humor

Charlie’s Walkabout: A Charlie Guestpost

/ Jodi / 62 Comments

charlies walkabout

We have the most amazing wilderness behind our home.

It is an area I am not allowed to go to by myself.

You may recall those horrifying orange flags my Mom and Dad put up about a year ago when I moved in….  Well… I DO NOT go past that area where they used to be on my own – EVER!  The flags are gone, but I have not forgotten where they were, and I remember they represent “Charlie’s Yard!”

The only way I go outside of “Charlie’s Yard” is when Mom puts a leash on me, and we go for a walk.

Now, I am getting better and better at coming when Mom calls – even when I am outside “Charlie’s Yard” and not on the leash, so sometimes I am allowed to walk on my own outside “Charlie’s Yard” – but ONLY after we go through the “boundary line” with the leash on.  That is the only way it is safe.

So yesterday, being that it was a holiday and all, I got to go on TWO wonderful walks outside “Charlie’s Yard.”  After our long walk with my buddy, Jager and his Mom Tracy in the morning, Mom took me on a hike in the wild and wonderful woods behind our home.

And guess what?  She let me loose to run and sniff and explore at my own pace.  Oh was it F U N!  We were having so much fun that when Mom was ready to go back to “Charlie’s Yard,” I decided I wasn’t ready.

Mom, trusting “sucker” that she is, walked ahead believing I wouldn’t be far behind.  But guess what?  When she wasn’t looking, I decided to turn around and explore some more.  Mom went back in “Charlie’s Yard” (remember I told you she is a bit of a “sucker”) believing I wouldn’t be far behind.  She kept saying, “CHARLIE!”  “Come On!”

Then she would throw this guilt trip in:  “Good Boys Come!”

HA!

I am loose.

I am free.

I am in the wild and wonderful wilderness where the deer and the squirrels and the turkey play.  And oh they smell so good!

So I decided it was time to go on a little “walkabout.”

All…

by…

Myself!

Mom waited a bit, called everyone once in a while, and then headed back into the wilderness, where I believe I heard her grumbling under her breath something about somebody being in trouble if she had to come after them or something like that.

I continued to explore.

After all, it was a holiday.

And she and my Dad were gone away for almost a week in which she did NOT take me for walks…

After a while, she couldn’t find me, so she gave up.  I was there all along, but I just wasn’t ready yet so I kinda hid from her.

Mom gave up and headed back home.

She looked a little bit sad,

and I have to admit I felt a bit bad.

So when she was almost back in “Charlie’s Yard,” I decided to come back.

“Here I am Mom!”

She turned around, and – voila! – there I was!

She looked so glad to see me.  I think she wanted to be a little mad, but she was just glad.

We walked into the house, and I flopped down on the floor and took a rest right there in the hallway.  It was so cool and peaceful.

Walkabouts are great, but there’s no place like home.

Don’t you agree?

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 theUPS 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: thecreativelifeinbetween.com.   If you would enjoy a companion like Charlie, please consider pet adoption.

National Dog Day – A Charlie Guest Post

/ Jodi / 48 Comments
charlie and jager

Charlie and Jager

Did you know?
I’m sure YOU did!

Seems everyone knew!

It was all over Facebook and Twitter.

Seems everyone knew…. (sigh)
Except Mom.

Not sure how she could have overlooked the most wonderful day of the year…

Yesterday was National Dog Day!

August 26 – EVERY year!  DUH!!!

You knew – right?!!??

And as much as I hate to admit – I do need Mom’s opposable thumbs to help type as I dictate my – err- “regular” blog posts here.

So thank you, Debi, for asking about me to remind my Mom I am missed by our lifeinbetweener friends here!

Sheesh!  What is a dog to do?

Well – anyway –  how did you spend National Dog Day?

Even though Mom overlooked this important day, I have to admit – I had a glorious day!  My day included breakfast, naps, treats, donut time, jump on the bed time, a walk, dinner, some ear scratches and belly rubs, and a visit from the pizza delivery girl (it was Friday after all!).

What more could a dog want – right?

Here is a picture of me with one of my dog friends.  This is Jager.

Jager is just a puppy – not even a year old – (even though he is quite a bit bigger than me already!) – so I have a lot to teach him since I am already 2.  Jager can be a little bit annoying, but Mom tries to remind me that I was a pup once too (and annoying to older dogs – Really??!!).   And puppies are really “exuberant!”  They don’t quite understand when it is time to just “walk” versus time to “play.”  They don’t quite know when it is time to “quit.”  Pups don’t always understand boundaries and seniority and whose toys are whose, but I’ll teach him.  That’s what older dogs do with younger dogs.  It’s my job.  I like jobs.  It’s important to have a purpose.

