Xena and Chia on Awww Monday

Xena: Hey Chia, wanna play? Look, I’ve got Lambie. *singing* Nah, nah, nah nah nah.

Chia: Uh, I don’t think right now, Xeboo. I’m goin’ to see what Lucy’s doin’.

*30 seconds later* Now what are we going to do, Lambie??

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

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!

Xena’s Happy Tuesday with Adam

I finally got to go see Adam, who loves me lots! It’s been at least since Easter that I’ve been with him. I like to ride in my kennel in the back seat. It feels safe, and I can even nap if I want to on that 87 hour drive (Mom’s note: it’s less than hour). First place we went was to the Petco place. I admit, I did shake a little when we first walked in, but then I got to look at the guinea pigs and even a pet rat! And I got to sniff the treats and try on a new harness. It’s pretty nifty looking on me too, right?

Oh darn, the pretty part is on my tummy. Oh well.

Then we picked up some food and went to the Greenway up in Cleveland, Tennessee where Adam lives. They have a new dog park, so we went in there and I found out that Mommy also bought me doggie treats. Woohoo! There were two other little dogs there – the big dogs had their own dog park next door – but I wasn’t much interested. Pretty soon the trash and my poop were thrown in the big black can and all three of us went on a walk down a paved trail through the woods. There were a few dirt paths off the paved trail, and brother Adam wanted to ‘splore one. Off we went into the wilderness, dodging vines and poison ivy and slippery slopes. After a while the path disappeared. Oops! We had already walked what seemed like a long way, and Mommy didn’t really want to turn around. So out comes her phone with that Gee Pee Ess and it showed that the Greenway was to the South West. Hmmm. I thought the South West was where the cowboys live…along with some of my blogging friends.

Next, Mommy looks up and says, “The sun’s in the west right now, and it’s around 2:00 in the afternoon, so we should go this way,” and starts leading us through leaves and more vines and under branches and pretty soon, guess what? We ended up on the paved trail. It was a fun adventure, and yes, Mommy checked me over real good for ticks when we got home, and there weren’t any on me. Here’s me and Adam after we got back on the trail

I sure do hope I get to go again in a coupla weeks when Mommy goes back to visit with my big brother.

Thanks to Miss Sandee at Comedy Plus for hosting Happy Tuesday Blog Hop! (even if it was a happy Saturday that I saw my Adam)

Xena Schnauzer Warrior Princess

Happy World Unicorn Day

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

Angel Lexi: National Unicorn Day on April 9th each year celebrates the mythical horse-like creature with a single, pointed horn growing from the center of its forehead. Some day, many years from now, perhaps I’ll move from applauded and celebrated to mystical, like Spike.

Me and my buddy Spike up here with the Big Guy

May all your days be full of rainbows and unicorns.

Awww Monday

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

Lucy: Here we are, finishing out our time in Fort Wayne. Hey Xena, let’s tell everyone what we liked about being here, besides being with our Mom and Dad. I’ll go first. I like this house and the big king size bed.

Xena: I like the pictures Mommy took of me on the stairs!

Xena: And I like the nice fenced back yard.

Lucy: I loved visiting with my grandma!

HI Grandma, I love you!

Grandma: Look at the camera, Lucy and we’ll get our pictures taken with your Mom and Xena. You’re a nice dog.

Lucy: So, despite my aversion to having my picture made, I smiled. And of course we got Xena and Mom and Miss Carol who we met there, too. She loves dogs, just like Grandma does.

Dad’s cousins and sister and brother-in-law came over to our Air B&B to visit and I made sure to give them all chances to hold me and pet me. They love me…in fact, even though Dad’s cousin is more of a “cat person,” I heard her say, “I love this dog.” I love her, too.
Well, I see everyone waiting for me at the door cause it’s time to go back home to Chattanooga. Will catch y’all next time!

*big wags and smiles* Lucy
*woof, woof* and me too, Xena

The Makeup Artist by Xena

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

Xena: It’s my turn to do the picture poem this week that Angel Sammy gave us. So here goes.

The Makeup Artist by Xena Schnauzer Warrior Princess

Mom, I see you put your makeup on
Every day, every morn.
Your cheeks are first, then chin and head.
I watch you from beneath my bed.

My little sis will soon be grown;
I’ll help her show off her good bones.
Some eye stuff just above her cheeks;
Working to perfect my techniques.

So Mom, can I do your face next?
Why is it that you look so vexed?
To my room I go with a big sob;
I thought that I did a great job!

