Wednesday, December 31, 2008

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!

This has been quite a year! A lot has happened...trips to San Francisco, New York, Palm Beach, South Beach, Puerto Vallerta, Tucson Arizona, and Chicago! In between trips, we also moved to our third house in three years! I think Felicia is done moving (and taking a bath on real estate) for a while now--at least that's what she claims. Plus, India graduated from High School and is now a freshman in college! In addition, last but NOT least, we got our latest (and Felicia swears, final,) dog, Dolce, the Pomeranian. Dolce wanted her picture high on the masthead today, but I've given her enough attention since she joined our household. She may be a puppy, and she may be cute, but this is MY blog. It's called, The Maia Chronicles, not The Dolce Chronicles. (The Dolce Chronicles doesn't even sound as good!)

Well, the old year may be over, but we have a nice surprise to kick off 2009! Esteemed poet Robert VanderMolen has a new book out, called Water, and he has agreed to let me interview him! More about Robert and his book later. The interviews will start next week.


In the meantime, I wish you all a Very HAPPY NEW YEAR! See you next year!

Tuesday, December 30, 2008

Post-Christmas Delight

The Christmas Tree is Still Up.  The unwrapped gifts are waiting to be put away.  So I'm going to sit here...

and *chew* enjoy the Christmas treat...

...that *slurp* Felicia gave me when she realized that all the Christmas doggie biscuits were still sitting in their package and Christmas was done with over five days ago now!  The container was so beautifully designed that guests at Twin Oaks thought it contained lovely human treats, and everyone was rather let down when they realized that all those colorful red and green cookies with icing and sprinkles were really for us dogs...

(ooohh...it's so hard to hold things with doggie paws!  *sniff* What a delightful aroma)...

...and ooohhhh....isn't it beautiful?  And it tastes so good as well....hmmmnnnn....I just wanna look at it and take it all in....

Before I chew some more!  How could life get any better, I ask you??  And while I'm sitting here, not that I want to get too philosophical or deep or anything...but I can't help but wonder what 2009 will bring our Doggie Family!!  I just know it's gonna be great!!

Monday, December 29, 2008

"Marley" and Me

Felicia and India went to see Marley and Me yesterday in the theaters. The movie was packed. Everyone cried at the end, even though it was a bad movie with too many close-ups of Jennifer Aniston's stomach. And who has a flat stomach the day after giving birth? That's what I heard Felicia saying. But after the movie, Felicia said to Sacha, "We're going to start calling you Marley. Because now that Marley's gone to doggie heaven, I think you're the world's worst dog!" Sacha didn't seem to care about being called the world's worst dog. She was just wondering when Felicia would forget and leave Dolce's dog food on the counter, so that she could jump up and polish it off!

I cannot jump up on the counter like Sacha can.

Felicia left the room, and I caught Sacha eating last night's spaghetti out of a container!

I barked, and Felicia came back in the room and yelled at Sacha.

"Bad girl!" said Felicia, as Sacha licked her chops.  Sacha's ears were down, like they always are when she's doing something wrong, or not chasing a squirrel.

"You know better than that!  Stay off the counter!" said Felicia.  Sacha looked away.  She never makes eye contact when someone's yelling at her, or when she knows she's being bad!

Sacha looked sorry--that she'd been caught, that is.

But she took her medicine, looking sheepish, and I know that she was thinking to herself, "I wonder when Felicia will leave the room again so I can finish it off.  Felicia makes the world's best spaghetti!"

Sunday, December 28, 2008

Dolce Cute

India took photos of Dolce on her camera phone. Dolce blends in with the snowy driveway, on her way to somewhere important, doing her little soldier march.

And here's Dolce lying on her back, head hanging down like a bat over India's lap! Not the greatest quality picture but cute as a button and you get the idea!

Saturday, December 27, 2008

Zara Plays with Dolce

Busy since returning home from California, Zara didn't have much time to get to know Dolce...

