R2D2 Xena

Lookie what my Auntie Jen gave me so I can stay warm all winter long!She said it was Angel Piper’s hoodie, and now it can be mine. I wonder if Piper ever pretended to be R2D2 from Star Wars. Beep, boop, beep, beep! He, he.  I’ve been wearing my new hoodie to bed ’cause Mommy and Daddy are too cheap to keep the house warm like to sleep in a cool house. Thank you, Piper and Auntie Jen. We love you!

I am Xena the R2D2 Schnauzer

Extra-Thankful Thursday

Today is Thanksgiving Day in the U.S. Xena and I have been thinking about what we are thankful for, so here goes.

First we want to say how thankful we are for Blogville and all the friends and support we have gotten. You are happy when we are and sad when we are. When Angel Lexi went over the bridge, Mom could not have made it without all of you. And oh, yes, although it is a very fun virtual reality to live in, we know the peeps and pups who make it up are real.  We love you!

In our little corner of Blogville and the world, we are thankful for the family dogs who came before us and had the hard job of training Mom. On birthdays, they taught her to say, “Let them eat cake.”This is from Sammy’s birthday on the fourth of July. Every year, Mom used to keep 10 dogs for that whole week, so they all helped Sammy celebrate his birthday. Freda was Mom’s first schnauzer.

Lexi: This picture is from my 10-year-old birthday party. I had a Healthy Choice meal with my Mom and Dad and then my very own cake shaped like a dog. I know, kinda’ weird, but Mom meant well. Can you see the happy all over my face?

But it took Lexi to teach Mom to say, “Let them eat McDonalds.”

I love birthdays and I love Micky D’s!! This is all for me!

We are thankful for our friends who we know in the furs.                                   Gracie, who never comes to see us anymore.

My (Lucy’s) bestie, Ella.

                                  The big lunk, Achilles. (We love you Achilles.)

And our newest buddy, Chaz.

And we are thankful for the memories of our friends who are now waiting at the Rainbow Bridge.

And our blogger buddies who have gone on, too.

We are so very thankful for all of our blog buddies still with us, too. We would love to meet you all in the furs, like Mommy did with Angel Lexi’s boyfriend, Noodle.

We are both especially thankful for really yummy food.

beef, kale and sweet potato

We are thankful for our Mom and Dad, who love us and give us a good home.

And I am thankful for you, Xena. I love you!I love you, too, Luce the Deu…I mean Lucy. XOX 

And, in the spirit of this holiday, we are both thankful to be red-blooded American dogs, born in the U.S.A. What was it I heard the other day? Oh yes, American by birth, Southern by grace, BOL!

We hope everyone has as much to be thankful for as we do! Happy Thanksgiving to all our furiends. Be sure to go to the the blog hop today by clicking on the picture. 

Love, licks, and wags, the Southern girls: Lucy and Xena Schnauzer Warrior Princess

 

 

 

World Kindness Day: Words Matter

Xena: Hey Lucy Deucy, do you think that’s true, that words really matter?

Lucy: Well, how does it make you feel when I call you Xena Weena?

Xena: Grrr. It hurts my feelings.Sometimes it makes me feel sad, and sometimes I just want to bite you.

Lucy: And what about when Mom tells you that you are a good girl and she loves you?Xena: I feel happy and all warm and cuddly inside.

Lucy: So, little sister, do you think words matter?

Mom: Years ago I was given some wise advise. When you see someone who looks sad, or bored or uninterested, find something to compliment them about. And mean it. You can change the direction of their whole day.

Xena: Like what, Mommy? Like tell them they’re the smartest person you ever met or that they have the most gorgeous furs ever?

Mom: No, no, little one. Something simple, such as, “I just love your earrings,” or “You have such pretty hair,” or even, “Great shoes! Where did you get them?” I remember the time I did that with a totally disconnected convenience store clerk and she looked up and smiled, her whole face lighting up.

Xena: Huh. *thinking* Hey Lucy Deu…I mean Lucy! Your furs are very shiny today.

