Lucy’s Poetry and Thankful Thursday

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

Babysitting by Lucy

The folks invited me over
To watch their little kids
While they both got plastered
And soon closed their eyelids.

The children were such angels;
Never screamed or pulled my ears.
I made them both some bagels;
They had wine but no dark beers.

I’m sure their folks will be so pleased
When they awake tomorrow
To find their small angels received
My love with care apropo.

Did you like my poem? I would like to babysit. Maybe I’ll run an ad. What do you think?

Now for my thankful. I am so very thankful that Mom and Dad chose me and Xena to go on their trip with them. I’m thankful that I knew how to be a good therapy dog with all the residents who wanted to pet me at the elder care facility, too. They want me to come back as soon as I can! Maybe there’s another trip in my not-too-distant future!

Lots of wags and love, Lucy

Boring and Scary Vacation

(Boring) Are we there yet?

A note from the Mommy: It took 9 1/2 hours to drive from Chattanooga, Tennessee to Fort Wayne, Indiana. The pups got a potty break halfway.

(Scary) I’m coming Mommy! Wait! These stairs are slippery…I’m sliding….I’ll fall…I’ll die…carry me!

Another note from the Mom: From the moment we entered the Air B&B, Xena refused to move off the entry rug onto the hardwood floors. We have hardwood floors at home, but these “just aren’t the same.” She jumped from one rug to the other and back. It took about an hour – and supper served in the kitchen where she had to walk across those scary floors to get to. Nothing keeps a schnauzer from her food.

Then came the wooden stairs. Xena skittered and cried and then, when I picked her up to carry her up/down the stairs, she threw her front legs around my neck and shook. Last night she managed to get down the stairs by herself, slipping and shaking the whole way. This morning she went down, and I heard her crying to come back up. Then I heard the skittering and crying and the next thing I knew she was peeking around the landing with the top two stairs. Even though she made it, she once again hung onto me and shook in my arms. It breaks my heart to see her so scared. I tried to help her to get over her fear, but will now carry her, as she gave it her best shot.

Xena: I am Xena Schnauzer Warrior Princess! I am not afraid!

Mommy: I know, my sweet, precious girl. But I love to hold you and carry you. Will you let me do that?

Xena: Well…OK!

Lucy: What Am I?

87 days ago (last Thursday) Mom sent my spit through the mail to find out what breeds I am. Why is it taking so long? If I could remember my Dog Mom (my Dad was long gone when I was born) I could have told her that I am a Good Breed Dog. But I can’t and everyone at church wants know what “what I am,” so there you go. Or there my spit goes.

Here are pictures of me from many different angles.

Mom and Dad wrote down what they think the breed mix result is going to be. They’ve hidden them until we find out, and then they’ll see who guessed right, or at least the closest. Do you want to play?

Xena: The first right guesser will get an all-expense-paid…

Lucy: …thank you and recognition on our blog. (I told you Xena, we’re not giving away trips, unless you want to pay for it with your food money.)

I hope we’ll still be friends no matter what breed(s) I am. Knowing sure won’t make me any different, that’s for sure. (I’ll still be the dog most loved by Pastor!)

Your pal, Lucy

Who’s the Church Dog Now? Lucy’s Happy Tuesday

Monday, a week ago Xena: It’s time to go, Mommy. I’ve got JenJen Bear, we’re at the door, and we’re ready to go home and get our supper.

Yes, it’s time to go, and you may want to say goodbye to the church for a while. Over the weekend you showed me you didn’t want to work at doing Freestyle, so we’re not going to Cleveland, Ohio to try to get your Title 4. Now you left turds for the Building and Grounds guy to find…who, by the way, wasn’t too fond of you to begin with. Then you growled and barked at people as they came in. When you figured out you weren’t getting any treats for doing that, you started running up to them, wiggling and wagging your tail just long enough for you to turn around and run back to me to get a treat. I’m not sure this “church dog” thing is working out so well for you.

Last week: Tuesday and Thursday Lucy: Is Pastor coming today? I love pastor, he’s so nice and he wants to get me a new bed for me to lay in his office when he’s here. I wonder if he’ll pet me a lot. He always tells everyone who comes in that I’m a good dog. This time when he kisses me on the nose, I’ll kiss him back. Are the church ladies coming today? They all ask to pet me, and it makes me so happy I wiggle and smile at them.

