The Color of Grass

California is in the midst of a four year DROUGHT. We have had so little water that all cities now have rationing. My town is no exception. So gone is the luscious green grass of yesteryear. I have to do my bidness in the CRUNCHY dry remains of our lawn rather than on the soft cool GREEN-ness of before.

This is our lawn - or what remains of it. Notice the color is almost FAWN. I am a FAWN PUG. This morning I was outside doing my usual. Mommy looked out the window and GUESS WHAT!?! She couldn't FIND me! But I was right in front of her eyes. She couldn't see me because I was PERFECTLY CAMOUFLAGED!!

Where does the GRASS end and I BEGIN? 

Who would have imagined that the COLOR of a PUG could be likened to the COLOR OF GRASS?

It was when I moved to the last remaining tufts of GREEN GRASS that Mommy could really see me. We had quite a laugh when I came inside.

Throw Back Thursday

REMEMBER WHEN I STILL GOT BULLY STICKS???

#Americanjourney

Wordless Wednesday

What's in the Box?

American Journey Beef AND Turkey Jerky

AND Beef Straps

By Chewy.com

So I went to the DOGTER and I have lost .25 of a pound so far. I was distressed until I realized I had been DEPRIVED of treats and on LOW rations for only 2-3 weeks! So that was pretty good in hindsight. As a reward for doing so well, he said I could have 1 quality treat.

Mommy gave me a beef strap thinking it would take me a while to chew through it. NO way JOSE! I had that thing DONE in under 10 minutes (she actually TIMED me!!!). So no more of those for Noodles the Pug. It was good though. . . based on the puddle of drool I ALSO left on the couch along with a bunch of BEEF STRAP BITS I couldn't quite clean up.

I give these FOUR PAWS UP. 

Mommy gives then 1.5.

As my ONE TREAT a day since, Mommy has been giving me HALF of a jerky treat, beef or turkey. Oh My PUG!!! You gotta try these. I am NOT talking about that reconstituted pressed and artificially colored stuff they sell at Wal----. Nope! I am talking real HUNKS of meat dried to perfection. No preservatives needed. No coloring needed. PERFECTION. I could eat these all day every day but then I wouldn't LOSE those TWO pounds I need to lose. . . well 1.75 now.

I am recommending you THROW OUT any other jerky treats you have lying around. They are just taking up space in your treat cabinet. And then go online to Chewy.com and BUY some of the American Journey jerky. Any will do. They will all be yummy.

I am giving these 99 Gazillion Paws Up. II am drooling just thinking about them.

Almost forgot - we are not paid for this opinion. Nor does anypuggy dare tell us what to say. Chewy.com sent us the items to sample and write an honest review. And honest we are.

I was wondering . . . .

What is the meaning of life?

Freedom for Beagles - The Third to the Last Booth at Niles Dog Show

We visited ALL of the booths at the dog show. They were pretty much everything we expected them to be - lots of vets and lots of people selling dog-centric stuff.

But then we happened upon the THIRD BOOTH FROM THE END and we were stopped in our tracks. The sign said "Beagle Freedom" and we thought. . . FROM WHAT? It was news to us that a Beagle would need liberating. . .we hadn't heard they were oppressed pups or anything.

So we asked - What's up with this?

The nice lady at the booth told us quite succinctly - freedom from being used as TEST ANIMALS! She went on to explain that some of the leading companies are STILL using animal testing for their products. It is cruel to do so - I think we can pretty much all agree to that!

BUT WHY BEAGLES? I asked. Simply put, she explained, they are docile and sweet tempered animals and that is what makes them good test animals. That does not make sense to me, I said. But it is so true. To prove it she gave us the URL for a BEAGLE rights group - www.beaglefreedomproject.org. She said she even ADOPTED a former test BEAGLE and it is the best dog in the world! I believe her, too.

So I did some ONLINE EXPLORATION and know what? She is right. In 2010 the Beagle Freedom project was launched to highlight the plight of these dogs and test animals in general. Some people BREED dogs for the sole purpose of selling them to labs!!!! Is that insane? These animals are subjected to horrible things, some that kill, some that maim, and some that just hurt. There are alternatives to testing on animals but they COST MORE to do so companies do not do them. Countries around the world are banning animal testing. Why can't the USA do the same?

