Sammy Sacks {New Life for Torn Dog Toys}

I bet we all know a dog that 'kills' stuffy toys.  Well, apparently Sammy is one of those dogs.  I talked to our trainer about it and as it turns out 'gutting' or pulling out the stuffing and/or squeakers is a very instinctual behavior that is stronger in some dogs.  Katie didn't really ever go through this.  In fact, she even still has some of her puppy toys from five years ago.  So, I feel really unprepared for this whole experience with Sammy.

This is a typical scene in the house.  I'll spare you the pictures where the stuffing is everywhere and she's still pulling material out or ripping the fabric.  Dogs!  Does this count as eating for Tasty Tuesday over at Sugar the Golden Retriever?  Sammy sure thinks it does.

Being the dedicated dog momma I am, I would pick up the fluff, stuff it back into the toy, and sew the opening closed again.  I've done this so many times.  But over the last two weeks it's gotten to the point that I would 'fix' a toy and Sammy would have it ripped apart in a matter of minutes.  Argg!  She has even evolved to finding the sewn closure and specifically ripping that spot open.  She knows it's a weakness in the toy.  Argg again! 

So, what to do?  I had made a huge 'dead' toy pile on the dining room table and needed to either throw them out or reinvent them.  I don't like the idea of throwing them out -- feels like a lot of wasted money. 

So, here's what I did.  I went through the dead toy pile and pulled out a working squeaker.  Put it into the torn squirrel you see pictured and sewed him back together.

I took some left over home decorating weight fabric and cut a piece to accommodate the size of the toy.  Go ahead and put the right sides together and sew a double seam around three sides of the square.

And since I'm using fabric is a fun way, I'll be sharing this at Fabric Tuesday at Quilt Story.  Maybe it will help other dog mommas!

Now, turn the sack right side out.  And admire the cute elephants.  Notice I'm using brown colored fabric.  That should mask some of the dirt, slobber, fur since it will be living in a dogs mouth.

Yup, you guessed it.  The toy is now put in through the remaining open side of the sack.  I said a few words for Mr. Squirrel.  He's been a favorite toy of both dogs for some time now and I'm sad to see him go, but this should be a safer resting place.

Tuck the opening flaps inward, pin, and sew another double seam all the way around the sack.

Did I get a finish photo, nope.  Forgot.  Sammy nearly pulled the 'toy' out of my hands when I finished.  Did I get a photo with Sammy running around with her 'Sammy Sack' -- nope.  I was laughing way way too hard.  She's a clown. 

So far, this reinvention of soft toys has been a huge success!  Sammy and Katie both love trying to figure out what's inside and have no problem squeaking it.  They have used it as a tug toy between them rather roughly.  And I think I even saw Sammy laying down with it; she's probably scheming how to get to the 'guts'.  But, here we are on day four and the sack has survived!  That's victory around here!

I think more Sammy Sacks are in our future since we have a lot more soft toys to save.  And I think I might even use old jeans for the next ones since that fabric should be able to take the abuse.  Plus, it's reusing times two; once for the dead toy and once for the dead jeans!  I'll try and check in later in the week with the status of the toy and with a playing picture.

Do you know a dog that could use a Sammy Sack?

Baby Sammy Stuffie

I want to share a quick little stuffie I made for my niece. 

I took a piece of that really plush fabric I had left laying around.  Put the right sides together and loosely sketched out a simple Sammy dog shape.

Cut out the shape and sew it together.

Flip it inside out, fill with stuffing or left over batting bits, close the hole and tie on a cute ribbon. 

Cute, right?

Happy Unbirthday to YOU!!

Even though I am one of those crazy Leo's that celebrates the whole month... today is the actual day that I turn another year wiser (giggles).  Mr. Happy has lots in store to celebrate.  There have been lots of puppy kisses to start the day. 

And, I couldn't have come up with a better video to share, featuring the talented Augie and Ti (BIG thank you to Joan for sharing it with me!! xoxo).  After all, I bet today is your Unbirthday, isn't it?? 

It is?  Well, by golly a very merry 

happy unbirthday to you.. and you... and you!!!

Yes, I am feeling very loved today!!  Thank you so much for everything you do and for sharing these moments with me!  Hugs and Smooches!!

