Sunday, October 19, 2008

A Dog Story

The Licker Sisters are ahead, but first,


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if I see, let’s say, one hundred Canadian Geese during a fifteen minute drive,

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how many Canada Geese are there alive in North Carolina, United States, or the world?

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The tons of goose poop produced each day must be astounding!


Bella reacts to a new dog in the neighborhood.

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New dog! New dog! Where’s the n-n-new dog? Snort. Fart.

Bella is our excitable but intimidated alert dog. Chloe is fearless but slowing down with age so Bella has assumed the #1 alert position after a few years of being the back-up .


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Bella, you are weird. I don’t smell anything. Snort. Fart.


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OK. Let’s p-p-play hulie hoop. I have two! Try to g-g-get one.


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There are more important matters to tend to, Bella. Hula Hoops are for idiots, like you. I must track and nibble on bunny pellets.


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Look at her physique. Remember the tune Brick House? Here's 24.5 pounds of sweet meat and muscle.

Chloe’s old favorite is chasing real golf balls. And lately, my heart breaks. My old girl has lived her life sharp as a tack and having the eyes of an eagle. Everyone was amazed at her athleticism and skill as she never missed a moving object or game…but now,

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Puzzled… Where's the ball?


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Well, dammit. Another bad throw, woman. I want a re-do.


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Bella to the rescue. It’s OK, Chloe, I g-g-ot it.


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I can still do this, dammit.
And I cheer.

A tender, short story of two Boston Terriers

We play Air Dogs in the house. Air Dogs are bouncy balls that squeak – the size of golf balls. I throw them and they each chase their own. Chloe often loses sight of her ball and Bella, the one I’ve labeled “the low-watt bulb”, always realizes Chloe needs help. When Chloe stands helpless, Bella runs with her own ball and points with her nose to show Chloe where her ball landed. The game resumes. There are times when Chloe becomes so confused that Bella will drop her own ball in front of Chloe’s face, as an offering, then retrieve the ball that Chloe lost…

Watching this every day makes me melt. I reach out and hug them both. This canine outreach. What's it called? Canine compassion, caring?
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Bella, hold still while I lick crud out of your ear. It’s no wonder you’re scratching. Do I need to give you a lesson in personal hygiene? Fart. Snort.

Audible dog farts make me giggle ;-)

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They have new leather collars with embedded rhinestones. Diamonds would be more appropriate.


41 comments:

Carol Michel said...

Can I be first to comment? Snort, fart. That was your dogs, not me!

Love stories of the Licker Sisters and they do seem like quite the entertaining pair.

Carol, May Dreams Gardens

Lynne at Hasty Brook said...

May, I swear- this post was here, then it disappeared, then it was back again! Hmmm...

Anywho,

LOL! Snort, fart! It wasn't ME either!

KGMom said...

Too funny--and too sweet. We humans have no corner on the compassion market--in fact, we could learn from sweet animals such as the Licker Sisters.

Beth said...

Your dogs are so sweet. They do look out for one another, don't they.
The pictures of the Canadian geese were spectacular, too. Wish I had some of that poop for my garden.

Mary said...

I don't know if you all got the whole story! Blogger deleted my text tonight, so it's been a long ordeal getting this post up!

Anonymous said...

I'm melting at the thought of how sweet your Bella is. And giggling at the way you've, um, punctuated their activities with a bit of dog reality.

Anonymous said...

Dear Mary,
Oh my God you are so funny! SNORT FART oh I laughed so hard I had tears running down my face! When so many people are crying in their beer right now you are HELPING us all get through stuff, letting us know what is really important! Thank you!
Jane

Lisa at Greenbow said...

What sweet girls you have Mary. It is so sad to watch a beloved dog age. We just have to enjoy them while they fart, I mean favor us with their spirit.

Kerri Farley said...

What a great title for a book....the Licker Sisters!! I'd buy it!!

You have such a way with words! I LOVE reading about your babes!

NCmountainwoman said...

What a great and tender story. How wonderful to have a helper dog for your aging one.

What is it about Bostons that make them so flatulent? It seems to be the case with all bloggers who write about their BTs.

I do love seeing the Lickers.

Julie Zickefoose said...

Are there any other kind of Boston farts than the audible ones?

I love these dogs so much, and the way you write about them. Bella may not be the sharpest knife in the drawer but she more than makes up for it in sweetness.

Chet and Bella weigh the same, but I think Chetty might have an inch in height on Little BrickHouse.

That puppeh's stacked and that's a fact
Ain't holdin' nothin' back!

Susan Gets Native said...

I can't even type...I'm laughing too damn hard.....
Snort....Fart.....

Rose said...

Mary, I could read a story about the Licker Sisters all day! Dogs are such compassionate animals, not only to humans but to each other, as evidenced by Bella looking after Chloe.

Their reactions remind me of my daughter's trip home for Christmas last year--she brought her pug back home, too, and had to "sedate" him for the plane ride. He barely fit into his carrier, but settled in eventually under her seat. The only problem was that the medication gave him a bad case of gas. Daughter finally had to turn to the person next to her and apologize, assuring him it was Odie emitting those noxious odors, not her!

Too bad somebody can't find a way to turn goose poop into fuel:)

Cheryl said...

I love the licker sisters.....feel like I really know them thru your eyes Mary..........may they both have lots more time with you.......

The Quacks of Life said...

excellent blog today Mary - made me smile.

loads of Canada Geese here as well

TR Ryan said...

