WE'VE GONE TO THE DOGS!

If you're not a "dog person", you'll probably want to skip this post.
Seriously!

We have five, count 'em, five dogs---down from six at this time last year, although some days we're up to seven. I can't understand why we only wanted two children and yet we've ended up with all these dogs. As healthy as they are, we've still spent way more at the veterinarian than we ever spent at the pediatrician.



They stand at the gate every morning as they wait for their daddy to take them for a ride. His once-nice SUV is now referred to as "The Fur-mobile". It's such an utter embarrassment, I can't even think about posting a picture of it. They ride to the near-by cemetery, where they bark at the ducks, while munching on Ritz bits! And, no, I don't participate in this insanity. I'm at home, in my robe, drinking coffee, like a normal person.

People always ask if they all live in the house. The answer is yes! Although we have two wooded acres, completely fenced, behind our house, and a doggy-door to access it, do you think they want to be out there without us? Not a chance. Well, that's not exactly true...


Two of them escape the fence on a daily basis. They're regular Houdinis, who seem to morph themselves through chain link fencing. They can't wait to run free through the woods, or take off across the middle of the elementary school playground behind us. They particularly enjoy Tiny Tots soccer on Saturday morning. I think the teachers and coaches might have my cell phone on their speed-dial. They usually call as I'm driving around the neighborhood, blowing the horn and yelling "Scout!" and "Jack!" out the window. Classy, huh? Of course, about half the time, they're already back home, waiting for me.







Today was a big day at our house. We decided that our central vacuum system wasn't doing an adequate job of picking up fur off the rugs.




On the advice of my sister-in-law, I went out and bought the Dyson Animal. Boy, has that thing got some suction! I didn't know whether to amazed or disgusted--probably both!--at the amount of fur that came off the family room rug.



We had an artist paint this mural, for my study, about ten years ago. At the time, we had two dogs and two cats. We've often talked about getting her to come back and paint one on another wall, depicting the later additions to the pack, but I had lost her contact information. Strangely enough, yesterday in the mail, we got an invitation to a showing of her work. Maybe we can consider a new mural!

In case you're wondering, the Cavalier King Charles Spaniels are Oliver and Violet. The one with angel wings is Humphrey. He was our first, now resting in peace. The cats were Fluffy and Suzy-Q, who joined Humphrey a few years later. The artist took picture of the dogs as they played in their pool, rolled around in the grass and ate their birthday treats. She then used her wonderful imagination to create this fantastic mural. it's actually pained on canvas and applied to the wall, so that if we move, we can take it with us!



See these three needlepoint pillows of the Cavaliers? Pretty, huh?



Well, I used to have a lot more, with yards of fancy fringe and elegant tassels. But Daisy, the female Golden Retriever has separation anxiety (yeah, I know... we're nut cases), and whenever she got "anxious" she chewed up the pillows---along with the custom kitchen cabinets, interior columns, cashmere sweaters, expensive shoes, etc, etc.

And, yet, who couldn't love this face?

We have to keep her shaved most of the year, because she loves to swim! Don't you just adore her pearls? So elegant and feminine!

And, here are Beau, the male Golden Retriever and Violet, the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel. These two have rarely done anything wrong in their lives! Violet was eleven years old yesterday. Our birthday girl for February!



By now, you're thinking, "these people are complete bonkers" and you're right! But guess what? There are still two more! My mother's dog, Trixie, spends a good bit of time with us, too. She's old and rests a lot, like her owner.




And, who, you might ask, is the lead dog? Well, here she is: our daughter's dog, Lola... (and, I might add, my only grandchild). And, when she's here (which is often, since her parents are constantly traveling the world or throwing parties), she rules the roost!



Last but not least is our precious Oliver, who we lost a year ago. He crossed over the Rainbow Bridge, tail wagging until the very end. A little dog with a very big heart.

OLIVER
1999-2009
R.I.P.