Author: Xena, Lucy and Chia

Hard Time Helpers

Published on by Xena, Lucy and Chia18 Comments

Hi, this is Lucy, and since I’m the Ace Reporter in the family, I was asked to let y’all know where we are. Our Auntie Jen and Uncle Bill have to be out of town for a very difficult situation in the family involving someone they love very much. I’m not at liberty to give details. But I can tell you that Mom brought me and Xena with her on a three hour drive to take care of my BFF Ella, my boyfriend Achilles, and the pig Mortimer, aka Morty. Let’s see how it’s goings…

Lucy: When we arrived last evening around supper time, Ella was super excited to see me and I was grinning from ear to ear. It was past our supper time (we had driven to where it was an hour earlier than where we live) so Mom got right on with fixing everyone their meals. She read the instructions Auntie Jen left and had just scooped Achille’s food into his bowl when Morty the pig threw his nose up against the bottom of her hand that was holding the bowl. Kibble flew everywhere and we stood back while the race was on between Mom and Morty. Who would get the most kibble from the floor!? The kitchen floor is slick for someone who walks on hooves, so Mom was able to keep pushing Morty back, but he was determined. In the end, we think it was a tie.

After breakfast today, we all got to go outside for a while.

Mom knew to shake the treat bag when she called Morty to come in. He came running!

He got a treat for coming, then some more when he followed her back to his “bathroom apartment.”

Then Mom checked on the rest of us…

Mom: Ella, what are you doing?

Xena: She’s hunting chippies, like I do, Mommy.
Ella: Mmph, mmph.
Mom: Ella, please get your head out of there.
Lucy: After Mom made Ella move her head, it appeared that Ella had been licking dirt and stones. (Sounds more like a Chia move.) So Mom put something over the hole. That’s when Ella decided she wanted to go back in the house, too.

Lucy: I spent the whole day outside enjoying the sunshine and the grass and the big yard.

I rolled and watched birds and shared the yard with Morty and sometimes Xena and Mom, too. Achilles had to stay inside most of the time because of his allergies.

But when he was out here, he had a good time. Mom threw his toys for him to chase and he played keep away with her.

After Xena snoopervized Mom “cleaning” the yard, they both went inside, too.

Mom: Come on Xe, let’s get all those allergens off you with a nice bath. Wait, what are you doing?

Xena: I’m practicing my “back” for Freestyle. See how fast I can do it?

Mom: *catching Xena* I know you had a bath yesterday, but (and here comes those dreaded words) it’ll be good for you.

Achilles: What’s goin’ on? Xena, you gettin’ a bath?

Xena: What’s it look like, Achilles? Did you think I was running the 500 or something? Sheesh, you can be almost as big a dufus as Angel Lexi used to say Riley was.

Xena: Why do you keep staring at me?
Achilles: I like to watch.

*meanwhile*

Ella: Lucy, you might want to check out what’s going on in the bathroom.

Lucy: Achilles! What are you doing?

Why are you in here with Xena when she’s taking a bath?

Xena: He said he likes…

Achilles: *interrupting Xena* Uh, well, you see, she’s your little sister, and I like to make sure she’s OK. Looks like your Mom has everything under control and I can leave now.

Lucy: Mom, when are we going home?

Mom: Well, friends, it seems my Ace Reporter is done reporting today, so I’ll help her sign off with wags and hopes that Achilles and Lucy make up tonight.

Blount Mansion Nature Friday with Selfies

Published on by Xena, Lucy and Chia17 Comments

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.

Sundial
Cold Meat Storage

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

XOX Riley, Lucy, Xena and Chia

Rain, Rain, Go Away Almost W.W.

Published on by Xena, Lucy and Chia21 Comments

Thanks to Comedy Plus for hosting (Almost) Wordless Wednesday!

Chia: I want this rain to go away so Lucy will go out in the yard and play with me.

But in the meantime, I’ve got this boss shirt that used to be Angel Lexi’s. It says, “Life’s Short, Bite Hard.”

