Category: Xena

My Stuffie Friends Left

Published on by Xena, Lucy and Chia25 Comments

No sooner did my Clan Bears return than Rudy and Winter Bear said they needed to go to “The Great North” for the summer. They said there are places where it snows all year and the temperature barely gets above freezing. At first I thought they were going to Finland to visit Kosmo the cat. Then I learned that the snow is mostly gone in that part of the world and it is warming up. Then I thought about The Canadian Cats, but it’s the same story there.  Without involving me, they had been planning what they wanted to do over the summer until it got cold here – well, as cold as it ever gets. Neither one has a port to pass, or could pass the port, or something like that, so they had to stay in the United States. I wanted to help, so I offered Rudy my special blankie to keep warm on his travels.He tried it out and got so comfy he fell asleep for the rest of the day. The next day I offered Rudy my special Blue Bone. I thought he could chew on it if he got hungry, or use it as a pillow. When I took Rudy over to it, he licked it for a while, then laid his head down  and fell asleep again.

When that silly reindeer finally woke up, he said he was always sleepy cause it’s already too hot here. Meanwhile, Winter Bear was snoozing in the toy basket. I guess it is too warm here for him, too. 

I got them both awake long enough to pack up some supplies and head out the door. That was a few days ago. Once in a while I get word from someone that they gave the two travelers a ride or fed them or just spotted them in the woods to the side of the highway. The last report was of them resting near McKinley Mountain in Alaska.

Hey, I should have sent a list with them to give to Santa! I sure am going to miss those two rascals, especially Rudy. His red nose is hard, and Mommy could always hear me dragging him all over the house. I didn’t want  him to miss anything that was happening. I sure hope they can find their way back home before Christmas and bring me some pressies from Santa.

*yawn* I think it’s time for a nap. Maybe it’s too warm in here…

Xena Schnauzer Warrior Princess

Return of the Clan Bears

Published on by Xena, Lucy and Chia33 Comments

I heard some rustling near the closet cave and sure enough, my bears were done with their winter hibernation.

Brownie Bear was carrying the poor crippled bear who has two useless legs, only one arm, and no ears. I think he used to be Riley’s, who cruelly used and discarded him.  I never thought he’d make it through the winter, but he sure is tough. My friends didn’t seem to even notice me standing there wagging my tail.

I was so happy to see them, but they plodded right by me on their way to the kitchen. I guess if I went all winter without eating -except for the occasional midnight raid on the fridge – I would be like a brain-eating zombie, too.

I waited until they cleaned out the fridge and transformed back into my bear friends again. Then Rainbow and Sweetheart Bears came into my kennel to visit with me while Brownie and the little purple bear (whose name I don’t know) finished licking out the fridge (boys!).

Pretty soon everyone was together, just like old times. I told them about everything that happened while they slept all winter. They were happy I got help for my allergies, and that I passed two agility classes, and that I love dancing Freestyle with Mommy. I introduced them to Jen-Jen Bear, who immediately became a part of their clan. I think she and Sweetheart are going to be BFF’s.

It was what is called an “emotionally exhausting day.” Without meaning to, we all settled into a puppy/bear pile for a happy nap.

Xena Schnauzer Warrior Princess

Demise of the Hated Bush

Published on by Xena, Lucy and Chia30 Comments

It happened! Mom can be a force of nature when she gets her mind set on something. Since Dad said, “No.” to the brush killer, Mom had to come up with plan D. If you remember, plan A was for someone who wanted big bushes to come dig them up and take them, but the roots were in the rain water drain running away from the house and we only lost one bush that day. Plan B was for Brother Andrew to cut them down, but he got obsessed with busy power washing the shed and doing some other stuff out back and it got late and he had to leave without cutting any bushes. Plan C was to kill them by spraying brush killer. We heard the Hated Bush laugh when Dad said, “No.” (If you missed that whole story, you can read about it here.)

So on to plan D. Mom told Brother Andrew she would come pick him up to finish the job. That way he was trapped and couldn’t go home until the Hated Bush was dead. We know the Hated Bush just chuckled under its breath, not believing Bro Andrew would actually get to it before dark, ha, ha. You tell me if it was right.

