The Joys of Duckie Parenting - Pixel's Duckies Go Joy Riding, Part I

My duckies decided they wanted to go joy riding this past weekend. They all jumped into my red wagon, make Purple Patrick Duckie the "Spokesduckie" and had him pitch the idea to me Saturday morning. They had already packed a huge lunch (you should see how these duckies pack away food!), they mapped out a few prime "Peak of Autumn" sites to see along the way, which included a few choice ponds for swimming, and all they need was my blessing.

I was a bit concerned having a bunch of young duckies going out on their own for a weekend joy ride, but they assured me they'd be fine. Patrick Duckie is an adult, he's a trained covert operative so he can protect them, and he does have his Red Wagon Duckie Driver's license, so at least I know they'd both ride and be safe.

I checked the tires, did a full inspection of the red wagon, gave them a pep talk about quaking to strangers and sent them on their way.

I somehow had a feeling there was a bit more to this than met the duckie eye, but I couldn't quite put my paw on it. I pulled Purple Patrick Duckie aside as everyone assembled on the front porch. I made Pink Minkie Duckie his second in command. In spite of her wise quack ways, she always had a smart head on her shoulders.

As I watched them pull away, I help my heart in my paw (figuratively of course) and prayed all would be okay. I hoped they had a great time, but at the same time, I hoped they would miss me terribly. Is that bad?

By Sunday night, they still weren't home, so I started reading a self-help book called "Raising Wild Duckies: Putting the Calm Back in your Brood" to see if I can reign them in a little bit. I know that "duckies will be duckies"...I mean, I'm the one that taught them how to hide in a Kleenex box and how to play "kitchen towel hideout". But two days of frivolous red wagon riding on these dangerous mountain back roads has me anxious. I finally got a text from Purple Patrick Duckie Monday night. He said they were all "fine" and would be home soon. He said they had a "surprise" for me too.
Do you think there might be an ulterior motive? That they had one this entire time? We ARE talking Purple Patrick Duckie after all. Let me know your thoughts friends.
And don't forget to visit my fellow pet bloggers websites below, and see what they are up to on this Wordless Wednesday, hosted by my friends at BlogPaws.

The Joy of a Good Quote - Pixel Shares Her Favorite Pixelisms

A good quote can make you smile, make you think, or get you motivated. I love positive quotes, which often encourage you, warm your heart or remind you about what is important in life. When my good friend Spencer the Goldendoodle invited me to take part in the Quote Hop, I was very excited and couldn't wait to dig up some good ones. I am only allowed to share 3 quotes, which is devilishly difficult to do, but I promised Spencer I'd follow the rules to the letter.
There are many famous quotes that I love, but as I searched to find just the right ones, I realized something. I often make up Pixel quotes, or 'Pixelisms' as Mommy calls them, on my own, and have shared them with Mommy and all my friends over the years. So, instead of sharing famous quotes for this 'Quote Hop', I thought I'd share some favorite 'Pixelisms'. Feel free to 'quote' me anytime, and share the posters. Who knows, one day maybe they will be famous and shared by others too!

"Smiles are like Spring Flowers. Each one is Unique, Fresh and Beautiful!"
I originally 'quoted' this back in March 2015 on my Facebook page to bring a few smiles out of my friends. I think every smile is beautiful. You can never have too many smiles in your life or in the world. Big or small, I love them all!

"Find a Reason to Smile Each Day. It Matters Because YOU Matter."
I quoted this one on March 2014 on Facebook as well. I believe it's important for everyone to seek reasons to smile in their day, no matter what might be going on around them. Even if you are having "the worst day ever", you can still find some reason to smile. It can be over the tiniest thing, but it matters if you can find those little things to make you smile. It's especially good if you can make someone else smile too...who knows how much your little act of kindness can change a person's world around!

"Don't let a 'Bad Hair Day' get you down. Just smile....like you meant to style it that way!"
Finally, a silly one that I first posted in January 2014. I was having one heck of a bad hair day when Mommy took several photos of me. I didn't even know until I saw the images later, so I thought, hey, wouldn't it be easier if we all just smile through our "bad hair days" and pretend like it was intentional. It might make everyone else think it's a new style. Isn't that how new trends get started? Confidence is catching.
Thank you Spencer for inviting me to do the Quote Hop. It was fun finding the right "Pixelisms" to share! I now challenge three of my fellow pet blogging friends to the Quote Hop. I challenge The Cat on my Head, The Chesnut Mutts, and Pawsitively Pets.
The rules of the Quote Hop are as follows:
Thank the blogger who nominated you.
Post three of your favorite quotes (this can be done all in one post or on three consecutive days).
Nominate 3 bloggers and challenge them.
I hope everyone got a little smile and enjoyment from each Pixelism. Which one did you like best? 
Do you have a favorite quote? I'd love to have you share it in a comment below!

