It doesn’t happen every day, but it happens often enough! I take the dogs for a walk every morning, then, as long as it’s not blistering hot, I take them for a walk in the afternoon/evening. They are ready to go about 5p, that’s when we were taking them, just after we finished work. And when you’re working remotely, it’s easy to keep to a schedule!
Now, they don’t nudge as much if we don’t go for a walk at 5p on the dot, but… they know, after the walk, it’s either a treat or dinner! Very smart individuals! So…I take them for their walk and all is fine and dandy and all of a sudden, the play fighting/wrestling begins. The first time I saw it, it scared me, if you recall, I grew up with cats, yes, they could fight, but it didn’t sound like this! Now that I think about it, cats have their own screech and attack sounds!
Well… they start doing this and there is no stopping them! They do it in the backyard, go for it, they do it in the house, go for it! When we were living in the hotel last year while house hunting, their favorite time to do it, not just the parking lot, but as we were walking into the hotel, ‘can we please move so people can come in/get out?!’ or, my favorite, just in front of the elevators! ‘can you hold off, just until we get to the room, then you can eat each other’s heads if you want!’ sometimes that worked, sometimes I just have to say ‘Ok, STOP! Not here!’ does that work? um… what do you think?!
Now, on our walks through the neighborhood, the road we live on is a main drag and people treat it like a thoroughfare! They drive 50/60/70 miles per hour or more, it’s not a place, when it’s crazy busy, that I even like trying to get across the street to get the mail. Yup, I live in a place where the mailboxes are on one side of the road, new to me too! I do my level best to stop them when they want to do it on the main drag, when we’re on one of the other streets…like in the pics and video below…have at it! I will even let go of the leashes so they can have fun!
Check out the video, they sound vicious! Especially Ruby, but… you’ll notice that Bee is on her back, exposing her belly, she wouldn’t if she wasn’t into it and do you see her jump up and ‘attack’ Ruby to keep going?! Then the kisses at the end?!
What’s your morning walk look like?!
And her is our afternoon walk, we’re on the side road that people treat like another speedway, that’s why you can see my grip on the leashes. They really do love this!
Ruby looks so vicious when the video starts! But you can see how much they love it! Bee instigates, then Ruby instigates, then Bee, then Ruby, then…
And your afternoon walk?
These two crack me up! We got so very lucky with them, they are strange ducks, but they’re our strange ducks and we love them very much. And you know what…we wouldn’t have it or them any other way!
It’s Wednesday and that means it’s doggie daycare time! And they…LOVE it!
We started taking them to Glamourous K9s a few months ago, some time after we moved into the house, and…conviently enough, it’s very close to the house, score! They were going every Wednesday and then they stayed at doggie daycamp or they were boarded when we went to the USVI over the holidays. They loved that too!
Lots of people paying attention to them, they get to sleep in a room together, interract with other dogs and all around have a great time! We sent them with their special food bowls, enough food for them to stay for three weeks, if needed, their treats, Bee’s meds, a bed for them to share, and some toys, what more could they want?!
When they go to doggie day care, they have a bag with a blanket, for nap time, of course, treats, and Bee’s emergency meds. As soon as I say “Who wants to go to doggie day care?” You have never seen two dogs run faster! Even little Bee the Beagle, her little legs get her there fast! They run to the car and wait for me, I can’t move that fast, sorry girls!
We load up in the car, drive down the road and they can’t get out of the car fast enough! Can you ask for anything more?! When it’s time for me to pick them up, they come running out and I get lots of licks, hugs, and tail wags, gotta love it!
Today was funny because getting them there, no issue, but when we got there and I was going over stuff with one of the staff, Ruby decided she’s going to head back to the door, and then when I started to leave, it seemed like she was going to go with me…huh? You couldn’t wait to get here, now you want to leave? Maybe it was since it was the first time since the beginning of January since they went, who knows. They stayed, it was all good.
