Me in the garden guarding mummy

Greetings loyal readers.  As I have said before it has been very quiet at home.  Daddy is in Wellington.  Sister and brother are at school and mummy is at work.  Our auntie is coming home from Ro-man-nia today.  Me and Nellie do not know where this place is but mummy says it is cold and far, far away.  When our family are out for the day they put Me and Nellie in the old grass tennis court.  It is like a giant play pen.  From there Me and Nellie can keep an eye on Farmer Rae and also the cows.  Mummy was glad to find her pink gardening shoes in the tennis court.  She had been missing them for a couple of days and had wondered where they had got to.  She did ask Nellie if she knew where they had possibly got to, but Nellie just looked adorable and wagged her tail. If, the gate to the tennis court is not securely shut Nellie is clever and can wiggle her way out.  I cannot because I am too big.  It is not fair that Nellie gets to run around free and I am trapped in the tennis court.  I am always happy to see my family at the end of the day. Mummy was telling Me and Nellie that there is discussion in the maremma community about how maremmas have to protect their flocks.  It is true and fitting and proper that We maremmas have to look after and guide our flock.  In my case my flock is my mummy and I HAVE to be with her at all times.  Sometimes she does not want Me and shuts Me out of the house.  When this happens I have to sit on the deck and make pathetic wimpering sounds until someone comes and lets me inside.  At night I have to bark to warn mummy that there is danger out there.  When mummy is out in the garden I have to be with her at all times.  Sometimes this is not easy especially when it is hot and she is moving around the garden doing things. I have to get up and move with her.  Sometimes I wish she would stay in one place long enough for Me to have a little snooze.   Sometimes I help her by indulging in a little diggy dog digging myself.  For some reason I always seem to get told off.  I do not understand why.  Am I not a helpful little dog. Nellie comes out sometimes but she likes to stay inside where it is nice and cool and snooze on kitchen tile floor.   Off I go as Me and Nellie think there is someone over at the cottage and We must let them know We are there watching them. Love Nellie and Jasper

Nellie hiding in the garden after being told off.

Greetings loyal readers and fellow maremmas.  You might have noticed that Me and Nellie have not posted any blog for a day or two.  It is because We have been on such good behaviour that mummy has not had anything to write about. We have not chased any chickens or put our heads in the rabbit cage.  We have not gone for any walkabouts over to Farmer Rae’s paddocks. We were big and brave and chased away the dangerous top dressing plane that was flying over.  All in all We have been such good maremmas.  And then yesterday happened.  Daddy was telling mummy when she got home from work how he had decided to make himself a steak sandwich for lunch.  He got the steak out of the freezer and had left it on the kitchen bench.  Well, he got distracted making himself a cup of tea and he turned around there was a white mareema with paws on the bench just finishing off his steak.  And guess what fellow maremmas it was not ME.  It was Nellie. For some reason Nellie didn’t get told off as I do.  Daddy just told her she was a naughty dog and to go to her bed.  When I got caught eating my brother’s steak I got tied up and went without my breakfast.  It is not fair.  You can read by my naughty behaviour in the following blog.

http://jaspersdoggyworld.wordpress.com/2011/11/26/scence-of-the-crime/

Off Me and Nellie go.  We think those peasky chickens might be trying to eat our morning dinner and We must be there to protect our biscuits. Love Nellie and Jasper.

Me looking my usual adorable self

Me on the deck

Greetings loyal readers.  Today I had an adventure.  I had to go back to the VET!!! for the removal of my staples.  I was such a good dog.  Then I went for a walk down to the river market.  People stopped and admired Me as they should. It is fitting and correct that I am admired, after all am I not the most handsome maremma around.  Daddy said I was so good and well-behaved.  You can read about river traders in the following link: http://www.therivertraders.co.nz

Then I went to see my brother at school and daddy left me there so he could go and get some groceries.  Most important that he goes and get some more dog food for Me and Nellie.  While I was at school more people came and patted Me and said I was so cute and adorable.  A girl said she thought I looked like a wolf.  That is not right.  I look like a polar bear.  Everyone knows that.  It was such a good day that Daddy said he thought maybe next week Me and Nellie could go to the beach.  I have been there before and it is such fun.  Unfortunately no one remembered to take any photos of my triumphant day in town. Mummy is trying to take photos of the native wood pigeons that live around the house but they are too quick and fly away before she can get the camera out.  Mummy is feeling very sorry for herself as she got stung by two wasps yesterday and her arms have swollen. Nothing too serious but nevertheless she is feeling very sore.  Off Me and Nellie go.  It is very warm and we need to have a rest on the cool tile floor in the kitchen.  Love Nellie and Jasper.

