It’s My Birthday! by Chia

I told you there was a surprise today, didn’t I?! It’s the day we celebrate my birthday, since I couldn’t remember the actual day in July to tell my new pawrents 17 months ago. They said I am a real fire cracker, so they decided the 4th of July would be an appropriate day to celebrate. I was extra good this morning. I didn’t jump all over Mom in the bed, but curled up next to her after Dad gave me my breakfast. I didn’t growl (play) at Lucy or just cause general havoc. I’ve been on my best behavior all day!

So, I know you’re just panting to know what I did today. Or maybe you’re panting ’cause it’s so doggone hot outside right now. Anyhoo, I had my very first trip to the dog park — before it got hot outside.. It was just me and Mom and Dad. Guess what happened when we got inside the huge fenced area. Mom took off my halter and leash!! I ran all around, from side to side and front to back. In the past, I’ve had to “escape” to run like that!

I saw some bigger dogs in a separate area on the other side of a fence and I wanted to go play with them, but I couldn’t get in there.

So I ran along the fence and some of those nice dogs ran along with me on the other side of the fence. What I wasn’t counting on was that my fence ran out before theirs did. Look to the right of where I am standing, at that chain link. I was running really fast, watching the other dogs, and, as they kept running, mid-leap I bounced right off that fence. It kinda gave some, then threw me back the way from where I had come. By the way, BellaDharma, I landed on my feet like a cat!

I tried to ignore Mom and Dad almost falling off the bench ’cause they were laughing so hard! Speaking of Mom and Dad, I kept coming over and jumping between them on the bench to say, “Hi! Thanks for bringing me here!” I wanted to be sure they knew I appreciated this birthday treat and was being a good girl so they would bring me back. I don’t think Dad was even upset when I got his short pants all muddy, either. After a certain dog on the other side of the fence left, Mom decided it was safe for us to go over to the Big Dog Lot. I surprised them by ignoring the other dogs and running all around this super big area looking for a way out securing the borders. After about 90 minutes I got my harness back on and pulled them to the car (no, I wasn’t worn out from running most of that time!)

When we got home I got another surprise…a birthday bath! Grrrr.

Seems like it’s a tradition around here…one that should be banned.

Next was our treat puzzles.

We all got to play. But I graduated to one of the great big ones, cause I’m two now!

Lucy used it last time, but she had some trouble figuring it out. So she and I traded and, well, I hate to admit it, but I had some trouble with it too. Mom showed me how to take the white plastic bones out and then I could move the red thingies around to get what was under them. Lucy finished hers that used to be mine and came over to help me. I said, “NO! I’ve got this!”

Then Xena showed me how to throw the white bones onto the floor and flip the tops of the red thingies. I let her have a treat or two for helping. When we were all done and Mom was picking everything up to put away, she couldn’t find two of my white bone thingies. Then she caught me in the next room with them. I figured if I destroyed them, it would be much easier to use the puzzle next time. Drat, I wasn’t quick enough!

After the folks ate a late lunch, I got my present.

You can stop singing now and give me my present, please. I know you’re holding it behind your back.

A Rat! What could be a better present for a part-Jack Russell Terrier?!

Come on, Mr. Rat, I’ll show you around.

I took Mr. Rat to the dog lot and showed him all around, like the best places to poop and the best places to dig up stones. Then, to everyone’s surprise, I brought him back in.

Thanks, Mom and Dad, for the best birthday ever!

You can stop mooning everyone now, Mr. Rat.
Hmmm, he seems a bit shy, but I’ll get him to pose for a picture next time.

And a big thank you to Miss Sandee at Comedy Plus for hosting Awww Monday!

*Wags and Wiggles and Love* Birthday Girl Chia

My Birthday by Xena

Hi, all my friends! I know you must have been laying awake last night wondering if I had a good birthday. You can sleep well tonight knowing I did. I want to tell you about my day, OK?

The first thing to tell is that we have all been taking turns sleeping in bed with Mommy and Daddy. But I got to sleep in bed with them the last two night as a special treat for my birthday. Besides that, Mommy says I’m her special, baby girl, and loves to fall asleep holding me. Except when my bee hind is in her face, of course. When we got up, Mommy looked at me and said those dreaded five words, “You need a bath.” Then she added, “But it’s your birthday, so we’ll wait ’til tomorrow.”

When Mommy checked her email, she found this:

While it was nice to get a card from the AKC, it would have been nicer to get the cupcake!

After breakfast, Mommy took me outside , not in the fenced dog lot and let me do my thing.

These drainage pipes have always fascinated me, so I decided to check them out. Mommy ran over one of them with the lawnmower this year, so it was easy to stick my head in it.

I’m sure I smell something in there. Is it another chippie?

Come out, come out, wherever you are!

Fine! I’ll just lay here and wait.

Maybe it’s lizards. I haven’t had any lizards to chase since the snake ate them all last summer.

I can smell you!

I thought maybe the critter got out and ran along the wall, but I still couldn’t find it!

OK, Mommy, I’m done with that, and ready to move on.

