Thank you, Bailey!

As I learned from my friend Bug, a photo of mine was recently featured in Dogs in Cars on Bailey Be Good!

Thank you so much, Bailey! You're pawesome! Dear Readers, go say hi to sweet Bailey, and submit your own photos featuring doggies in cars, or doggies in shadows. See here for more details. And please... tell Bailey that Tootsie sent you. :)

Wotten waven! Now, everybody... keep on wagging!

Wordless Wednesday: No Time to Waste!

Reunited & a Thank You Note

Dear Grandpa,

Thank you for taking care of me while Mom was on her book tour. I appreciate learning how to "go to [my] house" to get my green bean treats. Yummy! I also appreciate how you let me snuggle and lick Truffle, my furbrother, and how you admire the dedication I show to fully licking a big dog all over. I'm a little dog, but I have a big spirit, and I appreciate how much you have fallen in love with me. Right back at you, Grandpa.

You have also helped me understand my separation anxiety, and I think I'm doing much better sitting on the couch while you go outside to get more firewood for the wood stove. Of course, it helps being with Truffle! Maybe I'm just feeling all of your love inside of me, so I feel more secure. I mean, my parents do help with this feeling of security, but there is something about being loved by a Grandpa -- you -- that makes me feel extra safe.

Mom says her heart is full and overflowing with joy because her book tour was really special. She is also grateful to you, Grandpa, for taking such good care of me. Mom met special friends, like Christa, who are incredibly supportive and wonderful. She met new friends. And she got to visit relatives and old friends, many of whom she had not seen in years. She says she needed more time to speak with everyone! Mom asked me to send out a virtual thank you to the world. People are kind and good, and she is grateful to all of you whom she met.

Reunited! And it feels so good...

So Grandpa. Mom is back in Idaho, and Dad is still in Switzerland, and I will continue to count on you giving me cuddles and green beans and love.

Love,
Tootsie

The Cimo Trail

On a Saturday in late January, a week before the first snow, I hiked from the lakeside town of Agno to the hill town of Cimo. The trail begins across the street from the back of the Agno church and winds its way through the forest at the edge of town.

The trademark Swiss yellow signage looks a bit worse for the wear, but it serves its purpose.

The trail is well-maintained...

and always easy to follow.

Cimo offers neat architecture...

Catholic-themed art...

and lots of quiet to hear yourself think.

The best thing about Cimo, however, is the view.

Some people find the view heart-stopping, which is why a defibrillator is available to the general public right in the middle of Cimo.

Seriously, this device is part of a network of defibrillators publicly available for emergencies in communities throughout southern Switzerland!

Hare on my back

Dear Readers and Kindred Spirits,

Today I would like to celebrate International Women's Day by sharing a conversation I had with my Collie cousin Ester last fall.

Keep on wagging,
Tootsie

Nearly Wordless Wednesday: Idaho Snow Monster

Happy Birthday, Grandpa!

Tagged by Nola and Garth!

I was recently tagged by two pawesome fur-friends: Dachshund Nola and English Labrador Retriever Garth Riley. Thank you so much to both of you, and...here we go!

1. Describe yourself in 7 words:

Cultivated rescue miniature dachshund savoring bicontinental life.

2. What keeps you up at night?

Three things: (1) the thought that my breakfast might be waiting for me in the kitchen; (2) Dad waking me up to make sure I'm still breathing under the covers; (3) Mom waking me up to fiddle with me.

3. Who would you like to be?

I wag to be me.

4. What are you wearing right now?

My Dachshund Delights CoverUp, my pink collar, and my milkbone-shaped tag.

5. What scares you?

The thought that I might be separated from my furever parents. I suffer from separation anxiety, which my furever parents help me manage.

6. The best and worst of blogging?

The best: Connecting with fur-friends and their humans.
The worst: Did you say...wurst? As in sausage? Where is it???

7. Last website you've visited?

Pet Blogs United: PBU. I was recently the PBU Featured Blogger, and I am still so excited I keep going back to my Featured Blogger post :)

8. One thing you'd change about yourself?

My ability to gain weight out of thin air.

9. Slankets or no?

Yes, of course. I'd love to burrow inside a slanket.

10. Tell us something about the dog or person that tagged you:

Dachshund Nola is a very special furgirl from Florida. She's adorable. She always visits my blog and leaves fun fur comments. Her mom takes wonderful photos. Her blog always makes me wag. Did I mention that she's gorgeous?

Garth Riley is a Canine Good Citizen from Virginia. He's a certified therapy dog with an impressive resume. He brings joy and pride to his community on a daily basis, because people instantly feel better when they look at him. I can see how that happens, because his blog always makes my day. Much like myself, he's a very adventurous dog, and in fact he just won an award at Mango Minster 2012 in the Adventure Animals category.

And now...here are the eight fur-friends I'm tagging, in no particular order:

Baïka, my Swiss King Charles Spaniel fur friend from Geneva. The English language does not have enough adjectives to properly capture her cuteness, so she blogs in French :) I adore her videos; don't miss her Bubble Gum Girl performance!

Bunk, a black pug puppy with a great sense of humor. Originally from Missouri, Bunk now resides in Tennessee. Next time you're feeling under the radar, be sure to read his Mango Minster entry: it will make your day!

Frankie Furter and Ernie, two fellow dachshunds from Ohio with a unique writing style! I love their new jackets that their mom made for them.

Goose, always sweet and thoughtful! Much like myself, he's a rescue dog who takes good care of his mom and goes on some great walks in Utah!

Kippy Marrie, a very stylish Yorkie from Brazil! Her blog has a great design, and she has lots of fabulous adventures!

Marlon Brando, Humphrey Bogart, and Ziggy Stardust! They live in New Mexico and just traveled to Vegas! Ziggy got himself an interesting haircut. They recently published their pawesome 100th post.

Bouncing Bertie, a gorgeous wire-haired fox terrier pup from Aberdeen, Scotland. I met Bertie thanks to Mango Minster and I was blown away by his great entry. Be sure not to miss Bard Bertie's 2011 wrap-up!

Reuben at Floppy Tongue Joy, a pawesome fellow rescue dachshund from South Carolina who's very protective of his own blog :)
His story sounds very similar to my own: among other things, Reuben had to have dental surgery after he was rescued, just like me.
Plus, we both started blogging in September 2011. Check out his sweet blog, but read the disclaimer first!