Pretending

Hi, I’m Ella, Lucy’s BFF.

Today, I’m pretending that I am Queen over all I see.

Queen Sarabi: Soon, Ella-Mufassa, you will be ruler over all this land.

Hi, I’m Achilles, Lucy’s boyfriend.

Today I’m pretending that I am a Major League outfielder.

Did you see that catch? Huh, huh, didja?

I caught this one for you, Lucy!

Hi, I’m Morty, and I’m pretending that…

I am Pumba, and they call me MR. PIG.

Hi, I’m Xena, and I’m pretending my Daddy could stay home and play with me every day.

What do you want to play now, Daddy?

Hi, I’m Lucy, and I’m pretending…

to be the subject of a famous picture by a famous artist, and everyone would know my name.

We are Achilles, Ella, Morty, Xena and Lucy, the Pretenders.

Birthday Trip to Nashville by Xena

Hi there. Well, we’re back from our visit and I panted and shook in the car some on the way home but mostly I slept on Mommy’s lap while Daddy drove. It’s a good thing Daddy was driving ’cause Mommy was sleeping, too. We meant to leave early, but first the folks went to Sunday school and church together and then they went out to eat at Moby Dicky’s Restaurant in Hendersonville near the church they had gone to. Then, when they got back to us, everyone was sleepy, so the guys took a nap while Mom and Aunty Jen curled up on the couch with me and Morty. Ella and Lucy took turns getting on the couch with us cause there wasn’t room for everyone. Anyhow, that’s why we didn’t get home until 9:00 at night and why me and Lucy didn’t get any supper. Grrr. That’s the sound our tummy’s made all night.

Don’t Lucy and I look happy to be at our aunt and uncle’s?

Morty and I are still the same size. I think I could take him in a fair fight, but I keep getting yelled at when I chase and bark at him. Hey, he grunted at me first!

Outside, Morty always kept his nose in the grass.

What are you doing, Morty? Hey you! Answer me.

Hey, someone tell me what this pig is doing! Eating grass? Really?

I’m not allowed to fight Morty. So, you know that old saying: If you can’t lick ’em, join ’em.

My Uncle Bill held me whenever I asked him to. He’s a good schnauzer holder. And I ran and ran in their big back yard. I got Lucy to chase me, too. She got too hot and would start to chase me when I asked her to, then stand back and let me run the big circle by myself.

You know what else happened while we were gone? Why Lucy didn’t want me to blog about us being there? Like Mommy told her, “If you don’t want Xena to tell everyone, then don’t do it in front of her.” Have you guessed?

Yep! Her and Achilles played kissie face. It was pretty disgusting. They kept licking each other’s tongues and mouth and sometimes Achilles would walk past her and give her a quick kiss. I think my sister’s in love.

I am the Grossed-out Xena Schnauzer Princess Warrior

Birthday Trip to Nashville by Lucy

When last we met, we were on our way to visit our Uncle Bill and Aunty Jen and our cousins, Ella and Achilles and piggy Morty. Even with her Thundershirt on, Xena panted and shook like a freight train the entire three hour drive. For a short time she fell asleep and we had some peace.

Ella and I picked up right where we left off as BFF’s. When she first saw me jump out of the car and run to the gate she growled and I stopped. Then she apologized and said she was just out of her mind excited that I was there!

I love you, Lucy, you’re my bestest friend in the whole world.

I dared Ella to try to curl her tongue like I did. She sure did try! She even threw her head back to get her tongue to curl better.

Shortly after we arrived Achilles got stuck in his kennel, Morty got stuck in the bathroom, and everyone left us to our own devices. (I heard that somewhere and have been waiting for a chance to use it.) The peeps took Mom out for another birthday dinner. Well, it was actually a lunch, so I guess that’s one of each. They went somewhere that there was an antique car show with really old cars parked up and down the road, their hoods up and doors open. They ate at an Italian restaurant, where Mom got the lasagna that was dripping with hot, gooey cheese. (Please excuse me while I wipe the drool from my mouth.) They got home early afternoon, and then the fun for us began.

Achilles wanted me to watch him play with his ball. He loves to run and play with balls.

We had all been wandering over to where Morty was chomping on the grass because he is such a curiosity to us. Achilles even offered him his ball, but Morty wasn’t interested.

Us woofers ran and played together in the big back yard. Morty and Xena oinked and woofed at each other occasionally, but no blood was shed.

