tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-49958853436694230632024-03-05T11:14:56.098-08:00A Pug's LifeLiz K Hardinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17552775691317834771noreply@blogger.comBlogger16125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4995885343669423063.post-32773970254645409462012-05-08T16:15:00.000-07:002012-05-08T16:21:23.499-07:00A day in the life of Miss Sally SueSeven a.m. rolls around and Suzy Snoozy is still snoozing. I get up and get my son off to school, and there are no interruptions to her blissful piggy dreams. I crawl back into bed and try to catch a few more zzzs myself, and she barely grunts as I slide in beside her. Mind you, she is dead center in the middle of the bed, so I form myself to fit her little round self. We sleep for about another hour, sometimes two if we're lucky, and then the puggy baby needs to go out and go poddy. Then it is time for her vegan breakfast (she is allergic to animal proteins). For the remainder of the day, her skills amount to holding down the couch, keeping the bed covers warm, screaming at Mom for leaving the house, and using the grass as her bathroom. She is spoiled, adored, and she deserves every second of her pampering because she serves willingly for others as she performs Pet Therapy. The delight that crosses a child's face as they hurriedly choose a story to read to her..the relief patients in the hospital exhibit when she waddles into the room, the smiles she evokes for every human soul who crosses her path...priceless. And, last but not least, the joy she brings to me is beyond measure. So...spoil the little girl? Absolutely.
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmFpWSS0JqvcyLRQm2UNMvWOuzRBOyg7IJnS-mqJM2nBeTTPcnGkOXrCLOLZaUOXzCjvAD79Q7QoMG-iixioIIGvI_8kc1ZvvnEG-yRS5hJdA8ovzFPmhgFE2pyhtS9s5J9nQ1HB4VKuqp/s1600/sally1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear:left; float:left;margin-right:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img border="0" height="320" width="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmFpWSS0JqvcyLRQm2UNMvWOuzRBOyg7IJnS-mqJM2nBeTTPcnGkOXrCLOLZaUOXzCjvAD79Q7QoMG-iixioIIGvI_8kc1ZvvnEG-yRS5hJdA8ovzFPmhgFE2pyhtS9s5J9nQ1HB4VKuqp/s320/sally1.jpg" /></a></div>
For every blessed day that she is with me, I will.Liz K Hardinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17552775691317834771noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4995885343669423063.post-61419043109692142172011-07-10T13:44:00.000-07:002011-07-10T13:44:38.668-07:00the inmates are just kidsSally got to try a new Pet Therapy experience a week ago; she visited inmates at the Juvenile Detention Center in Caldwell. We walked into this secure facility where people have guns, locks and chains are common place, concrete is the building material, and steel doors are six inches thick. The lighting is cheap and dim, as are the spirits of those incarcerated in this hellish environment. <br />
<br />
Yet within those 20-foot-high concrete barriers, children need the comfort and connection from a darling little pug dog just as much as one who is ill in the hospital. The youngest inmate ever housed in the detention center was a mere nine years old. The youngest jailed there when Sally and I went to do therapy visits was only 13.<br />
<br />
Groups of 5-6 were ushered in under guard, their young faces marked with fatigue, stress, and incredible anguish. As soon as they caught sight of the dogs, they lit up and the consequences of their choices and their upbringing melted away for a few minutes. Hardened "gang bangers" disintegrated into goofy kids laughing at curly pug dog tails, and smiling like they were young and innocent again.<br />
<br />
