Many thanks to Comedy Plus for hosting Happy Tuesday.
One day last week me and Lucy followed our peeps bro Andrew outside. Mommy didn’t miss me until she heard me out front barking at an interloper walking past our house. She started calling me, but couldn’t find me anywhere until she looked out the front door. I ran in when she called, and I got lots of “good girl’s.” I don’t know why I got good girls, but along with them came a super good treat, so I’m not going to ask why. Treats make me happy.
Today we were headed out for a walk, and I hadn’t gotten my hated harness on yet when I made a dash for the yucca plant. If there’s one thing I love (and there’s lots!) it’s hunting small critters. That makes me super happy! Here’s how it started:
And suddenly I, the mighty [lizard] hunter, sighted my prey:
Do you see my happy indicator going? Now y’all know what I was doing out front by myself last week! That sly lizard is still there, so I will have another go at him soon.
I once was a puppy in Jackson. At three months I moved to my mansion. And there I stood still Looking out from my hill While perched on my red leather stanchion.
I remember doing this when I was a puppy. I guess things haven’t changed much.
We are joining Comedy Plus with much thanks for hosting Awww Mondays.
So you probably think I mean Sunday goes by fast. Nope. It’s just the opposite. Sunday is a s-l-o-w day. Why? Here’s what’s been happening on Sunday evenings.
Why’s Mommy still sitting out on the porch? It’s way past our supper time.
Oh crapola. This is Sunday. Why can’t she ever forget what day it is. Lucy! Go out and get Mommy! Start bugging her. Tell her we’re dying from hunger. We have to campaign for our supper.
I just don’t get why a night when you don’t eat is called a “fast” day. I wonder how long until breakfast.
Xena: Today we are thankful for some of our favorite things. I’ll go first. I’m thankful every time Mommy fills my food bowl. I have the self discipline to wait and not dive into it until she says, “Free!” Otherwise, I lose my supper for at least 87 seconds, and that’s a terrible thing to do to a starving schnauzer!
Do you want to know what all I got this time? Green tripe, chickie paw, spinach, saurkraut, orange bell pepper and blueberries! Those are all some of my favorite things!
Lucy: I have a lot to be thankful for too.
I love my friends and am so thankful for them.
From the left, that is my boyfriend Achilles, my BFF Ella and my house buddy Riley.
Riley: I love my reindeer.
I am thankful Miss Amy gave him to me for Christmas.
These are all just a few of our favorite things!
XOX from Xena, Lucy and Riley
Raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens Bright copper kettles and warm woolen mittens Brown paper packages tied up with strings These are a few of my favorite things Cream colored ponies and crisp apple strudels Door bells and sleigh bells and schnitzel with noodles Wild geese that fly with the moon on their wings These are a few of my favorite things Girls in white dresses with blue satin sashes Snowflakes that stay on my nose and eyelashes Silver white winters that melt into springs These are a few of my favorite things When the dog bites When the bee stings, When I’m feeling sad I simply remember my favorite things And then I don’t feel so bad
Click on the picture to go to the FiveSibes website.
This is a story about a little dog and her cardiological-caused seizures. You can read about the difference between that and true epilepsy caused by neurological seizures here in this short and easy-to-understand article.
I had just lost my first miniature schnauzer, Freda, when I got word that a family needed a home for their little schnauzer. When I met them just off the interstate, the mother told me the dog was about nine months old and had a slight heart murmur. I never did get a “good” reason why they were re-homing her. I brought her home, and we renamed her from Daisy to Evie – our GSD was named Ara (short for Aragorn). I immediately made an appointment with my vet. At the exam, Dr. Sally got a worried look on her face and suggested I take her as soon as possible to UTK (University of Tennessee at Knoxville) vet school. There she was diagnosed with a class 4 heart murmur, about as far from “slight” as you can get and still have a live dog.
Evie’s professional portrait
Since little Evie didn’t have a strong ticker to pump that blood vigorously through her veins, she didn’t have much energy. She couldn’t jump up on the couch or even run through the house. Somehow Ara understood this. Sometimes when I took them out, Ara would run zoomies back and forth in front of Evie, slowing only slightly as he approached her. At that point she would grab ahold of the loose skin under his neck with her teeth and hang on while he ran around the lawn with her. Do you have the image in your head of a GSD running with a large tick swinging from his throat? Go ahead and laugh…that’s what it looked like!
