Today we thank The Cat on My Head for helping us to say Happy Mother’s Day with our Selfies! To settle the argument of who got to go first, then next, then next, Riley declared we shall go in age order, starting with the oldest. Here we go, and this one’s for you, Mom!
Mom Amy: Y’all make it a great Mother’s Day, my dear girls and sweet boy. I’m so happy everyone is healthy and happy. I love you too!
Xena: Why are you all dressed up in this picture, Mom? Are you going somewhere? Mom: No, this is a picture from last night just before your Dad and I went out ballroom dancing. Chia: You mean when you left us alone with no food or anyone to bug,umm, I mean, pet us? Lucy: I was afraid you wouldn’t come back! Riley: Happy Mother’s Day!
Xena: As promised, I am back today to tell you about my 3 hour trip to south Georgia to my breeder’s, Grammy Toni. It was a real nice day and a nice ride down the interstate. I mostly slept in my favorite kennel in the back seat of the car while Mommy drove.
Sorry for the bad picture. The kennel is soft and blue and has a fluffy pillow and my stuffie JenJen bear and my stuffie Priscilla.
Mommy warned me that there would be two fellas there with their schnauzers that they got from Grammy, too. Here are their “babies.”
L-R Katie Ann, Savanah, Bo
We’re all cousins, or something like that. Let’s just say we’re related.
I was really nervous about the whole thing. New place. New people, new floor to have to walk on. And most of all, seven new dogs to meet. I have to admit, I didn’t do so well at the meet and greet.
I mostly sat in Mommy’s lap or under Mommy’s chair. All the other schnauzers came up to me to sniff me and say hello, and I growled at them. I didn’t lift my lip or anything, I was just kinda scared. Not shaking-in-my-furs scared, just stay-away-from-me scared. The men were really nice and knew all about schnauzers, so they tried real easy-like to be friends with me, and I even got a treat from one of them. (This trip was rather short on treats.)
Mommy sat down on the floor and had what she called a Schnauzer-Fest. It made her really happy, and she kept smiling and offering to take one or the other of them home with us. But they all said they liked where they were, thank you very much. (Do you think it was cause of me?) Anyhoo, we found out that I’m related to all of Grammy’s schnauzers, too. Grammy lost her heart dog just a few months ago, and the fellas kept saying how much I look like him. When Mommy saw his picture, she couldn’t believe how true that was, and said she would have sworn that was me. He was my brother. What do you think?
This is Socrates. This is NOT me.
I would have liked a lot to have met my brother Socrates yesterday…we were twinsies for real! And then Grammy would be happy, too. So me and Mommy, we’re dedicating this post to Socrates (I will call him Socrates the Great), who is on the other side of the Rainbow Bridge.
First, thanks to Miss Sandee at Comedy Plus for hosting Happy Tuesday Blog Hop!
Today I honor miniature schnauzers across the world. No, this isn’t a federal holiday or even one of those made-up Hallmark holidays — although I think that’s a great idea! I just love the breed. I found this on FB, where I rarely look at anything at all. My hubby laughed, knowing that only by the grace of God, we only have one schnauzer…for now!
I was always a “big dog” person. I had Alice, my dalmation until she passed at 11 years. After that, my “then” husband and I bought a house in Cleveland, TN, where we could have more dogs. He always talked about having a schnauzer, so I got him one for his first birthday in our house. I’ll admit that I got this 6 week old puppy from a backyard breeder. I had never heard of backyard breeders at the time, but something sure seemed “off.” About a year later, when I found out what kind of breeder and person this man was, I went back to try to get my pup’s mother, but he said he didn’t have her anymore. Here is Freda.
When her dad left us, I wouldn’t let him take her. She and I bonded while grieving together. She developed terrible allergies, and the steroid shots caused her to have cushing’s disease. At age five she went mostly blind. As long as I didn’t move the furniture, no one could tell she couldn’t see. She even led the way on our hikes down wooded paths! She was smart, feisty, “top dog” in all situations, had attitude, and wanted most of all to be with me no matter what I was doing. In other words, she was a miniature schnauzer! She taught me about the breed, and they embodied all the things I admired and could want in a companion. When, at 13, she passed from the terrible effects of the cushings, I found someone who needed to rehome their mini schnauzer.
