16 hours ago
Thursday, March 31, 2011
Saturday, March 26, 2011
Sister Sophie Update
Charlie's sister, Sophie, continues to do well. She's had her second round of chemo, and her bloodwork looks pretty good, and she acts great!
Her uncle visited recently and took these great pics of Sophie:
Her uncle visited recently and took these great pics of Sophie:
Tuesday, March 15, 2011
Can Someone Explain This?
As a puppy, Charlie chewed on and swallowed his stuffed toys and dog beds so relentlessly that we limited access to them for his protection and our sanity. That went on for a few years, until his buddy Charlie in Australia sent him a Roo. He proved to be more trustworthy with Roo than before, so I pronounced him all grown up, and other toys and a new bed followed.
Now Charlie is much better with toys and beds than before... but not perfect*. For example, he ate Roo's nose and ear. And I feel like I'm constantly saying "No" or "leave Bugs alone" or "here, chew on the nylabone instead". But it doesn't actually happen all the time... just in certain circumstances.
It took me awhile to open my eyes and become conscious of a pattern, and I don't fully see it yet. But here's what I know: Charlie is completely trustworthy with toys and dog beds most of the time -- when he's alone, or at night after we all go to bed, or when he's hanging out quietly with one of us somewhere, e.g. in the living room or kitchen or office, etc. He just carries them around and lays his head on them.
But every night while we humans eat dinner (after he's eaten his own) and/or watch a movie or whenever we work a crossword puzzle together in the living room, Charlie picks up a stuffy, plops down at our feet and commences toy destruction (and consumption) until redirected.
What's going on? Is Charlie trying to get us to include him? Is he just kind of revved up in the presence of his family unit? What??
I haven't figured it out yet. So far, it remains just one of those things that puts the exclamation point in "Charlie!"
---------------
*To Cassie, Noodles & Jed/Abby: Yes, I'm sorry to say that Woolly Bone, Bugs and Flying Cow, too, have new orifices and slightly fewer pieces than before. But Charlie says it's just part of his "breaking in" process and proof that he loves them.
Now Charlie is much better with toys and beds than before... but not perfect*. For example, he ate Roo's nose and ear. And I feel like I'm constantly saying "No" or "leave Bugs alone" or "here, chew on the nylabone instead". But it doesn't actually happen all the time... just in certain circumstances.
It took me awhile to open my eyes and become conscious of a pattern, and I don't fully see it yet. But here's what I know: Charlie is completely trustworthy with toys and dog beds most of the time -- when he's alone, or at night after we all go to bed, or when he's hanging out quietly with one of us somewhere, e.g. in the living room or kitchen or office, etc. He just carries them around and lays his head on them.
But every night while we humans eat dinner (after he's eaten his own) and/or watch a movie or whenever we work a crossword puzzle together in the living room, Charlie picks up a stuffy, plops down at our feet and commences toy destruction (and consumption) until redirected.
What's going on? Is Charlie trying to get us to include him? Is he just kind of revved up in the presence of his family unit? What??
I haven't figured it out yet. So far, it remains just one of those things that puts the exclamation point in "Charlie!"
---------------
*To Cassie, Noodles & Jed/Abby: Yes, I'm sorry to say that Woolly Bone, Bugs and Flying Cow, too, have new orifices and slightly fewer pieces than before. But Charlie says it's just part of his "breaking in" process and proof that he loves them.
Wednesday, March 09, 2011
Sister Sophie Wednesday
"When a dog is this sad...
...the only thing to do is to take her to the park."
Charlie's sister Sophie just completed her first round of chemo and continues to do well. Apparently she didn't get the memo about being sick. ;)
On a sad note, her best friend, Steeler went to the bridge on Saturday. She had a long (16 years!) and happy life, but it was time for her to move on. She will be missed!
Godspeed, Steeler!
...the only thing to do is to take her to the park."
Charlie's sister Sophie just completed her first round of chemo and continues to do well. Apparently she didn't get the memo about being sick. ;)
On a sad note, her best friend, Steeler went to the bridge on Saturday. She had a long (16 years!) and happy life, but it was time for her to move on. She will be missed!
