Grooming with Mom: Bonnie and Lexi

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!

Grooming with Mom on Awww Monday

Hey there folks, 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 three new grooms to wow you with. These folks found Groomer Mom on our local Nextdoor app. Let’s start with Rudy, a six pound yorkie who hadn’t been groomed for a while.

Besides pooping and peeing all over the floor, he was (mostly) a good boy. Here he is after his groom.

Now I can hold up my head with pride! Thanks, groomer lady.

Next up is Ollie, a four pound senior citizen yorkie. Groomer Mom failed to get a “before” picture, but she does want me to note that he was the best behaved of all three…other than pooping and peeing on the floor, of course. He was in constant motion, so this is the best picture we could get.

I didn’t know my eyes are so big! Can I go home now?

Finally, here is Trinket, the smallest of the trio, weighing in at two pounds. She was scared and very “active” on the grooming table. She also found it necessary to “relieve” herself all over the floor. Next time the yorkies three will have to stay in their kennels when they’re not on the grooming table or in the tub. Here’s Trinket’s “before” picture.

Trinket’s Mom gave specific instructions on how she wanted her groomed. After Groomer Mom took this picture she cleaned up some hairs sticking out. She also wanted to cut the hair along the sides of her face, but Trinket’s Mom wanted it left, so don’t blame us!

Wags and wiggles from Lucy, Ace reporter, wrapping up today’s session of Grooming with Mom.

Psycho Weather Selfie Sunday

Xena: Friday we had a good walk around the neighborhood. It was what Mommy calls “Sweater Weather.” Some of the neighbors’ road-front spring flowers were even blooming.

Mommy wanted to “feature” me and Lucy in front of this little roadside garden area, but we were both too busy sniffing stuff on the road. I know, I know, I’m always the “take my picture” pup, but I swear, promise, there used to be something dead here on the road, and I was too engrossed in figuring out what it was.

Then came Saturday morning. It was still o’dark-thirty when we finished our breakfast and asked to go out, as usual. While we were in the dog lot out back, Mommy took these pictures (without a flash) from the front porch.

Somehow the newly fallen snow reflected enough light (we don’t know where from) that it was like daylight outside. The orange specks in the second and third pictures were lights on houses, not the sun. Believe it or not, these are full color pictures. No one shoveled the walk or drive or road. They were just still too warm for the snow to stick to them. So, if I stood outside in a snowstorm, does that mean the snow wouldn’t stick to me, either?

Chia: The white stuff was just spotty in the dog lot and we just navigated around it. It was my first snow! So Mom clipped a long leash on my collar and let me and my pack out there in the front to really see it. At first I just stood there and looked at it like everyone else. Then I ran into it and turned around and ran right back out of it! Yowzers! No one ‘splained to me what it was or that it was wet and cold. So we all spent the rest of the day snoozin’ and hangin’ out in the house.

Until the snow goes away, I’m hangin’ out with my sister and best friend, Lucy.
Except for when I’m nappin’ with my sister and second best friend, Xena.

Since I stopped being mean to Xena, she’s started playing with me again every morning after breakfast. That’s much more fun than getting stuck in my kennel.

Today’s really cold, but the sky’s clear and most of the white stuff is gone and it’s gonna warm up, so it’s gonna be a good day. Here’s hoping y’all have a good day, too! Oh, and many thanks to  The Cat on My Head  for hosting Sunday Selfies! 

XOXOX Lucy, Xena and Chia

Flashback Friday: Purim Hustle and the Hated Bush

Lucy and Xena: It’s almost time for Purim, the fun Jewish holiday, so today we’re going to flashback to our story about Mom and Dad’s first Purim party. Oh, and they’re going again next Wednesday to party hardy, but no hustle.

PURIM

Xena: Hey there. I think I told you that Mommy is now the office manager in a synagogue and I’m not allowed to go, right? Well, they recently celebrated something called Purim. It is pronounced like Pour Rum, he, he. It’s where you’re supposed to get drunk and act stupid.

Lucy: Xena!

Xena: I’m telling the truth. Look it up. They even wear funny costumes. Well no one got drunk, but they did have a talent show. Daddy dressed in his polyester leisure suit and him and Mommy danced a Hustle. The people were clapping and cheering. I think maybe they really were drunk, BOL.

