Friday, April 24, 2009

Love....



The outpouring of love has been overwhelming. Every virtual hug has been felt, every tear gently wiped away by unseen hands.

I wanted to share with you a poem that will be read at Mom's memorial service next Friday.

The Dash Poem by Linda Ellis

I read of a man who stood to speak
at the funeral of a friend.
He referred to the dates on her tombstone
from the beginning to the end.

He noted that first came the date of her birth
And spoke of the following date with tears,
But he said what mattered most of all
Was the dash between those years.

For that dash represents all the time
That she spent alive on earth
And now only those who loved her
Know what that little line is worth.

For it matters not, how much we own,
The cars, the house, the cash,
What matters is how we live and love
And how we spend our dash.

So think about this long and hard;
Are there things you'd like to change?
For you never know how much time is left
That can still be rearranged.

If we could just slow down enough
To consider what's true and real
And always try to understand
The way other people feel.

And be less quick to anger
And show appreciation more
And love the people in our lives
Like we've never loved before.

If we treat each other with respect
And more often wear a smile,
Remembering that this special dash
Might only last a little while.

So when your eulogy is being read
With your life's actions to rehash
Would you be proud of the things they say
About how you spent your dash?

Wednesday, April 22, 2009

Thank you all

...for your kind thoughts and prayers.

Love,

Jane

Tuesday, April 21, 2009

Missing Dog...



Or should I say, "Dog Missing All of You!"

Sorry everyone that I haven't been around lately to say hello or check in with your bloggies. (Or even post two swell new awards from Baby Rocket Dog and Hootie.) Granny was supposed to fly back home on Monday but she's come down with a nasty case of bronchitis. Since you can't find a doctor working on the weekend, she and Mommy went to the emergency room on Saturday and were there for four hours. She got all sorts of tests that came back normal, but she kept feeling sicker and sicker. So today, they went to see Mommy's doctor and now she's got all sorts of pills and cough medicine to take. And we're changing her flight again - she's not going to be well enough to fly tomorrow. So I'm being very kind and keeping her feet warm and giving her my favorite tennis ball. I even offered to share my red blankie from Rosie but she didn't seem too interested.

Hopefully, she's on the mend and we'll be back soon. I've got to pack my bags to meet Rosie's Royal Scotsman train in London so we can proceed to Myrna's wedding via the Orient Express! That's my kind of dog train'ng!

See you soon!

Wednesday, April 15, 2009

Catching up and a big Thank You!

Phew! It's been busy here lately, what with the holiday weekend and Granny here for 10 days! Anyhow, I wanted to make sure you all knew that Sunday was not only Easter but my way-cool new friend Clive's birthday! I know alot of you have already wished Clive a happy birthday, but if not, pop over send him your belated wishes! (Do you like my moves as a wing walker?)

Now, this next photo may look like something you'd expect to see around Hugh Hefner's mansion but NO! It's my dearest Rosie-Posie, sending me an adorable Easter card.  She is my sweetest honey-bunny!!! You can't see her fluffy tail here, after all, this is a PGB-rated site ("Petey Good Boy!")

Now, here's some REALLY EXCITING news! Some packages from me and my fellow DWBers have arrived at 4 Paws for Ability.  Today I got an email from Piper at 4 Paws with these photos of the dogs enjoying some of their new toys and this fantastic paw-printed blanket.
That's Piper with the wide white blaze on her pretty forehead. 

Are you surprised to see such cute little Papillions as service dogs? Well, sometimes kids are overwhelmed by big dogs and find these little gals to be less intimidating. 

I was very impressed with the story of Gracie, Piper's sister who was born with just three legs. When Gracie went to visit school kids, the kids all thought it was pretty cool that Gracie could get around so well with just three legs.  Yet many times their peers, kids with disabilities, were ignored. She teaches the kids to accept differences and find the person beyond the disability. 

Isn't that cool? This little puppy that may have been tossed aside or even destroyed because she only has 3 legs now has a HUGE life teaching life lessons to hundreds of kids. Be sure to pop over and visit Gracie and Piper's blog and meet some of the other dogs at 4 Paws for Ability.

Look at this happy puppy with a brand new yellow and orange ball. That's thanks to YOU! You've demonstrated your kindness to give these hard-working pups and dogs a bit of fun. And who knows what all they will be able to accomplish!

