Saturday Squee: Cutest. Koala. EVER!

Koala from Facebook

Because a koala that fits in your hands is cute. Period.

Nap Attack and Why I've Been on the DL

Recently, I was attacked by the nap monster. Really, I should get an exterminator in here, 'cause it happens just about every day ;)
When I awoke, I was greeted by this image, above. Arwen loves taking naps. If you say, "Want to go lie down?" Or, "Want to have a nap?" No matter where she is, she'll stop whatever she's doing (even if she is already napping in the living room), and run to the bedroom. If she feels she isn't being followed, she will stop at the bedroom door and look back, just to make sure you're not lying to her, and actually are going to follow her to bed. Then she'll jump up (usually into my hubby's space), lay down (usually with her head on my hubby's pillow), let out a huge sigh and fall straight asleep. Scratches are optional, but greatly appreciated. By the time I wake up, she's graduated from curled-up sleep positions to full-on stretched out as far as she can positions, with the occasional on-the-back position, as evidenced above.
Just thought I'd share that with you :)
As for why I've been quiet lately... well, I've been switching medications for my thyroid and adrenal issues, as well as going off of some other meds, as I've been having some interesting-in-a-scary-way medical issues. I won't bore you with the details here, but it is stressing my body, which is in turn stressing my mind and making me less than productive as my mind and body struggle to come to some middle of the ground agreement on how the whole shebang should get along and work together (why can't we all just be friends and get along???).
So that's my story. I'm sorry I've been on the DL for a while, I'm going to try and at least post some photos of Arwen in between posting the artist features every Friday, so that, even if the photo-only posts don't have much content, at least there will be cute-funny photos for you to look at and start your day with :)
Have a great Thursday, see you tomorrow for another fabulous artist feature!

Saturday Squee: Who Likes Piglets??

Lil Oinker

Seriously? I might faint from cuteness. Until they get to be about 300 pounds, anyway :)

Saturday Squee: Tiny Doggies

Dachshund Sisters Set of ten 5x7 blank folded by TheHopperShop, $12.95 

Two tiny doggies, looking out a window. S-Q-U-E-E!

Saturday Squee: Baby Bunny!

Baby Bunny from Here:  http://www.imgur.com/QO80X

'Cause really, a baby bunny with ears as big as its body just can't get any cuter...or can it? Tune in next week to see the new squee!

Saturday Squee: The Cutest Snail You'll Ever See

Lovestruck Snail by ColtPixy

Seriously, have you ever seen a snail you wanted to cuddle with more??

Saturday Squee: Dogs in Trench Coats

The Westerly Trench on an Adorable Puppy From Here: http://www.etsy.com/shop/RoverDog

A puppy. In a trench coat. Seriously? Too Squee!

Saturday Squee: I Love Pugs

Black Pug Puppy from here: http://www.dipity.com/tickr/Flickr_pug/

I love pugs!! They're so cute and snorty and fuzzy and tiny! I love their bulgy eyes and scrunchy noses and curly tails.

"Pugkin" pug Pumpkin Hat from JessicaLynneArt

So cute they're SQUEE! Have a happy Saturday :)

Saturday Squee: I'm a Fool for Puppies

Ada the Labrador Retriever, Found on Dailypuppy.com

I love puppies. I freely admit that when I see one, I go from quiet, reserved me, into full-blown squeaking, cooing, baby-talking messiness. And I'm okay with it. Love is a beautiful thing. Puppy love? Well, let's just say I can't get enough of them...
Those watery eyes, so innocent and full of life.
Those giant paws and ears, too big for them now, but will be quickly grown into.
The little squawk that becomes the bellowing bark.
The fuzz that turns into sleek fur that gets into every little nook and cranny.
The puppy antics that are annoying, but so funny you have to walk away quickly so they don't see you laughing so hard you want to pee your pants (evidence: Arwen as a puppy deciding to "play" with the 11 foot logs that line my gardens. At all of 25 pounds she was determined to drag one around the yard, snarling the whole time, and even tried to get one up the back stairs. She saw me laughing at that one - I fell over after the log tripped me and was laughing so hard I couldn't stand up for a good 5 minutes).
The initial dependency on you that turns into deep, unequivocal love on both sides of the equation. As Audrey Hepburn once said, "Who thinks you're as fantastic as your dog?".
What is wonderful is that as they get older, the love gets even deeper. Arwen is now 8-1/2 and other than my close family members, I don't think I've ever loved anyone or anything as much as her. She is my best friend, my buddy, by crack-head. She's my grown up puppy and will always be super-cute to me :)

