We Are Family

Well. It's almost Thanksgiving Day and the relatives have already started arriving. And yesterday one of my girls from my first litter, Sadie, arrived. She looks great. Her hair has grown out from the buzz cut that she got last summer. The new pups seem to like her a lot and she is hanging out in bed right now with Roxie and Angus. I haven't had to make any Whiskey Sours yet. So far the relatives seem content to raid the wine cellar.

On Sunday, the pups' six-week birthday, I took some pics. I thought you might like to see them.

New Horizons

Yesterday was the pups' six-week birthday so we celebrated. Everyone had a swig of wormer (it was time for their second dose) and we ventured outside for the very first time. The pups hesitated at first, but soon were enjoying the garden party.

Are you there Dara? It's me Suddie.

I was beginning to wonder and then I received this email the other day.

Dara wrote:

Hi Suddie,

I just looked at the blog and all the slide shows and videos. You are up to your asses in DOGS. The puppies are adorable. It's impossible to pick a favorite, but I do love the one with the completely black face. The way they walk makes me laugh out loud. Seeing Roxie and Angus greet them was very sweet. Angus' top knot is very chic. You did a great job, Suddie. They are certainly full of vim and vigor. Watching them cavort made me need a nap. I hope you are feeling well and getting your figure back, Suddie.

Take care,
Dara

Girl! Getting my figure back? Well! I think I am skinnier than before I got preggers. All of this milk production takes a lot out of a girl and burns a lot of calories. I'm pretty much done with feeding the pups now. They're getting teeth and their nails are sharp! Ouch! But the day before yesterday I was getting really swollen up with milk. I thought I was going to burst. So my dad made me get in there and nurse the pups just to release some of the pressure. I feel much better now. I think I am starting to get some of my usual energy back too. Although I am milking it a bit just to eek out a little extra pampering. My parents keep promising to send me to a spa when this is all over and done with. I'm pushing for Canyon Ranch or Miraval. Oprah really like Miraval and Grammy Jill went there. She got to walk around on stones in a really warm pool. I could use a really good massage.

I did find this place called the Lap of Luxury that provides warm water therapy in a hydrotherapy pool built just for dogs. I guess pet owners bring their dogs to Lap of Luxury for a variety of reasons, Some dogs have physical ailments, others are just learning how to swim and some are training for upcoming competitions. They also work with senior dogs that aren't able to take long walks or exercise normally. I'm holding out for Miraval. If it's good enough for Oprah, it's good enough for me. My dad used to see Oprah working out early in the morning at the East Bank Club back when he lived in Chicago. One day Oprah said somehting witty to him about sweating and lycra. He can't really remember the particulars. Now dad wasn't wearing any lycra. Oprah was. Dad also used to see Steadman in the locker room, but never in the gym for some reason. Dad says that Steadman used to walk around the locker room in his white boxer shorts and and the longest black nylon socks he had ever seen. I think, maybe, they were knee highs. I never hear anything about Steadman anymore. Now it's just Gayle, Gayle Gayle. Speaking of love, there is a whole series about training dogs with love on Oprah's website.

I'm following Oprah's advice and giving the pups lots of love. Yesterday we moved them downstairs to an expanded ex-pen that has a crate attached. Dad covered the crate with a towel and the pups love to go in there when they are sleepy. It's their little den. I think the pups like being downstairs surrounded by all the activity. If it's warm enough we might even take them oustide today.

Sweet n' Sour

Sometimes at the end of the day it's really nice to kick back and relax. For this purpose, my dad has taught me how to fix him a superb Whiskey Sour. Don't tell him I'm sharing, but here's the recipe:

1 small lemon wedge
Turbinado sugar, for rimming glass
1/4cup bourbon, preferably Maker's Mark
1/4cup freshly squeezed orange juice
3tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice
1teaspoon granulated sugar, preferably organic
1cup ice cubes
1slice Orange

1. Rub the lemon wedge around the rim of a 12-ounce rocks glass. Place turbinado sugar in a shallow dish. Dip the rim of the glass in the sugar to coat; set aside. 2. In a large cocktail shaker, combine bourbon, orange juice, lemon juice, granulated sugar, and ice. Cover, and shake vigorously until all ingredients are well combined and cold. Pour into prepared glass, and garnish with orange slice.

I get to make a lot of these over the holidays as dad finds it's best to keep the relatives a bit loose.

