Cross my paws, look to the sky, hope for snow to fall in my eye

We're very excited to hear about the big snow storm coming our way. We are singing the, "SNOW DAY! SNOW DAY!" chant around here. I'll be sure to charge the camera tonight and get photos and some video footage of Riley and Sabrina playing in the snow. Keep those paws crossed tonight!!!

International visitors

My blog was just visited by someone in Hunan! That's my mother's homeland.

Cool.

A weekend away

We went away last weekend, both me and the hubby and the dogs. But not together. Jeffrey and I went up to Vermont and the dogs went to stay, for their first time, a kennel.

Before Sabrina, we always left Riley with his Auntie Dory and best gal pal Agave when we went away. It worked out great. Riley got to sleep over with someone he knew (and loved), play with his girlfriend, and still go to the same dog park as he always does. When Sabrina came along, two dogs just seemed like a lot to ask of someone, especially when one is a mischevious Flattie puppy! Then with Riley's knee surgery on top of that, we felt it most appropriate to go with a more professional, controlled situation. Riley's bone has not yet healed completely and exuberant playing and wrestling for an entire weekend would certainly not be good for him. Plus, in case anything did happen, I wouldn't want that kind of burden on anyone. At the kennel, we could be sure that Riley's only got controlled on-leash walks, just to be safe.

I had toured this kenneling facility several months ago and decided it was worth a try. They have several different kenneling options, but we decided to go with the posh accomodations and rented a doggy condo for the two of them to share. It was a parent guilt thing. To have the two of them locked up within a small 4x6 foot space for 3 days seemed unfair. But at least they were behind pretty french doors, had tiled floor, and Animal Planet showing on their own TV set. No steel kennels, no crates, and minimal barking in that area. I figured this type of kenneling would be a rarity for them, so spoiling them just a little while we're away was okay.

It turned out to be a great experience and I am very proud to announce that we love BEST FRIENDS (Boarding, Grooming, Training) Facility! Best Friends They were so accomodating I was so impressed. They seem to be a pretty large business chain, but they have a personal touch. They accepted a letter from my vet that exempted them from excessive vaccinations such as Bordatella (Kennel Cough), were happy to feed any kind of food I left them (including raw meat and bones!), and most of all they spent time getting to know my dogs and even gave them a little report card! I signed Sabrina up for a 2 hours play session on Saturday and I got reports of whom she played with and how she reacted to the other dogs. Riley got three Walk and Explore walks a day and I ordered two Suite Treats for the both of them at bedtime (peanut butter filled Kong) to keep them happy. I felt that they truly cared for our dogs while we were away and treated them as if they were their own. We love them!

A few moments with Ming

Three years ago, shortly after we got Riley, we found a kitten in our backyard. It was a rainy, stormy night and she was tiny little girl, barely old enough to be weaned. She looked scrawny but was as fiesty as anything. (Probably feral!) But we brought her home and named her Ming ("fate" in Chinese). The first few weeks she was extremely wary of everyone and guarded her food fiercely. But Riley and her developed a bond. The only time I ever heard this kitten purr was when she was on Riley's back. She would curl up and sleep with him, play with him, and share food with him. They essentially grew up together.

Over the past two years, Ming has always been the odd girl out. She never seemed to know where she belonged. And thus, she became our "Minganator." She stopped cuddling with Riley; she would attack MeiMei; she would pee on our clothes; she would carry around our socks; and she would wander around the house at night crying mournful sounds. We have finally eliminated some of what I call her "attention-seeking" or "acting-out" behaviors by crating her at night. I think she actually feels safe having her own little space. Riley and Sabrina sleep in the bedroom with us, Mei-Mei likes the office, and Little Li has always been independent. I think Ming just needed a little more security.

Recently, Ming had a health issue that required medical attention. Monday morning, I let all the furry ones out and they all gathered in the kitchen for breakfast, except Ming. I peeked inside her crate and saw her facing away from me, her back to the crate opening. A red flag immediately went off in my head. Something was definitely wrong.

I took her to the Kind Vet. After listening to the information I could provide them (that's what I love about them. They LISTEN to people) and looking into Ming's mouth, they were able to come up with a diagnosis:

Third Degree Burns on her tongue.

