National Schnauzer Day (Late!)

Xena: Mom really tried to get this post done Friday, but it just wasn’t to be. So she finished it on Saturday. Then, she forgot to tell it to post. So now it’s Sunday and here we are. We guess it’s better late than never, right? Anyhoo, our neighbor/friend, Gay, sent us this picture.

In honor of me and all schnauzers, join me in celebrating National Schnauzer Day. Here are a few of my favorite pictures of me and of course of Angel Lexi (before she was an angel). Oh, and Shania asked to be included.

Me, Xena. The top right is at an Air B&B when we were on vacation in Fort Wayne. Re: the bottom right pic, I don’t usually like clothes, but these are my special “Mommy made” sock monkey jammies!

Here are some special pictures of Schnauzer Lexi, my predecessor.

Below are the pictures Shania picked for today.

We hope you enjoyed our presentation on (the day after the day after the day after) National Schnauzer Day!
XOXO and *big wags* Xena

The Croakestra on Thankful Thursday

And speaking of thankfuls, we are all thankful for Angel Brian, who is hosting Thankful Thursday, as well as Angel Sammy for the picture every week!

Xena: We have a fun picture today. I bet everyone is having a great time with it. I just had to jump in the picture so I could be part of the band/orchestra!

The Croakestra by Xena

The amphibian band walked past my home,
One looked at me and said, “Shalom.”
.I said, “I’ll sing with you, if you please.”

“Let me tell you about the birds and the bees
And the flowers and the trees
And the moon up above
And a thing called “Love” ~~”*

One frog fell in love with me,
And got me ‘neath the pine tree.
I said, “You better let me be!
Or you’ll end up an amputee!

Mom Amy: Guess I’ll do the thankfuls today. We’ve been dealing with a car on which the air and heat has gone out. Not good in Tennessee, or anywhere! Yesterday we got a used EV. I’m so thankful that we were able to do that, and I’ll be even more thankful when we get the 220 volt charger so we can drive it! 🤣

I’m also very thankful that the hubby decided we need to learn more ballroom dance and get better at what we already know. I totally agree! He’s hired a professional for a one hour lesson every week.

And, of course, I’m more than thankful for our three wonderful pups who give us so much joy, comfort and companionship. I’m looking at my sweet Xena sound asleep in a doggie bed under my desk at work. (She’s exhausted from greeting everyone who came in today with big wags and lots of joy.)
Wishing everyone a thankful Thursday!

Pick Your Awww Monday

Thanks to  Comedy Plus for hosting Awww Mondays! 

Hi friends on the first Monday of fall. Yesterday My Jentry was here and she painted my toenails for me. Can you tell how relaxed I am the whole time?

Mom wanted to keep the pic rated PG, so…nothin’ to see there, WP! You should be lookin’ at my nails, anyhow!
Xena: Chia, please get back on track to your story.
Chia: If you want, you can make the picture bigger to see my pretty pink nails. She finished all my nails on all my feet after Mom took this picture. I love My Jentry.

Lucy: It was such a beautiful day that I stretched out in the dog lot and soaked up the sun. Can you see my shiny hairs? You can call me Ora* if you want.

I couldn’t look up at the camera phone cause the sun was in my eyes.
*Meaning: “Light” or “brightness”. Origin: Hebrew

Wishing you love and happiness today and every day. Chia and Lucy

Full Crew on Talk Like a Pirate Day

Today we are celebrating Talk Like a Pirate Day. We’ve asked Angel Riley to join us, as he always enjoyed this day, and he managed to get a half day pass from the other side of the Bridge. And we invited our new friend Oliver, too. He was a bit hesitant, but we talked him into it. We said something like, “Arrr, do ye wish to throw in with this scurvy crew, or be takin’ a stroll off the plank, ye bilge rat?” Oliver decided to join us.

Riley: I can near lay me eye on home from here!

Chia: Arrr, I be the Captain!
Xena: Me an’ Ollie’ll be comin’ fer ye, Captain, when the lass ain’t watchin’!
Oliver: Now hand over some o’ that fine grub ye be feastin’ on, ye greedy sea dogs!
Lucy: Belay yer jabberin’ and fix yer deadlights on the lookin’ glass.