Katie's Hiking Adventures

There is now about an inch of snow on the ground... funny how these photos feel like they are from so long ago... even though its only been about a month.

Oh how things change.

I thought we could use a comic break from the crafting, sewing, and prepping overload and tune into Katie's Hiking Adventures with her best friend.

And they hiked happily ever after -- the end.

We are certainly way overdue for another one of these.  I dug my snow boots out last night and plan to take advantage of the sunny weather and get outside with the pup over the next few days.

The frolicking and silliness will be the same, but the setting will be more frozen, gray-blue-white, and chilly.

Don't forget to take a break from all the holiday madness and re-center yourself so you can enjoy the next few days.  Yes, that's right.... deep breath in through the mouth and out slowly through the nose. 

That's better!

Katie and the Great Pumpkin!

I could go on and on about how I am loving this fall!  The colors have been B-E-A-U-T-I-F-U-L!!

This is a snap from the lake near the house.  It helps all the day's cares melt away!

We also picked out our pumpkin!  It's a big one, with a great carving area! 

I'm still not sure what I am going to carve on it, but you can bet it will be something creative!

So, why am I rambling about fall and pumpkins?  Well, ever since Katie joined our family I have been trying to get a picture of her and a pumpkin.  And I think this year I just may have done it. 

Here is how the photo shoot went. 

Katie didn't really want to go sit by the pumpkin at first, but then she played along.  She's looking at her Dad who is farther away in the lawn.  I still need to see how his pictures came out.

(hint, hint, wink, wink, my darlin' Mr. Happy)

This little thing cracks me up!  She has a leaf on her bottom!

She is such a grown up dog anymore.  I still call her my puppy, but just look at this classic golden look!

Aww, that tongue, those eye lashes... especially those eye lashes!  Don't they just melt you to the core?

This one just might be my favorite.  She still isn't really looking at me... at this point she had had enough, but it shows that spunk in her eyes. 

And I can't resist a close up of that adorable little nose!

Do you torture, I mean, capture your pets in holiday type photos?  Any tricks that you could share to get them to work with you?

And tonight... tonight is is exciting.  Katie is going to put on a crazy Halloween costume and pose for more of my goofy photo shoot pictures (I hope!), so that we can enter a doggy costume photo contest we found at AuggieDoggie.com. 

Seriously, you have got to check out the costumes on the Goldies over there... hippies, flowers, super heros. 

It's cuteness overload!  Hope your day is doing amazing things for you!

More Randomness

I think I'm fighting a cold, or allergies, or both.  So today, I bring you more random things that make me happy.

Maple candy.

It's incredibly sweet.  This particular one really just dissolved in my mouth and it's got a taste that just doesn't match anything else.

Mr. Happy treated me to some recently and I now totally understand the Friends episode where Ross goes into sugar shock after eating a whole box of this stuff.  I can't imagine how much I would be pinging off the wall if I ate a bunch of it. 

It also led to fun stories of how Mr. Happy's family used to make maple candy by boiling down the sap from sugar maple trees.  I'm facinated.  I really think I want to make my own maple syrup next year too. 

An Easter themed candle and white duck with green ribbon.

Both of these were gifts.  The candle from a neighbor and the duck from a bridal shower.  I just love how spring-y they look together!  I have them on top of a white marble lazy susan -- yup it spins!

The bring pop of color and comical face on the duck really brighten my day!

Katie and her best friend Mina.

These two dogs are about a year apart.  Katie is our fur baby and Mina is Mr Happy's parents dog.  Katie, as you know, is a golden retriever.  Mina is a german shepard.

Katie was brought home on Mr. Happy's birthday.  Mina was born on Mr. Happy's birthday.

Together these two are total hilarity!  We try and have Mina over as often as possible.  We also bring Katie to visit Mina so that the two of them can do, well, what ever it is that dogs do.

Mina can always tell when their truck turns onto Katie's road.

Katie can somehow always tell when Mina is coming over.

They make a huge fuss when they see each other complete with licking, kisses, noises, running, jumping... well you get the picture!

Here they are this past weekend.  Frick and Frack.

Tulips are blooming!

It's one thing to see other peoples tulips blooming.  Don't get me wrong, they are pretty and everything.

