Saturday talk!

Hi Pups and Kitties!

Last night I didn't like our wet soggy snow a bit and wouldn't hardly go out in it.  But then by bedtime, it was way better, and this morning it is nice and dry and crispy.  But the sun is out bright, so the snow eaters might come!  Be careful when you answer the door, they are little white snowmen like, and might ask for treatz (which to them, is ice cubes, snow or gelato.)

Its always fun to talk about a new blog on DWB and this week we have had the fun of reading

Romping and Rolling in the Rockies , with our new friend KB and her two lab dogs who get to plow through snow that comes right up to their noses!  She rides a mountain bike through the deep snow!

I think she is gonna be my new super hero!  If you haven't visited her blog yet, do it, because its furry much fun and especially since she is the one getting cold, not me!

KB wrote a comment about my last night's blog where my picture showed me putting the toys on my bed.  She said: "I love when dogs take toys to bed to sleep with.  It makes me smile, ear-to-ear."  You know what, KB, I sleep with a whole bunch of them every night.  Sometimes it gets too crowded and I have to move to my Mom's bed, but thats OK.  Before I came here a year ago, I never had any toys, and my Mom had some left over from her old dog, Otis, so I got them!  Then I got presents of them, my Mom bought me some, my Mom's friends bought me some, too.  So now I have a big laundry basket full of them, mostly all squeaky toys.  But I don't share them except for a little.  If you would come to my house, I would bring you one, and let you hold it and squeak it for a minute, but then I take it back.  My Mom plays this nightime game with me where she takes my big duck to bed with her, and I have to go take it back.  But in the night, I go get her another one to have on her bed.  Then I take it away when we get up.

Just the way it is!

Do any of you other pups share your toys? 

Here is a joke I told Ammy of the Army of Four: 

What kind of witch lives in the desert?

A SAND-WITCH!

ha ha ha . . .Did I get you on that one?

Happy Howloween!

Candy Kisses,

Stella

Late in the Day!

Hiya Pups and Kitties:

I guess you are all getting ready for Halloween.  I am not wearing a costume but I will guard my Mom from the little spookies that knock on our door.  Thats not a big job cuz from what I remember from last year we only got a few little monsters!

Today was a busy day for my Mom so she was gone a bunch of the time.  It rained most of the day, and then in the afternoon it started snowing all over the place.  We are maybe gonna get some more tonight too.  Here is a picture of my backyard and there isn't even enough snow to make a ring around my snooter. 

So here is me saying Thanks but no thanks for this mess.  The snow is so wet it gets all stuck in your paws.  Give me dry snow, any day at all, and lots of it!

So here is me getting a few toys together for a good sleep tonight. 

We will see what that mess looks like tomorrow and if its just half way decent, we will go for a

walk and gear up for the little spookies to call!

Happy Halloween!  Who did Dory pick to adoptinate her after her Mom tried to get her to wear a squirell suit?  We would like to have her here but doubt that she would like the weather, being one of those warm weather pups!

Candy Kisses,

Stella

Semi-Wordless Wednesday.

Dory's Mama wrote and said they only have ONE cat that entered their smiley contest!  She asks "Don't Cats Smile?"

Of course they do, all of the time.  But like most kittie things its quite nuanced and subtle.  Just a smile, not showing toofies!

Here is a picture of Ali Z smiling at my Mom.  See how the corners of her mouth turn up?  She wears that smile allllll the time!

Kisses,
Stella

Pee ess:  Many of you cannot see the smile on Ali Z's face because of her coloration.  I see it all the time and love it.  But here is another picture of a smiling cat, you might enjoy.  Note that it is the way the upper and lower mouth are shaped. (and the pizza!)  That is a cat smile!

Stella's Mom

Its Me, Ali Z!

Good morning, Kitties and Pups, we have a lot of mail today, so lets get at it!

Mom's good friend Khyra  wrote asking something to the efffect that if I was so smart(dogs get sooo threatened by a smart cat!)  "can woo operate a khamera"?    This is something we are not doing right now but we are working on it.    A question asked by Princess Eva and Brice has something to do with this and we will be discussing it further in next weeks blog.  Exciting stuff!

