November Bittids

I keep thinking I will get here for a proper update ... and then only feel terribly guilty that I don't. Life just seems to be throwing me one curve ball after another. Just this month alone has been a doozy and the whole year has been like that!

• While I've passed two of the three teaching credential exams with flying colors, I keep delaying the math and science test...and if I continue to delay, it'll cost me another year in the sub pool. And yet I cannot find time to study...
• Macy Blue had managed to learn what to do with toys. While I would like to take creidt for all my running around and tossing toys in the air...it was Sue living here that really taught her about interacting with humans and playing with toys. I got a text one day at school... Macy was cleaning out the toy box! The day our pals left for Portland, we couldn't bear to watch them drive away, so we went to PetSmart for all new toys for the girl. 

 

• For the first time all year, I had scheduled bookings in the larger school district. But two weeks ago,  I got a bad sore throat and while hiking that Sunday, I could barely move. I just felt weak. I drove to urgent care with Macy in the car. They took my temperature and it was 103! I usually get tingly lips with the slightest fever...but not that day. I was shocked! A trip to the drug store followed by hours of phone calls / faxes and emails to cover my jobs before I could take to my bed. 
• Barely 24 hours later, still with a fever, I found out my mother was mugged at the casino. Before I could talk to her, I jumped online and started closing her accounts and phone and sending AAA her way. This led to days of work restoring her life to normal. The asshat takes a purse but nearly rendered her helpless... New drivers license... she is 92. New glasses, new credit cards... The thief took her only electronic key to her car... $80 bucks and a half hour digital programming. New phone. Those things have finally all been restored...but the confidence she lost is gone. 
• And on the same day, I learned my long time tenant at my condo had lost her mother in England... and I have no rent coming in this month...when I've lost so much work already. 
• A few nights before I got sick, I got to go and visit Dave. I was so upset at being sick as I knew I wouldn't get to see him again...and I didn't. While his death was expected, it has hurt so bad. He's my first adult friend I've lost. I've lost lots of family, but not a friend til now. It's just so terribly sad to lose someone I thought of as "young." 

•  Thanksgiving was small and quiet. I spent too much time cooking food that came out awful... but got to visit with an old and dear friend on Friday. 
• Saturday was a dog beach day. Macy just loves the ocean. I never see her smile the way she does at the beach. She often races to the water and dives in the breakwater. The full moon brought the highest tides I've ever seen. Luckily the girl used such good judgement and didn't go too deep while enjoying a romp with her boys! 
• I'm prepping for my annual holiday trunk next weekend... making jewelry into the wee hours. 
• My glass guild will have our annual holiday party next weekend and the following one brings two more events... making me more social than I've been in months. I don't do sockial well.
• Mother is coming for Christmas in a few weeks.
• My bestie's niece that we all helped raise is expecting her first child in March... a girl. I'm gonna be a Gramma! We are all over the moon! So many boys in the family. The niece is the only girl... and now a little girl to spoil!! 

Maybe you'll get why my head is spinning... 

I Hope They Are Hiking Together

This photo is a repost from November 9, 2013. I love this photo because my pal Dave is completely unaware he's about to be assaulted by a rottengreyhoundlabradork that loves him. Mabel's excitement upon seeing him...or any friend was always visible in her whole body.

David passed away yesterday after an oh-so-brief and brutal battle with cancer that attacked him on multiple fronts. While he was one of the newest members of the Creekerati, he was dearly loved and is sorely missed.

If there is a heaven for me, he's walking my girl that loved him so. And Hank, and Bart, and Gizmo. Dave loved all the dogs...and they loved him.

Product Review: Nutro Ultra All Natural Biscuits Oatmeal and Pumpkin

Hellooo Good Pups and Peeps of Blogville! Macy Blue here. My secretary keeps promising a "real" update... and then only shows up to type up my reviews... sigh! But...she did go see her V E T today!! So ...hopefully.

Momma made me wear one of Angel sis Maggie's old Halloween kerchiefs for this review. Don't I look fabulous??? This month Chewy sent me some Nutro Ultra All Natural Biscuits in Oatmeal and Pumpkin. This is what the package looks like.

And can you believe Momma making me sit there and smell these??

As you can see they are a good sized cookie! And the smell!! I so wish we had smell-o-net!

Finally, I get to taste! Toss me one Momma!

L@@k at Momma catching that with the cookie in the air!!! And Nom Nom nom nom....

THANK YOU MOTHER! May I have another...that wasn't a whole cookie, ya know! I have photographic evidence!

Incoming....

L@@k at Momma's mad skills, tossing and taking a pic!!!

OK Momma...do you thing:

Creekhiker here: Macy adored these! OMG! First the ingredients being all natural and Nutro are great: 

Whole Brown Rice, Ground Rice, Oatmeal, Whole Oats, Chicken Meal, Pumpkin, Flaxseed, Lamb Meal, Salmon Meal, Chicken Fat (preserved with mixed Tocopherols), Oat Fiber, Dried Plain Beet Fiber, Sunflower Oil (preserved with mixed Tocopherols), Egg, Natural Flavors, Inulin, Tomato Pomace, Dried Blueberry, Dried Pumpkin, Dried Pomegranate, Dried Spinach, Dried Carrot, Dried Cranberry (preserved with mixed Tocopherols)

 

Macy really loved them. The regular price is around $10 / pound (less on autoship!)... but they are on sale at Chewy.com for $5.69!

 

The only negative for me is the smell...they smell TOO GOOD. I've never been tempted to eat a dog cookie. I have a friend who ALWAYS taste tests her dog's cookies. But these make me to want to bake fall cookies!

