Merry Christmas from Pooch Smooches!

We've been missing in action the last couple of weeks, and things are crazy-busy getting ready for the holidays, but Rita and I wanted to take a moment and say Merry Christmas!

Thought I'd share our Christmas card from this year.

Whether you've been naughty or nice, we hope you have a wonderful holiday season!

Christmas Means "Forced Crafting" (& Of Course There's a Dog)

If you're a long-time reader of Pooch Smooches, you'll know that in my family, we often do what we call "forced crafting" (you WILL participate; you WILL enjoy it) - especially around the holidays. In the past, we've done block prints, Scrabble tile ornaments and necklace charms, button ornaments, and needle felting.

This year we decided to make ornaments out of felt. Of course, the first thing I made was a dog.

What We're Thankful For

Rita and I decided we'd share what we're thankful for this holiday season.

Another Round of "A Pup & A Plant" (part 5!)

Back when I first started drafting this post (a while back), I thought it might be the last “pup & a plant”... but I’ve already posted more on Instagram that I’ll share another time, and I actually keep some notes on this madness and I have a bunch more ideas so just have to get the photos. Here’s another dozen...

Our girl who's infertile beside this Crape Myrtle. #SpayandNeuterYourPets #TodaysPSA 😁

Caption This & A Chance to Win Some "Magic"

Caption this?

What I Think This Look Means, And What It Really Means

Pretty much every time I take Rita for a walk, she'll stop a few times and look up at me with a smile, sort of like this:

A Brave, Brave Doggy

Rita had a lot of fears when she first came to us. For instance, every time I would get out the broom, she'd run and hide. (Of course, I almost never get the broom out anymore, thanks to our Roomba, Carson. BTW, if I do say so myself, the Carson post is pretty cute so you should check it out if you missed it...) Anyway, she's come a long way! She's not even afraid of all the scary creatures that have recently appeared in our 'hood.

I thought I'd share my "A dog & some decor" posts that I've been doing on Instagram as proof.

“I ain’t ‘fraid of no ghost-dogs! Much.”

A Pup & A Plant Part 4

But wait...there's more... It's time for another dozen of "a pup & a plant". If you missed the earlier posts you can visit them here: part 1, part 2, part 3.

"Butterfly milkweed" & a representative of the "mutt" breed

Beginning to Look Like Fall... But Where's the "Reading Weather"?

It recently started looking like fall here in San Diego (well, if you live in a neighborhood with liquidambar trees anyway, like we do...) but it's not feeling like fall.

My Dog Is An Excellent Communicator

I walked out of our bathroom the other day and found her like this on our bedroom area rug. Do you think she's trying to tell me something?

More Silliness: A Pup & A Plant Part 3

Hope you aren't sick of this series yet cuz I still have lots more of them to share! (Honestly, I never thought I could keep it going this long... It's become an obsession!) (If you missed them, here are Part 1 and Part 2).

Also, I don't know if you saw her post, but I inspired Taryn from A Tail of Two Cardis to try some a-pup-and-a-planting as well, so check out her post here.

Let's just dive in, shall we?

A plumeria & the cutest dog in the immediate area.

Cover Reveal: STRAY MAGIC is Coming!

Today I'm sharing the cover of my new novel Stray Magic, which officially launches on 10/10.

A fairy tale for dog lovers. 

HOT Dog & the #RememberTheRescue Contest!

It's been pretty hot here - the temps aren't that bad here at the coast, but it's been unusually muggy.

Rita's not a fan of overly hot weather so we got her a little pool this summer. As I've mentioned here before, she hates to swim, but loves to dunk!

We Went on Vacay... & Forgot to Bring a Present for the Dog. #baddogparents

Yes. We're terrible. We went away to visit friends and family recently... and we didn't bring anything home for Rita.

As if it wasn't bad enough that we came home smelling like CATS...

Our friends' gorgeous cat Ollie

A Pup & A Plant, Part Deux

Last month I posted about how I exercise my brain while Rita and I are out on our walks with my Instagram "A Pup and A Plant Series." On our walks, I try to remember plant names, then I take a photo of Rita next to the plant, and then attempt a little word-play for the caption.

I originally thought I could keep this going for maybe a week to 10 days, but I've managed to think up quite a few of them, so figured I'd share another batch here.

An African iris & an American princess. #sospoiled

Don't Forget: "Remember Me Thursday" Is Coming Soon!

It's almost time again for Remember Me Thursday, taking place this year on September 28. Mark your calendars!

My new Remember Me Thursday T-shirt

Remember Me Thursday® is a global awareness campaign whereby individuals and pet adoption organizations worldwide will become an "integrated voice for orphan pets to live in forever homes, not die waiting for them."

Rita and Her BFF and a Classic Work of American Art

Rita has a buddy that we try to meet up with once a week for play/a walk. She's a boxer named Dakota.

Doggie Inspiration For My New Novel

As I mentioned recently, I'm finishing up a new novel and getting ready to put it out in the world. (Eeek) It's a fairy tale (sort of a fractured fairy tale - remember those?), and there are a lot of dogs (since a doggy-supply boutique and a rescue group figure prominently in the story), but the main character's dog is a Cardigan corgi, that looks a lot like my nephew, Reggie.

Exercise For My Brain While We Exercise On Our Walks

I've been doing this thing over on Instagram. If we're connected there, you will possibly have already seen it. I call it "A Pup and A Plant Series." On our walks, I try to remember plant names, then I take a photo of Rita next to the plant, and try to do a little word-play caption.

I've done quite a few, so here are a chunk of them.

Rita and red roses.

Our Dog Is So Nutty: The Lemon Candy Caper

Rita, as I've mentioned before, is very picky. She's not much of a beggar because of it. Even things that normal dogs love (peanut butter, yogurt, etc.) don't get her excited. And there are some things she flat-out hates, like anything citrusy.

So one day when she took an interest in these sour lemon hard candies on our coffee table, I was curious as to why. These were definitely a novelty (I'd never bought them before) and she's usually interested in new things so I thought maybe she was just checking them out and making sure they weren't up to no good.

All threats must pass inspection.