Getting closer and closer every day

As we get nearer and nearer to Old Saint Nicks visit, I find myself feeling befuddled.  Isn't that  a great word?  I am perplexed, and concerned about something so near and dear to my heart.. adoption.

See, I'm adopted and several of my friends are too.  All of my brothers and my sister received the gift of adoption and it can be the most magical way of spreading love and increasing the size of your family but... there's also a darker, sadder side to it and I think it only fair that we shine the light on that too.

You see, bringing someone new into your family is a challenge for everyone involved.  There's a lot of getting to know each other, setting rules and boundaries and remembering those rules when you get all excited.  Sometimes you have to learn what you can chew on and what is a no-no-no-no!  Maybe you've never learned how to go potty outside instead of just anywhere you happen to be when the urge hits you.  Sometimes you might have lived with another family before coming to your forever home and the rules have changed. It can be a confusing time and nerves can fray.

Moms and dads experience a lot of changes too when a new family member moves in.  They have to choose a veterinarian and make sure we get our checkups to keep us healthy.  They have to figure out the best foods to feed us, along with learning what things can make us very, very sick.  Gone are the days of being gone from home for hours and hours without making sure someone is available to let us out to potty and spend some time playing with us.  Our job is to make them so happy when they get home that they never want to leave us again!

So please, please take the time to research the type of pup you are considering because some breeds grow really big and some need enormous amounts of exercise.  Trying to match a pup to your family's lifestyle makes for a much happier experience for everyone involved.  No one wants to have to rehome because of a bad match, that would just be heart-breaking.  I know I'm biased but I believe some of the best of the best can be found at your local humane society so please stop by and take a look for your next family member.

And once you've chosen the best pup in the world for you and your family, may I suggest the following list of items I highly recommend.

Stella's Christmas List for New Puppers

1.) A great way to let your folks know when you need to go outside to do your bathroom business, or to chase a wayward leaf in the yard, is bells!  Yes, jingle bells are a wonderful sound year 'round.  They hang nicely from your door handle so that your pooch can alert you without whining or barking, which is way more fun for both of you.

2.) Puzzle bowls are a cool way of encouraging you to slow down and enjoying your kibble, savoring each delicious morsel and making your food much easier to digest.  I've gotten exceptionally good at using my tongue to get every last piece of yummy goodness out of each of the swirls.  I enjoy it so much that I don't understand why my mom doesn't use one too.

3.) Who doesn't love playing fetch?  Using a Chuckit ejector means those thrown balls go so much further, which means I get to run even further and when you are just a pup full of energy, running further is pretty much what life is all about.

4.)  And what kind of ball works best with your Chuckit ejector but a super awesome, glow in the dark, silicone Chuckit ball ~ whoop!  Try as I might, I've chewed and chewed and chewed on mine and have never even left a toothmark on it.  I'm pretty sure that they are indestructible but I keep trying.  They also make a great little noise as they soar through the air.  You might not be able to hear it but I do and that makes it even more special.

Oh, and by the way, all of these  items are all available on Amazon and each are under $10, leaving plenty left over for some treats... because puppies live for treats.

And with that all said and done, I wish you a Christmas filled with peace, joy, magic and maybe,  just maybe, the best friend you could ever hope to have.

Love and Licks,
Stella      

Thanksgiving is delicious!

Ohhhhhh yea, I'm remembering this day now.  This is the day when wonderful smells fill my house and then when I go outside, the air smells delicious there too - it's Thanksgiving!  Oh, I have great memories of this day last year and I had no idea that I'd get to experience it all over AGAIN!  What a lucky pup am I.

So I believe there was a rule to this game.  Something like you have to share three things you are grateful for before you can take your first bite of food.  I don't want to take any chances so I'm going to name four instead, just to be safe.  I like that it makes you stop and really think for a minute or two of all the amazing things in your life.  Finding four was easy-peasy so I'm fairly certain you can decide on three without much effort.  So let's get this show on the road because my mouth is watering and there's food that needs eating.  Here's mine~

1.) I am thankful for folks who leave bits and pieces of their food on the ground down by the river or around the trail.  I'm always so far ahead of Mom that she never even knows that I've been finding little munchies along the way.  If by some accident or fluke of nature she does spot the food first, she uses this silly "leave it" command and I'm not even allowed to get as much as a sniff of it. Just for the record, I am not thankful for that particular command.

