Tag Archives: Dogs

Morrie Takes off and Brings the Road Home with Him!!!!

Morrie Takes off and Brings the Road Home with Him!!!!

It’s true.  When Pepe came to give me my massage today, he opened the door and all three dogs ran out!  After two months of never escaping when the construction guys were in and out dozens of times a day, suddenly they asserted themselves and were long gone–not a whisper of a tailfeather was in view in any direction by the time I got out in the street to call for them.  I didn’t know whether to fear that they’d gone up the mountain or to be glad.  No cars up there and fewer dogs than in the streets.  So, nothing to be done. I decided to leave them alone ’til they came home, wagging their tails behind them.  An hour and a half later, that’s what they did.  The first two to enter were fine, but this is what I saw when Morrie entered!

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First thing he did was make right for the water bowl.

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A one-and-a-half-hour run in the mountains sure makes a Laird thirsty!!!

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I couldn’t help but notice the splint-like accumulation on his leg.

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not to mention the sizeable limb of some sticky weed, complete with tiny tenacious bristles all over it and flower abloom.

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Oh yes, those little decorations all over his head were sticky as well, and had no desire to be shed.

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Contrast Morrie to his brother’s pristine coat!

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The “limb” looked like a sunbather using Morrie’s coat to  attract the sun’s rays–a sort of solar hothouse!

Ah, Morrie.  Always a new thrill.  I got the limb off, in pieces, before he took off to tussle with Diego.  When I fed them, I got a few more pieces removed, then noticed that some scraped off as Diego and Morrie rolled and growled and wrestled and did their usual hi-jinx.  I went back to party preparations.  (Pictures to follow.)

I have neglected to say that the doggie domain is almost finished. Today they primed the walls and they reflect so much light into the hall now that I’m tempted to leave the walls white.  Dare I?  It looks beautiful, even in the chalky transluscent white of the primer.  I put the fridge in and the two cages with beds inside and Frida’s bed which almost entirely take up all the floor room.  I left the outside door to it open and a half hour ago, heard noises and went in to find Diego in Frida’s bed and Morrie in Diego’s bed in Diego’s cage! I couldn’t persuade them to switch back to their own bunks, so we’ll see what happens when Frida comes in. No lights connected, so I can’t take a picture!  Perhaps I’ll try with flash.

Happy Thanksgiving!  Tomorrow before the guests come, I plan to put Diego in the doggie domain, Morrie (and his bed) in the little dog run outside the spare bedroom and Frida in the garage with her bed while the guests are here.  One guest asked if she could bring her dog and I said I thought there would be pandemonium enough with my three.

 

 

Scotch Pride

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My name is Laird Morrie and I’m the ruler of all you survey.

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This is my princess.  We’re about the same size.

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As you can see, my brother Diego is twice my size

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And although it looks like he is killing me in all of these tussling  matches,

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In fact, I always come back for more.  More often than not, I am the aggressor.  More often than not, the bigger dog wins.

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Yet still, I remind myself, I am royalty.  And I pounce again!

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This is Frida, one of the three ladies of the house.  Here she maintains her distance.

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This is the other non-human lady of the house. Neither of these ladies likes me much, for I like their dinners entirely too much. Sometimes I jump up on the ledge of the wall and reach up to dine on what this lady leaves behind. Sometimes I dine on it before she’s ready to leave it behind, so my mom put a big plant on the ledge.  Now I wait for a rainy day, when my mom puts the cat’s meals in the garage rather than on the wall. Then I can jump up on the lower wall near the gate, jump up to the workbench in the garage, and eat her whole meal before she sees it.  I am Morrie, Laird, jumping dog, dog of major appetites, schemes and feats of great athletic prowess
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Sometimes I lie, awaiting the arrival of the third lady of the house.

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When we hear the garage door opening, we spring to attention.

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We greet her arrival with LOUD and incessant barks of approval.  In this picture, we are not barking, for our mom has never had the  patience or sanity sufficient to snap a picture when we are heralding her arrival with LOUD and incessant barks.

IMG_3940Often Frida gives up and runs away when Mom bellers, “SHUT UP!!!” to try to curb our enthusiasm over her arrival.  Sometimes the neighbors run away, as well! But Diego and I do not give up easily.  When it comes to the potential for supper or dog treats, I’m in it for the long run. For after all, in the end it is staying power and stubborn dedication that win the day–and in the end, it is breeding that counts

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when one is royalty, and stubborn, to boot!!!!

