I was working in my office this morning on the second floor of the "people wing" of the house when I heard a "thud!" from the living room below, and then the sound of magazines and books hitting the floor. I hurried down the stairs and that's what I found waiting for me: our two blind Poodles, Molly and Priscilla, both trying to fit in the same chair. One of them -- Priscilla, I suspect -- had clearly leaped into it, pushing it back and knocking things off the end table and on to the floor.
If the girls appear a bit different, it's because I opted for a "no muff, no fluff" hair-do at their new groomer here in New Hampshire a couple of weeks ago. When they first came to us back in 2008, they were beautifully groomed and had the fluffy ears and the "mop top," so that's what I had the groomers in Montana continue to do. But new state, new look! It's sleeker and more natural looking, and the girls seem to like it this way.
That chair is usually what blind Widget sleeps in during the day, and while I was taking the photos of the two sisters, Widget came over to assess the situation:
She couldn't quite believe that not only was there another dog in her chair, there were two dogs in her chair, which really puzzled her, so she came up for a closer inspection:
She must have decided that looming wasn't a good option in this case, and turned back:
Leaving the two girls looking, well, still a bit crowded:
The stair-step ramp in the foreground is a new one we just purchased to help the smaller dogs like Widget and the Dachshunds get in those chairs without having to jump up or down. Our old ones were made of styrofoam which inevitably got chewed up. This new ramp is the perfect height, but because Priscilla pushed the chair back so far, the camera angle makes the ramp look higher than it really is. Needless to say, it would have been far more graceful if Priscilla had actually used the ramp instead of leaping into the chair!
---
Please keep voting for the sanctuary in the Shelter Challenge -- as of Tuesday morning, we were already at No. 10 nationwide and No. 1 in New Hampshire! And remember, you can vote every day, so consider bookmarking the voting page to make it easy.
You can vote in the Shelter Challenge here.
Please note: Use Rolling Dog Ranch for our name and NH for the state and our listing will come up.
It was thanks to all of your amazing votes that we won the $20,000 Grand Prize in the final Shelter Challenge of 2009, and we came in fourth nationwide in the first Shelter Challenge earlier this year, winning $3,000. So this is serious money and can really make a difference for our disabled animals! Please help us win this round of the contest by voting every day, and by encouraging your family, friends and colleagues to vote every day, too. Thank you!
ha! I had no idea that was Priscilla & Molly! Every girl needs a new look now & then! So like you said new place, new look! And, if they seem more comfortable w/ the "new do" than that is all that matters.
The looks on their faces is priceless in the 1st pic. As if to say.."we have no idea how this mess was created. We are ladies."
And, of course, Widget checking out her "reserved" spot is hilarious!
Love the step stools!
Voting every day!!
Posted by: Colleen & In Memory of Sweet Kitty Erin | September 23, 2010 at 03:10 PM
Those pics sure brought a smile to my face. I just love when the dogs think they need to be in the same place at the same time. They are quite resourceful!
I like the new haircuts, they are nice and neat!
Posted by: Ann | September 23, 2010 at 03:05 AM
And what does Trooper think of the new look that the girls are sporting? I would think his opinion might factor in! :-)
We sure miss you all back here in Montana!! :-(
Posted by: Cassie Betz | September 22, 2010 at 09:30 PM
I liked the 'old' haircuts better, but whatever works is fine. They looked more like Poodles with their top knot.
Posted by: MaryJane | September 22, 2010 at 08:56 PM
The girls look like fashionettas - I love the new do.
Posted by: Janet A | September 22, 2010 at 08:28 PM
Well, I hope they can get a bit more comfortable after that jumping effort! Their new hairdos look great. And Widget might need some looming withdrawal techniques. Next, she might be looming over you and Alayne while you are eating dinner.
Posted by: Angela | September 22, 2010 at 01:06 PM
I don't want to offend anyone however Standard Poodles need a top knot and the ears too. Standard poodles were a hunting working dog and the "clips" were designed to protect them in the field. I share my world with 8 dog breeds and our Standard Poodle is our most athletic dog . The leader of the pack. We much prefer the Montana Ranch clip. We also are on a small farm, with horses, donkeys, goats, chickens, dogs, and cats.
Posted by: Oregon27+18 | September 22, 2010 at 12:26 PM
I liked the other "do" better but they'd be beautiful with bags over their heads! Widget should have given them "The Look". It wouldn't have changed the outcome, but her dignity would have been intact.
Posted by: Kathleen Rivard | September 22, 2010 at 12:07 PM
You can vote more than once on the same computer by using different web browsers. (I vote on Safari and Firefox on the same computer for a total of two votes.)
Go RDR!!! (Molly and Priscilla make great mascots.)
Posted by: Peggy | September 22, 2010 at 10:37 AM
Hi RDR fans! Is anyone else having trouble voting today, Sept 22?
Posted by: Nancy Longfield | September 22, 2010 at 09:04 AM
Those pix started off my day just right!
I have bookmarked the challenge and have remembered to vote every day so far.
Posted by: Shelagh | September 22, 2010 at 08:38 AM
Girls the new "do" is great looking!!! Love that Widget
Posted by: gayle | September 22, 2010 at 08:30 AM
LOVE the new look....much more attractive!
Posted by: Debbie | September 22, 2010 at 08:20 AM
I didn't recognize them either but like the new look. They look like dogs now!
"I wonder if other dogs think poodles are members of a weird religious cult."—Rita Rudner
Re: voting—if you use different browsers you can also vote more than once. It only knows you've already voted because it stores a "cookie" on you computer. That goes away when the browser is shut down.
Posted by: Lynne Parker | September 22, 2010 at 07:35 AM
I didn't recognize the poodle sisters because of their new 'dos! But I like the new look. It's sporty and cute. I also like the way they look as they try to share that chair.
Posted by: Moon Rani | September 22, 2010 at 01:26 AM
Such devoted sisters!! Too cute!!
Posted by: Shirley * James/Portland, OR | September 22, 2010 at 01:20 AM
This is so funny. Even Widget giving up on the situation is a change. "If those two crazy sisters are in my chair, it's hopeless!" Thanks for sharing the various photos, as Molly and Prescilla don't seem to be even remotely thinking about moving for Widget or anything else. They are there for the duration. I like their "Hairdos" this way.
Big hugs all around,
ginger, Tobias & Tlingit
Posted by: ginger | September 21, 2010 at 06:49 PM
RDR is now #10 in the vote for the cash.....keep voting....if you use different computers, you can vote more than once per day.
Molly and Pris look very cute with their new haircuts!!!!!
Posted by: Marla in Kansas City | September 21, 2010 at 06:12 PM