Scotties continued.....

There were several incidents with Kendall (see last post).

She was the only dog that was sprayed by a skunk!

It was just as SHE was heading out to school.

SHE quickly undressed and washed Kendall in the shower with tomato sauce--having read that that works.

Kendall smelled like a skunk-sprayed pizza!

The first child to enter HER classroom that morning,

said the room smelled like a skunk.  He sniffed all around the room and stated, 'It seems to be coming from you!'

Kendall also jumped out of the car at the beach on Cape Cod and disappeared into a wooded area with HER in hot pursuit.

SHE came to a small house with a woman at the door.

SHE asked if she'd seen a small black dog.  The woman

said, 'Oh yes, she ran in here.  Come in and look!'

Kendall was curled up IN BED with a strange man and would not come.  SHE finally had to peel her off the man's thigh while apologising profusely.

*    *   *    *     *

After a couple of years in Australia, SHE got the 'call of the scottie' again.

SHE travelled across Sydney to a breeder who brought out a basket of sleeping puppies.  (There were several other people there.)

One puppy jumped out of the basket, came over and

pulled HER jeans leg.

Kelly had chosen HER.

Kelly was named after a little student...7 year old-- who brought back a stencil and said she didn't feel like doing maths that day.

When asked what she'd rather do, she said 'Read'.  So SHE said,

Okay, but this is not going to happen again.  And it never did.

 Kelly was a wonderful companion.  She went to parties or just visited or on holidays.  Every night she had to run through the house, dinner bowl in mouth, growling, and throwing it around before she brought it back to be filled.

But that old feeling came back--enter Bruis. (character out of a book.)  He was a sweet boy.  SHE never even thought he was old enough to be a father.....until Kelly had seven puppies!

SHE used to play Badminton on Tuesday nights, and the

dogs stayed home.  One night, SHE came home early and there were no dogs!  SHE was living in a townhouse, and sprung the neighbours, there was a loose board in the fence and every Tuesday night they invited the dogs over for the evening.  It was how SHE met the neighbours.

Can't believe we lived with that carpet. (Bruis)

He eventually developed a skin problem.  SHE thinks now it may have been demodectic mange.  At that time there wasn't a way to cure it, so he was very itchy.  He died from an unrelated accident at about 4--SHE still feels guilty about that.

Kelly died too early, as well.  SHE thinks she was kicked by a horse.

Whatever it was, Kelly died on the operating table.

But the memories are still fresh.

A History of Scotties Part 1

Actually it is a history of HER scotties.

These stories precede digital cameras, so no photos.

SHE has always loved scotties.  HER first was a male puppy

bought after landing the first permanent job..a clerk-typist for the General Accounting Office.

Unfortunately, SHE was living in a No Pet efficiency apartment,

so he didn't last long. 

(He was adopted by friends--a young family who adored him.)

After college, with a permanent teaching job, SHE visited one of those puppy pet shops (wasn't aware of puppy mills at the time) and was looking at a young, male scottie puppy.

The sales woman, kept drawing HER attention to an older female puppy and suggested SHE play with her for awhile.  You can guess what happened next.  SHE said SHE'd take her.  The sales woman burst into tears and went racing to the front of the shop yelling, "Scotty has a home!"

This puppy had been brought in with several and was just the one left.  The sales woman said she would have taken her, but they had seven dogs and her husband said no more.

While buying all the things a puppy would need, the woman brought a chewed up toy, tearfully,saying...

'it's not much, but it's hers.'

The whole staff came out as pup and gear were loaded in the car, waving goodbye!

Kendall was a lovely dog, and when SHE came to Australia, Kendall joined  the family home...

(as young adults tend to hand over responsibility to their mothers.)

Kendall eventually went to live with an aunt and uncle, in their 80s, who loved her so much, they put their mattress  on the floor, so Kendall could get on and off easily!

Digging...

Some dogs have been digging up the grass.

 Even up-turned garden furniture didn't deter the digging.

 River sand was used to fill up the holes.

But some dogs think river sand it fantastic to dig in.....

sigh....

ANZAC Day

Today, Australia and New Zealand celebrated ANZAC Day.

(Australia and New Zealand Army Corps.)

It's a day to remember the original ANZACs who  fought in Gallipoli during WWI.

Though it was a disaster, it was the first time

they fought as a country.

Until then, they joined the campaigns of the British Empire,

as separate self-governing colonies--

not becoming a country until 1901.

So it has become not only a day to remember those who gave their lives, and those who have served in conflicts since:
but combined with what it means to be Australian. 

It is observed with services in all the major cities,

and the smallest villages,

the shores of Gallipoli, (Turkey)

Villers-Bretonneaux (France)

and the Research Stations in Antarctica.
Wherever people are currently serving in the world.