Lucy: Great job, Xena! And thanks for letting me do a thankful today. I’m thankful that my brother and friend Riley is doing a bit better under the careful watch and care of His Person Andrew. I’m also thankful for the sunshine so I can lay out in the yard and feel it warming my furs.
Go ahead, Chia, I think you had a thankful today too.

Chia: Yep, thanks Luce the Deuce! (te he) I’m thankful Mom and Dad get to go away to Inn Dee Anna this weekend to visit my 93 year old grandma as well as some more of Dad’s relatives. I heard that on Sunday they’re going to Inn Deann Apple Us. (Don’t these places have long, strange names?) There’s a big dance there in a huge, old ballroom, and they’re doing the big 3D’s like they did 2 weeks ago. Yes, Xena, that’s Dine, Drink and Dance, not Doggie, Doggie, Doggie. And guess what, Xena…you and Lucy are going with them. (Wow, am I ever gonna miss her!) I wish I was going but I’m also thankful that it means more time with Andrew, who is staying with me and Riley. Maybe I can get out running again like last time….

Grooming with Mom: Zoie, Then and Now

Lucy, Ace Reporter on the Groom Beat, reporting in on a schnauzer pup who has been coming to Groomer Mom for a little over two years.

Zoie (pronounced Zo-ee) first came to Groomer Mom in November of 2021 when she was 10 years old. She’s a sweet girl, and easy to groom. Here she is after her first groom at Small Dog Grooming.

Isn’t she precious? And so happy looking, too.

Two years later, almost to the day, Groomer Mom found a large tumor growing on her gums. Groomer Mom just sat there and cried when she found it. It was so much like when she found the same thing on her Lexi. A couple of days later, Zoie went to the vet. He could neither affirm nor deny that it was the big C. Zoie’s Mom decided to not do anything, and just let it “play out.”

This month Zoie came back for another groom. She had a lot of bad mats and short hair where her Mom had been cutting out even more mats. Groomer Mom did the best she could on her.

The fatty tumor on her chest had gotten bigger and she had lost all of her undercoat. Groomer Mom didn’t have the heart to look in her mouth again. She had also lost weight. Zoie no longer looked like the same dog, and was definitely not the same happy little schnauzer.

We ask for gentle woofs and purrs and prayers for Zoie.

Lucy, Ace Reporter, signing off.

Xena Went to the Beach on Happy Tuesday

Mommy loves to go to the beach so much, I thought I’d try it out.

Not sure what the big deal is. If anyone sees my Mommy, please tell her I’m at the beach and would she please bring me my supper?

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

Xena Went to the Chiro on Awww Monday

So Mom found a new chiropractor and he works on dogs. He was even interviewed on TV once about it!

Of course, she hauled me in there. She said it wouldn’t hurt and that he would talk my ears off. Note to self: hang onto my ears.

And then I had to wait and wait and wait. I could hear him talking someone else’s ears off.

Mommy, I don’t think he’s coming. Maybe we should just go home. Isn’t it time for supper? Oops, here he comes.

I have to get on the table? Is there food up there? A good view? Oh, OK. Just don’t talk my ears off.
Why am I here? Well, you see, I’ve been diagnosed with luxating patella in both my knees. Sometimes one of them pops out while we’re on a walk and I have to hop and shake that leg to get it to go back in. And sometimes they take turns popping out during the walks, depends on how far we’re walking and how hard the walk is and how I slept on them the night before. Sometimes it helps to get treats as we go and so Mommy always needs to carry a lot of treats in one of her empty poop bags. And I’m here cause Mommy put me in the car and brought me here, not cause I wanna be here. But I’m here, so do what you do except don’t make my ears fall off. And then I’ll go home and get my supper.

Dr. C: My goodness she talks a lot. And why did she say to not make her ears fall off?

The Mom: She’s a schnauzer.

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

Xena’s Screenshot Sunday Selfie

Does your Mom carry a picture of you everywhere she goes? My Mommy does!

Look at the fancy decorations on my picture. She needs to get that stuff off my face though. And Swipe to open? Oh! That must mean like when someone swipes the food off the counter and it makes me open my mouth to catch it. I think that might happen a lot today since it’s Super Bowl Sunday and the only day the folks eat tons of yummies in the living room. Hope your team wins!!

Happy Sunday, everyone, and thanks to The Cat on My Head, for hosting Sunday Selfies!

Xena Schnauzer Warrior Princess
aka Xe
aka XeXe
aka The Little One

Chia’s Poem and Thankful Thursday

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

Hey there, friends! You may – or may not – have noticed that I’ve gotten to do the posting for a whole week long! It’s been a blast! (Mom says it helps keep me outa trouble.)

