last week's headlines.

Headlines from the past week include:

1.  Claire meets the neighbors!

2.  Claire gets beaten up by a cat!

3.  Claire watches the Red Sox!

4.  Claire takes over the car!

5.  Claire continues to swim!

I've been letting Claire roam around the front yard over my lunch break because, well, she needs to be able to run and explore, and most people are at work during the day so there are even less cars running through our quiet neighborhood. Last week I attempted to play frisbee with her, but I'm apparently too boring, so she trotted over to my neighbors yard to sniff around their bushes for rabbits. As I called her to come to me, my neighbor opened the door to say hi and Claire just waltzed right in. My neighbor thought this was hysterical and didn't mind at all, so as we caught up, Claire explored her house. Every so often, she'd come back to the front door to check in with me, and then she'd run off to explore their house some more. At one point, I asked where she went and my neighbor found her snuggling on her daughter's bed among her stuffed animals...

In other news, my mother's forsythia is a hiding place for the neighborhood cats. Claire stumbled upon them one day and tried to engage them in playtime. She wasn't catching on that the hissing wasn't an invitation, and she was ignoring me as I told her to leave it. In an split second, one of the cats swiped her across the face and scared the hell out of her. I think it's safe to say that she's learned her lesson and gives the cats a wide berth when crossing their path now. We'll see how long this lasts before they have to teach her another lesson. In all fairness, she did get a variety of warnings...

Massachusetts is, of course, a state that mainly consists of Red Sox fans. If there's a game on, you can bet we're watching it in my mom's household. The Sox played the Yankees (boo) a few days ago and Claire joined my mom and her boyfriend to watch our team win. Please note that while she got to sit on the couch, I was relegated to the floor -- which is also where I am sitting currently as she snuggles with the fam once again. Super! (Also, check it out: the furniture is still covered haha!)

With the car trouble that I've had lately, a family friend offered to help out and fix what he could while I'm home -- especially before I make the 19-21 hour drive back to Nashville in a few weeks. In addition to installing new brakes, fixing a broken visor, rotating the tires, and completing a 60K check, he changed my cabin air filter. Now please, don't judge me -- think of who my main passenger is! Can you imagine what the inside of my car looks like if this is what the air filter looks like? Can you imagine what my LUNGS look like if this is what the air filter looks like? Good grief...

Claire and I took a very long walk on the beach over the weekend. It was the PERFECT day in terms of weather, I was feeling great, and Claire was ready to get moving. I drove down to the beach and we walked a few miles before stopping for a swim. It still takes her a little while to get used to the waves rolling in before she goes swimming, but after running along the shore for a few minutes, she's brave enough to bound in. Rumor has it that people have spotted some sharks off the coast, so hopefully neither of us will run into them over the next few weeks. I'm not a fan of JAWS reinactments -- though I'm sure Claire could take 'em, I don't want the chance to find out! Here's my happy girl walking along the jetty right before our swim:

 

cape life.

Here we are, a full month after our last post. Where does the time go?! Claire and I took a little road trip from Nashville to Cape Cod last weekend and we'll be here for the next month. Whenever I'm here, I feel like I can just exhale. I can't think of any other way to put it, so... that's that.

Can I just say that it is a VERY long drive from Tennessee to Massachusetts? It was quite eventful, too, as the air conditioner in my car broke halfway through the extremely large state of Virginia. If it hadn't been a sunny 90*F day, I would have tried to ride it out until we got here, but because it was just so hot, I had to stop and get it repaired. Thankfully it was an easy fix and we were able to get back on the road after three hours or so -- and I have to give Firestone a huge shout-out (the one in Nowheresville, VA) for being so awesome and letting Claire hang out in the lobby. They even gave her treats and water while we waited. Talk about service!

We finally made it to Harrisburg PA where we stayed in a hotel for the night. Claire got her own queen-sized bed, which she was quite excited about, as you can see by the blur of her wagging tail in this picture:

 

We made it to the Cape the next day without any hiccups, and I cannot emphasize enough how glad we both were to get out of the car. I actually have no recollection of what we did that night because my mind was blank from driving for so long. The one thing that I did not anticipate was how rough the drive would be on my body. My fibromyalgia flared up like mad and after a full week, I'm finally feeling better. Note to self for the next time: break up the drive into three days, not two.