Saturday Squee - National Hugging Day

Courtesy of http://icanhascheezburger.com

Because, really, there isn't anything cuter than cats hugging, unless it is on National Hugging Day :)

I am sorry that I didn't get to post this week's Tuesday's Treasures, Arwednesdays with Arwen or Thursday's Treasuries. Arwen jumped off my bed on Monday and really hurt her shoulder. We *think* she pulled a muscle or something in her shoulder or leg, but she was limping really, really badly and for a few days it was all I could do to keep her still (she might be 8-1/2 years old, but the Border collie in her makes her act more like a 3 year old). She could put her weight on it, and would run up and down the back stairs if she saw a squirrel, which was the only reason I didn't rush her into the emergency vet that very second I saw her limping. 

Anyway, I slept on the living room couch with her for a couple of nights to keep her from jumping up and down on the furniture, which meant I didn't really sleep for about 3 days. Plus, when she did jump up onto the bed or a couch, I had to lift all 53 pounds of her off of it so that she wouldn't jump down on her own and hurt herself even more. This ended up being the reason I hardly got into my workshop for most of this week, let alone spending undivided time with my laptop.

Fortunately, she is better now, she only limps occasionally, and even then, it is so minor as to be almost invisible unless you are really staring at her. I am hoping to get back to our daily morning walks, and even the weather seems like it will try to cooperate, as it is only supposed to be -14 Celsius tomorrow.

Only.

Yippee.

So after all of this, we are now, as they say, back to our regularly scheduled programming, and I will continue with the regular blog posts from now on. 

Barring, of course, any other major dog injuries, personal illnesses, or acts of supreme deity.

I have my fingers crossed for smooth sailing :)

Saturday Squee: Baby Honey Badger

Baby Honey Badger

Ok, for today's Saturday Squee, the cutest photo on the interwebs, here I present you with: Baby Honey Badger. Posted by NayaH on imgur.com, this is the cutest little fart that ever was...for now. Add this photo (in your mind) to the narration video on YouTube by Randall (caution: explicit lyrics), and you have the cutest and funniest thing for your weekend.
See you soon!

Saturday Squee: Baby Honey Badger

Baby Honey Badger

Ok, for today's Saturday Squee, the cutest photo on the interwebs, here I present you with: Baby Honey Badger. Posted by NayaH on imgur.com, this is the cutest little fart that ever was...for now. Add this photo (in your mind) to the narration video on YouTube by Randall (caution: explicit lyrics), and you have the cutest and funniest thing for your weekend.
See you soon!

The Dog Is Alright

 Arwen is feeling better. After 5 days of antibiotics, ground beef and rice, chicken and rice, lots of hugs and TLC, she has a happy belly once more. We even went on a walk this morning. Even though it was quite cool and damp, I figured it would be fine.
Then it started to pour.
And pour.
And pour.
And we were only halfway done our walk, which in the country means that we walk until I'm tired, usually about 20 minutes at a slow jogging pace, then we turn around and walk back, again at a (slightly slower) jogging pace. We do about 3 miles or so in 30-40 minutes. I know, I'm slow.
But back to the rain.
Normally, that wouldn't be an issue, if, say, we were in the city, with nice paved sidewalks that don't really get that dirty.
We, however, as stated previously, live in the country.
On dirt roads. With lots of loose dirt and gravel.

