Monday Mischief - The Big Surprise!

If you read my post on Friday the 13th you'd know how lucky we have been lately.  But it didn't stop there. In the comments of that post Caren from Cat Chat With Caren And Cody left a comment saying we had won a prize in Cody's 5th Birthday and Cat Chat's 501 Blog Post Give-Away! Since we were the only doggie winners, Caren said she picked out something special for Fred and Gloria, but it was a surprise.  How nice was that!  We were so excited waiting for it to come and finally last Thursday it arrived!

It said Fans Edge on the side of the box!  What could it be?  Freddie was right in there trying to rip it open.

I had to take the plastic off for Fred. Gloria was right in there too!
"What have you got Freddie?" "Is there something for me?"

Look, it's two stuffies!  One for each of us!"  "Not only that, look at the logo on their shirts Gloria!"

Fred went for Gloria's prize first, just to bug her. Boys....geez!
And the big stuffie.....that's Roary! Detroit Lions Mascot!  Here's a picture of me with Roary at a Detroit Lions game at Ford Field.

How cool is that!
I finally had to step in and give Gloria her prize.

After all it is pink, Gloria's favorite color!

Fred laid on his so Gloria couldn't touch it. They played with them for a bit until Fred started to pull on Roary's hair then I had to intervene and take them away.  These are just too special to be chewed to pieces, so they will be admiring them from afar in the football room!
So you see, it was really Caren who was up to the mischief by keeping it a secret about Fred and Gloria's prize!
We can't thank her and Cody enough for these special prizes from Cody's 5th Birthday and Cat Chat's 501 Blog Post Give-Away!

I also wish Caren a speedy recovery as she's been feeling kind of yucky lately and had some surgery on Friday.

The 10 Commandments From A Pet's Point Of View

I came across these 10 commandments on Minnie and Mack's Daily Digest by Stan Rawlison and just had to pass it along!

The 10 Commandments From a Pet's Point of View

My life is likely to last 10-15 years; any separation from you will be painful for me. Remember that before you buy me.

Give me time to understand what you want from me; don't be impatient, short-tempered, or irritable.

Place your trust in me and I will always trust you back. Respect is earned not given as an inalienable right.

Don't be angry with me for long and don't lock me up as punishment; I am not capable of understanding why. I only know I have been rejected. You have your work, entertainment, and friends, but I only have you. 

Talk to me sometimes. Even if I don't understand your words, I do understand your voice and your tone. You only have to look at my tail. 

Be aware that however you treat me, I'll never forget it, and if it's cruel, it may affect me forever.

Please don't hit me. I can't hit back, but I can bite and scratch, and I really don't ever want to do that. 

Before you scold me for being uncooperative, obstinate, or lazy, ask yourself if something might be bothering me. Perhaps I'm not getting the right foods or I've been out in the sun too long, or my heart is getting old and weak. It may be I am just dog-tired.

Take care of me when I get old. You too will grow old and may also need love, care, comfort, and attention.

Go with me on difficult journeys. Never say, "I can't bear to watch" or "Let it happen in my absence". Everything is easier for me if you are there. Remember, regardless of what you do, I will always love you.

© Stan Rawlinson 1993

One of Those Days!

Yesterday was just one of those days.  I'm sure you've all had them.  I had a hard time getting going in the morning and then the "new " blogger format finally caught up to me and I didn't get a post done.  My first thought when I sat down with my coffee and turned on my computer was "WTF"!  I knew it was coming, I guess I just thought I'd have more time.  So then I thought screw it and just wasn't in the mood to fiddle around trying to figure things out. I was also afraid to click on that "Get Started Now" button.  So I just went and started doing some of my comments and as all of you know this takes quite a while so I usually span it out throughout the day.  But then for some reason the comment form kept resetting after I'd typed my comment and I'd have to type it all over again.  I finally said screw it, maybe I'll just go and make some chili to have while we watch the NFL Draft.  The day was just windy, cold, rainy and dark and other than making chili, I got squat done!  Even Fred and Gloria slept most of the day. 

That meant their new toy from Magic was just cast aside with no one to play with. (Honestly I can't believe Fred hasn't chewed it to pieces yet!)

He went to the bedroom and tried to entice Gloria.......

But she was zonked.

So he headed out to the living room 'cause Freddie's always game.
Yes, our bed looks low because it is. We took our bed off the frame so it's lower for the hounds. We actually did this 13 years ago for Barney. (Geesh, the things we don't do for our babies!)

But he was just too bagged too!

Oh, Fred tried, but was just too tired.
I told Scruffy (that's what we named him) he should just hang out with Ole Blue.  If you don't remember, Ole Blue is the first stuffie that we bought for Fred when he was a baby and it's the only one he has never wrecked and now Scruffy seems to be lasting too.

