Video Star

I now star in my very own video on You Tube. My Dad made the video. It is inspirational, as well as very good because, well, because I am the star.

Xena Groomed

I had been wondering when I would get groomed again. I knew I was way overdue. My back hairs stood up like a crazy clown’s hair when they were rubbed the wrong way. My hair does need to be kept pretty as befits a princess, even a warrior princess, right?Are we done? No bath today? Woo hoo!

Will I do a nice pose next to all of my hair that is no longer on my body?

How’s that? Do I get a cookie now?One more, and look a little more interested?

Geesh, how interested can I be in old hair that I can’t even eat?Hey everyone, look at all my hair on the table! I am so interested in what you think! Can I have a cookie now, Mommy?Hey Daddy can I get a glass of that special stuff in the schnauzer bottle? Maybe just a little? As compensation for being groomed? No? Another cookie, then?

I am Xena Schnauzer Warrior Princess, always campaigning for the good things in life.

Lucy and Grodd

Did you know that there are eating turkeys and singing turkeys, and we should never get them mixed up?Not long before Thanksgiving here in the U.S. of A., a singing turkey invaded my home. Here is my  first encounter with him.

That’s me barking. I had to be brave for my little sis. She was counting on me. Finally, Thanksgiving was over and the Singing Turkey went away – at least for another year – without any casualties.

I didn’t think ahead to the dangers lurking around the house during the Christmas season. I’ve already told you about the Monster Tree. I guess I shouldn’t have been surprised when a Singing Gorilla showed up. Of course, Xena immediately claimed him and named him. Grodd. But Grodd likes me a lot, as you can hear, here.

Love and wags, Lucy, the love interest of Grodd

 

Let It Snow

Hey Lucy, I heard it’s supposed to snow here tomorrow. I’ve never seen snow! I’m going to cuddle with Rudy my Reindeer and wish real hard.

Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow. (Please?)

Xena Schnauzer Warrior Princess

Nature Friday Walk at the Greenway

Hi Friends. This story for Nature Friday is from a walk we took the first Sunday in December. The days leading up to it were very rainy and dreary, and no one would take us for a good walk. OK, so we got to go for a short neighborhood walk one day, but there was no one else out to say hi! Slowly, the weather started to warm up from the 30’s to the 50’s F (-10’s to 10’s C) and then Sunday the sky was a clear blue with temperatures in the mid 70’sF (24’sC).  Mom helped me with the temperature conversion with a new app she downloaded ’cause her old app disappeared when her old phone got dropped in the t…. Oops, Mom is making the cutting motion across her throat so you can just use your imagination as to why she had to break the bank to get a new phone.

Anyhow, that’s why we finally get to participate again in Nature Friday hosted by  Rosy at LLB in Our Backyard

Mom had been complaining nicely telling Dad that he needed to spend more time with her, so when she asked him to go with us for exercise a nice walk at the greenway, Dad –being the smart man he is — said, “Let’s go!” It’s at the same place as the dog park, so I knew right where we were.  Most of the leaves were off the trees and provided a soft walkway for our feet. The trail smelled so good, like squirrels and other dogs!

The trail ran right along South Chickamauga Creek. The creek is usually small enough to wade across (not that Mom ever has let us do that) but that Sunday — after all the hard rain — it looked more like a river.You can see the creek behind us. It was flowing pretty fast, so we stayed on the trail (mostly). There were ginormous puddles on the trail, too, from last week’s rains, and Mom and Xena kept exploring other ways around the trails while Dad plodded along the edge with me.There were some really beautiful areas — at least from Mom’s perspective. Me and Xena mostly had our noses down.  Xena and Mom were following me and Dad, trying to keep up, and Xena kept pulling on her leash. Me and Dad knew this because we walked to a chorus of “Xena, walk pretty,” and “Xena, walk with me,” and “Xena!!” I told Dad we should just lose them so we didn’t have to listen to it, but he said that wouldn’t be nice,” and “Try to be patient.”

