Her Own Blog

Well, it is up and official. I don't have any gadgets and extra's on it yet. I want to make her a personalized header as well. But she is up and posting and here is her link:

http://honeybellebasset.blogspot.com/

Great Slobberfest photos, Tina! I am so glad you were able to attend. I would love to come up next year. Honeybelle would be about 1.5 years old. The contests sound like a lot of fun, especially come when called—ha!!

I cannot get over people that scream, especially over drool. What is the big deal? Glad to hear we are not the only ones suffering from strange family behavior, thanks for the drool share Martha and Bailey! A ceiling contact, that is impressive. Gives HoneyBelle a goal to reach.

Have a safe weekend everyone!

Drool

Honeybelle cut her first real impressive drip. True basset viscocity, nice color, extruding from right side flabber-jabber. I am sure it was a good 4" drool dangler in length. I grabbed the camera to share this impressive first with her fans, but a high pitched scream rattled me. My niece was shreiking like a boa constrictor was coiling around her (maybe she thought the drool would take on a life of its own?). I think she said OHMYGOD real fast about 10 times and each time the pitch increased. "She's drooling!!" Lucky for her Honeybelle did not shake/break and send it flying through the air to land on her. I don't know how this child came from our gene pool. My sister and I are pretty tough birds and this girl needs a cold compress if the wind changes direction too fast. I grabbed the handy drool/mop wrag and wiped my baby's jowls and told the girl to quit scaring my baby. Now that I think about it, I should have taken video of this. On mute.

Might as well...

give HoneyBelle her own blog. It has turned into that, hasn't it? I will start developing her blog today and work on the graphics. Amazing how we become so devoted to this breed. I have had dogs my entire life and the bassets I get plain stupid over. I have had dogs that did not drool, stink, demand all furniture as their very own property, or boss me. A basset will look you right in the eyes and give you the once over tongue lashing—aaaroooorooooroooo!! Our basset hound rescue is begging for fosters and I have decided to make another kennel beside my existing one, so there will be 2 side by side. I have the room to foster 2 bassets along with Ruby and Honeybelle. But since Honeybelle is a baby we had to postpone bringing anyone in from the shelters until she had her complete puppy shot package. Which she completes this weekend! I will post her personal link probably by this weekend for all her friends. Have a good week Martha and Bailey, Honeydew and Sampson, Clemmie and Blue!

Yard Helper

My doll is a good helper. Saturday morning we were up early restaking/stringing the tomato plants. She is right there running circles around me. We hoed the garden, fixed plants, watered. I emptied my apron pocket of garden contents on the middle of the bench (that has previously been out of her reach). I went back for the string and the pile had been pilfered. Tossed to the ground and strung about. Could not find the string. "HoneyBelle—momma is looking for you!" Look what I found:
Then she promptly tossed the string and acted like she was busy stretching after a long nap. "What string—I do not see any string!"This is a frequent scenario. My gosh, what she can get into is amazing. We went back to work and she likes to jettison through the sprinkler, becoming a short, long mud ball.We finish outside, I bring her in and bath her complete with the ear and nail job. She is so wore out she has to lay down to eat. I am beginning to drag and it is only 10:00 a.m. We love HoneyBelle.

Venus 11

Saturday night I brought home my birthday present. A red kayak. I brought it in and placed it on the living room floor so I could look at (we are still having 100 degree heat outside). I took all the paper tags off and went and showered to get ready to drive to San Antonio. Look what I found when I came out of the bathroom.


She has claimed it as hers. If the seat were still on it she would be curled up in it.

Someone TP'ed the house—inside...

Nooooooo, I don't see any paper. Nope, not here.

Noooo, still don't see it. What shoe??

You cannot tell by this view, but she is steadily fussing at me. Aaawwoooowooooo!! I found what was left of the roll under the couch. I was trying not to laugh in front of the child...

