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.
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
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
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.
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
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
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.
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 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
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
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
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.
I have been “on guard” all weekend with Achilles around. He has been ignoring me, but I know that could change at any moment. Ella told Lucy that they have something going on, but he might be doing that just to make me jealous. (I’m not.)
He found my vibrating dog – the one I hate – and tried to make me jealous (I’m not) by carrying it all over the house, like it was his girlfriend or something. Doesn’t it look just like him? Twinsies! Mommy said he could keep the doggie, ’cause Lucy and I don’t like it anyhow. 
Once they got home from Octoberfest Saturday afternoon, Achilles totally ignored Lucy. There she is in the chair behind him, mooning over the big lunk. 
Ella: Achilles, Mom said it is time to go home. I call dibs on the drivers side of the back seat. 
Achilles: But what about my new friend, Doggie? Can he come, too? I’m not done deading him.
Ella: That’s what Aunt Amy just said! Achilles: OK, I’m outa’ here.
And so they both left, without even a goodbye or a glance back at me.
At least I still had the tin schnauzer my Auntie and Uncle gave us. They said tin is the correct gift for wedding anniversary number ten. (He, he, that’s funny — tin for ten.) Now, if I can just get to the wine bottle inside of it… I know that always makes Mommy feel better.
I am Xena Schnauzer Warrior Princess with the Tin Schnauzer Friend.
Lucy: After all the fun all day Saturday, my new boyfriend Achilles got put in Xena’s kennel, Xena got put in Lexi’s kennel, and Ella and I got to play in the house while the peeps headed off to the church.
OK, so this is us playing outside, but you get the picture, right? (he, he, the picture, get it?)
Xena: Mom and Dad went to get married, right? Or to get their bowels renewed? I don’t remember which. And Achilles is my boyfriend likes me, not you, Luce the Deuce.
Lucy: You are wrong times three, XeePee. It is a Renewal of Vows at St. Alban’s Episcopal Church. And I thought you didn’t like Achilles. All you did was complain about his attention when we were at his house. Oh never mind, that’s not what we’re here to bark about today.
Mom told me that Father Robert started out by telling how he met Mom and Dad, and invited their guests to do the same. 
Maria (L) owned a ballroom dance studio and Dad became her bookie bookkeeper and office and studio manager while taking dance lessons from her. Auntie Jen (R) had Piper the schnauzer, who looked a lot like Lexi. She saw Lexi’s picture on the front page of the newspaper and wondered why Piper’s picture was there. After reading the article about Lexi starring in the Wizard of Oz, and seeing that they came from the same breeder, she contacted the breeder, got Mom’s e-mail address, went to the play, and that was the beginning of a beautiful friendship. *sigh*
Here’s Mom and Dad, dressed in the same clothes and jewelry that they wore ten years ago at their wedding, and with the same people (except the priest) as when they got married. Father Robert included some other unexpected touches, such as wrapping their hands with his stole and reading a blessing and having each person serve communion to the person next to them. Mom said it was both solemn and fun all at the same time.
Afterwards, Mom and Dad and Auntie Jen and Uncle Bill came back home and drank a bottle of champagne while everyone toasted each other. That means they clinked glasses, not that they put each other in the toaster. They gobbled down ate the supper that I drooled over Mom had prepared on Friday all “home made”: pulled pork and pulled beef, potato salad, cole slaw, sauerkraut, and a gluten-free chocolate chip bundt cake that Dad bought.
Xena: Achilles found my tennis ball and played with it by himself all evening. I hid behind Mommy’s chair so I didn’t get squished. But I still saw him making eyes at me.
Lucy: Dream on, little girl.
A word from Achilles: Don’t fight, girls. There’s enough of this bad boy to go around. All the way around. *wink*
Love and wiggles, Lucy (hi-i-i, Achilles)
Xena Schnauzer Warrior Princess Bride
Achilles (come back tomorrow for more about me)
Hi friends! My bestie, Ella, met me at Rocktoberfest, and before we could hang out, she had to do a photo op with Rocky the Elf. 
