We are joining Comedy Plus with much thanks for hosting Awww Mondays.
Xena: Thanks for holding me Auntie Jen. You’ve had a busy day and I’m glad to be here for you. Uh, where’s my Uncle Bill? Did Mommy leave my comb so I could look pretty for him?
Lucy: Mmph, mm, mmph. *pushes up head* Ah, I couldn’t talk with you laying on my head, sister. I want to be next to you, Auntie Jen, and cuddle and let you know I love you, too.
Xena: Is it time to eat yet? Where’s my Uncle Bill? Mommy gave him the instructions for feeding me, um, I mean feeding me and Lucy.
*Later*
Achilles: Ella? Don’t you wanna play with me and Lucy? What’s wrong?
Ella: My back legs hurt. You know, the ones I had surgery on. Mom warned me about running and playing too hard, but I was just so excited that you’re here, Lucy.
Uncle Bill: Yes, well, about that…uh, I think we’re all set with liver treats, and I’ll have them sent to you when they arrive. How about if you just cuddle here on my lap while I work?
*later*
Achilles: I love you, Lucy. I want you to live here.
Lucy: I love you too, Achilles. I would stay here with you and your sister Ella, but I can’t ’cause it would break my Dad’s heart. Why don’t youand Ella come home with me? You’d have fun playing with Chia – if you didn’t mind her hanging off your cheek – and we could be together forever.
Achilles: I can’t, my love. Riley and I don’t get along. I can’t stand the thought that he used to be your boyfriend. Grrr.
Lucy: But I never loved him like I love you, honey.
Both: *sigh*
Lucy: Mom and Dad will be here soon. Please ask Auntie Jen and Uncle Bill to bring you to visit me. And take good care of my BFF Ella, please. Bye bye until next time. *smooch*
Xena: I heard Mommy ‘splainin to Uncle Bill all about how to feed me and Lucy. That’s when I realized I was gonna get left! Aghh! After her and Daddy left, I laid by the back door for 87 minutes waiting for her to come back, while the three “biggies” got all the excitement out of themselves.
Uncle Bill works from home, and everyone collapsed in his office. Since I hadn’t been running around like a crazy dog, I was able to help Uncle Bill with his work.
Uncle Bill even texted Mommy to let her know how great I was helping him with quotes on Dell products. Let’s see, I think this one could sell for about a gazilion liver treats. I love my Uncle Bill. Hmmm. Maybe it won’t be so bad being here for a few days after all…as long as I get to cuddle with him all night.
Riley: I can’t believe Mom Amy and Dad Jeff up and left again. Wednesday they took me to the new vet and left me all day. I was on my best behavior this time and everyone was super nice to me. They even helped me relax and take a little nap while I was there.
Chia: I wondered where you were. What happened?
Riley: When I woke up Wednesday morning after having a rough night with “the runs,” my left ear flap was swollen up like a balloon. I found out after the folks picked me up from the vet hospital late on Wednesday that it was something called a hematoma. While I was napping, the doc drained all the extra blood out of my ear flap and strapped my ears down to the side of my head. She said both my ears have fungal and bacteria infections and I must have hit something hard with my head when I was shaking my ears. They cleaned out my ears and put medicine in them while I had my nap, too. I found out they also stole some of my blood to send off to the the labs. If I catch those labradores, they’re in big trouble. But they must be smart dogs, cause they’re gonna let us know if I have heartworms, why my abdomen is so big, why the lymp nodes on my back legs are swollen (I don’t limp), why I had liquid poop, and if it would be safe for me to come back next week and take an even longer nap. I might have to do that if my ear flap swells up again. So where’s Mom Amy and Dad Jeff, and where’s Lucy and Xena?
Chia: I heard something about an anniversary trip. Mom took Lucy – my best buddy – with her. And she took Xena – my second best buddy and the only dog in the house who can make Alexa obey her.
And she took the laptop with her. So I’m gonna try to get on the work ‘puter as Mom. I can pound on that keyboard type really fast. Then she will get paid for working while she’s gone. And I’ll (hopefully) get more treats. Pretty smart, huh? But I’m gonna take a work nap first.
Ace Reporter here on the Groom Beat with an update on Roxxii.
Roxxii’s first groom by Groomer Mom got reported a little over three years ago. Now this Ace Reporter is back with a practically unbelievable story about what’s happened to her in the last year.
When Roxxii was first introduced, it was explained that her Mom was the girlfriend of one of brother Andrew’s friends. About 1 1/2 years ago, Andrew’s friend took his own life while his girlfriend, who we’ll call Em, was in the house with him. Understandably, she was a total wreck after that. (Groomer Mom explained this all to me.)
