Bark for Peace!

Well, it’s not Sustain-a-Ball (we’re sad, but we sure understand the difficulty of an all volunteer event!) but it’s the Green Holiday Shopping Festival at the Sunset Valley Farmer’s Market!  9am-1pm

We’ll still have all our great fair-trade and handmade wool toys, soaps, shampoos, balm, recycled cotton & hemp collars and leashes, organic t-shirts, tote bags, and more!

Mention the B4P blog and get a FREE Pet Sitting Instructions Notepad- kinda like MadLibs for the one who takes care of your beloved companion animals while you’re away (on recycled paper, of course!) woof!woof!

Busy-ness is the typical business of the holiday season (more on that at a later date)  If you’re up and about this Thursday we’d love to see you at one or both of the following fantastic events:

Event #1: SUYG- Show Us Your Goods!

Grab those back-of-the-closet “oh, why did I ever buy that, color’s rotten on me but it was such a great price, suit?” and your happiest hour mood for a sleek shopping fest at West Sixth Street’s cool, comfy & hip Molotov Lounge from 5:30-8:30pm.  Bark for Peace! is proud to join 11 other awesome women owned businesses at this benefit for Dress for Success.

SUYG

In case you didn’t know- The mission of Dress for Success is to promote the economic independence of disadvantaged women by providing professional attire, a network of support and the career development tools to help women thrive in work and in life. We’ll be there with lots of toys, tags, collars, tote bags, and of course treats!  Bring a friend, some professional wear to donate and support women in transition- in the end, that’s all of us in different times and places and we’ve got to stick together!

Event # 2: Fine Food Art Gallery Night

Join Bark for Peace! and others from Small Bites of Austin in sampling some of the most delectable and spectacularly original food in Austin at the Wally Workman Gallery this Thursday night, December 11th.   This is just one of a week full of events sponsored by our good friends at Edible Austin magazine as a part of Eat Local Week.

Edible Austin Magazine presents Eat Local Week

Celebrate fine local food and fine local art in a great gallery setting as you remember just a couple of things that make it really great to be in ATX, especially when it’s snow-sleeting outside!

Usually when I hear a honk, I panic a bit thinking either “oh, no the light must have turned green and I was daydreaming again,” or “great, what’s on top of my car that just fell off?”  But this weekend I was pleasantly surprised that not once, but twice, when I heard honking I turned to be greeted with “woof!woof!woof!woof!woof!”  Of course, I broke out into laughter both times! What luck that Clementine was with me on Friday, and Banjo on Saturday, so they both got to join in the silliness!

Clementine Kissing for Peace!

Just barkin' for peace with Elissa

Cheerleaders bark for peace with me and Banjo

These gorgeous young women were up from Sugarland, Texas (which is near Houston) for a cheerleading competition where their squads won 1st and 2nd places.  They were such smart, engaging, and energetic young women with thoughtful questions about health, food, Bark for Peace!, vegetarianism, and Banjo.  We shared jerky chews, stories, and hope!

Of course I’m wondering, like pretty much everyone else is, how to navigate these troubling times.  What shape will Bark for Peace! take as it continues to be birthed?  How will we manage to survive, and hopefully thrive, in a difficult economic climate for established businesses, much less for fledgling ones?  But thanks to some very vocal young women, with a lot of moxy, I was delightfully reminded that no matter what the future holds, we’ll never bark alone!   Thanks gals, you sure cheered me up!

Saturday was a fun day with running enthusiasts, dog crazed peeps, and a cozy open fire with homemade black beans, brown rice, and pico de gallo.  Banjo got some socialization, we helped out a great cause, got to see some old friends, and make some new ones.  Plus, the weather was amazing and we were outdoors in a gorgeous setting the whole time.  How did I manage to take so few photos???

PeeJay (aka Piggy) with a small Fuzzee he picked out himself!

This porcine looking puppy is being fostered by our friends at Lucky Mutts.  Several weeks ago he was found running down the street with an electrical cord around his neck.  Hard to believe he’s all dog sincehe looks, walks, talks like a pig- maybe he’s a hybrid!  Anyway, he LOVED his fair-trade boiled wool fuzzee!!

an exhausted Piggy crashes on his beloved toy

Inke and her dog

Why drink it when you can stand in it?

Walking the Run Like the Wind course (some people ran 6-12 hours!)

this sweet rescue boy was only too happy to wave for B4P! treats

His dog loved playing with the Frizzee, but he pointed out that it also makes quite the stylish chapeau

very good dogs sitting pretty for B4P! treats

Banjo couldn't bear it when I was talking mother-ease to Piggy (he also couldn't really figure out how to get the table cloth off his face!)

Come out to the Lee Mannix Center for Canine Behavior- with or without your dog- and help us raise money for the Schrodi Memorial Training Fund tomorrow (Sat Dec 6th) morning.  Schrodi was dog trainer/vet tech Shari Elkins “FORD”- (aka her greatest teacher) and is the reason that Shari got into dog training- uh, she HAD to get into dog training!

