Stop and smell the roses

Jude's first time to smell a flower or touch a rose.

Springer Spaniel Sulk

Caught Charlie running with scissors again.  

He got sent to Time Out.  

BooHoo!

#notreally

We are busy cleaning and organizing, getting our home ready for my mother, 

who is moving in with us in March.  Charlie wanted to help.  We said no. 

So he just sat around being sad, trying to make us feel bad. 

 Charlie was our first foster.  Obviously and proudly, we foster failed with our first. 

Charlie needed us. And we needed him.  

xoxoxx

Bedroom Garage Sale ~ Vintage "Made In Japan" Lamp

I confessed in my last post here, my mother is moving in with us in 2 months.  We are going room to room, painting baseboards, cleaning carpets and getting rid of ANY and EVERY thing we cannot live without.  

We've lived here almost 4 years and have never done anything nice with our bedroom.  We were stuck in that "all the money goes to the kids for braces and college" rut.  We're down one kid now, so we are trying to fix up our bedroom.  We want it to look as if 2 married adults live in it.  What a concept!

I have a bajillion things to sell.  I prefer to list on Etsy, as I can earn feedback, and you have that safety net, but I don't have the time to SEO it perfectly, yada yada.  I will try to sell some of my stuff here first.  My friends can have first dibs.  :)  

Make an OFFER!!  Boom!  It's yours. 

This little lamp has been used on my dresser forever.  I love these sweet Made In Japan, porcelain/china/ceramic figurine lamps.  I've had a large collection of them in the past.  This one needs to be rewired and I've held on to it for so long, waiting for the time.  I can't do that any more.  It needs to bless someone else.  You can acquire a rewiring kit at Loews or something.  It's real easy.

The figurine part itself, is about 7 1/2" tall.  

With the lamp part and light bulb added, 

it would probably reach around 12" tall.  

What?  Louis XVI pierced his ear.  It's not damage, 

it was probably a ceramic bubble which burst during firing.  :)  

It has a hair line, but it's so thin, it doesn't go all the way through or around and you can't feel it.  

It's almost like crazing.  I don't think it affects the structure at all and the lamp will be strong for a long time to come.  These lines are almost normal in something this old. There are NO chips at all.  

If you look these up on Etsy or Ebay, they run between $20 and $40 a piece.  If you have a set, they go for around $80+.  I just have this single piece. 

I'm asking $16.00 and I will ship for FREE - DOMESTIC standard SHIPPING.  

If you want priority mail, I would ask you to help pay)  

I'm happy to ship it overseas too, but I would have to charge you shipping. 

If you want more photos, let me know.

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The other Made in Japan item I've had on my dresser for years is this guy:  

He's like a Wolfgang Willie Nelson

(probably just something I picked up junkin' one day)

He is 8" tall.  I've collected these for a long time.  They look nice on a book shelf. 

He is perfectly healthy.  Never had small pox or broke any bones.

I'm asking $8.00 for him and I will cover standard domestic shipping.  

If you want priority, I would ask you to split the cost with me. 

(I can sell to you overseas, but you would have to cover ALL shipping)

It says Handpainted in Japan

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If you want both, I can tweak the price and adjust for shipping both items together.  

Let me know if you have any questions or want extra photos.  

Our PayPal address is tsperkins@verizon.net

Charlie is supervising.  

10 Reasons To Foster a Dog

I have a 2014 New Years Resolution for you. If you've always wanted to help animals but never took the plunge into fostering (or adoption), this is your year.  If you're doing the One Word thing, your word is "Foster", or courage, or fearless, or rescue, or care.... :)

You're stronger than you think you are. You can do this. 

Wick Photography

1. Because you are needed.  It saves lives.  Every animal taken in by a foster family, means there is more room at the shelter.  Every foster dog adopted, means we can take on another.  It's a cycle. Shelter-->Foster-->Adopted-->...then we go back for more.  See how it works?  We need you. 

Gorgeous Mr. Bingley was a former Puppy Mill stud 

2. Because you are a project oriented person and love a good challenge.  Seeing progress and recovery with a traumatized foster is the most rewarding thing you can imagine.  You'll have to think outside the box, trying different things to help each new dog.  You'll grow in knowledge and when you see a rescued puppy mill dog run for the first time (maybe in their life), your heart explodes.  

