Lucy’s Happy Birthday/Gotcha Day

Published on by Xena, Lucy and Chia43 Comments

Hi friends. I’m celebrating my 8th birthday that we observe on my Gotcha Day. It’s also the day before my Dad’s birthday! Hmmm, I wonder if I was his birthday present.

Dad: Yes, my sweet Lucy. You’re the best birthday present I ever got, and you have given me nothing but love and happiness in your seven years with me and your Mom.

So Mom and Dad just got home today from a couple of nights with my Auntie Jen and Uncle Bill and boyfriend Achilles. And 2 pigs. There’ll be a little more about that tomorrow. They brought Christmas presents with them from there, but it was all stuffies, which I don’t play with. I did enjoy watching Xena and Chia grabbing them and playing, and it kept Chia out of my hair for a while.

I also get to do the selfie today. I don’t really like my picture taken, but hey, it’s my birthday!

Guess I’ll just stay here in the kitchen, since it’s about time for supper.

Thanks to The Cat on My Head, for hosting Sunday Selfies!

Love and wags, the birthday girl, Lucy

Thankful and Poetry Thursday

Published on by Xena, Lucy and Chia20 Comments

Thanks to Angel Sammy for the fun picture this week!

A Surreal Tale  by Xena Schnauzer Warrior Princess and Critter Hunter

I saw a critter stirring,
it looked to be fair game.
It saw me coming toward it;
I ran without fear or shame.

Through leaves and trees and prickly brush
Cross streams and meadows wide,
Up hills, down vales, the chase went on,
E’en through the Great Divide.

Then suddenly it’s mate appeared
And they began to kiss.
I listened as they said goodbye
Don’t think I can handle this!

I retraced my steps and arrived home
In time to eat a meal.
When asked what fun the day had brought
I made up tales less surreal.

So now a critter family lives just beyond our shed.
I tell the babies stories when they settle down for bed
About the time their dad and I crossed hill and dale and streams.
They sleep and I’m their godmother in all their precious dreams.

Now it’s time for my thankfuls! First, thanks to Angel Brian, for hosting Thankful Thursday!
 I’m thankful Mommy took me to work with her last week and again this Tuesday.

And I’m thankful for the warm sunlight!

Your friendly neighborhood schnauzer, Xena.


Sleepy Saturday

Published on by Xena, Lucy and Chia13 Comments

Riley: My Person Andrew has gone back to his house, so I think I’ll just relax and sleep the day away.

Chia: That was a good breakfast, and I’m just going to go back to bed and wait for something interesting to happen. No one has to help me; I know how to tuck myself in!

Hmmm, I wonder if Xena is playing with one of my stuffies….and what’s Lucy doing? And did I just hear a door?

Lucy’s Thankful Poetry Thursday

Published on by Xena, Lucy and Chia28 Comments

Hi friends! *wags and wiggles* I get to do the poem today. Mom said she feels bad cause I haven’t seen my Pastor for something like 87 days (2 weeks) and he won’t be in the office tomorrow, either. So I’m letting Xena go in my place. Here’s the picture that Angel Sammy came up with for us this week.

A Snowflake Friendship   by Lucy

I want to catch a snowflake or two;
I want to eat a snowflake with you.
Do they come in flavors? Can we get them larger?
Let’s go inside now and and sit by the fire
While snowflakes melt on our toes and our nose
and we cuddle close as our friendship grows.

I really hope you liked my poem. Now it’s time for my Thankfuls.
1. I’m thankful brother Andrew has been here with all of us since Saturday. I’m so glad he stayed even after Mom and Dad got home on Sunday. He’ leaving tomorrow, and I’ll miss sleeping with him in his bed.
2. Like I said earlier, I’m thankful Pastor will be back and will pet me and kiss me and tell me he loves me on Monday.
3. I’m thankful I have a comfy, warm place to live with really great food and lots of love, and no one yells at me or hurts me here.

Well, I guess that’s all for today. Except for thanking Angel Brian, for hosting Thankful Thursday. Thanks, Angel Brian!

Chia’s Happy Tuesday

Published on by Xena, Lucy and Chia28 Comments

Hey everyone! Did you see the what I got for Christmas? Yep, I got the praying bear, but I also got a half me. Mom and Dad think I’m half dachshund and half jack russell terrier. I got a dachshund stuffie!!

