Diary of Sugar Princess & Baby Sweet Pea

Obituary of Sugar Princess Precious One

2012-01-08T03:10:00.000-08:00

Sugar Princess Precious One, 16.5 years old, slipped quietly to The Rainbow Bridge at 2:45 am MDT, May 30, 2011. She will be terribly missed and deeply mourned by her Mommy, Joanie; her Yorkie sister, Sugar's Baby Sweet Pea (5.5 yrs); her Yorkie brother, Prince Rafael Zane (3 mos); her Auntie Lois and Shih Tzu cousins; and her many Aunties and cousins. She was predeceased by her Yorkie rescue brother, Nicholas Duke of York, aka Nickie, April 18, 2011; and her beloved skin brother Winston, July 20, 1995.Sugar Princess Precious One was a long haul fur trucker for almost 15 years, traveling all over Canada and the United States making many friends in her travels. She was a feisty little Lhasa Apso, busy guarding her Mommy and her truck. She was her Mommy's loving and loyal companion and assistant. She was a good sister to her Yorkie siblings. Sugar Princess always had time for a cuddle and a kiss with her Mommy. She left very big paw prints to fill.Sugar Princess Precious One will be cremated and her urn will join Nickie's on the desk hutch by the lily lamp.Godspeed our darling girl. Run free and whole at The Rainbow Bridge.

Introducing Prince Rafael Zane

2012-01-08T02:22:00.000-08:00

we were very sad when our Nickie passed away so suddenly. Mommy was very worried about both Sugar Princess and MEEE. We both loved little Nickie so much and we had been with him when he went to The Rainbow Bridge. Both of us were grieving him and just drooping. Mommy had big concerns about Sugar Princesses health. Sugar had been diagnosed with Congestive Heart Failure in March of 201o. Her health had been deteriorating steadily and Sugar Princess was maxed out on her medications. Mommy thought and thought, what would be the best thing to do. She wanted to cheer us up but she was very sad. She knew that Sugar Princess was fading fast and she was worried about what would happen to MEEE when Sugar Princess joined Nickie at The Rainbow Bridge. I had never been alone for one second of my life, I had always been with a human or a fur. Mommy knew that I would be alone for many hours each day while she went to her job. She got very secretive and went on many little trips by herself. I was very worried about Mommy because she was acting very guilty. What had Mommy done? She wouldn't let me help her on the puter when she was on her personal groups. She would cry and talk to the ladies on these groups. This was really frightening for MEEE. What in the world was going on.Then on the evening of May 13, 2011 Mommy gave me a quick Spa and had me dress up in my cute little pink halter vest and put a lovely organza bow in my hair. She attached a pretty pink leash to my vest and told me we were going for a car ride. I was very excited, what was going on? First we went to the ATM at the bank and then we went for a ride down Mayor Magrath Drive. Well before we got to the turn off for the vet's office we turned into a residential district that I had never seen before. We parked and Mommy "fluffed" MEEE up. I was getting very excited. We got out of the car and went across the street to a very nice house. What was Mommy up to????? A very nice couple greeted Mommy and I went right ahead and introduced myself. They oooohed and awwwwed over MEEE. We got acquainted and they visited with Mommy. Then Mommy gave the lady some money and the lady brought out a very cute little York puppy. Of course I went right over and introduced myself to him. We played for a little while then the lady went in the house and got a cute little purple sweater and put it on the little York. Mommy told MEEE that this little York was coming home with us and he was going to be my new baby brother. I was so excited!!! I was so busy giving the little York car manners advice and tips, we were home before I even knew it. I was so proud to bring him in and introduce him to Sugar Princess. Sugar seemed to perk up and she greeted him very gently. Both Sugar and I did our best to make the little fellow feel at home. Of course, Sugar Princess was blind so it fell to me to show him where the water dish was, where the food dishes are and most importantly, where the Pet Loo was. The poor little guy was just overwhelmed and he was missing his Mommy and Daddy, both canine and human. Mommy held him on her lap and had a little talk with him. Sugar Princess and I also had a nice chat with the baby and we just let him know that he was very welcome to our family and that we had the best Mommy ever and he would be very loved by all of us. Over the next few days Mommy had many little chats with the little York. As he got more comfortable being part of our family, he started to open up to us. He told Sugar Princess and I his name and we told him that if he didn't want to be called Baby Pants forever, he better tell Mommy. He felt that he had Mommy wrapped around his little paw, so he was comfortable telling her his name, Prince Rafael Zane. He told Mommy that since she was so fond of little names, she could call him Raffie. This is our cute little brother 5 days after he joined our family.

Obituary of Nicholas Duke of York

2012-01-08T01:38:00.000-08:00

Nicholas Duke of York
July 26, 2004 - April 18, 2011
Our Nickie passed away, quietly in his sleep, sometime between 1 am and 7 am the morning of April 18, 2007. Nickie is survived by his Loving Mommy, Joan; his two sisters, Sugar Princess Precious One (16 yrs) and Sugar's Baby Sweet Pea (5yrs) as well as many loving Aunties and Cousins.
Although the first three years of Nickie's life were horrible, he knew nothing but love and care after he was rescued by his Auntie Julie on Oct 13, 2007 and became a member of our family on December 25, 2007. Little Nickie was so badly maimed by the time that he was rescued that two vets thought that he would live less than a year. He has had 3 years and 4 months of absolute love in our family.

Rest In Peace our Darling Little Boy.

Sugar's 15th Birthday Photos

2009-12-14T13:18:00.000-08:00

Make a Smilebox greeting

Disaster Has Struck

2009-09-27T20:36:00.000-07:00

I am a sad little Yorkie today. Here I should be telling you all about what a wonderful 4th birthday I had on Friday and I can't.

On Friday, we were at our company truck yard and the boss came out to talk to Mommy personally. He sure was the bearer of bad news. He announced a NEW COMPANY FUR KID POLICY1! He told Mommy that the company had signed with a new Insurance Company and that she would only be allowed to have ONE fur kid in the truck as of November 1st. He then tried to soften the blow by telling Mommy that she was getting a brand new blue Kenworth T660 with a studio sleeper next week and that she definitely wasn't on the lay-off list for the downsizing. As if that is going to make any difference to Mommy. Asking her to give up two of us is like asking someone to give up two of their skin children. We three are Mommy's Heart and Soul!

Now Mommy has to work! She has no choice in that matter. So now unless she can find a new job in the next month, and there are lots of the smaller trucking companies shutting down in Canada, she is going to have to board two of us. We are all just devastated!!!

We are blessed in that we have many wonderful and kind friends that love all of us. Auntie Shelly in CA has said that All of us, Mommy included, can come and stay with her if it comes to that. Auntie Dee in WA has said that she will look after Nickie for sure and Sugar too if need be, but Sugar requires an awful lot of grooming that Auntie Dee doesn't really have time to do. Auntie Lois in Red Deer, Alberta has said that she will look after Sugar and Mommy can stop in and groom her every couple weeks. Auntie Judy, in Two Hills, Alberta has said that she will watch Nickie and MEEE until Mommy can find a new job.

It just isn't fair!! Why should we have to be separated now? When we came to work for this company 13 mos ago, they hired Mommy knowing that all four of us lived in the truck. (We don't even have a house or a vehicle of our own.) It was all fine until the Company hired a new safety man away from a large company. Now all of a sudden, only ONE fur kid in the truck. Mommy has explained and explained that she needs us so she can sleep but they just won't listen.

This is just so terrible. Sugar Princess Precious One got in the truck with Mommy when she was 9 weeks old and she will be 15 years old on December 10th. She has been away from Mommy for less than 30 days in that whole time. I got in the truck with Mommy when I was 10 weeks old and I just turned 4 years old on Friday. In that time I have been away from Mommy for 5 days. Little Nickie got in the truck with us on Christmas Day, 2007 and he has only been away from Mommy 4 days in that time. I have never ever been an only fur kid. I had my litter mates when I was a baby Yorkie and I had Sugar Princess when I came to live with Mommy. Little Nickie has only known happiness and love since he joined our family. I want my whole family together all the time!!! I don't want us spread out all over!!!!!

Mommy is busy applying for a new trucking job, both in Canada and the United States, but she is also willing to hang up the keys and get a normal job. She looked on the internet and found 3 homes in Lethbridge, Alberta, that are in our price range for purchasing and 11 apartments to rent that are also in our price range. Our youngest skin brother, Preston, lives in Lethbridge so that would be kinda nice for Mommy to be near one of her children.

This disaster has landed right on top of the news that our oldest skin brother, Quenton, is taking his family and moving to Australia for ever and ever on November 3rd.

We are really Praying hard that Mommy will find another job so we can all stay together! We really love all our Aunties very much and we appreciate them so much for extending their hospitality to us till Mommy can get a new job, but we really want to stay together.

Mommy keeps telling me, "Baby Sweet Pea, you just have to Pray about all this. God has a plan for us and we just have to work hard and do our best and Trust Him to guide us Safely through this turmoil." I hope that you will take a minute from your busy day and say some prayers for us.

Hugs and Kisses and Yorkie Prayers
Sugar's Baby Sweet Pea

My New Dress

2008-11-10T14:43:00.000-08:00

I'm just so 'cited!!! I finally got to wear my new dress from Auntie Mary Elizabeth. Isn't it just the most beautiful Dress? Auntie Mary Elizabeth from Yorkie Terrier National Rescue had Auntie Corine make me this beautiful dress. It came in the mail last August but by then we were having computer problems, as I 'splained in a previous blog. But today, Mommy finally was able to take my picture wearing my new dress. Now, I tried my best to do the Hi-Fashion Model look just like Tira Banks does on America's Next Top Model! Do you think that I succeeded?

My lovely dress is black with a floral print. It is trimmed with ecru lace. It is sleeveless and has no front closure. I must say it just the most comfortable little dress and it is absolutely gorgeous!!

On Friday, Mommy arranged that we have a half day off in Great Falls, MT. My Uncle Harry came up to the Flying J truck stop and picked Mommy up and took her shopping. She went to the Ranch Supply Store and got some medicine for Sugar's eye and then she went to Petco and bought some lovely shampoo and coconut cream rinse. We of course had to stay in the Midnight Express while they did the shopping. Mommy won't take us into a pet store! After they finished the shopping, we all went to Uncle Harry's new apartment and Mommy gave us all a good comb out and we got to have lovely baths. It was the first time that Nicckie P. Nickerson-Wigglesworth and I had ever been in a bathtub. We had always been bathed in the sink. Mommy put several inches of lovely warm water in the tub, it was just divine. It was so fun running and playing in the warm water. Mommy gave me three most delightful full body massages in the tub and a good rub down with a big fluffy towel and then combed me out again. Nicke got the same lovely treatment. When we were both clean, dry and combed we cuddled with Uncle Harry while Mommy did Sugar Princess. It was just oh so lovely!!! Uncle Harry just loves us Yorkies!!! He loves Sugar Princess to but she takes a lot longer to comb and bath than we do.

We had a whole day off today so Mommy fluffed us up and took our pictures. Here is a picture of Nickie and me together. He is such a handsome guy, don't you think? He sure is tiny, even beside me and I am only 3.5 lbs. Here is a picture of Sugar Princess, too. She didn't want to pose with us Yorkies this time. You can see the cataracts that are forming in her eyes a little in this picture. She is getting kinda old now, after all she will be 14 years old on December 10th. Mommy says that we have to allow for some of her idiocincrassies since she is so old and she isn't seeing a whole lot. She still is quite lovely though, don't you think?

It is starting to get real chilly in Alberta now, the mountains too. Nickie and I have to wear our sweaters when we go outside, and let me tell you, we don't fool around when we are out either. It is just get our business done and get back in the truck. It is sure a good thing that we go to California every week!! We have been loading a lot around Salinas, but their season is almost over and we will start loading in Yuma, AZ. It sure is nice to know that we will be able to get out and play in the sunshine part of the week! It makes it so much easier for us to tolerate the cold up here in the north.

Hugs and Kisses and Yorkie Prayers
Baby Sweet Pea

A California Adventure

2008-10-19T15:27:00.000-07:00

Hi Y'All,

We go to different places every week, as y'all know. I told you before that we are now just going from Alberta to California. Mommy takes us on little adventures, some planned and some on accident, to try and spice up our trips.

