D is for D-O-G spelled backwards #AtoZChallenge

Yesterday, I got some weird looks at my AA meeting when I said "Dog spelled backwards is God. Or, God spelled backwards is dog.... however it goes!" I never can remember exactly how it goes. But the point it, my dogs have been there for me through thick and thin. I don't know how I would have survived these last three years, especially, and my recent medical problems, without my beloved dogs.

One time, I saw a comment that somebody had written online about their dog. It was on some website that asked a question "Tell us how you feel about your dog" or something like that. It might have been pointing out that dogs are family members. Whatever the topic was, the person wrote: "He's like Jesus in a fur coat!"  I'm not sure if I'd go that far, but I sort of understood what they were saying.

How can you look into a dog's eyes and not see a SOUL in there? They have emotions, they have feelings, they experience fear, pain, and love -- just like we do.


Dogs have heart and spirit and they're waiting for us in heaven during the afterlife.

If there are no dogs in heaven, I want to go wherever THEY are!

An oldie == Charlie, Cooper and the late, great Hobie

How to Evaluate Your Senior Pet's Quality of Life

A question I get all the time from friends, family and on social media is "How Will I Know...." (when my senior pet is ready to go). We've all heard those with experience say "You will just know." Well, in my personal experience, I have only had to euthanize one pet -- my beloved Hobie -- and believe me, I did not "just know". I spent at least two years riding the roller coaster of watching my dear dog suffer, then rally. At times, he appeared to be on death's door. The next morning, he would be running and playing with my two younger dogs, me, and the cats, or swimming in the lake. So, will you "just know"? Maybe. Maybe not.

Gee, I'm helpful!

In my journey with all the senior pets I've had the pleasure to know (I am so grateful for those experiences), one thing I learned about is the Quality of Life Scale For Pets. Sometimes this is called The HHHHHMM Scale.  I strongly recommend that you bookmark one of these links, and keep it handy if you have a senior dog or cat that is nearing the end of its life.**

Filkin, lived to be 17

Maggie, the last of the "Connie Cats" lived to be 21

Mr. Kitty, whose life we saved, lived to be 16

Love Kitty, who was hit by a car, and her daughter, Filkin, ca. 1985

The HHHHHMM Scale, or Quality of Life Scale For Pets was created by veterinary oncologist Alice Villalobos, DVM and is designed to give the average pet parent the information they need to continue assessing any dog or cat's general quality of life. The criteria is simple, and you can review each item on the list quickly and easily every day. It basically goes like this:

HURT
HUNGER
HYDRATION
HYGIENE
HAPPINESS
MOBILITY
MORE GOOD DAYS THAN BAD

You rate each item on a scale of Zero to Ten, with zero being "awful" and ten being "ideal".

Here's an example I would have used with Hobie at any point in 2014 (when he was having more and more bad days):  Hurt = 7, Hunger = 10, Hydration = 5, Hygiene= 2, Happiness = 4, Mobility = 4, More Good Days Than Bad = 9 for a total score of 41. Note that a total of more than 35 points means the pet's quality of life is acceptable.  Pretty good, right? Easy for anyone to figure out, and comforting for you and your family when you're feeling stressed out because Fifi is having a bad day.

Timba, in her later years (she was 18!) and the first Charlie (Charlie the cat) 

So, even though Hobie smelled bad (hygiene), seemed somewhat unhappy and was having major mobility issues, he was still having, overall, more good days than bad, and scoring high on each of those days. Even though, WITHIN those days there was bad stuff...mainly, arthritis, difficulty standing and walking, peeing and pooping and then falling down in it (ugh) and trouble staying hydrated.... he was still more happy than not, and having more good days than bad. Eventually, that all flipped, and he began having many bad days. And I guess, you might say, it was then that I "knew".

Good day!!

Good day! Tongue out!

Another method I've heard of is a little easier to remember and much more simplified: Eating, Drinking, Pooping, Peeing.  If your pet is eating, drinking, pooping and peeing normally, on more days than not (maybe with an occasional day that seems "off") then life is still good. I would add to the list: "Moving". If the pet has severe trouble moving, that's a huge indicator of a less than ideal quality of life.  Remember, we all have sick days -- dogs and cats are no exception.

Hobie on a "sick day". He had just gotten home from the hospital
and was confined to the kitchen to keep the other pets form bugging him.

