On top of old Smokey...with wine

Kristen, Stanley, Cali and I packed up and headed to Gatlinburg for Mountain Hounds.
Our friend Lin (who owns Smokey seen frequently in this blog) has a cabin in the woods that we used.
Stanley and Cali played Tetris in the back of the sedan for the trip down.
Little doggie porn..
Where's MAH DADDY??
And of course, Kristen and I didn't just drive straight there..c'mon! We stopped at every winery on the way! We took our time. We liked the wineries that allowed dogs inside.
We stopped at Davis ValleyAnd said a brief goodbye to the Blue Ridge MountainsThen on to Abingdon Winery, which is about 2 miles from my Alma mater and was our favorite winery of the trip!Then..we crossed in to Tennessee, a state that isn't known for its wines.
But yes, Tennessee does have ONE good winery that we could fine (and we looked). The Corey Ippolito winery in Blountville. If it weren't for this one..we would have written the whole state off!Ok..now on to Mountain Hounds! One day one, we played greyhound games, ran against the radar, ate great food, ran around a lot and laid in the sunshine!
Cali waits in line for the radar run..the squeaky was taunting her!Stanley runs and clocks 25 mphCali takes 2 turns..the first was 26mph and the second was 29mph.

Brakes!
The pavilion of other greyhounds owners and we got to meet Treasure What You Have as well.Who can eat treats out of a water bowl fastest? Cali was 2ndNotice the bubbles..hysterical. Then she claimed her bowl while waiting for everyone else to finish.Cali wants to go running some more!Ok..now it is time to run!Anyone else notice that big mud puddle in the bottom of that photo? Cali did..Group photo (this wasn't everyone but everyone who had lined up as I walked to the photo)
This was all just too much for one little girl who didn't pace herself
So Kristen and I went back to Lin's cabin for the afternoon to relax a little before the evening's activities. Lin's cabin has a great deck with a beautiful view of the mountains. It is STRAIGHT up to get there, but well worth the trip.and as if you didn't already know..we enjoyed some wine and homemade chips and guacamole from a local Mexican place as well.The cabin and location is great..but there were a lot of creepy bugs. The REALLY creepy ones did not make it to a photo...
We head back down the mountain to Gatlinburg for the night time walk. 100+ greyhounds walking. We wait at the bottom of the hill.And join in as they walk byIt was quite the site.Now, for those of you who have never been to this little part of the world..it is a little different. I can definitely say it isn't my kind of town, but it obviously is someone's! This T-shirt summed it up wellLots of quirky shops with random..stuff. Like this one..you can get breakfast, lunch, dinner and dessert..all at once!But the town welcomed the greyhounds with open arms, hotels and restaurants. So we thank them for their hospitality!
Oddly...as we were walking..I hear "Trina?". It was GreytBlackDog! So we got to meet Seka and Roxie. Cali enjoys her ice cream tooRoxie was stinking cute (so was Seka!)So after a long walk, Stanley and Cali were EXHAUSTED! The next morning, Stanley asked if he could stay in bed a while longer.
But..no. We had a nature hike to do! We walked along the river for over an hour. It was really pretty.
Cali dipped her toes in the cold water, and yes tried to lay down even though it was easily 65 degrees outside.
Then as if they weren't tired enough..to the vending area. Cali got a new collar but I didn't photograph it ..yet.
Kristen, Cali and Stanley pose with GreytBlackDog (aka heather) and Seka!
Needless to say, after this..they pups were done. So we went to a local restaurant and sat outside with them and ate some lunch. Then called it a weekend. We hit a few more wineries on the way home but they only confirmed our first impressions further. ;-(
So 7 hours later, we were home and Cali got what she had been asking for all weekend.
It was a lot of fun. Thanks to everyone who put this great event on. Cali had a wonderful time. Next up..Beach Bound!!!
But first..I must move in 2 1/2 weeks.

Picnic at the winery

It has become a tradition for us. Cooper Winery has an SPCA benefit event every year around Memorial Day. Kristen, Gyeong, Jason and I have started packing a picnic (our style) and enjoying the weather!
this year, my parents came along as well. Kristen and I love this festival b/c we get to use our wine picnic totes! This year we had many different kinds of gourmet cheeses, salamis, bread, crackers, olives, tapenades and fruit...oh and of course Cooper wine and dogs!
Here we are..my dad is on the far left and my mom is in between Kristen and I. The event was bigger this year than in the past, which is a great thing!
we had a great view of the winery.
Here is shot of my tote and the goodies it held!
The goodies brought beggers..The whole ordeal of walking to the blanket, watching people, begging for food and being awake..wore the greyhounds out! Stanley, Jaime and DanaWant to know where Stella is?
Or Cali?Eventually Cali joined the ranks on the bed and sacked out!
Shiloh gets some ear scratchesMy mom brought Truflz
Jaime snuggles with Stanley
Ever notice Dana's white eyelashes? they are so cute. They are especially noticeable against green grass
We had a lot of fun. My parents have learned if they want to see me..they have to come to a greyhound or wine event. ;-)
So..Kristen, Stanley, Cali and I are off to Mountain Hounds in 3 days. I feel sure we will have loads of stories, photos, greyhound loot and two VERY tired hounds when we return!

