Last Saturday I kept saying, “Come on, come on, let’s go! I’ll drive!”
Daddy said, “No, I’m here, little girl. You sit with your Mom and I’ll get you both there safe.” 
So Daddy drove up Lookout Mountain to Rocktoberfest at Rock City. On our way in, we passed by some pretty flowers, but we are going to save those pictures for Flower Friday. I also got to check out some pumpkins. I tried to carry it so Mommy could make us pumpkin pie, but she said it is easier to buy the kind growing in the can in the store.
So that I didn’t get scared by the band like last year when I was only 4 months old, we found a seat down below the pavilion. This year, it didn’t scare me at all!
Hey Mommy, where’s that polka music coming from? Can we go see? I think my Daddy’s up there. After we went to the pavilion and listened to the music for a while, we went ‘sploring. There are lots of trails and I found some interesting pee mail to read.
It felt chilly outside, so I wore my nice sweater from last year. I hear the styles haven’t changed much, but I’m still asking Santa to bring me some new clothes this Christmas.
We walked on trails that were up high. Did you know that when you are up high, the things below you look small? 
Mommy discovered that I’m not afraid of heights. In fact I jumped up on a great big rock and started to climb it before anyone could stop me. No wonder the place is called Rock City!
There was a steep drop off into a raving vine or something like that, so I turned around and went back to the trail. It was not because Mommy was coaxing me back to her. See, I’m not a-scared at all!
We walked around to where we could see a waterfall, as well as the people up even higher looking out over seven states. I said just get it over with and take me somewhere safer. Daddy said to cut off the top third of the picture to make it balance. Mommy said no way, she wants everyone to see all of it. You can see who won.
Then we went into these dark caverns. Soon, I came upon a gnome making moonshine. Can you see him back there behind me?
I found out that moonshine isn’t light from the moon. Noooo, it’s illegal whiskey, like what Daddy drinks, only his is legal. I don’t really understand the difference. But maybe that’s why the gnome is behind bars, right?
You still there, Mommy? It’s getting pretty dark in here.
Then things went from pretty dark to pretty purple.
There was sparkly, purple light coming from the rocks. I thought maybe it was fairy dust, especially since we had just met a great big fairy person. I looked up and just about jumped out of my skin! A real, live fairy person! The fairy was real sweet to me and we got to be friends right away. She and Mommy knew each other. Before she was a fairy, she was a Dorothy in the Wizard of Oz. Yep, that Angel Lexi thing again. We kept walking and finally came to the end of the cave (or light at the end of the tunnel?)
The danger – er, I mean fun – wasn’t over yet! Mommy insisted I take a selfie under a boulder (that’s a great big rock) that was balancing on another boulder. I said if I got smooshed, it would be all her fault.
I don’t look scared at all, do I?
We finally made it safe and sound back to the pavilion and my Daddy. 
Look, I even found my accordion from last year and couldn’t wait to play it. I hear that Lucy gets to go back this coming weekend, so maybe I can go again the last weekend of the month. We all love Rocktoberfest!
Xena Schnauzer Rocktoberfest Warrior Princess
They didn’t have beer floats this year, so I didn’t get a chance to do that!
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.
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!
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?
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?
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.
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
“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.”
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.
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.
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.
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.
There was even a diver cleaning it like Mom cleans the house.
Lucy: She will be home soon, little sister. I can’t wait for her to open the card we got her:
This is Lucy and Xena waiting for 
Mommy decided I needed more “socializing,’ so she took me to run errands with her. First stop was to pick up her car at the body shop, where it had been repaired from her running into the corner of the garage with it. From there we went to the Home Depot store. Mommy asked me to sit pretty while she took my picture.
So, I was sitting there, wishing she would hurry up, when suddenly, outof the corner of my eye, I saw…
MONSTERS behind me!
Please Mommy, enough of the picture-taking. 
I think I hear them coming!
Overnight, my big girl time came to visit. I got some yicky blood on Mommy’s bed sheets, but she’s not mad. She said everything comes out in the wash. I feel all “off” today. I thought it might make me feel better to hug my blankie for a while.
It did help a little bit. For a little while.
Oh, that’s where my blue bone went!
Isn’t this ever going to end?
She held me and loved on me every time I asked for the rest of the day. Those were the best parts of the day – other than food time. Oh, and our walk was good, too. I sure hope this is all over by tomorrow.
Goodnight, everyone. I am Xena the Schnauzer wearing my Big Girl Panties.
Lucy: This is our first time to join in the Flower Friday blog hop. First, we want to thank Rosy from
After reading all the pee mail and leaving some, too, we went home and ran, ran, ran in the front yard. The grass is long and still wet from the dew and high humidity, so Xena’s legs got soaked.
Hi friends, and welcome to today’s edition of Grooming with Mom. Today I want to introduce Max the bishon frise. Here’ an 
Mom forgot to take a “before” picture, so here are two “after” pics. Mom spent the first 40 minutes of this groom working mats out of Max’s ears, and from under his ears and his head. I guess she could have just shaved them *shrug* but she’s smarter than that. She just did the work and charged more, BOL! His dad didn’t mind paying more, and even gave her a tip. It’s going to take time to grow out his face and tail to how they should look, but he’s only 8 years old…there’s time.