Well, about 14 months ago, Groomer Mom got a text from Em saying she had been in jail, and the police took Roxxii to our local shelter. When she got out, the shelter had “adopted” out Roxxii and wouldn’t give Em any more info. Em needed her old girl and all the unconditional love she gave, and she felt that Roxxii needed her, too. Mommy wished with all her heart that she had known what was going on, ’cause she would of gone to the shelter and bailed Roxxii out to live with us until Em could get her. But now it was too late.
Fast forward to last week. I’m gonna give you the full story since I am a reporter of integrety.
Daddy came home from work in our old truck that was suddenly missing the passenger side mirror. Over supper he told us that as he was pulling out from our subdivision onto the main road at o’dark thirty, a set of headlights suddenly appeared coming around the curve, and the truck was moving fast! He whipped his head around to see if he was about to get rear ended. As he did, he heard a loud bang! but didn’t know what had happened. Remember, it was really dark out. The next time he looked out at his mirror, it was gone! It all had happened in just a couple of seconds, with no time to think. In telling us about it, he came to the conclusion that there was also a truck coming toward him. (Yes, he was driving our truck, and the vehicle tearing up behind him was a truck, and the vehicle coming from the other direction was a truck.) (Remember, we live in Tennessee.) Anyhow, he figured the truck coming toward him in the oncoming lane must have had a ladder or something sticking out from the truck bed, and that’s what hit his mirror.
Fast forward to the next evening. Our folks had just finished their yummy supper out on the porch when they heard someone ring the front doorbell. As usual, Mommy got up to see who it was. Long story shorter, it was the nice young man who had been driving toward Daddy. And he had our truck’s shattered mirror in his hand. After everyone talked for about an hour, Daddy realized what had really happened. What really happened? Here’s the scoop!
Daddy, needing to turn right out of our subdivision, looks to the left before pulling out. Seeing no headlights, he starts to pull out, and is too far out when headlights suddenly appear, coming way, way over the speed limit at him. As he reflexively looks back over his shoulder to see if he’s going to get hit, he doesn’t turn the wheel hard enough and crosses the center line, where this young man is just reaching him in his own truck. Their driver side mirrors collide. No one stops, because that would be suicide at that point. You know, ’cause of the maniac tailgating Daddy and just ditches on both sides of the road.
The accident was clearly my Daddy’s fault because he crossed the center line. The young man somehow tracked Daddy down using Google maps or some Googe app. After the congenial hour-long conversation, they decided it would cost too much to just give the man cash to replace his truck’s mirror and repair the scrapes on the side of his big, new truck. It would have to be turned into insurance. Which means the police would have to be called.
Next thing we knew, there was a police cruiser parked in front of the house. The policeman, who was the same age as the young man, asked him if he wanted to press charges. He said no. He knew it was an accident, and that my Daddy had nowhere to pull over, and so on and so on.
Lucy: Xena? What do you think you’re doing? Are trying to impersonate me?
Xena: Uh, well, you see..
Lucy: Yes or no?
Xena: Well maybe, but I never said I was you. *pushes laptop over in front of Lucy*
Lucy (really!), Ace Reporter here on the Groom Beat with an update on Roxxii.
That whole long story that only Xena could do in the name of journalism was to tell you that while Groomer Mom was down by the road with Dad and the police and the young man, a car pulls up and the lady asks if anyone knows where the groomer lives. Turns out, it was Roxxii’s grandmother and Em’s mother. She wanted to make a grooming appointment. Groomer Mom realized Roxxii was back, safe and sound. I was watching from the house and saw Groomer Mom doing a Happy Dance right there in the road! The grandma paid the dog shelter $1000 to get information to track down Roxxii. Man #1 who got her from the shelter was fostering her. Man #2 came to his house and took Roxxii and wouldn’t give her back. Man #3 got Roxxii from Man #2 and brought her to her grandma. This was over the course of several months. Her grandma has no idea who Man #3 is or how he knew where to bring her. His only caveat was that Roxxii live there with her grandma, since Em was back in jail and facing serious time. Roxxii’s grandma loves her and wanted to keep her anyhow, so she readily agreed.
Roxxii was in pretty bad shape groom-wise, so her grandma said to just “cut it all off.”
This is a picture from the first time Roxxii came to us, about three years ago.
She looked even worse this time, with her hair grown over her eyes and the eye snot underneath them stuck to her skin.
Here she is after her groom this time. Her hair had to be cut really short because of all the mats. Her grandma promised to keep bringing her so she doesn’t get in bad shape again.
