Gracie is Where???

Gracie is proving to be a kitty of many locations. We know she roams @ nite b/c just last evening she was spotted on my kitchen table.  My witnesses are my sons who are nite owls, don't forget :)


Payton continues to befriend/attack her - we really can't tell any more :)   Some
times their rumbles seem fierce & other times it looks like play.  Since neither one has much experience in that area....it remains a work in progress.

                             We have gone from this....

                                   To this.....

            To this & yes...she is daring Pate to take one step closer to
                             her beloved cat tree!!!
                      


This latest location is somewhat amusing, as I never figured GG as a clothes horse/kitty (altho she did hang in his closet in the beginning for a while ) - she proved me wrong, as I discovered in this photo.

                Trev was getting ready for work & PRESTO so was GG!

            As you can see...Trev is aok w/ Gracie being quite comfy in his dresser drawer.  I'll have you know - she stayed there even after he left :)


She is SO sweet & loving - Pud should be very proud of her 2 lil waifs - as they have settled in quite nicely. 

Dudley's Prey......or so He Thinks!!

Every time I walk the Duds - he feels like he MUST try & intimidate my poor lil  bunny.  Rest assured she is safely caged & out of danger BUT that does not stop the instincts of this tenacious terrier.  He freezes like a statue .....then the right front paw comes up slowly & BAM ...a quick correction is given & we walk right out of the garage - bunny in tact.  In the beginning, his rapid high pitch barking was also a factor - I'm happy to share THAT has subsided :)



Here is the lil lady Cheddars - she was the token pet for my preschool classroom many years ago.  When I left the school I took her home w/ me for the summer WITH the understanding she would return in the fall.  Imagine my surprise, when the new school director e-mailed me in August saying she changed her mind!!!  The rest is history...

 As you can tell from the photos - she likes to rearrange her "furnishings" on a daily basis - I'm always intrigued where things will be in the morning.

She also receives TLC like the others as far as grooming & nail trimming. Altho her VERY light & soft fur is EVERYWHERE in the garage when she sheds :(




Overall, I'd the Duds is improving on a daily basis & I look forward to his lil face every day :)

Life in the Slow Lane............

Summer is slowly disappearing (altho the next few days are supposed to be in the 90's) & life has taken on a cool prospective.  The dynamic duo - Fest & Dud - enjoy their trips to the tennis court & walks in general now that it has been cooler out.......

              Here is a recent photo of the "fun" bunch after breakfast.....


I guess I never realized before that Bella was the real life of the party - I think she was just nosier than the others & had to check everything out - there fore motivating the others to actually move!!  Daytime remains the quietest span of time for these canine cousins.

Dudley's barking has decreased immensely - unless - the dreaded trampoline is in use in the yard behind us.  When the kids are bouncing up & down...making unfamiliar sounds...he faces them & barks like nobody's business. Then ...when he hears them just talking & laughing...his tail goes 100 miles an hour.  He just does not understand why they want to jump in that contraption & not jump over the 5 foot wooden fence & visit him!!

Guess Who Came...... to Visit????

I was on the computer one morning & my phone rang....t'was a relative wanting to see the transplanted duo & of course, I said when???  She was already on the road & would be approaching Arlington Heights in 30 minutes. 

 Since the Duds was still in deep slumber from his breakfast - Joan decided to greet Gracie Grace first.....it was very sweet b/c GG knew her immediately & wanted her affection.

   And got it!!! Was that a tear I saw rolling down my sister's cheek?  Yep :)

    Dudley finally caught on that there was a new scent in the house & greeted her very enthusiastically. He would come by me - as if asking - is it really who I think it is & then go back to greet her w/ more kisses. It was sight to behold :)  Then we went out to the back yard for some photo time......

         Of course, we couldn't leave out Festus...so he joined in :))



It was strange not having the big presence of Bella around ...as she would have shoved the others aside to get to her beloved Joanie....but...life goes on & we continue to love & appreciate what is in front of us every day :)

Who's on First???

