Guess you could say they enjoyed themselves. Happy mid-week.
Live, love, bark! ❤︎
Month: October 2017
Another One Bites the Dust
The 4-pawed demolition squad, otherwise known as the Ninja, has struck again. One of Elsa’s favorite toys that she plays with frequently unceremoniously bit the dust. I thought it only fitting it had the pawfect funeral requiem before it goes to the toy graveyard mending basket.
Hard to believe this innocent looking poodle is so treacherous when it comes to toys. Early on I learned the cute toys with adorable arms, legs and noses that uprights favored were fair game when introduced to this munching machine. I have tried to keep toys without angles, edges or appendages, preferring rounded shapes so as to keep the jaws of death less likely to inflict the special death she foists on them.
Here’s just a tiny sampling of toys that once had ears, fins, and other protruding parts before my ‘Jaws’ eating machine got ahold of them. It always cracks me up how she’ll play nice and then all of a sudden WHAM! Something possesses her mind and she must then eviscerate the ever-loving stuffing out of it.
Sadly many of her stuffies have not been able to be saved, despite valiant attempts by the resident seamstress. Frankly, some were so chewed up, not even the ‘Doctors of TV‘ could put them back together. I think poor ‘Nemo’ here is just about on his last fin. The smiley ball used to have long floppy ears now only sports nubs (I’m surprised she hasn’t eaten the tag). And yet, it makes me happy to see her cart them in her mouth to the back door waiting to go on a walk with a half chewed stuffie in her mouth. Which is why whenever the fabric store has a coupon, I try to find remnants to stock up on for future projects. Looks like I’ll be visiting again soon and trying to whip up something clever that she’ll destuff enjoy even if only for a short time. She seems to enjoy the bone and heart shapes made earlier this year, so maybe Santa will make more of those.
Do you have a Kraken who destroys toys chewer who enjoys the stuffing a little too much?
Live, love, bark! ❤︎
Happy Birthday to Me
Woo-hoo, it’s finally here…my birthday! I feel like I have been waiting for it for an eternity. Sam here. Mom says I’m finally a ‘tween’ now. And boy, am I gonna paw-tah! We plan to have loads of treats and enjoy the whole weekend before the snow flies on Monday. Even the Ninja is helping herself to treats. Mom baked up some “Best In Show” treats that are tasty and heathy. Full of yummy ingredients including peanut butter and parsley. And don’t forget to try the freeze-dried salmon. Man, that stuff is super addictive!
Our local pet boutique, ‘Taj Mutt Hal’ even called to say they had some special pupcakes for me and the Ninja. I think my pawty is gonna be a lot like one of our Thanksgiving’s where everyone gets stuffed to the gills. But since it’s my day, I get to decide how many naps I can take after I’m stuffed, how many walks to take to burn off all the extra calories I plan to eat and how much of mom’s attention will be all mine. [ahhh, daydreaming about all the fun stuff that’s going down today]
Elsa: Moooommmm, Sam doesn’t get to control everything, does he?
Mom: Well Ninja…it is his special day and you got to call the shots on your Gotcha Day a couple of weeks ago. Only seems fair.
Elsa: Hrumph. Well, I don’t know why he’s so special today. He’s just a big brother.
Mom: Well today is his birthday and that makes it special. Birthday fur-kids get to spend the day the way they want, whether they want to partake of extra napping or tra-la-la-ing around the ‘hood, but I promise you’ll still get loads of ear scratches. Ok?
Elsa: Oh, all right. Pencil me in. Nom, nom, nom. Burp. Oops, sorry ’bout that. Heh, heh…maybe I had just a tad too much salmon?
Sam: Even though I turn 12 years old today, I’m still pretty young at heart. My vertical leap may only be 2 feet now instead of 3 feet but mom says I’m still a goofy pogo stick. Not sure if that’s meant as a compliment but just like James Brown used to sing:
🎶”W-o-w…I feel good Da, da, da, da, da,
I knew that I would, now Da, da, da, da, da,
I feel good Da, da, da, da, da,
I knew that I would, now
So good, so good, I got you
Wow, I feel nice Da, da, da, da, da,
Like sugar and spice Da, da, da, da, da,
I feel nice Da, da, da, da, da,
So nice, so nice, I got you
Bom, bom, bom, bom, bom…W-O-W-W-W!” 🎶
Have a pawsome weekend.