Yes, Lucy. Pastor is going to visit shut-ins, but he said since you are here, he will come by the church first to see you.

Note: No dogs on Wednesday simply because of how many folks come in for meetings that day. The church is closed on Fridays. So, Lucy now has every available opening for a “church dog.”

Xena: Mommy, if I’m a good girl, can I come back to work?

We’ll see.

A big thanks to Miss Sandee at Comedy Plus for hosting Happy Tuesday Blog Hop!

Saturday Potpourri

Xena: We’ve got a bunch of odds ‘n ends to show you today. I’ll start off, cause I’ve been bored, bored, bored.

Mommy’s been working almost full-time at a church, Daddy’s been sick in bed (but he seems better now), and Mommy’s also been working from home for the place where Daddy works. Then, after supper, when everyone settles into the living room before going to bed, I have to run into my kennel to protect it from Chia taking it over. That doesn’t leave any time for cuddling or petting or playing. But I hear we’re going to In Dee Anna, so maybe things will liven up soon.

Lucy: First, in case you were worried about me, I haven’t had to wear pj’s lately, but I see them being packed for our trip to the cold, white north in a couple of days. I also saw my new sweater from last Christmas being packed.

Mom had 2 grooms yesterday and 5 today, and she had to carry them down the hallway into the downstairs kitchen to wash them in that sink. Her hose watchamacallit for her grooming sink fell apart.

She tried a coupla places around town, but no one had the parts. Lowe’s didn’t even have that type of sink hose, and the other place told her how to take hers apart and fix it. Nope. So she’s waiting on Amazon to send the two she ordered – in hopes that at least one will fit and work – but they won’t be here until next Wednesday when we’re all gone to In Dee Anna, er Indiana.

This here’s Shaggy. She belongs to one of Mom and Dad’s friends from church, and he’s also our handyman.

Shaggy’s letting Mom know what she thinks of being here and being groomed!

Riley: I can hardly wait until everyone leaves for a few days. My heart person, Andrew, will be here with me and just me!

He’ll bring in any packages and maybe he’ll even fix the sink for Mom Amy. And I’ll get tons of petting and sleep in the bed with him. I hear Andrew’s coming Sunday night. I hope that’s really soon!

Chia: Hi, it’s me, Chia! I was supposed to be the one who told you my Dad’s been sick all week, but of course Xena had to do it first. Grrrrr.

I cuddled up with him to keep him warm and help him feel better. Uh, try not to look at my hair all over the sheet, OK? Anyhoo, it worked! He was up all day yesterday and even asked Mom to play one of their word dice games last night. Today he left to go play in his big band. You’d think that as good as I was to him, he’d of at least taken me with him, right?

Oh, and since Lucy showed you a picture of her in her new sweater from last Christmas, I’m gonna show you mine!

It’s getting packed, too! Well, gotta go now and make sure Mom packs all my stuff.

Love, Xena, Riley, Lucy and Chia

Thankful and Poetic Thursday

First, we want to thank Brian for hosting Brian’s Thankful Thursday!

That always reminds us to be thankful for our blogging friends. Y’all mean so much to us!

Xena: It’s almost time to pack our food – and warm clothes – and head up to In Dee Anna where all our relatives live. Not that we like to wear clothes, mind you, but it’s better than freezing in super cold weather that we’re none of us are used to, right? I’m thankful that all our relatives love us. OK, so they seem to love Lucy most, but me and Chia, we’re working on that. It’s just that Lucy doesn’t even have to try.

And we’re all thankful for the new food Mommy’s been giving us. It’s from someone named Ollie, and they go to all the trouble of mixing up veggies and fruit and raw meat and grinding it up and packaging it in just the right size portions for a meal (but mine could be bigger!) and freeze drying it and mailing it to us! We love it, and we get our food sooner cause Mommy doesn’t have to put it all together from scratch and weigh it and all that stuff. Mommy says she’s especially thankful for the time it puts back in her day. And she says if anyone wants to try it, she’ll send you a referral link for 90% off.

Riley: Thanks, Angel Sammy of TWO Spoiled Cats, for hosting Poetic Thursday. You’re doin’ a great job, Buddy.

My Very Own Baby by Riley

Watch that baby or the elves will get ‘im.
They’ll bring him to me, and I’ll never lose ‘im.
I love babies and kids of all ages.
One look is all and my heart engages.
I’ll never have my very own kid,
So could I have yours? May I have yours? Can I have your baby?

