World Scottie Market

The happiest time of year (the season of Scotties) is just around the corner! Already, I've noticed a plethora of Scottie items creeping their way onto store shelves. A tip from Pippin Ragsdale led me to World Market to find a whole new line of "Scotty & Friends" products. For those of you who shopped at World Market last year, you might remember they had an assortment of items ranging from gift bags, gift tags and clothes pins that Scottie Dad actually used in his very creative Scottie proposal shortly before the holidays last year.

This year, the Scotty & Friends products are back with a vengeance and are cute as can be. There are various prints of wrapping paper, tissue paper, gift bags and more. I even saw they had greeting cards! You can see the majority of the collection online here or simply go to World Market's website and search, "Scottie." A word of caution to my fellow Scottie Moms: once you walk into the World Scottie Market trap, it is very hard to walk out without at least one of these items! Take it from me, who had no intention of buying anything today - only to report my findings to my fellow Scottie Moms and Dads: I ended up buying nine rolls of wrapping paper that will probably take me nine years to use. Happy shopping, Scottie Moms!

Scotties Get Lucky

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="500"] All together now: get ready, set, beg![/caption]

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="500"] Whatchya got there? Can we have some??[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_3111" align="alignnone" width="500"] C'mon, Scottie Mom - hand a treat over![/caption]

[caption id="attachment_3114" align="alignnone" width="500"] You don't have to ask us more than once if we want more![/caption]

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="500"] Proof that #TooCuteTuesday isn't just for Scotties![/caption]

Mr. K here. Friends, I'd like to introduce you to the newest member of Scottie Mom's book club: Lucky the Shih Tzu. Last week, Lucky came to hang out with us while the group of hoomans chatted over a book and ate some sweet treats we plotted to steal by guilt-tripping everyone into giving us some scraps. For the most part, we were rather unsuccessful but rest assured, we will prevail. The group meets regularly and that means there is plenty of time to brush up on our begging tactics and score some good stuff. (Please feel free to leave your tips for scoring treats in the comment section below!) Besides, you win some. You lose others. Remember that time I scored a quesadilla wedge during the Siete de Mayo book club meeting? That was definitely a win! Now, let's hope some of Lucky's good luck charm helps us Scotties continue to get lucky in the treat department! See you soon, pal.

The Scottie House Lockout

It was bound to happen, friends. It was just a matter of time. What we didn't expect, however, was it happening when Scottie Dad was away and when Scottie Grandpadre (another keeper of the keys) was safe and sound in his own home across state lines. Alas, that's what you get for waking Scottie Mom up early on a Sunday morning.

There we were, hopping down the stairs on our way for a wonderful walk. Scottie Mom shuffled her way out of bed and followed us down. We jumped (literally for joy) when we saw her pick up the leash and waited patiently as she fastened us to it. We pretty much pulled her out the front door. The air was fresh and cool. We weren't outside for a split second and we knew Scottie Mom had finally woken up. The brisk air put an extra pep in her step for sure.

We marched and marched around the blocks and as we drew nearer to The Scottie House, we couldn't wait for breakfast. We run up the stairs to the front door and wag our tails excitedly as Scottie Mom makes her way to the door. We do a few more jumps for joy. BREAKFAST! Scottie Mom jiggles the door knob and pushes the door but it doesn't open. Man, she really isn't awake yet. Try again, Scottie Mom. She does...with no luck. This time, our tails stop wagging and we look up at her as if to say, "What's the issue?"

Scottie Mom shakes her head and sits down on the stairs. Where's our food? Why can't we go inside? All of a sudden, we are taking off on another walk around the block. We stop at The Miniature Schnauzer House and Scottie Mom knocks on the door. The Miniature Schnauzer Mom and Dad welcome us in and as Scottie Mom borrows their phone, they offer us a comfy bed and some carrots and bananas as treats. Then, our mini-Schnauzer friends come out to play.

We hung out for nearly two hours. While we had fun exploring, we were very concerned about breakfast. Scottie Mom was concerned about being out in public in daylight wearing pajamas. Priorities, Scottie Mom. Priorities. Finally, she gets a phone call on Minature Schnauzer Dad's phone and we go for another walk around the block. Soon, the Scottie House is in sight again and we bound up the stairs to the front door. Yet, Scottie Mom doesn't go in.

