I was on cloud nine all day on Monday! Anneliese is pregnant, still not sure how many, but she is pregnant! I am so happy! Now we start getting ready for the birth in August. Her due date will be approximately on August 5th or 6th.

I can now look at Anneliese and enjoy her beautiful belly! I can look at her and smile, dreaming of how many babies she just might have in there.

In a few weeks I will have the x-rays done to see how many are in there, but in another 10 days they’ll repeat the ultrasound.

Meanwhile, we will increase her food, just a bit. Each day I want to take her on a walk, just her and me, around the neighborhood, so that she can stay in shape. I’ve been in touch with Makenna and she is all ready to help keeping Anneliese is shape and of course helping with the puppies afterward.

One thing I want to do this time, is to take more birth pictures. Last time I only got pictures of the first puppy’s birth, so now I would like to play around a little and photograph more.

So much to look forward to!

I took Anneliese in this noontime and they did the ultrasound and she is, indeed pregnant! I saw extremely tiny fetuses with even tinier beating hearts! It was too sweet! Here is a picture of what a fetus looks like at this stage of the game. This is just for demonstration purposes.

If you’d like to see a short video of a canine fetus at this stage follow this link and you will see a great, short video!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uD3bmHyVEyo

We’ll be going back in 10 days to take another look and find out if we can determine how many pups she actually has in there.

All I can say is Yay, Yay, Yay!!!!!!!

I cannot believe it is the first birthday for Anneliese’s litter of pups. Baron, Bogey, Baerbel and Ali (aka Birgit)! It seems like just yesterday that they were born!

I put together a montage showing them from birth onward. I hope you enjoy it, as much as I enjoyed making it!

Happy Birthday, Babies! Grandma loves you!!!

Happy First Birthday Puppies from Dackel Princess Maribeth on Vimeo.

Sunday was the Taste Of The Lakes in a neighboring town. I’d purchased tickets for Hubby and me, and we met up with our friends, Laurie and Peter as well as a few other couples and secured a nice table…near the food!

This is the local chapter of Altrusa Internationale’s biggest fund raiser. Altrusa is an organization of Women (men too, in some areas) who work to better there community. I became drawn to Altrusa about 6 months ago, when I realized that it was time for me to give back to my town and the people in it.

So, today was the big event. Recently, Hubby and I have been saving our money, so we have not gone out much. To have two “dates” with him in one week was more than special!

I got all dressed up, did my hair and make-up and even wore the dreaded panty-hose! I put on a pair that have been in my dresser, like forever, and put them on. Then I stood there laughing. You see these were hose from before Weight Watchers and they were so big that they immediately started to fall south! No video of this exists, you will just have to trust me on this. It was funny!

Dress on, hair done, I went in and did my make-up. In my younger days, a tiny bit of blush, lip gloss and mascara and I was good to go. Now I all but use a putty knife to apple the make-up, for that young and “natural” look!

We drove over the the event, and then walked to the door. It was quite a long walk and my feet, jammed into high heels that I never wear, groaned with each step. How do working women do it, wearing heels like this every day? All I wanted was my slippers! Heck, I would have taken a pair of sneakers!

Okay, back to the event. We entered with Peter and Laurie and selected a table. Then began 2 hours of grazing.

Here is Kevin’s Cafe. Naturally I spoke with them and enjoyed the best crab cake ever. It was just loaded with crab!

You can see people moving around the different stations checking out the food!

These people had Bruchetta and it was fabulous!

This was Canoe and they served plain macaroni and cheese and meatballs, as well a cheesecake and toffee bars for dessert.

One restaurant had Oysters. Hubby had several of those!

Stuffed mushrooms!

Wonderful Jamaican coffee was served there.

And before I forget, these four gentlemen sang to us during the event. They sang Barber Shop Quartet songs! It made me think of my Grandfather Stevens who took me to hear the Barber Shop Quartet sing at the Prudential Center in Boston. I was a very little girl, as I remember sitting on his knees.

After grazing for 2 hours we all headed out to get our cars and come home. The dackels were thrilled to see us, and I fed them quickly and we walked them. Then I sat down to write, but got interrupted again.

Baron’s owner called to tell me what a great guy Baron is.

