Grace's Ramblings...

Hi G-Fans!

Another Friday night and I ......

Can't complain!

I had a full in-the-sun bog walk with Raphael and Riley (sans Tessa and Bertie).  It was overdue to be sure!  I've heard talk that another one is scheduled at the crazy hour of 8:00 a.m.!  I can't remember the last time I walked at that hour... ever?  I had to be up early for the shows, but that is different.

So,  it is week number two that the concierge has begun her new crazy schedule.

She seems to be less and more stressed all at the same time.

I try to help, but for some reason my cleaning the cat dish and back yard of waste products doesn't count toward helping or lessening the stress.  That vein in her neck bulges more than it usually does, which is hard to imagine I am sure.  Believe me, it is a little scary looking when it starts pulsating wildly.  Sort of like Tessa's heartbeat.  Her heart thumps around at its own rhythm, not steady and regular like the rest of us.  Maybe that is what makes her so unpredictable.  Comatose couch potato one minute, wild whirling dervish another.

Actually, I had wanted to talk about Snagglepus.

He seems down in the dumps lately.

I don't know if it is his heart still grieving for Linus and Newt, or he isn't feeling well.  Dr. Raphael has been giving him a thorough going over for days now.  We just aren't sure the source of the malaise.... I am not sure who can check his feelings out.....

Did you know Raphael was a doctor?  

He sniffs out maladies before anyone even feels bad...  

Watch out if he starts sniffing you.  He may be trying to tell you something!

Well, the concierge says it has been a long two weeks and asks that we wind up for tonight.

It is just as well, I am feeling relaxed and sleepy after having a nice walk.

Although, there is some stuff going on in the back yard that bears further investigation.

That can be explored tomorrow.

May you always have a story in the wings...

 It makes things more interesting!

TTFN!

A little too much flash.  Riley was MUCH more RELAXED before the concierge tried to get the picture with her camera.  He went on alert when the flash whirred.

Riley has been snuggling with both of us "girls".  Here he is with Tessa almost making a heart-shape.

See, here he is with me.

-G

Half of What?

Hi G-Fans!

May I share with you today's gripe?

Before I get to that I do want to share that we took a nice (too short) walk this morning in the sun.  It was lovely.  We didn't make it as far as the bog, but it was a nice treat.

Now, the gripe.

Where to begin?

First of all, this morning's walk was short, so we should have another one tonight.  It makes sense, don't you think?  The concierge was dressed for a walk before we had dinner.  But now it looks like she has no intention of taking us and she has eaten and so have we... I don't get it.  We should have leashes on and be traipsing about the neighborhood.  And we aren't.  The concierge says that it is really cold.  Doesn't she think I would know that since I don't get shoes, coat, mittens and a scarf put on every time we go out?  I am expected to be warm enough without it.  Who came up with these ideas?  I know some dogs actually have wardrobes!?  Actually, I have one.  It is comprised of a multitude of scarves.  Nothing else.  It could be a well rounded wardrobe if it had an ermine robe, tiara and sceptre.  That would be delightful.  And highly agreeable.  Aside from that, us dogs don't need all that other stuff.

Really.

Except maybe Greyhounds.

And Chihuahuas.

And Mexican Hairless.

And the other Froofie breeds....

They don't have any fur!  (to speak of)

Anyway, I digress.

The other reason I am miffed.  Not only was the concierge not making a move to get our butts outside, but she was tapping away at the computer looking stuff up.

Stuff about horses.

Not dogs.

Not treats for royalties.

Horses.

Haflingers to be exact.

What is a Haflinger?

Well, I guess the concierge is going to show us.

SO,

I want to say,

I send you wishes for a FULL walk,

a FULL belly,

and  a FULL measure of Love :)

No lingering "Half's" about it!

TTFN!

-G

10 Haflingers all in a row...

Haflinger Portrait....

A fancy 'do on a Haflinger....

Running Haflingers....

A snippet from Wikpedia:

The Haflinger, also known as the Avelignese, is a breed of horse developed in Austria and northern Italy during the late 19th century. Haflinger horses are relatively small, are always chestnut in color, have distinctive gaits described as energetic but smooth, and are well-muscled yet elegant. The breed traces its ancestry to the Middle Ages, and there are several theories for the breed's origin. Haflingers were developed for use in mountainous terrain, and are known for their hardiness. Their current conformation and appearance are the result of infusions of bloodlines from Arabian and various European breeds into the original native Tyrolean ponies. The foundation sire, 249 Folie, was born in 1874, and by 1904 the first breeders' cooperative was formed. All Haflingers can trace their lineage back to Folie through one of seven bloodlines. World War I and World War II, as well as theGreat Depression, had a detrimental effect on the breed, and lower-quality animals were used at times to save the breed from extinction. During World War II breeders focused on horses that were shorter and more draft-like, favored by the military for use as packhorses. The emphasis after the war shifted towards producing animals with increased refinement and height.

