Stella and Danny snugglin' on the couch

Everybody loves it when the kids come home!

The tree's been up for 14 days

with nothing on but lights,

come on humans, help me

let's get this done tonight!

Squeaky's Studio: Last Day To Get A Lot of Free Stuff

Squeaky's Studio: Last Day To Get a Free Add On: Today, is the last day for you to take advantage of the AWESOME special being offered by Close To My Heart!! Up to $410.00 in product for j...

Happy Haloween

Sorry I don't have pictures of my dogs dressed up for Halloween but I am in Florida.Blogging from my iPad at MacDonalds is a challenge. I'd like to say I'm on vacation but that is not the case. I flew down here to see my fathervwho's health was failing. He was at home with wonderful round the clock hospice care. He did not recognize me for several hours but we kept trying. My sister Phyllis kept telling him, "Squeaky's here". And then... It was like he woke up. He got tears in his eyes and sat up and opened his arms wide and hugged me! We had a little chat and I told him how everyone was doing. He passed away Oct.24th at ten minutes after midnight. My sister Melissa and I were at his side for his last hours and the hospice nurse helped us through his final minutes. Tomorrow we will have a viewing here and he will be buried in Arlington National Cemetery with my mother in a few weeks. I will return home Nov.5th. We are now looking forward to Tim's return from Iraq sometime between Thanksgiving and Christmas.

I apologize to my friends who look forward to my Haloween cards and picture. They're going to be a little bit late this year.

wag your tail, it's wednesday

my family's going to the fair

i hear it's lots of fun

oh please, if i am really good

won't you let me come

you could dress me like a baby

with ribbons and with lace

no one would ever guess

with my cute baby face

wag your tail, it's wednesday

is this for German Shepherds

do others get to play

it doesn't seem polite

to turn my breed away

it's true some are ill-mannered

and have committed crimes

but that's also true of people

and they're not on this sign

wag your tail, it's wednesday

there isn't much, that i can do

but i'll stay close, 'cuz i love you

i'll make you laugh, and warm your feet

i'll even share. my doggie treat

and when you're strong, i'll still be here

even if it takes all year

summer 2011

wag your tail, it's wednesday

wag your tail, it's wednesday

it's really lots of fun

just stick out, your little buns

and shake them, one by one

‎"The greatest discovery of any generation is that a human being can alter his life by altering his attitude."

William James -

American Psychologist and Philosopher

wag your tail, it's wednesday

Watch Koko's audition for the Australian film "Red Dog".

wag your tail, it's wednesday (almost)

What Dogs are Wearing in MN This Summer

It's all about the Torn Tied Tee.

Tied on either side, the back or even front you can repurpose any t-shirt into a fashion statement. Tear it a lot, a little or not at all, whatever suits your personal style. However you decide to wear it, just make sure it's a t-shirt that you have permission to use. You don't want Daddy getting mad when he heads to the luau and can't find his surfer tee.

STONE

TWO FRIENDS WERE WALKING

THROUGH THE DESERT .

DURING SOME POINT OF THE

JOURNEY, THEY HAD AN

ARGUMENT; AND ONE FRIEND

SLAPPED THE OTHER ONE

IN THE FACE

THE ONE WHO GOT SLAPPED

WAS HURT, BUT WITHOUT

SAYING ANYTHING,

WROTE IN THE SAND ,

TODAY MY BEST FRIEND

SLAPPED ME IN THE FACE .

THEY KEPT ON WALKING,

UNTIL THEY FOUND AN OASIS,

WHERE THEY DECIDED

TO TAKE A BATH

THE ONE WHO HAD BEEN

SLAPPED GOT STUCK IN THE

MIRE AND STARTED DROWNING,

BUT THE FRIEND SAVED HIM.

AFTER HE RECOVERED FROM

THE NEAR DROWNING,

HE WROTE ON A STONE:

'TODAY MY BEST FRIEND

SAVED MY LIFE'

THE FRIEND WHO HAD SLAPPED

AND SAVED HIS BEST FRIEND

ASKED HIM, 'AFTER I HURT YOU,

YOU WROTE IN THE SAND AND NOW,

YOU WRITE ON A STONE, WHY?'

