TAILS from Garrard County

Kentucky Greetings, WoodyWatchers! Can you say HOT? It has been a scorcher of a summer - and the summer has just started! We have to play outside really early in the morning and really late in the evening to try to beat the heat! Of course we are working several days a week!

Last week we were in Garrard County, KY. Garrard is pronounced Gar-ed as-in rhymes with Jared. No matter how you pronounce it, it's one of our favorite places in the state! We started going to the Garrard County Public Library in 2003. Now, 6 years later, we are still seeing some of our favorite friends on earth!

Ms. D. is the Children's Librarian. The kids love her. We love her too! Take a look at the first photo. This is our friend Roger. Roger was just a little guy in 2003. Now he is going to High School! He still comes to visit us every year! We hope he comes even when he is freshman in college!!!

The next photo is of our friend Lauren and her mom. If look closely, you will see my mom holding a photo of Steven. Like Roger, Steven and Lauren have been coming to the Garrard County Library for years! This year, Steven was away at camp and couldn't make it. He asked his mom to videotape the program so he wouldn't miss it. Isn't that cool?

I have so many more stories to tell you about Garrard County - and our visit to Bardstown yesterday, but my To-Do list is pretty long. I better sign off for now!

Make sure you keep your water bowl full and drink lots of liquids, wear your sunscreen, and Work and Dream like a BIG DOG!

WOODY

A Day in Paris

Kentucky Greetings, WoodyWatchers! We just finished our breakfast and are digesting a bit before we go for a walk. I thought it was the perfect time to tell you what we have been doing lately!

Last week, we kicked off our Summer Library Tour in Paris! Paris really is beautiful in the spring, the summer, the winter, and the fall! Everytime Mom says we are going to Paris, I immediately think, "Paris, France." I imagine myself in a beret standing in front of the Eiffel Tower. Then I remember it's Paris, KY! And I must say that I am glad! While Paris, France may have the Eiffel Tower, the Champs-Elysees, and the Arc de Triomphe; Paris, KY is known for horses, history, and hospitality - and it has our friends! We love seeing all our buddies each year at the Paris Libary like Ms. Dawn, Mr. Mark, Jackson, Alex, and the list goes on and on! In fact, we met Jackson and Alex in 2003 during our first visit to the library! They have grown to be quite the fans! See them in our Woody shirts! In addition, we met lots of new friends we have already received emails from! We love your emails so keep 'em coming!

This week, we will return to my stomping ground of Paducah. We will see our Granny and Cousins tonight and tomorrow spend the day at the Graves County Public Library. We will then travel back and head to Garrard County. Lots of traveling this week. We are hoping the Woody Bus feels up to it!

I think I have digested breakfast so I will take a walk. I wonder what's for lunch!

Have a great day! Work and Dream like a BIG DOG!

WOODY

And Yet ANOTHER Interesting Trip

Kentucky Greetings, WoodyWatchers! Boy is it ever hot at our doghouse in Shepherdsville! We have been drinking plenty of water, wearing lots of sunscreen, and enjoying a nice cold pupscicle from time to time! Someone sent an email yesterday that said, "Woody, you haven't updated your blog this week!" I'm sorry. It seems we have either been really busy - or stuck on the side of the road somewhere!

You know the old saying, "Good things come to those who wait?" Well, it's true! As I told you in my last post, we had to reschedule Owsley County because our Woody Bus was sick and in the hospital. We were so upset to have to postpone our visit by a whole 5 days, but let me just say that it was definitely worth the wait! We were treated like superstars! They even had made a doghouse for us, complete with a stuffed dog bone. I carried the dog bone with me ALL day long! Puppy dog kisses to Ms. Campbell and Mr. Smith for giving us an unforgettable day!

If you have never visited Owsley County, you should. The county is named after William Owsley. Mr. Owsley was the Governor of Kentucky from 1844 to 1848. Booneville is the county seat. There's a little place in Owsley County called Mistletoe. Isn't that cool?