I'd show you the "before" photos, of Arwen absolutely filthy, and the left side of my pants (the side where Arwen walks) just disgustingly muddy (I swear she kicks up dirt on me on purpose), but I don't want to frighten young children. Suffice it to say, we were DIRTY! A bath was immediately in order, despite the Time-Of-Use power thingy saying we were at peak power and running the shower would cost a small fortune.
Arwen hates baths.
At first.
When she gets the soap off of her, and is having her post-soap massage in the shower she starts to like it.
When she gets out of the shower, then she really likes it.
Because she gets to hide under a towel.
I really don't understand why she loves this so much, but if I hold a towel out, she will walk under it, wag her tail and wait for me to lay it across her. Then, when the towel is on her, she stands there and - there is no other way to describe it - she wiggles. Yes, you read that correctly, she wiggles under the towel, almost like she is trying to dry herself off. It is the cutest, funniest thing ever.
Then she gets a treat, gets a cuddle, all while being told that she is the most gorgeous dog ever, and then, when she is mostly dry, she cuddles up on a blanket on the couch, and gets wrapped in a quilt to keep warm.
I love my dog.
(can you tell?)

The Nose Knows

One of my favorite parts of Arwen, aside from her soulful eyes, is her cute nose. It is out of focus as I was roasting a chicken for Brennan's dinner and she was sniffing very hopefully.
She got her wish.
The nose always knows, when there is food and a cute dog, inevitably, if the food is healthy, she'll get some :)
I love my little fifty-pound doggy. How blessed I am to have her!

Soulful Sunday Quotes

"Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, but today is a gift. (That is why it is called "the present")".
Eleanor Roosevelt (Kung Fu Panda in parentheses)

I have a tendency to not live in the moment. I always plan - er, ok, worry, about everything, mostly about what "could" or what "might" happen. That is why I love this quote. We all need to plan for the future, we'd be stupid not to, but we also need to take time out to live in the moment. Be present for whatever is happening NOW. Dogs (see above and below) are good at that. Arwen is especially good at that.

If Arwen sees something interesting, she smells it (or tastes it, see photo above). If she is hungry, she eats. If she is hyper, she plays, shaking the heck out of her favorite toy of the moment. She loves to walk and bark and sniff. She stays present, and really, she has no worries because of it. I could take a page out of her book, as could most of us I think :)

So, relax. Take a deep breath. You wouldn't want to spend all of your time worrying and planning, only to reach the end of your life and say, "Well, heck, I missed so much by not paying attention to what was happening then. I wasn't present." What a shame that would be!

Enjoy your Sunday, be present, laugh at little things. Leave the planning for Monday, it will come (unless we have a Zombie Apocalypse, but then you won't have to worry about anything but not having your brains eaten, so no problem)!

See you tomorrow, Zombies be damned :)

Saturday Squee - the Cutest of Etsy, AlexWijnen

My Little Joker by AlexWijnen

Today's Saturday Squee comes from the shop AlexWijnen on Etsy. Not only is the image adorable, but it is also raising money for charity! This shop is also a member of Etsy for Animals, an Etsy group devoted to loving animals of all kinds!

Hope you like it!

Saturday Squee - The Cutest of Etsy, May 14 2011

(Pirate Hat for Your Puppy by LenaPavia)

I've decided Saturdays should be devoted to Squee. Because we all need a little happy to get our happy weekends started.

What is squee? Look at the photo above. Isn't it so Cuuuuuuute?? Just makes you want to go EEEEEEE!!! That is squee - it is so cute and adorable it kinda hurts. Like a hangnail you just can't ignore. But happy. Always happy.

Happy is good, and so is Squee. So here is my pick of Squee from Etsy this week. I Hope you like it!

Do you have an idea for a Saturday Squee - The Cutest of Etsy post? Leave the link in the comments below. I screen all comments, though, so please, no profanity, nudity, or otherwise non G-Rated links, or non related links. (You know who you are. And I'll delete you. As always.)

Have a great Squee Saturday!

Wordless Wednesday

Photo from DailyPuppy.com

Sorry it has been so long since the last post. Between work and Easter, a few mishaps in the house (I'll post that soon with pics *shudder*), and Brennan getting a cold and being so nice and sharing it with me (yeah, thanks honey), I haven't been able to read anyone else's posts, let alone post my own. However, here is a very cute photo from DailyPuppy.com that I wish was mine - I can just imagine what a hyper Jack Russel Terrier puppy and Arwen would do to this house. Yikes. But still, with eyes like those, and the cute puppy faces that Arwen can still give, how could you not forgive them?

Hope you all have a great day!