Cleo is being super-affectionate

Cleo is always wanting to be on my lap when I'm at the computer. It makes it hard to get anything done when she's in a lick-y, affectionate mood.

She loves me.

Or, is it the residual macaroon cookie dust I had on my hand?

Greybeard Sasha

Sasha's getting old. She's got tufts of grey fur in her eyebrows and beard, like a grizzly adams.

Flashback

I was re-organizing our digital files on our external hard drive (what a genius creation of technology that little black box is), and I re-discovered some clips I had taken of the girls long ago. This one is on our old camera, so it's a little pixel-y. I had recorded it to send to Dave when he was in Iraq the first time, to remind him of his well-behaved little Sasha.



Note a jealous Cleo at the end, body-slamming the just-praised Sasha.

Rare moment of Sasha affection

Cleo's the one that often snuggles up to Sasha, with the big dog acquiescing, usually begrudgingly. Occasionally, tho, we'll catch Sasha in the act of snuggling Cleo. Here, a heavy head lightly rested on the other pug's back is, for Sasha, akin to trumpeting her affection.

Pug in a blanket

After laundry the other night, Sasha somehow managed to get herself underneath the couch throw. Hilarity ensued. After a few indignant barks and unsuccessful attempts to free herself,she became verrrrry still -- as if convinced she was victim to some cruel conspiracy, and she needed to be motionless to escape detection by The Enemy.



I had to 'free' her after that last plaintive wail. Notice there wasn't even a look of gratitude.

Cleo, the Thinker

I took these pics at the beach this past weekend. I just couldn't resist. Cleo looks so uncharacteristically pensive and peaceful.

Little frog.

Muir Beach

This past weekend was gorgeous. We woke up Sunday to almost 70 degree weather, and decided to take advantage of the sun, so we drove the 4 miles to Muir Beach.




Of course, the girls came along. The pugs were excited to romp around.




Strangely, Sasha had no hangups about walking in the sand. Cleo had a great time, playing with me in the waves. Neither of them seemed to mind the ice-cold water. Neither of them seemed to even notice all the other dogs frolicking around them.




It was a little windy near the water. I think the princesses liked the feeling of the ocean breeze on their flat little faces. Maybe Sasha thought she was flying.





They were exhausted after our outing. The puglets slept in the car on the way home.

Laundry pug

What is it about princess pugs and newly fresh laundry?

Sunning pug

On a sunny afternoon, Sasha parks herself in front of the deck doors in the sunniest spot in the house.

And takes a well-deserved nap.

Winter fashion

The freakish weather is now a little more consistently chilly. Poor princess pugs are practically freezing to death. Must cover up in fluffy pink cashmere.

Must also take overly-dramatic shots of Sasha.

This was my trying to shove the fat pug into the sweater in the first place. Can you just hear the snorting and the grunting (not the pug's, but mine).

These sweaters, again, are from my fave boutique in Greenwich Village. Note the cabled finish to the back of Sasha's sweater. And the perfect fit of Cleo's.

Cafe princesses

The pugs came along to breakfast at Emporio Rulli in Larkspur. The cafe has an alcove just outside the doors where one can sit, out of the direct flow of sidewalk traffic. Pets aren't technically allowed in the alcove, so I perched the girls on the ledge.



This, fortunately or unfortunately, gave them Unimpeded Access to the table and its delectable contents. It was a little bit of a struggle to keep the pugs from wandering directly onto the table top.



They watched us quite intently while we enjoyed Rulli's most delicious pastries.



They were being so good. Such patient little pugs. They may have gotten a little bit of glazed brioche as a reward.

Another post-dinner treat

We always feed the pugs before we eat. Because, well, that's the way of things in our house. So the full-stomach'd pugs hang out under our chairs during our meal, looking on with woebie eyes -- feed us feeeed us -- as if they did not JUST stuff themselves with Tasty Organic Kibble. Usually one of us caves to the silent pleading (Dave) and races around the house with choice bits, excitedly barking pugs at his heels.

The other night they got organic, sustainably raised chunks of hangar steak from Prather Ranch, cooked perfectly to medium rare.

Sweetie Cleo

Cleo is a little sweet on her grandpappy. At any given moment, I can usually find the little monkey on his lap, soaking up the love.



She's quite shameless about it.

is that for ME??

did i hear the word treeeet????

The unwilling pug

Sasha is a Private Pug. She is not one to seek out or give loving readily. And yet, one of my life's greatest joys is to kiss her round little velveteen head.

Until she pulls away.

And buries her head out of reach.

Pugs lying in wait

The girls, waiting patiently for their share of our dinner.

Cuddly Cleo

Sasha says -- help me! helpme! help! urk...

Cleo montage

Cleo is ready for another photo-op. She's feeling particularly pretty today.

Airplane pugs

After experimenting over Thanksgiving with the effective dosage for maximum knock-outage for the pugs we realized -- Cleo is mutantly resistant to drugs, and Sasha has the tolerance of my mom (veeeerrrry low). So we decided to not give them any sedative at all, and see how it went.

Sasha was Alert, but behaved beautifully in the plane. and then made a wild break for it while we were in baggage claim, resulting in my chasing down Naked Pug into some random personnel office.

Cleo made it known that she would rather be out of the carrier than in.

She was actually better-behaved in the carrier than Sasha. The Evil Flight Attendant from Hell made us zip up the baby pugs completely. You can just make out Cleo's smooshed muzzle against the carrier flap.

Well-traveled pugs

The girls did a lot of traveling this past holiday season. I think they're getting used to their carriers, and the copious amounts of cabbage they get to coax them into them.




On our stopover in JFK on the way to Boston, we let the pugs stretch their legs a bit.

Holiday snooze

What with flying cross-country and reuniting with old friends (and pugs), the princesses were exhausted. They took every opportunity to nap. Preferably and usually on someone's chest or lap. Good thing we had them lose weight for their trip. Otherwise they would have left a grisly trail of smothered relatives in their wake.

Beach pugs

Over the Christmas week, the girls had their first visit to the beach. Their grandpappys took them to Muir Beach, and let them romp around.



They had an excellent time in the sand.



Auntie Mina had a pretty good time running around too.

Happy Holidays!

Merry Christmas! Happy New year!