While The Human Is Away

Sam;s badge by Zoolatry.

Jan:  Many thanks to Ann of Zoolatry for the lovely graphic of Sam and to all who have visited, left a comment, or sent an email since we posted Thursday on Sam's health issues:  (Body here, personality missing.)  I can't get around to visiting all of you to leave a comment, so I started to reply to those commenters I have an email address for, then thought better of it since I don't want Google to shut my email down thinking I'm spa--ing.  But everything has been appreciated. 

Sam is sleeping for a few hours at a time now and then pacing at least two hours before sliding to the floor wherever he is.  The weather has turned cold again so I have to lift him to his feet to walk him to his bed, lift him onto it, and maneuver him down, then position his legs so he can be comfortable.  When he is up and wandering, I have to keep an eye on him as he gets himself into tight places and could get hurt.  Or yank out the computer cords, or blow up the house (gas space heaters), or ... the list is endless.

He has moved furniture, including a bureau and a bookcase, gotten his head stuck between "floors" of the cat tree, tried to burn his nose on a hot heater, and worn me out from extricating him from places it isn't possible for such a big dog to be.

After he got "tangled" in Marcus's crate the other night, I was surprised to see he again wandered into it by accident on Saturday.  This time he walked straight in, waited, then u-turned to his left without falling over, and walked out of the crate.  I was thrilled.  But then he went to the corner outside the bathroom and stood there so long I backed him up and turned him around. 

Sam has not made a sound since he had the seizure on the 5th.  Not a bark or a whimper.   One really weird observation.  A dog's whiskers are sensors.  They have a purpose, one being to help him to not bump into things.   I noticed several days ago Sam's whiskers are gone.  I can't imagine what happened to them.

He is keeping me busy!   And now the crew can have their blog back.

BUDDY:  Okay, guys, she's going to shut the computer down soon, so we have to hurry.

MICAH:  I didn't think she would ever stop talking.

CYNDI:  Who gave her permission to take over our blog?

PERCY:  Uh ... I think I did.

MERCI:  Why would you do that?

PERCY:  Because she asked if we would mind if she said a few words and I said okay. 

RUSTY:  Were you drinking?  You know when it comes to words she can't count!

CYNDI:  That's okay this time.  It was for our Sam.

MARCUS:  We can all use a good laugh and we figure you can too, so we hope you will enjoy our Sunday Smile for today.

MERCI:  This is what Susie the Beagle does when her human is not home.

MICAH:  What do you dogs - or cats - do while your human is away from home?


If the video doesn't play, click here.

We didn't have a chance to do an actual selfie for today.  We hope it is okay to let Zoolatry's picture of Sam stand-in for one today.

Join the Sunday Selfie blog hop hosted by the Cat on My Head blog.

Micah's Sunday Selfie

MICAH:  Hey, Jan, are you there?  Is this camera on?  I can't see myself in the lens.  How do I look?

BUDDY:  What are you doing?  You look like an out of focus giraffe.

MICAH:  Do you think anyone will know it's me?

BUDDY:  Well, they will now that you've announced yourself.

MICAH:  Good.  I would hate to be unrecognizable for my first selfie post.

BUDDY:  I think this is a good time to present the Sunday Smile video.

MICAH: Two labs jumped in a canoe when it started to float away and a third dog swam out to  rescue them.

BUDDY:  What teamwork!  One lab dropped the rope in the water and the rescue dog towed them to shore. 


If the video doesn't play, click here.

Join the Sunday Selfie blog hop hosted by the Cat on My Head blog.

Dog Thief and Cat Burglar

SAM:  Buddy's birthday was Friday and we had a quiet celebration.  Well, it was quiet until Marcus started singing Happy Birthday in that high tenor that sounds more like a soprano yelp he has.

BUDDY:  Saturday morning I got this lovely birthday card from WeBeesSiameezers. Thanks, Pipo and Minko.  And thanks to all who took the time to leave a comment or send an email. 

RUSTY:  Buddy had a good birthday.  Jan had a stressful day.  It was one of those anything that can go wrong did days.   For example ...

