Ah, family time.

We recently went back to Kansas to visit relatives.  Of course, we took Dharma.  She is a very good traveler.  She went to visit Emilie's grandmother at her assisted living center.  

 So soft!

We took a family picture--four generations in one photo.  No, we didn't all plan to wear pink.  It just happened.  We must be related or something!

Clockwise from top:  Nancy, Emilie, Dharma, and Nadine.  

Dharma is so cute that my Mom asked her for a kiss.  Grandmother said "Yuck!  You're not kissing the dog on the lips, are you?"  Yes, she was!

Titus didn't go with us.  He went to stay at The Nest.  He got to play outside a lot, and run and play with the big boys.  Titus likes being outside.  We have yet to have a day that he thought was too hot.  I guess Chihuahuas do come from warm places.  He would lounge in the sun all day long if he could.

Titus in profile.  Notice his cute, curly tail.

We also had a bit of excitement back home.  Our next door neighbors have a robin's nest on their front porch.  Derek took some adorable pictures.  

Three tiny, hungry babies.  

Puppy Party!

Not to brag, but my birthday party was AWESOME!  It was the best party I have ever been to, anyway.  I got all dressed up, and I was very excited.

Don't I look pretty?  I feel pretty!

It was hard to wait for the party to start.  

There were lots of treats, for puppies and for humans.  (It is important to be considerate of all your guests, especially when the humans might share their treats.)

There were festive decorations.

There was a cake that looked like me, a truly chocolate dachshund.

There were presents!  I love opening presents!

And, best of all, there were lots of doggies to play with!
Jennifer brought Eugene, the crazy chihuahua.  Titus was so glad to see her, his foster Mommy.  Eugene, not so much.  Too bad he and Titus don't get along.

Kisses!

This is Sabine.  She runs The Nest, which is full of dogs like Manfred.  Here are Waldi and Jack, trying to help me persuade her to pass us more pumpkin muffins.  It worked!  Nom, nom, nom.

Even shy little Titus made some new friends.  This is Carrie, she is very nice.  I think Titus has a crush!

We had such fun, it wore me out.  The mark of a great party.

Titus

This is me, Dharma, again.  I would like to tell you a little bit more about my foster-brother, Titus.

Titus eyes the camera suspiciously.  Not a very experienced model, is he?

My humans say Titus is a chihuahua:

A chihuahua.  (Not Titus.)

They tell me this is a kind of dog found in Mexico.  But I also heard they come from California.

See?  California.

Titus might be a mix...part chihuahua and part something else.  What might he be?

This is a fennec fox.  It looks kind of like Titus, especially the ears and nose.

This is something called a Gremlin.  It looks a bit like Titus, too.  

This is a red panda.  It looks lots like Titus.  The ears, the nose, the tongue!  And the colors.

A meerkat, like Timon.

Now we're getting somewhere!  Titus looks more like a meerkat than anything else.  The coloring.  The black nose.  The brown eyes, with eyeliner around them.  (That smokey eye look is so in this season!)  The tiny snout.  The ears might be a little small, but I think this meerkat is folding his ears back.  More evidence:

Meerkat belly.

Titus belly.

Yes, he is definitely part meerkat.  And, strictly for comparison purposes:

Doxie belly.

Nope, he is definitely not a dachshund.  But we like him anyway.  

So busy!

So much has been going on lately that I, Dharma, have not had time to write any posts.  My mommy is done with her semester.  That is great, now she can spend more time rubbing my belly and taking me for walks!  She is going to be home all summer.  No more grading (I try to help her, but it is very tiring work.)

I give Mommy a helping hound.

We are getting ready for my party next weekend.  I am very excited, but Mommy won't let me have any of the treats or toys or even the streamers to play with.  I have to wait until the party.  At least she promised me no balloons.  I HATE balloons.  Grrrrrr.

Making my escape from the scary balloons.

And, most exciting of all, we got another foster puppy!  This one is not a dachshund.  Which is unfortunate, because everyone knows doxies are the bestest.  But he is about my size and is suitably impressed by my importance.  I may be able to train him.  He lets me steal his food when Mommy isn't looking.  And he lays at my feet when we snuggle Mommy in the big bed.  His name is Titus.  And he is a chihuahua.  Or at least mostly chihuahua.  

Titus in profile.  His legs are so long!

He is still a little timid.  He likes to cuddle Mommy, but he is a little afraid of Derek.  I don't understand it, Derek is such a softie.  Well, just one more thing Titus needs to work on.  But it has been so hot that neither of us feels like working much at all.  Yawn...

Two melted puppies.

Paper puppies

This is my new favorite Etsy shop (which is, really, saying quite a lot!) Paper crafts! Doxies! Corgis! Hedgehogs! Silly puns! They have it all. I love it. I wonder if Dharma would like a dachshund paper doll?

As Dharma hinted, her birthday is coming up soon! She will be turning 5, and we plan to have a big puppy party for her. We will invite her puppy and human friends. (Yes, Socks, you are invited.)

The party for Dharma's second birthday.

Do you have any suggestions for her party? Games, treats, decorations, playlist, prizes? I think another dachshund birthday cake is a must, don't you?

A real chocolate doxie.

Birthday!

I, Dharma, would like to tell you about my Mommy's birthday. It was a pretty big deal. I can't wait until I get to have a birthday, too! (By the way, it is at the end of May. Hint, hint.)

