Xena here. Mommy often opens the porch door and lets me run around the rest of our back and side yard. She knows I won’t leave the yard, and always stays outside to be sure I’m safe. I love rooting around in any holes I find, and following scents. I especially like the area around the shed and the area along the far side of the driveway and the area where the cactus garden is. So, for Nature Friday, with Rosy and Sunny of The LLB Life hosting, I wanted y’all to see this pretty cactus flower.
Me and Mommy think it’s very unusual. Although I guess if you live where there’s lots of cactus, you don’t think it’s more unusual than we think tulips and daffodils are. (We don’t think they are unusual..just wanted to be clear about that.) So I’m gonna wrap up with a picture of the cactus and me! Well, and some yucca plants and other things we don’t know what they are.
Xena: This is not me, just in case you were wondering. We’ve shown you a lot of schnauzers lately, so I want to be sure you’re not confused about that.
What have I been up to lately, you are probably wondering. Well, there’s always something, right?
My Daddy’s gone to somewhere else (not here) in Tennessee to pig sit Morty so that my Auntie Jen and Uncle Bill can take a few days of vacation. Lucy’s BFF Ella and boyfriend Achilles had to go to a boarding place so no pig/dog fights happened.. From there Daddy’s going on up to Fort Wayne to visit his almost 93 year old Mommy and also his sisters and cousins. The rest of us stayed here. That meant I had to find some things to do to keep busy, right?
The weather was pretty so I spent some time outside critter hunting. I can smell something down there, and I’m gonna find it!
I ran down the hill between our house and our neighbor man’s house, following a scent trail. Did you know that us schnauzers are hunters and scent dogs? OK, so technically, we’re ratters, but you gotta hunt to find the rat, right? I found the critter’s hole and then another one down by the road. But Mommy made me come back up the driveway. I had gotten my schnout (that’s a schnauzer snout) as far as I could in the hole, and that critter was lucky I didn’t have time to dig it out! I can spend hours doing this kind of thing – unless it’s near supper time, of course.
Thursday I finally got to go to work again with Mommy! I did real good. A ladies group was there, and they loved me. I remembered I’m not supposed to jump up on people so, instead, I stood on my hind legs in front of them and waved at them with both my front paws. They loved it! I got lots of petting and oohs and ahhs. (And I got treats for it, too!) Some even said that now they wanted to get a little dog, too. See, I’m an inspiration!
I got pretty worn out, but I only got a few zzzz’s in before I had to go greet more people. Jen Jen bear was there to help me. A few people did ask where Lucy was, but I’m sure they’ll forget about her soon enough.
Finally, I decided to rearrange the furniture.
I dragged my nice red doggie bed out of the bedroom into the living room, and placed it near Riley’s bed. That’s right in front of the front door. Together we can guard the house against intruders. Later, Mommy put it back in the bedroom and told me to come on in and sleep with her, so I did. I usually do what Mommy says.
Just a couple more days before I see my Daddy again. It sure does feel like a long time since he was home. In the meantime, I’ll be thinking of what else I can do with Daddy gone.
Lucy: We were all outside on the porch, enjoying a beautiful day.
I’ve heard both Mom and Dad say, “They only learn the bad things from each other.” Being the youngest, Chia has a habit of getting on things like tables and kitchen counters. Lately, Xena has been immulating her.
Xena: It was easy getting up here. I can tell this is where Daddy eats. I can still smell his food. He’s a messy eater.
I can see everything that’s goin’ on in the woods from up here. No wonder Chia likes to do this.
5 minutes later
How am I going to get down? Mom! Where’s Mommy? I need to do my selfie!
Oh well, it’s not supper time yet. *yawn* Zzzzzzzzzzzzz
Thanks so much to The Cat on My Head for hosting Sunday Selfies. I guess my selfie this week is of my bee hind, BOL! XOX Xena
Lucy, Ace Reporter and Church Dog here to report on something that happened immediately following a groom.
Markel, aka Baby Dog, has been coming to us for almost a year now. This is Markel.
