No other words required.
And there’s another special moment regarding the moon coming up in a week’s time! (You’ll have to be patient for I’m not saying anything more just now!)
Category: Culture
Our funniest, best friends.
Couldn’t postpone this for you!
Yesterday was another one of those days where everything seemed to be squeezing in on me. Not in a negative fashion just stuff that had to be done; and that before I even got to the book!
So when I sat down mid-afternoon to think about today’s post, trying to ignore the beautiful day it was here in Merlin, Oregon and how I really wanted to take a bike ride, I wasn’t particularly creative of thought; to say the least! 😉
Thus when I saw the email from Cynthia Scobey that included a link to the following video I would have hugged her had she been in the same room!
Settle back for ten minutes and forget about the funny old world we seem to be living in just now!
(Not so much this funny old world but more about this funny old fart who is the author of this blog. For when I was screening this post to Jeannie yesterday evening she quickly pointed out that we had seen this before. Indeed, we had. Back on the 19th October! Sorry folks!)
Our wonderful, gorgeous, loving, care-free dogs!
Thank you, Cynthia!
For Dollar and all the other lost dogs.
A beautiful amendment to this blog!
Last Thursday, I published a post under the name of Affairs Of The Heart.
There was a reply from Asha:
My mom still cries for my pet GSD we lost 15 years ago to illness. There are no words to describe that loss.
I asked Asha what was the name of that dearly loved German Shepherd. She replied that it had been called Dollar. That then gave me an idea.
Thanks. Indeed, it just crossed my mind that there could be a page on this blog where readers leave the names and a few words of past loved dogs. Would that work for you?
Asha replied, “Oh wow! That so melted my heart.”
So I have just finished setting up a page Keep Their Memories Alive. You will see it listed on the sidebar next under the link for Try The Book For Free.
When you click on the link under the heading Keep Their Memories Alive you will go here:
We Shall Not Forget Them.
For millions, the relationship between a person and their dog is precious beyond words. Do you still grieve the loss of your wonderful dog? Let us all know what your dog meant to you. Write whatever you want. Leave it as a thought to this page.
I am hoping that Asha will be first to leave a message for Dollar. I am hoping that many of you will leave a message so that all of us will not forget the love we have received from our departed furry friends.
Thank you Dollar!
NB: I may have overlooked whether or not comments can be attached to a page under WordPress. If not, I will come up with a fix very soon. In the meantime, leave your thoughts as a response to this post.
Forecasting wonderful ‘Blu’ days!
So many examples of how special our dogs are!
I have said it before and, undoubtedly, I will say it many more times. That is that the connections made in the world of blogging are special beyond imagination. So many good people that one will never get to know in the traditional sense of being around that person yet people that one comes to know, and know well, through the medium of blogging.
I was contacted by Grinia who offered to write a guest post for this place. In turn, to better know her, I went across to her blog, Mirror & Soul, and then read this: Real Stories, Real People: Forecast: Blu Skies. I wanted to republish that and Grinia very rapidly gave me permission.
Here it is:
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Real Stories, Real People: Forecast: Blu Skies
Alexandra thought of adopting a dog to provide company to her mother and bring a happy distraction to her days. What Alexandra didn’t expected was that this dog would become an important member of their family and would help her dealing with the emotions of caring for her mom with dementia. Alexandra became an advocate for rescuing dogs and she is sharing her touching story with us. Thank you Alexandra!
Forecast: Blu skies
By Alexandra Goodwin
My husband and I had many discussions about adopting a dog because he had grown up with dogs in the UK and missed having his four legged friends around. I was open to the idea as I had never had any pets growing up and thought perhaps it might help my mother, who has dementia and lives with us.
We went to various rescue shelters in February 2014 to get an idea of what kind of dog to get and to warm my mother up to the idea of acquiring a dog. My husband had had mostly pointers and greyhounds and we both wanted a medium / large dog with whom to go hiking and enjoy the outdoors.
