Day 7

On the seventh post of Christmas I'm going to share with thee...

Finally a Decorated Tree!!!

Well, it only took 20 days - the tree went up on December 1st! Is there a world record for slowest Christmas tree decorating??? Well...here it is...W00t!

Hey, where's the star??? And isn't the tree just a little crooked???

Isn't it pretty??? I think I did a great job! (Ruby's Mom: You did a great job??? Ruby, you sat on the couch napping!!! Ruby: Oh no I didn't...I was supervising with my eyes closed...I'm very skilled that way!!!)

Anyhowl, I thought I would finally get to show you some of Mom's special hornaments (Ruby's Mom: Ruby, that's oranments not hornaments! Ruby: Whatever!!)

Venti-Non Fat-Extra Hot-Chai Tea Latte anypup??? Starbucks - That woman just can't get enough of this place. I really hope she has stock in the company!

Oh, and here's little Bumble and a bigger Bumble! I love Bumble...I mean I really love Bumble...I wish I could love the stuffing right out of Bumble.

Why are you hiding Bumble??? Come out and play Bumble - hee, hee, hee
Oh hi there little Power Puff Girls. Didn't see you sleeping...just saying hi...oh don't worry I won't hurt Bumble, no, not me!

Here's a cute wooden Santa...he came to live with us all the way from Germany...and he's got a bunch of friends living in the tree with him too.

Frohe Weihnachten

Hey Marvin...do you recognize this little guy? It's a little furry wooden Highland Coo all the way from Marvin-land, oops I mean Scotland!!! Mom got it when she visited Scotland 90 million quadrillion years ago! (Ruby's Mom: Ruby, be nice! Remember I have Santa Paws on speed dial? Ruby: OK, OK...)

Wait a minute...how did this get in here???

Do you notice something missing??? Yep, I don't see any Boston hornaments, oops, I mean ornaments do you??? Hey Mom, don't you have a Boston ornament somewhere??? Could you please go find it? Preferably before Christmas.

Oh, last but not least...our stockings have been hung by the chimney (actually, gas fireplace) with care...

I have to say, Mom does have some very interesting and fun ornaments. She tells all her friends and family who travel places to bring her ornaments back, so she has quite a collection. Now that they are living happily on our tree, I can share some more over the next few days if you are interested.

Day 6

On the sixth post of Christmas I'm going to share with thee...

A few random holiday things...

Whew...is it day six already? W00t! I can't believe I've made it half way! I want to thank everypup for reading and leaving all the great comments. I'm really doing this for all of you so I'm happy you are enjoying it. So today I'd thought I post a couple of different things I've found wandering the internets. I hope you enjoy...

First, do you like vintage Christmas shows like Rudolf the Red Nosed Reindeer, or how about Rudolf's Shiny New Year? Well, far be it from one of my favorite companies not to indulge our holiday palettes with some of their own brand of claymation...

Hee, hee, hee (or should I say ho, ho, ho) I thought that was so cute! And I think the Mac guy is just so adorable, even in clay!!!

Ever want to be an Elf? Or how about just dance like one? I took some of my Boston friends - little cutie Petra Pie, Mr. Joe Stains, and the handsome Mack - up to the North Pole for a little Dancing with the Elves. Check us out...

Lastly I saw this on a bunch of pups sites and thought it was about time to introduce you to Ruby Reindeer aka Comet...

You Are Comet

A total daredevil, you're the reindeer with an edge! Why You're Naughty: You almost gave Santa a heart attack when you took him sky diving Why You're Nice: You always make sure the sleigh is going warp speed

Warp speed - heck yeah!!! But that naughty stuff with Santa and sky diving...I know absolutely nothing about that - honest! So which Reindeer are you???

Day 5

On the fifth post of Christmas I'm going to share with thee...

My Favorite Holiday Tuuuuunnnnneeeessssss!

Last week Blue created this very fun tag game inspired by Gussie and his Muzzer's Holiday song posts (if you haven't seen them, you really need to check them out!!!) I had to ask my Mom for some help, but here goes...