I’m ready to go home with my Grandma now, Miss Amy.
We are very thankful for a happy ending for Roxxii.
Groomer Mom: While this turned out well for precious Roxxii, we are all praying and doing POTP for “Em.” We ask for your good thoughts for her to be able to get her life turned around.
Lucy (really!) and the imposter Xena, Ace Reporters, signing off.
Xena: Just one more thing to be thankful for! The young man whose truck mirror Daddy knocked off with our truck mirror just bought a zero turn lawn mower and, next summer, when it gets too hot for Mommy to cut the grass, he is going to start cutting it. And one more thing to be thankful for is he said we were so nice to him that he wants to take Mommy and Daddy out to dinner! BOL! It’s a crazy world!
Thanks to Shoko and Tyebe of the Canadian Cats and Nelly and Phenny of Easy Blog for hosting this yummy day.
And, despite it being very wordy Xena posting today, we’re also joining Wordless Wednesday blog hop. Thanks to Comedy Plus for hosting!
Hi everyone! Mommy said I’m such a snoopy dog, I might as well post the recipe I found in her old recipe box. I think this recipe would keep us fed for a very long time. I wonder if we could eat it raw. It would be done and ready to eat sooner that way, too. And it doesn’t have any foods I’m allergic to!
Mmm, daydreaming about stew.
Ready for the unique recipe I found in Mommy’s box? Here you are, and if you make it, be sure and let me know how it is. (Sorry, I don’t have any pictures of it.)
A note from my Mommy about Riley’s new food:
Shortly after my post about Riley’s new food, a concerned blogging friend emailed to say grain-free dog food has been associated with cardiomyopathy in dogs. I researched some articles, and there may be some correlation. Nothing has been proven yet, and there is not a final determination. I did want to make my readers aware of this, though. Even more importantly, I asked my holistic vet, who gave me the full story, and it does not correlate with most of what you find on-line, not even with the CDC report. She even explained in detail how the nutrients in the grains work and why there is now all this hype about it, without revealing the entire story. Once again, it comes down to the big dog food companies like Hills and Purina trying to beat down their competition. Most of The Honest Kitchen’s food is NOT grain-free, but contains whole grains, so I hope you will still check it out. The two things that stood out the most to me…. 1. It is all HUMAN-GRADE. I don’t have to worry about sick or euthanized animals or moldy corn being used in their food. 2. NO High Heat Cooking. First the meat and then the formed chunks are all cooked at a low temperature. The very high temperatures at which most other kibble is cooked causes carcinogenics to form. Also, if you do want to try it, check on-line with Petco. Apparently they are “gobbling up” most of what Honest Kitchen is selling, so they’ve got it in stock with free shipping over $30.
Thanks to my blogging friend for sending me this info, and I will soon be letting Riley try some of Honest Kitchen’s other great offerings!
Xena: Hey, Mommy, can we try the one with the funny-looking schnauzer on the bag? Or do you think they have any elephant recipe?
As many of you know, I choose to feed raw meat, as well as fresh fruit and lightly steamed veggies to my pups. Chia has successfuly – and joyfully – switched over, also.
Then there’s Riley. He looked longingly at the other dogs’ bowls as I placed his bowl of kibble on the floor. Technically, he is my son Andrew’s dog. Andrew is not in a situation where he can keep Riley right now, and probably not for the foreseeable future. We had Riley before he became Andrew’s dog, and we continue to love him more and more as each year passes – he’s a 75 pound 11-year-old. But, eventually, RiBoy will go back to living with Andrew. The two of them are closely bonded. Anyhow, if we switched Riley to raw now, he would not to continue on that diet.
We always want the best for him, things that can continue after he moves out again. So what to do about his food?
When my sister-in-law was here visiting this summer with her daughter and dog, I took a good look at the bag of dog food she brought.
This intrigued me, so I went to their website. I learned that the food was never cooked at a high temperature (it also says this on the back of the package, below. High cooking temps are a big contributor to cancer. There were a few ingredients I didn’t recognize, so I researched them, and they’re all good.
On the website I learned they only use human grade ingredients, and test batches by tasting them. Yes, the people eat the dog food!
So, now you know what Riley eats. He loves it. And it doesn’t bother me if one of the other pups eat a few chunks of his food. I couldn’t believe I had never heard of this food before!
After a couple of weeks of this, he began eyeing the fresh food that Lucy, Xena and Chia were eating, and looked a bit sad. So I began adding some “extras.” Fresh broccoli, homemade sauerkraut and beef bone broth, greens, carrots, greens beans, etc. There were a few he didn’t care much for at first; it took him a little time to get used to them. Now, he looks for what is hidden in amongst the other food and gobbles it all down together. Until I got this Honest Kitchen dog food, Riley never, ever cleaned his bowl, no matter what was added to it.
