We’re back up and running! Sorry for the inconvenience.  I know its been a real inconvenience for me.  Remember a week or so back when I renewed my domain name.  Well, they (my domian register) dropped the ball and it wasn’t manually renewed and expried.  It took about 24 hours to resolve the propagation issue (for the most part) but I am still not seeing it on Mozilla Firefox - it should be soon.  Email is back up and running and everything should be running smoothly with in a day. Never fear, we didn’t go anywhere and don’t plan on it anytime soon!  Gotta love the internet.

The weather has been beautiful for the last two days so it hasnt been a total loss.  I got a few shots of Apollo and Brutus enjoying the sunshine.

Zeus doesn’t get much face time around here.  He doesn’t really like to have his picture taken and to be honest, since he’s a black dog, he’s pretty hard to photograph.  I thought I would try to capture a few for your viewing pleasure.

I can’t belive how much grey he is getting around his muzzle.  Time sure marches on.  Speaking of time… Father Time is about to turn the page on my calendar marking the end of 2008.  I have some adorable “New Years” pix saved for Wordless Wednesday’s “New Years edition” so stay tuned.

Tomorrow we are going to pick up a copy of Beethoven’s Big Break on DVD… I just love the Beethoven movies!

Edited 12/29/08 to add….

Apparently Zeus is NOT happy with my son for being gone for several day.  In fact he is down right pissed, literally!  I let him out last night with the other dogs at midnight before I headed off to bed.  He did both his business, came inside and went to bed, as per usual, with my son.  I opened the door for him this morning and don’t you know he CRAPPED all over the floor! GRRRRRR  then, to make matters worse, he had hiked his leg in my son’s laundry basket and pee’d all over his CLEAN clothes!  He has never done that before.  UGGGG!  Clearly he was not happy.  Now I have to do his laundry, again.

I was very unsure whether or not I wanted to see the movie Marley and Me.  After all, I read the book. I knew what was coming and well, the movie did not skimp on Marley’s “Golden Years” and ultimate passing.  I was prepared though and brought in a big wad of paper napkins to dry my tears.  If you go an watch it, make sure you have a decent supply yourself…  there wasn’t a dry eye in the theater.  I don’t recommend this movie for young children.

Doesn’t Marley look like my Apollo??? Here’s one of my favorite puppy pix of him.

I was very surprised at the profound feelings of loss and sadness the movie conjured.  It was a solemn reminder of my own dogs’ mortality.  We are entrusted with their love and companionship for such a short and precious time.  We watch them age right before our eyes as their bodies begin to give out on them well before they should.  They give us their all, every day.  It brought about intense feeling of loss for the dogs that have crossed over to the rainbow bridge.

I give pause for those that have left this earth and give a big hug to those that are still with us.

I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas day.  It has been a very quiet one here at our house.  My husband and son went to his grandma’s house with the rest of his family this morning in West Virginia and then on to snowboard so we celebrated at the inlaws last night, opened our family gifts today and then they were off.  I spent most of the day hanging out with the dogs which has been a very welcome change for them.  I have been so busy the last few weeks they are starving for attention.

We were blessed with a clear and sunny, but cold day and the labs and I fully took advantage of it.  We packed up the “lab cab” (my dog hauling SUV) and headed over to the dog park for a romp.  It was a mud pit from all the rain we got yesterday but the dogs loved it and were in heaven.  Unfortunately I have to clean out the SUV because of it tomorrow… but it was worth it.  They stretched their legs and got to play with some of the dogs at the park.

And there was even a 9 month old Dane there to play with..

I hope you all had a wonderful day full of family, friends and or furkids!

Merry Christmas from the Dogs Life!

T’was the night before Christmas
And all through the house, not a creature was stirring
not even the Saints on the couch

The stockings were hung so frickin’ high in the air
In hopes our Saints couldn’t get them up there

The neighbors were nestled feeling safe in their beds
While visions of big Dogs zoomed in their heads

With gizzards and chicken and bones going SNAP
The Saints hoovered dinner and prepared for a nap.

When out from the crate there arose such a clatter
The Saints had to go out and empty their bladders

Up from the floor he flew like a flash
He tore out the door and peed on the grass

He stood there so tall with a big head and lips
He blocked out the moon like a total eclipse

When what to my wondering eye should appear
But a miniature sleigh and 8 tiny saintdeer

With a little old driver so lively and quick
I knew in a moment it must be St. Nick

I yelled to the Saints “quick come in Rover”
He ran up the stairs and knocked me right over!

