Christmas Past and 2015 On the Way

A pretty pink squeaky bone from my Christmas stocking!

Hi, all, Lily the corgi here.  Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!!  My mama has been very busy making gifts, running errands, baking, and dealing with the foster dog, so it's been a while since she took time to do some typing for me.  Whew...I bet you've been dying to know what's going on with me, haven't you?

I talked to you last time about our foster dog, Linus.  Linus came from a high kill shelter and would not have survived if mama hadn't told the rescue lady he could come here to live with us for a while.  Linus is a big boy, full of energy, and is super annoying.  He is always wanting to play and bark and romp.  I have taken it upon myself to teach him a few skills:  thanks to me, he is now addicted to the great joy of snacking on ice cubes.  Also, I've turned him into a world class mole digger--for some reason mama doesn't seem too thrilled with this, but I think he's been a star pupil.  The other night, Linus escaped his crate while the parentals were out and used his digging skills on the bedroom carpet...mama was really hot about that.  Anyway, Lucy has decided that she'll play with Linus a little, so at least the full responsibility of dealing with him isn't on me all the time.

 Linus and Lucy play a little tug of war.

The weather was supposed to turn bad by Christmas, so mama and daddy took all of us to the dog park a couple of days before.  It was Linus' first time at the park, so we spent a lot of time trying to show him how to behave at the dog park.  I got to work on my herding skills, pushing Linus back into the good behavior zone.  While we were at the park, I met a little mini-me named Dash; he was SO adorable.  I'm sure I must have been a fabulous baby as well!

Linus checks out Dash while I supervise the meeting.

Then, despite the fact mama was worried it would be too cold, I took a little swim in the dog park pond.  She claimed I had pond stink on me after the swim, but I think she was just making that up--you know mama's do that type of thing to make their point.

On Christmas Eve, the parentals loaded us all up in the SUV and we went to Tulsa to see our daddy's  family.  We had a lot of fun.  The ride was nice; we got to stop at a rest area to do a little sniffing then when we made it to Tulsa, it was time to visit and play with the cousins!  We like the cousins; I especially like them because I am everyone's favorite! 

Here I am, going right along with the kids on their adventures.

The next day was Christmas!  We got home late from Tulsa, so we slept in.  When we finally got up, it was time to open presents!  Our cousins Kyle, Alicia, and Lily (the human who's named after me) gave us some stockings full of toys and we loved them!  There are, in fact, quite a few decorating the floor right now.  Aunt Cathy and Uncle Roger came over for the holiday dinner, but they didn't bring Quincy the ancient wiener dog with them.  

Shhh...I think this gingerbread girl is actually Lucy's

On the day after Christmas, we all just sat around and rested until mama and daddy decided to meet some family members for dinner and left us dogs at home.  That resulted in the above mentioned carpet incident with Linus...mama and daddy say it is beyond repair and mama even cried about it.  Mama scolded Linus and told him he can't act that way or he'll never find an adoptive family, but mama and daddy didn't throw Linus away; that's just not how they are.  This makes me feel very safe and secure; I know that even if I do something naughty, my home is forever.

Yesterday, mama and daddy went to visit family and left us home for a few hours, but this time nothing was destroyed, thank goodness.  Mama says now the Christmas festivities are done, but that we still have things to celebrate.  Tomorrow is daddy's birthday, so we have to bake a cake...I enjoy cooking because you never know when a nice morsel will fall to the floor.  Then, Thursday starts a New Year and we'll have guests and I'll get petted and spoiled and loved.  Sigh...I love my life!

Take care of yourselves and I'll write again next year!!

Love ya,

Lily the Corgi

Oh yeah, I forgot.  One day along the way, we all got rawhide treats!

Is This Some Sort of Joke?

(The interloper in my home.)

Hi all, Lily the Corgi here.  Sorry this post is a bit late; mama the secretary insists she is very busy this time of year.  Okay, whatever.