Swore I wouldn't post since I am typing on a Russian keyboard at 50 cents a minute but dammit I love this post -- I just don't know whether I am laughing or crying. Not much of either one going on around here as you might guess. You have a dozen books betweent these two. My heart is melting!

Mona Sabalones Gonzalez said...

I love your pictures of the geese and the dogs. You are so talented. May I know what camera you use?

Love the way you captured the expressive faces of your dogs:)

Jayne said...

Your girls bring so much joy, and your description of their antics is priceless Mary! :c)

Dog_geek said...

Awwwww.... what a sweet post, audible farts and all. Dogs are such amazing creatures, aren't they? Brickhouse Bella may have a pound or two on my leggy little L dog, but he's probably got about 4 or 5 inches on her!

Angie said...

Ahhhh Mary, I fell right into the Licker Sisters story.....my heart melted like tar on hot pavement on a hot day :D....your Licker Sisters and my Barking Brothers....they all break my heart....your girls are just precious!

Angie said...

Meant to also add that the ear cleaning is something that Badger (the younger of the two) has always done for Dewey. Now it's Dewey that does it for Badger. :) The Barking Brothers went to the vet this past Thurs. She says she thinks Badger's problem is NOT a tumor BUT neurological in the neck area, which is almost as bad since Badger's had such serious back problems in the past. He breaks my heart with trying to run after his big brother now---What a little champ he is. :)

Anonymous said...

Too cute. Snort. Fart. The snort was me laughing. The fart . . . that must have been your girls. :)

Anonymous said...

Gosh I just luuuv this post (esp. as I sit here practically gagging from the sweet scents my own terrier is sending my way as she chases bunnies in her sleep while dozing in her sunspot this morning-and yet I laugh!). Why are dog farts funny? Heck, why are farts funny, period? They just are!
But giggles aside, your post today is so poignant and heart warming-thanks SO much for sharing with us,
hugs, gretchen

Heidi said...

That's so sweet of Bella! I'll give dogs one thing... a cat wouldn't help another out, lol!

RuthieJ said...

Aw, poor old Chloe--it's hard to watch them slowing down isn't it? I'm glad Bella's such a good companion for her (and you).
Thanks for this sweet story and pictures Mary.

Balisha said...

Hi Mary...
Aren't dogs wonderful? My Cocker, Maggie... and Joe's
Springer, Laddie got "married" when we did.LOL They were so cute together. Laddie helped Maggie, when she got old. He mourned her passing just like we did. I miss her so, but Laddie has become my dog as well. Enjoy your dogs antics...they are so special.

Naturegirl said...

Oh Mary I can always depend on you and the girls for a good chuckle! Thank you for being sweet wonderful hillarious authentic you! You must have passed that #399 by now!!
Congrats dear friend may we continue for another 400...gulp!!
hugs aNNa xo

Kathleen said...

Your girls are lovely, uh.. ladies? Yes. Ladies who snort and fart - nothing wrong with that, Mom. We love our fur children. Don't they know they are not allowed to get old?

Q said...

Dear Mary,
These two have stolen my heart.
They are pricelss.
Hugs to the Licker Sisters for me.
Sherry

Wendy said...

Yes hugs to the Licker sisters, snort-fart - that wasn't me!

MicheleRF said...

Mary you crack me up! Thanks!!

JeanMac said...

Truly diamonds - I think dogs are really (good) humans in disguise.

beckie said...

Mary, the love for your girls comes through in every word and picture. How wonderful you have had the privledge of sharing their lives.

Corey said...

Well apparently inaudible, written dog farts make me giggle! Very cute story.

Peg Silloway said...

I love your girls! And they are so lucky to have you to appreciate them and share them with your fans. Dim bulbs are just as loveable as the brighter ones (I have one of each kind in cat form.)

What is so nice about our animal friends is that their compassion is not limited to their own species. Many of us have known a dog or cat who recognized when a person was in need of comfort. A lap full of warm puppy or purring cat goes a long way to make anyone feel better.

Thanks for sharing your life with the Licker Sisters.

dguzman said...

Those sweet sweet licker sisters!

jason said...

Fantastic photos of the geese, Mary, and heartfelt images of the sisters.

And I chuckled uncontrollably with the snort-fart thing. You clever girl!

They all get old, you know...as we all know. We sign up for this animal family deal with full knowledge that we'll outlive them by orders of magnitude. When they start to age, when they start to slow down, we feel it more than we expect, maybe more than we'd like.

Yet that time together is precious and dear, and it's extraordinarily meaningful. These pups have enjoyed a glorious life; they have more to look forward to with you. Perhaps there really are fewer days ahead than there are behind, but they're going to enjoy every minute, and all in the midst of love and caring. Can't go wrong with that!

Unknown said...

Mary I can see your heart melting over your precious little dogs. A heart warming moment.

A New England Life said...

Mary,

I love that YOU love your dogs so much! And to see Chloe growing older ... well, I know that's very sad. We never want to see our babies grow older, especially the ones we hold so dear to our hearts. We are oh so fortunate to have them in our lives in the first place : )

Somehow I'll bet you enjoy every possible moment with Chloe and Bella, as I imagine they bring life and love to everyday.

Sharon

said...

Oh I adore these girls so much ~ Bostons have my heart 100%. Our boys only have 6 months between them and are so different.

Thanks for posting the photos and the amazing story.

Sherry at the Zoo said...

Oh...I do love the licker sisters! They are beautious beasts! It's hard to watch our pets grow old, isn't it?