Happy New Year!!!

I have been trying to use Puglet's mom's technique to take pictures of my pugs.  I got cookies and told them to "Wait" and "Sit".  I put hats on them and beads around their necks and as fast as I got the hats on, they took them off.  They wanted the cookies, but did NOT want those hats on.  LOL  I had to be quick to get this one. 

Of course it was much easier getting pictures of the grandkids and my son.

Turn about is fair play; they had to take one of me.

Anyway, Happy New Year everyone. 

GETTING READY FOR 2010

I hope everyone had a joyous Christmas and my prayers went out to all those that could not be with their families and loved ones this Christmas.

Christmas Eve was special for me this year.  My daughter invited me for Christmas dinner and to watch Christmas movies.  It was just her and me and she made a wonderful pasta dish with a yummy red wine and gave me a gift at my place at the table.  After dinner we talked and laughed and her friend dropped by and we talked and laughed some more.  We never did watch Christmas movies.  We had such a good time we decided we might make this event an annual one each Christmas Eve.  Thank you Shemry, you made a wonderful memory.

Shemry said I should start a new tradition. She told me I should take my tree down New Year's Eve instead of the day after Christmas and then New Year's Day I could get up to a brand new fresh start. I thought that was a good idea and I tried, I really did.  I lost the battle two days after Christmas. 

It felt so good to get the tree down and all the wonderful fantasy ornaments wrapped and put away in the Christmas trunk.  I collected all the other decorations around the house (night lights, elf figurines, stockings, stocking holders, door knob and toilet seat covers [just kidding, I don't have any of those LOL], candle holders etc) and wrapped them carefully in tissue paper and bubble wrap to keep until next year.  I also weeded out some that I no longer cared for and gave some special treasured ones to my son's family.  I vacuumed and dusted and washed the window and moved the furniture back around the room.  Wow, I love this feeling.  I won't be sorry New Year's day or even New Year's Eve.  It's all done now and I can relax and watch the Waterford Crystal ball drop at Times Square and listen to the neighbor kids beat on pots and pans at midnight.

 

To all who read this I am praying that you have a blessed New Year with all your heart's desires realized.  God bless you.

GETTING READY FOR 2010

Last Minute Shopping

We thought we were finished with all our shopping until we spotted Phoebe sitting under the tree as if she thought she was someone's present.  It was then we realized that we hadn't bought the animal gifts yet. 

Off to PetSmart and PetCo we went.  I won't tell you what we bought because both the pugs are sitting here reading over my shoulder.  We did get something for each of them and something for our Maxwell Terrier and for both of the cats.  We will wrap them and put them under the tree Christmas morning.  We can't put them under the tree now, because they would smell them and open them early.  Now you probably know what we got them.  LOL 

We have to be careful how we wrap gifts in our house.  We have one cat, Molly, who enjoys eating the curly ribbons off the front of the packages.  We will find bits of the ribbon to prove she has been there nibbling and later, when we clean the litter box there is plenty of proof that she has been dining on our ribbon artwork.

With all of our shopping really done this time we are going to hunker in and play Christmas music and eat Christmas candy and watch "It's a Wonderful Life" in black and white. 

Merry Christmas and God Bless

May God Bless the New Year

THE WORLD KEEPS TURNING EVEN WHEN WE BEG IT TO STOP FOR A WHILE

I haven't posted in a while, but things didn't stop happening just because I didn't talk about it.  In the last six months we have lost three of our dear friends/pets.  The latest one was our gentle and loving Keeshond, Harley.

The whole family misses him so much, but one person in the family misses him the most.  My grand daughter Nicki was his constant friend.  Each night he went into her room with her and had her favorite fleecy blanket to sleep on next to her bed.  She always had a cookie for him that he patiently waited for.  She told him all her secrets; and he kept them.  His absence has made a big void in her life.  He is greatly missed by all.

The next thing that happened in my world is that my 22 year old daughter got married and my 41 year old son, an ordained pastor performed the ceremony.  The wedding was held here at our home and was very beautiful.

Now the holidays are right on top of us and it's time to remember the real reason for the season. 

