Great Gifts!

Look at that little jewel! It's an orange-clove scented candle made by "Meyer's Clean Day." Oh how I love it... the scent is sooooo divine. So divine, in fact, that I am lamenting the absence of "smell-o-vision" on the WWW....
This candle is the first item in a little feature I am doing throughout this season.
I am going to feature some of my favorite, inexpensive, gift ideas for Christmas!
Kind of like Oprah's "Favorite Things" episodes but without me actually giving away anything... and without the loud cheers and fainting... but you know what I'm sayin'. (Although feel free to cheer loudly at every new item that is revealed, but please don't faint. My conscience... why can't I ever spell that word?!... can't take it!)
So this is today's gift idea #1
Meyer's Clean Day candle in Orange-Clove scent.
$6.99 at Target
It is a seasonal scent so act accordingly... I'm going to get 6 more tomorrow! :)

Thanksgiving Was Grand and Christmas Will be Grand Too!

Did everyone have a great Thanksgiving? We did! The pics above are from last year's Thanksgiving, (before I had beadboard up on the walls,) and therefore are not a completely accurate rendition of my Thanksgiving. However, we did have my favorite pumpkin pie again, this time served in Tennessee at my Sister's home but still... I used my organic pumpkins from this summer's garden to make this year's pies and they were delish, (if I do say so myself!)

Now for Christmas! I know it's gonna be a great one. Keeping the focus on Christ and family. I haven't fully gotten on to decorating, since my husband will be painting my walls for my upcoming birthday. But I decorated Miss Rosie. I made that little festive halter doo-dad just for this photo. The photo of me turned out to be less than desired but she's gorgeous... as usual. I'm looking forward to hosting a cookie swap this year and, of course, all the traditions with my little family. Hopefully a nice ride in the snow too? I'll keep you informed...

We All Win!

We, here at the Doggie Life, have picked a winner!
Done by random "pawing" our winner will receive a donation, of $50 to the organization America VetDogs!
Our winner is.............
Bocci!!!
Bocci writes a neat blog, about everything doggie and we LOVE it! Ya'll should check it out too.
Bocci's gift to America's Vet Dogs will be given in the name of Bocci's (or Bocci's people's) choosing. Thanks so much for helping this important mission.

In 2003, my husband was stationed near Afghanistan. It was just 2 years after 9/11 and U.S. operations were really just beginning there. While there my husband took up with this dog... the sweetie in the photos above. That's hubby's feet in the bottom photo, illustrating that where he went... the dog went also. As you can also see the dog, possibly a Saluki or Afghan Hound, had been displaced by war and was starving. But as the dog tags also illustrate, U.S. servicemen and women took up the care of this suffering animal and tried to give it a better life. Now there are a few organizations in place that will bring home a pet from the war zone and why not? The morale boosting therapy that a pet can provide is better than a thousand therapists and we owe them for that!
My husband wanted to bring this dog home so badly but at the time had no way to do it. He was a C-130 Flight Engineer and considered just stowing the dog away in the cockpit but....
But I know that this dog received all the care and love in the world after my husband's departure. Many loved it and took up the dog's care. And hopefully, it is now in an American home, fat and healthy and warm. I am eternally grateful to this lovely animal for the care and affection it gave my husband while he was so far from home.

We're Gonna Make a Difference!

America's Vet Dogs

"America’s VetDogs^® – The Veteran's K-9 Corps^® is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization founded by the Guide Dog Foundation for the Blind and serves the needs of disabled veterans and active duty personnel. Since 1946, the Guide Dog Foundation has provided guide dogs and training at no cost to people who are blind or visually impaired, including veterans.

In 2003, the Guide Dog Foundation for the Blind recognized the need for an overall assistance dog program for veterans that would incorporate guide dogs, service dogs, and state-of-the-art mobility devices – especially as our nation’s veterans age and as our country’s wounded warriors return home from active conflicts aboard.

America’s VetDogs was created and incorporated to give veterans easy access to the best services possible to improve their lives."

Oh what a soft spot I have for these guys! I want to thank you all for the kind comments of love and gratitude that we have received. How could someone not love all that our veterans (human and canine) have done for us? America's Vet Dogs speaks to me of a level of love and devotion, that is rarely seen in this world.

