Category Archives: Dog related
I miss Dear Hubby’s cooking
Posted by doggonedmysteries
Today the dogs were in the kitchen sniffing around my feet while I was cooking a leg of lamb. They love the smell and always hope for a scrap or two in their dinner. They were so underfoot I had Dear Hubby call them out of the kitchen and sit with him. It made me think about some of the great meals he used to cook for us on occasion.
DH can’t stand long enough to cook things anymore. We even tried putting a stool next to the stove but with the way our kitchen is set up, it didn’t work well. The outdoor grill, which was where he excelled as a cook, is also no longer his domain.
He used to make the most wonderful omelets. Mine never seem to taste as yummy as his did. However, that could have something to do with food tasting better when you don’t have to cook it. When I managed the pet store, if he was on day shift he was always home before me so he would cook our dinners those nights. The man was not only an excellent cook but he was quite inventive.
Now when I speak of him ‘cooking dinner’ it means he’s ordering from one of the many places around us that deliver. The food doesn’t compare but it is nice that he occasionally does this to give me a break from cooking. There are those days when I’ve exhausted myself and I tell him, “You’re cooking tonight.” His response? “Chinese, cheese steaks, Italian food, hoagies, pizza, what are you hungry for?” Have to love the man!
Posted in Dog related, MS related, My blog
Tags: Author, Beads, Bones, books, Books on writing, Bull Terriers, Care giving, Caregiver, Coffee, comedy, Craft of writing, Crafts, Dead, Disability, Dog humor, Doggoned, Dogs, Family, Fiction, Home, Humor, Life, Love, MS, Multiple Sclerosis, Murder, Mysteries, Mystery, Novel writing, Pet humor, Pets, Rescue Dogs, Writer, Writing
EEWWW Slush!
Posted by doggonedmysteries
We had a lot of snow last night and then it rained on top of it. Today we had about four inches of slush. Imagine the looks on my dogs’ faces each time they went out and there was a change in what they were walking on.
In the wee hours of the morning, several inches of snow had fallen and more was coming down. They practically skipped out the door to play in the light fluffy snow. Walking was easy and the tiny light flakes tickled when they landed on the dogs.
Later Dear Hubby said the surface had a crust on it. They walked out on top of the hard snow and then their paws would pop through the stiff covering. Neither dog looked pleased with the changes. He said they weren’t eager to go out as often. Then it began to rain on top of it and they refused to go out in that stuff at all. Gavin stopped dead in the door and DH had to give him a push. He dashed out did his business and sprinted back in the house. He must have warned Patty because when DH went to take her out she dove into her crate forcing him to drag her out of it. At the back door, she did a handstand as he pushed on her butt to get her out. She too then did a mad dash out and a sprint back inside.
Around five I took Gavin out, when his front feet hit the sidewalk, and the several inches of slush covering it, he almost did an about face, but urgency over-ruled. However, the look I got when he came back in made me tell him, “I don’t make the weather.” Patty was so disgusted with the slush I think she would’ve permitted us to put doggie boots on her and she’s not the type of dog you dress up.
I can’t wait to see what looks we’ll get when they go out now. With the sun long gone and the temperature dipping, all that slush has turned into ice. Maybe they’d consent to doggie ice-skates or snowshoes.
Posted in Dog related, Misc, My blog
Tags: Author, Beads, Bones, books, Books on writing, Bull Terriers, Care giving, Caregiver, Coffee, comedy, Craft of writing, Crafts, Dead, Disability, Dog humor, Doggoned, Dogs, Family, Fiction, Home, Humor, Life, Love, MS, Multiple Sclerosis, Murder, Mysteries, Mystery, Novel writing, Pet humor, Pets, Rescue Dogs, Snow, Writer, Writing
Who pushed their idiot buttons?
Posted by doggonedmysteries
We thought today would be a quiet day but the pups had other ideas. The last couple of days were sunny and slightly warmer than we’ve had for a while. This pushed their idiot buttons. They had that mischievous glint in their eyes that spelled trouble. Both of them wanted to go out as often as possible. While they were out, they dashed about the yard barking at anything and everything that moved.
When they were in, they raced around the house after each other. Patty kept bounding on and off the couch while Gavin sprinted around the living room and kitchen. It all seemed like doggy a celebration. I was glad when both their mainsprings ran down. Peace descended upon us around dinner time, once they ate the two of them conked out.
I think they are as anxious for spring to get here as we are. In spite of this reprieve in the weather, they are in for a surprise in the morning the temperature has plummeted again.