When we went to the various shelters we knew we couldn’t bring anyone home right away due to my husband traveling for business the following month. One of the shelters we visited was Greyhound Friends in Hopkinton, Mass. My husband had made few solo trips there previously in his spare time and met Louise Coleman, owner of Greyhound Friends. They both had the same passion and heart for these neglected beautiful dogs. Blu was one of the dogs in the shelter back in February 2014. Blu was waving his paw at us as if he were trying to communicate and begging us to take him home.
Fast forward couple months later to April 26, 2014, a brisk Saturday morning when we set out to rescue a dog to bring home. We made many stops within 25 mile radius that day to various shelters. When we went to Greyhound Friends, we inquired about Blu as he had impacted his paw on our hearts back in February. Blu was in foster care in Milford, MA, so they called the foster parents and we arranged to go visit their home to see Blu again. We saw that Blu was comfortable and calm in home setting and was living with another dog and cat.
Blu’s a Bluetick Coonhound from way of Ohio. He was found in a litter of five back in Ohio when a generous rescue group called ” Stop the Suffering” picked up Blu and his mates. Blu was transferred to Greyhound Friends in the winter of 2013.
What drew us to Blu, aside from him waving at us, was that he had a cherry eye. Dogs have three eyelids and it’s common for dogs under the age of two for one of the eyelids to protrude. Cherry eye is not serious but if untreated it causes dry eye which then could lead to other complications. Blu will probably be on eye drop medications all his life.
After our Saturday afternoon of surveying various rescue shelters, we decided to adopt the dog who might be left behind, the underdog. We figured Blu might be overlooked because of his cherry eye. Most folks want to adopt puppies and the storybook happy perfect little dog. Little do they realize the trauma and suffering most dogs in shelters have had in their lives before being scooped up in shelters. All dogs just need patience and love and if you win their heart over, they will do anything for you and give back tenfold.
Blu has made a huge impact on our lives. For me, being the prime caretaker of my mother, he has calmed me down enormously and is aware of encompassing emotions. My mother’s not so fond of dogs as she grew up in Greece where dogs lived outside and their purpose was hunting. Blu has brought so much love and happiness in our lives that now can’t imagine life without him! Blu is a blessing!!! Thank you to all the rescue shelters who save dogs and try to find them forever homes — what a difficult and most rewarding job you have! Thank you for not giving up on these beautiful dogs!
Greyhound Friends is located in Hopkinton, Massachusetts, please go visit their kennel and find your best friend like we did….
Featured Image with quote credit to Pinterest
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I can’t wait to receive Grinia’s guest post and I’m sure you feel the same way.
What lucky people we are to have these beautiful dogs in our lives.
Wanderings!
A Victorian Dog Story
Here’s a very delightful guest post coming up. But first to my introduction.
Whatever one feels about London, the city of my birth (Acton; North-West London, to be more precise), there’s no denying that it has some glorious parks.
One of those wonderful parks is Kensington Gardens that is located not that far from the Royal Albert Hall. Or as Wikipedia puts it:
Kensington Gardens, once the private gardens of Kensington Palace, are one of the Royal Parks of London, lying immediately to the west of Hyde Park.
So keep that image in your mind as we turn to today’s guest post.
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A Victorian Dog Story
If you are ever in the UK, wander through Kensington Gardens (past the palace where Princess Diana resided) and go Northeast, behind Victoria Lodge; you will find a pet cemetery. Mentioned by Peter Pan author, J.M. Barrie, in his work The Little White Bird, over 200 dogs, cats and birds have been laid to rest here. All of its inhabitants were once beloved pets.
The cemetery was started by the lodge keeper around 1881; the first dog to be buried in Kensington was her “Cherry”, a Maltese terrier who died of old age. The second dog was “Prince”, once belonging to the Duke of Cambridge (no relation to the present Duchess of Cambridge, Kate Middleton!). Struck by a carriage, this dog’s simple gravestone reads: “Poor Prince.” Though the cemetery is no longer active, contemporary guests can take pictures of the tiny tombstones and read such sentiments as “Maudie, An Old Friend”, “Darling Dolly My Sunbeam, My Consolation”; and “In Loving Memory of Our Faithful Little Friend Wobbles.”