We found an old, abandoned two-room cabin with a tin roof, and Mom sat a spell on one of the big wooden rockers on the porch facing the raging creek. There were only two “rooms” with an outdoors area to cook, all very rugged. The “windows” looked like they had been cut out later with no sign of any way to insert glass or screening, and the only door was gone. Mom had decided to take a picture on our way back by, not knowing we would end up at the end of a loop and not need to retrace our steps. Dad walked around evaluating the structure, trying to figure out when it was built. He found modern nails and things called 2 by 4’s that made him decide it was built probably around 1960 and left to ruin when the previous owner of the land donated it all for the South Chickamauga Greenway.

The temperature had risen by about 10 degrees and Mom and Dad were wearing their jackets tied around their waists as we walked back into civilization at the end of a sock-shaped trail. Can you believe it was in the mid-70’s (20’s C) in December?!

We had walked for over an hour and Xena and I, after getting our paws thoroughly wiped,  were very quiet in the back seat of the car on the way home. As soon as we got out of the car Mom threw Xena in the groom tub and washed the dirt and mud off of her until the water ran clear. Between the exercise and the warmth of the sun, we were all sleepy and and jumped – or fell – into the big bed and took a good afternoon nap.

Love and wiggles, Lucy.

The Christmas Monster and Grod

Xena: Daddy and brother Adam put up a big thing that looks like a tree right in the house! Xena: Lucy was scared, but I wasn’t scared at all!

Lucy: It looked like a tree, but it didn’t smell like a tree. Then Mom put all these lights and other stuff on it, so it didn’t really even look like a tree any more. I still don’t know what it is.

Xena: So what did it look like, Lucy?

Lucy: *whispers* A giant monster.

Xena: Well, sitting in front of the monster got us treats, so it couldn’t be all bad. Am I right? Then Mommy found some fun stuff in the plastic  bins.This is the Christmas gorilla. I think I will name him Grod, like on our favorite Netflix show, The Flash. Only our Grod will be a nice ape.I promise I won’t hurt Grod, Mommy.  Can I keep  him? He’s my new friend, and I’m not afraid of him.

I am Xena Schnauzer Warrior Princess and Keeper of Grod.

I am Lucy and I’m staying in the other room away from the giant monster.

R2D2 Xena

Lookie what my Auntie Jen gave me so I can stay warm all winter long!She said it was Angel Piper’s hoodie, and now it can be mine. I wonder if Piper ever pretended to be R2D2 from Star Wars. Beep, boop, beep, beep! He, he.  I’ve been wearing my new hoodie to bed ’cause Mommy and Daddy are too cheap to keep the house warm like to sleep in a cool house. Thank you, Piper and Auntie Jen. We love you!

I am Xena the R2D2 Schnauzer

Xena’s B&B

You know I get cold after my Bath, Mommy, ’cause I’m still wet. Why don’t you throw the Ball for me so I can warm up?

Oh look, a Ball! I can hear it asking to be thrown. Throw it Mommy, throw it. Please?

I ran real fast and got it!Again, Mommy.

Again, Mommy.

Again, Mommy.

And again and again and again.

Thanks, Mommy. I’m all dry and sorta tired. So,can I please have that Blankie that’s on you? You can just put it on my throne. I’ll eat my second Breakfast after I wake up.Zzzzzzzzzzzzz. Xena Schnauzer Warrior Princess loving all the B‘s.

 

