Away Too Long--Now I'm Back

I have not posted here in way too long. Lots of family issues and work have kept me away, but I love this blog so I am back.

We finally have spring again in Texas. Einstein, Gracie and Pink (as well as myself) thought it would never come. Winter this year was way too long and way too cold, but the grass is finally greening up again and flowers are starting to bloom and being outside is actually fun again.

And I have a new grand doggie. Jax. Jax was rescued as a puppy by my amazing daughter and hubby in November 2010. They had lost their 12 year old eskimo dog to cancer and old age in August and were finally ready for a new family member. Jax is all puppy---all 50 lbs. of him and he is only 5 months old. We don't know how big he will get, but if his feet are indication, they may have to get a bigger car to haul him around in. He was listed as an Anatolian Shepherd, but at this point no one is sure. What we are sure of is that he is adorable and rambunctios and full of puppy mischief. He is baby brother to Saint Bernard Bernie and Walley the 30 lb. cat. It has been a long time since daughter has had a puppy and I think she has forgotten how exasperating, although rewarding and fun, a puppy can be. He thinks everything should go in his mouth and does not like it when he is reminded that that does not include the cat or sister Bernie, the Saint Bernard.

My daughter has an exercise routine that she does every day. That now includes situps with a 50 lb. puppy laying across her stomach. I keep reminding her that he won't be a puppy forever and to just enjoy these moments, as someday they will just be special memories. Pictures of Jax to come soon.

IS IT SPRING YET? DON'T FORGET TO SPRING FORWARD TOMORROW!

Are you all as ready for Spring as we are?

Gracie, Pink and Einstein can hardly wait....neither can mom.

It has to be just around the corner, because we Spring forward tonite one hour at midnite.

The Bradford Pear trees are blooming and the morning doves returned this week...all sure signs it is nearly here.

We can hardly wait for the flowers to bloom, the grass to green up and feel cool and long days of sunshine to bathe in.

We will be back when Spring finally arrives! Sooner than later, we hope.

It Took You Long Enough!

It has been awhile since I have been on here...we have been sick, since Thanksgiving. First one thing and then another. Finally, I think we have had everything there is to have and we are feeling well once again.

We had some issues with Einstein over the holidays and decided it was time to go to Obedience School with him. We found an amazing dog trainer in Waxahachie. He uses the same principles that Cesar Milan does and if we can't get Cesar to help us, Rob B. is definitely the next best thing. If I had not seen it with my own eyes...I would not have believed it. Einstein has always been a barker (part of the breed we figured), but within five minutes this guy had him sitting quietly by using one command. Now usually when in a new situation or with new people (like at the Vet) Einstein will not stop barking. But, we have been practicing since and he stops every time we tell him too.

We went for our second lesson this week. WOW! My husband has always been the one to walk Einstein because he is so big and strong I cannot...he just drags me down the street. Again, within about 10 minutes, the trainer had him walking calmly on the leash right by his side. When it came my turn to try it...he did the same for me. I was shocked. Since then, we have practiced at home with him...he walks calmly on the leash. I have not been so excited about anything in awhile, but I am over the moon about these lessons and what it is doing for Einstein and us. We have even tried the lessons on Gracie and Pink and it works with them as well.

I watch Cesar Milan all the time. I am very envious of what he does and would love to be able to do what he does....I am, after all, a WANNABE DOG WHISPERER. Now, who knows...I might get my wish in some small way.

In working with Einstein at home it is like he was waiting for someone to show or tell him what he was supposed to do. He seems a much more happy and content dog. We have many more lessons to go and we look forward to each one...the sky is the limit with what he can learn and what we can learn. If you were ever the least bit skeptical about what Cesar Milan does on his show, I can tell you it works and it is genuine.

I swear, Einstein looked at me as if to say "You dummy, if you had just shown me what you wanted me to do a long time ago, I would have done it".

Just goes to show you, that you are never too old to learn something new. The Dog Trainer was supposed to be just for Einstein, but I think it is really for me. Although I love my dogs more than anything and would do anything for them, I am just now learning how to be a true "Pack Leader". Thanks to Cesar Milan and Rob B. in Waxahachie, Tx. I get a chance to be just that.
Life is good....my dogs are wonderful...and I am a lucky person.!!!!!

Yum! The Delicious Smell of Turkey!