 

The next morning, Claire and I woke up early and took a long walk on the beach. It was her first time there, and y'all, I can't wait to post the video of her reaction. But that will have to wait until I get back to Nashville, so hang tight in the meantime. At first she was afraid of the waves, but by the end of our walk, she was running straight into them. She tried to drink the water like she does when I take her to the river in Nashville, but the salt from the ocean made her sneeze. Puppy sneezes are the cutest! But she didn't try to drink it again, which was a safe bet. And hey, this is a picture that I took of the sunrise that morning. Can you tell that it was the perfect day?

 

 

 

 

Later that day, one of my besties came to visit and it was AMAZING to see her. It had been a year since we'd seen each other, and I fully intend for us to visit a lot over the next month!! We went out to lunch to catch up and then spent the afternoon hanging out on the beach. Claire was so tired after her morning romp in the waves, so I didn't feel bad leaving her for a few hours. She needed the rest!

 

 

I know some of y'all are connected with us on our Facebook page, but for those of you who aren't, you need to know that part of my mother's preparation for our arrival included putting sheets all over the furniture to "protect" them from Claire's fur. Clearly, we never had dogs growing up. Anyway, Claire's new favorite lookout is the window behind the sheeted couch, which gives her a good view of one side of our neighborhood (and, more importantly, of the squirrels and rabbits), so she's been spending a lot of time here. Again, please note the happy tail.

 

 

Interestingly enough, my mom forgot to cover one chair in the house, which has become a great place for naps. Claire is smart enough to curl up here when my mom isn't home. I don't have the heart to tell her to get off, especially when she's as cute as she is. Who wants to disturb a comfortable dog, anyway? Not me. That's just mean!

 

 

 

Of course, I still have to work during the week (though I'm so thankful that I can work remotely!), but Claire and I have settled into a routine that seems to be working well. My "office" is in a room that I only go into while I'm working - I thought that would help Claire understand that I can't play when we're there. We get up in the morning and go for a long walk, eat breakfast, and do a little training, and then I get the work day started. Claire hangs out with me and naps until lunch, alternating between the floor, the couch, and this cozy little pallet that I've set up for her next to my desk.

 

 

 

I've got an hour break for lunch, so after grabbing some food, Claire and I spend some time playing frisbee, going running, and doing more training. After she's gotten out some energy, she's ready to lounge around while I finish up the second half of the work day. At night, we've been heading to the beach after most of the tourists have left, and we'll go for another long walk/run so I can unwind and Claire can get back outside for a bit. Then it's time for dinner and playtime (she likes to play tug with her stuffed animals, and four of them have already succombed to her destruction), and then we hang out with my mom and her boyfriend before calling it a night.

 

 

The other night we went for a walk at the Harbor instead of at the beach - mainly because I was feeling nostalgic for a place where my friends and I hung out a lot when we were in high school. There were a couple other dogs around and Claire did really well by not reacting to them. I was so proud of her! Anyway, while we were walking on the docks, Claire saw ducks for the first time EVER and was absolutely fascinated by them. She didn't cry or whine or bark, she just sat there transfixed. Birds in the water? Who would've thought!

 

So, now you know what we've been up to and where we've been lately! I'll be posting again next weekend, for sure. And of course I'll share more pictures too. Hope you all are well and have been enjoying your summer!

 

a letter to nature.

Dear birds, squirrels, rabbits, and other small creatures:

       Thank you for putting up with Claire's constant harassment. I would like to think that she would stop chasing you if she could, but she has a high prey drive. Therefore, I imagine that it's kind of like an addiction. But I've decided that she needs to give back, somehow, to make up for her behavior. That is why we have moved our brushing sessions outside. Three times per week, you will find a lovely collection of fur next to the porch. Please take as much as you'd like to make your home cozy. I don't know where she gets all of her fur since she gets brushed so often, but all that matters is that you reap the benefits. It's the least she can do since she gives you minor heart attacks every time she sees one of you. It is my hope that you will accept her donation as an apology.

Love,

Lauren

PS: Here is a picture of today's collection. That's a size 7.5 furball. She shed that much during Tuesdays brushing and she will shed that much by Saturday. True story. So there's plenty to go around.

projects and painting and planning, oh my!

A title like that can only mean one thing: Mom was in town! She came for a visit this weekend and whipped our house into shape with nine million projects that were able to be completed in a mere 72 hours - and she still made sure that we had time to go out to eat with friends! I am jealous of her energy, especially since it takes me a solid five cups of coffee before I am even 25% as efficient as she is with her time! I don't know how she does it, but I'm hoping she'll share her secret with me someday!