Live, love, bark! ❤︎
Fab Friday ~ October 6, 2017
Last weekend was the quintessential Fall weekend. Perfect temperatures in the 70’s, low humidity, and crystal clear blue skies define autumn in Colorado. The kind of weekend that is not only most welcome following a few days of misty rain with chilly temps, but the kind that beg you to stroll through gardens and enjoy the outdoors. And this weekend was extra special, as there were a gazillion tourists out enjoying it and who weren’t congesting the highways. Often confused with Monarch butterflies, the Painted Lady butterflies have been so numerous this year as they move south toward their warmer winter habitats but first they will gorge on tasty local offerings. They even have been spotted on weather radar. See stories here and here.
What’s not to love about this time of year? The temperatures are usually mild and there is a special glow of light that turns everything golden and gorgeous highlighted by exquisite blues/purples contrasting against typical autumn colors. Many of the summer flowers have for the most part, given up center stage to their autumnal cousins although the annual Zinnias are holding out till the first frost. Hardy Mum, Aster, Black-eyed Susan and my personal favorite, Plumbago are all demanding the spotlight.
As I walked through the garden, the Painted Ladies explode upward, as they flit around in annoyance that their nectar banquet was interrupted. Quietly kneeling and holding perfectly still, I patiently wait for them to return and resume the meal. I am soon rewarded.
Happy Flower Friday. Tomorrow is Sam’s 12th bark day so we hope you will swing by. There will be special treats for His Knuckleheaded-ness so let’s get this pawty started. But first, let’s entertain our good friend, Friday wine. Cheers!
Live, love, bark! ❤︎
October Is Adopt a Shelter Dog Month
While inadvertently fur-getting to acknowledge National Black Dog Day, I decided not to make a similar mistake again by not noting that October is Adopt a Shelter Dog. Sam and I did our part rescuing Elsa and always encourage others to save a shelter pet. Shelter dogs have so much to offer and so much love to give. Every year 3 to 4 million dogs are euthanized because the number of pets in shelters exceed the number of shelter adoptions. Shelter pets come in all sizes and breeds and there’s bound to be something for everyone. Many shelters even have a number of purebred dogs as well. Remember our Remember Me Thursday post last week where we mentioned Eliot and Puck? They were each rescued from a shelter a couple year’s apart as was McKenzie, my sweet, black standard poodle. All three of those rescues lived long, happy lives while providing the family amazing joy and happiness. All these pets want is a chance to smile and have the opportunity to share their lives with a loving upright.
So this month in particular, if you’re looking for a pet, remember #AdoptDon’tShop. Put a smile on a rescue and they’ll leave indelible paw prints on your heart and in Elsa’s case, probably chew up a couple pair of glasses, socks and other weird things-but gosh I love this girl so much. She brings such joy every day.
Live, love, bark! ❤︎
Word(y) Wednesday
Is it as incomprehensible to you as it is to me that it’s already October?! Here’s to a glorious month. We’ll be celebrating the birthday of a certain knucklehead in a few days, so make sure to check out the antics celebration.
Live, love, bark! ❤︎
Mourning Monday
For several hours during the night I watched as the scene unfolded in the latest mass shooting, this time in Las Vegas. I used to do a number of legal municipal bond closings for McCarran Airport, always staying at the MGM and couldn’t help but wonder about the people of Vegas. The folks I worked with, the kind hotel staff that always made each visit as comfortable as possible. Vegas is not my kind of town, it’s noisy with too much glitz and goes against my thoughts on excess. With every visit for business, I witnessed behavior that was truly appalling from guests, but those who lived and worked there were just like people anywhere. Trying to get by, enjoy a slice of life, take care of and love their families. With each news story relating to mass shootings, my heart grows heavier with more despair. Why? Why do we accept this? Why do we do nothing to end it? Can anything even be done? I have no answers; the genie has been released from the bottle and can only offer my heartfelt thoughts and prayers to all those affected by this latest and most horrific shooting in US history. As I sit here in the safety of my home, the dogs snoozing close by, I silently weep that once again, a mad man with darkness and demented thoughts in his heart, took them out on the innocent. I am heart broken. This is not the way to start any week. And now I’ll go and donate blood for my own community since I know this scenario will likely repeat itself. #StoptheMadness
Live, love, bark! ❤︎