Here's wishing you a Merry Christmas and a blessed and prosperous New Year.

God Bless

Roll with the punches!! :-)

Nicknames

In our family the pets seem to get tagged with lots of nicknames.  It's not as if pet names weren't quirky enough.  Names like Muffin, Hunt's First Cream Puff, Kizzy, Sir Ditimus, Toonses (after a famous cat), Harley Davidson Hunt aren't cutesy enough.  Our pets, with well thought out names, become cartoon characters with funnier and funnier names.  Take Phoebe for instance.

Phoebe has been dubbed Foobar, thanks to a dear friend who can't remember her name.  When she's being loved on she's Phoebe Beebee.  She was once called Pigby when my son came to stay for a while.  Later that was just shortened to Pig. 

Hunt's First Cream Puff, an apricot Pomeranian, became Puffers. 

Autumn was often called Autumn Bottom, because it rhymed I guess.

Sir Ditimus was affectionately addressed as Ditimouse because he was so small.

No matter what we call them, they are dear to our hearts.  We remember them forever and, as a wise young pug once said, we "leak" when they go to "sleep" and we can't see them anymore.

My own animal family right now consists of Phoebe (pug), Kizzy (pug), Harley (keeshond), Toonses (cat), and Molly (cat).  Adjoining our home is my son's and his family and their tiny ruler Max (mutt or as we often say, Maxwell Terrier).

Phoebe visits her favorite blog everyday.  If you don't already check in on a little guy named Puglet, here's how to keep up with his antics.  Go visit http://www.dailypuglet.com/.  You won't be sorry.

Everyone is making due and this too shall pass. :-)

     Well, I had to skip my second sewing class because I didn't have the gas money to get there, but I sold some things on craigslist and will make it to the next quilt class.  This morning I got up early to give my daughter #1 a ride to work.  I didn't take the time to make my bed, so now every time I go into my room for any reason I see my bed turned back and it keeps calling me to snuggle in and take a nap.

I'm going to run in there and make that bed and then drag out the vacuum cleaner and get busy!!!

Maybe the bits and pieces of my life are coming together.

Today was just for me. I have always wanted to learn how to quilt, but life happens and quilting was always put on the back burner until a more opportune time. My sister and my mom decided I had put it off long enough.  They gave me gift certificates to a local quilt shop/class for my birthday. I got a little light weight sewing machine to carry back and forth to class and signed up for my very first class. Today was the day.

I had such a good time. This class was designed for students to bring in unfinished projects and work on them. I had no shortage of unfinished projects. LOL There were plenty of seasoned quilters there to give me advice and teach me how to do things the right way.

Not only did I get work done on a quilt I'd started 10 years ago, but I also got some great beginners supplies and I got to see many inspiring quilt projects. I can hardly wait for next class. I might just have to get a job now to support my new hobby. LOL

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Bits and pieces of my life might be coming together.

Today was just for me.  I have always wanted to learn how to quilt, but life happens and quilting was always put on the back burner until a more opportune time.  My sister and mom decided I'd put it off long enough and gave me gift certificates to a local quilt shop/class for my birthday.  I got a little light weight sewing machine to carry back and forth to class and signed up for my very first class.  Today was the day. 

I had such a good time.  This class was designed for students to bring in unfinished projects and work on them.  I had no shortable of unfinished projects.  LOL  There were plenty of seasoned quilters there to give me advice and learn how to do things the right way. 

Not only did I get work done on a quilt I'd started 10 years ago, but I got some great beginners supplies and got to see so many inspiring quilt projects.  I can hardly wait for next class.  I might just have to get a job now to support my new hobby.  LOL

No Rest For the Wicked

One of these beautiful faces kept me up all night.  You guessed it; she is the one with the blonde bangs.  Poor little thing called me in the middle of the night and needed a ride to the hospital.  She had a serious case of flu and needed a couple kinds of treatment.  One of those kinds was TLC and a lecture on how to take better care of herself.  Just what MOMs are best known for.  Today she is on the mend and I'm going to bed early. 

