My therapist...

I heard about this article from a friend and just had to share. It's about a soldier with PTSD who credits his pound puppy with saving his life during a period of deep depression:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/racked-by-ptsd-a-veteran-finds-calm-in-a-pound-pup-named-cheyenne/2011/06/16/AGLiYIeH_story.html

I know what that solider means. My therapist has a wet nose and a wagging tail. She always listens and never talks back. She even makes house calls!

Ella's walks

Ella can finally go for walks again! To celebrate, we went walking in New Town twice this weekend, as well as getting re-introduced to our favorite neighborhood walks. Thanks to our friend Maria for sharing this picture of Ella in her pink harness, basking in the sunlight on a walk.

To celebrate the simple pleasure of walks, we read Susan Meddaugh's Martha Walks the Dog yesterday. In this hilarious book, Martha the dog gets the power of speech by eating alphabet soup. Martha decides to take herself for a walk, and talks to neighbors and other dogs along the way. The illustrations and text of the book are adorable, with Martha showing wit and intelligence through her doggy speech. My favorite line in this book is Martha's response to being called a "good dog" by someone on the sidewalk. Of course, Martha replies "What other kind of dog is there?" Martha might be a good dog, but I think my Ella is the best dog!

Mom goes on vacation and Ella goes swimming

Happy Independence Day! We are enjoying our day off by sleeping late and generally being lazy today. I just got back from a week-long vacation in Texas, so I'm still catching up on sleep and trying to relax before going back to work tomorrow. It's going to be rough! I had a wonderful time visiting my college girlfriends in Texas, but missed Ella dearly. She stayed with Neillee and Dustin and had a lovely time without me. She's feeling much better and finished taking her painkillers this morning. Hopefully the vet will have good news about her condition when we go for our appointment on Wednesday. Yesterday, Ella and I went to Neillee's house on the river, and Ella (sort of) went swimming. She gets in the water about chest high before she decides that she's had enough. She did enjoy sniffing, rolling in the sand, and digging some major holes on the beach, though. Overall, we've had a wonderful week of vacation in the water- I'm not looking forward to going back to work tomorrow morning. I hope all of you have a wonderful 4th of July- eat a hot dog for Ella :-)

Ella the invalid

Poor Ella. She's not allowed to play, run, jump, or take long walks for at least another week, so she's been forced to take up reading to stave off boredom:

Good thing we have lots of magazines to keep her occupied!

Ella goes to the hospital

Let me start by saying that Ella is fine. She does, however, have a chronic condition called "degenerative disc disorder." We discovered this last weekend. I had to go out of town for a friend's wedding, so Neillee and Dustin babysat. Friday night, Ella started limping and whining whenever she rolled over or jumped up. When I got back on Sunday, she was still limping and crying in pain. I took her to the vet Monday morning, and they had to sedate her to give her x-rays. Poor Ella had to stay at the animal hospital all day! After seeing the x-rays, the vet explained to me that Ella's spinal discs in her neck are spaced too close together, which can cause inflammation and pain when she over-exerts herself. Ella now has three painkillers and a muscle relaxer to help reduce the inflammation so that she can heal. After she gets over this acute pain, we will look at long-term treatment of her condition. I was so worried that she had a major injury, so I'm happy to report that after two days on her medicine, she is feeling much better. We are having a hard time restricting her activity level, since she has so much energy and just wants to run and jump. However, I am confident that with extra rest and attention, Ella will be well in no time!

"Uncle" Dustin strikes again!

"Uncle" Dustin just loves to dress Ella up. Surprisingly, she doesn't seem to mind these fashion shows, and I am always amused when Dustin sends me the pictures. Last night, Ella got sporty in a baseball cap:

I'm going to Danville this weekend to see two high school friends get married (Congratulations, Mary and Chris!) so Ella is staying in Williamsburg with Neillee and Dustin. She and I are so lucky to have friends who are willing to dogsit, which means that Ella doesn't have to go to a kennel. I know she appreciates it, and I definitely do! Have a great weekend, everyone!