Posted in Dog related, My blog
Tags: Author, Beads, Bones, books, Books on writing, Bull Terriers, Care giving, Caregiver, Coffee, comedy, Craft of writing, Crafts, Dead, Disability, Dog humor, Doggoned, Dogs, Family, Fiction, Home, Humor, Life, Love, MS, Multiple Sclerosis, Murder, Mysteries, Mystery, Novel writing, Pet humor, Pets, Rescue Dogs, Snow, Writer, Writing
Chipping through the looking glass
Posted by doggonedmysteries
To be able to step through the looking glass as Alice did and deal with a strange land of chess pieces and a fearsome Jabberwocky would probably be easier at times than the day to day life we deal with. Heck, another day similar to yesterday and I’ll beg someone to give me a hammer to chip my way through the looking glass. I’d rather battle a Jabberwocky than watch him have such an awful day.
Dear Hubby never knows when he wakes up in the morning if he’ll be able to walk or not. I never know if it will be a good day or a bad day. Today was a good day.
Other than a sore spot on the back of his head where it met the wall yesterday, DH felt well. His balance was even halfway decent. In fact, after spending yesterday limited to his Lazy Boy he was restless today. Nevertheless, after yesterday’s fall I wasn’t taking any chances. Whenever he got up I asked him what he was doing, and did he need me to get him something. I couldn’t help myself. I probably drove him crazy treating him like Humpty Dumpty.
On days like this, I call Patty and Gavin Tweedle-Dum and Tweedle-Dee. They were silly and spent the day chasing each other about the house, wrestling over Nylabones, and getting under foot. I think they were happy that DH was feeling better.
Posted in Dog related, MS related, My blog
Tags: Author, Beads, Bones, books, Books on writing, Bull Terriers, Care giving, Caregiver, Coffee, comedy, Craft of writing, Crafts, Dead, Disability, Dog humor, Doggoned, Dogs, Family, Fiction, Home, Humor, Life, Love, MS, Multiple Sclerosis, Murder, Mysteries, Mystery, Novel writing, Pet humor, Pets, Rescue Dogs, Snow, Writer, Writing
Gavin the master of illusion
Posted by doggonedmysteries
We had snow yesterday and again today. For a while today the snow fell in large flakes, fast and furious. Wouldn’t you know that during that time Gavin wanted to go out the most? Have you ever tried to follow the antics of a white dog in a snowstorm? It’s not that easy.
One minute he was trotting along the fence line and the next instant he was behind me. I almost fell over him. He does this all the time. You can tell he thinks it is funny. Bull Terriers have a way of grinning at you and their eyes are always full of mischief. I don’t recommend this breed to the faint of heart for they are truly a handful. We often joke that one day they’ll be the death of us.
I’m certain there are times that Patty envies Gavin his winter camouflage. Patty can only get away that sort of maneuver at night and never in the snow. Then again, she has nighttime stealth capabilities. This, along with her sharper temperament, is why she’s the one who sleeps in the crate with the unlatched door.
Posted in Dog related, My blog
Tags: Author, Beads, Bones, books, Books on writing, Bull Terriers, Care giving, Caregiver, Coffee, comedy, Craft of writing, Crafts, Dead, Disability, Dog humor, Doggoned, Dogs, Family, Fiction, Home, Humor, Life, Love, MS, Multiple Sclerosis, Murder, Mysteries, Mystery, Novel writing, Pet humor, Pets, Rescue Dogs, Snow, Writer, Writing
A place for everything—well, at least some of the things.
Posted by doggonedmysteries
We’ve collected Bull Terrier figurines for twenty-eight years but have had no real way to display most of them. Nearly all of them I’d carefully wrapped in bubble wrap packed them in boxes and stashed them in our attic. We kept telling ourselves that one day we’d be able to unpack them and set them out in a curio cabinet or something. I don’t like clutter, things scattered about on bookcases and tables, collecting dust, and, with OUR DOGS getting broken.
Yesterday, on a whim, we went bargain shopping. We managed to find a bargain basement priced curio cabinet. A local high-end furniture store is going out of business and has a huge sale going on. (Who can resist that?) This morning our curio cabinet arrived, much to our surprise, we really didn’t expect it for a few days since they had to bring it in from one of their other three stores. Dear Hubby and a neighbor went and picked it up. I woke to find our new cabinet all set up except for the glass shelves. They left that to me. (Smart men!)
Unfortunately, it didn’t take me long to fill it and I think there are still a few stray Bull Terrier figurines hiding in the attic. However, it looks wonderful. Instead of clutter, I have a beautiful cabinet filled with our lovingly chosen Bullies. We purchased most of them at dog shows where I was showing our dogs, so they all have wonderful memories connected to them. A few were given to us by dear friends. One little one is very special to me since my baby sister gave it to me two years before she died and I’m glad to be able to see it every day now.
