It"S MY BIRTHDAY!

Hello World, it's me, Teddy! 
I'm a year old Today! I had a pawty this morning. Even my grandma and grandpa got up early to join me. 
Mommy made a sign that said HAPPY BIRTHDAY TEDDY! My pawty was in my carport. 

I had whipped cream on my pupcake and a cheese candle. Tummy!
Mommy made four kinds of treats.

Mommy had a drink station for the humans, with orange cranberry muffins and iced dog bone sugar cookies.

My guests got to choose a toy from the toy tub, and they got a doggy bag of treats to take home. 

Chelsea and Snicker walk with me every morning. They have me a cool toy. 

 This is Snicker.

This is Chelsea!

This is Dudley! He was very well.behaved!

This is friend Caretta. She had to come late because her mom is a turtle watcher. That means she goes out every morning checking for turtle nests and marking them so they won't be disturbed. 

Nancy lives across the street. She has five little dogs and 13 cats. She came by herself and took them treats and bandanas. She gave me a turtle!

Me in my hat. 
The garbage truck broke down in front of our house so the drivers came to my pawty!

I got to choose toys from the toy tub. 

I chose a red car. 
Well I am one pooped pup and my special day is not over yet. 
Thanks for coming by!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY LADY

No balloons -I don't like them. No signs- I can't reach and scotch tape is challenging. No flowers -I don't have a wallet. No cake -I am culinary-challenged. But, I have lots of love for Lady, and friends to help me celebrate!

 Tate, Elizabeth and Micah's parents provided a pizza pawty. The best part? THEY'RE NOT VEGETARIAN! Lady got veggie and we had PEPPERONI from PIZZA HUT! Where's Tate?

 Little Katie really liked me, and in true toddler form, dropped lots of pizza!

 Tater tot is always good for scraps, but he won't share his milk.

 After Skyping with Grandma and Grandpa, and Uncle Roger, I took Lady out for a quick walk. It's impawtant to make sure older humans get exercise.

 Sarge and Ranger, this is the culprit -the face biter. He's the street dog on our lane, basking in the sun in our park, acting like he didn't bite me. Well, I should have stayed away from him. In the daylight, he doesn't bother me.

 In India on your birthday it is traditional to pass out chocolates. Lady likes me to tithe my treats. Well, the red female had three puppies! We just found them last night. She has been hiding them. I LOVE puppies. In celebration of Lady's birthday, we took them breakfast.

 And I ate a yogurt frosted dog cookie!

She's a bit snarky, but loves Lady. Street dogs don't stray from the neighborhood. They stay on their street and run off any other dogs who try to come on their street. According to our neighbor, who feeds them every day, people feed them to earn merit with their god. They also feed the squirrels and birds every day. They hope the dogs will keep away intruders. The dogs know who belongs and who doesn't. They chase cars and bark a lot. They are not inoculated or neutered. I am not allowed to play with them, but I LOVE puppies.
Lady was given TWO birthday cakes, and ONE isn't chocolate! It is another tradition to feed a bite of cake to your mom, dad, honored guests. I got a tiny bite of the vanilla cake!
Well, I think I've done a pretty good job of insuring Lady had special day. Of course, every day with me is SPECIAL!

