Wednesday:Words of Wisdom

I’ve spent the last two days cleaning house. My friend, Adelina, came and helped me for five hours both days. Se did the heavy scrubbing, floors, and bending. I’m still on the mend, and I get winded and dizzy if I do too much. Thank goodness for younger friends with stamina.

Unfortunately, I watch hoarders and I say, “Wow, that’s not so bad. I’ve got more junk than that.”

I’ve washed the back door glass twice. Two dogs + glass door = doggie nose art.

And a little something humorous, just because.

Saturday Satire: A Bird in the Hand and Other True Stories

We have a couple of hanging flower baskets in the backyard. Every time I would water one of the plants, a bird would fly out and the dogs would bark and go nuts. Then, one morning, after the bird flew off, I heard little chirping noises. When I tilted the basket, I saw two tiny beaks chirping for their momma. I didn’t want to scare the occupants of the nest, so I just took my camera and aimed randomly inside for the video. What a smart mamma bird. A hanging haven filled with beautiful flowers to safely shelter her young. Unfortunately, the flowers are now dying because this momma is afraid of drowning or harming the babies, but that’s OK. We mothers have to stick together.

The safety of the baby birds made me think of one of my watercolors that I painted a while back. The satire or irony of the painting, in my artistic depiction is, the dove is clutched in a hand. The hand is making a peace sign. Is the bird safe, or going to be crushed all in the name of peace? Or is the dove, a symbol of peace safe and protected? It’s all in the eye of the beholder. Thought I’d share, you decide. Let me know what YOU think.

A BIRD IN THE HAND

Don’t let it be said
When shove comes to push
That a bird in the hand
Is worth two in the bush.
A bird is not free
If he cannot fly
There clutched in your palm
A free bird will die.
Toni Andrukaitis

Monday Montage: A Week in a Peek

From dancing dogs to putting out fires, it’s been a busy week, and as they say, “A picture is worth a thousand words.” Wait a minute. Who is they, anyway? Hold on! I’m gonna look that up…. OK, here it is…from Wikipedia…or just scroll down and look at the photo… much easier and faster…

[The adage[citation needed] “A picture is worth a thousand words” refers to the notion that a complex idea can be conveyed with just a single still image. It also aptly characterizes one of the main goals of visualization, namely making it possible to absorb large amounts of data quickly.
The expression “Use a picture. It’s worth a thousand words.” appears in a 1911 newspaper article quoting newspaper editor Arthur Brisbane discussing journalism and publicity.[1]
1913 newspaper advertisement
A similar phrase, “One Look Is Worth A Thousand Words”, appears in a 1913 newspaper advertisement for the Piqua Auto Supply House of Piqua, Ohio.[2]
An early use of the exact phrase appears in an 1918 newspaper advertisement for the San Antonio Light which says:
One of the Nation’s Greatest Editors Says:
One Picture is Worth a Thousand Words
The San Antonio Light’s Pictorial Magazine of the War
Exemplifies the truth of the above statement—judging from the warm
reception it has received at the hands of the Sunday Light readers.[3] ]

So, there you have it. TMI

Theme Song Thursday: Dog’s Best Friend, Bunny’s Worst Enemy

Dogs are our link to paradise. They don’t know evil or jealousy or discontent.
Milan Kundera

Our dog, Bucky, doesn’t realize he isn’t a puppy anymore. He wants to play all the time and doesn’t understand why his old buddy doesn’t share his enthusiasm. He’s always doing something goofy. Thank goodness a camera is always nearby.

As I was writing this post, our dear little Buck scratched at the door, wanting to come in. He had something in his mouth. I couldn’t tell exactly what it was, but it wasn’t the usual stick or rock. No!!! The tiny legs protruding from his mouth, wiggling in desperation led me to believe a small creature had been captured. Yikes! Now what? I chased Buck around the yard with a broom for ten minutes yelling, “Drop it!” He jumped up on the levered door handle and ran in the house with his conquest. I finally cornered him in the family room, spritzed him with one of the many handy water spray bottles and clobbered him with the broom. (Gently clobbered) I grabbed a page from the newspaper to retrieve the stunned baby bunny and then carried him back outside. He was still alive as I placed him safely beyond the fence and away from harms way.

Poor Buck didn’t know it was bad to capture and toy with the bunny. He’s a hunting dog. It’s instinct, not malice. I think he just wanted to play with the little fury thing. It reminded me of Lennie from Steinbeck’s, “Of Mice and Men.” He just wanted to hold the soft bunny. (I hope the little thing makes it.)

Tuesday Tips and Tricks: Peanut Butter Anyone?

A puppy is but a dog, plus high spirits, and minus common sense.
Agnes Repplier

Nothing calms a fussy child like a peanut butter and jelly sandwich, but what do you do with a wild and crazy puppy? Why, grab a jar of peanut butter. The pet stores sell these large rubber dog toys called “Kongs” that are hollow in the middle with a small opening to put treats, cheese or peanut butter inside. The dog then spends endless hours licking the inside and playing with the toy…NOT!

Old Prince was happy to play with his Kong for about five minutes, but Buck lasted less than five seconds. After adding peanut butter to each toy three times, the jar was just about empty. “Light bulb moment!” I gave Buck, the persnickety puppy, the entire peanut butter jar. (It was almost empty, but still had some left on the sides and bottom.) I took him outside where he could make a mess and bounce around. This new amusement entertained him for at least twenty minutes. Eureka! Now, I need to buy four hundred jars of peanut butter.

