Santa Freaks Dogs Out...

Last Saturday I had the pleasure to be the photographer (and I use that term very, very loosely) at Petco for pictures with Santa.

The first thing I learned is that my dogs aren't the only ones who see Santa and freak out!  About half of the dogs that came in had some sort of reaction to our Santa.  It ranged from suspicion to intimidation to anxiety to one who had a fairly aggressive reaction.  Santa did, in fact, get bit once.  Thankfully, it didn't break the skin.

Beyond that, my biggest hurdle was getting the parents to stand behind me to get the pups to look in my direction.  Dogs take direction better than people... Despite that, I did get a few pictures that I was pretty happy with.

Here are a few of my favorites!

Two of the sweetest pups, ever!

She promptly took a nap after this picture...

Yes, this little one does have a mohawk with vegetable-based dye!

This sweet boy is SEVENTEEN years old!  I may have teared up while talking to his family about how special he is to them. 

Want to be on my Christmas card list?  Click HERE!

They're Like Herding Cats...

Christmas is the happiest time of year.  Right?!  Sometimes I need a little reminder.

I should have taken Christmas card pictures of my darling herd 'o dachshunds over Thanksgiving weekend.  But I was lax, and starting my Barnes & Noble "residency program" (more info on that soon), and well...distracted.

So Tuesday night I tried to get the pups to all look in the same direction at the same time.  Which, no matter how sweet they are - is like herding cats. Brady wanted to play chase, Beckett wanted belly rubs, Paisley refused to look at the camera and Meadow kept turning and facing in the wrong direction.

I know, you're probably asking why I had to get my Christmas cards done Tuesday night.  Well, this crazy lady doesn't use those pretty plug and play Shutterfly/Tiny Prints/Minted templates.  She designs her own cards...and the Vistaprint 60% off sale ended at midnight. Motivation, thine name is SALE!

I won't show you all my Christmas card yet.  Instead, here are a few outtakes.  Sorry if you already saw them on Instagram!

I refuse to look directly at you, mumma! #paisley #dachshund #dachshundsofinstagram #instadachshund #weeklyfluff #longhaireddachshund #instacute #ibettergetcookiesforthis

A photo posted by Nicole Fowler (@cole711) on Dec 2, 2015 at 8:08am PST

Being a model is EXHAUSTING! #beckett #dachshund #dachshundsofinstagram #instadachshund #weeklyfluff #longhaireddachshund #instacute

A photo posted by Nicole Fowler (@cole711) on Dec 2, 2015 at 8:16am PST

Want to be on my Christmas card list? Fill out this handy form.  :-)

Tuesdays at the Table - Pupper Pumpkin Muffins & Thirty Days of Thankful - Rescue

Happy Tuesday!  Thanks to you awesome people who have participated in Tuesdays at the Table since I restarted the weekly linky.  I love you all!  Please keep linking up your recipes or sharing recipes you find here that you really enjoy.

This week we're going to the dogs!  I know my furbabies haven't been featured on the blog as much as they should lately - and I'm going to rectify that.  Unless you're new here (in which case, WELCOME!!!) you know that I'm one of the co-chairs and founders of Little Paws Dachshund Rescue.  If you asked me even five years ago if I would have two rescued dachshunds and a dachshund rescue - I would have asked what drugs you were on!  But I stumbled on dog rescue one day and never looked back.  Then I got involved and found people that understand me and are just as dog-crazy as I am. (P.S. LPDR's 3rd Annual Barksgiving Auction starts on Wednesday.  Click HERE to view items now and bid, bid, bid when the auction starts!)

Rescue is never easy.  Tears flow most days... Happy tears for the dogs we've found new homes for, sad tears for the dogs we don't have the resources to help or the ones that are just too far gone and we need let go as humanely and lovingly as we can, tears of frustration, anticipation and exhaustion. But at the end of the day, I look at Paisley & Beckett - my twin terrors; two of a litter of eight pups that wouldn't be here without rescue - and know I can do it all over again tomorrow.  If you could all meet the amazing people and dogs that I get to work with and for, you'd fall in love with rescue too.  I'm honored that I'm among the people that others come to with medical, behavioral or psychological problems in hopes I can help them find solutions or at least the resources to help their beloved dogs. I hope some day that rescue isn't needed...but in the meantime, I'm thankful to be the voice for some really amazing dogs.