Well, we left Owsley County and traveled back home to Shepherdsville in the van that Mr. Conrad provided for us. A few days later, our friends at Conrad's called and said that the Woody Bus was ready. So, we loaded up in the van and headed back to Estill County to pick up the trusted Woody Bus. We were traveling along having a grand time. We were singing our favorite songs and playing I Spy. We had almost made it back to Louisville. In fact, we had just taken an exit ramp when guess what? The Bus died! Again! Exactly 1 week after the first time it died. So, making a long story short, we were towed again! Thankfully we were close enough to home that Lynne (my Chief of Staff) could pick us up and take us home after the bus was towed.

Here's the good news - the last breakdown had NOTHING to do with Mr. Conrad's work. It was a different problem! Thankfully, a problem that was under warranty. I asked Mom what a warranty was. She said it meant Dad would be in a much better mood. Hmmm...

By the way, the last photo is of Mom and me with Mr. Conrad, his son, and his sister Dana. I think they are going to use this for their Christmas card! Oh, while we were on the side of the road, Mom and I wrote a song about the breakdown. We are going to try to video the song and put it on the blog. We will keep you posted!

Hopefully, the Woody Bus is good to go! We have a week off before our library visits begin. We are going to pamper the bus and make it feel real special!!!

I better go. It is 11:20 which means ten more minutes until lunch time! It's my turn to fill the water bowl.

Have a great day! Stay cool, wear your sunscreen, and Work and Dream like a BIG DOG!

WOODY

WHAT A TRIP!

Kentucky Greetings, WoodyWatchers! We hope you are already enjoying this holiday! We love holidays! Any excuse for grilled hamburgers and homeade ice cream makes us happy!

What a trip last week! We left our Shepherdsville doghouse on Wednesday to drive to our school visits. We were scheduled to be in Hamilton, Ohio on Thursday and then Booneville, KY on Friday. We decided to take the scenic route on our trip to Ohio. Dad actually drove through Madison, Indiana. (At first we thought it was odd that Dad wanted to drive through Indiana to get to Ohio, but like the holiday theory, any excuse for a scenic drive works for us. It really wasn't out of the way!) Anyway, when we got to Madison, Indiana, the entire downtown was blocked off. The Madison, Indiana Courthouse was on fire. The building was 154 years old! We have heard that the city will rebuild the courthouse. Thankfully, there were only two minor injuries! A great big thanks to firefighters for all the work they do!

Well, we made it Lincoln Elementary in Hamilton, Ohio. What a cool place! The school openened in 1909. The building was still gorgeous to be 100 years old! It could have been called Dachshund Elementary! There were so many teachers and students who owned wiener dogs. We felt right at home! Like Monroe Elementary, nobody laughed or made fun of my heavily accented, Kentucky bark!

We left Hamilton, Ohio to drive to Booneville, KY. We were headed up the mountains on Highway 52. The Woody Bus just rolled over 100,000 miles!!! We cheered for the Woody Bus! That's a lot of miles! About ten minutes later, we heard a noise - then the Woody Bus wouldn't go any further! Dad said the transmission went out. In wiener dog terms - the Woody Bus broke!

I'll try to make this very long story short! We were stuck on the road for a couple of hours,but 14 cars stopped to help us. One family called a tow truck (our cell phones didn't have service), stayed with us, and even helped the tow truck get to the garage. We made it to the garage about 11:00 that night. We couldn't rent a car since it was so late, so we had to reschedule our school. We were so disappointed!!! Thankfully, the school rescheduled for Tuesday! Another reason to say Hip Hip Hooray!

We spent the night at Conrad's Garage. Mr. Conrad gave us a van to drive home. We said goodbye to the Woody Bus and came home late Friday night. Mr. Conrad ordered a new transmission for the Woody Bus. He will hopefully fix the bus while we are at our school visit on Tuesday. So today, we will drive the van back to Conrad's Garage in Estill County, spend the night in our trusted friend, then drive to Owsley County Elementary for a school visit on Tuesday. While we are having a great time at the school, Mr. Conrad will be working on the Woody Bus. Hopefully, the Woody Bus will get a clean bill or health and be discharged from the hospital on Tuesday afternoon so we can bring it back home with us Tuesday evening!

