Xena: This week it’s Lucy’s turn to do a selfie. She hates having her picture taken, so I selflessly volunteered to be in the picture with her, making it an “ussie.”
OK, Lucy, look at Mommy. She’s got two fish oil pills in her hand, and you get one of them if you look at her. You know you want one!
Good girl, Lucy! You did great! I’ll help you every time it’s your turn. Now, for that fish oil…
Have a great Sunday, everyone! XOX Lucy and Xena Schnauzer Warrior Princess
If you remember our Lexi the Schnauzer, you probably remember her boyfriend Noodle. Today we are giving him the Sunday Selfie spot.
This photo is from a year ago. Noodle’s Mom no longer has a blog for him, but she does have a FB page. So where are we going with this? Today is Noodle’s 12th birthday! If you like, you can drop by here to wish him a happy birthday.
Noodle was going to be Lexi’s VM when she won the mayoral election (I have to say “when”, since she would have been extremely upset if I had said “if.”):
And he took her on some very romantic trips:
Let’s dance, Lexi!I love you, Lexi, and to prove it I brought us lunch.You look beautiful with your ears and beard flying back in the wind!
Thanks to Comedy Plus for hosting Wordless Wednesday Blog Hop so everyone can witness what happened to me for having Mommy up since 2:00 this morning, asking for help with my allergies and the flea that bit my ear!)
Xena: What did you say, Mom? It’s time for a Sunday selfie?
OK, will this work?
I can do better? Sorry, I’m in the middle of playing, and trying to ignore the thunder.
Chia: Hey XeBoo, do you see this thing on the carpet?
Xena: How can I see anything on the carpet when I’m laying on my back, LongBoo?
Xena: I’m not seeing anything, but there’s a good smell here I think I’ll roll in.
Chia: You don’t see it because…
…because it’s in my mouth!
Happy Sunday and a service announcement from Chia: Besides being the 4th of July, tomorrow’s another special day for me! I’ll letcha’all know what kind of fun we have…maybe tomorrow, maybe the next day. OK? Luv ya!
Hi friends, and thanks to The Kitties Blue for hosting Selfie Sundays every week! Today I want to show you a selfie with me and one of my new good friends, Arty.
Remember when Arty stayed with us a few days not long ago? He heard about these selfies and I told him I would help him with his first one. He did really great…with a little help from a friend. We both wish you a great last week of June!
Hi, all my friends! I know you must have been laying awake last night wondering if I had a good birthday. You can sleep well tonight knowing I did. I want to tell you about my day, OK?
The first thing to tell is that we have all been taking turns sleeping in bed with Mommy and Daddy. But I got to sleep in bed with them the last two night as a special treat for my birthday. Besides that, Mommy says I’m her special, baby girl, and loves to fall asleep holding me. Except when my bee hind is in her face, of course. When we got up, Mommy looked at me and said those dreaded five words, “You need a bath.” Then she added, “But it’s your birthday, so we’ll wait ’til tomorrow.”
When Mommy checked her email, she found this:
While it was nice to get a card from the AKC, it would have been nicer to get the cupcake!
After breakfast, Mommy took me outside , not in the fenced dog lot and let me do my thing.
These drainage pipes have always fascinated me, so I decided to check them out. Mommy ran over one of them with the lawnmower this year, so it was easy to stick my head in it.
I’m sure I smell something in there. Is it another chippie?
Come out, come out, wherever you are!
Fine! I’ll just lay here and wait.
Maybe it’s lizards. I haven’t had any lizards to chase since the snake ate them all last summer.
I can smell you!
I thought maybe the critter got out and ran along the wall, but I still couldn’t find it!
OK, Mommy, I’m done with that, and ready to move on.
I love our backyard. There’s so many things to smell! I’ve gotta decide where to go next. I could spend the whole day out here!
I decided to ‘splore behind the shed. It’s one of my favorite places, with lots of leaves and wood and especially smells!
I don’t usually get to run through the wooded area, so I tried to be careful and not get in any poison ivy.
My last place to ‘splore was the cactus garden. I found a new chippie hole and got my nose all the way down it, but didn’t find a chippie. I’ll check back later.
