Snoods!

Ok, so here are two confessions:  1) my hubby kind of hates has asked me several times to curtail the amount of money I spend on the dogs and despite the fact that my mother says the boys have more things than some children, I 2) am a good bargain hunter.

I don't spend just to spend on the boys, but I find that I enjoy buying them different collars and changing up their look while I often realize I've forgotten to wear earrings on any given day.  I'd say the biggest purchase has been Ray's Paco collar, and let me tell you, as far as quality is concerned, it is a bargain. 

So, while I've been wanting fleece snoods for the boys, I've been hesitant to spend the money on those.  After all, I have boatloads of shirts and jackets that just don't fit them, so I just waited and secretly hoped that Lamae Designs would begin making snoods. In case you're not familiar, Lamae Designs began making incredible looking tutus for dogs then ventured into collars and bow ties.  She has always given back to rescues in time, financial support and as a foster parent.  In fact, she fostered then adopted Ray's littermate, Dahey.

Glamour, now Kya sporting a gorgeous tutu by Lamae Designs

Elephant collar and bow tie

So imagine how loud I squeed my delight when I saw the post on Facebook stating that snoods would be available for a limited time and  all sizes were $12 (yeah, twelve dollars) and when you order, you can choose to where Lamae will donate 50% of the money and ACSPCA was one of the choices! 

If you think my mind wasn't blown by then, just hold on to your toupee.  When I messaged her, she asked for the boy's neck measurement then said I could have them the next day!  Boom!

So, to say I was pretty jazzed would be an understatement, but then when the hubs saw the sno

ods and said, " I kind of really like those," you know I swooned for my snoods.

So, if you've been debating on getting a snood, I highly recommend checking out Lamae Designs.  These are high quality reversible fleece snoods and I opted for the opening to hook a leash through, so that is an option, if you so desire.  Plus, 50% of your purchase price will go back to one of four (cough ACSPCA) really deserving (ahem ACSPCA) organizations. 

*I was not compensated nor asked to review, I just LOVE these snoods. 

Time Passages

How do you mark the passage of time?  I tend to use actual markers and then calculate rather than just knowing.  "What the heck is this chick babbling about?" is probably going through your mind right now, but bear with me. 

In 2011 we put our house on the market and had to fill out the usual disclosure forms.  How long have we owned this home?  How old is the roof? The doors? The windows, etc.  I usually have to count the years in relation to what grade my daughter was in at the time and then count up from there.  There is usually a specific time marker for that I can use for counting, depending on the situation.

How old are my cats?  I "met" Boo Kitty in 1998 and Kevin had seen her in the fields around his house for nearly a year before that.  He doesn't ever remember seeing her as a kitten, ergo she must be at least 15, going on 16 this year.  She is Jae's mom and I have a picture of him from 1999 when he was a kitten.  For Miko, I had adoption papers.

Boo Kitty enjoying her retirement.

As I was reading a post about some past fosters, I realized that I was able to mark a passage of time by who a certain foster was when I began following a blog.  I found that I've been reading some longer than I imagined, but others were harder to put a time reference on.  I believe most of my reading/following/lurking began in 2011.  I remember when Ginger Rogers made her debut in  Blogville but I also know that I once spent the better part of a weekend pouring over archives.  Time flies.

One of the longest stretches of time for me in recent history would be the six or seven weeks while we waited for Ray.  Born on December 1, 2011, I don't think it was any more than a week later that we committed to adopting a "Sparkle puppy."  Taken into an already full foster situation with Smiling K9's, this little family was slated to go to another foster/rescue once they were able to be transported, so we needed to make our intentions known early and stick to them.  We couldn't commit to a puppy, have it stay and then reverse our commitment.  Not to worry, though, because as the littles were growing, their foster mama/rescuer was becoming  less able to send them and she ended up adopting them out of her own rescue.  Good news for us, as we were still doing the male/female debate.  The moment I laid eyes on Ray, I knew I wanted "the little green guy" but the hubby wasn't sure about gender. 