A great big thanks to everyone in Estill County who helped us through that ordeal!!! Mom took a picture of Dad early Friday morning. He was outside the Woody Bus waiting for the garage to open. The last photo is of Frannie, Nat the Bear, and me hanging out Friday afternoon waiting for Mr. Conrad to get us the rental van.

In addition to everyone in Estill County who took care of us, a great big thanks to Owsley County Elementary for being so understanding! And a great big thanks to our friend Cleo and her mom. After we had a tire blow up several months ago, Ms. Diane fixed us an Emergency Roadside Assistance Bag filled with snacks and treats in case we are ever stuck on the side of the road and can't get food! Isn't that great! So, we were without wheels, but not without snacks!!! We sure hope today's trip is well, boring, compared to last week!

Our family hopes you and your family enjoy Memorial Day! Make sure you pause to give thanks for all the men and women who sacrificed their lives for our freedom! We live in the greatest country on the planet!

Have a great day! Be sure to keep up with our family on Mom's facebook page and my facebook fan page under Dogwoody "Woody" Furr! Enjoy! Work and Dream like a BIG DOG!

WOODY

TAILS from the Buckeye State

Kentucky Greetings, WoodyWatchers! We hope this finds you enjoying the sunshine! It is a sunny day at our doghouse in Shepherdsville! We have been outside chasing tennis balls and butterflies, but now we are back in the house, packing for a two day trip. We will be in Hamilton, Ohio on Thursday and then Booneville, Kentucky on Friday. We are excited about both visits! In fact, this is our second trip to Hamilton, Ohio in ten days!

Last Tuesday, we spent the day at Monroe Elementary in Hamilton, Ohio. Hamilton is in Butler County and is north of Cincinnati and south of Dayton. The drive to Hamilton was so pretty - and yes, Chloe and I saw lots of Buckeye trees! We had visited Monroe several years ago so it was a treat to see all the friends we had made. Tuesday was Mismatch Day. We laughed at the fun combinations of stripes and plaids and polkadots and zigzags! Just like before, everyone treated us like family - and nobody laughed at my heavily accented Kentucky bark!

Well, today we will drive once again to Hamilton, Ohio. This time we will spend our day at Lincoln Elementary! I can't wait to tell you all about it, so stay tuned! And stay tuned as we start revealing some fun information about our brand new newspaper serial story that will premiere in September!

In addition to keeping up with us on our blog, be sure to follow me on facebook! (Make sure you have an adult with you! Mom only lets us get on the internet with her or Dad.)

Have a great day! Enjoy the sunshine! Work and Dream like a BIG DOG!

WOODY

TAILS from Valor

Kentucky Greetings, WoodyWatchers! Hope this finds you having a great day! I can't believe it is already May. I feel like I haven't caught up on all my chores from January!

As usual, our family has been busy. We have been writing the new story, working on a calendar, and visiting schools! This past week we spent the morning at Valor Academy in Louisville, KY. We were so excited to visit Valor. For one thing, their building is beautiful! It looks like a castle on the outside. On the inside, it's just as pretty - and is filled with beautiful people! Their mascot was the Valor Knights. We proposed they change the mascot to the Valor Wiener Dogs! We thought it had a great ring to it! You know, we suggest that to every school, but so far, nobody has done it! I guess it would be too expensive to change the signs out front!

This week, our family will head to Western KY to visit our friends at Pride Elementary! We are looking forward to it! Be sure to check back and see photos from Pride.

Also, in addition to our online doghouse, you can keep up with me on my facebook page. I am under Dogwood "Woody" Furr. Make sure that you always have permission from an adult to be on the internet and don't ever give out personal information about yourself. Mom reminds Chloe and me about that daily! She also tells us that we can only write positive things - nothing negative. "Woody, we want to build our friends up - NOT tear them down!" Great advice from Mom!

Have a great day! Work and Dream like a BIG DOG!

WOODY

Fish, Turtles, and Snakes! Oh my!

Kentucky Greetings, WoodyWatchers! Please don't look at the photos and panic! I haven't had reconstructive surgery or anything. The photos aren't of me, Chloe, or any of our siblings! This is a snapping turtle that was in our backyard! Yes, the backyard that we play in every day! The backyard that we spend hours in fetching tennis balls, tormenting the cat, or just relaxing in the sunshine! Thankfully, Mom and Dad never let us play outside alone. Now we know why!

