Dallas / Fort Worth Greyhounds in need of Love

Hello friends,
Margo from Margo's Junkin Journal posted something today that I can't help but share. Recently 28 greyhounds were rescued from an abusive situation. Their needs are great - rehabilitation, health care, love, trust and new homes. Please visit Margo's site and the Greyhound Rescue site and do whatever you can to help. Please!


http://www.greyhoundsunlimited.org/adopting/SpecialNeeds.shtml#fwacc

Best wishes and high hopes to you all. And my God bless each of these beautiful animals.

Jennie and the Pekes

Dear Dr. Howard Schneider

I'm sure you are a nice man and that the majority of the things you've done in your life have been for the good of those around you.

However.... I personally want to tell you that your evil robot creations aka self-checkout lanes at the supermarket are the most despicable things around. I don't personally have a desire to learn how to identify the product code so that I can weigh and enter my produce selections. I don't want to hear that bleeping robot tell me to return my items to the bagging center and least of all I don't want to wait in a queue while an attendant finds a moment from snacking on a Twix bar to assist me. I do actually have things to do Mr. Schneider.

And to that kid snacking on the Twix bar...you're lucky it was only a bag of peaches I threw at you to get your attention. I did have a watermellon in the basket.

My beloved Peanut

Saturday morning I had to make the hardest choice a pet owner can make - hang on to the hope that your fur baby will get better or let your fur baby go in peace. I chose to let her go but I miss her so badly.

Just this side of heaven is a place called Rainbow Bridge.

When an animal dies that has been especially close to someone here, that pet goes to Rainbow Bridge. There are meadows and hills for all of our special friends so they can run and play together. There is plenty of food, water and sunshine, and our friends are warm and comfortable.

All the animals who had been ill and old are restored to health and vigor. Those who were hurt or maimed are made whole and strong again, just as we remember them in our dreams of days and times gone by. The animals are happy and content, except for one small thing; they each miss someone very special to them, who had to be left behind.

They all run and play together, but the day comes when one suddenly stops and looks into the distance. His bright eyes are intent. His eager body quivers. Suddenly he begins to run from the group, flying over the green grass, his legs carrying him faster and faster.

You have been spotted, and when you and your special friend finally meet, you cling together in joyous reunion, never to be parted again. The happy kisses rain upon your face; your hands again caress the beloved head, and you look once more into the trusting eyes of your pet, so long gone from your life but never absent from your heart.

Then you cross Rainbow Bridge together...

Yeah, I'm hot

Hello friends,
While catching up on everyone's lives I couldn't help but remember a dinner I had recently with my Mom at Outback. Sue Ann from Sue Ann's Journey wrote today about her lobster dinner and Baskin Robbins birthday cake which triggered this memory. Mmmm.....Baskin Robbins......

Not long ago Mom and I went to dinner and thought we'd try Outback for a change. We're more likely to be in a sub shop or Applebee's so this was a fun treat for us. I happen to be gaga for crab legs so naturally that's what I ordered.

Now, I'm not a leg conisuer. I do enjoy a well toned leg on a man and envy women with insurance worthy legs. Wait...I'm off track, I'm not a crab leg conisuer. However there's a magic to knowing how long to steam those puppies so that the meat just pulls out soft and tender. Outback isn't quite the best at this because my legs were a bit chewy but they were still yummy. That being said, I was a bit challenged getting every last morsel. Don't worry though, I let my vanity go and dived in. There was butter flying, lots of cracking of legs and eating with my fingers. I didn't want to miss a thing. 3 drawn butter bowls later I was done and longing for more.

So, not feeling so hot since I basically ate a pound of crab legs as if I had never seen a fork or napkin before, managed to make horrible sounds while sucking the last of the butter from my fingers and pretty much grossed out the sweet waiter. Who cares...it's crab legs and I was feeling not so hot but I was way happy.