Mom, I’m sorry I chewed MeMine’s nose off. Is my nose still there? I mean, it’s only half me, right?

Anyhoo, Happy Tuesday! From me, Chia, and Miss Sandee at Comedy Plus, who is hosting Happy Tuesday Blog Hop!

Xena’s Unexpected Present on Awww Monday

Published on by Xena, Lucy and Chia18 Comments

It was Christmas morning, and we were all waiting for Andrew and Jentry to come over so we could open presents. I decided to take a little nap in my bed that’s in the big bedroom. I nodded off for a while, and when I woke up, there was a surprise in my bed.

Do y’all remember Chia’s octopus stuffie, “Smiley?” Yep, there he was, big as life, laying with me in my bed. Mom walked in and I asked, “Do you know why Smiley is sleeping with me?”
She said Chia had laid it there, and it was Chia’s Christmas present to me.

She’ll probably want Smiley back later, but that’s ok. Now I can grab it and yell, “Mine!” and Chia can chase me and grab it and yell, “Mine!” and we can have fun playing. Did anyone else get something unexpected for Christmas?

Many thanks to Miss Sandee at Comedy Plus for hosting Awww Monday! And Happy, Happy New Year to everyone!!

Xena Schnauzer Warrior Princess

A Late Poetry and Thankful Thursday

Published on by Xena, Lucy and Chia21 Comments

Thanks to Angel Sammy for the picture this week and for Angel Brian’s Home Blog for Thankful Thursday.

Riley here. I get to do the poem for this week, using this picture that Angel Sammy found for us. Here we go!

It’s New Year’s Eve     by Riley

It’s New Year’s Eve in the Old Folks Home.
No one’s dancing or playing with phones.
Blowing on toys is fun for the boys;
The girls laugh and say my ears hurt, Oy!

We know there’s no promise of one more year.
(Oh, what’s the difference if I’m deaf in one ear!)
We’ll live happily in a life full of love
‘Til we fly away to our new home above.

Speaking of ears, I think I must be going deaf in at least one ear, too. I thought I heard Mom Amy say, “Good girl, Chia!”

I went back to my favorite vet place a couple of weeks ago. First I had to go to work with Mom Amy and spend the day there.

It wasn’t bad at all. The Al-Anon group came in at noon and L.O.V.E.D. me! I stayed for part of their meeting, then they let me back out to the office when I asked. I went on to the vet’s because I had been coughing and hacking a lot more and Mom Amy worried I might have caught a doggie cold or something. They took another x-ray of my chest. If you want to read about the first x-ray, click here. In short, that first x-ray showed my heart was a bit enlarged, and my heart murmur had gotten worse. This time, Mrs. Dr. Vet hung the old x-ray from March and the new one she just took up side-by-side and Mom Amy could see that my heart had gotten bigger. The Vet said that it was pressing up against something called an esophagus (Mom Amy spelled that for me) and that was making me cough. Kinda like if you press on your throat and it makes you cough. I got some pills that will help slow down how fast my heart is growing. I guess maybe that was on my mind and that’s why I wrote the poem the way I did. Hey, love y’all! *wags* Riley

From Mom Amy: There’s nothing that will cure what is happening, only slow it down some. As it is, we are thankful for every day we have with our Big Guy Riley.

Christmas Waiting and Treat Puzzles

Published on by Xena, Lucy and Chia15 Comments

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

Thankful Thursday

Published on by Xena, Lucy and Chia25 Comments

It’s just my third Christmas, but I think I have it figured out. We get presents, and sometimes give presents to others, too. I got a kind of a present in that I got to do the picture poem today!

Get Up Santa    by Chia

Santa, Santa, please don’t die!
All kids across the world will cry.
Santa, please don’t just lay there!
I’ve brought Ratto ; we can play here.

Did you just drink too much eggnog?
What can I do, I’m just a small dog!
Come on, I want to drive your sleigh.
Get up, Santa, so we can play!

Now my thankful: I’m thankful for my good food and that Mom threw out the rest of the rotten alligator meat. Yuck! And I’m thankful for my stuffies and hope I get more from Santa Paws! Hey Santa Paws, I’m being a good girl! Chia

Thanks to Angel Sammy for the picture this week and for Angel Brian’s Home Blog for Thankful Thursday.