Everyone: Wishing all ye scallywags a jolly Pirates Day — may no soul be forced to dance the plank today!

Xena and Chia’s Poetry on Thankful Thursday

Xena: Happy Thankful and Poetry Thursday, everyone! I’ve let Chia jump in the picture with me. Well, and help me with the poem. I’m trying harder to be a good sister. Here we go!

Whatcha Doin’, Xena? by Xena and Chia

Chia: Whatcha doin’ Xena?
You’re on that truck…I see ya!
Xena: I’m tryin’ to find my breafast.
The Ollies packs went too fast!

Chia: I think there’s more Ollie boxes,
And maybe some salmon and loxes.
Xena: I’ll knock them on the road.
You check while I unload.

Chia: I’m running home to tell Dad!
He’ll know that you’ve been so bad.
Xena: And while in the kennel I lay
You won’t have a partner to play.

Chia: Hey! Let’s keep unloading the boxes!
Xena: We’ll both be as sly as foxes!
Chia: And no one will bark ne’er a word
Xena: This whole conversation just blurred.

Chia: I’m here first for the thankfuls cause I’m fast. I coulda probably outrun that truck. I’m thankful that we don’t have to chase down our yummy food. Mom always puts in in our bowls and puts it on the floor and says “wait” until we all have our bowls. Then she says, “Free!” and we can all eat. I’m thankful my sisters don’t try to steal my food, cause I’m the slowest eater. I like to chew my food, not just gulp it down like Lucy does.

Lucy: I’m still thankful for all the yummy little treat cookies that our friend Kim made us while she was here visiting. Mom gives me some while I’m at work with her. And I’m thankful for the nice weather. I love to lay out in the sunshine.

Xena: I’m thankful that Clare, the girl next door, comes over and feeds us and lets us out to potty when Mommy and Daddy are late getting home from work. Hmmm, I guess all of our thankfuls – and the poem – are about food today. Now everyone knows what’s really important to us!

And speaking of thankfuls, we are all thankful for Angel Brian, who is hosting Thankful Thursday, as well as Angel Sammy for the picture every week!


Queen of the Couch Pillow Awww Monday

Thanks to  Comedy Plus for hosting Awww Mondays! 

This couch pillow is near the top of the list of places that me and Xeboo (I know, I know, Xena, don’t call you Xeboo) vie for. Even Lucy tries to take this one over! And sometimes it’s a hard decision whether to get in Dad’s lap, lay next to Mom, or grab this favored spot in the living room. But today, I’m Queen of the Couch Pillow!

Your best friend, Chia!

Mom Amy: Chia came to us at seven months old and has been with us for a little over four years. I’ve never had a dumb dog, and I truly believe that Chia is only rivaled by Angel Lexi for being the smartest. We have to be careful to not allow her in situations where she can run off, which unfortunately restricts her from doing some things the other dogs get to do . But one thing I know for sure…her big heart overflows with love and caring (even though she shows it in strange and annoying ways to Lucy!). We wouldn’t trade her for anything!

Xena’s Beary Good Poem on Thankful Thursday

We are thankful for Angel Brian, who is hosting Thankful Thursday, as well as Angel Sammy for the picture every week! 

Xena: I’m back in the saddle, as they say…
Lucy: Xena, I really wouldn’t use that analogy after what happened last week.
Xena: Geez, I’d almost forgotten about those horses chasing us. Anyhoo, I survived and am here with my poem about Angel Sammy’s fun picture (that I jumped into). Then we’ll all do our thankfuls! Here goes…

Yoga for Animals by Xena Schnauzer Princess

Down Dog is fun to do.
Mr. Bear tried it too,
But he’s built a different way
So did his yoga as he lay!

The End.

Xena: I’m thankful that I’m a dog, especially a schnauzer dog. That means I get to live with my Mommy and Daddy. (Bears can’t do that, unless they’re Teddy Bears.) And I’m thankful that the weather’s been so nice…no more bad thunder!

Chia: Yep, we do down dog every time we invite each other to play! I’m thankful Miss Jentry came over to visit with me last Sunday. Oh, and that the neighbor kids are back from their vacation AND are going to take care of me (and my sisters) this weekend while Mom and Dad go out of town for Mom’s birthday. I heard they’re staying at a place where there’s a horse farm. Kinda thankful I’m not going! Besides, I know they wouldn’t take me dancing with them, anyhow.

