Molly's New Playmate and Morning Musings

Early Camera Critters too?


13 photographs
of three doggies having fun
early this morning

unplanned 'play-date' with
a new fur-friend & Layla ...
makes Molly happy

Meet 'Tripper'
the Catahoula Leopard Dog-Coon Hound Mix

Click mosaic to embiggen to see better
... for others participating in Thursday Thirteen
and Camera Critters too ;--)
See also Farewell Playdate at Happily Retired Gal

Morning Musings ...

Morning Musings ...

Click to embiggen if you wish to
read the text of my Morning Musings ...

Thought for Today
"All children are artists. The problem is how to remain an artist once he grows up." Pablo Picasso

(Almost WW) Sharing ... Just For Fun!

I couldn't resist passing this along ... just because (with thanks to Schmutzie's Milkmoney for the link). It's really worth checking out, especially if you need a laugh!

Don't you just love this pooch?
See another entertaining video clip.
Click for others participating in Wordless Wednesday today.

Thought for Today
"The dog was created specially for children. He is the god of frolic." Henry Ward Beecher

One Single Impression #15 - One-of-a-kind

The prompt for Week 15 is Pets

second of the five
canine friends who've shared my life ...
one-of-a-kind pooch

~ ~ ~

Remembering Charly
(1972-1988)

I have no digital photos of Charly,
but this image is similar to how I remember him.

Charly's an old dog
who has shared our lives
for sixteen years.

With royal features
and princely bearing, this tri-colored beagle
consistently captured the hearts
of adults and children alike
though he didn't usually return the compliment.

Headstrong
impulsive
standoffish
independent
opinionated
and occasionally downright grumpy --
Charly was one-of-a-kind.

As a baby-dog
he weathered frequent misadventures --
suffering a thorn in his paw while camping at Oak Grove,
leaping from the window of the VW Bus at Bass Lake
landing heavily on the hard-packed dirt in a state of confusion
right in front of the Ranger,
getting stuck on the far side of the stream at White Wolf in Yosemite
and having to be rescued by Ralph, the wonder dog.

He loved his big brother Ralph
wanting to be with him more than with us
and maybe now he'll get what we wants.

Weak
Charly doesn't eat
sleeps almost constantly
seems confused and disoriented when he's awake
-- as if he isn't quite all there any more ...
and so
we're compelled once again
to break our hearts
doing what's 'right'

I wonder if he will miss us?

by storyteller
December, 1988

Click for other's participating in OSI this week.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Thought for Today
"Dogs' lives are too short. Their only fault, really." Agnes Sligh Turnbull

Day 1 Molly as Teacher (My Sacred Life continued)

The two of us have been house-bound for the past three days due to the smoke and debris from the multiple fires burning all over Southern California. I'm hoping the Santa Ana winds will stop so that the cooler on-shore breezes can reestablish themselves and provide some relief for the fire-fighters and everyone else in the area.

In the meantime, I'm trying to remain calm and do my "homework" for an online class ... taking occasional breaks to play "indoor games" of "fetch" and "tug-of-war" with Molly who, in her doggy-like way, has obliterated several tennis balls while she takes a break from chewing on assorted Nylabones as I do my work. As usual, she reminds me to stay present with what is ... enjoy life's simple pleasures until things return to "normal" and we can play outside again safely.

Earlier today I sent email to my "study-buddy" encouraging her (among other things) to lighten up and be kind to herself. I found myself laughing aloud when she sent a short reply saying, "I think I love you." Sometimes all it takes is a gentle reminder to be as kind to ourselves as we are to others.

Although I usually don't watch much TV, I've found myself unable to turn off the fire coverage the past few days ... and I continue to pray for those affected by the fires while holding positive thoughts that the weather will shift soon and the infernos will be brought under control as quickly as possible ... counting my blessings while practicing gratitude and compassion for all.

"I'm not a teacher: only a fellow-traveler of whom you asked the way.
I pointed ahead -- ahead of myself as well as you." George Bernard Shaw

Day 1 Molly as Teacher (My Sacred Life)

"Let the world know you as you are, not as you think you should be, because sooner or later, if you are posing, you will forget the pose, and then where are you?" Fanny Brice

Inspired by Carla's example & open invitation to participate in our own ways, I promised to begin a Sacred Life exploration once I managed to set up a blog of my own. It's time, but the only way I could figure out to keep "My Sacred Life" posts together and separated from my other posts was to create a second Blog. Oh my gosh ... what am I thinking? There's so much I don't know!

One of Natalie Goldberg's "seven writing rules" is "Don't Think" ... so I won't let that stop me now. I shall keep my fingers moving and see what emerges.

The baby dog running in the rain is Molly, my "Yellow" Labrador Retriever who is almost completely white in color ... except for a little color on the tips of her ears, the back of her hind legs, and the tip of her tail. This picture was taken in April of 2005 shortly after she came to live with me. Those fourteen pounds of love and energy have expanded to fifty-five or so, but considering she could have grown to twice that size, I won't complain ... even when she wants to climb in my lap and sleep on my tummy.

Sigh -- since I can't figure out how to insert a picture here ... I'm going to put it in a separate post and call it Day One (continued).

"What we have to learn to do, we learn by doing." Aristotle