Wordless Wednesday

Beat This Caption

Oscar developed a full-proof plan to get in the refrigerator and eat all the food. 

Monday Question

How are you with other dogs?  Shy or outgoing?  Defensive or willing to play?

Pocket:  We don't trust other dogs.  We bark a lot at them and for little dogs we are aggressive.  My parents do wish we were different. We like it this way.

Moose and the Big Three are the July 28 2019 Pups of the Week

On Saturday, the big three, Sidney, Buddy, and finally Moose were reunited at the Bridge.  

Sydney was the first to arrive, a victim of complications that developed after a series of seizures.  Buddy, who had battled IMHF for years, appeared last year. Finally, Moose's strong little heart gave out at the end of last week. 

There lives together were like a blissful summer day. Eight years ago, it was midday, and the joyful afternoon seemed endless.  The idea of these three pups no longer being on the mortal side was unimaginable. But age and disease came as the sun began to set. Now that night has fallen, they are gone. 

They did make sure their mom was not left alone. More than a year ago, they arranged for the irrepressible Toula to fill their mom's heart with love.  While the cute little dog has fulfilled that mission, no new pup can fully take away the heartache of a missing angel.

It was difficult for Moose to be the last leaf on the tree.  He missed his siblings terribly. It was his job to stay with his mom for as long as possible.  He had to beg, borrow, and steal heartbeats along the way and used his extra time to tutor Toula.  The Big Three had created the model for how dogs should interact with their parents. Moose couldn't succumb to illness without having made sure Toula had these methods down pat. 

All dogs, at some point, must pass the torch to a new generation.  A dog's time on Earth is a blink of an eye. Every pack makes their humans better and then relinquish their spot to a younger pup who will work on further improving their imperfect humans. The Big Three's glorious run as Momma Michelle's babies has concluded.   Now it is time for Toula, and whatever dog may follow to continue their work.

Moose was of two minds as he approached the Bridge. When he took his final mortal breath, and then seconds later emerged from the River of Life, his heart ached as he thought about how much he would miss his parents, family, and Toula. 

But he had also yearned for those long summer days when he could play, walk, and bark with his siblings, then sleep in the warm sun next to them. He had visited them in his dreams, but being with them on the immortal side would be for remarkable.   

Sydney was the first to see her brother. Dogs are supposed to wait at Hobo's Landing on top of the long stairway that rises above the Bridge.  But, dogs are emotional creatures and Sydney, and then Buddy, did as all many angels had done before them when seeing a loved one. They scurried down the steps, tackled their beloved siblings, and gave 1,000 kisses. 

I waited for their reunion to end with the hundreds of angels the trio had befriended during their mortal lives.  We did not rush them. Literally, we could have waited for an eternity. 

Finally, the Big Three climbed the stairs. I administered the angel oath, and we all gave Moose a big cheer, then we had a welcome banquet in his honor. The siblings smiled through all the courses. 

That night, and every night since the Big Three have gone into their mom's dreams and played with all their energy hoping they will make so much noise their mom will remember their visit. During the day they are either playing together, running together, chewing on bines together, or sleeping together. They are never apart.


Because they know that is the way their mom wants them to be.  Together.  

Foley Finally Visits Her Gardens as a Butterfly

Finally, I was able to return to the mortal realm in the guise of a butterfly. This year it took forever for the cocoons to open and the 2019 line of butterfly bodies to be released. The cold spring and reluctant summer delayed production, causing me to use other bodies to inspect my parents' gardens. 

The standard body type is a white moth. It comes with no accessories.  There isn't even a tape player. It handles fine but has no pickup. It is to the butterfly as a Ford Focus is to a Lexus. It gets boring fast.

 The man at the insect lot tried to put me in a 2003 honey bee.  I hated that thing. Besides the constant buzzing, there was the overpowering need to pollinate. I passed. 

I did get to test drive a dragonfly.  Those things are awesome. You can get around in one of them in nothing flat.  The rapidly fluttering wings keep it from getting overheated. My only disappointment was that it didn't breathe fire.  I was right over Pocket ready to give her a scorching when all of produced was a stinky polling burp. 

 I was relieved when I finally was able to use a butterfly body.   I walked through the showroom, searching for the perfect model. I settled on a lighter unit with black wings speckled with yellow spots. I took it for a test fly.  It was perfect. 