I took Evie to the vet after picking her up, and was told she had a bad heart murmur. I then took her to UTC Vet School in Knoxville, and was told it was a class 4 murmur, as bad as it gets. They could do surgery, but there was no guarantee. She was only seven months old. She had very little energy, and just cuddled or hung out quietly with my other two dogs.
All I can say is she had a good life…boating, sleeping in my bed, going on trips, and playing with the big German Shepherd who was living with me at the time. Well, let me define playing. The GSD would run through the yard, slowing when he reached Evie so that she could grab ahold of his neck with her teeth and hang on him like a giant engorged tick while he kept running. When she was 19 months old I came home from work and found her gone, still warm in her kennel.
After that I was determined to find a well-bred schnauzer. After researching, I contacted a breeder, Becky, who lived three hours away in southern GA. One of her females had just had a litter, and she emailed me pictures of them a couple of times a week. I picked one out and gave her a very Southern, girlie name: Anna Belle Lee.
When they were six weeks old I made the trip to Becky’s to meet her and Anna Belle Lee and leave a deposit. I would have to return in two weeks to pick up my puppy. I sat on the floor for three hours watching them all play. I met their Mom and Pop, who were also house dogs and seemed happy and well cared for. Anna Belle Lee was every bit as beautiful and sweet as I had imagined. But I was still living with the GSD, and I was concerned this wouldn’t work. There was another puppy who stood out as the one who could deal with him..and pretty much anything. I left to get some lunch, and when I returned I had made a decision. On the way home I knew I had to come up with a different name for this one, the one who tore up all the newspaper while the others slept; jumped and bit at the air coming out of the floor register; and generally, although physically the same size as them, had a huge presence amongst the other little ones. She was no Anna Belle Lee. I named her Lexi. Many of you knew Lexi, who was the inspiration for this blog.
To the right, Ara is doing an alligator roll with 8 or 10 week old Lexi’s head in his mouth. She wasn’t a bit afraid, but I was holding my breath. He did this after she had repeatedly grabbed his lip and pulled it until he screamed. At least she stopped pulling his lip…
There’s not enough space in one blog to elaborate on everything Lexi loved and did, but here’s a condensed list.
Agility
Titled in Freestyle
Played Toto in 3 plays, each 2 years apart, and won the Annie Award in the The Chattanooga Theatre.
Received a life-time pass to attend any Chattanooga Theatre production
Advertised the Chattanooga Symphony Orchestra from a pedi-cab
Made a guest appearance with a children’s ballet troupe
Helped us teach ballroom dance for 3 years to a group of homeschoolers
Did therapy with physical rehab patients
Visited nursing homes
“Therapized” at T.C. Thompson Children’s Hospital for 10 years
And more, so much more
Lexi with her headshot and Annie Award from The Wizard of Oz. She was very proud and possessive of the award.
Cancer took her in 2016 when she was 13 years old, only three months after she was diagnosed. I lost my partner and best friend. While I can’t say I’m done grieving her, someone else won my heart about a year later.
It usually takes me a while to actually, really love anyone. The day I brought Xena Schnauzer Warrior Princess home from another renowned breeder, I fell in love with her. Even though this is her blog now, and you see her all the time, she wants me to include her picture in this post. Like all my schnauzers, she loves having her picture taken.
She was 13 weeks old when I got her and took this picture. This is how the breeder groomed her, and I’ve tried to stay true to it. Oddly, her leg hair or “feathers” and her beard have never grown.
The personalities of all four schnauzers have been extremely different; they have been their own, unique dogs. Evie was too sick to be anything but docile. Lexi was self-confident, brave to the point of danger, was able to change to meet whatever was needed of her, and quick to see the upside and make the most of all the different situations I put her in. She didn’t like to cuddle.
Xena is a bit shy, sweet, loving, smart, and like the others loves to be with me and do anything I’m doing, especially freestyle. She loves to be outside and “hunt” critters. She’s also fearful of new situations and even of changing textures on the floor. She’s my baby.
If you’ve gotten this far in this long blog, I thank you. I’ll be back soon with more adventures with Xena and her “crew.” Thank you, Sandee at Comedy Plus for hosting Happy Tuesday, Oh, and why don’t you scroll back up and get one more laugh out of that meme?
Chia: It’s early and Mom’s taking pictures. It’s still cold out, so I pulled down my blanket – you know the one I got for Christmas and it’s all mine – off the back of the couch and wrapped it around me.
