Foster Updates = Happy Smiles #RescuedDogs #AdoptDontShop

Happy Monday! 

While the Lapdogs recover from the Patriots loss yesterday, and uh-hum, Mama gets to work typing up some reviews, we thought today would be a great day to share a few photo updates from our extended foster families.

Besides, there's nothing quite like the smile I get when I see our foster babies living the good life in their forever homes.  #ThisIsRescue

***Housekeeping Note: Be sure to click the "click here to continue reading this post" on our posts from now on in order to view the entire post***

First up, is an adorable little man who spent time at the Lapdog house in 2012... Booth!

Boo-man and his sister were watching the Pats game yesterday too...

Thankful Thursday: Family Fun

We're still playing catch-up around here from the long weekend (and getting ready for an extra busy one coming up), but we are working hard on several reviews, so stay tuned!

Teutul has been doing well on his bland diet and began transitioning to a new low-fat kibble last night.  We'll be telling you all about it soon!

As if one dog switching food wasn't enough, Sophie has begun her 6 week trial of AvoDerm and we'll be telling you more about that later this month.

Since it's Thankful Thursday, I wanted to share some photos from last weekend's family cook out.  While we missed having most of the family there, those of us who did attend sure had fun.  And... Penny got to meet our former foster baby Rosie and her big sister Rascal!

Rosie was one of those fosters that I had a real hard time letting go of. Thankfully, she went to family friends, so not only do I get regular updates, but we get to spend time with her every now and then.

Penny finally getting to meet Rosie was a little bitter sweet, however. Everyone comments on how much Penny looks and acts like Lola, but seeing her play with Rosie really brought back memories. Lola loved her little Rosie Bear... (#throwbackthursday)

And now, Penny does too. Can you spot her in the picture below trying to get Rosie's attention?

The cookout fell in between several birthdays, including my Mom, myself and Rosie's little human twin siblings (aka my favorite twins)...

So, Mom picked up this birthday cupcake cake.  It was cool, but would have been really cool if it were a hockey puck or football...

Today is actually my Mom's birthday, so please join me in wishing her a very happy one!

Look at the gorgeous roses that my Dad got for me (Mom got a matching dozen)...

After we stuffed our faces, Penny broke out her witch hat to show off for the neighbors for everyone to see.  Is she not the cutest (I call that one on the right, "Penny and Her Headless Mama")? Yes, she will actually leave it on and walk around.

She even let Rosie try it on.

She let Rascal try it on as well, but it was a bit small and she wouldn't leave it on long enough for a picture.  The gorgeous girl was too busy trying to impersonate a cow. 

Penny got to try out the new "claw" pet tie-out that I found at LL Bean.  I was a bit skeptical and had visions of her pulling it right out of the ground and running off...

Neither of which happened = This thing is awesome!  It just might be one of the things I'm most thankful for today.  It's going to make future family cook outs and events so much easier.  

So, what are you thankful for today?

Thankful Thursday: My Race Girl

It's Thursday and there sure is a lot to be thankful for today...

• September has arrived, and hopefully that means the fall temperatures aren't far behind.
• Pumpkin everything is back, which makes me extra happy!
• The fact that Thursdays are now my (work) Fridays once again.  During race season I have to switch to accommodate our Thursday night series... oh the things I do for the man I love!

Speaking of racing, it sure has kept us busy all summer, but now the season is beginning to wind down. When we adopted Penny, we wanted to expose her to everything we possibly could at a young age, which meant she was at the race track at 10 weeks old.  I'm happy to say, and so thankful, that Penny not only enjoys going to the races, but actually gets upset when she can't go. She especially loves the days spent at her home track, New Hampshire Motor Speedway.

 

That shot on the right above was during a pit stop on the way to the track. My girl has clearly mastered the "are we there yet" look, and if she could speak, she'd be uttering the words all the way there! Penny just can't wait to get there and greet all of her fans... after all she knows everyone can't wait to get there to race see her! She's even met several doggy friends this summer, including this sweet boy who just happens to be named Zeus (yes, I nearly shed tears when his Mama said his name).

 

Of course, in between all the meeting and greeting, Penny loves watching her Daddy race and this one was extra special.  It was a National Qualifier race and not only did he take home his best finish thusfar, 4th overall, but he got the Masters Division win as well!