Lucy: I’m thankful, once again, that I got to go to work with Mom yesterday. I felt more like visiting this week, and I greeted and said goodbye to every single person who came through the door for their Al Anon meeting!

Xena: That’s it for this week. Hope y’all have a good, burr free, thunder free, horse free weekend!

Lucy’s Strange Sunday Selfie

Xena: Thanks to The Cat on My Head  for hosting Sunday selfies! We have a bit of a different selfie to show you today. It was storming hard with lots of rain and thunder, so Daddy let us go downstairs with Mommy while she was grooming. It’s a lot quieter down there. There was a medium sized Golden Doodle on the table, who became very interested in us. Lucy got under the table as her “safe place” from the storm. That’s when things got a bit weird. Lucy, why don’t you take it from here?

Lucy: Yes, it was thundering hard, but I felt safe under the groom table and between Mom’s legs. I felt so safe that I decided to practice my Jewish name: Ora. Ora means light or shiny. I had just had a bath the day before, so my coat really was shiny. But I wanted to be a light to the sweet girl up on the table. So, here’s my selfie!

Yes, I love the feel of freshly cut dog hair falling on me.

Peace and light and love to all my friends. *wags* Lucy

Poetry by Chia on Thankful Thursday

Let’s start off again with being thankful for Angel Brian, who is hosting Thankful Thursday, as well as Angel Sammy for the picture every week! 

Chia: I get to do the poem this week ’cause, well, I’ll get to that later. Right now, here’s my poem. You’ll soon see why I’m not in the picture!

What’s Wrong? by Chia

Darling, this is our anniversary!
Why won’t you smile or even look at me?
Please tell me what’s wrong and I’ll make it right.
I love you so much, I don’t want to fight.

It’s my Jacksund, Chia, my precious girl.
Leaving her alone makes my stomach churl.
Let’s go to the park where she can come too.
Then I’ll take you home and make love to you!

Lucy: Chia, this poem is scandalous!
Chia: What?! They’re gonna go home after we have fun in the park and then we can all cuddle together in bed. Right?
Anyhoo, Mom let me have the picture poem this week because Lucy got to go to the nursing home to see our grandma last Friday when we were in In Dee Anna, and I had to stay at the rental house with Xena. And it gets worse! On Saturday, Lucy and Xena both went to Dad’s sister’s hobby farm to celebrate grandma’s birthday with all their relatives, and I. Had. To. Stay. At. The. Rental. House. By. Myself.
So, I said, “Mom, don’t you think I should at least get to write the poem this week, and write whatever I want?” And she said, “Yes!” which meant that Xeboo couldn’t say “no.” So there, little Miss I got to go to the party and you didn’t! *big wags*

Xena: You woulda got loose and run off! We were all just looking out for you, cause we love you. Oh, and don’t call me Xeboo.

Lucy: And I’m thankful that you didn’t go and and maybe get lost and die in the the vast wilderness of Amish Country, In Dee Anna.
Chia: Umm, oh, yep, there is that. Well, I still hope everyone likes my poem.

The Mom: I’m thankful for a safe trip to Fort Wayne, IN and back. It’s about a nine hour drive each way. I’m also thankful that we don’t have to do that drive again until late November when we’ll be going for the Thanksgiving/Christmas get-together.
I’m also thankful for all three of my sweet pups. And yes, Chia’s safety is the only reason she didn’t get to come to the farm get-together. She’s still a “runner” and we love her too much to lose her like that (or at all!).

Wishing everyone a good Thursday and weekend, which is only one more day away!

Wordy Wednesday Fort Wayne Adventures

Thanks to  Comedy Plus for hosting Wordless Wednesday Blog Hop!

Xena: The second day we were there, me and Lucy got to go out to our Aunt Bobbie’s and Uncle Dennis’ hobby farm. They live way out in the country in “Amish Country.” It’s so much fun running around their great big yard. They are down to just one sheep and a coupla goats. I didn’t bother them this time. Right next door there were a couple of horses, way down at the other end of the pasture. Me and Lucy, we started barking at them, then we saw a way to crawl under the electrified fence. Mommy didn’t get a picture of any of it, but here is a picture that ChatGPT5 made. Like I said, the horses were much further away that it shows here.

