Confusions, Decisions, Explanations

WHAT?

HUH?

We've been totally confused.
Mixed up.
Not quite sure.

We'll admit.

That's nothing new.

We still have a lot to learn.

(We were denied a lot during our early existence.)

We quickly and appreciatively recognize

All the Knowledge that's been shared

and the Experiences that we've encountered

(and enjoyed)

During our less than one year with Dogs With Blogs.

We're blossoming and developing.

We're coming into Our Own.

We're making good Progress.

Turning into Real Dogs.
Terriers.
Wire Fox Terriers.

But some things still stupify us.
Lots of things, actually.

For instance
This whole thing with Mango Minster.
(You can read about it here.)
We "get" the general idea.
(I love to watch Dog Shows on TV.  Can sit in front of it for hours.)
We understand Categories.

But

Cracker Dogs?
Insane Terriers?

What are those?
What are we missing here?

The first thing that came to mind to Fergs was Food.

She loves it.

Food.

Any food.

(Does that make her a Cracker Dog?)

It's a very basic, a very primal thing with her.

I tried to convince her it must be Something Else.

Like

Maybe

Christmas Crackers

Snap.  Crackle.  Pop.
(They're fun to play with and rip apart)
(Ask Moma.)

We found some Christmas Crackers with Dogs.
They must be for dogs.
Cracker Dogs?
Maybe

But that still didn't make much sense.

My next thought was Nut Crackers
(as in pecans and walnuts and hazelnuts)

We know a few Nut Crackers
One visits us on our deck
but
That still didn't seem to describe Us
Two Special Wires.

So
We looked it up in the Dictionary.

The only thing we found
Was a description (in very poor taste) of Southern company.

Fergi said one image of me came to mind.

(Stunning.  Aren't I?)
Betcha didn't know I could look this fine.

But
Nope
No way
We couldn't go with that.

Huh-uh.

Finally
Our Girl mentioned Urban Dictionary.
An archive of Contemporary American Slang
 and
That got us a little further.

We actually found an entry for Cracker Dog.

It said something about
"Someone who goes crazy, barks stuff and gets very
ummmmmm
pissed off."

Well
I'll admit that I bark stuff sometimes.
I can get pretty loud.
(I did spend the entire Christmas Holiday barking at PJ's)
But we still don't think I qualify as a Cracker Dog.
Nor does She.

Fergi pointed out that there is a Herding Dog Category
and
She reminded me of her occasional assertiveness
When we are walking together

Pushing me along.

But I convinced her that no one would ever believe her.
Or me.
Or Moma.

We dropped that idea right away.

Sigh.

Then we got further confused.

We tried to figure it all out.

We chatted
Conferred
Had a tête-à-tête.

Do we enter as a family unit?

(We're getting stressed.  Can you tell?)

Or

Do we enter as Individuals?

(Individuals, we are.)

We both grew weary.

Problem solving can be hard.

Fergs withdrew to her blankie.

I withdrew to my bed.

(I practiced Mango meditations.)

But we soon realized
We weren't coming up with any Answers
Let alone Entries.

So

Finally

We just made our own Decisions
Picked some Pictures
and
Sent them to Mango
at the Estate
With an Explanation.

Fergi said:

Well
This has been quite the discussion around this house.
You see
We don't think either of us really truly qualify as Cracker Dogs
We're not really sure what they even are.
We are so naïve and inexperienced.
And gentle
And calm
And non-terrier-like.
And we're certainly not insane.
But we are terriers.
Yes.
We are.
And we really want to enter Mango Minster.

So
I, Fergi
Chose to take this quite literally.
(This is Fergs still talking, to Mango)

Here I am.
A Cracker Dog Insane Terrier.
(It's a stretch.  I know.)
A Girl (really, a Lady)
A Wire Hair Fox Terrier.

Doing my Best to show it.

Accept it, or not.
Believe it, or not.
That's my Entry.


And I?
Jake?

Well
Not to repeat Fergi's message
I basically said:

It's true.
We're honest to a fault.
We ARE naïve and inexperienced.
And we ARE very gentle (I even flunked out of the puppy mill)
(DO NOT TEASE ME ABOUT THAT!)
(My Girl will come to my defense - in a heartbeat!)

