HoneyBelle Basset

FREE Dental Exam

2011-08-04T15:35:00.001-07:00

Let me explain. We just worked the Reliant Energy Dog Show "Meet the Breed." I hauled almost 200 pounds of hound to this event @ 6:00 a.m. We filled the ring with people standing 3 and 4 deep to get a photo op, free squeeze, free kisses and pepper me with questions. I was so busy I never had an opportunity to get new pictures this year.

A child that stood out was a rowdy 4 year old, wild against his parents’ pleas for calming down. He thrust himself in front of my bloodhound, mouth wide open. As if in slow-motion, Juno never blinked or moved, but her long pink tongue shot into his mouth and did a clean swipe across his baby teeth. No need for dental cleaning for a while. This boy recoiled with the look of total violation. His parents folded into choking laughter, explaining had he approached her calmly, his meet-&-greet would have been a little less personal.

Bloodhounds are French, you know...

We Moved to The Country

2011-07-11T10:40:00.000-07:00

I apologize for the great delay in posting to our fellow hound lovers. My plate has been so full it has filled up, spilled over and is now pooling around me. Last fall I decided I had had enough of the taxes and city living so I sold to a motivated buyer and moved out into the country on several acres. I wanted to go back growing my own food and seeing my hounds run and bay to their hearts content. I did this before when I was 18 years old-bought land way out in the sticks and raised my kids out there. Now I am nearing 50 and I don't move as fast as I used to. Plus, having hot flashes in already 100+ degree heat is enough to make me pass out. Since I am (still) single and work in the city, I am tired and not keeping up with some things like I want. Like HoneyBelle's Blog. She still is having great stories to share and I will work on getting them posted. I hope to see y'all around again.

HoneyBelle: Mama has lost her mind and moved us into the middle of H-E-L-L.

Hysterectomy

2010-11-29T11:00:00.000-08:00

Yes, fellow hound readers, I fell out due to an emergency surgery. You would think my injury might have been attributed to falling over a hound and impaling myself on something, but I can't blame this on the dogs. I will be back up and running-or-walking here shortly.

Drool to all.

Four A.M.

2010-10-27T09:50:00.000-07:00

Is when Juno's deep, and heartfelt bay broke my REM sleep. I am quite sure I levitated straight up. WHAT IN GOD'S HOLY NAME?!! Because by then HoneyBelle and Ruby chimed in-the terrier screaming and both hounds bellering (we say beller in Texas). I am sure the neighbors are going to call the police. I run out with the mag light and this is what I find.

The mama opossum. If you read HoneyBelle's blog you would know she has already killed four of her babies. So I ran the dogs into the house to let the savage beast get away. And I rescind the music to my ears in the earlier post. It should have a disclaimer "only when I am awake."

Big Sister

2010-10-26T15:56:00.001-07:00

We adopted a 1.5 year old Bloodhound last weekend. I am guessing she is the same age as HoneyBelle from the still growing teeth. I named her Juno which means "goddess" and "protector of women." Juno has had a rough start, a litter of pups before she herself is full grown, being tossed from a vehicle and abandoned, left to starve until a good woman takes her off the street and straight to the vet. She gets Juno well enough to find her a home. Which is ours. That is HoneyBelle's red, round butt to the left of the photo. She still has her devil costume on. This was Juno's first event so we did not overwhelm her too much by trussing her up in a costume. We took her to PetFest which is an event that supports our dog rescues. Juno received so many kisses, I hope she enjoyed herself. She is loved and has a home now. She and HoneyBelle have became fast friends. They both bay in unison when the train goes past, it is music to my ears.

The Screen Door Compromised

2010-10-13T10:55:00.000-07:00

This was the last thing I saw shoot out the front screen door. Now any other time she is shuffling, fumbling or otherwise staggering INTO the house. Now all of a sudden she because fleet of foot and decides to fly. I had to fling my sausage gravy off the oven burner and run like hell after her. Luckily I was dressed. I caught up with her in the neighbors front yard one block away and throw myself across the top of her like a quarterback getting his ass smashed in an NFL game. I wish I had time to illustrate the rest of this show. At this point she goes flat and looses all function of being able to walk. At 70 pounds I can no longer pick her big ass up. I stand her up like a giant sausage and wrap my arms under her arm pits and try to get her to walk on her back legs. Before it was all done it was me picking up a tree branch that motivated her into walking again. Big naughty girl. That is how we started our day.

Maybe I should add I only used the tree branch like a shepherds hook to guide her back with, she was not beaten with it...

HoneyBelle: Oh Nooo! She really beats me!

Sally Sleeping Beauty Contest

2010-10-08T15:16:00.000-07:00

We missed it. Yes, I was wasting my time working at my paying job that keeps our lights on and dog food flowing. So HoneyBelle voted for Fred the Bloodhound in Austin, TX. http://www.houndgirl.com/

I wanted to share her Dali muse pose. Martha and Bailey affectionately called her "rubenesque." Hope I spelled that right. We are rooting for you Fred! Go Go Go!

