I’m doing a major overhaul on the blog. It will take a few days. Apologies in advance for any weirdness you experience. Here are some puppies to tide you over until it’s complete.
Here are my two cuties patiently waiting for treats. You didn’t think they’d just sit like that because I asked, did you? LOL
Oh, who are we kidding, it’s always dog day around here.
Scout is, believe it or not, 9 1/2 months old. And she’s completely out of control. Not in a bad way – she still knows all her commands, she’s sweet as can be – but when puppy brain and hormones hit all of that goes out the window.
Luckily, what I learned from Bixby is that this will pass and the best thing to do is go with it. If she’s too crazy I put her in her crate until her brain calms down. If we are out walking, she has to sit next to me while Bixby gets loved on by strangers. Not to punish her, but the extra stimulation sets her off and then all the petting reinforces bad behavior. She gets lots of praise and pets from me while she sits.
But there were a few days last week when even Bixby had his fill. He refused to play with her, would only go outside if she was in. I think it was a little peer pressure to get her to calm. the. heck. down. Not sure it worked, but they are back to normal this weekend.
On a personal note, this is about the age when Bailey came to live with us, so I find myself at odd moments very sad. Then Scout jumps on me or Bixby hugs me and my world is brighter again.
Meanwhile, shout-out to my friends and family for their patience with her. I know it’s not easy to have 100 lbs leaping at you with abandon.
My house is never dull.
I suppose the cats will want equal blog time….
Here is Scout doing her best Nala impression and Bixby his best, “I’m not here” pose.
This is how Scout likes to sit. It was cute as a little thing, not so much now that she can flatten the cushions to pancakes. I’m working on discouraging it. And yes, that is her handiwork on the windowsill. Luckily I’m in the middle of painting, so the repairs should be relatively easy.
I have no idea why Bixby has recently become camera-shy. Big goof.
Here we are. I have neglected you…but I have a kinda big announcement Thursday that might clarify my absence.
More later…
So these two:
Yesterday was Bixby’s 4th birthday. Celebration was laid-back. LOL Scout also had a milestone – she turned 7 months this week. The house reflects the puppy energy. I’m forever picking up toys and the windowsill now features Scout’s mark – she’s chewed a big chunk of it out. Luckily, it’s repairable. Puppies.
I’ve been busy – painting the living room, refinishing the martini bar – which looks lovely and I need to get some photos up of it. And the gardens take up a bit of time. But unlike last spring and summer when I spent most of my time moving and re-imagining what I had inherited – this spring it has mostly been sprucing things up, keeping the weeks controlled and enjoying the blooms. I’ll take it.
I have been doing absolutely no cooking. I need to have another dinner party to motivate me – and there is one on the schedule so I’ll have to think of something fun. There’s a new grill coming, which means it will definitely be of the outdoor nature. Probably too soon for garden veggies. But a girl can dream.
I have promised the dogs a walk…so we are off. Happy father’s day to everyone!
Twenty seven photos and only two weren’t blurry. That tells you everything you need to know about a 6 month old Great Dane puppy. She’s about 77 lbs these days. She is running behind Bixby by a mere 10 lbs since she arrived, which would put her at about 140-145 lbs when she’s full-grown.
She has suddenly decided to be a trouble-maker. I’ve been letting her roam the living room when I’m gone for short periods of time – usually under an hour. That stopped last week when she decided to start eating the windowsill and an extension cord. Until she’s past her chewing phase, she’ll lose a bit of freedom.
She’s completely adorable, regardless – if I scold her, her tail droops – if I yell at her and put her in timeout, she gives me looks like a thirteen year-old who has just been told she can’t wear makeup or date. I can practically hear her thinking, “you’re not my real mom.” No matter what, she’s terribly sweet and we’ll ride out this pre-teen, hormone driven behaviors.
Bixby really, really hates having his photo taken.
If we could make it through the Bixby teen years, we can make it through Scout’s. Speaking of the Big Guy – he’s feeling much better. I’ve started him on an anti-inflammatory for a few days because it sure looks like in addition to his bacterial infection, he has a bruised rib which makes him very cranky (and by cranky, I mean scary-snappy). This also means I can’t let them be outside together because Scout tackles him like a linebacker. The results were almost immediate, so I’m hopeful they’ll be able to play again soon, they miss it.
But for the most part, he is back to his lovable, easy-going self.
I have dinner company for tomorrow and I’m going to make lemon tarts for dessert, so there will be photos and a recipe (that I’m pretty much making up myself based on these lovely tarts I had in Paris), Until then…
She’s entered her silly phase. She has learned “feet check” very quickly, making rainy days like today much easier. She also rings the bell both inside and out to come and go – Bixby refuses to ring the outside bell. Now if I could just convince her that ringing the bell does NOT mean I’m gonna jump immediately. (How many times can one puppy ring a bell in the 3 minutes it takes me to actually stop what I’m doing and let her out…let me count the ways).
That ear. I’ve been trying for a while to get a photo of her unruly ear, but she’s always on the move, so it’s been difficult. I was working at the patio table, which I have blocked off, otherwise I’d never get anything done. Here she is doing her best, “why can’t I sit by you”.
Unruly ears last such a short time, I really enjoy it. I have a whole slew of Bixby ears (here’s one). They generally settle down by about 6-7 months. I miss those ears.
