Lucy, Duchess of Yorkshire

Life has been busy here, as usual.  I want to share some photos of Duchess, who is henceforth known as (da! da! da!) Lucy, Duchess of Yorkshire! We live on Yorkshire Street, after all.  I couldn't pass up the opportunity.  Everyone in this house has a Godzillion nicknames...

Since her surgeries she has been gaining weight and indulging in random acts of playfulness! Warning!  Do NOT pet the tummy!

Gracie's bed is her favorite place...

This is before I woke her up to play with her!  Is that wrong?  I just look at that little bundle of cuteness and I have to kiss her until she relents and plays with me!

...or falls back to sleep...LOL!

We have a vacancy!  She naps here upon occasion but prefers our beds! This Craigslist bed will be tweaked.  Stay tuned...

I also have the most awesomely awesome tutorial coming!  It will appeal to all!  Promise!

xoxo

Andie

Friend in Need

I opened my blogroll this morning and saw that Karen  at This Old House 2 needs our help! Hilary over at Crazy as A Loom  - see link below - takes in stray cats who wander on to her property in Upstate, NY.  She feeds and care for them, and then if they aren't neutered or spayed, they take a trip to the vet for that too.  This little girl is the newest to arrive and Hilary knows she wants to be a housecat, not a barn or porch cat.  She is a love and would prefer to crawl into your lap than up in a hayloft.  In the next week or so she will be spayed.  If you or someone you know might give this girl a loving home,  contact Hilary through her blog.   
http://crazyasaloom.blogspot.com/2011/09/trivial-but-necessary.html

Blogland is a big place!  I know if we pass this around kitty will have a warm loving home before long!

Will you please help?

Unsung Heroes, Search and Rescue Dogs of 9/11

Nearly 2,000 dogs and their handlers are expected to be standing at attention tomorrow in Liberty State Park in Jersey City, New Jersey for a Recognition Ceremony honoring  the search and rescue dogs and handlers who labored mightily in the rubble left when the Twin Towers fell at the World Trade Center.
The emotional procession will begin at the park and end at a site just across the river from Ground Zero.


Dogs and people worked in conditions that were dangerous and ultimately heartbreaking, for there were no living survivors for them to find. Their keen noses did alert first responders to the location of bodies that were recovered and returned to the families of victims.  An estimated 300-350 dogs searched at Ground Zero. Many were owned by civilian volunteers. Others were trained and utilized by police and military officers.

Finding One Another Organization, a co-sponsor of the solemn event which educates the public and raises funds to support search and rescue dogs, their handlers, and veterinary medical assistance to the dogs has identified more than 950 working dog teams who served in search and rescue, recovery and security at Ground Zero, the Pentagon, Shanksville, and the Fresh Kills Landfill recovery site.

Here are a few of the surviving heroes...

Good Dogs, All!

Four Hours Later...

I had some time on my hands this afternoon, courtesy of a very rainy day!  I decided to paint the Craigslist buffet that has been sitting in the dining room since Spring.  This time I chose Annie Sloan Old White followed by Dark Wax...

Craigslist Buffet Before

Inspiration 

More Inspiration, 18th Century Painted French Buffet.

Closeup of Original Patina on Painted 18th Century French Buffet.

Craigslist Buffet After

Craigslist Buffet After Closeup

Look Ma!  No tassels!

Reminder of what it looked like before...

  It looks so small in these photos but it is six feet long.  Not sure if I like it yet...The dining room will be painted in a few days.  Maybe I will like it then?  Maybe the ginormous tassels make it look small?  It does look better than it did before, though.  It was covered in crayon marks and mystery splotches!  It only took four hours to paint two coats, rub and buff the Clear Wax, then apply the Dark Wax.  You have to be quick when removing the Dark Wax!  I haven't quite mastered that yet!

Happy Weekend Friends!

Annie Sloan Makeover...Finally! Boiserie Style Armoire

Craigslist Armoire Before...

I wanted something more Axel Vervoordt-y.

Inspiration ...From Pamela Pierce...

After...It doesn't look this shiny in "real life"!

Now I need to reupholster those chairs! The walls are going to be painted in a week!

I finally broke down and purchased some Annie Sloan Chalk Paint.  I would not recommend painting the largest thing you own as a first attempt but I'm a doer (translation: I am impetuous).  My husband is the thinker and he was at work.  Good thing too, or he would have tried to talk sense into me!

I bought this armoire on Craigslist a while back.  It comes apart for easy transport.  I am guessing it is from the 1920's or so...

I love the look of boiserie panels in old French chateaus and I wanted to mimic the look.