Elegant Ella

Last weekend, Ella and I were lucky to have Auntie Ashlyn visit us in Williamsburg. Ella loves having guests and meeting new people, so she was in heaven. She even got to go to the beach again, which resulted in sand in her ears, sand in her nose, and sand all over my car. Needless to say, our beach day ended in Ella getting a bath, which she did not enjoy. In addition to visiting the beach, Ella also got a present from her Auntie- a new book! My sister Ashlyn is officially going to be a first grade teacher next year, so she knows her children's books! She gave us a book called Ella the Elegant Elephant by Carmela and Steve D'amico. Ella the elephant is new in town, so she decides to wear her grandmother's elegant hat to gain some good luck and confidence at school. Unfortunately, the large hat draws some unwelcome attention from the school bully, Belinda. When Belinda slips while climbing the tall safety wall surrounding the school, however, she is happy that Ella's lucky hat transforms into a parachute and saves the day! The next day, the entire class, including Belinda the bully, sports large, fancy hats to say thank you to Ella the Elegant Elephant. This whimsical story teaches important lessons about kindness and friendship. The elephant illustrations are simple, yet colorful and cheerful. I loved the story, although I did find it a bit long for younger children. It is definitely a great choice for bedtime! I think Ella the dog enjoyed reading about Ella the elephant, since they both share big, floppy ears and a love of all things elegant and fancy!

Ella's sweet shades

"Uncle" Dustin (my roommate's boyfriend) had a little too much fun with Ella while I was at work. I got this photo on my phone while I was slaving away in my cubicle...

 Isn't she adorable? This photo prompted my book review of Fun Dog, Sun Dog by Deborah Heiligman and Tim Bowers. The 'fun dog,' (a golden retriever named Tinka) and her boy visit the beach and get into a lot of mischief along the way! The rhyme and rhythm of this book make it a great option for beginning readers. With lines like,
"A Hey! dog,/a sprayed dog,/a skunk-got-in-the-way dog,"
What's not to love? Plus, the book cover features Tinka wearing some pretty cool shades:

Ella and I have big plans to visit the beach this weekend, so maybe she'll have a chance to sport those shades again!

Ella learns to sit and stay

Ella and I have had a wonderful week so far. I had Monday off, so the week feels like it's flying by! Ella and I had our first obedience class together on Tuesday, and she's already a star pupil. She has mastered sit and stay, and we're working on "with me" so she doesn't pull on her leash. I'm thrilled with her progress. I think she's also enjoying the influx of treats that accompany obedience lessons each day. In literary news, a friend sent me this poem, which I think perfectly portrays the essence of Ella (and most other dogs). Enjoy!

Golden Retrievals
By Mark Doty

Fetch? Balls and sticks capture my attention

seconds at a time. Catch? I don’t think so.

Bunny, tumbling leaf, a squirrel who’s—oh

joy—actually scared. Sniff the wind, then

I’m off again: muck, pond, ditch, residue

of any thrillingly dead thing. And you?

Either you’re sunk in the past, half our walk,

thinking of what you never can bring back,

or else you’re off in some fog concerning

—tomorrow, is that what you call it? My work:

to unsnare time’s warp (and woof!), retrieving,

my haze-headed friend, you. This shining bark,

a Zen master’s bronzy gong, calls you here,

entirely, now: bow-wow, bow-wow, bow-wow.

Ella's sunny summer

Summer has officially arrived in Williamsburg. If you've never braved the heat and extreme humidity of a Williamsburg summer, I don't recommend it. With recent temperatures in the 90s, this season can only be referred to as sweltering! I've always loved to be outside in the sunshine, but even I have been a bit miserable these past few days. Thank goodness I have a pool in my apartment complex to keep me from melting! My furry little Ella has been spending her days snoozing in the air-conditioned apartment. As you can see, her life is obviously very difficult:

The Tucker women were in town this weekend for a visit, which was wonderfully exciting for Ella and I. Ella's grandma and aunties brought her lots of presents and entertained her immensely. We spent yesterday in the water at Yorktown beach, so it's only fitting that we read a beach-themed book for class this week. I chose Patricia Lakin and Scott Nash's Beach Day, which is about a group of alligators who decide to go for a swim during a hot summer day. Lakin's rhythmic text goes perfectly with Nash's adorable alligator illustrations. The alligators ride a tandem bicycle, visit the playground, and have a picnic on the way to the beach, adventures that are intended to teach toddlers the meaning of words like "up," "down," "around," etc. This is a perfect summer read for preschoolers, since it not only includes colorful illustrations, but also emphasizes phonics and word patterns. I'll admit that Ella slept through story time today, but who could blame her? We can all appreciate a good nap on a hot day!

