Heading south
This is the fifth Memorial Day weekend we've traveled to meet a group of friends at Apple Creek Inn in Isabella, MO. The Inn is run by our friends Bill and Ruth Holtorf, who are wonderful hosts, along with their Samoyeds Odeo and Phoebe, and Eskie Kia. The mainstays every year are Jeannee Brave with Ali and Harley, and Dottie Haley with Maggie. Some years other friends have joined us but this year it's back to the core group.
Willie and Tarka enjoy their breakfast
Willie licks up every crumb....
..and then heads for Tarka's bowl in search of leftovers. Normal behavior for Willie.
We stopped again just before Des Moines and had a good walk in rather hot sunshine. After a while Willie found a patch of shade and plopped down for a rest.
The next few photos are a bit fuzzy as they're phone photos, which are just not very good quality.
Willie had a lovely roll in the grass, with a big smile on his face.
Today, Thursday, we had a very relaxing day here with the Braves. I didn't get many photos but Jeannee took a few of me in my pyjamas surrounded by white fluff (usually that means Harley in my lap, and a couple of the others asking for petting at the same time). Tarka, Willie and I had a couple of walks around the neighborhood, with only a couple of scary incidents for Tarka (some noisy roofers, and a little girl running towards us to grab her Dachshund). Jeannee and I did some joint dog-grooming which was quite an efficient way to do it - both tackling one dog at a time. In Ali's case that's because someone has to hold her down. She is not terribly cooperative. Her coat is just like Muddy's was - sticky, easily matted and tangled, and usually full of twigs, seeds, mulch and whatever else she's walked through or lain in. Tarka let Jeannee trim his toenails and brush his belly, and was quite relaxed about it, as long as I was sitting there with them.
We were disappointed that Tarka didn't run around with Harley, but Tarka is a stubborn little rascal and won't do it just because we and Harley suggest he should. He's the same at home in the park - some mornings he seems as if he's not in the mood for play, and then just when we've all stopped trying to persuade him to, off he goes on a mad run with some other dog. Usually about when it's time to go home. He'll probably do the same thing tomorrow morning just before we set off for Apple Creek, just like he did in February when we were here on the way back from Taos. He was quite playful though; he ran around a bit on his own and fetched a ball a few times.
Ali wandered around patroling the yard, again reminding me of Muddy; Jeannee and I think she is becoming more and more like him, and we really do think they may have been related. She is independent as he was....comes to say hello but then goes on her own way, doing what she would be doing if there were nobody else around.
We had a visit from Ali and Harley's lovely dogsitters, Jim and Ruthie. They had heard a lot about Muddy, and were pleased to meet Willie and catch some glimpses of Tarka. He sat in his favorite safe spot here, between the sofa and the wall, but was curious enough to peep out at them. Jeannee and I also picked up her rental car: she didn't get a Subaru as someone had driven the one she booked into a lampost; they gave her a Hyundai Santa Fe which may be too high for Ali to jump into. Fortunately I have a set of folding steps with me which Ali can use to get in. She practiced once and did fine, though was a little disgruntled that Jeannee didn't take her for the promised ride once she got in the car.
Willie was happy with his polar bear choice.
Isabella is very close to Arkansas, and the country around there is green, densely wooded, rolling hills. Muddy always had a great time at Apple Creek, playing in nearby Bull Shoals Lake, wandering around the Apple Creek property, snoozing in the shade, and most of all, sitting outside the restaurant waiting for Bill to emerge from the kitchen with raw sirloin handouts for the dogs! Last year Willie had his first Apple Creek experience and this year Tarka is the rookie.
This year, to break up the journey a bit, Willie, Tarka and I set out a couple of days early. Yesterday we left Chicago and drove to Kansas City, where we are spending two nights with Jeannee, Ali and Harley. Both Willie and Tarka enjoyed being here in February on the way to and from Taos, and we thought it was time we visited in better weather. We'll all drive down to Apple Creek on Friday.
We had an uneventful drive after hitting heavy traffic getting out of Chicago. At times we could see some storms in the distance but we had sun or light clouds all the way, and no rain. I-88 has absolutely NO rest stops (IDOT, we need at least one rest stop between Chicago and Iowa, please) so we took our usual walk and breakfast break at the DeKalb Oasis. Which is very poorly named as there isn't a tree anywhere in sight. There is quite a big expanse of grass though, so we managed to get a decent walk in. Tarka seemed to remember having been there before and was very excited.
Here's our car with the Ask Muddy advertising signs
Willie and Tarka enjoy their breakfast
Willie licks up every crumb....
..and then heads for Tarka's bowl in search of leftovers. Normal behavior for Willie.
We stopped again just before Des Moines and had a good walk in rather hot sunshine. After a while Willie found a patch of shade and plopped down for a rest.
The next few photos are a bit fuzzy as they're phone photos, which are just not very good quality.
Willie had a lovely roll in the grass, with a big smile on his face.
Today, Thursday, we had a very relaxing day here with the Braves. I didn't get many photos but Jeannee took a few of me in my pyjamas surrounded by white fluff (usually that means Harley in my lap, and a couple of the others asking for petting at the same time). Tarka, Willie and I had a couple of walks around the neighborhood, with only a couple of scary incidents for Tarka (some noisy roofers, and a little girl running towards us to grab her Dachshund). Jeannee and I did some joint dog-grooming which was quite an efficient way to do it - both tackling one dog at a time. In Ali's case that's because someone has to hold her down. She is not terribly cooperative. Her coat is just like Muddy's was - sticky, easily matted and tangled, and usually full of twigs, seeds, mulch and whatever else she's walked through or lain in. Tarka let Jeannee trim his toenails and brush his belly, and was quite relaxed about it, as long as I was sitting there with them.
We were disappointed that Tarka didn't run around with Harley, but Tarka is a stubborn little rascal and won't do it just because we and Harley suggest he should. He's the same at home in the park - some mornings he seems as if he's not in the mood for play, and then just when we've all stopped trying to persuade him to, off he goes on a mad run with some other dog. Usually about when it's time to go home. He'll probably do the same thing tomorrow morning just before we set off for Apple Creek, just like he did in February when we were here on the way back from Taos. He was quite playful though; he ran around a bit on his own and fetched a ball a few times.
Ali wandered around patroling the yard, again reminding me of Muddy; Jeannee and I think she is becoming more and more like him, and we really do think they may have been related. She is independent as he was....comes to say hello but then goes on her own way, doing what she would be doing if there were nobody else around.
Willie was also in a playful mood, and enjoyed
choosing a toy to chew on.
choosing a toy to chew on.
We had a visit from Ali and Harley's lovely dogsitters, Jim and Ruthie. They had heard a lot about Muddy, and were pleased to meet Willie and catch some glimpses of Tarka. He sat in his favorite safe spot here, between the sofa and the wall, but was curious enough to peep out at them. Jeannee and I also picked up her rental car: she didn't get a Subaru as someone had driven the one she booked into a lampost; they gave her a Hyundai Santa Fe which may be too high for Ali to jump into. Fortunately I have a set of folding steps with me which Ali can use to get in. She practiced once and did fine, though was a little disgruntled that Jeannee didn't take her for the promised ride once she got in the car.
Willie was happy with his polar bear choice.
Tomorrow morning we set off for Apple Creek. Bill has promised to have the burgers on the grill, and raw steak for the dogs, when we arrive for a late lunch.
The dogs have all put themselves to bed, and it's time for us to do the same.
The dogs have all put themselves to bed, and it's time for us to do the same.
Thanks! We're glad you're enjoying it. We'll be going on a road trip next week Sept 23 so will be blogging about it - come back and follow our adventures!
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