Two coats of Paris Grey followed by a coat of clear wax, then sanding the buhjeesus out of it. I also used a metal spatula to scrape away paint here and there.  It looked way too pale and I was afraid I was not going to like it! After that I applied the dark wax, immediately wiped it off with a clean t-shirt and followed that with clear wax.  Parts came out a bit darker than I wanted so I mixed some Paris Grey with clear wax and wiped it on over the dark spots. The whole job took about four hours.

What do you think?

Vervoordt-y?

I am participating in Shades of Amber, Annie Sloan Paint Linky,  Between Naps on the Porch Metamorphosis Monday , Boogieboard Cottage for Masterpiece Monday and Molly Susan Strong for Market Monday!

New Leash On Life! Howlin' For You!

Think of the word "home".  What comes to mind?  What images do you see?
If you are anything like me, a house isn't "home" without loved ones to share it with.  My daughter will be eight years old this week!  I cannot imagine my life without that beautiful soul in it!  The memories shaped in my home are all the more special because I get to share them with her and my beloved husband.  Stories before bedtime, marshmallows in the fireplace, crafts at the table, baking sweets in the kitchen, board games on rainy days...
I also see images of my kitty, Faerie Princess, curled up on the pink velvet quilt on Gracie's French Campaign bed...Mabel sleeping in her favorite mohair covered child sized chaise longue... Shenanigan finding the perfect ray of sunlight, streaming from the stained glass church window, to warm her... Atticus proudly running up the stairs with his favorite catnip toy in his mouth, placing it gingerly at my feet...Frannie sleeping in the French Marriage Armoire we call Narnia...McGillicuddy greeting every visitor at the door with a rub on the knees, then jumping on the antique jeweler's display cabinet to get a closer look at the new people! Sweet Duchess sleeping on my pillow, under the eiderdown comforter... not to mention our puggle, Napoleon, howling along with the music or snoring away in the middle of the kitchen!
My life is good!  I am surrounded by love.
My animal friends are all former strays.  They all have sad stories attatched to their arrival at our home.  They have shown us what it means to be patient, loving and strong in the face of diversity.  It is because of their strength and love that I am passionate about the plight of all animals in need. Need.  Funny thing about that word. They need us.  We need them.  There is no doubt about it.  I need my fuzzy friends. That being said, I cannot save them all but I will die trying!

Once again, I have entered a random zipcode into PetFinder's search engine, which took us to Ardmore, Oklahoma.

                                            Meet Gypsie!

08/24/10 Gypsie is now 12 weeks old. Gyspsie was found after being dumped on a country road. She had sarcoptic mange which is curable but very itchy. After almost 2 weeks at the vet, she is now in a foster home trying to learn puppy manners. We estimate her to be about 8 weeks old. She has had her first puppy shot and continues treatment for her itchy skin. She also had hook worms and is being treated for that. Not really sure what kind of dog she is, but we are guessing beagle mix. She weighs about 6 lbs and her coat is starting to improve. She is playing with toys for the first time and she loves her new pink elephant. She is getting use to sleeping in a crate at night. She gets along with the other dogs in the house, which are much bigger than she is. She loves to be held and cuddled when she is tired. Her adoption fee is $150 to cover the cost of her medical expenses.

Gypsie's Contact Info

Forever Friends Foster Care & Rescue, Inc., Ardmore, OK

• 580-221-3824/580-504-2187

PetFinder is an awesome resource for people to find the exact pet they are looking for.  There are dogs, cats, horses, of every breed, every shape, color, temperment.  Please click on the PetFinder link to see how you can help animals in need.

With Love and Hope,

Andie


Here is another option...if we do nothing.

Duchess: The Sequel

Duchess spent two days at the veterinarian's office after she came to live with us. As you may know, she spent the past EIGHT YEARS in a local shelter.  The day before I adopted her she spent time at the shelter vet so you can imagine my surprise when my vet told me she had five infected teeth, both ears were infected and her remaining eye was so infected she could not see!

When I went to my vet to retrieve her after her two day stay, the technician told me that "shelter care is not the same as regular care".  How could that be?  The shelter vets charge a discounted fee but does that mean the service they render is acceptably incompetent?  This kitty and many other animals may be suffering under the "care" of veterinarians whose job it is to keep them well!

Unacceptable! All the more reason to adopt a shelter pet (or seven)!

She currently is not feeling her all-time best but in time she will recover and gain much needed weight.
She is a loving girl.  Very trusting as well.  I cannot imagine the suffering she has endured!
She has been in the upstairs guest bathroom since Thursday after her surgeries.  She looked so sweet in her iron canopy cat bed but I have no photos.  You'll have to take my word!
I, however, slept on the tile floor next to her.  My back feels surprisingly good, though!  LOL!