Lucy: Mom, please make the rain go away so I can lay out in the yard in the sunshine!

Chia: Never mind the rain, Lucy, let’s play right here!

Love and wags and wiggles from the rainy day dogs, Lucy and Chia

Grooming with Mom: Murphy & Maggie

Published on by Xena, Lucy and Chia18 Comments

Lucy, Ace Reporter here with another episode of Grooming with (my) Mom. Thanks, Miss Sandee at Comedy Plus, for hosting Awww Monday!

Today we have two new grooms, referred to Small Dog Grooming by Rhett’s Mom. First up is Murphy. Murphy is supposed to be a Morkie, but we agree with his Mom who thinks he has more poodle in him than Maltese or Yorkie. Here are a couple of “before” pictures:

Murphy just turned one year old, so naturally still has a lot of puppy ways. He gave kisses and wanted to climb on Groomer Mom’s shoulders and sit on her lap. He tried so hard to jump out of the grooming sink that Groomer Mom dropped the sprayer (twice), which caused water to fly everywhere. Among thing soaked were the Groomer from head to knees, the grooming table, and the floor. During the bath, Groomer Mom kept wondering if Murphy had chewed up styrofoam at home because of the little, round bits of puffy white things she kept finding in his fur and on the bottom of the sink. Then she saw the white film on her smock, the grooming table and the top and outside of the sink. After getting Murphy rinsed, toweled and under the dryer, she looked up. Sure enough, the water had reached the ceiling and removed about a foot portion of the popcorn ceiling! Another first! Anyhow, Murphy is still welcome back. Here he is, finished and cleaned of all the ceiling popcorn:

Next is Murphy’s sweet sister, Maggie. Maggie is also supposed to be a Morkie. You be the judge. No before pictures, and no funny stories.

Lucy, Ace Reporter, signing off with wags and wiggles and the wrap-up of two more successful grooms.

Why Is Shania Home?

Published on by Xena, Lucy and Chia25 Comments

Shania: Hey guys, I’m back.

Priscilla: Where were you? We looked everywhere.
Shania: You know the Mom’s office got moved out of our house, right?
*Everyone nodding*
So Lambie had to go, too, since she was actually given to the synagogue, not to us.
*Everyone nodding*
Xena thought it would be safer for me to go keep Lambie company for a while than to stay here. Chia had her “deadie the stuffie” eyes on me, and Riley was unpredictable.
Ludwig: I sent out a search party, but no one could find you. And the squirrels never came back, either.
Chippie: You sent squirrels? Squirrels?!
Sweetheart: Never mind that. Sometimes Ludwig gets into the bottom shelf of the pantry. What we want to know is if you’re ok and why you’re back now?
Shania: All the Mom told me before putting me in her carry bag to come home was that we were leaving and not coming back, so tell Lambie goodbye. Oh look, there’s Lucy! She’s the sweetest pup! Aghh, I’m falling!

Xena: Welcome home, Shania. You can ride in my kennel with me again and get magically transported to other places!
Chia: Gotcha!

You’re mine now.
Shania: HELP!!
Riley: Chia! Drop it!

Riley: So, you’re back, Shania.
Shania: *pant, pant* Yes, Riley, thanks for saving me from Chia.

Riley: No problem! Hmm, you might have a flea here…and here…and…
Lucy: Riley, my friend, can I please have Shania? She’s really not worth your time. I know you’re in charge here, and you have much more important things to do, like keeping Chia from swiping your bone, right?

Shania: Thanks, Lucy. One big gulp and I woulda been gone. No wonder the Mom sent me away!

Lucy: Well, you’re back now, Shania, so stay safe, little girl. Maybe you’ll go again when my Mom gets another job. I sure hope I can go, too! And, uh, you might want to wash your ear.

Grooming with Mom: Zoey

Published on by Xena, Lucy and Chia13 Comments

Lucy, Ace Reporter, with another episode of Grooming with (my) Mom. We are joining Miss Sandee at Comedy Plus for hosting Awww Monday!

