Dear Abby - Meet Lulu Belle (A Rescue Spotlight)

Dear Friends,

Thanks for stopping by today!  It has been a warm and spring like week here.  I love that, because it means lots of walks and time outside.

Today I would like to introduce you to my friend Lulu Belle.   She is a beautiful 6 year old longhair dachshund.  I love Lulu Belle's coloring.  As she wrote:  "As you can see, I am very unusual for a dachshund, being white with black, gray and brown spots all over."

Abby:  What is your background and how did you end up in rescue? 

Lulu Belle:  I was born on a ranch in southern Arizona, that was really a puppy mill, and I lived outdoors in a run there with other dachshunds. Later I had a litter of puppies of my own when I was 1 year old. We weren't stacked in cages like in some of the really bad puppy mills, or mistreated, but still we had almost no human contact. I slept in my own kennel with just crumpled newspapers to lie on. 

Abby:  How were your first days at your new home? 

Lulu Belle:  Very scary. The first day in my new home was the first time I was ever in a house, except for the day when I had my puppies. At first I refused to eat anywhere except in my kennel, and I didn't understand that I was being offered treats like hamburger and roast beef bits. But I learned fast by watching my mom and dad's other 2 dachshunds, Sadie and Rave. And after one accident in my first week, I have never, ever had an accident inside our home. My mom says I am the best behaved dachshund she has ever had.

Abby:  What are a few of your favorite things? 

Lulu Belle:  I love my toyfriends. I have lots of them -- Freddie Frog, Charlie Chameleon, Danny Dragon, Roadkill, and others. But I have to guard them because my pesty little brother Harley loves to grab them and tear them apart. And I love going for walks with my dad. In fact, a few months ago I met my father, Stretch, who got rescued from the same place that I did and now lives close to us. 

Abby:  Do you have any tips for people who want to adopt a rescue pet? 

Lulu Belle:  Be very, very patient. It took me a long time to get used to my dad, as I was very scared of men when I first arrived here. I still don't like it if we go on a walk and meet a man with a rake or hoe in his hand, but then I am okay when they put the scary things down. And at home, my dad knows it is okay to carry a cup of coffee or a small book around, but anything bigger, and he has to show it to me first so that I can approve it and not be scared. 

Abby:  Is there a rescue group you want to send a shout out to? 

Lulu Belle:  My rescue group was Belle Area Rescue Kennels (BARK) and little brother Harley came from Oregon Dachshund Rescue. We think a lot of both of them.

Thank you, Lulu Belle, for stopping by for the interview.  I loved reading more about your background.  I think it is wonderful that you met your father Stretch!

I am friends with Lulu Belle online from a special dachshund group.  She has a wonderful rescue story, and I hope you enjoyed meeting her too.

If you have a rescued dog or cat that would like to be featured here, please let me know.  Thank you for visiting today!

Love,

Abby xoxoxo

Blog News

Hi all!

Just a note to let you know that I am cutting back on posts for a few weeks.  I've been unusually busy here and just need a bit of a break.

I will continue to post scheduled book reviews and spotlights during this time ... and Abby has made it clear that she wants to continue blogging on Fridays.

Just sending a head's up!  Hope you are having a great week.   

Trish

Wordless Wednesday - Vintage St. Patrick's Day Postcard

Found at Birdhouse Books

Did You Know Tuesday - Fun Facts About Barbie

March 9 is National Barbie Day in honor of the Barbie doll's first appearance on March 9, 1959 at the American International Toy Fair in New York.

Here are some fun facts about Barbie:

Barbie's full name is Barbie Millicent Roberts.  She was named after the doll creator's daughter.

Ruth Handler, who created the Barbie doll, was inspired by the German fashion doll Bild Lilli. 

The first Barbie doll sold for $3.

351,000 Barbie dolls were sold in 1959.

Barbie has had over 130 careers over the years. 

Her best friend, since 1963, is Midge.

Her boyfriend, since 1961, is Ken.  Ken was named after Ruth Handler's son.

The first celebrity Barbie was Twiggy, based on the fashion model, in 1967.

Did you play with Barbie as a child?  Which Barbie was your favorite?  I'd love to hear from you in the comments, below.

Farewell to Downton Abbey

For six seasons I've enjoyed spending Sunday nights at Downton Abbey.  It's been a long time since I've felt so invested in a show ... but from the first episode Downton Abbey was pure perfection.

Here are a few things I loved most about the series (spoilers ahead - read after viewing the finale!):

At its heart, Downton Abbey is a family saga.  I love a big, sprawling, old fashioned family saga, whether it is on TV (Upstairs-Downstairs) or in book form (the Jalna series by Mazo de la Roche).  It is fascinating seeing a family change over the years, as life and history unfolds around them.

I loved Mary and Matthew's romance, from the very slow reluctant beginnings to the so perfect proposal in the snow.  Matthew made Mary warmer and more human.  When Matthew died, I wondered how Mary would go on ... and enjoyed seeing her eventually come back to life as an independent woman pursuing love, and finally finding it again with Henry Talbot.

I also loved Sybil and Tom's surprising romance.  They met when he was a chauffeur to the family, and she was the crusading, free thinking Crawley daughter.  There was a sweetness and a mutual respect about their relationship that I loved.

And Tom Branson?  My favorite character.  He was somewhere between the servants and the aristocratic Crawley family.  Seeing him experience life at the estate was a unique way to experience it as a viewer.  Plus, he was warm, kind, and handsome.  Definitely my favorite.  (And I liked the sparks that flew in the finale with Edith's editor, Laura Edmunds -- she seems like a wonderful potential match for Tom.)

I loved the very slow and tentative romance between Mrs. Hughes and Carson, from the moment they held hands at the beach through his proposal, their lovely wedding, and the way they settled in as a married couple.  Even when Carson was curmudgeonly, I pulled for them!

Molesley!  I never thought I would say it, but I absolutely loved Molesley.  He was a bumbling character at first, but he was kind and smart, and slowly found a way to pursue his dreams of being a teacher.

I oohed and aahed the Christmas episodes with the beauty and splendor of the big tree, and the glimpses of holiday life.

I enjoyed Edith's search for love, with all her stumbles, with interest in the wrong man (more than once - oh, how I related to that!).  Edith was a prickly character, and (much like Mary) not always likable ... but I wanted her to find happiness. I was so glad when this finally happened in the finale!

I liked the feisty Daisy, who went into service as a very young girl but found a family with her father-in-law Mr. Mason, and surrogate mother figure, Mrs. Patmore.  When Daisy studied and her pursued her education, I cheered. She was such a human character, who would take a few steps forward, and then back ... but things finally seemed to be falling into place for Daisy in the finale.

I admired the warm, loving relationship between Robert and Cora, even when scenes broke my heart a bit (like their last night with beloved dog Isis, or Robert's reaching out to Cora when his ulcer burst).

And of course I loved the Dowager Countess, with her sharp, insightful wit, and her weekly memorable lines.  My favorite:  "Vulgarity is no substitute for wit." 

The finale was just perfect.  I love the way the series ended with "Auld Lang Syne" and the sense that life would go on for these characters long after the show ended. 

So Downton Abbey, Crawley family, downstairs staff, I raise my cup of tea to you.  Thank you!  

If you have enjoyed Downton Abbey too, what were your favorites from the show?  I'd love to hear from you in the comments.