Then parts of a book of the bible called Esther were read in Hebrew, and every time the name Hamen was read, the drunk people booed real loud and swung their noisemakers. I don’t think I would have liked being there, ’cause that would have scared me hurt my sensitive ears.

THE BUSHES

Lucy: Mom advertised that she had four big bushes in front of the house that anyone could have if they dug them up themselves.

Xena: Why did she do that? Why would she give away our bushes?

Lucy: A couple reasons, Xena.
1. She’s “sick and tired of having to trim them”. That’s a direct quote, by the way. And
2. She’s too cheap smart cheap to pay someone to get rid of them for her. So she came up with this scheme. She especially dislikes that big green one cause it is so tall and cause it gets prickly and cause stingy insects live in it in the spring. She even told the Hated Bush that it was going to a new home soon where it would be loved and cared for. I guess she didn’t want it coming after her. Anyhoo, a nice couple wanted them all, so they came over and started trying to dig up that yellow and green one next to the Hated Bush.

Then they discovered that it had something called a water root that had made its way into the main tube connected to the gutters, the one that carries water away from the house. They ended up sawing off the water root and dragging the whole thing into the woods. They said the Hated Bush probably had a big root in there too. Of course the Hated Bush would do something like that, right? One down, three to go.

Xena: Were those the people I was barking at?

Lucy: Yes, they are sure to remember the noisy little dog that lived in the house with the Hated Bush.

Xena: Grrr.

Lucy: Riley and Andrew came over the other night. Mom had asked our peeps brother Andrew to do a favor for her. I heard Mom whisper to the Hated Bush, “Now you’re going to die! Then you are getting hauled off to the dead bush burial grounds!” I think it might have shivered…or, it could have just been the wind.

Xena: But the bushes are still there!

Lucy: Uh huh. It seems Mom just can’t get rid of them. Brother Andrew power washed the shed and did some other work first, and then it got dark out and he had to go home. Now I’m hearing something about some brush killer that is in the shed. If she does that, we’ll have to stay away from them cause they might try to take revenge by poisoning us. But I heard Dad say, “No.”

Xena: That’s really weird. Only Mom says, “No.”

Lucy: He said we’ll wait on Brother Andrew to come back. Why are you making a face, Xe? What’s the problem with that?

Xena: Mom doesn’t like it, so I don’t like it.

Lucy: Why do I even try?

Lucy and Xe Schnauzer Warrior Princess

Happy Tuesday Grooming: Izzy, Allie and Izzie

Lucy, Ace Reporter here, on the Groom Beat.

Today we’ll start out with a pair of pups who have been to us twice. His Mom was referred to us by Griffin’s Mom. If you don’t know Griffin, you can read about him here.
There are no “before” pictures since they get groomed every three weeks. First up is the most unusual three-year-old, Izzy, a Biewer Terrier. This is pronounced “Beaver Terrier.” No, really, I am a reporter, and I am not kidding. You can read about the breed here. I didn’t write it, but it’s still good reading. Groomer Mom followed Izzy’s Mom’s grooming instructions, with Izzy ending up looking like this.

I don’t like having my picture taken.

Izzy’s “sister” is a two-year-old Maltese, Allie. Groomer Mom used her longest blade (a 3.5 blade) all over her body and legs, then did a lot of scissor work to make it look good. These are both very good and sweet pups. Here’s Allie after her groom.

With Allie and Izzy’s next groom already on the calendar, let’s round things out with a pup we forgot to introduce back in November of 2020. One of our other regulars referred her to us. This pup’s name is also Izzie, just spelled differently. She is a Maltese/shih tzu mix. Izzie was born May 3, 2019, so that makes her, uh, let me get my calendar and calculator. Hey Mom, how old’s Izzie? Uh huh, uh huh. Dear readers, I’ve ascertained that Izzie will be three years old this May. Here is a picture from her last groom.

Izzie’s hair is very fine with no undercoat. I can see her freckles! Her Mom brings her every two to four months. She’s a quiet, sweet and sort of scared dog. But she doesn’t take long to groom, so she gets to go home quickly, which is her favorite part of the groom.

That’s all for today, folks. Lucy, Ace Reporter, signing off with many thanks to Comedy Plus for hosting Happy Tuesday.