Lucy: Aw, Xena, thanks. That made me feel really good. *grin*Xena: I’m glad, ’cause I love you. and your furs are so shiny I’m going to need sunglasses.  Now, can I have your supper?

Lucy: *sigh*

This is Lucy with the Shiny Furs and Xena Schnauzer Warrior Princess thanking you for being our friends and wishing you only kind words today.

Nature Friday Failure

Lucy: Remember when I said we had better get pictures of these flowers that Mom planted before they died? This is the azalea bush. Or what’s left of it.Xena: Let me take a look, too, Lucy. Oh yeah, remember when it was first planted, and the blooms looked like this? When we passed the dying plant on our way to take our walk last night, I heard Mommy say that she hopes it will come back nice in the spring.

Lucy: Then I heard Dad sort of snort-laugh, real quiet-like so she didn’t know he was laughing at her.

Xena: Hmm, I better check out Mommy’s Mum *chuckle*. Uh, oh, it’s as wilted as my leg hairs after playing in the wet grass. I think she’s going to plant it in the back yard with the cactus that never die and hope that it blooms again next fall.

Do you want to go around the side and check out the pansies?

Lucy: Nah, I already did, and they’re gonners too. Good thing she’s better with us dogs than she is with the plants.

Xena and Lucy: It’s November, and we’re thankful that Mom helps us stay alive and healthy and that we aren’t her plants.

Please join Mayor Arty now for The World’s First Blogville’s Nature Friday!

Your friends, Lucy and Xena Schnauzer Warrior Princess

Little Invaders

Lucy: Chaz is a toy terriorist Yorkie. His sister Chloe is a miniature Yorkie. They have been coming to Mom to be groomed for quite some time now.  This, however, was the first time they came to stay overnight. Oh, boy, a slumber party!  First, though, there was the grooming.

Chaz after groom

Both me and Xena did a meet and greet with Chaz. He is a nice boy. After I explained to him that even though I am a lot bigger than him, I would never hurt him, he wasn’t afraid of me. I wondered why he was wearing that green thing around his middle, then I saw  him lifting his leg to pee on all our furniture and I knew why!Then it was Xena’s turn.Xena: Yep, I ‘splained to him face-to-face, eyeball-to-eyeball that I was bigger, too, and if he wanted to run, I would be glad to chase him. So he ran and I chased and Lucy followed us both all over the house. I don’t know why Mommy kept yelling at me to stop. I was having a ton of fun!

Lucy: Then there was Chloe. First she snapped at us, then stayed in her kennel the rest of the time. Mom dragged her out a couple of times to go potty, but she wouldn’t do her bizness. All she wanted was to go back in her kennel. Mom put her food and water in there, too, but she wouldn’t eat, either.

Chaz made up pretty quickly with Dad. Look, they both have the same expression on their faces!Dad was a bit skeptical about holding Chaz while playing word games with Mom.But then Chaz helped him win. Mom said, “No fair!” but Chaz and Dad just laughed. They got to be such good friends that at bedtime Chaz slept on Dad’s pillow, right next to his head. Chloe was invited too, but she still wouldn’t come out of her kennel, and growled every time Xena walked past.

When their folks came to pick them up, they said that Chloe was always like that when they left her, no matter where she stayed. She wouldn’t even eat treats. Can you imagine!?Xena: I hear they are coming back real soon. Maybe we can play the chase game again, Lucy Ducey.

Lucy: *sigh* I’d better watch out the window for them to warn them of your plans, Xena.

This is Lucy and Xena Schnauzer Warrior Princess waiting for our Little Visitors to return.

Mommy Meets Noodle and Family

Mommy left us alone with Daddy while she drove 87 zillion miles to visit my Guardian Angel Lexi’s boyfriend, Noodle. His Mom helped him blog about it already, and you can see that here.

When Mommy got home, she raved about how wonderful Noodle is – so loving and friendly and sweet and cuddly and no wonder Lexi loved him. I don’t know whether to gag or be jealous or, or, … hmmm.