Today I am featuring a 13-year-old shih-tzu named Zoey. Her folks were referred to us by another new groom, of whom Groomer Mom forgot to take a picture, both before and after his groom. His name is Kylo and he is a standard poodle. There’s a story I’ll tell you about why Groomer Mom took this “not” small dog to groom, as soon as they come back in a month or so and we get some pictures.

Anyhoo, Zoey is a very well-behaved pup. She has bad areas on her skin which might be seborrheic dermatitis. Her folks are going to take her to the dogtor for it. She was at the dogtor not long ago and found out that she has fluid around her heart and also in a small pocket in her lungs. It could be pneumonia, her Mama whispered to the Groomer.

I would love to show you a “before” picture, but it seems that Groomer Mom simply forgot how to use her phone camera for the couple of weeks. However, she recovered her memory enough to get an “after” picture before Zoey went home.

Groomer Mom really liked this little shih tzu, and hopes they will come back fairly soon for the next groom.

That’s all for today, but check back soon for another edition of Grooming with Mom. *wags* from Lucy, Ace Report.

Grooming with Mom: Brinkley

Published on by Xena, Lucy and Chia23 Comments

Lucy, Ace Reporter, with another episode of Grooming with (my) Mom. We are joining Brian’s Thankful Thursday, with special thanks to Brian for hosting it!

Today I would like to introduce a new pup on the grooming table. Brinkley is a 5 1/2 month old Maltese/Lhasa Apso mix. We see lots more Lhasa than Maltese in him. He’s a precious boy who is not fond of having his nails trimmed. Once again, Groomer Assistant Dad to the rescue! Here is Brinkley before his groom.

Ninety minutes later, Brinkley was groomed, washed and dried, brushed out, and ready to go home.

This is Lucy, Ace Reporter signing off with smiles and *wags* until next time.

My Birthday Day by Riley

Published on by Xena, Lucy and Chia33 Comments

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

FFF: The Show Opening by Lexi the Schnauzer

Published on by Xena, Lucy and Chia17 Comments

This is fiction in that I, servant of my dogs, have written it from the dog’s perspective. You will know what in it is true and what is my speculation of her thoughts and feeling. The final line has two connotations. As many know, we lost our Lexi in May of 2016.

The Show opened!

That’s me in the middle

Last night the show I’m in–the Wizard of Oz– opened and I got to perform on-stage for the first time ever! It was a Thursday night and there were a lot of older people, which was great, since I really relate to that age bracket. I have had lots of practice with my Grandma, after all. Dorothy was about to take me out on stage with the old-looking new leash she had gotten for the part when Jeffery the director said, “No. We aren’t using a leash.” You should have seen the looks on both my Dorothy and my Mom’s faces. Dorothy took a deep breath and I think Mom started praying. No one knew what I would do since I had never been able to show them that I am a born actor. We had rehearsed a lot and I knew my part and did it. When I first ran out to Dorothy on cue and the audience breathed a collective sigh of “Awwwwww,” that sealed it. I knew I had found my calling. I would have done anything to hear that again. Then when I stole the hot dog from the stick like I was supposed to do and everyone laughed, I knew I loved this job more than anything. Dorothy had treats hidden in her socks and gave me lots of them during the play. Mom helped by always waiting off-stage where I was supposed to run when it was time and she always had a treat for me too. I think I am in heaven.

LexiToto the happy Schnauzer

If you wish to join in Final Friday Fiction, follow the link here.

Riley’s Twelfth Birthday

Published on by Xena, Lucy and Chia33 Comments

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!

Grooming with Mom: Bonnie and Lexi

Published on by Xena, Lucy and Chia25 Comments

Good morning, friends. This is Lucy, Ace Reporter, with another episode of Grooming with Mom. Let’s shout out a huge thanks to Comedy Plus for hosting Awww Monday!