Max in South Africa asked if we had any idea as to the origins of the old saw 'curiosity killed the cat'.  Let me tell you Max, this goes way, way back. The original proverb was 'care killed the cat' and it was first recorded in the English playwright Ben Jonson's play Every Man in His Humour, 1598.  Care is meaning worry or sorrow in this case.  You can read more about it at The Phrase Finder.

Dave at the Army of Four is a jazz afficionado like me and asked if I knew any Dave Brubeck music, and also samba music?   You might be interested to know, Dave, I am an old Dave Brubeck fan,almost all cats love his piano work!  But I am more fond of samba music than anything.,  Antonio Carlos Jobim is a big favorite and I try to play this style music daily.  It is so exotic and I just love to move around to it.  Do you?

Corcovado is a big favorite, and I would love to know yours so I could work on it before you come to visit.

Tank suggested that I had too high an opinion of myself and cats vs.dogs.  He said he doesn't cough up hair balls or shed and I should try and beat that.  Tank, I am sorry to hear that you are ill and I do hope this didn't have any effect on making you sick.  You must try not to get too excited over things like this and upset yourself.  We are hoping for a fast recovery for you!

My good friend Hamish of Scotland said I feel as though we have this one important thing in common and that is that we are not lacking in self esteem. What about you?    I agree with you totally, Hamish, and also feel that self esteem is a most important part of any animals life.  It gives you the ability to convey what you believe, and to come across to others with strength.  And yes, it can mean to agree to disagree as we have many times.

The OP Pack asked me how the sardines tasted that I recommended last week.  They are just lovely, fishy and oily, full of goodness.  However, my mother has a new recipe she is going to try for just her and I called Linguine with Sardines and Parsley (note this Huffle!) .  This sounds so excellent and we may give Stella a little taste of it to see if she is the gourmand we are.  Don't forget to buy King Oscar tiny sardines, though!

Our little friend Cloud is still having problems with his cat Boomer (who seems to be his mother's favorite for obvious reasons!).  Cloud asks, Are cats psychic?  Since I posted about Boomer hitting me on the head she has done it more times than ever.  This will probably stun you to know, Cloud, but cats know what you are thinking before you think it.  For instance, the time you humped Boomer (a very elderly cat) she knew what you were going to do, but simply couldn't believe you would have the audacity to do it.  So when she smacks you for what you say is No Reason, she is really smacking you for your bad thoughts.  My suggestion?  Stay outdoors and bark at squirrels.!

Our last letter is from Steve, Kat and Wilbur and Steve wrote that Wilbur the Cat was laying next to their Mom when they went to bed.  Steve and Kat layed down next to Mom's legs and Wilbur the cat, hissed and hissed at them, even though Steve says he did nothing to Wilbur.   Ah Steve, I wonder if it isn't like our friend Cloud, who thinks unpleasant thoughts about his cat and she is able to read those thoughts.  If that is the case, perhaps you could gentle up your thoughts a bit, or perhaps let your Mom know she should stop him from doing this.  Or perhaps, Dr. Steve, you need to work one of your famous prescriptions for Wilbur!

Good luck to everybody, my thanks for writing and sharing your thoughts with me.  It looks as if Cloud will not be answering questions quite so frequently, but do check in and see what he is up to.

Meow, Meow,

Ali Zophia

The Story of the Shed-ding!

My Mom says this 'toon is the story of her life but I don't get it, do you?

She wants me to thank evfurry buddy who wrote in about Shed-ding.

Some of you said it was normal for my breed Borador, somebody said it was normal for dogs who lived a cushy life (izzat me?), some said try the Furminator and we have been there, but not with the spray so we may try that.  Some said to learn to LOVE it (oh, sure!) and others said to learn to live with it (this was most of you).  Others said shedding was normal for Fall, and others said Normal for all year. Somebody said Brushing and More Brushing. And one person said it had been a medical issue (Thyroid) for her lab and since we have to see our Vet pretty soon, we will remember that one.

One person who has four sibes we all know, this is Army of Four, and she said she has Three Vacuum cleaners and Zim has one.  My Mom said she will be interested in this picture for the rest of her life! 

So last I heard she is going to keep me and  pushing the vacs around (we only have two!)  I hope you all
enjoyed responding to my question, I loved hearing from you all! 

My Mom says from here on she is keeping every bit of floof she gets and is gonna get Ludo's Mom to help her build a huge dog to sit in the front yard, and cover it with black floof.  Then when some washes away, well, we will just have more to stick on, won't we.