 

Penny was quite proud, as was I, and kept a watch over things in the post-race tech line.

 

I know some of you are wondering why Tut and Sophie don't get to go to the races.  Sophie would absolutely hate it. Strangers and unfamiliar surroundings are not her thing.  My hound girl would much prefer lounging on the couch, in the comfort of her own home. Even if it means her pesky little sister crawls up to cuddle while she's snoozing.

Tut would probably like to come, but we haven't taken him to a race track since he was much younger.  Back then it was the go-kart track and there were less things for him to spend the day barking at.  Instead, Tut gets to be my usual errand co-pilot.  I think it's safe to say he's pretty happy with the arrangement.  He even puts up with that pesky little sister crawling up to cuddle with him too.

 

As you can see, so much to be thankful for today, and everyday!  Penny has fit right into our pack and brings us all considerable joy each and every day (Tut and Sophie would probably tell you she can be considerably annoying as well).  Please keep my baby girl in your thoughts today, as she is being spayed.  Sure, it's a routine surgery, but I'm always a nervous Mama when my kids go under.

I'll leave you today with another quick foster update, because seeing my former foster babies living such wonderful lives in their forever homes always puts a smile on my face.  This is Cotton, who has two human baby brother siblings to keep up with.  She seems to have been caught taking a break amongst the trucks and tractors... much deserved, I'm sure!

What are you thankful for today?  Are your human kids back to school, allowing you more knitting time?  Perhaps the temperatures have become more comfortable in your area?  Or maybe you poured yourself an extra glass of wine last night? 

Tuggy Toys + Foster Babies

While I had planned a fun review for you today, someone *might have* forgotten to snap the photos... oops!  I swear I got the shots during our last review photo shoot day, but either my phone ate them (I'm sticking with that theory) or we must have called it quits before we got through the entire pile of goodies.  Looks like we'll be doing another photo shoot day as soon as the temps cool down a little bit.  In the meantime...

Did you catch our final installment of the #InspiredByCrafted campaign that we've been on with Hill's Pet and BlogPaws for the past few months?  I had an amazing time being a part of it.  Not only did I get to learn a lot, I got to share what I learned with you!  And as a direct result of what I learned about Hill's, Penny is eating Hill's Ideal Balance Large Breed puppy food (only because the Crafted line doesn't have a large breed puppy option yet).

For this last installment, Hill's asked us to post about something that the campaign inspired us to do... something we've been wanting to try, or that might be outside of our comfort zone.  I chose to take a shot at making Fleece Tug Toys.  Scroll back to yesterday's post to see more, and enjoy this video clip of Penny showing off the end result of Mama's craftiness...

Here's one more clip, which was destined for the trash bin thanks to Tut's photobomb, but after watching it, I decided it was too cute to press "delete."

She adores her new tuggy and so far, has only managed to chew one piece of fringe part way off.  I think this woven style of knots is really going to hold up (versus the two braided tug toys she's unraveled already) and will definitely be making more.  Inexpensive and easy to make + machine washable + a puppy who loves them = a win!  (In case you're wondering, neither Tut or Sophie have shown much interest in the toy as of yet)

Speaking of inexpensive to make, this one in particular was made with fleece fabric I found in the pre-cut remnants bin at Walmart for next to nothing.  The pink zig-zag and grey fabrics you may have caught in yesterday's post were bought at full price, but still quite inexpensive. 

I wish I had thought to make these tug toys back when we had so many puppy fosters coming through the Lapdog house!  I would have loved to have sent one home with each of them... not only to give them something else to take from their foster home (every one left with a favorite toy, and many with a snuggie blanket), but it would have given their new humans a little break, knowing their new pups had something they could chew on!

Speaking of those foster babies that I adore so much, did you catch the updates of Booth and Maverick last week?  I stole borrowed a couple more photos this week...

First up, the first foster boy who truly stole my heart, Dustee. His Mom started volunteering at one of our local shelters and often bring little house guests home with her. I can't tell you how much that makes me smile. Not only did they give Dustee the loving, forever home he so deserved, but now they're paying it forward and helping so many others find their forever homes as well. Here's Dustee (on the right) chilling out with a recent foster of theirs...

