Arnie

Poor Arnie

Monday was shopping day here at the Dackel Princess household. But the big question was what to do with either Arnie or Anneliese? Anneliese is getting close to being in the prime part of her heat. In a day or so I will have to break out the big crate for my poor Arnie, as he won’t be able to contain himself, but right now he’s still pretty good. I just can’t completely trust him. I wouldn’t breed Anneliese until about day 11 or 13, but it is possible to make puppies earlier so…

Arnie, lusting after his sister.

What fun it was to take Arnie for a ride today in the car while we did our grocery shopping. Since it was cold, we put Arnie in his adorable little sweater. He was an absolute angel! He watched the world go by, enjoyed the warmth of the sunshine, and gave me a ton of kisses.

At one point when we finished the shopping and came out to the car, he was sound asleep on the front seat! I mean, how cute is that, right?

A Lazy Saturday

Saturday I decided to make Hubby one of his favorite meals. My friend Uschi’s Meatballs, and German fried potatoes, a dish known as Bratkartoffeln. You can view my recipe for that HERE. So I made that and the meatballs, and it was like sitting with Uschi at her house!

Here I am making the meatballs. You can see it was a real, ‘hands on’ job!

Then I shaped them and rolled them into dry bread crumbs.

While I was cooking the meatballs, I was also cooking the Bratkartoffeln. I felt like a real short order cook.

But it was worth it, when I served up Hubby’s plate to him, and saw his smile.

Since the recipe for Uschi’s Meatballs is not mine I don’t feel right printing it here. But if you would like it, leave a comment and I will email it to you privately. It is so good, that I know you will enjoy it!!!

At the end of the day I had removed my bedspread from our bed, turned to say goodnight to Hubby and turned back, when I saw this.

I mean, just look at that face! The little bugger actually dug his way into my side of the bed clothes! Too, too much, but adorable, nonetheless!

Happy Birthday

Four years ago, Hubby got up in the morning and I told him that I thought that Greta would be having her puppies soon. He examined her and said, he thought he could get a few runs in skiing, but to call if things got going, and off he went!

Greta looked at me, with eyes that related to me just how miserable her contractions were, and I knew that things were getting close.

Then, all of a sudden, things just sort of stopped. Then started again, and this went on for about an hour. I called the Vet. and took her in.

It was, of course, a Sunday, and so my Vet. had to get his staff to come in and assist in the delivery. You see, we had one very large baby and then 4 “normal” sized ones. That was the day that Arnie and Anneliese were born.

I called Hubby, who had just gotten up to the slopes, and he turned around and came home, and made their birth!

Arnie was the only boy, and Anneliese was born squealing loudly! I didn’t know then, which puppy I would want to keep, and I certainly never expected to keep 2, especially a male dog, as I had never been a boy dog fan, but I digress…

That was December 10th and by Christmas I knew Anneliese was doing to be my forever puppy girl and two months later Arnie was rejected by the people who’d wanted to buy him, and he remained, forever with us.

Now I can’t imagine life without my two little A-Litter Puppies. I call them “The Twins” even though they aren’t, and if they are outside I will call “Puppies” and they will both turn their heads and run towards me!

Anneliese has gone on to have her own babies, and “Uncle Arnie” babysat and helped his sister out with the babies. It was just so cute!

And in life, they are the very best of friends. When I look back having sibling puppies has been one of the best things I have ever done, even if it was absolutely by accident!

Arnie and Anneliese Birthday from Dackel Princess Maribeth on Vimeo.

For The Love Of Bogart

(And Arnie too!)

Currently we have five dogs. Later today, Bogart’s Mommy and Daddy will be coming to pick him up and whisk him off to his home. I am going to miss him. What a nice little guy he is. After the first 24 hours, where Arnie really had his nose out of joint, everything settled down and the gang started to really get along. There has not been one incident with any of the dogs, but there have been some really funny things happen.

Bogart

Bogart is a lick-er. And he loves to lick those he loves. He especially LOVES Fritz. Oh my goodness to watch the two of them is hilarious! Fritz will be sitting there and Bogey jumps up kissing his face with such love, and Fritz just accepts it.

If Fritz is outside and Bogart sees him through the door, he will stand at the door and lick the glass! He will also fuss and whine until we let Fritz back in.

Anneliese will sit cuddled up with Bogart, or if they are outside she will run after him, or he will run after her, but they are both moving fast, chasing each other!

Grandma Greta, also started playing around with Bogart. It seems he accepts that she is the Alpha Dog in the pack and so she has decided it is okay to play with him. Honest to goodness it is so cute to watch!

And then there is Arnie.