All I know is that they love it, they are well cared for and it gets them out of the house and socializing with other dogs at least one day a week. And socializing where I don’t have to hold their leashes tight, not knowing how the meet-n-greet is going to go, where I don’t have to explain Ruby’s weird thing about ‘I’ll do the doggie greeting, don’t do it to me!” Very hypocritical!
As long as they enjoy it, we will keep sending them, and until they don’t…Who wants to go to Doggie Day Care?!
What a beautiful Sunday! I decided no alarm, I had done yoga four days in a row, I’m taking a day off. That means no alarm and a little lounging before I greet the world.
I got up around 8, well, I got up before then, but refused to get up. About 8, I got dressed and got the pups out of the crate and right into their harnesses and off to the park we went. They were SO excited! I dropped the top and it was the same as always, Ruby sitting up, wanting to see everything, Bee hunkering as low into the seat as possible! At the lights, sometimes she likes to look around, but as soon as we start moving…I think she’s hoping if she can’t see the world go by, it’s not moving! HA ha!
At the park we were a go! It definitely is something to take them for walks, it’s hit or miss, sometimes they’re with me, sometimes, they’re against me…going in two different directions! We took the same path and this time, came upon a photographer with a telephoto lense, I actually don’t know if she was a photographer or a birder, one who watches birds, if you weren’t in the know. I figured she was there to see the bald eagles, and she was! So I asked if she knew where they were and she did! Across the lake on the little island! I never would have seen them! I don’t have a telephoto lense, but if you zoom in on the dots, you can see them on the tree branch, they were spectacular!
On the way back to the car, we met a few other dogs, a boy who wanted to pet them, especially Bee, Beagles are his favorite dog breed. We also met a man who told me how good she looked, he had one at home. I asked if his was a little on the chunkier side, he said oh my yes! His wife takes the dog to Steak ‘n Shake and Shake Shack, among others. His beagle…100 pounds! O M G!!! Oh no! I’ll keep my girl the way she is!
After the park, the girls were ready for a nap and the weather was beautiful, so on the bike I hopped and off to Grafton, IL I went. A little highway, but then two lane roads, over the Clark Bridge, through Alton, IL and then along the Mississippi River. I’ve told you about the ride before, it’s just a nice and easy ride, the ride along the river is beautiful and peaceful and we love it. I rode to Pere Marquette State Park and saw a few bikes heading up Scenic Drive, so I did the same and it was a great, winding road with a few overlooks I stopped at to take a look at the view.
I stopped at Eagle Roost Scenic Overlook, the view was fabulous. You could see Swan Lake, Illinois River, Levee on Swan Lake, and Brussles, IL. I continued on to Flag Pole Scenic Overlook, another nice view. I continued on, but when I got to Lover’s Leap Overlook, but…I kept going. My opinion…when I looked at it, I wouldn’t have leapt from it! There might have been more to it, I just didn’t see it.
I continued down the long and winding road, thank you to anyone who got that! until I was back at the main drag. I knew there wasn’t anything in town for me to eat so I kept going. There were SO many bikes on the road and I gotta tell you…I la la la love my bike, I got so many props from other riders! Great feeling, sigh. I can tell you that Grafton was covered in bikes, I don’t think I saw one bike that wasn’t a Harley Davidson, except when I went by!
Since it was Easter, so many places that I tried to go were closed, so I decided to head home. What I did though, was detour off the main drag and went the way PSM and I had come in a few weeks ago, this time, it was sooo much better! Less dirt on the road, it was warmer, and not as windy, a really nice ride. I even did some of the navigating by gut, instead of using my GPS, which I had at the ready.
I got home about 5pm, just in time for dinner for the pups, they were happy I was home, ahhh. We had dinner, hung out and then I think we all fell asleep for a few!
Overall, it was a really good day, I’m ready for the next really good day!
Just another typical Saturday, not much happening…except…
Up early…hot yoga…without PSM! What?! Yeah, on Thursday, we took hot yoga together and he told the instructor he wouldn’t be there, but I would…to represent us. What?! So…set the alarm for 645am and hot yoga, here I come. It was in the high 30s when I left the house…brrr, but about 45 when I came out of yoga, and I was sweating, so…top down on the car, ahhh…smoothie on the way home, what could be better?!
