Here in this house

I will never know the loneliness I hear in the barks of the other dogs ‘out there’.
I can sleep soundly, assured that when I wake, my world will not have changed.
I will never know hunger, or the fear of not knowing if I’ll eat.
I will not shiver in the cold, or grow weary from the heat.
I will feel the sun’s heat, and the rain’s coolness, and be
allowed to smell all that can reach my nose.
My fur will shine, and never be dirty or matted.

Here in this house… There will be an effort to communicate with
me on my level. I will be talked to and, even if I don’t understand,
I can enjoy the warmth of the words. I will be given a name so that
I may know who I am among many.
My name will be used in joy, and I will love the sound of it!

Here in this house… I will never be a substitute for anything I am
not. I will never be used to improve peoples’ images of themselves. I
will be loved because I am who I am, not someone’s idea of who I
should be. I will never suffer for someone’s anger, impatience, or
stupidity. I will be taught all the things I need to know to be loved
by all. If I do not learn my lessons well, they will look to my teacher for blame.

Here in this house… I can trust arms that hold, hands that touch…
knowing that, no matter what they do, they do it for the good of me.
If I am ill, I will be doctored. If scared, I will be calmed. If sad, I will be
cheered. No matter what I look like, I will be considered beautiful
and known to be of value.

I will never be cast out because I am too old, too ill, too unruly, or not
cute enough. My life is a responsibility, and not an afterthought. I
will learn that humans can almost, sometimes, be as kind and as fair
as dogs.

Here in this house… I will belong. I will be home.
 Author unknown to me. ... 

a fellow forum member posted this and I so enjoyed it that I thought I would pass it along for other animal lovers to enjoy as well.  

Happiest of Thanksgivings to each and all!! 

Love,

Sarah and the Weens!

Chilly Willy the Weenie!

IZ COLD AS HECK OUTSIDE AN I DOAN LIEK IT WAN BIT!!


 
But THANK DAWG it's FRIDAY!!!! WOOOOOOOOOOOO  
Happy weekend eve everyone!

Hot Amish pt. one ....

There comes a time in each of our lives when we meet that special person that quickly works their way into our hearts and gains the title of best friend.  My daughter has been fortunate to find her soul bestie early on.  They met in the latter half of 2nd grade and all I heard was Tash this and Natasha that.  I was THRILLED because I remember when.  The giggling, the knowing look you both share over something really great, the soothing when in later years a guy broke your heart and they knew how to make it better.  Girlfriends are an important part of a woman's life.  I am grateful that my little girl has such a sweet one.

Zoe & Natasha *goofing* for the camera


But sometimes as time goes by we drift away from our girlfriends because "it" happens.  The man comes along that takes all your attention away or you just grow apart.  How ever it happens, it tends to happen.  For me it happened early on as I drifted away from those in high school I felt it was time to let go, I wasn't truly close to anyone and the one person I was close to... Well their lifestyle was one I wanted to avoid and grow up from.  Staying friends with them would only bring me down. 

I have a hard time making friends.  I am a very blunt and honest person and I don't deal with pissy, whining nor emotional women who can't get a grip on reality.  I tend to be very GOOD friends with guys because they know what's what and how to deal with it.  But for the longest time I was wanting something more.  A girlfriend if you will.  Someone who knows the "hate" of the monthly visit, someone that understands that another pair of shoes is a GOOD thing.   Someone that wasn't my husband or my Mom, who are truly my best friends.  I wanted someone like me in many ways but different all the same.

Well .. as luck would have it Zoe helped make this want into a reality for me.  Tash's Mom!


That person in the middle is someone I LOVE to hang out with, we like to talk shit about our men left and right but we know that we love them more than anything in the world so we don't judge when the man bash begins.  She encouraged me to STUFF my fat ass into a bathing suit and go to the lake this year.  I wouldn't have dared it without her insistence! She brings me the awesome "trash" mags from work and I hunt for jeans in Tash's petite size.  She's like a sister, one that I never knew I had but I can't wait to get to know all about her better.   She tolerates my "dots" and makes me laugh til I think I could pee my pants if I laughed any harder.

So Liz ... if you see this ..  I am very thankful for you this year.   You're my favorite hot Amish I tell ya and I promise, for now .. I wont post that picture.  :)  There might be a Pt. 2 to explain it tho. Ha!

Falling ..