I flew into the sun and came out at my parent's house.  I landed on the rose bush which after a two-year hibernation and replanting were finally in bloom.  This came from a branch off of Daddy's grandfather's rosebush and is called the 100 year bush, but not loudly, because there are a lot of senior citizens living around my parents and we wouldn’t want some lady to think we were talking about her.

The next stop was my garden.  It has been problematic this year.  It doesn’t get a lot of sun because it is close to the house and has a pine tree on the eastern edge. Except for the tulips, nothing is blooming.  The black eye susan has taken over the garden. I ordered them to be thinned out, and some of them replanted on the southern side of the house. I am sure in a year the garden will be thriving, but I am impatient. 

When I went to the Bridge, the side garden was just a thin three-foot strip.  Now it is six inches wide and is the length of the thirty-foot driveway. It has a blooming hydrangea, two butterfly bushes, nectar, and several colorful flowers.  It was more beautiful than in my garden. The only thing three appealings was my angel. I decided change had to be made.  

I picked up the angel with my little butterfly feet, beat my wings harder than a butterfly wing has ever been beaten, lifted the angel, and flew from my garden to the side garden.  I planted my angel in the side garden like Neil Armstrong putting the American Flag on the moon. I claimed this garden in the name of Foley Monster One small flight for a butterfly, one great big garden for Foley Monster
.  
After I had claimed the superior garden in my name, I spent the rest of the day in it, burying myself in the butterfly bush’s purple flowers, and playing tag with the hummingbirds.  Summer is short in these parts, and the life of a butterfly model is even shorter.

So excuse me, it is summertime, and I must gather my rosebuds while I can.

Pocket's Work Out Regime

It may be hard to believe for the social media veterans who remember me as Foley's little sister who she would not allow online until I was totally housebroken (luckily Foley relented, or I would still not be online), but I am going to be 12 in six weeks.  I have acknowledged my advanced age, and I have acted accordingly. That is why I have started a rigorous exercise program that I am happy to share it with you. 

Here are my best routines:

The bark:  This is a great exercise because you can do it literally anywhere and for no reason.  Barking gets the blood flowing, it is good for lung capacity, and it is a stress reliever.  The next time you bark, and you are told to be quiet, tell them that you are exercising. They will respect that. 
The red ball:  Every morning before breakfast, Daddy plays indoor fetch with me throwing the red ball from the living room to the kitchen. I bark while I chase it, so I get all the benefits of barking practice while strengthening my legs and jaw.  

The full-body shake:   I like to do this exercise when it is thundering, or there are fireworks. I start shaking at my ears and keep going to the tip of my tail.  The key is to have your whole body moving simultaneously. This is good for the heart and the spine, which must stay stiff and aligned, or you will shake too much and crumble.  

The snuggle:  Align your back and strengthen your core, lay with your back straight in a comfortable chair or couch with your spine against your parent's leg.  Stretch your entire body and yawn. Continue until supper time.  

The Stormy Daniels:  Get on your back and spread your legs as wide as they will go.  Tip your head back until your jaw is pointed at the ceiling. This will help loosen up joints.  Hold until someone gives you a belly rub. If they don’t, it is acceptable to moan until someone does.  This is great for your mobility, and a belly rub always provides comfort.  

The eat and jump:  When you are eating,  scare yourself by biting hard into kibble and making it snap.  When that happens, you should jump in the air like you were startled. When you realize the sound came from your mouth resume eating.  This will help keep your legs toned, sharpen your reflexes, slow your eating, and improve your digestion. Some call this the “Pocket Leap.”  

The big lick:   Put your tongue on a human. Press it into their skin and pull your tongue out of your mouth as far as it will go.  Begin licking being sure to get full tongue extension with each lick. Suitable for the tongue, jaw, eating endurance, and flexibility. 

The lamb treats leap:  Stand on your two back legs.  Use your core to stabilize yourself. Wait until a treat is offered.  Jump straight up off your hind legs. Snatch the treat. Good for the leg muscles, core, mouth, and belly because treats are yummy. 

Sleep: This is my go-to exercise.  Lie down. Curl your back to provide it relief. Curl your knees for flexibility.   Hold the position for eight hours. Repeat as frequently as possible. 




If you follow this strict regime, you will shave years off your age, tone your body, and ease daily aches and pains.  Or are at least you will be well-rested.  

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