STINKY JOHN JONES

Like Cotton Candy...so sweet

How cute is that!

Timber is doing fantastic!  We are finishing out his last round of treatment and we couldn't be happier with his progress.  

Simply Amazing

Timber.  Timber.  Timber.  The puppy who has cost us a fortune.   Caused havoc among the household.  Those huge feet just teasing us of his eventual size.  The puppy nips.  Holes in our clothes.  That white streak racing across the yard chasing my chickens. 

But, I wouldn't change it for the world.  I knew, looking into those eyes that first time, that this dog was different.  There was something about him, something magical.  It's nothing I can explain, but can feel.  He is special.  

And he proved it.  A few times already.  But one sticks in my mind, and most likely wil,l for a very long time........

Just like any normal weekday, I was in the shower well before 7am.  Both kids joined me in our tiny bathroom along with Timber, who each and every morning, lays beside the bathtub.  This morning, Chachi was sitting on the toilet lid and Stink was playing with the magazines.  I had just finished rinsing my hair when I glanced out the clear curtain and noticed Stink was standing in the sink.  Don't ask me why.  He's a strange kid.  I quickly yelled out for him to get down.  At the same time, Timber scampered up from his spot and began to walk over towards the sink.  In slow motion, I watched in horror as Stink fell head first from the sink towards the tile floor. And Timber, brace himself, as Stink wrapped his arms around the dogs neck on his way down and slid around the dog's body landing safely to the floor.  

I was in shock. 

Stink was in shock.

Timber just resumed his position at the base of the tub. 

Without a better word....it was awesome.  Any normal dog would have scooted away, the thought of getting crushed under someone too great to withstand.  But not Timber.  He put himself in harms way without a thought.  

He just confirmed what I believed all along.  He is special.  And worth every penny.  

And I didn't even mention the fact that he has alerted me to the sink overflowing and Chachi screaming for me to wipe her butt. 

Got Chicken?

Poor Chickadee. 

She isn't doing so hot these days.  I am afraid we may need to take some drastic measures around here. 

A few weeks ago I went out in the morning to let the chickens out, when I noticed Chickadee was limping.  It seemed her toe may have been broken, from who knows what. So that night I had Dave hold her while I did my best impersonation of a chicken vet and wrapped her foot up in a splint. 

The next morning, I let them out and here comes Chickadee, still limping, minus the splint. 

So, I asked around and came to the conclusion that we would take the wait and see approach, hoping it would heal on it's on. 

Over the next couple weeks, she did seem to perk up and move around better and better each day.  However, these last couple days I have noticed that she is spending a good amount of her time laying down.  And when I filled their food bowl tonight, she didn't get up.
Not a good sign. 

After closing them up for the night, I sat and thought, what should I do?

I could let it go, for now, and see if she improves.  However, I can't know if she is in pain and what if we are letting her succumb to a slow, agonizing death. 

Or, I could take her to the vet.  Which is slightly ridiculous since we could buy at least 6 good size birds at the grocery store for what it would cost me.  And....it's a chicken.  (this was totally Dave's idea which shocked me!)

Or, we help the process along and rejoice that she lived a life of love.  Much better than she would had she been a battery bird. 

My main concern is that she isn't getting any enjoyment.  While the others are roaming the yard finding bugs in the freshly cut grass, she is in the coop.  Laying down. 
And another worry is the kids.  How will they react? 

I am thinking, for now, that we will wait and see a bit longer.  Maybe tomorrow will be the day she takes a turn for the better. 

I can't believe I am worrying this much over a CHICKEN!

Chicks

The ladies have moved out.  Officially.  And I miss hearing their little chirping when the house is quiet in the evenings. 

They are growing up.  

Lots of thanks to my Dad, after many hours of begging, for building their new chick house.  Pics to come once I get a decent one. 

Here are the gals enjoying some green grass and sunny rays...

Now we wait.  For eggs.  Lots and lots of eggs.  

Seeing things in a different light......

......blog take-over. 