 

You might think you are seeing double if you check out Marilyn’s prompt page!  http://teepee12.com/2015/11/18/serendipity-photo-prompt-2015-30-hunting-the-wild-scottie/

Dear Housemates

DEAR HOUSEMATES

Literate for a Day
: Someone or something you can’t communicate with through writing (a baby, a pet, an object) can understand every single word you write today, for one day only. What do you tell them?

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Dear Morrie:
*Do not poop in the house!!!
*Do not poop in your cage!!!
*Do not poop on the terrace!!!
*Do poop in one place in the lower garden where Frida and Diego do!

*But, thanks for finally learning how to go into your cage even before I put a dog biscuit in the far end of it.
*Thanks for being so sweet and cuddly and adorable that I cannot help but forgive you for your numerous sins.

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Dear Frida:

*Do not bark incessantly every time the garage door goes up!!!
*Do not bark incessantly every time I come to feed you!!!
*But, thanks for never coming into the house without being asked.
*Thanks for never (hardly ever) getting into the organic garbage I save for Yolanda’s pig.

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Dear Diego:
*Give this constant tussling and growling with Morrie a rest!!!
*Do not head straight for the organic garbage can every time you enter the house!!!
*Never ever again eat six raw pork chops from the skillet on a night guests are coming for dinner.
*Never ever again grab an entire cooked chicken off the counter top and head for the door on a night there is a guest for dinner!!!
*Never ever again grab and consume three-quarters of a cooked loin roast off the kitchen counter top.

*But, thanks for taking Morrie down for a potty break in the garden every night at midnight.
*Thanks for training Morrie not to come into the house until asked.

To all Three Perros:

*I’m sorry for all the nights I’ve gotten home late to feed you.
*I’m sorry for all the times I’ve embarrassed you (and Larry) in front of the neighbors by yelling louder than you to “STOP BARKING!!!!”
*I’m sorry for never taking you on walks anymore (because you disjointed my arm the last time I did.)

I guess, like most disfunctional families, we will put up with each other in spite of our drawbacks of character and performance.

––Love, Mother

 

 

 

In and Out

In and Out

 

The Lapdog

Dogs that stand outside and seek admittance to within
overlook the worth of what they’ve seen and where they’ve been.
Those of us sealed fast inside yearn to see the world
that we have been deprived of as we lie securely curled
in the safety of our houses, away from chasing cars
and other fun activities kept from us by bars.
We would feel such ecstasy racing after squirrels,
other dogs and cats and lizards, skunks and boys and girls.
We seek to flee the rules that those street dogs seem to flout.
We would have such wild adventures if we only could get out!!

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The Street Dog

Lucky little dogs with collars sit there looking out
as though they do not know what life for street dogs is about.
We’d love to have their pampering and their daily feeding.
What they seek escape from is exactly what we’re needing!

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The Prompt: Tell us about a time you were on the outside looking in. https://dailypost.wordpress.com/prompts/the-outsiders/

Hugh’s Photo Challenge, Week 5––Pair

Pairs

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http://hughsviewsandnews.com/2015/11/07/hughs-photo-challenge-week-5-pair/

Hugh’s Photo Challenge Week 4: Isolated

Isolated !!!

IMG_3940Mom, we’re bored!  We need something to play with!!! Can you toss us the little green space man?
IMG_3829Okay, Got it.  Thanks, Mom!!!

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Oops!  Looks like we’re sharing!!!

IMG_3832Okay, Morrie, my turn!!! Morrie?  Stop hogging the green man!
IMG_3833Okay. Time for older brother to show you some manners!

Mom: Guys, stop.  It’s getting a little too rough.  Diego, stop!!!

IMG_3848That’s enough you guys.  Morrie, you’re on time out.  “But Mom . . .” (Whines a bit.  Looks longingly at Diego–and freedom beyond the bars.)

IMG_3853Okay, Morrie.  Here’s a toy for you to play with. Your favorite.
IMG_3840You can’t resist tempting Diego with your toy?  If you put it so close to the bars, you know what’s going to happen.  Right?
IMG_3841Morrie, are you trying to taunt Diego or tempt him or both?IMG_3847Diego falls for the bait.

IMG_3853And, as you might have guessed, Morrie snatches it back just as Diego is about to maneuver it through the bar.  Bad, Morrie, teasing your brother.  Now you’ve earned your isolation!!!! (But what does he care?  He has “the” toy–all the more precious since his brother wants it, too!)

http://hughsviewsandnews.com/2015/10/31/hughs-photo-challenge-week-4-isolated/

You’ve Been Waiting for It! New Prompt from Judy!!!! “Why Do They Call Him Hugo?”

