Domo Arigato!

That's "Thank you very much!" in Japanese.

Just why, you may ask, am I saying "thanks" in Japanese? Well because just a few days after Christmas I received a package from Japan. I've never been there, but Mama tells me it's very far way. So far away I couldn't get there on a R-I-D-E. Now that's far!

As those of you who've been reading my blog may know, I have friends from Japan, which is why my full name is "Tsubomi-san", Japanese for Miss Flower Bud.

This year, my Japanese friends, Yuui (pronounced 'You-wee') and Toui (pronounced 'Toy') sent me this beautiful hat, which my mom thinks is adorable.


This gift is very special, because what Yuui and Toui didn't know is that it is the perfect accessory to go with one my new, pretty parti-collars. As you can see:

I am stunning! Am I not?

Domo arigato Yuui and Toui! I send you doggie kisses from America and hope you have a Happy New Year!

Unexpected Windfalls (of the Kitchen Variety)

Twas the night before Christmas

And all through our home
Wafted smells from oven
Which made my mouth foam

As I honed my begging skills my human Uncle D disappeared into the kitchen. Now, usually I follow into the kitchen, but as I said I was begging and couldn't abandon hope of receiving even the tiniest tidbit from Mama, or from HGM. Which is why I wasn't in the kitchen then disaster struck. Or should I say, disaster for Uncle D...

Glorious windfall for me.

He claims he was taking the apple pie out of the oven and was almost to the counter when the whole pie pan bent in half and escaped from his grasp; falling in all of its scrumptious glory to the floor. And as everyone knows, according to Universal Canine By-Laws (applicable to family pets only):

"If it's on the floor, it's fair game."

Mama was afraid all that pie would make me sick, so my family cleaned the bulk of it up, but just when I was about to lose hope...they called me into the kitchen and LET ME CLEAN THE FLOOR! Oh joy! Oh Rapture!

Making sure I get to all those hard-to-reach spots....

And that no crumb, no matter how small, gets missed...



Some of it even splattered onto the dishwasher...

Of course I was more than happy to clean that up...

I get the warm fuzzies just thinking about that night. Good times.

I love apple pie!

In closing, I would like to point out that Mama says that it's been a tough year all around and that we were luckier than many. So here's to hoping that 2010 is full of unexpected windfalls for all my friends far and wide.

Special Delivery from Mother Nature

Some of you may not believe this, but here in Katy, Texas (just west of Houston) it doesn't snow here very much...or ever. At least that's what Mama says, and she's lived here her whole life so she oughta know. Strange thing is that it's snowed here three times in the last five years! And this year was one of them.

Mama had been practically buzzing all week when the man on TV said it was going to snow on Friday -- and even better...it was a Friday when Mama didn't have to go to work. Those are my favorite days!

First thing that morning, Mama went through my wardrobe and picked out a shirt for me to wear (my favorite!) for extra warmth. Then, while Mama was away from the house, running errands, I could smell the wind kick up and then this cold, flaky stuff started falling from the sky.

So this was "snow".

After a while, Mama came home and took me outside to check it out.

Hmmm...what is this? It is cold and slightly wet.


When I get wet, I have to shake.

Very carefully...sniffing this stuff called snow. Ooh! See my new collar? It has jingle bells on it. I love jingle bells!


I have decided that this snow in my yard is unwelcome. It may make Mama happy, but I believe I'm happy that it doesn't "snow" here often.

Mama is now threatening to take me someplace where I can really enjoy snow. She says there are places were the snow on the ground is so thick you can't even see the grass anymore. No grass? Where shall I pee? This idea doesn't sound like one of Mama's best.

Although she said that it would involve a long R-I-D-E so it's not the worst idea she's ever had.

Hiding in Closets

It catches me by surprise every time! Just when I start to feel safe, the loud popping starts after dark. This time though, Mama made me a goose down nest in one of the closets and closed the door. I felt pretty safe in there and the loud-popping became just a muffled sound. In fact, I felt so safe in there I didn't want to come out when morning came -- but my bladder had other ideas!

Mama says there will be more popping in the nights to come. Since we live outside the city limits without laws against popping, there will be loud popping every night of the week -- just like on July 4. I do not like to hear this. For the next week I will have to make sure to take my last potty trip outside before the sun goes down. I don't know if you know this...but it's a long time from sunset to sunrise.

A long time!!

Happy New Year!

There's still so much to tell you about. I haven't even gotten to my Christmas gifts yet! But downloading and editing pictures is painstaking work -- especially when you don't have opposable thumbs.

I asked Santa to bring me opposable thumbs for Christmas this year but no dice!! I was a good girl this year, but I guess I wasn't that good!

See you tomorrow!!

Oh! One last thing to tell you. The other night Mama and I finally saw Disney/Pixar's "Up". It was great.

Here is my impression of Dug.

"Hi there!"

New Friends of All Shapes and Sizes

Rover Oaks Pet Resort invited me and Mama to a Holiday party so I could take my picture with a man named Santa. Now I didn't know who this Santa person was, but rumor had it that there was going to be treats at this party and so begged and wheedled and gave my best sad-puppy face until Mama broke down and said we could go.

One thing you should know about me is that I am terrible with names. Terrible! But I never forget a face or....uh...scent -- so it all evens out.

For example, I forgot this kid's name, but he said his favorite treat was butter pecan ice cream cone. It looks like he's ready for someone to bring him one.

I'm not sure but I think this guy was the boss -- at least he was old and cranky enough to be. He sure didn't want to play, but he would let Mama scratch him under the chin occasionally.


I overheard this youngster's mom telling my Mama that her bloodhound spent the first year of her life being neglected and mistreated. She was so skinny her ribs were poking out and there were scabs on her face that were still healing! Thank goodness she was rescued just in the nick of time. Her new mom says she's gonna have a great life from now on and I believe her.


Oooh! This handsome boy wanted to play and I wanted to play, but it was a "leash-only" party and boy did that make playing difficult. Mama says he's called a red-bone hound and that he's from someplace "where the red fern grows". Apparently that place where the red ferns grow sure does make their dogs nice and loud 'cause he barked and barked and he sounded like a old car horn. Isn't he shiny?


This poor thing seemed a little confused as she kept chasing her tail. Between you and me, TailChase is one of my favorite games 'cause it makes Mama laugh, but this Old English lady was doing it wrong. I just didn't have the heart to tell her she doesn't have a tail!

After quite a lot of introductions and a couple of play bows, and more treats than I'm usually allowed to eat (I love pumpkin muffins!!), it was time to meet the mysterious Santa. He seemed nice enough and the pictures went off without a hitch (although as a general rule I like to be wearing something sparkly when my picture is taken), but the best part of all is that the monies raised at the Christmas party will go to help Citizens for Animal Protection which is the best present my Mama and I know how to give.


If you feel it in your heart, please donate today. We did!

Long Lost ME!

It has been a busy month here, not just for my Mama but for me too. So much to see and do and so little time to do it in. But today I have time and lots of things to tell all my friends about. So I'm going to try to tell you everything, but to keep it all straight, I'm going to do separate posts.

So this post will start with the latest addition to blog "fashion show" I saw this one in the store and told Mama that I just had to have it. Unsurprisingly, Mama agreed.

Here's me...very proud to be wearing my new shirt.

Mama says some people think it's stupid to put clothes on dogs. I'm sure that's true for some other dogs and that's okay for them, but I like shirts just fine, thank you very much. Now, pants...that is a little ridiculous!

Here's the view of my new shirt from the back. I bet you can guess why I chose it!

That's all for the moment, but stayed tuned 'cause I'll be right back!