More Last Day Pics
 

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Aww Yodi chased the baby ducks in the water!

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Swim Away before she eats you!!

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OH they are so close!

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Closer!! Closer!!!

Last pics @ Towne Lake
 

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Oh she found a BIG duck!

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Im not sure she should have turned her back!!!

Oh wait, I lied... last two now!

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Martin and Yodi takin a break. It was HOT!


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Sam let her sit close to him while he took a break. He was tooo tired to try and eat her.

More of Sam's favorite things!


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Whew! It was HOT, they had to have a drink.


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Sharing a cheese roll-up from Taco Bell

Petsmart, one of his favorite stores


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Think they should live here???


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Nana was pushin us in the shopping buggy!

His 2nd favorite store, $ General in town!

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The famous pigs at our local B&B, Sam likes to kill them everytime we pass'em
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Sam likes to go to our local Farmers Market on Saturday Mornings. They love Sam there. We walk in and all the vendors say... HI SAM!!!!

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And his last favorite place..... SONIC!!!!!!!!

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These are all of the pictures for now! We loved having Yodi. I have a *few* pics of her at work today but forgot my camera. I will upload those tomorrow.

Thank you for letting us participate in Yodi's Adventures. Even despite all of the weird looks, it was SO much fun!!!!

Here are the last 4 pics of Yodi's stay with me. I took her to work!!!


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We let her take a conference call so we could take a break!

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Cheez'n with my buddy, Stacy


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And again with LaTanya


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And on the stairs!




I want to thank Moosie's Mom for the goodies that she sent me and Sam. Such cute items, and Sam loves those treats!!! Thank you so much!!!

So now we're to the point you wer interested in all along...

Yodi's close encounter with Taffy the sweet little baby turned demon. In her defense I must remind you that she is an only child and has never had to share hence she doesn't think she has to. In fact, she loves for us to play with her but she doesn't want to give us back the ball or toy so that we can toss it again. She's definitely a diva but until this afternoon, I had not realized the demon that lived within the spoiled little princes
Picture One: She's fine with the box. Her last experience with a box she could reach was the GE so she's already in her "gimme" mode before I even get the paper completely removed.

Picture Two: She's a little shocked at seeing another Yorkie resting there in the box and really doesn't understand (nor like) my oohs and ahhs over the new arrival.

Picture Three: It may be a dog thing but it's not proper ladylike behavior for a Southern girl to sniff at another's unmentionables. I was a bit taken aback at Taffy's "scratch and sniff" approach to our guest. Obviously we need more than a refresher course on Manners 101.

After taking Miss Taffy aside and scolding her in my best Southern schoolteacher manner, I was sure she would be on her best behavior and I assured Yodi that yes we were indeed so glad we were chosen as her new host family. Yes, indeed, it was our honor and we are going to have a great time showing her around Jackson.

Picture 4: Taffy is finally acting like the sweet Southern little lady she is. Why I can just tell she's just getting so close to her and kissing her on the cheek in that European style. (Now we don't normally do that. We're more the hugging type but I did remind Taffy that Yodi is from Europe and might expect that air kissy thing.)

Picture 5: Now Taffy is whispering sweet things in Yodi's ears. I just knew she'd love to have a sister. Why she's already sharing secrets and plans for the things they are going to do together! How sweet...bless her heart, Taffy can be a sweet thing when she tries.

Picture 6: Oh dear! Oh dear! Why is Yodi giving me such a look of total panic? I do declare I can read it on the girl's face! Turns out Taffy wasn't whispering sweet things in her ear. She was telling Yodi that she had better not touch her toys or else! And she told her that no one likes a tattletale! Oh me, time to rescue poor Yodi.

I separate my terror from a shocked Yodi and while I'm comforting Yodi from her fright, Taffy does a bit more inspection on the box. However, I could tell she was eavesdropping as I talked to Yodi. Then I told Miss Priss (AKA Taffy) that she was to apologize and be nice while I tried to protect the contents of the box from the gnawing teether Taffy has become.

Picture 7: Taffy's snooping while I comfort our little guest.

Picture 8: I persuade Taffy to be nice and dust off her manners.

Picture 9: While I thought Taffy was finally showing her gentle side, she was actually nipping poor Yodi's ear and threatening her traumatizing poor Yodi to no end. It is evident by the eyes that my sweet little Taffy is possessed by the jealousy demon and if I don't separate them, I fear for Yodi's safety!

I am determined that the girls are going to get along so I encourage them to hug each other...okay...I forced them to hug but what else could I do? This is supposed to be a really fun experience and we're going to have fun if it kills us!

I promise you guys that I did nothing to make Yodi have the following expressions. These pictures even kinda freak me out...LOL

Picture 10: It's sorta like that question about a tree falling in the forest and no ones hears it... Does a hug really count if someone forces it?

