Lucy’s Home

 

 

I’m home! I didn’t think me and Dad would ever get home. We left Ill in noise at 5:30 in the morning with the temperature at 6 degrees below zero. That’s minus 21 sell see us, per Mom. I never understood why Mom made me get that sweater from the smart pet place until I went to Ill in noise. It was so cold there that I thought my furs were going to freeze up and fall off.  I started grabbing my sweater from the couch and taking it to Dad when I needed to go out. That, plus running a lot, helped.

Oscar never did warm up to me. And I bet he would have been warm to cuddle up to. On Christmas night, Dad’s sister and her husband and Daisy the Aussie mix dog came to stay. Do you know what Oscar did? He played with Daisy! I. Am. So. Mad.

On the drive home we had to wait to get through traffic with two axy dents. Plus, it took me forever to find a good place to poop. What Mom? TMI? But it did! OK, sorry. Now, where was I? We didn’t get home until almost 9 o’clock at night. Dad was sick so he went to bed. I pretty much fell over from exhaustion.

I felt better this morning, but Dad missed work and spent the whole day in bed. Come to think of it, he’s still there. Good thing Mom came home from work and gave me my supper. I thought maybe Xena would stay home with me today, but she said she had too much to do at work. I’ll let her tell you about that…

Hi, this is Xena! You see, I had to get my new super puter set up at work. The one I got for Christmas. Then I had to learn how to use it and get to work. You can see here that I am figuring out how to turn it on.

I finally got it turned on. There was a squirrel on the screen, but I was trying to find the mouse. Later Mommy told me the mouse was hiding underneath my puter. I did the best I could with a squirrel instead of a mouse, and got a lot of work done today.

Lucy: Thanks, Xena, I’ll take it from here.

It was good to see my guy Riley again. We pretty much just hung out. Then Xena got home from work.

Xena: Hey, what are you guys doing? Anyone want to chase me? Play keep-away? Tug-of-war? Anything?

We ignored her until she got bored and went away. It’s gotten to be bedtime, so I’ll sign off for now.

Love and wiggles, Lucy the travelling bully

Pee S: The weather person said it is supposed to get even colder up in the north, so, friends, stay in and stay warm and be sure to wear your sweater when you go out to potty.

Xena’s First Christmas

It’s been weird not having Lucy here to pick on play with. So I have spent a lot of time antagonizing playing keep-away with He-Who-No-Longer-Exits [Riley].

Quick Mom, help me before H.W.N.L.E. gets the bone.

Too slow! I better run into the other room with it. 

(Mom’s note: There were 3 bones, but, as usual, no one wanted the 2 that no one had.)

Then it was Christmas Eve. I was so excited! I knew I had to go to sleep before Santa would come.

Hurry, Mommy. Get my jammies and jump in bed with me. Santa’s coming!

Why aren’t you getting in bed Mommy? Where’s my jammies?

Mom: It’s only 6 o’clock, Xena.

*sigh*

It was finally Christmas morning and Santa had come. I must have been a very good puppy, ’cause I got my new V-Tech puter from G.W. Mommy helped me turn it on and it told me to choose an activity.

I chose to play with my ball and Tiger at the same time. I thought that must be a pretty advanced activity. Tiger used to belong to H.W.N.L.E., but he had to pay Tiger to me as his fine for deading Raccoon.

 

Then I opened my other present…what is this?

Hey, this paper tastes pretty good! Thanks, Mommy.

Seriously, Mommy, what is this?

A little later…mmmm, cardboard.

And later still…a bully horn! It’s kinda big, but I think I can conquer this, ’cause I am….

Xena the Schnauzer Warrior Princess, wishing everyone a very Merry Christmas.

P.S. Lucy told me that she will be home late tomorrow. And that even though she tries her best, Oscar the cat remains stubbornly hostile toward her.

P.P.S. When I asked Mommy what Santa did all day on Christmas, she said he relaxed and rested with his own babies.

