Belated Thanksgiving Pictures

I totally forgot to post pictures from our Thanksgiving trip up to MA! Here is the menagerie. As you can see, it was a tough long weekend for the dogs : ) At least the horses had some exercise!!

Don't work too hard guys; don't worry about us!

Aby, our special girl!

"baby" Jewel

She was flying around the indoor arena---
galloping, flying lead changes, and roll backs!

Oh Christmas Tree...

Tink helped set up the tree and hang the lights this holiday season.

She left the untangling to those with opposable thumbs

Busy supervising

ummm, do i look like da tree?

I still can't see them, i don't think they work, mum

I can smell the tree, it's behind me. You keep doing dis and I gonna pee on it!

Let it Snow!

Tinker has received a lot of mail lately! She received a surprise package from Kacey that included this cute little "let it snow t-shirt." Incidentally, it snowed the first night she put it on. She was none too thrilled when she needed to actually go out in the weather.

an inaugural chewing of a Sam's Yam.

Cute hiney shot : )

Early Christmas

Tink and I participated in the Woof! gift swap again this year and Kacey and Melissa were so kind to us!!!

The panoramic view

Tinker sitting pretty

mmm, this smells good!

Why do I have to WAIT?!?!

My little candy cane girl!

Tinker loves the treats so much!!! I didn't even let her sniff the bully stick yet : )

Merry Christmas!!

Thanksgiving

Tink has certainly been enjoying her holiday break up in MA visiting with Granna and Grandpa. We've been taking it easy and eating like it's our job--of course Tink needed some thanksgiving dinner as well yesterday, so she was not denied : ) We had Thanksgiving at my Aunt Lori's house for the first time in 14 years and everyone was there to enjoy it who was supposed to be there : ) After a fantastic dinner, we all went for a walk. Tink did excellent down the dirt path, over the rocks, and through the wood chips--she's a regular outdoors girl! I do not have any picture's yet, but we will have to take care of that!

I entered a Zoe's Collection contest on the Woof board a few days ago, and we won a pink collar with palm trees on it--now called "tropical treasure." It's the picture currently on Zoe's collection home page! Randi is a complete doll and Tink's collar was personally and quickly made to her measurements! She mailed it out today and should be there soon!!! We will certainly post pictures when we get home!!!

Also, Tink's Woof gift swap is on its way as well! Kacey lives in Alabama and has sent a package to Tink! Tink will be sending her package as soon as we get home. I'm really pleased with all that Tink picked out and made for Kacey! I can't wait to mail it to her!

Tink is currently catching up on her beauty sleep and dinner is almost ready--there has been lots of relaxing and sleeping and eating going on--our kind of vacation!

Good News for Oliver

Oliver went to his forever home this past weekend!!!! Tink, Nick and I are so excited we peed on the carpet (ok, only one of us did and she didn't have to clean it up!)

I love happy endings!!! Oliver now has a great family with another little dog, a mom, dad, and 2 grown kids with a back yard and lots of love!!! Go Oliver go!

Sleeping Beauty....

This is where Tink usually ends up in the mornings before we go to work.

Sometimes, she leaves me some covers.

And when she's ready to go out, she leisurely gets up and stretches and sits nice and pretty.
Of course, I have no photographic evidence of that one,
you're just gonna have to take my word for it!

Tink's top 3

We've been compiling a list of Tink's favorites. Here they are:

1. Belly rubs
2. Raw medallion snacks before bed
3. Greeting her Mom when she gets home!

She also greatly enjoys liver snacks, snuggling and hogging the couch. Ok, mainly the left side of the couch or the spot you were just sitting in that's nice and warm!

Oliver

how could you resist that happy face?

Tink and I have been volunteering with NEBTRescue which we've been enjoying very much. Currently we're working on finding a forever home for Oliver. He's a 3 yr old neutered male and is being fostered in Rochester NY and is a complete love bug. He's come a long way in a month and a half and is ready for a permanent home where he can be loved and have "his" own people. He's a submissive guy who is learning to play. A true velcro dog! We've thought a couple times now that we've found THE home for him, but both times we've learned otherwise. (Better now than later!)

The world of rescue has been opening before my eyes. I knew that it was a lot of work, but I never realized just HOW MUCH volunteers put in behind the scenes to make everything work and to get the dogs into the right homes. I am loving what I'm doing and definitely have learned a new appreciation for all the work that went in to getting Tink ready to go for us!

So, if you know anybody (or are that somebody) who would like to adopt Oliver, go to NEBtRescue and fill out an application! You won't be disappointed by this little guy!

Tinker gets her Chi on...

With Tink's ups and downs in mood and pain level recently, Nick and I have been researching different methods to help decrease her pain and generally level her out. So, after how pleased I've been with acupuncture, we decided to try it with Tink

Tink went for her first acupuncture treatment bright and early this morning. What an amazing experience! She has a general clearing done and then Nancy focused on a few lower back and brain points. Tink and I have the same acupuncturist; Nancy is certified to work on animals in PA and MD. I love Nancy so much and I knew that she would be so great with Tink. Actually I've been excited for Nancy to meet Tink!

