dog

Abstract Paw Print: A Charlie Guest Post

/ Jodi / 49 Comments
Charlie Dog Paw Print Watercolor Cobalt Teal Blue Prussian Blue and Quinacridone Gold

Charlie Dog Paw Print Watercolor Cobalt Teal Blue Prussian Blue and Quinacridone Gold

Hi Friends!
Remember me?  Your best buddy and pal, Charlie?

It’s been a while, but Mom finally gave in to let me get a word (and a paw print) in edge wise!

Since July is #WorldWatercolorMonth, Mom said I had to contribute a watercolor painting if I was going to do a guest blog post.

I thought about painting a juicy, mouth-watering rack of ribs, but hey… I’d rather EAT those!

I also thought about painting a kitty, like my friend Sebastian, but that is a little challenging without opposable thumbs.

I considered painting one of my favorite sticks to chew on or my blue ball or a fun, squeaky donut….

But after all this thinking, I was starting to get awfully sleepy…

What could I paint?

I must say I’m getting a little tired of all the “pink stuff” going on around here by the way…..

Don’t get me wrong – I get it that Mom is super excited about becoming a Grandma soon, and since it’s a girl, she’s really kinda being googly ga ga because she’s the only girl around our house…. but seriously…..  enough with the pink, the coral, the pastel….  GAG!

So I finally decided to do a little abstract piece in Cobalt Teal Blue, Prussian Blue, and one of Mom’s and my favorites, Quinacridone Gold.

For my piece, I simply dipped my paw in water to achieve a wet-on-wet watercolor technique.  I then spit dropped the paint in to let it flow and drip and create its own watercolor magic.

Painting is really fun!

As you may already know, I am adopted.  I was lost until Mom and Dad and my new family found me.  I am so fortunate they helped me.

And I want to help KIDS!  Kids who want to create art, but aren’t able because they don’t have paint or paper or the resources they need.  That’s really what #WorldWatercolorMonth is all about you know…  It’s about raising awareness for underprivileged kids who really want to create art or learn about art or have the opportunity to choose art.

Mom and I hope you will consider donating to the Zebra Foundation in any small or large way.  The wonderful people at The Zebra Foundation understand the importance of art and creativity in the world.

Join us in celebrating by donating watercolor supplies to support underprivileged young artists worldwide! With your help, we can provide much needed support for kids in need.    Just like I was 9 months ago – a dog in need – given a new life!

Woofs & Wags,
Charlie

Charlie is an adopted dog with brown eyes and a white-tipped tail who brings joy and laughter to his family and friends.  Charlie is a gifted writer, raving food critic, cat, chipmunk, and donut lover, and exceptionally photogenic model.  Some of his best friends are Mike the UPS Man, Cliff the Mailman, and ANYONE who delivers pizza to the house.   If you would like to read more guest posts by Charlie, simply type “Charlie” into the Search box at the top right hand corner of this link: https://lifeinbetween.me/.   If you would enjoy a companion like Charlie, please consider pet adoption.

A Charlie Guest Post: Malaphors

/ Jodi / 58 Comments
charlie daisies

Charlie Stopping to Smell the Daisies

On a little walk the other day,
Mom made me pose for a
“Stop and Smell the Daisies” photo.

Now, I know I am only a dog,
but isn’t the saying supposed to be
“Stop and Smell the Roses?”

Daisies don’t even really smell that good.
I guess they are kinda pretty if you’re into flowers
and that kind of stuff….

But when on walks,
I’m a sniffin’ for rabbits and chipmunks
and squirrels and deer.

I’d rather smell what another dog
left behind for me to find.
Now THAT is a smell worth stopping for!

Daisies are for “pushing up,”
and that is NOT
a place I want to go.

I think Mom better
“Wake up and smell the Bacon!”
(which I think smells much better than COFFEE!)

Hey – Did you ever imagine a handsome dog like me
was smart enough to understand malaphors too – eh?!
Heck – Mom just learned that word herself!

Woofs & Wags,
Charlie

Charlie is an adopted dog with brown eyes and a white-tipped tail who brings joy and laughter to his family and friends.  Charlie is a gifted writer, raving food critic, cat, chipmunk, and donut lover, and exceptionally photogenic model.  Some of his best friends are Mike the UPS Man, Cliff the Mailman, and ANYONE who delivers pizza to the house.   If you would like to read more guest posts by Charlie, simply type “Charlie” into the Search box at the top right hand corner of this link: https://lifeinbetween.me/.   If you would enjoy a companion like Charlie, please consider pet adoption.

Charlie and the Chipmunk

/ Jodi / 77 Comments

charlie and the chipmunk

It all started out as fun and games….   really!