Mystery Solved

Woof to all my friends! I didn’t mean to leave everyone in suspense. It’s just that I didn’t know any more than Xena did about where Dad and I were going. We drove for a long time before stopping for the night. We had a huge bed, sized for a king, so I slept right in the middle, up against my Dad. I wanted him to feel warm and safe, you know. Mom had packed my raw diet in portions for Dad to feed me breakfast in the hotel. I know that ’cause I had watched her weigh, package and label it all. So the next morning Dad dumped my breckies food into my bowl. Dad didn’t know how fast I always eat that yummy meat, so he thought I didn’t get enough and gave me another package! Woo hoo! Score! (Later Mom told him not to do that, and that he would have to come up with another meal for me!)

We piled back into the car and kept going into colder weather. Finally, we ended up at my grandma’s house in Illinois, where there was another surprise waiting. A cat had moved in. I tried to give a friendly greeting to Oscar, my grandma’s new cat. After sniffing me, he swatted my nose! Ow!! How rude!

I decided to leave Oscar alone the rest of the night and see if he felt any friendlier in the morning.

The next morning, after my first outie with my Dad, I wanted to go downstairs to my bedroom. Oscar growled, “Thou shalt not pass.” Huh?

I took this to mean I should run really fast down the stairs.

Speaking of running, Dad has been letting me run off-leash during the day when we go outside together. I run really, really fast and always come right back to him when he calls.

I spend time with my grandma during the day but I can’t sleep with her at night because of Oscar. Darn cat. Well, I’m still trying to win him over, and then we can both sleep with grandma.

Mom, be sure and tell Riley and Xena where I am and that I will be coming home after Christmas.

Love and wiggles, Lucy the un-grounded

Schnauzer Shopping

What? You thought Mommy was looking for another ME? He, he, she says I wear her out totally enough all by my little self.

Still no sign of Lucy or Daddy. But I did hear Mommy tell Riley that Lucy would be gone for a few days, so he might as well stop looking for her. He seemed to accept that, as he went and laid down.

Mommy did take me shopping to the Smart Pet place, where all the clothes were 40% off. I guess they needed more doggies trying on clothes to make them 100% on. I tried on a lot of clothes.

I like this one, Mommy. It shows everyone I am a Princess, but this skirt’s too long; I can’t walk right.

 

I like that pink one better, Mommy. It has bone pictures on it and is real soft and pretty. I could feel it was too big, though. Can you find a smaller size?

 

OK, so the smaller one with bone pictures is too small. I know this one with the knit flowers is your favorite, Mommy, but it doesn’t feel like it fits me right, especially around my front legs.

 

I am beginning to understand how Angel Lexi felt about clothes…please make the people stop laughing.

We went home empty-pawed. Then Mommy went to a non-Smart Pet store where the prices were half as much as even the 40% off (I don’t understand any of this) and…

No! That isn’t pink and doesn’t have any bows or crowns or skirts or sheep ears and tails…wait…no sheep ears and tails!

 

Yep, this one fits good, Mommy, and it is warm and comfy. This is the one I want! Is this my 6 month birthday pressie? Can I keep it? Do you think Lucy will like how I look in it? Where’s Lucy?

This is Xena the Schnauzer Warrior Princess with only my own ears and tail and no idea where my sister and Daddy are.

Where’s Lucy?

Today was really different than most of my Thursdays. My big sister Lucy jumped into the back seat of the car and went to work with me and Mommy. Strangely enough, just knowing Lucy was in the car made me feel braver. I didn’t shake on the way like usual. Lucy told me she was almost the church dog, but it didn’t really work out. Sure enough, everyone knew her name and seemed happy to see her. I kept feeling braver. Whenever I heard someone come in, I barked and barked. Mommy kept telling me to stop barking. “Be quiet!” she said over and over. I thought she wanted me to be brave. “Well, I do,” Mommy said. “But that’s not brave – that’s obnoxious.”

When I showed Lucy my bed, she said it was her bed, too, when she was here. “It’s mine, now,” I said. “And do you see all these toys? Big Bear, Rope Chew, Blue Bone, and Hedgehog? They are all mine, too.”