After all that digging and ‘sploring, Mommy changed her mind and I got a bath after all. Drat. But, along with it being my b-day, it gets me another night in the big bed!
The next nice thing was Mommy filling up all the treat puzzles and giving them to us.
Riley wouldn’t eat his breakfast today, but I noticed that he not only got all the treats out of his puzzle, but he checked out all of ours when we were done. I helped Lucy a little bit, too. Hers is just like mine, and I showed her how to do it better.
Chia: Does this mean I have to wish Xena a happy birthday?
Xena: Ignore her. We find that usually works best. So tonight, I got lots more meat in my supper, and I’m ready to chill out with Mommy. With that said, I’ll say nighty night, and wish you a great Wednesday.
We got news last night of River Song of Small Tales suddenly having to cross the Rainbow Bridge. We are all very sad about that, and offer POTP and prayers for her family. Run free, dear friend.
Xena: Wow, there is so much to tell! My most exciting news is that I finally lived up to my name, Xena Schnauzer WARRIOR Princess, (I had the Schnauzer and Princess parts perfected already). You see, Aunt Bobbi brought her dog Daisy, who is the size of like a cattle dog or something. I barked at her and chased her back into her kennel. After that, I chased her back there every time I saw her. Then my Aunt Jenny (NOT Auntie Jen) brought her Australian Shepherd type dog over, and guess what! She was scared of me too!! I am The Dominator!
I reigned from this chair.
Lucy: I spent a lot of time with my Aunt Bobbi and Uncle Dennis. And my Grandma. She loves me.
Everyone was tense and there was some raised voices over major (and minor) decisions that had to be made. I don’t like that, it’s scary. But I tried to put some of my Zen energy to work for my family.
Chia: I already told you my story of my Runabout while I was at home with our new sitter. I was good for her after that And she made sure I didn’t “escape” again. I played with Riley and took naps, dreaming up more ways to get to run the neighborhood.
Then I heard about how stressed I made everyone while I was gone on my adventure, so I decided to stay home. Or at least come right back if I got a chance to “stretch my legs.” The same night my pawrents got home, we had a visitor. Her name is Kim and she lives in the Philippines. I could tell she didn’t take to me immediately, so I made sure she knew I wanted her to hold me a lot. When she started taking just me on leashed runs around the neighborhood, I knew I had my new best friend. She “baby held” me like Mom holds Xena, and rubbed my belly and talked to me and explained why some things I growled were not nice and I shouldn’t be talking like that. Last night I put my new “come right back when I get loose” strategy to a test, and came right back when Kim called me. She left today. I may have to go looking for her…
Xena: Something sad happened, too, while I was at my Grandma’s house. I was walking around the house with my family and came across a poor chippie who had passed away.
I came up to her and sniffed her and gently nudged her, then stared for a while in case she was “playing possum,” but she had already crossed the bridge. I don’t know what happened to her…there was no sign of foul play. Mommy was assigned the task of burying her, but Uncle Dennis did it. When he came in and said he had taken care of the chippie, we asked if he had said the mourner’s Kaddish over her. He said he did. Then we asked if he gave a eulogy for her. He said he did. Then we asked if he gave her a proper burial. He said he did. May the chippie’s soul rest in peace.
Riley: I really liked our new sitter, even if she let my friend Chia get away and stopped searching for her when it got dark. She missed work that day, but hey, who let Chia get loose, right? I liked Kim who came to visit, too. She pets good. I slept with her every night. She says I snore…all night long.
Then we had another surprise. Artie, who stayed with us one other time, came over on Tuesday night to stay a few days while his folks were out of town. There sure has been a lot of shuffling dogs around. I’m glad I just got to stay here at home.
We all like Arty; he’s a good dog and a really funny boy. He came walking out of the bedroom with my Rainey Reindeer. Mom caught him and took Rainey before Arty got into major trouble with me. Instead, she gave him Winter Bear and Oscar, who was almost done-for already. He took them back to MY bed in Mom’s bedroom and played with them for a while. The next morning I finished deading Oscar. May he rest in peace.
Xena: That’s all we can think of to tell you right now. But we’re sure there will be something else soon…there always is!
