tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-51515652087637834322024-03-05T01:24:50.434-08:00five dog housefollow me as i ramble about my life, my job, my family, my dogs and anything else that stands out in my day...Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger36125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5151565208763783432.post-64041990364983943462011-03-15T16:08:00.000-07:002011-03-15T16:08:14.973-07:00where on earth?Have I been? I feel like I haven't blogged for ages, and in reality I haven't. Over the last while I have been preoccupied with many things, most recently my trip to Mexico. I got home on Sunday after 16 hours of travel, and I'm still recovering! But, the trip was amazing as always and I loved being back in such an amazing country and surrounded by great friends and the wonderful Mexican people. <br />
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</div>Great trip, but I'm happy to be home at the same time...until next year, Mexico! <br />
<span id="goog_1457387153"></span><span id="goog_1457387154"></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5151565208763783432.post-34044470576940124112011-02-17T11:08:00.000-08:002011-02-17T13:29:16.495-08:00spring and snowJust when the West coast was feeling like spring, we've been hit with a snow storm! The birds were chirping, the sun was coming out to dry the mud and the plants were pushing through the dirt getting ready to flower our spring colours. And today, we're sitting in inches of snow, wrapped in sweaters!<br />
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I guess this is life on the West coast. Spring is a long process and takes up the majority of time that other provinces are dealing with full on winter. <br />
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Regardless of the weather, I'm already setting my sights on planting the seeds that will become this year's garden plants. Tomatoes, squash, you name it! Last year, the seeds were planted on March 20th, but when I moved them out in May, they were still smaller than I would have liked, so this year, I'm pushing it back 20 days and starting them on March 1st. This should give the young plants time to grow up nice and strong before I switch them to the bed outside. <br />
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I've been wondering where to put my starters while they start their lives, and I think I'm taking out my "office" and putting in shelves to hold the trays. My office is really too small to use, and has ended up becoming a place where I stack papers. Hardly the creative space I had hoped it would be! There is the real possibility that I will be taking over the basement room as my new, improved, LARGER office in the near future. That in itself is a real exciting and huge project, which I will save for another post!<br />
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So, in the meantime, I'm dreaming of tomatoes and baby squash while I sit in a winter wonderland!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5151565208763783432.post-63552015989601591702011-02-02T14:29:00.000-08:002011-02-02T14:29:29.912-08:00anger, heartbreak and the desire to change the past.When 2011 started, when most people were celebrating with champagne and sparklers, Brent Malcom Connors rang in the new year brutally killing a pit bull puppy in a Victoria hotel room. Bandit, the pup, suffered broken bones, internal injuries and human bite marks. It was horrific to everyone and a sign that this year, we HAVE to change the laws regarding animal abuse and cruelty. I thought it couldn't get worse, that would be the major blow that rocked the core of animal advocates in our province and around the globe. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.vancouversun.com/news/4198294.bin?size=620x400" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="257" src="http://www.vancouversun.com/news/4198294.bin?size=620x400" width="400" /></a></div><br />
And then, beyond everyone's wildest nightmares, news broke that Outdoor Adventures, a company near Whistler who ran dog sled tours, brutally killed 100 sled dogs after the Olympics because business was down. They were loosing money keeping 300 dogs, and after shooting them, slashing their throats and dying horrible deaths, these dogs were dumped in a mass grave. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.vancouversun.com/news/4198408.bin?size=620x400" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="257" src="http://www.vancouversun.com/news/4198408.bin?size=620x400" width="400" /></a></div><br />
The details of this case are truly horrific. Although I couldn't read it all, what I did stomach silenced my spirit and changed me forever. It is of no surprise that the man who carried out the killings is suffering from post traumatic stress disorder. I will spare you the details on this blog, but for those curious, or for those who don't truly understand the level of cruelty happening in our country, please search out this information. I simply cannot put what they did into words. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.vancouversun.com/news/4198352.bin?size=620x400" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="257" src="http://www.vancouversun.com/news/4198352.bin?size=620x400" width="400" /></a></div><br />
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The dogs who witnessed the massacre of their pack, went into a frenzy, smart enough to know what was coming. To them and to the souls of the dead, I send peace and the hope that they understand that we are not all like the monsters who did this. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.vancouversun.com/news/4198293.bin?size=620x400" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="257" src="http://www.vancouversun.com/news/4198293.bin?size=620x400" width="400" /></a></div><br />
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To anyone involved with or that had the power to stop this, you must all equally live with that blood on your hands. Even if you didn't pull the trigger, shame on you. Any one of my friends would have housed even one of those dogs if they had known what they were preventing. Their death, especially their horrible torture, was uncalled for and needless. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.vancouversun.com/news/4198375.bin?size=620x400" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="257" src="http://www.vancouversun.com/news/4198375.bin?size=620x400" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><i>Run free, little wolves. </i> </div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5151565208763783432.post-80112737597001165262011-01-17T15:34:00.000-08:002011-01-17T15:34:11.371-08:00the new news!Well, for starters, I've finally launched my new store, <a href="http://fivedoghouse.etsy.com/">Five Dog House</a>! Earth Walker, my first shop, had an overwhelming response right off the bat, making the front page of Etsy within the first week of being open, and steady sales during the following months. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo2BKg8XvAMAjnoPUa8We7DEn79A7Yj_EoHXCF9t7EczZIulpGHmCcK2N9FOIg7zhl5Xk8FMbGOR-wWANtUOByI4XXMtRXipFKsUjwlY_7qlBjIzggK8gyFiIKbkAh1_rlcauFmzd32M4_/s1600/new+shop+041.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo2BKg8XvAMAjnoPUa8We7DEn79A7Yj_EoHXCF9t7EczZIulpGHmCcK2N9FOIg7zhl5Xk8FMbGOR-wWANtUOByI4XXMtRXipFKsUjwlY_7qlBjIzggK8gyFiIKbkAh1_rlcauFmzd32M4_/s400/new+shop+041.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
However, Earth Walkers is a dog only shop (soon I'll expand to collars and tags) and I need a place to sell the things made for the 2 legged customers. So, Five Dog House (the shop) was born! As I write this, there are currently only 2 listings up but there are many more coming. The shop will be stocked will a crazy variety of things, from necklaces to vintage wares to heirloom seeds! <br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">In other news, here's Tiloup and Aethan trying out Aethan's "new" bed. Perhaps it isn't new so much as it is "upcycled". His bed was a loft style bed with a ladder going up, but in his smaller room, the bed was looming and seemed to take up so much space. I cut the legs down, took off the side rail and transformed it into a smaller bed, but still high enough that it is more like a captain's bed. He loves it, and it makes his room seem much, much bigger. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">That's all for today, which felt more like spring than winter...that's life on the West Coast. From snow to rain and back again, and sooner rather than later, the flowers start to push up. I'll admit, I've got a small pot of crocus inside to remind me of the longer days...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5151565208763783432.post-37352020605548075722011-01-11T09:53:00.000-08:002011-01-11T09:55:35.725-08:00garden thoughts...Last year, I started the tomatoes inside around March 19th. They grew well, but were still behind what I would have liked at planting time so this year, I'll start the babies around the end of February. It seems amazing that we're only 6 weeks away from that time already! <br />
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Last year, we had 2 raised beds in the front yard, one for only tomatoes, and one for veggies and everything else. This year however, the tomato bed was planted with garlic, beautiful, tasty, lovely garlic. The other bed will be the tomato bed this year and the veggies are going into a new soon-to-be-started plot in the backyard. I'm very excited about this!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4073/4855307166_15cfbd97c0_z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4073/4855307166_15cfbd97c0_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
I love having our own garden. For me, its like a dream come true and one of the BEST parts about having this house. Here's Aethan in our tomato bed from last year. These suckers grew up to my height and were COVERED in fruit. All heirloom varieties....<b>YUM</b>!<br />
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I came across this, and I don't remember where, so if it is your photo please let me know so I can give credit. They are using eaves as planters! Brilliant! I'd love to try this to save space, but I'd put them along the garden fence. Someday! <br />
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What is your favorite thing to grow, and why?Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5151565208763783432.post-10690277750973687162011-01-09T16:04:00.000-08:002011-01-09T16:04:20.752-08:00meet the dogs: Bez<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Bez. Where do I start and how do I describe this dog? Bez is the one dog we have that makes people talk in high pitch voices and shriek that he is "SO cute"! They think he's adorable. Which, he is, but there is more to Bez than meets the eye.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc1/hs113.snc1/4676_221539520064_729145064_7190609_3988030_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc1/hs113.snc1/4676_221539520064_729145064_7190609_3988030_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Adam got Bez when he was 1 from a family who no longer wanted him. His name back then was "Riggs", and I've heard it said that from the moment Adam brought him home, Bez ruled the roost. He slept where he wanted, sat on your lap when he wanted, ate wicker furniture when he wanted and tried to kill other dogs when he wanted. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">When Adam became part of our family, so did Bez. Aethan was 3, and very excited to have a dog. But, 1 week together and it was obvious that we had our work cut out for us. One day, Bez was snoozing on our bed and Aethan approached. Bez snapped. Adam and I, "newbie" dog owners, panicked. We had all sorts of images racing around our heads, including giving Bez to a new home. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">But, we worked on it. We worked HARD. Bez hated dogs, disliked most people and enjoyed making sure that everyone knew about it...but, after months of hard work and years of maintenance, Bez is much, much better. While wouldn't leave him alone with Aethan, and he's tried to bite me numerous times, he is a much more mellow, tolerant version of his former self. He's welcomed new dogs and foster dogs into the house, and since we brought home Daisy, our dog aggressive boy has learned to play, respect and ignore the others. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">He's also a model and Earth Walkers unexpected mascot....</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJB3MqYJ_IwjFcRF4pF25oPXhb6-c9F-NlOY77EGSdNsEnyxZZRZMjd-g_1bvX3352WHUtOhQyrn2UajF3fDkirDIHEZO8I_F82Rh2WpTrdJ5avqDmeCHcLCHA9L2mcP-8sSJhSuDCOwSP/s1600/cowl+2+037.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="397" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJB3MqYJ_IwjFcRF4pF25oPXhb6-c9F-NlOY77EGSdNsEnyxZZRZMjd-g_1bvX3352WHUtOhQyrn2UajF3fDkirDIHEZO8I_F82Rh2WpTrdJ5avqDmeCHcLCHA9L2mcP-8sSJhSuDCOwSP/s400/cowl+2+037.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
