Welcome Howie

Howie came into the rescue because his owners didn't trust him with their new baby. Howie ruled the roost, he wouldn't get off the chair for the human to sit down, he was aggressive toward other dogs while on a leash, he couldn't be crated and he nipped at men's ankles when they were leaving.

This is a case of wrong human to dog match up. The owner did admit that she felt a lot of it was her fault. She was worried how he would be in my home with other dogs.

He's a gem. Everybody loves him.

This is not a new scenario with dogs coming in. The owners checked in to see how he was doing and they couldn't believe it was the same dog.

Howie went into the crate for me no problem, the first day and each day that followed until he got to where it was no longer necessary for him to be crated, he was so well behaved. He got along fine with my other dogs, except when Bug tried to take his food from him...he really wasn't into that...and she can be a bully.

He is a little bit alpha but not enough to be top dog over Bug. He just needed boundaries and guidance, he needed a leader. He listens well, is being taught to keep it to a low grumble when he is on the leash and either a human or a dog comes into his territory, and he's genuinely interested in meeting other dogs and humans.

He has bonded strongly with R. He is bonded with me, but different in a 'man' way with R.

Howie is a strong boy. He's 6 years old and can be a bit stubborn, but is obedient. He takes snacks gently and now that he's used to Bug, they chase each other around the yard. She will still get in his face now and again, and he'll grumble at her if she's in his way, but then they'll play.

Whomever adopts him will be lucky to have him.

This is when foster care is such a positive thing. He was purchased as a puppy and it just happened to not be a good match with his owners. With fostering, the foster parent will be able to find the right match for both human and dog. I will be able to screen potential adopters to make sure Howie gets what he needs.

Saving A Chipmunk (a.k.a. Chippy)

Life has been busy so it was nice to go the campsite this past weekend and chill. The weather was beautiful and it was the first weekend of the campground opening where we could spend the night. The first weekend always involves reuniting with camp friends and having 'family' dinner which will continue all season on Saturday nights, then someone or more will pop over for breakfast and there's the conversations of 'how was your winter?'

With it, also came rescue. 

Sarah, from a campsite above us came into our site talking about a chipmunk being stuck. She went to the ladies bathroom, pulled her pajama pants down readying for her morning pee, only to hear something splishing and splashing. A chipmunk was swimming for it's life in the toilet. She had no idea how to help it, came running down, quickly explaining. I didn't want to help at first because I was feeling so bad for it and what if it died? and so on. R. gave me the "you want me to go save a chipmunk?" "um, yes, please." I could tell, it was not on his list of things to do that morning so I pumped up my courage, grabbed a pan and high tailed it to the ladies bathroom. There it was, still scrambling, stressed out. I lifted it out and put it on the ground. He was so exhausted, but he tried to crawl a little, most likely to try to get away from us, but it was too much work. So, Sarah and I hung out for a few minutes, watching a couple more feeble attempts at moving along. He was shivering. I petted him. He was wet, I imagine the toilet water was probably pretty cold since it had gotten quite cool during the night. I finally took off my fleece and picked him up. I've picked up distressed wild creatures before always fearing a bite, but I don't think it ever crosses their minds to bite. It's like they know. Would a chippy bite, anyway?

I cuddled him into my fleece to get him warm. His little heart was beating so fast and he continued to shiver. I brought him down to my site and R. looked at me and said, "do you have it? really?" "yes, really." Now don't get me wrong. R. has a very kind heart to creatures, but he's also a realist. In the world of the woods, there are many chippies and sometimes they die, or should be left to die. I reminded him that it's one of the reasons he loves me....compassion to animals. He gave me a look and said, with a twinkle in his eye, "are you sure?" .....yeah, he's a riot sometimes. 

So, I sat down by the fire which Mr. Sweety-Pie had blazing for me and continued to cuddle the little creature. He was happy to feel the love, I could tell. I rubbed him a bit, in quick movements, thinking it might help him. Hey, I saw it on Animal Planet with new kittens and puppies, to get them breathing. I realize, yes, he was already breathing, but it might get him warmer quicker. After awhile, I really did need to pay attention to my morning camp duties and felt he was doing OK enough to put him down. I placed him on the rock wall near the fire so he could continue getting warm until he was ready to go on his way. 

When I went back, he was gone. Yeyyy. 

The next day, R. was working out near the fire pit and little Chippy was watching him. Now, really, we don't know it was the same one, but on the other hand, you know how you know it really has to be the same one? R. came and got me. The little guy was just sitting there, looked at me with no fear in his eyes, watched. Then I went a little too close and off he went. It had to be him. These things happen and you just know. 

R. says to me, "he came back to say thank you." See? told you he really had a kind heart. :) I put out some cracker pieces for Chippy and after a few minutes, there he was, chomping away. 

I don't know if future chippies in the stone wall will be this little guy, but I'll always think of him when I see one. 

