Fighting Back

Well, here we are in southwestern Missouri where the high temperature today was a whopping 5 degrees. When I lived in central New York, getting lake effect winds and snow, I expected these temperatures, but in Missouri??

I'm pretty well convinced that humans are meant to hibernate.


We have toads and frogs in the back yard that dig themselves into the ground to spend the winter. We'll see them again in late spring, when they pop their little heads out of the soil under the deck.


Bears certainly know enough to grab a long nap in the cold weather.


This cute little field mouse has a snack nearby for when warm weather comes and he wakes up.


Squirrels and chipmunks should know enough to hibernate, though the crazy squirrels that built new nests in the tree just outside our bedroom window don't plan to sleep while we're filling the bird feeders with tasty seeds.

I'm hoping that the skunk that invaded our yard a few months ago is soundly asleep. Better yet, maybe he moved to another county to hibernate.

Since neither my dogs nor my husband will let me hibernate for the next couple months, I've decided to get serious about fighting this cold.


First I dug out my sheepskin mittens that I took to Russia with me. Who goes to Russia in the middle of winter, you ask? I did. I blame the movie Dr Zhivago. Remember that scene where Zhivago and Lara are riding in their sledge thru the snow covered countryside? Everything was clean and frosty and beautiful. It was all that, but it was cold!!

These mittens are super warm. Never mind that they're so thick that I can't bend my fingers with them on. Forget trying to grasp anything with one hand. At least my hands were warm.


I took a heavy knit hat with me to Russia, but it wasn't warm enough, so I went native, so to speak, and bought this blue fox hat. This thing is super warm.


Mama bear is modeling it for you. I tried to get Samba to wear it, but her head is shaped wrong for it. These hats are really comfortable and so warm that you need to remove it now and then to let your head get some fresh air. I love this hat, but don't get a lot of opportunities to wear it here. This is one of those times.


Another necessary piece of clothing in Russia was leg warmers. Mine were red and I pulled them up over my knees. My knees get super cold, even when it isn't below zero degrees. I don't know where my leg warmers went. I think I got rid of them when we moved here. Who would expect to need leg warmers in Missouri? Now I need to find some. Do you think Walmart knows what leg warmers are?


To round out the picture, boots. Mine were brown, but similar to these. I loved those boots. Now I have some tan suede boots, but they aren't as much fun as those boots were.

So with my long, hooded stadium jacket, sheepskin gloves, Russian fox fur hat, leg warmers and heavy boots over my jeans and heavy sweater over my flannel shirt, I'm ready to brave the back yard to scoop poop. Not quite as glamorous as world travel, but a necessity of life.

Indoor Games

The first week of 2010 sure is a cold one. We have a little snow, maybe 3 or 4 inches, but it's too cold for the dogs to play outside. Their feet get so cold that they do a little dance and look at me pathetically, wanting me to fix it.

I've had to be inventive and come up with things for them to do inside. I'm lucky they can't talk or I'd be hearing, "Mom, I'm bored."



First, Gaylen, the President of Fudge's Fan Club, has come up with this adorable button for anyone who wants to join. To be a member of his fan club, you must appreciate dogs that have inflated egos and want to be the baddest dog on the block, but who are actually big marshmallows on the inside. Dogs who like to tease the other dogs, but like to climb into Mom's lap if anyone teases him. Fudge was a teenage daddy and he is no more mature than his pups, but he'll tell you that he's a handsome, titled stud dog.

So if you admire all those contradictory traits in one silly brown dog, help yourself to the button and stay tuned for more adventures of Fudge.



Gaylen has been a busy lady on the computer. She thinks it's a good idea to document each week, something that has made us thankful. It can be anything that makes you smile and think good thoughts.


I decided to play along, and this week it's a no-brainer. I am thankful that my girl, Samba, is getting better. There were days when I would look at her and just see a very sick dog, but now I see a strong girl who is improving each day and will do whatever I ask of her. Swallow a handful of pills, sure. Stand in the bathtub with shampoo on her bare legs for ten minutes, whatever you say, Mom. Stand still to put a jacket on before running outside, OK.

How can I not feel thankful for her?


