Riley’s 14th Birthday

Thanks to  Comedy Plus for hosting Wordless Wednesday Blog Hop!

Popeyes Chicken Breast

Riley on Thankful Poetic Thursday

I’m on a streak here for the poetry Thursday. Chia’s complaining, but she is alway complaining about something, so all I can say is “deal with it.” I might, and I mean might let her do the poem next week. We’ll see.

Here’s the picture Angel Sammy gave us to work with. Of course, it has had a small alteration.

The Travel Guide by Riley

Hello Monsieur Bear.
It’s nice to have you here.
I hope your trip was good
And you got some fishy food.

I’m your travel guide;
I’ll take you far and wide.
Where’er you want to go
Moving fast or moving slow.

To the spots the tourists go,
Moving fast or taking it slow.
Or to spots much more remote,
Touring farms with cows and goats.

You can’t eat them when you’re there
But I’ll get you some sans hair.
We’ll go to a movie show
Or to a club b’low.

Watch that bus! It’s coming fast!
Oh crap! He shouldn’t of smoked that grass.
If that bus had only braked!
But what a pretty rug he’ll make.

A bear rug, BOL! I bet that would be super soft to lay on. Now for my thankful. My Person Andrew has been here with me all last week and all this week. That makes my heart happy.
Hey, anyone else got a thankful today?

Chia: I’m thankful that Mom and Dad’ve been taking me and my sisters on a lot more walks. I pull so hard on the leash that my nails scrape on the road and I don’t have to get them cut. I’m really thankful for that too!

Riley: Chia, you’re weird.

Chia: Grrrrrrr *runs away*

We give many thanks to Angel Sammy for the fun picture this week and to Angel Brian for hosting Thankful Thursday!

Your friends, Riley and Chia

Thankful Poetry Thursday with Riley

I get to write another poem today, and I’m going to try really hard to be great at it.

I’m the Kid by Riley

I know this swing is just for kids
And the rules us pups forbid,
But I’m the kid in my family
Just with a different anatomy.

I steal the food and run through the house,
Slipping away quiet as a mouse.
When Mom’s on the phone I bark loud.
Of my high howl I’m very proud.

I’ve toys that fill the living room
Plus my own bed, my own costume.
Yet in bed with my folks I creep,
Praying, “Now I lay me down to sleep.”

Amen
Now here’s some thankfuls from my two little sisters.

Chia: Well, I have, besides the GPS tracker I already wear on my collar, yet another little tag to trace my every move. I couldn’t be happier – NOT! Why do these people think they have to know everywhere I go? And now I jingle louder as I run through the house, so they even know where I am when I’m at home. It must be an obsession. Here’s the stupid thing that’s now hanging on me. I’ll be happy when it falls off and gets lost.

Xena: My collar name tag broke, so Mommy ordered me a MYLUCKYTAG QR Code Pet ID Tag from the amazing Amazon. It looks like this. Now if I somehow get lost, my Mommy will be able to find me through something called a Gee Pee Ess, and find me even better if a nice person scans that square thing on the back and contacts her. They’ll know I’m lost cause the tag says so. She also got me one that slides on my collar that has my name and Mommy and Daddy’s phone numbers on it. I’m so thankful they love me and want me to be with them. That makes me happy.

The Mom: I’m so very thankful that such great technology exists to help get our beloved cats and dogs back to us if they should get lost. I’m also thankful that it has a free subscription so that I can see where in the world they are and so that anyone who finds them can contact me. Go technology! Here’s a link if you want to check them out. (Nope, not getting anything for this other than the satisfaction of knowing it could be of use to someone.)

And here’s many thanks to Angel Sammy for the fun picture this week and to Angel Brian for hosting Thankful Thursday!

Run Away! by Riley

Many thanks to Angel Sammy for the fun picture this week and to Angel Brian for hosting Thankful Thursday!

Here’s Angel Sammy’s fun picture and my poem for it.

Run away! Run away! by Riley

Run away kids, run as fast as you can.
No, your parents aren’t blind, they just don’t understand
They think it’s just soil from the water’s bottom,
But it’s really a monster, too late when you spot ‘im.
Run!