Last Saturday we were at our lake watching the fish swim near the bank when we came face to face with a huge snake! Mom, Chloe, and I were sure it was an anaconda! Dad assured us it was a garter snake. No, we didn't kill it. Even though snakes give us the willies, they are good for the environment. However I did dream of the slithering creatures for three nights straight! I was so scared that I had to sleep with Mom and Dad! Wait - I always sleep with Mom and Dad!

Well, if the snake wasn't enough, tonight Dad came in and grabbed Mom. He said, "Come quickly! You have to see this!" I was sure he was going to point out the big hole I accidentally dug in the yard. Instead, he showed Mom the biggest snapping turtle we had ever seen. It was honestly bigger than we were. We had to see it from the window because Dad said it could latch on and be dangerous. When I saw it from the window, my heart skipped a beat! Borrowing a line from That's So Raven, I said, "O Snap!" (A very appropriate phrase to use when encountering a snapping turtle.) We figure it was just coming out from the lake to say hi - or whatever it is turtles say! Maybe it wanted to play ball! Of course I can't imagine the turtle fetching the ball!

It's only April and we have already had so many creatures visiting us! I wonder who will be next!

I better go! It is almost bedtime! I have lots of things to tell you, photos to post, and some really exciting news regarding our newest stories! In fact, we have been burning up the computer writing our new story! We can't wait for you to read it!

Have a great night! Stay safe, watch for snakes and snapping turtles, and Work and Dream like a BIG DOG!

WOODY

TAILS from the Courthouse

Kentucky Greetings, WoodyWatchers! When you read I was at the courthouse did it scare you? Did you think I was in some kind of trouble? Did you think I was getting my driver's license? Getting a marriage license? Well, none of the above! We spent some time with our friends Hannah and Lilly Mooney and their parents Kevin and Melissa. Hannah and Lilly's dad (Kevin Mooney) is the County Clerk in Bullitt County. We weren't exactly for sure what a county clerk did so we asked Hannah and Lilly. The said the clerk's office is responsible for keeping real estate deeds, running the election, and other important services. The county clerk also issues marriage licenses. I thought about getting a marriage license, but there was one big problem - I am not 18. You have to be 18 years old to get a marriage license. I guess another problem might be that I don't have a girlfriend, but I thought I would be prepared and get a marriage license just in case the right girl came along.

It was such a fun day! Hannah and Lilly love to read. We talked about books, story ideas, and of course animals. I asked Hannah and Lilly if they thought I could ever run for public office. They looked a little hesitant, but I think I would make a great mayor. Maybe I could start by running for city councildog. I bet I would have a great shot at being the dog catcher. I think I will start working on my campaign slogan now!

I better go. It is 4:30 and the day has flown by. I still have work to do. It is my night to set the table for dinner. I can't remember - is it forks on the left and knives on the right or the other way around? If I am going to run for office, I need to know these things. Maybe I should master table manners before I start writing my campaign speech!

Have a great night! Vote for Woody and Work and Dream like a BIG DOG!

WOODY

American Idol: Wiener Dog Edition

Kentucky Greetings, WoodyWatchers! It is Saturday morning and the weatherman says it will be raining kitty cats and wiener dogs soon. I am looking for my rain boots and Scooby umbrella. I want to be prepared! Nothing worse than being a soggy, wet wiener dog!

This past week our family spent the day at White's Tower Elementary in Kenton County, KY. Kenton County is at the very top of the state - almost in the Buckeye State. It was easy to tell however that we were in the Bluegrass because everyone made us feel right at home! Ms. Kim Berry (the librarian), the principal, the teachers, parents, and students welcomed us with open arms. They gave Chloe, Frannie, Wally, and me lots of love and hugs. We were given presents too. Some of our good friends from the area came out to say ARFF! I included a picture of Mom and me with Danielle. Danielle, if you are reading this, thanks for the card and the dog bones. They made a terRUFFic snack on the way home! DEE-wishsus!

