National Dog Day

While it's National Dog Day at my house every day, today it's actually recognized on the internet. I'd be remiss if I didn't share some precious pup pics with you on this special day, with a friendly tip or two peppered in on how to help dogs in need. Humans breed an abundance of dogs every year with a sad and staggering number of them ending up in shelters and being euthanized. These are statistics I can't bare to fathom, so instead let's put our energy and efforts into being a part of the solution. Milo and Gracie are the faces of the sweethearts you'll be helping. Both rescues with hearts of gold, there are so many others like them who need our support. There are so many ways to help; here are some specifics:

Adopting a dog from your local shelter is an amazing thing to do, but if you can't do that you can help out the animals by fostering a dog, volunteering at a shelter, walking dogs at your nearby rescue, or donating to a local shelter, the Humane Society, or the ASPCA. If you don't have money to give, no problem! Dog food, toys, old linens, blankets, pillows, and bowls can be useful at most shelters.  If you have a friend or family member who is adopting a dog, offer to dog sit, lend an ear through the tough days, and see what support they need. The more dogs who find forever homes, the less dogs we have in shelters. And, here are 7 more surprising ways to let your skills lend a hand. 

This/That: Mid-Week Edition

*This week's This/That is delayed, thanks to the lovely and all-too-reliable Time Warner Cable. Yeah, TWC, I'm talkin' to YOU. You, who goes out for no reason at all making it impossible to work on the internet. We are now mos def switching to Fios. 

This/last weekend I...

+ Set our little kitchen table with this adorable CLOUD napkin holder. Why is it so cute?

+ Art directed the kitchen linens. Now this hand towel is having a design dialogue with this rug.

+ Made and labeled this and this. Both gluten-free and both DELICIOUS. I swear, if you use coconut oil anything gluten-free is a heavenly treat. Also, this.

+ Found the perfect co-worker companion spot for Gracie Mansion. I am not totally into the fabric so am thinking a reupholstery situation might be in order. 

3 Dog (Fort) Night

The last two weeks we have had a trio of canines scampering beneath our feet and it has been SPLENDID. An outright snuggle-fest of cozy love from the three sweetest rescue dogs in the world. The third, Katie, is our God dog, whom we've known and adored for years. We have to return her tonight and I am down-right crestfallen to see her go. 

8 Years of Grace

This Sunday (MOVING DAY) is Gracie's birthday! September 15th, 2005 is when we adopted our precious pup, and September 15, 2007 is when Will and I got engaged. The date has some seriously posi-Cole energy around it, so hopefully that means this new apartment will be blessed with sweet vibes. I know our beloved mutt is, so that bodes well.

Some of my favorite things about Gracie are...

+ The way her small head and neck violently flings up the heaviest down comforter to get herself inside, then she circles several times until she finds the perfect spot to coze up in.

+ The way she will follow me anywhere and walks beside me with more loyalty than any human I've encountered.

+ Her tiny paws that she has placed in my hands when I've needed it most.

+ Her little chihuahua mane that glows when back-lit.

+ Her bravery and fearlessness that constantly reminds me to put my worries aside and live bravely in each moment.

+ Her ability to sleep ANYWHERE. I can put a cocktail napkin down on concrete and she'll take this as an official "nap invitation".

+ The way she bosses Milo around, and just about ANY other dog she encounters. A rottie, pit, a BUFFALO wouldn't intimidate this 13-pound sassy little lady. She fears nothing and likes to lead everything. I often say that if our future children have HALF of Gracie's confidence they will be set for life.

+ The way she twirls when she's excited. And twirls, and twirls, and never gets dizzy.

+ Gracie just wants to spend time with us. So much so that I can walk into another room for mere moments, and she'll be on my heels finding a spot to curl up in and keep me company.

+ Whether we're on the rocky shores of Maine or the frozen ground in the mountains, or IN A KAYAK, whatever the terrain or situation, Gracie is excited and comfortable and ready to dive into whatever we are dong. She is game for whatever, whenever, as long as we're together. Talk about being in the moment, she is IN each one with all of the gumption she can muster.

+ The way she looks up at Will and I with total love in her eyes. Gracie loves her aunts and uncles (Barr, K$, and ShaSha know what's up), but the way she gazes up at Will and I is an unparalleled adoration. It is pure love, that I cherish and appreciate so deeply.

+ The way her tiny black-tipped tail is always curled.

+ Our connection. It's unreal how this creature is so connected to me. She FEELS what I feel. She knows what I'm thinking. We communicate without words sometimes in such a subtle but precise way. She is one of the deepest connections I've ever had, and it's pretty amazing to see.

+ Most importantly, her bright, bold, loving spirit that lives fully in every single moment she has on this earth. Soak it up, baby girl. Thank you for choosing Will and me as your human companions who get to love you and watch you live every moment to the fullest. Our moments are so much more precious and beautiful because you are ours.

I could go on forever. The reasons to adore and cherish this precious soul are endless. We'll be moving on her birthday, but she'll be sure to get extra hugs, snuggles, and treats all weekend long, no matter what. She sure does deserve them.

P.S. RESCUE DOGS!

More Gracie Strudel:

1 / 2 / 3 / 4

Catskills Coles

This is the escape we have longed for. Just our family of four surrounded by mountains, rivers, waterfalls, forests, fog and wild life. We are soaking up every moment of this incredible vacation together and feel that every element of this trip has been a dreamy and magical moment in time.

Our days and nights in the Catskills are filled with kayaking, hiking, reading, lounging, very happy dogs, strumming guitar, eating delicious food, cool mornings, hot jacuzzis, invigorating saunas, star gazing on the deck and seeing the 2 biggest and brightest shooting stars we've ever laid our eyes on (!!!), stoking the fire in the stone fireplace, playing cards, watching old movies, adoring this beautiful house, and soaking up sightings of the local wild life. We've seen countless deer, frogs, badgers, horses, bunnies, fish, chipmunks, and all kinds of birds. Today our best friend, Dejon, joins us, so it can only get better!

