Jello

Finley is very good about human food. She doesn't take it from unsupervised plates, or try to lick it if you aren't looking, or take it from your hand even if you are. And she has learned to sit outside the kitchen doorway to watch you, in case you have a scrap, rather than be underfoot. I am proud of all of this! What she will do, if my Mom or I are eating in the family room instead of at the table, is sit very very close to us and gaze up with that funny stare of hers. Sometimes she sighs, and rests her chin on your leg or the couch. she's quite melodramatic. I think it's because I once gave her a slice of mandarin orange (which she loved. odd??) whilst on that couch. Clearly, this was a huge mistake, because she's never going to forget it! my mistake.

I was eating a little bowl of jello the other night and set it down to go do something and...it may have been especially evil of me (and bad for the furniture), but I set it down in the middle of the couch cusion, looked at Finn with raised eyebrows and said "don't do it." I thought it would be good practice. Sometimes in a rush, you set a plate down in a less-idea place; good to mix it up, yes? haha. Plus, on a scale of 1-10, her stealing jello, if this was going to be the time she stole something, is probably a 2. She was lying on the other end of couch, watching me. Far away from my little bowl!

When I walked by again she was sitting bolt upright, right next to the bowl, looking straight down at it! Like a cat on the edge of a fishpond! I made some squawk sound, because I thought she was licking the jello and then laughed, as she looked up and I saw how silly it all looked. And she wasn't licking it, she was staring it down. Maybe she liked how it jiggled! Then she laid down. Like this:

So, this is Finn. Not eating my jello. She's such a good girl. :) You can't see it, but her nose was so close the side of the bowl was wet with condensation! hehe

as an aside, I wonder if I could make her dog jello? Gelatin and maybe...hmm. chicken broth? I'll keep you posted. I think she'd like to bite it! I certainly do!

Turn Off the TV Week!

Did you know this week, April 19th through the 25th, is Turn Off the TV Week? It happens again in September, too. Working for the Parks, Beaches & Rec department, this is always an event for us. And since I manage the local pool, this weekend and next we're having lots of games and prizes (my car is now full of nut-free candy-- Anyone remember ring pops? I found some!), and lots and lots of free-swim passes!

Finn, Westly, my Dad and I went on a beautiful, sunny walk through our favorite area today to celebrate. We even ran into two cardigan corgi sisters out with their people, flying kites!! Anyone else have fun plans for a corgi adventure soon??

Driving with my parents a couple days ago we pulled up next to a very nice VW Beetle convertible cruising along with-- guess what!-- the cutest little corg lounging out one window!! Oh, it was the most charming thing! Does anyone else feel like since getting a corgi they have corgi radar?? We pulled up next to them and they let us take their picture, (yay for sporting strangers) and the little corg got so excited, just like Finn! He or she put their ears back and jumped up and down, nub wagging. Ohhh, sooooooo cute. so so so cute. They said his/her name is Sudu (soo-doo). Isn't that great?

Does he not look tres cool, lounging there, elbow out the window?

They were the perfect picture, and on such a beautiful day! Great car, happy people, handsome & happy corgi. My kind of outing! I can't wait to head out again with Finn and West this week!

Cuddle Puddle!

Normally, after the house has gone to bed, Finn snuggles on the couch with me while I watch something I've recorded on the DVR. Sometimes one of the cats joins us, and they usually stay on the couch while I go shower and get ready for bed (and quickly roll into my warm spot!). The other night I came out and looked over, to see if Finn was there or if she'd left to sleep with Westly, and this is what I saw! Can you see where one orange and white furball ends and another begins? hehe

Aren't they cute?! I was surprised to see Mombi, the fluffy cat on the top/left, getting into the cuddling! She is a people cat, but not too snuggly or interested in Finn. And of course, the best friend, Fiona, is always there :)

Happy weekend everybody! It is beeeeee-autiful here! I hear rumors of rain come Monday, though, which works for me. As long as I don't have to spend another Sunday drenched on the pool deck, I will be a happy camper :)

Let Me Be The Person My Dog Thinks I Am

I believe this is a grand goal. Finley gives me really great perspective. She loves a lot of the parts of life I strive never to take for granted. You know, the infamous "little stuff"...sun bathing on the back porch. digging in dark, damp garden dirt. being so excited to go outside and see everything you practically howl. appreciating good food. being really happy to see family when they come home. a good wade in a puddle (or pool/lake/creek/ocean).

In this spirit, I am going to start occasionally posting quotes and photos I have collected whilst roaming the blogosphere which make me happy. I shall begin with this print, by sfgirlbybay:

ahh, to sleep like a dog

After puppy lessons and playing while J and I weeded a few days ago, everyone was exhausted, the dogs in particular. Even Deacon and Dazzle, who only had to put up with us practicing "wait" over and over with an upstairs door! hehe

Finn, totally zonked, taking over the loveseat:

Deacon, laying (ha ha...) claim to the floor!

And Dazzle (aka Poodle) keeping an eye on all other napping dogs from his dog bed:

Pretty luxurious bed, no? I hope you all are having a great weekend! We're expecting rain and maybe thunderstorms tomorrow-- which means excitement for me at work at the (outdoor) pool in the morning! weeee

When Pigs Swim!

I found this while reading blogs the other day and immediately thought of Finley, my own little piglet! :) I had to share. This handsome snout belongs to a member of the, ahem, famed swimming pigs of the Caribbean! I know pigs are very, very smart, but I did not know that they were so water inclined! I also  read that the Nat'l Geo. photographer lured him/her to calmer waters for a better picture with their favorite food-- fresh watermelon! hehe. I like your style, swimming pig!

Do your corgis like to swim? How about swimming vs. wading?
I walked by a small wading pool the other day at Petsmart (ok, question: have you ever noticed that it could be "Pet's Mart" or "Pet Smart" ??), which only reinforced the idea. I know Finn loves to play in puddles, but I'm not so sure she'd go for the feet-not-touching-the-ground thing. I really hope to find her a little pool soon! I might just have to get the Petsmart one... I am a total waterbaby, so it is a topic very near to my heart!

Happy Easter Photoshoot!!

HAPPY EASTER, everybody!! I hope you all have slightly oddly-colored fingers from dying eggs and an unusual amount of chocolate about! We are staying cozy, while the wind and rain dance about outside. And so, without further ado, our Easter photo story begins! bummm bada daaahh!


Once upon a time, there was a corgi. Her human liked to dress her up in festive scarves:

She was willing to do this if it meant she got delicious food... specifically, today she would love an Easter egg:

She was presented with a treasure trove of brightly-colored eggs! Which her humans had slavishly made the night before:

She wanted to taste them all, since she had never seen them in such a myriad of colors! What if one color was better? So she began to sample...

She thought, 'perhaps this orangey one is the best!' but, then she saw the purple and teal, and had to lick them, too:

Little did she realize the complicated layers of color and culinary expertise that had gone into making these delicacies!

Nor did she realize that in her investigation of the Easter eggs, she had forgotten to share! Westly, suffering in her own scarf, really wanted one:

Finley did not want to share, and curled over her eggs like a small, protective dragon:

Then, after some thought, she realized that there were, after all, a lot of eggs. Perhaps she could spare one or two after all!

Westly liked this idea muuuch better:

Then Finley was told that one of the eggs had been made especially for her!

It even had her name on it in lime green crayon!

She was very flattered, and felt a bit ashamed for being so selfish with the eggs on such a cozy, happy holiday:

And so she decided to share, and she, Westly, and their humans had a happy Easter-- scarves, eggs and all!

The End!