A Successful Piglet Visit

Published on by Xena, Lucy and Chia32 Comments

First there was my meet and greet with Morty in his rope harness.

Then we did a proper “Hello, I will be your friend.”

Next, it was Lucy’s turn.

Lucy: I finally got to sniff someone else’s bee hind.

Morty enjoyed grazing on our clover, so Lucy thought it would make him feel more at home if she joined him.

We discovered that Morty loves his belly rubbed, just like us.

It started getting really hot, so we all came in the house. Daddy had paid someone to come fix our air conditioning, so it was much cooler. Soon, Morty left with his folks because he was going to be the star at a child’s birthday party. (He didn’t want to wear Angel Lexi’s star hat, either.)

After 87 hours they all came back and it was suppertime. We watched – with fascination – how Morty eats.

That’s water in the blue bowl, and piggy food mixed with fresh veggies in his food dish.

Morty, Ella, Achilles, Aunty Jen and Uncle Bill have to leave soon, so we’ll finish telling you all about our visit tomorrow.

XOX Lucy and Xena Schnauzer Warrior Princess

This and That on Flower Friday

Published on by Xena, Lucy and Chia21 Comments

Xena – The Visit Ends: Our visitors finally went home after peeing  being with us for 10 days. 

This is me, Xena, and my new friends, Laila and Louis.
Can I take this bone that I found home with me?
Sorry about ruining your big rug.
Bye, bye, Miss Amy. We liked being here.

Xena – A Hat? No Thanks.  Mommy decided once again to try putting Angel Lexi’s hat on me. A cast member gave it to her when she was in the Wizard of Oz. It has a star on it to show she was the star of the show.

Does my expression tell it all?

Lucy – No board, just groom: Chaz was supposed to stay with us last week, but something happened that his folks couldn’t go away. 

Instead, he just came for a groom. 

Xena – Heat and a flower or something like that: It was hotter than a witch’s ti…

Lucy – Xena! No! 

Xena – What? 

Lucy – The saying is “colder” not “hotter.” 

Xena – Oh. Anyway, it’s been hot. So finally one day there was a slight break in the heat and we convinced Mommy to take us for a walk. I thought I’d better leave as much pee mail as I could, ’cause who knows when we will be out walking again, right? And we even saw some pretty flowers.

Lucy – More visitors coming this weekend: I found out that we are finally going to meet Morty.

I’m not sure how that’s going to go, but we are all hoping for the best.

One thing I am sure about is that I can hardly wait to see Ella again. You know we are tight! So, when I heard she was coming to visit, I shouted out a “Hey, girl” to her. She promptly responded the same to me.

   “Hey girl, hey!”

That went on for a while. Then I said, “I can’t wait to hang out with you. Just one thing, Ella. This here is MY Dad, OK?“

She said as long as I understood that Aunty Jen is HER Mom, we’re cool.

                         Oh, solo mio…arrooo!

Xena –  Daddy is MY Daddy too, you know!

This is Lucy and Xena (she means Xena and Lucy) joining the LLB Gang (especially Rosy)  for Flower Friday. 

Grooming with Mom: Marley

Published on by Xena, Lucy and Chia27 Comments

Lucy, Ace Reporter here with another episode of Grooming with Mom. Today we feature Marley, a border collie or Sheltie mix, no one knows for sure.

At home before groom

Marley is a rescue and her Mom thinks she is six or seven years old. Mom thinks she might be just a bit older, but you never tell a lady that. Did you know that Angel Lexi used to bark at anyone who called her old? She preferred “mature.” So, we think Marley is mature. She is also a bit plump, te, he. But she’s also a very nice girl. She was so scared that Mom called Dad on the phone (he was upstairs in his office) and said, “Send Lucy down; Marley needs her zen.” So down I went, and sent tons of soothing thoughts Marley’s way.

After groom

Mom helped Marley off the grooming table so we could visit while she waited for her Mom. I only have one question.

Why is everyone so dang interested in my behind!?

I am Lucy, Ace Reporter on the Groom Beat, signing off.