After I made sure Lucy knew the boundaries, we played and argued over who should get pet every time someone came in our my office.

Mostly we played. Pretty soon it was time to go home.  When we went outside, I got another surprise. Daddy was there, and he put Lucy in the car and left me and Mommy the truck. There was so much stuff in the car that Lucy barely fit in the back seat.

“Mommy, where’s Lucy and Daddy? Shouldn’t they be home by now?”

To be continued…

Grooming News

Over the last month or so, Mom has only had a couple of new dogs come to be groomed. I’m glad I didn’t take grooming up as my profession. I would starve to death trying to make enough for my food. Anyhoo, the first new pup is a cocker spaniel. His name is Luke and even though he is almost a year old, this was his first time on the grooming table. Mom thought he would be a “wild child” but he acted like he was used to it. His mama said it is because he has three little children and a baby at home, and he’s used to anything!  Mom got lots of kissies during this groom.

Here Luke is after his groom. Can you see the funky little mohawk on the top of his head? His mama asked for that, he, he. Luke has had his doggy treat and is waiting for his Mom to come up the driveway.

This is 11-year-old Roxie, a shihtzu-poodle mix. She hasn’t been groomed for a year because her Mom doesn’t get her vaccinations any more, and most groomers won’t take her. Mom said she agrees with Roxie’s Mom’s decision, and that Roxie won’t be around any other dogs while she is here, so bring her on!

This was an unusual groom because her grandma brought her and said to groom Roxie however Mom wanted, to just have fun with it. Of course, the left side is “before.” Roxie is a very sweet girl (but not sweeter than me). Her grandma texted Mom later to say that Roxie’s mom loved the groom and would be bringing her back next time.

My peeps brother Andrew kept using Mom’s grooming towels, so Mom put a sign on them.

Peyton and Slider were here getting groomed, and Peyton hopped up to where you see her. Mom couldn’t figure out if she was being defiant (of the sign) or guarding the towels or just getting comfy. What do you think?

Until next time…

Love and Wiggles, Lucy the (still) Double-Grounded

Xena’s 1st Sunday Selfie

 

Hi. Watcha’ doin?

It’s been a fun Sunday. Riley, er, He-Who-No-Longer-Exits came home today and I got to growl and yell at him. After I had my lunch, me and Lucy went out in the dog lot and ran along our side of the fence while HWNLE ran along his side of the fence in the big wide world. I barked and ran and ran and barked. Mommy was just inside the door cooking so she didn’t notice that it had started to rain. It was great! Parts of the dog lot turned to mud and Lucy had fun rolling me around in it. I don’t know why she didn’t roll in it too…

Anyhoo, when Mom called us in, she didn’t know ahead of time about the rain and mud and it was so much fun leaving muddy pawprints through the house. Rosy, who is a month younger than me, did the same thing not too long ago.

I think this is where I’m supposed to say that I’m joining The Cat on My Head for Sunday Selfies Blog Hop. OK, consider it said.

I am Xena the Schnauzer Warrior Princess with my First Selfie Blog Hop.

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Healing a Broken Heart

Angel Lexi here, taking my blog back for just a little while. I’ve seen my Mom tilt her head in that way that I know she is thinking hard and she’s looking at little Xena when she does it. Let’s start from the beginning so this will make sense.

I knew it would be terrible for Mom when I had to leave, so I hung on for two more months than the docs said I would. Then I had no choice but to go on back to my Creator. After four months I could see how sad Mom still was, so I asked the Big Guy to send someone to help her. I figured He would send her another schnauzer, maybe even let me pick out the right one. At first I didn’t understand why He sent her Lucy. When I asked, He said to wait and watch. I could tell she was still very sad, but the break in her heart seemed to be starting to heal, at least a little.  As the months continued to pass, I saw stitch after stitch forming, creating a heart that could once again hold love. Lucy was accomplishing the job He sent her to do.

