love

This Little Piggie Went To The Vet

Millie had to go to the vet's office today because her allergies are haywire, once again.

Since the day I brought her home (June 2009) she has been one big mess of environmental & food allergies.  I love her so much and I hate that she itches like she does.  I want so bad to take it all away so that she is not in discomfort, so I do my damndest to get her to the vet when her skin starts flaring up.

She itches, she loses hair, she breaks out.... but, she never once stops being a happy, bubbly, loving dog.  That is what is so awesome about her.  She has a way of inspiring me to remain happy even in uncomfortable times. 

We went to the vet today also because there was a knotty-like growth on her left hip.  I was not sure if it was something serious or if she just landed on it wrong when she's jumped so crazily for the frisbee like she does or something.  I am aware that Boxers are one of the most at-risk dogs for bone cancer, so I immediately was on high anxiety when I saw the knot.  She has had lots of problems in the past 2.5 years that we have had to fix or correct, but I had a very odd feeling going into the vet today.

But, it turns out - the problems are all the same.  The root of all this evil is her skin problems and allergies.  So, we have to switch the diet (from chicken & rice to fish & potatoes), we gotta switch up her antibiotic, and she's gonna take baths a lot more than she was, so that we can get her feeling as good as possible.  I just hate it for her!  She is the happiest and spunkiest little dog and to know that she's in pain just KILLS ME!!!

I am just so grateful it was nothing more serious or something we couldn't deal with as easily as this.  Praise God! 

I got some cute snapshots of her lately....

peace & love

baily

"He is my other eyes that can see above the clouds; my other ears that hear above the winds. He is the part of me that can reach out into the sea. He has told me a thousand times over that I am his reason for being; by the way he rests against my leg; by the way he thumps his tail at my smallest smile; by the way he shows his hurt when I leave without taking him. (I think it makes him sick with worry when he is not along to care for me.) When I am wrong, he is delighted to forgive. When I am angry, he clowns to make me smile. When I am happy, he is joy unbounded. When I am a fool, he ignores it. When I succeed, he brags. Without him, I am only another man. With him, I am all-powerful. He is loyalty itself. He has taught me the meaning of devotion. With him, I know a secret comfort and a private peace. He has brought me understanding where before I was ignorant. His head on my knee can heal my human hurts. His presence by my side is protection against my fears of dark and unknown things. He has promised to wait for me... whenever... wherever - in case I need him. And I expect I will - as I always have. He is just my dog."
- Gene Hill

My Birthday Weekend :)

I just got back from Charlotte where I was celebrating my birthday weekend with Sheldon.

We had a laid-back weekend that was so relaxing, even though time seemed to fly by!

I got there Thursday night so that I could outrun Hurricane Irene up Interstate 95.  We hung out, played with Millie (I brought the pup along this time) and watched TV - those little simple things that mean the most!

The 3 of us (Sheldon, Millie, and I) went out on the boat Friday afternoon and splashed around Lake Norman.  Millie is a big fan of swimming! 

After our outdoors outing, Sheldon and I went to a nice dinner at Eez Fusion - an asian inspired restaurant.  We had a great time on our date!  It was the best birthday date I have ever been on!

On Saturday, we went out on his best friend's pontoon boat with some other friends of his and pontooned around Lake Norman.  I got some good sun and had a fun-filled birthday afternoon.  That night, we picked up an appetizer, chicken wings, and wine and watched funny movies.  I could NOT have asked for a more kick-ass birthday evening. 

Sunday was spent piddlin' around Mooresville and Davidson.  Sheldon took me to a record store and let me pick out some vinyl records.  This was a whole new experience for him and I couldn't hide the grin I had on my face as I watched him watch me flip through all these records.   We walked away with: Janis Joplin, Lynyrd Skynyrd, The Allman Brothers Band, Tom Petty, and The Rolling Stones. 

I pretty much freaked out when I found both the Janis and Rolling Stones vinyls.  I have looked all over for both of them.  I am glad to finally have them in my collection!  

Later Sunday evening, we went to his family's house where they had a birthday dinner to celebrate his mom & I's birthday.  (Hers is the 30th and mine was the 27th)

 I am so fortunate for the relationship that I have with Sheldon's family.  I have a special bond with even his grandparents and cousins.  I love that the many years of friendship is what built such a wonderful relationship and what welcomed me into the family so long ago. 

(Cole, Sheldon & Jacob playing frisbee with Millie Jean)

(Sheldon's older brother, Cole & I. Cole grew up with my brother-in-law, Tyler, back when their family lived in FL)  I love how we are all still great friends! And now even moreso!