Cannibal Baby Heads

2010-10-04T15:24:00.000-07:00

I have a sick sense of humor. And so does HoneyBelle with the naughty pranks she pulls on me. I thought it would be genius to put a bunch of cheap baby doll heads on some rebar stakes in the bamboo garden to have as a conversation piece. Well, the first conversation was my sister threatening to have me committed. Then HoneyBelle made her contribution. I thought "what is that white stuff wafting through the yard??" Lord if it wasn't polyester baby doll guts. EVERYWHERE. She pulled open the trash bag and scored big points. I even had to chase her down and pull stuffing out of her mouth. So I did what a good keeper does, get the rake and start raking. I hesitated posting this because we just went through August and grass does not survive Gulf Coast Texas heat. So yes my yard is dirt where it is not landscaped. Augh.

HoneyBelle: I thought it was pretty cool to make some snow in Texas...

Reliant Energy Dog Show part II

2010-09-27T16:31:00.000-07:00

Okay, press agent fell out for a while. Here are a few photos of the very long weekend. HoneyBelle did a combo of representing both Basset Buddie Rescues and Greater Houston Basset Club. It kind of went like this:

HoneyBelle: Something is up, I am trussed up like a holiday ham with a cupcake confection wrapped around my neck.

Mother/press agent: You have the size and coloring of a large ham.

HoneyBelle: You will pay for this infraction...

HoneyBelle: I am positive I did not sign up for this. Is this hay on my tongue?

Mother/press agent: Well you are the size of a cow. Hurry up, we have to get over to Meet the Breed so you can show everyone what a gorgeous example of bassetitude you are. Here, change your outfit again.

HoneyBelle: Can we take her home?

Mother/press agent: No way in hell.

Mother/press agent: Look HoneyBelle-it is Tiny The Show Basset! And why won't you get on the floor with the other dogs?

HoneyBelle: You can't be serious. I am NOT a dog. Or is it DAWG today. hehe.

HoneyBelle: I cannot feel my legs anymore. And where is my couch. Whose idea was it to install large chunks of shredded grass to get comfortable on?

Mother/press agent: You have legs? Sorry, I could not resist. I will take it up with the committee on your behalf. Next year I will be sure to have your loveseat dollied in.

Mother/press agent: aawwwww. My baby is plumb wore out. It has been a full day of petting. Lets get you on your loveseat. She did so well in such a large event with people/kids everywhere.

Nite Nite HoneyBelle. We love you!

HoneyBelle: I know where she put 3 new skeins of yarn for her project...

Kilroy

2010-09-27T16:22:00.001-07:00

I came around the corner and saw her watching me like this. I just LOVE her big moon pie feet. The pooling jowl is a nice look for her also. I took her photo and then gave her a big smooch.

The September Issue

2010-09-17T13:14:00.000-07:00

Yes, our big tub of love made The September Issue of The Bark. I actually submitted this photo one year ago so they have a lot of catching up to do. And I could not resist punning off of Vogue magazine, and the hysterics they go through for the issue this month.

Sorry about the posts slowing again. I get nerve block pain shots this Tuesday so I hope to get some part of my energy back when they take effect. HoneyBelle still savages my yarn basket, pulls fabric down in my art studio, demands to be kissed, takes up my entire couch for her beauty rest, and sasses me with abandon. I love her.

Mi Amor

2010-08-02T16:13:00.000-07:00

Ohh la la-I loovvveee your perfume!

I dropped HoneyBelle off to get spayed today. I cried when I left her. I am such a big goober.

Reliant Energy Dog Show

2010-07-26T15:31:00.001-07:00

HoneyBelle worked the Reliant Energy Dog Show this year. I was not sure if she would go flat with all the noise and attention, or rally and take it. Our baby took it like a champ! Then to top it off-she worked into the early morning hours treeing an opossum like a true hound. She attended the Meet The Breed forum and showed the public what a wonderful breed Basset Hounds are. I have more delightful pictures and will get them loaded in the next day or two. HoneyBelle rocks!

The Guest House, Play House, Cabana...

2010-05-24T11:04:00.000-07:00

These are a few of the monikers my camper is being called. My neighbors across the street use less than friendly terms. So I moved it from the driveway to the back yard and leveled it on blocks and have started landscaping around it. It is a cool vintage silver 1970 slide in camper made by the Avion family (that needs the interior restored). I locked the dogs up in the kennel while I was trying (not) to kill myself getting it off the truck and leveled. As soon as I finished I turned the dogs out. HoneyBelle being the "Oh is it for ME?" personality ran to it immediately. I had the door opened for her and she climbs in and gives it a 10 point inspection. She checks out closets and climbs up on the table/seats. She approves.

I wonder if I can find a pair of mama's eye glasses in here...

Maybe she has some eye glasses up here...

Whew, that wore me out. I better take a nap.

Lukie the corgi says "Hey-let's GO GO GO!"

Crumbs In Bed

2010-05-21T14:42:00.000-07:00

I heard a lite "clunk clunk" and saw her walking from the kitchen to the loveseat/dogbed with her snack bowl. She climbs up and eats her snack while laying in bed. She is so funny-I ask her if she enjoyed her snack and took her picture.