He is Anneliese’s son, and looks the most like her, I think. I had a wonderful visit with him, before hanging it up and talking to my sister.

Busy, fabulous wonderful day! How was your Sunday?

I was up really early today. After a restless night sleep, the dogs woke me and I found myself outside in 15 degree temperatures at 6 AM. Somehow it didn’t seem so bad. I was awake, so why not.

Hubby went skiing for the fourth day in the row. This left me here alone with the dogs, and with many errands to do. So about 10:30 Bogey and I got in the Jeep and off we went to pick up the dry cleaning, and go to the bank. Lucky Bogey got a bone at the bank, and unfortunately my dry cleaning wasn’t ready, so that was a big waste of time.

We hit the Post office and my new bathing suit arrived from Lands End. It’s sky blue, and was dirt cheap as it was last years model. I got three pieces for $20.00! It looks pretty good on me, and will look even better when I get back to my goal weight.

Hubby arrived home in time for lunch and I served him homemade chili and fresh from the oven corn bread, also homemade! Yeah, I spoil him, just a little!

At three, I slipped out to the dry cleaners and picked it all up. Well, everything but my blouse which still isn’t repaired. It needs a new zipper and apparently has a weird size one. So next week it will be back.

We had the pups out again today playing. Boy, do they have fun together! They run and run and play and it is a wonderful thing.

Today I can tell you that Greta, Arnie and Anneliese all played with the young boy, Bogey! Even Fritz payed attention to him and even chased him around a bit.

We have today to enjoy Bogey, as his parents come home on Sunday and will whisk him away. I think we will all miss the little guy!

We had the dogs out for a play session in the back yard. Oh, does Bogey love to run and play with his Mommy, Anneliese! He is fast and so is she. They love to romp outside chasing each other, or catching their toy balls, but most of all Bogey loves to chase a blowing leaf! In fact he sits by our sliding glass doors and watches everything outside. If he gets bored there, he goes and sits up on the back of the sofa so he can watch outside the front of the house.

I think it is safe to say that while Bogey’s Mommy and Daddy were on vacation, so was he! I’ve loved having him here, and it is so much better than a kennel. He can come any time he wants for a few days with us!

Today I noticed him sleeping in the puppy bed that he had once shared with his brothers and sisters. Here he is with his brother Baron and sister, Baerbel when they were about 8 weeks old.

Here he is today, all by himself. He now fills the bed!

We had more playing before Bogey and Anneliese settled down together on the sofa. It’s really been a beautiful thing, watching mother and son bond again.

Just a few more days now until his Mom & Dad come home and pick him up. I think we are going to miss this little guy!

You know it really is wonderful. After a few little skirmishes (minor, really), the crew has settled in and every one is getting along. For a while Fritz was afraid of the little guy, but this morning I found them this close together.

In fact, Fritz really calmed down and actually likes Bogey. He lies down with him and while Bogey sleeps, Fritz chew on his bones and watches over him.

The other little rivalry has been between Arnie and Bogey. Not that Bogey has felt this, but Arnie sure has. I have been spending time each night snuggling with my little man and assuring him that he is still my one and only!

Then today Arnie started to play with Bogey! I was shocked! They ran in the field together, and played in the house afterward. I even got this picture of them in front of the fire that I got going today!

They look so comfortable together that I finally felt at ease.

So if Bogey’s parents check the blog, worry not! He is happy and healthy and having a good time with the rest of his birth family.

***************

PS: Hubby did the most romantic thing this morning. When the dogs got up this morning, Hubby got up with them and let me stay in bed!!! Now that is real love and the most romantic thing a man can do for his wife!

LOL!!!

What a busy day!

It started a little earlier than usual because Fritz woke me up. I no sooner had let him out and then gotten him back in, and crawled back into my nice warm bed, when the dackels woke me up. I dressed quickly in my long underwear, jeans, turtleneck and wool sweater, got my coat, hat and gloves and Bogey and I went out into the 10 degree weather! The winds were swirling around, and yet Bogey wanted a nice long walk. So walk we did!

By the time we got back, the coffee was all made and I sat down with all four dackels sitting around me and my computer in my lap! It must have been quite a sight.