That's why I want to give a little love (minuscule in comparison) back! Awareness is the key. And I can tell that the needs of this, and the many other canine related service organizations, have touched your hearts too! So I want to make a $50 donation to America's Vet Dog's in the name of you, your pet, and/or your hero! If you've already left a comment for me on yesterday's post... then you are in the drawing. If not, you can enter a comment to this post and be entered. We will have a random "pawing" (literally I will pick the one that Oliver puts his paw on... he's so socially aware...) on Sunday November 14th around midnight!

On another note, I found in researching these posts that the SPCA was asking for volunteers, across the nation, for their Operation Baghdad Pups this Veteran's Day. I was a little too late for that but am feeling compelled to see if there is something more I can do for them soon. They apparently would send out all the publicity materials needed for standing outside a store and raising money...? Maybe the Christmas season is as good an opportunity as Veteran's Day? If you feel the same call look at this site for more info on how to help!
Thanks so much for your support and care. I am looking forward to hearing more from you all!

Honoring the Dog and a Giveaway!

(Image courtesy of this site)

Can you wrap your brain around the countless ways that dogs serve humanity? I can't. The love and devotion of a dog never ceases to amaze me. Just this past Sunday, ABC's show "Extreme Makeover Home Edition," featured a story of a dog that saved his family from their burning house. Remarkable, though some might argue that he was trying to save his environment, his home, his comfort? But for anyone who has ever loved a dog... we know that to simply NOT be the case. Dogs love with self sacrificing love and often put themselves between the people they care for and any harm that might come to them. True of our pets. True throughout time. True even today. As Veteran's Day approaches I always think back to the countless ways that dogs have served man in times of war. Dogs have acted as servants, friends, and therapists throughout all conflict in the history of mankind. Anywhere a human goes a dog will go too... regardless of peril or fear. Many organizations exist that honor the memory of our dog veterans, collect their stories for future generations and aid in bringing dogs home from their service so far away!
At Eglin Air Force Base Florida, The Military Working Dog Monument stands as a testimony to dogs who were commissioned members of the military and served alongside their military handlers. In an effort to honor these dogs and handlers, this association maintains the monument while collecting and archiving the stories of their service.

The U.S. War Dogs Association honors service dogs through the collection of historical accounts and photos. Both military dogs and companion dogs in war zones are highlighted in the association's efforts.

And as many of you might have heard the SPCA has a sub-organization called "Operation Baghdad Pups" that aids soldiers in bringing their precious companions home from war zones. Sometimes a dog (or cat) becomes an informal mascot and friend to an entire camp of soldiers and often a soldier makes a bond with a found and discarded pet. In any case the morale, support and devotion a pet can offer a soldier is too important to discard. Because of the aid from the SPCA and other private organizations, the U.S. military is now very aware of the absolute moral obligation we have to those animals who are saving the lives of deployed soldiers! The love of an animal can be a lifeline like no other to those living with unimaginable stress.
Tomorrow I want highlight another dog/veteran related organization with an amazing mission!

Will you join me tomorrow?

I hope so. And to show my appreciation I want to offer a little token of my appreciation. For anyone who comes back tomorrow on Veteran's Day... and leaves a comment on this or the next post... I will make a donation to tomorrow's highlighted organization in your name, your fur friend's name, or the name of your hero!
The winner will be drawn, by random" pawing" on Sunday November 14th at midnight EST! Thanks for reading and I am looking forward to helping canine heroes with you by my side!

Opera Company of Philadelphia "Hallelujah!" Random Act of Culture

Veteran's Day is coming up... This Thursday to be exact.
As an Air Force veteran, married to a retired Air Force veteran, who is the product of countless veterans of countless conflicts throughout America's history, I believe Thursday's holiday is just as important as any other!
Since Veteran's Day is a federal holiday, perhaps many of you will have the day off from work? I want to encourage everyone to take a little of that day to "paws" and remember and maybe even, actively help a veteran in need. Many service organizations aid U.S. veterans and are also in need of your help. And Perhaps, you know a family with a deployed loved one that could use a favor or just a word of encouragement... these things mean more than you can know. Annnnnnnd...... were you also aware that many of our canine friends have diligently served their country as well? Tomorrow I want to highlight some of these groups so that along with becoming more aware of canine service, in all capacities, we can also come together to help or honor those canines who gave the full measure. I hope you return soon, so that we might help and honor our friends, canine and "non" this coming Veteran's Day!