Khyra got all excited because she thought it was about sled-ding and that we had big snow.  Hamish though it was about Sheds, which interests him for some reason.

Ali Z writes tomorrow, I think she is upstairs working on her column tonight.  Stop and visit tomorrow, you never know what she's gonna say.

Kisses and Love,

Stella and her Mom

Shed-ding!

Hello my friends:  My Mom and I are having an endless battle about my endless shedding of fuhr!

She says all she does is sweep and vacuum and vacuum and sweep and STILL there is dog hair in the salad, in the cookie dough, and on the soap.  Everywhere. 

I am growing new short curly hair on my back and she tried to get a picture of it, but the battery is almost out so we are recharging. 

So my Mom for her most recent pups, had all short hair Scotties that needed to be clipped and did not leave bushels of hair laying around here and there for her to dispose of.

I hate being brushed, so I am forced to fight her about this.

She hates my fighting her, so she hates brushing too.

She claims I have been shedding seriously ever since I arrived here.

I was newly spayed so Princess Eva's Mom said that was a good reason for blowing coat.

So she can understand that.

What she doesn't understand  is that the shedding never seems to stop.

You know I am Border Collie and Lab mix, so is that the reason I shed constantly?

Do I have some serious condition that causes this and do I need to see a Vet?

We are grateful for your attention and any advice you may dish out (we'll try not to get hair in it!)

We wish you a most Happy Sunday, here in the land of rain and soon to be snow!

Kisses,

Stella, who still has lots of hair!

Who is luckier?

Me or You?  Maybe we are both the same because we live a life full of friends!  One of our favorites gives us this award, imagine an award for being friends!  Being friends is an award all by itself.

For those of you who don't know who these guys are, they are Martha and Bailey Basset of Scotland.  They have more fun than any pups  should just tearing around the beautiful countryside where they live.  We are very lucky to have good Scottish friends, like Martha and Bailey, Hamish Westie, the Dughallmor Beagles and I am sure many I don't know personally, but would like to get to know. 

Let me encourage you to go visit Martha and Bailey if you haven't already, and help yourself to this great award for being Pals!

Maybe next time we can talk about our Pals in England, Ireland and all over the rest of the world.  Talk about lucky dogs!

Kisses, and Happy Weekend,

Stella

An Award!

Good morning, Pups and Kitties!

My furry good friend Dennis the Viszla gave me an award the other day, but when I looked I couldn't find it so I just took one that I liked (Dennis has millions of awards, a very highly thought of guy!) and this is the one I tooked:

Isn't it a cool award from somebody named Deb!  I hope she doesn't mind I took it, my Mom loves old fashioned looking stuff like that so its partly for her too.

You Make My Day, it says on the front of it.  Lots of you make my day, especially that goofy Dennis the Rescue Viszla, Tucker the other Viszla , Trouble the Cat and my fave of them all, the beawootiful Trixie. 

I am pretty sure that Dennis wouldn't mind a bit if you would like this award too.  So just help yourself if it missed you, OK?

We are having the first sunshiney day today we have had in the longest time, so Mom and I are going to take a walk.  We take a certain route and when we go left, about half way down the block, a Lassie dog comes out to greet us.  She is 14 years old and pretty slow and I try to get her interested in playing but she more likes my Mom who pets her.  I guess she just likes someone more her own age.

So thats all for today.  I send all good wishes to pups who don't feel good, or who are having troubles.

Don't forget when you have a few extra green papers NEADS (our yesterday blog) can always put them to good use.

Kisses,

Stella

Somewhat Wordless Wednesday!

I got a nice invitation in the mail this morning that I want to pass on to you:

This is for the Fall graduation  of the NEADS/Dogs for Deaf and Disabled Americans' Assistance Dog team.  Plan on spending an inspirational afternoon with lots of dog  friends..  I think you can enlargigate this picture  and see that it is on Sunday, November 1, 2009 from 2 to 4 pm at the Courtyard by Marriott, Fitchburg, MA.  For directions visit: http://www.neads.org/   They are requesting a $5 donation per person at the door and that you RSVP by October 25th to rsvp@neads.org

You can get full info about their Annual Meeting at http://www.neads.org/ (November 21st). This is held at their NEADS Campus  in Princeton, MA . 

If I was anywhere near these places, I would go pick up Mango and PeeWee and we would be on our way.