Cancer Awareness Month – A Personal Awareness

Today’s post is not a “fun” post, like you are accustomed to on this blog. However, I felt this was a good time to explain some things. As you all know, cancer, in all it’s forms, is rampant in our country and across much of the world. I doubt that there is anyone reading this whose life has not been affected by it’s destructive ravages. Blogville has certainly lost it’s share of beloved animals, and many bloggers have also bravely battled this usurper. My first encounter with the dreaded “C” was when I lost my aunt – who I called Nan and was a second mother to me. She had intestinal cancer, treated with radiation that was not well understood or controlled back in the 60’s, and at the cost of a forever colostomy bag. As a teen I remember helping with that bag, swallowing back what kept trying to erupt from my stomach, and never letting on it bothered me. As too many of you know, that’s what you do for love. I remember Nan celebrating her 10 year cancer-free date, only to be once again struck down – this time permanently – by this killer.Nan was the fun adult in my life. She taught me how to waltz; she took me trick or treating; she sat at the dining room table and colored with me for hours on end; she taught me how to plant pansies (sorry, Nan, that one didn’t take so well) and pull weeds; she taught me card games; we laid in bed together while she made hand shadow puppets on the wall; she showed me how to walk with a book on my head to teach me posture; we sat in front of the fireplace and put together beautiful puzzles for hours on end; and she taught me the correct table setting for a formal dinner.

My next encounter with the dreaded C was with my sweet Sammy dog. The first sign something was very wrong was when he stopped eating. I worked at the vet hospital at the time and, after hours, assisted in the surgery that removed a huge malignant tumor from his abdomen. The vet, Dr. Sally, went through three saline solution bags, letting them run into his open abdomen and swishing around to try to remove any remaining cancer cells. I suctioned as she swished.  Sammy had always been a shy, sweet dog, playing second fiddle to my first schnauzer, Freda, and afraid of his own shadow. Dr. Sally gave Sam – nine years old at the time – just three months to live after the surgery; she even showed me the article in her medical book that said so. Many prayers went up and Sam miraculously recovered. He seemed to realize that he had been given another chance at life, and he was determined to take it with all the zest and gusto he could manage. No longer afraid of anything, he flirted with all the ladies (yes, dogs can flirt) and was my main boat dog.Sam loved to jump off our little pontoon boat, swim to an island, explore for a while, then wait until he got eye contact with me before swimming back to the boat, which I later named “The Sammy Joe.” Sammy lived two more years before a different type of cancer hit again and took our boy from us.This was Sammy’s last Christmas. He got a new Teddy Bear sweater that he was so proud to wear. He was 11 years old.

I always did everything the vets told me I should do: give monthly HW prevention that also contained flea and tick prevention, get the dogs’ vaccinated annually, feed the best dog foods, brush their teeth with pet toothpaste, etc. After all, this is why they went to school and they knew best, right?

Then, as many of you know, my busy, vibrant 13-year-old schnauzer Lexi came down with a carcinoma that first showed it’s ugly self as a tumor hanging from her upper gums. The above picture is of me brushing her teeth.I went out of town for 3 days, then it took me 2 days to begin to brush Lexi’s teeth again. In just those 5 days this tumor appeared in her mouth and grew huge. (Look just to the left of her canine.) I immediately took her to the vet, who removed the tumor and a small part of her upper jaw, and sent it all for a biopsy. Upon arriving home from the vet, my stoic girl cried in pain until my husband, whose truck got a flat tire on the way, got back with the pain meds. Lexi never liked being held, but the only thing that comforted her was me holding her close and rocking her while I sang little songs to her.

We were then sent to UTK (University of Tennessee in Knoxvillle) Vet School, where they did more tests. There was a new , promising drug that had shown great results, but would take a month to begin working. They told me that Lexi did not have a month. 

From the first day I arrived home with her as a puppy, my heart dog was always a precocious girl. So, as if to prove the vets wrong, she lived three more months before she succumbed to what was already – seen on x-rays – in her lungs and heading to her brain.

I have not told you all of this to make you sad. Rather, I think it explains what I did next. During the year following Lexi’s death, I grieved hard. But that’s not all I did. I started asking hard questions. What caused this cancer? How could I have prevented it? What more could I have done? So I began searching the web for answers. First, I focused on food. I began to read informative articles on why prepared pet food is so harmful. First I found out that the high heat that kibble is subjected to creates cancer-causing agents. And kibble is subjected to it first in cooking the meat, then again after it is formed into kibble. I then read over and over again how dog food companies source their ingredients, and I began to understand that most of them, even the supposed “good ones” will do or falsely claim anything about their products to get consumers to buy their brands. Then I read about the Raw Diet and realized that, done right, this was the safest way to feed. I submerged myself in information so that I would have the best chance of doing it right. Within a few months after she arrived at our house I started Lucy on the B.A.R.F. Raw Diet.                                     chicken drumstick, gizzards, egg, spinach and coconut oil

beef, kale and sweet potato

I’m sure many of you  were shocked and/or put off when you read about this on my blog. But I have always tried to be honest and transparent, and this was now a part of our lives. Feeding raw takes a lot of work and time.

