Herd on Longview

Happy 4th of July, All!

2007-07-03T18:59:00.001-07:00

Please not that the grass is finally mowed. It took six hours.

Toivo's Kitchen Perch

2007-06-27T14:30:00.000-07:00

Is it the flowers? or the squirrels? or the bunnies? or the birds? or the butterflies?

Squirrel Still Life

2007-06-24T13:35:00.000-07:00

While Dad and I were talking today, I noticed a squirrel in the trees - not at all unusual, of course, except that this squirrel stayed absolutely still for at least 15 minutes. I mentioned it to Dad, he says that squirrels do sleep along limbs like that.

Lady Butters Up the Mailman

2007-06-21T10:40:00.000-07:00

Lady sprints to the front every time she hears the mail truck pull up. The Mail Carrier is also a Treat Carrier and Lady wiggles and waits in anticipation, watching as he approaches, house to house, from a few blocks away.

A Good Time Was Had By All

2007-06-12T10:55:00.001-07:00

Dear Alex,

Thank you for coming to visit while your Dad was in Iowa. I had a great week with you, getting to know the young man you are so quickly becoming. You have a sweet generous spirit. I really appreciate how you take such good care of Lady, how you keep Toivo entertained, how you 'go along' even when some times, you'd rather not. Plus it was fun teaching you how to make salad dressing. So I'll forgive you for beating me at Cat-opoly and (some times) Chickenfoot! Next time we're together, we'll do the 12s and then take a late-night walk around the neighborhood!

I love you, Alex!

A Big Bear Hug to You,

Auntie Al

The Wicked Mulch Is Dead

2007-06-11T10:30:00.000-07:00

It took us nearly all day but we killed the mulch pile, finally! Alex was a really hard worker today, shoveling and hauling, spreading and flattening. And the front yard looks so good now, all neat and tidy. And no mulch pile in the driveway!

Cat Tails

2007-06-10T14:30:00.000-07:00

Toivo got more attention from Alex than anyone, ever! Mostly, she chased a string on a pole with Alex's hand at the far end, all over the house, up and down, over and around: a great cat game.

And here she says 'Thank you, Alex!' by getting all close and cuddly.

A Zoo Day

2007-06-08T16:30:00.000-07:00

It was an amazing day at the zoo. Because the weather was cool, all the animals were out and active. Here we're watching two of the Asian elephants, the new baby Jade who was just born in February is around the corner.

Alex got one of the grizzly bears on his phone, they were SO close!

Here, everyone was wishing for fishin' poles! That's some catfish!

After walking around, we met Mz Ann and Stefanie for a Zoo Boogie concert, then came home for leftover pizza and salad ... and more chickenfoot!

Alex & Lady Are Buddies

2007-06-08T13:15:00.000-07:00

Alex and Lady are real buds this week. Both are getting A+s for behavior and taking good care of each other.

It's Not About the Food

2007-06-06T11:00:00.000-07:00

... even if, for breakfast, we did have a lot of fun making omelets in a bag, it worked perfectly and the omelets were quite tasty. But you see the Cat-Opoly? We played a mad round (with more Chickenfoot outside where it was a last beautiful cool evening), only giving up at 10pm when it was too much work to figure out how many "litter boxes" (houses) to sell back and how many "cats" (properties) to mortgage for Alex to pay $1200 in rent. Very fun.

We also made great headway on the gumballs, though it did take Alex an hour to get the first half bucket, one gumball at a time, thrown from four feet away. But he's newly inspired: the neighbor says he pays $20 a bucket and so he's done the math and figures he'll make a lot of money, enough to be able to afford a big house and a couple of kids. Cool!

Tuesday: "The Park" & Chickenfoot!

2007-06-05T18:25:00.000-07:00

We can't remember why Alex turned but no matter. We have great memories of our Tuesday together -- oh no! our last Tuesday this trip. We took a long walk with Lady at Forest Park, learning all about the 1904 World's Fair and the luxury of a shady spot with a breeze, even on a rare 80 degree June day. We caught an outside table at the Boathouse (where dogs are allowed again, who'd think they wouldn't be ...) and ate pizza and salad. Later we came home and played chickenfoot until dark, our second day. Alex ended up with about 500 points, Auntie Al with 300 -- but after 10 of 12 rounds Auntie Al only had 15 points so Alex really truly had a chance to win out in the end, if only there'd been one or two more rounds. The big news of the day: Alex really truly does like beets!

