Xena: This was an easy one today. I mean, it’s just so obvious. Chia: What’s obvious about it, Xeboo, er wait, I meant Xena?
Xeboo, er Xena: (Ignoring Chia) First, thanks to Angel Brian, who is hosting Thankful Thursday, as well as Angel Sammy for the great picture every week! Here’s my poem:
A Matter of PerspectivebyXena
They see towers chewing at the sky, steel louder than the wind. They call this place empty.
But I sit nose-level with a flower brave enough to bloom anyway.
The machines look powerful from far away. Up close, they smell like nothing.
This— this yellow face turning toward the sun— this is alive.
Perspective changes when you’re small enough to notice what survives.
The End
Xena: In the integrety of honesty, (and to shut up Chia who was looking over my shoulder) I had a little help from AI with this picture and this poem. I hope you still like it. Me and Mommy and Daddy are all thankful for AI!
Chia: You’re always saying we voted (when I didn’t get to) so let’s ask our friends to vote yes or no on if they think you should be allowed to use AI!
Lucy: In case you didn’t see my post on Monday, I want to let all my friends know that the doctor said, in short, I’m in perfect health! I’m still very thankful for that.
Chia: Oh yeah, thankfuls. Hmmm. I know! I’m thankful for everything! I have a great life here with great parents and great sisters and great food and a great bed and great friends!
Xena: First, thanks to Angel Brian, who is hosting Thankful Thursday, as well as Angel Sammy for the picture every week! This was a bit of a scary scene to jump into, so I asked Chia to help me. There was no way I was dragging puppy Fritz into this mess. Chia: You just didn’t want him on our blog again, Xepoo. Xepoo: I’m not Xepoo, I’m Xeboo, er I mean I’m Xena. And stop calling me that! Chia: Sure, Xeboo. Hey, folks, here’s our poem! *wags*
Snow FolkSoon Gone by Xena and Chia
Xena: Look at them all—snow-folk standing still, a thousand quiet noses sniffing winter’s will. Chia: They stand like a crowd that forgot how to move, each one shaped by gloom, gloves, and grooves. Xena: They don’t chase, they don’t bark, they don’t run— are these statues dreaming of sun? Chia: Each face is different, yet frozen the same, a crowd of friends who never woof our name. Xena: Some wear words on paper, some wear crooked smiles, each one here for just a little while. Xena: Do you think they know they won’t stay long? Chia: Everything melts, sister—that’s the song. Xena: They’ll vanish softly when the weather turns kind. Chia: Soon gone like footprints, like breath, like time.
The End
Chia: Hi four, Xeb..umm, Xena! We made a great team! Let’s do it again!! Xena: Hi four, Chia. Yes, we did, and no, once is enough, BOL. I’m thankful for the fun pictures Angel Sammy sends us every week. I think it helps make us a better team, too. And I’m thankful for the pretty weather here and my Mommy and Daddy and all our good friends and our great food.
Chia: Can I just say ditto? I’m thankful for the same things, Xe. And I’m real thankful that Connor, who you know lives downstairs right now, always agrees to go walking with Mom and to take me! (For our friends who don’t know Connor, he is the son of our brother Andrew’s long-time girlfriend, Jentry, and he lived here with them for a few years as a child.) (I didn’t know him then cause I wasn’t born yet.)
Lucy: I have to say, you two did a fantastic job with your poem and your thankfuls. I’m thankful I got to go to Sasha and Oliver’s house and visit with them for a couple of hours last Sunday. THey live just right around the corner. Mom went there to visit Miss Susan and took me! I hope we can get together again real soon. Me and Sasha are tight. *big wags*
Chia: I almost forgot! Miss Kim, who lives in the Phillipines, is coming to stay with us tomorrow for 10 whole days! Maybe she’ll take me running in the mornings again!!
Wishing everyone love and happiness, Xena, Chia and Lucy
Xena: Merry Christmas to all my friends. I hope everyone is happy and your tummies full.
