Blog Archives
Have A Happy Holiday!
Posted by doggonedmysteries
Whatever holiday you celebrate at this time of year we hope it brings you joy, warmth, wishes granted, and love.
With all our love,
MW, DH, Gavin, and Patty
Posted in Holidays
Tags: Author, Beads, Bones, books, Books on writing, Bull Terriers, Care giving, Caregiver, Coffee, comedy, Craft of writing, Crafts, Dead, Disability, Dog humor, Doggoned, Dogs, Family, Fiction, Fish, Food, Gardening, Gardens, gifts, Holidays, Home, Humor, Koi, Life, Love, MS, Multiple Sclerosis, Murder, Mysteries, Mystery, Novel writing, Pet humor, Pets, Pond, Ponds, Rescue Dogs, Snow, Writer, Writing
Training the pup to use the ‘go out’ bells
Posted by doggonedmysteries
As I’ve said before, we were fortunate that the older dogs taught the younger ones about the ‘go out’ bells. I’ve only truly taught one dog how to use the bells.
Malcolm was ten months old when he entered our lives. He was also almost housebroken. In other words, he didn’t want to go in the house, but if you didn’t catch the signs that he needed to go out, he’d have accidents. We quickly became aware of his ‘need to go’ signs, and would walk him to the door. We’d say, “Want to go out?” ring the bells, and open the door. We did this EVERY time we took him out.
Within a few weeks, I heard the bells ring, ran to the kitchen to find him standing in front of the door. I praised the heck out of him as I took him out. Several more times that day, we’d hear a tentative jingle of the bells. With each ring, he got praise and an immediate trip outside. He never again had an accident and his bell ringing became more confident.
When Sadie arrived in household as a rescue, Malcolm taught her the secret of the bells. Each dog has taught the next since then. Gavin is the most accomplished of the bell ringers. He rings them loud, often, and long. There I times that I wish he hadn’t learned that trick.
As for Linda over at Crone and Bear it teaching her Devoted Spouse the trick…well, um…gee, do you think he might get the idea?
Posted in Dog related
Tags: Author, Beads, Bones, books, Books on writing, Bull Terriers, Care giving, Caregiver, Coffee, comedy, Craft of writing, Dead, Disability, Dog humor, Doggoned, Dogs, Family, Fiction, Home, Life, Love, MS, Multiple Sclerosis, Murder, Mysteries, Mystery, Novel writing, Pets, Rescue Dogs, Writer, Writing
Frozen ground and lots of rain equals a lake
Posted by doggonedmysteries
We now live lakeside and didn’t have to move or spend a fortune. It rained all day and with the ground frozen, the rain had no place to go. The yard is now a lake, and by this time of night, a frozen lake. It’s a good thing that the rain stopped earlier tonight or the Koi might have had a chance to explore the grounds. Knowing them, they would’ve camped out at the back door and waited for food.
Patty doesn’t like wet weather so she only asked to go outside today when she absolutely HAD to go. Gavin doesn’t mind rain, doesn’t like snow much, but the rain he tolerates. He always wants to go out and gives the ‘go out’ bells a good workout every day. Yes, there are days that I want to choke him with the bells.
Bells ring.
“You were out five minutes ago. You peed on everything that is upright. You don’t NEED to go out.”
Bells ring.
“You can’t possibly have to go.”
Bells ring.
“ARGH! All right I’ll take you out.” I put on boots, coat, hat, and we go out. Gavin tinkles on the Tulip Poplar, barks at nothing but the wind, and heads for the door. We go in.
I take off my coat, boots, hat, and settle in front of the computer to work again. I type one sentence.
Bells ring.
“You’ve got to be kidding.”
Posted in Dog related, Misc, My blog, my garden, Writer, Writing
Tags: Author, Beads, Bones, books, Books on writing, Bull Terriers, Care giving, Caregiver, Coffee, comedy, Craft of writing, Dead, Disability, Dog humor, Doggoned, Dogs, Family, Fiction, Fish, Home, Humor, Koi, Life, Love, MS, Multiple Sclerosis, Murder, Mysteries, Mystery, Novel writing, Pet humor, Pets, Pond, Ponds, Rescue Dogs, Writer, Writing
Snow then rain then snow then warmer then fog
Posted by doggonedmysteries
I do wish Mother Nature would make up her mind. After all the weird changes in the weather the last couple of days, we’re supposed to get high winds and a drastic drop in the temperature tomorrow along with some sort of precipitation. Of course, and why not? That’s all we were missing was high winds and more cold.
Patty doesn’t like cold, wet, or windy. Gavin doesn’t like windy and cold. I think tomorrow’s weather will cover all the bases. At least that means the dogs won’t dawdle when they go out.
Neither Dear Hubby nor I like cold weather, but at least he feels better in it than he does in the heat. I guess you could call that a small comfort.
The neighborhood angel shoveled our walk the other day. It’s nice to have some return on the many years we shoveled all the neighbor’s walks. DH worked a lot of middles and nights so we got the jump on the neighborhood and cleared the walks before anyone was up.
