The Thing

Esme has a thing about her Thing. She has various Things but this thing is the Thing of all Things. It's a new Thing to replace the old Thing that she coveted to destruction. I love that she loves this Thing because it's basically a piece of garbage and frankly buying her toys to play with is totally pointless because she has never loved a toy like she loves this Thing. What is it?

It's the cap off my shaving cream container. Skin-timate brand I believe. She had another cap but eventually it was loved so much it ended up becoming bits of Thing instead of a whole Thing and had to be sent to the Recycling Bin in the Sky. It was a sad day until a New Thing came to pass. She says 'Don't touch my Thing.'

She likes to show off her Thing but it's only for looking at, not touching. You are not allowed to have or hold the Thing. Doing so gets it removed from your possession poste haste. By force if necessary.

Having the Thing seems to make her feel Very Important. I'm not sure why. Carrying around the discarded lid from a shaving cream container doesn't really seem like it would garner you a lot of street cred but it puffs her ego something terrible. And it's not as if Esme particularly needs more ego. She shows it off and dares the world to put down her Thing thereby demonstrating that sometimes Things are only as important as you make them.

Her favorite game, actually, is making me go get the Thing when she 'accidentally' knocks it under the chair or somewhere inaccessible to her naughty feet. She watches with barely contained glee as I scrabble around on the floor getting covered in dust bunnies and Ridgeback hair to rescue her Thing from dark places unknown. She is always extremely relieved to have it safely in her possession and shows her profound joy at having her Thing back by tossing it around for a play session. She'll then watch with bright eyes as it skids across the floor and ends up right back under the chair from which I just finished extracting it. Oh yes ... we all have our Thing.  

Small Gifts

At this time of year we think a lot about family and friends. I am so glad to have met a new family who adores Archer just as much, and probably more, than I do.  Before the holidays got too hectic we planned an afternoon walk with Archer so the dogs could enjoy their own brand of Christmas cheer. Once Leeloo established her Bossiness everyone settled down for an explore and a good run across the fields. We'd just had a couple inches of snow and everyone was feeling pretty fast.  

It's good to see all four bums again heading down the trail. Archer settles easily back into his place in the pack and Esme is quick to resume gnawing on his hocks in a vain attempt to herd him or goad him into play - whichever is on her brain at the time.

It never fails that there is some display of teeth. Not angry teeth, as this erroneously portrays, but bravado teeth which look serious but are actually just sharp protrusions from the mouths of marshmallows.

Two brothers patiently waiting for us on the hillside. Esme ... not so patiently waiting. She was forever doing the hustle, round and round, her endless energy is simply exhausting.

And Archer's classic photo with his silly little tongue out. It's almost like he is perpetually ready to offer a kiss and knowing Archer that has a very high probability if you are in kissing range. Well, kisses right back at you this holiday season to my Little Buddy, I know Santa will be generous because you have been a very good boy this year and your stocking will be full of presents and treats and holiday cheer. All my best to you and your family this Christmas and into the coming year. 

Morning Glory

Fast Leeloo is fast. She thought Raimi had spotted a squirrel and wasted no time in offering Squirrel Patrol back-up. As if he needs her help, he's the one who has actually had a squirrel in his jaws whereas she has never known the pleasure. Perhaps that's why she's so determined ... she needs to prove herself.

Searching for squirrels among the treetops is top priority these days. It's definitely not a job for the easily distracted or those who lack persistence. Both dogs have never forgotten the merry chase a squirrel took them on that ended at this tree. The live in perpetual hope that the squirrel will leap out into their mouths.

When I do manage to drag them away from the woods Leeloo takes out the frustration of not being able to nab a squirrel by wrestling with Esme. Esme loves the attention and although her suit now has a substantial coating of Leeloo slobber on it, at least I can keep an eye on them more easily.

Bursting out of the morning sunrise - this is Raimi every day. Oh to welcome each day with such optimistic abandon ... or maybe he's just glad it's Friday. I know I am!



Dangerous Liasons

Squirrels are quickly becoming an obsession for the dogs. They seem capable of finding squirrels no matter where I walk them. Not that I mind this activity as such, but the single-minded focus of the hunt can get a bit wearing, particularly when it takes them into areas from which I can't easily retrieve them.

Who knew squirrels lived at the beach? They do and their residences are in those trees there, among other places. Leeloo knows this and insists on hassling them.

Esme does not hunt squirrels. She does, however, have no problem at all with stomping on their roof. This hill is where a couple squirrels live. This is the front of the hill being eroded by the sands of time, the back of the hill has bushes growing up it where they are protected from the wind coming off the ocean.

And this is one of the squirrels. There were two but one shot into the burrow when it realized Leeloo had a bead on it. She followed it to no avail and it got away pretty easily. This one, however, was the cause of some pretty intense Ridgeback interest. For perspective, I am standing at the top of the hill and looking at the squirrel directly in front of me because the bush's roots are actually about 8 feet down the side of the hill. This means that when the dogs are next to me they can *see* the squirrel about 5 feet in front of their noses, but can't get to it. Imagine the mind-blowing distress of both parties.