The house projects were as follows:

-- hang up the kitchen curtains that have been sitting in storage for a year

-- hang up the guest room curtains that have been sitting in storage for two years

-- caulk and repair the corner of the cabinet that Claire destroyed from the act of busting out of her kennel when we first moved in... which took place back in 2010

-- caulk and repair the window frame in my bedroom that was damaged during the Break-In of 2011

-- buy new frames for pictures

-- hang up two pictures

-- touch up the paint on the walls in the kitchen

-- touch up the paint on the walls in the living room

-- touch up the paint on the walls in my bedroom

-- touch up the paint on the walls in the guest room [which turned into repainting the whole room because we bought the wrong paint color and didn't realize until it was too late]

-- clean out the shed so my friend can store her things there while she's out of the country

-- search for the Missing Suitcase [this was the one thing that was unsuccessful]

-- decorate the bathroom

Claire was a rockstar this weekend. I really wanted to be able to take her hiking with my mom and me, but as you can see from the aforementioned list [which is not comprehensive, by the way], there wasn't enough time! It was also really hot and humid this weekend, so it wasn't the best hiking weather anyway. So Claire hung out with us while we worked on these projects, and she was happy doing just that: hanging out with us [and getting some treats while doing so, like coconut milk ice cream and fresh strawberries]. The paint made her sneeze, though, so she laid by the bedroom door while we worked in the guest room. That didn't stop her from trying to help out by rubbing up against the freshly painted wall...

Oh, my dog? She's the one that's black and white with a gray butt.

Claire and Mumsies!

claire-friendly peach muffins.

Okay, so I'm about 3.5 months into this vegan thing, and so far so good. Interestingly enough, I've found that Claire and I now have a similar diet which is excellent for my grocery budget! Winning, all around!

I made some fantastic vegan peach muffins last weekend - for both of us - and they were so delicious that it's worth sharing with you all [and your dogs, of course]. Let me know how you like them!

Claire-Friendly Peach Muffins

1-1/2 cups all-purpose rice flour

(or whole wheat flour if your dog can have gluten)

2 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp cinnamon

1/2 tsp salt

1/4 cup olive oil or canola oil

3/4 cup unsweetened vanilla almond milk

1 tsp vanilla extract

1/4 to 1/3 cup of organic peach jam

Preheat the oven to 400*F.

Coat muffin tin with non-stick spray, or use liners.

Scoop batter into muffin tins.

There should be enough for 12 muffins.

Bake for about 24 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean.

Let cool and enjoy!

Do you have a favorite recipe that both you and your dog love?

Share it in the comments section below!

happy 4th birthday to claire!

My sweet girl turned four today - making the next six months the only time in our lives that we will be the same age (if you're counting her age in dog years, that is).

She could feel the excitement in the air, which was evident at 730am when she forced me to wake up to begin the celebration! We started the day by going for an early morning hike at a new place, and we will definitely be going there again! It was a perfect day for a perfect hike that included a dip in the creek, a run through some cornfields, and a romp with some horses. We both loved it and will be hiking this trail a lot over the next few months!

On our way back home, we stopped by my dear friend Shannon's house and Claire had a great time hanging out with Shannon's adorable kids! Lindsay Miller and Brooke played fetch with her and chased her around their backyard - two of her favorite games. Claire couldn't get enough of the kids and would've been quite content to follow them around for the whole day.

Next, we went to See Spot Eat to get Claire some special birthday treats. Her day wouldn't be complete without some fresh salmon ice cream! Of course, it didn't make it out the door, so we grabbed some other snacks for the next few days too!

Claire was completely exhausted at that point, so we went back home for a little nap. Because it was such a beautiful day, I opened all the doors to get some fresh air in the house while we napped, and it was nothing short of amazing!

When we woke up, Claire was ready to go back outside, so we went on another long walk and stopped by Rebel's house so she could see him and play for a bit before we continued on our way. He is such a good boy, and he was just as excited as she was to get a chance to play. He is so sweet to her and kept kissing her baby face. It just melted my heart!

Once we got home, Claire was just about ready for bed. So much excitement will do that to a girl, you know. But she had to have "cake" first, so I made her one that was made of dog food and mashed pumpkin, and topped with a pumpkin and rice flour biscotti dipped in carob and yogurt. And after that? Well, she's been fast asleep for the past few hours already, which can only mean that her birthday was a success!

