Category Archives: Pets

More “Cheese”

Above – Sparty smiling at the prospect of perhaps joining the Station 22 team when he grows up!

A stop at Von’s after Music to pick up some Red Rooster Hot Sauce. The Sparts doesn’t have a problem smiling anytime for a photo. At the time he was unaware he was about to experience Amma’s Wild Toad Shopping Cart Ride which he survived … & so did all the other shoppers!

Pappa’s the caboose.

Bear-Z says cheese with her ears back.

Little does Ziggy know, he’s on his way to the vet for his second entropion surgery. He’d already had the surgery on both eyes but his right eye needed some more trimming. When we picked him up late yesterday the vet re-did both eyes. Poor little guy. He’ll be recovering for 10-14 days and he’ll hopefully get his stitches out next Friday.

Blogged on Amma’s iPhone/MacBook with LOVE!

Blake Gets a Second Chance

Above – Blake about a year ago.

After about six weeks and unable to find someone to take little Blake into their “forever home” we made a deal (which consisted of a hefty donation) with our friend, Stacey, who operates The Barking Lot in San Diego. We got both Annie and Bear at The Barking Lot and know of their reputation for rescuing and finding homes for dogs of all breeds and ages. When we brought Blake in, Stacey said she was planning on putting her in a foster home, a temporary home until they find a forever home for her. That was Friday. Sunday morning I got an email from Stacey telling me that Blake is in a foster home. Tuesday I got another email from Stacey forwarding me an email from Blake’s foster mom telling her this:

“She is adorable! I thought she was a little spunky for a senior! She can run FAST – and loves running through the yard. She really wants to play with Motts; she runs around him and tries to egg him on but he is having none of it. HE taught her how to use the Doggy Door (took 2 days).  He kept going in and out and would wait for her. She is very polite and well mannered. She loves treats. She wants to sit ON us on the couch but is fine being moved to the cushion next to us. At dinner time she gets so excited that she will dance around on her hind legs. She often turns and nuzzles her back legs so I’m wondering if she has some hip dysplasia or arthritis. Sometimes has a little trouble jumping onto the couch. She prefers to sleep on the couch at night but during the day sleeps in the beds that are in each room – usually depending on where I am. It is amazing how quickly they acclimate. We’re having fun!”

This is great news. Every time we visited Bill in the hospital he asked how Blake was and I assured him she was doing fine and that she would be fine. I feel great knowing she is in good hands and in a loving home with a dog friend.

We had four different people/families come and look at her but for one reason or another she wasn’t right for them. I was feeling very bad for her because she’s a sweet girl with a great personality that just wants to belong and be loved. We know she will have that opportunity with The Barking Lot!

I will keep you posted as I get updates.

If you’re interested in seeing what The Barking Lot is all about, check out the website: http://www.thebarkinglot.net

Here’s our “TBL” forever dog (a photo I may have already posted)… 

 

Blogged on Amma’s iMac and iPhone with LOVE!

No LA for Me

Above – Alo wanted Kando (& Ernie, of course) to nap with him. It doesn’t look like they’re getting much sleep, but isn’t this the cutest thing ever??

I’ve been fighting another cold and yesterday it started kicking into my chest. Later yesterday sinuses were achy and congestion thickening. I’m staying home and laying low today so I’ll hopefully feel better tomorrow for the “Big Day” with Maya and Sparty.

Out for a ride. 

After the storm – towing the cars away that got twisted up in the garage like a washing machine. News 8 was there to document this.

Wednesday with Maya at ‘nastics.

Getting her foot tattooed after class. 

 

It was rainy and cold so we decided to have hot chocolate and popcorn. Silliness abounds.
  

  
  
  
  

The shipment arrived!! Pedro Ximenez Gran Reserve cooking vinegar. Oh, the possibilities are endless, but we bought it for brussel sprouts. After checking online for other cooking options, there are a lot of good ideas. This stuff is the real deal!

Here’s a photo to show the final cooked brussel sprouts. They were delicious. It was an eclectic meal alongside a taco with left over grilled salmon and left over risotto. Yum!

Blogged on Amma’s iPhone/MacBook from BED with LOVE!

Clarity

Above –  Looking out off Ladera Street yesterday. Surfers were enjoying small, slow swells in a perfectly calm ocean.

Below – A closer view of how clear the ocean was yesterday. If we were to use the ocean on the first day of 2016 as a gauge to determine how the new year will be, we could perhaps say it will be a year of peace, stillness and clarity. Wouldn’t that be nice? 

Calmness looking down at No Surf.
  