A couple weeks ago we had a load of peat moss to take to a nursery in Bermuda Dunnes, California. Mommy had phoned our customer and got directions in from I-10. She asked them, specifically, if a highway truck and a 53' trailer could make all the turns. They assured her that there would be no problem. When we got to the last left turn to go down the street to the nursery, there was no way we could fit!! If we made the turn we would rip out the traffic control sign that was on the center island with our trailer!! Mommy had to wonder down the street and find her way around so she could approach their street from the total opposite direction so we could make a right hand turn. Mommy swung way wide, taking up both lanes of the street and made the right hand turn, she barely was able to miss a utility pole! When we got to the Nursery they had a lovely wide gate that opened on to a lane that was only about 2' wider than the Midnight Express. After a lot of going forward and backing up and turning the wheels and going forward and backing up again, we finally got to the dock! Getting backed up to the dock involved more wiggling and jiggling. It took them over an hour to take 15 pallets off the truck! Then the wiggling and jiggling started all over again to get back on the little lane and get back to the street. We got to see one of their tractor trailer trucks, it was a little day cab and a 40' trailer. No wonder it didn't have any trouble making the corners!!

Now, you would have thought that would have been enough adventure for one day! BUT, oh no, my Mommy decided that we needed more adventure! Bermuda Dunnes is down by Indio and Palm Springs in south central California. We had to reload in Parlier, which is up by Fresno. Mommy got to looking at the map and decided that since we were empty we should take Highways 62 and 247 up to Barstow and then Highway 58 up to Bakersfield and Highway 99. Well, let me tell you, that was some adventure!!

Highway 62 runs along the edge of the Little San Bernidino Mountains. It is a four lane highway and very well travelled. So far so good, there were some good pulls but nothing out of the ordinary. Highway 247 is a narrow shoulderless 2 lane road that runs through the high desert and the mountains. Well, let me tell you that was something else!! There were hairpin curves and 10 and 12% grades!! (The steepest grades on regular highways don't exceed 8%.) We saw all sorts of interesting sites, including little houses maybe 12'X16' way out in the desert far from anything and people were living in them!!! It was a good thing we were empty, that is all that I can say!

Mommy and her little interesting adventures!!!!

Hugs and Kisses and Yorkie Prayers
Baby Sweet Pea

One Year Rescue Anniversary

2008-10-19T14:27:00.000-07:00

Hello Friends,

Sugar Princess, Supreme Diva, and Baby Sweet Pea, Yorkie Diva, thought that this would be a good post for me to write.

October 13, 2008 was my one year rescue anniversary! The last year has gone so quickly and there have been so many big changes in my life. I am so grateful to my Auntie Julie for being so brave as to force my former owner to sign me over to her and for being wise enough to know that I should come and live with Mommy and the Divas. I am also grateful to my Auntie Lois for fostering me for 2.5 months, in order to get my shots up to date so I could join Mommy and the Divas. Most of all I am grateful to my Mommy for loving me and taking me into our home, even though it has meant a lot of extra work for her. Mommy loves me unconditionally and thinks that I am just the Most Beautiful, Handsome, Best Boy ever.

Mommy is always kind and patient with me. She gives me all the food that I want and a milk bone treat almost every day. I even get an After Eight just for fur kids on special occasions, like my Rescue Anniversary. Mommy has allowed me to run and play and exercise as much as I can so that my poor little back legs have gained strength. She has let my hair grow so that I now have little angel-wing ears just like Baby Sweet Pea. Mommy never seems to notice that my legs are all crooked and my left hip is shattered. She just looks into my face and tells me I am beautiful.

As the Divas have told you this has been a hard year for all of us, but especially Mommy. We had to work on my anniversary and we still aren't out of the woods yet but we are getting there. Mommy gave us Activa Yogurt, a little extra soft Cesar and of course an After Eight each to celebrate. Cause Mommy has only had her third full paycheck this last Friday, we are still playing "catch-up" (I think that is a good thing) so there were no presents. Mommy felt really bad about that.

I decided that I would give Mommy a present instead. In fact, I gave her two presents. First, I started to use the potty pad to do my business. Even though I wear a belly band, I now stand on the potty pad when I lift my leg and do my other business there as well, when I can't wait till we can go outside. Mommy is just thrilled about that. She gets so excited, and tells me what a good, big boy I have become.

My second present to Mommy is very special. I decided that she should know the rest of my whole name. Now you all know my aristocrat name, Nicholas Duke of York. I shared that with Mommy the very first time that I met her. But even aristocrats have whole names. I thought it was time, and Mommy had earned the right, to know my whole name. It is Nicholas Peter Nickerson-Wigglesworth. Mommy just loves to say my name! and I just Love to hear her say it.

Yes sirie, I am the luckiest boy ever! I have a Mommy that loves me to bits and pieces and two wonderful sisters that love me and play with me! I have travelled all over Canada and the United States and seen many wonderful sights and you just can't imagine all the different smells!!! I now get to go to California every week! I have met a lot of new friends and made the acquaintance of many more good people. I have fur cousins by the bushel and wonderful cyber Aunties and I even get to be part of the Yorkie Brigade! Nope, there couldn't be anything better.

Every day I say a special Prayer of Gratitude for being rescued. I ask that you all join me in saying Special Prayers for all the other little fur boys and girls out there that are not as lucky as I am. I pray that there will be somebody as brave and as kind as my Auntie Julie, to pick them up and as loving as my Mommy to give them a warm, loving home.

Hugs and Kisses and Yorkie Prayers
Nicholas Duke of York
(Nicholas Peter Nickerson-Wigglesworth)

Our Spring and Summer

2008-10-08T11:06:00.000-07:00

Hello Y'All,

This is Sugar Princess Precious One, Supreme Diva and Beloved, Revered and Benevolent Ruler of my Domain. My loving and loyal (and handsome too) subject, Nicholas Duke of York, is serving as my faithful scribe. Faithful scribe, you question, yes, alas I require a scribe, as I am developing cataracts and am not seeing very well anymore. This started early this spring and is gradually getting worse as time goes by. Mommy, my faithful handmaid and Lady-in-Waiting is most distressed on my behalf, and is most considerate of the extra needs that I have. Baby Sweet Pea, I will graciously call her my Wild Child, and rebel subject, thinks that because she is younger, and can see, that she should become the Ruler of my Domain and I should retire to the sidelines. This leads to many vicious battles that would be fought to victory for one of us if Mommy did not intervene. She certainly gives us both lots of trouble for this and Baby Sweet Pea gets put on restraint for a minimum of one hour. I get a thorough scolding for my part! This is one of the times that Mommy pulls Dominance! She should realize that I could win any battle with the Wild Child because I am 5 times bigger!

Mommy has had a very rough spring and summer. The company that we were working for was not being very level-handed with the load distribution. We were getting all the very cheap loads into the high priced fuel. If Mommy refused a load because the rate was too low then we didn't get any load at all. Ever since the company lost the contract for our scheduled run from Edmonton, Alberta to Bakersfield, California and back to Edmonton, we have been facing these very cheap rates. There were also strange deductions on our statements that would go as high as $10,000.00. When Mommy questioned what they were for, she was told they didn't know, it was a computer function but just use it as a tax write-off. Well to make a very long story short, we were not getting any paychecks for the last 1.5 years. They kept saying that next check would be a good one and Mommy kept having to beg for money to get by.

Now, Mommy always made sure that us Fur Kids had food and even a few little treats from time to time, but she didn't always have food for herself. There were lots of weeks that she only had $10 or $15 to buy food for herself for the whole week. Her health was suffering badly and she was stressed to the max as she tried to make more trips in a month to bring up our revenue. The Heartbreaker was approaching 2 years old and most of his warranty would be gone. He needed 10 new tires as well. The four of us sat down with pen, paper and the calculator and started to run the numbers. There was no way that we would ever see a dime, as the repairs were going to start coming out of our pocket. After running the numbers backwards, forwards and sideways, trying to see away that we would come out of this situation even, and not finding one, we decided that we would have to turn the Heartbreaker back in. We had a "walk-away" lease so we were able to do this. It broke our hearts, especially Mommy's to do so, but she had no choice, if she was going to be able to pay any of our bills and look after her health. So with heavy hearts we turned the Heartbreaker back on August 15th, 2008.

The up side of this is that when word got out in Calgary that Mommy was going to be needing a driving job, and she had to "hit the ground running" she had a very good job that paid well offered to her. She missed exactly 5 days of work. She accepted a job with TCKS Logistics Leased to Ralcan Holdings out of Calgary, Alberta. We are now driving a 2006 Volvo 780 (the Cadillac of Volvo Trucks) called the Midnight Express. We have the option of switching over to Ralcan Holdings didrectly if we so desire. We are running Alberta to California and back. When the produce moves to Yuma, Arizona for a short time in the late winter and early spring we will be going there and back to Alberta.

Mommy is starting to feel better as she has a lot of support from the office and only has to run 3 to 3.5 round trips a month. Because we are working for a lease operator, we still are responsible to see that the truck is maintained and repaired in a timely fashion. Mommy is getting more rest and ofcourse she has more money to buy food for herself each week. She will also be able to start taking a prescription that the doctors think is necessary for her well being. It is about $100.00 per month and she will have to take it for a whole year! She has to see the doctor every month and have blood tests and have the dosage adjusted, for maximum benifit.

We will also benifit from our new job. Once we have all our bills sorted out and on a regular plan again, we will be able to visit our Miss Penny every month for our Spa Day. We have really missed Miss Penny and our Spa Day. Mommy has done our grooming herself and bathed us too. She does a really good job and we love her for her efforts but it is just not the same as a visit to a real Spa!! Miss Penny's place is in Lethbridge, Alberta and we are through there almost twice a week. Mommy says that we will also be able to get some new toys and some new clothes. That will be so fun! Baby Sweet Pea just loves to dress up! My charming and handsome, Nicholas Duke of York, needs a full wardrobe of sweaters and jackets as well as belly bands. The little cutie is so very tiny and he feels the cold so quickly, (he also does that boy thing and gets the edge of his sweaters and jackets all wet cause even XS is big on him) a big wardrobe is essential.

Mommy is coming out of the Black Hole that she had sunk into when things got really rough and life will soon be very sweet for all of us again.

Thank you for all the prayers that you have said on our behalf. The Lord has certainly heard them and guided us in the path that He knows is best for us at this time.

Hugs and Kisses and Zen Lhasa Prayers
Sugar Princess Precious One
as dictated to Nicholas Duke of York

We're Back!!

2008-10-08T05:40:00.001-07:00

Hi Y'All,
We have been gone for a long time and there have been lots of changes for us. I am embarrassed to say that I am at least 75% responsible for us being away for so long. Mommy was working way too hard and just didn't have time to set up the 'puter for me for the other 25% of the time.

It is just so embarrassing to admit to what I did to the 'puter, but the truth is that I broke it all by myself!! Just after we got the 'puter, yes, way back when I was just a baby Yorkie only about six months old, Mommy had left the 'puter set up and gone in to eat. I was really annoyed with Mommy for leaving me alone with Sugar Princess so I decided that I would check out the 'puter connections for myself. The power cord seemed to have an extra loop in it so I thought that I would straighten it out. When I did this I got a little vigorous and my little tiny teeth made the tinniest little hole in the insulation. The hole was so tiny that Mommy didn't even notice it for several weeks and the 'puter worked just fine. Over time, because we have to dismantle everything and put it away in the carrying case, the little hole became bigger and bigger, finally the power cable just shorted out! One day, while Mommy was filling out a very important document, the battery got very low and the 'puter hibernated. Mommy tried and tried to get the power cable to work to no avail. The cord was damaged beyond repair. When the cord shorted out it damaged the little power inverter that is in the line so the 'puter can run off regular power and charge the battery. We had to wait till Mommy could afford to buy a new power source and cables. It was almost $100 to replace it.