THE FRIEND REPLIED

'WHEN SOMEONE HURTS US

WE SHOULD WRITE IT DOWN

IN SAND, WHERE WINDS OF

FORGIVENESS CAN ERASE IT AWAY.

BUT, WHEN SOMEONE DOES SOMETHING GOOD FOR US,

WE MUST ENGRAVE IT IN STONE

WHERE NO WIND

CAN EVER ERASE IT'

LEARN TO WRITE

YOUR HURTS IN

THE SAND AND TO

CARVE YOUR

BENEFITS IN STONE.

I don't know the author of this story but I love the message. You could also write the hurts in snow (if you live in Minnesota) and then they could melt away.

wag your tail, it's wednesday

I just love a party!

Stella with our friends Ben & Yvonne

summer showers

standing on the front porch,

watching summer showers,

hoping that the rain,

doesn't drown my flowers

watching children laughing,

shouting with such glee,

oh how I remember,

when that child was me

wag your tail, it's wednesday

A new addition to our lives: The Q6 Edge - with this wheelchair Amy will no longer get stuck in the middle of the road in the snow. She can go up to 15 miles distance and I shudder to think about how fast... Unfortunately she can't take it out for a spin until she gets out of her cast and knee immobilizer, maybe July 28. In the meantime we'll all just admire it.

wag your tail, it's wednesday

i love the smell of the horses

the scent of their hide and the hay

i'd love to live on a ranch

just to breathe it in each day

wag your tail, it's wednesday

baa baa white lamb

wag your little tail

even though it's crooked

our love for you won't fail

and though your mamma left you

we will keep you here

we think lambs with crooked tails

are very very dear

Billie Jo Norsworthy at Lucy's Sheep Camp, Thermopolis, WY

You & Me Stronger Together

Severe flooding, tornadoes and storms have affected the lives of thousands across the United States.

Ceck out Close To My Heart's Fundraising effort on Squeaky's Studio

wag your tail, it's wednesday

i know i'm not a dog

but i still have a tail

it has spikes

covered with algae

on my shell

there is a snail

i know i am amazing

and you might think

i'm polite

but do not get too close

snapping turtles bite

well i'm stuck in bed

and i'm lookin' at my toes

and i'm wonderin'

if anybody knows

that my sweet toes

have a life of their own

and with my toes

i'm never alone

so i talk to them

and they talk to me

and i tell them soon

we'll all be free

but while we're stuck

let's make up rhymes

and sing about some better times

surgery

she doesn't want to do this

and knowing that it's right

doesn't help the nerves

or take away the fright

there's not much i can say

and not much i can do

but simply stay beside her

as we see this hard time through

wag your tail, it's wednesday

my mom and troy just left me

and i was all alone

there wasn't any happy

in our happy home

so dad sent me to karen's

he thought that would be best

he was a little worried

that i might get depressed

karen's house is heaven

with lots of dogs and toys

'cuz being a dog sitter

is what karen enjoys

with toys and friends to play with

the time went really fast

but i'm now glad to say this

i am home at last

home is still the best place

it feels and smells just right

and the people i call family

are my heart's delight

Tresa Black's winning video will touch your heart

This is a touching story about making a scrapbook for Grandma. It also shows how easy it is to do with Studio J from Close To My Heart. I really love it and encourage you to take a look

Yes Photo

Yesterday, my mission in taking pictures was to take a picture of something that said Yes. This is my photo. Funny thing about it, I didn't say yes to the picture right away. It required pulling over on the side of the road. I knew it was the picture, but I drove right by. Obviously I turned around but why? Why didn't I just say Yes in the first place, in the moment. That is what I struggle with, saying Yes at the right moment, trusting it committing to it. Not letting opportunities pass by me (or me pass by them). It seems I need some exercises to build up these weak response muscles. Any ideas?

