Mommy, you promised I could do the Sunday Selfie today…did you forget? Yes, I know you’ve been grooming dogs and working out in the yard all day, but this is priority stuff. I can pose lots of different ways and you can take lots of pictures. But we need to get on it, I mean, it’s almost supper time. *drool* almost…supper….time….
No! No! You can’t use that one. You need to comb my hair and wipe the drool off my mouth.
(1 minute later) Now I’m ready. How about like this?
OK, that’s good.Let’s just use that one. Is supper almost ready? Oh, and Happy Sunday everyone!
Thanks so much to The Cat on My Head, for hosting Sunday Selfies!
Just a few years ago I ran with abandon. Now I follow this Dr. Seussism.
Well, all except when I run to the back chain link fence to have fun barking viciously at the neighbor dogs.
And I’ve decided this is a good one for me, too!
I bet I could take that black and white boxer mix on the other side of the fence. But I wouldn’t want to hurt him, so we’ll just have fun barking at each other.
I’m thankful that I live where I can run with abandon (under the watchful eyes of Mom Amy) or walk with care, and am loved for who I am, no matter what shape I’m in!
Happy Dr. Seuss Day, my friends! *wags* Riley
Thanks loads to my buddy Brian of Brian’s Home for hosting Thankful Thursday, and my little friends Macy and Maxwell, also of Brian’s Home, for hosting Dr. Seuss Day.
Many thanks to Miss Sandee at Comedy Plus for hosting Awww Monday! And thanks to all my readers for joining me in another episode of Grooming with Mom.
Today we have a new groom to present to you, a big Aussie Doodle boy by the name of Basil. Basil’s brother, Chief, comes regularly for his grooming needs. That’s the reason Groomer Mom accepted Basil, even though he’s already bigger than any of her “small dog” grooms. Here’s Basil before his groom.
If this isn’t already Awwww-worthy, I don’t know what is! At four months he still has a lot of growing to do, which means Groomer Mom may have to decline continuing to groom him. But that decision is for the future.
Basil’s Mom and sister stayed to help. He did prove to be very difficult because 1. this was his first time on a grooming table, and 2. he’s a puppy! He had to go into the dreaded sling to get his nails and paws done. In case you don’t remember, here’s Chia in “the sling.”
Getting back to Basil, (sort of) this was the first time Groomer Mom met his Mom and sister. His Dad always brings Chief, but Basil’s appointment was for a Friday when his Dad had to work. Groomer Mom says she gets a lot of her socialization needs met from visiting with her clients, and she really enjoyed the time spent with them while they helped her with Basil. I was also called to come use my powers of Zen to help out, and I was glad to oblige. Groomer Mom forgot to get a picture of Basil when he was finished so his Mom sent us his “after” pic.
Even more adorable, right? This is Lucy, Zen Master and Ace Reporter, signing off with another successful groom.
Xena: First I want to thank Miss Sandee at Comedy Plus for hosting Awww Monday! And show you my picture since I got groomed yesterday after going 87 months without full grooms. I sure do feel better!
Mommy says I’m her Awww Monday every Monday. *wags*
Chia: Grrrr. I wanna be her awww monday. Xena: You are, Chia. Chia: I am? Xena: Yep, you’re her awwwful Monday BOL! Chia” Grrrrrrrr.
Xena: We want to thank Four-Legged Furballs and 15andmeowing for hosting. Just click the blue links to get the sentences, then fill in the blanks your OWN way and link up!!
Chia: This is so super cool we each get our own sentence. I just wish I could say lots of things!
Everyone to Chia: We know.
Lucy: I was pleasantly surprised to discover that Chia is now on CBD oil to calm her down.
2. Riley: I am disappointed with our lack of snacks this year for the Super Bowl.
3.Xena: I always come to the kitchen when I hear the refrigerator door open.
