Friday, January 29

food for thought...


little olive is now almost nine months old, she is in full teenage mode. part of her teenage 'testing ways' is to eat as much 'crappity crap' as possible.
i have spoken to her about the long time effects on her health and how if she wishes to live a long life she should consider what she is putting inside of her body at a young age.

little olive has not heeded my wise words, she mentions i have had a staple diet of chocolate spread on toast for near on four decades, that i am a fine one to talk and she will continue to supplement the very nice dried protein kibblely stuff i give her twice a day, with 'crappity crap'...

on any given day of the week, little olive's diet consists of the following 'crappity crap'

pencils
tennis balls (the whole thing, later to be vomited up)
sheep skin rugs
flokati rug (tell tale signs are often found in the form of a beard upon her little nose)
sofa inners
any button attached to any cushion
oven mitts
socks and undies
twigs
fir cones (several a day)
chicken poo (seen as little sweet treats left souly for her around the yard)
inner souls of boyfriend's shoes (not my boyfriend, for he does not leave tell tale signs around the shed, no, this would be boyfriend belonging to our #1)
pillow cases
labels (especially ones belonging to my mid century furniture claiming their authenticity, which sadly now no long appear authentic)
and last but not least
wicker dog baskets (causing her an old man's smoking cough in the mornings)

the latter has become such an addiction, regardless of 'nice friendly, please leave it alone' spray, or the 'bugger off and chew something else cause you are driving me nuts' spray.
for it does not matter to little olive, she has exotic taste buds that do not fear a little bitterness...
and so i pondered what could little olive live in now that her basket was rather lacking in sides.

a wooden drawer i thought,
after a little rustling around i found one and promptly made it all cozy
little olive promptly started to chew the corners
this was not acceptable behavior for i liked the drawer and it's nicely painted sides.

and then it dawned on me,
how perfectly lovely it would be to have a little dog that lives in a vintage suitcase.
for i could forgive all her 'wayward' moments of addiction if she would sleep in a suitcase...
the suitcase i unearthed from upstairs, came ready decoupaged due to a moment of madness i had several years back,
complete with crocheted handle.

my man on returning from his 'desk job', was terribly thrilled to fashion a rather nice wooden block around the back so there was no fear of little olive being closed in,
which would never do, even on days when i've reached the end of my tether and the temptation may overcome me...
and then because we are in 'spring fling' at mossy shed, her little crocheted garland has been retired only to be replaced by a rather 'springy' name tag

less she forgets she resides in a suitcase...
she has been busy moving in

and finding it quite to her liking


the metal sides have held up well to her obsessive licking and so i am thinking i can forgive her dietary addictions for she has warmed my heart through and through,
by happily living in a suitcase under the kitchen island


she is wishing you a 'hippity hoppity', ney 'spickity span', ney 'perfectly peachy' weekend ~ Tif

68 comments:

Marilyn said...

She looks very happy and cosy in her new abode. Let's hope she doesn't get the wanderlust and pack up and set sail to some exotic isle......with or without used dog.
Hope you have a 'perfectly peachy' weekend too!

Laura said...

She's so cute!! Lucky Little Olive in her new bed.

Have a fab weekend.

xxx

silverpebble said...

Sometimes I eat twigs and shoes. They're quite tasty - I can see why Olive likes such a varied diet.

What a little dear she is in her suitcase. Do be careful though Olive. Beware of the bustlings that might come before a 'trip'. You might end up at Paddington junction, become a changeling and the subject of a famous play. All very glamorous, but what would you do without used dog?

Heckety said...

What little olive would really truly like to have is a telephone directory. And when she has had her fill and you've swept it up and put it in the compost, then she would like another telephone direstory, or possibly an eggbox, or actually any cardboard box she can wrestly into submission.

Lots of love from Ben and Bertie Blackdog.

Cat said...

How sweet and you are a very clever mother.

Kristin said...