Obsessed

Have you been so caught up in something that you are completely obsessed and every spare moment goes to that task and you even dream about it? Well that's where I've been since being at Angela's a couple weeks ago, and I have so much to share from life between then and now. The task at hand, though, was new business cards. I think the few friends I was sharing the agony with were about ready to clobber me over the head. I wanted to clobber me over the head. I couldn't get away from it and my brain became fried, nonfunctioning, full. Then, wouldn't you know, when I finally thought I was done, even though I wasn't thrilled with the design...I woke up this morning with a new idea and did it within a couple hours...and I feel better...but I feel like I wasted sooooo much time. My brain got locked into one thought pattern and I wasn't aware enough to get unlocked. So the graphic on the card went from this...

to this....

to this...

and finally to this (but refined) ... 

and my brain was free -- oh happy me.

(these cards are probably temporary as I've designed them to go along with a 'job' I recently did, which I'll show you pics of as soon as I have some.)

Now new stressors have entered. Dang!!

I hope you are feeling stress free.

A Thrifting We Will Go

A day of thrifting with Angela brought me some nice goodies. At the first shop I found some fabric (go figure) and a skein of yarn. I really like these colors and my mind is whirring with ideas. 

Then at the second shop which had Angela asking a lot of "what's this?" questions, I scoped out as much as possible trying not to spend the whole afternoon there. I think I missed a few things but pretty much looked at or touched 90% of the goods. There was a lot of eye candy. 

I filled my arms with some nice pieces of clothing but only a couple items fit, like this skirt by Ann Taylor and this cool leather purse with a colorful floral print on it which has a vintage vibe to it. 

This shirt I fell for as soon as I saw the cuff peeking out. It's a men's size medium but cut slim enough that paired with a some jeans, my studded belt, skull belt buckle, high heel boots and that colorful bag...awesome, and, it's a Bob Mackie label. Woo hooooo.

Rummaging through the linens I found a few good things but realized they wouldn't really work for what I needed them for, so I put them back. I did walk away with this nice weight and color vintage Martex bath towel...

and two tapestries that I think will become awesome as pillows. 

It's been a lot of fun hanging out with Angela. I was spoiled with good food -- for example, she whipped up yummy scallops and asparagus for dinner, spinach/chicken/walnut/cranberry salad for lunch and we enjoyed a nightly Dilly Bar treat. I dragged her kicking and screaming (not) for a Starbuck's coffee, one of my favorite 'social' things to do when on vacation. We talked, played with the dogs, had an interesting situation when we picked her computer up from the shop, and didn't get tired of each other...um, right Angela?  

Visiting Paula Nedelstern's Kaleidoscope Quilts

Not having seen Angela in quite some time, we made a plan for me to come to her house and stay for a few days, as we live a couple hours away from each other. There's lots of chatting going on and there's thrifting, needlework and gallery hopping planned.

Yesterday was rainy so a perfect day to see Paula's quilts alive and in person.  Kaleidoscope quilts have never struck my fancy, but what a difference seeing them up close and personal. We both agreed that we would leave this technique to Paula as our minds couldn't quite get around the technical aspects of the process. Pictures do NOT do them justice. Whether in a book or taken by my phone...

It is amazing the little slivers of fabric she pieced together. Amazing. There is no other word. A selection of her quilts are being shown at Endicott College in Beverly Farms, MA. If you are in the area, I definitely recommend taking a look see.

He Is So Not a Butch

But that's the name he came with.

He should be named 'chicken boy.' He's number 4 in the line of Schnauzers named Butch so I didn't feel right changing it. I keep calling him Buster by mistake. R. calls him every other name but his name. It's just one of those things when the name doesn't fit the dog it's hard to bring the name to your tongue in a split second.

But, he's a good boy and that's what matters. He is getting used to things that normally make him jump...which is just about everything. Bug gives him the 'what for' that's for sure.

He came to us after his owner finally acquiesced to his son's intervention when the man was getting to where he couldn't take care of Butch due to illness. The son and his wife tried to keep him but they have a young Silky Terrier that terrorized Butch and the stress was just too much for everybody. He will make a great pet as he is easy to get along with. He does need some training, teaching him to sit has been a task until I involved chicken, he seemed to learn it pretty quick that day but didn't retain the information very well.

Butch is 8 years old and recently had surgery for bladder stones so he is on a grain free wet food diet to keep things flowing and to help prevent future bouts of stones.

I've had him here for a few weeks and he fit right in in no time, almost like he's not a foster. He loves to be around R. and if R. isn't available he's usually not too far from me. Although he's pretty good at hanging outside with Bug and Hanzie without any complaints. Actually, the only real complaint he has is when I'm not putting his dish of food down fast enough for him!

Update: Butch was adopted by a young couple that fell for his 'grumpy old man face.' He was all over them as soon as they walked in the door. Another match made in heaven.