Well, at least I got one little kid moving! I’m thankful that I can still move around, too. I’m coughing more, but I’ve learned to lift my head up or lay it on a pillow and that helps. My Person Andrew’s been with me all week, but he’s leaving to stay with Jentry tomorrow cause it’s some big anniversary for them. I’m sure he’ll be back on Sunday, but I’ll miss him. *cough, gag, cough*

Your buddy, Riley

Riley and Egg Girl on Poetry and Thankful Thursday

Many thanks to Angel Sammy for the fun picture this week and to Angel Brian for hosting Thankful Thursday!

Here’s Angel Sammy’s fun picture and my poem for it.

EGGSHELL SALLY by Riley

Eggshell Sally sat on a wall
Eggshell Sally took a great fall
All the king’s horses and all the king’s men
Couldn’t make omelet of Sally’s eggshell so thin.

As I was waiting to see what would happen
Poor Eggshell Sally (who was now Miss McCracken)
Cried out “Dear Doggie, won’t you please help me?”
So I ate up the eggshell and set Sally free!

Sally was so happy she took me to eat
All the steak and sushi and hamburger meat
My poor stomach could hold; think I’m getting too old,
Cause I woke with a start from my really loud fart!

Chia: BOL, BOL, that sounds like something I would write, Riley. Guess you do have a sense of humor after all! I’m really thankful for that, cause I think it might mean the sneers you give me are just in fun..and that you weren’t really going to bite off my head when you almost caught it when I was sticking my head into your almost- empty dog food bowl. Dad could hear your jaws snap together from the other room. Good thing I have fast reflexes!
Riley: Think again, hot dog.

Xena: I have a thankful, if you two are done. Even if you two aren’t done. I’m thankful that I haven’t had an allergy outbreak in over a year, since Mommy started giving me that Four Leaf Rover powder stuff to get rid of yeast and make my gut healthy. And Riley, believe it or not, I’m also thankful that all your itching and ear inflammation has gone away since she started giving it to you, too. (He scratched really loud and drove me crazy…at least I used to lick myself quietly.) I’m looking forward to another spring without the itchies!

Happy Thankful Thursday, everyone! Riley, Chia and Xena

Happy Tuesday with Riley

Hi folks *wags* it’s me, Riley. Mom Amy said I should give you happy news that I’ve been doing better lately. You might already know that I’ve got an enlarged heart that presses on something called an ass off me gus* and I’ve also heard it called my wind pipe. Weird, huh? My Person Andrew has discovered two things. Thing 1: If I lay my head on the bolster, it keeps my airways open and I’m not waking up during the night coughing cause I’m struggling to breath. Thing 2: I breathe better when I don’t get too hot, and opening the bedroom window and turning on the fan helps a lot.

Mom Amy said, “Let’s show the folks you using your bolster.” So, here I am.

Sometimes the bolster rolls away from me, and when Mom Amy or MP Andrew picks it up, I lift my head for them to place it on my legs. I’ve also learned that if I sleep more on my side, that keeps the pressure off my windpipe and I’m getting more sleep and so is MP Andrew! Happy Tuesday, everyone!

Thanks to Miss Sandee at Comedy Plus for hosting Happy Tuesday Blog Hop!

*esophagus

Me and My Homie by Chia & Riley

Xena: Hey! It’s my turn to do the poem and the thankfuls!
Chia: So, Xena Weena, do you wanna go riding with the motorcycle gang? Cause, ya know, that’s what’s happenin’ here, sis.
Xena: OK, but I want to give a thankful or two.
Chia: Deal!

Chia: OK folks here we go, with lots of thanks to Angel Sammy for the fun picture this week and to Angel Brian for hosting Thankful Thursday!

Me and My Homie by Chia
My home boy, my dew rag, now all I’ll need’s a bike.
Chuck’s a little nerdy but he’s also very nice.
We’re here to ask please, can you donate a trike?

Xena: Uh, thanks, Chia. Now it’s my turn.
Riley: Hold up, Xena. Now it’s my turn!

Riley and My Boy by Riley
I can’t let you join this gang,
You mean too much, my boy.
I know it’s been your heart’s desire…
Wait! I’ll run get a toy.

You’ll go off with these bikers,
You’ll leave me all alone.
You might get hurt in fights or wrecks,
And even break a bone!

I need to have your pets and laughs
And playful loving, won’t you stay?
Tell Mom to get your stroller out;
We’ll be our own “gang” today!