Christmas Eve Miracle:
I want to tell you the back story, and I’ll try to keep it kinda short. You probably already know we love our neighbor kids and they love us, especially Miss Clare and her little sister Lucy (yes, like our Lucy), so we all call her Lucia – which is her real name so there’s no mix up. I, Xena, am the reason 15-year-old Miss Clare fell in love with schnauzers. Then, this fall, the family’s friend’s schnauzer had five baby puppies. Clare had been trying to get her follk to let her have one since before they were born. They were a dogless family – sad, I know. My Mommy tried helping by tellling them how great us schnauzers are and stuff like that. They finally told her no, and she gave up. Then some circumstances changed. Guess what she got on Christmas Eve…
This is 12-week-old Fritz in Miss Clare’s arms.
He had a fun day of playing with the kids and chewing on stuff and peeing in the house. My Mommy is now his official Aunt Amy … and she got to hold him too. By the way, Miss Clare’s Mommy let my Mommy know she was making the hour drive to get a puppy for Miss Clare while Mommy was grooming me yesterday. My Mommy was so happy she started crying. Weird, I know. Then Miss Clare started crying when her Mommy walked in with the as yet unnamed puppy! Miss Clare named him Fritz. I’m sure we’ll all be seeing much more of Fritz!
Christmas Eve Bedtime:
Xena: Mommy, is Santa Paws coming tonight? Mommy: Yes, sweet baby. Go to sleep now so he will come.
Christmas Day:
Two of us waited patiently….finally…
I got Wiggles and Wags Fruit Slices: Apple & Pumpkin. And besides the taste, the best part is the ingredients: Apple, Pumpkin. That’s all! And I’m not allergic to either of those!!
Lucy: I got a bag of them, too! And I also got Wiggles & Wags Meaty Patties with beef and chicken and a coupla other OK things.
Chia: I got a bag of Wiggles & Wags Chewy Bones made with chicken and cheese (yummy). They’re soft and chewy.
Xena: Mommy opened our bags and we got to stick our heads in them and “stuff our faces” until she picked up the bags, saying, “Let’s save some for later. You just had breakfast.”
That was three hours ago. We’ve gotta go now to see if we can have some more yet. Lots of love and wishes for a good Christmas.
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
Lucy: For those of you who don’t know Ella, she’s my BFF. Her folks are Mom and Dad’s BFF’s so that works out good. But she lives 3 hours away and we don’t get to see each other much. This is Ella from several years ago.
We love each other. We’re always so happy to be together.
But everyone just found out on Wednesday that she’s dying. Cancer.
We were hoping she would at least make it through the weekend. Me and Mom packed to leave after work on Thursday to go see her and tell her we love her and say goodby before she crosses the Rainbow Bridge. Then, we got the texts from her Mom. She wouldn’t eat or drink. She wouldn’t potty. She could barely walk. She was struggling to breath. She was in pain. The joy in her life was completely gone. They had a final vet appointment for 3:30 on Thursday, the day we would have gone to say goodbye and give her all our love. Now she’s gone. We just came home instead of making the three hour trip there. Nothing will ever be the same without my BFF. I hope her brother, my boyfriend, Achilles is OK.
Ella’s Mom made this memorial for her.
Goodbye Ella. We hope you find your little schnauzer brother Piper and chase the bunnies with him again. You will be always in our hearts.
Hey there friends. *wags* Lucy, Ace Reporter with a special news report on this great Monday. We have a new little piglet cousin. I’ve decided to tell you the story of her adoption and new home with the aid of pictures that our Auntie Jen sent to us. (As an Ace Reporter it’s always important to give credits as needed.)
The idea of getting Sir Mortimer, aka Morty, a companion pig had been in Auntie Jen’s head for several years, with many people supporting it. The last one was Morty’s ferrier who told her that she would see a big change in his attitude – for the better – if he had a companion. The hold-up was Uncle Bill.
Over the 4th of July weekend they went to visit a cousin whose pig had just had a litter. One of the little piglets kept coming to the fence to see Uncle Bill. She wouldn’t stop staring at him. She had never been in close contact with a human, but she really, really liked Uncle Bill. He finally got to hold her, and, well…
…she loved him holding her while he fell in love with her.
First up after arriving in her new home was a “get the layers of dirt off the piglet” bath.
Then it was dry and hold time.
That’s my BFF Ella in the background wondering if there are any more little piglets coming in the house. And even though first contact seemed favorable, for now, Sophie Mae has to stay separated from Morty so he doesn’t hurt her, or worse.
