The Monday Morning Musings 2013

I often wonder what the week would be like without Monday. I hope it would be smoother because, as we all know, Mondays can be tough. Then again. . . wouldn't the MONDAY BLUES just transfer onto another day? Would we then have the TUESDAY TRAUMA? Or the WEDNESDAY WOOZIES? Or maybe the THURSDAY TWITCHES?

Maybe, on thinking about this, it will be best to leave WELL enough alone. This way we only deal with one wonky day and the rest of the week is the SLIDE that leads to the weekend.

Or better yet, we can STOP wishing our lives away looking at the future and SAVOR each and every minute we are alive. How much richer would we all be?

On the otherhand . . . THIS is what my MONDAY looks like -

HELP!!!!

Molly - 2:15 and ME - 3:33

Can you BELIEVE this? It took me over 3 minutes to finish a BOWL of food. It was a lot of food but was actually less than a serving. . .  

Do you know WHY it took me so long to eat my dinner? It was so yummy I was actually CHEWING and TASTING my dinner. 

That Natural Balance food is THAT good.

This is what I did AFTER I finished up that deliciousness . . . Please note - not only was Molly done, but she then ATE THE CAT'S portion! She is normally so PICKY and takes FOREVER to eat her meal.

And remember - this food was part of the Natural Balance Gift Pak available on CHEWY.COM.

I was graciously given a gift pak to try in return for my HONEST opinion of the product and it's appeal. ALL of the opinions expressed in this blog are mine and mine alone. I am not being paid to LIKE the product.

Does This FOOD Look GOOD to You?

Left - Natural Balance Chicken Formula; Upper right- natural turkey roll; and
lower right- homemade apple sauce. We got some of the Sweet Potato
and chicken treats for sitting calmly while filming

Take a good LONG look at this picture. Does this look good to you? If you are a human, you probably said NO. Ah..... but if you are a PUG or a DOG . . . this is Heaven in a BOWL.

What you are looking at FURiends is THREE kinds of food that comes in the NEW GIFT PACK by Dick Van Patton's NATURAL BALANCE dog food. OMP!!! THREE at once! This gift pack (which is currently on SALE at www.chewy.com) is a great deal if you are looking to try the foods BEFORE you buy them OR if you are going to GRANDMA'S house and only need food for a couple of days. Or if you are SANDY PAWS and you know of a certain PUG who has been very very good this year.
 It is THAT CONVENIENT.

The DOG gift pack includes:

1. a bag of limited ingredient treats 
2. a can of ultra premium chicken formula food 
3. a delicious turkey food roll

- a great mix for the holiday season.

Let me tell you a little something about Natural Balance. This is a company committed to producing food for health. They check and double check all of the food that leaves their facilities for known contaminants. They also code date every single can and bag so you can be assured of freshness. They make food for pets as well as ZOOS! Can you imagine the trust that entails? 

The Chicken formula canned food is made with premium meat, carbohydrates and vegetables. No fillers, nothing artificial. AND canned food has an additional benefit of  aiding in hydration for those pets needing a little more water in their diet. The turkey roll is more concentrated - it contains premium meat and dried kelp (seaweed). The natural animal fats from the meat helps promote healthy skin and coat. The roll can be sliced, crumbled into kibble or used as training treats.  The treats, Sweet Potato and Chicken limited ingredient Treats, contain no soy, corn meal, or wheat. They are crunchy, naturally sweet, and are great for training.

On your Mark, Get Set . . . Sunshine has some too.
Confession time: She did not like it.
Molly ate her bowl as well.

I look at this and I see BLAH, BLAH, BLAH. This is for the HUMANS to know. All I know is this is some of the yummiest food I have EVER eaten.

Mommys gave Molly and me half of everything. It was more FOOD than we normally get but they wanted to see how we liked it. They added the applesauce for a fruit and fresh component - to CLEAN OUR PALATES, I like to say.

I can tell you this - that is some tasty food. No, I am lying. THAT IS SOME OUTRAGEOUSLY tasty food. I could not stop eating even though I, Noodles the Pug, was getting FULL! And here is the weirdest part - Molly BEAT ME in the eating contest! BY A FULL MINUTE. Yes, folks, you heard it right, it took MINUTES for me to finish a meal. I savored every bite.

Check back tomorrow, CHRISTMAS EVE, for a video of Molly and Me racing to CLEAN OUR PLATES.

