Home Sweet Home

Did you have a good Turkey Day?  Mommy and Daddy did.  They flew to Georgia for a Southern Thanksgiving.  Did we get to fly with them?  No!  Mommy tells me there were some yip-yip dogs in large "purses" at the airport.  Neither of us believes anyone should be allowed to take a dog on a plane and stuff it under a seat when she can't take me!  Perhaps she could just buy me a seat?  I would be happy to take the middle seat and spare Mommy and Daddy from that unlucky position.  Oh well.  I think the least they could have done was bring us some of the Thanksgiving leftovers.  Where is the cornbread dressing?  Mommy knows I LOVE bread!!!  Daddy is trying to convince her to make us some right now . . .

Speaking of flying, did you know you can't fly with grape jelly in your carry-on bag?  Daddy said HE knew; Mommy knows NOW!  Mommy wanted to take Mimi and Aunt Carol some of our homemade jelly, so she wrapped it in bubble wrap and stuck it in her carry-on for safe travel.  When the bag went through the x-ray machine, the TSA lady asked Daddy if he had jelly packed.  He was about to say of course not, when Mommy said yes!  Apparently despite the fact that all the radio stations had been discussing flying with pies and casseroles this past week, jelly is NOT allowed!  (Later, Daddy just kept asking Mommy if she knew what Napalm looked like.  Apparently she didn't.  She knows NOW that it looks like JELLY without the color!)  Mommy had two options: give up the jelly or turn around, check the carry on, and go all the way back through security again . . . Mommy gave up the jelly.   Mimi and Aunt Carol may never get a chance to enjoy it. 

We spent Thanksgiving at the kennel again.  I guess if we have to spend time away from home, it's a good place to go: radiant heated floors, indoor-outdoor runs, fields to run in.  Mommy said she felt guilty when she dropped us off because all of the other mommies had brought their dogs' beds.  Mommy doesn't like to bring big bulky items to the kennel because it's hard to clean them after.  We're lucky if we have a blanket to call our own while we are there!  The kennel offers "family" runs where multiple dogs can stay together.  They always want to know if Mommy wants that option since there are three of us, but thankfully Mommy says no.  She knows we might torture each other if left together in a small space for several days!  I know I would mind my own business, but Jenna would be all over us and Dixie would be stressed out as a result!  Instead, we stay side-by-side and get to play with each other during the day. 

On the way home from the kennel, we all rode in the back seat of the truck.  I like to stand in the middle and show my parents the love.  (I tend to pant and drool quite a bit on the console.)  Dixie and Jenna like to sit on either side of me and watch the world go by.  Dixie apparently wanted to get a closer look because she decided to put the window down!  All of a sudden Mommy felt a breeze whipping through the truck and screamed for Daddy to roll Dixie's window up.  It was a tiny bit stressful there for a moment, but no dawgs were injured on the ride home. 

We are happy to be home.  Usually we put our Christmas tree up the weekend after Thanksgiving, but since it came so early this year Mommy has decided to wait.  I think she is really waiting because she has no idea how three dawgs are going to handle moving around a tree!  I have always been very well behaved around the tree.  Dixie has done well too with the exception of her hyperactive tail that tends to knock ornaments off occasionally.  Now we have Jenna too!  Mommy is fearful for her ornaments and the tree itself.   I personally think Jenna's biggest temptation might be the wrapping paper on all of those presents under the tree.  I wonder if Mommy has thought about that yet?? 

Woof!  Woof!
Hunter

Counting Our Blessings

Happy Turkey Day!  We hope you have a great day celebrating all of the blessings you have been given!  We've been counting our blessings too and wanted to share them with you.

Hunter's list:

• Mommy
• Daddy
• My many beds throughout the house (especially the big green one)
• The blankets I like to suck on
• Treats

Dixie's list:

• Mommy
• Daddy
• Tennis balls
• Treats
• Tennis balls
• Stuffed animals
• Tennis balls

Jenna's list:

• Food
• A furever home with my new Mommy and Daddy
• Treats
• My siblings Hunter and Dixie
• Food

Just so you know, we listed Mommy first simply because she's the one who spends the most time with us.  She feeds us, bathes us, plays with us, and is the main reason we were adopted.  Don't worry, Daddy's pretty special too!  He likes to play, sneaks us treats, and gives the perfect scratch behind the ears.