Once we got the cable replaced, the 'puter just kept shutting it's self off. We would barely get signed in and read maybe one little e-mail and it would just shut down. Mommy couldn't figure out what was wrong. My skin sister Sherry suggested that we check out the expiry date on Kaspersky, our anti-virus program. Sure enough it was almost due to expire. Mommy bought a new Kaspersky Internet Security Suite at Circut City in El Passo, TX. It was on sale for only $49.95 instead of the usual $99.95. When she opened the package she noticed it was for 3 computers. She shared the activation code with Sherry, thinking to save some money for her, as her Kaspersky was almost ready to expire as well. I helped Mommy carefully enter the new activation code and we thought we were good to go. Wrong. The 'puter acted normally for only one day. Then it started sutting it's self off right after we would open Mozzilla Firefox. After many hours of frustration, I suggested that Mommy click on Kaspersky icon and go to the activation pane. I noticed that it said we had activated the "commercial" version rather than the "home" version that we had installed. Neither Mommy or I realized that was a big problem. When we clicked on the update pane it would start and then shut down after only 10% of the updates had downloaded. Mommy called Sherry and told her all about the problem. Sherry explained that we had to uninstall Kaspersky and run the disk that we had purchased to get the new activation code before the updates would download.

There was also another problem. Kaspersky would not allow Windows to update and Mommy could not make it obey no matter how many times she told it to allow the updates. When Mommy uninstalled Kaspersky, she immediately installed a Windows friendly trial version of a different anti-virus. Sure enough, we were still in Windows XP SP2 and there was a major update to SP3 that needed to be installed. All this has taken several hours.

So there you have it, I broke the 'puter when I was just a baby Yorkie and it took almost 2 years for my misdeed to finally catch up to me. It couldn't have happened at a more inopportune time. Mommy was swamped with work and we had to make some really big changes in our lives as well. I will tell you all about it next time.

Hugs and Kisses and Yorkie Prayers
A very Chastened
Sugar's Baby Sweet Pea

Just a Quick Hello

2008-03-24T16:20:00.000-07:00

Hi Y'All,

Just dropped in to say a quick Hi. We have been working so hard and the weather has been really weird!!

On Good Friday, we left Winnipeg, MB in bright sunshine. By the time we got to Fargo, ND, only 4.5 hours south, there was at least 6" of snow on the ground and more coming down. YUCK, it is supposed to be spring.

On Easter Sunday we were in TN and GA and there was white stuff on the trees there too, but it was beautiful white BLOSSOMS. Now, that we can sure go for. We are in FL today and by tomorrow morning we will be in Miami. We are really enjoying the beautiful spring weather and all the green grass and lovely spring blooms here.

It is so nice to walk on soft green grass and have flowers to smell. I can go back to being Baby Sweet Pea Jungle Explorer with my faithful new assistant Nicholas Duke of York.

Nickie just can't get enough play on the grass. He was so happy not to have to wear his sweater. Mommy had to make his little harness a little tighter for the good weather. The little imp managed to get it off all by himself this morning. He was just ever so happy to run and play with me. When Mommy called him he ran right to her and was a good boy while she put his harness back on.

It is really fun to have a brother that loves to play!!!! I was kinda worried that he would not be able to run very well with his damaged hip, but thanks to all the good food and excercise
and all the massages that Mommy gives him, he can run really well. Not as fast as MEE of course, but pretty fast, and he is using his little bad leg lots too.

Love Ya
Baby Sweet Pea, Sugar Princess and Nicholas Duke of York

Up Date on Nicholas Duke of York

2008-01-30T04:08:00.000-08:00

Hi Y'all,

I am not going to lower myself to respond to my sister, Sugar Princess's foolishness. She is 13 years old, that would be 91 in people years. She is acting just like a lot of other seniors and taking advantage of her age to say just anything she likes. She is just being a silly old lady. Nuff said.

There are two of us Yorkies in the Hearbreaker now, my brother Nicholas Duke of York and MEEEE! Nicholas Duke of York came to his Forever Home, with us, on Christmas Day. He didn't look much different than he did the first day that we met him back in November. We were at Auntie Lois's house for Christmas and Nickie, that's what we call him in the family, just thought that he was going to be stuck back in the bathroom all by himself.

Mommy had a real surprise for Nickie. Mommy gave Nickie, that's his sweetums name in the family, lots of cuddles and kisses and told him he was Home. Then she put a belly band on him and put him down on the floor to play with Sugar Princess and MEEEE! We had been dancing around waiting for our turn to welcome him home. At first Nickie was sort of scared that he was going to get into trouble for being in the living room. Sugar Princess and I were giving him lots of snuzzles and kisses and just welcoming him home. We were so happy to see him. When he realized that he was allowed to be in the living room, his little eyes just started to sparkle and he really got into playing with us.

When we went to bed that night, Mommy helped Sugar Princess up and then she lifted Nickie on to the bed. I, of course, had leaped up on my own. Nickie was really nervous about all this. Mommy tucked him in right beside her and I curled up on top of her shoulder. Sugar Princess took her customary place right in the center of Mommy's back. It took Nickie a long time to go to sleep that night. It was the very first time ever that Nickie had ever got to sleep on a bed!!

When we were packing up to leave on Boxing Day, Nickie got all sad. He thought that he was going to have to stay behind, just like the other time. He was so surprised when Mommy picked him up and told him to say good bye to Auntie Lois and "Auntie" Brighana, then tucked him in his little nylon kennel and took him out to the car with us. Our cousin, Lycia drove us back to the Heartbreaker. Boy oh boy, was Nickie ever surprised to see his new home. Sugar Princess and I showed him around while Mommy got our things arranged in the bunk. Nickie was a little nervous at first, but Mommy held him on her lap and rubbed his back and neck while we drove back to Calgary.

When we got back to Calgary, our sister, Sherry met us and we went back to her house. Nickie wasn't even shy about being allowed the run of the house. Sherry picked him up and gave him cuddles and welcomed him to her home. It was so fun showing Nickie around Sherry's house and just running and playing. Nickie just loved it when all five of us crawled into Sherry's great big bed to go to sleep. Nickie cuddled up next to Mommy and Sugar and I stretched out between Mommy and Sherry. I tell you, it didn't take Nickie long to go to sleep that night. He was just exhausted from a big day of traveling and playing.

We headed south on the afternoon of December 29th. It was late by the time our load was ready in Calgary so we only made it as far as Shelby, MT before it was time to go to bed. This was Nickie's first night in the Heartbreaker. We all snuggled in with Mommy for a good sleep. Nickie was getting used to the idea that he got to sleep on the bed with all of us. He snuggled in and curled up with his little head right next to Mommy's heart. I snuggled into Mommy's shoulder, this is my usual place and Sugar stretched out along Mommy's back. We were all cozy in our little home.

On the morning of December 30th, we got up and did our usual morning stuff and Mommy gave us our breakfast. She had zipped Nickie in his little kennel to eat cause he gets special food and she wanted Nickie to have the time to eat all he wanted. She knew that us two horkers would just gobble up his food before he could get all he needed. When Nickie was done eating, Mommy unzipped his kennel and went into the restaurant to have her breakfast. When she came back an hour latter, did she get a shock!!
There was blood and poop all over the potty pads. All three of us were real upset too. Mommy checked us all out and discovered the blood was coming from Nickie. Sugar and I need to go outside again so she took all three of us for another walk. While we were outside Nickie went potty again! This time his little tail and the back of his legs were covered in bright red blood. Mommy took us back to the Heartbreaker and cleaned poor little Nickie up. Mommy was really scared, I could tell, but she was trying not to show it so poor little Nickie wouldn't get more upset.

Mommy phoned out Uncle John and asked him were the emergency vet hospital was in Great Falls. Uncle John said he didn't know but he didn't think that there was one. After Mommy explained the problem, Uncle John said, "You just come straight to my house, here in Vaughan and I will have a vet on deck by the time you get here." Mommy stuffed the Heartbreaker in gear and off we went. Sugar and I had never seen anything like how Mommy was driving. We had a gross weight of 79,800 lbs. Maximum legal gross weight for us is 80,000 lbs. I tell you, Mommy found the BIG gear really fast and put the HAMMER DOWN. We ran the 70 miles of hills between Shelby and Vaughan in less than an hour!! Mommy parked the Heartbreaker in Uncle John's yard and Nickie and Mommy jumped in the car with Auntie Sherrie Dawn and headed for the vet's office, 5 miles down the road. Sugar and I didn't get to go to the house to visit or nothing, we just got unceremoniously left in the Heartbreaker, no bye byes, no be good girls, no nothing, just left.

The vet was horrified by how small and thin and maimed little Nickie was. Mommy explained Nickie's story and the vet got even more upset. He carefully examined Nickie and did a lot of lab tests. When all was said and done, his final diagnosis was hemorrhagic colitis, brought on by the shock of suddenly having a family and being loved for the first time since he had left his baby home. When the vet weighed Nickie, the little guy weighed only 2 lbs. The vet had only 500mg tablets of the medicine and Nickie needed only a 1mg dosage 3 times a day for two weeks. He made a suspension for Mommy to give Nickie so he had the correct dosage. The nice vet gave Nickie a dose right there at the office so Mommy could see how it was done. The nice doctor commented on how much Nickie obviously loved Mommy. Each time the nice doctor had let Nickie go on the examination table, Nickie had ran right straight back to Mommy and huddled against her. The vet told Mommy that because Nickie was still in such poor condition after being in foster care for 2.5 months and having gained 1.6 lbs, that he would be very surprised if Nickie lived more than a year. He saw how terribly upset Mommy was so he added that sometimes these little guys can surprise us. Mommy left the office in tears. We stayed at Uncle John's place most of the afternoon, just to make sure that Nickie didn't start to bleed hard again.

Nickie was such a good boy and took his medicine just like the little trooper that he is. He never fought or gagged or anything, just swallowed it down like a good little boy. Nickie has been with us for just over a month now and he is all better. The truth of the matter is, you can hardly believe it is the same little guy that joined our family on Christmas Day. Yes, his legs are still maimed and he still sounds like a broken squeaky toy when he barks and he is still terrified of most strangers. Nickie has gained weight and muscle tone. His little eyes just sparkle with mischief. Each day he grows stronger and he plays more and more. He is trying to use his poor shattered little left hind leg more too. His skin is all buttery soft like it should be and he is climbing all over the Heartbreaker and is asking Mommy to pick him up when he feels like being held. He is even joining Sugar and MEEE in our guard duties. When we are getting our leashes on he stands and barks till it is his turn to get his leash put on. It sounds just like he is saying, "Mommy, Mommy, Me Too, Me Too."

We are so impressed and happy with the drastic improvement that our brave little boy has made, that we think Nickie is going to prove the vet wrong and be with us for a long, long time.

Way to Go Nickster!!

Love Ya
Baby Sweet Pea and Nicholas Duke of York

What is Baby Sweet Pea

2008-01-30T00:25:00.000-08:00

Hi Y'All,

Sugar Princess doing the Blogging today. I have a question for you, What exactly is Baby Sweet Pea? Is she a cat? a parrot? or a Yorkie? Now I bet you think the answer to that is obvious, but, I tell you it is not. It is very complicated. Let's see if we can figure it out by logic.

First thing: Cats are good climbers. Cats are good jumpers. Baby Sweet Pea is a good climber. Baby Sweet Pea is a good jumper. Therefore, Baby Sweet Pea is a Cat!

Second thing: Yorkies are tan and gray. Yorkies have attitude. Baby Sweet Pea is tan and gray. Baby Sweet Pea has attitude. Therefore, Baby Sweet Pea is a Yorkie.

Third thing: Parrots like to perch on shoulders. Parrots like to eat fruit. Baby Sweet Pea likes to perch on Mommy's shoulder. Baby Sweet Pea likes to eat fruit. Therefore, Baby Sweet Pea is a Parrot.

Further proof that Baby Sweet Pea is a parrot. Mommy passes another truck on the highway. The CB radio screeches to life and the following conversation occurs:

CB: Blue Western Star, you got it on?

Mommy: Go ahead.

CB: What kind of parrot is that?

Mommy: Excuse me?

CB: This is the truck you just blew the doors off. You had a parrot sitting on your arm when you went past. What kind of parrot is it?

Mommy: PARROT? I have a Yorkie sitting on my arm.

CB: No, ma'am, you have a gray parrot sitting on your arm.

Mommy: No, I have a gray and tan Yorkie sitting on my arm.

CB: No, Ma'am. I have seen a lot of strange looking dogs in my time but there is no way that a dog can perch on your arm like that. You have a parrot sitting on your arm. I want to know how you get it across the border and what kind it is.