At the Family Reading Night that evening, we felt like we were competing on American Idol. There were signs in the audience saying that Chloe and I rule! How cool is that? I felt like I needed to sing a song and then wait to the judges to tell me what they thought. I wonder if Randy would call me "DAWG!"

Have a great day! Stay in, stay dry, and Work and Dream like a BIG DOG!

WOODY

Happy Belated St. Patrick's Day

Kentucky Greetings, WoodyWatchers and Happy St. Patrick's Day - even though we are a few days late. Our family spent St. Patrick's Day in Hazard, KY at Dennis Wooten Elementary. We have never seen so much green in our life. We saw green shirts, green hats, green scarves, and even green hair! Chloe and I wore our green bandanas with the shamrocks to celebrate the day. Chloe looks great in green. I like green, but I still prefer Kentucky Wildcat blue!

Chloe and I didn't really know much about St. Patrick's Day so we did a little research. St. Patrick's Day is the national holiday of Ireland. Americans have been celebrating St. Paddy's Day since 1737. We celebrate it by wearing green! If we catch someone not wearing green, we are supposed to pinch them! Mom says it is the ONLY day of the year Chloe and I can pinch each other. Usually, we make sure we have on lots of green every March 17th. Being the pincher is more fun that being the pinchee!

Anyway, we had a great time at Dennis Wooten. Everyone treated us like family! They even planned the menu around our visit. Look at the great food they had! It was DOGlicious!

Speaking of food, I better go. The clock says 4:50 and that means only ten more minutes before dinner time. I have to help Chloe set the table. I don't like being late for anything - but especially not for dinner!

Have a great night!

Work and Dream like a BIG DOG!

WOODY

TAILS of Natcher and Nat

Kentucky Greetings, WoodyWatchers! It is a gorgeous day here at our doghouse in Shepherdsville. The sun is shining, there is a breeze blowing, the birds are chirping, and I just saw a dandelion poking up from the ground. It makes me want to put on my fishing hat and my flips flops. Problem is - I can only find three of my flip flops. Where is that fourth one? Oh well...

How can I possibly tell you about the PAWS-atively terrific day and evening we had at Natcher Elementary last Thursday? Natcher Elementary is in Bowling Green, KY. It is a gorgeous school with the best staff! In fact, the librarian, Ms. Alecia Marcum was named Kentucky Library Media Specialist of the Year! After spending the day with Ms. Marcum, we know why! Ms. Marcum and all the staff and students pulled out the red carpet for our visit. We felt like movie stars! We were showered with food, gifts, hand made bandanas for Chloe and me, hugs, kisses, you get the picture. Even better than that, the students were so thoughtul and respectful - and fun too!

You know how in Walt Disney movies two people see each other across a crowded room and fall in love? While I was at Natcher, I looked across the library and found my love. Our eyes met and I felt my heart go pitter patter. Sitting in the library was the sweetest, prettiest, and softest teddy bear ever. I had to hold it, so Mom handed it to me. I loved it so much that I couldn't put it down. I named the bear Nat - short for Natcher. I was so sad thinking I was going to have leave Nat, but Ms. Marcum said Nat could come and live with me! Isn't that great! Nat loves her new home. She is well taken care of. She sleeps with me and I carry her around everywhere. It's harder to carry her since one of her ears is well, nevermind about the ear. We are two peas in a pod! Nat and I are like cookies and milk, spaghetti and meatballs, rawhide and jerky treats!

A great big puppy dog kiss to Ms. Marcum for Nat and thanks to everyone who made our visit to Natcher so spectacular! We hope to see you again soon!

I have posted a few photos up but will hopefully get more up on the photo page in the weeks to come. In fact, updating my photo page is on my Scooby Doo To Do List. My list gets longer every day! Speaking of, I guess I should go. We will be leaving for Maysville, KY in a few hours for a school tomorrow. We always love our trip to Maysville! Mom told us that after school we could go and visit the flood wall and the murals. I am hoping there are are wiener dogs on the murals. I will let you know!

Have a great day! Enjoy the weather! Work and Dream like a BIG DOG!

