StellaFest Part 1

WooHoo, puparoonies! It's my birthday, and I've already been celebrating for 3 days! We decided to get the party rolling by breaking out our pool. Here, Hairy Stanley is instructing me on the finer points of swimming.

He said that head dunking and bubble blowing are what all Olympic level swimmers do.

If only my hairy beast of a bruzzer would let me actually get into the pool I could try it out for myself.

He said I had to wait until he drip dried and got out before I could get in.

Ahhhh. Alone at last in MY pool.

I remained ever vigilant, scanning the horizon for possible threats to our good time, even while I was enjoying my swim.

Then my buddy, Lady Bug, arrived and I went to the gate to greet her.

Like any good hostess and birthday girl, I introduced her to MY pool and invited her for a swim.

Lady, however, is not fond of swimming, so we found other ways to amuse ourselves.

She wasn't too interested in being my friend at first, but she's slowly coming around.

And now, let me show you my FAVE place in the backyard... MY hammock!

It's like a giant puppy swing, and sometimes I even let my girl ride with me.

It's also a great place to take a snooze after some good swimming.

Here's a little video excerpt of what Stanley calls my "Hammock Dance". I think it's more like surfing than dancing, but whatever. (Ignore the pastey white legs in the vid ~ they're not important.)

Now, let's compare photos. Here's one of the first photos ever taken of me back in September when I was rescued with my brothers from the hog farm puppy mill in Florida.

And, here's a photo of me on my birthday with my new "mature" haircut. (I'm missing my puppy 'fro curls.)

So much has happened to me in just one year! I went from living with four itty bitty bruzzers to living with one giant hairy goober bruzzer. I went from a tiny crate on a hog farm in Florida to my princess bed in GooberStan. And I went from having no friends to having all of YOU! I'd say it's been a really good year!

Special love & goobery smooches to all the people at Florida Terrier Rescue, and especially to my foster mama, Kathleen, and Miss Lynn the Terrier whisperer, who taught me how to be a dog and to get along with hoomans!

I'll post the poems and cards I've already received in StellaFest Part 2! I can't wait to show you!

Happy Birthday to ME and my 4 Lakie bruzzers, and goobery love to all of YOU,

A very happy & grateful Stella