Speak Softly...Now Put Your Hat On!

What a sweet dog.  I wonder if he got lots of treats?

I picked up a copy of  "Coffee News" while having lunch at my local restaurant and started reading about a business in Atlanta, Georgia that is called, "To Scarborough Fair."  The owner, Amelie, makes top hats, berets, and whimsical headgear for her customers' four-legged friends.  She suggests that her customers speak gently and soothingly on top of offering treats to their pets as a way to relax the animal and make them interested in wearing something on their heads.  

This dog looks very happy wearing the pink sombrero.

Well, my dogs get lots of treats and are spoken to softly and ever so soothingly, but they aren't having anything to do with wearing a hat on their head any day soon!

Rosco's B-Day hat didn't put a smile on his face! 

I think all 3 of my dogs agree:  Leave the hats to the cats!

A Happy Spatula Owner!

Belle opening up her present in the parking lot of the restaurant.

Coco & her Christmas presents.

Over the weekend I met up with Belle, Lola, and Coco for lunch and to exchange gifts.  Coco's Christmas gifts were delayed because of a nasty bout of flu that knocked her down and out over the holidays.  Not to be forgotten, I bought small gifts for Belle and Lola to open while Coco was opening her Christmas presents.  What a surprise!  Belle was so happy to get a new spatula!  Turns out she just recently lost hers at an office party.

See..a mother really does know best.  Intuitively, I knew she needed a new spatula!

Balls--Just Give Me More Balls!

Finally...Rosco finds the hidden balls!

 I recently discovered something that Rosco really, really likes.  Tennis balls.  Yup.  And not just one, but the more the merrier!  He somehow sniffed out these two tennis balls on top of a chair that were hidden from sight under a scarf and hat.  He made all kinds of noise (barking, crying, whining sounds) then finally worked up the courage to jump up on the rocking chair, moved the scarf and hat to the floor, and found these two balls.

Happy at last...and he's not letting them go!

A Purse Puppy!

Panda sits comfortably in Belle's purse.  No problem.

Belle wanted to show off her new purse and new puppy-Panda.  Not to be outdone, or forgotten, Lola quickly grabbed Rosco.

Rosco--not so happy being in Lola's purse!

Cosmo--the 110 lb. poodle is another story.  He doesn't care about fitting in a purse.  He'll just watch from the couch!

Basking In The Winter Sun (at the drycleaners)

I drove by my favorite dry-cleaners the other day, and sure enough...there they were.  The two dry cleaner models sitting on a bench in front of the store.  The same two I spotted in the summer that I mistakenly thought were two lazy employees on a long, extended work break.  I was happy to see they both had their winter coats on and I guess it was necessary to have sunglasses on too.  After all, it was a bright and sunny 34 degree Fahrenheit lovely, warm winter day.  

These are the same two I wrote about in July --different hair, different clothes, and a different plant back then!

More Fun In The Snow!

Rosco jumps up to catch Sadie as she runs past!



The snow is still here and not going anywhere soon, might as well make the best of it.  The dogs sure do!

Sadie busy sniffing.  Always busy sniffing something.

Finally done sniffing...time to move on.

She came back to get Rosco to follow her.

Have Shoe Grips....Will Travel!

My new plan for 2013 involves a pedometer, shoe grips, dogs, and the outdoors.  I'm going to pack up all that exercise equipment and focus on going outside and walking 10,000 steps a day. 

  I love walking, the dogs love walking, and we all love the outdoors.  I take my dogs for an evening walk every day and always have, but lately those walks have been getting shorter and shorter.  I decided I'll take my camera, put on my pedometer and away I   away we go!   There's still lots of snow on the ground which is quickly turning into ice because of the warmer temperatures--35 degrees Fahrenheit--and that makes for slippery 

My downspout covered in ice.

That glaze on the snow is ice.

conditions.  After a nasty fall two weeks ago, which I haven't regained full use of my left arm and shoulder yet, I'm not taking any chances.  So shoe grips are definitely going on until the spring!

And away we go....the dogs are definitely loving an afternoon walk!