So adorable and a fabulous idea!

Jennifer said...

What a great idea, I love the little olive nameplate.

ringmaster said...

so funny. sounds like our 1yr terrier mix. she chews the hands off every doll and action figure. it's enough to drive any one crazy. that constant chewing sound!! maybe i should get her a little vintage suitcase!

Kate Kelleher said...

Adorable little Olive. I notice she has a pocket in her suitcase, does she keep nibbles in it?

cornel said...

i love little olive's bed! You are too clever!

Carolina said...

I love her! She is so cute...
I discovered your blog yesterday and I'm falling in love with it...
Ciao,
Carolina

PixieBelle said...

What a great idea and such a beautiful pup! Even my boy was aaaahing at the pictures of little olive moving her bedding round as ours does.
Our Jonah has a throne. He likes to sit on chairs but has no manners when it comes to people trying to eat so we covered an easy chair with a blanket and he has some toys and a warm blanket to keep him company. He loves it. Only problem is many guests don't realise it's his throne and try to sit on it. For some reason they're easily offended when we explain 'that's Jonah's seat'. People...

shevie said...

....well,that really is the most adorable-puppy-cuteness (of the utmost kind) that I have seen since I saw a little-old-lady dog being pushed in a polka dot dolls pram at our local boot fair last summer...these pampered pooches are causing my 4 fur babies (of the feline variety)to feel very hard done by...I will huting down some vintage cases this weekend!

Sam said...

Please don't tell my cat Miss Silkie Sue...but I have fallen in Love with Little Olive...oh one day to have a little doggy of my own...she is beautiful xx

You are very lucky xx

Sam xx

Tracey Johnson said...

Little Olive is adorable. I too have a darling puppy who intends to eat or chew up everything in my house.

The house has always been important to me but I love Gabby too. So for now, it's a lot of "NO" (which she ignores) and throwing her a chewy toy or sock or something less valuable when she starts gnawing kitchen drawer handles, the skirt of the sofa, etc.

I love Little Olive's nametag and the vintage suitcase nest. She's a lucky little doggy.

Mel said...

This is adorable. J'adore! I, too, have a dog named Olive. Sadly no vintage suitcase she can call her own. (PS - I voted for you!)

Calmil2 said...

That is the cutest Doggie bed I have ever seen...I love it!!!

Snuskebassa said...

I love your blog! The pictures are awesome, and when I am a little bit more awake I will spend some time reading the text as well. Right now I am simply to inspired to do anything else but stare at the gorgeous things you have made. Olive is a lovely dog (and the suitcase)
Love from Liv

Serenata said...

Little Olive looks very happy with her perfect new bed - brilliant idea!

jane and the happy crow said...

Oh my Olive is a little darling! What a brilliant bed she has I would not mind living in that suitcase myself. I hope that she grows out of eating and chewing every thing in sight although I think they never grow out of eating pooh, our Jack Russell is also a connoisseur of chicken do doos but is also partial to cat pooh and of course no dog could pass up a little sheep pooh too! Jane x

Caterina Giglio said...

Little Olive is so sweet and the suitcase is just adorable Tif!

Andrea said...

Where did he get shoes with soul? Heh...Perhaps the same place Knooks are popular!
i <3 you! You and your style me smile!
xo
Andrea

Genevieve Gail said...

What a lovely little suitcase for a lovely little pup (even if she does eat your pencils and buttons- ha!)!

Elissa said...

oh, i DO hope it was the boyfriend's sole that she ate, not his soul ;-)

but who am i to talk. i think i could eat that little olive. she's just delicious!

Laura Johnson said...

Sweetness!

Cate said...

I think I love little Olive.That's it..

Cate said...

Actually just wanted to say what great pics and how much fun it must be to have her around.

Emma Angel said...

awww, bless her oxo

moline/yvonne said...

