Good Thing She's Cute

I have come to the conclusion that Sophie was a nocturnal animal in another life with the propensity to forage. I have physical evidence to prove it. Reno is not gonna be happy when he sees it. Well, I'm not happy either, but I should have gotten up. However, the enticement of a soft pillow and warm covers temporarily paralyzed me.

I will completely own that her needs for exercise are not being met. She needs those puppies back here to play with, warm days so she can play in the yard, or at least some live in playmates who are not slugs on the sofa.

This is the part of fostering that is discouraging. We are celebrating (in a tongue in cheek way) her one year anniversary with us. She has made so much progress, and yet, still needs so much work. She is the most challenging of foster dogs. You wonder if you are doing enough, if you will ever see her well adjusted, "normal" and adopted! You wonder how to cover the hole in the chair.

But, in all things give we must give thanks......that she's safe, not hungry or alone and that she's so darned cute.

Pretty Things

Besides being extremely partial to English Pointers and dogs in general,, there are a few things I am passionate about. Flowers, diamonds and all other bling, diamonds and all other bling (worth mentioning twice) and paper napkins. Bet you didnt' see that coming.

I adore pretty paper napkins. Do you have any idea how many beautiful, adorable, funny, cute, enchanting napkins are out there? And yet, we use white napkins 95 percent of the time. Hmmmm, there is something wrong with this picture.

I'm guessin I am not alone in using the ordinary when the deluxe model is available. Even a plain 'ol peanut butter and jelly sandwich tastes better when served with a festive napkin.

We could all stand some extra beauty in our life. We could benefit from some heightened ambiance in our world. We may not eat off of Spode china, but can indulge our senses with fine napkins.

Okay, so maybe you don't dig the paper goods like I do. It's just me, and I accept that. But, please, find your beauty and embrace it. Life is too short not to.

Change is Good

That is what they say - change is good. Frankly, I think they are smoking something funny when they come up with chit like that.

Into every life change must come. A little rain must fall. A few socks will be lost in the drier, you will be a day late and a dollar short, you woulda, shoulda, but may not have and wished you had.

Change happens. Sometimes we embrace it with open arms and it lands softly like a butterfly. Other times it grabs you by the throat until think you might hurl. Change is like Mother Nature - fickle, damp, sloppy, and challenging.

We've got some change going on here. I'm meeting it with prayer equal too or greater than the fear involved. I'm trying to laugh, even though I've been a tad bit weepy. Heck, sometimes I laugh and cry at the same time.

I do have to laugh thinking that February would be a more relaxed month for us. Such a optimist! I think the hustle bustle of the holidays, complete with two foster puppies was the calm before the storm.

I can't help but think if I waited for change to happen when I was really ready - I'd just plain never be ready. Perhaps that is part of the bigger plan. It happens, ready or not. Hang on, it may be a wild ride.

New Adventures

Just about a month ago we embarked on the adventure of fostering two puppies. May I just say one of us is way more suited to raising puppies than the other.

Tomorrow, the second of our two puppies departs for her new home. I have a few instructions for her.

First of all, be not afraid. Second, don't bite the hand that feeds you. May your ears always be open to the sound of your master's voice. Remember you are a child of God, okay - you are a creature of God and you are loved. Don't forget sit, stay and come. Oh, wait...you haven't been taught that yet. In that case, remember that "ah ah" means you are probably doing something wrong and it's time to listen up. Be gentle with your new canine playmate. They have no idea how much the world is going to change tomorrow.

And last but not least you are perfect just the way you are. Travel safe Queenie. By the way, it's okay to whine constantly until they send us photo updates.

P.S. .....you can always come home....

This Will Hurt Me More Than You

Remember when our parents said this to us? It usually applied to punishments, or consequences. It meant someone screwed up, and someone had to be the bad guy. I always hated being the bad guy as a parent. But, someone had to wear that hat like it or not.

I saw the canine version of "this hurts me more than you" happen the other day between Sophie and Queenie. They were playing and I saw Queenie-Meanie grab Sophie's back leg and give it a good bite. Not that there really is such a thing as a "good" bite so to speak. Anyway, little puppy teeth got too rough. Sophie turned on her and took her to school. In fact, I think she took her all the way to the office to see the Principal. Sophie corrected her and Queenie let out a yelp and beat a hasty retreat. No one really likes the principal's office anyway.

When Queenie went running Sophie followed like a nervous Mother. She checked her and checked her to make sure she was okay. I am certain she whispered "that hurt me more than you pup, but control those teeth for Dog's sakes." Or, perhaps a little bit of Mother guilt snuck in and Sophie wanted to make sure Queenie still liked her. Either way there was an obvious expression of concern that was touching to see. Parenting is tough work, even in the canine world.

Puppy Life...