Joy Riding with Mommy - Pixel's Wordless Wednesday

Taking trips with the family, hanging out with Mommy, singing in the car with her, joy riding.

The joy we share in the car never gets old. 

However, the following verifies she should never leave her cell phone

within easy reach of my paws!

My "Vehicle Protection Watchdog" Look

You can never have too many "Mommy and Me" Selfies

Snuggled against Mommy while seat belted securely in place

I'm very serious about canine car safety as I wear my seatbelt.

Getting a little sleepy on one of our family car rides...

Did someone in the car say "Wendy's food break"??

"Who Let the Dogs Out? Who, who, who??" BOL!!

It doesn't get any better than this...car trips with the family.

Contemplating on just how lucky and blessed I really am.

Happy Wordless Wednesday friends!! On this day, many bloggers take a break from the many words that escape our minds (and make their way to the virtual page) and share photos we love. 

This Wordless Wednesday is hosted by my good friends at BlogPaws! July is "Pet Safety Month", so you'll notice that in several photos, I'm wearing my Kurgo Tru-Fit dog harness safety seat belt, which I now wear for ALL car rides with Mommy.

She and I both feel much more secure for my safety now that I have it.
Check out some of my fellow pet bloggers below to see what other "Wordless Wednesday" fun is being shared...

The Joy of a Bad Hair Day - Pixel's Wednesday Words of Wisdom

Pixel's Wednesday Words of Wisdom: Smile & Go With It!
I'd like to share some simple yet very helpful "Wednesday Words of Wisdom" with you my friends. It's made a huge difference in my life, and it might make a difference in yours as well.
My advice is simple: next time you have a "bad hair day" don't let it bring you down. Don't fret over it being "unruly". Let your bad hair day become a joyful day!
Let your hair do it's own thing. Just walk out the door with your hair all crazy, face the day and SMILE as big as you can...as if you wanted it to look that way. Walk with confidence. Walk with swagger. Tip the waiter an extra 10%. Make others feel good throughout the day and it'll make you feel good too!
Who knows...you might even start a new hair trend!
Do you have some Wednesday Words of Wisdom to share with me? I'd love to hear them. Just leave me a comment below friends!
And don't forget to see what my fellow pet blogger friends are up to on this Wordless Wednesday. Some of us are more "wordy" than others, BOL, but I promise it's always entertaining.

Pixel's Favorites - 10 Safe & SUPER Foods for Dogs

I love food! I love to eat it, and I love to wear it. I really celebrate a good meal, as does my Mommy, so we always enjoy a good meal together. We both have several smaller meals and a couple of snacks a day, equaling up to what we should have total in a day. Now, we've all heard that dog's shouldn't "eat off the table" or "eat off your plate". I am a refined young lady you know. So of course I don't grab food off of Mommy's plate and she does not give me any of her prepared foods.