Anyhoo, we got to the inside of the fence and took off running after the horses. That was so much fun…until they turned around and started chasing us! We ran back and under the fence as fast as our legs could carry us!

Finally, we got up late on Sunday – the day we were supposed to leave – and left for home around 9:30 in the morning. Chia slept in the back in the kennel, with Lucy next to her on the seat. Can you guess where I slept?

Hoping everyone has a good Wednesday.

Fort Wayne Adventures by Xena

Xena: Hi there friends. Thought I’d share a few pictures of moments in Fort Wayne last weekend. First, here’s a pic of me on the big couch in the front room of the Air B& B where we stayed.

It sure was comfy!

The first night there, we were laying in bed and heard a loud scraping sound, from the atttic. Mommy turned on the light and the sound stopped. She turned out the light, we all settled in again, and it happened again. Light on, noise off. Once more it happened, and this time the animal was also making “talking” noises. We all ran and got in bed in the other bedroom, and we didn’t hear it again. But it sure did sound like a BIG animal like a raccoon or a possum, not a mouse or rat.
The next day we all went outside after breakfast, and guess what we saw in the neighbor’s yard! A huge raccoon!! We stood at the gate and barked and barked, but it just stood there staring at us. After a bit, it turned around and slowly sauntered away. Mommy didn’t get a picture of it, so please use your imagination.

A little later in the morning, me and Chia and Lucy went ‘sploring in the fenced-in backyard.

The yard was a pretty nice size, and it was surrounded on the inside of the fence by lots of ivy and weeds and – we soon found out – little green burrs. They were either “grass burrs, sand burrs, or lawn burrs, which produce sharp, spiny seed pods that cling to clothing and fur.” And dog oh dog, do they ever! Even though we all had a great time playing in that surrounding area, I’m the only one with long hair. First, Mommy put water and soap on my face and spent 87 minutes removing the great big mats created by the hair clinging to the burrs. Then she looked down and saw that all my leg feathers were the same way. She said it probably took 887 minutes (or an hour) of constant combing to get them out of my pretty hair. It hurt when she tried to get the ones out of the hair on the top of my feet, so she tried real hard to take it easy there. I was a good girl and just stood on the kitchen counter while Mommy worked on this. At Mommy’s insistence and under her watchful eye, we stayed out of those areas after that.

Tomorrow we’ll have a couple more pictures and another story for you of our time in Fort Wayne!

Your schnauzer friend, Xena

Xena’s Rainy Poem and Dry Thankfuls

Let’s start off again with being thankful for Angel Brian, who is hosting Thankful Thursday, as well as Angel Sammy for the picture every week! Not sure this was the most fun one I’ve ever done. I mean, I had to balance on a bicycle seat while holding an umbrella and trying to reach the pedals. Let’s see how that turned out…

Dumb Dog-Sitters by Xena Schnauzer Warrier Princess

What’s wrong with these guys who are dog sitting me?
It’s raining so hard, they hardly could see
To ride their bicycles to have a beer.
There’s eighty-seven places I’d rather be than here.

I’m stuck on a seat holding my umbrella,
And barking out loud, “Hey, you dumb fellas!
Take me home now or I’ll tell my Mommy,
And she’ll kick you out without any money!”

The End

I’m so thankful that my Mommy gets us only the very best dog-sitters. Miss Christy is at the top of our list. We all hated to see her go home, even if I still missed my Mommy a lot. I’m also very thankful that my pawrents came back home.

Lucy: I love Miss Christy too (I’m her favorite!). We cuddle all night long and she pets me a lot and gives us treats. Speaking of treats, one of Dad’s best friends came all the way from the Phillipines and stayed with us for several days right after Mom and Dad got home. She made us healthy and really yummy doggie treats. Mom took some to work today and the Al-Anon people grabbed them and gave them to me! *big wags*

Chia: I heard that we’re leaving on a trip with Mom and Dad this morning. We’re going to see our Grandma who is turning 95 years old this weekend. I’m thankful to get to go!

Lucy: I am too! And I hope I get to go again to the nursing home where she lives. There’s lots of older people there who like me, and I let them pet me.