Bassett Intelligence

2010-05-07T14:06:00.000-07:00

This is a comment that frequently pops up on The Drool. Some trainer in The Dog World makes a comment about bassets being dumb. Well. HoneyBelle isn't, that is for sure. This morning as I was leaving for work I get a phone call from the woman that owns the fitness gym behind me. HoneyBelle is in the air conditioned gym with the morning workout group. God only knows where the other two knot heads are. I run inside, grab three leads and run out the back gate. I can hear the cacaphony a block over and discover KORGEE and Ruby running a neighbors fence line-taunting the still secured pets. I snatch those two and head over towards the gym where HoneyBelle is relaxing in air conditioning. I thank the owner, put renegade 3 on a lead and we walk back to the house. By this time I have completely sweat through my work clothes and ran a blister on the right foot from running in sandals. Sure enough-I found the compromised hole and fix it. Thank God it is Friday.

Pillow Top Mattress

2010-05-06T08:47:00.000-07:00

My house is full of antiques (or old crap depending how you look at it). My bedframe is a golden oak job from the 30's. I made extensions on the frame so it would accommodate my full size box springs and mattress. Well, when you stack it all up, the mattress comes up to my hip and that is way to tall for dogs to get off or on. So I hang my leg or arm off the bed to do head and ear scratches. Last night I picked HoneyBelle up (which I try not do any more) and put her on the bed. Ohhh did she like the pillow top. I thought she would freak out from the height so I was prepared to grab her if she tried to launch. Well, no danger there, I could not get her off. She was literally slapping my grasps away with all four feet. And her 60 pounds increased to 80 pounds. There has got to be a math formula for how bassets can increase their weight when they don't want to move. I had to wrestle her off the bed.

Camera charger coming this weekend-will get back to sharing photos!

HoneyBelle Hit List

2010-04-22T14:36:00.000-07:00

Add a baby opossum to her growing kill list. I had no idea-I literally almost stepped on it. I noticed her guarding an area in the yard and I walked over to investigate. Was not prepared for the latest "find." Probably a good thing she chewed the camera charger, these posts are getting morbid. I cannot wait to get her started in a tracking program, I think she will kick ass.

HoneyBelle - I like my outdoor stuffees!

HoneyBelles Pet Corgi

2010-04-19T10:10:00.000-07:00

I like my KORGEE. He went away, then came back and mama would not let him play. Said he had SURJEREE. But yesterday he came out to play and did we have fun! I showed him how to dig oranges out of the compost and play a game I made up called ORANGE TAG. I am good because I can hold a whole orange in my mouth and no one knows I have it. Except mama, she says my flabber jabbers can't cover everything (brought up her cell phone again). I need to find another baby bird. Yes Martha and Bailey-they are just like STUFFEES! They have a squeeker in them. I hope you find a baby bird, I really liked mine and would not share-oh no!

Mama-HoneyBelles pet corgi has recovered from his neutering, will be groomed and pay a visit to his Marines this week. We are excited. Sorry about no photos, SOMEONE chewed the camera charger...

The Cycle of Life

2010-04-13T06:56:00.000-07:00

is much shorter if you happen to be a baby bird on the ground with three dogs. I will spare the gore, but let you know it was our pretty HoneyBelle that had a paw in baby blue jay's demise. The parent was squawking above our heads and by gosh she wasn't going to spit it out, drop it, leave it. The closer I got to trying to open her jaws the tighter she'd clamp, joyfully hopping and showing it off to Ruby. Ruby would get too close and a deep "eeeeeerrrrrrmmmpphhhhh" would growl from her chest. My damn bird, go get your own. She is all hound.

Jan Loves Molly

2010-04-13T06:45:00.000-07:00

I am a fiber artist-when not having to work full time elsewhere. My friend Jan had this photo of her pit mix, Molly, as her screen saver. Every time I came by her desk I was fascinated with the portrait-contrast, color, her joy,etc. Plus I had this crazy muddy print fabric that would work as her brindle coat. I had Jan email me the photo and I crafted this likeness of Molly on fabric. I have so many ideas on how to do HoneyBelle, if I ever found honey colored velvet or velveteen I would buy it to make her with it. I need to get my son's quilt going. I am behind, as always it seems.

"THE" Waddle of all Waddles.

2010-04-12T08:10:00.001-07:00

Oh My Goodness! Doesn't this look just like our gorgeous HoneyBelle? Or even Tina's Honey Dew! And squishy looking too. Some day we may be able to attend The Waddle, but we are on the opposite end of the United States for it. I cannot imagine more fun, bassets everywhere.

Baby Brother

2010-04-07T14:32:00.000-07:00

HoneyBelle here. Mama brought home something called a KOR-GEE from RESKU. He looks like a little collie with no legs. I like him. He lets me stand on him, smush him, chase him, pinch him. I like him. I showed him my fancy jump-whip-snap-bunny hop. Mama laughed and and snorted her tea out her nose. She is gross sometimes. Mama won't let Ruby play with him yet, says she will fang him. So he is all mine. Until tomorrow. He gets NEW-TURD.

HoneyBelle Turns One

2010-03-26T12:15:00.000-07:00

Today is her first year birthday! HoneyBelle marked her birthday by snatching the squirrel that Ruby caught and *eating* it. She did this with great joy. I only caught the last part of the carnage. It makes me think that she may be good in tracking the way she went after the squirrel. She is a hound after all.