Now I’m warm and comfy.
Xena: So, my sissie Chia is happy on the couch, and I’ve claimed her place in her bed that’s in my kennel. Mommy says this is called an “on-going feud.”
Mommy has been letting my pretty hair grow out to keep me warm this winter. I got a bath, and she said to tell you this picture was taken before she got to brush my pretty hair.
Riley: Zzzzzzzzzzzz.
Lucy: Excuse me, I don’t mean to be rude, but I’m trying to take a sunbath.
We all want to thank Miss Sandee at Comedy Plus for hosting Awww Monday!
Thanks to The Cat on My Head, for hosting Sunday Selfies. We love you guys!
I was the chosen one for a Sunday selfie this week. The trouble was, when I got the news I was in baby hold in Mommy’s lap, surrounded by a soft, warm blankie and Rainy the Reindeer, and I could hear the gentle beating of Mommy’s heart.
Even so, I’m never one to turn down a selfie. Shoot, if I’d known sooner, I’d of asked Mommy to comb my face and leg feathers. Oh well. The bigger problem was me starting to fall off to sleep.
Well, I hope this will do and that you still like my selfie…
The Mom: And now she’s going….going…gone.
Xena wanted to include this note to all our friends. I haven’t filtered it, so hoping there’s nothing too inappropriate.
Xena: Hey friends! Y’all first got notified of this post publishing on Wednesday. I want to say I’m sorry for Mommy’s mistake. She was really sick with a rotten cold and had crawled out of bed to get my selfies and thought she had set it to run on Sunday but she ran it on Wednesday instead BOL! The good news is she has been able to put together our meals every day even though she could hardly shuffle to the kitchen. Oh, and there was a reason I couldn’t stay awake. While Daddy and Lucy and Chia went and slept in the other bedroom for a week, I got stuck in stayed in the bed with my Mommy to be sure she was OK and between her nose blowing and throat clearing and farting, I didn’t get my beauty rest. Hope everyone had a good Thanksgiving!
Hey there folks, this is Lucy, Ace Reporter, reporting to you with another episode of Grooming with Mom. Let’s shout out a huge thanks to Brian’s Thankful Thursday, with special thanks to Brian for hosting it!
We get emails every week from Dogs Naturally, where we learn lots of stuff about good nutrition. They’ve been giving us a little quiz with one question each time, so we thought it would be fun to share those. Here is this week’s: Which breed’s name means “curly small dog?” Answer at the bottom of thispost.
Groomer Mom got what she thought was the strangest call ever from someone wanting a groom. The person said he has a miniature schnauzer whose groomer retired, and he couldn’t find anyone to give his dog a good groom. Then he saw a schnauzer with a great cut, a real “schnauzer” groom, and asked the owner where she took her dog. You can see where this is going, right? So far, nothing strange. The strange part is that he lives in Dalton, GA, which is almost an hour from us. We’ve had people drive 30 minutes, but not an hour! Groomer Mom even asked him if he was sure he wanted to come this far, and he assured her he did.
Theo – short for Theodore – is on the tall side for a mini at 20 pounds. He’s solid, though, no fat to make up those pounds. This is his “before” picture.
Theo’s legs and feet were very matted and a bit of scissoring and shaving had to happen to remove the worst of the mats. The last groomer had cut the hair straight cross that was growing out of his ears, instead of pulling it out. Groomer Mom growled a bit about that, and Theo sat perfectly still while he was tortured all that hair got pulled out. However, he absolutely would not allow his nails to be cut or have the Dremel used. His Dad holding him didn’t help and hanging him in the sling (you’ve seen Chia in it) didn’t help, either. Finally, Groomer Mom asked Theo’s Dad if he wanted her to stop, and he said yes. In the end, his groom was the same as our Xena’s!
Theo was happy cause he got lots of treats and his Dad was happy cause he loved the cut! He said he’ll be back next time Theo needs groomed, and promised to keep him combed out in between.
TRIVIA ANSWER
The breed whose name means “curly small dog” is the Bichon Frise. Bichon means a small, toy or lap dog, and frisé means curly.
Lucy, Ace Reporter, signing off with another episode of Grooming with Mom! (*wags*)
Xena: Guess what! I get to do Flashback Friday again. This one is from August of 2018 when I was barely two years old. Keep reading….
