Dear Abby - Remembering Special Pets: Thelma Lou, Lucy, and Barney Fife

Dear Friends,

I have an extra special Remembering Special Pets feature today.  My Momma is visiting to share memories of special Dachshunds in our family. 

Abby:  Momma, thanks for visiting on my blogging day!   Would you please tell my readers about the family pets you want to remember?

Thelma Lou and Barney Fife

Trish:  I am here to share memories of Thelma Lou, a miniature longhair black and tan dachshund (1991 - 1999);  Lucy Ricardo, a red small standard dachshund (1999 - 2010);  and your special friend Barney Fife, a red standard dachshund (1997 - 2014).

Thelma Lou

Abby:  What are some happy memories of Thelma Lou, Lucy, and Barney Fife?   I loved Barney Fife, and have heard lots of nice things about Thelma Lou and Lucy, who were here before I was born.

Lucy Ricardo and Barney Fife

Trish:  Thelma Lou was a sweet girl, but also very sassy.  She would be walking outdoors and then decide she had walked enough, and would just stop until she was picked up!  Lucy was another sweet and sassy girl.  She had very soft fur, like velvet, and a musical voice.  When she was excited it sounded like she was singing scales.   Barney, as you know, was the sweetest, cuddliest dog in the world.  Barney had three sisters in his lifetime: Thelma Lou, Lucy, and you.  He loved you all!

Lucy Ricardo and one her many pink toys!

Abby:  Do you have any funny anecdotes?

A young Barney Fife

Trish:   I have lots of great stories!  Thelma Lou loved food.  She stole my dinner a couple of times.  Once I had a veggie sub sandwich and I went into the other room for some iced tea.  When I got back, the bread was there but the cheese and lettuce were missing ... except for one little bit of lettuce at the corner of her mouth.

Lucy was a princess.  She loved attention, loved pink toys, sweaters, dressing up ... and when I got out the camera, she was always ready to pose.  I have lots and lots of pictures of her for that reason!

Barney Fife was the sweetest boy in the world, but he was also stubborn.  When he didn't want to do something he would make a noise that sounded just like, "uh-uh, uh-uh."   Barney loved toys!  He never tired of playing ball and playing with plush squeaky toys.  He also loved meeting other little dogs, and when we went to dachshund picnics, he would position himself near the entrance so he could greet every other dachshund that he saw.

Barney Fife

Abby:  I really enjoyed visiting with you today.  Is there anything else you would like to share?

Trish:  I am so blessed that I had these special pups in my life.  Thelma Lou and Lucy Ricardo were both puppy mill rescues, and because of them I developed a passion for rescue and strong feelings about puppy mills.  They both had health issues and shortened lifespans as a result of their puppy mill breeding.  Barney Fife was truly the perfect dog.  He was devoted to his sisters and to me.  Abby, he really loved you, and was so happy when you came to be a very special member of our family.

Barney Fife and Abby, just days after their first meeting.

Abby:  That makes me so happy and a little sad at all once!  Thank you for sharing their memories here today.

Friends, if you would like to leave a message, I would love to hear from you in the comments.

Thank you so much for visiting today!

Love,
Abby

Dear Abby: An Introduction

Dear Friends,

This is my first post at View from the Birdhouse, and I am looking forward to chatting with you weekly here.

My name is Abby, short for Abigail.  I am 5 years old, and our vet says I am a Dachshund-Jack Russell Terrier mix.  I am a very good girl, and I have many opinions.

I am a Texas girl.  I was only a year old when I was found as a stray dog living in a Walmart parking lot.  A good samaritan took me to his friend who volunteered with dachshund rescue.  I stayed with her for some time as a foster dog.  My Momma saw my picture by chance online and fell in love with me.   (This is where the story starts to get good!)   She wanted to adopt me, but I was far from her home.  A volunteer brought me to Georgia in an RV.  I got out of the RV and immediately kissed my Momma.   It was love at first sight.  

Momma had a sweet senior dachshund named Barney Fife.  He adopted me as a baby sister the minute he met me, and we got along beautifully from that moment until he passed away at the age of 17.  I still miss him.  So does Momma.

I am a very good companion and help with finding vintage books to sell, listing them, and joining Momma in activities ranging from reading to weekend naps to watching Downton Abbey.