I have fallen behind on her stories-my migraines are trying to whip my ass. I started a shot regime yesterday that seems to really work and the fog of pain is trying to lift. Hope to be back with our hound pack this coming week.

Happy Birthday HoneyBelle!

Reality Check

2010-02-24T15:31:00.001-08:00

Well that will teach me. I bragg and then get put in my place. She decided she wanted IN the house when I left to get groceries. She ripped the cover of the doggie door off and bulldozed her way inside and pillaged the 2 bathrooms of toilet paper. That is only one pile. It goes over on to her chair, another pile in my studio. You see the Nylabone lying in the fluffy pile of tissue. She wasn't interested in a dog bone, god forbid. I have tried stuffies but Ruby shred's their brains out in short time. I think HoneyBelle could be worked into a Charmin marketing campaign instead of the dancing bears. It is hard for me to scold her with a stern face-she is so darn cute. And heavy, I need to get her weighed again. She has got to be over 50 pounds.

From the archive:

Gifted Class

2010-02-19T12:29:00.000-08:00

Who would have thought-not only is my baby beautiful, she is smart! She started Beginning Obedience 2 weeks ago and each class has been amazing. She sits. She stays. She heels (for the most part). I get so excited I start squealing and giving her kisses. Now I know that is not part of the curriculum, but nobody has told me to stop. In fact, the Australian Shepherd next to us keeps trying to get me to play with him. "Look at the Crazy Dog Lady, Dad-she is giving out squeals and kisses!" I told my sister I have crossed over to The Dog Lady side. I gained weight, wear more comfortable clothes and shoes, and there is dog hair always wafting off of me. And I got rid of a no-good-man. Life is so much better!

Wednesday night was the Houston Basset Hound Club meeting. We made a 4 month calendar of basset events and listed upcoming events to attend. In 2 weeks we are doing a "puppy class" for our youngsters. We will set up a ring with a ramped judging box and simulate the judging ring. Work on having strangers handle our hounds and work on ground manners. I will have some good pictures to share. This will be a lot of fun! We are also going to ask a trainer to give us a tracking demo for our hounds. That is my goal this year, to keep HoneyBelle in school and see if she can earn some titles. I am so proud of her, can you tell?

Westminster 2010!

2010-02-16T11:37:00.001-08:00

Congratulations Ch. Blossomhil's Mamma Mia! What an exquisite hound-as my friend says it is that Topsfield and BumperCar dna. Her father won 2 years ago @ Westminster. She is amazing to watch in the ring. I hope to attend Westminster at least once before I leave this earth. What a joy that would be. Cannot wait to share the news with HoneyBelle-she will be pleased. Girls rock!

Salvador Dali Basset

2010-01-27T07:12:00.000-08:00

I walked in the living room and found her laid out in her chair like this. Never a dull moment. This is her Dali muse pose.

Wet Dog

2010-01-26T07:08:00.000-08:00

We had a warm spell this week and I decided to put in HoneyBelle in the bathtub for a mid-winter bath. I doubt I will ever do that again. I have not bathed her in the tub since she had another growth spurt. It was like putting a bear cub wrapped in a loose velour blanket in water. I had to keep my legs either wrapped around her or stretched across the edge to keep her from jumping. She has an impressive neck roll-like an elizabethan collar-and trying to get all the exess skin folds, rolls and thick coat wet, lathered, and rinsed was almost more than I can handle. Honestly, it is easier to wash a horse than a fat-wet-pissed-off basset. I wish there was a second person there at the house to 1) take pictures of the two fat women wrestling and 2) HELP.

I get her rinsed and outside she is gorgeous, a big orange rolling log charging around the yard. I tell her to step up on the bench for her brushing. The amount of hair that comes off her is amazing. I pull out 7 orange sherbert colored brushfulls and put the hair in the garden, hoping the wrens will use the down for their nests. Next time I will spend the $30 to send her to the groomer. She looks like spun honey gold in the sun.

Me Love You Long Time!

2010-01-21T12:39:00.001-08:00

Be still my heart-my boy has arrived!! Will he notice me?

Can he see me?

Put the phone down and pay attention to me. You don't need to talk to her.

I think I will check him for fleas. I love my boy.

Note from mama: She cries and warbles like a preteen girl when he shows up. It is comical. I had to hold Ruby so she would not get crushed in the melee.

Basset Obedience (oxymoron?)

2010-01-12T10:37:00.000-08:00

I just signed HoneyBelle and I up for an Obedience class in Houston @ www.hotdogclub.org. She is now 50+ pounds and needs direction-other than the counter. I would have done this long before now but my life of migraines has almost debilitated me. I started a new (very expensive) drug that is giving me a reprieve so I am trying to play catch up with my life. This facility trains for AKC points and is professionally ran, offering instruction and trials in tracking to conformation. This will be an exciting year for HoneyBelle!

Her Favorite Toy

2010-01-05T09:40:00.000-08:00

Just like a child, you buy them gifts and they go play with the box. I finally had to break down and start buying the awful Scott tissue. I wonder if she can tell? I am pretty good about keeping the bathroom doors shut, but I do slip up and she scores the tp roll. I pray everyone out in internet land had a safe and happy holiday season. I left the girls in the capable hands of a pet sitter and I went to northern Kansas to visit family. Sweet Jesus, we hit -3 degrees. It was painful to even breathe air that cold. But it was wonderful to sled with the grandkids, and see the land asleep under blankets of snow. Lets have a good 2010.

