5 Year Anniversary!

Happy 5 years to my loving husband! 

Below, we are holding the item I made and gave him with the traditional 5 year "wood" theme... our new future house numbers! We also got these pictures taken on our lot, just a few days before construction started... we are really excited to get this house built!

and how freaking cute is Minnie on her chair in this picture. :)

Minnie Got a Hoodie

Although it's been said, many times, many ways... Merry Christmas to you.

You Can Ring My [dog] Bell

Did you know that when Minnie (my dog) wants to go outside to "potty" that she rings a bell? Someday it would be cool to install a lower doorbell of sorts, but for now it is a simple craft that is cheap and takes about an hour to make.

You need a length of ribbon (think about the height of your dog for this one), 9 bells, 9 o-rings, 3 d-rings, and either a sewing machine or needle and thread. The pictures below are pretty self explanatory.

To train your dog, all you need to do is hit the bells right before you take him/her out, every time. Show him/her that she can hit them with their nose, and praise her for "ringing" it, even if you helped him/her with that part. Just keep doing that. Now, just wait and listen.

The first time that you hear the little bell ringing while you aren't standing there will feel like a miracle! Praise them, but immediately take him/her outside.

After they have successfully done this a few times, reinforce it by not taking them out unless they ring the bell.

My Minnie started ringing it when she just wanted to go outside to chase frogs (her most favorite thing EVER), but we figured her out pretty quick. Since she doesn't bark, it is so much easier for us, and maybe her, now that we can hear when she needs to go out!

Niners/Colts Split!

The San Francisco 49ers played the Colts on Sunday and our Minnie had outfits for both teams! I am a Colts fans (still holding onto my Indiana roots) and my husband is a big 49ers fan. A couple of weeks ago I bought Minnie some jerseys for no other reason than it is hilarious to see her dressed up in people clothes.

Well, I think she may be the good luck charm because the Colts killed the Niners 27-7 on their home turf in San Fran! My husband swears she looks better in red though... Thoughts? :)

Frenchie Commercial

This commercial will for sure make you smile if you are a dog lover of any kind - especially frenchies!



Love it!

Murray Barn

Here is one of the first projects I completed at my new position. The 'before' picture is on the bottom right, an old unused garage.

Some new siding on the interior, new siding on the exterior, new lighting, doors, plumbing, landscaping, tire swing, weather-vane, OK, new everything... and the horses have a place to call home!

They are both named Dakota, btw. They came named like that from different places. I distinguish them by calling one North and one South, and I think they like it. Their home I mean, not their nicknames.

For the record, this is the biggest [literally] client that I've had. Unless I get into designing zoo habitats, it will probably remain my biggest client!

Happy National Dog Day!

I'm Predictable [and OK with that]

Two different people made the same post on my facebook page, just days apart from each other and without knowing the other had done it! This has never happened to me before in this specific way and so close together, I was laughing a good bit about it. I guess I am just that predictable!

It is aqua french bulldog art, and they are right, I DO love them! But what is not to love? Maybe the price tag... my friend is pointing out that in the bottom pic the price is listed as $169 EACH... for a print!

Come on, I am no artist but even I could buy a french bulldog vinyl decal ($5), stick it on a canvas ($10), brush my favorite color all over it ($2), peel off the vinyl, and voila! You just saved $150! :) Now, if they were the original works actually signed by David Bromstad, then that may be a different story.

Frenchies in Charleston?

I started a French Bulldog Meetup Group in Charleston! I have been dying to see a bunch of frenchies running around together. I hope some people join and we can schedule a doggy playdate soon! :)

It is not limited to Frenchies only, I would welcome any other small/medium smushed-face breed. If you have one or know of someone who does, find us on facebook!

Frenchies | TV stars!

I love seeing Frenchies on television... whether it be a reality show, commercial, movie, etc. They can brighten up any set!

Here are a couple shots I took while watching TV and can catch a shot of the little clowns.

First we have Stella from Modern Family:

and this little girl named Dolly from House Hunters:

They are both so cute!

Begging Frenchie

S:            Wow, we have so seen that look before, huh? (referring to the sad begging look on the dog’s face from my earlier post about the best Instagram ever.)

 Me:        I know. It makes me so happy.

S:            That’s a cute frenchie, but it is a BIG one.

Me:        You don’t know that it is a big frenchie, it looks like it's a small boy.

S:            I do know. I can tell.

Me:        Asians are small, honey. I really think the scale is throwing you off.

Here's our Minnie begging! 

She is not happy unless she is on us.

 

Instagram Favorite

My heart melts every time I view this Instagram user's page...

It is the most precious thing! I want to have this someday... I already have the Frenchie, now I just need the... small Asian boy? ;)

Dogchitecture

Just read this article here talking about famous architects designing dog houses. I really want to do this someday! My Minnie deserves a palace, but she might just have to settle for a cool bed/crate. :)

This one was my favorite from the article:

Frenchie Flower Power

Ran into this little cutie while browsing the aisles of JoAnn Fabrics one sunny afternoon. Love it! :)

Dog Hogger

This is the photo I used to show my husband the reason that I require at least two french bulldogs - one white and one black.

How adorable is this?

So far my attempt has been unsuccessful, but I will keep trying. :)

[for the record, this is a heinous chair... I would prefer something more like the below Barcelona Chair in my duo doggie photo sesh.]

Legless Lizard - Posing Like a Snake!

My husband and I were mowing our new lot last weekend for the first time. It was a land-mine field filled with fire ant hills and snakes! Or so we thought.

I was pushing my mower through a particularly thick patch of clover when this came slithering out...

Yes, I screamed. Like a girl even.

Steven stopped his mower and came across the lot to see me pointing to about an 18" long "snake" and he went to go get a shovel to kill it pick it up and throw it back in the marsh.

Our neighbor lady came down from her house and walked over to us to take a look and she picked it up! She said "Oh, this is a legless lizard or 'glass' lizard. I see him all the time. Oh no, the end of his tail got cut off." and started walking away with the lizard to set him free.

Found out later she is an arborist. And I am guessing an avid animal lover. Being an animal lover myself I am so glad I didn't chop off more of that lizard than the tip of its tail! In case you are wondering I think I could have talked Steven into letting that poor baby go back into the marsh, even if it was a snake.

The fire ants, however, did get the best of my right foot. And I got the best of their hill with some leftover gasoline. What? I can be a little vindictive. ;)

Side note:
This neighbor lady is on one side and the neighbor lady on the other does triathalons. I think I am going to have to step up my game to live in an area with these bad a$$ bit*&^es! :)

Free French Bulldog to Good Home

A p r i l   F o o l s !

I could never give this little girl up... she even hunts for Easter eggs! haha

Have A Great Easter Weekend!

Beach Weekend!

Shark Watching ;)

Mug of the Month

My Minnie was the victim of a popularity contest! She didn't win enough votes to be Mug of the Month for the Daily Frenchie, but she did get top 10 and is now featured on their facebook cover photo! Of course she was the cutest one in my opinion. ;)

I love this blog. It can seriously cheer me up at any time of the day and sometimes I go to the site for it to specifically do just that! It features 95% French Bulldogs, but every once in a while a post gets made about a fellow English Bulldog buddy or other type of dog in need. The site is meant for one thing - Frenchies!

Here was her entry photo: Minnie at 5 months old

She is just the best.

Photo credit to my sister Lesley.

Here was the winning entry in case you are interested: 

Ok, ok... this Frenchie is also pretty cute!