My heart is smiling today.

A quick post!

I've been very busy with Granny here, but I wanted to show you some tricks from the dog run...
Here I am levitating a tennis ball above my head by sheer determination and concentration....

And here I am levitating myself right off the ground!

More later, I promise! I miss my pals and especially my Rosie-Posie!!!

Friday, April 10, 2009

Hoppy Easter Every Bunny!

...and a blessed Passover too.

Now I'd like to dedicate this song to my Rosie-Posie and my Aunties Bailey and Martha....

"In your Easter Bonnet, 
with tennis balls upon it,
You'll be the finest hound dogs
 in the Easter Parade!"

Good luck at the big tennis ball hunt!

Thursday, April 9, 2009

A Springtime Stroll

It's finally starting to look like Spring (even if we did have a snow squall yesterday morning on our walk!) so I thought I'd take you all along for a little walk in my neighborhood. Sn

Look at this cute Easter display at the pharmacy right outside my front door! I like to go in here and sniff around, but they never have any treats so I don't linger (unlike the Mailboxes Etc. and the Bank on either side of the pharmacy which ALWAYS have cookies for me!)

Speaking of cookies, let's start off at one of my favorite places...the Coach Store on Bleecker Street! Hey, is this little golden dog edging in on my territory? (I always like to check out the latest in canine fashion.) Hmmm, if I lost the pink trim, I could wear this on Rosie's blog for Black and White day!

Ah, here's the lady I was looking for! The Coach girls are so nice, I always drag Mommy across the street to go visit them and get a cookie or two...or three. It all depends on how many Coach girls I can charm!

Look at me! I've even doing one of my best treats for a cookie from this cute cookie!

Then we walked past Tommy Hilfiger and I gasped! "Mon Dieu!" Is this one of those snooty French poodles that Eric's  Square-Mom and Square-Dad met on the Portobello Road??? Just look at this pink fop staring down his nose at me!

Take a look and let me know what you think! I love real poodles, but these faux ones are scary.

Yummy! The Ralph Lauren ladies store (there's also a Ralph Lauren men's store, a kids' store and a blue jeans store - all on Bleecker Street. Enough already, Ralph!)

C'mon Mom, I mean it! Snap, snap. There are cookies waiting for me inside. 

(Sidenote: When the first Ralph Lauren store opened on Bleecker Street, we stopped by to check it out. OF COURSE, the sales people asked if they could give "that adorable puppy" - me - a cookie. Mommy said "sure" and started browsing through the racks. When she looked down, I was eating another cookie. Okay, she figured, someone else had given me a cookie. Then she saw me walk boldly behind the counter and help myself! She later figured I'd had about 5 cookies! That night, I farted like Tanner on burrito night. And as Mom points out, it did NOT smell like Polo cologne!)

"How do you do, nice Ralph Lauren lady? My name is Petey, pleased to meet you. What? Why yes! I'd love a cookie! Thank you very much!"

Wowza! That's a whole lotta flowers! This entire store window was packed with a variety of (fake) flowers. Sure they're fake, but they sure are pretty.

It was at one of the FIVE Marc Jacobs stores in the neighborhood. Mommy calls this the Marc Jacobs Dollar Store because they have lots of cheap items, like key chains and canvas tote bags.
It used to be the fancy Marc Jacobs handbag store and I'd always stop to visit my pal Otis, the black miniature poodle. He'd grab me by the leash and show me the latest merchandise in the store, then we'd both try to sneak downstairs where I was convinced there was a mountain of Snausages.

For years, Marc Jacobs would have characters in their shop window during the Christmas holidays and around Easter and invite everyone in the neighborhood to come in and have their photo taken. They'd give you a copy and put the other in the window. By the end of the holiday, the windows would be covered inside and out with literally hundreds of photos. 

Here's mine from last year...

And the year before...what can I say? I'm a chick magnet!

(hehehe, those look like "before" and "after" haircut photos!) Sadly, the fun photos have been a victim of the recession. Hope the economy picks up by December so I can get my photo with Santa again.

So on we go down Bleecker Street. This is the window at Mulberry. I love all the ribbons! Looks like the trophy room at Mangominster!

