As with most nature shows highlighting wild animals, there are moments of watching the animals hunting. That is a big part of their lives and the cycle of life in the wild. If those moments are too hard, this isn't for you. But if you like to study wolves, their behavior, and some silly moments, you may appreciate this mini "documentary". Whatever one might think of the BBC, they excel at nature studies, and these moments are no different,  Wolves are a special part of my husband's family lore and one of our favorite animals in the world. We call ourselves like a wolf family: Mates for life, a tight-knit unit who will always fight for each other and stay close. That is the mission and the hope.  When we were in Montana, the howling of wolves at night made me smile, calling to each other, and I imagined taking names to make sure everything was as it should be. 

One of the healthiest things a family can do is offer children pets to grow up with and love. We had them growing up, and my children do too. There are so many moments of awww and affirmation that true love does exist between animals and humans. We let them be around them when they were infants and always introduced a new baby so they could sniff and realize someone new was home. Tavi took an extra special interest and thought it was his job to babysit and be our right hand with the kids. The other dogs would follow his lead, bringing tears to my heart to watch their love grow. Sometimes, the dogs think that the kids are there solely for them and will watch over us when we scold them and then follow them to their rooms to comfort them. I have never seen my kids hurt, get rough, or yell at the pets, even when they are little. They even comfort them when a pet needs correction or gets into something they know they shouldn't. The bond is strong, and when we lose them, Tavi in particul...

  Kitten Lady is one of my favorite channels to watch because of all the good she does, and I wish I could have afforded a kit out like hers back when I used to foster and rescue. I had a timeline that I would do it again this year, but life has a way of going sideways, and it takes lots of time to devote to pregnant mamas and their babies. I live vicariously through Kitten Lady and those of you who are kind enough to share your lovable pets with the manor.  I have no idea why my text got effed up, but I fixed it. Well, there was a particular thirsty cat so...maybe she didn't like me talking about the pups. 

I apologize profusely. Life has been so hectic that I can't even catch my breath. So here is a little something, and I expect plenty of smoochy poochies. This 1904 Silent Movie, The Dog Factory, is reflective of the times and dog handling in films. The pups can be hyper at times.

I love silent films, especially the ones with animals in them. I wanted to share one with this fantastic star dog, Shep. 

 

"A dog saved her owner – who hurt his leg at home in rural Washington state, fell, and couldn’t get up for hours – by walking to a road, sitting in the middle of it until a local sheriff’s deputy stopped, and leading the officer to him, according to authorities. Gita’s ability to be “a good girl and true hero” in her 84-year-old owner’s moment of need after his injury at their cabin on 25 September led to her “saving his life that day”, the Stevens county sheriff’s office said in a statement. “The loyalty and heroism of our furry friends never cease to amaze us,” the agency added. Gita, 13, had sat down in the middle of a road when a Stevens county deputy first encountered her. The deputy tried to get the dog into his patrol cruiser so he could then look for her owner, but she wouldn’t get in. The deputy subsequently left the dog where she was and checked homes within a mile of the area, but he could not find her owner, the sheriff’s office said. The sheriff’s office said the depu...

On October 23, 2023, Governor Tim Walz of Minnesota received an urgent text from his wife, Gwen. It wasn’t about her. Or their daughter, Hope. Or their son, Gus. It was about their dog. “Scout locked himself in our bedroom somehow,” she wrote. “There is no key.” The governor reacted with a question mark. Then, he screenshotted their conversation and posted it to X. “This damn dog,” he tweeted. In 2017, Tim Walz made Gus a promise. If he won the election for Minnesota governor the following year, the family could get a dog. A high-wire and stressful campaign season unfolded over the next several months. But despite the craziness, his son didn’t forget. (He wasn’t the type: Several years before, he delivered a detailed PowerPoint presentation on why they should get a cat. “To be honest, the fight for the cat was one of Gus’s premier projects,” Walz told reporters at the time. “Sold my wife.”) Nine months after his January inauguration, Walz scheduled a press conference. The reason? “Afte...

In the TV show Frasier, the adorable little dog Eddie was played by two Jack Russell Terriers: Moose and his son Enzo. Moose, who started the role, appeared from the show's beginning in 1993 until the end of its eighth season in 2000. Moose was known for his incredible training and ability to do many tricks. He was so popular that Moose even got more fan mail than the human actors, which is no surprise. The only problem is that people ran out and got Jack Russells, not realizing how independent and rambunctious they could be. They need plenty of exercise, and let's face it, not everyone is prepared to run their dog for an hour or two a day.  Moose's incredible journey from a troubled pup to a much-loved TV star is really inspiring. Born on December 24, 1990, in Florida, Moose's first family found him way too energetic and hard to handle. That's when a trainer named Mathilde de Cagny adopted him. After only six months of training, Moose landed the role of Eddie in Fr...