Got home, added a thin sweatshirt under my favorite heavy Keystone sweatshirt, got the pups out of the crate and to the park we went. It’s Spring, the flowers are blooming and people are going outdoors, nice! The park wasn’t too crowded, we did a few doggie greetings, and a kid even stopped us and asked if he could pet the dogs, especially Bee, beagles are his favorite dog breed. At the park, we walked through a Bald Eagle breeding ground, someone we passed told me there was a nest and there were 2 eagles in a tree, I couldn’t find them, bummer. There was even a sign “Bald Eagle Breeding Site, Don’t Linger and Be Quiet”. I really wanted to see them, maybe next time!
Back home, breakfast for all and to relax! While we dined, I watched the first episode of season 7 of Brokenwood, a mystery series based in New Zealand I’ll tell you about another time. It was great, I called my dad right after to talk about it since he had watched it the other day and was waiting for me to talk about it.
I showerd, got dressed, threw in a load of laundry, and loaded the pups in the car, top down, we were going to the bank, problem was…bank was closed, oh well. Drove around for a bit with the dogs then headed home. Ruby was happy to be out and in the car, Bee just didn’t want to get left behind! She’s up and happy and looking out the window when we’re stopped, but while the car is in motion, she is hunkered so far down into the seat, I think she’s hoping it will swallow her up! ha ha
We got home and the guy is doing amazing things fixing up our yard was there, we caught up for a bit, talked about Spring Break, plants, yards, forsythia, which he calls forcynthia, which I love! and then, into the crate with the pups, into my new black suedeIndian Motorcycle jacket, I had to take it for a spin! It was about 75 degrees out at this point and even though it was warm, it was still a little windy, so I was very happy to have the jacket on.
I rode out to Castlewood State Park, not a far ride, rode through the park, there was a road that you can normally drive on, but it was closed, so I drove out of the park, down this fabulous winding and winding road, ended up on a main drag and kept going, it was great. I eventually turned around and headed back towards home, stopping at a Starbucks to enjoy a tasty beverage and a break, then headed home again.
Pups out of the crate, walk around the neighborhood, dinner for them, dinner for me. I tried something new, I roasted an artichoke and wow! It was fabulous! I can still smell the garlic in the house! y u m! I will be making that again! Then it was relaxing time! I finished an episode of Endeavour, I’ve been trying to finish the episode for about 3 weeks! It was good! Then it was RuPaul’s Drag Race and after the pups went to bed…I headed to the basement and made some really good progress with the stuff I brought back from Colorado. Grabbed the laundry and headed upstairs.
And now…I sit here talking to you, I moved the laundry basket to the floor so I can’t see it, I’ll take care of it tomorrow! So…there you have it, typical Saturday, not much happening, ha ha!
I would like you to meet the stuffed and furry family that I have had, well, most of them, since I was a baby, some were even my mom’s, and mean the world to me.
Some of you who know me, know that I have quite the collection of stuff. Stuffed this and stuffed that. My stuffed animal collection is quite something! When I lived at home, it was all on my bed and people who sometimes spent the night in my bed marveled at how I could sleep with all those things on the bed with me. They also went into overload looking at all the stuff I had on my walls. Those of you who have known me forever, I know you’re not surprised! Well, now I would like to introduce you to some friends who are incredibly important to me.
Last night, I mentioned Winnie the Pooh, I’ve had him since I was a baby. One thing you might notice is that he has two red discs on his chest, those were buttons for the blue felt vest he wore, long since gone. His mouth is a meer scrap of very hard red fet, and his nose, not much different. If you look closely, you can see that his armpits have stitches in them, and oh my, but he is not the vibrant, bright yellow he started off as! He has been loved, hugged, cried on, slept on, dragged everywhere, very much loved bear, just like his namesake. I am a HUGE Winnie the Pooh fan! My first tattoo…guess who. He has gotten me through so very much!