Old Blue just sits in Fred's crate waiting for someone to play with him.  I just told Ole Blue and Scruffy  to wait 'cause come Monday, there'll be new kids in town!

Oh, and yes, Fred and Gloria did get to share a cookie on Wednesday!

They are Lemon Ricotta Cookies with Lemon Glaze.  Just click on the name if you want the recipe. :)

Have a great weekend everyone!

Wordless Wednesday - Waiting For Cookies

....and yes, that is flour on Freddie's head!

Mother Nature

I thought I was moody but holy cow, what's up with Mother Nature?!  She just can't make up her mind.  Last week was hot, sunny and 23C.  Now it's 1C or -4C with the windchill.  We had winds upwards of 70 km/hr yesterday along with rain, sleet and snow!  I just hope all the tender plants that have sprouted survive.  My butterfly bush started sprouting leaves which have now turned black.  Then there's my poor Weeping Double Cherry that I planted outside the front door last year.  It was doing so well.  It had tons of beautiful blossoms and was already attracting swarms of butterflies. Now it looks awful!  I just hope it comes back.
So while we wait out Mother Nature's hissy fit, I thought I'd share some of the pictures I took from last week of my Weeping Cherry (it's really weeping now!) and the butterflies.

There were so many of them hanging around our front window enjoying the sun!  It was beautiful!

Well, better go bundle up to take the hounds out 'cause like our thermometer says....it's COLD out!!

"Let me know when it's warmed up." "Until then I'll just lay here and whine!"

Monday Mischief - Paper Plates

I'm not going to mention any names, but somebody seems to have this thing for paper plates lately.  Particularly the leftover Super Bowl plates from last year.

He doesn't do anything with them.  He just nonchalantly goes downstairs, goes in behind the bar, takes them off the shelf, brings them upstairs and then just lays there with them.

He doesn't chew them.  Just lays beside them.  I'm thinking maybe he's just tired of having his snacks off the floor and is taking a stand!

On another note, has anyone else's  dog been acting antsy lately?  Fred seems to be pacing back and forth, whining, wanting out every five minutes just to come back in and look out the window and want back out again.  He also seems to be jumping on Gloria and wanting to play rough a lot more.  Is this just because spring is in the air and he's getting anxious? I'm puzzled because he's neutered. Any thoughts on this would be appreciated. :)

Earth Day!

Help save our planet.  After all, it's the only one we've got!!


                                     

Ode To Date Night

'Twas moments 'til date night

And all through the house,

Not a creature was stirring

I'd put the hounds out.

I'd washed all the floors

The laundry was done,

With the vacuuming over

It was time to have fun.

I'd just cleaned up the drool

The fur and the crud,

When I heard the back door,

It shut with a thud!

I ran to the freezer

And filled the shaker with ice,

Then shook two martinis

Ahhhhh........date night's so nice!

Have a great weekend everybody!!

"Ah! Date night, smate night!"

Happy 2nd Birthday Freddie Spaghetti!

Yep, Freddie turns two today!  It's hard to believe that two years ago today, Fred was born at Autumn Blaze Bassets just three days after saying our goodbyes to Barney. I started this blog to help cope with the loss of Barney and it turned into Life With Fred. I still can't thank Becki from Autumn Blaze Bassets enough for helping get us through that tough time by sending us daily pictures, videos and updates of the puppies and giving us the chance to open our hearts to another sweet basset.  We knew we wanted a tri-color boy and there were two to choose from.

They were called puppy G and puppy H.
We were allowed to go and pick out the one we wanted after they were 4 weeks old.  I knew it would be the one that came to me.  Which one did we pick?

Puppy G! This is me at Becki's the day we picked out puppy G, a.k.a. Fabulous Fred!  The hard part after picking him out was having to leave him for another month.

The next picture is the day we brought him home.

I think he always had that "bugger" look in his eyes.

He's been a window washer from the start too!

So Happy Birthday to my baby boy and thank you for filling that hole in our hearts!

"Freddie! Come on. Please put a hat on for just one picture! Everyone wants to see you in a birthday hat!"

"No! I don't want to!  I don't want to wear the same hat Gloria did! I want my own!!"

"I've got bacon!"

"Well, maybe just one!"