I've borrowed a phrase for the later years of a pet's life (age 12 and higher): "doggie hospice" or "kitty hospice". Some veterinarians are coming around to actually providing hospice for dogs and cats. All this really means is that, with the vet's help, you learn how to assess your dog's or cat's situation on a daily basis, and you make him or her as comfortable as possible during this time. It also means spending as much quality time together as possible -- because an animal's life is short enough already, and I guarantee that you will regret if you don't spend as much fun and loving time as possible with your pet during this phase of his or her life. That doesn't mean that you call in sick to work, shirk your responsibilities to family, or anything drastic like that -- it just means, try to make your time together truly memorable for yourself, and comforting for your pet.  It also doesn't mean playing ball, running, taking long walks, or anything that will cause your pet distress or pain. Gentle, loving time together. Maybe your dog sits beside you, snoozing, while you work in the garden; your cat sleeps on your lap (or keyboard!) while you work at your computer or surf the web -- that sort of activity. (And don't forget to take pictures!! Lots, and lots of pictures).

One thing that I did (and yeah, I'm a crazy pet lady, remember!) is that I moved my bedroom downstairs to our walk-out basement. That meant Hobie did not have to climb stairs during the last seven months of his life. The photo below is him walking on the basement floor, which I covered with doggy-safe non-slip rugs that can easily be thrown in the washing machine if an (oops!) accident occurs (as happened quite frequently).  Yeah, I'd do just about anything for my dogs and cats!

Hobie, on one of his last days. Still plugging along, but with difficulty.

One of my favorite memes circulating on the interwebs is the one that says something about the dog or cat being dependent on you, the human, for everything. You are his everything. Pets, especially dogs, crave your companionship above almost everything else other than eating and sleeping. Dogs are pack animals and need to know their pack is nearby. Whether that's one human, six humans, four other dogs, 19 barn cats, a parrot, a bunny rabbit, or a combination of critters. The pack is the pack. Reassure your dog as much as possible by providing her with human or animal companionship whenever possible. It's great if you have other pets in the household, because then the company is built-in!

Take pictures! Take pictures!

All the pets loved Hobie!

So, go ahead and bookmark, save, or print a copy of the Quality of Life Scale for Pets and keep it handy for your pets senior years. The scale applies to both dogs and cats.

Got a question about your senior pet? Drop me an email at k2k9dogs@gmail.com, or pose your question in the comments below. I'd love to hear from you.

Thanks for reading!

**This is NOT a sponsored or paid post!**

National Dog Biscuit Day is February 23rd!

This post contains affiliate links. This is a sponsored post for Milk-Bone dog biscuits. All opinions are my own, or my dogs'!


With National Dog Biscuit Day coming up this week (February 23rd), I was so happy when Milk-Bone asked me to partner with them and write a post about their new Farmer's Medley dog treat line from Milk-Bone.

Whether it's for training or treating, dog biscuits are part of every day around here.

I am happy to be able to get a little break from having to buy a box of dog biscuits. They sent me three bags of Farmer's Medley to try out!

The first question I asked was "Will my dogs like them?" Well, we like to snack smart around here. I held up all three bags and let them choose which one to open first. They chose the non-grain-free bag (hmmmm.... interesting!). I opened that up, and they were not as excited as they usually are with the traditional Milk-Bone biscuits we've been feeding for many years (to all of my dogs, not just Charlie and Cooper). They gingerly took the beef flavored, whole-grain treats and then chomped them down. Win!

Milk-Bone sent us three sample flavors to try, plus a frisbee and a bandana!

This morning, I opened up the two grain-free bags. The dogs did not like the lamb flavor at all. Charlie took the cookie over to his bed, and played with it a while before finally eating it. Cooper refused to eat it whatsoever. Charlie ate Cooper's lamb-flavored treat.  Then, I opened the turkey and pumpkin flavored bag. They each took the treat much more eagerly, but still not as eagerly as the traditional Milk-Bone biscuit, or other treats we usually have. So, "Will my dogs like them?" Not so much, unfortunately!

My dogs are fussy, so maybe they are just creatures of habit. I'm not putting much stock in their first try. I'll give it a few more tries and will report back here in a few days -- so, keep an eye on the comments section.

