And the Winner is.....

We just completed our first photo contest on Facebook, with the winner being this cute picture of little Rambo, owned by Brittany Starkey.

 

We thank everyone who submitted pictures, it was so fun to see all the ways that your dogs stay cool and beat the heat of summer. Mostly, it was great to see all the well-loved furry companions of so many people. Aren't dogs just the greatest?

Brittany will enjoy her $25 gift card to Posh Puppy Boutique, we hope to see another picture of Rambo with the treatsure he and mom picked out!

Looking forward to our next contest!

Garden Helpers

Like most of the nation, we have been having some pretty hot weather, which wreaks havoc with my flowers and shrubs. I love Hydrangeas, but they sure don't like the heat.

Everything was needing a good 'haircut', or 'deadheading', which is the official gardening term. Haircut just seems like a friendlier word.

This morning was overcast and very cool, so the girls and I headed out to do some work.

They love it when I go out to work in the yard. They get much more time to sniff around and check out what's new than when we just go out for a potty break. They aren't too terribly interested in what I am doing, they just let me go at it.

Not so much the Golden Retriever that joined us mid way through the task.

Bonnie was fascinated with the fact that Grandma was plucking at the flowers. She would just sit there and watch me. You could see the gears in her head going: "humph....whenever I bite at the flowers or dig holes in the dirt, I get in trouble. What's up with this..?!?!"

I told her "Membership has it's privileges" and continued to trim dead flowers and place them in the bucket. I turn around, thinking my task is all done, only to find out that Bonnie has been taking them OUT of the bucket and has them strewn all over the deck.

(Insert heavy sigh right here.)

Bonnie, it is time for your Dad to get up, I don't care what time he got home from working swing shift last night.

With Bonnie back with her Dad, the deck swept up (thank you Hannah), I went to sit for a few minutes in the swing with the girls.

They just look adoringly at me as if to say:

"Pretty nice that we can't even reach inside the bucket, much less mess everything up, huh Mom?"

Yes girls, indeed it is.

In Your Dreams, Girls!

I love my girls, and it is no secret that I spoil them. Probably even spend more money on them than I should, but I know that I am in good company with most of you.

However, there are limits.

Take a look at this:

This is the La Jeune Tulipe Diamond Dog Pet Collar , available exclusively through Posh Puppy Boutique.

Price??? $150,000.00.

The description reads: A 1.52-carat marquise-cut diamond blooms as the focal point of this extraordinary piece, with its intricate arrangement of marquise-, pear-, and brilliant-shaped diamonds. Over 180 diamonds, it has a 15.6 total carat weight.

What female wouldn't want that?? Two-footed or four-footed???

That would be one very spoiled pup to get this collar. That would be one spoiled woman to get something like that!

I love that Posh Puppy Boutique has items like this, it fascinates me.

I think it is amazing that people design something so stunningly beautiful for a pet. While I could never afford such a thing (think triplicate. Go ahead, run for the calculator) for my girls, nor myself, if someone has the means and wants to get it for their dog, I think that is marvelous.

I would like to be friends with such a person.

I'm thinking Christmas gifts could be pretty nice......

One Chihuahua, Two Chihuahua, Three Chihuahua...Four?

With over 75 million pets in this country, statistics tell us that 37% of households have more than one dog. A multi-dog household. I am not talking about the hoarding situations where people end up with dozens, sometimes hundreds of dogs.

I am talking people like me. With three Chihuahuas and contemplating a fourth.

My husband and I have raised six children and learned the fine art of giving everyone quality attention and one-on-one time with mom and dad. While it is different for a household of dogs, some of the efforts are the same.

Our girls love to hang out together, as you are aware. Sometimes they all three will pile into a bed together and at other times, a little curl of the lip lets the sister know to back off.

Of course they all want attention at the same time, whenever I sit down on the couch to watch TV or visit with someone. Petting three dogs with only two hands can get tricky, but I have mastered the trick.