Mommy: No, bud, I have a Yorkshire Terrier perched on my arm. She rides there for hours at a time. She is very tiny but it is definitely a Yorkshire Terrier.

CB: Well, I'll be jiggered! I've seen everything now. A dog that looks like a parrot!!

Other drivers think that Baby Sweet Pea is a parrot.

So let's see, Baby Sweet Pea is a Parrot, a Yorkie and a Cat. Hmmmmmm. Oh I know what Baby Sweet Pea is. Baby Sweet Pea is a Parrorkiat. Yes, that's it a Parrorkiat!!

Oh I am just so funny today.

Love Ya

Sugar Princess

Our Christmas and Boxing Day

2007-12-27T01:29:00.000-08:00

Hi Y'All,

We hope that you had a wonderful Christmas and got each and every little thing that you asked Santa to bring you. And best of all, had a fantastic feast with your family and friends.

We apologize for any errors that were in our Christmas Story. Mommy was supposed to edit it and she gets pretty confused, ya know she is pretty old, and her mind is going in about a thousand directions at once. We know better than turn her loose on the 'puter but every now and then she gets a stubborn streak. She made a bad mistake with Major Sausha - she didn't notice when her rank got changed from Major to Captain.
We went back in and fixed up her mistakes. Sausha, we are really sorry. We hope that you enjoyed the story as much as we did, despite Mommy's bad editing.

We had a really good Christmas at Auntie Lois's house. There was ever so much wrapping paper and boxes to tunnel in and hide in. Oh yes, we had great fun. There were all kinds of tasty tidbits that made their way down to us and our Shih Tzu cousins. With Uncle Delmund only being 21 months old, we really did quite well in the feast department.

We think that Auntie Lois has forgotten that Mommy knows how to cook! While Auntie and our cousins, Lycia and Julie were preparing the feast, they wouldn't let Mommy into the kitchen. Every time that Mommy went into the kitchen, it really is kinda small, some one would say, "You are in my space." Mommy decided to help by doing the Christmas Laundry.

Auntie Dee and Cuz Shadow Dancer sent us the most wonderful hand made blankie. They sent Mommy a lovely pin. It was shaped like a bone made out of "sapphire" stones with YO YO in "diamonds". Mommy put it on her shirt and wore it all day long. Thanks Auntie Dee and Cuz Shadow.

The very best part of our Christmas was when Julie brought our brother, Nicholas Duke of York, over and gave him to Mommy and US. We had a wonderful reunion! Auntie Lois had picked up a belly band for him at Pet Smart, since the good ones from Auntie Vickie in Florida are stuck in the mail. Mommy put it on him so that Auntie would allow him to be in the living room. We played and played. We were very careful to be gentle with him because he has such a hard time getting around. Nicholas Duke of York was very happy to see Mommy too. He sat on her lap and just gave her so many cuddles and kisses! All three of us were up on Mommy's lap, for awhile, having a real love fest.

It was kinda strange for all of us when we went to bed. We think that it was the first time that Nickie had ever been allowed to sleep on the bed. Mommy had him on one shoulder and Baby Sweet Pea on the other. I, Sugar Princess, slept on Mommy's pillow, as usual. Nickie kept looking around, expecting to get yelled at for being on the bed. It took him a long time to go to sleep. We had to keep reassuring him that he could sleep on Mommy's shoulder.

Auntie Lois took Mommy to the Mall in Red Deer to buy Nickie a parka and boots and boots for Baby Sweet Pea. Yes, believe it or not, Auntie had found a place that had boots that would fit both of those little ones. Mommy has looked for tiny boots for Baby Sweet Pea for 2 winters, without any luck. Mommy bought him a leash and some special food to help him be healthy and gain some more weight. On Thursday, when we go through Lethbridge, Mommy will go to our groomers and buy him the special harness that she likes, and a tiny stainless steel bowl. When Mommy tried the parka and boots on Nickie, they fit him really well but he is so weak that he can't walk with all that extra weight. Mommy will just carry him to clean snow so he can do his business, for now, so he doesn't get any nasty salt and chemicals on his little feet.

Mommy had lots of time to really check out little Nickie. He has even more problems than we had realized at first. His little left hind leg is damaged in the hip as well as at the knee. And his poor little right front leg is damaged in what would be the humorous in humans. It is bowed pretty badly. Nickie really has a hard time walking but he keeps trying. He hasn't had very much exercise in the last two months, because he had to stay in the bathroom or his little nylon kennel all the time. Now he has come home to his FOREVER HOME, he will be allowed to run and play, he really likes to "Yorkie" play, and gain some strength and build up an appetite every day. When he wants to play, he will come up to one of us and tap us with his front paw till we wrestle with him. We are very careful to be very gentle.

Auntie said he was a very poor eater, almost like he was afraid of his food. He hardly ate any dinner last night, or breakfast and lunch today, but by dinner time tonight he was HUNGRY. Mommy fixed his food, just like she does ours, with a little Soft and Chewy Beef Milk Bone "flour", and he just gobbled it up, just like we do. He didn't know what to make of the Heartbreaker. He stayed in his little kennel while we drove back to Calgary, but he sure was ready to play when we got to our sister's house.

In just the few hours that it has just been the four of us and Sherry, Nickie is starting to feel like part of the family. When Baby Sweet Pea and I got up on the couch he came running over and asked to get up on the couch too. At first he just stayed really close to Mommy but then he went over to Sherry and asked her for cuddles. Mommy was sure his throat was damaged but now she is not so sure. Over the course of the evening he has quit sounding like a goose with it's throat full of sawdust and being strangled and more and more like Baby Sweet Pea. We think that he will like living in the Heartbreaker with us.

Nickie is really an amazing little man. He knew right from the first time that he met us that Mommy was his FOREVER MOMMY and we were his FOREVER SISTERS. He comes right away when Mommy calls him and he just loves to snuggle with her. He loves to play with Baby Sweet Pea and MEEEE too. You would think that after all he has been through, he would be scared of everything including his own shadow. Instead, he is giving us a chance and trusting us to love him and loving us in return. What a brave thing to do. We hope that we can live up to his wonderful example.

Love Ya
Sugar Princess (writer) and Baby Sweet Pea

P.S. We are going to try to get Nickie to write to y'all, but he is kinda shy yet.

Our Christmas Story

2007-12-27T01:00:00.000-08:00

MISSION RESCUE CHRISTMAS
by Victoria English
(This story is the property of the Author and cannot be reproduced by any means, in whole or in part, without her permission.)

Acknowledgments
Thank you to Lt. Colonel Carolyn Niksich-Harp (Canadian Armed Forces, retired) Miss Snow Smith, Brighana, Quinn and Odin for agreeing to be the only humans in this story. Also Thank you to all the Yorkies and Lhasa Apsos who allowed their names to be used in this story. They are all members of the Yorkie Terrier List, Yorkie Adventures, and Lhasa Yahoo Groups. There is only one fictitious pupper and that is Sgt. Bianca Blue. Lt. Col. Carolyn Niksich-Harp (ret.) supplied invaluable military advice, without which there would have been a fiasco. This story is completely fiction and the I take full responsibility for all errors and omissions. signed: Victoria English

DEDICATION
Miss English has graciously invited us to write the dedication for her story, which is a Christmas Gift to us from our Mommy.

We dedicate the story to all the little rescue fur kids every where. We believe in Rescue and strongly urge each and every one to support it as well.

We especially dedicate this story to two of our very dear cyber friends, Teddy Bear, a 14 year old Yorkie Rescue, and Westley, a 4 year old Lhasa Rescue, who went to the Rainbow Bridge far too soon. They were the most wonderful inspirations to us all.

With Love and Christmas Wishes,
Sugar Princess Precious One and Sugar's Baby Sweet Pea

MISSION RESCUE CHRISTMAS
by Victoria English

'Twas the week before Christmas, the streets were a bustle. Shoppers were scurrying, their purchases to make. Decorations to place on the mantle with care, gifts to be wrapped with paper and bows, there were cakes and pies and cookies and and stuffing to bake. The Tree, don't forget the tree, each light, each ornament, each garland and tinsel strand to be placed just so. All must be ready for Christmas Eve Night. Worry the snow, and drat that ole rain, All must be ready, for Santa would soon be here.

Out in Chicagoland, a blizzard was blowing with snow and wind so severe. Lt. Colonel Mom was tree-aching, for there are always emergencies that strike, people and fur kids needing guidance on such a night. Oh what a fright, oh what a plight! But never fear, help is just one click away. There is Lt. Col. Mom, at the computer, with kind words and guidance, setting everything right. The night had been long, and of calls there had been many, soon she could rest for dawn was near. She stood by the window, sipping her tea, watching the snowflakes dance through the lights, it was pretty to see, her thoughts filled with Christmas, what fun it would be. The computer chimed "You've got Mail", giving her a start, and with a sigh, she clicked on New Mail. She shook her head twice, and read it again, the message still remained. The message still read,
Santa Claus@northpole.net
Recipients: Undisclosed
Subject: My Christmas Flight
Dear Friends, Disaster has struck, there will be no Christmas Eve flight this year. The reindeer are sick with the flu, the doctor has said.They're
coughing and sneezing and their tummies hurt too. It's bed with a muffler and cough syrup too, they all must rest, and get better too.
Mrs. Claus is in tears and I'm heart broken too. But without Comet and Cupid, and Donner and Blitzen, and Dasher and Prancer and
Dancer and Vixen and Rudolph, with his nose so bright, there is No One to pull my sleigh on Christmas Eve Night. All the children, tucked
in their beds so tight, will be so disappointed, yes, I fear they might. This is the first Christmas I'll miss in all the years. I hate to disappoint, but the
reindeer are sick, the whole herd, down with the flu. We'll nurse them back to health so our flight can be made next year. There are tears on my
cheeks as this message I send.
Merry Christmas to All but it's not a good night.
Santa Claus

Lt. Col. Mom was shaken, she gasped in Surprise. This was the first time she had no idea how to set things right. "Colonel Minnie Mouse, Colonel Minnie Mouse, get up from your toasty bed, get your robe and come here", she called in despair. As the Colonel shuffled in rubbing sleep from her eyes, she was filled with dismay. "Lt. Colonel, sit up straight, your a soldier, my girl, wipe that tear from your eye, whatever has got you in such a state? Give me a full Report", she did exclaim. The Colonel sat on her cushion, her eyes grew wide with shock, as Lt. Col. Mom read the sad e-mail that Santa had sent. "Oh My, this will never do. There are so many children for whom, without Santa, no Christmas will have. Just give me a moment, let me think, I'll come up with a Plan." As she rubbed her chin thoughtfully, a small smile begin to form. "Ah, now I know just what to do. It will take the whole Yorkie Brigade, but I know how to save this Christmas." As Lt. Colonel Mom listened, she too begin to smile. " Oh Colonel, your plan is a delight. I'll e-mail Santa this very night. We need his approval to get this right."

As Lt. Colonel Mom begin to type, the Colonel got on the steam iron to call Senorita Bambi way off in Venezuela, "Please will you call your pilot, Captain Jack, have him get the crew of Diplomat One ready on stand by so that when Ambassador Lucie is packed they can fly. Yes, you both must bring your lovely red velvet dresses trimmed with white fur. This is a special mission, and the Ambassador will need to be ready." Baby Sweet Pea and Sugar Princess, the Canadian Speakers of the House of Commons, were pulled from their beds when the fridge began to clank, "Ladies wake up, turn the Heartbreaker around, I need you in Chicago by first morning light. Yes, my dears, prepare your most imperial robes, this is a mission that requies the most." Lt. Chaplin Mary Margaret O'Brien was watching TV, when Animal Planet turned to static and then the Colonel's face did appear on her television set. "Of course, Colonel, I'll be ready when Captain Shadow Dancer and touches down with the Yorkie Air 737. Yes, of course, we'll stop in Sacramento and pick up Major Sausha too. Now don't give it another thought, Lt. Chaplin Mary Margaret is on the job." The Colonel was pleased with the responses she got as she called on each and every one of her officers to come to the Chicago Strategy Summit.

