More Adventures in Baby-Sitting!

We have laughed so much at these dogs this past week. They are so much like jealous children wanting all the attention for themselves. Wanting each others toys. I've been amazed they didn't fight over food, but perhaps that is because we did feed them in different locations in the house.

They were a hoot!

Trixie liked the large rope toy, and Zeke wanted her small rope toy.

When I would be using my laptop while sitting in the recliner, I'd look up and see this face looking at me very intently.

I ask you, how can I work when he's looking at me like that?

Then there's this:


All 65 pounds of Boxer was curled up in little Trixie's dog bed... I can tell you she really wasn't happy about that. Not one bit!

He didn't care if he was too big for the bed, he was going to sleep there no matter what.


He's at home now but something tells me Trixie isn't going to miss him right away. But they did enjoy running around the house stealing each others toys.

However, I'm going to miss ole Zeke. He is just such a clown!

Later
D

Adventures in Babysitting

Well, we're not keeping our grandson, but the grandog, Zeke the Boxer.

He and our Papillon are trying to determine what their relationship will be. He has a fondness for her delicate toys and she wants his toys. Just like children, they can also be jealous of each other. So petting times can be a bit overwhelming. It has been a challenge to keep control but so far so good.

For such a big dog Zeke is gentle, but he is still a two year old Boxer and he can be a bit rambunctious. I have always worried that our little dog Trixie, might get hurt playing with him just because of the size difference. However, she has been holding her own and will run to us if she feels overwhelmed. But she has also been standing up to him and even took away his ball leaving him looking very confused.

She does have an attitude and has not been afraid to stand her gound.


I think we will all survive this week without any lasting injuries.

Hope you have a great weekend.
Later
D

You Dirty Dog!

I've previously mentioned how much Trixie likes to dig in the yard. She's small and doesn't really do much damage and other than a dirty nose and a bit of dirt on her paws she doesn't get too bad.

Fast forward to this week. We have had rain all week. Any ground not covered in grass is a muddy mess. Trixie decided she needed to dig in a corner of the yard. She has never been so dirty.

There was a lot of dirt to remove. It is caked around her nose and mouth. There is heavy staining on her paws.

When I gave her a bath tonight, I had to shampoo her twice because her feet were so stained with Georgia red clay stain. There is still some stains on her paws.

She really is a bundle of energy.

I wonder how long she will stay clean this time.

Later
D

The Pounce!

Our Papillon dog and our Manx cat have a love / hate relationship. Some days, they play and chase each other having fun. Other days they fight like, well cats and dogs.

Today I was outside taking pictures of the lovely flowers that are blooming in our neighborhood, when I noticed Trixie was down in our empty pool. Until this past week she wouldn't go near it. However, our cat has always found the empty pool an interesting place to explore and I wonder if that lead Trixie to become curious and want to explore too.

Anyway, as I was taking pictures she came out of the pool. She decided to wait on Hobbes who was also down there.

She wanted to pounce on him as soon as he clears the top step.

I'm not sure if she was playing or taunting.


I am quiet sure Hobbes was not in a playful mood when he exited.

He didn't find her game fun.



If you look closely through the bush, you can see Hobbes' right paw raised to smack Trixie. They both ran off and I can't say who was chasing whom.


I can report they are both now laying in the floor resting. So no harm no foul.

Have a nice Sunday afternoon.

Later
D

Trixie's been bored

With the new grandbaby and Mom's heart problem, I've been too busy to take Trixie on our normal walk. I haven't played with as much as normal either. Well when you don't walk a dog or play with them enough to make them tired, they will find their own entertainment.

She has gone back to chewing my things. I'll have to get a new security badge at work tomorrow. I just hope I have enough of my current one to get in the door tomorrow morning. I can't be too mad at her when I haven't given her an outlet for all her energy. The Papillon breed is very active and definitely needs exercise everyday.

She also loves to find treasures in the yard. She loves to dig. Thankfully she doesn't dig too deeply.

(Oh, I found a treasure:)
Once she finds something she sticks her nose into the hole and eventually her face and feet are covered with dirt.

(What, I wasn't digging.)


The funniest thing to me, is when she comes in with dirt all over her face and acts like she hasn't been in the dirt at all.

(Really, I've not been digging!)


She makes me smile. ...most of the time anyway.