Xena: Wow, you two did really good. I’m thankful today to have a little sister and a big brother who love me. And a big sister who loves me too!

Dr. Seuss Sunday Selfie x4

Riley

Lucy

Xena

Chia

We all wish a Happy Sunday and Happy Dr. Seuss Week to everyone, and thanks to The Cat on My Head, for hosting Sunday Selfies!

Dr. Seuss Day

Dr. Seuss was a smart dude. He knew what My Person Andrew and my relationship is like.

“To the world, you may be one dog, but to one person, you may be the world.”
And “To the world, you may be one person, but to one dog, you may be the world.”

I changed just one word in the quote, and it fits us perfectly.
Happy Birthday, Dr. Seuss. Riley

Picture Poem Thankful Thursday

First, many thanks to Angel Sammy for the challenging picture this week and to Angel Brian for hosting Thankful Thursday!

Rafting to Death by Riley

I went on a rafting trip with the boys;
I was told don’t bring any bones or sharp toys.
The river was smooth and warm on my paws;
I was careful about not using my claws.

We suddenly flew over a small cliff
Way up in the air my hiney did lift.
I screamed like a girl, waiting for the rebound.
We landed in rapids; someone yelled, “Touch down!”

I almost flew out then hung on for dear life.
I even had glimpses of the afterlife!
Dear God, save me, get me out of this mess
And in your church I will never more piss!

(Oh, wait, that was Lucy.)

Lucy: Riley! You promised!

Riley: Nope, that was Xena who promised not to tell on you. You just told on yourself, my friend. I’m thankful it wasn’t me! And I’m thankful I got to visit with my Auntie Jen over the weekend and sleep in the bed with her while she was here. After she left, My Person Andrew came back over to stay with me. I’m so thankful he does that. I’ll be sleeping in the bed with him until Tuesday when he has to go back home. Then Lucy will sleep with me (if she’s not mad at me, but she doesn’t know how to hold a grudge.) With my enlarged heart and all the coughing and trouble breathing, it makes me feel better to have someone sleep with me.

Well, that’s it for today. *big wags* Riley

Occupied Territory on Wordless Wednesday

Thanks to  Comedy Plus for hosting Wordless Wednesday Blog Hop!

Sleepy Riley on Awww Monday

Thanks to Miss Sandee at Comedy Plus for hosting Awww Monday!

Sleepy Saturday

Riley: My Person Andrew has gone back to his house, so I think I’ll just relax and sleep the day away.

Chia: That was a good breakfast, and I’m just going to go back to bed and wait for something interesting to happen. No one has to help me; I know how to tuck myself in!

Hmmm, I wonder if Xena is playing with one of my stuffies….and what’s Lucy doing? And did I just hear a door?

A Late Poetry and Thankful Thursday

Thanks to Angel Sammy for the picture this week and for Angel Brian’s Home Blog for Thankful Thursday.

Riley here. I get to do the poem for this week, using this picture that Angel Sammy found for us. Here we go!

It’s New Year’s Eve     by Riley

It’s New Year’s Eve in the Old Folks Home.
No one’s dancing or playing with phones.
Blowing on toys is fun for the boys;
The girls laugh and say my ears hurt, Oy!

We know there’s no promise of one more year.
(Oh, what’s the difference if I’m deaf in one ear!)
We’ll live happily in a life full of love
‘Til we fly away to our new home above.

Speaking of ears, I think I must be going deaf in at least one ear, too. I thought I heard Mom Amy say, “Good girl, Chia!”

I went back to my favorite vet place a couple of weeks ago. First I had to go to work with Mom Amy and spend the day there.

It wasn’t bad at all. The Al-Anon group came in at noon and L.O.V.E.D. me! I stayed for part of their meeting, then they let me back out to the office when I asked. I went on to the vet’s because I had been coughing and hacking a lot more and Mom Amy worried I might have caught a doggie cold or something. They took another x-ray of my chest. If you want to read about the first x-ray, click here. In short, that first x-ray showed my heart was a bit enlarged, and my heart murmur had gotten worse. This time, Mrs. Dr. Vet hung the old x-ray from March and the new one she just took up side-by-side and Mom Amy could see that my heart had gotten bigger. The Vet said that it was pressing up against something called an esophagus (Mom Amy spelled that for me) and that was making me cough. Kinda like if you press on your throat and it makes you cough. I got some pills that will help slow down how fast my heart is growing. I guess maybe that was on my mind and that’s why I wrote the poem the way I did. Hey, love y’all! *wags* Riley

From Mom Amy: There’s nothing that will cure what is happening, only slow it down some. As it is, we are thankful for every day we have with our Big Guy Riley.