Slowly in that first year with us, Evie began to develop other problems. I held her close to my heart as she experienced her first, terrifying seizure. Because her doctor was aware of her heart problems, she realized this wasn’t true epilepsy, which is caused by neurological problems. Evie’s seizures stemmed from cardiovascular problems. She was placed on anti-seizure medication, which reduced the frequency of the episodes. All we could do was hold and comfort her as these seizures continued throughout her short life.
We tried to help her have as “normal” a life as possible. She thoroughly enjoyed going boating with us.
I got to swim in the water with Ara.
She loved her big brothers.
That’s Sammy on the left. He wasn’t thrilled about another schnauzer in the house, but soon learned that Evie wouldn’t (and couldn’t) dominate him like Freda had.
And, like most pups, she loved to sprawl out in safety and comfort on the big bed.
Zzzzz
Evie had a “thing” for metal objects. Noting this, her loving grandparents bought her a set of old-fashioned metal measuring spoons that she greatly loved to chew on.
One day, shortly before we returned home from work, little Evie quietly left her kennel and her many illnesses behind as she passed over the Rainbow Bridge. She was only 19 months old. She was loved.
You can find your local Epilepsy Foundation and make a donation by clicking here.
Thanks to Comedy Plus for hosting Wordless Wednesday Blog Hop.
Lucy: Right from the first time I met baby Xena, I was so happy to have a sister. We played a lot, inside and outside.
This video was taken when she was still a puppy in 2017. We still run together and play outside every chance we get.
Happy Saint Patricks Day, my friends! May the road rise to meet you and may the wind be always at your back…and until we meet again, may God hold you in the palm of His hand.
Xena: Hey, isn’t it about time for my bears to slither out of hibernation?
Lucy: You mean you haven’t seen them? They’ve already gotten their spring baths – you know how foul they smell after sleeping cuddled up together all winter – and they’re looking for food. Go check out the kitchen.
Xena: *running to kitchen and jumping on the stool* Hey! Why didn’t y’all tell me you were awake?!
Riley: Watcha’ doin? Can I have some of those?
Xena: No! Don’t come near my bears!
Mommy, tell Riley to go away and leave my bears alone.
Shania, what are you doing up here with Rainbow and Winter Bear and Jen Jen, and Sweetheart and Lexi’s Old Bear? You’re a schnauzer, not a bear!
Shania: I saw they were all going to the bath, so I asked if I could join them. I wanted to get Riley the Terminator’s spit off my furs.
Rainbow Bear: We’re hungry. We haven’t eaten all winter. Please get us food. Now.
Did you hear Rainbow Bear, Mommy? Aren’t you going to the store? Would you get them some Bear Food?
*a little later*
Jen Jen Bear: We give thanks to the Great Bear in the sky who is the giver of all good things. And to the Mommy for going to the store.
Brownie Bear: Amen and let’s eat! Mmmm, I heard the nut course is next, then the brocolli course!
Hi there friends. I wanna start by saying sometimes it may seem to you like I’m just a needy, snarky little schnauzer. OK, so sometimes I am. I can give that snarky “look” with the best of them. And I can be relentless in jumping up and down on my hind legs for what seems like the zillionth time in a day for Mommy or Daddy to pick me up and “baby hold” me (or to let me see what’s on the table or counter top or cooking on the stove).
But none of that stops me from being really thankful for what a great life I have. For instance, I am super-duper, over-the-moon thankful that big ol’ Riley hasn’t bitten my head off. I know he could, and I know he would like to sometimes, but he respects the rules, and one of them is No Biting off the Schnauzer’s Head.
This is one of our rare sniff and touch nose moments. That’s Lucy in the background wanting us to quit bonding and play with her.
This next picture is of me as a puppy, wearing that gawd-awful red plaid whatever-you-call-it.
I was only about six months old here.
I saw Mommy put it up for sale on the Nextdoor app. I am so very thankful that 1. It doesn’t fit me anymore, and 2. Mommy’g getting rid of it. No one’s bought it yet, and I can understand why. But it is still out of my life forever.
I am thankful for my very best friend, my sister Lucy. She’s the best sister in the whole world. She understands me, and that takes a lot for a bully breed to understand a terrier breed. But she’s super good at it and never ever gets mad at me for acting like, well, acting like a little sister, I guess. She plays with me and hangs out with me and eats and barks and runs with me, and all that good stuff. We get a bit jealous of each other once in a while, but our folks always make sure we both get lots of attention and the same amount of treats.
