May 2014 – Page 2 – The Dackel Princess

Which Side Of The Crate Door?

Saturday night Hubby was up later than me, so he was assigned the last walk and the putting of Lili into her crate. Then he came to bed.

This morning I woke, and there was no noise from the mud room where the crate is stored. I dressed quickly (I do that a lot these days) and went out into the kitchen. There, greeting me with a wagging tail and a big doggy smile, was Lili!

I looked at her crate, and the door was firmly shut. Nothing was amiss. I took her outside and she performed well. But I came in, still wondering about Lili, the magical puppy!

Hubby got up and I asked him about it and he was shocked! He swore he got her in the crate and closed the door with her inside! Well, seems Lili is a magic dog who transported herself out of that crate!

The Good Things In Life

I was thinking today as I walked Lili for the one millionth time that there are times, events, beauty that are indescribable.

For instance, this morning the rain was comming down in torrents, and blowing sideways as well. And there I stood with the little puppy, Lili, she stood in the puddles on the lawn and eventually she performed. But she did not enjoy it. Her face’s look! No way to describe it.

The next snapshot in time today was when the sun came out, the skies cleared to bright, robins egg blue, and Lili and I went out to get the mail and I carried her around to meet my closest friends. Who, of course, were taken by her amazing beauty!

Then I watched her sleep at my feet. All small, fluffy white, and sweet! My breath caught in my throat and I cried.

We watched the Preakness Horse race and saw our horse, California Chrome win! I took there, in front of the TV jumping up and down and yes, I cried again. Yeah, I’m a crier!

Then after dinner I glanced out the front window and there was the most lovely sunset. But you know, no matter how good of a camera I had, I could not catch the sheer beauty that I beheld.

My day will end soon (Saturday) and tomorrow will dawn a new day. I wonder what tomorrow will bring!

“My Brilliant Career”

Friday night saw Hubby and I watching “My Brilliant Career” on Turner Classic Movies. The story was about the heroine, Sybylla (Judy Davis), a headstrong girl growing up in early 20th century Australia, has the opportunity of marriage to a wealthy young man (Harry played by Sam Niel) whom she loves, but rejects it in order to maintain her independence, preferring to take a job as governess/housekeeper to the family of an illiterate neighbor to whom her father owes money.

The acting was amazing, although we both felt that the end of the movie left us with more questions than answers. Still I find it so interesting to watch movies based in other countries, and written about life in them.

Just Look At That Face

Yes, Lili is settling in, eating better and getting into a routine. The biggest routine is that I literally leap out of bed in the morning and rush to her crate, grab her and off we go for our morning walk! She loves that and frankly, I’m getting to enjoy it too.

She wasn’t eating too well at first, but I have some ground puppy food that I am mixing with her crunchy food, and now she just gobbles it up. Good think. Seeing as she is a big dog, in her puppy years she really needs the calories.

I remind myself that she is just a baby, even though at times she does act much older. Then she will do something like every other puppy, and I have to laugh and figure out how to modify this new behaviour!

She really is a doll and we adore her.

Happy Friday!!!

The lovely Lili

Lili is starting to settle in. She has now won over Greta and Anneliese (well sort of, but it is close!) but Arnie is still a little reluctant to have much to do with her. Mostly I think, the pack of hounds assimilation is going well!

On Tuesday we had Lili to the Vets for her first check up and shots. She handled it like a pro. In fact, she has made a new friend. We also stopped by our mechanics to swap out cars for inspection, and Pete fell in love with her!

Right now Lili does mostly sleeping and wee-weeing, With an occasional food and walk thrown in. It’s the wee-weeing that I am really working on. Getting her to the door fast enough is the key.

After all at 8 weeks she is really not house trained yet, but I sure am!

Wednesday Hodgepodge

1. It’s still May, right? When were you last in the middle of something that might be described as mayhem?

You mean before the madness and mayhem of a new puppy? lol! Actually this is a little bit of a challenge, but puppy-hood lasts such a short time.

2. When did you last feel dismayed?

When I woke up with a sore throat yesterday. I am totally angry about this. Time for Halls Cough drops and lots of fluids!

3. What’s a food combination you like, but other people may find strange?

Liver, onions, mashed potato, peas but no gravy.

4. “It is never too late to be what you might have been.” Do you think that’s true? Why or why not?

Sometimes things do pass you by. I wanted to be the best mother ever, but when Katie passed, I’m afraid I was not the best mother to Mandy. I just lost my mind for a long time. I’m 55 years old now, and that part of my life is over. Now I am focusing on being the best Oma ever!

5. US News and World Report listed the best historic destinations in the US as follows-Washington D.C, Philadelphia PA, Williamsburg VA, Charleston SC, Boston MA, Richmond VA, Savannah, GA, Santa Fe NM, Yellowstone, San Antonio TX, San Francisco CA, New Orleans LA, and Charlottesville VA.