Pupper Pumpkin Muffins

2 cups whole-wheat flour 

1 cup oats

½ tsp cinnamon

½ tsp nutmeg                            

½ tsp baking soda

½ tsp baking powder

¼ tsp salt

4 eggs

2/3 cup canola oil

2/3 cup water

1 - 15 oz. can pumpkin puree

½ tsp vanilla

2 Tablespoons honey

Heat oven to 350 degrees. Spray mini muffin tins with cooking spray of your choice.

Combine dry ingredients in a large mixing bowl.  In a separate bowl mix together the eggs and canola oil. Add vanilla, pureed pumpkin and water. Mix well. Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients.

Using a small cookie scoop, fill each mini muffin tin to the top.

Bake for 17 - 18 minutes. Test to make sure they are done by sticking a toothpick in the center of a muffin, it should come out clean.

Cool on a wire rack for a few minutes, then remove from pan and finish cooling completely.

Store in air tight container, or plastic zipper quart or sandwich bags, in refrigerator. 

What's cooking in your kitchen?

What A Nose...

For the purpose of this post...I'm going to let little miss Paisley tell you about the past few days. Her perspective on this story is much better than mine!

____________________________________

Hi everyone.  Iz Paisley.  Momma says I have to tell you a story...but I don't see da big deal.  She's just a nervous Nelly or something! (For the record, I'm not!)

OK, so I, da Paisley princess like to have an early morning potty run.  Usually between 3 and 4 am is best.  It's dark, I don't have to bark at squirrels and momma usually bribes me to hurry and and go back in the house.  Tuesday morning, I decided to get up for my crack o'dawn potty and stopped for a little sniff of something that smelled good.

Then I started coughing and reverse sneezing.  Just for a few minutes.  Then about an hour later for 5 minutes.  Then I ate breakfast like a champ...or um, daintily, like a good girl. A few more coughs and sneezes and I was fine again.

So momma went to work and glammy (or grammy) kept an eagle eye on me.  About 1 o'clock I kept coughing and glammy got worried and called the momma to make a vet appointment.  She told glammy to take videos of me.  Like I'm some sort of drama queen who won't cough or sneeze when we get to the vet!  The nerve!

Wouldn't you know it...we get to the vet's office and suddenly, I feel magically better!  But that bitch...I mean, my loving momma says we have to stay and get checked out. Da vet says he thinks I sniffed extra hard and have something in my nose.  But then he says to take pills and see if it comes out on it's own!  I mean, I guess that's better than sticking a camera up my nose, right?!

Thursday I had a huge sneezing fit right after momma came home from work and when I looked at her, momma said she saw something green on my nose!  So she pulled it.  Her is soooo brave.  Out came a 6 inch blade of grass!  Now I feel better and can say that I have a super sniffer!

But, um, don't touch my nose for a few days, OK?!

Hide and Seek

I love my dogs.  Two of them *ahem* Brady and Paisley *ahem* have a habit of wanting to make a 3 AM potty run.

Don't they look sweet and innocent?!

I always go out with my dogs.  Sure, I have a fenced in yard...but I've told you all about the herd "kill list" so far this season, right?!  And I'd prefer not to experience them getting sprayed by a skunk either. 

Paisley is good about her pattern.  Out-potty-in.  Brady on the other hand meanders a bit, and my yard is fairly dimly lit.  Usually at the five minute mark, I start loudly whispering his name to get his buttocks back over to me so we can go in.  Well...Tuesday night he didn't reappear.  So I whispered louder.  Then I started saying his name louder...and louder...and louder.  Until I was hollering at him with a few choice words mixed in.  But he didn't show back up.

So I ran in and got a flashlight.  Then I heard noise behind the fence and started to REALLY panic. Did he escape somehow?  Is there an animal trying to get into my yard?  After about 10 minutes of circling the yard without him reappearing I went out front just in case he did get out and was running in the street.  No dice.  So I headed out back again...and there he was.  He ran up to me proud as punch.  

I was so relieved that I started to cry.  Not my finest moment.

His snazzy new, GoDoggie glow in the dark collar arrives tomorrow. (*Disclosure, this is an Amazon Affiliate link and *if* you buy, I get a few cents towards the Xanax I'll need if he tries to escape again.)

Brady - 1       Mumma - 0
He wins for now...but I demand a re-match!

Jamberry Jams For Little Paws Dachshund Rescue

As many of you know - two important roles to me are as co-chair of Little Paws Dachshund Rescue and as an Independent Consultant for Jamberry.  Dachshunds have my heart and Jamberry keeps my nails pretty.  :-)

During the month of September, 10% of every purchase will be donated to LPDR.  Sure, I could have set this up as a true fundraiser and have Jamberry donate the 10%.  However, I'd much rather that the money come out of my pocket and be able to still have a PARTY!!  That means when you make a purchase, you get entered to be the mystery hostess!  The more people that make a purchase, the more the mystery hostess wins! (This party technically started on 9/1 and has to close on 9/28; a winner will be announced early the morning of 9/29!)