I’m thankful for a lot of other stuff too, but I think this is enough for today. There will be more Thankful Thursdays…
Xena: Did you know this is Dr. Seuss Day, Lucy? All kinds of weird and fun things can happen today. Let’s pose for a fun picture.
Don’t look so freaked out. Here, I got us some Dr. Seuss Cat in the Hat hats. Let’s put them on and try another picture.
That’s lots better, Lucy. Lucy? Are you there? Are we here? I’m, I’m starting to feel weird. What’s happening? Do you feel it?
What the? Where are we? What happened? I don’t feel like myself.
We’re not at home anymore, Xexe. (And we’re not in Kansas, either.) It’s like these hats are magical. Don’t look back, but there’s a transparent cat behind us on the couch. I think it’s the REAL Cat in the Hat.
So you wanna chase him?
No! Anyhow he’s gone now. What do you think we should do?
Look! When I get on the couch, the Dr. Seuss saying changes to be just for me!
Oops, there goes my hat.
Yep, that sure is you, little sis. Hop down and let me try it!
Dr. Seuss must know I love to get my teeth brushed and I want to keep them all, so they all get brushed! Say, did you hear that noise? I think someone’s coming…they’re getting closer…and closer…*shudder*
Let’s make a run for it!
Riley: What are y’all doin’ with those silly hats on? Come play with me, Lucy.
Our Angel Lexi lived by many of Dr. Seuss’ sayings. Here she is with one of her favorites.
Xena: Here’s my selfie. Did it turn out good? I’m kinda’ all paws at this.
Mom: Mmm, it really doesn’t show off your beauty, Xena. Want some help?
Xena: How’s this?
Xena: Did this one show off my beauty? Wait, don’t answer, I can tell by the look on your face it didn’t turn out good. This blanket will show off my nice colors. Take my picture here on our bed, Mommy.
How’s this, Mommy?
Mom: I think we can still do better. Let’s try some more.
Lucy: Hey, what are you guys doing? Did you want to take my picture, Mom?
Xena: We are creating art for Selfie Sunday. It’s my turn, so scram!
Lucy: Well, you don’t have to be so hateful about it. You hurt my feelings.
Mom: I think there’s room here for a selfie of my beautiful, sweet, big girl, too. Come on into the kitchen.
Lucy: Thank you Mom, I love you.
We are Lucy and Xena the cheated out of my Sunday Selfie Schnauzer
It was a cold and cloudy night with a promise of snow to come. We were all tucked into bed — Lucy and Riley in Andrew’s bed and me between Mommy and Daddy in the big bed. Suddenly…
Mommy holding nose: Ewww, do you thmell that? I’m pretty sure it’th Thena’th anal glandth. Daddy: Ewww, they really stink! Mommy letting go of her nothe, er, nose: I sure hope they haven’t expressed all over our sheets.
The next morning…
Mommy talking to herself: Ewww, they expressed all over the bottom sheet. *pulls down blankets, removes sheets and throws all in washer with other washables.* After that load is washed and dried… Oh no! It’s gone through to the mattress pad. *removes pad and throws in washer with more washables*
Mommy texting Daddy at his work… “It’s snowing, It’s snowing, Xe’s anal glands are blowing. It’s on the sheets, It’s on the pad, And in the wash they’re going.”
That night I laid under the covers with Mommy’s arm around me. My tail end was facing her nose when… Mommy: OMG! A fart just blew up my nose! Aghh! Daddy: Well, at least it wasn’t her anal glands. Eww, I’m getting it now too!
I got my revenge for that embarrassing poem.
You can get away with a lot when you’re a cute Xena Stinky Schnauzer Warrior Princess
Xena: My Daddy is my only Valentine, so Mommy helped me and Lucy make him a card.
We’re going to print it to give it to him, maybe with one of the cookies Mommy made for us and our friends.
Lucy: Xena, I know you mean well, and even though the cookies are made with yummy stuff that he could eat, I really don’t think Dad wants dog cookies.
Xena: Phtthh. Anyhow, Mommy made cookies to send to Achilles, Ella, and Morty the pig — if they want to share with the pig. One broke, so we got to taste test them. Mmmmm. Cheesy goodness. We heard that Ella loves cheese. Well, who doesn’t, right? Then we made a card to go in the package with the cookies that we’re mailing. I wrote a note on the back, too.
