I like to shop. . .so does Dulee!

“A dog is the only thing on earth that loves you more than you love yourself.” ~~Josh Billings

Dogs, even cute little fluffy white Bichon Frises, are not welcome in most stores but Pet Smart is the place for dogs, so that’s where Dulee had his first shopping experience.  He walked into the store on his leash but all of the animal smells made him crazy so a ride in the shopping cart turned out to be the best way to go. (Dulee: Oh man, do I like all of those smells!)

Back home he is too exhausted to even look at his purchases so he takes a nap on the back of the sofa.  (Dulee: Napping is one of my favorite activities-right up there with sitting on any available lap!)

Awake, he checks out his new Kong. . .maybe he won’t lose this one! (Dulee: they think I lose my Kongs but I really hide them-not easy since our home is a 5th wheel RV)

Wide awake now. . .his favorite treats!   (Dulee:  Every time I go out for a walk I get a treat – sometimes I tell them I have to go out even if I don’t so I can get a treat.)

We even shopped in the clothing section at Pet Smart and found a bright red slicker raincoat.  (Dulee:  I don’t want to look like a sissy but my hair-yes, I have hair not fur-gets really bedraggled when I get wet.  I think I look pretty cool in this red slicker although I’m not sure about that hood.)

Here he is, with all of his purchases (Dulee:  I noticed that they also bought a big bag of dog food which is why we went to Pet Smart in the first place.)

RV’ers refer to Camping World as the RVer’s department store. Last week we had an appointment to have the motor on our automatic awning replaced.

Of course, while the rig was being worked on, I had to go into the store to browse.  I noticed the sign on the door “We welcome your pet.”  Ah, Dulee can also shop! (Dulee: good, because the fifth wheel door was open and it worried me when the worker kept coming in and out.)

Our home in the shop at Camping World.

His lambskin sleeping pad was a bit large for the basket. (Dulee: I have no problem squeezing into small spaces.)

Dulee:  Hey, they have a whole section for us dogs!  (But we didn’t buy a thing because of our recent trip to Pet Smart.)Licking his chops… (Dulee:  I see something edible across the aisle!)The long day of shopping ends with a nap with his favorite rawhide bone. (Dulee:  I am so worried about where to keep my bone – I must constantly move it to keep it safe.)

“If you don't own a dog, at least one, there is not necessarily anything wrong with you, but there may be something wrong with your life.” ~~Roger Caras

We rescued Dulee through Bichon Furkids Rescue. In addition to shopping trips he also likes his trips to the groomer!  Here he is fresh from the groomer.  (Dulee:  I was wandering the streets in Orange County when the kind folks at Bichon Furkids Rescue saved me. Then I had to persuade Gary & Betty to choose ME ’cause I heard they were also considering a cute little girl Bichon named Alexa.  I knew I had a forever home when we drove off in the truck-yeah!)

"Dogs laugh, but they laugh with their tails. What puts man in a higher state of evolution is that he has got his laugh on the right end." ~- Max Eastman

Laugh today!

Birthdays are ok. . .but I love birthday cards!

I recently had a birthday. . .presents, lots of phone calls, e-mails, Facebook wishes and dinner with special family and friends.  I don’t like a bunch of fuss so it was exactly the kind of special day I enjoy. (what I’m not enjoying is that increasing chronological number which seems to crank by faster and faster!!)

Even though I love electronic greetings, there really isn’t anything that can take the place of a birthday card which is delivered either by hand or old-fashioned “snail” mail.

Kelle knows how much I love the ocean (I grew up in North Dakota and didn’t even see the ocean until I was a teenager) and Adirondack chairs.  This three-dimensional card is cute enough to hang on the wall. . .which I did! 

Gary always does REALLY well in his card choices.  This is nice on the outside but the verse inside is THE thing:

My friend Linda (who also happens to be family-aren’t we lucky?) sent this. Like Kelle she has a knack for finding the perfect card.

Handmade paper from sister Micki.

Lee, another friend who happens to be family, and I both love, yes really love, cheesecake.  She is a New Year’s Day birthday girl and several times I did make cheesecake but many other years have bought the “blue box” cheesecake from Trader Joe’s.  YUMMY!

From the Fresno Five (son and daughter-in-law Russ and Denise and grandkids Stanley, Mary and Will.)  This card is ME!!!  I’m quite sure that Denise picked out this perfect greeting!

Don’t you just love kid’s writing? 

Too funny:  son Russ addressed the envelope but forgot to sign the card!

My friend Jackie and I both love angels and fairies.  This is a Leaning Tree design by Malcolm Sanders. Love the verse inside:

You see those lights dancing

above the earth,

twinkling in the sky?

Those are not fireflies and stars. . .

those are the faeries calling your

imagination out to play.”

Seraphina

A couple of years ago when I started opening  my cards, one after the other had a shoe theme~~I love shoes and everyone knows it!

Old cards from Gary:

From the 60’s.  Smoking was still widely acceptable.

 

We know that Gary gave me this card because he signed it but neither of us can even fathom this strange style and verse!  Chalk it up to “we were young.”

I’m ok with birthdays if they mean I will continue to receive special cards!

“How old would you be if you didn’t know how old you are?”

~~Satchel Paige