Rhodesian Ridgebacks and Dalmatian | German Shorthaired Pointer Mix

Hope after the Station Fire

It was a couple of weeks ago, my older sister's birthday. Daisy, aka Linguini (from the way her body moves side to side like a wet noodle) celebrated her 10th! Happy happy birthday, sis. Anyhow, since it was Linguini's festive day, our mom took her on a hike without us little guys (Chihuahua and Chiweenie alike), so that she'd feel special.

Daisy aka Linguini

Dalmatian/Short Haired Pointer mix

They joined their friends Hank and Sue (two enormous Rhodesian Ridgebacks) and off they went, deep into Angeles Crest National forest right in the middle of the burned areas.

Hank, Sue, the Rhodesian Ridgebacks, and Linguini

At first glance, the hike was going to be a sad one. Everything looked charbroiled and dead, but one just had to look a little closer. Yes, only a couple of weeks after the epic fire was finally put out, new signs of life.

When Mom and Linguini got home, we all squealed at the photos. Life is beautiful, isn't it? I was happy my sister got to have fun on her special day! She didn't have the easiest start in life either. Mom adopted her from a pound when she was really young. The pound told her that she's probably some type of Dalmatian/ German Shorthaired Pointer mix. When Linguini finally arrived at our home, she had a bad case of kennel cough, but she recovered. Everybody was pleased until she was attacked by one of the other dogs. She's lucky she survived. She's had a beautiful life since that incident and she DESERVES IT! 

HAPPY 10th BIRTHDAY, MY SISTER! AND MANY MORE

Dog Calendar

Zazzle is running a grrreat sale. I can't wait to get my paws on my calendar for such a great price. Use code: CALENDARS998
All dog calendar lovers like a dog breed calendars, especially when they feature a Chihuahua cutie like me.

TWINKIE'S CALENDAR from Zazzle.com

Twink!

Our Small Dog Rescue Barn

Ever since I got healthy, Mom started taking me out to the barn. I know I am a small dog, but I can run like the best of them!

                                                                                                                                               THE BARN

Our barn is special, in the sense that all horse riders can bring their dogs. Large, medium sized, tiny...they're all welcome; small dogs and large. I was welcomed too. The people already knew about me, so when I finally made my debut, they knew my name and they all took turns watching me and keeping this small dog warm by sticking me inside their sweaters. The other rescue dogs wanted to befriend me. Yay!

  My Barn Friends

To a visitor, our barn looks as if we're running a small dog rescue

At first, a day at the barn, running around with my new friends, meant a relapse and I'd stay in bed for a day or two. I was too tired to even eat. Mom would get really worried and contemplate not taking me again. "Please, please don't do that," I wanted to scream, but I didn't have to. She thought it over carefully and decided that this small dog should be exposed to whatever healthy dogs are exposed to, only, since I was so sickly and tine, in small increments.

By now, we can go to the barn and spend hours there. When I get tired, I just go up to my mom, turn my tail towards her, and wait. She always picks me up. I take a break to play with my small dog toys and then I'm off again. There's too much to do and see . Horses and small dogs everywhere, and nice animal lovers among them. It's heaven for me...and Frankie, and Daisy (my sisters).

Today, we were naughty. All three of us, disobeyed our mother and started goofing around in a coral. Now, I get it, she doesn't want us small dogs to get kicked by a horse, but we were safe. The coral was empty, what was she yelling to us for? I guess she loves us too much and too much love is a good thing. Twink!

I don't get to go riding often, but today was one of those rare days. I love to ride. I ride English, no stirrups, and sometimes bareback too. I may be a small dog but I'm skilled. I just wish they made a helmet small enough for me. I think that riding without a helmet is silly and irresponsible. I just don't have a choice. I've visited several online small dog boutiques and no helmet.

    Getting Ready to Ride Theodore

I'm so tired now. I need a nap. I'll probably sleep until tomorrow morning.

Getting to Know Me

THIS IS A MODERN DAY FAIRY TALE. BETWEEN ENDLESS STORIES, BLOGGING, MY YOUTUBE CHANNEL, FACE BOOK, TWEETER, YOU NAME IT, I PROMISE TO KEEP YOU BUSY, IF THAT IS WHAT YOU WANT. HERE I GO THEN AND GOOD LUCK TO ME. I WOULD LIKE TO TELL YOU ABOUT MY BEGINNINGS AND ABOUT THE BIRTH OF MY BOOK (THE LITTLE WE DO KNOW) THROUGH A LETTER MY MOM SENT OUT TO A NEW FRIEND. I WILL EDIT (* * *) THE PERSONAL STUFF OUT AND PASTE IT HERE:

HELLO!

I'M TWINKIE’S MOM. I'M THE ONE WHO'S BEEN BOMBARDING YOU ABOUT THE RELEASE OF TWINKIE: THE TINIEST DOG IN THE WORLD. I'M A WRITER. I'VE BEEN WRITING NOVELS * * *I RUN A RESCUE OUT OF MY HOME. EVERYBODY'S WELCOME, I MEAN ALL SPECIES. * * * I CAN’T EVEN BEGIN TO TELL YOU WHAT KIND OF ANIMALS, INCLUDING EXOTICS, HAVE LIVED AT OUR HOME. IT'S BEEN A GREAT LEARNING EXPERIENCE FOR MY GROWING CHILDREN TOO.