Next, I started learning more about vaccinations and discovered that, just like people, most vaccinations are unnecessary after the initial puppy vacs. Not only are they unnecessary, but they play havoc with a dog’s gut, from where their immune systems become strong or weak.  My holistic vet has worked out a plan for Lucy and Xena to have titers taken every three years. The titers will let her know if they are still protected from the diseases that vaccinations cover. We have agreed they will each get a 3-year rabies vaccination at that time because it’s the law.

Have you ever asked yourself why you are poisoning your dog? I used to do it every time I gave them their monthly heart worm prevention, and the answer was always because I don’t know how else to prevent heart worms. Then, through more research and study, I found out how.

There is a DNA  heart worm test available from Canada. The normal occult hw tests only show the presence of adult heart worms. If the result is positive, the dog has to go through a long, dangerous, expensive and sometimes painful treatment. The DNA test, however, detects even the smallest beginnings of heart worms. It takes almost six months for the heart worms to mature, so Lucy and Xena get the DNA test every five and a half months. So far, so good. If, however, anything was detected, one single injection of ivermectin would kill the larvae. So no, I am not ignoring it or downplaying the terrible affects of heart worms. I am simply approaching it from a different angle, one where I am not asking myself why am I poisoning my dogs.

All of these seemingly radical changes I made have been done for one purpose. And that is to never again have to say goodbye to my beloved dogs because of cancer. Everything I have changed is because so many of the old, accepted ways have been proven to cause cancer. It has taken time and much study and reading; it didn’t happen overnight. I have to keep reminding myself that I couldn’t help what happened to Lexi because I didn’t know any better. And now, I’ll never know if it would have made any difference.  I do things differently now, praying it is the right way, and go forward from here.

So, my dogs eat raw food, don’t get vaccinations, and don’t take heart worm prevention. I use essential oils, probiotics, herbs, and other natural aids to keep them healthy and help when they have a problem. I also have the guidance and good advice of a holistic veterinarian who is open to new ways of doing things. May these “extreme” efforts keep my girls healthy and free of cancer all their lives.

I’m not adding a lot of links. You know how to Google anything you are interested in learning more about. I will tell you that I rely a lot on dogsnaturally.com and mercola.com, from whom I get daily emails. And if there is any question in my head about what I’ve read, my vet is wonderful about taking my calls and discussing it over the phone. (Xena’s not the only one who loves her.)

May your lives and the lives of your loved ones be cancer-free. Let’s work to beat this ubiquitous disease in our lifetimes.

Amy, aka Mom, aka Mommy

Note: When you realize how vet schools are funded, some things the students are taught make much more sense. It is the giant drug and pet food companies – who make huge donations to the schools – who influence their choices.

Extra-Thankful Thursday

Today is Thanksgiving Day in the U.S. Xena and I have been thinking about what we are thankful for, so here goes.

First we want to say how thankful we are for Blogville and all the friends and support we have gotten. You are happy when we are and sad when we are. When Angel Lexi went over the bridge, Mom could not have made it without all of you. And oh, yes, although it is a very fun virtual reality to live in, we know the peeps and pups who make it up are real.  We love you!

In our little corner of Blogville and the world, we are thankful for the family dogs who came before us and had the hard job of training Mom. On birthdays, they taught her to say, “Let them eat cake.”This is from Sammy’s birthday on the fourth of July. Every year, Mom used to keep 10 dogs for that whole week, so they all helped Sammy celebrate his birthday. Freda was Mom’s first schnauzer.