Of those listed how many have you seen in person? Which two sites on the list would you most like to see in person?

I have not been to New Orleans or San Antonio, Texas. I would love to go back to Santa Fe and Savannah. They are wonderful cities.

6. May is National Physical Fitness and Sports Month. If you had to participate in a single fitness activity for the next half hour, which activity would you choose?

Right now it is walking Lili. About a gazillion times a day! (lol) This is how I house train. As soon as she wakes up. After breakfast. After a good play time. And then about every hour on the hour.

7. What did you like best about the city, town, or neighborhood where you grew up?

Back in the day, Falmouth, Massachusetts was a small seaside town. Everyone knew everyone else and neighbors could be counted on to help out in an emergency. Sadly, Falmouth is really built up now and not a place that feels like home. I love my hometown now, Meredith, NH, as it is small and has all the same qualities that Falmouth had.

8. Insert your own random thought here.

Precious Puppy!

Lili’s first full day at home was a big one. It started at 5:30 AM and had me running in and out all day long to make sure she pottied correctly in the correct spot. She did amazingly well, with just one accident all day long.

Greta has decided to adopt her, while Arnie and Anneliese seem to be threatened a bit. There have been no fights, but they watch her like a hawk. Hubby and I have spent nice times with the other dogs while Lili slept.

Lili’s bed is in the puppy room and although I know she would love to sleep with us, that will not happen until she is absolutely potty trained. And then she will sleep on the floor next to the bed.

I was able to contact Fritz’s former trainer and she is still not just working as a Veterinary Technician, but she continues to train dogs. It will be wonderful to see her again. She uses wonderful positive reinforcement to train, and Fritz did so well. I think this will be a special time for Lili.

My little baby is pretty tired out tonight. I’ll keep her up until 10 and then hopefully she will let me sleep in the morning.

If not, then I get to walk around my yard in the early morning dew!

Princess Lili Marlene of Noblewood

What a whirl wind of a weekend! And in the end, I am a new Mommy to my sweet Princess Lili Marlene of Noblewood! Yes, that is her official name and she is every bit as stunning and regal as I knew she would be!

A very big hug and thanks go out to my cousin, Janet, who did the lions share of the driving. I am not a big city driver, and she not only is a good driver, but she actually enjoys doing it!

The first part of our trip down to my sister’s house, was really crazy. We had dark stormy skies and then torrential downpours! Finally we stopped in at Rein’s Deli where we enjoyed chopped liver and rye bread, blintz’s with strawberries, a deli meat platter, and some banana bread. We shared everything, and it was still more than we could eat. If you are ever on route 84 near Vernon, CT, make plans to stop in.

We arrived at my sister’s house later than I thought. It was already 9 o’clock int he evening, and by that time all us 50 and 60 somethings were getting tired. By 10:30 we were asleep!

The excitement was building and I was awake by 6:30 in Sunday morning. Janet and I got ready and packed up the car and by quarter to eight, we were on the road.

We arrived just at 9:30 and did all the requisite paper work, and then we piled into the car and off we went.

Thank’s Janet for these pictures!

That was when Princess Lili started to cry. She was scared. Fortunately I had a crate in the back seat and I tucked her away into the swaddling blankets and the toy from her biological family home, and she settled right in.

We stopped to drop off my cousin at her home, then onto Savannah’s house and then home to Daddy and the scary dackels. They are not quite sure what to make of this fury white creature. We’ve had some growling, a lot of sniffing, but so far all is good.

So, a new chapter has started in our home. I’m a new mother, and like all new mother’s I’m just a wee bit tired. Oh yes, and the report on the house breaking is that she is doing remarkably well. Just one use of the puppy pads, and aside from that, she has been going outside!

New Day Dawns

The car is packed and I am ready to go on Saturday morning to see my daughter, Mandy and my granddaughter, Savannah. I’ll pick up my cousin, Janet, stopping at a great Deli for dinner. Then, continuing on to my sister’s house for an overnight. On Sunday morning, we will go to pick up Lili Marlene!

I am so excited and so happy to be bringing her home. A new day dawns and a new life with Lili begins!

Setting Up

Today I need to clean up the puppy room, set up a crate with blankets and bring the puppy piddle pads up from the basement. I also had a piece of wood that I can put across the hallway to block off the rest of the house from Miss Lili.

Hubby is preparing the yard, and he is really looking forward to the new pups arrival. I have puppy classes to line up, and lots of wonderful house breaking puppy work to do!

I’ve got to pack the car, and get down the smaller crate for Lili. My cousin, Janet and I will be the ones driving down. We love these road trips together. We’ve really enjoyed being the Thelma & Louise of our family!

I picked up a few plants today as my seeds just aren’t germinating. I am quite disappointed. But I will fill in the garden with store bought plants if I must.

Happy Friday, Happy Springtime!!!