A Very Cluny Christmas

Christmas Eve is finally here!!

Mom and I have been getting our Grelf on for weeks! We decorated, we shopped, we baked, we wrapped, we rang bells, and we made merry!

Tonight, with the assistance of the fine folks at NORAD, we've been tracking Santa. There was the Candlelight service, and now we're watching Alastair Sim's 'A Christmas Carol'. My idea of the perfect Christmas Eve.

But it's getting late and I've been warned .. I need to get to bed, but I'm just so doggone excited. I suppose if I want to find some Christmas cheer in my stocking, I best heed Mom's call. So, in the immortal words of Clement Clarke Moore ... 'I heard him exclaim as he drove out of sight, Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good night!'

My Weekend Excursion ...

Saturday morning, Mom packed me up for a short ride to see the Jolly Old Fat Man ...

Nana is coming !!!!!!!

and Opa gets to bring her ... and something, something ... Harvest Tree ... something, something, something ... the deck ...

My Own Personal Rube Goldberg Solution ...

Just the other day, Mummy was bemoaning the condition of the carpet. Apparently, she felt it was beginning to look a little dingy. I think she may have discovered the cause of her lament.

You see, in my world there is the cold hard reality of the Scottie condition ...

There are the occasions when I could really use a napkin … after dinner, a drink, or rooting around in the back yard. But as I am devoid of thumbs, I’m at somewhat of a loss. Therefore, I have to be a bit more resourceful, hence the Goldberg reference. I have discovered that the dining room carpet has all the absorbent properties I require to meet my needs.

So with front legs folded and tush up in the air, I can propel myself forward like a front end loader. Add to that a sideways tilt of the head, and I am at just the proper angle to wipe my face. More recently, I have added a side-to-side sweeping maneuver to address my shaggy beard.

Problem solved …

Happy Halloween!!

After last year's Crocodile Dundee episode, Mother and I had a discussion about the lengths to which I will and will not participate in her fascination with All Hallows Eve...

This year I put my paw down ... no costumes! And so ... we compromised.

Here we are we've dressed up as Rich Uncle Pennybags and his trusty companion, Scottie.

The Scared Scots Project ...

Have you heard ???... The 'rents are leaving me alone ... all by myself ... outside my kennel ... all day! Sweet!'

The first couple of days, I played it pretty cool. I spent quite a bit of time, just hanging out, cooling my jets, when I hear the garage door open, that's my signal to head for the 'safety' and 'security of my kennel. Mom and Dad ... well, they pretty much think I've been there all day !


On Monday, first Mom, then Dad headed out the door, as usual, to do whatever it is they do all day ... Then it's my time to find whatever mischief suits my fancy. With Halloween approaching, I think I'll call this episode of the Naughty Scotty ... The Blair Witch Project. I created these heaps of twigs and left them in conspiculous places for the folks to find upon their return.





Unfortunately, I did not count on one teeny tiny detail ... Dad was still home. And he caught me ... red-pawed.


And now I'm in the corner ...

The New Adventures of Itchy and Scratchy

Oh ... Autumn !! As we discussed just a few weeks ago, I have terrible allergies. You've heard the adage that misery loves company ... So I am happy to report that my Pops, a fellow allergy sufferer, is as miserable, if not more so, than I.

It hasn't rained in a couple of weeks ... so the pollen is pretty bad. Dad says he feels like he's covered in a fine ... ahem ... coating. But seriously ... we are quite a pair ... sneezing ... scratching ... sniffling.

Mom likes to act like Nurse Ratchet as she stands in the kitchen and conducts roll call ... awaiting the imminent arrival of the Benadryl brothers ...

Something a Little Out of the Ordinary ...

** I took control of the keyboard from Cluny ... Tonight, I will be your guest poster **

Last week, Jeff and I decided that we were going to start transitioning Cluny from his kennel and allowing him a little latitude ... we thought we would turn him into sort of a 'free range' Scottie.