Or, living like a puppy as the case may be. I really think I live like a puppy. Okay, so maybe I don't play as much as a puppy. I need to work on that. But puppies go, go, go until they just drop. I resemble that comment.

The only difference is everything they do is from play and curiosity. We work, work, work eliminating the spontaneity of play and curiosity. Everything is interesting to Queenie, and edible. I find many things, more than I really need, edible too.

Of the three resident dogs, Sophie has really stepped up to the plate and let her "inner puppy" out. And in, and out, and all over the sofa. She plays, she really plays. Which is great for her, and awesome for Queenie. Come to think of it, that works out well for Mick and Mr. Grumblebutt. Lest I forget Reno plays well too, very well. He had to have been a puppy in another lifetime!

We know, beyond the last dog biscuit on earth, that these puppies have been well socialized, well handled, well played with and well loved. I am particulary fond of the times they nap.....but then...maybe I'm just envious. I think I'll add that to my to do list - play more, nap more, work less. In that specific order.

Queenie To Make Tracks

We knew when we agreed to foster the puppies that they would have a short time with us. That was a PRO, and at the same time, it was a CON. Puppies get adopted fast - that is good news and bad news all at once.

Queenie has an adoption pending now. Just yesterday I said I was tired of puppies, and now today I'm singing another tune. I'm just never satisfied am I? I love that she has a new home to get ready for. I hate that she's leaving. Sophie will miss her morning playmate. Mick will get to relax some and Hank can quit being such an old grump-a-lufagus. Truth is I never tire of puppies, but I may be tired in general. That's not Queenie-bo-beanie's fault!

She has been well loved and well socialized. But dang the luck, I never got to have the Puppy Open House/Cocktail Party/Soup Supper I wanted to in honor of the puppies. Work gets in the way of everything.

Maybe, just maybe, if we have another week or so before she moves East we will get that scheduled. Who doesn't like a puppy fix? Who wouldn't love a puppy cuddle during the gray winter months? Who's up for a little fur and sustenance? I am.

Are You a Snuggler

Little Miss Queenie is missing her brother, her playmate, her snuggle buddy. Which brings me to this question. Are you a snuggler? Or a burrower??

Junior was a snuggler. Queenie is a burrower. Junior would curl up and Queenie would tuck in. It is a problem when you don't know where to tuck in to. Isn't that one of our greatest life challenges? Finding a safe, warm, comfortable place to tuck in to. Perhaps when dogs completely curl up and tuck their noses under their tail they dream of the time when there was a litter mate to sleep with. Do they remember those other butts they sniffed? If Queenie, and Junior (now named Buck) could talk they'd already be saying remember the good 'ol days?

Maybe Queenie would even have a little rant. I used to have others to play with. Hmmph, I never used to have to be alone. I was the Queen and I had underlings. Now I have Mick who hides when I want to play, and Mr. Grumble Butt who obviously just does not like puppies. Who does he think he is anyway? Thank God, at least there is Sophie to play with. She is some small compensation for all the pain I must endure here.

Sigh....being me is tough....at least there is HappyPuppyLoverMan here, and the nice lady who loves all of us. She has a big heart. It's not so bad, but I do miss my brother.

Jr. Flies the Coop

Sigh.....really big sigh..... Jr. adorable little pointador extraordinaire left home today. Yes, he was young, but he's in good hands.

He got several lectures today before his new owners picked him up. Reno lectured him, my friend Jo spoke a few words to him and I had a whole list of instructions for him. Such as.....always listen to your owners voice. Don't bite the hand that feeds you. Remember you are a four-footed child of God. Remember you are loved. Don't forget you can always come back......to play.

So just like that he has gone home. I suspect it will be a rough night for him, for Queenie and for us. To go from 21 siblings, to three siblings, from one sibling to none. I'd whine too. I wonder who's going to take this harder, Queenie, Reno or me???

Happy trails Junior! We love you.

Sophie Plays

Sophie plays when ScaryMan isn't looking. It's true. It's wonderful to see and it reminds me of the saying "dance like no one is watching".

Today, and yesterday, when ScaryMan wasn't around, Sophie played with the puppies. Played!! Tail wagging, ears flopping, belly rolling, puppy pouncing playing. Yesterday I didn't chance running for the camera to capture the moment. Today I did!

There is a side to her few ever see. Okay, there are sides to us others never see either. Those other sides are beautiful and vulnerable, not to mention amusing! If people could see past Sophie's anxiety, they would have snatched her up long ago and given her a forever home.

Maybe the moral of the story is that one must look deep to see beauty. Maybe the moral is that Sophie needs a puppy in her life. Well, Sophie, that's not gonna happen at least at our house! Maybe it's a matter of time and trust. Maybe blooming just takes time.

And when it happens, we dance.