Tail Wagging Tuesday: Special Pup Feature- Sharpie

This week's special pup belongs to a friend from back home who also happens to be new to the blog-o-sphere. Mary Beth is just starting out with her blog Berry Sweet Branches, so hop on over and show her some love. :)  For now, we'll see what she has to say about her sweet furry friend named Sharpie.

What kind of dog is Sharpie?  How old is he?

      Sharpie is a Shar Pei mix (not sure with what). He is around 4 1/2 to 5 years old.

 

 

 

Where did you get Sharpie? What's his story?

     I adopted Sharpie two and a half years ago from an adoption organization called Reese's Rescues, and he was being kept at the Animal Care Hospital in Lawrenceville, Georgia. I was a sophomore in college and had transferred from the University of Georgia to a smaller college in Alabama to be close to a guy I was dating at the time. The relationship with said guy had become unstable, and on a weekend visit home to my family, I was enjoying my time with them while also keeping the future of the relationship on the back of my mind. I believe Sharpie was a gift from heaven and was sent to be my little guardian angel because almost out of nowhere, I gained a very strong urge to adopt a dog during my weekend visit home. I have always loved animals, and my family had always had a dog along with a myriad of other pets while I was growing up, but at that point in time, there was no friendly pooch around the house. I began searching online, not even sure of exactly what type of dog I was looking for, and I came across Sharpie's profile on Petfinder. As soon as I clicked on the link that brought up his picture and information, I instantly fell in love. I know that sounds cliche, but I literally knew he was meant to be mine. I immediately inquired about him, and as soon as I received the response that he was still available, I was ready right then to go get him. Long story short-- the relationship ended over the weekend, and I decided to adopt Sharpie and move back in with my parents while I figured out my life situation.

      So, on Monday, I arrived at the Animal Care Hospital as soon as I could to meet Sharpie. I was so excited as I sat in the little room waiting for them to bring him in. They told me that six months before when they arrived to work to open up the office one morning Sharpie was tied to the front of their building. They said he had no fur and was covered in fleas, so they took him in and nursed him back to health. I wondered how anyone could abandon him, but the excitement that I had in looking forward to meeting him helped me push those troubling thoughts aside. As soon as he came through the door, he ran up to me with his wagging curly tail, and my heart melted. I could hardly concentrate on the drive home as he rode in my back seat with his cute little bandana around his neck and looking just as happy as I was. I think he knew he had found his forever home.

     This time for me was a real struggle because I had ended a serious relationship, started the process of moving home, and was about to have to make some major decisions regarding school. Sharpie Man (as I like to call him) was right by my side through it all. He seemed to know when I was having an especially bad day, and he could always make me feel better. He really did help me through the struggle by being the most lovable companion, and he encouraged me to go for walks and helped clear my mind. Without him, my life to this point may have been very different.

 

 

 

How did Sharpie get his name?

     Sharpie is the name that the employees at the Animal Care Hospital gave to him, and I really liked it, so I decided to keep it. A lot of the time now we call him Sharpie-Man (especially when he is doing something cute).

 

 

 

What are Sharpie's favorite things to do?  Things that make him unique?  Crazy quirks or special sweet things he does?

     Some of Sharpie's favorite things to do are sleep, chew on bones, do tricks for treats, sleep, be brushed, and sleep :) He loves to curl up and take a good nap, and most of the time you will find him curled up on his bed sound asleep. When he's not napping, he also likes to do tricks for treats. He is one of the smartest dogs I have ever known and knows commands to sit, lie down, stay, come, heel, shake, crawl, take a bow, stand on his hind legs, play dead, sit like a meerkat, and leave a treat until given permission to gobble it up. Sharpie hates water--he will even tiptoe around a puddle outside, but he does perfectly during a bath (kind of strange).  He also hates cameras, so it's hard to get a good picture of him. He has little ears that are the exact size and shape of a Dorito...sometimes we call him Dorito ears :)  And when he growls, he literally sounds like a panther (I wish I had a recording to share). His growl and bark make him sound extremely vicious, but he is one of the most gentle and sweet dogs I have ever known. He also likes to sit on my feet. It doesn't matter if I am sitting or standing, but if I stay still for a little while, he will either sit or lie down on my feet (which is great during the winter). He is also an ice stealer (so he thinks). If I'm getting ice out of the freezer and drop a piece, he will sneak into the kichen (he normally isn't allowed in there), grab the piece of ice, and then jog back into the living room to eat it. It's like he thinks he's getting away with something, but most of the time I drop a piece on purpose just because I want to see him get it. The sweetest and coolest thing he does may be his smile. If I have been gone all day or have had to leave him with a friend for a short time, when I get back, he waddles up to me and literally smiles. His top lip and nose scrunch up where all you can see are his front little teeth, and he only does this in these situations. I love knowing he gets so excited about my return, and I love proving to him that I will never abandon him.

