The Greater Escape

We went to a party yesterday, so Paisley had to stay home with the other dogs. I always put her in the hallway in her dog crate, and there is a baby gate that separates the hallway from the living room. We come home, and I hear Paisley's "good you're home, come get me out of this thing, I can't believe you would actually leave me" shrieking, but it seems different this time. It seems closer. It seems closer because it is. I look at my husband as we approach the door and say "I think she is right there. I think she is right behind the door". We open the door and sure enough there she is.

We get inside and I walk over to the hall to inspect the scene of the crime. The baby gate is still up and her crate door is open.  The only thing we can figure is that she worked on the latch with her little paws until she got it open. I have seen her use her paws kind of like a raccoon before. She has probably been practicing every time we leave her, and yesterday was the day she perfected her technique. As far as the baby gate goes, I have left her with my husband before, and he will have her on that side with him.When I get home, she crawls up it to a point or jumps so high she could almost clear it. No real surprise there.

So, she may be staying out with the other dogs now. Thankfully I take her most places with me. My baby is growing up. No one puts Paisley in the corner.

No more kennel for me! I am staying out with the big dogs.

Today was national ice cream day. So of course we had to celebrate by having ice cream at one our favorites, Bruster's.

Paisley had her very own dish of vanilla with a dog bone. She loves ice cream but was not touching hers. Finally I took the bone out she ate the ice cream then the bone. I guess she likes her ice cream with the bone on the side.

A little bit of Sarah

We were recently asked to get some pictures together for a party. In going back through all of our pictures, it was so neat to look back at our lives. We have been so blessed. I have such a wonderful husband, and when I look back through the years, I am reminded so much of how he loves me and our kids and how hard he has worked to give us a great life and make us happy.

I know this does not have much to do with Paisley, but in a way it does. She is just another example of one of those wonderful things my husband has done to make me happy.

The other thing that going back through pictures has reminded me of is a little red dachshund we had named Sarah. I got Sarah through a friend of mine. A girl that she worked with had to flee from an abusive husband, and so she turned her over to my friend to find her to a good home. I drove up to my house and there was my friend with Sarah. I took her then and there. You could tell she had really been loved. You could also tell she had experienced some unpleasant things. She was afraid of men for awhile.

She was such a sweet, easy going dog. She had the perfect dachshund color and form. I got her when my husband and I were dating. She was with us through dating, marriage, moving, 2 miscarriages, and two babies. She loved my kids. She just went with the flow. As long as she was with us she was happy. She lived to be seventeen. I always wished I could have found her original owner and told her what a blessing she had been to our family and that she lived a long and happy life.

It broke my heart when I had to make the decision to put her down. My kids still cry over her from time to time to this day. I am so glad she lived long enough for them to know her. She was a great dog. Paisley reminds so much of  Sarah in so many ways. I told my husband I believe God made Paisley just for me, and when he did he sent down a little of  Sarah within her.

My little Paisley sleeping.

My precious Sarah a few months before going to heaven

    

In my car seat on our way to go shopping.

Traveling can be tiring.

Just hanging out with some new friends at the toy store.

Mall with friends

Lunch at the mall today with friends. Waiting for mom to give me a bite.

Out cold. Can you tell where I have chewed my bag? Good thing that I am cute!

Falling asleep in my bag

Crazy Chihuahua Lady

It's official. I am the crazy chihuahua lady! I have told you that I like taking Paisley on dreaded errand runs. The post office is one of my worst. I dread it. I put it off as long as I can. The next one is getting the oil changed in my car. So the day finally arrived that I had to get the oil changed.

Paisley and I took a seat and waited for our car. We talked to a very nice lady. She left and a man walked in and sat down next to me. So here I sit with Paisley on my lap, and I tell her that they are almost done and then we will go. The man next to me says "excuse me". He thought I was talking to him. I casually reply, "oh I'm sorry. I was just talking to my dog". I realize this sounds a little nuts. So I launch into an explanation that I'm really not a crazy chihuahua lady at the auto lube with a chihuahua on my lap.

"It's just that, well you see, I have boys, and boys don't always want to go shopping with you. I told my husband for years that I wanted a little dog that I could take with me, and he finally got her for me and she goes everywhere with me." At the end of my explanation, I realize this still could be construed as a little nutty so I say, "okay maybe I am the crazy chihuahua lady". He laughs and says no. I then pull out my cell phone and get a few pictures of her sitting in the chair all by herself. I am just so darn proud that she will  just sit in a chair in public if  I tell her to. Not bad for a nine month old dog. I had to get a picture so I could share it.

Then, there was this morning. Last Thursday I completely slept through trash pick up. I was so mad at myself! When it is 102 degrees out you do not want to miss trash day! I did not care what happened this morning. The trash was going out.

Paisley hates, and I mean hates, to be put in her kennel. When I put her in her kennel, she screams like there is no tomorrow.The only thing worse, than her screaming, is my youngest whining because she is screaming. So I stuck her in her front carrier ( yes I have one) and strapped her to me. It was raining pretty good, so I threw on a jacket over the dog carrier. My oldest son was helping me. I made the comment to him that I hoped none of the neighbors were watching me with a dog strapped to the front of me in a big jacket taking out the trash. They would probably think I had completely lost it. Out comes my neighbors daughter she stands in the rain and watches us for a moment. She comments, "Is it trash day?" I really wanted to say "uh, no we just thought it would be fun to strap on a dog and some jackets and haul trash to the curb in the rain for sport." Instead, I just told her it was.

Oh well, to be honest I really don't care if people think I am the crazy chihuahua lady. For the record I don't think that most people do. Paisley makes me happy everyday. She makes life fun. She also allows me to meet many people that I normally would not even talk to.

Sonic Saturday, Sunday Nap, and rain in July

We had very busy weekend, a long but great day at church, and Vacation Bible School last week. It had been so hot, but today we finally got some relief. Temps in the 70's and rain glorious rain. The kind of rain I like, consistent but soft and nothing life threatening. We really need it!

Friday night it was so hot, my husband and I looked at each other and said this is ice cream weather. So off to Sonic we went for half price shakes after 8:00. Paisley agreed.

Waiting for my ice cream.

 She is always up for a car ride and always up for ice cream. Don't worry, she just had a little and shared the rest with Bella and the labs when we got home.

Mmmm....yummy!

I have to add that my oldest and most finicky child( when it comes to food) ordered a peanut butter and bacon milk shake.Yuck! He actually loved it. That's just a waist of calories if  you a ask me.

Saturday was just kind of a blur of getting things done around the house and preparing for a busy Sunday.
Finally this afternoon we got to slow down and do things like read the paper and take a nice Sunday after noon nap while it rained.

Do you want to read this or take a nap?

I love my doggy brother!

I love Sunday afternoon naps. My parents always made us take one and I guess it is just ingrained into my body. Glad to have my Paisley to snuggle with.

We are supposed to continue to have good weather this week so we are looking forward to getting outside and enjoying it before the heat returns. I can't believe this is Texas in July but I won't complain!                          
   

Sonic Happy Hour

Here in Texas, we love our Sonic Happy Hour.

Don't worry about me. Mom always gets me bye-bye water. What is bye-bye water you ask? It's water from any restaurant and tastes better than water from home (maybe the lack of lab slobber).