Booming Banter

It’s funny the way a color is associated with love and happiness.

The Chinese value this color over any other. They call it Hong! It has an accent on it though not too be confused with Hong as in Hong Kong which means fragrant.

Seems a certain Italian of the third century a Saint Valentine must have like it too because big Rubrum Rosso hearts are all over the TV and the internet today.

Critters like me don’t see like humans do so for us today’s fuss is about something kinda dull. You’d call it grey!

More important than the color is sharing what it signifies.

Just snuggle up and smack a big kiss on your special persons ruby cheeks.

Blessing # 1008 – Red Away

This New Year is definitely throwing a few spanners in our works.

Ma was on duty last night at the store and while she was there someone broke one of her treasures. She was miffed about that because they didn’t say a word just left the poor little puppy lying on the floor with all his 1960s perfumed contents all over her carpet!

When she got home there was another disappointment. A lovely bunch of red roses were sitting in the kitchen window. Oh they’re lovely she said to the bro assuming they were for her. Oh they’re not for you he says they’re for my girlfriend she likes red.

I got off side!

This morning though there was blind panic. She took me for my first job when we got up and then after breakfast for a short trot as she had a zoom at 9:00.

As always I sat in on the zoom as I like hearing all those ladies chat. When that was over she was going to have lunch before setting off to one of her house clearance sales where she picks up more junk (aka treasure).

Before that she decided I needed another outing so I’d be comfortable if she was away for a long time. That’s when she nearly passed out. My rabies tag and my dog license tag had both disappeared.

Panic set in. We were retracing every step taken in the past 24 hours. The bro had to search the car and under the furniture. She did the bedroom where we’d had the zoom. Dad did the bathrooms and I even got in on the job with the kitchen.

No luck. So we had to set out and retrace ever outdoor step. She instructed us all to pray to the Saint of lost causes as apparently he can work miracles.

Sure enough he delivered. After ploughing through the snow in the back yard and finding nothing we eventually discovered the tags half a mile from home lying in the middle of the road.

They are a bit beaten up now as several cars must have run over them but who cares at least they are still usable unlike that poor little Scottie who spilled his smelly stuff.

Blessing # 1007 – St . Anthony

Gong Xi Fa Cai my loved ones. The year of the Ox got off to an interesting start for me I had to rescue my dragon!

Last night at 11:15 the bro called. He’d done the closing at his bakery job and had come out to go back to his dorm but his car wouldn’t start. The Father took the call as the Mother and I had already been snoring for two hours. So of course the Father wakes us up.

What the heck Ma asks am I meant to do. We’re an hour from campus. So the bro calls his room mate Junior and he picked him up. Junior doesn’t usually sleep till 4:00 am so it was no hardship for him.

The car was then locked in the parking lot and the AAA told him to call this morning.

So bottom line for this auspicious New Year I got to go to college! How many canines can say that.

It was fun for me that ride out East but a bit stressful for my humans.

The poor car has been towed to the shop and hopefully will live to drive another day. Although the bro says that car is really a load of $#!¥

Blessing # 1006 – Bull

As you know most mornings we meet Auntie Denise for our constitutional. We have a few different routes but our favorite is going to the park to see our flock of geese. They’re like family now!

Friends tell us they can set their clocks for when we three walk past their windows. We are nothing if not regular.

Ma tells me every day that she’s glad I rescued her as I not only give her lots of love I keep her fit and give her purpose.

Today since it was so pretty with more fresh snow we thought we’d get Auntie Denise to take our pics so you can see where we go.

After walking up the street to her house we head to a little secret shortcut carved through our neighborhood to the next. No cars pass there!

We then do a big loop round past Auntie Lori’s to the woods. Here there’s lots to sniff or as Auntie Denise says Instagrams to read from other critters. With the snow you see their tracks. Now I know what’s deer, bunny, squirrel or heaven forbid skunk before even putting my nose to the ground.

When we come out of the woods we hit the playground. It’s a lonely little place right now but soon the kids will be back as there are some mighty signs of spring with much birdsong.

Finally we reach our destination the pond. It’s mostly frozen right now but our big bird friends are still waiting for us. They’re faithful to us just as we are to them. We greet, they tweet and then we take the short road home!

Blessing # 1005 – Birds of a Feather

Herself is all smiles. She’s been away all day. Lunching and shopping and generally neglecting me.

When she smiles her pearlies are even brighter than usual as she had them professionally polished on Monday. She’s all proud of herself because her gum scores are good and she has no need for fillings.

She sits and pokes them at night we even have a basket full of picky things.

I gnaw on bones and raw hide like a real man and floss on rope like a cowboy. No sissy stuff for me.

