*frayja shouts out a hi!

Frayja, our Great Dane, turned two in March, it seems like yesterday that we added her to our family. She is growing and maturing more and more all the time. She has just gained the privilege to go back in the gardening area with us when we are working in that part of the property. She has also been introduced to the barnyard while the chickens and turkeys are out free ranging. She is so controlled while we are walking around in the barnyard, we are really proud of her good manners.  We are constantly marveled at the fact that we have a dog, a beastly sized dog in our home.  If you know us well, I am sure you are still marveling too!

 Just this week she begged me to wear her skirt that her cousin, Kierstyn, gave her. She also is hoping that Kierstyn is saving her other old swim suit skirts for her, she loves dressing up (NOT).

 This image looks familiar I am sure, she is here often and surely I have shared this view of her with you before!

 I love this profile picture of her with her buddy Julie, in the background. 

 This is Frayja's mom, isn't she a pretty lady?~!

 This is  Frayja's daddy with two of her siblings.  Her father was VERY tall and lanky.  Frayja has really gotten quite a bit of height over the last year. We think she has finally topped out in her growth.  Estimating her weight now about about 140lbs.  She has some body fat on her chest area, so we have cut her feedings back just a bit.  She normally gets 4 cups of food in the morning and 4 cups in the evening. Her night time feeding now consist of 2 cups instead of the 4. She gets plenty of snacks through out the day as well, so don't feel too sorry for her.

 Second from the left, is Fray! Aren't puppies adorable!

*on the run!

Our beast of a dog, Frayja the great dane, is finally considered full grown and no longer a puppy.  We still see puppy behavior out of her from time to time though, but she is asking for a break since this month marks her as no longer a puppy.  While there was a time that we were a bit concerned about her eating habits (too little), she has really developed a healthy appetite.  She started out at a mere 16 lbs at 7 weeks old and has grown into her full grown status at 118 lbs.

She continues to be more and more attentive to our commands and obeys most of the time.  Erilyn Farm would not be the same with out her, so say Eric. Actually, I know this may sound silly to some of you, but she has really enriched our lives and I am glad we added her to our craziness.

These things she will do upon command: sit, stay, wait, hand shake, and give kisses. She loves to fetch and run like the wind.   You can see this displayed in the photos below. These were captured from an afternoon of throw and fetch!  Note the dust she stirs up as she gallops out to get the ball.  Enjoy.

The end. (sorry I suppose I couldn't resist)


~Lynnie

*she lives

Yes, she lives and she lives well!  These pictures were taken in February of this year when I had been without my my hubby off and on, more off than on mind you - since Thanksgiving.  We had agreed early on since our selection of breed was GIANT that she would not be all owed to sit on OUR furniture.  We held this through until January'ish.  

Look at me Mommy, don't I look precious up here? I am so comfortable. I can be your companion and lay beside you when you rest here since Daddy is not here. It is my job, Mommy, to snuggle with you since Daddy can't right now. HOOK. LINE. SINKER. 'nuff said.

What? Your gonna have to put a stop to this? What? You and Daddy agreed that I couldn't sit on the furniture? The idea of this disgust me Mommy.

Mommy, PLEASE. Don't I look so cute?  Um yes, Frayja, you do. That is how it all started, but you and I both know that it should have never stared and that it has to come to a quick end!  I did confess to Eric my waywardness. We agreed that it STILL was not a good idea, for many reasons.  Frayja is such a quick, smart, fast learner and breaking this habit only took a day or two.  She is still allowed to lay on her one piece of furniture and thankfully she does not get confused as to what is hers and what is not.  We are very happy with her temperament, with her obedience and her place in our family. 

This one was taken just this morning during a much needed rain. She asked to go out to potty, but made it no further than the front porch.

Owning her piece of furniture... 

Summer of '11

Perhaps you are wondering how she is getting along with the chickens, rabbits and goats and maybe even the cats.  Well  let me just say that she feels she is unduly challenged on a daily basis!  She is learning to be gentle with Julie and Munch (our inside cats). If she was able, she would love to show every one of the rabbits and every one of the chickens her tonsils.  We tried to introduce her to the sweet goats - it is going to take a while before she learns to be calm and gentle with them. But over all, she is well!

