Johnson joins our family

Here is our new family member:

Picture 1
Little Ted greets Johnson when he is transferred to our truck.

Picture 2
Johnson says "OK take my picture if you must"

Picture 3
He settles happily after a walk and falls asleep

Picture 4
Why did I bother to buy him a dog bed?

Sad day, happy day

Sadly I read this morning that my favorite "virtual" pet, Harley the Golden Retriever passed from this life yesterday. Go here to read about her - she was a great character.
I look forward to the day when Marie can bring herself to offer a new dog a place in her family; until then I shall miss reading about doggie adventures on Blue Ridge Blog.

The happy news, for Tartan Ted and family is that Little Ted and Ted are driving in Houston direction this afternoon to pick up our new family member who, in the interests of maintaining our fictional family names, will henceforth be called "Johnson"

Pictures will follow later today or on Sunday if we are very late home.

Little Ted visits Houston for his 5th birthday

We all went up to Houston for Little Ted's birthday and his Aunt arranged a fun filled day for him. Starting with a pony ride, then a visit to the Brittany rescue people, then the Houston Museum of Natural Science and then the highlight of the day - The Downtown Aquarium.
More pictures of Little Ted's day can be seen here labeled Houston.

And so to the Circus ...

"What did you say Little Ted?
A whole elephant?
You want a whole elephant? But you hardly ever eat all of a normal dinner!"

The circus came to town Friday and set up at the beach park. As Mrs Ted is still on crutches, and in fact has borrowed a wheelchair for the weekend, it fell to Ted to endure the dreadful experience of mobile entertainment in all its' tacky non splendor enjoy the delight of his children experiencing their first circus visit.
I guess life is what you make it and who am I to dampen the enthusiasm of young kids viewing circus entertainment for the first time. The oos and ahs and awesomes pouring from their lips and the big wide eyes full of wonder made it all worth while and they are not old and cynical like their Dad; they do not need, at this stage in their young lives, to wonder too much about health and safety issues, animal welfare concerns, and downright financial exploitation of the captive audience. That's Teds job and by golly he's on it!