I love our backyard. There’s so many things to smell! I’ve gotta decide where to go next. I could spend the whole day out here!

I decided to ‘splore behind the shed. It’s one of my favorite places, with lots of leaves and wood and especially smells!

I don’t usually get to run through the wooded area, so I tried to be careful and not get in any poison ivy.

My last place to ‘splore was the cactus garden. I found a new chippie hole and got my nose all the way down it, but didn’t find a chippie. I’ll check back later.

After all that digging and ‘sploring, Mommy changed her mind and I got a bath after all. Drat. But, along with it being my b-day, it gets me another night in the big bed!

The next nice thing was Mommy filling up all the treat puzzles and giving them to us.

Riley wouldn’t eat his breakfast today, but I noticed that he not only got all the treats out of his puzzle, but he checked out all of ours when we were done. I helped Lucy a little bit, too. Hers is just like mine, and I showed her how to do it better.

Chia: Does this mean I have to wish Xena a happy birthday?

Xena: Ignore her. We find that usually works best. So tonight, I got lots more meat in my supper, and I’m ready to chill out with Mommy. With that said, I’ll say nighty night, and wish you a great Wednesday.

XOXOX Xena Schnauzer Warrior Princess Birthday Girl

We got news last night of River Song of Small Tales suddenly having to cross the Rainbow Bridge. We are all very sad about that, and offer POTP and prayers for her family. Run free, dear friend.

My Birthday Day by Riley

Hi there, friends. Remember I said I would update you on what I ended up getting for my birthday? Today (Sunday) I am officially 12 years old! Mom Amy had some pictures pop up on her computer about this day in years past, and did a little reminiscing about my previous birthdays. This first one was taken in 2012 when I turned two years old. I wish I could remember what I was eating!

This next one was in 2016 and the last birthday I got to spend with my older, little sister, Lexi, before she went to the rainbow bridge. I turned six that year.

Lexi: Smile for the camera, Dufus!

On to my birthday today. Because of the touchy situation with how things have been coming out of my back end, I did not get any special food — except for a cheese stick — but I still had a yummy dinner and licked my bowl clean.

I finally looked at Mom Amy and said, “Hey, we all know what day it is. Where’s my new stuff?”

At that, she and Dad Jeff finally stopped their busy-ness and gave me their full attention. Thankfully, I didn’t have to try to unwrap anything. It just got laid out next to me.

I got a new stuffie and a Himalayan Dog Chew…the only ingredient in it is cheese, which is just fine by me.

My new stuffie started whispering something so only I could hear.

He said, “I want to be your new friend. You and me and Rainey, we can all be good friends, and I’ll play with you.”

He doesn’t have a name yet. Before I give him a name I have to decide if we’re going to be friends, or if I’m going to deadie him. Hey, don’t judge. Y’all do the same thing, right?

I took my new cheese bone to my living room bed and started working on it. It was really yummy. I had to keep warning Chia to stay away. When I lift my lip and show her my big, strong teeth, she backs off.

Later I grabbed my stuffie and ran and hopped through the house with him and shook him and played tug ‘o war with him and Mom Amy.

All-in-all, it was a good birthday. Thank you for stopping by as I turned 12 years old!

With lots of happy wags, Riley

Riley’s Twelfth Birthday

Hi good friends. This is Riley. I think that first I need to thank Brian for hosting Brian’s Thankful Thursday. So, thanks, Brian! (You’re a great kitty boy and remind me of one of my friends!)

I have a birthday coming up this Sunday. I’m about to turn 12, which I hear is a very mature age for a big boy like me. I overheard Mom Amy say that she has to start planning something nice for me. Then I heard Dad Jeff say something about huge bones or antlers or hooves or something like that. They forget that I can still hear really good!

Eleven has been a really ruff year. I’ve been through some real sh..er, bad stuff. I miss my Dad Andrew, who hasn’t been around much. I guess he’s got his own issues to work through, but I know he still loves me.

I had to have a stye removed from my right eyelid, and almost lost my eye over it. I’m just glad we found a doggie ophthalmologist who saved my eye and my sight, and that Mom Amy has good credit! He’s real nice and I hope I never see him again, BOL!

After that I whacked my ear on a table when I shook my head, and ended up with a huge hematoma. It was so big it made my ear stick straight out. More surgery for that! More credit, too.

Then more sh…uh, stuff happened with me itching and squirting and not pooping at all and squirting some more. I know my Dad Jeff loves me cause he would get up in the middle of the night when the urge hit me and not even complain about having to take me outside. Hmm, hope that’s not TMI.

But I’m still here, sleeping next to the bed every night – it’s really hard to get into the big bed with the arthritis in my lower back. I’ve got two soft beds stacked together and a real pillow and a blanket when I need one.

I have my good friend Lucy for company and a little squirt named Chia to play with whenever I want. I have her stuffies to play with too, and sometimes to deadie, BOL! Sure I’ve got my reindeer, but I would never, ever deadie Rainey; he’s my friend.

Anyhoo, I really like this picture of me when I first came to live here with my new pawrents. I got a new bone and a new stuffie, and some new squeaky toys. I was six months old. Wow, that feels like over 11 years ago!

