Besame Mucho: Blue Ribbon Basset Hound

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The last few months, we've been noticing that our fourteen-year old basset hound, Besame Mucho, has been looking extra elderly. Her once black head is now completely grey. She can't see or hear anymore but still has her super sense that basset hounds are known for...smell! She is always appreciative for a big doggie bone and a good belly rub.
Besame is our first baby. We got her shortly after we were married in 2000. I remember pinning her ears up as a puppy with my pink roller clips because her ears were so long they would get in her dog bowl...then she'd come kiss you!
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It was an unforgettable day picking out Besame. My husband and I went to a basset hound breeder's house in Azel, Texas. There must have been at least twenty basset hounds inside this little home. I remember thinking that there was so much love in that house. Imagine a sea of basset hounds all tap dancing around a country house, wagging their tails and passing out sweet kisses to any friendly hand that comes their way. There isn't anything cuter than a basset hound puppy.
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My Dad is quite the singer. When we brought our baby home, he sang to her Besame, besame mucho, Como si fuera esta noche la ultima vez...Besame loved it, she would wag her tail as fast as a humming-bird flaps its wings.
Yes, Besame was our first baby...we were her pack. She has always loved to be right with us, preferably touching both of us. Later when we had children, Besame became Nana...just like in Peter Pan. She would lay by the bassinet babysitting our children.
I remember taking her to the vet when we thought something was wrong with her. I was so worried that when the vet's receptionist asked me, "What is Besame's last name?" I replied without hesitation, "Mucho! Her last name is Mucho." My husband shook his head and the receptionist laughed at me.
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I have dreams about Besame. In my dreams, she talks like Scooby Doo. She saves our family from danger and leads us home...talking to us in her deep basset hound voice, "Follow me guys, I can smell the way home." 
Our neighbor's love Besame too. She's wandered off several times...following a scent, a friendly child or the mailman. Everybody loves Besame! She's our neighborhood mascot bringing people joy and good luck one belly rub at a time!
Basset hounds don't walk, they shuffle. Our basset is a shuffle award winner. Every year in Hurst, Texas they have a "Basset Hound Shuffle" and one year Besame won big! You haven't lived until you've seen four-hundred basset hounds coming at you. They have many contests like howling, best trick, longest ears...Besame won the blue ribbon for "low rider" and "biggest paw."
Besame's soundtrack to life includes "Besame Mucho" and War's "Low Rider." They're two of the most perfect theme songs for our basset.
Besame will always be our blue ribbon baby. For now, she seems content sunbathing in the grass in the early morning, eating her favorite milk bones and getting extra belly rubs from loving hands.

Many Happy Returns to my Mom!!


Happy Birthday Coco!
One of my funniest memories of my mom was when we went to a drive through for lunch one day. I think it must have been quite the day because we stopped at the first window, paid...then bypassed the second window and FORGOT our lunch! I remember my mom asking me to pass over her drink...I can still hear us laughing, "Oh my gosh! We just paid and drove away!" When we came back for our lunch the lady at the window couldn't stop cracking up at us...we couldn't stop laughing either! I'm grateful my mom and I are brunettes!
 My beautiful Mom...Maid of Cotton!
We've had a lot of good times together in NYC when my sister used to live there. This trip was just the two of us there for a friends wedding. This was such a fun trip, but this happened.
My Mom with my son. Just look at those happy faces! 
Always a Daddy's girl.

Many happy returns Mom! We love you so much! xx

Enjoy these posts about my Mom:

Happy Father's Day!!

Happy Father's Day to my three favorite Dads...my husband, my Dad and my little brother.

I'll never forget, the day I skipped high school to go to the '94 Dallas Cowboys Parade to celebrate their Super Bowl victory. It was one of the most exciting days but I was nervous about getting into trouble with my parents. I called my parents to tell them what I had done (they already knew). When my Dad answered the phone, " How bout them Cowboys!" I knew my Dad was the coolest and that everything was going to be just fine!

 I love these proud Dad faces!
 This is one of my most favorite pictures...my little man with his Daddy.
Where it all began...
That proud Dad face is also a proud Grandfather face! My daughter loves her "Coach!"

Happy Father's Day to my three favorite Dads and to all Fathers!

Enjoy these other posts about my Dad:

Happy Birthday, Honey!!

School's out for summer! We're all singing Alice Cooper and celebrating glorious summertime. We're also celebrating because summer means...birthday season for our family. My husband's birthday was a few days ago. 

Derek loves cheesecake. You can tell we all had fun with this one. My daughter did the decorating and my son helped with the candles.
Derek's cake was a New York style cheesecake. Have you ever made a cheesecake? It takes a looong time...but it's worth the wait. If you want to try one, this is the one to make.


Happy Birthday Derek! We love you! xx

Happy Birthday Aunt Ann!! Celebrating with a reunion in Galveston!

My Aunt Ann recently celebrated her seventh birthday. Festivities took place in her hometown of Galveston, Texas. It was wonderful seeing all the cousins play, laugh and sleep.


Living in North Texas, Galveston is our closest beach...our home town beach! We stayed in a beachfront home in Galveston's Beachtown. The Beachtown houses are like sand castles come to life! I knew I would love it because it's the same group that built Rosemary Beach and Seaside. With its catch phrase, "A Simple Life by the Sea" Beachtown delivered just that. 



My Dad with his big sister (the birthday girl), Ann. 
  




 "For whatever we lose (like a you or a me), It's always our self we find in the sea." ~E.E. Cummings
 
  Cupcakes and kites make everyone smile...burying my brother in the sand was pretty funny too!
The celebration continued off the beach and on to The Orginal Mexican Cafe. My family has a birthday poem that has been a tradition ever since my Aunt Ann and my Dad were children. There were several highlights of the night and one of them was when the WHOLE family recited the poem. The cousins were looking at each other with wide eyes thinking, "Wow, you know it too?"  It was a magical moment and made us all think of the top of our family tree, (my grandparents) were it all began. 

Many happy returns of the day of thy birth,
May sunshine and gladness be given. 
And may thy dear Father prepare the on Earth, 
For a beautiful birthday in heaven. 
Thanks to my cousin-in-law's, Windy and Rachel who planned the most spectacular weekend in Galveston!
Happy Birthday Aunt Ann!

P.S. Galveston, Our Hometown Beach