For a mere twenty minutes, these kids whose lives are in devastation were able to connect with another living being who had no ulterior motives. Therapy dogs willingly exchange their love for the kids' anguish. Sally Sue quickly became exhausted as she gave away love and joy and took on those childrens' pain. By the end of the evening, her little tail was dragging and she was feeling the weight of sorrow.<br />
<br />
How must these children feel? These young kids? Boys and girls who should be just experiencing with racecars and makeup, respectively, not drugs, stealing, sex, and violence. What is happening to the joy and innocence of youth? What kind of parents are raising a child to enter into juvy at the age of NINE?! I have a nephew who is eight years old, and the idea of him being jailed next year is preposterous! He has parents who love him and teach him basic principles of right and wrong. What's the matter with people today? Why are they leaving their children by the wayside? Where are the basic values of right and wrong?<br />
<br />
Pet Therapy is a valuable service. I am indeed grateful that it is available to ALL who need it, not just the "deserving" ones.<br />
<br />
So, too, is the gospel of Jesus Christ. Available to ALL who need it, not just for a select few who are deemed "deserving." He came to heal all.Liz K Hardinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17552775691317834771noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4995885343669423063.post-12711909324984760602011-04-11T13:19:00.001-07:002011-04-11T13:23:40.323-07:00Picture Perfect Pug<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEJ4pp-fM21qzX8gaGeSwddgo5a6n6EtDwJddT5s0ELqw5gMPN2r9-brO4MeLkBROxlOW_-1_PRbBAB_c8o8hi7iyh1Sn7JRqtKkcGjrDIcc3GW23vtvxpRGfq6Cvyp2PQVcVVriIxcVNr/s1600/hd+camera+084.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear:right; float:right; margin-left:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img border="0" height="180" width="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEJ4pp-fM21qzX8gaGeSwddgo5a6n6EtDwJddT5s0ELqw5gMPN2r9-brO4MeLkBROxlOW_-1_PRbBAB_c8o8hi7iyh1Sn7JRqtKkcGjrDIcc3GW23vtvxpRGfq6Cvyp2PQVcVVriIxcVNr/s320/hd+camera+084.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG7FRJmbW2fRkwJDHWTwnckZsMYK9oIxJpx6dvnRszjwgrLJwvPSnBgBSfxGO2oWnPC3IsXn2lS_0xTRP7osOiII5KGGScHjP0gjV3A1-bZMlRjC2x0twgshVQVMElx4JVnrbn5o4WiSbW/s1600/hd+camera+128.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear:right; float:right; margin-left:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img border="0" height="320" width="238" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG7FRJmbW2fRkwJDHWTwnckZsMYK9oIxJpx6dvnRszjwgrLJwvPSnBgBSfxGO2oWnPC3IsXn2lS_0xTRP7osOiII5KGGScHjP0gjV3A1-bZMlRjC2x0twgshVQVMElx4JVnrbn5o4WiSbW/s320/hd+camera+128.JPG" /></a></div>Liz K Hardinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17552775691317834771noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4995885343669423063.post-17860296425288049142011-04-11T13:17:00.000-07:002011-04-11T13:17:58.788-07:00pictures<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUyxu1j7bsrE05v4WOY1USzmq_QGT22bmSTohB8CTuT-ng3XAszswe2C4MTJ0WbzG_Uf14n4NktHHQPKM0TPDyfgv_ms_pP0UEnUwZej68-P9OuiVCAuXXjJUK-oe0HDTcvszZAnm_qMR9/s1600/hd+camera+149.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear:right; float:right; margin-left:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img border="0" height="180" width="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUyxu1j7bsrE05v4WOY1USzmq_QGT22bmSTohB8CTuT-ng3XAszswe2C4MTJ0WbzG_Uf14n4NktHHQPKM0TPDyfgv_ms_pP0UEnUwZej68-P9OuiVCAuXXjJUK-oe0HDTcvszZAnm_qMR9/s320/hd+camera+149.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLUhSLFMQ3aUBYSthHUSjDPCbxDVp2cM-XRK4Ijni8Nj0Ro032KRSDYvzxGm-4Rt50lTBc-MrUsIP2u02AiAZpXgKY7mh_pGu5v31cl7mXsgNWXHrAqEadgk3AWV6573OkBYt-3lIr_Lec/s1600/hd+camera+151.