Oh no! What’s this? More photos from Jamie. A chilling contrast …

Holding true to Jamie’s words, there is a sun up there in her neck of the woods.

At Stone Brewery for dinner last night …
  

Akuch’s new boots … 

Selfie – Bear cuddling with me and keeping me warm.

Blogged on Amma’s iPhone/MacBook with LOVE!

Skype

Above – Kando Sunday night during our Skype session. He wasn’t very talkative …

Below – Alo “See my bus.”

Maya inspects Daddy’s jobsite, a taco shop on El Cajon Blvd.

Ron Mix – Former Chargers #74, former workmate, attorney and friend. This photo was was hanging among many celebrities’ photos at D Z Akins Sunday.

Also Sunday – Waiting for the rain.

Another Monday morning restorative class with Bear the Dog …
  

Blogged on Amma’s iPhone/MacBook with LOVE!

Variety

Above – I’ll call this one “Palm Trees”

Bird Rock at the end of Froude Street (our street) at high tide. 

Sunday evening – No, Sparty is not blowing a kiss. He’s working on his best pout. Well done!

Monday morning restorative – Even Bear gets in on the action.

Pay no attention to the lines on the hand … Lady bug. I found this little fellow or “Lady” in the kitchen. Of course, I took him/her outside.

The early morning sun cast a great shadow on this newly opened hibiscus flower – two different angles, same flower.

  

The girls …

Today – Music with Sparty followed by gymnastics and an afternoon with Maya.

Blogged on Amma’s iPhone/MacBook with LOVE!

Just another day in the life …

Above – Hogan on safari.

Lookie, Bear carried my socks downstairs for me! Eager to go on a walk. This is her guilty look.

Photo worthy …

Our SD Lifeguards practicing to save lives.

I had lunch with Bill yesterday at Atria. This tuna melt from the “anytime menu” was really good. I ate the whole thing.

Yum. German chocolate cake and strawberry ice cream.

More chest openings from the playground … 

We heard from Ron last night from Cabo. They weren’t anticipating any winds there, only some high surf. So no worries.

Blogged using Amma’s MacBook and iPhone with LOVE!

The last few days

Above – Hogan enjoys his breakfast of romaine, broccoli and hibiscus flowers. He didn’t eat the yellow flowers …

My morning walk yesterday – private beach and lifeguard practice.   

  

Sparty waiting for Amma to help get his shoes off for music class. Class went great this week, btw.  
  

Basil flowers. It’s probably not a good idea to let herbs flower, but aren’t they pretty?

I woke up to a text that our flight was cancelled, so I scrambled and got us on the next flight out, only an hour later. We’ll be off to Oakland later today to see the fam!! Alo. New baby Kando. Oh… & Robb & Akuch too.

Blogged on Amma’s iPhone with LOVE!

News from the North

Robb & Alo at the Larkey Wildlife Center. This is at the same park where we had the baby shower, very close to their home.

Great Horned Owl 

   
Lizard 

 
“Want to see the poop?” Yes, Alo, everyone wants to see the poop … 


Meanwhile, back at the house, Bear recovers from her walk. 

 

While Hogan enjoys a head of lettuce. 

 

And … HEY! That’s MY spot! 

 
She must think that if she closes her eyes I won’t see her…

Countdown to iNdia – 2 days. I booked a round trip SD to LA flight (only $167) so Bruce doesn’t have to drive me to LA Tuesday. This will give him more time for the honey do list. Haha

Blogged on Amma’s iPhone with LOVE!

Birds Tortoise Dog

Birds on the fence eating the wild bird food Bruce puts out for them. We started out with only 4 or 5 birds, and that number has grown to sometimes losing count. They hang out and wait on nearby branches and wires until the food appears in the morning. 

Birds on a wire.

 
Tortoise v. Garden Ornament … Hogan seems to have gotten himself in a bind trying to navigate from one flower bed to another. 

 
Bear can’t seem to figure out how he got himself into such a dilemma. She’d help if she could. Really she would.

 
Yesterday this baby dove got itself stuck (hmm, do you see a pattern here?) on the deck outside our bedroom window. It tried to fly away but couldn’t get past about half way up the railing glass.  

   
I gave a little help by scooping it up. When I lifted it above the railing, it sat in the palm of my hand for a few seconds until a gray dog barged out and scared it away. As soon as it flew to a tree across the street, both its parents appeared from the neighbor’s yard and followed it. I was really close to getting a photo of it in my hand until Bear scared it away. Photo op of a lifetime – poof! 

 

iNdia countdown – 3 days.

Blogged on Amma’s iPhone with LOVE!