When…
Every day…
For the past week…
I open the back door…
and find THIS waiting for me.
It starts out innocently enough…
I let Miley & Howie out for their morning bathroom break and backyard patrol.
They make the rounds, thoroughly inspecting every square inch of the yard until they’ve made sure no unauthorized visitors have trespassed into their territory during the night.
But at some point… when they think I’m not looking…
They find the Swamp.
You know… that overgrown area of the yard we like to forget about from October to April.
The Swamp is like the Bermuda Triangle for dogs & their toys. It attracts them and sucks them in.
But that’s no problem for Howie.
You have to keep a close eye on the backyard to experience this rare swamp monster sighting.
Miley, of course, is more dainty and attempts to hover over the swamp.
She sticks the landing…
But she misjudged how close that fence was. Doh!
So, when they’re standing at the back door, waiting to be let in, looking post-apocalyptic…
There’s only one thing we can do.
Bath time!
Spring. It’s Miley & Howie’s favorite time of year.
What a cute bunch of pictures! I have a video of two of mine playing in the living room yesterday I need to post. It was raining at our house and my little sissy girls didn’t want to go out in it. Love it!!!
Hahaha! That is so precious! We live in a townhouse without a backyard, so the girls never have a chance to get too dirty. Often times, however, right after their bath, Jini will find something gross outside (e.g., a dead bird) and before I know it she’s trying to rub the scent on her. Gross! But it’s also kind of cute. :)
Love dogs ,love the spring !
OMG this is the coolest post!! I have Bostons and I’ve been greeted at the back door with the same faces LOL. Whats even better is when you DON’T notice and let them run in the house like that, UGH!! You’re not a member of the woofboard.com by chance? I feel like I’ve seen your little Bostons before…
Amanda,
I found your blog because of the personalized fonts, but ended up wandering around because of the photo of your Bostons. Then this post – OMG – I can completely relate. We have a Boston as well. Although my photography skills aren’t on par with yours, here is his photo. http://www.scrapbookersinnercircle.com/members/profile/1/pictures/780/24
Thanks for sharing. I will be back often.
Thanks for the fonts! When I saw the first pic of your pooches, my thought was that you have a heart for really rough-looking dogs – then the story unfolded. Last nite sent the url to my daughter, who received a Boston as a wedding gift this past August. Got a note back this morning that she had checked the site and barely kept from laughing out loud in her graduate level class. Yes, kids of all ages still write notes in class.
Fantastic story! Wonderfully written and photographed. You should send it to your local paper.
I just found your site today Amanda and am sooo happy. Your dogs are just adorable and can’t wait to look at all the pictures you posted and get some great ideas. THANK YOU for sharing!
That is the best!! Love the pictures. You are a much better dog mommy that me because I take mine out on a leash so that they can’t get to the swamp. I am so looking forward to summer.
Today, I stumbled o to your blog, and have been enjoying it trememdously. I love your photos. I’m into nature photography too, and have a little dog Tootsie. She is a Chinese Crested Powderpuff, and a constant source of joy for me.
I’m looking forward to seeing more of your beautiful photos, and reading your stories. Thank you so much for sharing.
Hugs, Edna B.
Awesome pictures! I have 2 pugs so I understand the silliness and mischief all too well. I’ve just started blogging and have really enjoyed reading your blog for inspiration (and help!)
I just found your website and it is so fun! The dogs in your “swamp” cracked me up and definitely gave me a smile for the day. I saw on one of your tutorials that you are interested in recipe blogs, so check mine out, its relatively new but I am having fun with it! Have a great day.
HILARIOUS! Ihope they tolerate bath time well. I have 2 labs and I can’t get over their ability to locate mud/dirt/water, etc. at any given opportunity. Dogs truly have a gift that way. ;)
Also, just wanted to let you know that I used your spring mini-kit for my new blog header. :) http://sonotdonnareed.com Thought you might like to swing by and check it out. Thanks so much for sharing your many talents!
