Sunday Wrap Up: The Festive Birthday Weekend!

Whew!
That Pawty was Awesome!
And it's been quite
The Festive Birthday Weekend!!!

Truth be told, I had a couple of days of really not feeling well. Not so much disease related as it was prednisone related... I drank too much water, too quickly and didn't empty my bladder quickly enough on Thursday. The symptoms are similar to a UTI, need I say more?

I did this once before, so the Mom knew what to do... She put me on a schedule. All day on Friday until almost midnight, I was outside every 20 minutes... then every hour and a half through the night, until Saturday when we upped it to every hour. And by noon on Saturday, I was back to normal, except....

On Friday, we learned that the state distributor for Wysong foods is distributing no longer... Our source for purchasing the food didn't have my Anergen formula, so this meant immediately trying to mix a new food into a limited amount of my old food... And like a DUMMY, my the Mom didn't use RICE as a bridge. I need not spell out the consequences. I know you have an accurate imagination.

On Saturday, the Mom called around and found 32 pounds of Wysong Anergen in northern Harris County. My Aunt Karen picked it up and got it to us last night. Now we can do a gradual transition to California Natural Grain Free Rice and Potato. Thank you, Aunt Karen!!!

I'm so happy to be feeling better, and my the Mom is HAPPY, RELIEVED and GRATEFUL!!!


And now, I'd like to catch you up on the rest of my Birthday Weekend!

The Cake

Baked and decorated by my the Mom,
who should clearly keep her day job!

See Me Sit!

Close-Up Take 1

Close-Up Take 2

Close-Up Take 3: LICK!

Close-Up Take 4

Close-Up Take 5

Sit... Again.

My The Mom says I'm a Sweet Boy!!!

And My Cake was YUMMMMMMMM!!!

And here's Little Reufus sitting for his cake!

'Release' the hound!

Reuf made quick work of devouring the cake,
and he said... mmmmmm!

The Presents

From Aunt Madison, Uncle Tom and The Herd...A New Bleu Bag, A Festive Horn and...

A BLEU and PINK DRAGON!!!!!

Then Saturday morning... the doorbell rang!
Thinking we had a late arriving party guest,
We all three raced to the front door,
Where we greeted the Postman
With a Very Special Package!!!

Reufus knew immediately what was inside. He tried to eat the corner of the box as the Mom and I began to open it carefully... so he has been safely removed, in order that we may take proper photos!

Inside that glorious box, sent to Us from Our Very Special Aunt Sheila and Uncle Bob and Cousins Hamish, Sophie and Foster Tucker... were the tastiest chips that have ever crossed my lips! I mean, seriously, I will do ANYthing for these Sweet Potato Chips!!!

Now come on! Let's get our Chip on!!!

And for my the Mom, this very special calendar... celebrating The Rescues from As Good As Gold Rescue Group! Click HERE to flip through this beautiful calendar. April reminds me of Reufus. And May with Sammy... is my the Mom's personal favorite.

Click HERE to order your own AGAG Calendar! All proceeds directly benefit Goldens in need, and your wall will look AWESOME!!! It's a WIN WIN!

And I WIN again...
with another wonderful gift from
My The Aunt Karen & My Cousins Rizzi and Zeke!!! 

Berry Treats!!!!!
And the cutest BLEU Effylant... Ever!!!

I mean... He is CUTE!
Repleat with the white tusks,
I will call him Biff!

I love My Birthday. I love My Weekend. I love My Cake. I love My Chips. I love My Gifts, My Stuffies! I love Every Minute of Every Day!
I'm grateful to be feeling Great. The Celebration has been fun and super special! And as we unwind from The Festivities, I also treasure the quiet times, the ordinary times, the normalcy. And that's because...

Each of My Days is Chock Full of Love and Comfort!

My Friends, because I've been feeling a bit poorly and we got so far behind on our sleep, I've been out of touch on Facebook and in visiting our Blog Friends. I'll be catching up, as I can, in the next few days. I can't wait to get there, and I appreciate your patience with me!

I thank Every Single One of Yeu for making My Birthday such a Special Celebration!!! Your Support means the world to me. Your prayers and well wishes sustain us...