Check, Check, Check: A Good Day

Published on by Xena, Lucy and Chia31 Comments

Hi friends, Lucy here. After yesterday, I was hoping for a good day today. I mean, yesterday wasn’t all bad. Xena and I went to the vet and I made all kinds of new friends. Everyone pet me and a policeman and a lady both wanted to take me home with them. The bad part was when a lady who works there stuck a needle in my front leg and stole my blood. It hurt, but I was very good. Mom explained that they will send my blood to Canada to get a DNA heart worm test done. That kind of test lets them know if there is even the beginning of a tiny heart worm growing inside me, and if there is, one shot will kill it. Xena had the same thing done, and she was mostly good about it, too. Anyhow, that’s why we don’t have to take heart worm prevention pills. We did get pretty bandages on our legs.

Wait…we gave them our blood, and you have to pay them?

Anyhow, today was a much better day. We got up and had real good brekkies. Good brekkies – check!

Mom made time to take us for a walk before she went to work. Morning walk – check!

Just before Mom left, she gave us each a treat puzzle. Mmmmm. Xena got a new one for her birthday last month, so she gave me her old one. I don’t even care that she chewed it up a little. I still love having it. Treat puzzle – check!

Later, after Mom got home, she took us for a second walk, and we had lots of mischievous fun. Afternoon walk – check!

Do you see my NPR leash? Did you know that stands for National Public Radio?
Read neighborhood pee mail. check!
Read more pee mail – check!
Sniff Xena’s bee-hind when she can’t do anything about it. – check!

This is Lucy, with a check mark by all the good things on my list.

Nightshirts and a Scare

Published on by Xena, Lucy and Chia31 Comments

Do you ever get cold in bed? Sometimes, between the air conditioning and the overhead fan, I start shivering so hard I wake up Mommy. So she has started putting a lightweight shirt on me at night.

So, after a good night’s sleep in my sleep shirt that Mommy made me, and after my brekkies and after my potty out front, I decided to get in my red chair and watch what was going on in the neighborhood. What I found in my chair shocked me!

Mommy! I think Mr. Elephant – you know Mr. Elephant who was my Guardian Angel Lexi’s Elephant – is dead! What’ll I do!?

Oh, goodness! His bee-hind is still warm and smells like him. Wait! He moved!

*whispers* Oh my dog, Mr. Elephant. I thought you died. Please don’t ever scare me like that again! Psst, I love you.

I am Xena, the relieved Schnauzer Princess Warrior

Louis and Laila – Still Here

Published on by Xena, Lucy and Chia55 Comments

Before I tell my story, I want to wish Noodle, my almost brother-in-law, of the Adventures of Noodle, a very happy birthday. Noodle was Lexi’s boyfriend, and they had lots of wonderful adventures together. So, from me and Lucy and Mommy, HAPPY BIRTHDAY, NOODLE!

Well, it’s been six days and Louis and Laila are still with us. And they are still alive and unharmed. Just wait til I tell you why I said that. Monday morning, Daddy got up extra early to go in to work. He doesn’t usually go to work on Monday and neither does Mommy, but he had a lot to do. The invaders were sleeping in my kennel in the living room, and he tried to sneak past them. He was trying to be quiet so they didn’t wake up Mommy. When that didn’t work, he let them out of my kennel, which is right next to the back door, and was about to open the door for them when Laila peed on the floor. While he was trying to get that cleaned up, Louis ran around the house lifting his leg on everything! Daddy tried to get that cleaned up, too, but, well, he had to go to work. So he woke up Mommy and told her what happened. That was probably his second mistake, right after letting the invaders out of my kennel. We won’t get into that, though.

Soooo, in order for Mommy to keep her sanity and in order to help Daddy stay out of trouble, we now have a protocol. It goes like this.

  1. Both Laila and Louis have to wear my big girl panties at all times, except when they are outside.
Laila: Ha, ha, Louis, you have to wear a diaper like me. Louis: I’ll never make an impression on the girls like this.