Wildflowers

While we were at the Armuchee Bluegrass Festival over the Labor Day Weekend, we stayed at a little hotel near by. There was an open field across the parking lot and I took Trixie there for her morning walk each day. While we wondered around and Trixie looked for just the right spot to do her business, I took pictures of the lovely wildflowers that were in bloom. Some of the flowers were obviously from flower beds but the seeds had been scooped up in the fill dirt that had been dumped at the site.

I love the way the sun relfects off the blooms.

More pictures soon.

Later

D

Our Little Helper

A 10 month old dog is about like having a three year old child. They understand much of what you tell them, but they can't or don't always listen to you. With that in mind we have done our best during the Kitchen Project, to keep things out of reach of our Papillon Trixie. Even doing the best we can, she still finds things that could be dangerous. I found a bolt in her bed that she stole from something. We're still trying to identify where it goes.

Yesterday, John was priming the cabinet doors and left them on the patio to dry. Bringing them in for the evening, he found Trixie paid them a visit too.

One door had the undeniable evidence that her curiosity had gotten the better of her.


Since her art work is on the inside of the door, we're debating whether to paint over it...

What do you think?

Later
D

Things Can Change So Quickly

I gave our pup, Trixie, a bath the other day and was finally able to get some pictures of her clean and fluffy. So I played around with the effects on her picture. I thought it made her look rather regal.


But she is a dog that loves to get in the dirt. To dig and play.


So just a few minutes after the picture above,

she looked like this.


...guess it's time for another bath.

Drop It

We are working on obedience training for our little dog, Trixie. One of the commands is "drop it" to get her to drop whatever she has in her mouth. The second part of that command is "leave it." This has been very challenging and it's going to require much more practice and patience on our part before we have success. She doesn't want to let go of her treasure, even when it's something that might do her harm. Then when we do get her to "drop it", she won't "leave it," she will pick it right back up.

I became very frustrated as we worked on this the other day and it occurred to me that this is very much like leaving our burdens at the feet of Jesus. The Bible tells us in Matthew 15:30 that those that were sick were laid at Jesus' feet and He healed them.

And great multitudes came unto him, having with them those that were lame, blind, dumb, maimed, and many others, and cast them down at Jesus’ feet; and he healed them:

I had a "Wow" moment, with I realized that I too "drop" my problems at Jesus' feet only to pick them up again. I've not learned my lesson either.


Looks like I need to work on "drop it" and "leave it" too.

Later
D

Miss Trixie's growing up (Friday Foto Finish)

Trixie is now just over 8 months old. I didn't realize how much she has changed until I looked at these pictures. From a scared tiny little pup of one month old the first time we saw her. To a two month old ready to explore and snuggle when we brought her home. Then an excited "teen" as she is growing up. I can't seem to remember what it was like before she came into our lives six short months ago.

1 month old









Two months old and her first day with us.
She was around 2 lbs her first trip to the vet.









So small but a big attitude.










Even so young it was difficult to get her still long enough to get a good picture.









She is growing up. She is a sweetie, but she still has an attitude and a seemingly endless supply of energy. She will chase her ball or rope all evening.









She is a trouble maker. She torments our 13 year old cat Hobbes. She steals paper and other "treasures" from the trash. Mainly she has stolen my heart. She is a love and has made my life better for being in it.

Join us for Friday Foto Finish at Candid Carrie. Tell her Debbie from Just Some Random Thoughts sent you.

Trixie

Our 8 mo papillon pup, Trixie, loves to run. We have a fenced backyard and she will zoom around the yard as fast as she can with her tail waving behind her like a flag. If always makes me laugh to see her fun full out.

When I tried to take a picture of her running with my old camera it was always a blur. Since I've gotten the new Canon Rebel, with the "sports" setting, I have actually been able to catch her in action. I love the look of sheer joy on her face as she runs by.












While these pictures aren't in perfect focus, I still love them because she looks so happy and free running full out.














I can't help but smile.
Later
D

One Tired Pooch

Trixie was so tired on the trip home that she slept most of the way. She laid on a pillow between the front seats with her head hung over the vent and snoozed away.

She had a very good time on vacation too.

Waiting to go

As the time approaches for us to climb into the car, Trixie picks up on the increased activity and has taken up her position near the door.
Debbie