Hippity Hop

I saw a bunny! Yep, I saw a bunny and I didn't even give chase. Why? Well, I just think they are such cute critters. Ok, why didn't I give chase to a darling fluffy white cotton ball tailed bunny rabbit? I confess, I'm a funny dog if I haven't had my coffee first thing in the morning. I can't help it. It's my doggie curse. I contemplated taking off at lightning speed and watching the bunny make leaps and bounces over the irises and into the vegetable garden. But alas, I was enjoying my cup of coffee and decided to let the bunny continue nibbling on the lemon grass. Besides, I'm sure the bunny doesn't think I'm just having fun chasing. I think the bunny thinks I'm a predator (which I'm not--I'm more afraid of their long front teeth!).

So, this happened a couple of days ago. Then guess what happened yesterday? You guessed, didn't you? Yep, now there are two bunnies frolicking in the yard. My goodness, I'm going to be the talk around the doggie houses today. I'm harboring bunnies, lol.

It's just a hip, jump, and a hop before I'm putting out a dish of carrots and cabbage. Next thing you know I'll be naming the little guys.

Dear me, I better get some more coffee and see if they want some too.

Bark at you later,
PJ the dog blogging dog :-)

Let There Be Snow in Orange County

Snow in Orange County is rare. I believe the last time was sometime in the 40's. Yikes. But this past weekend we had snow on Saddleback and check out this shot of our view over the weekend.

The snowcapped San Gabriel Mountains were pristine white with cyan blue skies overhead. I wish I'd had my camera with a polar lens that day. I was also at The District and drove past people who had pulled over to take photos of the mountains. It was so pretty that people pulled over on the freeway!

I'm a snow loving doggie and boy there's nothing better than sledding and sipping hot peppermint tea afterwards.

Bark at you later,
PJ the dog blogging dog :-)

Why a Cold Nose Works Better

And that's why I use the "cold nose" technique. If all else fails, I'll admit it, I'll bark. Heck I've even been known to try the whimper-nudge-pounce-zip-away-really-fast technique too. :-P

Bark at you later,
Pj the dog blogging dog :-)

Overhead, The Sowl

I saw an owl last fall. The majestic winged creature glided over my head as I took a nightly stroll.

The first time occurred just as I'd found a persimmon that had dropped to the ground. The orange globe of juicy deliciousness beckoned me. I resisted the urge to eat this delightful morsel since I had tried a not-so-ripe one a few weeks previously. My lips puckered at the thought. Just then, a strange sound from overhead and behind. The sight of those expansive wings astounded me. I stared upward and tilted my head toward the stars. Gliding over my head in silence, I could only catch a glimpse before the creature disappeared behind a large oleander bush.

An owl. Oh yes, the mysterious owl. There is a pair that live quite close. Among us dogs, the owls are talked about in hushed tones. We honor and respect them.

And it happened this evening that M also caught a glimpse of the owl. The folklore of owls is amazing. They can be the messengers of good or evil. They can signify an event to come. But M likes to think of them as guardians of the soul.

The moment stuck with M and inspired another brooch.

I also like to think the owl is a guardian of the soul.
Perhaps that night, someone somewhere nearby needed protection.

Then again, hoo knows.

Bark at you later,
PJ the dog blogging dog :-)

Sometimes I Like to Tag Along

Sunday is often a day on which I can take the time to ponder. I can let my doggie mind drift.

Today, for instance, I realized something.

Sometimes I don't mind taking a back seat. I watch the oak leaves tumble across the grass. I see the Calico cat, from down the street, perched up under the eaves of a second story. My eyes catch the moist trail of a snail who has since found his or her way under the white powdery leaves of a dusty miller.

I get to see everything I might have missed otherwise. I become a witness to life and the beauty of the small things I often overlook.

Plus, after a long walk, I also get a handful of homemade peanut butter and cheese doggie biscuits. Crunch crunch.

Bark at you later,
PJ the dog blogging dog :-)

In Memory of Someone We Loved

Do not stand at my grave and weep;
I am not there. I do not sleep.
I am a thousand winds that blow.
I am the diamond glints on snow.
I am the sunlight on ripened grain.
I am the gentle autumn rain.
When you awaken in the morning's hush
I am the swift uplifting rush
Of quiet birds in circled flight.
I am the soft stars that shine at night.
Do not stand at my grave and cry;
I am not there. I did not die.

by Mary Elizabeth Frye (1904-2004)

Bark at you later,
PJ the dog blogging dog ;-(

Monday Madness

I'm rambling a bit today. The tabloids and politics are dominating the television and radio airwaves. It's all a dog can do before going paw crazy! So, I turned to some vintage ephemera to ease my doggie mind of modern day woes.

I've always been fascinated by visual tricks of the mind. For instance, have you seen the old lady silhouette in the profile of a young woman before? It's quite cool. There's also a black and white image of a face. First you stare at the face (religious figure) and then you stare at a white wall. The image appears on the white wall before your very eyes. A nifty trick that can really entertain a dog like me for hours.

