"The Secret Life Of Bees" is what I am reading now...it was first recommended by my daughter Finesse, she absolutely loved it and kept telling me that I have got to read that book soon. She read that while we were in Texas in July. I told her I would love to borrow it from her and read it soon, but first I was trying to read all the Nicholas Sparks books I could get a hold of.

After posting one of my last blogs about the books I'd been reading...my niece, Hope, also raved about how wonderful "The Secret Life Of Bees" is, along with so many other books and authors that she loves. So I already had plans to read it, because of Finesse's recommendations, but Hope also speaking so highly of it motivated me to read it next. I am only in Chapter 1 but it is great so far, all the characters are pretty interesting. So far it is following the movie to a "T". Can't wait to dig deeper into it, just have to find the time to sit and read now. Training Paris and taking care of Jewels is taking up some time.

I think Jewels is getting arthritis...in her neck and shoulders. 2 months ago we had to take her to the vet for a check up to see why she was walking with head down and and tail between her legs it looked like she was in pain when she would come down or climb stairs. I had remembered that the day before she started walking like that she had gotten so excited when Adam came home that she started running around the house so excitedly and she ran upstairs we heard her from downstairs running around up there and jumping on things and jumping off and then when she came back down she jumped down from like the 5th step and ran to us. She seemed like the jump didn't phase her, but maybe that is what started this whole problem, I thought. At the VCA Clinic, They couldn't find anything wrong in her x-rays or bloodwork...but when the vet touched her neck/shoulder area, Jewels Yelped a bit. So Dr. Fruit gave her anti-inflammatory/pain medication. Jewels started to feel better after a few days, I continued the course of medication for 10 days, and I hoped that she had just pulled something and that she was better now. But now she is acting the same way again...So we called Dr. Fruit and she refilled the medication for 7 days today is the second treatment, still not much improvement. The Vet said if she does not improve by the end of the course of meds. they want to re-examine her. I have a feeling she is getting some sort of arthritis, afterall she is around 11 or 12 years old in human years, so either because of age or because of the jump off the steps along with her age...she may have a lasting problem : (

I've been working with my Yorkie, Paris, and she is pretty smart! She has already learned to "Sit", "Lay Down" and "Shake" on command. Each trick only took her about 15 minutes to master...of course I used "Pup-eroni" treats, but hey, she got it.

Next on my list of tricks for her is to "Roll over" and "Speak". After that there is this way that she sits really pretty...not standing on her hind legs but sitting on her bottom and her front paws up like she's begging...she can sit like that forever...but Finesse and I are the only ones that have seen her do it, I want Adam to see it. So I am trying to figure out a way to get her to "Sit Pretty" on command, when I have tried she just stands up on her hind legs, rather than sitting on her bottom. When she has done it on her own...I've said "Oh, Sit Pretty" and she gets all excited. I figured if I put a name to it (Sit Pretty) when she does it...that maybe eventually she sit pretty on command.

Here is a video I just took this morning after writing my blog...to show Paris off, I am so Proud of her! 

These photos were taken with my Droid...so not the best quality. So my cousin Bill called me and asked me if I had sold my car yet, and I told him that I hadn't, so he said dont sell your car...I have a deal for you, he said I could use his home in Castroville anytime that I want for as long as I want. His house is always vacant except for 1 weekend out of the month, when he goes down there from Dallas. So, now that I dont have to sell or trade my old jag in for a Motorhome...I had been wanting to get a shorter bodied jag like an X-type or S-type, cuz Finesse kept telling me that I was driving an "Old Hag Jag" : ( I know right? So we went and traded my Gold Jag in for this one. It is easier to drive, its more reliable, and less miles, and I think it is a very beautiful car. I can't wait to go see my girls and take them to Bill's house at the river again, I miss them so much.

Lets see what else has been going on...Oh! I have really been focusing on Stock Photography, uploading and keywording tons and tons of images. Been making a nice little income from that every month...even without having submitted new images in years. So I am hoping to make an even better income with my new images in my Stock Portfolio. I submit my images once and they just keep making money for me.  I love it, cuz I make money while I sleep.

Paris, the newest member to our family is adjusting extremely well. We've learned that most Puppy mill dogs dont always adjust as well as she is. A lot of times it takes weeks or months for them to even allow anyone to touch them. Paris is so sweet...however, I do think that she was physically beat before, cuz one time I was taking a rolling pin out of the drawer and she saw it and did a quick reflex flip in the air and when she landed she took off running...poor thing, I immediately put it down and went to her with opened arms and hugged and held her for a long time, Poor Sweetie. So we do have to be careful about holding long things like that up in the air : (

She actually watches TV with us, and seems to recognize the not so nice characters...she growls and barks at them, she is very entertaining, much more so than the TV program itself...I find myself watching her more than the TV. Paris is still getting used to her freedom from a cage...she doesn't seem to know what to do with the freeness of being able to roam around freely at night, but during the day she goes around like she is apuppy just curiously examining everything, everything is so new to her, if she touches something and it moves she freaks out a bit and jumps back, but you can tell she has fun exploring. But she is doing better and better everyday. She is very loving and affectionate, when I hold her she rubs herself on my chest and makes baby moans. We Love Her! Oh and I recently went and got Paris some really cute Hair Pretties! She is Absolutely Adorable! 

So Saturday the 4th of September...Adam, Finesse and I ran around and got some errands done. The last errand on our list was to stop at Petco to buy some crickets for Deuce (Adam's Bearded Dragon).

Well...it was Pet Adoption Day, yup! I told myself not to go in, not only did I tell myself that...I told Adam and Finesse that I would wait in the car, cuz I know myself I can't resist animals. But I went in anyway and I did good for awhile I was so proud of myself...cuz outside the door were volunteers with about 6 or 7 dogs on leashes that were up for adoption...Adam went and petted them, it was killing me but I stayed about 30ft away from them, Whew....thought I was safe and I was so proud of myself. But then when we turned to walk in and the automatic doors slid open I noticed 15 or so cages with dogs and puppies inside, of course the cage closest to the door that I of course spotted right off the bat is what I have been wanting for a few years now...a Yorkshire Terrier! She was just adorable : ) 

Once again I told myself to turn around and go to the car, but at that point I just couldn't help myself...I went inside, went directly to her cage. They named her Paris Hilton (wasn't crazy about the name) They said she didn't really know her name yet, so if we adopted her we could easily change it. Well, we had no self control...we did it...we held her and she was sooo soooo sweet, she put her head on my shoulder and that is all it took. Then Adam held her too, but I said "No, this is crazy we cant do this" so we put her back but we both kept looking back at her  as we walked away.

We went and got the crickets but Adam kept peeking at Paris and then we both just stood there staring at her. I went and looked at something else, cuz I knew that If I showed too much interest, Adam would've wanted to make me happy and get her for me. So I tried to stay away, and once again I was doing good. Next thing I know...Adam is over there holding her again, so of course I went over there and after some discussion we filled out the application and adopted her. We Love Her! She is 2 years old...she came from a puppy mill, has had 2-3 litters of pups already (poor thing) I am so glad that we rescued her from having to go through more births. She had just had all of her shots, been spayed and microchipped 5 days prior.

When we got her home...and tried to rename her, she wouldn't look at us or respond at all, so then I said "Paris" and she perked up and came to me...Bummer, she does know her name...So Paris she is, Paris Wilson, that is! She is such a sweet puppy. I told Adam when we were lying in bed that night...We should name her Cricket, cuz we went in for crickets and walked out with her : )

 She is so Pretty...Look at that Face!