Introducing.... Sonny Boy!

Finally the answer to the clues!  I have a new brother!  Sonny traveled all the way from Arkansas to join our family.  Mom found Sonny (aka Sunny Daze Ahead) on Petfinder.com.  She looked and looked and looked before she finally found some dawg who was the right fit for our family. 

Though Ziggy's shoes can't be filled, Sonny has brought his white boots and socks to us and will fill his own, new shoes! 

Now, I'm a tough dawg to please and I am officially giving Sonny my Pedro seal of approval!  So, Sonny Boy, welcome to our family! 

 I really think you're gonna like it here :P

BIG Clue!

This is the final clue.  Tonight all will be revealed.

I don't think this clue leaves too much to the imagination though.  I will say, other than those who read my mom's Facebook, Thor was the 1st to figure it out!!!

More Clues

Mom says no one got it right yet so she gave me a few more clues (they don't help me at all but see if they give you any ideas).

Gold, golden, yellow gold...

White boots...

White socks (or is it White Sox?)...

and (this one really confuses me) Arkansas...

I'm close to giving up!

Puzzle - Clue #1

Something is going on in my dawg house.  I keep hearing the humans talking about something with the sun.  I'm going to listen in as much as possible and share the clues with you.  Maybe all you dawgs and cats can help me figure out this mystery...

The words I've been hearing alot are sun, sunny, sunny day???  Hmmmmm..... what could that mean???

Earth Day Twenty-Ten

In honor of Earth Day my mom decided to help a tree in distress.  For the past month she's seen this sight every day on her way to work and it's been bugging her! 

This poor little tree dressed in a garland of plastic garbage, neither festive nor happy, was crying out for assistance!  What better day than Earth Day to do a little clean-up? 

Mom said the tree had angry thorns that sliced into her thumb like a knife through butter but she persisted and got all the offending plastic off. 

Doesn't the little tree look so much happier now??

I decided to do my part for Earth Day too by ummm... watering the earth!  Hey, we're all good at something!

Just Pictures...

Mom planned to do an interview - Questions and Answers - but like so many other things lately, it didn't happen.  Dr. Berger sent us some beautiful pictures from the Iditarod that I wanted to share with all of you!

Arriving!

The "START"! Wait!  Do the sleds have to stop for red lights??

Brrrrrr!  -30 degrees??  Are you kidding??  Too darn cold for my little chihuahua paws!

This is how the pooped pups slept!

Notice the booties.

I think it would only be fair if the HUMANS slept in the snow on hay too!

Emi in the tundra.   Hmmm... no trees?  Where's a dawg to pee??

Seriously!  Where did these dawgs PEE???

Hmmm... Maybe they didn't pee for fear of the icicles that might form...  In retrospect, my late brother Ziggy would have loved Alaska with all the snow and sub-zero temperatures.  As for me, I'm a summer dawg - which I suppose is a good thing because the only sled I could pull would be one for a mouse!

One Boss Cake

Yesterday my family went to a surprise 50th birthday party for my mom and dad's sister-in-law.  They thought about what kind of gift to get her - my dad wanted to give her fifty $1 scratch-offs (which he did end up doing) but my mom wanted to do something a little more meaningful.  The sister-in-law's family has a really great Italian restaurant in Southampton and they enjoy exceptional food and wine.  So, my mom thought it might be fun to take a ride to Hoboken, NJ and go to Carlo's Bakery to get her a cake!  If you watch TLC, you'll know that Carlo's Bakery is the backdrop to the show "Cake Boss."  If you've never seen the show - you should catch an episode.  Very, very funny and the cakes they make are incredible works of art.  We live about 70 miles from New York City and Hoboken is a straight shot across lower Manhattan and through the Holland Tunnel.  Traffic through the City was, to put it mildly, AWFUL!  When they got to the bakery there was a perfect parking spot waiting for them just around the corner.  The line to get in went to the end of the block (which was probably better than usual due to the very cold weather on Saturday.)  They waited on line, made some new friends, peeked through the windows, drank some Starbucks coffee, and after about a half hour or so had their turn to go in.  They were given a number when they walked in the door and, ironically, it was 50! 