Happy Howlidays

2009-12-18T15:34:00.000-08:00

We signed up for the Daily Drool Holiday Card Exchange this year and it is so much fun. I am actually looking forward to opening the mail box and pulling out stacks of cards! Last night we opened cards from as far away as France and Alaska. We have a heroes list and send cards to soldiers, veternarians who have donated their time, seniors or families that cannot have or has lost their hound, even my grandkids who are sending Daddy off to war for the 5th or 6th time. So many tours I am loosing count. Have a safe holiday season everyone and I love hearing from our internet friends. AND~HoneyBelle weighed in at 49.5 pounds at 8 months. My baby is getting there!

In Charge of Decorations

2009-12-03T15:27:00.000-08:00

It is not me. I am here to keep baby proofing everything. Honeybelle inpects everything that is brought in. The tree is decorated from my waist up. Keep her from eating lights. There are no hooks, ribbons are used to hang everything. I need to get home and get their fleece blankie coats made tonight-we are expecting snow here tomorrow! We get dusted about once every ten years. Poor Ruby will not be pleased when she discovers it is a form of moisture!

HoneyBelle Bakes a Pumpkin Pie

2009-11-27T11:01:00.000-08:00

I am a good helper. I brought mama some gloves I found.

Then I licked the pumpkin bowl clean.

Then I cleaned it again.

Mama put the pie in the oven. Would not let me help do this...says I am nothing more than a two year old. Whatever that means.

I was tired after all this cooking. Whew.

Have a safe holiday season and send prayers to our troops and their families that cannot be together this season.

Christmas Claws

2009-11-23T11:43:00.000-08:00

She waits for me to turn my back or leave the room and she turns into HellishBelle. So I stood at the stove like I was cooking and heard her bear claws hit the table and I snapped a shot of her snatching the pile of garland. Naughty girl! I have some good photos of the parade she walked in Saturday. She was wearing the garland. Will post those next, lunch break has ended.

Working the Gravy and Bisquits Off

2009-11-18T10:27:00.001-08:00

Here we are early Saturday morning watching the 5K run go by with a collective "aaaawwwww-look how cute they are!" I saw how well Tina's tandem lead worked with HoneyDew and Sampson. Or it looked like it did! I made a red one and bought a flasher for it. The girls go CRAZY when we take off. HoneyBelle's coat is gorgeous, it shimmers gold and she jiggles! Now that it isn't 100 degrees outside we are able to walk in the morning and evening. And my thighs aren't trying to catch fire anymore. Sorry...ha!

Sausage Gravy and Bisquits

2009-11-16T15:18:00.000-08:00

Baby LOVES for me to cook. I am making her keep a safe distance from the stove so I don't fall and pull something hot on top of all of us. So here is her supine position she keeps after I push her away. Sunday morning breakfasts usually include the side of sausage gravy and homemade bisquits. My family covets this southern-made-from-scratch specialty. HoneyBelle loves to clean the skillet. Sorry if I gross some out-I really do sanitize the dishes after all this. And I need to get a snood made for HoneyBelle. Her poor ears are nasty after her gravy fest. That is okay, I swab/squeegee her ears clean and she is ready for a quick nap in her chair.

Veterans Day

2009-11-11T07:08:00.000-08:00

I want to thank all of our veterans, soldiers, and their families for serving our country. It is a sacrifice that many do not or cannot understand. Sadly, or country is still not giving our veterans the level of care they deserve. It took almost 2 years and the congressman's office to finally get my son his disability payments so he could support himself. After serving 3 long tours and 4 years as a Marine, he was discharged with 0% disability. Truth was—he had 7 serious concussions, severe migraines, broken teeth, damage to both of his knees, intestinal damage, the list goes on. I took off work and took his medical package to the Regional Director of the Veterans Administration. He read the medical records and agreed the 0% rating was grossly incorrect. He filed the protest and the dance with the government began. And this is so minor in what many other veterans and families are going through. We are so lucky and blessed. He made it back home alive, along with his sister and brother-in-law.

The best medicine for PTSD. Squishy hugs from HoneyBelle.

Angel

2009-11-10T11:58:00.000-08:00

I love this photo. She is gorgeous. And naughty. I walked in and found her posed, grabbed the camera and took these. Then I thought, "hmmmm." What has moved in here? My eyeglasses. Her new coveted item. I found the frames under her belly and one lense behind the chair. You can see the carpet has been removed. I knew a basset puppy would be the final straw for it, wood laminate is coming in.

Howlloween Party

2009-11-10T11:22:00.000-08:00

HoneyBelle and Ruby participated in the 1 mile walk for Paws. Proceeds went to the Montgomery County rescue shelters. Due to the rains right before the event, I opted out of costumes for the girls. Good thing because HoneyBelle had mud rivulets running off her legs and belly. Ruby is actually getting better about moisture touching her. Hard thing to avoid with a basset buddy. Ruby will have an area of hair that has dried standing up, and I will try to smooth it back into place. Almost impossible because it was made with basset mouse. I wonder if the French really used the hounds for saliva coiffures.