Above is a nice example of a subtle, yet somewhat disturbing visual illusion. Can you imagine this as a Valentine's Day card? Well, ok, maybe Al Capone might have sent this little gem.

Me, I prefer the ever whimsical hand"paw"made doily and construction paper card. You can't go wrong with one of those babies. Plus, a little doggie lick is a great mobile "glue stick."

Bark at you later,
Pj the dog blogging dog :-)

Keepon is So Kool

This robot rocks! Keepon is the name of this darling robot who even responds to visual movement (stops and tips his/her head in such an odd and cute way).

Keepon was developed by by Hideki Kozima and programmed by Marek Michalowski. The irresistible Keepon is dancing to the infectious song "I Turn My Camera On" by the band Spoon.

Now I not only have the song stuck in my head, but when I took my walk around the 'hood, I bopped my doggie head to this tune. It's catchy!

Bark at you later,
PJ the dog blogging dog :-)

Cheeky

Guess what M did today?

No, she did not run through the yard until all four paws became encrusted with sticky mocha mud (But I did!).
She did not sit patiently on the kitchen floor as warm coffee brewed on the counter (But guess who did?).
And finally, M did not hang her head out of a car window and close her eyes as she sniffed the urban city after a fresh sprinkle of rain (But I did! I caught the smells of In & Out Cheeseburgers and pine logs burning in a fireplace).

Today M got cheeky. Not in a good way either. She bit her cheek while eating oatmeal this morning. Let's just say (gross alert) red oatmeal is yucky to see. Ick! She not only bled, but she sounded funny all day as she tried talking (swollen cheek). Luckily the inside of her cheek stopped bleeding and she didn't have to go to the hospital (how sad would that be...oatmeal hazard alert).

How's that for a weird Wednesday?

So, always remember, oatmeal can be dangerous if you haven't had your morning coffee first. Tsk tsk M.

Bark at you later,
PJ the dog blogging dog :-)

I Can't Speak Crow (Yet), But Maybe I Can Speak Riley!

Riley cracks me up! I'm not sure what's funnier, watching him or him laughing at himself. Lol.

Now I may have mentioned how much I love watching birds. Birds enthrall me. They can fly for goodness sakes! I'm a dog and sometimes I wish I could fly up in those fluffy mounds of cotton clouds. I wish I could soar, wings as wide as an oak branch, across the cyan skies on a windy day. Often I wonder how it feels to have the wind gust under my fur, err, feathers as I jet out across the Pacific and turn around over Catalina Island. To see an orange sherbert sunset from above as I cross the deep blue sea and maybe find myself watching the stars twinkle from above. Maybe I could touch the meteors as they flit past in August.

Oh, how I'd love to sing sweet melodies under a harvest moon. Well, I can howl, ok, and I guess that's almost the same. But still, there's something so beautiful about birds.

That's why hearing Riley talk is so special. Perhaps I can talk to an Eclectus Bird locally and ask him or her all the questions I've been eager to learn the answers to about birds. Like, do they really like unheated bird baths? Are they fond of fancy birdhouses? Oh, and what's with the dive bombing of dogs, eh? :-)

In the words of Riley, "Tickle Tickle Tickle."

Bark at you later,
PJ the dog blogging dog :-)

Nothing Says Sunday Like a Mourning Dove

Today I took my daily romp around the yard. As I took a little time to explore some roses under the fig tree, I happened to catch a glimpse above me of whipcream colored feathers beneath fanned out pinkish gray brown feathers. There, sitting all fluffed out about seven feet above my head, a dove peered down at me. She had been sitting above me the whole time. Her silent eyes darted back and forth at me suspiciously. I paused and tipped my head to her and she tipped her beak back. I left her and her makeshift nesting spot undisturbed on the curled bark of a decaying gray branch.

There's something quite special to hearing the coo coo of a dove as she carries on a conversation with the storm clouds rolling in from the North.

As I trotted back inside I heard a faint coo and a flutter of wings. Thinking I had spooked her, I glanced back at the fig tree. Still resting in the same spot, she now cuddled with her companion to stay warm.

Yes, nothing says Sunday like a Mourning Dove.

Bark at you later,
PJ the dog blogging dog :-)

Blogger Changes

I decided to give drafts.blogger a try. They have some nifty add-on's for blogger. So, we'll see how they work out. To my loyal three readers, I hope you enjoy the changes. :-)

I'm trying out: Google Search, YouTube Search, and the Daily Puppy. These were a snap to add. There are a ton of Google Gadgets to browse. You can choose to add a daily comic or the game Frogger. Way cool!

Bark at you later,
PJ the dog blogging dog :-)

The 27 Cries of a Crow

There are supposedly 27 different cries that a crow makes. The folklore surrounding a crow has always interested M. A few weeks ago she happened to see a lone crow sitting on a road sign. The crow kept making a loud caw caw. Over and over the coal black feathers ruffled around the neck and the beak opened again and again sending forth some mysterious message. The tail feathers appeared ragged and torn on the ends, as if this crow had suffered through many a scuffle.

This inspired M to create a series of brooches featuring the crow. I myself, am quite curious about the shiny black birds.