Lucy: I made a special card just for my special guy, Achilles, that’s going in with the cookies too. I sure hope he likes it. I wrote a note on the back of mine to Achilles, too.
We hope you have a good Valentine’s Day and get lots of love and treats.
XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXO from Lucy and Xena Schnauzer Warrior Princess
Many thanks to Brian’s Home for hosting Thankful Thursday.
Lucy: I’m so thankful for my buddy Riley. He’s been with us for about three months. Sometimes his dad stays here too, and sometimes he disappears for a while. Riley gets a little anxious when his dad leaves, so I keep near him to help him know everything is OK.
When Riley is chewing a bone I lay down next to him and share his sunpuddle. (He’s not too keen on sharing the bone.) He likes to play with his Christmas reindeer in the evening, and he wants someone to play with him. I don’t like to play with stuffies, so he barks at Dad and Mom to throw the reindeer and then to play tug-o-war. He’s got a really loud bark! Sometimes Mom grabs the reindeer and starts running through the house with Riley chasing her. They go round and round and round until she finally throws the reindeer for Ri-boy to catch, and that’s the end of that.
He likes to wear the sweater I gave him for Christmas. I think he knows he looks good in it. When it’s extra cold out and his dad isn’t here he wears it to bed like a nightshirt. I’ve been sleeping in the bed with him. When his dad’s here Riley and I sandwich him. When he isn’t, we sleep however we want.
Unike us, Riley likes to sleep in. Xena and I want our breakfast at 6:00 a.m on the dot, and then we go back to bed for our first morning nap. Lots of times Mom has to call Riley to come and eat before she goes down to her basement office at 9:00. If he won’t come, then he has to wait until lunchtime to eat.
Xena: Daddy, Mommy, Lucy’s sleeping with Riley. Daddy: It’s OK, Little One. That means you get us and the bed all to yourself. Xena: Oh. OK then, I won’t tell Achilles.
Lucy: First, the great news! None of the growths on Ella’s gums were malignant. Thank you all for your prayers, good thoughts and POTP’s.
We are joining Comedy Plus with much thanks for hosting Awww Mondays.
Amy (aka The Mom) Recently I came across a video from when I drove three hours to south Georgia to pick out a puppy.
We lost Lexi September 4, 2016. A little over four months later on January 14, 2017 Lucy came into our lives. A few months later, after unsuccessfully trying to find her a home, I was still grieving hard for Lexi. Lucy was laying at my feet when I felt God say to me, “Look down, I gave you this dog.” I started to cry, and went into Jeff’s office to ask him if we could keep her. Without any hesitation he answered, “Yes, of course.” He was already in love with her. Lucy helped heal my heart and prepare the way for another schnauzer to come into our lives.
So, after failed attempts to adopt or rescue a schnauzer, on October 6, 2017, I found another reputable breeder. After my last groom on that Saturday I took off for Jackson, GA. A little boy and a little girl were presented. I wanted them both, but could only get one. The breeder only allowed one adoption at a time, and besides, that’s all the money I had. Of course, I chose Xena. To this day I think of the other one as “Oscar.” I guess that’s how one of our stuffie schnauzers got his name. Can you tell which three-month-old schnauzer I brought home?
Yes, it’s the little cookie monger, the one with the colorful harness.
Xena was scared in the kennel on the three hour drive back home, and had to have a bath before I brought her upstairs.
Lucy was very curious and immediately accepting of her new little sister. She was, and still is, the very best sister a little schnauzer could have.
We are joining Arty, Jakey, Rosy and Sunny of the LLB Gang with much thanks for hosting Nature Friday.
Monkey: Whew. I’m glad we made it up here before Riley got ahold of us. Did you see him take off with the new guy that Xena got for Christmas? I’m afraid he might look like this aloe plant that the Mom left outside in the cold too long. It’s a gonner.
Winter Bear: Yes, I did see Riley stick his big T-Rex head into the kennel and snatch the new guy, and it made me shake all over. Bear only knows what happened to him. I know I’m the Winter Bear, but I think I’ll go hibernate with the rest of the bears until Spring. Maybe it’ll be safer around here by then. Wait! Is that the new guy heading back into Xena’s kennel?
Monkey: Hey there, you, new kid on the block, er, in the house. I’m Monkey. What’s you’re name.
