If you get up early enough in the morning, you can sometimes catch the Moon. This ancient ritual harkens back to our ancestors, the wolves, who chased & howled at the moon. Now we scowl & growl at the moon, too. But if you get up early & sneak a peak upwards, when the Moon isn’t paying attention, you can make a wish when you glimpse it. It often results in a bounty of rewards…like new toys & bones. Try it! Let me know if it works for you.
So last night, we were hanging out with Mom, watching “Dogs 101″ about very rare breeds. I liked the New Guinea Singing Dog, & Maezi liked the Thai Ridgeback – until she didn’t – then she started talking back to it. She didn’t think they were friendly enough, except for Magic, the one that surfed.
At the beginning & there was a bit on jackals, our wild cousins. Dang, they are CUUUUUTE!
But they also have a dark side – did you know that Anubis, is the ancient Egyptian Jackal-headed god of the afterlife & was charged with protecting the tomb of the dead (mummy)?
I know this because my Mom is an Egyptophile geek & well, it rubs off…
Anyway, watching this whole dog-fest made me realize that my summer vacation is just about over, really, & it’s time to get back to the limericks. Besides, my wild cousins are just so darned adorable looking, they inspired me.
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………love the ears.
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There once were some sad quiet jackals
Whose silence meant many raised hackles
…..But they teased the riffraff
…..And they had the last laugh
Now the wilderness rings with their cackles.
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Photo credits:
Two Jackals – Paul Mannix, Flickr; Anubis & laughing jackal, public domain & wiki.
Next week’s limerick breed: TBD
So…Maezi has just completed her “Terrible Twos”. Since she’s 3 now, maybe she’ll stop pulling my hair & stealing my toys & ambushing me when I’m napping…oh well, maybe not.
The best thing about parties at our house is that everyone gets a toy. I like the purple – although, I’m not entirely sure what she sees in the other one. Eww. Too hairy.
Happy Birthday, Maezi!
ssOssO
(yes, those are dog kisses)
The insects chirp, the birds twirp & tweet flitting in the sky, the fan whirs in oscillation. The Refrigerator hums & the local riffraff starts the Bark Fest down the hill.
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Ah, the sounds of summer. I was hanging out on the patio, when I was startled by a really BIG bee. Only it wasn’t. It was a hummingbird with wings beating so fast that it sounded like one of those giant black carpenter bees. It woke me right out of my doze.
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I could hardly think to grab the camera…
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In the heat beat the wings of a Hummer
With my tail keeping time like a drummer
…..The days are so hot
…..Let’s enjoy what we’ve got…
All hail to the Dog Days of Summer.
It was 109 degrees here today. I didn’t even know there were that many degrees. But Maezi & I have a sure-fire treat to beat the heat. Put your nylabones in the refrigerator till cool… then gnaw.
Mmmmmm.
So – I’m minding my own business, out in the grass this morning, planning to do some ‘business’ when I’m ambushed by a wiley invisible adversary. I never know when it will strike, but it is very stealthy. It gets me at least once a week. I have no idea why it picks on me…
First, I hear a kind of whine, like a balloon expelling air. Then, there’s kind of a wheeze…
Then I am overwhelmed with the power & magnitude of its spritzing misty omnipotence.
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On the other hand, I’m pretty dewy with nourishing moisture all over the tips of my fur & I feel cool & comfy.
In fact, it is so wonderful, I just want to share it with my Dad. He is still in bed. I just know he’ll love it.
Frankly, it’s not so bad after all. In fact, I highly recommend it. Keeping cool has never been so effortless.
Hot dog!
Getting hot already? Me, too. For some scientifically unexplainable reason, our yard exists in some heat vortex, where it is about 1,000,000 degrees hotter than anywhere else in the valley. Ok, so maybe I exaggerate. But only a little bit.
This summer is blazingly hot & also cloudily cool…ah…I loooove the overcast days. It makes me feel happy to have fur. But how is it this morning? Thought I’d share a few of my favorite tips to beat the heat, but I got a little distracted…
One of the things I discovered this summer, well, re-discovered actually, is the peculiarity of the drip watering system. There is a whole hierarchy of functions & dignitaries that interact to make it work, much like a municipality. I personally think it’s possessed.
Anyway, I was just minding my own business, checking out the yard on my usual morning rounds & I saw that the little black tube was leaking water. How was I supposed to know that it’s supposed to leak – slowly, over a long period of time? How did I know that it was supposed to have that little “governor” on it?
I sort of figured that the water was stuck in the tube & needed help getting out. So I helped it. A simple bite was all it took to free the water – & what’s the thanks I get?! I got an faceful of water, the tube started writhing like a snake, water arc-ing like a civic fountain & I think the tube was having fun at my expense. The “governor” got away, even though it was supposed to be a life-long job. I think that I was just a dupe in the whole plan anyway.
And you should have heard the uproar! I didn’t know that my Mom knew that kind of language. I didn’t even understand some of it. The rest of our morning was spent on a discussion about how the hardware store wouldn’t open for another 1/2 hour & other miscellaneous minutia.
After some careful surgical procedures, a new “governor” was installed. On the upside, I was nice & cool.
What’s that?! Oh, my heart! How it quickens
And pounds up and down like the dickens
…..That mesh is so queer
…..But why should I fear?
It’s only a wire for the chickens…
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..Maezi Guest Blogs
Auggie finds himself in “Limerick Limbo” this week. He is working on the next breed limerick, but he’s been kinda busy with a special project, too, so I jumped in. Actually, I like jumping in – sometimes I jump where I’m not supposed to, but then, I consider myself to be fearless. Ok, except when it comes to smelly possums. Really. It was huge!
Speaking of jumping in, I am very curious. Can’t get enough of poking around & I’m always busy. For instance, what do they keep behind that wire? That chicken wire? Is it some secret? & why do they call it chicken wire…? Well?
I was so excited that my “cousin” got to come for a visit, that I completely forgot about the next dog limerick.
You had me at hello...
We had previously only corresponded by phone. Her name’s Lauren & she’s great!
We had a good time hanging out & getting acquainted. We played a little fetch but mostly I played “keep away the dog toy”. I always won that one – she’s not as fast as I am.
Maezi & I took turns showing her around. She didn’t have a dog growing up, so we taught her all about “table scraps” – the pros & cons – & also the correct sitting position for the optimum lap time. But the most enjoyable lesson was on how to pet dogs. It’s an art. Requires many hours of practice. We give her an A.
Hey, why do you have hot dog breath?
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Happy 4th everyone! We’re gonna watch the birds parade by today.
