Animal Farm

It wouldn't be a blog about going home if I didn't feature all the pets. I'll keep it brief.

Scooter Loves Buster. Buster doesn't know that Scooter exists. Mom calls Scooter 'Buster's sucker fish'. They DO match.




Emma's glamor shots:




Cat Party! Our cats (and Will's cat and Mom and Dad's cats) could be in one of those kitty litter commercials where there are a million cats hanging out while the owners are in town. Except, unlike the commercials, our cats leave evidence of their mass existence everywhere they go (mostly through the sheer amount of cat hair that they generate).


Scooter and Chowder snuggle up:


We did abandon them, but none of our American pets seem to be very upset about it, I have to say. Our cats were happy to see me, at least!

Tallulah

After all the fun with Billy Bob teeth, it was time to go home for a while. It's always relaxing and animal friendly on the farm. The nightly dog walking ritual was fun for all.


Mom and Buster were far ahead of the (human) pack.


Picture time with Kate and Dad:


The possibilities are endless if you can figure out how to get past the confines of the leash. Sadly, some members of the family have proven many times that they can't be trusted off leash. Sorry Buster.


First the only dog who has to stay on the leash and then this humiliating picture. Had he been more cooperative on the ground, he would have looked more civilized.


Larry knows how to pose for a picture (and go for a walk off leash without disappearing into the sunset)!

Atlanta

After Cleveland, we went to visit Kate and Andy at their new house in Decatur, GA. Atlanta was off in the distance, but we mostly just hung around the house doing exciting things like:

Making drinks


Relaxing with a book


Being happy


Having important conversations


Practicing good oral hygiene


And keeping in touch with Jim throughout via the World Wide Web!

All around America

Now that we live in London, America is an international destination! My solo trip to America started with a visit to Cleveland, where Mom and the Shug met me at the airport. My trip over was dominated by armrest hoggers and people who insisted on grabbing onto the back of my seat to hoist themselves up. So, I was VERY happy to be off the plane and with my family!

We headed straight out to VA and Grandpa's where I said hello and then promptly took a much needed nap before we went out for half priced burgers. Unfortunately I was still jet lagged and forgot to take pictures of the half priced burgers, but they were good. There are many British foods that I enjoy, but the British hamburger is not one of them. It was great to have some big ole American burgers and fries as soon as I got there!

The next day, after the requisite visit to Target and a visit to the grocery store, where a grumpy old lady was rude to me, we celebrated Grandpa's 87th birthday! It was festive if a bit fractured.


The Shug was there


And so was Mom and, of course, her constant companion Buster the Traveling Wonderdog.
I like to think he's still our dog, but he's not. He did consent to posing with me for this picture, despite his new god-like status. (in motels, food is ordered in so that Buster is not left alone. And Buster ALWAYS goes on trips. He is a lucky dog! It's no wonder he prefers Mom to me.)


Buster also works his charms on Virginia. She's almost as big of a pushover as Mom.


It took a while, but Grandpa opened his presents. He found the presents I got for him (chocolate) before I was able to wrap them up. He's fast when there are grocery bags around. In addition to chocolate, he got some nice shirts and some new shoes.


The cake was festive and Grandpa blew all the candles out (there were not 87 of them).


It was a happy day and Grandpa was so excited by it all that he stayed up all night continuing the celebrations. We left the next morning and headed to Atlanta.