It's me.  Chili.  And before we proceed, no comments on the weight thing.  Touchy subject around here and I am already stuck with the craptacular "diet" food, so no messing around.  I could eat your leg I'm so hungry. 

Moving on.  It seems as if what really goes on around here is being skirted by a certain someone, so I thought it was high time to enlighten my buds.  Here is it....a day in the life of a, well, pleasantly plump chihuahua living in what we will call, for joking sake, hell. 

Ah, morning.  That bed is great.  All kinds of comfy, although not as comfy as the big bed I USED to sleep in before those pesky ninos got here.  Anyway, I think I'll go check out my bowl. 
Hum dee dum dee dum dee dum  STOP!  Nothing.  What's that crap.  First I get that God awful food and now they are too lazy to even fill the bowl with it. 

Scratch scratch scratch against the bed on Mommy's side since HE'S already gone. 

"Chili!  Go lay down!" 

No!  Get me some food, muchacha.    Scratch scratch scratch.  Oops, woke the others.  RUN! 

"Chili!  Come lay with me in my bed!" 
Ouch ouch ouch, watch the fat.  Put me down kid.  No no not up there.  Not the bed.  I can't get down from there.  NOOOOOOOO. 

Great.  Now I am stuck up here and this little nina thinks I can play horses with her.  NOT THE BARN!  SHEET!  I'm stuck in this stall thing that barely fits those plastic horses of hers.  Doesn't she know that fat hurts when it's crunched up. 

"Chili!"  NOOOOOOO!  Not the smallest one.  No No No.  Protect me kid.  He pulls my ears and it's really beginning to piss me off.  I'm telling you small one.  I'll bite.  I'm warning you.  I'll really do it this time.  No snarl.  Just WHACK with the teeth.   ha ha ha ha ha ha   Stop tickling me small one.  No, not there.  Not the spot.    ha ha ha ha ha ha    Stop!  My leg is twitching all over. 

"Good morning, Chili.  You need to go out?"   Yes Yes Yes. Can't you see my tail wagging. Get me down get me down. 

Aaaahhhhhhh.  Sweet release.  Now where is my food?   Scratch scratch scratch on the door.  Nothing. Okay.  Maybe I need more time for a little business.  That spot looks good.  Spin Spin Spin.  Aaaahhhhh.   Scratch scratch scratch at the door again.  It opens.
Ugh Ugh Ugh.  Is this step bigger than the last time I hopped up.  It's bigger right?  I'm not getting fatter.  I'm on that special food.  Diet food. THE STEP IS BIGGER! 

Run Run Run to the kitchen.  STOP!  STILL no food.  What is this muchacha thinking.  Let's check out the little people, they always have food.   

Look in the bathroom.  The small one.  Uh-oh.  No No No.  The muchacha is going to be made.  Hey, aren't they her feminine products your throwing in the toilet.  Uh-oh.  Moving on, we'll check out the other kid.   

There she is.  Uh-huh.  Watching a movie in her room.  Give her a little nudge with my head.  You know you're hungry kid.  Go to the kitchen.  Subliminal message.  Go to the kitchen.  Good good.  Yup, get the chair.  Push it over to that cabinet.  Good good.  Now get the chips.  No, not crackers. I said chips.  That bag.  That bag.  THAT BAG!  Good.  Good!  Now run to your room.  The muchacha is too busy cleaning out the toilet to notice.  Throw one.  Throw one.  Yum yum yum yum yum.  Sour cream and onion.  Um-um. 

Ah, my belly feels like it will explode.  I better get in my bed and rest for a bit.  FART.  Uh-oh.  Hopefully that was silent.  FART.  Oh-no.  Need to go out again.  Better get the muchacha.  Head to the bathroom, to the bathroom!

"Chachi!  PUT THOSE CHIPS AWAY!"  she yells.

No wait, not the shower.  I NEED to go out.  NOW!  FART. FART.
The shower is running.  Maybe I can lay by the back door. Sometimes that works. 
Lay here.  Lay here.  FART.  Hold it hold it.  FART.  HOLD IT! 

Bark bark bark bark. 

"Chili you were just out!  Now finish up." 