I love children, cats, and small dogs.  I am friendly with big dogs but they make me a bit nervous because I am little.  I am very scared of thunder, fireworks, and loud noises, and wear a special Thundershirt when I need to calm down.  It works.

I will be posting here on Fridays and would welcome your questions.  I can answer questions about dogs, books, television, movies, music, holidays, naps, anything vintage, food and recipes.  I have lovely manners and can answer etiquette questions. I can give romantic advice!  I do not discuss politics or sports.  I would love to have questions or topics from YOU.  Please leave them in the comments, below.

Till next week,

xxx's from Abby  

Wordless Wednesday: Abby Smiles For the Camera

Wordless Wednesday: Abby Shows Why My Pillows Are Always Flat

eCloth Review and Giveaway: Pet Travel Bed and Wall/Floor Duster

My dog, Abby, enjoyed helping me review the e-Cloth Home and Travel Bed.  This pet bed rolls up with velcro fasteners for travel.   One side is soft and plush.  As I unrolled it, Abby settled in immediately (see photo above!).   It measures about 35.35" x 23.5".  The other side of the bed is a smart brown and white check and it is waterproof.  Wow!  This is perfect for use at home, in the car, or on a trip.   Abby is looking forward to enjoying it for a long time.

I also reviewed the e-Cloth Flexi-Edge Floor and Wall Duster.   This is a unique and versatile product, perfect for cleaning walls and floors alike.  I have a dog and also deal in vintage books and cards, so am constantly dusting and sweeping hardwood floors.   I also prefer natural and chemical-free cleaning.  This is a great product!  The cloth cleaning head is soft and strong, and can be washed 100 times.  It comes with a telescopic handle that works at 3' to 5' range.  I highly recommend this duster for household cleaning.

You can find e-Cloth online:
Website: www.ecloth.comwww.ecloth.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/eclothUSA
Twitter: @eclothUSA
Pinterest: www.pinterest.com/eclothUSA
Instagram: @eclothUSA
Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/eclothCleaning

e-Cloth very generously offered to sponsor a giveaway for a Home and Travel Bed and a Flexi-Edge Floor and Wall Duster.  Entry is easy with the Rafflecopter form, below.  One lucky reader will win both products.  Shipping is within the USA, and the contest runs through Thursday, 10/30/14 at midnight.  A winner will be chosen at random through Rafflecopter, and notified via email.  Winner needs to respond to email within 48 hours.  e-Cloth will ship the prize directly to the winner. 

Congratulations to the winner, Jean. B!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

I received these products from e-Cloth in exchange for an honest review.

Wordless Wednesday: Abby Loves to Sleep on My Clothes

Happy 4th of July: In Praise of Thundershirts

Happy 4th of July!   I hope you have a fun day (and a great long holiday weekend).  

I'm looking forward to a fun, relaxing weekend.  I'll plan to be home in the evenings because of fireworks.  Fireworks are legal in Atlanta, and you can see stands in shopping center parking lots;  the local grocery store even sells fireworks.  

My youngest dog, Abby (a 4 year old Dachshund/Jack Russell mix) is terrified of fireworks, thunder, and loud noises in general.  I always plan to be home on fireworks holidays so I can put Abby in her Thundershirt and comfort her.  The Thundershirt is a wonderful invention;  it really helps Abby with loud noises.   It is made of stretchy fabric, and wrapped snugly with velcro.  Effectively, it snuggles against a dog who wears it because he or she is afraid of noise.

Whatever you have planned, I hope you have lots of fun!  What are you up to this long weekend?   If you have dogs or cats, how do they do with the noise of summer holidays (fireworks)?  I'd love to hear from you in the comments, below.

Watching Downton Abbey With Downtown Abby - Season 4, Episode 4 (U.S.)

After all the drama of last week's show, tonight was a quieter hour - meaning not quite as compelling.

We meet Baxter, the new maid.  She seems nice, but she is in cahoots with Thomas.  What is their connection?  I wonder if he is blackmailing her or holding something over her in order to get her to spy on the family?

Mr. Bates finds out from Mrs. Hughes that Anna was raped.  He does not know the identity of the rapist, although he suspects Gillingham's valet.  There is a scene where Mr. Bates and Anna connect again, and she is moving back to the cottage.  He has, however, vowed revenge:  "Nothing is over.  Nothing is done with."

