Doggone Dogwoods – A Guest Post with Mikey

/ Jodi

Mikey head shot

Hi Friends –

It’s good to be back as a guest blogger for Mom today, because I have a doggone bone I’d like to pick with all of you.

Let’s talk about Dogwood Trees.

Yes – they are beautiful…

Especially this time of year when Mom makes us stop for ridiculous amounts of time while she takes pictures like this of their flowers.

dogwood blossom

But really….  DOGwood…  What about this tree even remotely resembles a DOG??!!

Let’s take a look at me….  I am a DOG…

Mikey in the grass

And a fine specimen I might add…  if I do say so myself…

As a dog, I have a tail that wags when I’m happy, a nose that is always slightly damp to sniff out important things, whiskers to add a little charm, fur to keep me warm and for my family and friends to pet.  I have four legs, pads on my feet so I can go for long walks WITHOUT shoes, two eyes to stare people down when they are eating something delicious (which is everything except for raw green beans), two floppy ears that perk up when visitors come to bring me cookies (like Mike the UPS man), one very hungry mouth (I must remind you again)…

Need I go on?  You get the deal – right?

I am a DOG.

dogwood blossoms
DOGwood trees have NONE of these important things?  So I asked Mom to Google it and try to explain this phenomenon to me.

With a couple clicks on that darn laptop that takes up the space that belongs to ME on her lap, she learned a few things I thought you might be interested in about dogwood trees from Askville and Wikipedia:

The word dogwood comes from the original term dagwood, whose slender stems of very hard wood were used for making ‘dags’ (daggers, skewers). The wood was also highly prized for making loom shuttles, arrows, tool handles, and other small items that required a very hard and strong wood, wine and fruit presses, and it was used to make the first styles of tennis rackets made out of the bark cut into thin strips.

The name Dog-Tree entered English vocabulary by 1548 and was further transformed to Dogwood by 1614. Once the name dogwood was affixed to the tree, it soon acquired a secondary name as the Hound’s Tree, while the fruits came to be known as dogberries or houndberries.

Another suggestion as to how the dogwood got its name is the distinct barking noise it makes when its limbs rub together in a gentle breeze.

It is also possible that the common name of dogwood may have come about because dogs were washed with a brew of its bark, hence dogwood.

Hmmmm.  Interesting?  I’m not sure…

Barking???  I’ll be listening for that.

And as far as washing in a brew of it’s bark….  NO THANK YOU!  I am NOT a fan of baths.  I think I smell quite good just the way I am.

Unfortunately Mom disagrees.

And she’s the boss….

Or at least the one who fills my breakfast and dinner bowl and drops food on the floor while cooking and takes me for walks, so we’ll let her think that…

Thanks for visiting with us today.

Wishing you a doggone great day!

Sincerely,
Mikey

44 thoughts on “Doggone Dogwoods – A Guest Post with Mikey”

  1. Mikey, you are quite the handsome dog and one that my Bria might like to get to know better, (that butt sniffing kind of know better). She’s quite the looker except for one eye that was bitten by my brother’s hateful dog. And I wanted to tell you that your mom sure took some great photos of you and the dogwoods (I wouldn’t want to bathe with that dogwood bark either). Have a great Thursday!

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  6. So delightful Jodi! Don’t tell Mikey, but I have never thought to question where the name dogwood came from, and its history is quirky and fascinating~ it’s nice that he let’s you think you’re the boss, but anyone who has ever had a pet knows that they are definitely the boss!!
    Jenna

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    • LOL! So true! He only allows me to be the boss when HE wants to! LOL! It was funny how taking photos of the beautiful dogwood blossoms in our yard right now and seeing him laying in the bright green grass made me think of all this. First time I ever thought of it too. 🙂

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    • Woohoo! You win the prize for that word, Barbara! Thank you for asking about Mikey. He is declining a bit. His tumor is growing and starting to cause him some discomfort. He really can’t do long walks anymore, as it bothers him. 😦 I try not to dwell on it and enjoy every moment with him. Can’t imagine life without him….. But all in all, he still has mostly wonderful days. 🙂

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      • That’s right, Jodi. You are giving him a wonderful life. That’s how we felt about Berkley too. We knew the end was coming and just clung to all our happy times together. I’ve been missing him a lot lately. He was always with me in the garden and I sort of sense his presence next to me there now.

