Thursday, July 25, 2013

DANTE-IN-A-BOX!

Dante has never really cottoned onto boxes (or cardboard for that matter) -- all except for this one that Daddy picked up when shopping at Costco.

His name may not be 'Jack', but he jumps into it at every opportunity.


"I luvs it cuz it's jus' da rite size fur me, an' it even has liddle holes fur pokin' my paws!"



Most boxes are either too small or the sides are too high and if Dante tries to jump into them they fall over. This one is just the right height for easy access and just the right size for stretching out or curling up.

"Now I kin fink inside da box as well as outside of it!" declares Dante.  

Instead of feeling boxed-in, Dante has found freedom and a sense of belonging.  It's truly the best of both worlds.

Friday, July 19, 2013

DANTE KEEPS THINGS IN PURRSPECTIVE

These are some pictures from a few years ago at the height of squirrel-hunting season.  The little beasts certainly weren't frightened of Dante -- in fact, they seemed quite drawn to him!

So I took a squirrel-eyed view of the situation from a near-by tree.  Sure enough, they would always park themselves a short distance from Dante and basically look him square in the eye.  They must know that Dante would never hurt them.  Dante is a gentle giant and does everything he can to sublimate his natural instincts in such circumstances because he knows that life is very PURRecious in all its forms.

Take a look for yourself ...














It's obvious that Dante has a great interest in this PURRticular species.  In fact, he's the #1 PURRponent for the ethical treatment of the 'Sciuridae' family as a whole.

"Look but dont touch", says Dante.
"Drool but dont eat.  It's da way ta SALIVATION!"

What a guy!  

Wednesday, July 17, 2013

Monday, July 15, 2013

DANTE & SASCHA: OFF TO THE RACES!

Dante and Sascha are off to the races, specifically "The Wiener Dog Races" at Hastings Park in Vancouver.

Over 60 dachshunds, with the papers to prove their breed, faced off this weekend at Hastings Park Racecourse for the park’s annual wiener dog races.

(Biggify for detailed view)

Dante and Sascha were there to watch all of the heats on Saturday, and then they placed their bets for the finals on Sunday.  Dante is only too ready to pass the buck when it comes to racing.  He really hedged his bets this time.  If you've seen him in his garden, you'll know how much he's into hedges.

Sascha was much more ladylike, of course.  She bet a few dollars just for the fun of it.  Watching shortlegged woofies run is 'amewsment' enough, she thinks.

But when you look at the whole picture, who do you think are the REAL pigeons, here?  Money can truly fly out the window if you don't keep track of it.

And speaking of the 'track', let's get back to it.




The annual event, took place on both Saturday and Sunday (July 13-14), and featured 8 heats throughout the day and one final Top Dog Race pitting the winners from all of the earlier races against each other.


The fastest wiener dogs are fun to watch, but it’s the stragglers who always get the biggest cheer. In the end, it winds up being a race for who can actually cross the finish line without wandering away or getting distracted by digging in the dirt.



The owners all line up with their woofies at the Starting Line.  Some, the woofies that is, are more attentive than others.

 And they're off!

These two are neck and neck. 



Some of them virtually fly down the track!




But there is one who is focussed more than the rest.  

And it's Doobie who runs to the finish line first!


And the wiener is ... Doobie!
He says "It's all in de attitood, dood.  I'mma 'Doobie' -- not a "Don't Be!"
Congratulations Doobie!


And what do they serve for snacks at this annual event?
 
It's a 'dog eat dog' world, after all!
 
Woof!

Wednesday, July 10, 2013

Saturday, July 6, 2013

HANGIN' OUT WITH DANTE!

It's been awhile since Dante showed you all the changes in his front garden, so today he's just relaxing and taking the time to show you all around.


 "Da gahdin is my mostest fafurite place ta hang out!", says he.  "Duz yoo wonta come an' hang out wif me?", he asks.


 One of the best picks this year has been the blue hydrangeas (though we ask that you don't actually pick them).  They have exceeded all expectations and are thriving and producing a whole bunch of those bold beautiful BLUE-ooms!


"Da colour is simply amazin'!" exclaims Dante.  "Dey reely stands out, even frum da street." 




Dante on his gardening bench is privy to the look, smells and, in some cases, the tastes of the variety of flowers and bushes that surround him.




"If yoo recalls", recollects Dante, "I PURRSonally taste-tested da 'Wine an' Roses" weigelas before dey wuz planted.  Dey wuz yummeh!  But da flowahs is gone fur now.  Mama says sumtimes dey blooms again in Awgust."


 "Mama plantid flowahs in pots, too, and she putted one pot on eidah side of my bench."


 "Dey has pretteh pink flowahs in dem which is called "Verbena" (dey is da darkah wuns) an' "Impatiens" (da lightah wuns) an' sum "Begonias" (da mediyum pink wuns).  Mama also placed a liddle green kitteh potsittah on da rim of da pot.  She sure loves kittehs!"


 Dante turns his attention to the other side of the garden which follows the entrance of the walkway.  There are more potted plants in various shades of pink, and another blue hydrangea bush planted in the garden itself.



 "Da gahdin starts off with free (that's 3, not 'gratis') bootiful hostas.  Mama put a wire kitty beside each wun of dem.  Da first wun looks like me; da secund wun like Dylan; an' da fird wun like Domino.  Dat's us -- da 3-D Cats!"


 "Heer you kin see da hostas a liddle bettah.  Dere is sum 'spireas' plantid behine dem."


"Heer I am inspectin' anuddah weigela which is da furst plant aftah da hostas.  Dis is a white wun.  It duzn't smell or taste as good as da "Wine an' Roses" varieteh, but dey sure is pretteh annehway."






This is another look at the line-up of potted plants and kitty garden ornaments that adorn the walkway leading to the seating area.  (Note the green leaf shape at the bottom center of the picture.)


The garden cats include two white ones adorned with pink blooms, two blue calico cats, Buddha kitty seated on his tiny bench, and a verdigris cat with leaf birdfeeder.


And so we come full circle back to the bench where Dante is still hanging out.  All in all not a bad place to hang, huh?

"Dante, Dante quite Coontraray
How does your garden grow?
With pinks and blues
In various hues
And three hostas all in a row."