So a few days ago, mama started talking to us dogs about the Christmas season of giving and how we should all do what we can for those less fortunate than ourselves.  I'm okay with this; we regularly take a few rolls of paper towels or some jugs of bleach down to our pals at Kitties and Kanines rescue so I figured this would be more of the same.  I wasn't exactly sure how some cleaning supplies were going to "save a life" as mama kept saying, but then I'm not always up to the minute on how these things work.

Well, today, something RIDICULOUS happened.  Mama had sent us girls out in the yard to pee and when we came back inside, our home had been invaded!  By a strange dog.  A big, strange dog.  A big, strange, male dog...with no manners.  This thing trotted right inside and peed in the floor...ugh.  He doesn't know how to play with toys, although poor Lucy tried to be good and share with him.  He eats as fast as Sadie does and then belches like some ruffian.  

Mama says we are now a foster family and that we'll be keeping this dog for a while to help him get ready to be adopted.  Now I, myself, spent some time with a foster family in my younger years, but I wasn't just a total mess like this guy.  I had some manners, some self respect!  Good grief.

Mama promises this guy won't stay and become our 4th family member, but I know mama...she's a sucker for a smile and a tail wag.  I won't be at all surprised if this guy is here forever.  Well, in anticipation of such thing happening, I have to lay out my best plans for turning this uncouth hound into something we can live with.

(Look at him, just sitting there beside the toy.  He doesn't even know how to play!)

Mama told me if I'd seen this guy, she calls him Linus, come into the house, I'd have been sad.  It took mama and the rescue lady to get him inside; mama says she doesn't think he's ever been inside before.  I guess that is a little sad...it is good to be inside out of the rain and cold and heat and snow.  Mama says if Linus hadn't found a foster home today, he was supposed to be put to sleep--like my brother Claude, but Linus isn't even old or sick like Claude was.  That is quite sad.

Okay, maybe it is okay if Linus stays here for a little while.  If he learns how to walk on a leash and eat nicely out of a dish and figures out that the floor is not a potty, then maybe some nice family might want to adopt him.   Maybe it is kind of cool to help this guy get ready to be a beloved part of someone's family (as long as it isn't MY family!)

Santa owes me for this one!

Til next time, everyone, share the spirit of the season and do something nice to help out a shelter dog like Linus.  You might save a life, too.

Love ya,

Lily the Corgi

(I don't care what anyone says, I will NOT be sharing my napping spot.)

Mama's Home and Life Goes On

Aunt Vicky (l) and mama (r) on their cruise ship

Hi all; Lily the corgi here.  It seems like its been forever since I was able to be on here and chat with everyone.  As you may recall, my mama and Aunt Vicky ran off for two weeks of road tripping, cruising, and having fun.  I, however, was left at home to keep things under control since daddy was here without adult supervision.  I'm happy to report there were no major injuries, fires, or other disasters while mama was gone.

I've never been on a cruise; in fact, I've never seen the ocean.  I do enjoy the lake, but mama says in the ocean, the water moves on its own and comes after you so I don't know if I'd like that.  Mama says sometimes there are service dogs on the cruise ships.  I think if I got to go on a cruise ship, I'd prefer to be vacationing and not working.  Mama says on the cruises there is food everywhere, all the time.  If one is too tired to go to the dining room, people will just carry food to your room!  How wonderful is that!?!  Maybe next time they go on a cruise, I'll find some service I can perform so I can go along.  Oh, who am I kidding?  I'm much too necessary at home to go wandering off on vacations.  Sigh...a corgi's work is never done.

A doggy dream in Memphis TN--my beagle sister Lucy would never leave this place!

One day while mama was gone, it snowed a little.  This serves mama right for leaving us--she loves the snow and is sorry she missed it while she was way down south in a hot place.  The weatherman says it may snow, or at least ice, tonight.  We have a little Christmas tree in our window and that would look every pretty shining out on snow.  I love the snow, for a while.  As a corgi, I have my nice warm double coat so the cold doesn't bother me so much EXCEPT when the snow is high enough to reach my tummy.  Icy tummy is NOT a good thing.  At least I'm not a boy corgi--they have a completely different problem with the height of the snow/ice.  Not just corgis; my cousin Quincy the Ancient Wiener dog has trouble with the snow too.