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      • Awh! I have tears in my eyes…. Loving them so much makes losing them hard, but it is so worth it – eh? Berkley spirit is still with you. ❤

        Mikey goes in and out the door as many times a day as I do. He is always right by my side – unless I am in my office working. Somehow he just knows that is not his place, and he goes to his bed or lays out on the deck in the nice weather! 🙂

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  8. Mikey, my friend, it is good to hear from you! You are looking very good. You’re lucky that your mom is such an excellent photographer so that she can truly capture your dignified expressions.

    I did not know anything about dogwood trees and was very interested to read your mom’s research. Thanks for digging that up! And I am in complete agreement regarding baths.

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  10. Thanks Mikey…. And now we know the rest if the story!!! Big treats hugs and kisses Mikey You too have. Dog-gone day that’s filled with walks and treats!! XO. See ya soon …..I’m hopeful !

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  14. Loved your post today Jodi (and Mikey too!) I did not know that about dogwoods! Your photo is beautiful! Sorry to hear that your pooch is sick. 😔
    Mikey sounds very intelligent and a very special friend! ❤️

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  15. (OK, apparently every comment I made this morning on my phone showed up on no one’s blog. Watch out, iPhone WP app users! Each comment said it was “sent” after posting.) This post made me smile, Mikey, because you are SO beautiful and I agree with you about dogwood trees! I’ve always wondered about this too! I’m glad you were able to research this with your mom and figure out the real deal about the trees. You made me LOL this morning, and since I’m NOT a morning person, I’m ever so grateful for the laugh! I also had no idea that you aren’t feeling so well. I’m very sad to hear this, because I can look into your eyes in that terrific photo your mom took of you and see what a soulful, sweet boy you are. Hugs, prayers and love to you, Mikey! And, take good care of your mom this weekend. It is Mother’s Day weekend, after all, and you’re a loyal and true friend. I hope you come back soon and write more posts for your mom; I’ll be looking forward to them!

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    • Oh Miss Laura your comment was worth the wait sorry you had so much trouble this morning with your phone. I’m using my mom’s phone right now so I hope it goes through.🐶

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      • (OK, I just posted a reply from the desktop PC and I didn’t see it after I clicked post, so I’m gonna say this again hehe! Oh the WP gods have cursed me this day lol.) I was using the WP app, and I’m wondering if I’d have used Safari, maybe it would have worked. The WP app, I find, can be squirrelly at times. Uh oh, I probably shouldn’t say squirrelly, you may want to go for another run and catch up to a few! 😀

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  16. OH Mikey thanks for the smile that you brought to my face! I know something you and Dogwood trees have in common, you are both beautiful!! You have a beautiful boss to, so yes be patient and give her time to take beautiful pictures 🙂

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    • I’m glad I made you smile today JR. My mom and I knew you needed it. It’s one of my jobs – to keep her and my family happy. Thanks for saying I’m beautiful. If you could only see me blushing! Sincerely, Mikey

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  17. Mikey, what a great post this morning. You have quite the voice and opinion about the dogwood tree. I’d just go out there and bark at it and see if it barks back. Hope you are feeling more up than down today. I’d say do as much as you can each day, and keep some energy to let us know what you’re up to. My dog, Sammy, is getting up there in age too. He can relate to what you’re going through. His take is to get as many pats, hugs, treats, walks and attention as you can. You know it makes our moms & dads happier & healthier. Now if we could only talk that would complete their dog therapy!
    Hugs to you and your “family.” Christine

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  18. Mikey is a doll!! Would him to meet my two kitties… I’m sure they’d get along famously – NOT! Oh – I know that Mikey would love them, but they are a bit snobby and territorial. Thye would arch their backs and get all fuzzed up and hiss at them. I’m so ashamed….

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  19. Pingback: Watercolor Week 7 – Mikey | life in between

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