Favourite Christmas Music...
1. Favourite carol - 'Jingle Bells' (that's a carol, right?)
2. Fav. traditional Christmas Eve ie 12 Lessons Carol 'Silent Night' - Gotta agree with Blue on this, it makes Mom a little teary too.
3. Favourite seasonal song - 'Winter Wonderland'
4. Fav. modern Christmas tune - 'Adam Sandler's Hanukkah Song' - So it's not about Christmas, but it makes my Mom laugh real hard!
5. Favourite Christmas Album - 'Christmas with the Rat Pack' - Mom's gotten me into Dino, Sammy and the Chairman of the Board - they are totally hip and cool for a bunch of dead guys!
6. Fav. Christmas musical - 'The Grinch that Stole Christmas' - You're a mean one, Mr. Grinch...love that green guy and his pup too!!!

So what are YOUR favorite Holiday tunes? Do tell...

Day 4

On the fourth post of Christmas I'm going to share with thee...

A Poem Remembering those that are in Need

Hi...It's Michele, Ruby's Mom here. I thought I would get in on the 12 Posts action today. I found this poem that really touched my heart. It's sad, but very important to remember. Ruby isn't a rescue pup, but I know one day when we can, we will open our home to a pup in need like so many of you have. In case it sounds familiar, Butchy & Snickers also posted it, but I thought it is so important, that I posted it again!

I dedicate this post to Maryann from the Brat Pack. Your love and dedication to rescue is inspiring.

A Rescue Dog's Christmas Poem

Tis the night before Christmas and all through the town,
every shelter is full - we are lost, but not found,
Our numbers are hung on our kennels so bare,
we hope every minute that someone will care,
They'll come to adopt us and give us the call,
"Come here, Max and Sparkie - come fetch your new ball!!
But now we sit here and think of the days...
we were treated so fondly - we had cute, baby ways,
Once we were little, then we grew and we grew
now we're no longer young and we're no longer new.
So out the back door we were thrown like the trash,
they reacted so quickly - why were they so rash?
We "jump on the children:, "don't come when they call",
we "bark when they leave us", climb over the wall.
We should have been neutered, we should have been spayed,
now we suffer the consequence of the errors THEY made.
If only they'd trained us, if only we knew...
we'd have done what they asked us and worshiped them, too.
We were left in the backyard, or worse -let to roam-
now we're tired and lonely and out of a home.
They dropped us off here and they kissed us good-bye...
"Maybe someone else will give you a try."
So now here we are, all confused and alone...
in a shelter with others who long for a home.
The kind workers come through with a meal and a pat,
with so many to care for, they can't stay to chat,
They move to the next kennel, giving each of us cheer...
we know that they wonder how long we'll be here.
We lay down to sleep and sweet dreams fill our heads...
of a home filled with love and our own cozy beds.
Then we wake to see sad eyes, brimming with tears -
our friends filled with emptiness, worry, and fear.
If you can't adopt us and there's no room at the Inn -
could you help with the bills and fill our food bin?
We count on your kindness each day of the year -
can you give more than hope to everyone here?
Please make a donation to pay for the heat...
and help get us something special to eat.
The shelter that cares for us wants us to live,
and more of us will, if more people will give.

--Author Unknown

During this holiday season of joy and plenty, don't forget about these pups and donate to your local rescue or shelter.

Day 3 - Bonus

On the 3rd *BONUS* post of Christmas I'm going to share with thee...

A new friend on DWB!

Hi again...a quick Day 3 bonus. My Dogster pal Mack now has a blog - W00t! I met Mack a few months ago...he's a very special friend. We've been exchanging emails and dogster prezzies. I sure hope Stanny doesn't get too jellyfish...after all he does have other girlpups AND many, many admirers.

Make sure you all stop by and give Mack a big DWB welcome...tell him I sent ya!!!

Day 3

On the 3rd post of Christmas I'm going to share with thee...

