Today is a blue day. We all have them. Maybe it is the weather or your tired, the kids are driving you nuts, something sets it off and you are blue. It takes alot for me to become non-blue. My dearest friend Alesha passed away last Friday. She was one of my first friends as a mommy. We use to even joke how much alike our daughters looked like when they were babies.  So this blog is dedicated to her and to our friendship.

The first time I met her was at a scrap-booking event. She LOVED to scrapbook and was extraordinarily good at it. She could blend colors and textures like no one else I ever knew. I was in aw of her for the start, I was never daring like her. Anyway, there was no kids there as that was kinda the unwritten rule. She was flipping through my book on Bella and I was looking through hers on Kaleigh. She stopped about half way through and got huffy. She accused me of taking a picture of Kaleigh and she demanded to know how I got her. LOL It was my daughter in a dress that Kaleigh had also. =) She was sitting on a couch or something mundane and Alesha totally thought that I had stolen Kaleigh for this one picture. =)

Another great one is when we moved into my Grandma's home. We were having a scrap booking party one night and we always like to have a drink or two. Well we made Margaritas.  Two blenders later we finally had some =) So it was our running joke that Alesha is the blender-ate-or. No blender can with stand her blending skills. =) I think 4 total had succumbed to her drink making skills. =) 

She was always the life of the party. Her and I would stay up until 2 or 3am scrapbooking and drinking. Andrew would come down in the middle of the night and say enough is enough. Alesha would say "ok Big Papa" And he was say "Ok Big Mama' It was their joke. He was one of the friends that Andrew can say was his friend too. He misses her. There is no one else who has ever called him a nickname. 

Scrap booking just isn't the same without her around to do it with. Gracie's album is a little skinny =) 

I went into the hospital during her 9 month stay. Also when they let her out after the first round of chemo and she was able to be home for a few days we went over and took her some DQ. =) I always told her once she beat this and got home we would order in some Outback Steaks, drink a few margaritas and relax. We never got to do that.

Alesha was and will always be a huge part of my life. As my son Alex said today at the dinner table. Bella had said she got to see Alesha's body and didn't understand why God didn't want her body too. How can she be up in heaven with God if her body was here. Alex then says in a quiet voice with his head down "When God makes you an angel you don't need your body anymore. God just wants your spirit. That is what makes you an angel" Out of his mouth and to Alesha's ears. She is truly an angel looking down from above. Probably with a sarcastic remark on her lips. =) 

Here is Clifford's CL ad

I am so sad and all alone. Al I really want is a nice warm bed to lay on and maybe a kid to throw a ball or two for me. I might not fetch it all the time or bring it back but to have someone who really cares about me. That is what I want. You see I am in a boarding kennel. And they let me out to run with other dogs, I had to boxer friends who were SO much fun to run with but they have been picked up to go back to their families. So I am alone again. See, I was living the good life. I had a family and kids and even a cat to chase! Then the people started to yell and argue ALL the time. They would slam doors and stomp their feet. It was so scary I tried to comfort mom but she just kept sobbing saying "what are we going to do now?" I tried to be the best I could be I ate less food, and didn't make any messes. I tried to make myself smaller more invisible to Dad. But poor Mom. One night she told me that I had to be strong that someone would find me in time. Then they walked out the door and I never saw them again. I cried at the window for hours but they never came back. I was her shoulder to cry on in her time of need I just knew they would come back. So I waited. I tried to hold my potty needs as long as I could but eventually I had to let them go. I was SO embarrassed I knew Dad would be SO mad I messed up the carpet. After a few days I got off the couch... They weren't coming back. I tried to reach the food they had left out for me and I could only reach into the very top of the bag. I was so hungry and scared and all alone. It was cold in the house and the cat was left in a box and he was crying and meowing. Without a litter box he got nasty he started to smell. He was giving up on life I could tell. I tried to keep his spirits up saying that it wouldn't be long until Mom and Dad came back laughing it was all a sad mistake. I told him I would chase him again and that he better be ready for me. Finally he stopped Meowing too. He gave up just laid down ready to pass. I thought i saw a head in the window the next day. I gave a soft pitiful wolf I was so weak I couldn't stand up anymore. I used the last of my strength to try and get this ladies attention. I heard the lock slide back and a lady gasped. She yelled and screamed something about how could they and injustice. I tired to thump my tail on the floor so she knew not to be afraid. She walked over to me pet my head and told me I would be ok. She dialed someone on her phone and BAM I was photo graphed and whisked away. I was taken to this lady who saves pets like me. Those who are forgotten and left behind. She made sure I went tot he doctor. I had to have explorative surgery on my intestines I was so weak and starved. I came through ok and was placed in a foster home. I loved it. This lady let me stay in my own room on my own bed and rest. I had never had this kind of treatment before and it made me sad a little. I wondered what had happened to Mom. Once I got strong enough to stand on my own I was allowed to go outside and play in the yard with her other dogs. It was so much fun I wold chase them barking and tackle them to the ground. Unfortunately they didn't like me playing rough and we fought. I still say I was just defending myself. =) Those little ankle bitters were going to eat me! I put my tail between my legs and coward when she put me back into my room. It was starting to look more like a cell. She gave me 2 more chances and then said that she couldn't put her dogs at risk. understand that but I was just playing with them. No one ever taught me how to play nice. So here I am. I am at a nice boarding kennel until I can find my family. I still think about my Mom and Dad. I wonder where they are. I wonder if Mom is still crying and if she has a shoulder to cry on. I miss them, but I know now that they aren't coming back for me. So now I wait, hoping one day someone with a big friend or kids (those would be so nice) will come and pick me. Pick me to take home see pass my skinny exterior and know that the hound in me is going to be a loyal best friend for many many years to come. Can that be you?