Summer Is Made for Shortcake

2007-06-04T18:10:00.000-07:00

Alex experiences the first "real" shortcake he remembers -- though his mother says he's had it before, with blueberries, so a very patriotic red, white and blue. He declares the biscuits "perfect" and asks for another, later. And Alex is famous online, too!

Lady does crumb patrol, not missing a single crumb!

Summer Haircuts Are Great

2007-06-03T16:30:00.000-07:00

Look how happy both Alex and Lady are -- Alex with his just-for-summer handsome haircut, Lady getting a good brushing that noticeably lightened her black coat. And see the waste basket? It was nearly full ...

Squirrely Girl

2007-05-23T10:08:00.000-07:00

Mom let me up on the sofa -- just this once -- so I could watch the squirrel snatching up leftover bird seed on the patio. Some times, I held myself so still that my body just quivered. Other times I got down onto the floor but lifted myself up -- like a circus dog -- on both back legs to see out the window.

Animals Return

2007-04-22T04:01:00.000-07:00

One of Toivo's favorite window spots, especially in spring's morning sunshine ... includes perfect sightline of the squirrels and chipmunk that forage in the next door garden.

To My Sister

2007-04-20T06:32:00.000-07:00

Happy Birthday to You, Happy Birthday to You,

Happy Birthday, Dear Sister, Happy Birthday to You

Happy Day!

Kitchen Sentry

2007-04-01T16:12:00.000-07:00

Toivo: "With all the cooking that goes on in this kitchen, I shouldn't have to beg for breakfast and supper!"

Happy Tails Hangover

2007-03-13T04:06:00.000-07:00

Too tuckered to move ... when Lady's back from Happy Tails, the 'kennel' (more like the Puppy Playland) where she stays when I'm away, she is happy to be home but dog-tired (now we know where that comes from!) for a day or two.

Feline Fotogenics

2006-12-17T08:51:00.000-08:00

Day after day, Toivo puts herself into completely photogenic environments. Here, she's even cuddled upside the lightbox I use for food photography, napkin and all.

And here, stretched out in the sun on the rugs put down to prevent Lady from slipping on the wood floors while recovering from surgery, her ears profiled in shadow.

And here, again in the sun, this time in the dark shadow/bright light near the cat door to the basement in the kitchen. (Yes, Lady's rugs are everywhere.)

And here, behind the curtain, watching the squirrels and other critters in the back yard, again, it's the profile that fascinates me. (sorry, can't figure out exactly how to format these ...)

The Big Chill

2006-12-01T11:30:00.000-08:00

It was a long few days, starting with sleet and ice on Thursday night, then losing power some time during the night.

Still, there was no disputing the beauty of the snow, here from the back window ...

... and also in the front.

The big horizontal limb on the cherry tree reached to the ground, cracking at the trunk. I'm sorry to lose it but am glad the fence and the Japanese maple are okay.

Several limbs broke off the sweet gum on the west side too.

Destructive Beauty

2006-12-01T11:15:00.000-08:00

The crabapples are thick with ice and snow. Some branches make it appear that the ice is slanted sideways; instead, the icicles formed vertically, then the weight of the ice bowed the branches.

Even from a distance, the red of the crabapples shows through, very beautiful!

Walking to Town

2006-12-01T11:00:00.000-08:00

I decided to walk to town, hoping to stock up on batteries for a radio and a lantern. It was a Winter Soul's paradise along the way!

There was ice everywhere, not alot, but heavy nonetheless. Lots of power lines were down, many trees suffered broken limbs, a few were upended.

The new Walker Park looks pretty in the snow.

Downtown Shuts Down

2006-12-01T10:30:00.000-08:00

Unfortunately, downtown lost power too, so everything was closed, even Tom's station.

The Amtrak was almost on time, only 20 minutes late. Funny, though, the clock is off: perhaps electric and so stopped the night before? No hot coffee at Kaldi's, either.

But what's this ... spring? in the snow??!!

Trying to Stay Warm

2006-12-01T09:30:00.000-08:00

First up: hot tea ten times a day. Luckily the stove works and there's hot water for washing. This could be worse!

