Standard Parti Poodle Puppy Retreiving

Here is a video of my standard parti poodle puppy retrieving. Named Schatzie, German for sweetheart, this was taken May 24th, 2009 after his first full bath. He is a parti poodle. This means he is partly one color and partly another. They are German dogs bred to be in the water retrieving as he is demonstrating here in my front yard in Leander, Texas. Many people do not know that this coloration exists in purebred poodles because poodle clubs began disqualifying parti colored poodles some time ago. The parti poodle can not be shown in AKC conformation classes. However, they can be shown in UKC conformation classes. Parti poodles are now experiencing a comeback. I think they are beautiful and remind me of paint horses. I had a black standard poodle years ago. A great dog, super smart, obedient and calm. I had him out on the farm. People were not real familiar with standard poodles so I'd tease them that I fed him Miracle Grow. What I like about poodles is that they are hypoallergenic as far as that goes in dogs. Poodles don't shed per se. They do shed but the hair stays in their coat. Hence they need brusing but they don't get tons of loose hair all over like many long haired breeds do.

Schatzie's was a planned birth. Please neuter and spay your dogs (and cats) and encourage others to do so if they do not intend to breed, show, etc. There are free & low cost clinics in the Austin, Texas area. Let's have planned cats and dogs and cut down on or eliminate unplanned, unwanted pregnancies that result in homeless animals, overburdened shelters & numerous animals being euthanized because they can't find homes. I have adopted many abandoned and homeless animals. Our German Shepherd "Keeton" was left tied to a tree when his owners moved away. We found him through Blue Dog Rescue.

Organic Artichoke Plant

This is a picture of my organic artichoke plant budding out in my organic front yard garden in Leander, Texas. Yes, I do own the book Edible Estates: Attack on the Front Lawn and my front and back lawns have been extremely minimized. I planted artichokes in one of my front yard garden beds & am so happy it is finally bearing fruit!! I am a Native Texan and after almost a lifetime of gardening in Texas this is my first time growing artichokes. I just never have run accross plants for sale until I saw this at a local nursery in Leander a couple of years ago. I love to eat them- they are a delicacy. I hardly ever get sick, but when I have over the past decade, I have found that I get a craving for artichokes and eat a steamed one while soaking in my garden tub! LOL They seem to have a curative power over me! Ahhh, the magically delicious and delectable globe artichoke! I want more in my life and in my garden.