Xena: A trip? Yay!! See everyone next week!!

Thankful Thursday with Poetry by Lucy

Let’s start off again with being thankful for Angel Brian, who is hosting Thankful Thursday, as well as Angel Sammy for the picture every week! My sisters have so much fun doing the poetry for these pictures. I’m thankful that Xena let me do the poem for this week. Here we go…

The Man, the Dog and the Bird by Lucy

I’ll help you Dad, I’ll grab the cone
Before that evil bird has flown
To her nest with nestlings…
Oh, heck, she’s got goslings.
I just can’t take their food;
It doesn’t matter how good.
You can have my treat, Dad,
An orange that’ so sweet, and
If you’ll just give me half
We’ll think of the bird and laugh!

Xena: That sure does sound like you, Lucy. I’m thankful you are my sweet, gentle big sister. Remember how we used to play when I was a puppy. I’ve started playing again, with Chia. But if you want to play too, that would be lots of fun. *wags*

Lucy: Thanks, Xena. I’m also thankful that you’re my good little sister. We’ve always gotten along great, and there’s never been a feeling of competition between us.

Chia: Hey girls! What do you want to compete in today? Who gets the most treats? The most pets? First going through the door? Who gets to sit with Mom or Dad?

Lucy and Xena: *sigh* We hope everyone has a happy and thankful Thursday!
Chia: Me too! Me too!

The Mom: To be fair to Chia, along with her exuberant enthusiasm, she can also be a sweet, cuddly girl, even with her sisters – especially Lucy. And she is the only one who is empathetic with people; who can feel if someone is sad or hurting, and gently does her best to try to make that person feel better. I’m thankful today and every day for our Chia.

Chia Hunting Miss Mousie

Thanks to  Comedy Plus for hosting Awww Mondays

I’m still hunting Miss Mousie. Mom has given me permission to send her to the bridge where she can play with all the Mousies who went there before her. I go into stealth mode when I hear her. Mom’s cut the first 30 seconds of the video. She said it looks like something called a “still” cause I stand posed perfectly still, not moving a muscle. Important for the hunt but boring for the video, I guess. Here I am as the mighty hunter!

The music that’s playing is called “Inescapable.” Mom thought that was quite suitable for what I was doing, BOL Hope you enjoyed! (I still haven’t caught Miss Mouse.)

Sunday Selfie with Ollie, er, Oliver

Thanks to The Cat on My Head
 for hosting Sunday selfies!

We miss our new friend, Oliver, who stayed with us for a week. Sure, his sister Sasha was here too, but she wasn’t interested in being our friend. She just wanted to be with our Mom. Anyhow, we voted and …
Chia: Why do you always say that, Xena? WE don’t vote! YOU decide! So WHY do you say that?”|
Xena: *ignoring Chia* …we voted and decided to let Oliver have the honor of being featured in this Sunday’s selfie.

Happy Sunday, everyone! Xena, Lucy and Chia

Xena’s Weighty Poem

Xena: We’re all thankful for Angel Brian, who is hosting Thankful Thursday, as well as Angel Sammy for the picture every week! I let Chia join me in the picture, as well as helping with the poem.

A.I., A.I., Oh! by Xena the Schnauzer and Chia the Jacksund

Xena: A woman in a man’s body
Chia: Or a man with a woman’s face?
Xena: We bet she’s good at karate,
Chia: Don’t make him mad, just in case.

Chia: Can he lift it with us on?
Xena: We must add at least a ton.
Chia: Guess what! The pic is AI,
Xena: And so are Chia and I!

The End

Chia: See, XeBoo, we can do fun things together when we try. Like when we play in the bedroom while Mom’s getting ready for work.
Xena: Don’t call me XeBoo! And yes, watching our new friends, Sasha and Oliver, play together while they were here made me want to try. Did you see me and Oliver playing on Friday. Then he licked away the goo from under my eyes. He wanted to clean my ears too, but couldn’t figure out how to get under my flopped ears, BOL! I’m thankful he came and stayed with us.
Chia: Did you see me and Ollie, er, Oliver, sitting on the couch smiling at each other? When I jumped up there with him and showed him my teeth, I’m glad he didn’t think I was mean.
Xena: No, I saw him think about it for just a moment, then he smiled back at you. “
Chia: Yep. We just sat there smiling at each other for a coupla minutes. We did it the next day, too.

