Thanks for visiting! Be sure not to miss yesterday's video post of Bella's first visit to the beach.
Showing posts with label not Bella. Show all posts
Showing posts with label not Bella. Show all posts
Sunday, September 30, 2012
Black & White Sunday: Awesome Alfie
Thanks for visiting! Be sure not to miss yesterday's video post of Bella's first visit to the beach.
Wednesday, September 26, 2012
Wednesday, September 19, 2012
Wordless Wednesday 57 - A Pony for Christmas
I was digging through some old photographs and found this one. I loved it and thought I'd share.
Breaking the 'wordless' rules for today, I wanted to let everyone know that Casa de Bella is going on vacation next week. (And yes, including Bella!) I have some posts scheduled to go up but since this one was supposed to and it didn't work, you may not hear from us again until October. (We'll see if I can get this schedule thing figured out. Any and all suggestions are welcome.)
Hope everyone has a wonderful couple of weeks and that we don't miss anything too terribly exciting in our absence.
Breaking the 'wordless' rules for today, I wanted to let everyone know that Casa de Bella is going on vacation next week. (And yes, including Bella!) I have some posts scheduled to go up but since this one was supposed to and it didn't work, you may not hear from us again until October. (We'll see if I can get this schedule thing figured out. Any and all suggestions are welcome.)
Hope everyone has a wonderful couple of weeks and that we don't miss anything too terribly exciting in our absence.
Wednesday, December 28, 2011
Wednesday, December 7, 2011
Wordless Wednesday 18 - Thor's cushions
I had a different picture planned for today but recently received this in an email from my sister. Apparently her Bull Mastiff*, Thor, didn't appreciate how she had the cushions laid out and decided to, shall we say, 're-decorate' according to his needs.
I love this big guy! (Bella, however, does not so we have wisely chosen to limit their interactions since Thor has about 70 lbs on Bella and probably wouldn't be as gracious as Gus in her ill treatment of him.)
* Donna, did I finally get it right - Bull Mastiff, not English, yes?
I love this big guy! (Bella, however, does not so we have wisely chosen to limit their interactions since Thor has about 70 lbs on Bella and probably wouldn't be as gracious as Gus in her ill treatment of him.)
* Donna, did I finally get it right - Bull Mastiff, not English, yes?
Wednesday, November 30, 2011
Wordless Wednesday 17 - Gorgeous Gus
For your viewing pleasure, allow me to present once again, Bella's best beau, Gus!
Wednesday, November 9, 2011
Saturday, October 29, 2011
Good night, sweet girl
It's Saturday so today's post should have featured a dog in need of rescue. Instead it will feature a dog that was rescued almost 16 years ago. One who had a long and wonderful life with my mom and dad and made her journey to the Bridge yesterday.
Misty and her "fuzzy fur feet"
Dad found Misty being given away in a box at a local park almost 16 years ago. The story goes that the person giving the pups away was just going to leave Misty there in the box if he didn't take her (at least that's what he told mom when she asked him if he was insane upon bringing her home.)
Rest in peace, sweet girl. You will be missed.
Misty and her "fuzzy fur feet"
Dad found Misty being given away in a box at a local park almost 16 years ago. The story goes that the person giving the pups away was just going to leave Misty there in the box if he didn't take her (at least that's what he told mom when she asked him if he was insane upon bringing her home.)
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| Misty, as a puppy, meets Sam... |
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| and Beau... |
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| and Tommy. |
Misty was a good girl. She never really learned how to play but she loved her afternoon walks.
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| I've never seen a dog so in love with being outside... |
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| or with her cat, Snowflake. |
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| Run free now, Misty. |
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| Dad's waiting to walk you at the Bridge. |
Rest in peace, sweet girl. You will be missed.
Wednesday, October 19, 2011
Wordless Wednesday 11 - A Boy and His (Auntie's) Dog
Edited to add: This is my nephew Jared (about 3 1/2 years old, I think) with my Lab, Beau (I'm gonna have to say 12/13 weeks old). Given Beau's age, this picture would have been taken in the June of 1994 (so apparently we didn't remove leaves from this property - 6 acres of mostly woods, compliance was futile.) This is one of a series and will be revisited from time to time.