The next question: "Does this treat have quality ingredients?" For sure! This is why I wanted to get the Farmer's Medley treats. They contain simple ingredients including real US-sourced beef, chicken, turkey or lamb, and vegies. I feed my dogs grain-free ever since my beloved Hobie developed a grain allergy. I wanted to feel good about feeding these treats to my dog every day, but unfortunately, they don't seem to like them very much. I'll keep trying and will report back with an update. They love the grain-free food I feed them (different brand).

Finally, "Does this treat fit my budget?" It fits mine. Keep in mind that my budget is kind of high as a general rule. I pay for premium dog food, treats, and toys. However, I am a traditionalist and have fed my dogs Milk-Bone treats ever since I can remember. I trust Milk-Bone, a lot. The Farmer's Medley treats have the same high-quality ingredients found in other premium dog treats, and are affordable. If your budget is high, like mine, I don't think you have to worry about breaking the bank by feeding your dog these treats.

If you haven't tried Milk-Bone Farmer's Medley treats yet, remember that National Dog Biscuit Day is this Thursday, February 23rd. If you're looking for a new treat to try with your dog, that might be a good day to start.

I'd love to hear your reasons for choosing specific treats for your dog -- tell me about it in the comments below.

To learn more about Milk-Bone Farmer's Medley dog treats (and where you can find them near you,) head over to https://www.milkbone.com/products/farmers-medley-biscuits#travelingdoglady 

This blog post is sponsored by Milk-Bone dog treats. The pack is being compensated with a box of treats and toys. All opinions written here are just that: my opinions. 

This post also contains affiliate links, if you buy something by clicking on a link (you are NOT obligated to, by any means!), we get a tiny bit of Moolah for Mueller off to the side, and it doesn't cost you anything extra. Not only that, it's much appreciated. 

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Changing Your Dog's Food

This week, I returned from being away for a week in pet-friendly Rome, Italy. It's the annual "Yuletide" trip that my company, Passports Educational Travel, takes every year. While it was fun, it was also a lot of hard work, and I missed my pets something awful!

Me, at an Italian winery between Christmas and New Year's, 2016

I had stocked up on dog and cat food before I left, so that my pet sitter would have enough, and I'd have enough for my return, to avoid having to go the store as soon as I got back.

Yesterday, I opened a new bag of dog food, and when I tore off the strip at the top of the re-closable bag, I noticed something was stuck to it, and it looked like a dead bug.  When I tore open the rest of the top of the bag, inside were hundreds of bugs crawling around!  Gross!  I whipped open the back door and threw the bag outside. Charlie went after it, and I had to grab him and drag him back inside. I do not know what kind of insects they were, but it was disgusting. This was a small "extra" bag of food I had grabbed at the grocery store -- the same brand I have been feeding them (FreshPet Dry Grain-Free).  I also had a large, un-opened bag left over as well.  When I looked at the dates on the bags, they were a year old. I do not know why I didn't notice that before.  It said "Freshly packed on 1/26/2016" !!!

Not thinking, I threw everything in the trash, and of course my maintenance guy picked up my trash yesterday, so I have no lot numbers or bar codes or anything like that. I also threw out the receipts when I made the purchase.  I never keep those kind of receipts. It will be difficult to report the problem to the store, or FreshPet, but I will think of a way to inform them of the problem.

So, there I was, with no dog food!

I checked all the bags of cat food, and they seem fine. The insects did not get inside of anything else, thank goodness.

I do not think it was FreshPet's fault.... I think it was the fault of my local store for not clearing or rotating its shelves and stock. I will probably report this incident to them, but the problem is, I don't remember WHICH store I went to. There are two grocery stores near me, both carry the brand, and I did visit both of them before my trip. So, I have a pretty good idea which store it was, but I can't be 100% certain.  Since they are both the same franchise, I will probably speak to the managers at both locations.  One thing is for sure, I will not be shopping at either one of those stores until further notice!

I went to my local pet food store -- a family-owned business -- and bought dog food yesterday afternoon.  This store doesn't sell FreshPet, which is fine with me because I am a little turned off by them at the moment! So, I had to switch my dogs' food, something that should always be done with care and caution.  I decided to switch back to "Taste of the Wild", a product I had once fed to my dogs for quite a few years, based on the recommendation of my former veterinarian.  I stopped feeding TOTW because of a recall a few years ago.  Honestly, you can't win with manufactured dog food! If I had more time in life, I probably would feed raw. Maybe. I don't know. Maybe not. I'm lazy. I'll probably keep going to PetSmart or one of the other pet stores.