This is one of my Mom's favorite charities, and if you can't visit you can always send them some green papers for the good things they do.  My Mom got started with them when they began a companion/service dog program for our veterans of Iran and Afghanistan who were injured and needed the help of a dog.  At the beginning, they were teaching prisoners to train the dogs and that to me, is win-win!

So thanks if you can go, thanks if you can help and thanks for loving us pups!

Kisses,

Stella

Its Me, Ali Z!

Hello Pups and Kitties!  We have a lot of mail to take care of today, so lets get going!

We had one hold-over letter from Max Dog of South Africa and he was interested to know if the tailess Manx cat ever lost balance because of no tail?  This was most interesting to me, Max, to learn this cat is high in the hindquarters with the back legs much longer than the forelegs, thus causing the rump to be higher than the shoulders.  The shortness of back forms a continuous arch from shoulders to rump.  Now I have never met a Manx cat, so I was surprised they are very playful and they can jump higher than anyone could imagine.  It is not unusual to find them perching on the highest point in any room, and they are known as the feline sports cars with their acceleration and quick turns.  They show dog like behavior too by retrieving and burying their toys!  So, Max, no balance problems and highly unique to boot!

Cloud the Wonderdog  asked me what is my favorite food?  Fried squirrel of course, Cloud!  No, no, I am just joking, my favorite breakfast is a slice of Deli Ham (Huffle got me going on this!) and my favorite treat is tinned tiny Norwegian sardines in oil.  Nothing else so good!

Steve, Kat and Wilbur tell us their Mom likes to learn new things and she uses Wikipedia a lot.  Is that how you became so smart?    Hmmn, cats have ancient intelligence, but yes, I do like Wiki, also just typing a word into Google and see what comes up.  Its all very much fun, isn't it?

The Thundering Herd tells us our advice is great (Thank You!) but we feel a little left out. For some bizarre reason, on the rare times we see a cat, it gets all hissy and spitty at us.  Do you think we are itimidating?
Oh Herd, you are asking me if one domestic cat could be intimidated by six huge dogs staring at it?  Uhh, yes I think so, in fact it would be even more bizarre if the cat weren't terrified.  How about looking at the cat, one dog at a time?  If it remained quiet, Cat might tolerate it.  Hmmm, do you encourage this behavior in your dogs, by any chance? 

The Army of Four Our friend Zim writes that his brother Dave loves jazz and wants to come over next time I sit down to play some.  Would that be OK?     Why certainly it would be just wonderful to have an audience and if Dave plays, we could do a duet.  One of my favorites is Round Midnight . . .does Dave have a favorite?  From what I have read, Dave is a nice gentle dog, that wouldn't chase me, would he?   Let me know when he wants to come.

Hamish Westie disagreed with me last week about its better to be a member of a more popular genus (cats are more popular world wide than dogs)  saying surely there is a certain cachet attached to being a member of a more exclusive club?    Perhaps for you this is true, Hamish, but I can only see the cat as being much more loved as a pet, tidier in habits, gentler, more charming and thusly, more popular.  Perhaps to make yourself feel better (dogs) you can call it exclusivity.  Hmmm, then you asked me if I felt intimidated when Max speaks of the giant cats of Africa. . .and my answer there is no, I just don't waste my time feeling inferior, because I never come into contact with them.

Thanks to everybody who wrote a comment last week and I do hope I could be of help to you.  I just enjoy your mail so much!  Don't forget the Answer Dog on Mondays, Cloud the Wonder Dog likes to answer questions also!

Meow, meow,

Ali Zophia

Stella le Poser!

I don't know about your Moms but if mine fails at something, like photoing you, you can expect to get it all over again, fairly soon.

So there I was laying around peacefully on Her bed, just sort of nodding off now and then and FLASH!  Now I didn't get up and go, because I was very comfy and just didn't think this would last too long because she doesn't like the color of my fuhr, under the light, makes it look yellowy, tan, brown, not me at all.  But I was wrong, here is another FLASH!     That ought to do it, right, Mom?  FLASH!
                                                                             

Now you will notice that I barely moved either my entire self OR my face.  Nice and still.

  Is this it, please?  You like that one a little, so you biggify it so you can like it even more.  You know what you can be glad of, Mom?  Lemme tell you.  That I don't have the right kind  of digits to operate a camera. Thats what you can be very glad of.

