First try at photo - ignore this

troutman

Elvis and the ever-present tennis ball:



Food porn starts here:



That's all, folks.

Judy Mayberry

Sorry, I can't ignore that beautiful dog! He looks like he's really sizing you up.

But that pot of something, looks like what's left of stubby hand bones reaching out, like "Save me, save me!" What is it??????

Judy

troutman

That is Elvis, worlds greatest BBQ companion and ball fetcher. He loves the Egg, especially the low and slow cooks which gives us more time for ball.

Stubby hand bones? Now Judy, is that really the kind of thoughts a former copy editor should be having? And from Mayberry at that? Andy and Opie would be horrified, not to mention Aunt Bea!

Actually those are smoked turkey legs. You can view my first photo masterpiece (I'm so proud and so surprised the photos actually made an appearance) here:

http://www.eggheadforum.com/index.php?option=com_simpleboard&func=view&id=722190&catid=1

Thanks for looking. I've had eight Golden Retrievers in my lifetime so far and Elvis is becoming one of the best, if not the best. Loves life, loves his family, and is respectful of everything except quail and bunnies. Humans can learn a lot from that, I think.

Judy Mayberry

Scott:
So it was BEANS! Really looked delish at the end there.

One of my granddogs is a Golden, Pandora, 10, and she's much adored. She loves swimming in her family's pool...Burbank is probably as hot as Scottsdale this summer. She's a big licker/kisser and makes throaty human sounds when she gets loved on.

Isn't having a day to yourself to Egg the most fun? I loved the description of the adolescents typical vacuuming and departing while mumbling; it's a universal.

Loved your pictures.

Judy

troutman

Judy, thanks. I'm a bit intimmiddated conversing with you, afraid, that I'll spell a word wrong. Just let me know if my grammar aren't okay.

I trained Elvis when he was a little bitty guy to not go in our pool, so he doesn't swim except when he falls in. We have an older golden, Sadie, that is approaching the end. I've found that getting a puppy when your dog gets a bit older and lethargic helps in two ways. The older dog sort of trains the puppy, and the older dog definitely lives longer because they are much more active playing with the insistent puppy. I think Elvis is my eighth Golden and may be turning into my best dog. They both are "talkers" when they are happy (most of the time) and you love on them. Just a great breed, good with kids and you never have to worry about them harming anyone.

The beans were great, just a bit spicy for everyone else. That recipe is a definite do-over, just with less chile powder.

I'm in/out of Burbank frequently for work, and you guys have had a hot summer. Have a great weekend, and thanks for the kind words.

Anybody that says good things about my dogs is automatically promoted to my "good guy/girl" list.

Judy Mayberry

PROUD to be on that list, and we'll forget about the spelling stuff now, OK? You're perfectly literate as we all can tell.

I'm in San Diego, but the daughter with the Golden is in Burbank, daughter with two Newfoundlands, a Great Pyrenees, and a St. Bernard is in Malibu, daughter with 10-month-old Newfy ( a pony already) is here in San Diego. Another daughter in WA is dog-free, and her 7-year-old is scared of big dogs. Go figure.

Judy
San Diego

TXTriker

Hey Scott. That tennis ball reminds me of something my mom told me many years ago. Of course she was applying it to marriage, but she said, "Don't ever start anything you don't plan to keep up."

Now go [ul]throw[/ul] that ball. :cheer:

troutman

Hey Judy, you have a lot to be proud of with that family you described. My first thought, given that Elvis and I live in a house full of ladies, is how did your husband do it? That is a lot of strong opinions under one roof.

I heard a great saying the other day at the gym. We've all heard the one about "When Momma ain't happy nobody's happy!". Someone told me they had gotten a companion poster to that one that said "And when Daddy ain't happy nobody cares!". I liked that one.

I am convinced that dogs enrich your life, and also believe that they are important for kids. My dogs are cared for by my kids (house rules), feeding, watering, bathing, go with me to the vet, etc. It helps them learn their responsibilities at an early age.

I have a neighbor who is like another daughter to us. She is the same age as my 13-year old (thinks she's 30) and was really afraid of dogs when we moved here about 7 years ago. We got Elvis as a little pup and managed to get her to help raise him. She now has a dog of her own.

Enough speech, I appreciate all your kind words. Interestingly, I now know how to get great conversations going here. Just post something with the subject of "ignore this". Ha!

God bless. - Scott

troutman

Hey Ray, that is the truth. That dog will fetch a ball in 110+ degree heat until my arm falls off, and then comes in the house, gets a toy, and wants the kids to throw it to him. He would rather play ball that eat or breathe.

Hope your weekend is going as great as mine. - Scott

Judy Mayberry

Scott:

Delightful post! I understand what your life is like in "a house full of ladies" and you bear it with grace and wit.

I hope we'll get to meet some day at an Egg Fest. I'm going to my first one next Saturday, the SoCal Fest in Upland, CA. And I'm going to Atlanta, my first biggie fest. Quite a festive year, I must say.

Judy
San Diego