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear:right; float:right; margin-left:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img border="0" height="180" width="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLUhSLFMQ3aUBYSthHUSjDPCbxDVp2cM-XRK4Ijni8Nj0Ro032KRSDYvzxGm-4Rt50lTBc-MrUsIP2u02AiAZpXgKY7mh_pGu5v31cl7mXsgNWXHrAqEadgk3AWV6573OkBYt-3lIr_Lec/s320/hd+camera+151.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi_N7vi37oNWFXvGU6G8kDZ3nnk0awHOD0Z8VBkfo08JkSAVPR-NrYGkAtAop6MbH8ygGqhVzEa13qbSKWWD36pL8C8Wq4YCh4kXbEWiGFt4AHI3OIa4C2SSnpiEzl5ZJxvOQlcrmy_vtg/s1600/hd+camera+152.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear:right; float:right; margin-left:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img border="0" height="228" width="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi_N7vi37oNWFXvGU6G8kDZ3nnk0awHOD0Z8VBkfo08JkSAVPR-NrYGkAtAop6MbH8ygGqhVzEa13qbSKWWD36pL8C8Wq4YCh4kXbEWiGFt4AHI3OIa4C2SSnpiEzl5ZJxvOQlcrmy_vtg/s320/hd+camera+152.JPG" /></a></div>Liz K Hardinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17552775691317834771noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4995885343669423063.post-74725333934138460532011-04-11T13:09:00.000-07:002011-04-11T13:14:52.071-07:00piggy's part of the pictureThe past few weekends, I've been working on getting my "senior" photos taken. Isaac and Wayne have been helping out. Of course, Miss Sally Sue is front and center in almost every single picture. We tried taking a few without her, and she didn't like it one bit. She just seemed to know that if the camera was out, it had to be pointed at her. I could be in the picture TOO, but she was SHARING the photos with me. In other words, she was the star, I was the accessory.Liz K Hardinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17552775691317834771noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4995885343669423063.post-47635644769139440012011-03-21T20:45:00.000-07:002011-03-21T20:47:34.349-07:00sights, sounds, and sensationsAs I sit here doing my homework, I hear a funny sound. Accompanying that funny sound is an odd vibration on my foot. Of course, it is my Sally Sue snoring herself into Nirvana.<br />
<br />
The sights, sounds, and sensations of my little pug dog are wonderful and essential to the consistency of my life. Often, as I work feverishly to complete loads of homework, I tune out everything around me. My children will come to me for something, and I will screech out, "Not now! Don't interrupt my thought process!" Finally, when I finish, I look up, re-orient myself (oh. yeah. I am home. okay. resuming mother role now...), and discover that I have chased them all away with my intensity. Except one. She is lying by my side, loyal, true, loving, and...snoring. <br />
<br />
Perhaps that is her coping mechanism for my tense isolation into homework. She just sweetly snores the time away. Then, when I have completed my work and can re-join the land of the living, she has but to awaken and all is well.<br />
<br />
The life of Sally Sue is indeed sweet. And, luckily for me, she makes my life sweet too. The sweet life of Sally Sue and LizzieBob. What a pair!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV8DAdBs1-ust6ZyZeFZE_Ct4gVrHpd8TS3mQ9VBAsXXN0hl9QBRrPy6zwApNdsmSdVR2gF0nnNR4JBJvPROqFbMidRrhXe4OEzHTvvLDmg9eafu1Js5d4WXTkjTpdqR5dgH-touOuRPga/s1600/034.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear:left; float:left;margin-right:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img border="0" height="320" width="241" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV8DAdBs1-ust6ZyZeFZE_Ct4gVrHpd8TS3mQ9VBAsXXN0hl9QBRrPy6zwApNdsmSdVR2gF0nnNR4JBJvPROqFbMidRrhXe4OEzHTvvLDmg9eafu1Js5d4WXTkjTpdqR5dgH-touOuRPga/s320/034.JPG" /></a></div>Liz K Hardinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17552775691317834771noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4995885343669423063.post-29139153408870202432011-02-27T19:21:00.000-08:002011-02-27T19:29:12.854-08:00delightful dogI love my dog.