Finally, for anyone who didn’t get our Christmas card, please know this is for you!

Have a woofin’ and meowin’ great day! And a holly jolly Christmas!

Talk Like a Pirate Day: Riley, Lucy, Xena and Chia Go to the Beach

Xena: You know Mommy and Daddy’s gone off to the beach without us again, right? And we’re left all alone to Talk like a Pirate.

Riley: Never fear. I will once again lead the charge in finding them this year. We’ll let narry a pirate whisk them away, at least not before we get our supper.

Lucy: Yeah, well, that didn’t work so good last year. We ended up on an inflatable pirate ship that took us nowhere and we had to hurry and get back home before Miss Christy got back from work. (click here if you missed that.)

Chia: But I was the captain!! Let’s do that again! I wanna be the captain again! I found Miss Christy’s credit card and phone and I’ve contacted an Uber to get us to the beach.

A few hours and a huge Uber bill later…

Chia: Lookie here, ye rogues! Me caught me a sea serpent and made haste to kill it. That makes me the Captain. I’m Captain Chia, harr, harr, harr!

Xena: Quiet, bilge rat, and bring me a grog whilst I watch for our pawrents.

Chia: Grrrrrr. Garrrrr.

Riley: Me thinks me catches their smell, Lucy me mate.

Lucy: Remember to get yur hat on the way back, C’ptain Riley.

Chia: Why din’t any of ye rogues wanna play with me sea serpent?

Xena: I told ye, ye bilge rat. Me watches fer our pawrents who’ll have the chest of treasure.
Chia: Huh? And call me Captain Bilge Rat, er, I mean, Captain Chia!
Xena: With our supper, Captain Bilge Rat.

Riley: The smell gets closer.
Lucy: It smells like BBQ…
Riley: Aye! We’ve found the booty!!

(People yelling) Hey, you dogs! Get away from there! Bring that food back!

Later that evening…Miss Christy on the phone with Uber…

Why did you charge my credit card all that money? Uh huh, no, no! I’m telling you, I did not order an Uber to the beach and back! Do you know how far that is!? I was at work all day. Wait…
do you dogs know anything about this? Wait, what am I saying? You’re dogs. Dogs just don’t do these things. *shakes head*

Well, is everyone ready for supper? Uh, Riley, where’d you get that hat?

Everyone: *woof, woof, woof, arrf, grrr, woof, Miss Christy! (Translation: Supper, yes! And we love you, Miss Christy.)

Heads Up on Rawhide Bones

Lucy, Ace Reporter here with a different kind of News Beat. We came across an article about rawhide, which is something we never get. I decided it’s newsworthy in that it can help you make an informed decision about putting these supposed treats in your mouth — or, if you’re the Mom or Dad, about giving them to your dog. Warning: This report contains toxic information that is not for the squeamish.


WHY RAWHIDE IS TOXIC

If you knew how rawhide was made, you’d never give your dog another one of these treats … ever! Here are the six toxic steps in rawhide production:

1. COLLECTION
In slaughterhouses, the hides are placed in a brine that slows down (but doesn’t stop) the hides from rotting.

2. PROCESSING
The brined hides are shipped to tanneries, where the fat and hair are removed. This is done with chemicals like ash-lye or sodium sulphide liming, which is really toxic. 

3. SPLITTING
Next, the hides are treated with more chemicals that puff up the hide, making it easier to split it into layers. The outer layer is used to make leather goods, while the inner layer is used for gelatin, glue … and rawhide.

4. BLEACHING
The next step is to wash the inner layer in a solution of bleach or hydrogen peroxide. This helps remove the dead, rotten smell from the decaying hide.

5. COLORING
The white hide strips are decorated to make them attractive to dogs. They’re often basted in different flavors and dyed with petroleum-based food dyes like FD&C Red 40.

6. PRESERVING
It would be a shame to let these rotten pieces of hide rot even more…so they’re preserved with chemicals like chromium salts and even formaldehyde, the most carcinogenic chemical that exists. 

So, you ask, what can you chew if you can’t chew rawhide. Click this safe link to find out.
HOW TO CHOOSE SAFE BONES

This is Lucy, Ace Reporter, signing off!

He’s Alive! as reported by Lucy, Ace Reporter

Lucy, Ace Reporter, back on sister station WCAH (W Crime at Home) with a surprise update on the murder case of Larry the Lemur.