It used to be that Bez couldn't handle being in proximity to another dog, even if it was behind a fence, Bez was like a literal Tasmanian Devil. Now, he's learned that other dogs can be fun, too. Still, he's not very good at picking his battles and will usually try to argue with the biggest, toughest dogs he can find.<br />
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He's always been Adam's dog, and the bond between Bez and I is different than it is with the others. It is sometimes a work in progress, but we love each other, deep down, and even when times are tough, we're still family....<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi6q26xjDFSPXJSkeOk5mwqvQjMENrro99KoM1mypLDuginxLnNSLW5-Dl5srMiT1S9zUEkCjqZdnsgom-ClYIv3-VpmEuNx-zvhGFBnD1atXV6TOyecxEEMDtBmkGgE4fAvc25RO5cxWN/s1600/cowl+2+058.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="303" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi6q26xjDFSPXJSkeOk5mwqvQjMENrro99KoM1mypLDuginxLnNSLW5-Dl5srMiT1S9zUEkCjqZdnsgom-ClYIv3-VpmEuNx-zvhGFBnD1atXV6TOyecxEEMDtBmkGgE4fAvc25RO5cxWN/s400/cowl+2+058.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">And he's still a great model...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1124/532145524_7eb11cc0d1_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1124/532145524_7eb11cc0d1_o.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Truly, he's been the biggest challenge and I've learned an insane amount from this boy. I'm glad he's not easy, or else I would never have discovered that I like working with problem dogs. Maybe I never would have ended up with more, or working in rescue...is it possible I have Bez to thank for shaping this huge part of my life? </div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5151565208763783432.post-14726311923510671172011-01-07T14:11:00.000-08:002011-01-07T14:13:06.130-08:00mexico daydreams...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Last March, I was lucky enough to take a trip to Mexico with one of my best friends, Michelle, and her old best friend Darlene. Darlene and I hit it off, and the three of us took off on a jet plane. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">How awesome is this?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4068/4520607415_9b94803de7_z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4068/4520607415_9b94803de7_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">This year, I had resigned myself to the fact that I would not be going on the annual girls only trip. We need a car and a roof, and taking the time and money for a trip seemed too frivolous. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4028/4521261758_571c5e42e1_z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4028/4521261758_571c5e42e1_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">But, after a much too good to be true deal, it looks like the Mexican get away is not only possible, but perhaps just around the corner.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4027/4520623123_46ccf99799_z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4027/4520623123_46ccf99799_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The beach dogs, the 2 for 1 beer, the sun....</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2679/4521256742_6ea538b981_z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2679/4521256742_6ea538b981_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">This was my favorite restaurant, even though they tried to rip me off, I love the red plastic chairs stuck in the sand on the beach...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4027/4521254328_13954759cf_z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4027/4521254328_13954759cf_z.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">So laid back and slow. Even the wind moves slowly...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2769/4521244756_6a2fa015cb_z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2769/4521244756_6a2fa015cb_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">This is my Mexican street dog friend. He led me to a shop that sells dog food by the scoop. He was no fool, this one...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash1/hs457.ash1/25158_10150143288270024_825425023_11664661_6048447_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash1/hs457.ash1/25158_10150143288270024_825425023_11664661_6048447_n.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">On the beach, drinking beer, eating coconut shrimp....</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs437.snc3/25158_10150143288190024_825425023_11664645_4201260_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs437.snc3/25158_10150143288190024_825425023_11664645_4201260_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I'll keep you posted if and when we book our flights...</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5151565208763783432.post-63104219707894590562011-01-05T10:21:00.000-08:002011-01-05T10:30:46.905-08:00meet the dogs: Casha<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">It is so important to tell this story the right way, because Casha is so deserving of having people know what she is really like. Being a big, black, 3 legged pit bull with cropped ears and scars...well, lets just say that sometimes that leads to being feared and misunderstood. Casha's story starts before any of us know, but we can piece together that she had pups, and probably a lot. She'd been in fights, scars tell us that. And, we know for sure, her leg was very badly injured but never received vet care. How long Casha lived with her injury, we don't know. But then, on one very fateful day for this special dog, she found herself at the SPCA.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdg6rWFZjf2lL6SMp83chL7oc51n0bXtFv3zxrxfDI3zulqjVIis5d2KdWvncUni9Ca8EULNMJviLW1KaHaZ0X_-5nUec5deuH85H3pymy2f99IwAtD7AEnubaU67nUflVyM7EGcZzQWTw/s1600/40106_10150261547870065_729145064_14203856_5884724_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdg6rWFZjf2lL6SMp83chL7oc51n0bXtFv3zxrxfDI3zulqjVIis5d2KdWvncUni9Ca8EULNMJviLW1KaHaZ0X_-5nUec5deuH85H3pymy2f99IwAtD7AEnubaU67nUflVyM7EGcZzQWTw/s400/40106_10150261547870065_729145064_14203856_5884724_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Probably for most dogs, this is a very terrible thing. Most dogs are leaving their families due to break ups, new babies or moving. This must be very stressful for the dogs, but for Casha, this is her salvation. She is at the Victoria SPCA, and the staff there see something very, very special. She finally receives the vet care she's needed for so long, and although it means loosing her back leg, she must have felt so much better. She also receives love, and plenty of it.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><object classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" data="http://www.flickr.com/apps/video/stewart.swf?v=71377" height="300" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="400"> <param name="flashvars" value="intl_lang=en-us&photo_secret=ab05813901&photo_id=4827966314"></param><param name="movie" value="http://www.flickr.com/apps/video/stewart.swf?v=71377"></param><param name="bgcolor" value="#000000"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><embed type="application/x-shockwave-flash" src="http://www.flickr.com/apps/video/stewart.swf?v=71377" bgcolor="#000000" allowfullscreen="true" flashvars="intl_lang=en-us&photo_secret=ab05813901&photo_id=4827966314" height="300" width="400"></embed></object><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Of course, the SPCA spayed her, too. No more babies for this girl! And then, Casha waits for a home. She waits and waits and waits. Everyone LOVES her, but she isn't adopted. Still, she waits. For 6 months. During this time, everyone who meets her falls in love, and the SPCA staff develop a deep, strong bond with this rock-loving dog. But they know that she deserves more than shelter life, and they wish for her to have her own home.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">When she first came into our house as a foster dog, I was in awe of this stoic creature. What is it that the SPCA staff saw in her that makes her so special? In the first few weeks she was with us, she reminds me more of a primate than a canine. She's smart, almost to the point where you think that perhaps she can understand English fluently. She's gentle and she's oh so happy! Every few minutes, she howls with her zest for life and her tail does not stop wagging. Whatever it is that makes this dog special, I still cannot put my finger on it. But I feel it, she is just <b>so</b> wonderful.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">She has many nicknames, my favorite being Koko, because she looks like the world's most favorite gorilla but is gentle like her too. She is also commonly called Rashy Roo and Nana. Koko spends her days sleeping on her fleecy dog bed, chewing bones and howling around the house. She loves to go to work with Adam (and will literally pout if she can't ) but don't expect her to go out in the rain or the cold. Casha spent far to long in a backyard in the past, and she's had quite enough of that, thank you very much. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcQSt6st84ias8_k5kQAWi0EDo7f4_svDPV5gDE8vzL1vXvfQ5bqFZTRYVmnW7kpboOahgv_t8TTRG32RGmqhhpImBoP_f9c3dpAgxmJpqpM_ZlQexn06jCoCGm0f3hZjt7jGcvg9aoj9e/s1600/38949_10150256131985065_729145064_14047147_3938746_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcQSt6st84ias8_k5kQAWi0EDo7f4_svDPV5gDE8vzL1vXvfQ5bqFZTRYVmnW7kpboOahgv_t8TTRG32RGmqhhpImBoP_f9c3dpAgxmJpqpM_ZlQexn06jCoCGm0f3hZjt7jGcvg9aoj9e/s400/38949_10150256131985065_729145064_14047147_3938746_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Here is the important part, and please, even if you don't like the breed and Casha just isn't your thing, listen to this carefully. First, take a long look at this girl, scars and all. Look at her cropped ears, her saggy nipples, her scars and the spot where her leg once was....</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4141/4751852957_81fb283b37_z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4141/4751852957_81fb283b37_z.jpg" width="476" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>*photo by <a href="http://blog.unleashedpetportraits.com/">Unleashed pet photography</a>*</i></div><br />
And now, seeing her physical appearance for all that it is, please remember and truly understand that Casha <i>never once asked to have this life</i>. She never wanted to look this way or be treated like that. She was born a soft, warm, wriggly pup just like every other dog out there. She has been used and abused, neglected and forgotten, and there was nothing that she could do about it. She followed the only people she had at the time and luckily they led her to the SPCA. <br />