Little Olive found the perfect accomodation and the sign is too lovely. Upon hearing about the chewing desasters she caused and her wish to devoure everything near and far remeinds me of another Brit, our Basset George. Who loves to eat and throw up everything laying around. But these British breeds are the best dogs and go so well with vintage fabric and granny squares, don't they?
Have a wonderful weekend alltogether!
Yvonne

Cindy said...

if sweet olive should get bored with your crappity crap, please ship her to us in her adorable suitcase as we have plenty. you're both so cute. enjoy your weekend!

Sarah - Red Gingham said...

Oh very cute for dear wee Olive! Love her little label and very, very pretty linen. Suitcases are very good for sleeping in. One of our babies slept in a suitcase one holiday, due to lack of anything better. It was pretty perfect.

suzy said...

please, please, please let me come back to earth reincarnated as one of your animals.
It's too good!! The best idea I have seen in ages.... :)

Pamela Holderman said...

Oh my dog is soo jealous of the suitcase. She also eats lots of crappity crap - usually from the cat's pan. Good thing I give her lots of grace...

Liv Elin said...

Oh the little darlin mastication apparatus...she fits perfectly in the suitcase...in fact she could be a puppy in a book in a suitcase...with her taste buds and exclusive food habits. I want to take her home so she can annoy my own Aron into a frenzy.

Bobo Bun said...

I think a beautiful little girl like that could be forgiven just about anything. So lovely of you making her a mobile home of her own.

Selina said...

Awwww, that is just too adorable! Don't you hate it when they are at that eating-everything-in-sight stage. We had a dog who would pull all the clothes off the clothesline and then proceed to eat the crotch out of everything. Can't imagine why that would be appetising!

Vic said...

A-frikkin-dorable.

Lovely work Tif, and welcome to your new home little Olive!

Vickie said...

Tif,

How many times can a person say "awwwww" - I think I broke the record looking at Little Olives pictures. When we lost our little one to cancer a year ago next month (a black & tan Dach) I said never agin - but seeing these pictures is warming my heart up to the possibility of getting another. Thank you for sharing these.

Vickie in Seattle

Anonymous said...

Oh, little Olive! Look at your gorgeous soft ears, your little wet nose, your cute little patches and your sleepy puppy face. I loved hearing about your complete disregard for the laws of digestion - this post really made my day. And how I wish I lived in a suitcase!

dottie angel said...

oh my dearie dearest readers, you would appear to be just as loopy as moi!!! and that i feel, right there, is the reason why we get on so well :)
i have not told little olive of your adoring comments for she has been the peskiest of pesky things today. i fear it will go to her head and she will demand pocket money and such like for appearing on my blog.

as to 'soul' instead of 'sole' ha ha ha! do you think that was a slip because i was referring to our #1's boyfriend. me thinks i did it subconsiously... if you know what i mean. talking of our #1 i have news of the utmost kind to share, but alas it will have to wait until next week. but be advised, a hanky or two maybe required
Tif x

Still Lily said...

Oh, the wee lovely olive and her crappity crap ways...at least she is small, not like the large breed of utmost crappity crap eaters in this country abode by the sea...uck the things that emerge. so if ever we come upon a suitcase to fit the larger breed of dog-wonder which reside here, then we too could only hope to updo one so comfortably, what a lovely idea
and very soulful as well;).

kelly said...

oh little olive you pesky pup. my little auggie is 2.5 years old now and still likes to munch on wicker and books, and other goodies occasionally though not as bad as when he was a pup. mostly he sticks to nylabones, which we always have several for him to choose from. i would highly recommend nylabones or fido bones to divert her attention from your treasures!
kelly

Di said...

I love that she lives in a suitcase! And her little name plate is cool.

Unbuttoned said...

So adorable and love her name plate! And it sounds very much like typical dachshund behavior. We became very familiar with the emergency vet team during puppyhood :0)

Trixie@ the vintage bothy said...

....oh Olive you look so lovely!
Tracey

jennifer black said...

