Maggie's Sad

This is my niece, Maggie. It seems my brother in law, Ted has a new work schedule and Maggie's not liking it. When he left the other day for work, she lay down by the front door and stayed there for hours. Awe...it's ok, girl. He'll be back before you know it.

Wink Wink

Super Cute! Hand painted wood sign by The Country Workshop. Visit the store and see all the wonderful, fun, funny, witty and just downright fabulous signs!

Witty Design

Love it! By...

 Visit the Etsy store for more fabulous stationery designs!

Bed Full Of Dogs

 Welcome to my Saturday morning. Yes, these pics are from just a few minutes ago. I have a Bed Full of Dogs on this raining am. Normally, the dogs are not allowed up on furniture, especially my bed, but when they are fresh from a bath, I sometimes make an exception, as long as they don't get on my sheets! Lucas really likes it when they get to snuggle with us for a bit. We are a snuggly family, after all. 

Hope you have yourself a snuggly weekend. Thanks for reading my blog!

"I have to be alone very often. I'd be quite happy if I spent from Saturday night until Monday morning alone in my apartment. That's how I refuel." ~ Audrey Hepburn

Happy Friday!

Today is Friday. It's finally raining around these here parts. I miss the rain! It's snowing in Tahoe, although only at high elevations. I've designated today, Friday January 20, 2012 as a stress free day. I'm not going to think. I'm not going to worry and I'm not going to fret about anything today. I'm just going to clear my mind and try to be blank. Sound good? Well, it does to me. Calgon, take me away.

"The only way to do great work is to love what you do.  If you haven't found it yet, keep looking. Don't settle. As with all matters of the heart, you'll know when you find it."

~Steve Jobs

Sunday Morning Dreaming

I need this. I want this. I dream about this. Inside laundry room, with built in dog washing station. There is nothing about this room that I would change. Love the floor, the beadboard on the walls and the ceiling, the country feel and I especially love that beautiful dog that is avoiding coming inside because he knows what that room means!

Perfection. 

"Dreams are illustrations... from the book your soul is writing about you."  

~Marsha Norman

Silly Buddy. (Pun Intended!)

For the first time, I'd like to introduce Silly Buddy. He wanted to leave behind his very serious nature and have a little fun! He put these really cool slippers on so he could slide around the hardwood floors. I said, "Woo Hoo! Show me whacha got!"

Ok. Ok. I know. His eyes tell the truth. Those are true Buddy Eyes...serious, worried and about as non-silly as a dog could get. I admit he did not put on the slippers voluntarily. What? You're surprised? Well, I was trying to help him with his fear of the hardwood floors and I went and bought him these nifty non skid slippers that I thought would just be the bomb. I was oh-so-wrong. But it did make for fun experience for me and the boys because it was very funny seeing Buddy look so silly. He is about a serious as a dog could get and these booties made him look silly, if only for a few minutes. 

Per his request, I returned them the next day. I understand my poor Buddy Baby so well. By nature, I'm pretty serious too, so I get it. I get him. But ever so often, we need to let our guard down and do something fun, something crazy...something silly. 

  "If a man insisted always on being serious, and never allowed himself a bit of fun and relaxation, he would go mad or become unstable without knowing it."

Herodotus

Guard Dog On Duty

 If there could be only one picture that sums up my Dingo, this would be it. Look at his posture. Sitting up perfectly straight, ears straight up and pointed forward. He's on guard. He's always on guard. He protects the house, the yard and us. Always. All dogs need some sort of job and this is his. As you can see, it doesn't matter if I close the curtains. He will still find a way to see out, to make sure there is no intruder making his way into our space. Ok, so that intruder could be a cat or, Lord forbid, a squirrel, but any way it appears, all uninvited guests must answer to our guard dog, Dingo.

When I brought home this little brown 6 month old puppy eight years ago, I had no idea what I was getting myself into. Over the years, his barking and huffing and puffing in the yard has driven me crazy to the point that I'm like, "my next dog will be a little fluffy fluff" that never barks!  But, this last year, I've come to love and appreciate my special body guard. Recently, our house was broken in to and it was very traumatic for all of us and that fact has made me appreciate Dingo's protectiveness all the more. He was locked in a bedroom that day, so he couldn't protect the house, like normal. I have no doubt if he was roaming free, those people would have not gotten the chance to come in to our home and rummage through our things, our memories. 

Since that day, almost a month ago, Dingo (and Buddy) has been almost off the charts sensitive to noise, people and anything unfamiliar in our house. I think that he knows that something happened that day. Of course, the room that Dingo was in was the only room that wasn't touched by crime. I have no doubt that he was completely losing his mind on the other side of the door, as strangers made their way through the house. I feel like he knows that he didn't get to do his job that day and has vowed to make sure it never happens again because right now, he is the most protective he has ever been and I like it. Actually, I love it.

The difference in this photo? He's still perked up. He's still on guard. But, his ears? They are pointing backward because even when he's on guard, he has to listen to what we are doing behind him. Yep, he's that good. To top it all off, he's such a sweet boy. He loves everyone that comes over and is very good with the chaos that my life full of boys brings.

Thanks, boy. We LOVE you.