New! Pendleton Dog Coats Available at PetSmart.com!

\

Switching your dog's food is easy, but you have to be careful. Normally, I mix together some of the old food with the new, for three or four days. Up to a week, if possible. But this time, I had to toss the old food. I was not taking any chances with bugs! So, I took chances with the new food, Taste of the Wild.  It seemed the dogs really liked it, and they did not get "gassy" or anything like that. But I noticed Charlie burped a few times last night!

I will go outside and inspect their poop (yes, we dog people do that!) and see if there are any problems from that end!

Until next time.... thanks for reading!  If you haven't joined my email list, what're you waiting for?  Do it now!  Newsletters and special things are coming soon!

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Celebrating Your Dog's Birthday

All original content, written by me (Kathleen S. Mueller).  This was originally posted on DoggyLoot's blog, "DoggyWoof" (now FamilyPet.com) back in 2012.  

On Friday, my dogs and their siblings will turn five years old.  It went by so fast!  Everyone is coming to our house for a party, since it's Veterans Day and we have the day off from work.  Here's what I wrote about the pups in 2012:

My two puppies, Charlie Brown, and his brother, Mini-Cooper (the three-legged wonder), were born on 11/11/11. Pretty cool, right? Thanks to a remarkable woman who fostered these little babies along with their six brothers and sisters, and their mama, I’ve managed to stay in touch with all of the other adopters throughout this first year. We’re planning a tentative puppy reunion to celebrate their first birthday.

So far, we have two ideas: One, meet on the beach on Saturday, or Sunday, let the dogs romp, take some photos and have a good time. Weather permitting, of course. Two, everyone comes to my house to take advantage of my fenced-in yard. This option does present some issues such as parking, entertaining and refreshments, use of bathroom for humans, and putting the cats in a safe place (imagine the cats thinking “How did they multiply?” when they see all the look-alike dogs).

About a month ago, I sent out an email to all the adoptive parents asking if anyone would be interested in a first-birthday celebration. Only three of the seven adoptive pet parents seemed interested. One of the three interested pet parents has moved out of state, too far away to join us, but has become “friends” on Facebook, and we stay in touch quite frequently. Her pup looks exactly like Charlie Brown. The other two are ready to drive just about anywhere to make this happen (as am I). The others (including the adopter of the mama dog, Kate) have been silent. Former foster-mom is pretty much up for anything.

Look how little!!!

Most dog lovers probably don’t get the chance to remain in contact with the adopters of the original litter of puppies their dog came from, especially (as in our case) when they are mixed-breed “mutts.” But if you are so lucky, what a wonderful opportunity for some photos and a play date to burn off excess energy (assuming every one of the pups is as successfully socialized as mine, of course).

As long as your dog is well-socialized, and your family doesn’t mind putting up with a pack of dogs for a couple of hours, you, too can celebrate your dog’s birthday with a play date at your home. The easiest option is in your own back yard, and hopefully it is fenced in. Invite your dog’s favorite canine friends, have the guests bring presents (toys or treats are best), serve refreshments for both humans and dogs (no chocolate for dogs, please!) and break out the cameras. Let the dogs play in the yard before eating, and don’t over-feed, just a couple of small treats for each dog will suffice. Make sure plenty of tennis balls are available, as long as none of the dogs will fight or get possessive over the toys. Keep bowls of water freshly topped up. Keep the event short, one hour, two at the most.

Not up for hosting people at your house? As an alternative, get everyone together at a dog park or other safe location where the dogs can romp and play for a short time, and don’t bring any presents or worry about food or refreshments for anyone. Bring plenty of water to cool off the dogs, and make sure leashes are handy and dogs are fully identifiable with info tags on their collars.

If your dog does not play well with others, but you still want to celebrate his big day, don’t worry, you and your human pack can still have a great time commemorating your dog’s birthday. Grab a leash and take your pup on a nice walk either alone, or with the family. Take Puppy for a ride in the car (most dogs love this!) to nowhere special. Buy some new toys and a few special treats, put a birthday hat on his head, and take some photos.