Riley’s Thankful Thursday

Published on by Xena, Lucy and Chia34 Comments

Thanks to Angel Brian’s Home Blog for hosting Thankful Thursday.

Hi there friends. I went to work with Mom yesterday. This is the bed Lucy and Xena lay in when they’re here. It’s a bit small, but I made it work.

I had a very enjoyable day with a lot of people fussing over me and petting me and saying really nice things to and about me. I greeted everyone with wags and didn’t show them my teeth like Lucy does. I know it’s supposed to be a smile, but come on! She’s got fangs!

The Al Anon Group came today and most of them pet me and said what a good boy I am and how handsome I am. Some of them even told Mom Amy stories about their own dogs. I stayed in the meeting for a while, going around the table and helping everyone feel comfortable and able to tell their own stories about why they were there.

A little later I got to meet the mailman and he gave me a big treat just like he does Lucy. I followed him back to the truck cause the treat was good and I wanted more… and it worked!

One lady came in with presents for under the Giving Tree and a container of cookies to take downstairs for something going on last night. I could smell the cookies. Mmmmmm. I followed her the whole way down the long hallway hoping to score, but no luck. Mom Amy came after me and gave me a consolation treat.

Well, I shoulda know something was up. The only other time Mom Amy took me to work was when I had to go to the vet. Sure enough, that’s where we went as soon as she got done working. I didn’t really mind. Everyone there is so nice to me. They even laid me on a big table and took lots of pictures of my insides. Is that cool or what!? Mom Amy looked at the pictures of my heart. It’s gotten bigger since they took my picture in the spring this year. But then you probably know I’m a big-hearted boy, right? I really like people and just love, love, love the little folks. But because my heart has gotten bigger, it is pressing a bit on my windpipe. That’s the reason I cough so much. I know My Person Andrew is really worried about me, and cries for me. I don’t want him to be sad. I think I’ll make sure he knows I got some medicine to take to help slow my heart from getting even bigger. Maybe he’ll feel hopeful so he ‘ll forget feeling sad and just have fun with me when we’re together. That’s really all I want for Christmas…and maybe some more mailman treats….and cookies.

Anyhow, I wanted to say that I’m thankful to have such a great day, and for MPAndrew. And for mailman treats…and cookies.

Your friend, Riley

Thankful Poetic Thursday by Riley and Xena

Published on by Xena, Lucy and Chia28 Comments

Many thanks to Angel Sammy for the picture this week and to Brian’s Home Blog for Thankful Thursday.

Riley: It’s a boy picture, and I’m the only boy around here, so I get to do the poem this week.
Xena: But I’m the German dog in the house. I should get to do the poem. Besides, I have one ready!
Riley: I know I’m gonna regret this, but let’s do it together, das Fräulein.

Nuts by Xena the Schnauzer(ina)
I heard that the German polizen are nuts.
It takes guts to not care about your nuts!

Riley *groan*
Final Exam by Riley
The men had trained to be on the force;
Now to test them on this motor course.
If one of them flinched so much as an inch
Their police career would be on the bench.
I wonder if that bike started too slow;
All these men would end up soprano!

Xena: Good one Riley! *wags*
Riley: No, you can’t have part of my supper tonight.

Xena: It was worth a shot. But I’m still thankful for something else. I am so very glad to be back in my own home again. That house we stayed at in In Dee Anna had scary hardwood floors and a scary wood staircase to the bedrooms. Mommy had to carry me up and down the stairs in the morning and at night. I know most of our floors are wood, but I grew up on them and that’s different!

Chia: You were scared for real? I thought it was a game! That’s why I kept going onto the rug in the kitchen and acting like I was scared to get off of it.
Xena: You mean you weren’t really scared?
Chia: Heck no! Didn’t you see me get off it if everyone ignored me? Or if there was food involved? BOLBOLBOL! er, sorry Xena.
Xena: I’m gonna take the high road here and say I’m thankful you weren’t really scared of the wood floors.
Lucy: I’m thankful for my Dad and for my Grandma. Here’s a picture of Dad entertaining Grandma after our family supper.

