All of My Pups, Have New Homes

On January 25th Ronda made a trip from her home in South Bend, Indiana to mine in Michigan.  Prior to our visit, we had several text and phone conversations.  I asked alot of questions.  I was intent on getting a home for my girl, where she had a furry brother or sister...and where she'd be taken care of and would be happy!   Angel is a 4 1/2 year old Coton deTulear.  The visit went very well and at the end of our visit, Ronda and Angel left for home to meet her furry brother, Mr. Darcy, a schnauzer.  When they left, I was crying and sobbing.  I knew I'd miss her terribly.  But I also knew that I had done the most difficult thing, but yet the best thing I could ever do for her.  And I knew she was happy.

Jasper, My 9yr old Maltese Playing in the Snow

Getting Help from a Few Places and People

Hi Everyone,

I'm on a mission again, to find all 3 of my precious PuppyKids a new home.  I no longer see the need for them to be together.  It would be nice, but not necessary.  As long as Jasper has a male figure in the home to walk with and play with, he'll act like a one year old puppy, that's what everyone says when they see him with a guy.  The two girls, Angel and Rosie, will be happy alone, too, as long as they have someone to snuggle up to and that Angel can alert someone to stranger danger!!

My local Humane Shelter is helping, by reaching out to shelters and people looking for small dogs.  My Vet is also helping by putting their Bios on the wall in the waiting room and listening for anyone who may be looking for a small dog.  And now, the Breeder, in Indiana, where I got all 4 of my Pups, has posted an entire page on the Adult Dogs Available.

I really appreciate all the help!  I'm still mentioning the pups wherever I go and to everyone I speak to on the phone, just in case...ya know?

Have a wonderful day!

Christmas 2017 In My Sitting Room

This Christmas was quiet...just me and the Pups. 

I got my Cinnamon Rolls baked and handed out to neighbors and friends.

The Pups and I watched movies after everything was cleaned up and we all enjoyed a few treats.

My Son, Stephen and his wife, Lindsey [above, getting their Christmas tree this year] sent me an on-line Gift Certificate for PetCo.  I ordered the pups some food and some treats...and they arrived yesterday.  I didn't have much food when they returned last week and knew I needed to order it, but didn't want to have to spend much money, with the shortage of money I currently have...or don't have, really.  

The PuppyKids Are Back Home With Me

Late Thursday afternoon, after speaking to the Mrs. of the couple who took my Pups almost 3 weeks ago, a friend and I went to their house for a visit.  A visit that I hoped would end with me bringing my Pups back home.  3 weeks ago, when the Pups initially stayed with this couple, we knew there would be a trial period of about 3 weeks, in case either of us saw a need to have the pups come back to live with me.

All of the PuppyKids, after baths and grooming...

Left to Right:  Angel, Rosie & Jasper

My friend and I arrived and the couple welcomed us, as did my Pups!  I said we needed to sit down because I was there to talk to them.  I said I felt that in talking to them, that they may have taken on too much with 3 small dogs.  They asked if I wanted to take them back home.

My PuppyKids

I remember when I made this collage and turned it into a large photo on the wall in my home.  It was shortly after the last of my Pups came to live with me.  That was in 2013...and her name was Angel.  She arrived  just 3 weeks after my precious Pup, Benny died of a neurological incident.  He'd been with me for only a short 4 1/2 years, but saw me through the worst Bell's Palsy attack ever!  He helped heal me.  In between and before Angel & Benny, was Rosie...born on Valentine's Day 2010.  And the first Pup that came into my life was Jasper and that was when he was 9 months old in 2009.

Remembering Benny...

Today, Benny would have been EIGHT years old.  Due to a sudden neurological attack, he passed away at only 4 1/2 yrs of age.  This is a post I shared a couple of years ago.

PuppyKid Birthday Party Today

This is the Birthday Boy - Jasper.  He is 8 years old today.  I remember the day I was at the Breeder is Indiana to pick him up.  He was exactly 9 months old.  He weighed 4 pounds.  He's now 8 pounds and has been for many years.  He is a Maltese...and can be tempermental...especially with me.  I had to take him to the Vet a couple of weeks ago, because he was kind of snappy, grumpy, growling all the time...and squeaking.  Besides that he bit me a couple of times...not hard, but he did break the skin.  He was also urinating in the house...alot.  The Vet found a couple of things...that his prostate is enlarged [could be an infection] and is on antibiotics for it.  He also has a problem with one of his hips...which would account for his snapping, growling and the like.  He is on pain pills for that.  He is feeling much better now...and so am I.  He goesback to the Vet on Sunday - please say a prayer that all is OK.

All of the Pups were groomed Saturday and Sunday - by me...and I thought it was time for some updated pictures of all of them.  So, I put this little collage together for you to be able to see them all.