Bon Jour! Bon Soir!

Bon Jour et Bon Soir G-Fans!

Comment c'est va?

Moi?  Bien, Merci!

Il fait neige, aujourd 'hui

Pardonne moi pour moi francais!  Je suis un chien american, quelle surprise je suis mauvais!!!

I guess that is enough!

Above you will see a water feature in a courtyard in Rouen, France.  Oooh la la.  This is around the corner from the Notre Dame Cathedral that Monet spent hours painting from across the street.

People wore a lot of black in France.

They smoked a lot in France.

They rode bicycles a lot and walked a lot too.

It isn't so easy to get from Rouen to Paris in a rented car without GPS and bad directions from Google on an American computer.   Believe me!  The concierge has told the story enough times that I sometimes think I was actually there!

Mais non, ne jamais pas, I only flew once from Michigan.  First class, of course!  Some airport troglodytes mistakenly assumed I was a cocker spaniel!  Mon Dieu!  Indeed!

Anyway.

My wish for you today is one of blind faith.  When you don't have directions to get where you are going, take a sniff around and allow yourself to be guided by that tug in your heart.  It will lead you on!

Au Revoir G-Fans!

-G

Scaffolding by any other name.......

A view to be piqued by.....

Even close-up it is cool!

Roof top view :)

Moody view from the direction of the Louvre....  or le Jardin du Tulieres perhaps!...

Ahhh, the full view :)

Raphael & Harry redo

Hi G-Fans!
I meant to check in last night about the blog entry by Tessa.  I hope she didn't ramble on too long for you.  She just teased to have a turn until I relented.  Since I turned in my parental jurisdiction to the concierge, I won't be responsible for ruining her or traumatizing her by being too easy or permissive....

Anyway....
I decided to include pictures of Raphael and Harry tonight.  Most of them are subpar in the quality department.  But, I think you will enjoy them regardless.

Now, to address a fan request... (with an artistic side-bar)


The Family Tree

Please don't pee on the family tree,
Nor eat the remains,
on the family grounds,
It truly is out of bounds.
Please don't pee on the family tree,
No matter the glee,
It may bring to thee.
Share not the mounds
of brown,
It makes me frown,
So PLEASE, do not PEE on the family tree!!
-G



Now, to the pressing question......


Milo and Grace
begot.....

Gabriella and Jackson (neighbors in NH)
Izzy and Jack (PA)
Leo (slightly Western MA on last transmission, with a stint in HI)
Gilda (slightly more Western MA)
Harry Potter, Bertie, Tessa and Raphael (South Shore MA)

Gilda had two litters, my grandkids, and I don't have all their names, nor do I get grandparents day cards from them....


So, hopefully that clears up any confusion.....
TTFN!
-G

This is when Raphael had hair on his eyebrows.  We don't know his eyebrows have gone.

Classic Harry look.

Harry sporting quite a 'do.

Raphael wondering if he will get a cookie in addition to the excitement of the camera flash.

Harry after Raphael sucking on his ears.  Raphael used to do that to Bertie, Harry and Tessa.  Now Tessa is the only one who will permit it.  The boys put their paws down a couple of years ago and won't let him do it anymore.  Nothing like slimy ears on three dogs.  Ick.

Raphael probably jumping on someone's back.

The other night we shared a picture with Tessa and Harry waiting for Gabriella.  This is Harry with Gabriella waiting for her concierge to come in with her overnight bag and food.

Happy boy.  Full head of teeth in this shot.

Taking a break from chasing the shadows of bugs from the Weeping Cherry Tree.

By the Light of the Moon

Anyone see where that magician put the other half of my body?  Good trick, but..... I want the other half back!!!

Hi G-Fans!

A brisk getting-to-be-winter day out.  We did have sun, however, so it was pleasant.  The full moon is tomorrow and I can tell.  Everyone is a little hair trigger around here.  The concierge dropped a small metal thingy that barely made a noise and everyone went ballistic barking.  We are just a vocal group.  And competitive.  Plus, (back to the moon thought) we took our walk by moonlight and it was like having a flashlight with us.  It was so illuminating!

So, the picture above is Tessa all wrapped up.  It was just her head showing.  Poor Riley, in his advanced years, isn't noticing as much as he used to.... So, when he went to lie down on the bed he practically jumped to the moon when Tessa lifted her head to see who was lying across her back.  Poor thing.  He has been a little off kilter all day and that certainly didn't help!