You all know that I wouldn't talk about, never mind sell, some I didn't believe in.  My raves about Jamberry are REAL.  Love, love, love them!  They hold up great, I can get a set on in about 15 minutes and if I get a call or the dogs need me during the application process - I can pause and use my hands will the utmost confidence.  No turning the dogs' fur pretty colors with nail polish!

Want more info on how Jamberry works?  Read my July post or email me! Want a FREE sample? Click HERE!

Jamberry's fall catalog just came out and there are some really pretty wraps you should see!

                                                       

Know other people who love dogs and pretty hands (or feet!) too, share my post and Jamberry site with them!  The dachshunds are wagging in anticipation!

Run For It...

Ready! Set! Go! Little Paws is holding our first annual virtual 5k Dachshund Dash! You can walk or run. This is a 5K you can do on your own time even in your own neighborhood! Just use a phone app to log your distance and time. You will even receive a medal when you finish the race! Registration is open and you will have until September 19th to complete your 5K! Register before August 31st and get a $5 discount! Use promo code RUNLPDR to get the discount. Go to our Facebook page to register and help us help doxies in need! This also helps you get a little fresh air and exercise!! https://www.raceentry.com/race-reviews/littlepaws-dachshund-dash-virtual-dash-5k

A photo posted by Little Paws Dachshund Rescue (@littlepawsdr) on Aug 25, 2015 at 12:24pm PDT

As most of you know, I run a dachshund rescue.  Fundraising is never-ending for nonprofits and we've decided to try something fun this time! We've just opened registration for our first annual "virtual" 5K. The registration fee is $30, but there are two ways to get discounts (details below).

This is a 5K run that you can do on your own time, and in your own neighborhood! Run, walk, skip, hop...WHATEVER!  You don't even have to do the 5K all at one time.  Just use a phone app to log your distance and time. When you complete the race you will receive our awesome race medal in the mail to display on your medal rack!

Starting on September 19th, you'll have two weeks to complete your 5K and log your time. Register before August 31st with promo code "RUNLPDR" and you get $5 off our registration fee! 

Want a second $5 discount? Share our link on Facebook before you register! The registration system tracks who shared!

Five on Friday

How is July almost over?!  As much as I am overjoyed at the prospect of another cool, crisp New England autumn - I am surprised by how fast the summer is flying by.

I'm linking up again today with April!









My rescue - Little Paws Dachshund Rescue - will be on the Boston CBS affiliate for "Pet Parade" on Sunday.  Above is the video from our last appearance in March.  We tape on Saturday morning for a Sunday morning show, and right about now is when I get just a touch nervous.  After the last show, I learned that the Boston market often "lends" material to other smaller CBS markets...so if you see me on TV in different states, let me know!! :-)

OK... I think I'm going to wear jeans, a black t-shirt, black short sleeve cardigan and sandals.  I know, totally not original.  But I won't clash with any of the dogs or the host.  That makes sense, right?  Now, what should I do with my nails?  Help me pick a mani!

After fighting with Comcast for a few months, the jump from Xfinity "Triple Play" (aka the OLD version of premium services) to X1 (aka the NEW version of premium services) is happening tomorrow.  Heaven help them if I still need to be within 10 feet of my router to get wi-fi!

Tuesdays at the Table is coming back starting next week!  I'll be adding the snazzy new button to my sidebar this weekend.  :-)  I hope everyone will pick their favorite recipe and link up!

I have been a fan of Shaun the Sheep for YEARS!  A TV show of a cute British claymation sheep that is pretty brilliant?!  I'm there!  I just found out that now there's a movie coming out of it in early August!  Have any of you seen Shaun the Sheep before?

Dear (Fill in the blank)...

You're all OK with a few random notes, right?!  OK!  Let's proceed!



Dear Marketing Directors,
Yes, my birthday is this week.  Yes, I did willingly a sign-up for birthday perks (OK, I remember signing up for most of them, but a few just came out of nowhere!) and appreciate even automated recognition of my birthday.  However, why do you all want me to visit ON MY BIRTHDAY?!  There's no way I'm hitting Cold Stone Creamery, BGood, Panera Bread, Starbucks, and Baskin-Robins within a few days of my birthday!  Can you do me a favor and consider making birthday perks good for two weeks or a month?!

