Some Retro Christmas

Just foolin' around w/ some vintage tree toppers and lighted stuff from the 40's and 50's.

Really, just goofin' and playin'.

Still need to hide the wires and such...or not.

And, the obligatory photo of our foster pup Otis and Zoe.  Thank God that Zoe is the best dog on earth...at least the best dog on earth under our roof!
Happy Advent people!

Sometimes It's Good to Escape

Although my life is full of fuzzy puppies and darling little kittens,

I still find a need to go to a happier place.

As an owner of a 4 yr. old Lab, our life is pretty good.  Dogs make everything better.  The little puppy is a 4 week old, our newest foster.  He was found at a county landfill last week.  His three littermates were there too, although dead.  We'll foster him several more weeks to help him grow up and learn some more good dog manners from our Lab.  I was able to gladly take him from the rescue group as we'd just gotten home from another cruise.

We went on the Carnival Dream to the Western Caribbean.  

It was a "Halloween" cruise so, got ready w/ a proper pedicure!

We took my husband's 85 yr. old mother with us!  She did great.  This picture is when we're leaving the group on Halloween night.  I was taking her back to her cabin so she could turn in and I was heading to bed myself.  I was SO tired every night that I went to bed when she did!

We rented a cab at Cozumel and went to Paradise Beach.  I wish we could cruise twice a year.  Once a year doesn't seem enough to me.

This bird bit and I was freaked out!  One of the employees put him on my arm.  He was beautiful, entertaining to watch.

When we came back to the port at Cozumel we sat at the most crowded raucous bar.  It was full of cruise ship passengers who were drinking and dancing.  We stopped in for a beer sat at an outdoor table.  The view of our ship was so pretty.  Hopefully, I can post sooner next time but, day to day life seems a struggle.  As usual, I am looking for balance and serenity in my good ol' Nebraska life.  I hope that you have some measure of those two things!

Our last two fosters were Shih Tzus.  Hamish was 4 monthsold and found his permanent  home right away. Angus was 3 months and found a home after 2 weeks.  He was hilarious.  I never though much of the breed but, am now a fan!  They are not like any breed I've met.  I felt like I had circus dogs...big circus dogs in little bodies. 

The really interesting story behind them is that they were bought undercover from a hush hush Puppy Mill auction.  The rescue caught wind of a Puppy Mill in Saunders County, Nebraska that was liquidating.  So, they attended the auction undercover as breeders.  I happened to call Cari (the gal who runs the Rescue that I foster for) while she was at the auction.  She spoke in hushed tones and said, "Cindy, you just wouldn't believe it...it's so sad.  But, every Rescue group that I know of is here".  They bought the little males that no one wanted...paid $50 or $60 for each of them  Many small breeds were represented.  I think it's great that they did this.  The adoption fee just has the $ paid at the auction tacked on.  The breeding females (proven producers) sold for $700-$800.  So sad.

She said there was security there and signs everywhere:  "No Pictures".  Some PETA guy was taking pictures w/ his cell phone.  He wasn't so sneaky as they saw him and took his phone.  He started to argue and they tazed him 3 times!  The Saunders County Sheriff came (was called by the creepy auction people) and got his phone back and said they had no right to taze him.  SO very weird.  

So, when I got Hamish and Angus, they'd never been handled by humans before.  What a fairytale it was around here for those several weeks.  They went from frightened little creatures who cowered all of the time to boisterous boys!  Thank God for all of his Creation.  But, Boooooo to the Puppy Mills.  People!  Please rescue your pets or buy from a private home breeder....ask to see their facility before you get a special breed if that's what you want.  Please spay and neuter.  Sermon over.

Two new Foster Pups...

The photo was taken w/in the first hour they were here.  I put them in the kennel to control their area and give them nothing else to do but sleep.  More on these two Rescues later!

New Foster Pup Dennis

We are still mourning Chuck going to his forever home.  But, he has the best new mother Rebecca.  She's my fb friend and I see and hear updates about their family life.
We now have 7 week old Dennis.  He's a purebread Chocolate Lab.

This kennel is in our bedroom, the first night that Dennis was here, Chuck was a rock and pillow for him.

That little dog was exhausted for days after he got here.  He was a stray from South Dakota...dumped by a bad person (who's identity is known).  Covered in fleas, worms, staph infection...and many bites...oh yeah, very little and only 5.5 wks. old when found.  Their pet rescue was full but, she called her friend in Nebraska who runs "No Pets Left Behind" in Omaha.  Keri (Nebraska) said, "All of our foster homes are full but, there's this one foster mother 'Cindy', she'd be the one who might take him".  Boy, does everyone have my number or what?

So, I am focusing on the canine rescues and praying for my human children.  Sometimes, that's all some of us can do.  Now don't panic...my sons are 18 and 22.  I stay out of the way, love them regardless and pray.  Some of you know what I mean more than others.  Don't worry, I don't have an attachment disorder to my human and most important children.  Have a great week!

Our foster puppy Chuck has been adopted...

8 weeks ago we took on two foster puppies, Chuck and Carli.  Both the most incredible beasts.  Both loved other dogs and people.  Carli was adopted right away which was odd as it was Chuck who had the most inquiries.

She was 6 pounds at 8 weeks and he was 10.  You can't be really blue w/ puppies around.

I know that lots of dogs sleep like this now and again, Chuck slept like this all of the time!  He was always near our yellow Lab, Zoe.  

At 14 weeks, here is Chuck with the new foster puppy Dennis.  Chuck is 25 pounds here and Dennis is 6#.  Dennis arrived last Saturday and Chuck went to his Real home on Monday.  They were instant friends because...well, that's just how Chuck is.  Oh I miss him.