So, along with this new, healthy diet, becoming part of a pack, and the addition of 1-year-old Chia, Riley’s puppy side has once again emerged.
I want to add that I am not being paid or given anything for this post. I care, so I’m spreading the word. Let me know if you try it! Oh, and I just learned that the company is adding cat food, made with the same integrity, to their line of products.
Our Mom gets this dog food recall alert, which is what she copied and pasted below. The links are safe, so don’t be afraid to click them. We are so very thankful that we eat a fresh diet and don’t have to worry about aflatoxin killing us! But for those of you who eat kibble or canned dog food, ask your folks to read this article. We love you all and don’t want anyone to get sick from aflatoxin.
Dear Fellow Dog Lover, Like you… I’ve been watching in horror as the number of deadly dog food recalls that mention “aflatoxin poisoning” as the cause… has been increasing at an alarming rate. And frankly… I’m concerned. Not just because of the hundreds of innocent dogs that have already died… That’s bad enough. But… Because only a small fraction of dog owners seem to be aware of just how dangerous this toxic contaminant can be. Truth is… In larger doses, aflatoxin can kill a dog… suddenly… and without warning. These are the cases you hear about the most. But… What most dog owners don’t know is that… Chronic, long-term exposure to smaller doses of aflatoxin can be just as deadly. That’s because… Tiny, invisible amounts of the poison can accumulate in the body… over time… and can ultimately cause liver cancer… and death… later in your dog’s life. Which is why I published this revealing report: Aflatoxin… Avoiding the Deadliest Natural Toxin in Dog Food
What can you do right now… to significantly lower your dog’s risk of aflatoxin poisoning?Read the article here. Please help spread the word. And share this important article with other dog lovers. Keep learning. Mike Sagman, Editor
We’re joining Comedy Plus for theAwww Monday Blog Hop!
Miss Christy: You pups got a video message from your Mom. Gather round and I’ll play it for you. *mumbling* I never get video messages…I’ve never even stayed with pups before who got video messages.
Xena: The ocean sure looks calm there and small.
Riley: That’s not the ocean, it’s a swimming pool.
Lucy: She’s changed locations. Oh dear. Do you think she’s been stolen and we’ll have to go find her, or maybe give a reward to get her back?
Chia: Why isn’t anyone playing with me? Wait! What did she say at the end there? Miss Christy, did you tell her what we did yesterday, running off to to look for her and Dad on Talk Like a Pirate Day??
Miss Christy: No Chia. I promised I wouldn’t in exchange for you being a good girl for me.
Riley: What? Mom Amy found out? Xena, push the duster around the floor. I’ll pre-wash the dishes, and Lucy, you lick the kitchen floor clean.
Chia: What about me?
Riley: Hide that thing you chewed up and stay out of trouble.
Xena: And I’ll look up at her adoringly when she gets back.
Lucy: And I’ll try to not look too guilty.
Miss Christy: That’s right. You pups do all that work and I won’t have to. I’m sure she’ll forgive you then.
Chia: Won’t have to what, Miss Christy?
Miss Christy: Uh, umm *thinking* I won’t have to tell our little secret!
Xena: It’s really nice having Christie here with us, but isn’t it time for Mommy and Daddy to come home?
Lucy: I know it’s Mom’s long weekend birthday trip, but it seems like 87 days.
Chia: Play with me! Let’s play! I got your cheek, Lucy and I’m gonna pull until you play with me!
Xena: I want my Mommy.
Riley: I’m gonna go find them and bring them home I heard somethin’ about a beach.
Lucy: I saw this on social media:
Riley: That’s them! That beach can’t be too hard to find. Anyone with me?
All: We’re coming too!
*A few hours later.*
Chia: I’m wearin’ the hat and that makes me the captain. I wanna’ turn this wheel when we get goin’.
Riley: Smartly, me lasses. Daylights a’burnin’. We don’t wanna be caught out in a storm after dark and end up in Davey Jones’ locker. That’s right, everyone in. No scallywags or landlubbers amongst ye, right?
Xena: Uh, what makes you think you are less of a scallywag or landlubber than us?
Riley: Garr. I be showin’ ya’ this picture of me in the (un)briny water:
Xena: Oh, ok. Sorry. We’re jumping in.
*87 seconds later*
Chia: I’m the driver.
Lucy: The weather looks clear, Captain Riley. It should be a good trip.
Chia: I’M THE CAPTAIN!!!