Above all, be safe, have a great time, and take lots of pictures.  After your guests have gone home, snuggle with your dog while watching a dog-themed movie or TV show, or reading a dog-themed book.

Even if you skip commemorating your dog’s birthday, he won’t mind. Dogs don’t pay attention to the calendar!

K.S. Mueller is a travel executive living in Massachusetts who writes essays about dogs, cats and other topics in her spare time. Check out her web sites: ksmueller.com; k2k9.com; and fibroworks.com. Follow K.S.Mueller on Facebook and Twitter.

How do you celebrate your pet's birthday?  

Tell us about it in the comments!!

Stay tuned for a follow-up post with pics and video of the 5th Birthday Pawty!!

3 Back-to-School Morning Routine Tips for the Whole Family #milkbone

Dogs and their human companions have something very important in common: both are creatures of habit. 

 

Even though we have no human children in this household, back-to-school is super important because it also means "back-to-work" for me.  I'm co-owner of a student travel company, and the new school year is just as busy for us as it is with any household that includes children or teachers. 

With school about to start—it's the perfect time to make sure the whole family gets off on the right paw with the right habits at the start of the day. (And it's so much more fun when the whole family is involved!) 

Being self-employed has its perks, and I am so fortunate that I don't have to run out the door at the crack of dawn, or battle traffic.  I have a 5-minute commute, and I work at home in the mornings.  This gives me plenty of time to be with the dogs at home for our morning routines.  The hounds usually get up when they hear a neighbor or two, and I let them outside into the back yard where they relieve themselves and run around for a while and yell at the neighbors!  The cats either go out with them, or, any cat that was out all night comes back in!  

Snooze time!

After that, we usually go back to bed for "snooze time" (yes, they sleep in my bed). The dogs understand the phrase "snooze time" (I've taught it to all my dogs).  They know it means we fall back asleep for 15-20 minutes.  I get up for real around 8:00, make coffee, and check my email.  If there's time, I take Charlie Brown for a walk, or take Cooper for a ride to run errands.  Admittedly, this is not exactly "exercise"! But Cooper is disabled, so we have to be careful not to exhaust him.  The dogs have a couple of Milk-Bone classic dog biscuits, and I clean the kitchen, eat my breakfast, take my vitamins and meds, and take a shower.  They are well-trained to understand that when I shower and brush my teeth, it means I'm getting ready to leave the house for a while, and fun time is over.  They lie calmly outside the bathroom door and then move to their beds.  They stay inside all day until I get home from work in the early evening.  Most days, my pet-sitter lets them out mid-afternoon for a quick romp around the back yard.

Here are some great suggestions from the folks at Milk-Bone for getting your pup in good habits, along with the rest of the family:

 

1. Get active with your four-legged trainer in the morning.

 

40% of doggy mommies and daddies do healthy things with their pups at the same time that they do healthy things for their families. By adding doggy exercise to the rest of your family's morning routine, your dog can actually begin to encourage the rest of your family to stay active! 

 

Charlie Brown and yours truly having a morning walk on the beach.  Hydrant and football optional.

 

2. While caring for Fido, care for your family, too.

 

Dogs need role models. A solid routine, and good daily habits like brushing teeth, exercising, eating right and taking vitamins is key. If you have human children, get them in the same habits at the same time.  Good habits will last them a lifetime, and they'll learn to be responsible and caring towards animals.  Win-win!

A basket of fresh fruit by the printer!

  

3. Make sure your dog consistently receives the nutrients necessary to live a long and happy life.

 

1 in 3 pet parents are confused about what's needed for proper pet nutrition, meaning many pup parents are unaware that their dogs' diets may be lacking in essential nutrients.  Milk-Bone Good Morning Daily Vitamin Treats were created specifically to promote your dog's well-being and longevity. So when you're giving your kids their daily vitamins, remember that your pup needs their nutrient-packed treats too.  Your dog adds so much to the family—make sure to take care of him/her for the long-term!

 

Learn more about Milk-Bone's Good Morning Daily Vitamins on their site:

http://bit.ly/GoodMorningDailyVitaminTreats-k2k9

 

What are your family's favorite morning routines? Tell us how you and your pooch get ready to take on the day in the comments section below!

As compensation for writing this post for Milk-Bone I received a gift box of goodies for my dogs.  As a decades-long supporter and consumer of Milk-Bone products, I am happy to endorse their products!  Find @milkbone on social media for more great products!