Please excuse me, I seemed to lose my objective reporter stance there for a moment…
Sophie May is a mix of potbelly and Juliana breeds, and is expected to be a “smallish” pig when she grows up. She has her own inside pen and her own outside house, from where she can safely watch Ella and Achilles running around, and get to know Morty while in a safe place.
For now, Sophie Mae’s enjoying all the love she’s getting from her new parents.
Lucy, Ace Reporter, signing off with thanks to Miss Sandee at Comedy Plus for hosting Awww Monday!
Xena: Mommy and Daddy went away Friday just before lunchtime. Daddy had some work thing in Nashville, and he and Mommy went from there to our Auntie Jen and Uncle Bill’s house for the night. In case you’ve forgotten, that’s where Lucy’s BFF Ella and her boyfriend Achilles live. They asked Mommy to show Lucy this, so come look, Luce!
Achilles: I love you Lucy. Do you still love me even in this cone of shame?
Xena: Lucy, stop drooling on the ‘puter.
Achilles: Lucy honey, will you come over my house and help me deadie this stuffie?
Look, Lucy, I’m playing tug o’ war with your Dad! My foot’s almost all better and I feel good enough to play with you, too.
Xena: Lucy, could you please stop licking the screen?
Ella: Hey girl! When ya’ gonna’ come visit me. I miss your pretty face. It makes me feel real good to just chill with you. You know you’re my BFF and I love you lots!
You could come in the kitchen and catch falling food with me while my Mom cooks!
Lucy: Awwww. I remember when Ella came to visit, just a couple of weeks ago. I sure do miss her!
Xena: I hope Ella can see how hard you’re wagging your tail, Luce. You remember, that tail you wrapped around hers while she was here. She really is a good friend to you. I know you would like to be friends with the pig, too, even though it’s unlikely that will ever happen. So just to make you smile some more, here’s a picture Mommy took of Morty.
Lucy: Awww.
Xena: Happy Valentine’s Day a day early, Sissie!
Me and Lucy and Ella and Achilles want to thank Miss Sandee at Comedy Plus for hosting Awww Monday!
Yesterday was my birthday. I turned seven years young. My BFF Ella came a long way from Nashville to visit me, and we had our usual great time together. I told her as a thank you that she could do the Sunday Selfie today. She readily agreed. Here’s my Ella.
Speaking of my birthday, I had a great day. Mom filled all our treat puzzles and we enjoyed finding and eating the treats. But mostly, I hung out with Ella. You can see us taking a break in these pictures, while Mom and Auntie Jen visited.
Here we’re resting before Ella got her nails dremeled by Mom.
And here we’re practicing synchronized sleeping.
And here we’re just holding tails.
I wish me and Ella could be together always! I guess that’s what it means to have a BFF.
Finally, I want to give a big thanks to The Cat on My Head, for hosting Sunday Selfies!
Xena: It’s been quite a visit. I learned a few things, like what it’s like to have unwanted attention, how to let someone down easy, how good pig poop tastes…speaking of which…
three days agoin Auntie Jen’s back yard
Mom: Xena, stop eating that grass and come on in the house….Xena….do you hear me?? Xena! Mommy walks toward meand sees this (WARNING: The next picture contains a poop image and may not be appropriate for all readers)
Yep, real, fresh pig poop. Mmmmm
Mommy: OMG, you’re eating pig poop! Xena: Don’t freak, Mommy. Wait, why are you texting Auntie Jen? No, please don’t make me vomit, I won’t do it again (paws crossed). As it ended up, I wasn’t forced to vomit and my tummy never even got upset! However, a couple of days later, Lucy also discovered these delectable morsels. Mommy suspected Lucy had eaten some, but since I didn’t get sick, she didn’t do anything about/to Lucy. Then at 2:58 a.m. Mommy woke up to a retching sound. One of the big dogs jumped off the bed and there was a vomiting sound. The culprit jumped back in the bed and acted like nothing had happened. Mommy finally got up and turned on the bedroom light. She saw a pile of fresh-ish meat, apple, broccoli, and some unidentifiable matter. . yep, it was Lucy’s. After that, she began cleaning the yard up every day and following us around outside.