<br /><br />I come home from a really rotten weekend at school, and she's right at the door wagging her whole body with delight. I feel sick and she's on the bed right at my side. She is a wonderful, sweet, little bundle of snoring, wiggling, wrinkled, roly-poly delight.<br /><br />I'm so blessed.Liz K Hardinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17552775691317834771noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4995885343669423063.post-49209224608581112952011-01-11T17:55:00.000-08:002011-01-11T17:58:58.046-08:00the shabby ChicA pug's life isn't too shabby. It is the ultimate definition of shabby chic! Sally Sue sleeps on the bed (under the covers if it is very cold), she sleeps as much as she wants, she eats in a pink bowl with "DIVA" written at the bottom, and she pretty much rules the roost. She hollers if anyone goes outside without first asking her permission, and she chases the cats if they are begging for tidbits more successfully than she does. She loves to cuddle, snore, eat, and chase the cats. Ah, the bliss of a pug's life. She makes me smile.Liz K Hardinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17552775691317834771noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4995885343669423063.post-55486479025269724842010-08-03T15:34:00.001-07:002010-08-03T15:38:54.752-07:00Just a quick update on Sally Sue: she is snoring sweetly on the couch next to me as I smile over pictures of her on the computer. She is such a doll. She is always delighted when I come home from anywhere (even if I just went out to check the mail), and she thinks I am the BEST. At Pet Therapy last week, someone exclaimed that pugs were the ugliest dogs ever! I and my visitng partner, Jenn (who also has a pug: Mr. Quincy) and I were taken aback. Jenn said, "What? Ohhhh noooo, pugs are the cutest!" We didn't quite know how to respond! After we left the area, we hugged our dogs. <br /><br />Please don't say my dog is ugly, even if you are thinking it. Just keep that WRONG opinion to yourSelf!<br /><br />Much love!<br /><br />Liz and Sally Sue (THE cutest dog in the universe, THANK YOU very MUCH)Liz K Hardinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17552775691317834771noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4995885343669423063.post-40592551613766229742010-06-29T16:58:00.000-07:002010-06-29T17:12:29.456-07:00Harmonious Health and Happiness<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkralI6LOMJIaOw774p7AjT6Iq-C1IunCacwspi_vBn-IiSEkUZKH6vcUSZYxTrqRw63FAVx0q22qEqBFdpN3wDTtCGLDSddncOIr2G3QNlu_ODw4nWsVI5saYWN1qi5pOB6xjQTWDQUBB/s1600/new+056.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 190px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkralI6LOMJIaOw774p7AjT6Iq-C1IunCacwspi_vBn-IiSEkUZKH6vcUSZYxTrqRw63FAVx0q22qEqBFdpN3wDTtCGLDSddncOIr2G3QNlu_ODw4nWsVI5saYWN1qi5pOB6xjQTWDQUBB/s320/new+056.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5488352430603510674" /></a><br />Wow, it's been a long time since I posted about Sally Sue! I'm sure you were all waiting for the next post about sweet Sally Sue (eye roll) so here it is! <br /><br />Sally started to not feel well during May. I rushed her to the e-vet (thank you All Valley Meridian for an amazing 24/7 hospital), but they couldn't pinpoint why her tummy hurt. X-rays and lab work were normal. They gave her a woozie-doozie poke full of painkillers and sent her home. After a week or so, she just wasn't perking up to her usual self, and I continued to be concerned. She was extra lazy (more so than her usual sleep-on-the-bed-round-the-clock self), and