Testosterone in the Kitchen

Dale is now canning. His mom comes over on the weekends and they go to the farmers market and bring back loads of vegetables to process and can. Peaches are starting to come in and I have pulled out all my peach recipes, I want to freeze and can several kinds. But anyway, a few weeks back, Dale made Plum Jelly. All by himself. He proudly gave me jar and it had great color, jelled perfect, and tasted fine. As I read his label on the lid, I saw that he left his mark as a man. He spelled plum with a "B".


I have watched Dale "plumb" many things over the years. He is the kind of husband that can fix anything. We have lived as neighbors for 20 years. When my daughter grew up, she measured her future husband next to Dale (my husband left us when the children were small and I have not remarried). Thank you Dale, for being a great husband, father, friend, and man in the kitchen.

Starbucks Friendly

We are still composting in the heat. A neighbor that manages a Starbucks is bringing coffee grounds home for me. A vegan friend brings her veggie skins over. What started as a 70 model station wagon size mound of leaves has broken down to a Smart car size lump in my yard. I have been shoveling loads into the garden and landscape beds to protect the plant roots from the heat, and to help hold the moisture in the ground. HoneyBelle likes to sneak around in the squash plants, the only thing showing is the tip of her tail like a sailing mast.

Blast Furnace Heat

We are sweltering down here. I keep checking the 10 day forecast in hopes that a percentage of rain will appear. All I see is a smiling sun picture with no precipitation. I sold all my hens to a woman that had an air conditioned hen house. I have ordered water misters from an on-line company that has commercial quality tubing. The water in the bird bathes has become to hot for birds to visit—and all bathes are located under full canopy tree shade. I turn the sprinkler on low and let the water sprinkle my giant rabbits that are uncomfortable in fur coats. The dogs and wild birds walk into the light jet and cool off. Baby HoneyBelle puts her face right on the jet and lets the water sprinkle all over her honey colored coat. I rush home from work to check on everyone and see how they survived the high heat. Grass is already withered crisp and brown. This is tough. We have had one substantial rain since last fall.

He says "Don't Spoil Her"

And look at him. She does her herky-jerky tank run through the yard, random ear tripping. And he just gushes "you are just the cutest lil' thang!" People come to the front door and say "Can I hug HoneyBelle?" No wonder we end up with 70 pound lap dogs. I told my grandchildren that bassets were really royalty from long ago, and they are with us now as beautiful bassets, and it is our duty to give them extra special care. I am sure when they get older I will have some explaining to do, but until then we can believe. You can never have too much love.

Some of the HoneyBelle fan club

Hard work being a Baby

HoneyBelle is a true hound. She is already following scents, digging, treeing rodent squirrels, playing, getting dirty, eating and sleeping. I am landscaping around a dog kennel area to be used for fosters and she in the middle of the job, digging and snorting. She wears herself out and curls up by me, so I place her in an outdoor chair to nap. HoneyBelle has a fan club of all ages. Even grown men become childish and enamoured of her jumbo marshmallow feet and auburn eyelashes.

Glamour Shots has nothing on this...

I went to my favorite porch/barn spot to take baby pictures for my dear readers, family and friends. I don't think I could be more infatuated than I am right now. I cannot get over her bone structure, the beautiful hound profile and large patty feet, and pooling flesh. She already walks and talks with food and water in her mouth, leaving baby snail trails. The mop has not been put up since she arrived this weekend. HoneyBelle is 9 weeks old today. What a babe! It is hot down here already and I wear cotton dresses because I have gotten too fat for shorts and it is too hot for denim. I am laid out on this porch like a fish on a cutting board, praying that the dress is still down by my knees as I take these photos. She kept trying to crawl on top of me and I am trying to keep her at arms length. My photography assistant got married and moved away (my daughter) so I am winging this on my own. I think my favorite is the top one. I love the bassets profile.

HoneyBelle Home!

I don't think I have ever seen anything cuter than a litter of basset puppies. My intention was to take more pictures to post on this blog, but that would have required putting puppies down and I simply could not do that. So here are a few. I find myself rocking her in the rocker like a swaddled baby. She is vocal and has all kinds of verbalizations, which I love. We are completely besotted. Ruby took to her right away and they are always together. I had to leave her today and go to work, but she has plenty of company. I cannot wait to get home to hold her. I caught my 260 pound boyfriend on his hands and knees gently stroking her to sleep, whispering endearments to her. Slaves, we are.

