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Wednesday, March 26, 2014

Woofie and Licks!


It's been a long time. Let's see, Christmas passed, Winter passed, and not a bark or whimper from me. Now, it's just Spring and it's time to "spring" into action (sorry, I couldn't help it)! You see, my Mistress has been very sick since I last posted, and life here at Pet Pawties hasn't been our usual ways. I carried on as best as I could as Creative Director, but my muse and inspiration just wasn't herself.

She was in the hospital the week before Christmas where they found out she needed surgery, but she wasn't strong enough to go through it. We waited until March 7th (another week in the hospital), but such luck! My Mistress is back! It was a serious illness, a serious surgery, but you'd never know it because she has such a bounce to her step - a bounce Roo Roo and I haven't see for quite awhile! We're so happy I can't stop cuddling her and guess what? I'm eating better, sleeping better, and put on a pound or two - I love her sooo much!

My inspiration!

We're working on Easter. Yes, Yes, we know it's a bit late, but look for our newest listings that will be in our store by April 1st. You'll be creating the cutest and most original treats for your barking friends - and humans too!

We're having fun now!

Love, Cuddles, and Licks!


Nathan, The Dachshund



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Thursday, November 21, 2013
Woofie, My Friends!

We've been gone away from "blogging" for a long while...let's see, Spring came and went, Summer came and went, we're smack dab in the middle of Fall - Thanksgiving is upon us and Christmas is around the corner. Phew! So much has happened, some very good, and some very sad...

Mistress and Master are still grieving over the sudden loss of my sister, Sascha in June. She had been sick since mid-May with pancreatitis. By the first of June, she seemed to be getting better, but days before she died, got worse. Mistress kept her close all the time, was at the Vet often, but her illness overcame her. Oh how we all cried - especially Buddy, who had a deep love for her.

In July it was birthday time for both Mistress and Buddy and we celebrated it on the beach in Carmel, California! Buddy turned 18, and Mistress turned *cough* - well, we don't really know how old Mistress is! It seems you don't talk about the increasing years of humans (with joy) like the increasing years of pets are...our advancing years are celebrated with a great deal of celebration! Buddy turning 18 was such a joyous celebration we did it twice! He even had two different birthday cakes! After we got home, Mistress
Buddy's Birthday Hat
Buddy and Nathan

discovered there wasn't ONE picture of Buddy in his hat, or with his Birthday Cake! This is why Buddy ended up having TWO pawties! We didn't mind, we LOVE the cake Mistress bakes. You can bake it too - it's a free recipe on our site. You find Doggy Cake To Die For! on our site (check out other items too)!
We celebrated in style in July with Buddy, but he had begun whispering to all of us this would be his last Birthday. We ignored him at first, but by August we understood what he was asking. Buddy was losing most of his mobility. Our Vet said he was in good health, but from his waist down he was showing weakness. Buddy had a tumor on his spine, so it was time to say goodbye. We all mourned this great loss of our very sweet companion. Buddy taught us many lessons in love, and will be in our memories forever.

So, my friends, it's been hard to put all this down in words, but now you understand why we've stayed away; but so happy to be back!



Love and Licks,

Nathan, The Dachshund





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Monday, April 22, 2013
Woof! My Friends...

Mistress realized one recent day that our home was a Senior Assisted Living home because all the 4-legged inhabitants had reached that status...
  • Buddy, The Dachshund (almost 18 years)
  • Sascha, The Dachshund (almost 13 years)
  • Nathan, The Stinker, er, Dachshund (10 years)
  • Roo, The Dachshund (borderline senior at 9 years)
  • Catya, The Tuxedo Cat (13 years)
We are "only" assisted with good food and home-baked treats, soft bedding, couch cuddles, daily pills for Buddy and Sascha, and our good fortune of  Mistress no longer being distressed over hair on the couch and the occasional accident on the floor. 

Catya, the cat, is often ignored in my blog posts, so I want to dedicate this one to her; after all, she hasn't scratched me once when I've chased her around the house!

Before Catya, The Tuxedo Cat (black/white markings), there was ClaireBell (the Previous Tuxedo Cat) who only lived for 4 years. ClaireBell came to live here in 2000 very serendipitiously: 

In the late 1990's no pets lived here, (the last one, Sneezies, had gone over the Rainbow Bridge). Mistress had decided that was the way she wanted it. She was traveling a lot for business, and  living a very self-centered life. It was lonely, of course, but the clean house was the reward! Tami visited one day, noticed the empty life, and suggested they go to the Cat Shelter to pick out a kitten - "No!",  Mistress said emphatically! "Well, if you found one", Tami continued, "what would it look/be like?

Mistress said  (believing it would quiet Tami), "It would be a girl, with black and white markings like a Holstein Cow, 10 weeks or less, intelligent, pink-nosed, not feral, and her name would be ClaireBelle!".