As holidays go, Thanksgiving is one of Pink, Gracie and Einstein's favorites. From the time we bring the "fresh (not frozen)" turkey home and a ton of extra groceries, they know we are up to something delicious. They follow us every step we take if it leads to the kitchen. I usually start baking cornbread and desserts a day or two ahead of tim, so we are all (2 humans, 3 dogs) in the kitchen at the same time. Since I am now baking homemade dog treats (our Vet has convinced me that they are much safer and definitely more nutritious) the dogs are absolutely sure that anything on a "Cookie Sheet" has got to be for them. The girls will sit and patiently wait for a treat, but although Einstein is sitting and waiting he is "TALKING" the entire time something is cooking (this is so we won't forget he is in the room....which would be hard to do anyway, due to his large size). Once whatever I am working on is done, it has to cool. before anyone gets a bite....it is absolute chaos, that I dearly love and would not trade for anything in the world.

Then the night before Thanksgiving, I usually put the turkey on to cook around 1 a.m. so that when we get up in the morning it will be done. Around 3 a.m., when it gets to cooking really good and "SMELLING REALLY GOOD", Einstein wakes me to let me know how good it smells and wants to know why I am not up giving him a bite. I manage to get him to go back to sleep only to be waken up every hour on the hour until around 6 a.m. when, by now, he has Pink and Gracie awake too.

One of us will have to guard the turkey once it comes out of the oven....because these three are planning the biggest heist in history. You can look at their cute little faces and see the wheels turning as they sniff the air and glue themselves to me, as I try to finish the rest of the dinner.

When we start setting the dining room table the excitement mounts, because now they know that company is coming and there will be even more humans to con a bite from (especially the grandchildren). At the end of the day, they will indeed get their turkey dinner and be as stuffed as the rest of us and settle down for a nice long nap. The look of utter contentment on their sweet faces is priceless.

So, from our family to yours...WE WISH YOU A VERY HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!!

Mom, Dad, Pink, Gracie & Einstein

Happy Halloween from Circuit

This is a picture of two of my grand daughters with Circuit the golden retriever. As you can easily see from the picture... this is one happy dog! They tell me that he wore his "hula costume" the entire time and thoroughly enjoyed "Trick or Treating".

This was his first Halloween with my son and his family...he was a rescue and came to live with them in July. From day one, although somewhat undernourished, he has been a loving, happy dog and a joy to be around.

If you are considering adding to your family, think about rescuing a dog in need. There are many out there who need a home...why don't you put a "SMILE" like this on a dog!

Animals Suffer Financial Difficulties Too!

There is so much concern over the poor economy these days. Many families are finding it hard to makes ends meet, people are losing their jobs, homes, etc. If you find yourself unable to care for your pet(s) here are some suggestions on ways to get help.

If you can't get help any other way, send me an email and I will try to find help for you -------------PINKPENNYANNIE@Yahoo.com.

Officials with animal shelters and rescue groups offer the following advice to pet owners faced with a financial crisis:

Contact your local humane society or animal rescue group.

Never leave your pets in a foreclosed home.

Be proactive about your financial problems.

Try to keep vaccinations and flea treatments current.

Don't be afraid to ask for help.

Animal lovers can help struggling pets and their owners by:

Providing temporary housing for pets while their owners get settled.

Supporting their local animal shelters by donating food, money or time. Some children across the country have asked their family and friends to make donations to animal organizations instead of giving them presents for birthdays, Christmas or other holidays.

Helping a pet owner in need by paying for pet food or veterinary bills.

Contacting local animal control officers if they know about a pet living in a house that is abandoned.

A Dog's Purpose

A FRIEND SENT THIS TO ME RECENTLY...I THOUGHT IT SHOULD BE SHARED WITH ALL OF YOU!


A Dog's Purpose (from a 6-year-old's perspective).

Being a veterinarian, I had been called to examine a ten-year-old Irish Wolfhound named Belker. The dog's owners, Ron, his wife Lisa, and their little boy Shane, were all very attached to Belker, and they were hoping for a miracle.


I examined Belker and found he was dying of cancer. I told the family we couldn't do anything for Belker, and offered to perform the euthanasia procedure for the old dog in their home.

As we made arrangements, Ron and Lisa told me they thought it would be good for six-year-old Shane to observe the procedure. They felt as though Shane might learn something from the experience.

The next day, I felt the familiar catch in my throat as Belker's family surrounded him. Shane seemed so calm, petting the old dog for the last time, that I wondered if he understood what was going on. Within a few minutes, Belker slipped peacefully away.