2.) I am especially appreciative of homemade treats, especially the oven-dried sweet potato slices, they are my absolute favorite.  No, no that's not quite true.  The peanut butter & coconut oil paw candies are the best of the best, yup the very bestest.  But then there's the bacon grease carrot cookies that are magnificently delicious.... ohhhhhh, I can't decide.  I am thankful for them all.

3.) Ok, this one is kinda hard to admit out loud so don't go spreading it around town but, I'm thankful for my feline siblings.  That pains me to say because they are so darn annoying but truth be told, I enjoy having them around.  I love chasing them through the house and scaring them while they are napping.  It would get a bit lonely as the only hairy kid in the house so yea, I am... cough... cough... cough... thankful for the cats.

4.) New toys, I am always grateful for new toys to play with.  I just about get one really broken in, just the way I like it when suddenly it disappears.  The strange thing eventually reappears but when it does, all of their tears and cuts have healed up and they are almost like new again.  It's kinda like a miracle, don't you think?

So, my list is complete even though I could easily add many more.  In fact, there is one more that simply must be included.

5.)  I am immensely thankful for each of you that chooses to spend a few minutes with me by reading what I have to say.  You are all awesome and I appreciate your friendship.

And now I'd like to wish you all a most delicious feast followed by one of the best food induced coma-like naps ever.

Love & Licks,
Stella

Love is in the air!

I'm so excited, I'm giggling on the inside and just about ready to burst.  Can you keep a secret?

 I HAVE A BOYFRIEND!!!!!  Yup, I do and he's so big and strong and fast and handsome.  We met  during our morning walks and found we have so much in common... he likes to chase waves, and so do I.  He likes to run in big circles on the beach, and so do I.  He likes to occasionally pretend not to hear his dad giving commands and so do I...  and he really loves to pee on stuff and so do I!  How much more perfectly matched could we possible be?

So... his name is Raven and he's a black lab, the same age as me.  He's the product of "in vitro fertilization" which I have no idea what is but Mom assures me it makes him extra special.  Heck, I already knew that.  She says she'll explain it in finer detail when I'm older.  We are still in the getting to know each other better stage but so far, I think he's pretty darn perfect and a whole lotta fun too which is at the very tippy top of my list.

Besides romance, there's been a lot going on down by the river.  When we arrived to find this gigantic creature sitting near where we park, I wasn't sure whether to be scared or just curious. Mom said it is called a cat but it sure isn't like the ones that live at our house.  I approached it with some trepidation but it didn't even try to make a move.  No snarling, no purring, not a thing.  Maybe it was asleep so I  decided to just let it be and made my way down to the water.

Speaking of the water... just look at the huge river creature that's decided to make its home there.  I'd never seen anything quite like it and I needed to know more.  Unfortunately Mom didn't have a clue, but thankfully Raven's dad did.  He said the creature was a sand pumper that moves the sand from the bottom of the river, over to the island in order to keep the center of the river deep enough to allow those big ships to pass by.  That's really important because those big ships make big waves and I love to chase those big waves down the beach.  Thank you Mr. Sandpumper, you are a good, good friend indeed.

I also just might possibly be a real life hero now.  I try to always stay alert during our adventures, keeping an eye out for sharks and such.  Imagine my shock when I found myself face to face with a humongous cobra that was hanging out on the beach.  It was poised to strike at any minute so I barked like my life depended on it, because basically it did, and my ferocious warning froze him in his tracks.  He allowed us to pass right by him without any further confrontation, safe and sound and able to enjoy yet another day.  I guess I can add snake charmer to my resume, right behind life saving hero.

Loves & Licks,
Stella

Bits of this and that

Walks along the dike, the river or even the lake in the center of our town... those are all fun and interesting places to burn off some energy but let me tell you, they all pale in comparison to my favorite home away from home.  Up North from us in Toledo, WA is a most amazing place called Paws & Stay and on special occasions I get to go there to spend the night and hang out with my dog friends. 