Lazy Ella

When we first got Ella, she had recently been spayed. We figured that she was still recovering from surgery, so that would explain why she was so lazy! However, it's been a month since she was spayed, her stitches are completely healed, and the vet says she is fine. So why is Ella still lazy? Apparently that's just her personality. She is extremely laid back and loves to sleep. When it's time for a walk, she perks up and gets excited, but otherwise she's usually snoozing or cuddling with me. I really can't complain too much about my lazy bum, since at least she isn't chewing up the furniture or running laps around the apartment! I've been reading many children's books about animals lately, and this week I picked up The Very Lazy Ladybug by Isobel Finn. This book tells the story of a ladybug who isn't very motivated to fly. Instead, she attaches herself to passing animals, hoping to find a soft, quiet, place to sleep. She tries a kangaroo (too bouncy) and a lion (too loud) before settling on an elephant's trunk. When the elephant sneezes, however, the ladybug is forced to fly! The illustrations are large, bright, and bold, which would appeal to younger children. This would make a great bedtime story, since children can definitely relate to needing a soft, quiet place to sleep! Ella certainly has no problem finding a quiet place and is an expert napper!

Ella goes to school

This post should actually be titled, "Mommy goes to school while Ella goes on a long walk with Neillee." I decided to enroll Ella in obedience classes, even though we aren't having any major behavioral problems. I really just want her to learn to come when called, sit and stay, and not pull on the leash. Anyway, the first obedience class was last night and was for dog owners only. I had to go to class for 2 1/2 hours and Ella stayed home. I suppose I have to learn to be obedient before I can teach her. The class went well, I learned a lot of great information already. Ella goes back with me next week and we'll start our joint training then. To prepare Ella for school, we are reading Dear Mrs. LaRue: Letters From Obedience School by Mark Teague. This book is hysterically funny, and is told from the point-of-view of a dog named Ike who has been sent away to obedience school by his owner, Mrs. LaRue. Mrs. LaRue is at her wit's end, since Ike howls, eats off the table, terrorizes the neighbor's cats, and drags her around on his leash, so she sends him to obedience school for two months. The book consists of a series of letters that Ike writes to Mrs. LaRue, begging her to come rescue him from what he considers to be prison. The illustrations are what really make the story funny, since we see Ike enjoying a pool, getting fed fancy dog food, and playing with other dogs in the "prison." Ike's dramatic letters are the complete opposite of the pictures, which prove how much he actually enjoys obedience school. I have a feeling that Ella will enjoy obedience school too, since she'll be getting a ton of treats and praise!

How Ella became a beach bum

This weekend, my "M friends" (Matt, Margaret, and Maria) took day trips to Williamsburg to meet Ella. We decided to meet at the Cheese Shop, a famous sandwich shop in Colonial Williamsburg, for lunch. Since Ella hadn't visited the colonial area yet, I brought her along. She loved all of the smells, new dogs, and new people we met. I'm finding that walking Ella in a public place is slow going, since many people we meet along the way want to stop and pet her. She loved the attention, and also loved eating the crusts off my grilled cheese. After lunch, we went to Jamestown Beach, which is actually just a sandy spot on the river bank. This was Ella's first beach trip, and she seemed to enjoy the sand and breeze. She wasn't really a fan of the water, but she did dip her little paws in to cool off a bit. She also loved digging in the sand! She dug several holes and ditches around my beach chair before settling down for a long beach nap. Overall, we had a wonderful afternoon with our friends. Unfortunately, every beach trip ends with a bath, so Ella is currently not speaking to me since I bathed her last night :-) Hopefully she'll decide to be my friend again soon!