Dear Diary by…

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.


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

Dr. Seuss Day 2022

Xena: Hey Lucy, It’s Dr. Seuss Day again! We’ve sure had a lot of fun in the past on Dr. Seuss Day.

Do you remember this one from last year?

Lucy: How could I forget? And it ended up just being Riley! How about the one from a couple of years ago?

That’s when you started writing your short story that turned into a series! So, what do you want to do this year?
Xena: I want to get away from Chia for the day.
Lucy: Amen to that, sister. Do you have anything in mind.
Xena: I found a new Dr. Seuss saying, “You’ll be on your way up! You’ll be seeing great sights! You’ll join the high fliers who soar to high heights.”
I searched the internet and discovered a place that will take us up in a plane and we can jump out! We would really be soaring to great heights then! Just don’t tell Chia.
Lucy: You’ve gotta be crazy, little sis.
Xena: Well, think about it and sleep on it and we’ll woof about it tomorrow.

Later…
Both: Woo hoo! Aroooo!!
Xena: We did it, we’re soaring from great heights! We’re flying over the Chattanooga Aquarium! Have you ever been there? It’s like an all you can eat buffet!

Lucy: We actually jumped out of a plane. Do you have a parachute?
Xena: Uh, no. Do you?
Both: Aeiiiiiiiiiii!

The next day…
Lucy: I had this crazy dream…
Xena: So did I…
Lucy: Let’s just stay home and play with Chia today.

Tons of thanks to Sandee at Comedy Plus for hosting Dr. Seuss Day this year!

Home Alone (with Miss Christy)with No Selfies

Lucy: Miss Christy, I love you and love having you here so much I forgot to ask where Dad and Mom went?
Miss Christy: My sweet Lucy, (*whispers* You know you are my favorite girl.) I love being here, too.


Your Mom and Dad just needed a little break, so they went to stay in a cabin in the middle of Norris Dam State Park.

Chia: You said a bad word!

Miss Christy (ignoring Chia’s comment): It’s a huge park with lots of trees and trails and sits on the mountains surrounding Knoxville, Tennessee.

Chia: But what are they doing at the dam state park?

Miss Christy: *sigh* Let’s see…Friday night they got dressed up and went to a ballroom dance studio. They said the music was really good and the people were all very nice and welcoming. There is a dance there every other week, and your folks will probably be going back several times throughout the year and spend the night in Knoxville. The drive is only a little over two hours. But don’t worry, I’ll come and stay with you sweet pups.

Lucy: If that’s all they did, why aren’t they home yet?

Miss Christy: No, they rented the cabin for three nights and during the day, instead of exploring trails, they explored restaurants and historical places.

Chia: I’d a rather done the trails. I coulda’ run like the wind through those forests and maybe even caught a squirrel or a rabbit!

Miss Christy: Yes, you are very fast, Chia girl! But it was too cold for them, down in the 30’s and 40’s. So they did indoor stuff. Since your Dad is very allergic to foods with gluten, corn or soy, they tried out a restaurant called Benefit Your Life Bakery. Absolutely nothing in it had gluten, corn or soy.

Lucy: That was good for our Dad, right?

Miss Christy: So good, your Mom said he was standing at the front looking in the case and seemed to be having something like a religious experience. He was saying, “I’ll have one of those and one of those and one of those and oh my, this is so wonderful, and one of those, etc.” She was on the verge of being embarrassed.

Chia: That’s nothing new. I embarrass her on most of our walks! And it’s always ’cause I’m so excited about something, too.

Miss Christy: Yes, Chia, I understand that. Anyhow, on Saturdays they serve breakfast, so yourDdad got a biscuit and gravy and your Mom, who doesn’t always like GF baked goods, got a bacon, egg and cheese GF biscuit. They were both so impressed they vowed to eat there every time they spent the night for a dance.

Xena: Are they bringing us any?
Miss Christy: Your Dad bought several of the sweets to bring home, but I don’t think they were for you pups. Sorry XeXe.

After that they went to the University of Tennessee McClung Museum of Natural History & Culture. The stories of the first exhibit they saw told of what your Mom felt were the Native American artist’s existential experiences and understanding of life movement through each “season.” The plaques next to each painting had explanatory quotes.

