Lucky eats my homework - really - OK not really homework just everything else. I go through pens sometimes four or five a day. I have also decided that my favorite phrase is "What do you have in your mouth now?"

Sirius(ly) Lucky Duck  (translation - Lucky Dog that loves water)

Lucky is just that, very Lucky that I get it and I understand. As most people know I have an Estate Sale business and spend countless hours under high intensity lights with magnifying glass researching valuable items.
One Sunday not to long ago, I had come across an antique hand fan, mother of pearl inlaid with sterling silver filigree set with two European cut diamonds. The Fan itself was hand painted on silk secured with gut skin on the back, I even  had provenance that said it was from 1854 Asia. "Ding", went the dryer...its only a few feet away, the dogs were all sleep at my feet. I covered the fan with papers on my desk and quickly not more then a minute was gone, I came back to the sound of crunching and Lucky in his crate. Jumping into the crate I pulled what I could out of his mouth, there in hundreds of little pieces was the fan, mother of pearl and silver the diamonds luckily survived the event although a bit mis-shaped.
I couldn't cry, I had to laugh, I had gotten the fan for $10.00, it had an estimated value of $4000.00, However I wasn't going to sell it, just frame it and that's just what I did, I took every salvageable piece and framed it where it sits on my wall reminding me that I didn't leave a antique hand fan on my desk, just a really good rawhide, it really wasn't Lucky's fault - it smelled really doggy good. Not to mention I am the human adult here and need to take responsibility for my actions. I don't leave anything on my desk anymore and though I try on a regular basis to keep my desk neat I know the minute I get it up Lucky Duck will grab the best piece of something and shred it. What other lessons have I learned about Lucky - he doesn't want me to leave - he has destroyed two hats, one fur, one cashmere, one wool coat, one blue blazer (ripped the arms off both in one pull) I have lost two pairs of shoes and so many socks that I no longer know what it is like to wear matching pairs. One of Lucky's favorite snacks - Money. Preferably $20.00 bills but he will eat a 10.00 from time to time never the singles. (he is also a pick pocket and drawer puller - I don't leave money just laying about) I pull them out piece by piece from between his big teeth, tape them back together and go to the bank - they are used to me over at 5/3 with partially taped money now. We could go into the books, towels, dinner napkins, chairs, but I thought I would just celebrate this weeks losses. Hooray! What I get is dogs like people live in double standards, if a little cocker spaniel puppy chewed the tip of a shoe it would be cute, but Lucky is a Landseer Newfoundland puppy that is more then 6ft long and weighs 160 pounds. Poor Lucky Duck, at least he has me with a sense of humor.