After his last groom about a week ago Groomer Mom carried him out to his Mom’s car. His Mom set him in the seat in his car and closed the door. She and Groomer Mom were looking at the calendar to schedule the next groom when they heard a “click.” Yep, our talented Markel had locked himself in. His Mom’s purse, keys and phone were all in the car with Markel. (I was hoping her didn’t start the car and drive himself home, leaving his Mom here!)
Markel’s Mom said the button to open the door was at the end of the door near the front window, much further down the car door than the first “lock” button Markel had hit that locked him in, and there was almost no chance he would hit it. Knowing Markel is a schnauzer, Groomer Mom knew he is food-driven. She went back in the grooming room and got the jar of dried liver from which he had treats during his groom. His Mom had borrowed Groomer Mom’s phone and was on a call with a locksmith while Groomer Mom shook the jar of treats near the front of the side window and prayed. Prayed hard. Markel kept edging closer and closer to the edge of the door near the front, and all of a sudden there was another “click.”
Before anything could reverse, Groomer Mom grabbed the door handle and opened it. His Mom stood there with her mouth hanging open while Groomer Mom was saying, “Praise God!” and “Good boy, Markel!” and giving him lots of treats. His Mom cancelled the locksmith.
Lucy, Ace Reporter, with a successful post-groom report! (And Lucy, Church Dog, saying “Praise God!”)
A big thanks to Miss Sandee at Comedy Plus for hosting Happy Tuesday Blog Hop!
Lucy: Mom never met her Uncle Paul. He lost his life in England for our country shortly before the end of WWII. Mom asked us to be quiet for a moment to honor all who have served our country and who have given their lives for this great nation. That was asking a lot of 4 dogs, especially a schnauzer, but we agreed it was a small price to pay. Mom also explained that this was one of the reasons I have the freedom to be a church dog. *silence*
Lucy: I’m so thankful for the sunshine and a yard to lay in it. I’m told my furs glow, and that’s why my official Hebrew name is Ora when I got Barkmitzvahed.
Riley: I’m thankful for the great food I get. I never was much interested in eating, but now I’m right there with the peanut gallery telling Mom Amy it’s supper time…even when it isn’t!
Chia: I’m thankful that once in a while I get to slip out and run like The Flash through the neighborhood. I run and run and run and run and then I come home. Mom says that’s not a good thankful, but hey, I’m just bein’ honest here.
Xena: I’m really thankful that Mommy has let me host our thankful Thursdays as well as create the poetry all of May. And I’ve gotten to do all the posts all week! I think she feels guilty replacing me with Lucy as the church dog. First a big thanks to Brian for hosting Brian’s Thankful Thursday! And I am thankful to Angel Sammy for the fun picture this week, too. Here’s the picture and my poem.
I Came for the Ball by Xena Schnauzer Warrior Princess
I came for the ball But there’s no ball at all. Nothing that bounces Or even announces That no balls are here I really do fear.
A dance is a ball? Oh, no, not for all! I have no dance partner To Freestyle real proper He can’t be too tall Cause I am so small.
But if there’s no ball And I can’t dance at all I’m goin’ home!
Monday, a week ago Xena: It’s time to go, Mommy. I’ve got JenJen Bear, we’re at the door, and we’re ready to go home and get our supper.
Yes, it’s time to go, and you may want to say goodbye to the church for a while. Over the weekend you showed me you didn’t want to work at doing Freestyle, so we’re not going to Cleveland, Ohio to try to get your Title 4. Now you left turds for the Building and Grounds guy to find…who, by the way, wasn’t too fond of you to begin with. Then you growled and barked at people as they came in. When you figured out you weren’t getting any treats for doing that, you started running up to them, wiggling and wagging your tail just long enough for you to turn around and run back to me to get a treat. I’m not sure this “church dog” thing is working out so well for you.
Last week: Tuesday and Thursday Lucy: Is Pastor coming today? I love pastor, he’s so nice and he wants to get me a new bed for me to lay in his office when he’s here. I wonder if he’ll pet me a lot. He always tells everyone who comes in that I’m a good dog. This time when he kisses me on the nose, I’ll kiss him back. Are the church ladies coming today? They all ask to pet me, and it makes me so happy I wiggle and smile at them.