I had house guest on Sunday (and many relatives), so...here is Dennis with the little girls.  Meanwhile, Chuck is out of the frey.

When Chuck is tired, he sleeps.  Oh, I miss him.

Chuck is a Kennel Guy, loves his kennel.  He was more than happy to share his kennel with Dennis the night before he went to his home.

Before Chuck went to have his "nutter butter's" removed (that's what my 11 yr. old nephew called it), Jim took a few pictures of what Chuck and I always looked like together.  Seriously, 100% of the time...when I held him, this was it. 

Don't look at me...I slept terrible...look at Chuck.  He knew I loved him.  Excuse me, I need to cry.

PUPPIES

For whatever reason, I'm less happy now in this glorious spring than I was during the worst winter in Nebraska history.  

I've found that I'm alone most of the time...empty nest right now and St. Jim is on the road 5 days a week.  I am such a good citizen and an extremely responsible person that I knew if I volunteered for something, I'd follow through on it....and do it well!  So, I volunteered to foster puppies for a pet rescue. I suppose that sounds extreme but, had to do something extreme to change my feelings.   

In the first place, I knew that it would get me outside and keep me outside.  I have a few hundred square feet of garden's in the back yard, and I've gotten so much exercise and sunshine this past week weeding and tending.  The puppies play around me when I'm out there....it's great.

Zoe, our 3 yr. old lab is famous for her funny personality and great dog manners.  The good citizen part of me thought that she would be such an excellent mentor for puppies and rescue dogs.  
Also, we have neighborhood children around here every day now!  We've always been "that" house (the one where children are drawn to)but, now I have the joy of children in my space as they bubble with delight while playing with the puppies every day after school.

My parent's older lab, Brie, was here to meet Chuck (above) and Carli.  Brie had knee surgery 4 weeks ago, hence the shaved leg.

I could watch them for hours but, they ARE only 7 weeks old so, do sleep a lot.

Enjoy looking at the rest of the puppy pictures, it sure has lifted my spirits having them here!  Oh!  And to all you mothers, hope you had a nice day yesterday.

My father-in-law died several months ago.  So we left Nebraska for the great state of Wisconsin.  Since my camera is also a piece of jewelry, I'll share a couple of highlights from our 4 day Funeral Trip.  Below is a picture of a Jaguar Limo we saw south of Des Moines, Iowa.  

My husband Jim is a saint, seriously.  He deserves to have the two most adorable grand daughters.  The little one below is Dorothy and Della is in a later picture.  My father in law (August Kasten) was a wonderful man. A great husband, father and friend.  He was a farmer in his younger years, then a Postmaster.  They are Wisconsin Synod Lutheran so, the funeral was really meaningful to me as it had all kinds of theological stuff in it.

Dorothy was fighting sleep so, I used my Trick and she was out in a minute. (NO, I didn't rock her to sleep with a rock).  Then my 17 yr. old son asked, "Can I hold her"?  Here is a precious picture of that.

We took pictures galore as everyone was there.  My mother in law Shirley is in the center.  The back row is John, Cindy, St. Jim.  Front row is Myra, Shirley and Judy.  These people are hilarious!  Look at John's face!  We're going on a cruise together w/ these jokers and some spouses next fall.  I can not wait.  My Jim has the kindest face, doesn't he?

We stayed at Cindy's house (yes, my husband has a sister also named Cindy.  What's stranger is that I have a brother named Jim).  Since we were there over the weekend too, we hit the local GoodWill.  Does anyone else do this?  I take pictures of really interesting strangers.  Jim saw me zooming in on this guy...I looked up and winked at him.  He turned on his heels and walked away fast!  Hahahaha!

My Mother In Law was opening a gift, the little great grandchildren gathered around.  Can you see Della's hair?  I had made a big deal about fixing her hair real "beautiful".  She let me do that and grinned and wore that all night!  I love messin' w/little kids.

Well, that's all I have for now.  I just had to put something out there as I miss you guys!  Hugs!

Caribbean Cruise Memories

The third island that we docked at was St. Kitts.  I hadn't heard of this place before and am now so glad that we got to see so much of this island country!  When we got off the ship, the first thing that we saw was the shops that were typical of these island ports.  Diamonds!  Thought it was funny that the van there said Ministry of Finance.  So happens, the tour we joined up with was organized by this young man's aunt!  It was his 21st BD and he was in our tour van.  We had a fantastic day!

The first thing we saw of real interest on our private island tour were these goats in a graveyard that we drove through! 

And more goats!  We asked the driver 'who's goats they are' and he said, "nobody's"! 

These egrets are not native to St. Kitts.  They "blew in with a hurricane once".

We were making our way to Brimstone Hill.  There is a fort up there from the 1600's that the British built.

There were a group of men sitting near here...drinking.

Check out the plate on our van!  Heeee!

This was just fascinating!  We got to go all through it!

As St. Lucia had one beer...Piton.  St. Kitts had one beer....Carib!  And it was good.  The gentleman to the right was our tour guide.  We had a blast!

After the fort we went to the beach to snorkel.  The sand was black.  The water had a much lower salinity than St. Lucia.  I don't know how that works but, St. Lucia's water was much more bouyant.....everyone was commenting on it.  I was nervous snorkeling there as there were many of those black spikey sea urchins!

This ship was docked in the bay where we were swimming.  It's a luxury cruise ship I guess...real expensive and fancy.  That's all I know about it.

Here I am in the Caribbean waters by St. Kitts.  I can FEEL what it felt like with my memory!  It's nice having a vivid memory in this frozen wasteland of Nebraska.