  

 

 

What makes Sharpie so special to you and your family?  What does he mean to you?

     Sharpie is such a special dog to me because he is the first dog that I can truly call my own, and he is my comfort buddy. He has been there for me through so many difficult times as well as the good times. He is such a great companion, and I love knowing he is at the door waiting for me every time I get home. Sharpie Man is such a great companion, and I am so thankful that he is a part of my family.

 

 

A great big thank you to Mary Beth for taking the time to share her sweet story with us!  

 

 

P.S.  I really need some new interviews to keep this feature going!  I know you guys love your furry and feathered buddies, so if you would like to share one of your sweet stories with us, please, please, pretty please shoot me an e-mail at TailsToTell [at] Live [dot] com.  I'd love to hear from you!

Markets, Beaches, and Burgers

     Yesterday was a bit of a somber day as it was the 10th anniversary of the World Trade Center terrorist attacks.  I watched several tributes on television and a handful of shows about that terrible day, and they all made me terribly sad.  Like everyone else, I thought about where I was on that day, and I remembered watching in my 10th grade World History class as the second tower was hit.  I also remember thinking at that moment that I was witnessing something that would change this country.  Little did I know at the time just how much it would alter the course of my own life. 

     In thinking about all of this, I thought of staying at home all day to watch different coverage of this memorial or that as a sign of respect.  Then, I decided that that wouldn't be the thing to do.  This country is based on freedom, and that's what so many people have been fighting for throughout the last ten years.  I thought the best thing I could do would be to go out, enjoy the day, and enjoy all the freedoms this country provides.  I also felt that enjoying my day that way would be a bit of a symbol of this country's strength and resilience, so my friend Sarah and I went out to enjoy a morning on the North Shore of the island.

We started out at the farmer's market in Hale'iwa.  We nibbled on samples of LOTS of yummy foods, checked out beautiful arts and crafts, and enjoyed the lovely flowers for sale.  I came home with some delicious bread and some coconut-pineapple jam.... Oh so delish!

Our visit to the farmer's market was followed by a little trip to the beach to catch some sun and watch some people surf.  Gotta love a beautiful beach...

After the beach, we were starving, so we stopped at one of my favorite burger places... Kua'aina Burgers.

Sooooooo good!

Yup.... That's a whole half an avocado on my burger. And you know what?  I ate the whole dern thing.  

Oh. So. Yummy.

And yeah, those are our "I'm eating" faces.  Great, right?

All in all, we had a great morning enjoying some of the simple pleasures this strong, resilient country provides.  Hope you all had a nice weekend, and hope your week gets off to a great start!

Five Things Friday [#6}

I can't believe it's already Friday again!  It's crazy!  I don't know about you guys, but my week went super fast.  I guess I had such an incredibly awesome three day weekend that the four day week to follow just flew by.  Gotta love when that happens.  :)  Once again, this Friday I'm linking up with an idea started by Erika from Rouge and Whimsy.  It's called Five Things Friday, and it's where I list five good things about my week or five things I'm thankful for.  It really helps to focus on the positive things in life instead of the negative.

1. I was able to spend three glorious days with my husband over the long weekend.  It was fantastic.  We went out, cooked out, hung out with our pups, ran some errands, and just enjoyed each others company.  I couldn't have asked for more.  It'll tide me over for a little bit until I see him again.

2.  I've been super productive churning out my crochet hats/beanies so that they will be able to make an appearance in my shop very soon.  It feels so good to be creating something that is functional and will help keep someone warm on a cold winter day.  I even crocheted some while I was laying out by the pool, so hopefully, the yarn will soak up some of that warm Hawaiian sun and give it away on a cold day in the future. :)

3.  This week I was able to spend quite a bit of time with friends on the island.  I went with one sweet friend on what turned out to be a fruitless endeavor to find a specific yarn store here on the island.  We found the location, but they were closed and it was in a sketchy apartment-type place.  It all turned out fine, though, because we ended up spending a lovely afternoon at Starbucks talking and having a grand time.  In addition to all that fun, I've spend some fun time in the sun and been to some Spin classes with another sweet friend.  All that girl time helps me not to feel quite so lonely on this rock in the ocean.

4.  I got good news the other day that I have family coming to visit next week!  My brother-in-law is coming to stay with us for a little while.  He just graduated from grad school and has a job lined up that starts in January of next year, so he thought it would be the perfect time to visit Hawaii.  I am so excited to have the company and enjoy some good times with Kent and his brother!