Shane Pickett's Paintings installed

Shane Pickett: Djinong Djina Boodja (Look at the Land that I Have Traveled)

They learned a lot about the generals and tactics used locally during the Civil War.

First Light, November 29, 1863, Painting by Ken Smith

The Civil War in Knoxville: The Battle of Fort Sanders

Your Mom has always loved the Egyptian exhibits, where they saw a real mummy case, hieroglyphics, and lots more.

Ancient Egypt exhibit entrance

Ancient Egypt: The Eternal Voice

Painting by Greg Harlin

Archaeology & the Native Peoples of Tennessee

Human Origins Ceiling

Human Origins: Searching for our Fossil Ancestors

There were more, but these were some of their favorites. Your Dad said that something in this last exhibit reminded him of you, Chia.

Chia: Was I the mighty hunter?
Miss Christy: Ummm, more like one of the predators in the origin of all mammals, ummm, so yes! You were the mighty hunter.
Chia: *whole body wiggles*

Lucy: Tell us more, Miss Christy *wags*.

It was cold and raining when they left the museum, but decided to press on to their next destination. The Historic Ramsey House was built in 1797 by Knoxville’s first builder, Thomas Hope, for Francis Alexander Ramsey. The home is constructed of Tennessee pink marble and blue limestone. It was known at that time as the finest home in Tennessee. The structure is significant for its original interior and exterior architectural features and its period decorative art collection.

The Ramsey Family was one of the first families to settle the Knoxville area. They played vital roles in developing civic, educational and cultural institutions. Colonel Francis A. Ramsey was one of the founding trustees of Blount College, now the University of Tennessee. Mr. Ramsey lived there through the marriage and death of two wives, from whom he had several boy children. He then married his third wife, who had also been widowed twice. They were together less than a year when he died of malaria, leaving her pregnant with her sixth child, a girl. One of his sons, Dr. J.G.M. Ramsey authored an early history of the state, The Annals of Tennessee. Another son, William B.A. Ramsey, was the first elected mayor of Knoxville and the Secretary of State for Tennessee.

Xena: *yawn* This is boring. Can we see pictures?
Miss Christy: Here you go, baby girl.

Riley: *yawn* I’m going to take my after breakfast nap now. They’ll be back. They always come back.
Xena: I miss Mommy and Daddy. Hold me, Miss Christy.
Chia: I’m gonna go take a nap on Lucy’s back now.

Miss Christy: Let’s all go take a nap in the bed together and then we can get a snack and play when we get up. Your folks will be home tomorrow.

Chia: That sounds dam good!

Thanks to the LLB Gang for the Nature Friday Blog Hop!
and
Thanks to  The Cat on My Head  for hosting Sunday Selfies!

Grooming with Mom: Then and Now

This is Lucy, Ace Reporter, with pupdates on Millie, Gus and JoJo

Gus and Mille began coming to “Small Dog Grooming” (Groomer Mom) back in June of last year after their previous groomer passed. You can click here to read the story and see the pictures of their first groom by Small Dog Grooming. They have been coming every month since then. Groomer Mom took fresh pictures the last time they were here in February.

Next up is JoJo, a yorkie who has come every three weeks since April of last year. She is five now. You can click here if you want to see the story and picture from her first groom at Small Dog Grooming.

She got a real different groom from previously…more off her face and less off her body. Her Mom said the cold makes her eyes run. We like this look better.

Chia has been bugging me during this entire report. She wants me to post a picture of her.

Are you taking pictures of me while I’m asleep?

Lucy: There you go, Chia, not one, but two pictures.

Chia: Sheesh, Lucy, I didn’t mean those pictures!

Lucy, Ace Reporter signing off with groom updates (and sweet revenge).

We are joining Comedy Plus with much thanks for hosting Awww Mondays.

Super Bow Wow Sunday Selfies

Riley: I’m a Bengal Tiger. I’m gonna smash those goats.

Later…

Lucy: I can’t see the game with this helmet on.
Riley: That’s why I took mine off. And it makes it easier to eat the Super Bowl snacks. *chomp, chomp*
Lucy: It was a lot of fun chewing off the sleeves, and these shirts are a lot more comfy now, too. Wait…. you said snacks?