Today we have two new pups to introduce to you. Their Mom found us on the local Nextdoor App, and, after reading the good reviews, gave Groomer Mom a call. Groomer Mom says, “Thanks!” to all her friends who left the reviews. As soon as Groomer Mom heard that one of the pups is named Lexi, she was excited about meeting them.

First, let’s start with Lexi’s sister, Bonnie. Bonnie is a five-year-old Bishon. She’s probably about the same size as our Xena. Bonnie came to us looking like this.

Bonnie had definite opinions on what she did and did not want done, and expressed them by grabbing Groomer Mom’s hand with her mouth and, at other times, lifting her lip. Groomer Mom didn’t even flinch. She thanked Bonnie for letting her know something bothered her, and explained that there were some things — like pulling the hair out of her ears and brushing the mats out of her tail — that simply had to be done. Bonnie said, “I still don’t like it!” She was quite happy when her groom was finished.

Bonnie’s Dad kept saying that she needed a companion, and her Mom kept saying no, she didn’t. After a couple of years of that, Lexi was adopted and became Bonnie’s companion and her Dad’s heart dog. Lexi is a 2-year-old shih tzu/chihuahua mix, and probably around 5 pounds. She’s a very sweet girl. Here’s Lexi before her groom.

Lexi still acts like a puppy, and is full of energy. My Dad had to hold her to get her nails done, because Groomer Mom could barely catch a paw! She’s a very sweet little girl, too. Groomer Mom had to use a #5 blade (that’s a grooming term) on both pups because of their white hair. Something shorter would have “scalped” them. (That’s sort of a grooming term, too.) Here is Lexi, all done and ready to go home.

That winds up this week’s episode of Grooming with Mom. Lucy, Ace Reporter, signing off with licks and tail wags!

Pots and Dirt and Scary Cart Thingies

Published on by Xena, Lucy and Chia18 Comments

Lucy: Hey Xena, you went shopping with Mom. Did she get her basil to plant? I might try some of it this year.

Xena: I don’t think so. Something about still having nights below 40.

Chia: We better get more dogs if she needs more than 40 at night! Are you sure she didn’t say she needs more than four? That we’re getting another dog? Woohoo! We’re getting another dog, another dog I can be boss of!

Lucy: No, no more dogs. So, Xena, where did y’all go?

Xena: Oh, we just went to the big store with big carts that attacked me. I was brave and *quiver* hidbehindMomandshehadtocarryme. Then she bought a really big bowl which I hoped is my new food bowl and dirt, which I totally don’t understand since we have plenty of dirt in the dog lot. Remember when we came home and she dumped the dirt out in the woods from that other, smaller bowl and then poured the new dirt into what I hoped was my new food bowl and dug a hole in it for the plant thingie?

Lucy: Oh yeah. I remember her saying the aloe plant had a ton of new babies and outgrew its current pot. There it is on the porch table, with the mama plant surrounded by all her babies. So cute!

Chia: Then she took the other house plant that wasn’t looking so good and dumped all the dirt out in the woods – and I didn’t manage to get out of the fence that time – and pour a bunch of new dirt in the same pot.

It must like it’s new dirt cause it’s already looking better! I wonder what it tastes like. Hey! There’s my stone up there with it. Hey, Xena Sis, whatcha doin’?

Xena: Watching the plants grow.

We are joining Jakey, Rosy and Sunny (happy birthday month, Sunny) of the LLB Gang with much thanks for hosting Nature Friday.

A Dog and Her Bone

Published on by Xena, Lucy and Chia27 Comments

Chia: Xena thinks that’s her bone. It’s not!

I got it!

Where’d she go?

Uh oh, I think I hear Riley coming. He always wants my bones.

He passed right by the couch and so did everyone else, heading for the door.

Now I can safely lay in a sun puddle with my stuffies, my blanket and my bone!

Many thanks to Comedy Plus for hosting Happy Tuesday!

We Lost a Dear Friend

Published on by Xena, Lucy and Chia16 Comments

MAGGIE
August 2008-April 15, 2022.