Forest eating a grapefruit

Me having a good old sniff out in the paddock

Me and Nellie supervising mummy in the garden

Nellie with a shoe

Greetings loyal readers and fellow maremmas.  Mummy was telling daddy that the neighbour rung yesterday and had asked mummy if she had seen their pig called Piggy Wiggy.  Mummy said no she had not seen a rather large pig around the property. But she would keep an eye out for it.  The neighbour said that Piggy Wiggy was off to that great piggery in the sky called their freezer, but before the man in the truck arrived Piggy Wiggy disappeared.    Me and Nellie were shocked to hear this.  Maybe that is where Bubba has gone.  We have not seen him since he went down to Farmer Rae’s orchard for a holiday.  We asked Forest the cow but he did not know.  He said that the last time he saw Bubba was when a large truck appeared down the driveway to the orchard and Bubba disappeared, never to be seen again.   Maybe that is why our family keep talking about a Bubba-que.  We hope not.  We liked Bubba the cow.  Most perplexing. Daddy now seems to have an never ending supply of bones.  The bones are very yummy and tasty but Me and Nellie wonder where they come from.  Off We as it is about time for our evening dinner and We wouldn’t like to me late now would we.  Love Jasper and Nellie to two bestest maremmas in the land.

Me with Sponge Bob Square Pants.

A cow under the apple tree in the orchard

Greetings loyal readers and fellow maremma.  Today our brother got a lesson in one of the basics of country living.  Shut the gate after you.  When him and mummy got home from work there in the orchard, along with the chicken who were wanting their dinner were three cows.  Brother had left the gate fron the kitchen garden to the cow paddock open this morning and the three cows had wandered through to the house garden and orchard during the day and were making themselves at home eating apples off the apple tree. Needless to say it took mummy and brother sometime to get the cows back to their rightful paddock.  Of course Me and Nellie were of great help and assistance.  We helped chasing the cows all over the section.   Today auntie rung mummy from Istanbul.  Again Me and Nellie do not know of where this place is but mummy says that it is far, far away and it would be too hot for Us.  Off Me and Nellie go as it is time for our evening snooze in front of the TV in order to prepare Us for our evening nap.

Naughty cows in the kitchen garden

Oscar and Forest on the driveway

The fallen over plum tree

They were picking fruit to take to Wellington for a friend to make into yummy jam and chutney. Mummy was out this morning taking photos of Us in the garden.

Mummy put a new thing on my blog which lets her know the geographical location of people looking at my blog.  I am pleased to say someone from Russia visited Me and Nellie.  We do not know where Russia is but mummy says it is very cold there and it is far, far away.  It is a coincident but our auntie is in Russia skiing and she took this picture of a russian cat in the ski field she is staying at.   Someone from California also came and visited Me and Nellie.  Isn’t that exciting.  We will soon be world famous in sunny Mangamahu.

A Russian Cat

Mummy is still not very good at working out how to put photos on our blog.  She says she will have to ask one of our siblings to help her. Sometime.  Don’t Me and Nellie look so cute and adorable.  Mummy says I am getting so much better after my accident.

Off Me and Nellie go.  Mummy is about to spray her roses and We must be there to guard her. Love Jasper and Nellie.

The house garden

Me and Nellie in the house garden helping mummy

Jasper in the sunshine

Greetings loyal readers and fellow maremmas.  Our family were talking about what means to have a maremma living in your household:

It means that you will never get unannounced visitors.  Jehovah Witness and Mormons will not visit you. No one will come down your driveway without being greeted with a chorus of barking and frenzy behaviour and for some reason visitors do not seem to want to venture any further.

It means having to explain to visiting tradesman that please don’t take it personally but my dog does have a desire to tear you from limb to limb. But that’s Ok I’ll just lock him up in the bathroom while you go about your business.