He still gives Bogart a wide berth, and I have seen that look in his eye that tells me that in some ways Arnie feels unloved. You know he enjoys being the only “boy” dog in the house, (read un-neutered) and since he has had to share the space with another “boy” he has felt very much like his place is being taken in the pack. I’ve spent a lot of time stroking Arnie and telling him it will be okay.

Bogey has adjusted quite well. I think he remembers the house, and well, there is no convincing me that he doesn’t remember Hubby and me. In fact when I get him up in the morning he just covers my face with kisses, and then he races to Hubby and greets him the same way when he gets up.

Yes, we’re going to miss Bogart when he leaves us. Perhaps he’ll come and visit again in the future.

This morning Hubby had to go off to help a friend with some logging on his property. He packed a bag of snacks in case he got hungry, and called Fritz to his side, then with Arnie watching his every move, opened the door to go. Arnie slipped by him and raced down the stairs in hopeful anticipation, that he too, would be included in the outing!

“Arnie!” Hubby called to him. “You come back up here right now!”

Slowly, Arnie made his way back up the stairs and sat down next to my feet. Hubby reached down and patted him, but Arnie was not invited to go.

Fritz and Hubby left and Arnie raced into our bedroom, which overlooks the driveway. He jumped up onto the steamer chest that’s in front of the window and put his front paws on the air conditioner and watched!

Aug 27 001

He whined and cried as he watched them get into the Jeep.

Before they started to drive up the road.

Eventually I got him to hop down and keep me company as I went about my chores around the house.

Two days ago, I wore my favorite pair of dangle earrings. They’re golden hearts, and I love the sheer simplicity of the workmanship. In fact, I love them so much that I bought my cousin Janet the same earrings in silver. She loves them too. At her father’s Memorial Service we both wore these earrings without knowing that the other would wear them.

Anyway, I was tired the night I took them off and I put them on the table between our two chairs in the family room and promptly forgot them when I went off to bed. The next day, I went to get them and there was only ONE earring!!!

I searched high, I searched low. I went through the garbage, I checked pockets of my clothes. I looked under books, under phones and under the laptop computers. Nothing. I spent several hours looking, even eying the four dogs, wondering if they had swallowed it!

Today, resigned to the fact that the earring was gone I went back to the shop I got them at to see if they had the same pair. They didn’t, but offered to try and find them for me.

I came home, feeling quite sad but, well it is only a thing and things can be replaced eventually and so I should not dwell.

The phone rang and I answered and while speaking to my neighbor, I looked down at Arnie, who was tucked under the table. He had his stuffed soccer ball under there and sticking out of the ball was something shiny!

I jumped down and grabbed the ball and there it was! My other earring!!!

There are a few theories as to what happened.

Arnie found it when he was walking around and stuck it into his ball so it wouldn’t get lost.
Arnie likes women’s jewelry!
Arnie brought his soccer ball up into my chair when I was in bed and while toying with the ball, got it close enough to the earring to hook it into the ball.

In any event, I am thrilled to have my earrings reunited! They really are my favorite pair to wear when I want to dress up.

Aug 27 010

So Arnie can sleep wherever he wants tonight, and there will be a nice piece of steak in his food dish too!

Arnie, my hero!!!

Snuggles

Wednesday found my sweet boy Arnie cuddling up with me, while I attempted to get rid of my cold. He was such a sweetie, that I grabbed my camera and started snapping away. After all, how often does the opportunity present to cuddle, take pictures and recover from a cold?

Anneliese is doing well, although she is still carrying around her little lamb toy. No matter where she is, she has that little lamb in her mouth or by her side.

But I’m encouraged because she is healing well and feeling so much better! She has even begun eating regular dog food again, after going through a spell where she refused all food.

The week is slowly coming to an end and I am really looking forward to the weekend. It’s not that I have a lot planned, it’s just that Hubby and I tend to spend more time together during the weekends.

Happy Thursday everyone!

My Saturday

Saturday was a day of many jobs. The usual job or laundry and meals, the same and not so terribly exciting, and then the other jobs, which were a bit more thrilling, and so I will share them with you.

I went out for a walk with Anneliese early so she could get some good exercise. We enjoyed the walk, despite the already warm temperatures. We arrived back home and Anneliese came in and lay down on the rug and stretched out to rest!

Can you just see that big beautiful puppy belly? This picture really made me smile!

Then I took Greta and we went to the garden to do some cutting. My garden is so lush this year and extremely prolific!

The things that are growing the best are the squash and zucchini and the cucumbers. In fact, after giving away more squash today I still have enough for more than a week in the fridge. My friends had better watch out or I will bring some over!

