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One, Two, Toby’s Comin’ for You….

Toby dressed in a striped sweater.

The striped sweater and long claws should be a give away of Toby’s Halloween costume this year.  As you can see from his expression, he is thrilled with this opportunity to dress up.

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Hmm, while I don’t want you to fall asleep and risk meeting “Toby”, I would like to recommend reading Dream Our World.   Perhaps just “daydream” the boys’ world?

Cover of the book Dream Our World

Dream Our World is available from Amazon.   It is a wonderful little adventure where Geordie and Toby spend a day at the art museum, viewing art through the eyes of a terrier.  Plenty of humor and “awww” moments along the way!

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Six Pack Attack

New puppy greets Geordie by jumping on him.New puppy greets Geordie by jumping on him.New puppy greets Geordie by jumping on him.

New puppy greets Geordie by jumping on him.New puppy greets Geordie by jumping on him.

New Friend 1

After our encounters with the cranky terrier, I changed the walking route Toby and I take each day so that we could avoid trouble.  Turns out, trouble has it in for us anyway.

Toby and I were nearly home after a beautiful early evening walk.  Our path took us through the parking lot of one of the local churches.  Normally church lots are empty on Thursday evenings, but this day some guy decided to use the lot as his own personal off-leash dog park.  His pack of spotted monsters took one look at little Toby and flew over to growl at him and bite at him and even flipped him over.  Poor Toby had no idea what to do.  He was spinning around like crazy to make sure none of the monsters could attack him from behind.

Eventually the irresponsible human came over to try to bring back his dogs.  None of them responded to his voice commands, and he resorted to yelling, hitting and kicking them.  At least one of the dogs turned and bit him.  After all that, he didn’t even utter an “I’m sorry” to us.

It is amazing how stunned you can be in a situation like that.  I don’t know if I had had Dog-B-Gone spray on hand if I would have had the presence of mind to use it.  I got Toby out of there as quickly as possible, not even thinking of getting the guy’s license plate until it we were already home.

The next day, I ran into a neighbor and told her about the attack.  Her yard abuts a different church’s property, and she said that two days before she had found a guy running his dog off leash.  She yelled at him that he had better put a leash on his pet.  From her description, I think it was the same guy that I ran into the next day.

I am so irritated by these idiots.  If you want to run your dog off leash, there is a dog park one community away.  Just take them there.  Of course, if this guy’s brood is as unfriendly to others as they were to Toby, he should keep them at home on a leash.  Maybe train them a little so that they come when called.

A few years ago I remember seeing a bra advertised that would sense if  person’s heart rate were elevated suddenly.  If so, it would notify the police.  I wonder if they have something like that in dog collars?

Black and tan brocade dog collar.

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Come to a happy place where dog attacks never occur, and all pups have a great time.  Come to the MOTI (Museum of the Imagination) in Dream Our World!  In it, the boys view the world of art from a canine perspective with a dash of humor and a lot of fun.

Cover of the book Dream Our World

Dream Our World is available from Amazon.

 

 

 

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Mommy Is Not As Important As She Thought She Was

Tree growing although it has been knocked over.

Cross section of cut trunk.

Toby says:

Today I took Mom for a walk through the park at the end of the street, but this time we approached from the opposite direction.  From this angle, Mom could see that her selfless efforts were not the driving force that shamed the township into removing the fallen tree from the park.  No, from the top of the hill you could tell that the gas company was simply clearing the area above the buried pipeline, and the tree had been in the way.  Ha!  Boy did I have a good time laughing at her perceived self-importance.

At the same time, they were doing something to the ink vine berry weed that grows rampant along the edge of the woods.  We couldn’t tell if it had been cut or sprayed or both, but there was much less of it.  Mom has mixed emotions about that.  The weeds help to keep the hillside from washing down to the road below.  On the other hand, she is allergic to the stuff, and her face swells if she touches it.  Take that, ink vine berry weed!

In the Spring, Mom had hoped to set free in the woods a little oak tree that had sprouted in the garden (as you may remember from The Airborne Oak ).  There are now two maple saplings growing happily in the garden despite being nearly devoured by bunnies.  Mom had hoped to set them free in the woods, but with all of this recent work, it doesn’t look like that would be a safe place for them either.  It would be nice if there were a quiet area for them to grow up.  They could help mitigate some of the rain forest losses from earlier this year.

Could anyone use two baby maples?  Seriously, if you pee on them now, by the time they grow up, yours will be the highest pee in the neighborhood!

Photo of dog's chin.

Just check out how high my pee could be!