I try to spend one-on-one time with each of them. I would like to say I accomplish this on a daily basis, but that wouldn't be truthful. I will take one with me in the car for quick trips, or outside to do some watering, or for individual walks. Sometimes just one gets to sit on my lap for loving while the others wait their turn.

They love their individual time, but unlike the kids, they don't seem to be 'keeping score' as to who is getting what. I haven't looked inside their crates lately, so I suppose Breezy could have a master chart pinned to the ceiling where she tracks it all. She would be the one to do that.

The girls are very good at getting along with each other. We don't have scuffles or fights. I do have to monitor chew bone time as some of them like to 'collect' them from the others and this can cause hurt feelings.

Dogs can teach us a lot about getting along with each other. They don't hold grudges, forgive easily, love unconditionally, and are delighted with the slightest show of kindness.

We have a happy Chihuahua household.

Of girls. We are considering getting a boy.

The girls are starting to complain about the cross-dressing for modeling gigs.

That's my story anyway and I'm sticking to it.

There is still the fear that I could end up like this picture, but I'm not too worried about it :)

Where do you suppose you get a stroller like that...???

Christmas in July Sale

Our wonderful friend, Suzanne, at Crazy for Collars, is having her one day final Christmas in July sale TODAY!!!

She is offering 25% off your purchase of up to 6 collars. Your biggest problem will be in choosing only SIX! They are all so wonderful and bright. The dogs love them, owners love them, and everyone who sees your dogs will love them.

Don't miss out on this sale. Get over to Crazy for Collars right away to get your collars before this sale ends at 11:59 om CST.

The girls have been pouring over the pictures and have their favorites picked out. We are ready to shop!!!

Chihuahua Connection Magazine Calendar Photos

As many of you know, Stormie was featured on the cover of the May/June issue of Chihuahua Connection Magazine.

Chihuahua Connection Magazine is a wonderful magazine devoted to the Chihuahua breed, obviously. They are currently accepting photos for their 2011 calendar. They print this calendar every year, completely with pictures submitted by Chihuahua owners.

The really great thing about the Calendar Contest is that they especially enjoy receiving pictures of rescue dogs and therefore widely accept mixed-breed Chihuahua photos. They also encourage submitting photos of your seniors!

You can read all the rules of submission, such as photo size, etc. at the Calendar Contest page.

Chihuahua Connection Magazine is also unique in that all the photos in each issue come from owners who have submitted pictures of their dogs. How great is that? YOUR dog could be in the magazine next!

The whole website at Chihuahua Connection is a treasure trove of valuable information and things to see. Go there today and check it out, but I warn you, you will be there a while looking at everything!

And good luck to all in the Calendar Contest!

We Are On an Organizing Craze

I get into an organizing buzz every once in a while and I just HAVE to come up with new ways of doing things. Especially in my sewing room. I spend a lot of time in there and I like it to run like a finely tuned motor.

Shawn has been making me some new ribbon holders. I like these because they let me see just how much I have and what I need to get for projects.

Only problem is, I need LOTS more. Shawn is aware that he needs to make more, and is willingly working on them and has more coming. I just haven't informed him yet just how many more.....shhhh.

I am also happy with my vinyl lettering saying on the wall. It helps to inspire me each and every day.

I am trying not to get too fanatical in my organizing.

I have yet to color coordinate the toys in the girl's toy baskets.

Or separate their treats, based on size, into new jars.

Or turned my sewing pins so the heads are all lined up in the same direction.

Breathe a sigh of relief girls, Mom's not headed to the T.V. show 'The OCD Project' quite yet!!

Photo Contest on Facebook

We are so excited to have our first photo contest here at Cody and Company. The winner will receive a $25 gift card to Posh Puppy Boutique!

Here is how it works: We have all been experiencing hot, hot weather this summer. Our Facebook fans will have from now until midnight (PST) Wednesday, July 28 to submit their pictures of how their dog is beating the heat and staying cool to our codyandcompany.blogspot.com Facebook page.

After we have gathered all the pictures, I will combine them into an album and our Facebook fans will get to vote.