XOXOX Love and licks and wags and wiggles from Riley, Lucy, Xena and Chia
Xena: It’s been quite a visit. I learned a few things, like what it’s like to have unwanted attention, how to let someone down easy, how good pig poop tastes…speaking of which…
three days agoin Auntie Jen’s back yard
Mom: Xena, stop eating that grass and come on in the house….Xena….do you hear me?? Xena! Mommy walks toward meand sees this (WARNING: The next picture contains a poop image and may not be appropriate for all readers)
Yep, real, fresh pig poop. Mmmmm
Mommy: OMG, you’re eating pig poop! Xena: Don’t freak, Mommy. Wait, why are you texting Auntie Jen? No, please don’t make me vomit, I won’t do it again (paws crossed). As it ended up, I wasn’t forced to vomit and my tummy never even got upset! However, a couple of days later, Lucy also discovered these delectable morsels. Mommy suspected Lucy had eaten some, but since I didn’t get sick, she didn’t do anything about/to Lucy. Then at 2:58 a.m. Mommy woke up to a retching sound. One of the big dogs jumped off the bed and there was a vomiting sound. The culprit jumped back in the bed and acted like nothing had happened. Mommy finally got up and turned on the bedroom light. She saw a pile of fresh-ish meat, apple, broccoli, and some unidentifiable matter. . yep, it was Lucy’s. After that, she began cleaning the yard up every day and following us around outside.
Xena: Yesterday when Mommy opened Morty’s Bathroom Apartment door for him to come out for supper, she found this:
That’s Morty’s Teddy facedown in Morty’s used litter. Did Teddy need to go potty? Or maybe he was hungry!
Xena: That takes us to today, and boyfriend drama. *sigh*
heard very early this morning…
Achilles: I wish you wouldn’t keep your back to me, Lucy
Lucy: I wish you wouldn’t flirt with my little sister.
Later in the morning:
Ella: Hey girl. I hear you’re leaving soon. Love you, friend.
Lucy: Hey girl. I love you too, friend.
Xena: I’m sorry, Achilles, that I hurt your feelings. I want you to know it’s not you, it’s me. I just want to stay single and close to my Mommy.
Why are you looking over my shoulder, Achilles?
Achilles: Lucy! I’m so glad to see you! Ignore her. You’re my girlfriend, remember?
Lucy: Goodbye, Achilles. I’ll see you next time. I’m going to have to think about our relationship.
Achilles: Why do girl dogs have to make it all so difficult? I’m a good boy. Everyone says so. Xena is just…different. She looks and acts so different than me or Lucy. That’s why I keep looking at her. Maybe next time I can just look at Lucy and she’ll be happy.
Xena: Uh, Mommy, after my shampoo and blow dry and pedicure, I’m ready to go home and cuddle in my daddy’s lap. I’m even ready to play with Chia. I hear she and Riley have been playing a lot while we’ve been gone. I also heard she managed to get the porch screen door open and had a bit of a runabout.
Are you packed? Are we ready to go? I call dibs on the backseat kennel!
*John Denver, I’m Leaving on a Jet Plane lyrics:
All my bags are packed I’m ready to go I’m standin’ here outside your door I hate to wake you up to say goodbye But the dawn is breakin’ It’s early morn The taxi’s waitin’ He’s blowin’ his horn Already I’m so lonesome I could die So kiss me and smile for me Tell me that you’ll wait for me Hold me like you’ll never let me go ‘Cause I’m leavin’ on a jet plane Don’t know when I’ll be back again Oh babe, I hate to go There’s so many times I’ve let you down So many times I’ve played around I tell you now, they don’t mean a thing Every place I go, I’ll think of you Every song I sing, I’ll sing for you When I come back, I’ll bring your wedding ring So kiss me and smile for me Tell me that you’ll wait for me Hold me like you’ll never let me go ‘Cause I’m leavin’ on a jet plane Don’t know when I’ll be back again Oh babe, I hate to go Now the time has come to leave you One more time Let me kiss you Then close your eyes And I’ll be on my way Dream about the days to come When I won’t have to leave alone About the times, I won’t have to say Kiss me and smile for me Tell me that you’ll wait for me Hold me like you’ll never let me go ‘Cause I’m leavin’ on a jet plane Don’t know when I’ll be back again Oh babe, I hate to go But, I’m leavin’ on a jet plane Don’t know when I’ll be back again Oh babe, I hate to go.