Lexi: This picture is from my 10-year-old birthday party. I had a Healthy Choice meal with my Mom and Dad and then my very own cake shaped like a dog. I know, kinda’ weird, but Mom meant well. Can you see the happy all over my face?

But it took Lexi to teach Mom to say, “Let them eat McDonalds.”

I love birthdays and I love Micky D’s!! This is all for me!

We are thankful for our friends who we know in the furs.                                   Gracie, who never comes to see us anymore.

My (Lucy’s) bestie, Ella.

                                  The big lunk, Achilles. (We love you Achilles.)

And our newest buddy, Chaz.

And we are thankful for the memories of our friends who are now waiting at the Rainbow Bridge.

And our blogger buddies who have gone on, too.

We are so very thankful for all of our blog buddies still with us, too. We would love to meet you all in the furs, like Mommy did with Angel Lexi’s boyfriend, Noodle.

We are both especially thankful for really yummy food.

beef, kale and sweet potato

We are thankful for our Mom and Dad, who love us and give us a good home.

And I am thankful for you, Xena. I love you!I love you, too, Luce the Deu…I mean Lucy. XOX 

And, in the spirit of this holiday, we are both thankful to be red-blooded American dogs, born in the U.S.A. What was it I heard the other day? Oh yes, American by birth, Southern by grace, BOL!

We hope everyone has as much to be thankful for as we do! Happy Thanksgiving to all our furiends. Be sure to go to the the blog hop today by clicking on the picture. 

Love, licks, and wags, the Southern girls: Lucy and Xena Schnauzer Warrior Princess

 

 

 

Who Rules the Throne Now?

I asked Mr Google why a ginormous footstool is called an ottoman, and he said that it is called that after the ginormous Ottoman empire. I guess that’s why Angel Lexi always called it her “throne,” and delighted in laying on it.This is Lexi, seven years old in 2010. She was the reigning queen on her throne.

My Guardian Angel Lexi bequeathed her throne to me, the warrior princess. Here I am on the same ottoman throne. Someday, when I am a little older, I will be the reigning queen, too!

I am Xena the Schnauzer Warrior Princess

Friday Food for Thought

Think mushrooms are not safe for your dog? Think again! Just be sure to cook them first, and do not feed them raw.

Xena was just diagnosed with Atopic Dermatitis, which is a fancy way to say inherited inhalant allergies. I was quite shocked and dismayed to hear this – even while rejoicing that it was NOT the sarcoptic mange that I had suspected. I took great care to find a reputable breeder as well as doing everything I can to support her gut health, where the immune system originates. And sometimes, even with the best bred dogs, something can go wrong. Hence, my dismay.

So now, we have nowhere to go but forward, and it seems that reishi and shiitake mushrooms are going on that journey with us. Here’s a quick overview of the best mushrooms to keep both dogs and people healthy as well as to help with certain conditions, from regulating blood pressure to treating allergies and cancer.

You can follow this link to find out more about these fungi that are power players for both you and your dog. We’l let you know how the journey goes, and if we notice a difference after feeding some of these cooked mushrooms for a while.

We hope you enjoyed another episode of Friday Food for Thought.

I’m Xena, and I approve this message. Wait, what? The election is over? Well, I still approve it ’cause it’s about giving me food! ~Xena Schnauzer Warrior Princess

World Kindness Day: Words Matter

Xena: Hey Lucy Deucy, do you think that’s true, that words really matter?

Lucy: Well, how does it make you feel when I call you Xena Weena?

Xena: Grrr. It hurts my feelings.Sometimes it makes me feel sad, and sometimes I just want to bite you.

Lucy: And what about when Mom tells you that you are a good girl and she loves you?Xena: I feel happy and all warm and cuddly inside.

Lucy: So, little sister, do you think words matter?

Mom: Years ago I was given some wise advise. When you see someone who looks sad, or bored or uninterested, find something to compliment them about. And mean it. You can change the direction of their whole day.

Xena: Like what, Mommy? Like tell them they’re the smartest person you ever met or that they have the most gorgeous furs ever?

