1 I've been doing a lot to prepare for Westminster next week, like staying in shape in Karen's exercise yard.

2 There are lots of toys for me to play with here, as well! Toys keep dogs minds stimulated, keeping us sharp and smart!

3 There are also other Chow Chows for me to socialize with at Karen's house, which also prepares me to be around all the other dogs at the show, both big and small!

4 It's hard to believe that the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show begins on Monday! We've just received all of our official documents for the show.

5 This is my offiicial identification card.

6 As a precaution, Karen took me to the Blue Ridge Veterinary Office to get microchipped. I was a little nervous because I wasn't sure what that meant, but Vet Tech Melani Bowman and Dr. Carol Filchner made me feel at ease!

7 Another vet tech, Lisa Wenner, filled out my paperwork and explained that a microchip would be implanted under my skin between my shoulder blades. If I ever get lost, a vet can scan the microchip and find out who I am!

8 It's a very common practice these days and more reliable than tags. I don't usually wear a collar around the house because of my thick fur and a microchip clearly states that Martha is my owner!

9 First, they scanned my body to make sure I didn't already have a microchip. Like I'd forget about having a microchip!

10 The microchip is smaller than a grain of rice and fits inside a syringe. I thought it was going to hurt - who likes getting shots? The vet techs were so nice and quick, I didn't even feel it!

11 The vets showed me a photo of Martha holding a Jack Russell terrier who is owned by Dr. Edward Shelly from the veterinary clinic! What a small world! By the way, all kinds of pets can get microchips. It's a really good idea!

1 Sharkey, do you remember that hysterical commercial during the Super Bowl with the French Bulldog? The dog that looks like you? Well, I found it online, so let's watch it again!

2 Oh Franny, who could forget this one, about the Frenchie racing against greyhounds? It's kind of making fun of our breed with our stout bodies and short legs. We don't much look like the racing type!

3 Then, along comes Mr. Quiggly! Sharkey, he really looks so much like you!

4 Hmmm...Yes, there is a strong resemblance, but he seems to have many more wrinkles around his neck.

5 You're right, Sharkey. And besides, Mr. Quiggly is a handsome male and you are a beautiful lady.

6 Sharkey, what about those running shoes he's wearing? They must have special powers to make him run so fast!

7 If we order shoes like that, do you think we'll run as fast as Mr. Quiggly? Just think about it - the squirrels around here wouldn't stand a chance!

8 I've seen shoes for dogs before to protect paws from harsh elements, but I've never seen dog shoes for running!

9 Besides, Francesca, you can't believe everything you see on television! I think this is just a clever commercial. Staying healthy and fit is what will keep us in shape for squirrel chasing, not shoes!

1 I chased a squirrel right into this big hole in this apple tree! There's a bird feeder nearby and the squirrel has been eating the seeds!

2 You're right, Sharkey! It's too dark to see him, but I can certainly smell the critter!

3 Hmm, it smells like a common gray squirrel, right Franny? They don't hibernate in the winter like many other animals. But they often take shelter inside hollow tree trunks to stay warm and to stay near a food source.

4 Hey, squirrel!!! Come out of there! You're eating all the birdseed. You know, there's no such thing as a free lunch around here!

5 Maybe if we both shove our heads inside the hole at the same time...

6 Wait, Sharkey! There's a hole at the top of the tree, too!

7 Say, I have an idea...let's flank him! You stay down at the bottom and I'll just jump up to that one. He'll have nowhere to go!

8 One, two, three - jump! Such athleticism!

9 Aw, come on, darling sweet little squirrel! We just want to play with you!

10 Franny, I'm beginning to feel like a foolish Frenchie. I think we've been had by that squirrel. I think he used that top hole as a back door and now, he's outta here! Probably sitting in another tree laughing at us!

1 Francesca! GK! There is something strange outside! It appears to be some sort of green animal about Frenchie size!

2 I'll just wait here, where it's safe, while you girls investigate. That green color is kind of disturbing.

3 Hmmm, it's shaped like one of the miniature donkeys except that it's much more miniature! But our mini donks are the smallest size there is! And they definitely don't come in green! We need a closer look.