Xena: Well, I’m thankful for all the things we just woofed about.
Chia: Me too!
Lucy: Count me in on those thankfuls. It could have been a really bad week, but it turned out good.

Xena: Our folks are leaving tomorrow for 87 days [a week]. But Miss Christy is finally coming to stay with us! We thought she’d forgotten all about us. It’s Mommy’s fault for recommending her to all Mommy’s grooming clients! We’re excited and thankful about her coming…but…I’ll miss my Mommy.

The Mom: I’ll miss you too, Xena…and Chia and Lucy. I’ll try to let everyone know about our trip as I can. It’s a 3 night ballroom dancing extravaganza in Dubuque, IA, with stops on the way there and back.

Until Mommy can help us blog again… XOX Xena, Chia and Lucy

Chia’s Crazy Cat Poem and Thankfuls

Xena: We’re all thankful for Angel Brian, who is hosting Thankful Thursday, as well as Angel Sammy for the picture every week! Chia’s been a bit upset about our company (even though she’s laying on the couch with Oliver right now) so I thought it might help to let her do the poem this week. She really loves to do that. OK, Chia, you go ahead.

Chia: You did take the last Thursday of my birthday month away from me, Xena, so it’s good I’m getting this week’s.

Loony by Chia the Jacksund

He’s wearing a chef’s hat
And is loony as a bat.
He’s working for a vet
Don’t ever take your pet!

He’s got mechanic’s tools;
All your teeth he could pull.
The vet’s been M.I.A.
No one saw her drive away…

Someone check the freezer!
A body may be in there.
The hat tells the real story.
He”d rather cook than bury!

The End

Hope my poem didn’t make you puke or faint or anything. It’s just kinda the mood I’m in. Mom keeps saying Ollie and I could be play pals if I’d just try. (His name’s Oliver, but I call him Ollie cause it irritates him.) Instead, I look at Ollie and show him my teeth. He looks back and shows me his teeth. We sit like that for a minute or two, then, when I feel I’ve made my point, I get off the couch and walk away.

Xena: I’ve given up. I just ignore them now. They’ve been here five nights and days. Maybe they’re just gonna live here.

Lucy: No, it’s like when our shih tzu friend Gracie comes to visit. Sasha and Oliver’s Mom went on vacation, so our Mom said she’d keep them. I think Sasha and I will get to be friends. I’m always thankful for new friends. And I’m thankful that the weather has cooled off enough we can go for walks when Mom gets home from work.
Xena: Me too. And I’m thankful I got to spend the day at the church with Mommy without any other dogs, even if she did forget to bring my treats.
Chia: I’ll be thankful when Ollie and his big sister leave. Hey, see y’all later. We’re all going to cuddle up on the couch for a nap now.

Our Visitors Are Here

Lucy: Our new friends are here! They arrived last night. Sasha, the Boxer/Boston Terrier mix, and me, well, we’ve been hangin’. I had to set her straight about sticking her nose up my behind, but she understood and all is good. Sasha has even learned to use the doggie door to the dog lot, and we go in and out together.

Xena: Oliver, the Pomeranian/Papillon mix, wont’ have anything to do with the doggie door. Mommy has to open the whole door for him to go out and come back in. Mommy groomed Oliver this morning. He had a LOT of hair, and his Mom said he was too hot. Here’s a picture of him and Sasha chillin’ out after his groom.

I wanna say, just because we’re the same size, I hope Mommy doesn’t expect me to be his friend.

Chia: I fussed at them both last night until we went to bed. At least they didn’t get to come sleep in the bedroom with us. But why should they care? They had the whole rest of the house to find a good sleep spot, right? Today I’ve been more accepting and not fussing at them as much. You gotta hear what happened when Oliver was in the tub this morning! He started talking to Mom just like I do! And when Mom told him that he was doing that, he said, “Uh huh.” I promise you, I’m telling the truth! Maybe he’s ok after all.

Happy Saturday from Lucy, Xena and Chia, and our new friends Oliver and Sasha asked to say hi to everyone.