Friday Food for Thought:
Less than a week after a jury found Monsanto liable in a $289 million-dollar-cancer verdict, independent lab tests commissioned by the Environmental Working Group (EWG) report large doses of glyphosate in cereal for kids (and that us adults eat too), oat bars and other oat-based products.
You can read the full article here.
Be safe, be well. Love from Lucy, Xena and Mom Amy
Lucy: Xena, you are the only dog I know that can get grounded at the dog park. It was our third day in a row going there. You just don’t know when to shut your mouth. You were inciting riots with all your barking. And Mom said she was getting a headache. 
Xena: Please stop lecturing me. I paid the price. I had to sit with boring Mommy while you played with the other dogs. I wanted to run and play too. (and bark more)
Xena the Benched Schnauzer Warrior Princess
Xena: Since Mom hasn’t been going to those work places, me and Lucy have had her full attention all day, every day.
Lucy: You have a distorted since of time, sister. Mom has been on her computer job hunting and reading blogs from our friends, and cleaning and doing other stuff.
Xena: Well, yesterday and today she took us to the dog park for 87 hours and we had a blast! The temperature was finally cool enough in the morning that we didn’t have heat strokes.
Lucy: I did love to run, run, run with everyone. And I watched for new dogs coming in so I could make new friends.
Xena: Yep, you rolled on your back, Lucy Goosey, and waved your paws while I hopped up and down and barked at them.
Lucy: Did you even notice that both days, you were the only one barking? Mom calls you the Mouth of the South, but everyone at the park called me Sweet.
Xena: How could I notice, Luce the Sweet Goose? I couldn’t hear anything over my own barking! Hey, did you see me chase that giant American Bulldog that came in last? He had big junk hanging between his back legs like Achilles used to have.
Lucy: I saw you, and so did Mom. We were both watching to be sure you didn’t turn into dog chow. I know you saw him knock over that other dog who was about your size and growl and slobber all over his black furs. We left a few minutes after that.
Xena: Yep, he knew not to mess with me. It was a lot of fun to run with you and the other big dogs, though. And today I got to rule over Gracy, the Pyrenees mix.
Lucy: That reminds me, why are you in the big dog side?
Xena: Mommy said you are too big to be allowed into the small dog side, and there is only one of her, so I had to play with the big dogs. I kept up with everyone, too. I’m 87 months younger than you, so I have tons more energy. Last night you totally crashed.
Xena: If you can’t run with the big dogs…
stay on the porch – or the little dog side of the park.
Xena Schnauzer Warrior Princess running with the Big Dogs
and
Sweet Lucy
We’ve been home from our trip for over a week now. Sometimes I think about the fun I had, especially playing with Ella. Mommy made me a card with special effects, ’cause Ella is a special girl.
She’s my new BFF. Sometimes I hear noises so I look out in the yard to see if she has come to visit, but it is always a bird or a squirrel or a rabbit. Occasionally, a cat has the nerve to cross through my property without permission! I always let Mom know when that happens.
Mom hasn’t been going to work at all, so Xena and I have been getting more walks around the neighbor-hood. Sometimes we see people on our walks and I start to wiggle all over. Mom explains that I love people and asks them if they would pet me. They always say yes, and I get to make new friends. When the X dog stops barking her fool head off, they sometimes pet her too. Back home, Mom takes off our leashes and let us run zoomies in the front yard. I guess we aren’t grounded anymore. (So does that mean h-e-double hockey sticks froze over?)
I discovered a large gray cat sunning himself in the driveway of a house we always pass. I don’t usually pull on the leash, but that time I had to show Mom how much I wanted to go say hi. Mom just said, “No, Lucy,” and kept walking. Now, every time we pass that house, I look for the cat. Sometimes I pretend I am just reading pee mail in the grass, but I am actually scanning the yard and porch and driveway for the cat.
Speaking of cats, do you remember Oscar who lives with my Grandma in Ill in noise? It seems like he is still there and taking advantage of my Grandma.
Well, it’s been nice not having to share the blog with my pesky little sis. but that’s all I have to tell you today.
Wiggles and licks, Lucy
Meanwhile:
Has anyone seen my girlfriend? The pretty little schnauzer girl?
Shhh, I’m hiding. Don’t anyone tell him my address!