Mmmm, what's that's delicious scent you're wearing? Chewnel #5? Oscar Mayer de la Renta? Pawda? No...it's Brooklyn! Now, no offense to the outer boroughs, but does any one really want to smell like Brooklyn? Maybe it smells like Junior's Brooklyn Cheesecake...that would be delicious. This is the storefront for Bond No. 9, one of the few artisinal perfumeries in the United States. All of their scents are named after places in New York. There's even one named Bleecker Street. (No, they didn't use my contribution in their mix!)

Speaking of cake, let's see what's cooking at Magnolia Bakery! Don't these cakes look scrumptious? This place was briefly shown on an episode of Sex & The City and ever since then, there have been hoards of people (tourists, mostly) lined up around the block for cupcakes. They even have a bouncer to monitor how many people come into the store at a time.

Now this is pretty and colorful...can you tell what these are?

They're stacks of cheap and cheerful backpacks at yet another Marc Jacobs store. I always like to visit here because the sales people never seem to tire of dropping everything to get me a cookie. Unfortunately, they were all out of cookies this day. 

Now before I head home, I want to pick out some posies for my Rosie... These are pretty, but they don't seem quite right...
Mommy loves these soft-as-kittens Pussy Willows. We're going to get a big bunch to welcome Sei-Chan the kitten, she's the latest addition to my French friends at The Pouponette!
 
Ahhh, tulips... and how I would like to press my two lips against Rosie's... but no, they're not right either!
Now this is more like it! Sweet and beautiful, just like my Rosie-Posie girl!!!

Hope you enjoyed your tour! Did you pick up some nice things? Maybe a new collar at Coach, a doggie polo shirt at Ralph Lauren, a vanilla cupcake at Magnolia and a squirt of Eau de Dog Run at Bond No. 9?

See you soon! Don't forget to send your tennis balls and hard rubber toys to 4 Paws For Ability!

Monday, April 6, 2009

Let's make a BIG difference

As you know, thanks to my pal Clive's blog, I've learned a whole lot more about assistance dogs and autism. Clive is from Ireland and is sponsored by Irish Guide Dogs. On his blog, he explains how expensive it is to train autism assistance dogs (over $51,000!) yet guide and assistance dogs are provided free of charge. That's why Clive's Mum is very involved in fund-raising.
Here's a great photo of Clive and his little man.


 So I decided to find out more about autism assistance dogs here in the United States.  I discovered 4 Paws for Ability. They were the first agency to place trained autism service dogs and continue to be the largest organization in the United States and the only organization placing autism assistance dogs in other countries.

We've probably all seen Seeing Eye guide dogs (I'm ashamed to admit I once did my "Cujo" bark at a Seeing Eye dog -- I couldn't help myself, it was a scary black lab. But Mommy was mortified). But I wasn't sure what Clive and other autism assistance dogs do. 

So Mommy and I watched this video. ("I dare you to watch it dry eyed," says Mommy.) It explains why a dog like Clive can be so important to an autistic child as well as his or her family. We wanted to do something to help!

On the 4 Paws site, we found out that they have an ongoing need for crates (mostly Large and Extra Large Vari-Kennel type) as well as DOG TOYS!!! Kongs, tennis balls and Nylabones in particular. (No rawhide, please.) 


Now I'll be the first to admit it—I've got a lot of toys. More than one little doggie could play with in a lifetime. So I'm going to box up a bunch of tennis balls (yep! It's for a good cause!) and other hard toys that I don't play with and get Mommy to buy a couple new ones the next time she goes to Beasty Feast.  And we're going to send them to 4 Paws For Ability.

That's when I had a GREAT IDEA!!!

Since this is Autism Awareness Month, what if lots and lots of Dogs With Blogs all sent toys to 4 Paws for Ability? Wouldn't that be cool if they were just overwhelmed with love and appreciation from other dogs???

Here's the address:

4 Paws For Ability Training Center, 207 Dayton Ave. Xenia, Ohio 45385

Now, some thank you's are in order. First off to Clive for bestowing this cute award on me:

The two blogs I can't miss every morning have to be Aunties Martha and Bailey and the priceless wisdom of Joe Stains

I also have to thank all of you who nominated and voted for me for the Awesome Blog Award AND the Post of the Month for Beagadoon! It meant more to me than winning an Oscar. (It was even better than winning an Oscar Mayer!!!) Thank you so very much.