I am perfectly comfortable with my non-terrier-like self
and I'm certainly not insane.

OK.  I'll admit.
I tore up the Christmas Cracker
That was hiding in the branches of the Christmas tree
but I was JUST trying to understand the Concept
of Cracker Dog.

Sigh
(Again)

I'm getting rather tired of all the Discussion.
All the Indecision.

So
I, Jake, have decided to personally pick a photograph
that represents my Concern
About just which picture Moma finally chooses to send in.

Here I am.
In my Simplicity
Unpretentiousness
Ordinariness
Plain Ol' Me.

Quite bored with the Indecision.
(And tired of Moma's shilly-shallying.)

So there.
That's my Mango Minster Entry Photograph.

But
It doesn't end there.

Just as we thought we had it figured out
and had our Entries in
We see on someone's Blog
Mention of a Rule
Against entering more than one Pack Member in the same Category.

Just goes to show.
We've got a lot to learn.

And that's Good.
We love Learning.

(See how easygoing we are?)
Not much ruffles our Feathers
or fluffs our Furs.
We are simply
Plain Ol' Wire Fox Terriers
not insane
not cracker dogs
Just Us.

Period.


Pee esS
Just in case we don't get back for a while
(as if that ever happens)
Here are some updates:


The cars are all fixed.
Moma's purse is thinner.
We're eating saltines.
It is snowing.
Winston made it home safely.
Our Girl started a Blog
(We'd love it if you visited)
Here


Muwah!

Woes and Joys

Transportation Woes
and
Transportation Joys

What a shame.

What a pity.

The Girl's Vehicle's Belly Pan

(what a name!)

half ripped off

and was dragging on the ground

as she left to drive up the mountain.

It's
(the automobile)
in the garage now
Waiting to go to the shop on Tuesday.

The Tall One's Windshield

(in her year old vehicle)

got a crack

which started growing by the inch

as she poked around in an antique shop last week.

It's
(the automobile)
in the garage, too
Waiting to go to the shop on Wednesday.

Neither were happy to discover their situations.

Especially when they had to think about the expense.

Me?

I say keep it simple.

Remember my new wheels?
The ones I got before the holidays?

Well.

As many of you noticed and mentioned
They had very little traction in the snow.
I was limited to clear paths
And off road negotiation.

But
It seems Santa Paws didn't forget me
(or at least someone remembered)
And I was treated with a lovely Gift.

A Sleigh.

With freshly waxed and polished runners.

Perfectly sized
and
Comfortably cushioned with a woolen scarf.

I was quite pleased.

And

So long as I was headed downhill

It moved across the snow

like an hawk glides through the air.

Speaking of hawks
I had to keep my eyes open for them.
Seems they've been attacking the bunnies recently.
Ask Eric the Square Dog.

Sorry to digress.

To continue.

What a satisfactory feeling
Especially when I was able to enjoy
a cup of warm milky tea
upon my return inside.
Life was Good.

But that was not all.

My dilemma regarding traveling on the (downhill) streets
Has been nearly solved.

You'll recall I have to learn to drive
on the opposite side of the street
Here
in America.

It seems much of what these Americans do is backwards.

Not to judge.
You know it is wholly and completely
against my principles
to be critical or disparaging.

Still.
My Square House Foster Family
was concerned
about my Well-being
and my Independence.

So.

In the thoughtful and considerate manner that so well describes them
(Most of them)
I received a Learner's Tag


To apply to my Vehicle
To alert the other drivers
That Winston is on the Road.

Wheeling Along
Whizzing By
on my New Wheels.

It seems they negotiated with the Colorado Hiways and Byways

to make this possible.

As a result

I've even ventured on the roads

in the Park.

The tunnel was a treat.

I could just imagine Eric
Zipping along this road
in the zoomer
(on the wrong side of the road.)

Oh Yes.
Life is So Very Good.

Watch out World.
Here I come
Downhill
All the way.

(Don't you know
That the Girl and the Moma
wish it could be that easy
and that fun?)