We all have a purpose.  Isn’t that great to know?

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 theUPS 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.

 

Dog Days of Summer: A Charlie Guest Post

/ Jodi / 43 Comments

Charlie dog days of summer august 2016

Mom told me the other day we are in the “Dog Days of Summer” here in Mars.

It’s pretty darn hot around here, but what does that have to do with dogs?  (I mean…. I know I’m pretty “hot,” sexy, handsome, charming, and all that… but not ALL dogs are are quite as lucky as me – eh?)

So I asked Mom to “google” what the heck dogs have to do with hot summer days, and guess what?!  We discovered a story of astronomical proportions!

Contrary to common conjecture, the “dog days of summer” does NOT get its name because the heat is so extreme it drives dogs mad or because dogs lie around panting in the heat (Sheesh!  Really people?!  How dare you think such disdainful thoughts!)

The actual background of the phrase refers to the one-to-two month period when a particularly bright, shiny, snazzy, jazzy, super-amazing, georgeous, “hot” star named Sirius, the Dog Star, or Alpha Canis Majoris (Latin for “Greater Dog!”), rises and sets with the sun, shining during the daylight hours and staying hidden at night.

So you see, it’s really about us dogs being the STARS in your life.  (Right Mom?)

That’s why I’m smiling in my photo here.
(or……. it might have been because my Mom was holding a treat while asking me to “stay.”)

Either way…….
I like to be thought of as a Star.  So you can call feel free to call me “Great” for short.
Or Char…
Or Chuck…
Or Buddy…

but pleaaaassseee don’t call me late for dinner!

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 theUPS 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.

 

Source:  Dictionary.com

Looking Sharp Cashew!

/ Jodi / 42 Comments
Cashew the Cactus Watercolor 5x7

Cashew The Cactus Looking Sharp Watercolor 5×7

My son, Nick, has a cactus plant.
His name is “Cashew.”

He put Cashew out on the deck recently
to give him some bright sunshine and warmth.

Cashew used to be quite overgrown,
but after several months of neglect, he is being revived.

On Sunday, when he was outside
grilling the burgers for dinner

and my camera was set up ready to take a photo
for the Guacamole Burger blog post,

Nick decided to shoot some “glamour shots” of Cashew.
After all, Cashew was looking pretty Sharp!

Cashew Cactus Glamour Shot - Looking Sharp

Yep – Looking Sharp Cashew!
I’d really say you do!

Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi

#WorldWatercolorMonth 
Day 20 Silliness

Blue Ball: A Charlie Guest Post

/ Jodi / 57 Comments

Charlie blue ball

Woohoo!  It’s Ball Season!

Some of you love baseball.
My family cheers for the Pittsburgh Pirates.

We love football too – if it is the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Right now – our Pittsburgh Penguins are in the Stanley Cup Playoffs,
and though they use a puck instead of a ball, it is still very exciting.

There is also basketball, softball, tennis, golf, volleyball, soccer, wiffle ball, ping pong, bowling, pool, and probably a million other ball games,

but my favorite ball game
(if you don’t count eating meatballs) 

is Blue Ball!

My mom brought out the bucket of blue balls the other day, and boy oh boy did we have fun!

It’s a simple game, but such a BLAST!

Here is how you play it.

Step 1:  Mom throws the ball in the grass.

Step 2:  I run and get it, and then I run back.

Step 3:  Now here is the FUN part….

Sometimes I bring the blue ball back to Mom,
but other times…..  I ZOOOOOOOM right by her and trick her!

Sometimes I bring it to her and drop it….  but (get ready for this!) right when she goes to pick it up,
I grab it first!

And then – (are you ready for this one?)
other times I bring it back – but don’t let go of it, and I make her beg for it.
Sometimes Mom pretends to cry – – –  like I can’t see a fake a mile away!

Other times I let her yank at it for a while and I ferociously (fake of course – but she doesn’t know!) GROWL!

Blue Ball is most fun when you play it by varying up the way you play Step 3 every time.

Isn’t that a great game?!

Hope you have some fun playing whatever kind of ball you like this weekend!

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

Spring in Mars

/ Jodi / 45 Comments

japonica snow

Spring in Mars
is a little confused.

The beautiful Japonica
that yesterday looked like
it was playing the harmonica

now thinks it is time
to celebrate Hanukkah
with Veronica
and drink a gin and tonica!

Just a little silliness
to cherish the moments
that nature throws our way
each and every day.

Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi

PS – How many words can you think of that rhyme with Japonica ?

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!