4. Chia: I didn’t believe Lucy would get mad when I was just trying to play with heruntil I saw it for myself.
Chia: I’ve got the last sentence, so I get to have my picture here. Arrr, arrr, arrr. (I talk like that a lot!)
Hi friends, it’s me, Xena. It’s poetry Thursday and we’re joining Angel Sammy with another great picture deserving another great poem! Click here to go to the blog of Two Spoiled Cats and you, too, can join in the fun.
Here’s the picture Angel Sammy gave us, and I managed to jump into the picture, too!
The Mean Pie Ladyby Xena
She’s big and she’s mean And I just wanna scream, “Help me Mommy, please help me, please!” She’s goin’ for Chia, whose loud growls shook the trees.
“Hey lady,” yelled Mommy, “you’d best put that down. No one hurts my babies, no one in this town!” Then Mom stomped her foot and gave her “that look.” Mean Lady stepped back and her whole body shook.
“I just came to ask you a question,” she lied. “I’m baking and would you all like a pie?” A pie would be good, and so would a flan. But none of us ever saw her again!
Love. That’s what this month is about. That’s what this post is about.
Lexi spent ten years of her life going the third Thursday of every month (except November, when it always fell on Thanksgiving) to T.C. Thompson’s Children’s Hospital in Chattanooga. Sometimes I took her, and every once in a while the children’s director at the church where I worked asked to take her.
As an aside, I usually visited with the quilting group at the church every Thursdays, except the third one. Lexi would always come with me, and the ladies always made a fuss over her. On one of the third Thursdays that the children’s director had taken Lexi to do her “therapizing,” an older lady asked for Lexi’s whereabouts. I told her Lexi had gone to the children’s hospital to do her “therapizing”. The lady sat very quietly for a moment, then said, “Well, I knew she’s talented, but goodness, I didn’t know she could drive.”
It didn’t really matter who took her; we were just her means of getting to where she needed to be. After receiving her first treat, she took on her demeanor as a therapy dog and it was all business…and love.
One little girl, Kennedy, was there more often than not throughout the many years we visited. We watched her grow, we watched her struggle. During one visit, we walked into Kennedy’s room, where she had her head covered, crying. Lexi jumped on the bed, and the therapy pet coordinator said, “Look who’s here, Kennedy.” She pulled the covers down and a huge smile brightened her face. She grabbed Lexi in a big hug and held her against her chest. Lexi hated being hugged, but understanding how much Kennedy needed this, just laid there, held tight without a struggle until the little girl finally released her.
Lexi also did therapy at Siskin Physical Rehab in Chattanooga. Two incidents immediately come to mind. They both happened on the same day
In the hallway before entering a rehab area, an older man stood guard. He looked down and just stared at Lexi. “I’ve never much liked dogs, been scared of them all my life. I’ve never petted any of the dogs that come here. But this one here, she’s special. May I pet her?” I picked up Lexi so he could pet her, and he continued, “I used to be a pastor, and I do believe that the good Lord sent her.”
In the room, a young man sat in a wheelchair with his therapist standing next to him. After getting his permission, I gently set Lexi in his lap. She sat there while he pet her and the rest of us visited. We usually spent about five minutes with different patients at the rehab. This time, I suddenly realized 15 minutes had passed, with Lexi pawing at the young man’s hand every time he stopped petting her. This was unusual for her. As we walked away I overheard the man’s therapist say, “That was so good! You actually moved your hand!” I will never know how Lexi always knew just what each patient needed.
On the anniversary of Lexi’s tenth year at T.C. Thompson, I got permission for my husband to come along and take videos. Each person and their guardian gave permission to so this. This was planned to be our last visit, as Lexi was already suffering from the cancer that took her a short three months later.
Thanks to Comedy Plus for hosting Wordless Wednesday Blog Hop.