Go Team Bleu!!!

My Sweet Thursday Night, Reuf's Academic Progress and Campo Blanco Part Five

Many of you know that The Wild Child is enrolled in some sort of Juvy Training Class, and he and the Mom leave me here at home every Thursday evening. I could wax poetic over the injustice of it all when the insolent is rewarded with an evening outing with the Mom...

But life is short, and I have decided, instead, to exploit the time alone by embracing my guilty pleasures! And so, Thursday evening, I do confess... I donned my white cotton shirt, boxer shorts and crisp white socks...


And I did dance. I did slide. I did celebrate while sliding across the hardwood floors. And yes... My Business was definitely Risque'!

To be clear, I'm not a huge fan of being alone... but Reuf is a little what his trainer calls... "glommy".
glom - verb
1. to attach oneself to or associate oneself with
2. ( US ) to acquire, esp without paying

His trainer indicates that Mister Fabulous, rather than being grossly overconfident as the Mom and I have diagnosed... is actually insecure and therefore all up in my business and also... the Mom's.

It is understandable why he would want to be like me, but I do get tired of him being right up in my face. And my ears are plenty clean enough, thank you very much.

I can't deny that he's pretty cute... for a younger brother, I mean. And he and the Mom came home with some great news after class...

It seems that hard work [on all our parts] is paying off, because Reuf was highly complimented in class! About 20 minutes of varying speed walks with loose leash, reverses and sits... and Reuf didn't miss a single command. And his varying sit - stays and recalls were perfection!

After class, he and the Mom were called into the office... but this time they were told that the little imp displays all the characteristics they look for in a competitive agility and/or obedience dog.

To which the Mom responded... "Does that mean he's going to graduate next week?"

I've been worried about that, myself... but they are clearly grading on a curve!

That said, a big change was made this week, and it resulted in a big change!

The Mom resisted the change for a great while... three and a half classes, to be exact. She still doesn't feel great about it, but I'm here to tell you... At long last, Little Reufus is starting to connect the dots!

In the trainer's words... "He's figured out who is steering the ship." For me, I think he's finally making the connection that through minding the Mom, all good things shall come...

He's far from perfection, but his behavior IS improving!!!

I'm reluctant to tell you, but I know you're going to ask... The Big Change is the introduction of the pinch collar. You can't even imagine how opposed to it we both were... but having learned how to use it, we will now tell you that Reufus is lightyears better behaved even when not wearing the collar. And when wearing it, it is hardly necessary! 

All of these photos were taken on July 5th, as we explored Campo Blanco. Reuf really loved all the smells!

It was fun, too, to see him stop and take notice of his surroundings as a whole...

And take it all in...!

He also loved the camaraderie! Spending time with his cousins was great fun, and here he is with Cousin Cane!

Uncle T took Reufus and Cousin Cane on a two mile walk each morning, and I loved it. As you may know... I'm not a morning person. And I enjoyed sleeping in!

Uncle T is quick to note that it was a two mile walk for he and Cane, and a four mile walk for Reufus... who did zig and zag.

Life is wonderful in Wimberley with the Mom... and also not so bad when home alone on Thursday nights!

When you're my size... it's hard to be photogenic on a six foot lead! Just saying.

I think you can see and appreciate, however, my gorgeous furs... but oh how I wish you could smell the fresh smells!

Divine.

All of these photos were taken on July 5th, and that made me think of last year...

July 5, 2010

Orange Toy Night

Me with my goldfish...

 The Luke with his whale...

Sweet...

 In some ways, we weren't aware of how good life was... 

 In some ways, we weren't quite aware of how truly good life was...

But in so many ways... We knew!

Life is... after all... All about Love! 

And speaking of Love...
On our minds tonight is
My Special Pal... The Hamish!

Sweet Boy had a growth removed from his tail,
and he and his wonderful family,

Sister Sophie and Mom and Dad,

are anxiously awaiting diagnostic results.

Please to say A Special Prayer for handsome Hamish!
And send well wishes, positive and healing thoughts his way!!!