Christmas Waiting and Treat Puzzles

Merry Christmas to all our friends! We are still waiting for brother Andrew and Jentry so we can get our pressies. In the meantime, Mommy gave us treat puzzles to work on. Here’s a short video of us all hard at work getting the treats out of the puzzles. You’ll see Riley in the background.

After we all decided there was no more treat goodness left in any of the puzzles, Chia started disassembling one of the bigger puzzles and taking the pieces into my our kennel to chew up. Seeing how it’s Christmas, Mommy only laughed at her and put what was left of the pieces back into the puzzle as best she could. You should have seen Chia’s surprise when she didn’t get scolded! May the spirit of Christmas last the whole year through!

Love and Happiness from Xena Schnauzer Warrior Princess

Riley’s Thankful Thursday

Thanks to Angel Brian’s Home Blog for hosting Thankful Thursday.

Hi there friends. I went to work with Mom yesterday. This is the bed Lucy and Xena lay in when they’re here. It’s a bit small, but I made it work.

I had a very enjoyable day with a lot of people fussing over me and petting me and saying really nice things to and about me. I greeted everyone with wags and didn’t show them my teeth like Lucy does. I know it’s supposed to be a smile, but come on! She’s got fangs!

The Al Anon Group came today and most of them pet me and said what a good boy I am and how handsome I am. Some of them even told Mom Amy stories about their own dogs. I stayed in the meeting for a while, going around the table and helping everyone feel comfortable and able to tell their own stories about why they were there.

A little later I got to meet the mailman and he gave me a big treat just like he does Lucy. I followed him back to the truck cause the treat was good and I wanted more… and it worked!

One lady came in with presents for under the Giving Tree and a container of cookies to take downstairs for something going on last night. I could smell the cookies. Mmmmmm. I followed her the whole way down the long hallway hoping to score, but no luck. Mom Amy came after me and gave me a consolation treat.

Well, I shoulda know something was up. The only other time Mom Amy took me to work was when I had to go to the vet. Sure enough, that’s where we went as soon as she got done working. I didn’t really mind. Everyone there is so nice to me. They even laid me on a big table and took lots of pictures of my insides. Is that cool or what!? Mom Amy looked at the pictures of my heart. It’s gotten bigger since they took my picture in the spring this year. But then you probably know I’m a big-hearted boy, right? I really like people and just love, love, love the little folks. But because my heart has gotten bigger, it is pressing a bit on my windpipe. That’s the reason I cough so much. I know My Person Andrew is really worried about me, and cries for me. I don’t want him to be sad. I think I’ll make sure he knows I got some medicine to take to help slow my heart from getting even bigger. Maybe he’ll feel hopeful so he ‘ll forget feeling sad and just have fun with me when we’re together. That’s really all I want for Christmas…and maybe some more mailman treats….and cookies.

Anyhow, I wanted to say that I’m thankful to have such a great day, and for MPAndrew. And for mailman treats…and cookies.

Your friend, Riley

Thankful Poetic Thursday by Riley and Xena

Many thanks to Angel Sammy for the picture this week and to Brian’s Home Blog for Thankful Thursday.

Riley: It’s a boy picture, and I’m the only boy around here, so I get to do the poem this week.
Xena: But I’m the German dog in the house. I should get to do the poem. Besides, I have one ready!
Riley: I know I’m gonna regret this, but let’s do it together, das Fräulein.

Nuts by Xena the Schnauzer(ina)
I heard that the German polizen are nuts.
It takes guts to not care about your nuts!

Riley *groan*
Final Exam by Riley
The men had trained to be on the force;
Now to test them on this motor course.
If one of them flinched so much as an inch
Their police career would be on the bench.
I wonder if that bike started too slow;
All these men would end up soprano!

Xena: Good one Riley! *wags*
Riley: No, you can’t have part of my supper tonight.

Xena: It was worth a shot. But I’m still thankful for something else. I am so very glad to be back in my own home again. That house we stayed at in In Dee Anna had scary hardwood floors and a scary wood staircase to the bedrooms. Mommy had to carry me up and down the stairs in the morning and at night. I know most of our floors are wood, but I grew up on them and that’s different!