Xena’s not here to tell you what should be her story because she doesn’t even know yet. She left early this morning with Dad. She was going with him to work, and then to the vet’s to get her teeth cleaned. She wanted to have a service for her friend, Larry the Lemur, who was murdered a few days ago. We all suspected Chia, but had no proof. Then, the body disappeared.

We’ve all got something to be thankful for today, especially Xena. And, for different reasons, Chia. Although, Chia might now be on the hook for “Attempted Murder of a Stuffie,” which is definitely a step down from “Homicide of a Stuffie.”

Larry suddenly appeared to a small group of stuffies who had gathered on the victrola in the front room.

Their shouts of surprise brought most of the other stuffies out of hiding to find that Larry the Lemur was healed (mostly) and back amongst them. Larry’s leg is reattached, but about 1/2 inch shorter, so he will be walking with a slight limp. His face and belly wounds are also healed. His left hand is still missing, and we think it has already been digested and discarded. He is, however, still wearing that great smile of his! Larry has now been declared their “Guru.”

With all the commotion, it didn’t take Chia long to discover that the only stuffy who could positively identify his murderer was alive again.

Riley, do you have anything to add?

I’ve been following this case with interest, Ace Reporter Lucy. While I laugh at this whole “Guru” thing, I feel Larry’s life may still be in danger. Larry needs to live long enough to point his remaining paw at Chia (or whoever murdered him, but we all know who did it). I may have to become his body guard. You know the long squirt won’t mess with me.

There you have it, folks. Be sure to stay tuned for action-filled updates on the case of “Who Murdered Larry Lemur” and “Is Larry Really a Guru?”

We are joining Comedy Plus for Happy Tuesday!

Sunday Guest Selfie: Markel

Many thanks to  The Cat on My Head  for hosting Selfie Sunday!

Lucy: Originally, Groomer Mom said I could do a Grooming with Mom feature on our newest pup who came for a groom. But she was so excited about finally having another schnauzer on the table that she forgot to get his “before” picture. Markel is the only schnauzer Mom has ever seen whose hair is like our Angel Lexi’s. Xena’s breeder said that there was poodle somewhere in Lexi’s family tree. Her hair — especially her leggings — had a tight, thick curl. Markel’s hair is almost as curly! Anyhow, take it away, Markel!

Hi, I’m Markel, but everyone calls me Baby Dog. My last groomer shaved all the hair off the top of my schnout, but my new groomer said something like, “Uh, uh, homey don’t do dat.” OK, BOL, maybe not in those words, but she said that is NOT how a schnauzer is groomed! So it’s growing out nicely. The rest of me was groomed like a Scottie, but my new groomer fixed that, too.

I don’t really like getting groomed, especially my feet and ears, but I do like looking handsome for my girl Peaches. She was super sweet to me after my 1st groom at this new place, so I guess I’ll keep coming. Groomer Mom has good treats, too.

Can you tell I love posing for pictures? I think it’s a “thing” with us schnauzers. Anyhoo, nice meeting y’all, and maybe I’ll see ya next time. *wags* Baby Dog

Lucy and Xena on Selfie Sunday

Many thanks to  The Cat on My Head  for hosting Selfie Sunday!

Xena: This week it’s Lucy’s turn to do a selfie. She hates having her picture taken, so I selflessly volunteered to be in the picture with her, making it an “ussie.”

OK, Lucy, look at Mommy. She’s got two fish oil pills in her hand, and you get one of them if you look at her. You know you want one!

Good girl, Lucy! You did great! I’ll help you every time it’s your turn. Now, for that fish oil…

Have a great Sunday, everyone! XOX Lucy and Xena Schnauzer Warrior Princess

We’re leaving in a fast car…don’t know when we’ll be back again.*

Xena: It’s been quite a visit. I learned a few things, like what it’s like to have unwanted attention, how to let someone down easy, how good pig poop tastes…speaking of which…

three days ago in Auntie Jen’s back yard

Mom: Xena, stop eating that grass and come on in the house….Xena….do you hear me?? Xena!
Mommy walks toward me and sees this (WARNING: The next picture contains a poop image and may not be appropriate for all readers)