Me at 6 months old in my new home. I’ve got new toys and a bone!

Mom Amy says it makes her heart glad that I’m a very happy boy again. I think it’s all good now (paws crossed). How bouts I tell you next time about the wonderful food I’ve been eating? And about what great stuff I think I’m gonna get for my 12th birthday!

Later, dudes and dudettes!! Riley

Mom Amy here. We are so very thankful that precious Riley – who loves everyone (especially young children) – is back here, living with us during his “mature” years. We love our boy so very much!

It’s My Birthday!

Lucy: Hi there friends. This is my fifth Gotcha Day and the day we celebrate my sixth birthday! I had a pretty quiet day with my Dad and sisters and Riley. Mom came home from work and gave me an extra bit of meat in my supper bowl. Then I got my present…a brand new treat puzzle! It’s just like Xena’s big one that holds tons of treats. I don’t have to use her little second-hand puzzle anymore. Thanks, Xexe, and you can have it back.

I haven’t had bananas for months, so Mom filled my new treat puzzle with pieces of bananas that I had to get by lifting, sliding and finally licking out since the banana stuck to the inside. She helped me with that part.

Everyone got their treat puzzles filled and we had a party with them.

Guess who got the hand-me-down puzzle…Riley! It kept slipping on the floor, so he picked it up and carried it into the front room onto the rug.

After everyone else finished their puzzles, I was still hard at work on mine. I was taking a bit to get the hang of all the moving parts. Chia has a pointy little nose, so she began flipping it open and taking out the pieces of bananas. Since she doesn’t much care for bananas, she laid them on the floor for me to eat. Eating the snacks is what this game is all about anyhow, right?

Well, I have to go say bye to Mom and Dad now. Dad is all better from that C-19 thing and him and Mom are going dancing tonight. Tomorrow we get to celebrate Dad’s birthday! I hope he gets a nice new treat puzzle, too.

Love, wags and licks from Lucy, the birthday girl.

Chia’s First Birthday

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

Hi, hi, hi! I’m Chia and I get to do my very first selfie today ’cause it’s the day we’re celebrating as my birthday.

Oops, first try.

Lucy, will you help me with my selfie?

Lucy: Then it won’t be a selfie.
Chia: But no one has to know. Please, please, please, please…
Lucy: Ok, ok. *sigh*

*snap* Oops. Well, at least you got my body. I wonder if we could glue the head shot onto the body one…
Wait! Mom, will you take a picture for my first selfie?

*snap*
Let me see! Let me See! Oh no! My face is blurry.
Mom: If you would stand still, Chia, your picture wouldn’t be blurry.

Today is also the day we celebrate our country’s independence from England. I heard we’re having grilled hamburgers and hotdogs and sweet potato chips and I get some ’cause it’s my birthday, too!

Lucy: Mom said I could re-run a video my Dad helped me make for the 4th of July. I get to star in this one. It’s one of our favorites, and we hope you enjoy it too.

Wishing all our friends in the USA a good holiday enjoying the freedom that was won for us in the American war for independence.

XOXOX Lucy, Chia, Xena and Riley

Happy Birthday Me (Riley)

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

Yesterday, May Day, was my eleventeenth birthday! Dad Andrew and Mom Amy had a big yard sale that took up most of the day, so I didn’t get to do too much. But then Mom Amy came in and gave me the biggest meaty bone in the package! Me and Lucy and Xena all went outside with our bones and chewed happily for a long time. I left a lot of the marrow and some of the meat on it so I could work on it again today. I couldn’t figure out what the rush was with Luce and the schnauzer cleaning theirs off as fast as they could. Then, when we all got up to come in, Luce grabbed my bone and tried to take off with it! Mom Amy put a stop to that! She washed it off, bagged it, and saved it in the fridge for me. Lucy got a scolding, but that didn’t stop her from grabbing the smaller bone the the schnauzer had brought in and left on the couch.

Mom Amy’s no dummy, and neither is that little schnauzer. She said, “Xena, do you want to go out and get Lucy’s bone to chew on?” Xena ran outside, then through the porch doggie door, found the bigger bone, and claimed it as her own.

Anyhoo, I’ll get my BIG bone to chew again when Mom Amy gets home from seeing my peeps bro Adam for the first time since the beginning of March last year. And maybe she’ll have something else for me, too!

Here’s my selfie. I asked for it to be a side shot so you don’t have to see my vampire red right eye.

I get to lose that cone for good (I hope) Monday week. (That’s the southern way of saying a week from this Monday, for all you who aren’t schooled in the proper way of speaking.)

Don’t I look good? I feel good too! My happy indicator is wagging all the time now.
The red film sewn over my right eye looks awfully scary, but my eye isn’t hurting and we think it’s healing. The doc got my eye culture back and changed my antibiotics. I don’t care. They taste the same in the big hunk of Philadelphia Cream Cheese as the the other pills.

Have a happy Sunday and happy birthday to everyone else who has a birthday soon. May you get great big meaty bones (or whatever you like best).

XOX Riley *wags, wags, wags*