Later that night all the peeps went dancing. They went to National Ballroom and Co., owned by David Hamilton, worldwide ballroom dance champion. Mom was hoping to get to dance with David, but he wasn’t there. She and Dad had even taken a lesson from him once when he was in Chattanooga. Mom gave Uncle Bill a refresher course in rumba.

“…side together forward, side together back…”

Him and Aunty Jen, they danced all the rumbas and the ones Mom calls “belly rubbers.” The rest of the time they enjoyed watching everyone else dance. They took this picture of Mom and Dad swing dancing, but the lighting wasn’t very good.

Before we left the next day I got on the couch and saw Morty on Aunty Jen’s lap, with his little snout sticking out of the covers.

I tried to do a nose touch to say, “Let’s be friends,” but he tried to bite my nose. I guess he didn’t want to be friends. Aunty Jen explained that I don’t speak pig latin and he doesn’t speak dog sign language. So I guess it was just a miscommunication. In any case, I won’t be trying that again.

Tomorrow, Xena will tell you more about our visit. I tried to tell Mom that no more needed to be told, but she just laughed and shook her head.

Wiggles and licks, Lucy

He Who Rules the Remote

The pig that rules the remote rules the house. ~ Morty

It really hurt my feelings when Xena and Lucy called me a whiny wimp.

Now do you understand? The pig’s got my spot on the couch and I’ve got his bed. It’s no fair! ~ Achilles

Messages from Our Friends

Lucy: Mom got a message in from my bestie, Ella.

Lucy: We love you, too, Ella!

Xena: Hey Luce, your boyfriend is sending you a message now.

Xena: What a whiny wimp. He needs to step up and be da dog. Just watch, he’ll probably get all kinds of attention from this.

Lucy: Well, whiny boy used to be your boyfriend. He even asked Dad for your paw in marriage. 

Xena: Na uh.

Lucy: Na hah. Here’s where you blogged about it, in case you need your memory stirred. Or just look at what I copied below.

(from August of last year)

“Mommy puts essential oils on it to keep the bugs away from me. It didn’t work on keeping Achilles away, though, BOL.You promise to stop bugging me if I what?! Well, OK, maybe just one quick kiss.

That was a mistake, ’cause then what I think I overheard Achilles say to my Daddy was, “Mr. Jeff, can I marry your daughter, the little one, the pretty one?” “

(Back to the present)

Xena: OK, OK, but I didn’t marry him, did I? Hey, wait, is that Morty?

Xena: I couldn’t understand a word he oinked. He must be speaking pig-Latin.

Lucy: I found an on-line interpreter. Morty said, “Don’t believe those goons.  I am the most important pig in this house. I run this joint.”

Xena: Well, it’s true he is the only pig living in that house, so he must be the most important piggie there, BOL!

It sure was nice getting to hear from out friends. We both hope to see them again soon, along with our Aunty Jen and Uncle Bill.

Woofs and wags, Lucy and Xena Princess Schnauzer Warrior

 

Mortie’s First Day Home

Lucy: We haven’t met our new cousin yet, but we got lots of pictures and some stories. Aunty Jen got home safely to Nashville after picking up Sir Mortimer aka Mortie from Indiana. Turns out that Mortie is half mini kheune and mini-Juliana. He got to ride in her lap on the way home. This was all new for him, and we kinda understand how scared he must have been, and how being tucked in Aunty’s arm and listening to her heartbeat must have helped.

Once they got home, she had to introduce Mortie to Ella and Achilles, without a clue as to how they would react.

Xena: I mean, they might have been thinking that their Mommy just brought home the bacon, why isn’t she frying it up in a pan, right?

Lucy: Xena!

Xena: *hangs head* Sorry. I know, I know, Cousins don’t eat Cousins. And Siblings don’t eat Siblings.

Lucy: Where was I? Oh yes. So Aunty Jen still has the playpen that Angel Cousin Piper used to sleep in last year. New Cousin Mortie was happy to take a nap in it, all snuggled down in his blankie. Ella quickly showed her maternal instincts.

Xena: I’m telling Ella you said she is matted and stinks, Lucy.

Lucy: I’m ignoring that. So, Ella laid by the pen and growled at Achilles every time he came near. We don’t know if she was protecting him or claiming him. Mom thinks it might have something to do with her remembering Piper in that pen. Ella and Piper were very close and she grieved a lot – along with everyone else – when he left to cross the rainbow bridge. Now she’s got little Mortie to watch over.

Turns out, Achilles loves Mortie, too.They even napped together. 