You're Exceedingly Significant

Another Yes Poem

God Says Yes To Me

by Kaylin Haught

I asked God if it was okay to be melodramatic

and she said yes

I asked her if it was okay to be short

and she said it sure is

I asked her if I could wear nail polish

or not wear nail polish

and she said honey

she calls me that sometimes

she said you can do just exactly

what you want to

Thanks God I said

And is it even okay if I don't paragraph

my letters

Sweetcakes God said

who knows where she picked that up

what I'm telling you is

Yes Yes Yes

Say Yes

Say Yes Today

Yes to Life

Yes to Love

Yes to others

Most of all

Say Yes to Yourself

Yes I am Beautiful

Yes I am of Value

Yes I have a Purpose

Yes I will

Be my true Self

Believe in my Self

Embrace my Self

and Love my Self

Say Yes!

not a small internal Yes

not a tiny whispered Yes

a confident strong Yes

Out Loud

Make sure you hear it and...

Believe it

Now - go out there and Be your True Self

The world needs You!

No Matter Where

even though we're in wyoming

and there's lots of room to roam

troy's favorite thing to do here

is his favorite thing at home

he has made friends with the horses

and chased some deer and geese

ran the fence with a new calf

and sniffed new smells on the breeze

but no matter what we do

nothing can compare

with a rubber ball and chuck-it

he is happy anywhere

What's up in Wyoming

fancy footwear

I went to church here Sunday, 14 people total in attendance.

my four new children

i brushed the horses

oh so nice

they looked so grand,

i smiled

then they ran off

and rolled in stuff

and looked at me

and smiled

wag your tail, it's wednesday

snowflakes land

upon his back

soft

and white

on darkest black

he doesn't

notice

nor does he care

if they

look pretty

resting there

but i see

fairies

on his hair

for i see

beauty

everywhere

powdered sugar mountains

someone sprinkled

powdered sugar

on the hills this morn

it made me want some waffles

and some coffee, nice and warm

but soon

the sun came out

and like butter on the top

it melted off the sugar

and so my craving stopped

dogs gone

i took a little break

from writing in my blog

i'm not sure why it happened

but i bet you missed my dogs

no excuses really

it's just the way i am

perfectly imperfect

i beg your pardon ma'am

so here are some new pictures

in case you need a fix

troy's with me in wyoming

stella's up to her same trix

and so my life goes on

with changes and with twists

but always with my dogs

happiness exists

Honeymoon

why is the sky so wide here

how did it get so blue

how is it that i came here

to spend some time with you

i wake to gentle mountains

i know you're gentle too

i say" good morning jesus,

today what shall we do"?

you answer," just be with me".

can that alone be true?

don't you want me serving

to show my love for you

"no dear one", you answer

"it's time with you I seek

time to hear your thoughts

and time for me to speak.

i call you my beloved,

let me be your bridegroom

this special time together

shall be our honeymoon".

wag your tail, it's wednesday

she's a city dog

and her name is Pearl

and when i visit

she's grandma's girl

she likes to play

and i scratch her tummy

and her crazy smile

is oh so funny

when we go out

people stop to see her

'cuz she's oh so stylish

they just have to meet her

and i just smile

as they ooh and ah

'cuz i'm her loving

grand-mama

I had such a great time visiting my daughter (and grand-dog) in NYC. I was surprised that so many people choose to have canine companions in the "Big Apple". They add a softness and whimsy that is endearing. Laura and I attended the big dog show - Westminster! It was such fun to see all the different breeds of dogs and their people. I met a few breeds I hadn't seen before. The evenings Group and Best In Show events were quite exciting. We were happy to return to Laura's apartment to see Pearl each night. As the woman behind us (who had show dogs as well as rescue dogs) said, "They're all champions!"

dog hair

because of dogs

there are blankets on my couches

because of dogs

there are scratches on my floor

because of dogs

there is so much hair to vacuum

but because of dogs

my life is so much more

because of dogs

i have someone there to greet me

because of dogs

i go outside and explore

because of dogs

my life is filled with laughter

and because of dogs

i know that i'm adored