The Book Of Jonas

I just got finished reading The Book Of Jonas by Stephen Dau. Reading this book I would have never guessed this to be his first novel.  This book is so well written, Stephen comes across as a seasoned veteran writer.  The setting of this story starts out in the Middle East where a teenage boy loses everything during a raid on his small village, but quickly turns to the U.S. where the very government and their military that destroyed his life try to help him build a new one in America.  It's a heart wrenching story not only of the boy Jonas, but also the American soldier named Christopher, that saved his life.  Two enemies who escape the horrors of the raid, they hide and heal together in the mountains near the village that was destroyed.  In a blur Jonas finds himself in a new country with a new identity living with a foster family.  Between the bullying he endures at school and the haunting memories of the sights and sounds he witnessed from his homeland, Jonas lands in the care of Paul, a devoted and patient Mental Health specialist .  Resisting Paul's help, Jonas tries to bury the past and heads down a self destructible path that leads him to Christopher's mother Rose and his realization that the truth will set him free. The Book Of Jonas touches your heart as it walks you through some of the horrors of war and the people it leaves in it's wake.  It will leave you with goose bumps more than once!

Disclosure - This is a paid review by BlogHer Book Club but the opinions expressed are my own.

Momma Time - Some Privacy Please!

Don't forget to vote for Fred's photo here http://www.prestigiouspuppy.com/photo-contest/april-photo-contest/

Fred Ate Crud

Freddie wasn't feeling good yesterday.  I knew it was going to happen and was just waiting for it 'cause Sunday he'd been eating crud out of the garden.  Then when he wouldn't eat his supper Sunday night, I knew for sure it was going to be a long night. Fred is very vocal about things and when he's sick it is no different.  He just whines.....a lot.  Was I surprised when I had to take him out at 3:00 a.m. to go potty.  No.  His stomach had been squeaking all night and he was whining and couldn't get comfortable.  And there's nothing worse than when your outside in the dark while your dog is going potty and all you can hear are those squeaky squirting noises coming out of his butt!  Yes, it was going to be a long night!

So this is how Fred spent most of Monday.

Whining........ "Ughhhhhhh.....my tummy hurts! Momma do something!"

I did feel really bad for him, he really didn't look good. The first thing I had to do was try and get him to eat something, 'cause now he's missed two meals and it just makes his stomach worse.  So I tempted him with some cheese which he wouldn't take at first until he saw Gloria was going to take it.  Once he ate a few small pieces, I gave him some Pepto Bismol.

Then he went back laying and whining. He just has to be so darn dramatic about it! Geesh!

It was so nice when he finally fell asleep and the whining stopped. Whew! That's enough to drive you batty!

By the afternoon I knew he was feeling better when he followed his nose out to the kitchen to see what I was cooking.  So I gave him his kibble and he ate it right down. Now I could finally quit worrying!

Hmmm.....maybe he planned the whole thing to keep my mind off of Barney....nah!

P.S. - Fred's in a photo contest and could use your votes! You can find it here http://www.prestigiouspuppy.com/photo-contest/april-photo-contest/

Barney

It was two years ago today that we had to say goodbye to Barney.

He is gone from our home but will forever be in our hearts.

Rest in peace my baby! xoxoxoxo

Little did we know that God had something else in store for us just three days later.

Late Night Potty Break

I had decided I was going to take the weekends off from my blog, but next thing you know it's 1:30 a.m. the hounds have gotten me up so they can go potty, then tried to pull the old "Look! It's morning we get treats" routine.  When I didn't fall for it they both went back to bed and I am now wide awake with a cup of Jasmine tea!  Since I'm up, may as well run the dishwasher & upload today's pictures from the camera. Well, now I may as well talk about it.

If you read my blog you know that Friday's are drool patrol day along with my regular "clean the house for the weekend" cleaning.  I put Fred and Gloria in the kitchen as I go through and find all the drool and dog crud I have missed through the week.  Believe me, there's a lot of it. Besides the fact that Fred freaks out on the vacuum cleaner, attacks the broom and tries to grab any rag I'm cleaning with,  I figure if their in the kitchen, at least the rest of my house looks clean for that short period of time.

First though, I have to get them in the kitchen.  Gloria's the easy one.  You call her, she comes.  Fred (duh!) he knows he's going in the kitchen, so the first thing he does is hide under the coffee table.  Then he plants himself on his back.

"I'm not going Momma!  I have my rights!"

Whatever.  I have to slide him on his back into the kitchen and believe me it's not easy moving a basset that doesn't want to move!
Gloria would always go lay on the mat by the sink while Fred would finally lay on the bed I put in there ('cause lord knows you wouldn't want them to lay on the hard floor) and whine!  Not anymore.  Gloria decided to give me this face.

"No Momma, don't leave me in the kitchen."

"That's not gonna work Gloria!  Ya gotta stick your face through the gate.  Like this!"

"How's this Freddie?"

"No, no!  All the way in, like this!"

"Like this?"
"Perfect!"

So this is how Fred and Gloria spent the next hour watching me clean yesterday!