Super Sunday #kittenbowl #puppybowl #thelucybowl

K2's K9s and Kitties is a proud supporter of  Lucy Pet Foundation!



I cannot believe I am about to write a (very wordy) post about the Super Bowl.

Thirty years ago, I went out for a drink on Super Bowl Sunday, with this amazing guy.  Well, neither of us were sports fans, so we sort of didn't realize it was Super Bowl Sunday (Super Bowl XIX, Dolphins vs. 49ers, for anyone keeping track).  We arrived at the bar in town for a drink, and the place was mobbed with football fans.  We still had no idea what the heck was going on!  LOL!  At the time, Massachusetts was in the middle of a January thaw, and my potential boyfriend thought he'd be cool and drive his sports car on that day.  Only problem was, the bar didn't have a paved parking lot, and the car got stuck in the mud!  To make matters worse, both of us were all dressed up, and he was wearing white jeans!!  Of course, he wasn't going to let me drive his sports car, he didn't even know me! So, somehow he managed -- with no help from me -- to get the car out of the mud.  By the time we got back to his house, one of the tires had sprung a leak and was almost flat.  Here we are, 30 years later, and yep, we are still together!  So, I guess you could say our "anniversary" is Super Bowl Sunday.  Which is hilarious, because, like I said, neither of us is a sports fan, and even though our hometown team (the Patriots) is playing tonight, we will not be watching!  By the way, said significant other has no recollection of that night in 1985!!  (Men!!)

Back in the day!  Gil, me, and our dog, Timba -- at Long View Farm

Some differences between 1985's Super Bowl (which, it was pointed out to me, was the aftermath of the 1984 season), and today's mega-event:

• The game in 1985 occurred on January 20th, a full two weeks earlier than the games that are played nowadays!
• The game was held in Stanford University's stadium; not in a pro-NFL stadium!
• The game was the very first to be broadcast by ABC!  (whaaat?!!)
• The game was played on Inauguration Day, so Ronald Reagan was sworn for his second presidential term on the same day!
• President Reagan appeared live via satellite from Washington, DC and performed the official coin toss (the first -- and perhaps only?? -- time a sitting U.S. President had ever done so). 
• One of the TV commentators, Joe Theissman, was an active player in the NFL -- he would be the last active player to ever provide television commentary during a Super Bowl.
• (This is my favorite fact!)  Celebrities were not yet performing at half-time... from Wikipedia, here are the headliners of the half-time show:  The halftime show was titled "World of Children's Dreams" and featured Tops In Blue, an elite performing tour ensemble consisting of members from the U.S. Air Force. Additional performers were recruited from USAF active, retired, and their dependents

My, how things have changed!

Today, we are watching Kitten Bowl on the Hallmark Channel, and Puppy Bowl on Animal Planet, in addition to Columbo on MeTV tonight.

Keep your eyes open for the Lucy Bowl Ad during Kitten Bowl.  It will air throughout the day, and provides a super-important message about adopting pets.  Unlike some of those for-profit companies advertising during the real game, and using cute puppies and cats in order to make money (hey, I get it, I'm just SAYIN'!), the Lucy Pet Foundation's ad is intended solely for bringing awareness to adoptable pets.    Here's the ad teaser that's been going around the internet for a few days



Pssst!!  If you click on the Lucy Bowl Ad link, in the paragraph above this video, you can see the whole ad!!  :)

Go Pats!!

Happy Anniversary to my amazing boyfriend of 30 years!

52 Week Snapshot Challenge, Week 5: Winter #52Shapshots #PBSG

52 Snapshots of Life, week 5

This week's challenge topic for the 52 Week Snapshot Challenge (hosted by The Lazy Pit Bull), is WINTER.  Well, living here in Massachusetts, the subject matter for photos this week was a no-brainer!  Winter Storm Juno unloaded 34 inches of snow in our back yard.  We even closed our office last Tuesday -- something we have only done a couple of times in the three decades we've been operating from our barn up on the main road.  It's not stopping there:  today we have dangerously low temperatures and howling wind, Monday there is expected to be another foot of white, fluffy stuff!