And then in a twinkling I heard on the roof
the prancing and pawing of each little hoof

I got off the floor and held tight to my head
I looked to the chimney with a feeling of dread

He was dressed all in fur from his head to his foot
And his clothes were all tarnished with ashes and soot

I had concern for Santa so I put him at sit
St. Nick turned around and said “HOLY SHIT”

The bundle of toys he dropped at his feet,
He said “OMG, what do they eat?”

“That must be a horse or some form of cattle,
let me look in my bag and find you some saddles!”

I explained to Santa the are Saint Bernards
A very big dog with a really small brains.

Santa got on his knees and broke a big rule
Before I could stop him, he was covered in drool

“They wouldn’t bite, not even a robber”
Santa said okay, but was covered in slobber

Santa laid on the floor all covered in jowls
I ran to the kitchen to grab him some towels.

Santa said “It’s Okay, I am no cleaner,
What a cute Saint, but BOY what a leaner!”

We helped Santa up, with his bag made of silk
while the Saint Bernards ate the cookies and knocked over the milk!

He jumped back up, as if preparing to flee
He pulled out the presents to chuck at the tree

He backed up the chimney in a bright flash of red
I ran to my room, Rufus beat me to bed!

We heard him mumble as he flew out of site
“Those Saints are so big they’ll block out the light!”

Apollo has struggled with chronic ear infections in his ears for what seems to be an eternity.  Cleaning, drops, ointments, you name it. The infections have been mostly in his right ear but sometimes will pop up in the left. Well, this particular infection has been more persistent than the others and the cleaning and tri-otic hasn’t done the trick.  He has had some really nasty dark gunk inside.  He never digs or shakes his head and has not given any indication there is a problem.

Apollo in his new Sew Crazy Dog Lady “LOVE” collar

So, I take him into the new vet today, we discuss the problem and they take a smear of the yuckiness.  Until the vet comes in with the results of the smear, things are light and food allergies are the likely culprit.  Unfortunately the tone changes and things are much more serious.  The ickiness is not bacteria or yeast, its puss.  Next the vet scoped his ears with this really cool otoscope that we watched on a monitor.  His ear is swollen and red so we weren’t able to see too far into the canal.  The vet fears his membrane may have ruptured and the puss is coming from infection in the inner ear.  The other option is that he has an ulcer deep in the  ear canal — I am hoping for the later.  If the membrane is indeed ruptured he will need to be put under every six months for thorough cleanings of his inner ear for the rest of his life. There is a good chance he will eventually go deaf in the ear as well. Not the sort of news I wanted today.

He is now taking oral antibiotics, a new drop and medicated cleaning solution twice a day to see if we can get it cleared up.  Please keep your fingers & paws crossed and maybe say a little prayer that we are able to make some headway with his ears.

Enjoy the Christmas Cheer from Apollo!

Happy Winter Solstice! The first day of winter, the shortest day of the year.  Today is also my birthday and Mother Nature gave me a little gift… the sun!  It was actually sunny all day today.  Before today I have seen the sun a total of 45 minutes this entire month.  Winter is so gloomy here. It has been a real cold and windy one though, even a little cold for the dogs.  Right now, at 11:00pm, it is 3°F,  with the windchill it is -22°F and the forecast is calling for -4°F by the end of the night.  Good thing I have big furry dogs to keep me warm tonight, I am really going to need it.

It’s been a busy weekend for me and I haven’t been home much at all.  The dogs aren’t too impressed about it either.  I haven’t had much time to blog (read or post) or show off the boys new Sew Crazy Dog Lady Christmas Collars.  They arriaved (along with a few others which I will show off after Christmas) a couple of days ago and they are AWESOME!!!!!  I put them on the boys and took a few pictures of them.  I am sooo pleased, as always, with the new collars.  I bought collars for the Newf’s for Christmas and they turned out GREAT!!  I hope Bev likes them as much as I do.  I cant even tell you how nice it is to find something I like so much at a good price. And I am confident that the quality will be impeccable and exactly what I expect each and every time I order.

Brutus Sporting the Holiday Presents Collar

I have not finished shopping for the dogs yet.  I have a few gifts wrapped for them under the tree.  Brutus and Rufus has a special “Secret Santa” gift from one of the Ruffdogs.co.uk members.  This year our gift came from Seattle… I have no idea who its from though, hence the secret.