Wonderful FURiends

So. . . I was sitting by the Christmas tree the other night . . . just pondering this and that. When it occurred to me - I have some really good FURiends ALL of whom I met in Blogville! Isn't that amazing? There are times I am down and YOU, my FURiends are there to pick me up. There are times I am puzzled - and you give me solid advice. There are times I just want to be SILLY and you, MY FURiends, let me be silly. It is something I never expected and something I truly cherish.

I need to call Sandy Paws right away and let him know I have everything I ever wanted RIGHT NOW.

Secret Santa Sends SMILES across MILES. . .

Do you see me smiling here? I am - totally! And I voluntarily jumped into that box as well. WHY NOODLES THE PUG would you voluntarily jump into that box?
Well, besides it being very PRETTY and really accentuating my FAWN color, it contained on of the most awesome SURPRISE gifts we have ever in our born days received. It is like our SECRET SANTA could read our minds or something.
See that AWESOME blanket we got? And that giraffe is a FLAT non-stuffie which I totally L-O-V-E! What you don't see is the COOKIES for ME and the really nice note.
Secret Santa, you made my HOLIDAY very very bright, indeed.

Santa - Help Me!!!

Six more days and I have not done ANY shopping!!!

Pug versus Human in the CARD WARS

For illustration purposes only, I googled this pix. MY
cards are infinitely more creative than these.

I have received
A LOT of Christmas cards already. Everyday that POSTLADY brings me some. Granted, I sent out a lot too . . . BUT I started receiving them long before I decided on my design.

Mommys, on the otherhand, have received but a scant handful of card. In fact, my Mommys have received 2 and the rest of the family combined (without pug) have received MAYBE 15.

I feel I should get some sort of compensation for this feat only Mommy #2 reminded me that

1. She actually TYPES the blog and therefore shares the glory
2. She addressed, stamped and SENT my cards and therefore shares the glory
3. SHE shares some of the billing on more than 98% of the cards and therefore shares the glory

Well, if it makes her feel any better.

Sock Monkey Kinda Monday

After a weekend of cooking and cleaning, I am DOG tired.

I sure don't need Monday staring at me begging me to get things done.

Pass the Wrapping Paper. . . and the EggNog?

Amidst all the wrapping

And Holiday cheer

Along with the Carols

Heralding Christmas is here

Let's all take a moment

To reflect on a year

The end of which is almost here

I can't help it. While thinking of keen gifts to give to family and FURiends, I am acutely aware that another year has breezed by. It almost feels like a tidal wave - and there is nothing that can slow it down or dam it up.
I honestly think this is what EGGNOG was invented for - to slow the waterfall of feelings of another year gone by. Not that I have even had EGGNOG. It is not a smart thing for a PUG to drink. BUT I have seen movies where folk have done some pretty foolish stuff while under the influence of that thick rum reeking yellow drink.
Why get wasted to forget? I prefer to celebrate - celebrate Christmas, celebrate family and friends, and celebrate each and every day for the wonder it brings.

A Lesson in Geometry - Pug Style

Don't I look COMFY? Don't I look WARM?

Don't I look ready to ride out a STORM?

But something is different! What could it be?

It must be the ANGLE you're looking at me.

Wordless Wednesday What? Sunshine the Cat version

Cool, Calm, and Collected

What? Orijen does NOT have car stuff!?!?!?

Gimme! GIMME! Gimme!

Click on the link below the treat picture for a description and review of Orijen Original Cat Treats.

And of course - WE ARE BLOG HOPPING TODAY!!!

We Saw Santa Claus and it Wasn't Even Christmas Yet!

It looks like she is smiling BUT Molly was
shaking because she was so
NERVOUS!

Santa and I bonded immediately. I would
even say we were PALS by the time
I left the store.

Another PetsMart opportunity which required getting up very early so we could be FIRST in LINE. And, as before, there was NO LINE. It was okay, though, because it meant we had a lot of time to visit with Santa Claus and tell him all about our year. 

I went to sit on his lap FOUR TIMES. We got to be really good FURiends, I tell you.

Then I whipped out my THREE RING BINDER of gift ideas for me. 

He took it well and said he would do his best. Mommy looked a little sternly at me cuz she said I was being kinda selfish. I explained to her that I didn't expect to get all those things - I was just making sure Santa had a lot to choose from in case something - like a gold plated food dish - proved too hard to find.

Cold Hard Facts - Someone Wins the Contest

It's a fact of life that if you enter enough contests that you will eventually win. This is true for me - and I am sure it is true for you.