Thursday, October 13, 2011
On Meeting Maggie
Maggie was born in the suburbs of Massachusetts. She's blond, beautiful and comes from a great family. She has never missed a meal, always slept in a warm bed and has always known love. She's a bit of an airhead but exceedingly social and friendly to everyone. Maggie is our neighbor's Golden Retriever.
Bella is not a Golden Retriever. In fact, she's kind of the anti-Golden Retriever: she's not especially friendly, is afraid of people and insanely smart but she does love to play with other (non-threatening) dogs. She didn't learn her manners in a classroom - she learned survival skills on the streets of Puerto Rico which, sad to say, isn't about to win an award as the most dog-friendly place in the universe.
When Bella Met Maggie
Knowing that Bella "loves to play with other puppies", and being friends with our neighbors, we knew the dogs would have to meet and hoped they might even become friends. I have to give our neighbors credit for not moving out of town after the dogs' first meeting.
It went something like this:
Bella had only learned about leashes when she came to live with us. Prior to that, she was always free to approach and retreat at her choosing. Her reactivity to meeting Maggie on-leash should have been anticipated. Suffice it to say, it was not.
So the dogs approach, there appears to be interest, enthusiasm and then.... Bella goes ballistic. Hrumph. It really wasn't that bad, she did what lots of dogs do: she barked, she growled, she tried to run away, she tried to charge. No blood was spilt.
But it was back to the starting line to try again another day. (I'm pretty sure Ron and Gail were almost as afraid of Bella as she was of them. Maggie seemed rather oblivious to the snarling dog in front of her: "So are we gonna play or what?" Did I mention she's a bit of an airhead?)
Second Chances
We continued to hope that the dogs would overcome their differences (ok, that Bella would stop being such a b* - oops, sorry, this is a family-friendly blog...) and allowed them to continue to see each other closing the distance slowly over time. And one day it finally happened.
Much to my dismay, I was not at home for the encounter, but Jan sent this along via email:
Falling In and Out of Love
The meeting went so well, in fact, that we set up an actual playdate a few days later. Over the winter, when the dogs started showing signs of 'cabin fever', playdates became regularly scheduled events and in time, they played for at least a little while every day. Parents on both sides of the fence basked in the serenity of tired dogs.
A falling out last year (between the dogs, not the neighbors) has seen the daily playdates come to an end, as perhaps these things do when puppies turn into dogs, but we are certain we can walk the dogs together at a local track if the human schedules ever align again. With winter approaching though, it may even be time to remember the dogs sorted their differences out the first time and are likely capable of doing so again if their people would just get out of their way and let it happen.
So what do you think? Are Bella and Maggie destined to live their lives looking longingly over the hedge wishing for days gone by or "can this marriage be saved"? Do your dogs have any BFFs that don't live in the same house with them? Do they always get along or have there been spats and how was the relationship 'post-spat'? Did you do something to repair the relationship or did the dogs work it out themselves? Let me know what you think in the comments. Thanks!
Bella is not a Golden Retriever. In fact, she's kind of the anti-Golden Retriever: she's not especially friendly, is afraid of people and insanely smart but she does love to play with other (non-threatening) dogs. She didn't learn her manners in a classroom - she learned survival skills on the streets of Puerto Rico which, sad to say, isn't about to win an award as the most dog-friendly place in the universe.
When Bella Met Maggie
Knowing that Bella "loves to play with other puppies", and being friends with our neighbors, we knew the dogs would have to meet and hoped they might even become friends. I have to give our neighbors credit for not moving out of town after the dogs' first meeting.
Bella and Maggie, on-leash, spy each other from across the yards.
They're aware...
interested...
and maybe a little confused...
Maggie: Wait, who's that? She didn't live there before, did she? What happened to that old yellow guy I used to run circles around?
Bella: Wait, who's that? What's she doing in my territory? Is she friendly
or is she going to try to beat me up and steal my food?
Bella had only learned about leashes when she came to live with us. Prior to that, she was always free to approach and retreat at her choosing. Her reactivity to meeting Maggie on-leash should have been anticipated. Suffice it to say, it was not.
So the dogs approach, there appears to be interest, enthusiasm and then.... Bella goes ballistic. Hrumph. It really wasn't that bad, she did what lots of dogs do: she barked, she growled, she tried to run away, she tried to charge. No blood was spilt.