Xena: Yesterday when Mommy opened Morty’s Bathroom Apartment door for him to come out for supper, she found this:
That’s Morty’s Teddy facedown in Morty’s used litter. Did Teddy need to go potty? Or maybe he was hungry!
Xena: That takes us to today, and boyfriend drama. *sigh*
heard very early this morning…
Achilles: I wish you wouldn’t keep your back to me, Lucy
Lucy: I wish you wouldn’t flirt with my little sister.
Later in the morning:
Ella: Hey girl. I hear you’re leaving soon. Love you, friend.
Lucy: Hey girl. I love you too, friend.
Xena: I’m sorry, Achilles, that I hurt your feelings. I want you to know it’s not you, it’s me. I just want to stay single and close to my Mommy.
Why are you looking over my shoulder, Achilles?
Achilles: Lucy! I’m so glad to see you! Ignore her. You’re my girlfriend, remember?
Lucy: Goodbye, Achilles. I’ll see you next time. I’m going to have to think about our relationship.
Achilles: Why do girl dogs have to make it all so difficult? I’m a good boy. Everyone says so. Xena is just…different. She looks and acts so different than me or Lucy. That’s why I keep looking at her. Maybe next time I can just look at Lucy and she’ll be happy.
Xena: Uh, Mommy, after my shampoo and blow dry and pedicure, I’m ready to go home and cuddle in my daddy’s lap. I’m even ready to play with Chia. I hear she and Riley have been playing a lot while we’ve been gone. I also heard she managed to get the porch screen door open and had a bit of a runabout.
Are you packed? Are we ready to go? I call dibs on the backseat kennel!
*John Denver, I’m Leaving on a Jet Plane lyrics:
All my bags are packed I’m ready to go I’m standin’ here outside your door I hate to wake you up to say goodbye But the dawn is breakin’ It’s early morn The taxi’s waitin’ He’s blowin’ his horn Already I’m so lonesome I could die So kiss me and smile for me Tell me that you’ll wait for me Hold me like you’ll never let me go ‘Cause I’m leavin’ on a jet plane Don’t know when I’ll be back again Oh babe, I hate to go There’s so many times I’ve let you down So many times I’ve played around I tell you now, they don’t mean a thing Every place I go, I’ll think of you Every song I sing, I’ll sing for you When I come back, I’ll bring your wedding ring So kiss me and smile for me Tell me that you’ll wait for me Hold me like you’ll never let me go ‘Cause I’m leavin’ on a jet plane Don’t know when I’ll be back again Oh babe, I hate to go Now the time has come to leave you One more time Let me kiss you Then close your eyes And I’ll be on my way Dream about the days to come When I won’t have to leave alone About the times, I won’t have to say Kiss me and smile for me Tell me that you’ll wait for me Hold me like you’ll never let me go ‘Cause I’m leavin’ on a jet plane Don’t know when I’ll be back again Oh babe, I hate to go But, I’m leavin’ on a jet plane Don’t know when I’ll be back again Oh babe, I hate to go.
Ella: Auntie Amy surprised me, saying I could have the Sunday Selfie today. This is a picture from when I was tattling on Achilles informing my bestie, Lucy, that something was going on in the bathroom that she needed to check out! Click here if you missed that.
Well, Lucy got so ticked off at him that she wouldn’t even sleep in the same room last night. Achilles slept in the bed with Aunt Amy and Xena (Xena made sure Aunt Amy was between them), and Lucy slept in the living room with me. Achilles can be a real dog.
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.
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.
My bestie Ella has been going through some painful times. She blew out her right knee a few weeks ago and had to have surgery on it. Thankfully, her dad is working from home and has been able to help her do her physical therapy several times a day. But because of putting most of her weight on her left leg, she blew out that knee a few days ago. The pain has been bad, and she stopped eating. She lost a lot of weight.
Even just looking at her face you can see how thin she has gotten. The surgery for her left knee is scheduled for Wednesday. We love Ella, and hope you will send her prayers, healing thoughts, good wishes. We want her back looking like she did what seems like a short while ago.
This was taken in November of 2019 of me and my BFF Ella.
We think she’s on some good pain meds and probably some steroids too, ’cause she started eating heartily just a few days ago. I’m really happy about that. I’ve got my front paws crossed for her.
