My new toy

We got a Bissell. For those of you who, like me, had no idea what that is, it is a carpet cleaner. Now, I was pretty resistant to the new device at first. It’s bulky, weighs a ton and has more compartments than a submarine. But wow…it works so well.

Living with two doggies makes an impression and nothing is more impressionable than a rug. Check out the before and after pics.

This is before

This is when I had just done one strip.

This is the final product.

I love our Bissell.

Of cushions and husbands

Well, I’m sick. I don’t know if it’s the weather or allergies or what but my head feels like there are a thousand bees buzzing around in it. It certainly didn’t help that we were running around in the freezing cold yesterday searching for a new cushion for River. This is our weather statement right now. It’s cold out there and it’ll be cold for a while yet. I know we have winter dogs but I fret about leaving them outside for the entire day when it’s this cold. So, last Friday, I left them in…and River decided the best way to spend his time was to eat his cushion. So now we’re looking for another one for his royal fluffiness.

But it’s easier said than done. We have demands we want from a cushion and yesterday, after looking through 3 stores, we had to head home and warm up. So, my hubby decided he would fix the cushion.

He started with a needle and thread…but after many British curses that I won’t repeat here and too many bandaids to count, he moved to another medium. 

Duck tape.

Happiness — Wicked Aww Pics

Absolutely adorable! What a great picture. I particularly love how happy the puppy is. Blissfully unaware of any problems. A huge thank you to Wicked-aww-pics for this awesome picture!

Happiness

via Happiness — Wicked Aww Pics

Ocean and the plant

Ocean–our nimble, sneaky, doggie girl who’s just a fuzzy version of trouble–has learned a new trick. She’s learned how to open doors.

I have no idea how she’s learned that. Especially since she still doesn’t seem to understand the concept of not jumping up at people who are all dressed up on their way to work and smear them with dirty paws. You’d think the word: No! And Down! wouldn’t be that hard to understand, but Ocean seems completely stumped as to their meaning. Opening doors, on the other hand, she’s got that pat down.

The culprit…trying to look innocent

Unfortunately, Ocean has a passion for dirt that no amount of healthy doggie food will ease. Some time ago she discovered our poor plant and the dirt on it has become her doggie version of heaven. So, she tries and tries to get at this plant hidden in our office, that’s dying from lack of, you guessed it, lack of dirt. Once there, she eats the stuff until the roots show leaving traces of her snack all around the pot of the plant.

The evidence…clear as dirt

Up to now, I had stopped her from killing the innocent green creature by closing the door…but the last two days, I have woken to find the door open in the morning, dirt all over the floor and, I swear, Ocean licking her lips.

Today, after work, I actually caught her in the act. She had her dinner but refused to settle like the already comatose River, and snuck to the office. I crept after her and, sure enough, there she was, jumping up with unbelievable determination until her one paw hit the door handle and opened the door. Then in she went, to dirt heaven.

So, I think this weekend hubby and I will go get another plant (this one is a pretty past tense thing) and will move the pot and the plant into the living room so that we can keep an eye on it and Ocean can’t sneak around at night and get at it. As plans go, this one isn’t foolproof but its something.

The victim…barely alive

 

I have no idea why she likes to eat dirt. There must be some worm DNA in there somewhere in akitas because otherwise how can you explain that she likes dirt but is very picky about kibble?

On the other hand, its a sad reality is that, in our house, we have to rearrange furniture and plants not according to taste but according to dog habits.