Back to the cold weather. It's a good thing we have lots of big new toys to play with. The living room resembles a jungle with tigers and leopards and monkeys on the floor and in the chairs. Playing ball in the house is not allowed, much to Sky's dismay, but it can get too rough and things get broken.


Today Fudge and Sky decided on a good old fashioned game of tug. These two play nicely together unlike Noah and Fudge.


Sky tries to get an advantage buy getting a hold higher up on the toy.


Fudge keeps a tight grip on the toy.


There's a lot of play growling that goes on during this event.



Some of the other dogs stand around watching this. I wonder if they're rooting for Fudge or for Sky?


Although Sky has changed position several times, never letting go of the toy, Fudge has barely moved.


There is no winner or loser. They just eventually get tired of the game and stop. They're still best
buddies. We all hope the temperatures warm up enough to go outside and enjoy the snow. Mom keeps thinking about the mud to follow.

Medical Update

Yesterday I showed you Samba's naked feet and legs. There are some red spots on them and I was worried about infection, so we went to visit Dr B this afternoon.



The hair loss is from the high doses of steroids and he was also concerned about infection, so he's started her on some antibiotics. We're also going to wash her legs with a medicated shampoo a couple times a week and use a soothing lotion on them at bedtime. So far, she's been very good about not chewing on them.

The exam went well. Samba has good use of her jaw now, which she happily demonstrated by catching treats tossed to her. The muscles next to those that were destroyed have gotten larger and stronger and the dents in her head are not as deep as they were a couple weeks ago. Her eyes are not as sunken as they were, either. She has gained a pound and a half, which means that her ribs aren't sticking out anymore. All in all it was an excellent report

I feel much better knowing that she's made such progress. We're cutting her steroid dosage by 20% and that should stop the hair loss, so that new hair can start growing back in again. I'm starting to actually feel that she'll survive this and lead a nearly normal life.


On a lighter note, I know some of you have your dogs professionally groomed. Here's something from our training club newsletter.



10 Reasons Why Your Dog's Haircut Costs More Than Yours

1 You don't go for 8 weeks and never wash or brush your hair.

2 Your hairdresser doesn't have to carry you back and forth, kicking and screaming to the sink.

3 Your hairdresser doesn't wash and clean your rear end and give you a sanitary trim.

4 Your hairdresser doesn't clean your ears.

5 Your hairdresser doesn't have to remove the boogies from your eyes.

6 You sit still. You don't bite and scratch your hairdresser.

7 Your hair cut doesn't include a manicure and pedicure.


8 Your hairdresser only washes and cuts hair on your head.

9 You don't decide to do an operatic solo at the top of your lungs and encourage all the other patrons to join in.

10 The likelihood of you peeing or pooping while your hair is being cut is slim.



Believe me, having trimmed my active pack from time to time, I know that our groomer earns her fee.

Snowy Sunday

Last night it started to snow, big soft flakes, just drifting down. This morning we had two or three inches and it was still coming down.


Since its' much more difficult for the birds to find food under all that snow, we made sure all the feeders were full this morning even before the first cup of coffee.


As you can see, it was appreciated. We had quite a gathering at the seed bar also known as the deck. There's one young squirrel, much smaller than the others, who comes and stuffs his face full of sunflower seeds. He won't be the smallest for long.


The dogs all enjoyed the snow, but I didn't take any pictures. It was just too cold. I went out with them and watched them acting silly, but at 18 degrees, I don't stay out long.

Samba doesn't stay out long either. I'm concerned with her thin coat about her getting too chilled. She wears a jacket for her short outings, but there's another problem that has me worried.


Her legs and feet are almost hairless and I see some red areas that concern me.


I think there may be a visit to Dr B this week to make sure she's still on the right track with her treatment.


With her immune system compromised, we have to be on the alert for infections and I want to address these red legs before they become infected. I'm sure the snow and cold can't be very comfortable for her, either, so she stays inside where it's nice and warm.

Even Tsar says the snow would be much nicer if it was a little warmer.

Looking Back At 2009

2009 will not go in the books as one of the better years for many people, but it did have it's moments.

The year started off badly with Monty's unexpected death. I really missed my big boy. I hadn't realized what a help he was to me in keeping things peaceful in a house full of lively dogs. This was something you would never have see when Monty was on duty.