Anyhoo, she talked about it feeling like she had known Noodle’s Mom for forever and they talked like they were old friends. Not only that, but one would say something and the other would be like, OMG, that’s exactly like, blah, blah, blah.  For example, Noodle’s Mom said, “We can’t have anything nice, we have dogs,” and Mommy’s mouth fell open just before she said, “Those are the exact words Jeff and I say together all the time!” Yeah, just because I ate the arm of the chair and the corner of the window sill and, a-a-and, … oh. Mommy also met Macy and Molly. Mommy said they are both very, very loving and great pups, too.  And she met the birds, the fancy chickens, the pig, the rabbits, the koi fish, and I don’t remember who all else. Noodle sat with his Dad while Molly laid on Mommy’s lap and the Moms visited. Mrs. Noodle’s Mom said to come again and be sure to bring me and Lucy, too. Oh, boy, oh boy, oh boy, I can hardly wait. Hi-i-i- Noodle. 🙂

I’m Xena the Lovely Schnauzer Warrior Princess

Vampire Dogs

Angel Lexi: On All Hallow’s Eve, I am back to play tricks and get treats. So tonight, I am reclaiming my blog. That’s right, my blog! This is the night before All Saint’s Day, the day where I will be especially remembered and prayers will go up for me and a candle lit to show I am still the light of the world and star of the stage to show my spirit still shines brightly in the hearts of those who love me. So tonight I will partake of a little mischief. I would rather partake of Kahlua and cream, but there is no cream in the refrigerator. Angel Lexi: Lookout, Xena, here I come. You may eat raw meat every day, but I have not yet had my fill of blood. Eating kibble all my life has left me very, very thirsty. (in best Bela Lugosi voice) I come to suck your…oh forget it, that’s just too corny, even for me. Now, where was I? Tonight, Xena, you become like me!

Xena: You mean I am going to become an Angel?

Angel Lexi: No! You will be a Vampire Dog!

Xena: Aghhhh! Help!

Angel Lexi: There is no help for you. You will crave blood, fresh blood. Now go get some blood! (And bring me all the meat from the fridge.)

Xena: Oh, Mo-o-ommy… hold me, Mommy, hold me close.

Happy Halloween! Be sure to visit LLB in our Backyard’s Haunted House Blog hop!

Vampire Dogs Angel Lexi the Schnauzer and Xena Schnauzer Warrior Princess

Fall Flower Friday

Lucy: Mom played supermom and removed old stumps and roots from dead bushes by pushing them out of the ground with her feet. How? Glad you asked. She put her back against the house and pushed with her supermom legs. (When she gets determined, stay out of her way!) She bought bags and bags of new pine mulch and dumped it all over the ground in front of the house. Then, after researching the 3 season azalea bushes on-line, she picked out an Encore Azalea at a plant nursery. She dug and scraped and dug some more and finally got it planted in front of the house, right where she wanted it. I told her to quick, get some pictures, ’cause we all know what happens to most of the stuff she plants, BOL!  Don’t you think the color goes pretty with my furs? 

Xena: Mommy also got a mum. (He, he, I think that is really funny…Mom got a mum.) First, she set it on top of her new mulch, but we live on a hill, so no one could see her pretty flowers from down at the road. So she found an old plastic white table to set them on. She spray-painted a plastic chair Tennessee Vols orange to add even more color to the front of the house and to make the crazy college football people in the neighborhood like her. It was nice to sit in the orange chair and…smell the roses mums.

Be sure to drop by LLB in Our Back Yard to join in the blog hop or just look at more pretty flowers!

Love and wiggles from Lucy and Xena Warrior Princess.