The little boy seemed to accept Belker's transition without any difficulty or confusion. We sat together for a while after Belker's Death, wondering aloud about the sad fact that animal lives are shorter than human lives. Shane, who had been listening quietly, piped up, 'I know why.'

Startled, we all turned to him. What came out of his mouth next stunned me. I'd never heard a more comforting explanation.

He said, 'People are born so that they can learn how to live a good Life -- like loving everybody all the time and being nice, right?' The Six-year-old continued, 'Well, dogs already know how to do that, so they don't have to stay as long.'

Live simply.

Love generously.

Care deeply.

Speak kindly.

Remember, if a dog was the teacher you would learn things like:

When loved ones come home, always run to greet them.

Never pass up the opportunity to go for a joy-ride.

Allow the experience of fresh air and the wind in your face to be pure Ecstasy.

Take naps.

Stretch before rising.

Run, romp, and play daily.

Thrive on attention and let people touch you.

Avoid biting when a simple growl will do.

On warm days, stop to lie on your back on the grass.

On hot days, drink lots of water and lie under a shady tree.

When you're happy, dance around and wag your entire body.

Delight in the simple joy of a long walk.

Be loyal.

Never pretend to be something you're not.

If what you want lies buried, dig until you find it.

When someone is having a bad day, be silent, sit close by, and nuzzle them gently. ENJOY EVERY MOMENT OF EVERY DAY!

Saint Bernard Wants a Timex for Xmas

My daughter, aka the "frog whisperer", has an adorable Saint Bernard named Bernie. She weighs well over 200 lbs. Bernie likes to sleep in the bed with daughter and husband, who for reasons you can well imagine, prefer her that she not. Bernie has gotten very sneaky at ways of getting in bed. Her latest trick is to wake daughter up sometime during the nite (pretending to need to go outside). While daugher gets up and goes to the back door to let her out, Bernie is assuming her place in bed. By the time daughter has determined that she has been tricked again and gets back to the bedroom, Bernie is fast asleep next to my son-in-law. She has tried numerous times to move her (daugter only weighs 120 lbs---dog weighs over 200), to no avail. Forget about waking up husband...he is dead to the world. Daughter will sometimes try to squeeze in next to her and go back to sleep, but usually ends up on the sofa in the den.

Today, Bernie got her up at 4 a.m. and she is requesting that we get Bernie a Timex for Xmas so she can see what time it is for herself and not wake her up. I don't think the Timex is going to help much though. Bernie already knows what time it is...time to get in bed with mom & dad.

Beverly Hills Chihuahua

My husband and I went to see Beverly Hills Chihuahua last nite. I have made it a rule in my life not to see Disney Movies because there is ALWAYS a sad part that makes me cry. But from the previews I had seen, I thought this one would be different. I was wrong. There is a sad part in this movie as well...but it provides a good message about dogs and the responsibility of taking care of dogs...so this Disney movie gets a big thumbs up from me.

It has really funny parts and the dogs in the movie are all adorable. I now want to get a little chihuahua to add to our family...perhaps a little white one like the character in the movie or maybe the little brown one. We will see.

One of my favorite scenes in the movie is when the Pit Bull smiles and says his breath is "Minty Fresh".

I think my husband even liked this movie, because I heard him laugh several times and he was smiling through most of the movie.

I may not go see another Disney movie for awhile, but I did like this one. Though it made me cry, it also made me cry because it is such a sweet movie too. Go see for yourself.

Never Underestimate The Power of Love

My dear friends went to see Otis for what they thought would be the last time. He had been in the hospital for a week, and the vet said there was nothing more he could do to save him. But something amazing happened when they held him. They told him how much they needed him and loved him, how much he would be missed if he left them. They talked to him about all the people who love him and recalled funny times and special times they had with him in the past. Otis began to rally a little bit. The vet was shocked by this and very surprised. He asked them to hold off 24 hours before letting Otis go. By the next day, Otis was 100% better than the day before. When they arrived to see him, he was standing up in his kennel barking at them...something he had not done in over a week. Each day since, he has steadily gotten better.

The love of a dog for his owner and the owner for a dog is so special that sometimes love is all that matters. There is no medical explanation for why Otis got better. But I believe in my heart that love is what saved Otis.

I have this kind of love with my own wonderful dogs...if you have it with yours, you are truly blessed.