By the way, today is Quincy's birthday!  I'm not sure how old he is, but Quincy has been around a long, long time.  He's as grouchy as my late brother Claude the Grouchy Husky, he has lost most of his teeth, and he has to take a ton of medicine each day.  My daddy said Quincy tried to bite him yesterday at a Thanksgiving celebration because daddy wouldn't share his chocolate pie.  Quincy is a mess, but he's a pretty sweet and fun old man.  Happy Birthday, Q!

The birthday boy, snoozing on his mama's lap.

Speaking of old men...this past week we were very sad to learn that our old friend Biggie Corgipants has passed on.  Biggie was old, like cousin Quincy, and only had 2 teeth left.  Biggie was the senior brother of internet corgi Benny Corgipants.  Several years ago, when mama and daddy decided they wanted to adopt another corgi, they were considering adopting Benny.  Since my grouchy husky brother Claude didn't like other male dogs in his world, my parents decided not to pursue adopting Benny and chose me instead.  I've always thought Benny and I share a special bond because of that whole adoption situation, and that makes me especially sad that Benny is missing his old grouchy brother now, as I'm missing mine.

Daddy put up our Christmas tree yesterday.  It has lights on it but mama hasn't decorated it yet.  The decorations are in a box on the book case, heckling my beagle mix sister Lucy.  Mama has a lot of decorations that look like handmade toys and Lucy is certain these are actually dog toys.  So, Lucy is sniffing around and trying to get in the ornament box so she can play with those toys.  It may be an interesting and destructive season up in here!

Well, daddy has just started the grill and I hear him say he's making pork chops.  I have to go position myself right under the grill in case anything gets dropped.  Last time he grilled, daddy dropped a little piece of steak; I grabbed for it but it was very hot and I wasn't able to hold on to it.  I think today may be my day!

Take care of yourselves, watch that wintry weather, and come read me again next time!

Love ya,

Lily the Corgi

Gratitude with Attitude...That's the Corgi Way!

The beauty of autumn in the River Valley

Hi, all, Lily the Corgi here.  I am loving this beautiful autumn.  I am staying outside in the yard for many hours each day: sniffing, patrolling, digging, and just soaking up the sun.  Here in the Arkansas River Valley, autumn is THE season for spending time outdoors.  The fall season has a couple of  real highlights--Halloween and Thanksgiving.  Halloween is past us now, so it is time to focus on Thanksgiving.  This lovely holiday is all about being grateful for the blessings in your life, and I have MUCH for which to be grateful.  Let me tell you about some of the things that enrich my life.

First of all, I'm thankful for my home.  As I've told you before, I've lived in several different homes in my lifetime and I'm glad that now I've settled down.  Don't get me wrong, I still like to travel and see new things, but I love having a place of my own to come back to.  I have a big back yard, filled with trees and squirrels; my mama and daddy let me play outside all I want, but I'm never required to stay outside.  If I want to stay indoors and be a little couch potato, then thats okay.  I know there are doggies out there in the world who don't get to come in the house; they have to live outside where it is wet and cold or scorching hot, and they don't have constant access to their humans.  Knowing this makes me realize what a lucky girl I really am!

(Yep, I do love to travel, especially with my head out the window.)

I love that I have a soft, warm bed to sleep in...and smooth, cool tiles to sleep on.  I can sleep in my parents' bed, I can choose to lay with my belly pressed to the floor, or I can decide to sleep on the couch.  Some nights I choose to sleep in several places (just have to be sure I sleep lightly enough that I don't get stepped on by a wandering human or fur sibling in the dark!)  Some good dogs have no beds at all; they have to sleep in the dirt or in the snow and rain, in places that are neither comfortable nor safe.  I am grateful for the ability to rest my head in peaceful slumber when I so desire.