But all good things must come to an end…or at least slow down for just a bit. So here’s my last post before my brother and sisters get their turns…for maybe weeks…who knows?! **wiggles**

Partying (or Tie Up Your Boat Better)  by Chia

We found a little island in the middle of the river.
I said, “Let’s stop and drink some booze e’en though it kills your liver.”
We drank and laughed and barked and howled until we all fell over.
Didn’t notice when the river round the island moved in closer.
Or when the boat we all came on broke free to float down river.

We fell asleep and spent the night til we all had to pee.
The boat was gone, and snapping turtles waited in the lee.
I saw some ducks who had no legs attached below the knee,
I knew I wasn’t jumping in – didn’t want that to be me!
Finally our pawrent appeared to rescue all us three!

The End

Now I’m passing the keyboard over to Xena who’s got some thankfuls today. Take it away, galfriend!
Xena: Uh, thanks, Chia. I am sorry for Lucy who lost her church privileges for reasons I have sworn to her to keep secret. But I am thankful that I have been chosen to be the new church dog as long as I don’t pee on the carpet.

 I pooped in the room next to the office, but that was easy to clean up and I was only in a little bit of trouble. Now Mom’s taking me out to potty more often. The treats are good and it’s a good gig if you can get it (and not lose it, Loosy!)

Your friends, Chia Mia and Xexe

Chia: Pee Ess, when do I get to go to the church with Mom?
Everyone: NEVER!!

Mom’s note: Chia would be a great church dog if she didn’t have the chance to run out the door that’s just outside of my office and get squished on a very busy road!

Happy Tuesday with Xena and Chia

Chia: Guess what me and Xena did on Sunday! Remember why Xe didn’t wanna do a Sunday selfie? No? It’s cause she knew she was going to Freestyle after a long time of not going and was real anxious to get there. And guess who else got to go…me!!!!!!!!!

Xena: Yep, wasn’t as good as just me and Mommy, but it sure was a lot better than not going. I was so excited, and Miss Julia asked me and Mommy to demonstrate a lot of things for the beginners. I got an A++++++! I remembered all of it, watched Mommy for cues and did it just right.

Chia: Yep, and I’m one of those beginners, so I watched real close so that when it was my turn with Mom, I would do it just right, too. And I mostly did! I even got to work off-leash some. Of course, there were treats involved.

Xena: Mommy brought a lot of CD’s home to listen to the music in my tempo (32 bpm) and Chia’s tempo (50 bpm). We’ll help her pick out the ones we like most. Then we’ll do things like help her with the movements. And Mommy will have to download the songs from the CDs and cut parts of it to be the right length for each of us. I’m going to perform in the top level this time, Level 4.

Chia: Mom’s still deciding if I’ll be a total beginner in Level 1 (on leash) or if I get to start in Level 2B (off-leash). We can’t do Level 2A because Mom’s already titled Lexi and Xena. I think I’m a 2B kinda girl! Hmmm, 2B or not 2B, that is the question…where have I heard that before…

Maybe next time we’ll have pictures of us at the Obedience Club where we’re taking our lessons.

Chia: In the meantime, I have something to tell y’all. I didn’t realize this until it happened, and now I know I’m absolutely the smartest dog in the neighborhood, maybe in the whole world.

I’m super smart!

Seriously! Here’s what happened:

Monday night I was standing in the bedroom with Mom who needed to get into “her” bathroom” and had given brother Andrew – who was in the jacuzzi tub - a 30 minute warning. An hour later she yelled through the door that she needed in there now! He said, “Just give me 30 seconds to get decent.” At that, Mom started counting the seconds out loud. You know… one, two, three, and so on. I had scratched at the door a couple of times to tell him to hurry up. Then, just as Mom said, “thirty,” I threw myself at the door and it opened. I know what Thirty means! It means open the @#*! door!!! And I did!!

*Wags* and many thanks to Miss Sandee at Comedy Plus, who is hosting Happy Tuesday Blog Hop!

Xena and Chia, the happy (and smart) pups

Failed Selfie Sunday with Xena and Her Mommy

First, we want to thank The Cat on My Head, for hosting Sunday Selfies!

Xena, are you about ready to do your selfie?

No, Mommy, I want to go to Freestyle! I thought we were going to start up doing our Freestyle again today!

Honey, that’s not til later this afternoon. Let’s do this first.

Wait! I got somethin’ on my nose. Stop with all the camera clicking, will ya?