We thought we'd start small ... so when we ran out on a quick errand, we left the door to his kennel open. Upon our return, we found Cluny in his house ... just waiting for us.

So the next time we left him alone, it was the same story ... we came home to find him sitting in his kennel, waiting for us to tell him it was okay to come out. He's behaved this way over and over again.

This afternoon as I was preparing to leave, I gave Cluny a cookie and bade him farewell ... He just stood there in the kitchen with a look on his face that I can only describe as confused. Was he trying to tell me that I'd forgotten something? "Ahem ... Mother ... see me ... here in the kitchen ... not in my house ... In.The.Kitchen ..."

As I write this ... Cluny is lying next to me ... knocked out! Does this mean that he's been wide awake all day ... and therefore, missing the endless hours of sleep that he usually enjoys while we are away. Is he nervous and angsty because he thinks he has been unintentionally left unsupervised? Which got me to thinking ... what happens after I shut the garage door to go?

What I wouldn't give for a Cluny-Cam !

Stranger Danger

Mummy and I walk regularly … you’ll find us out and about in the evening, and more so these days, we make our way in the early morning. The smells of autumn are here … a collection of acorns on our path. There is nothing that I enjoy more than the cacophony of sights, smells, noises. The butterflies, bees and grasshoppers are plentiful this time of year and I can most certainly make the most of a romp through the tallest grasses or clearing a swath through the clover.

We rarely walk the same path every day, and although I’ve trod by the houses on either side of ours more times than I could recount, I always stop to smell a few of the choicest spots on this, the most regular part of our route. Fortunately, we like to mix it up, and the tangle of streets throughout our neighborhood provides a never ending array of options.

It’s the occasional passerby that will often cause me to literally stop in my tracks … bat ears perked up on high alert. Yesterday was one such occasion. Mom and I had set out on our walk right after she got home … (and by the way, where does she go all day? That’s probably a subject for another day …) … we’d made it three or four houses … when I saw another dog and his walker approach … so I sat down … which in turn causes mom to pull up short. Mom, in her effort to persuade me back up on my feet will give me a slight tug on the lead … I respond by taking one, yes, one step forward ... Mom gives me a another tug ... one more tiny step forward and then I will likely take my seat. No amount of coaxing and cajoling will make me move till I’m ready …

Once I do decide that the approaching stranger provides no imminent danger … I will approach quickly and then slowly and then quickly … like a preteen at their first dance. Other times, I prefer the view from the safe confines between mom’s ankles … and it’s from there, I will quickly dart forward and back ... coyly flirting but not quite giving in. It's usually a quick chuck under my chin and we are on our way ...

The Low Down on Scotties of Reknown ...

Some of the more famous Scotties, other than myself (none of my brethren have blogs all their own ...), have lived in the Whitehouse. Most of us are familiar with the most noteworthy Scottish Terrier, Fala. Fala was the beloved companion of President Franklin Delano Roosevelt. Alongside President Roosevelt, Fala is memorialized in bronze at the FDR memorial in Washington DC.

Far less is known about President and Mrs. Roosevelt's other Scotties, Duffy, Mrs. Duffy, and Meggie.

President George W. Bush were also owned by two Scotties, Barney and Miss Beazley. In the age of You Tube and the 24-hours news cycle, people are more familiar with the Bush's dogs. Barney and Miss Beazley's exploits in the Whitehouse were commorated in holiday-themed films as well as other seasonal fare. Breaking from his usual target during the Bush administration, Barney was the featured subject of a satirical piece by Jon Stewart on The Daily Show. Hardly one to tolerate the ignominies of the press, Barney made headlines when he bit a Reuters pool reporter. Yeah, that'll teach him. Here are bits of information that might be of particular interest to the members of my clan ... Barney's mom is named Coors, and his brother is named Clinton.

Other very famous people have had the pleasure of having a Scottish Terrier as companions include Jackie Kennedy, Queen Victoria, and President Dwight Eisenhower.

Mr Cluny's Opus ...

