Photo an Hour: Porter's Transport Day!

7am: Our foster pug Porter was adopted last week, and his new home is in Maryland. We volunteered to take the first four and a half hour leg of his transport to Kingsport, Tn. Honestly, I wish we could have driven him the whole way! We got up at 7 am on Sunday morning, and had a special cinnamon roll breakfast.

8 am: Kiss Phyllis and Priscilla goodbye and hit the road. It is weird being back to just two pugs after having Porter for about 7 weeks.

9 am: On the road. Podcast listening (The Read).

10 am: Porter started off in the back in his crate. I knew he had a big day ahead and thought maybe he would get some sleep in there. No way! He was up watching us the whole time. It wasn't long until he was in my lap in the front seat.

11 am: Pit stop somewhere in East Tennessee.

12 am: We were meeting the people taking him on to Wytheville, Va at about 12:30 so I was starting to feel very sentimental. I cuddled him close for the last little bit we had. I'm really going to miss Mr. Porter. He is a very special pug and his new family is so lucky to have him.
We're back on the foster list. We might not get another pug for a while, you never know!

1 pm: Heading back home. There were definitely a few minutes of tears, but I'm so happy that Porter got a great home. Fostering is hard for me because I always get attached, but I think it is so important. It makes it so rescue's can take in more animals in need, and it is fun to have a temporary new dog. I'm happy we are able to do it.

2pm: We decided to stop at The Tomato Head in Knoxville on the way back as a special treat.We split a vegan pizza and a Kepner melt, which is the best sandwich in Tennessee! And that pizza! Every time we get it we always question whether it is the vegan one, because the soy cheese is so good! Mmm, I wish they would open one in Nashville.

3 pm: Sadly, they were out of the amazing vegan lemon cookies. Actually, they had two but a guy in front of us in line bought them! No! So we went to Whole Foods and I got this cute cupcake! Sadly, it didn't taste that great.

4 pm: Back on the road. I was getting real bored of being in the car. 8 hours in one day!  I played the game I'm currently really into, Juice Jam! The graphics are so cute, and it doesn't tempt me to spend real money, haha! I also LOVE that Japanese stray cat game, Neko Atsume.

 

5 pm: Still on the road. Listening to the Moth by this time. Maybe I should have picked a different day to do this kind of post....

6pm: For the last hour of our drive we switched to my world famous musical playlist. Travis and I both love singing along with the big solos. For some reason this time it was mostly playing Dreamgirls and Tenacious D and the Pick of Destiny on shuffle. Not that I'm complaining!

We got back in town just in time to watch Grease! Live with our friends Kimmie and Ryan. I got distracted by the show starting.
Did you watch it? I thought it was pretty good! Especially the way they were able to film the big scenes at the dance and the school carnival live, and the cute dude who played Doody. My main complaint is was that the guy playing Danny. He didn't seem like a bad boy at all! Too twerpy.

I love photo an hour posts and I'm going to try to do several this year. Here's to more blogging in 2016!

Snow Day!

I have lived in Tennessee all of my life, and am used to our mild winters. Every once in a while we'll get an inch of snow, the whole town will close down, and it will melt by noon. Today we got a real snow day! Last I checked (several hours ago) we have 5.5 inches in our yard. My best friend Crystal told me they measured 8 at her house, just a little north. The last time I saw this much snow was back in 2009 when we lived in that cold antebellum manor house in Columbia.
The weathermen were warning us about it, but it wasn't supposed to hit until Friday afternoon. Travis even went into work early because they were trying to beat the storm. But by the time he got to work at 6 am the snow was already accumulating, and as of 9 pm, it still hasn't stopped! Thankfully his company sent everyone home, and after an hour and a half of route changing, dodging out of control cars, and stopping for tamale supplies he was back home with me.

Our little cottage, so cute in the snow. 

Our backyard about 9 this morning. It snowed for nearly 12 more hours!

The dogs are NOT into it! Thankfully we have a thick cedar tree that has less snow under it, or we might have a potty strike on our hands! The second time I took her out Priscilla just stared at me like "Why am I out here again???"

Snow selfies are a must. I loved looking at all the snow photos on my instagram feed today.

I thought Porter would like it, but he RAN back inside as soon as his business was done. He spent the rest of the day curled up as close to me as possible. I actually talked to someone tonight who will probably end up adopting him! I'm happy for him (and the family!) but I will miss this little boo.

After I took the dogs out I wandered around the yard taking photos while waiting for Travis to pull up. I was a little worried because it had been a while since he told me he was on his way home, but I didn't want to call and distract him since the roads were so bad. Basically it rained all night and washed the salt away, then all the water froze under the snow!

I forget about my heart railing. It is so cute!

Once Travis got home he made us a pancake breakfast and told me tales of all the wrecks he saw! 