LADY SPEAKS ABOUT MARLEY'S ADOPTION DAY

I had just moved into a large apartment in a huge complex in a city of about one million -small by Chinese standards. I smiled at everyone but no one would talk to me. I heard every noise in that big apartment. I wanted a dog. So, I cried out to God. Okay, I whined. "I don't have any friends here, no one will talk to me, it's lonely. I want a dog. A black and tan dobie. Oh wait. I'm on the fourth floor. How about a black and tan dachshund?" I didn't tell anyone else. Less that two weeks later, I had a call from friends who had gone to buy furniture in the capital city. They told me a little dog was homeless and needed a home. He was almost three years old. I asked what breed it was. " A dachshund," came the reply. "What color is it?" I quickly asked. "He's black and tan." That's my dog! Thank you God! 
On May 20, 2004, I rode the bus to the capital city and  met my little guy. I put my hand in from of him and said, "You must be Marley." He wagged his tail, licked my hand and that was that. 
From the first time I walked Marley in our neighborhood, people began to speak to HIM! I would answer back in Chinese, and new relationships were forged. They called him "Mah LEE." He was featured in a commercial for the complex! He knew every noodle shop and restaurant where they saved bones or meat for him. He went everywhere with me. He rode buses with ease. He went into teahouses with me every Wednesday night for English Corner. He loved going to the foot massage parlors because he got lots of scratching. He is a constant reminder that God heard my cry, and cared enough to give me this little companion. God has provided loving families who want to take care of him when I travel. God has provided a friend who has paid for his ticket when we flew to India, and then later to Delhi.  
Marley has made such an incredible difference in my life. Today, I am still in the US and missing him so much. His Adoption/Birthday Bash will have to be delayed until I get back. The vet said he was born in May, so we just celebrate both days together. He is twelve years old this year! He still helps me break the ice with neighbors who don't know what to make of me. He greets me enthusiastically whether I have been gone for a few hours, a few days, or a few months. He is an excellent host when we have guests. He shares his treats and old toys with street dogs. He never poops in the house or chews up anything. He sticks by me when I'm sick, and licks my tears when I cry. He is my furkid and I love him dearly. It has been hard to be away, but the trip is just too far and too hard on him. Hopefully I will be back in India this week. I am waiting for my ticket. 
I LOVE YOU MARLEY! HAPPY ADOPTION DAY! I'M COMING HOME SOON AND WE'LL PARTY! I'M BRINGING PREZZIES! 

 From our first Christmas together in China, 2004

 At the teahouse

 Summer English Camp. Marley helped teach

  One of our neighbors in China. 

 From Last year's party

 From 2010
 

MY ADOPTION DAY/BIRTHDAY PAWTY

I am one pooped pup! My pawty was pawsome. People who loved me and help care for me came and shared in my special day. I must admit, I am glad I have been on a diet to prepare for today because I would have popped!

 My pupcakes, and bacon cheese bones, also some rice krispie treat bones.

 Lady made me a cake with a pouch of wet puppy food with cheese cheese frosting. YUM! I was only allowed to eat one third today.

 The birthday boy!

 Christy gave me a bear!

 I had to take a little rest from opening up my gifts. I had to try out each one and show the giver that I appreciated it!

 Padma gave me a box of toys! She really liked my pawty. She dance to our Puppy Pawty Music.

 Sanvi and Padma tied in the game where they had to cut a piece of yarn as long as me from the tip of my nose to the tip of my tail!

 Thought I'd open the bag of chews Vic gave me!

 Playing the bone toss game. Part of the game is where I try to steal the bones!

 Nan's mom cooked chicken for me!!! Thanks, Lady, and thanks, Sallu.

 I was smacking my lips eating the cream cheese frosting!! It's sticky!

 

 Lady made little pizzas for each one to put on their own toppings. Can you guess which one is mine?

 I chose chicken and cheese.

 Sanvi really liked the pupsicle!

 Where is Ashish's hair? I gave all my guests gift bags with bone cookies, a party horn, cany, and a dog pencil.

 Pearly and Evangeline have a lollipop in one hand (Lady made them) and a pupsicle in the other!

 Hahaha! A cat!

 My loot! Thank you friends!

 Sonya, Nan, and Christy all wanted to hold me for the photo. Good thing I am long!

Well, I guess I will be going back on a diet tomorrow. Look at my belly! I saw Lady packing some treats, and my leftover cake. I'm taking my new pink elephant and Dead Bunny. 
Tomorrow we leave for our big trip. Internet connection is poor to none where we're going, so I probably won't be posting until I get back. I'm not taking my laptop. We're going to very rural areas in HIGH mountains! I'll spend the first few days with my little pal, Pallu in Apple Country. 
Eleven years old is starting out pretty good. 
FROM LADY:
I thank God for answering my very specific prayer eight years ago when I asked Him for a black and tan dachshund. I was in a new city, new apartment, and alone. Within two weeks, I got a call from someone who told me of a little three year-old dog who needed a new home. When I found out it was a black and tan dachshund, just as I had prayed for, I was so thankful! Up to that point, my neighbors were afraid to speak to me, not knowing if I understood Chinese or not. It was very lonely. After I started walking Marley, many people spoke to HIM! He broke the ice, and we made many friends in the three years we lived in China. Now we're in India, and Marley, again, has helped me to make new friends in three different cities in a strange land. I like to take this opportunity each year to publicly thank God for this little black blessing (well, I thank Him every day) and celebrate Marley. I love you, Marley Parley! Lady