From time to time I tend to literally fall of the face of the earth when it comes to blog stuff, Facebook adventures, my favorite Dachsie forum and even not bothering to come near the PC for days, sometimes a full week at a time.  I blame my cell for this as it's easier to read things via the cell and just become the lurker.   But lately, with more gusto I have been interested in being at my desk, fiddling with projects here, organizing the blasted thing for the millionth time and so on.

I often wonder tho.  Does anyone really give a rats butt what I have to say.  I don't find myself to be all that interesting to follow but for some reason people follow.  Thanks for that it makes me feel like someone pays attention to my random blathering.

So a little update since it's been  ... well .. too long.
The Weens are all AWESOME.   Kai and Mishka just this past Thursday went in for their "snip".  They didn't dig the ride in and were high as wee little kites when I went to pick them up.   By the next day they were in their typical barky butt form with a touch of whine as the pain meds had worn off completely.  Fast forward to today and you would think nothing has ever touched them.

Although starving from 4pm on, waking up to find yourself ushered out to do your biz when no man nor beast belongs up at such a nutty hour, Mom sticking you into the porta crate, only to be dropped off at a funny smelling place.  Finding yourself suddenly rather sleepy only to wake up and be drugged beyond all comprehension.  "Why does my butt area hurt Mom?" they seemed to say when I picked them up, the ride home was blissfully quiet.  ( I should get some more of those drugs )  The sleep it off session was fantastic.  My two most obnoxious terrorists were passed out.    All in all it was a good experience for me at least.  Hehe  My boys will never father unwanted babies, most important in my book!


Mishka and Kai the evening before... utterly clueless as usual.  :)  


In the back of the van refusing to look at me ..


S/Nipped where it all happened.  ( Thanks Tamara and staff!!! )


A couple of zonked out babies

Happiness from France

So I've gotten into a little quiet slump but I thought I would share my latest joy... 

Lucite Dachshund knife rests all the way from France.   I am just shy of having a complete set at 11.  *sigh*  The hunt is on but patience is a key word for me here.  :) 


Oh this looks so BIG doesn't it?


Ok .. so perhaps it's not so BIG but the contents were "big" to me..



They say ...  "Bonjour personnes merveilleuses des blogs"

Happiness is.....

A box in the mail that comes addressed to lil ol' me.  Especially when the kids have been making me nuts, the Weens have been barky butts and I'm feeling like just hiding in the bathroom for a month or two.

The contents made me cry but not sad more like awe over how beautiful the goodies were.  Hubby wandered in and I said to him wow I feel like the lotto fell out into my hands. 

So to my utmost favorite lil red smoothie boy and his wonderful Momma I say thank you so very much you made my hectic nutty day feel suddenly quite peaceful and happy again.

New Book Cont: Dachshund Coats, Colors & Patterns

So my book arrived yesterday much to my delight but I simply didn't have the time to sit down and page through it then so today was the day.

I was extremely pleased to find the book encased in bubble wrap upon opening the box.  I am one of those types that hates to have a new book with rumpled edges.  It was thinner than I had expected but don't let the thinness of the book fool you. The moment I opened the book ( typical me starting in the middle and flipping through ) I was utterly delighted at the amount of photos.  The photos alone right now make the book fantastic to me.   I haven't read it cover to cover yet but yes the photos are a big thing for me.  Call me a little kid but I like pictures.  Who doesn't?  I found that the book literally does cover everything it seems about the coats, colors and patterns.   For someone like me who has only seen photos on the internet of most Dachshunds it's very nice to have a guide to refer to on "what" those coats are called.  You can easily flip through and stop on a photo to know you're in the right spot to read about what you're looking for.  Visual reference is NICE! But enough of my "blathering"  How about some "visuals" of the book itself.





Like I said .. do not let the thinness fool you...



Wires.. who can resist how cute they are?  I've yet to meet one in real life but I'm dying to!


Can you believe that's the same dog in all 4 photos?  That made me go OOOOOH!  :)



Dapples...  this is an area I truly would like to know more about as I have a double dapple who is blind.  My sweet Shiloh. 



The section where Color & Primary Pattern visuals starts, pg's 67-71 is great as well.  Once again very visual. Did I say I like visual?  I most certainly do.  :)


Why yes.. please confuse me.   I am sure though with time and reading I will begin to understand exactly what this all means.