Xena: We can’t wait to hear more, and especially we can’t wait to meet Cousin Mortie. 

Lucy: We’ll be back soon with more stories.

Love and wags, Lucy and Xena Schnauzer Warrior Princess

 

 

Visiting Our Aunt and Uncle

Xena: Auntie Jen must have heard me say I missed her, ’cause she invited us to come to her house near Nashville. I get a bit nervous on car rides, and I panted for the whole three hour trip even though Daddy held me and pet me the whole way there while Mommy drove. At least this time I didn’t puke in the car.

Lucy: That’s only because Mom didn’t feed us before we left home.

Xena: I had a much better trip home. Auntie Jen put lavender oil on my ears, then Mommy put some on my paw pads after we got in the car. I only panted a tiny little bit once or twice. I hope we have lots of that oil around.

We returned the Santa toy that Achilles forgot at our house a couple of weeks ago. He was so over-the-moon happy that he played with it all weekend.

Lucy: He ignored me all weekend, too. Xena: That’s ’cause he remembered the talk I had with him when he was at our house! And he let me ride the horsie he got for Christmas. At first it was a little scary. I mean, I had never ridden a horsie before. I thought maybe I should watch for traffic behind us like Mommy does when she is driving.Then I said, “giddy up,” and urged horsie to go faster while I hung on tight. I rode bareback my first time out!OK, Mommy, horsie said he’s done. You can help me off now.

We all played outside, too. Here we were playing follow the leader. That’s cousin Ella in the lead.

As the day got later, something strange happened. We think that aliens were coming down and making shadow monsters out of Lucy and Ella. The girls ran into the house with me and the monsters disappeared.

That Saturday night the peeps put Achilles in his kennel and left. The rest of us got free run of the house and we were all Very. Good.  My folks brought home pictures of what they did while they were gone. 

 

They went ballroom dancing to celebrate Daddy’s birthday and Auntie Jen’s birthday. In that picture they were doing something called a foxtrot, he, he.

That wraps up our big out-of-town weekend. I heard that this coming weekend, Mommy and Daddy are going to something called a Convention in Knoxville. That means that our most favorite doggie sitter – other than our Auntie Jen and Uncle Bill – is coming to stay with us. We lo-o-o-ve Miss Christy!

Xena Schnauzer Warrior Princess

Pee S: I can’t wait to tell you the stories about how I stood up to two dogs who got nasty with me and They. Backed. Down! I am getting very, very brave.

Pee Pee S: I don’t never start the trouble, neither!

 

Thursday Three Day Throwback

Mom: I guess it’s time to take down the tree. I’ve enjoyed it so much this year, I’m going to miss it.

Dad: Look at the bright side; only ten more months and we get to do it all over again.

Achilles: Can I help, huh, please. I’m really good at taking off the bulbs. Mom: Uh, why don’t you just watch and make sure I’m doing it right?

Two minutes later…

Achilles: You missed one, Aunt Amy. There’s another one you missed.

Mom: Move please, Achilles.

Achilles: I could get under the tree and get that one you dropped.

Mom: Move out of my way, Achilles.

Achilles: Oops, didn’t mean to step on your foot.  Look, I can even fit back behind the tree. Is that my Mom driving by the house? Isn’t she coming to get me today?

Mom: That’s not her, and she will be here later. Now, will you please get out of my way?

Ella: I think you missed one, way up at the top. Mom: Thank you Ella. Now I think we are done, except for Uncle Jeff putting away the tree.

That was hard work.Yep, I’m exhausted.

Wake us when our Mom comes.

Achilles and Ella, the helper pups waiting on our Mom.

Return of Our Friends

Xena here. Something bad happened. Our Uncle Bill’s Mommy fell down really hard. Her hip broke, and so did her leg, and her shoulder shattered. She is very old, and we feel very bad for her. So first, before we go any further, we want to ask for POTP for Miss Pat.

Our Aunty Jen and Uncle Bill drove the three hours from their home near Nashville to be with Miss Pat right after she fell. That’s why Achilles and Ella got to stay with us. Aunty Jen left them at our house while my folks were gone teaching a ballroom dance class. She locked Achilles in the new, gigormous kennel, and Ella took over Xena’s kennel. (That was to ensure that Ella and Lucy didn’t go on another destruction spree.)                                                  Achilles

When Mommy and Daddy got home an hour later, Achilles met them at the door. He really is Achilles-dini.