Marshall's so proud.  He wants me to watch how fast he can run. 

3. Because you are a great admirer of "feeling happy" and you like smiling. "Petting a dog for just 15 minutes releases the feel-good hormones serotonin, prolactin, and oxytocin, and lowers the stress hormone cortisol, a University of Missouri–Columbia study says."  

Our Charlie...

4. Fostering a shelter animal can be healing.  My husband had been horribly ill with Graves Disease for over 2 years, possibly longer.  My husband felt like he was DYING. ALL. THE. TIME. We took the leap into fostering, and his health immediately improved.  His mood improved.  His spirit improved. His color improved. He was eventually announced "cured". I know the big turn around for him started the day we got our first foster, Charlie. 

Charlie was severally abused.  He bonded with Tim immediately and Tim started feeling better too.
They healed each other. 

5. Because you're bored, in need of entertainment.  Let's face it. Dogs are fun.  We are never bored.  We're always playing with our kids dogs and cats.  Who needs TV?  We've got our own comedy troupe right here in our house.  

BFF's

6. Because the relationships in your home could use some strengthening.  I can affirm, this has been one of the most rewarding things my husband and I have ever done together.  Our home is an empty nest now. We've raised 2 fabulous human beings (you're welcome). Now what? We've both been living our own lives.  I had my interests and he had his.  We know, together, we are really good at projects and parenting.  When fostering dogs, both our awesome skills are used, bringing us back TOGETHER.  You have to communicate and work as a team to help each animal. 

Wick Photography

7. Because your children need to learn the world is not about them.  They learn compassion, servanthood, nurturing, responsibility and develop a generous spirit.  Having a sick or severally traumatized animal in your home forces you to think before you act.  I see how our son has learned to think responsibly towards pet ownership.  He sees the BIG picture.  Just because you're dying for a Boxer, doesn't mean you should have one, right now.  (If more people understood this...we wouldn't have such a big problem with pet abandonment)

My daughter's adopted English Bulldog, Bruiser

8. Because you need exercise and you're unmotivated.  Your dog needs to go to the bathroom. Now!  And a 2 minute walk isn't enough.  It needs to burn off that energy, learn how to be a dog outside of a cage, socialize with neighbors and sniff things. Voila! You've just burned calories and got some Vitamin D.  

9.  Because your other animals are open to new companions. Our dogs need socializing too and they enjoy having fur friends. We have 3 dogs, all have been rescued, with their own set of issues.  Having new dogs come and go has been good discipline and training for them.  They in turn, have been very good for incoming foster dogs, teaching and showing them the ropes.  Mill dogs especially have no idea how to "just be a dog".  

10. Because you're stronger than you think you are.  Of course, you bond with them. Yes, it hurts to give them up.  But you can give them to a new, beautifully perfect family and be at peace.  

This is Marshall's new family. He bonded immediately. We are so happy for all of them.

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I have a 100 more good reasons to foster, but for the sake of brevity, I stopped at 10.  Do you have some to add?  I would love to hear from you, and discuss this subject further, so please leave a comment.  

If you have any questions about fostering, I'm happy to answer as honestly as I can. 

If you're interested in fostering, you can call your local animal shelter and find out more.  Also, if you have a favorite breed of dog or cat, there are specific organizations all over.  You can volunteer for them.  We volunteer for ESRA and rescue Springer Spaniels.  

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I hope you'll follow me and keep up with our fostering shenanigans.  :)  Lots of good times, with occasional animal drama 

Cats and Quilts go together like Peas and Carrots.

THINK ADOPTION FIRST

ADOPT, DON'T SHOP

Sharing with these Sweet bloggers: Mom's The Word ~ Making Your Home Sing Sumo Sweet Stuff ~ Block Party Say not Sweet Anne ~ Sweet Sharing Monday DIY Home Sweet Home ~ More the Merrier Monday Create With Joy ~ Inspire Me Monday I Should Be Mopping the Floor ~ Inspiration Monday Rain On A Tin Roof ~ Give Me the Goods My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia ~ Tuesday's Treasures A Stroll Thru Life ~ Inspire Me Tuesday Our Table For Seven ~ Share Your Stuff Tuesday Life On Lake Shore Drive ~ Last Bouquet of Talent

Morning Dog Walk with our Springers

I hope you are healthy, well and 

savoring all there is to be admired in Autumn.