 

Achilles, Ella, and the Tin Schnauzer

I have been “on guard” all weekend with Achilles around. He has been ignoring me, but I know that could change at any moment. Ella told Lucy that they have something going on, but he might be doing that just to make me jealous. (I’m not.)He found my vibrating dog – the one I hate – and tried to make me jealous (I’m not) by carrying it all over the house, like it was his girlfriend or something. Doesn’t it look just like him? Twinsies!  Mommy said he could keep the doggie, ’cause Lucy and I don’t like it anyhow. Once they got home from Octoberfest Saturday afternoon, Achilles totally ignored Lucy. There she is in the chair behind him, mooning over the big lunk. Ella: Achilles, Mom said it is time to go home. I call dibs on the drivers side of the back seat. Achilles: But what about my new friend, Doggie? Can he come, too? I’m not done deading him.Ella: That’s what Aunt Amy just said!   Achilles: OK, I’m outa’ here.

And so they both left, without even a goodbye or a glance back at me.At least I still had the tin schnauzer my Auntie and Uncle gave us. They said tin is the correct gift for wedding anniversary number ten. (He, he, that’s funny — tin for ten.) Now, if I can just get to the wine bottle inside of it… I know that always makes Mommy feel better.

I am Xena Schnauzer Warrior Princess with the Tin Schnauzer Friend.

 

Wedding Vow Renewal

 

Lucy: After all the fun all day Saturday, my new boyfriend Achilles got put in Xena’s kennel, Xena got put in Lexi’s kennel, and Ella and I got to play in the house while the peeps headed off to the church. 

OK, so this is us playing outside, but you get the picture, right? (he, he, the picture, get it?)

Xena: Mom and Dad went to get married, right? Or to get their bowels renewed? I don’t remember which. And Achilles is my boyfriend likes me, not you, Luce the Deuce.

Lucy: You are wrong times three, XeePee. It is a Renewal of Vows at St. Alban’s Episcopal Church. And I thought you didn’t like Achilles. All you did was complain about his attention when we were at his house. Oh never mind, that’s not what we’re here to bark about today. 

Mom told me that Father Robert started out by telling how he met Mom and Dad, and invited their guests to do the same.  Maria (L) owned a ballroom dance studio and Dad became her bookie bookkeeper and office and studio manager while taking dance lessons from her. Auntie Jen (R) had Piper the schnauzer, who looked a lot like Lexi. She saw Lexi’s picture on the front page of the newspaper and wondered why Piper’s picture was there. After reading the article about Lexi starring in the Wizard of Oz, and seeing that they came from the same breeder, she contacted the breeder, got Mom’s e-mail address, went to the play, and that was the beginning of a beautiful friendship. *sigh*Here’s Mom and Dad, dressed in the same clothes and jewelry that they wore ten years ago at their wedding, and with the same people (except the priest) as when they got married. Father Robert included some other unexpected touches, such as wrapping their hands with his stole and reading a blessing and having each person serve communion to the person next to them. Mom said it was both solemn and fun all at the same time.

Afterwards, Mom and Dad and Auntie Jen and Uncle Bill came back home and drank a bottle of champagne while everyone toasted each other. That means they clinked glasses, not that they put each other in the toaster. They gobbled down ate the supper that I drooled over Mom had prepared on Friday all “home made”: pulled pork and pulled beef, potato salad, cole slaw, sauerkraut, and a gluten-free chocolate chip bundt cake that Dad bought. 

Xena: Achilles found my tennis ball and played with it by himself all evening. I hid behind Mommy’s chair so I didn’t get squished. But I still saw him making eyes at me.

Lucy: Dream on, little girl.

A word from Achilles: Don’t fight, girls. There’s enough of this bad boy to go around. All the way around. *wink*

Love and wiggles, Lucy (hi-i-i, Achilles)

Xena Schnauzer Warrior Princess Bride

Achilles (come back tomorrow for more about me)

Lucy and Ella at Rocktoberfest

Hi friends! My bestie, Ella, met me at Rocktoberfest, and before we could hang out, she had to do a photo op with Rocky the Elf. Then we had a great time together!We watched Mom and Dad polka and we watched Auntie Jen and Dad polka and we watched Mom and Uncle Bill try to polka, BOL! Talk about a total failure!Mom and Dad doing the polka.