Xena: Mommy and Daddy went away Friday just before lunchtime. Daddy had some work thing in Nashville, and he and Mommy went from there to our Auntie Jen and Uncle Bill’s house for the night. In case you’ve forgotten, that’s where Lucy’s BFF Ella and her boyfriend Achilles live. They asked Mommy to show Lucy this, so come look, Luce!
Achilles: I love you Lucy. Do you still love me even in this cone of shame?
Xena: Lucy, stop drooling on the ‘puter.
Achilles: Lucy honey, will you come over my house and help me deadie this stuffie?
Look, Lucy, I’m playing tug o’ war with your Dad! My foot’s almost all better and I feel good enough to play with you, too.
Xena: Lucy, could you please stop licking the screen?
Ella: Hey girl! When ya’ gonna’ come visit me. I miss your pretty face. It makes me feel real good to just chill with you. You know you’re my BFF and I love you lots!
You could come in the kitchen and catch falling food with me while my Mom cooks!
Lucy: Awwww. I remember when Ella came to visit, just a couple of weeks ago. I sure do miss her!
Xena: I hope Ella can see how hard you’re wagging your tail, Luce. You remember, that tail you wrapped around hers while she was here. She really is a good friend to you. I know you would like to be friends with the pig, too, even though it’s unlikely that will ever happen. So just to make you smile some more, here’s a picture Mommy took of Morty.
Lucy: Awww.
Xena: Happy Valentine’s Day a day early, Sissie!
Me and Lucy and Ella and Achilles want to thank Miss Sandee at Comedy Plus for hosting Awww Monday!
Xena: This is our first time doing fill-ins — we usually have plenty of our own sentences to use, BOL! But when Mom asked us if we would like to participate, we hopped at the chance.
Chia: I didn’t hop, Xena. You’re the hopper in the family. I leaped!
Xena: Semantics.
Chia: Don’t you be calling me names, fuzz ball.
Xena: We want to thank Four-Legged Furballs and 15andmeowing for hosting. Just click the blue links or the badge to get the sentences, then fill in the blanks your OWN way and link up!!
(Xena) I am going to the dogtor on Monday to get my waxy, crumbly-stuff, full-of-liquid ear checked.
2. (Chia) The worst thing in my life is getting my nails cut.
3. (Riley) From my experience, good meat in my bowl is worth its weight in gold.
4. (Lucy) Being in a kennel does not work for me.
We hope you liked our fill-ins and maybe even learned a little about us. Come back and visit us soon. And, umm, prayers and POTP for me and my ear, OK?
Love. That’s what this month is about. That’s what this post is about.
Nan wasn’t raised with a dog, and was a bit scared of them. I got my Mom a little dog from the shelter as her gift for retiring from nursing. She wasn’t sure about keeping her until Nan, said, “Aww, Marion, can’t we please keep her?” So they did.
I wish Nan had known Lexi. She would have loved her.
Years after Nan had passed, Mom finally moved here to Chattanooga into an apartment I had just vacated. I had bought a house only a block or so away. She was in her mid-80’s at that time, and I did not know how unsteady she was, and that dementia was setting in. She was able to hide it on my trips to western PA to visit. Mom delighted in Lexi staying with her in her apartment while I was at work. Mom was usually still in bed in the early morning when I dropped Lexi off, so I would let her in and she would stay with Mom in bed until it was time to get up. One afternoon when I stopped to pick up Lexi after work and visit a bit with Mom, she told me that she hadn’t felt good earlier. She said she was sitting on the edge of her bed when Lexi reached over and put her paw on Mom’s leg. Remember, Lexi was a therapy dog, and they know when someone is hurting or sick; they seem to know what to do. Mom said Lexi helped her feel better, and noted, “She’s a kind schnauzer.”
I noticed that Mom was going through her favorite jam that she used on her toast every morning. She admitted to me that she always made Lexi a piece of toast and jam to eat with her. Since I knew it was useless to try to persuade Mom to stop, I bought Lexi her own, inexpensive, apple jelly. A couple of weeks later I thought to ask Mom how Lexi liked the apple jelly. “Oh,” Mom replied, ” I’m eating that because Lexi likes the black raspberry jam better.” Yes, my Mom loved Lexi.