Probably from the pizza pan that came out of the oven while we watched the Patriots/Colts game Sunday night. The vet thinks she just took one big lick and burned her tongue. He said she was suffering from a lot of pain. So while he prepared some medication for her, I talked to her and reassured her that she would be okay. She seemed very calm, unlike her usual growling, biting, hissing self. By the time we got home, she was eating again.

The strangest thing is, Ming has found her way into my lap TWICE since this incident. She has NEVER been a lap cat and has never even like to be held. Each time, she deliberately crawled into my lap and curled up to settle in for a nap. How fascinating is that?! I'm hoping this behavior is here to stay because it's been awfully nice to have our little Ming-a-Ling act like a sweet little girl.

Let's not forget the true Ladies of the Manor

My Peculiar Aristocratic Title is: Entirely Miss Reverend Lady Li the Lachrymose of Eschaton End Get your Peculiar Aristocratic Title

My Peculiar Aristocratic Title is: Empress Mei-mei the Foamy of Bow under Bumpstead Get your Peculiar Aristocratic Title

My Peculiar Aristocratic Title is: Her Excellency Ming the Purple of London by the Bow Get your Peculiar Aristocratic Title

Aristocratic Titles

Haha, this is kind fun.
Riley's a Most Noble Lord and Sabrina is a Charming Lady...

My Peculiar Aristocratic Title is: His Most Noble Lord Riley the Indefensible of Kirkby Overblow Get your Peculiar Aristocratic Title

My Peculiar Aristocratic Title is: Lady Sabrina the Charming of New Porton Wells Get your Peculiar Aristocratic Title

Adoptable Jack

And here's Jack!



Here's another pic. Jack is the one in the middle, between his two foster siblings. See what a good boy he is?!

Meeting Jack

Jack is a 17 month old Bernese Mountain Dog with a lot of spirit. He is fast, he is agile, he is exuberant, and he loves to please.

Jack also needs a home.

I took Riley and Sabrina to Delaney Lake yesterday to walk with Jack and his foster family. He has been staying with this family for a couple of weeks now. Two Berners live in this foster family and Jack came to learn how to socialize and get healthy. Jack is a very special boy, you see. Despite the neglect and abuse he suffered from his first family as well as being given away as if he was a piece of merchandise they no longer wanted, Jack has become a most lovable, trusting, and happy Berner. For whatever reasons, Jack's previous family withheld food and water from him until he was sick. Perhaps they did not want him to grow too big. Perhaps they just didn't want a puppy going to the bathroom in the house. Their actions caused Jack to have serious panic attacks and bladder infections. Finally, Jack was rescued by our club. And today Jack looked fabulous. He is beginning to sprout some ear fuzzies and his top coat is coming in. He probably also shares blood lines with Riley as he is from the same broker. At 18 months, he is just about Riley's size, and has a very similar head shape.

Please help us find a happy home for this Bernerboy!

Perfect Portraits

A friend of mine is a very talented artist. We can call her Pink Ninja Turtle.

Pink Ninja Turtle's Blog

So a couple of months ago I asked her if she could capture all of my furbabies in portraits. But not your old school oil on canvas kind of portraits. Something whimsical that would portray their various personalities. I sent her hundreds of photographs of them. You know I've got a lot!

Well, here are the finished products. Aren't they beautiful?!

For the Love of Riley

Sabrina has the cutest obsessions. Firstly, she loves to carry things around in her mouth. Apparently, she doesn't feel whole without something in her mouth. So she spends most of her time in the house carrying her stuffed toys around, everywhere. Her favorite toys to carry, however, turn out to be the stuffed Berners. We have a large life-like stuffed Berner that I won at a club raffle a couple of years ago. Sabrina loves it. I suppose if Riley is out of commission, one must get their Berner fix somehow, right?


She loves it so much she will drag the whole stuffed dog up the stairs (which is no easy feat cuz this dog is bigger than her!), in the bedroom and under the bed to sleep with her. C'mon, it doesn't get any cuter than that! And then she dutifully carries the dog back downstairs in the morning.



The smaller Berner "puppies" are a better size to hold in her mouth. Especially when she is falling asleep and needs a Berner to "pacify" her.


Yes, she's actually alseep with a Berner in her mouth. Haha!