But on Christmas Eve, she and Dolce got acquainted. I just stayed with my sibs and was happy that she kept Dolce occupied so that I didn't have to avoid her! She's such a puppy!

Friday, December 26, 2008

The Day After....

Opening gifts, meeting new people, routines interrupted...it's all too much for the newest member of the household. Dolce crashes cuddled up to Big Sister Sacha. Time to gear up for the days after Christmas!

Thursday, December 25, 2008

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!

The lovely Christmas tree, hung with mostly homemade ornaments...

Felicia made me sit on the presents under the tree...

India, wearing her new Christmas coat given to her by Rocky, holding Dolce...
Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to everyone!

Tuesday, December 23, 2008

Quiet Day at Home

Here's Dolce...just released from her cage.

She wants to play with me.

But my idea of playing is not to get jumped on by a pot-bellied Pom puppy!

I react calmly, letting Dolce know I'm not in the mood to play right now.

Sacha sits on Michael's lap, watching the situation with interest.

Dolce gives up and finds someone who WILL play with her! 'appy 'appy 'appy!! Life is good!

Monday, December 22, 2008

Snowy Christmas Days...

Felicia starts out her day with a cup of Christmas cheer...no, not that...just coffee! She loves her morning cup of coffee and looks forward to enjoying her cuppa while reading the day's news (Madoff, anyone?) on her Mac. And every Christmas she brings out her "Happy Holidays" Grenadiers mugs!

But it's been almost four days of snow and Felicia is sore from all the shoveling! Dolce doesn't mind so much. She's got a coat of fur...that's not quite as thick as it was when she was twelve weeks old! She's molting her baby fur and looks a bit scraggly at times! Yorkies never go through scraggly phases. Poor Dolce. She can't help it that she's a Pomeranian. I'm sure her fur will grow back. Someday.

Peaches and I wander down the driveway in the heavy snow.

I decide to go back into the garage, where Michael has brought India's car to scrape two feet of snow off of it, so he can drive it to a friend's house. Michael is home for Christmas and we are all so glad to see him!

Meanwhile, it's perfect weather for spaghetti. Felicia cooks up a some sauce on the stove.

Nothing like a bubbling cauldron of simmering sauce waiting for us while we go outside and shovel the latest few inches of snow from the front walk!

Sunday, December 21, 2008

Dolce Meets Brooke

BROOKE IS BACK!!

Dolce's Godmother came to meet Dolce!

Brooke is a traveling gal, so up until now, she's missed the opportunity to make Dolce's acquaintance!

But she made a special trip home, just to meet her newest special friend!

Even though she used to call Peaches "the rat," she's decided that distance makes the heart grow fonder...

And now she even loves Crack Baby (Sacha) and The Rat (Peaches).

Dolce is especially fond of Brooke, because without Brooke's "green light," telling Felicia to get Dolce, Dolce might not be a member of the family right now! So we all love Brooke too.

PS We also all loved Brooke's engagement ring, from Mr. T, as well! Gorgeous ring for a gorgeous couple! Congratulations Brooke and Christopher!

Saturday, December 20, 2008

Blizzard in Michigan!

Michigan was hit with an all-night/all-day blizzard....

None of us wanted to even go outside to do our business.

Dolce wonders why Felicia won't just let her in the house.

She just stands there, camouflaged in the snow, looking forlorn.

Ah. Back in the warm house, snacking on a piece of raisin toast.

Friday, December 19, 2008

Dolce Freedom in the Snow

Princess Dolce is not only free from her cage, but free from her collar!

She races after Max, barely able to traverse the deep snow.

It's fun to be outside, playing with Max, protected by her thick fur!

But after a while, Miss Dolce wants to go back into the house.

She waits for Max to follow her in.

And finally, Felicia takes pity on La Bear(re), who can't yet climb steps, and brings her into the house. Fun in the snow for Miss Dolce!
P.S. Dolce has two ID tags; the pink one says, "Princess"!