MERCI:  So he couldn't steal any more bowls of cat food, Jan blocked Marcus's access to the food bowl with a dishpan blockade on the dryer and a small cooler on the stool.  Because of that blockade, Micah and Percy accidentally bumped into one another and got into a knock-down drag-out, things flying, kitchen heater pilot light snuffing battle.

CYNDI:  Late that afternoon Jan heard strange sounds coming from the kitchen.  Marcus came to sit beside her.  He was licking his mouth.  Jan checked the cat food bowl.  Every crumb was gone and the bowl was damp.

PERCY:  Jan put Marcus in a time out in his crate.  She still can't figure out how he accessed the food blockaded into a corner (against a wall) on the dryer.

MICAH:  After a while she put the dogs outside.  Marcus came inside trying to get Merci or Sam to wrestle, which he isn't supposed to do in the house.  Not that he pays attention.

RUSTY:  Jan yelled, "Marcus, do you want to go back in your crate?"  Marcus stopped dead.  He looked at her, looked at the crate, looked at Jan and walked into his crate.  Wow, déjà vu.  We can remember posting the same event a while back.  Guess Marcus recognizes when Jan has had e-n-o-u-g-h!

MARCUS:  That was not an admission of guilt or wrongdoing.  I had merely decided I wanted to have dinner in my private dining car; however, Jan said she wasn't a waitress and my dinner was later served in the kitchen.

A Cat Being A Cat

MICAH:  We have a good laugh for you today.  Two Sunday Smiles, actually.

MERCI:  They aren't related but they go so well together, like two sides of a door.

RUSTY:  Heehee, Merci.  Two sides of a door. That's a good one because that's exactly what they are.

MARCUS:  Except these are "opposite" sides of two doors.  How can that be, you ask?

CYNDI:  When you have cats being cats, you have to expect the unexpected.  Did I say that correctly?

BUDDY:  Yes, Cyndi.  I have lived with you and other cats cats since I was 2 or 3 weeks old and I can speak from experience you will always do the unexpected!

PERCY:  These are both very short.  This is what happened after someone installed a cat door and the cat used it for the first time.  Here is Part 1.


If the video doesn't play, click here.

SAM:  And here is the view from the other side of the door.  Even though it isn't the same door, it's ... Well, it's Part 2 of a cat being a cat.


If the video doesn't play, click here. 

Jan:  Now that you've had a couple of laughs, I want to get serious.  If you own a dog, please LEASH him.  If you live in this area and you don't think the leash law pertains to you, you are a pompous moron. My dogs have been the objects of more attacks than I can count and I have had more injuries than I want to remember since I adopted Merci in 2003 and three dogs attacked her two months later.  A neighbor once gave me a golf club for protection from a very persistent and aggressive territorial doxie but the heft was wrong and wasn't any protection. 

Last night when Marcus and I topped the parking lot hill and headed for the sidewalk, three - not one but THREE!! - dogs came racing at us, barking and growling.  All I had for protection was an almost empty water pistol.  Marcus and I stood still until the first one, a doxie, crossed the street and came within a foot or so of us.  It turned back when I squirted it.  The two across the street stopped just long enough for the biggest dog (a hound mix about Marcus's size) to tear up some turf with his back paws to mark his territory (with the scent glands on his paws), and then all three came charging across the road.  If we had been on their side of the road, they would have torn into Marcus before that doxie had reached us the first time. And because of his breed, Marcus would have been blamed as the one who started it.  At the last moment,  the asinine S.O.B. who owns the dogs called them home.  I never saw him, only heard his voice, so I don't know if he was in the house while his dogs ran loose, or if he was sitting on his front porch watching and waited till I yelled at the dogs to go home.

The last time a dog came after us (2 or 3 weeks ago), Marcus nearly killed me yanking me around so hard trying to protect us that I was bent double with chest pain, struggling to breathe.  I had to resort to trying to kick Marcus's legs out from under him to get his attention.  Once I had his attention, he alternated between checking on me and looking back to check on the dog, and we somehow made it home with the other dog following most of the way, but with no further incident.  

Marcus, the dog who has been attacked without provocation so many times on our walks, was such a brave dog last night.  He stood quietly beside me.  He never so much as barked when those dogs came at us.  I was so proud of him!  Terrified but proud.