Look on the bright side :-)

I was really feeling sorry for myself today.  I broke my glasses for the third time and am almost blind without them.  It was my own fault.  I took them off and the temples dangled and swung from the wire repairs I'd done to them the last time they broke.  I looked at them and got really mad.  I reasoned that I was stuck in economic mud and would just have to live with them.  In a fit of rage I threw them at the TV screen.  Well, that was a pretty childish thing to do and I was rewarded with newly broken temples. 

I took myself off to the Dollar Store and bought another pair of magnifier glasses.  I took the temples off and wired them to my glasses.  As long as I don't take them off no one can tell the difference.  LOL 

At that point I saw a story on the news about a family living in tents in a homeless camp site.  They say they are blessed to have other homeless neighbors that they share supplies with.  A kind lady brings them a supply of fresh water everyday and they continue to look for work.  Their children were smiling beautiful smiles and the important focus in their lives was on family unity.  I was reminded of the prayer my mother always prayed and that was for health, happiness and family unity.

I realized how blessed I am.  I have a TV to throw my glasses at.  I have electricity to turn it on and watch the news.  I have a car to take myself to the Dollar Store for more glasses.  Father God forgive me for my selfish nature and help me to be thankful for the blessings in my life.  Reach out your hand and touch those people I saw on the news that call themselves blessed.  Bless them indeed.  Thank you Jesus.  Amen

Rain rain go away, little Sandy wants to play :-(

I guess we are moving into fall now.  The sun was shining when I got up this morning, but a chill was in the air.  Before noon it poured down rain and 15 minutes later it was all gone.  It's just warming up for winter.

Little Sandy isn't the only one who wants to play.  The pug girls, Phoebe and Kizzy were hoping to go out front and chase a bird or two. 

Phoebe got out of the house and jumped in the car when I was on my way to the post office early this morning. 

Can you see her there peeking at me from behind the steering wheel?  LOL

I did eventually coax her out of the car, but she wasn't happy about it.

Next time I go out I'll take her along just to humor her. 

I hope everyone had a great Monday.  I know it's hard to start another week, but think of all the opportunities out there just for the taking. 

Have a great Tuesday!!

Phoebe and Kizzy hate it when I go outside without them. 

fun in the cold

jfjdheudmmgng

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Rock hounding today in Hillsboro

I made a trip to the Hillsboro, Oregon Fairgrounds today to the rock and gem show.  They will be there for two more days, check it out!!  That's my baby sister and her fiance behind the amazing assortment of beautiful gemstones and other items.  My sister came up with a wonderful idea for me to help support Pacific Pug Rescue.  I'll be working on that and share it in the future.  In the meantime if you are a rock hound or know someone who is tell them to head for the Hillsboro Fairgrounds.  I got to see how stones are faceted.  There was a silent auction going on and a wonderful display of fossils, thunder eggs, and so many other amazing things our mother earth has to surprise us.  Check out the huge supply of pietersite stones Danna and Jerry (my sister and her fiance) have to sell.  Each piece of pietersite seems to have it's own scene and story to tell.  Tell them Sister Sandy sent you.  :-)

Saying goodbye is so very, very hard.

Burt lost his battle with cancer.  He has now joined our sweet little pug that we lost 6 months ago.  Our hearts are breaking and we keep remembering all the cute little things he did how what a trusted and loyal friend he was.  Words cannot express how much we miss them.  My blog today is dedicated to our handsome Cocker Spaniel Burt and our sweet little Pug Autumn.

Even though Burt couldn't be laid to rest next to Autumn, we made a memorial next to our front porch and we great them each morning and are happy they have each other, a friendly, loving comfort.

Rest In Peace Dear Sweet Friends

I shall overcome!!

After my sweet husband went home to be with the Lord the hardest thing I had to face was making decisons alone, no one to talk them over with.  The second hardest thing I had to face was.........YARD WORK! 