Nothing quite compares to getting to run through the forest with your pack.  With just over five acres to explore, there's always something new to discover.  Being in the woods reminds me that I am a dog and I'm proud of it, kinda like you being being proud of being German or Irish.  I think spending time around big trees, wide open skies and even getting a little rain sprinkled on your head is probably good for everyone but I know for an absolute fact, its good for me.

One of the bestest things about spending time by the river is getting to see what new treasures have washed up on the sand each morning.  Today's discovery was really, really cool... an actual car seat!   ending time by the river is getting to see what new treasures have washed up on the sand each morning.  Today's discovery was really, really cool... an actual car seat!  Pretty certain it was from a Volkswagen too which makes it even more special.  I had a great time sitting on it, waiting for Mom to catch up to me and oh, the wonderful smells it emitted.  I sure wish the seats in our car smelled like that.  You just never know what you might find.

According to the commercials on tv, there are some pretty important holidays coming up.  I believe the first one is called Thanksgiving and Mom says its a time to reflect on all of the goodness in our lives that surround us each and every day.  I've been thinking about that and I'm interested in what you might be most thankful for.  My list would be long so let's just leave it at LOVE.  I think that sums it all up nicely.

Love & Licks,
Stella

Of Mermaids & Soul Sacrifices

Have you ever seen a mermaid?  I have.  There's one in our living room, up high on the shelf, one hanging on a towel by the dishwasher and another by our front door, although I don't see that one too often because we are back-door kinda people but still, I know she's always there.  Now my dream is to meet one myself and have a conversation with her, to learn all the tales she might have to tell.  Mom says mermaids aren't really real.  Supposedly they are just figments of the imagination of sailors that have been out to sea a wee bit too long.  I'm out to prove her wrong and I'm keeping a lookout each and every day as we walk along the river and I gaze out on the water.  I'm hoping word gets around and maybe, just maybe there is one out there who'd be just as interested in meeting me as I am in meeting her.  Do me a favor and pass the word please.

 

One day recently we changed directions when we hit the beach and headed west instead of east.  We passed a sign that said NO TRESPASSING but we'd been told that just referred to cars, not to us walkers.  It was interesting to see the lovely homes that nestled along the way, how fun for those folks to have the water and sand just outside their windows.  Suddenly we came upon something we'd certainly never seen before, it was a fence made out of shoes!

Yes, shoes of all sizes and colors and the fence seemed to go on forever.   Well, this was a mystery and I was determined to solve it.  Where did all of these shoes come from?  Were these offerings to the Sea Gods?  Were they placed there to "shoo" off trespassers or was this all that was left of those who treaded where they didn't belong?  I enlisted Moms help and asked her to ask around and see what she could find out.  She hit public media, made some phone calls and received the help of some friends with insider information.  Turns out that the folks who live there have collected the washed up shoes for the past fifteen or so years from their daily walks.  Flip-flops, tennis shoes and even a boot or two have all added up in a tremendous way and I dare say, there may not be another such fence anywhere else to be found.  I feel so lucky to know about this one and if I ever discover an abandoned shoe along the sand, I know exactly where to take that sacrifice where it will be united with other members of its tribe and where it's soul/sole will be revered.

Loves & Licks,
Stella

Casa Sweet Casa

No matter the size, your home should be your very favorite place on earth~   There's nowhere you should feel more comfortable and safer than your very own casa.  When the world occasionally feels mean or even scary, your home should be your soft place to land, where you can just be cozy and loved and wrapped up in your favorite soft, fuzzy blankie, both figuratively and literally.  I've been thinking a lot about homes lately and have noticed a thing or two.

I've heard that waterfront homes are quite desirable so I have no idea why these seem to have all been abandoned, but there are hundreds available. Now might be the perfect time to move right in.  They are rather small but the view is incredible and tiny homes are all the current rage.

Here are a few duplexes that might be a better fit for some families and as you can see, there's even a greenbelt between properties for added privacy.

For those who prefer a higher "perch" this one comes complete with a huge nest but immediate occupancy would need to be negotiated.

If you are considering becoming a landlord, this little multi-family residence might be just the ticket.  Minimal upkeep, maximum profit.