Mary learns that Gillingham is engaged, and sheds a tear.  Edith does not hear from Gregson, and she worries.  Meanwhile, she visits Dr. T. Goldman, M.B.B.S., F.R.C.S. (Fellowship of the Royal College of Surgeons). Could she be pregnant?!

Mr. Napier, who was a friend of the late Mr. Pamuk, visits.  He is working in the area, and will be visiting again, with his boss, Charles Blake.

Alfred takes a test for cooking school at the Ritz, but he is not accepted.  Carson actually encourages him in his ambition.

Carson offers a job to Molesley, and Molesley thinks it over. (Carson offers the footman position when he thinks Alfred will be leaving.)   Molesley tells Carson he supposes he can accept after "mature deliberation."  Carson then rescinds the job offer.

There are some good scenes between Isabel and the Dowager Countess.  Isabel places a young gardener in need of work at the Countess's estate, and a paper knife goes missing.  This leads to a deliberation about the gardener's honesty between Isabel, the Dowager Countess, and Dr. Clarkson.

Tom Branson considers moving to the United States with baby Sybie. This is not resolved, so we will probably hear more in future episodes.

Grantham loans money to a local farmer who is in dire financial straits after his father's death.  When Mary and Tom discover this, they seem to have a sort of grudging admiration for Grantham and his decency.

There is a fun little scene when Cora tells Mrs. Padmore they will be ordering a refrigerator.  Mrs. Padmore, who always holds to the old ways, resists.  Cora asks if there is anything old that she would like to move on from, and Mrs. Padmore replies that she would like to move past corsets.

The trailer for next week shows Mary meeting Charles Blake.  Sparks seem to fly - although more estate related rather than romantic.  The conflict between the Dowager Countess and Isabel Crawley seems to continue.

What did you think of tonight's episode?   What was your favorite scene?  Do you think that Mr. Bates will discover the truth about Anna's rapist?  Why is Edith not hearing from Michael Gregson?   Did you have a favorite line from tonight's show?  I hope you'll comment with your thoughts!

Watching Downton Abbey With Downtown Abby: Season 4, Episode 3 (US)

I found tonight's episode of Downton Abbey as satisfying as last week's was unsettling.

The show opened with a striking image of a woman walking, in profile, toward the castle.  This set the stage for an episode about women and secrets.

Anna has chosen to keep the rape secret from Mr. Bates.  As a result, there is tremendous tension between them, and she has decided to move back to the servant's quarters since she feels unworthy of him.  Mrs. Hughes knows, but is keeping her secret.  I hope that Anna will decide to tell Mr. Bates everything, and if she doesn't, I hope that Mrs. Hughes will intervene.  Mrs. Hughes does try to talk to Anna, but Anna is not ready to listen.  I was waiting for Mrs. Hughes to say that Lord Gillingham's valet should be reported because not only has he committed a violent crime, but he could do this to another woman, since he is clearly a dangerous and disturbed person.

There is also tension between Edna Braithwaite and Tom Branson.  I am not sure if she actually slept with him when he was drunk, or if she pretended to in order to blackmail him.  Tom is very troubled and feels guilty about what happened, and he also confides in Mrs. Hughes.  She calls Edna out on her behavior and her schemes, and Edna leaves in a huff.  Before she exits, there is a wonderful little sniping conversation with Thomas.  And then she leaves -- good riddance to bad rubbish!   This was one of the highlights of the episode for me.

Edith has gone off to London to see Michael Gregson before he leaves for Munich.  She signs a paper for him.  I believe he says this gives her control of the paper.  I must admit that the signing of the paper made me nervous -- what else is she agreeing to by signing it?   I still do not trust Gregson.  Edith has a walk of shame back to Aunt Rosamunde's house, and Rosamunde calls her on coming in at six a.m.  Rosamunde says what I have been thinking -- that Edith is risking a lot for a man they don't really know.  I want Edith to be happy, but something about Gregson doesn't add up for me.  I hope I am wrong.