OK Stay tuned for Ali Z who is on tomorrow. Maybe by then we will be rid of his cold, rainy weather and get some decent snow that the snow eaters can't polish off in the afternoon!  You bet!

Back to naptime.

Kisses,
Stella

No news is . . .No News!

Hi Evfurry Buddy!  Yesterday someone said they wanted a picture of me, I think Mrs. Happy Heeler Mom, and so here is the best we got.  My Mom says it takes about 32 tries with the camera to get one decent picture, but this one is blurry, and she says too bad.  She is too crabby today to spend too much time at it. AND THAT IS TRUE!

So here is one of Goody Four Feets getting the perfect face shot, Then my Mom goes on for an extended time about What a Good Kitty she is and How she Doesn't MOVE when she is trying to get her picture. and how Angelic she looks. ach!  That is just unnecessary, I think, she really doesn't need to say that stuff to Ali Z. at all.

Then she went and looked at the Army of Four getting their pictures with cute patchwork Teddies.  All non-moving, perfect pictures.  My Mom has a Teddy she just loves so she tried to get me to pose with it.  It just happened that I moved a couple of times at the wrong time and so she didn't get any shot of me and a Teddy.  The reason she loves this Teddy is that it has something a little wrong with its nose and mouth, so it looks real CRABBY, like you-know-who!

We got a cute note from a new to us guy, Sparky!  My Mom says she thinks he is just a perfect dog because he does what his Mom tells him to.  Tricks by the Galore!  If you don't know him, go for a visit to
http://sparkybarky.blogspot.com/ and I can promise you it will be fun!

So now we are getting some rains and I think the best thing to do is hit the new bed.  My Mom bought me a new Nylabone too, bacon flavored.  She said I am the first dog she has ever had that liked Nylabones and I already chewed one up she says is too small to keep.  So me and the new bone hit the feathers.

Have a good weekend, evfurry buddy and take care!

Kisses,

Stella, Ali Z and Mrs. Crabbyappleton

If its coming, its still coming!

We didn't get any big snow last night, but its all cold and cloudy today, so it might be on the way yet, we just don't know these things until they get here!

One thing me and my Mom want to talk to you about is visiting blogsites.  Lately we have had a very bad time with certain blogsites that have a lot of goodies on them, and we just get thrown off these sites, we guess because our computer memory is not so good and the flashier the blogsite, the faster we get thrown off.  So for any of you who find we are not visiting or not commenting, that is the reason why.  We feel bad, because we like to visit everyone we can, and those with less stuff on their blogs, we do!

We are having a friend come to look at our computer, and maybe add some extra memory or whatever it is we need.  We'll get it fixed pretty soon we hope, but until we do, don't stop visiting us, please!  We would miss you too much!

Kisses,

Stella and her Mom, and upstairs, Ali Zophia

Wordy Wednesday Warnings!

Dust off those winter driving skills. The first widespread snow of the season is quite possible by late tonight in the Red River Valley, and perhaps sooner across much of North Dakota.


The National Weather Service has issued a winter weather advisory from 7 p.m. today until 7 a.m. Thursday for eastern North Dakota and the Red River border counties of northwest Minnesota. (Thats us!)

Light snow still is expected elsewhere in northwest Minnesota late tonight and into Thursday, but primarily south of U.S. Highway 2. No advisories have been issued outside the Red River Valley so far.


One to three inches of snow could fall in Becker County.. (Thats us!)

Kisses,
Stella

Its Me, Ali Z!

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Good Morning all you Kitties and Pups!  Now that it is getting cold and snowy where I live, its easy to want to sleep in in the mornings, do you find it so?  We have lots to talk about so lets get started.

I am very concerned about Cloud.  He tells me he thinks I feel he is wasting his life barking and striking fear into the hearts of squirrels and asks what I think he should do instead.  Until I read an frightening article on the BBC news, I only felt he should do as he wished.  Now, however a Russian squirrel pack 'kills dog' .

Squirrels have bitten to death a stray dog which was barking at them in a Russian park, local media report.
Look at this article which describes a pack of black Russian squirrels . I only hope Cloud pays attention to this and realizes the possible danger involved.  Here is a picture of one of these vicious creatures.

