I need you to weigh in on something.

My husband and I are having a disagreement, and I’m taking it to the streets. I can’t tell you who is clearly a fool thinks what because then he’ll say that you only agree with me because you’re my readers, and not because I am so very obviously correct. 

So we’re doing this the anonymous route.

The background:  we have three dogs, two of whom live outside.  While I was pregnant with Catie I developed a severe allergy to them, and even five years later I can’t be in close quarters with them or I’ll melt down.  (inside dog is a Shih Tzu, excellent for people with allergies, FYI)  So these dogs have lived outside full time for 5 years.  We have a fenced yard so they run free, and they have a dog house to sleep in.  Said dog house was custom built with 4 inches of insulation in the walls and it is heated.

Why yes, you did read that correctly.

Our dog house is heated.

However, the dogs do not seem to care about this, or else they just flat out don’t like it.  They do not spend their time in the dog house, no matter how cold it is.

In fact, this afternoon when it is 14 degrees and snowing, this is where they are choosing to spend their time:

We’re in a real cold snap, and temps are even hitting the single digits at night, with below zero wind chills.  Their water bowl might freeze, but of course I am a stay-at-home mom so I am here and able to make sure they have a non-frozen beverage available at all times.  We also increase their feedings in the winter, to help keep them warm.  (And apparently make an already 120-pound dog even bigger.)  Their feet are also inspected for frostbite daily – by the person who believes they are fine outside, too, mind you.

So considering all of this, one of us still wants to bring the dogs into the garage to sleep at night.   We have a large wire crate that they sleep in out there, and there are a couple of old blankets for added warmth.  The crate is not enclosed, though, which the other person argues might make the dogs even colder in a large, drafty garage than they would be outside in their insulated and heated dog house. 

Or in the snow, where they lay around because their dog house is too hot for them. 

Whatever.

One of us is a country mouse and one of us is a city boy mouse.

City mouse doesn’t have an explanation for why dogs have survived outside for hundreds of years.  Or for how farm animals survive in a barn. 

City mouse stammers when you ask if they believe farmers bring their cows into their garages at night.

But despite all evidence to the contrary, city mouse still believes that the dogs must be cold.

They just don’t know it.

So wise old city mouse believes we must think for them, and bring the dogs inside.

Also on the list of things city mouse cannot explain?  Why the freezing cold dogs literally run you over in an effort to get back outside in the morning.  Or why they roll around in the snow all day.  Or why they have to be physically drug into the garage to sleep at night.

Ahem.

So yeah, that’s the dilemma in a nutshell.  What say you?

How Glam is this dog?

A few weeks ago I was fortunate enough to win some super cute duds for our dog.  Nicole at Apron Strings Aflutter had a great giveaway for our four-legged friends, and I was one of the prize winners.  The lucky recipient was Molly.

Princess Molly Fluffer (yes, that is her real name!)

Our beloved little Shih Tzu puppy  is a great sport about her attire.  The girls love to dress her up, and she must like it too – she’s never tried to run, and she poses for pictures.  Yup, we’re THOSE people.  But in my own defense, I will say that we’ve never had formal pictures taken and we’ve never taken her to meet Santa.  Not that there’s anything wrong with that.

So yesterday, Molly’s designer duds arrived in the form of a pink hoodie with zebra-print trim.  How cute is this?

Molly and her new zebra-print hoodie

We also got a $25 gift certificate to Doggie Vogue which I can’t wait to use!  They have so many cute things, the tough part will be deciding what to buy.  Of course they have supplies and toys and books and lots of other things besides just clothes, but knowing my little fashionistas, there will be no consideration of anything other than tiny little dresses and hairbows.

And with a doggie this cute, who can blame them?

Isn't she sweet?

Besides, she really does need hairbows.  I took them out to brush her hair, and this is what she looks like without them:

Bad hair day

A tad on the Cousin It side, wouldn’t you say?

Thank you so much to Doggie Vogue for the super cute new outfit, and thank you to Nicole for hosting this giveaway!

Random thoughts

I am too busy to blog, but because I hate to leave this little project completely unattended, I’ve made time to list out 5 completely random things that entered my mind today. Call it a meme and copy if you’d like – I’d love to hear your thoughts.

1) What’s with pants these days? Is it just me or do they all fall down? Trust me, I’m not buying them too big. I wish I could say that was my problem, but it isn’t. I have several pairs of properly sized pants – sweats, track pants, casual capris, jeans, the whole gamut – and they all slide down, and require that constant hiking up. Which is so tacky. I know. But what’s a girl to do?

2) I love privacy director. Caller id combined with privacy director has made our home completely free of unwanted calls, and I love that. Thank you Bellsouth.

3) Why does the puppy always take forever to find the proper spot to pee when it’s raining? Sunny and warm, she’s done in 10 seconds flat, but 40 degrees with a whipping rain and she has to sniff around for 10 minutes.

4) Catie is hysterical. I’m trying to teach the girls good table manners, and chewing with your mouth closed is at the top of my list. A certain spouse does not always do this, which drives the other spouse crazy. But I digress. Anyway, after watching Molly eat breakfast Catie turned to me and said, “Mommy, Molly doesn’t have good manners. Did Daddy teach her to chew?” ROFL From the mouths of babes.

5) I live in fear of head lice. We got a note sent home from school earlier this week that lice was detected in Annie’s classroom. For the second time this year. Now my head itches just thinking about it. From extensive googling I’ve learned that they attach more easily to clean hair, so the poor baby’s shampoos are few and far between now. They are also apparently repelled by vinegar, so I added white vinegar to the laundry. Unfortunately we may repel our friends and neighbors as well, since who wants to walk around smelling like vinegar? But if the alternative is to walk around with a head full of bugs, I’ll take the stink.

So what’s new with you?

Everyone should have a Molly

I just love this little doggie. She’s the sweetest thing ever, and such a cute little fluffer.

What we’ve been doing all weekend

As you can see, the girls and I immediately went out and bought a lot of pink accessories – carrying bag, bed, toys, collar (with rhinestones of course), leash, treat jar, dress… She’s quite the princess already! You’d never know it by the way she acts though – she’s fantabulous, and we’re all in love.