You can't plan life. Wait, you "can plan life" but be prepared for unexpected twists and turns. Is that how that saying goes?
You see, amidst the building chaos (which is beyond nearly done), the busy days, the fact that I have not even planned what I am doing for the Halloween party (I know I know, but a little magic will take care of that) and all other else in our crazy world, something wonderful happened...
We put a desire into the universe a few months ago, and somehow, it found us. I saw a sign twice and ignored it, but on my way back from the post office (my main priority) a few days ago, tired and drained, I remembered the sign.
I drove to it. I called a number. I was totally re-energized.
A nice woman gave me her address just down the street from me.
One baby left.
Already chosen for us.
I fell in love instantly and said, I have to go talk to Mister, but will return soon.
5 minutes later with Mister in tow, he met the fur baby (German Shepherd mix) and fell head over heels as well. There was 20 bucks exchanged (I know), a tiny trip for a vaccination and voila, we had our second fur baby.
Meet Matty, short for Matisse.
He is named not just for the artist (because his black tail looks like a paintbrush), but more so, because as I was holding him the first time, a line from the movie, Hope Floats, rushed into my head. It was where Bernice says "I just don't want to be known as Bernice Matisse." I love the two children in that movie, and for some reason, holding Matty made me think of that line.
So, you can say he is named a bit after Justin Matisse as well ;)
Matty was the last to find a home. His five sisters had already found homes, so he was perfectly picked out for us ahead of time.
We were allowed to take him over night, and told that we could bring him back if it didn't work out.
Mister Lovee adored him, but he was a bit concerned because Matty had no real reactions at all at first. He didn't bark, he didn't cry. He was emotionless. He didn't even move an inch in the bath (he was sooo stinky - like dirty geese).
I said, I think he just needs time to come out of his shell, he is just a baby and is probably totally confused. Mister agreed to agree. Although, I am glad there isn't a human baby involved because he showed a fatherly worry wart side I had never seen ;)
And so, it seems I was right. He made it through his wee trial period and we kept him (although, I knew we were keeping him no matter what).
Matty is coming out of his shell beautifully.
He is loving his new home. He and his big sister (who we have had for 8 years and got at a yard sale for free) are getting tons and tons of love and attention and play time with their humans.
I am up at the crack of dawn to take him outside to play.
Matty seems very healthy and he grunts like a little pig when you pick him up or rub him vigorously.
We still have not heard him bark. Which is just fine with me.
He is so cute I could scream! Do click on this photo below, that short little body makes me swoon right out of my skin!
Oh yummy cuddling squeezing lovely moments I have had. Yummmmmmmy puppy love. He even went for a ride or two...
He has heartbreak hotel eyebrows. They are always heartbreaking, even when he is happy.
His Daddy loves him soooooooo much...
And stops to hold him and talk to him with such meltingly delicious words that I could just roll around in the dirt in fits of bliss...
Matty helps me tend the parts of the garden, like this pumpkin vine, that survived the rabbit food festival (I have a whole other rabbity post ready, but will share it later).
And glorious abundant basil, whose flowers I must prune today...
I have one radish bunch (in the background) and a couple watermelon plants that probably won't grow (wrong season). All I did was pop a few real seeds from a watermelon I was eating into the ground, and they actually grew. As did a bunch of other fruits and veggies, which were appetizers for the bunnies, as you well know ;)
Anyhow, while in the garden, many hummingbirds came to fly around little Matty...
And cutie looks on at them, ever so calmly.
Big sister has been so patient and kind to Matty. She sort of gets annoyed but more in a "oh jeeez, why can't I just get some alone time" way. She sometimes puts her paw up like "stop" I am not in the mood. She only lightly yelped at him once the first day. Other than that, she has accepted him very kindly indeed. She has always kept her young pup attitude and vigor, so I think that will be overall helpful and great.
So, it seems all is well.
I think that Matty is bribing her for friendship with puppy love secrets...
He kisses Baby any chance he gets, and I think the blondie gal is starting to soften up. She has been a lone furry child for so long. There was much running and playing early this morning. More than the other days, which is a good sign for certain.
I guess you can say, we are very happy campers in our neck of the woods.
Sunsets and puppies and sappy over the top love looms in the clouds...
This is a perfect secure spot for furry creatures to live. We are more than delighted to give Matty a home, and feel so lucky to have found him so serendipitously, right in our own little neighborhood...
Oh, guess what? The pups and Mister are standing at my office screen door. I promised Mister Lovee breakfast 3 hours ago. A quick blog post said I. Ya right, when have I ever had a quick blog post? haha!
So, that is where my life is right now. I am going to wrap up a few unpacking and settling into my new home office loose ends. And then, party planning shall ensue. I have no idea what I am going to brew up. EEEEEks!
Much love from our happy home to yours!!