So the Game of Thrones contest did not go exactly as I planned. For one thing, those entering the contest are the same few who have entered all of my contests lately. That's not a big deal, because I love love love my FURiends to be winners and such. But I do wish some of you newbies would join in the fun as well. Maybe next time.

Anyhow, of those who entered, no one got the correct answers. That is okay, too. I am willing to overlook that problem. Especially since you were all in the same boat, so to speak. So I picked a name out of my Santa Hat and the winner of HALO TREATS is. . . .

LUCY from FEELING BEACHIE!!!!

Email me with your address so I can ship the treats to you ASAP. I am so sure you will love them as much as we all do.

It is a COOOOOOOOOOOOOLLLD Monday peeps and pups. Stay safe and warm.

The Game of Treats: The Winner is. . . .

Halo Liv-a-Little Chicken Treats

WIN!!!

A little bit about these treats. These are suitable for CATS and DOGS.There are not a lot of treats that can make that claim. And all three of us LOVE, LOVE, LOVE these treats. Whenever Mommy pulled them out, ALL THREE of us would dash over to her - no matter where we were to begin with. Not only that, we also jumped all over each other to be the FIRST to get a treat. 

Are they TRICKWORTHY? You bet! Pugsonally, I would Roll Over (if I could), Jump up, Turn Around and Walk on TWO Paws for these treats. Sunshine the Cat did a SIT PRETTY for these treats.

I think we would walk over coals for these treats - they are that good. 

More than just good, they are good for US ALL! Halo Liv-a-Littles are made from freeze dried chicken breast! They are marinaded in sodium phosphate and carageenan which are both naturally occurring. They are only 3% fat, 2% fiber and 80% protein. MY MOUTH IS WATERING!!!!

Good for us and taste good?????

HALO LIV-A-LITTLE treats are a win-win for us.

Everyone who entered the contest got the 2 descriptions and treats incorrect but all picked the correct description for HALO. So you will all be put into Randomizer and SOMEONE from the list will win their own Halo Liv-a-Little Chicken treats. Check in on Monday for the name of the winner.

The Making of a Christmas Card - First Attempt

Noodles' turn:

"Okay Noodles. Sit right there. . . no, there..... head up..... wait........YOU LOOKED AWAY.....maybe it is a decent shot......What's THAT???? My Finger???? . . . . . . . "

Molly's Turn:

"Hi Molly. . . Look over HERE Molly!. . . NO! Don't move. . . Don't shake your head . . . Here's a treat . . . Come ON Molly!!!!. ."

Sunshine's Turn: "Come on Sunshine quit photobombing the picture. . . Okay girls, pose pretty . . . Sunshine quit photobombing the pic.. . . Okay, fine. You can be in the photo. . . Sunshine, hold up your head. . . Come back here Sunshine!!!"

"I give up. . . We'll try another day . . ."

Don't forget to enter The Game of Treats contest from Thursday's post. Many will play. . . but only ONE can win!!!!

A Game of Treats - And One Shall Stand Tall

Sunshine the Cat entered into the GREAT arena and joined Noodles the Pug and Molly Ragmuffin at the judging table.Their faces were a blank slate - impassive as the first contestant stepped up to the gate. One by one the TREATS entered the playing field. One by One they stood tall or fell as challenge after challenge was delivered.

The contestants were given FOUR of each treat and their reactions carefully scrutinized. No stone was left unturned - no action overlooked.

It was a grueling competition and at the end of the day, the three judges were spent and full. All except for Noodles the Pug. She can never be fully sated. . . hers is an achingly constant HUNGER that cannot be quenched by mere treats. NAY! Nor by mere meals.

In the end - only ONE ranked highest of all . . . only ONE treat will sit on the THRONE of TREATS.

The winner of the GAME OF TREATS will be revealed in a special post SATURDAY morning, DECEMBER 7, 2013.

The END

I hope you enjoyed the Game of Treats

Hey Look! A CONTEST!!!!

Match the treat with it's proper score. Email your answers to the official A Bowl of Noodles email address: noodlesthepugATaolDOTcom  Deadline to enter is Friday, December 6, 2013 at Midnight PT.
Top entries will be put into Randomizer and the winner will win be randomly chosen.
The PRIZE will be some of the TOP TREAT for you to enjoy and NOT share IF you don't want to.

