Outdoor furniture

I bought these bargain wick outdoor furniture for our front porch at a garage sale last Saturday. I've always wanted a comfortable out door sofa where i could sit down and relax and enjoy my tea!! The sofa is so comfortable, i even took a nap!! I also want a rocking chair. I feel that a front porch is not a porch without a rocking chair! I think I know where to find a bargain rocking chair....The Salvation Army~~~!!!! Here I come!!!

My New Dining Room

Hi, Everyone!!
Wow!! It's been awhile since I've updated my blog. I've been so busy for past 2 weeks that I never had chance to sit down in front of my PC at night. Above photos were taken a couple of weeks ago, but I wasn't able to post on my blog. I've finally completed my dining room make over!!

The following are before and after photo shots of my dining room!!

Before

After

Phoenix Story

Phoenix with Glenn and Seamus.

From Glenn, Phoenix's new guardian:

I first met Phoenix at 1:30 in the morning in Winchester, VA, by that time she had already been in a crate for over 13 hours. I took her for a short walk and a small drink of water and Evan, the driver who had gotten her from Mississippi to Virginia, mentioned that she had been pretty badly abused. She was going to my last stop in Salem, NH, so she was one of the first loaded onto my van. She ended up behind my passenger seat on top of the other crates, so I could turn around just a little and see her and also stick my fingers in her crate. Whenever I used my cell phone or 2-way radio she would sit up and look at me. It wasn't long before I snapped a picture of her with my phone and sent it home. I was smitten. I called Megan, who was in charge of that trip and got some background on Phoenix. As soon as I could I got a hold of Lori, the director of the Salem Animal Rescue League, and asked if I could have her meet my male pitbull, Seamus, also a rescue, to see if they would be compatible. Lori said, no problem, that they would love her to go to someone that they would stay in touch with. The following Saturday, we drove the 2 hours up to New Hampshire from my home in Connecticut and let the dogs meet. She wasn't too keen on Seamus at first, but after a bit we took them into a large enclosure and let them go. They took off chasing each other around and around, and still do every day. Needless to say Phoenix went home with us that day.

Phoenix and Seamus playing in the Connecticut snow.

She has her issues - doesn't care for men or other dogs too much. We have taken her to obedience class where she's become more socialized, some weeks more than others. This helped her get started in doggie daycare, where they've very patient with her, as they had refused her at first. She now goes to two doggie daycares and gets along with (almost) all the dogs. She is a work in progress but brings so much joy to our family. She and Seamus are best buddies.

Sharing a bed

Here's a typical day in the life of Phoenix. She wakes up on our bed, which she shares with her two humans, Seamus and a cat or two, teases Seamus until he finally gives in a gets up to play - he's not an early riser. Then it's breakfast and into the van to drive my son, Andrew, to school, which just happens to be close to about 80 wooded acres with some great trails, two ponds and a couple of streams. We normally walk for about an hour on and an hour or so off leash, with extra time for cooling off in the water. Both of the dogs never stop running, chasing, playing tug with sticks or jumping up on big rocks, it's a non stop show that we never tire of. Once we get home it's time for a snack followed by a good nap under the fan or on the deck. Lunchtime we go for a quick walk maybe half an hour, then run some errands - the bank, post office, places that give out cookies are their favorite. More napping in the afternoon followed by a drive to pick up Andrew and at around 5 or 6 we go to the city park and walk about 3 miles either on the walking path or through the trails in the woods. Then it's home to spend the evening with the family, either sleeping or wrestling on our bed. Around 10 or 11 it's time for another walk, just a quick 20 minutes or so before fighting for the best spot on the bed yet again. This is our daily routine for the most part, they normally go to daycare for one full day and one half day, different locations, so that they can play with their canine friends. We normally go out for dinner with friends on a Friday evening, so they both get a frozen bone, which they love. It also helps with Phoenix as she can be a little destructive but has come a long way. We don't crate either of them, so we just try and be responsible in putting things away.

Phoenix came into our lives the weekend of my birthday, which I spent driving a transport for Homeward Bound. What a birthday present she's been. We've had her now for almost 7 months, and we couldn't imagine life without her. She has been to hell and back (I've seen the pictures) and is still so sweet and loving.

http://hopesanctuary.blogspot.com/2009/05/phoenix-update.html

Project Hope: Phoenix Update

Project Hope: Phoenix Update

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Rescue Story...Think twice before you buy!!!

June 3, 2009

The Humane Society of the United States' offensive against puppy mills continues. Just yesterday, we arrived on the scene at an Indiana puppy mill, where we found more than 200 dogs in grossly overcrowdedconditions. Under the temporary care of our emergency shelter, the resiliant animals already are showing signs of improvement.
Last week, local law enforcement and The HSUS rescued nearly 400 dogs from the horrific confines of a puppy mill operation known as the Sun Valley Kennel in Kennewick, Wash. We're now busy moving these animals to local shelters, where they’ll be adopted.
Meanwhile, we've been on the ground around the clock for two weeks in Wisconsin, tending to more than 300 dogs rescued from yet another mass breeding operation. And as if all that weren't enough, earlier in the week we raided two major dogfighting operations in eastern Alabama.

This is a remarkable pace of activity. Sadly, these missions are a common occurrence for our rescue teams. Watch this moving video of our rescue of the innocent animals of the Sun Valley Kennel in Washington state. Then please make an emergency contributions today to support these operations and others
like them.
The dogs at Sun Valley -- like those in Indiana and Wisconsin -- had spent their entire lives trapped in deplorable conditions and were forced to breed continuously, all for the profit of the operator. When found, some of the animals were confined to grocery shopping carts, while others spun circles in rusty pens caked with feces. Many of the dogs suffered from malnutrition, urine burns, and overgrown nails.
Because of the efforts of our rescue teams -- along with the assistance of our partners from the animal welfare community -- their suffering is finally over. After you watch this special video, please help ensure our rescue operations can continue.
Tragically, hundreds of thousands of dogs still suffer at the hands of an industry that traps them in a cycle of misery. In the first five months of this year alone, our teams already have rescued more than 1,000 dogs from puppy mill nightmares. We won't stop until the cruelty ends.
Please help make these animal rescue operations possible. Watch our video, then make a special donation today to fund the life-saving work of our emergency response teams.
Thank you for all you do for animals.
Sincerely,Wayne PacellePresident & CEOThe Humane Society of the United States

P.S. Not only is The HSUS on the ground rescuing dogs in Indiana and Washington, but we helped pass new laws in both those states this year to crack down on abusive puppy mills. Help our work to rescue animals in crisis.

Chandelier Makeover

I have been searching for the right chandelier for my dining room over a year and I'm so pleased with what I got!

A few weeks ago, my friend Daisy saw this chandelier at local thrift store and told me about it. I then rushed to the store next day and bought it for $14.99. I immediately drilled holes for hanging prisms, but i wasn't able to complete the project and kept putting it off until last weekend. My goal last weekend was to complete some of my unfinished projects and I actually accomplished a lot!!! I am most excited about this chandelier makeover...over the weekend!!

I have to say I love my chandelier!!!...