2. The first thing in the morning, Mommy fixes their breakfast and sets it out back on the patio. Then she takes them out and removes their diapers. They stay there until it is time for her to go to work. Then she goes outside and puts their diapers back on them before bringing them in and telling them to go into my kennel. (grr)

Laila: I would rather be inside playing with this bone I found.

3. After work, Mommy fixes their supper and sets it out back on the patio, then takes them out back, removes their diapers, and leaves them there until me and Lucy eat our supper.

4. Then Mommy goes back out, puts their diapers back on them, and brings them in to spend the evening with us.

Louis: I’m hot, turn the air conditioning cooler, please.
Laila: Come lay on the kitchen floor Louis. It’s nice and cool.

The funny thing is, I have started liking them being here. I firmly told Louis, “No!” and he has stopped sniffing my bee-hind and trying to climb on me. And I keep trying to get Laila to be my friend. I gently put my paw on her and wag my tail. She mostly ignores me, but last night we all played together, even Lucy and Louis.

Mommy admitted that she had hoped I would make some friends my own size and have someone to play with besides Lucy, who is 87 times bigger than me. I still get to snuggle up close to Mommy all night long, and now I get to stay out of my kennel during the day because Louis and Laila are in it. And I get to play with them after supper. Maybe, just maybe, Mommy knew what she was doing.

Love and wiggles, Xena Schnauzer Warrior Princess

Pup Invasion

Published on by Xena, Lucy and Chia24 Comments

Lucy: We had an invasion.

Xena: It wasn’t good, but at least it wasn’t alien balls this time.

Are you making our brekkies?

Lucy: Their names are Louis (L)and Laila (R). Louis is a Brussels Griffon and Shih tzu mix. Laila is a shih tzu and poodle mix. Mom grooms them, but this time they are staying with us, for about 87 days, I think. They are the couple who kept having puppies, but now Laila has had her big girl surgery.

Xena: Louis kept sniffing our bee-hinds and jumped on me from bee-hind. Mommy and I both yelled at him for that. Sometimes I stand with my bee-hind against a wall, now.

Lucy: Laila was OK except she kept pooping and peeing in the house. Mom put one of Xena’s Big Girl Time panties on her, and that took care of that. Louis has finally figured out he will never be popular by putting his nose or anything else near our bee-hinds. The only things we still don’t like is that they are Mom hogs.

We’re hoping everyone (including us) has a good week.

Wags and wiggles, Lucy and Xena Schnauzer Warrior Princess (and Louis and Laila)

Happy 4th of July

Published on by Xena, Lucy and Chia33 Comments

Xena: Our friend, Miss Vickie, made us special scarves for this great holiday. We hope that all dogs everywhere get great scarves on this special day.

Lucy: Uh, I think what Xena meant to say is, we wish for everyone on the earth to be able to live happy and free from cruel owners and rulers.

Xena: Sure, that too. And don’t make any big boom noises today!

Love, from Lucy and Xena Schnauzer Warrior Princess

Working on Freestyle and My Certificate

Published on by Xena, Lucy and Chia28 Comments

As most of you know, we are back working on Freestyle. We also call it dancing. I finally got my Freestyle certificate after about 87 weeks of finishing the first class. I love to dance!  Sometimes my peeps put on music and dance downstairs where they have a real dance floor. Lucy and I sit off to the side and watch, and sometimes we ask to dance too. Then Mommy will take turns dancing with us.

Anyhoo, this last time going to Freestyle was pretty scary. As we were driving down the highway, the sky got darker and darker and then it started spitting at us. I had on my Thundershirt, which helps me to be brave when I’m riding in the car. I also had on my car harness which keeps me safe. But suddenly the sound of the rain hitting the windshield got super loud, and I wasn’t wearing my super hero cape.I panted and shook most of the rest of the way there. But once there, the sky turned blue and all I could think about was dancing! Mommy is my choreographer, and sometimes I show her new dance steps that I make up. She loves it when I do that and puts them into our routine. This first video is our very first attempt to dance our routine to our new music. I did great, but Mommy, well, just keep in mind it was our first try.