It's been quite a month. So now, let's make April really sensational for alot of hardworking, deserving Autism Assistance Dogs in training by showing them our support and sending them lots of fun toys to play with in their down time. Please check out the 4 Paws For Ability site -- maybe you can help sponsor a dog or foster a puppy until it's old enough to go into training. 

In advance of your goodwill and generosity, I thank you.

P.S. I just heard back from Karen at 4 Paws and all the dogs there are so excited about getting some new toys from you. THANK YOU! Please go visit Gracie and Piper - the Papillions who are the official mascots and marketing directors for 4 Paws at www.4pawsdogs.org. I am so proud of all of you!!!

Sunday, April 5, 2009

My wonderful Spring Break!

Boy oh boy did I have the greatest time this weekend!

I went to Bucks County, PA with Mommy and one of her oldest and dearest friends who has an amazing old mill house there.

I did a bit of the driving on the way...

Here's the entrance to the house. It's hard to tell in this photo by there was a white tulip magnolia tree in bloom that was really beautiful. Okay, wipe off your feet and come on inside.


Here's the bedroom where Mommy and I stayed. Isn't this the cutest, sweetest room you've ever seen?

And here's the view out the window. Those white rocks are where the old creek bed went when the house was a working mill.

When you walk outside the bedroom on the second floor, there's this cool bridge that overlooks the living room. Let's go downstairs for a better look, okay?

Isn't this a pretty room? This is where I'd hang out when the 2-leggeds went out at night.

Mommy's crazy about this pale sage leather armchairs. They were normal brown leather chairs originally but the sun bleached them this gorgeous color. And look at the blossoming pear branches! It really is Springtime!


Okay, my tongue's hanging out I'm so hungry! Let's head downstairs to the kitchen and dining room...
Since our kitchen at home is literally 5' by 8', this kitchen with all those lovely tiled counters is dreamy. 

Here's the dining room with the great fireplace. Those are two pews that were rescued from our friend's church after a fire. 

Okay, enough with the house, now let's go outside and see the REALLY good stuff!

Grab your tennis ball and follow me. Don't forget to close the gate behind you!


Wheeeee! Look at all this lovely lawn to race around on. Look Ma, no leash!!!

My wise-ish Auntie Bailey has told me that these muddy streams are great fun to roll around it....maybe a bit later. Don't want to be a bad houseguest.

Now folks, just what you've been waiting for...Petey in action! Just watch me dash after that brand-spanking new tennis ball!


Even though I was racing after my tennis ball at the speed of sound, I still found time to stop and admire the beautiful crocus scattered randomly around the lawn. 

C'mon, I'll show you around the property...

There are lots of comfy places to hang out. Like this really mossy chair!

Isn't this cool? It's a terracotta tile from a building on the Biltmore Estate in North Carolina. 

There are several of them scattered throughout the garden. They're about 2' across.

Himalayan prayer flags and the roaring waterfall!  Are we in Pennsylvania or Tibet?

Time for another break. Touring six acres off-leash is exhausting! Need to kick back and enjoy the fresh and balmy spring air.

Here's another view of the old creek bed. That window on the top floor is our bedroom window.

They'd had  1 1/2" of rain the day before, and about that much the day we arrived so the creek was furious and flowing like rapids on a river! There was even a waterfall cascading down the hill—it sounded wonderful but that meant no river bank exploring for Petey!
 

Sure Mommy and her friend went to lots of parties and saw lots of friends, but we don't have any photos of that. Or of the two dogs I met - one was a 3 year old Westie named Piper. I asked, but he didn't know Hamish. The other was a Briard with lots of lawn to run around on, but nobody to play with. I felt sorry for him. We went on two mile walks every day. 

(Phew, am I tired tonight. Mommy said I was snoring up a storm last night.)

But it wasn't all fun and games... we did some very important shopping at Target and here at Lowe's. "Cute dogs, Aisle 12!"
"Mommy, don't forget to load me into the car!"
All in all, it was a sensational weekend! Now I'm back in the city and can only dream about having cool green grass under my paws again....

Hope everyone had a wonderful weekend, too!