There are false rumors goin’ ’round.
They’re about me and Achilles. 
We are not engaged. He is not even my boyfriend.
I told ya’ll once and I’m a’tellin’ ya’ll again…
I am
Daddy’s
girl.
Signed: Xena the Schnauzer Princess Warrior
Within minutes of being strapped into the back seat with Lucy, I was free. I don’t like being in the back seat. When Mommy stopped for gas, she strapped me in again, so I tortured her by panting real loud the rest of the three and one half hour trip. You should have seen how far my tongue can hang out! Mommy was too busy driving to get a picture. When we got to Auntie Jen’s, Mommy left me in the car, with a dried out tongue and starved half to death while Lucy got introduced to the new boy, Achilles.
It was finally time for me, the starved schnauzer, to meet Achilles.
He didn’t look so big from up here in my Daddy’s arms. Really, all I could think about was why my dinner was so late.
Did Lucy bribe you to keep my cornered here? You’d better move along before me and my shadow go all schnauzer warrior princess on you.
I didn’t have much peace the rest of the weekend. Achilles seemed to be fascinated with me. 
Yes, it’s me, Xena the Schnauzer Warrior Princess, and I’ll warrior all over you if you don’t get your nose out of my bee hind.
Now what do you want, big dog? No, I won’t be your girlfriend.
In case you are wondering, the green scarf isn’t a fashion statement. Mommy puts essential oils on it to keep the bugs away from me. It didn’t work on keeping Achilles away, though, BOL.
You promise to stop bugging me if I what?! Well, OK, maybe just one quick kiss.
That was a mistake, ’cause then what I think I overheard Achilles say to my Daddy was, “Mr. Jeff, can I marry your daughter, the little one, the pretty one?” 
After Daddy said no, Achilles settled for a taste of Daddy’s coffee.
All in all, it was a good trip. I got to know my Auntie Jen and Uncle Bill better, and had a good time playing with Ella and Lucy.
Mommy, do we really have to leave now? When can we come back and visit our new cousins?
Xena the Schnauzer Warrior Princess
Dad and Mom packed me and Xena in the backseat of the car like so much luggage and took off down the road. Uh oh, Mom’s giving me the stink-eye. Well, it’s true. We didn’t get any snacks or Netflix to watch or toys to play with. So. Luggage, right?
After 87 hours we got to our friends’ new house near a big city called Nashville. They live out in the country with 4 acres of land and a great big fenced back yard. Friday night was mostly getting Achilles introduced to me and Xena. I showed him a lot of submission so he wouldn’t hurt me wouldn’t feel threatened by me. On the plus side, he did take care of the pesky little sister issue for a while.
By Saturday the peeps were all more comfortable letting us play together with minimal supervision. Ella and I remembered each other and played together.
Here we are smiling and getting ready to play .
Ella is a good player and I don’t have to be gentle with her like with my little sister. In the meantime, Achilles was still busy trying to eat figure out Xena. I decided Mom and Dad had that part covered.
When they went out on Saturday Ella and I had the house to ourselves. The eater and eatee Achilles and Xena had to stay in their crates. Uncle Bill had used zip ties on Achilles’ crate and pushed furniture up against it, too, to try to keep Achilles-dini from escaping. (It worked.) Then the peeps went to a winery and tried all different kinds of wines. 
I don’t know why…I could have given them some good whines for free, he,he! In the front is my Auntie Jen, then Uncle Bill, then Dad and Mom.
Dad and Auntie Jen love to cook, so, later,they worked together in the kitchen and made mashed cauliflower and meatballs and portabella mushrooms with special 100% grass-fed beef.
Here, Dad is waving the smells from the pan into his nose. How silly! I could smell it from across the room and knew it was just right! Needless to say, I didn’t get any.
Achilles and I finally got to be friends and played together, too.
He is a big boy, though – 70 pounds to my 50 – so sometimes his Dad had to hold him and let Xena play with me and Ella. (You can just ignore the peep’s talking – if you want.)
Tomorrow – or sometime soon – Xena is going to tell you her version more about “her” part of the trip.
Love and wiggles, Lucy
PeeS: If you can’t play with the big dogs, stay on the porch. ~Xena
PeeSS: Xena, get outa here, this is MY post! ~Lucy
Hi friends, Achilles here. You remember me, right? (Anyone needing to get caught up can click here for my introduction.)
