Zappa's Rant

Zappa...aka The MOUTH!

Ever have one of those dogs who likes to give his opinion whether you want to hear it or not?  That's Zappa, aka The Mouth.  Zappa has no problem sharing his dislikes, but mostly he loves to rant about all the unfair injustices in his life, especially when it comes to Chance and the Front Pack.  Zappa is the dog that is undeniably done wrong  in this family and he never lets you forget it.

So, my story starts with needing to finish mowing the back lawn.  The terrain of the Back Dogs, Zappa and Fiona.  Where I precede with asking them to come in the house so they can be out of the path of flying sticks and small rocks.  Both comply, although Zappa gives me that one eyed leary look as he looks out the glass sliding door.

You can't believe a words she says.

Just look how sweet and innocent I am.

The rant starts slowly.  He demands to know what is going on.   There are no sad eyes or begging faces to get what he wants.  Zappa is mad and believes I should meet his demands...

The rant starts to build.  I should never have to come in if I don't want to! If you are out there than I have all alpha status to right to be out there too.  How dare you class me as a second rate citizen and make me listen to you!   How dare you treat me like a dog!  We are equal!  EQUAL!  LET ME BACK OUTSIDE THIS MINUTE, WOMAN!  I WANT BACK OUTSIDE, NOW! 

I'm watching this whole charade and I'm thinking, do I know you?

Sensing my lack of interest in his blatant abuse sends him into a Classic Zappa tirade.  Glaring eyes, shouting obscenities, and how he's going to call his lawyers to report such a violations of his doghood.

Such discrimination...

I went to mow the lawn.

I am much too cute to be a ranting loon.

Once done with the mowing, Zappa is standing like a pretty boy, wagging his tail and smiling with a sheepish glint.  He pretends to take back all his words and even acts a little guilty as I opened the door for him.  Zappa trots outside like the Emperor with no fur and that 'don't you just love me' look. Like nothing happened and everything worked in favor of his elaborate plan.

Until Zappa's next personal injustice is served...

I'll get you my pretty!

Wordless Wednesday-Brut and Silver...Rest in Peace

Blessings

Things settled back to semi-normal today with the dogs and cats after recognizing Brut's second anniversary since he left us.  Chance was still a little quieter than normal, but then I was still tearing up on and off through the morning.  I don't remember much about that next day after Brut died, but I felt the ups and downs today.  So glad there has been some time in between, some space to lessen the blow.  I don't ever want to go through it again.

I feel so blessed with the puppies we have and I am ever grateful to have them here under our roof, safe and loved.  I can not begin to tell you how much the four mean to us and especially that Chance and Blaze came back to us.  I can't put it into words or feelings I am just so humbled before God that we have them.   They are such a blessing.  A miracle.  For I have no control what happens to the rest of the litter, even with the two puppies we visit every now and again, but these two Chance and Blaze are safe.  They are here.  And I am forever grateful that we were able to keep Zappa and Fiona and then Chance and Blaze.  I can't even begin to describe the beauty of that alone.

I can't begin to count the number of times in my life that I have been suicidal and felt like a burden to the dogs, or thought they would be better off without me.   The sufferings of PTSD from childhood abuse have almost destroyed me where I was taught I would never make a good pet parent. Every day I learn what a good dog mom I really am, in spite of being told different and killing myself would devastate them.  Not to mention they would never understand.  I never thought thought the dogs and cats would mourn with me on Brut's anniversary except I witnessed it for myself.  I can't imagine what it would be like for them to lose me too.

It takes a lot of courage and strength to live, but being surrounded by so many blessings, softens the blow and gives me a wonderful and beautiful reason to carry on and a reason to love.

Brut Thursday- 104 weeks gone

It has been a somber and yet enlightening day here at the 24 Paws of Love.  104 weeks ago we said good bye to Brut.

We said goodbye to the dog who ruled the roost with an iron paw and stole our hearts with his unconditional love.

Through rough times and quiet times, the love never stopped.  Reality was hard with Brut, but he never lied about it.

All the dogs and cats were quiet today.  They knew what today was.  Brut's 2 year anniversary.

Zappa, who has taken to Brut's "den" outside and has practically lived in it the last few weeks, only laid next to it today.  As if to pay his respects to his father.

Boxer (the cat) who always rushes to go outside after breakfast, took to the couch today in a nap.  As if not going outside was paying respect to his leader and mentor.

And Chance, the most sensitive of all the dogs, was sad and lay next to me, deep in thought.

The usual in and out action at the doors was quiet and strange.

It was a beautiful and sad movement that all shared together in honor of the one the best dogs that I have had the humble pleasure of ever knowing.

We love you Brut.

The Excavators

These last couple of weeks we have been getting the garden bed ready for planting.   We took out all the old dirt and replaced it with fresh top soil because I used straw in my compost.  Straw has seeds that have a very thick, strong root system that took over my garden and practically choked out my veggies.  So hubby, Mark thought it was a good idea to just get rid of the straw infested dirt and start all over.  So with the help of our wonderful and gracious neighbors and their tractor, they dug up the old garden bed and filled it with the new soil. Then hubby built new garden walls for the raised bed.

What does this have to do with the dogs?

We dumped a good couple of yards of the old garden soil in the front yard, which starting a digging exposition that hasn't quit yet!

Can it get any better than this??  :)

I think you need a tunnel here, mom!

Where to start?

Where in the world to I start?  :)  With about a month's worth of news to share, I don't know where to begin!

I guess I'll start with our little blogging break...it wasn't planned, but was definitely needed.  I went through a deep grievance of Brut and the grave loss that overtook me.  It tore my soul up, but I came through it.  My sweet Bruter Boy is coming up on his second anniversary.  I don't know how that can be.  Two years gone.  Sometimes I just can't believe it.

Fiona is definitely Brut's child.  She is taking after her father in ways I only saw in small blips throughout the last year.  Now that Zappa and her are the Alpha Dogs of the Back Pack, her true colors and what she learned from Daddy Dog Brut are shining through.  The possessiveness, being territorial, and just wanting things her own way are a just a few things.  She learned from her Daddy quite well how to rule a pack, now she's going to do it her way!  (I'll share more about this issue in a later post.)

We started walking one Front Dog and one Back Dog together.  And it went well.
We took the boys together and the girls together.  Boys first.  We started on opposite sides of the road, but Zappa just couldn't handle it, so we ended up walking behind Chance and hubby, Mark.  And with about a car or two distance between us, it was a smash!  We did the same with the girls, which also went well.

I am hoping that we are able to find a comfort level, to be able to walk side by side, but until then I am very excited about our progress.

Sorry about the lack of photos, I haven't picked up my camera in months.  That is soon to change.  :)

More news to come...