Enjoy your day!  Gobble 'til you wobble!

 

"Give thanks to the LORD, for He is good;

His love endures forever."   

Psalm 107:1

Can You Ear Me Now?

I love being me, but I so wish I could be more like my sisters sometimes.  I HATE having my ears cleaned and they become dirty pretty frequently.  It doesn't matter what kind of food I eat, or how often I take a bath, my ears are dirty.  After staying at the kennel last weekend, Mommy noticed Jenna was doing the "helicopter" and "slide."  For those of you not in the know, the helicopter is when we shake our heads back and forth making a vibrating noise in an effort to relieve the itchy pain in our ears.  The slide is when we put our heads to the ground, specifically our ears, and push our heads around the floor also in an effort to take away the irritation.  I specialize in the helicopter; Jenna leans more towards the slide.  Dixie doesn't seem to have a preference, or her ears don't really get dirty!   Either way, the presence of the moves will surely lead Mommy toward ear cleaning time.  Yuck!

This is one of the few situations when I wish I was more like the girls.  Dixie went first; she simply sat for Mommy and waited patiently while her ears were cleaned.  She didn't moan or groan.  Just sat there!  Jenna went next.  She wasn't crazy about going into the bathroom to do the deed (perhaps she thought a bath was about to occur), but once she got there, she just sat!  She had a few tiny whimpers, but I think that's just because Mommy was going in for a deep cleaning.  They were both so brave. 

Why can't I be like that?  I can recognize that ear cleaning solution from a mile away.  When I see that bottle come out of the cabinet, I take off in the opposite direction.  It's too bad I'm not small enough to hide under the bed!  When it was my turn, Mommy had to chase me down and grab me by the collar.  I totally ignored all commands to "COME!"  We never made it into the bathroom.  I can only force myself to go in there for baths; the linoleum on the floor scares me!  Once Mommy got a hold of me, I begrudgingly sat and let her clean my ears.  I made lots of moans and groans.  The cleaner she uses is seriously cold when it hits my ears.  I wonder if there is any way to safely heat it up?  I will have to ask Aunt Carol.  My poor little human cousin Sam has had several ear infections lately.  Maybe Aunt Carol knows a trick Mommy doesn't . . .

Did I tell you I HATE having my ears cleaned??  Ugh!

Wax and Cleansers,
Hunter

Mommy's Thoughts

I usually let the dawgs write about their lives, but I thought I would write a little bit about our morning. I spent the time cleaning and the dawgs spent most of that time outside enjoying the fresh air and barking up a storm. At one point I glanced out to see Jenna and Dixie sitting side by side scoping out the world. They looked exactly like the sisters they are! I tried to snag a couple of pictures of them through the sliding door and through the kitchen blinds before they saw me and moved. They had so much fun chasing each other around the yard today while trying to avoid the vacuum.

 

At one point while I was cleaning, Jenna decided to make herself comfy.  Her favorite place to relax when I am moving around the house is quickly becoming the bear skin rug in the man room!  Daddy does NOT like it when Jenna even walks on the rug much less curls up on it.  I think if she was allowed to roam freely in the house when we're away, she would make herself right at home on the rug.  He fears it would only be a matter of time before she took a bite out of it!  I think Jenna has better sense (except for toilet paper which is STILL an issue).

 

 

 

Shhh!  Don't tell Daddy!  That includes his co-workers who tend to tell him what his dawgs are writing since Daddy doesn't always read the blog.  (You know who you are!)  I couldn't resist taking these pictures.  Jenna is just beautiful sitting on the rug and blends in perfectly!  I hope you are enjoying your weekend.

 

Have a Happy Thanksgiving!

 



 

 

Armed and Dangerous!