Oh my cuteness! This reminds me SO much of my Boston Terrier Millie! Love it!
Thank you for a laugh this morning. My daughter laughed and laughed. Her favorite picture was Miley running into the fence. We have a Boston Terrier too but he hates getting wet. I wouldn’t have to worry about him getting into the mud swamp. LOL
Love your dogs! Your pictures are perfect. :) Thanks for the post.
OMG, I just love your dogs and the posts you have on them. They are soo cute and make me miss my old roommate’s boston. Her name was Kiki and is she’s deaf, and was rescued by her mom’s boston terrier rescue shelter in Houston, Texas. My friend’s mom was afraid she wasn’t going to be adopted by someone because of her “disability”, but we took her in while we were still living together and oh man, we fell in love. So everytime I see a post on your cuties, I just have to emails the links to my friend. Your cuties are so loved and so free, I love that. Take Care.
Your blog site is amazing ( and the fonts too ).
Your blog is such an inspiration , even for a fourteen
year old. I love the dogs ; quite adorable reminds me of
my crazy Shih Tzue/Maltese Cookie ♥
Now that is funny stuff! Amanda, I am always so impressed with your photos. Did you use Photoshop on these or are they straight from your camera. I would love to hear from you!
Too cute!!!!!!
Hi Amanda, I’m new to the blogging world and just recently stumbled across your blog! I must say I’m in love!! You are awesome – all the questions I’ve had so far I have found all the answers to right here on your blog. Thank you so much for sharing all that you do about how to get your blog looking just like you want it. You have truly inspired me!! I hope you don’t mind but I’ve added your button to my blog! I believe everyone in blogging world needs to know about you!
And your dogs are adorable – reminds me of my parent’s dogs!
Thanks again!
Cute!!! Love it!
LOVE this post. I can’t stop laughing.
that is the cutest thing ever! they look like they are having SO much fun!
Great pics – love your dogs so much! I have a maltese named Sophie and she likes to do the EXACT same thing. With all of this rain we have had lately, she has had a ball! Sometimes I think my 9-yr-old son wishes he could join her! Speaking of kids, when are you and Kevin going to have some of your own??? You would make a GREAT mom!!
I envy your dog photo taking abilities! I could look at pictures of your dogs all day long!
As a mother of 3 dogs, I understand this completely! So cute & funny! Your pictures are amazing & capture these moments perfectly!
Love that Howie and Miley; my own BT Dottie does not like to get wet, though. She would freak if she fell in the “swamp”!
too funny I live in South Florida now with a shih tzu and a silky terrier…used to have two labs in NC i remember the red clay i was born in raised in Charlotte…great photos and thanks for the tips with the fonts love typography…have a great week suzanne pignato
OH FOR CUTE! Love the pics! especially the action shots. How did you get so lucky to catch Miley running into the fence? HAHAHA! Hilarious. :)
You know, it’s not often I literally laugh out loud reading blogs, but this one did it! I adore dogs and the pictures you captured in this post are priceless.
OMG — totally laughing!! My boston does the same thing. That look like “What, I’m dirty? I’m not dirty. I have no idea what you are talking about!” lol We get the same looks in the bathtub too. So cute — great action shots!!
oh I am glad I found your blog! your doggie post made me laugh out loud. I have a cockapoo. What fun your dogs have in your yard!
I love this post!!!! I was just laughing all the way down – i love how our little furry friends/family just do the funniest yet simplest thing ever. :) thanks for sharing Amanda!
I love this entry. Those pictures are fantastic, so cute!
I shared one of my favorite recipes on my blog and thought it might be one you’d like!
http://www.theiheartblog.com/2010/03/potato-goodness/
Aww, cute! But poor Miley, running into the fence!!
omg, you have GOT to enter some pics into the Hallmark Card Contests……i mean these pups should be on greeting cards!!! adorable!!! ur site is my fav.