Again if you're interested in picking up this wonderful book for yourself please follow the link to:  The Wienepedia
(if you decide to purchase the book please mention me, Sarah Sandberg.  I would ever so appreciate it.  :) )

New Book: Dachshund Coats, Colors, & Patterns

As most of my friends know I am an utter food nut when it comes to my Dachshunds but I have been starting to become more and more interested in the "why" behind the color variations ( since you all know my 6 pack is like skittles... every color of the rainbow )  and along came a wonderful little linky with such a thing...
A lovely new book with oodles of information on the very thing I'd like to learn about.

Dachshund Coats, Colors & Patterns is, in my thoughts, a dream come true.   My curiosity led me to e-mail the author about the book as I wanted to know which format it was in, hard or soft and how many pages.  A portion of her reply here:

The book is hardback and 88 pages long.  It covers everything under the sun - looks as well as genetics - relating to coat types, colors, patterns, and most all the mixes thereof that can or even might be found in dachshunds.  It's based on grounded historical information as well as the latest research that's out there.

 That's all it took.  Hardback and over 30 pages.  I'm sold.   :)

Info:
Full of explanations about the many coat types, colors, and patterns that can be found in dachshunds and other breeds.  Includes a slew of photographs as well as drawings, graphical charts, and other charts.  The information is applicable to just about every dog breed and can be utilized when making sound breeding decisions.  It also makes for a great coffee table piece and conversation starter for those who simply enjoy dachshunds and all the colors they come in.  There is no modern book like this on the market for man's best friend!

Take a peek of the photos!  ( used with permission from: Facebook Page: The Wienepedia)








To purchase this book:  The Wienepedia  
(if you decide to purchase the book please mention me, Sarah Sandberg.  I would ever so appreciate it.  :) )


It arrived yesterday....  :)
So ... I'll be checking it out and let ya all know what I think of it k? 

Have you ever?

Wanted to say how you really felt but didn't.

I feel like that often over things I can not change.
Not family or home life.  Those I can happily say are peaceful times I wouldn't change for the world.

But things around me, people and so on.  Yeah ... they irk me.  Some of what I might type in here might seem offensive to anyone who reads this and I openly say if it "may" offend you then look away. 

Now I tend to keep quiet because I find that confrontational behavior makes people pout and dislike you because you don't agree with them. In fact they tend to get rather butt hurt if you don't like the way they doing something, look or their choice on the menu that evening.

Sometimes I just want to say to the world.  Why don't you bugger off and just let me do my own "thang".

I want to tell someone that makes insulting little "comments" to go stuff themselves because *gasp* life isn't perfect and money doesn't fix everything. 

I want to tell all the political fanatics to to stuff their ideas back up where the sun doesn't shine because truly I get tired of seeing everyone's "opinions" on how things should be run in the world.  Instead of having an opinion and bitching about it... TRY to do something about it.

To the kind and gentle religious what evers that have been to my door for the millionth time this month and last. YES I believe in GOD and NO I have no desire to join your religion.  Please just listen to what I have to say when I say "No come back now ya hear?" and LEAVE me alone.  Thanks much!
( oh blasphemy eh? )

To the people that have walked out of my life I have a special "Fuck Off" for you. Please quit trying to friend me on Facebook, Myspace, find my e-mail or phone number off the internet.  I have nothing to say to any of you other than. We're not friends, we shall never be friends and I have no real interest in hearing about what's going on in your world when you never gave a rats ass about mine honestly to begin with.

To the people that can't seem to understand what manners are when in a public place.  Seriously?  How hard was it to walk past that elderly woman who obviously needed a little hand getting through that "manual" door.  I am glad I was there for her when you were so oblivious.


For every person who becomes impatient in a grocery store line.  SHAME on you.  The store is there as a convenience for you not a "right" So what if the 7 year old in front of you has nothing but change to give.  Don't you remember buying your first bits of naughty candy?  Don't ruin the experience by bitching out loud about how long it's taking.   Also ... remember that cashiers are human beings just like yourself.  That they have most likely been standing there checking out "product" all day and they are tired.  How hard is it ... really.. to just ask .. How is your day?  ( you know you're the 100th' person they've asked that very question most likely... be first for once and actually listen to their answer )


To those people that do not have children and chose to make wise cracks about people that do have children.  Spend a week in my shoes and you will see why sometimes I sometimes chose to do things the way I do.  To childless people who think they know it all.  You're rather wrong.
But....  I do agree that parents should be held accountable for their children's actions.  100%.

