Carrots and Peanut Butter

Do you like carrots and peanut butter snacks?

How about you, Buddy?

Yes, please!

Thanks, Rama!

Nom, nom, nom...

More, please!

Zack, would you like a peanut butter carrot?

Yummers!

Your turn, Sassy.

Blech!!!

More peanut butter and less carrot, please.

On the Driveway

I spied this Black Ratsnake while on my morning walk yesterday. Fortunately, the dogs were in the house, out of the heat.

 Black snakes are not harmful and this poor thing was scared to death.

Notice how when startled, it freezes and wrinkles itself into a series of kinks. This snake has only one thing on its mind-retreat!

Given enough space, time, and reassuring words it does exactly that.

Doesn't everyone talk to snakes?

Yes, I know they're deaf.

Are you grossed out yet?

No?

Well, I also saw this scat on the driveway.

Yes, this is a collage of poop!

I thought it might be fox poop, but I've been told it looks more like bear.

It contains blackberry and blueberry seeds.

Click to enlarge.

Any poop experts out there?

Remember, just because you eat it,

doesn't make you an expert!

I'm Juz Sayin'

It's so hot trees are whistlin' for dawgs.

Is it hot where you live? How are you keeping cool?

Japanese World Cup Soccer Team

Thanks to MaxMom, we have Soccer World Cup fever.
 I have agreed to highlight the SWC team from Japan to help celebrate Unity in Diversity.

I know very little about soccer and even less about the Japanese team, but I have traveled to Japan so I consider myself somewhat of an expert, chuckle!

Do you enjoy cheering for the underdogs?

If so, The Sumarai Blue, as affectionately called in Japan, is definitely the team for you! Japan is the lowest ranked team in their group.

Former team captain, Hidetoshi Nakata said, "The team has not had the best of years but it can only go up.”

Midfielder, Keisuke Honda said that persistent criticism from the national press has convinced the defiant Japanese squad they have "nothing to lose at the World Cup finals."

I have to admit, I lost interest quickly, but thank goodness, MaxMom said our post doesn't have to be solely about the team.

Soooo, guess what I'm going to discuss?

You betcha',

dogs in Japan.

But not just any dog. I want to share the story of a very special dog named Hachiko.

Perhaps the most well known animal in Japan is Hachiko, an Akita that died in 1935 and is now stuffed and displayed at Japan's National Science Museum. "Chu-ken Hachinko, or "faithful dog Hachiko,"was the pet of a Tokyo University professor, Hidesaburo Ueno. Every morning the professor and Hachinko would walk together to the Shibuya station, where the professor would take the train to work and each afternoon at 3:00pm when the professor came home his dog was waiting at the platform to meet him.

Then one day in 1925 the professor suddenly died from a stroke at work. Hachinko waited at the station that afternoon but her master didn't return. She waited again the next afternoon. And the next and the next and kept coming back to the station, every afternoon for the next 10 years.


Efforts to give Hachiko to adopted owners failed. He continued to go to the station and spend his nights sleeping on the steps of the late professor’s house. Even when he was old and lame he continued to show up at 3:00pm at the station. He was cared for by the professor’s gardener and a stationmaster at the station, often begging for food from the numerous street vendors in the area.


Hachiko's devotion caught the imagination of the world. Articles were written about him inside and outside Japan. The Los Angeles Friends of Animals was so moved it raised money for a statue of the faithful dog that was erected in Shibuya Station in 1934, a year before Hachiko died. Replicas of the statue were given to schools all over Japan. Though his body was put on display at the National Science Museum near Ueno Station in Tokyo his bones were interred with those if hit master in Aoyama cemetery.

Hachiko Legacy

Everyone in Japan knows Hachiko. Children are read bedtime stories about the faithful dog and teenagers in Tokyo often say "Hachiko mae de!" ("Let's meet at Hachiko"), a reference to the teenage hangout and entertainment district of Shibuya, where the dog used to meet his master.

In 1936 the Hachiko story was included in the moral education textbooks for primary school as an illustration of loyalty and fealty to a master, encouraging loyalty to Emperor Hirohito. During World War II, Japan's military dictators made Hachiko's story mandatory reading in school even though they ordered her statues melted down so the metal could be used in shipbuilding.