Once we had committed, the longest seven-ish weeks of my life began...

Come back tomorrow to read about Ray's Gotcha Day and celebrat with us by sharing your Gotcha day story and joining our Blog Hop!

See you then!

Crossed Paws for H.O.P.E

On one hand, you might think that seeing that many animals looking  for their forever home might be depressing.  While it is sad that there are so many homeless animals and every animal there, I'm sure, had a story to tell, the feeling of the weekend was very upbeat and happy.  Maybe I'm just naive, but with so many people gathered in one place with a common goal of animal welfare, how can you go wrong?  I love that the event was done by H.O.P.E. because that is what these animals were full of. Hope.  And I had great hope for them as well.

Another of the extraordinary vendors present was Terri, the owner, baker and chief bottle washer of Crossed Paws Barkery.   Terri started making her own dog treats, because like so many of us pet owners she was concerned with all of the problems and issues that have arisen with treats lately.  She makes wholesome, yummy dog treats that are human quality and smell like heaven to both dogs and people. 

I smelled the Rescue Roll and wanted to pop it in my mouth right then and there.  It smelled like a parmasean breadstick to me.  What is great about the Rescue Roll is that a portion of the profits from that treat go back to Rescue.  Terri is not only a multiple adopter, but she is the mom of some handsome Pit Bull type dogs.  Jackpot!

I've met two of her four gorgeous boys and I can tell you, they are mah-velous!  It is difficult to tell by my stellar photographic skills, but the picture to the far right depicts how she came up with the name of her business.  On the night Dozer (on the right) came home he and his new brother Decker crossed paws.  Swoon. The menu that she offers is extensive and looks like things I give Ray, which is also high on the list.  I love that each of her dogs has a treat named after him as well as other treats like Bully Brownies and Pibble Twists.  A lady after my own heart.

As for how they taste?  I brought home a bag of Sweet Potato Crunchies and Ray literally ate them up.

I firmly believe that everyone should feed and treat with the highest quality available, shop locally if possible and support your local rescue.  That isn't too much to ask is it?  Good.  Well in an effort to do all of the above I have a fun contest for you! 

First, go to Crossed Paws Barkery facebook page and "Like" them, then click on the "about" tab and look through all of the delicious treats they have to offer.  Next, leave me a comment here with the name of the treat that most appeals to you.  (If you comment here "anonymously" make sure I have a way of getting ahold of you if you win.)  On Friday at 8:00 pm EST, I will collect all of the comments and use a random generator to pick the lucky person who will win the treat of their choice.  I will let Terri know who the winner is and she will send you your treats!  Win-win!



Baby Week

We are dedicating this week to babies and declaring it Birth Week here at the Peace-a-Bull Assembly.  Everybody has a unique story about how and when they were born, including dogs from Rescue.  There are uneventful births of all kinds, there are the Puppy Mill horror stories, there are the "my pet just had a litter of puppies" stories, etc.  Ray, as you may remember, was born in rescue and while that might sound like a bad thing, I think it was the best thing that could have happend to him and (most of) his little family.  It is sad that some of his siblings did not survive, but Ray was fortunate.  He was born inside a home and started off with an advantage.


Mama holding Mama





Having a warm and safe place to enter the world is a pretty good deal.  Having someone else make careful decisions as to who gets to be your Forever Famiy is a pretty good deal as well. 

The bonus for me is that I've known little Ray since the moment he was born, all pink nosed and gooey green body  piggyness.  The moment I laid eyes on him, I thought to myself, I want that little green guy.  Then I began thinking and doubting.  He who was later named Sunny was so different looking and beautiful with his champagne silvery-ness and crystal blue eyes.  Then there was Kimmel, who in my mind I always called Lola.  The only girl of the litter and she was tugging at my heartstrings a little too.  Also not to be forgotten was sweet Dahey, the only surviving black puppy.  He is back with his real forever mama, because some things were just meant to be.