Edith Sings them to sleep!!

I opened MySpace this morning and Annie Lennox's music playlist was being featured. If you go to her profile the playlist is different so it must be one of those MySpace marketing things. Anyhow, Edith Piaf happened to be the first selection on that featured playlist. Well, since I like her music, I naturally clicked play. That's when all the pups started howling. I clicked the next song and they stopped. I clicked back to Edith and they started again. Before I could get the lights on and the camera rolling, most of them had fallen off to sleep, but little Henna stayed awake long enough to serenade me. Be sure to watch the ending!! Also if you've never heard Edith Piaf.... google her. Yes, she's french, but we can forgive that, because she was born Italian.

Five Weeks Old!!

We're into week six now!! That means the pups are 5 weeks old. That also means that whatever life I'd been living up to this point has just been put on hold, because now my attention is 24/7 puppies. Weighed 'em all this morning and we have almost.... Almost 67 lbs of puppy. The largest is now 7lb 5 oz and growing... hourly!! You can see from this picture they don't like to go too far from the food pan.

Maggie leaves this Sat for her new foster arrangement. She decided sometime around this past Mon that she was done nursing. I've had to sort of cage her a few times so the pups could assist with swollen teats, but she's pretty much done. Tomorrow will be the last day they'll have contact with her and that's only if I can't quiet them down. They're quite the content little bunch of siblings. All spats are usually settled in a huge pile and often with sleep close behind.

Miss Midge below got her name because she was the largest. She's since been eclipsed by her ever so much larger sister, who still remains nameless. Alas, we have one more name to bestow and we're done.

Neddy, Highway, Winnie, Midge, Roxie, Kip, Newby, Mickey, Henna and the last one!! Maggie's become infatuated with the cats this week. We've exiled her to the living room with Dash n Roux and suddenly she was there where she could see the cats disappear up the stairs and down that hole... (the trap door). She's yet to ever try to hurt one of them, but they totally fascinate her.

Sat I'll be taking her to Baileys Crossroads to the adoption event. Today I posted an ad for her on craigslist. We're looking for a new foster family that might be willing to take her in. you can see her ad here.... http://washingtondc.craigslist.org/nva/pet/1051726192.html We'll miss her, but at the same time, it'll be a break for me. See, once Maggie decided she was no longer a Mama.... she went right back to being a puppy. Ten is enough for me!! Wish her and us luck!!! We've got to find ten good homes for these little babies in a few weeks too!!

Under the weather!

Never means you get a break! I flop back and forth from feeling a little green to not knowing exactly where I am. The dogs and the puppies don't seem to understand how I'm feeling though, and they insist on the normal routine. This means 2 - 3 hours of sleep at a time. I forgot about this feature. The Bassets had it down to the minute almost. These 10 are a little more forgiving, but since I've taken their mama from them, except for those few nursing visits I still allow, their awake time is more needy and louder. Which in turn leaves me feeling like this. I'm officially boycotting my kitchen today, unless of course I get word that there's chocolate in there.

Wish the pups luck.... I'm not in the same fastidious mood I was in yesterday.

They might have to just get over themselves once or twice today.

Warning!! Soft cuddly things ahead!!!

OK... I'm sorry if I've challenged a few of you with my last post. I said from the beginning though, that I would try to show all aspects of Dog Rescue. Day 1 after I finished administering the dewormer and they're pretty much back to normal. All worms gone.... no more spaghetti!! So here's the nicer side..... Playing or Sleeping.... I'll take either over pooping!! Here's Miss Neddy daring me to chase her.

.... and here's Miss Neddy less tan 20 minutes later... Crashed. For some reason she prefers to sleep away from her siblings. She's not one for being part of the pile-up!

Miss India loves sleeping in the corner.... and posing at the same time!

Newby is often on his back as well, but always near the big teddy bear I gave them. You can see just a little of Miss Winnie too. She a little noise maker and very demanding.

Highway goes as far back from the light and the noise as possible. He weighed in today at 6 lb 5 oz. I only weighed him and Midge. She topped the scales at 6 lb 6 oz.