I have always liked magic tricks. I’m pretty good at them too! Recently I’ve been trying to show my New Mom how good I am at magic. She’s so impressed, she calls me a regular Houdini. Make that Achilles-dini. My latest performance was that of legend. Here’s what happened:
Mom put me in my kennel and gave me my biscuit for being the good boy that I am. That’s when I immediately decided to pee. (No, that wasn’t the magic trick.) Apparently she wasn’t too fond of my decision and said a few very loud choice words before taking away my blankets. When New Mom then put me back in my kennel she didn’t give me any blankets. I think I was being punished, even though she was only going to be gone for a few minutes. She also closed the door to the room that I’m in so that my new sister couldn’t keep me company. She was upset because I made her late.
Well I figured what a better way to cheer her up than my ultimate magic trick! When New Mom came home I was outside of my kennel and had opened the door to the room!! I was so incredibly proud of myself! I met mom at the door and exclaimed, “I am the great Achilles-dini!!” Boy, was New Mom surprised! At first she thought I was a “bad boy.” Sometimes New Mom talks like her lips don’t fit. So I thought I would share my day with her, like I hear her and New Dad do.
I told her about playing with the toys. And guarding the house, and playing with Ella.
At the end of the day she told me I had a great magic trick and I got plenty of hugs and kisses.
I think I’m winning my new family over!
I am the loved and magical Achilles-dini.
PeeS I got out of the kennel without opening it. It’s my secret how I did that, too.
Mommy and me, we aren’t working at the St. Luke church anymore. We went from 3 days to 2 days to 0 days. You can see I was always busy there; never a boring minute. We took my ‘puter home with us (you can see a little of it just behind my bed) and I am still waiting on the IT people to set it up for me at home. 
Me busy at work
I can’t go to Mommy’s new job at another Methodist church ’cause they have something called a Licensed Daycare. Mommy said I wouldn’t like it there anyhow, ’cause there’s lots and lots and lots of little screaming kids right outside her office door. She puts on her headphones and listens to music. I don’t have any headphones, but it doesn’t matter ’cause I’m not allowed to go anyhow. 
So here I am without a job. Sometimes I get so bored I count the flowers on the blanket. Yep, my Guardian Angel Lexi is teaching me how to count. So far I can count one plus one plus one. I think that comes to one.
At least Mommy’s home with me on the days we used to go to work together. And so is my friend Sweetheart Bear.
Sometimes we watch Netflix shows together. Last week I saw this huge animal on the TV and I barked and barked at it. I found out it is called a horse. The rest of the afternoon, I barked at the TV every time I walked past it, just in case that horse was still there. I wanted it to know I am a brave Schnauzer Princess Warrior. I think I scared it away, too.
Sometime I play with my bones and bully horn. I chew them and I throw them and push them all over the house. It makes tons of wonderful noise. The only problem is I won’t be able to hear the horse coming because of all the noise. Mommy says that’s ok, she can’t hear anything, either, when I am doing that.
Will someone please find Xena a job? ~Lucy
I think I will take a nap before we go to my Agility Won class.
I am Xena the *yawn* Bored Schnauzer Princess Warrior
And look how nice I sit and stay until she tells me, “Free!”
Xena, the Schnauzer Warrior Princess
Hi, I’m Achilles. And yeah, yeah, you can hold the heel jokes, I’ve heard them all. I was named after a powerful Greek hero, and that’s better than any defect I might have, and I really don’t think I have any. Never mind that, it isn’t what I’m here to tell you. First, I want to say hey, and more importantly, I want to tell you my story, starting with just before Angel Piper got sick unto death, as they say in the Good Book. I was happy living with my Dad, who is a war hero (at least to me he is a war hero). When he came home from fighting overseas, things kinda fell apart with him and Mom and he had to move to an apartment where they only allow one big dog. He had his military service dog, and he couldn’t try to find him somewhere else to live for lots of reasons.
Then he heard about these good people who were open to adopting another dog. Turns out, Piper apparently had a talk with Jesus, ’cause he was so worried about what would happen to his folks – especially his Mom – that he didn’t think he could go and leave her. Jesus said he had this covered, and he was sending someone to help. Guess what? I. Am. That. Someone.