When all were gathered Colonel Minnie Mouse started the summit. "We are the Yorkie Brigade, Many hard battles we've fought and we've won but this will be our biggest challenge of all, for without us Santa can't make his run. We can bring Christmas to every little boy and girl, the world over. Now, I have a Plan, we must fine tune, every detail must be confirmed. Time is short, the project huge. The Presentation to Santa at the North Pole is tomorrow night." As she laid out her plan, the room began to buzz, every pupper there was stunned, and of thoughts they had many. "Let's have order" she commanded, "Ambassador Lucie, you look Concerned."

"Yes, Colonel," said Ambassador Lucie, looking very worried. "We will need to have a lantern bright to help us light our way, since Rudolph with his nose so bright can't lead the sleigh that night. We are but little Yorkies, to small to bear the weight. "

"Never fear," piped up Sugar Princess, Canadian Speaker of the House of Commons, "you have your Lhasa Allies and we are big enough to carry the lantern weight. But I fear that one little Yorke can not replace one reindeer."

"No, that is true," spoke Sgt. Abbey Mia, thoughtfully, " but if we make a Platoon of four Yorkies for each reindeer, that would make a Company of 32 Yorkies and one Lhasa to pull the sleigh. The world is so big, and we are but little Yorkies, and even with a Lhasa Apso to carry the light, I fear the strain would be too great, but four could pull the weight."

The Colonel interjected, "I think we need one Yorkie Officer with each Company helping the Lhasa to carry the light and lead the Company. Yes, I think that is only right. But still, the world is to large for just one Company."

Major Sausha, said with a laugh, "Well, lets divide the world into eight. That will give more Yorkies a chance to participate. You all know how Rescue is near to our hearts, and this, dear commanders, is the greatest Rescue of all."

"Speaker Sugar Princess," queried Sgt. Harper, "Can you call on that many Lhasas?"

"Sgt. Harper, that is not a problem. I'll speak to Missy de Lhasa, our President, and she will arrange for seven more Lhasas to carry the lanterns and have Captain Westley on stand by with the Air Lhasa Lear jet to deliver them to each relay post. It will be our honor to assist the Yorkie Brigade."

The ever practical and caring Lt. Chaplin Mary Margaret O'Brien added, "We will need Warrant officers at each relay post to provide kibbies and broth and blankies when each Platoon comes in. Our troops will be tired and hungry, and some possibly in need of medical care. We can ask our older Yorkies, and those not so strong, as well as all our naturalized Yorkies to fill this gap. This is a big undertaking and all can help."

"Missy de Lhasa is most honored to help, and has seven more Lhasa volunteers. She has spoken to Captain Westley of Air Lhasa and he has offered to help Captain Shadow Dancer of Yorkie Air with the flights to transfer our troops both in and out. He has suggested that he will take the east if Captain Shadow Dancer will take the West," Speaker Sugar Princess reported, almost dancing with excitement.

And so it continued for hours and hours. The Colonel was most pleased with the fine tuning of her plan. "Yes, we can do this, we will all co-operate. The children can have Christmas, it is not too late," she did proclaim. As they sat down to a scrumptious feast of kibbies and chicken with broth, provided by a proud Lt. Colonel Mom, Colonel Minnie Mouse, asked Major Sausha to outline Mission Rescue Christmas.

The Major stood and did recite, "The Presentation Committee will consist of Ambassador Lucie and her aide de camp, Senorita Bambi; Colonel Minnie Mouse and her aide de camp, Lt. Colonel Mom; and Canadian Speakers of the House of Commons, Baby Sweet Pea and Sugar Princess. Captain Jack will fly them in Diplomat One. There will be eight sectors, each commanded by a Yorkie Officer and assisted by a Lhasa Apso. Rudolph Company sector one will be Yorkie Speaker Baby Sweet Pea and Lhasa Speaker Sugar Princess; sector two, Yorkie Major Sausha and Lhasa Fibi; sector three, Yorkie Lt. One Eyed Jack, the Peke Rescue and Lhasa Peja; sector four, Yorkie Lt. Teddy Bear and Lhasa Missy de Lhasa; sector five, Yorkie Sgt. Abbey Mia and Lhasa Benji; sector six, Yorkie Sgt. Harper and Lhasa Brodi; sector seven, Yorkie Sgt Bianca Blue and Lhasa Molly; and finally sector eight, Yorkie Sgt. Lilbit and Lhasa Truffle. "

"The reindeer companies will consist of four Yorkies for each reindeer. Each reindeer Platoon leader will recruit 31 other Yorkie Privates to fill out the eight companies. They are Dasher Platoon led by Bella; Dancer Platoon by Pete; Prancer Platoon by Scooter; Vixen Platoon by Scarlet; Comet Platoon by Rhett; Cupid Platoon by Sugar Rose; Donner Platoon by Daisy; and last but not least, Blitzen Platoon by P'Nut."

"Colonel Minnie Mouse and Ambassador Lucie accompanied by their aides de camp, Lt. Colonel Mom and Senorita Bambi, and Lt. Chaplin Mary Margaret O'Brien, flown in Diplomat One by Captain Jack, will be on hand at each relay post as the incoming Company touches down and the out going Company takes to the air, to provide encouragement and cheer to the outgoing and see that the incoming receive comfort and aide as needed. Captains Shadow Dancer and Westley will fly them to each relay post."

"Warrant Officers Penny, a Chihuahua, Hashi, a Shih Tzu, and Snickers, the Cat, all naturalized Yorkies, heading up the supply company. They will ensure that there are at least three Warrant Officers at each relay post to provide warm blankies, kibbies and broth to their assigned Company. Immediately following our meeting with Santa Claus at the North Pole, providing our plan is accepted, Captains Shadow Dancer and Westley will fly fly the Platoons, along with the supplies, to their relay posts and on the completion of the mission he will return them to their homes."

And so the very next afternoon Diplomat One took off for the North Pole with Captain Jack's sure paws at the controls. Colonel Minnie Mouse, Ambassador Lucie, Lt. Chaplin Mary Margaret O'Brien, Canadian Speakers of the House of Commons, Baby Sweet Pea and Sugar Princess, along with Lt. Colonel Mom and the Ambassador's aide de camp Senorita Bambi, resting peacefully for the first part of the flight. As they neared the North Pole, the ladies all primped and fussed, fixing their bows and their robes, to be at their best to meet Mr. and Mrs. Santa Clause. At this meeting they could not fail, their plan must win approval. Mission Rescue Christmas must Succeed. Christmas depended on Them!

They were greeted on the runway by Santa, that jolly old elf, and Mrs. Clause, a sweet little dumpling, herself. Back in the Santa's Den, Milk Bones and Cake were washed down with a Dram of Christmas Broth for good cheer. Ambassador Lucie, ever the diplomat and the Canadian Speakers of the House of Commons, charming and sweet, leading the way, the Presentation Committee won the favor of a small smile from Mr. and Mrs. Clause, who were usually quite Merry, but today they were all sad and dreary. Then Old Santa, with a deep sigh, said, "Well, my dears, this has all been so fine, but Mrs. Clause and I have to get back to our nursing chores with the reindeer all down with the flu, they need us you know. Without the little darlings, there will be no Christmas Eve Flight this year. You know, I have never missed a flight, not even back in '22 when the fog was so thick I couldn't even see my mitt that night. It was then that Rudolph, the Red Nosed Reindeer, with his nose so shinny bright, stepped up and led the flight. What have you got, a potion or two, some special food, perhaps a steam tent ? What ever it is, even if it were to make the reindeer better, they will still be to weak to make the flight. Christmas Eve is tomorrow night. There is always a chance, a solution you will provide, so to your plan, we will listen."

Colonel Minni Mouse, in her best dress uniform and Colonel's golden bow, stood to her feet and cleared her throat. She was a little nervous, don't you know. "Mr. and Mrs. Claus, Yes, Christmas Eve is tomorrow night, but You can still make your flight. Of potions or food or steam tents for curing the reindeer, I know not a thing, but I have a plan, and Joy it will bring. We are but little Yorkies, as easily you can see, but we are a fearsome group of soldiers, all tried and true, many hard fought battles we have won. We have taken a Military approach, and your problem we will solve. For if you approve, and allow the Yorkie Brigade to take charge, there will be a flight on Christmas Eve. Now here is my plan." As she spoke her confidence grew, for she was a leader, true. "We have divided the world into eight sectors with a Company of Yorkies and a relay post for each. Each Company will consist of one Yorkie Officer, and a Lhasa Apso, a lantern bright to carry, and four Yorkies hitched together for each little reindeer. If you can spare a few elves from the toy shop, there will be bells on our harnesses by end of day. I know it's a big task, even with the relays but Yorkies are strong and of spirit we have abundance. We have Warrant Officers on stand by at each relay post, substance and care for our brave Yorkies and Lhasas to provide. There is not a detail we have let slide.

Ambassador Lucie, Lt. Chaplin Mary Margaret O'Brien, Lt. Colonel Mom and Aide de Camp Senorita Bambi and I will be on Diplomat One and be at each relay post to guide and comfort the incoming Company and encourage and cheer the out going one. We will insure that the switch takes only a moment. Our Yorkies know how to take commands and the Lhasa Apsos, leaders in their own right, will be ready to take flight."

Now, Santa sat in his chair, his eyes glistening and bright, he was so overcome, for a moment he just couldn't speak. Finally, rubbing his snowy white beard, and nodding his head, the Old Elf, thoughtfully said, "Colonel Minnie Mouse and Esteemed Committee, I thank you for coming from all across the land. For all the many e-mails sending Get Well Wishes and mentioning herbs, you are the only ones that came up with a Plan.

I know your fearsome record, and brave warriors, you are indeed. The Yorkie Brigade is a force to be reckoned with, on that I will agree. And in your tiny chests, warriors hearts do beat, for now you show your true bravery, for this is a mission of Love." Santa paused, and then nodded his head once again. "Yes, my brave little Yorkie Brigade, I think you are right. There will be a Christmas Flight. Now, Who will make the first flight?"

Ambassador Lucie, took the list from Senorita Bambi, and in her most dignified voice, replied, "Standing in for Rudolph and carrying the lantern bright will be the Canadian Speakers of the House of Commons, and loving sisters I might add, Yorkie Speaker Baby Sweet Pea and Lhasa Apso Speaker Sugar Princess, the eight Reindeer Platoon leaders and their volunteers for Sector One. Here is the list, Sir, Please do accept." curtsying charmingly, Ambassador Lucie returned to her chair.

"Mrs. Claus, my sweet wife, please call the tack room, and have the elves come see these delightful wee Yorkies and their wonderful harnesses, so thoughtfully provided by Lt. Colonel Mom. They need to get started adding the tiniest of jingle bells", chortled Santa Clause, bouncing with delight, as a tear slid into his beard so snowy white. "Oh my, this will be a very busy night."

Mrs. Claus, smiled sadly and spoke in a heart broken voice, "Oh Santa Clause, you jolly old elf, 'tis just a wonderful plan , and a gesture most Loving, on the part of the Yorkie Brigade and their Lhasa Apso Allies, but there is just one problem, be it ever so small, but the whole plan it will defeat. The special reindeer Flying Blend, these darling wee Yorkies and Lhasas, so zen, cannot eat. These are precious wee puppers but their little systems just can't handle the reindeer food. And before you suggest that I throw the Pink Flying Pixie Dust, you know that I can't leave the wee reindeer, sick as they are, and you, my dear, have all you can do delivering the presents to all the wee girls and boys. You can't mix your special Blue Pixie Dust with the Pink, for disaster will fall. So my dears, there will be no flight after all."

The Yorkie Committee looked at each other, sadness filled their faces for how had they missed this one little thing. A tear slid down Baby Sweet Pea's tiny cheek. The Colonel was about to speak when Speaker Sugar Princess said, "Excuse me One and All. Mission Rescue Christmas is not over before it begins. I know just who to call. We Lhasa Apsos have our own very special Miss Snow, the Queen of Pink Glitter, out in St. Charles. I know, Mrs. Claus, that it would take but a minute to teacher the care and use of the Pink Flying Pixie Dust. Miss Snow could be with the Colonel, the Ambassador and the Lt. Chaplin as they fly from relay post to relay post tossing the Pink Flying Pixie Dust on the outgoing Platoon and gathering the remains from the in coming. She has so much experience with Pink Glitter, she is up to the task . I brought Mommy's cell phone for just such a cause. If you will excuse me a moment, I'll just make the call."

