Couldn't resist this face

Yup. Back to cute statues again. Couldn't resist this one:

And just for fun, a beautiful blossom too:

Do you think they like dogs?

I've posted about this yard's statuary before, and they've changed it up a bit to feature soooo many dogs. They still threw in a couple of birds as well, and there's even a squirrel (if you squint had enough). My kind of place.

Street art in the making

Gotta say we have a very vibrant artistic community. Walking down one of our favorite streets tonight, we came across this enticing invitation to create sidewalk art in the frames helpfully provided. If I could draw a stick figure that would even remotely resemble a person or other creature, I'd be picking up a piece of chalk and getting the ball rolling. Alas, my artistic skills are confined to swirls, loops, and geometric shapes, so no go. As things get added to the gallery, pictures will be forthcoming.

And now, to finish off the day, Bailey with the biggest grin showing just how happy she is with her life.

Frank BetaMax saga continues

The good news is that Frank BetaMax is being fed - confirmed by a neighbor who has been looking out for him for some time. The more interesting news is that Frank has not accepted the new terms at Nick's house. Nick's Mom explicitly told Frank he is feline non grata at their home, that his behavior (swatting at a wobbly dog) is unacceptable, and he is not welcome in these parts. Frank's response:

 Flopping down on the porch at the front door. The NERVE.

Our Vet has a very special greeter

I can't say enough good things about the veterinarian Nellie and Rascal have the privilege to visit. They receive excellent care from everyone associated with the practice. More importantly, however, is the proper and joyful greeting they get when they visit. Meet Dolly:

Frankly, I find excuses to visit just to see her. 💗

One bundle of cuteness after another

Yesterday's post featured Toots being all cute and fancy. Today, she has competition. This adorable Samoyed puppy (still waiting to inform his folks of his name), has come to enchant the neighborhood. My vote for his name is Cloud (because yes, petting him is like petting a cloud), or, if they want to create intrigue, the Japanese word for cloud, Kumo. No matter what his name ultimately turns out to be, he will always be Sweetie.

Ahhh. Spa day

There's nothing better than a day at the spa. Or at least a bath, a good clip and brush out, and then putting on the fancy bow. Life's good when you're a pampered pup. Toots LilMaMa is the size of a tiny bunny, and oh so cute. That's not a puppy beside her.... Just sayin'.

  And now looking very fancy:

An interesting mix for animal lovers

One of the many things I love about the surrounding neighborhood is the variety of little surprises encountered on walks. One such example are these two beautiful dogs taking their job of guarding the house seriously. Nearly hidden behind a tall hedge, if you're not paying attention (i.e. being very nosy), you would miss the elegant path to the front door where the dogs are stationed.

Another fun find was this catio someone thoughtfully built so their kitty could enjoy the outdoors without being hurt or preying on hapless birds. The cat is in the lower left corner.

Last, but not least is one of my favorites. This statue of St. Francis is outside a school we pass by from time to time. It's set in a garden the students maintain, which is a great way to teach children to have respect for nature. Just love it.

Dog park friends and one derpy dog

One plus for going to the dog park is getting to meet and make new dog friends. This week it was two enormous Golden Retrievers who couldn't get enough in the way of rubs and scratches, and who happily played with the other dogs in the park as if they had been best buds for years. 

Then there were the regulars, Husky Mom with her enormous Shepherd/Husky mix son.

And last, but not least, and not at all part of the dog park because he lives in a different state altogether, Bailey being a big derp.

You just gotta love dogs!

Wish I could nap like that

Now that Nick's Mom is home full-time, he no longer requires my visits. Apparently, he is so relaxed and happy, he's chosen to take deep afternoon naps like this. That's one passed out pup.

Some sketches are spot on

Scotty, Nellie's dog park best pal, lends himself beautifully to caricature sketches. The ears standing very tall while the longest tongue on the planet hangs out it too good to keep secret. 

The original:

The sketch:

I rest my case.

 

Every now and then, I amaze even myself

While I do like trying to figure out how to fix things, and the cheaper the better, every now and then the solution is so stunningly easy, it amazes me. So, here was the issue. One of our dog beds that had a bolster running around two sides, decided to fall apart - the bolster that is. Not surprising, since the fabric holding the stuffing in was more like toilet paper than real cloth. So, being the fixer, I cobbled together some pillow slips and stuffed the batting in with the cheesy cloth taped together, and well, you don't need to know the details of that mess. It turned out to be more of a problem since it was too big for the cover and it required two of us to muscle it into place every time the bed was washed. Not fun. So the last time we were struggling with it, I decided to just throw it out and let the dogs lie on a perfectly comfortable bed with nothing to lean against. That's not breaking any laws, right? Well, Nellie and Rascal  were none too pleased with that arrangement. So I hauled the tossed bolster out of the trash (fortunately nothing else had been tossed in) and decided to figure out a solution that actually worked. And I did. Okay, it's not perfect, but it serves the purpose nicely, is very easy to stuff in, and the dogs have given their blessing for the arrangement. Whew!