95 hits on the blog yesterday! That dinner out is looking good. Thank you for stopping by.
Posted in Misc, My blog, Writer, Writing
Tags: Author, Beads, Bones, books, Books on writing, Bull Terriers, Care giving, Caregiver, Coffee, comedy, Craft of writing, Crafts, Dead, Disability, Dog humor, Doggoned, Dogs, Family, Fiction, Home, Humor, Life, Love, MS, Multiple Sclerosis, Murder, Mysteries, Mystery, Novel writing, Pet humor, Pets, Rescue Dogs, Snow, Writer, Writing
Another crazy Christmas display I wish I’d thought of putting up
Posted by doggonedmysteries
You know darned well this display stopped traffic and caused a few problems. Bet there were a few disgruntled neighbors too.
{Sigh} Why don’t I get these brilliant ideas?
On another note I added 91 hits yesterday…mwahahaha the dinner out is getting closer! Thanks to Linda of Crone and Bear it for sending her blog buddies over. My dear, I do believe you have more than 8 readers. Thanks to all of you who are clicking on this site to help me win the bet with DH!
Tags: Author, Beads, Bones, books, Books on writing, Bull Terriers, Care giving, Caregiver, Christmas lights, Coffee, comedy, Craft of writing, Crafts, Dead, Disability, Dog humor, Doggoned, Dogs, Family, Fiction, Holidays, Home, Humor, Life, Love, MS, Multiple Sclerosis, Murder, Mysteries, Mystery, Novel writing, Pet humor, Writer, Writing
Hoping to end the year with 50,000 hits
Posted by doggonedmysteries
With only a few weeks left to this year, I’m afraid I won’t reach my 50,000 hits goal. (More would be even better.) Well, so far it looks as though I won’t make it, at least, not without your help. Hurry dear readers; tell your family, friends, and blog buddies to pop in for a peek. Bribe them, sweet-talk them, and lie to them if you must. I have a bet with Dear Hubby, there’s a dinner out riding on this. Help me please—we don’t get out much.
How can I induce you? Cuter dog pictures? More talks with the editor on my shoulder? More serious discussions on writing? Arguments with my muse? More dog stories? Life with Dear Hubby and his MS stories? Stories of me the super klutz and life with two BTs? Have you any suggestions?
There are only two things I refuse to comment on—religion and politics. I’ll leave that to other people since I created this blog for fun and I consider both subjects private.
Tags: Author, Beads, Bones, books, Books on writing, Bull Terriers, Care giving, Caregiver, Coffee, comedy, Craft of writing, Crafts, Dead, Disability, Dog humor, Doggoned, Dogs, Family, Fiction, Food, Home, Humor, Life, Love, MS, Multiple Sclerosis, Murder, Mysteries, Mystery, Novel writing, Pet humor, Pets, Rescue Dogs, Writer, Writing
That ain’t a bear!
Posted by doggonedmysteries
A neighbor near the cabin where Dear Hubby and his friend are hunting had a wildlife camera set up behind his place. You know, one of those out-door cameras with a motion sensor. Two weeks before they left to go hunting, the neighbor sent the above picture to DH’s friend.
Wow, we had no idea they had mountain lions in the area. DH’s friend takes his two dogs along with them, both are large, but I somehow picture them back pedaling when confronted by a kitty big enough to drag an eight-point buck out of the woods.
We know they have black bears up there. They had one on the back deck last year and the dogs barked at it through the door. The bear “Frankly, didn’t give a damn” and moseyed off after staring at them for a while. The two dogs would probably have to discuss the large kitty situation.
Male: “You go ahead. You’re bigger than I am.”
Female: “I dunno I’ve never seen a kitty that big. Hell, it’s bigger than you.”
Male: “You know, I think it might even be bigger than you.”
Female: “Did I hear the food dish rattle? I swear I heard Dad put some food in there.”
Male: “I think you’re right. Let’s go back inside. We can bark at it from there like we did that bear.”
Posted in Dog related, Misc, My blog
Tags: Author, Beads, Bones, books, Books on writing, Bull Terriers, Care giving, Caregiver, Coffee, Craft of writing, Dead, Disability, Dog humor, Doggoned, Dogs, Family, Fiction, Home, Humor, Hunting, Life, Love, MS, Multiple Sclerosis, Murder, Mysteries, Mystery, Novel writing, Pet humor, Pets, Rescue Dogs, wildlife, Writer, Writing
December thunderstorm
Posted by doggonedmysteries
First, I hate thunderstorms. Second, a December thunderstorm is a rare occurrence here. So not having watched the news tonight, I wasn’t prepared.
I’d taken one step out of the bedroom when there were two very loud BOOMS. You know those cartoons, where the cat is frightened, and the next thing you see is it hanging from the ceiling by its claws? Yep, if I were a cat, that would’ve been me.
I know I wasn’t the only who was startled too. The two little dogs next door were raising hell. What about my two, you ask. They were snoring. However, let someone walk by rattling keys or making some other trivial noise, and the pups will raise the roof.