Anyway. HoneyBelle did really well for this being her first big event out in public (our record heat this year kept us indoors). She had oodles of precious little girls giving her hugs and squishy pets. And big girls had to fondle her gorgeous coat and compliment her on her mahogany coloring. And conformation. And feet. She went flat basset only a few times. I had to cup her face in my hands and tell her we were on the way home and she had to be a big girl and walk out of there. She obliged me.

The activity was led by a man and a proudly trained Lab named Prophet. The man kept chunking Prophet's retrieve bumpers by HoneyBelle, then ordering Prophet to retrieve only on command. I am proud to say HoneyBelle could give-a-shit-less about touching Prophet's toy. The border collies were going nuts. I love this photo here. The blur in the far left corner is Prophet's butt as he bolts to grab his toy. The basset in the background is studying a scent trail (of dribbled candy probably). It was a good time.

HoneyBelle helping a fellow dog get her antennae back on.

A sweet butterfly resting.

Long Red Eyelashes

2009-11-05T15:10:00.000-08:00

HoneyBelle is almost cartoon like with her thick red eyelashes. She has the ability to enlarge her eyes and go "blink-blink" with lashes that will melt your heart. Even when she standing on the kitchen table with a roll of Bounty towels in her mouth. Blink-Blink. Love you my big doll.

HoneyBelle is back in the House-er Blog!

2009-11-05T09:34:00.000-08:00

Awwww, she is being so sweet with Shrek. Wait until I get you caught up with what she has been doing. Isn't she a big girl? From the age of 5 to 6 months she lost her puppy look. Her hound odor kicked in a few weeks ago. I thought I may have had a non-odiferous hound. Silly me. She be stanky!

Honeybelle: I show you stanky! I am eyeballing that 3rd pair of prescription eyeglasses, momma. bbwwhhaaahhhaahaaa!

Life Gets in the Way

2009-10-14T14:49:00.000-07:00

My beloved baby. It woes me to not have the camera yet and fall behind on posting. She is too wonderful to keep just to myself. But damned if the rising cost of insurances, home ownership, medical bills, taxes, and more has taken its toll. I am appalled that I have managed to keep my job through multiple lay-offs and am still struggling to stay out of the red. It gets me down. I rally myself to keep going and find my happiness in coming home to Ruby and HoneyBelle. Hang in there with us and my spoiled baby can continue to share her antics.

Love and wuffles from HoneyBelle.

Mother's Little Helper

2009-09-15T07:07:00.001-07:00

She hovers by my legs and I feel random pats and nose pokes. She is a doll. I should have a camera back in action before the end of the month. You will be shocked at how big she is now. HoneyBelle looks just like her mother. So between the age of 4 and 5 months is when she turned from rubbery puppy to boneless big girl.

Prefer Charmin

2009-09-03T11:00:00.001-07:00

HoneyBelle: hhhmmmppphhh! Not sure I like these as much as what I find in the bathroom. It'll do in a pinch though. Uh-oh, I hear the door opening....

Getting the heck out of dodge! Move Ruby! Move Jack! Ruunnnn!!!

The Sonic

2009-09-01T14:55:00.000-07:00

For 20 years I have been walking down to the Sonic for an evening out, a stroll with my dogs, a nice way to intake a little hot fudge sunday and walk the calories off (I tell myself that). So HoneyBelle and I saddled up last night and walked down. Bless my fat baby's heart, she lathers at the mouth so bad she could pass as an extra on Old Yeller. I have to bring a bottle of water and wrag to keep watering and wiping her down. She loves to meet-n-greet through our little old fashioned town, and gets plain giddy if a child is outside. The teenage girls on skates love to come out and shower her with hugs and kisses. She is just that squishy. Then I saw the small note taped to the Sonic kiosk. Sonic closing September 1st. What?! It seems that the new Sonic built over by the new mall is taking the place of our drive-in hang out. There is no way to walk to the new one—at the risk of getting ran over by speeding vehicles. The Dairy Queen shut down as well. So much for the revitalization plans for our historic town.

Mind Control (or loosing it...)

2009-08-28T06:59:00.000-07:00

Press Agent/momma: I was doing the late night shopping for the house supplies. As I stood in front of the wall of toilet paper selection I actually had this thought pop into my head "hmmmm, I wonder which paper HoneyBelle would prefer." Gasp! I am too young to be going crazy. I have no excuse.

HoneyBelle: Does the term "basset slave" ring home now? bbwwahhhaaahhhaaa!

Baby Jack

2009-08-27T12:26:00.000-07:00

I picked up a 5 month old basset mix last night to foster until he is adopted. He is long, but without the basset girth. And no flabber jabbers (flews). And he barks the arf arf bark. My baby does a deep "roorfff" when she sounds off. HoneyBelle is easily twice his size, but they are missing the same baby teeth. It did not take long for him to get a long 5" drool wringer wrapped across the top of his head, kind of like marking her territory in a girl basset sort of way.

HoneyBelle: Girls rule!

Paper Products

2009-08-26T07:37:00.001-07:00

HoneyBelle: I love them! I score big when I see the bathroom door is left cracked open. I do my black panther stealth moves and climb the toilet to heist rolls out of the basket. Sometimes I play outside with them, if it is too hot outside then I play in the living room.

