Life Lately

Hello, hello! Today is the first Saturday in recent memory where I had no plans and no responsibilities. Travis is away at his scooter club's annual rally, and I have spent the day watching Call the Midwife, lounging with the dogs and editing the tons of photos I have to show you. It has been a great day, I really needed a day like today.

Here is a little of what has been going on lately.

It has been about a month since we lost Phyllis. I commissioned a portrait of her and Priscilla a few weeks ago. These two will always be linked in my mind and I wanted to get a portrait made of just them together. It came in the mail today, and LOOK AT IT! Could it be anymore precious and perfect?

I ordered it from Cupcake Pug Co. I went to their shop because they have some adorable pug pins, and saw a listing for a custom portrait by Sophie Corrigan. I loved all her pug drawings, and mine turned out even better than I hoped. She captured Priscilla's silly ears and white face, and Phylly's little nub is just...perfect. I cried when I opened the envelope. I'm so happy with it. I might have to order one more of Mildred. Here is the listing, if anyone is interested.

Millie is doing very well. She got to go to her first Nashville Pugs meet up this past week. It was called "Pugs on the Patio." She was fine with all the pugs running around and people petting her. She doesn't really want to be held unless its me or Travis, but that's ok! Doesn't she look like a natural in her lei and sun glasses? She is a really tolerant little dog! She has lots of skin issues so I guess she is used to being poked and prodded. We love her so much already and we are learning to communicate with each other. I made the mistake of giving her a treat when she came in from going potty outside. Now she tried to get me to take her out ALL THE TIME so she can get a treat when she comes in. Oops!

This is Priscilla's new breakfast eating technique! Hah! She can't walk much at all anymore, but who needs to walk when you can be whisked from bed to bed by the loving arms of your family? All things considered she is doing pretty well.

We've been going to crunchy Tuesday almost every week this summer! A local sushi place, Nomzilla, has $3 rolls on Tuesday nights. The crunchy cabbage is vegan and is SO GOOD. It is a spicy tofu roll, wrapped in cabbage then tempura fried. Yum yum yum. And $3??

Travis and I usually share three rolls. Sometimes we add miso soup and sometimes edamame. I always leave SO FULL. If you are local, or come to Nashville, check it out! Best deal in town!

Weezer came to town in July, and of course I had to buy tickets. Travis ended up passing (It was a week night, and he works so early) so I got to bring Crystal with me. We met up with our girlfriend Marissa. That top picture is us at 15, seeing Weezer for the first time. Bottom pic? Us at 31, me seeing them for the 7th time! I cannot BELIEVE that was half my life ago! The show was really fun, and it was my first time at the new outdoor amphitheater downtown. It was really nice. I actually ended up there two nights in a row, because someone read my dream journal and booked Flight of the Conchords the night after Weezer. But that needs it's own post.

Like every other nerd you know, I've been playing Pokemon GO! Not that much, since I've been busy with work and it is SO hot here, but I love the game.

My favorite part is seeing the Pokemon around you. I don't know that girl with the poliwag on her lap. I've played Pokemon on several different game boys, and I'm trying to break my bad habits. Usually I only try to catch Pokemon that I think are cute, but that isn't the way to play Go really. Crystal and Marc are really into it and it is so fun to go on walks around town and hit all the stops!

BUT Travis hates. So much! Probably because all the people downtown who aren't paying attention to where they are going and get in his way while he's trying to work. We all love catching Pokemon around him, and saying things like "Travis there is a ratata on your butt!!" 

Like I said at the beginning of this post, it has been about a month since we lost Phyllis. I am still sad, but it isn't all consuming anymore. We decided on a private cremation for her, and I ordered a custom urn from this etsy shop. I am so pleased with it. When it arrived I cried (of course) and kissed it. I am keeping her on my desk for now. I miss her, every day, but things have gotten so much better. 

Open House at Old Friends Senior Dog Sanctuary!

As everyone knows, I am a lover of senior dogs, especially the special needs ones. I have been following Old Friends Senior Dog Sanctuary on Facebook for a long time, and have reblogged this more than once on Tumblr:

Imagine my surprise and delight when I saw them advertising a fundraiser open house, and seeing it was only 30 minutes from my house! I had never even thought to look up where they were located! I immediately bought tickets, and this past Sunday was the day! I'm so thankful for the Facebook Algorithm for making sure I saw this event. (If you love old dogs too, make sure to give them a follow. They post photos of the dogs all the time!)

As you can probably guess by the name, they take in senior dogs and give them a place to live out their lives in comfort. They have lots of dogs at the sanctuary (at least 50!) and more dogs at 150 foster homes in the area. They don't adopt most dogs out, they get them forever fosters and take care of their medical expenses. How wonderful is that?

Crystal came with me because Travis had some work to do at home. We got to go in small groups to see the dogs. They have the "Wilder Gang" and the "Calmer Gang". We saw the wild ones first! OMG, so many gray faces to pet!

If you follow the page, you recognize this guy. It's Leo! He seems to be the most popular Old Friend. We got to pet him! Ahhh!

Just imagine: a petting zoo that consists of tons of old dogs. My heaven! 

You can tell all these angels are well taken care of and loved. The volunteers who were there were so sweet and you could feel their affection for their charges.

The underbite!

I could have stood there all day. 

Toby! (Please notice Frankie the pug in the background.)