A Simple Pleasure

We're still Here.

Quietly settling into January.

Enjoying our days.

Missing our Girl

(But she is ecstatic!)

Simple Pleasures

Are all we sometimes need

to make a Day feel Special.

Especially if we take time to reflect on them.

Here's One.

See for Yourself.

PJ

(Jake and Fergi's Rescue Angel)

Sent this Curious Box home with them

After their holiday stay.

A Christmas Gift.

And so much more.

Hmmm.

The canister says it's Primula Tea.

My moma

(It still seems strange to call her that.

I'm certainly older than she, you know.)

She got out the glass French press coffee jar.

I was dubious.

That contraption is for coffee.

Not tea.

I've learned that since making this my home.

Our Girl gently dropped in a pellet.

(We'll not mention what it reminded me of.)

PLOP

(Rather benign. Don't you agree?)

And she carefully poured in boiling water.

Ahhhhh

The rising steam.

(I moved closer)

It was Warm

Fragrant

Pleasant

So Cool

and

Sweet

(Oh My.  I'm starting to sound like an American teen)

I quietly watched.

Transfixed.

Watching a transformation.

Here is the Product

Close up

I peered in

And waited

As the tea steeped

A lovely flower

opening in the midst of January

Just as the canister illustrated

Producing

 a lovely afternoon tea

That soothed the Spirit

and awakened the Senses.

Life can be so Sweet

and so Easy.

If we just take the Time.

We did.

This Day.

It was Delightful.

Finally

Grab some popcorn and a beer.

Or tea and biscuits.

Or whatever makes you happy.

This is gonna be long.

Really long.

That's what happens when it's a long time coming.

Seems like we've been waiting forever.

For lot of stuff.

For reunions.

For opening pressies.

For warm weather and good health.

And for a chance to finally tell a little bit

about my Christmas Eve stroll with Sally.

Did'ja think I'd forgotten?

Or chickened out?

Nope.

I didn't.

Forget.

Or chicken out.

I have to admit, though.

I was a bit worried that Sally might give up.

Waiting.

We made plans for this time together

So long ago.

But she waited

in London

Looking west.

(Isn't she pretty?

Look how the light shines on her coat.

She looks like an angel.)

And I waited.

In PJ's chair in Colorado.

By the way.

It is NOT true that I stood outside and barked the whole time I was at PJ's.

It is NOT true that I had to be bribed to come in at night.

And that the dog door had to be shut so I couldn't go back out.

It is NOT true that I had a bit of anxiety about being left with My Rescue Angel.

I simply was calling my family.

And calling Sally

I knew what I was doing.

It was they that didn't understand.

Anyhow.

I DID sleep in the chair

(a bit)

and I dreamed.

I dreamed of walking with Sally.

Along the river.

Near the Tower of London.

(The place Moma was afraid she might end up

'cause of some Amercian tea and little bags of ummmm ... herbs

she shipped to my pal Eric and his family.)

I'll let'cha peek into my dream

(I know some of ya have vision that's not what it used to be.)

I dreamed of walking together

near Westminster

in the snow.

(Can you see us?  It was so clear in my dream.)

After a while

I decided I'd better get busy

Get ready

And read.

I didn't want to disappoint Miss Enid.

I was headed to London

after all

Where things are a bit more formal and proper.

(Right?)

PJ had a copy of Miss Enid's Book of Etiquette

and I skimmed it as I rested in her chair.

Finally

I was as ready as I was gonna get

and Butchy came to get me.

He braved the Iowa storm for me.

I owe him.

Something big.

(Thanks, Buddy)

And he flew me to Florida

Where I picked a red rose from my Gramma's garden

(and peeked in the windows to make sure they were doing fine)

(hoping to see evidence that they were missing me just a little)

Then we left.

And Butchy flew me over the Big Pee.

(I wish he'd brought some of the money I'd lost in the poker game

a couple of weeks earlier

but he wasn't really the one who had it.)

The trip was good.

I arrived in London.

Broke

Lost

But carrying a red rose for Sally

Without a clue of how to find her.

Fergi's the one with the cell phone.

But she was a long ways away.

Prob'ly sleeping on PJ's bed.