Yes, Lucy. Pastor is going to visit shut-ins, but he said since you are here, he will come by the church first to see you.
Note: No dogs on Wednesday simply because of how many folks come in for meetings that day. The church is closed on Fridays. So, Lucy now has every available opening for a “church dog.”
Xena: Mommy, if I’m a good girl, can I come back to work?
We’ll see.
A big thanks to Miss Sandee at Comedy Plus for hosting Happy Tuesday Blog Hop!
Today we thank The Cat on My Head for helping us to say Happy Mother’s Day with our Selfies! To settle the argument of who got to go first, then next, then next, Riley declared we shall go in age order, starting with the oldest. Here we go, and this one’s for you, Mom!
Mom Amy: Y’all make it a great Mother’s Day, my dear girls and sweet boy. I’m so happy everyone is healthy and happy. I love you too!
Xena: Why are you all dressed up in this picture, Mom? Are you going somewhere? Mom: No, this is a picture from last night just before your Dad and I went out ballroom dancing. Chia: You mean when you left us alone with no food or anyone to bug,umm, I mean, pet us? Lucy: I was afraid you wouldn’t come back! Riley: Happy Mother’s Day!
Xena: First, I’m thankful to Brian for hosting Brian’s Thankful Thursday! And I am thankful to Angel Sammy for the fun picture this week. I can’t wait to see what all my friends have come up with, too! Here’s the picture:
Fatherly Advice by Xena Schnauzer Warrior Princess
I love you lots, my little son, but hear now what I say. You must to be mindful when you want to go outside to play. No messing with orangutangs or fooling with the chimps! They’re not like us…hear me now! You treat them with contempt.
The lions, we know, all think that they are kings of the jungle. But they’re just cats…not like us…they’re just some monkey’s uncle. We’re smarter, bigger, stronger, tall; we are full of power. We use our arms, our fists, our brains, we don’t need gun powder!
Remember, Prince Abinawah, on you I will depend… “But Dad,” Abinawah exclaimed, “you haven’t met my friend!” A gorgeous girl, so sweet and fun, I call her Clementine. I have her picture cause some day she’ll be a wife of mine!
Xena: That’s right, long one, go bother Lucy. I’m stayin’ here with my Daddy. *singing to herself* “There ain’t no mountain high enough, ain’t no valley low enough, ain’t no Chia wide enough, to push me away from you, Daddy.”
Thanks to Miss Sandee at Comedy Plus for hosting Awww Monday!
Hi! It’s me, Riley! I’m RiBoy, the BDay boy today! And I’m 13 years young. Mom Amy’s got a special treat for all my friends…13 pictures of me! She’s gonna start with when I was just a whippersnapper, and work her way up to now. I hope you enjoy them!
Clockwise (Mom Amy told me how to do clockwise) 1. My first week in my new home, November 2010 2. My first birthday, May 1, 2011 3. Me with my girlfriend Maebe in 2012. We’d been working on our joint Freestyle routine. A few days later when we got to the venue where we were to perform, Maebe dumped me and wouldn’t even do our routine. (She found out I’d been making eyes at a gorgeous white standard poodle.) 4. Me with my boy. He and his Mom and my person Andrew lived with us for 2 years. I moved out with them when they left. I’ve been back to stay several time since then, and I’m pretty sure this is my real home again.
Here we go with years 2014 through 2017 1. Me and Lucy were great friends (and still are) and played together and sometimes even ran away together. Mom always found us. 2. That’s me and My Person Andrew up at Rock City for Rocktoberfest. 3. 2016 is the year Lexi crossed the bridge. We’re at My Person Andrew’s house. I was telling her everything was going to be ok. 4. Me and my Little Buddy Piper in 2017. He joined Lexi the next year.
Me, Lucy and Xena. I think Xena’s a bit afraid of me, so that would be why she doesn’t bother me much. Here, taken in 2020 we’re the 3 amigos!