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                                                                         “Hugo” and Diego

                                                  Why Do They Call Him Hugo?

I was recently asked to post another prompt for readers and something just happened that has brought a topic to mind.  I’ve had workers here for almost a month working on my doggie domain. (If you don’t know the backstory, just search on my blog, using the words “doggie domain.”)  As you know if you’ve been reading my blog for awhile, I have three dogs named Frida, Diego and Morrie (in descending order of size and mischievousness). Just now I heard Francisco ask Mateo, “Where is Hugo? Diego is here.”  Since I don’t have a dog named Hugo, it suddenly has occurred to me that both men call Morrie “Hugo.”  I’ve heard them do it before, in spite of the fact that they’ve asked his name several times and I’ve always told them his name is “Morrie.”  Please write an essay, short story or poem exposing your answer to the question, “Why do my Spanish-speaking brilliant construction engineers call my dog Hugo?”

You can send your answer as a comment and I will reprint it on my blog with a link to your blog.

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                                                       Frida–She who prefers to be alone!

Framed!!! (Travel Theme, Frame)

Framed

IMG_7483IMG_7477IMG_7018IMG_7040 (1)When Proteccion Civil directed that three blocks of the mountainside fraccionamiento I  live in should be evacuated because of feared landslides from Hurricane Patricia, there was very little time to decide just what to take.  In the pounding rain, Pasiano and I unloaded my car, which was full of cartons of art supplies for the calaveras decorating and loaded dog cages, a few clothes, dog food, food from my refrigerator and three dogs. Here Frida stands peering over the back seat, framed by the hatchback of my minivan.  Actually, this picture was taken the day we came back. The beer was a gift I bought at a microbrewery on my way home–a gift for the friends where we had taken shelter for the night.

IMG_7045Since three dogs seemed a bit much to inflict upon my friend Audrey, Frida stayed with other friends: Glenda and Mario.  Not knowing if they’d let us come back home the next day, I had brought only Morrie and Diego back with me to inquire at the office if we could move back in. When the answer was affirmative, I left Diego and Morrie at home and went to get our stuff and Frida.  Here they stand framed by the garage gate, waiting for their sister to be “unloaded.” Luckily, no rain at all on this day we were supposed to get 20 inches and have 100 mph. winds!  The whole moving out debacle ended up being much ado about nothing. Luckily!!

http://wheresmybackpack.com/2015/10/30/travel-theme-frame/

Pretty in Pink! (Photo a Week Challege)

                                                             Pretty in Pink

IMG_7463IMG_7447On Halloween Day in Ajijic, I found these two beautiful ladies all clad in pink.  Lucky that this just happened to be Nancy Merrill’s topic for the week–a fact I discovered when I got home.  Some days, things just work out.

https://nadiamerrillphotography.wordpress.com/2015/10/29/a-photo-a-week-challenge-pretty-in-pink/

Follow the Lines: Cee’s Compose Yourself Challenge: Leading Lines

Follow the Lines
(Click to enlarge pictures)

IMG_0105 Version 4You need to CLICK to expand this one. Although this looks like a panoramic shot, it is actually a cropped version of the photo below. I think the  horizontal imagery of the photo (in which every element is horizontal) is brought out with more effectiveness in the cropped version, perhaps because the canvas itself is more extremely horizontal. Unlike leading lines that demonstrate perspective by leading the eye back into the photo, these lines draw my eyes back and forth, so I wonder if they qualify as leading lines or if perspective is a requirement.

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IMG_0563 (1)I almost didn’t use this photo because of all the contrasting round and curved shapes, yet I feel in spite of them the horizontals of the music draw the eyes back, especially because of the narrowing perspective.  I’m interested in what Cee has to say about this.

DSC00627 - Version 2I love this scene and took it from about 5 different perspectives and focal lengths, including a shot that reveals shoreline for miles up the beach.  There is something about the simplicity of the wave line in this shot echoed by the ripples on the sand that made me like it the best.  Showing this line extending for miles seemed like overkill.

DSC01483Searching for leading lines in my current library of photos on my computer made me realize that I really do concentrate on curves and more rounded shapes.  What lines I found were almost always of roads or beaches, so it was fun to include these raindrops on the windshield of a speeding car.  They seem to fulfill the assignment to me, but still I’m interested in what Cee has to say about them.

Now, on to the additional assignment of including curves.  I think these photos fill the bill:

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http://ceenphotography.com/2015/10/28/cees-compose-yourself-photo-challenge-week-5-leading-lines/