Tag: Pet

Posted in About Me, About Me, Blog, Family, Self Help

Family isn’t always Family

Posted on by Snow's Southern Life
Hammock-Swing

Why hey ya’ll! How’s it goin? I am blessed and cool under this shade tree with my Tea! I just love those cool days when I can sit under the tree, relaxing, with not a care in the world. Just me, the shade, and my tea. Not for long though. I can always count on my two little ones, my dogs, of course, to interrupt me. They come running, jump up on the hammock, all excited, and then just plop right there and go off to a nap. Why do I have to move to make you comfortable? They are the epitome of family.

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You know?! The one who always gives out a great big hug just when you need it. Or the cousin who makes you laugh at nothing funny at all. Some of us have that Aunt that always wants her way or no way. Or that Uncle that is always drunk at the family holiday, asking for money from the kids. I have a brother like that, well used to. Now he’s going to be upset with me writing this, but it’s ok. I love my family with all my heart. But sometimes you have to just get away. Or move away in my case! I just left, moved to Alabama, because I could not take the selfishness and in-consideration for others any longer.

Please allow me to be specific. At the time, 14 years ago, my brother was an Alcoholic. I say was, because he is no longer, and has been sober for quite some time. It took him years to get himself together, to get support from those willing to endure his attitudes, his countless disappearing acts, his anger. But he did it, and I am so proud of him.

That brings me to the title of this blog. Family isn’t always family. If it was not for my brother’s best friend, and in-laws, (ie; sister and brother-in-law), I am not sure where he would be. I had been through enough with my abusive ex-husband for the last ten years. I did not want to endure another ten. I was trying to get myself together. My life was a mess, my self-confidence, my attitude towards men, everything. So when I had enough of family, I packed up and left.

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We are still in contact. Just spoke to him two days ago as a matter of fact. We have mended old wounds, and are rather close I would think. We still have our differences, but nothing will ever break us apart completely except for the big D.  But now the roles have changed. No, I do not have an addiction. Well, maybe chocolate. What I mean is that I am now down here in Alabama, with no family, except my husband’s side. I love them all, but there is nothing like your own. I miss my family dearly. However, I do not miss them enough to leave Alabama. No, I will stay right here. But the circle of friends that I have is awesome! I have made myself a family through non-family. We are closer than most of my real family. Like I said, family is not always family.

I love the South. There is nothing that would or could pull me from here. For a long time, I was a transient of sorts. I could not sit still. Just could not find my place in this big ‘ol world. But now, I have, and I am in love with my life. I am in love with a great husband, wonderful children, and five awesome grandsons, and one precious granddaughter. All of which, are not my blood, but my husband’s children. I could never birth my own. I love them like they were my own, and I believe they love me! Holidays are the biggest ordeal with us. So, why would I leave? It is ok to get homesick once in a while, but that’s it. After a point, reality has to set in and get back to our lives, whatever that may be. 

Speaking of which, I have to get up and go cook dinner. We cook every night in the south. Whether big or small, dinner is always on the table by sundown. And ya have to have a Desert! It’s a Southern thing I think.

So, in the meantime, think about the important people in your lives. Tell them often how important they are to you. Blood or not, family is family. It is rare that we find others we can rely on in these days and times. Someone to listen, without judgment, and be there to pick us up, without question. Make sure your “Family” knows just how much they mean to you. Do not let too much time slip away, or it may end up being too late.

Until next time, stay blessed, stay southern sweet, and I will have your tea waiting.

Lipton-KCups-TeaMoments

Copyright © 2016 SnoSouthernLife.com

Posted in Blog, Family

My dog thinks she is human!

Posted on by Snow's Southern Life
mydogsnotspoiled

Hello! I’ve missed you! I must get better at this writing thing. My goal is to blog at least once a week, although it is very difficult when a person is as busy as I am with a zillion things going on at one time. This week I have been super busy, well all the time, but this week seems more hectic than usual. It is mostly due to an addition to our family.