Coles in the Catskills

We are in the Catskills hiking, eating, sleeping, and relaxing like we haven't in YEARS. This is a much-needed escape that is serving me restorative realness like no other. We just got back from a 2.5 mile hike in the Tomannex State Forest where we saw a deer, a hawk, and around 7 or 8 waterfalls. You can follow all of our adventures by checking out #ColesintheCatskills on Instagram.

Happy Birthday Milo Shoe!

Four years ago tonight we adopted Milo Shoeshine from Sugar Mutts Rescue. He is our third rescue dog, our second beagle, and one of the loves of our life. He is a challenge and a half in the sense that he might BITE YOU, but he is only that way due to abuse and neglect by his previous humans. Every day he tries so hard to be good, to behave, and to not be "so nervous" that he is alive. We adore this little bundle of beagle and would not trade him for the world, even if in that world was another beagle who looked just like him but didn't sometimes bite the air or you. Because that cute, non-biting beagle wouldn't be our Shoe. We love you Shoe! We love that you still try to chase after every truck or skateboard that comes your way, that you love to dive bomb the carpet right after I vacuum, your one lone black whisker, your flip flops ears, your heavy black eyeliner, the way your lip gets caught in your teeth while you sleep (see above), your adoration of Gracie Strudel, the excitement you get every day when we play fetch, your sweet loving licks, and your kind and loyal soul.

This weekend I will celebrate my fathers from afar and Will, my dog baby daddy, in person. Enjoy your weekend my dears!

Mo' Milo:

  Introducing Shoeshine / Milo's Debut / Dog Portraits / Milo Sequence / 

Robed Grace

Just because. 

Custom Dog Portraits

Cristina Victor is a California-based multi-faceted talented artist friend of ours who has recently gotten into DOG PORTRAITS. When I saw how incredible her portraits were I just had to commission her to make one of each of our dogs for Will as a 10 year anniversary gift. The paintings arrived this weekend and Will was SO HAPPY. He adores our dogs as much as I do (which is crazy) and was really beyond touched by the custom-made pieces. Cristina did an amazing job. Not only do they look like our dogs, but the paintings seem to exude the life and personality of each individual. She captured their essence from Milo's black eyeliner and one lone black whisker to Strudel's alien ears and eyes that look into the depths of your soul.

MILO SHOESHINE

GRACIE STRUDEL

Contact Cristina to commission your own dog portrait by sending an email to: cvictor22@gmail.com

Cristina's: Dog Portrait Blog // Personal Blog // Official Website

LBW

My husband has been up in arms about a rogue black whisker. See, the above fool right has a bunch of adorable, fluffy little whiskers around his MUZZLE (how cute is that word). They are all white, with the exception of one tiny little black mini-whisker and a big, bold black whisker on the left side of his muzzle. Will and I discuss the one, lone whisker at length, along with other fascinating dog details like the fact that Gracie's paws smell like tortilla chips. About a month ago, Will wanted to document Milo's lone black whisker with a detail portrait photo of it, when he realized it was gone. It must have FALLEN OUT. Oh dear. He was displeased to say the least. Since then, I have heard a lot about this whisker situation and how Milo better be working hard at growing it back. Thank heavens time marches on, seasons change, and beagle's whiskers grow. The lone black whisker has returned in all it's glory, William Battle Cole III. Rest assured, your Shoeshine is complete once more.

Happy Fashion Week, Bitches

Gracie smizing + pouting for instagram

Paws for the Cause

Milo Shoeshine, The Beagle

Half and Half

These two. These two right here.

In the Seam

Fav Holiday Gift: A custom hand made Gracie pillow by local artist, In The Seam from my darling husband. I opened the box and saw the detail on my little Strudel puff's whiskers and MAY or may not have teared up just a smidge. YES. We are weirdo's. Weirdo's who adore our furry rescued friends and our gifts reflect as much.

Actual conversation upon opening gift...

MEG: I love it! It's perfect and precious and you are so sweet and weird.

WILL: Says the woman who bought me matching bowties with my beagle.

Send Strudel Love

Feel free to send Strudel some love and energy if you have some to spare. While Gracie feels amazing and her energy is higher than ever, there have been several more tumors and I am going in for a consultation with our wonderful vet, Dr. Eisner right now. On my own. So maybe also send love to me.

UPDATE: No news is good news. While Gracie does have more mast cell tumors, including one on her precious, perfect head, the vet said we can just keep on keeping on. We don't want to do invasive surgery on our happy, full of life, 11-year-old dog. Gracie feels healthy right now and surgery would only tell her she isn't. It may take the tumor out, but as we keep learning, there will always be another. Our vet and we are going to keep doing our best to slow the cancer down with raw food, immune support, and a mix of different holistic herbs and supplements that encourage movement in her blood and discourage the growth of cancer cells.



We will keep cherishing every single day and will plan on no travel without our smallest companion. It's all about Gracie, all about our little family spending as much quality time together as possible. As our incredibly evolved vet, Dr. Eisner, said: "All we have on this earth is time." There is no way to know how much time, as we knew before it could take a turn at any point. But that is true for everyone. So we stay in the perfect moment where Gracie is thriving and here and safe. She is my best friend and the world is beautiful with her in it.

He Loves Her

Gracie + I Are Sleepy

Feeling a little like this these days. Like mooooving through molaaasses. Seeing the many adorably cozy ways Strudel snuggles up doesn't make staying productive ANY EASIER.

Strudel

Have a lovely weekend!

Strudel in the Sun

I love her. That is all.

Drinking Buddies

On Instagram