Our good friend Zim writes and asks : "Wowzers!  Do you really play the piano?  What kind of music do you play?"  Zim, many people who have cats are surprised to know we enjoy playing the piano.  People go off to work and kitties open the piano and enjoy the music they make.  What kind you ask?  Almost every kind we have heard.  Kitten on the Keys, Ragtime, classics, jazz, we love it all.  Thanks for writing, Zim.

From Martha and Bailey Basset comes this question:  We really think you are one smart cat (thank you!).  Have you ever thought of becoming a dog?    Ohhhhh! what a shocking question, Martha!  Did you know cats outnumber dogs by millions as house pets in the USA, UK and many countries of Europe?  In the USA alone, there are about 60 million cats kept as pets.  There are about five hundred million pet cats in the world!  Why would I wish to join the minority, the less popular dog??  I am very happy being a cat!  Thanks for writing, Martha, and please write again.

We have three carryovers from last week that we must do today!  Chester wrote us some very kind words about enjoying our words on Tuesdays and asked if we are just as wise on the other days of the week!  Of course, Chester, I spend time on the other days of the week learning from books and the web.  Knowledge is a wonderful thing, don't you think?  Good to hear from you, Chester! 

Samantha asks a question about her family cat, Ozzie, who snuggles up to Sammie, rubs up againster her legs, and lets Sammie sniff her UNTIL  they realize their people are looking , then the hisses start!   This is really too bad isn't it, since you both seem to like each other but feel you must "put on a show for your pawrents."  I'm sure your pawrents would like this action very much, and I think if you felt you wanted to continue it, you should.  However, from personal experience, I find that all Stella wants to do is stick her cold nose up under my tail and I find that quite disgusting so I put a quick stop to it.  You dogs can get a little pushy about this affection between us cats and dogs.  Uh, do write again Sammie and let us know how this is going.

One of our favorite cats, Huffle, wrote about cats wearing clothes such as dogs sometimes do.  She says,
I don't usually wear clothes but your Mom is going to make me a husky fur sweater that I will wear proudly! I hope you don't think less of me, Ali Z.   Oh, no, Huffle, I never could, you have been such a wonderful friend to me.  I know you suffer in the Winter cold, so this will be a blessing for you and you will love to wear it.  I think we were mostly talking about silly clothes like costumes and the like for cats.  Do write again, Huffle!

Thats it for today, Kitties and Pups, again, I want to warn Cloud about squirrels who just get fed up about being constantly barked at, and attack dogs as a pack.  As much as we banter, I think both Cloud and I really like each other and I would hate for harm to come to him.  Can't you talk your Mom into teaching you how to paint?  I paint quite often and its a wonderful form of expression as your Mom knows.

We are saving a letter from our pal Max for next week.  He wrote about the Manx cat which is fascinating and I am gathering info for him.

Meow, meow,

Ali Zophia

Sunday odds and ends!

First of all, I wanted to tell you that October 9th, was my first blogoversary!  We forgot all about it, but it still doesn't seem possible we have been blogging for a whole year.  Its one of the best and funnest things I have ever done!

Second of all, I got a comment from Audrey the Photographer Dog!  Yes! a dog that wears a small camera around her neck and gets photos from wherever she goes at her level!    I made me think of
something Sue of the Portuguese Water Dogs said in a recent post.  She was talking about being grateful for things and said of a very little dog, "Lucy taught me respect for little dogs and to look at the world through their eyes.  It looks very different if you are only 8" tall."  So it will be fun, won't it, to follow Audrey around and see what she sees (although I know she is taller than 8")!

Another thing that I got from reading Sue's blog  is about making  little blankets for tiny preemie babies.
My Mom is making some out of flannel and polarfleece.  They only have to be 9"x13" finished sizes so any of you sewists, knitters, crocheters, can join the party if you go to Sue's blog.  We can keep lots of preemies nice and warm while they grow!

We are supposed to get more snow tomorrow.  So some of you want it (The Thundering Herd), some of you want it bad (Khyra) and lots of you don't want it at all!  Some, like Princess Eva and Brice, just want a little and thats all.  But here in Minniesnowda, you got NO CHOICE in the matter! You can get snow before the leaves change color and fall!

I think thats it for today.  Happy Sunday, evfurry buddy!

Kisses,
Stella

Hey all you cold weather snow dogs . . .come and play!

Last night we got a little bit of snow and today we are supposed to get some more!  I am excited, snow gets me happy if it doesn't last forever!