♥, V
ps: Please please don't hesitate to e-mail me if you don't see your name on the party list. No one is left off intentionally, and it is most certainly a mistake if you are not on it. And please check your link to make sure all is working ;) Spoooookinessss looooms!!! Bwahahhahaaa!
pss: I wanted to say that, I now understand why doctors encourage certain patients to get pets. A doctor did not advise us to get a pet, but Matty has been such a reason to get up early and run around the yard and enjoy life in its moment, even more than usual. He has brought excitement to our other fur baby and to our lives as a whole. So, if you have space in your home maybe you should adopt a pet? ;) Clean puppies smell like heaven (as do human babies, but I don't think I could handle one of those). Baby Love!
Oh V! what a face!! LoveeeeeY!
Welcome to the family Matty!
I see many puppy love posts in the future!
xoxo
Posted by: Tracey | October 11, 2009 at 12:01 PM
Ohmygosh, ohmygosh, ohmygosh, V he's soooo adorable!! He reminds me of my dog I had yeaaaars ago (had to put her down because of a tumor :( ) He is just precious. Your two doggies are soo sweet, I'm super happy for you! Pets are just the greatest, they are truly a treasure.
Posted by: Krista Komis | October 11, 2009 at 12:30 PM
So adorable! Congrats on your new baby love.
Posted by: Dee Dee | October 11, 2009 at 12:40 PM
My you have been busy! What a perfect little face...and big paws! I think that Matty (short for Matisse) will be a big one for sure! I love the name and the story and the fact that you are giving a loving home to such a grateful pup! He is a blessed one indeed! Enjoy the day! Erin
Posted by: Erin Prais-Hintz | October 11, 2009 at 12:41 PM
How adorable is Matty??!! Makes me long for a house with a yard. Sigh. He is wonderful; so glad he found the perfect home with you and Mr. Lovee and the First Furry creature. :) Off to the UK; will catch up w/ you soon. xoxox
Posted by: Paris Parfait | October 11, 2009 at 12:45 PM
Congratulations on your new four-footed kid!!!! He looks like a thoughtful sensitive sort - and soooo cute and squeezable!
I would love to add a furry sibling to our only-fur-child household, but alas, I'm a renter (for now, at least) and think it wise to keep the fur to a minimum.
I'm so glad Matty has found such a wonderful home with you! Oh, and good luck with your Halloween prepping - I can't wait to see what you come up with!
Posted by: Lisa | October 11, 2009 at 01:04 PM
Could you hear me squeal clear across the gulf? Dear Goddess of Puppy Nirvana!!
Matty is the epitome of chick flick happy gooey love time precious moments!!
Eeeeeeeeeee!
I love him.
Yay, Matty!
Yay Baby from the Yard Sale for being a Good Big Sister!
Yay Mister for being sentimental and tender and waiting three whole hours for breakfast!
Yay Veevala for taking a hundred pictures and believing in serendipity and giving Matty a home and sharing him with us and being youuuuu ♥
XOXOXOXOXOXOX
Posted by: Rhonda Roo | October 11, 2009 at 01:21 PM
What fun! Congratulations!!
One dog is wonderful...two will put you over the moon! Can't wait to see more pictures. He is SO CUTE!!!
♥♥♥
Posted by: Martha | October 11, 2009 at 01:21 PM
So ADORABLE! Yep....pets are good for our health overall and I bet your older fur baby will find a new youthful side that you haven't seen for awhile.
Posted by: DENISE | October 11, 2009 at 01:27 PM
So cute! Brian won't let me have a puppy until Cleo dies. He says the number of pets in a house should not meet nor exceed the number of humans. Oh well!
I hope everything is ok with you. I emailed awhile ago, but you must have missed it.
I like how Matty lays with his back legs out!
Posted by: sarah | October 11, 2009 at 01:27 PM
Oh me oh my V, at first I thought...well, you know what I thought ;-) How exciting to add a cute pup to the fam!! Matty is a sweetie, I could just pinch his cheeks, tee hee. Have lots of fun with him and Baby...I'll bet she'll take great care of him. Big smooches to that sweet face...
Jamie :)
p.s. I have a lot of work to do for you Party too, but what fun, yay.....
Posted by: AForestFrolic | October 11, 2009 at 01:32 PM
He is so cute, we have also a german shepered his name is SENMUT, you can look on my blog
http://wienermaedl-art.blogspot.com/
Don´t worry our dog do also not bark, only when he sees a cat, he does not like.
Wish you many loveley ours with your puupie
PS: Ilove your blog !!!