Mommy actually forgot to include the Viennese Waltz move I made up! Ugh! So she tried it again.

Oh well, maybe Mommy will have it learnt before we go back. I’ll keep working with her, cause she’s worth it.

Xena Schnauzer Warrior Princess

Another Alien Ball?

Published on by Xena, Lucy and Chia34 Comments

OMD, could it possibly be another alien ball from outer space?

Sometimes Mommy drops food when she is cooking, so I always watch the kitchen floor when we are out there together. Suddenly this tiny, red (alien?) ball appeared. It didn’t talk to me or flash lights at me, so I started pushing it around, trying to figure out what it was.

I still don’t know what it was, but it sure was juicy!

Xena Schnauzer Warrior Princess

Birthday Finale

Published on by Xena, Lucy and Chia22 Comments

If you missed how my birthday started, or if naughty Mr. WordPress removed it before you saw it, Mommy fixed it and you can check it out here. Mommy got home from work and we got another good meal. Then she gave me…another ball. Can you believe it? This one has spikes and when she squeezed it, it squeaked and started flashing a light. This one was from a different galaxy than the first one, but still from outer space.

I guess these were all teases – or maybe tests to see how brave I have become – ’cause then I got my real presssie. A new treat puzzle! It’s called a Dog Brick by Outward Hound. Mommy filled it with cheesy goodness and you can see what happened next. (You can skip the part where Mommy is loading it with cheese if you want.)

At first I was skeptical, thinking it might be another alien, but it didn’t yell or blink lights at me, so I decided to check it out. It was easy, except for that last piece where the lid popped open. I suspect Mommy will make it harder next time “more of a challenge” is what she says. Anyhoo, I love my new puzzle!

We ended the night with a special treat I never had before – doggie ice cream!

Come on Mommy, we are doing a good “Wait.” Please say “Free!”Nom, nom, nom, slurp.Yep, it’s as good as I heard it is.

Love, Xena Schnauzer Warrior Princess

My Birthday Brekkies and the Ball from Outer Space

Published on by Xena, Lucy and Chia28 Comments

My day started with a good breakfast.

That’s mine on the right: ground deer meat, egg, broccoli, yellow bell pepper, apple and a flax seed supplement sprinkled over it. Mmmm.

Then I went downstairs to the freestyle play room with Mommy. I practiced “touch it,” “tugger,” and the one I invented, “waltz.” I am very good at all of those!

Touch It: In this game, Mommy says, “Touch it!” and I run over to the paint can and touch it with my nose. That gets a piece of cheese thrown to me before Mommy calls me back to her side. We take one step back and do it again. And again.

Tugger: We stand next to each other. First, Mommy walks around to my other side and we stand still for a moment before I get a piece of cheese. Then I walk in front of Mommy to her other side, and sometimes I get a piece of cheese then, too. We keep doing that until we run out of room.

Waltz: This is a fun game. It’s a lot like Tugger, but we both keep moving, with me starting. Then, as soon as Mommy gets mostly around me, I turn and circle around her front and then she circles around my front and so on until we run out of room. It makes Mommy dizzy, BOL. We usually end with me doing a back leg pivot before she falls down, BOL, BOL.

So, just when things seemed to be going great, I realized I was in trouble. Mommy swept me up in her arms and carried me into the groom room. I got a bath and nail trim. She said it was because I was itching all night. I was glad to know it’s not a birthday ritual.

Back upstairs, I found a bag waiting for me.

I wasn’t sure what to do with it.

Hmmm, what is this? After Mommy cut open the packaging I saw that it’s a ball.

The ball moved and talked. That was scary different.

I decided to hide hang out in my kennel while Lucy kept poking the alien ball from outer space.

We’ll be celebrating more when Mommy gets home from work. Hopefully, it will all be non-scary alien balls fun stuff. I’ll let you know tomorrow how the rest of my second birthday turns out!

