Dogs And Decorating, partie deux

Tommy Bahama in the living room!

Oh so many changes in the house! Now that I have my shop, I need to have the dogs in a spot where they will behave better! That large picture window with its continuous parade of dogs, people, and the UPS truck, drive my dogs crazy! I need them away from all that visual stimulation.

So I have done some doggie and human redecorating. My sunroom, which is my office, and never has been comfortable, although full of old Bar Harbor white wicker, has been turned into a den. I've moved my great old paint cupboard to the back wall, and made room for a Salvation Army couch (like new, $115.00) and a Last Chance Thrift Store comfy chair and ottoman (like new, for $30). Yeah, eat your heart out. I know where to shop! And you can buy some of my great finds at The Little Shop Of Arts And Antiques at very reasonable prices too!

The antique wicker is going to my late husband's cousin in Bloomington, Indiana. She remembers it from the old lake house and it needs to go back to her! She and my husband had many fun times as kids in that house, surrounded by this wicker. I also needed it out of chewer Bray's teeth!

My living room sports a new chair (Salvation Army, $99.00) and a ....please let me brag.....Tommy Bahama sofa from the same Salvation Army for $360.00. That's more than this thrifty shopper likes to pay, but if you Google my sofa, it retails new for $2999.00.

Yes the dogs sleep on it too. But they spend the days in our lovely sunroom den. I like to nap in there with them, so most days when I am at home we are all cuddling in my new den.

Our evenings are spent in the living room with Tommy Bahama relaxing and watching TV. The couch is so high I had to buy a footstool for chubby Annabelle to crawl up to cuddle next to me on Tommy. No matter how much a piece is valued, it is of no value to me if we can't all snuggle on it!

It is amazing how well behaved they are away from my picture window.

Wouldn't you like to join us for a cup of coffee in my new doggie sunroom?

I can see clearly now...Chloe has a bird's eye view of yard.

Bray ready to party down, hope he won't eat quilt. He is a chewer!

Rascal finds her new spot in the sun so relaxing!

full couch

Foxy looking for a place on the floor.

Foxy likes to sleep behind the computer chair. Her old bones don't like to be jarred getting on furniture any more.

Rascal wondering if she should try to get up

All by myself....

Annabelle likes to keep the couch to herself most afternoons

I think it's time for a nap. Hey, Annabelle, better move that big butt of yours! Mine is joining you!

Dog Saves Bird - Film At 11...Following The Adventures of Ziva the dog!

I have a dog photo contest running on my Writer With Dogs blog. The contest began with the launch of my online dog magazine on December lst. Well, the dog stories and photos are amazing. The contest continues until the Feb. 18th. The winner will be announced on March lst. My magazine will be in a different format, a newsletter, rather than an eflip online magazine. The spirit will be the same however. The winner of the dog contest gets a $300 check payable to their favorite dog rescue group. Anyone can enter by the way. Just send your photo to thefourhounds@gmail.com and a brief story of your dog! The winner is determined by the number of comments on each photo. The most comments is our winner!

One dog keeps popping up in my e-mails. Ziva. Her antics are charming! I've decided to post this one here and may share other Ziva stories down the road. BTW, Ziva is entry number 6 in the contest, The Golden From Maine. Check out all the dogs at Writer With Dogs!


And now, meet Ziva here!  The story begins.......

I had just put more sunflower seeds in the bird feeder and returned to the kitchen to warm up. Ziva stayed out by the feeder and was watching the birds arrive by the dozens. They don't mind her sitting by the feeder. In fact, they will land all around her and pick up the seeds that fall from the feeder. One flew into the side of the feeder and fell to the snow below. Ziva went over, poked it with her nose, and then gently picked the bird up and scratched at the door to come in.

When I let her in, she ran to the sofa and placed the bird by her side and started licking it. I thought it was dead and went to get a paper towel to wrap it in. But when I came back to the room, Ziva had moved the bird to the arm of the sofa and was still licking it. I grabbed the camera as it stood up, still a bit wobbly, and then it hopped even closer to Ziva’s nose.


After a few minutes we took it outside and it flew away, much to the dismay of both of my cats, who watched this whole episode unfold.

I don't know why, but birds and other animals are not afraid of Ziva at all.

Too cool not to share these pictures.

I thought you would enjoy them.


Bruce

"ZIVA, HOW MANY TIMES HAVE I TOLD YOU... NO BIRDS ALLOWED ON THE FURNITURE!"

She growled at the cat and it is rare to hear her growl. "Leave my bird alone!"



Yes, these are photos to share! Don't you agree?