Mom: No, no, little one. Something simple, such as, “I just love your earrings,” or “You have such pretty hair,” or even, “Great shoes! Where did you get them?” I remember the time I did that with a totally disconnected convenience store clerk and she looked up and smiled, her whole face lighting up.

Xena: Huh. *thinking* Hey Lucy Deu…I mean Lucy! Your furs are very shiny today.

Lucy: Aw, Xena, thanks. That made me feel really good. *grin*Xena: I’m glad, ’cause I love you. and your furs are so shiny I’m going to need sunglasses.  Now, can I have your supper?

Lucy: *sigh*

This is Lucy with the Shiny Furs and Xena Schnauzer Warrior Princess thanking you for being our friends and wishing you only kind words today.

Veterans Day and Veterinarian Cake

Xena: Hey Luce, did you know that today is Vet day? Are we supposed to be taking Dr. Karen an apple or maybe a cake or something?

Lucy: Uh, no, and no. Sometimes you befuddle me.

Xena: I have never be-something-ed you. And I am only playing when I bite you.

Lucy: And I am only playing when I run you over and make you roll in the grass. Anyhoo, today is Veteran’s Day, which is different from our vet, Dr. Karen. Today, November 11th, is the traditional day that we honor everyone – man or woman or dog, alive or dead – who has served in the military to help keep our country safe and free.  So, even though, the country is “officially” observing this day tomorrow, I want to honor everyone today. I am a traditionalist dog.

Xena: But I like Dr. Karen and want to take her a cake. *whispers She might even share it with me.* And besides, I thought we already did this back in May.

Lucy: In May, we celebrated Memorial Day, which is the day we remember our fallen heroes.

Xena: Can’t someone help them get up?

Lucy: No, by “fallen” I mean they went to heaven, like Angel Lexi.

Veteran’s Day is always a special day, but this year it also marks the 100th anniversary of the end of World War I.  Dad told me that World War I ended in a ceasefire at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month in 1918. That was one month after our Grandma – Mom’s mom – was born.

Xena: Was Mommy born yet?

Lucy: How on earth..oh never mind. No, Xena, our Mom wasn’t born yet.

This year is also the 40th anniversary of the Veterans Day Poster contest. For 2018, the winning poster features the image of a poppy, which has been a symbol of remembrance since Lt. Col. John McCrae was inspired to write the poem “In Flanders Fields” after seeing poppies growing on the battlefields.

Xena: Oh, OK, I understand now.

Love and wiggles, Lucy and Xena Schnauzer Princess Warrior

Nature Friday Failure

Lucy: Remember when I said we had better get pictures of these flowers that Mom planted before they died? This is the azalea bush. Or what’s left of it.Xena: Let me take a look, too, Lucy. Oh yeah, remember when it was first planted, and the blooms looked like this? When we passed the dying plant on our way to take our walk last night, I heard Mommy say that she hopes it will come back nice in the spring.

Lucy: Then I heard Dad sort of snort-laugh, real quiet-like so she didn’t know he was laughing at her.

Xena: Hmm, I better check out Mommy’s Mum *chuckle*. Uh, oh, it’s as wilted as my leg hairs after playing in the wet grass. I think she’s going to plant it in the back yard with the cactus that never die and hope that it blooms again next fall.

Do you want to go around the side and check out the pansies?

Lucy: Nah, I already did, and they’re gonners too. Good thing she’s better with us dogs than she is with the plants.

Xena and Lucy: It’s November, and we’re thankful that Mom helps us stay alive and healthy and that we aren’t her plants.

Please join Mayor Arty now for The World’s First Blogville’s Nature Friday!

Your friends, Lucy and Xena Schnauzer Warrior Princess

Little Invaders

Lucy: Chaz is a toy terriorist Yorkie. His sister Chloe is a miniature Yorkie. They have been coming to Mom to be groomed for quite some time now.  This, however, was the first time they came to stay overnight. Oh, boy, a slumber party!  First, though, there was the grooming.

