Category Archives: Animalia

Weekend Coffee Share 6/4/16

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If we were having coffee, I would tell you I am worried about my dog. He hasn’t been well the past few days; lethargic, eating grass (to ease his tummy, I think), and vomiting his food on a few occasions.

Okay, maybe that’s not suitable conversation over coffee. But it’s what’s on my mind.

I grew up in an environment where cats and dogs were primarily consigned to the outdoors. Cats were mousers and dogs were watchdogs. I didn’t understand people’s close relationships with their pets. Something happens to your dog or cat? Okay, feel bad, but then get over it. It’s not like it’s your child or something.

Now I realize that any relationship we hold is a valuable part of who we are. Of course I care more about my children than I do my pets – and I certainly hope all parents would feel that way – but that doesn’t alter the relationship I have with my pets.

You know that phrase “it’s all relative”… not true, in my opinion. If something happens to your pet, if a baby bird falls out of its nest, if the centuries-old tree down the block is cut down… it can all matter to you, if you are in relationship with it.

So baby birds fall out of nests all the time. It’s part of nature. And it’s not like an endangered silverback gorilla being shot and killed in a zoo (which happened in Cincinnati this week). No, it’s not the same. But it’s also not relative. I can care about both.

I can care a heck of a lot more about the gorilla than the bird. And I can care a heck of a lot more about the safety of the boy who was believed to be in danger in the gorilla enclosure. But that doesn’t mean I shouldn’t care about a bird.

Caring about a bird or a pet does not take away from caring about any other living being. I can hug a tree and still care very, very much about world hunger and poverty and child abuse and war.

We obviously have priorities, and appropriately so. It’s all interrelated, but it’s not all relative.

Dang, here I go off on another rant during our coffee date. You’re going to dread coming over. I’ll stop now.

It’s supposed to get up to 100 degrees (F) today, something we’re not accustomed to here in the Pacific Northwest. I’m going to keep an eye on my listless little guy, and try to keep us both cool. I’ve got lots of yard work to do, but I’ll work on indoor projects and stay out of the heat as best I can.

I hope your weekend goes well. Thanks for stopping by.

Thank you Diana at PartTimeMonster.com for hosting the #WeekendCoffeeShare.

Weekend Coffee Share 5/28/16

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If we were having coffee, I’d ask you to pour. I’m still rather stove up from falling off a ladder yesterday. It was more like I “flew off,” with a very hard landing on a cement walkway. I didn’t have the presence of mind to take a selfie. I know that’s protocol these days.

Instead, I had to ward off the all-healing doggie kisses from my eskie Chules, make sure nothing was broken (you know, like my ladder, the screwdriver I’d been holding, the cement walk…), and then make it into the house while I could still manage the porch step.

The good news: I had cold brew coffee on hand, so I didn’t have to set up the coffee maker this morning. And I have poppy seed muffins. Help yourself.

I’ll have to keep this brief, though. I need to try and get Chules out on a walk before the muscle relaxer meds kick in. He was very upset last night when I couldn’t chase him around the house and hold our nightly wrestling match. He’s very good at laying on the guilt, with his whining and pitiful puppy eyes.

Thanks for stopping by. Mind the ladder on your way out. It looks innocent enough, but it has a mean streak a mile wide.

Thank you Diana at PartTimeMonster.com for hosting the #WeekendCoffeeShare.

Chance Encounter

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We met one morning, you and I.
You stood stock-still and watched me
with fear, I think.
Curious, I stood-stock still
so as not to scare you away.

Had you been older
(and less enchanting),
our encounter might have gone
quite differently.

If you felt cornered
you’d bare your teeth,
and hiss a warning
for me to stay away.

You may have tried the ploy
of playing possum,
flat on your side, stiff and unmoving,
eyes closed in mock death.

I might have poked you with a stick,
testing your resolve to continue
this risky gambit.
It would be a long stick and a soft poke,
lest you chose to resurrect.

But as it was, we simply met,
assessed our respective threats,
and finding none, we parted ways.

Should we meet again,
I’ll hold no kind sentiment.
You will sense no familiarity.

Despite our chance encounter,
your innocence and my curiosity,
we are not – and never shall be –
kindred souls.

Discover Challenge: Chance Encounter

Weekend Coffee Share 5/7/16

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If we were having coffee, I’d warn you to rescue your cup before my photo-bombing Eskie got ahold of it. I shudder to imagine what Chules would be like if he were hyped up on caffeine.

I’d tell you that the weather has been great, and Chules and I have been taking longer walks, getting out to the parks and trails that are so pretty this time of year, with the trees filling out with vibrant green leaves, the wild roses and rhododendrons blooming, and – according to Chules – a plethora of utterly intriguing smells along the paths.

I’d share that my house painting project is moving along at a snail’s pace, but progressing nonetheless. And since there’s no rush, that pace is just fine with me. I seem to have difficulties with being very methodical about the whole thing, so it’s coming together rather piecemeal. But that’s okay, too.

I didn’t paint this morning and instead met with my daughters and grandkids for a nice brunch. While we were watching a very shaggy dog pass by, my youngest daughter commented that my dog Chules looks like a fluffy white ottoman with a cute face and pointy ears. What do you think? Be honest; Chules and I won’t be offended (even though I pretended to be when my daughter made the observation).

I might get out and putter in the yard later today, but I’ll wait for it to cool down some. So we can rest here a bit longer and enjoy the shade as we drink our coffee.

Sit back and put your feet up. Oh! — not there… that’s my dog, not a foot stool. It’s alright. Anyone could have made that mistake. Apparently.

Thank you to Diana at PartTimeMonster.com for hosting the #WeekendCoffeeShare.