All I Want for Christmas

All I want for Christmas is for 

Mom's book 

(click on link above)

to bring comfort and joy to others.

(And to feel better after eating some wooden ornaments.)

Merry Christmas to you all!

PAWS and think of a holiday treat and what brings you comfort and joy.

~ Magnus Pym

Good (Enough) Housekeeping Cover Shot

Were Thanksgiving preparations "ruff" for you this year?

(We hosted both sets of grandparents/in-laws for the holiday!)

Our extra efforts were rewarded though as 

I was featured on the cover of 

Good (Enough) Housekeeping magazine!

It was because of my tiny white hairs being sprinkled throughout our home

(and my mom's ability to zip around with a hand held vacuum 

15 minutes before each set of guests arrived)

that I got selected for the magazine's cover! 

(The mud I bring in on my paws probably helped too.)

Without the need for me to be cleaned up after 

this kind of honor would have never been bestowed upon our family.

We are so grateful.

Let us know what you are thankful for this year!

Fondly, 

Magnus Pym

Photo Book

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International Fame

Dear Readers,

Here is a photo of PAWS Moments with Magnus Pym being shared with some men in India! My mom led a blogging seminar while on her mission trip and used MY blog as inspiration! How very cool!

Here's a photo of a group photo being organized at a Women's Sunday School Teachers' Conference where Mom gave a presentation about creative writing. She sat in one of the plastic chairs for the picture but she said she hated that the two dogs had to be asked to move so her Team could sit down.

As you can see by their expressions these pooches were not used to all the hullabaloo.

I think the brown one is saying, "Go ahead, make my day."

I wish I could have been there to negotiate.

Mom brought me home a gift. It's a wind up riskshaw type taxi cab toy. 

It is fun to chase, but I want to eat it.

Mom gave me a bath the day she got home and we've gone on some walks since she got back, but mostly she's been spending time writing thank you notes. She says she's really grateful for all the support her friends and family gave her about her decision to answer God's call and go on the short term mission trip to India. 

I am grateful Mom is back. I am going to lick her face the next time it gets near my tongue.

Are you missing a loved one who lives far from you or is away from home? 

PAWS for a moment and be thankful you have loved ones to miss while you are apart.

~ Magnus Pym

(Mom says she's emailing you all links to her India photo journal.)

PAWS and Wonder

Do you ever PAWS and wonder...

How did that situation come to be?

I know my mom does!

(When she told me the story of how I came to be adopted

I knew that a divine intervention took place that day!)

Mom says she was just hanging out in her perch 

(the church balcony)

when she looked at the bulletin and suddenly 

knew she was supposed to participate in a trip to India.

(I am still processing it all - in the "Lonely Chair".)

I am happy for her but I am going to miss 

being her hammock swinging helper.

(She always rubs my neck as she uses my harness to pull her back and forth.)

I wonder if all these leaves will have changed color

or fallen to the ground by the time Mom gets back in two weeks?

 I know I will be okay while Mom travels though

because as they say, 

"The apple doesn't fall far from the tree..."

... and Mom isn't the only one who can snuggle with me!

Take a to moment PAWS and remember a time you

felt a presence telling you to do something.

Did you follow the call?

Keep the faith!

~ Magnus Pym

New Tricks

Hello again...

(I'd like to thank Valerie for this headshot photo of me.

And for this picture of me as an "Ivy Leaguer" businessman.)

For today's PAWS moment I would like you to ponder the expression:

"You can't teach an old dog new tricks."

I disagree! 

For example:

When Mom got a bunch of 50th birthday gifts and cards filled with confetti  

it didn't take me that long to figure out confetti doesn't taste good!

And when Mom took me to the Dog Park I knew NOT 

to get in the two swimming pools when we first got there...

...but to go on a walk in the meadows and enjoy the views!

And I understood that I wasn't allowed in the 

pond area because it's too dangerous for me.

And I knew not to run too far away 

and to come back if Mom shook the treats bag.

And I knew to walk a little slower when we got to the stairs 

cuz they are hard on Mom's bad knee.

And look at the reward I earned for learning all these new tricks!

A refreshing cool pool dip after a hot (dog) walk!

However, when Mom bought this suitcase the other day I didn't like it one bit!

Still, I have learned how to let others go live their lives 

(without chewing on the furniture).

So, I guess I will just gnaw on my "pacifier" toy a lot when 

Mom is working at her new part time job 

and when she goes in India next month.

(But I don't have to be happy about it!)

