1/17/17 The “Mischief With Maggie” Series has launched!

Dear Readers,

Maggie and I have been quiet a while. We have been busily reworking our previous manuscript. I am proud and pleased to announce that the first book in the “Mischief With Maggie” series is published in both ebook (Kindle) format and paperback. They are available at Amazon.com.

The paperback edition is available for $4.00 US. This book is not illustrated because the photos I had were not high res enough for the software. A disappointment, but nonetheless, I humbly offer it to you.

This is the picture you will see for the ebook:

The ebook sells for $1.50 US.

This first story outlines the trials, tribulations, and triumphs of adopting not just a shelter dog, but the longest-term resident of the shelter, and a dog classified as a “Pit bull” to boot.

Thank you to my WP family for all your support. It has been a very long time coming from page one to publication.

I will write more news soon. In the meantime, Maggie and I are going to go collapse!

 

Liz and Maggie

 

 

 

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10/1/15 I Will NOT Be Clothed!

Today, Mom took Jamie for his chiropractic adjustment. Jamie’s back and neck had been kind of “jacked up” as you humans would say, from lugging around extensively heavy backpacks. (They now have a laptop system at school so he doesn’t have quite as much of a load to drag around).

Anyway, I don’t know if the chiro appointment released some endorphins or what on Jamie, but he sure is acting loopy. Like, for instance, they stopped at the grocery store for milk, apples, and the impulse item – cookies. Mom told Jamie to bag the things up and he proceeded to place the gallon jug of milk in a bag. “Mmm, hon, you don’t have to bag the milk,” Mom said with a grin.

“Here are the apples,” Jamie said politely, handing Mom the box of cookies. “I believe those are called, ‘cookies’,” Mom replied, trying to keep a straight face.

This kind of good-natured bumbling went on all night until Mom asked Jamie to get her a glass of almond milk while she folded clothes. Mom’s tummy is mighty sensitive to cow’s milk, so she’s drunk around to find an alternative. Helping herself to a cookie, Mom drank away half the glass of milk before gasping, “Oh, no, you’ve given me dairy milk!” Jamie went red in the face and stammered out an apology. Mom should be LOTS of fun in just a little while!

Anyway, back to the title of this blog. Before Mom got thirsty and drank the milk, she was putting up Halloween decorations and found my unused “Rufferee” costume (complete with a little flag) from last year. “Come here,” she said sweetly, and the next thing I knew I was buffaloed into … a shirt! A costume shirt at that!

I darted into the living room, bucking like a bronco and trying to tear the shirt off. However, the sleeves went over my front legs. I lay down and tried to scratch the darn thing off to no effect:

Finally, Mom said, “It’s no use” and took the shirt off. Immediately I tried to snatch it from her and chew it, but she whisked it away. I will NOT be clothed!

After Mom put away the costume shirt, she said I was smirking at her from my spot on the couch. She said I “winked” at her and “nodded my head” to her like I was saying, “hey”. I firmly deny such behavior.

Ah, bring on the trick or treaters, but no costumes for this girl!

Woof! Love, Maggie

1/1/2014 Happy New Year to All!

Thank you to everyone for the good wishes over the holiday!  I’m trying to get caught up with all my comments and have been at the Reader until my eyes are about to pop.

I’ve written this blog to tell the story of how I came from a shelter to be with my new family.  And, through writing, I have found even more NEW family.  Vanessa (farfetchedfriends@wordpress.com) and her Young One came up from Arizona to visit with us.  Although I’ve spent some time in the crate while the humans ran around Chicago, we had a wonderful time.  The Young One always played with me, and I had lots of tug-o-war and other fun games.  Vanessa walked me and gave me lots of petting.  She brought me treats from the RunAMuck Ranch.  Yummy!

The humans had a fun time too:  The Morton Arboretum to see Christmas lights, a trip downtown to see The Bean, Michigan Avenue, State Street, a stop at The Pacific Garden Mission to be in the audience of an old-fashioned radio show (sound effects made in person!), a walk in the woods that started with beautiful scenery and ended with a pack of coyotes yowling.  Food was sampled:  Chicago style pizza, hot dogs (gotta have that celery salt!) as well as tons of other food.  (Mom and Dad started their diets today).

The humans stopped at the Sears Tower (called The Willis Tower only by tourists) with a view from the top.  I saw a picture of all the humans standing on The Ledge and believe me, I’m glad I’m a dog.