I cannot gush enough about Border Collies. The breed is fantastic, intelligent, loyal, and plain wonderful. We have them on the farm for herding, and they double as the farm manager's much-beloved pet children. I thought I was a pup spoiler. Not in comparison, I am not. His wife makes their food, and every balanced meal is fresh from scratch, as if she were making meals for her and their family. If you ask her about commercial dog food, she will look at you like you lost your damn mind. I can't even argue because I make my dog food, too, but not daily, not every meal, and not as extravagant, and that is saying something.  This 60 Minutes clip discusses canine intelligence, measuring it, and the new findings they are making about dogs and their previously unknown abilities. Those of us who love our pups already know all these things. My support dog gets things for me, follows commands, initiates tasks, and picks up on moods and signs of my feelings that not even those closest to...

  Gloria Swanson was born Gloria May Josephine Svensson on March 27, 1899, in Chicago, Illinois. She became one of the most prominent stars of her time and was well-known for her glamorous presence on and off the screen. Swanson was the only child of Joseph Theodore Swanson and Adelaide Klanowsky. Due to her father's job as a civilian supply officer with the U.S. Army, the family moved frequently, living in Key West, Florida, and San Juan, Puerto Rico, before eventually settling back in Chicago. Swanson showed a strong interest in the arts from a young age, particularly in theater and film, which initially puzzled her family because it wasn't a world they were familiar with or understood. Her passion was without question during her school years when she participated in various plays and operettas showcasing her budding talent. Gloria's initial entry into the film industry was coincidental. When she was 15, she visited Essanay Studios in Chicago, where she was offered a smal...

Post your pups! Share a story about them, and what is your favorite breed/s? Enjoy the first episode of Rin Tin Tin. I love old TV shows, and this one features one of my favorite childhood shows. Benji, Lassie, Rin Tin Tin, and so many others kept me company when I was sick; Beethoven made me want a St. Bernard. Old Yeller made me cry, so I wasn't watching that one after the first watch. My dad forgot it was sad. I was a little tiny crying wreck, and that was the end of that. Oh, and there is a car driving in the background of one scene, and my dad finds that hilarious and will tell anyone who brings up the movie.  

These energetic puppies are starstruck. Not that they aren't though they aren't. They just want to play. Hugh is trying to be game, but his smile is like OH NO! MY COIFFURE! The pups clearly have a favorite, which makes me rethink him. If animals like you, then there is something in you worthy of a chance. 

Jayne Mansfield, originally named Vera Jayne Palmer, was born in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania, on April 19, 1933. She was an iconic American actress, singer, and entertainer who gained fame during the 1950s and early 1960s. Known for her remarkable beauty, infectious charm, and larger-than-life personality, Jayne led a dramatic, fascinating life filled with glamour, talent, personal struggles, and a deep love for her family and pets. During her formative years, Jayne displayed exceptional intelligence and fierce determination. With a reported IQ of 163, she pursued her academic interests at Southern Methodist University and the University of Texas at Austin, focusing on drama and showcasing her talent in local plays. Her aspirations led her to Los Angeles in 1954, where she initially faced challenges but eventually succeeded with her role in the Broadway play "Will Success Spoil Rock Hunter?" in 1955. Her Hollywood career flourished after signing with 20th Century Fox in 1956. She...

  The UK election was fun, if only to watch the Tories lose in such huge numbers and slink out of office with tails tucked between their impotent legs. A highlight for me was the coverage of election dogs at the polls, which had plenty of them. One general thing about the British is that they love their pups to distraction, which is a beautiful quality, and for someone with dogs, it is endearing, too.  Coco is out early at Knowle Methodist church, Bristol Colin, a dachshund in east Hampshire Maeby outside a polling booth in Great Yarmouth on her seventh birthday Johnny Morrissey’s pug Nibbler in Gloucester Tanji, a 14-month-old King Charles cavalier spaniel, in Old Bexley, south-east London This dog was the Scottish people. SNP got clobbered. Steve Turner’s dogs keeping watch in East Worthing and Shoreham. The whippet is named Fig and the cocker spaniel is Mr Bojangles          Mini dachshund Uli in Walthamstow Benjamin Thorne’s dog Cwrw (Welsh for bee...

  This dog is hilarious. I couldn't help but laugh because our dogs had different reactions to when a baby was born in the family. No thieves, but some pouting did commence.  Does your pup do funny things? Do you have a story to share?

  Betty Marion White Ludden, born on January 17, 1922, in Oak Park, Illinois, was not just a trailblazing entertainer and ardent animal advocate but a beacon of resilience and determination. Her career, which spanned over eight decades, was a testament to her unwavering spirit. She pioneered early television, becoming one of the first women to have creative control in front of and behind the camera, a feat that was not easy in those times. White's family's relocation to Los Angeles during the Great Depression, when she was just a toddler, marked the beginning of her journey. Her love for wildlife, nurtured during family vacations in Sierra Nevada, initially led her to dream of becoming a forest ranger. However, societal norms of the time barred women from such roles. Undeterred, she turned her attention to writing and performing, setting the stage for her future in entertainment. White's foray into the entertainment industry began in radio, where she honed her skills by rea...