Picture 11: Okay, maybe forcing the issue wasn't the best idea. Yodi doesn't seem to be having much fun yet.

Picture 12: Well, I definitely can recognize a look of sheer panic when I see one! I rush in to rescue Yodi and send Taffy to pout while I console Yodi and place her up high for a nice nap.

Yodi was exhausted (and still slightly traumatized by her less than stellar welcome) so she slept a long nap. Taffy whined and moped around because Frank wasn't here to spoil her tonight and I was caught up in all the Hollywood drama unfolding. (Amazing how people who call you everything but human when you're alive can speak so eloquently about you in death. I don't particularly have one feeling or another about MJ's life but I sure hate to see anyone die at his age. Selfish, I know because I'm older than him and it makes you pause...but maybe that's a good thing.)

Anyway, too much excitement today in our perfect storm of a day so I decided to show Miss Priss how one should generously give to their guest. I bedded Yodi down for the night in the highly coveted UT bed and blanket that Miss Sarah gave Taffy at he last GE. After all, she is in Big Orange Country ...Tennessee...home of the Lady Vols, Pat Summitt, Bruce Pearl, and the 1998 National Football Champions! (Sorry, I don't even know the new football coach's name because I liked Phil Fulmer myself.)

Somehow Taffy didn't quite understand the spirit of giving (or loaning, in this case).

Picture 13: Yodi settles in for the night.

Picture 14: Taffy watches in slight outrage.

Picture 15: Taffy begins to plot her strategy for tomorrow. Oh dear!

Well, I plan to act like Scarlett O'Hara and "think about that tomorrow." However, with a true Southerner's optimism, I have to believe it will be better between those two.

If not, I'm going to have a great time showing Yodi around while Miss Priss cools her paws and pouts on her own time here at home!

Well, it may not have been the best idea this morning to dress Yodi in one of Taffy's outfits. However, it hadn't been worn yet by Taffy (yikes...maybe that's the problem itself). It's a bit large but I couldn't have Yodi touring around in her Texas garb...after all, she's in the great state of Tennessee.

I wasn't privy to what Yodi said to Taffy this morning but it appears to have gotten her attention. Maybe they decided to call a truce or to at least pretend to like each other for my health's sake. Regardless, it was after I had dressed Yodi in Taffy's clothes. Maybe Yodie told Taffy off...sure looked that way. Anyway, at least they are playing together now.


Picture 16: Irritated that Yodi has on her watermelon shirt, Taffy is trying to take it back. Yodi is getting a bit miffed.

Picture 17: Yodi has had enough and lets Taffy have it. Our little Brit guest may take a great deal but when she's had it, she let's it fly. What little I overheard was "Bloody this" and "Bloody that."

Picture 18: I think Taffy interpreted all that "bloody" talk to mean that it was going to be her blood if she didn't straighten up. Yodi definitely got her attention and Taffy says she's sorry and tells her she can even keep the shirt. Amazing!

Finally the girls have reached some sort of peaceful resolution and decide to play some games.

Before too long, they play "Hide and Seek."

Here's where Yodi decided to hide from Taffy. (Taffy never really understood the hide part so they played their different roles over and over.) Yodi would hide and Taffy would seek...LOL

Picture 19 First she tried the fern outside the door.

Picture 20: Then remembering she had on a watermelon shirt, she pretended she was a chameleon and hid on the watermelon.

Picture 21: Aha! Best hiding place of all...the Moses basket that we use as a toy box for Taffy.

Having remembered that the British love their gardens, I had promised to show Yodi our backyard.

I have my own theory about gardening. Plant it or set it out and then it's on its own. Sometimes it works; sometimes it doesn't but I totally believe in the survival of the fittest when it comes to my gardening philosophy. (I am a landscaper's nightmare!)

Picture 22: Yodi, please don't eat the daisies!

Picture 23: What's a Southern yard without a magnolia tree?

Picture 24: I know, you've seen better roses but this one blooms over and over and over all summer long.

I'm really sorry that this must conclude Yodi's adventures for today. We are going to chill out inside the house the rest of the afternoon because the heat and humidity (and heat index) make this a real dangerous time.

We've got plans for the morning while it's cooler but nothing to the extent we had planned. I hope we continue these adventures and that we get to host Yodi again in cooler temps. Plus, now that Taffy has decided that Yodi can hold her own, life is good and peace reigns.

Picture 25: Someone forgot to tell Yodi that our game of "Hide and Seek" has ended.

Picture 26: Taffy trying to negotiate the length of the nap times.

Picture 27: Yodi is just ready to chill out when she overhears the plans for tomorrow. Is that an excited reaction, a startled one, or shock? Check back in tomorrow to see where our wanderings take us.

