Summer Is...

I'm still trying to find my rhythm as I return to blogging, so I decided to participate in the SITS Girls Summer Slump Writing Challenge.  (I promise I won't put their adorable image up every day that I participate!).  Today's prompt?  Summer!!

To me, summer is...

Being on the water.  My summer isn't complete without being out on a whale watch or lighthouse tour at least once.  I've had people tell me that I'm spoiled to live so close to water.  And, they just might be right.

The beach.  What can I say?  I love the water!  Admittedly, I'd rather swim in a pool (shh...I'm afraid of sharks!), but there's just nothing like ocean air!

Road trips!  It doesn't happen as much as I'd like it to these days - but sometimes, I just love to pack up a few friends (or a few dogs) and just GO!

Gardening.  There's nothing like picking a tomato from your garden and eating while it's still warm from the sun.

Chasing after the pups.  For such petite dogs, they can sure get into a lot of trouble!  But I wouldn't have it any other way!

(Meadow from a few years ago)

(Paisley and Beckett last summer)

(Brady last summer...and yes, he is in a pink collar.  He and Paisley went through a fun phase where they chewed collar off each other... *sigh*)

What says summer to you?

You Can Make a Difference!

Earlier this week I was reading Holly's "Summer of Service" post and it made me reflect a little on my own journey to helping dogs.

Running a rescue has its good and bad days.  As much as I wish I could say that it's about the dogs 100% of the time, realistically...sometimes, it's about the money too.  That's true of most rescues and a number of community funded shelters.  The more money (among other resources) we have, the more dogs we can help and/or it gives us the ability to take on more complex medical cases.

I can't count the number of times that people have lamented that they want to help, but have no money to give. Seriously, if I had a nickel for every time I hear it...I'd have...well, a whole lot of nickels!

If you want to help a rescue or shelter (hint, hint...Little Paws Dachshund Rescue), here are a few ways to do it without affecting your budget!

Going for a walk?  Add ResQWalk to your phone, start your walk and you earn money for the rescue or shelter of your choice!  Each week is sponsored by different companies and the pool of money is distributed to all the participating rescues/shelters in correlation to the number of miles they walked that week.  :-)

Want to double your money?  Add WoofTrax/Walk For A Dog too!  It works pretty much the same way as ResQWalk.  (Note: ResQWalk uses GPS location, WoofTrax uses the pedometer function on most smart phones, so keep it in your pocket!)  This app is being revamped and may have more functionality soon.

Are you an Amazon shopper?  Use Amazon Smile instead!  All of the same benefits of Amazon, but you're helping as you shop!

LPDR pup (yes, available!) BlueBell

Is your linen closet part of your spring cleaning?!  Many shelters or rescues would be thrilled to be gifted used (but in good condition) towels, blankets and sheets.  Between the need for dog baths, creating soft places for animals to lay in shelters and letting smaller dogs burrow - there's an endless need.

Shutterbug or Photoshop junky?!  How about taking pictures of pups for those shelters or rescues?  I can tell you from experience that a good picture can get a pup the attention they need to really get noticed...which often leads to a forever family.  A picture really is worth a thousand words!

Even better, consider joining HeARTSspeak!  They're a national organization of artists (photographers, sculptors, editors, writers, etc) that bands together to provide pro-bono services for animal organizations in their communities.

Have some room in your life?  How about fostering!  It's one of the greatest needs many rescues have - sometimes, even more than funding for the never ending vet bills!  If we don't have a family to care for our dogs, sometimes, we just can't pull them from the shelter.

If you already have everything you need or REALLY want, consider a "selfless" or "pay it forward" birthday.  Go out and celebrate with friends and family - but suggest that they donate to the charity of your choice in your honor instead of gifting you with something you might not want or need!

If nothing else...share, share, share! The more people who know how to make a difference, the more lives out of shelters and starting the next chapter of their lives.

Wordless Wednesday - The Twin Terrors

Paisley and Brady don't sit still often...and then they do, it's with this look like they're waiting expectantly for something.  :-)

There Should Be a Warning...

This weekend, I decide that a little "mom and me" time was in order.  I love my mom; she's one of my best friends, and there's very little that I can't tell her.  That said, there are just some things you don't share with you mom.