Fowl weather

The weather has been yucky lately. It is either pouring down rain (constantly) or oddly hot and humid. GPA's picnic had to be canceled this spring. We postponed it once, but then it got rained out completely. we will have something in the fall, but it did suck we weren't able to have it this spring.
But yesterday we had our first ever yard sale. It went really well and we actually made quite a bit of money for a mornings work. I was up at 4:30AM..which is too early. Dana and Cali hung in there with me all morning!
The crew takes a break between customers. Cali gets her snuggles even when Jason isn't there!
and remember Sawyer? He is now Possum and here he is with his new brother, Howard. They are like Mutt and Jeff!
We also had a haul on Saturday. I got one foster for the night and she was adopted today. Her name was Judy Lee Walker. Pretty cute. She has stockings like Pippi!Dana looks thrilled to be sharing her bed, don't you think?
We are also watching Ana and Blue..Amanda and Kenney are on vacation but when they return they will be moving to Pennsylvania. ;-(
The queens share a couch..
What greyhounds do when it is raining and cold outside..Ok..they do that when it is pretty outside too!
But now your are asking..why did Trina misspell Foul..is she loosing it? (or you are going "she misspelled it?" as you look back at the title)
No, I didn't..I was alluding to our new friend at work. Met Gwendolyn the Guinea Hen.

She is one ugly bird. And she someone has managed to take up residence outside my lab. Of all the places, she now lives at the VA hospital research loading docks. We feed her. The hawk is a bit of a nuisance, but she is hanging in there. She is big, VERY loud and we can't seem to catch her to take her to a nice farm. She is one UGLY bird...
I hope to see some people at Mountain Hounds!

Dinner: Impossible

For those of you who are Food Network fans, you know the show Dinner: Impossible. Robert Irvine is the coolest and we love that show. Well, a few weeks ago, Gil asked Jason if he would cook a meal for a party he was throwing to celebrate Tim graduating from nursing school. he was holding it at his church, so the kitchen would be professional quality. Jason couldn't resist. So last night, we did our own version of Dinner: Impossible.
Feed 30 people, 7 dishes in a new kitchen. Go!
Jason found a chef's jacket to make it more realistic.We enlisted help. Mark and Ferrel joined the 'veggie cutting' party. And yes, I helped more than my usual watch from the sidelines with a glass of wine (although we all had a glass of wine nearby). The large pan of cut Brussels sprouts in the foregrounds were my handiwork
Prep over..let the cooking begin!Cool as a cucumber
Like a shot out of the show! Salads prepped and ready to go with the veggies ready to be prepared.
Everyone loved the food. He did a really good job and everything was yummy! And of course, Nerice made a bad ass cake!
Today..the weather is beautiful..so I took everyone outside for one of the last photo shoots in the rectangle. We are watching Pete for the weekend and I have shafted him on photos in the past. So I decided to work on some today.
Pete being handsome
Dana cracks me up when her nose turns sidewaysA bit more glamorous shot of Dana..she glows in the sunshine!Random shot of Cali playing with a toy..Pete thinks he might miss the rectangle yard. And without fail..I am trying to get some good photos and I am suddenly surrounded by greyhounds. Pete follows and we have a snuggle fest in the sunshine. They are saying Happy Mother's Day, I think.
Whether you are a mother to furry or skin kids..Happy Mother's Day!
and I leave you with a foreshadowing shot..The yard to come!
GPA is having a yard sale next Saturday! For those of you in the area, please let me know if you have anything to donate for the cause! And our picnic is next weekend, too! Oh and a wine festival too. I will need a weekend to recover from my weekend!

Change is in the air

So as Dana alluded to in her own special way earlier, we are moving. We put our house on the market in hopes to upgrade and buy our dream home in this buyer's market. But we were ready for the long haul as sellers. I left for a conference and Jason manhandled the hounds for 3 showings (they had to leave for each one..so he piled them in the wagon and drove around). When I returned, there was a bid on the house! We sold it in 2 days..and there were two interested parties. So then..we spent 3 days looking at every available house possible. And ..as luck would have it..3 days later we put a bid on our dream home! timing! So in roughly 1 1/2 months, we will be moving in to this house!Fear not..the yard is big and has LOTS of photographic potential! There are trees! There are no houses behind it..only forest! AND..we are about 5 doors down from Beau and Belle
So there will be lots of photos. The house is very party friendly, with loads of upgrades in the kitchen..and just awesome! We are excited.
So are the kids. (notice the return of the toys!)
Cali gets reassured..
I know..it is sad.
Shiloh and Dana will be the most effected by this move. But we will keep their best interest in mind and they will all be shipped to Kristen's house prior to anything being moved and will return once the beds and dog bowls are properly placed.
And this was irresistible. Dante has a serious padunkadunk butt!
Luckily, there are tons of activities to keep me busy this month. I will not be pining over our new home.