Then there’s the rain. It has been pouring for hours. If this were snow, I’d be shoveling forever. I’m glad it’s rain.
Posted in Dog related, Misc, My blog
Tags: Author, Beads, Bones, books, Books on writing, Bull Terriers, Care giving, Caregiver, Coffee, comedy, Craft of writing, Crafts, Dead, Disability, Dog humor, Doggoned, Dogs, Family, Fiction, Home, Humor, Life, Love, MS, Multiple Sclerosis, Murder, Mysteries, Mystery, Novel writing, Pet humor, Pets, Rescue Dogs, Snow, Writer, Writing
Be vewwy vewwy qwiet…Elmer is off hunting
Posted by doggonedmysteries
It’s been two years since Dear Hubby has gone hunting. Two years ago, he had the flu and was too sick to go. He tried to go last year but became quite ill and had to come home before hunting season even began. You see, last year his pain management doctor had put him on Fentanyl patches for his MS pain. Little did we know that those patches were faulty at the time and were later recalled.
He almost died from a cumulative overdose. To say that it was frightening would be an understatement.
He loves to go hunting and I do hope that this isn’t his last year for it. His gait is poor and he tires easily. If he wasn’t with his best friend, I’d be worried. However, I know his friend will look after him. They’ve been friends and hunting partners since Junior High.
DH doesn’t trophy hunt. He hunts to put meat on our table and when he gets a deer, it saves us a great deal of money at the grocery store.
In the meantime, the pups and I are keeping each other company. There’s nothing quite like having two 65 lb BTs join you on your lounge chair. I’m that squished bit under the two dogs.
Posted in Misc, MS related
Tags: Author, Beads, Bones, books, Books on writing, Bull Terriers, Care giving, Caregiver, Coffee, Craft of writing, Crafts, Dead, Disability, Dog humor, Doggoned, Dogs, Family, Fiction, Home, Life, Love, MS, Multiple Sclerosis, Murder, Mysteries, Mystery, Novel writing, Rescue Dogs, Writer, Writing
I wish I’d thought of that!
Posted by doggonedmysteries

Once again, I was disqualified from my neighborhoods"Best Decorated House" contest due to my bad attitude!
Posted in hobbies, Holidays, Misc
Tags: Author, Bad holiday lighting, Beads, Bones, books, Books on writing, Bull Terriers, Care giving, Caregiver, Coffee, comedy, Craft of writing, Crafts, Dead, Disability, Dog humor, Doggoned, Dogs, Family, Fiction, funny, Holidays, Home, Humor, Life, Love, MS, Multiple Sclerosis, Murder, Mysteries, Mystery, Novel writing, Writer, Writing
Black Friday our way
Posted by doggonedmysteries
Dear Hubby and I will be staying close to home. As in, we aren’t going anywhere today. DH will sit in his lounge chair and watch TV with Patty. Gavin will snooze in his chair. Yes, Gavin has his very own chair. It’s behind my desk chair so he can be close but not trying to get on my lap while I work.
What will I do? Between running the dogs out whenever they decide that they must go. (Yes, the dogs are in charge.) It’s a perfect day to curl up with a good book—or write one.
I look forward to a full coffee pot and meals on paper plates so there are no dishes for me to do.
I spent too many years in retail to consider going anywhere near a store today. I no longer have the patience to deal with rude people, imbeciles, and screaming lunatics.
If we’re extremely lucky, the neighbor’s idiot kid won’t spend the afternoon gunning his car for hours on end and we’ll have a quiet day. They rent, we’re looking forward to the day they move. In fact, when that happens we’ll have a party to celebrate.
Tags: Author, Beads, Black Friday, Bones, books, Books on writing, Bull Terriers, Care giving, Caregiver, Coffee, comedy, Craft of writing, Crafts, Dead, Disability, Dog humor, Doggoned, Dogs, Family, Fiction, Home, Humor, Life, Love, MS, Multiple Sclerosis, Murder, Mysteries, Mystery, Novel writing, Rescue Dogs, Writer, Writing
Happy Thanksgiving!
Posted by doggonedmysteries
When the table groans under the weight of the food on it—it must be Thanksgiving.
When everyone (even Grandma) loosens his or her belt six notches after the meal—it must be Thanksgiving.
When you’ve cooked for twelve hours to serve a meal that is scarfed down in mere minutes—it must be Thanksgiving.
When the choices for dessert exceeds that of the dessert menu at the local gourmet restaurant—it must be Thanksgiving.
When you stop and take the time to count your blessings—it must be Thanksgiving.
Posted in Holidays
Tags: Author, Beads, Bones, books, Books on writing, Bull Terriers, Care giving, Caregiver, Coffee, comedy, Craft of writing, Crafts, Dead, Disability, Dog humor, Doggoned, Dogs, Family, Fiction, Home, Humor, Life, Love, MS, Multiple Sclerosis, Murder, Mysteries, Mystery, Novel writing, Pet humor, Rescue Dogs, Writer, Writing