Press Agent: Black panther stealth move, huh. I have a clear image of her crying in the bathroom stuck upright between the toilet and sink cabinet, standing on her two back feet. My little warrior princess.

Guard Dog

2009-08-25T13:57:00.001-07:00

This photo was taken only last month and she looks so small! I need to walk her down to the vets office this weekend and get her weighed at 5 months. Can't wait to see, I am guessing 45+ pounds. She is getting to be a big girl! She got her big girl fangies this week too. I keep giving her ice cubes and frozen things to chew (instead of my walls...)

Velvet Whiskers

2009-08-21T08:02:00.000-07:00

I had minor leg surgery yesterday and cannot shower for 24 hours. So this morning before work I took a bath, keeping my leg out of the water. I was laying flat in the tub, eyes shut, letting my hair soak when I felt a velvet tickle on my nose. I opened my eyes to HoneyBelle's face directly above mine, snuffling me. Instantly, a pink tongue jetted out and squeegied my forehead and eye. Anyone who has been owned by a basset is familiar with how their flesh slides around their head. To be underneath and looking up into this is quite commical, because their face turns into nothing but rolls of flesh. I read that the folds of skin and long ears trap and force the scent molecules towards the nose, making them extraordinary scent hounds. And babysitters. All the children I have raised have loved to spend hours playing with basset ears, noses, lips, big moon pie feet, and velvet rolls of skin. What a wonderful breed to be in love with.

Grandaughter and big girl KayDee Belle in 2001. She learned to walk by holding onto her basset and toddling beside her.

Ice Vapours

2009-08-19T08:05:00.000-07:00

HoneyBelle loves her ice cubes. She will run anyone over when she hears the freezer door open, and do a sit pretty at your feet, waiting for her cube. My sister was unfamiliar with this routine and was squalled at by HoneyBelle when she shut the door and sat down. "Oh dear-what did I do to her?!" You did not give her the cube. Now.

Yesterday was a rough day for me, problem jobs at work, bad doctor results, traffic. I was beaten by the time I made it home. I made a fresh iced tea, and gave my baby her ice cube. Instead of running off with it, she sat there and looked at me with the ice cube in the front of her mouth, breathing. She literally had ice steam curling out of her lips and around her nose. Her nose steamed up. My miserable day disappeared and I laughed until I had tears running. It is impossible to be depressed when you share your life with a basset.

Motorolla Razor

2009-08-14T09:02:00.000-07:00

Last night I sat in the rocker and read while the girls ran circles in the living room. I sat a glass of iced tea on a coaster on the coffee table and went to the restroom. I could hear the coffee table being compromised. Me screaming from the bathroom: "HoneyBelle, you get off that table right NOW!" I run back in there, cursing my lapse of foresight thinking that tea will now be spilled everywhere. The glass had not moved. In fact, I could not figure out what was missing, but I knew I had heard her on the table. Then the cell phone rang. Muffled. Coming from HoneyBelle. I looked directly at her face and the only indication that something was in her mouth (my cell phone) was her lips went out square instead of draping down. She had a perfectly square mouth. I lifted a ringing lip and pulled the phone from her mouth. I don't think I will ever forget these antics. She is perfectly beautiful. I wish you could have seen that square mouth ringing!

Kodak Moments

2009-08-11T08:41:00.000-07:00

—have came to a halt! The camera died. I am sorry, due to the budget constraints of bills, a new camera is not at the top of the list. Oh, the past couple of days have been ripe material for our beloved HoneyBelle. Read below:

1. I caught her playing with something in her mouth, it was her molar! So I bagged her baby tooth for the basset tooth fairy. She is getting big girl teeth.

2. I made a large batch of chocolate/chocolate iced cupcakes. Placed on decorative tray in middle of kitchen table. Was gone 20 minutes, came back to vestiges of chocolate icing on floor in 3 rooms. It must have been a feeding frenzy. She has figured out to pull the tablecloth with her teeth and all the good stuff comes down to her. I watched her all night to make sure she did not get sick from copious amounts of chocolate. If anything, she acted like a hyperactive child that had just ate 2 pounds of JellyBellies.

3. No foster at the house yet. We tried, and sadly, she did not get along with the fat spoiled baby. Michelle, you are great! We will try again.

4. My sister's metro-sexual miniature poodle has the serious hots for the curves of HoneyBelle. He gets neutered this week. That'll teach him.

Many great photo ops we missed out on. I will try to replace the camera ASAP, until then I will continue to relay her adventures via story line. Thank you for reading!

Homeless

2009-08-07T11:33:00.000-07:00

But not for long! This young lady will come over tomorrow morning for a meet-n-greet with Ruby and HoneyBelle. We passed the foster exam (I even had dried drool stuck to the side of my head at the time) and the sweetest rescue will be coming to stay with us while she gets better. From her picture, it looks like her spine is showing through her thin coat. I have already drafted a grocery list for making homemade dog food supplement used by foster families on the Daily Drool. I have been quite the foster failure in the past (by adopting them!) so I will have to try a little harder this time. We have so many bassets being turned in from families that can no longer care for them. Will let you know how this turns out!

