1 hour ago
Thursday, July 22, 2010
Sunday, July 04, 2010
Good Fences Make Good Dogs
Charlie is intrigued by the new garden I put in. He loves to eat dirt, plus Pouncer digs there and that's a big attractant. But when the veggies ripen, the attraction will increase exponentially, because Charlie's an omnivore -- he loves veggies as much as I do!
So I'm erecting a low bamboo fence around the new garden. Tall enough to keep Charlie (who doesn't jump fences or push babygates) out, yet low enough for me to step over.
"Mmmmm... 2010 -- a good year for dirt."
I've been using a jerry-rigged setup of sawhorses and 2x4s, but it's always falling apart as Charlie pushes the boundaries a little. So it was time for something better looking and more stable.
"I could help, you know. I could keep the kitties out of there."
Having taken a class on bamboo fence-building, I decided on a rustic Japanese yotsume-gaki-style fence. Gabbie's mom grows bamboo & donated canes to the cause, and I bought posts at a local feed store.
"Awwwww... you never let me have any fun!"
For the last week, Charlie and I have been measuring and cutting and digging and leveling and nailing... There's plenty more do do (namely, the pickets and a gate), but we have the bones of a fence; one sufficient to keep Charlie out and the vegetables in.
So I'm erecting a low bamboo fence around the new garden. Tall enough to keep Charlie (who doesn't jump fences or push babygates) out, yet low enough for me to step over.
I've been using a jerry-rigged setup of sawhorses and 2x4s, but it's always falling apart as Charlie pushes the boundaries a little. So it was time for something better looking and more stable.
Having taken a class on bamboo fence-building, I decided on a rustic Japanese yotsume-gaki-style fence. Gabbie's mom grows bamboo & donated canes to the cause, and I bought posts at a local feed store.
For the last week, Charlie and I have been measuring and cutting and digging and leveling and nailing... There's plenty more do do (namely, the pickets and a gate), but we have the bones of a fence; one sufficient to keep Charlie out and the vegetables in.
Saturday, June 19, 2010
Thursday, June 17, 2010
Why Charlie* Eats So Fast
*He's the little guy on top
Saturday, June 12, 2010
World Pup Soccer
Thursday, June 10, 2010
Joke of the Day
Q: How high can your dog jump?
A: How high do you keep your food?
And lest anyone be concerned - a nail trimming was handily accomplished at the vet's this week, using a jar of peanut butter to keep the animal sedated. :)
Monday, June 07, 2010
Could This Dog Even Do Anything Bad?
No pictures, but if I ever wondered what I'd look like with a Heidelberg dueling scar, I wonder no more. Charlie says it's my own fault for trying to pin him down for a little "work" when he was feeling playful. In any event, it's time for a toenail trim. And I know just the vet who can do it!
Thursday, May 27, 2010
Sunday, May 23, 2010
We Be Yammin'
Charlie loves rawhide chews, but since he believes they're meant to be consumed immediately and has the teeth with which to do so, I often buy him off with a yam chew. Yam chews certainly don't last as long, but I haven't had to pull one out of his throat yet, and there's no worry about other digestive consequences. We just finished the batch I made in March, so it was time to make some more.
They're easy to make with a food dehydrator and tasty, too (I have this on the best authority, and I don't mean Charlie ;) ). 10 pounds of yams makes 2-3 pounds of chews, so they're even economical, compared to buying Sam's Yams. I blogged the recipe before. But since then, I've made an improvement -- perforating the slightly cooked yam slices before dehydrating them; it really makes the drying go better and faster.
Here's the short version of the "big dog" recipe:
1. Buy a bunch of the biggest yams you can find. 10 lb. fills my 6 round dehydrator racks.
2. Slice the yams into 1/2" - 3/4" slabs.
3. Cook the slices on a plate in a microwave -- about 4 min. on each side.
4. Perforate the slices all over (on both sides) with a fork
5. Dehydrate @135-140' F for 10-20 hrs.
6. Feed and repeat.
"Bone" Apetit!
They're easy to make with a food dehydrator and tasty, too (I have this on the best authority, and I don't mean Charlie ;) ). 10 pounds of yams makes 2-3 pounds of chews, so they're even economical, compared to buying Sam's Yams. I blogged the recipe before. But since then, I've made an improvement -- perforating the slightly cooked yam slices before dehydrating them; it really makes the drying go better and faster.
