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Ok two days until we drive 3 hrs to get our puppy.  I made a list of boy names and girl names.  I borrowed two puppy crates, I still need to clean them.  I made a list of supplies to buy tomorrow.  The reality is starting to hit the kids now and they have talked about it all day.  I am sure they are going to drive me insane wanting to hold it on the way home but I also think they think it is gonna be this tiny little thing.  LOL  They are gonna be surprised.  

I have been…

My title is supposed to be a takeoff of the movie, Snakes on a Planes, but in our case it was just one snake and it all happened at ground level.  Of course, if this whole thing were to be made into a Lifetime movie, since my kids told me Allison Janney’s character in Juno was me to a tee,…

I feel like I’m never satisfied! By mid January I’m fantasizing about July, the sun, tank tops and flip flops. Today, I’m dreaming of a “White Christmas” – go figure…

Temperatures in this region are relentless. For the past several days now we’ve been knocking previous temperature records out of the proverbial park! This is what’s become our “new normal”……

We have been in Hawaii since July 3 and 4. Moving to Hawaii with dogs is incredibly complicated and stressful. For four months I fretted and worried that I would not cross every t and dot every i and my precious doodles would be quarantined! I worried so much I could not actually talk about it. My DD and I would begin a conversation regarding all that needed to be done to get them there and I would have to stop and take a break. Hawaii has no rabies so in order to keep it that way dog owners…

I took Sophie and Winston camping last week for the first time. I was bit nervous about it but it went smoothly all things considered. When I arrived at the camp site I had to tether them to a tree so I could put up my tent and unpack the car. They were not pleased to be bound as they really wanted to explore!

I bought a tent that had a seperate area for the doodles…

Regardless of how well we plan our weekends , we’re never “really” in control now are we?

After Leo’s “breakthrough” last week on the agility course, I was “fired-up” about his upcoming class bright and early Saturday morning. Much to my dismay, I woke to find a note from Karen the“Doodle Whisperer” in my inbox…

Once I adjusted to this paradigm…

First I want to say how excited I am to have found this site. So supportive and informative! Thank you!



Second, I am starting to gather supplies this week. My need to investigate and be ready has set in. I am borrowing a friends small crate, I have a big one already. Now what??? Its been so long. What are the best toys for chewing and puppies? What can you use that is safe on puppies for fleas and ticks?



One more inquiry?? How do add pics to the blog from an iPad? No…

Yesterday was an absolutely perfect day here in Chicago, and I was luckily to spend it hiking and playing with three amazing ladies - my new friend Monica, her dog Sophie and of course Lola.  A muddy good time was had by all.

Lola did such a great job swimming and retrieving out of the water.  She put almost every other dog to shame.  Its hard to believe that a month ago, she wouldn't even go in past where she can stand.  My taking her in with me and teaching her to swim, kind of like…

Modeling in my new convertible bug, LOL…

Kona spent her 6th birthday among friends and family in Santa Barbara.  We left the 117 degree weather in Las Vegas to the refreshing coast at 72 degrees most of the week.

We met up with Nancy, Skip, Ned, Clancy and Gordie a few days and had so much fun.  One of our days we drove to Arroyo Grande and met…

Like I keep saying we are so excited for this puppy.  lol  I get a call from the breeder today and she says well I have bad news and good news.  Oh boy!!  I was wondering where my pics were for this week.  She lost another puppy, the other runt.  So sad!!!  She was very upset.  She said you are number 8 and now we have 7 pups, now for the good news.  Someone dropped out of the litter I originally wanted so now I am back in.  The litter I wanted originally was from Sadie who is a Standard and…

I cannot tell a lie – when my head hit the pillow Monday night, I said a little prayer asking to hear a thunderstorm in the morning. When I woke, I did my best rain dance EVER as I sauntered over towards the window. The streets were dog-bone dry…

As we returned from our morning walk, a few raindrops started to hit my shoulder, nothing worthy of any rain gear, but my immediate thought was… “Oh well! it’s raining, we can’t go!”

No “one on…

The breeder chose Eddie for us.  We asked her to watch him for awhile and choose his best friend-- we would take two puppies.  Here is Eddie giving his sister Tessa a little kiss at 6 weeks old.

Here is Tessa giving Eddie a kiss, too.  They were…

Sometimes I find myself so overwhelmed with love and admiration for this little dog, I just don't know how to express it.  I mean, many times each day I tell her I love her and give her a little pat or scratch behind the ears.  I see her gazing back at me with those big brown eyes, and I know that love is reciprocated.  But sometimes it doesn't seem like enough. Does anyone else experience this?

The other day there was a doggie swimming party.  It was little hectic, so I wasn't able…

The Milt Dog and I are regulars at our local White Rock Lake Dog Park.  Even in this supreme heat, we like to stop by two -- three times per week to chase down balls both in and out of the water.  Recently though, a new dog park AND human park was built in Dallas -- Klyde Warren Park (http://www.klydewarrenpark.org/). While this park was being created, Jeff and I, along with friends, attended a comedy show, The Second…

Our beach vacation is over and we are sad.  I always love to come home to my dogs, but our family time has become less and less over the years and the changes in all of the kids were just amazing.  One of the nephews grew eight inches in one year and now has a much deeper voice than I remember. …

This is the guy waiting on his new big brother or sister.  We are starting to get things ready.  I do have a question?  Do you have insurance?  I am considering insurance so if there are any suggestions on what to get.  I am also planning on getting this dog microchipped.  We saw a mini doodle at the vet today it was so cute.  …

After "Poodle And Doodle" came out, Mayra Calvani interviewed me for her fun blog "Pets and Their Authors", but not as me, but as Sadie, my labradoodle. It was fun to answer the questions that way! Here a link to the interview:…