It didn’t stand a chance. *sigh* Mom made sure that was the first bush killed. My ex-boyfriend buddy Riley came over too, and we snoopervised.  Xena  tried  to  get  in  on  the  action  but  we  ignored  her. This was a job for big dogs.When Bro Andrew came in and said he was done, Mom said, “No, no, you missed one,” and sent him back out. So he went back out and even dug up most of the roots. End results:

The little azalea bush that we helped Mom plant last fall was allowed to stay. Now Mom is planning on raking the dirt and mulch to the side, laying down more landscaping fabric, planting hostas, raking everything back and laying down new mulch. Whew. That sounds like a lot of work. I hope we don’t have to help. We would much rather do zoomies. (footage taken from last spring when the Hated Bush still felt secure in it’s home)

Love and wags, Lucy and Xena Schnauzer Warrior Princess

Purim Hustle, Bushes and Allergies

Published on by Xena, Lucy and Chia29 Comments

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.” That’s really weird. Only Mom says, “No.” He said we’ll wait on Brother Andrew to come back.

ALLERGY UPDATE

Xena: My allergy shots are not totally working yet so my allergy dogtor said to get some new shampoo called Head and Shoulders with Zinc. It’s a very special shampoo to help me not itch. I got some new conditioner, too, that my allergy dogtor makes himself. It smells nice and makes my hair super soft. The only problem is that I have to get a bath every two to three days.

Lucy: What’s the problem with that.

Xena: I don’t like it. I’m also taking a very special pill called Xertec. So far so good.

Lucy: That’s Zyrtec, Xena.

Xena: No, no, it is the same as my name. Xe for me, Xe.

Lucy: Why do I even try?

Lucy and Xe Schnauzer Warrior Princess

Along the Road

Published on by Xena, Lucy and Chia31 Comments

One day on our way to Agility class, Mommy stopped the car and turned it off. I looked out the window to see what was going on, and goodness, I started shaking. There was a huge monster running by and it just kept going and going and going. Every once in a while it would scream, what sounded like a cry of hunger.

I found out the monster’s name is Train. The next time we saw Train there were a lot of other cars in front of us. I wasn’t scared that time. I figured while it was eating all those cars and people that we could turn around and escape. I am getting braver all the time!

On another car ride we saw this sign. People were buying children! I’m letting you know so that if you have any of those noisy kids that you don’t want, you can call this number and make a lot of money.

You just never know what you’ll see along the road.

Xena Schnauzer Warrior Princess

 

 

 

Feelin’ Irish with Ludwig

Published on by Xena, Lucy and Chia31 Comments

I’ve been so worried about Ludwig! Every time I hear someone outside I run and look to see if he has come home. Turns out there is no Missing Ludwig Po Po, so we were on our own looking for him. Last night I heard someone on the front porch, and guess who it was! Xena: Ludwig! Is it really you? Where have you been?

Ludwig: Yes, lovely one, it is I. Let me in and I will tell you about my adventures.

Ludwig had a big bag on the porch, and he asked me to help him bring it in the house.

Ludwig: First, let me tell you that I felt assured that no harm would come to our hibernating bears. Are they still sleeping?

Xena: Yes, yes, they are, but the weather is warming up and they should be coming out of the closet, er their cave soon. We heard someone rumbling around in the kitchen the other night after we had gone to bed and we think it was them.

Ludwig: Very good, then all is well. I brought special libations for  us to enjoy. After all, this is the eve of the day of the great Saint Patrick. He is fabled to have driven all the snakes out of Ireland, and there are none there to this day.

So, beautiful Xena, come imbibe a bit o’ Irish luck with me.

Xena: Ludwig, I don’t know if I should do this…

A short while later… Xena: Everything is kinda’ tilting and I may be turning green.

Ludwig: There is only one cure for that!

Happy St. Patrick’s Day from *hic* Xena and Ludwig (and Lucy, too).

Freestyle Lesson #4 with Critique

Published on by Xena, Lucy and Chia28 Comments

I sure do go through a lot of different emotions when it’s time for Freestyle. Here they are in the order I experienced them yesterday.

    1. Anticipation: We’re going to Freestyle! Yay!
    2. Fear: I’m riding in the truck *shudder, pant, pant*, I’m riding in the truck *shudder, pant, pant* the whole 40 minute drive there.
    3. Dominance: We pulled into the parking lot and I immediately forgot to be afraid. Instead, I saw the other dogs outside getting ready to go in (code for pottying) and I grrr-ed and postured.
    4. Fear of Humiliation: We got inside and I had just gotten on Mommy’s lap when I realized I forgot to “get ready to go in.” I didn’t want to poop in front of all those other dogs and have them laugh at me or see me as less dominant. I started shaking again.
    5. Excitement: It was suddenly our turn to show everyone our homework and I just knew we were going to ace it.
    6. Exhaustion: I slept most of the way home.