I'm not very vocal ... it's not that I don't have a lot to say... but I do think it helps me maintain an aura of mystery. However, if you listen very closely you'll hear the symphony that is Cluny. The clicks, the grunts, and squeals ...


I've been known to nap throughout the day ... sometimes I'm on the sofa, sometimes I'm in the office, and sometimes you can find me in my house. When the most recent snooze has come to a satisfactory conclusion, and it's time for me to rise and shine ... I will let loose with a melodious bleat that accompanies a particularly gratifying stretch.


Often the prospect of dinner will elicit a series of low, guttural grunts akin to Hollywood's romanticized version of the reanimated Franken Terrier.

And on occasion, I will bark at a phantom ... Mom and Dad refer to this outburst as random barking day.

TV for Dogs

When the front door is open ... as it often is these days ... I get to watch the world go by.

This is what's showing tonight on The Nature Channel ...

And here's me watchin' it ...

That new ball smell ...

I love the smell of a new tennis ball as it exits the tube, bright yellow, and still covered with nap. We seemed to have progressed to the place where my toys must be virtually indestructible.

Tempt me with the 'invincible' stuffed animal ... nope. Taunt me with a Canine Hardware durable frisbee ... think again. Puppy kong ... yeah, I ate mine.

The coping technique has evolved to include Internet searches and discussions with folks at the pet store. Each and every inquiry results in the next latest and greatest toy that cannot be destroyed by one, 20lb-Scottish Terrorist ... I mean, Terrier.

It's not even that I am that fond of my toys ... I just don't want anyone else to have them either. You can count on me to herd my assorted baubles away from anyone who just might happen to take an interest and who, in turn, then might endeavor to engage me in a game of fetch.

It was a dark and stormy night ...

The annual Bulwer-Lytton Fiction Contest uses this phrase as a signifier of purple prose.

Summer is waning, which means there hasn't been much rain lately, but the promise of a late summer storm is in the air tonight. Mom and I were outside watching Dad as he was balanced on the railing of the deck, scooping a few leaves out of a clogged gutter. Wielding the rake handle and the hose, Dad was trying to dislodge a clump of sticks and leaves. That's when we saw the crack of the lighting, followed pretty quickly by a clap of thunder.

My old man has always pretty been quick on the uptake ... he decided that standing in a thunderstorm with an antenna was not exactly the fate he wanted to tempt, not tonight. We all decided to pack it in, and we'll just worry about the clogged gutter tomorrow.

The trouble with tribbles ...

As is my routine ... I like to take my final stroll of the evening in the 500 square feet that belongs solely to me. I take pride in ownership and am wont to allow strangers into my midst. It has come to my attention whilst I am inside the house, interlopers will converge in my backyard and remain there, undisturbed, until I make my presence known ... at which time, squirrel and hare will scatter to the winds.

I have developed a method to deal with these unwelcome visitors. When the time comes for me to take that final stroll .... Mom and I will exit the back door, save for the cast of the porch light it's very dark. Until the motion sensor on the deck stairs is tripped, the backyard remains shrouded in darkness. The sensors aim is off for me but Mummy can set it off as she approaches. Once tripped, the light can bathe part of the area in light. But even then, I still cannot see the darker corners. The moment the light turns on, I will race down the stairs and approach the furthest, darkest corner ... that place where the bunny can usually be found. A favored spot where he seems to have worn a low-spot under the fence as he traverses fearlessly between my own house and the house next door.

With the confidence of a hardened warrior, I approach this spot in the yard and although I may have missed my chance today ... one day I will catch that cottontail.

A is for Allergies ...

