[ponyakr]

you've already met rupert--here's the other 2 of the last trio--sally jo & goldielocks(goldie)

[ponyakr]

some of you may think my story has gone 2 the dogs. what on earth do dogs have 2 do with pontiacs? well, when i think back about my story, its hard 2 overlook the dogs. when i went out 2 look at an old car in my junkyard or snatch a part off 1, the dogs were always there checkin me out 2 see what i was up 2 & pilfering around 2 see what they mite find. & when i was workin on a pontiac in the shop they would come in occasionally 2 see what i was doin & sometimes just lay around on the concrete, keep me company & "hang out". & when we came in late at nite from a race, they were always there, waggin their tales & jumpin around like they were glad we were finally back home. 1 reason for this mite have been the treats we usually brought back from our racin trips for them. most of the time it would be chicken bones from the large amounts of fried chicken we(mostly me) consumed. but sometimes it would be pizza crusts. its 1 of my favorite foods & as long as rupert was with us, i never failed 2 bring him all the pizza scraps i could from the all-you-can-eat pizza buffet meals i had(which were quite a few). & i remember 1 dog we had that loved 2 chase critters. you'd hear him barkin, go out 2 see what was up & see dirt just a flyin out from under an old pontiac of some kind. no armadillo, possum, rat or anyting else was safe under any pontiac in the yard, even if it was flat on the ground. he had tunnels dug under almost every car in my boneyard. he never tired of diggin. i could never go from the house 2 the shop without pettin a dog or 2 on the head. they were just always there & part of my life--they're part of "where i came from".

[ponyakr]

roxie went on many trail rides with roscoe & little red. she also trained roscoe 2 scracth her itches. he never complained. it seems that critters are unique & each has their own personality just like folks.

[ponyakr]

she was much faster than any other dog we ever had. she would be ahead of the pack with the others runnin as hard as they could behind her, trying 2 catch up--she would be lookin back over her shoulder as if 2 say "hey, ya'll come on--what's takin ya so long?" she never had 2 stand & fight--she could just take off runnin & there would be no fight. they had lots of energy 2 burn, so when there was no horse ride, they'd just play chase & tag around the horse lot. oh, it was great fun--but exhausting--which required complete rest afterwards. these are just a few of the many dogs who have shared the barnyard & our lives thru the years. we consider it a blessing 2 have shared their lives with them for the time we had together!

[ponyakr]

most of the big stars get a lot of ink--some of it ain't good(like LL). TJ ain't a big star, but she has got her share of ink--from our local weekly 2 hot rod mag. she just made another national publication. but this time her ride has 4-wheel drive & only 1 hp. she's in this month's appaloosa journal, with pics of her appy--both real & plastic model.

[ponyakr]

went out this morning & it sounded like all the birds in the neighborhood were already awake & singin their song as loud as they could. it was a happy sound. they didn't sound stressed out a bit. & why should they? i read somewhere that God feeds the birds & clothes the flowers in such splender, that no king has ever been able 2 match it! its great 2 live out in the country. i could pick out the sound of several of the birds i heard this morning--dove, barn swallow, mocking bird, giant woodpecker & the neighbors rooster. there were lots of others i can't name. i'm sure an expert bird watcher could have picked out dozens of different birds. anyhow, i feel sorry for those who live in the city & don't get 2 enjoy Gods creation(or what big banged its way 2 earth, if you believe that) every day like we do. i consider it a blessing 2 be able 2 enjoy all that country living has 2 offer & may i never take it for granted! & what does this have 2 do with pontiacs? well, my shop is semi open air & rite in the middle of all that sweet music!

[ponyakr]

found this while pilferin thru some old pics. it would be better if presented at Christmas time, but i may forget it then. this is a shot of our very 1st & last tree--a pine seedling with a ball somebody gave us. TJ really went all out that year! after that, she said it was 2 much trouble, so now, she just puts the cards we get on the mantle til Christmas is over then rakes em all off into the trash can--you gotta luv this gal--she's practicle--a real no-nonsense, down 2 earth, country gal. & she's been that way so long now, she can get by with it. folks will say "well that's just TJ for ya". but, you gota hand it 2 her, she really splerged that 1st year. if you'll notice, she displayed 2 trees that year--counting the 1 in the drawing she'd made, hangin on the wall.