Only 18 more days until Santa Paws comes! XOXOXOX Chia, Lucy, Xena and Riley

Chia and Her Aunties and Uncle on Selfie Sunday

Published on by Xena, Lucy and Chia16 Comments

Thanks to The Cat on My Head, for hosting Sunday Selfies!

Aunt Bobbie! Aunt Jenny! Let’s all look at the camera and do our Sunday Selfies together. Just us girls!

Why do my aunties not want to do this? Come on Uncle Dennis, let’s do a three quarter selfie.

But if we’re both doing a three quarter selfie, does that make it a six quarter selfie? And how much is that in dollars? And how many treats would that buy?

What, Mom? OK. Uncle Dennis, everyone’s going in the living room now. Why don’t you go on, too?

Now it’s time to help out by cleaning the table.

Wishing everyone a crummy, six-quarter Sunday!

XOXOXOXOX Chia, aka The Long One

Boring and Scary Vacation

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(Boring) Are we there yet?

A note from the Mommy: It took 9 1/2 hours to drive from Chattanooga, Tennessee to Fort Wayne, Indiana. The pups got a potty break halfway.

(Scary) I’m coming Mommy! Wait! These stairs are slippery…I’m sliding….I’ll fall…I’ll die…carry me!

Another note from the Mom: From the moment we entered the Air B&B, Xena refused to move off the entry rug onto the hardwood floors. We have hardwood floors at home, but these “just aren’t the same.” She jumped from one rug to the other and back. It took about an hour – and supper served in the kitchen where she had to walk across those scary floors to get to. Nothing keeps a schnauzer from her food.

Then came the wooden stairs. Xena skittered and cried and then, when I picked her up to carry her up/down the stairs, she threw her front legs around my neck and shook. Last night she managed to get down the stairs by herself, slipping and shaking the whole way. This morning she went down, and I heard her crying to come back up. Then I heard the skittering and crying and the next thing I knew she was peeking around the landing with the top two stairs. Even though she made it, she once again hung onto me and shook in my arms. It breaks my heart to see her so scared. I tried to help her to get over her fear, but will now carry her, as she gave it her best shot.

Xena: I am Xena Schnauzer Warrior Princess! I am not afraid!

Mommy: I know, my sweet, precious girl. But I love to hold you and carry you. Will you let me do that?

Xena: Well…OK!

Preparing for Our Trip on Wordy Wednesday

Published on by Xena, Lucy and Chia30 Comments

Xena: I’ve gotta prepare for the trip to In Dee Anna early tomorrow morning. I’m gonna be stuck in the car kennel with Chia for 87 hours.

I saw Mommy pack my warm hoodie for the cold weather. I hope I don’t have to wear it. I’ve gotta remember to remind her to pack our food, too. I wonder if there’s any alligator meat left… And I need to go to sleep early so I can get up and have breakfast before 5 o’clock tomorrow morning. Hmm, I wonder if we can start eating breakfast at that time every day… alligator, mmmm.

Lucy: I got to go to work today after not seeing Pastor for 7 days. I don’t usually go on Wednesdays but I got special permission from Pastor to come today.

I waited a long time for Pastor to come in, but he finally came and we had a great reunion! He still loves me. I even got to tell him about our special Thanksgiving week meat: alligator! Yum!
Then a lot of people from a group called Al Anon came and it was a little intimidating, but I smiled and wagged my tail and they all liked me too and pet me and said what a sweet girl I am. It was a good day, but now I have to get rested up to go do therapy with my Grandma in In Dee Anna.

Riley: My Person Andrew is here to stay with me while everyone else goes on a long trip.

I’m so glad I don’t have to ride in the car. We’ll sleep in the bed together, and we’ll just hang out. Wait, I hear him calling me to go for a walk with him. It’s dark and getting cold, but I see he’s got my sweater and leash, so it’ll be ok. Catch ya’ later alligator! Oh, wait, that reminds me. Last week Mom gave us all a lot of alligator meat in our bowls for breakfast and supper. I. Hate. It. I. Won’t Eat. It. So Mom gave me turkey and Lucy got the alligator the next day.

Chia: Mom!! Are we goin’ yet? Huh? Huh? Can we go now?! Huh? Can we?