Leeloo scanned the bushes for the squirrel who, when it stopped moving, looked just like a leaf or part of the branch. They couldn't see it unless it was moving. Jurassic Park anyone? Once it did move and they had a handle on it they had to keep looking at it or they lost track of it again.

Two sets of eye are better than one, but although the squirrel was right in front of Raimi's eyeline, he couldn't see it. I think he thought he could but wasn't entirely sure.

And then all hell broke loose when the squirrel moved and Raimi shot down the hill while keeping an eye on it.  He followed it through the branches until it stopped to consider its options. It's there up in the lefthand corner of the photo, it looks like a brown leaf. Raimi was so close but so far - it's enough to make a dog insane.

You can see it better here with Leeloo hot on it's furry little tail. It's in the top left again and she is looking right at it. This was the moment of truth when the squirrel decided to make a break for its burrow. See Esme's furry little head there ... she thinks the Ridgebacks are just racing about for her amusement.

I had a moment of panic because when the squirrel made its move to escape it leaped onto the ground and I knew that if the dogs were in the right place they would catch it and dispatch it before I could stop them. Forunately by the time I got down from the hill it was safely in its little home. It lives with its buddy in one of these holes on the side of the hill. No way the dogs could get to them now but not for want of trying.

Boy tried his best to get his head stuck though. I gave them a few minutes of snorting and snuffling but if I hadn't leashed them up and dragged them away they'd still be there waiting for the little critters to offer themselves up on a plate. Unlikely in the most extreme of circumstances. The squirrels will be there another day and no doubt these two Great Hunters will remember where to look.

Friends

We never go for a walk that doesn't involve some kind of wrestling activity, or chasing, or tackling, or general fun and frolic. I missed posting this one from the other day with Esme tackling Raimi. He has actually lifted his foot to bat at her, not that she'd notice really.

And the race is on. Up and down the beach they go, on and on and on. Once they are way down the coast I start running in the opposite direction and when they realize I'm getting smaller and smaller they kick in the after-burners to come after me. Not that they could exactly 'lose' me on this beach but it's cute to watch them hustle to catch up.

And the play fighting. Oh the play fighting. It sometimes results in sand in the eye and play has to stop while I remove the offending particle, but then the nonsense resumes. Esme is never far behind on the action but behind is usually where she is. It's hard to keep up with legs like Leeloo's!

Boy is full of big bluffs and Leeloo has his number but will play along so that his tender Boy feelings don't get hurt. Sometimes you have to do that with the boys.

All happiness and racing about is the name of the game. No one gets left out or left behind. No one goes in the water either!

Just like with kids there's always some little tiff where they get on each other's nerves with feelings hurt and words said. It doesn't take long to blow over though and they are back to best friends again.

Esme better watch it. Boy doesn't need to be accidentally neutered!

This is hard to see but Leeloo was racing toward Boy and Boy was racing toward Leeloo and as they passed each other Leeloo did an about turn to make a grab at the Boy. I was very impressed by her agility and speed!

And with the bulk of their pent up energy sated they settle down to exploring the beach and looking for the naughty squirrels whose scent drifts down to them on the eastern breeze. Time to go catch us some squirrels!

About a Boy

A Boy day. He loves to have his silly runs, as long as there is a large expanse to gallop he will take off in pretty much any direction and just run and run. Then he spies me at a distance and stampedes full bore toward me with this ridiculous grin on his face. Oh yes, it's a bit worrying. He always leaps to the side at the last second but part of me has a little twist of panic that he'll misjudge the timing. One hundred and fifteen pounds of this smashing into me will likely result in serious damage.

After expending excess energy he then proceeds to gaze wonderingly into the distance looking for the elusive squirrel. Yes, there are squirrels on this beach. They chatter at the dogs from a few trees that dot the area. Here he is actually looking at Leeloo who has taken herself into the grass to hunt for the squirrel she knows is there.

Atop the 'mountain' as it is known locally. From here the dogs can get a better view of the squirrels - too good a view in my never humble opinion. They were in the bushes just to the left there, that was a gong show if I ever saw one, but that is a blog best written for itself.

And the footprints in the sand. Esme above and Boy below - not that a person couldn't really guess that is who they belong to!

Roll Bounce

Today is Esme's day. She always has such a marvelous time on the walks but I don't think that comes through in photos very well because she is hard to photograph since she is generally moving at light speed. Here is the entry to the beach where the dogs stopped to wait for me.  

And the first thing to do, obviously, is tackle Boy. She will routinely throw herself at his neck and shoulders and he just ... sighs. He is extremely patient but does not often engage her in play - that is Leeloo's job.

Doesn't stop her trying though! Sometimes he ducks out of the way which to Esme is just as good as playing.

Once bored with that little game she then races herself around in circles looking for someone else to hassle.

I absolutely adore this next photo. I think it epitomizes exactly how she feels.

Here is she galloping along the beach with me trotting beside her. Bright little eyes glowing, happy little legs churning ... what a cutie pie! There is nothing that makes me happier than to see the dogs happy ... and this is happy!