You groomed my dog how?!
Hi there! Lucy here with another episode of grooming with Mom. Today we feature Sophie, the 11-year-old salt-and-pepper Miniature Schnauzer, and her brother Dexter, the 4-year-old white miniature schnauzer. They are both bigger than Xena; Mom says they are the same size as Angel Lexi. They are good pups, except when it comes to shaving around Dexter’s nards. Dad had to hold him for that, while reassuring him that his prized possessions would still be there when Mom got done, BOL!
and “after.”.Sophie thanked Mom with nose kisses.
Cray-cray, right? Here he is all groomed and bathed. 
Xena: Yep, he knew not to mess with me. It was a lot of fun to run with you and the other big dogs, though. And today I got to rule over Gracy, the Pyrenees mix.
stay on the porch – or the little dog side of the park.
She’s my new BFF. Sometimes I hear noises so I look out in the yard to see if she has come to visit, but it is always a bird or a squirrel or a rabbit. Occasionally, a cat has the nerve to cross through my property without permission! I always let Mom know when that happens.
Mom hasn’t been going to work at all, so Xena and I have been getting more walks around the neighbor-hood. Sometimes we see people on our walks and I start to wiggle all over. Mom explains that I love people and asks them if they would pet me. They always say yes, and I get to make new friends. When the X dog stops barking her fool head off, they sometimes pet her too. Back home, Mom takes off our leashes and let us run zoomies in the front yard. I guess we aren’t grounded anymore. (So does that mean h-e-double hockey sticks froze over?)
He didn’t look so big from up here in my Daddy’s arms. Really, all I could think about was why my dinner was so late.
Did Lucy bribe you to keep my cornered here? You’d better move along before me and my shadow go all schnauzer warrior princess on you.
Yes, it’s me, Xena the Schnauzer Warrior Princess, and I’ll warrior all over you if you don’t get your nose out of my bee hind.
Now what do you want, big dog? No, I won’t be your girlfriend.
You promise to stop bugging me if I what?! Well, OK, maybe just one quick kiss.
That was a mistake, ’cause then what I think I overheard Achilles say to my Daddy was, “Mr. Jeff, can I marry your daughter, the little one, the pretty one?” 
After Daddy said no, Achilles settled for a taste of Daddy’s coffee.
Mommy, do we really have to leave now? When can we come back and visit our new cousins?
I told her about playing with the toys. And guarding the house, and playing with Ella.
I think I’m winning my new family over!
Mommy and me, we aren’t working at the St. Luke church anymore. We went from 3 days to 2 days to 0 days. You can see I was always busy there; never a boring minute. We took my ‘puter home with us (you can see a little of it just behind my bed) and I am still waiting on the IT people to set it up for me at home. 
Me busy at work
So here I am without a job. Sometimes I get so bored I count the flowers on the blanket. Yep, my Guardian Angel Lexi is teaching me how to count. So far I can count one plus one plus one. I think that comes to one.
Sometimes we watch Netflix shows together. Last week I saw this huge animal on the TV and I barked and barked at it. I found out it is called a horse. The rest of the afternoon, I barked at the TV every time I walked past it, just in case that horse was still there. I wanted it to know I am a brave Schnauzer Princess Warrior. I think I scared it away, too.
Sometime I play with my bones and bully horn. I chew them and I throw them and push them all over the house. It makes tons of wonderful noise. The only problem is I won’t be able to hear the horse coming because of all the noise. Mommy says that’s ok, she can’t hear anything, either, when I am doing that.
Will someone please find Xena a job? ~Lucy
I am Xena the *yawn* Bored Schnauzer Princess Warrior
Hi, I’m Achilles. And yeah, yeah, you can hold the heel jokes, I’ve heard them all. I was named after a powerful Greek hero, and that’s better than any defect I might have, and I really don’t think I have any. Never mind that, it isn’t what I’m here to tell you. First, I want to say hey, and more importantly, I want to tell you my story, starting with just before Angel Piper got sick unto death, as they say in the Good Book. I was happy living with my Dad, who is a war hero (at least to me he is a war hero). When he came home from fighting overseas, things kinda fell apart with him and Mom and he had to move to an apartment where they only allow one big dog. He had his military service dog, and he couldn’t try to find him somewhere else to live for lots of reasons.
I went outside and kept an eye on Ella. She’s been taking care of Piper for so long, I thought maybe she needed someone to take care of her for a while. 
And when Ella succumbed to depression, I was there for her.
So here I am where I’m supposed to be. And it’s good. Even though the grief is still heavy, there’s a lot of love. My New sister Ella is also my new best friend, and I hear rumors about New cousins coming to visit soon. I got word from up high that it’s OK for me to be on Angel Lexi’s blog, so I’ll come back from time to time to catch y’all up on what’s happening around here.
Xena Schnauzer Warrior Princess with Lucy and Chia 