After the first anniversary of my leaving had passed, The Big Guy called me to Him to let me know that my Mom was ready for another schnauzer, and that I could help Him find just the right one. I knew exactly what Mom needed. She needed another little girl who looked a bit like me, but not too much. She had to be spunky and smart like me, and ready to be Mom’s partner in lots of activities, including being the church dog. I always loved Mom to the moon and back, but I wasn’t a “touch” dog except for when I was therapizing. Even though that is something she wanted when she adopted me, she never held it against me that it wasn’t in my personality. This time, I wanted Mom to get a cuddly girl, too. I knew the puppy couldn’t be too far away, like in China, or Mom wouldn’t get her, so I started searching in my home state of Georgia. Of course, The Big Guy knew I would find just the right one ’cause He had already picked her out. Boy, I can’t get up early enough to outsmart Him!

When the time was right Mom contacted my breeder, Becky, who understood what Mom wanted. The litter that would be ready to go in October were from a mom and dad who had puppies with temperaments more like mine, but they were all black and all males. Nope. The litter Becky expected to get in the spring would be from a mom and dad who usually had puppies that looked like me but were all cuddly love bugs with no “attitude.” Nope. So Becky told Mom about another great breeder named Toni. Toni was three hours away, and I knew that wouldn’t be a problem since Mom had driven that far to get me.  When Mom went to see these 15 week old puppies, Toni had already picked out the one she thought would be the best match for Mom. You see, I had whispered in Toni’s ear which one to choose, and of course, it was the girl who would soon be named Xena. Even though Xena’s only been in the family for a little over two months, Mom’s heart is healing much faster so it can hold all the love welling up inside it.  And Lucy’s new job is to help raise Xena and to be a wonderful big sister to her. She sure is acing that one, too.

Next thing I know, The Big Guy informs me that I am in charge of watching over Xena. Well, I’ll tell you, that really cut down time with my friend Spike. Puppies take a lot of watching. I made sure she didn’t chew everything up like I used to do as a puppy. Yep, checked that one off my list. Other than the potty training, everything has been going along beautifully, and she is almost there with that, too. Just as I was trying to pat myself on my back, Mom sends up a prayer to The Big Guy, asking for me to give Xena some of my bravery. It seems that every morning when Mom and Xena go to work, Xena is shaking in the car for at least half of the way there. She has other fears, too. I know, I know, she is supposed to be the Schnauzer Warrior Princess, but that’s for later. Even little princes and princesses have to grow into their titles, right? I started walking around thinking about this dilemma.

While it’s true that I have always had enough bravery to share, I didn’t know just how to go about this. I was walking and thinking and not paying much attention to where I was going. When I looked up I saw that I was in a different part of over the rainbow. I had wandered into the Land of Oz, and you will never believe who I found there…My Dorothy!

After getting caught up on the latest Oz news, I asked My Dorothy if she had any ideas. She asked me if I remembered the Cowardly Lion. Of course I did! He was one of my favorites. My Dorothy reminded me that he hadn’t always been brave; it was after he met her and the Tin Man and the Scarecrow that he learned to love and found his courage. Even then, he didn’t realize he had courage until the Wizard gave him a medal with the word Courage on it.

Suddenly, I knew what to do. For now, I am going to let little Xena grow and experience life and build her courage. I will keep en”courage”ing her and do my best to instill some of my extra bravery into her. Do you remember when the little warrior princess went after the big dogs in the house because they tore up her favorite toy? Who do you think helped her?  The more she learns to love and trust, the braver she will be. Some day she will get her own medal and be the superstar she was born to be.

So back to the beginning. When Mom tilts her head in thought, it is because she sees me in Xena, and wonders. Now you know why.

I think I will take a break from puppy watching and go running with Spike for a while.

I am Angel Lexi, the Brave Guardian.

 

All About Xena

Hi Friends. Do you ever look at me and say, “She’s really grown!” You’re right! I did gain over a pound in just three weeks, making me 11 pounds, seven ounces heavy. And I’ve grown taller too! I’m almost 13 inches tall!! My sister Angel Lexi was 14 inches, so I’m almost as tall as her (at the shoulder). Mommy thinks I am growing up way too fast, BOL. She also thinks she didn’t get a good measurement from squirmy me, so there may be an update on that.