4 Well, Francesca, would you look at that! It's a topiary in the shape of a donkey!

5 Topiaries are often made by trimming trees, shrubs, or bushes into shapes. This is a different type of topiary.

6 Oh I see, the donkey shape is actually a wire frame, which appears to be filled with sphagnum moss. Sphagnum is often referred to as peat moss, as it's often found growing on top of peat bogs.

7 You know what? I can pose like that, too. Why doesn't someone make a topiary of me? The art of topiary has been around since Roman times. What better way to be immortalized?

8 How about this, Sharkey? Is this a good pose?

9 Or should I look off this way, like I'm daydreaming?

10 Just think, people all over the globe could decorate their lawns with Topiary Francescas! This could be big, Sharkey!

11 Oh Francesca, you're so silly. We don't need a topiary version of you—one of you is enough!

1 Sharkey! Do you smell what I smell? I think we're on the trail of a red fox! I'm told that the red fox has a variable diet, favoring the seasonal availability of small mammals and birds.

2 Francesca, I heard some of the crew say that they saw a couple of foxes recently right near our house! That's why the cats are locked inside and why we need to be especially careful out here!

3 Sharkey, I also heard that red foxes are the leading animal hunted for the fur in the winter, so they need to find a good hiding spot. Where would you hide if you were a fox?

4 In the winter, foxes live in dens or burrows underground to keep their litter of pups warm. They usually stay close to a source of water for drinking...Hey, I have an idea!

5 Francesca, I don't know about this. Do you really think a fox would take shelter in a drainage pipe? I'm too scared to look!

6 Hello? Are there any foxes hiding in this drainage pipe? Sharkey, I don't see a thing in there!

7 What is it, Franny? Did you pick up the fox's scent again? If there really is one here, we should be able to smell where he's been marking his territory. Too bad he doesn't realize this is our territory!

8 Sharkey! Look! I was tracking something all along...it's...a jaw bone!

9 Let's take a closer look at this!

10 Hmm, judging by the length and by the placement of the incisor and canine teeth, I believe this is definitely the lower jaw of a fox! What do you think, Sharkey?

11 I think you're correct, Franny! It looks like one poor fox has met its end! But that also means that there's something bigger than a fox out there to worry about!

1 Where is that Sharkey? I can hear her barking and I think I know where she is.

2 Franny, I'm in with the donks trying to get them to play tag! Run, Billie! Run, Rufus! Run, Clive! Come on, I want to play!

3 Sharkey, you should have gotten here sooner. We would love to play with you, but we've got an appointment in the stable for our daily hoof washing.

4 Oh come on, Billie! Why bother washing your hooves? They'll just get dirty again tomorrow! Skip it and stay out here and play with me!

5 Sharkey, we donks must think of our health. Hoof problems aren't common for miniature donkeys, but the risks are greater when the ground is soggy from rain and snow.

6 Washing hooves really doesn't take all that much effort. Dolma leads us right to the stable shower.

7 To keep us from bolting, Dolma hooks our harnesses to a strap in the shower. Of course, there are treats for good behavior.

8 And then the fun begins and we get our hooves sprayed clean. We've been told that when the ground is wet, it becomes a breeding ground for all kinds of bacteria. Yuck!

9 This is truly fascinating! I'll keep my distance to avoid getting wet.

10 All that bacteria can cause a number of hoof problems for donks and horses alike! Horrible infections like thrush, white line disease, lamanitis, and even abscesses can cause big health problems.

11 All clean again!

12 You see, Frenchies, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.

13 Wow, I learned a lot today about hoof hygiene! And I'm so glad Dolma takes such good care of you. I better go home and ask to have my paws washed after running in your paddock.

1 Francesca and I love this area of the farm.

2 We have so many pretty songbirds that come to feed here and we have so many squirrels to chase because they, too, come to eat the seeds that fall to the ground.

3 Oh no, Francesca! This pile of feathers can't be a good thing!

4 This is more than just one little bird molting.

5 Horrors! This looks more like a crime scene!

6 Do you suppose one of our little birds has met an unfortunate end?

7 Sharkey, just yesterday when I was out here, a big shadow was cast on the ground and when I looked up...

8 I saw the gigantic four-foot wingspan of a red tailed hawk.

9 Oh no, Franny! All hawks are birds of prey and are feared by small animals because of their carnivorous cravings. It's widely assumed that these raptors eat primarily mammals, but they consider small birds to be a succulent treat!