Next up: creating a warm spot. Nana's down comforter was wonderful. Dad also suggested lighting candles (amazing, they really do create a little warmth) in a closed-off room, Adanna putting hurricanes on the candles for safety and journaling the experience. They were amazing support on the phone in so many ways!

I built an 'igloo' for Lady, covering her crate with two blankets and a down comforter. She was a real trooper for three long days confined to her dark covered crate. She was warm, though! Toivo liked her spot on top, too, when she wasn't cuddled on my lap.

Some times, though, Lady could stand the crate no longer and if there were a warm spot in the sun, I'd move her bed.

More Cold Cold Beauty

2006-12-01T07:00:00.000-08:00

It truly is beautiful, three glorious blue-sky winter days, the ice flickering in the light. This is the view from my window: I spent a lot of time here, wrapped in Nana's comforter, drinking tea, reading, watching the birds at the feeder, the neighbors (see that speck of color? it's the neighbor kids on sleds on the smallest incline you can imagine, laughing, laughing, laughing; when there are no power noises, you hear new things!)

Still, can you see how cold it is? Not Up-North cold but plenty cold nonetheless, especially without power, which here lasted for THREE long days. But I'm lucky: there are Kirkwood people who remain without power, even two more days later.

Sunny Sunday

2006-11-26T14:15:00.000-08:00

Another unseasonably, but much welcome, warm November day, here seen in a dog's eye view. We sat outside in the sun for a couple of hours, me with a book but mostly dozing, Lady on a leash but mostly alert. Notice the long shadow at only 2:15 pm. Notice too: no leaves!

Supervising the Leaf Blowing

2006-11-24T11:15:00.000-08:00

With a rare warm-November day, it was time, finally to get to the leaves though the oaks have yet to let go. Lady stayed outside too, in the 4x4 pen, apparently quite content just to be in the warm and fresh air. I was glad, would have missed her otherwise.

The Red Chair

2006-11-21T09:41:00.000-08:00

First it was Musta's, then it was Lady's and some times Musta's. And now it's ... Toivo's.

If I'd had even one thought about getting a feline housemate for Toivo (which I didn't) I'd be second-guessing the idea now. It's nice to see her come up from the basement, out of the closet (in a cat way ;-) and into the light.

Dooce Skin Cancer Shot

2006-11-19T09:23:00.000-08:00

Lady wonders: Skin cancer? I don't have skin cancer. That picture's of my surgical incision. And what's a Dooce? Is my Mom losing it? I'm doing fine, really! And I don't have cancer!

Frosty Leaves

2006-11-19T09:13:00.000-08:00

Mom's already found a good thing about taking me outside on the leash to do my business a few times a day: she'd have missed these pretty frosty leaves!

Peanut Butter Cocktail

2006-11-18T08:35:00.000-08:00

My Mom's keeping track of all the pills I have to take. Toivo comes to investigate of course ...

[update: at first I loved licking peanut butter off my Mom's spoon ... but hmmph, she keeps putting all those nasty tasting pills on there too ... so now she has to open my mouth and wipe peanut butter and a pill on the roof of my mouth ... peanut butter licking is allowed ... licking my incision is NOT]

I'm Home

2006-11-17T16:07:00.000-08:00

Woof. LadyBug here. I'm home! I was really excited when my Mom came to pick me up tonight, I was skittering all over, the vet tech had to put a harness on my rear quarters to make sure I didn't slip. Once we got home, Mom lifted me out of the car (she'll get better at this, I'm sure) and I sniffed the yard and bit and did my business. I was mighty glad to see my pen. And I look pretty good, considering, don't you think?

My Mom's not so sure though. She's a little freaked out by my woozy eyes, I think, even though the surgeon said it's still to be expected.

But if I turn a bit, you can see that my leg's bruised and swollen.

Really bruised. Really swollen. Really sore. So far I'm just glad to be home. I'm sniffed at my treat ball and sniffed at kibbles.

Maybe I'll eat later.

We're Ready

2006-11-17T10:43:00.000-08:00

Everything's ready for Lady to come home! Especially Toivo ... and some other body in the house.