Portuguese Water Dogs are notorious counter surfers. Many dogs will check for goodies left unattended, but PWDs seem to have perfected the art. They can be very sneaky and take one item without disturbing anything else on the plate.


This was the first piece I bought from the talented Michelle Toland. I quickly realized that she had captured the personality of the breed in her work and I became a big fan.

As the muddy spring went on, we celebrated Fudge's birthday without a visit from the Good Dog Fairy. Then we had to deal with a root canal on Sky.





Samba turned seven in March and in April there was a tremendous increase in interest in PWDs, when the Obama's welcomed Bo to the White House. We had a lot of e-mails and phone calls, but the furor finally died down and we got back to normal. Bo has brought a few changes to our lives. Now when we go out in public, people recognize the dogs as PWDs and ask lots of questions. We've also found many more written articles mentioning the breed and more breed specific items in the stores.


Once the weather warmed up and the grass turned green we played some baseball. Fudge wore the cap with the big P for Portugal.


Bailey was our pitcher and Morgan took lots of turns at bat.



On June 10th we celebrated the first annual Bandana Day. We invited our friends to send us their pictures wearing a blue bandana or anything blue and we had over seventy dogs and cats join us. It was a lot of fun.



When summer arrived we started our trips to the lake. Decked in bright orange life jackets, everyone got a chance to swim. The reviews were mixed. Sky liked the water as long as he could touch bottom. Tess and Norma Jean liked it as long as we were in the water with them. Lola and Noah both enjoyed swimming but wouldn't retrieve any items. Fudge enjoyed it and would retrieve a little.



Bailey was her usual curious self and wanted to go into the woods to look for rabbits. Samba took to the water as if she'd been born in it. It was as nautral as walking for her and the big surprise was Morgan. She became our star swimmer and she and Samba were in quite a competition to retrieve anything we threw.



Summer brought some other good things, too. The pack discovered watermelon.



This turned into one of our favorite treats. Icy cold watermelon on a hot day really hits the spot. Even Tsar, who wouldn't stick his head in the pink dish, found that he enjoyed watermelon.



Then summer was over and it was football season.



Surprisingly, Morgan turned out to be a fierce football player. Even the younger, stronger dogs couldn't keep up with her.



October was full of activities. One of the biggest ones was when Fudge and I earned our first title in Rally.


We'd been working on this for two years and this time we did it.


On October 26th there was a big celebration when the pups turned three years old. We had pumpkin muffins and everyone had a very good time.


The scary Mr Punk Man visited at the end of the month. He just appeared one day and the dogs were all very curious about him. Then a few days later he was gone.

November started with birthdays for Morgan and Tsar, but things took a bad turn when Samba became very sick. Samba is doing well at the present time. She can open her mouth all the way and can even catch her ball. She's trying to gain back some of the weight she lost and we hope she starts growing back some of the hair that fell out.

One very sad note, another PWD named Digby, who was also suffering with the same disease as Samba, didn't make it. His Mom reported to me that he died on December 27 just before his second birthday. As you can imagine, the news upset me a lot and a good friend helped me put it in perspective.

December came and brought Christmas.


The dogs got lots of new toys and treats. Rob and I also got some new toys and treats.


This is one of our gifts from some good friends. Isn't this neat. It's a real street sign and we're going to hang it on the fence.

I'll be the first to admit that I wasn't as productive in 2009 as I would have liked, but I wasn't a complete slug. I knit the stacking cats for my niece and I made a few other gifts. Now that they're all safely in the hands of the recipients, I can show some of them.


I did several cross stitch pieces that I made into pillows.









I also knit a bunny for a friend. I liked the way she turned out.



So, now we're on to 2010. I went back and looked at the resolutions I made last year and my record is only so so. A couple I stuck to, a couple I sort of half accomplished and some I didn't even attempt. Instead of dwelling on them or making more that I won't do, I've decided to resolve the following: In 2010 I will try to enjoy life more.

Now there's a resolution I can get into. Happy New Year everyone. We hope that this year is one of the best ever, for everyone. Come back and visit with us for more silly adventures