So there you have a more OOH and AAH evoking post. Much different and I guess a little less stomach churning than my last. Steve and I have some sort of nasty cold/bronchial related illness. He stayed home Friday and spent the whole weekend with it. I started sunday morning feeling ill and am full blown bitchy with it right now. It came with a fever, bad congestion and lots of coughing, but no vomiting, so we can't call it the flu. I guess if we can make it through exorcism-like puppy poop while sick as dogs ourselves.... we can make it through anything. Well, check in around wednesday, cuz I ain't done being sick yet. I might just start protesting the kitchen tomorrow and dump a bag of dog food on the floor. I'm ready to just be sick and say to hell with everything else..... NOT! It would be nice to sleep for more than 3 hours uninterrupted though.

They've gone Alien on me..

OK... We gave the pups their wormer today.... WTF!?!?!?!?! I've de-wormed puppies before,

but this has to be one for "Dirtiest Jobs".

Ten pups X 3 - 4 poops a day X 30 worms per poop.

We've already disposed of a guesstimated 1000 or more worms.

Tomorrow better be better than today.

I can't hold my stomach much longer.

Each puppy gives me the same amount each time.

It's totally grossing me out.

I've never washed my hands as much as I have today.

Did somebody call a priest? I swear this is some sort of exorcism

taking place right here in my dining room..... YUCK!!!! I'll never eat in this room again.

Demon spawn spewing original sin from their bowels.

If their little heads start spinning.... I'm outta here.

I know one thing for damn sure... I'm never eating Ramen Noodles again.

Pupdate!!

The pups are now just past 4 weeks old. Weighed them all this morning and although there's a difference of almost 1lb between the smallest and the fattest, I'm not too worried because they're all healthy. We've got two left to name and hopefully they'll start exhibiting some unique personality traits soon, so we can start calling them something other than cutie!! They've all learned how to stand up and look over the wall of their little compound. Here's Newby staring at me wondering where his momma is. Maggie, their mama, spends most of her day with Dash and Roux outside or asleep on the sofa. Feeding time has become a little more difficult. Since there are ten pups and Maggie can only feed 8 at a time...... it's a little hectic. Actually it's more like a mall mob the day after xmas. The frantic rush to get there first and no concern for who gets stepped on or pushed out of the way. They've even started biting and growling to get that almighty teat. Funny, the number of thoughts that flashed through my head just then. The symbolism alone made me dizzy and lightheaded with giddy laughter!! I still assist from time to time by exiling the few fatties to another part of the compound, just so the little guys can feast for awhile. Again... there go those symbolic thoughts racing around in my head. I'd write 'em down but told myself there''s no need to now that we have responsible and accountable government. My political sarcasm has stalled so to say.... it'll never be gone completely!! One of the highlights of puppy fostering is getting to go worm hunting. It's a good sign actually... tells me the dewormer is doing it's thing. Still gross though. These are round worms... the most common worms for puppies. My little guys were born with these, since Mama was already infested. They're kind of prehistoric looking. The next ones I find... I'm video taping for You Tube!!! They move around all slow-like..... looking like Nessie on land. I guess I forgot to mention that half of the pups are now over 5lbs. We now have 49lb 2 oz of puppy!!! So far we have named 8.... and here they are....

Neddy

Highway

Winnie

Midge

Roxie

Kip

Newby

India

I'm gonna try to do Glam Shots of them, individual like, this weekend. Wish me luck!!