A is for Allergies ... and I have 'em
B is for Back of my neck ... that's where I got my shot
C is for the Cortisone shot to help with the itchy-ness
D is for Doggone ... and
E is for Ears ... my Doggone Ears are itchy
F is for Canis familiaris, Latin for dog dander ... surely I'm not allergic to that!
G is for Good Boy ... I was a good boy and behaved myself while on the exam table
H is for Healthy ... I may be scratching them, but my ears are healthy
I is for Itchy ears ... 'nuff said
J is for Juice ... which is what they put in my ears
K is for Kantankerous ... I don't believe that is spelled korrectly
L is for Lick ... I lick my paws when they itch
M is for Mama ... who took me to the Vet
N is for Nap ... done with the Vet and now I need a nap
O is for Oticbiotic Ointment ... I have ointment to help relieve the itching
P is for Perfect... that the word Dr D used to describe the inside of my ears
Q is for Q-Tip ... which I would use if I had thumbs
R is for Roadtrip ... the ride in the car to see Dr D.
S is for Scratch, Scratch, Scratch ... the impetus for the roadtrip
T is for Tired ... these roadtrips take a lot out of me and I'm tired
U is for Uncomfortable ... this is how I have been feeling
V is for Vet ... I got to see my Vet, Dr Donovan today
W is for Weigh In ... I got on the scale and I weigh 21 pounds
X is for X-Ray ... I didn't need that ...
Y is for Yawn ... No more yawning, now that Mom can sleep
Z is for zzzz ... Mom can get a good night's sleep and I won't wake her up with the scratching ...

Peter Secada Cicada ...

A typical Saturday morning around here ... Mom was up early to meet with her quilt group so ... when she's up, that means I'm up. Mom put me in the back yard so that I could ... ahem ... fertilize, and she headed back up to have breakfast.

As a recovering helicopter mom, she rarely leaves me to my own device, but on the occasional Saturday, she will let me out of her sight for a few minutes. Today was that day ...

I'd been outside when Mom peeked through the kitchen window long enough to see me sniffing around in the grass ... she was probably thinking I was simply rooting around for yard-bage. A few minutes later, when she looked again, I was still nosing around in the the same spot. Big surprise, she was by my side in a flash to see what I was up to.

I'd been found out ... she sees that I've discovered a cicada, and I was amusing myself by holding it hostage. Stick in the mud that she is, Mom liberated the cicada by shooing me back allowing the cicada to flit off and skirt danger ... but then there's me ... hot on his tail. Mom tends to approach these situations by merely removing me from the offending circumstance, so when I wouldn't let the little creature alone, Mom picked me and took me up the stairs, intent on distracting me with breakfast.

But there was just one fatal flaw in her plan ... the moment she put me down, as elastic as a steel spring, I raced across the deck, down the stairs, and across the yard in pursuit of my prey.

Alas, by then my quarry had slipped away ...

Tuesdays with Mommy ...

Last week, mummy was a bit under the weather and she got to stay home and keep me company for a few days ... we got into a morning routine that went a little something like this ...

When I wake up, I like to roll over onto my back, which results in a tummy scratching and then I stretch. Mom will pick me up ... since I can't get off the bed without a little help … and when she puts me down, a couple more stretches. At the top of the stairs, I like to put my two front paws on the second riser, which pushes my tookus into the air and there is some more stretching … When it’s particularly satisfying, I’ll let out a hoot to let you know just how good it is.

Then, if I'm not really feeling it, I’ll sit at the top of the stairs … I like Mom to really sell me on the idea of coming downstairs. Once she's made an adequate case for coming downstairs and going outside, I like to visit the low spots by the fence where my friend the bunny comes and goes. Then I check under the squirrel feeder ... just in case there might be some tasty bite for me. After completing my appointed rounds ... I'll head back up the steps.

That's about the time breakfast arrives … I’ll cruise by my bowl to make sure that the morning offering meets with my approval. Some days I'll have breakfast with Mom and other days, I'll wait and have breakfast with Dad ... but then some days I prefer to have my meal served up in the kennel ... we like to call this 'breakfast in bed’.

I also really like Dad's office days … when Dad serves up that second cup of coffee, it’s time to head to ‘work’ and I'm ready to go. Once I'm 'at work', I like to sleep in various places in the office, but I prefer the knee hole of Dad's desk … right between the sidewall of the desk and the chair with my chin on top of Dad's foot. *I* am an excellent office companion ... that is ... unless it’s random barking day … then I’ll bark at nothing until I get tired of that when it's time for my next nap.

