Forever blowing ...

Bubbles!

Chloe's "grandma" blowing bubbles.

They're very hard to catch! 

I think may be easier to catch a squirrel than a bubble.

Independence Day

Hope your 4th is happy and your 5th, 6th, 7th and the rest of the month is super, too!

Here's Chloe nuzzling a new-found buddy who's all dressed up for the 4th of July.

Chloe is, too, with her bright red collar. Maybe she can borrow the teddy's striped sweater? Looks like it would actually fit her ...

Postcards From The Edge

Wish you were here - two postcards came in the mail. One from Hawaii. The other reminding me that "Chloe, it's time to schedule your next visit."  Hawaii or the Vet?

I'd rather go to Hawaii. How about you?

Herbs and The Watermelon Snack

Chloe and I always enjoy morning walks. The other day, we were outside admiring a neighbor's garden, which is filled with pretty flowers and herbs. Our neighbor came outside to chat with us and kindly offered some herb cuttings, which she suggested I place in water and let grow roots, so I could replant them in a pot of soil. So here they are ... no roots sprouting yet.

Later that day, I was scheduled to take my mother shopping. So before our allotted meeting time, I decided to make myself a little snack of fresh watermelon. As I was slicing the melon, a huge chunk slipped out of my hands and onto the floor. I wiped the floor and resumed preparing my snack. Then I noticed Chloe's head - her white fur had a huge pinkish-red stain. Guess that fallen piece of watermelon ricochetted off of Chloe's head before hitting the floor. A moistened wash cloth and even a little tear stain remover was used to try to rectify the situation - to no avail. So ....

Emergency bath! Since Chloe's hair is so short, she was easy to dry. And we made it in time to take my mother shopping.

Wordless Wednesday

Farmers' Market Challenge

Farmers' Markets are great places to spend time shopping, strolling and exploring. Best to leave your dog home!

York Farm - Bensalem, PA

Instead of a traditional Farmer's Market, I visited our closest local roadside stand - connected with York Farm, here in Bensalem, PA. This was in response to the June Farmers' Market Challenge over at The Road to Here blog. I and some other bloggers have posted photos of our local farmers market, produce stand, or a similar venue - places where you can find fresh produce as well as other local products. 

"Why buy something grown across the country or the world when you can support your local farmers?" is our mantra.

Here's what we bought ...

Of course, Chloe had to get into the act! I also bought some of those good-for-you beets that are pictured above. Beets are NOT good for Chloe's breed, though - they can cause a red staining by the eyes that we Bichon owners try so hard to avoid. (Avoid treats colored with beet dye to help keep your white dog's eyes stain-free.)

Here's to a very sunny and soon to be healthy-veggie-eating Saturday. Be sure to eat your greens!

Chloe, Best Friends Cover Girl

(Unretouched!)

This was Chloe about two weeks before her big "shave down" at the groomer the other day. Thanks to all who said she still looks lovely ... we appreciate your kind words.

In the meantime, why not create your own Fake Magazine Cover with your own picture at MagMyPic.com

Have fun!

Wordless Wednesday

***

(Chloe's mum - but I'm talking!  This is Chloe's new shaved-down look.  I let her get too long and with all the rain we were having, her hair got really matted. Oh, well - it'll grow in and she'll be back to a little fluff ball in now time. For now, she looks so dainty and petite!)

Are we related?

Are dogs related to foxes? Why, yes, they are!

According to pet-yard.com, "Perhaps the most distinctive feature of the fox family, as compared with wolves and coyotes, is the eyes. They are yellow with elliptical pupils. All other canids, including dogs, have round pupils. Foxes are monogamous and do not live in packs. They are among the smaller species of canids, ranging from only 10 to 15 pounds. The more common foxes include the red fox, the gray fox, and the Arctic fox, which is valued for its fur."

You can read about how a 45-year long program is working to domesticate foxes in Siberia here.

You are what you eat...

This is about people food.

But Chloe agrees ... after all, she does like a nibble here and there of what's on our plates.

And get a load of this ... what NOT to eat on Father's Day.

And thanks to chicamom for this lovely award ...

I'd like to pass it on to all of the people on my blog roll! : )))

Keep on blogging!

I took one for the team ...

We were outside Tuesday afternoon, looking for squirrels when I got BIT by a bee or  wasp. Not sure which. But here is the terrible localized (thankfully) allergic reaction on my upper arm and subsequent swelling. This photo was taken yesterday, but it looks just as bad today. I went to the doctor and have some meds to relieve the itching, and that helps a lot.

So for now we are squirrel searching from the great indoors, behind the safety of a screened window. And aha - there's one now ... see that little speck with a tail on the grass? 