(May I once again recommend surgeon Mary Jean Gorse from Veterinary Specialists of St. Louis?) Today is Mary Jean's day off. But she was in the office this morning to check on Lady, then called to report that she jumped to her feet, tail a-wagging, then plowed through morning kibbles (and she ate last night, too, good). I think I still need to steel myself to what Lady's going to look like, her energy level, all the pills she's going to be taking.

But ... she'll be home in a few hours! We're spending a quiet weekend around the house. Maybe a little baking, a little reading, a little ... just quiet.

Fat Cat

2006-11-16T16:25:00.000-08:00

Somebody in this household needs to go on Weight Watchers.

Empty Bed

2006-11-16T10:22:00.000-08:00

Lady's vet just -- may I please recommend Mary Jean Gorse of Veterinary Specialists here in St. Louis? -- called to say that she did well overnight but is, as expected, groggy and sore this morning.

But it sure was quiet around here last night. I even had to fetch Toivo from the basement! Several times, I've started, Oh! Lady needs to go out. Or, Oh! where's the dog? Did I forget to let her back in? And this morning on the way to coffee, her collar rattled in the back seat and for just one second, I turned to rub her paw, just like always.

She comes home tomorrow, late.

Whew!

2006-11-15T10:58:00.000-08:00

The surgeon just called to say that Lady's surgery went great (also to tell me to "breathe"). About half the ligament was still healthy so was left in place, moving the kneecap went well, the amount of arthritis found was about what was expected but we've intervened in time to prevent further damage.

Oh. And she's got "good drugs".

She won't likely come home til late on Friday. After only three hours, it's already quiet around here!

Lady's First Real Bone

2006-11-05T17:03:00.000-08:00

So ... the meat guys at the farmers market had bones, real bones, uncooked, with a tad of meat on the bone, the marrow intact. Suffice it to say ... Lady loves real bones.

The New Toivo

2006-10-20T14:10:00.000-07:00

Lots of Toivo pictures ... she always has been the camera-happy kitty around here!

But with Musta gone, I'm intrigued by her behavior changes. I didn't realize how much I must have been Musta's 'territory'. Now that the territory is open for re-claiming, Toivo's stepping in. This is the cat that would disappear - where I could never figure out - between breakfast and supper and again between supper and breakfast, making short appearances and meowing for a scritch some times.

But now I've created a bed (M & A, do you recognize Lady's old bed?!) on the bed and she spends a lot of time there. I used to keep two sleeping spots on the bed; one always remained empty.

And last night, much to my surprise, she tucked herself timidly between the covers: something she never ONCE did before and something which Musta did, every single night once the weather turned cold, carefully making her way between the top sheet and the comforter, never under the sheet. Toivo didn't stay long under the cover.

Still: very interesting ...

How to Stay Warm

2006-10-17T17:35:00.000-07:00

... on a chilly day: make a home under a lamp!

Aha!

2006-10-15T12:21:00.000-07:00

A man at the Tower Grove farmers market today identified Lady's breeding! Tere's no question in my mind anymore, Lady is part black lab and part Croatian sheepdog. So many of her physical and temperment characteristics are explained:

the curly fur
the tail curled over top (though apparently they're often docked)
the upright ears
the long face
the fox-like legs
the intelligence and energy
need for human companionship
need for exercise

Desk Cat

2006-10-14T09:15:00.000-07:00

I hadn't realized that my desk was "Musta's territory". Toivo would jump up every once in awhile, stay a minute then leave. I just figured she wasn't interested, she's more 'cat' than Musta ever was, seems not to need or even want more than a small amount of human contact (except at supper time ...) But since losing Musta, she spends a half hour or so, every day, perched somewhere on the desk while I work. It's nice ...

And So the Basket Stays

2006-10-13T09:47:00.000-07:00

With Musta gone, I wondered if the basket on my desk, where she so often slept while I worked, should go. I think not. For the first time ever, Toivo has climbed in ... and so the basket stays.

Calling All Bird Watchers

2006-10-12T08:34:00.000-07:00

Look what settled onto the fence for a good 30 minutes this morning! Here's a couple of close-ups for identification purposes ...