Take some time to PAWS and think about 

any new tricks you have learned as you have gotten older.

~ Magnus Pym

New Digs

Magnus has left the building...

...and entered a new one!

My humans moved! 

(And since they took the couch with them I decided to join them.)

Mind you, the lawn is currently mud and grass seed 

so it's hard to get any business done without getting in trouble.  

But since I had a staph infection on my paw it was a "ruff" few weeks anyway. 

(When Mom asked the vet how I got it she said, "They just get them." 

Really? I hope I don't get anymore!

We now live near an Open Lands area 

so I have some interesting new walking paths to explore.

(Yes, Mom applies tick repellant monthly.)

It took a couple days - but the Internet and cable are hooked up 

 so I can finally get my blog posts written. 

Some of you know my Mom is celebrating her 50th birthday soon. 

Well, Missy, (my doggled friend) has a really nice mama 

who gave my mama some cute greeting cards 

and a fabu key chain that has charms with an English Bulldog theme!

(Now Mom is able to remember my adorableness while driving and writing!)

I hope you all are in digs that have a favorite snuggle spot, 

are able to get your business done without getting in the dog house,

are germ free and healthy,

and are also being treated with generous kindness!

I know after moving three times in nine months 

my humans and I are hoping to actually PAWS 

and enjoy our surroundings!

I hope you are all staying cool in these dog days of summer!

~ Magnus Pym

The Joys of Cleaning House

My human mom thought English Bulldogs didn't shed. (Whew, I am glad that information was communicated poorly so that I was adopted regardless of my salt shaker like daily existence. As you all know the couch is my domain and since it is brown the surface often looks like a sea salt sprinkled milk chocolate bar.)

When I was younger I used to bark at and attack the vacuum. After some scolding and squirts from a bottle labeled Doggie Detente I have pretty much curbed my appetite for the Oreck's plastic hose. (I do still revert at times of weakness or confusion.) Recently Mom decided to literally go to the source of the problem and  simply suck the hairs right off my back. Who knew this would be so enjoyable? Not me! It's like a massage! It's delightful! No one else was home when Mom did this so they didn't believe her when she explained that I allowed her to directly drag the hose onto my skin. When my human dad and siblings came home later and were given a showing of this spa-like experience they were shocked. (There are teeth marks on the vacuum hose so they had a good reason to doubt.) Once the evidence was in, I was videotaped displaying my pleasure at helping Mom "clean house."


Aren't you impressed with my calm demeanor?
(I don't understand why Mom is perturbed by the fact that I trail behind her as she cleans, licking her ankles and trying to get between the head of the hose and the rugs. Since she's cleaning up my hairs I figure, just go to the source! It just feels sooooo good!)

Summer has begun so my "digs" have expanded. 

I now get to go outside onto the deck patio and lounge.  Enjoyable!

Dad has made it very attractive with a jungle garden atmosphere. 

Can you see me?

This is my current "head shot" for publicity purposes. (Mary took it.)

I think I pull off a casual and yet distinguished look, don't you?

I hope your summertime pleasures include some time outside in nature. 

Recently the media has been espousing that one's creativity 

is increased through more connection with the outdoors.  

I don't mean to be disrespectful to the reporters, but, "DUH!"

Why do you think dogs insist on doing their business outside?

So get outside, PAWS, and let your creative juices flow!

~ Magnus Pym

For the record, freedom is a gift.

So Dad came up with this line: "Magnus lives in a gated community." 

For some reason I think that is supposed to represent a fancier lifestyle 

than my baby gate enclosure on the back patio.

At least Mom and Dad keep taking me to the beach 

because otherwise I would for sure start chewing on something!

Dad and I found this big honkin' machine on the beach the other day. 

Mom says she has a girlfriend who drives one of these! (Very cool.)

It made Mom think of the "Road Construction Ahead" video 

she used to show to my human siblings when they were younger.

Metaphorically this machine also made Mom think of the 

complete overhaul our family has gone through in the last year.

(And yet it's ironic that Mom is right back where she started,

listening to her bubble gum pop star records in her hometown.)

I am happy to report I have been to the dog park some more. 

But Mom goes to lots of places where I can't go 

and then she spends a lot of time on her computer 

sending photos of her adventures 

which makes me pretty jealous.

So I lay down on her computer charger cord so she will pay attention to ME.

I hope during this Memorial Day weekend you have been able 

to PAWS and reflect on where you have been 

and how your freedom to roam is a gift. 

Peace be with you,

Magnus