I guess we did our squirrel duty for the week. Time to start thinking about the weekend. 

We're going to play tennis later. Maybe Chloe can come in her Sherpa bag (all four sides are vented) like she did last weekend ...

Have a nice Father's Day weekend. Treat your Daddies (sugar Daddies included) good!

They do have what appear to be ...

... nice hands.
Or maybe it's their feet that are the cool part, enabling them to stand so well on such on a precarious ledge. Nevertheless, they are not eating well. No wonder they are so chubby! Maybe that will make them more lethargic and easier prey for the OWAS squad.

Bichon Camouflage - Diva Stylin'

Percy had a tip for me when it comes to trying to find squirrels to chase...

"The squirrels were just being clever, hiding from you. Next time try wearing camouflage. I think your white coat gives you away!
- Percy"

Oh, Percy - you are so right. So I tried to rectify the situation ...

Ok, it's a little over the top, I know.

But I do blend in nicely with mom's silver Fitflops and look how I reflect her pink pants! We make a statement. No messing with us! Look out squirrels!

I like my hat so much, I didn't even try to get it off. I wore it for minutes on end!

I think I can totally rock this look for evening squirrel lookout sessions. It might be a little too flashy for day. 

Lots of green grass, but no you-know-whats.

We spent the whole afternoon searching for squirrels to chase. They were out here this morning. This is their stomping ground!

Where are those critters????

We'll keep an eye out again tomorrow.

Photo Kissing Booth

It's carnival time of year. Time to check out the kissing booth!

Here's Chloe snuggled up in her uncle's big muscles. Smooches all!

Have a wonderful weekend.

My mother's curios

My mother has a lovely wall unit that has many shelves with glass doors. Behind each glass door and on each shelf are a menagerie of colorful curios. It can be a magical place to gaze and daydream. 

Some of the items on these shelves I bought for my mother (many, in fact). There's the perfume bottle made in Italy from Knotts Berry Farm's gift shop ... a miniature tea set designed in the theme of the Wizard of Oz ... a small, glass-blown and glittered fish ornament with big red lips ...

Some of the items found on these shelves my mother acquired on her travels to Mexico and England, bought at collectible shops, received from friends or other family members, and even inherited (like the antique enameled vase). Each one has a story.

 

We sometimes walk over to the shelves when I come to visit, and my mom tells me the story about about one or two of the curios. I never mind hearing the stories more than once.

For now, I'll leave you with these pictures for gazing. And I will post back with a story or two later on. 

(See the dog?)

Wordless Wednesday

Let's see, what have we got for today?

A new trick ...

If blinds are down ...

I can nose it open enough to see ...

Then I throw my leg over the edge of the window sill ... and try to look sexy!

The Kitten and The Bird

Thought you might enjoy these photos - from an email a friend sent me this morning called, "The Kitten and The Bird."

Friendship isn't about who you have known the longest...but about who came and never left your side. Have a good day....

(Tank and Operation Whack A Squirrel Crew:  

Can you imagine us 4-leggers doing that with a SQUIRREL??!!)

I told you ...

... I like curtains!

(One of Chloe's favorite places to take a little nap or hide.)

I'm Looking For Squirrels

Just so Tank knows, I'm "down" with OWAS.

Or at least, I'm on board now. But too lazy to go chase!

Inner Peace ... the email

One of my friends sent me this email today:

Inner Peace

If you can start the day without caffeine,

If you can always be cheerful, ignoring aches and pains,

If you can resist complaining and boring people with your troubles,

If you can eat the same food every day and be grateful for it,

If you can understand when your loved ones are too busy to give you anytime,

If you can take criticism and blame without resentment,

If you can conquer tension without medical help,

If you can relax without liquor,

If you can sleep without the aid of drugs,

...Then You Are Probably The Family Dog!

(And you thought I was going to get all spiritual.)

P.S. I swapped out the dog's photo that was in the original email with Chloe's - I thought she was cuter, of course  : )))

Giving a Dog CPR

My friend sent me this YouTube video, which provides excellent information on how to perform CPR on a dog. Here the procedure is performed on a giant, stuffed animal. 

Do you get the joke?

Click image above to see it bigger.

I dunno. It's not too funny to me ... but maybe you get the joke.

When you're little like this ...

... you can find all kinds of weird places to take a nap. Like on top of a little black table in mom's office. Uncomfortable? Nah. It's kind of like being on a kitchen floor, methinks. And I've got half an eye on mom working. So it's a nice vantage point. Wonder where I'll try next?

P.S. Sorry for all the squinty-eye shots. Either I'm half-asleep OR it's that darn camera light flashing in my eyes!