Dogs, Dogs, Dogs, And Then Some.

I love my children. Really I do. And all three are now home from graduate school and colleges. With their dogs. And I love their dogs. Really I do. I am a Dog Person. That said. They've been here 2 days and something's gotta change, else I'm outta here like a bat outta hell.

Here's Sweet Dixie. I am her human. She owns me totally, and has for the past almost eleven years. She deserves her place in this home.

And she doesn't like this turn of events what with all the newbies here.

This is Junior, Youngest Hawthorne's puppy, rolling around on Dixie's old pillow. (I had to buy Dixie a new one because of all the puppy smells on her old one.)

This is Beau. Middle Hawthorne's puppy. He's an American Bull Dog. And he's sweet as he can be. He loves Mr. Hawthorne and tries to climb up in his lap and lick his ears every chance he gets.

Here are Bo-Bo and June-Bug. That's what I call them.

Dixie is lying in the kitchen, guarding her food.

She appears to be stressed. No shit. She takes her cues from me.

Middle and Youngest Hawthornes arrived home with Beau and Junior Tuesday afternoon. Daughter Hawthorne arrived with Giada on Thursday afternoon. Giada and Junior had missed each other terribly during their 48 hours away from each other

(Giada and Junior live together.), so they're making up for lost time here, as Bo Bo comes up to sniff Giada's butt.

Frolicking puppies.

More puppy fun.

Junior and Giada having Puppy Moments.

Giada and Beau taking naps.

Junior and Dixie's Ducky passed out.

Dixie. Pissed off at the shenanigans I've allowed to go on in HER house. I've noticed that when the little rascals are all cavorting,

Dixie retreats to the kitchen, her pillow,

or off in another area,

trying to distance herself from the young upstarts.

When the puppies are asleep, outdoors, or somehow away,

that's when Dixie gets up and active.

I've been trying to spend extra time with her

and take more of our special walks,

all of which seems to calm her (and me) down.

This is a stressful period for all of us,

meaning Mr. Hawthorne, Dixie, and me.

And we're all trying to deal with it the best we can.

What a beautiful face!

How could you not love that face?

More happy puppies.

Dixie likes to get away from the other doggies so she goes into the kitchen. But Giada, being the only other female dog, likes to position herself near Dixie. Even though Dixie hates it,

she tolerates it.

The last two photos and the next two happened within five seconds.

"If I close my eyes and go to sleep

I'll wake up later and realize this has all

been a very bad dream."

Bo-Bo asleep.

Junior, on Dixie's pillow, asleep. Dixie ain't gonna like that.

This goes on ALL.DAY.LONG. It's going to be a loooooooong summer.

A Houseful Of Dogs - Both Two-Legged And Four-Legged.

I offer you a few pictures just so you can get a feel for the Hawthorne Household.

Here's Daughter Hawthorne. She has worked on the computer from morning until 3 AM, working on graduate school assignments. Assignments like "Beginning Professional Development Statement" and "Self Assessment of Cultural Framework and Competence" and "Assessment of Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Children." I can barely understand the titles, but I guess that's why I pay the big bucks for her edumacation.

She finally sacked out with Giada on the floor.

Here's Bo Bo on my big, cushy chair, apparently making himself very comfortable.

And another picture of my quickly drying out, under-appreciated turkey pumpkin carving. I thought somebody would be impressed with this, but, alas, no one was. And I spent several hours carving this thing, damn it. But hey, I did it just for me, and I'm happy, so there. It was worth it.

Bo Bo and Giada have exhausted themselves after a very busy day. They like to sleep next to each other, touching.

Now, THAT's cute.

Youngest Hawthorne with Giada.

Then all the homies came over. (The Hawthorne Boys are in the back.) Brycer Sweetness in the green and Cory in the yellow in the forefront.

Then the Hoodies go on when I start taking pics. You'd think they are all on the cops' short list. I guess Cory has nothing to hide.

This is Dixie, waiting patiently, intently staring at a piece of ham on a yellow plate. Willing it. Willing it.

What, you ask, is she waiting for? She knows if she stays in this position long enough, that little piece of ham on the yellow plate will magically jump into her mouth. Dixie ain't stupid. You know what? She's right. That piece of ham did finally jump into her mouth.

Oh My Goodness. The Dogs!

This is sweet little Dorie, Paul's doggie. She's pit bull pointer mix. Dixie seems to like her. I think she knows Dorie is an occasional dog. Giada and Beau are interlopers. And Dixie sneers at them and barely tolerates them. But she is never aggressive enough to bite them. Good Dixie. Things are a bit hectic in the Hawthorne household tonight.

When I was in bed this morning, I heard a low rumbling from Dixie. (She was sleeping at the bottom of my bed.) I peeled one eye lid open, and there were Giada and Dorie, on their hind legs, paws on my bed, wanting to join us. Dixie does not like this state of events.

A Walk In The Garden.

Come join me for a little walk through my garden.

This is my bachelor's button. These self seed so they come up everywhere in the garden.

My orchid has put out a little shoot and it's grown a lot.

Oh, looky looky.
Guess who came to visit Dixie this weekend.
Why it's Beau Rattlesnakes.

And Dixie ain't likin' it one bit.

Everywhere she goes, Beau follows.

Poor Dixie. Beau just wants to play and she ain't havin' none of it.

I don't think she knows what he is.
Except for a big nuisance to her.

She keeps trying to ignore him, but Beau is persistent.

Poor Dixie doesn't like this turn of events.

Ignoring him is not working.

Dixie is constantly on the prowl. And Beau just follows her everywhere.

Beau refuses to let up.


Damn puppy is relentless.

Heh. She finally had enough of Beau.