I then stopped to cut some of my Japanese eggplant, called Ichiban. They are long and thin, but oh so sweet and delicious! Here you will see them in the basket with the summer squash and zucchini.

I decided then to make our bed with fresh sheets and a clean blanket, but while I was stripping off the old bedding, Arnie decided to help!

Then I decided that I’d better use up some of my cucumbers before they went bad! I got them out and made my first batch of Bread & Butter Pickles. I made 7 pints of wonderful pickles! Oh, how I love those!

As the day passed, Anneliese took another nap. This time stretched out on the sofa. She really is looking pregnant and happy.

You know, she is due three weeks from today!

I can hardly wait!

Gone To The Dogs

Tuesday morning I was trimming Arnie’s fur when Hubby noticed the grin on his little dackel face! He carefully got up and took this picture. Now I must admit to cropping the picture as I was in my pajamas, with my hair going in sixteen different directions and not looking too good! Instead, I cropped it so you could see his happy face!

After breakfast I was sitting in my recliner with my feet up checking email, reading blogs, when my coffee cup ran dry. So I went to put down my feet to go and get another cup, when “SCREECH!”. Yes, there was Greta underneath the footrest! I got her out, picked her up and listened to her growling at me, letting me know that she was not at all happy with me! Oh I felt so bad that I had done that. I am usually so careful with my footrest, but the one time I just put the footrest down without looking, Greta is there!

I cuddled her for a while and then I had to shower and dress and when I got back I found this.

Greta all curled up in my soft blankets! I tried to move her over to one side or the other of the chair, but I have to say, she was not easy to move!

Anneliese was limping for a while during the day and I am still not sure what was wrong with her foot, but tonight she appears to be better.

It rained all day and it made the dogs all quite crazy. All they wanted to do was run around outside, but they didn’t want to be out in the rain. Oh well, we have one more day, before the sun shines again.

I’m Knitting!

Okay, I’m trying to knit. Usually I get half way into a project and stop. Really, I am so bad about actually finishing a project. A few times I thought about loading up my car with all my yarn and heading to my sister’s house where I will give her all my unfinished projects! She is the one in the family who sticks to it and actually finishes a project!

I digress.

I found a pattern for a very easy long knit scarf. It’s 12 stitches on size 10 needles and it’s simply the garter stitch. For those of you who do not knit, this means that you use one stitch called the knit stitch all through the pattern.

I can do this!

The scarf is a raspberry, variegated mix yarn and it is fuzzy and soft. I sure hope it comes out well because, I would like to actually finish something and have it look good.

I should probably join the local knitting group, called the “Knotty Knitters”. They meet once a week and could probably whip me into shape. Or is that knit me into shape! lol! I know, bad joke!

Arnie was lying on the sofa today and I watched him arrange his pillow, get his bone and then settle himself down chewing it. I had to laugh because he looked so darn cute as he lay there, like the little Prince that he is!

The weekend is nearly over, where did the time go? At least this is my week to keep things low key. No big meetings, and no appointments that I have to go to. Good time to knit, yes?

A Doggone Good Day

Monday was one of those days where I spent most of the day waiting on, cleaning up after, and pampering the dogs. The medicine makes Greta feel so much better that she wants to run outside and chase every, leaf, cat or mouse that she sees. More than once, when she went outside, she took a run and of course this meant that I also went on a run. After her!!! So If Greta went out, so did I, just to watch her. At least she is feeling somewhat better.

The other two dackels were their normal adorable selves. Especially my buddy, Arnie. That boy is just the sweetest thing! This was the boy I had not wanted to keep all those years ago. I had planned to sell him and now, I cannot imagine my life without him! Look at that face! Isn’t he the handsomest guy?

Anneliese is a bit more independent, but she likes to hang out with me as well. She is funny though because she will be very affectionate when no one is looking. Her favorite time of day for sweet kisses? Dawn! Oh well, somehow the tenderness she shares with me makes the time of day acceptable, most of the time!

Fritz really hangs tight with me when Hubby is gone. It’s so funny because as soon as Hubby gets home, Fritz suddenly forgets who I am. It’s okay. Fritzi is a sweetheart and I love him just as he is!

Hubby skied for half the day and then went working on a project at the library. He arrived home just in time to eat dinner before I was out the door for a meeting.

I’ve joined a Women’s Organization called Altrusa. The women in this group are dedicated to community service. I’ve been looking for a way to serve my town and this feels like a good outlet for me. The other women are terrific and I enjoy the time I have spent there.

The day is coming to a close as we put each dog out for their last walk of the night. Always an exciting time. Next is bed.

So ends another Doggone good day!