Feeling a little bit guilty

Lets talk about weather...  We are currently on our next to the last day of the first month of 2019 and so it is still officially winter.  What's it like outside your window?  Sometimes I pay attention when the news is on tv, and sometimes I'm far too busy planning my next attack against the household cats.  The last few days though I've been really listening closely because for some folks, its colder and nastier than anything I've ever experienced.

 I live in the beautiful Pacific Northwest but I have cousin dogs in Canada and just outside Chicago.

Have you seen the type of weather they are
currently experiencing.  Down right frightful!  I hear those pups have to wear special booties on their paws in order to go outside or they could get frostbite on their toes.

Biting is not allowed in our family and truth be told, it's not a nice thing to do so I think we can all agree, no one's got time for that1

Early yesterday morning when we headed to the river to walk, our world was covered with magic dust or as my mom calls it, fog.  It was so thick and wonderful that you could hardly tell what was ahead or behind you which made walking in it a delightful adventure.  We've certainly walked in fog before but yesterdays should have won a prize for the best ever.

There was also a thin layer of frost on the sand which makes it all  kinda sparkly and you could feel a crunch under each foot step.  That's a feeling and sound I really enjoy.  We haven't seen a single snowflake this winter but I've been promised a river walk if any ever begin falling from our skies.

By afternoon the temperature was up to 55 degrees, the sky was a most glorious shade of blue and the sun was out, shining brightly.  It felt heavenly!  Maybe you also noticed that it's staying light longer into the evening and getting less dark in the early morning hours too.  You realize the importance of this, right?  More hours to walk, explore and play.  Major whoop!

Which brings us back to my feeling a bit guilty.  As I wear my cute little red jacket, I hope other dogs in colder places have coats to keep them warm.

When I return to my nice cozy home I hope that all the other dogs get to come inside too and find warmth and love surrounding them.  As I snarf down my breakfast and lunch I hope that all animals, everywhere have plenty of food to fill their bellies and a soft spot to lay their heads.  By the way, I wish those very same things for all of you!

Loves & Licks,
Stella

Willow Grove Found Treasure

Are you still celebrating the New Year?  The cats and I talked about it and decided we wanted to celebrate each and every day, all year long.  Doesn't that sound like a grand idea?

Today was our first river walk in 2019.  We were the first ones into the park, in fact, the Park Host hadn't even unlocked the gates yet when we pulled up.  I guess you know that means we were the first ones to put our pawprints in the sand too.  That's always an amazing feeling.

 It was still dark when we hit the beach but Mom had her flashlight and we wanted to have enough time to walk as far as possible.  I'm not real clear about exactly why a flashlight is important but I'm starting to get the idea that Mom might not see as good in the dark as I do.

So there we were, just making our way down the beach when... we saw it... a treasure chest that had washed ashore.  The chest was covered in mirrors and we took a minute or two, considering whether we should try to open it or not.  What might be inside?  My mind began to race with ideas both magical and horrifying.

 It was stuck together pretty well,  with sand lodged into places it didn't belong all along the lid, but eventually Mom was able to pry it open.  We looked inside and it was filled with murky water.  Mom tipped it sideways to let the water run out and then declared that it was empty. Empty?  I could hardly believe my ears.  The treasure chest was filled as full as it possibly could be with hopes and dreams and prayers.  How could she not see?  Someone had trusted this chest with their most important treasures and I could only imagine who that "someone" might be.  I pondered several possibilities but I think the only logical explanation is that it belonged to a little girl pirate.  She had to pretend she was mean and cranky during the day, in front of her men but deep inside she was sweet and loving.  She used the chest to hold the mean, cranky side at night and the sweet and loving side during the day.  It was quite a secret to keep from her crew but of course, completely necessary.  Unfortunately, during a very bad storm, the ship and its entire crew went down.  All of the items onboard were tossed by the seas for years and years to come and eventually, a certain little treasure chest washed up on the sand at Willow Grove... where we left it to be discovered again and again.  I really am concerned about Moms eyesight.

Here's to hoping that this year holds adventures, discoveries and some magical moments for you and those you love.

Loves & Licks,

Stella

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