A Surprise for Tucker

I suppose it isn't necessary to tell y'all that my little dog is spoiled. And, I further suppose that saying my little dog is spoiled is one of the biggest understatements of a lifetime. What can I say? I love my dog.

Tucker loves getting Easter baskets at Easter and presents on his birthday. But his favorite thing is his stocking on Christmas morning. Yes, he gets a stocking every year. He loves it.

He really gets 'into' it. Ha!

This year. besides the stocking, Santa got Tucky a subscription to BarkBox. His first box arrived on the 30th. He was interested at once!

Once he was in, we were both impressed! I'm not kidding, this was a pretty dang cool box of goodness for Tucker! I've tried a box subscription (for humans) in the past and was sorely disappointed. Not this time.

This thing had treats and chews and toys---

The first thing Tucker pulled out was the Pawstrami. And this ended up being his favorite thing in the box.

He came back quickly for another item---

I tried to put everything back in so y'all could see the booty. But Tucker wouldn't stop grabbing things and taking them out.

I asked him to please stop and wait just a minute. He did, but it was more like a second. And the blue toy was missing...

It's not that TuckyBug NEEDS these things, it's that he enjoys them so. And I like for my pup to be happy. 

Would I recommend a BarkBox subscription? So far, yes. I'll keep y'all posted as the next two come in. If they continue being this impressive, we'll go for a longer subscription,

And now I'm sure y'all can see what I mean when I say that my first grandchild, a girl, due July 13, is already spoiled. I mean, if this is what I do for Tucker...

TuckMuck

I really enjoy my job. Except this past Friday when I had the day from H.E.L.L. and seriously considered quitting--just for a brief moment. Hopefully that travesty will never happen again. I just don't appreciate it when people ask someone to change horses in the middle of the stream and then give them no time to get your ducks in a row before taking on the challenge. Good thing I'm quick on my feet. And still have relatively sharp mental faculties.

The for real worse part of every day is that I completely miss this face---

I am quite glad that our schedules are different so that someone is home with him all the time-- I'd hate for him to miss out on chasing the squirrels up the tree--

And playing frisbee---

It's a dog's life around here!

How was your week?

A Little of This and Some of That

This week has been crazy because of Labor Day. Whenever the husband has a day off during the week, it throws me off kilter. I thought yesterday was Tuesday all day long. But, thanks to Mrs. 4444s and Friday Fragments, I know that today is Friday!

It's still so hot around here. Today, at noon my time (eastern standard time) several of us are going to stop what we're doing and pray for fall- of course I'll be focusing on begging for cooler temps--if anyone would like to join us please feel free to do so!

Birdie and I took the dogs to the county park yesterday. BIG mistake. HUGE error in judgement. And it was all heat related. As in- it was too freaking hot to be out at the county park with the dogs. Poor Tucker was so hot I had to pick him up and carry him. We stopped at shelters along the way and gave them water and 90% of the path we took was in the shade so it could have been worse. HOWEVER, the mosquitoes---there's no way they could have been worse! If we stopped for a nanosecond our legs looked like we were wearing black knee socks. Hate those things.

I'm just a few pages from being finished with the first book of THOSE BOOKS- I'll let you know what I think and whether or not I plan to continue through to the bitter end soon. I get a kick out of the fact that everyone knows exactly which books I'm taking about when I write 'THOSE BOOKS'.

DoodleBug went to her practicum school yesterday for the first time and she loved it! This semester the students have to spend an entire day at their assigned schools (every Thursday) and all of the schools are Title 1 schools. DoodleBug had a fantastic experience and said, "I never want to teach anywhere else!" I always knew that's where her heart was. Some of the girls didn't have such a good experience because of the classroom teacher---it wasn't pretty. And that's all I'll say about that. For now.

The mosquitoes were out in full force again this morning. The dogs look at me like I've lost my mind. But most people are used to what I call 'the low-country salute.' Which is the way we constantly slap our arms, legs and faces against the attack of the mosquitoes and gnats. It would be quite comical if it wasn't annoyingashell.

Sunday marks the end of Synergy, Week 3 and the beginning of Week 4. It's going well. If you're interested in finding out more or checking out my journal, click right here!

That's pretty much it y'all! Have a fantastic weekend!

Dogs, Squirrels and The Daybook

 I just love participating in The Simple Woman's Daybook! Y'all should really check it out! There's a giveaway going on too! Peggy also has 2 brand new blogs-- The Simple Woman's Creative Journal and The Simple Woman's Kitchen and Garden that you can link up to as well!