Faerie Princess and Atticus slept near her on the bed in our room this morning but Duchess didn't want them to get too close.  She certainly is a bed hog!
I wish to thank everyone for their well-wishes.  I have been busy with the little angel so I may not have responded to everyone as I would have liked...

To those in Irene's path...be safe.  You are in my prayers!

Andie

Hurricane Preparedness For Pets

Surrounded by litter left by refugees, a dog remained tied to the railing of a highway ramp in New Orleans on September 3, 2005, six days after Hurricane Katrina. Like many of the city's newly stranded pets, the dog may have been refused passage by rescuers as they evacuated its owners.

In one such instance reported by the Associated Press the previous week, a police officer took a dog from a sobbing young boy as he was waiting to board an evacuation vehicle. The officer had no idea what would become of the dog, he told an AP reporter.

 U.S. Air Force Lt. Nathan Brosheal held a kitten that had been rescued and airlifted to Louisiana's New Orleans International Airport in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, which struck the city on August 29.

Thousands of dogs, cats, and other animals have been stranded along the U.S. Gulf Coast as a result of the hurricane. Rescue workers in New Orleans denied pets entry to some shelters and often refused to allow animals aboard evacuation vehicles, according to reports. 

The ASPCA advises residents to bring all pets inside their home in the event of a hurricane or other severe weather emergency. This includes dogs in outdoor kennels and outdoor cats. Prepare a space for them away from windows where they will be protected from falling debris.

Remember, if the space is not safe for you, it is not safe for your pet.

Prepare an emergency kit for each animal in your home. The kit should include:

•           Pet first aid kit and manual

•           One week supply of food, water and medications

•           Copies of vaccination records with your veterinarian’s contact number

•           Photographs of pets in case they become lost and you need to create a “missing” flyer

•           Sturdy carrier for each pet

•           Leash and collars

•           Comforting blanket

•           Disposable litter trays

•           Litter

•           Pet food and water bowls

•           Garbage bags for cleanup
•           Toys

•           Always take your animals with you when there is an emergency. If disaster strikes and you cannot get to your home, use a pre-planned “buddy system” and call your neighbor to get your pet. If you are forced to evacuate your home, don't leave your pet behind. Find out if any local hotels take pets. Call area veterinarians and kennels who might board your pet. Find out who does this in advance.

•           Keep one carrier per pet in an easily accessible place in your home.

•           If you absolutely must leave your dog or cat behind, bring them inside; do not leave a dog tied outside. Put a large sign on the door to notify rescue crews to the presence of pets; leave plenty of water in a large open container; leave food in a dispenser-style bowl (so your pet can't eat it all at once); and do not tie or cage your dog or cat.

•           Make sure pets are properly restrained:

o   Cats: Have a properly fitting harness and leash in your supplies so that if your cat must be confined in a cage for an extended period of time, you can take it out for exercise.

o   Dogs: Have a properly fitting harness and at least a 6-foot leash in your supplies for walking your dog. Disasters are stressful for dogs, and a frightened dog can slip out of a collar, but not a harness.

•           Maintain up-to-date copies of your pets’ medical records. Keep medical records and photos with the important insurance papers that you would take with you if you had to evacuate.

•           If your pet requires medication, always have a two-week supply available in case there is a disaster and you cannot get to an animal hospital.

•           Make sure your pet has a collar and ID tag and if possible, have them microchipped. Collars should include your pet’s name, your telephone number(s) and an emergency contact. Remember that proper identification will greatly increase your chances of being reunited with your pet if she becomes lost.

Loyalty

Navy SEAL U.S. Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Jon T. Tumilson was among the 30 American troops killed August 6 when Taliban insurgents downed their Chinook helicopter with a rocket-propelled grenade. At his funeral in Iowa, his dog Hawkeye paid his last respects, walking up to the casket, lying down in front of it, and heaving a sigh.

Duchess

In exactly one hour and twenty one minutes we will be bringing a new friend home.  I was so excited that I cannot sleep!
Her name is Duchess and she is perfect!

I will be spelling her name a bit differently.  I hope she doesn't mind! Hi Duchess!  I cannot WAIT to see you again!  Oddly, I always have animal names lined up in case I meet another stray.  Duchess was the next name on my list.

While creating my last "New Leash On Life" post I gave in to  PetFinder temptation and I looked in my local area for pets in need.

Several weeks ago I lost one of my best kitty friends, Shenanigan, to cancer.  The loss was unexpected and devastates me to this day.  I miss her more than mere words can define.

I know all too well how many animals need loving homes.  It is heart wrenching.  

All of our kitties were strays.  They literally walked into our lives (and we are all the better for it!)