I have the pre-winter sleepies, so will close for tonight.

I wish everyone a blanket burrito night :)

TTFN!

-G

P.S.... I thought I would include pictures of all us orange and white girls.... 

 Izzy is getting ready to jump into the water.

Gabriella peeking around the corner of the couch.

Of course this is me looking incredibly adorable.

The Barefoot Contessa Tells All....

Let me tell you a few things that my Mom might omit!

Hi G-Fans!

Hi, it is Tessa today (AKA: the Barefoot Contessa).  I begged my Mom to let me have a go today on the blog.  I have a few things to say about the goings-on the last few days.  Maybe longer.  We'll see how it goes....

A few items I would like to cover...

-Today's Walk
-The walk yesterday

-Gabriella as a visitor

-The Beach walk Bertie and Gabby (she hates it when I call her that) went on

-All the fussing and fuming in general

*  Today we had a lovely long walk deep in the woods and I was positively woozy from the smells.  I had to have my head held up away from the ground just so I could keep my legs from going out from under me.... I could smell so many smells it was just crazy.  Horses, dogs, people, raccoons, squirrels, birds, deer, mushrooms, rotting leaves, pine needles, bicycle tires and so many things I don't even know the names of!  We saw another dog with its people, a hiker and a friend that is a friend to our assistant concierge.  And we rode around doing errands both before and after... so exciting!  We even stopped at a really busy McDonalds to get Mom's concierge's bag full of stuff that Gabriella's concierge took up North by mistake.  That bag went on a trip all by itself!  Apparently, there were very important things in that bag....!  At the end of our walk, however, we had to figure out a way to avoid the big four legged animals that were waiting to get carted up.  I think they were cooling down after a four hour adventure in the woods.  So, in order to not spook those animals, we waited for the vehicle to come get us a bit down the way....

*  Yesterday we did a bicycle path and trail and met up with a bicycler and runner.  At the end of the walk we had to wait for a bunch of sled dogs to get put into their van.  We waited.  And we waited. And waited.  Finally it was necessary for us to change our plans and have our vehicle brought up the road so we could go home and not freeze to death!  We still don't know why it took those animals so long to get into their vehicle.  We are all set in less than five seconds... that's for five of us... a second per dog.... at most those sled dogs should have taken 10 seconds according to my calculations.  Maybe they have to cool down like those other animals...?

*  Gabriella left yesterday morning.  I don't think I need to say more.

*  The day before Gabriella left she took Bertie and went to the beach to walk.  They splashed in the water, ran on the sand, and chased things.  Bertie told me ALL about it.  I wish I had my chance to spit pieces of cat food, plastic and pens all over the place.  Oh, wait a minute, I did that!!!  I feel better already!

*  My mom seems to like to have a beef with just about everything.  Me, I like to chill.  I either like to hang and relax or play hard.  I probably would like to sleep in a bit more than we do here.  And, perhaps, sleep in the inner chambers once in awhile.  The cookies are good (more would be better).  The food is good (more would be better).  The lovins' in good (more would be better).  The company is good (it is just right).  So, not much to complain about in my book.  Roll with the good times and hang tough through the hard ones.... which there don't seem to be very many.

So, I think my mom might encourage you to chill in a good way for the rest of your day!

Ciou!

-BFC

This is me hoping that Raphael doesn't have gas since his butt is right in my face and his tail is whipping the wind around at a rapid rate and I am wondering why I am not getting a treat yet... Instead the concierge is taking pictures.....

This is me wondering if Snagglepus is a dog or a cat....

This is my pensive look.

This is after hearing a good joke.

This is Harry and I waiting for Gabriella and her concierge to come in....

Thanksgiving Visits

11/25 G-Note.... We were very tired last night and I caught the concierge snoozing as I mumbled my entry to her...  So, we had several typos that we fixed this morning.  Sorry to Gabriella, in particular, the concierge and I didn't catch the mistakes on her name, the letters are small and our eyes were closed for the most part... which makes it hard to tell an "e" from an "a"!

MY Chair!!

Hi G-Fans!

Well, we are winding down from holiday visits.  Gabriella came to see us for a  little while.  I was going to write about it yesterday, but I was so annoyed about the improper treatment yesterday, I didn't.

Today was much improved. 

We had a new walk in the forest and met up with sled dogs, a runner and cyclist.  We had very invigorating temperatures.  The humans were bundled up, but I found it comfortable.

Gabriella left before the walk, so she missed the fun.