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She's the most gentle, sweet girl. She loves people so much, despite what they've done to her. Since humans became humans, we've lived with canines and molded them into faithful, trusting companions. It is a shame when we manipulate that and don't care for our friends. And Casha is a very, very good friend indeed.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5151565208763783432.post-83161201460444684162011-01-04T11:12:00.000-08:002011-01-04T11:12:15.251-08:00back to the grindstoneAethan's first day back to school was today. The holidays are over, the tree is down, the decorations are packed away until next year. I was expecting that once the new year came, I'd be jumping with excitement to get the new shop up and running and start adding stock to Earth Walkers. Instead, I'm grumpy that the holiday I love so much is over and I have to wait a whole year to get back to it.<br />
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Don't get me wrong, I am excited about my shops, but it was so nice to have Aethan and Adam home over the break. It is so rare that we are all together without work, school and errands. Family time in our warm little house...it was much needed and most missed. I love Aethan in his pj's all day, playing lego for hours on end. He likes it too. He was excited to go to school to see all of his friends, but he too loved the relaxing time we spent over the last couple of weeks.<br />
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So, I need to shake off the holidays, heat up a pot of tea and get to work! I have 2 shops to fill and lots of projects to finish off and new ones to get started. Its cold and freezing rain outside today, which is good. It keeps me from thinking that I should be outside and forces me in with knitting and sewing. <br />
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In other news, I'm messing around with a new "look" for the blog. Let me know what you think about it! Be honest, please, I can take it! My <a href="http://ebenlemon.blogspot.com/">friend Emma just revamped her blog</a> and it was so inspiring, I was up until 11:30 trying to tinker with a new blog header...early this morning after much frustration, I came up with the one you see here. Thoughts? Check out Emma's blog too, there is some great stuff happening over there.<br />
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So? How are you feeling now that the holidays are over?Unknownnoreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5151565208763783432.post-46124038696195885182011-01-02T09:38:00.000-08:002011-01-02T09:38:26.850-08:00an open letter to the President of the United States<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpRXxi5taGmLltd0k6e4e0_qgzGUK9VLKMRp51KvxPBGI1j5NZk1JSfoUrudGYc9ptZ-s9TldpPBZJWuI-JEoKAmWVz3S8Kwi2mWmwQJRo0x17EkRZP3-HFuwvkIyhSU3_szYAL_-U_6rC/s1600/shrek_obama.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpRXxi5taGmLltd0k6e4e0_qgzGUK9VLKMRp51KvxPBGI1j5NZk1JSfoUrudGYc9ptZ-s9TldpPBZJWuI-JEoKAmWVz3S8Kwi2mWmwQJRo0x17EkRZP3-HFuwvkIyhSU3_szYAL_-U_6rC/s400/shrek_obama.png" width="270" /></a></div><div style="color: #333333; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></div><div style="color: #333333; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Mr. Obama,</span> </div><div style="color: #333333; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="color: #333333; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">I have to say first off that when you were elected President, I was over the moon excited. After 8 years of worrying about your country based on their ability to vote a dumb, ignorant guy into the White House (and not just once), I believed there was hope when you came in. </span> </div><div style="color: #333333; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="color: #333333; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">You believe in many amazing core values that I think would make your country better, like health care. Great! I've seriously been a big fan, I even bought and wore an Obama shirt! I was super happy when you decided to get a rescue dog also, although that Portuguese Water Dog isn't really a "rescue", and I would have liked to see you follow through an adopt a shelter dog, but at least you tried. </span> </div><div style="color: #333333; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="color: #333333; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">However, I have to admit, I'm pissed off at you. I heard about the phone call you made to give praise for the Philadelphia Eagles giving Michael Vick a second chance. If you can imagine the sound of screeching tires as my love for you comes to a sudden halt, insert that noise *here*. Obama, you are the PRESIDENT of the United States. You are the first non-white President. You are a symbol of CHANGE for your country and the world. Because of that, people look up to you. Kids look up to you! My son, a 6 year old Canadian kid, LOVES you and thinks you are awesome.</span> </div><div style="color: #333333; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="color: #333333; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Lets review what Michael Vick did, just to be clear. I'm not going to candy coat it, either. Michael Vick fought dogs brutally for pleasure and money. He raised dogs specifically for this purpose. He is an adult and knew that what he was doing was wrong. We know that aside from fighting dogs, he was restraining female dogs on a "rape stand" and forcing them to breed. We know that he killed AT LEAST 13 dogs. These dogs were either sick or not "good enough" for him, so he killed them. And not even like "I'm going to take her to the vet and have her put to sleep". He murdered them. We know for a fact that he beat them, shot them and in at least one case, he killed a dog by slamming it into the ground until it was dead. We know that he watered dogs down and then used electricity to kill them. These are nasty, insane things that in my opinion, healthy, normal people could never do. </span> </div><div style="color: #333333; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="color: #333333; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">He would take regular family pets and throw them into the ring with the trained fighting dogs because he thought it was "funny" to watch them die. He ripped out the teeth of some of his more passive dogs so that they couldn't fight back when he was training dogs to fight for him. And, here's a news flash, he'd most likely STILL be doing it if he wasn't busted. </span> </div><div style="color: #333333; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="color: #333333; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;">Michael Vick didn't wake up one day and say "what I am doing is wrong and I should pay for my mistakes". He was BUSTED and forced to go to jail. He served a bit of jail time and got out...heading straight back into the limelight and right back to making millions. This is not the kind of man who I would ever let my son idolize or respect. So why, Obama, did you congratulate them for giving this sort of person a "second chance"? </div><div style="color: #333333; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="color: #333333; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">There are plenty of people in your country who deserve a phone call from you. There are people who helped clean up after 9/11 and got sick from breathing in hazardous dust who could use your support. There are teachers in the inner city fighting to help educate kids surrounded by guns and gangs. There are single moms raising their families on food stamps, people feeding your homeless, nurses caring for your sick. GOOD people. And yet Michael Vick, killer of dogs, deserves your time? In grade 1, I try to teach my son to stick up for those who are being bullied, not support the bullier. I urge you to do the same, and publicly recant your support for Vick. As the President, you have the obligation to do the right thing and be a role model for those who look up to you. </span></div><div style="color: #333333; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="color: #333333; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">If you are going to make a phone call, call the people who worked on the front lines at Bad Newz Kennels when they raided the compound. Ask about the brutal details of what Vick did there to those dogs. At least then, you will know every ounce of what you endorse when you support a man like Vick. I'm living with a dog covered in scars, and I would hope that if there would be an outpouring of support around that, that it would go to the people involved in her rescue and not to the people responsible for allowing it to happen. </span></div><div style="color: #333333; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="color: #333333; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Shame on you Obama. Not only do I not allow my son to look up to people who do the kinds of things that Vick did, but I don't allow him to look up to people who support them either. </span></div><div style="color: #333333; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="color: #333333; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Your ex-number 1 fan, </span></div><div style="color: #333333; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Emily</span></div><div><br />
</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5151565208763783432.post-74260226308451408572011-01-01T09:42:00.000-08:002011-01-01T22:39:13.373-08:00meet the dogs: Olive<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;">Olive, my little, sweet baby. Olive is the only dog who came to us as a little pup. The only, and quite frankly, the last. I thought that I knew what I was getting into when we came home with the warm little bundle of puppy belly and too-big paws. I thought she would sleep, eat and be cute. I didn't expect that she would also eat the door jam, chew the kitchen island, pee everywhere but the puppy pads and use the living room as her own personal jungle gym.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;">She won our hearts though, because she was so incredibly, insanely cute!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqMXsJ0bufn40phI4x-3xqBBmD3FYysUYCb6ZQNAzltyouSJ-vxNtePtf5xDqv7lfnLWF06zFHbajKoq1qyBlzWX7v5PJItuknw1HurvRXnI7Vwv8lQeq7AuJgDooBPXc9hI4BQGA03QRW/s1600/olive_AG_edit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqMXsJ0bufn40phI4x-3xqBBmD3FYysUYCb6ZQNAzltyouSJ-vxNtePtf5xDqv7lfnLWF06zFHbajKoq1qyBlzWX7v5PJItuknw1HurvRXnI7Vwv8lQeq7AuJgDooBPXc9hI4BQGA03QRW/s400/olive_AG_edit.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Olive is a pit bull, born to a mom who was abandoned pregnant. Mom was taken in by a well meaning person, and she gave birth to 11 pups, including little Olive. Mom was a sweet little girl herself, and when we went to look at the puppies there were only 3 left. One, a chocolate brown, mellow girl was our first pick, but the family had decided that they were keeping her. Olive and her identical sister looked the same, acted the same and were both a bit crazy...we were holding Olive, so we picked her. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">She didn't want to leave, she was scared and confused when we led her to the car, but she followed Aethan, who was 3 at the time. At home, she wouldn't come out of the car until she saw him standing there. I had hoped that Daisy would take her under her wing, but for the first few weeks, Daisy avoided her like the plague. The big, crazy puppy plague. Eventually, Olive grew into a somewhat not-so-crazy puppy, and she became Daisy's best friend. They are very much like sisters in every way. Every night, they share a bed. Although Olive grew, she has never lost her crazy, goofy spirit. You know that saying "old soul"? Well, that does not apply to our Olive, she's a very new soul, but she takes delight in being around for the first time in the Universe. Being a dog is SO MUCH FUN!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxgIOhznA9bddKTjcs0cIe6LQ6BZc52BmhspvN_MtRfUgK7hyphenhyphenIcjH9F3usSGs6ZOwHBY5t6r0dIVofzjcju0Jm9WQpEj7vuo4ZzweE-wUans-EOtOXsgv8gbiSZ_Nf1ltobkq9v4-3Igue/s1600/26290_10150186062485065_729145064_12073788_361077_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxgIOhznA9bddKTjcs0cIe6LQ6BZc52BmhspvN_MtRfUgK7hyphenhyphenIcjH9F3usSGs6ZOwHBY5t6r0dIVofzjcju0Jm9WQpEj7vuo4ZzweE-wUans-EOtOXsgv8gbiSZ_Nf1ltobkq9v4-3Igue/s640/26290_10150186062485065_729145064_12073788_361077_n.jpg" width="388" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">As cute as she is, she isn't the smartest dog in the world. Which isn't a bad thing...but don't expect much from her in obedience. She's the dog who will sit when you ask her to come, lay down when you ask her to sit and come when you ask her to stay. She means well though, and her zany personality doesn't bother me in the slightest. I do believe that you get just the dog you need, and Olive makes me laugh everyday. And look at this face, isn't she just the most beautiful dog? Her fur is like velvet...</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv_CZEQWjCbVepQfsovE_097_5QKbB0J19ZajZT4XUn3X-E8GFNbpypyyJtIZ_7-z99OQFLyFRkiUnL3gQAlwVFZbsRxTmGo1hY7WJShFbz25DscmVyeLLJYtc3mcglKzq5_WSOkQlsBL8/s1600/40707_10150256132095065_729145064_14047150_6618043_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv_CZEQWjCbVepQfsovE_097_5QKbB0J19ZajZT4XUn3X-E8GFNbpypyyJtIZ_7-z99OQFLyFRkiUnL3gQAlwVFZbsRxTmGo1hY7WJShFbz25DscmVyeLLJYtc3mcglKzq5_WSOkQlsBL8/s400/40707_10150256132095065_729145064_14047150_6618043_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