Chia: Hi friends! You never know who you’re gonna run into out there in your own yard or on a walk or even on a runabout. So you’ve gotta be ready! Here’s what you do when you run into a big dog.
First, you grab them by the neck.
Then, you wrestle them to the ground:
Next, you make them say woof, woof, you win!
Finally, you run like H. E. Double hockey sticks when they rise from their defeat!
Xena: That was some performance, sis. So where you goin’ now?
Chia: Lookin’ for my next big dog to dominate.
Xena: Sometimes I’m just plain thankful I’m a small dog.
Hi, this is Lucy, and since I’m the Ace Reporter in the family, I was asked to let y’all know where we are. Our Auntie Jen and Uncle Bill have to be out of town for a very difficult situation in the family involving someone they love very much. I’m not at liberty to give details. But I can tell you that Mom brought me and Xena with her on a three hour drive to take care of my BFF Ella, my boyfriend Achilles, and the pig Mortimer, aka Morty. Let’s see how it’s goings…
Lucy: When we arrived last evening around supper time, Ella was super excited to see me and I was grinning from ear to ear. It was past our supper time (we had driven to where it was an hour earlier than where we live) so Mom got right on with fixing everyone their meals. She read the instructions Auntie Jen left and had just scooped Achille’s food into his bowl when Morty the pig threw his nose up against the bottom of her hand that was holding the bowl. Kibble flew everywhere and we stood back while the race was on between Mom and Morty. Who would get the most kibble from the floor!? The kitchen floor is slick for someone who walks on hooves, so Mom was able to keep pushing Morty back, but he was determined. In the end, we think it was a tie.
After breakfast today, we all got to go outside for a while.
Mom knew to shake the treat bag when she called Morty to come in. He came running!
He got a treat for coming, then some more when he followed her back to his “bathroom apartment.”
Then Mom checked on the rest of us…
Mom: Ella, what are you doing?
Xena: She’s hunting chippies, like I do, Mommy. Ella: Mmph, mmph. Mom: Ella, please get your head out of there. Lucy: After Mom made Ella move her head, it appeared that Ella had been licking dirt and stones. (Sounds more like a Chia move.) So Mom put something over the hole. That’s when Ella decided she wanted to go back in the house, too.
Lucy: I spent the whole day outside enjoying the sunshine and the grass and the big yard.
I rolled and watched birds and shared the yard with Morty and sometimes Xena and Mom, too. Achilles had to stay inside most of the time because of his allergies.
But when he was out here, he had a good time. Mom threw his toys for him to chase and he played keep away with her.
After Xena snoopervized Mom “cleaning” the yard, they both went inside, too.
Mom: Come on Xe, let’s get all those allergens off you with a nice bath. Wait, what are you doing?
Xena: I’m practicing my “back” for Freestyle. See how fast I can do it?
Mom: *catching Xena* I know you had a bath yesterday, but (and here comes those dreaded words) it’ll be good for you.
Achilles: What’s goin’ on? Xena, you gettin’ a bath?
Xena: What’s it look like, Achilles? Did you think I was running the 500 or something? Sheesh, you can be almost as big a dufus as Angel Lexi used to say Riley was.
Xena: Why do you keep staring at me? Achilles: I like to watch.
*meanwhile*
Ella: Lucy, you might want to check out what’s going on in the bathroom.
Lucy: Achilles! What are you doing?
Why are you in here with Xena when she’s taking a bath?
Xena: He said he likes…
Achilles: *interrupting Xena* Uh, well, you see, she’s your little sister, and I like to make sure she’s OK. Looks like your Mom has everything under control and I can leave now.
Lucy: Mom, when are we going home?
Mom: Well, friends, it seems my Ace Reporter is done reporting today, so I’ll help her sign off with wags and hopes that Achilles and Lucy make up tonight.