She had lots of gifts to open, so I helped her with a few of them. Just so she wouldn't get too tired.

Tissue paper tastes funny!

She got to open one gift early (so she could take it with her on vacation.) It came with this pretty little bow, which she was going to just throw away.

Pretty Puppy

I even got her a birthday present. She seemed to like it, even though it is so silly I can barely stand to look at it.

Hula Hound

On her actual birthday, she was on a "crooze." I don't know exactly what that is, but it seems to involve suitcases. I don't like suitcases.

Lotsa Luggage

And this "crooze" thing involves lots of eating. I do approve of eating. She had steak for her birthday dinner. I hope I get some of that for my birthday! She also got to eat multiple desserts. I think that is FIVE different desserts. But I'm not sure, I'm not very good at counting that high.

Yum!

Doxie reading

Dharma would like to share her new favorite doxie blogger.

It is Ammo, the super-dog. His blog is terribly cute. He is also a talented painter! And Dharma thinks he is quite handsome, too.

Dharma is too busy barking at the birds to blog today. Those fat little blue birds are especially pernicious!

Dharma, keeping an eye out for computer viruses at Derek's Mommy's house.

Giving Thanks

I am thankful for the dogs in my life. What is Dharma thankful for? She says:

1. I am thankful for the special noms I got today. Yum!

2. I am thankful for my cute little clothes that keep me warm.

Don't we look fashionable?

3. I am (usually) thankful for my foster-brother, Manfred. Even if he steals all the best toys and body-checks me when we play football together. (Brothers are like that, I guess.)

On your mark... Get set...

4. I am thankful it is not raining today. But I wish it were sunny. I always wish it were sunny.

Plenty of sun to share.

5. I am thankful for the soft little pink brush Mommy got for me.

6. I am thankful for my Mommy, who cuddles me.

Snore...

7. I am thankful for my Daddy, who plays with me.

Wrestling!

8. I am thankful for my squeaky ball, my favoritest toy.

9. I am thankful for my cute little puppy bed, where I can hide my favorite ball.

10. But I am more thankful when I get to sleep in the big bed.

And I think it is almost time to go get into the big bed, where we can all cuddle together.

Breast Cancer Awareness Month

I, Dharma, am here with a very important public service announcement. My Mommy tells me it is now Breast Cancer Awareness Month. You should all do self-exams and make sure your doctor checks you annually. Yes, boys, too. I bet it is much easier for you to do self-exams, because you have hands. Just imagine doing that with a paw! All the other famous models and celebrities are trying to bring awareness to this important issue, so I feel obligated to join in.

Proudly modeling the Breast Cancer Warrior Scarf.

This is a very serious matter. I am quite fond of snoozing on my Mommy's chest. It would be most uncomfortable if it got all lumpy--or even went away. And my little aunt, Holly, had breast cancer. Yes, even doxies can get it! She is doing well now, but it is very scary. If you get your female pets fixed before they first go in to heat, it reduced their risk of getting breast cancer to almost zero. Two important issues in one! No wonder I look so serious in my photo shoot.

Save the ta-ta's. All of them.

Whozzit day?

No, it is not Columbus Day here. Columbus got lost and then got lucky. He does not deserve a day named in his honor. There are better things to celebrate on this so-called Columbus Day, for example:

1. Fall Leaf-Viewing Day. Take pictures. Drink cider.

2. Mow the Lawn for the Last Time This Season Day. The drinking of cider is optional, but should probably wait until after the mower is safely put away.

3. Stock up on Warm Socks Day. Knitting, buying, or digging out of storage are all permissible.

Pink socks are bestest!

4. Make Soup Day. Cornbread is highly encouraged. Recipe provided upon request.

5. Jump in the Leaves Day. Do this before bagging them, it is less messy that way.

Careful, the glittery leaves are kind of prickly.

6. Walk your Puppy/Kid/Significant Other Day. I'll leave it up to you to decide if you need a leash for this activity.

7. Canadian Thanksgiving. Either be grateful for Canada, or just grateful in general. Turkey eating is common, but not mandatory. Prayers and singing of "Oh, Canada!" will commence at sunset. Touch football will be replaced by soccer for the duration.

8. Is It ANOTHER Football Game Day? Yes, it is. Make pompons out of old newspaper. You may cheer for either team, or just because the game is over. Whatever. Nachos are appropriate for this holiday, but Bagel Bites are also acceptable.

Where are my pompons, Mommy?

9. Dress as Your Favorite Native American day. Just to really tick off Columbus. Great costume ideas: Cher wearing Bob Mackie, Johnny Depp as Captain Jack Sparrow, and Rosa Parks. Yep, she was Cherokee. That's a costume that ought to really confuse people. Don't mess with those Cherokee ladies!

10. Rub your Puppy's Belly Day. In fact, you may celebrate this every single day of the year. I have yet to see a puppy suffer from too much belly rubbing. And believe me, I have done extensive testing. Ear scritches are also appreciated.

You may now celebrate.

What is it? It is cute!

Scientists have been up to some strange experiments. Is it a doxie-cat? A corgi-cat? Who knows?

Of course, Dharma may be part cat, herself.

Why wouldn't any species want to look more like a dachshund? Even one with her ears in-side out. Hmmm, that may be a another verse to yesterday's song...

I'm listening.