She, however. went cosmopolitan by visiting the North End of Boston today.

We hope she had some spumoni with her cannoli.

A little joke!

It is frequent that we hear the comment, "Spinone? Is that like ice cream?"   

We reply, 

"Ha ha... No, it does sound similar though, Ha ha... Think - Spin-One...... not spumoni."  

Meanwhile, we are thinking....

 "Like we haven't heard THAT one a thousand and one times!"  

We can be diplomatic on occasion!

So, enjoy some Gabriella-themed pictures as you head into the last stretch of a long holiday weekend (at least for most)...

May you have the warmth of family to surround you enveloped with loyalty and love.

TTFN!

-G

Here I am playing with Tessa as a roly poly baby.....

One of the girls..... it looks like Tessa, but might be Gabriella.....

Harry looking like a lamby.....

Puppy Pile!

Some tired looking pup!  I believe it is Tessa.

Someone sprouting some fuzz.....!

Gabriella is under attack! I looks like Izzy, Tessa and Jackson are ganging up on Gabriella....

Here is Gabriella after one of her first stays with us after she went to live in her own house.  She was so exhausted she fell asleep standing up on her concierge's lap....!

Although the picture looks the same it isn't... she is still passed out.

Black Friday - It's All About Bertie

Hi G-Fans!

I am really steaming tonight!  I had to wait hours to calm down enough to write tonight.  I am furious!!

Where do I start??

Let's just say - Black Friday is TRULY a BLACK day!!

The day started out well enough. The concierge fed us in a timely fashion and we had turkey juices and giblets mixed into our breakfast bowls.  Everyone slept well as far as I could tell once everyone was safe and sound (Harry's concierge and entourage came in after we retired here, so we felt the need to announce their safe return to the entire neighborhood).  

We hung out with Gabriella who came to visit for Thanksgiving with her concierge and attendants.  We enjoyed morning socializing with Harry's concierge, Gabriella's concierge and attending parties.  My concierge didn't stay much this morning she left in her "don't-touch-me-or-you'll-get-hair-on-me" clothes, so we figured we wouldn't see her for most of the day.  Next thing I know it I hear leashes being taken out.  So I am obviously waiting patiently to go on the end of one of those leashes for some fun activity.  I have made it abundantly clear to my concierge on many occasions  that if I am not given appropriate first dibs on outings of all kinds, there WILL be CONSEQUENCES!

You imagine my shock when Gabriella took her concierge, her concierge's cohort and

Bertie!!  Bertie!  They walked out of the door without me.

I took no time in getting to work to make my displeasure known.  I do not get that kind of disrespect without repercussions!!!  No sirree Bob....!

So Gabriella's concierge also didn't get the memo that Raphael is suppose to be in the kitchen and I am suppose to be in the living room.  (The concierge, I think has been doing that because of my swift and immediate response to indiscretions such as this one..

Not only did I efficiently etrieve the empty cat food can waiting to be put into the recycle bin, but as I scanned the counter I spied a plastic container of Snagglepus' snack food.  Our cookies were in a plastic locked container... harder access, and Snagglepus' food smelled tantalizing and exotic.  

Now normally I would do something with the dish sponge, but it had been changed yesterday and was less than interesting. 

Just as I was settling in with RIley and Tessa in the wings, and as I pried, with the utmost delicacy, the lid off, Harry's concierge interrupted a truly delicious dish of revenge!  I can't believe how my luck continued from bad to worse.

So she confiscates my treasures and we are scooted outside for a momentary break.

I don't think I even got a kernel of that food :(

So, you can understand my anger!

Thwarted again!

On top of all that, Bertie and Gabriella came back smelling of seaweed. seagulls and seaair.....!  Now we have gone from insulting to injurious!

Nothing else can be said to rectify this awful chain of events.

Nothing.

So here endeth the entry for BLACK FRIDAY!

I leave you with pictures of the Golden Boy, since it seems it it all about him today.

May you never need to plat revenge as you are always in the right place at the right time!!  And you know it!!!  And so does everyone else!!

TTFN!

-G

"I wonder how many of these I could fit in my mouth without anyone knowing.....?"

This is a weird feeling toy.....

Hi!!

A little coverup would be preferable!

GQ Man

"Yoga Boy" in half pose.....

"Look what I gots......

Bertie's got a towel......

Bertie and Mr. Bill.... OOooh Nooooo, Mr. BIll!!

OOPs... That not Bertie!!
What the heck is that?
I bet it comes from Australia or some place like that!  It is like a huge guinea pig for goodness sakes!!
The concierge says she knows, but I am not buying it, she is just torturing me for my transgressions......