Knowing that we have two families who are excited for us & who pray over us makes this serendipitous journey such an amazing experience.  I am truly, truly blessed beyond measure!

I love my life!

Here's to being 24 years young...

peace & love

bjj

TWT

I'm linking up for Tail Waggin' Tuesday for the first time in a while...

It gives me a reason to blog about the baby girl.

The 'theme' this week is to fill everyone in on what your dog's been up to this summer!  I am fortunate that I have such a fun and active dog.  She really is everything I brag about all the time and more, haha.  I am pretty obsessed with her and I just am so amazed at how happy she always is.

I have such a special bond with Millie because of how much happiness she brought to my life when there wasn't much of it.  Looking back on the 2 years that I have had her... they have been the most turbulent, the most life-changing, the most chaotic, and they've been my two biggest learning years.  She has been with me through it all and it is because of her that I have an unconditional friend and someone to always hang out with. 

This is our third summer together but really a first in many ways. The first summer she was wee-tiny (I got her on June 18th when she was 6 weeks old) and last summer we were separated the majority of it because of my post-fire living arrangements and her extended stay at my sister's house and my mom's house.  This has been our most FUN summer, by far and we are SO GLAD to be at home in Florida at "Granna's house!"  We loved Alabama... but it was time for us to come home and enjoy some time here in our transistion phase. 

meet millie jean

she's 2.

a pure-bred Boxer from North Alabama.

she's my soulmate.

here's what she looked like when I got her two years ago (6/18/09)

and here's what she looked like on July 4, 2009 --

(in the room that would later burn everything in this photo but us in a house fire! THANK GOD!)

two years later, a journey of life-changing events, and a dog/owner friendship like no other, this is

what we've been up to this summer:

We've played lots of frisbee!!

Taken lots of naps in the summer sun!!

Got our tan on!

Walked some trails! 

Gone on neighborhood walks!! 

Played with doggie-friends and human friends!! 

Watched the Casey Anthony trial!!

(and almost vom'ed when the verdict came back today)

Hung out with "Uncle Jackson" and "Aunt Lola"

(my parents Boxers)

Chased lizards and squirrels!!

Got a kiddie-pool and turned it into a doggie-pool!!

Grown even closer and become more special to my very loving Mommie!!!

She is so, so special to me and I thank the Lord for her every day. 

She is much more than a pet and much more than a dog.  She truly changed my life and gave me the privilege of experiencing "a woman's best friend."

Show us your doggie on Tail Waggin' Tuesday!

Peace and Love

Baily

Dear Millie,

I love you.

Thanks for saving me.

Love,

Mommie

Tail Waggin' Tuesday

I'm linking up with this adorable blog for

Tail Wagging Tuesday

and of course I love any good reason to show Millie off.

Millie has been all sorts of excited lately because her birthday is coming up and she is happy to be joining the rest of the boxer family and not being "the baby" anymore.  Trust me, though, I know she is relieved that Sissy is having a baby boy due in August because that means Millie will still be "the baby girl" of the family.

She just like her mom - we're brats like that. 

Note: Mildred Jean Jones (Born April 28, 2009, adopted June 18, 2009)

This Tuesday at 'Tail Wagging Tuesday' is showing off doggie bling.  Since you all know that I am not that much of a rhinestone princess - either is my dog.  Even though she's petite, she is much like her Momma in the fact that she's a super jock.  She's fast, got one hell of an attitude, is a show off, a flirt, a tomboy, a runner, and loves to play outside. And hogs the bed.  What we have in common the most is our love for accessories, but not prissy ones.  We like leather, turquoise, tie-dye, and bold colors. 

But, most of the time, Mildred Jean goes free-birdin' it.  Her neck gets itchy and rashy sometimes and she doesn't really need a leash unless we are somewhere that requires it (public trail, neighborhood walk, cafe, etc.) - so it is easier to just let her run around naked as a jaybird. 

Anyways, here are some of her looks over the past two years!

And.... yes - these pictures do provide evidence that sometimes Millie and I share our accessories.  Especially our bandanas.  I like to tie them around the straps of my purses, loop them on a belt loop, pull my hair back with them, use them as a sweat towel... you know, whatevs.  And Millie likes to prance around and show off all her different colored ones.  She has yellow, turquoise, red, blue, orange, green. 

Well, WE have them.  Haha! 