Here I am meeting Bugsy, a pug with both his eyes removed. He was so cute! I wish I had asked to see Jeff and Jake! They are a pair of eyeless pugs who are on the site a lot. Everyone at the sanctuary was so nice, asking if there were any favorites we would like to see. Not everyone was out since it was so hot outside, so they carried some of the more fragile residents out for just a few minutes.

Oh look! It's Captain Ron!

Frankie! I was hoping we'd get to see him! Look at that face!

I think this is Snoopy. I love beagles, especially old ones. 

Here you can see what the yard is like. They have a little pool! And a deck with chairs to sit on, and then they have the run of the house. Everything was so well maintained and clean.

The first dog we all requested to see was Mildred! She is running for president this year, and they have been selling really cute "Put a Pug in the White House" shirts. Look at her sweet face!

I was so in love. I told her we have our own Mildred at home who is just as cute. 

That smile!

Next we headed downstairs to meet the "calmer gang". 

They didn't quite live up to that name, LittleBit ran out of the gate first thing! Crystal ran after her and brought her back, she was wild! They have everything double gated of course so she didn't really get out.

I don't know why I was making this face, but it makes me laugh. LittleBit was so sweet! She got hit and dragged behind a car! Poor little thing. The other dog I am petting is Bo. He looked like a little teddy bear.

Look at him! That cocker in the back is Oreo I think. 

These guys had the run of the downstairs. There are beds everywhere! 

Paris! She was queen of the back of the couch. There was the cutest old lady pit bull on the couch,  I never got a good photo, but she was just beautiful.

We headed back up to "the lookout" where most of the dogs are who are looking for foster homes. This is Precious. She is a chihuahua, but so friendly! One of the volunteers told me she loved to be carried around. You don't have to tell me twice!

Amy!

I don't remember this sweet baby's name. 

This furry guy is named Troop and is SO CUTE. He has a furry body and a puppy face! He lays on the floor all splayed out like a bear skin rug.

Ethel! She really has my heart. She has lots of health problems but seems to enjoy tottering around, getting loved on by everyone. That tongue!

This little guy is named Danger! If we could foster a dog right now, I would totally ask if we could bring him home. We've decided to put fostering on hold for a while since Priscilla has gotten so frail.

Two Old Friends, enjoying the sun. 

The open house was such a wonderful experience, I think that Old Friends is an amazing organization. They give so many senior dogs a chance, when so many end up in shelters when their families decide they are too old. Senior dogs make the best pets.

The April Flea and a 31st Birthday

Yooooooooo! Hey guys, long time no blog. Good news, I got a new job! It has been taking up my time lately, and I'm really happy with it. I'm not going to make promises about posting on my blog more, because I keep doing that, then it doesn't happen. But I do love looking back at these posts, so let's see if I can catch up!
I turned 31 about a month ago. I didn't have any big plans, I just wanted to sleep in a little and then go to the flea market. I got to do my favorite thing, lay in bed with the dogs while Travis makes us breakfast. (The girls are both doing well by the way! ::knock on wood::)

The April flea was my first visit of the year! I've really cut back on my vintage spending, but it was fun to take a little birthday money and buy some goodies for myself. 

I love hand made yard art.

And this always amazing Pyrex booth.

Since it was my birthday my best dogs hung out with me all day. It was the best!

One of my favorite vintage decals I've seen! I love the colors and the mushroom  and the sassy bunny posing for his portrait.

This booth always has fun toys! I had that Littlefoot puppet when I was a kid. 

Crystal and I were both into this ET bag, and neither of us needed it, so we did a "snap and walk". 

I always have a few photos of chalk dogs from the flea. And I have a few in my house so I don't really need to be looking for more...

Look at this creepy light bulb!

I love this big horse print. If I had that much wall space anywhere, I would have asked the price.

Here is the item that got away. I couldn't find the person whose booth this was, so I just left it. I thought about it all day and night and the next morning Travis went back to see if he could buy it....and it was sold! Wah! The perfect car shade.

This precious little poodle was working the flea market office window. "Hello, this is dog! How can I help you?"

We went to lunch at my favorite, Baja Burrito, and Travis put some candles in my pinto beans. 

We had a little photo shoot by the pink wall. 

Crystal and Marc left to pick up Marc's son and Thomas, Travis and I went in search of Retro Sno, the snoball truck! I love the rainbow snow ball. I haven't given in many times, but I check their instagram daily to see where they are parked. I told Travis to "Make a better face!" and that is what he did. Haha!

I can't remember what else we did that afternoon, but we eventually met up with Crystal and Marc again and went to dinner at the newest vegan restaurant in Nashville, Graze, and then to Rosepepper for a pitcher of margaritas. I had talked about maybe doing karaoke in public for the first time for my birthday, but chickened out as usual. We just went back to Crystal and Marc's house and used youtube to do karaoke. It is the BEST because you can find almost any song! We did all 90's and early 2000's hits like "How Bizarre" and " Toxicity." I haven't laughed that hard in a LONG time. It was perfect.

Travis made me one of his famous pineapple upside down cakes and we put in the party light that Thomas gave Crystal for Christmas. It was so cool! We had the disco ball going too of course. Their house is always ready for a dance party.

And dance we did. But not TOO much. I wasn't sore the next morning, haha. 

When we were in high school Crystal and I were in LOVE with Blink-182. It is so funny (to us at least) that we married a Marc and a Travis, and the other person we hang out the most with is Thomas (aka Tom). So our own personal Marc, Tom and Travis. We ended the night singing first date because Thomas hadn't seen the video somehow, and it was perfection. I had a wonderful birthday.

"Forever, and ever, let's make this last forever!"