There isn't one mean bone in this body. She's completely unaware that the general public is afraid of her breed and that they expect her to be mean. She might be jumpy and silly, but aggressive she is not. Even with dogs she gives them her tennis ball (the most prized possession that Olive knows), would let them eat from her bowl, share her bed and when other dogs have challenged her, she backs down and won't fight back. <br />
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I love this big meat head...I wish that she could live to be 100 human years, never run out of tennis balls to chase and never know a hard day. She deserves it all, because she is only a very, very <b>GOOD</b> dog.<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKpo7mtht88PTnWjjYY_rd8A8jS2Lz0mQdZ0y7GpyTB7Ve7dBftOTWgxqEa7jV9fpLVp_6MnO7U-8pfU1jqgzb6DKfYCuh4tUfMrP5AzLxNR5JmgVRgPeDgWILNdQAPNi-sBEE7_DrNAKp/s1600/ol.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKpo7mtht88PTnWjjYY_rd8A8jS2Lz0mQdZ0y7GpyTB7Ve7dBftOTWgxqEa7jV9fpLVp_6MnO7U-8pfU1jqgzb6DKfYCuh4tUfMrP5AzLxNR5JmgVRgPeDgWILNdQAPNi-sBEE7_DrNAKp/s400/ol.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5151565208763783432.post-72615164360945643572010-12-30T10:20:00.000-08:002010-12-30T10:20:33.805-08:00house tour, part one<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>Welcome to our home. Built in 1947, our little house is sweet, warm and peaceful. It features awesome things like the original fir floors and glass doorknobs. It is our first house, and we love it. After years of renting, it feels good to have our own walls to live behind. Walls where a 6 year old can experiment with being older. Here, I found that he had taped a Star Wars poster (handmade, of course) to his wall...<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZjmLUx4fg2m0_q_u2bqfphL89ae6D_MxJagFK661GFCi1uJBayO7vFok38-1-DRovMbK-7YVZzqbcBePjfkt-7gF3vuJuxOzQ45K4miyv1HpcZbjYwc_ezJlXDu1X-iK6D8prvNuO2F_S/s1600/house+tour+035.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZjmLUx4fg2m0_q_u2bqfphL89ae6D_MxJagFK661GFCi1uJBayO7vFok38-1-DRovMbK-7YVZzqbcBePjfkt-7gF3vuJuxOzQ45K4miyv1HpcZbjYwc_ezJlXDu1X-iK6D8prvNuO2F_S/s400/house+tour+035.jpg" width="266" /></a></div><br />
But no matter how "big boy" he acts, I take delight in the fact that every night since he was 4 months old, he's cuddled with the same bunny stuffy, who he named Happy Bunny. Once, he forgot Happy at his dad's house in another town. Happy needed to be sent priority post back to us, where he could be cuddled once again...<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlpSnLFCIUBHq7eg6Y_qTzEB2naMBLa3R_zVEKt8iYiq1rdtIaFACsV-zNLD7jyoTKbbeeXtIgj3rU6C3nyrt8nOxmfSdE4gCZr69rvKpuhfdk1AZ-7A802_OGD5FmJYnoNZkbGHExg6PO/s1600/house+tour+037.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlpSnLFCIUBHq7eg6Y_qTzEB2naMBLa3R_zVEKt8iYiq1rdtIaFACsV-zNLD7jyoTKbbeeXtIgj3rU6C3nyrt8nOxmfSdE4gCZr69rvKpuhfdk1AZ-7A802_OGD5FmJYnoNZkbGHExg6PO/s400/house+tour+037.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
Ever since he was 3, or maybe younger, he started wanting to bring home items, usually natural bits and pieces for his "collection". This was his own idea but one that must be from his ancestral memory. This sort of curating runs in the family. Chloe, at a year and a half, already has her own type set tray filled with wonderful bits and pieces. Here's Aethan's, complete with coral, curly bark, a meteorite and carved sticks...<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLLcmXzkN2kg4C0DLGJRqVnUubYJwNmNTvehaGJyvXLyMtn5rgqugA9S0jy-rC8Iuw5Uj1GqCgVpiyJWV8KMllTfFYVxgiJN4ZqSLLhrC45mdHCOQPcvpsOSvMjSu-rcTnSmbcme9veayu/s1600/house+tour+038.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLLcmXzkN2kg4C0DLGJRqVnUubYJwNmNTvehaGJyvXLyMtn5rgqugA9S0jy-rC8Iuw5Uj1GqCgVpiyJWV8KMllTfFYVxgiJN4ZqSLLhrC45mdHCOQPcvpsOSvMjSu-rcTnSmbcme9veayu/s400/house+tour+038.jpg" width="266" /></a></div><br />
And of course, on top of the collection, the old Death Star and Vader Pez dispensers. A prize possession...<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHhdF30ycmOl5x4rIju4NOYUxYewvsXcRugvpnzwvAxx2h93Vv5A8ONWBzCTaTvXr8w5FSVkFaNycVcXHH7gtbQ9HTF1b-C5arWZ1dpSkvQkqzKj__jN3yOdnQCDF8qFCrxoFLxi1KFd_-/s1600/house+tour+040.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHhdF30ycmOl5x4rIju4NOYUxYewvsXcRugvpnzwvAxx2h93Vv5A8ONWBzCTaTvXr8w5FSVkFaNycVcXHH7gtbQ9HTF1b-C5arWZ1dpSkvQkqzKj__jN3yOdnQCDF8qFCrxoFLxi1KFd_-/s400/house+tour+040.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
I found this old Avon light house bottle at the thrift. I couldn't pass it up...<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We do weekly library trips. Here, a stack waits to go back. I didn't get a chance to read the Extreme Vinyl Cafe, and there was a request. I'll have to wait until next time...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZwqMRPjFteenf8Y1JsWicutIphcfVJkOpINGVa0H6jj5VA_bJAfJi2S-KpWgwSN_gNHb7q0BDsXVnlaDEpDV0FoTRbQUbiOMW4_BnftQReefny5i1JA9f5PGBbUO-_IrQPhBaLlUP6hkK/s1600/house+tour+053.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZwqMRPjFteenf8Y1JsWicutIphcfVJkOpINGVa0H6jj5VA_bJAfJi2S-KpWgwSN_gNHb7q0BDsXVnlaDEpDV0FoTRbQUbiOMW4_BnftQReefny5i1JA9f5PGBbUO-_IrQPhBaLlUP6hkK/s400/house+tour+053.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
It is a constant battle to keep Aethan's room clean. Lego playing requires little piles here and there, and he's not entirely committed to putting them back where they came from...<br />
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My stack of bird books (and an old bible that I can't get rid of), including my Grandad's well used copy. It is truly one of my favorite items in the house, complete with handwritten notes in the margins....<br />
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My other Grandad sits in a frame, I love this photo of the man I never met, but love to pieces...<br />
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A stone with a naturally worn hole from the beach near where I grew up. I'd like to go back to that beach to find more stones with holes...<br />
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The Christmas tree is down now, but I loved it while it was up...<br />
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The fridge wouldn't be complete without Aethan's art and school photo. Yes, he's wearing his Empire Strikes Back shirt. He went to school and secretly took off his nice sweater before the shot was taken. He's serious about his love for Star Wars, that's for sure...<br />
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My office, with post office receipts and my saved tomato seeds...<br />
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I hope you liked what you saw of our little house. We love it here in the Alberni Valley. And next time, I'll show you around the garden, okay? Unknownnoreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5151565208763783432.post-16751968924313807212010-12-28T11:25:00.000-08:002010-12-28T11:25:05.658-08:00meet the dogs: TiloupTiloup, sweet, gentle, comical and intelligent. This dog has a long story, so I'll try to do this as quickly as possible. Here goes! We moved here last January, into our wonderful first home (which I LOVE and will post about soon). Our street is nice and quiet and we have wonderful neighbours. Except at one house. The house next door is one of the only rentals on the street, and it just so happens that when we moved in, it was rented by a crack dealer or meth dealer or maker or just all around bad guy. Bad Guy owned 2 dogs, a small, yappy white thing and a little mutty dog. Mutty Dog ran loose and Yappy Dog was tied up most often. Then, one day last spring, Yappy Dog and Mutty Dog are gone and running around the neighbour's yard is a young pup, who I instantly fall in love with. <br />
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I ask Bad Guy where the other dogs went. He laughs and says "I got rid of them". Nice. So, the new dog is like a trade in, I guess. Old ones weren't working out, so reasonable solution for Bad Guy is to get a new pup. Now, I start thinking about the old dogs. I'm imagining that they were let loose out along some logging road somewhere, as is standard practice around here for unwanted pets. <br />
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As time goes on, the new pup looses appeal to Bad Guy. He lets her run loose all of the time, and when she's not running loose, she's tied up in the yard, like in this video below. I know its only a matter of time until she is either hit by a car or ends up pregnant, still just a pup herself. For the record, I did phone the SPCA, but there isn't much that they can do in situations like this. Their hands are tied by messed up laws. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">One day, I get a phone call from a friend who lives about a block from here that the pup (who Bad Guy named Patches) was hit by a car in front of her house. I hear yelping and look out in time to see Bad Guy carrying Patches up the stairs into his house, only to come back out a minute later. My friend calls again to tell me that he's gone back to hang out at his friend's house. Patches is now hurt, alone at home. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Our SPCA was closed that day, and it took 3 1/2 hours on the phone before I finally found an SPCA constable who was willing to make the drive to our town to help, and she managed to convince the RCMP to drive by the house. There, the officer found Patches lying on the couch with ice packs on her broken femur. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Bad Guy surrendered the pup to him, and she was taken to the vet. She almost lost her leg, but they were able to raise enough money to fix her leg. You can see below the scar running along her back leg...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs283.snc4/40506_10150263468305065_729145064_14252937_1604025_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs283.snc4/40506_10150263468305065_729145064_14252937_1604025_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">It is at this time that she came to us through the SPCA as a foster. Timid, frightfully skinny and on major crate rest for her leg, she barked at everyone new, cowered at anything scary and needed to learn to trust something. Anything. She was alone and she knew it, but didn't know where to start. We gave her the time. She began to heal.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">By the grace of God, Bad Guy moved out from next door (and yes, cleaned up that mess of a yard) and Patches began to come into her own. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