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ok, well here’s the tea! In the past, I used to be that person who laughed at pet lovers and how spoiled their “family member” was. However, after getting a puppy for my birthday two years ago, I now understand. I am totally in love with my fur baby. (yes, I know. I am a sucker for cute faces.) Button, a long hair Chihuahua is now 2 years old, and I swear she thinks she is human! She has her own little personality, and thinks she is as huge as the neighbor’s Pitbull! She is our little killer who is afraid of everything she shouldn’t be, and brave to things she should be afraid of. I was told it is called an inferior complex. She knows she is small, so she growls like she is huge thinking that will scare whatever it is. No ma’am, sit down.

Of course, I spoil her rotten like any self-respected southern woman does. Button eats what we eat, she sleeps with us in the bed, heck she tells us when it is bedtime! Just like a child, at 9:00 pm every night, she climbs up on my husband’s chest and looks him straight in the eyes, like she is trying to tell him something. It took us three days to figure out what she wanted. Freddie takes her outside, nothing. He gives her some freshwater, nope. “What does she want?” he asked. I said, “it’s her bedtime”, as serious as I could be. Of course, he laughed, and then laid down on the couch, covered himself with a blanket, and what did Button do? She crawled right up next to him, and went to sleep! I swear she thinks she is human.

I said I want a biscuit Daddy!

Two days ago, I took Button to Bath, Barks and Bubbles downtown Birmingham. She loves going there, to her “doggie spa” to get a haircut, her nails clipped and painted. I spend more on my dog than I do myself. Anyhow, while there, I was asked if I wanted another dog? My first reaction was, no! But, of course, I had to see him.

Lucky was brought into the shop in January by an older woman, and they never came back. Now, I am praying that nothing happened to her, that she just could not take care of him. But Lucky has been living in the shop for three months. The owner started to put an ad in the newspaper but didn’t because she wanted to make sure Lucky received a good home. He is so adorable, and sweet. Needless to say, yes, Freddie and I just could not leave him. We went back the next day and picked him up.

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Lucky, our new fur baby

Button? Button is the queen of our home. She is in charge. My children, when they come to visit, they ask where is Button. My neighbor speaks to her every morning on her way to work, through the window, (we sleep with our windows open in the south).  The whole block knows Button, and she knows them. So you can imagine when Lucky came, she did not like sharing her attention. She is not happy with us! As a matter of fact, she is giving us the silent treatment. At first, if Button was in my lap, and Lucky tried to come near, she would growl at him. It has been about three days, and she is getting used to him now. Although, I just realized tonight that Lucky is eating his food and Button’s. So, I am going to have to separate them and retrain Lucky on eating habits. Button will one day be the queen of our home again!

Until then, I must deal with not one, but two dogs, a part of my family, who think they are human. Lucky has quickly adapted to Button’s routine. He to now has a regular nap time, and bedtime. Mealtimes are excitement running through the house, thinking they are both going “to get whatever that smell is she is cooking”.  While I am sitting here writing about them, of course, they are both right at my feet. It is past their bedtime, and they are waiting on me to go to bed! So I guess I will end here for the night. I could go on and on about my “children”.

So until next time, on to the next task at hand, whatever that may be.  I will definitely keep you updated on both of my little ones. Until then, keep spoiling, be blessed, stay southern sweet! I will have a fresh pot of tea waiting.

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Do you have pets in your home?  Tell me about them! I would love to hear your stories.  Post your pictures. Animals are precious and must be treated as such.

2012 – 2016 Icehouse Crafts. “My dog’s not spoiled, I’m just well trained”. http://icehousecrafts.com/item_330/My-Dogs-Not-Spoiled…Im-Just-Well-Trained-Sign.htm#.Vwx7g6QrK00
AllPosters.com. “A spoiled rotten Chihuahua lives here”. http://www.allposters.com/-sp/A-Spoiled-Rotten-Chihuahua-Tan-Lives-Here-Wood-Sign-Posters_i9560929_.htm

Copyright © 2016 SnoSouthernLife.com