It's been a while since you've heard from us.  That's because we've been on a mini-vacation.  Well, truthfully, Mommy and Daddy went on the actual vacation while we went to the kennel.  They went on a weekend mountain trip, and we spent time in our new "home away from home."  We did have a lot of fun making new friends.  We were able to stay up late and bark our heads off if we wanted without having Daddy tell us to be quiet.  Can you say PARTY?!?!?!

Mommy and Daddy had fun too.  They went trap shooting and horseback riding.  This was Mommy's first real experience with a shotgun and she had a blast (pun intended)!  Daddy was so impressed that she actually HIT the targets.  She didn't hit all of them of course, or even half of them, but she did HIT them!  That shotgun hit her shoulder quite a bit too and caused a lovely bruise.  Despite the bruise, she had fun and is ready to go again!  Daddy says he's a little worried because now Mommy is armed and dangerous!

They also had fun last weekend riding horses.  Mommy's horse was named Dixie!  Mommy says stubbornness must be attached to my name; I'm not sure what she meant by that . . . do you??  They tell me that riding can also cause bruises for those not used to it.  Mommy tried to listen to Daddy's directions at both events in order to avoid as much lingering pain as possible, but she has still taken quite a few pain killers this week.  I'm sure that allowing us to sleep with them a couple nights this week since their return has helped her feel better.  Jenna especially likes to settle between Mommy's feet. 

I hope you have a great Turkey Day!  Start making your list of all you're thankful for . . . I'm starting with my parents, brother, and sister!

Wags and Kisses,
Dixie

A First for Jenna . . . Depending on How You Look at It!

This morning Jenna had a first  . . . or last, depending on how you look at it!  I choose to see it as a miracle for me and Hunter and believe Jenna actually came in last place!

This past summer while Mommy was in the pet store, a lady was giving out free samples of a new dog food.  These samples were dehydrated and required water to be added before the actual eating could take place.  This whole process sounded a bit weird to all of us, but Mommy took the samples to be friendly.  Those samples have been sitting with our dog treats in the laundry room for months.  Mommy has no intention of switching, but she can't waste anything. You have to understand she follows Poppa Hall's lead and squeezes out every last drop of toothpaste from the tube. She stops just short of cutting the tube open (Poppa doesn't stop; he digs right in). Daddy usually begins a new tube while Mommy is still trying to finish off the old one.  But I digress.  Enough bark about Mommy's frugalness.

Mommy decided today was the day to try the samples out.  The directions said to mix 1/3 cup warm water with the food and then wait five minutes.  Right there is the first problem!  Who has a dog that doesn't recognize the food bowl and know food is coming soon . . . not in FIVE minutes?!?!  We were hanging all over Mommy's feet as she proceeded to unload the dishwasher and do a few other chores as we anxiously awaited our food (i.e. Jenna drooled all over the floor). 

After waiting a LONG five minutes, Mommy decided the food didn't look like it was going to be enough to sustain us until dinner tonight.  After all, it was a sample!  She added a tiny bit of our food to the mix.  She noticed mine was a bit drier than Hunter's, so she added a few more drops of water and stirred it again.  Jenna's was still not that solid, but Mommy didn't think Jenna could stand it any longer.  I feel I must remind you that Jenna's bowl has dividers in it to slow her down when she eats.  Mommy bought the bowl for Hunter since he eats pretty quickly, but apparently you can't teach an old dog new tricks when it comes to his food bowl.  Mommy gave it to Jenna when we added her to the family and it's a good thing.  The girl is a canine vacuum!  Despite the dividers, Jenna always finishes first and then comes over to hang around Hunter and me in case we leave a morsel behind.  We don't, but
you have to give the girl credit for being an eternal optimist. 

Here is where the miracle occurred . . . Jenna took the longest to eat her breakfast!!!!!  Hunter finished first, I came in second place, and poor Jenna was still working her little heart out licking every last drop of food from her bowl.  Mommy was amazed.  For a split second, Mommy thought maybe she should consider buying this food just for Jenna.  But that really wouldn't be fair; that would be torture to Jenna.  And I would hate the thought of torturing Jenna.  NOT! 

I hope you have a great weekend.  Too bad we don't have more of those samples . . .

Wags and Kisses,
Dixie