Family Dogs

Gratitude Day #8

I cannot do gratitude posts without talking about my dogs.  Anyone who knows me knows that I am a dog person. I grew up with dogs.  In fact, the only time in my life that I didn't have a dog was when I was in my early twenties, moving around a lot and living in apartments.  Chloe and Lola are not only the family dogs, they are family.  I like having two dogs, so they can keep each other company when I have to be at work or go other places. 

My dogs are wonderful companions.  They are affectionate, silly and they make me laugh.  They also encourage me to be more active.  They are deliriously happy when I take them for walks, and it does me a lot of good as well.  I love my little dogs!

Now that my mom is back from Arizona, I also get to spend time with her dog, Abbie.  Abbie is a Yorkie.  My sister and I take turns visiting Mom and taking Abbie for walks.  Abbie knows how to give us the look that says, "When are we going for our walk?"  As you can tell from the photo above, she does not like having her picture taken.

The football playing dog pictured above is my sister's dog, Scout.  This picture was taken a couple years ago.  He loves it when he can get you to toss the football for him.  He is a senior dog now, and he can't get around as well as he used to.  We were broken hearted, when Jacci's dog, Boone, passed away a few months ago.

Boone

Please note that Chloe, Lola and Abbie are also very well dressed dogs.

1. I am grateful for our wonderful little dogs.
2. I am grateful for beautiful sunshiny days that let us walk the neighborhood.
3. I am grateful for the security these ferocious little dogs provide as they bark at everyone who dares walk down our street.

Guard dogs! 

Raised Bed Gardening: Step 1

I have a back yard garden that is long and narrow.  While I have great success with tomatoes, peppers and squash, I have yet to eat any of the green beans.  The bunnies always beat me to them.  Over the winter I did a lot reading about raised bed gardening.  I decided I am going to give it a try by building two raised beds.  By building the beds, fencing them, and possibly even covering them, I hope to add a little variety to my vegetable garden.

I did a lot of research into raised bed options.  My carpentry skills are limited, but there are a lot of kits out there.  With wood, rotting can be a problem, so I decided to build mine out of brick or stone. I had priced several types of stone and edgers at Menards and Lowe's.  Then a friend suggested that I check out the Habitat for Humanity Restore.   I sure am glad that I did, because I found five hole brick there.  Each brick is about a foot long, and they only cost me fifty cents per brick, a fraction of what it would have been if I bought new.  I should be able to build both beds for less than what one bed would have cost.

Today I laid out the foundation for the two beds.  I have to do some leveling of the ground before I actually build the beds.  I am going to use three layers of bricks to make the walls of the beds.  Next thing I have to figure out is where I can buy some garden quality soil.  Do you have any suggestions?

After working in the yard for a while, I loaded Winnie and Chloe in the car and we went walking at Copper Creek.  They loved it and I have two happy but tired little dogs now.

There are so many things to be grateful for;  my two adorable little dogs, an opportunity to get outside and work in my yard, and a beautiful sunshiny day.

Neighborhood Watch

Ever vigilant, these dogs are keeping our neighborhood safe!  Always on guard, they announce the arrival of every intruder on the street.  Well actually they aren't exactly intruders.  Some are just innocent people walking down the sidewalk, or standing in their own yards, but they have been warned!  These brave dogs are always on Neighborhood Watch, except when they are napping.  All that barking takes a lot out of a dog.

You will notice that the dog population in our house has doubled this week.  Our neighbor dogs, Frankie and Fannie have been visiting with us, while their human parents have been out of town.  My wonderful neighbors, Holly and Ken, took care of Chloe and Winnie when I went to Spain.  I am so grateful to have such good neighbors, and I have been especially grateful for the opportunity to get to know these two wonderful little dogs.  I have definitely fallen in love with them.

Winnie the Trailblazer

We have a nice size backyard, but no matter which part of the yard Winnie is coming from, this crazy little dog cuts across to walk along this trail she is blazing right through the center.  I can't explain why.  As you can see, the yard is pretty flat, and there is nothing obstructing her way along the fence or garden.  

This darling Corgi has a few other quirks as well. As you may know, Corgis are herding dogs.  Now I have a habit of plugging my cell phone into the charger right before I go to bed.  When I do, it makes a ding sound. That is Winnie's cue, that it is time to herd Chloe and I up to bed.  

In the morning, if she senses that I am awake, she begins barking to herd Chloe and I downstairs.  I really do not appreciate loud Corgi barks at 5:15 in the morning.  I do, however, love this crazy little dog, and I am very grateful that she came into my life.