Marco ... Polo ... Marco ... Polo... Marco

My daily routine usually consists of a leisurely breakfast with a chance to read the paper, then a few hours in the office supervising my Old Man, a lunch time visit from Mummy, followed by an afternoon snooze in my house. This week was a little out of the norm as Dad was scheduled for a business trip that would take him out of town for a couple of days and Mom off to work as usual. For me, that meant a couple of days of quality snoozling ... in my kennel.

After EJ Newman learned that I'd spent the better part of Thursday in my house whist the 'rents were working, and I was slated for an evening in my kennel with Mom out for her monthly Bunco night with the girls ... he invited me over for a pool party.

EJ has this awesome pool that looks like a ship and it even comes with it's own rainbow ... I've included a picture of the two of us taking a dip.

As we were enjoying our afternoon of sun and fun ... a rabble of butterflies appeared in the yard, swarming us as we played in the pool. There were so many, I had a difficult time keeping up with them as they fluttered forward and aft.

I got so wet that by night's end, I was treated to a blow dry !

All Dogs Go To Heaven ...

I have sad news today ... my friend Forsberg has gone to his great reward.

We learned just yesterday that Forsberg Newman had inoperable cancer, and Melissa, Eric and EJ had to make the difficult decision to let him go. He was a wonderful friend and companion ... he was dearly loved and will be greatly missed.

Rest well old friend ...

Yankee Doodle Dandy ... My Foot

It's been raining all day and Mother was a little bored. I, however, want to make it abundantly clear ... this was NOT my idea ...

Faster Than the Speed of Cluny

We usually spend our time eying one another through the knotholes in the fence, but tonight Forsberg, the grand old man of the neighborhood, wandered my way for a short visit.

Here's me ... light on my feet and faster than the speed of Cluny ... dancing around like Muhammad Ali ... while Forsberg just bides his time and let's me wear myself out !

There Was an old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly

There was an old lady who swallowed a fly,
I dunno know why she swallowed that fly,
I guess she'll die ...

Racing through the house at top speed ... pulling up short to growl or bark ... to the casual observer, I'm barking at nothing.

But you would be uninformed.

We had a fly in the house ... a really loud fly ... and it was my job to make short work of this nuisance. So I chased, and I chased, and I chased ... until I wore him out ...then Dad could handle my light work and polish him off with the flyswatter.

Must I Watch Her All the Time!

I am *the* Scot of mummy's eye, so I couldn't begin to imagine anything untoward going on when I wasn't looking ...

Would she really nuzzle another puppy? True enough, I'm no longer a wee tot, but I am by no means long in the tooth. I may have exchanged sweet puppy breath for the scent of kibble and my soft puppy coat has given way to my distinctive hard coat.

I know Mom's a sucker for babies ... but seriously ... is there something we need to talk about?

Punk'd

Apparently, my Nana is a bit of a joker ...

Vacation!

Nana and Opa are in town for a visit .. and day 1 of their vacay was the Tour d'Lincoln. This was a chance for us to visit some of our favorite places around town ... so I've included a pictorial essay of today's travels ...

Here we are at the start of our day ... this is Nana's new ride!

And here I am on the arm of the sofa ... catching up on some much needed rest.

The first stop today was the new location for the Quilted Kitty ... me thinks this stop was more for the benefit of mummy ... than, say ... Opa. I don't think Opa is big on fabric shopping.

All the while, I was taking a nap in my kennel.

Next up .. Euphoria. This is a great place for tie dyes and the like ... Great gargoyle, huh?

I found a comfortable resting place under the recliner.

Oh Boy!! Lunch at the Grateful Bread ... Santa Fe Chowder, Red Lentil Soup ... and the cheese scones are awesome!

But by this time, I was too exhausted ... I required a nap in the den ...