Keeping dogs as pets gained popularity in the 19th century. As sanitation conditions started to be regulated, animals such as pigs, cows and sheep were banned from the streets. So dogs that were once kept outside were now invited by the fire. The dog changed from being a worker to being a member of the family. In 1837 there were about 140 dog nappers; they stole lap dogs from the wealthy and charged hefty ransoms for their return. A Temporary Home for Lost and Starving Dogs opened in 1860; ultimately this became The Battersea Dogs Home, where strays could be adopted. For more information on the Victorian cult of the dog, I would recommend At Home and Astray by Philip Howell. Meanwhile, if you are searching for a name for your new pet puppy, you might want to consider Dandie, Dash or Eos, pronounced ee-oohs–if they were good enough for Queen Victoria’s pooches, they may be good enough for yours!
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Let me close with the words of the author: Annabelle Troy
An American who loves UK culture, I alternate my time between New York City and London. I’m the author of four books available on Amazon: Jane Eyre Gets Real, A Cure for Cecily, The Grace of the Hunchback, and Hansel and Gretel Inside the House of Candy. Inspiration comes to me through literature, history and magic.
Here’s the cover of that first-named book.
I don’t know about Jane Eyre but Annabelle Troy comes over as real enough!Picture Parade One Hundred and Sixty-Nine
The final set of these wonderful law and order pictures.
(Set One is here and Set Two here.)
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That is, indeed, the end of the shift of these three week’s worth of pictures. Thank you, Dan!
The power of a good massage.
This was a day when a massage would have been perfect treatment!
On Wednesday afternoon Jean and I hooked a big flatbed trailer, borrowed from a neighbour, to our pickup truck and went into town to collect a new sectional settee that we had recently purchased at a furniture sale.
Yesterday, Michael who comes in to help us on a regular basis turned up at 8:30 and we all set to. First up was to dismantle an old sectional in our den that had seen much better days and then carry that out to the front.
Next we moved a settee from our living-room to the den.
Last up was to unpack all three units that comprised the new sectional. Oh, nearly forgot! Then the old sectional from the den was loaded on to the trailer and taken to the tip!
By the end of the day this Brit, who will be 72 in a couple of weeks time, was feeling the odd aching muscle or two!
All of which is my introduction to this:
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Watching animals get massages is the most relaxing thing ever — for people
Humans aren’t the only ones who enjoy a soothing rubdown.
October 15, 2016
I get massages whenever I’m able, and it’s my answer to the fun party question: “What would you do with a million dollars?” Well, first I’d pay off my grad school loans, but second on the list would definitely be weekly massage. Every time I get one, I end up walking on air; for me it’s like doing a yoga class without the effort.
But watching massage can be relaxing too — not watching people (that’s icky), but animals. I’m not the only one: My Facebook feed is littered with people posting and reposting cute furry animals both wild and domesticated getting backs kneaded and shoulders rubbed. My favorites are below, so if you need a moment of chill, check out a couple of these and relax.
This corgi’s face massage is a joy to watch, and it’s funny too — check out his reclining position which is more guy-napping-on-a-pool-float than canine.
This sweet gray kitten getting an ever-so-gentle facial massage in the sunshine starts out asleep and seems to get more relaxed as you watch. Is that even possible?
Guinea pigs are known for being snuggly creatures, but also nervous ones. Watching this one slowly relax does the same thing for me.
If you get sucked into this video like I did, you’ll be rewarded with a soft-as-marshmallow white bunny, which follows the gray bunny. Spoiler alert: Both get lots of love.
The relaxation and happiness of this pregnant cow getting a solid rubdown is crystal clear even though the video quality is low.