Carrying pepper spray doesn't work.  I learned the hard way it clogs and doesn't work when needed.  I read somewhere an air horn will scare off dogs, but someone gave me one and ... no way will I carry it!  I am, however, wondering how I can get my hands on the liquid from a jar of some VERY hot chili peppers to put in my water pistol.  

Anyone have any suggestions on how to protect myself and my dogs without having to carry around a sledge hammer?

Law of the Youngest

BUDDY:  Marcus, you stole my treat!

MARCUS:  What treat?  I didn't steal any treat.

SAM:  The one Jan put on Buddy's nose.

MERCI:  Why was Buddy wearing a treat on his nose?

BUDDY:  I wasn't.  But I could have.  And if I did, you would have stolen it!

MARCUS:  But you didn't have one and I didn't steal it.  So why am I being accused?

SAM:  Because you're always the guilty one.

MERCI:  And if you didn't steal Buddy's treat this time, you have to be guilty of something else.

SAM:  It's the :Law of the Youngest..  The youngest is always guilty and you're both the youngest and the always guilty. 

BUDDY:  And since you don't remember it, here's a video of what you would have done if you could have done it but you didn't because you got away with it this time!

MARCUS:  I have no idea what you are talking about, but if I didn't do it, I apologize anyway.

BUDDY:  Well, I hope you've learned your lesson.  Don't do it again!



If the video doesn't play, click here.

The Blankie Drape

JAN:  Hey, which one of you ate half of the sausage in the pan that was intended for my dinner?

RUSTY:  It wasn't me, but if you intend to ask for the guilty party to return it, you might want to think twice about it.

MICAH:  What are you supposed to be, Rusty?

RUSTY:  I'm supposed to be warm but I'm cold.  This wet, chilly weather isn't comfortable.

CYNDI:  So why are you wearing a lampshade on your head?

RUSTY:  I'm not wearing a lamp shade; I'm wearing a drape.  Jan left it on the back of the chair and I appropriated it for a blankie, but it isn't very warm.

PERCY:  Is winter coming early this year or are we just growing colder ... I mean, older?

BUDDY:  Jan didn't use gates when I was a pup, but I can imagine the fun this Corgi pup had breaking loose. 

MARCUS:  I don't have that problem.  When I was very small, I climbed the gate Jan used to try to keep me out of a room.  And before long, I could jump over it.

SAM:  But this guy evidently neither climbs nor jumps.

MERCI:  But he is one determined - and noisy - little guy.  Enjoy our Sunday Smile video.


If the video doesn't play, click here.

Country Club Versus Country Kitchen

Buddy says, "Da truf, da hole truf and nuttin but da truf!"

BUDDY:  The other day Jan asked Mr. Doug to give her a ride to the bank.  Then she asked if they could stop at Badcock Furniture so she could check out the store.  It was on the way.

CYNDI:  We're going to share it just the way Jan told the story to us.

Mr. Doug:  Are you sure it's on the way?

Jan:  Yes, it's just a block this side of the bank.  And then I won't have to hike into town to check them out.

CYNDI:  As they drove by where Jan thought it was supposed to be ...

Jan:  Oh, that's right, it was another furniture store there and it closed.  I wonder where Badcock is? 

Mr. Doug:  Maybe someone in the bank knows.

BUDDY:  Inside the bank, Jan asked a bank employee who was walking by if she knew where Badcock Furniture had moved.

Woman #1:  Yes, I do.  Do you know where the Country Club is?  It's right across the street.

Jan:  So if I go SOUTH, Badcock will be directly across the street from the Country Club?  Are you sure? 

Woman #1:  Yes, directly across the street.

CYNDI:  Mr. Doug was even more astounded at the directions than Jan was. Neither of them remembered any stores in that area SOUTH of town.

BUDDY:  Jan went to a teller to do her banking.  When she finished, Mr. Doug was talking to Woman #2 in Customer Service.

Woman #2:  Yes, it's right there.  You can't miss it.

Jan:  It's right where?

Woman #2:  Just head NORTH and Badcock is directly across from Country Kitchen.

Jan:  I'm sorry, are you saying Badcock is NORTH - across from Country Kitchen ... not the Country Club?

Woman #2:  *looks at Jan as if she's a bit lost*  Yes, you can't miss it.