Tuesday: Tips and T-Storms

“I’m not afraid of storms, for I’m learning to sail my ship.”
Aeschylus

Crazy weather here in North Texas today, but nothing compared to the devastation in Oklahoma. Mother Nature is not always kind. This morning the skies were clear, and it was so warm and muggy that you could perspire just standing still. I was already sweating before I walked in the door at the Y for my 8:30 Zumba class. The hour long class didn’t kill me, (I always consider it a plus when I live through an entire class) so I asked a few of the gals in class if they wanted to stop at McDonald’s afterwards. (Tip: Take time for friends.)

We were laughing so hard and talking so loud that when the manager came over to our table, I thought for sure he was going to ask us to leave. He crouched down next to us and said, “Ladies, whatever your doing, keep it up. You’re having such a good time!” (Close call!) We told him if we got too loud, he could banish us into the kiddie play-land. He laughed and shared a story about how he got stuck at the top by the climbing slide when he tried to rescue a little kid. (Tip: If you’re gonna be rowdy, make friends with the manager.)

The dark clouds started rolling in fast, so we left our laugh-fest and headed home. A about an hour later, the skies opened up and all H..E..double hockey sticks broke out. (Tip: Make sure you have one of those severe alert weather radios and fresh batteries.)

Rain pelted at the windows and the wind whipped the trees all around. The power didn’t go out here, but a few miles away, trees were toppled over and power lines snapped. After a few hours of torrential rain, the clouds drifted away, and the birds chirped a happy song. Oh yes, the dogs were happy to be back in the family room watching TV, and not huddled in the bathroom. (Tip: The doggies get scared too. When they jump in your lap, give them a little love and reassurance.)

When all is said and done, any time you survive a storm…it’s a good thing.

Theme Song Thursday: Bosom Buddies

Wow! This wasn’t that long ago, but look how young Tom Hanks looks. “Bosom Buddies” didn’t last that long on television, (with good reason) but it had a great theme song.

Wikepedia
[Original run November 27, 1980 – May 27, 1982
Bosom Buddies is an American sitcom starring Tom Hanks and Peter Scolari created by Robert L. Boyett, Thomas L. Miller and Chris Thompson (Miller/Milkis/Boyett Productions). It ran from 1980 to 1982 on ABC and in reruns in the summer of 1984 on NBC. The show features the misadventures of two single men, working in creative advertising, struggling in their industry while disguising themselves as women in order to live in the one apartment they could afford. Gender stereotypes and male/female interpersonal relationships were frequent themes.
The show became known for its quirky humor and its frequent use of improvisation, especially between stars Hanks and Scolari. Though the show started out with good ratings, it failed to hold the public’s interest and was canceled after two seasons.]

My Life Lyrics by Billy Joel Theme song for “Bosom Buddies”
Album:
52nd Street
Lyrics:
Got a call from an old friend
We used to be real close
Said he couldn’t go on the American way
Closed the shop, sold the house
Bought a ticket to the West Coast
Now he gives them a stand-up routine in L.A.

I don’t need you to worry for me cause I’m alright
I don’t want you to tell me it’s time to come home
I don’t care what you say anymore, this is my life
Go ahead with your own life and leave me alone…

The song goes on, but this is pretty good advice. “Go ahead with your own life and leave me alone.” In other words…live and let live.

I was thinking today how our two dogs are inseparable, kinda like bosom buddies, best friends. Ergo: theme song for today.

Photo Frenzy Friday

(Look what I found hiding in my FAILED section of WordPress.)

I took a lot of pictures today. Just one of those days. Walgreens had a coupon for a free 8×10 collage print online, (COLLAGE4YOU was the code good till Saturday May 11)) and I always get the freebies, order them from my computer, and pick them up in an hour. I also wait until they have a special for prints. So, on my way to Walgreens to pick up my free collage of my artist friends and 50 prints at 1/2 off, I spotted some geese at the end of our street. Of course, I had to stop and take some pictures. Then the cute neighbor dog was barking at the geese…more pictures. When I got to Walgreens, this big ol’ black bird was cackling at me…photo. In the evening, my dogs were playing in the yard in front of my rose bushes. (I’m dangerous with the handy iPhone camera) Lots of critters in my path today. Here ya go!

Now, wasn’t that a fun day?

Wednesday Words of Wisdom

I have just three things to teach: simplicity, patience, compassion. These three are your greatest treasures.
Lao Tzu

Oh, if it were that easy! I think I can handle the simplicity thing, and I think I’m pretty compassionate, but lately, my patience has been over-taxed. Is there a special class for puppy patience? Buck is officially one year old, but still a crazy mischievous puppy. He has to be watched every second of every day. He’s outside right now chasing those bugs that bounce up against the windows after dark. Well, he doesn’t just chase them, he eats them. At least it keeps him busy for a few minutes.

Last week when he was out chasing bugs, he must have gotten up-close and personal with a snake because an hour later his paw was all swollen and it slowly worked up his leg. Long and short, he’s still alive and kicking. He was actually quiet, still, and whining for one whole evening. Lord forgive me, but I enjoyed the short night of peace? The vet gave us some pain killers and antibiotics, which had him back to his crazy self in 24 hours. Darn!

Today was the last straw! I heard some scraping noise. I thought he was just chasing bugs and bumping into furniture. But noooo! He had climbed up on the patio table and dragged down the flower planter. He was having a great time digging through the flowers and eating dirt. It took all my patience to refrain from “canineicide.” I made that up…it means not killing your canine.

So, where is old Lao Tzu when I need him?

Easy Like Sunday Morning

I love Sunday! A cup of tea, the newspaper, and crazy dogs who don’t know what day of the week it is.

Pretty much every Sunday morning, I make a big pot of green tea and sip all day. After the sale section of the paper is checked, my coupons are cut, and my phone calls are made, I fry up a couple eggs for breakfast. That sounds pretty mundane, but not the way I do it. I see everyday things a little differently than most people, needless to say.

Yes, I love lazy Sundays. Hope you had a great day too! Happy Cinco de Mayo!