Princess Chloe

This is my little Princess Chloe and her favorite toy, or what is left of it.  I am so grateful that this little dog came into my life.  It was truly a case of divine intervention.  About a year after my dog, Bailey, died, I was ready to add a new dog to our family.  I had been visiting the Animal Rescue League on a fairly regular basis looking for the right match.  I needed to find a dog that would get along with my Corgi, Winnie.  I also was looking for a small dog.  Lot's of dogs end up at ARL, but many of them are large dogs.  Often the little ones, are not there for long.

About three years ago, I had attended a DMEA meeting, and was on my way home for the night.  I had even turned into my neighborhood, when a voice in my head said, "Go to ARL!"

For a change, I listened.  I drove over and went back to see what dogs were there.  Way at the back was this wonderful little dog.  She had just been brought in from the veterinarian, and was scared. They told me she was a poodle-maltese mix.  She was also a matted mess.  When she saw me she was excited.  I asked to be able to spend time with her, and then I filled out the papers requesting to have her.  The next evening I brought Winnie over, so they could get to know each other.

When I first got her, her name was Princess.  I changed it to Chloe, and now Princess is her title.  I am so grateful that Princess Chloe is part of my life.  I love her so very much.

Snow Dogs

Gratitude for Today:

Just two days ago, I was walking at Copper Creek in 73 degree temperatures.  Today it is 27 and snowing.  These are my little snow dogs, who are anxious to come back in the house.  I spent the day subbing in third grade today.  I am so grateful to come home to these two little dogs and my cozy home.

New Toy

Winnie loves her new toys, and it takes about four minutes before she starts tearing them apart.

Peanut Butter Dog Biscuits

During the past year I have barely used my stand mixer, now that I don't eat wheat.  Today I used it to make a treat for Winnie.  I found this recipe for Peanut Butter Dog Biscuits on Pinterest.  They are from Pink Pistacio.com.

It was really easy to do.  They have now been dog tested and Winnie approved.  

Rolling, Rolling, Rolling!

There's nothing like a roll in freshly mowed grass. It must bring out all the stinky smells.

Companion

I love my sweet little Winnie.  She is a great companion.

Recycled

The tree is up and decorated, and I awoke today to a snowy morning.  It was the perfect day to stay in and knit. It might be a good time to grade all those papers I brought home, too, but so far I haven't touched them.

I did spend time in my craft room where I made these festive pillow cases.  I actually bought this fabric eight to ten years ago, and I made it into a table for a family holiday dinner.  That was about the only time I ever used it, so last year I took the table cloth apart and recycled part of it into a pillow case for Michael.  This weekend I used the rest of it to make a pair of pillow cases for me.

The colors don't go with anything else in my bedroom, but the bright colors and prints make me happy.  They also make a great backdrop for a Christmas Dog.

Beautiful Girl

This is my beautiful Corgi girl, Winnie.

Dog Tired

Winnie is totally worn out from her weekend in the country.

Yard Dog

We have had such beautiful weather this weekend. Yesterday I worked out in the front yard.  I hooked Winnie up on a rope so she could be there with me.  She loved it!  After I was done working we sat out for a while, me with my Kindle and Winnie just watching the world go by.

Closet Dog

We finally had some rain last night.  When the thunder and lightening got going, Winnie hid in the closet.  That is my down comforter on the floor, so it's actually a pretty cozy place for a scared little dog to be.

Hideout

This is Bailey's usual hideout, but Winnie has taken it over. She is really scared of the fireworks.  I was surprised when I saw her hiding there in the corner.  When people started shooting off firecrackers in the front of the house, she moved from the end table to the bathroom, which is dark and has no windows.

Two Cute Dogs

I actually got both dogs in the same photo.  Two Cute Dogs; Winnie and Bailey.

Clean Dog

Bailey went to the groomer yesterday. He had a bath and a haircut, and got his nails trimmed.  That little dog is white after all.  He was a very dirty dog when he went.

Dog News

Miss Winniekins

Bailey spends a lot of time sleeping on the back of the couch and love seat.  This start when he was little and lived with Zoe, and it has continued now that Winnie has joined our family.  He feels safer up there.

Winnie versus the Oreck

I do not vacuum nearly as much as I should.  When I do get the urge, Winnie makes it a much more challenging job than it used to be.  That's because she races around in circles, barking and attacking the vacuum cleaner.