 

Back to Macy Blue: 

 

 Uh...I'm kinda busy Mooorm!

There are crumbs everywhere...ya know I gotta Hoover every last drop!

 

 Ok... Like I said...the Nutro Ultra All Natural Biscuits are PAWSOME!!! They'll put a tongue on your face for sure!

I give it four paws up! Mom gives it five fingers up... she's trying to bake cookies with her other hand! BOL!!!

Neither Creekhiker nor Macy Blue were compensated for this review. Chewy.com gave Macy Blue one case of  Nutro Ultra All Natural Biscuits Oatmeal and Pumpkin to devour...or not.

Product Review: Sojos Simply Wild Free Range Wild Boar

Hello there good pups and peeps of Blogville! Macy Blue here. I finally bribed my secretary with some serious playtime to get her to do my reviews this month! Geez... smh... good help is so hard to find.

O.K. Momma, what's up for the Blue girl to review? Sojos??? I LOVE Sojos!!! Wait, Sojos makes TREATS????

We love Sojos for their raw food kibbles but  treats too??? Simply Wild Free Range Wild Boar... I gotta try it! Gimme Momma gimme!!!

Nom Nom nom... Uh Mom???

May I have another???

C'MON MOM! JUST TOSS IT!!!

Here we go!!! INCOMING!!! While I enjoy some more Free Range Wild Boar, Momma's gonna tell you about why we love our Sojos!!

Creekhiker here.  Yes, we are big Sojos fans here! But these treats are new to us. Sojos' specialty is homemade freeze dried raw pet food. And these Simply Wild Free Range Wild Boar are 100% Freeze dried raw boar. Macy LOVED THEM!!

Sojos never uses preservatives, food colors or flavors and uses 100% USDA certified meat. At 12.20 for 2.5 ounces, these are on par with other freeze dried treats we've bought. And.. the freeze dried meat makes an EXCELLENT training treat. These are a decent size for a regular treat but they can be cut down easily for training work. 

 You're killing me here Mom!!! Gimme!!!   

Wow! These were PAWSOME!!!

Macy Blue gives Sojos' Simply Wild Free Range Boar four paws up!!

Neither Creekhiker nor Macy Blue were compensated for this review. Sojos gave Macy Blue one bag of Simply Wild Free Range Wild Boar Freeze Dried Treats to try out. All opinions expressed were our own.  

Product Review: Rocco and Roxie Stain and Odor Eliminator

Hello good pups and peeps of Blogville! Macy Blue here! Still hoping you haven't forgotten about us. Momma's shoulder is still being naughty and it hurts her lots on the computer and even worse on the ipad! And... we have house guests!  This is me and my pal Sue sleeping next to Momma's bed:

See how nice I am to give Sue the smaller bed??? BOL!!!  Sue and her Mom are staying with us for about a month as they sold their house up the street and are moving to Oregon soon. Since they don't have friends in Oregon yet, and Sue just loves us, we all decided it would be best for Susie and her mom to stay here until their house up there is ready.

Which brings me to the subject of this post... With two dogs in the house, Momma's got issues with the carpets. And since I know nothing about this... I'm gonna turn this one over to Mom!

Creekhiker here. Aside from the two dogs, my carpets are old. I didn't realized how bad they looked until I was looking at the pics for this post!  But as luck would have it, Chewy.com sent us some Rocco and Roxie Supply Co. Professional Strength Stain and Odor Eliminator! And...this stuff is aweseome!

Before Sue moved in, Macy horked up some grass / kibble / bile in the corner by her bed. The Stain and Odor Eliminator had arrived the evening before! What a way to test it out! I followed the directions and let it set for an hour. Then I blotted / let dry and vacuumed. I was afraid to go in for  sniff test...but it was fine!

Then Sue and her mom moved in... and I found a giant pee spot beside my bed. I'm not pointing any fingers but I'm pretty sure it wasn't me or Sue's Mom. Either Macy felt like marking her territory or Sue was testing the waters. It doesn't really matter as we've had no incidents since and Sue even wakes me up to let her outside when she has to go!

But the Stain and Odor Eliminator came to the rescue again! NO stain or odor where the accident occurred.

But what about my ancient carpets... It's full of stains there were here before I moved in! Like this one:

ICK! I sprayed it on and let set for 10 minutes:

Then I blotted and vacuumed... stain gone! Only...look how bad the rest of the carpet looks!! I wonder if this stuff comes in 55 gallon drums...> 

Notes from Chewy.com:

Rocco and Roxie's professional strength stain & odor remover is guaranteed to virtually eliminate any stain and odor from urine, feces, vomit and other tough stains. It discourages pets' attraction to stained areas by making odors disappear while removing stains from carpeting, rugs or upholstery. It also works to freshen up pet bedding, litter boxes, travel crates, hamster cages, automobiles, campers, laundry and more! This pleasant-smelling formula is child and pet safe, environmentally friendly and proudly made in the USA to the highest quality standards.

Key Benefits

• A natural bio-enzymatic formula
• Works on carpet, upholstery & more
• Safe around children & pets
• Approved by the Carpet and Rug Institute
• Made in the USA

As of this writing, a 32 oz. bottle is around $20... and it DOES come in a one gallon size for around $50. 

I'm giving this 10 fingers up high in the air!! 

Neither Creekhiker nor Macy Blue were compensated for this review. Chewy.com gave Macy Blue one bottle of Rocco and Roxie Supply Co's Stain and Odor Eliminator to try out. All opinions expressed were our own.