I knew right away that I had work to do. My New Mom and New Dad and New dog sister Ella loved me right off, but were also very sad ’cause they knew Piper was leaving soon. My New brother Piper perked up a little bit to see the answer to his talk with Jesus. I promised him that I would take care of things, and told him he could stick around or leave if he was ready, but not to worry any more.
And I did. When New Mom was crying, I cried with her and brought her a toy to try to cheer her up. And I watched TV with my New Dad. 
I went outside and kept an eye on Ella. She’s been taking care of Piper for so long, I thought maybe she needed someone to take care of her for a while. 
And when Ella succumbed to depression, I was there for her.
So here I am where I’m supposed to be. And it’s good. Even though the grief is still heavy, there’s a lot of love. My New sister Ella is also my new best friend, and I hear rumors about New cousins coming to visit soon. I got word from up high that it’s OK for me to be on Angel Lexi’s blog, so I’ll come back from time to time to catch y’all up on what’s happening around here.
Your new friend, Achilles the White Boxer
Hmm, I wonder if her name is really Roxy or R O twenty three.
Hi, friends, this is Lucy with another episode of “Grooming with Mom.” In this episode, my peeps brother Andrew was hangin’ with one of his friends…I wonder if Riley was with them and if he was thinking about me. Anyhow, his friend’s girlfriend was there with her 8-year-old shih tzu, Roxxii. He, he.
So Andrew said, “Oh my God, that dog is an unholy mess! You need to go see my Mom right away!” OK, maybe not exactly like that, but she got the message, right?
Here’s Roxxii’s before picture: 
Andrew was right, right? Mom said that Roxxii is a very good girl. Mom’s thinking maybe a scissor cut next time would be more attractive, but it will be whatever Roxxii and her Mom want. Well, mostly what her Mom wants. When Roxxii was done, she looked like this:
Her Mom was so happy that she asked if she should bring her back in two weeks. My Mom tried not to laugh when she said she thought six weeks might be just about right. 
This is Lucy, signing off with licks and wiggles from Grooming with Mommy.
At Heaven’s Gate
I don’t want to go mom,
And leave Ella, you and dad.
My time is getting nearer mom,
But oh the fun we’ve had.
We’ve been so many places,
We’ve had so many friends.
We’ve had our share of hard times,
But they were great in the end.
I fought hard for you mom,
For you I stayed so strong.
I’m going to miss you and dad,
Oh mom it won’t be long.
You say I’ll see my friends mom,
All that have gone before.
I’ll even see GOD mom!
And he’s who DOGs are named for.
I don’t want to to leave you mom,
But oh won’t it be great.
I know you’ll love me forever mom,
And I’ll be waiting at Heavens gate.
-Piper
We will love you always, Piper.
R.I.P.
January 10, 2004 – July 24, 2018
Oh, uh, hi Mommy. Are you home from work already? 
What chair? Oh, that chair. 
Well, you see, Mommy, I was just sitting here minding my own business and it just kinda’ exploded. There’s Ludwig. He was watching from the top of the Victrola. Ask him!
(A few minutes later, after everyone returned from pottying.)
You can probably put it back together, Mommy. There’s some of it over there.
And some of it over there.
You didn’t think I could do anything naughty with the cone on my head? Well, that’ll teach you. And I have to stay in my kennel tomorrow like I used to before the cone without ice cream? *mumbles* I can’t help it if chairs explode.
I am Xena the Schnauzer Warrior Princess on Restrictions
It’s so boring wearing the cone without ice cream. I was just thinking about how much fun I had at my pre-agility class. Remember the V-ramp that I loved – just like Angel Lexi said I would? Look at my legs-I was running so fast they were just a blur.
And there were those hoops to jump through. Easy-Peasy.
I hope my boo boo heals up fast so that I don’t have to wear the cone without ice cream when I go to my very first Agility Won class in a couple of weeks.
I am Xena the Schnauzer Princess Warrior Cone Head
Do you remember when Mommy and I almost died in an almost car wreck? And then I was banished to the back seat with a seat belt harness? I hated it soooo much, I shook so hard every time we went somewhere that my teeth started to get loose. OK, maybe not, but I thought they did. We now have a compromise. I still have to wear my seat belt harness, but I get to sit in the front seat. Mommy checked about the dangerous airbags, and they only work if there is at least 50 pounds on the seat. Since I am only 13 and one half pounds, no problemo. 
