Thursday, July 30, 2009

Jack being Jack........

Jack's favorite pass-time, besides chewing uo shoes, is to play fetch and swim. I combined the two this morning and tried to get a few good shots. Here are a some of my faves...........

Now I don't think Jack has ever seen the pond this full........he seemed a little uncertain as he stood on the dock.


Jack is quite the swimmer, but I think he mistook the dock for the bank and was not quite able to pull himself up, after doggy paddleing around in circles he finally found his way to the bank.


He had a grand time swimming around this morning..........

Shot a few more cuties of him on land...............

Wednesday, July 29, 2009

And then threre were 7............

So, last week on my day off this is what Lola (our pitt/lab mix) was doing.


Lola was nearing the end of her pregnancy (though up until a couple weeks ago I kept trying to convince Dan that she was "not" pregnant) and we were both content just chillin' on the sofa. Monday night Lola was sleeping with me (as she has become accustomed to since Dan is in Houston during the week) except that Monday night not to much sleeping took place for either one of us. Lola kept tossing and turning, getting op and turning around, inching as close to my face as possibe, all the while panting and whimpering. So I was pretty sure we were getting close to having puppies. I put Lola in the crate as I left at 5:00 a.m. for work and left a note for Danielle to pay close attention to Lola thoughout the day. This is what I found when I got home.....


Actually, these were taken a few hours after I got home because when I walked through the door Lola was still having the pups. There were two nursing and one pushed to the side that unfortunatly didn't make it. My first reaction was "GREAT" it's a small litter. That was until the next sack came out with two puppies, followed by another and then another. Quite honestly I had lost track of how many she had, Danielle and Kara had arrived some time during the last few births and we all stood around coaxing, come on girl PUSH....like that was gonna help, I think it helped us though. My amature photography skills really show up here, as I failed to run and get the camera and shoot as she was giving birth....!!!!
Now I took about 88 pictures and it's really hard for me to pick just a few, but I'm gonna give it a shot;



Danielle and Kara stayed up most of the night on puppy patrol. I found Danielle in the bathroom at about 2:30 am washing her face and brushing her teeth....the water running had woke me up and I was wondering why someone was taking a shower at 2 am???? Danielle informed me that she and Kara had been taking care of the pups and making sure that Lola took care of herself, which included fork feeding her some Pedigree canned food while she nursed the pups.
Everyone survived the night none the worse for wear, though slightly sleep deprived! I patted Lola on the head as I headed out for work this morning and told her she was a good mama (though I was a bit concerned about her because she wasn't looking to perky and was panting quite a bit)...I down the AC and made a mental note to call Danielle later to make sure all was well. This is what greeted me this afternoon....





Like I said it's reall hard to pick just a few..so here are a few more...






And one of the "Puppy Patrol" crew....I'll add the rest of the crew tomorrow.....my eyes are going buggy sorting through photos !!!!



Day 4.........after a midnight run to WallyWorld last night for pet replacement milk and eye droppers (we were afraid Lola didn't have enough milk for all the babies) the pups are all doing well. We tried bottle feeding some of the replacement milk, but didn't do so well....in the end we decieded that Lola had plenty of milk.



And I call this one "mama told me there'd be days like this;
and "Big Yawn"
and yes we have eyeballs....finally!!!!
And just TOO cute..........



one more...........







Updated puppy pics 8/11/2009

Thursday, July 23, 2009

A stolen post..............

Okay, I just read this on my friend Cheryl's blog and I hope she won't mind that I stole it to post on mine. Cheryl is by far the most talented, or I should say multi-talented indivdiual I know. But, I absolutly adore the way she can write a story. I nearly pee'd myself while reading this, which would NOT have been good as I was at the public library..............


Life is Like a Box of Chocolates...

Okay, so you know how Forrest Gump says, "Momma always says,


Life is like a box of chocolates...you never know whatchyer gonna get?"