kept groaning when I picked her up. I popped her into Dr. Pilcher at Indian Creek Veterinary Hospital in Caldwell, and once again, her lab work showed nothing amiss. However, he and I both suspected that she had pyometra (a uterine infection). Since I was planning on spaying her anyway, we opted for the next day. Sure enough, after the surgery was over, Dr. Pilcher confirmed that the beginnings of pyometra were present. <br /><br />Now only a week after her surgery, I am happy to report that Miss Sally Sue is rapidly returning to her happy, bouncy, playful self. She is SUCH a joy. How many people can say that there is someone in their life who is happy ALL of the time?! Well, I can! Her name is Sally Sue; pug extraordinaire!<br /><br />Sally Sue will be attending the pug play group this Saturday, so she will get to run and play and snort with many other curly-tailed friends. <br /><br />It's fantastic to have her health and happiness in harmony.Liz K Hardinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17552775691317834771noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4995885343669423063.post-78917827969672548482010-05-19T19:43:00.001-07:002010-05-19T19:59:32.957-07:00Go faster, Mommy!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ1vPbhC8xz3OubuMRbQlyxhkx7MQ6NvyqLZq2lyGqzSe_5JL0jKkeEa475JVZNPQlB1zrkT-TZzvoOHBqBCuiWDDaQoj4Z4xXjNb8PDp2xRO1qG3msQOIR-3fN-_ns4y4CnybdlGw10BH/s1600/palmpixi2b+022.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ1vPbhC8xz3OubuMRbQlyxhkx7MQ6NvyqLZq2lyGqzSe_5JL0jKkeEa475JVZNPQlB1zrkT-TZzvoOHBqBCuiWDDaQoj4Z4xXjNb8PDp2xRO1qG3msQOIR-3fN-_ns4y4CnybdlGw10BH/s320/palmpixi2b+022.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5473181434230606706" /></a><br />Today Sally's helmet came in the mail! I was so excited to try it on her and go for a ride. It looks so cute; unfortunately, it slips off her head very easily. Does anyone have any suggestions for keeping it in place? I bought it to really protect her head in the event of a little bicycle crash, but if it is slipping off while doing nothing it certainly isn't going to protect her piggy brains. Nevertheless, I strapped it on her and off we went on our ride for today. <br /><br />As we rode through the neighborhood, I stopped and talked with a friend for about twenty minutes. Sally became quite restless in the basket, and so we rode on. The wind was blowing quite heartily today, and I was having a hard time keeping up a decent speed. Several times, as I slowed down, Sally turned around in her basket and just gave me this LOOK. I couldn't believe it! I was pedaling as fast as I could into the wind, but it was simply too slow for her! She was so active in the basket that I had a difficult time keeping the handlebars heading forward. She even stood up (heart attack!) in the basket and put her front paws on the edge as she looked over the front wheel. I screeched at her to SIT DOWN. She did, but she just kept throwing me these....GLANCES....over her shoulder.<br /><br />Okay, so next time I won't stop and visit anyone! Apparently bike time is "SALLY TIME" and I had better go as fast as I can to make the experience full and complete for her. (pant pant pant.....that's ME not her!!)Liz K Hardinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17552775691317834771noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4995885343669423063.post-10064048968933772882010-05-13T19:40:00.000-07:002010-05-13T19:47:35.061-07:00Bicycle Buddy<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDAa7jxuEXJxRpeJSl2V_0RtOkc6o3LhlDs_Lv-W_F6jYWnvIMXizF93OlyIbk9o-FT0kdGWNVhhp1ZbtitIPFBYqF83azdzQ7-TzvoBmpK14YLNnMh3lRkFI6-u57rT75p92VaS-llpgp/s1600/palm+pixi2a+030.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDAa7jxuEXJxRpeJSl2V_0RtOkc6o3LhlDs_Lv-W_F6jYWnvIMXizF93OlyIbk9o-FT0kdGWNVhhp1ZbtitIPFBYqF83azdzQ7-TzvoBmpK14YLNnMh3lRkFI6-u57rT75p92VaS-llpgp/s320/palm+pixi2a+030.