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Her eyes are like supernovas, her spirit is goofy and bright. She understands how to make people laugh. And, she isn't "patchy" so a new name was needed for a new life. Tiloup is French slang and a term of endearment for "little wolf". It seemed to fit...<br />
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She learned to trust humans, and although she's not 100% sure all of the time, especially with men, we understand why. But the safest place for her soul is with her kid. She loves a 6 year old boy. Anything that he does, she does. She follows him EVERYWHERE, stares at him and wags her tail when he talks (she thinks his stories are the BEST). She sleeps in his room and comes whenever he calls. When he leaves on the school bus she cries, and although she's afraid of the giant yellow monster that comes, she barks when it swallows her child and drives away. Then, she waits until 3 when it returns him and the world becomes right again. <br />
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Once he's home, she can resume following. If he digs in the snow, she digs in the snow....<br />
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</div>He is most amazing! He can make snow fall from the sky! To her, anyone who controls the weather like this is remarkable and should be held in the highest regard...<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We've since learned that Tiloup is a Weimaraner crossed with a Black and Tan Coonhound (small towns are a great way to learn information, everyone knows everyone and someone knows the guy that bred a pup). She's proof of why you should always fight for the welfare of all animals. Many people turn a blind eye towards the way the neighbour treats the pets, for fear of rocking the boat. But in the end, it is the animals like Patches who suffer. I'm not sure how this sweet soul survived living with a man like that, but if you know that an animal is being neglected or mistreated, please call someone. You can make an anonymous tip if you have to, but in the end, you'll be glad you did something. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5151565208763783432.post-8021029983330372402010-12-27T14:15:00.000-08:002010-12-27T14:15:24.376-08:00front page again!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6qSNZwhUF1GR8KO29TyfHH-wUXTRNnxVJk1bJIE_imNlefpPPjJ1Q5uPUn3-2bE0zxCQHIU1qBr4_n-QUpvxXrhSBfHzsLQcJ4pn-nHhN3ZsgdSxMdMytGabAM8d4CTqgh-KLNHBexwxR/s1600/fp_16998.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="347" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6qSNZwhUF1GR8KO29TyfHH-wUXTRNnxVJk1bJIE_imNlefpPPjJ1Q5uPUn3-2bE0zxCQHIU1qBr4_n-QUpvxXrhSBfHzsLQcJ4pn-nHhN3ZsgdSxMdMytGabAM8d4CTqgh-KLNHBexwxR/s400/fp_16998.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5151565208763783432.post-25234697051369692822010-12-26T11:15:00.000-08:002010-12-26T11:15:04.461-08:00meet the dogs: Daisy<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I think that it is important for you to know the dogs. This blog is named "five dog house" and while it isn't a strict "dog blog", these animals are a major part of my life, and will show up around here quite a bit. I thought i'd introduce them so that you know who is who, and what they are like, if you don't know them already. We'll start with Dasiy. </div><div><br />
</div><div>Daisy is a pit bull/border collie cross who came to us 3 years ago. We found her at the SPCA and I knew from the moment I saw her listing on the internet that she was my dog. How, I don't know. But it was one of the only clear "messages" I've ever had in my life. I saw her there on the website and instantly I knew. I didn't know how it would go over when I mentioned it to Adam though, because we certainly were NOT looking for another dog.</div><div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmX3tWOJRJjyHlxFdDTDuafcBP7sKupRluAeoaAklZGOP74iKugcNh1Mmh7jaLI88mmzVZhaoPWLOJ0rO_-HMebDH4FLaCXv_FnvQFJDbDyjgwQEYLWCjaqWvva3tl8iR9BFtbHkExqomd/s1600/3176879123_4bd52dff2e_b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmX3tWOJRJjyHlxFdDTDuafcBP7sKupRluAeoaAklZGOP74iKugcNh1Mmh7jaLI88mmzVZhaoPWLOJ0rO_-HMebDH4FLaCXv_FnvQFJDbDyjgwQEYLWCjaqWvva3tl8iR9BFtbHkExqomd/s400/3176879123_4bd52dff2e_b.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">But, there she was, and something in me knew that there was more to the story for me and her. So, we went to meet her. Right away, we made it official and sprang her from the big house and didn't look back. She fit in from the moment we came home, taking on a roll as a family dog and being perfectly faithful. She is the dog lying at your feet when you do the dishes, and sleeping on the cold, wet bathmat when you shower because she'd rather be with you than curled up in front of the fire. Faithful Dog sacrifices her own comfort for your safety, and being with you at all times insures she can watch over you like her ancestors watched over the sheep.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb5tB34yCCt0ufkXNR64I0sbKcMUYun_KcjixFQKCLi8o_J4ZLLtcBlHQ0_hSg5PaNXvmNBxs8zL8sgYXum4ejd65qe1etscw0GNB6hMVRhnj_I8G5gr-TRZB1-ho54g4q5p-o-nNG23Tm/s1600/3317151267_c60eb2e9e9_b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="313" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb5tB34yCCt0ufkXNR64I0sbKcMUYun_KcjixFQKCLi8o_J4ZLLtcBlHQ0_hSg5PaNXvmNBxs8zL8sgYXum4ejd65qe1etscw0GNB6hMVRhnj_I8G5gr-TRZB1-ho54g4q5p-o-nNG23Tm/s400/3317151267_c60eb2e9e9_b.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">On top of being faithful, Daisy is smart and incredibly active. She can crash through the bush after any small rodent or bird, leaping fallen trees and streams with ease. While she's never actually caught anything (the jingle in her tags gives the woodland creatures fair warning) her heaven would be populated with many squirrels and cats. As you can see below, she isn't afraid to get muddy in pursuit of her catch!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2E5bdGvp7va6mKASlgVqoC-F7J5A-ApaweBfCh35FeASjqrU3oGgXqkks2ZceEs0QckM_uC89sgd2fdCtHWeJS25_bms5zatwaSxblWzWA2q7g0wxJgmrpqpL3IzppLvE1cKP7tM_nRba/s1600/3410087763_350819490a_b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2E5bdGvp7va6mKASlgVqoC-F7J5A-ApaweBfCh35FeASjqrU3oGgXqkks2ZceEs0QckM_uC89sgd2fdCtHWeJS25_bms5zatwaSxblWzWA2q7g0wxJgmrpqpL3IzppLvE1cKP7tM_nRba/s400/3410087763_350819490a_b.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">She loves other dogs, and is a great judge of dog character. On the trails she knows what new dogs to approach and what ones to avoid. While she used to love to run and play, now she just tends to like to be around the others in the backyard, sniffing and poking through the grass, leaving the rough and tumble stuff to the youngsters.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidrMTwIzfjqnEgExfFN7QqoIR1uZQfmuDMU2EUB7ud5qZ3Nr5kcPRxzFoJkY7R9mf2j8I4M2mirOMaccF70-91vSMWpHEOTws8OXORlY23TH_unqymHomBWzfHzltU0hTV7RTcEoBXlQgX/s1600/3475411744_2229f56c22_b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidrMTwIzfjqnEgExfFN7QqoIR1uZQfmuDMU2EUB7ud5qZ3Nr5kcPRxzFoJkY7R9mf2j8I4M2mirOMaccF70-91vSMWpHEOTws8OXORlY23TH_unqymHomBWzfHzltU0hTV7RTcEoBXlQgX/s400/3475411744_2229f56c22_b.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">She's 7 years old, full of life and amazingly beautiful. I don't like watching her black patch turn grey, which seems to be happening much too fast, but she's young in spirit and energy. There hasn't been a day that I regret finding her and adopting her. She's my dog, and I love her.</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5151565208763783432.post-1029664066356895632010-12-24T14:48:00.000-08:002010-12-24T14:48:50.601-08:00merry christmas to all, and to all, a goodnight!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiXFUVzQGmpWcUzecLIcCaptRlXhSusfskX1IzsroX45StoMSsoaOhKY-hI3nIxg8hGUxUDF5hENmOc61wBsSSFtgEbuiJhJ0EiB7qd4l4PHcNNR15T2LsA28YqDykmtxjkwzQUPzMD83C/s1600/il_fullxfull.192197906.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br />
</a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> <img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiXFUVzQGmpWcUzecLIcCaptRlXhSusfskX1IzsroX45StoMSsoaOhKY-hI3nIxg8hGUxUDF5hENmOc61wBsSSFtgEbuiJhJ0EiB7qd4l4PHcNNR15T2LsA28YqDykmtxjkwzQUPzMD83C/s400/il_fullxfull.192197906.jpg" width="400" /></span></div><div style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiXFUVzQGmpWcUzecLIcCaptRlXhSusfskX1IzsroX45StoMSsoaOhKY-hI3nIxg8hGUxUDF5hENmOc61wBsSSFtgEbuiJhJ0EiB7qd4l4PHcNNR15T2LsA28YqDykmtxjkwzQUPzMD83C/s1600/il_fullxfull.192197906.jpg" imageanchor="1"></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-small;">He knew they would agree... - Archival Signed Print<br style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" />by Elly MacKay- available on Etsy <a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/61618005/he-knew-they-would-agree?ref=sr_list_11&ga_search_query=christmas+print+tree&ga_search_type=handmade&ga_page=&order=&includes[0]=tags&includes[1]=title&filter[0]=handmade">here</a></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px;"><br />
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<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Have a warm, safe Christmas surrounded by friends, family and animal companions. Think not of the gifts that you want to receive, but rather of the things you are fortunate to have and the gifts that you are able to <b>give</b>.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Eat, drink and be merry, but be sure to have a safe ride home. If Christmas isn't your thing, curl up with a good book and enjoy the silence that the holiday brings. Stoke the fire, warm the rum and find peace.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">To all of the homeless pets and the broken human souls, hold tight. Christmas will pass and you can savor the hope that a new year brings. For all mankind, my wish for the holidays is this; treat yourself and your peers with kindness, treat the Earth with the respect that she deserves and treat our four legged friends as if they were your brothers and sisters.</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5151565208763783432.post-74999324765052933232010-12-24T10:17:00.000-08:002010-12-24T10:22:32.006-08:00home for the holidays, a recap of my old friend<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Perhaps you've heard of Stanley, the big white pit bull pulled from an LA shelter a year ago today. If you haven't, you can see the start of the story by watching the video that started the whole thing. This video went viral, with over 500,000 people watching it. This was a Christmas story, it started exactly a year ago...</span><br />
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I was lucky enough to open my home to Stanley and foster him upon his arrival in Canada. Back then he was a ragged, skinny, mangey mutt, but lovable all the same. From the moment I met him, I knew, like everyone else, that he was special. Not in the sense that he KNEW he was special or that he was any different or better than any other dog. He was special in the sense that this boy carried hope on his shoulders for other dogs just like him. While he learned to navigate in our home, great things were happening in his wake. People inspired by his video began to email their stories about how Stanley had changed their lives and inspired them. People adopted dogs in his honour, seeing the value in a diamond in the rough.<br />
