Rays Retreat Ramblings

Life is Good

Its been an absolutely awesome day around Rays Retreat. All my buddies are here and we've been busy (WHOOPS NOT ALL.... forgot Dan was missing.... and everyone else I love). Alot of good Ohio friends are here!

I have hung out watching them work since this morning. In the garage, out by the snowmobile trailers, around the fire.

We even sat around the garage... drinking a beer (hey I had a birthday, remember? .. I'm actually 21 in people years)....

Merrill and I played ball and tug in between the chores.

I was a little miffed when they left me back at the motel while they ran into town, and then out to supper. All's forgiven..............sitting with Merrill and Mike outside tonight.

Life is good.

your pal................................Sparky T. Ray

Who Set The Alarm

Its been a great weekend. We just hung out around the Retreat. Mike and Ann have been busy with yard work, and I've just been busy with my birthday toys.... a good life EXCEPT Saturday morning.... . when we went to bed Fri night Ann told Mike ... "don't be surprised if you don't see us before 9 am.. we are sleeping in" .. and boy, that sounded good to me. .. but at 6 am her alarm went off!!! Who set the the alarm?  (We think it was that stinker, Gizzy, she loves the mornings).. Ann shut if off, and shortly after that, the phone rang.. it was her work bugging us! We were up way too early for a Saturday morning. Ann was awake, and I couldn't talk her into climbing back into bed.
  This is my birthday frisbee... its not as good as my very bestest ever frisbee that my Dan got me years ago.........but it throws, and I catch!

Happy Birthday Sparky T...... a few days late

I was more than a little bummed out earlier this week. November 1st came and went...................; without any special loving, not even a happy birthday! Yeah, Gang, it was my Third Birthday. Ann left that morning with Grandma to take her home and never said a word. Not a kiss, extra pet .. just nothing! . . talk about being taken for granted.

But then today, it happened a surprise party for me. Well, it was just family. Gizzy, Ann and Mike. But who cares, it had presents. I got new toys, new chewies, and extra puparoni. They sang to me, gave me my birthday spanking. Nothing I like better than being spanked.

Three years old. No longer a kid, I am a grown young man..................Sparky T.

Happy Halloween

Ann says I need to stop pouting.... and I'm here to tell you I have not been pouting.... just because so many of you choose to be rather harsh with me... I understand that you all have not had the advantages I have but nor do you have the responsibilities either... its hard being Sparky T. ... but that's okay I love ya all.

We have been on the go this month! Can't believe all the packing/overnight trips we've been making. We had a fun time last weekend. I got to go 'down south' and visit family. Played with Molly and then we brought Molly's mom back up with us, but left Molly! ... very disappointed. But Grandma has played with me and spent lots of time petting me and going on walks with us.. when its not raining.

Rain, Rain, Rain nearly everyday. Sure keeps those humans holed up inside. '

This weekend Dan My Mennonite Man is here. And hey, did I tell you all how surprised I was a few weeks ago when Terry and Julie (from Ohio) surprised us with a visit. They're looking forward to winter too.

We're hoping cold winter weather arrives soon.

-----------------------------------------------------Sparky T. Ray
 

Silver Streak

Here's a pic of Ann's Silver Streak... or her new car. My opinion - its nothing more than a small kennel on wheels. Much too small for me to travel in... my head was bumping on the ceiling, and with it packed for the weekend babysitting, I had just a small area teeter totering trying to keep my balance the whole 60 mile one way trip.

Gizzy gave everyone a scare when she jumped up on the window opener and opened her window all the way down and she nearly climbed out! ... didn't scare me, I said Go for it Gizzy.

Not a pleasant ride at all for this dog. I much prefer the spacious Tahoe or better yet... The Roaming Retreat we travel in that has plenty of room for this big golden boy.