Jesse Glass, a professor at Meikai University in Chiba, told the Daily Yomiuri: “The story of Hachiko is particularly appealing to the Japanese because the high value that Japanese culture traditionally places on fealty to the group, boss or master—eve if the mast master is absent in death.” Cynics speculate that maybe it was handouts from yakitori vendors not loyalty to his master that may have kept of Hachiko coming back—a number of wooden skewers were found in his stomach after he died.

 Today Japanese can choose from hundreds of books, movies, compact discs, statues and plaques honoring Hachiko. He has been commemorated on a postage stamp. Department stores sell a $50 Hachiko necktie with "Wan Wan" printed on it and a $58 wristwatch with the English message on the dial: "The most heartful and Japanese, a dog. He goes to station to meet” In 1994, the Year of the Dog on the Chinese lunar calendar, the Culture Broadcasting Network broadcast a newly discovered recording of Hachinko's bark. (Source: Factsanddetails.com)

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Updated 2:53 EST:

Japan won the game with a score of 1:0!

Congrats, Sumarai Blue!

Sunday is for Family

Mother

~1951

(I can't remember if I have previously posted this photo.

If so, sorry!)

Bafana Bafana

No, it's not a new Blizzard flavor at Dairy Queen.

Bafana Bafana, meaning "the boys",  is the nickname given to South Africa's National Soccer Team. South Africa, the host team of the games, settled for a tie in its Soccer World Cup opener against Mexico on Friday.

Our dear friend, MaxMom, who lives in Johannesburg, is providing first hand accounts of all the excitement.

Please join MaxMom as she hosts:

Happy Weekend!

Sassy Says

They call me Mellow Yellow,

Quite rightly.

~Donovan

~~~~~~~~~~~~

Becca's mom and I thank you for the positive thoughts and prayers for Becca.

Becca's mom and I worked in the same classroom together for two years. I found Becca on Petfinder.com and knew that she would be the perfect pup for Ms. L.

We believe Becca was approximately two years old at that time, which was eight years ago.

Becca is under the care of an excellent alternative medicine vet.

Positive Thoughts and Prayers, Please

Our sweet, little friend, Becca, is not feeling well.

She has been diagnosed with a very nasty disease, stomach cancer.

Please remember Becca and her mom in your thoughts and prayers.

Thank you,

~K

Hot Diggity Dog

We received more happy mail and guess what?!?

It was for US!!!

Rama and Sas walked down the driveway and found a huge package in our delivery box!

Who would send us a package?!?

JACK and TG!!!

If you've never visited Jack's blog, please check him out. He's a handsome, young Lab, living the good life with TG (Tall Guy) in Tucson.

Wanna know a secret? Jack's blog is the first one Rama checks every day.

Rama had agreed to play Paw it Forward with Jack and JackDaddy.

OMD, we've never had so many cool pressies. Jack and TG certainly know how to make pups happy. We each got a Wubba (we've dreamed of these), and we got a cool Teaser Ball,  which we think is possessed. But our favorite toy (paws down) is the flying duck!

Dad shot that duck all over the front yard.

Dad says, "Very cool!"

We all enjoyed our toys...

Zack

"Squeaking Wubbas! Way to go, Jack!"

Sassy

"Rama, Buddy isn't sharing the duck!"

Buddy

"This wrapping paper makes a nice blanket."

We spent the evening in the front yard playing with our new toys.

Thank you, Jack and TG!

~~~~~~~~

Kit here: At the bottom of the box, under all the fun dog toys, was one of the most amazing gifts anyone has ever given me.

TG used photos from my blog to create an absolutely beautiful book, which includes photos of the pups, Hubby, and even Mother.

I wish I could show you the entire book, but take my word for it, I will cherish it forever.