Toivo and the New Back Scratchers

2006-10-10T15:02:00.000-07:00

... oops, I mean the new rugs, the ones that now stretch -- perfectly, to the inch, not one inch too many but not one too short, either -- from Lady's crate in my office to Lady's crate in the downstairs bedroom where we'll soon move in, through the kitchen to the back door, through the dining room into the family room to Lady's open pen -- all in preparation for next week's surgery so that when she's home again and less sure-footed, she doesn't slip on the wood floors ... many thanks to my Dad and IKEA for the rugs, they're just perfect, if not perfectly matched (to one another or the house decor)

Musta's Last Day

2006-10-04T08:10:00.000-07:00

Musta Kissa II
1989 - 2006

And so The Herd becomes two ...

Musta was definitely not herself when I got back from the family reunion weekend. She stayed in the red chair, didn't come upstairs to cuddle for the night. The next day, she seemed okay, just lethargic and stand-offish. Who'd guess I miss her getting in the way while I work at my desk? By Tuesday, I knew something was up. She tried really hard to use the litter box, going in and out and then in again. We made a fast trip to see Dr Julie, who found both constipation and dehydration, also considerable weight loss. When I picked her up later, Julie said her kidneys were failing, her numbers, whatever they are, were 100x worse than our last visit. And so I brought her home, for just one last night, a long one, nobody sleeping, Musta lying still, no purrs, no spirit. And so this morning ... she made her trip 'over the rainbow', her head resting on my hand as I held her.

She's buried beneath the fir tree in back ~ though since she's joined her kittenmate Toivo I, I think it's now the 'fur' tree, another named tree, joining the Mother Dogwood and the Father Birch.

She was a sweet cat, a rare kitty who craved human company, who wrapped her paws around my neck, who purred and purred and purred when she tucked herself beside me or at my feet or on my chest or yes, between my chest and the keyboard on the desk while I worked.

And I wish right now that I were a cat, like Toivo, who sniffed Musta's still but still-warm body, sniffed again, and then walked away, understanding, accepting, not missing ...

She is remembered, these last years ... for playfulness, posing, sleeping nearby and always finding the sunny and warm spots.

Lady's a Champ

2006-09-18T11:25:00.000-07:00

It's taken only three liver treats and a dozen regular treats but within 18 hours, I'm already comfortable in my new crate. (Thanks, Luka! You were right! But now my Mom's really mad at herself, she says her windows and doors would be in better condition if we'd done this three years ago. And she wouldn't have had to buy so many pairs of replacement shoes either.) I've been in it three times for an hour at a time. This last time, I went in by myself, without treats or without Mom asking.9/18/06 11:25am

But the cats have GOT to stay out, okay? Musta was the first one in the crate. In five minutes flat, she was inside and under the blanket. Toivo was next, her little-cat boy stretched out to cover the entire floor. NO CATS ALLOWED.

Last Picture of Musta & Toivo

2006-08-04T14:05:00.000-07:00

10/10/06 Just found this last picture of Musta and Toivo in the files, it's a sweet one, rather apt, the Vanha Kissa looking tired and sleepy, the Pikku Kissa watching the birds and squirrels and butterflies outside in the garden ... they weren't friends, these two, so shots of them together are unusual ...

The Frye Guys Are Off!

2006-07-16T11:00:00.000-07:00

The Frye Guys stopped for a visit, a swim and a 'grown-up' supper with our new friends Nupur and Vasant, here all the way from New York. Then it was off to Randy's cabin for a week of four wheeling, dirt biking and oh so very many 'guy' things, including a visit to Oma.

Lady was oh-so-sad when her guys left, she stayed curled up in a ball all day long. Even treat-ball and fribee temptations couldn't budge her ... I daren't tell her the Frye Guys will be back in a week, she'll wait at the window the entire time!

Pets from Next Door

2006-06-25T11:00:00.000-07:00

Lady's tail does helicopters when Mz Elizabeth comes over for some dog lovin' ...

Hailey Practices Staying Over

2006-06-14T13:00:00.000-07:00

Hailey came to visit while her Mom Heather went to the doctor and out for lunch. She FINALLY got to taste her first (and second!) bone.

Lady, however, didn't know what to think and retreated to her chair, ears back.

Hailey practices commands: this is a DOWN SPLAY.

Please, Lady, won't you please play with me? How 'bout hide 'n' seek?!

United at last ... barking at the postman.

Waiting for Supper

2006-06-13T18:30:00.000-07:00

Lady sits where she can best keep an eye on the One Who Feeds

Puppy Play Date

2006-06-13T10:00:00.000-07:00

The morning romp with Hailey ... remember this ball? This is what's left!