That dream home you've been hankering for can be yours and is guaranteed to to impress your neighbors with its fancy-shmancy exterior.

And this one... talk about unique!  I've never seen one like it before, have you?

So there you have it, a summary of properties you might enjoy calling yours.  Give your favorite Realtor a call and take that first step towards home-ownership before interest rates rise and while the surplus of homes remain high. And just so you know, just like kids, pets and Volkswagen autos, homes enjoy having their own distinct names.  Ours is lovingly referred to as Casa de la Risa ~ House of  Laughter and my feline siblings and I try our darnedest to help keep it that way.

Loves & Licks,
Stella

PS- Mom says its obvious that the tv has been tuned to House Hunters a tad bit too often.  Say what?

Watch your language

You know... words can hurt.  Even little words, just two little letter words even.  I never like hearing the word "no" and I doubt if others do either. It's usually used to put an end to something fun, like barking, chewing or rolling in something deliciously awful.  I'm older and wiser now so I don't hear it quite as often but when I was just a little guy... oh my!

My feelings got hurt just the other day when I heard my mom tell a friend that she had been "as sick as a dog."  Excuse me, I've never been sick a day in my life. I don't think she said it to offend me but still.  It got me thinking about some other things I've heard about animals that I'm just not certain are at all truthful like~

As lame as a duck  Now,  I've met a good share of ducks on  our daily walks and yet, I've never ever met one that was lame in any way.  I suppose its possible but certainly not normal, right?

As weak as a kitten  Wait, wait, wait.  Is this referring to the same kittens that have sharp claws, little needle-like teeth and can jump and climb way higher than I can?  Yea, that's what I thought.  Sorry, I don't see a thing weak about them, they are ferocious.

As drunk as a skunk  I have never personally met a skunk and it sounds a bit judgy to me but I have seen them scurry through a field and well, okay, there might me some truth to this one.  They do appear to be rather evasive for one reason or another.

Mom says these types of phrases are called Similes, but I haven't confirmed that with outside sources just yet.  She says they can be used as an insult or as a compliment.  I much prefer compliments so I asked for a few examples and really liked these.

As busy as a bee  It's true, I've never seen a bee that didn't appear to be on a mission of some sort.  I have no idea exactly what they are up to but it doesn't appear to be evil so I'm okay with letting them be just as busy as they want to be... or is it bee?

As proud as a peacock  And why not, they are just beautiful.

As free as a bird  Oh yes, if only I could fly!

As happy as a lark  Now there's a goal we should all be aiming for.

So the moral of this story is, before you use other species in vain, consider the feelings of that funny duck, adorable kitten or even that skunk that might have had one too many, a little too often.

Love & Licks,
Stella

Fantastical Imaginations

One thing I've inherited from my mom is a most wonderful imagination.  Sometimes we use it for good and sometimes we just plain scare ourselves silly with it.  Like on today's walk at the grove...

We had the pleasure of being the first hoomans to arrive on the beach this morning.  No other footprints were embedded in the sand except for ours, such fun!  I noticed right off though that there wasn't nearly as much of a beach to run on as usual.  Mom tried explaining to me that the tide was "in".  In what?  This made no sense at all to me so she continued by describing how the moon, yes the moon, had this magical force that pulled the water towards it.  Yea, right... I'm not a naive little puppy any more and maybe I'd have fallen for this a year ago but not now.  I mean really, the water being pulled by the force of the moon.  She comes up with the craziest ideas ever.

The logs that are scattered along the beach were all moved around like they often are.  I can only surmise that some giants (not monsters, just kindly giants) come out at night to play and have a great time rearranging things, kind of a giants version of pick-up-sticks.  Today's layout gave us plenty of opportunities to climb over, under and around them as we made our way along the shore.  I was keeping a watchful eye out and first I thought I saw a lizard with a very long tail... but it turned out to just be some vegetation.  Next I spied a dorsal fin!  I'd just heard about a shark attack on the news so I was trying my best to stay as far away as possible.  Thankfully, once we got nearer, it turned out to just be a rather vicious looking stick.  Whew, that was a close call.