My favorite thing about Florida autumn:

WE CAN GO OUTSIDE AGAIN!!

Well...SORT OF!! 

(Seriously, I took the dogs to the dog park yesterday about 4:30 PM and they overheated. Ugh)

It's best to take them into the woods first thing in the morning.  

We turn them loose and set them free...

THEY. GO. CRAZY. 

Springers "SPRINGING", 

 frenzied with activity is fun to watch.

There are wild turkey and dove all over.  

So many delicious things to smell and track

Olivia sticks close to Mom and Dad.

I like this picture of Marshall.  He is "springing" here. 

Marshall and Charlie are crazy hunters. They stick together and tag team tunnel through the grass.

Marshall can fly! WhooooooBoyyy! He can run. Fast as a Greyhound. A Gazelle. A Cheetah. 

Blink and you've missed him.  He LOOOOOVES TO RUN!

I asked Olivia to pose beside the wild morning glories. This was all she would give me. :)

"Wait up Dad!" 

Charlie, our heart breaker.  The grass is very tall.  He tunnels, gets tangled and goes honey badger. 

Charlie is ONE. TOUGH. SPRINGER. 

Except he is scared of thunder. And zombies. He hates zombies.

My 2 girls. The lights of my life.  LeeLee the Cow Dog never, ever leaves my side. 

Homeward bound.  Until tomorrow.....

If you don't know the story, all our dogs are rescued. 

(And Marshall is a foster dog through ESRA )

I'm not against "GOOD", principled dog breeders (and would maybe buy one if I could afford it), 

I just like to kindly and gently suggest people 

"Think Adoption First"

So many dogs in foster care of all breeds are waiting for a family and home.

Visit their web pages and shop the abandoned, rescued and waiting dogs first. 

Visit this link and view the map for available Springer Spaniels around the country.

Wordless Wednesday



Marriage, Empty Nesting and Rescue Dogs...

Charlie and Olivia; both rescued dogs from ESRA. 

 

Our kids grow up and do mean things such as have their own lives,

fall in love and move away. 

 

Our NEW babies wont move away or get married.

They will never bite the hand that feeds them. :)

 

I have to say, we've been married 19 years and it's never been easy. 

Love and commitment was never a question, although staying together is

Very. Hard. Work. 

I've had many people say to us, we act like newlyweds and make it look easy.  Thank you for the compliment, but it's never been easy.  We're both stubborn, strong willed people with lots of baggage.

 

Having a passionate love affair over something we believe in so strongly has been one of the best things we've ever done for ourselves.  It seemed outside of our children, we had so little in common, or so we thought. 

Once the kids left....now what???? 

 

 

Combining our affection for animals, and my husband's life time love of Springer Spaniels, we have found ourselves joyfully challenged.  Caring for our foster fur-children has forced us to communicate more frequently

and work together for a common goal.

 

 

   If your nesting an empty house, you're miserable and you and your spouse don't know what to do next.....rescue and foster a breed you love.  

Every breed has an organization and is in desperate need of

volunteers and foster homes

 

 

You start out saving animals, but they end up saving you. 

Sharing with:
Camera Critters

 Sunday Snapshots with Ni Hao Y'all

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Be blessed and Be a blessing

Choose Joy

(and Springer Spaniels)

 

 

Pooh says hello and thinks dog lovers are boring. 

I hope you'll follow my blog to the right.
And follow our fostering adventures on Instagram too.  :) 

 

Sewing Through Change

We've been going through a lot of change around here.  

Our son started college this week.

I feel so......... 

out of sorts... as my life changes too.  

Now what????  

My sewing machine BFF and I have been spending a lot of time together.  

The hypnotic hum of the sewing machine dilutes the whining in my brain.  

I decided a few weeks ago, I have too much fabric, 

specifically men's shirts I've thrifted or saved.  

 I decided I would use it up or throw it out.  Maybe I'll give myself a deadline.  