Lucy: Xena, you are the only dog I know that can get grounded at the dog park. It was our third day in a row going there. You just don’t know when to shut your mouth. You were inciting riots with all your barking. And Mom said she was getting a headache. Xena: Please stop lecturing me. I paid the price. I had to sit with boring Mommy while you played with the other dogs. I wanted to run and play too. (and bark more)
Xena the Benched Schnauzer Warrior Princess
We are joining Angel Arty, Jakey, Rosy and Sunny of the LLB Gang with much thanks for hosting Nature Friday. We’re also thankful to Fivesibes for hosting Flashback Friday!
Me and Mommy go dancing a lot on Sunday afternoons. Our session for this past Sunday got cancelled, so I asked Mommy to help me show you what we did last week. For anyone who doesn’t know what we do, it’s called Canine Freestyle. Mommy always says, “It’s the only dog sport where the dog and the person are equal partners.” Yep, I get to show Mommy my new ideas when we are working up a dance routine to my our music. Oh, oh, and the music has to match my BPM, which is totally different than BM or BP. My Beats Per Minute run from 140ish to almost 150. I am one of those rare canines who really listens to the music and move to match it!
Our teacher asked us to create three phases using one straight line and one curved line in each.
The first one we did was supposed to show athleticism.
Our teacher liked what we did. And it was quick and easy. You may say, “But you are training for an advanced Level 4, so why are you doing this?” It’s cause we have a new student with her Mom and we are helping them understand stuff!
Next we did something that was supposed to show training. The very first part was just the setup. Of course I had to train Mommy to bend her leg right for me to go under. Then I pretended to not know how I was supposed to stand at the end, so we could say , see, this is how to train a pup to face you! It was supposed to be about training, after all.
Our teacher called us a minimalist, but said it was good.
The last exercise is supposed to show grace. I wanted to show how graceful I could be while sitting and laying down. Then I gave in and did what Mommy wanted, but with my own twist on it.
Do you think I showed grace?
I’m glad we had that fun. Now it’s time to get started for real on my Level 4 performance! We only have until around Halloween, you know!
Many thanks to Comedy Plus for hosting Happy Tuesday.
Xena: For Flashback Friday, Mommy said I could re-publish my very first post! But I want to start out saying Happy Birthday to my peeps brother, Andrew! OK, here we go…
The Last Picture of Me at My First Home
Dear Diary,
I, once called The Female with the Yellow Collar, just had my whole world turned upside down. I should have known something was up yesterday when The Woman took me away from all my puppy siblings and friends – and oh, we were having a grand ol’ time in our playpen – and put a pretty colored thingy on my body. She let me run around the house some, dragging a long thing attached to what I learned was called a hardness (probably because it is hard to get out of), then kept me in a wire kennel away from my buddies.
Come around supper time, a New Woman came to our door and The Woman let me go outside to meet her. I liked her right away, so I wanted to show her what I could do. I ran as fast as I could in big circles around the yard, stopping to sniff the grass and the bushes and anything else that caught my interest. Sometimes I would rip leaves off a bush, just to show it who was boss, or grab some grass and tear it out of the ground, slinging it over my shoulder. Pretty soon I forgot about the New Woman and just ran and played for the sheer joy of it. I bounced up and down and inside of me I was laughing.
My Boring Brother
I was brought in the house and put in the wire kennel while one of my brothers went outside with The Woman and The New Woman.
He’s so boring, he just did his potty, sniffed around, and wanted The New Woman to hold him. I don’t know why he got a cookie for just doing that.
The next thing I knew, the Womans were talking and signing papers and giving each other stuff and I got put into a kennel in the back seat of the New Woman’s car. It was a little scary, ’cause I had never been in a car before this. We drove for about 87 hours – the New Woman said it was only 3 hours, but I am not sure about that – and I slept most of the way. Except, of course for when my tummy got sick and then I had to pee pee.