Naming Bunnies

The Bunnies are officially 4 wks old now. They're all over 4 lbs... a couple of them closer to 5.... little fatties!! I did some figuring and came up with these numbers... We started with 9lb 8.3oz of Pups. At 4 wks we have a total of 42lbs 14oz of Pups.... Of course you can give or take an ounce depending on how often they leave me little surprises. This is the week I start limiting their nursing and start increasing their dependence on me. They've already perfected the food pan... well maybe not perfected it, but they know what it is when they see me with it..... Fat Little Bunnies!! So far we have 6 named. Kennedy was the first... She also was the first born. I call her Neddy. Secondly, we named Kip after a dear friend and neighbor who passed the same day the pups were born. Then we picked out Midge. She wasn't born the largest, but quickly took that title and has maintained it ever since. So, since we can't name her Marge for "Large Marge", because that was taken by one of the bassets, we used Midge. After that we were stuck for awhile. I had toyed with the idea of American Indian names, but then couldn't remember them once I chose them, so we hit rewind and let the little bunnies choose for us. That's how we got Highway. He loves to run, but has to jump first and then he takes off.... just like he's ready to hit the highway. Sort of a personal favorite of mine is Roxie. She's one of the two white ones... and always has the best poses, so I named her after Roxie Hart, originally played by Ginger Rogers and then later the character was used in Chicago In Honor of many things.... Obama being in office... the 150th anniversary of John Browns Raid here in Harpers Ferry,WV. I chose to name the 3rd little boy, Newby, after Dangerfield Newby, who was the first man to die that Oct night in 1859. There ya have it. Neddy, Kip, Midge, Highway, Roxie & Newby.. My little bunnies are growing up. Pretty soon they'll be asked to grow up too fast and we'll take their Mama from them. Then we'll stick 'em with needles and shortly afterwards, hopefully place them with good families that will give them the love that they deserve. I know... I'm way ahead of myself... One day at a time seems forever, but I know how fast we got to this point. Wasn't it just yesterday that I would holler in to Steve for the time as each one of them entered the light? Now, they run and jump and growl and best of all .... they give hundreds of bunny kisses!! I'm sure Maggie will miss them, but I bet she won't miss being pummeled but 40+ lbs of gnawing teeth. We have 4 more to name.... don't hate me if I don't take your suggestions... I figure it this way... The new owners will more than likely rename them anyhow, so if I'm doing all the work... I get to choose the name they'll have for this brief time, and if they keep the names I chose, well at least I'll be able to share how they got those names. Y'all take care and come hug a Bunny!!

31 Birthdays

My Dad would have been 85 yrs old this past Mon, the 9th of Feb.

I say would have been, because he's no longer with us, well at least not in the physical sense.

It's taken me until today to write about him.

I seem to be postponing a lot of important issues these days... memorial type issues.

I guess it's ok though as long as I'm not refusing to deal and instead just waiting until the time is right. 44 yrs old and I'm just coming into my mid-life episode.

Transforming from the disgruntled short fuse I once was into something a little calmer... a little more understanding and a lot less angry.

Yes, there are times when I lose it, but it takes a totally disrespectful idiot to make me go there.

I digress.... this is about my father and why I waited until today to write about him. I guess it has a lot to do with the fact that it's winter. I get depressed easily in the dark months, so thoughts of something that might not be so happy might need to be addressed in a timely manner. I basically spent the last few days immersed in puppy kisses. Wet noses and wet tongues have been my morning noon and night. So much so, I haven't had time to do anything else. Thus allowing me the time to think about and process my Dads recent birth anniversary.

85.... WOW! I can't even imagine what it will be like to be 85. It seems like a lifetime away and yet, because I know how fast I got to 44, I know how fast I'll leave it behind. My Dad was 4o when I was born. Again... I can't even begin to imagine having a 4 yr old... FULL TIME at this stage in my life. Puppies are enough!! If I live to be as old as my Dad was when he passed away, I will have know him LESS than half my life. That seems so strange to me.... I knew my father less than half my life... what an odd realization. I guess that's why his birth and death anniversaries are getting more difficult with time instead of easier. The more time that passes, the less and less I'll remember about him. I feel almost as if with the passing of too many years I'll forget his laugh, I'll not remember his face, I'll forget him altogether. I find myself growing increasingly jealous of my older siblings, as if they have some sort of advantage over me because they're older. They knew him longer and they shared more experiences with him. I guess it made losing him equally hard for them.

He and Mom were together for 53 of his birthdays. I got to share in 31 of his birthdays. 31 Birthdays. Imagine if you knew you only had 31 birthdays to celebrate with someone you loved. I bet you'd make more than a cake, huh? In 2027, that's 18 yrs from now, I'll turn 63 yrs old. That year I'll be one year older than the number of years I knew my father. It sounds trivial, but I know it'll be hard. I believe the number of years a loved one has been gone can have a serious emotional and psychological impact. There are so many events that will take place in my lifetime that I won't be able to share with him, so I'll have to substitute with friends and the occasional random family member. I guess that's where having children and grandchildren comes in to play... Creating a legacy and adding to one already in existence.