Chia appeared on the scene, as they say, and brought out the puppy in all of us.
This is from Christmas last year (2022). I got my Racky D, and he’s only the second stuffie who I haven’t deadied. Right now he’s soaking up some sun in a lawn chair in the dog lot. I might go out and play with him.
Chia can be braver than she is smart. Earlier this year she slid off the top of the couch onto my back, pulled the blanket down to make a bed and settled in for a nap. On me! I decided to let this travesty go and save my energy for bigger fish, as they say.
I hope you enjoyed my meander down memory lane in pictures. I hear My Person Andrew is coming over after work today, and I think there may be an order in for pizza. I love my raw diet…I’ve never had such a good appetite as for that food. I come running every morning and evening when I hear it being prepared. But pizza…*drool*
Hoping to see you again in May 2024 and lots of times in between!
Xena: I’m thankful for Chia making me feel like a young pup again. She’s a lot of fun to play with, and I’m always thinking up new ways to get her to chase me and play with me, instead of her getting in trouble for bothering Lucy.
Chia: I’m thankful for my sis Xena. She never gets mad at me or gets me in trouble (I do that without anyone’s help). I hope someday I’ll be able to be the church dog, too!
Chia: We decided to do something called “collaborate” on the picture poem today. It was really Xena’s turn, but she wanted us to do it together.
Xena: Our poem today was written by me, Xena and me, Chia. I start it out, and then Chia gets every other line.
DreamLand by Xena the Schnauzer and Chiathe Jacksund
I found a place where my dreams play And where my thoughts will often stray. A place that’s a fancy curly que, One built just for me and you. We sing and dance and have such fun, We hop and skip and then we run! The grasses all are good to eat, And then we stop to wash our feet! I hate to wake from this sweet dream But I heard someone say, “Ice cream!”
Thanks, Teddy and Angel Sammy from Two Spoiled Cats for the picture inspiration for today’s poem!
Hey friends, this is Riley. My first thankful today is that I get to do a post a lot more since Xena took over the blog. Angel Lexi was very selfish with her blog, and only grudgingly let anyone else (me) post anything. So thanks, little sis.
My second thankful is even better. It has two parts. Part one: My Person Andrew came with me and Mom Amy to the vet for me to get my diagnostic X-rays and an ultrasound on my tummy and chest. It was to see if I had a heart murmur or what was going on. Even though I was really high on some good sh*t Mom Amy gave me, I still knew he was there with me and it made me feel even more good than the drugs.
Part two: The tests showed no fluid in my abdomen or in my chest. It did show my heart is slightly enlarged, but all y’all already know I have a big heart, right? *grin* No heart drugs or anything else is needed. I’m feeling good and am eating all I can get ahold of and playing with Chia a little bit and also my stuffies. Hey, I’m gonna be 13 in just under a month, woohoo! Hope I get something good for my birthday!!
Xena: Thanks Riley. I’m glad you understand this is still my blog that I inherited from Angel Lexi. And you can use it anytime you want, since you inherited the position of alpha dog from her.
I’m gonna be real thankful when my right ear is back to normal. The culture the vet place did showed it’s full of yeast, but no bacteria. the new med that Mommy has to put in my ear every day hasn’t helped at all. So now — because we’re at the “end of our rope” — I have to take a half a pill called prednisone. I sure hope that works. I hear everyone gets extra hungry when they take that pill, but I’m a schnauzer, meaning I’m always extra hungry!
Those are our Thankfuls, so next up is our picture poem! Oh, and thanks to Angel Sammy for another great picture.
Angel Lexi the Schnauzer by Xena Schnauzer Warrior Princess
An empty slate, like an empty plate, Always leaves you wanting more. It’s so unfulfilling and makes you unwilling To turn around and walk out the door.
Our Angel Lexi took steps whence she Could fill the void on the wall Our hearts still miss her, our wonderful sister, But she still has the power to enthrall.
Thanks to Angel Sammy for giving us a blank slate to work with today!