But nothing was going to stop me.

I found a phone booth and gave Sally a call.

(How embarrassing.)

And

With her help and directions

I found her.

(She later told me I wasn't even late.

I think she was just being nice.)

There she was

In the doorway with Paddy behind her.

Supervising

Approving

Just as Miss Enid suggested should happen.

And my heart melted.
Right there.
Right then.

Sally was every bit as beautiful as I imagined she'd be.

And she seemed happy to receive the rose.

My simple token of friendship.

It looked lovely on her collar.

I breathed easily right away.

I saw that Sally and her family were a lot like me and my family.

Easygoing and relaxed.

We could simply be ourselves.

Before long

We played in the snow near her home

and had a great snowball fight

(I had some real energy to get out

but managed to not bark my fool head off

like I have a tendency to do.)

(photo by Sally)

And

Soon comfortable with each other

and with the permission of her family

We ventured out.

On the town.

Sally took me to the traditional German Christmas market

at Hyde Park

We saw the amazing ferris wheel in the distance

and smelled yummy sausages in the air

(you can read more about it on her blog)

(photo by Sally)

We climbed to get a good view

and to be together

away from the crowd

And later we relaxed in a small pub

enjoying brats and ale

I belched.

A lot.

But I loved it.

Even if Miss Enid would not approve.

(Sally didn't seem to mind.)

We were having a really nice time.

Together.

Ready to venture out further

we headed to the middle of the city

and gazed in the windows of Selfridges and Co.

Sally told me Selfridges is her favorite (upscale) department store

in Oxford Street

open to the world since 1909

Celebrating its 100 year anniversary this year.

We snuck into one of the window displays

and danced with the mannequins.
We made our own music.

And we looked at the amazing decorations

Where I spotted a beautiful pink bauble

(I learned that's what Christmas ornaments are called in the UK

Right?)

That made me think of Fergi.

I love my sister.

She loves pink and all things pretty.

It was getting late

We went inside Selfridges

to the WonderBar

where we quietly enjoyed a late night cup of tea

and handmade English shortbread

(made by an award winning bakery in the Cotswolds)

We talked of our friends

and decided that the girls would surely enjoy

Selfridges Roof Garden Fashion Show

(Perhaps someday they'll come here.)

Knowing our time together was coming to an end

(sort of like Cinderella and the stroke of midnight)

We walked to Trafalgar Square

and quietly roamed among the holiday lights and fountains.

(It had gotten chilly and we both wore our coats)

But we weren't cold.

We were toasty warm and happy.

Our evening had been everything I had hoped for

And

More

So

My Friends

You should know me well enough to know by now

I'm not telling what the "more" was all about.

Some things need to be left as secrets.

But

I will tell you

Back at home

(After we FINALLY got home)

Pressies were pushed to the center of the dining room table

Just out of my reach

(or so Moma intended

I did manage to get a couple down

over the course of the week.)

There was also a package from the Royal Mail

(and this time I KNEW the address!)

After what seemed like furever

(waiting for NinaGirl to get home)

I got to open it.

There were familiar scents inside

and my sniffer told me who and what they belonged to.

Inside I found stuffies (just like Sally's!)

and English Shortbread

(Just like what we enjoyed at Selfridges!)

I played and played

and I shared with my sissie Fergi

I even let her be the first to taste the giant

JUMBOS

Organic Biscuits for Dogs

Cinnamon Honey flavored

Perfect in her (our) opinion.

Needless to say

She approved.

No

That's an understatement.

She LOVED them.

And then

Best of All

There It Was

The beautiful Pink Bauble

On this side of the pee

In our home

From Sally and her family

Just as lovely as when I first spotted it

in the store window

A beautiful memory of our evening together.

Our Christmas Eve stroll.

Our new friendship.

There to hang on our tree

and to always remind us of Christmas Eve 2009

(Can you see the Union Jack design?)

Now

We rest.

Quietly

Without incident

Peacefully

We remember

And we appreciate friendships

New and Old

And we look forward to what will come next.

2010 is going to be a Wonderful Year.
(Thank you, Sally, for a delightful time.)

Love