My Mom n Dad were explorers. They traveled through life together. Life, one of the scariest places a human can go. Never knowing what to expect from one day to the next, but relying on faith, commitment and the love of at least one other person to make it seem all worthwhile. To end their journey lying together in the same ground that sustained them for a lifetime of memories. Memories that will live on through our hearts and into the hearts of our children. Just 31 birthdays...... that was all. I'll not soon forget my father, for I AM him in many ways.

Happy Birthday Dad!!

I was gonna hire a clown, but they were all booked up, so this'll have to do for now!!!

Celebrate Life..... Evolving

I know I'm a day early, but in order for all of you to plan something special, I needed to post this today.

Tomorrow is Charles Darwins 200th Birthday!!!!

12 February 1809 – 19 April 1882

I would have to admit, Darwin is the answer I would give for almost every one of those stupid hypothetical questionaires we've all gotten in our e-mail.

You know... If you could meet one person living or dead... who would it be? If you were on a deserted island and could have one companion..... who would it be?

Who better to do all those things with than Darwin... Right!!!

I still cant believe that some people refuse to believe in evolution.

I saw the pic above and immediately thought of a recent White House resident who's gone back to Texas. I can't say his name... We do NOT speak his name.

Think of him and tell me evolution isn't real..... LOL!!

So for whatever it's worth.... Celebrate your own evolution tomorrow.

Be glad you can turn that door knob. Imagine life without a thumb and you'll understand the frustration of "he who's name is not spoken".

May Natural Selection treat you all kindly.

An Unforgettable Lunch

I've been working hard at teaching the pups to eat from a pan. Every attempt is an experience I'll remember for a long time!! I of course cropped it out of the picture, but there IS a pan in front of them. If puppies could speak English!!! I swear I heard one of them say "Doc" this morning, but maybe I'm just wishing. Today I had a nail clipping fest..... Ten puppies equals 180 nails.... Done... Plus cuddling time for each pup... that was my morning. I did manage to do three loads of laundry, get out the garden hose and clean a rug AND the patio..... I vacuumed the basement and changed the sheets on the bed. I don't guess I'm doing too bad. There were a few other chores in there, but they're daily, so they don't count. Anyhow, I just wanted to share two pups discussing lunch. They crack me up!! Three weeks old tomorrow and stealing more and more of my heart each day.

All That and A Box of Rocks

Well this past week we've been busy.

I removed the HUGE kennel from our dining room and replaced it with a more manageable and MUCH lower puppy kennel.

Maggie of course can get over it pretty easy, but hopefully the pups when they start jumping will still be contained. You can see Maggie enjoys the space and the quiet time, although ten hungry little mouths are just behind that curtain.

Just lift that curtain and there they be...... When they're finally big enough to come out and eat on their own.... all I'll need to do is slide the door open and they'll be free!!!

I tried it today and sure enough... it took them about 15 seconds to figure out nothing was standing between them and momma. Poor Maggie... she just rolled over.

I actually got them to eat from a pan this weekend. Ground up puppy food with formula.

They loved it... didn't eat it all, but it's only a matter of time!!!

Even when they're all barking and mad as hell because we've obviously taken too long to tend to them... they're still cute...... BUT, when they're sleeping..... nothing is cuter!!

Even Momma cuts her eyes at me when she thinks I'm about to turn them loose.

Last night I gave her a good nipple rubdown with some bag balm.... she was drooling by the time I finished.

When I got Maggie from the animal shelter, her paperwork stated she was an ill-behaved dog who should NOT go to a home with cats, and that was it.

I'll agree, she could use some training, but show me a pound puppy that doesn't!!

Plus the fact that she's just over a year old. I'd say she's pretty mature and responsible for being a puppy with ten HEALTHY babies. She loves to play with Dash and Roux.... for HOURS!!!

Our cats have all gotten used to her and even though she likes to stalk them.... she has never exhibited aggression towards them.

So much for animal controls doom and gloom prediction.

This weekend we got to test her temperament towards children. Cathy (our daughter) Bobby (her BF) and JR (our 4yr old grandson) came to visit. I immediately tossed him into the kennel to see mommas reaction and she was fine. Not even a lick...

LOL!!! NOT.

We let JR come in to see the pups and Maggie never did a thing. She's a very trusting girl. She never let us out of her sight, but she trusted us. She really is going to be a perfect little girl for someone.