I am 2-year-old Xena Warrior Schnauzer Princess

 

Freestyle and Shorts

Published on by Xena, Lucy and Chia35 Comments

Sunday I went to Freestyle with Mommy and learned to “touch.”

See that orange cone thingy behind me? Miss Julia stuck a treat inside it and then gave me a different treat every time I touched the cone with my nose. I really, really liked that game. I always keep an eye on everything going on there.

Other than Freestyle class, not too much has been happening this week, so me and Lucy, we thought you might like to see some short little videos of us. (He, he, I bet you thought you were going to get to see us in shorts – like clothes – right?)

While I was gone having fun with Mommy, Lucy was in the back yard eating all the meat off of a raw deer rib…and some of the bone, too.

Most days, Mommy says, “Who wants to get their teeth brushed?” and we both come running. I always go first.

Our “toothpaste” is coconut oil with Neem essential oil in it. Sometimes we get Lavender essential oil in it too for flavor, but we like it either way.

Then it’s Lucy’s turn. Mommy got a red finger brush for Lucy, but Lucy kept trying to bite down on it.

So, to keep her finger safe, Mommy went back to using a regular toothbrush. Did you notice me walking under Lucy? I do that all the time!

I’m still woofing at Daddy to fix the video of me and Lucy howling, and he keeps saying he is too busy right now. Grrrr. Hey, wait, maybe that’s what he’ll do for me for my birthday next week! Yeah, I bet that’s it! And lots of belly rubs and chair naps, too.

I am Xena Schnauzer Warrior Princess with clean teeth

 

 

Time with My Daddy

Published on by Xena, Lucy and Chia31 Comments

I’ve been thinking about my birthday coming up on the first official day of summer – June 21. I know boxes have been delivered from Amazon that Mommy has whisked away without letting me see what’s in them. I think it’s going to be a good birthday.

I’ll be two years old. But I’ve also been wondering if that means I’m all grown up and what changes I need to make. Should I stop saying “Mommy” and “Daddy” and instead say “Mom” and “Dad”? Do I still get to spend time in Dad(dy)’s lap?

And sleeping between Mommy and Daddy at night?

 

Mom said that me at the table reminded her a lot of Angel Lexi.

I wonder how old I will have to be to get my own seat at the table like Angel Lexi. There’s just so many things to think about now that I’m almost two.

Relax, Xena, you’ll know what to do. Everything will come in it’s own time. You will make new friends like I did with Spike here. You still have a lot to learn, and lots more treats to eat. And it doesn’t really matter what you call our folks, they will always love you, until the end of the world. 

Wow, it’s so wonderful to have a Guardian Angel as great as Lexi. She helps me a lot. Now I’m thinking about last week when it was just me and Daddy -well, and Lucy -at home alone. I saw a little white moth flying over my head, like it was saying “Hello.” I looked up at it and watched it go past, like the schnauzer in the picture on the yard flag Mommy got.

Then the little white moth flew over Lucy to say hello, and Lucy looked up too – and ate it! So far the score is Lucy-2, lizard – 0, moth – 0.

And now I’m thinking about the times lately that Lucy and I have been watching out the window and started howling together. We stop, look at each other to decide whether to continue, and usually let out one more good howl. Daddy might have recorded the last one. I’ll ask him to give it to me to show you soon. So maybe I don’t have to change anything. Maybe new things will just come while other things stay the same, just like my Angel Lexi said. I think I will just relax and go on to Freestyle practice with Mommy.

I am Xena the almost two-year-old Schnauzer Warrior Princess

 

 

Brownie Bear and the Bully Horn

Published on by Xena, Lucy and Chia35 Comments

 

Lucy: My Easter Bully Horn is all chewed up – more like shredded – at the big end. I can’t figure out what happened.
I wonder if my sister did this… I’m going to find out.

Xena, stop right there.
‘Fess up, Xena. Did you shred the end  of my bully horn?

Xena: I didn’t mess up your stupid bully horn. You probably did it yourself. Or it was Brownie Bear. You know he was trying to get it. Yeah, that’s it. You wait here for a minute and I’ll prove to you it was Brownie.

