Camera Critters Meme #216 - The Granddogs - May 26, 2012

21 DAYS UNTIL I TOUCH DOWN IN INDIA AGAIN!

Over Mother's Day weekend, I went to West Sacramento to visit my middle son, Alex,
his lovely wife, Laura, and my two granddogs, Taffy and Bucky.  I had worried they
might have forgotten me while I was away.  I could not believe the unabashed, affectionate
greeting I got from those two.  I will really miss them during my upcoming six month
in India ( the kids, too, of course ).  I'll have to talk to the doggies when I call on Skype!

I have posted a couple of pictures of them since I return but here are two more.
I, especially like this one of Taffy.  Bucky was too busy with his chewie to cooperate
with the photographer, grandma or not.

"Aw, Grandma, you can't be going back to India so soon!"

"Wait a minute, was that the rustle of my dog food bag?"

"Grandma, I CANNOT look up now, can't you see I'm busy?"

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Camera Critters #173 - The Granddogs - July 30, 2011

A couple of weeks ago, when my friend, Meaux, was visiting from New
Orleans, we went up to West Sacramento to see my son, Alex, and his
lovely wife, Laura and my two wonderful granddogs, Bucky and Taffy.
I just love those dogs.  Both are shelter dogs that they've had for almost
two years now. 

Taffy was the first granddog.  She was so shy, Alex and Laura decided
she should have a more rambunctious partner to keep her company. 
Bucky came on the scene a couple of months later.  He is definitely not
shy and he is a bundle of energy.  While Taffy is happy just to lie close
and snuggle, Bucky will snuggle only so long, then he'll go in search of
his rings for a game of tug of war.

Taffy

Laura and Bucky

Alex and Taffy

Bucky

I know I really carry on about these two dogs.  They live a hundred miles

away so I don't get to see them too often.  I am always afraid they won't

remember me between visits but they always do and are happy to see me

whenever I am there.  When Alex and Laura go to Hawaii in August for 8

days, I'll go up and stay with Taffy and Bucky while they're away.  I am

really looking forward to being a grandma for all that time!  Can you

imagine what I'll be alike when a baby comes along!

I am taking part in Camera Critters #173

and

Pets Forever

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Alphabe Thursday - "D" Is For Dogs - May 12, 2011

For my "D" post this week, I decided to use a poem about dogs that I wrote a few years
ago.  I love dogs  but have not been able to have one of my own in the past 23 years
because I've been a renter.  The first thing my son, Alex, did, after he and Laura bought
their home two years ago, was go to Yolo County shelter, and get a dog.  Two months
later, they went and got a second dog to keep Taffy company.  I've been so happy to
have granddogs and I am always so thrilled that, though I may not see them for a couple
of months at a time, they always seem overjoyed to see me when I visit. 

Taffy, granddog 1

Bucky, granddog 2

Dogs

Dogs come in every shape and size,

With coats both straight and curly,

Some breeds seem warm and friendly,

Others appear aloof and surly.

Dogs can be the working type,

Herding sheep or finding prey,

Others guard your hearth and home,

And some just like to play.

Often called "man's best friend,"

Dogs can fill the lonely times,

And, by their very presence,

They inhibit many crimes.

Dogs are loyal to their masters,

And love the children in their lives,

They become part of the household,

Where every member thrives.

When those warm eyes look up at you,

And the wag begins to start,

You realize this dog before you,

Is the holder of your heart!

Carmen Henesy

Copyright (c) 2007 by Carmen Henesy

All rights reserved.

I am taking part in Jenny Matlock's Alphabe Thursday -

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Camera Critters #157, My Granddogs, April 9, 2011

During my recent visit to my son, Alex, and my beautiful daughter-in-law, Laura,
I didn't take too many pictures of the granddogs since they never seem to change.
I hadn't seen them in three months so I was afraid they wouldn't know me.  I
shouldn't have worried.  They greeted me with so much joy and it really did my
heart good.  I really love those dogs and, at night, they often sleep in my room -
if Laura and Alex close their bedroom door.  Taffy, the smaller one, jumps on the
bed with me ( she is a snuggler ) but Bucky likes his pillow on the floor at the side
of the bed.

Taffy has been with my son two months longer than Bucky - for nearly two years

now.  She's mostly pit bull - I never thought I would like them - very sweet and

gentle and quite shy and timid.  I think she must have been badly treated wherever

she was first.

Bucky is part pit bull and something else, perhaps shepherd.  He seems so much

bigger than Taffy but Alex says, at 75 pounds, he's only 10 pounds more.  He is

much more rambunctious ( not mean at all ) but he loves to rough house and wrestle

with rings and play with toys.  If let loose outside, ie, in the woods, he'll take off

and come back when he's good and ready, which is a bit of a concern to the kids.

Taffy doesn't want to stray far from them.

