Saturday, October 31, 2009

HAPPY HALLOWEEN

The "Magic Happens Garden" is all dressed up for Halloween,

Los Dias de los Muertos and All Souls Day as well it seems.
Because if you look closely you'll find amidst
the scarecrow gal, ghost gulch decorations
and a trinity of perfect leaf piles in the gutter
a "Rest In Peace" tombstone for a furry loved one, Daisey

and there is another RIP and tribute for beloved Jay-
"father, uncle, companion, friend".
I think Daisey and Jay are together, joyfully reunited and busy 
making the brilliant blue sky a little brighter
and helping loved ones put smiles on their pumpkins.

Thursday, October 29, 2009

Fall Frolic

The sky can be so blue it almost hurts my eyes.
The autumn light is so incandescent it makes everything shine.
The wind inspires the leaves to dance and my paws to prance.

She says,
Play in the leaves all you like.

But PLEASE don't eat berries.
  
 I prefer acorns anyway. Better crunch and less barfing.

Tuesday, October 27, 2009

Squirrel Invasion

     I always yowl at the squirrels when they taunt me on the fire escape. I hate them and not just because they have thumbs. Over the past few days those dirty rascals found a way into the attic and wall space and tormented us from every angle.  From the sounds of it at first they were busy on renovations to make their winter home cozy.  Then they became frantic when they discovered their entrance had been closed off by a helpful maintenance man. There was thrashing and bashing and skittering; bumping and thumping; chewing, chomping and clawing. For God's sake stay off the electrical wires! Your soul will go straight to heaven. But the smell of your death will be with us for months.
     There are a lot of rules for getting rid of squirrels for people. Rules that seem silly to dogs. Hunt them down and drive them out! That was my strategy. Luckily I was not alone. My excessive sharp barking, pawing and whining I finally drove them down to the second floor where Harley and her people live and she employed my tactic. Eventually Harley went down to the basement with her people and the landlord to do a "squirrel check". Earlier in the day a tenant had been accosted by a squirrel while doing laundry. The people looked and looked but couldn't find the perpetrator. But Harley had sniffed the crafty culprit out.  She signaled the people by standing near and whining at the trash can.  They eventually got a clue and came over.  As they peered in - out popped a squirrel who then ran out the open window as the people screamed and Harley wagged triumphantly.
     During our nose to nose 'post mortem' conversation, we always have a chat about house happenings through the crack under her door when I am in the hall, Harley mentioned that the squirrel flipped her off as he darted out the window. I don't doubt it. It's that kind of attitude that brews my dislike of them.
Two paws up for Harley!!

We love you. That's why we left you cookies in the mailbox.
Your Mom said your "getting a big head".  I think you should.
Nice work.

Sunday, October 25, 2009

Sunday Dog Psalm #13

Three things can not long be hidden:
the sun, the moon, and the truth.
Gautama Siddharta
 
God is the sun and His rays fall upon your heart,
not impeded by the clouds of egoism,
the lotus blooms and petals unfold.

See how nature - trees, flowers, grass - grows in silence
see how the stars, the moon, the sun, how they move in silence...
we need silence to be able to touch souls.

Saturday, October 24, 2009

Zzzzst

I'd heard of stray dogs but not "stray voltage".
Who knew that street and traffic lights, fire call boxes, phone booths, manhole covers, service boxes, and even decorative lighting can harbor stray voltage.
Don't let your "marking" be your undoing.
Avoid the ZAP.  Stay off metal!
Visit StreetZaps for the full scoop!

Tuesday, October 20, 2009

Get out your coat

When the frost is on the pumpkin and the snow is on the ground
if you don't have a thick natural coat like me
then it is time to break out the winter coats
for your thin furred friends like greyhounds and whippets.

Available on Etsy.

Sunday, October 18, 2009

No Worries

People are always worrying about what will happen next. We dogs know that this is futile which is why we are keenly focused on what is happening now. Even if that now appears to be "nothing" or nothing special. But all of that "nothing" is actually extraordinarily special. All those hours I spend sprawled in extreme comfort behind my closed eye lids I am seeing deep into the now of this moment and this great meditation allows me to see into the goodness of the future and all its potential glory.  When I dream deeply and you can see my paws run across air I am traveling to the farthest reaches of time and harmony. Even if I had words to use they would not be sufficient to tell you what I know.  All I can do to communicate this knowledge is to show you by delighting in the ordinary, demonstrating joy, love and acceptance, sniffing out happiness in the mundane. I am trying to teach you not to worry. Just be here now. Say, "I am alive. I am wonderful. I am. I am."  This thought is my constant companion and guide. With it worry finds no home in me.  And without worry there is no room for dread and so there is all the time and space necessary for grace and peaceful living.