Ella gets dressed

Everyone who meets Ella on the sidewalk complements her matching floral collar, pink harness, and pink leash. You all know how I love to accessorize, so Ella walks in style :-) Ella is used to wearing her harness and leash now, so each morning she comes over to me and lifts her left paw so I can put it on. I call this process "getting dressed," so Ella knows that we're going on a walk when I tell her, "Ella, let's go get dressed!" Imagine my delight when I was searching for a Caldecott honor book to read for class this week and came across Margaret Chodos-Irvine's Ella Sarah Gets Dressed. Anyone who has a toddler or has ever met a toddler will find this book hilarious, since it is about a little girl who is determined to choose her own outfit. From the very beginning, Ella Sarah knows that she wants to wear "her pink polka-dot pants, dress with orange-and-green flowers, purple-and-blue striped socks, yellow shoes, and red hat." Despite her family members' warnings that this outfit is far too outlandish for an ordinary day, Ella Sarah insists on wearing it. In the end, Ella Sarah is joined at a tea party by her friends, all of whom have also chosen... colorful outfits of their own. The illustrations are very vibrant and help bring this joyful little book to life. I thoroughly enjoyed it, and Ella was happy to hear that she's not the only girl who knows how to put together a fabulous outfit!

Ella the picky eater

Princess Ella refuses to eat anything crunchy or hard. We have tried 4 different varieties of dog food. She doesn't like rawhide, milk bones, or marrow bones. She will only eat her current dog food if it is mixed with warm water and allowed to soften into a soupy consistency. My dog eats organic food. Do I eat organic food? No, because it's too expensive. Only the best for Ella, though... sigh. I must admit, feeding Ella can be very frustrating! She turns her little doggy nose up at almost everything I try to feed her, which is very rare for a Beagle. Most Beagles will eat anything they can fit into their mouth. Not Ella. Because Ella is such a picky eater, I chose Marc Brown's D.W. the Picky Eater for last night's story time. I absolutely love Brown's stories about Arthur the aardvark and his family, and this one didn't disappoint. Brown's illustrations are sooo cute and his stories are always funny. In this book, Arthur's little sister D.W. is a fussy eater. She won't eat anything with eyes. She would never eat liver in a million years, and she won't touch any vegetables. More than anything else in the world, D.W. hates spinach. Because D.W. creates such a scene when dining out with her family, she has to stay home with a babysitter whenever her family goes out to eat. D.W. decides that staying home while everyone else goes out is boring, so she promises to be a good girl at her grandma's special birthday dinner. At the restaurant, D.W. orders pot pie and discovers that she actually loves this unfamiliar dish. When her mom asks for the recipe, D.W. is shocked to learn that spinach is one of the main ingredients! D.W. learns just how much she has been missing with her picky eating habits, and vows to try all kinds of different foods in the future. I hope that Ella will take a hint from this story and learn to give different foods a chance. Who knows what she might be missing out on by refusing to eat cheaper dog food from Wal-Mart?

No, Ella!

In case you were wondering, Ella is not the perfect dog. She is wonderfully sweet and adorable, but definitely not perfect. Today, in fact, she did the first really bad thing she's done since we got her. I usually leave the house first in the morning, and Ella stays at home for a bit longer with my roommate Neillee. Well, this morning when Neillee was trying to get out of the door with her hands full of stuff, Ella slipped by her and ran out! Neillee says she had a moment of panic as she watched Ella run away from the apartment, but luckily, Ella didn't go very far. Neillee was able to get her back inside fairly quickly. Since Ella is now learning the meaning of the word "NO," we are reading David Shannon's No, David! for class. In No, David!, little David constantly gets into mischief. Whenever he does something wrong, he hears Mommy say "No, David!" In fact, most of the book is comprised of those two words, since Mommy often has to correct David's naughty behavior. The illustrations are adorable and hilarious- we see David tipping over the fish bowl and drawing with crayons on the wall (among other things). I have a feeling that most kids would relate to the theme, since sometimes it seems like all your parents ever do is fuss at you. However, the ending of the book is precious as Mommy tells David that she will always love him, no matter what he does. I feel the same way about my little furry escape artist. No matter what mischief Ella gets herself into, I will always love her.