Meeting Auntie Ruby.

A well earned nap. We cannot keep our hands off her. I will post some better close ups to share, I have an idea on how to take them.

Memorial Day

We are a military family. My son-in-law is a Warrant Officer in the Army, my daughter and Army veteran, and my son a Marine Corps veteran. All have served multiple tours to Iraq and Afghanistan. It is a blessing that they are still alive. I cannot be more proud of my children and how they have served their country without question. Sadly, they have lost good friends and been to several burials and wakes. I honor them and all that serve, and understand the sacrifices made by the families at home.

In 2005 I sent all 3 to war at the same time that January and I thought I was going to have a nervous breakdown that year. It has been a life changing event. By the time my son was 23 he had served 3 long hard tours, and it shows. He has had 7 concussions and a laundry list of other injuries. His veteran friends are injured as well and they take care of each other. A friend that lost his arms to an RPG is never without help in anything he needs. Another has been pieced together from a mortar blast. He is in his second year of college working on his degree. They work out faithfully to keep his lung capacity growing. Another was lost this year to a fast cancer that killed him within 2 months. The list goes on. They all have nightmares that "Haji" has caught them. While driving, something as simple as litter blowing across the road sends them into a sweat and they are always looking around.

The photo has my son-in-law as a pall bearer. The casket contains a young Army Private from Alabama. God Bless our Soldiers and their families.

One Day Left

I pick up HoneyBelle from her breeder tomorrow morning. I can't sleep, I don't eat. My friends come bearing gifts (basset shower) and keep announcing how many days until we bring her home. I woke up abruptly about 4 a.m. and thought "I pick up HoneyBelle today" and then realized I had another day of work. But just one. Her pictures are posted on my office wall, refrigerator, in my purse, on my computer screen. I am clean ate up with hound love. I keep telling Ruby "baby sister will be here soon" and she does laps around the yard. She will soon have a 10 pound roll of fur and ears to fuss over and clean. New toys and crate fill the back seat of the truck. I have become friends with her breeder and she teasingly asks if I will be there at sunrise. I asked her how early does she get up. She already has an appoinment with Dr. Campbell to continue her heartworm preventative and puppy pack. I am glad I have a 3 day weekend to spend it with the girls. I will share her new photos with you all as soon as possible. Have a safe Memorial Day weekend.

Eat Local

My grandaughter loves strawberries. I buy flats to freeze, can and simply eat. We take the hulls and put them in the compost pile. It is just plain good. Here is a before and after the red feast. The second photo she is gorged and pondering her Breyer horse herd. Have a safe weekend.

Angelina Jolie Lips

I cried tears of joy when I saw this photo. What a gorgeous girl! What a velvet face—and look at those lips! Getting my drool rags ready! And I find it amazing how these long, little ears can slide. My bassets were grown and from rescues, so HoneyBelle is my first run around the block with a baby basset. Her breeder has been sending me photos and keeping me posted with her "firsts". Tonight I go home to make some stuffed, quilted cage liners. You know, the fake fur pads with the tube roll around the edge that fit inside crates and carriers. I got to looking at the ones I had and thought I would try my hand at it. I have plenty of scrap fabric to utilize. She gets to come home Memorial Day weekend—I am counting the days!

Western Swing

I was so excited to find a vintage 1945 men's western shirt pattern. I put it in a ziploc bag after it was scanned. This photo will get framed and placed on the wall in my studio. Even my son thought this was a pretty cool find. He enjoys wearing western cut, snap shirts when he dresses up. We dress funny like that down here. My overalls are getting thread bare, I need to get 2 more, and sadly, another size larger...

Texas Bar BQ

I love catching strange signage, and this is no exception. The only thing missing is a neon dancing pig. If I told my Yankee friends about this, they would accuse me of lying. You can't make stuff like this up. This is a BQ joint in North Houston, Texas.