The New Man held me.When I first met Lucy
When we got to the New Woman’s house, a Man took the kennel out of the car and told The New Woman that I had gone pee pee all over the pillow and there was throw up there, too. He left the room while The New Woman gave me a bath. I was shivering, mostly from fear, but I was a little cold too, so The New Woman wrapped me up in a soft towel and took me upstairs to The Man. He held me and called me Littlest One and made me feel safe. I was getting sleepy – after all, the sun had gone away a zillion hours ago – when I got another surprise. A gigantic dog suddenly appeared and sniffed me! She told me her name is Lucy and asked me my name and why I was here in her Dad’s lap. I said, “My name is either The Female with the Yellow Collar or Littlest One.” I didn’t really know, but thought I should answer her. I told her, “I’m here because The New Woman brought me here. And don’t ask me anything else, ’cause I’m just as confused as you.” When The Man put me down for Lucy to see me better, Lucy ran and hid in The Man’s office. That’s where I heard The New Woman say she was, anyhow. Then I listened to The Man and The New Woman talk about where I was to sleep. The New Woman wanted me to sleep in the bed with them. The New Man said he had heard too many horror stories about what could happen. So The New Man won and I was put in the cleaned kennel where I could see The New Woman. I had a special blue and yellow blanket that used to belong to someone named Angel Lexi, and a big soft toy to cuddle with. Lucy was still all scared, so The Man and The New Woman let her sleep with them. I guess she is too big for the horror things to happen to her. I fell off to sleep wondering what new surprises would happen tomorrow.
I guess that’s it for now, Dear Diary. I think I will have lots more to write about very soon. Note to self: ask The New Woman if Littlest One is my new name. ~Me
Lucy: Hi, and Happy New Year, friends! *wiggles* When last we met, Mom was going to take me to the Smart Pet store for a new sweater. That was great! So many people pet me while I was there! I got a really pretty sweater too, and it even fits me like it was made for me (but not made by Mom, BOL!). Then I found out I had to pose for a picture. I really don’t like getting my picture made.
Chia: C’mon Lucy, you can do this! I just got lots of pictures taken and it doesn’t hurt a bit. Give Mom a good picture and it’ll all be over and you can go back to doing nothing.
Lucy: *gulp* OK, I’ll try. But it’s hard to look happy like Xena does in her pictures when I’m doin’ something I don’t wanna do.
Lucy: There. I hope everyone can see my pretty new sweater. I’m done.
Mom: No you’re not, sweet girl. Chia photo bombed you.
Chia: I was just giving moral support.
Lucy: Are we done yet?
Chia: Yep, it’s my turn. First, you probably noticed I’m wearing my big girl panties. It’s been a long time since I’ve had to wear them.
I managed to get them off during the night and now there’s blood on the bedsheets and Dad’s underwear. I was laying up against him. Hmmm. I didn’t know that would happen. Xena! Are you back there photo bombing my picture? So, what I really wanted to tell you is, I got another present, too. Mom decided I needed a new collar after she put my pretty pink collar on me and I made choking sounds, sorta like, “ghagrk.” I’m a big 1 1/2 years old now and I outgrew it. Off we went to the Smart Pet store!
Can you see it? Instead of a bow it has a pretty sunflower on it. And it’s not pink, yay! No, you can’t see it? Well, that’s ok, there’ll be plenty more pictures of me wearing it other days.
Xena: My turn! I got new stairs to be able to get on the bed without hopping up and down asking Mommy to pick me up. Riley’s bed is always on the side where the rug is, and the floor on Mommy’s side is too slippery for me to try to jump up. I wasn’t too sure about these stairs at first. But when treats suddenly appeared on them, I made it the whole way up to the top.
Now the trick is to get back down. Riley’s sleeping on his bed, so I can’t jump down that way. OK, I’m gonna try this…
OK, I think I can do this. One step at a time.
I’m doing it, Mommy!
Chia: Did you see me run up and down and back up the stairs, Mom? I’m so fast, just like the Flash! You probably missed it. That’s OK, I’ll do it again!
Thanks to Comedy Plus for hosting Wordless Wednesday Blog Hop.
Chia: We’re goin’ up North next month, and Mom wanted me to have something warm to wear, so she lengthened something called a pattern that she used to make Xena’s clothes and tailored it just for me. The first problem occurred cutting the plush fleece material. The cut edges shed like a reindeer in the middle of summer so she did a zig zag stitch along the edges. (Do you wanna see me zig zag? I’m good at it!) Then she discovered the material was too thick and her machine wouldn’t sew it. But Mom loves me sooooo much that she sewed it all by hand. That took about 87 hours (that she should have used playing with me!)
She was finally done and it was time for me to try it on.