10 I think we know what has happened here and I suppose we can close this unfortunate case.

11 Hey little birds! Watch your backs!

12 A hawk can swoop down at any time and grab you in its big sharp talons. I'm told they can even nab you in mid-flight! Imagine, birds eating birds! Who can figure it?

1 How do you like that, Francesca! Here we are all ready to play in the snow that fell last night, but it's turned to rain and the snow is nearly all gone!

2 Well, Sharkey, it may not be weather for playing in the snow, but let's take a walk around the farm and get some exercise anyway!

3 We should probably inspect the burlapping and see how it's holding up. Darn, my feet are getting wet in these puddles.

4 The shrubs beneath these burlap covers smell alive and healthy!

5 And Francesca, the burlap is still nice and taut on its frames. We wouldn't want any of Martha's beautiful shrubs to be damaged by winter's cold and heavy snow!

6 You know, Sharkey, burlap, or hessian, is a great material to use in the garden. It's strong and natural and is usually woven from fibers of the jute and sisal plants. Its loose weave allows for good air circulation and it's biodegradable.

7 Look, Sharkey! The guys have even outlined the walkways with metal stakes. If a heavy snow should fall, the paths are marked for easy shoveling!

8 So far, this has been one strange winter, Franny! I am so glad that Ryan and Wilmer finished spreading the garden beds with compost. I was really worried about all those confused spring bulbs.

9 Sharkey, that compost is blanketing the bulbs just as this burlap is protecting the shrubs and just as our warm coats are blanketing us!

10 In winter, it's all about covering up and being protected from the elements. Now, where does one find a squirrel to chase when it's cold and nasty?

1 Sharkey! There you are! I was looking for you. What are you doing?

2 Oh Francesca, I found some flowers growing and it has me a bit concerned.

3 You mean like this one? Why, this is just a common snowdrop flower. There's nothing to be concerned about here!

4 The snowdrop, or Galanthus, often flowers in winter. These plants have a substance in them called galantamine which is often used in the treatment for Alzheimer's.

5 It wasn't the type of flower, that concerned me, Franny. It was the fact that it, and many other bulbs, are beginning to sprout!

6 Look at what's growing in the daffodil beds! These should be appearing in April, not January! The weather has been varying from warm to cold. I'm worried that the next frost will kill all of these flowers!

7 It's not just the bulbs that are confused. Take a look at the swollen buds of these climbing hydrangeas! Hey buds, go back to sleep! You're not supposed to pop open for another couple of months!

8 You're right, Sharkey. There are a lot of plants poking through the soil much too early. I know how much you love flowers, so I can understand your concern, but there's no need to worry!

9 Indeed, the weather has been reaching upwards of 60 degrees, so no wonder these bulbs think it's time to spring up! Fortunately, a frost will not kill the plants as bulbs are meant to be hardy.

10 You're right, Francesca. The bulbs are just reacting to the environment. When the temperature drops, it will stifle their growing until it is warm again. I just want these beautiful flowers bloom in the spring when they're supposed to!

1 Francesca! Come up to the craft room! We need to work on our holiday card!

2 I think we should use this great photo taken of us wearing our holiday sweaters from PetSmart.

3 What do you think, Francesca?

4 Great, Sharkey! And now we'll print it out. Doesn't it look nice on this glossy paper?

5 I'll use this Martha Stewart Crafts paper cutter to cut out the photo. Franny, go find some card stock!

6 Already ahead of you! I'm using this bone folder to make a really nice crease!

7 A little glue to the back of the photo...

8 It's looking good, Francesca! But is there anything else we can do to make it a bit more festive?

9 I found this snowflake border paper punch!

10 Did you know that sending holiday cards is somewhat of a recent practice? The first card was designed by J.C. Horsly in 1843! They caught on in England because, at the time, it only cost a penny to mail them!

11 Wow, doesn't it look great? Come on, Sharkey! Let's run and give this to Martha! She'll be so proud of her little Frenchies!