There are dawn services, parades, parties, and

the returned soldiers meet for drinks, and

a game of two-up.

Others have barbecues.
And evening services.

We went to the river, and then home.

It was a very rainy day and we were impressed

with all the who braved the wet for the ceremonies.

We just watched it on television. and SHE made traditional ANZAC biscuits (cookies)

for morning tea.
(We even got a taste.)

New Boy....

The new puppy was coming to the river this morning.

We'd been hearing about him for weeks, he was taken from his dog family at 5 weeks...

(SHE's shuddering)

...we had to wait for all his needles to take effect, before he could be introduced to us.

I, Roxy, woke up with a Very Sore Paw.

Here's evidence, though it was taken later in the day.

I wasn't allowed to go.

SHE says it was from chasing Coco like a maniac  the day before.

Bella stayed home with me, because she just likes to

stand in the river and get wet and muddy.

Only Dui went  and he's more of a maniac than I am!

Well, here he is.

 His name is Tiger.  He is Pi's new brother.

 He's a Kelpie-Koolie cross.
(Both being sheep dogs.)

Dui may have been allowed to go, but he
became too excited.

And had to go on the dreaded chain for awhile.

Unfortunately, My wonky foot is still sore and I'm still limping, so it may be another week

before Bella and I get to meet him.

Hope your weekend is better than mine....sigh.

Flowers for Dory...

Today we join in Flowers on Friday in memory of Dory.

It's Autumn here now, so we weren't expecting to find any in our little garden.

BUT

We were surprised!

Our bottlebrushes are starting to bloom.

And the Oleander bush.

(Yes, we have Oleanders and no, no dog has ever tried to eat one.)

Our roses are blooming.

And this weed! 

Our yellow bottlebrush, too.

And other plants have new growth.

We hope we gave Dory's family a smile.

Just nice photos...

The temps are cooler now in the morning.

The birds always it in the treetops

waiting for the first warming rays of the sun.

 Last week, they had the moon for company.

Happy Weekend....

Hope everyone is enjoying a great weekend and Easter.

We had a visit from the Easter Bilby.

The bilby is a little marsupial, whose food has been eaten nearly out of existence by rabbits.  We always get Chocolate Bilbies,

to help them.

We also got rice and vegemite filled plastic eggs,

and a Hot cross bun.

SHE  buys Kids' Hot Cross Buns for us because the have no

dried fruit in them.

We also opened TWO packages!

The first was from Lee and Sweet William.

 Lots of tasty things for HER!

Next came the package from ERNIE

and Frankie.

SQUEAKY toys, and Greenies and Chik'n Treats!

We had a Greenie each and I, Roxy, desqueaked

the orange dog....

Thank you, Ernie,

I love you.

 Then we went to the river for two hours to play with our friends.

When we got home we each got half a pig's foot (before baths.)

Stop waving that trotter around to show off your new socks Sweet William sent and give it to us!

We had another big walk in the afternoon, so SHE could walk off all those Peeps and chocolate.

Thanks for all the fantastic things.

Hope you're enjoying a Great weekend, too.

Cold Mornings....

.....well....cooler mornings.

 And beautiful days.

Just the way we like it!

Have a Happy Weekend everyone! 

We'll be going to the river FOUR days this weekend. 

SHE'll just have to put up with wet dogs.

Guess who is......

EIGHT!

 That right, it's Bella!

Look at the fabulous card Madi sent....

 We went on two OUR walks today.

 (Our walks mean we can stop and sniff or run around.  HER walks mean we just walk,)

And cake for dinner.

It was a wonderful day.

Happy Birthday, Bella!  We love you!

(Now, stop the photos and carve up the cake!)

Recipe:  Grain-free Kangaroo wet food, cottage cheese, Liver cookies,

kibble 8, 'roo chew candles and parmesan sprinkles.

Answer

We had a few comments yesterday--okay, two comments--asking about the white, nutty-looking things in this photo.

 We're assuming they weren't referring to Roxy...BOL!

 They are the seed capsules  of Callistemons.

 Known locally as Bottlebrush trees.

You can see how they got that name.

As they are native drought-resistant plants, that come in many sizes and colours,  we have a variety in our garden.

They also attract birds--Honeyeaters.

(That we chase away.)

Below is one ready to flower, it will leave the woody

seed capsules behind.

Amazingly, the seeds can stay in the capsules for years. 

Some will open after a bushfire to reseed.

The tree that Roxy was behind is our Mystery Tree.  We planted a Banksia--and that grew instead!

Still here....

playing in the garden,

enjoying the cooler weather.

Bella

Dui

 lying in the sun...

 Going for mid-day walks,

Surveillance..

 and occasional RUNS at the Sportsground.

Hope you have a fantastic weekend.