After lunch, we stopped at the shop a few doors down, Bohdi Imports. Opa found himself a dandy hat ...

But after an a full and exhausting day, I found myself in desparate need of a snoozle ...

Ahh, Wednesdays ... I'm all in ...

I am a Better Boy

I know eveyone was greatly concerned ... but after a pretty rough weekend, I am much improved.

Jeff and Mollie came to spend the day with me ... and that, too, added bounce to my step and pink to my cheek.

What a great way to spend a Sunday!

Sicker Than the Proverbial Dog ...

I'm guest blogging because Cluny has a bug and has been sick ... sick ... sick.

I don't know if it was something he ate or what ... but he had been out of commission since Jeff picked him up at the groomer's yesterday. Cluny was up a couple of times last night, and we were up pretty early this morning outside (in a gentle shower), hosing out his kennel, and spit-bathing my little buddy, too.

As of this evening, he seems to have turned the corner ... his appetite is returning. Due to the sensitive tummy, he's only had a small amount of plain yogurt today. He's cruised by his dish a couple of times this evening, looking forlorn when, alas, it's still empty.

We are trying to stave off dehydration ... so he's had lots and lots of ice cubes. It's a real hoot to see him toss his head back and chew up the cube. And in my effort to avoid the melted ice puddle that can shock the casual passerby who happens to step into the inevitable ice floe, I have attempted to play a game ... enticing him to eat the ice cube.

This is what I learned today ... Jeff is 22 and it's been a really long time since I was up all night with a sick baby ... I am definitely out of practice.

I didn't know this was possible ...

As I was catching up on my evening snooze, right next to my Ma and Pa ... my diaphram began to contract. *I* have the hiccups. It happened with such force, I was able to make the bed quiver.

I'm told that drinking water from the wrong side of a glass will shorten the duration of hiccups. This is one of those times when thumbs would really come in handy ...

The Life Cycle of the Hapless Dandelion ...

Some folks think these are weeds ... whilst others consider them to be a lovely flower or a tasty salad.

Tonight as we were beginning our evening walk, we rounded the corner to the grammar school, and I encountered the coolest field of spent dandelions. There must have been THOUSANDS of them!

Mom gave me enough lead so that I could bound between the stands of dandelions, liberating the fluff from their individual stems. Every three or four jumps. I would stop and give myself a good old shake. I ended up with a white mask of dandelion seeds ... and then I spent the better part of the next hour trying to clear my sniffer ... Pffttt.

Just Another Service I Offer ... Nanny

EJ Newman came over for a few hours tonight while Eric and Melissa took a rare evening for themselves. Together, we played with EJ's race cars and then a couple of games of fetch. Just like a Boy Scout ... *I* am ever vigilant.

Have I mentioned that Blue's Clues is awesome?!?

No Second Opinion Necessary...

It's that time of year ... time for my annual physical. So this evening, I went to see Dr Donovan. Everyone in her office is so nice, and she's always so happy to see me.

First, the Doc took my measurements, I'm up to 21 pounds. She listened to my heart, checked my ears and my eyes, I turned my head and coughed ... and then she pronounced me fit as a fiddle. She also said I was beautiful! ~ preen ~

I think I'll go with that diagnosis ... No second opinion necessary.

Batter Up ...

Hot dogs, sunscreen, and the perfect Spring day ... doesn't that sound like the BEST way to spend a Saturday afternoon? The Huskers are set to take on Texas A&M. So with thanks to our generous friends, Eric and Melissa Newman, Mom and Dad went to Haymarket Park to catch the game ... and I decided to stay home and catch up on my sleep.

Never far from the consciousness of my adoring public ... EJ had but one question for my Pop ... 'Where's Cluny?'

Field Trip ...

Dad took me for a ride in the truck ... and to my surprise we stopped at Mom's office. I didn't realize we were headed to the M&R Lab ...

I got a chance to catch up with some old friends, meet a few new people, and check out what was going on in the labs. Since I was here last, Mom has moved from the 'garden level' to the first floor. So I got to check out Mom's new 'office' .... if you can call it that. Compared to my digs ... under Dad's desk ... this place pales in comparison !