Enjoy some Instagram pics from Claire's 4th birthday!

lapdog.

Sometimes I think the "Poppy the Lapdog" cartoon was modeled after Claire. I mean, check this out (and thanks to our friend Carrie for letting me share this picture of the mutual love that you two have for one another!):

scenes from a sunday stroll.

My friend Carrie and I have tried to make plans to take Claire and Tucker hiking for the past two weeks. We cancelled the first weekend because it rained, and we cancelled last weekend because we were both so tired and needed some downtime. When 11am rolled around this morning, I texted her to gauge the "level of laziness." Not only was she feeling up to it, but our friend Patrick was too, so he brought Rylee along also. It was quite a happy reunion for the three pups - lots of jumping on each other, lots of kissing, and lots of tail wagging! We did three different trails and let the dogs play in the river, and it was gorgeous out so it was the perfect way to spend the afternoon! We'll be hiking one of the longer trails next weekend, if the weather's nice, so I'll try to get some more pictures while we explore. Maybe it's even time for an updated picture of me and Claire together?!

a word from our igloo.

After a rainy weekend in the 60's, it has plummeted to an ice cold 25*F. If I had a Snuggie, I would defy all fashion sense and wear it everywhere. Instead, I am reduced to wearing multiple layers of clothing, which makes me look a little like the Michelin man. People keep looking at me like I'm crazy. And then they say things like, "But you're from the north! You should be used to it!" Well, clearly, I am not. Also, I come from a family whose medical background includes Reynaud's, which makes the cold weather all the more fun for people like us.

However, I, like most people, am on a strict budget. So while I'd like to turn the heat up to 90*F in my house and walk around in a bathing suit, I cannot do that. Last month, I kept the temp at a modest 67 during the day, and 70 at night. But after getting the bill, I turned it down to 65 during the day and 67 at night -- and I also slept in two layers of clothes while lying under a comforter, two blankets, and an electric blanket. One would think an electric bill would decrease after that, right? Well. It went up.

Someone suggested that I turn it down even more and see if that works. But I've got limits, people. I could always throw on an extra layer of clothing to the two laters I already sleep in, but I worry about Claire. You know that commercial for the ASPCA where the camera captures a lone dog sitting in the middle of the road in the pouring rain, shivering? Kills me every single time. Well that dog has Claire's face when I consider turning the heat down any lower. (Though she isn't a stray, and she wouldn't be sitting in the middle of the road, and it doesn't rain inside my house. So it's really not the same thing at all...)

You may be thinking, "She is just a dog! Dogs have fur! They can handle cold temps!" I hear you. But I also know that if my car is not warmed up in the morning before getting in it, Claire sits in the front seat and shivers violently until the heat comes on full blast. She also went from sleeping at the end of the bed to burrowing under the covers and tucking her nose under the pillow.

So, until it gets a little warmer in Nashville, I'll just have to reconfigure my budget or something in order to keep my heat at a balmy 65*F. Either that, or I'll have to order matching Snuggies for me and Claire.

looking ahead for the new year.

Welcome to 2013, friends! I hope you celebrated in style! True to form, I stayed in and watched episodes of HIMYM before falling asleep early - which, in all honesty was absolutely perfect and just what I needed! Today, however, was filled with fun and friends and (lots of) food, so Claire and I both did our fair share of celebrating!

I've been thinking lately about this blog and how much it has changed over the past few years. When I started out, I really had absolutely no idea of what I was doing. Some days I still feel that way, actually. For awhile, I put a lot of time into promoting and giveaways and product reviews and advertising and blah blah blah, but all that brought was a great deal of frustration. Thanks to a good friend, I remembered why I started this blog in the first place: to create a journal of my life with Claire. I want to be able to look back some day and remember all of the fun we've had, all the lessons I've learned through her, and especially all of the love and laughter she's brought to my life. There is enough seriousness in life, and this blog, for the most part, allows me to document stories that counteract that.

That being said, my blogging goals for 2013 definitely include staying true to my original purpose. Others are:
-- less Instagram pics and more professional photos of Claire and friends
-- go to this year's BarkWorld conference with Katie, Neely, Lauren&Paige, Lauren and Joey, and Blake
-- have more people write guest posts and/or start a series
-- create a new design
-- if there is a conflict with blogging time and quality time (with Claire, with friends, with Claire AND friends), let quality time win every time.

