Conversations with Pets

Saucer Magnolia blooms this morning under cloudy skies.

I’m putting my reputation on the line tonight. Actually, I don’t even know what my reputation is, generally, so I shouldn’t really care. Friends and family have raised their eyebrows in confusion at some things I do from time to time, especially when they witness one of my quirky little habits. With a deep breath, I’ll continue…

Lots of people talk lovingly to their pets like I do. Other than hugging them and giving belly rubs, the soft and cheery tone of your voice along with direct eye contact communicates your love for them. I think they get it - and understand the way in which you hold them in the highest regard, sometimes even higher than your human family and friends.

Gulp.

I not only talk to my dogs but I carry two-way conversations with them - out loud. Yes, they answer my questions and ask me questions. They make random comments out of the blue. They talk to each other. A Boston Terrier face is so expressive that you can speak for them! If that’s not enough to raise your eyebrows - my dogs have their own voice. Bella, the sweet sister, sounds much like Pooh’s Piglet. Chloe, the sinister sister, sounds more like Pooh’s Rabbit. I use those voices because they have similar personalities as their voice characters; Bella being easily intimidated and soft-spoken and Chloe being intelligent and sharp-tongued. Mr. Biggins has a voice, too, similar to Deputy Dog. If you are rolling your eyes now, that’s OK because I’m rolling mine, too.

For instance, on my way home from work yesterday, I stopped at the heron’s pond and parked on my man-made shoulder of the road to see some red-winged blackbirds. Poof! Gone. I looked to my left and there was a Downy Woodpecker in plain view. Poof! Gone. I don’t think I can use my camera any faster and grumbled all the way home. Have you ever felt you might soar into space and explode into bits and pieces, if you didn’t tell someone about your plight? That’s why I have Bella and Chloe.

Me: “Hi Girlie Girls, Mommy’s home! Gimme kisses! I can’t believe I just lost two photo opportunities of birdies in thirty seconds! Can you believe that?” Dogs are boinging and giving sloppy kisses.

Bella (sweetly): “C-c-c-an we have a cookie?”

Chloe (tersely): “Tell her we have to go outside on our business trip first!”

Chloe the supervisor, disapproves.

A little later, they followed me outside with a container of sunflower seed for the feeders. As I do every day, I hang my camera around my neck and head out there. This time I stopped about six feet away from the feeders and raised my camera to get a nice shot of a female cardinal in a tree. I leaned on the fence for a minute or two and, lo and behold, a Chickadee landed on the feeder, close enough that I could see the light in its eyes! Could I get the perfect shot in less than five seconds? Of course not! The damned camera can’t keep up with me! Thirty seconds later, a fluffy Tufted Titmouse landed there. We were staring at each other, motionless and eye to eye…until…Bella came barreling along with her hula hoop, crashing over the pond rocks. Poof! Gone.

Me: “That’s it! Bella, I’m taking that blasted hula hoop away from you! I’m sick of it!”

Bella cringes: “B-b-b-b-ut! I didn’t m-m-mean it. Please, play with me?”

Chloe: “Put her in the house, mommy. She's annoying."

I quit the photography battle and played with them in the yard until their tongues curled as tightly as a party blower. “Dog Talk” – it floats my boat and makes me laugh.

There are a few nice things I saw today and yesterday.

The Robins have arrived in great numbers. Starlings seems to be habitual birds and perch in the same places at the same time of day.

I’m surprised that the focus in this shot was on the Chickadee instead of on the top fence rail. This is the same bird that was almost within an arms length from me. Oh, the pain...

Too bad the tail feathers are cut off in this photo.

Munching away with her eye on me.

A new visitor at my house last night. I sat with her and let her purr and slither all around me. Then, I firmly told her to “go home!” (She didn’t reply.)

Yep. Spring has arrived here but March can be ferocious. The weather around the country is so severe. I wish it would relent and let everyone feel the warmth of sunshine on their backs.