(This is what our bed looks like at night.  See, there's a little spot reserved for mama 

there on the left--by Sadie's butt.)

I am blessed with lots and lots of good food...too much good food, I must admit.  Mama and daddy feed us twice a day, but I'm so darned cute, I am able to beg a few snacks out of them throughout the day.  That's why mama calls me "Chubster."  Mama and daddy are careful to make sure that we eat things that are safe (if not always healthy) and that we don't get into food items that are spoiled or dangerous.  There are dogs in this world who literally starve to death every day, yet I have far more food than I can possibly eat.  I'm so glad that I'm well-fed; I just wish I could share my fortune with all the hungry dogs out there.

(The bowl is empty right now, but it won't stay that way for long!)

I am immensely blessed by wonderful friends, both human and canine...I actually even sort of enjoy the company of those pesky squirrels out in the yard.  My city has a marvelous dog park where I can go to romp and play and meet new friends.  At the dog park, almost all the dogs recognize my inborn superiority and no one has ever challenged my authority.  These dogs always bring their humans along with them and most of the humans realize they have a great opportunity to pet and admire the greatness that is the corgi--Me!  Strangers are just friends we haven't met yet, that's my motto.

(A nice lady and her dog; met them at the dog park.)

The friends and family who already know us come to our house to visit.  Mama likes to cook big dinners and then people come to eat and talk and play games.  I absolutely love these gatherings; there is always someone at hand to rub and stroke me, or to play a few games my way.  Every once in a while, my neurotic sister Sadie will get too freaked out by the crowds in her home and all us dogs will get sent to our room.  Since I never cause this kind of trouble, I'm usually the first one back out to rejoin the festivities!

I have heard there are dogs who spend their lives attached to the end of a chain with no companionship at all.  Other dogs live in animal shelters where there are a zillion dogs all barking at once and just a few keepers to feed and water them; there is almost never enough time or energy to visit or play with these poor dogs.  Being such a social little beast, I certainly know that i am blessed to have my family, friends, and admirers out there!

(Life is good; thank you, God, for giving me this great gift.)

I'd love it if all of you could take some time this Thanksgiving season to stop and count your blessings.  Few of us are so bad off that we can't find something for which to be thankful.  It would be even better if you'd take the time to channel that gratitude into action:  volunteer to walk a few dogs at your local animal shelter, say "thank you" to the next police K9 you see out there risking life and limb, or take some supplies to a local rescue.  Let's move this holiday from just a thanks-giving to a thanks-doing!

________________________________________________________

A few weeks back, all my family members (the human ones) went on a cruise.  While they were on that cruise, my mama WON another cruise!  Daddy has to stay home to work and take care of us, so mama and my Aunt Vicky are leaving in a couple of days to take that free cruise.  So, I won't have mama around to do my typing for me (short corgi arms, remember?) for a couple of weeks.  While I'm off the computer, y'all have fun, eat lots, enjoy life, and I'll be back when mama comes home!!

Til next time,

Love ya,

Lily the Corgi

This is the Life!

Dogs, the Most Interesting Animals in the World

Okay, I allowed ONE Halloween hat picture...sometimes you have to humor the parentals.

Hi, all, Lily the Corgi here.  This week has been pretty uneventful except for the arrival of some true fall weather, which prompted mama to put a comforter on our bed.  My sister Lucy is a super excited girl about this since she loves to snuggle under covers.  I am not such a fan of covers, but I do like to snuggle up to my mama for a while each night--until I get hot.  Also, this past week brought Halloween and it wasn't as big a trial as in years past.  Daddy did his silly dress up thing and giving away candy out in the front yard so there wasn't any annoying doorbell ringing going on.  Mama said we were very good girls and that we'll get a treat as a reward (hello!  where is that treat, by the way?)  Here are a couple of pictures to show you what went on at our house for the haunted evening.