That feeling of not being hot soon passed. Mom and I went to Baskin Robbins for ice cream afterwards and again, I ate my food with relish. I was in chocolate fudge heaven! Soon after we finished eating I got in line to purchase a pint, who am I kidding, 2 pints to take home. While I'm standing in line a cute man keeps staring and I started thinking...I must look goooooooooood. I'm pretty self conscience so this man is really making me feel good about myself. I stand taller, stick the girls out further, suck the tummy in and start practicing my kegels. Then Mom walks up and points out that I have ice cream all over me. Not only do I have ice cream GLOBS down the front of my jacket, on my sleeves, drips on my camisole but I have butter stains.

I'm not hot. I'm a pig.

Well...

She threw a dog toy at my head...

She bit the nip...

Hello friends,
Ok ladies, it goes without saying that most, if not all, of us would prefer to not be bothered with a bra. Especially those of us that are required by southern standards of etiquette to wear an under-wire. I personally would prefer to wear a sports bra to a Victoria Secret special any given day. Forget lace and sexiness, give me cotton and comfort.

Perhaps my personal dislike for bras stems from my Mom's dislike for bras. Yep, she's a burn your bra in the 60's woman. Thanks to my Mom and women like her I have had more opportunities available to me than she did at my age. Yes, I am grateful for the obstacles she fought through.

She's learned many lessons over the years since but none quite so uniquely painful as the lesson she learned this week. In our house of 6 dogs (my 5 plus Mom's Chi) wearing bras is a bit like wearing body armour. A necessity to boobie survival.

Well, in the midst of breaking up a small fight between my innocent new Pekingese and my Mom's innocent little Chi her boob got in the way. Yes friends, my newest baby bit the nip.

Now, be proud of me. I didn't fall on the floor laughing; I displayed the appropriate level of concern for a day...then I lost it. Sweet mother of Pekingese, how do you not laugh at this? Her poor boobie nip is swolen and bruised from a tiny 8lb dog.

While I know she'll read this and probably throw something at my head within the next hour, I hope she has learned a lesson. If you're boobs are big enough to get in the fight, better wear protection!

Best wishes and high hopes to each of you,

Jennie and the boobie biting Pekes

Changes...

Hello dear ones,
What a year! I cannot believe that it's been so long since my last post nor can I believe how much in my life has changed. I've had my heart broken by the one person that promised he never would, family and friends have experienced medical hardships, I've adopted yet another adorable Pekingese and..oh yeah...my Mom has moved in with me. Yes, life is full of change.

Change isn't new to me. My entire life, your entire life, everyone's life is about change. But what is interesting is how consistently upside down my changes seem to be! ha ha ha

When I was young I knew I would be a criminal psychologist, married with children. When I was married I knew I would be divorced. When I was divorced I knew I didn't want children nor did I want to carry a gun anymore and pick up "perps." When I met my ex-beau I knew I wanted to be married, have kids and a white picket fence. Now, now I only know that I'll have extra dog poop to clean up in the morning. Is knowing that there is nothing to truly "know" a sign of wisdom or complete exhaustion?!

Most of the changes in my life are positive though sometimes I have to squint to see the good. Having a new dog in the family is wonderful in the sense of the additional love and joy. My job, while not a recent change, is a change that I'm still thrilled with. The change in my relationship status is painful and sad but I understand it and while I'm not happy about this change I do see the potential for both he and I to heal and move on. The biggest change of all, having my Mom move in is bittersweet. It's wonderful in the sense that I can care for her and protect her but sad in that I hate that she had to give up her home and make the move. My Mom is young but plagued with various medical issues that make living alone challenging. She's a trooper and will be able to maintain her independence living here, just has to put up with me and my pack of dogs.

The changes that aren't so positive are with me and my soul. I find myself restless in spirit. I've lost touch with God and I'm ashamed of the distance. I'm overwhelmed by the stress and anxiety I've brought on myself and shocked by the anger that seems to be so close to the surface lately. Fortunately, I can make it through this and fight to be better. Isn't that what life is about, fighting to be a better person?

