We've had a case of major trepidation this past week since LaQuinta and Sally have both come in "season" and have been fenced off seperately with Buster and Peanut.  We've seen alot of sniffing and interest on the part of both male dogs, but no definite "activity".

Finally I spotted Buster and Sally hopelessly "entangled" yesterday morning, so that served to lessen the trepidation slightly, but we were both nervous about Peanut and LaQuinta, wondering if the "deed" would actually ever get done.  This is Peanut's first opportunity to participate in any "carnal activity" and so far, LaQuinta was snarling at him every time he tried to "put his moves on her".  (Gee, keeping this on a GP rating level is challenging, ya know?)  At one point this past week, I even commented to Ice that maybe we should change Peanut's name to "Caboose" because everywhere LaQuinta went, he was directly behind her with his nose.....uh....well, you get the picture.

Anyway, Ice left for his morning errands a while ago, but came right back to the door and beckoned me out onto the side porch and pointed to the back yard....and there they were!  Peanut and LaQuinta hopelessly entangled in said "carnal activity".

Well, you might have mistaken me for a cheerleader at that moment, because with both my thumbs pointed up, I was shouting "Way to go, Peanut!!!!!" and I'm sure the neighbors were thinking I'd lost my mind, lol.  I even considered grabbing the camera before I came to my senses. 

I know, I hear some of you muttering, "she really needs to get a life", and that's okay.  Cuz no matter what anybody thinks, I'm proud of our little boy Peanut and can't wait to see his puppies.  He's been through so much since we got him over a year ago and doggone it, he deserves a piece of the action, don't ya think?  lol

Okay, I'll shut up now and leave you all to wonder if that crazy lady on Schnauzer Lane has finally "gone to the dogs" crazy.  lol

WAY TO GO, PEANUT!!!!

THAT'S MY BOY!!

Maybe I should offer him a cigarette, ya think?

Now, I'm gonna concentrate on NOT thinking about the fact that I could possibly be delivering two litters of puppies on Christmas Day!  God help me!  lol

Love to all!

The proud Pupster

I've really enjoyed this weekend and wish it would go on for a few more days.  Ice's music variety is wafting around the corner and surrounding me here at my perch and I could listen to it for hours and hours.  Too bad it's too close to bedtime to do that.  Once again....if wishes were horses, right?

Prissy's pups are growing so fast!  They're three weeks old and it's hard to believe they will be leaving us in just three more weeks.  They're so sweet and cuddly!

Here is the smallest male, then the other two males and finally the female:

They look so much alike that it's hard to tell them apart.  I can't wait til they're big enough to romp and play out in the puppy yard.  I always get all scratched up from the sharp little teeth and claws, but it's worth it.

Poor Junior has the run of the house along with Sugar, but he chooses to spend all his time outside and in the kennel because Sally and LaQuinta are both in heat and he thinks he might "get lucky", lol.  But he can't get to either of them since they are fenced in with Buster and Peanut.  Poor Junior....

Meanwhile, Sugar is bored because it's raining and she has nobody to play with, so she has kept us hopping all day.  I swear, I don't know how she gets to all these things that she isn't supposed to have.  Everytime we think everything is secure, her devious little mind figures out how to get to something else.  She got Ice's road atlas earlier and had several states shredded in the living room floor before I discovered her deed.  I have a flower swag that is on one of the living room side tables that she got earlier today, so I placed it on top of the dining room table.  Well........you guessed it....I caught her with it again a few minutes ago.  I fear it's damaged beyond repair and the little stinker is still roaming the house to see what her next challenge is.  Did I mention we love her to pieces?  lol  She just streaked though here with one of her toys, so maybe she's run out of "off limit" items finally.  I can hope, anyway.

I haven't been much in the mood for blogging lately and the stress of the job has really had me in a blue funk.  Now I'll be doing two jobs until after the first of the year, but that will still be easier than the work situation as it's been for months.  However, I have to get the entire agency ready for re-certification in December, so I'll be working my butt off for the next few months.  I think, if I'm still sane, I'll take the entire month of January off......oh wait, I can't do that.  I'll be hiring and training for the office manager position by then.  Hey, do any of you want a great job?  Let me know....

I think I'll shut up my useless drivel and get around to visit everybody.  Catch you all later!  Love to all!

Pup

.....then beggers would ride.