Hailey loves all the new toys!

Heather holds a bone to take home for Hailey ... the dogs say, Mine! Now! Please?!!

Hailey's never had a bone so she really-really-really wants it!

Lady's Big Ball

2006-06-12T17:45:00.000-07:00

Look what Saturday's storm blew in ...

... it's an alien life form ...

... which must, at all costs, be stopped ...

.... but it's getting away!

... if only I can bite it!

... I can, I can ...

Summer Window

2006-06-08T15:50:00.000-07:00

Toivo watches the birds and squirrels and bunnies from this window perch

Tug of War

2006-06-06T08:00:00.000-07:00

Lady & Hayley from a few doors over

Hi Daniel! Hi Amy!

2006-06-03T19:00:00.000-07:00

Daniel and Amy popped over today to give Lady some frisbee (and whiffle ball and football and ...) love.

Lady SMILES when Daniel and Amy come to visit!

Kibble Vigil

2006-05-27T18:30:00.000-07:00

aka Keeping Track of Mom's Movements for Signs of Imminent Supper

Tracking the Dog Guy

2006-05-24T05:45:00.000-07:00

When the weather's pretty, Lady will stay outside for nearly an hour before coming inside for breakfast kibbles. While she's outside, Toivo moves from window to window, intently tracking her movement. Funny cat!

Stinky Smelly Mud

2006-05-21T10:00:00.000-07:00

Yuck. The mud puddles at Puppy Choir were more muck than puddle this morning. Thick. Stinky. Smelly. Complete rank. Even Lady didn't seem happy and seemed grateful for the long hose-down and two shampoos. YUCK.

Cat's Eye View

2006-05-05T05:45:00.000-07:00

When does Toivo sleep? I have no idea! She loves to watch out the bedroom windows all night long ... here's what she sees just before dawn.

MY Bed, Okay, OUR Bed

2006-05-04T20:30:00.000-07:00

Some days, Toivo seems to WANT to be shut inside the bedroom and I suspect it's because she luxuriates on Lady's big bed. Tonight Lady hovered for a bit, trying to decide what to do ...

... and then capitulated to sharing.

Sit for Supper

2006-04-29T17:30:00.000-07:00

Lady's taken to watching for "it's supper time" signals from a few feet away. She sat like this for a good 30 minutes tonight ...

Cat Basking

2006-04-27T13:40:00.000-07:00

A windows-open day, everything's getting so green!

Lady's New Perch

2006-04-18T18:45:00.000-07:00

The mulch pile makes for a great look-out and ...

a great hide-out. Lucky for her, the mulch pile's liable to last awhile!

Hand Stands

2006-04-15T17:00:00.000-07:00

Stefanie came over for some Chocolate Mentoring (chocolate pudding and no-bake chocolate torte made with mousse) and afterward worked off some of the taste-testing with handstands in the backyard ... Lady thinks: Stefi has four legs like me! But why is she standing on only the front ones?!

Spring Breeze

2006-04-11T14:45:00.000-07:00

Toivo catches the cool spring breeze, wamed in the sun ...

Frisbee Heaven

2006-04-10T17:15:00.000-07:00

... one or more's always lost but at the moment, there're three to toss and catch ...

ANother Picture?

2006-04-09T14:50:00.000-07:00

Okay, I'll hold still a minute ... except the tail.

Suppertime?

2006-04-05T18:30:00.000-07:00

It's too nice to be inside but Lady, who's sitting right outside the kitchen door, seems to know, that it's almost time to eat ... at least she's hoping!

Pearly Whites

2006-04-02T14:10:00.000-07:00

... dog-style!

Photogenic Cat

2006-04-02T09:31:00.000-07:00

Note the bottle caps in which she's feigning disinterest ...

Toivo & Her Twin

2006-03-19T12:40:00.000-08:00

... pose in the noontime sunshine

The Bottle Cap Game

2006-03-19T07:40:00.000-08:00

Toivo's favorite game, one played again and again ... bottle caps placed on the mantle to be batted onto the floor whether from a precarios perch ...

... or with a big stretch. When Toivo was a kitten, she used to deposit the bottle caps on my lap, asking for another round!