They chose this cute pink polka dotted cake and bought a bunch of other pastries including lobster tails, cannolis, cream puffs and two red velvet cupcakes with cream cheese frosting.  Mom and Dad have been dieting but over the weekend they each had a lobster tail and my mom had a cannoli too! 

Well worth the cheating.  I thought I was being left out but I got to taste the cream filling from the lobster tail and I give it 2 paws up! 

While they were there they saw two of "Buddy's" sisters (the blond behind the counter is one) and the delivery guy who in one episode cracked up the delivery vehicle. 

Mom bought a sweat shirt (she's a sweat shirt FREAK - probably needs to go on "What NOT to Wear"!)  Everybody at the party, including the birthday girl, loved the cake and my family is already planning to go back in warmer weather.  All-in-all a very SWEET weekend!

Here She Is Again!

Iditarod vet Emi Berger checks Allen Moore's dogs at the Takotna, Alaska checkpoint on Wednesday, March 10, 2010, during the 2010 Iditarod Sled Dog Race. 

(Bob Hallinen/Anchorage Daily News/MCT)

My Famous V-E-T!!

Iditarod vet Emi Berger and musher Newton Marshall, of St. Anne, Jamaica, after the vet checked his team at the Takotna checkpoint on Thursday night March 11, 2010 during the 2010 Iditarod Sled Dog Race.

(AP Photo/BOB HALLINEN - Anchorage Daily News)

WOW!  A Jamaican Dawg Sled Team and my favorite V-E-T Emi!  Sounds like a movie to me...

Crazy Weekend in My Dawg House!

Easily Amused?

My mom is definitely easily amused.  While making her coffee the other day (when the sun was shining and snow wasn't falling), the steam was dancing in the sunlight.  She actually thought it was beautiful... alrighty then...

I guess if you click on the pictures and make them big you might be able to see what she's talking about...

I Don't Think So!

We're starting to rearrange and figure out how to live in a house without a big dawg.  The humans are still sad and do alot of talking about "The Boy".  Tommy and Libby don't seem to notice anything has changed at all.  The pest, Natty, and I, however, have really felt the loss.  It's weird because when I go outside I think I smell Ziggy.  Every time I go out to do my business I have to walk the perimeter and look for him.  I'm confused and don't know where he could be hiding.  I know the humans say he's gone but I can smell him.  Mom says after the rain that scent should go away.  We'll see.  In the mean time, Natty has taken to sleeping on Mom's legs at night while she's watching tv.  You all know from my post last month that Natty liked to sleep on Ziggy. 

Well, the other night he was sleeping on my mom's legs while I was asleep next to her.  Slowly he lowered his feet, one at a time, until all four were touching me.  I don't think so Natty!  I am NOT going to be your new electric blanket (hmmm, given my size I guess the most I could be is a heating pad!)  That cat is such a pest!

We don't know how to begin to thank all of you for supporting us during this very difficult time but we want you to know we appreciate each and every one of you.  For our friends, old and new, we hope to stop by and visit with you soon. Thank you all so much for your kindness and caring.