Sure, Xexe, whatever you say….ok, are you ready now?

Yep.

Phthhhhhhh. I wanna go to Freestyle.

I’m Xena Schnauzer Warrior Princess and I want what I want. Happy Sunday, everyone.

Awww Monday with Sophie and Achilles

Xena: Last Friday our folks drove away and left us all here all by ourselves. 87 minutes later one of our favorite people, Miss Christy, showed up! Well, she missed seeing Mommy and Daddy, so she decided to just stay here with us! Isn’t it funny that she had a suitcase with her clothes and stuff in it?

She fed us and cuddled with us and made me feel safe even though I missed my Mommy.

Miss Christy left on Sunday, and not long after that our pawrents got home! They didn’t seem surprised when I told them that Miss Christy was here. Me and Chia and Lucy all got to sleep with them last night.

Riley: Mom Amy stunk like Achilles. I knew right away where they’d been. They left us all here and went to visit Achilles.

Lucy: But they came home in time to celebrate my birthday. *wags* And they brought pictures of my boyfriend, Achilles! Here’s the pictures they took and the story of their visit.

Achilles: I’ve been really depressed since my sister Ella crossed the Rainbow Bridge. Then Aunt Amy came and she pet me and played with me and hugged me and played with me and kissed me and played with me and cuddles with me in the big chair and I was really happy like a puppy (I’m 10) the whole time she and Uncle Jeff were here. They promised to bring my best girl Lucy with them next time. I hope it’s soon!

Hi, I’m Sophie. I’m a whole lot smaller than both my brothers – Achilles and Morty the Original Pig. I’m only 40 pounds and not a year old yet. I got to meet my Aunt Amy and she was a nice lady. She was gentle and patient with me and scratched me really good. I won’t be afraid next time she comes.

Mom Amy: This was our annual birthday trip to celebrate both Jeff and Jen’s January birthdays. We always eat too much, drink too much, talk too much and just have a great time, as we did this year. We didn’t take the dogs because we didn’t want any “incidents” with Morty, or them scaring little Sophie. Next time Lucy will go for sure, and we’ll celebrate her birthday at the same time. I just want to add that we are wonderfully blessed with the best dog sitter in the world! Thank you Christy!!

Many thanks to Miss Sandee at Comedy Plus for hosting Awww Monday!

Thankful and Poetry Thursday

Thanks to Angel Sammy for the fun picture this week!

A Surreal Tale  by Xena Schnauzer Warrior Princess and Critter Hunter

I saw a critter stirring,
it looked to be fair game.
It saw me coming toward it;
I ran without fear or shame.

Through leaves and trees and prickly brush
Cross streams and meadows wide,
Up hills, down vales, the chase went on,
E’en through the Great Divide.

Then suddenly it’s mate appeared
And they began to kiss.
I listened as they said goodbye
Don’t think I can handle this!

I retraced my steps and arrived home
In time to eat a meal.
When asked what fun the day had brought
I made up tales less surreal.

So now a critter family lives just beyond our shed.
I tell the babies stories when they settle down for bed
About the time their dad and I crossed hill and dale and streams.
They sleep and I’m their godmother in all their precious dreams.

Now it’s time for my thankfuls! First, thanks to Angel Brian, for hosting Thankful Thursday!
 I’m thankful Mommy took me to work with her last week and again this Tuesday.

And I’m thankful for the warm sunlight!

Your friendly neighborhood schnauzer, Xena.

Xena’s Unexpected Present on Awww Monday

It was Christmas morning, and we were all waiting for Andrew and Jentry to come over so we could open presents. I decided to take a little nap in my bed that’s in the big bedroom. I nodded off for a while, and when I woke up, there was a surprise in my bed.

Do y’all remember Chia’s octopus stuffie, “Smiley?” Yep, there he was, big as life, laying with me in my bed. Mom walked in and I asked, “Do you know why Smiley is sleeping with me?”
She said Chia had laid it there, and it was Chia’s Christmas present to me.

She’ll probably want Smiley back later, but that’s ok. Now I can grab it and yell, “Mine!” and Chia can chase me and grab it and yell, “Mine!” and we can have fun playing. Did anyone else get something unexpected for Christmas?

Many thanks to Miss Sandee at Comedy Plus for hosting Awww Monday! And Happy, Happy New Year to everyone!!

Xena Schnauzer Warrior Princess

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

Xena’s Awww Monday

Is anyone going to rub my tummy?

Many thanks to Miss Sandee at Comedy Plus for hosting Awww Monday!

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

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!