Just five of the EIGHT Subarus driven by me and my co-workers, in the driveway at our office.  Mine
is the black one, 2nd from left, with all the dog magnets on the tailgate.
Note reflection of humongous snowbank in barn window.  We love our 1850s farmhouse and barn!

Ho-hum, I've seen it before... this is still "nothing" compared to the Blizzard of 1978.  And when I say that, boy, do I sound OLD! I was a senior in high school when the '78 blizzard happened, and I always remember thinking "Some day, when I'm OLD, I'll be telling people about this."  Well, here I am.  Sigh.

I took so many photos this week, and already posted many on social media, but here is my selection of faves from the Blizzard of 2015.

This one makes me laugh every time!  Cooper's head bobbing out of the snow, like a seal at the ocean!

The shoveled "tunnel" is higher than Hobie

Good grief, Charlie Brown!  Are you eating snow?

Glad for the soft, fluffy snow... otherwise, they'd be able to just walk right over the fence.

52 Week Snapshot Challenge, Week 4: Dream #52Shapshots #PBSG

Here we are on week number four of 52 Snapshots of Life, a weekly photo challenge hosted by The Lazy Put Bull.  Already?!  Week four!!

This week's photo topic is DREAM and I happened to have noticed this was coming up a couple weeks ago, so I took some photos of Hobie sleeping while I had the chance.  He's so old and hearing-impaired now, that when he sleeps, he is practically comatose.  It can be quite disconcerting, and I find myself checking to be sure he is breathing quite often these days.  He also falls asleep with his eyes open, which is kinda creepy.  Sometimes, I'll find him with his tongue hanging all the way out of his mouth, sound, sound asleep, as if he is on anesthesia, or something.  Ah, I just love the ol' guy. During this photo shoot, he didn't even know I was there, taking pictures of him.  I hope my readers and followers enjoy the photo gallery this week for....

DREAM

I cut his nails later on that same day!  Horrified!!  lol

Sound asleep, with one eye open.

Bonus pic!!  The pack, sound asleep! 

5 Tips for Surviving January Thaw With Your Pets

Wouldn't you know it?  After a week-long deep-freeze (the opposite of a heat wave!), we entered into January Thaw yesterday here in Massachusetts.... and then came the rain!!  

Last night, it poured buckets of rain.  The entryway to Hobie's new "apartment" became flooded, so instead of stepping on a sheet of ice or snow when he takes his first step outdoors, it was ankle-deep water.  Ankle-deep for a human, I might add, so he was submerged up to his legs!  I took the snowshovel and made a lame attempt to "bail" the water, as if we were in a sinking ship.  To no avail.  But, this morning, it had all dried up overnight, and everything is chilly again, but not a deep-freeze.  Normal winter temps today.  

This all got me thinking about January Thaw here on the lake in central Mass., home of wait-a-minute-it'll-change weather, hockey players, ice skaters, ice fishing enthusiasts, and snowmobilers.  Here are a few things folks should keep in mind for their pets during January Thaw (or early spring, which is just around the corner!):

1. The Lake Is Not Safe.  As my brother, a retired police officer, always told us, "The lake is NEVER safe."  Well, last week, in the deep-freeze, that could have been debatable (but who wants to be out there in those temperatures?!).  But once we get into a thaw with temps in the 40s, the lake begins to thaw just like everything else.  All the snow in our yard is gone from the rain overnight.  The lake has visible patches of slushy areas.  My rule is, I never, ever, ever let my dogs out onto the lake (heeding my dear brother's advice).  Ice fishing enthusiasts have argued with me, "The ice is safe".  They can do what they want, but the dogs are staying behind the fence at home, thank you very much!  We have lived here for 30 years, and, yes, a few neighborhood dogs have fallen through the ice -- some have not survived.  You don't want to be "that guy" whose dog-falling-through-the-ice story ends up on the evening news.  Not to mention that a dog with access to the lake can easily run to the other side of the lake, those woods, those other neighborhoods, and poof!, he's GONE.  I can't count the number of unknown dogs who appear on our doorstep, having wandered across from the other side of the lake in winter.  Are you going to run across the lake, into the woods on the other side to try to catch him?  Probably.  Don't get yourself, or your dog into that situation.**

   

   You mean, if it was frozen, I could go over THERE?!