Jasper 8yr old Male Maltese

Angel 3yr old 14# Female Havaton [Havanese, Coton de Tulear Mix]

Rosie 6yr old 12# Female Shih-Poo [Shih Tzu, Toy Poodle Mix]

The Pups are celebrating today...with their favorite treats [for their teeth], bananas and chicken.  We'll all have a great time.

Thanks for stopping by....

This Wasn't In My Plans for Today!

 Just this past Thursday, I posted about the Garden - Where My Pups Run Free on the TOHOT link party, so when things went from good to bad during our High Wind yesterday, I thought....This WAS NOT in my plans for last Saturday - Antique Shopping was.  I haven't been in an Antique Shop in years!  And, those of  you who have known me for any length of time, know it was one of my favorite things to do!  I used to buy...
things for my home and then others to sell in my Etsy and E-Bay shops.  

But, alas... 

Antique shopping will have to wait...for another time.

Something much more urgent came up, or should I say came DOWN during the night.  That's right...a large section of my courtyard wall, came DOWN. That's the wall I shared last week at Jemma's Link Party.   All the concrete blocks fell over...and it's a huge mess.  I have to see if I can fix it.  It's going to take alot of muscle to get this back into shape.  First of all the blocks each weigh 43# and when wet, as they are now...they weigh more.  Alot of the blocks are muddy, because they hold the soil in the wall for my garden.  Ughhhh.

There have to be at least 100 [I didn't count them all] blocks that fell down.  It's not just a matter of picking them up and putting them down...as you'll see, when you look at all of the photos.

This is the outside wall....at least half of it has fallen down.  The falling blocks stopped about 2 feet from the gas meter on the lot next door.

First, I have to make room for me to walk and work where the blocks are now.  I also have to shore up a section that is threatening to fall over.  There is an electric and a gas meter near it...and I wouldn't want that wall to fall on those!

But, if you look, you can see that the bottom row of blocks twisted and are nearly on their sides...so that means I have to pull them all out and then make sure there is gravel or sand beneath them before I can stack them.  And there is garden dirt that fell, that will have to be shoveled back on top.

Oh, boy...what a job!

At least it will be around 60-65° outside today!

Here's the inside wall, in front of my remaining hydrangeas...that I built a week ago.

While I was surveying the damage, the Pups were at play...so I snapped a few...

left to right:  Rosie, Jasper [the butt] and Angel

And off they went, while Jasper shook his head.

Now...I'm off too!

Here's my latest link to:

--- UPDATE ON THE WALL ---

I'm joining the Link Party Thoughts of Home on Thursday at:

Laura at Décor To Adore

Stacey from Poofing the Pillows

Jemma from At Home With Jemma

Laura at White Spray Paint

My Garden - Where the Pups Run Free

Following damage to our property and an injury to me by a neighbor, we planned a courtyard wall...where I could plant flowers and vegetables and be safe.  At the time, we had thoughts of bringing a dog into our home...but they were only thoughts.  About 8 weeks later, we got our first dog, Jasper.  Three weeks later, we got a playmate named Benny and we needed a way to keep our Pups in our yard!  Since we can't have fences...
 So, the plans were perfect.

Here is the courtyard plan I came up with on my computer.  After ordering all of the materials and having a HUGE truck deliver it all...Tom got busy laying the blocks and building our plan.  When finished, I got my chance...to make it pretty!!!  I planted many varieties of HYDRANGEAS and one variety of ROSES.

Here's a Drawing I did on the Computer...for our new Garden and Patio!!Things sure have changed in the last year...and for the better!  Tom and I formed a PLAN for our yard and garden and how it would "shape up" for 2009.  And I'm happy to say, we got it finished. 

Now for BEFORE and AFTER photos.  Summer flew by so quickly and with only getting plants in the ground in mid to late July...the garden didn't progress enough to take GREAT photos.  There's always 2010 and the GARDEN!!!

Wall Courtyard Garden

Oops...see the ball?  Guess who that belongs to...yet another CHANGE in the past year!!!

The black surface was our BRIGHT WHITE concrete patio, which had been previously stained and NOT touched this year.  See the PATCH of green grass?  It measures about 15' x 9'...a nice spot!!!

[the patch of grass has since been removed because the pups were allergic to it]

The following are BEFORE & AFTER Photos...

BEFORE  Summer Garden 2008 - looking from the back corner of our yard...toward the street

and NOW - AFTER!!!

The raised planter walls are about 28" tall - with a double tier (one shorter) at the very back and at the front of the patio.   We now have an 950 square foot Courtyard for our Outdoor Furniture, Grill and Pups!  