But, seeing tulips in my own garden about ready to open really tickles me the right way!

So much promise, so much beauty to be shared.  And I finally get in on the surprise of what flowers are where. 

This past fall I bought a TON of bulbs.  We opened all the packages and dumped them all into a big bin.  Mixed them really well.  And then planted them.  Everywhere!

So, I have no clue which colors or styles or varieties are where.  I am going to be just as surprised as you.  For days they have only been pairs of leaves reaching for the sun.  Then this past weekend I started seeing some buds.  Buds are green, meaning, I still didn't know what I was going to get. 

And last night I noticed the first hints of color!  Lots of yellow.  Of course I hold that yellow is the first color of spring and anything yellow tends to pop first.  I also have at least one pink one.  And of course there are lots more that will still share what they are. 

The real question is did any of my Amsterdam bulb survive the digging and re-planting from the move?  I will be on the look out for those awesome orange crowned tulips.  A picture of them from last year here.

Whatever your doing today, hope you find a smile in it!

Balance is Key

Between all this snow and work... balance is a must!  Not really, but I needed an excuse to post these cutie patutie pictures of Katie with treats on her nose.


Enjoy!

Loving on the doggie = happiness!

Mohawk's ROCK!

Katie gets a bath just like any 'ole dog... in the tub. 

With warm water and shampoo. 

She's always been a good bather.  From when she was little we would bribe her with treats, so luckily she now associates towels and running water with cookies (doggie cookies that is)!  Meaning she jumps right in to tub! 

I normally try and just get 'er done really quickly.  But for some reason I couldn't resist playing around a tiny bit and giving the sweet thang a bit of a mohawk.  It helps that Mr. Happy happened to pass by and take some snaps for us.

Katie doesn't have a ton of hair on her head, but there is enough there to form a little soapy ridge. 

Looking back on these pictures now I am having some crazy mommas guilt.  She doesn't look too happy does she? 

(that didn't stop me from laughing a little and I promise she got lots of snacks and that she was a happy camper again when she was rinsed and toweled dry... not too long after these were taken)

I love how patient she is!  How lucky I am that she puts up with me! 

Dog Done

Here is your third edition of happy for the day ... as promised!

It's Friday.
It was a long week.
Nothing fixes a long week better than the big doggy grin!  Here it comes...



She looks this way...

Then that way... with a half wink...

Then lands into a full out full teeth happy grin!!

That's how Friday's make me feel too!!  Especially Friday's that start off three day weekends!!  



Happy Friday my sweeties!!  May your weekend be starting off a nicely as mine is!!  Hope you get a nice visit from the relaxation fairy shortly!!

The View

I may be tired of the snow.  But you can't deny that this doesn't look like a postcard.  One of those perfect postcards that you might pick up from a ski slope souvenir shop.  But really.... this is the view from my living room.  Lovely no?

When we found this house and saw the BIG windows... we knew it was the house for us.  It was seriously one of the major selling points.  And from September till the first snow all Mr. Happy could say was that he couldn't wait to see snow in the window.  Well.  It's here now.  

Katie is reading my mind perfectly.  It's all pretty.  But, can you make it go away now?  We're dying to see how the tulips come up... and see the birds frolic.  Heck.. I'd be happy right now to be able to go out without my super duper warm professional snowboard get up.  Yes... I'm dreaming of getting my hands in dirt.. but the dirt is frozen.  So, till it's warmer I will admire the view. 

She's pretty ain't she?


Admiring the cold, snowy, icy, gusty, freezing winter from the warmth of my living room = happiness!


Proving that all it really takes is prospective (and a warm place to view) to see something better in the winter wonderland = happiness!

Catch up on the rest

Hard to complain about a thing when you have this to treasure:

Hope your weekend is amazing and you are enjoying it totally!

Leaf monster

It's that time of year. We've been busy finishing up the yard work in preparation for the winter. It's a duty that comes with a house. But that's not to say that there is not fun to be had.

We've been doing things like picking up sticks, cleaning gutters, stacking firewood, raking and picking up leaves.

Hey.... What's that in the leaves there?

It's a bird? A plane?  Nope... it's Katie dog!  Yes indeed.  Katie is the perfect reminder that big piles of leaves are meant for hiding in. 

Have you played in the leaves lately?