Seems I've heard that phrase all my life.  But I still wish all the time.  Doesn't everybody?  Maybe if we changed the word "wish" to "hope" in our thoughts and words, we might get to ride, ya think?  Just a thought.

What I wish the most at this moment is that I wouldn't have had to fire my best friend yesterday.  What I hope is that some day I will be able to offer her job back to her.  And what I hope most is that she is able to overcome the difficulties that have rendered her incapable of doing her job. 

Faith is believing in something unknown.  And I believe that hope leads to faith.  So I have faith that she will recover to her former self and once again be vibrant and happy.  And that makes me smile.

The puppies will be three weeks old tomorrow and are growing by leaps and bounds.  Prissy takes such good care of them, but still would rather be babied herself.  Since Buster and Peanut are now seperated and paired with LaQuinta and Sally for breeding for a while, Sugar and Junior are now the honored house guests and loving every minute of it.  Sugar has appointed herself the official "alarm clock" and can't stand for anybody to sleep in.  But she comes in handy on mornings that we have to get up and besides...........she's just so cute and sweet.  Even when she's once again trying to haul the bathroom rug out the doggy door.

My Dad called it quits on the Alaska job and is now back home full time.  At least until he gets another wild hair and takes off for some other distant place to work.  The man just can't seem to get used to retirement.  But if working makes him happy, then I'm all for it.  Just not as far away as Alaska!  Anyway, I'm looking forward to seeing him a lot more often in the meantime.

I just got a preview of the next installment of Ice's story and it's fantastic, as usual.  Everytime he writes another addition, it blows me away.  So back to wishes........I wish I had the ability to put such incredible thoughts to words, and once again, wish I could see the inside of his brain.  Wow!

I used to "wish" for a man such as Ice.  Then I "hoped" and that hope turned to quiet faith that settled on my mind.  Then he was there.

My eyelids are drooping and that big ole bed is calling my name after a very stressful week, so good night to everybody and I "hope" you're all having a wonderful weekend.  TGIF!!!  Love to all!

Pup

So, how is everybody?  Ice and I are recovering from out trip to the city.  I've already had a nap this evening and he is currently asleep in his chair.  I attended a two day conference that I enjoyed, since it was a break from the usual meetings I have to go to.  I was able to pick and choose what sessions I'd rather attend and other than getting talked into going to a session with my co-workers about acupuncture, I managed to attend some very informative breakout sessions on stalking. 

One of the main speakers of the conference was the sister to a woman that was stalked for a year by an ex-boyfriend and eventually killed.  I was shocked at the methods he used to track her down and kill her, even after she made every effort to hide her location and cover her tracks.  She was a very vigilant and intelligent woman that did everything right, but law enforcement and the D.A. continued to let her down. 

I also attended a session on how technology is used to spy on, track, and stalk victims and was again shocked at the methods I had never dreamed could be used. 

Stalking is a particular interest to me because of someone close to me that was stalked by a former husband and I remember vividly the fear I had that she would be harmed or killed by a man that was fully capable of doing just that.  He was abusive and controlling and eventually had to leave her alone due only to trouble he got himself into and was virtually run out of the county by law enforcement and the judicial system.  As I was listening to the woman talk about what her sister and her family went through because of this man, I realized that I was becoming a bundle of nerves that got worse as she spoke.  The residual emotions that came out in me were emotions I thought were long past.  The fear I had felt at the time came to the surface and had my insides shaking before the speech was over and it brought home to me just how much more this woman and her family went through, still go through, and always will.  I call it "Domestic Terrorism".

October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month, so if you are inclined, wear a purple ribbon to increase awareness.  We need all the help we can get.  Our state capitol dome is lighted purple this month and the governor attended our lighting ceremony.  Over 300 "silent witnesses" are placed in the capitol rotunda, which are silhouette figures with name plates of all the women and children in our state that have been killed at the hands of their abusers.  It's an awesome and humbling sight to see them all in one place.

We took Sugar with us so that she could play with Molly while we were there.  They played til they dropped and there was never a dull moment, for sure.  Sugar was so tired that she slept in my lap all the way home.  Here are a few pictures we took while we were there of the two little partners in crime:

In case you're wondering, yes, they were trying to eat the roses, lol.  They managed to haul all their toys out to the back yard, one by one, and just had a blast.

Well, I've run out of news and want to go and check out what all of you have been up to, so I'll shut up now.  Oh, I almost forgot......

THANK GOD IT'S FRIDAY!!!!

Later, Gators!

Pup