And just yesterday I saw a crow on the sidewalk. The little guy had found a leaf and kept poking at the dried papery thing with his long black beak. I gave a hello bark. Unfortunately, me barking at a crow only a few feet away made the guy quite skittish and he flew off before I could offer a warmer welcome.

Oh, if only I spoke crow.

Bark at you later,
PJ the dog blogging dog:-)

A Tribute to the Hero Dog STRYKER

Stryker is a hero. He was also a police dog for Oceanside. His life was taken in the line of duty. Our condolences to Officer Kedrick Sadler over the loss of his beloved K-9 partner.

We salute you Stryker. Thank-you for your dedication and service to the Oceanside community.

Bark at you later,
PJ the dog blogging dog

On the Second Day of 2008

So, have you been keeping busy? This year seems to be starting out as one busy year. We're looking forward to creating more artwork, expanding our imaginations, and enjoying life.

I hope you are having a wonderful beginning to 2008.

Today I'm going for a walk at Newport Beach. Mocha is coming along too. We love running on the cold wet sand. We're going to bop around Balboa a bit too. M is going to sketch The Pavillion again. She also wants to wish Matt a Happy New Year and see how his sculpture is coming along. He had a big mishap around Christmas and had to redo a whole section of the "oh-so-secret" sculpture. Apparently, glass and temperature changes do not mix well. And that my friends is why M doesn't work with glass. She's prone to be a bit klutzy. :-)

Be safe and have a great day ahead!

Bark at you later,
PJ the dog blogging dog :-)

Happy New Year 2008!

May your year be healthy, happy, and prosperous.

Bark at you later,
PJ the dog blogging dog :-)

The Last Day of 2007: 10 Easy New Year's Resolutions You Can Keep!

Happy New Year's Eve 2007! Can you believe it? Tomorrow will be 2008.

Have you made your resolution yet? Essentially a resolution is a pledge or promise to do or not do something.
Perhaps you've given up on making a New Year's Resolution because they always get broken. Well, I've got a few simple and easy resolutions which don't take much effort but do benefit your fellow human or animal.

Choose to do one or choose a few (maybe even more than a few!). These resolutions are guaranteed to be easy and then this coming year you can say, with a smile, that you kept your New Year's Resolution!

Call an elderly relative after the holidays are over. Let them know you care "just because."

Take 15 minutes to visit a local animal shelter and pet at least one dog or cat. They need TLC too.

Give your dog or cat a 5 minute belly rub. Not only do they love the attention, but you'll come away relaxed too.

Write a note to a friend who lives far away. It doesn't have to be long, just a short message they won't expect.

Smile at three people in one day. Someone having a bad day will really appreciate the random act of kindness.

Drop one penny on the ground somewhere. You've just given someone else a little "luck" for the year.

Plant a single flower in a pot or in your yard. A butterfly, bird, or snail will be thankful.

Buy a bag of birdseed and feed your backyard birds. You'll be amazed at the happy chirping sounds.

Donate a few blankets to the local animal shelter. The blankets will give some dogs and cats a warm bed at night.

You know those plastic holders for six packs of soda? Cut one up before throwing the plastic away. Make sure there are no loops. This insures that wild animals won't get trapped inside one.

I hope you try at least one of these ideas. If you do, please drop a line letting me know or add a comment.

Oh, and please have a safe and sane New Year's. Don't drink and drive. And please make sure your pets are safely inside during the night (since fireworks and party poppers scare dogs, cats, birds, and all animals).

Happy New Year!

Bark at you later,
PJ the dog blogging dog :-)

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas to all!

Bark at you later,
PJ the dog blogging dog :-)

"Santa's Dog", Merry Christmas Eve and Mars!

A Christmas Song

THE LYRICs:

On Christmas Eve the sleigh bells ring
Jingling through the fog
And the second reindeer on the right
Looks like Santa's dog

Now his dog was most adventurous
And dearly loved to roam,
But on one night each wintertime
They made him stay at home.

A wise owl in a Christmas tree
Thought it rather odd
That the second reindeer on the right
Looked like Santa's dog

Now, everyone who has a dog
Believes that they can't fly.
But Santa's dog is dogged
So perhaps he had a try.

An astronaut way up in space
Noted in his log
That the second reindeer on the right
Looked like Santa's dog

The poor thing has no antlers
He may be getting old
But Santa's dog has husky blood
To protect him from the cold

A lone policeman on patrol
On his weary homeward plod
Thought the second reindeer on the right
Was possibly Santa's dog.

Soon everyone was tucked up tight
Sleeping like a log
But the very first one to close his eyes
Was definitely Santa's dog.

© 2006 M Metcalfe

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I thought this was cute! Also, tonight you'll be able to see Mars next to the moon. Check it out, because it won't occur again until 2016!

Merry Christmas Eve all!

Bark at you later,
PJ the dog blogging dog :-)

Dogs Woof, Are You Listening?

Aren't those dogs just the cutest? I bet you didn't know we were talking to you when we woof and bark, did ya? :-)

Merry Christmas to all and to all a good woof!

Bark at you later,
PJ the dog blogging dog :-)