Then we had a great time together!
We watched Mom and Dad polka and we watched Auntie Jen and Dad polka and we watched Mom and Uncle Bill try to polka, BOL! Talk about a total failure!
Mom and Dad doing the polka.
We hung out like the best buds that we are. Together, we people-watched.
We listened to the band and watched peeps learn to do the Chicken Dance. Of course the peeps had to have their fun with us, too.
Even Achilles wasn’t exempt from humiliation. 
I found out that this was his first time to go anywhere away from home (he’s 4, but was recently adopted by my Uncle and Auntie), so he was a bit freaked. I think that’s why he snapped at me every time I sneaked a kiss on his mouth.
After we got done laughing at Achilles in his silly hat, Ella told me to cool it with Achilles. She said they have been making out, and he’s a good kisser. 
She said we could all be BFF’s, though. I said I was good with that(he, he, yeah, sure, right).
Achilles was so into me that he laid with his back right up against me until his folks took him to the other end of the pavilion.
Ella, stop giving your Dad the stink eye. They’re just getting a funny picture drawn…they’ll be back, and Mom’s here with us.
Look, there’s the nice man who was petting us earlier. Doesn’t he look silly doing the Chicken Dance?
It was finally time for Ella and Achilles to go home with Mom and Auntie Jen so they could get ready for the Vow Renewal Saturday night. 
I stayed with Uncle Bill and Dad until Dad got off work. I guess it doesn’t take guys as long to get ready as it does the ladies, BOL!
I’ve gotta go get some pictures ready from the church part of the night. Come back tomorrow, please. Or, as they say, to be continued…
Love and wiggles, Lucy
Xena: Oh boy, oh boy, I can’t wait for tomorrow. I’m so excited I don’t think I will even sleep tonight. My Auntie Jen and Uncle Bill are coming to watch Mommy and Daddy get married.
Lucy: No, no, no! Tuesday was Mom and Dad’s 10 year wedding anniversary. They are already married, Xena the Weinah. And I’m really excited about Ella and Achilles coming with them to play with me.
Xena: Don’t call me names, Lucy Ducey. If they are already married, why are they going to get dressed up and go to the church and have a special ceremony with the priest?
Lucy: They’re getting confirmed. No wait. They’re getting, umm, oh, Xee Pee, you have me all confused now. Wait, I’ve got it! They are doing a Renewal of Vows. 
Xena: But why do their bowels need renewed, Luce the Goose? Can’t they go potty?
Lucy: No, Xena! Vows! Vows! Renewal of Wedding Vows!
Xena: Stop barking at me! Why are they doing that?
Lucy: It was Dad’s idea, and Mom thought it was very romantic, so they are having the same peeps come that were invited when they got married in their back yard 10 years ago. If Mom seems a little sad, too, it’s because Angel Lexi can’t be there this time. Mom gave me this picture to use from 10 years ago.
Xena: I see Angel Lexi watching Mommy cut the cake. And that must be Angel Ivy and Angel Lily, too, in the bottom picture.
Lucy: Mom’s even going to wear the same dress. We can’t go this time, but I’ll send some of my hair with her.
Xena: Well, Mr. I Want To Marry You Achilles had better be singing a different tune this time when I see him. I hear he got his junk removed, so maybe he will leave me alone.
Anyhow, I want to do Flower Friday now, like I promised. with some flowers from Rock City’s Rocktoberfest, where I went last Saturday.
I don’t know if these ferns count, since they don’t have flowers on them.
I wouldn’t sit still here, and a young guy kept laughing at Mommy trying to take a picture before I moved again.
So I got stuck up here on a bale of straw next to these mums that aren’t even blooming yet. Tricky Mommy.
We want to thank Mayor Artie and the gang at LLB in Our Back Yard for hosting Flower Friday. You can visit their blog to see all the other entries. Then vote for me to win.