Schrodi

From the website, Shari Elkins, CPDT writes:

Schrodi was my first dog as an adult.  From day one, she was my “problem child.”  It took me years to find a trainer, such as Lee Mannix, who could truly understand and help in a compassionate way.   If not for Schrodi and her rowdy behavior, I would never have found my own passion for dog training nor would I have the four other wonderful dogs I have now (or for that matter I wouldn’t have the man I love).  Schrodi was a profound dog whose name and legacy deserve to be carried on and I feel offering rehabilitation training is a perfect remembrance of the best dog in the world.  Please consider helping other dogs and keep Schrodi’s memory alive.

There are loads of options to run, stroll, jog, walk- either with or without your dog on the rustic and lovely grounds of the Lee Mannix Center.  Should be gorgeous weather- a great day for a great cause, come join us! woof!woof!

Friday was cold, for Austin anyway- I think the high was in the 40’s and we absolutely loved it! After Clementine and I ran around town to the kitchen, FedEx, CAF drop off, etc., our reward was hiking!  Since we hadn’t been out to Turkey Creek in awhile (it’s a bit of a drive and the road is pretty windy and kinda scary with traffic) I decided we’d head out.  This trail has special sentimental significance since FORD and I also hiked it years ago, and we just marked the first anniversary of her death.

Perfect for a heeler- there's a job to do! Gingersnap would be great at this since she loves to carry rocks

Austin has received roughly half the annual average rainfall in 2008- we’ve only had 15″.  Verysupercool Sue said she thinks Turkey Creek is always MIA in winter, I can’t remember.  I just know it made me sad.  I wanted to splash and I know Clementine wanted to swim!

Turkey (no) Creek

C'mon, C'mon I wanna go get it!

Where's Clementine?

I had not noticed before, maybe it’s because last Fall was spent traveling back and forth to the Texas State Fair and there wasn’t much hiking going on, that Clementine blends into the Fall backdrop rather seamlessly.  I need to remember to clip her bear bell on, just in case I lose her!

with her spots and autumal coloring, she does camoflage quite naturally

Last year this mixed use trail was in danger of being made off-limits to both people and well behaved dogs.  Bark for Peace! donated treats to the Friends of Turkey Creek and Therese at Petsit USA helped us get the word out.  Thankfully the Austin City Council agreed that responsible people and their dogs could share the trail with the warblers.  We’re so grateful!

Colors of Turkey Creek

Changing Leaves Reflect Changing Times

TUG

One of the things I think I enjoy about changing seasons is the fact that it’s like getting a whole new wardrobe when you dig out the clothes for that time of year.  “Surprise, I completely forgot about that shirt- I LOVE that shirt!”  And the warm memories that fill you when snuggle up to your favorite wool sweater of 13 years- it’s better than getting something new, because it’s already full of irreplaceable stories and memories, like reconnecting with an old friend.  And it’s kinda fun to forget about things for awhile and then rediscover them with renewed wonder and appreciation.

CHASE

Today Banjo and Clementine got a “new to them” toy.  Our former neighbor (& still friend!) Erika brought some gently used toys to share at a meeting for the Cherrywood Art Fair (Dec 13-14, if you’re in Austin, you don’t want to miss it!:)  Her dogs didn’t really fancy them, so she washed and dried them and brought them to share with the group and BOY was this soft rope toy a score!!!

FASTER!

I’d like to think that they knew it was a special toy from a good friend, but that’s just me liking to think that.  I do suspect they appreciated that it was gently used which means it was soft in their mouths and perfectly broken-in, like the flannel PJ bottoms I pick-up at the Goodwill Blue Hanger for $1.25.  They feel so much better than new ones, because they’re already worn in just right.

SHARING?

What a wonderful reminder that we can give great gifts without spending a dime! Thanks, Erika!

I’m glad everyone’s buying less this holiday season.  It feels so much more sane.  That’s not what a business owner’s supposed to say, but I don’t consider myself an owner anyway, more of a midwife as we go about the birthing of Bark for Peace! We have so much of what we need already, especially if we remember to share, so buying fewer things is just smarter.

Little Miss Mischief, oh my!

GET IT!

Our trainers tell us that we shouldn’t just leave the toys out with the dogs all the time anyway- that’s BORING.  But engaging with a toy, especially one that hasn’t been out in awhile, or used to live down the street with the neighbor’s dogs, might be just what makes their little heart’s sing!  Sure did the trick around here- and believe me, they have lots of toy experience, they test and vet them all!

Next week I’ll post a “how to” on making a great dog toy to toss and tug with old sweaters or blankets. That’s a fun & easy thing to make with a friend on a cold night! Peace and Hope, woof!woof!

Happy Banjo with "it's new to me" toy!