Butchy & Snickers' Ice Skating Party!

Well the weather outside was totally frightful, but my friends are quite delightful!!! Iowa's the place to go...skating in the snow, in the snow, in the snow!!! Well we're off to Butchy & Snickers' Ice Skating pawty. I'm kinda worried it will be really cold... I sure hope you pups will not only help me skate, but also keep me warm!!!

Do you notice something different about Aire Ruby??? She's got red snow skis!!!! All thanks to Gussie and his Muzzer. They wanted us to be safe. I think they look pretty good, don't you? Now we should have no problems landing in the snow!

Aire Ruby is stocked to the brim with cookies and carob hot cocoa and I even managed to get a mini-fireplace installed for Joe to keep warm...even tho' I think sitting next to Sophie will be will do the trick! So we are off..can't wait to see you all!!!

Day 2

On the second post of Christmas I'm going to share with thee...

A Special Barkday and Cookies NOT Baked for Me!

Hey Pups, Hammies and Coyotes...Welcome to Day 2 of my 12 Posts of Christmas! Let me start by wishing my very handsome, quasi-cousin pup Bob a very happy 3rd Barkday - w00t!

I love Bobbers (as I like to call him)! We have so much fun playing together. I love it when he chases me and lets me play bitey face with him. Let me tell you, it sure does scare the hoomans when we go at it because he is SOOOOO giant compared to me. But I know Bobbers loves me and would never ever hurt me...even when I try and steal his bone!

Happy Barkday Bobbers!!! I woof you!!!

So today, Mom started baking. Baking like Dory's Mom. Normally when Mom bakes, it really excites me because usually she is baking for ME. But this time - NOT!!! She's baking Christmas cookies to give to all her friends and send off to Nanny and Auntie Joey and cousin Danny! How dare she not bake for me! Just look at all the cookies she concocting---she's even stolen some recipes from Dory's crazy cookie baking Mom!!!

Liza's Oh So Lemony Cookies...

Chai Shortbread...

Maggie's Mom's Chocolate Covered Pretzels

There were also Flourless Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip (Mom's favorite recipe - sorry, no pictures)! Oh, and she's not done yet!!! She said she's gonna continue baking tomorrow too!!! I hope that she wises up a little and realizes I'll tell Santa Paws that she's been naughty if she doesn't make ME some cookies!!!

Day 1

Inspired by the hard blogging work of Dory and Liza, I decided I wanted to do my very own 12 Posts of Christmas. Each day, until Christmas day, I will post about something Christmas-y. After that, I'll probably need to take a nap - hee hee hee. Here we go...

On the first post of Christmas I'm going to share with thee (so formal, aren't I???)...

My Bootiful DWB Holiday Card Wreath!!!

Can you see your card???

Look at that...it's ginormous!!! It's huge!!! It's really, really, really big (it doesn't really look like a wreath - oops)...AND it doesn't even include all my cards!!! Harry and Jackson you boys were so right...we really needed multiple wreaths! Mom is now crafting a giant bow (like what Sitka and her Mom did) to display the rest of our cards...hopefully she'll have that done before Christmas!






Oh and case you were wondering...here's how many Holiday cards my Mom has received...

Poor lonely little Holiday card...this is so sad...poor Mom doesn't have any friends.

Yup, 1 and I think that count is really up for debate because the card was addressed to both of us. I contend it should be with all my cards, but I'm feeling kinda sorry for Mom so I'll let her have her one very lonely Holiday card.

Thank you to all my DWB friends. I have loved getting all my bootiful cards. Everyday has been a little surprise wondering from what far off land my next card will come from...I wish I could get cards EVERY day - w00t!

Almost forgot...Mom had to work really, really late at home last night and do you know what? I was SUCH A GOOD GIRL! I just went and slept by the fire place very quietly. Mom was so happy and impressed that she said she was going to call Santa Paws up to tell him what a good girl I was - how about that??? w00t!