When Mom fell in the middle of the night, pulling the TV down on her, she wasn’t badly hurt, but it was time to move her to assisted living. She ended up falling there, too, and breaking her hip. She never recovered from that, and ended up in a nursing home. One day I received a call from the home that Mom had aspirated on something she was eating and was unconscious. They didn’t know if she would waken. I immediately called my son and then my husband, asking them to come quickly and bring Lexi. As we sat in chairs on each side of the bed, just waiting, my son and me crying, Lexi sat on the bottom of the bed staring at her grandma. Suddenly, Mom opened her eyes, looked down to the bottom of the bed, and with a huge smile, cried out, “Lexi!”
Today I am celebrating the joy that Lexi brought into my mother’s life, and the love they shared.
Chia: It’s early and Mom’s taking pictures. It’s still cold out, so I pulled down my blanket – you know the one I got for Christmas and it’s all mine – off the back of the couch and wrapped it around me.
Now I’m warm and comfy.
Xena: So, my sissie Chia is happy on the couch, and I’ve claimed her place in her bed that’s in my kennel. Mommy says this is called an “on-going feud.”
Mommy has been letting my pretty hair grow out to keep me warm this winter. I got a bath, and she said to tell you this picture was taken before she got to brush my pretty hair.
Riley: Zzzzzzzzzzzz.
Lucy: Excuse me, I don’t mean to be rude, but I’m trying to take a sunbath.
We all want to thank Miss Sandee at Comedy Plus for hosting Awww Monday!
Lucy: Looks like I get to lead off Thankful Thursday again this week. So let’s start by thanking Brian for hosting Thankful Thursday.
First, I’m thankful for my position as Zen Assistant when Mom grooms. To maintain the zen mode and help transfer it to the dog on the table, I allow the shaved hair to fall on me as I sit under Groomer Mom’s legs.
Sometimes I back out and shake it off, then go back in for a fresh “hairfall.”
I’m also thankful for one of our Christmas presents that we all share. It’s a giant bag of freeze-dried beef liver.
You can see that my sister Xena had her turn and grabbed a mouthful out to eat off of the floor. When it was my turn, I just stuck my head in and started eating. Now Mom doles them out one piece at a time to us all, but I still think about my first encounter with them. *sigh*
Mom Amy: I’m especially thankful this week for one of my two closest friends, Jen. You may think she’s my sister because the pups call her Auntie Jen. We couldn’t be closer if we really were sisters. She brought Ella and spent the weekend with us during Lucy’s birthday (and Jeff’s), and brought our Christmas presents and Jeff’s birthday present. She always knows what to get us that we’ll love. And in case you’re wondering, Ella coming to visit was the best present Lucy could have gotten. I took this selfie to send her to let her know I am thankful for the new scarf she gave me. See all the puppy dogs on it?
I took this picture at the temp job I’ve been working since the beginning of November. It’s as office manager at a First Lutheran Church. This is my line of work, what I’ve been doing most of my life. I’m so thankful this position came my way. They will be hiring someone, so fingers crossed I get the job.
It’s rare that Chia has nothing to say. We’re going to celebrate her quietness today on Wordless Wednesday, with a big thanks to Comedy Plus for hosting Wordless Wednesday Blog Hop!
Lucy: First, thank you, Brian, for hosting Thankful Thursday. We think everyone’s prayers were answered for Achilles.
Achilles got a proctoscopy (I sure hope he slept through it). The dogtor found a polyp and took most of it out. That’s what was causing the bleeding. The dogtor also sent off a culture from his foot, and he has e-coli bacteria in it. He’s on antibiotics and a special shampoo and regular dressing changes on his foot. I’m so thankfully happy it didn’t come back as the big C! And I’m triply thankful for all your prayers and good wishes.