He told me that the little market down the street was opened, so we walked down there to get a few necessities: avocados, onions, oreos, and sweet tea. And yes, he is in SHORTS. Travis pretty much refuses to wear pants. He is one of THOSE people.

Yeah! Avocados were what we really needed because Travis decided to use part of his day off to make us tamales! They were REALLY good! I'm so glad he finally tried making them, because it wasn't as hard as we thought. They just take a while. We froze most of the batch, but I doubt they will last long. 

Back down our snowy street. I was surprised how few people were out! Usually Nashville ignores the mayor's pleas for everyone to stay off the roads!

We wanted to build a snowman but it was too powdery and wouldn't stick together much. So we made teeny snowmen! Here is the artist at work. He cracked me up putting his on the mailbox.

I tried to make mine cute and put a gravel mouth on it, but he turned out kind of terrifying! 

Travis found a "scarf" for his. 

We came inside, and spent the rest of the day snacking and watching movies on the couch. What a day!
I'm going to go check right now to see how deep the snow is. Stand by!.......7 inches! I can't believe it! The high tomorrow is 30 so it will probably stick around until Sunday. I'm pretty content to be snowed in for a little while longer. We have plenty of movies and tamales and maybe I can finish my 2015 photobook. It would only be better if we lived closer to Crystal and Marc. I wish we could go sledding with them tomorrow!
If you are up North and rolling your eyes at me, please forgive the enthusiasm. We are not used to this much beautiful snow! It kinda feels like another reality!

National Dress Your Pet Day!

Did you guys know it was National Dress Your Pet Day today? I didn't either, but it was on the Pugs and Kisses calendar that my best friend Crystal bought me for Christmas. I'm so glad I procrastinated on putting it up until today or I might have missed the holiday! That is one that my household definitely observes! I couldn't resist dusting off the old pug wardrobe chest.

Wait, are you thinking....who is that HUGE pug next to the dainty Phyllis and Priscilla?

Meet Porter! We are fostering him for Mid-Atlantic Pug Rescue! We've had him since a little before Christmas and he is the best. Seriously, if it were at all feasible we would keep him. He is so well behaved and sweet! He can hold a sombrero on his head for a full minute! If you are in the market for a middle aged (he is seven!) pug baby, you should check out the rescue. They cover a huge area! Though I will seriously be sad when he gets adopted.

He is so big, he wouldn't fit in any of the clothes we have. I think the skeleton suit still looked pretty good. Look at Priscilla, gazing at him (well she is probably gazing at Travis.) My two don't play, but I have caught all three of these guys napping in a line.

This dress KILLS me. I think it is the cutest one we own. 

The old girls are doing ok. Phyllis has definitely slowed down since her illness in the fall, and Priscilla has taken many tumbles since her ear drum ruptured. I have to be careful leaving her on the couch or bed, and she half fell down the two steps taking these photos. Travis caught her thankfully. They have definitely been showing their age. For now we are spending a lot of time with these two sleeping either in our laps or at our feet. That is fine with me though.

Porter! I'm so happy to have a chance to care for you boy. I hope your forever family isn't ready for you QUITE yet.

Goodbye Johnny Cash!

Cash got adopted! He is going to live with a family in Virginia Beach that has another young pug that needs someone to play with. we dropped him off at the vet this morning to get neutered, then the lady from the rescue is going to take him to his new home.  

here i am pouting before we dropped him off. because even though that is totally the POINT of fostering, i still get really bummed every time they get adopted. i'm going to miss baby cash.  

good luck buddy! we loved having you in our house! even if you were a little too much for phyllis and knocked her down trying to play with her.

Pugs In the Park

as usual, i have some pictures of dogs to show you. hahah. my blog has turned into "check out my pug". oh well. these are some pictures from the local pug meetups christmas meeting!


cash has to ride in the crate. it makes him really sad. poor thing. he has definitely gained some weight since we brought him home! even though he is still pretty boney. travis did a phone interview with someone who is interested in adopting his yesterday. i will be so sad when he goes! he is really sweet.


phyllis gets the best seat in the car. on her bed in my lap. what a princess.

jasper guarding the tree.

this is coach! he has a cute little sister named millie too.

phyllis loves hoping after all the other pugs.

look at that cute thing!

look at that handsome boy! i was really nervous about letting him off leash, but he was so good and stayed close and came whenever i called him. he plays fetch too. and i've teaching him "sit" and "leave it".




big monster head.

travis kissing bella. that picture makes me want to cry.

i still really miss rose.

all tuckered out on the way home.
after we dropped cash off, we took phyllis to petsmart to see santa. Phyllis was a little distressed when we put her in that strange man's lap. i got to pet a beautiful cavelier king charles spaniel that was in the line behind us. so awesome.


i feel like i never talk about the cats anymore. they are doing really good. they are very relaxed around phyllis and will even sleep on the couch with her! it makes me really happy. cash is great with them too.