So here is how you can vote for the photo(s) that you like the most: you just have to click the "like" button that you will find under each picture. The person with the most "likes" will be the winner. Please encourage all your friends & family to become a fan of codyandcompany.blogspot.com to vote on your photo.

The winner will be announced July 30, 2010!

So, get busy and take those pictures of how your pups are beating this heat wave!

After you post your picture, be sure to visit Posh Puppy Boutique to start thinking about what you would like to get if you win!!

Remember to have your friends and family to to codyandcompanyblogspot.com Facebook page and click the 'Like' button at the top to become a fan, so that they can vote on your picture! They can also do it from the Facebook link on the right hand side of this blog page.

Have fun and we can hardly wait to see all the photos!

Stormie the Snuggler

Over the years we have had many dogs. Some have been content to curl up next to me on the couch. Some have been lap sitters. The larger dogs, such as the Collies, have been feet sitters. They have had to lay right on my feet, so as to guard against me sneaking away when they aren't looking.

Stormie is a snuggler. She races right up onto my chest, buries her little head against my shoulder and gives a big sigh. If she can wiggle that little head under my chin, even better. She looks like a baby sleeping in my arms.

Breezy also likes to sleep like this, but she's not quite as determined as Stormie to stake claim to that spot. Shimmer is more the curl-up-right-next-to-you kind of girl, so that works well.

Sometimes I can get Stormie to lay a little lower, in the crook of my arm. She will stay there for awhile, but it doesn't take long before she's wiggled back up under my chin.

Basically, she is happy as long as she is in my arms, all snuggly.

And with a face like this......who can deny her?

The Coolest Thing Ever!

I have found one of the coolest things ever! Custom Mosaic Pet Portraits in Stepping Stones!

Karen White, of Whidbey Island, Washington, is a fantastic artist who owns K-Dub Designs and will make you a custom portrait of your pet in a stepping stone, to be displayed in your garden or home. You supply her with a picture or two of your pet, and she recreates it in mosaic.

Of course, I was excited to see an example of one that she had already done that looked a lot like Stormie!

Take a look at some of her other samples:

Doesn't this one look just like the dog in the picture?

These stepping stones make fabulous memorials for our beloved pets that have passed away. I love how Karen has inserted a little ring into the stone so that the owner can place the dog's name tag on the stone. How special is that? She will add names and dates to the stone.

Each stepping stone is twelve inches round and two inches thick and made of solid concrete. They weigh approximately 21 pounds when completed. Each stone is sealed with an outdoor grout sealer. You can simply hose it off if its gets dirty.

Each custom made stone takes three weeks for delivery. At this time she can only deliver to the United States.

The price for a stone is $49 plus $15 shipping, so $64 total.

Karen will work with you to create that special stone, unique to you and your pet. She will do all pets, not just dogs. Visit her site, K-Dub Designs, to see so many wonderful examples of her fantastic work.

I am super excited, and am going to have to save up my pennies and order one. Problem is, it won't be just one. I will want one of each of the girls. I see much penny-saving in my future!

Here are a few more of my favorites:

Goodies and Treats From Muddy Puppys

My girls love the mailman, I have mentioned this before. They will bark when the doorbell rings, but when we open the door and they see that it is the mailman, they start getting excited.

Two reasons. First, he always has a treat in his hand to feed them. The way to their little pitter pattering hearts is through their stomachs. The other reason is that they have learned that if the mailman is at the door, it is because he has a package that is too large to fit into the mailbox.

Translation in dog terms: SCORE!!!! We have a delivery of something to be tried and reviewed.

Yesterday was one of those days. The girls were happy to see the mailman, but even after he dropped off the package and left, they were soooo excited about the box. They were dancing and spinning until I thought they would fall over. I couldn't get the box open fast enough for them.

Their little noses obviously picked up the smell of the delightful yummies that we received from Muddy Puppys.

If you have not yet ordered any of these treats, you need to do so right away. They are beautiful works of art that look too fabulous to feed to your dog. They come packaged and presented so exquisitely. While all of this is lost on the little whirling, hyper tornadoes at my feet that are about ready to pass out from excitement, it is not lost on me.