I am a little embarrassed to say that I peaked in the gift bag and have seen what it is.  The boys are going to LOVE it!  THANK YOU SECRET SANTA!

See these beautiful pitt bulls, they are my sister’s dogs Murphy and Daisy.  They live out in the wild, wild west of Arizona. Arizona has beautiful warm sunny days, an arid climate and lots of little creatures.  Some of these creatures that are not so nice to run into. Creatures like rattlesnakes! Avoiding rattlesnakes is a way of life in the foothills of the Sonoran Desert southwest.

Murphy (the adult male) is no stranger to rattlesnake run ins.  He has had 7 encounters with them including this latest one last week (its really late for them to be out of hibernation too).  You’d think he’d learn, but some dogs, like Murphy, must like the challenge of keeping his yard critter free.

Murphy’s M.O. is to engage the snake, kill it and leave it for his mom and dad (like a present – thanks Murphy) to find and dispose of in the trash.  Its has been a good arrangement so they always know what he has been bitten by when they take him to the vet for treatment.  This time however, it was obvious he had been bitten, the puncture marks were visible on his muzzle and he had the other obvious signs of the strike, the snake carcass could not be found.  While searching my sis and bil noticed Daisy (now almost 6 months old) was starting to foam at the mouth.  Fearing she had been struck as well, they gave her a good going over but did not find any punctures.  The abandoned their search for the carcass and loaded the dogs up and headed to the vet for treatment.

Murphy started treatment while the vet looked over Daisy.  It was obvious she was suffering from the rattle snake venom, but they could not find any bite wounds.  Not sure exactly what happend next, but they induced vomiting and OMG look what came up!

Sis and bil were in the waiting room when the first “piece” came back up and the vet staff started the whole OMG OMG GROSS thing so they ran into the exam room just in time to see “piece” number 2 come back up. GROSS!  Yes, that is the rattlesnake that bit Murphy!  Apparently Murphy and Daisy decided to play tug of war with the dead snake and after they tore it in half and it was no longer a fun game, Daisy thought it was a good idea to eat it.

Both dogs were treated and released, and have fully recovered.  WHEW! I wonder what mischeif they will get themselves into next!

A few days ago I posted pictures of the boys wearing their reindeer antlers and Jan of The Poodle and Dog Blog commented “I think Santa will trade his reindeer for Saint Bernards when he sees this” I had to giggle.  I found this commercial last year on youtube for a Samsung mini computer/gps and absolutely loved it.  Clearly Santa HAS replaced poor old Rudolph!  Enjoy!

Its beginning to look “alot” more like Christmas here at the dog’s life! The tree has been put up, finally!  I’ve been so busy lately with my son’s wrestling and other stuff that I have been pretty remiss with my blog posting, reading or holiday cheer… But that all changed yesterday when I picked up 2 strands of lighted garland at the Anderson’s yesterday ($4.00 each) and decided it was time to put up the tree.  I am so glad I did.  Its much more festive around here and I dont feel like such a Scrooge.

Rufus is pretty interested in the tree again this year, he loves the lights and sits and stares at them (just like last year).  The rest of the dogs couldn’t care less.  This is the first year in many, many years I dont have a foster or a border dog.  Its nice not to worry about the tree.  In years past it has been pee’d on, knocked over and pilfered from.

I dont use glass ornaments as they can be easily broken.  I don’t use ornament hangers either, they can be easily swallowed and can be quite dangerous to the dogs (not to mention hurt like the dickens if you happen to be unlucky enough to step on one).  I use mostly bows and last year I branched out and added some big plastic (with out little parts) glittery ornaments. It worked out well and there was no incidents so I put them up again this year.  No glass though, safety first. Now I just need something to put under the tree… I haven’t even started thinking about shopping.  What are your dogs getting this year?  Do you give them gifts?

The new collars from the Sew Crazy Dog Lady are on the way and they should be here in a 2-3 days!  She sent me pictures and I am absolutely giddy!  Awesome job once again! Pics of my dogs “modeling” will be posted as soon as I get them in the mail!  I can’t wait!

i think he’s trying to tell me something….

‘Tis the Season Saint Bernards!

Everyone have their trees and decorations up?  Not us!  Just dug out the antlers and santa hats.  Maybe tonight, I’m feeling kinda festive….. Wish us luck.

It snowed all day yesterday so we have a nice little coating of snow on the ground.  Brutus and Rufus are LOVING it at want to eat it.  I dressed them up in their saint bernard barrels and got a few shots of them.  Don’t they look ready for any snow emergency or lost traveler that may arise?  I hope they’d come and rescue me!  Speaking of rescue… where were they when I was locked out at the post office!