There are a few reasons why it is not a good idea to feed your dog directly from your plate, no matter how cute we look as we give you a big smile and sad puppy eyes. Some foods have damaging high fat, high salt, or ingredients that dogs either can't process or are toxic to us, such as onions, raisins and certain spices. But just because we can't eat some human foods, does not mean that dogs can never have people food at all! In fact, lots of dogs have their daily meals made all out of human foods exclusively, such as my friend Susie-Belle from England, who was rescued from a terrible puppy mill and now lives the good life with her Mum & Dad (a chef).
Here is my top 10 favorite human foods (in no particular order) that are not only safe for dogs to eat, but are actually SUPER Foods that provide amazing nutrition that keeps us healthy, fights disease, provides building blocks to a long life and bring lots of yummy to our tummy.
Pixel Blue Eyes' Top 10 Safe SUPER Foods for Dogs
1. Green Beans - omega-3 fatty acids, vitamins A, C, K. Good source of calcium, copper, fiber, folic acid, iron, niacin, manganese, potassium, riboflavin and thiamin, beta carotene. Super low calorie, a virtual "free food"
2. Sweet Potatoes - great source of vitamins E, A, B-6 and C, as well as calcium, iron, folate, potassium, copper, thiamine and iron
3. Pumpkin - High fiber, essential fatty acids, promotes digestive & urinary health (Other squash such as butternut is good for us too!)
4. Beets - Excellent for dogs with liver issues, full of beta-carotene, fiber, iron, potassium, magnesium, and vitamins A, B and C
5. Oatmeal - Essential source of fiber, grain protein, stabilizes blood sugar, high magnesium, contains lignans which protect against heart disease & cancer, antioxidants, boosts immune system, protects against heart failure
6. Bananas - Lots of amino acids, electrolytes, minerals, vitamins B6 and C, potassium, fiber and manganese
7. Zucchini - Good source of calcium, potassium, beta-carotene, and folate. Zucchini is best fed raw or frozen but can also be served cooked
8. Blueberries - high levels of resveratrol, which helps fight against cancer and heart disease. Contains tannins which help prevent urinary tract infections similar to what cranberries do.
9. Watermelon - Lycopene, vitamin A, B-6, C, thiamin
10. Brussel Sprouts - (I know, freaky, right?) vitamins K and G, manganese, folate, fiber, potassium and vitamins A, B1 and B6

Mommy and I have done extensive research, gleaning information from expert resources including well known veterinarians, the American Veterinary Medical Association, and professional dog sites known for their scrupulous knowledge and information. Some of these foods are best cooked a certain way for optimum nutrition absorption, while others can be raw or  just lightly cooked.
Things to keep in mind as you go through my list of favorite human foods that are safe for dogs:
1. Not all dogs will like all foods. Just like people, dogs can have finicky tastes, though generally, we're happy with most any snack or food you give us. If you really want us to eat a certain "good for us" food...hide it in something else we like.
2. Some dogs have sensitive stomachs and are not able to digest the skins of things like raw or even cooked peas or blueberries. ...we've found that all natural and/or organic baby food versions of these fruits, vegetables and grains are FANTASTIC and in a perfect, easily digestible form for little dogs with sensitive stomachs. It's already pureed for you, so it makes for easy snacking and food preparation, depending on your needs, for your dog. Plus, if it's good enough to feed babies and toddlers, it is certainly good enough to feed your dog. Happy Baby Foods and Gerber are two of our favorite brands!

My basic meal at home is a foundation of fat free ground up chicken & a little white rice, then Mommy "mixes it up" for me with different fruits and veggies.

And everyday I get oatmeal in two of my meals. The moisture from the pureed fruits and veggies (sometimes additional water is added as needed) gives it a great consistency when mixed with the chicken!

My sisters, Peanut Pumpkin Pie and Dixie Mae Doxie, have fallen in LOVE with a new all natural fruit combo that is a mix of bananas, blueberries and beets. Talk about a powerhouse of healthy elements, vitamins and minerals!! Plus, it makes each of us look like we're wearing lipstick when a family member squeezes it out of the package and we lick it up with joy! See?

So, look in your cabinets, run to the store, visit your farmers market or dig in your garden and get YOUR pup some super foods to add to their daily diet. Trust me, if you weren't already their favorite (of course you are!) then you surely will be once you start adding these tasty bonus treats to their daily routine!
Healthy eating is never too late to start and always a good idea! If you'd like special instructions on cooking some of the veggies listed, or info on where Mommy orders some of the items we mentioned, leave a comment and we'll contact you!
Now....who wants a banana, blueberry Pixel kiss???

"Pixels Through History" Postcard on #WordlessWednesday

Found this postcard that has images of my great, great, great Grammy Pixelina and my great, great, great,  GREAT Aunt Pixel "Thomasina" Jefferson.
Grammy Pixelina was a part time Princess just like me,  but times were tough so she had to take a job selling flowers. But she never went without her feather boa. Don't worry though,  the birds sold their feathers to her to make a little cash.
As for my great (times 4) Aunt Pixel "Thomasina" Jefferson, she traveled the country doing re-enactments of the Civil War, reprising her role many times as an under cover foot soldier for our founding fathers.
Do you have any fun ancestors with stories to tell (real or imagined)? I'd love to hear them in a comment below.
HAPPY (mostly) WORDLESS WEDNESDAY!