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Cover of the book Dream Our World

Catch up on Geordie and Toby’s latest adventure in Dream Our World.  In it, they view the world of art from a canine perspective while enjoying a day of unsupervised fun!

Dream Our World is available from Amazon.

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After Thursday Comes Pieday!

Aagh! Gladys!

Aaagh!  Gladys!

This turned out to be a wonderful year for pumpkin pie…not so much for pumpkins.  Mwahahaha!

Don't worry, Mom. I'll help.

Don’t worry, Mom.  I’ll help you!

(Toby loooves pumpkin.)

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Geordie Update:

Sleepy Cairn terrier after finishing his meal.

My left side looks a little funny because I have to use corn oil based eye drops, and it gets on my fur.

Geordie surprised us all again this week.  He was in such bad shape a few days ago that I thought I might have to make the type of decision for him that I didn’t want to.  It was obvious that he was sick and in pain.  Grandpa decided to get him some CBD oil to try just to see if it might help.

I gave Geordie only a quarter dose at first to make sure he didn’t have a reaction to it.  Not only didn’t he have a reaction, he demanded more oil right away.  Then he demanded food.  Then he demanded to go outside.  Then he demanded a chance to sun himself.  Wow.  Any time Geordie is bossing me around is a good day!

The woman who sold the oil said that the effects are cumulative and not to expect much right away.  This is either the second or third day that he has been taking it, and already he is demanding to go on walks.  Amazing!

Next week, I am heading out looking for some CBD oil of my own.

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Join Bitey and Toby on their latest adventure.  In Dream Our World, the boys explore the world of art from a canine perspective all while enjoying a day of unsupervised fun!

Cover of the book Dream Our World

Dream Our World is available from Amazon.

 

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The Supine Not-Pine and a Canine

Today Toby and I went to the woods to spread some acorns we had collected.

Hand holding acorns

Remember this guy?

Tree growing although it has been knocked over.

Look!  It seems we have finally shamed someone into doing something!

Sideways tree is gone, and only tall grass remains

The removal must have been within the past week because no one had cut the tall grass that had grown around the trunk.

Tall grass where tree trunk had blocked mowers.

Initially I thought someone had pushed the trunk into the woods like I had, but it had been hauled away.

Cross section of cut trunk.

I would have liked to have taken a picture of the part of the tree that remains in the woods to show how huge this fellow had been, but I am allergic to all of the plants that grew up around it.  Maybe later when they die back I can return.

As you can see, Toby was his typically cooperative self.

Picture of dog's shoulder.

Photo of dog's chin.

Poorly framed photo of Cairn terrier.

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Geordie didn’t go with us today.  My little guy hasn’t been feeling all that well.  I can see that the heat and humidity are getting to him, as is his arthritis.  I am hoping that the cooler weather will help him to feel better, but I suspect his time with us is short.  It has already been two years since his cancer diagnosis.  He has exceeded everyone’s expectations, but I can see that he is tired.

Elderly, sleeping Cairn terrier.

Although it hurts thinking of my Geordie leaving, I find myself hoping that another pup will come along to play with Toby and me and brighten our days.  Some say that once a pup crosses the Rainbow Bridge, he or she finds the perfect new companion for the earthly family.  No one can replace you, Geordie, but if you meet someone who would have fun with us, please send them our way!

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Come join virtual Bitey Dog and Toby in their latest adventure Dream Our World.  In it, the boys visit the museum of their dreams.  They view the world of art through a canine perspective and enjoy a day of unsupervised fun!

Cover of the book Dream Our World

 

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Toby’s Prize

Sweet potato that Toby dug up in the garden

Toby had a special something

TOday that he found.

It was an orange tuber that was

Hiding in the ground.

He dug it up with his own paws

From its dark hiding place.

He showed it off to me and Mom

A huge grin on his face!

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I wish I had the camera ready when Toby found this giant sweet potato (It was 9″-10″ long.)  .  I don’t think I have ever seen such a big smile on his puppy face.  This just reinforced to him that digging in the garden is great fun.

I am tempted to hide a few potatoes in the dirt and set him loose to find them.  If all goes well, the tilling should get done with very little effort on my part.

Psychedelic Pup

Hippie Toby says:  I really dig gardening.

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Come see what Bitey and Toby have been up to!  In Dream Our World, the boys view the world of art from a canine perspective and enjoy a day of unsupervised fun.

Cover of the book Dream Our World

If you are wondering about Toby’s commentary on the Pollack picture, like most kids, he doesn’t appreciate abstract art.  He is saying, “Heck, I could do that!”

 

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Toby Was Attacked

New puppy greets Geordie by jumping on him.