CYNDI: We think this is payback for those times Jan has been asked directions.  She is notoriously bad at remembering names of streets.

BUDDY:  Yes, once she gave a guy directions by counting traffic lights before he should turn.  As he drove away, she hollered, "W-A-A-A-A-I-T!  I gave you walking directions.  Those are one-way streets!

UPDATE:  We've had several ask if Jan ever made it to Badcock Furniture, so we thought we would let you know.  Yes, she did.  Woman #2 gave the correct directions.

Tears to Laughter

RUSTY:  Why are we posting this picture again?  The Team Cat competition is long over.

SAM:  We needed a photo in a hurry and this is it.  Don't worry.  It isn't stalking you.

RUSTY:  Oh, okay, if you're sure. So why are we posting today?

SAM:  It's been a rough few weeks and Jan has been very discouraged since Thursday.  Friday we did the Remembering Bridge Angels post and then we were all down and discouraged thinking of those we're missing (just since we began blogging) as well as the ones our friends have lost. 

RUSTY:  Yes, the idea was that everyone would share their bridge losses and we'd all feel better.  But we cried and couldn't read other posts, so we really let our friends down.

SAM:  We decided we don't want to stay depressed and looked for something to make us laugh.  We'd like to share ours with you.  You might need a laugh too. 

RUSTY:  This chihuahua should come visit the next time Jan uses a gate to close you dogs in the bedroom.

MARCUS:  I don't need his help.  I just leap over the gate.

SAM:  *mumble, mumble*  What a braggart!

RUSTY:  I get the sense this chihuahua has been practicing his escape technique.  What do you think?


If the video doesn't play, click here.

Bored Into a Coma

MERCI:  We love to tell tales on Jan, so we thought we would share a Sunday Smile with you today.

RUSTY:  Jan has been a bit intimidated by the "traffic light" timer at Toastmasters.  Depending on the purpose, you have to talk for more than "x"  but less than "y" number of minutes.

SAM:  It isn't that Jan can't talk for x - y minutes.  It's just hard to say something on a particular subject when the brain is blank and in panic mode.


MICAH:  Last Thursday she determined she would not stop talking on the subject until at least after the first light (green) went on.  Her objective was to give a 2 minute minimum evaluation of a 5 minute talk.

PERCY:  She finished her evaluation.  No light.  She kept talking.  Still no light.  She rambled all around whatever tidbits she could remember of the talk.  Still no light.

CYNDI:  The other members were being bored into a coma.. It seemed to her and probably to the others as if she had been talking FOREVER!

BUDDY:  Eventually she totally ran out of anything to say that was even remotely related to the speech. So she stretched out her arm to point to the timing light, leaned over the podium, and exclaimed, "Isn't this EVER going to come to an end!!"  That woke up everyone she'd lulled to sleep!  The laughter "woke" the timer. 

MARCUS:  Next meeting Jan will be the timer. She hopes she doesn't "zone out".  It's easy to do.

PERCY:  Have you ever seen a horse line dance?

MERCI:  Did you ever imagine you would see a horse line dance?

BUDDY:  Watch the footwork as the horse dances in a tight space.




If the video doesn't play, click here.

A Foxy Surprise

MARCUS:  This is so totally unfair.  I should have been there.  Why wasn't I invited?  

RUSTY:  Invited where?  Were you going on a trip?

MERCI:  No, he's upset he wasn't with us Saturday evening when Buddy, Sam and I walked Jan.

MICAH:  He's always upset about not being invited along.  What was so special about Saturday?

SAM:  Jan decided to leave the sidewalk to walk along the mill fence.  We reached the end just as a fox came trotting through an open gate.  It must have been on its way to the woods across the street.

CYNDI:  A real fox?  So that's what Jan was talking about when she came home saying she'd seen a beautiful animal. What happened?  Did it chase you?  Were you scared?  

BUDDY:  It was only about 4 yards away from us.  We all stopped dead and stared at each other until Sam got nervous and started making strange noises.  Then the fox turned and trotted back toward the mill.  First a  coyote, now a fox.  We hope there is not a bear living in the woods. 

PERCY:  We have Pixel, a ferocious 10-week old pup impersonating a wild animal, for today's Sunday Smile.  Watch how he ruthlessly chases off the family cat from his bed.