******

The NEXT CHANGE...Are you ready????  REMEMBER THE BALL ON THE PATIO - A FEW PHOTOS BACK?  IT BELONGS TO......

Our Pups...Benny on the left and Jasper on the right.  We got Jasper when he was 9 months old - from a breeder in Indiana - on May 16th.  Three weeks later, we got Benny - from the same breeder.  He was 12 weeks old.  When Benny became a member of our family, he weighed just 5# and Jasper weighed 5 1/2#.  Jasper was taller, so Benny could scoot right under Jasper's belly.  Not so anymore!!!  Jasper weighs 8# and Benny weighs 13#...and still growing.  They are the BEST dogs we could have ever gotten!!  They play well together and keep themselves occupied.  They entertain us all the time!!

Here are a few more photos of them...

AREN'T THEY CUTE???  WE THINK SO!!!

Now they have a Courtyard to Play in! ♥

[this post is from May 1, 2012 - brought back for today]

***Sadly, Benny passed away from a Neurological Disorder at the age of 4 years and 9 months...on December 7, 2013***

I'm joining Jemma today for the Link Party she's hostessing...stop by and see her.

- - - UPDATE ON THE COURTYARD GARDEN - - -

Special News Bulletin...Read All About It!!

I whistled for my dogs today!  So what, you say?  It's a big deal to me!!  I trained my first 3 Pups, Jasper, Benny and Rosie, with my whistle - the kind I made by puckering up my lips and blowing.  Then on May 28th 2012, I got Bell's Palsy and had a 2nd bout of it in August 2014.  Since May 28th 2012, I have not been able to whistle at all!  Oh, maybe if I held my mouth just right - and then for only a second or two.  But, today, I really whistled - for about 3 minutes.  Jasper and Rosie were going crazy, because they must have remembered my whistle and it made them get excited [for a treat], HA!  Angel even caught on to that act!!

How Do Your Dogs Travel and Sleep at Night?

Jasper, my oldest Pup will be 7 years old this month.  He was 9 months old when I got him.  He is a Maltese.  {see my sidebar for photos and a link to posts about all of my Pups}  I'd done alot of reading and studying on being a good Pup Mom!  And since I do have nice furniture, rugs and carpeting as well as other things around the house, I decided that Crate Training would be the way to go.  I opted for the black metal crate, just big enough for Jasper to get in, turn around and lay down.  He seemed to like it too.  He'd run and lay down in it...
throughout the day, too, after his initial training was done.  And he slept in it too.

These are my PuppyKids

***Prayers for Angel today would be appreciated.  She isn't walking on one of her hind legs.***

Three weeks after getting Jasper, I headed back to the Breeder in Indiana, to get a companion for Jasper...and that was Benny.  I put the crate in the car, with a soft bed in it and Jasper rode comfortably and quietly all the way to Indiana in it.  After a walk outside with Benny,  I put him in the crate with Jasper and headed home.  Even the 11 week old Benny, a Havanese, enjoyed the crate.  {Benny passed away in December 2013, when he was barely 4 1/2 years old}.  It was settled...any and all Pups would be crate trained - to travel and sleep in the crate.  Until potty training was done, they had a small crate they were in to nap during the day...and between potty breaks.  It worked out great.

Jasper and Benny shared their crate at night and on trips...well, anywhere we went, for about 7 months.  Then along came Rosie, who weighed only 3# and was 12 weeks old.  She's a Toy Poodle.  The "boys" graciously accepted her into their crate and she has loved having the boys around her.

Throughout the following following years, there were many beds that came and went - shared by all 3 of the Pups.  And finally, I decided to try a different kind of crate...a soft-side.  Jasper had gotten his paw stuck in the metal crate and also had gotten his nose hurt, when I had to slam on the brakes to avoid a collision...so I thought a soft-side might be better.

While there are many things you can purchase as beds for your furry kids...I'm happy to say, there are quite a few selections for crates too.  See the metal crate below...and the fabric "Tents" you can purchase to decorate them?  Oh how cute.

But here is the Soft-Side Crate I purchased for all 3 Pups - Jasper, Benny and Rosie...both to travel in and to sleep in.  And, yes, I close the openings {which zip} when they go to bed at night.  I don't want my Pups getting up and getting into anything they shouldn't...especially while I'm asleep.  This is the Noz2Noz 36"x24"x31" crate.  All 3 have plenty of room to stretch out in it...and they don't have any hard bars that could injure them.  And...since Jasper gets paranoid when there is a fly in the house...the crate is a "safe place" for him when they're around.  I always have a nice, semi-soft bed that I put inside the crate.  They thoroughly enjoy the time they spend in it.  One end, one side and the top all have a zipper to open the screen.  I wondered, since my Pups like to scratch at the screen when they get excited, how it would hold up.  I've been using the same crate for nearly 4 years...and while you can see marks on the "screen", it does not affect the use of it at all.  It just make a dark mark if they scratch it too hard. 