Ella misses her mom and learns to love Click, Clack, Moo

In the past week, Ella and I have learned many things about each other. I have learned that Ella is a very picky eater (more on this later), loves to nap, and is afraid of large trucks and thunderstorms. I have also learned that Ella has some separation anxiety. I suppose it's a good thing that she has bonded with me so quickly, but I do find it difficult to leave her alone when she whines and barks as I leave. I spoke with the vet about this issue and got some tips to help Ella be more comfortable when she is left home alone. So far, they seem to be helping a bit. The neighbors tell me that she still whines for a few minutes after I leave the house, but quiets down fairly quickly. Hopefully Ella will continue to grow more secure and comfortable in her new home and stay quiet when I leave! Thank goodness for patient neighbors who are also new dog owners :-) In other news, Ella and I are reading Click, Clack, Moo: Cows That Type by Doreen Cronin for my class this week. Set on a farm, Click, Clack, Moo tells the story of a group of cows who find an old typewriter in their barn and begin typing demands to Farmer Brown. When Farmer Brown refuses to grant their request for electric blankets, the cows go on strike and halt milk production. When Farmer Brown still ignores their demands, they bring the hens in on the plan and refuse to provide milk and eggs until they all get electric blankets. Hilarity ensues as Farmer Brown negotiates with his typing animals. Click, Clack, Moo's illustrator, Betsy Lewin, won the Caldecott Honor medal for her bold, colorful illustrations, which make the book come to life. It's one of my favorite children's books, and I'm happy to say that Ella loved it too (so much that she tried to chew on the pages!) Reading Click, Clack, Moo this week gave me an idea to help Ella: I've decided to negotiate for less whining by giving her a toy stuffed with peanut butter before I leave the house. Hopefully Ella will be so distracted by the sticky, delicious peanut butter that she won't even notice that I'm gone!

Ella visits the doctor and enjoys a bedtime story with Biscuit

Today was Ella's first visit to the veterinarian, and I am happy to report that she is healthy and adorable! Last night, in preparation for our first trip to the doctor, we read Biscuit Visits the Doctor by Alyssa Capucilli. Ella's Auntie Erin used to love Biscuit books when she was little, and Ella does too! In this book, Biscuit the golden retriever puppy visits the vet for the first time to see how much she has grown and have her teeth, ears, eyes, nose, tummy, and feet checked. The illustrations are precious and it's a very easy read for a beginner. I imagine that kids would be fascinated by the bright colors and descriptions of Biscuit's vet and the other dogs that Biscuit meets at the vet's office. Perhaps reading this book before bedtime the night before a child's doctor visit would help calm nerves, since Capucilli gives cheerful descriptions of all of the routine essentials of a doctor visit through Biscuit's eyes. Ella got a good night's sleep last night after her story time and woke up ready to visit her new friend, Dr. Arrison. I chose Dr. Arrison because our friends Kristen and Emma the dog absolutely love her, and I can see why! We went into the office and the vet and her assistant came right over and began petting Ella and exclaiming over how cute and sweet she was. Obviously, Ella loved the extra attention! She was a perfect lady the entire time we were there, even when having her ears cleaned for the first time! I was way more nervous about the whole trip than she was! Dr. Arrison told us that Ella is completely healthy and we just have to keep her floppy Beagle ears clean and give her heart worm and flea/tick medicine each month. Overall, we had a wonderful experience and I'm so relieved to have such a happy and healthy puppy!

How Ella became a model

Since I don't currently have a camera, Steph has been kind enough to take a few photos of Ella with her new roommates. We have found that Ella LOVES the couch and will pretty much push everyone else off of "her spot." Thus, the couch served as the perfect setting for our first photos.  Enjoy!