Lucy: There’s no voting or winning, Xena. It’s a blog hop.
Xena: I am Xena Schnauzer Warrior Princess (vote for me)
Last Saturday I kept saying, “Come on, come on, let’s go! I’ll drive!”
Daddy said, “No, I’m here, little girl. You sit with your Mom and I’ll get you both there safe.” 
So Daddy drove up Lookout Mountain to Rocktoberfest at Rock City. On our way in, we passed by some pretty flowers, but we are going to save those pictures for Flower Friday. I also got to check out some pumpkins. I tried to carry it so Mommy could make us pumpkin pie, but she said it is easier to buy the kind growing in the can in the store.
So that I didn’t get scared by the band like last year when I was only 4 months old, we found a seat down below the pavilion. This year, it didn’t scare me at all!
Hey Mommy, where’s that polka music coming from? Can we go see? I think my Daddy’s up there. After we went to the pavilion and listened to the music for a while, we went ‘sploring. There are lots of trails and I found some interesting pee mail to read.
It felt chilly outside, so I wore my nice sweater from last year. I hear the styles haven’t changed much, but I’m still asking Santa to bring me some new clothes this Christmas.
We walked on trails that were up high. Did you know that when you are up high, the things below you look small? 
Mommy discovered that I’m not afraid of heights. In fact I jumped up on a great big rock and started to climb it before anyone could stop me. No wonder the place is called Rock City!
There was a steep drop off into a raving vine or something like that, so I turned around and went back to the trail. It was not because Mommy was coaxing me back to her. See, I’m not a-scared at all!
We walked around to where we could see a waterfall, as well as the people up even higher looking out over seven states. I said just get it over with and take me somewhere safer. Daddy said to cut off the top third of the picture to make it balance. Mommy said no way, she wants everyone to see all of it. You can see who won.
Then we went into these dark caverns. Soon, I came upon a gnome making moonshine. Can you see him back there behind me?
I found out that moonshine isn’t light from the moon. Noooo, it’s illegal whiskey, like what Daddy drinks, only his is legal. I don’t really understand the difference. But maybe that’s why the gnome is behind bars, right?
You still there, Mommy? It’s getting pretty dark in here.
Then things went from pretty dark to pretty purple.
There was sparkly, purple light coming from the rocks. I thought maybe it was fairy dust, especially since we had just met a great big fairy person. I looked up and just about jumped out of my skin! A real, live fairy person! The fairy was real sweet to me and we got to be friends right away. She and Mommy knew each other. Before she was a fairy, she was a Dorothy in the Wizard of Oz. Yep, that Angel Lexi thing again. We kept walking and finally came to the end of the cave (or light at the end of the tunnel?)
The danger – er, I mean fun – wasn’t over yet! Mommy insisted I take a selfie under a boulder (that’s a great big rock) that was balancing on another boulder. I said if I got smooshed, it would be all her fault.
I don’t look scared at all, do I?
We finally made it safe and sound back to the pavilion and my Daddy. 
Look, I even found my accordion from last year and couldn’t wait to play it. I hear that Lucy gets to go back this coming weekend, so maybe I can go again the last weekend of the month. We all love Rocktoberfest!
Xena Schnauzer Rocktoberfest Warrior Princess
Wow, did I ever have an exciting Sunday. Dad drove me and Mom way up to the top of a big mountain, and I was pretty nervous about the whole thing. My ears even popped! Once we got parked and out of the car, I knew it was going to be great. I could hear people, and what’s better than that?! If you remember, Xena got to go last year right after we adopted her, and she got wasted on beer float foam!
They didn’t have beer floats this year, so I didn’t get a chance to do that!
We walked to a covered place called a pavilion where the Wurstbraut band was waiting to play. It seemed like Mom and Dad know all of the musicians, and a lot of them came over to pet me. One – I think his name is Ray – let me kiss him on the lips and kept coming back to love on me some more. His wife – Carla – sat next to me and Mom, and I think she is the dog whisperer.