Wienermaedl from Vienna in Austria
Posted by: Wienermaedl | October 11, 2009 at 01:37 PM
Oh my goodness!!! He is absolutely precious!!! I love his name...what a darling. : )
Posted by: Julie | October 11, 2009 at 01:43 PM
Oooh Matty is just precious! You said the same thing I would, no way would you take him back no matter what! I love all the photos... sweet little puppy breath... I love it! Puppie kisses Matty! Bisous... Julie Marie
Posted by: Julie Marie Vicknair | October 11, 2009 at 02:04 PM
CONGRATS!`HE IS ABSOUTLY GORGEOUS AND I WISH I COULD HAVE A PUPPY
Posted by: april | October 11, 2009 at 02:25 PM
Congratulations from me too! He is just gorgeous and lucky to have found such a great loving home. Your pictures of him are so beautiful! I love them all but the one of him and Baby running off together is just priceless!
xx
Posted by: Sarah | October 11, 2009 at 02:55 PM
What a fabulous blog post. I am a huge animal lover, this one is just a sweet thing. I am enjoying my visit with you today.
Posted by: kathy | October 11, 2009 at 03:11 PM
Oh my beloved fanciful friend!! Your little Matty is too divine for words!!! Don't you just LOVE all the kisses and puppy breathe? Too bad it get's yucky over time ;-O! I'm speaking of the breathe of course, tee hee!!
My little sweet Elmo was exactly the same. He just sat there and observed his surroundings until he discovered a renegade dirty sock hiding beneath the secretary. Then it was scamper over this and scamper over that. He never barked until he was about six months old (I don't think he knew he had a voice). The sensitive ones are the sweetest and always long to please.
Aren't the men funny when you see that weird overly concerned parental protectiveness? My hubby has that too with our fur babies and I say it's a good thing the Lord didn't give us any human ones. Goodness knows what he'd do.
Puppies do melt the heart like nothing else in the world. Welcome little Matty to your wonderful new world ;-))))). There's so much fun in store for you.
xoxo Cori
Posted by: Cori. G | October 11, 2009 at 03:12 PM
What a gorgeous puppy and a simply lovely blog. Can wait to read more
XX Laura XX
Posted by: Laura @ Eden Rose | October 11, 2009 at 03:22 PM
You're such a brilliant photographer and your puppy is just adorable! My childhood puppy was a german shepherd mix and she was so loyal and protective of me it was almost ridiculous; she would come to my school and find me almost every single day...she'd waltz right into my classroom and sit down next to my desk as if she belonged there :) I miss her so. Your collages in the post below are fantastic, they're my favorite of your work, I'm jealous I don't have that Elle magazine, I would have saved that one too!
Posted by: Kaci Marie | October 11, 2009 at 03:24 PM
he certainly suits your family and is one lucky pooch. cant wait for the spooky parties, this year i am going to sit back and enjoy...
<3 rosey
Posted by: icantsew | October 11, 2009 at 03:30 PM
Matty is beautiful. I have to admit when I first started reading I thought of another type of baby.
Fur babies are just as sweet!
Posted by: Shell | October 11, 2009 at 04:06 PM
Congratulations Vanessa~ What a cutie he is! Oh how I am looking forward to the day when I can finally have a puppy too. We lost our dear sweet 14 year old dog two years ago, but can't have another yet. Our old kitty can't handle the stress. I just love puppy breath! Get lots of kisses from him! Vicki
Posted by: Vicki | October 11, 2009 at 04:31 PM
your new baby is so cute, everybody around me is getting dogs of late, maybe I should get a dog too? I have a big yard, my husband will be a problem, I'll have to show him the pictures you took of this cutie
Karey
Posted by: Kaerie Faerie | October 11, 2009 at 05:41 PM
He is adorable!! Congrats on your new furry baby. =D
Posted by: Melanie @ Whimsical Creations | October 11, 2009 at 05:46 PM
Oh, he is such a cutie! I'm glad Baby is getting on with her new little brother. Beware though, they'll teach each other all of their bad habits! That was what happened when we got a second dog, many years ago. Now our old girl has long since passed on and the 'puppy' is ten years old- how time flies!
Posted by: kate | October 11, 2009 at 06:08 PM
ooooooooh my goodness!!! too cute for words! well more words... tee hee! xox
Posted by: jennlui | October 11, 2009 at 06:27 PM
Matty is pure bliss indeed! I feel the same way about Hermes (my new kitty baby, who isn't that too little of a boy) and feel like new fur babies just fill a void in your heart you didn't even know you had...I say this amidst a loud snoring kitty baby. Of course, introducing cats is a little different, and there is still a lot of growling and hissing, but I am crossing my fingers.
My link is working beautifully, and I know your magic will come through at the perfect time and bring forth an amazing party!!
Posted by: sadira | October 11, 2009 at 06:41 PM
What a wonderful coincedence!! There was a dumb movie in the 80's called "down and out in beverly hills". In it, the dog Matisse, went to dog therapy. there is a line from that movie that we still say around my house "you're an angry dog Matisse". couldn't tell you what the movie was about, but I remember that.