Ella was still in Xena’s kennel, and pitifully asked Mommy why she had to be in jail. Shortly after Mommy let her out she projectile vomited the little bit of kibble left in her tummy.

Mommy went up to the attic to pull out more dog beds. You can see that Angel Lexi’s bed got covered with red fuzz from my red blankie that was in the wash with it. The plan was for Achilles to sleep there because it is the bigger bed. Since he wouldn’t settle down, Ella claimed it. Silly girl, she didn’t even use most of the bed. I guess her head felt good on the floor.

The next day my folks had to go to work, so they jailed both of our guests. When Mommy got home (you know this is going to be bad, starting off like that, right?) Achilles-dini was loose again, but the door to the kennel was still locked. That is still a mystery. Now, here’s the bad part.  The smell about knocked Mommy over. The big boy had left a steaming present in Daddy’s office, and I had to be in the house and smell steaming Achilles-dini poop all afternoon! *gag* Wait! There’s more! We couldn’t walk through the house without stepping in Achilles-dini pee. He left puddles and trails. I couldn’t believe Mommy wasn’t mad. She said it is because he drinks huge bowls of water all at once because he is so hot from his allergies. He takes medicine, but it doesn’t help enough.

Achilles-dini also decided the pretty hanging bulbs on the Christmas tree (yes, we still have our tree up in the front room because it make Mommy feel good) anyhow, he decided they are good to eat. No one has died – or even gotten yelled at (much) – yet.

Oh, and one more thing. I had a talk with Achilles. I told him in no-uncertain-terms that Lucy already has a boyfriend and he isn’t to be kissing on her. He understood and said OK, he could respect that. 

BB, you know I have been called a “snitch,” but I can snitch on good things too, right? So here goes: Lucy behaved herself around Achilles-dini. Mommy is a notary public, and I will have her notarize my statement if you want, to prove it is true.

Our friends are going home today, and, until then, our folks are taking turns leaving the house for work and errands.

Xena Schnauzer Warrior Princess, the good snitch

Busted!

Xena: While our folks deserted us were on vacation over Christmas, Ella and Lucy went crazy. It’s a good thing Achilles and I were in our kennels so we couldn’t be blamed. You can see where they tore open the zipper on the couch cushion and started ripping out the stuffing. Bad Ella! Bad Lucy!  They even tried to blame it on my poor innocent bear. She’s on the Otto Man minding her own busy ness. Can you see where they set her up with a piece of the stuffing to get her in trouble? After Ella went home, Lucy did it again, but this time I wasn’t in my kennel, and I was suddenly a suspect. Then, when I was off somewhere with Mommy, it happened again, and bam! Lucy was busted. Boy, was Mommy ever mad. I don’t think my sister will ever do that again.

And that’s not all! When Achilles was here over Christmas, he made a move on Lucy. He started kissing her all over her mouth and (ick!) she liked it. They made out the rest of the time he was here. It was so disgusting. Can you see Lucy’s tail wagging? Gross!So, it looks like she is stringing Big Boy along while she has this stupid thing going on with Achilles. Busted!Lucy: I saw what you just told all our friends. You think I’m in trouble, you little snitch. Just wait until Mom leaves.

This is Xena Schnauzer Warrior Princess who may need to get my warrior on.

Lucy: If you are reading this BB, it’s all lies.

Christmas Time with Friends

Hi, where’s our folks, and how did you get in our house?

Mommy and Daddy left and Aunty Jen and Uncle Bill arrived.

You look different , Uncle Bill.Oh, you’ve got hair on your face now like me. I think we’re twinsies!

Ok, you can be part of our clan. You may feed me now.

I remember you now!! You just surprised me, coming in without Mom and Dad. Where’s my bestie, Ella?

It’s gonna be a fun Christmas with Ella and Achilles (and Uncle Bill and Aunty Jen)!

Love and wiggles, Lucy and Xena Schnauzer Warrior Princess

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

 

 

 

Achilles, Ella, and the Tin Schnauzer

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.

 

Wedding Vow Renewal

 

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)

Lucy and Ella at Rocktoberfest

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

Lucy’s Ramblings

We’ve been home from our trip for over a week now. Sometimes I think about the fun I had, especially playing with Ella. Mommy made me a card with special effects, ’cause Ella is a special girl.She’s my new BFF. Sometimes I hear noises so I look out in the yard to see if she has come to visit, but it is always a bird or a squirrel or a rabbit. Occasionally, a cat has the nerve to cross through my property without permission! I always let Mom know when that happens.Mom hasn’t been going to work at all, so Xena and I have been getting more walks around the neighbor-hood. Sometimes we see people on our walks and I start to wiggle all over. Mom explains that I love people and asks them if they would pet me. They always say yes, and I get to make new friends. When the X dog stops barking her fool head off, they sometimes pet her too. Back home, Mom takes off our leashes and let us run zoomies in the front yard. I guess we aren’t grounded anymore. (So does that mean h-e-double hockey sticks froze over?)