5.  This one sounds silly, but I'm getting some new running shoes tomorrow.  I love getting new running shoes.  It's like they renew my motivation, and get me excited about working out again just when I start getting a little bored.  I can't wait to get my new kicks and start putting some miles on them.  :)

Hope everyone has a fantastic weekend!

Hats, hats, and more hats...

So... I was MIA yesterday, and I haven't had a whole lot in the way of new things to show you lately.  

I have good reason, though. 

My fingers have been busy with an activity other than typing on a computer...  They've been crocheting the days away getting some things ready to put in my shop since Fall and Winter are just around the corner.

I've been cranking out some lovely feminine beanies, and some scarves are currently in the works.  Here's a little peek at what I'll be officially introducing into the shop very soon.

I've been trying to work in a variety of colors, so you'll be sure to find something you'd like for yourself or for a friend.   Oh, and for my Bulldog fans back home, I've already got some red and black for cold game days.  :)

Be on the lookout in the coming week(s) as I'll be adding them to my shop when I have a few more complete sets.  Hope you can find one you love!

Tail Wagging Tuesday: Special Pup Feature- Amelie

This week's special feature pup belongs to a friend I met many years ago through a scholarship program we were both involved with.  Although we were from different states, and despite the fact that we only hung out in person a handful of times when we were 10 or 12 years old, Elizabeth and I have remained friends courtesy of this amazing thing called the Internet.  She and her beautiful family agreed to share their sweet furry baby, Amelie with us this week.  Let's see what she has to say. :)
 

What kind of dog is Amelie, and how old is she?

     Amelie is a siberian husky. She is 3 years and 5 months old, and the funny thing about her birthday is that it is on the same day as mine! (i just happen to be another 23 years older than her).
 

 

 
What is Amelie's story?  How did she come to live with you?

     Amelie is orginally my dear sister-in-law's dog. When Natalie went back into the army she needed someone to look after her dog and cat for a few months until she could get into off base housing. Her parents took the cat and we took the dog. Since we live in Vermont, we thought our environment would be great for a husky. The first few months were very interesting. Amelie loved the snow and was great at listening, then one day she realized she didn't always have to obey her owners, haha. She ended up staying with us because it took Natalie over a year to get into off base housing and by that time we were definitely too attached to Amelie, who had become a part of our family. Amelie still gets to visit her Aunt Natalie every now and then too.

 

 

 How did Amelie get her name?

     My sister-in-law's favorite movie is Amélie , fitting for her fun loving husky pup. And due to the times when we needed to stress to Amelie that what she did was not so good I gave her the middle name Mae. She now knows that when she hears "Amelie Mae Beaugh" that means she might be in trouble. Also, she has just a handful of other nicknames: Bear, boo bear, sneak or sneaker, rat, and puppy.

 

What are Amelie's favorite things to do?  Any silly things she does or crazy quirks that make her unique?

     Amelie loves her stuffed animal toys. Sometimes we buy her the real ones, not the pet ones, because she loves tearing them apart. She takes off the eyes and nose and then will start to rip off an arm or leg and then proceed to de-fluff the stuffed animal. Amelie really loves to play in the snow, especially when it involves playing with her best friend Missy- who's half husky half German Shepard. Some things that amazed us about Amelie is that for a while she just never barked, we really had to coax her to bark. We once saw a YouTube video of a husky saying "i love you" and wondered if our Amelie could do the same thing. After some time training her she really would repeat to us, "I Love You". It's so cute! Also, Amelie will "sing" if we ask her to. Recently, when our baby boy was just a few days old we asked for Amelie to sing to her baby brother and after some lullaby music was played she started singing to him. It was the funniest and sweetest thing!  Another thing I found to be so strange was how Amelie adored our neighbor's cats. She doesn't get to see them much, but even from their first encounter Amelie and the cats ad a special bond. Amelie even let them lick her face and play with her a bit. Amelie has really been such a good puppy for us. She always listens when we tell her to go get in her kennel or go to her bowl (for a tasty treat) and she's always in the mood to give anyone a good ol kiss! 

What makes Amelie so special to you and your family?  Particular times she's really "been there" or special things she's done?