I have lost all my puppy teeth and have all my big dog teeth now. I really show them off when Lucy plays bitey face with me. And they work great for tearing holes in my playpen. I have a huge hole in the back side, but I have to jump up and down a lot to get the playpen to move away from the fake glass door so I can get out. I don’t know what Mommy’s thinking, pushing it up against the wall like that. To make things easier, I made a second hole in the end, and now I can come and go as I want.

Since the playpen is no good for “containing” me, Mommy shuts me in the big bathroom when she can’t take me with her, like to the store or the dentist. I learned that it is fun to pull all the tee pee paper off the roll. And I managed to get the door open that goes from there into Andrew’s bedroom. I heard Mommy come home today, so I ran into Andrew’s room, to the door that goes to the hallway.  I heard her calling me, so I didn’t understand why she wouldn’t come open the door. I didn’t know Mommy had come in behind me from the bathroom, and she scared the pee pee out of me when she touched me. The loose tee pee paper was then put to good use.

I’ve learned a lot of other things, too. If I walk under Lucy while she is walking I don’t get run over. AND  I can bite her legs. I have to be careful to not stop and laugh; that’s when she reaches down and grabs me by the beard. Barking about Lucy and my beard, she has found it keeps the flavors of my food and she likes to lick it, te, he. Also barking about my beard, Mommy washes my face every day before we go to work. I don’t like it, but that hasn’t stopped her. And I get all my longer hair – I have hair, not fur – combed out real pretty then, too.

I know “sit” and do it faster than lightening! I’m still working on “down” which means to lay clear down with my belly on the floor. I know what it means; I just don’t like doing it, and I get back up right away. I know I am supposed to potty outside All. The. Time. Sometimes I don’t know how to tell Mommy, and sometimes it hits so fast that I don’t have time to tell Mommy. So now there is a jingly thing hanging down low on the back door handle where I can reach it. Mommy keeps hitting it with her finger and sometimes takes my paw and hits it before she takes me out. I think this might have something to do with me going out to potty. I will think more about that later.

I am learning how to type. I learned the thing on the desk is called a mouse, and when Mommy moves it around I can see the very tip of its tail on the puter picture place. I watch it run all over that picture place. Daddy said if I am a good girl, Santa might bring my very own puter from a special company called Mattel. Or maybe one from Playschool. Anyhow, it’s going to be a great puter from one of the big puter companies. Then maybe I can get my own desk and chair from a great company like Mattel, too.

Every night before I go to sleep in the big bed, I put on my jammies. OK, Mommy helps me some. I love my jammies and always wag my tail and try to help. I get to wear them for my first and second outie in the early morning, too, when it is still cold outside.

Lucy is my very bestest friend. We share everything. Sometimes we even stick our heads in a food bowl at the same time and share what is in it.

We don’t fight or argue. At least not since she promised to never help He-Who-No-Longer-Exists [Riley], be mean to me.But sometimes Lucy gets up on the bed without me. I think she must forget that I can’t jump that high yet. She should stay on the couch, where I can jump up.

I hope you have liked reading all about me. I will be sure to come visit and ask Mommy to read to me, all about you!

Christmassy love from me, Xena, the Schnauzer Warrior Princess ❤

 

Group Photo Shoot

Mom tried to get all three of us – me, my guy, and my little sis – in a picture together. She has a new respect for all you peeps who do this on a regular basis. Here’s how it all started…

Xena: Hi Mom! Will you take my picture? Maybe another cuteness picture?

And continued…

Mom: That’s a great idea, Xena. In fact, I want to get pictures of all of you together.

Lucy: I don’t feel like getting my picture taken.

Riley: Me neither.

Mom: Come on you guys…it will be fun!

Lucy: I don’t want to do this today. And I don’t see any treats.

Xena: Is that a bug or part of the carpet? I think I’ll hop on it.

Mom: Xena, stay where you are.  Riley, come on and get in the picture.