But it was back to the starting line to try again another day. (I'm pretty sure Ron and Gail were almost as afraid of Bella as she was of them. Maggie seemed rather oblivious to the snarling dog in front of her: "So are we gonna play or what?" Did I mention she's a bit of an airhead?)
Second Chances
We continued to hope that the dogs would overcome their differences (ok, that Bella would stop being such a b* - oops, sorry, this is a family-friendly blog...) and allowed them to continue to see each other closing the distance slowly over time. And one day it finally happened.
Much to my dismay, I was not at home for the encounter, but Jan sent this along via email:
"I took Bella out for a walk when I got home from the gym. Ron was out walking Maggie at the same time and, since both dogs were straining to get to the other one, I walked over.
The meeting went well. Bella was still a bit scared but definitely interested. Growling was kept to a minimum. The dogs got nose to nose several times (both being cautious in the process).
Bella also tried to play with Maggie -- darting around and putting her front paws down as she does when we are playing in the bedroom. Unfortunately, Maggie didn't quite know what to make of what Bella was doing. That didn't seem to deter Bella. She is a little bundle of energy when she gets going.
Maggie was quite well behaved during the meeting. Ron told her to sit and she did. I think we have to change our impression of Maggie somewhat." (Maybe she's not such an airhead after all...)
Falling In and Out of Love
The meeting went so well, in fact, that we set up an actual playdate a few days later. Over the winter, when the dogs started showing signs of 'cabin fever', playdates became regularly scheduled events and in time, they played for at least a little while every day. Parents on both sides of the fence basked in the serenity of tired dogs.
A falling out last year (between the dogs, not the neighbors) has seen the daily playdates come to an end, as perhaps these things do when puppies turn into dogs, but we are certain we can walk the dogs together at a local track if the human schedules ever align again. With winter approaching though, it may even be time to remember the dogs sorted their differences out the first time and are likely capable of doing so again if their people would just get out of their way and let it happen.
So what do you think? Are Bella and Maggie destined to live their lives looking longingly over the hedge wishing for days gone by or "can this marriage be saved"? Do your dogs have any BFFs that don't live in the same house with them? Do they always get along or have there been spats and how was the relationship 'post-spat'? Did you do something to repair the relationship or did the dogs work it out themselves? Let me know what you think in the comments. Thanks!
Wednesday, October 12, 2011
Wednesday, September 28, 2011
(Not quite) Wordless Wednesday 8 (Gus)
Introducing Gus, Bella's boyfriend the Borzoi.
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| (Click the picture for full-size.) |
I labored over which picture to use for Gus' debut appearance on Bringing up Bella for a few reasons: he is so photogenic, so lovely and so important. More on Gus in future installments.
In the meantime, feel free to rave about him in the comments.
Thursday, September 15, 2011
"Dog Mountain"
We interrupt our regularly scheduled blogging of Bella to bring you this special edition.
Away up north in the tiny town of St. Johnsbury, VT, lived a wonderful, whimsical artist named Stephen Huneck. Stephen Huneck loved dogs and dogs (and dog-lovers) loved Stephen. Stephen and his wife, Gwendolyn, built their home on a hill and they called that hill Dog Mountain. Near the top of Dog Mountain, Stephen built The Dog Chapel.
All dogs and their people are invited to visit the Mountain any time, free of charge. There are ponds for dogs to swim in; miles of trails to wander. There are wildflower meadows and even dog parties that take place at various times during the year. If Dog Mountain is a celebration of the life of dogs, The Dog Chapel is a place to revere our bond with them and grieve the loss of beloved companions.
When Stephen Huneck built The Dog Chapel, he labelled one wall 'The Remembrance Wall' thinking perhaps visitors might want to leave a picture or a note in memory of their cherished pets. I wonder if he could have ever imagined the entire Chapel would eventually be covered in Post-It Notes, color photos, copies, Polaroids, hand-written note cards and computer generated love-letters. Only the woodwork remains free of paper memories.
I have been a fan of Stephen Huneck's artwork for many years. I love the whimsy, the humor and the perfect perspective of dogs he captured in his pieces. When I first heard about Dog Mountain and subsequently The Dog Chapel, I knew someday I would have to go. I had hoped, at the time, to bring my beautiful Lab boy, Beau. Beau was a happy and confident dog, perfect for mingling with the various dogs that come to visit Dog Mountain. Unfortunately, I always seemed to be "too busy", foolishly believing his life would last forever and I lost my beloved boy just days before I had planned to finally bring him there to visit. As I sat by his side in his final hours that morning, I promised him I would bring him there in spirit.