I make them wait to sample the goods until I have taken a picture to show everyone how gorgeous it all is.

Stormie is now on her back on the floor, kicking her feet in a tantrum to rival the most determined toddler you have ever known.

These treats are all natural and organic, besides being beautiful.

Also with the treats was a soft, luscious blanket from Proper Puppy Boutique. These blankets are awesome. They just get softer and softer as they are washed.

While not as popular with the girls at the moment as the treats, they love the blankets also.

Head on over to Muddy Puppys and Proper Puppy Boutique. They have great prices on amazing products.

Tell them the girls of Cody and Company sent you.

And yes, I did finally take pity on them and open a box and share the treats.

Peace and happiness once more reigns at our house.

Is that the mailman we hear pulling up....????

Summer Traveling With Your Dog

Summer vacation for some people wouldn't be a family trip without the dog accompanying them. More and more hotels, campgrounds and other facilities are catching on to this and allowing dogs to stay at their locations with their families.

I can remember when we would travel when the kids were young. There was SO MUCH stuff to bring and prepare for the trip. I would be exhausted before we ever pulled out of the driveway.

Traveling with pets is a little easier than traveling with children, but there is still a lot of things that you can do to prepare for the trip and to make it go easier.

Dog Tip: Travel with Pets -- Packing, Preparation and Other Trip Tips

* Whether you are taking your pet or boarding her, make sure all vaccinations are up to date. Kennels typically require a Bordatella (kennel cough) vaccine to be given at least two weeks in advance of boarding. Even if you are taking your dog on your trip, you may have to board her unexpectedly. So that's another reason to keep your dog is up-to-date on vaccinations.

* Some areas have a higher incidence of Lyme disease-carrying ticks than others. Especially if you're camping and hiking with your dog, get a Lyme vaccination well in advance of your trip.

* Bring a copy of medical records, including rabies certificate.

* Apply flea and tick preventative to your dog.

* Pack any medications needed, including heartworm and other preventives.

* Be sure your pet always wears a well-fitted collar and ID tag with accurate contact information. It is important that the i.d. tag include an easily accessible number, such as your cell phone. When lodging out of town, prepare a temporary tag with the address and number of your travel quarters. Use waterproof tape and a waterproof marker to change your phone number as you travel.

* Pack several gallons of bottled water for you and your dog. This will help you avoid bacterial contamination while traveling, since water quality varies from place to place. If you run down to the last half gallon, begin mixing in equal parts with the water supply at your destination. If your pet is especially sensitive, use distilled water. Keep water in the car to prevent dehydration.

* Also bring water bottles that you can use when you hike or walk around town with your dog.

* Food. If you are not sure your brand of food will be available at your destination and along the way, or if you feed a special diet, bring enough food for the whole trip. If you feed canned food, bring a can opener and spoon.

* Take familiar things from your home that will comfort your pet. Bring along favorite chewies, toys, even the pet's bedding.

* Bring photos of your pet in case he escapes and you need to make "lost pet" posters. Store the pictures in resealable plastic bags. Also, pack a photo of family members with the pet in case you need additional proof that the pet is yours.

* Pack a sturdy leash and an extra collar. Whether or not your destination has a leash law, always keep your dog on leash for his safety and your peace of mind.

* Food and water bowls. Plus a portable water bowl or bottle for use when away from your lodging.

* Brush or comb.

* Baby wipes or moist towelettes to wipe off paws. Also useful for cleaning ears and other body parts.

* Tweezers to remove ticks from skin and foreign objects from fur or paws.

* Poop bags.

* Keep a first aid kit close to the driver's seat. Include rolled gauze and tape to use as a muzzle in case you need to treat a wound or injury. Also use gauze to stabilize the joint above and below a possibly injured joint, and to stem any bleeding. You can also use a towel.