RUSTY:  Have you been drinking?  I didn't see anything ferocious about that pup.

PERCY:  I hope you're happy.  You just ruined my introduction.  Why don't we let our friends watch the video and decide for themselves!


If the video doesn't play,click here.

Golden Gravel Award

UPDATE:  Rusty, we are all sorry we forgot to post for your birthday.  Happy 11th!

  And thank you for this graphic to the sibes from Love is being owned by a husky.

MARCUS:  Hey, remember this photo of me with Sam in the background?  Cyndi thinks I should have loaned these shades to Jan until her eyes heal.  I wish I had thought of that last month.

CYNDI:  On second thought, I don't think dark glasses would have helped since it's winter here.  Jan wouldn't have been able to see where she was going and .... well, you all know what happened when she could see but didn't. 

MERCI:  She is looking less like a raccoon these days but still has two bumps/bruises above one eye and a little raccoon left.  She came home from Toastmasters Thursday and told us that a visitor asked about her strange "makeup".

MICAH:  Guess he thought she was in character for a speech, but quickly caught himself and asked, "Or is that an accident?" 

CAMERON:  We furries are wondering if the folks in Columbus wear weird makeup when giving a speech.  If so, Jan would fit right in at the moment.

RUSTY:  On the other hand ... er, leg, Jan's knee is not healing well.  We mentioned Friday that just as it was less painful, Marcus suddenly changed direction on a walk and rammed Jan in the knee.

SAM:  While Jan was fixing our breakfast Friday, Marcus did another sudden U-turn and rammed her in the knee again.  After she stopped screaming, she cried.  She claims bulldog breeds like me and Marcus have cinder block for a skull but that isn't true.  Colliding with her gives us a headache.

PERCY:  We have another Jeanne Robertson video clip for a Sunday Smile.  We figure if it made Jan laugh, it can make your human laugh.

BUDDY: So enjoy Don't Ask, He'll Tell with the surprise ending.  Oh, and Pam, you'll enjoy this.  Jeanne is a recipient of Toastmasters International's Golden Gavel award.  I was about to say Jan has a number of those from falling on our walks over the years, but I thought it read the Golden Gravel award. 



If the video doesn't play, click here.

DashCam Performance

PERCY:  Have we got a Sunday Smile for your humans today!  They should begin to limber up because they are going to want to keep up with the action.  

SAM:  You're right.  We've all been dancing in place with the video.

MICAH:  Sam, you're so big you have four left feet and a left tail.

RUSTY:  He's right, Sam.  There's no other way for you to dance except in place.

MERCI:  Well, he could move around but there would be a lot of crashing and breaking.

CYNDI:  And yelling.  Jan tends to yell when things start crashing and breaking.

MARCUS:  I don't have to break anything for Jan to yell at me.

CAMERON:  Marcus, there's a lot of leaping and bruising around you. We can only hope you don't add breaking to your list of talents.

BUDDY: Why don't we just leap into our Sunday Smile video for the week. This is video from a Dover Police DashCam.  The officer's performance had Jan almost rolling on the floor with laughter.   Will he ever live this down? 


If the video doesn't play, click here.

If you missed our weekend art, it can be viewed at Iron Paw Jenny.

Half A Mind

MICAH:  We are going to double your Sunday Smile today.  We just know you'll be going ahhhhhh.

MARCUS:  Yes, a double dose of man's best friend doing what he does best, watching out for his best friend.

RUSTY:  Just a minute.  How do you think you're going to get away with calling yourself "man's best friend."

SAM:  Pssst, Marcus, I warned you to never call us that in front of the ... um, the c-a-t-s.

CYNDI:  We can spell, Sam!  And we cats are every bit as loyal as you dogs.  Look how we've stuck by Jan even though she keeps hogging the computer and forgetting to put food in our bowl.

MERCI:  Have you considered the reason you're all so slim is because Jan put you on a d-i-e-t and deliberately forgets to fill your bowl?

CAMERON:  That's not true!  Unlike you d-o-g-s, we cats can control our appetites and Jan trusts us to eat sensibly.  She forgets to put food in our bowl for the same reason she forgets to feed you on a schedule.  She only has half a mind.

