Why Blogging is Special

Right around Christmas we received something special in the mail...

 To our surprise, a donation to the Search Dog Foundation had been made on behalf of Harlow and Monty!

How awesome is this?

Becky and I are Facebook friends, sharing a mutual love of Friesian horses. 

I love the team bio.

I wish I could describe the happiness I feel when we get cards like this, to know our pups, two little dogs with a blog, mean so much to folks that rescues and organizations benefit from it.  I am truly humbled by this generosity.

If you would like to learn more about Search Dog Information, click here.  Their website is fun, with a photo gallery of some of the work they have done, information on their teams, and additional ways to donate (you can sponsor a dog!).  Becky and Gary have worked with this organization for over 25 years.

Becky and Gary, thank you so much!

Thank you's all around!

In the past couple of weeks we've gotten a few surprises for our pups that I need to say thank you for.  Between travelling for work, Harlow's paw and Monty surgery, putting this post together has proven to be almost impossible!

First off, I want to thank fellow blogger Elyse Hunt (hugs to Riley!) for thinking of our Sam and making a donation in his name to Therapy Dogs International - thank you so much Elyse!  You have no idea what it means to me to know folks are still thinking of my Sam.

Next, I need to thank Khyra's Mom for sending me a couple of care packages.  The first came via Auntie Di, and thanks to traveling and injuries, we were never able to meet up.  She finally sent it to me through the mail.  Horse magazines, treats for the pups and an adorable little Friesian statue was included!  :)

We had such lovely notes from folks worried about Harlow - thank you everyone!

Shortly after, Khyra's Mom sent a second package with a few more horse magazines (Yay!), a wonderful shirt, and more treats for the pups!

Love it!

The pups loved the treats!

We also got an e-mail that we had won a contest over at Peggy's Pet Place.  We guessed what Zeke ate, and in return, won a wonderful cook book for the pups!  Thank you, Peggy!

The pups can't wait!

Finally, and just perfect for Harlow's new Soon-to-be-Pink Princess Castle, came two medallions from a secret admirer...  Who could it be?  There was a pink crown medallion for Harlow and a purple crown medallion for Monty.

It was kind of plain before...

The medallions made it perfect!  (Yes, it is decorated for Christmas!)

Mystery and intrigue...

Thank you so much everyone!  We've enjoyed getting our little surprises in the mail and love how you think of our pups!  You are all so wonderful.  :)

Tank Update and a Belated Thank You

Most of you know my week was devoted to getting my Mother's water tank replaced.  The project is finally done!  We just need to do some minor clean up and rebuild the back deck.  Our wonderful neighbor put up a temporary deck for my Mom - we were all worried she'd step out the back door and fall.

We salvaged the railing from the old porch.  Right now it is forming a barrier around the exposed tank just in case the horses get loose.  We  don't want them stepping on the new tank and caving it in.

Now that the tank project is done, I can move on to catching up on some of these belated thank you's I need to send out.  The first one goes to our dear friend Goose over at the Gospel of Goose.  Waaaaaay back when (July!!!!), Goose had a contest where we all had a chance to win our very own asses.  He had a whole collection of them, and was hoping to rehome them.  We were lucky enough to win our very own Kiss Ass! 

She's been patiently waiting in her box for me.  Goose had warned me that the asses were not intended for canine play - our pups thought otherwise...

Box?  Must be ours!

There was a wonderful note with it:

Thank you!

They dove in just as I was trying to take a picture of it... 

Hey!

After some wrestling and reminding them what "drop it" and "leave it" means, Harlow decided she could sit for a picture with it.  Monty disappeared, not doubt to make more of my socks disappear.

It'll die soon as your back is turned, Momma...

Thank you so much for our Kiss Ass, Goose!  We will make sure to put her in a doggy-proof place!

A few very late thank you's...

This first post after Sam passing has been very difficult to write.  Do I dive back in and try to recapture the humor our blog is known for?  Do I pretend this new normal without Sam is okay with us?  I've sat down at the keyboard several times, but the right words have not come.