Chia: We never got to show our friends our Christmas presents. Among other great things, I got a new stuffie. I know that’s not like dodging the Big C, but it still made me happy.
I haven’t named him – although I’m thinking about “Smiley.” Right now we’re all just calling him the squid. Riley chewed off some of the little tentacles sticking out of his funny hat, so I’m thankful that I got the squid for Christmas and that Riley didn’t deadie him! Oh, and that’s my new blanket hanging beside me on the couch. It is so, so, soft, and I love to wrap myself up in it!
Mom Amy: Every day I have more in my life to be thankful for than I can count. Today I want to say I’m thankful for my son Adam.
He’s a blessing, and I know he would do anything for me…well, except scoop dog poop. And I can forgive him for that! Every other week I drive about 45 minutes to spend some time with him, shopping, eating, visiting. Here, we were waiting on our meals at Captain D’s. He loves Xena, so if I bring her, we sit in the car and eat! I am thankful for my Adam.
Xena: I’m thankful I get to make the poem today about the picture! Do you see me there trying to decide which Teddy to grab?
Teddy Bear Car by Xena
A Teddy Bear car. A dog trap or a present? I’ll follow it far.
I hope you like my haiku!
Love and wags and thankfuls for you, our friends! Lucy, Chia and Xena
Greetings, my friends. If you know me, you know I don’t like to have my picture taken. Even last Sunday, on my birthday, I gave the privilege away to my BFF Ella. This week, when Mom asked, “Who would like to do the Sunday selfie?”I stepped forward. Literally. You can imagine her surprise. She said, “Lucy, are you sure you want to do the Sunday selfie?” I looked at her and wagged my tail, and out came the phone camera.
Of course it was a challenge with Chia on the loose. On the first try, she photo-bombed me.
Mom suggested we try again. This time, Chia ran in and screamed in my ear.
After that disruption, Chia had to go to time out. Besides, I’m only seven years old and I don’t want to go deaf just yet.
Finally, here is my selfie. Mom wants you to know that I really can look happy and even smile, but I just get nervous about this whole picture thing. Xena says practice makes perfect, but I don’t know. I think there are just naturals. I’m a natural at calming people and helping them feel good.
With that done, I cuddled on the couch with my peeps brother, Andrew.
His hands are blurry cause he’s stroking my shiny furs. Oh dog! There’s Chia again. I’m going into zen mode now; see all y’all later.
We want to woof out a big thanks to The Cat on My Head, for hosting Sunday Selfies!
Y’all know that my BFF Ella was here last weekend for my birthday. A coupla days after she got back home, her Mom found an area on her brother Achilles’ foot that looked like it was swollen. The next day it looked like Achilles had licked it until it burst and he cleaned it out real good. We got a picture, but it’s not for anyone with a weak tummy, so I decided not to post it. The picture shows two deep holes between two of his front foot toes. Instead, here is a nice picture of my precious boyfriend Achilles. I’m so thankful he’s my guy.
Aunty Jen and Uncle Bill took him to the dogtor the next day and he got a diagnoses: paraneo plastic syndrome. It’s cancer, with something that makes his immune system go wild. He’s had some other symptoms that something was wrong, like bleeding a lot out of his behind. No one could figure out what was wrong. None of the tests showed anything. But it’s very likely that it’s connected to what is going on with his paw.
My aunt and uncle are devastated, and so are me and Mom. The last time I saw him, I was upset with him for watching Xena get a bath. Now I feel bad and I want to go see him and give him lots of kisses. The only good thing is he isn’t in any pain.
He’s such a sweet, funny, goofy boy.
Please send up woofs, meows, prayers and good health into the universe for my Achilles. *sob* Lucy, hoping for a miracle.
This is Lucy, with Happy Tuesday’s edition of Grooming with Mom. But first, a big shout out to Miss Sandee at Comedy Plus for hosting Happy Tuesday.
