Follow up Friday and Day 6 of the Advent Calendar for Dog Lovers Event

Once again we're joining Heart Like a Dog's Follow up Friday blog hop. Thank you Jodi, for inviting us all to join the hop that "lets you wrap up the week and leads you right into the weekend."

We only have one update here tonight but it's a pretty big deal: Our auction has ended and we have a winner!

In case you aren't following us on Facebook, we announced Monday night that our auction for the black diamond paw print pendant ended successfully and we have a winner. The necklace is on its way to a new owner who we hope will enjoy it and wear it with pleasure.

The auction raised $102.50 USD and we promised to double match the amount. So Save a Sato will be receiving a donation of $307.50. in the next couple of days. Just in time for Christmas.

We hope it helps and thank everyone for Tweeting and sharing and pinning and bidding. Please know you did an amazing thing for the dogs in Puerto Rico who are in so much need of care and a kind hand.

Thank you. You have made my holiday.

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It's time for the Advent Calendar for Dog Lovers hosted by Kol's Notes, Heart Like a Dog, My Brown Newfies, My GBGV Life & Bringing Up Bella! 24 giveaways in 24 days, plus a grand prize worth more than $500 - who wants to win? Today's giveaway is sponsored by K9 Bytes. You could win a hand crafted whimsical leash & collar set. Click here to check out the Advent Calendar and enter today's giveaway!

This and That Thursday and Advent Calendar Day 5!

The Pet Blogger Gift Exchange

Last year, one of the sweetest holiday gifts I received was a post written by Kristine from Rescued Insanity.

I had been following Kristine and her adventures with Shiva for a long time on Twitter so her kind words and her most gracious "Loyalty Award" were a balm to my wounded holiday spirit.

That post and the social media love that came with it were the brain-child of Pamela from Something Wagging This Way Comes. Her idea of the "Pet Blogger Gift Exchange" where bloggers are paired up to give the gift of social affection to other bloggers is so unique only other bloggers would really get it.

And yet this year, I really didn't think I had it in me to commit to one. more. thing.

I'm glad I got over it and at the last minute signed up to participate. I was immediately matched with "Our Four-Legged Family" which features the very handsome canine Diggs as well as a beautiful kitty named Isis.

I now have the holiday task of getting to know these four-leggers and their family better and couldn't wish for a more lovely way to spend my holiday. If you haven't met them yet, hop on over to say hello. Diggs just had minor surgery and I know his Momma could use some words of commiseration.

The Blogville Christmas Card Exchange

'Tis also the season for the Blogville Christmas Card Exchange and we have been so smitten with all the cards and eGreetings we've been receiving. All our cards were sent out earlier this week so hopefully it's raining er, snowing Bella across the globe at this time. For those who didn't join in the fun, don't worry, we'll have lots of out-takes and the cards to share later this month.

The Advent Calendar for Dog Lovers Event

Finally, today is Day 5 of the Advent Calendar for Dog Lovers. Today is sponsored by Dog Lover Gift Baskets and is absolutely a dream-come-true for any dog lover. You do not want to miss entering this one.

It's time for the Advent Calendar for Dog Lovers hosted by Kol's Notes, Heart Like a Dog, My Brown Newfies, My GBGV Life & Bringing Up Bella! 24 giveaways in 24 days, plus a grand prize worth more than $500 - who wants to win?

Today's giveaway is sponsored by Dog Lover Gift Baskets. You could win dog-centric gift basket for pups & people. Click here to check out the Advent Calendar and enter today's giveaway!

Wordy Wednesday - The Advent Calendar edition

Hi friends,

We'll get to the picture part of what is usually "Wordless" Wednesday in just a moment. But first I wanted to let you all know we've joined Kol's Notes fabulous holiday event: The Advent Calendar for Dog Lovers Giveaway Event.

24 giveaways in 24 days with a final grand prize valued at over $800!

This is some serious swag that you do not want to miss. So be sure to follow the link below the break to enter today's giveaway. If you missed any of the previous days, you can still enter to win them as well.

And now without further ado, the obligatory cute Bella picture:

Don't panic - it does not look like this around here yet this year.
It just seemed a fitting photo for announcing the Advent Calendar.

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Sometimes she snuggles...

In the comments of our Black & White Sunday: A Sunny Spot post, Pamela from Something Wagging This Way Comes asked why I was taking pictures and not cuddling up behind Bella to enjoy the sunny spot with her.

I guess I need to let you all in on a little secret: Bella doesn't really do snuggles.

I came home tonight to Jan telling me Bella hurt his feelings today because, while she was snoozing on the bed, he laid down next to her and she promptly got up and left. I tried to console him with the fact that this happens to me on a regular basis. A seriously regular basis.

Such is our life.

Selfies are a particularly unimpressive enterprise.

Bella will choose to snuggle on her own terms. And when she does, it is like capturing the most wonderful treasure. It's your birthday, Hanukkah and Christmas all rolled into one five minute extravaganza of affection. It doesn't happen often so you relish and cherish it when it does.

But for the past week, Bella has been sneaking into bed with us at night. And I say 'sneaking' because she waits until we are asleep (or so she thinks) in the wee hours of the morning and hops up on the end of the bed. She settles in between us usually pressing her body against one or the other's legs.

Of course, the slightest quiver from one of us and she is out of the room like a shot. So, for however long she chooses to grace us with her presence, I lie immobile, holding my breath and begging my achy, twitchy body to stay still for just a little while longer. Inevitably, something spooks her, or she just decides she needs to move around, and she gets down and lumbers over to her own bed by my side.

Every day I have had her in my life, I have touched her briefly when she comes to her bed. Just to let her know I'm here - not to pester her or smother her - just a touch to say "I'm here. You're safe. You're mine."



No, she may not be a snuggly dog. But when she offers you just a bit of herself, it is a gift beyond all measure.

Black & White Sunday - A sunny spot