Hey Mommy, where are we going?
Mommy: To the vet. The one you like.
Why are we going to the vet, the one I like?
Mommy: Because you have been shaking your head and flapping your ears, and I can’t find anything wrong. Your ears are as clean as a whistle, and…
How clean are whistles?
Mommy: Very clean, Xexe, just like your ears. And now you have a sore under your left ear. You know I put lavender essential oils on it for 2 days, and yesterday I used the Vet-tech Sea Salt spray, and it isn’t any better. It keeps seeping.
40 minutes later (the car ride is almost 30 minutes each way): 
Dr. Smith said the same thing you did about my ears being super dooper clean. I wish my favorite vet, Dr. Karen, had been there. Thanks for stopping the helper lady from putting that glass stick up my butt.
Mommy: I had to. I didn’t bring my earplugs.
And when Dr. Smith said he wanted me to take prednisone – whatever that is – you said, “No” again. And then you were nicer about saying no to the next medicine, and the next…
Mommy: I just suggested some other things, and he said they would work just as well for a hot spot. And I already have the sea salt spray, so we didn’t have to buy more.
But I know I saw you give them your plastic money!
Mommy: Yep. I paid $54 for them to tell me you have a hot spot and that I can just keep doing what I was already doing. *mumble, mumble*
30 minutes later: Hey Lucy, I went to see the vet lady but she wasn’t there so I saw the vet man and guess what? 
Lucy: I don’t know, Sis, what did the vet man say?
He said I am a hot spot, just like when Daddy uses his phone to get on the internet. I bet I could save Daddy a lot of money.
Lucy: Better look behind you, Xena…your tale is growing.
My tail doesn’t grow, silly Lucy Ducey. He wanted me to take medicine, but Mommy suggested I eat ice cream instead. I am still waiting for it.
Lucy: That doesn’t make any sense. I have no idea what you’re talking about.
Well, I kept my head down under Mommy’s arm most of the time, so I couldn’t hear real well. But I know she said something about a cone instead of even more medicine.
10 minutes later: Why are you doing these things to me? Where is my ice cream?
Mommy: You’re not supposed to scratch your boo boo, so I am trying a big band-aid before I have to get the cone. What ice cream?
Lucy: I don’t think you have it on her right, Mom.
I want my ice cream.
I am Xena, the Schnauzer Warrior Princess with a big cone and no ice cream.
Ludwig: Xena, do you know what I am thankful for?
Xena: Hmm, let me think. I know! You are thankful that I am so beautiful!
Ludwig: Of course, Beautiful Princess, I appreciate your beauty and your friendship. But that is not what I am thinking just now. I am thankful, Xena, that I got to come live with you and your family and friends.
And that I’m beautiful, right?
Ludwig and Lucy: *sigh*
We thank Brian’s Home for sponsoring this Thankful Thursday Blog Hop.
I am Xena, Daddy’s Schnauzer Warrior Princess
Hi friends! I’m so exited about taking another class with Mommy at Play Dog Excellent, or PDX for short. This is the class us pups take before we start something called agility. I know that Mable and Hazel at the Idaho Pug Ranch do agility, and so does Benji at Life of Benji, and I bet a lot more of my friends do, too. Here’s my second week at class.
I never did understand what I am supposed to do with these squishy discs. I guess that might be ’cause Mommy didn’t know, either, BOL!
Last Tuesday was week number three, and things get harder more challenging every week. At first I didn’t want to do the “V Ramp.” I started up it and when I slowed down, I started to slide backwards. I have to admit, that was no fun. Mommy kept encouraging me, and then my Guardian Angel whispered in my ear. She said that this was her very favorite piece of equipment when she was doing Agility, and if I just ran fast the whole way up, over and down, just one time, I would love it too. So do you know what I did? Well, let me show you.
and turn around and run back up (and down) it. I was like that speedy guy from Marvel – I think his name is Speedy, or maybe Flash – yep, that’s it, Flash.
I guess that’s enough wowing you for one day. I’ll show you more videos again soon.
I am Xena the Future Agility Champion
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