PERCY:  I'm going to tell Jan you said she only has half a mind.  That wasn't nice!

MICAH:  He said that because Jan is always saying things like, I have half a mind to make you dogs stay outside until you learn to wipe the mud off your feet before you come inside.  He was just telling the truth!

BUDDY:  Have you all forgotten our friends are reading this?  Where is the funny in Funny Farm when we're fighting amongst ourselves?

SAM:  I guess this is a good time to change the subject and introduce the videos.  The first one is a small dog racing along beside an ambulance taking his master to the hospital after a seizure.  Eventually, they opened the door for him so he could ride along.

(Sorry, that video is no longer available.)

PERCY: And the second one is Buddy. He jumped on the ambulance ledge when his human had a heart attack and was being rushed to the hospital. He rode that way for 20 miles, until a motorist flagged down the ambulance and Buddy was taken inside the vehicle.


If the video doesn't play, click Dog "Buddy" Rides Ambulance Following His Owner.

Outa Here

CYNDI:  We're just going to do a quick Sunday Smile post for you today.  But first, we have another regular feature

MERCI:  We always do weekend art, so we can't forget our black and white version of this week's art.  It's a shot from Christmas Lane.

BUDDY:  If you missed the original and our inverted snow scene copy, visit yesterdays Christmas Lane post.

CAMERON:  This is a video of confused cats.  They seem to be afraid of everyday items such as a printer or a washing machine.

RUSTY:  Do you know what is missing from this video?

SAM:  No, what?

MICAH:  A vacuum cleaner!

PERCY:  Oh, yeah, one of those suckers can clear the room in no time!

MARCUS:  Speak for yourself, Percy!  I'm ...

PERCY:  Here comes Jan with the upright.

MARCUS:  ... outa here! 



If the video doesn't play, click here.

The Black and White Sunday blog hop is co-hosted by Sugar the Golden Retriever and Dachshund Nola.

Mew Mew Quack

Rusty:  Micah keeps saying Jan in the doghouse, but you all know I claimed that doghouse a few years ago.  It's mine!  Jan needs to find her own.

Merci:  Why is Micah saying Jan is in the doghouse?  She didn't do anything bad I'm aware of.

Cameron:  That's because you dogs were busy walking Jan when she got herself into trouble.

Sam:  She did?  I don't remember anything unusual happening during our walk.

Cyndi:  You don't remember hearing the cat crying in the pen when you returned?

Buddy:  Yes, I do.  But there wasn't a cat anywhere inside the pen or outside it.

Percy:  When we came inside, we heard the cat crying again.  It was kind of faint.  Jan said it was coming from outside.

Micah:  Well, I wasn't outside.  Not exactly.  When Jan opened the back door, there I was, right where she left me when she shut the door - between the door and the screen. 

Marcus: Good thing you're not a fat cat.  It's no wonder you're upset with her.  She belongs in the doghouse. 

Rusty:  Not in my doghouse, she doesn't!  Get her out!

Merci:  Don't worry, it's a virtual place of punishment.  She's not physically in your doghouse. Besides, she wouldn't fit through the opening anyway.

Percy:  We posted several versions of our Christmas card yesterday.   You can view them all in Black and Blue Sepia Blizzard.  This is the black and white for the Black and White Sunday blog hop co-hosted by Golden Sugar and Dachshund Nola.


Buddy:  Our Sunday Smile is a short story of a duck with two kitties as best friends.


If the video doesn't play, click here.

Neighborhood Fruitcake

Cyndi:  It's the start of another week.  We hope this Sunday will be quiet and uneventful, unlike last Sunday when we had the scary weather.

 Micah:  This is the black and white version of this weekend's art.  We posted all the versions yesterday at We Are Better Artists.   Our favorite is the pencil sketch and it seems to be readers' favorite too.

Black and white Sunday blog hop is co-hosted by Sugar the Golden Retriever and Dachshund Nola.

Buddy:  We just have to tell this story on Jan.  She has earned the title of Neighborhood Fruitcake, in our eyes anyway.  We think the neighbors might be calling her something on the bad word list.

Merci:  Yesterday we dogs were outside in the pen.  We started barking and when Jan heard an itty bitty bark, she came running to the door to see if there was a small dog loose.