Please and thank you,
The girl who wants her free birthday perks

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Dear Comcast,
Somehow, I don't think it's funny that I lose wi-fi if I'm more than 10-15 feet away from the router.  It kind of defeats the purpose of wi-fi, don't ya think?!  Your customer support team suggesting that we upgrade to faster service isn't going to help either.  Just sayin'.

Thanks,
The lady who would like to watch TV and blog at the same time

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Dear Beach-going people,
PLEASE, for all that is holy - STOP going in the water for a few weeks!  Or at least don't be so shocked that there are shark attacks.  Sharks live in. the. ocean.  We're in their territory!  I acknowledge that the sharks are more active this year.  But I'm not the only one that has seen the reports of shark sightings, right?

Sincerely,
Someone who doesn't want more "breaking news" of shark attacks

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Dear Puppers,
I think that my insomnia has officially rubbed off on you.  Your desire to go out at 2, 3:30 and 4:30 each morning is cutting into the few hours of sleep that I usually get.  I'll work on my insomnia issues if you'll work on yours.

Woofs,
A very tired dogmom

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Dear Mother Nature,
As us New Englanders say - it is "wicked humid out".  It's a nightmare for asthmatics. I know it's summer, and I'll curtail my complaints about the heat if you'll meet me half-way and scale back the humidity.

Thanks,
Someone who prefers not to wheeze every time I leave air conditioning


Do you have any letters to share?



P.S. Don't forget to enter my Jamberry giveaway.  It ends Friday at midnight.  :-)

Beckett and the Groundhog

Does this look like the face of a killer?

Those of you that have read my blog for a while know that my furkids are hunters.  Sweet, precious, cuddly 99% of the time...then we have what I call "the killing season" every year.  Typically, it's a bird who is just learning to fly that falls prey.  (For the record, before this story - the herd record was 11 birds, 2 chipmunks, 1 squirrel, 1 bunny and a baby skunk.)

Before I tell you the story, I should note that Beckett is typically not the leader of these little adventures.  However, it seems he decided he needed to defend his younger siblings.  Or teach them how it's done.  I'm going with defend them....

About two weeks ago, I noticed that the back grass was moving and did a quick count of my pups - all accounted for!  I proceeded to watch out the window and what pops up, sits on its haunches and starts eating my flowers/grass but a groundhog!  I watch it leave the yard (fenced, by the way and I then reinforced where I believed it entered the yard) and everything was fun for almost two weeks.

I got home and was greeted with "you'll never guess what happened today". It turns out that two groundhogs got into the yard, the pups were ushered into the house and kept inside for about an hour.  Here's where I should note that groundhogs are apparently stupid.  They stayed in the freaking yard!  The entire herd went out and pack hunting ensued.  One groundhog managed to escape unscathed, but Beckett managed to corner and kill the second one.  I'm told that Carmella, my parent's cocker spaniel was his "wing man".

The new "prize" had to be taken from Beckett as he wanted to bring it into the house...GROSS!  Thankfully, no one took pictures of Beckett with the groundhog and he doesn't have a single scratch on him.  Groundhogs are mean!

Do you have a dog that has a strong hunting instinct too?




P.S. Don't forget to enter my Jamberry giveaway.  It ends Friday at midnight.  :-)

Five on Friday - Independence Day

Happy Independence Day!!!  I'm finding that I'm really starting to look forward to the Five on Friday link-up with April. There are so many really great bloggers that linked up that I can go visit!

I love fireworks! Before my brother's deployment, he loved fireworks too.  Unfortunately, he came back from Afghanistan, like many others with PTSD.  This makes fireworks difficult for a lot of our current soldiers and veterans.  If you have a veteran or currently enlisted soldier in your neighborhood, please consider talking to them.  Knowing when you anticipate setting off fireworks won't take away their PTSD, but may give them time to leave or utilize coping mechanisms.

Did you know that the 5th of July is one of the busiest days of the year for shelters?  Fireworks are scary for many pets, which triggers their fight or flight response.  Be sure to keep your furbabies inside and safe while you enjoy the fireworks!

How do we celebrate the 4th of July at work? With flag onesies! #letfreedomring #work #fun #independenceday

A photo posted by Nicole Fowler (@cole711) on Jul 1, 2015 at 11:12am PDT

In case you were wondering...this is what the 4th of July looks like at my office!

If you haven't dropped by my blog this week, you haven't heard about my Jamberry giveaway yet!  You can enter to win two sheets of Jamberry nails of your choice on this post!

I came across this berry popsicle recipe and can't wait to try it!  How festive and yummy looking, right?!


Have a fabulous weekend weekend, everyone!