So all you Sibes and Mals, and regular pups who like snow, c'mon over!  This is what it looks like!

Lookit, my tail is as big and floofy as Khyra's!  My Mom throws snowballs at me, I can see them coming throught the air, but I can't ever find them!

Here is part of our neighborhood!  Not much snow yet but we are going to go walk in it this morning.

Have a Happy Weekend, Evfurry Buddy!

Kisses,

Stella

Friday Surprise!

My Mom went shopping this morning and when she came home she had a whole lotta bags.  Then she went in our bedroom, rolled up my  bed, and put it it in a trash bag and tossed it!  She didn't even ask me if that was OK to do.  I was shocked!  Then she ran the noisy sucker around and pickup a lot of hair I think.    I was still shocked! Then she picked up all the toys and put them in the toy basket!  Then she went and brought in a big bag which she left me sniff around a whole bunch.  I tried to get it open, but no go.  She then took the scissors and cut it open, and it looks like a big pillow!

Then she used the scisssors again to cut off a couple of bands and a label and whoosh!  it opened right up into a new bed! 

I just love it!  Its a pretty color and brown on the other side and very comfy.  My bed goes in under my Mom's desk, so its like a little house under there.

I might sleep all weekend in it and not even come out.    Oh, she got me some new colorful tennis balls too.
OK, maybe I will come out and play a little ball with her later.

Thanks, Mom!

Kisses,
Stella

A Good Boy Emerges!

Most of you know last week was my 3 rd birthday and I had such a good time.  What you may not know is that Beckett  and I have been good friends ever since I started blogging, both being rescues.  Now, Beckett has been know to damage things at his home, stuffees, bedding, furniture, all to my dismay!    I would try and talk him out of this behavior.  So you can imagine just how thrilled I was to get this comment on my birthday from my pal, Beckett:

Happy barkday, Stella!

If I were you, I'd take the opportunity to cut loose - destuff a few stuffies, maybe shred some junk mail, maybe even snitch a little food from the counter... but I know that's not how you like to live it up. I'm tempted to do it here, in your honor, but I think you'd appreciate it more if I continued on my Good Boy streak. So today, dear Stella, all my Good Boy behavior is dedicated to Y-O-U!

Beckett

The picture you see up above is Beckett's Good Boy Down and if you visit his blog, you will see his serious attempt at being a Good Boy every day.  I just couldn't be prouder of his efforts and gratefully accepted his Good Boy Day on my Birthday.

Goodness is its own reward!

Kisses,
Stella

Its me, Ali Z!

Hello all you Kitties and Pups!  Zoolatry made me a new header, isn't it nice?  Once again we have a lot to talk about, so lets just move on to the mail.

Mack and Sally Ann wrote and asked this question:  If you found a family you liked better than yours, would you like for the new family to cat-nap you?  My advice to that, Sally, is Heaven's NO! If I wanted to go live with another family, I would just find one I'd like and go.  No catnapping needed!  Now I may bring some unpleasant experience to that question, having been moved to three different homes, it is quite traumatic for a cat to just be packed up and moved, even though you might like the family.  Sometimes they get DOGS after you move in!

Cocorue asked me this question:  If we were to meet, would you know how to charm me as I'm indifferent to kitties who somehow don't like moi?   Hmm, Coco, that is a rather touchy question, isn't it?  I don't usually make it my business to charm dogs and indifference isn't always a Bad thing, you know.  I try to be pleasant and to get along, however, I don't care for fast moving dogs or being chased, and I am sure you would understand that.  Keep things quiet and gentle, and we'll be fine.  Write again sometime!

A rather long, disturbing letter came from Mango last week.  Dear Mango, I am very happy you have your own special Dog Cave in your home, and a nice yard to lie around in.  Have you ever thought of visiting a Doggy Therapist to talk about the bags of kibble that attack you in your van, or being attacked by Bison Freeze (?) puppies, or the furniture that moves around all by itself?  I think this might bring some comfort to you if you did that.  I am not acquainted with someone to refer you to, but perhaps your dear mother might find someone special.  Hugs to you, Mango!

Max of South Africa, a very regular correspondent wrote asking me if I know How Do Cats Purr?

Of Course, Max, that is elementary information for a Cat, just like you know about a dog's bark!

