If Dogs Could Speak...

Cuddle Monsters

It is a rare thing indeed when Simba decides to cuddle with me. Typically he wants a snack that I am eating and will perch himself on my lap until I give him a piece. Tonight I had my heating blanket on and he really loves the heat. He loves to curl up and sleep on the most comfortable blankets and shed all over them too. If Buddha wasn't a Husky then he wouldn't overheat as much and would cuddle much more. Sadly, Buddha has to get up and down from the couch constantly because even without a heating blanket he is always hot, hot, HOT.

Clothing Swap

We've all heard about Clothing Swaps where people get together with their gently worn clothing and accessories and swap them out for something else. I think that this theory can actually work out for dogs as well. The winter is slowly approaching and there are a lot of dogs who need to revamp their wardrobes. Then there are those pups who simply can't fit into their old clothes and want to donate them to their smaller friends.

I am collecting small clothing right now for a friend who has a puppy who will undoubtedly need some warmth in the cruel months ahead. So if you have any doggy clothes, collars, leashes, food, etc. then let me know! I will start at a smaller scale and if this thing actually pans out then I will contact the local humane society and make donations to them.

Let's not forget that the holidays can be tough for everyone. There is always a financial strain on the humans and this strain can translate to dogs and cats all around. If we can pitch in to keep a dog at home instead of in a shelter then I say LET'S DO IT!

Pups & Babies

We had an eight month old visitor the other day. The dogs get along with kids very well because they have been socialized since we first got them as pups. We feel that we are so fortunate that our dogs are gentle and loving towards babies and children. But it is so interesting to see the levels of interest that the dogs possessed towards the baby. Simba (my Shiba) was interested in sniffing her when she first came to the home and once he figured out what she was, he didn't care what she was doing for the rest of the day. So while the baby was playing for the rest of the day Simba stayed in his own place and in his own world, which is typical of his breed and left her alone until she began to eat. Once the baby had some snacks, Simba had his eye NOT on her but on her food! He quickly figured out that she had the tendency to throw or drop her food and he would steal whatever he could. He is a stealthy guy but more importantly he is very patient. He got away with lots of yummy treats.

Onix the Pomeranian was the most interesting of the bunch. He has met many children as well but it seemed as though he exhibited a little jealousy or confusion. When his mommy made baby noises towards the baby Onix was confused and would come over and sniff the baby and his mommy. Once in a while he would even jump in between his mom and the baby. He never showed any signs of aggression. Instead, he wanted to follow the baby around to check her out and understand what exactly she was! ALIEN! RUN!

 Ah Buddha bear! The kindest Husky in the world. He is like the big brother who is all up in your grill and will take your toys. He didn't care about her food and would move his head from side to side when the baby cried but he wanted to figure out what made this little girl tick. He licked her fingers a few times and sometimes followed her but what amazes me is that Buddha is so careful around little kids. He realized he was much bigger than the baby so he moved around like a shadow but did follow her nonetheless.

September Allure

Nature is a beautiful thing. I love to photograph the dogs at the park because they are pure, real. They play, roughhouse, run and some don't get along. Their kingdom is full of truth where a lot of humans wear a mask. The allure of nature is the variety found throughout the seasons and after storms, days of oppressive heat and cooler mornings. It all seems so elementary but it is truly intricate.  

Buddha's Second Birthday!

I have been consistently ordering cakes for my dogs from http://www.mybestfriendpettreats.com/
and they have always turned out great. This is the fourth cake that I have gotten in their short puppy lives and  every dog that has had a piece found the cake to be a hit!

This year we had a fun photo shoot with Buddha and Simba. We all wore blue and I am hoping that we can use one of the photos for our yearly Holiday card. Buddha had a fantastic day at the dog park, was a rock star at the outdoor breakfast and finally he waited patiently while I took a million photos of him with his cake.

Since Buddha loves squirrels so much we bought him a squirrel toy and he also got a very cool card with a stuffed Rhinoceros and Frisbee from his Auntie.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY BUDDHA BABY!!! 

Doggy Dip

The end of the summer has come and gone. I still can't believe how quickly it went by! I only went to the pool one time and it appears that the dogs have been in the water much more than I have. Here are some photos of the boys. Buddha is a natural in the water while Simba flails wildly and is very uncomfortable in any water. We had a great time. Well...maybe all of us except for Simba!

50 Date Night Ideas

I have been looking at various websites and speaking with couples about some ideas for date nights that are inexpensive and/or free. I had my own ideas so I decided to compile a list. Some of these ideas are dog friendly as well. 

1) Art night. Find a canvas and a place where you can get a little messy. Pick some fun paint colors. I prefer acrylics because they are easier to clean up. Pick a theme or just do some finger painting. This is where the dogs can come in as well. Dip a paw in some paint and have your pup walk across the canvas.

2) Table tennis. Old Navy has a mini table tennis set for five dollars. You can set it up on any table and it's small enough to put away without causing clutter.