And I must say ... that's one handsome laddie on the computer screen ...

Here comes Peter Cottontail ...

Whilst looking out the window in the den, something caught Mom's eye ... and she thought she would share her find with me.

Right there for the whole world to see ... there's a hare in my back yard ... munching on grass, washing his face, and acting like he owns the place. This guy's in my territory ... so it's my job to let him know. From my perch on top of the love seat ... I began to give Mr B. Rabbit a piece of my mind. I moved over to the arm of the sofa and passed on some more of my wisdom ... but he seems completely unmoved by my input.

I looked to both Mom and Dad for support ... clearly no help there. So back to the arm of the sofa, atop the love seat, arm of the sofa. Lather, rinse, repeat ...

Since you been gone ...

Dad left for turkey camp ... and Mom and I are home. That's cool ... we'll bond, take our walks, watch movies ... you know, the stuff we like to do.

But Mom surprised me with a playdate with Snuggles the (Chihuahua+Pug=) Chug. Snuggles and I did laps around the coffee table ... we had a few cheerios ... the Mom's took us for a walk ... we had snack ... and then we chased each other some more.

It was a full day and I was dog tired.

But here's the thing ... Snuggles left little bits of herself behind ... there are these little whisps of white hair ... all over the house. I am able to stir up enough air to have the fluffs of hair float across the floor in my wake. Days later ... I found something tasty on the living room carpet ... only to have Mom pull a chewed up clump d'Snuggles from my mouth.

Happy Birthday Dad!!

If you happen to see this guy today ... Wish him a Happy Birthday !

My New Nemesis ....

It's a beautiful day ... The sun is shining ... The flowers are blooming ... The birds are sin ... SQUIRREL!!

I've only recently made my peace with the Starlings and the Magpies that have taken up residence in my yard... and now this guy has decided that the squirrel feeder was put up in the tree just for him ...

To my credit, I did make sure my presence was known. I certainly wouldn't want my furry friend to get too comfortable ...

A Sure Sign of Spring

I don't want to take up all the space in the blogosphere .... so this one is a guest post from my Dear Ole Dad ...

There's a sure sign of Spring ... and the time is now. Yesterday was sunny and warm and Cluny was enjoying his tour of the backyard. Sometimes, Andi or I will be out there with him and sometimes Cluny is out there ... unaccompanied.

With the grass in the backyard starting to green up ... sometimes the allure of the tender shoots is just too much. Last season, Cluny had perfected the art of tufting the grass. He'll run along full speed and pull a huge hank of grass from the ground, give it a shake, and toss it aside. This can and does go on for as long as I will let him.

Fast forward to Tuesday and Cluny was charging and yanking as if the interceding winter never occurred. He was having the time of his life. However, I do think that there was one element of the exercise that seems to have slipped Cluny's mind. It's really important to remember to yank and exhale ...

If you happen breathe in ... you just hork the chaff. This, in turn, will cause one to huffle and cough ... and huffle and cough. But ever the trouper, Cluny never slowed down in his effort to wreak as much havoc that one 20 pound Scot can manage.

~ Jeff

Greetings From ... The Easter Clunny

Whaur Are Ye Gaun, My Bonnie Wee Lass?

It appears tht there's been an addition to our clan ... me Aunty Ro has rescued this lovely lass. Her name is Wee Bonnie Weaverlass ... an excellent Scottie name. They call her Bonnie ...

Her original owners moved to Europe and couldn't keep this her. So like a Scottie from Heaven, she now lives with the Weavers. I'm told she has very good manners but she prefers that you keep correction of her more endearing habits to yourself, lest she sulks.

I hear that she is a Scottie with the personality of a Jack Russell. For Bonnie, life is playground where she plays fetch, tug of war, water hoses, or anything else that can be considered a plaything.

I think you'll agree, she's lovely and I do hope to meet her someday.