Seriously? I look like an armadillo. Is this really next Halloween’s costume?
Mom, did you notice one leg is longer than the other? And my hiney is hanging out.
What did I ever do to deserve this. Wait, don’t answer that.
Mom finally had mercy on me and helped me out of it before I chewed my the pajama leg off. I hope I never see that torture thing again!
A very short while later…
Chia: Hey you! Who said you could wear that?
Xena: Mom said it didn’t fit you and you don’t want it. It’s mine now. It sure is cozy warm.
Chia: No! It’s MINE!
Xena: *yawn* I’m so comfy I think I’ll take a nap.
Do you like my new jammies?
I am Xena Schnauzer Warrior Princess with Warrior Wolves Jammies.
We are joining Angel Arty, Jakey, Rosy and Sunny of the LLB Gang with much thanks for hosting Nature Friday.
Xena: We finally got a sunny day when Mommy had time to go out front with me and bring her phone camera. When brother Andrew gave these tomato plants to Mommy, they were barely as tall as my knee. Now they’ve taken over the sidealk and killed the hosta that was growing behind them. I think the hosta will have it’s revenge when it comes back next year and the tomato plants don’t!
I found out that this is where Mommy’s been getting the yummy little red tomatoes that she tosses to us like edible balls. Mmmm. So whenever I get a chance, I hunt them.
Here, mater, mater! Where, oh where are you? Hmm, gotta go deeper.
Wait! Is that one? Nope, just the edge of the pot that one is in. Can you believe these are all growing in pots? Seems Mommy isn’t much of a planter. When they first started to grow, she went to the hardware store to buy something for them to climb up. She saw these big things for plants to climb on, and thought they were way too big. Now she knows better, BOL! No one can even travel down our front walk without going around them into the yard.
What’s that?
Agh! Something’s in there! It almost got my nose! What, Mommy? It’s time to go back in and work? OK, I’m right behind you!
Happy Nature Friday and Weekend, friends, with a reminder to keep your nose outa trouble. XOX Xena
We are joining Comedy Plus with much thanks for hosting Awww Mondays.
Xena: Thanks for holding me Auntie Jen. You’ve had a busy day and I’m glad to be here for you. Uh, where’s my Uncle Bill? Did Mommy leave my comb so I could look pretty for him?
Lucy: Mmph, mm, mmph. *pushes up head* Ah, I couldn’t talk with you laying on my head, sister. I want to be next to you, Auntie Jen, and cuddle and let you know I love you, too.
Xena: Is it time to eat yet? Where’s my Uncle Bill? Mommy gave him the instructions for feeding me, um, I mean feeding me and Lucy.
*Later*
Achilles: Ella? Don’t you wanna play with me and Lucy? What’s wrong?
Ella: My back legs hurt. You know, the ones I had surgery on. Mom warned me about running and playing too hard, but I was just so excited that you’re here, Lucy.
Uncle Bill: Yes, well, about that…uh, I think we’re all set with liver treats, and I’ll have them sent to you when they arrive. How about if you just cuddle here on my lap while I work?
*later*
Achilles: I love you, Lucy. I want you to live here.
Lucy: I love you too, Achilles. I would stay here with you and your sister Ella, but I can’t ’cause it would break my Dad’s heart. Why don’t youand Ella come home with me? You’d have fun playing with Chia – if you didn’t mind her hanging off your cheek – and we could be together forever.
Achilles: I can’t, my love. Riley and I don’t get along. I can’t stand the thought that he used to be your boyfriend. Grrr.
Lucy: But I never loved him like I love you, honey.
Both: *sigh*
Lucy: Mom and Dad will be here soon. Please ask Auntie Jen and Uncle Bill to bring you to visit me. And take good care of my BFF Ella, please. Bye bye until next time. *smooch*
Xena: I heard Mommy ‘splainin to Uncle Bill all about how to feed me and Lucy. That’s when I realized I was gonna get left! Aghh! After her and Daddy left, I laid by the back door for 87 minutes waiting for her to come back, while the three “biggies” got all the excitement out of themselves.
Uncle Bill works from home, and everyone collapsed in his office. Since I hadn’t been running around like a crazy dog, I was able to help Uncle Bill with his work.