I threw in an extra turn and, after hesitating for only a split second, Mommy made it work with our short little routine. I think I did everything right. Of course, the first comment was, “She’s just so doggone adorable!”

Someone took a video. She didn’t do as good a job at videoing as I did at dancing, but here it is anyway.

That’s me getting my treat at the end. I thought you might be interested in reading the commentary afterward. It was all about things Mommy could do better.

  1. The opening shape: Stand up straight, Keep front leg closer and use her toe to make a better line.
  2. Praise on that yahtzee turn. That’s the one on the left side of your screen where we both turn outwards at the same time.
  3. Although Mommy wore all beige clothing to try to diminish her and highlight me, it didn’t work. They suggested she try all black.
  4. Use smaller hand motions.
  5. At the very end, finish getting her long legs down on the floor before I am completely in my down, he, he.

It seems that Mommy has a lot to work on, so we better go get busy.

I am Xena the Freestyle Schnauzer Warrior Princess

Sometimes: The Red Chair and the Shrine

Published on by Xena, Lucy and Chia31 Comments

Since The Tree is finally gone and The Red Chair has been strategically positioned in front of the window, I have a new favorite spot.It’s best when the sun is shining. I get to keep an eye on what is going on in the neighborhood, watch for Mommy to come home from work, and sun bathe – all at the same time. I think that’s called multi-tasking. I like it so much that sometimes I keep my vigil on The Red Chair even when it is raining, which is most of the time lately. My sister Lucy likes that chair also, and, strangely, her hair doesn’t stick all over it like it does on the other furniture. Sometimes we bark at squirrels and neighbors and delivery people; sometimes we bark and howl with the neighborhood dogs; and sometimes we just nap.

You’re a good sister, Xena.

And sometimes,  I – being a good sister – let Lucy have the chair all to herself!

Not always, but sometimes, we leave an offering to The Windowsill Shrine.* It’s the only picture of my Guardian Angel Lexi that I can reach. Sometimes she helps me with things, like not being afraid, so it seems like the thing to do. She doesn’t always want the offerings, so I take them back and offer them again another day.

I am Xena Schnauzer Warrior Princess

  • The Mom’s Note: This picture was from the first date Lexi had with Noodle on Valentine’s Day 2015. Here they are dancing at a disco after having a romantic picnic in Central Park. Dancing was one of Lexi’s favorite hobbies, right after acting and eating.

Xena’s Dr. Seuss Day

Published on by Xena, Lucy and Chia20 Comments

I found out that this saying by Dr. Seuss is so true! Mommy likes to throw some of the food that she cuts up in the kitchen to me and Lucy. Sometimes it is veggies, sometimes fruit, sometimes meat *drool*. Anyhoo, I used to throw my head up to catch mine, but I would flinch and close my eyes. I always missed it when I did that. I learned that I have a much better chance of catching my food if I can just keep my eyes open. I think that has come with getting braver. But sometimes you just have to shut your eyes and hope you don’t miss any food.

Happy Dr. Seuss Day, everyone!

Xena Schnauzer Warrior Princess

You can visit Mr. Jakey’s website to join the blog hop or just to visit others who are also blogging about Dr. Seuss Day. Mean old Mr. WordPress won’t let us linky up. *grr*

 

From Agility to Freestyle with Xena

Published on by Xena, Lucy and Chia27 Comments

Hey friends! I graduated from my Agility too class and I can prove it. I got another piece of paper saying so. Strangely enough, it has Daddy’s name on it too. He has never, ever gone with us. I don’t think he even knows what Agility too is. Mommy says I should give him a break ’cause he’s my Daddy and he loves me. I love you too, Daddy. ❤

Now we are going to focus on Freestyle for a while, and will probably go back to Agility again after we perform in Freestyle in April at the Chattanooga Obedience Club meeting. We’ve started working on our performance a tiny little bit. Last Sunday we worked on opening shapes. But I don’t think Mommy’s knees are up to what the teacher asked us to do. You can watch it here if you want. You can hear the teacher, Miss Julia’s voice asking us to try it different ways.