So, as the story goes, that was the end of all discussions regarding Mistress' kitten adoption. Little did she know that a few weeks later Tami received a call from a friend who was vacationing on Kipu Kai Beach on Kauai. She told Tami about a wee (5 weeks old) black/white female kitten (with a pink nose) that had followed them (while plaintively meowing) during a morning walk. The puzzling thing was there weren't any buildings or people around them - where did this wee kitten come from? Nevertheless, the kitten was picked up, immediately cuddled down with all who held her,  purred relentlessly, and stole hearts. No one claimed her, and not one of Tami's vacationing friends could claim her as their own - but all agreed she couldn't be left behind because she was so engaging, sweet, and intelligent. The call to Tami was a plea - "Do you know anyone who can take her?". Tami said, "I have someone! You have found Mistress' ClaireBelle!".

ClaireBelle found a home in California, and Mistress' life changed.....Mistress opened her heart to all of  ClaireBelle's love, and felt the weight of loneliness lifted.

Pets often create an awareness of brilliant realization, and Mistress understood after ClaireBelle entered into her life how acute her loneliness had been. She sublimely accepted pets do enrich life; and ClaireBelle was the purrfect pet to do just that.

With great sadness ClaireBelle came down with FIP and crossed over the Rainbow Bridge at a mere four years old. Mistress was devastated, and with a mournful heart felt the loneliness creeping back.

During this time Mistress' field of work (the Dot-Com industry) was going through a serious decline. Mistress was in a senior position at her company, but knew so many were getting laid off it could happen to her...It did.  Just  3 days after ClaireBell passed, Mistress was laid off. She was devastated because nothing like this professional rejection had ever happened to her. At home, there was no cuddling/purring to comfort her, her new man lived 2 hours away, and the days were so long! Mistress decided ClaireBelle's lesson to love remained in her life - so off  to the Cat Shelter she went. There were 100's of cats in cages that day, and Mistress began to feel she had made a mistake - it was so sad  to know she couldn't free all of them from their cruel oppression...and that she hadn't met one that tugged hardest on her heart strings to adopt. She had just decided to leave and come back another day.  Then she saw it - a tiny paw waving frantically through the bars of a cage Mistress had  walked past earlier. "What's this?", she thought while walking back to the cage. The waving paw said, "Pick Me! Over here! Pick Me! - with distinct plaintive meowing...There our Catya was, black/white, 6 weeks old, and so much like ClaireBelle except her nose was black and pink! "How did I miss this baby?", Mistress thought...then learned that sometime after she had passed these cages,  Catya was caged - she had been in a foster home until she was big enough to adopt. She only spent a total of 15 minutes caged in the Cat Shelter before she was adopted :-)
13 years later Catya thrives - she sleeps on Mistress' bed, purrs on demand, and is a constant Mistress shadow....we, The Dachshunds, are jealous of her, but know Mistress loves us all equally. We will always be thankful for the sweet ClaireBelle who taught Mistress the heart can open to many. 

Love 'n Licks!
Nathan, The Dachshund


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Friday, April 19, 2013
Woofie! My friends!

 I have mentioned my eldest brother, Buddy, who will be turning 18 in July, but I want to sing his praises today!


As I've mentioned prior, I came to live with Mistress in April 2003. I was the ONLY stinker Dachshund then, and became the biggest Stinker (love) of her life! Over the years one Dachshund turned into four Dachshunds as others found their way to Mistress and Master. But, this is not about me or them - it's about Buddy, who came to live here in 2006.

Our story with Buddy started out a sad one....

From his birth in 1995 to 2006 (11 years), he lived a comfortable and happy life with a family. They did a good job training him to go outside (using a doggie door), took him on daily walks (even today you don't shake a leash unless you mean a dog walk), yearly exams and teeth cleaning - and gave him a lot of love. In early Spring of 2006, Buddy's family could no longer keep him and turned him into a local kill shelter. It broke his heart - profoundly. His days in the shelter went by and he withdrew more and more into his depression. Where prior he loved his meal times, he turned his nose against food. Where prior he loved walks and human interaction, he shrunk into the corner of his cage. He made sad, crying sounds and could not be comforted. It was decided he was un-adoptable and his execution date was set. His prior parent kept tabs on him and learned of his fate. Heartbroken, she posted a letter on CraigsList pleading for someone - anyone - to adopt him. While she couldn't take him back, she deeply regretted her decision to put him into the kill shelter. She regretted not researching other options prior to placing him there. Her letter was read by a friend of my Mistress, who told a mutual friend, and she released Buddy  from his dungeon one day from execution.

Mistress' friend realized very soon she did not have the time/desire to deal with Buddy's deep depression; so Mistress brought him home to Roo and me. We were happy to have an older brother, but he continued all his withdrawn behavior, barely ate, and (even in his sleep) continued to make his deeply mournful crying sounds. Master would carry him around speaking soothing words in his puppy baby talk voice - no response, but Master continued. Mistress fed him Puppy Food with a spoon, but he'd only eat a bite or two - and would never lick/kiss them. I would playfully push him - little response except his mournful, crying sounds.

This continued for a month while Mistress and Master continued trying to bring him around (to no avail).