FOR TODAY

Outside my window...the squirrels are giving the dogs a fit. Which leads to the dogs giving me a fit because I am constantly having to stop everything to let them out, and then let them back in. Then I repeat this process about 498,566 times JUST IN THE MORNING.
I am thinking...that maybe squirrels aren't as cute as I once thought.


I am thankful...for getting a heads up about an opening at the elementary school the lovelies attended and for getting the job.

In the kitchen...people (read: the husband) keep leaving their dirty dishes for me to wash. Who says there's less cleaning in an empty nest?

I am wearing...my workout clothes because I have yet to do my Synergy workout for the day. Though I did take the dogs for a walk. Where they pulled me all over the trail because they were trying to chase squirrels.

I am creating...knitted squares to be put together in a quilt. We'll see how this goes since most things look great in my head but rarely do the results even remotely resemble what was in my head. 
 
I am going...no where. Because it's too hot outside.

I am wondering...when, exactly, cooler temps are going to arrive.

I am reading...THAT book. And I will post about it at some point.

I am hoping...and praying for a long, chilly fall and cold winter!

I am looking forward to...a long, chilly fall and cold winter!
I am learning...that I am quite good at skimming through THOSE parts in THAT book.

Around the house...there is dog hair everywhere. I vacuum at least twice every day but there's still dog hair all over the place. I keep telling the lovelies that I love it when they come home but no more big, shedding dogs. And every time they come, there's a big shedding dog. Tucker is little. And he doesn't shed.

The shedder:

The non-shedder:
 

I am pondering...how to keep the squirrels out of my yard.

A favorite quote for today..."A squirrel is just a rat in a cuter outfit."

One of my favorite things...is not vacuuming up dog hair. Though I have to do it at least twice a day. (Did I already mention that?)
A few plans for the rest of the week: praying for a long, chilly fall and cold winter (SERIOUSLY- several of us are going to pray together on Friday at noon [eastern time] if y'all would like to join us!); finishing up THAT book; letting the dogs out...and then back in...and repeating all day/every day.

A peek into my day...Here's Tucker (my dog who does NOT shed) sitting on my desk where he can look out the window at the squirrels. See that look on his face? "PLEASE, can I go out and bark at the squirrels?"

What's on your agenda today?

Dog Day Afternoon and Some Chattin'

No, no. NOT the movie. Just in the backyard.

We got such a nice weather reprieve on Sunday- it felt fall-ish nearly all day long. And, when that happens, you just have to get outside and enjoy it.

So I took the dogs out and decided to have a little photo shoot- I give you my little Tucker and MrShedsAllOverThehouse- Strider--- (Just scroll on down past the pictures if you're here for Chats on the Farmhouse Porch)

Tucky doesn't always cooperate with the camera, but he did look at me a couple of times...

 Strider is a little less camera shy---

Now it's time for some Chattin' on Patrice's porch!

Questions

1. What's the last thing you baked? Gluten free, organic red cake for DoodleBug's birthday. Which was over a month ago. It's just been to dang hot to heat up the oven. But, as soon as fall gets here, LOOK OUT! The baking monster will be back in full force!
2. What's your favorite thing about fall? EVERYTHING is my favorite thing about fall! The colors, the cooler temps, football, the holidays---you name it, I LOVE it!
3. What's your favorite room in your home? My favorite room is our dining/kitchen area. It's where we spend most of our time, especially when the lovelies are home (and when they were growing up). I guess you could say it's the heart of our house.
4. Who handles bill paying in your house? It used to be me, now it's the husband. It'll change again at some point. Whenever one of us burns out on it, the other takes it until they burn out. Face it, bill paying leaves a lot to be desired.
5. Tell whatever you'd like to share with our chatting friends. I can't even begin to tell y'all how much I am looking forward to fall this year. We never got fall or winter last time around and spring lasted about a day. I'm sick of hot and I want a long, chilly fall and a cold winter. Right now, Isaac is giving us huge amounts of rain but I'd rather have that than to have another one of those things EVER come here again. We were here for Hugo in 1989 and if I never experience another one, it will be just fine with me.

Friday---Fragmented Style

Got sweltering heat like us? Humidity kicking your butt? Is the rain getting you down? No worries! Just head over to Half-Past Kissin' Time and join in the fun with Friday Fragments!