Last Sunday, I kept that promise.
When you walk into The Dog Chapel, you can't help but feel a profound sense of loss and love. But there is also an indescribable feeling of acceptance knowing you are in the company of those deeply loved. I felt finally "understood". Beau's picture now hangs with the thousands of other beloved and mourned dogs, cats and other pets that adorn the walls of Dog Chapel. It gave me a tremendous sense of peace to honor him this way and I will take comfort now in thinking of him up on the Mountain. I imagine Rainbow Bridge might look a little something like Dog Mountain.
Stephen Huneck understood the wonder and wisdom dogs bring in to our lives and he has given us a unique treasure. Sadly, he ended his life in 2010. His legacy endures. Economic hardship, however, has put the Mountain at risk. While a deal has been brokered with the town of St. Johnsbury at this time, please consider visiting the online shop and purchasing a piece of Stephen's artwork to help keep Dog Mountain open. Better still, pack a lunch and your 4-legged friends and go spend an afternoon on the Mountain. Don't wait until it's too late.
Away up north in the tiny town of St. Johnsbury, VT, lived a wonderful, whimsical artist named Stephen Huneck. Stephen Huneck loved dogs and dogs (and dog-lovers) loved Stephen. Stephen and his wife, Gwendolyn, built their home on a hill and they called that hill Dog Mountain. Near the top of Dog Mountain, Stephen built The Dog Chapel.All dogs and their people are invited to visit the Mountain any time, free of charge. There are ponds for dogs to swim in; miles of trails to wander. There are wildflower meadows and even dog parties that take place at various times during the year. If Dog Mountain is a celebration of the life of dogs, The Dog Chapel is a place to revere our bond with them and grieve the loss of beloved companions.
When Stephen Huneck built The Dog Chapel, he labelled one wall 'The Remembrance Wall' thinking perhaps visitors might want to leave a picture or a note in memory of their cherished pets. I wonder if he could have ever imagined the entire Chapel would eventually be covered in Post-It Notes, color photos, copies, Polaroids, hand-written note cards and computer generated love-letters. Only the woodwork remains free of paper memories.
I have been a fan of Stephen Huneck's artwork for many years. I love the whimsy, the humor and the perfect perspective of dogs he captured in his pieces. When I first heard about Dog Mountain and subsequently The Dog Chapel, I knew someday I would have to go. I had hoped, at the time, to bring my beautiful Lab boy, Beau. Beau was a happy and confident dog, perfect for mingling with the various dogs that come to visit Dog Mountain. Unfortunately, I always seemed to be "too busy", foolishly believing his life would last forever and I lost my beloved boy just days before I had planned to finally bring him there to visit. As I sat by his side in his final hours that morning, I promised him I would bring him there in spirit.
Last Sunday, I kept that promise.
When you walk into The Dog Chapel, you can't help but feel a profound sense of loss and love. But there is also an indescribable feeling of acceptance knowing you are in the company of those deeply loved. I felt finally "understood". Beau's picture now hangs with the thousands of other beloved and mourned dogs, cats and other pets that adorn the walls of Dog Chapel. It gave me a tremendous sense of peace to honor him this way and I will take comfort now in thinking of him up on the Mountain. I imagine Rainbow Bridge might look a little something like Dog Mountain.
|
Stephen Huneck understood the wonder and wisdom dogs bring in to our lives and he has given us a unique treasure. Sadly, he ended his life in 2010. His legacy endures. Economic hardship, however, has put the Mountain at risk. While a deal has been brokered with the town of St. Johnsbury at this time, please consider visiting the online shop and purchasing a piece of Stephen's artwork to help keep Dog Mountain open. Better still, pack a lunch and your 4-legged friends and go spend an afternoon on the Mountain. Don't wait until it's too late.
Wednesday, September 14, 2011
Wordless Wednesday 6 - The "Original" Crazy Dog (Alfie)
Alfie's the big guy here. He was my first crazy dog, half the neighborhood was afraid of him. Part German Shepherd, part Afghan Hound, he was big, bold and lightening fast. The little tyke taking him on is Muffin. He was so good with her. And she was unspeakably sweet.
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