Posted in Dog related, hobbies, Misc, My blog
Tags: Author, Beads, Bones, books, Books on writing, Bull Terriers, Care giving, Caregiver, Coffee, comedy, Craft of writing, Crafts, Dead, Disability, Dog humor, Doggoned, Dogs, Family, Fiction, gifts, Home, Humor, Life, Love, Multiple Sclerosis, Murder, Mysteries, Mystery, Novel writing, Pet humor, Pets, Rescue Dogs, Writer, Writing
A cold day in…
Posted by doggonedmysteries
Wind chills are dropping the temperatures down into the single digits. Do the pups want to go out? Only if they have to. I’m sure if they had long double coats they might want to be out more but they don’t. Tomorrow is supposed to be colder so I suspect we’ll have to use a crow bar to pry them from their favorite warm places.
They didn’t volunteer to go outside once today. For a change, the bells on the back door remained silent. We have a string of sleigh bells nailed on to the door that they ring when they want to go out. On warm days, Gavin will ring the damned bells every five minutes. On warm days, I’m tempted to wring his neck and I curse the day old Sadie taught him how to ring them.
Late tonight, for their last out, I sent Patty into the backyard, she ran out a few yards, squatted, and dashed back in the door. Gavin went out, took about four steps, raised his leg on a planter to the right of the door, and sprinted inside. Both gave me looks that said, “You woke me up for this? It is friggin’ cold out there!”
Posted in Dog related, My blog
Tags: Author, Beads, Bones, books, Books on writing, Bull Terriers, Care giving, Caregiver, Coffee, comedy, Craft of writing, Crafts, Dead, Disability, Dog humor, Doggoned, Dogs, Family, Fiction, Home, Humor, Life, Love, MS, Multiple Sclerosis, Murder, Mysteries, Mystery, Novel writing, Pet humor, Pets, Rescue Dogs, Snow, Writer, Writing
Looking for caption ideas
Posted by doggonedmysteries
The two dogs on the top of this page are our present dogs and that is one of my favorite pictures of them. The white Bull Terrier is Gavin and the dark one is Patty. You have no idea how long it took to get that shot of them. When one pup would stay down the other would pop up. If they weren’t popping up and down, one or the other would decide to wander off as soon as I had the camera ready.
It does look as though they are grumbling to each other. Occasionally, I change the caption under their picture. I’ve had a couple of suggestions from friends as to what those two nut ball dogs are saying. I haven’t used them yet.
Now I’d like to hear some suggestions from my readers so please tell me in the comments section here. I only ask that you please keep it clean, silly is fine, and if it makes other readers read on through the blog, all the better!
I’m quite excited that today my blog stats showed it passed the 20,000 mark in hits in less than four months. Thank you!
Posted in Dog related, My blog
Tags: Author, Beads, Bones, books, Books on writing, Bull Terriers, Care giving, Caregiver, Coffee, comedy, Craft of writing, Crafts, Dead, Disability, Dog humor, Doggoned, Dogs, Family, Fiction, Home, Humor, Life, Love, Multiple Sclerosis, Murder, Mysteries, Mystery, Novel writing, Pet humor, Pets, Rescue Dogs, Snow, Writer, Writing
Have you laughed today?
Posted by doggonedmysteries
I’m talking about a giggle, a titter, a chuckle, a belly laugh, any sort of laughter will do.
Dear Hubby and I are fortunate because we always have laughter. He has a wonderful dry sense of humor that sneaks up on you, pulls out a baseball bat, and whacks you in the head. It’s fast and seldom painless. Think groaningly bad, but hysterically funny puns and jokes. You begin to giggle. Then you find it difficult to stop because your brain keeps hitting replay.
Everyone needs a good giggle occasionally. Like when you were a child and got into a fit of giggles that nothing, not even threats from exasperated parents could stop. These incidents usually happen during dinners. Siblings or other members of the family (yes, dear cousins you have done this too) usually egg the giggles on. In my case, DH keeps me going once he gets me started. He gets a kick out of me clutching my aching sides and laughing myself weak.
The pups are also good for a few daily laughs. Eventually one of them manages to make us chuckle with one stunt or another. Today Gavin dug out his favorite toy, a rubber ball that looks like basket weave. He bugged DH to throw it for him several times. Patty sat on the couch to observe this ritual. Finally, she decided to join in on the fun and the game of fetch became a tug of war between the two dogs. SHE thought it was fun. Gavin was not pleased but with us telling him he was ‘such a good boy for sharing’, he behaved admirably.