Aside from dogs, horses are probably the domesticated animal that gets the most serious massage attention, since many of them are performers and athletes, either in the dressage ring or on a racecourse. So there are lots of instructional videos about horse massage, but I think Jess, a trained horse massage therapist, shows it best.
There are a lot of animals that give themselves massages, especially otters. This one is clearly an expert — after a solid minute of scalp massage, she has a nap!
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Well I have to say that receiving a massage directly would have been a tad better than watching these animals get their massages, but it was way, way better than nothing!
English as she is spoken!
Difficult to avoid the irony!
(Of an Englishman helping Americans to ‘Ramp Up Their English’! 😉
Good followers of this place will recall that in March I published a ‘thank-you’ piece showing my appreciation for Rogue Valley TV and John Letz. Here’s how I opened that post:
Huge thank you to Producer John Letz and the whole crew.
A week ago last Saturday Jean and I travelled down to Ashland and to the studios of Rogue Valley Community Television (RVTV). This is how RVTV describe themselves:
Based at the Southern Oregon Digital Media Center, RVTV provides access television and streaming media services for the citizens and local governments of Jackson and Josephine Counties. Please visit rvtv.sou.edu for more information.
John Letz, the Producer for Adventures in Education and Ramping Up your English, had read my book and thought it might make a good programme.
Anyway, leaving the irony to one side, John recently sent me a link to the 30-minute episode that is included below.
To be honest if you are comfortable with your English then I strongly recommend that you skip this video unless you can’t live another minute without peeking into the Handover household and our dogs.
Mind you, even if you want to skip the video I can’t let you get away entirely Scot free. For at the 3:30 minute mark in the video John sets out the definition of pet:
PET: A dependent animal with a close emotional connection to the pet-owner.
I wonder if John had this in mind (photos taken yesterday morning in our bedroom):
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Please give all your dogs out there a big hug! Now! 🙂
It is never boring with our wonderful dogs.
Settle down and enjoy this ten-minute video.
Huge thanks to Suzann.
Because Jean and I were out from 9am through to well after 2pm and I had a string of things to do including writing today’s post.
But there in my email inbox was a greeting from Su and a link to the following:
Enjoy! (Guaranteed that you will; by the way!)
Give your dogs a wonderful hug from us here in Oregon!
Taking a holiday with your loved one!
(That’s your loved pet in case you wondered where I was coming from 😉 )
I have only ever flown once with a pet. That was back in 2008 when I flew one-way from London to Los Angeles on a British Airways flight when coming to live with Jeannie. Yes, I was alone in the cabin but I was not alone in the aircraft. For in a special part of the hold devoted to carrying animals rode Pharaoh.
I will never forget that day when I had to travel to the unit at London Heathrow Airport where dogs, and other pets, were dropped off about an hour before I was due to check-in to the same flight.
For this reason.
Every other time that Pharaoh had been left by me at the kennels when I was going away on business, or some other journey, Pharaoh had always barked in sadness at being left. I always got back in my car feeling a traitor for having something to go to that didn’t involve dogs.
So in this instance I was fully expecting Pharaoh to really sound out how unhappy he was at being left. For it was a very unfamiliar place on an unfamiliar airfield and he was being ‘processed’ in a manner that he had never experienced before.
So the time came that the attendant had Pharaoh in the flight cage and I had to turn my back and walk out of the area where some thirty minutes before Pharaoh and I had entered. I was expecting terrible sad howls. But not a single sound came from Pharaoh. To this day I like to think that he knew that he and I were on our way to the greatest and most wonderful life-changing event of our whole lives. Going to live with Jeannie and all her animals!
OK! Got that off my chest!
I love guest posts for all sorts of reasons but most importantly of all because you dear readers also like guest posts.
I was approached by Brenda Leary with her offer of writing a guest post for Learning from Dogs. She gave me a choice from a number of essay titles and, as you might expect from my introduction, I chose an article from Brenda about flying with your pet.
Enjoy!