                            Ghoulish daddy             The cousin babies as Yoda and Princess Leia     

Anyway, I thought that today would be a good day to share some more weird and interesting and educational dog facts.  Of course, I must comment on the facts; you'll find my thoughts in red.  For instance, did you know...

             

Like human babies, Chihuahuas are born with a soft spot in their skull which closes with age?  (I could insert a chihuahua joke here, but I'm trying to be good.)


Teddy Roosevelt's dog, Pete, ripped a French ambassador's pants off at the White House.  (I'm thinking this should happen to politicians much more often.)


70% of pet owners sign their pet's name on greeting and holiday cards.  (Mama does!)


Puppies sleep ninety percent of the day for their first few weeks.  (Lucky puppies!  Adult dogs have work to do...like mole digging and squirrel patrol; we don't have time to sleep!)

   

(There he is...my nemesis.  See how I glare at him from my hiding spot!)

Rin Tin Tin really signed his movie contracts - all 22 of them - with a pawprint.  (Excuse me, Mr. Tin, could I have your autograph?)


Dalmatian puppies are born completely white.  (As they get older, they get dotty.)


Boxers are so named because of their manner of playing with their front paws.  (I personally like to stand up and paw as well.  Does that make me a boxer??)


Many foot disorders in dogs are simply an issue of long toenails.  (Pretty sure this is propaganda my mama thought up to get me to submit to the dreaded nail clipping.)


The Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts both offer merit badges in dog care.  (Mama says back in her day, the 4H also gave dog care ribbons.  I think this should be taught in all schools and universities.)


 Dogs with little human contact in the first three months typically don't make good pets.  (You've read about my neurotic sister Sadie, who as a feral puppy had no human socialization.  I won't say she's a BAD pet, but she is surely weird.)

(Look at her, too scared to stick her head out the window.)

The Russians trained dogs during WWII to run suicide missions with mines strapped to their backs.  (I'm a big supporter of dogs who serve in the military and police departments, but this is going too far.  Someone find me a Russian I can bite!)


President Lyndon Johnson had two beagles named Him and Her.  (I also read he picked them up by their EARS!  My beagle sister Lucy would not have been a fan of this behavior!)

(Maybe if your ear is folded, the President can't grab it.)

Obesity is the #1 health problem among dogs.  (Another propaganda piece to convince us to stop eating snacks--not working here!)


Speaking of obesity, daddy has made good on that promise to give us a treat!  Yummm...okay, til next time, be good and I gotta go chew this snack.


Love ya,
Lily the Corgi

Info courtesy of RichStevens.com  

Fall, Fabulous Fall!

  

Hi all, Lily the Corgi here.  I know this blog post is a day late, but I was otherwise occupied yesterday.  It was SUCH a wonderful day!  Mama and daddy loaded us up in the truck and we set out on an autumn adventure.  

We drove up the mountain to Lake Fort Smith.  The trees were lovely, the sun was bright but not hot, and the scent of fall was amazing!  I'm a dog so I'm supposed to be excited by the smells, but my

mama says she loves the scent most of all--rotting leaves and acorns, cured grass, and a little touch of wood smoke...those are the smells of fall.  I was slightly disappointed that I wasn't able to sniff out any squirrel action, but that's what my backyard is for!

Once we got to the lake, we hopped out of the truck and struck out on a glorious walk on some of the trails.  We met a nice pit bull and a super chunky bulldog walking on the trails too; mama scolded me for barking at them.  Geez, I was only letting them know that I had taken possession of the area so they'd know how to behave properly.  Anyway, the walk was lovely.

After we walked for a long time, we were tired so we got back to the truck to have a nice bowl of water (you know how Sadie loves to drink water when we're on the road!)  

Then we loaded up and drove around the undeveloped part of the park area...it was SO pretty.  How could anyone not be happy on a day like this?