My 2 Shih-tsu’s are just like yours. They love to get dirty running in water or the snow. This is the first year for romping in the white stuff and they loved it!!!!
OMGoodness that is just the absolute cutest little adventure :)
This was so precious! You grabbed such great expression and we all knew exactly what was going through their little mischievous minds!
I love the pictures!!! Don’t you just love spring;)
Oh man my dogs would just love it if they had a backyard with a mud pile to go run in! They would be in heaven ha.
That just made my day. Wonderful timing and picture taking on your part, and adorable models!
You caught some great moments. So cute, they look like they had a ball!
lol!!! How cute! How dirty!! omg…how many bathes do they get a week?? Kelsey washed Maggie a few weeks ago (Maggie gets 1 bath a week)then I let her out to potty before bedtime…she came back in & I kept sniffing the air then accused my husband of passing gas when I finally realized Maggie had found wild animal poo in the back yard and it must have smelled good to her so she rolled in it!! arrgggg! Washing a poo covered dog at 10:30 at night did not make me a happy camper!! Yuck!! Yours, however, are darling…even dirty!
lol :D 2 very happy looking muddy dogs :D
Great pictures! I love boston terriers, we have one, too!
This is WONDERFUL!! Just what I needed to see this morning. I now can appreciate the slightly damp feet of my boy Wally (Cocker Spaniel) in the morning!!!
So cute! It’s fun to read about such things, and your dogs are precious.
You had a post a few weeks ago and I was wondering -where are you? Sounds like close to Huntsville, AL -that is where I am! I think you took some pics at Green Mountain!
Oh my gosh!! This was just the thing I need to read this morning. I can honestly say “Been there, done that.” with my Westie and Shih-tzu/Bichon!! For me it’s “when the dogs are quiet”… you just KNOW something is up.
absolutely adorable post! your “kids” remind me of my children! haha
So cute! I hope Miley is okay – that was totally a move I would have done! Doh!
sooo cute!! love the action shots!!
I think you just wrote a great book for children (and adults alike)! What great photo journalism! I’m serious – I think you should have it published! Gosh, you could do a whole series! But I guess you’ve already thought of that? I’ll be praying for a publisher for you!!! Thanks for sharing!
How fun and funny!! Sounds like constant entertainment : ) Thanks for sharing the great pics and story to go with them!
Just loved the photo series. Your doggies make me laugh! This was such a charming post, you have great style.
Darling! I love your pictures (and captions) of your dogs! Especially the ‘hover dog’ and the ‘swamp monster’–great pics!!!
Your photography is amazing. Do you think you will ever teach classes?
Amanda, you are so cute! :) I love that we get to be apart of all of your happy moments in life! It’s great that you are so generous with all of your cuteness too! :)
P.S. I’ve just recently found a love for scarves and want to wear them with everything, even my pj’s!! Thanks for sharing the tips on how to wrap them around in a stylish fashion…very helpful! :)
Hahaha that is so precious. Amanda I look forward to your blogs and my face lights up when I look at my email and there sits the email awaiting for me to read. Give Miley and Howie a big hug!!
That is absolutely hysterical! I especially loved the fence faceplant – too funny!
Oh Amanda!
These pics are absolutely PRICELESS!!!!!!!
You captured their FUN so well!
Just precious!
I can tell that lens was worth every penny! ;o)
xxooxx
I’m just jealous your grass is green. Mine is still brown. I won’t see green grass for another three weeks or so.
I love your recent pictures of Howie & Miley! They are too cute! I love Boston’s… they are the best dogs! Mine lived til he was 17 yeard old! Your pictures bring back so many fun memories!
WOW! Love your photos! They are so funny and lovely!
There’s nothing that makes me happier than seeing 2 happy, muddy puppies just being puppies! What a good mommy you are for letting them “do their thing”! Soooo cute!! Thank you so much for sharing, they’re precious!