What's the deal now? Why can't we go have our long-overdue breakfast? A large van pulls into the driveway and a strange man comes up to the stairs and meets us in front of the door. Surely, we'll go in now. Scottie Mom has a visitor and visitors get invited into The Scottie House, right? The visitor pulls out a few gadgets and starts working the door handle. We don't understand why he opened our door and let Scottie Mom and us in but at this point, we were just glad to be home and out of the cold.

Two seconds later, we're gobbling down our food. Scottie Mom is thanking the visitor and gives him an exorbitant amount of money for letting us back in. She escorts him out and we start our usual routine: Heather sitting pretty and Mr. K dashing around the house with toys. All is right again with the world. May there never be another Scottie House Lockout!

Get the Pawty Started

Are you ready for the Howl-o-ween pawty?

Looking sweet as pumpkin pie!

Practicing my froggy fly-slurping maneuver. Ribbit!

Ribbit? How about a pretty little rabbit?!

It's not easy being green. Gotta find a more natural habitat for a froggy like me.

It's here, fur-riends. It's finally here: the great Howl-o-ween Pawty of 2013! Join us for a virtual parade of costumes, a treat recipe swap and a showcase of trickery...Come dressed in your best, furry friends! We can't wait to see your costumes.

Here’s how it works: Have your hooman post photos of you in costume and videos of your very best tricks on any of Scottie Mom’s social networks. Be sure to tag @TheScottieMom and use hashtag #HowlOweenPawty. Not on facebook, twitter or instagram? Send your picture to thescottiemom(at)gmail(dot)com and we’ll make sure everyone sees it in our virtual parade of costumes. Then, join us for a twitter chat from 8-10 p.m. for a treat recipe swap and Howl-O-ween Pawty meet-and-greet with participating pups!

Birthday Scots

Today, Heather and Mr. K celebrate an adventurous year gone by and embark on another 365-day journey living the good, fun-filled Scottie life before they add another candle to their doggie birthday cakes! And though they may be a year older, they (and consequently, we) are another year better because of all we accomplished, persevered through and experienced together in the last 365 days. When I think over the last year, I remember Heather kicking cancer to the curb, Mr. K assisting Scottie Dad in the ultimate marriage proposal, moving the pups into The Scottie House and, of course, the ever-increasing number of friends we've made through ScottieMom.com. So, Heather and Mr. K, here's to you for making our lives that much more fulfilling! May all your birthday wishes of sweet treats and belly rubs galore come true (in fact, I'm fairly certain they will) and may the next year be filled with new adventures, good health and lots more fur friends. Happy Birthday, my loves. Much love, your Scottie Mom.

Scottie Selfies

Mr. K was feeling so good after the last Scottie Spa Day, he decided to ask Heather to pose for a selfie with him. These are the results. Not bad for a first try, huh? Wordless Wednesday!

Why I Eat Worms

Heather Beather here. I'm taking over the blog so I might be able to plead my case before Scottie Mom can complain publicly about a perfectly resourceful habit of mine that she thinks is unusual and just plain gross. Every morning, afternoon and night, Scottie Mom takes us out for walks around The Scottie House neighborhood. We follow a path of light grey concrete blocks to the back of the house and all the way up to the front of the neighborhood and then back to The Scottie House. In between each block is a small crack, in which the juiciest snacks find their way through after it rains heavily - which, here in Atlanta, has happened a lot this year.

These snacks from the cracks are thin and only an inch or two in length. They look (and taste!) like noodles. Sometimes, these snacks are a bit slimy, having just been washed out in the rain. Other times, they are nice and crisp after toasting in the sun a bit. Either way, I find these snacks that come from the cracks just scrumptious! I keep my nose pressed to the ground on days after a good rainfall. You never know what kind of snacks you might miss out on if you don't stay vigilant about these things. I've noticed Scottie Mom is on the lookout for them now, too, because I hear her say, "Nooo!" every time I beat her to finding the snacks and she can't stop me from gobbling it up for myself.

Scottie Mom claims she says, "No" because she doesn't want me eating these snacks from the cracks. I know, I tell her, you want them all to yourself. They're yummy and I understand. That's why I work hard to make sure I find them first. Scottie Mom laughs when I tell her this and she insists she does not want to eat them herself but is only concerned for my well-being (as if eating these snacks from the cracks is unhealthy!). Are you falling for it, friends? 'Coz I'm not. I'm pretty sure the snacks from the cracks that Scottie Mom calls worms are a good source of protein. Don't our bird friends feed off them? If so, then why can't we Scotties?