After a busy day of grocery shopping, dealing with the cable guy (not Larry), I went out back to water plants and clean off the deck. I decided I needed to mow my small lawn and weed eat the weeds.  I got out the mower and pushed all the right buttons that my son showed me to push and pulled on that darned rope until I nearly wet my pants and still couldn't start the mower.  Finally, one last pull and it took off.  I pushed and shoved and panted and groaned and then remembered how he told me to set the automatic thingy, so it would go by itself.  What a difference.  I set that thingy and pushed the bar and that darned mower took right off with me sailing along behind until I thought to let go.  With that finally done it was time to tackle the weeds along the edges.  I hooked up the weed eater and pulled out just the right amount of cord and set to work.  I'm not the best weed eater operator.  I used way more cord that was probably necessary and it still looked unkept.  I worked at it until I was ready to go get my sewing scissors and trim them by hand. 

I watered the plants and finally it was time to clean off the deck.  This should be easy I thought.  I hooked up the blower (I'm not a very good blower operator either :-( and blew off the deck fifteen times because it kept blowing one way and then back again.  Lastly I hooked up the power washer to clean off the rubber mat we keep at the door in the kitchen. Well, I guess by now I don't have to tell you I'm not a very good power washer operator either. I would have done about as well if I'd just used the hose. Things look better though and I feel content that I accomplished something.

As we sat down to dinner I told my son that his power washer was a piece of poop because it just trickled out.  He informed me I needed to turn on the power and it would make a lot of noise.  Oh.......You mean I used it all that time and never even turned it on?  Sigh. 

Dinners over, dishes done, deck is clean and it's time for tea and relaxation.  Well, for the pugs anyway.  They beat me to my chair. 

She's only being helpful.

Today I was gone from home all day.  I fed the pugs before I left and while I was gone my daughter-in-law fed them again, thinking I would be late.  Kizzy was so grateful for the extra meal today that she decided to help me with dishes.  I guess she figured I would save on electricity if she just licked them clean.  Good thing there's a sanitizer on that machine. 

I'm off to watch America's Got Talent hoping Kevin Skinner is the big winner.  The puggy girls, Phoebe and Kizzy will be cuddled up beside me on the couch hoping for an animal act. 

Good night all!!

Day of rest.........after yesterday!

Yesterday I wore myself out.  Today I feel like I've been in a fast paced exercise class.  After cleaning the garage and sewing room and watering plants and fixing dinner I was worn out.  I had my own paparazzi at the end of the day. 

By the time this picture was taken I still had the plants to water and dinner to fix.  My little camera girl stayed right with me.

Armed with a spray bottle I was waving the shovel to make sure I didn't walk into any spider webs on the way to the clematis.   

A cook I am NOT.  Dinner was chicken basted in orange juice and butter, frozen peas and broccoli pasta alfredo out of a bag.

By now the paparazzi is getting to me, so I threatened to spray her if she didn't give it a rest and give this old grandma some privacy.  LOL  I broke my glasses during the garage cleaning.  Like my new look?

She was good natured and put the camera away, so I turned the tables on her and took her picture.

After all that cleaning yesterday I took today off to rest and clean the family room and the furnace room and work on the sewing room some more......and......

Bath Day--You'd think being clean would make them look happier. :-)

The fleas were just taking over and the flea treatment didn't seem to work anymore.  I decided to give my little pugs a bath in some new flea shampoo I'd ordered from Melaleuca.  Oh my gosh, the fleas just started dying immediately!!  The girls only liked the part where I scrubbed and rubbed them for 5 minutes while the shampoo was on them.  They didn't really like the spray nozzle scaring them to death.  When the bath was over and they got a chance to get me back by shaking off their water in my face they were pretty frisky.  The whole bath thing wore them out and they napped the rest of the day. 

Their little cousin Max got a bath too.  He did very good being as how his human usually gives him a bath and he wasn't used to me.

 

Max got his toenails trimmed too.  He was sure happy to see his human when she got home from work.  I'll bet she got an earful when he got her alone.  LOL

Without the fleas they all slept more peacefully last night.  I guess this bath thing is going to happen more often.