Xena: Where’d you go, Captain Riley? Are we there yet?
Chia: I’M THE…
Everyone: Yeh, yeh, we know, YOU’RE the captain.
Riley: I’m up in the in the crow’s nest and I’m really tired after all that walking to get to the ship. I think I’ll take a nap.
Unknown woman by the boat: Are y’all ready for the ride to start?
I am very thankful that Chia has brought out the playful puppy in our 11-year-old senior citizen, Riley. With no more pain in his ears, his eye ordeal over and won, a big change in his diet (Healthy Kitchen Human Grade dog food), a regular routine, his own pack, and a one-year-old pup who wants him to play, he is so much healthier and happier. We love our big sweet boy.
Xena: It’s selfie time and I think it’s Riley’s turn. Now where did he go? Ah, there he is in our favorite red chair. Ri! Wake up for your selfie! Riley! *click*
hmff
That didn’t work out so well. Guess he forfeited his turn. I think that long mess called Chia is next in line for a selfie. I know she’s around here somewhere; she and Lucy were just playing. Or maybe I should say she was just grabbing Lucy’s face and stretching the skin as far as it would go while Lucy pawed at her to get her loose. Oh! There they are.
Well, so much for either of them doing a selfie. At least Lucy still has a face. *click*
I guess it’ll be my turn after all. But first, I wanna tell you about Chia “grossing Mommy out.”
Mommy was sitting on the rug on the porch, taping down the edges so that Chia couldn’t turn it over and tear it up. She got one side done and put her hand down on the rug to lift up to turn the corner. Her hand pushed on something soft and small and kinda gooey. Chia had killed one of my lizards, and it was laying there without it’s tail. I’ve never seen Mommy wash her hands for so long.
A few days later Mommy and Daddy were having lunch on the porch, and Mommy had laid her eyeglasses on the table while she ate. She looked down and saw a “twig” on the floor. Chia’s always bringing sticks and stones in from the dog lot, and Mommy picks them up so she doesn’t eat them. She realized when she laid the “twig” on the table that it didn’t look quite like a stick. When she put her glasses on she discovered it used to be a grasshopper, but now had no legs to hop.
If that put all kinds of icky image in your head, let me replace them with one of pretty little me.
Hoping you have a grossed-out-free week (which is much more likely without Chia around).
Daddy, thank you for sitting here on the arm of the couch so I have something to lean my back against. It’s mighty comfy here on my princess couch pillow.
Look at those two slackers. You’d think it was bedtime.
Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.
Well, I’m thankful for my sister Lucy and for Riley, too.
*yawn* Maybe it is bedtime. I’m thankful for my soft couch pillow and for my soft big bed I share wih you and Mommy.
Chia: Get outa the way, sister. I want that spot with my Dad. Move!
Xena: I can’t wait until that pup goes to the Manners Matter class with Mommy. She’ll probably have to take it about 87 times. Daddy, go ahead and put that long mess in my kennel for the night and I’ll meet you in the bedroom with Mommy.
Ludwig: Monkey, what are you doing laying here behind the chair? Are you hiding?
Monkey: No, Ludwig, Chia dumped me here, and I’ve just given up. I’m gonna die and no one can help me. She’ll rip me open the same way she did the tape on the back of that chair.
Ludwig: Stay right here, don’t move. *thinking: who should I get, who can help him? The stuffie Support Team!*
Lambie: Monkey, my dear friend, what’s wrong.
Monkey: I was hiding out on the big bed from Riley. It was working, too, ’cause he can’t get up there anymore.
I was happy, daydreaming about the good old days many years ago when the boys were little and played with me all the time. Yep, those were the good old days. The dogs, Sammy and Freda, were never interested in me at all. I just played with the kids all day.
And now, I’m gonna die, I know I’m gonna die, I’m gonna die, I know I’m gonna die, I’m gonna…
Lambie: Please stop saying that, Monkey. We all have our time, but it’s not your time yet. What’s wrong? Monkey: Did you see what Chia did to Eleephant? I’m next.
Xena: That wasn’t Chia. Eleephant got these injuries long before even I was born.
It was probably Riley, and now he’s focused on loving his own stuffie, Reindeer. Ain’t it somethin’ what love’ll do? You need to stop this silliness and go play with your friends and stop interrupting my Sunday Selfie.
Lambie: Come on Monkey. Do you want to go play outside for a while?
Monkey: Maybe. Let’s go quietly while Chia’s sharpening her teeth on that bone. I don’t want to draw her attention to me. Or we could just sit here together and watch the birds and the squirrels and the people and dogs walking by. Thanks for being my friend, Lambie.
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 