---------------Sparky T. Ray

Babysitting Weekend

We went over to Lake Leelanau this past weekend. Babysitting duties. Its not a duty. I love playing with the girls. Daylen throws a great ball and she's now taking pictures. She took this picture of me just after I got the ball, and decided to sit down and enjoy the green grass. Bourbon is always a fun old girl. Although she sure is moving so much slower than me.
Here's Daylen watching a movie Saturday night, and the 'hog a dogs' gathered around here hoping for a popcorn to fall... Gizzy and Bourbon, always looking for their next snack.

It was a bit chilly outside. These girls are outdoor girls. And Saturday they worked on painting boxes to store their summer clothes in, looked very messy to me, and I think Ann had quite a job cleaning them all up without getting more paint inside the house.

Here's Miss Princess on the couch overseeing   Bourbon, Grandpa Michigan, Gizzy, Chandler, and myself watching Daylen and Ann. Those two were always up to something. I tried to keep up with them!... while the rest of those in this picture were content to observe us.

This picture is blurry... but you can see I am taking our babysitting responsibilities serious... standing patiently at the foot of the stairs to watch the little one get safely up the steps before I bound up to join them.

...............................................................Sparky T. Ray

First Snowflake

Hey guys... I think I see snow coming... I can feel it, sniff it in the air.

It is!!! It is our first snow.

That is beautiful snow............of course it isn't sticking, and it didn't last long. Nothing better than a first snowflake on your tongue. Hope you catched a few.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------Sparky T. Ray

Daydreaming

The weather wasn't all that great while we were on vacation, but it was nicer than this day after day of rain we've been having since being home. So I've been going thru the pictures and daydreaming about being on the beach.
yeah, there's cute little Gizzy just in from a brisk run out on the beach... she had to wear a coat or sweater most everyday. Pansy!
And here she is... crazy piggy she is... rolling in the sand...
Here's why Ann was walking the beach... picking up these rocks, stones, agates, whatever... stuffing them into her pockets until they overflowed and she had to huff and puff getting back up the stairs to the campgrounds.

I am mean to live on the beach. I never feel so free to be my golden rambuctious self as when I can race along the shoreline. Zipping in and out of the surf.

-------------------------------------------------------Sparky T. Ray

Vacation isn't all fun

We just got home from our fall vacation. Its not all that easy... taking a vacation though. Someone has to do the driving you know, and that someone is Mike with me right by his side. I am the copilot, the Sparky GPS (Dan .. you are so right! I tell him to turn here, stop and slow down, Hey! watch those rumble strips). After a full day of driving I am totally exhausted. I never sit down! Never. I stand right next to Mike helping him navigate. Every few minutes I will patrol down the aisle back through the camper and back up to my command post. I am checking to make sure everything is still in place. When nightime comes and we set up camp, I am the first one to bed and sound asleep. Standing all day is hard work.

Here Mike and I noticed there was alot of tree limbs broken and down which would make great kindling for our fire. I am pointint it out to him and he's picking it up. Where are Ann and Gizzy? Off just enjoying a carefree walk. They leave all the hard work to us guys.

=================================Sparky T. Ray=======================================

Awwwwwwwwwwwww isn't she cute

 Ann wrote the title for this post. Not me! ... because I really don't think she's all that cute. But Ann informs me she really is. At least she's clean here, picture was taken morning after our baths.

I was in a really grumpy mood yesterday. Mike and Ann left at 1130 am, and didn't get home until 930 pm, isn't that animal neglect? Our supper was hours late, and our bladders full, full full! We zipped out that back door and stood for awhile! ...ahhhh, felt so good letting it go.

At least supper was worth the wait. I'm a sensitive fellow and I've had it pretty good past two weeks. Dealing with sensitive skin and stomach issues. That's why the baths, lotions and massages. She's also making me my own special dog food (and yes I have to share with Gizzy) chicken, brown rice and carrots. with chicken broth.. Yum Yum Good! Makes up for their neglect yesterday.

-------------------------------------------------------------------Sparky T Ray