Let me elaborate!  Mom and I decided to go see Spy, the new Melissa McCarthy movie.  It looked funny in trailers and it definitely was!  For those of you opposed to using the word "f*ck" as a verb, noun, pronoun and adjective all in the space of approximately two minutes - SKIP THIS MOVIE.  The mom with the two pre-teen daughters sitting in front of me had her hands full trying to cover her girls ears (unsuccessfully) most of the movie.  However, the expletives were nothing compared to a scene (OK...more like 30 seconds to a minute) where Melissa McCarthy finds a camera that has pictures of male genitalia on it.

Sitting next to your mom while penises flash across a giant screen is...well, awkward at best. Like I said, there should be a warning!  Part of me felt really bad for the woman with the two pre-teen daughters.  Then I remembered that the movie is rated R and she opted not to listen to rating guidelines and brought her daughters anyway.

On the bright side, at least I didn't bring my dad to the movies!

The One Where I Contemplate Doing Something Totally Crazy...

I play things safe, at least, I think I do.  I still get to do some really cool stuff...like traveling cross-country, starting a rescue, and enjoying day to day life with my family and friends, which is an adventure all unto itself.  However, there are times I stand on the sidelines of life thinking "I'd love to take a chance and do this or that."  I can't tell you for sure what stops me most of the time.  Sometimes, it's because I'm shy, sometimes I'm too afraid of failure, or I care too much what other people think of my choices...and sometimes, I'm just afraid. Period.

Most of the time, the thing I'm contemplating and stop myself from doing is minute.  Go make friends with someone new at a party. Pull the trigger and get tattoo #3. Finally write a book (OK...so that one is kinda big.).

Today, I came across an article in the Boston Globe.  A local bakery is being given away by its current owner! All I need to do to enter is write a brief essay for consideration and send in a certified check for the entry fee.  I'm seriously considering it.  I love to bake!  Despite being shy - I love people!  Owning a local bakery is something I think I could actually be good at.

I'm not rushing into making the decision to enter...or not.  But my heart races when I think about it.  What do you all think?  Am I crazy for considering it?

Pictures from bakery's website

(Almost) Wordless Wednesday - Stutz

One of the hardest parts of my rescue "job" is knowing that all good things must come to an end...in this case, the life of Stutz, our elderly sanctuary pupper.

This sweet boy joined LPDR last July at 16 years old following the death of his owner.  He and his sister Dory (14 years old) captured the hearts of so many at the rescue - especially their foster parents.  I know that Stutz brought them such joy over the past 11 months and that Stutz loved them, Dory and his foster siblings so very much.

Image used with permission of  Beth Oram Photography

Run free little man, run free....

Kristin's Wedding

As some of you may remember, I was one of my cousin Kristin's bridesmaids when last we spoke of her upcoming nuptials!  (In case you don't remember...here's a link to the post I did on her bridal shower)

Fast forward almost two years and now I need to catch you all up on what you missed - including Kristin's wedding!

This pretty lady indeed got married on August 2nd, 2013 to the love of her life with their (then) almost 9 year old son quite excited (as were everyone else in the bridal party).

Here she is with her mom!

The wedding was lovely and the country club that hosted both the ceremony and reception was absolutely beautiful.  Now, you all know that I'm a klutz.  And Kristin's wedding was no exception to my rule about tripping over my own feet.  I was the first bridesmaid "out of the gate" so to speak...and unfortunately did NOT count on the aisle we were walking down to be lush green grass that was horribly uneven.  People, I fell!  Flat. on. my. face.  It was mortifying!  I still remember all the faces that were turned towards me going from smiles to looks of shock.  Not fun...  It got hurt and tried not to cry during the ceremony. My goal was to make it through the ceremony and reception without drawing any further attention to myself.  For once - mission accomplished!

Unfortunately, I did have a super fun trip to the ER to have my knee looked at at midnight. I have to thank the hospital staff for taking such good care of me and the mess that I was - still in my hot pink bridesmaid dress (um..yeah.).

Stay tuned for my next foray into being a bridesmaid....