*pool season is here

Mom and I have been working tirelessly to keep the pool clean of leaves and oak blossoms and when momma leaves this weekend, Henry will pick up where she left off.  We are hoping that soon we will come into a season where nothing oak will be falling from the sky and into the pool. 

The weather has been dreamy here lately and with that the temp of the water has began to rise.  Henry and his friend Ryan first got in the pool back in February when the water was mid 50's if I remember correctly. Then he and his cousin, Joel got in for a quick dip in February as well.  A month made a big difference in the temp and the pool is OPEN!

Fray is wearing part of  Kierstyn's swimsuit.

She so desperately wanted to play with Kierstyn.  Not so sure about getting in the water though.

*wordless Wednesday #2

Great Dane sitting on lap of my mother.

*squeaky clean

It's Sunday and that means bath time for our little puppy Frayja.  While one might imagine that bathing a large dog would be a task that comes with much dread, not so in our home.  Frayja started getting baths early on and has always enjoyed it or at least allowed it.  This bath was designed with Fray in mind- a large cast iron tub and completely tiled room including walls and floor. Clean-up is a breeze.

*snow dog and those ears!

This is Frayja. This is her first snow, probably her last too! She loved the snow. Running took on new meaning as she sped through the powdery snow fetching sticks or simply fighting the snow to later take a bite out of it.

Her ears are amazing.  We can not for the life of us understand why someone would crop a Danes ears. I mean, it does look stately, however we get much joy out of Frayja's floppy ears.  She is 9 months old now and weighs about 115 pounds.  She has probably reached her full height now but will hopefully put on some more weight in muscle or just a bit of body fat.  While she is just a dog, we are greatful for her companionship. 

*rain, rain, go away

Personally rain is my favorite of all weather! When others are balking at the rain whether it be spring, summer, fall or icy winter; I am loving it! My dear husband always tells me it is because I don't have to be out in it.

It has been raining here for two days off an on, making it near impossible for our dane to get outside and frolic. She loves to be outside running free on her new home front. Today marks the second day of no running, no stimulation and very little attention because my attention is on painting, ripping up flooring, mopping, cleaning .. you get the idea!

But she did find an activity, TOILET PAPER DESTRUCTION that tuckered her out.  This is what happens when your puppy doesn't get out for two days, other than potty time.  Today she destroyed: a roll of toilet paper, a cleaning brush, a sandal (frankly I have always hated those sandals - but I did scold her), a flip flop  and a pork femur.  We are hoping for a clear sky tomorrow so we can all get outside for a while!

*waiting patiently

Frayja deserves a good treat too right?  Our local commissary carries these HUGE femurs that bring great delight.  Sometimes I can find them already cut into small pieces that she can handle, and sometimes Eric or Henry have to saw them into smaller pieces that she can more easily handle.

(Weight update: She now weighs 102 lbs and still has MUCH to learn and MUCH to surrender to! Apparently we have much to learn as well.)

*our gentle giant

Frayja, our beautiful Great Dane, turned 7 months old just a few days ago. She has been a great source of joy to us (for the most part)!  When we first brought her home at 8 weeks old, she weighed 16lbs. She was chubby, clumsy and adorable to say the least.  She is no longer chubby but she is still a bit clumsy and certainly still adorable!  She was weighed a few weeks ago and she is approaching 100lbs.

Just a few days ago we were in the back yard playing one of her favorite things, fetch; on her return with the ball it appeared that she was going to trample me.  I thought surely she is going to swing to the side and pass me by. Nope.  She, running at full force up the hill, ran into my upper thigh.  My leg immediately had that "frogged" feeling.  I am sure to have a bruise there.

Some days I wonder why we acquired this beast of a canine in this juncture of our life, but then I look at the positive she has brought to our family and I am settled with our decision in that moment. She is a sweet dog and though she can be high energy it is not her modus operandius.  She has proven to be just what this breed has been dubbed as: gentle giant.