We were just playing hide and seek – the little chipmunk and me.

I think I might have caught him one too many times though…

So I carried  him around the yard all afternoon so we could rest in the shade of the cool grass until he felt well enough to play again.

I was really worried about him, so I snuck him in the house through my doggie door  (where I had a feeling Mom and Dad didn’t want him) and took him into their bed with me for a more comfy rest under the ceiling fan and on the soft comforter.

But then they caught us….

First my brother Nick, who called Mom in, who called Dad  in.

Then everything became a blur!

Mom distracted me with my toy donut while Dad picked up my friend, and the next thing I knew “Chippy” was gone.

Sorry, Buddy.  It sure was fun while it lasted.

And I don’t know why Mom felt the need to take the comforter off the bed and throw it in the wash.  It was so soft and comfy and smelled like my friend….

Springtime in Mars…. It’s a dog’s life… It’s a great life…  It’s my life.

Woofs & Wags,
Charlie

PS  Please don’t be mad at me.  It really started out as fun and games…

Hanging Out: A Charlie Guest Post

/ Jodi / 52 Comments

charlie and his stick

Are you looking at me?

What……Don’t you like to roll on your back and chew on sticks in the warm, soft Spring grass?

I LOVE Spring!

I forgot how wonderful it is to hang out in the yard with the birds and squirrels and rabbits and chipmunks and deer.  There is so much going on, I can hardly believe how much time I spent sleeping through winter!

There are so many sticks to chew, so many things to smell and taste and chase.

And there is so much room to ZOOOOOM!  I sometimes just start running – in circles or straight lines – whatever suits my fancy – but I love to RUN…. as fast as I can… and make my ears flap and my eyes squint from the sheer force of the wind!

Running, rolling, smelling, tasting, chewing, zooming…. it’s all in a day’s work – hanging out.  A dog’s life.  My life.  There’s nothing like a dog’s life in Spring.

Jealous?  Sorry!  But don’t be…..take some time to hang out outside yourself… even for a little bit.  I bet you’ll want to thank me.  (doggie wink)

Woofs & Wags,
Charlie

PS  My “assistant” is on vacation, so if I don’t respond right away – just know I’m hanging out until she returns.

Peanuts are not just “For the Birds” – A Charlie Guest Post

/ Jodi / 59 Comments

charlie peanuts

My mom heard that birds love peanuts.

and BOY am I glad she heard that!!!

When she puts some out on the deck railing…

for the birds…

I slither out when she’s not looking

and nibble my way along the deck railing.

She doesn’t know any different.

She thinks the birds ate them.

Please don’t tell her – let’s let this be our little secret.

Peanuts are not just “for the birds!”

Woofs & Wags,
Charlie

Making the Bed: A Charlie Guest Post

/ Jodi / 68 Comments


Making the Bed with Charlie

Before I came to live here about 8 months ago, my mom used to think making the bed was a chore.

She is really glad I am hear now, because I make it a fun game!

I play “jump on the bed” when she is pulling up the bedspread or sheet or blanket, so I get a fun “ride,” and she gets a little extra upper body strengthening workout.

When she is changing the sheets, I jump on the mattress so she can fluff the sheet over me and I have to wiggle my way out.

I love to try to bite the pillows while she is trying to stuff them into fresh pillowcases.

And when it is all done, it’s a BLASSSST to grab my donut, get a really fast running start from the living room, and jump up on the bed and skid across it to the other side and jump off.  This fluffs things up a bit more comfortable than having the bed covers being all flat and tucked in.  That’s NOT comfortable!

It’s great fun, and there is nothing like playtime FIRST thing in the morning, before Mom has her coffee or has time to get dressed or brush her teeth.  Morning is PLAY time!  Well – after MY breakfast of course.  But then… it is all about playtime.

Isn’t my mom lucky to have me to turn a mundane chore like making the bed into a really fun game?

She’s not so sure, but you get it – right?

Woofs & Wags,
Charlie

 

For More Posts by Charlie, simply type Charlie into the search bar, and enjoy his antics 

Happy National “Sorry Charlie” Day

/ Jodi / 70 Comments
Charlie Dog Impressionistic Watercolor Jodi McKinney

Charlie Dog Impressionistic Watercolor by Jodi McKinney

Happy National Sorry Charlie Day!

What???  You didn’t know?

Are you kidding me?

According to the National Day Calendar #CelebrateEveryDay, National Sorry Charlie Day is observed each year on April 6.  This day is designated to encourage us to think about the times we have been rejected.  Whether we’ve been rejected by a sweetheart or a college or a prospective employer or by the bank for a loan, we have all been rejected.  National Sorry Charlie Day also gives us an opportunity to reflect on how we survived the rejection and what we learned from it.