The Patience of Kong

2006-03-18T17:50:00.000-08:00

Lady's taken to waiting patiently just outside the kitchen -- where I can't leave without stepping either on or over her -- for a treat inside her Kong ball. The "new game" is that once it's filled, she does a Sit/Stay (she likes this so much, she's even doing it without asking!) while I hide the Kong somewhere and she does a Hunt It Up, her tail wagging the whole time, looking behind doors, up the stairs, on window sills, around furniture, even right on her chair. She * always * finds it!

Ink in Sunshine

2006-03-18T12:35:00.000-08:00

More cat shadows, this time Toivo ...

Lady & Her Football

2006-03-16T17:00:00.000-08:00

Silly Dog: She sure has favorite toys! This is her "football" and I found it when cleaning out the dogwood garden. When I threw it to her, she went nuts -- tossed it up and down all along the back yard, rushed it to the front, batted it around, came running around to the back again. By the time I got the camera, believe it or not, she was pretty calm!

Video Sharing at DropShots.com

Oh Soooo Tired

2006-03-12T16:50:00.000-08:00

After 45 minutes of one loooong fun ... oops, I mean run ... after another at Puppy Choir, Lady is zonked. She comes outside to sit in the sun on the patio with me but isn't her usual playful self.

Ghost Cat

2006-03-09T18:00:00.000-08:00

What a weird double exposure -- how it happened, I have no idea. I was trying to catch the shot of Toivo batting at the spinner in the dishwasher but she moved away. This is the result!

Toivo with Lenten Grass

2006-03-08T19:00:00.000-08:00

On Day 8, the grass is really greening up!

The First Skipper

2006-03-04T15:48:00.000-08:00

From my Dad in today's mail ...

"The First Skipper, who like all dogs loved to chase most anything thrown, would dash excitedly into Beaver Dam Creek at Rockwell in pursuit of a thrown stone. Not, of course, able to see it, she would stick her head into the water, find any stone on the stony bottom, and dutifully and proudly bring it to the miscreant who thusly teased the wonderful little companion of countless up-and-down-the-crick miles along the Skunk and Squaw Creek at Ames, and the Beaver Dam and the West Fork of the Iowa River, the latter four miles south of Rockwell."

Picture taken in 1936, in the back, Martha Kellogg (Frolander), Oliver William (Bill) Kellogg, in the front Marvin (Marv) D Kellogg and baby Edward (Ed) Kellogg (that "baby" celebrated his 70th birthday last month!)

Serendipity strikes: My Dad reports that the 'black blob' at Marv's feet (which I hadn't seen) is actually the black dog named ... yes ... Skipper! Skipper was a rat terrier, all black except for her white chest and feet.

I See You!

2006-03-04T09:40:00.000-08:00

Mongrel Heart

2006-03-03T18:00:00.000-08:00

Unlike the calculated expressions of feeling common to its human masters, there is nothing disingenuous about the way a dog praises, celebrates, frets, or mourns. In this poem David Baker gives us just such an endearing mutt. (from today's Christian Science Monitor, forwarded by my Dad who remains dogless except in poetry ...)

Mongrel Heart

Up the dog bounds to the window, baying

like a basset his doleful, tearing sounds

from the belly, as if mourning a dead king,

and now he's howling like a beagle - yips, brays,

gagging growls - and scratching the sill paintless,

that's how much he's missed you, the two of you,

both of you, mother and daughter, my wife

and child. All week he's curled at my feet,

warming himself and me watching more TV,

or wandered the lonely rooms, my dog shadow,

who like a poodle now hops, amped-up windup

maniac yo-yo with matted curls and snot nose

smearing the panes, having heard another car

like yours taking its grinding turn down

our block, or a school bus, or bird-squawk,

that's how much he's missed you, good dog,

companion dog, dog-of-all-types, most excellent dog

I told you once and for all we should never get.

Reprinted from 'The Southeast Review,' Vol. 23, No. 2, 2005, by permission of the author, whose newest book of poetry is 'Midwest Eclogue' (W.W. Norton).

What's Under Here, Anyway?

2006-03-02T15:14:00.000-08:00

Toivo the eight-year old 'kitten' makes games out of everything!