As Sugar Princess stepped away the room was so quiet you could hear the candle wax melting. Christmas hinged on this one call. Sugar Princess' paws tingled as she carefully pressed the numbers, the fate of the Christmas Eve Flight hung heavy on her little shoulders. The room crackled with tension as everybody waited with bated breath. Would Miss Snow be willing ,this challenge, to accept? Not a Yorkie or elf, or even Lt. Colonel Mom dared take a breath. It seemed like a year, before they heard Sugar Princess exclaim, "Oh thank you so much Miss Snow, on you, I knew we could count. Please call Captain Westley at Air Lhasa to fly you to the North Pole for tomorrow afternoon, you and Mrs. Claus will have much to do. And Thank You Sweet Lady for volunteering your Lhasas, Skittle and Bueford and Maya, the Husky, for our Supply Company too."

Now on Christmas Eve Night, the North Pole was a glitter. As the appointed hour approached, all were atwitter. For not only their harnesses did jingle but little antler bows for each tiny top knot, had the elves made. "Just a Thank You from Us and all the Reindeer," the Elves did proclaim. The Company could not help but giggle as four wee Yorkies answered as one as each reindeer name was called. And when Santa called Rudolph, the last to be hitched there was Lhasa Speaker Sugar Princess with an Antler light so bright and doing the Yorkie Stomp. The Elves all clapped and laughed in delight and Mrs. Clause, gleefully gasped, "Now, what is this?" Lhasa Speaker Sugar, barely suppressing a giggle, stoutly declared, "To honor the Brave Yorkie Brigade, we Lhasa Apsos Mastered the Yorkie Stomp." The Sleigh was all loaded, with presents and toys, Santa's lists, tucked safely in the side, the Company stood in line. Santa stepped to his Sleigh and the reins he did gather, then he looked to the right and nodded his head. Miss Snow, in her glorious Pink Gown, stepped forward, and Mrs Claus held her breath. Out went the first handful of Pink Flying Pixie Dust. As the Company rose, pulling the sleigh, just as light as the down of a thistle, Mrs. Claus sighed in relief, for she had carefully hidden her doubts, Mission Rescue Christmas was a Go.

On through the night the Company did fly, never missing a house, just a streak in the sky. Now there was Red Deer, all twinkling and bright. Sector One Company was still handling the flight. Little Brighana got up, just for some water, when what did she hear but STOMP, stomp, stompa de STOMP, up on her roof, "Mom, Papa and Mommy come quick," she did call. As they ran to the living room, up the fireplace chimney, the heel of a black boot, did go. They ran to the window, for this did not compute. Brighana cried, "Oh its just Sugar Princess and Baby Sweet Pea doing the Yorkie Stomp. I'll get the door, they came for Christmas after all." As she flung the door open wide, Brighana exclaimed, "Come on in Sugar and" then she stopped in mid-sentence for no one was there. They stood on the step, looking all around and what did they see but a Yorkie Company pulling Santa's Sleigh, flying high across the sky.

Off in Victoria, Quinn, a light sleeper at best, was tucked in her bed pretending to sleep. This year for sure, Santa, she and her little brother Odin, were determined to see. At the first tap of a reindeer hoof, she'd promised Odin, to wake. She nodded and dozed then woke with a start, what was that, STOMP, stomp, stompa de STOMP. Instead of just waking Odin, she woke the whole house in her fright. Daddy flung open the front door as Momma peered out the back. There was a rustle, and little Quinn turned to look. There under the Tree were presents galore, where none had been before. She ran on the porch crying out, "Daddy and Mommy, come look!" They looked to the roof, just as Santa took off, but there were no reindeer, just 33 Yorkies and one Lhasa Apso pulling his sleigh. But they still were not sure what they had seen until they heard Santa call out "On Dasher Platoon, On Dancer Platoon, On Prancer Platoon and Vixen Platoon, On Cupid and Comet Platoons, On Donner Platoon and Blitzen Platoon. Feliz Navidad, and Joeux Noel, It's a Yorkie Brigade and Lhasa Apso Christmas, Merry Christmas t' All Y'All, and t' All Y'All a Good Night.

And so it continued all through the night. Each relay was made without delay, to each little girl and boy on Santa's list, gifts were delivered l. But Many awoke with a start, when they heard the Yorkie Stomp. They were startled, that's sure, when they discovered that Santa had been there. It was such a puzzle. Here were the gifts, but no clatter of little hooves had they heard. How had Santa got there?

On Christmas morning, the Yorkies and the Lhasa Apsos had a big surprise. For there, in each Yorkie and Lhasa Apso household hung a beautiful golden bone, inscribed "Thank You Yorkie Brigade and Lhasa Apsos, You saved Christmas this Year." signed and dated by Mr. and Mrs. Santa Claus.

And this is the story of how the Yorkie Brigade and it's Lhasa Apso Allies saved Christmas for all the girls and boys.

MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Sugar Princess' Birthday

2007-12-19T07:05:00.000-08:00

I had my Birthday, I had my Birthday! MEE, Sugar Princess Precious One, I had my Birthday! December 10th was my 13th birthday! We were working so we didn't have a party. But, Mommy did give us some chicken tenders, without the breading of course, for breakfast and we had some steak for dinner. We also had carrot loaf , yuk yuk, with a BIG dollop of cream cheese frosting, yum yum. We both ate the frosting but we spit out the carrot loaf right quick.

Mommy and Baby Sweet Pea gave me a new winter parka. It is two shades of raspberry. Naturally, we have to wait for Mommy to download the pictures. She is so slow!!! Mommy and Baby Sweet Pea sang Happy Birthday to me several times through out the day. I did have a lovely day and enjoyed the extra pampering that I got.

My Birthday brought a time of mixed emotions. We got the very sad news that our very dear friend, Teddy Bear, age 14 yrs, had gone to the Rainbow Bridge at 11:04 EST. on December 10th. Teddy Bear had been rescued by his Momma, Steph, 4 years ago. When he was rescued he was in very bad condition but as he grew to trust his Momma and had lots of good food and care and was Loved, he turned into a most handsome fellow. He became his Momma's HEART FUR KID. He certainly was an inspiration to us and our cousin Julie. With out his wonderful example, we might not have had the courage to make Nicholas Duke of York part of our family. We know that Teddy Bear's example gave our cousin Julie the courage to do everything possible to help Nickie. Because of Teddy Bear, we know that there is hope, even for the most neglected of fur babies.

Teddy Bear, we SALUTE you! You will always have a SPECIAL place in our hearts! You are gone but not forgotten. It is with tears on our cheeks that we say good-bye for now PRECIOUS BOY, we will see you one day at the Bridge. We LOVE you always.

My Birthday was also the occasion of more news, this time bittersweet. Our cousin, Tawny, went to a new home. Cousin Tawny has lived with Auntie Lois and our Shih Tzu cousins, Smoo, Cher and Mahanzi for 4 years. She was 4 or 5 when she became part of their family. She had lived in a breeding pen prior to coming to live with Auntie. Tawny was very shy and it seemed that she was afraid of her own shadow. She spent most of her time hiding under the bed. She did seem to like us and would come outside and play with Baby Sweet Pea and MEEE when it was just the three of us. Auntie reports that Tawny is very happy and out going in her new home, where she is the only fur kid. We Love you Tawny, and we are sad that we didn't get to say GOOD-BYE. Have a wonderful life in your new Forever Home.

So, my Birthday was a day of JOY and SADNESS. I am 91 years old in people years, and I still fell like a youngster. We are sad that we won't get to see Tawny any more but we are glad that she is now happy. We still shed tears for our dear friend, Teddy Bear.

Love Ya
Sugar Princess (writting) and Baby Sweet Pea

We Wish We Were In Texas

2007-11-27T19:49:00.000-08:00

We have been in Ontario, Canada since Sunday. We crossed the border at Port Huron, MI/Sarnia ON. It was fun driving across the Blue Water Bridge. You could see just miles and miles of water out across Lake Huron and the St. Claire River. We stopped for lunch in London, ON and had a visit with our friends, Bandit and Swiffer. They are the silliest boy Shih Tzus! Their Momma, Judy, is a trucker too, just like our Mommy.

After lunch we stopped at Tim Horton's in the service plaza at Vaughan. Mommy got 2 ham and cheese croissants and some donuts to take with us. She also bought a can of Tim Horton's coffee. She asked the clerk at the counter to open the tin for her as we have lost our can opener. The clerk announced very firmly that they did not have such a thing. Isn't that just the silliest thing, a coffee/donut/soup and sandwich shop doesn't have a can opener?

We continued on up to Sudbury, ON. When we got there, it was about 9:30 pm EST. The sidewalks were all rolled up! The convenience store at the fuel stop was closed. It was sure a good thing Mommy went to Tim Horton's on our way up there, otherwise she wouldn't have had any dinner at all. Now, the weather was crisp and cool, not really cold, just chilly and there was a brisk breeze. Mommy had turned the heat in the Heartbreaker way down before we went to bed, but at about 4 am, EST, she had to get up and turn the heat up because it was COLD.

We had to stay in Sudbury all day Monday, cause the Nickel Smelter at Falconbridge, ON couldn't take our load until Tuesday morning. It was overcast and very chilly all day. While we were delivering our load at the Smelter, this morning, it started to snow very lightly. By the time we were headed back toward Toronto it was snowing so hard Mommy and I had a hard time seeing the road. We had to drive all the way to London, ON in a snow storm. When we got back to Bradford, ON the snow wasn't quite so heavy, but the wind was blowing really hard causing white-out conditions in places. When we got west of Toronto, the snow and the wind had picked up again.

Sugie and I have not been enjoying our walks at all!! I have even had to ask Mommy to put me inside her jacket, so I could warm up, while Miss Well Insulated Sugar Princess finished her business. But, even with all her warm fur, Sugar has complained of cold feet and been very glad to get back inside the nice toasty, warm Heartbreaker.

Sugie and I wish that we were back in southern Texas, and I think that Mommy does too. The weather was nice and warm there, a balmy 90* in Brownsville. We had the air conditioner on and our walks were so nice. We could run and play on soft green grass and our little feet didn't get cold at all. I could run and play in my summer harness and I didn't even need a sweater. Now I truly love my pretty PINK sweaters and my pretty PINK parka, but geeesh, it sure takes all the fun out of a walk when the wind is trying to blow you over and your feet are feeling like ice cubes. Yep, we sure wish we were back in Texas.

Love Y'All

Baby Sweet Pea and Sugar Princess

My Birthday Sweater finally

2007-11-26T15:41:00.000-08:00

My good Friend Mary Margaret O'Brien sent me the Link to get our Peculiar Aristocratic Title. Sugar and I had great fun getting our titles so we decided that we should get one for our brother Nickie. When he finally gets to come home with us we will show him his tittle. We think that he will like it.

Mommy Finally got the pictures of me in my birthday sweater downloaded. I think it is very pretty. It is nice and warm and I will need it later this week as we travel across northern Ontario. We are in Sudbury, ON now and it is very cold and we will be going much further north before we get to Winnipeg, Manitoba. I don 't like winter very much at all, but I do love the pretty sweaters and jackets that I get for Winter. Don't you just love Pink, all shades of Pink? I know that I do.

Sometimes it takes Mommy a long time to get things done because work always interferes with our computer time. Well, we have to work if I want my clothes allowance and my kibbies. There is no way around it. Work = Money = Kibbies and pretty clothes. To bad it doesn't work the same with play.

Love to Y'All

Baby Sweet Pea and Sugar Princess

P.S. We will be including Nickie in our siggy once he comes Home! It will be pretty soon now, Christmas is less than a month away.

P.P.S.