Our homework is to use an opening shape (we hope one that Mommy can get up from a little more gracefully) and turn it into a movement, then into a closing shape. We have two weeks before our next class, so we should be OK. At least if Mommy stays off her knees.  *sigh*  We worked on all kinds of turns, too. Miss Julia asked me and Mommy to demonstrate the yahtzee turn, and we did it perfectly! (Mommy’s been working ahead with me at home ’cause she already knows all this stuff.)

Did you see me scratching at the end of the video? Allergy season has started to hit, and I have only been getting my sea rum for 2 months, not quite long enough for it to work good yet. Mommy had an email conversation with my allergy dogtor and now I have to get more baths (drat) and almond butter covered Xertec (yum). He’s trying to take my beef-chicken-egg diet away from me, too, but Mommy thinks if it was the food that I would have itched all winter, and I didn’t. So phthh! to the allergy dogtor on that one.

Gotta go practice my Freestyle now.

I am Xena the Dancing Schnauzer Warrior Princess

From Pupdates to Ludwig Missing

Published on by Xena, Lucy and Chia22 Comments

WHERE WERE MOM AND DAD

Xena: Hi Everyone! As we mentioned not long ago, Miss Christy came and stayed with us while Mom and Dad took off without us for two whole nights. I showed her my favorite spot. Then I showed her how fearless I am when I play-attack Lucy. 

Miss Christy said I am as spunky as ever! Oh yeah, we found out that Mommy and Daddy went to a church convention. Here they are with a flat dude. The flat dude’s  name is the Most Reverend Michael Curry. Some of you may might have heard of him. Mommy said she missed us me us very much and the first thing she did when she got home was take us for a nice walk.

FREESTYLE

Xena: I know you have been waiting to see another video of me dancing Freestyle. This one is from my second lesson. 

Since this lesson, I have gotten much better at walking close to Mommy’s legs. She shows me what she wants by holding a wooden spoon with almond butter on it down next to her leg when she walks. Tricky Mommy, but I don’t care. It tastes great and wait ’til you see my next video!

Lucy: Can I go next, Xena?
Xena: No, it’s still my turn.

XENA STANDS UP FOR HERSELF

I mentioned a little while back that I stood up to 2 dogs and They. Backed. Down.  I know y’all have been waiting to hear that story. The first “incident” was when Peyton and Slider’s folks came to pick them up after being groomed. Mommy let me go outside with everybody and while I was trying to make friends Peyton growled and lunged at me. You can see in this picture that Mommy has used her as a guard dog, so I should have been more cautious.Anyhoo, I lunged right back at her. We never actually touched, but I was ready. Her Mom said no one has ever stood up to her before, so Peyton didn’t know what to do and just quit.  The second time was with the dog sitting next to me and Mommy at Freestyle class. We don’t have a picture of this dog, but he is the typical, crazed Border Collie. He was already worked up because he wanted to do Agility instead of Freestyle, then he kept starring at a little girl there, and finally he snarled at me. I stood up and lunged and he pulled away. *wipes paws* That  took care of that!

CHRISTMAS TREE

Xena: Maybe you remember that our tree was still up the beginning of January. I started placing bets on if it would come down before Valentine’s Day, and if so, by how many days.

Lucy: Who were you betting with, Xena?

Xena: Myself. That way I was sure to win. Anyhoo, it’s gone. It disappeared the first week of February. I looked out the window to see if it was in the front yard, but I couldn’t spot it. I also ran through the side woods to try to find it, but I couldn’t smell it anywhere. And I got in trouble for running out of the yard.This red leather chair took over the space. No matter. I won the bet. 

I won the bet, Mommy. Give me a treat.

LUCY AND THE KENNEL

 

Lucy: Everyone was very kind to me when I let y’all know what I got for my birthday – a jail cell. I am very happy to report that I was so good after I saw it that Mommy never had the heart to make me stay in it, not even when both she and Dad left the house. She kept the door open so I could go in and explore, but why would I want to do that?

It is now folded up and leaning against the wall. That was a better present!

MISSING FRIENDS

Xena: That reminds me, I haven’t seen my friends, Brownie Bear or Ludwig or Rainbow Bear or even little Sweetheart Bear for 87 weeks.

Lucy: How on earth did my prison remind you of them?

