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Astro is now home

On Monday Astro and I took the drive to the Berkshires to his new home. Pam was very excited to have the little guy at the house. Astro wasn't so sure about what was going on and when taken outside, wasn't taking the hint that it was for him to pee. He was a bit confused over the whole thing. He just looked at us and shivered. We figured if we took him for a little walk he'd find other dog smells and have to mark his territory, or at least uncross his legs so that he wouldn't burst. Thank goodness we insisted because before long he found a spot and you would have thought he had drunk a gallon of water beforehand.

It wasn't too long, as Pam and I chatted, that Astro found his new toy and started batting it around and playing by himself...this was a good sign.

After awhile, family and friends came over and fawned all over him. He will be a very spoiled boy. Here he is hanging out on the sofa watching some TV -- with a side order of love and affection...

He was so mellow and relaxed he was actually falling asleep while sitting in this position, but trying hard not to, after all he might miss something really interesting!

Staying Warm

A mutual love of staying warm...Astro and Hanz didn't mind hanging out with each other by the wood stove.

New Year's Goal #1

Well, I've gone and done it -- actually started on one of my goals for this year. HA! I usually ignore such proclamations! I'm getting rid of 'stuff' -- selling said 'stuff.' Things I've collected over the years, things that have been in storage, things I've lived with and loved but found replacements for....items are always revolving around here! It makes for lovingly sarcastic comments from friends, but who do they go to when they want or need something? Me!

Here's what I've posted tonight, if you're interested  -- click on "For Sale - vintage and more"

Nighty Night!!

It's Official

Astro will be going to his new home on Jan. 25 in the Berkshires.

Over the past several months I have been a committed follower of the blog RetroRenovation, which I know I have mentioned a few times. Through comments and me sending the latest and greatest Craigslist finds over to Pam (the owner of the blog) we have corresponded and found we had a lot in common. Well, she fell in love with the Schnauzers I was showing off here and finally submitted an application for one. The perfect little guy (who I knew she wanted to name Astro) came in a couple weeks ago without a name. I named him Astro and called Pam to tell her that her dreams have come true. We made a plan that she would come down this past Thursday to check him out, to see if he liked her and vice versa...and guess what? they fell in love with each other...and I fell in love with her! It was instantly easy, and oh, the ideas she has! I am very fortunate to be able to call her my friend.

Now that that is settled, we need to get to the real business at hand -- THRIFTING!
I took her to my favorite local spot where I found this dress. The volunteers let me in the back room because they've gotten to know me and Pam saw this number laying there on top of a pile and when I saw the black and white paisley...I had to have it. It just happens to fit me, too!

From there we went to the Olympia Diner which has been on the Berlin Tpke. forever! for a late lunch. Perfect setting for a perfect thrifting day.

Onward to a vintage store I've been wanting to visit but hadn't gotten the chance to -- RefindGreenDesign. We had lots of fun there, and Pam took some great pictures! We spent quite a bit of time in the vintage clothes room, I tried on a few things and may have to go back for this:

 

For the whole story go to Pam's blog!

It was definitely a 'feed my soul day.' thanks Pam!

GOOD NEWS

Lucy is engaging my Hanzie in play this morning, that's such a good sign. She's still afraid of me, but I see this as progress...and maybe she even had a slight smile on her face. ;-) Yeyyy.

New Kids in Town

Astro and Lucy came into the rescue a little over a week ago, along with 2 other females. They were all from puppy mills in PA. Apparently there were around 350 dogs, of different breeds, that needed foster homes. The gist is that PA has new laws regarding puppy mills so many had to get rid of their dogs. But, I could be misinformed and this just could have been another raid. In my opinion, and many others', puppy mills should be against the law...second to that would be pet stores, but I'll stay off my soap box for now since I want to introduce Astro and Lucy.

Astro is a funny boy, shy in a way, a little skittish, friendly, loves attention, and will be a great boy once loved and trained. Considering what he came from he'll make progress quickly. Typically, there are so many issues with puppy mill dogs that it takes months to get them into normal society. Astro is currently being crate trained, he doesn't want to go in, but he's OK once he's there. If he had come to us housebroken, it wouldn't be such an issue but now I am going through the process with them both as if they were puppies. Teaching them that peeing is for the outside, that a collar and leash aren't horrible things, and that they have to have good manners inside the house. Add to it that Lucy is in heat and although Astro just got neutered, he still has the drive for breeding. This will wane over the next couple weeks, he gets worked up when Lucy is near. Not being a breeder, and not realizing that although snipped, he still had that drive, I've had to keep them separate lest I find them once again in the backyard stuck together. I wanted to go to bed and went to look for them and when I found them they looked at me like, "uh, what do we do now?" Well, we wait....and then we keep them separate...always!