And finally...don't forget to keep Maryann, Tucker, Samantha, Dot and Bear in your thoughts today...they really need our love and support at this difficult time!

So sad...

Me and Mom are so sad...we just read that dear handsome Thrawn has crossed over to the Rainbow Bridge. As we all know Thrawn and his mom Maryann have been thru alot lately with his health. Thrawn was so lucky to have a family that loved him so much. Our love goes out to Samantha, Tucker, Dot, Bear and especially Maryann. We just know that Dakota is right there waiting for him at the bridge and the two of them will have lots of fun being together again.

Thrawn I will miss you and all your silly sarcasm!!!
Rest well dear boy...

Awards and Tags and Christmas, oh my!

The other day I was so honored to receive a very special award from my puggy pal Clover. It is the Best Friends award...
The award says:

"Life is like Hell without FRIENDS. It's ‘World Best Friend Week’. Send this to your best friends to let them know you appreciate them."

I couldn't agree more! Thank you so much Clover. I am proud and honored to have you as one of my bestest blogging girlfriends!!! It is a super tough decision to pick other pups...I love ALL you DWB pups and you are ALL my friends...but here are some very special pups that have been there for me since the beginning...

My Stanny, my BFF Suki, my Diva-in-Crime Lola, Ike (just because you are married, doesn't mean we can't be friends!), Asta and Maggie. Oh and I have one special hooman to list...my Auntie Yvette. Thank you all for being my best friends!!!

And now, because I'm feeling in the Christmas spirit, I'm going to turn my bloggy over to my Mom. She was tagged by Jess, Clover's Mom and Jen, Suki Sumo's Mom to "Devise a list of 5-10 courses you would take to fix your life. It’s more fun to be in classes with friends, so include one class from the person who tagged you that you’d also like to take. Tag five."

Hey Everypup...it's me Michele. Thanks Ruby for sharing your blog with me today. Wow, I haven't posted in a while. I really liked this tag from Jen and Jess. I LOVE to take classes, but just never seem to have the time. Here goes...

1 - Yoga/Pilates - I'll take this with Jen, Jess and Ferndoggle Jen. I've taken a few yoga classes and it is amazing how it seems like you are doing so little but how you feel it in the end. I really, really would love to get back to it. I know it would help me feel great and if I had you girls in class with me it would be all the more fun!

2 - French - Not sure how this would necessarily fix my life, but I wanted to take French in high school, but my parents wouldn't let me. In college I took Russian (I was being rebellious) so I'd really like to take French. I think it sounds so beautiful and I would LOVE to help Ruby chat with Faya in her native language!

3 - Eating Healthy without it tasting like Crap - I think I would need a private tutor for this one. I know what I need to do, but it's sometimes so hard to come up with tasty things without a lot of time so I just go back to eating the same boring thing, losing my motivation and eating a cookie!

4 - Procrastination 101 - I blame my old roommate Stacey and my friend Kelly for turning me into a master procrastinator! OK, I've probably have had the gene since birth. There are certain things I do right away, but others...just let them drag on and on and on and on.

5 - Turning your Passion into a Profession - My day job pays well and puts kibble in Ruby's bowl, but it definitely isn't my passion. I would love to figure out a way to turn all my creative juices and craftiness into something that was fun, fulfilling and paid the bills.

6 - How to Live a Stress-Free Life - On any given week, I am stressed about 90% of it. Sometimes for very good reasons, but mostly because of things I have little or no control over. I know there will always be stress, but I would LOVE to know how to keep things in check and not freak out so much.

7 - Financial Planning for Dummies - I really need to be so much better in this area. I get by, but I would love to more than get by.

Anyone know of a school that offers all of these classes??? I'd like to tag Jessica - Seadra & Zoe's Mom, Rhonda - Joe & Tanner's Mom, Lisa - Stanny & Stella's Girl, Hanne - Chance's Mom, and Linda - Butchy & Snicker's Mom. Now don't stress...just do the tag when you have the time! OK, back to you Ruby.

