The Queen turns 8

We had another busy week and weekend. We have been watching Zola for the week while her mom is in Sudan trying to keep the peace. Kinga came to stay with us on Friday evening for the weekend. And, this morning I helped with VAGA's haul and picked up one hound (VAGA brought up 7) Hey Ready Freddy. He is staying with us for one night. I will take him with me to the Newport News MG tomorrow. His foster family will pick him up. They are fostering with the intent to adopt. I don't think it will take long for them to decide. He is a Booyah!! Since we have so many dogs this weekend, I decided to get 2 cakes for Moo's birthday. I picked them up on Friday on my lunch break.
It is nice to work only 10 minutes away from Three Dog Bakery. They had just received a shipment of collars in from Wiggles, Wags and Whiskers. I was tempted....but we are holding out until Dewey Beach. =)

In honor of my sweet girl, I thought I would share with you the inspiration for Maggie's name. Long before we adopted Maggie, I had picked out the name for our next addition to our fur kid family. I love Rod Stewart and love his song "Maggie Mae" and although of course not all the lyrics make sense for the relationship we share, oddly enough some do. So in honor of that, I will bold the ones that do. I'll drop a hint as to how the first lyric relates, the rest should be easy to figure out. We adopted Maggie in late September and I was in college finishing my 3rd college degree.

Wake up Maggie, I think I've got something to say to you
It's late September and I really should be back at school
I know I keep you amused
But I fell I'm being used
Oh Maggie, I couldn't have tried any more
You led me away from home
Just to save you from being alone
You stole my heart and that's what really hurts

The morning sun when it's in your eyes really shows your age
But that don't worry me none, in my eyes you're everything
I laughed at all of your jokes
My love you didn't need to coax
Oh Maggie, I couldn't have tried any more
You led me away from home
Just to save you from being alone
You stole my soul and that's a pain I can do without

All I needed was a friend to lend a helping hand
But you turned into a lover and mother, what a lover, you wore me out
All you did was wreck my bed
And in the morning kick me in the head
Oh Maggie, I couldn't have tried any more
You led me away from home
'Cause you didn't want to be alone
You stole my heart, I couldn't leave you if I tried

I suppose I could collect my books and go on back to school
Or steal my daddy's cue and make a living at playing pool
Or find myself a rock and roll band
That needs a helping hand
Oh Maggie, I wished I'd never seen your face
You made a first class fool out of me
But I'm as blind as a fool can be
You stole my heart but I love you anyway
I'd never seen your face
I'll get on back home, one of these days

Maggie and I jam to this song in the car all the time!! Every time it comes on the radio, I tell Moo it is her song, I sing and she whines (probably because my singing is so horrible). Nonetheless, I just pretend she is singing right along with me. I just love this song and I also love my Maggie Mae very much!!

I can't believe my little monkey is 8!! Where did the time go? It seems like just yesterday, I was getting ready for her arrival. I hope she lives forever!! I know...I know it is not possible, but I just hope I have many more years with her!!!!


Okay...enough mushy stuff and on to the party pics.

Here's Booyah, Cueball, Kinga and Zola waiting patiently for me to cut the two cakes.
I love this shot! Look how sweet my two boys are. So patient. Such good boys!!
Maggie Moo enjoys her piece of cake first.

Happy Birthday my sweet girl!!!! Mommy and Daddy love you very much!!!!!


As always, the excitement was pretty much over when they finished their piece of cake, so naturally they are doing what retired racers do best....nap. Front to back: Freddy, Kinga, Maggie, Zola, Booyah and Cueball.



This weekend will be full of DIY projects around the house. Yes, we are still trying to finish the patio. Finished product pictures coming soon....we promise!! Hope everyone has a greyt week!!!

Gotcha Day x 2

We celebrated two Gotcha Day's this week. First was Miss Maggie Moo. Her Gotcha Day was Sunday, Sept. 14th. I can't believe it has been 2 years! Time does fly when you are having fun. And, Miss Maggie Moo has an upcoming birthday this month too. Can't believe my little girl is going to be 8. She has brought a tremendous amount of joy to my life, quirks and all, she is my heart!! I love all my kids, but Maggie and I share an extra special bond. She is a sweet girl. She is inquisitive, stubborn, smart, a great retriever of toys, a roo-er, barker, alpha petite couch potato QUEEN, who I love VERY much! I know I have said this before, but they really could not have found a better match for me. She flipped my whole world completely around and because of her, I have found my passion in helping to rescue retired racing greyhounds.