Oh I love it!! I literally laughed at loud at Miley hitting the fence! (Not that I get a kick out of seeing dogs hit fences, I laugh at my own dogs running in to things all the time!) I dream of one day having a Boston, so seeing yours having a ball makes me smile! Keep the Miley and Howie pictures coming!! :)
That is so great. I have a miniature Australian bulldog who is SO like your two! It doesn’t matter where we are… if there is a puddle, she will find it… and the muddier the better! Great photos, thanks!
Wonderful pictures- they are adorable!!! What kind of camera are you shooting???
Hey Amanda
Awesome pics! So funny… I have two Boxers, Jetta and Bailey, and I’ve been cleaning thier paws every time they come in. Do you mind sharing what your camera settings were for the pics of them in the “swamp”.. I’ve just recently obtained a Canon Rebel Xsi and am taking a class to learn all about it! Hope I can grasp it…It’s a bit overwhelming! Thanks and happy spring!
Carrie
oh my gosh. the are so cute.
Too cute!!
I about wet myself looking at that picture of Miley running into the fence. SO cute…until about the third day in a row you have to bath your dogs I suppose!
Oh that is SOOO cute!! I’ll look forward to more Miley and Howie stories!! (and more fonts!? :)
That made my whole day! I LOL!
This is a fantastic post!!
oh my goodness! loved this photo story!!
LOVE IT! Great photo’s
Aww, your doggies are so adorable! Can’t help but fall in love with them! ♥
Ahhh… the beloved muddy spring doggies! My husband and I have two springer spaniels who are the exact same way. We too have our own personal “swamp” in our yard, and it provides us with endless dog bathing opportunities! I am already looking forward to the dry days of summer!
This is hysterical! GREAT pictures and a fun post!
Aww they are so cute! Who can resist those muddy, messy faces?
those pictures are so cute! that first one – wow! what a cute little story!
OMG, what amazing pictures of your dogs. I love that you captured every moment of them playing. My Mom’s dog does this also with water, the snow and gets his paw prints all over our white fence. I have to get out there and get those paw prints off the fence soon. lol! Her dog mis-judge our deck in the snow a few weeks ago and I captured it on my camera as well. Skid face first right onto the deck of snow. It was pretty funny….kept running too. LOL! Thanks for making me smile with your wonderful pictures. :-)
Are you kidding me? These pics are beyond adorable and brought a smile to my face today. A nice distraction from my problems. :) Thank you Amanda!
I was very amused by your story. I remember very well the innocent view of my dog when she had done something wrong. Cute!
I like to read on your pages. They are very amusing.
In addition, while reading I can learn the englisch language, because I need the language skills in my job. And so I look forward to many new stories from you.
I am just blown away by their adorableness!
So cute! I love it :) I’m pretty new to your blog. LOVE IT!! Going to try the chicken enchiladas tomorrow. And thanks for sharing your weight loss story, you look wonderful!
~Denissa
I loved this, your dogs are very lucky to have such a good mama :)
haha, I LOVE the very last pic you posted! So innocent looking–and clean!
Glad I am not the only one!! My dog does this at least three times a week. And she doesn’t quite fit in the tub!!
I can’t stand how cute these pics are! It’s too much! I so wish I had a backyard for my pug to play in. She would go nuts over that little swamp!
Just had to share how much I enjoy your website. I look forward to new posts- especially when I need a break from my workload. Your style is quite engaging-along with being helpful/insightful.
Thanks for the work and thought you put into this!
They are so cute….and I am so ready for SPRING and flip flops the shoe of choice EVERYDAY….
I love your posts! This is so cute…I truly enjoy reading about your puppies, especially since my sister has a Boston! I share all of the posts about your babies with my sister! Thanks for the smile today!