Yea, gag...I hit submit before I put in the photos!

While Taffy was at the groomer's having her gorgeous self made even more so (ever wondered why she's spoiled rotten...LOL) we took Yodi to see a few of the famous things around town and the near vicinity.

First we took her to the outside area of the Rock 'n Roll Museum Tribute to Carl Perkins. He wasn't born here but claimed Jackson as his home in latter years. If you are old enough to remember "Blue Suede Shoes," you're remembering a song he wrote. He recorded it before Elvis but was in a very serious car accident before he reached the level of fame as Elvis. In spite of this, Carl has always been considered the one who started the Rock-a-billy sound.

Picture 28: Taffy's new do...you can't really believe I wouldn't post it again...LOL

Picture 29: The mural celebrating Jackson's favorite son.

Picture 30: Yodi takes the stage! I know...who would have thought he shy British Yodi could belt out a country song with the best of them!

I'm sorry I don't know the author to give credit but the following site has some great info about Carl Perkins in case you are interested:

http://rockabillytennessee.com/legend_carl_perkins.htm

I found this sentence quite telling about the man and his music:
Latter day pop artists who would acknowledge the influence of Carl Perkins include Rick Nelson, John Fogerty, Bob Dylan, Eric Clapton, and Paul McCartney, who said "If there were no Carl Perkins, there would be no Beatles."

Picture 31: A written tribute at the site.
Picture 32: Yodi poses before the guitar statue.
Picture 33: Yodi tries to play us a tune!

After the adventure with the guitar, we drove about 10 miles outside of Jackson to a tiny place called Pinson. We went to see the Indian mounds that are there but we ended up only going into the museum. It was just too hot to hike to the mounds.

However, you can read a bit about them here...plus, the museum is designed to appear like one of the mounds.


TN State Parks: Pinson Mounds State Archaeological Park
The following sentence about the Pinson Mounds will give you some idea of their significance in case you don't care to read the short article.
Pinson Mounds is the largest Middle Woodland period mound group in the United States, and dates to about 1-500 A.D. The Native Americans that built the mounds lived long before historically known Native American tribes, and used the site for ceremonial purposes.

Picture 34: The museum shot from the parking lot.
Picture 35: Yodi seems to like to pose on signs.
Picture 36: Arrowheads found in the area.

We were the only ones visiting the museum and when the director discovered that Yodi was visiting from England, she was even allowed access to areas kept under lock and key. They even let her pose with some of the valuable displays!

Picture 37: Further proof that Yodi is not a pet...nor edible!

Picture 38: They unlocked the case and let Yodi have her picture made with these valuable collectibles. Even we were surprised at this!

Picture 39: Yodi makes herself at home beside the ancient pottery shards.

Picture 40: Yodi is particularly interested in the food of that time.

Picture 41: Yodi makes herself at home in a display.

Picture 42: By now the state park official is even suggesting neat places for Yodi's picture to be taken and suggests the back of this stuffed coyote!

Oops...I forgot the "upload" step!

By now, we are thoroughly wiped out from the heat. However, I so wanted to take Yodi to the Casey Jones Village which Jackson is somewhat famous for.

Hopefully, she can come back again sometime and we can do some of the other things I wanted to do but couldn't.

You can read more about the museum here. He was credited with sacrificing himself to save his passengers on a railroad train. He has become quite the legend and you may have heard songs sung about him.

MuseumPage

Picture 43: We didn't have time to share much of our area's history involving the Civil War. Yodi did want to read this which is at the Casey Jones Village.

Pictures 44 and 45: Taken from the car as we left the museum. We had almost reached the point of heat exhaustion and had to get home. (The heat index was supposed to be 105-1110 today. The last time we got back into our car, the interior was 106. I didn't even know it would register that high!)

I come home from a haircut
and what do I see
Yodi the Yorkie
waiting for me!

Waiting for host dad to get home... we have impromtu fashion show. Gwenni was never able to wear her GoFetch Tankini... grew way too fast, so now Yodi's inherited it...

Also, Yodi got to meet the famous Pillsbury.

If you don't know about my Pillsbury adventures here's a link:
Pillsbury Doughboy by Jenni

Whew. Forgot to attach the picture of my furbutts w/ Yodi

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So for Yodi's first stop we drove 30 min to Effingham, IL. Its home of the Worlds largest cross. We thought we'd actually go visit the cross as we've driven past it 100's of times.

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Yodi and I at the foot of the cross
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The cross was surrounded by the 10 commandments set in marble.

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Another picture of Yodi and the cross...
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While we were out we drove by a random park that was very appealing to the kid in me so we got out to play...

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Well, today I had to work a long 12 hr day, so we didn't get to do anything... but here's a preview of where we're going tomorrow after work!

Its Eastern Illinois University ... EIU home of the panthers