Thanks Mom, a bit wordy huh? Anyhowl, tomorrow I will kick-off something very special. Taking a page from Dory and her crazy cookie making Mom Liza, I'll be starting my very own 12 Posts of Christmas!!! W00t! So stay tuned...

W00t!

My Floridian friends Jake and JH just informed me of some pawsome news - w00t! Yes, that's right, one of my most favoritest of words just hit the big time - w00t! Yes, w00t hit the big time! It is Merriam-Webster's Word of 2007!!! Yes, it finally joins the ranks of Truthiness (2006), Integrity (2005), Blog (2004) and Democracy (2003) - w00t!!!

I am once again on the cutting edge of pupular culture!!! W00T!!!

1. w00t (interjection)

expressing joy (it could be after a triumph, or for no reason at all); similar in use to the word "yay" w00t! I won the contest!

A Golden Rose...

Last week, when I was feeling kind of blah my dear handsome friend Marvin had just the thing to cheer me up...
That's right...my very own Golden Rose! Thank you so much my dearest Marvin! You always make me smile and brighten my day. I'm giving the rose right back to you...consider it your good luck charm for your op-paw-ration tomorrow. I will be thinking good thoughts and crossing my paws for you!!! I know everything will be great and I'm sure Jeannie will take good care of you!!!


I'm also giving the Golden Rose to my bestest best friend in the whole-wide-world, Suki and her Mom Katy. Both of them are having a rough patch right now and I want them to know how much I love them and how happy I am that they are part of my life!!!! I woof you girls!

Now Taking Reservations - Butchy & Snickers Skating Pawty!

Hey Pups, Hammies and Coyotes...

Aire Ruby is pleased to announce it is now taking reservations for Butchy & Snickers Ice Skating Pawty...


I can't wait!!! I've never been skating before! I hope I don't embarrass myself too much !!! I'm hoping my Stanny will be there...because I know he will keep me warm! Do you like my skating ensemble???

If you are interested in an Aire Ruby pick up, please leave me a comment. We'll be serving hot spiced cider, peppermint hot carob cocoa and lots of different treats! Make sure to dress warm and in case we can't land due to snow, be prepared for a parachute jump - Woot!!! Can't wait to see you all again!!!

Give Kisses...

So one of the things my Mom does every morning is say "Give Kisses" to me! Of course I LOVE to do that. Well I found out from Asta's fabulous pawty last night AND from Butchy and Snickers bloggy today there is this special green stuff called 'Miss my Toe' that every time you stand under it you can get kisses! Isn't that GREAT??? Now this only happens at Christmas time, which I pawsonally think is very silly, but it is still wonderful idea. Especially if it means I can get kisses from my Stanny and Marvin and Wally and Tadpole and Joe and Joey and Butchy and Harry and Chance and Mitch and Ike and Tucker and Sherman and Boo...oh I could go on and on and on...

Oh and I'm at 30 cards as of last night!!! This is really turning out to be the best Christmas ever!!!

I don't think so...

Thanks everypup for your kind words. I'm feeling better today. Mom and I spent quality time together last night playing fetch (inside, but still fun) and because I got MORE HOLIDAY CARDs - Yay! Oh and of course I'm feeling better because as I write this I'm getting Aire Ruby ready to leave for Asta's howliday pawty...I can't wait to see you all!!!!

So as you all know I'm a knitter. Well not really, I'm the Yarn Dog supervisor and my Mom is the knitter. While visiting one of my Mom's favorite knitting websites LOOK what we found...
It's a SHRUG...actually it's a DOGGIE SHRUG!!! Here's another look...
You should have seen the look in her eyes...she got the crazy eyes like me! She got SO excited! In fact, I could see visions of yarn colors dancing in her head. I barked 'NO NO NO NO NO!!!!' Everypup knows I HATE CLOTHES!!! I mean I REALLY hate clothes. I sure hope she's not thinking of making one for me...I mean after all this time of me NOT wearing clothes why would she waste her time and yarn? Hey, if she really wants to make one, maybe she'll make it for my sister...or maybe one of you doggies are interested in being a fashion guinea pup???