We cats have some special wiring!  The wiring travels from the brain to the muscles in the voice box, and this wiring is able to vibrate the muscles so that they act as a valve for air flowing past the voice box. The muscles work work both during inhalation and exhalation, which creates the impression that cats can purr continuously.  The air passes through the valve, which opens and closes rapidly to create the purring sound.  My mom loves it because she can't hear it, but can feel it with her fingers under my chin!  Thanks for writing, Max.

Kira the Bewootiful asked "How do the litter box treats get in there and why does my Mom get rid of them."   Oh dear, Kira, this is quite simple to answer, the kitties put them there and your Mom doesn't want you to eat them.  You don't eat them, do you?  They are doggy no-nos!  Write again sometime!

Cloud the Wonder Dog wants to know what cats think about when we lay around 20 hours a day? 

Well, Cloud, I can't speak for other cats, but I certainly don't "lay around" for 20 hours a day.  I love to practice my piano, write haiku poetry, and have the beginning of a book started,I love to paint. What do you like to do beside bark at squirrels?(Cloud has his own Questions and Answers on Monday)

The OP Pack wrote asking how I got my name!  Somewhere I told you all that this is my third home. My first name was Allison, then I went to live with my Grandma and Grandpa and they called me Al.  When I came here my Mom said she thought a cat deserved an exotic name and changed me to Ali Zophia, which is my favorite.  I don't come to it, but I like it!  Thanks for asking!

Sammie, Chester, Huffle, we just are out of room and will save your letters until next week.  Keep writing , pups and kitties, and I will too.

Meow!  Ali Zophia

Name drawn for Birthday Giveaway!

Hi Evfurry Pup and Kitty!

We had a fun birthday and today we put the 30 names into the random number generator and it came up 25 which was Brooke, who has a sweet little Blue Great Dane named Darwin.  These guys are both new to me, but not for long, because I visited his blog, went way back to the beginning and a big Mamma Dane who had 18 puppies and not that many faucets.  Its a good story and I will let you find out all about it yourself by clicking on Brooke's name above.

So thank you evfurry body for writing and wishing me a Happy #3!  I got two new stuffies and cupcakes and chicken for supper.   We also will be sending some green papers to a group for Siberian Rescue that Khyra likes to support.  We meant to send something when Khyra and her Mom  were at the Gathering of Sibes in PA  but we didn't get the chance to do that. 

Tomorrow is a day off for us, because my Mom is getting her stitching out and we are going shopping later in the day.

Thanks again to all of you, I am so happy to call you my friends.

Kisses,
Stella

Today is my Third Birthday!

This has been the most funnest year I ever had with all my good blogging buddies!

First there was a Wedding in Scotland with Rosie and Petey!

That was just the most fun, wasn't it you girls!

         Then Ludo threw a big party in England and some of us got to pretend we were the Beatles!
Ludo gives the best parties, he had an earlier one for his birthday and again, we all had so much fun!

Then, here is another one where they talked me into trying to talk a guard into letting us come in and visit Buckingham Palace in  London.  That Ludo is such a cut-up and I had a good time visiting with my good pal Hamish!

So you see, blogging with your pals, is just the most fun there is to have.  What for my birthday?  My Mom bought me cupcakes today, and a present and later we will have company to help us celebrate. We will also give a few green papers to Khyra's Siberian Rescue in honor of my special day.

If you haven't commented Happy Birthday Stella do it today so you will be in a drawing for a furry good book called The Last Chance Dog.  This is mostly for your pawrents to win!

So thats all from me for now.  Thanks for being the best friends a pup ever had!
Kisses,
Stella

Snooter operation

This is a picture of my Mom's snooter.  She had to have a little surgery on it today and they put several stitches in it.  They have to stay in until Monday and she thinks by then they will be itching and making her a little crazy.  It looks to me like she got in a fight with somebody, but she  SAYS she didn't.

My birthday/barkday is October 3, this coming Saturday.  We want to celebrate with you by offering a furry good book for a drawing.  Its called The Last Chance Dog and Other True Stories of Holistic Animal Healing by Donna Kelleher.    Every body between now and Saturday who sends me a comment with
Happy Birthday, Stella in it will go into a drawing for this book.  So don't furget to do this!  Then we will tell you Monday who the winner is!

Rainy Day here in Minniesnowda!

Kisses,
Stella