Whew! Is it just me or is summer flying by at warp speed? I hope it is anyway because I'm sure sick of the weather. But then, I'm sick of the weather every summer. Until August shows up and NFL Preseason begins! The first Carolina Panthers preseason game is on August 11- my dad and I were talking about how there would finally be something worth watching on TV once preseason starts. And then we both said, "Wait. We don't know if it'll be worth watching yet or not!" Come on Panthers. Y'all have been dragging your feet long enough! Let's have a winning season boys! (Otherwise, I'm going to have to watch football just because I love it and not have a team to pull for, SO--FIND YOUR GROOVE AND WIN SOME FREAKING GAMES ALREADY!).

Stifling weather and all, I was still able to get some running in this week without killing myself! YES! That's quite an accomplishment in this heat. I've tried three days of the Sprint 8 and that went well---although I did sweat about 10 buckets of water each time. And then came right home and stepped on the scale. LOL

We have had several storms that included thunder, lightning AND rain without any damage so that was WONDERFUL! The garden was particularly happy!

I've been working on throwing out a whole bunch of old stuff that hasn't been needed or used in about three years! I do love a good purge!

I'm vacuuming every single day at least once to keep up with Birdie's dog's (Strider's) shedding. I love Birdie and I love her doggie but I do not love the shedding. Tucker doesn't shed. And there's a reason I picked a dog that doesn't shed---I don't care for the shedding. There's dog hair EVERYWHERE. (Sheesh, how many times can you use shed or shedding in one sentence...)

Birdie and I attended a farewell gathering for a dear friend/teacher this week. I will post those pictures later. It was bittersweet but so good to see everyone.

Speaking of Birdie, she and the boytoy leave for London on Monday evening. Prayers for safe travels are welcome and greatly appreciated! I know they'll have a great time!

We have a 21st birthday coming up on the 24th of this month and all the lovelies will be HOME! WooHoo! It's not even MY 21st birthday but I feel as though I'm the one getting a gift. :)

Hope everyone has had a wonderful week and has an even better weekend!

Par-TAY-ing has Gone to the Dogs Around Here

Breezy (who author's The Blonde Oxymoron which is a fabulously funny blog) and BestSonInLawEVER had to bring one of their dogs home for Christmas. Normally, we don't have the other dogs come because they all weigh at least 80 lbs and our house is a whopping 1300 square feet.

But Rico did come. And that naughty little hound got into some big trouble over the holidays (these pictures were taken with Birdie's phone):

Looks like Rico was ringing in the new year a bit early! At least he doesn't drive!

Happy New Year Everyone!

The Week in the Proverbial Nutshell!

The week started off just dandy but ended with a complete downer which I wrote about on Friday night's post. 

So, here's my week in a

It was WAY too quiet around here after everyone left.  The house was rockin' and rollin' with fun all weekend and then BAM!  It was quiet.  I don't think I like it too much when they go home.  Not too much at all.  But I am grateful for the time we have all together---short though it is.  If you missed those pix, you can see them on last Sunday's nutshell post.

In case you don't already know this, humidity SUCKS.  I appreciate it NOT and it's becoming more and more annoying as this brutally hot/humid summer continues.  If the darn stuff would turn into a daily afternoon summer storm WITH rain, I wouldn't mind so much.  But NO.

And that's about it.  Right now the wind is just out of my sails.

But here are a few pix of something that makes life wonderful--Birdie and the pups yesterday morning:

This is Charlie.  Charlie is King of the pool.

Charlie and Strider- Birdie's boys.

Charlie is amazing-he can hold the soccer ball on one side and pant on the other side.  The talent in this family never ceases to amaze me.

Charlie is also King of soccer and enjoys a game with Birdie.

"Christiano Ronaldo has nothing on me!" says Charlie.

He never loses sight of the ball...

And, in his best Charlie Sheen voice--Winning!

Be afraid, Ronaldo, be very afraid!

Meanwhile, Strider is looking at all the pretty colors...

And thinks that Charlie is stupid because it's HOT out here...

And Tucker looks on from the deck.

That ball is MINE!

I GOT IT! I GOT IT!

And Tucker looks on from the deck...

Strider and Charlie's idea of a stick.

Ah, nothing like a stick and some shade.

What?  More soccer?!  BRING IT!

And Tuck continues to look on from the deck...

And gives Birdie kisses.