Every time I got a little nervous, I scooted between her legs and she helped me to calm down. I didn’t even mind sitting with her while Mom and Dad did the polka.
At first, the loud band really freaked me out, and Mom had to take me far, far away from all that racket. 
That was ok, ’cause there were lots of people walking around who wanted to pet me. I would look at everyone with my friendliest expression and wag my tail so hard that my whole body wagged. There were other dogs there, too. Some of them gave me a friend request, and I always answered with a yes!
Did you know that my Dad teaches polka? Oh yeah, he’s great at it. Everyone dances and laughs and I can tell they are happy.
I wanted to try to help teach like Angel Lexi used to do with the ballroom dancers, but I wasn’t allowed to. I still made friends with one of the students.
One lady even came out of the lesson just to meet me!
She pet me and we got to be friends.
Sunday is sometimes me and Xena’s day to not eat breakfast. Mom calls it fasting, but like Xena is quick to point out, there is nothing fast about those days! So, when Mom bought me my very own basket of Rocktoberfest sauerkraut to eat at lunchtime, she made me promise not to tell my sister. I convinced her to give me some of hers before I promised.
But wouldn’t you know, the first thing that little schnauzer did when I got home was smell my breath…and she knew! At least I didn’t break my promise, right?
By the end of the day I was so used to the band that I just chilled with the wonderful Carla. Finally, after an exciting day in the sun with tons of people loving me, it was time to go home. I was too exhausted to even get nervous on the ride back down the mountain. In fact, I went to bed right after supper. I hear Rocktoberfest is every weekend in October. I sure hope the folks take me back!
Love and wiggles, Lucy
Last week Mommy was cleaning out the garage and found a plastic file holder that she had squirreled away. (Squirreled away, he, he.) She couldn’t remember what was in it, so she took it upstairs to go through later. 
Yesterday was “later,” and she found all kinds of goodies. Before our Grandma went to heaven, she helped Mommy identify and label about 87 thousand ancient pictures. Then Mommy sorted them into deck aids. The first folder was labeled 1910. I thought that’s how many pictures were in there, but no, there was actually a year called that. 
The picture on the left was taken in 1908 and is Mommy’s aunt (her Mom’s sister). She helped raise Mommy, so they were very close. Mommy called her Nan-Nan and, later, Nan, and other people called her Anna May. The picture on the right is of Mommy’s Mom in 1918. Some people called her “Marion” and she loved Angel Lexi very much. I hope they found each other in heaven. There’s just one thing I don’t understand…how can babies be Mommy’s aunt and mom?
Don’t you think those files full of pictures would keep Mommy busy all afternoon, but no, there was a bonus prize. She found a large folder full of info and souvenirs from Angel Lexi’s first time as Toto in 2006. This was the best production, or so I am told, and it brought in 7,000 people over 6 weeks and 26 performances. This is where Angel Lexi won her Oscar Annie Award for Director’s Choice. 
Mommy also found the prompt sheets she made to use during the play that told her when to be on the right or left side of the of the stage and what to help Angel Lexi do.
She found something else in there, too, something I wish she had left there. 
Really, Mommy? You said it was a gift to Angel Lexi from a cast member, but her head was too big? 
Did you get your picture? Can I take it off now? I. Don’t. Like. Hats.
Hey Xena, whatcha’ got? Cool hat!
Oh, Mo-o-ommy, Lucy wants my hat. Tell her it’s mine and she can’t have it.
I am Xena Schnauzer Warrior Princess with a Hat for the Star.
Xena: Mommy said I’m the flower of her eye.
Lucy: No, Xena, the saying is apple of her eye, and what she really said is to try harder to catch the pieces of apple she was throwing to you or you might get hit in the eye by a piece.
Xena: But it’s Flower Friday, so I must be the flower of her life!
Lucy: Whatever, Xe. I can never understand your reasoning. But you’re right about one thing… it is Flower Friday. The sun has been shining all week, and Mom took pictures of us on our walk.