And when Angel came along 2 years ago, she was potty trained and then she joined the "Crew" in the crate for travel and sleeping.

I have tried on occasion, to have them sleep with me at night.  They love laying down on my bed for a nap during the day...but as soon as it's dark outside...at night...and I turn off the lamp on my bedside table, they start whining and fussing, wanting to go in their bed and get tucked in {or zipped in}.  

The only problem I had with the crate, was the size - when I was driving and travelling.  I couldn't see out the back window, making it difficult to see traffic behind me.  It interfered when backing up out of a parking spot too.  So, this year, I ordered the size slightly smaller...and it's no longer a problem and the smaller size is OK with the Pups too. 

Somewhere in between purchasing the large crate and the slightly smaller crate this year, I also purchased the small crate...for one dog.  It makes transport of my most nervous little girl, Rosie, to Vet appointments and she loves getting into it if it's storming during the day.  Calms her right down.

These crates are washable - I use a sponge and soap and water.  The crate bottoms are waterproof, which is a good thing, in case of an accident or very wet paws.  They are easy to open and close.  They have velcro and the roll-up screens...the smaller crates also have a carry handle.

I just thought I'd share this information with you here...in case you've been thinking about crate training, travelling or sleeping arrangements or changing crates.  I haven't received anything from anybody for posting this.  These are my own feelings about this product.

Part 3 - Spring 2015 How It Looked Then

 To say that going from this Hydrangea filled Garden Wall to almost nothing in the garden wall right now has been easy...wouldn't be the truth.  It's been very hard, heavy and sometimes back-breaking work, but I'm so glad to see it progressing.  The first photo is the back end of my Courtyard Garden.  There is a concrete patio there, surrounded by concrete patio pavers...and the walls are stacked concrete blocks.  This is a huge Courtyard...and at night, when...
I let the Pups outside, they would run everywhere in the courtyard and all the way down to the gate at the sidewalk.  Bad thing was, I couldn't see them.

I knew that I had to make some changes.  They certainly didn't need the entire courtyard to potty in...so that made it simple to think I could shrink the area they used to a portion that I could see from the front door and porch - using only the porch light.  Difficult thing was trying to figure out how to cordon it off, since everything was concrete...no place for fences or gates or anything like that.  So, here, I just dragged their old crates out and stuck a gate up against them, using a zip tie to keep it up and against the crates.  I certainly didn't like the looks of it...but it worked.

So on to figuring out other possibilities. 

This is the other end of my courtyard.  

***NOTE*** If you look close, you will see that the wall is 4 blocks high, plus the cap block.  I'll tell you in a bit exactly what happened to that entire wall.

You can read the other posts I've done about it and the garden HERE...you'll see measurements and square footage and many other photos too.

Here you can see the changes taking place.  I chopped all of the 17 lush and pretty hydrangeas down and bagged them up for lawn waste pick-up.  Then I got rid of other stuff in the garden.

 I did replace the cap block that you see missing here on the front wall...after I dug out ONE of the hydrangeas myself.  That is the only one I will be digging out.  My lawn guy, Josh, is sending out 2 guys later next week to dig the other 16 out and haul the waste away!  Yeah!!

Remember a couple of photos up...my ***NOTE***?  

The wall all around the courtyard used to be 4 blocks + a cap block high.  I removed each one of those blocks.  Why?  Look a the next photo!

 This is the "Pup's Pen".

I moved 70 concrete blocks that weighed 38# each...some from the near wall...and a bunch from the far end of the wall...to build this enclosure, complete with a gate.  The concrete patio drains nicely and never has standing water.  With the blocks set down so you see the "windows" of the blocks, there is good air circulation too.

 The "Pups Pen" measure about 18x13 feet.  It's wonderful.  It's located just off the porch, under the living room windows and porch light and the hose - just outside the back gate.  I'll be replacing the plastic grey gate on the porch with a black wrought iron one...soon.

 The new wall of the pen will be a handy place for container gardening of herbs next year.

 I sprayed to get rid of ants on this end of the wall, so there are still a few things there that need to be removed.

 The rest of the wall is rid of all plant material and pretty things (except the glow ball laying there) and the hydrangeas will be gone by next weekend, weather cooperating.

 Those few blocks on the patio will be going in the garage and will be used to keep a few things off the floor.

 These hydrangeas...Endless Summer are my oldest hydranges (about 8 years old.  They aren't blooming like they used to...but I'm going to give them another try next year.

 Next year the wall garden will have much lower plantings...and will look much airier.  I'll also be able to see out of my courtyard.

More to come on the Courtyard and Wall Garden!