Category: Pets

Chilling

Our dog Ellie rests on the kitchen floor

Ellie has a dog bed in every room on this floor except the bathroom and the kitchen, where she is here, but sometimes she likes the harder surfaces like the tile of the kitchen or the hardwood everywhere else, I suppose because they are cooler. In fact one of the dog beds is a few feet behind her on the other side of the wall (and there were no cats in it at the time, which is not always the case). She may also be playing the odds and hoping a pizza will accidentally fall off the counter, more likely to happen in the kitchen than anywhere else. Smart thinking pup.

We had air conditioning installed today so the house will be cooler for her during the summer from now on, although these pictures are from March.

Our dog Ellie rests on the kitchen floor

Racing Stripes

A close-up view of the striped fur pattern of an orange tabby

I always assumed the stripes of an orange tabby were all about camouflage but Sam says they also make him 18% faster. I’m not sure I believe him but on the other hand he can really scoot if he thinks he’s going to the vet.

Good Morning America

Our dog Ellie stands in the dog park at Portland's Irving Park

Ellie and I enjoyed a warm but peaceful morning on the 4th of July in the dog park at Irving Park before heading out into the neighborhood. The headlines are a daily reminder that there is a vast difference between what as a country we believe and what we say we believe, and always has been, but there is much to love about America too.

Sam Reacts to the Announcement of the New Doctor Who

Our cat Sam yawns atop the cat tree in my office on April 1, 2017. Original: _DSC3984.ARW

We are big Doctor Who fans, Sam and I, and wish we had a few more years with the current team of Peter Capaldi, Pearl Mackie, and Matt Lucas. But if we are going to have to have a new Doctor, we’re thrilled they’ve finally chosen a woman in this long-running role and look forward to seeing what Jodie Whittaker brings to the table. It’s going to be a long wait but thankfully we now have BritBox and have been starting with the original shows from the 60’s and working our way forward (just finished the second season). While sadly some of those early shows weren’t saved, most of these old shows are new to us so we have been having a great time curling up with the iPad and watching one of our favorite shows.

Some Days I Don’t Get Much Done

Our black-and-white cat Boo sleeps on my legs

After walking Ellie and working in the yard this morning, I came in after noon and stretched out on the couch while enjoying a cool drink. Boo came over and fell asleep on my legs, and I’ve been debating whether or not to wake him so I can refill my drink and get some lunch. This picture is from April but is playing out again at this moment, same pose, same slippers, same jeans.

Sam’s Log, Stardate 70756.6

Our cats Sam and Trixie sleep face-to-face

12:12pm: Curled up on dad’s legs. Purred so loudly he couldn’t hear his show. Then he reached out and scratched my head! Doesn’t he know that will make me purr louder? Now he’s rubbing my footpads and I’m getting sleepy. Really sleepy. Reaaaaallllly sleepy.

2:37pm: Red alert! Red alert! Trixie has entered the room! Dad tells me to relax.

2:38pm: Intruder! Intruder! She’s curled up on dad’s lap, just inches away from me! I voiced my displeasure but to no effect! Dad tells me to relax, she’s not bothering me. But we both know what is about to happen. “Maybe she won’t,” he says, but I know he doesn’t believe it anymore than I do.

2:41pm: See! She pretended she needed to stretch and then resettled just a little bit closer, now her legs are resting on mine! Dad tells me to relax, scratches my head. Don’t distract me now, I know what comes!

2:43pm: Her feet are now on my belly! Dad tells me to relax, says she adores me like I did Scout. Not the same! He lets me lick his hand, that always makes me feel better. Why does that make me feel better? His hands are filthy.

2:45pm: Oh! Oh! Her whole head is on my feet now! Only one stage left! We know it’s coming, it always does! Still he says relax, gently massages my head. I do like that, it feels so nice when … but I will not be distracted!

2:46pm: Face-to-face! As if there was ever a doubt! Dad tells me to relax. He doesn’t know what it’s like having someone constantly snuggle all over him, and I told him so! He says “No I wouldn’t know anything about that …”, but he says it in that voice he uses when he’s trying to teach a lesson, but I think Trixie is already asleep so she didn’t even hear him! I am so upset I might not be able to sleep! I might not! I do like the way he’s rubbing my ears though. Am I purring? Stop purring! Stop purring!

(There are no more entries in Sam’s journal)

The Orange Tabby

A close-up of our cat Sam, an orange tabby

Sam appears more orange than usual courtesy of the room lights that are near him contrasting the cooler outside light hitting the blue walls behind him.

Chaos at the Edge of Change

Our cat Boo sits among cameras and lenses

Back in March, shortly after the new Sony camera arrived, I looked up to see Boo standing amidst cameras and lenses stacked on my desk, some rather close to the edge. On the left was an old, well-used and well-loved Canon lens (the original 24-105mm) that I was trading in as part of a special to get the lens on the right, the Sony Zeiss 55mm 1.8 prime. Back behind him was the Canon mirrorless camera that was also being replaced with the Sony. I didn’t open the new lens until I was sure the old one had been received and evaluated, but I drew my breath in at the thought if Trixie jumped up and startled him the new lens might go tumbling before ever being used. Rather than risk startling him myself I did the next logical thing, took his picture with the new camera, and he soon hopped down without incident and I moved the lenses back from the edge.