Yep, real, fresh pig poop. Mmmmm

Mommy: OMG, you’re eating pig poop!
Xena: Don’t freak, Mommy. Wait, why are you texting Auntie Jen? No, please don’t make me vomit, I won’t do it again (paws crossed).
As it ended up, I wasn’t forced to vomit and my tummy never even got upset! However, a couple of days later, Lucy also discovered these delectable morsels. Mommy suspected Lucy had eaten some, but since I didn’t get sick, she didn’t do anything about/to Lucy. Then at 2:58 a.m. Mommy woke up to a retching sound. One of the big dogs jumped off the bed and there was a vomiting sound. The culprit jumped back in the bed and acted like nothing had happened. Mommy finally got up and turned on the bedroom light. She saw a pile of fresh-ish meat, apple, broccoli, and some unidentifiable matter. . yep, it was Lucy’s. After that, she began cleaning the yard up every day and following us around outside.

Xena: Yesterday when Mommy opened Morty’s Bathroom Apartment door for him to come out for supper, she found this:

That’s Morty’s Teddy facedown in Morty’s used litter. Did Teddy need to go potty? Or maybe he was hungry!

Xena: That takes us to today, and boyfriend drama. *sigh*

heard very early this morning…

Achilles: I wish you wouldn’t keep your back to me, Lucy

Lucy: I wish you wouldn’t flirt with my little sister.

Later in the morning:

Ella: Hey girl. I hear you’re leaving soon. Love you, friend.

Lucy: Hey girl. I love you too, friend.

Xena: I’m sorry, Achilles, that I hurt your feelings. I want you to know it’s not you, it’s me. I just want to stay single and close to my Mommy.

Why are you looking over my shoulder, Achilles?

Achilles: Lucy! I’m so glad to see you! Ignore her. You’re my girlfriend, remember?

Lucy: Goodbye, Achilles. I’ll see you next time. I’m going to have to think about our relationship.

Achilles: Why do girl dogs have to make it all so difficult? I’m a good boy. Everyone says so. Xena is just…different. She looks and acts so different than me or Lucy. That’s why I keep looking at her. Maybe next time I can just look at Lucy and she’ll be happy.

Xena: Uh, Mommy, after my shampoo and blow dry and pedicure, I’m ready to go home and cuddle in my daddy’s lap. I’m even ready to play with Chia. I hear she and Riley have been playing a lot while we’ve been gone. I also heard she managed to get the porch screen door open and had a bit of a runabout.

Are you packed? Are we ready to go? I call dibs on the backseat kennel!

*John Denver, I’m Leaving on a Jet Plane lyrics:

All my bags are packed I’m ready to go I’m standin’ here outside your door I hate to wake you up to say goodbye But the dawn is breakin’ It’s early morn The taxi’s waitin’ He’s blowin’ his horn Already I’m so lonesome I could die So kiss me and smile for me Tell me that you’ll wait for me Hold me like you’ll never let me go ‘Cause I’m leavin’ on a jet plane Don’t know when I’ll be back again Oh babe, I hate to go There’s so many times I’ve let you down So many times I’ve played around I tell you now, they don’t mean a thing Every place I go, I’ll think of you Every song I sing, I’ll sing for you When I come back, I’ll bring your wedding ring So kiss me and smile for me Tell me that you’ll wait for me Hold me like you’ll never let me go ‘Cause I’m leavin’ on a jet plane Don’t know when I’ll be back again Oh babe, I hate to go Now the time has come to leave you One more time Let me kiss you Then close your eyes And I’ll be on my way Dream about the days to come When I won’t have to leave alone About the times, I won’t have to say Kiss me and smile for me Tell me that you’ll wait for me Hold me like you’ll never let me go ‘Cause I’m leavin’ on a jet plane Don’t know when I’ll be back again Oh babe, I hate to go But, I’m leavin’ on a jet plane Don’t know when I’ll be back again Oh babe, I hate to go.

Blount Mansion Nature Friday with Selfies

We are joining Angel Arty, Jakey, Rosy and Sunny of the LLB Gang with much thanks for hosting Nature Friday.

At the beginning of the year, our Mom and Dad took a trip to Knoxville, where they danced and visited restaurants and old houses. Us and our sitter, Miss Christy, told y’all about it here.

Today, for Nature Friday, we want to show you the gardens at the Blount Mansion that they visited on that trip.

We didn’t think one of our blog posts would be complete without pictures of us, too!

XOX Riley, Lucy, Xena and Chia

A Video Message from Our Mom

We’re joining Comedy Plus for theAwww Monday Blog Hop!