*licks Mom’s lips* Let’s go! Get Xena and Lucy and let’s go! Let’s go! Love you Mom! Come on! Oh, and don’t bring any of that gross alligator meat!

 Thanks to  Comedy Plus for hosting Wordless Wednesday and we hope it’s ok it got really wordy! XOXOX Chia, Xena, Lucy and Riley

Lucy’s Awww Monday

Published on by Xena, Lucy and Chia29 Comments

Good morning friends. Let’s start with a great big thanks to Miss Sandee at Comedy Plus for hosting Awww Monday!

I had a nightmare. It was truly gruesome. No, it wasn’t about Chia. In my dream I was watching a movie, and it came to life. See if this isn’t one of your worst nightmares, too.

Best wishes for everyone to find food on the floor.

Your friend, Lucy

Thanksgiving Thankfuls and Poetry Thursday

Published on by Xena, Lucy and Chia18 Comments

Chia: I made my poem short and to the point so everyone could get back to eating turkey.

There’s an Outhouse by Chia the Thanksgiving Injun

There’s an old outhouse
So we don’t pee inhouse

And we’re all thankful to Angel Sammy for the picture this week and for Brian’s Home Blog for Thankful Thursday.

Speaking of Thankful Thursday…

Riley: Chia! Why are you dressed like an Indian? Mom Amy said we should dress like pilgrims for our Thanksgiving picture. We even had a meeting and I decided we’d all just wear pilgrim hats. What’s wrong with you, long dog?

Chia: I’m a rebel. And I can run faster than you.
Lucy: Everyone please just stand still and look at the camera. The sooner we get this over with the better.
Chia: Xena, where you goin’?
Xena: I think I see a critter…

Saturday Stuffie Funeral

Published on by Xena, Lucy and Chia22 Comments

I am sad to report that Brownie Bear has passed into the beyond. No one seems to know exactly what happened. He originally was one of Lexi’s friends. Until recently he had managed stay out of harm’s way, but it seems that the recent wars and violence have hit home. He was found in the living room with a hole – similar to a gunshot wound – clear through his neck. You can see the damage inflicted below.

No one seems to know exactly what happened. He originally was one of Lexi’s friends. Until recently he had managed stay out of harm’s way, but it seems that the recent wars and violence have hit home. He was found in the living room with a hole – similar to a gunshot wound – clear through his neck. You can see the damage inflicted below.

Larry Lemer, who you may remember, made a miraculous come-back just before his own funeral. He was then hailed as the stuffie guru and presided over Brownie’s funeral. There was a good turn-out of friends and family there to say their final goodbyes.

Larry placed his paw on Brownie Bear and said a few words in his native language that translated to something like “Sleep well, sleep deep, as here your family weeps. We will all someday see you on the other side of the bridge where good stuffies rest in peace.”
His brethren, Rainbow Bear (back left) and Sweetheart Bear (back right) also said a few words.

No one here knows–or aren’t saying–what happened to Brownie Bear.
Lucy, Ace Reporter, saying Zichron Livracha.

This ‘n’ That on Nature Friday

Published on by Xena, Lucy and Chia21 Comments

Thanks to Rosy and Sunny of The LLB Life for hosting Nature Friday!

Xena: First, here’s our feeble attempt at Nature Friday, BOL!

This is a baby oak tree who barely has his trunk yet. But he’s sure putting on a pretty show for the fall season. And we think the evergreen is a baby fir tree, cozying up to the baby oak. Can anyone say “awww?” Mom says she’ll replant them in the spring when the ground is softer.

Next, we wanted to share this license plate with Miss Cecilia and Angel Madi.

Mom bought a big bag of little bitty candy bars to give out at Halloween. We had a lot left. She kept seeing letters on the little snicker bars, just one letter on each, and couldn’t figure out why. When Riley’s Person Andrew came over last Sunday he set the candy bars out in this order. Mystery solved!

Finally, this is Lucy at work on Monday. It was still pretty early in the morning when she started staring out the windows wondering when the Pastor – her new BFF – was going to show up.

I guess that’s all I’ve got to bark about today, friends. Hope you have a lovely weekend.
Oh, wait, I forgot to put in my picture! I’m Xena Schnauzer Warrior Princess