The pups are doing well and their puppy teeth are starting to come in. Dad got them some special chew toys that are designed just for teething puppies. One you stick in the freezer so it really soothes my pups' tender gums.

Before you bring a new pup into your home you might want to watch this "Welcoming Your Puppy Home" clip from Eukanuba. I think it offers some good tips. I know I want to ensure the transition is as easy as possible for my little ones.

Pups on Parade

The pups are growing up. Check out my 4 1/2 week old babes.

Turning Point

Have you ever seen the movie The Turning Point with Shirley MacLaine and Anne Bancroft? You know it's the one about two former promising ballerinas that chose different paths in life. One gets married and gives up her career in dance and the other dedicates her life to the dance and becomes a star. I haven't watched it for a long time, but as I recall the two main characters meet up again later in life and both regret the road not taken. Lots of drama, name calling, and bitch slapping ensue. Well I kinda felt a bit like the Shirley MacLaine character (she's the one that gave up her career for a man) when I had to forgo my chance to star in Beverly Hills Chihuahua 2 this fall because I was with pups. Are you listening Toby?

You see I came across this casting notice:

Rich King Casting is looking for purebred, talented pups for “Beverly Hills Chihuahua 2.” They’re seeking dogs with the looks and the talent to make it in Hollywood. “Here is your chance to show off (to the world) your best friend. The scene is the Beverly Hills dog show and your purebred could be part of the movie. No talent too big or too small! If interested, please email your name, contact info, a video of your dog and its talent, a picture of you and your dog, breed, and any miscellaneous information to dogshowfilm@gmail.com. Casting will start the week of September 21, 2009, so send in your submission as soon as possible.” More information can be found on their website.

Well, of course, I'm purebred and I have tons of star potential. I would have been a shoo-in. Life and all it's regrets. Well, perhaps they'll make Babe 3. I can play a pig no problem. I AM an actress.

Do you know the origin of that term "shoo-in?" I actually thought it was shoe-in, but it's not. It's shoo-in. Well, as I understand it, it has it's origins in horse racing, where a shoo-in was the winner of a rigged race. It comes from the verb shoo, meaning to drive a person or an animal in a given direction by making noises or gestures, which in turn comes from the noise people often make when they do it. Do you think I could play a horse? National Velvet 3? Or better yet a remake of Black Beauty. I was born for that role.

Did I ever tell you about the time I ran into Shirley MacLaine in Palm Springs? You see my parents and I were having breakfast on the terrace at The Parker Hotel. That's the hotel that was formerly known as The Givenchy, owned by one of my favorite talk show hosts Merv Griffen. It's much cooler now that it's The Parker. It was redesigned by Jonathan Adler, you know the guy that started out making really cool pottery and now has a whole line of stuff for your very hip home. The Parker is very dog friendly. The hotel was even featured in a reality show of the same name. On one of the episodes, hotel management was thinking about banning dogs from the property which made Mr. Adler extremely upset as he is a devoted pet owner and pooch enthusiast. I have no idea how that all turned out. I have a very busy life. But let's get back to Ms. MacLaine. Shirley, as I now call her, was also taking her breakfast on the terrace at The Parker. She was probably actually staying there. We had much finer digs. We were staying in the guest house on Donna Reed's former estate in the Las Palmas neighborhood. Fabu! Well, anyway, as we were leaving, my parents approached Ms. MacLaine and said hello. She was very nice and launched into some whack story about Snoop Dog. But you know what, she didn't even notice me and she is supposed to be this BIG DOG FREAK. I think she even wrote a book about it. I think the title is Out on a Leash. She even has this whole page on herbs for dogs on her website. And another page just filled with pet stories where she claims, "We all love those dear fur people we call pets." Puke!

Maybe she'll come back in her next incarnation as a dog. You know she believes in all that. See how she likes staring at everyone's ankles all the time. No, better yet, a pig. Now, she, she could definitely play a pig. I like this picture of her. This is exactly how she looked that morning at The Parker when I didn't meet her. In fact, I think she was wearing this very same wig. And that's how I came to be on first name basis with Shirley. Are you impressed Toby?

All A Twitter

I don't know if you know this but puppies need to be dewormed at four weeks. So yesterday dad went to the my vet and picked up the wormer. The wormer is a milky-looking liquid and it comes in what looks like a cough medicine bottle. Dad administered a small amount of the wormer in each pup's mouth with a small syringe while I watched over everything. It must taste pretty good because the pups all drank it down and did not appear to suffer any ill effects. We will re-administer the wormer in 10 days. After that, we will take the pups to see my vet at seven weeks for their first immunizations. The second set of immunizations will take place approximately 4 weeks later when the pups are with their new families.