We hung out like the best buds that we are. Together, we people-watched.We listened to the band and watched peeps learn to do the Chicken Dance. Of course the peeps had to have their fun with us, too.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Even Achilles wasn’t exempt from humiliation.  I found out that this was his first time to go anywhere away from home (he’s 4, but was recently adopted by my Uncle and Auntie), so he was a bit freaked. I think that’s why he snapped at me every time I sneaked a kiss on his mouth.

After we got done laughing at Achilles in his silly hat, Ella told me to cool it with Achilles. She said they have been making out, and he’s a good kisser. She said we could all be BFF’s, though. I said I was good with that(he, he, yeah, sure, right).Achilles was so into me that he laid with his back right up against me until his folks took him to the other end of the pavilion.Ella, stop giving your Dad the stink eye. They’re just getting a funny picture drawn…they’ll be back, and Mom’s here with us.Look, there’s the nice man who was petting us earlier. Doesn’t he look silly doing the Chicken Dance?

It was finally time for Ella and Achilles to go home with Mom and Auntie Jen so they could get ready for the Vow Renewal Saturday night. I stayed with Uncle Bill and Dad until Dad got off work. I guess it doesn’t take guys as long to get ready as it does the ladies, BOL!

I’ve gotta go get some pictures ready from the church part of the night. Come back tomorrow, please. Or, as they say, to be continued…

Love and wiggles, Lucy

Fall Flower Friday with Vow Renewals

Xena: Oh boy, oh boy, I can’t wait for tomorrow. I’m so excited I don’t think I will even sleep tonight. My Auntie Jen and Uncle Bill are coming to watch Mommy and Daddy get married. 

Lucy: No, no, no! Tuesday was Mom and Dad’s 10 year wedding anniversary. They are already married, Xena the Weinah. And I’m really excited about Ella and Achilles coming with them to play with me.

Xena: Don’t call me names, Lucy Ducey. If they are already married, why are they going to get dressed up and go to the church and have a special ceremony with the priest?

Lucy: They’re getting confirmed. No wait. They’re getting, umm, oh, Xee Pee, you have me all confused now. Wait, I’ve got it! They are doing a Renewal of Vows. 

Xena: But why do their bowels need renewed, Luce the Goose? Can’t they go potty?

Lucy: No, Xena! Vows! Vows! Renewal of Wedding Vows!

Xena: Stop barking at me! Why are they doing that?

Lucy: It was Dad’s idea, and Mom thought it was very romantic, so they are having the same peeps come that were invited when they got married in their back yard 10 years ago. If Mom seems a little sad, too, it’s because Angel Lexi can’t be there this time. Mom gave me this picture to use from 10 years ago.Xena: I see Angel Lexi watching Mommy cut the cake. And that must be Angel Ivy and Angel Lily, too, in the bottom picture.

Lucy: Mom’s even going to wear the same dress. We can’t go this time, but I’ll send some of my hair with her.

Xena: Well, Mr. I Want To Marry You Achilles had better be singing a different tune this time when I see him. I hear he got his junk removed, so maybe he will leave me alone.

Anyhow, I want to do Flower Friday now, like I promised. with some flowers from Rock City’s Rocktoberfest, where I went last Saturday.I don’t know if these ferns count, since they don’t have flowers on them.

I wouldn’t sit still here, and a young guy kept laughing at Mommy trying to take a picture before I moved again.So I got stuck up here on a bale of straw next to these mums that aren’t even blooming yet. Tricky Mommy.

 

We want to thank Mayor Artie and the gang at LLB in Our Back Yard for hosting Flower Friday. You can visit their blog to see all the other entries. Then vote for me to win.

Lucy: There’s no voting or winning, Xena. It’s a blog hop.

Xena: I am Xena Schnauzer Warrior Princess (vote for me)

 

 

Lucy’s First Rocktoberfest

Wow, did I ever have an exciting Sunday. Dad drove me and Mom way up to the top of a big mountain, and I was pretty nervous about the whole thing. My ears even popped! Once we got parked and out of the car, I knew it was going to be great. I could hear people, and what’s better than that?! If you remember, Xena got to go last year right after we adopted her, and she got wasted on beer float foam!They didn’t have beer floats this year, so I didn’t get a chance to do that!