Cutest thing ever:  Jamie saying to Vanessa, “You and my Mom met kind of in a weird way.  Can I just call you Aunt Vanessa?” and I wagged my tail in hearty agreement. 

This 2014, remember that family is what you make it and sometimes, whom you make it.  And I love the new additions to my family!

Here’s that view from the top:

Wishing you all a happy, healthy, prosperous 2014.  Sending you out Woofs, tailwags, dogsmiles and face licks!

Love, Maggie

 

 

 

6/16/13 Father’s Day

Father’s Day is a great day because it is all about Dad.  I love Dad!  He is the Best!  I don’t get to see Dad a lot, so when I do, it is always a special time filled with love.

Dad works 6 days a week so Mom can stay home with Jamie and me.  I have a lot of love for him for that!  I have a lot of respect for Dad, too, because of something new I learned about him.  I realized just how responsible he is by piecing together bits of conversation between him and Mom.  Apparently, there was a time not long ago when A Certain Family Member dropped off half her litter at our front door for Dad and Mom to raise, because she didn’t want to be a Mom anymore.  The rest she left to Other Family.  (I have seen this many times in the Animal Kingdom.)  This was Before My Time.

Dad and Mom had their own kids at home and Grandma duties.  At times, there were 9 humans living in the house, and not a lot of food left over.  Dad was doing all the supporting but he never complained, because he didn’t want anyone to be abandoned or Stray.

When the kids got older and moved out, Dad opened his big heart to me, and I left the Shelter after 6 months.  So to me, he is the Best Dad Ever!

Since it is Father’s Day, I got to meet Mike, Dad’s oldest son.  Mike does not live here at home anymore.  But, he came over and spent time for a visit so that Dad and Mom and Jamie could go out with their best friends, the Serafins, for something called, “brunch”.

Mike stayed and watched over Grandma and me.  We had a wonderful time!  Even though Mike is a real grown-up, he still loved to play with the tennis ball and throw the stick to me.  I like Mike a lot, and hope he comes back soon!

Happy Father’s Day to all the Dads out there, whether you had your own litter or took on a litter of someone else’s and made them your own.  Thank you for your love, hard work, and responsibility.  Woof!

6/12/13 Monthlong Musings

(look – you can hardly see my spine anymore!)

I mentioned on Sunday that I’ve been home a month, and I’d like to go back to that for a bit.  My life has drastically changed in the time that I’ve been here.  Before this, I lived for six months in an animal shelter, caged in a kennel.  Before that, I lived as a stray, out in the streets.  At some time – probably around 9 months – I had a litter of pups and was kicked out of whatever home I had.  I don’t remember too much more.  Except for being hit.  Because I go into a cringe pattern whenever I see an upraised hand.  But I’m never hit here, so that behavior is going away, slowly, as I learn to trust.

I’ve learned so much in a month.  How to go up and down stairs.  How to open and close doors and drawers.  How to guard the house and my people.  I feel a lot more relaxed around the house, like I am home now, like I belong here.  I’ve learned the different sounds of the house, and not to tweak out about them.  Like the buzzing of Clothes Dryer when he’s talking to Mom.  Or Dad’s Frankenstein steps in the morning, when he wakes up and clomps around the house.  I don’t go into barking fits about either of these anymore.

My commands are much better.  My vocabulary has improved.  My jumping on people has gotten better…eh, slightly.  I’m still working on my separation anxiety and they still have to crate me.  I think I’ve made big strides.  I know I’ve got a long way to go.

Mom sent a letter to the shelter.  She read it to Dad so I heard everything.  The letter said that I was a “fine animal companion” and an “adoption success story”.  She sent pictures, too, so they could see I was healthy and happy.  I’ve put on weight.  I’m looking and feeling good.  Sometimes I think about the animals I left behind who are not as lucky as me.

So, I wanted to mention that you can sponsor an animal at your local animal shelter by picking someone out, and sending a small amount of money monthly for their care and feeding.  This will help them get adopted faster, and is a great program for animals who are long-term residents like I was.  I hope you nice people reading this will consider this option, especially if you can’t have a pet of your own.  It’s really very fulfilling and not too expensive.  Thanks, and I don’t mean to sound like one of those commercials on the TV Dad always watches.

Life is different for me now.  I’m very grateful.  Sending you love, licks, and tail wags,

Maggie