Coveting Skeins

2009-08-06T07:35:00.000-07:00

It happened. She pulled the big bag of yarn off the work table and had a blistering hayday with it. Silly me, I thought putting it up on the table was putting it out of reach. Well, just like a toddler, she is now climbing. She must have been watching me and thought "hmmm, that looks mighty interesting—it is bulging with something..." Honestly, when I came home and saw the studio and the yarn explosion, I went right to the kitchen and made myself a cocktail. Trails of yarn went out the doggie door and into the back yard. And for extra measure, an 18" patch of vinyl flooring was removed. Now, my floors do need to be replaced, but I am thinking "how did she do that?" I took pictures of the carnage but really, I can't bear to see it again. I did find an intact skein of wool in the backyard with minor dirt and a large trademark basset drool left on it. I did learn this, she is not fond of wool. Her favorite skeins are the mohair/silk. Found that still in her jowls.

Favorite Brush

2009-08-05T13:59:00.001-07:00

Is the toilet brush. Gasp you say? Well me too. After many attempts I discovered she was not going to relinquish the potty brush willingly. So I bought her her own, non-toileted brush. She loves it (along with many other non-doggie items). It is like a tickly massage on her when we rub her with it. She even takes it on hikes (inside/outside doggie door) and I keep washing it clean. It is quite odd to see her piles of favorites, ie. pottie brush, my bras, and nylabones.

Infatuation

2009-08-03T10:12:00.001-07:00

HoneyBelle's Press Agent: She met my son for the first time this weekend. And as you can see by the photo she became gelatinous, just a pool of basset around him. He kept trying to play with her and she would go flatbasset, with her tail spinning. He finally had to scoop her up to pet her. Silly girl, she acted like a pubescent teen around a cute boy.

HoneyBelle: You blind woman, he is cute.

Attack!

2009-07-29T10:57:00.000-07:00

I have been mauled by a precocious 5 year old girl with long blonde curls. I should have caught the note of sarcasm when I heard momma say "why of course you can play with the puppies!" That's alright, I have my eye on her first edition Dick and Jane.

Ruby finally got with the program and jumped in to clean her clock, er, ears.

Here we are tag teaming her. She's a tough little booger. Just wait, she has no idea I will be 65+ pounds when I grow up. bbwwhhhhaaahhhaaaa!

James Fenimore Cooper Vol 3 pub 1889

2009-07-28T08:12:00.000-07:00

My press agent has noted that my indian name is "Princess Run-a-Mucka". Waving my pedigree papers around saying she will register my name as such. I said "you will not". She is always saying a woman needs to educate herself. So I tried to teach myself to read. Press agent/momma has a lot of books, even old ones she calls "collectable first editions". Whatever that means. Art books, coffee table books, children's books. Just too many. What happens? She comes home and has another fit. Really, I think she is wound too tight. Saying things like "baby gate" and "how did you manage...?" So I blind her with my beauty and she acquiesces. I learned that word in one of those books.

Basset Patrol

2009-07-22T14:28:00.000-07:00

Momma hauled hounds from Houston to our basset rescue house this week. A big handsome guy that had some impressive foam. He kept cleaning momma's ear as she drove. His girlfriend Mandy was a tub. Momma had fun lifting big assed bassets out of my truck in a dress. What was she thinking? That'll teach her to try and clean up. Momma loves us. She says she is going to make herself a dress out of her Duluth Truck Seat Cover. Can't wait to see that one...

Mud Puppy

2009-07-20T12:12:00.001-07:00

"Sweet Jesus!" momma hollers. "What happened to my floor!" Here she goes carrying on about her floors again. I shaking my head no (see my ear flopping) and the next thing I know she has me spun upside down like a turtle on a highway. Taking pictures no less. Okay, so I am a little damp. The sprinkler felt good on me. She points to the mud coming out of my flabber jabbers. Honestly, I don't know how it got there. Then prissy Ruby gets in on my humility. She says I slimed her. Momma says Ruby jumps like a gazelle if her toe touches dew. Well I say she has to hit the ground some time, and I will be waiting! bbwwwaaaahhhhhaaahhaaaa!

My Hiding Spot

2009-07-20T09:27:00.001-07:00

It is really great, no one can see me! I like to take my treats here and play with them.

*Note from mother/personal assistant: She has no idea her whole hiney is sticking out for us to step over...

Okra

2009-07-20T09:09:00.000-07:00

Momma makes her own compost. I love to play in it. It has all kinds of great smells and I love to pull out veggies and play with them. Today was okra. She said it was left too long on the stalk and she can't cook it long enough to make it soft. I don't care, I just want to play with it. Even prissy Ruby carried an okra pod out. Momma says it looks like okra exploded in the yard. More toys for me.

It's All About Me

2009-07-17T10:00:00.001-07:00

Well, I have arrived! Most kids get a cell phone now days, I get my own blog. I have a pretty good personal assistant and press manager (she calls herself my "momma"). She keeps saying the same thing over and over right now and I just don't get it—"go potty outside!", what is that all about anyway? Momma waited quite a while for me to arrive. A real sweet lady named Bonnie took good care of me before I moved in with momma. Bonnie says I am a real mahogany and white basset. I just know I am pretty. Everyone says so. Momma says "pretty is as pretty does". Whatever that means!