How this blog came to be

This blog is serving a multitude of purposes. First and foremost, Ella's previous owner asked for updates on her adventures and photos of her new home and new family. My parents also wanted to see their grandpuppy in action and Ella has already bonded with her Auntie Ashlyn and will be Skyping often with her Auntie Erin. It would just be cruel to keep my new baby from her extended family ;-)  However, I also needed to create a blog for one of my summer classes, Information Needs of Children. In addition to updates on Ella's adventures, you will also see my reflections and reviews of young adult and children's literature. In fact, if you read my post about Ella Enchanted, you've already read a quick book review! I'm hoping to connect my experiences with Ella and my book reviews/reflections, so you'll see many more posts that combine my two favorite topics :-)

How Ella met Prince Charming

Let me start by saying that I'm very, very, very lucky to have so many amazing friends who come through for me when I need them most. One of my very best friends, Russell, stepped up when I needed a travel buddy this week. You see, when I first heard about Ella and decided to adopt her, I was worried most about one thing: the trip from Williamsburg to Winchester to pick her up and bring her back. I knew that this would be the first time I would be meeting her, and I knew she would likely be nervous and confused. What would make this situation more difficult? The fact that I would have to put her in the car immediately and drive 3 1/2 hours home. I really didn't feel comfortable making the trip alone, since I would be unable to comfort Ella from the driver's seat. The night before I was scheduled to pick Ella up, I still hadn't found a travel buddy. Thankfully, Russell agreed to make the trip and serve as my dogsitter on the way home. As it turns out, Ella was a dream traveler, sleeping pretty much the entire way home and generally being adorable and cheerful (as she always is!). When we got back to Williamsburg, we went to Russell's house to drop him off and Ella met her very own Prince Charming. You see, Russell's family also has a Beagle. His name is Duke and he is energetic, sweet, and just plain charming. Even though Duke played hard-to-get during their first date, I have a feeling that Ella is already in love. She's quite the heartbreaker already, so I don't think she'll have any problem wooing Duke. I'm not that great at math, but I'm thinking Duke + Ella = Happily Ever After!

How this blog got its name

I might as well just come out and admit this now: I'm a huge literature nerd. I can't remember a time when I didn't have several books stacked on my night stand waiting to be read. I majored in English in undergrad, and I'm in my last semester of a master's program in library and information studies, so I want to be a librarian when I grow up. Luckily, many of my friends also love books, so I can get away with being a bit nerdy sometimes. Both of my roommates are also readers, and we tend to have similar tastes when it comes to choosing books. Case in point, we all love Ella Enchanted by Gail Levin. Many of you have probably seen the Anne Hathaway movie with the same title, which is an adaptation of the book, but as is usually the case, the book is better than the movie. If you haven't read it, here's the basic plot. Soon after she is born, Ella is cursed with the "gift" of obedience by Lucinda, a well-meaning fairy. Ella must obey all commands and do everything she is told. Luckily, Ella is free-spirited and independent, so she can maintain some sense of agency in her life, even though she is forced to live with her evil stepmother and stepsisters who can make her do whatever they want simply by commanding it. Since this is a re-invention of the Cinderella story, there is a glass slipper, pumpkin coach, and handsome prince, which means you know it's going to be good. Since Ella the Beagle is extremely enchanting to everyone she meets, I figured Ella Enchanting was an appropriate title for this blog. My point: go read Ella Enchanted and then come meet my enchanting Ella!

How Ella got her name

Before I adopted Ella, her previous owner had already named her Bella. Now, don't get me wrong, Bella is a beautiful name. However, my roommate Steph and I are huge Jane Austen enthusiasts. Steph has always named her pets after Austen characters, and I loved that idea so much that I decided to steal it from her. When I met Ella for the first time, I was amazed at how calm and ladylike she was. Of course, there could be no other name for her than Elinor, after Elinor Dashwood of Sense & Sensibility. For those of you who aren't familiar with Austen, Elinor Dashwood is practical, reserved, compassionate, and quietly beautiful. Elinor represents the "sense" in the title Sense & Sensibility. I feel incredibly lucky that Elinor the Beagle is so calm, cheerful, and loving. She is truly living up to her name, so I think Austen would be proud. Since Elinor is quite a big name for such a small Beagle, we call her Ella, a close cousin of her original name. This seems to be working out wonderfully so far, as Ella almost always comes when she is called.