May all of you find positive in change and see the hope in something new.

Best wishes and high hopes to you all,
Jennie and all of the Pretty Pekes + one lumpy Terrier

Helllllllllllllloooooooooooo

Really quick since I'm doing this at work and I may be traded for a younger version if caught! :)

I hope all of you are well! I miss this world very much. My computer died and I've not had a chance to replace it yet.

Love work.
Still only have 4 dogs.
Mom doing well .

Mr. Wicky has disappeared - I'm worried, we've had critters prowling and I hope he wasn't eaten.
Working on several projects that I can't wait to share. Craft room is REALLY scary.
Bought new car.
Finally cleaned house.
Threw out 3 month old milk.
Discovered "Sons of Anarchy" which is my new fantasy. I get to pretend I'm a bad mama when watching it.
Still being called an old woman. Was called Ma'am when I was looking for devil horns at Halloween.
Must go now. Big Brother may be watching.

Love to you all and as always, best wishes and high hopes to you!

New (new to me) site for supplies

Hello dear friends,
The fabulous Collage Contessa has joined the design team for Red Lead. She's posted some wonderful ideas for Christmas using various papers and stamps from Red Lead. I'd never heard of the store, still being new at this I'm not surprised! ha ha ha

But...it's wonderful. They've a great variety and their prices are really good! Please visit both the store and Kris' site to see her beautiful creations.

Best wishes and high hopes to you all,
Jennie, the pretty pooches and Mr. Wicky

Fun Finds and Ticks

Happy Sunday dear friends,

I hope you've all had a wonderfully restful weekend. I've been busy scanning family pictures, creating some collage pieces and catching up on my naps! A few weekends ago I found something I've wanted for so long and envied when I see it in other's crafts - a vintage ledger. It's full of beautiful script with details about various businesses and well aged blank pages. It's a treasure that I keep flipping through and imagining all of the lovely things that can be done with it.

I also found some beautiful crocheted blue lace, an old book from the 30's that lists property and taxes for the state of Kansas, an unused brass photo compact and a juice glass that's name has escaped me. Mom collects these and anytime I find one for less than $5.00 I grab it for her. Sweet Mother of Pekingese...why can't I remember the name. Oh well!

I need to take some photos of the various collages I've been making. I'm really proud and have found something I truly love doing. I was inspired by Michelle Caplan's art featured in the May-June Somerset Studio. I love the idea of taking photos and incorporating them with other bits and images. Visit her site - she's amazing! www.michellecaplan.com

Yesterday was briefly traumatic. For those of you who don't know, I've had dogs for more than 30 years. I've experienced so many situations, injuries and illness with them. But I have never, ever dealt with a tick. Never. I pray I never have to again. I showered and dried my hair and when I walked into the den, there was precious Sandy, bleeding terribly from her head. Since she's blond it was very obvious and I searched and searched to find the source of the bleeding. She had this hard ugly monster attached that I couldn't remove so I rushed her to the emergency room. 10 minutes later they brought my beloved back and explained it was a partially engorged (is there a grosser word?) dog tick. It had managed to embed itself so far under her skin that when they removed it she lost a large piece of skin and had a hole the size of a pencil eraser on her head. The vet was surprised by the injury and didn't make me feel like an idiot for bringing her in because of a tick.

My little Sandy, a Hurricane Ike survivor, heartworms survivor and now tick survivor. It has healed well already though they had to shave her head some to treat the wound so she has a little bald spot. Needless to say, the yard is getting sprayed and the dogs shaved. I hope I never have to see a tick again...blech!

Below is a picture of a dog tick. I always thought ticks were brown or black and little. Boy was I wrong!

So...are you itchy now from reading this? ha ha ha

Best wishes and high hopes to each of you,

Jennie, the pretty pooches and Mr. Wicky.