Love it, love it, love it. I so enjoy it when you post Howie and Miley, they truly are adorable. We have 2 bostons, Baxter and Ebony who look a lot like Howie, Ebony can pass for his sister. Our two are so looking forward to spring here in Northern California and when we mention road trips they run to the door because they know that they will soon be running through the fields near our home smelling every bush in sight. Our two do not seem to enjoy the water like Howie and Miley, but they are ages 1 1/2 and 1 so maybe this spring they will branch out enjoy life even more.
Thank you for sharing. I know that we are not alone when it comes to pure enjoyment from having Bostons in our lives. Truly God’s gift to us for sure.
Hilarious!! Great shots, especially of the “hovering”. Thanks for the funny! ; )
That is too funny! My husband and I can relate. Seems that if it’s not the dogs… it’s the kids!
I love it! I have two boxers and they do the same thing! They come in and you can tell where they’ve been in the house…there are paw prints through-out…
Ahhhhhh, what adorable pics of your babies! Love them all :)
That was so cute! Thanks for sharing!! :)
Love it! I have three dogs, Lady (malamute), Trek and Riley (male black labs) They are always getting into something! And when water is invloved my labs become monsters too!!! Don’t you just love life with them!!! I do!
Brooke
I love it! I have 3 yorkies and a Shih Tzu that like to do the same thing. They wait until I take my eyes off them for ONE MINUTE and they dig holes and roll around in the grass and mud. Now I know I’m not alone!
Love your website. Just found it a week or so ago while searching the web for “Fonts”. First, thanks for sharing the fonts, 2nd you make me laugh. I too have a dog, Toby, that is the morning inspector of our yard, but instead of a swamp, we have a mudhole that totally insures coverage of wet, dirty mud from Toby’s top to bottom. So when I saw your tale of the swamp dogs, it made me giggle. Keep up the great stories and photos….you bring a lot of joy to your community of visitors.
OHHHH my goodness Amanda, I laughed sooooo hard thought i was gonna p** my pants. LOL I especially loved the one of Miley smacking into the fence, hope she wasnt hurt but it sure was funny. Amanda I absolutely love your blog and visit it daily have used many of your ideas and recipies. Keep bloggin Donna in Minot ND
Adorable.
AHHHH! to be a KID again!!!
Cute stuff!!!
That is TOO funny. So glad to see that you let them play.
Oh my goodness, what awesome photos and wonderful (hilarious!) storytelling!! LOVE it!!
HAHA! This was such a cute post! Seeing your two together makes me want to get my Brady a sibling :)
I love those photos! They’re so funny! :D
that is so cute! You are a great story teller!!!!
OMGosh Thank you so much for making me laugh this morning Miley. Needed it today. :-) Poor puppy – looks like they had fun though.
At least you have small fur children! They can probably go in the kitchen sink. Ours is a 90-ish pound chocolate Lab. What were we thinking?
Love it!!! My dogs would LOVE your “swamp!” Right now, mine are just dirty on their feet. We have one area in our backyard that will not grow grass and of course, it’s the first and last part the dogs step in while outside (right outside our patio). I will fix it some time! Maybe your swamp could turn into a fish pond? AND a fence? :) Good luck with baths! At least your pups are small.
What a cute picture story! Keep them coming.
Those pictures are absolutely fantastic!
Wow! They are the cutest! You are lucky to be able to have these moments and pictures! It will last a lifetime! Thank you so much for sharing. I LOVED the story and your pictures are AWESOME!!!
this is my favorite post of yours yet! so cute!! i think they could have a dog contest ‘win’ in their pockets with these pictures!!
I love it!!! That is a pair of very very happy pooches.
I am one of those people who love to see people or in this case dogs, trip, fall, or walk into things. (Only when they don’t get hurt of course) So, this post made my morning…thank you. The pictures are great!
Amanda, you always take the best pictures. You’re going to have to share with me some of your secrets! I have tried so hard to do some great thing with my camera but can’t figure it out. Anything would be appreciated!! Love this post on the dogs and the “swamp”…hilarious!