I am feeling lazy today, so I  borrowed a picture from Geordie’s past to help illustrate Toby’s day.

My little Toby is a rather timid guy who has a deep and abiding affection for his girlfriend.  Between her house and ours is a little terrier girl who has it in for Toby.  Over the weeks, her behavior has escalated.  At first she would just howl at him.  Later she crossed the street to head-butt him and do some growling.  Today she spotted us half a block away and chased after us before we could walk away.  Her teen human chased after her, but this little pup is a terrier and won’t come when called.  Ms. Crabby Puppy not only head-butted Toby and growled but bit him hard enough to make him yelp.  No blood was drawn, but come on.  This should not be happening.

Since Toby wasn’t hurt, I didn’t look into filing a report.  Also, I didn’t have any third party witnesses to back up my claims.  To Toby’s great dismay, we won’t be walking down that street any longer.  This doesn’t guarantee us safety from the little dog, though.  She was the one I walked home on the day of The Great Roundup, so she has been known to roam the neighborhood.

I guess Toby is going to have to make the ultimate sacrifice and find a girlfriend who lives on a different street.

Sad Cairn terrier looks out of door.

No one in the history of the world has ever been as sad as I am.

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To see Toby during happier, more carefree days, pick up a copy of Dream Our World.  Dream Our World has been doing some exciting things lately, and I look forward to blogging about them soon.

Cover of the book Dream Our World

Come read Dream Our World where art is viewed from a canine perspective, and Toby and Geordie enjoy a day of unsupervised fun!

 

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Look Out Blue Puppy…

…there is a new toy in town!Mumy Loofah dog poses for mug shot.

Sude view of Loofah dog posing for mug shot

Side view of mummy Loofah dog toy

Mummy Mug Shots

On impulse I brought home this mummy Loofah dog for Toby.  I realized that poor guy has never had one of his own, although he had several hand-me-downs from Geordie.

Toby went crazy for the toy!  He has been playing with it non-stop.  He loves hitting Geordie with the it and asking me to throw his toy.  He carries Loofah Dog out to potty with him, and they sleep together in Toby’s kennel.

I am not sure if Blue Puppy is jealous or if he is happy for the reprieve.  So far he hasn’t barked a word.

100_5352 - Copy (2)

Aaaah….

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Come one!  Come all!  You are invited on a journey of the imagination with my pups as they visit the museum of their dreams in Dream Our World.

Cover of the book Dream Our World

Inside, the boys view major works of art through a canine perspective all while enjoying a day of unsupervised fun.

 

 

 

 

 

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If Things Are So Great, Why Do They Suck So Bad?

I don’t understand how we can have the best economy this country has ever seen yet have retail choices that are worse than during the Depression.  Over and over, lately, I have tried to make ordinary, everyday purchases only to find that you can no longer get the basic essentials.

Last Summer I discovered that decent underwear for mature ladies is as hard to find as hens’ teeth.  Seriously, are we the segment of the population you most want to see going commando?

Leather shoes?  Forget about it!  Around here, Walmart has chased out all of the competition so there are no longer shoe stores or department stores with  shoe departments.  All we can “choose” is which style of podiatric-problem-inducing pieces of crap from Wally World we want to waste our money on.  Since I refuse to buy plastic shoes, I have been learning to preserve the already 25-30 year old leather shoes I have.  Looks like they are going to have to serve me for a long time to come.

Today’s rant was inspired by the discovery that you can no longer buy simple, white cotton socks.  Seriously? They ruined socks?   I went to the store to pick up the style that I have been wearing for years only to find that they don’t make them anymore.  Instead, nearly every style of sock has been replaced with thin, polyester, no-show, garishly-colored pieces of recycled garbage.  To cover my bases, I searched for what I want online, and my heart broke to read posts from people whose skin is bothered by synthetics and have nothing to wear.

I wish the world would realize that people are not one-size-fits all.  We need choices in fibers.  We need choices in sizes.  We need choices in lighting styles since some suffer serious migraines from particular types of bulbs.  For some, veggie burgers are a healthy dream come true, but to those with plant-based allergies, they are a suffocating death.  Come on America, you can do better.

Oh my gosh, aren't you don't complaining yet?!?

Oh please.  Aren’t you done complaining yet? 

Like your life is so hard.  Look at mine; all dressed up and no one to play with.

(Please ignore the grammar.  I choose to vent in the vernacular.)

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For a good, old-fashioned reading experience, pick up a paper copy of Dream Our World.  In it, Geordie and Toby visit the museum of their dreams.

Cover of the book Dream Our World

Dream Our World is an adventure where the world of art is interpreted through the eyes of my pups.

 

 

 

 

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