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Posts Tagged ‘German shepherd’

Friday arrives too quickly to invent mysterious melodrama.  However, if you read these mundane Ranblin’ Randoms, you may discover, hidden among them, some secret messages about preserving youth.

We had dinner with old friends at an old place we all used to love.

Over the years, the four of us went regularly to a favorite restaurant elegantly decorated in Colonial style.  New owners have stripped the drapes and painted the walls light green.  They added an enormous bar, and we’re told they plan to rip out the carpeting and add all hardwood flooring.  We were stunned and a bit saddened by the new décor, but the people were warm and caring and the food was warm and good.  They say to stay young, you have to tolerate change.  Thus, in the interest of maintaining youth, we decided to return another day for another fine meal in somewhat stark splendor.

Before

Before

Herman’s Produce again.

I returned for the best tasting tomatoes, homegrown garlic, the prettiest eggplant ever, and “donut peaches.”  Wow!  If you haven’t tried these sweet little babies, now is the time. Summertime and the living is easy, especially when you have  farmer’s market resources like in Lexington, Virginia.   Note:  Trying new things will keep you young or at least keep you in a state of shocked adaptation.

Can you find the donut peaches?

Can you find the donut peaches?

Our weather forecasts have been consistently Hot/Muggy/Stormy.

But the local forecast for tomorrow is simply written as “Beautiful.”  That’s nice because Noche (the German Shepherd) and Judy (my niece) are arriving tomorrow for a farewell visit before they move to California.  We have become attached to Noche of course and have always been attached to Judy.  I’m afraid there will be tears at the close of their visit.  But in the interest of preserving youth, we must accept the ravages of change.  And I do plan to go out kicking and screaming, “NO!!!!!”

Judy and Noche on a previous visit

Judy and Noche on a previous visit

This week featured a trip to the dentist. 

Speaking of kicking and screaming, clean teeth are” in.”

Tooth Selfie

Tooth Selfie

And after a visit to the dentist my teeth are Vogue-cover worthy and no cavities either!  Chancy is the best dental hygienist ever, but she just got married.  That means I worry about her longevity (in the dentist’s office that is).  Babies have a way of changing things.  Of course personal longevity is at stake too, so in the interest of at least looking young via bright white teeth, I continue to take my chances with Chancy.

Replacing the Bathroom Floor

On the Way to New FloorFinally, we are replacing a much abused 26 year old master bathroom floor! Two of our expert handy-person friends are working on it now.  My own preparations included finding a place for everything where there is already no room.  There are now items like the bathroom scale in the clothes closet, extra toilet paper in the kitchen cupboard, shampoo in underwear drawers, and lotions and medicines in the linen closet.  I hope to relocate such items and restore them to their proper places in the bathroom before Judy arrives tomorrow or she may be in for a shock.

All my floors are pristine and germ free of course, because germs are the roots of all evil and the cause of premature death.  Notice that Paranoia is not included (but maybe should be) in the following list.

In case you missed any of the hidden messages though, here’s a summary of how to live a long and happy life:

Get a good dental hygienist.

Avoid germs.

Get a dog.

Don’t let family move far away.

Eat lots of fruits and vegetables.

Get a dog.

Try new things.

Accept change.

“Go with the flow.”

Get a dog,

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Noche and Judy

Noche and My Beautiful Niece

Noche the Beautiful

Noche doesn’t sleep in the bed, but stays on top of the bed to watch everything I do at my combo corner “office-nightstand.”

She is as clever and as smart as she looks too.

Noche viewed the pictures I took but as you can see, she is relatively unimpressed.

I will have to try harder and strive for more candid-camera shots to meet her expectations.

Bill and I are dog sitting but there is some question as to who is really in charge.

We almost forgot how much laughter comes with a pup in the house.

Like when Noche claims the doggy toy box is hers and brings each squeaky critter to the middle of the living room.

Or when she rolls over on her back to let us know she’s happy.

Or I love the “Lets play!” stance – tail up, paws down.  

So THAT’S where the Downward Dog yoga pose came from!   

Anyway, I am happy to announce there is a dog on my bed, and a lot of smiles in the house.

 

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This was shaping up to be a perfectly delightful holiday anyway, and I could only think of a few ways it could be better.

But then something magical happened – the notice of a gift that will be just a little late.  They say “anticipation is half the fun.”  It’s true!

In fact, I was like a child abed on Christmas Eve last night even if it was only December 17th.  I could hardly sleep for the excitement and awoke at 5 AM planning things.

I will need to buy some more toys now (lots more toys),

and yummy treats,

and I will have to get out the special serving dishes too,

and bring out the extra little bed!

You see, our friend, Noche is coming in January for a two week visit. Nochie was here for a few days in late October and we fell in love.  She was good medicine after we lost old Rozie because she brought laughter into the house once again.

Noche Adopts Babies

These Babies Need Me

These Babies Need Me

 Noche (pronounced Nochie) is my niece’s German Shepherd!  She (my niece) called yesterday to ask if we would be willing to dogsit.

Would we?

I told her I would have to discuss this with Bill but I would get back in touch.

Within 3 minutes I was back in touch!

Now it’s all in the planning and I haven’t been so excited since I was a kid dreaming of the perfect Christmas.

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These Babies Need MeI got my dog “fix” last week with the arrival of family who brought

their family dog.

Noche (pronounced No-Chay) is a beautiful German Shepherd who stole my heart.

Or maybe my heart was ready to be stolen missing Rozie.

Noche found Rozie’s toy bin and brought out each piece with

loving care and then claimed a weather beaten hedgehog as her own.

She claimed Rozie’s washed and ready-to-wear orthopedic bed too

and nestled in.

Noche Adopts Babies

I like to think she claimed us as hers along with all the rest.

My lovely niece and little brother and sister-in-law were here too.

What a joy to see them all.

But Noche stole the show and somehow I think she knew –

she helped to heal my broken heart.

Noche Confiscates Orthopedic Bed

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THE PUPPY’S TALE

“I was a very cute, happy, well adjusted puppy.  One night when I was blissfully sleeping, there was a terrible thunder storm with brilliant flashes of lightning.  Or maybe it was an earthquake or even a tornado.  In any case, at the same time as this event, a big heavy book fell off a shelf and hit me on my head.  It hurt.   My human mother came and comforted me but the pain and shivering didn’t stop for a long time.  And from that day on, I believed the sky would fall on me again and it might kill me.  And I have terrible nightmares.”

Sleepy Rozie

My name is Rozie.  I am an old dog now with a checkered past.  I am a rescue dog and have been rescued more than once.  No one knows my real story though.

I am a big, mean looking canine now, with a ferocious growl.   I can scare big men so I am a magnificent watch dog if I hear you coming.   The problem is I’m usually asleep.  They say that once, when a bear walked by, I just slept through the visit.

It should be noted that in my few waking hours, I am frightened.  I still remember the sky might fall and I watch the windows for a darkening sky or an unusual wind.  Backfires, gunshots, or a twig hitting the window are terrifying and thunderstorms are the worst.  They drive me (and my adopted lady, Dor) into a closet where sounds are muffled and smells are of comforting human clothing and old shoes!  My lady rubs me down with a dryer sheet to reduce static electricity. It feels pretty good but old shoes smell better.   Isn’t that a great idea though?

I am a very old dog named Rozie and still convinced the sky is falling because it fell on me once before, when I was a puppy.   And only my humans can save me.    There is no convincing me otherwise and I still have terrible nightmares.   My adopted humans want to help but all they can do now is hold  my paw through the hard times, and give me all their love.

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