OK, Lucy, come on in. Here’s the proof.

Brownie Bear: *yawn* Where did this come from?

Lucy: Grrr. You chewed up my horn!

Brownie: I need to stay up here with you for a while, Ludwig.

Late that night, in bed…

Mommy, Lucy thought I chewed up her Bully Horn and I didn’t and I didn’t know how to make her believe me so I blamed Brownie Bear ’cause he really might have and then I might have put the horn by him while he was asleep and I was a bad girl for maybe doing that, wasn’t I? And do you believe me that I didn’t chew it up?Mommy: I love you so much, baby girl. Yes, I believe you, and you are still going to have to tell Lucy the truth about Brownie Bear and tell Brownie you’re sorry.

*yawn* I will Mommy, I promise, as soon as I wake up tomorrow.

And no more making up things that gets others in trouble, you hear?

I *yawn* promise I wo…zzzzzzzzzz

Xena Schnauzer Warrior Princess

 

World Parrot Day

Published on by Xena, Lucy and Chia20 Comments

Today we are celebrating World Parrot Day with Kismet.  She’s hosting a party and everyone is invited!

We asked Mr. Google about parrots, and here’s some of what we found:

World Parrot Day was started on May 31st 2004 by the World Parrot Trust. Its aims are to highlight the threats to captive and wild Parrots around the world. At the very first World Parrot Day the World Parrot Trust handed in a petition calling for the EU to ban the trade of wild birds in Europe. This has since come into force in 2006/2007.

What makes a parrot a parrot? The most defining and recognizable feature is a thick, hooked beak, which most species use to crack open their preferred food of nuts and seeds. They also have feet that are known as zygodactyl, meaning they are arranged in sort of an X-shape, with two toes pointing forward, and two pointing backward. This helps them hold on to tree branches, and also lets them manipulate food and other items with their claws.

A Cockatoo, but NOT Sidney

A Sidney the Cockatoo story by Lucy: Many of our lifetimes ago, Mom worked as the office /clinic manager at a veterinarian hospital. A big cockatoo named Sidney came in regularly to board, and he and Mom developed a bond. He would sit on her shoulder and they would chat while she worked at the front desk. One day he kept trying to bite her necklace. After repeatedly telling Sidney, “No!” (she was good with that word way back then, too) she said, “If you do that again you are going back in your cage.” When he laid his huge beak against her cheek she thought she was going to get bitten for sure. Instead, Sidney said, in a low voice, “Sawry,” meaning he was sorry and didn’t want to go in his cage. One time, his owner’s adult daughter brought in her dog to be boarded while Sidney was there, sitting on Mom’s shoulder. Upon asking how Sid was doing, Mom told her that he had been talking up a storm. The daughter looked more closely at him and asked, “Are you sure that’s Sidney? Sid doesn’t talk. No one in the family has ever heard him talk.” That’s when everyone realized that Mom was his favorite person. She hoped they would offer to give him to her, but that didn’t happen.

A Blue and Gold Macaw but NOT Mary Lou.

A Mary Lou the Blue and Gold Macaw story by Xena: At the same vet’s there lived a blue and gold macaw in a humungous cage. That cage was bigger than my kennel. It took at least two people to roll it up front every day. It was a trick to get that cage moved without getting bitten. Mary Lou was not a nice bird. (Unlike Kismet who invited us to her party today.) So one person would push, causing M.L. to run over to that end of the cage to try to bite the person’s fingers. That person would let go and the person at the other end would pull, causing M.L. to turn and run to that side for the same reason. They would keep doing that until that cage was moved to the front near Mommy. Mommy tried to make friends with that bird, but Mary Lou didn’t like anyone! 

I think that’s all we’ve got, but before we go I want to remind Kissie that I hung out with a bird named Pirate Pete  on Talk Like a Pirate Day and I didn’t eat him! 

Your friends, Lucy and Xena Schnauzer Warrior Princess