Beloved

Today with a heavy, broken heart we had to say goodbye to our Ziggy. When thinking of one word to describe how I feel about Ziggy the word beloved seems to encapsulate it all. Such a strong word meaning dearly loved, adored, cherished, favorite, darling, treasured, much-loved, dear. Ziggy was our treasure. Before Ziggy I had tried more than once to adopt a dog but didn't find the right fit. I became convinced I was solely a cat person. I always had cats - mostly strays that found me - Fighter, Hershel, Mittens, Gregory, Lucy, Eleanor, Ceasar, Libby, Tommy, Stinky, Gracie, XiuXiu, Cowboy, Boots, Molly, Elvis, Patsy, Pricilla and Natty. I firmly believed there were two categories of people - cat people and dog people and never the twain shall meet. I was a cat person. After our house was robbed in 2000 the police officer who helped us suggested we get a dog. He said a dog is better than any security system. The next week I heard of a litter of puppies looking for homes. My husband knew the owner of the dogs so we went to see the two that were left. George brought out Ziggy to me. I held him and, though he was cute, I was not sure I really wanted a dog. I asked to see the other puppy. Startled at the request, George told me they were "exactly" the same. If there is one thing I know - no two living things are exactly the same. So George brought out Smokey to me. Smokey looked at me and pushed away. He did not choose me and later that week went to live with my husband's brother and his wife where he has had a wonderful happy life. So we brought Ziggy home. He smelled like puppy urine and even though I didn't want to traumatize him on his first night with us, he got his first bath. We put him in his crate and went to bed. He cried like a baby and I ended up sleeping on the floor next to him all that night. That was it. I was in love. The next night he slept in our bed - something I said I would never do. We became his world and he ours. More surprising was the reaction of the cats - Tommy and Libby. After Ziggy calmed down from his puppyhood they accepted and loved him like I thought could never happen. Later on even the stray cats could be seen rubbing up against Ziggy. Pedro of course would have only been happier if he could literally have been joined to Ziggy's hip. Ziggy never met a person he didn't like. Black, white, brown, tall, short, young or old, he'd like you. That's not to say he wasn't protective of his family but if we were ok, he was ok. Cancer is such an insidious disease for animal and human alike. It came on so fast with Ziggy that we didn't have time to catch our breath before it was all over. The feeling of helplessness is overwhelming. There was nothing we or the doctors could do to help him so we did the last kind thing were able to and helped Ziggy to the Bridge today. Our hearts are broken and will not soon mend. There is a hole in our lives and in our house that will never be filled. We wish Ziggy snowy days and happy trails. We will carry him in our hearts always.  Ziggy, you are now and always will be our beloved...

Pray for Ziggy Please!

We don't know what's wrong. Last Sunday he was fine. Monday he stopped eating. The only thing that came up on his blood work was an elevated white blood cell count, indicating infection. He's on antibiotics but is getting worse. Leah and Jessie slept on the floor with him last night. As soon as his vet's office opens we're taking him in. We're all so desperately afraid for him. Please, please, please pray for Ziggy.

UPDATE - 1/16/10 9:30 AM - Ziggy has been hospitalized. His fever is up over 103 and he refuses to eat. His doctor gave him a shot of antibiotics and he is getting IV fluids and having xrays done. We'll know more after 1:30.

Merry Christmas to All!

Electric Blanket

Thoughtful, kind, patient, sweet, peaceful, blah, blah, blah... Yeah, that's Ziggy. Just look at him tolerating Natty! If Natty tried to share my food he'd be a RED, black and white cat!

Seriously Ziggy? Sleeping with the enemy? This goes too far.

Natty looks cute but, trust me, he is a vampire kitty. I don't know why all of the cats love Ziggy so much. Even the stray cats rub up against him. I mean, he's supposed to be MY electric blanket!

Two Shining Stars

Two new stars shine in the night sky.

They twinkle so brightly with memories of days gone by.

Jill (left) and Libby (right) were two beautiful doxies that lived with my mom's friend Judy. Libby was quite old at 15 and started to fail this past summer. She couldn't hear and her sight was gone. All summer long Jill stayed close by Libby acting as her eyes and ears. She watched out for the big sister she loved with her huge dachsund heart.
Last month Judy and her husband had to help Libby to the Rainbow Bridge. It was heartbreaking for them but they knew it was time. When they didn't come home with Libby, Jill stopped eating. Within 4 days Jill couldn't get up. The doctor tried to help Jill but 5 days after Libby left for the Bridge, Jill joined her. Needless to say, this has been very, very difficult for Judy and her husband. Though they were prepared to say farewell to Libby, Jills departure has left them heartbroken. Judy doesn't have a blog but I know all of you will join me in sending her our paws and tears of support. We know there are more doxies out there that need to be rescued and when Judy and her husband are ready some lucky doxie(s) will have a wonderful home waiting for them.

My Mom Messed Up!

During my mom's blog meltdown when she went on strike (against my wishes) she made us miss the Dogs With Blogs Holiday Card Exchange! I am sooooooooo upset! My mom is very upset too. We had so much fun last year sending and receiving cards that my mom almost cried when she found out it's too late to get on the list. So, please, if you would like to exchange cards with us, please drop us an email at PedroVotes@aol.com so that we can swap addresses! Thank you!!!