I discovered a large gray cat sunning himself in the driveway of a house we always pass. I don’t usually pull on the leash, but that time I had to show Mom how much I wanted to go say hi. Mom just said, “No, Lucy,” and kept walking. Now, every time we pass that house, I look for the cat. Sometimes I pretend I am just reading pee mail in the grass, but I am actually scanning the yard and porch and driveway for the cat.

Speaking of cats, do you remember Oscar who lives with my Grandma in Ill in noise? It seems like he is still there and taking advantage of my Grandma.

          I said FASTER, Slave!

Well, it’s been nice not having to share the blog with my pesky little sis. but that’s all I have to tell you today.

Wiggles and licks, Lucy

Meanwhile:Has anyone seen my girlfriend? The pretty little schnauzer girl?

Shhh, I’m hiding. Don’t anyone tell him my address!

Xena Meets Her New Cousin

Within minutes of being strapped into the back seat with Lucy, I was free. I don’t like being in the back seat. When Mommy stopped for gas, she strapped me in again, so I tortured her by panting real loud the rest of the three and one half hour trip. You should have seen how far my tongue can hang out! Mommy was too busy driving to get a picture. When we got to Auntie Jen’s, Mommy left me in the car, with a dried out tongue and starved half to death while Lucy got introduced to the new boy, Achilles.

It was finally time for me, the starved schnauzer, to meet Achilles.He didn’t look so big from up here in my Daddy’s arms. Really, all I could think about was why my dinner was so late.Did Lucy bribe you to keep my cornered here? You’d better move along before me and my shadow go all schnauzer warrior princess on you.

I didn’t have much peace the rest of the weekend. Achilles seemed to be fascinated with me. Yes, it’s me, Xena the Schnauzer Warrior Princess, and I’ll warrior all over you if you don’t get your nose out of my bee hind.

Now what do you want, big dog? No, I won’t be your girlfriend.

In case you are wondering, the green scarf isn’t a fashion statement. Mommy puts essential oils on it to keep the bugs away from me. It didn’t work on keeping Achilles away, though, BOL.You promise to stop bugging me if I what?! Well, OK, maybe just one quick kiss.

That was a mistake, ’cause then what I think I overheard Achilles say to my Daddy was, “Mr. Jeff, can I marry your daughter, the little one, the pretty one?” After Daddy said no, Achilles settled for a taste of Daddy’s coffee.

All in all, it was a good trip. I got to know my Auntie Jen and Uncle Bill better, and had a good time playing with Ella and Lucy. Mommy, do we really have to leave now? When can we come back and visit our new cousins?

Xena the Schnauzer Warrior Princess

Lucy Meets Her New Cousin

Dad and Mom packed me and Xena in the backseat of the car like so much luggage and took off down the road. Uh oh, Mom’s giving me the stink-eye. Well, it’s true. We didn’t get any snacks or Netflix to watch or toys to play with. So. Luggage, right?

After 87 hours we got to our friends’ new house near a big city called Nashville. They live out in the country with 4 acres of land and a great big fenced back yard. Friday night was mostly getting Achilles introduced to me and Xena. I showed him a lot of submission so he wouldn’t hurt me wouldn’t feel threatened by me. On the plus side, he did take care of the pesky little sister issue for a while.By Saturday the peeps were all more comfortable letting us play together with minimal supervision. Ella and I remembered each other and played together.Here we are smiling and getting ready to play .Ella is a good player and I don’t have to be gentle with her like with my little sister. In the meantime, Achilles was still busy trying to eat figure out Xena. I decided Mom and Dad had that part covered.When they went out on Saturday Ella and I had the house to ourselves. The eater and eatee Achilles and Xena had to stay in their crates.  Uncle Bill had used zip ties on Achilles’ crate and pushed furniture up against it, too, to try to keep Achilles-dini from escaping. (It worked.) Then the peeps went to a winery and tried all different kinds of wines. I don’t know why…I could have given them some good whines for free, he,he! In the front is my Auntie Jen, then Uncle Bill, then Dad and Mom.

