I’m sick. But I found something on the internet to distract you with get you in the mood for the holiday season. What’s better than opening presents on Christmas day? Watching a dachshund open his Christmas stocking.

Photo credit: Wry&Ginger from Flickr

Wrapping up the “Shopping “Home for the Holidays”” series this week is local Etsy artist Wry & Ginger. As her site says, she makes “seriously funny handmade cards in original designs.” Shortly after dog-sitting Tofu one weekend a few months back, she came out with a new line of cards called “Doxie Love is Peculiar.”

Tofu was so thrilled that he wanted to personally interview Cheryl. So, head on over to the dog blog for the full interview and, while you’re there, enter to win a set of these cards. Contest closes November 27. Full details at Who’s Your Dachshund?

Thanks again to everyone who posted on the site this week. If you missed any, check them out:

Green Christmas by Charlene Boyce

The Bay Hammock Company by Anne Chisholm

Shopping locally: we’re all in the same boat by Heather Rankin

Love, Me Boutique by Chara Kingston

Has anyone else been having trouble sleeping lately? I don’t know if it’s the weather, the time change or what but I feel like I’ve been on auto-pilot this past week due to lack of z’s. As a result, random thoughts have come to into my head. Sort of like the following:

AliasGrace: I think I’d like to be a philanthropist for a living.

Me: …

AliasGrace: What?

Me: What exactly do you think that entails?

AliasGrace: It’s kind of like a socialite except instead of spending money on yourself you spend it on other people. For charity.

Me: Where do you propose to get all this disposable income from?

AliasGrace: *shrugs*

Me: OK, then. You go on daydreaming while I get back to work. I do have bills to pay and a dog to feed.

AliasGrace: Yeah, you go ahead. I guess you’re just the socialite between us.

Me: ..!

On the dog blog today: the story of Tofu and how he helped me kick my addiction to cats (I know, right?). That’s really all I have to say about that. Visit Who’s Your Dachshund? for the full story and, of course, a cute picture of the pup himself.

Winning me over with sighs and "dachshund eyes"

No, I’m talking about my dog. Well, actually, other people’s dogs. More specifically, Ben‘s dogs who visited for an extended long weekend and subsequently won over my heart despite one of them being sick the whole time.

It makes me wonder, again, if I should add a second dog to our household? Tofu seems to like his space but the bond he has with his brother seems to me a thing of beauty. Can he get that same relationship with another dog? More on this topic over at the dog blog today.

Three's a crowd

On the dog blog today, we look at the relationship between litter mates Tofu and Calvin (who was recently visiting with half-brother Theo).

Besides, pushing each other out of the way in order to get prime spot on my lap (and sometimes posing as each other), these boys have grown up to be best buddies.

More cuteness over at Who’s Your Dachshund?

He looks so good in hats!

It’s hard to believe but just under two short years ago, Cokebaby and I brought home a squirmy little five-month-old puppy. Now Tofu is 15 pounds of gentle love with a waggly bottom.

Check out the dog blog where you can read about Tofu‘s adventures and wish his brother Calvin a happy birthday too (they’re littermates)!

Over on the dog blog today it’s career day. Find out what exciting job Tofu would have if the canine world had jobs to offer outside of hunting and gathering. What do you think it could be? Guess here, then head on over to Who’s Your Dachshund? to find out.

Guessing games make Tofu smile

Today on the dog blog we look at the age-old, instinctual habit of scent-rolling. For anyone who doesn’t have a dog in their life, this behaviour is defined by the disgusting need for a canine to smear really strong smelling things on it’s body (the source of which is usually something horrific). But what does it say about me when Tofu has decided to scent-roll in my hair?

In other news this morning:

I'm just saying...

So, here’s the deal. While Ben at No Ordinary Rollercoaster is offering to post scantily clad pictures of himself should 50 people contribute funds to Donate4Dachshunds by midnight tomorrow, I’m throwing a good old fashioned guilt trip your way instead.

Didn’t know it was my birthday? I’m hurt. Now throw some cash at puppies to make it better.

Seriously though even the smallest amount brings us closer to our goal of providing a happy ending for many animals in need. And even if you’ve already donated (thanks, you kind soul!) please help spread this video through Twitter, Facebook, your blog, or any way you know how.

Thanks to Tracy & Julian at Firefly Digital Media Inc. for donating this lovely video. Oh, and to their wonderful children who each donated $5 of their own money last week.

To make things easy for you, here’s where you can donate: