I hope you had a great Valentine’s Day…. I did Even though GH is on the road, he did not forget me!

This is what they look like after they opened and the note that I got from the boys

My friend, N @ A Writer and A Rider went to the Arabian Show in Scottsdale, AZ on Saturday. Click the link to her post about our trip – more pics of the show and Belle AND she is a great writer, too! She will entertain you with the details of the celebrity that was with us

I took Belle with us to Scottsdale. She did so good with her new collar and leash. And she figured out how to get out to go potty while we were at the motel, too.  Pretty good for a 10 week old puppy! She was a hit and loved by any and all who saw her.

When we got home, she was very tired from all of the walking, new surroundings and all of the attention that she got.

(you may want to cover your eyes for this next shot… toooo cute!)

Today, she is alert and ready to play!

Thank you, GH, for the beautiful flowers!

Thank you, N, for being such a wonderful friend!

I had a great time this weekend and have many memories.

My daughter, Jessica, had to put her best friend, Meiko, to sleep forever. Her broad chest housed a HUGE heart full of so much love. Meiko became part of our family about 15 yrs ago at the age of 4 months. She went everywhere with Jess. If Jess couldn’t take her with her, she couldn’t go – that was the rule of thumb. She and Star were house buddies for years. They are both gone now but they have left us so many memories and a much love.

Goodbye, Meiko. And, Jess, Remember that I love you forever, no matter what!

update 2/7/09 from Jessica’s myspace page:

Well after 14.5 loving years, it was time for my best friend to be put to sleep- she was starting to suffer. She smiled as she went, and she is not in pain. I miss her very much.

Rest in Peace, My Protector, My Companion, My Shadow, My Love.

My oldest daughter and I were talking around Christmas time about house plants. I told her that 2 of the three orchids I have had buds on them. She was jealous. I told her that I would post pics when they opened – and they finally have… mostly. So here are the pics, Amy… don’t forget that I love you forever, no matter what!

Orchid one

Orchid two

Belle is getting bigger by the day. She is getting longer legs and is way more active than the last post. She went to the vet last Thurs. She weighed in at 6 and a half pounds and got her first shot. I take her everywhere with me so that she gets all the socialization I can give her. She is being taught not to chew on humans, too. She got me the other day on the finger and I swatted her good… now when she tries to chew on skin, she stops and licks instead. She is playing with the cats more… one of them beat her up last week and now she stays away from him – the other cat who is very bitchy, er, prim and proper? will tolerate Belle for a moment or two then the growling starts from the cat. The youngest cat we have, Archie, will play with her pretty good. When he has had enough, he scratchs Belle and Belle will run off.

This was taken when I was taking some pics of guns. I was on my knees and elbows when Belle came up my shirt to stick her head out of the neckline. Here I am nearly upside down, with a dog hanging out of my shirt.

Two pics of Archie and Belle playing.

Remember in the last post, she was barely 10 inches long?

I really do love those eyes!

And, aren’t ALL babies cute when they are asleep?

I have had a lot of people comment that she does not look full American Staffordshire Terrier, so I did a search the other night looking for some examples. I, also, went to AKC for some guidelines. Her ears may be a bit too wide and her tail a hair too long, but, otherwise she falls in the guidelines. It was hard to find a dog with her markings, though – but here he(?) is…(I say he because this dog is so wide in the chest… more like a male)