Uncle Bill even texted Mommy to let her know how great I was helping him with quotes on Dell products. Let’s see, I think this one could sell for about a gazilion liver treats. I love my Uncle Bill. Hmmm. Maybe it won’t be so bad being here for a few days after all…as long as I get to cuddle with him all night.
Ace Reporter here on the Groom Beat with an update on Roxxii.
Roxxii’s first groom by Groomer Mom got reported a little over three years ago. Now this Ace Reporter is back with a practically unbelievable story about what’s happened to her in the last year.
When Roxxii was first introduced, it was explained that her Mom was the girlfriend of one of brother Andrew’s friends. About 1 1/2 years ago, Andrew’s friend took his own life while his girlfriend, who we’ll call Em, was in the house with him. Understandably, she was a total wreck after that. (Groomer Mom explained this all to me.)
Well, about 14 months ago, Groomer Mom got a text from Em saying she had been in jail, and the police took Roxxii to our local shelter. When she got out, the shelter had “adopted” out Roxxii and wouldn’t give Em any more info. Em needed her old girl and all the unconditional love she gave, and she felt that Roxxii needed her, too. Mommy wished with all her heart that she had known what was going on, ’cause she would of gone to the shelter and bailed Roxxii out to live with us until Em could get her. But now it was too late.
Fast forward to last week. I’m gonna give you the full story since I am a reporter of integrety.
Daddy came home from work in our old truck that was suddenly missing the passenger side mirror. Over supper he told us that as he was pulling out from our subdivision onto the main road at o’dark thirty, a set of headlights suddenly appeared coming around the curve, and the truck was moving fast! He whipped his head around to see if he was about to get rear ended. As he did, he heard a loud bang! but didn’t know what had happened. Remember, it was really dark out. The next time he looked out at his mirror, it was gone! It all had happened in just a couple of seconds, with no time to think. In telling us about it, he came to the conclusion that there was also a truck coming toward him. (Yes, he was driving our truck, and the vehicle tearing up behind him was a truck, and the vehicle coming from the other direction was a truck.) (Remember, we live in Tennessee.) Anyhow, he figured the truck coming toward him in the oncoming lane must have had a ladder or something sticking out from the truck bed, and that’s what hit his mirror.
Fast forward to the next evening. Our folks had just finished their yummy supper out on the porch when they heard someone ring the front doorbell. As usual, Mommy got up to see who it was. Long story shorter, it was the nice young man who had been driving toward Daddy. And he had our truck’s shattered mirror in his hand. After everyone talked for about an hour, Daddy realized what had really happened. What really happened? Here’s the scoop!
Daddy, needing to turn right out of our subdivision, looks to the left before pulling out. Seeing no headlights, he starts to pull out, and is too far out when headlights suddenly appear, coming way, way over the speed limit at him. As he reflexively looks back over his shoulder to see if he’s going to get hit, he doesn’t turn the wheel hard enough and crosses the center line, where this young man is just reaching him in his own truck. Their driver side mirrors collide. No one stops, because that would be suicide at that point. You know, ’cause of the maniac tailgating Daddy and just ditches on both sides of the road.
The accident was clearly my Daddy’s fault because he crossed the center line. The young man somehow tracked Daddy down using Google maps or some Googe app. After the congenial hour-long conversation, they decided it would cost too much to just give the man cash to replace his truck’s mirror and repair the scrapes on the side of his big, new truck. It would have to be turned into insurance. Which means the police would have to be called.
Next thing we knew, there was a police cruiser parked in front of the house. The policeman, who was the same age as the young man, asked him if he wanted to press charges. He said no. He knew it was an accident, and that my Daddy had nowhere to pull over, and so on and so on.
Lucy: Xena? What do you think you’re doing? Are trying to impersonate me?
Xena: Uh, well, you see..
Lucy: Yes or no?
Xena: Well maybe, but I never said I was you. *pushes laptop over in front of Lucy*
Lucy (really!), Ace Reporter here on the Groom Beat with an update on Roxxii.