Thank you so much for these! It may be Monday morning, but these pictures (and fabulous doggie personalities) are enough to lift anyone’s spirits!
Lol!! I love it! We have two miniature pinschers names Bonnie and Clyde and they do the same thing. Such wonderful photos.. this made me laugh and I needed it!
Love those photos. And can I say I wish I had your patience? How many baths do they get a day? Wow.
I absolutely love this! I started out smiling and ended up laughing out loud – and more than once! The photos and narrative were PERFECT and the whole thing is just TOO TOO cute! Thank you for brightening my day! :0)
What incredible photos! I especially love the very first one! I can only imagine your reaction when that’s what you found waiting for you on your back stoop!
Have a blessed day!
I love these pictures!! They are so cut! What a fun post! Thanks for sharing!
What a hoot !!! It doesn’t get any cuter than this. Thanks for sharing.
The first and last pictures literally made me CRY with laughter!!
I have tweeted this entry to all my friends. x
I’m not really a dog person but good grief, they’re adorable!
OMGosh! Thank you so much for sharing your pics of those two cuties. They definitely had a good time!!! My Toonie Mae is a Boston terrier/chihuahua cross. Great dogs.
I adore the last picture! So cute!
Those pictures are so awesome!! Great shots! Looks like they are HAPPY little dogs!! Thanks for sharing!
Amanda! One of the things on my *Bucket List* is to write Children’s Books! And now, I’ve taken the liberty of deciding that you TOO should! (Yes, yes… you’re welcome, haha!) This is so cute and kids would go ga-ga over it! :) PLUS, it would make M&H stars and you a famous author. It’s brilliant. :-D
And P.S. What is on YOUR bucket list?!
In my experience, a dirty dog is a happy dog! So yours must be over the moon :) such cuties!
I laughed so hard!!!!! I love the picture of the one in mid-jump. Great picture taking. They also look so apologetic at bath time. LOL
Smiles~
Marilyn
Love how you captured their true essence! These are great and what a wonderful scrapbook page they will make. Thanks for sharing
your pictures are amazing… and they are absolutely adorable!
awww! I loved this post! They are so adorable!
OMG! This is hilarious! I love love love it! I even forwarded on the blog link to my sister (a dog fantatic even more so than i am). Truly priceless!
Well, I can’t say it any better than everyone else! I loved this story. You captured it beautifully. Some day I would like to be just 1/2 as good of a photographer as you! Your pictures are always so amazing.
In fact, I can’t stand cooking. I’ve never liked it and never been good at it. Two or three times now, I’ve bought the ingredients and tried your recipes. I know a lot of that has to do with the incredible pictures you post to go along with the recipe.
Thanks for always posting your work and your stories!
Amanda, you are AWESOME!!!!!
I looooove, love, love, love this post! OMG – it is just FANTASTIC!!!!
Thank You for sharing!!!
♥Lori
Soooo cute! I love it, thanks for sharing :)
Being the dog lover that I am, this made me laugh out loud! I love your photos…thanks for sharing :)
Ohhh so cute and so true.
Lucky Dogs! Wonderful pictures, great narrative…….thank you! My grandparents had a “pug dog” way back in the 40’s. Now one of my granddaughters has one.
What great pictures you captured of Miley and Howie. They are so adorable. It was like watching a short movie. I have to say your pictures brightened my morning! :)
These are fantastic photos! This is so my toe Shih-tzus. Raisin and Muffin do this exact same thing!!!!!!!!!! SO CUTE!
I loved this post! You captured it–the essence of dogs and Spring!
Oh my gosh, they are just too cute. Loved the pictures !!!
I love it!! Love reading posts about your dogs and seeing the photos. They are so cute! I have a pug named Milo and know what you mean about the spring thing. He tracks little black footprints on my white kitchen floor this time of year if I don’t catch him at the door and wipe his feet.