My Peculiar Aristocratic Title is:
Countess Sugar Princess Precious One the Tremulous of Bow under Bumpstead
Get your Peculiar Aristocratic Title

My Peculiar Aristocratic Title is:
Reverend Lady Sugar\'s Baby Sweet Pea the Unlikely of Frome Valley
Get your Peculiar Aristocratic Title
My Peculiar Aristocratic Title is:
Reverend Earl Nicholas Duke Of York the Lachrymose of Menzies on the Minges
Get your Peculiar Aristocratic Title

Our New Brother

2007-11-26T09:46:00.000-08:00

Drum Roll Please, Bugles, Drums and Bugles. Miss Sugar Princess Precious One and Miss Sugar's Baby Sweet Pea are pleased to introduce our new brother Nicholas Duke of York. Nicholas became part of our family on November 13th, 2007. We met him at our Auntie Lois's house. He is currently being fostered by Auntie Lois and our skin cousin Julie. Mommy took these pictures on that day and he had already gained one pound and been to the groomer. He will be coming to live with us in the Heartbreaker at Christmas time. Nicholas Duke of York will be 3 years old in December and is a purebred registered Yorkshire Terrier.

Here is Nicholas Duke of York's story. It is very sad and we will never know all the details.

Nicholas was purchased by a Lady and her little child. He has been with them for his whole life. Something happened while he lived there and his left hind leg got hurt. He was not taken to a vet for help. The Lady left him outside in a wire pen and didn't feed him often. She didn't groom him either. She was hoping he would be stolen or die of exposure and starvation. She almost got her wish. She didn't want him anymore because he was not perfect.

Our skin cousin Julie went to the Lady's house for a meeting with her soon to be ex husband. The Lady is his new girl friend. This meeting took place just after Canadian Thanksgiving, so that was early October and the weather at night was in the high 20* - low 30*F (you had to scrape frost off the cars in the mornings). The meeting was at 10 pm. She saw a little shivering, matted lump in the corner of a small pen while she waited for them to answer the door. She went and looked and there was Nicholas. His name was Kobe then. She picked him up and took him in the house while she had her meeting. The Lady told her she no longer wanted the little fellow.

Early the next morning cousin Julie went back to the house and told her XDH and his Lady Love that she was taking the Yorkie Boy. They gave him to her willingly and a few days later they gave her title to the little boy. Cousin Julie took him to Auntie Lois's vet and got him started on rescue food. The vet would do nothing further until cousin Julie had the ownership papers in her name. Cousin Julie bought him a little blue mesh kennel with a faux Sherpa pad. She got him a little sweater and some Royal Canin Yorkie formula kibbles and a little tiny fur lamb toy. After she got his papers she took him back to the vet for further examination. The vet told cousin Julie and Auntie Lois that if Nicholas had been rescued by the ASPCA he would have been considered unadoptable and PTS'd because of his legs.

The vet did blood work, urine and fecal analysis and a general examination. His lab tests were all normal except for the fact he was suffering from starvation. The little guy needed all his shots, his skeleton is compromised from prolonged starvation. His little bones are very brittle and lumpy around the joints. His poor little left knee is 3 times as big as the right and his little foot points under his belly at a 90* angle. His right knee has a sever luxating patella. He weighed about 2.5 lbs. His little ribs show evidence that most if not all have been broken at sometime in the past. His little ribs and spine bones were showing through his very matted coat. His teeth are very coated with plaque. He has never been neutered. Fortunately, he did not have fleas or ticks. The vet consulted a Canine Orthopedic Surgeon in Calgary and she felt that his left leg had been damaged for so long that it was not repairable. She suggested that they repair his luxating patella so he would be able to walk when he got older but to leave his injured leg alone.

Cousin Julie has a 20 month old son, Uncle Delmond, and she works long hours. Auntie Lois babysits both Uncle Delmond and the Yorkie. Auntie's 3 female Shih Tzu's were in heat and the poor little fellow pottied all over the house because he is afraid of potty pads. Auntie has to keep him locked in her bathroom to protect her furniture and the little guy from Uncle Delmond. She also did not want 3 litters of Shih Tzu/Yorkie cross puppies. Auntie's Shih Tzus are all senior citizens as well.

Little Nicholas has gained a pound since Julie rescued him and she has been working on his shots. She loves the little fellow very much but because Uncle Delmond is so rough on him, and he is so fragile, she says it is not fair to keep him locked up all the time. She has asked our Mommy if we would give him a Forever Home. Of course, Mommy said she would be happy to do that. Julie just has to sign him over to Mommy and get a letter from the vet certifying that he is a rescue and that his leg is previously injured and unrepairable. Julie says that she will finish getting his shots and get him neutered and his teeth cleaned before he comes to live with us. And she will continue to help pay for his medical expenses relating to his legs.

When we met Nicholas Duke of York, he knew immediately that we were his new family. Mommy held him and cuddled him and talked to him and he gave her lots of kisses and made himself right at home in her arms. Mommy asked him what his real name was and he just hung his little head and said whatever she wanted was fine, he didn't deserve a good name. Mommy talked to him for a long time and we girls talked to him as well. Finally he said he had a very fine name but he was sure that he didn't deserve it and that we would all laugh at him. After we promised not to laugh and reassured him that he DID deserve to have his real name, he very shyly told us his name was Nicholas Duke of York. We girls asked him what his sweetums name was too. He didn't know what that was but after we explained to him, he said that we were allowed to call him Nickie in the family.

We girls are very protective of Nicholas Duke of York and play very gently with him. We don't like that he has to be locked up. We girls talked it over with Mommy and thought it wouldn't be a good idea if he "marked" his territory in the Heartbreaker. Mommy had a solution, she e-mailed Vicki (

So what IS a Dog Belly Band?

http://www.freewebs.com/vickiescustomcreations

) in Florida, who makes wonderful belly bands and ordered a dozen. Auntie Brighanna helped pick out the colors. We ordered 2 Christmas belly bands and the other 10 are all very stylish for such a regal boy. We hope that Nicholas Duke of York likes them.

We can hardly wait till we can bring Nicholas Duke of York to his FOREVER HOME! Once our Mommy adopts a fur baby it is "Till Death Do Us Part". We are so happy to Welcome Nicholas to our Family. We will do our very best to be good sisters to Nicholas Duke of York so he will know what it means to be part of a Loving, Caring, Happy Home for the rest of his days.

Love to Y'All

Sugar Princess and Baby Sweet Pea

My Birthday and Thanksgiving

2007-10-10T09:54:00.000-07:00

We have been so very busy this last while we have barely had time to catch our breath. Course, Mommy broke the 'puter and she had to reformat it and then she has had to put back all the stuff we lost. It has taken her just forever and she still isn't done - like the camera.

September 25th was my second Birthday. We were working so it was rather a quiet day - no party. Sugar and I got some steak with our kibbies - yummmmm and we each got a little crumb of carrot loaf - yuk, we spit that out real fast, with a big dollop of cream cheese frosting - yummmm. I got a beautiful new PINK knitted sweater with pearls on it from Mommy and Sugar. Of course I got lots of extra hugs and kisses from Mommy and Sugar too. Mommy sang Happy Birthday and Sugar barked along. Naturally the batteries in the camera were dead and Mommy hasn't put the program for the camera back in the 'puter yet so no pictures of me in my new sweater on my Birthday. Mommy says not to worry, she'll get it all straightened out soon.

Last Monday was Canadian Thanksgiving. This is the second year in a row that we were able to celebrate with our family. Sugar says that usually we work - blahhh.

We went to Auntie Lois's house. It was quite warm for Red Deer so Sugar and I got to play outside in the back yard as much as we wanted to. It was so fun being Sweet Pea the Jungle Explorer in all the flowers and plants that Auntie has in her back yard. Auntie Brighanna (she is really my 8 yr old cousin) came out and played with us lots too. Auntie Lois's Shih Tzu's are getting kinda old, but not as old as Sugar, and they are pretty much wimps and just want to lay around the house.

The Humans had a BIG turkey feast with all the trimmings. It was so hard not to beg but Sugar and I were very good girls and stayed by Mommy all quiet. Mommy gave each of us a little bite of turkey breast - yummmm. Auntie Lois snuck some turkey liver and some skin to Sugar, she is scared to sneak food to me cause I'm so little, and Sugar had a tummy ache yesterday. She is all better today.

My skin sister came up to Auntie's from Calgary as a surprise for Mommy. It was a surprise too. Sherry was rear ended by a man driving with a suspended license a few weeks ago. She has 3rd degree whiplash, 3rd degree lumbar and hip sprain. She has to wear a back and hip brace. The insurance company has given her a rental car till they can find a replacement car of equal value and condition to her car or they will have to fix it. The car sustained about $5000.00 damage. Sherry was in a lot of pain but she wanted to spend some time with Mommy. We haven't seen her hardly at all since the beginning of August and we were used to seeing her almost weekly. I'm still not her favorite furkid, drats! Maybe some more kisses and Yorkie hugs and antics will win her over. Hmmmmm.

Will post pictures as soon as Mommy gets the camera and the 'puter working together.

Love Ya

Sugar Princess and Baby Sweet Pea

Laredo in the Fall

2007-09-14T06:59:00.000-07:00

Hi Y'All,

Here we are in the middle of September already, how time does fly. This is a very busy month in our family. We have four birthdays coming up in the last half of the month, that would be Mommy on the 21st, cousin Tryrell on the 23rd, MEEE on the 25th and brother Preston on the 27th. I hope we can get to go home to have a joint celebration for Preston, Mommy and MEEE!

Fall means cooler weather doesn't it? Apparently Laredo doesn't know that. We delivered a load of meat here on Monday. That was our usual all day adventure. The temperature here is in the high 90's during the day and the low 90's at night. Yes, I know that is cooler than the low 100's but not that noticeable from my point of view.
Can you believe it, on Monday afternoon at 4:45 pm the air conditioning in the Heartbreaker QUIT!!!

Mommy tried to be Molly the Mechanic. She lifted the hood and checked all the electrical connections that she could reach and the belts. Then she started the Heartbreaker and checked to make sure that the compressor was turning and the a/c clutch was working. Everything looked fine. All she achieved was getting her hands all greasy, eeewww! After she got the mess cleaned off her hands she shut the truck off and opened the fuse panel and looked for the fuses that ran the a/c. Sure enough one of the fuses was blown. Mommy went and bought a package of fuses and put a new one in. She started the Heartbraker and low and behold the a/c worked for an hour and a half then the fuse blew again. Mommy shut off the Heartbreaker and replaced the fuse again. This time when she started the truck the fuse blew immediately. NOT GOOD! Mommy called Freightliner/ Western Star immediately. They said that we could bring it in on Tuesday morning.

It is sure a good thing that we have had lots of experience managing without air conditioning. Mommy emptied one of our large containers, then got a bag of ice and put it in the container and covered it with a nylon mat. Sugar laid on the ice and it didn't take long till she was very comfortable. Mommy had the windows rolled down to catch any breeze that was blowing but she knew that wasn't enough for me.
I won't lay on a bag of ice, I have to be close to Mommy. She solves this problem by dipping a face cloth in ice water and draping it over me. Mommy hardly slept that night because she had to keep refreshing my face cloth. Mommy loves me so much!

When we started to go to the dealership, only 5 miles away, the serpentine belt that goes to the air conditioning compressor broke. As a result it took us 3 hours to get there. We could drive about 1.5 miles and then the engine temperature got too high and we had to shut the engine off and wait for it to cool down. When we got there and they took a look at the Heartbreaker, we got more bad news. The dealership had to order the belt and the dryer from the distribution center in Memphis, Tn. We were stuck in Laredo till the next day. Wednesday came and more bad news. They had to order the evacuation valves. One more night in a hotel. At noon on Thursday Freightliner/Western Star told us to come on up and TEST the a/c. We checked out of our hotel and happily went on up. It took 10 minutes to ascertain that the a/c was not working correctly. Mommy was real unhappy. She let the dealership know in no uncertain terms that the a/c was unacceptable. THEN they told her that only one of the evacuation valves had come in and they were just checking to see if we would take the Heartbreaker the way it was. Mommy asked them what part of NO they needed explained. Back to the hotel for another night.

This morning, Friday, they promised us that we would have the Heartbreaker back all fixed properly by noon. The jury is still out on that.

While we were here I have had lots of fun. I have met lots of furkids, even a CAT. I startled several drivers when I went up to them to say Hello. One of the drivers really jumped when I touched his leg. He told Mommy he thought I was a SNAKE! He made it all right because he leaned over and patted and played with me and said I was a real nice little girl. He even asked Mommy where he could get a little furkid just my size. I got lots of pats and played with lots of the drivers. Freightliner/Western Star even went against their policy of "No Pets" in the building, because Sugar and I are small and have full coats and we are very well mannered, and allowed us to be in side while we waited for the courtesy van from the hotel. They said we had had been brave and tolerated enough heat.

