in a mirror lately? Most people can't tell if you're a polar bear or what.

Lilly: Yeah, well mom likes me best because she took me to get my picture with Santa Claus. I didn't see you getting your picture with Santa.

Pooh: Wait one minute! You think I look ridiculous in a hat, but you're all excited to get your picture taken with a guy who has the same hat and a matching pajama-outfit to boot?

Lilly: It's a people thing. They see this fellow once each year and get all excited about it. If they really like you, you're taken to meet him. I didn't see you get your picture taken, and, he gave me a treat.

Pooh: So that makes you special?

Lilly: What can I say... mom likes me best.

Pooh: I sleep with mom, you don't. When she's watching TV, I get to sit in her lap, and you don't. I get to follow her into the bathroom and where ever she goes.

Lilly: You still look dumb in that hat.

Pooh: Maybe we should do what mom asked us to do and wish everyone a Merry Christmas.

Lilly: Since I know Santa and you don't, maybe I should be the one to
wish everyone a Merry Christmas.

Pooh: Why don't we do it together. . .

Pooh & Lilly: Merry Christmas everybody!

Lilly: Pooh, that was nice, but you still look dumb in that hat.

Miss Minnie's Cat House

In our last post we talked about Lilly Belle's fancy kennel, but the real celebrity critter around our place is Minnie, our "shop cat". Minnie's job in the spring and summer is to keep our prairie dog population at bay, and I must admit she does an admirable job. For the rest of the year, she roams our property and brings home anything that is smaller than her.

As an outside cat, Minnie has to undergo some pretty harsh weather. She's slept outside when it has been twenty-below zero. But we don't just toss her in the garage and forget about her, she is actually quite a pampered kitten. Minnie has her own website and you need to visit "Miss Minnie's Cat House".

Minnie's food is kept at the 'big house' so that it doesn't freeze. In the shop she has a heated water dish and her very own cat house with heated sleeping accommodations. You've gotta see this... Minnie's shop-condo is a 2-story affair lined in carpet (including the ramp to the 2nd. floor). The first floor is her feeding station, food storage, etc. To make thing easy, we use disposable paper trays instead of a food dish that would require daily washing.

Miss Minnie earns her keep around here and we take care of her and treat her like a local celebrity.

Thanksgiving Cats

Puff: Pooh, what are you doing on that ladder?

Pooh: I'm waiting for Thanksgiving.

Puff: What is Thanksgiving?

Pooh: I'm not really sure, but a bunch of 2-leggers show up, food is everywhere, I get petted for hours - and even Dad's in a good mood.

Puff: Does Lilly know about this?

Pooh: Lilly's a dog. She doesn't know about such things as Thanksgiving or even Indians and Pilgrims.

Puff: What's Pilgrims and Indians?

Pooh: Indians are like you and me, we were here first. We had the run of the whole house and we were happy. Then Lilly shows up and starts chasing us from place to place, eating our food and stealing our toys. Yeah, I think Lilly is a Pilgrim.

Puff: Oh. I guess we're supposed to be thankful that we're not Pilgrims, is that it?

Pooh: How would I know? Do you think I make this stuff up?

Happy Thanksgiving
from Puff & Pooh
& Lilly Belle too!

Welcome to my purrrrfect blog

Hello, and thanks for stopping by. I have great hopes for this blog. The critters I share my life with are more than just pets, they're part of my family. The pure joy that they provide me every day was the motivation behind this blog. Their antics, pictures and funny stories will force a smile and bring joy to your day. Please come by often - take a break and enjoy.

My furry family and I make our home in northwest Montana with my husband , daughter, three cats and our 100+ lb. Great Pyrenees "puppy", Lilly Belle. All of our critters have their own websites. Yes, that's me being kept warm by two sister kittens, Puff and Pooh.



Puff and Pooh's site is written as a children's story and tells of their daily adventures in and around their home. Our "mouser" is named Minnie and to learn of her exploits, you need to visit Miss Minnie's Cat House. She lives in the shop and has a very unique "cat house" with whole-house heating and a dining room!

Our Pyr is named Lilly Belle and although she tips the scales at one hundred pounds, she's just a puppy.