Well, that is SO wonderfully and deliciously true. Just when you're going along minding your business and trying to cross off all the "To Do"s on the list, something totally unexpected and interesting happens that just makes life interesting and reminds you not to take things so seriously all the time!


Yesterday, I was on my way to Donna's new home, but I forgot her new house number. I knew it was on White St. (not the real street name), but couldn't remember the exact number. She said, "5208. It's the 3rd house from the end."

Donna was at her old house with the movers and couldn't be in two spots at once so she had asked if I would go over to the new house to wait for the gas guy. Sure, no problem, I could do that. She also mentioned I might want to bring a chair and a book since there's nothing there yet. So, I load up my folding lawn chair (you know, the pointy-legged UFO-unfolding type that comes out of the bag but you can't ever seem to get back INTO the bag?); my mammoth-sized 64oz. 7-11 Ultimate Gulp; a six-pack of Diet Dr. Pepper (because who knew how long I'd be there and I might've needed a refill); a bag with papers, bills, and various and sundry "to do" items for which I needed to make some phone calls; and a book.

After I got out of the car and reloaded myself with the necessary essentials, I waddled to the front door. It was then that I realized I did't know where I'd put the key Donna had given me. So, I painstakingly UNloaded all my stuff onto the porch, dug through the abyss of my purse for 5 minutes until I found the key (although I truly don't know how I lost it in the first place, as it was bread-wrapper tied to a roughly 3"x"6" discarded piece of cardboard from a new corkscrew opener. Apparently Donna was wise to my propensity to forget where I put things. To prevent me from losing her key, she had attached it to the only thing she currently had available. Incidentally, later once inside her new home, I noticed the only "unpacked" items there were a bottle of wine, 6 wine glasses, and of course the corkscrew.)

After the victorious 5 minute key treasure hunt in the glorious 97 degree Texas morning heat, I slipped in the key and turned the lock. Nothing. Zip. Zilch. Nadda. I tried turning, twisting, upside-downing, pulling, pushing and overall manhandling that key and door in any way I possibly could, all to no avail. I muttered to myself, "Great. The darn key doesn't work. Figures. Probably some idiot at Wal-mart doesn't know how to make a darn key copy!" Why I feel compelled to automatically disparage Wal-mart employees is beyond me. I really need to work on that...they're just everyday hard-workin' folks like the rest of us. So then I decided I was going to have to trek around to the backyard to see if the key would work in the backdoor.

After struggling to get through two child-safety gate latches, I finally got into the backyard. I was instantly impressed that Donna had already got her doghouses there, along with a nice patio set on the deck that appeared to be the future location of many outdoor girl's night gatherings! I saw two doors. I figured one was probably a door to the garage and the other to the house proper. I went to the garage door first, as it was closest, and tried my key. Again, no luck. "This is getting ridiculous," I thought. "Well, they say third time's a charm." Next I moved to the back door. Lo and behold! The key WORKED! Yippee!

My relief was shortlived, however, as two dogs immediately started barking and yipping at my legs--my uncovered, shorts-wearin' legs. "What the heck?", I thought, "These don't even look like Donna's dogs! And wow...she's already got her couches and TV entertainment center moved in!" Just then from around the corner, a lady came into the room wearing nothing but a t-shirt and panties and both of us nearly jumped. I stared at her and she stared at me, all while these fierce little chihuahuas were threatening unalterable damage to my legs and ankles!

Finally, coming to my senses, I said, "Hi. I'm Cheryl. Are you a friend of Donna's?" She looked at me like I was insane and replied, "No. Who are you?" "My friend Donna asked me to come to her house and wait for the gas guy. Is this 5208 White St.?" "Yes," she answered cautiously. "Is this the 3rd house from the end?" "Yes. This is my house. Why are you in here?", she demanded. She was beginning to appear not only confused, but angry, as well. Maybe she thought I was there to rob her or to kidnap her precious little pups--which I can assure you was the FARTHEST thing from my mind at that moment, or any other for that matter. "I'm so sorry. I don't know what to say. My friend Donna is moving into a home here and gave me this address. She said I was to use her key to go in and wait for the gas guy to come. The key didn't work on the door so I came around back to see if it worked in the back door which, as you can see, it did." Both of us marvelled at how odd that Donna's key opened HER back door! Finally, I apologized several times again and turned to leave.