I have tons to say .. so much more .. but for now I'll just let this ride it's wave...  because I have a treat postie to work on for later..

Back to the regular Jibberish I blather about now...  :)

Vintage Dachsie Goodness

YIPPIE!!! That's all I'm saying about this squat lil long dog.  He takes mini to a whole new level with his short length.

Now what I want to know is ... what was he for?  He's just too dinky to be much of anything.  Pen holder? Nope, the hole is too short.  Cactus? Nope the hole isn't deep enough.   Pinky stuffer in'er.  So far that's what he's been good for.

You tell me?   :)

Shamless Solicitations

Utterly shameless..  Mishka enjoying tummy lovings when he was a wee little bit of a pup.   :) 

Sin Dawg

Om nom noms wrapped in a devilishly cute bag of Ween goodness!

Now just think the ulimate cinnie roll with raisin and molasses goodness covered in lovely seed bits ( sesame, Sunflower & pumpkin.  DELISH I tell you delish!  Just holding the package up to your nose gives you an idea of how much your taste buds are going to cry out with joy.  Yes pure squee for the mouf! 

Dave's Killer Bread is awesome and organic too for those that love organic things.  :)  
Yummo!

Grandma Lucy's Artisan

So this afternoon I am off to pickup Kitteh n' Puppeh food at my favorite place, Mary Ann's Natural Pet in Florence, OR.  Low in behold she's out of the beloved Taste of the Wild Manna my babies so happily nom.  No fears, it will be in Tuesday.  YAY!  So looking around I spied this lovely lil bag of freeze dried grain free goodness.  Hmmmmms... Grandma Lucy's .  This bright happy yellow bag during the day of dreary yeck poo rain.  I nipped it from it's resting place and trotted to the counter.  "Tell me a bit about this?"  

Now Miss Mary Ann ( not sure if she's Miss., Ms. or Mrs. so I'll stick with Miss to be safe ) she is one of the best people I can possibly think of to ask any sort of question of when it comes to feeding, supplements and the like.  A wealth of know how and willing to share it.  My favorite kind of person to just listen to if given the chance to stand there and hear how this or that works. 

So .. yes the lil 3lb bag that makes approx 17 lbs of fresh food took a 25 mile ride home with me.  

Who wants words when we have PICTURES .. yay for visuals.  :) 

 Artisan Chicken Freeze-Dried/ Grain-Free ( me likey grain free!! )

Big chunks of chicki.  I broke them up as I saw them since I am "adding" this into the kibble I feed at night.  They don't need chunks but I was glad to see them there.  Yay chunks of chicki goodness!

6 lil Weena bowls.. 

One of these bowls is not like the other.  By "accident" I picked up another bowl that I thought was the same but when I got home had realized my mistake.  But it's a cute mistake since it's a teeny dog and Mishka is a teeny weenie.  :)

Le' bits ... pre-water

Le' bits ... post water ( for those interested in trying this out I "feel" and this is just me that this is VERY potato based and would be better as a "added" yum factor. But then this was my first try out of it as a "add in" and not a whole dinner item.

Yon wee kibbums added. 

The nom festivities ...  From left to right in order of "butt" appearance and in what order they get their bowls...

Shiloh, Molly, Toby, BeBe, Kai and Mishka ( blind boy is special he goes first )

Licked clean.. 

Final thoughts..  When I added the warm water this LOVELY aroma wafted up.  I only placed a tablespoon into each bowl as they each get 1/4th kibbie grain free at night.  It's always nice to sleep on a pleasantly full tummy.  The bag calls for 5-10lbs Average dog gets 3/4 to 1 1/4 cup.  It smelled as what I can best described as thanksgiving dinner scents all mixed into one.  Lovely.  ( I was tempted to try it. )

The Weens usually will lick their bowls after I add Sojos ( just the veggie/fruit one ) at night but they don't lick them clean.  The bowls were spotless upon closer inspection.

As I mentioned before this does seem to be heavier on the potato flake but as an addition to kibbie I think it was an excellent treat.  

$21.49 a bag was quite reasonable when you consider what other similar types of food like this run.  

I will buy it again. 
( if only just to smell Thanksgiving dinner nightly )

Toys

I gots them... 

They wants them... 

One must climb "into" the basket to select just the perfect stuffy goodness.

Molly ... she's not picky .. that one will do.  ;)

Baffs Suk ... A lil late in the evening Wordless Wednesday. :)