A Very Doggie Christmas…

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Bella, Christmas, Dog, Homemade dog biscuits, John Grogan, Jonathan Carroll, Marley & Me: Life and Love with the World's Worst Dog, Pets, Poodle, Pumpkin Dog Biscuits

Bella
(Image by TSL)

It’s just the most amazing thing to love a dog, isn’t it? It makes our relationships with people seem as boring as a bowl of oatmeal. (John Grogan, Marley and Me: Life and Love With the World’s Worst Dog)

Bella turns 9 on Christmas day. That’s 9 in human years. In dog years, she’s 63. Granted, she may have become a little less tolerant of some of the more scatty dogs we encounter when we’re out on our daily walks, but I guess that’s her prerogative – middle-aged spinster that she is. I hope I’m as fit and sprightly at 63…

I mentioned yesterday that I’m making a few of my Christmas pressies this year. Well, Bella features on that recipient list, too. I mean, it’s a double whammy for her – birthday AND Christmas, all rolled into one. I could hardly leave her off the list, could I?

LM laughs at me for anthropomorphising, but I spend more time with Bella than I do with almost anyone (LM excepted). I can’t imagine my life without her. And, let’s not go down that road. So, of course she needs to be considered for Christmas.

Pumpkin Doggie Biscuits a la TSL
(Image by TSL)

Bella’s Pumpkin Doggie Biscuits a la TSL
(Image by TSL)

This year, she’s getting homemade dog biscuits. And, since I picked up my doggie bone biscuit cutter from the Essential Ingredient this morning, I couldn’t resist whipping up the first batch today.

Let me tell you, they went down a treat!

Bella (Appears to) Wait Patiently for her Treat
Hand model – LM
(Image by TSL)

Please Sir, Can I Have Some More…?
(Image by TSL)

The next batch are going to be stuffed full of mint and parsley to give her minty fresh breath. I’ll let you know how they go!

I Like Dogs…

Tags

Bella, Bella the poodle, Dog, Friendly Book, John Grogan, Margaret Wise Brown, Marley & Me, Marley and Me: Life and Love with the World's Worst Dog, Poodle, Roger A. Caras

Bella at the Park
(Image by TSL)

I like dogs
Big dogs, Little dogs
Fat dogs, Doggy dogs
Old dogs, Puppy dogs
I like dogs
A dog that is barking over the hill
A dog that is dreaming very still
A dog that is running wherever he will
I like dogs
(Margaret Wise Brown, ‘The Friendly Book’)

(Images by TSL)

A person can learn a lot from a dog, even a loopy one like ours. Marley taught me about living each day with unbridled exuberance and joy, about seizing the moment and following your heart. He taught me to appreciate the simple things-a walk in the woods, a fresh snowfall, a nap in a shaft of winter sunlight. And as he grew old and achy, he taught me about optimism in the face of adversity. Mostly, he taught me about friendship and selflessness and, above all else, unwavering loyalty. (John Grogan, ‘Marley and Me: Life and Love With the World’s Worst Dog‘)

(Images by TSL)

If you don’t own a dog, at least one, there is not necessarily anything wrong with you, but there may be something wrong with your life. (Roger A. Caras)

(Image by TSL)

Christmas Haircut Time at Casa TSL…

Tags

Bella, Christmas, Christmas wishes, Dogs, Haircuts, Holidays, New South Wales, New Zealand, Pets, Poodle, Sydney, the poodle

Bella – before
(Image by TSL)

When I was a child in New Zealand, I always knew Christmas was only a few sleeps away because my Dad would get his ‘Christmas haircut‘. The Christmas haircut was a super-short, low maintenance number which was more convenient for boating and swimming and other summer pursuits.

Today, Bella received her Christmas haircut. We are heading to the beach for a couple of weeks in January, and Bella is a water-baby. Short is best. In addition to this, it is tick season in a big way on the New South Wales coast over the summer. We don’t want to take any chances with our beloved pooch, so this year, we have gone extra short.

Bella now resembles a rat…

Bella – after
(Image by TSL)

I think this will be the last post for a while as we get ready for the summer break down here. A very happy and safe Christmas to everyone.

I look forward to catching up with you all again in late January.

Dog Wisdom III

Tags

Bella, Dog, Franklin P.Jones, Humor, Pets, Photos, Poodle, Quote

Scratch a dog and you’ll find a permanent job.(Franklin P. Jones)

"Scratch my tummy. Go on - you know you want to..."

Domenica More Gordon LOVES Dogs!

Tags

Bella, Dog, Domenica More Gordon, Poodle

Bella

When I first met the lawyer man and he told me he had a dog, I was expecting a Staffy (or something similar).  You can imagine my disappointment when he informed me that he had a poodle, and a miniature one at that.  I thought poodles were sort of Claytons dogs.  You know what I mean – dogs for people who aren’t serious about having dogs…  And then I met her.  It’s impossible not to fall in love with Bella.  Now, I can’t imagine life without her.  As I write this, she’s lying underneath my chair.

Domenica More Gordon clearly loves dogs, too.  And, I mean all dogs.  She also loves toys, and through her amazing dry felting creations attempts to revive the special feeling of attachment one has for toys as a child.  I think she’s incredibly clever both in terms of her art, and the emotions her creations evoke.  Just looking at pictures of her wee dogs makes me smile.  I promise you, it’s worth a look at her website.

Domenica More Gordon's Dogs

You can read an interview with Domenica here.