This time, I went around the other side of the house (as it seemed it might be easier). That was yet another mistake. Not only did I step in dog crap (wearing flip flops...oooooooh!), but that side gate was locked and rocks were shoved against it to keep the dogs from escaping. So, I had to tromp all the way back through the back yard and around the other side of the house again to get my stuff on the front porch. Just as I began REloading all my junk upon myself, I saw the Atmos Energy van pulling away! I must've missed him while I was busy being eaten by chihuanas (I swear those dogs were a rare mixed breed of chihuahua and pirana). Loaded down with all my gear, I started "running" (and I use the term loosely) down the block waving my arms and shouting at the Atmos Energy guy to come back. Thankfully, he saw me and stopped.

Just then, the neighbor lady came out her front door (having donned a pair of shorts) and said, "Hey, sorry. I didn't mean to be rude. I was just shocked, especially since your key worked in my door" I said I completely understood, I would be, too, etc. etc. We both agreed, though, that perhaps she had left her back door unlocked and that's how the key had "worked". Then she said, "I was thinking, maybe it's supposed to be the house across the street. I've seen people cleaning over there, and it's been on the market for a few weeks." I figured I had nothing to lose at that point, so I crossed the street to try the corkscrew key. Bingo. Why couldn't I have just tried this keyhole to begin with?

I removed my odious flip flops and welcomed myself and Mr. Gas Guy into Donna's new home. After we got things straightened out and he went to do his business, I call Donna and say, "Hey, Donna? What's your new house number again?" She confidently replies, "5208." I wondered if I should tell her, or just let her meet the neighbor and chihuanasthe same way I had?


NEW JERSEY..............


Okay, so I took the "What U.S. state do you belong in" and this is what it had to say..........
NEW JERSEY

You have spunk, style, and charisma like no other! Cool drinks, good friends, and a warm summer breeze off the Atlantic are all you need to be completely content. You may not realize your full potential until you are a bit older, but you know for sure that if you put your mind to it, you can do absolutely anything. When obstacles stand in your way, you tactfully, creatively, and successfully overcome them. You are extremely adventurous and daring, but grounded all the same. Your family means the world to you, and when you are done exploring all the opportunities the world has to offer, you know that home is where the heart is. Love comes easy to you, which is why you'll find the love of your life in high school, college, or shortly

thereafter..


I never would have thought the East Coast....but maybe!

Wednesday, July 22, 2009

Magazine Covers

I don't know who shoots these covers but I love their style..........

The Little Diva

We got to go see Layla last week, and my she is really something!!! Her little personality has really blossomed. She looks so much like Steven when he was her age. Here are a few pics of the little diva..........







I can't believe how she has warmed up to us; I've waited so long for her to akknowledge us as people she knows. Now she is running after me, and actually letting me pick her up and take her away from mama without the water works! Before our photo shoot we had gone to the store for ice cream, you can see the evidence of the ice cream all over her face !!!!Auntie Danielle drove and I sat in the back with Layla.




Protective auntie made sure to follow the saftey first rules and dotted all the i's and crossed all the t's. I snapped a few candids on the way to the store.....



I so wanted to get her her 1st pony, but I guess I will have to settle for second...

After going through the photos I think I can see where Layla gets her addiction to cell phones!
And she also takes after her aunties taste in jewlery.....she just loved the cross that we got Danielle for her 16th birthday this year.....


I wish the shot of Layla holding the necklace had come out better...but I think it's just precious! And here are a few more candids..........




It both broke and warmed my heart when she cried for us when it was time for us to go <3 <3 <3 <3 <3

Until next time, stay safe my sweet baby girl !!!!!

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My reading list

  • Nicholas Sparks; The Choice

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