Dad and Auntie Jen love to cook, so, later,they worked together in the kitchen and made mashed cauliflower and  meatballs and portabella mushrooms with special 100%  grass-fed beef.Here, Dad is waving the smells from the pan into his nose. How silly! I could smell it from across the room and knew it was just right! Needless to say, I didn’t get any.

Achilles and I finally got to be friends and played together, too.He is a big boy, though – 70  pounds to my 50 – so sometimes his Dad had to hold him and let Xena play with me and Ella. (You can just ignore the peep’s talking – if you want.)

Tomorrow – or sometime soon –  Xena is going to tell you her version more about “her” part of the trip.

Love and wiggles, Lucy

PeeS: If you can’t play with the big dogs, stay on the porch. ~Xena

PeeSS: Xena, get outa here, this is MY post! ~Lucy

Achilles-dini

Hi friends, Achilles here. You remember me, right? (Anyone needing to get caught up can click here for my introduction.)

I have always liked magic tricks. I’m pretty good at them too! Recently I’ve been trying to show my New Mom how good I am at magic. She’s so impressed, she calls me a regular Houdini. Make that Achilles-dini. My latest performance was that of legend. Here’s what happened:

Mom put me in my kennel and gave me my biscuit for being the good boy that I am. That’s when I immediately decided to pee. (No, that wasn’t the magic trick.) Apparently she wasn’t too fond of my decision and said a few very loud choice words before taking away my blankets. When New Mom then put me back in my kennel she didn’t give me any blankets. I think I was being punished, even though she was only going to be gone for a few minutes. She also closed the door to the room that I’m in so that my new sister couldn’t keep me company. She was upset because I made her late.

Well I figured what a better way to cheer her up than my ultimate magic trick! When New Mom came home I was outside of my kennel and had opened the door to the room!! I was so incredibly proud of myself! I met mom at the door and exclaimed, “I am the great Achilles-dini!!” Boy, was New Mom surprised!  At first she thought I was a “bad boy.” Sometimes New Mom talks like her lips don’t fit. So I thought I would share my day with her, like I hear her and New Dad do. I told her about playing with the toys. And guarding the house, and playing with Ella.

At the end of the day she told me I had a great magic trick and I got plenty of hugs and kisses. I think I’m winning my new family over!

I am the loved and magical Achilles-dini.

PeeS I got out of the kennel without opening it. It’s my secret how I did that, too.

Introducing Achilles

Hi, I’m Achilles. And yeah, yeah, you can hold the heel jokes, I’ve heard them all. I was named after a powerful Greek hero, and that’s better than any defect I might have, and I really don’t think I have any.  Never mind that, it isn’t what I’m here to tell you. First, I want to say hey, and more importantly, I want to tell you my story, starting with just before Angel Piper got sick unto death, as they say in the Good Book. I was happy living with my Dad, who is a war hero (at least to me he is a war hero). When he came home from fighting overseas, things kinda fell apart with him and Mom and he had to move to an apartment where they only allow one big dog. He had his military service dog, and he couldn’t try to find him somewhere else to live for lots of reasons.

Say “Cheeeeese.”

Then he heard about these good people who were open to adopting another dog. Turns out, Piper apparently had a talk with Jesus, ’cause he was so worried about what would happen to his folks – especially his Mom – that he didn’t think he could go and leave her. Jesus said he had this covered, and he was sending someone to help. Guess what? I. Am. That. Someone.

I knew right away that I had work to do. My New Mom and New Dad and New dog sister Ella loved me right off, but were also very sad ’cause they knew Piper was leaving soon. My New brother Piper perked up a little bit to see the answer to his talk with Jesus. I promised him that I would take care of things, and told him he could stick around or leave if he was ready, but not to worry any more.

And I did. When New Mom was crying, I cried with her and brought her a toy to try to cheer her up. And I watched TV with my New Dad. I went outside and kept an eye on Ella. She’s been taking care of Piper for so long, I thought maybe she needed someone to take care of her for a while. And when Ella succumbed to depression, I was there for her.
So here I am where I’m supposed to be. And it’s good. Even though the grief is still heavy, there’s a lot of love. My New sister Ella is also my new best friend, and I hear rumors about New cousins coming to visit soon. I got word from up high that it’s OK for me to be on Angel Lexi’s blog, so I’ll come back from time to time to catch y’all up on what’s happening around here.

Your new friend, Achilles the White Boxer