It's been a few weeks since Bella has left us & things are s l o w l y getting back to normal for we humans.  The canines are a different story....they are in search of who is in charge.  Festus has taken to howling in his crate when left alone during the day. He NEVER displayed this behavior before EXCEPT when we were in Ohio once & he was left on the patio when Aunt Nancy & I were trimming a bush @ the top of the hill.  He either lost sight of us or was scared being tied up.

The other morning...he started his wailing & woke up my sleeping son...Trev got out of bed...let him out of his crate & returned to his room.  Fest then began howling from the top of the couch while looking outside !!!

                            Singing the blues.....


Dudley, on the other hand is now feeling freer to roam @ especially in the kitchen - where Bella usually supervised.  He still spends quality time behind Bru's recliner BUT also enjoys laying by the front door, relaxing on the carpet....I now think Bella intimidated the lad!!


Another thing I noticed is that when I let the 2 dogs outside....Festus now waits for me to escort him ( like Duds does )......too funny. One thing that Duds is doing now that HE never used to do is....chase the pug!  Previously, Payton was his target who could jump onto a kitchen chair for an escape.  Poor Fest - being the same size ....is pursued & than tries to have a smack down!  They always end up walking away from each unscathed....possible power play - who knows?

                             Bru & the Duds bonding :)



I'm hoping in time, the canines find their place in the pecking order & will soon settle into a nice quiet routine.  Personally, I think they both just miss their protector & room mate...Miss B.

And Then They're Were 2.....

Sadly, we had to put down our Mastiff - Bella - last week.  She became very ill very suddenly & we could not let her suffer any more than she did.  She was 10 years old & had a heart of gold.  On many of our walks ....people would cross the street to get away from this gentle 100lb giant.  If they only knew.....

Miss B in her younger day...she was a beautiful specimen of the French Mastiff

                        A face only her MaMa could love :))

   She was definitely the largest of our pet family...but the Pug was in charge.

                     She never met a kitten she didn't like.......

                        Always willing to share her post....

                        Regardless of who wanted a peak :)

            She often took on the Mother role when we adopted a new member

                And didn't mind sharing " her " couch w/ her sibs

     She was beginning to slow down & enjoyed lying around a little more.....

                    The lady knew comfort when she felt it :)

   She was not bothered @ all when the flood arrived or Dudley for that matter!




She was my lil girl & I miss her terribly BUT I still have 2 wonderful lil canine beings to keep me busy.  I know she is @ peace now & not hurting ....& that's what I have to focus on. 

Another difficult part of this whole ordeal was...I didn't have Pud to call & share my sadness.....she was always a wonderful source of support & love & would always check in on me a few days later.  I do know that she is finally meeting Miss B & she probably took one look & thought ...Dudley survived YOU!!!!

The Duds vs Water

Between losing power for 4 days 2 weeks ago & the 7 inches of water we received on Friday....I'm losing faith in Mother Nature.  On Saturday, Bru, I & the boys worked all day to remove water from our property.  Dudley was in & out stepping over hoses, pumps,articles left out to dry & didn't waver a bit.  He did have to be carried out the first time b/c the crawlspace door was wide open & not being a water dog - he wasn't impressed with the 3 feet we had down there!!

  Yep...there is our de-humidifier floating in the crawl which is located by my washer & dryer as you enter from the garage. At one point we had 2 hoses going @ one time.

We had @ a foot & a half of water in our yard earlier - we could not believe how fast it went down once the downpour was over.

                    Just to give you an idea of the amount :(

Bella, being a Mastiff, is a water dog & walked thru all the water with ease...

                             Dudley....not so much.

       When Festus joined him... Duds was ....what happened to my yard?????

   He did eventually get braver & began his way down the walk way. His lil legs ended up looking like 4 sticks :)

I'm sure they were all looking for a life boat to take them to dry land!  The huge heavy pot by Bella floated from the other side of the yard earlier that morning.

It's now Monday & things are still drying out - we did a lot of purging & are glad garbage day is tomorrow.  I'm sure it will look like we are moving to our neighbors!