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Monthly Archives: January 2012
1.12.11 11:59: Where’s Sofie?
Where's Sofie?
I have totally lost the battle (and my mind). It snowed the other day. Actually, it slushed (you know that really wet stuff). It came down in big wet flakes for a while. This was Sofie’s first snow. At doggie bed time, I knew that I should just put her on a leash for her final pee because I never can get her to come back in, but oh no, I am the eternal optimist. Well, it took 45 minutes to get that silly mutt (she is a mutt, so I can call her that) to come in. She played with the slush and basically hid and dug (her usual). Louise (my angel dog) comes back in immediately. She goes in her kennel (almost shuts the door by herself), puts her head down and goes right to sleep. But Sofie, oh not Sofie Bear! When I finally got her in, she whined and whined because she wasn’t ready to go to sleep. Just another DogDaz morning at the zoo. ❤
Sofie finally in bed asleep
1.11.12 16:26: “To Sit With A Dog… Is Peace”
To sit with a dog
To sit with a dog on a hillside
on a glorious afternoon
is to be back in Eden,
where doing nothing is not boring –
it is peace.
– Milan Kundera (Czeck novelist & poet, c.1929)
My daughter made this piece for me. It is Louise, Squash, and me down by the river. Squash had his summer shaved coat. He had been blind for a long time by then (due to being an insulin dependent diabetic), but as long as he had me, he was comfortable going anywhere. Lulu had been with us about 2 months by then. The picture of Madison taking care of Lily the blind dog (that I posted this morning) made me think about Squash. When we got Lulu she was very attached to him. I think he liked her too, as much as an old dog likes a puppy. She would try to cuddle with him (like I watch Sofie try to do to her). But mostly, he would go to his usual spot (taking up the whole foyer by the front door) and Lulu would be with me in the office. He loved to be outside in the nice weather and sometimes sleep for hours under ‘his’ tree. I would send Louise out in the yard to find him and lead him back in and she would. She actually takes other dogs leashes and will bring them back to their owners if asked. I always joked that Lulu was Squash’s seeing-eye dog, well, now I know that could be so.
Squash & Lulu in the Snow
Louise watching over Squash
Sniffing together
Besties
I must be honest, not a day goes by that I do not think about big old Squashy. I actually have a large picture of him (with a tuft of his hair tucked in the frame) next to my bed. I have been blessed by many wonderful souls that have passed through my life. (Probably feeling nostalgic since tomorrow is the 11th anniversary of my Mom’s passing.) I am glad Louise was here to play with and help him for a little while (Squash E Bear went to the Big Meadow in the Sky last February). Just another DogDaz afternoon at our zoo. ❤
Lily & Madison
1.10.11 17:00: “One of these days, you’re gonna miss me honey”
One of these days… you’re gonna miss me honey……
Lulu Belle thinking
I was so busy with work today that I put the dogs in daycare so that they could have some fun, but boy do I miss them. I keep thinking they are just outside and I have to stop myself from going to let them in. After so many years I have gotten used to having dogs and cats around me all the time (and under foot). There isn’t even a cat in the office today (they must be ticked off that I got rid of the dogs, so they are steering clear in case they are next.) I find that when you fill your life with animals it becomes weirdly quiet when they are not around. I can not say that I like it.
Sofie sticking her nose in everything
I know I must be crazy to ship the dogs off to daycare and then sit around missing them. My knees appreciate not having to run up and down the stairs a million times a day, up down, up down, in the door – out the door, in the door – out the door. Truthfully, the dogs are my only form of exercise; up and down the stairs and our 1 mile walk around the neighborhood. I find that the dogs really help me push my body a little because if it wasn’t for them I would not be going outside in freezing weather or the heat of the summer. They are my physical therapy. I am sure my doctor is happy about that.
Come, Sofie! Good Girl.
Well, time to finish work and go get the babies. I love how they have to tell me all about their day at doggie daycare when they get in the car too!. Just another DogDaz afternoon at the zoo. ❤
1.9.12 21:34: Muddog
MudDog
Sofie the Muddog
Sofie the Muddog 2
Today I want to talk about Sofie’s need to dig holes everywhere she possibly can; especially if there is a nice planting near by. And, once dug, she likes to lie in her holes and defend them against the world.
Sofie in a hole
You need to understand that I am starting to get yelled at (a lot) for what is becoming a major construction site vs. our beautiful garden. We are actually a National Wildlife Federation Certified Wildlife Habitat. We are part of a worldwide network of mini-refuges. Because of our careful planning, landscaping and sustainable gardening, wildlife can find quality habitat (food, water, cover and places to raise their young) on our property. We are very proud of this. But now we have Sofie. Sofie Bear the excavator. Sofie the hole digger. Sofie the MUDDOG!
I can not say Louise is blameless. She came in this morning with dirt on her snout too! But the instigator is YOU KNOW WHO! Even in the grass she digs holes. Conspiring to destroy years of hard work.
Let's dig here Lulu
To be honest, years of drought in the Mid-Atlantic has not helped my yard. I am starting to live on sand because all the topsoil is washing away every time it rains . I think it is really hard to discourage digging behavior when the soil is so easy (and fun) to dig. Also, I think there is a mole under the lawn (noted by the tunnels). And, I think Sofie’s lawn digging may have started with trying to get the silly underground moving thing. (Have you ever seen a mole or a shrew? They are truly not nice looking creatures (down right ugly!). Their poor lives are spent trying to get to the light only to be blinded by it. Now that is a weird existence.)
Close-up_of_mole
I figure digging is just Sofie’s nature, since she has tons of toys and gets lots of exercise. I probably should never let her out in the fenced yard unattended, but she digs even when I am there, She just likes to dig, In the dog park, visiting other dogs, on a walk. Really, she is a Muddog. By now you may have figured out that I have never had any dog like Sofie; she whines, she digs, she does not listen to any commands. In my old age, the Great Spirit must have sent me this little soul to teach me something (other than frustration) but I have not figured out what the lesson is yet (besides pure love). Some people are suggesting a sandbox of her own (put how do you keep that clean from the foxes and other animals?) and some have suggested placing her own feces in the holes (which may work but won’t she just dig a new one?).
I have to figure it out before I have to order a truck load of topsoil to fix her current projects, or worse, a truck load of concrete! Just another dogdaz afternoon at the zoo!
Luckily, I’m Vegan.
You reblogged cinnamongrl76:
For my vegan daughter, if she looks at my blog. Well, I thought it was funny. – Mom
Owl & his Guardian
Four-week-old Cherub, a baby White Faced Scops Owl, has a furry guardian in Kiera the German Pointer.
Photo by Richard Austin
[via NYDailyNews.com]
DogDaz Zoo 