One night, after a long walk and promises of cuddles on the couch, Mistress was at the kitchen counter preparing our dinner. As usual, Roo and I were jumping and twirling in anticipation, bumping into Buddy who remained in his stoic stance. Then, a sound. A sound no one had ever heard. It wasn't mournful, sad, or quiet - instead it was a deep, powerful and joyful bark...and it was coming from Buddy! He had started jumping and twirling in anticipation of dinner - barking to get Mistress' attention to not forget him. She was in shock.

From then on Buddy became one of us. His loud bark became a familiar sound, and gone was the mournful song he had been singing for so long. He woofed his food down, jumped for a walk, loved to be cuddled, and became so responsive to affection that I have to admit my jealousy. Our Master won't admit it, but we all learned Buddy is his favorite! It's for a lot of reasons, but one big one is they both like to spend an enormous amount of time on the couch! No, the main thing is the courage our Budster has shown. He overcame a big obstacle, decided to adapt to a different life, and never gave up on being loving or loved.


Unfortunately, time has taken its toll on our Budster. He has almost lost his eyesight, his hearing, and arthritis in his back hips has robbed him of endless mobility - so "walks" are mostly being carried. He still wants to go, but it can't be very far. Mistress thinks he's lost his ability to back up, because he'll go forward until he bumps into a barrier (a patio chair, table leg, a tree trunk, etc.), and will stay there until he's rescued. He'll stay nose to tree trunk, speaking, until he's moved; however, he remains disciplined to do his business outside, loves his meals and snacks, and his people. He tries to jump high in anticipation, but it's more a little 1" off the floor bouncing, bouncing.

He is loved.

We have learned from Buddy that adopting a senior dog has many rewards. Maybe not all senior dogs have the sweet, joyful, friendly, intelligence and gentle personality he has, but we've learned many do! Until he became more dependent on us to be his eyes and ears, he demonstrated tremendous independence and would meet and greet all humans and dogs at the park!
Adopt a senior dog!

And if you have to give up your Pet (and we hope you never do), check out the "shelter" your pet is going to - many put down animals quickly. Look into foster homes - they may also be an option. Look into clubs that are breed-specific, many members (like Mistress) can help you temporarily place your pet.

Kill Shelters don't have to be your only option!

Love 'n Licks,
Nathan, The Dachshund




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Wednesday, April 17, 2013

Love and Licks....Nathan


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Howling in De-Light, my Friends!

Last night Mistress finished the details involved with adding new products to an online store, and with me on her lap (while wiggling and licking her face), she launched  our new and improved Pet Pawties In A Box store! Cross your paws and wiggle your tail in hopes the search engines find us! Of course, you (our fans) can find us now!

What's New?

CUPCAKE LINERS...





BAKING PANS...

Just a few teasers for your (our) excitement! Of course we've been neglected while all this has been going on. My brothers, Roo and Buddy (and me, of course), and my sister, Sascha, have had to eat STORE BOUGHT biscuits, and we haven't had freshly cooked rice in our breakfast bowls in oh so long! Our Master who had been spoiled with Chicken and Wild Mushroom, Stuffed Filet of Beef, and so on, was reduced to scrambled eggs and toast. Good thing he's not a picky eater like I am. He'd be happy to shovel down anything put in front of him (while retaining his youthful figure). Me? I'm a bit thinner, and our prior thick sister, Sascha, got comments from friends at the park, "Sascha's lost so much weight!". When Mistress gets involved with something - she really gets involved! Hours were spent researching other e-commerce stores, setting up wholesale accounts, planning and outlining ideas, purchasing, etc, in hopes others will enjoy her ideas too! Hours she didn't spend babying us (me especially).

What's Next?

My favorite part...BAKING! I've always retained my youthful figure even though I've always been the guinea pig for Mistresses baking experiments; but, I worry for Roo and Sascha who gain weight easily. Mistress did baking in all the new pans prior to putting them in the store, but the cakes and pup-cakes were eaten up before pictures could be taken....not this time. She's promised to bake us a batch of biscuits, and then execute some ideas she's had!

I'll return tomorrow to tell you about our Buddy's senior moments (he talks to trees)! Mistress says he can do anything he wants since he'll soon be 18! Yes, EIGHTEEN!

Love & Licks,
Nathan, The Dachshund


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Saturday, April 6, 2013
We're So Sorry we've been away for so long...Firstly there was the beautiful and romantic Wedding Reception; then there was the honeymoon, and lastly all the holidays!

My Mistress is so happy to be up about and almost 100% since her hip surgery and recovery from that and the subsequent back issues, and she has put together plans for a NEW and IMPROVED store/site!

We're soooo excited, and we want you to be too! Pet Pawties In A Box is re-opening BIGGER and FULLER with expanded store sections - specifically in the pet-themed baking and decorating areas - with 100's of NEW ITEMS! I've been howling with joy (and been told to quiet down on a number of occasions)!





Mistress has been working on the store/site since January -  planning, ordering new products, and programming for our store/site's GRAND OPENING in a week!
 
 
Stay tuned! It's happening soon!
 
 
Love and Licks,
 
Nathan, The Dachshund


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