We are joining Angel Arty, Jakey, Rosy and Sunny of the LLB Gang with much thanks for hosting Nature Friday.
At the beginning of the year, our Mom and Dad took a trip to Knoxville, where they danced and visited restaurants and old houses. Us and our sitter, Miss Christy, told y’all about it here.
Today, for Nature Friday, we want to show you the gardens at the Blount Mansion that they visited on that trip.
SundialCold Meat Storage
We didn’t think one of our blog posts would be complete without pictures of us, too!
Priscilla: Where were you? We looked everywhere. Shania: You know the Mom’s office got moved out of our house, right? *Everyone nodding* So Lambie had to go, too, since she was actually given to the synagogue, not to us. *Everyone nodding* Xena thought it would be safer for me to go keep Lambie company for a while than to stay here. Chia had her “deadie the stuffie” eyes on me, and Riley was unpredictable. Ludwig: I sent out a search party, but no one could find you. And the squirrels never came back, either. Chippie: You sent squirrels? Squirrels?! Sweetheart: Never mind that. Sometimes Ludwig gets into the bottom shelf of the pantry. What we want to know is if you’re ok and why you’re back now? Shania: All the Mom told me before putting me in her carry bag to come home was that we were leaving and not coming back, so tell Lambie goodbye. Oh look, there’s Lucy! She’s the sweetest pup! Aghh, I’m falling!
Xena: Welcome home, Shania. You can ride in my kennel with me again and get magically transported to other places! Chia: Gotcha!
You’re mine now. Shania: HELP!! Riley: Chia! Drop it!
Riley: So, you’re back, Shania. Shania: *pant, pant* Yes, Riley, thanks for saving me from Chia.
Riley: No problem! Hmm, you might have a flea here…and here…and… Lucy: Riley, my friend, can I please have Shania? She’s really not worth your time. I know you’re in charge here, and you have much more important things to do, like keeping Chia from swiping your bone, right?
Shania: Thanks, Lucy. One big gulp and I woulda been gone. No wonder the Mom sent me away!
Lucy: Well, you’re back now, Shania, so stay safe, little girl. Maybe you’ll go again when my Mom gets another job. I sure hope I can go, too! And, uh, you might want to wash your ear.
This is fiction in that I, servant of my dogs, have written it from the dog’s perspective. You will know what in it is true and what is my speculation of her thoughts and feeling. The final line has two connotations. As many know, we lost our Lexi in May of 2016.
The Show opened!
That’s me in the middle
Last night the show I’m in–the Wizard of Oz– opened and I got to perform on-stage for the first time ever! It was a Thursday night and there were a lot of older people, which was great, since I really relate to that age bracket. I have had lots of practice with my Grandma, after all. Dorothy was about to take me out on stage with the old-looking new leash she had gotten for the part when Jeffery the director said, “No. We aren’t using a leash.” You should have seen the looks on both my Dorothy and my Mom’s faces. Dorothy took a deep breath and I think Mom started praying. No one knew what I would do since I had never been able to show them that I am a born actor. We had rehearsed a lot and I knew my part and did it. When I first ran out to Dorothy on cue and the audience breathed a collective sigh of “Awwwwww,” that sealed it. I knew I had found my calling. I would have done anything to hear that again. Then when I stole the hot dog from the stick like I was supposed to do and everyone laughed, I knew I loved this job more than anything. Dorothy had treats hidden in her socks and gave me lots of them during the play. Mom helped by always waiting off-stage where I was supposed to run when it was time and she always had a treat for me too. I think I am in heaven.
LexiToto the happy Schnauzer
If you wish to join in Final Friday Fiction, follow the link here.
Lucy: Hey Xena, you went shopping with Mom. Did she get her basil to plant? I might try some of it this year.
Xena: I don’t think so. Something about still having nights below 40.
Chia: We better get more dogs if she needs more than 40 at night! Are you sure she didn’t say she needs more than four? That we’re getting another dog? Woohoo! We’re getting another dog, another dog I can be boss of!
Lucy: No, no more dogs. So, Xena, where did y’all go?