Lucy: My BFF in the whole wide world needs your prayers, your good thoughts, your anything that will help. Here is what her Mama, who is my Aunty Jen, found in her mouth on New Year’s Eve.
Besides the pink thing hanging down over her upper teeth, just below and on the right of it is a discolored piece hanging down, too. When she went to her vet today (Saturday), the dogtor found another discolored one growing up over a back bottom tooth, too. The vet wasn’t too worried about the big pink one. She said this happens to boxers, and they are harmless. But the discolored one on the bottom bothered her. Aunty Jen is going to get a biopsy and maybe some x-rays or something else like that done, probably on Monday. My Mom cried and cried, thinking about her Angel Lexi. Those of you who have been with us a while will remember when Mom found this, only five days since she had last looked in Lexi’s mouth:
This fast-spreading melanoma was first seen on May 9, 2016. Despite everyone’s best efforts to save her, by September 4th, she was gone.
So please, send POTP to Ella. She heard my Mom say my name over the phone today and she started looking for me. She’s only 8 or 9 years old, and I don’t know what I’ll do without her…
Our friend, Miss Monika from Tails Around the Ranch posted this picture, and gave us permission to show it to all our friends. It says so much about how we all feel.
A few of my favorite pictures/moments of 2020. ..
January 2020 (below) We were at our friends’ house in Nashville, blissfully unaware of how the year was going to play out.
Happy Lucy
Xena and Achilles
Jen and baby Morty
Xena and her Dad at home
February 2020 (below) We actually got some snow!
Xena
Lucy and Xena
Riley
Riley, Xena and Ludwig
March 2020 (below) just before our world changed. We got pictures sent to us of Morty celebrating his first birthday.
Xena
Sleepy Lucy
Morty
Achilles and Morty
April 2020 (below)
Lucy, Dad and Xena
Xena and Oscar
Lucy and Oscar
Lucy and Xena
May 2020 (below)
Xena hunting chipmnk
Lucy
Riley
Xena
June 2020 (below) Xena enjoyed turning 3 years old.
I’m begging-hoof!
Hoof, please.
Xena
Lucy
July 2020 (below) We got a baby in the home office and dogsat while our friends went on a trip.
Lucy with baby Bridger
Lucy
Ella
Jeff and Achilles
August 2020 (below). We travelled to be with family in Indiana to celebrate Jeff’s Mom’s 90th birthday.
Lucy
Jeff’s Mom and Xena
Lucy travelling
Itchy Xena
September 2020 (below). Still working in my home office with the help of Xena and Lucy. Our new back, enclosed porch was finally finished, and Xena found a way onto the table.
Xena in office
Lucy
Xena and Stuffie friends
Xena
October 2020 (below) Lucy and Xena joined the Zoom service with B’nai Zion and became BarkMitzvah-ed. Lucy’s new Hebrew name is Ora (light or shiny), while Xena’s is Grrvurah (warrior, sort of). We took a trip to an Air B&B in Kentucky for our 12th wedding anniversary, and the pups stayed with our frineds in Nashville.
Xena
Xena and Lucy at Greenway
Jeff and Achilles
November 2020 (below) The weather was unseasonably warm and sunny. Our Nashville friends joined us for thanksgiving, and then we leftall four pups home with the dogsitter while we spent a long Thanksgiving weekend at an Air B&B in North Carolina.
Xena and bears
Achilles
Xena hiding
Lucy
December 2020 (below) OK, so the first one is still from November, but just had to include it. Riley is back with us for a while, and so is his Dad Andrew.
Jen and Xena
Riley
Riley and Lucy
Have a very good 2021, from Lucy, Xena, Achilles, Ella, Morty, Riley and Amy
It sure is a long weekend without our Mommy and Daddy here. Our cousins are here and so is our dog and house sitter, Miss Christy. She’s really nice, but I still don’t like her much because it means my Mommy won’t be back for a while. But at least Miss Christy feeds me.
I keep looking for my Mommy. No one else seems to care.
Ella has stolen my chair. She has taken over my place as the official neighborhood lookout. Actually, I think she is watching for her Mom and Dad to come back, too.
Ella: “Look, Achilles, is that their car?”
Then there’s big, goofy Achilles. Him and Lucy, they keep licking each other in the mouth. It’s so gross. Hey, you two, get a room! Miss Christy thought it was too private of a moment to take pictures of them playing smoochie face. When Achilles isn’t playing house with Lucy he helps watch for all our folks to come back.