Much of what is listed above can be gathered and packed into a backpack specifically for the dog. A lot of the items can remain in the pack and be ready to grab any time you head out, saving your self some time from having to gather it all up for each trip.

Our girls have their special little travel bag that we take with us for day trips. It holds their special water bottle/cup combo, extra collars and leashes, a small amount of food, treats, poop bags, a little first aid kit and photographs for identification purposes.

I have my eye out at the back-to-school sales for a larger backpack for longer trips when we need to pack more. Now is the time to find a great variety of backpacks, from cute designs to good prices on high-quality brands.

Including your dog on your vacation can be a lot of fun, if you plan ahead for their needs. They will enjoy the great time spent with you.

But, just as we always are happy to return home after traveling, your dog will also be very happy to see their home again.

Happy travels.

Bugs in the Garden

I went out to do some weeding in the garden yesterday and found some of the cutest little bugs.

Can you help me identify them...???

This sweet little ladybug followed me everywhere.

I am allergic to bees, so I try to avoid them. This one looked like it had some attitude, but it turned out to be a pretty nice little bee.

I don't know about you, but I could be mighty happy to find bugs like this every day!

Have a wonderful day everyone!!!

P.S. You can purchase these adorable little costumes from Pure Country Pet Boutique!

Exclusive Designs for K9 Couture Boutique

We are excited to announce that we are currently working on some new clothing designs, offered exclusively through K9 Couture Boutique. This is a really great website with many fun and amazing things for your dog.

Currently we have only three items available, but more will be added this week! The sewing machine has really been humming!

Check out the great stuff at K9 Couture Boutique and look for Breezy, the official 'spokesdog' model for these exclusive designs.

Breezy's Big Adventure

Being active DIY-ers, we spend a lot of time at the local Lowe's store. It is a fun place to go with the girls, as they allow dogs.

We had to go this morning to pick out a new bathroom faucet, as ours has reached the end of it's life. Breezy came along to check things out.

First, there were flowers to see. Breezy liked the flowers, until the bees started protesting her moving in on their territory. Time to move on...

We had to stop and covet the John Deere mowers. Breezy seems to be imagining the wind in her face as she rides around with Dad and mows the lawn. Dream on Breezy, dream on...do you see that price tag in the back?

Once we got inside the store, she had to check out the fun carts that all the other kids get to ride in.

We stopped to check out the mailboxes as we are needing to get a much larger one for all of our outgoing packages. Breezy checked it out thoroughly, but didn't think this one looked like it would be big enough for all the INCOMING packages that she likes to receive.

Like all good bargain shoppers, we checked out the clearance department, where they had shelves full of yard decorations. They should make cute Chihuahua yard decorations like this, don't you think? This actually got the attention of an employee who thought Breezy really WAS a new product and came rushing over to take a look.

Next, she found perfect little Chihuahua sized chairs. She had fun jumping up and down off this stack of chairs. I could almost hear her saying, "Please, Mom, please? This gets me more nose-to-nose with that Bonnie dog. More of a fair fight!"

Finally, we made it to the faucets. Breezy didn't think they were very exciting. Hurry up and pick one out, okay? I want to go explore some more...

After making our choice of faucet, we had to make a swing through Shawn's favorite department, Lumber!!! Not that we are building anything at the moment, but the lumber department is to him what the fabric store is to me, so we have an understanding.

By now we had an entourage of people watching us, so we made our purchases and headed home, where Breezy got to have bragging rights about all the things she saw this morning.

Now she's curled up in her bed, watching Shawn do all the work to install the new faucet.

It's good to be queen.

Dog Days of Summer

Here we are, in the dog days of summer. Our part of the country has been extremely hot, after having had record breaking cool temperatures for this time of year. The sudden switch, in one week, from cool to hot, has taken it's toll on humans, gardens and pets.

So, where did the term 'Dog Days of Summer' come from?

It comes from the stars in the sky. The story has it that the great dog star follows his master, Orion, as he makes his annual journey through the sky. Sirius, also known as the Dog Star, is located on the shoulder of Canis Major. It is the brightest in the heavens, and its name means sparkling and scorching, as it is nearest to the sun during the height of summer.

