puppy eyes & puppy sighs

Not to inundate you with puppy posts (yes I am and I will continue to do so), but we've reached another milestone.

Yesterday, the puppies began to see the world:

And this is how interested Stella is in all of this:

I joke. She's really a great mamma; she just obviously trusts her crazy human with the camera.

How's Luna, you wonder?

Just fine, thanks, with a little help from Nana in the States. Thanks for the toys and treats Nana!

And while we're on the puppy tip, go check out "Sighs of the Heart," sent to me by Maryann of Finding La Dolce Vita. Too cute!

Today I am thankful for:

Having the opportunity to be a part of the puppy process and a doggie mommy in general, not only with Luna and Stella, but with all the dogs that have been in my life:

Missy: a white poodle mix that my mom tells me I used to try to ride like a pony (and she still never bit me!); loved spaghetti and often had an orange snout because of it; she is the reason I am named "Michelle" instead of "Melissa" in case you're wondering;

Peco: (PEE-koh), Missy's son, black with a white strip down his chest and a Michael Jackson glove on one of his front paws (Peco was born in 1984 or so); sweetheart of a dog that had a penchant for running away and coming back smelling like a "pujack" as my grandmother said; would get shaved at the start of every summer and looked about 5 pounds thinner; aka "Rosco P. Coltrane" or Pecorino;

Maverick: named after Tom Cruise's character in Top Gun, this was the first dog that was really mine and truly my baby; a big galoot of a mutt, he was a German Shepard/Rottweiler mix and was really a gorgeous dog; he picked me out at the ASPCA, wouldn't let me leave without him, and then slept on my lap in the car the whole half-hour home; aka Maverick-a-rony-ravy-doodle-noodle-bug, Rikki Tikki Tavi, or as my grandfather called him, Albert; I still dream about him;

Beau: my mom's little yipper with an unfortunate underbite; greatly resembled Toto from The Wizard of Oz; was fond of ripping the mail that came through the slot in the door and tearing it to pieces; aka Beau Dog Beau;

Max: my brother and sister-in-law's Chocolate Lab who was, without a doubt, the most gentle dog I've ever known in my life; loved swimming in the pool and a raggedy old rope-like thing; every time I see Ninotchka's Charlie, my heart smiles for Maxwell Smart, as I called him;

Samson: my brother and sister-in-law's hyperactive Yellow Lab with whom I spent much time chasing and disciplining and petting and cuddling during my three-month stay with them back in 2004; aka Sammy Doodle;

Arturo: a gentle, shaggy-haired golden mutt that I adopted here in the village; at this point, village knew I was different because I actually let him sleep in the house; his untimely demise led directly to P's bringing Luna home to cheer me up.

Having animals in my life truly makes every day better--sometimes more stressful to be sure, but there's always at least one moment each and every day that I am thankful for my pooches, and so very thankful that my family encouraged good relationships with animals from an early age.

I see so many children and adults here deathly afraid of even Luna and Stella because they were brought up to fear dogs; I find it so sad that they'll never know that slobbery lick when they're feeling down, that wagging tail greeting you like you've been gone for years, that wet nose nudged under your arm or hand pleading for petties.

I'm so thankful for my canine friends.

P.S. I love kitties too--hi Patches, Cleo, Bella, Matty, Opal, and Kudzu(cchini)
and remember I saved a kitten once!