It means never being able to have a conversation with your neighbour over the fence because you can’t be heard over the loud barking.

It means your neighbour building a 6 foot high fence so they do not have to talk/see to you and your dogs.

It means you are well-known in the neighbourhood, even though no one talks to you, that you have two very large white dogs that bark a lot.

It means you will never not need a vacuum cleaner to vacuum up all that white snowy fur that seems to cascade down all over the carpet.

It means that all the photos on your phone are not of your children but of your dogs, because they are being so cute and you just have to take one more picture for prosperity.

It means you will always know when a dangerous hedgehog is out and about because you will hear all about it due to their excessive barking.

It means you will never be alone in the garden because you will always be accompanied by two furry lumps with an enduring nack of getting in your way every time you turn around.

It means you will be well versed in the art of moon howling because you will hear it many times.

It means you have two dogs that will love you unconditionally and will love you more if you have a tasty snack in the offering.

Love Nellie and Jasper the two bestest maremmas in the land.

Me and Nellie keeping an eye out for visitors

Me looking cute!!

When Jasper returned he was not the same and I tried to engage him in some diggy dog play but my family told me to leave Jasper alone.  I didn’t know what to do, I was so lonely.   Next thing I know Jasper has been getting more attention and pats than Me and not to mention the amount of food he has been getting. It is not fair after all Jasper is not the only cute and adorable maremma in the family.  But I must be brave for Jasper sake.  I am glad to say he is getting better and today We indulged a little play fight.  Mummy says we shouldn’t play so rough but she is so glad that We are playing together that she overlooks our naughty behaviour.  Today is the day that our siblings go back to school.  We will be sad because We will miss them.  Love Nellie and Jasper.

Jasper on the bed after his accident

Me before the accident looking very annoyed because no one would let Me inside

Greeting loyal readers and followers.  I am feeling much better.  Thank you all for your kind comments about my posts on my blog.  That peasky white object has been appearing in my dinner again.  First it was in a piece of steak and I didn’t notice it until it fell out on the deck.  As you can guess I did not eat it. Then it appeared in a piece of salami.  A while later that peasky white thing appeared in my dog roll and as you can guess again I did not eat it.  Aren’t I such a cleaver maremma.  My life now is being refeered to as pre-accident and post accident.

Today is the 60th annual Mangamahu Horse sports show and my family are going to go and have a look.  All morning lots of horse floats have been passing by our house.  Me and Nellie have been so good and we have not barked at any of them. Mummy says I still can’t be feeling 100% because normally We would have chased them all away.  You can read all about it on the following link.

http://mangamahu.com/index.htm

My sister is busy transferring over 3,000 photo she has taken onto her new drive that she got from Father Christmas.  Me and Nellie didn’t get anything from Father Christmas but mummy says every day in our lives is a christmas day because we have such a good life.  Off Me and Nellie go.  Daddy will be home soon and We must be at the gate to greet him.

Me under the desk in the study. A place I would NEVER have been able to sleep before the accident.

Me recovering nicely

Greetings loyal readers and fellow maremmas.  I am better.  My mummy says I am not out of the woods yet and there is still a risk of my skin and flesh rotting and falling off due to the serve bruising I received when I was run over by the trailer but nevertheless I am feeling much more like my ususal self.  For today I even indulged in a little diggy dog digging and dug some more holes in mummy’s lawn.  She did not say anything when she saw the holes.  Normally she would would have muttered something about bad maremma behaviour but today she just walked away.  The vet said I was not allowed to run around too much so mummy is keeping Me close to her. The upshot of this is Me and Nellie are allowed in parts of the house we are not normally allowed in. I have been allowed in to the study and have been allowed to sleep under the desk in the study.  Such a comfortable place.  My sister was naughty and was teaching Nellie about how soft and warm beds are.  She did say that when daddy gets home next week We will not be allowed to be in the bed rooms again but in the mean time Me and Nellie will enjoy our new life of luxuary.  Love Jasper and Nellie who are off to have a little snooze after our morning dinner.  I must tell you all out there in maremma land about this white object that is still appearing in my dinner.

Nellie being naughty with a shoe