Triceratop: Hi Monkey. No one’s given me a name yet. Unless it’s That Thing, as in, “I hate That Thing.” And, “I don’t know what That Thing is, but it gives me the creeps. And, “Have you seen That Thing move all on it’s own?” Xena’s supposed to be my new dog, but she hates me. I’m afraid she’s going to feed me to that big T-Rex dog. He already got me once, but the Mom rescued me.
Monkey: I don’t understand why Xena would feel that way. But come in here with me and I’ll try to help if he comes back.
That Thing: I’m a hand puppet, and I think I moved in ways that might have scared her when I was trying to play, but she would never admit it, Warrior Princess that she is. She did chase and bite me when I tried to run away from her.
Xena: Hey, You Thing, why are you back. I thought Mommy put you somewhere safe (for us both).
The Thing: I want to be with you and be your friend, even if it means facing down the T-Rex Dog.
Xena: Huh. I think you might mean Riley. And you would risk certain death by him just to be my friend?
Lucy: Hey, whatch’all doin’?
Xena: I am Xena Schnauzer Warrior Princess and NOBODY threatens my friends!
Our friend, Miss Monika from Tails Around the Ranch posted this picture, and gave us permission to show it to all our friends. It says so much about how we all feel.
A few of my favorite pictures/moments of 2020. ..
January 2020 (below) We were at our friends’ house in Nashville, blissfully unaware of how the year was going to play out.
Happy Lucy
Xena and Achilles
Jen and baby Morty
Xena and her Dad at home
February 2020 (below) We actually got some snow!
Xena
Lucy and Xena
Riley
Riley, Xena and Ludwig
March 2020 (below) just before our world changed. We got pictures sent to us of Morty celebrating his first birthday.
Xena
Sleepy Lucy
Morty
Achilles and Morty
April 2020 (below)
Lucy, Dad and Xena
Xena and Oscar
Lucy and Oscar
Lucy and Xena
May 2020 (below)
Xena hunting chipmnk
Lucy
Riley
Xena
June 2020 (below) Xena enjoyed turning 3 years old.
I’m begging-hoof!
Hoof, please.
Xena
Lucy
July 2020 (below) We got a baby in the home office and dogsat while our friends went on a trip.
Lucy with baby Bridger
Lucy
Ella
Jeff and Achilles
August 2020 (below). We travelled to be with family in Indiana to celebrate Jeff’s Mom’s 90th birthday.
Lucy
Jeff’s Mom and Xena
Lucy travelling
Itchy Xena
September 2020 (below). Still working in my home office with the help of Xena and Lucy. Our new back, enclosed porch was finally finished, and Xena found a way onto the table.
Xena in office
Lucy
Xena and Stuffie friends
Xena
October 2020 (below) Lucy and Xena joined the Zoom service with B’nai Zion and became BarkMitzvah-ed. Lucy’s new Hebrew name is Ora (light or shiny), while Xena’s is Grrvurah (warrior, sort of). We took a trip to an Air B&B in Kentucky for our 12th wedding anniversary, and the pups stayed with our frineds in Nashville.
Xena
Xena and Lucy at Greenway
Jeff and Achilles
November 2020 (below) The weather was unseasonably warm and sunny. Our Nashville friends joined us for thanksgiving, and then we leftall four pups home with the dogsitter while we spent a long Thanksgiving weekend at an Air B&B in North Carolina.
Xena and bears
Achilles
Xena hiding
Lucy
December 2020 (below) OK, so the first one is still from November, but just had to include it. Riley is back with us for a while, and so is his Dad Andrew.
Jen and Xena
Riley
Riley and Lucy
Have a very good 2021, from Lucy, Xena, Achilles, Ella, Morty, Riley and Amy
You can come, now, Santa Paws. We’ve been very good all year. Please leave our pressies in front of the fireplace so we can find them. Mom didn’t put up a tree this year.
Xena, running upstairs to Lucy: Do you think it worked?
Lucy: I don’t know. It’s still daylight out, and you were down in your office bed, not in your usual night time bed.
Xena: OK, we’ll just try to stay awake tonight and be real quiet to try to catch Santa Paws in the house.
Lucy: What if he’s reading this?
silence…
Both: Just kidding, Santa Paws!
Love and Merry Christmas from the good dogs Lucy and Xena Schnauzer Warrior Princess
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 