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5470951850829707058" /></a><br />Trying to be healthy, I got a new bike this year. It is a Specialized and more conducive to street riding than my old Raleigh mountain bike. My husband took it into the shop for new tires,a tune-up, and a basket for my little road buddy, Sally Sue! I made a cover for it, and she sits in the basket while I ride my bike (she is harnessed in for safety!). We have so much fun! Her ears flap in the wind and she smells everything and looks around. She is so cute! For her, riding in the basket is the ultimate "head out the window" experience! I just wish I could find a little doggy bike helmet for her added safety! Oh, how I love my precious piggy girl! I'm so lucky to have her sweetness in my life.Liz K Hardinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17552775691317834771noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4995885343669423063.post-27187481427162580952010-04-24T21:41:00.001-07:002010-04-24T21:56:36.292-07:00My Lovely Little Friend<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3AJO18vQgLfcYlgiNgbw9Cj_eJ1G_napuKX5UZ7M94de_yrDxxAPj3Wa84do7vwtZsIPD43FYq9vG6rAV6zTdlPv84v93Jp7wsA5trWbB3ifWhZWxPpsw6VEzbn5_uJkXeSgib4nytLn-/s1600/HPIM8382.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 241px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3AJO18vQgLfcYlgiNgbw9Cj_eJ1G_napuKX5UZ7M94de_yrDxxAPj3Wa84do7vwtZsIPD43FYq9vG6rAV6zTdlPv84v93Jp7wsA5trWbB3ifWhZWxPpsw6VEzbn5_uJkXeSgib4nytLn-/s320/HPIM8382.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5463934343163495378" /></a><br />Today was perfect yard-working weather. Feeling out of sorts, I went outside and decided to pull a few weeds, lay some weed barrier, and plop bark chips down. I parked the wheelbarrow close by and tossed the weeds into it. When it got full, I picked up Sally Sue and she rode along on top of the weeds in the wheelbarrow to edge of the yard. She jumped down, I dumped the weeds into the pile, and then I picked her up (quick hug and cuddle) and put her into the empty wheelbarrow. She rode along happily back to the flowerbeds. As I pulled weeds, she curled up next to me and snored. What a lovely lovely little friend.Liz K Hardinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17552775691317834771noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4995885343669423063.post-3307400283938270192010-04-23T09:51:00.000-07:002010-04-23T10:00:54.621-07:00A Little Piece of Pug Heaven<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid9P3Byxd5rcsklyr5sU95t6jdB_l3FXWfEtXQtIAma2EC71-4KlEQHmEtsZj5KXMhU4zY_ObobkdyJpsqp55YwFOfx_4Zpb8u4DxG1RCzWqJWNJ-stCzMZeHxS2nNNXln3nfC1aFbMVsB/s1600/055.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid9P3Byxd5rcsklyr5sU95t6jdB_l3FXWfEtXQtIAma2EC71-4KlEQHmEtsZj5KXMhU4zY_ObobkdyJpsqp55YwFOfx_4Zpb8u4DxG1RCzWqJWNJ-stCzMZeHxS2nNNXln3nfC1aFbMVsB/s320/055.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5463378770157077618" /></a><br />The funeral is over and life has returned to its regularly scheduled events. My house needs a good cleaning, homework needs to be done, papers need to be written, lawn needs a good mowing, flowerbeds already need weeded...and the list goes on and on. Somehow, I think the world is just bleak. Some of the color went right out of the sky when my Mom died. She had so much spunk, vitality, and energy. Through it all, Sally Sue has been my happy companion. She isn't sad; she only knows happy, wiggling, snorting, oh-scratch-my-tummy-Mom!, joy. As I think and write this morning, her familiar snoring soothes me and makes me laugh. That dog can sleep like nothing else and play like nothing else too! She's a winner.Liz K Hardinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17552775691317834771noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4995885343669423063.post-56859759572039793592010-04-15T16:34:00.000-07:002010-04-15T16:46:41.340-07:00Puggy Peace<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir0bhYlJo6GQiOVfGm_SYna-u7r0DHv5JsMQ9prQ6LVvafeIOVRIInyyG5m7gUUXDgqfUAVDA6sq7jfJ9yYtyoMq0a7Jt6l0lUiMQZ0xpmIF9fNm7yO06Zq5m1AjgYL0_KTTP1czaikmxo/s1600/HPIM9418.