New Digs

Ruby is posing with her new collar from Kyra's The Mod Dog Etsy shop. She has the most attractive ribbon and her quality is professional. The collars are custom made for each pet. Ruby is an active girl so her collars get thrown in the wash to brighten them back up. Honeybelle will be sporting a ribbon collar with honeybees on it. She will be to-die-for cute. The bonus is Kyra makes a percentage donation to her local rescue in Georgia. Even more reason to buy from her. Here is her link for your shopping pleasure. http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5582173

Dogs on Thursday

I chose this photo of my little girl, HoneyBelle, giving her big slug of a brother the what-for. Look at her little ears flying. She is going to be a lot of fun. I visited with our local basset rescue on Saturday and told them I should be ready to foster one after she gets finishes all her rounds of puppy shots. I have fostered bassets over 10 years ago, adopting one of my fosters. They make my life whole.

Just Another Day at Work

Not really. This one had us wondering where the storm shelter was (again). This was the front coming at us from the West/Southwest. My dad called to let me know they were getting golf ball size hail and very green clouds at his location, about 30 miles northwest. This system brought us 7 inches of rain in less than 24 hours. This was a very fast moving front.

Around 2 p.m.

This was 2:30 p.m.

Here we are at 3 p.m. in the afternoon. It was midnight dark, with lightening giving us an illuminated glow. Luckily we did not get a tornado touching down.

Toddling for Tina

What a big girl! She has already toddled out of the whelping box. Good thing I just finished a new fence...

Avion Madness

All my life I have been attracted to the vintage trailers. Big aircraft aluminum behomeths. My first trailer was a 1950 New Moon, similar to the one trailered by Lucy and Desi in "The Long, Long Trailer". The interior was all mahogany, floor to ceiling. My next was a 1970 turquoise and silver Scotty Hilander that was too cool for school. I pulled it with my 1979 F250 around the country with a 65 pound basset hound taking up most of the entire front seat of the truck. Then this weekend my son went and helped me pick up a 1972 C-11 Cayo/Avion slide-in truck camper. I did not even know they made slide-in's. Well lookee here what I managed to get stuffed into the bed of my Chevy. Now, the interior has to be restored which I am all right with. I enjoy a good project. And the wood flooring has to be replaced. Still ain't scared. What scared me was this big thing possibly catching a wind gust on the bridge over the Port of Houston on the way home. Really, we did fine. Thanks to my son for helping mom drag up with yet another cool/crazy project. They just don't make things like they used too.


My old F250 sitting behind the carnival caravan. We managed to make it safely home. And I did not get pulled over by the police.

HoneyBelle @ 3.5 weeks

She is just off-the-chart-cuteness. Her ears are starting to get length and I just love the nose wrinkle she has! What a doll.

Baby HoneyBelle

My baby basset girl at age 2 weeks. She will come home the end of May. I have been busy putting up new privacy fence, installing doggie door, and leaving the old carpet in place. When life starts to make me anxious, I think of getting to come home to her and Ruby in the near future. And I am okay again. Thank you dear Lord.

Beautiful Sunrise April 6, 2009

This was quite stunning this morning. I wasn't fast enough to catch the vermilion but it was attractive none the less. One of the things that makes me smile and it is free.I merged 3 shots in Photoshop to capture the panorama.

Cause for Alarm

Springtime in SE Texas brings volatile weather. We have the rich moisture (100% humidity that can make you feel like you are walking into a wet blanket) that collides with cool weather fronts from up north. In the photo I took today you can see the result. An angry, indigo colored storm that appeared faster than The Weather Service can issue a warning to kiss your ass goodbye. Lucky for us, this fast moving storm had only lightning and bursts of rain. It is an hour later and I am looking at blue sky. But come to think of it, I recall pretty blue skys right after the tornados beat us into submission. I do not have a long fear list, but at the top is tornados. I think it is due to my personal education of growing up in a trailer on the flat plains of Texas and watching that giant barrel down on you. When I was 8 years old I asked my Daddy if he would build me a storm cellar for my birthday. He said no, the water table would fill it with water. I told him I had no problem standing in water to wait out a tornado vacuming the ground above us. Made sense to me. Have a good springtime weekend!