The Journey Home

My husband has been barred from going to rescue websites. They are like a drug, he still sneaks off from time to time. He did so for the last time three months ago. It was early May when he first showed me the picture of the Landseer in need from www.rescueme.org, I told him "No." firmly yet lovingly, We had recently downsized two years back and already have 5 wonderful dogs down from eleven.
"But he needs us" he whinned, promising to walk, feed and care for the new dog, similiar promises that come from the mouths of eight year old boys not 62 year old men.
"No" I stood my ground but saw the fine cracks forming as I looked at the puppies face.
Two weeks later on a Sunday as we entered our church I recieved a text from the owner desperate to find her loving puppy a home. One of the reasons we had joined St. Hubert's aside from all of its incredible views, structure and congregation members was that St. Hubert is the patron saint of dogs. The emotional floor beneath me now gave way. We drove south that afternoon to pick up "POE".
Poe, a 10 month old pure-breed Landseer, was quickly becoming to large for his surroundings and too needy for his mom person, who was already juggling being a new human mom, wife and working full time job. She mentioned he had a nipping problem and was on Proszac. Since I had already managed one large breed in the same situation once before this should not be an issue I thought overly confident of my "Layman rescue abilities". It was. Poe was 120 pounds and growing more everyday, filled with puppy energy and and aggressive streak. Oddly I was the only one he viciously attacked and four to five times a day. I was covered with bruises and my clothing had been shredded  on many occasions. My husband and I quarreled (he felt bad because I was so badly bruised and in pain), the house was tense, a solution needed to be found quickly. We talked about re-homing him but I knew he would be euthanized within days due to his behavior. I too have a serious flaw - I never give up on anything or anyone. I searched my network of friends and associates, reaching out to top trainers, veterinarians and behaviorist all preparing me by telling me some dogs cant be saved. Despondent I dedicated my free time to reading up on aggressive dog issues was it chemical? Physical? Emotional? After ruling out Chemical and Physical through medical evaluations, it became evident that it was emotional. The hardest of the three. Every one I spoke with, every article published said I needed a trigger, but what? Colors? Dresses? Food? Weather? Times of the day? I started keeping a diary of sorts. After three months I found it, books. Poe hated books, I read all of the time, I always had a book with me, to write down his triggers. No books, no trouble, Poe is no more Poe, his new name is "Lucky", first because he is, second because what we have learned over time is dogs especially large breeds respond more favorably to multi syllable names and finally Poe rhymes with No and that was confusing. Lucky today is peaceful and has made his place in the family pack, his best friend is a Dachshund/Basset mix that taught him how to dog play and not to bite hard. We still have moments, however 98% of the time we are what a Landseer should be, a big chunk of soft love. We were very lucky and we know it, without the help and advice of professionals, time, love and patience this could have ended far worse. Lucky could have badly injured a family member, friend or pet. Lucky has made the Journey Home. Note: Please do not try this yourself and seek out a trained professional for evaluation and advice before attempting to correct any serious animal behavior.

Dog-Shaming...who knew?

Nothing like a good nap after eating a good book!

Dog Shaming...a popular past time...alas a regular part of my life...I have an estate sale business now and Muddles has been helping me for sometime making sure he meets my customers by eating their purchases..he is a kleptomaniac and cannot help the fact he steals anything that does not belong to him and then eats it...I suppose there is a word for that kind of behavior..but presently its just pretty embarrassing.when I have to say "Hello, Mrs. Smith, well, that antique book in very good condition...." and he just lays there looking at me with those big slobbery eyes...Really Muddles Really? Three items in three weeks and two were boxed for shipping.Aughh...love him bes-test although who couldn't..but he is not going to work with me anymore.So go to the Dog-Shaming website and have a blast.

What my dogs have taught me

The air conditioners broke..thats it..broke..I live in an area where my home is technically in a mountain and I am less then 3 miles from a beach, so I am contemplating replacing it. The nights are cool with a gentle breeze filled with "katy -dids" and mosquito..neither particularly the positive points of my story. But during the day it is hot...beach hot..to hot to do very much..and so the dogs have taught me what to do..I figures they knew after all they are so much smarter then I...They lie on the floor and watch the world pass, I suppose they might read if I gave them a book, but they do they lie in the shade on on the covered porch just taking it slow as it comes...I have learned to follow, I have set up an umbrella in a lovely spot on the deck and a sprinkler nearby where they run trough it and try to gobble up the streams of cold water.They enjoy life every minute, they dont think about dinner or the large dust bunnies that roam the house freely.my dogs seize the day and enjoy it for all of its hot loveliness and have taught me how to..unless I really enjoy being how sweaty and miserable...no..a walk in the woods though the creek or a run through the  sprinkler sounds just about right to me these days...there will be plenty of time later for the dust bunnies.

Smiling Dogs

There is something to be said for dogs that smile when they sleep..or dogs that just smile in general..Muddles smiles because after a year in a kennel he has love and a soft place on the couch and in our hearts.

Labbies Love the Water

My Girl..Jazz loves the water. Thats it. It draws her, relaxes her, almost makes her at peace. Jazz is a very highstrung dog, but when she sees water a whole new persona appears. So its warm out and the water is clear and blue, perhaps a bit to chilly for me but I know my "Girl" will grab three balls and a stick and have a panic attack of pure joy and happiness as she swims out into the bay to retrieve them all in one trip. 

We are home

Its been a crazy year of new opportunities and friends. We have had to say goodbye to so many people in one way or another. But we have landed some how again on our feet and this time promises to be a journey unlike any other we have taken before.