Xena: They spent a lot of time hanging out in my kennel. Anyhoo, do you know where they are, Lucy?

Lucy: I heard they are hibernating in the guest closet for the winter. Bears do that you know. Of course, Winter Bear is still awake and playing in your kennel ’cause he’s a winter bear.

Xena: But Ludwig’s not a bear…where is he?

Lucy: He’s supposed to be guarding the bears while they sleep all winter. Let’s go take a peek. Xena: HEY YOU BEARS, WHY ARE Y’ALL SLEEPING AND WHERE’S LUDWIG?

Lucy: Shhhhhh Xena, don’t wake them up or they’ll be grumpy. But where is Ludwig?

Xena: *whispering* Maybe he got hungry and went out for a burger and fries.

2 days later

Xena: Hey Lucy, I just checked and Ludwig is still gone. I hope he didn’t get lost. Or eaten by a coyote. Or squished on the road. Or, or… Mommy! Call the Missing Ludwig Po-Po’s and give them Ludwig’s picture. We can post it on all the trees and telephone poles, too.To be continued…

I am Xena the BRAVE Schnauzer Warrior Princess

and I am Lucy the umm, well, the Lovable

Stuck

Published on by Xena, Lucy and Chia28 Comments

As Mommy was leaving for work today she gave me my new treat puzzle that I love to play with. It didn’t  take me even 87 milliseconds to solve that puzzle and gobble up all the treats. That’s when I noticed that Rudy and Jen-Jen Bear didn’t make it into my kennel before Mommy closed and locked the door. I really tried to help them. I was able to get one of Jen-Jen’s legs in, but she yelled that it hurt, so I had to stop. Rudy, do you want me to try to help you get in the crate with me?

Rudy: Uh, no thanks. I’ll just wait here until your Mom gets back.

Jen-Jen Bear: I’m stuck. You’re not going to just leave me stuck like this, are you, Xexe? All the blood is rushing to my head and my leg’s starting to go numb.Uh, yep. Don’t worry, I’ll carry you around with me the rest of the evening after Mommy gets home. Monkey and Winter Bear are in here with me, so I’m just going to play with them for a while. Then we’ll all take a nap. You know I would come out there and help you but…Xena Schnauzer Warrior Princess

 

Visiting Our Aunt and Uncle

Published on by Xena, Lucy and Chia29 Comments

Xena: Auntie Jen must have heard me say I missed her, ’cause she invited us to come to her house near Nashville. I get a bit nervous on car rides, and I panted for the whole three hour trip even though Daddy held me and pet me the whole way there while Mommy drove. At least this time I didn’t puke in the car.

Lucy: That’s only because Mom didn’t feed us before we left home.

Xena: I had a much better trip home. Auntie Jen put lavender oil on my ears, then Mommy put some on my paw pads after we got in the car. I only panted a tiny little bit once or twice. I hope we have lots of that oil around.

We returned the Santa toy that Achilles forgot at our house a couple of weeks ago. He was so over-the-moon happy that he played with it all weekend.

Lucy: He ignored me all weekend, too. Xena: That’s ’cause he remembered the talk I had with him when he was at our house! And he let me ride the horsie he got for Christmas. At first it was a little scary. I mean, I had never ridden a horsie before. I thought maybe I should watch for traffic behind us like Mommy does when she is driving.Then I said, “giddy up,” and urged horsie to go faster while I hung on tight. I rode bareback my first time out!OK, Mommy, horsie said he’s done. You can help me off now.

We all played outside, too. Here we were playing follow the leader. That’s cousin Ella in the lead.

As the day got later, something strange happened. We think that aliens were coming down and making shadow monsters out of Lucy and Ella. The girls ran into the house with me and the monsters disappeared.

That Saturday night the peeps put Achilles in his kennel and left. The rest of us got free run of the house and we were all Very. Good.  My folks brought home pictures of what they did while they were gone. 

 

They went ballroom dancing to celebrate Daddy’s birthday and Auntie Jen’s birthday. In that picture they were doing something called a foxtrot, he, he.

That wraps up our big out-of-town weekend. I heard that this coming weekend, Mommy and Daddy are going to something called a Convention in Knoxville. That means that our most favorite doggie sitter – other than our Auntie Jen and Uncle Bill – is coming to stay with us. We lo-o-o-ve Miss Christy!

Xena Schnauzer Warrior Princess

Pee S: I can’t wait to tell you the stories about how I stood up to two dogs who got nasty with me and They. Backed. Down! I am getting very, very brave.

Pee Pee S: I don’t never start the trouble, neither!

 

Freestyle–Woohoo!

Published on by Xena, Lucy and Chia32 Comments

I went to my very first ever Freestyle Dance class and I am so psyched! Hey Lucy, come look at the videos of me dancing with Mommy!

That’s my very first time around the floor. Can you tell how excited I was? I wanted to be sure everyone knows that I am really into this.

Lucy: But you…

Xena: I did so good that I got to do a special move called a Serpentine. I don’t think Mommy followed me very well; I had to keep coming back to get her.

Did you hear the teacher talk about the special move that Mommy did to help me switch sides,  and hoped she could remember it? No? The recorder must have gone off before that. Well, I’ll ask Mommy to keep watching the recording so that she does it again. The teacher said the move would catch on and even get named after me!

Lucy: But you….

Xena: So now I go to Agility every Monday and to Freestyle every Sunday. Woohoo! Woof! Woof!

Lucy: *sigh* Good job, Xena.

I am Xena the Schnauzer Warrior Princess and almost Freestyle Champion (woohoo!)

The Good Child

Published on by Xena, Lucy and Chia36 Comments

Late last summer Mommy got me a super duper seven month flea collar. She had tried very, very hard to repel those nasty fleas using different natural ways, like using blends of essential oils on us and diotomaceous earth on the yard, but we just kept on getting bit, and I kept reacting strongly to the flea bites.  That’s when she gave up and got this flea collar from our vet, Dr. Karen. I think Mom spent all her money on it ’cause she said she has never paid so much for a flea and tick collar in her entire life. When the weather turned cold, Mommy took the collar off of me and sealed it in a plastic baggie for when the evil fleas return in the spring. Well, we got springy weather AND my allergy test showed I have a flea allergy, so back on went the collar. That is, until Lucy chewed it off my neck.Mommy was not amused. She stood perfectly still, looking at it like she had never before seen anything that a dog had destroyed. #poormommy. We found a few small pieces on the stairs. Other than that, we think Lucy might be protected from fleas until after her next good poop.Lucy: I’m not going to get any fleas now for seven months. The collar box said the collar’s good for that long.

Mommy  could not bring herself to throw away the collar. Or to tell Lucy that she was wrong.Now I have a duck-taped seven month flea collar. I wonder how many more months I have to go with it like this.  Probably just until Lucy chews it off my neck again, he, he.

I am Xena , the Good Child.

Pupdate on Collar: Looks like Lucy continues to be protected from fleas. She chewed the collar off my neck again. My neck is 10 inches around. The collar is now 9 inches long. Mommy said you can do the math, whatever that means. I just saw it dropped in the trash. #poorermommy.It’s real cold again, so I hope those evil fleas are gone for a while, or at least until Mommy can get me a new collar. Phhhthhh on Lucy the flealess!

Return of Our Friends

Published on by Xena, Lucy and Chia39 Comments

Xena here. Something bad happened. Our Uncle Bill’s Mommy fell down really hard. Her hip broke, and so did her leg, and her shoulder shattered. She is very old, and we feel very bad for her. So first, before we go any further, we want to ask for POTP for Miss Pat.

Our Aunty Jen and Uncle Bill drove the three hours from their home near Nashville to be with Miss Pat right after she fell. That’s why Achilles and Ella got to stay with us. Aunty Jen left them at our house while my folks were gone teaching a ballroom dance class. She locked Achilles in the new, gigormous kennel, and Ella took over Xena’s kennel. (That was to ensure that Ella and Lucy didn’t go on another destruction spree.)                                                  Achilles

When Mommy and Daddy got home an hour later, Achilles met them at the door. He really is Achilles-dini.

Ella was still in Xena’s kennel, and pitifully asked Mommy why she had to be in jail. Shortly after Mommy let her out she projectile vomited the little bit of kibble left in her tummy.

Mommy went up to the attic to pull out more dog beds. You can see that Angel Lexi’s bed got covered with red fuzz from my red blankie that was in the wash with it. The plan was for Achilles to sleep there because it is the bigger bed. Since he wouldn’t settle down, Ella claimed it. Silly girl, she didn’t even use most of the bed. I guess her head felt good on the floor.