Bedtime came and Cathy wanted us to know the pajamas we had gotten JR for his Birthday last year still fit him.... not for long though

I don't know how many of you got outside this weekend, but man the weather was nice. it hit 60 here both sat and sun. Steve took JR on a long walk of the C n O Canal on sat. They went to collect heart shaped rocks for a small valentines day project for JR's daycare.

He has 7 daycare friends and they managed to find 8 good rocks.

In the warmth of a 60 degree day they painted the rocks, both sides pink.

Cut out heart shaped stencils and painted them on with dark red.

I had bought JR wiggly eye stick-ons, and after all the paint had dried,

Doc sat by just to make sure nobody got burned and JR proceeded to glue eyes onto the rocks.

I'd say he's pretty good with a glue gun and notice what hand he's using.... GO Lefties!! Eyes in place, he'd set it aside and proceed to the next one.

I'm not sure what the kids will think when he hands them out.

It doesn't really matter actually because we had fun doing it.

and here we have a whole box full of Pet Valentines.

Sort of morbid when you think these are a symbolic replacement for giving someone

your heart for valentines day. So our week and our weekend culminated with a box of rocks.

Cute little pink rocks with eyes.

We've got a functional puppy compound ..... in the dining room.

We got a wonderful taste of spring .... a whole month early.

And to top it all off.... Steve and I sat and watched the Full Snow Moon, rise over the mountain tonight. Life is good!!

Don't Divorce Me, Please!!

This is a video from TheCourageCampaign.Org I'm not even sure of the status of Prop8... I know, that's sad right. Not really, I learned years ago to choose my battles. There are many issues I could make my own, but sometimes part of the fight means creating a positive mirror image for all the negativity. I'll leave the legal battles to those more inclined to challenge sharks. Meanwhile, I'll live my life, the way I want, and IN THE FACE of those who don't approve. Granted, they may feel like they've won the battle, but being ignorant, they assume that was the war. We know that's not true, because what's right hasn't prevailed yet. Going on Ten years now, Steve and I hope we're an example of why HATE can no longer be tolerated. We've a Black Man in the White House now.... maybe next we can have a Gay Man run it. The following video touched a sad spot in me this morning. I personally know people who lost everything when their partner died, because the law refused to support their relationship. That can all change with this one simple step....... "Fidelity": Don't Divorce... from Courage Campaign on Vimeo.

O-Dark30 or is it O BARK30 ??

The pups are 15 days old. Their eyes opened a few days back and now I truly believe they're starting to hear me. Supposedly their little ears aren't opened until around 4 weeks. Maybe it's just seeing that gets them so excited. Who knows!!! Anyhow... they were up early today as were the older dogs in the house, so what else is there to do at O-Dark 30, but video tape puppies!!! LOL!!!

The Life of a Dog

Tuesday Morning 8am...... It started by exiling Dash, Roux and Maggie to the patio. I gave them treats... bones... and toys, because they would be out there for AWHILE!!! I have to disassemble the dining room.... move it to the living room and install linoleum over our 169 yr old wood floor. If this was where the puppies would be venturing out once they got old enough to walk, I didn't want them destroying my floor. Eventually I got all the furniture out and until I could get the linoleum cut... the only thing left in there were Maggie and the pups. Yes..... I had to bring her in from time to time to feed her babies. Meanwhile, the living room looked like we just moved in...... As much upheaval as puppies cause.... I stay busy... I get exercise and best of all.... I throw away A LOT of crap when I have to move a room in my home. It's amazing just how unimportant something can become when you have to find it a new storage place. Suddenly, you're like.... " I'm not keeping this "... BUH BYE!!! .... and in the trash it goes. Pretty soon I realized it was like 5pm and I still needed to put furniture back in place. Not that I need to have the house all in order by the time Steve gets home, but I'd like to think dinner time is MY time to relax as well. Trying not to think I had become one of those "staged" home improvement shows... I rushed around at the last minute... placing furniture and accessories. A throw rug here... a lamp there and TA-DA..... I was ready to bring back in the pups. Pups, which by the way, never realized they had been drug through the house on a blanket. Apparently when full of milk... they can sleep through ANYTHING!!!

Maggie, now completely reassured that her pups were once again safe and that she had plenty of food and water, settled down in her new Hip Pad.

Ahhhhh!!! The life of a dog... well, THIS Dog.