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</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #181818; line-height: 22px;">I wonder what Cathy Stanley thought the day that she found that run down white pit bull covered in mange at a Californian shelter? I wonder if she knew what she was getting into by deciding to pull him that day, hours before he would be put to sleep? I wonder if she imagined him, months later, eyes healed, mange improving, weight put on, happy, running around a backyard in British Columbia, Canada? I wonder if she had any idea that his story would touch the hearts of THOUSANDS of people around the world. I wonder if she realized that Stanley would become the poster boy for shelter dogs? That he would inspire many people to adopt dogs just like him? </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #181818; line-height: 22px;"><br />
</span><br />
<div style="color: #181818; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">I don't think her vision was quite that broad. I think that Cathy did what she did based out of the desire to help just one dog, regardless of the attention or spotlight it would bring. I think that she pulled that sick dog that day because it was the RIGHT thing to do. I think that she did it because she believed in him, she believed that people would come together to help, that the worth of a dog isn't in his pedigree or the shine of his coat. She believed that sometimes, dogs like Stanley are diamonds in the rough. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></div><div style="color: #181818; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Whatever the reason, she made a huge impact the day that she sprung that poor boy from the shelter. What was about to happen was enormous. So many people from all over the world worked together, donating and praying, to help Stanley. On Christmas 2009, people all around the world sat at their computer, crying for this broken soul. Many of those people, unable to donate, went to their local shelter and adopted a dog because of Stanley's story. Those who couldn't adopt sent us stories about the shelter dogs they'd walked in Stanley's honour or the blankets that they'd donated to their local SPCA. Whatever they did to help, however small or great, Stanley inspired them and their actions had an impact. </span></div><div style="color: #181818; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></div><div style="color: #181818; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">While all of this was happening, Stanley was healing. He recovered from his mange, he had surgery for his eyes and he's gaining weight. There was never any doubt that his body would heal. But, after his rough start, being a stray, with his unknown past, what would his spirit be like? How would that heal? </span></div><div style="color: #181818; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></div><div style="color: #181818; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Within days at my home, everyone realized that wouldn't be an issue. Stanley's spirit was going to be ok. He lived each day like a happy puppy trapped in a giant pit bull body. He snuggled with other dogs, ran around the yard, licked faces and wagged his tail hard and sure. His physical body was carrying the evidence of his past, telling the story of it in his mange and eye infections, but his mind wasn't listening. "This too shall pass" Stanley seemed to say. </span></div><div style="color: #181818; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></div><div style="color: #181818; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Stanley has gone on to be adopted, and he's living happily with a loving family and another dog. It was an honour to be a part of his story and I thank Cathy from the bottom of our hearts for bringing him into our lives. </span></div><div style="color: #181818; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #181818;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 22px;">If you would like to donate to Cathy so that she can continue her work, PLEASE visit </span></span><a href="http://www.campcocker.com/" style="color: #181818; line-height: 22px;">www.CampCocker.com</a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #181818;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 22px;"> . Even $5 helps, vet bills are amazingly high and Cathy runs solely on donations. This is a global problem and it is all of our responsibility to pitch in where we can to help stop this epidemic. </span></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #181818; font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 22px;"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #181818; font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 22px;">To Stanley I say, Merry Christmas, old friend! xo</span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #181818; font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 22px;"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #181818; font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 22px;"><i>*although he has already been adopted, Stanley is featured on the last xmas "home for the holidays" post to remind us that there are MILLIONS of unwanted pets at shelters and rescue organizations across North America. PLEASE, if you are considering getting a dog, cat or something else, visit your local shelter and do not support pet shops, puppy mills and backyard breeders.*</i></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #181818; font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 22px;"><i><br />
</i></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #181818; font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 22px;"><i>Stanley today in his adoptive home- photo by his owner, Teresa.</i></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4122/4866325292_8b1d86f53d_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4122/4866325292_8b1d86f53d_o.jpg" /></a></div><div style="color: #181818; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5151565208763783432.post-65107280522212893172010-12-23T16:47:00.000-08:002010-12-23T18:58:23.490-08:00who am iThanks for the questions! I can't answer them all, because there were too many. But here's the start!<br />
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<b>what inspires you? </b>My son is my biggest life inspiration. He is kind, loving and empathetic. He doesn't realize the scope of how large his heart is because he doesn't yet realize that there are bad things out in the world. I am so inspired by the way he chooses to treat others. I'm inspired by my husband, my dogs and my family and friends also. And memories...growing up with antique dealing parents in beautiful homes from the 1800's, I learned to appreciate the beauty in classic shapes and designs.<br />
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<b>how did you learn to knit? </b>My sister showed me the basics and I've used books and youtube (believe it or not) to carry on learning. I started a sock last night but ripped it out after messing up the heel, I have more to learn for sure!<br />
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<b>what's your favourite yarn to work with? </b>I love natural, beautiful wools but often stick to acrylics because I can't afford the best. While I'd love to buy hand spun wool every time, it is amazing what you can find out there that is synthetic but looks organic.<br />
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<b>are you on ravelry?</b> I am! But I'm just learning to use it. I'm emilykp if anyone can add me, please do, as I don't know how to add you yet! <br />
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<b>do you have a favourite time of year?</b> This is my favorite. I LOVE Christmas. I love everything about it. However, I love everything that each season brings. The best part about the summer is the garden, which is just as great as Christmas! <b> time of day? </b>Love it all really. I used to be a morning person but now I find I'm a bit of a morning person and a night owl. <br />
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<b>what is your favorite food of all time?</b> pizza. for sure. in fact, just thinking about it made me hungry.<br />
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<b>if you won a million bucks what would you do with it?</b> Buy acreage and pay off my sister and brother's mortgages. Buy my mom whatever home she wanted. Pay off my aunt's mortgage. Buy a car with heat. Start a dog sanctuary and sustainable farm. Invest for my son and my niece.<br />
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<b>what's your favorite book and movie of all time?</b> My favorite book, thats a tough one. To be perfectly honest, probably my copy of Cesar's Way. Because he is an inspiration, my hero and the book sums it all up for me. I know that he's controversial, but he opened up for me my only real passion. For that, I am forever grateful. Favorite movie...hard one also, how do you pick just one??? I will say that my favorite genre is by far documentaries.<br />
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<b>were you named after anyone?</b> Nope. I think that mom just liked the name. I like it too, actually. Sometimes I wish that my middle name, Katherine, was my first. <br />
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<b>if you could travel anywhere for free where would you go and why?</b> Ontario, because I miss my dad and I want Aethan to see where I grew up. I want to go to Cuba, Spain, Italy, Costa Rica and New Zealand. I also mostly want to go to England because I want to see where my dad is from. But I feel very fourtunate that we can drive to Tofino...how amazing is that? We live in a beautiful part of the world. Oh, and I want to go to India, mostly to eat. <br />
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<b>why is the sky blue?</b> actually, it is colourless, it just appears blue due to the way that the sunlight and Earth's atmosphere behave!<br />
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<b>what got you into making dog scarves and babushkas? </b> It was my sister's suggestion, and it seemed like a great idea, so Earth Walkers was born! I'm so glad it was, because it has been my job as of late.<br />
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<b>who is this secret agent five dog house?</b> The only secret agents here are the dogs themselves. Secret agent Bez Begbie the Boston Terror is a wily, grumpy agent who is close to retirement. Secret Agent Daisy is faithful and will do anything to protect her fellow agents. Secret Agent Olive is not the smartest, but she's very cute. Secret Agents Casha and Tiloup are on a top secret mission called Operation Don't Ask Don't Tell. They came as fosters but seem to think if they pretend that they are supposed to be here, no one will suggest otherwise. Agents Casha and Olive are also undercovers (get it, like, in bed) for Operation Snore Fest.<br />
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Thanks for all of the questions!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5151565208763783432.post-75004359930946209762010-12-23T13:13:00.000-08:002010-12-23T13:13:02.696-08:00home for the holidays, day 4HugABull is one of my favorite rescue groups because of a few reasons. One, they deal with the breed close to my heart. Second, they strive to find GREAT homes for even better dogs. And third, they do a lot of advocacy work also, which pit bulls need beyond measure. <br />
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This is Brody. He's a little breed ambassador, playing with other dogs and loving people.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOH0puVxKC5dRQTlYn7hvwlW6pwdZXq_6O3VsJ2er6dlM3d-2953K4LroAbIWVxuE8WWkuQHSHrqXy9B6M7gPs4yWrQda2E5M3oqhmJXv1yLHj97yatMPwyuf_AzAHMqQBa0GrC2y4sKU1/s1600/Brody-5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOH0puVxKC5dRQTlYn7hvwlW6pwdZXq_6O3VsJ2er6dlM3d-2953K4LroAbIWVxuE8WWkuQHSHrqXy9B6M7gPs4yWrQda2E5M3oqhmJXv1yLHj97yatMPwyuf_AzAHMqQBa0GrC2y4sKU1/s1600/Brody-5.jpg" /></a></div><br />