We like funky jewelry... so she's like me and has many more collars, leashes, and accessories than I can even picture... but like I said, she's usually nekkid.

I love this little 'Piggie' (my nickname for her since she was a baby) and I couldn't ask for a better behaved, more protective, happier dog than this one.  Sometimes she gets itchy and has to take her allergy medicine but she does it with no complaints.  Sometimes she wants to bolt after that squirrel and prove how fast she is and what a good hunter she is (she is a Bama native, after all) and I have to get on to her, only so she doesn't get herself hit by a car.  She needs not wear a leash, she listens when she's called, she is grateful for her toys, her food (oh boy is she grateful when they have meaty morsels!) and she's the most grateful for all the love and attention she gets.  She is spoiled ROTTEN! 

How could she not be?

PEACE AND LOVE

bjj

crazy-obsesssed over this! emphasis on the 'crazy'....

Oh my gosh... I just came across the cutest, most vintagely awesome, dog-loving, artsy creation in the world.  I saw this maybe :45 seconds ago, and I am already in, like, MAJOR obsessive love with it.

Does anyone read RUN WITH SCISSORS??? I mean, over a thousand people FOLLOW her so I'm thinking that was a pretty stupid question for me to ask - but anywho...


If you want to get on board the creatively inspired train, then you oughta go visit her crafty and nifty blog and join the bajillion other followers who are probably 'OOHing' and 'AAHing' over this before&after post. But let me prepare you before you visit her blog - be prepared to be incredibly JEALOUS of how great she is.

Check out this particular project of grooviness... read the entire post here!

Her family's new Saturday tradition is to go

antique mall shopping together.  (How groovy, right?)

Well, she hit the jackpot with this

vintage suitcase for $2.  

Look at what Janel {a super creative gal}

came up with turning it into... this is so cool...

images and creation found at iheartrunwithscissors.com

I'm telling you, this girl is the bomb at making some pretty nifty stuff! 

As she puts it - she is an art teacher by day; Blogger by night - but she's a journaler, inspirationalist, and an awesome crafter on top of all that!!! And you know what else??

She instantly became one of my

favorite artsy people

when I browsed across her blog this summer &  learned about her journey toward adoption.

How blessed are the people with those

special hearts of gold... I am a girl with sincere and admiring respect for such wonderful, self-less people.   

Anyway, THE HUNT IS ON for a vintage suitcase

to make Millie even the MORE coolest dog

on the block.  Her frisbee technique already

won her that award!!!

Speaking of awards, 2 new blog friends, gave me the Stylish Blogger Award that is floating around out there. 

IT MADE ME SLIGHTY INCREDIBLY STOKED!

I'll tell you more about that next time.  

But thanks, girls! You rock! 

I will post the 7 Things About Myself asap!

peace and love

baily 

p.s. Raise your hand if you think this smudger-face needs a cool, retro doggie bed? After all, she is a little gypsy/road-tripping/vagabond like her Momma. Her birthday is April 28... maybe I can have this project done by then... but dont hold your breath.

omg just posting this photo of her

made me miss her LIKE CRAZY even more

Bloggie Camera

Here's the "test run" for my new 'Bloggie' camera by Sony.  One of the gifts Santa spoiled me with this year...

My mom already told Millie to get used to the 'Bloggie' being stuck in her face 24/7.  If you can't tell by the video and my annoying 'Mommy talk' in the background... I LOVE my Piggie!

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL!
Baily & Millie

'twas the night before Christmas...

Merry Christmas

from my family to yours!

May the Lord bless you with

peace, love, and joy!

xoxo

baily, millie, jackson, lola, mom, dad

'the joneses' 

Dog Day

I realized today that I have never had a Christmas with Millie.  Last year when we went to North Carolina I had to leave her at the 'Doggie Motel' with Lola and Jackson.  It was her first Christmas (only 8 months old then) and I had to leave her... I hated it. 

So today when that occurred to me, I put on some athletic clothes and grabbed a couple of leashes and loaded Lola and Millie into my car.  We then set out for the dog park in Winter Springs.  When we pulled up it was closed and it left us bummed.  But, it reminded me that it'd be just as fun to play frisbee in the front yard and we can leave the dog park for another day.  It was still fun to get out on this GORGEOUS, SUNNY, WARM Christmas Eve day with my favorite girl-dogs! I love having Lola, Jackson, AND Millie!

Here are some pics from our play-date!

I love playing underneath the Florida palms again! And Millie has loved having playmates!

PEACE AND LOVE

b a i l y