Monday, March 07, 2011
Embarrassment of Riches
On Friday, a package arrived for Charlie -- his MangoMinster 2011 3rd place Cracker Dog prize from Jed and Abby!
It was a box chock-full of wonderful treats, picked out just for Charlie by Jed and Abby and their mama. Charlie and I opened it together, and he checked each item out, one by one.
They know he is totally food-oriented, and they sent a jar of yummy chewy sweet potato chips. One of Charlie's favorites! Plus some Chewnola bars. He's never had them before, but he loves his after-dinner retriever rolls, so he's sure to love these, too!!
[sniff] [sniff]
[sniff] [sniff]
Nom, nom, nom...
They also knew that, second only to his stomach, are Charlie's teeth. He knows how to use them and make them count! So to give him a legal way to exercise them, Jed and Abby sent a Durabone!
"What's that, Mom?"
"Never mind, I know what to do with this!"
And last, but not least, there was a colorful new stuffless stuffy! Charlie has a tendency to eat toys under some circumstances, but he loves to carry them around and lay his head on them, and we supervise him pretty closely.
"Here... I'll just take that."
"How do I look?"
Master of all he surveys.
Thanks, Jed and Abby (and their mama)! You were way too generous, but Charlie loves everything!!
It was a box chock-full of wonderful treats, picked out just for Charlie by Jed and Abby and their mama. Charlie and I opened it together, and he checked each item out, one by one.
They know he is totally food-oriented, and they sent a jar of yummy chewy sweet potato chips. One of Charlie's favorites! Plus some Chewnola bars. He's never had them before, but he loves his after-dinner retriever rolls, so he's sure to love these, too!!
They also knew that, second only to his stomach, are Charlie's teeth. He knows how to use them and make them count! So to give him a legal way to exercise them, Jed and Abby sent a Durabone!
And last, but not least, there was a colorful new stuffless stuffy! Charlie has a tendency to eat toys under some circumstances, but he loves to carry them around and lay his head on them, and we supervise him pretty closely.
Thanks, Jed and Abby (and their mama)! You were way too generous, but Charlie loves everything!!
Friday, March 04, 2011
Cheese Please!
A couple of weeks ago, I asked Charlie's sister Sophie what flavor biscuits I should bake for her and Steeler. The answer came back "Cheese!"
"Are they done yet?"
So I made my way over to Sugar's blog, where I found a recipe for Cheesy Bones. They were easy to make, and the cheesy aroma of them baking drove Charlie and me crazy!
"Surely they're ready now."
They smelled so good that Charlie and I both tasted them. I think they'd be better with a little salt; Charlie found them perfect just the way they are. And Sophie and Steeler? I have it on good authority that, like Charlie, they gobbled them right down!
Sophie and Steeler say "Cheese!"
Sophie, hoovering up a biscuit.
"Nom, nom, nom..."
So I made my way over to Sugar's blog, where I found a recipe for Cheesy Bones. They were easy to make, and the cheesy aroma of them baking drove Charlie and me crazy!
They smelled so good that Charlie and I both tasted them. I think they'd be better with a little salt; Charlie found them perfect just the way they are. And Sophie and Steeler? I have it on good authority that, like Charlie, they gobbled them right down!
Wednesday, March 02, 2011
Noodles Sur-Prize!
Noodles and Sunshine recently held a MangoMinster 2011 side event -- A Rose By Any Other Name. We had a great time composing an entry, and Charlie was fortunate enough to take second place.
Today a package arrived for him in the mail... his prize!
"Can I help?"
"No, really. Let me help!"
"Hey! It's a wascally wabbit!!"
"C'mere, you!"
"What?"
Thanks, Noodles and Sunshine! We had a lot of fun playing, and Charlie loves his prize!!
Today a package arrived for him in the mail... his prize!
Thanks, Noodles and Sunshine! We had a lot of fun playing, and Charlie loves his prize!!
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