Sam:  A man and a woman were walking by at a slow pace.  Each had a puppy on a leash.  Jan started telling us to stop barking and be quiet.

Cameron:  But you guys paid no attention to her and what happened is all your fault because you wouldn't be quiet.

Rusty:  I was taking my mid-afternoon bath after my mid-afternoon nap and missed it.  What happened?

Marcus:  Jan yelled, "STOP! YOU'RE NOT PAYING ANY ATTENTION TO ME!"  The man and woman stopped and turned around slowly to look at Jan, who got very flustered knowing they thought she was yelling at them.  She didn't know what to do so she smiled and waved.  They stared, then turned and walked away.  We figure that couple will take a different route next time they walk their dogs.

Percy:  We have a fun video for your Sunday Smile.  Jan used to try to do exercises on the floor but gave it up and if you have a furry in your home, you know why.  Here is a fun video of dogs and cats interrupting  yoga exercises.  Happy Sunday.


If the video doesn't play, click here.

Buddy 10 Years and Nandi 11 Weeks

Buddy:  Have you missed us since we were offline a few days last week?  Well, in case you have, here is a picture of me doing one of my favorite things in the world - getting ready to eat a treat. 

Micah:  Yesterday we posted that Buddy turned 10 last Thursday.  Or somewhere thereabouts.  We don't know the exact day he was born, just that he was dumped when he was only three or four weeks old.

Merci:  There might be snow on the nose but he's still handsome and hasn't lost his appetite.

Cameron:  Merci, you're talking about him like he's old and you're young, but you're two or three years older than he is.

Marcus:  I hope I look as good when I'm her age.

Sam:  With the trouble you get into, Marcus, you can only hope you live to her age!

Percy:  On a safer note, we have a very short Sunday Smile for you.  This is Nandi, an 11-week-old elephant at the Reid Park Zoo.  Can you imagine arriving to work every morning and being greeted with such enthusiasm?  She's adorable!


If the video doesn't play, click here.

Cyndi:  Oh, Jan, can I have an elephant calf for Christmas?  I promise to stay out from under his feet.

Rusty:  We hope we are finally out of computer hell and on the road to accomplishing something worthwhile.  So much to do and so little computer time to do it.  :)

Blest Sunday Smile

Cyndi:  Ah, sweet Buddy, how well I remember when this photo was taken.  You climbed onto the stool only to find we cats had already emptied our food bowl.

Micah:  I wasn't born yet, but I can see the depth of Buddy's pain.  What a sad moment for a pup with a bottomless pit appetite.

Buddy as a pup.

Buddy:  You cats had no right to eat that food.  You knew I had my eye on it.  You should have waited until I emptied the bowl and then let Jan know the bowl needed a refill.

Cameron:  I'm sorry, but I need to ask this.  How could you not understand the cat kibble was for us C-A-T-S? 

Buddy:  I did understand.  But I didn't think you guys would mind sharing a bowl or three with me on occasion.

Merci:  This is the Sunday black and white picture.  You can see the other art versions in yesterday's post, Canine Vacuum.  A link to the Black and White Sunday blog hop is at the end of this post.


Rusty:  For our Sunday Smile, we have a short video of an energetic 14-week-old Vizsla puppy that can't be still when bored.  He always has to be the center of attention. 

Marcus:  He reminds me of someone.  I just can't put my paw on it at the moment, but his actions are so familiar.  Oh,wait, that's me!  I also have to always be the center of attention. 



If the video doesn't play, click here.

Sam:  This week the service cats Dezi and Lexi have asked others to join them in their weekly Blest Sunday post. We generally do Thankful Thursday but, hey, we are blessed, so why not participate!  

Percy:  Hey, Sam, I think we're supposed to actually mention some way we've been blessed.  How about the fact that Jan finally got our heat turned on last night?  It's never warm in here in winter, but at least it's a couple of degrees closer. 

Cyndi:  After last weekend, I hope Jan isn't expecting a tip for turning it on before spring.

Micah:  If she is, we could always tip her what she deserves for last weekend - 20 % of 40-odd degrees. 

Merci:  Cameron, you're our math expert.  What do we owe her?