A. Carrot of Treat                                                    1. Extremely edible, Smellgoodable,
                                                                                        Patienceworthy, Trickworthy

B. Banana of Health                                          2. Edible, Smellgoodable,
                                                                                  Patienceworthy, ShakeHands

C. Liv-a-Littles Chicken of HALO                         3.Will eat if nothing else, Rank
                                                                                       Anxious to get over with, No                                                                                                Trickworthiness

D. Freeze Dried Chicken Liver of Pro-Treat      4. Very edible, Smellgoodable,
                                                                                   Patienceworthy, Sit/High Five


NOTE: This is a review for Halo Live-a-Littles Chicken treats. The product was provided free of charge to me by Chewy.com in exchange for this review. The opinions of all of these treats are mine alone and not dictated by the treat provider. For more information about Halo and Halo Pet Products please visit www.chewy.com or www.halopets.com.
** Prize for the contest will be provided by A Bowl of Noodles

The Game of Treats - A Summons to Act

Our Panel of Illustrious Judges

Judge Sunshine the Cat

Judge Noodles the Pug

Judge Molly Ragmuffin

Walking along the wall known as The Shoji Screen, that barrier between the wild North Den and the Kitchen Table, Sunshine the Cat Surveyed the playing field. Today the trials were set to begin. There will be several challenges the competitors must overcome.

Edibleness: Is this treat worthy of a nosh - or does it only earn a lick or two?

Sit and Waitness: Is this fair treat worthy of the patience and calmness it takes to WAIT for a nibble?

Smellgoodableness: Does the treat intrigue one to eat or does it clear the room with its unwholesome stench?

Trickworthiness: Will one do ANYTHING to acquire the treat?






Sunshine the cat snickered to herself. "As if any treat will accomplish all of the above," she thought. Their naivete will be their undoing, she went on. No treat had ever survived all four tests. No treat has ever proven truly trickworthy. That would require something more than a handshake or even a play dead. No, to be truly trickworthy, a treat must elicit an UP and TURN. Sunshine the Cat continued on her way to the arena. She shivered a little as the chill wind whipped past her. Yes, she thought. . . winter is nigh.

Skittering up the wall, a spider cast a prediction for the DAY - Four will play, only one will stay.

End of Chapter Two

Check back tomorrow for the conclusion to

A Game of Treats

Today is Wednesday - don't forget to HOP.

The Game of Treats. . . a Short Novel of Rewards

The day dawned crisp and clear - a harbinger of colder days to come. They had all gathered early to witness the GAME OF TREATS.

She was nervous, this Molly of Ragmuffin, for this had been her first venture as a judge for the GAME OF TREATS. The prize. . . well, a treat, of course. But the question weighing heavy on all of the JUDGES' heads was: Which treat will prevail?

The contestants traveled from far and wide on this late Fall day. Many suffered hardships as cold wind and the scent of snow assailed them from every direction. Many would not survive the journey and those who did will never be the same again.

They say this will be a Winter of Winters. I fear they may be right.


The FINAL FOUR treats challenging the panel of judges were:

Carrot: This food is very low in Saturated Fat and Cholesterol. It is also a good source of Thiamin, Niacin, Vitamin B6, Folate and Manganese, and a very good source of Dietary Fiber, Vitamin A, Vitamin C, Vitamin K and Potassium.

Banana: This food is very low in Saturated Fat, Cholesterol and Sodium. It is also a good source of Dietary Fiber, Vitamin C, Potassium and Manganese, and a very good source of Vitamin B6.

Halo Liv-a-Little Chicken treats: Chicken, water,sodium phosphate, salt, and carrageenan.Guaranteed Analysis: Crude Protein: 80.0% (Min), Crude Fat: 3.0% (Min), Crude Fiber: 2.0% (Max), Moisture: 5.0% (Max)

ProTreat dried liver dog treats: 100% pure chicken liver. Guaranteed Analysis: Minimum Protein 70.45%, Minimum Fat 15.38%, Maximum Fiber .07%, Maximum Moisture 6.5%

A hush ran through the crowd as the contestants took their places in the ARENA. Determination painted the faces of each one. Nervous tension stretched taut across the field.

End of Chapter One

Come back tomorrow as the story continues

As IF. . . Sunshine the Cat!

I was hopeful
I was waiting
I was sure as I could be
That this lovely meal
Was for me

But alas
It was not to be
This Thanksgiving soup
And the rest that followed
Was for Humans only

You can't blame
A kitty from trying
One never knows
When opportunity will
KNOCK