Biggest, Bestest Man

My boy has been having some rough days. If you can put those magic good thoughts to use again they would be so, so appreciated. Tom took this picture of him today and I LOVE it!! I know I am biased, but he is gorgeous! His nearly 13 year old back end is giving him fits. We just started some new meds (injections twice a week) that the vet is hopeful will help. So cross your fingers, toes, legs, arms... much love.

Packed up and ready to go!

How adorable is this!?!? We bought this vintage suitcase back in January to convert into a dog bed for the chihuahuas...didn't realize at the time that a pit bull could cram himself into it! The bedding inside is an adorable doggie duvet from Molly Mutt. Next thing I know Preacher will be trying to get into it!

busy, busy, busy

I have been lax about blogging, but I have been working hard trying to get some new ideas out of my head and into real life! Here is one of my new babies. Here's my problem: I can't seem to make anything not in this color scheme! But is that really a problem? Nah!

The beginning.

I think my love of dogs came before I was ever born. My mom and dad were shopping Canton, a big flea market in Dallas, when my mom was pregnant with me. The story goes that my dad had been reading a book that had a woman in it named Permella. He wanted to name me Permella. Lucky for me my parents stumbled across a litter of puppies at the flea market, precious little catahoula mixes. I'm sure the last thing my young, about to have a baby, parents needed was a puppy but thank God they didn't think about that because the puppy saved me from a life of being called Permie or Nella or Nellie or something dreadful like that. But for this dog who I later referred to as my sister, Permella was the perfect name.

I grew up with this dog as a constant in my life. She was there when my parents divorced. She was there when we moved to a new town and I didn't have any friends. She was there when my grandmother died. For 10 years it was just me, my mom, and Permella. She died when I was 13 years old. Here I am, 26 years later and it is still dreadfully painful. Pets have never been "just" a dog or "just" a cat for me. But Permella was even more. She was there through my childhood, through very emotional times of my early life. I told her my secrets. When I look back I guess she was the beginning of so much of what my life has become. I know what the love of a dog can bring to your life. I know how they can enrich you. I am sure that Permella had everything to do with making me want to save dogs now. I hope I can give back just an ounce of what she gave to me.

I love you sweet girl. And I still miss you.