*chomp, chomp* Super Bowl Sunday is the best!

Xena: Chia! Grab a piece for me!

Chia: *chomp, chomp* Sorry Xe, every dog for herself.

Many thanks to  The Cat on My Head  for hosting Sunday Selfies! (And may the best team win!)

With love, wags, woofs and snacks, Riley, Lucy, Xena and Chia

Grooming: Caesar and Rusty

Ace Reporter Lucy here today on the Groom Beat.

There’s an old saying, “No good deed goes unpunished.” Today, however, I have a story for you about how good begets good. Let’s start at the beginning…

Our pastor put out an email asking if anyone could help one of the members by taking her a meal while her husband was out of town. She had recently been in the hospital with an injury and was having trouble getting around. Because Mom has never done this, she decided it was about time she stepped up. The member (let’s just call her M.A. for short) lives very close to Mom and Dad’s favorite Mexican restaurant, so Mom called and asked M.A. what she would like. After picking up the order and finding M.A.’s house Mom was greeted at the door by two sweet pups. (You knew dogs had to be involved, right?) Mom and M.A. settled in to visit for a while with Mom on the floor petting the dogs. Toward the end of the visit, M.A. said she sure wished she had someone who could groom her dogs. She was very excited when Mom revealed that besides working as the Office Manager in a Jewish synagogue, she is, in fact, a dog groomer. M.A. immediately made an appointment for her daughter or grandson to bring her two pups that coming Saturday.

Here’s Caesar, who is a 14 year old long-haired dachshund, doesn’t show his age at all. Here he is before his groom.

Caesar is a very good boy, but he doesn’t like his picture taken. Groomer Mom must have taken a dozen or more shots and finally gave up with the one below after his groom. Groomer Mom asked me to add that she didn’t cut the top part of his face hair at all, but after seeing the picture realized she could have blended it with her thinning shears to look better.

When he got home to his mom, she texted to say how much she loved his cut and that it was the best groom he’s ever had. Caesar will definitely be coming back!

Next up is his nine year old brother Rusty. Rusty supposedly has lab and poodle in him. He and Caesar were both rescues, so it’s hard to say for sure. Rusty has an auto-immune disease, and was recently diagnosed with diabetes, for which he gets daily injections.

Rusty is now the tallest dog Groomer Mom has as a client since Aoife moved to Denver, but he still fit just fine in the grooming sink. He’s a real sweet boy, even though he’s a bit “busy” on the table. Here he is post groom.

Excuse me Miss Groomer, there is a hair sticking up on my nose.

Groomer Mom corrected those misbehaving hairs on Rusty’s nose before he went home. We look forward to seeing Caesar and Rusty back again in a few weeks.

Lucy, signing off with thanks to Comedy Plus for hosting Happy Tuesday.

Sunday Selfie Naps

The Mom: Since the girls were napping after a good breakfast, I helped them with their “selfies.”

If these sweeties were awake, I know they would send tail wags and wishes for a happy week.

Many thanks to  The Cat on My Head  for hosting Sunday Selfies!

Grooming with Mom: Our Seniors

Lucy, Ace Reporter, on the Groom Beat

Today I’ve invited back a couple of our long-timers, Maggie the schnauzer and Dora the shih tsu, sporting their new winter cuts. We’ve had so many positive comments on what a great idea the concept of winter grooms is that I’m going to ride that wave. Uh, I mean, show you two more. *clears throat* Both usually get a full shave down–with the exception of Dora’s ears and tail–every four weeks. Sometimes their mom asks for just a mini-groom, but she never lets them get very long. This time, it’s been over two months, two grooms in a row, that they got the winter cut. Here’s Maggie, sporting the adorable fuzzy schnauzer look.

Maggie tucks her back legs under her because she has problems with them. Sometimes she starts to roll over backwards, so Groomer Mom positions her against the wall to help her stay steady in her sit position. Maggie will be 14 this year and has been our much-loved client since May of 2013 when she was five.

Maggie’s sister, Dora, was four when she started coming here the same time as Maggie, meaning she’ll be turning 13 this year. She doesn’t seem to be quite sure what to make of that bow.