The next day my folks had to go to work, so they jailed both of our guests. When Mommy got home (you know this is going to be bad, starting off like that, right?) Achilles-dini was loose again, but the door to the kennel was still locked. That is still a mystery. Now, here’s the bad part.  The smell about knocked Mommy over. The big boy had left a steaming present in Daddy’s office, and I had to be in the house and smell steaming Achilles-dini poop all afternoon! *gag* Wait! There’s more! We couldn’t walk through the house without stepping in Achilles-dini pee. He left puddles and trails. I couldn’t believe Mommy wasn’t mad. She said it is because he drinks huge bowls of water all at once because he is so hot from his allergies. He takes medicine, but it doesn’t help enough.

Achilles-dini also decided the pretty hanging bulbs on the Christmas tree (yes, we still have our tree up in the front room because it make Mommy feel good) anyhow, he decided they are good to eat. No one has died – or even gotten yelled at (much) – yet.

Oh, and one more thing. I had a talk with Achilles. I told him in no-uncertain-terms that Lucy already has a boyfriend and he isn’t to be kissing on her. He understood and said OK, he could respect that. 

BB, you know I have been called a “snitch,” but I can snitch on good things too, right? So here goes: Lucy behaved herself around Achilles-dini. Mommy is a notary public, and I will have her notarize my statement if you want, to prove it is true.

Our friends are going home today, and, until then, our folks are taking turns leaving the house for work and errands.

Xena Schnauzer Warrior Princess, the good snitch

Pupdates

Published on by Xena, Lucy and Chia27 Comments

Pupdate #1: My allergy sea rum came, but it is not sea rum at all. Or if it is, I don’t get to drink it. Instead, it gets shot into the skin in my neck. Maybe that’s what you’re supposed to do with sea rum. I don’t mind. Daddy feeds me treats while Mommy  sticks me with the sea rum. I barely feel it.

 

 

Pupdate #2: Maybe you remember that Mommy was going to start feeding me special  mushrooms to try to help with my allergies. She sent Daddy to the special mushroom store to get them. He came home with two things: one half pound of mushrooms and something called sticker shock. After those were gone, I didn’t get any more.

Pupdate #3: We forgot to show you one of our Christmas presents from Aunty Jen and Uncle Bill:

We’ve been practicing our song.

        Adam

Pupdate #4: Grodd is gone. When Aunty Jen told us it was time to open presents on Christmas morning, Grodd was already sitting under the tree waiting for his pressie. My peeps brother Adam saw Grodd, and thought he was supposed to take him home. Aunty Jen texted Mommy, who said if Adam liked Grodd that much, let Adam have him. That ended the dispute about whether Grodd likes me or Lucy more. Grodd now lives with Adam.

That’s all for now.

I am Xena Schnauzer Warrior Princess

Grooming with Mommy: Maddie (and a blurb from Xena)

Published on by Xena, Lucy and Chia16 Comments

I guess you could say this is a Two Part Post. So that my sister Xena doesn’t steal the last half, I have given it to her, as she is tugging on my ear with her teeth and telling me that she wants to say something, too.

Part One: Hi, this is Lucy, Ace Reporter, with a clear conscience, on the Groom Beat. Today’s article features Maddie, a salt and pepper colored Schnauzer. Maddie is the same size as Angel Lexi was and has turned almost silver. Her Mom (Anne) is an expert organ player and knows my Mom from when Mom worked at St. Luke. Anne usually grooms Maddie, but sometimes she needs an expert groomer’s touch.  The holidays were so busy that Maddi got pretty madded, or matted, and Mom’s touch was needed. Xena and I got to come in the groom room and be with them, but Xena couldn’t stop her yapper so I took her upstairs. Before long, Mom was done and Maddie had her bath they all came upstairs too. Xena and I sort of played with Maddie while the peeps visited over lunch. On the way back downstairs, Xena was on one side of me and Maddie on the other when they decided to (almost) get in a fight and barked and lunged at each other right underneath my belly! That sure was a moment I don’t want to repeat.  Lucy, signing off from the Groom Beat, with my guts still intact.

Hi, Xena here. I just wanted to say that I miss my Auntie Jen, who took care of me at Christmas time when Mommy and Daddy went away. Auntie Jen, will you and Uncle Bill come back to visit me soon,  please?XOXOXO Your niece, Xena Schnauzer Warrior Princess