Sunny Spot

2006-02-28T13:40:00.000-08:00

... for Vanha Musta Kissa

Four Black Cats

2006-02-27T07:10:00.000-08:00

clockwise from the left, the candle holder on the wall, the black cat in the framed poster, Musta, and Musta's shadow ...

Oliver - The New Puppy!

2006-02-26T10:15:00.000-08:00

Meet Oliver -- Tricia's flat-coated retriever, 13 months old and gorgeous and fun!

Both dogs were thirsty-thirsty after an hour of running at Puppy Choir but Lady gave up the bowl for a dog kiss with her pal Tricia

Sunshine Still Life

2006-02-23T07:08:00.000-08:00

These fascinate me! How funny to be so shadow photogenic! She's always so black, so curled up, -- and yes, so asleep! she IS 16! -- that it's hard to get good shots.

Supper Vigil

2006-02-22T18:30:00.000-08:00

Waiting at the bottom of the stairs, expectantly, hopefully, and with Toivo, impatiently and loudly

Bathed in Sunshine

2006-02-21T08:10:00.000-08:00

... and a cat bath, too.

Studies in Stillness

2006-02-21T08:00:00.000-08:00

More shadow shots of Musta

Too Tired

2006-02-19T10:00:00.000-08:00

... after a chilly (10F) Puppy Choir, even for a new bone

In Box Poses

2006-02-14T07:45:00.000-08:00

Vanha Musta crawled up onto my In Box this morning. At first ... she is an old cat, you never know WHAT she's up to ... I chased her off. Then I realized it was sun she was seeking ...

(notice how her shadow becomes less distinct over the 30 minutes during which these were taken, as the sun rose higher in the sky and turned the corner away from the office window)

... just warming herself, first on one side ...

... and then the other ...

... then settling in ...

... then snoozing. As soon as the sun was gone, so was she.

These shots were taken between 7:45 and 8:15 am. Spring IS coming! It's even light enough to walk by 6:30 again now.

Wintry Puppy Choir

2006-02-12T19:37:00.000-08:00

Cold and snowy this morning ...

... though the dogs don't notice!

Flicker (?) is a year-old golden, all fluff and energy.

Off they go! Bonnie the white BonBon terrier says, Wait for me, guys!

Carl, Einstein and Lady do circus acts ...

Lady in the lead ...

... til Carl decides she's interfering with his friend Einstein. But like good dogs, they work it out just fine!

But Lady gets a little extra love ...

... then once home, doesn't move again til supper.

Is the Snow ...

2006-02-09T12:55:00.000-08:00

... whiter on the other side of the fence? Lady checks to see!

She couldn't get enough snow and sunshine today, stayed outside for two hours in the morning and again in the afternoon, stopping only to bask on the sun-side kitchen step.

Toivo Approves ...

2006-02-07T07:56:00.000-08:00

... of "Mom's" tablecloth, just like Mom's, that is, in that it's a brightly colored inexpensive piece of fabric and still-and-probably-forever unhemmed!

Winter Walk at Queeny Park

2006-02-05T14:35:00.000-08:00

... at least a wintry-cold walk (in the 20s) even if no winter snow. Lady and I were both glad for fresh air and brisk exercise after a miserable week weather-wise. In the parking lot after, we ran into Skylar who'd also skipped Puppy Choir this morning and so was taking his Mom and Dad for a long walk in the park.

Easily Amused

2006-02-05T11:15:00.000-08:00

Toivo is fascinated by the bubbles in the water dish as air escapes upward as the bowl fills. Sweet, this cat. Clever, not.

Between Sets

2006-01-30T18:30:00.000-08:00

Lady waits patiently for me to finish in the kitchen so that we can go back to PLAYING TENNIS, batting the ball back and forth across the kitchen floor.

Guarding the Neighborhood

2006-01-27T15:47:00.000-08:00

Aha! I bet you thought it'd be Lady! Instead, it's the resident WatchCat, Toivo ...

January Puppy Choir

2006-01-22T09:29:00.000-08:00

Lady and Bess (an Australian shepherd pup) are well matched in speed, size and temperament so together do much tennis-ball and frisbee-retrieving and a lovely sort of dog-dancing. (Note the mud: it's Lady's second favorite activity at Puppy Choir. And she's a real leader ... leads the rest of the dog pack right into the puddles, that is.)

After awhile, however, Lady says, My Frisbee and takes a bit of a rest.