It’s hot and the girls are barking at what? Kids shouting, Bella the fox terrier yipping, and heat waves pounding. Andy never barks ‘just to hear himself bark’, as my mother used to almost say. Barking is talking, isn’t it?
We all went swimming in Lake Washington today. Luther Burbank dog park shore is lovely. But they put in this horrible dirty dirt-sand for the main area, which makes it completely useless for obsessive compulsives like me. Just watching Andy and LaRoo ‘frolic’ dust and dirt swirling, makes my stomach twist with anxiety. Fortunately they love to swim. So we did. Unfortunately I didn’t bring the camera.
Andy: This is what smart dogs do on a hot day
![[Post to Twitter]](http://www.wendywahman.com/pages/whatsNew/wp-content/plugins/tweet-this/icons/tt.png)
Tweet This Post
“More more, add more!” GoGo watches me cut open bag after bag of raw beef liver in the sink, inhaling, sniff sniff. Spindle legs wide, bracing yourself! Her eyes bright and direct. Clouded blue, but looking in the right direction. “Livah. I smell it. I know it. I love it. I Must have it. Give me now.”
Oatmeal, eggs, eggs, more eggs. A balump of molasses, some cinnamon, eh -powdered garlic, sure. Chicken kidneys and hearts. Flax oil, olive oil to make up the lack of flax. Oat flour, Barley flour. Butter? Nah. Too fatty fat. More liver. More more! Five pounds and counting. “I want it all. I want that liver in your hand. Bring on the scissors. Cut me more liver. Into the blendy machine. Slow. I am waiting.”
Dogs wait and wait. Some more patiently than others.
“I live for livah! I do I DO!” Pant pant. Done yet? Not yet, GoGo. 30 minutes for the small pan 50 for the pizza pan.. Hang on GoGo, Hang on.
Thirteen years old today. My little brown GoGo loves her little brown brownies.
Ready to bake
Tweet This Post
“Family Dog readers will recognize the colorful, graphic style of the art in Don’t Lick the Dog —author Wendy Wahman is the regular illustrator of our “Case Study” column. Wahman, who owns three standard Poodles, understands exactly what kids need to know when they meet a dog. Her cheerful rhymes and amusing illustrations combine in a charming book that children will want to read (or have read to them) again and again. In the process, they’ll learn the safe way to make four-legged friends. To see a video preview of Don’t Lick the Dog, go to: youtube.com/watch?v=exoQtUxpHR8.” – Bronwyn Taggart
Tweet This Post
Breakfast half made for me, poodles ready to go. GoGo’s supplements on dish, with treats. Every morning I rinse my poodles eyes with eyewash and brush their teeth with doggy toothpaste. The kitties dine on their perch in Joe’s office.
My breakfast looking meager here – oatmeal to come, but just had to photograph this delicious time of day! That’s ground chicken with beef and tripe for Andy and LaRoo. With a dash of Norwegian kelp. GoGo, picky, old, gets to eat canned and soft-venison kibble in the morning. With powdered liver treats. Anything to get her to eat. She has cah. Whatever GoGo wants GoGo gets. Yes, I did select and highlight her there in the photo. Otherwise she’d just be a pair of red eyes. Like me, before that cup of coffee.
Yummy
Andy, LaRoo, and GoGo off to the right. GoGo doesn't like to eat, so she doesn't hang out on her kitchen pillow like the other poos
Tweet This Post
A mysterious package arrived yesterday. I opened it carefully. Taped and folded.
Caught – my breath … unfold, unfold to find more and more unfolding.
Reveal – Tiny perfect paper poodle purse! And another envelope. A ribbon, untie, open one fold at a time. A story. A story of a story. Lounging now full length, a tiny narrative of Don’t Lick the Dog launch, memories made and saved for me by Christina Okeson, my writer/editor late-shift friend from the P-I.
Glittering gems, white lace and fluff, beads, rouge colored ribbon, cutouts of polka dot pink poodles, a tiny metal curlique heart. One heart. The words, Enchanted, Delight, Celebrate. Christina: Thank you. I know who that is in the last photo. Sweet smile, sprawled on dog pillows with his baby sister and auntie. Generous heart, Christina!
Christina Unemployed: Christina’s blog
Tweet This Post
"play with me" / oleo y spray sobre madera / oil paint and spray on wood / Ölfarbe und Spray auf Holz -38x19cm
vestidos de hule y fieltro con botones automáticos / dresses made of oilskin and felt
Tweet This Post
As most of you know, Max slowed down considerably this last year and this last month he went into severe decline. Our walks around the neighborhood went to dawdles around the block and then to gazing around the yard. When his back legs gave out completely and he spent his days sleeping, we knew it was time to let our sweet boy go. Yesterday, as he finally let us cuddle and pet him to our heart’s content, Maxwelton Madison Legman slipped off to his final nap, snoring along the way.
For 14 years Max has been my muse and my inspiration, my companion and my pizza buddy. He’s protected our family from all manner of trick or treaters, mail carriers, squirrels, cats and doorbells. He introduced us to neighbors and their lawns and inspired us to explore the wonderful hikes and paths in our area. He kept us friends with those same lovely neighbors who had housekeys to let Max out and tell him to “get busy” in case we were running late getting home. He introduced us to many carpet cleaning companies and ever-stronger vacuum cleaners.
“He’s a funny dog” we said countless times about Max. Hard headed and strong willed, he showed us how smart he was when we took note of all the ways he had us trained. Some of his skills were: Bark until they give you a cookie. Jedi stare until they give you some of their dinner. Wash their plates. Stay near them, but just out of petting reach. Forget that Dana wipes your feet every single time we get home from a walk. If you bark while Vicki is on the phone, she will give you a cookie. If you look sadly at Kyle you might get a cookie – but don’t count on it because he’s the smart one of the family.
Goodbye Max. I already miss your bark. We love you and hope there are doorbells in heaven.
Dana Sullivan
Creative
206/779-9855
www.danajsullivan.com
Tweet This Post
A pancake path. Soft but not too soft. A flat brown trail, that winds gently like a well worn belt. Grass to pull, nose level leaves to sniff. A slow creek with a firm beach. No fallen trees to make me feel self conscious for needing a lift over. No boulders. No scree or scrabble. None of that. I’ll have the pancake path, my nose in the air, my toes sweet with crumbs.
– GoGo Wahman, b. July 17, 1996
Tweet This Post
Clytie’s grand daughters reading their new book – and posing so nicely!
Tweet This Post
I found these on my camera. Pictures of pictures from Maltby Elementary.
Lili Bolero LaRoo approves. Have you ever heard the Frank Sinatra song I named her after? Can just see the nightclub, the croons, the winks and swoons.
I think this is a drawing of Bootsy
Tweet This Post