Xena: Oh, we just went to the big store with big carts that attacked me. I was brave and *quiver* hidbehindMomandshehadtocarryme. Then she bought a really big bowl which I hoped is my new food bowl and dirt, which I totally don’t understand since we have plenty of dirt in the dog lot. Remember when we came home and she dumped the dirt out in the woods from that other, smaller bowl and then poured the new dirt into what I hoped was my new food bowl and dug a hole in it for the plant thingie?
Lucy: Oh yeah. I remember her saying the aloe plant had a ton of new babies and outgrew its current pot. There it is on the porch table, with the mama plant surrounded by all her babies. So cute!
Chia: Then she took the other house plant that wasn’t looking so good and dumped all the dirt out in the woods – and I didn’t manage to get out of the fence that time – and pour a bunch of new dirt in the same pot.
It must like it’s new dirt cause it’s already looking better! I wonder what it tastes like. Hey! There’s my stone up there with it. Hey, Xena Sis, whatcha doin’?
Xena: Watching the plants grow.
We are joining Jakey, Rosy and Sunny (happy birthday month, Sunny) of the LLB Gang with much thanks for hosting Nature Friday.
2013: Maggie was 5 years old when she first started coming to Groomer Mom. She and her sister Dora were our neighbors down the road.
2018: Maggie and Dora used to come and stay with us sometimes when their Mom and Dad went on trips. The same as all of, she liked her tummy rubs.
2019: Even after they moved about 15 minutes away, Maggie and Dora kept coming to get beautified by Groomer Mom every four or five weeks. We always loved to see them coming.
2022: This picture of Maggie was taken earlier this year. She was having a lot of trouble with her back legs. She would wobble and fall down, and sometimes fall over backwards when she sat down. Groomer Mom held her a lot, and made sure she was supported and safe during her grooms.
Groomer Mom knew that it wouldn’t be long before precious Maggie crossed the rainbow bridge with help from her loving pawrents. We still love you, Maggie, and will see you someday on the other side.
With love to Maggie’s family, who gave her a wonderful 13 years.
This is the fourth in our series of blogs about when Lexi was the theater dog. In this one, she is just beginning to feel the importance of her new role as the star of the show…
Publicity pictures
PUBLISHED ON
August 19, 2006
I got to go back to the Theatre Center and got interviewed by someone from a newspaper. I tried to answer some of the questions but I think the lady only wrote down what Mommy said. I had my picture taken a bunch with Dorothy. I decided I like having my picture taken and posed very nicely outside right next to Dorothy’s red shoes. All of her they got in the picture was her red shoes. Ha, ha, won’t she be surprised! The camera lady said I was very photogenic. What’s photogenic?
I sure hope some puppy doesn’t peepee on my picture!
When I was a young pup and having a great time chewing to shreds my potty paper, who would have thought that some day I would be featured in a newspaper? Yep, there I am, posing so beautifully with Dorothy on the front page of the Lifestyle section of the Chattanooga Times Free Press. Maybe the lady will give some of the pictures to my Mommy and she will put them on my web page.
I followed Dorothy everywhere during rehearsal. I was soooo excited to see her. She came over to my house last week and played with me. Then she came back another day just to take me for ice cream. I wonder how she knew I love ice cream best of all? She is my special friend now. I heard her talking to Mommy about coming to see me again. She is going to come pick me up from my Grandma’s. Dorothy said something about taking me on TV with her. That sounds so silly. Why on earth would she want to be on a TV? I hope I don’t have to sit on the TV. It is up a little too high and I might fall off. I am not a cat, you know.
I love rehearsal now. I get lots and lots of treats. And lots and lots of petting and “good girls”. But especially lots of treats. Everyone is very impressed that I bark when Mommy tells me. Once she remembered the right word to tell me to bark, I understood and now I bark every time she says it. It goes back to me learning to “stay” while we were at the park. First Mom would tell me to “heel,” then “sit,” then “stay.” When it was ok for me to get up again, Mom would say, “free!” The first thing I would do when she said “free” was to jump up and bark, then take off running. So now when Mom wants me to bark, all she has to do is say “free!”
It is late and I want to go to bed now. I always get a treat at bedtime!
Woof, woof! (And a special woof at the witch’s old hat!!)
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 