Very cute ... and inspiring, too. Love it.

Jennifer

* said...

cesar milan (the dog whisperer) is utterly brilliant. i recall him discussing why some dogs chew thigs they oughtn't, & how to stop them. you must watch his show if you have not. (netlix has them). here is one of his books "Cesar's Way: The Natural, Everyday Guide to Understanding and Correcting Common Dog Problems (audio CD or book)"

Anonymous said...

okay, you have totally just inspired me to make a suitcase, or something case bed for my dog, ginger.
it is so whimsical...i love it!
thanks again for sharing
ciao

Anonymous said...

i neglected to mention that when I was a little girl, my cats used to sleep in an old desk drawer. I had all of my dolls blankets inside......i didn't want my mom to see it, for fear of incurring her wrath!, so the kitty nest was kept hidden... you just brought back so many happy memories!

DuhBe said...

Your suitcase bed it fantastique. My rat terrier "Teddy" used to chew everything in sight until he was about 2 years, then he slowed down and is much better now. Hang in there with little olive - her tummy is probably much stronger than you think.

paperbird said...

What a stinkin cute idea- lI love it!

Sarah said...

I love your little olive, I have a little olive too, but of the feline variety. The suitcase bed and name tag is adorable.

monda-loves said...

Little Olive is really just the sweetest thing, although I imagine you are quite at the end of your tether with her eating all and sundry. Our Springer was the same when we got him, he ate shoes (well mainly 1 of a pair, most inconvenient). We had to get a behaviour therapist, who suggested that we tied a shoe to his collar by the laces, so it was dangling around his neck. We did this, and as heart breaking as it was (he hated it) it did the trick, and he stopped eating shoes. Good luck with little Olive (love her new bed btw)

Monda
x

Melanie said...

Great idea ... too cute...

It's wonderfuld that she adapts so well.

mel

Anonymous said...

How sweet is that! Perfectly home sweet home!

Our Hands For Hope said...

I own her brother! He is now three and still has not grown out of the chewing stage. Be prepared for some help in creating those recycled revamped projects. I have had to creativly come up with some new ideas to do with the unique items he has attempted to recreate on his own. I figure they just have a "crafting gene" in the breed.
Blessing, Terisa

Christine said...

Awwwww cute! My Toby is very envious of Olive's sweet abode.

Kristy said...

Tif you are the epitomy of English eccentricity and all it's charm!

mjb said...

My puppy is six months but he has quite the diet too. This week he chewed a pair of eyeglasses, sweaters, socks, underwear, old floppy disks, homework, and who knows what else. The week before it was some electronics and a bag of charcoal. But the cuteness is unbearable, especially when he sleeps, so we give forgiveness.

Work said...

over the stinkin' top cute.

Pixie said...

that is beyond adorable...it's soooo adorable it should be illegal! lol...just kidding. Little Olive has one lovely new home...Im a bit jealous.

Rachel said...

Aww, how can you scold a cutie like Olive too too much? My heart is melting from her in the suitcase. Brilliant! Adore the handmade sign, too.

Marybeth said...

LOVE HER!!! And love the name! XO<3:)Marybeth
http://suiteheart.blogspot.com/

figwittage said...

oh, how your posts always make me smile and feel warm and cosy. i love dogs and your little olive is precious. what breed of dog is she? for i would love to rescue a dog like little olive. i do hope your #1 is okay ♥

Babsarella said...

What a cutie, and I love what you did to create the perfect little abode for Miss Olive. Glad to know I am not the only one who owns an obsessive licker. Drives me nuts. At dinnertime Miss Beula Belle will lick the floor or my leg (if it is not covered). The only way I can get her to stop is to fill the Kong toy with treats.

Melissa said...

little olive is adorable

Kelly Leigh said...

oh my gosh that is so precious!

Miss Money said...

OMG! I want to run out to the thrift store ASAP and make my littl lady a bed now. This is sooo cute! Love.