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 256px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir0bhYlJo6GQiOVfGm_SYna-u7r0DHv5JsMQ9prQ6LVvafeIOVRIInyyG5m7gUUXDgqfUAVDA6sq7jfJ9yYtyoMq0a7Jt6l0lUiMQZ0xpmIF9fNm7yO06Zq5m1AjgYL0_KTTP1czaikmxo/s320/HPIM9418.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5460514634421531234" /></a><br />Today my mother passed away after a long battle with cancer. As I sit here on the couch, grieving, I look down and what do I see? Of course. My beautiful little Sally Sue curled up against me with her little paws tucked under my leg. She knows I am hurting and she comforts me with her snorts and cuddles. How is it that she can sense my sorrow? I feel comforted knowing that her rolls and her wiggles will never cease to make me smile and laugh. We'll make it through this, too.Liz K Hardinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17552775691317834771noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4995885343669423063.post-46074733674801885402010-04-05T12:29:00.000-07:002010-04-05T13:00:32.626-07:00Suzie Snoozie<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwk5s7cHkh9jNcuoEX6VyvuwXBA4s_3hrN_2715SgdMGQebs22Dn59S2zm08rwFm7FAiF3N75H6RGuh_cMFFMBp5-leolEWFeK02z9GYfCpl_r9Yt0lzz4Y9NFCpHnEfGJpfWSGFalnO14/s1600/CIMG0207.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwk5s7cHkh9jNcuoEX6VyvuwXBA4s_3hrN_2715SgdMGQebs22Dn59S2zm08rwFm7FAiF3N75H6RGuh_cMFFMBp5-leolEWFeK02z9GYfCpl_r9Yt0lzz4Y9NFCpHnEfGJpfWSGFalnO14/s320/CIMG0207.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5456745703807960098" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDy-U6slKpOf-uNTJV2ntfBNEjnX53hi3_JKXd0Al6k9iC062MhfZe4JH16C-Gsw6_Ksnvj3qxQXxplxxnmZvGKHWLbz81rhwxznS1SuM1qy7Wzqepsrh-HaqXgB8A_dMsUrA5EI6rXCKj/s1600/CIMG0190.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 239px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDy-U6slKpOf-uNTJV2ntfBNEjnX53hi3_JKXd0Al6k9iC062MhfZe4JH16C-Gsw6_Ksnvj3qxQXxplxxnmZvGKHWLbz81rhwxznS1SuM1qy7Wzqepsrh-HaqXgB8A_dMsUrA5EI6rXCKj/s320/CIMG0190.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5456741023663703570" /></a><br />Welcome to the sweet life of Sally Sue; a pug's life. <br /><br />Sally Sue is two years old, but turns three on April 20th. Her life includes sleeping, eating, cat-herding, Chihuahua wrestling, barking at the UPS person, and protecting her front yard from the Yorkie-Maltese dogs next door. Additionally, Sally "goes to work" as a certified Pet Therapy Volunteer and is a willing visitor at the local hospital. Furthermore, she will embark on 2 exciting adventures this summer when she attends Camp Erin (grief camp for children who've lost a loved one) and Camp RiverRun (camp for children with life threatening diseases).<br /><br />When we graduated from Pet Therapy training, I was cuddling her up on my lap. I held her and rocked her (since she is my "baby")and we quietely "talked" to each other. After the ceremony, a woman came up to me and said, "I have a pug that I love too, but I was watching you during the graduation and you take love to a whole new level!!"<br /><br />Once you step into THIS pug's life, however, you won't be able to help but fall head over curly tail for this adorable pug.<br /><br />Welcome to my world!!Liz K Hardinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17552775691317834771noreply@blogger.com0