Nancy loved her. (who doesn't?!?!) One of the first things she asked was "is she always this mellow?" to which I replied "yup, except when I get home!" Apparently Tink has a lot of ying! Tinker was so relaxed and calm the whole time; she explored a little when we got there. No shaking, no nervousness. I feel she really enjoyed it. She sat so patiently and every once in a while when a "sweet" point was hit she turn her head around to Nancy as if to say "ya, that's it!" It was actually an energy booster for me to be there as well! It was funny to see her look like a little dinosaur with 5 little needles sticking out of her back! (Nancy used the tiniest needles and barely put them in!) When Tink was done, she stood up and Nancy took the needles out.

The treatment generally makes dogs mellow, but Tink is so incredibly mellow to begin with I was wondering how that would work. It actually gave her more energy this morning and we went for another walk went we returned home. She is having a great day with more stretching and higher activity level. She's not grunting or acting stiff when we pick her up either. She's acting more alive and more like "Tinker" if that makes sense!

Nick and I will be watching and monitoring her for the next few days and then weeks. We will probably bring her back for another treatment in 2-4 weeks. Hopefully this is something that Tink will only need on occasion after the first few treatments. Nancy doesn't want to over treat her and she was careful not to move too much Chi in the first session. Yay for a happy dog!!!

Sun Bathing Beauty

I think she hated the Outer Banks.....

...now if that isn't one relaxed and loved pup, i don't know what is

Liver Jerkey!!!

It's been such a long time since we've made treats for miss Tink (it's not like she's hurting for more treats!) and i was itching to try and make some jerky for her....liver variety of course.
As soon as she started to smell them cook she was literally quivering with anticipation!

All i used was about 3/4th lb of liver. It was sliced 1/4th inch thick and then i ended up quartering the pieces. I placed them on a cookie drying rack and then on the cookie sheet. Baked at 200 F for almost 2 hrs. Flip about half-way through.

I will cut them up into bite size pieces instead of keeping them whole as Tink had a hard time successfully chewing and swallowing a good size chunk without choking it up first.

Bone appetite!

Tinker tested, Momo approved

More please?

OBX Pics and Tinker Update

Well, we are back but definitely still on vacation! We didn't take many pictures, we were too busy doing nothing!!! The weather was beautiful, but windy making time of the beach difficult, which was fine for Tink, she preferred solid ground this year!

What is this I smell?

Oh, a bone for me!

This is mine, stay away

Must.... get my bed just right....
(She tried burying that bone in the blanket, it was hysterical to watch)

Where did that darn bone go?

Maddie gets a bone too of course!

Hey, it's sleepy time, leave me be!

Nick and I took both dogs to the Outerbarks store one day and shopped around! Maddie greeted everyone and Tink used her pathetic face to get lots of treats!

We took lots of walks to the sound where we were able to just sit and enjoy God's beauty. Tink enjoyed the walked, but didn't enjoy the burs that sometimes got in her coat.

I've been a little concerned about Tink's overall health for the past few weeks, but i think we're over the hump. She had been shaking a LOT and not eating very well, which is quite unusual for her. She also seemed to loose some of her usual Tinkerness. But on friday she started eating voraciously and overall, appeared to be feeling better--less shaking and more activity. We have been putting a light hoodie on her to keep her warmer.

I did call the vet friday (after she ate a huge breakfast) and we are putting her on a 1/4th tab of baby aspirin 2x daily with meals to see if that decreases the shaking. If it does, that may mean the shaking is pain-related. We'll be in touch with him again next week.

I'm also looking into some acupuncture for her. I know how good it makes me feel and I love Nancy so much, so we'll see how that goes for her over the next few months. I just want to do as much as we can to keep her as pain free (and as naturally) as we can.

So in short, she has had 2 very good days eating and acting like herself, which I am loving!

We're on Vacation

Hi all, it's miss Tink just letting you know dat we're on vacation! Mum, dad, and I traveled down to the Outerbarks and we're here having a great time sleeping and eating and relaxing! I'm not a big fan on the beach dis time, but mum and dad keep tryin. I much prefer da couch to da sand, but i know the walks are good fa me.

And that's really about it... we're here doing a whole lot of nuttin with Pap and Gram Rowe, Zach and Liz and baby Owen. Hopefully Mum and Dad will get their act together and take some pictures of my beautiful self to show da whole world!

Heeehee, I need to get back to my beeeuty sleep and enjoying my vacation!!

Labor Day at the Cabin

We had BEAUTIFUL weather this past weekend as we relaxed up at the cabin. We did not take pictures, but Twyla did and she was kind enough to send them over to us! So here are a few snap shots of the weekend!

The first thing Tink did was claim Maddie's bed and attempt to nest in it!

Tink quickly got down to business...sleeping

She never needed to look very far for a lap.....

Tink and Nana having a nice conversation....

Relaxing as a family

Our nephew Owen, is so cute!!!

Hmm, this cup looks tasty Mom!

Lucy relaxing in the grass....

Maddie relaxing in the grass....

I love these next few pictures that Twyla took of Tink.

just taking it easy

my little sun worshipper....

Love me forever....



...and of course we will


It was a wonderful weekend with great fun, family, and FOOD!!!!