Using animals as test subjects is the same mindset as thinking a pet is disposable.

I told the nice lady at the booth that I would do my part to let others know about this problem. I mean, I am a pretty educated PUG and if I did not know about BEAGLE TESTING then I am pretty sure some of you might not have heard of it either.

And while we are at it, if all of us STOP using products from these companies who test on animals, then perhaps THEY WILL STOP doing so....

The Doggone Duo

Back at the Niles Dog Show. . . .

Meet Joyce and Gail
and their furbabies Brutus and Ginger

So the VENDORS at the show were very friendly and giving of their time as well as their goodies. We got all kinds of stuff, especially from the VETERINARIAN booths. Stuff like FRISBEES, LEASHES, TOOTHBRUSHES AND PASTE, and so on. I loves that stuff and Mommy puts a lot of it to use, too. Our travel bag is filled with goodies which make us feel at home when we travel and a lot of it came from dog shows and baseball games.

TWO of our most favorite vendors were The DOGGONE DUO. We initially stopped because we could not make any sense out of what their business was. There was this TINY dog house with a stuffed dog in it - but that said nothing about their business. So we stopped to chat and find out why they were at a dog show.

Well much to our surprise, they are local REALTORS! But as we all know, to be successful a business needs a HOOK - something to draw the audience in. Well their HOOK is DOGS! Pets, really. Joyce and Gail donate part of each and every one of their commissions to non-kill shelters and rescues throughout the San Francisco Bay Area! Isn't that cool? You and I both know how much money it takes to run a shelter - to feed and care for the hundreds (dare I say it, Thousands) of rejected and abandoned dogs, cats, pocket pets, and so on. 

Not only are they putting their MONEY where their MOUTH is (are???), but they also incorporate pet awareness in everything they do. When they are selling a house, they provide boarding for pets so they won't get lost or upset by all of the strangers around. As they told me -  “Our priority is making sure it’s a smooth transition for everyone involved—both two and four-legged!” These are the ladies we got the Pet Owner Ten Commandments from.

Isn't that just wonderful? I liked them so much I kept going behind the table to "talk" to them. They were very very nice. They encouraged Mommy to enter their hourly drawing where they were giving away gift cards to Petco and Petsmart. Guess what! Mommy WON! What a hoot! She never wins ANYTHING!

Look them up - especially if you live in the area and are buying or selling a house. I guarantee you will like them and all they do.

After we left the DOGGONE DUO, we managed to score some food, some TREATS (of which I get NONE) and even a couple of bandannas. We stopped at this one booth where the people were selling SUNGLASSES holders for dogs. Guaranteed to keep sunglasses in place. So I thought, why not(?) and I tried them on. Well, the makers of the holder did not take SNOUTLESS pups into account when making their device and so it was less than successful on me. As you can see, the glasses are askew on my face. And if you look closely you will see the glasses were actually resting ABOVE my eyes. EPIC FAIL!

We chatted to ALL of the dog boarding, day care, walker, trainer vendors. They were pretty nice and gave Mommy all kinds of ideas. No, she is not thinking of going ANYWHERE and boarding me. But it is nice to know where the places are and how the owners run their businesses.

There is one more table I want to talk about but I will leave that for tomorrow. In the meantime, get a load of THIS - our LOOT from the Niles Dog Show

About B.F.F. and B.B.F. - A Noodles PICTORIAL Narrative

I know this is Wordless Wednesday, but I do have some words to add here. The pictures are worth about 6000 words but they don't tell the WHOLE story. This is what went down -

Chewy.com sent us a newsletter with the monthly selection of products to review. I had just come from the VET where I was told I needed to lose TWO WHOLE POUNDS off my already svelte pug body. So there was NO WAY I could pick a treat to review. I chatted with Molly about it and we decided to GENEROUSLY let Sunshine pick. She chose B.F.F. (Best Feline Friend) Variety Pack. It came with an assortment of Too Cool Tuna, Tuna and Pumpkin Valentine, Tuna and Salmon Soulmates, and Tuna and Chicken 4EVA. Intriguing names, huh? 