What shirting hasn't been used up by the end of September, goes in the trash.  

(No, I would never throw away good expensive fabric.  

I'm only talking about recycled fabric I've kept).

I'll probably have a stroke throwing fabric away, 

but you reach a point of insanity and 

you just can't hoard keep it for that "special project" any more.  

All you end up doing is organizing your fabric.....nothing ever gets sewn and quilts are never completed......because all you're doing is managing (and not very well) ...your stash.  

 I've been sewing string blocks like crazy, trying to use it up.  

It's been therapeutic as I wrap my mind around who I am outside of my children.  

Maybe someone, or maybe several people, will get some blankets out of it.  

Nothing like melancholy to get your quilts completed, eh?  

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Pooh says, "Mom, I've asked you several times to be careful with my tail when you're sewing.  

Don't make me pull this sewing machine over."

Be blessed and Be a Blessing!

Choose Joy. 

"A child enters your home and for the next twenty years makes so much noise you can hardly stand it. The child departs, leaving the house so silent you think you are going mad." ~ John Andrew Holmes ~

Blogging from my phone

I'm not a technology lovin' kinda girl.  I can hardly work our universal remote in the living room.  I do love social media and I enjoy blogging.  I need to figure out how to post from my phone. I haven't been able to sit down at a computer for any form of writing in months.   I'm on instagram a lot these days posting our adventures with our rescued Springer Spaniels.  Paragraphs are our friends. :) How do I start a new paragraph on this thing?   Gah!  Be blessed and be a blessing.  Xoxo

Caption this Bulldog Photo

This is my 4 year old grandson Bruiser. 

Caption this Photo...

(Feed Me! would be a little too obvious. 

He is actually thinking mean thoughts about Nana, if you really must know. 

ROFL  Had to be there, I guess).

 

 

Choose Joy! 

Be Happy!

Be Blessed and have a wonderful weekend y'all.

(((group hug)))

Hope you'll stop and leave a comment.
Follow my blog here at Sweet Woodruffs
Or join me on Facebook.

Follow me on Instagram for all our pet photos. 
We're a little obsessed with our animals.  LOL

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Shared with Sweet Blogs:
Pret-a-Vivre ~ Ready to Waltz  , The Long Road to China ~ Favorite Photo Friday,
Kent Weakley ~ p52 Sweet Shot Tuesday , Little by Little ~ Little Things Thursday



Following Each Other

So I've been Tweeting for a little bit and love it, and my daughter just got me hooked on Instagram this past week. I am Sweet Woodruffs on Facebook. And here I am on Pinterest.

 

I'm going to try to figure out how to make those "Following" buttons for my blog, but for the time being, if you're around, Follow this way.  :)  It could be fun. 

If the links don't work,

I am:

 

swoodruffs on Twitter

sweetwoodruffs on Instagram

sweetwoodruffs on Facebook

 

Zuzu says,
"Follow my Nana cuz she posts lots of pictures of me and I'm very pretty."

 

Pooh sends Get Well message to Mr. Toes

 

A very nice internet friend, Linda at A La Carte,

has a sweet "cat child" named Mr. Toes. 

An evil, wicked, mean, nasty, hateful, barbaric, savage human (inhuman) shot

Mr. Toes with a pellet gun. 

He isn't feeling well right now and is very, very sick. 

 

Please go give Mr. Toes some love and lift them up in prayer. 

Pray for Linda too, as I'm sure she's sad and worried. 

 

Our pets are our children,

and surely God cares for our furry babies too. 

He answers the fervent prayers of the righteous.    

 

 

Pooh was so upset for Mr. Toes,

he put his head down and cried. 

 

Be Kind. 

Be the light in a very dark world.

Be blessed and Be a Blessing

Plastic Bag Life Lesson

...The plastic bag of life.... 

 

...What seemed like a good idea at the time...

...Because the bag made such a pretty, crinkly sound...

...Turned out to be the biggest mistake of your life...

...Then you're like, "Holy Crap, get me out of here...put me down..."

...Life laughs and says, "YOU wanted up here...You're stuck now..."

...And then comes the moment of surrender... 

...And making the best of a bad situation....

 

~ The End ~ 

 

(No animals were  harmed in the posting of this blog post).