Chaz after groom

Both me and Xena did a meet and greet with Chaz. He is a nice boy. After I explained to him that even though I am a lot bigger than him, I would never hurt him, he wasn’t afraid of me. I wondered why he was wearing that green thing around his middle, then I saw  him lifting his leg to pee on all our furniture and I knew why!Then it was Xena’s turn.Xena: Yep, I ‘splained to him face-to-face, eyeball-to-eyeball that I was bigger, too, and if he wanted to run, I would be glad to chase him. So he ran and I chased and Lucy followed us both all over the house. I don’t know why Mommy kept yelling at me to stop. I was having a ton of fun!

Lucy: Then there was Chloe. First she snapped at us, then stayed in her kennel the rest of the time. Mom dragged her out a couple of times to go potty, but she wouldn’t do her bizness. All she wanted was to go back in her kennel. Mom put her food and water in there, too, but she wouldn’t eat, either.

Chaz made up pretty quickly with Dad. Look, they both have the same expression on their faces!Dad was a bit skeptical about holding Chaz while playing word games with Mom.But then Chaz helped him win. Mom said, “No fair!” but Chaz and Dad just laughed. They got to be such good friends that at bedtime Chaz slept on Dad’s pillow, right next to his head. Chloe was invited too, but she still wouldn’t come out of her kennel, and growled every time Xena walked past.

When their folks came to pick them up, they said that Chloe was always like that when they left her, no matter where she stayed. She wouldn’t even eat treats. Can you imagine!?Xena: I hear they are coming back real soon. Maybe we can play the chase game again, Lucy Ducey.

Lucy: *sigh* I’d better watch out the window for them to warn them of your plans, Xena.

This is Lucy and Xena Schnauzer Warrior Princess waiting for our Little Visitors to return.

Blogville Christmas Card List

Kismet is helping out her folks with getting everyone signed up to send and receive Holiday cards this year. Please check out her blog for information. You’ll have a choice of signing up to receive cards via email or post or either. Be sure to put one of those 3 words in your subject line when you sign up.

Since this wasn’t an expected post, the pups are asking me if they have to do something interesting for me to show everyone. No girls,  you’re off the hook today. Instead…(This has Xena and Lucy written all over it!)

REMINDER: The adults in our household already voted in the U.S. midterm election. If you haven’t (and you are a U.S. Citizen) be sure to get out to the polls early this Tuesday!)

 

Mommy Meets Noodle and Family

Mommy left us alone with Daddy while she drove 87 zillion miles to visit my Guardian Angel Lexi’s boyfriend, Noodle. His Mom helped him blog about it already, and you can see that here.

When Mommy got home, she raved about how wonderful Noodle is – so loving and friendly and sweet and cuddly and no wonder Lexi loved him. I don’t know whether to gag or be jealous or, or, … hmmm.

Anyhoo, she talked about it feeling like she had known Noodle’s Mom for forever and they talked like they were old friends. Not only that, but one would say something and the other would be like, OMG, that’s exactly like, blah, blah, blah.  For example, Noodle’s Mom said, “We can’t have anything nice, we have dogs,” and Mommy’s mouth fell open just before she said, “Those are the exact words Jeff and I say together all the time!” Yeah, just because I ate the arm of the chair and the corner of the window sill and, a-a-and, … oh. Mommy also met Macy and Molly. Mommy said they are both very, very loving and great pups, too.  And she met the birds, the fancy chickens, the pig, the rabbits, the koi fish, and I don’t remember who all else. Noodle sat with his Dad while Molly laid on Mommy’s lap and the Moms visited. Mrs. Noodle’s Mom said to come again and be sure to bring me and Lucy, too. Oh, boy, oh boy, oh boy, I can hardly wait. Hi-i-i- Noodle. 🙂

I’m Xena the Lovely Schnauzer Warrior Princess

Vampire Dogs

Angel Lexi: On All Hallow’s Eve, I am back to play tricks and get treats. So tonight, I am reclaiming my blog. That’s right, my blog! This is the night before All Saint’s Day, the day where I will be especially remembered and prayers will go up for me and a candle lit to show I am still the light of the world and star of the stage to show my spirit still shines brightly in the hearts of those who love me. So tonight I will partake of a little mischief. I would rather partake of Kahlua and cream, but there is no cream in the refrigerator. Angel Lexi: Lookout, Xena, here I come. You may eat raw meat every day, but I have not yet had my fill of blood. Eating kibble all my life has left me very, very thirsty. (in best Bela Lugosi voice) I come to suck your…oh forget it, that’s just too corny, even for me. Now, where was I? Tonight, Xena, you become like me!