It's my birthday

                                                                           

It's a happy day! I have set my goal for today.
As you can see, my dining room table leaves a lot
to be desired when it comes to family dining. This is the way most of the flat surfaces in my house look right now. It seems I can't avoid using every flat surface as a catch-all. Well, it ends today.
In the past I always started a job and then got sidetracked. You know how it goes; you start to make your bed and realize the sheets need changing, so you strip the bed instead. You head to the laundry room with your armload of sheets and collect up all the dirty towels on the way. When you get there you find some tools that need to go out to the garage. Throwing the armload of laundry down and picking up the tools you head for the garage. You can't get to the toolbox due to the clutter in front of it, so you set the tools down and start to clean the clutter away. In amongst the clutter you find some silverware missing from the kitchen. You grab it and head for the kitchen before you forget it again. Thinking you'll put it in the sink and head back down to the garage you're dismayed to find the sink full of dirty dishes, so you decide you should load the dishwasher only to discover it's full of clean dishes, so you start to unload it. On the bottom rack you find a couple of ceramic flowerpots you washed and you take them out to the deck. You remember you washed them so you could transplant two newly bought plantlets. You get out the potting soil and start to dig. The phone rings and you run to answer it. "I really can't talk right now, I'm in the middle of......something, but as long as I have you on the phone.......". Standing there with phone in hand, staring off into space you see the coffee maker is still turned on, but the pot is empty, so while you talk on the phone you start another pot of coffee. By the time you hang up you're at your desk with a fresh cup of coffee, so you might as well check your email and bring your blog up to date. Let me see; what was my goal for the day?

Burt the handsome Cocker Spaniel

This is Burt. He lives in my house. He belongs to my grandson and granddaughter. Burt is sick and may not be with us much longer. He is a very special dog, because he loves us all so much. When I prop my feet up on the coffee table he makes circles around the table so he can rub his back on my legs. My son says he is petting himself. Burt can't hear anymore, but he reads sign language. We just have to point to where we want him to go and he goes there. He is always a gentleman too. If we are offering snacks to all the dogs (we have 5) he just sits very still and stares at the snack willing it to be his. He is soft as silk and rarely ever barks unless someone is at the door. Burt is 12 1/2 years old now. He used to be a hunting dog and run through the wilderness until his previous owner whistled. When he heard the whistle he came running back and jumped into the back of the truck. He loves our cats (we have 2) and they tolerate him.

Burt has a tumor now and it is growing quickly. We are petting and hugging and kissing him every single day, so he will know how much he is loved.

Profitable garage sale?

While I was having my garage sale, the family across the street was having on as well. When my grand daughter was watching "the store", I went across to check out the competition. Here is a picture of some of the treasures I found while I was there. No wonder I can't make any money at this business.
When I decided to have my sale several people asked if I would sell things for them also. I made more money for my friends than I did for myself. I did enjoy the interaction with all the people.
Now I'm tired and sore again, so it's time to unwind and relax and count my millions.

Calgon--take me away!!!

I'm at the end of day two of my weekend garage sale, or should I say driveway sale. This is what's left at the end of two very long days. Yesterday I made a whopping $18 and today I made about the same. It hardly seems worth all the work, but meeting the people is fun. I'm headed for a nice hot bath................phone call. Company coming, guess the bath will have to wait.
BTW if you like a pleasant and sometimes funny read, visit www.dailypuglet.com. I never miss an entry.

There's a pug on the computer!!

I found lots of hilarious pug videos on YouTube. Phoebe thought they were invading her space and decided she should get rid of them. LOL My monitor is mounted below glass on my desktop. It's easy for Phoebe to see the screen. She loves doggy videos.

Some say the pugs rule the roost around this house, but once in a while it becomes apparent that Toonses is still the Queen. LOL It's nice to be Queen of Everything!!!

Day one of the rest of my life.

Today I awoke with a feeling of heaviness. I realized I was just worried about......things. I have put rocks in my basket that don't belong there. Ask the rabbits. Not too many people will know what I mean by that, but some day I'll explain.

I have some very serious decisions to make. Morning and Evening with my prayer book.

One thing always makes me smile. As you can tell from the expression on Phoebe's face, she worried enough for both of us.