Here's a very calm, cool and relaxed Miss Addison.  She was already adopted when we agreed to pick her up from the transport and foster for a couple of days while her new family was out of town.  It was our pleasure to help Addie on the journey to her forever home, and I'll never forget how excited her Mom was to pick her up... complete with flowers in hand for me!  So, so sweet.

Enjoy the rest of your Tuesday!  Knitters, don't forget to enter to win a copy of The Essential Guide to Color Knitting Techniques!

{This Moment} See Beautiful: Happy Old Man

Happy Friday!  It's a beautiful day here in New England (although it's going to be hotter than I'd like... I was really loving the few days of fall-ish weather we just had) and today we are participating in the See Beautiful blog hop hosted by Sugar.  Sugar recently celebrated her 14th birthday, and any dog parent knows just how special that is.

We lost Zeus in April, just one month after his 14th birthday. I am so incredibly thankful he was here and feeling good enough to celebrate, but man do I miss him every. single. day. This morning, Facebook reminded me that it was exactly one year ago today that I thought we were losing my boy. I thought his body was shutting down. It tuned out to be Vestibular Disease of Old Dogs - not something I'd wish upon any dog parent to have to go through, but certainly a huge relief when I was dwelling on the worst case scenario. 

Zeus enjoying his 14th birthday cake!

While it was a process, very scary at times, and required a lot of nursing care on his humans part (I'd do it all over again in a heartbeat), my boy got thru the bout with Vestibular Disease and aspiration pneumonia (which he was susceptible to due to his megaesophagus) like a champ!  Zeus had a truly amazing will to live that I have not seen matched in any dog, or human for that matter.  I am so thankful for the many, many years and memories,  and the unconditional love and pure joy he gave us.... but man, do I miss my Happy Old Man (and my Baby Girl).

Zeus loved nothing more than lounging outside, whether in the dirt or on the back deck... and I know he would have loved to spend time chilling out there his new little sister Penny, just as he did with the rest of his pack. 

 

And, I know Penny would have been infatuated with her big angel brother, just as all of our foster puppies were in years past.  Which leads me right into sharing a few foster updates with you, thanks to these shots I stole borrowed off of their humans' Facebook pages.

First up is Booth... or, my little Boo-Man as I liked to call him.  Just look at that grin... I think he learned it from Zeus. 

Zeus and Booth in 2011

Maverick was such a teeny-tiny tot when he was with us... and he still is!  His human sister shares lots of photos and I have to say, the little mini-munchkin's facial expressions are just too cute for words.

Zeus and teeny Maverick chilling, 2011

And, just because I adore this photo (and happened upon it while looking for the shots above), here's Zeus with Belle, our former foster baby who was adopted by friends of ours.  I miss that big 'ole happy grin of his!

Have a great weekend, and remember to make every moment count!  Fall, my absolute favorite time of year, is quickly approaching and I'm really going to miss Zeus' love of making the leave crumple...

A Little Jail Time

Monday already?  Boy do these weekends just seem to fly by... even when it's raining.

Penny spent part of the weekend trying to use a get out of jail free card...

Okay, so it's not jail and she actually likes her x-pen, but I couldn't help myself.  I believe I snapped this one as she was trying to see what her big brother was barking at.

Speaking of barking, Chucky was out doing his best to mow the dandelions in the yard this weekend, which was causing quite a bit of chit-chatter from Tut and Sophie both.  We haven't spotted any baby woodchucks yet this Spring, but hopefully we'll have a couple.  I'll try and remember to take pictures next time Chucky is out gallivanting.

In the meantime, the Woodchuck Patrol is on high alert...

 

Penny says, "Woodchucks? Whatcha talkin' bout Teutul?" Apparently she thinks they're quite amusing...

Other than that, there wasn't a lot of mischief going on this weekend.  Well, except that Tut and Sophie are back to wondering where their humans disappear to for a long day. They see Daddy work on the race car in the driveway during the week, but aren't quite sure where it goes.

I don't think they care too much, except now their little sister is taking off with the humans and the race car too.  Shhh... they don't know she's going to visit her new BFF, our former foster baby Belle.  Not to mention all of Penny's fans at the track.

Ahhh...the life of a race dog.

So, what mischief do you have going on in your world?