3) Funny photos. This might sound silly but pick a favorite TV show, movie, era, etc. and dress up for the part. There are so many cool settings on cameras and on the Iphone. You can make the pics look dated. 

4) Candlelight dinner and reading. Turn off all the electronics and put candles all over the house. Eat some yummy food and dessert and read a book to each other. Short stories work great.

5) Ice skating. Even if you are no good at it, it can be a fun way to keep busy and laugh!

6) Midnight movie at the local theater.

7) Dress up and go to a hotel bar. If you like to avoid big crowds and prefer a more "chill" atmosphere then this is a great way to drink cocktails and look fabulous.

8) Wine tasting. There are a lot of local wineries and so many weekend events that you can attend. 

9) Local music. Great music and sometimes not so great music! There are a lot of free events with outdoor concerts.

10) Go to a museum. 

11) Take a big blanket and find a spot under the stars. Away from the city lights and in a quiet space. Beautiful!

12) Play pool. Not too expensive and there are a lot of places to go!

13) Comedy show. We were able to see Bill Maher live and it was awesome. 

14) Drive around and look at all the glorious homes that are around. Talk about all the things that you like and dislike. Gives you a better feel for what kind of home you want in the future.

15) Take a cooking class. The prices vary and it depends on what you want to learn to make. 

16) Go to a pottery painting store. Most of the ones that I have seen have really cheesy pieces but it is fun to sit and paint, no matter how ugly it ends up.

17) Mini shopping spree. Pick a price limit and split up. Find as many cool things that you can for one another and wrap the pieces in newspaper. Get back together and take turns showing each other what you bought. 

18) Camping trip. It isn't too pricey and you can go away for a day at a time. The pups can go too!

19) Go for a bike ride. 

20) Stop and smell the coffee. Visit a coffee shop and do nothing but sip your favorite drinks together.

21) Go to a football, baseball or other sport event. If it's too expensive then go to a local high school game. 

22) Putt Putt Golf. 

23) Work on a small puzzle. Something that you can actually finish in one sitting. 

24) Buy remote control cars and find a quiet road to race them! Simba really likes little cars so the dogs can take part in the fun too.

25) Candle making. There are a lot of candle making kits out there and they aren't too expensive. Fun craft idea and not too difficult. 

26) Picnic.

27) Go to a haunted house during Halloween time or you can check out other places that are said to be haunted anytime of the year.

28) Watch a scary movie.

29) Plant a tree. Earth friendly and good karma to boot!

30) Snow outside? Hit the slopes!

31) More snow? Bundle up, build snowmen, have a snowball fight and let the dogs play along with you.

32) Play Trivial Pursuit or Scrabble on a rainy night.

33) Go to a used bookstore and find some classics. Maybe even a poetry book?

34) Visit a local orchard and pick berries, pumpkins, whatever!

35) Rent a rowboat and spend a day on the lake.

36) Create your own signature drink and make scrumptious appetizers and desserts to match.

37) Give back to the community. Spend the day at a soup kitchen, retirement home, etc. Some of these places will even let you take your dog for therapeutic purposes! 

38) Stay positive. Are you in a rut? Make a list of all the positive things you enjoy about one another. Then you can put these little notes in a box or in a jar. This way you can randomly look at things that make you happy when skies are gray.

39) Take a dance class. We did and we laughed at how clumsy we were.

40) See a musical. These can range in price but there are a lot of options from high school to Broadway! 

41) Get a couples massage or get massage oils and give each other massages.

42) Learn how to play poker. I have no idea how to play but it could be fun to use pennies and ante up.

43) Go rock climbing. There are a lot of indoor climbing facilities. I personally love rock climbing.

44) Find a Bed & Breakfast and spend the night.

45) If you're feeling EXTRA bold...go skinny dipping! 

46) Rent a cabin during the winter and get all cozy by the fireplace. 

47) Hit the gym together. Maybe even take a Yoga, Pilates or Zumba class. 

48) Get in the car and drive. Take the pups and stop whenever you see something that is pleasant. Make sure to lots of pictures and enjoy the moment.

49) Meditate. I like to meditate alone but there are some great meditation techniques the can allow you both to decompress and just BREATHE. 

50) Spend the night snacking, gossiping and laughing. There are some great "what if" books that can be conversation starters.

Rubber Ducky

I was given some fun fabric by a friend who wanted me to try making dog collars. As an absolute beginner at sewing, I was flattered and terrified at the thought! I have a very difficult time cutting fabric in straight lines. I guess it is an art that I do not possess. I couldn't sleep the other night so around one in the morning, I decided to give it a shot. The collar was meant to fit a Siberian Husky. After my many mistakes, zigzag sewing and uneven cutting the collar turned out much smaller. It fits Simba but certainly not a Husky. I am going to try again but as of now I have made my first collar and it does the job, even if not perfect! I took the scraps of the same fabric and made a mini bandanna for a small pup!

Sewing is fun but making things for the dogs is what keeps me going. Hopefully I will graduate to human items at some point. ;-)