      My husband and I have been married for 6 years and were recently blessed with a baby boy, who is now 3 months and such a joy to our family. However, the road to having a baby was not quite easy for us. I had trouble getting pregnant and even lost a baby during my first pregnancy. Those moments were so very hard on my husband and I, but somehow we really feel that Amelie was the reason we were able to get through it a little easier. I remember one day having some tears running down my cheeks just thinking about everything that had happened and wondering why, then a moment later Amelie came running into my bedroom and starting licking my face and putting her head in my lap- I hadn't even made a sound! She just somehow knew. She knew the times when my husband needed an extra snuggle or moments when he needed to rough house with her just to get some energy out. I personally never had a pet growing up, so Amelie is the first pet I've ever known and now I can't imagine life without her. She was there for us and continues to be there for us. I now understand why they say dogs are so loyal, so forgiving, and so lovable. She also was an awesome companion during my pregnancy, always being extra cuddley and laying on my feet at night (I hate having cold feet). She was also super protective (no one better mess with me) and compassionate to me when I had my crazy preggo moments (quickly at my side when I was upset). She welcomed her baby brother so easily and didn't get annoyed at his crying or that there was someone else she had to share our attention with. She loves all of us and we love her. Now I understand and I totally agree, dogs really are man's best friend, I know Amelie is definitely one of ours! 

A big thanks to Elizabeth for sharing her sweet Amelie!  I'd love to hear from more of you guys and feature your furry (or feathered) friends.  If you're interested, please shoot me an e-mail at TailsToTell [at] Live [dot]com, and we can set up an "interview." :)

Five Things Friday [#5]

I thought today would be a great day to do another Five Things Friday post.  I'm linking up with an idea started by Erika from Rouge and Whimsy.  In an effort to focus on the positive things instead of the negative, I'm listing five good things from my week or five things I'm thankful for.

Here we go....

1.  Even though I was a little shook up last week and barely got any sleep because I kept thinking I heard noises, this week has been better.  I'm settling back into my routine, and with the support of sweet friends here and my furry pals that alert me to anything out of the ordinary, I am feeling more comfortable in my own house again.  

2.  I've been settling back into my regular exercise routine again after a few weeks of sporadic workouts because of traveling and whatnot.  It makes me feel so good to get back to my Spin classes and back into some nice long runs with my four-legged running buddy, Duke.  

3.  I think I've mentioned this one before on another Five Things Friday post, but I'm so happy to have the ability to talk to family on the phone and through Skype.  Knowing that I can just pick up the phone and talk to people six thousand miles away always makes me feel better.  We are so blessed to live in this day and age when it comes to communication.

4.  My renewed inspiration and motivation from my trip home is finally showing up again.  I've cranked out several paintings, I'm in the middle of another little experimental painting for my house, and in the past 24 hours I've created three really pretty beanies (even if I do say so myself).  It feels good to be productive.

5.  My hubby is coming home today!  Even if it's only for a few days, I'll take it.  He's been doing a lot of traveling for training purposes, and he will continue that for the next several months, so I'll take any time I can get.  :)  

Hope you guys have a great weekend!

Pretty Pick Me Ups...

Before I left the island a few weeks ago, my one flower in my one little flower pot had died on me.  I've told you guys before that I wasn't born with a green thumb.  I had planted the little guy back in March, and I shared some photos in this post.  At the time, my goal had been to keep it alive for more than a month, and I definitely succeeded in that.  It lived nearly a whole five months, and for once, I don't think my flower died because of me.  The poor little flowers had simply run their course.  Anyhoo... the point of this story is that when I came back from my trip, I was not only met with a break in and a hurt pooch, but I also had to look at dead flowers by my front door.  The other day I decided that enough was enough.  I needed to brighten my world with some new flowers. 

So.... I went to Home Depot and got myself new plant for beside my front door.  This time, I decided to go with one from the "House Plant" section since the spot beside my front door never gets direct sunlight, and I can't remember to drag the pot into the sunshine for "x" amount of hours per day. 

I got an "anthurium" for beside the front door.

I chose it because, according to my research, it thrives in tropical climates with temperatures that range from 70-90 degrees.  It also doesn't need direct sunlight, and it doesn't need water every single day (perfect for people like me who lack a green thumb).  Let's hope this one will do well.

Immediately after I got home with my new Anthurium, I regretted not getting one of the Aloe plants that I saw.  Growing up, my Mimi always had Aloe, and it was fantastic for burns, sunburns, and even bug bites.  I thought I could use one around my house.

So I turned around and went back for an Aloe plant. 

And I couldn't stop with just that one.  I got two other little house plants to experiment with on my lanai.

Here they are...

They aren't very big, and like the Anthurium out front, they supposedly don't require a lot of water.  (And just in case you're wondering, from left to right they are Euphorbia, Echeveria, and Aloe.)

Let's hope I can keep these pretty little guys alive for a good long while.

What do you guys think?  Anyone besides me want desperately to be surrounded by pretty flowers and plants but you just don't have a green thumb?