What are some of your goals for 2013, related to blogging or otherwise?

little blessings.

Hi everyone, and Merry Christmas! I hope you all had an incredible day filled with blessings! I didn't get to spend the holidays with my family this year (which was so weird), but we talked on the phone throughout the day so it definitely felt like we were together! I did, however, get to spend most of the day with Claire, which was glorious. She even helped me open presents while I was on the phone with my mom and sister. And can I just say how brave my aunt was to send me another new pair of slippers? Claire has a fascination with slippers and can't resist tearing them up. Seriously, in the past three years, she has shredded more than six pairs. You would think I'd remember to put them away so she couldn't get to them, right? Well, I'm determined to keep this pair around for awhile. Of course, I barely got them unwrapped before Claire bounded over and tried to take them from me... I think she has some kind of radar or something, because she is ridiculously drawn to them. I've never seen anything like it. Anyway, not only was I blessed to be able to chat with my family throughout the day, but I also got to spend time with some friends who couldn't go home this year, either. We had dinner and dessert together last night, which was wonderful. Claire was invited too, but I decided that Otis (our houseguest) could use some company while I went out for a few hours of "adult time", so the kids stayed at home ;)

As for a Christmas miracle, I got mine a day late but it was not a moment too soon! I was on my way to drop off Claire at school this morning and had just turned off the highway when I realized that I had a flat tire - and no man to help me, no Triple A membership, and no idea if I even had a spare in my trunk. Thankfully, I was only a quarter of a mile away from Firestone, so I rolled on down the street and pulled in. They didn't have anyone waiting, so they got me right in. Because I hadn't had a chance to drop off Claire at school yet, I asked if she could come in while they fixed my car. The manager was so nice and said that he didn't have a problem with it, so she was really excited to go and make some new friends in the waiting area. And guys, let me brag for a second: she was an absolute ANGEL. She sat quietly right in front of me and I gave her a little puppy massage while we waited. I was so proud of her excellent behavior! Unfortunately, the guys couldn't patch my tire (and I actually ended up needing TWO new ones), so when I realized that it was going to take awhile, I took a chance and called Stacey, the owner of Claire's daycare. Oddly enough, Stacey wasn't completely swamped with work when I called, and she was incredibly sweet to come and pick up Claire to take her to school. I mean, if you're going to get a flat, there's no better circumstance! When I finally was able to make it to work, I was just so grateful for all of the help that I didn't even mind the unforeseen expense!

What did you all do for the holidays? Any Christmas miracles for you?

sleepovers and snuggles.

Well, Claire didn't end up coming with me to the Friendsgiving celebration this weekend. She played pretty hard at the park earlier that day and was fast asleep when it was time to leave. But I will tell you that I had a great time with great friends and great homecooked food!

Don't go feeling all sorry for Claire, though. She may have missed the Friendsgiving fun, but she made up for it yesterday and today. My friend Carrie went out of town for work, so what better time to have a sleepover with Carrie's dog, Tucker! They played constantly - from the second we picked him up to the time he returned home. I practically had to pull them apart to get them to do anything else: eat, sleep, and go for walks. And the only casualty of the past two days was Seahorse (view the remnants below); the reason Claire's other toys survived is because I put them away pretty soon after that.

Surprisingly, Claire and I slept better with Tucker around. Granted, the two of them took up the whole bed, so we know why SHE was comfortable. Even with my 1" of free mattress space, I was pretty cozy. Maybe it had something to do with all of the puppy warmth in my bed? What was interesting to me is that Tucker can get right up in Claire's face and she doesn't mind. Usually she is big on personal space, but only a select few of her friends can cross this line - including Tucker. They were cuddling together all night with Tuck's head resting on her neck. Sweetest thing ever!

Check out a few Instagram pics from Claire and Tucker's time together:

dog days of summer.

It's been a little quiet here on the home front over the past few weeks, mainly because Claire and I have been soaking up the last little bits of summer. We've been going on lots of walks and hikes, and of course we've been frequenting the dog park as much as possible before the days get shorter.

