Memories

The Airborne Oak

Little oak tree, you can't live here. Let me take you to the woods and transplant you,

Holy crap! My right boot lace got caught on my left boot hook. My feet are tied together!

Splat!

I didn't know humans could fly. Is it legal to say those words in this state?

Ew, this is so disgusting! I am soaked clear through to my underwear.

Ow! I'm not going to be able to walk for weeks! You know what this means, don't you? No supervision!

I'll go get us something from the fridge. I'll get the toilet brush!

Yes, this was my week.  For some reason, bad things are easier to deal with in Bitey World, so I put it here.

I told my neighbor that it really says something about my place in the community that I can lie face down in a puddle of mud in the middle of the street, and people just drive by.  Am I like the town drunk where this type of behavior is expected?

I was fortunate that this accident happened only a short distance from where I live.  After landing on first my knees, then my face I was still able to hobble home.   I was planning to plant the tiny oak in a clearing next to the sideways tree, but he didn’t withstand the trauma of flying.  So sorry little one; I tried.

The puppies have been totally disgusted that we have had beautiful weather all week, and they haven’t been outside to enjoy any of it.  Their frustrations finally boiled over today.  Geordie poked me repeatedly with his nose while Toby beat me with his toy moon.  Thanks for the sympathy guys.

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Cover of the book Dream Our World

For a pleasant distraction, pick up a copy of Dream Our World.  Inside, Bitey and Toby spend a day at the museum of their dreams.

The book has a number of inside jokes (to me, anyway).  One is that the “Additional Artists” are all really me.  If you note their names, they are the letters of my name rearranged.  If you like my work and would like to commission your own piece of artwork, please visit my store for more examples.

 

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Its Been an Exhausting Day

Two Cairn terriers asleep on the floor.

Just before this picture was snapped, I am sure I heard a whispered, “Mischief managed” and a light tap.  I bet if you check their pockets, you’ll find a particular map.

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As you can see, my two have mastered “We’re so bored we’re going to die”.  They are frustrated because I have been at the computer too much this past week.  I am just so close to getting this blasted book done that I don’t want to quit now.  The book is trying to quit.  It is doing everything it can to commit electronic suicide, but I keep bringing it back from the edge. If I’m successful, I may have something to post about later this week.

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A Trail of Evidence

This is what I found after a suspiciously quiet moment.

Two gloves lying on the floor

Blue puppy is to blame for the gloves on the floor.

Terrier peeking around corner from his hiding place.

It wasn’t me, Mom.  You can clearly see it was Blue Puppy.

Toby loves Blue Puppy, but I am finding that he is the scapegoat for a lot of things that go wrong around here.  Things where Toby is somehow nearby….

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Don’t forget to pick up a copy of Poopiter.

Bitey Dog and Toby in POOPITER

Poopiter is available at Amazon.   (Some people donate their copies to their local children’s libraries or the children’s ward at the hospital.  Kids love reading about naughty puppies.)

You’ll want to be caught up on the boys’ adventures before they start their next one which is coming up soon.  I have been working on this next book for a very long time, and it looks like I am in the final stretch.  Yeah,  I’m happy!

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Visiting the Funeral Home

Picture of a funeral home

On Monday, the boys and I accompanied Grandma to the funeral home to say goodbye to another friend and neighbor we have lost this year.  (Well, we haven’t lost them.  We know where they are, but we can’t see them from where we’re standing.)

The pups and I waited outside while Grandma went inside to pay her respects.  While we were out there, person after person came out of the building and straight over to Geordie and Toby.  They had to greet and be greeted.  They told me stories of their own beloved pups – both those who had passed and those who had recently joined the family.  Every person left with a big smile on his or her face.

Children especially seem cheered and distracted from the grief around them when there is a puppy at the funeral home.  Maybe more could consider having therapy dogs on site for those who need the comfort.  I know I would want to visit the therapy dog.

Two Cairn terriers sitting in the grass.

We’re puppies.  We can fix anything!!

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Kitties and Terrier Screams

Watercolor painting of cat

Image not stolen.  I made it myself!

 

Frantic looking Cairn terrier

The kitties!  The kitties!  Can’t you see the kitties?

This picture was taken at a Halloween party at the pet store.  For some reason they decided to stage the photos in front of the kitty adoption section.  Geordie can’t hold in his excitement when a feline is around.  As you can see, his is not a happy look but a frantic one.

Some terriers have the “terrier scream” and my boy is one of them.  It is a very human sounding noise, as if a person were yelling, “Aaaaagh!  Aaaaagh!  Aaaaaagh!” at the top of their lungs.  Trust me, you get awfully strange looks when your dog starts belting out some of those.

Even now when Geordie is a very mature pup and has lost a lot of lung capacity to cancer, he can still shout out a terrier scream loud enough to break windows.

Kitties beware.

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Don’t forget to pick up a copy of Poopiter!  It tells the illustrated story of Bitey and Toby’s first year together.  (You’ll want to catch up on things before their next book is published.)

Bitey Dog and Toby in POOPITER

Poopiter is available from Amazon.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Who’s Been Sleeping In My Bed?

Puppy sleeping in the back of a kennel.

I had to do a double take the other day.  Geordie was sleeping near the window, and  Geordie was sleeping in his bed.  Wait, what?