The door opens, I throw myself out and let go. 

"Not the porch!  On the grass, on the grass!"  she yells like I don't KNOW that, as the door slams shut. 

Scratch scratch scratch.  Nothing.  Scratch scratch scratch.  Nothing.  Scratch scratch scratch. 

Well, well.  First you don't feed me.  Then when I have to forage for food and get the craps you force me to stay outside.  Somehow, I don't think this is MY fault.  I saved your rug didn't I.  Your precious rug, muchacha.  Which, by the way, could use a good vacuuming.  What?  You making fun of my size?  That I can SEE the particles on the rug.  Great, just great.  You know it's VERTICALLY CHALLENGED right.  Not short.  Oh well.  Let's see what we can find to eat out here.  At least I don't have those little people torturing me out here. 

Bark bark bark.  Bark bark bark. 

#6 My Yellow Lab Cody

In 100 Things About Me, #6 reads:  BUT, I did have a Yellow Lab named Cody who had to be put to sleep 3 years ago due to cancer,  just before his 12th Birthday.

Today....is his Birthday!  He was born on February 27, 1993.  I was 16 years old and was begging for my Parents to let me have a dog.  My Dad had a Springer Spaniel named Frannie, but she was his and I wanted my own.  We had heard from my Nana that my Mom's cousin (who lived across the street from her)  had a Lab that was due to have puppies....and they finally caved.
I will never forget that day....the puppies were just born and I knew I wanted a male.  We went over to look, and as I peered into the welping box I saw HIM.  He was one of the largest males, only one other was larger and he was already taken.  From that point on, I could not wait for him to be ready to take home.  I didn't even have a name for him yet.  We brought him home over Easter weekend, at 5.5 weeks.  I still remember everyone commenting on how big his paws were and what that meant.  They told me to enjoy his time as a puppy, because it wouldn't last long. 
We took him to the vet, and while waiting I read that Cody meant Big Pillow in American Indian...so that's what I named him.  Later on, his paper name would be Three Sheets To The Wind....since his ancestry was named after alcoholic beverages...but according to my Dad...."We should have just thrown those 3 one hundred dollar bills out the car window!" (And you wonder where I get my odd, almost cruel humor)
Fast forward a couple of months......I was working at the Deli and I got a call......my Parents rushed Cody to the Emergency Hospital because he couldn't stand and his stomach was distended.  Turns out, he was born with a weak stomach lining and would need to be on special canned food at $3.00 a can, which he ate 3 of each day!  You can tell at this point  how happy my Father was to hear this news. 
And that was the start of a long, though not so healthy lifetime for my Cody.
To make it easier, here are some points of interest of our life together:

    1) I helped my Dad build a dog run for him, and my Dad built a doghouse to go with it.
    2) A few weeks later we pulled into the driveway to find Cody's head sticking out the side.... he chewed a hole in it.
    3) I had to take my savings and buy him a plastic one that he could not chew.
    4) During the hot days of summer, my Dad put a roof on his dog run to keep it cooler....Cody pulled it  down.
    5) He would always tip over his water bowl, so I ended up getting him a horse bucket and clasping it to his fence.
    6) When it was really hot, he would put his front paws in it and "dig" to cool down.
    7) He would howl in his doghouse because he liked the echo.
    8) Once he ran into his dog house so fast, it was knocked off it's base and he came tumbling out.
    9) After that, my Dad had to secure it to the ground.
   10) In the winter, we would put straw in the dog's houses to keep them warm....Cody always pushed his out.  He did not receive that privilage anymore.
   11) One day he was sick, so we had him on the line in the garage....in one weekend, he chewed two    carpets, scratched three cars, ate the bumper on my Parents Camper, chewed the grill leg, and ate an entire section of lattice off the porch...oh, and a tire cover.
   12)  When I left for college, they tried to make me take him with me....in the dorms.
   13)  He almost always pooped in his cage at night, and if he was left out, would bark until all the  neighbors were awake.
   14)  He went to school with me after the first year, and at one point barked so much someone called the cops.
   15)  When the cops showed up at my door, I opened it and Cody tried to attack one...mainly because he was the trooper type and was wearing a hat...Cody hated men wearing hats.
   16)  One crisp morning, my neighbor walked up our driveway wearing a hooded sweatshirt (and you   guessed it) with the hood up....Cody had his leg in his mouth and wouldn't let go until the neighbor    started yelling.
   17) During his time at College, we were going through 40 pounds of dog food in 2 weeks!  I would take  80 pounds with me to last the month.
    18) And of course, due to his stomach problem, he had to eat the most expensive food on the market.
    19) Another memorable time, he was in my then boyfriend's room at the frat house.  On this  particular night, they were having a pledging event and Cody broke the door down of the room, ran        down three flights of stairs, scared the pledges to a stand still, started to sniff their butts and  eventually lifted his leg on one.
   20)  He had a tendency to pee on people...once my Dad was petting him while Cody was standing on  his back legs in his dog run....he happened to feel something warm at which point he noticed Cody        peeing on his leg.
   21)  Another time, my Parents were talking to a neighbor at the fence, Cody walked over and lifted his  leg on the neighbor's shoe, they were white, and now yellow.
   22)  A few years after college, Cody started having seizures.  We always thought it was due to the    heartworm medication. 
   23)  During one seizure, he jumped up into bed and peed...I was in it.
   24)  After that, he went down hill.  He had many accidents and I would inevitably come home to runny  stools everywhere....but we trudged on.
   25)  He developed hard tumors on his body.
   26)  We were told it was canceer 
   27)  His last day he had bloody stool and could not stand up....I couldn't do it.
   28)  I had a new baby, and my old baby was hanging on by a thread.
   29)  We decided it was time....husband and my Dad took him to the Vet.
   30)  I stayed home and cried holding my Daughter with my Mom.
   31)  The vet called to say she stayed with him the entire time...he went peacefully.
   32)  I lost my best friend, protector and confidant that day.
   33)  He was there through many boyfriends and never judged.
   34)  He would always fight my battles
   35)  I still hang his ornament on the Christmas tree every year.

update:  There will be pictures of Cody later on...for Wordless Wednesday...I thought it was fitting.

Interview of a Chihuahua......

This interview is of a Chihuahua, who is a little touchy about his weight issue...and he happens to be ours.

Me:  So, where are you from and how did you join this lovely family?

Chili:  From what I hear, Daddy wanted a motorcycle.  But, somehow, an ultimatum came about that included Mommy getting a Chihuahua, so here I am.

Me:  How did you get that great name?

Chili:  Well, my "real" name is Cody's Lil' Chili Chalupa, Chili for short (no pun intended).  When I came to live with Mommy and Daddy, when I was just a little squirt, they had a big, goofy Yellow Lab named Cody.  Also, they watched one too many Taco Bell Commercials....and out came my name.  Unfortunately we lost Cody to cancer three years ago last month....I still miss that big goof....he dropped A LOT of food.

Me:  I know this is a touchy subject, but how did your weight become an issue?

Chili:  What?!?  You saying I'm fat, you Zurramato!  I used to be fit and trim, then those two bolillo's decided to have kids, and it was all down hill from there.  These leetle people drop food all over and I cannot help myself but to eat it.  One day, I had an itch on my culata, but could no longer reach it........Estoy hasta la madre!

Me:  Okay, okay, I get it....calm down and quite swearing!  Now, what do you enjoy most about being a Chihuahua?

Chili:  I like that my day consists of sleeping and waiting for those crumby little munchkins to come home and feed me. I like that no one thinks to leave the TV tuned to animal planet so at least during the long, boring day I can look at a little tail.  I like that most days, no one can remember to leave the water down since the small one can't keep his sticky little hands out of it.  I like that some days I have a lollipop stuck to my back.  And my favorite, that I have to hold my pee for 12 hours when everyone decides they would like to sleep in on a Saturday.  Oy!  I'm so done...this interview is over....now go get me some Tacos!
                                                                                                                                                                                                 

"Why, oh why won't they get me a bigger bed?"