So, for your Instagram recap, here's what we've got:

• Claire and Tucker playing frisbee/tug
• Sitting on Katie's lap while getting some love from Patrick
• Doing her best impression of a person - it's good, isn't it?!
• Playdate with the ever-so-handsome Chase
• Smiling all pretty
• Hanging out with Sooki -aka- taking all of Sooki's bones/toys for herself
• Staying cool with Courtney in the office at Bark-O-Lounge [picture courtesy of Miss Courtney]
• Muddy dog park feet
• Relaxing in the shade under a bench at the park
• Sleeping soundly

We hope you all have been enjoying the end of summer too! I love the warm weather, but I'm actually quite ready for the fall season this year. There have just been too many 100* days for us here in Nashville!

   

pearly whites.

I have learned to schedule Claire's dental appointments for Saturdays. That way, as soon as they call me to come pick her up, I can head right over and rescue her from the uncomfortable confines of the kennel and get her snuggled up in her own bed. I like to think that she appreciates this greatly.

It always makes me nervous knowing that they have to fully anesthetize dogs in order to clean their teeth. Though I still experience a great deal of anxiety over this, I've come a long way from the days when I would sit in the waiting room for eight hours waiting until the vet was done. Now I at least have the strength to drop her off in the morning and pick her up in the afternoon. I still anxiously await the vet's call, but at least I can leave their office!

Sleeping off the anesthesia.

Little One has a hard time with the anesthesia. It doesn't make her sick, but it takes an awfully long time to wear off. They finished her teeth cleaning at noon, let me pick her up at 3pm, and now, at 8pm, she is still fast asleep. Occasionally she looks over at me, eyes still red and at half-mast, and then, assured that I am close by, she falls back asleep. Poor thing. I hate that she's so uncomfortable. It makes my heart hurt.

The report from the vet was good, though - lab work was fine, and her teeth are pearly white. Claire is starting to get a little gingivitis along the gums of her back teeth, but the vet said that's normal for dogs who are Claire's age. She told me to keep giving her raw marrow bones at least once a week but no more than twice a week, as they are excellent for Claire's teeth and breath. I can do that, and Claire will be happy about this news!

   

cape cod's black dog.

I know, I know... We completely disappeared for a week. But I couldn't blog about where I was going because it was a surprise!! Now that I'm back, however, I can tell you that I took a quick trip home to see my family and to celebrate my grandparents 55th wedding anniversary -- yes, you read that correctly, they have been married for FIFTY FIVE years! Amazing, right?! And while I was spending time at the beach, Miss Claire went off to "camp" at Bark-O-Lounge. Stacey and Courtney are so amazing: they sent me a couple pictures each day of Claire playing in the pool, lounging around on Stacey's bed, giving Courtney kisses, and hanging out with her pals. I was a teensy bit jealous, actually...

While I was home, I just had to stop at one of my favorite stores of all time: The Black Dog [Seriously, I'm obsessed! I'll always accept gift cards... hint hint.] If any of you have ever been to Cape Cod, it's likely that you know about this store. They have awesome apparel for the whole family - including great gifts for your dog. Whenever I go on vacation, I always bring Claire a gift [she gets really excited if you mention that you have a present for her], and when I take trips back home, it's always something awesome from The Black Dog. This time, she got some bacon flavored treats - I was happily surprised to see that their line of treats are wheat, soy, and corn free and don't contain any of the things that Claire is allergic to. That being said, you should definitely check out their website and get some for your dog - and maybe even a comfy sweatshirt for yourself, while you're at it.

Gifts for my black dog from The Black Dog.

   

a tired dog is a happy dog.

I can tell that Claire had a fun day at school because as soon as we got home, she put herself right to bed. She didn't come when I called her for dinner, which was odd, and when I went to get her, she had completely passed out. I brought her dinner to her in bed, which she was quite happy about [as evidenced in her wagging tail] and she ate while lying down. I'm not kidding. There's that quote: "a tired dog is a happy dog" - it's quite true! And I'm happy knowing that Claire is happy.

You might be wondering why Claire is so tired. Well, this is what she did today while I was at work - and please note: this is the first time that she willingly immersed herself in the kiddie pool! We're making memories, here, people! When I got this picture, I was so happy to see that she was having such a great time! Courtney said that Claire would stick her face in the water, splash around, and then go zoom around the yard. She does that at the river, too - it's like she just gets so excited that she can't contain herself!

Share pictures of your dog's summer fun on our Facebook page - we'd loved to see what you all are up to!

   

a dog's thoughts caught on camera.

