Thanks Kevin Cobb for sharing : )

Yesterday, my poor little Chewy wasn’t feeling very good. As soon as he got up all he wanted to do was go outside and eat some grass. I let him out and continued on my daily routine – feed dogs, make toast, set up TV tray, eat toast then get ready for work – which is pretty much what I do every day.

I’m just about to dive into my breakfast when I hear Chewy making that horrible “I’m gonna throw up, I’m gonna throw up, I’m goooonnnnnaaa throw UP” noise (you pet peeps know what I’m talking about). So I quickly grab him and put him on the tile floor instead of letting him stay on the couch. I then run to the kitchen to grab a paper towel for clean-up duty.  Seconds have passed when I realize TWO things have happened while I was gone.

One, Chewy basically spit out one blade of grass, that’s it, so really no need for all his dramatic “I’m gonna throw up” noises.
And two, I was now missing a piece of toast!

I do a quick head count to see who’s missing AND OF COURSE Calvin the Chihuahua is no longer on the couch. I see him over in his little dog bed trying to get that piece of toast down as quickly as possible. I run over and retrieve what I can, but he basically inhaled  it. This whole event literally happened in the matter of 20 seconds!

So now I’m wondering: Have they figured out my morning routine? Was Chewy trying to distract me while Calvin made off with the goods? They do sleep in the same crate so for all I know they lay around and plot again me and Calvin has always been the mastermind. Though, now that he’s eleven I assumed the “stealing food days” were over.

What do we think, conspiracy or dumb luck? My votes conspiracy!

So I’ve picked out three homes today that I think the boys should consider.

If privacy is the key factor than why not live on Star Island? 

THE STATS
Year built: 1925
Size does matter: 9,854 sq ft
Beds, baths and beyond: 7 bedrooms, 6 full baths, 3 half baths
All this for a cool 29 million
 

BUT of course, I think many would agree, we want one of the superstar trio to live in Fort Lauderdale!  So why not take up the entire end of Rio Vista Isle?! Plus, as an added bonus, when the tour boats drive by, LeBron, you’ll be the hot new kid on the block.

THE STATS
Year built: 1989
Size does matter: 10,242 sq ft
Beds, baths and beyond: 11 bedrooms, 12 full baths, 5 half baths
All this for a mere 28.5 million

Last but not least, my fav, a new-ish modern oceanfront property (this would be my first choice, but then again I don’t have to worry about crazed fans). It is right on the beach so there may be many onlookers strolling by. That’s the price you pay being rich and famous.  But this home is a steal!

THE STATS
Year built: 2007
Size does matter: 14,079 sq ft
Beds, baths and beyond: 5 bedrooms, 6 full baths, 3 half baths
A super deal at 18.5 million

There you are, three fab homes for our Miami Heat’s finest.  How do you think these houses compare and who should live where?

Merrick Park Goes to the Dogs!
The Village of Merrick Park (358 San Lorenzo Ave) invites you to Doggy Days of Summer July 18th, 25th and August 1st
2:00 pm – 6:00 pm. Bring your pooch to The Garden at the Village of Merrick Park and enjoy special promotions and doggy treats at select retailers and restaurants.

Receive a complimentary professional photo of your four-legged friend with a purchase of $25 or more. With a $5 donation enter your pooch in the doggy parade and receive a complimentary bandana. All proceeds will benefit the Humane Society of Greater Miami, which will be taking part in the kick-off with an adopt-a-thon on site. The doggy parade will begin at 3:00 pm in The Garden. Prizes will be awarded for top 3 categories:

1. Best attire
2. Best owner/dog look alike
3. Best personality.  
Doggy Days will be held on the following dates:  Sunday July 18, 25 and August 1 from 2 to 6 p.m. 
For more information visit: Village of Merrick Park

Source: miami.com

“Dogs are not our whole life, but they make our lives whole.” - Roger Caras

“An animal’s eyes have the power to speak a great language.” - Martin Buber

“We can judge the heart of a man by his treatment of animals.” - Immanual Kant

“My little dog — a heartbeat at my feet.” - Edith Wharton

“A cat is a puzzle for which there is no solution.” - Hazel Nicholson

“The purity of a person’s heart can be quickly measured by how they regard animals” - Anonymous

“Who can believe that there is no soul behind those luminous eyes!” - Theophile Gautier

“There’s no need for a piece of sculpture in a home that has a cat.” - Wesley Bates

“Thousands of years ago, cats were worshipped as gods. Cats have never forgotten this.” - Anonymous

“You think dogs will not be in heaven? I tell you, they will be there long before any of us” - Robert Louis Stevenson

For more great pet quotes check out petsinpastel.com

My other dogs, although not as frightened, always drive me a little insane because they will literally bark every single time they hear that popping noise. So needless to say, the 4th really isn’t a pet-friendly holiday in my house.

This year I’m going to try to make the holiday as painless as possible for all of us. I wanted to share some great preparation tips from The Humane Society.

To protect your pet on the Fourth of July, take these precautions:

Resist the urge to take your pet to fireworks displays.

Do not leave your pet in the car. With only hot air to breathe inside a car, your pet can suffer serious health effects—even death—in a few short minutes. Partially opened windows do not provide sufficient air, but they do provide an opportunity for your pet to be stolen.

Keep your pets indoors at home in a sheltered, quiet area. Some animals can become destructive when frightened, so be sure that you’ve removed any items that your pet could destroy or that would be harmful to your pet if chewed. Leave a television or radio playing at normal volume to keep him company while you’re attending Fourth of July picnics, parades, and other celebrations.

If you know that your pet is seriously distressed by loud noises like thunder, consult with your veterinarian before July 4th for ways to help alleviate the fear and anxiety he or she will experience during fireworks displays.

Never leave pets outside unattended, even in a fenced yard or on a chain. In their fear, pets who normally wouldn’t leave the yard may escape and become lost, or become entangled in their chain, risking injury or death.

Make sure your pets are wearing identification tags so that if they do become lost, they can be returned promptly. Animals found running at-large should be taken to the local animal shelter, where they will have the best chance of being reunited with their owners. For more tips and info from The Humane Society go here.

This artist also does accessories for us humans. If you want to see her full gallery go here.
Also, here’s the artist bio…

Talk2thetrees is Rachael Thomas. That’s me. I’m an artist/creator located in Little Rock, Arkansas.
Inspired by: nature, trees, horror art, macabre, Halloween, mushrooms, Asian art, religion, cemeteries, dreams, antique bottles, tarot cards and palm reading.
Collector of: acorns, crystals, animals, books, tea sets, journals.
I stay up way too late and drink too much tea. I get excited about things normal people don’t.
Visit my blog at www.Talk2thetrees.blogspot.com