Please Read Duke's Ad on CL

Ok, I wrote it but it is all about him. He really needs a good home.

So here I sit. Don't get me wrong I love my foster home but I miss my momma. Some may call me a sissy but I do. See she fell and hurt herself. She was taken away and I haven't seen her since. Her kids came into town to "see to her recovery" and they all sat at the table and cried. They knew that my Momma couldn't take care of me anymore and it broke their heart. They both wanted to fly me out to where they lived but couldn't manage it. After many tears both their and mine they had decided to find help in getting me a perfect new home. I had to put on my brave face. I knew my Momma would want me to be brave for her. I went to the doctor and got all my shots. He moved my legs and pulled my ears. After awhile he gave me a thumbs up. I had all my shots my rabies and I am good to go for many more years. The Daughter's were crying on the phone telling someone what a good dog I am. how I love everyone, kids of all ages and even all size dogs. How I love to cuddle by your feet and I will rest my head on your lap to be pet. They even said how I am afraid of steps! How embarrassing. The next day they were crying again and I knew. The nice lady pulled up in her van and got out. She talked to the Daughter's and they both cried. They grabbed me around my neck and said goodbye. While we drove off even the new lady had tears in her eyes. She told me not to worry but I looked out the back window watching my house as if faded away. I won't see it again. I never even got to say goodbye to Momma. When we got to the new place she took me outside and trimmed the knots out of my hair (Momma's hands had gotten bad and couldn't hold the brush well anymore) She have be a big hug around my neck and said "here we go" I walked in and saw her kids. They called me Beethoven I tried to wag my tail but it just wasn't in me. i wasn't feeling happy. I paced and paced around the house. The little girl (she was only up to my shoulder) she gave me a hug and stroked my side. I finally calmed down and laid by the front door. The puppy came and laid his head on my tail. He tried to tell me that the new lady was good and everything would be ok now. I just sighed and quietly wept inside. 
That was a week ago now. I am getting happier. I go on walks with the other dogs and the kids and that is ok. I am eating and am not so sad now. I know Momma would want me to be happy. She would only do what is best for me. So here I am awaiting me new home. I am a great guy. I can't make puppies (thank goodness a guy my age having kids! No Way!) I have just gone to the doctor and gotten stuck so I won't get sick. Oh and Man can I WOOF to let you know I gotta go out. I like to think of myself as the Barry Manalow of the St. Bernards. =) So please if you think you can love and Ol' St like me please email and get more information. Thank you so much, 
Duke

My kids in Puppy Heaven

So we are now fostering these 5 tiny little puppies. They are seriously the cutes things ever alive. We have Dora, Scooter, Skeeter, Watermelon, and Foxy. They are So funny since each puppy has it's own personality. We had to get different colors collars so that Andrew can tell them apart. Alex's favorite is Scooter. he is the only guy we have right now and loves to play all the time.  Bella like Skeeter who chases your feet while you walk and tried to play tug-o-war with your pant legs. Gracie likes Dora (who is my favorite too) she is SO small, loves to give kisses, and is in the picture her head on my pant leg. Jordan loves them all. =) He likes everyone as long as he gets to play with them he is happy. Andrew likes Foxy ( pictured sleeping on the red blanket the one on the bottom.) She is becoming hilarious. She will play with the tags on Petey's collar. =) She also is the most playful of the girls dogs. =)

We are housebreaking them well paper training. A few are getting it. Scooter and Skeeter will go outside too if you take them out.  We haven't fostered puppies in a long time! The kids and I are having  a ball and even Andrew is getting to like them. =) I will defiantly be putting more pictures up as we get more. =)