We walked to a covered place called a pavilion where the Wurstbraut band was waiting to play. It seemed like Mom and Dad know all of the musicians, and a lot of them came over to pet me. One – I think his name is Ray – let me kiss him on the lips and kept coming back to love on me some more. His wife – Carla – sat next to me and Mom, and I think she is the dog whisperer.Every time I got a little nervous, I scooted between her legs and she helped me to calm down. I didn’t even mind sitting with her while Mom and Dad did the polka.

At first, the loud band really freaked me out, and Mom had to take me far, far away from all that racket. That was ok, ’cause there were lots of people walking around who wanted to pet me. I would look at everyone with my friendliest expression and wag my tail so hard that my whole body wagged. There were other dogs there, too. Some of them gave me a friend request, and I always answered with a yes!

Did you know that my Dad teaches polka? Oh yeah, he’s great at it. Everyone dances and laughs and I can tell they are happy. I wanted to try to help teach like Angel Lexi used to do with the ballroom dancers, but I wasn’t allowed to. I still made friends with one of the students.One lady even came out of the lesson just to meet me!She pet me and we got to be friends.Sunday is sometimes me and Xena’s day to not eat breakfast. Mom calls it fasting, but like Xena is quick to point out, there is nothing fast about those days! So, when Mom bought me my very own basket of Rocktoberfest sauerkraut to eat at lunchtime, she made me promise not to tell my sister. I convinced her to give me some of hers before I promised. But wouldn’t you know, the first thing that little schnauzer did when I got home was smell my breath…and she knew! At least I didn’t break my promise, right?

By the end of the day I was so used to the band that I just chilled with the wonderful Carla. Finally, after an exciting day in the sun with tons of people loving me, it was time to go home. I was too exhausted to even get nervous on the ride back down the mountain. In fact, I went to bed right after supper. I hear Rocktoberfest is every weekend in October. I sure hope the folks take me back!

Love and wiggles, Lucy

Old Stuff and a Hat for a Star

Last week Mommy was cleaning out the garage and found a plastic file holder that she had squirreled away. (Squirreled away, he, he.) She couldn’t remember what was in it, so she took it upstairs to go through later. 

Yesterday was “later,” and she found all kinds of goodies. Before our Grandma went to heaven, she helped Mommy identify and label about 87 thousand ancient pictures. Then Mommy sorted them into deck aids. The first folder was labeled 1910. I thought that’s how many pictures were in there, but no, there was actually a year called that. The picture on the left was taken in 1908 and is Mommy’s aunt (her Mom’s sister). She helped raise Mommy, so they were very close. Mommy called her Nan-Nan and, later, Nan, and other people called her Anna May.  The picture on the right is of Mommy’s Mom in 1918. Some people called her “Marion” and she loved Angel Lexi very much. I hope they found each other in heaven. There’s just one thing I don’t understand…how can babies be Mommy’s aunt and mom?

Don’t you think those files full of pictures would keep Mommy busy all afternoon, but no, there was a bonus prize. She found a large folder full of info and souvenirs from Angel Lexi’s first time as Toto in 2006. This was the best production, or so I am told, and it brought in 7,000 people over 6 weeks and 26 performances. This is where Angel Lexi won her Oscar Annie Award for Director’s Choice.  Mommy also found the prompt sheets she made to use during the play that told her when to be on the right or left side of the of the stage and what to help Angel Lexi do.

She found something else in there, too, something I wish she had left there. Really, Mommy? You said it was a gift to Angel Lexi from a cast member, but her head was too big? Did you get your picture? Can I take it off now? I. Don’t. Like. Hats.Hey Xena, whatcha’ got? Cool hat!Oh, Mo-o-ommy, Lucy wants my hat. Tell her it’s mine and she can’t have it.