The Backyard Can Be a Very Scary Place ...

I really like being outside ... particularly after such a long winter when I was confined to a small clearing amongst the snow drifts. You would think that I might have the entire backyard to myself where I can run to my wee heart's desire, enjoying the breeze, oblivious to the pleas coming from top of the stairs, and ignoring the rattle of my beloved Cheerios offered up as a bribe.

But my Garden of Eden has been infiltrated by some unwelcome guests ...

The Magpies have begun nesting in the Bar-B-Q and the crazy Robin is attacking the house. Lately, walking out on our deck is like a lesson in handling hazardous material. Unfortunately, it's through the back door and over the deck I must travel to get to the facilities ...

Once I have skulked my way out the door and down the stairs ... I have to contend with the flock of birds perched in the trees. I feel like I'm on the set of an Alfred Hitchcock movie ... I think they are all up there just waiting for me. It's not that I'm paranoid or anything but I do believe, for now, that it's in my best interest to get out, get done and get in ...

One Thing Leads To Another ...

Those are the immortal words of The Fixx ... I think that's what happens with Scottie dogs too. You start with one, Moi, and before ye know it, a bonney boy finds himself surrounded by all things Scottie ... You got your stuffed Scotties and your purse Scotties; you got your sweater Scotties and your jewelry Scotties.

Dallis and Devony Votova found this handsome laddie and knew that me Mum would love this special treasure.

However, I might suggest that none of these impostors has my charm and good looks ~wink~

Great Scot

It's a Pup party!

Today was a play date with Wilson ... Wilson is a baby Cairn that owns Mom's friend Rhonda. We had a whale of a time racing around the house, wrassling, and chewing on each other. At one point I was able to give my leetle friend a nudge and push him under the cedar chest. But Wilson was relentless and always came back for more.

Here we are after we'd been playing together for about an hour. By this time we were clearly tuckered out ... or else Mum wouldn't have been able to catch the both of us ...

As for tonight ... I'm just exhausted and I do believe it's time for my nap.

Farewell .. Paradise

Friday, March 5

Unfortunately, today is the day we have to leave paradise.

When we flew into St Lucia, we arrived at the smaller airport in Castries. However, we are scheduled to depart from the larger airport in Hewanorra. But first, there is the small matter of a 2 hour bus trip across the island. The drive did allow us an opportunity to see more of the island.

The island is very hilly; it has so many groves (or are they stands?) of banana trees you can't count them all. There are also acres and acres of tropical rainforest around each bend and corner, and then around the next curve you get a glimpse of the blue Caribbean sea.

What a wonderful trip ...

A Caribbean Street Party

Thursday, March 4

Today the resort is hosting a street party. We were treated to a live band, dancers, food, and craft vendors.

As always ... we had some of the most amazing seafood.

Bore Da ...

Wednesday, March 3

Bore Da ... is Welsh for Good Morning ... Pnawnd Da means Good Afternoon, and as for Good Evening ... Noswaith
Da.

The lesson is Welsh is in honor of our wonderful new friends. We shared dinner with Bill and Kate on Monday and we made such a wonderful connection, we arranged to meet them for dinner tonight at Mario's. Where we were treated to a fantastic antipasto bar the featured so many wonderful treats.

When Jeff and I make our way to Europe .. we have to stop in Cardiff to see the Spence's.

A Chocolate! Buffet

Tuesday, March 2

We took a trip into Castries today to do some shopping. We shared a ride with a really niced couple from South Hampton, England. We spent some time at the open air market, where we picked up some souvenirs. Jeff decided against the Cohibas.

We also went to the duty free shops. Here's a picture of our shopping companions ... John and Sara.

We had dinner at a wonderful French restaurant ... it was spectacular. A couple of firsts ... first time I ever ate in a 5-star restaurant, and Jeff's first escargot. I wanted to take pictures in the restaurant but thought better of it.

When we returned to the hotel after dinner ... the culinary staff was setting up .... a CHOCOLATE buffet. Need I say more ...