Until this groom, she’s never left here with her hair long enough to sport a pretty bow. We sorta hope it stays in and her Mom wants to keep that part of her hair long. Guess we’ll know in a month…

Next featured is 14-year-old Sunshine. Sunshine is a long haired cairn terrier/beagle mix. She’s got a great temperament and lots and lots of long hair. Her mom wants to keep her body and leg hair long. A large pile of undercoat comes out during a thorough brushing each groom even though her mom does a good job keeping her brushed. This is what she looked like a year ago post groom:

This time, she came to Groomer Mom with that long coat very matted. Her mom had been sick and unable to brush her. Groomer Mom is thankful that she has some magic lotion and a magic comb that loosens most mats and allows them to be removed. Also, her mom wanted her face shaved. This is how she now looks.

This Ace Reporter was reassured by Groomer Mom that yes, this really is the same dog!

I leave you with this quote from Groomer Mom, “Puppies are adorable and fun, but seniors who are used to being groomed are one *bleep* of a lot easier to groom.”

Lucy, Ace Reporter, signing off with wags and licks and many thanks to  Comedy Plus  for the great job they do hosting Awww Mondays.

Wordy Wednesday Grooming with Mom:Griffin

Lucy, Ace Reporter, on the Groom Beat

Hi again friends! Griffin is a shih tzu who Groomer Mom doesn’t think looks like a shih tzu. You can tell us what you think in the comment section below. He comes every couple of months, and always has mats to the skin. Groomer Mom asked me to include a collage she made of Griffin pre-groom.

It used to take Dad holding him to get his nails done. He’s a sweetie, and he’s also a busy boy who doesn’t stand still for long. Griffin was extra good this time; no help was needed. His Mom wanted a longer shave, but the long blade on the clippers refused to go through his extremely thick hair. So Groomer Mom cleaned out his ears and clipped his nails before giving him a nice warm bath. After he dried, slightly shorter clippers did start cutting his hair, with a bit of encouragement. His legs called for the next size down in blades because of the mats. It took a couple of hours to get this finished cut.

Groomer Mom looks forward to doing it all over again sometime in March. With m any thanks to Comedy Plus for hosting Wordless Wednesday Blog Hop, Lucy, Ace Reporter on the Groom Beat, signing off with wags and licks.

New Theme and Selfies

Xena: Hey there, friends. We hope you like our new look. The truth is, Mommy was playing around and accidentally saved a new theme. When she tried to go back to the theme we’ve been using since any of us start blogging, it said that theme had been discontinued. We couldn’t get it back. But she didn’t like the new theme, so she had to find something else in a hurry. She found this new one, which may stay, or you may be seeing a different one from time to time, BOL!

Lucy: Mom’s also been playing with our pictures like some of y’all do. Well, you don’t play with our pictures, you play with your own.. ugh, you know what I mean. Anyhoo, here’s a couple she’s done.

Chia: I’m in four of them! Wait, why does Xena get five pictures and I only get four?

Xena: Let’s have a contest to settle this! Everyone comment on your favorite picture, and the dog who gets the most comments gets to take everyone who voted for me to…

Lucy: Stop! That’s crazy, Xe! No contests, no voting, no you taking anyone anywhere. Just. Stop.

Chia: *running around the house* I wanna win! I wanna win! I wanna win! (etc.)

We hope you liked our lots and lots of selfies today! XOXOXO Chia, Xena, Lucy and Riley

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

Grooming with Mom on Thankful Thursday: Moe

Lucy, Ace Reporter on the Groom Beat

Hello friends! We had a slow grooming weekend, but we do have one new client. Moe is the not-biological brother to Chub, who I reported on last Thursday. We are told that Moe was here once before, but the Groomer has no records or recollection of it. It’s like her memory was wiped….*scary music.*

Moe is some sort of terrier mix. By his looks, we would guess that he’s part yorkie because of his coloring. His dad usually shaves him, but his mom wanted him to have a “professional groom.” He really didn’t look bad when he got here, so no “before” picture was taken. Here is Moe, groomed and waiting on his dad.

Wishing everyone a good day and weekend coming up. Lucy, Ace Reporter signing off with love, licks and wags.

We are joining Brian’s Thankful Thursday, with special thanks to Brian for hosting it!

It’s My Birthday!

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

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

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

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

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

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

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