They are in perfect shape my fangs and if she leaves me again tomorrow I’ll show them to her when she gets back. Bless this house or not!

Blessing # 1004 – Dental Works

Ma and I had an adventure this morning. You’ll have to take my word for it as we hadn’t the phone with us to record the episode.

We were out alone as Auntie Denise was busy and had just started our trot when this big black dog appears in the road ahead of us. It was on the loose and ran away very fast.

There was no way we could catch it.

We walked on about a half mile until we met a man shoveling his driveway. We asked him had he seen the dog and he said he had but it ran away from him too.

We walked on and about a mile later a man comes past in a Jeep and asks had we seen the dog!

Yes! We explained where and he told us the dog is very skittish. Seems he’s his neighbor’s daughters dog and the neighbor had been doggy sitting and he escaped.

Yikes! Poor soul clearly doesn’t know his way home.

He gave us the dogs name and we said we’d call and give him treats and take him to our place if we found him. The man also explained that the poor pet loves to ride in a car so that would be the easiest way to get hold of him. We were two mile from home so far from our car!

We went on another mile towards home and low and behold who appears again but the big fella. Now we call his name. Again he takes off in the opposite direction. I promise you I didn’t squeak at him even once. Maybe if Ma had let go of me I could have caught up with him.

We get home and Ma is explaining to Dad when out the back window who do I spot but the big lad again.

Ma goes out and calls him by name. This time he looks around but you guessed it off he went galloping again.

So Ma abandons us, gets in the car and takes off after him but she couldn’t find him.

So she posted on our neighborhood watch site but no responses yet.

I’m keeping all front covered as I’m worried about that critter. I do hope he is found.

Please pray for the stray!

Blessing # 1003 – Lookouts

My Mom was having a rant this morning when we were out with Auntie Denise. She does that from time to time! I just listen and look serious!

She checks the British news in the morning and is often shocked that so little of what is happening in the world is reported by the US networks.

Today was a typical example. There has been a major dam burst in India caused by a glacier slip. It’s all over the British papers and news stations and of course in India too. Many people have died but there wasn’t a word about it on the morning news programs here.

Why is that?

We get it that the Super Bowl was the headlines but not a single word about this disaster!

It’s understandable that there’s a lot going on in this country that is newsworthy and worrisome but a little consideration for global events might help people realize just how fortunate they are and how much they have to be thankful for.

Done! Rant is over. Benefit?

It makes Ma walk even faster than usual which is ideal for me on a freezing cold day. I need to lie down now! It was a footie frenzy!

Blessing # 1002– Exercising Empathy

Ma and me have started following the Biden canines on Twitter. Their cat is there too but we’re not so interested in felines. Champ and Major are taking a lesson from my book and issuing press releases. They do say imitation is the sincerest form of flattery.

FOLTOS was on with them this morning taking about the importance of paw people during the pandemic. We got a glimpse of their house. It’s seems a little empty. Maybe they haven’t moved all their things in yet.

There’s a lot more signs of animal life around our place.

We felt reassured that we’re in good company when we got a peak inside HRH The Princess Royals place this morning.

She’s happy apparently that Scotland beat England at the Rugby yesterday.

Her place looks likes such a good place to live. Makes you feel you could feel right at home there. Hope she’s cheering for Ireland now!

Blessing # 1001 – Inside Insight

We hit a big number in our blessing count today. Who’d have thought we’d get this far.

For us Irish though it’s nothing out of the ordinary!

Ma was on a call this morning and I lay in bed listening. There are a lot of people in the world who have big problems that can’t see their families. I feel sad for them.

I’m so glad I have my bro who took me out today to his Uni. Also a nod to Ma who walked me miles in the sunshine and to my Dad who cut my chicken up real fine for my dinner.

That’s why I’ve decided we’re going to keep going there is just so much to be thankful for. It’s good for the soul!

Blessing # 1000 – Counting On

It was a glorious day for our trip up north. We felt like we were on vacation.

We had a little picnic on the way and took a few pics before we got to our destination.

We were really good and kept our social distance from Miss Laura and her brood but we sneaked in a very quick hug for her and her daughter Laurel and lots of cuddles with her three pooches.

We did a BIG walk around her town as it was a balmy 37F (+2C). We dreamed we were in Connecticut. I’ve never been there but Ma and Pa lived there long long ago.

They loved it so and miss all the people and places they knew there like the bandstand on the green!

The area where Laura lives is called the Western Connecticut Reserve so go figure a few settlers had the same idea as Ma.

We felt so happy to see our dear hearts and to have the hope that someday soon we can give them bigger hugs and even kisses again.

In the meantime we exchanged some early Valentine’s Day gifts and good wishes.

Blessing # 999 – Loved Ones