The hot, summer days - Dog Days - which Sirius was thought to cause, run from July 3 to August 11th. The three stars of Orion's Belt point at the Dog Star, Sirius, in Canus major at Orion's heels. It is best seen in the northern hemisphere during winter, between December and March.

Well, however it started, the girls and I are spending lots of time in our cool basement sewingroom (and while, yes, it is a cool, as in awesome room, at this time I am referring to the temperature). I sew and the girls lounge around.

I would think they would want to spread out in separate locations, but no, they have all piled together into a Chihuahua Dog Pile.

Go figure.

The Fun Aikiou

We recently purchased a fun new interactive toy for the dogs, the Aikiou (pronounced I.Q.) Bowl. Dogs today don't have to do much to forage for their food. It is just given to them by their loving owners. The idea behind the Aikiou is that the treats, or food, are hidden in little compartments with sliding doors. They learn to slide the door open to retrieve the food.

The girls love it! They start spinning and jumping as soon as they see me take it off the counter.

We were playing with it this last weekend and I got some pictures.

Breezy, being the type of personality that jumps right in and says, "Hey! What's this? I wanna do it!", figured it out almost instantly.

Stormie is a little more cautious about new things. Willing to check them out, but at a slower pace. Once she figured out that Breezy was getting TREATS out of this new toy, she was all over it and figured it out quickly. The race was on!!

Sweet, quiet little Shimmer took a little longer to gather up the courage to try it. She could see that the other two were scarfing down treats and kept coming to me to get some. I got the other two to back off for a few moments so that Shimmer could get in and give it a try. That was all it took and now all three of them have it figured out.

The little doors on the 'toes' of the paw shaped toy are the easiest to move with their little noses and are the best to start with. The center is a circle with a number of compartments that they need to move the cover around to find. It takes a little more problem-solving and energy, but can be easily learned. Once the dog has mastered the smaller compartments, they are certainly ready to move on to the more challenging.

This is an excellent toy that works the dog's mind, and is a fun way to interact with your dog. It is a great solution to the picky eater. You put their dry kibble dog food in the compartments, and they get to 'hunt' for their dinner. Perks up most picky eaters right away.

You can purchase the Aikiou at Posh Puppy Boutique. It comes in pink or blue.

Stormie says, "Thanks, Mom! You're the best. When is the delivery man bringing us another package...???"

Can Dogs Get Sunburned?

Today's 'Why Does My Dog Do That?' Wednesday isn't so much a question about dog behavior, as it is advice to keep your dog safe.

We are experiencing extremely hot weather across most of our nation this week, which brings up the question - Can Dogs Get Sunburned?

The answer is mostly definitely yes, and they can even get skin cancer. Animals do get sunburned just like people do, and it is just as painful for them as it is for us when we get burned. Dogs are especially vulnerable to sunburn if they have white, or light colored ears, have a light colored nose, and if their fur is thin enough that sun can get through to the skin. Dogs often have a small amount of covering on their snouts, and sometimes their noses are light colored, rather than pigmented.

Our pets that are groomed to have short clipped coats may get sunburned because their skin is exposed. We might not notice it so much, but they will notice it when they start itching and burning from too much sun exposure.

You can use sunscreen on your dog. It is best to use a children's waterproof product with no scent on hairless areas, such as the tips of the ears and the top of the nose. Basically, anywhere you see skin, you should put sunscreen on him. Chihuahuas, who often have very thin amounts of hair, should be especially careful in the sun.

You should also dress your dog when he goes out to play in the park. This will form a barrier between his back and the sun. The don't have to be bundled up in sweaters, but a light tshirt or jacket will do a lot of good in preventing the sun from scorching your dog's skin.

If you are taking your dog to the beach or river, where you will spend a great amount of time exposed to the bright sunlight, consider get your dog some goggles or a sun visor, to protect their eyes also. This may take some getting used to, but most dogs will get to a point where they will wear these items without fuss.