Oh my, I have digressed from talking about how hot it still is in Laredo in the fall. I guess it still isn't time to get out the flannel pj's yet down here. I hope that Mommy gets me a pair of nice pj's for my birthday because once we get back up north the nights are getting down to the high 30's and low 40's and they sure would be cozy. Only 11 days left till MY Birthday. I can hardly wait.

Love ya
Baby Sweet Pea and Sugar Princess

Thunder Storm Warning or Tornado Watch?

2007-09-01T18:21:00.000-07:00

On August 22 we left Billings, Mt. heading south with a final destination of Laredo, Tx. It was a beautiful sunny morning - a perfect day for driving. By the time we reached Sheridan, Wy., approximately a 2 hour drive, it was cloudy, cold and overcast. In fact, if the clock hadn't said it was early in the morning, we would have thought it was early evening. The further south we went the darker it got and the harder the wind blew. When we reached Casper, Wy. about 2.5 hours later, it was raining hard. There were 2 trucks blown over on the interstate. We stopped for fuel there but Mommy said the weather was to bad, we couldn't take a break there. We continued south toward Cheyenne, Wy.

It takes brute strength to keep the truck on the road when your driving in a cross wind. There was bolt lightening and sheet lightening and lots of thunder. The rain was getting heavier and heavier. Even though I was very afraid of the storm, I could tell Mommy was getting tired from fighting the storm, I jumped right up and threw my mighty muscles into helping Mommy keep the Heartbreaker on the road. Sugar Princess chose to "meditate" under the pillows on the bed. Shortly after we left Casper it started to hail. At first the hail stones were small and soft and just went splat when they hit the windshield. The hail would slack off and then build up again. About half way to Cheyenne , it was so dark you would have thought it was midnight, and it was still the middle of the afternoon. Suddenly it sounded like large pebbles were being thrown against the truck. Mommy pulled over on the shoulder to wait until the hail let up. The hail stones were as big as moth balls and frozen hard. Mommy was afraid that the moon window in the roof of the Heartbreaker would get broken.

As we were entering the city of Cheyenne the storm increased dramatically and the hard hail stones started again. We had to slow down to 15 miles per hour. Cars were pulling onto the shoulder under the overpasses. There was a man on the CB Radio calling for all trucks to leave the interstate. We crept along the last 3 miles until we reached the Flying J. The parking lot was white - it was hail stones floating on about 4 inches of water. It was raining so hard that Mommy got soaked when she rolled down the window for a few minutes so she could back into a parking spot. The Heartbreaker was slipping and sliding on the icy hail stones. The temperature had dropped about 30* F in about an hour.

After we were parked Mommy was surfing the local radio stations and the National Weather Service to find out when the storm was expected to abate. One radio station said that there were severe thunder storm and flood warnings for the area that were to be in place until 10:45 pm. Another station announced that the area was under a tornado watch till "later tonight.". Was it a tornado watch or was it just a sever thunder storm and flood watch? We don't know.

What we do know is that in the 2 minutes that Mommy had the window rolled down, she got soaking wet and the driver's side of the truck got drenched and it got cold enough that we had to turn the heaters on to keep comfortable and keep the windows defogged. Mommy wouldn't get out of the truck to go and eat or walk us. She gave us our kibbies and told Sugar and me that we had to use the potty pad. Then Mommy went to bed. When we got up at 3:00 am the storm was over and the parking lot was dry. Mommy took us out for a walk, ran in and got her coffee and a fresh fruit salad and "put the Heartbreaker in the wind" for Laredo. It made for a long drive but we were in Laredo the next morning on time.

Love Ya and Stay Safe

Baby Sweet Pea and Sugar Princess
Rookie Road Warrior Grande Dame of the Highway

A Conversation about Mommy

2007-08-29T13:55:00.000-07:00

Baby Sweet Pea (SBSP): (sob....sob) Sugar Princess I have (s0b...sniff..hic..sob) mmaade a
ttterrible dis...discoverrry aaaabouttt MMMMommmy!!!! (sob......sob....)

Sugar Princess (SPPO): Sweetie, come sit by me. What could you possibly have discovered
about Mommy that would upset you like this? (comforting snuggles) Now you just dry
your tears and tell Sugie all about it, lill one.

SBSP: (sob...sniff..sob) Oh Sugie, it is just (sob...hic) ttterri..bble! (sob..sniff) our MMommyyy
has a bb..bb..bad mmean ssstreak and she is ssselfish tooo! (sob......sob......sob)

SPPO: Sweetie, what has happened? Our Mommy is always kind and loving to both of us and
she always shares good things with us. Come now, quit crying and tell me about this.

SBSP: (sob....sniff... sniff..hic) MMMommmy ppicked me (sniff...sob...sniff) uuppp aandd
llookked MMEEE rright in the eye (sob...hic..sob) and ssaid in a a a hardd vvoice
"Sugar's Baby Sweet Pea Sangster you are a big girl now and you better start showing
some manners or I am going to thwack you on the gluteus maximus."

(sniff..sob...sniff) NNoo mmore lloud ddemanding ttalking (hic) at
ccustoms, (sob) nnoo mmore ttan..ttrrumss aand (sniff..hic) bbiting yyou when
sshee is ggrooming yyou. Sshee even llocked MMEE in jjail at Auntie Lois's house.
(sob...hic....sniff)

Aand Ssug..gie, the very wworsst is th..that sh..shee wwon't even sh..share her Reese's
Mini Peanut Butter Cups or her Chocolate Rasins. Shades of Mommy Dearest, don't
you think? (sob..sniff..sniff)

SPPO: (deep sigh) Sweetie, Sweetie, what am I going to do with you? First, Mommy loves us
very much and she always wants the best for us. She just wants everybody to love you
as much as she does. If you listen to Mommy and do what she asks you and if you
behave nicely things will go a lot better for you. Mommy lets you drive and sit on her
arm, or have a nap when ever you want to. You just have to have some manners.
And, Baby Sweet Pea, I am very tired of your tantrums and your biting when
Mommy is grooming me and when I sit on Mommy's lap. You can share you know.

As for not sharing the chocolate candy with us, that isn't selfish. Mommy can eat that
sort of thing but it will make us very, very sick. She doesn't let us eat grapes either.
She brought us some nice pieces of veal for our dinner last night, those were from
Mommy's dinner, and she gives us pieces of melon when she has fruit bowls for
snack. Now you just dry your cute lill eyes and be a good Yorkie. Mommy isn't
mean or selfish. Methinks, you are just a tad bit spoiled. You're 23 months old now
and it is time to act like a big girl.

SBSP: (whining now) But Sugie, you had Mommy all to yourself for 11 years before I got
adopted. I just have to make up for all that time. Besides, you sleep ALL the time.

SPPO: Baby Sweet Pea, you are a foolish lill girl! I DO NOT sleep all the time, I MEDITATE
most of the time - that is something you should try more often. Maybe you would get
your priorities straight. Sweetie, I only had Mommy to myself for about 5 years.
tBerore hat, I shared her. There was Wally Two Shoes, he was Daddy's fur boy and he
has gone to the Bridge now. And there was Orange Peekoe, he was a Big ole Hymalian
cat who has to live in another forever home cause Mommy was so allergic. And
Mommy fostered Phantom, a dalmation- lab cross, for 3 years till he went to his forever
home with a very troubled little skin boy. Phantom was kinda like a service dog cause
he helped the little skin boy feel better about himself. We all have to share
sometimes. Besides, it is more fun when there are two of us. Mommy has enough love
for both of us.

SBSP: (smiling) Oh, alright Miss Sugar Princess Precious One, you are so wise. I better just
shake myself out and start to be a good girl. I was wrong about Mommy, she does
love us very much. And she takes us to such interesting places. I AM a BIG GIRL now!

Thanks for dropping in to our blog. See y'all next time with more high adventure.

Love Ya'

Sugar Princess and Baby Sweet Pea

A Day in Laredo

2007-08-14T22:44:00.000-07:00

We made a fast trip, this weekend, from Red Deer, Alberta to Laredo, Tx. It was all cold and raining back in Red Deer. You can just feel Fall in the air. Although we didn't have any time to enjoy the scenery, the weather warmed up as we came south. It is so hot and humid here that when we get out of the Heartbreaker it feels just like being wrapped in a warm blanky that still needs more time in the dryer.

Mommy changed the filters in the a/c while we were still back in Calgary. That was real funny to watch. There were tools and truck parts all over the inside of the cab. The dust was flying everywhere. The manuals all say it is a simple thing to change the filters in the a/c/heater but I think not by the language we heard. Oh, Oh, we aren't supposed to tell that part. By the time it was all done Mommy had a few scuffed knuckles and looked like she had rolled in a dirt pile. Thank goodness for nice clean showers at the Flying J.

That a/c is just doing a great job now. Even in all this high heat we have to keep it on low or we will be freezing cold.

Nap Time.

Love Ya
Sugar Princess and Baby Sweet Pea

About Us - Our Home

2007-07-18T13:22:00.000-07:00

We would like to tell you a bit about our home. We own and operate a long haul highway truck (18 wheeler) named the Heartbreaker. We pull a refrigerated trailer (reefer) and haul produce and food stuffs or related products across Canada and continental United States.

The Heartbreaker, a blue Western Star Stratosphere, is our home, our office and our business. We have a storage locker in Lethbridge Alberta. We live where ever we park the truck that night. We rarely spend 2 days in a row in the same place.

We little fur Ladies are very hard working. It is our job to be Mommy's early warning system. We guard our home with great enthusiasm. It is a big responsibility to keep Mommy and the Heartbreaker safe.

As you can well imagine we have many stories to tell and we have new adventures every day. We will share the best ones with you.

Love Ya
Sugar Princess and Baby Sweet Pea
Grande Dame of the Road Rookie Road Warrior

About Us - Baby Sweet Pea

2007-07-18T13:03:00.001-07:00

I'm Sugar's Baby Sweet Pea, a teacup Yorkshire Terrier. I am 22 months old and weigh in at a whopping 2.42 pounds. I'll be 2 years old on September 25th and I came to my forever home on December 3, 2005.

I have a very different story than my older sister Sugar Princess. I was born and spent the first 10 weeks of my life in a lovely family home in Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada with my canine mother and my 2 brothers. We were loved and adored and trained and spoiled by our human family.

When we were 10 weeks old our human mother gathered us up and took us for our first visit to our groomer, Miss Penny. We were all given nice baths and comb outs so we would be all fresh and pretty to meet our new Mommies. Our adoptions had all been previously arranged. I had been reserved for almost a year.

Mommy came into the shop and it was love at first sight for both of us. Miss Penny and my owner, Miss Barb helped Mommy fit me with a nice little harness and leash as well as pick out a bowl and some puppy kibbies. I said good bye to my brothers and my fur parents and Miss Barb and Miss Penny. Mommy put me inside her jacket as it was a very cold windy winter day and I was off to my forever home.

I have many adventures that I will share as we go along.

Love Ya,
Baby Sweet Pea

About Us - Sugar Princess

2007-07-18T12:48:00.001-07:00

I'm Sugar Princess Precious One, a Lhasa Apso. I'll be 13 years old on December 10th. I have been in my forever home since February, 1995.

I was born and spent the first 8 weeks of my life in a puppy mill in Missouri. When I was 8 weeks old I was unceremoniously stuffed in a little crate and put in a van with many other similarly traumatized puppies. We spent a week traveling across country gathering up more puppies until we arrived at a pet store in Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada.

Mommy happened to come into the store the very evening that I arrived there. I was being carried around the store in the mouth of a Boxer puppy and nobody seemed to notice. Mommy rescued me from the Boxer and put me gently on the floor. I just put my little paws on her leg and whimpered for her to pick me up. I gave her a sad look with my big brown eyes and the rest is history.

Mommy took me home that very night. I was so scared after my arduous journey across the country that I just whimpered and cried unless Mommy held me. She let me sleep on her pillow snuggled in her long hair that first night. I have slept on Mommy's pillow ever since. To this day, when I get nervous or scared it calms me down to groom Mommy's hair for her.

Love Ya,
Sugar Princess