The Winnie love fest continues, meet Gund Winnie the Pooh. He was a treasured gift from someone. He sits up, he’s not a soft bear, on the firm side, but…his joints move, so you can move his legs and arms around, love! One more teeny Winnie, I don’t remember who made him or where I got him, but he’s a love.
I am also a lover of Raggedy Ann. Do you see that pillow? My mom made that for me when she was pregnant with me, it’s something and I absolutely love it. It’s been on every bed I have ever had! You may remember it from my studio apartment when I lived in Bahston, before I moved to Hawai’i with PSM. To continue with the Raggedy Ann fest…meet my Raggedy Ann doll. He dress is very worn, her hair, still there, her face hasn’t changed, but her poor feet and legs! See the stuffing coming out of the tops of her shoes? And poor Raggedy, she broke her leg, so I put an ace bandage on it, I think I was either in high school or college and it’s been there ever since! I didn’t know how to fix it, I don’t think I could have sewn it, so…there it sits. She’s another incredibly loved friend, might be almost as many tears as Winnie!
Now, this little brown bear was one that my sister had as a child and at some point, she gae it to me and it’s stayed with me ever since, how could I let it go? That’s all, sister love.
Now, Snoopy is from childhood, he is well loved, still white, but not quite as white as he started. His eyebrows, might still be there, I think, but man oh man do I love this dog. Maybe that’s why I love our beagle Bee so much! I have to tell you…my first tattoo was a toss up between Winnie the Pooh, Kermit the Frog, and Snoopy. Winnie won out, but that’s not to say the other might not be joining him sometime in the future. What I loved about my Snoopy is that he has a wardrobe! I had so many outfits for him! My favorites…Beefeater, hat and all! Then there was the red nightshirt with the red nightcap, which inspired my own winter hat with Snoopy all over it in the shape of a stocking or night cap! Which also inspired me to ask a few people to make some for me! Camper Snoopy, Yellow Rain Slicka and Hat, again, maybe that’s why I just had to have the yellow rain booties and slicka for Bee! I know I had more, I just can’t think of them right now!
This adorable cat was made by my very talented MGS. She took a sewing class and this was one of the things she made, incredibly impressive. What I loved was why she gave it to me. When I moved to Hawai’i, I couldn’t take my cats with me and I was sad. Her first thought, to her mom, my sister, “Let’s get Aunt J a cat!” “Um, no, I don’t think that would be a good idea” A sweet idea, but not a great idea! Then…she had a great idea…this cat and I simply love it! I traveled with it, it stayed in my bag and I actually took it on the road with me when I traveled for work, love…it!
The bright orange bear with the green shirt isn’t very old, but it is from the school that my mom taught at in Brooklyn: Edward R Murrow High School. She bought it to support the theatre department, which was fantastic! I remember going to many shows at her school, they inspired me to want to do something with theatre when I went to college.
Now…let’s talk about my last two. The first one is the turtle, it’s actually a musical turtle. It plays Frere Jacques, which some kids also know as Where is Thumbkin, if the melody sounded familiar. But now when I play it, it’s a little slower, sounds like it’s winding down. This is a much loved turtle, the fur isn’t as soft as it once was, but his felt feet are all still there and he is so very much loved. I remember playing with him and sleeping with him when I stayed at my grandmother’s house when I was a kid.
The next is this terry cloth dog with a vest and bow tie on. Notice…he is painted exactly the same on both sides! LOVE! I have to be equally careful with him, you can start to see the seams fraying, but he’s still a very dapper dog. He’s another one I used to play with and sleep with at my grandmother’s house, and now he’s with me.
Want to know what’s so very special about these two? They were my mom’s own stuffed lovies, I played with them as a kid and now, I get to love on them for as long as I can. Those two I only look at, talk to once in a while and leave lovingly on the shelf, they’re old and delicate and it just means so much that they are with me. For now, they’ll sit on the shelf and be loved above my head!
I still have more stuffed loves, but these are the ones that I keep with me always, they have a long, much loved, and happy history. I don’t know where our next adventure will take us, but one thing I know…they are all going with me.
Peaches Prattlings 