Speak Softly and Carry a Big Stick

Lately, Riley has been picking up sticks on our walks.  Sometimes they are just small twigs, sometimes they are quite large. She always seems to walk with purpose when carrying a stick.  I think she may be getting some of her back teeth as she had a thing for sticks when she was teething as a younger pup.  At least this time around she knows and follows the 'drop it' and 'leave it' commands.

Benny's in a Fight, But He's Fighting LIke a Frenchie

Every day when I'd check the blogging world and the Facebook world and the...oh you know, the whole interweb thing out there...I'd see Benny and Lily's names or their cute faces making me smile.  They just sort of go together like ham and cheese, bacon and eggs, Tom and Jerry.  Benny and Lily are a team.  But now one half of that team is sick.  Benny wasn't feeling well the other day and his mom took him to the doctor to see what was wrong.  Turns out he's facing that nasty c.  If you can, go on over to their blog Two French Bulldogs to give their mom some support.  Riley is doing her part to support her friend Benny!

A Very First Birthday

Yesterday, May 21st, was a very special day.  Riley turned one year old, at least according to her records.  Since I adopted her from a rescue, her birthdate is probably a guess, but her vet records say May 21, 2012 and that's what I'm using.  So that means we had something to celebrate!

Last week a friend sent along a package with all sorts of goodies!  Riley got to taste test some of her treats and really enjoyed them (*after Mom forced me to sit nice for a picture, pfftt*).

Then yesterday came time to open her present.  There was investigating and sniffing and with a little help the package was open.  (*it's a bird, Mom... a bird with a mohawk...*)  The stuffie was a hit - she played with it, she ran from one end of the condo to the other with it, and she took it to her hiding place - under the guest bed. 

She still looks tiny, though she's more than doubled in weight since I brought her home. She still has the energy and craziness of a puppy, though she's grown to enjoy her quiet time. She's officially a dog, but she'll always be my puppy.  Happy very first Birthday, Riley! 

For Coco

The blogging world has lost a puggie friend - Coco went to the Bridge.  I'm sure his mama and his sister Amelia are very sad and will miss him so very much.  Coco always had a smile that was contagious. Run free, little one!

Spring Has Sprung

It is now May and I have been reminded to post more often - my last post was a holiday post and now it's already spring! While I've been slacking on the blog, I've been doing some spring cleaning.  It's a perfect time to freshen things up around the house as windows begin to be opened when the day allows, flowers are starting to bloom to add color to the previously grey world of winter, and trees are budding with promise of green to come.

Part of my spring cleaning has been a major project I've been working on for what seems like years - go through the boxes of 'stuff' I've accumulated over several years.  I know I want to move again - it's hard to believe I've been in this condo for four years now! - and I know I don't want to move all of this 'stuff' again. A few weeks ago I took some things to the donation truck and also took a couple bags of books and CDs to Half Price Books to sell.  And several times a week I take a small bin of recycling down to the big bin in the alley.  When I see progress being made, when I can finally have just about all of my clothes out of bins and easily accessible, it feels real good, and it makes me want to continue.

I'm not sure where I will move next, and I'm not sure when, but I am taking these little steps at trying to get ready.  I want a yard, to plant a little garden and to have a place for Riley to play, but while my mind has been clouded over the past couple weeks thinking about where I'd like to look, the project of cleaning out what is unnecessary or unwanted has helped.

Spring is a remarkable time of year.  A time of rebirth, of renewal, and yes, a time of cleaning out the dust, and the clutter of winter and looking forward to better days ahead.  It's not just our homes that could use a cleaning like this, but our minds as well.  Wipe away the cobwebs that prevent us from enjoying life and focus forward.  Spring has indeed sprung and we should rebound from the doldrums of winter and bound out into the world!

The Holiday Season

For Thanksgiving this year, Riley took her first road trip - to Fort Wayne, Indiana.  She enjoyed playing with three of the four dogs at my cousin's house - a big yellow lab, a black lab mix who was smaller than the yellow lab, and a Brittany/beagle mix (Jack the pit bull didn't play - he's 13 and just showed up for food and treats).  Though she was by far the smallest dog in the house, Riley held her own with the big dogs, scooting under a chair when things got too much and conducting 'sneak attacks' from her safe place.  We were home for a few weeks and took off on a second road trip.  This one was just a bit longer - to Florida! I was concerned about driving alone with the pup, knowing I'd have to leave her in the car alone when I made a bathroom stop, but she did great.  She traveled in the back seat in her crate and slept or chewed on her nylabone.  She did great when I left the car, not crying or barking when I left (as far as I knew) or when I got out to pump gas.  We spent the night at a hotel I've used before in northern Georgia and except for way too many trips outside she did very well.  She would stand by the door to go into the hallway, so of course I took her out, but I think she mostly wanted to go see the people she could hear and smell.  She's most definitely a people dog.  In Florida she got totally spoiled - my cousin leaves soft dog food out on the carpet for their poodle who is a bit neurotic and is afraid of her food bowl and Riley found that and gobbled it up.  There was also a plate of food down for the poodle of real food which Riley just nosed herself to and ate - the poodle was just too slow.  That didn't set them off on a good start for the visit, but they figured it out in a day or two and enjoyed playing bitey face and getting worn out.  Riley also got her first taste of off leash outside when my cousin's husband took all the dogs out.  She followed the poodle around so all was good.  Now we are trying to get back to normal, but I've had to buy some of the soft dog food they had even though it's not puppy food - she will eat a little of her puppy kibble but loves the soft food.  I guess like everyone else, Riley enjoyed the holidays and now has to get back to everyday life.

Halloween

Living in a condo I don't get trick or treaters coming by.  But I pull out the decorations I have (mostly Halloween Stitches), I buy a little candy for myself (at least one bag of candy corn is always included) and this year I got to 'dress up' little Riley for the holiday.  Now I'm not much on costumes and Riley's not much on wearing anything (she's not even that fond of her harness), so a tee shirt was as far as we could go. My cousin sent me two shirts for her, one that was new and one that their dog outgrew.  Riley wasn't thrilled, but was much happier when I took them off and she got a treat.  And speaking of treats, we finally got our Pugs in the Kitchen treats in the mail - and Riley tried the Peanut Butter Pumpkin ones and gives them four slurps! As we continue to watch the east coast try to recover from Hurricane Sandy, please remember those who have lost everything, those who have lost a loved one, those who have lost a job or a business.