Mary is visited in London and at Downton Abbey by Tony Gillingham.  He has fallen in love with her and wants to marry her, whenever she is ready, whether it is a year or two or three. There is a scene in the gardens where they talk and he kisses her.  He has told her that she fills his brain.  She says that her brain is still filled with Matthew, and she wants it to stay that way, because she isn't ready to let go of him yet.  Gillingham leaves to move on, as originally planned, with the woman he was about to propose to.  Later, when Mary is talking to Branson, she says that she has done something that she thinks she will regret for a long time to come.

In other news, Mrs. Crawley is volunteering with the doctor (whose name I always forget!), and it seems like they might get closer.  I hope so.  There is also a sweet scene between Mrs. Crawley and the Dowager Countess, who are surprisingly becoming friends.

There is a lovely scene between Mrs. Hughes and Carson, when she presents him with a framed picture of his lost love, Alice.  He has one of the most poignant lines of the night:  "The business of life is the acquisition of memories. In the end, that's all there is."

There is much more back and forth with the younger servants working at Downton (the quadrangle of Alfred, Daisy, James, Ivy).  These young folk with their electric mixers and cloakroom intrigue!  Yawn.

Rose is continuing to look for fun, including a brief flirtation with a family friend in London, and sparks of interest with a jazz bandleader, Jack Ross, who happens to be black.

Thomas informs Lord Grantham that he has an older woman to recommend as a new maid for Cora.  It will be interesting to see who she is, and what Thomas's angle is -- because I'm sure there is one.

What did you think of tonight's episode?  Do you think Mary made the right decision about Tony Gillingham?  Do you think we have seen the last of Edna Braithwaite?  What do you think about Edith and Michael Gregson?  What about Anna and Mr. Bates -- can this marriage be saved?  What storylines interest you the most?   

I hope you'll leave a comment and share your thoughts!

Watching Downton Abbey with Downtown Abby - Season 4, Episode 2 (US)

Before we start talking about Downton Abbey, I have to say that of course both my beloved pups, Barney Fife and Abby, watch the show each week curled up beside me.  Barney, being a wise senior dachshund, usually agrees with Carson in all things Downton.  Abby wishes to be referenced in all Downton posts here, since the title includes her name - sort of.

Also, this post contains SPOILERS! SPOILERS! SPOILERS! for Episode 2 of Season 4.  Do not continue reading if you have not seen the episode yet.

Sigh.  This was the episode I had heard whispers about.  I had only heard that something bad was going to happy to Anna in this episode.  I didn't have details, but figured it out early on tonight.  Sigh.  I hated this storyline.  Absolutely hated how dark and dreary it was.  Poor Anna.  She's been through enough, with Bates' jail sentence and their separation.  

Also -- I am ready for Braithwaite to leave already.  She is up to no good with Tom, who is my favorite of the Downton men.  He was already struggling tonight, feeling out of place at the formal dinner.  (But wasn't he handsome in white tie?)

On a positive note, Lord Gillingham is charming, and it was nice to see Lady Mary connect with him on the basis of a longtime friendship.  I hope, since it is so soon after Matthew's death, that this will remain just a friendship for a while.

Gregson did a good turn outsmarting the card shark to win back the money that Lord Grantham and the others lost.   I still worry, though, for Edith, especially after seeing the trailers for next week.  

As usual, the Dowager Countess had several wonderful lines.  My favorite was:  "If I were to search for logic, I should not look for it among the English upper class."   I was also delighted that she quoted Christina Rosetti when talking to Mrs. Crawley:  "Better by far you should forget and smile/ Than that you should remember and be sad."

My favorite scene was at dinner, when Cora found that famed opera singer Nellie Melba would be dining alone in her room.  After Cora left to smooth things over, Lord Grantham looked at Carson and said:  "I blame you."  Absolute perfection!  They are both so enamored with the decorum of the past.

On a visual note, the glimpse of the garden was striking.  I love the greenery arches!

One question from this episode -- why was one of the footman (James?) measuring the distance from each chair to the table?  I'm sure there was some reason based on etiquette and vintage dining customs.

Overall, this wasn't my favorite episode, but of course I still like lesser Downton over anything else on television. 

What did you think of this episode?  I hope you'll leave your comments below (without any spoilers for future episodes, if you have already seen the UK edition).   What do you think of Lord Gillingham?  What will happen with Anna and Bates?  How do you think the Braithwaite storyline will resolve?