First, big wags to Rosy and Sunny over at the LLB Gang for hosting Nature Friday!
Riley: Mom Amy seems to love the wild violets we’re seeing everywhere. These are in our dog lot. It’s a wonder they survive what is always happening out there.
Xena: Hey there, totally changing the subject, we’ve got our very own grazing grass right here in our side/back yard. You see, Mommy left parts of a bale of straw sitting around after Halloween last fall, and they started to grow grass. Our side and backyard is losing dirt and grass, so that was a pleasant surprise! Riley found it first and we heard him say, “Mmmmmm, so goooood!” So of course, the next time we got out in the yard, we all had to check it out!
Chia walked through first to see what all the fuss was about and to sample it.
Chia’s like our Mikey from that cereal commercial. So if Chia liked it we knew to jump right in. Lucy and me, we staked out our claim.
Then, because Chia thinks she has to be close to Lucy at all times, she went and started grazing in Lucy’s area.
Lucy: I didn’t care, as long as she didn’t start her crap with me. I am just so over that. Thank goodness she was too interested in this new treat we’d found.
Meanwhile…
Riley: Hey, where’d everyone go?
Xena, Lucy and Chia wishing everyone a happy Friday. Hey, where’d Riley go?
Xena: As promised, I am back today to tell you about my 3 hour trip to south Georgia to my breeder’s, Grammy Toni. It was a real nice day and a nice ride down the interstate. I mostly slept in my favorite kennel in the back seat of the car while Mommy drove.
Sorry for the bad picture. The kennel is soft and blue and has a fluffy pillow and my stuffie JenJen bear and my stuffie Priscilla.
Mommy warned me that there would be two fellas there with their schnauzers that they got from Grammy, too. Here are their “babies.”
L-R Katie Ann, Savanah, Bo
We’re all cousins, or something like that. Let’s just say we’re related.
I was really nervous about the whole thing. New place. New people, new floor to have to walk on. And most of all, seven new dogs to meet. I have to admit, I didn’t do so well at the meet and greet.
I mostly sat in Mommy’s lap or under Mommy’s chair. All the other schnauzers came up to me to sniff me and say hello, and I growled at them. I didn’t lift my lip or anything, I was just kinda scared. Not shaking-in-my-furs scared, just stay-away-from-me scared. The men were really nice and knew all about schnauzers, so they tried real easy-like to be friends with me, and I even got a treat from one of them. (This trip was rather short on treats.)
Mommy sat down on the floor and had what she called a Schnauzer-Fest. It made her really happy, and she kept smiling and offering to take one or the other of them home with us. But they all said they liked where they were, thank you very much. (Do you think it was cause of me?) Anyhoo, we found out that I’m related to all of Grammy’s schnauzers, too. Grammy lost her heart dog just a few months ago, and the fellas kept saying how much I look like him. When Mommy saw his picture, she couldn’t believe how true that was, and said she would have sworn that was me. He was my brother. What do you think?
This is Socrates. This is NOT me.
I would have liked a lot to have met my brother Socrates yesterday…we were twinsies for real! And then Grammy would be happy, too. So me and Mommy, we’re dedicating this post to Socrates (I will call him Socrates the Great), who is on the other side of the Rainbow Bridge.
I'm Dalton, a Rat terrier mix and I came here in Sept, 2017, I was rescued from Hurricane Harvey. My birthday is 8-20-2016. My Gotcha Day is 8-27-2017. And I am Benji, a terrier mix of unknown origin. MY Birthday is June 6, 2018, and my Gotcha Day is Dec 28, 2018. I also was a rescue from a different part of Texas. We also have Angel MrJackFreckles, (2-5-2018); and also we have Angel Minko, (6-18-2017); and Angel Pipo, (11-3-2020);There are also Angels Groucho, Simba, Suki, & Toki. We meezers used to be known as WeBeesSiameezers. We'e all from Michigan, Dalton and Benji both came here from Texas, as rescues..
Xena Schnauzer Warrior Princess with Lucy and Chia 