Even though I am a corgi and so, of course, extremely intelligent and articulate, I simply have nothing to add.  The pictures speak for themselves.  I'm a blessed and happy little being.

.............................................

I understand this Friday is Halloween.  Be careful of your dogs; all the extra activity of the trick-or-treaters can make dogs very excited...make sure they are kept somewhere they cannot escape or become so upset that they nip someone!  Much as it pains me to have to advocate for the species, be careful with your cats, especially black ones, at this time of year.  And remember...Halloween candy like chocolate can be bad for your dogs, so guard that treat sack (mama forced me to add that last part!)

Til next time, everyone.  Happy Halloween and be careful out there!

Love ya,

Lily the Corgi

    

Random Thoughts on Backyard Wildlife

We are all just being lazy on this fall day (notice Sadie with the crazy eye even when at rest!)

Hi, all, Lily the Corgi here.  What a beautiful fall day it is here in the Arkansas River Valley.  I've been out hunting squirrels in the yard for the longest time today.  Sadie and Lucy got bored with it and went back inside, but I stayed faithfully on the chase.  The lovely fall weather makes it so pleasant to be outside enjoying the flora and fauna--well, the flora is dying but the fauna is still there.

For the past couple of weeks, we've had an infestation of moles in our back yard.  I've been doing my best to dig down and grab the little boogers, but haven't caught one yet.  They make the yard all spongy with their tunnels and I don't like it at all.  Mama says the yard looks like a Putt-Putt golf course with all the holes I've dug trying to get at them. (In my defense, Sadie and Lucy have also dug a little, but it is primarily my responsibility.)  I don't know that I've ever seen a mole, so I'm anxious to catch one so I can see what the little digger looks like.  Daddy says they are like an ugly mouse, but I don't think I know what a mouse looks like either; pretty sure I've never caught one of those guys.  

Another thing I know about are these sassy-pants little birds called mockingbirds.  They are attractive birds and they sing nicely when they want to, but mostly they just want to chatter and scold us dogs. They'll sit up on a limb just barely out of our reach and fuss and carry on something awful.  The other day, one of these little suckers got overly brave and swooped down to peck at my head!  In fact, he made 2 passes to try and get me.  Well, the second time I almost turned the tables on him; next time I plan to grab that sassy little guy right out of the air and then we'll see who gets the scolding..  

Not too long ago, we had a funny little visitor in the yard.  My mama came to the door to let us out to pee and noticed there was a little frog just hanging on the window screen.  I've seen a few frogs down on the ground, but I never knew they got on the windows!  I think it's okay that they are up high; when they are on the ground, they are pretty tempting to grab but I know that's a REALLY bad idea. Frogs taste so bad, they make dogs foam at the mouth.  Once you've had a taste of frog, you remember not to put them in your mouth again!

Mama said on their recent cruise, Uncle Roger ate frog legs.  I wonder if he foamed at the mouth?

Of course, the most important yard critter, in my expert opinion, is the squirrel.  They have been very active lately, getting ready for the cold weather that is sure to come.  It is my job to chase them and keep them away from the food in the bird feeder, and I take pride in my work. The squirrels climb up our trees and race across the top of our fence.  Once in a while, they will drop down on the ground and that's when I really have a shot at catching one.  But, they are pretty fast and I don't really try too hard to actually catch the squirrels--they are quite entertaining and I wouldn't want to hurt or kill one and lose all my fun. 

Here's where you'll find me much of the time--watching for squirrels on the fence or in the trees.

I'm happy to report that my sister Sadie's ear has been healing well.  She is still a little wary of me, but she did invite me to play with her for a while last night, so I think she's forgiven me for my indiscretion at the kennel.  Lucy ate a sack full of Halloween decorations this past week, so the parents' attention has been turned from me and that's good news!  

So, that's about all I know; it's been pretty low key here and that's fine by me.  Take care of yourselves and be sure to take time to enjoy the lovely autumn weather.

Til next time,

Love ya,

Lily the Corgi