I started with cut off legs of sweat pants. Now, you're clearly wondering why perfectly good sweat pants would be cut off. Well, five pairs were sacrificed for the first hip surgery. Let's leave it at that. I saved the pieces thinking they would ultimately make pockets for some sweat shirts, but that never happened. So, being a miser with fabric, the pieces were in a drawer just waiting for a higher calling. 

 The next step was to sew them together to make a tunnel, tie off one end, start stuffing, and then tie off the other end. The bed needed two. It took hardly any time at all. This is the bed already stuffed on one side, with the next bolster ready to go.

While the sewn bolsters clearly don't fill the entire space, it's close enough for rock 'n' roll. And again, the dogs approve so that makes it A-OK.

Bailey being soothed with dog candy

Our friend Bailey, who is also going through a tough time with flooding and torrential rains far north of us, has not been happy with the situation at all. Definitely do not blame her. Fortunately, her Mom knows just what to do, and it being Christmas and all, it made sense. Snuggling on a comfy bed with a huge chewy is the best way to relax.

A new Picasso?

Knowing Nick is to appreciate his genius on so many levels. But even Nellie and I had no idea he was an aspiring artist. While he has certainly demonstrated his awesome spelling and writing skills in the past, painting was unexpected. Nellie and Rascal both feel he has such talent as to warrant a trip to Big Sur to study plein-air painting overlooking the beautiful vistas that area supplies. The way we discovered this new accomplishment was the Christmas card he made and which his Mom mailed to us. Please enjoy the new, upcoming artist for the new year and bask in the glow of his genius.

Little Ruby Tuesday

On a whim I phoned a friend and business partner from waaaay back in the day. I had checked out what she was up to online (as one does), and was far from surprised that she was thriving with her business and life. Her energy and sense of purpose gave me no doubt she would be successful in any path she chose. Our conversation was lengthy and lovely and at the end, she sent pictures of one of her former (sadly passed) office managers. Ruby Tuesday, a rescue, was given to her and she knew just how to integrate her into her busy schedule. Made her a greeter and supervisor. Now, those roles required professional attire which made her clients fall in love with her sweetness all the more. Buckle up for the Ruby effect.

A Thanksgiving blessing

Quincy lives in Northern California, which is unfortunate (not for him - he's very happy where he is) for me, because he is the sweetest little guy and it would be so lovely to have him around. Alas, my brother is unwilling (understandably) to move closer to us just so I can have the opportunity to cuddle with such an adorable boy. Quincy enjoys his long walks on the beach and being the pampered young man he is. Just recently he had to go through a dental procedure, which his Mom and Dad have said makes him peppier and more alert than ever. To prove it, they sent these:

That's exactly the kind of pep and vigor I have on Thanksgiving, so yay Quincy.

A genius business plan approved by our doggy friend Nick

Though I am happily retired, it has been suggested that it might be time for a side hustle. After letting Nick's Mom know I was painting over some letter openers (that I want to just give away) which had my name and business info from 35 years ago, she mentioned a few ideas for businesses to add to them to advertise. Mind you, I value her for her brains, dry wit and wicked sense of humor. Decorative Asbestos Tile - hard nope. Bespoke Athletic Ascots - tempting, but nope. Conversion Therapy for Straight People - interesting, but again nope. And last but not least - Gourmet Seaweed Twinkies and Coffee - that has possibilities, but nope. Then inspired by her suggestions, we discovered that Nick was totally on board with one of my ideas. His Mom jumped in to help with a comprehensive business plan. Not to brag, but it is genius.

At this point, I naively thought we had sorted it all out - meaning it wouldn't happen of course - but she came up with a terrific marketing plan. After all, if no one knows you're in business, it won't go very far. 

Now there are two downsides to all this. The first is that I can hardly keep my own yard in check, much less anyone else's garden. The other, far more important issue is that as upper management, Nick would be required to actually work for a living instead of simply bossing his Mom around. That would prove difficult.