Anneliese and Bogey had such a good time playing today. They really are cute together. Bogey is bigger than his Mom now, but she still babies him.

And Bogey loves to play with her. He follows her everywhere and they jump up and down and all around, and she has such patience with him.

Greta likes to watch. She sat on top of the sofa most of the day. She watched the playing pups, and the birds outside and was just happy most all of the day. I think she is feeling much better.

Later in the day, as the sun set Bogey started looking out the window all on his own. He is definitely feeling at home now.

It was fun to watch him, until a commercial came on the TV. It was a barking dog and Bogey turned to watch!

I took Bogey out to the Post Office today and stopped to see some friends who he’d met when he was a wee little puppy. In fact they have his baby picture on their wall! They couldn’t believe how much Bogey had grown, nor could they believe how handsome he is!

All in all I think it was a fun day for both Bogey and me!

It was quite a busy day here in “Doggy-Land” today. Everyone was a bit restless, despite the 10 degree weather and 30 mile an hour winds. You should have seen me at 6:45 this morning. I got up and pulled on my fuzzy bathrobe over my flannel pajamas, I put on two pairs of socks, and then headed to the kitchen with all 5 dogs following me. Once there, I put on my coat, hat, scarf and gloves, hooked the leash onto Bogey’s collar and headed outside where the wind, despite my careful dressing, just froze me.

We headed back in and by the time we returned the coffee had finished dripping into the pot. Once I got everyone settled and removed all of my wintertime clothing, I raced to the pot and poured myself a big one! Ahhhh, the rich taste of hot coffee on a frosty morning! There is nothing like it!

Hubby went off skiing and I decided to make use of the time by catching up on the laundry. By 10:30, I had several loads done and had been out for Bogey walks at least 5 times! He just loves it outside, even in the freezing cold!

Around 11:30 I lit a fire in the hearth to take the chill off my bones. I had a tough time getting the fire to go, but soon Hubby came in and it took him exactly three seconds to get the fire blazing! I think in his last life he was a pyromaniac!

We watched the news about the explosion in Connecticut, as well as a few movies. Last night we watched a great old movie with Steve McQueen. It was called Bullitt. I tried not to watch it, but it is a good suspense, crime drama, and WOW could Steve McQueen act! It’s sad that he died at the young age of 50 from cancer!

After lunch I took Fritz and Bogey out for a walk in our neighborhood. Fritz is so good that I do not need to leash him. He follows my every command. The dachshunds will look at me and laugh and then run the other way, so they had to stay home with their Daddy while I walked Bogey on a leash. Bogey and Fritz enjoyed the walk, but I froze. Really it was that cold!

Bogey came back in and played with Anneliese, running around the house like a wild man. He is so darn cute in all his young puppy-ness, and Anneliese is having the best time with him.

After dinner they all crashed out around the family room. Me too! Hubby is keeping the fire burning and once the Super Bowl is over we’ll all go to bed! Meanwhile, here is another picture of Bogey making himself at home. I am so glad this has worked out so well.

Good-night everyone!!!

One thing that can be said about my grand-puppy, Bogart is, he sure knows how to make himself comfortable! As we sat watching the TV last night we looked down and there he was in all his glory!

I wanted to laugh, but I held it in, as I wanted another picture and even a little snicker would have awakened the sleeping Prince!

So I quietly put the footrest down on my recliner, and turned my camera on. Then I slowly crept over and stood above him, and click!

Even when the flash went off, Bogey did not move. He slept happily in his old puppy bed and never once stirred.

Makenna was over and played with the dogs this morning and we took Bogey out for a walk. She could not believe how much he had grown!

Today was also the day that Bogey really became one of the dackel Pack. They have now totally accepted him, even Arnie. Anneliese plays so nicely with him, and then stops to try to clean his ears! Too cute really.

Today is “Super Bowl Sunday”. What are your plans? Any parties out there? What are you serving up? For my foreign readers, do you watch the “Super Bowl” or could you care less?

Comments please!

I’m making Tacos with all the fixings. Guacamole, sour cream, jalapenos, tomatoes, lettuce, cheese, salsa and black olives. Oh and Hubby likes refried beans, which are okay, but not my favorite.

Olé!