Did I tell you where my pups are going to be living? Two will live with families in Massachusetts one is going to a nice home in Connecticut. Two are going to Iowa and one to Virginia. And I think I already told you that one of my girls is going to live with her dad, Toby, in California. They won't be leaving for awhile now, but I know the time will be here before I know it. The days go by so quickly what with all the activity around here. And, as Grammy told me they would, the days, months and years go by even more quickly as you get a bit older. I don't know where the time has gone, but I am trying to enjoy every minute with the pups.

When the pups are napping, I like to get on Twitter. I think I may be addicted. I don't know why. It's really kinda annoying and I haven't quite figured out how it works. Or maybe I have and there really isn't much to it. But darn I want to find out if their is. So I keep tweeting away. You see on Twitter you can follow other members' updates if you find them interesting and they can follow you. You can also block them if you don't want them to know what you're up to. I have already blocked two of my followers. This guy who was trying very hard to sell me some Viagra and this woman who appeared very heavily involved in the marketing of porn from the Czech Republic. But I am following all sorts of folks. For example, I am closely following Jaclyn Smith. You remember, the lovely dark-haired lady from Charlie's Angels. I have often been told that I bear a very strong resemblance to her. I want very much to keep up with her comings and goings. And, let me tell you, so far it has been very useful. You probably recall that TT's blow their coats after they deliver pups. I, unfortunately, am no exception as far as this is concerned. Well, on Twitter I discovered that Ms. Smith has a line of clip on hair pieces that are easy and fabulous. Now that's just what I need. And guess who is following me. The Dog Whisperer, Cesar Milan. He even sent me a private message which on Twitter are called direct messages. He tweeted "Stay calm and assertive." Well, I didn't know what The Dog Whisperer meant by that. So I just tweeted back: "Thanks Cesar. That means a lot." I am also following a woman with the handle SugarBoobs. I mean with a name like that she just has to be nice. I'm also following Oprah (even though she's no Tyra) cause her profile pic is of her and a very cute puppy. I'm also being followed by and following a bunch of dogs like GizmoDog, BarttheDog, and LordOscar. There are lots of cute ones out there. I'm definitely following sprinklesmobile. You know Sprinkles is the Beverly Hills cupcake shop that Oprah is always raving about where you have to queue up for hours just to get in the door. Well it appears they have a mobile cupcake van and they Tweet their location so that you can find them: "Sprinklesmobile has arrived at Grand Avenue between 8th and 9th! The first 10 people to whisper "downtown" receive a free cupcake!" My dad loves cupcakes so I definitely need to follow this in case he ever takes me back to California. I like to treat him sometimes.

Speaking of treats. My dad whipped up a trial batch of Pumpkin Pie Biscuits in anticipation of Sadie's Thanksgiving holiday visit. I haven't tasted them yet, but they sure smelled great baking in the oven. I think it must be the maple syrup. So don't forget your furry friend this turkey day. Here's the recipe:

Pumpkin Pie Biscuits

These biscuits make your house smell like Thanksgiving! Pumpkin is a great source of fiber. You can add any leftover pumpkin to your dog's food, if you'd like. (BTW, I like to eat pumpkin right out of the can when I have an upset stomach. It seems to help.) The added spices and syrup make these treats sweet and aromatic.

1 1/2 cups whole wheat flour
2 cups all-purpose flour, plus extra for rolling
1/2 cup rolled oats
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
1/2 cup chicken broth
3/4 cup canned pumpkin (not pumpkin pie mix)
1 tablespoon oil
1 tablespoon maple syrup
1 egg


Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
In a large bowl, combine all the dry ingredients. Blend together the broth, pumpkin, oil. syrup. and egg with a mixer. Add the wet ingredients to the dry and mix together with a spoon. Using your hands, incorporate all the flour into the dough. Roll out onto a floured surface. lightly sprinkle flour on top of the dough, keeping it floured so that it won't stick to the rolling pin. Roll to 1/2 inch thickness. Cut out the biscuits with cookie cutters and place on a lightly oiled baking sheet. Bake for 30 to 40 minutes or until brown. Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator.

Gobble. Gobble.