I realized that during the course of Sam's illness, and after his passing, we had received a few gifts from friends - gifts we have not recognized.  I decided this first post would include a few very belated thank you's to all of our friends.  Not only for the gifts for the pups, but for all the kind words and support we have received from everyone.

Our first thank you belongs to Jack and the Tall Guy over at Daily Dose of Jack.  Way back in July they hosted a contest to win a Frosty Paws prize pack.  We were one of the lucky winners! 

Thank you Jack and the Tall Guy!

Our dear friend Lucca also has been checking in on us.  Lucca's Mom sent our pups some yummy treats. These arrived before Sam passed away and he was able to enjoy both the duck biscuits and the turkey-oatmeal-cranberry treats.  On a side note, Monty was suspicious of the Healthy Bones and Harlow loved everything!  Thank you Lucca!

Yum Yum!

Khyra also sent us a special care package.  There were treats, a beautiful card, a note from Khyra's Mom, a neat water bottle and a bit of Khyra floof.  Which, just so you know, Khyra floof is like crack to doggies.

I have detected a foreign substance....

...and last but not least...

As some of you know, our Monty is the Mr. October for AZGRC's 2014 calendar.  Recently a very special package came in the mail.  Not only was it our very own copy of the calendar, but we also got a special note card with Monty's picture, as well as a beautiful canvas of the picture to hang on the wall.  To order a calendar, click here.  Don't forget to read Monty's story! 

Our boy is handsome!

We also got a CD full of photo's from the photoshoot.  These photo's are very special to us - Sam was there that day:

Forever brothers!

Sam and me

My redheads...

We will share more of the photos in future posts.  We have some very beautiful ones of Monty I can't wait for you to all see.

Once again, thank you everyone - for your kind words, thoughts, gifts and love you have sent our way.

Thank you, everyone!

Sam is doing much better tonight, to our relief. He is eating with his usual apetite, wants to play, and overall is feeling like his old self. He still seems plagued by the runs, but even that is looking better (I won't go into details!). We are still concerned about why he was sick, though. One minute he was prancing around being silly, and then all of the sudden he laid down and was ill. We might be over reacting, but he is our boy and we love him.

Sam definitely needs a good thorough brushing!


We want to thank everyone for their well wishes! It really helped us to read everyone's pawsitive thoughts and kind words. ...and most importantly of all,

Sam thanks you!

We has awards!

I've been forgetting to mention this great award we got from both our friends Roo and Erin!



Since we recieved two of these wonderful awards, we will list seven things you may or may not know about Sam and Monty.

First up, Sam!

1. Sam's birthday is October 21, 2002
2. Sam's nicknames include Sammy, Samster, Sammish MacBeth, Little Dude - the list goes on!
3. Sam loves being sang to. He doesn't care what you sing to him, just as long as his name is in the song. The more times you sing his name, the happier he gets!
4. Sam loves being in the craft room with his Mom.
5. Sam failed obedience twice. (He is wishing I hadn't shared this with you!)
6. Sam now has his Canine Good Citizen award! Yay!
7. Sam is the founding dog of our household - he is very much cherished and adored!

All right, now it is Monty's turn!

1. Monty's Gotcha Day is April 22, 2010
2. Monty's nicknames include Monster (when he is very bad!), Montyzoomie, Montycristo - we are still discovering new nicknames everyday!
3. Monty has a theme song - it is The Tigger Song! In order to sing it right to him, you have to replace the word Tigger with Monty!
4. Monty only has one speed, which is as fast as possible!
5. Monty loves toys, especially the ones that make odd noises!
6. If it can fit in Monty's mouth, he will put it there.
7. "Trouble" is Monty's middle name!

Hmmm.... Now I need to share the award... I need to share this with 15 other blogs,

1. Yin and Yang
2. Corbin
3. Little Miss Jada Kiss
4. Dennis the Visla
5. Martha and Bailey
6. Olive7.
7. Lola
8. White Dog Diary
9. Benji and Jolie
10. Jack
11. Lorenza
12. Holly13.
13. Maggie Mae
14. Sagira15.
15. Zoey

We could have easily picked another 15 blogs! Thank you for this pawesome award!