 
"I wouldn't say that you were ruthless or right.
I couldn't see from so far.
Was I chasing after rainbows?
One thing for sure you never answered when I called.
And I wiped away the water from my face
To look through the eyes of a stranger..."
~The Seventh Stranger- Duran Duran

Letter From God

"Our 14 year old dog, Abbey, died last month. The day after she died, my 4 year old daughter Meredith was crying and talking about how much she missed Abbey. She asked if we could write a letter to God so that when Abbey got to heaven, God would recognize her. I told her that I thought we could so she dictated these words: Dear God, Will you please take care of my dog? She died yesterday and is with you in heaven. I miss her very much. I am happy that you let me have her as my dog even though she got sick. I hope you will play with her. She likes to play with balls and to swim. I am sending a picture of her so when you see her You will know that she is my dog. I really miss her. Love, Meredith We put the letter in an envelope with a picture of Abbey and Meredith and addressed it to God/Heaven. We put our return address on it. Then Meredith pasted several stamps on the front of the envelope because she said it would take lots of stamps to get the letter all the way to heaven. That afternoon she dropped it into the letter box at the post office. A few days later, she asked if God had gotten the letter yet. I told her that I thought He had. Yesterday, there was a package wrapped in gold paper on our front porch addressed, ‘To Meredith’ in an unfamiliar hand. Meredith opened it. Inside was a book by Mr. Rogers called, ‘When a Pet Dies.’ Taped to the inside front cover was the letter we had written to God in its opened envelope. On the opposite page was the picture of Abbey & Meredith and this note: Dear Meredith, Abbey arrived safely in heaven. Having the picture was a big help. I recognized Abbey right away. Abbey isn’t sick anymore. Her spirit is here with me just like it stays in your heart. Abbey loved being your dog. Since we don’t need our bodies in heaven, I don’t have any pockets to keep your picture in, so I am sending it back to you in this little book for you to keep and have something to remember Abbey by. Thank you for the beautiful letter and thank your mother for helping you write it and sending it to me. What a wonderful mother you have. I picked her especially for you. I send my blessings every day and remember that I love you very much. By the way, I’m easy to find, I am wherever there is love. Love, God…"

via Pinterest.

“The trouble with quotes on the internet is that it’s difficult to discern whether or not they are genuine.”   ~Abraham Lincoln

Lucky Mojo

Firefighters revive a chihuahua named Mojo after the dog suffers smoke inhalation in an El Cajon mobile home fire (PHOTO: CITY OF EL CAJON / January 4, 2012)

Look at that little body. His name is Mojo and was near death, but was brought back to life after firefighters found him in a house gutted by fire. His owner made it out, but this little one didn't. 

Luckily, firefighters realized this little guy's value and used a child sized oxygen mask to help revive him and he's expected to make a full recovery.  

He's a lucky dog and I hope he and his daddy are having a grateful weekend.  

Have a great weekend. See you Monday! 

Happy Friday!

I found this cute picture on my new favorite website, Pinterest. I warn you: do not go to the site unless you have at least an hour to kill. It's like crack and I'm not sure why. It's just so visual and has so many funny and cute quotes and pictures and it's just fabulous. 

"God doesn't give you the people you want, he gives you the people you need. to help you, to hurt you, to leave you, to love you and to make you the person you were meant to be."

Maggie's New Bling

 

 I know the picture is kinda blurry, but can you see Maggie's new bling? I bought it for her. I got both of my dogs new dog tags and I saw this one in the store with the Forty Niners logo on it. I immediately bought it and had Maggie's name engraved on it with my sister's phone number. 

You see my sister, Jessica, is the tried and true Number One fan of the San Franciscio 49ers. I'm not talking about being the number one fan, as in all the people who will now jump on the "Number One Fan Bandwagon" now that the 49ers are rocking the NFL. I mean she has loved them and stood by them for all of the years, especially the bad ones. She faithfully watched and yelled and yelled and watched them every single game day, for every single season for as long as I can remember. 

So, when I saw this tag, there was no way I couldn't get it on the spot! In fact, Lucas was with me and he was so excited about me buying it, that my Mr. Homebody, surprisingly insisted that we get in the car and drive to Gilroy asap to give it to her.

So, we did. We drove to Gilroy and gave the new bling to Jessica...er, I mean, Maggie. 

wink wink. 

My New Year's Wish

 

For 2012, I wish for all of you as much love in your life as my 13 year old son, Domnic, has in his heart for Dingo. He calls him "My Dingo" and I never imagined my son could show so much love.

Year-End Pictures

"Adopted him when he was 11. Here he is 5 years later, better than ever, celebrating Christmas."

As I always say, Please Consider Oldtimers. They still have a lot of love to give!
 

 "Best Friends Forever."

 "He fell asleep like this, so we put him to good use."

 "This is my dog George. We rescued him from a shelter at 6 months old, he's now 8 years and still a puppy."

"Since you guys like cute things, I figured I would show you how I get greeted everyday when I come home."

 

 "Poor thing hasn't left this chair in days. She insists on "guarding" the stockings every Christmas."

 "My husky feeling very proud of himself that he gets to ride up front."

 "First Christmas without my Luna... She would have been 10 this year."

 "The sign did not lie. The nicest dog I've ever met. Just let me pet his belly."

 "She's had a tough year: lost her best friend, moved houses after my parents divorced, and beat cancer. This 13 year old is still in the Christmas spirit though!"

The Best One is saved for last...

"Worst. Presents. Ever."

LOL! I love this last picture. I've been debating getting these for Buddy because he's having a hard time with the hard wood floors in our house. His reaction would probably be the same. 

Happy New Year. God Bless and all that jazz!

Pics via Reddit.

Why I Can Never Live In A Condo

 Buddy used to run and hide when I asked Dingo if he wanted to go for a walk. But, after working with him on the walks and, basically, forcing him to go, he's learned that he loves the walks! Unfortunately, I created a monster because now he's a loud and obnoxious four-legged crazy person when the question, "Wanna go for a walk?" is asked. He is so vocal about his wanting to go, it's like he's petrified that I'm gonna leave him behind. 

This video is evidence as to why I can never live in a condo. I can't get him to shut up! 

I love him, though. He's my Buddy Baby.