Xena: You mean I am going to become an Angel?

Angel Lexi: No! You will be a Vampire Dog!

Xena: Aghhhh! Help!

Angel Lexi: There is no help for you. You will crave blood, fresh blood. Now go get some blood! (And bring me all the meat from the fridge.)

Xena: Oh, Mo-o-ommy… hold me, Mommy, hold me close.

Happy Halloween! Be sure to visit LLB in our Backyard’s Haunted House Blog hop!

Vampire Dogs Angel Lexi the Schnauzer and Xena Schnauzer Warrior Princess

Last Day of Rocktoberfest

Sunday was the last day of Rocktoberfest 2018 and it was my turn to go! It was a different band, and they were fun to listen to. Come on, Mommy, let’s go ‘sploring!So Mommy helped me off with my sweater, since the day was warming up, and I went on a long walk through the Fat Man’s Squeeze and caverns and magical places. (And I wasn’t a-scared at all!) We didn’t see any fairies this time, even though I checked in all the places they might hide.

 

 

Nope, nothing up there but my shadow. Hi, shadow!

 

 

 

 

 

 

These rocks were much too slippery to try to explore.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Oooh, it looks like jewels up on the rocks. Maybe there are fairies here!

 

 

 

 

 

Are we lost, Mommy? I heard something behind us. Oh look, directions, sorta’. Now let’s see if we can find any gnomes.We only found Ik, and he’s not a gnome. I turned and headed back to the pavilion to find my Daddy. I could hear him teaching polka, so I followed the sound of his voice. When we got back, I got my very own sauerkraut, and then I ate half a nice lady’s sauerkraut, too. (She said it was ok, she was done with it.) A few minutes later I gave them back their sauerkraut, as well as a bonus of some of chicken innards from my breakfast, too. Mommy had to find someone to help clean up the mess.Before the day was over Daddy grabbed Mommy to dance a swing and a foxtrot. The guy who played the elk horn and the ringy dingy bells came over to make me stop barking pet me while I watched, tied to a bench.  I just wanted to dance, too!

So that was the end of the fun at Rocktoberfest 2018. We all hope you enjoyed hearing about it. Goodbye, dear October. We’ll enjoy you again next year.

Xena the Rocktoberfest Barfing Schnauzer Warrior Princess

 

Fall Flower Friday

Lucy: Mom played supermom and removed old stumps and roots from dead bushes by pushing them out of the ground with her feet. How? Glad you asked. She put her back against the house and pushed with her supermom legs. (When she gets determined, stay out of her way!) She bought bags and bags of new pine mulch and dumped it all over the ground in front of the house. Then, after researching the 3 season azalea bushes on-line, she picked out an Encore Azalea at a plant nursery. She dug and scraped and dug some more and finally got it planted in front of the house, right where she wanted it. I told her to quick, get some pictures, ’cause we all know what happens to most of the stuff she plants, BOL!  Don’t you think the color goes pretty with my furs? 

Xena: Mommy also got a mum. (He, he, I think that is really funny…Mom got a mum.) First, she set it on top of her new mulch, but we live on a hill, so no one could see her pretty flowers from down at the road. So she found an old plastic white table to set them on. She spray-painted a plastic chair Tennessee Vols orange to add even more color to the front of the house and to make the crazy college football people in the neighborhood like her. It was nice to sit in the orange chair and…smell the roses mums.

Be sure to drop by LLB in Our Back Yard to join in the blog hop or just look at more pretty flowers!

Love and wiggles from Lucy and Xena Warrior Princess.