2013: Maggie was 5 years old when she first started coming to Groomer Mom. She and her sister Dora were our neighbors down the road.

2018: Maggie and Dora used to come and stay with us sometimes when their Mom and Dad went on trips. The same as all of, she liked her tummy rubs.

2019: Even after they moved about 15 minutes away, Maggie and Dora kept coming to get beautified by Groomer Mom every four or five weeks. We always loved to see them coming.

2022: This picture of Maggie was taken earlier this year. She was having a lot of trouble with her back legs. She would wobble and fall down, and sometimes fall over backwards when she sat down. Groomer Mom held her a lot, and made sure she was supported and safe during her grooms.

Groomer Mom knew that it wouldn’t be long before precious Maggie crossed the rainbow bridge with help from her loving pawrents. We still love you, Maggie, and will see you someday on the other side.

With love to Maggie’s family, who gave her a wonderful 13 years.

Publicity Pictures: By Lexi the Schnauzer

Published on by Xena, Lucy and Chia11 Comments

This is the fourth in our series of blogs about when Lexi was the theater dog. In this one, she is just beginning to feel the importance of her new role as the star of the show…

Publicity pictures

PUBLISHED ON 

August 19, 2006

I got to go back to the Theatre Center and got interviewed by someone from a newspaper. I tried to answer some of the questions but I think the lady only wrote down what Mommy said. I had my picture taken a bunch with Dorothy. I decided I like having my picture taken and posed very nicely outside right next to Dorothy’s red shoes. All of her they got in the picture was her red shoes. Ha, ha, won’t she be surprised! The camera lady said I was very photogenic. What’s photogenic?

I sure hope some puppy doesn’t peepee on my picture!

When I was a young pup and having a great time chewing to shreds my potty paper, who would have thought that some day I would be featured in a newspaper?  Yep, there I am, posing so beautifully with Dorothy on the front page of the Lifestyle section of the Chattanooga Times Free Press. Maybe the lady will give some of the pictures to my Mommy and she will put them on my web page.

I followed Dorothy everywhere during rehearsal. I was soooo excited to see her. She came over to my house last week and played with me. Then she came back another day just to take me for ice cream. I wonder how she knew I love ice cream best of all? She is my special friend now. I heard her talking to Mommy about coming to see me again. She is going to come pick me up from my Grandma’s. Dorothy said something about taking me on TV with her. That sounds so silly. Why on earth would she want to be on a TV? I hope I don’t have to sit on the TV. It is up a little too high and I might fall off. I am not a cat, you know.

I love rehearsal now. I get lots and lots of treats. And lots and lots of petting and “good girls”. But especially lots of treats. Everyone is very impressed that I bark when Mommy tells me. Once she remembered the right word to tell me to bark, I understood and now I bark every time she says it. It goes back to me learning to “stay” while we were at the park. First Mom would tell me to “heel,” then “sit,” then “stay.” When it was ok for me to get up again, Mom would say, “free!” The first thing I would do when she said “free” was to jump up and bark, then take off running. So now when Mom wants me to bark, all she has to do is say “free!”

It is late and I want to go to bed now. I always get a treat at bedtime!

Woof, woof! (And a special woof at the witch’s old hat!!)

LexiToto

Fun with Freestyle

Published on by Xena, Lucy and Chia24 Comments

Me and Mommy are having so much fun going to practice our dancing on Sundays. We’re getting our moves and routines together to go get our Title 4 in Cleveland, Ohio in June. I think Mommy still has a lot of work to do. Here is what we’re going to do at the beginning. First, we walk in and Mommy honors the pretend judges and audience. Then we get set up to start. Then we start our Freestyle dance.

After that we worked on our ending. Yep, it needs more work…

We went to our class again today and changed up some things to look better and fit the timing better. Just wait til you see us dancing at the Titling Event in June!

Many thanks to Comedy Plus for hosting Awww Monday!

Xena Schnauzer Dancing Princess