Miss Christy: You pups got a video message from your Mom. Gather round and I’ll play it for you. *mumbling* I never get video messages…I’ve never even stayed with pups before who got video messages.

Xena: The ocean sure looks calm there and small.

Riley: That’s not the ocean, it’s a swimming pool.

Lucy: She’s changed locations. Oh dear. Do you think she’s been stolen and we’ll have to go find her, or maybe give a reward to get her back?

Chia: Why isn’t anyone playing with me? Wait! What did she say at the end there? Miss Christy, did you tell her what we did yesterday, running off to to look for her and Dad on Talk Like a Pirate Day??

Miss Christy: No Chia. I promised I wouldn’t in exchange for you being a good girl for me.

Riley: What? Mom Amy found out? Xena, push the duster around the floor. I’ll pre-wash the dishes, and Lucy, you lick the kitchen floor clean.

Chia: What about me?

Riley: Hide that thing you chewed up and stay out of trouble.

Xena: And I’ll look up at her adoringly when she gets back.

Lucy: And I’ll try to not look too guilty.

Miss Christy: That’s right. You pups do all that work and I won’t have to. I’m sure she’ll forgive you then.

Chia: Won’t have to what, Miss Christy?

Miss Christy: Uh, umm *thinking* I won’t have to tell our little secret!

Sunday Selfie Sleepy Crew with Xena

We are happy to join The Cat on My Head for Sunday Selfies.

Xena: It’s selfie time and I think it’s Riley’s turn. Now where did he go? Ah, there he is in our favorite red chair. Ri! Wake up for your selfie! Riley! *click*

hmff

That didn’t work out so well. Guess he forfeited his turn. I think that long mess called Chia is next in line for a selfie. I know she’s around here somewhere; she and Lucy were just playing. Or maybe I should say she was just grabbing Lucy’s face and stretching the skin as far as it would go while Lucy pawed at her to get her loose. Oh! There they are.

Well, so much for either of them doing a selfie. At least Lucy still has a face. *click*

I guess it’ll be my turn after all. But first, I wanna tell you about Chia “grossing Mommy out.”

Mommy was sitting on the rug on the porch, taping down the edges so that Chia couldn’t turn it over and tear it up. She got one side done and put her hand down on the rug to lift up to turn the corner. Her hand pushed on something soft and small and kinda gooey. Chia had killed one of my lizards, and it was laying there without it’s tail. I’ve never seen Mommy wash her hands for so long.

A few days later Mommy and Daddy were having lunch on the porch, and Mommy had laid her eyeglasses on the table while she ate. She looked down and saw a “twig” on the floor. Chia’s always bringing sticks and stones in from the dog lot, and Mommy picks them up so she doesn’t eat them. She realized when she laid the “twig” on the table that it didn’t look quite like a stick. When she put her glasses on she discovered it used to be a grasshopper, but now had no legs to hop.

If that put all kinds of icky image in your head, let me replace them with one of pretty little me.

Hoping you have a grossed-out-free week (which is much more likely without Chia around).

Xena Schnauzer Warrior Princess

Xena’s Thankful Thursday


Today we are joining Brian’s Thankful Thursday, with special thanks to Brian for hosting it!

First, I’m thankful I got Thankful Thursday instead of Lucy, BOL!

I am thankful for my chew bones. They’re best when they still have meat and marrow on them, but they’re still fun to chew on when they are bare, too.

There’s lots of these laying under the furniture and under the couch cushions and out on the porch. Sometimes I let Riley or Lucy chew on them, too.

I’m also very, very thankful for my Daddy.

Daddy gives me my pre-made by Mommy breakfast every morning. He holds me when I demand ask him to. And he calls me The Little One and Little Girl. He loves me a lot.

Did you see the new purple collar on me in that last picture? It’s a special collar that is made to work with my body to repel ticks and fleas for four months without the use of any harmful chemicals. We’re still waiting to see if it works.

Lucy: I just want to say…

Xena: Lucy, no! It’s supposed to be my Thankful Thursday!

Lucy

Lucy: I just want to say I am very Thankful for a wonderful little sister named Xena.

Xena: Oh, uh, OK. We can leave that in. Uh, thanks, Lucy. I love you too.

This is Xena Schnauzer Warrior Princess thankful for my sister Lucy who loves me.

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