Now onto some pics of my sweet girl.

First let's get the embarrassing one of me out of the way. This one is courtesy of my hubby, who decided it would be cute to catch us sleeping. Thanks a lot Mitch, I guess this is what husbands are for. And, yes, in case you are wondering, I fall asleep on the couch at night, lights, TV and my glasses on (noise and lights do not bother me; I can pretty much sleep through anything-seriously--I once slept through a domestic dispute which required 2 cop cars and a firetruck across the street, woke up the next morning at my best friend's house and learned about all the commotion from the night before). It is quite a common occurrence in the Ridlon house. But, I am willing to embarrass myself in cyber world to show you how sweet my little girl is. Often times you do not get to see this side of Maggie. She is so reserved when people come over to the house, she doesn't show her true self.
Miss moo loves squeaky toys. She is awesome at retrieving and loves to show off.
Miss inquisitive. This is one of the first pictures I have of miss moo.Next, was Cueball's gotcha day. I can't believe it has been a year!! We officially adopted Cue on September 17th of last year. We started fostering him on the 13th. We took him to the VAGA picnic on the 16th, everyone was ga ga over him. Mitch picked out and bought him a fancy orange collar that day and that's when I knew, he was not going to let this dog go. Mitch and Cueball share a very special bond. He is 100% daddy's boy. He is Mitch's heart dog!! They are really rather cute together. And, I couldn't be happier because he is a great dog and fits right in with our pack. He is the male model of the household and does has the World's Cutest Ears!!!
This is one of the first pictures we took of Cueball. To this day, he still lays on the stair landing when he needs his alone time. It has become his spot. It is quite comical when we have fosters or are dog sitting because this is where I feed them. We only have 3 raised feeders, so I use the stair landing as a raised feeding spot and Cueball whines obnoxiously when he can't lay in his spot. What a goof!!! =)
Instead of going to Three Dog Bakery to pick up the cake, I decided to bake one. It was a success!! If I can bake it, anyone can.

So I will share the recipe with you, give it a whirl, your hounds will thank you!!

Peanut Butter Carrot Cake
1 cup flour
1 tsp. baking soda
1/4 cup peanut butter
1/4 cup vegetable oil
1 cup shredded carrots
1 tsp. vanilla
1/3 cup honey
1 egg

Mix flour and baking soda. Add remaining ingredients. Pour into 8'' round cake pan and bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes. Let cool. Puree cottage cheese in blender for icing. Decorate with more peanut butter and carrots.

Fresh out of the oven....yummy!!

Kid tested and approved.

Happy 2nd Gotcha day Mags!! Happy 1st Gotcha day Cueball!! We love you!!!!!

Happy Labor Day

Pups Playin

Here's what we have been up to for the past week. The beginning of the week was fairly nice before all the torrential downpour came. The pups took advantage of the great weather and the fact that we had no extra dogs in the house by romping and playing in the yard. Pics below.

VAGA did another haul on Saturday and brought up 5 more hounds. :) We are fostering TBO's Danny for a week while his parents are in KC looking for a new home. They have a greyhound/lab mix already. Stella will soon have a brother. They will be moving in a month or so. Danny now known as Julian is one sweet boy. He is very laid back and quiet. I can't believe how great all three boys are getting along. He is the softest greyhound ever!! He is so furry and has a furry tail just like a cat's tail. It is sooo cute.

And great news! All the rain tested the new patio and the patio won!! Yippee. :) Mitch can finally continue and finish the pergola. I will post pictures of the finished patio soon. We are planning our first cookout for family and a few friends the first weekend of October. Whoo hoo!!


Now onto pics of pups playin.





We have another busy upcoming weekend. Adoption Day on Friday for Julian, then we are hound sitting Gracie Green Bean for the weekend and going to the wine festival at James River Cellars on Saturday. The queen has an upcoming birthday and thanks to this greyt link on Greyt Black Dog's blog, I will be attempting to make Miss princess a cake. I am looking forward to the challenge. The recipe I choose seems easy, so fingers are crossed for success. September will be another busy month for us and we are hoping to spend lots of time outside enjoying the patio. Have a greyt week everyone!