Feeling Kind of BLAH...

Hey pups, coyotes and hammies...

I'm still here, just been kind of blah last few days. I'm not sick or anything, just not been doing a whole bunch. I totally blame my Mom because she's been busy with work. We haven't gone for walkies or the park or read many bloggies. Heck, we haven't even finished decorating our tree yet!!! Not sure what she is waiting for...maybe she expects Santa Paws to help or something, but I told her he was a very busy man!!!

Fortunately, Mom has finally finished our DWB XMAS cards!!! She even mailed them, well all but the last 20 or so, but those will go out tomorrow. One thing that has totally brightened my day are all the cards I'm getting...in fact so far I've only gotten cards - none for my Mom - hee hee hee. OK, guess that's not nice and I am sharing my cards with her. We've really been loving getting them. They are all so bootiful and creative!!!

Our wreath is coming along nicely, but as predicted by Jackson, we probably need a bunch more to get all the cards on it!!! This is a good problem to have!!! A number of you pups commented on where we got supplies and how we put it together. Trust me, it's not that hard...even for the most creatively-challenged hooman, especially if you pups are supervising.

Here's what you need:

• Metal wreath form (from a craft shop like Michaels)
• Mini wooden clothespins (found at the craft store too in the wooden crafts aisle)
• A pretty bow

Just arrange the cards how you want and attach them to the wreath form and each other using the mini clothespins. Attach the bow where you would like...we did it at the top to hide the wreath hook. That's it...the real 'creative' part comes in with all the arranging of the cards. But with you pups supervising I KNOW it will be great.

Another creative idea is over on Sitka's site. Her Mom and her got giant ribbons and hung the cards on the ribbons. We really think that is a cool idea and at the rate we are going with all the cards we are getting, we will probably do that somewhere in the house too!!!

You will notice that this post is seriously lacking in pictures...well it finally happened...the digital camera finally went to the big camera depot in the sky :( So now Mom is hunting for a new one, which because she is so busy, is going to take a few days. I know, I know...but I promise as soon as we get it, you'll see my smiling face and hopefully a filled up card wreath and a decorated Christmas tree!!!

There's a tree in my HOUSE!!!!

I know, can you believe it? I spent the day at my Auntie Yvette's yesterday and when I came home, found this...

It's my very own Christmas tree!!! I was so excited to see it. I had seen pictures on a bunch of your sites about it, but WOW, I never thought I'd get one of my very own. But wait...isn't something missing?

Mom explained that she wasn't quite done decorating yet, and that over the next few days she'd be finishing up and I could help her! Oh, look what else I found...

It's all my DWB Christmas cards - Woot!!! My Mom is just so creative...she's making them into a wreath over my fireplace. I got cards so far from Sitka & Tia, Chloe-Ricky-Lucy-Sophie & Teddy, Comet & BLU, Randi and my BFF Suki, Joey and her people pup sissies Yesenia and Ava!!! Thanks guys, I love them all and can't wait to finish up the wreath. I promise we will take more pictures when it is done.

Oh and I also made a new friend...
This is Chill E. Will and he is now living in the TV stand next to the DVD player. He is very stylish in his hat and scarf and I want him to me MINE!!!! This morning, after first barking at the tree (I was just saying good morning), Chill and I were roaching a bit (Ruby's Mom: You SO were not roaching...you were chewing on him! Ruby: Was NOT! Ruby's Mom: Um, yes, you were and if you don't stop I will call Santa Paws!!!) but than Mom took him a way. I can tell, we will be good friends, scratch that, we will be VERY good friends.

So we still have some more work to do, but we'll post more pictures of all the decorations when we have them done...hopefully that will be sooner than the sweater - which as expected, still isn't done (Ruby's Mom: RUBY!!!!). But the booties are - buttons and all...