Cameron:  Let's see.  Last weekend it was freezing cold and extremely windy, so it was something above 40 degrees in the house.  Multiply 40 by 3, divide by 5, add 6 so she doesn't turn into an icicle, and ... oops, sorry, she's going to become an icicle anyway.  Perhaps we should let her wear her winter coat and wrap in a blanket when we pay her what she's due?

The Black and White Sunday blog hop is co-hosted by Sugar the Golden Retriever and Dachshund Nola.

Frozen Sundae

Buddy: I thought today is supposed to be Sunday Smile day and Black and White Sunday, but it feels more like Frozen Sundae.

Micah:  I know what you mean.  It's so cold in here my teeth are chattering.  Good thing Jan threw some beds together for us kitties last night.

Cyndi:  Yes, she does this every winter.  She makes us beds of a dishpan lined with fleece and topped with a gizzy quilt.

Rusty:  My bed is a rectangular laundry basket lined with newspapers and and covered with an old dog bed.. 

Cameron:  Why are we talking about beds?  I thought we were going to post the black and white version of our weekend art. 

Sam:  We are ... just did.  That little guy sitting so regally in the back is you before you came to live here.  If readers missed the other versions and a little of your story, they can read yesterday's post, Live Like Royalty.

Percy:  Actually, we live more like impoverished royalty, but we have a home and each other, so we're happy.

Marcus:  And Jan got us three new dog beds just in time for this weather.  One ... two ... three ... aren't there four of us dogs?  I think we need another bed.

Merci:  And Jan will buy us one just as soon as she wins the lottery.

Rusty:  Doesn't she have to play to win?

Merci:  Well, yes, there is that little detail.

Percy: I don't know why Marcus is complaining.  He jumps the gate and sleeps on the bed anyway.

Marcus:  But I do like to spend time in the living room with all of you, so I need my own bed.  It's only fair.

Buddy:  Hang in there, Marcus.  Maybe Jan will knit you one if she learns to knit. 

Cameron:  We liked this video and hope it will make you smile too.  This is what happens when a tame buffalo meets the children's trampoline.


If the video doesn't play, click here.

The black and white Sunday blog hop is hosted by Sugar the Golden Retriever and Dachshund Nola.

B&W Selfie Smile Winners

Cyndi: Happy Sunday to all our six of our readers.

Rusty: Are you serious, we only have six readers?

Merci: No, Cyndi is exaggerating. We actually have seven.

Micah: I thought exaggerating meant inflating the numbers, not deflating them.

Camreon: I think you mean depreciating the numbers, not deflating them. Unless someone stuck a pin in the numbers.

Sam: That would likely be Jan. She's in such a crabby mood since she started deep cleaning the house and cut a chunk out of her hand. If there are any numbers floating around, she's more likely to stick a pin in them than to dust or vacuum them.

Buddy:  Well, I guess we better get right to our post before she sticks a pin in that too.  This is our black and white version of a photo we published yesterday.  To see it as our Saturday art in sepia, the original, and HDR-ish, visit Today We Are Ish.  Go ahead.  Click on the link.  We'll wait.


Marcus: We promised to announce the winners of our Howloween ... um, Halloween costume giveaway today.  We used Random.org to pick the winners.  Congratulations to -

Miley from Miley's Daily Scoop.
                  and
Dory from Dory's Backyard. 

Please send us your shipping address ASAP and Entirely Pets will send you both a costume.  Be sure to include the costume you would like from the Entirely Pets link and the size. 


Percy: Our Sunday Smile is a very short video of a cat using sign language to ask for food from his human.


If the video doesn't play, click here.

Daily reminder:  If you don't have a favorite shelter in the Vetericyn giveaway, please consider voting for PAWS, Norwalk CT once daily through October 15.   Many of you know of PAWS through Kevin from Animal Shelter Volunteer blog.  Your vote matters. 

1. Click on this link.  bit.ly/1qVZSBi  (it will open a new tab)
2. Click on "Click here to vote for a small animal organization". PAWS, Norwalk, CT will appear.
3.Click "Vote".

We want to support the Kitties Blue Sunday Selfie blog hop, so we will pretend our black and white photo for today is a selfie.  (We did pretty good, didn't we?)

The Black and White Sunday blog hop is co-hosted by Sugar the Golden Retriever and Nola the Dachshund.