Joining online photography groups sometimes open up opportunities. Having recently joined a group called Dogs with Flowers, Astrid is discovering flowers everywhere in our neighborhood. While we once walked past them with barely a notice, we know assess the best angle, most beneficial lighting...and we are both pretty proud of what we come up with at times!

The Colors of Summer

We took our inspiration from the colors of Summer, namely the colors of found in a beach ball when we created Astrid's Summer line of bandanas and collar covers. Blue, orange (our favorite), yellows....they are all there. Each is reversible to a co-ordinating color that might feature swirls or twirls of the featured color.






Originally designing only for the big dog...50# and over...requests that we include the smaller pooch were quickly obliged.






Astrid lived at the Santa Cruz Co Humane Society before coming to live with us in her forever home on Dec 28, '06. In gratitude for her care during her stay, we donate the entire amount above cost to the Society. We are currently involved in the cement slab project, which will eventually pour cement slabs in every kennel at the shelter, providing a cleaner, healthier environment for the guests of the shelter.

Astrid keeps a busy visitation schedule as a therapy pet at local senior living centers here in Charlotte, NC.

Just waiting around .

Just waiting around .
Originally uploaded by astridnicoleetcetera

Sometimes you just have to wait around until someone opens the door.

Trending Colors

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Who would have thought orange would be such a fashion forward color! Everywhere we looked, we found others who must have been inspired by thoughts of orange sherbet on a summer day. Astrid looks so sweet in her bandana whether she is wearing the print side or flipping it over to the swirly pattern side. Even sweeter is that every sale from her Astrid Nicole Etcetera Etsy store benefits the Santa Cruz Co Humane Society in Nogales, AZ.

Lazy Daz

 

After a big day at doggie day camp on Tuesday playing with her best friend Zelda, Astrid had a lay around the house day on Wednesday. We all need one of those once in a while! Zelda has been Astrid's best friend at day camp since she started attending camp at Best Friends in Pineville, NC two years ago.

A Nice Lazy Afternoon Smelling The Flowers

 

Sometimes you just need to take time and smell the roses. We're lucky to have a long rose season here in NC, but when it does get too cold, Astrid can always enjoy the sunflowers you see on her bandana.

My Teacher, Sarah

I have been going to a class on Sundays at my day camp, Best Friends, for almost nine months now. Today is the last class that I will ever have with my teacher, Sarah. She is moving to Alabama because she has a new job. She is going to develop programs that will help doggies in shelters be more adoptable. You know how when you go to a shelter and some dogs just sit in the back of their kennel and everyone passes them over even though they might have made the absolute BEST pet ever? Well, she has ideas to teach them to come to the front, say hello and have a better chance. She has lots of other ideas too, like teaching them little tricks like putting their paw up on the kennel for a 'high five' when someone looks at them. Anyway, she is moving this week, so today is my last class.

Sarah is really good at teaching tricks, and helping us dogs get ready for things like the AKC Canine Good Citizen test and therapy pet tests and just all sorts of things. I, along with my mom and dad, will miss her lots, but we know that lots more dogs at this shelter in Alabama will now find homes because of Sarah.

We are giving her a good bye present today. My mom made it and the card too. It's to carry lots of stuff in for her new job. I hope she fills it with treats for all the new doggies she is going to meet.

Astrid's Very Proud Of First Mobile Post!

 

It's Easter Weekend!

Astrid wants to update her blog and show off her Easter outfit. Of course, the bandana is another Astrid Nicole Etcetera original, available only at Astrid Nicole's Etsy store. Astrid special ordered the matching Easter basket and mom filled it with the plastic eggs. On Easter morning, the eggs will be filled with treats, freeze dried liver and pieces of Mellow Mutts, and hidden around the house. This will be a true test of the nose of Astrid Nicole!

We continue our mission with our Etsy store of giving back to the Santa Cruz Co Humane Society in Nogales, AZ for the great care they gave Astrid during the undetermined length of time she spent in their shelter. Due to the generosity of pet owner's, we have many pets out there looking way stylin' in new bandanas and collor scrunchies, while the guests of the shelter are enjoying newly poured cement slabs in their kennels. So far, Astrid's Etsy store has been able to provide funds to pour three of these cement slabs.

Visit the SCHS website and click on a few of the dogs listed that need homes. You'll find some enjoying these cement slabs! Of course, a project of this magnitude takes time, but when completed, with the help of Astrid's friends, other pet owners and simply those that want to support our cause, we excitedly anticipate the next project we can turn our Etsy shop's attention to.

We Are Getting Cleaner and Healthier With Each Sale

Thanks to friends, supporters and their fashion forward canines, Astrid was able to pour another cement slab in one kennel at her former shelter, the Santa Cruz Co Humane Society in Nogales, AZ. She met her goal of raising another $175 - the price of the cement slab - and had it on it's way a few days before Valentine's Day. Because of several recent adoptions, some new canine guests of the shelter will be enjoying the healthier surfaces this will provide while waiting for their forever homes. As space frees up at the no kill shelter, dogs thought to be most adoptable are brought in from the Animal Care and Control in Nogales. Animal Care and Control is the agency charged with the rescuing of strays off the streets of this US/Mexico border community and are taken to their holding center where they stay (for 3 days) awaiting pickup by their owners or.....well, you know. More adoptions at the shelter mean lots more room and opportunities for more great dogs.

As exciting as the fashion and glamour of Astrid's Etsy store, Astrid Nicole Etcetera, is she still found time for a few additonal accomplishments. Having met the testing requirements of Therapy Dogs, Inc. back in November, she's begun a regular curcuit of visitations which include living and rehabilitation facilities along with Alzheimer Centers. Just yesterday, Sunday March 1, we spent a couple of hours visiting and talking with the residents of The Havens and The Laurels in Charlotte. Pictured above is Astrid, wearing her Canine Good Citizen bandana, waiting to leave for the ride there. The stories of the pets they have to share are such fun to listen too and we always see how pleased they are when we part ways, reminding them 'see you again very soon'.

Therapy visitations, learning at classes and Day Camp keep this big, black and brown dog along with her family very busy!