Saturday, April 2, 2011

short stacked

Okay, I know. I had such resolve when we first decided to adopt Baxter.  No more than four beds, three of them inherited from his brothers before him, and one new bed.  Not a lot of toys and no way will this dog's stuff ever need to take up more space than the drawer underneath our washing machine.  My plan? Respect through austerity. 

Fast forward three or so years and yes, tiny chumley's beds and his toys are everywhere now, multiplied like little mischievous bunnies. Add to that the plentitude of blankies that Baxter can call his own, the overflowing bin of duds and clothes and head gear and, most recently, vintage eyewear and neckties that make up his wardrobe, and add his growing food and water bowl collection and what do you get?  Well, thankfully, one little doxie who is still as respectul and sweet as ever.

Which is why I guess I still want to make his home, his world, a more perfect and doxie accessible place. Now that Baxter can encounter a bed and blankie and toys practically every 15 feet in the house and can enjoy them as a nattily dressed dog about town, my attentions have apparently turned to things that help him monitor his world from a higher position that his stubby little legs will allow, and to the things that help him get up there. Upholstered benches and ottomans, which I like to call his kitty perches because he'll climb up on them and watch the world from his window, and the stools that act as steps to allow him to gracefully and safely get from floor to kitty perch and back again.  Because the little kielbasa is too kielbasa sized for those miniscule doggie stair step things, and because ramps take up way too much space for their single purposed endeavors.

And so, for now let's just say Baxter is well on his way to fine collection of kitty perches, thanks in part to an ottoman we already owned prior to Baxter's adoption and a bench and stool scored long ago from Marshalls, but lately, because these hands and paws were made for crafting.  Today, a peekypoo at the craftier side of his collection, made larger by two just these past couple of days when I finally finished regluing and reinforcing his $5 needlepoint flea market score, and after I salvaged the brass feet from a rickety thrift store find to make him a completely new happy kielbasa sized  perch using some fabu fabric and velvet that I discharge dyed and turned into piping.

Yeah, it's a tall world out there.  Somebody's gotta help the little kielbasa see it. :)




9 comments:

Jordan said...

Haha, cute ^_^ I love his little face!!
*hugs* and happy weekend!! :)
Jordan @ Rainbow Veins

HH and The Boys said...

Yep you're as tall as you feel. One of HH's friends made a stool for his daughter. He hand carved around the edge of it... "Me and my stool are as tall as anyone." That'd be perfect for you, Baxter. Have a great day, pal.

pawhugs, Max

Baxter said...

hugs 2 u Jordan!! :) b

oooh, a carved one would be so cool! hope u r helping your mom quilt this weekend! :) b

Anonymous said...

Love the kitty perches! When our little Wishy had a back scare we quickly built several carpet covered ramps and lowered our bed to the ground. We have even toyed with the idea of actually designing furniture for doxie owners! Wouldn't that be soooo cooooooool?? I like your idea of using different size stools. Brilliant! I must admit our house does look like a circus with all the ramps....
We have even closed off the upper story of our house so Wishy doesn't use the stairs. I haven't been up there in weeks....
Wish I was as crafty and clever as you so Wishy could have some sweet perches! Lucky Baxter!!!

Anonymous said...

Yup, gotta let that adorable little dog see! :D He's so cute!

kalyxcorn said...

thank u mistermiss anonymous! furniture for doxie owners would definitely be coolio! my mom loves making me the ottomans cuz rarely are the ready made ones proportioned right and these work well for me to stretch out on or to share with my mom or dad and we can kitty perch together! i bet those ramps u made are super coolio too! so lucky!! all my best to wishy!! :) b

hee hee, thank u miss taylor lynn! though i hope when the people walking by see me barking on it, they will think ferocious and not cute! mom says the odds are stacked against me for that though...! :) b

Lorenza said...

Hi, Baxter!
They are pawesome and very artistic!
Perfect for you!
Kisses and hugs
Lorenza

Anonymous said...

Good luck scaring everyone, Baxter- you're pretty darn cute, but maybe if you growled a lot and showed off your big white teeth you'd look ferocious! ;D

Keren Hening said...

"He shoots . . . He SCOOOOORES!!!!!!!" Guinness