These delicious entrees are grainfree, contain Taurine for the heart, and are all natural made in a human grade food plant. I guess you can see from the photo that Sunshine LOVED the food, too. Normally she likes the first lick. . . maybe the second . . . and then she nibbles at the food for the next hour or so. Not B.F.F. She DOWNED that stuff like there was no tomorrow. She waited anxiously for it every day! She liked it so much she told her FURiend Tigger about it. Tigger is a pickier eater than Sunshine so Sunshine suggested SHE TRY B.F.F. Sunshine even GAVE her a can to try. Know what? Tigger is no longer a picky eater as long as what she is served is B.F.F. The KITTIES have given this food EIGHT PAWS UP for quality, flavor, and overall appeal.

Check out Best Friends Food while you are exploring.

Chewy.com, being who they are. . .  INCLUDED in the box something for me and Molly who went WITHOUT TREATS this month. It was this

Meet My new B.B.F - Best BLUE Friend

Molly thinks SHE is so FUN

My Best Blue Friend is by KONG - their line of COZIE companion toys. His/her name is Baily but we just call it BLUE.  It is NOT for chewing or horsing around with; but you can play FETCH with it because each Cozie is made of very strong fabric. IT IS for cuddling and sleeping with, though.


Thanks Chewy.com for this wonderful opportunity to explore new things and CHAT about them. 

And Speaking of our Wonderful FURiends at Chewy.com

We were not paid for this review. We received products free of charge so we may try and assess the items being reviewed. All observations and opinions are ours alone. . . with a little help from our HUMAN companions.

Showtime at Niles Dog Show

There was a lot more to do at the Niles Dog Show than prance around a ring of hay bales and harass vendors for treats. There was also exhibitions!!!

This was an exhibition of birds 

One of the funnest exhibition was the sheep herding put on by Cutter's Quarters Border Collies. It was pretty funny to see the dogs gathering the sheep and then make them run in circles.

Another fun exhibition was the police K-9 corps. I am always amazed at the skill of these dogs. They attack on command and can sniff out DRUGS and stuff. I am curious as to why they do not use PUGS?! I think with our superior intelligence, low-to-the-ground stature, and willingness to please, we'd make wonderful policeDOGS.

There was also DiscDog for the pups who are more athletically inclined. Not for me. I cannot catch a BALL much less a flat DISC coming at me! Finally there was a HALO Dog Training exhibition which highlighted service dog training. I thought that was real cool as well. I encounter a lot of service dogs in my wanderings (with Mommys, of course) and I have the utmost respect for them and what they do. 

There was so much to see and do at the dog show that I just can't write about it once and that's it. You know me - I don't like anything toooooooo wordy. So BEAR with me, there is more to come.

Follow me (tomorrow) to the VENDORS

An Interesting Handout

Look at all the folk and their pups! And there were MORE behind me

This weekend we went to the Niles Dog Show. It isn't your traditional DOG SHOW with pampered show dogs everywhere. No, this was more of a celebration of pets, mostly dog. There were exhibitions by Police Dogs, contests for pooches (more on this later in the week), swimming pools, an agility course for anypuggy to try, a raffle of all kinds of stuff, food trucks and vendor booths.

I love the vendor booths. Not only do I get lots and lots of treats (Mommy kinda throws the D-I-E-T out the window for these events) but I LEARN a lot as well - like vets in the area, specialty services like dog boarding, and new foods from local resellers.
At one booth - Doggone Duo ( I will feature them later this week) I received an interesting flyer called 

The Ten Commandments For Pet Owners

and I thought it worthy if sharing with YOU - thought they are less commandments and more GOOD TO KNOWments, if you get my drift. Here goes:

1. My life is likely to last 10 to 15 years. Any separation from you will be painful.
2. Give me time to understand what you want from me. Do not break my spirit with your temper, though I will always forgive you. You patience will teach me more effectively.
3. Please have me spayed or neutered.
4. Treat me kindly, my beloved friend, for no heart in all the world is more grateful for your kindness than mine. Don't be angry with me for long, and don't lock me up as punishment.I have only you.
5. Speak to me often. Even if I don't understand your words, I understand your voice when it's speaking to me, Your voice is the sweetest sound I hear, as you must know by my enthusiasm whenever I hear your footsteps.
6. Take me in when it's cold and wet. I'm a domestic animal and am no longer accustomed to the bitter elements. I ask for little more than your gentle hands petting me. Keep my bowl filled with water, Feed me good food so that I may stay well, to romp and play and do your bidding. By your side, I stand ready, willing and able to share my life with you, for this is what I live for. I'll never forget how well (or how poorly) you have treated me.
7. Don't hit me. Remember, I have teeth that could easily crush the bones in your hand, but I choose not to bite you.
8. Before you scold me for being lazy or uncooperative, ask yourself if something might be bothering me. Perhaps I am not getting the right food, I've been out in the sun too long, or my heart may be getting weak.
9. Take care of me when I get old. For you will grow old , too.
10. When I am old, or when I no longer enjoy good health, please do not make heroic efforts to keep me going. I am not having fun. Just see to it that  my trusting life s taken gently. And be with me on that difficult journey when it's time to say goodbye. Everything is easier for me when you are there. I will leave this earth knowing with my last breath that my fate was always safest in your hands.

Banned From Bully Sticks

So while my Mommys were visiting THE House of M. MOUSE recently, THIS arrived for us - a box of GOODIES from Chewy.com. I was selected to be one of their product tasters for their new pet snack line - American Journey. BOY HOWDY was I excited about this project! I mean, everything I ever wanted was right here in this box - TWO kinds of jerky treats (beef and turkey), a Scapula, a BEEF strap of some kind, and TWO KINDS of bully sticks! All made in America and all 100% real food. No artificial colors, flavorings, preservatives, and so on. Good for ME treats.

Look at all these treats AND a bandanna AND a tote bag!

I was jumping all over the house begging to try SOMETHING from that bounty when finally Mommy relented. "You can SHARE a bully with Molly. At least that will occupy you for a long while until I put this away and start dinner."

So she took the bully stick and CUT IT IN TWO. I guess I was okay with it. It was a bully stick, after all, and I am notorious for softening them and then walking away leaving them on the floor for naked feet to tread over.

I grabbed my HALF and ran to my favorite stinky treat spot - Aunt B's couch which I am not supposed to sit on (I sneak up there all the time and she puzzles about my smell being on HER couch). One problem with this plan. . . that BULLY was not ONE BIT stinky! It was flavorful enough as if it were stinky BUT IT DID NOT stink. Mommy, the veghead, likes when they are non-stinky.

It was 10 minutes later when I wandered to the kitchen to HELP Mommy cook dinner. "Noodles! Did you leave that slimy bully stick on the floor to gross me out?" Mommy said to me as she stomped downstairs. I looked at her with my big liquidy eyes and said, "No Ma'am."

When she got down to THE COUCH, she found nothing remaining of the BULLY STICK. Not even a sliver remained. I thought she would be proud of me for not making a mess - but instead she looked at me with FIRE IN HER EYES (I swear this is true). . . "NOODLES!" she yelled. "Where is that bully stick?'

"DON'T TELL me you swallowed it already!" So I didn't tell her. I just cocked my head to one side and stared at her. I was sure that would diffuse the situation.

It did not!

"You are BANNED FROM BULLY STICKS FOREVER!" Mommy said with a screech as she exited the den. "FOREVER!!!!!"

So, well. . . this will be my LAST review of a bully stick (until we get to the curly one ALSO in the box). It was AS ADVERTISED - tasty, chewy, non-stinky, and 100% guaranteed foodable. It was one of the HIGHEST quality Bully Sticks I have ever had . . . and I have had a lot in my 6 years. . . kinda sad to have that end. . . oh well......

Try them yourself. Just go to www.chewy.com and look up American Journey. You will be soooo happy you did.

Me in Bully Stick Heaven

*I did not get paid for this review. All opinions are my own. I received a box of American Journey treats  free of charge for the sole purpose of testing the products.

My FIRST Hotel Stay

For the Fourth of July AND my Birthday, the whole family packed into a small car and headed to Sacramento. There we visited with FRIENDS and met some new FURiends. It was fun. We stayed at a La Quinta in their area.

It was my first time in a hotel. I had a lot of fun with all the smells in that place (although to Mommy it was not smelly at all (which she said is a good thing). They had a nice area to do our bidness and we got two long walks each day so we wouldn't be too restless in the room. And the beds were so comfortable. I could sleep ALL DAY on them.