Thank you, TG!

~~~~~~~~

Instead of asking 3 people to volunteer to Paw it Forward, I have decided to surprise 3 of my favorite bloggers with PIF packages...

Don't you love surprises?

I'm Juz Sayin' ~Change

There is nothing wrong with change, if it is in the right direction.
~Winston Churchill


I ordered a new bowl for Buddy, in an attempt to prevent him from inhaling his dog food and developing bloat. He isn't very happy about this change, but look at the difference in the time it takes him to eat his food.
I'm not sure if he's eating slower or just eating longer.

 

Monday's Memory Mosaic ~The Alaskan Wall

 While in Alaska for the Iditarod last March, I spent an afternoon at G.B. Jones' Kennel on the Historic Iditarod Trail. 

As I walked the trail with my friends, I was overcome with emotion.
Of course, that was partly due to the fact that we spread the ashes of a long-time Iditarod supporter who had never visited the trail.
 (Shhh, don't tell anyone.)

My thoughts were also on the original serum run of 1925, and names like Seppala, Togo,  Kaasen, and Balto. For more years than I can remember, I had shared the story of the Iditarod Trail with my students and to be there on a beautiful, cold, winter's day was an amazing experience.

After the walk, I visited G.B.'s great pack of pups, and I had my first mushing experience!

This was a special day, which I will never forget.

I received an email this week informing me that my name has been added to the Alaskan Wall, located next to the trail.

Very special, indeed...

Sunday is for Family

Grandpa,

holding me like a sack of potatoes

Tybee Island, Ga

~November, 1953

Tomatoes, Squash, and Cleomes

We're spending the weekend watching the squash and tomatoes grow.

Almost as exciting as watching paint dry, huh?

And guess what?  I received more happy mail!

My good friend, V from North Dakota, sent me a package of cleome flower seeds. She knew I had been looking, unsucessfully, all over for them.

Thank you V, I'm plantng the seeds today!

Sassy Says

Nicknames stick to people,
and the most ridiculous are the most adhesive.
 ~Thomas C. Haliburton



~~~~~~~~~~
We all use nicknames or terms of endearment, a word or phrase used to address and/or describe a person or animal for which the speaker feels love or affection. (Wikipedia)

Sas, Sassers, Girly-Girl, Schweet, Babies,

Doots (rhymes w/ snoots)

Zacky-Wacky, Mr. Z, Zackers, Buoy,

Smiley, Sneaky Sneak

Budders, Mr. Boogers, Big'un, Budrow,

Knucklehead

What are your terms of endearment, aliases, or nicknames?

Happy Mail

Don't you love to get happy mail?

Not email; but real, old-fashioned, USPS, snail mail!

Not junk mail or bills; but brightly colored envelopes, cards and packages that make you smile.

Over the past several weeks, my mail-lady has delivered a good bit of happy mail to my box.

 I've received get well cards, birthday cards, postcards, and packages

from far-away places such as Alaska (thanks, Ina and Pups), Ireland (thanks, Susan), and South Africa (thanks, MaxMom). 

Pretty cool, huh?

There were funny cards, sweet cards, handpainted cards,

comforting cards,

(Thanks, B and Ferne), cards with flowers, and cards with dogs.

There were personalized cards...

(thanks, Madi and Mom)

Handmade cards and gifts...

(thanks, Kath for the beautiful hand-beaded necklace)

Even a graduation card from a former student...

(I always love receiving these)

This was my favorite funny card, from my former college roommate, who just returned from touring Ireland.

Thanks to everyone who took the time to send me a smile!

It is greatly appreciated!

It doesn't cost much or take much time to spread some happiness!

Wordless Wednesday ~Hydrangeas

~~~~~~~~~~~

We interrupt this regularly scheduled Wordless Wednesday with a report from our vet visit.

There were no other patients in the ofice when we arrived, which made Zack more relaxed than usual.

Dr. Annette said Zack is in excellent shape for a senior pup!

Buddy got excited and peed

 on the floor, again!

And the best news of all...

I'm Juz Sayin'

My life has no purpose, no direction, no aim, no meaning,

and yet I'm happy.

I can't figure it out.

What am I doing right?

 ~Charles Schulz

(Yes Mango, I'm a Labradork.)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The dreaded Healthy Pet magazine arrived last month. Don't be fooled by the smiling, happy faces on the cover. It's a nice way to remind us it's time for annual vet exams and vaccinations.

Zack and Buddy have no idea they have an appointment with Dr. Annette today.