Our dogs need sunshine, just as we do, to be healthy. Just use wisdom and caution in protecting their skin and eyes from the harmful damage that overexposure to the sun rays can cause.

Summertime brings us great opportunities to spend quality time with our dogs, exploring our great outdoors. Certainly take advantage of this, but plan ahead to keep your dog safe and comfortable.

Toy Story, Part 1

It is no secret, I spoil my dogs. I love to buy them new toys and chewies all the time. The girls enjoy it also and are always thrilled to get something new. Here is a picture of Stormie with the toy basket from the sewing room. It holds just some of their very favorite toys.

However, there is a thief that lurks among their midst, and this thief likes to run off with their new toys and/or chewies.

This thief is Bonnie. She doesn't really look all that sneaky, now does she? She has mastered the "Who me?" look perfectly.

The girls will try to hide their chewbones under the blankets in their beds. Bonnie will come in after the girls have left the room and pilfer through their hiding places.

Oh my goodness, the girls HATE that. Once Bonnie has chewed on one of their chewies or slobbered Bonnie-slobber all over one of their stuffed toys, they will have nothing more to do with that item. Even if I put the stuffed toy through the laundry to remove the slobber-stiffness. Yes, this is snobbery at his highest degree, but it is the way they are.

Here is a few of the things Bonnie has taken and, in their little Diva minds, 'destroyed' lately:

Bonnie is really costing me a lot of money.

Lest you feel sorry for the poor dear and think that she must be underprivileged and not as spoiled as the little girls, let me assure you, Bonnie does NOT lack for toys of her own.

Here is but a small portion of her toy collection, the majority of which has been purchased by me, her grandmother:

We are learning to keep the girls' toy basket up off the ground when Bonnie is around and remove the chewies from the beds when we leave the room, but we do sometimes forget. Oh, those are sad days at our house.

The girls are learning to get a little more aggressive in the protection of their belongings, however. Here, Stormie seems to be saying, "Bring it on, Bonnie girl, I dare ya!"

I think Breezy is building little bitty Bonnie booby traps late at night.

More to come, I am sure....

Breakfast in the Park

Each year our church group gathers at a local park for a 4th of July Breakfast. It is a great occasion for socializing, recognizing the great country we live in, and eating awesome food!

This year we decided to take Stormie and Breezy along with us. There were plenty of others that showed up with their dogs, also. The girls were the talk of the park in their patriotic dress and collars.

Being bad dog parents, we were distracted by all the fun and kept forgetting to take pictures, but we did get a couple!

Hannah, Breezy, Stormie and I arrive and are ready to eat!!!

The girls are waiting patiently for Dad to return with a big plate of breakfast. "You are going to share with us, right Dad..??? After all, we are saving your chair for you!"

We kind of liked having this extra day to celebrate and hope that all of you had a wonderful holiday weekend.

Happy Birthday America!!

Cousin Teddy's Haircut

I have mentioned Teddy, my mother's dog before. We got Teddy for a surprise birthday present for my mom about a year and a half ago. She really wanted a little dog like all of her friends had. We found Teddy, a Pom-Chi, who was already halfway through puppyhood, neutered, had all his shots, and seemed the perfect new best friend for my mother. He has the most adorable underbite you have ever seen!

I don't recommend doing this kind of surprise for just anyone. It took two whole days before my mother spoke to me again.

But, now, she couldn't imagine life without Teddy. He is her little buddy and constant shadow.

As I said, Teddy is half Pomeranian and half Chihuahua, although lately we have begun to wonder if there isn't more than 50% Pomeranian in him. His coat had gotten enormous. Really more than my mom could handle, so I convinced her to have the groomer do a puppy clip on him.



He is soooo adorable now with his clipped coat, fluffy tail and those silly ears - one is always up and the other one tipped down. Isn't he such a cutie?

After getting over the initial shock (and she's still speaking to me), my mom has decided it's all good.

Especially now that he fits back into his vast wardrobe that his big sister provides for him.

Happy Birthday, little Teddy!