I recently discovered a new smartphone app called DogCap and I've been having a lot of fun with it since downloading it! Basically, it allows you to take a picture or upload a picture and then it applies a random dog-themed caption to it. For example, check out these pictures of Claire and Chase:

Go here to download the app on your phone! If you get a chance to try it out, share your pics on our Facebook page! I'd love to see what you come up with!

    

results are in and we've got some answers.

Yesterday afternoon was the two-week mark since Claire's appointment with the specialist, so naturally, I called them first thing this morning to see if her RAST (radioallergosorbent test) results had come back yet. Thankfully they did, and we now have answers! Claire's constant trouble with GERD is definitely caused by an allergic reaction. The tests showed that she has a very high level of eosinophils in her blood because she is extremely allergic to... poultry [I KNEW IT!!], oats, wheat, yeast, apples, and bananas. Now that I know this, I can buy dog food that doesn't have any of these ingredients in it. The vet recommended that I get either kangaroo or venison from California Natural, or either bison or fish from Solid Gold [What can I say? Claire has an advanced palette!] Either way, I just found out that I can get both of those brands delivered straight to my house through Mr. Chewy.** So again, thank you all for your kind words and prayers throughout the past few weeks! They have helped immensely, and now Claire is on the road to recovery!

** If you want your dog's food delivered to your front door too, go to Mr. Chewy's website and put in the discount code LJFE5468 at check out -- you'll get 10% off your order, and they'll donate $10 to the Best Friends Animal Society!

No more tummyaches for this happy girl!!

  

remembering puppyhood.

I was sitting on a park bench yesterday, Claire perched on my knee [yes, in all of her 50-pound glory], when I realized that it was just a little over a year ago that we came to the end of an era: puppyhood. It finally hit me yesterday, as I watched the next generation of puppies playing together, romping around with the big dogs. I still consider Claire to be my puppy, and I will always refer to her that way, even when she's a healthy thirty-eight in human years [just humor me]. But in reality, she's an adult dog now - a young one, but an adult just the same.

She's got a whole slew of friends that she has grown up with, and it has been so sweet to see all of them grow up together. Thankfully, she still sees most of them on a regular basis. But now there are new little ones who are learning the ropes at the park, and honestly, I get a little nostalgic as I watch them all play together and figure things out. Where does time go when it flies by?

Nostalgia aside, it is time to introduce you to two of the newest members of the dog park gang: Riley and Murphy. They are both incredibly sweet and full of that wonderful puppy innocence. There isn't a dog or person out there who they don't like [which is great because it means lots of cuddles for me when I see them]. From what I can tell from our interactions with them, Murphy is going to be in the middle of the action all the time, while Riley is more of a thinker; she plays hard, but she also has moments where she goes off on her own and watches things from a distance. [Sounds a bit like Claire, doesn't she?!]

Riley and Murphy

You know what I miss the most about the puppy years? The endless excitement at discovering new things, and the fearlessness that accompanies it. As Claire has grown up, I've noticed this excitement give way to a tentative curiosity. Though, on one hand, I am glad about this, because it's a bit safer!

What do you miss the most about the puppy years?

   

i'll let the pictures do the talking.

This past weekend had the potential to be quite hectic, especially with the worry of last week still heavy on my heart. I was scheduled to be on call all weekend and had also told my pals Alexandra&Josh that I would stay at their house and watch Chase [of Life With Claire fame in this post and this post] while they went out of town. Of course, Claire was only on day three of her new hypoallergenic food, so I was still watching her like a hawk to make sure she was feeling okay.

It actually ended up being the most relaxing weekend. It was just what I needed. I had prayed the whole week prior that I wouldn't get too many calls from the hospital and especially that they wouldn't need me to come in. And you know what? Those prayers worked. It was the easiest on-call weekend I've ever had. I got to spend two days in a big, beautiful, and quiet house with two adorable pups who absolutely adore each other. They played, they snuggled, they sunbathed, they ran through the sprinklers, and they even took naps. So, as the title of this post states, I'll let the pictures do the talking:

 Evidently, Claire likes sunbathing while she's hanging out inside with the air-conditioning on.

 Chase. Such a sweetheart.

I call this one "Black Dog in Suburbia."

 What a stud.

Claire loved Alexandra's chaise lounge. 

 Just resting for a bit.

Little One wanted me to come play too.

Nap time for Chase and Claire. And me.

 Smooching. They actually do this quite a bit.

I had to be the chaperone and make sure it didn't get too crazy.

Back at home after a fun weekend.