WOODY

TAILS from Heartland

Kentucky Greetings, WoodyWatchers! It is Monday and boy is it cold! BRRRR... We couldn't put on enough sweaters this morning for our walk. And to think it is now MARCH!!!

Since it is Monday, we are in the usual routine of packing for our school visits. This evening we will travel to London, KY for a school tomorrow. We always love going to London - even if it's not to see the Queen!

Speaking of queens, we were treated like kings and queens last week! We spent the day in Elizabethtown, KY at a new school called Heartland Elementary. The school was gorgeous - all brand spanking new! We were very careful not to spill our lunch tray or drop dog bone crumbs. As you can imagine, we didn't have any accidents either!

The day was extra special for us since we had family at Heartland Elementary. Cousin Austin is a student at Heartland. We were able to catch up on all the family news. Of course everyone thought we looked just alike. I posted a photo (second photo) so you could see the resemblance. We could be twins, couldn't we? A great big thanks to Cousin Austin and everyone at Heartland for making us feel at home!

I better sign off for now. I have so many chores to do before the Woody Bus leaves this afternoon. My desk is a mess, my toys are scattered on the floor, and I can't find my Scooby Doo pajamas that have the four feet. I have lots of work to do!

Have a great day! Work and Dream like a BIG DOG!

WOODY

TAILS from LeGrande

Kentucky Greetings, WoodyWatchers! Yet another busy week on the Woody Tour Calendar. We just spent the last four days at the Kentucky Fair and Expo Center for the Kentucky Craft Marketing Show. It is one of our favorite times of the year. It's like a homecoming! We get to see all our friends, look at beautiful art, and taste DEE-LISH Kentucky made food! The show was terrific, but after it was over, our family was dog tired! Anyway, enough about that. I have to tell you about one of the best school days ever!

Last week our family spent the day and evening at LeGrande Elementary in Hart County. We were so happy to finally make it to the school. Our first day was cancelled because of the ice storm. Then our make up day was cancelled due to the ice storm. Thankfully our make up day for the make up day went off without a hitch! I was afraid we would have a tsunami or a volcano erupt or something else that would force us to have to postpone. Mom told us not to worry. She said volcanoes, hurricanes, or wild horses couldn't keep us away! It was definitely worth the wait.

LeGrande Elementary has students from Preschool up to the 8th grade. We saw all ages and sizes of students! We met lots of peopele - CAT fans, Cardinal fans (which were out numbered by the way) and even students with nicknames like NAILS. NAILS said he got the nickname because he was "tough as nails." I think I need a nickname - maybe PAWS or something. Woodster has a cool ring to it too.

Not only did I meet people, we were showered with gifts. Ms. Northcutt (the media specialist - third photo) gave us presents. My favorite present came from Ms. Northcutt's mother, Ms. Damron. Ms. Damron is the media specialist at Prestonsburg Elementary. While we were at that school, I fell in love with this bear. That bear was so big - and it belonged to the school so I had to leave it there. I really missed it! Ms. Damron sent me a belated Christmas present! It was my very own bear! You can see how much I love it! I have been carrying it around EVERYWHERE! It's a little harder carrying it around now since one of the ears is well, nevermind. The bear is my new best friend! I sleep with it every night. It keeps the lions and tigers away!!!

Dad took great photos at the school. He took over 100! My diary will only let me show you five or so. Here are a few of my favorites like the one of Frannie being held by a student. We also love the one of Ms. Spillman (the media assistant) and Chloe. The CAT and Card picture speaks for itself!

We will add more to the picture page soon. We had gotten behind with that but are trying to catch up! Also, check the site in a few days for our first ever clothing line!!! My very own sweatshirts and tee-shirts!

I better say ARFF! It just turned 9:00 and I have chores to do. Chloe and Frannie are helping Mom with the laundry. Wally and I are going to help Dad pick up sticks in the yard. Thankfully the sun is shining! Wally and I get the tough chores since we are guys! (Don't tell our sisters that.)

Have a great day! Enjoy the sunshine, work hard at your chores, and Work and Dream like a BIG DOG!

WOODY

aka WOODSTER