I am Xena Schnauzer Warrior Princess with a Hat for the Star.

Grooming with Mom: Pete

Hi Friends, today’s episode of Grooming with Mommy is brought to you by Ace Reporter Lucy on the grooming beat. This picture is from over a year ago when Pete first started coming to Mom. Our folks know each other from church.                              before                                                   after

Petey’s 11 years old now, and has recently had some serious health issues. His Momma is a champion, though, and even learned how to give him fluids at home. I know all the prayers we sent up for him helped, too. Pete was here again getting groomed, and his ride home was about 10 minutes away, so Mom held him in the chair by the front window so he could watch for her. “Hey Lucy, I think that’s my Momma coming up the road!”“Nope. I sure wish she would get here. I like you and Miss Amy, but I need to go home and take a nap.”

About 87 seconds later Petey’s Momma came and got him. We hope you enjoyed today’s episode of Grooming with Mom.

Love and Wiggles, Ace Reporter Lucy

Fall Flower Friday

Xena: Mommy said I’m the flower of her eye.

Lucy: No, Xena, the saying is apple of her eye, and what she really said is to try harder to catch the pieces of apple she was throwing to you or you might get hit in the eye by a piece.

Xena: But it’s Flower Friday, so I must be the flower of her life!

Lucy: Whatever, Xe. I can never understand your reasoning. But you’re right about one thing… it is Flower Friday. The sun has been shining all week, and Mom took pictures of us on our walk.

On our way down the sidewalk next to the house, we detoured around the bush that Mom hasn’t been able to trim because Charlotte #3 made her web right in the front and won’t move. This large bush is called “Mom hates it ’cause she has to trim it while standing on a ladder.” 

After we got around the bush, we headed down the road in the sunshine, taking our shadows with us.This is not our house or mailbox or address or flowers. Proof is that there are live flowers, BOL! We do not even know what kind of flowers these are, but they are pretty and still blooming in October. And you can see how bright the sun is by how I had to squint my eyes to try to look into the camera.

That’s all the flowers for today, but we hope to have more soon from Rocktoberfest that starts this weekend at Rock City! In the meantime, we want to thank Rosy from llbinourbackyard where you can join the blog hop or visit more nice blogs with anipals and flowers.

Xena: Mommy likes me better than those flowers, right, Lucy?

Lucy: Well, yes, and where are you headed with this?

Xena: I must be the flower of her likes!

 

I am Xena, Mommy’s favorite Schnauzer Warrior Princess Flower.

Grooming with Mom: Benny

Hi Friends, and welcome to another episode of Grooming with Mom. Our pup this week is a 10-week-old cockapoo and this was his first groom. Here is Benny after his bath. He’s just a baby, and he got scared, so Mom brought in the big dog to help calm him (me). I was real sweet and told him everything would be ok, and that I would be laying on the floor right next to the table in case he needed anything. That did seem to help a lot. Benny’s granddad brought a picture that Benny’s Mom sent for how she wanted him groomed. NOTE: This is NOT Benny. This is an actor.

The clippers on his face terrified him, so Mom made the executive decision that she wasn’t going to do that. Here is Benny all groomed, sorta’like the picture.His ears are crazy fuzzy ’cause the hair is still growing in on them.  Mom isn’t super happy with the results. Benny didn’t care. He was so exhausted that he laid down on the table and fell asleep while he waited for his peeps to come get him. I stayed there as I promised until the car pulled into the drive, then I went upstairs to check on Xena.

This is Lucy, Ace Reporter on the Groom Beat

Monkey Business

Xena: Lucy! What are you doing down there?Lucy: Uh, I was just playing with Monkey. He’s nice and I like him.Xena: No! He’s my monkey and I didn’t say you could play with him.Take your paws off him. I still remember what you and Riley did to Raccoon.

You can’t get away from me, Lucy. You must be punished.