Achilles: “What, Lucy? You want me to sleep in the sun with you? OK, I’ll be there in a moment.”
Then there’s my very own sister Lucy, who only cares about her stupid boyfriend and her BFF and hogging Miss Christy’s lap.
Lucy: I’ll try to not fall asleep before you get over here, Achilles, honey.
I get mad when I come into the living room needing a little attention and there’s Lucy, in the person’s lap. Grr. I give them both a dirty look and lay down in the living room dog bed to wait them out. As soon as Lucy jumps down I forgive Miss Christy and get in her lap. She’s actually a really good petter, but shhh, don’t tell anyone I said that.
Does anyone know where my foks went and if when they’ll be home?
Xena: Days and nights passed in a fog. It seemed like I was waiting for years.
I passed the time running in their really huge back yard, faster and faster, trying to make time run faster too. (It was really fun.) I spent my nights cuddled between my Uncle Bill and Auntie Jen, pretending they were my folks. At least Mommy loved me enough to make up my meals ahead of time for Uncle Bill to put together and feed me. Each day was much like the one before it.
I found it amusing to run up to that pig called Morty, bark, and run away. I’m too fast for him, so he would go after Lucy, who isn’t as fast in tight places. To get back at me, Lucy kept reminding me that she is now an engaged dog. (Like I care!) This started even before they left.
Meanwhile, my folks were off somewhere walking around neighborhoods where they saw scary plastic ghosts and witches.
They walked a mile to a restaurant where they ate Hawaiian pizza and glazed salmon and veggies while they watched students from Murray State University walk their dogs and ride their bikes. They went to a state park and walked a couple more miles until it was almost dark. And before all that they walked to the downtown farmer’s market and got me and Lucy almost a ton of frozen chicken necks! So they were thinking about me.
After almost two whole years days when I had about given up, I heard our car pull into the driveway. We all spent one more night at my Auntie Jen and Uncle Bill’s before it was time to go home. I saw the suitcases being packed and put by the back door. So did Lucy, who kept asking if she could stay, at least until Thanksgiving when everyone is coming to our house.
*hop, hop* Take me too, take me too! Pick me up! Don’t forget me! *hop, hop*
Achilles: Please don’t leave, Lucy.
Ella: I got my chair back.
This is Xena Schnauzer Warrior Princess back home with my Mommy.
Xena: Last Friday was the anniversary of our folks being married for 12 years. We thought maybe there would be a party with presents and ice cream and cake. Instead, Mommy kept talking to me about what a good time I was going to have at my Auntie Jen’s and Uncle Bill’s. And she kept telling me to please try to be nice and cuddle with Auntie Jen, ’cause it hurts her feelings when I only want Uncle Bill to hold me. This all sounded very suspicious and I made no promises.
Lucy: Mom told me, too, at the last minute before we got in the car, and I was so excited! I was going to see my BFF Ella and my boyfriend Achilles! I could hardly wait!
Xena: It’s a three hour drive to the other side of Nashville, and our dinner was very late. By the time we got there I was so hungry that I was shaking and crying. It was two hours past my suppertime, and it wasn’t even our “fast” day.
Lucy: I was so over-the-moon excited when we got there that Mom couldn’t even get my car harness off me. Ella and Achilles and I immediately started playing. After we got our supper and settled down a bit, Xena hid in the chair with Dad. Me and Achilles had been playing kissie face, and he asked me to come over to my Dad with him, ’cause he wanted to ask Dad something.
That’s when Achilles asked Dad if he could marry me! I thought I would faint for joy. Dad thought about it for a very long minute, and finally said we could be engaged. I think that’s almost married, so I was really, really happy. Xena wants to be an old spinster, but I want to be happily married like my Mom and Dad.
Xena: I don’t know what a spinster is, but I don’t like the sounds of that and I don’t want to be one. I just want to be independent. Why do you think I hate my harness so much? So quit calling me mean names just because I don’t want to play kissie face with every boy dog that comes along. Grrr. So back to our trip. Morty the pig has gotten so much bigger. He weighs about 70 pounds now, the same as Riley. I upset him by barking and jumping at him. Lucy and I went somewhere safe.