I like this little white spot on Bucky's neck.  I think it's where his guardian angel

tried to grab him when he was gallavanting off and wouldn't come back when

called.

I think it is so funny how Bucky lies down like this with his legs stretched out behind

him.  He can sleep like this for hours.

I am participating Camera Critters, a wonderful meme to show off your pet photos and

and others you have of creatures that you have taken.  Check it out and join in the fun.

Camera Critters #139 & Pet Pride - The Granddogs at Thanksgiving - December 4, 2010

 

Camera Critters #139 & Pet Pride - The Granddogs at Thanksgiving - December 4, 2010

My middle son, Alex, and his wife, Laura, had Thanksgiving dinner at her grandmother's
house but they stopped by first to see me and their brothers and left my granddogs with
us at my request. I hadn't seen them in awhile and they always cheer me up. I sure
needed something to improve my spirits. I had been discharged from the hospital
November 9th and had four weeks of a very restrictive diet ahead of me which meant
that, while I could certainly cook a Thankgiving dinner and all the trimmings for my sons,
about all of it I could eat was the turkey.

Bucky always provokes Taffy who tolerates it for such a long time, like a little lady.
Finally, though, she does remember that pit bull blood flows through her veins and she
lets out a barely perceptible growl and shows Bucky her teeth. He then backs off and
leaves her alone for awhile! Shawn, my oldest son ( forty on the 17th ) just lies back
and enjoys their antics.

 

Taffy is such a pretty girl!

Alex, my middle son, Laura's husband and Taffy and Bucky's papa.

I really like snuggling up with my daddy.  Mommy had to go back to Sacramento.

 

This is Jeremy, the 6'4" baby of the family. He's letting his hair grow out again ( waiting

to see if his company will allow it so he can donate it again to "Locks for Love" - an

organization that giveshair to cancer patients and others who lose their hair secondary

to various diseases )

Bucky is quite a handsome fellow but he is much bigger than Taffy and he is so
energetic. I couldn't even try to take him for a walk or I'd be flying around the
neighborhood. Jeremy thinks racing after Bucky is just what I need for my weight loss
progam!

'Hey, what's that I hear"  An angel choir?  No, Shawn's just serenading us with his
guitar.  My uncleis pretty talented!"  - "Check out my muscles, by the way.  I'm really
buff." - "Wait a minute, what's going on!  Is there a prowler in the house?  Bucky is
going berserk!' 

Cool it, Bucky, you're going to hurt Shawn's feelings!

 

 

"Stop barking, Bucky, you're starting to scare me.  Haven't you heard that quote

that music soothes the savage beast?"

 

"My earts hurt!"

 "I'm going to start barking the blues any minute now!"

"Taffy, run for your life!

"Wait, Shawn's going into his room....I don't hear that noise any more." 

Now that the guitar is put away, Bucky's happy again and all is well. 



All this drama has totally exhausted one pit bull who always thought Uncle Shawn made

beautiful music.

I'm participating in Camera Critters  and  Pet Pride - check out both wonderful sites!

A Grandma's Visit - Camera Critters and Pet Pride, Saturday, July 31, 2010

A Grandma's Visit - Camera Critters and Pet Pride, Saturday, July 31, 2010

I went up to West Sacramento July 19th to spend three days with the newlyweds ( my

middle son, Alex, wed his beautiful, Laura, on May 7th ).  It's hard to believe that two

full months have already passed since that joyous occasion.  Since Laura works twelve

hour shifts as a paramedic and Alex has a bizarre work schedule ( 4AM to 1PM ) and

is still working on his degree, I went armed with some provisions for dinner the first night. 

I made a big bowl of my special potato salad, marinated a London broil and baked a scrumption banana walnut coffee cake.

I was worried that my granddogs might not even remember me since I don't get to visit

very often.  It was such a nice surprise to be greeted warmly by them.  They are really

such sweet dogs.  I always feel so guilty because I did not want the kids to get Taffy from

the shelter.  I protested because she was a pit bull and I was fearful that she would be a

mean, agressive dog.  She is the total opposite.  She has the most gentle, loving

disposition.

Bucky and Taffy, my granddogs

Ouch, Bucky, stop biting my legs!

Bucky loves to play with rings, Taffy rarely play with him

Whoops, I'd better get this away!

I have to lie down to do this.

Maybe if I put my head on the ring, Bucky won't be able to get it away.

We hate it when Mommy leaves for work - she goes for too long.

Grandma, what is taking you so long at that computer?  Pay attention to me!

I like to snuggle with my grandma.

Taffy:  Don't I have pretty feet?

I'm getting depressed - Grandma's blogging, Mom's at work, and Dad's studying.

He's been working on that calculus for HOURS!  Poor me.

Oh, boy, did Daddy say walk?  I can sit nicely.

I'm waiting like a good boy for my leash!

Worn out from the walk.

I am posting this on Camera Critters and Pet Pride