 

Mom: Lucy and Riley, you can do better than that! Look how nicely your little sister is posing.

 

Xena: I think it might be a bug. One of those ladybugs.

Lucy: Where?

Mom: Xena! Lucy! Look at me.

 

Mom: Riley, buddy. Do you think you could show less enthusiasm?

Riley: No. And I know sarcasm when I hear it.

 

Alas, exhausted from their failed photo shoot, all dogs fell asleep. And thus ends another attempt at a group photo card.

Double-Grounded Fun

Now that I am double-grounded because I ran off about 87 times, I don’t get to run through the big yard and play with my guy, Riley. Sometimes we run up and down the fence together, with me in the dog lot and him in the big yard. And sometimes, just for me, Riley puts aside his disdain of getting his dainty paws messy in the dog lot. Yesterday was one of those times.

We walked and ran together.

We played tug-of-war and keep-away with the stick.

And Riley used his  dainty yet powerful paws to try to dig a hole big enough so I could escape.

Lucy: Riley, stop! Andrew’s looking.

Riley: I’ll just push this brick in the hole to hide your exit route.

Lucy: Hi Andrew! Us? We weren’t doing anything.

Love and Wiggles, Lucy the Convict

A Thankful Get-Together

Xena: Mommy, Mommy, where’s my breakfast? Mommy, Mommy, when am I going to meet my new friends?

Mom: I’m fixing your breakfast the same as I do first thing every morning, Xena, then we’ll be seeing your Auntie Jen, Uncle Bill and cousins Piper and Ella. 

 

 

 

Xena: Have they seen my latest cuteness picture? Are they going to love me?

Lucy: *sigh* I got this one, Mom. Yes Xena, they will love you. I met Auntie Jen and she is a lot like Mom. She’ll fuss over you and hold you and give you kisses. Piper has gotten to be a senior schnauzer, and he has recently gone blind, so take it easy on him, will you? And Ella is going to be MY friend, so paws off. 

Mom: Lucy….

Lucy: Ok…she can be your friend too, but mostly mine. 

(a few hours later)

 

Piper: Hi Lucy and Xena. I’m Piper. I used to live here before you did. I knew your sister, Angel Lexi,  87 years before she was an angel. We were BFF’s. We hung together all the time.

 

 

 

 

 

And this time, when Mom leaves, I’m goin’ with her. We’re a team, ya’ know.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hi Lucy, I’m Ella. Look at pretty you! Me and you, we’re the same size! We could be friends. Wanna’ play?

 

 

 

 

Piper: Excuse me…how did I end up in this play pen? Let me out. There’s nothing wrong with my nose and I smell food.

 

 

 

 

Piper: That’s better! Oh, hi Aunt Amy. Got anything good there I can have?

 

So, the humans ate and drank and laughed and talked and enjoyed the day with family and friends who are also family. No one remembered to take pictures of Lucy and Ella playing. They played all day long and became the best friends we all hoped they would be. In fact, we even discussed them going back and forth between our homes in Chattanooga and Nashville each month, but no one was willing to give up their half of the duo for a month at a time.

Piper mostly tried to stay out of their way. Xena tried to keep up with them and did a lot of obnoxious schnauzer puppy yapping. Thank goodness she finally wore herself out.

 

Tired smiles and wiggles and snores from Lucy and Xena the Schnauzer Warrior Princess

Winding Up the Work Week

I had a good week at work. Yesterday I carried my stuffies into the hall just outside my office. I could see everyone coming and going from there.

It was a pretty quiet day, so I could relax and play with Hedgehog.

And take naps in my Mommy’s lap. She said I am getting so big that I have almost grown right off her lap.

I saw Mr. David. He is starting to warm up to me. Miss Beth came in to baby hold me and give me tummy rubs. Someone else came in to pick up a paper they use to get food, so I followed Angel Lexi’s example and therapized them. Pastor Evelyn was recovering from the crud, so she came into my office too, but didn’t want to get her germs on me. I had a good lunch and did all my potty outside.

I am Xena the Schnauzer Warrior Princess ❤