Chia: You were scared for real? I thought it was a game! That’s why I kept going onto the rug in the kitchen and acting like I was scared to get off of it.
Xena: You mean you weren’t really scared?
Chia: Heck no! Didn’t you see me get off it if everyone ignored me? Or if there was food involved? BOLBOLBOL! er, sorry Xena.
Xena: I’m gonna take the high road here and say I’m thankful you weren’t really scared of the wood floors.
Lucy: I’m thankful for my Dad and for my Grandma. Here’s a picture of Dad entertaining Grandma after our family supper.

Only 18 more days until Santa Paws comes! XOXOXOX Chia, Lucy, Xena and Riley

Preparing for Our Trip on Wordy Wednesday

Xena: I’ve gotta prepare for the trip to In Dee Anna early tomorrow morning. I’m gonna be stuck in the car kennel with Chia for 87 hours.

I saw Mommy pack my warm hoodie for the cold weather. I hope I don’t have to wear it. I’ve gotta remember to remind her to pack our food, too. I wonder if there’s any alligator meat left… And I need to go to sleep early so I can get up and have breakfast before 5 o’clock tomorrow morning. Hmm, I wonder if we can start eating breakfast at that time every day… alligator, mmmm.

Lucy: I got to go to work today after not seeing Pastor for 7 days. I don’t usually go on Wednesdays but I got special permission from Pastor to come today.

I waited a long time for Pastor to come in, but he finally came and we had a great reunion! He still loves me. I even got to tell him about our special Thanksgiving week meat: alligator! Yum!
Then a lot of people from a group called Al Anon came and it was a little intimidating, but I smiled and wagged my tail and they all liked me too and pet me and said what a sweet girl I am. It was a good day, but now I have to get rested up to go do therapy with my Grandma in In Dee Anna.

Riley: My Person Andrew is here to stay with me while everyone else goes on a long trip.

I’m so glad I don’t have to ride in the car. We’ll sleep in the bed together, and we’ll just hang out. Wait, I hear him calling me to go for a walk with him. It’s dark and getting cold, but I see he’s got my sweater and leash, so it’ll be ok. Catch ya’ later alligator! Oh, wait, that reminds me. Last week Mom gave us all a lot of alligator meat in our bowls for breakfast and supper. I. Hate. It. I. Won’t Eat. It. So Mom gave me turkey and Lucy got the alligator the next day.

Chia: Mom!! Are we goin’ yet? Huh? Huh? Can we go now?! Huh? Can we?

*licks Mom’s lips* Let’s go! Get Xena and Lucy and let’s go! Let’s go! Love you Mom! Come on! Oh, and don’t bring any of that gross alligator meat!

 Thanks to  Comedy Plus for hosting Wordless Wednesday and we hope it’s ok it got really wordy! XOXOX Chia, Xena, Lucy and Riley

Thanksgiving Thankfuls and Poetry Thursday

Chia: I made my poem short and to the point so everyone could get back to eating turkey.

There’s an Outhouse by Chia the Thanksgiving Injun

There’s an old outhouse
So we don’t pee inhouse

And we’re all thankful to Angel Sammy for the picture this week and for Brian’s Home Blog for Thankful Thursday.

Speaking of Thankful Thursday…

Riley: Chia! Why are you dressed like an Indian? Mom Amy said we should dress like pilgrims for our Thanksgiving picture. We even had a meeting and I decided we’d all just wear pilgrim hats. What’s wrong with you, long dog?

Chia: I’m a rebel. And I can run faster than you.
Lucy: Everyone please just stand still and look at the camera. The sooner we get this over with the better.
Chia: Xena, where you goin’?
Xena: I think I see a critter…

Riley’s Sleepy Sunday Selfie

Thanks to The Cat on My Head, for hosting Sunday Selfies!
Jentry and My Person Andrew just left. That’s why I’m late posting this. They come almost every Sunday for a family dinner and visiting. I’m happy Dad Jeff came up with that idea. He must have known what I wanted.

Mom Amy moved my bed and pillow to the guest room. It’s so much quieter and out of the way of traffic. I get really good snoozes here. Happy Sunday, my friends. *wags* Riley