Such a sweetie!! Enjoy him. They grow up TOO fast!!!
HUGS!
Posted by: Danielle Hayes | October 11, 2009 at 07:00 PM
your puppy is adorable. I know just how fur babies brighten up our lives, I adopted two siamese kittens a few months ago.. and I am totally obsessed with them.. They entertain and delight me every day as I'm sure your puppy and his sister do!
have fun!
hugs
vivian
Posted by: vivian | October 11, 2009 at 07:34 PM
what good fortune for all of you - puppies are truly a gift to us. Matty eyes are filled with such truth and wisdom - he fits right into your delightful home. how lovely it is to read your blog and feel peace and comfort. wonderful vanessa and charming mr. lovee autumn blessings to all of you.
Posted by: Robin | October 11, 2009 at 07:40 PM
What a sweet beautiful baby!!! How could anyone not love that precious baby face. I don't know what I'd do without my two furry babies...they are my loves. Much congratulations on your newest addition! Theresa
Posted by: Theresa | October 11, 2009 at 07:55 PM
Love your puppy! Sooooo precious!
Posted by: Teresa in California | October 11, 2009 at 07:55 PM
Oh the little "dingo" couldn't be any cuter! I made everyone here come take a look. He just received a bunch of "awes" coming from Calif.
Now about those photos from the magazine. I know you were looking at the rooms, but did you see those outfits!!! I want the first dress. How cute would it be to make an apron like that with all the flowers all over it! OK I think I just talked myself into making one! I'm off to go sew.....
Posted by: terisa | October 11, 2009 at 08:26 PM
Ahhhhh, Matty is a darling dear, that's what he is! Isn't it grand to have a new fur baby?
Posted by: Sue | October 11, 2009 at 09:00 PM
What a beautiful face! He's adorable!
Posted by: motheralice | October 11, 2009 at 09:28 PM
He is super cute! what a doll!
Posted by: JenR | October 11, 2009 at 09:34 PM
A wonderful new addition to you're family~In one picture he looks like a German Shepard and part Coyote....
What a cutie~
Pattee
Posted by: Pattee | October 11, 2009 at 09:58 PM
I just have to add my *GLEE* and excitement over your recent family member. He's a cutie! I had a German Shepherd once and they are an amazing breed of dog...so loyal and intelligent.
Posted by: Misha/DawaiOser | October 11, 2009 at 10:38 PM
Eee! such a solemn little cutie! I've been obsessed with getting a dog the past few months. I don't think the time is right for me quite yet, but I can live vicariously though you!
Posted by: Julianna | October 11, 2009 at 11:24 PM
Aaaaaaw, congratulations with your new little puppy! He`s so beautiful and adorable :)
I don`t think I`ll be able to join the Halloween fun this year :(
I have so many other things on my mind, and I`m not feeling that great actually (a tiny little fall/winter depression maybe... who knows). It`s still a few days left, so I`ll see if I maybe will come up with something for the party.
Posted by: Moonfairy | October 11, 2009 at 11:41 PM
Vanessa, Congrats to you and Mister. Matty is soooo cute! Deana
Posted by: Deana | October 12, 2009 at 12:16 AM
Awwww, what a cutie that Matty is. And he is one lucky little puppy to have found such a loving home.
Posted by: karin | October 12, 2009 at 02:12 AM
Too scrumptious this early in the morning! jk. Heavenly, and I am so happy for you! Your photographs are beautiful. Matty is home at last!
Posted by: Suzy Pierce | October 12, 2009 at 04:48 AM
What a sweet baby! Congrats, he is darling!
Posted by: Maggi | October 12, 2009 at 06:32 AM
OH!! He is the sweetest little fur-baby!! You must be in puppy heaven as of late!! So adorable!
Oh me, oh my!! I need to get my cauldron in order for the fast approaching parteee!! cackle, cackle, ineed!! tee hee!
Happy new weekling to you and your new moppet!
Posted by: marjorie | October 12, 2009 at 06:52 AM
oh god, matty is so adorable i could cry!
you are evil for sharing these, so so soooo!
love,
xxx
Posted by: louise (art and ghosts) | October 12, 2009 at 06:56 AM
So cute. Pets are such an important part of our lives.
Posted by: Becky | October 12, 2009 at 07:02 AM
Congrats on your new fur baby.... years & years of joyous times ahead!
Posted by: Cheryl | October 12, 2009 at 07:23 AM
V~
Oh Maddy....sweet Maddy...she is too adorable for words. Congratulations on your newest addition to the family. And may I say that Baby looks adorable too as usual!!
Happy Day!!!!!
Posted by: Kylee | October 12, 2009 at 07:24 AM