Oh what a day and its only 11:30! SO… my son missed the bus to school and I should have know things would go downhill from there!  I go to the post office in my pj’s and bring Zeus in the suv with me. I take my packages in, get them rung up and its $2.52 more than I have in my purse. Ok, I’ll just write a check – NOPE the checks are at home on my desk (with my wallet) – CRAP!  SO I go out to the suv to scrounge up change – mind you I am in my pj’s and at the uppity post office – put my keys down on the floor with the extra stuff from the post office. Shut the door, run in with my change and pay. I come out and as I am lifting the door handle Zeus steps on the door lock and I watch in horror as the knobby thing slowly plunges into the door frame!!!! I am trapped and it is COLD & SNOWING. My extra keys, cell phone and COAT are at home! SO I got back in the post office to call for a cab (i am less than 3 miles from home) everyone is like oh no go to the police station down the street they will open it for you. Mind you I have no coat and am in capri pj pants and a hoodie. SO I start walking and I am getting really irritated because they were so insistent. I decide I’ll just call AAA – oh that’s right, my cell phone is in my COAT at HOME! SO I stop at the gas station and use their phone to call. AAA was totally awesome and put my call out as a top priority because the “dog” was locked inside and its flipping cold – like January cold. I sat on the tile floor at the post office for 30 minutes waiting and knight in shinning armor shows up in the AAA van.  Zeus was quite happy to have the doors open again.  Thanks AAA!

I am absolutely loving the new lenses!  The photos are alot sharper!

I finally got on the ball and bought/made our exchange ornaments for the BDP ornament exchange.  We have Ang and she has 3 dogs, Nee, Araby and Hobo.  I found cute little snow men ornaments I could put pictures of the dogs in their tummies.  I found pix of them on the forum, added a date and viola! Custom works of “art” lol! I sure hope she likes them.

In other news… our Dogs With Blogs 1000th Member prize came today!!!! I got the niftiest 1000 member tshirt!  Rock on Dogs with Blogs! Thanks for the prize. Congrats again and here’s to another 1000 members!

I just couldn’t help myself!  I almost pee’d myself laughing at these!  This is what XMAS is all about! – the photo looks the same.. but it is two different dances

THE CHARLESTON DANCE

Tickle Me?!

HAPPY DECEMBER! I can’t believe the year is coming to an end.  Its a wonderfully festive time for family and friends.  Heck, its even beginning to look alot like Christmas!  Well, more like Christmas that is!  I picked up some gorgeous fabric at Joann Fabric this weekend and sent it off to Sew Crazy Dog Lady for our Holiday collars!  This is the first time I have actually picked out, purchased and sent my very own fabric to her.  It was a really exciting adventure.  I can’t believe how many fabrics there are to choose from, it’s actually quite overwhelming.  I narrowed it down to a couple of darling choices and purchased a yard of each.  Now I am just going to sit back and wait for the Sew Crazy Dog Lady to work her awesome magic!

Here’s a little sneak peak of the fabrics I picked up – I am absolutely giddy with excitement!

I haven’t decorated my tree yet, but I’m almost there.  Maybe tomorrow… lol.  I dont buy live trees.  My allergies dictate that I have a fakie.  But its ok.  I can keep it up and enjoy it alot longer than I can a live tree.  I kinda consider myself “green” since I am “recycling” my fakie each year and a tree is not cut down for me.  My tree is still in the forest somewhere growing – or so I like to think.

I received my Big Dogs Porch secret santa ornament exchange (wow that is a mouthful) ornaments from my4dogs (Michelle) the other day.  THANK YOU Michelle – I LOVE them and can’t wait to put them on the tree.  She did a wonderful job personalizing ornaments for each of my dogs and they are wood too!!!! I am very conscientious of the dogs safety in regards to tree decorations.  I use mostly bows and plastic or wood ornaments that I can tie on to the tree rather than use hooks or glass.  Having multiple labrador(k)s in the house glass bulbs dont stand a chance against “happy tail” syndrome.

Two last notes: I just paid for my domain for another year.  I’ve been around at this locale for a year and won’t be going anywhere for at least the next year AND I just ordered 2 new lenses that should really improve my photos. Everyone on my photography forum said when in doubt, go with glass (thats what the photogs call lenses)!  I am getting the canon 40D around the first of the year.

Cheers!