On our way down the sidewalk next to the house, we detoured around the bush that Mom hasn’t been able to trim because Charlotte #3 made her web right in the front and won’t move. This large bush is called “Mom hates it ’cause she has to trim it while standing on a ladder.” 
After we got around the bush, we headed down the road in the sunshine, taking our shadows with us.
This is not our house or mailbox or address or flowers. Proof is that there are live flowers, BOL! We do not even know what kind of flowers these are, but they are pretty and still blooming in October. And you can see how bright the sun is by how I had to squint my eyes to try to look into the camera.
That’s all the flowers for today, but we hope to have more soon from Rocktoberfest that starts this weekend at Rock City! In the meantime, we want to thank Rosy from llbinourbackyard where you can join the blog hop or visit more nice blogs with anipals and flowers.
Xena: Mommy likes me better than those flowers, right, Lucy?
Lucy: Well, yes, and where are you headed with this?
Xena: I must be the flower of her likes!
I am Xena, Mommy’s favorite Schnauzer Warrior Princess Flower.
I’m itchy. I’m licking and biting and scratching my face and my feet and my legs and well, everywhere. Mommy says it’s seasonal allergies. I say it’s super poopy (thanks, Noodle, for teaching me that.)
If I went to the nice lady vet and got an allergy shot, I wouldn’t be itchy anymore. But that’s how Mommy’s first schnauzer, Freda, got Cushing’s disease – from another vet where Mommy doesn’t go anymore. So no allergy shots for me!
I’ve found the best remedy is to curl up in Mommy’s arm and let her scritch all the itchy places. She’s real good at that and is careful to not hurt my skin.
Mommy is working on natural ways of helping me. She reads a lot and has ordered some special powders and oil and gives me yummy food that is supposed to help build up my I’m a moon system, at least the part of my moon system that deals with allergies. Here’s some of the stuff she gives me. 
The Krill oil is good because it doesn’t have any bad mercury in it like a lot of fish, and it’s in a vacuum bottle so it doesn’t spoil. I love my kefir, too. It is full of problematics, er, probies, or something like that, and Mommy mixes my new powdered colostrum into it. The information about my colostrum says, “FACT: Research has identified an ingredient called proline-rich polypeptide (PRP) as one of the main components of colostrum responsible for eliminating or improving the symptoms of allergies. It’s also thought to be useful for other autoimmune conditions. PRP is reported to stimulate an under-active immune system into dealing with disease-causing organisms and it can also suppress an overactive system that results from autoimmune disorders and allergic reactions.”
Anyhoo, I also get Seasonal Support sprinkled on my food. Mommy said to follow the link to find out all the good stuff in it, like stinging nettle, bee pollen, cat’s claw and herbs and more. It tells more about how it helps, too.
There is stuff in apples and bananas that is supposed to help get rid of the itchies, too. We only get organic apples, ’cause they have now replaced strawberries as the fruit with the most pesticides. Pesticides are icky. Mommy cuts the fruit into pieces and throws them at to me and Lucy to catch. It’s fun to play a game while eating.
Sometimes, when the itching got too bad, I was taking a benny pill, too. But we’re trying not to do that, ’cause it can mess up all the stuff we’re trying to make healthy. We learned that if we just cover up the problem with drugs, it will come back even worse next time.
Oh, wait! Did I tell you that Mommy is making us sauerkraut now, too? Me and Lucy love, love, love it. The kit let Mommy make two big wide-mouth jars of sauerkraut at a time. Then Daddy started scarfing it up, so she had to order another kit so she could have three fur-men-ting plus the one that we are all eating. It takes at least three weeks for the fur men to finish their work, but four weeks is better. It’s supposed to be full of probies, too. I love probies and fur men.
I just got sprayed with sea salt mixed into organic apple cider vinegar. I feel better already, and am ready to take a nap in Mommy’s arm. I hope the itchy season is over soon.
I am Xena Schnauzer Warrior Princess with the Itchies
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