Truman is a gentle soul, he is looking for a relaxed home who will appreciate his sweet face...<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihAgKn6_x_dkCEFptq3G3sLp7Xh7cPte6f7asotw1JCGicDHIBVt2Q8HYxXzfmGkQK6bRHj3FfYc8UktOcyr2-Olln0A4qEj7DnlQWZWyYn5YY0WMb-ujK12Nbk6tCKmq3jBIxEsaAvKWx/s1600/Truman-4-550x412.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihAgKn6_x_dkCEFptq3G3sLp7Xh7cPte6f7asotw1JCGicDHIBVt2Q8HYxXzfmGkQK6bRHj3FfYc8UktOcyr2-Olln0A4qEj7DnlQWZWyYn5YY0WMb-ujK12Nbk6tCKmq3jBIxEsaAvKWx/s400/Truman-4-550x412.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
Loki is an older boy looking for a retirement home. Is yours it?<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixGLiMwSXzZEMV7m45x-FQTys__ageGPlHl4xsvv2VtWVEmLSQnA82dQT88ZPLxefPdpLlwCbwkAGlKJzjV1KDsn9jJXOOQFFZIvhJPTAl8SRe1tlFZz0xZXGQhaTNbevT33jS_JVoBQ08/s1600/old-man-loki-3-550x366+%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixGLiMwSXzZEMV7m45x-FQTys__ageGPlHl4xsvv2VtWVEmLSQnA82dQT88ZPLxefPdpLlwCbwkAGlKJzjV1KDsn9jJXOOQFFZIvhJPTAl8SRe1tlFZz0xZXGQhaTNbevT33jS_JVoBQ08/s400/old-man-loki-3-550x366+%25281%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
For more info on these dogs, please visit <a href="http://www.hugabull.com/">www.HugABull.com</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5151565208763783432.post-33881722495772355102010-12-22T19:11:00.000-08:002010-12-22T19:11:24.329-08:00what gives?My friend <a href="http://ebenlemon.blogspot.com/">Emma</a> had a great "get to know me" post on her blog. That made me want to do one here, but then I thought it would be fun if I answered your questions to me. So, comment or tweet your questions for me and I will answer them all in a post tomorrow. Ask me anything and I will answer. Maybe you want to know more about me. Maybe more about my son's obsession with Star Wars Lego. Maybe you want to know more about my shop, my blog or my dogs. <br />
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This post will be super boring if I have no questions to answer, so go for it! Ask away!<br />
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(by the way, Emma's shop is having a serious sale. <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/ebenlemon?page=1">Check it out here</a>)Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5151565208763783432.post-89165982685953029662010-12-22T15:30:00.000-08:002010-12-22T15:30:03.636-08:00home for the holidays, day 3I love the rescue Furever After. They specialize in finding homes for small breed dogs, and they are top notch as far as rescues go. Today, lets meet 3 of their adoptable dogs. <br />
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How cute would these dogs be curled up by your Christmas tree? SO. CUTE. Look at little Lily. Who can resist that face??? She's a sweet, shy 11 year old girl looking for her own home. CUTE!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWIu0BulRxPVeJoQvRJJBm-D_K3aXn9Or6vlrz3F7DCqIliTLRWXvsKDa5fBm36fNrxEzYFDWzSXTTU9jmyv8ZGo65uvJSFImGm66HnjmmrhCHnsNTvGl6g6JOm-8EIDZMnuupPFE5UUnI/s1600/BC54.18096356-1-x.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="309" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWIu0BulRxPVeJoQvRJJBm-D_K3aXn9Or6vlrz3F7DCqIliTLRWXvsKDa5fBm36fNrxEzYFDWzSXTTU9jmyv8ZGo65uvJSFImGm66HnjmmrhCHnsNTvGl6g6JOm-8EIDZMnuupPFE5UUnI/s320/BC54.18096356-1-x.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Cooper is 2-3 and is a pretty cool little dude. Also, he's cute! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4jyAyzhQJsYkg16g40nIMGbDN3MMjkTeDZdOYhhp9filofTFVEcc4aG_X3i9JKkXJH9TbGqHLdT2wOto6XXq9bZ2sMdmZo_AOlzJ3yfaCJJEW1tItbvyUEcbwUMFp1K6xHk2TPMkLQG8U/s1600/BC54.18097397-1-x.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="285" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4jyAyzhQJsYkg16g40nIMGbDN3MMjkTeDZdOYhhp9filofTFVEcc4aG_X3i9JKkXJH9TbGqHLdT2wOto6XXq9bZ2sMdmZo_AOlzJ3yfaCJJEW1tItbvyUEcbwUMFp1K6xHk2TPMkLQG8U/s320/BC54.18097397-1-x.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Cleo is a very healthy 8 years old and is good with dogs and cats. And, keeping with the theme, she's cute! </div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIG3zemf-1nbpQngqPA7PZIA6GnZf0HLsgFYh_j0MFfW8OfUTHNF8XNHzH9OUUg9URstT5an_-V-h9hC4TvM9upwv8frPkh6amJJvRlFmLROixbdJtCqgo-xmO4GCSQDBHFCbnmB-ZOCCC/s1600/BC54.17050167-1-x.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIG3zemf-1nbpQngqPA7PZIA6GnZf0HLsgFYh_j0MFfW8OfUTHNF8XNHzH9OUUg9URstT5an_-V-h9hC4TvM9upwv8frPkh6amJJvRlFmLROixbdJtCqgo-xmO4GCSQDBHFCbnmB-ZOCCC/s320/BC54.17050167-1-x.jpg" width="295" /></a></div>To find out more about these dogs and the Furever After adoption process, please visit their website at <a href="http://www.fureverafter.net/">www.fureverafter.net </a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5151565208763783432.post-62361859371188231322010-12-21T17:24:00.000-08:002010-12-21T17:25:19.469-08:00going without<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7pPZTXn38VcR-iG-vG90TXzEUCFddmuTSOrrV3keM37XIb3W3IUo02guukvoZp65z_5htL4l2fp0zXcZgGuvMeLVCpRM9e2nGAJeT1ukSG-eJMHaerQB4y2w3ZyiETeQfxftZpfo4mnL7/s1600/il_570xN.165029190.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7pPZTXn38VcR-iG-vG90TXzEUCFddmuTSOrrV3keM37XIb3W3IUo02guukvoZp65z_5htL4l2fp0zXcZgGuvMeLVCpRM9e2nGAJeT1ukSG-eJMHaerQB4y2w3ZyiETeQfxftZpfo4mnL7/s400/il_570xN.165029190.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/53504478/summer-wash-4x6-digital-print?ref=sr_list_6&ga_search_query=clothesline+print&ga_search_type=handmade&ga_page=&order=&includes[0]=tags&includes[1]=title&filter[0]=handmade">"summer wash" is a print from etsy. you can buy it here (not my shop).</a></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div>These days, the world is filled with grim prophecies. Global warming, food shortages, fresh water is diminishing. We know that we are harming the planet, yet we keep doing what we will, using, abusing and taking resources like we own this Earth. <br />
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I remember the first time I watched An Inconvenient Truth. I cried. I cried hard, not because of what we were doing to Mother Earth, but because this was the legacy we were leaving for my son. We are creating a planet that, in some form or another, is already in crisis. And yet we carry on as if nothing is wrong. We all use plastic. Plastic pens, baby bottles, toys, utensils, phones, cameras, makeup containers...everything is plastic and it never goes away. The plastic bag that holds the lettuce only long enough to get it home will always be on this planet in some form. It will never fully biodegrade, but that won't stop us from using it.<br />
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What on Earth are we doing? I'm at fault like the rest of us. I'm better than some, but still guilty of over using, buying un-locally, driving a gas guzzler. But surely there are some things, even a few things that each of us can do to make a difference. One thing that I have noticed that is becoming a trend is the act of going "fridgeless". <br />
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Fridgeless households are just that. They are homes, modern day, regular homes, without fridges. Items are bought only on the day that they are needed, cold cellars are used, and items that we commonly refrigerate for no reason, like eggs, are kept out on the counter. Ta da! No fridge! Not willing to take that leap, we did buy a newer, smaller fridge. About 1/2 of the size of our old one, in fact. <br />
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But then, a few weeks ago, we lost an appliance. The dryer died. Panic set in. We needed a dryer, like, NOW. But, we were busy and we didn't get to it. I started using my IKEA dryer rack placed over the floor vents. Guess what? I've barley noticed not having a dryer! In the summer, I constantly used the clothesline outside. No dryer. So, what's the difference? Everything I wash is dried on the rack. In fact, it is almost convenient. It saves me one trip to the basement! <br />
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So, think about where and what you can go without. Maybe you could stand to have a smaller fridge. Maybe you could go dryer-less. Maybe you don't need to buy that new plastic such-and-such. Even if you try and fail, at least you tried. And who knows, you might just be starting a new enviro-fad!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5151565208763783432.post-70334522621119084372010-12-21T10:27:00.000-08:002010-12-21T10:27:32.591-08:00home for the holidays, day 2<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;">Shelters are over flowing, and in many cities and towns right now, dogs are being put to sleep. These are good dogs of all different breeds, from all backgrounds. These were dogs who had homes and lost them. Dogs who didn't find a family fast enough and their time ran out. </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;">I'm not trying to be harsh, or be a downer. I'm just pulling a Dr. Phil and telling you like it is. As someone who works in rescue, I can tell you that the average story would make you cry, and the condition that some animals live in would be enough to make you throw up. Seriously. It is very important for the average person and the general public to fully realize and understand what is happening out there. </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;">For example, this is Nora. Nora came into the shelter at a 1 on the emaciated scale. The scale starts at 1. Or maybe its 0. Either way, as a nursing mom, she couldn't get worse than a 1 without dying. Nora is doing much better now and has weaned her pups, and you <a href="http://www.hugabull.com/">can apply to adopt her.</a></div><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA6vkJUfjG-0OtDDyyR-uFFAklRxY9XEkTN6sK6njitlC5O4JxvnSN2wGY-0-896ODJVAb0CrP_79Zzc29kFGRqEuzKcOYySFIzqoOwAfsIoAdvoOmR2JmIyYUMd9vBGdX0scTgxIzQTs4/s1600/norah+before+skinny.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA6vkJUfjG-0OtDDyyR-uFFAklRxY9XEkTN6sK6njitlC5O4JxvnSN2wGY-0-896ODJVAb0CrP_79Zzc29kFGRqEuzKcOYySFIzqoOwAfsIoAdvoOmR2JmIyYUMd9vBGdX0scTgxIzQTs4/s400/norah+before+skinny.jpg" width="345" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Unless you are there on the front lines, like the ladies from HugABull, it is easy to detach yourself from what you see in photos online. But these are real cases, real dogs and real lives right here in our backyard. This is an epidemic and the only ones to blame are ourselves. But instead of letting this thought weigh you down and depress you, do what YOU can for the dogs that you can help. If it is Nora, that's wonderful. Maybe it is Tammy, the Akita Inu cross at the Victoria SPCA. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Tammy is below. She was found abandoned on a property with another dog and loves people. She's also a unique and beautiful dog.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMJSyFP4ZQZZsN_Ytl6tupdm8rdvHX0RdO784wcbYo_dStBxhb04euwXBHD7Kxz5b-bF8kiK7ZR3LUB6AyqBO21NJm5DpDzR0hKNaF3KlqmB-77pQnLFXAxvPjMCZioCv0RwM0MxJQq9F6/s1600/118597.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMJSyFP4ZQZZsN_Ytl6tupdm8rdvHX0RdO784wcbYo_dStBxhb04euwXBHD7Kxz5b-bF8kiK7ZR3LUB6AyqBO21NJm5DpDzR0hKNaF3KlqmB-77pQnLFXAxvPjMCZioCv0RwM0MxJQq9F6/s400/118597.jpg" width="347" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Britney is a goofy puppy trapped in a BIG dog body. She'd like to be the only dog, but she loves people and would love someone to hike with her and train her. Isn't she pretty? She's at the Nanaimo SPCA.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIxAy_WncxFSiN_T2lRIgxXXR1whTX1ta9G7OgXzuPq-b3tMemw5o4jgVbvBb6t-0FS8igmijai3_kDFi_MuQoPdpTYLW_PAXmJmmrz_IahuCgMKvCZfwtSsa5rkYPXuUu8vvOv0rJ0KSo/s1600/126591.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="398" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIxAy_WncxFSiN_T2lRIgxXXR1whTX1ta9G7OgXzuPq-b3tMemw5o4jgVbvBb6t-0FS8igmijai3_kDFi_MuQoPdpTYLW_PAXmJmmrz_IahuCgMKvCZfwtSsa5rkYPXuUu8vvOv0rJ0KSo/s400/126591.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Call me a sucker for the unique mixes, but I love this next dog. Isn't he beautiful? Red is a Blue Heeler mix. He's around 2 years old and up for adoption through the Cowichan SPCA.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbH8an_-H_NH0TEYchcegWU_n4CfAuTh4ydMfM0tuHzsXSlGPi3LbSc7BWAiqyeLMSmW-wgAvjMtOC1YAO9w9W2Jwzzkv8zdaw2C0jw1dEo_YqNxpmshDjkzI2qSanEU0y4DkSq4ePgCGc/s1600/128696.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="350" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbH8an_-H_NH0TEYchcegWU_n4CfAuTh4ydMfM0tuHzsXSlGPi3LbSc7BWAiqyeLMSmW-wgAvjMtOC1YAO9w9W2Jwzzkv8zdaw2C0jw1dEo_YqNxpmshDjkzI2qSanEU0y4DkSq4ePgCGc/s400/128696.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