As you will see, this seems to be White Dog Tuesday. First, we got back a pup who was here only once, in July of last year. It’s been six months, and the long hair and mats to the skin indicated that he hasn’t been anywhere else since then to get groomed. Presenting once again Teddy the seven-year-old maltese. Here he is before his groom.
Teddy looks like a fluff ball, but is actually matted clear to the skin; they’re the kind of mats that won’t just come out, not even with dematting spray and comb. So Groomer Mom had to shave him everywhere except for his head, ears and face. His Mom must have been brushing those areas. He was shaking-on-the-table nervous, so I was called to come in to be a calming presence for him.
Teddy liked me and did settle down some with me there. After all the shaving was done, he asked me to come closer so he could whisper in my ear.
“Tell that person she’s all done and I can go home now,” he quietly woofed. I told him to just stay calm while he got his bath and finished up. At “bath” he started shaking again. Oops.
Teddy’s bath and groom was finally done, and here he is, definitely ready to go home.
Teddy, are you giving us a raspberry?
While Teddy was waiting for his person, Groomer Mom got a call from a fellow whose neighbor had given him one of Groomer Mom’s business cards. He has an 11 year old white miniature poodle named JoJo who needed groomed. Groomer Mom told him she was ready for JoJo right then and to come on. Here is JoJo before getting groomed.
JoJo has been going to get groomed every 4 to 5 weeks, so she wasn’t in too bad of shape. She’s a good girl, and it was easy to tell she is used to being on the grooming table. Strangely, she didn’t like her right leg messed with and kept trying to bite the clippers. Then she would look guilty, like she knew she wasn’t supposed to be doing that.
JoJo is on two medications from her vet for bad allergies. Can you see that black area on her chest? Under both of her front legs her skin is black too, and the hair there was matted with a gooey, stinky, tan-colored substance. Her vet said to just keep those places washed. In all her years of grooming and five years of working at a vet, Groomer Mom has never seen anything like it. She had to wash it off of her clipper blade when she was done shaving under those legs. She is requesting that this reporter ask if any of you might know what that is, and if so, please leave that information in the comments.
Anyhoo, here is JoJo after a good bath and groom.
Her Dad was pleased, so we are hoping to see this dear pup again in the near future.
This is Lucy, signing off with *wags* and *wiggles* from another episode of Grooming with Mom.
Yesterday was my birthday. I turned seven years young. My BFF Ella came a long way from Nashville to visit me, and we had our usual great time together. I told her as a thank you that she could do the Sunday Selfie today. She readily agreed. Here’s my Ella.
Speaking of my birthday, I had a great day. Mom filled all our treat puzzles and we enjoyed finding and eating the treats. But mostly, I hung out with Ella. You can see us taking a break in these pictures, while Mom and Auntie Jen visited.
Here we’re resting before Ella got her nails dremeled by Mom.
And here we’re practicing synchronized sleeping.
And here we’re just holding tails.
I wish me and Ella could be together always! I guess that’s what it means to have a BFF.
Finally, I want to give a big thanks to The Cat on My Head, for hosting Sunday Selfies!
I'm Dalton, a Rat terrier mix and I came here in Sept, 2017, I was rescued from Hurricane Harvey. My birthday is 8-20-2016. My Gotcha Day is 8-27-2017. And I am Benji, a terrier mix of unknown origin. MY Birthday is June 6, 2018, and my Gotcha Day is Dec 28, 2018. I also was a rescue from a different part of Texas. We also have Angel MrJackFreckles, (2-5-2018); and also we have Angel Minko, (6-18-2017); and Angel Pipo, (11-3-2020);There are also Angels Groucho, Simba, Suki, & Toki. We meezers used to be known as WeBeesSiameezers. We'e all from Michigan, Dalton and Benji both came here from Texas, as rescues..
Xena Schnauzer Warrior Princess with Lucy and Chia 