Here's his cute mug:

OK, here...

ahhh, try again...

once more...

Finally!

He didn't make it easy that's for sure. It took about 25 shots to finally get some decent ones.

and here's Lucy:

It will take some time with Lucy. She has low self-confidence and juvenile cataracts. She sees very little and mostly just out of her right eye. She doesn't mind affection but will run if you come toward her. She'll come up to you on her own terms, very briefly, and mostly just to sniff you. She's a sad, lost soul. She will hopefully progress, but it will take time. She doesn't trust and add that to the fact that she can't see...

Whomever ends up adopting her and working with her further, also, if financially able, could have cataract surgery done. This generally costs around $2000 or more, something the rescue does not have, otherwise, we would do it to give her a chance for a quicker sense of self.

She is somewhat attached to the comfort of Astro, but he may be going to his new home on Friday, and she will have to learn to be alone. This is actually a good thing for a dog that has low self-confidence, they learn to make it without a crutch. I've seen them become a better, happier, more confident dog when not under the wing of the more dominant sibling.

I'll be getting some extra tasty treats to entice her movement around the house and teach her where things are. Once they get the hang of using their other senses, sometimes you think they aren't even blind! I hope this happens with Lucy.

Haley and Layla are the other two females and they are very bonded and have some personality! You can see them on our website. Also on the site, Bradley will be going to his new home on Saturday and we got a new boy, Lenny, in today.

Hope you're having a great day where you are!

You Lookin' At Me?

Cleaning up the office yesterday, these guys are now staring at me each time I am at the computer.

In case you are not familiar with them they are called 'Face Jugs'. They were orignally made to hold moonshine and the faces were put on them to scare children away. I've had a fondness for them for years but could not afford them (or at least justify spending the money.) R and I found these two at a local flea market that we just happen to have gotten to early in the morning when vendors will still unpacking. A guy that apparently did a clean-out was unpacking his wares and apparently didn't know what he had. He told us what he was asking for them, which wasn't much -- we would have been crazy not to scoop them up. What I loved is that just as we were holding them a couple dealers were inquiring about them and when the guy said we were taking them...oh, the look on their faces! Through the whole rest of the flea market as we carried them around there were inquiries from dealers as to what we paid. Total score. They are by Joe Reinhardt and Albert Hodge, both men are Catawba Valley, North Carolina potters.

OH CRAP!! Why didn't I think of this earlier?

One of my favorite blogs is RetroRenovation, Pam Keuber is the owner and her blog gives so much information on vintage and retro decor and construction for Modern homes built in the 50's and 60's.

To the point -- the blog is in a competition called the Homies 2009 for the best 'Home Design' related blog at Apartment Therapy. It made it to the final 6 and the competition ends at 5pm today. Check out her blog and if you love it as much as many of us do...cast a vote in her favor! The competition is fierce and fingernails are being bitten...

Good luck Pam!!

Chris London skulls

If you've been reading this blog lately, you know what a big fan I am of Chris London's work. For Christmas R. commissioned her to make me a bracelet with just black and white, which is more me, and not the multi-colored style she makes.

ANNNNNDD...earrings!

I have been wearing these much more than I thought I would. I usually like to wear a reasonably good sized hoop but these have been great for turtlenecks and scarves that have a bulk around the neck, without feeling I've added to the heft.

Wild Hungry Beasts

...and their morning routine.

scramble, scramble, jump, bark (the blonde, of course,) sit....ahhhhh, the bowls are down,

Hanzie inhales is and then sits, patiently waiting...

finally! Weezie leaves the bowl...there's gotta be something left...

nope -- but I'm going to lick it super clean anyway...

hmmm, did I leave something behind that he's getting?...

ahhhh, no, he's just neurotic about the possibility of food

...hey, Mom, (I think she's really saying "hey Bitch!")

...you know the drill...time to go outside...

ok, woman, let me out NOW!...

What you can't hear is the demanding bark that she gives me. She only gets away with this behavior because she's 15 1/2 -- OH! --and the fact that I find the barking annoying and there's no shutting her up until she gets her way.

Belly is full, outside duties are done, time to pass out by the wood stove...

oh, the life of a dog.

Speaking of Dogs

I made a slide show of the dogs I've fostered over the past 5 years which is when I got into Miniature Schnauzer rescue...


this widget will also be in the sidebar and updated as new dogs come in.

2010

Hey, I just want to send good wishes to everyone for a wonderful, prosperous New Year!!

A little silly card for ya!!

 

http://www.icq.com/img/friendship/static/card_16961_rs.swf