2. Ice, Mud, Salt, Sand...and Poop.  That oasis you call a back yard has turned into Poop Soup!  All has been revealed!  And you thought you were doing such a good job cleaning up after your pooches.  It must have been the holidays... the task got away from you... yeah, that's it.  You let your senior dog out to do his business and he has all of these things to contend with.  He slips on the ice, or mud (or both) and down he goes.  Your cat gets salt crystals on her foot and starts twerking trying to shake it off.  Your young, enthusiastic hound drags gobs of sand into the house, and your three-legger hops into the house and plants single footprints of mud all over the brand-new carpet.  What's a mother to do?!  

   

   My new hobby? Stamping!! all over the floors!
3. Loosened Fences and Wobbly Gate Latches.   When temps rise, after being so low, fencing material can buckle, shift, or even collapse.  Walk around your yard and check all gates to be sure the latches are still holding securely.  One lunge onto a fence at a passing dog or car and whomp! an entire section of fence can fall over.  Think I'm exaggerating?  It has happened to us!  Inspect all sections of fence for stability.  If a section feels wobbly, keep an eye on it, or twist a bungee cord onto that section to hold it up until spring.  Full-on repairs may not hold because of continual weather changes (especially around here!), so unless it's crucial, try not to repair or replace until spring when the ground is more stable.

   

   Note loose wire at bottom of fence.  Photo from last spring.

4. Cold little paws! After being cooped up for so many weeks, it seems like a grand idea to take the dogs for a walk, right?  Keep in mind that roads and sidewalks can still be slippery, with either mud or ice, and sand or salt-covered roads are a real concern.  Use doggie mittens or shoes for your pup if you absolutely have to take that walk.  (And don't forget to wear shoes with good traction, yourself.) If you don't have paw coverings, be sure to wash off Rover's paw pads with a paper towel soaked in warm water when you get home.  Ahhhh, it will feel just like a spa treatment!

   

   I could just stay out here all day, I love it so much.  Cold paws?  Me?

5. Bring Your Pet Indoors, Anyway.  If your cats are like mine, they can't wait to go outdoors, and are usually climbing the walls, swinging from curtains, and tearing up toilet paper rolls in an effort to be thrown out!  While a January Thaw can seem inviting for them, it's still chilly out there, especially at night.  Don't let your outdoor-loving pets stay outside too long.  Even if they seem to be enjoying themselves, they can get chilled quickly.  [Our cats do have a safe place to retreat to in the event they refuse to come in... it's a small cubbyhole in the roof rafters of the guest cottage on our property (pictured above). Just the right size for the kitties, and they glean the heat from the cottage!]  It's always nicer to have them snuggled on your lap by the fire, no matter how much they try to tell you otherwise.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         **how come cats know enough NOT to walk out onto the lake?!

This post is part of the "Keeping Your Pets Warm" Collaborative Event hosted by Felissa, Davinia and Indiana at Two Little Cavaliers! We hope that you will drop by and visit all of the other posts participating in this event. The linky will be open through Friday 1/23/15 in case anyone else would like to join us. Please only link up a post if it focuses on Keeping Pets Warm. Your post can be tips, tricks, ideas, DIY projects, Crafts, or anything that will help pets or feral animals stay warm during this really cold winter!

52 Week Snapshot Challenge, Week 3: Joyful #52Shapshots #PBSG

This week's theme for 52 Snapshots of Life, a weekly photo challenge hosted by The Lazy Pit Bull, is "Joyful".

Our house isn't exactly joyful, it's more like stressful!  I'm just JOKING!!  I'm kidding!!  Here are our furkids expressing their joyfulness.

l-r Cali, Newman, Cooper and Hobie find it JOYFUL to hang out with Mom while she works and sips her morning coffee.

Charlie Brown's favorite joyful activity is treeing Mr. Squirrel in the back yard.  No matter what the weather, he'll locate his friend Mr. Squirrel every morning, chase him up a tree, and holler about it until I go outside and congratulate him.  I think Mr. Squirrel likes the game just as much as Charlie does -- he plays every morning, too!

He's up THERE!

He's down THERE!

A-rooooooo!!  Squirrellllll!

And now, from a different perspective.

Last, but certainly not least, is our somewhat anti-social kitty, Tux.  His passion for joyfulness centers around food, food, and more food.  Secondarily, he likes to sit on the desk while I'm (trying to) work!

No, don't work!  Play with meeeeeee!