As you can see from the picture above, we had a room with a view. . . a view of the road but it was at some distance. There were some nice trees in front that blocked the less pretty stuff.

This chair was so comfy and I spent a good chunk of the morning lounging here and watching tv.

Mommy #2 went to the store for something and this is where I sat until she came back. I missed her for the whole 30 minutes she was gone

We only stayed overnight this time. But it was such a positive experience that we will definitely do it again.

Thank you La Quinta for being a great place for PUPS and PEEPS to stay.

If I Stare Hard Enough. . . .

It Came So Fast That - Molly's Number Three

I had no idea when I woke up that yesterday would be a special day for Molly. It was her THIRD BIRTHDAY! She was so happy trotting around and smiling and stuff. She knew it was going to be special.

First stop was PETSMART for some presents. There is so much to choose from that it was really hard to get just the right thing. Plus we just got some super cool treats to try from Chewy.com so we really didn't need anything there either.

She picked out a special meal for herself (she can get away with eating those high calorie canned meals. . . I can't. It all goes to my HIPS, you know. But she also made sure to get something for whitening her teeth and freshening her breath. She was very happy with her choice.

Following the trip to the store, it was back home to prepare for the family party. We played some and lazed some. Molly did everything she always wants to do but feels there is never enough time to do - like nap. . . and bark at a passing squirrel . . .  and nap . . . and bark at the car door shutting . . . and nap. She said it was so relaxing.

We BOTH got special meals with DESSERT because my celebration was sorta small as we were out of town on my actual birthday. Thank you Cousin E for making me feel special as well.

Molly enjoyed her birthday dinner and her special DESSERT.

I STARTED with dessert. It was yummy. Then I hit the main course with total abandon, as I often do. What a yummy and very appreciated meal.

Who's THE Luckiest Pug in the WORLD?

I am

I know what you're thinking. . . Why Noodles? Why do you think YOU are the luckiest PUG in the world?

Well, not long ago I received an email from Ms. Sydney at Chewy.com asking me if I was interested in being a member of a SELECT GROUP to test Chewy.com's new product - American Journey. This product. . . actually a group of carefully selected products - is Chewy.com's OWN product line of pet treats (and soon foods). While they will continue to sell all of the great products they currently offer, they will also have a line of EATABLES where "Each product  is made, sourced and packaged here in the U.S.A. Our meat is sourced from USDA approved facilities, there are no artificial colors, flavors, or preservatives and the bones and chews are left natural never bleached."

Are you FEELING the lovin' that is going into this line of products?????

Of course I said YES to Ms. Sydney's inquiry. I will do almost anything for her because she is SO AWESOME (all of chewy.com is awesome. If you have ever called them with a question or a problem then you know EXACTLY what I mean).

So, as you can see. . . Now my AMERICAN JOURNEY begins. . .

#Americanjourney

I AM the LUCKIEST PUG 

Hootenannied Out

I had so much fun at the Blogville Rodeo! I think I drank a little too much ROOT BEER because I woke up on the ranch house PORCH with no memory of getting there! EEEKS!

ANYHOOOOO. . . today I think I will NAP. . . and then maybe EAT. . . then nap. . . then . . . . I think you got the picture.

Thank you DOODS Murphy and Stanley and all the event managers. That was a lot of fun.

Hootenanny Noodles Goes to the Rodeo - Blogville Stylin'

Hi Y'all

I'm fixin' to head on over to the RODEO that Stanley and Murphy are hosting. Wanna JOIN me?

Hop on over here BLOGVILLE RODEO. Hurry up! I hear the BARREL RACING is going on right now.

My name is Hootenanny Noodles and I am the proprietress of A Bowl of Noodles Farmstead. We raise the finest cattle around just for the fun of it. I love my cattle like my own family. . . come to think of it, they ARE my family.

This one here up close is my BCF (Best Cow Forever) named BESSIE. She is a good ol' gal and we have lots of fun telling stories by the campfire while creating the MOST delish S'MORES you have ever eaten.

We got tah git along quick-like now so we won't miss a thing! Remember, this is also a BLOG HOP.