Sounds like a day to celebrate – eh?

This day also gives me an opportunity to celebrate some of the very special Charlies in my life.

First – there’s Charlie, our favorite guest blogger.  Charlie is my favorite furry son.

Second – my Grandpap’s name was Charlie, and he was the most awesome Grandpap ever.   (You can read a post I wrote a year and a half ago about him by clicking here.)

Third – is my son Nick, whose middle name is Charles (named after my Grandpap).  Formally Nicholas Charles, we sometimes call him “Nick Chuck.”  (You can see him as a “chuck”ling King of Spades with his Queen Liz and their court of friends last Halloween by clicking here.)

And last, but not least, is one of my favorite fellow bloggers, Charlie O at Doodlewash, who is celebrating his birthday month with a #Doodlewashaday challenge to celebrate daily National and International holidays.  Here is my #NationalSorryCharlieDay painting for you, Charlie.  If I ever get brave enough  good enough, I’ll give your charming Charlie portrait a try!

The other Charlie I think about when I hear “Sorry Charlie,” is the silly cartoon tuna fish, who just wasn’t good enough for Starkist.  “Sorry Charlie!  Only good-tasting tuna gets to be Staaaahhkist!”  (I know – way too much television in the 70’s as a kiddo!)

Seems it’s an all-around “Charlie” kind of day!  How are you celebrating?

Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi

 

Waiting and Watching – A Charlie Guest Post

/ Jodi / 51 Comments

Charlie Waiting and Watching

Waiting and Watching…

for Dad to come home,
or Cliff the mailman,
or Mike the UPS man,
or Jake or Colleen or Liz to come visit.

Waiting and Watching…

for Pippa and Twiggy (the doggie girls next door) to come out,
or a deer or a turkey or a squirrel or a chipmunk to scamper by,
or a bird or bee or butterfly to flutter by,
or maybe the Easter Bunny!!

Waiting and Watching…

for Mom to say it is time for a walk,
or for dinner,
or a treat,
or an ear scratch or belly rub.

Waiting and Watching…
until my eyes grow weary
and close for “just a blink,”
which is rarely more than two minutes.

It’s a dog’s life.
It’s a good life.
It’s my life.

Woofs and Wags,
Charlie

Kitty has a Name! A Charlie Guest Post

/ Jodi / 37 Comments

Some of you may remember when I first introduced you to one of my new BFFs, Kitty.  Kitty lives a mile or so down the road, and we get to visit on my lunch time walks with Mom.

Well – guess what?  Kitty has a name, just like I do!  My name is Charlie.

Kitty’s name is “Sebastian,” and he is a boy – just like me too!

Aren’t I so lucky to have another boy to visit and play with?

One day on our walk, Kitty’s human teenage brother was outside, so we asked him about Kitty.  It’s so nice to know his name, and isn’t it such a nice one too?!

When we get close to Sebastian’s house, my mom calls out to him.

She says,  “Kitty, Kitty, Kitty! Here Sebastian.”

I wait patiently for Kitty to emerge from who knows where and what in his yard.

If you listen VERY carefully when you watch the little video above, you will here Sebastian say,

“Meow!  Here I am!  Hi Charlie.”

But you have to listen really, really closely.  Us dogs and cats have extra special emotional intelligent super-duper x-ray hearing, so you might miss it.

After we snuggle and sniff and whisper a few secrets, Kitty visits with my mom a bit for a few ear scratches and belly rubs.  I allow her, because I know how much I love them too.

Then we turn around and head back home.  Mom goes back to work, and I take an afternoon nap or play with my donut.

It’s such a good life I have … eh?

A dog’s life!

Woofs & Wags,
Charlie

P.S.  If you would like a friend like me, be sure to consider adopting!  There are lots of dogs and cats that would love to be in your home and give you lots of love.

AdoptaPet.com (this is where my dad and mom found me!)

Animal Friends

For more guest posts by Charlie – just type “Charlie” in the Search bar on the right.  He chimes in quite a bit here!

Charlie and the Girls Next Door

/ Jodi / 47 Comments

charlie and the girls next door

A new girl moved in next door, and I’m in Loooooooveee!

My neighbor, Pippa, got a new sister named Twiggy!  She is a rescued dog, just like me, so she has a special place in my heart. ❤

She is beautiful and friendly, and I am one of the luckiest boys on the planet!

We had a little time to visit yesterday on my walk, because Pippa and Twiggy’s mom was taking them for a walk too!

Hope you are finding as much joy this weekend as I am!  And if you are not, you might want to go out to your local animal shelter and adopt a pet like our parents did!  We have so much love to give!

Woofs & Wags,
Charlie