Since we have moved to our new home there are no strays in the immediate area.  I know.  I have been looking! The subdivision is brand new and devoid of any animal life.  No squirrels, skunks, oppossums, raccoons.  Some birds.  Not many.  No trees.  I digress...

When Shenanigan passed my husband said "well, we are used to having six cats..." Hardened police officer by night, cat furniture by day (he works nights).

I am in no way attempting to replace Shenanigan.  She has a special place in my heart, in the fabric of me.  My animal friends have given me nothing but unconditional love.  It is a breeze and a gift to love them back.  The amazing thing about love is that the more you give the more you have to give.  My pets taught me that.  In doing so, they have planted a seed in my heart and soul.

I called the shelter where Duchess has been living for the past  EIGHT YEARS!!!  They have a policy that you have to wait 24 hours between filling out paperwork an bringing your pet home.  Since they are closed on Fridays we had to wait until today. On Thursday,  Gracie and I sped to the shelter to meet Duchess before they closed.  I was so nervous, afraid she wouldn't like me.  The shelter manager directed me to her cage.  It was open but she was sleeping inside.  All the cats roam during the day.  I was in kitty heaven!

We walked to her cage and asked the manager if Duchess minded if I picked her up.  The manager told me that she didn't know because "no one ever tries".  

I spoke softly and gently lifted her.  She was so full of purrs and affection!

Duchess is thirteen years old.  She was found abandoned in a vacant apartment with her kitten eight years ago.  Her kitten died.  She had a terrible eye infection which necessitated its removal.  Poor, perfect little angel. 

No one had tried to pick her up...  That echoes in my head.

Her story isn't the only one.  There were so many sad looking little babies who had been let down by the people they trusted.

We will be getting ready to leave soon.  

Duchess!  We will be there when the shelter opens! You will sleep on velvet, feathers and silk.  You will eat out of silver and crystal.  We will love you forever. We will cherish every moment of your time with us.  I will never let you suffer again.  I promise.  I promise.

New Leash On Life! Making a House a Home! Meet Popcorn!

We all know a house without loved ones just isn't a home. I don't know what I would do without the love and affection that pours from my fuzzy friends. They give me more love than I will ever be able to return in a lifetime! They keep me sane in this crazy, crazy world! 
As I prepared this post I initially put a random zipcode into the PetFinder search engine.  Then I saw something that stopped me COLD!

This ...

Animal

 Barnyard (220)

 Bird (2017)

 Cat (166391)

 Dog (183118)

 Horse (2389)

 Pig (207)

 Rabbit (5411)

 Scales, Fins & Other(332)

 Small&Furry (3542)

Yes, friends, those numbers represent the homeless animals that need our help.  They don't have the luxury of time.  Many will die while they wait for us to help.  I know my friends.  They WILL help!

If you cannot take in a new friend who will fill your days and nights with love and affection, certainly you can recommend the PetFinder site to someone who can?

I entered the random zipcode 10987, which took me to Tuxedo, New York.  I closed my eyes and clicked a link...

                                      Meet Popcorn!

Popcorn had a rough start, but we are going to make sure that changes! After being thrown from a moving car, Popcorn was brought to one of our foster locations covered in fleas. After a thorough flea bath, skinny little Popcorn was given a bowl of baby food and lots of love. Popcorn enjoys other animals, all the human snuggles he can get and toys of course! Contact us for more information about bringing Popcorn into your family! CONTACT HELPINGPAWSINFO@GMAIL.COM FOR ADOPTION INFORMATION.

More about Popcorn

Up-to-date with routine shots • House trained • Primary colors: Orange or Red, Tabby - Orange or Red • Coat length: Short

I normally choose older pets because they are usually left behind but God wanted you to meet Popcorn! Hold him and his friends in your prayers, please! Don't forget that he is not the only shelter animal who needs your help!  Of the millions of unwanted, abandoned and neglected animals, PetFinder only represents a portion!

Shelters everywhere need volunteers, blankets, towels, newspaper, cat litter, cleaning supplies and money for day to day

 operations.

We are all so abundantly blessed.  Let's share our good fortune!

With Love and Hope,

Andie

Is This Normal?

Sooo....I planted the final boxwood in my parterre today.  I think.  Well, I am waiting on replacements for a few plants that have already passed into the Great Beyond.
Here's the thing, though...  I think I hate my garden.
Maybe after I place the pea gravel I will like it.  I dunno.  Maybe after I plant the yew hedge in the front yard? Maybe when the dead grass grows in?  Maybe it needs more to the design?
Sigh. I am a lunatic.

Is it me? Have you ever completed a project that left you feeling underwhelmed?


I am linking up with Courtney at The French Country Cottage for Feathered Nest Friday!