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Tips to Flying With your Dog
Or
Flying With Your Pet Made Easier
Jetting out for a well-deserved vacation? If you plan to go with your furry friend, we have great news for you. While traveling with pets may evoke tension and constant hair pulling, find out how to travel with a dog on a plane with these excellent tips.
Select the airline
Not all airlines allow their passengers to travel with their pets. The first step is identifying pet-friendly airlines and their pet limit. Once you get an affirmative answer, make the reservations immediately before you lose the seat.
Obviously, you cannot have your dog sit a few rows behind or in front of you; make sure to book two seats adjacent to each other. Depending on the airlines you choose, you could fork up to $100 for a one-way trip.
Compare different rates from various carriers and select the most affordable one. Alternatively, leave your pet with a sitter or a family member while you vacation.
Health checks
Similar to humans, pets need a full medical check- up before boarding a flight. Make an appointment with your veterinarian at least ten days before the trip. Have your dog vaccinated and give him any extra shots that he needs.
Obtain a health certificate and be sure to bring it to the check-in counter. Your vet will suggest packing a first aid kit with gauze and pet medications in case of emergencies. If you are traveling overseas, investigate the health care requirements of your destination.
Buy a dog carrier
When traveling with your pet, you need to keep him as comfortable as you possibly can to calm his nerves long enough until you land. Find a carrier that is spacious enough, so your dog or cat has some wiggle room to stretch during the flight.
The recommended size of a pet carrier is sixteen to nineteen inches long, and ten inches tall. Test out your carrier days before the trip and observe how your puppy behaves when he is locked in. If he shows signs of anxiety, try a different carrier until you find one that pleases him. If your dog weighs more than fifteen pounds, the airline will advise that he travels in a hard-sided kennel in the plane’s stowaway.
Pack wisely
When traveling with your kids or alone, packing is a crucial step that can make all the difference between a smooth or long flight. Similarly, pets behave like children and we gladly oblige and treat them as so.
Bring your pet’s favorite toys to keep him entertained (read: distracted), during the flight. You cannot underestimate the power of a dog bone on a trans-Atlantic flight! Airlines do not provide in-flight menus for pets. Pack enough food and water to last the duration of the trip.
Remember, traveling with your puppy counts as a carry on which leaves you with one carry on. Put your creatures of comfort in your bag and utilize the space on the pet carrier such as side pockets.
Arrive early
If you are traveling alone, you can expedite the check-in process by using mobile boarding passes. This convenience is not possible when traveling with your furry animal.
Traveling with your pet means additional time spent at the security desk while checking in. Pets do not go through x-ray machines; you will need to carry the dog through the metal detector and have the dog cage inspected separately.
To avoid last minute rush and a near-miss of your flight, arrive the airport earlier by at least one hour so you can comfortably go through these procedures without frowning.
Leash your dog
As we mentioned earlier, pets do not go through x-ray scans so you will have to remove him from the carrier for a separate inspection through the metal detector. If your pet is already showing signs of anxiety, they may attempt to make a run for it upon release from the cage. Make sure to have a leash on their collar to prevent this from happening. Besides being a total nuisance to other travelers, running after a pet across the airport is hardly something you wish to do. Tag the leash and carrier with your dog’s name on it and your contact details. You can also insert a microchip in your puppy days leading up to the journey. When traveling with your dog, planning ahead gives you ample time to research on how to travel with a dog on a plane. Make a list of luggage items for your pet and other travel companions and counter-check before leaving the house. Buckle down and enjoy a smooth flight.
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I asked Brenda to let us know a little about herself. This is what she said:
I’m Brenda Leary. I have a passion for dogs. My ambition is to found a community for dogaholics that everyone could share useful knowledge about dogs.
I’m here to break down all the complex dog’s tips/advices and try my best to give you the stuff that is actually useful and works!Follow my steps at Cuddle Your Dogs to discover dogs’ daily routines, tips and advices on caring for a dog/puppy and many, many things about this wonderful world.
Learning from Dogs 