Posted in Dog related, Misc, My blog
Tags: Author, Beads, Bones, books, Bull Terriers, Care giving, Caregiver, Coffee, comedy, Craft of writing, Crafts, Dead, Disability, Dog humor, Doggoned, Dogs, Family, Fiction, Home, Humor, Life, Multiple Sclerosis, Murder, Mysteries, Mystery, Novel writing, Pet humor, Pets, Rescue Dogs, Snow, Writer, Writing
More snow, it’s going to be a long winter
Posted by doggonedmysteries
When I woke up today, we already had a few inches of snow on the ground. Since then it’s been steadily falling. Sure, it looks pretty but only if you don’t have to shovel it. At least with the full moon tonight it’ll be bright enough for me to go outside and clean off both our vehicles. What am I waiting for? I’m waiting for it to slow down somewhat maybe even stop.
Our sidewalk shoveling angel came by late this afternoon. This time I caught a glimpse of the person and it is exactly whom I thought it was. I’m going to have to figure out a way to thank him.
The pups like this snow. Unlike the last storm where it was all ice coated, hard, and slick, this time it’s soft, fluffy, and fun for them. Patty galloped around the yard. Gavin wanted me to toss a few snowballs for him. Short romps for them though their coats are too short for them to stay out there long. Once back in the house they were content to share the couch and laze out for several hours. Both Dear Hubby and I did the same in our chairs. It was the ideal sort of day to do nothing.
Posted in Dog related, Misc, My blog
Tags: Author, Beads, Bones, books, Bull Terriers, Care giving, Caregiver, Coffee, comedy, Craft of writing, Crafts, Dead, Disability, Dog humor, Doggoned, Dogs, Family, Fiction, Home, Humor, Life, Love, Multiple Sclerosis, Murder, Mysteries, Mystery, Novel writing, Pet humor, Pets, Rescue Dogs, Snow, Writer, Writing
It’s cold tonight
Posted by doggonedmysteries
Poor Gavin was fussing in his crate so I went to see what the problem was. He was trying to roll up in a little fake sheepskin I had in there. When I realized what the problem was I trotted down to the cellar and retrieved a much larger, thicker blanket. Right now, he’s happily rolling himself up in it and it sounds like a herd of elephants is loose in my kitchen.
Normally our house is warm but when the temperature dips down to a mere twenty degrees, the kitchen becomes quite chilly. I had been running a small electric heater in there to keep the chill off, but after I got the last bill from the electric company I figured Gavin would be happier with a nice blanket he can bury himself in, this is something he’s done since he was a puppy.
I’m sure at some time tomorrow, when Patty inspects Gavin’s crate she’ll be quite put off that HE got a big, fluffy blanket. Miss Patty will never freeze her crate is nice and cozy because hers is next to a radiator in the living room.
These two love their crates and when they decide it’s time for bed, they expect us to drop the towel over the door to block out our lights. No, my dogs aren’t spoiled-yeah right.
Posted in Dog related, My blog
Tags: Author, Beads, Bones, books, Bull Terriers, Care giving, Caregiver, Coffee, comedy, Craft of writing, Crafts, Dead, Disability, Dog humor, Doggoned, Dogs, Family, Fiction, Home, Humor, Life, Love, Multiple Sclerosis, Murder, Mysteries, Mystery, Novel writing, Pet humor, Pets, Rescue Dogs, Snow, Writer, Writing
Pups and pop corn
Posted by doggonedmysteries
“Do you want some p-o-p-c-o-r-n?” Dear Hubby asked.
Two sets of ears perked up. Gavin’s head tilted to the right and Patty’s head tilted to left.
“Uh oh, I think they’ve learned to spell that,” I said.
“You keep them out here and I’ll start it.” (Fat chance of doing that.) Gavin beat him to the kitchen and Patty was on his heels. “Not for you. For us,” He told them.
From the living room, I told Dear Hubby, “Yeah right. Say that all you want they’ll still mooch some.”
Dear Hubby got so he didn’t like microwaved pop corn so we recently bought a hot air popper-cost a whole fifteen dollars. We had one many years ago when we were first married. At the time, we also had a German shepherd and as soon as we’d turn on the popper, he’d be right by the counter to catch any strays that popped out of the bowl and landed on floor.
I’m not surprised that these two English Bull Terriers have already figured out the same thing. Both were happily playing the outfield while the bowl filled.
While we munched they mooched. Patty is very good at catching pop flies. Gavin prefers grounders I think he has trouble focusing on small moving objects.
Posted in Dog related, My blog
Tags: Author, Bones, books, Bull Terriers, Care giving, Caregiver, Coffee, comedy, Crafts, Dead, Disability, Dog humor, Doggoned, Dogs, Family, Fiction, Home, Humor, Life, Love, Multiple Sclerosis, Murder, Mysteries, Mystery, Pet humor, Pets, Rescue Dogs, Writer, Writing
Doggonedmysteries 