This is a video of my very bad/spoiled miniature schnauzer Sunny, who has never known anything but a life of luxury, comfort, and love. He is determined to leave this life to find another home- or live amongst the wild, not really sure which it is he prefers- but after 8 (failed) escape attempts, I’m tempted to just leave the door open one night and see how far he gets…

(It also shows my sweet homebody boxer Hilde’ and my embarrassing yard skills. I DO pay a yard man but he’s obviously quite the slacker…)

Anyone that knows me knows I’m a little dog obsessed… I love my two little angels more than I like most people and would have 5 more if I could!!! (My tiny house and single status keeps that from happening at the time– Can we say “spinster”?)

So when my mother got her own place, I knew I would be able to do some dog shopping for her- which is almost as fun as doing it for myself. (She’s always liked dogs but Charles wasn’t too keen on having them around…)

The Humane Society of Pulaski County was obviously my first choice and since we’re friends on Facebook I get daily updates of their most “adoptable” pets. So how excited was I when I see this little guy grace my screen early last week…

It’s time for the HSPC “Pet of the Week!” Meet Rascal, a 1 year-old poodle mix.

Rascal is one of the happiest dogs on the planet and makes friends with everyone he sees! You would never guess that he was brought to HSPC with 2 broken legs after being run over by a car. He thinks that life is just great and would love to share it with a special family who will love him and keep him safe. He does have pins in his legs, and although this doesn’t affect him at all, we do ask that he go to a home with no young children. He will need to be an inside dog as cold and damp could cause him pain, and he says he’d rather not go through any more pain thank you very much. Come and meet Rascal so you can see what a great little guy he is.

First, I immediately wanted him for myself… What an adorable little mop! He’s very Sunny-isque- with that cute little tongue and mischievous expression!! After coming to my senses, I hit up my friend Misty to take him instead. She’s getting her own place and LOVES her niece and nephew (Hilde’ and Sunnybear), but the timing was wrong and she couldn’t bring herself to commit. Then it hit me… DUH! He’s PERFECT for my MOM!!!

I texted her his picture and it was love at first site! Adopting him on my own- as a gift- wasn’t quite as instant a process… In fact, it’s impossible (note to self). The Humane Society does not allow “gift adoptions” so if that’s what you’re doing you best not tell them the minute you walk in the door. Ashley (Gabe’s girlfriend) came with me to see him and we both just feel in love! He was SO friendly, so funny, and the poor little thing had been through A LOT… (he’d been hit by a car and brought to HSPC with two broken legs and a crushed pelvis!!!) His stitches were still in his back leg which kept them from being able to bathe or groom him and he stunk to high heaven! He also had a bit of conjunctivitis (pink eye for dogs) and was so matted you could barely scratch him They informed me my mom would have to fill out the application and pick him up herself. This made me sad to leave him- especially considering the storms of Monday and Tuesday and he was trapped in a cage all alone!!! But thankfully she was able to get off Wednesday and whisked him away to a new and very happy life- beginning with an oh-so-fun grooming session at Pet Smart.

Are you ready for this transformation??? Meet the all-new, clean, and obviously very skinny Rascal Knight!!! (gallery requires flash to view… If not flash click here to view static gallery.)

He is soooo funny- so busy- so GOOD! Mom says he doesn’t bark, turns circles by the door when he wants to go outside, and loves to go on walks (her favorite past time)- so he’s very well leashed trained… He already makes Sunny and Hilde’ look like spoiled little bitches- I can’t wait for them to meet each other!

Thanks so much to the great folks at Pulaski County Humane Society for helping us find this great little dog!!!!

I love Spring! Arkansas has my vote for the most extreme state -really hot and really cold, ( —I know that’s not a factual statement… I just said it has my vote) but April and May are the best! Since I so love to be outdoors (but out of the grass),  I’m expanding my outdoor living space with a brand new deck! Finally my 3 favorite men (Dad, brother, and best friend) are proving useful! At this point we’re only at the measuring and discussion stage- but it’s definitely going to happen… Here’s a sketch of how I hope it will turn out. (btw, I highly recommend this website for it’s interactive deck drawing tool… Free, easy, and really helps visualize the finished project.)

And here are a few phone pics from last evening of my sweet doggies enjoying our current very small and old deck (made pretty with a few flowers and cans of spray paint…)

Yesterday (after my terrible abs class at Downtown Athletic Club) I decided to spend some quality family time with my dogs and brother Gabriel, who is living with me over the summer. Gabe is 5 years younger than me and a super cool guy to hang out with. He’s also very smart, and just landed a much sought-after internship with the Army Corp of Engineers. He goes back to Jonesboro in August for one last semester of school, and then the kid will be rich! (I’m super jealous but couldn’t image dealing with his course work…)

We decided to grill some barbecue chicken on my nifty little charcoal grill on my back porch. This porch is in desperate need of an upgrade but I don’t have the money, energy, or heart to deal with it. So it currently houses my kiddie/layout pool, a gas grill, few old chairs, and that’s about it.

As we were waiting for the flames to die down a bit, the dogs were ready to play. Sunny and Hilde’ LOVE to play in the backyard AS LONG AS someone is outside with them. Otherwise they stand at the glass door and whine to come inside… They are definitely people dogs and spoiled as can be. I like them that way…

Sunny is the cutest dog I think I’ve ever seen. And definitely the dominater of the two!

Gabe likes Hilde’ more b/c she minds him better…

Sunny on Momma’s raft

Sweet sister Hilde’

Because I am scared to get in the grass (possibility of snakes) I made Gabe play tug of war and fetch with them while I snapped a few pics. They didn’t turn out exactly as good as I’d planned but I think you get the general cuteness…

Sunny is much more vicious than he seems…

He’s a good brother… And everyone loves my dogs…

After play time Gabe continued working and I sat back and watched (while burning up in the heat…) He hates me taking pictures of him but he’s a good subject and used to it after all the prom and senior potrait shots i’ve forced on him over the years… (we’ll show those oldies but goodies on another post…)

My personal favorite…

Just as we were starting to get bored with each others conversation (and him extremely annoyed with all the pictures), some surprise visitors decided to stop by (unannounced, so my house was of course a disaster zone but I don’t think they cared…) Liesel (cousin by marriage) and Kara (cousin by blood) brought over my 2nd cousins, Elizabeth, Matthew, and Issac, 3 of the coolest kids I know! They are soooo cute and also very well behaved. Elizabeth is quite the performer and decided to do some dance routines for our evening entertainment. (maybe I should opt for a new porch after all!)

Elizabeth and Aunt Kara

Hilde’ licking Issac’s boo-boo. (sweetest dog ever…)

Elizabeth starts her performance (with very limited space!)

I love Issac’s smile!!!

And Matthew’s too!!!

Although he gets bored easily… (i loved his quote- “this is boring… AND i’ve been shopping for 2 HOURS!!!)

She is so pretty already… Can’t wait to see her in 5 years! (Zack, be prepared…)

And SUPER talented!!!

This is her doing some reenactment of High school Musical… Something about “i need a beat”…

And then getting her mom (Liesel) to put her hair up like “Aunt Megans” (I’m honored)

The boys…

They love Gabe… Hope he can be a good role model for them!!!

“Aunt Kara”

Ended up being such a fun night, thanks to their performances!!!

I didn’t get any pictures of the finished meal but it was REALLY good! Nothing like a fun family cookout on a hot summer night. Thanks Gabe! (Oh, and Hilde’ was SUPER tired when we came inside… I’ll leave you with her signature exhausted pose – almost on top of the kitchen floor vent…)