Is Morty gone?
Yep, it’s safe to get down.
*A little later*
Achilles: Mr. Jeff, I need to tell you something. Come closer.
Achilles: *smooch* You are the bestest ever almost father-in-law.
Next thing we knew it was morning and Mommy and Daddy were carrying suitcases and stuff and going out the door. I just knew she was leaving me when she picked me up and handed me to Uncle Bill. It was terrible. I was afraid she’d never come back.
She promised she would be back, but it has been so long. Lucy doesn’t seem to care. She’d be just as happy living here. I will let you know real soon what happens. Love, Xena the desserted.
Lucy: Oh Xena, you’re so melodramatic. But you’re probably right. You’ve got those dark spots now, and, well, who knows? (te, he, he) Love, Lucy
Achilles and Ella went home with their dad yesterday. They were so thrilled to see him that they forgot to say goodbye. But we have precious memories of their time here with us.
Achilles is a cuddle bug, and loved time on the couch with Uncle Jeff.
Achilles is fighting severe allergies. He was recently allergy tested and has the sea rum (serum) like Xena. When we could monitor him closely, he didn’t have to wear his hood (cone) or Rambo suit.
When all 80 pound plopped down on you, you felt it. Xena usually stays pretty close to her Mommy, so care had to be taken that he didn’t plop down on top of her when he also wanted to be close. Such a sweet, happy boy. He wiggles all over, and just wants to be loved.
This is Xena greeting Achilles (after she stopped barking at him).
Ella and Achilles also liked the same chair in the living room. Maybe it was because of the “guard” schnauzer on the pillow watching over them.
Achilles
Ella
That’s where Ella slept most nights, with the blanket her mama made her under and over her.
The pictures below show what close friends Ella and Lucy are. It took 1.5 seconds for this wonderful relationship to begin.
Rock City’s Rocktoberfest 2019. We hope Rock City will be open for Rocktoberfest again this year, and are able to do it in a safe way.
Oh, and for those who asked, yes, Achilles did get his time back in the home office after Xena ran him off. He even got his “hood” or cone off for a while.
Achilles found a spot on the corner of Lucy’s bed. She didn’t move over for him, but she didn’t mind sharing, either.
For now we will say adieu, with hopes next time comes sooner rather than later.
Lucy: I came in to kiss you before I go to work. That’s what Mom and Dad always do. But I see you’re in da Hood. I’m going downstairs now. See you tonight, honey.
Achilles: What does she mean, she’s going to work?
Ella: So, this is where Aunt Amy works? She’s home with you all day?
Lucy: Yeppers. And this is where I stay with her all day and help her. Sometimes Mom’s assistant is here with her dog Hank, and sometimes Bridger, her little baby person, comes, too. I like that a lot.
Ella: I think I will stay right here and help Aunt Amy, too, since it doesn’t look like her assistant or Hank or Bridger are coming today.
Lucy: Which reminds me, where’s Morty? I was so excited about you and Achilles being here with me that I forgot all about him.
Ella: I hear that your Mom didn’t feel quite ready to take on caring for him yet. We know a vet who takes care of pigs like Mortimer, so he is boarding him while we are on vacation.
Mortimer on his way to the vet
Achilles: Hey y’all. What are you doin’?
Hi Aunt Amy. What’s everyone doin’? Can I do it too? Where’s Miss Brooke? I helped her yesterday when she went in the bathroom. I didn’t want her to be lonely in there all by herself. She sure looked surprised and didn’t get the door shut fast enough and pet me while my head was on her lap. I thought she might need some help today, too.
Xena: Hey! What’s going on here? Why’s everyone in my office?
There’s not room for two of us with cones on down here. You’re gonna knock something over or break something, Achilles. Go over by the fridge and lay down, or go upstairs or something. You’re in my way. I want in Mommy’s lap. I need to sleep there so she can work.
a few minutes later
I thought I was in da Hood [see previous post] with Xena. She sure is fickle…and bossy!
The Mom: Sometimes it’s more of a zoo than a workplace around here. It’ a perk of working from home!
Lucy, Ella, Achilles and Xena Schnauzer Warrior Princess
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..
Xena Schnauzer Warrior Princess with Lucy and Chia 