Here's the short version of the "big dog" recipe:
1. Buy a bunch of the biggest yams you can find. 10 lb. fills my 6 round dehydrator racks.
2. Slice the yams into 1/2" - 3/4" slabs.
3. Cook the slices on a plate in a microwave -- about 4 min. on each side.
4. Perforate the slices all over (on both sides) with a fork
5. Dehydrate @135-140' F for 10-20 hrs.
6. Feed and repeat.
Wednesday, May 19, 2010
Paging Dr. Mom... Dr. Mom to the OR...
Monday, May 17, 2010
Farmer Charlie
Pouncer has decided that the just-rototilled garden is her new litterbox, and Charlie has decided... well let's just say he wants to scrounge around inside. At first I didn't realize why he wanted in so badly. Today, however, when I was planting, it became pretty obvious.
I'm going to build a more permanent fence, but until then, this makeshift one will have to do.
Fortunately Charlie respects babygates and fences. But, maybe if he stretches his neck far enough, mom won't notice...
Organic fertilizer apparently also smells yummy!
I'm going to build a more permanent fence, but until then, this makeshift one will have to do.
Fortunately Charlie respects babygates and fences. But, maybe if he stretches his neck far enough, mom won't notice...
Organic fertilizer apparently also smells yummy!
Friday, May 14, 2010
Tuesday, May 11, 2010
Outtakes
When you're out taking pictures with Charlie, you get a lot more pictures like this:
than this:
Wednesday, April 28, 2010
Playtime Dreams
Today is showery, with the sun occasionally peeking out, so we're spending the day inside.
Charlie's asleep, probably dreaming about how much fun we're going to have when the weather turns nice again, just like we did last week:
Charlie's asleep, probably dreaming about how much fun we're going to have when the weather turns nice again, just like we did last week:
Friday, April 23, 2010
Garden Helper
For some reason, gardening with Charlie as a helper is more work....
"Wha'cha doin'? Want me to help with that?"
"I'll take care of those!"
"Hey, I said those are MY weeds!"
"And what are these? I can help with these, too!"
"Grrrrrr, you nasty weeds!"
Tuesday, April 13, 2010
Approach Avoidance
There are workmen in the house mounting a new TV on the wall, and Charlie is alternately intrigued by them...
... and freaked by the sound of their reciprocating saw making cutouts in the plywood shear wall.
Whenever I leave the room, he stays close by my side, jockeying to keep me between him and the scary noises, for example, as I try to work in the kitchen.
Poor guy -- it's probably time for some extra treats!
... and freaked by the sound of their reciprocating saw making cutouts in the plywood shear wall.
Whenever I leave the room, he stays close by my side, jockeying to keep me between him and the scary noises, for example, as I try to work in the kitchen.
Poor guy -- it's probably time for some extra treats!
Friday, April 02, 2010
Charlie's New BFF
You'll recall how much Charlie likes his mailman. Well, I don't remember exactly when and how it happened, but things have changed since October.
No longer does the mail carrier leave treats outside the door for Charlie to retrieve with the mail...
...nor is Charlie babygated upstairs at mailtime, anymore...
... because Charlie and his new best friend now do a daily greeting ... one-on-one.
"Hi, buddy!"
Charlie lies at the head of the unbabygated stairs or at a nearby window, watching and listening for the distinctive *snap* of the mail slot, whereupon he races to the door, barking ferociously. But now, when he sees it's Jeffrey, the bark turns from ferocious to demanding, or even quiets entirely, while Charlie waits for us to come open the door, so he can squirm through and let the greetings begin.
Of course, the very best greetings involve both snuzzling and treats, and these are no exception.
Catching a treat in mid-air.
So Charlie now has the mailman eating out of his hand. Only it's the other way around, really. Thanks, Jeffrey -- all of us around here think you're "paw"some!
No longer does the mail carrier leave treats outside the door for Charlie to retrieve with the mail...
...nor is Charlie babygated upstairs at mailtime, anymore...
... because Charlie and his new best friend now do a daily greeting ... one-on-one. 
Charlie lies at the head of the unbabygated stairs or at a nearby window, watching and listening for the distinctive *snap* of the mail slot, whereupon he races to the door, barking ferociously. But now, when he sees it's Jeffrey, the bark turns from ferocious to demanding, or even quiets entirely, while Charlie waits for us to come open the door, so he can squirm through and let the greetings begin.
Of course, the very best greetings involve both snuzzling and treats, and these are no exception.
So Charlie now has the mailman eating out of his hand. Only it's the other way around, really. Thanks, Jeffrey -- all of us around here think you're "paw"some!
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