For Tibeau

I like to be a leader but sometimes I am a follower. Can you guess what I am following? A huge persian cat? A giant fluffy rabbit? A walking shag rug?

No to all of those. This amazing creature is a dog, like me. But not JUST like me. This is a sheltie and her name is Tasha, and even though neither of us remembers it very often, we are good friends. She can do tricks and she obeys better than I do. One of the really great things about Tasha was her dog brother, the most wonderful sheltie you can imagine. And what I have to say is almost unimaginable.

I don't know how it happened but he got very sick. And suddenly he is gone from our dog world. Only two days ago I was at the dog park with him, and while I bounced around and harassed other dogs and barked my loudest, Tibeau, for that was his name, walked in his stately manner and greeted dogs, and lovingly watched his Person. I admit I can be a bit of a rube but Tibeau never was anything but a gentleman. He had a quiet husky voice and a sweet expression. He was the kind of dog that gives dogs a good name.

All I can say is I am glad I knew him. And I will always remember him. And no other dog will ever be like quite him ever again.

Nature's Solace

My human Grandmother says that nature is the best solace. I agree with her and like to think I am a little closer to nature than the People I associate with. I will give them credit for trying to be close to nature but it is hard for them. They VIEW nature more than they ARE nature.

I spent a lovely evening with my Person whilst she attempted a nature bond. She likes to paint out of doors, something called plein air, and while she's doing that she quits thinking about nature so much and just watches it and slowly she perhaps becomes more a part of it, or at least less a thinker about it. She doesn't achieve my natural state but she quiets down a bit inside. For a short while.

Meanwhile, I observe and sniff and keen at the occasional deer and pounce and wait silently as the situation dictates, I yawn and scratch and paw and wander, never once thinking about anything! It is great being a dog.

If I could give my Person a gift, not one of my chewy bones of course, nor my squirrely squirrel toy, it would be a the gift of being a little more doggy and less Persony.

Triangulating

Long hours of rain have slowed down my action-packed life. I was reduced to helping my Person stretch canvas on wooden frames for her to make paintings on. It was my job to use this triangle to make sure the corners were all nice and square. I made sure I got some shut eye instead.

I like to think of myself of a paws-on dog, but I don't think precision work is my forté. I like digging holes as fast as I can, bouncing when I run, falling on Ollie from the top of the bed and knocking grocery bags over. I like burrowing under blankets, stealing other dog's toys and making Great Escapes through the fence. I do not like making sure corners are square.

But if the rain doesn't stop I might be stuck in the studio, playing unwilling apprentice. It might be all worthwhile if my Person would let me paint a painting or two. And she might learn a few useful tips from me if she does. If you notice her paintings start to improve check out the signature on them and see if maybe it is "Finnegan."

Wild side

You know me. I am a rustic and hardy type. I climb rocks and trails and run down slopes and jump in lakes. I even have been canoeing, though my Person insisted I not jump out and try walking on walking lily pads.

But I think my wildness got the better of me. I was trotting along, sniffing for scent marks and admiring the leaves for beginning their annual Finnefication (they are starting to turn a nice orangey red) and being thankful my own Finnefication does not require dropping to the ground and being covered by snow half the year (I just shed a little fur instead), when suddenly I smelled a wee smell and heard a wee sound and I Pounced!

I landed right on top of a chubby gray mole and knocked him out and made his elbow bleed. My Person grabbed my leash and dragged me off before I could lend further assistance to the mole by carrying him in my nice warm mouth for awhile.

At least I didn't hunt him down in an airplane and field dress him and brag about it. I was just being a dog and sometimes dogs are a little on the wild side.

Getting along

I am reminiscing about being on the North Shore and so here is a picture of me on the rocks along the harbor. You will notice the tiresome little Plastic dog that my Person is so fond of is along with me.

This reminds me that often we just have to put up with things. Even on vacation! I'd have left that little guy home to monitor Adric the Cat but instead he came along too, riding in my Person's backpack and posing for snapshots.

Since we got back my human family has been putting up with some conditions they aren't happy with and the complications are beyond my comprehension so I try to look cheerful and calm things with my winning ways. It occurs to me that the Plastic dog does this as well. And my Person seems to appreciate him for this so I guess it behooves me to remember this.

So I am going to just be calm and amiable and do what the Plastic dog does: make the people around me smile.