Jake is a little beagle mix, for those who like smaller dogs. Isn't he something? What a funny little nose! He's at the Cowichan SPCA.<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7aQny4fyFtR7DeE4q_zIA8FVZgj-6F7V0bzIvNHHsY3Gxc21i0BnteJClLpsXMPLoJD2koHo-MkQ6_RhLqOcEV9w_CjizT3De27hNNABGUFLS35zjo59aaaLUWyqCS7EYwGBgazeK9fL4/s1600/133307.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7aQny4fyFtR7DeE4q_zIA8FVZgj-6F7V0bzIvNHHsY3Gxc21i0BnteJClLpsXMPLoJD2koHo-MkQ6_RhLqOcEV9w_CjizT3De27hNNABGUFLS35zjo59aaaLUWyqCS7EYwGBgazeK9fL4/s400/133307.jpg" width="367" /></a></div><br />
And if you'd rather a puppy, Cassidy is a 3 month old Shepherd/Husky mix at the Victoria SPCA with her brother...cute!<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGmdanweQDGeWbRDsnqUL1RUy3EzLKnwcGl2zk65m1YiRSeQ5s9ECBCl79j8dkE6CuS2d_MAGbHp-nXlvQiFXrAbnrIbFBlz1uLHd6-zK7Q5YUrD0-gPUoka10vvrCk6N5K64vwLrcqDEE/s1600/136367.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="356" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGmdanweQDGeWbRDsnqUL1RUy3EzLKnwcGl2zk65m1YiRSeQ5s9ECBCl79j8dkE6CuS2d_MAGbHp-nXlvQiFXrAbnrIbFBlz1uLHd6-zK7Q5YUrD0-gPUoka10vvrCk6N5K64vwLrcqDEE/s400/136367.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
If you are interested in these dogs, or in finding out about other dogs at these shelters, please contact:<br />
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Cowichan SPCA: 250-746-4646<br />
Victoria SPCA: 250-388-7722<br />
Nanaimo SPCA: 250-758-8444<br />
HugABull - www.hugabull.comUnknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5151565208763783432.post-28652821502572828632010-12-20T17:50:00.000-08:002010-12-20T17:50:58.992-08:00today<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Hung out with my kid again, I love spending time with this Star Wars loving, smart, funny boy.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwLMt-aQrqDngQyeJMxLtlp34uhdF4owoe5I5NNGPEmYynTo560DNblWy9sB0pd3_EXCKoSED9vDurLQEA4jYGF5lqGRRAE8dt6yJX1VvPrNOLXadMWEzyTR7HHEhI-4YUhFxnvqJFcI-M/s1600/Olivecollar+009.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwLMt-aQrqDngQyeJMxLtlp34uhdF4owoe5I5NNGPEmYynTo560DNblWy9sB0pd3_EXCKoSED9vDurLQEA4jYGF5lqGRRAE8dt6yJX1VvPrNOLXadMWEzyTR7HHEhI-4YUhFxnvqJFcI-M/s400/Olivecollar+009.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Finally got around to reorganizing my tiny office space. Took down the "Keep Calm and Carry On" poster and filled the spot with this vintage Toronto map. The Keep Calm poster is headed to Adam's studio, and I enjoy having the map. It reminds me of Ontario and is pretty cool in its own right. Judging by the subway lines, Adam guesses the map is from the 1950's, prior to the subway extension.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid-iaCIrvrT2JsXpYxe1jtHz88QTow0IRQWnyK7am_TjpSWG3nFsNRVt6aCn-t-N93bHDXe_aeiByYBJ4xcBUk39ZENuUYBDdxmgXYQ19LXvsC9QAHqkjQ2X4OHxwuTEjNwJBc-Awdvh5V/s1600/Olivecollar+021.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid-iaCIrvrT2JsXpYxe1jtHz88QTow0IRQWnyK7am_TjpSWG3nFsNRVt6aCn-t-N93bHDXe_aeiByYBJ4xcBUk39ZENuUYBDdxmgXYQ19LXvsC9QAHqkjQ2X4OHxwuTEjNwJBc-Awdvh5V/s400/Olivecollar+021.JPG" width="266" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I can't get over how much Aethan has grown in the last year since we've moved in. I love having our own home to write our history on the walls...</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidfKtUHkZPK9iywSKadQl9q_treYGTJA-wz2i8rnnFoPfIGmooKqNRhWAzuxeo3JmcfhJAJcmj_OjaT08BsW_I4EdodDad8EwNR26CdTlwT4GWHHaTtprXPRH60anG83N9LBFzDzuqBZit/s1600/Olivecollar+023.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidfKtUHkZPK9iywSKadQl9q_treYGTJA-wz2i8rnnFoPfIGmooKqNRhWAzuxeo3JmcfhJAJcmj_OjaT08BsW_I4EdodDad8EwNR26CdTlwT4GWHHaTtprXPRH60anG83N9LBFzDzuqBZit/s400/Olivecollar+023.JPG" width="266" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Sales have slowed for Christmas in the <a href="http://www.earthwalkers.etsy.com/">shop</a>, but a few last minute cowls went out today to warm the necks of some deserving dogs!</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEina2r3awBkAZroMdYlQ3FeDkvOLGgm5wiC_HK3tRBk4GmKM7vWtckbeo5YadkIMnxm6Et8V3Uyx3kwG57wS44lJiFdiSQp9bULEwYCdH8d4H52XNYb0MoGaEUQGPbUJoI1X062Rq1hpuEg/s1600/Olivecollar+024.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEina2r3awBkAZroMdYlQ3FeDkvOLGgm5wiC_HK3tRBk4GmKM7vWtckbeo5YadkIMnxm6Et8V3Uyx3kwG57wS44lJiFdiSQp9bULEwYCdH8d4H52XNYb0MoGaEUQGPbUJoI1X062Rq1hpuEg/s400/Olivecollar+024.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
I played Loreena McKennitt today to boost the Christmas spirit, and our tree is still perfectly creating the mood. I love real trees. Especially real Charlie Brown trees. <br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj67DCpH7I_BieRa0kt6Louk9E1BJa71xpNcYAiSspblXU8cNU1KRBBejgi3CympvCxQKlzeQE4HUoNbt6By5PjapI-PV3dI0_Pzgqfa4WOqkYT_VJcOYx1uH7saYyijrRorwTKNTSF-pvJ/s1600/Olivecollar+027.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj67DCpH7I_BieRa0kt6Louk9E1BJa71xpNcYAiSspblXU8cNU1KRBBejgi3CympvCxQKlzeQE4HUoNbt6By5PjapI-PV3dI0_Pzgqfa4WOqkYT_VJcOYx1uH7saYyijrRorwTKNTSF-pvJ/s400/Olivecollar+027.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
Of course, the candles were burning today too, I love the smell of beeswax. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI-YTz7V7NSleDomA7R5wSUX8NYI26VrE52I8MjzsfRAkzopsdMvA-LBbP9RgCVjJIRfFa9R0Gh1yTgiqQ01xCJvTLF1xTIYwGiFc-MDa77arPYBaLiEHlC1XgbbUeFvfv2Z8o_xBrFiHg/s1600/Olivecollar+028.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI-YTz7V7NSleDomA7R5wSUX8NYI26VrE52I8MjzsfRAkzopsdMvA-LBbP9RgCVjJIRfFa9R0Gh1yTgiqQ01xCJvTLF1xTIYwGiFc-MDa77arPYBaLiEHlC1XgbbUeFvfv2Z8o_xBrFiHg/s400/Olivecollar+028.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
Christmas is coming folks! Get in from the cold, get out of Walmart and take the season back from the imported products from China, the over produced carols and the stress. Christmas can still be about family, friends and egg nog with rum, or whatever warms your spirit!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5151565208763783432.post-30776858565093897132010-12-20T10:53:00.000-08:002010-12-20T11:11:59.858-08:00home for the holidays<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;">Along with my regular daily posts, from now until Christmas Eve, I'm posting up dogs who are in need of homes. These dogs are from local rescue groups and SPCA branches. Please, if you are considering adding a dog, think long and hard about the benefits of a rescue dog. Already spayed or neutered, they are loving, deserving and in need of a home. </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;">While there is a common "rescue dogs have issues" idea, this is entirely not the case. Sure, SOME rescue dogs have issues, but no more than the problems that store bought or breeder bought pups end up with. Out of all of the rescues that we live with, no one has issues outside of what the 'normal' dog would have. Daisy likes to chase small, tasty cats. This is not due to being a rescue dog, it is born from her belief that cats are delicious and are fun to chase. </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;">The SPCA's that I am posting dogs from are committed, experienced and loving in all areas. They fight above and beyond for the animals in their care, but no matter what, they are not a home. They provide the best they can in the shelter environment, but the goal is to find these dogs their own place. A dog bed, a fireplace to curl up in front of or a couch to snooze on. Is this so much to ask? These dogs will be waiting while you eat Christmas dinner with your family. They will be waiting while you open gifts and drink egg nog. Shelter dogs are too often "out of sight, out of mind". Please, give it some real thought and consider adopting today.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;">First up, Ruby. At almost 11, this girl is far to old to be living shelter life, especially for the holidays. She is small and super cuddly and sweet. She can be found at the Nanaimo SPCA.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVP3Lt-qvwRu3R4gCegAFT0RHB8Ji_naCKMAO2INabSen0XguABWbtAFyYXv9pJVuz8RygKqqJLFsnXhWlc-R-RmcyWwkdn2-K9J9tQj-8NhQ_bRZBME17CmA3a8VvgxjqoUrZEGRSbmlv/s1600/135619.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVP3Lt-qvwRu3R4gCegAFT0RHB8Ji_naCKMAO2INabSen0XguABWbtAFyYXv9pJVuz8RygKqqJLFsnXhWlc-R-RmcyWwkdn2-K9J9tQj-8NhQ_bRZBME17CmA3a8VvgxjqoUrZEGRSbmlv/s640/135619.jpg" width="428" /></a></div><br />
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Bella. A medium sized working dog mix, this dog is pulling at my heart strings and if we weren't full, I wouldn't be posting her here, I'd be bringing her home. She is my kind of dog, from the smart, active working dog mind to the adorable spots. While this girl needs to be the only dog, trust me, this kind of mix is so rewarding to work with and love. She is also at the Nanaimo SPCA.<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQntTgRtvCwg79VTV8ZLDIZ5hvn_pNBt3DS8wzE-hZkytOMD-bJsFFVeHnUqFuLgrwuzB_18hKBw6A2UzdJAiSMpfsLCZQgphmgWT9qeXvdcHidts9OVRMlv1r8VG9E-JaGgnVxQHkfmtY/s1600/135622.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQntTgRtvCwg79VTV8ZLDIZ5hvn_pNBt3DS8wzE-hZkytOMD-bJsFFVeHnUqFuLgrwuzB_18hKBw6A2UzdJAiSMpfsLCZQgphmgWT9qeXvdcHidts9OVRMlv1r8VG9E-JaGgnVxQHkfmtY/s640/135622.jpg" width="540" /></a></div><br />
Josie. For those of you who think that you can't find cute puppies through rescue, I just proved you wrong. Josie is a perfect little muffin who is available for adoption through Bully Buddies. You can email them using the contact info found below. <br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjcAAAqhUc4kBCWR2JQaT6S2V1blBKeTTUQhs4z-GnLgCgORuZwNP1Cw_rFdWibLCxdBhjLZ1B4U7eKPKkC6vV9PvQZfuqYV-poVDeOAxKaIu9GfkxR_7RmtUKxr198gqxBZEutZgBbTA5/s1600/josiepup.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjcAAAqhUc4kBCWR2JQaT6S2V1blBKeTTUQhs4z-GnLgCgORuZwNP1Cw_rFdWibLCxdBhjLZ1B4U7eKPKkC6vV9PvQZfuqYV-poVDeOAxKaIu9GfkxR_7RmtUKxr198gqxBZEutZgBbTA5/s400/josiepup.jpg" width="398" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Last but certainly not least, Simba. Why this girl hasn't been snatched up already is beyond me. I love her tiger tail ice cream like brindle and her white face. Don't let her grey fool you, she's only 6 years old! She loves people and toys and deserves her own home, like, yesterday! Simba is up for adoption through HugABull along with many others in their program on Vancouver Island, the mainland and Kelowna. </div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK9lxN8PpyPTqVb1AKQhp6ak44WQNxpBtkqFRtJGhglL9Uh3NHK6gDSIPYlPiIlhGZmsltQ1y0BYBtkcn_XdmAniYXwMA6q9j3pVSo5ZlnCHfANikyHCsv5-hIdrlDx0PL8l7F0uD7LQUg/s1600/simba-550x412.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK9lxN8PpyPTqVb1AKQhp6ak44WQNxpBtkqFRtJGhglL9Uh3NHK6gDSIPYlPiIlhGZmsltQ1y0BYBtkcn_XdmAniYXwMA6q9j3pVSo5ZlnCHfANikyHCsv5-hIdrlDx0PL8l7F0uD7LQUg/s640/simba-550x412.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
I'll be posting new dogs all this week. PLEASE, if you are considering a dog, arrange to meet one of these lovelies or check out the other dogs that are available. <br />
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Nanaimo SPCA is at 2200 Labieux Rd or you can call them at 250-758-8444. <br />
Bully Buddies is online at <a href="http://www.bullybuddies.net/">www.BullyBuddies.net</a><br />
HugABull is found at <a href="http://hugabull.com/adoption/adoptables">www.HugABull.com </a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3