SO, ABOUT TWINKIE NOW. MY BELOVED ROSIE HAD PASSED AWAY FOR A YEAR AND I WAS LOOKING FOR A NEW FRIEND. ROSIE WAS A LAB MIX AND I WAS THINKING A LARGE BREED, LARGER EVEN. I WAS AT A VET'S OFFICE THAT HOUSED A RESCUE OPERATION IN VENICE WAITING TO MEET A FEW CANDIDATES. WHILE SITTING ON THE FLOOR, A WEIRD CREATURE CAME IN THE ROOM AND JUMPED AND PERCHED ON MY KNEE, TRUE STORY. THE CREATURE HOBBLED AND LOOKED MORE LIKE A COCKROACH/KANGAROO CROSS AND IT WAS TINY. IT WAS THE DOG THAT WAS LATER NAMED TWINKIE. I WAS ENTERTAINED BY HER PRESENCE UNTIL I FOUND OUT HER ISSUES. HER REAR LEG WAS JUST DANGLING IN PLACE AND IT COULDN'T BE REPAIRED, BUT WORSE THAN THAT, SHE WAS VERY ILL WITH ONGOING PNEUMONIA (3 MONTHS, I THINK) THAT SHE COULDN'T SHAKE OFF. THE MEDICATIONS HAD TRASHED HER DIGESTIVE SYSTEM AND SHE COULDN'T KEEP THE FOOD DOWN. HMM, A RESCUER IS ALWAYS LOOKING OUT FOR POOR CREATURES WHO ARE IN NEED OF TLC. I "GRABBED" TWINKIE AND WITH A BUNCH OF NEW MEDICATIONS BROUGHT HER HOME. I FORGOT TO MENTION, I'M NOT, CORRECTION, I WAS NOT A SMALL DOG FAN.

TWINKIE CAME HOME AND CRASHED. ONCE, TWICE...THEN MY SON WAS HOSPITALIZED. FOR A MONTH, I PLAYED NURSE TO BOTH OF THEM AROUND THE CLOCK GETTING NO REST WHATSOEVER. I WAS RESENTFUL OF TWINKIE. I JUST COULDN'T TAKE IT ANY LONGER, BUT SHE WAS AT MY HOME NOW AND SHE WAS MY RESPONSIBILITY. MY SON MADE A FULL RECOVERY, MY STOMACH FINALLY HEALED (I HAD MADE MYSELF SICK AS WELL), AND TWINKIE WAS OBVIOUSLY A SURVIVOR. I RECRUITED THE HELP OF A FRIEND AND WE COOKED MOST OF TWINKIE'S MEALS. SHE PUT ON A POUND AND LOOKED BETTER MOST OF THE TIME. THE REAL BREAK IN HER LIFE CAME WHEN I DECIDED TO ADOPT ANOTHER SMALL DOG TO MOTIVATE TWINKIE. IT WORKED LIKE I NEVER IMAGINED. TWINKIE WAS NOW SO DISTRACTED AND KEEN ON ACTING LIKE THE NEW DOG THAT SHE STARTED TO EAT MORE, RUN MORE, EVEN BARK MORE (BOY, I STILL HATE HER HIGH-PITCHED TINY DOG BARK HA HA).

I USED TO BE A PROFESSIONAL PHOTOGRAPHER UNTIL I HAD MY CHILDREN. THEN I BECAME A MOM-PHOTOGRAPHER WITH A DINGY LITTLE CAMERA IN MY BACK POCKET. THAT WAS SAD. I FINALLY GOT A FANTASTIC DIGITAL CAMERA AND LEFT NOBODY IN PEACE. I STILL WON'T. SEVERAL PEOPLE WHO HAD SEEN MY PHOTOS HAD SUGGESTED A PHOTO BOOK. HUH? THERE WAS NOTHING THE PHOTOS HAD IN COMMON, UNLESS YOU WERE A FAMILY FRIEND; BESIDES, I'M A WRITER, DARN IT! BY THEN TWINKIE HAD ABSOLUTELY STOLEN MY HEART. HER STORY BROUGHT ME TO TEARS (ANIMAL STORIES TEND TO DO THAT TO ME) AND I STARTED THINKING. I NEVER LISTENED TO MY MOTHER. I WAS AN AWFUL CHILD. POOR WOMAN, FIGURED IT OUT EARLY ON AND STARTED UTILIZING OTHER PARENTAL TOOLS. SHE COULD NOT TELL ME WHAT TO DO, SO SHE STARTED USING PARABLES, EXAMPLES BASED ON OTHER PEOPLE'S BAD CHOICES. AND THERE WAS TWINKIE! TWINKIE'S STORY IS CREATED JUST FOR THAT. THE READERS GET TO LOOK AT A CUTE, HUMOROUS BOOK, SMILE A LOT, BUT UNDERNEATH THE FACADE, IT'S CLEAR THAT TWINKIE IS ABOUT VALUES, OVERCOMING, LIVING WITH A HANDICAP, ABOUT BEING A GOOD SON/DAUGHTER/PATIENT. AND IN THE END, AS TWINKIE SAYS: LIFE IS BEAUTIFUL. I EMPATHIZE. ALL MY LIFE I'VE LIVED WITH CHRONIC PAIN, WHAT'S THE POINT IN DWELLING IN IT? ONE MUST MOVE ON AND FIND THEIR WAY WITHOUT BEING RESENTFUL, RIGHT? NOT EASY, BUT SO TRUE.

* * *

MY BEST!

YOU SEE HOW LUCKY I AM? THIS IS THE HOME THAT TOOK ME IN!
NICE CHATTING WITH YOU.
MY BEST,

TTD A.K.A. TWINKIE TINY DOG