That whole long story that only Xena could do in the name of journalism was to tell you that while Groomer Mom was down by the road with Dad and the police and the young man, a car pulls up and the lady asks if anyone knows where the groomer lives. Turns out, it was Roxxii’s grandmother and Em’s mother. She wanted to make a grooming appointment. Groomer Mom realized Roxxii was back, safe and sound. I was watching from the house and saw Groomer Mom doing a Happy Dance right there in the road! The grandma paid the dog shelter $1000 to get information to track down Roxxii. Man #1 who got her from the shelter was fostering her. Man #2 came to his house and took Roxxii and wouldn’t give her back. Man #3 got Roxxii from Man #2 and brought her to her grandma. This was over the course of several months. Her grandma has no idea who Man #3 is or how he knew where to bring her. His only caveat was that Roxxii live there with her grandma, since Em was back in jail and facing serious time. Roxxii’s grandma loves her and wanted to keep her anyhow, so she readily agreed.
Roxxii was in pretty bad shape groom-wise, so her grandma said to just “cut it all off.”
This is a picture from the first time Roxxii came to us, about three years ago.
She looked even worse this time, with her hair grown over her eyes and the eye snot underneath them stuck to her skin.
Here she is after her groom this time. Her hair had to be cut really short because of all the mats. Her grandma promised to keep bringing her so she doesn’t get in bad shape again.
I’m ready to go home with my Grandma now, Miss Amy.
We are very thankful for a happy ending for Roxxii.
Groomer Mom: While this turned out well for precious Roxxii, we are all praying and doing POTP for “Em.” We ask for your good thoughts for her to be able to get her life turned around.
Lucy (really!) and the imposter Xena, Ace Reporters, signing off.
Xena: Just one more thing to be thankful for! The young man whose truck mirror Daddy knocked off with our truck mirror just bought a zero turn lawn mower and, next summer, when it gets too hot for Mommy to cut the grass, he is going to start cutting it. And one more thing to be thankful for is he said we were so nice to him that he wants to take Mommy and Daddy out to dinner! BOL! It’s a crazy world!
Xena: It’s really nice having Christie here with us, but isn’t it time for Mommy and Daddy to come home?
Lucy: I know it’s Mom’s long weekend birthday trip, but it seems like 87 days.
Chia: Play with me! Let’s play! I got your cheek, Lucy and I’m gonna pull until you play with me!
Xena: I want my Mommy.
Riley: I’m gonna go find them and bring them home I heard somethin’ about a beach.
Lucy: I saw this on social media:
Riley: That’s them! That beach can’t be too hard to find. Anyone with me?
All: We’re coming too!
*A few hours later.*
Chia: I’m wearin’ the hat and that makes me the captain. I wanna’ turn this wheel when we get goin’.
Riley: Smartly, me lasses. Daylights a’burnin’. We don’t wanna be caught out in a storm after dark and end up in Davey Jones’ locker. That’s right, everyone in. No scallywags or landlubbers amongst ye, right?
Xena: Uh, what makes you think you are less of a scallywag or landlubber than us?
Riley: Garr. I be showin’ ya’ this picture of me in the (un)briny water:
Xena: Oh, ok. Sorry. We’re jumping in.
*87 seconds later*
Chia: I’m the driver.
Lucy: The weather looks clear, Captain Riley. It should be a good trip.
Chia: I’M THE CAPTAIN!!!
Xena: Where’d you go, Captain Riley? Are we there yet?
Chia: I’M THE…
Everyone: Yeh, yeh, we know, YOU’RE the captain.
Riley: I’m up in the in the crow’s nest and I’m really tired after all that walking to get to the ship. I think I’ll take a nap.
Unknown woman by the boat: Are y’all ready for the ride to start?
I'm Dalton, a Rat terrier mix and I came here in Sept, 2017, I was rescued from Hurricane Harvey. My birthday is 8-20-2016. My Gotcha Day is 8-27-2017. And I am Benji, a terrier mix of unknown origin. MY Birthday is June 6, 2018, and my Gotcha Day is Dec 28, 2018. I also was a rescue from a different part of Texas. We also have Angel MrJackFreckles, (2-5-2018); and also we have Angel Minko, (6-18-2017); and Angel Pipo, (11-3-2020);There are also Angels Groucho, Simba, Suki, & Toki. We meezers used to be known as WeBeesSiameezers. We'e all from Michigan, Dalton and Benji both came here from Texas, as rescues..
Dogtor B and his brother Sky, both ex-shelter dogs, moved from Florida to New Zealand in 2020. Benji loves to talk about his endeavors and life in general as an American expat in New Zealand. His motto: "Eat, Snooze, Cuddle, Repeat".
Xena Schnauzer Warrior Princess with Lucy, Chia and Riley 