Sea lizard?

Shark Warning!

After welcoming Mr. Sun to a new day of a new month, we headed home.  Mom says October is the official start of pumpkin spice season and thanks to Trader Joe's, I have some holiday appropriate treats to celebrate with.  I'm telling you, these goodies are delicious!

Here's wishing each of you a most pumpkiney spicey day!  And by the way, if anyone can please explain where the beach went, I'm pretty sure I'm capable of handling the truth.

Loves & Licks,
Stella

The Chronicles of Stella: The Chronicles of Stella~ Early morning adventures...

The Chronicles of Stella: The Chronicles of Stella~ Early morning adventures...: What a fantabulous start to our day.   What time to you go to bed at night and what time do you wake up?  I put myself to bed at 7 pm nearly...

The Chronicles of Stella~ Early morning adventures

What a fantabulous start to our day.  What time to you go to bed at night and what time do you wake up?  I put myself to bed at 7 pm nearly every night.  I'm not sure why I chose that time but by then, my little bed is sounding mighty fine to me.  My mom is an early, early, ridiculously early riser so by 6:30 am, we've already been up for hours.  The cats and I have had our breakfast and Mom has polished off her pot of coffee so we are ready to bundle up and head out for our walk.

Hello sunshine

Good bye Mr Moon

Today was pretty much amazing!  We had the harvest full moon setting on one side of us and the sun rising on the other.  We got the privilege of being the very first footprints in the sand and saw a huge ghost ship pass by.  I'll admit, it scared me with its fog horn!  Mom saw something bobbing in the water and it turned out to be a sea lion or a seal, I don't really know the difference.  He was having a great time playing in the fog topped water but as Mom was getting her phone ready to snap a photo, the seal saw me, popped up a bit higher in the water and then just disappeared.  I'd love to try diving down deep too but the flotation device I'm forced to wear when we are in the water makes that a near impossibility.  Maybe when I'm older I'll get a chance.

Ghost ships are kinda scary

I know there are folks who like to sleep later, some much, much later, but I'm here to tell you, they miss out on some wonderful starts to the day.  Isn't it amazing that after all of the sunrises I've ever seen, I still have never seen one repeated.  Each and every one is as unique as you and me are.  How cool is that?

Love & Licks,
Stella

Mona and Me

My friend Mona took me on a new adventure yesterday.  Turns out that there is a beach just a couple of miles from my house... that my mom has never ever taken me to before.  It's called Willow Grove and my friend Mona knows all about it! 

This is my friend Mona Stein!

Mona's mom and my mom are friends so when we were invited to share a walk with them, we jumped (me literally) at the chance.  What a great discovery.  It only took us a few minutes to get there and it was a treasure trove of new smells, one of my favorite things to do. 

Hello Mr/Mrs Sun

It was still a wee bit dark when we arrived at the waters edge but the sun was trying it best to wake up.  Pretty soon we watched it stretch and shine into the morning sky.  Pure bliss I tell you.  Good friends, water lapping the shore and a ton of new things that needed checking out.  We saw flowers along the shoreline, perhaps a bouquet sent sea bound in memory of a loved one.  We saw at least a kazillion little shells all over the sand, and a fish that had washed ashore and was no longer among the living.

Flowers on the sand

A big bird was perched on a piling and he kept a close eye on everything we did and especially on that fish.  We even saw a gigantic ship, up close!  Oh sure, I'd seen ships before but they were always far, far away.  This ship was close enough I could have swam to it, if only Mom would have let me.  I really don't like that little word that starts with an "n" and ends with an "o".

Were we being spied on?

I'd sure like a ride on this big boy

After looking to our right and looking to our left, we happily determined that no one else was around and so we decided to be wild women and break the rules.  Off came the leashes and Mona and I were free!!!  It felt so good to run and explore.  We chased each other and even got our toes wet in the water.  Man, it was cold.  We dug a little, we peed a little and we sniffed a lot.  That's a great way to start the day.

Girls just wanna have fun 

It was a wonderful  morning and I can hardly wait to go again.  Thanks Mona, for sharing this special spot with us and enjoying it with you was the bestest ever. 

Love & Licks,
Stella