While this is Geordie’s bed, the usurping Toby likes to make it his own whenever he gets the chance.  Sometimes Geordie will cry until the little one leaves.  Sometimes he gives up and sleeps outside the door.  One time he tried to paw the puppy out.

I don’t know if Toby feels safer sleeping in his big brother’s bed or if he just likes to put his stank on the blankets so that Geordie can never escape him.  Either way, it is adorable.

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Conversation Hearts

Box of tiny conversation hearts

For years these little candies have been a staple of Valentines Day.  (Made, as some say, of ear wax and chalk.)  My Dad decided that he wanted to get some for my Mom as sort of a joke since she doesn’t like them but he does.  Imagine our surprise when no one could find these little hearts at the store.   I guess couples these days prefer candies that actually taste good as opposed to ones that spark conversations.

Tiny box of conversation hearts.

OK, so I did finally find some for the Fogies to share.  What shocked me was the teeny, tiny size of the box.  I could hear maybe 8 candies rattling around inside.  For shame, Brachs.

My boys, on the other paw, were pretty creative with their gifts.  Geordie wrote one of his special messages for me.  This was the closest he has ever come to saying that he likes me.

Heart shaped poo

I kid you not: it was shaped like a heart.

Poo shaped like the Chinese character for "fire"

Toby’s was the Chinese word for “fire”.  (Perhaps he has a more ardent personality than I give him credit.)

So, if you have ever wondered what the most romantic day in the year is like in Bitey’s world, this is it.

To everyone, we wish you a Yappy Valentine’s Day!

 

 

 

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Kitty, Puppy or Fox?

Since Geordie’s cancer diagnosis, I have found it difficult to write about my boys or even draw and post silly pictures of them.  Instead I write about Toby and me going to visit the fallen tree.  It is my way of coping.  We have had some really good days lately, though, and I want to hold onto them here.

On Saturday, Geordie surprised me by waking me up an hour early to tell me that it was sunny and cold out.  He was so excited that he wanted to leave for a walk right away.  When I told him I needed to get dressed first he stormed off in a huff and threw himself down on the kitchen floor.

After a few minutes for my morning routine, I got the boys dressed in their harnesses, and we headed out.  I was totally stunned at how far my little boy was able to go.  We wandered for over a mile together as my two marked everything they could reach.  I could see a difference in Toby as well. He really loves walking with his brother.  The two of them were calm and cooperative.  It was a joy to be with them.

The day ended well with two pups who ate heartily and slept soundly.  When you have a sick puppy, those simple things are so significant.

While Toby behaved with Geordie nearby on our Saturday walk,  he did not do well when he and I were together.  It is my fault.  In most things he does so well that I don’t train him as often as I should.  This evening I decided to try some training like I used to with Geordie.

To start, I grabbed three of Toby’s toys: a puppy, a kitty and a fox.  I brought some treats, then I asked him to touch the animal I named.  Geordie heard us having fun and came over to join in.  Geordie always loved doing tricks like this.  He knew so many words and instructions that it was spooky.  He and Toby played this game until we ran out of snacks.  It was the happiest and most engaged that I have seen Geordie in a long time.

I was so excited about what we’d accomplished that I wanted to play again, but I know you can only teach a pup for a few minutes at a time.  I feel bad that I haven’t been doing this more with Geordie over the past year.  His diagnosis was hard on me, and I treated him as a delicate little china dog instead of a guy who liked puzzles and games.  I hope there is still time to make up for that. I want his memories of this lifetime to be happy ones.Two Cairn terriers sitting in the grass.

We got off to a rocky start, but we like walking together now.

 

 

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The Possibility of New Life

For several weeks I have been trying to avoid working on the sideways tree since it affects my allergies.  Having a temp of -5 also might have contributed to me staying home, but only a little.

What is left of the sideways tree

The Sideways Tree

Since so many of the trees in this wooded area are elderly and falling down, I have been looking for ways to encourage new growth.  Not only does it look nice, but I am hoping it will keep the hillside from eroding.

Winter is the wrong time of year for seed production, so I haven’t been able to harvest any fallen ones…except for these guys.

https://i0.wp.com/treepicturesonline.com/sweetgum-picture.jpg

I borrowed this picture from Tree Pictures Online.com .

Like a lot of people, I mistook the trees for maples and attributed these nasty seed pods on the ground to some other source.  Turns out they are from a plant that wears a lot of names.  Around here they are called Sweet Gum, but they can also be called Liquidambar, Storax or Alligatorwood.  They are often used in reforestation projects because they grow quickly.

There is an abundance of these seed pods on a neighboring street, so Toby and I have been gathering them up on our walks.  We take them to the area around the fallen tree and lob them into the woods.  To be honest, I have no idea if the pods have viable seeds or not, but I still fee like I am helping to bring the possibility of new life to the area.

These seed pods are so strong and spiky that they can be used around the garden to discourage interlopers.  They are hard enough that you can puncture a tire if you run over them.  By now, Toby and I must have tossed a couple hundred of these pods into woods.  If nothing else, maybe they will discourage some of the animals that travel the pipeline up into out back yards.

Two cartoon deer dying

Aagh!  Avoid the spiky seed pods!

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