Lucy:  Where did you hear about being punished, Xe. Mom and Dad don’t say or do that. I would be afraid of them if they did. And I’m not. Xena: On that Netflix TV place that we watch with Mom. The one that always starts out with that loud “DuDum!” sound.OK, now play dead and I might let you go. Good. And remember, my monkey. 

Don’t worry, Monkey, I’ll take care of you.

I am Xena the Protective Schnauzer Warrior Princess

Remembering Madi

Today Blogville comes together to honor Diva Madi, a favorite across all species. A large soul in a petite body, she brought so many together with love and frolics. We didn’t know you long, dear girl, but are honored to have had the chance to visit back and forth with you in our blogs and comments. In your honor…

In your honor, Madi, I am taking a nap in my red chair with my red blankie. Your BFF, Xena the Schnauzer Warrior Princess

This is from a couple of years ago when Riley was still my boyfriend and living with us. We were “boxing.” Please notice I am wearing my red collar (this was before I ran away from home and lost my collar.)

This box is for you, Diva Madi. Your BFF, Lucy

Since mean old WordPress won’t let us join the blog hop, please visit Madi’s blog to visit with her Mom and everyone else honoring her.

When Mom Deserted Us (or, I Might Get a Snake)

Xena: How could she do this? How could Mommy go away and leave me all alone all day and all night and all day again when I am in this condition?

Lucy: You aren’t alone, Xexe. I’m here and Dad’s here with you. And you’re not in a “condition.” You’re just having your big girl time. Stop being such a baby.

Xena: I’m NOT a baby. I’m a big girl. And it’s just not the same with Mommy gone. She knows I feel miserable and she deserted us. I need baby-held.

Lucy: I saw Dad baby-hold you like Mom showed him to do. And like I said…oh forget it. Mom went to Nashville to spend time with her BFF from PA. Come look at the pictures she sent. First they went to a Greek restaurant called Taziki’s, then to an art museum in Centennial Park called the Parthenon, just like in Greece. It was only $4 to go inside to see the pretty pictures because they got the “senior” discount, BOL! On the second floor they even got to visit the Goddess Athena.Xena: Is that a snake next to her?!

Lucy: Good eye, Xena.  In folklore snakes are usually depicted to be cunning creatures and, among other things,  Athena was the goddess of intelligent activity and battle strategy. You might take some lessons from her.

Xena: Phthh 

Lucy: Saturday night Mom and her friend went downtown to Music Row on Broadway Street. Mom wrote that the crowds on the sidewalks were so thick that you could hardly walk. There were street musicians and performers everywhere. They went into a restaurant called Jimmy Buffets Margaritaville for supper and entertainment…and, of course, margarita’s. Her friend even treated her to dinner for her birthday.Xena: Was Ruby the Airedale there? I hear it’s Margaritaville wherever she goes. If Ruby was there, why didn’t Mommy take me?

Lucy: Umm, I don’t think so, Xe.

On Sunday they went to the Opry Mills Mall. There was a new restaurant called the Aquarium that had a huge fish tank wrapped all around the inside of the restaurant.There was even a diver cleaning it like Mom cleans the house.

Xena: I wish she was here cleaning the house now. And holding me.

Lucy: Dad already cleaned the house as a birthday surprise for Mom. And she can’t hold you while she cleans, Xexe, you know that. Back to what I was saying. Hmm, where was I? Oh yes, restaurants. They didn’t eat there, ’cause Mom wanted her PA friend to experience real southern pulled pork with all the trimmings. So they walked through the mall to a real Southern BBQ joint and chowed down.

Xena: Now I’m hungry. When are we going to eat?

Lucy: Dad already gave us our supper. And it was more than even Mom gives us.

Xena: Yeah, well, I just hope she comes home soon. Lucy: She will be home soon, little sister. I can’t wait for her to open the card we got her:

Like I said, Dad’s fed us our supper and I am just going to take a little nap and wait.This is Lucy and Xena waiting for the deserter Mom.

PeeS: I’m thinkin’ about getting me a snake  so I can be just like Athena. ~Xena Schnauzer Goddess Princess